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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
a^
INDIANA COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
HER PEOPLE, PAST AND PRESENT
Embracing a History of the County Compiled by
PROF. J. T. STEWART
And a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families
IN TWO VOLUMES
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
CHICAGO
J. H. BEERS & CO.
1913
PREFACE ,,,3^3,^
lu presenting "Indiana County and Her People" to its patrons, the publish-
ers have to acknowledge, with gratitude, the encouragement and support their
enterprise has received, and the willing assistance rendered in enabling them to
surmount the many unforeseen obstacles to be met with in the production of
a work of such magnitude. To procure the materials for its compilation, official
records have been carefully examined;- newspaper files searched, manuscripts,
letters and memoranda have been sought; those longest in the locality were
interviewed ; and all the material has been so collated, systematized and indexed
as to render it easy of reference.
He who expects to find the work entirely free from errors or defects has
little knowledge of the difficulties attending the preparation of a work of this
kind, and should indulgently bear in mind that ''it is much easier to be critical
than to be correct." It is, therefore, trasted that the history Avill be received
by the public in that generous spirit which is gratified at honest and conscien-
tious effort.
The publishers have been fox'tunate in securing the services of a staff of
efficient and painstaking historians, who have been materially assisted by the
gentlemen of the press and of the various professions, by the public officials,
and by many other citizens of the- county, of all of whom personal mention
would gladly here be made, did space permit.
The work has been divided into two parts, History and Biography. The
general histoiy of the county, and for the most part of the townships and
boroughs, has been compiled and prepared by Prof. J. T. Stewart. The Blairs-
ville chapter is from the pen of Thomas Davis Jlarshall ; the Montgomery town-
ship chapter by S. K. Eank ; the Bench and Bar chapter bj' Samuel A. Douglass,
Esq. Acknowledgment is made of assistance rendered by Gen. Harrj' White
and Dr. "W. B. Ansley in the prosecution of the work.
In behalf of the author thanks are extended to all who have contributed
to the work, the ministers of the county, especially Revs. W. J. Wilson and
H. F. King, of Indiana, Pa., and H. W. Maguire, of Cookport, Pa. ; the press,
especially the Indiana Progress and the Saltsburg Press; the church officials;
John Z. Simpson for the use of his library; James ^I. Swank; Dr. W. J. Mc-
Knight ; John S. Ritnour, and William F. Lindsey.
The Biographical department is of special interest. In nearly every instance
the data were submitted to those immediately interested for revision and cor-
rection. The work, which is one of genei-ous amplitude, is placed in the hands
of the public with the belief that it will be found a valuable addition to the
library, as well as an invaluable contribution to the historical and genealogical
literature of Pennsylvania.
The Publishers.
TABLE OF CONTENP.
CHAPTER I CHAPTER XVIII
PAGE
CHAPTER II CHAPTER XIX
Remains of an Extinct People 4 Bench and Bar 383
CHAPTER III CHAPTER XX
Early Settlers S
Indiana Borongh 395
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER XXI
Modes of Travel 40
Armstrong Township — Shelocta Eoroiijjh 432
CHAPTER \
Roads 45 CHAPTERXXII
CHAPTER VI • Banks Township— Glen Campbell Borough 438
The Pennsylvania Canal 49 CHAPTER XXHI
CHAPTER VII Blackliek Township 445
Mineral Resources of Indiana County 55 CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER VIII Brushvalley Township— Mechaniesburg Borough.. 449
Changes in the System of "Weather 79 CHAPTER XXr\"
CHAPTER IX Buffington Township 452
Beasts and Birds of Indiana County 84 CH-iPTFP XXVI
CHAPTER X Burrell Township 455
Number and Variety of Serpents SS
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XI
History of Blairsville and Vicinity 458
Indigenous Fruits of the County 90
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XII -, ^ ^.
Canoe Township 482
Formation of the County 92
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XIII , . „ -,. T,
Center Township — Homer City Borough 484
Political Parties 97
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XIV
County and State Officers 103 '''^'"y''''' Township-Clymer Borough 492
CHAPTER XV CHAPTER XXXI
Veterans of Indiana County 109 (-'oiie'iiaugh Township— Saltsburg Borough 499
CHAPTER XVI CHAPTER XXXII
Schools of Indiana County 195 Grant Township 511
CHAPTER XVII CHAPTER XXXIII
Churches 231 Green Township 513
vi TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXIV CHAPTER XL
CHAPTER PAGE CIIAPTKR PAGE
East Mahoning Township — Marion Center Bor- Rayne Township 556
""^•^ ^^^^ CHAPTERXLI
CHAPTER XXXV Washington Township— Creekside Borough 559
North Mahoning Township 527
CHAPTER XLII
CTTAPTVR XXXVT
East Wheatfield Township — Armagh Borough. .. .561
South Mahoning Township — Plumville Borough. . .5?.8
CHAPTER XXXVII CHAPTER XLIII
West Mahoning Township-Smicksburg Borough . . 542 ^^'^^ ^Vteattield Township 566
CHAPTER XXXVIII CHAPTER XLIV
Montgomery Township— Cherrytree Borough 546 White Township 571
CHAPTER XXXIX CHAPTER XLV
Pine Township 552 Young Township 572
HISTORICAL INDEX
PAGE
Academies 218
Blairsville 222
Covode 225
Eldersridge 218, 271
Greenville 224
Indiana 218
Jaeksonville 221
Purchase Line 515
Saltsbiirg 225
Allegheny Formation 58
Coals in 64
Allison, William E 390
Allisons, The 484
Alum Bank 455, 462
Ambrose Baptist Church 294
Animal Life 17
Antioch Evan. Luth. Church.. 312
Apprentice's Agreement, 1803. 454
Arcadia 549
Arcadia Presbyterian Church.. 280
Armagh Borough 564
M. E. Church 354
Presbyterian Church 242
Armstrong Township — Shelocta
Borough 432
Post, Wm., No. 303, G. A. E. 179
Assessments, Early 97
Associate Judges 104
Associate Presbyterian Church. 317
Assumption Church, Catholic. .1331
Atcheson, George 194
Attorney Generals, Deputy. .. . 105
Attorneys, District 105
List of Present 395
Auditors, County 106
Axes 16
Baird Family 468
James 462
Bairdstown 461, 468
Banks —
Blacklick 457
Blairsville 469
Cherrytree 551
Clymer 498
Glen Campbell 440
Homer City 490
Indiana 419
Marion Center 527
Plumville 540
Saltsburg 510
Banks, John N 389
Township • — Glen Campbell
Borough 438
William 394
William, Deceased 385
Baptist Association, Indiana. . 284
Churches 284
German Churches (Brethren) 362
Barnes, Joseph 460
P.\GE
Beasts and Birds of Indiana
County 84
Bell, John T 393, 867
Bell's Mills (now Josephine).. 455
Bench and Bar 383
Beracha U. P. Congregation.. 339
Berringer P.O. (Kesslerville) 514
Bethel Evan. Lutheran Church 311
Presbyterian Church 263
U. P. Church 336
Bethesda (now Nebo) Presby-
terian Church 258
Birds 86
Black, James 461
William E 391
Blacklick Baptist Church 290
Free Methodist Church 361
M. E. Church 353
M. E. Church, Buffington
Township 356
Presbyterian Church 234
Township 445
Blair, David 394
Eev. David 319
Hon. John P 388, 679
Samuel S 386
Blairsville and Vicinity 458
Academy 222
Attorneys 469
Banks 469
Baptist Church 295
Beginning of Blairsville.... 474
Borough OfiBcers '. 470
Business People, Past and
Present 474
Days of the Pioneer 458
Early Hotels 464
Early Postmasters 464
Early and Former Eesi-
dents 461, 465
Evangelical Association .... 346
Free Methodist Church 362
History by Decades 474
Items of Interest 466
Ladies ' Seminary 222
Masonic Lodge 470
M. E. Church 353
Newspapers 464, 465
Old Log Schoolhouse 465
Presbyterian Church 235
U. P. Church 331
Present Business Houses... 471
Present Commercial and In-
dustrial Establishments.. . 470
Eunning History 461
y. M. C. A 470
Blockhouses 12. 14, 432,
..484, 486, 499, 5.56, 567, 573
Bolar, Maj. A. J., Post, No.
533, G. A. E 178
vii
PAGE
Boroughs of Indiana County,
,^'^K ■• 96
Armagh 5(34
Blairsville 455
Cherrytree '.['.['. 550
Clymer 496
Creekside 560
Glen Campbell 439
Homer City 4S9
Jacksonville 574
Marion Center 523
Mechanicsburg 450
Plumville 540
Saltsburg 503
Shelocta 436
Smicksburg 543
Boyle, Albert C 389
Brethren (German Baptist)
Churches 362
Brickmaking Material 69
Bridges and Ferries, Salts-
burg 507
Brown, Lieut. Frank M., Post,
No. 266, G. A. R 179, 574
Brownlee, Eev. Dr. J. Day. 325, 625
Brushvalley Baptist Church. . . 294
Evangelical Lutheran Church 302
Syncline 62
Township — Mechanicsburg
Borough 449
Buffalo, Eochester & Pittsburg
Eailroad 43
Buffington, Judge Joseph.... 384
Township 452
Burrell Township 455
Campbell, Gen. Charles 445, 460
His Journal 446
Family 460
Campbell 's Mill 460
Canoe Place (Cherrytree) 546
Monument 550
Township 482
IT. B. Church 360
Carboniferous System, Stratig-
raphy 57, 74
Carpenter, Ephraini 384
John C 389
Catholic Churches 281
Census, Comparison of Years
1840 and 1910 95
Center Presbyterian Church ... 246
Township — Homer City
Borough 484
CentervUle Presbyterian Ch. . 249
Chambers, Moses 13, 459
Chambersville 557
Cherryhill Manor 492
Cherryhill Township — Clymer
Borough 492
HISTORICAL INDEX
PAGE
Cherrytiee Baptist Church.. 294
Borough 550
Monument (Canoe Place) . . 550
Male and Female College.. 223
M. P. Church 357
Post, No. 40, G. A. E 178
Presbyterian Church 265
Chestnut Eidge 56, 64
Anticline 61
Christ Protestant Episcopal
Church, Indiana 364
Christian Churches 358
Christ's Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Garfield 313
Church of God 362
Churches 231
Circular Hunt, Conemaugh
Township 501
Green Township 515
Civil War, Indiana County in
the 109
History of Eegiments and
Companies 109
Soldiers, Eoster of Indiana
County 144
Veterans, First Eeunion . . 179
Clark, J. Wood 393
Hon. Silas M 388
William 8
Clarksburg 500
Presbyterian Church 248
Eeformed Presbyterian Ch. 343
Clay Deposits 69, 497
Clearing the Land 16
Clerks 104, 107
Clymer Borough 496
Christian Church 359
George 93, 383, 496
M. E. Church 355
Presbyterian Church 250
Coal 63, 75
Coalport 501
Coffey, Titian J 386
Cokeville, Coketo\vn 478
Coleman, James M 388
Nicholas 329, 501
Colfax (Decker's Point P. O.) 511
College, Cherrytree Male and
Female 223
Comet, 1835 82
Commissioners, County 106
Jury 105
Clerks 107
Conemnugh (West Penn) Di-
vision, Pa. E. E 481
Formation •5'9
Formation, Coals in 67
Presbytery 318
Teachers' Institute ...211, 213
Township — Saltsburg Bor-
ough 499
United Presbyterian Con-
gregation 328
Congressmen 103
Conner, Rev. William 329
Cooking, Early 25
Cookport 513
Baptist Church 288
Evan. Luth. Church 310
M. E. Church 357
Coral 486
Coroners 108
PAGE
County Agricultural Society. . 412
Home 409
Institute 213
Medical Society 366
Surveyors 108
Court House Square, Indiana
(view) 399
Covered Bridge, Blairsville . . 463
Covode (formerly Kellys-
ville) 536
Academy 225
Cramer 562
M. E. Church 355
Creekside Borough 560
Gas Field 69, 559
Crete U. P. Church 338
Croft Evangelical Church 345
Crooked Creek
Church
Cunningham, Judge John . . 467
Samuel 390
Currie 's Eun Presbyterian
Church 250
Davidsville (Trade City P. O.) 527
Decker's Point P. O. (Colfax) 511
M. E. Church 351
Declaration of Independence,
First 459
Deputy Attorney Generals 105
Surveyors 108
Diamondville (Mitchells Mills
P. O.) 496
Dias (or Nolo) Eidge 56
Dilltown 453
Baptist Church 298
District Attorneys 105
Surveyors 108
Dixonville 514
Wesleyan Methodist Church 360
Douglass, Samuel A 387
Drainage, Local 56, 71, 94
Dress of Indians and Early
Settlers 21
Drum, Augustus 385
Dunkers or Tunkers 362
Dunmore 's War 459
Dutch Eun Anticline 74
Early Assessments 97
Cooking 25
County Eoads 47
Election Places 96
Farming 18
Furniture 20
Games and Diversions .... 30
Mills 13
Schools of Indiana County. 202
Schools of Blairsville 465
Settlers 8
Settlers, Fare of 20
Transportation, Cost of . . . . 45
Wedding, An 26
East Mahoning Township —
Marion Center Borough.. 517
Baptist Church 295
East Eun 511
East Union Presbyterian
Church 276
V. P. Congregation 334
East Wlioatfipld Township-
Armagh Borough 561
^ PAGE
Ebenezer Presbyterian Ch. . . 272
Eclipse of Sun, June 16, 1806 81
Elder, Eobert 573
Eldersridge 573
Academy 2I8,' 271
Presbyterian Church 268
Elders Eidge Quadrangle 70
SyncUne 74
Election Places, Early....'.".' 95
Eleventh Eeserves, 40th Pa.
.„ "^"ols 109
Eoster 244
Elkin, Hon. John P.. . .'.'.'.'392, 590
„ '^•F 394 766
Ernest 557
Evangelical Association ...... 343
Lutheran Churches 299
Extinct People, Eemain's of'an "" 4
Fairview Baptist Church "97
Fare of Early Settlers 20
Farming, Early jg
Pee, Harry W sg"/ 933
Feit, George J 394
Ferries and Bridges, Saltsburg 507
Ferry over Conemaugh Eiver.. 460
Fifth Begiment, Pa. Vol. Inf.. 18'>
Fifty-fifth Pa. Vols.... ns
Fifty-sixth Pa. Vols. (Co.'b) 117
Eoster 254
Findley, George g
Fiudley Patch Post, Ng.' Y3V
G. A. E .'177
^^reClay 69, 497
First Declaration of Inde-
pendence 4.59
First Light Artillery, 43d Pa.
Vols., 14th Eeserves H4
Eoster 252
First Mill ........'. 460
Eoad ' 45
Fisher, Hon. John S '393 638
Five Points ggn
Flax Brake "' 94
Flora P. 0 433
Forbes Eoad 458, 459
Formation of the County 92
Of Townships qn
Fort Hill : : : : ; 507
Fortieth Pa. Vols., 11th Ee-
serves 109
Eoster 244
Forts 8, 12, 432
445, 48.5, 486, 567,' 571
Forty-first Pa. Vols., 12th Ee-
serves 122
Roster 150
Forty-sixth Pa. Vols 114
Roster 151
Forty;third Pa. Vols., ist iight
Artillery, 14th Reserves.. 114
Tfoster 151
Fourteenth Cavalry, 159th Pa.
Vols 138
Roster 170
Fourteenth Reserves, 43d Pa.
Vols., 1st L. A 114
Roster 151
Fourth Cavalry, 64th Pa. Vols. 159
Frances 433
I'rankstown Road, Old .
45, 461, 563
HISTORICAL INDEX
PAGE
Free ilethodist Churches 361
Free Schools 204
I'reeport Coal, Lower 65, 75
Upper 64, 75
Friendship Chapel, Cherryhlll
To«-nship 346
Frolics, Pioneer Evening 32
IViiits of the County, Indi-
genous 90
Gallows Hill 459
Games and Diversions, Early. . 30
Garfield (Robinson P. O.) 569
Garfield Brethren Church. . . ; . 364
Gas, Natural 67, 559
Geological Structure 61
Geology —
Elders Eidge Quadrangle. . . 72
Indiana Quadrangle 57
Georgeville 518
Baptist Church 296
German Baptist Churches
(Brethren) 362
Germany M. E. Church 356
Getty, John L 393
Gettysburg M. P. Church 357
Gilgal Presbyterian Church... 267
Gilpin P. 0. (Kintersburg) ... 558
Gipsy 549
Girls ' Industrial Home 409
Glen Campbell Borough 439
Baptist Church 295
Presbyterian Church 280
Grace V. E. Church 346
Graeeton 486
Luther Chapel 308
Graffs 463, 468
Grand Army of the Eepublic . . 176
Grant Township 511
Greek Catholic Church 1249
Green, Isaac 462, 463, 475
Township 513
Greenville 495
Academy 224
U. P. Church 339
Greenwood Cemetery 413
Grove Chapel Evan. Luth.
Church 314
Hannastown 459
Harmony Grove Evan. Luth.
Church 310
Presbyterian Church 257
Haying 'in the Olden Time 19
Hazelet M. P. Church 356
Hebron Evan. Luth. Church. . . 304
Heilwood 553
Dairy o54
Hospital 334
Presbvterian Church 257
Heshboii M. E. Church 355
V. P. Congregation 331
Hill, Rev. George 236, 810
John H 391
Hillsdale 548
Holy Cross Catholic Church.. 986
Home P. 0. (Kellysburg) 557
Homer City Borough 489
Baptist Church 295
Evan. Luth. Church 308
M. E. Church 350
PAGE
Presbyterian Church 274
U. P."Church 336
Hood, Hon. G. W 391
Hopewell if. E. Church 354
Hortons P. 0 439
Hospitals —
Indiana 410
Penn-Mary 554
House Warming, The 28
Household Jlanufactures .... 24
Hunting, Subsistence bv 23
Hunts —
Circular 501, 515
Wolf 17
Hustonville 496
"Indiana" Anticline (so-
called) 63
Indiana Baptist Association.. 284
Indiana Borough 395
Academy 218
Banks 419
Business Establishments. . . . 414
County Agricultural Society 412
County Home 409
Court House Square (view) 399
Early Residents, Tradesmen,
etc 400
Early Hotels 404
Early Industries 401
Electric Light and Power. . 405
First Buildings 400
Girls' Industrial Home 409
Greenwood Cemetery 413
Hospital 410
Hospital View 410
Hotels 428
Lot No. 1 420
Lot No. 1, First Building. . 420
' ' Present Building " ...... 421
Merchants, etc 421
Municipal Building 411
Normal School 226
Normal School Views. . .226-230
Oakland Cemeterv 413
Philadelphia St. Views. .423, 425
Press, The 428
Sewage Disposal* Plant 407
Site 397
Societies, Clubs, Lodges 430
Waterworks 405
West Indiana Borough.... 404
Y. M. C. A 410
Y. M. C. A. Building, View 411
Indiana Branch Railroad 48
Indiana Churches
Baptist, First 287
Christian, First 358
Evangelical Association . . 345
Free Methodist 361
Methodist Episcopal 347
Presbyterian, First 244
Protestant Episcopal, Christ 364
V. P. Congregation 318
IT. P. Congregation, Second 326
Wesleyan Methodist 360
Zion Evan. Luth 299
Indiana County Agricultural
Society . .' 412
County Home 409
County Medical Society. . . 366
PAGE
County Normal School 214
County St. Railways Co 43
Indiana Female Seminary 218
Post, No. 28, G. A. R 176
Quadrangle, The 55
Institute, The County 213
Institutes, Local . . . .' 213, 559
Iselin 573
Jack, Hon. S. M 391
Jacksonville Academy 221
Anticline 62, 73
Borough 574
M. E. Church '.'.'.'.'.' 351
Presbyterian Church ....... 277
V. P. Congregation....... 326
Jamieson, Rev. John 329, 931
Josephine (Bell's Mills) 455
Judges, Associate 104
President 104, 383
Juneau 433
U. E. Church '. 346
Jury Commissioners 105
Keener, Frank 393
Kelly, James 459, 500
Kelly, James M 384
Kelly, Pliny 386
Kellysburg (Home P. O.) . . . 557
Kelly's Station (Tunnelston) . 500
Baptist Church 290
KeUysvUle (now Covode) 536
Kesslerville (Berringer P. 0.) 514
Kintersburg (Gilpin P. O.) . . 558
Kittanning Coals 66
Knott, Wilson 461, 468
Labor and Its Discourage-
ments 30
Ladies' Seminary, Blairsville 222
Land, The '. 14
Langham, J. N 393
Latrobe, Syncline 62
Leech, John M 392
Legal Relations of Man and
Wife, Pioneer ' 29
Leonard, Jane, Hall — Normal
Recitation Building 227
Liggett, W. N 394, 944
Limestone 70
Lockvale 43S
Locust Lane 483
Log Cabin, The 15
Logan 438
Judge James A 384
Logging and Underbrushing. 17
Lot No. 1, Indiana 420
First Building on 420
Present Building 421
Love joy 5 16
Lowry, John 388
Loyaihanna Baptist Church.. 290
Lucerne 486
Luciusboro 488
Luther Chapel, Graeeton 308
Lutheran Churches, Evangeli-
cal 299
Lyon, Sanrael 390
McCabe, Richard B 385, 477
Melntyre 574
HISTORICAL INDEX
PAGE
McKee Run Anticline 63
McKirahan, Bev. William 330
Mahan, W. M 394
Mahoning Baptist Church . . . 296
United Presbyterian Con-
gregation 334
Mahonings, The 517
East — Marion Center Bor-
ough 517
North 527
South— Plumville Borough. 538
West — Smieksburg Borough 542
Mail Stage 47
Manor Brethren Congregation 363
Wesleyan Methodist Church 360
Manufactures, Household .... 24
Maple Sugar Industry 37
Marchand 528
Evangelical Association . . . 344
United Evan. Church 344
Marlin's Mills (Willet P. O.) 560
Marion Center Borough 523
M. E. Church 349
Presbyterian Church 259
Mauch Chunk Shale 58
Meehanicsburg Borough 450
Evan. Church of North
America 345
, M. E. Church 352
Presbyterian Church 234
U. P. Congregation 330
Medical Profession 366
Medical Society, Indiana Co. 366
Members of Congress 103
Meteorological Record, 1911
and 1912 83
Methodist Episcopal Churches 346
Methodist Protestant Churches 356
Mexican War, Indiana County
in the 184
Roster of Indiana County
Soldiers 185
Militia of Indiana County,
1861 to 1865 141
Militia of 1864 143
Mills, Early 13
Mineral Resources 55
Mitchell, Dr. Robert 496, 785
Mitchell's Mills P. O. (Dia-
mondville) 496
Modes of Travel 40
Montgomery Brethren Church, '
Grant Township 363
Township — Cherrytree Bor-
ough .546
Moorhead, Everett H 390
Fergus 8, 459
Port, White Township, View 12
Mount Pleasant Presbyterian
Church 240
Mount Zion Evan. Luth.
Church 311
Myers, John 385
Nashville 512
National Guard, Pennsylva-
nia 431, 482
Nebo Presbyterian Church
(formerly Bethesda) 258
Newport 448
Newspapers —
Blairsville . . . '. 464
P.\GE
Homer City 490
Indiana 428
Marion Center 527
Saltsburg 510
Nineveh 563
M. E. Church 352
Ninth Reserves, 38th Pa. Vols. 109
Roster 144
Nolo 552
Anticline 62
(or Dias) Ridge 56
Normal School, Indiana
County 214
Pennsylvania State 226
North Mahoning Township... 527
North Point P. O. (Sellers-
ville) 542
U. B. Church 359
Northern Turnpike 461, 462
Northwestern Railroad 44, 476, 477
Nowrytown Evangelical Asso-
ciation 346
M. E. Church 352
Oakland Cemetery 413
U. P. Church, Decker's
Point 337
Officers, County and State... 103
O'Harra 467, 476
Old Moorhead Fort, View. ... 12
One Hundred and Fifth Pa.
Vols 132
Roster 166
One Hundred and Fifty-ninth
Pa. Vols., 14th Cavalry. 138
Roster 170
One Hundred and Forty-eighth
Pa. Vols. (Co. E) 136
Roster 170
One Hundred and Third Pa.
Vols 131
Roster 165
One Hundred and Thirty-fifth
Pa. Vols 136
Roster 168
One Hundred and Seventy-sev-
enth Pa. Vols 139
O'Neil, James L., Post, No.
537, G. A. R 179
Paige, Edmund 386
Parkwood 435
Peelor, Elder 393
Penn Run (Harmony) Pres-
byterian Church " 257
M. E. Church 355
P. O. (Greenville) 495
Pennsylvania Canal, The .... 49
National Guard 431, 482
Railroad 43, 476, 480
School Journal, Extracts
210, 217
State Normal School 226
State Normal School,
Views 226-230
Pensioners in Indiana County,
1840 195
Philadelphia Street, Indiana,
Views. 421, 423, 425
Physicians of Indiana County 367
Pierce. John H . 392
Pino Township 552
P-A^GE
Pine Flats 514
Baptist Church 288
Christian Church 359
Pine Grove Wesleyan Metho-
dist Church 361
Pioneer Evening Frolics .... 32
Legal Relations of Man and
Wife 29
Life, Reflections On 37
Pioneers 8
Pittsburg Coal ". 76
Plum Creek United Presbyte-
rian Church 340
Plunnalle Baptist Church 289
Borough 540
Presbyterian Church 279
Political Parties 97
Pollock, John, Post, No. 219,
G. A. R 179
Porter, Daniel S 389
Potter, John 386
Pottsville Formation 58
Presbyterian Churches 231
Synodical Connections .... 231
Planting and Growth 231
Organization of Presbytery 232
Presbytery, Conemaugh 318
President Judges 104, 383
Protestant Episcopal Denomi-
nation 364
Prothonotaries, Clerks, etc. . . . 104
Purchase Line, The 546
Purchase Line Academy 515
Quadrangle, Elders Ridge. ... 70
The Indiana 55
Quaternary System 60
Railroads 43
Rayne Presbyterian Church. . 278
Township 556
Reed, G. P 386
Reformed Presbyterian Ch. . 314
Churches 340
Registers and Recorders 104
Remains of an Extinct People 4
Representatives, State 103
Reunion, First, of Civil War
Veterans 179
Rexis 453
Rice, Conrad 395
Richmond (Rochester Mills P.
O.) 482, 512
Anticline 62
Baptist Church 297
Post, G. A. R 179
U. B. Church 359
U. P. Congregation 335
Roads 4i5
Early County 47
State 47
Road Viewers, Early 47
Robertsville 482
Robinson P. O. (Garfield)... .569
Foster, Post, No. 36, G. A.
R 179
Rochester Mills P. O. (Rich-
mond) 482, 512
Rockbridge Presbyterian Ch. . 238
Roasiter 483
Evangelical Association.... 345
Prcsbvterian Church 242
HISTORICAL INDEX
PAGE
Roster of Indiana County
Soldiers —
Civil War 144
Mexican War 185
Spanish-American War 183
Salem Evangelical Association 345
Evan. Luth. Church, Smicks-
burg 308
M. P. Church So-
Salt Manufacture 502
Saltsburg Borough 503
Academv 225
Business Places 509
Cemeteries 507
Ferries and Bridges 507
Kiskiminetas Springs School
510, 601
Soldiers ' Monument 508
Way Back in the Sixties —
A Pen Picture of Salts-
burg 504
Saltsburg Churches —
Baptist 290
Methodist Episcopal 351
Presbyterian ; 252
United Presbyterian 339
Sandstone 69
Sansom, James B 389
Saxman 516
School Code 209
Superintendency 207
Schoolhouses 216
Schoolmasters 201
Schools, Early 202
Free 204
Of Our Forefathers 195
Of Indiana County 195
Select 224
Scotland 574
Scott, John A 392, 622
Second Pa. Vols., Mexican War 184
Select Schools 224
Sellersville (North Point P.O.) 542
Seminaries 218
Blairsville Ladies' 222
Indiana Female 218
Senators, State 103
Serpents, Number and Variety
of 88
Settlers, Early 8
Seventh Day Adventist Colony 728
Seventy-eighth Pa. V. 1 129
Eoster 162
Seventy-fourth Pa. Vols 128
Eost'er 158
Shanktonn 516
Sharp, Andrew 432
Shelocta Borough 436
U. P. Congregation 331
Sheriffs 104
Shiloh Baptist Church 297
Shoupstown 562
Sidney 438
Signal Service, United States
143, 174
Sixty-first Pa. Vols. (Co. A.) . 119
Eoster 156
Sixty-fourth Pa. Vols., 4th
Cavalry 159
Sixty-seventh Pa. Vols 126
Eoster 160
Sloan, H. K 389
Smicksburg Borough 543
Presbyterian Church 233
Smith. E. Walker 393
Smithport (Hortons P. O.) . . . 439
Christian Church 359
M. E. Church 355
Smyerstown 483
Smyrna U. P. Church 340
Snyder, Antes 460, 481
Soils 70
Soldiers. Civil War, Miscellane-
ous List 174
Soldiers' Monument, Saltsburg 508
South Mahoning Township —
Plumville Borough 538
Spanish- American War 182
Spinning Wheels 24
St. Bernard Catholic Church.. 281
St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church 997
St. Francis' Catholic Church. 943
SS. Simon and Jude's Cath-
olic Church 282
St. Mark 's U. E. Church 346
St. Paul 's Evan. Luth. Church 304
Stagecoaches 46
Stakes Evangelical Association 346
Stanard, Daniel 384
John 387
Starf ord 497
State Normal School 226
Roads 47
Steel, Stewart 386
Stewart, Ernest 394
William M 385
W. L 392
Stewartsville (Parkwood P.
O.) ,. 435
Stores and Trade 35
Stranford 457
Stratigraphy, Carboniferous
System 57, 75
Strongstown 552
M. E. Church 351
Presbyterian Church 246
Stuchell', John T 392
Subsistence by Hunting 23
Surveyors —
District, Deputy, County... 108
Susquehanna U. P. Church... 338
Sutton, Thomas, Sr 386
Tannery Village 435
Tanoma 558
Taylor, Alexander 386
A. W 386
David Blair 391
John S 393
Matthew 386
Taylorsville (Utah P. O.) . . . . 515
Teachers ' Institute, First
County 210
Teachers " Institutes —
Conemaugh 211, 213
County 213
Washington Township .... 213
White Township 214
Telford, Judge S. J 384, 392
P.\QE
Thirty-eighth Pa. A'ols., 9th
Beserves 109
Roster 144
Thompson, John 14
Joseph M 388
Todd. William A 386
Tomahawk Eights 14
Tomb, D. H 393
Topography 56
Townships, List of 96
Armstrong — Shelocta Bor-
ough 432
Banks— Glen Campbell Bor-
ough 438
Blacklick 445
Brushvalley — Mechanics-
liurg Borough 449
Buffington 452
Burrell 455
Canoe 482
Center— Homer City Bor-
ough 484
Cherryhill — Clymer Borough 492
Conemaugh — Saltsbur'g Bor-
ough 499
Grant 511
Green 513
Mahoning, East — Marion
Center Borough 517
North 527
South— Plumville Borough 538
West — Smicksburg Bor-
ough 542
Montgomery — Cherrytree
Borough 546
Pine 552
Rayne 556
Washington — Creekside
Borough 559
Wheatfield, East — Armagh
Borough 561
Wheatfield, West 566
White 571
Young — Jacksonville Bor-
ough 572
Trade and Stores 35
Nature of 36
Trade City P. O. (Davids-
ville) 527
Evan. Luth. Church 306
Transportation, Early Cost of. 45
Travel, Modes of 40
Treasurers, County 106
Tunkers or Duniers 362
Tunnelton (Kelly's Station). 500
Presbyterian Church 262
Twelfth Reserves, 41st Pa.
Vols 112
Roster 150
Two Hundred and Sixth Pa-
Vols 140
Roster 171
Twolick Baptist Church 292
Mission 293
Underbrushing and Logging. . 17
Underground Railroad in In-
diana County 191
Union Presbyterian Church,
Ernest . . . ." 281
HISTORICAL INDEX
PAGE
United Brethren Churches. . . 359
Evangelical Association . . . 343
Presbyterian Church 314
Presbyterian Churches .... 317
Urey 439
Utah P. O. (Taylorsville) 515
Veterans of Indiana County. 109
Walker, James H 468, 476
Wallace Mill and Fort . . 8, 445, 460
War of 1814, Incidents of . . . . 185
Washington Presbyterian
Church ■ 242
Township — Creekside Bor-
ough 559
Township Teachers ' Insti-
tutes 213, 559
Water 70
Waterman 488
Watson, M. C 391
Weather, Changes in The Sys-
tem of 79
Meteorological Eecord, 1911
and 1912 83
PAGE
Wedding, An Early 26
Wehrum 453
M. E. Church 355
Weir, Hugh W 387
\vesleyan Methodist Churches. 360
West Indiana Borough 404
West Lebanon 573
Baptist Church 294
Presbyterian Church 261
West Mahoning Township —
Smicksburg Borough .... 542
West Penn (Conemauo-h) Di-
vision, Pa. R. B 44, 481
West Union United Presbyter-
ian Church 333
West Wheatfield Township .... 566
Wbeatfield Townships —
East — Armagh Borough. . . . 561
West 566
White, Judge Harry 384, 387
Judge Thomas 383, 385
Township Teachers' Insti-
tute 214
Township .571
Wiggins, Coulter 389
PAGE
Wilderness, The 1
WiUet P. O. (Marlin's Mills) 560
Gas Field 68, 559
Wilson, A. W 393
Hall — N o r m a 1 Training
School 226
John E 390
E. M 393
Witchcraft Delusion 33
Wolf Hunt 17
Wool Wheel 24
Y. M. C. A., Indiana 410
Building 411
Blairsville 470
Young, Judge John 383
Joseph J 385
Township — Jacksonville Bor-
ough 572
Zion Evangelical Association. . 344
Evan. Luth. Church. .. .299, 722
Evan. Luth. Church, Ger-
many 312
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
Abel, William 1465
Aekerson Families ....1106, 1178
Ackerson, James W 1220
Aekerson, Dr. Lewis E 1178
Ackerson, William E 1106
Adams, Alexander M 1 339
Adams, Mrs. Amanda 1423
Adams Family 1339
Adams, Lert 1297
Adams, William W 1423
Ake, Jacob G 976
Ake, James Dowler 976
Albert, Leslie E 1430
Alexander Family 813
Alexander, Eay M., M. D 813
Allison, Alexander H., M. D.. 8.51
Allison, Elmer W 818
Allison Families 819, 851, 957
Allison, Harry E 955
Altemus Families 1117, 1336
Altemus, Mrs. Jennie 1274
Altemus, Mathias S 1338
Altemus, Newton G 1117
Altemus, Mrs. Terzah P 1118
Altemus, W. H 1274
Altemus, William W 1337
Altimus Family 780
Altimus, Nicho"las D 780
Amond, Charles E 1122
Amend Families 10.36, 1122
Amond, Frank C 1036
Anderson Family 1395
Anderson, John C 1395
Ankeny, Edmund K 1199
Ansley, Edward M 816
Ansley Family 801, 816
Anslev, Dr. William B 801
Anthony Families 1058, 1307
Anthony, John J 1307
Anthony. Simon 1058
Archibald Family 610
Archibald. John P 610
Armstrong, Andrew 1453
Armstrong Family 1377
Armstrong, Isaac N 1377
Arnold Family 995
Arnold, John'N 995
Askins Family 771
Askins, Wesley 771
Aul Family 1294
Aul, Thomas H 1294
Auld Family 1399
Auld, John M 1399
Badger, Ferguson W 1130
Badger, William 1130
Baker, Andrew P 707
Baker Family 707
Baker, George 1356
Baker, Hezekiah W 1356
PAGE
Baker, Samuel F ' 1443
Banks, John N 389, 605
Barber, Ezekiel A 1505
Barber Family 1505
Barbour, Arthur L 1090
Barbour, Augustus F 1090
Barbour, William 1090
Barclay, Alexander M 1396
Barkley Family 1222
Barkley, John" M 1222
Barnet't Family 1344
Barnett, Samuel 1344
Baron, Eev. Anthony 986
Baroon Family ' 1376
Baroon, Haryey H 1376
Barrett Families 1140
Barrett, John D 1574
Barrett, William E 1140
Barron, Albert M 998
Barron Family 998
Bartholomew Family 1583
Bartholomew, Jacob 1583
Bash Family 1142
Bash, William Dripps 1142
Baughman Family 1335
Baughman, Jonas B 1334
Baun, Dayid 1463
Baun Family 1463
Baun. Henry 1204
Baun, Joseph G 1204
Beam, John 1150
Beatty Family 1077
BeattV, James A 1077
Beck," Elmer C 1586
Beck Family 1586
Bee, Daniel H 1246
Bee Families 1246, 1448
Bee, Jacob 1149
Bee, John A 1149
Bee, Leroy 1448
Bell Families 867, 884
Bell, J. J 1091
Bell, John T 393, S67
Bell, Milton S 884
Bence. Charles L 1206
Bence Families 958, 1207
Bence, George 1450
Bence, Henry 1450
Benoe. John L 958
Bennett, Abraham B 1521
Bennett, Archie A 1526
Bennett Families
991. 1139, 1.521, 1526, 1.543
Bennett, Harry W 1139
Bennett, John 659
Bennett, Xorris W 1543
Bennett. Peter 658
Berkeypile, Hezekiah 1251
Berke.ypile, Steele 1252
xiii
PAGE
Best Family 1092
Best, Martin W 1092
Bier, John J 1319
BUlingslee Family 1065
Billingslee. Thomas F 1065
Bishop, John 1321
Black, Adam 699
Black Family 699
Black. John 1159
Black. Solomon 1159
Blackburn. Enos E 1420
Blair FamUy 679
Blair, Hon. John P 388, 679
Blakley Family 1566
Blue, Dayid 1593
Blue, John 1593
Boden Family 918
Boden, Todd E., M.D 918
Boggs Family 1070
Boggs, Harry Austin 1070
Bolar Family 1250
Bolar, John A 1250
Bostic, Edward K 1214
Bostic, Jacob 1214
Bothel, James 816
Bothel, Nelson M 816
Boucher Families. .805, 1035, 1205
Boucher, Harry K 1205
Boucher, John 1 1035
Boucher. Joseph T 805
Boyard Family 920
Bovard, James C 920
Bowers, Abraham 1401
Bowers Family 1294
Bowers. George W 1401
Bowers, John S 1294
Bowser, Anderson 876
Bowser Family 1554
Bowser. Dr, William E 876
Bowser, Wilson M 1554
Boyer Family 1097
BoVer. Harrison B 1097
Brandon Family 892
Brandon, Thomas J 892
Braughler Family 1285
Braughler, George S 1285
Brickell Family 1091
Brickell, George A 1091
Bricker, John G 1458
Bricker, Phaip 14.58
Brilhart Family 883
Brilhart, William W 883
Brinkman. WiUiam 1333
Brody, Solomon 1199
Brown, Chester A 1284
Brown, Daniel 1078
Brown Families
1137. 1282, 1387, 1402
Brown, Harry Y 1283
Brown, Herbert M 1402
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
Brown, Jacob 1137
Brown, Michael E 1347
Brown, Samuel F 1387
Brown, Thomas C 1348
Brown, William J 1283
Brownlee, Eev. J. Day. 319, 325, 625
Bryan Family 893
Bryan, John E 893
Buchanan Families .. .645, 750, 794
Buchanan, George T 750
Buchanan, Harvey S 794
Buchanan, William L 645
Buehman, Robert 1597
Burgess, Joseph H 1072
Burkett, Harry W '. 1501
Burkett, Jacob 1501
Burkett, J. & Son 1501
Burkhart Family 829
Burkhart, Jesse W 829
Burns Family 1034
Burns, Harry E 1133
Bustnell, E. M., M. D 984
Buterbaugh, Amariah N 1015
Buterbaugh, Amos L 1433
Buterbaugh Families 1015
1295, 1302, 1369, 1400, 1433, 1557
Buterbaugh, George M 1361
Buterbaugh, George W 1400
Buterbaugh, Harry E 1295
Buterbaugh, Howard B., M. D.1557
Buterbaugh, John 1492
Buterbaugh, John H 1302
Buterbaugh, Levi M 1487
Buterbaugh, William H. (son
of Levi M.) 1487
Buterbaugh, William H 1369
Butler Family 1172
Butler, George W 1172
Butler, John H 1207
Butler, Eichard 1123
Butler, Mrs. Sadie J 1124
Butler, Samuel 1123
Cable, Benjamin 1517
Cable Family 1518
Calderwood, Andrew 1408
Calderwood, Eobert 1450
Calderwood, Samuel 1408
Calderwood, Ward 1450
Calhoun, Alexander P 1472
Calhoun, Mrs. Annie R 1113
Calhoun Families. . 733, 1004, 1155
Calhoun, Jefferson C 733
Calhoun, William L 1155
Calhoun, William E 1004
Calhoun, William T 1444
Cameron, Dr. Clark J 881
Cameron Family 8S1
Cameron, John G 954
Camp Family 854
Camp, Francis B 853
Campbell, Adam 1131
Campbell, A. W 905
Campbell, Prof. Christopher
A 943
Campbell, Clement L 1177
Campbell, Cornelius 643
Campbell, Elsworth B 992
Campbell Families
897, 905, 968, 992
1073, 1131, 1177, 1190, 1239, 1440
Campbell, James 943
PAGE
Campbell, James S 1239
Campbell, Joe J 1072
Campbell, John 1055
Campbell, John G., M. D 1073
Campbell, Joseph L 1190
Campbell, Robert S 1132
Campbell, Thomas P 1440
Campbell, William H 896
Carnahan Families. . .684, 895, 920
Carnahan, Israel 895
Carnahan, Michael L 684
Carnahan, William S 920
Carney, Emerson R 1265
Carney Family 1166
Carney, Milton 1166
Carr Family 1481
Carr, John C 1481
Carson Families 888, 1552
Carson, Harry 1552
Carson, John M 888
Cessna Family 1528
Cessna, George W 1120
Cessna, Milton E.' 1528
Cessna, Richard C 1120
Chapman Family 837
Chapman, James 837
Churchill Families 1288, 1544
Churchill, Dr. Merton E 1544
Churchill, Philander 1288
Clark, Armor P 888
Clark Families
..676, 686, 787, 888, 1032, 1112
Clark, Harry E 688
Clark, John W 686
Clark, Joseph 0 688
Clark, Samuel L 689
Clark, Hon. Silas M., LL.D.388, 676
Clark, Thomas B 1112
Clawson, Benjamin 1188
Clawson, Boyd J 1189
Clawson Families 1188, 1459
Clawson, Gere 1189
Clawson, Thomas P 1459
Cline Family 761
Cline, Harry A 762
Cline, John H 76a
Clowes, Austin W 8519.
Clowes Family 859'
Coble, Epyrus 1286
Coe, Benjamin F., M. D 637
Coe Family 637
Coleman, C. B. C 966
Coleman, Eev. Elijah 1212
Coleman Families . .966, 1017, 1212
Coleman, Samuel C 1017
Coleman, Wesley B 1212
Compton, Edward C 1579
Compton Family 1579
Compton, Jackson A 1328
Condron Family 1329
Condron, James A 1329
Conner Family 10.^3
Conner, Jacob C 1033
Conrad Family 1 023
Conrad, Franklin G 1023
Conrath Families 1079, 1506
Conrath, George A 1079
(!onrath, Eoy 1506
Coon Family 1482
Coon, Samuel G 1482
Cooper, Era.smus R 1091
Cooper, John F 1091
Cooper, Naum 1486
Coy Family 1072
Cramer Families 660, 1424
Cramer, Joseph 660
Cramer, Eobert G 661
Cramer, Thomas W 661
Cramer, William E 1424
Cramer, Wilson 660
Cranmer, Carl B., M. D 1026
Cranmer FamUy 1027
Craven Family 986
Craven, Mrs. Martha 986
Craven, Thomas 986
Crawford Families
770
1293
1086
901
Crawford, Miss Mary B
Crawford, Max
Crawford, Samuel
Crawford, William B
Crawford, William H
Creamer Family
Creamer, Thompson
Creps, Elbie E 395^
Crops Family
Cribbs Family
Cribbs, George W
Cribbs, John
Cribbs, Joseph M
Croasmiin, Everett L
Croasmun Families 1410,
Croasmun, Miles
Cronk, Charles
Cronk, James
Crofsman, Asa
Grossman, James A
Grossman, Samuel A
Cumings Family
Cumings, Miss Margaret B . .
Cummins, Andrew J
Cummins Family
Cunningham, Alphonse
Cunningham, David I
Cunningham Families
627, 719, 996,
Cunningham, Eobert H
Cunningham, S. Roy
Cunningham, Thomas D
Curfman, George H
Daugherty Family 829
Daugherty, John W 1425
Daugherty. William S 829
Davis, Alvin 1 1238
Davis, Cameron 1504
Davis, David W 1281
Davis, Evan G 1340
Davis Families 681, 1238, 1281
1340, 1348, 1428, 1504, 1539
Davis, John L 1539
Davis, Price 1428
Davis, William H 1348
Davis, Wilson C 681
Davison Family 814
Davison, James C 814
Deabenderfer, John 1441
Deabenderf er, Lewis 1441
Decker, Christopher 1348
Decker, Peter E 1348
DeLancey Family 808
DeLancey, Jacob O.. 808
DeVinney Family 945
1226
1226
830
830
1394
1394
1415
1415
1410
879
879
1403
1495
1495
914
914
1051
627
1051
996
997
719
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
DeA'iiiney, James D 945
DeVinney, George C 947
Devlin Family 1227
Devlin, William 1227
Dick, David H 1028
Dick, Dinsmore 1011
Dick Families 1011, 1028, 1549
Dick, George H 1549
Dick, Jacob M 1123
Dick, Jacob P 1123
Dick, Martin H 1424
Dickie Families. . .632, 1125, 1564
Dickie, George C 632
Dickie, Joseph Dixon 1125
Dickie, William H 1564
Dill, Benson S 692
Dill Family 689
Dill, Harry R 692
Dilts Family 1590
Dilts, Eobert H 1590
Dinger, Elmer E 1585
Dinger Family 1585
Dixon Family 809, 1262
Dixon, James 809
Donahey, Benjamin F 1417
Donahey Families. .859, 1293, 1417
Donahey, .James H 1292
Donahey, Theodore JI S59
Dormire Family 1324
Dormire, Jacob 1324
Dorn Family 1150
Dorn, John 1150
Doty Families 652, 951, 1240
Doty, Gillis M 951
Doty, John 1240
Douds, David W 609
Douds Family 607
Douds, James B 608
Douds, Samuel W 607
Dougherty Family 1451
Dougherty, Joseph 1451
Douglas. James C 1272
Douglass Families. .896, 1270, 1578
Douglass, John E 1270
Douglass, Johnathan 1578
Douglass, Samuel A 387, 896
Dowler Family 864
Dowler, Harry P 864
Dreese (Treese) Family 1499
Dugan, Thomas 627
Duncan, Andrew 1481
Duncan, Archie W 1464
Duncan Families
629, 13.55, 1464, 1481, 1535
Duncan, Thomas B 15.35
Duncan, William 1355
Dunlap, Clark 1194
Dunlap Family 1194
Dunlap, Thomas 1102
Dunsmore, William D 741
Dwyer, Edward 650
Earhart, Dr. E. Bruce 634
Earhart Family 635
Edmunds, Edward 1320
Elbel, Charles E 1418
Elbel, Charles W 1418
Elbel Family 1141
Elbel, George H 1141
Elder, Aaron W 917
Elder Families 917, 960
Elder, Eobert Y 960
P.iGE
Elkin Families 593, 766, 838
Elkin, Francis 594
Elkin, Hon. John P 392, 590
Elkin, William F 394. 766
EUiott Family 1118
Elliott, Harry M 1118
Emeriek Families 1075, 1483
Emeriek, Harvey C 1075
Emeriek, Eobert L 1483
Empfield, Edward 1421
Empfield Families ....1248, 1421
Empfield, William H 1248
English, Hugh Craig 799
Evans, Benjamin F 913
Evans Families
773, 878, 913, 1053, 1252
Evans, John S 878
Evans, Josiah G 1252
Evans, Samuel W 1053
Evans, Mrs. Sarah 1054
Evans, William A., M. D 644
Evans, William A 772
Everhart Family 1002
Everwine, Jacob 1550
Everwine. Jacob J 1550
Ewing, Alexander 663
Ewing Family 1413
Ewing, Eobert A 1413
Ewing, Rev. William D
334, 339, 662
Fair Families 882, 1164
Fair, James 600
Fair, E. Willis, M. S.. Ph. D. 600
Fair, William M 882
Faloon, Alexander 1360
Faloon Family 1360
Farabaugh, Charles G 1396
Farnsworth Family 1228
Farnsworth, John 1228
Farri, Rev. Emilio 1331
Fassett, Emory 1589
Fassett. Leonard K 1589
Fee Family 923
Fee, Harry W 394, 923
Fennell Family 1036
Fennell, Harvey H 1589
Fennell, John A 1036
Fenton Family 1485
Fenton, William H 14S5
Ferguson, Charles D 904
Ferguson Families 904, 1581
Ferguson, W. Sherman 1581
Ferrier, Andrew C 1215
Ferrier Family 1215
Fetterhoff Family 1420
Fetterhof?, John W 1420
Findley Families 775, 1005
Findlev, James G 1005
Findley, William H 775
Fiscus," Alexander 1221
Fiscus, Mrs. Mary E 1221
Fi.«her, Alva C 1018
Fisher Families.638, 812, 1018, 1218
Fisher, Henry A 1218
Fisher, James G., M. D 812
Fisher, Hon. John S 393, 638
Fleck, Mrs. E. M 824
Fleck Family 824
Fleck, Henry M 824
Fleeger, Albert P 1389
Fleming, David A 1508
PAGE
Fleming Families
993, 1335, 1508
Fleming, Francis J 1407
Fleming, George H 1407
Fleming, James G 993
Fleming, Robert F 993
Fleming, Ross S 1335
Fleming, Thomas H 693
Flickinger Family 807
Flickinger, Harry 490, 807
Foose, John 1469
Foster, Andrew 1406
Fouts Family 1544
Fouts, Taylor W 1544
Frantz Family 1081
Frantz. Jacob 1082
Frantz, James D 1084
Frantz, Thomas H 1083
Frasher, Elmer F., M. D.... 926
Frasher Family 926
Freeh Family 811
Freeh, Peter 811
Fry Families 1276, 1589
Fry, Kinter 1276
Fry, Oliver C 1589
Fulton, Clyde E 1490
Fyoek Families 857
Fvock, Rev. John W 857
Fyock, Samuel L 1-366
Gailey Family 952
Gailey, Samuel 952
Gallagher, Jacob A 1315
Gallaher Family 1476
Gallaher, Dr. John W 1476
Gamble Family - 908
Gamble, George F 908
Gardner, Charles H., M. D. .. 798
Gardner Families. .797, 1133, 1532
Gardner, James 797
Gardner, John B 1133
Gardner, William S 1532
Gates Family 889
Gates, William D., M. D 889
George Families
825, 835, 1225, 1462
George. John P 1225
George, Joseph W 1461
George, Walter B 825
George, William H 835
Gerhard, Jacob F 1185
Gessler. Charles U 1122
Gessler, Mrs. Hannah 1122
Getty Family 989
Getty. James S 989
Getty, Samuel J 1243
Gibson, Mrs. Elizabeth 739
Gibson Families 770, 1358
Gibson, Ira E 770
Gibson, Irving W 1358
Gibson, James 1060
Gibson, Samuel S 739
Gilbert, Luman 1181
Gilbert Family 1181
Gill, John E 1323
Gillespie, Amos E 922
Gillespie Family 1274
Glass Family 1084
Glass. Thomas Burns 1034
Glass, William A 1084
Glasser Family 1542
Glasser, John F 1542
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
Glenn, Daniel 1121
Glenn, Joseph 1121
Glenn, Joseph J 1480
Glenn, William A 1480
Golden Family 1560
Golden, Mabry J 1560
Gordon Family 1313
Gorman, Clinton D 791
Gorman Families 791, 1468
Gorman, John W 1468
Gourley Family 693
Gourley, John C, M. D 693
Graff Family 711
Graff, George W 1429
Graff, Henry 711
Graff, James G 713
Graff, Sumner 713
Graham, Allen S 1289
Graham Families
694, 1289, 1529, 1523
Graham, James 694
Graham, James B 1523
Graham, William J 1529
Gray, Alexander 1392
Green, Elisha 899
Green Family 899
Green, Jame's B 899
Greiner, George W 1447
Greiner, John A 1157
Greiner, William 1157
Griffith, A. B 1457
Griffith, Charles 1357
Griffith, Charles R 713
Griffith, Evan W 1555
Griffith Families 713
866, 1039, 1191, 1354, 1357, 1457
Griffith, George S 866
Griffith, Henry S 1354
Griffith, Stephen B 1039
Griffith, Thomas 1555
Griffith, William 1191
Grubbs Family 1563
Grubbs, John M.. M. D 1563
Grumbling Family 1060
Grumbling, Hudson R 1060
Hadden Family 1456
Hadden, James W 1456
Hahn, Mrs. Annie 1006
Hahn, Louis J 1006
Hall, Willis D., M. D 1579
Hamilton, Aubrey M 1224
Hamilton Families
806, 826, 1099, 1265, 1412
Hamilton, Stewart S 1412
Hamilton, William A 1099
Hamilton, William S 806
Hamilton, William W 1224
Hanna Family 1592
Hanna, James A 1591
Harbison, Alexander M 1046
Harbison, Mrs. Elizabeth .... 864
Harbison Families. 863, 1030, 1046
Harbison, John 863
Harbison, Joseph W 1030
Harbison, Miss Martha J 864
Harbison, William W 1048
Harmon, Clair G., M. D 1172
Hart Family 1375
Hart, Harry H 1375
Hart. Mrs. John A 1039
Harvey Family 752
P.\GE
Harvey, Nathan C 752
Hastings, Carl M 629
Hastings Families 629, 1208
Hastings, Reuben 1208
Hawes, Boyd W 875
Hawes Family 875
Hay Family 721
Hay, Rev. Lewis, D. D 301, 721
Hazlett Families 1516, 1517
Hazlett, George W 1517
Hazlett, James M 1516
Hazlett, Samuel C 1264
Hedden, Manley J 1500
Hefflick, David 1468
Hefflick, John 0 1467
Heilman, Elmer E., M. D 1001
Henderson, Mrs. Elizabeth G. 885
Henderson Families
617, 885, 965
Henderson, John W 885
Henderson, Joseph A 965
Henderson, Samuel C 1457
Henry, Daniel B 1460
Henry FamiUes 657, 934, 1460
Henry, Hon. James T 657
Henry, Matthew H 934
Herbison Family 1 135
Hess, Albert H 1095
Hess Family 1095
Hess, George 1053
Hess, George F 1404
Hewitt, Irvin A 729
Hicks, Abram 1135
Hicks FamUies 1135, 1441
Hicks, Lawrence 1441
Hildebrand Family 1001
Hildebrand, Thonias E 1001
Hileman, Charles E 1210
Hileman Families 1055, 1211
Hileman, James M 1055
Hill Families 810, 873
Hill, Rev. George, D. D. ,236, 810
Hill, William B 873
Hines, Albert J 1436
Hines, Celestian 1416
Hines Family 1436
Hines, Joseph 1390
Hines, Roy J 1390
Hoffman, Henry 1025
Hoffman, Milton 1352
Hollis Paipily 735
Hollis, MeClellan 735
Hollsaple, Joseph 1123
Hood Family 648
Hood, James 648
Hood, Robert J 649
Hoover, A. Clifford 963
Hoover Family 963
Hoover, Fred 1377
Hoover, George W 1066
Hoover, John T 1066
Hopkins Family 938
Hopkins. William W 938
Horton Family 666
Hotham, Brentwood H. De
Vere, M. D 1301
Houek Fainilies 1041, 1155
Houck, George F 957
Houck, Henry 1016
Houck, J. Ward 1041
Housholder, John R 1556
Housholder, Solomon 1556
PAGE
Houston Family 959
Houston, William 959
Howard, Daniel 753
Howard Family 753
Hughes Family 1551
Hughes, Thomas A 1551
Hunter, Alexander 1583
Hunter Families 856, 1454
Hunter, George, M. D 856
Hunter, Kinley 1453
Hutchison Family 1176
Hutchison, James J 1176
Imbrie Family 828
Imbrie, Rev. James M 828
Irwin, Samuel 1116
Irwin, William W 1116
Jack Families 606, 1002
Jack, Hon. Summers M..391, 606
Jack, William B 1004
Jackson, Walter H 927
Jacoby, John 1470
Jacoby, William 1471
Jamieson, Rev. John 329, 931
Jamison, William 1144
Jeffries Family 743
Jeffries, George H 743
Johns, William, M. D 1093
Johns, Wilson P 1093
Johnston, Dr. Alexander. . . . 647
Johnston, Alexander E 647
Johnston Family 903
Johnston, J. Milton 903
Johnston, Stephen A 646
Joiner, George M 1101
Jones Family 922
Jones, John R 1401
Jordan Family 1109
Jordan, Joseph A 1109
Jordan, Robert 1109
Kametz, Andrew 1488
Kanarr Family 1257, 1290
Kanarr, Jacob 1214
Kanarr, Moses 1290
Kanarr, Simon T 1257
Kauffman Family 1166
Kauffman, James S 1166
Kaufman, Michael 1479
Kaufman, Samuel 1479
Keagle, George S 1475
Keeley, James M 937
Keely, Daniel 936
Keelv Family 936
Keibler, E. j. (John E.)....1525
Keibler Family 1525
Keith Families 1413, 1545
Keith, George 1545
Keith, Jeremiah 1413
Kelly Families 1305, 1596
Kellv, George W 1305
Kelly, Henry C 1596
Kennedy Family 1114
Kennedy, Sylvester 0 1114
Kerr, Albert C 1594
Kerr Families
1202, 1426, 1.542, 1594
Kerr, John W 1426
Kerr, Mrs. Mary 1594
Kerr, Thomas 962
Kerr, Thomas C 1201
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
Kerr, William 1542
Killin, Capt. Daniel 1044
KiUin Family 1044
Killin, Mr8. Nancy T 1045
Kimple, Capt. William 1284
King Families 1156, 1570
King, Isaac Norman 1156
King, Samuel T 1381
King, William J 1570
Kingston, Isadora 1488
Kinnan Family 1111
Kinnan, John T 1111
Kinter, Mrs. Elisabeth 1199
Kinter Families
630, 742, 974, 1105, 1198
Kinter, Herbert P 742
Kinter, Capt. John 974
Kinter, Capt. John A 631
Kinter, Peter W 1198
Kinter, P. Watson 975
Kinter, Mrs. Sophia A 1106
Kinter, WUliam H 1105
Kirkwood, James S 1249
Kish, Frank 1385
Kissinger Family 1502
Kissinger, William 1502
Kleinstub, Herman 1317
Kline Family 847
Kline, George K 847
Klingensmith Family 1438
Klingensmith, Matthias T 1438
Knauf, Henry W 1025
Knox Family 1233
Koontz Family 1497
Koontz, Homer W 1497
Krider Family 973
Krider, Samuel A 973
Kunkle, Calvin S 1119
Kunkle Family 1119
Kunkle. John "C 1262
Kunkle, Lowry C 1244
Kunkle, Mrs. Sarah E 1262
Lafferty, John P 987
Laney, John 1278
Lang, Aaron W 1291
Langham Families 654, 1243
Langham, Harvey B 1248
Langham, Jonathan N 393, 654
Langham, Sharp S 1243
Lariff, Harry 1489
Laughry Family 1009
Laughry, Johnson L 1009
Lawrence Family 1376
Lawrence, William S 1376
Leard Family 822
Leard, Zachariah 823
Learn Families 1080, 1491
Learn, Frank H 1080
Learn, Oakley E 1491
Leasure, David C 1209
Leasure, Mrs. Evaline 1209
Leasure Families 702,
1215, 1216, 1533
Leasure, John C 702
Leasure, John W 1533
Leasure, Samuel B 1216
Leib, Paul 1499
Lemke, Charles 1372
Lemke, Lewis W 1373
Lemmon Families 1124, 1269
Lemon Family 1359
Lemon, John G 1359
P.\QE
Leonard, Miss Jane E. . . .227, 853
Lettie Family 1029
LeVine, Sol 1488
Levinson, Harry 1596
Lewis, Enoch F 1104
Lewis, Estell B., M. D 1556
Lewis, Capt. Even 1266
Lewis Families 1012, 1104
...1237, 1266, 1322, 1536, 1556
Lewis, Hugh P 1012
Lewis, John 1322
Lewis, Samuel 1237
Lewis, Thomas S 1536
Liggett Families 944, 1356
Liggett, J. Nelson 1356
Liggett, WiUiam N 394, 944
Lightcap, Mrs. Elizabeth S..1134
Lightcap Families 1134, 1510
Lightcap, J. Scott 1510
Lightcap, Samuel 1134
Lightner, Joseph F 1447
Limrick, Andrew J 141 1
Ling, Benjamin F 1157
Ling Family 1157
Lingle, Chester M 680
Lingle Family 680
Lintner, D. Elliott 1128
Lintner Families 1127, 1341
Lintner, Joseph P 1341
Lintner, Miss Mary 1 1128
Lintner, William 1127
Liptak, George 1503
Little Family 1235
Little, William S 1235
Llovd Family 1051
Lockard, Elsworth M 839
Lockard Family 839
Long, Archibald A 1505
Long Families
685, 1313, 1505, 1514
Long, Henry H 1313
Long, Jesse M 1164
Long, Jesse B 1164
Long, Thomas H 685
Long, William T 1514
Longwill Families 1216, 1439
Longwill, J. Clair 1439
Longwill, John S 1216
Lore, James 1470
Lore, John H 1470
Lose, James E 1189
Lose Family 1189
Loughry Family 1347
Loughry, Joseph H 1347
Loughry, Mrs. Martha B 1347
Loughry, Miss Mary E 597
Loughry, James A 598
Loughry, Samuel L 598
Loughry, W. R 604
Lower Family 1592
Lower, William H 1592
Lowman, George 1519
Lowman Families 1472, 1519
Lowman, Hugh 1472
Lowrv Family 663
Lowry, Horace M 663
Lucas Families 1287, 1306
Lucas, Samuel S 1287
Lucas, Thomas 1306
Lukehart Family 1532
Lukehart, Wallace E 1533
Lukehart, William L 1532
PAGE
Lute, Frederick 1471
Lute, Harvey S 1471
Lydic, Chapman 1450
Lydic, Elmer 1498
Lydic Family 1444
Lydic, William H 1444
Lydick, Azariah J 1277
Lydick, EUiott 'M 1382
Lydick Families
871, 890, 1277, 1382, 1427
Lydick, Harry E 890
Lydick, John P 1427
Lydick, Joseph 871
Lynn Family 1558
Lynn, Thomas S 1558
Lyons Family 958
Lytle Families 998, 1455
Lytle, John H 1455
Lytle, Robert 1056
Lytle, WiUiam B 998
McAfoos, Benjamin M 1021
McAfoos, George F 1021
McAfoos, Mrs. Mary E 1021
McAnulty, Asa E 1552
McAnulty Family 1552
McCartney FamUies 664, 1223
McChesney, Robert, M. D 697
McChesney, William A., M. D.
374, 697
McClaran Family 873
McClaran, Joseph A 872
McClaran, Hon. WUliam 1001
McComb Families 663, 1038
McComb, Gen. James 662
McComb, John 1039
McCormick Family 848
McCormick, John B 542, 848
McCormick, John B., Home of 848
McCormick, John B., in his
Workshop 848
McCormick, Mrs. S. J . 1393
McCormick, Winfield S 1393
McCoy, Columbus 874
McCoy Families 874, 1442
McCoy, Samuel A 1442
McCraeken Family 804
McCracken, Joseph J 804
MrCrea, Dr. Chalmers S 717
McCrea FamUy '.1088
McCrea, Gilbert T 716
McCrea, Robert E 717
McCrea, Thompson C 1088
McCrea, William P 1090
McCreary Family 718
McCreary, Harry 718
McCreery FamOy 1584
McCreery, John G 1584
McCrory Family 832
McCror>, John G 832
McCuUough, Andrew W 886
McCuUough Families
886, 975, 1305
McCuUough, G<!orge W 1305
McCuUough, Harmon L., M. D. 975
McCune, George J 1462
McDonnell Family 1100
McDonneU. Simon 1100
McElhoes Family 870
McElhoes, James S 870
McFarland, Clifford 1135
McFarland Families
676, 1135, 1561
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
McFarland, Maj. Irvin 604
McFarland, John E 1561
McFarland, Wmiam 1135
McPeaters, Charles A 1365
McFeaters Families 1334, 1365
McFeaters, John M 1334
MeFeatters, Miss Clara E. . . .1573
McFeatters, James S 1572
MeFeatters, John A 1572
McGaughey, Mrs. Elizabeth J . 1437
MeGaughey Family 1437
McGaughey, Joseph 1437
McGee Family 5S8
McGee, John 588
McGee, Mrs. Sarah H 589
McGovern, Peter J 715
McGregor Families 698, 941
McGregor, James C 697
McGregor, William H 941
McGuire, John H 1171
McGuire Family 962, 1171
McGuire, Levi 962
McHenry, Mrs. Clara 1026
McHenry, E. Quay, M. D 723
McHenry Families
723, 880, 1438, 1519, 1587
McHenry, John 1026
McHenry, Ealph F., M. D 880
McHenry, Samuel E 1519
McHenry, Smith M 1026
McHenry, U. S. Grant 1587
McHenry, William Simpson. .1438
McHenry, William 1511
Mclsaac Family 855
Mclsaac, Hugh A 855
McKalip Family 1059
McKalip, James T>. . . : 1059
McKee Family 1273
McKee, James A 1273
McKendrick, Mrs. Emma.... 1372
McKendriek Families ..1019, 1371
McKendrick, James 1019
McKendrick, John 1371
McKillip, Miss Anna J 1132
McKillip Families 1132, 1537
McKillip, Hamilton 1132
McKillip, Mrs. Martha . 1538
McKillip, WaUam W 1537
McKnight, Col. Amor A 930
McKnight Family 930
McKnight, James A 613
McKnight, Miss Mary C 613
McKnight, Hon. William J.,
M. D 928
McLain, Capt. Charles 763
McLain Families 701, 763
McLain, Capt. ftawin A 701
McLaughlin Family 898
McLaughlin, Gillis L 899
McLaughlin, John 898
McMillen, Simon 1144
McMiUen, Sylvester 1547
McMillen, William 1144
McNelis, Bev. Neil P 282, 1036
McNutt, Alvin T 865
McNutt Family 865
McQuilkin, Archie S 114S
McQuilkin Family 1148
McQuilkin, William H 827
McQuown Family 968
Mc'Quown, James A 96S
Mabon, Archie W 633
PAGE
Mabon Families 633, 755, 1328
Mabon, Isaac H 755
Mack, David W 741
Mack Families 635,
740, 778, 1006, 1098, 1169, 1369
Mack, George F 741
Mack, Hugh St. Qair 1570
Mack, Jacob W 1569
Mack, James W 1098
Mack, Eobert G 635
Mack, Eobert H 778
Mack, Sylvester S 1008
Mack, Thomas C 1006
Mack, William C 1169
Maguire Family 837
Maguire, Eev. Harry W..311, 837
Mahan Family 948
Mahan, Harry E 948
Mahan, James C 949
Mahan, WUliam H 948
Mallory, Eev. Dr. Ira 0 797
Mankovich, Eev. Paul 1249
Manner, Elmer 1378
Manner Family 1378
Marasco, Anthony 1388
Marasco, Joseph 1388
Mardis, Miss Agnes 731
Mardis, Dr. Benjamin F 730
Mardis Family 729
Mardis, Samuel J 730
Mardis, Samuel L 730
Marshall, Alvertus P 1259
Marshall, Clark G 977
Marshall Families . .789, 977, 1259
Marshall, James F 1261
Marshall, Godfrey 1048
Marshall, Eobert J., M. D. .
373, 789
Marshall, Thomas D 791
Martin Family 1163
Martin, John D 1514
Martin, Mrs. Maria 1514
Martin, William H 1163
Mathews Family 817
Mathews, George H 818
Mayer, Mrs. Olive F 676
Meade, Charles 1165
Meaner Family 1388
Meanor, William P 1388
Meekins, Thomas 1540
Meekins, William H 1540
Metz, Michael 1104
Mikesell Families. 1071, 1168, 1202
Mikesell, John K 1071
Mikesell, John P 1168
Mikesell, Eobert E 1202
Mikesell, Mrs. Sallie E 1168
Millen, Eobert H 1113
Millen, Thomas H 1458
Millen, William A 1113
Miller, Amos S 1411
Miller, Edward A 1161
Miller Families
994, 1027, 1042, 1095, 1161, 1182
1230, 1286, 1344, 1351, 1548
Miller, Herman H 1027
Miller, Isaac K 1095
Miller, Jacob W 1182
Miller, Milton G 994
Miller, Moses B 1548
PAG-E
Miner, Eev. Noble G 1351
Miller, Eobert N 1344
Miller, Samuel M 1042
Miller, WiUiam S 1230
Minser Family 1417
Minser, George A 1417
Minser, Samuel L 1256
Mitchell Families ..653, 785, 1065
Mitchell, James 653
Mitchell, Miss Flora Jane 789
Mitchell, Dr. Eobert. .496, 653, 785
Mitchell, Eobert 789
Mock Family 1541
Mock, Harry C 1541
Mock, Jesse E 142?
Mock, Joseph M 1130
Mock, William H 1429
Moore, Charles H 1165
Moore Families 1165, 1538
Moore, Frank Fisher, M. D. . . 1167
Moore, Henry W 1538
Moore, James C 642
Moore, William 642
Moorhead, Alexander T 757
Moorhead Families 841, 1302
Moorhead, Frank 1302
Moorhead, Joseph 841
Moorhead, Mrs. Mary A 1246
Moorhead, Samuel N 1245
Moreau, Albert F 1125
Moreau Family 1125
Morrow Family 1056
Morrow, John E 1560
Morrow, John W., M. D. .373, 1056
Mulberger Family 1102
Mulberger, Samuel J 1102
Mumau Family 1435
Mumau, Samuel E 1435
Munshower Families ..1300, 1432
Munshower, Samuel 1432
Munshower, William H 1300
Myers Families . .1280. 1387, 1582
Myers, Ira A 1280
Myers, Ira C 1387
Myers, Jacob W 1582
Neal Families
771, 849, 1061, 1115, 1400, 1545
Neal, Harry B., M. D 771
Neal, Hugh K 1115
Neal, John 1538
Neal, John L 1061
Neal, Josiah 1400
Neal, Sharp, Sr 1545
Neal, Thomas S 849
Noaler, Henry 887
Nealer, John 1161
Nealer, John, Deceased 1162
Neeley Family 1563
Neele'y, Hon. WiUiam F 1563
Nelson FamOy 916
Nelson, Ulysses G 916
Nesbitt Families 1068, 1183
Nesbitt, Samuel M 1183
New Family 683
New, George J 683
Nichol, Charles A 735
Nichol Families
735, 1318, 1430, 1492
Nichol, James 1430
Nichol, Wesley W 1318
Nichol, William A 1492
Niel, David T 668
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
Niel Family 668
Niel, James 1398
Niel, John J 139S
Nippes, Chester W. C 1299
Nippes Family 1299
Nippes, J. C 1299
Nisewonger, Andrew 1278
Nisewonger Family 1278
Nixon, Edward 978
Nixon, Miss Fanny W 979
Noerr, George 1527
Nogel, John 1104
Nogel, Mrs. Margaret 1104
North Family 1448
North, Nathaniel S 1448
Norton, Rosooe E., M. D 1397
Notley, Delmont E 922
Notley Family 922
NonTy, James 1 1275
Nowry, Samuel H 995
Nupp' Cyrus 1374
Nupp Families 1370, 1374
Nupp, John M 1370
Oakes, Cliflford J 1354
Oakes Families 984, 1354
Oakes, William E 984
Oatman Family 746
Oatman, Franklin P 746
Oatman, Mrs. S. E 748
Ober, Dayid 1466
Ober, Lewis W 1432
Ober Family 1053
Ober, Joseph 1466
Ober, William S 1431
Oberlin, Curtis A 844
Oberlin Family 842
Oberlin, Harry W 843
Oberlin, William P 842
Ogden, George D 625
Ogden, Capt. George H 624
Ogden, Joseph C 625
Ogden, Mrs. Nancy H 625
Oliver Family 924
Oliver, John S 924
O 'Neill, Clarence B 742
O 'Neill, Edward 753
O'Neill Families 742, 7.53
Orner, Daniel J 1107
Orner Family 1107
Orr Family 670
Orr, James L 670
Ortner, John A 1298
Ortner, John S 1298
Osmun, Earl C 1500
Palmer, Alvin R 1581
Palmer, Anthony A 926
Palmer, Davis A 1016
Palmer Families
1016, 1203, 1342, 1.581
Palmer, Joseph 1253
Palmer, Mrs. Martha M 1253
Palmer, Miss Mary R 926
Palmer, Michael H 1203
Palmer, Samuel 926
Palmer, Samuel M 1342
Park Families 758, 939
Park, John T 939
Park, Dr. Leon N 758
Parnell, Joseph E 954
Parry, Henry 1380
P.\GE
Parry, Judson 1380
Patterson, D. Donald 1145
Patterson, Harry C. W 802
Patterson Families. 802, 1145, 1549
Patterson, John W 1.549
Pattison Family 1467
Pattison, Orrln J 805
Pattison, Robert 1467
Pauch, Charles F 1491
Paul Family 1409
Paul, William H 1409
Paytash, Peter 1437
Pearee, Charles H 1523
Pearce Families 1454, 1523
Pearee, James A 1454
Peddicord, Clark D 1221
Peddicord, J. Wilson 1366
Peffer Family 1478
Peffer, Micheal 1478
Peterman Family 1040
Peterman, James H., M. D..1040
Petraitis, Frank 1496
Pettigrew, Samuel 1391
Pettigrew, Mrs. Sarah A 1391
Pettigrew, Thomas S 1391
Pfordt, Charles C 1513
Phythyan, Frank 1435
Pierce Families 765, 1138
Pierce, John H 765
Pierce, Peter C 1138
Pittman Family 1494
Pittman, Leonard D 1494
Plotzer Family 1479
Plotzer, George W 1479
Plowman, Solomon E 1367
Postlewait Family 1129
Postlewait, J. Scott 1129
Postlewait, Joseph W 1129
Pounds Family 1567
Pounds. John F 1567
Pratt Family 596
Price, David J 1419
Pringle, David R 1474
Pringle Family 1474
Prothero Family 1200
Prothero, Henry 1200
Ramsay, Morris 1110
Earasa.y, William 1110
Rank Family 1032
Rank, Samuel K 1032
Rankin, Charles M 1343
Rankin, David A 1373
Rankin Families
887, 1343, 1373, 1539
Rankin, James B 1098
Rankin, Joseph W 886
Rankin, Matthew T 1097
Rankin, William 1539
Raraigh, David W 839
Raraigh Family 840
Bay Family 682
Ra.v, Hugh D 1454
Ray, Miss Margaret J 1024
Ray, Robert N 682
Ray, Samuel 1024
Ray, William 1454
Reed, Earl D 1498
Reese, George J., M. D. . .372, 665
Reisinger or Risinger Family 639
Rezzolla, John 1500
Rhea, Clarence B 1303
Rhea Family 1303
Ehoads Family 685
Rhoads, Harry P 685
Rhoads, Spencer H 1035
Rhoads, William 1109
Rice Family 1469
Rice, WiUiam B 1469
Richards Family 919
Richards, John J 919
Richards, John R 919
Eichey Family 1391
Eichey, William C 1391
Riddell, Arthur M 644
Riddle Family 983
Riddle, Peter" 983
Rinn, Daniel F 1008
Rinn Family 1008
Eishel, Henry 1232
Risinger, Daniel E 1057
Risinger Families. .639, 1049, 1057
Risinger, James M 641
Risinger, Michael H 1049
Risinger, William P 641
Robinson, A. J. Weir 970
Robinson Families
613, 744, 970, 1045, 1146
Robinson, John W 613
Robinson, Samuel J 1045
Robinson, William E 744
Robinson, William G 1146
Rochester Family 774
Rochester, John H 774
Rodkev, George 1577
Rodkev, John H .1577
Rolley, Robert 1593
Romance, Wasil 1593
Roney Family 861
Eone.y, Henry E 861
Roof, George W 1254
Roof, John H . 1254
Rose Family 1067
Rose, John Calvin 1067
Rose, Samuel W 1192
Roser, Dennis 1077
Eoser Families 1077, 1316
Roser, Fry 1316
Ross Families 988, 1317
Ross, Harry T 1317
Ross, John Smith 988
Eowe, Mrs. Catherine 1297
Rowe, Daniel 1298
Rowe Families... 1069, 1363, 1425
Rowe, George F 1425
Rowe, George L 1363
Rowe, Samuel L 1069
Rowland, Rev. Elias 298, 845
Rowland Family 844
Rowland, John D 1383
Eowland, Rev. Martin L
293-4, 846
Rowland, William S 846
Rowley. Josiah 1.548
Rowley, William W 1549
Ruffner, Dr. Harry E 1573
Ruffner, Joseph R 1573
Rugh Family 965
Rugh, Samuel Truby 965
Runyan, Rev. Andrew B 1187
Runzo, Frank 1596
Rupert Family 1461
Rupert, Hezekiah 1461
Rupp, H. Russell 1384
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
PAGE
Eyall Family 987
Eyall, Eev. George M 255, 987
Sandberg, George E 1345
Sandles Family 1595
Sandles, Harlan P 1595
Sawyer, Peter 1324
Sehall, Reuben E., M. D 891
Schrader, Mrs. Mary A 1080
Schrader, William 1079
Schrader, William' J 1080
Scott Family 622
Scott, John A 392, 622
Seanor Family 695
Seanor, Harrison 695
Sechler Family 1196
Sechler, Joseph G 1196
Serena, Joseph 901
Serena, William B 901
Sexton, Mrs. Alice D 765
Sexton, Daniel 765
Sexton, Jeremiah 764
Shaffer Families 1217, 1846
Shaffer, Frank H 1507
Shaffer, Harry 1373
Shaffer, Jacob 1373
Shaffer, Joseph 1217
Shaffer, Lloyd S 1346
Shank Family 1154
Shank, Harvey W 1154
Shaulis, Edward F., M. D. . . . 907
Shaulis Family 907
Sheaffer, Elliott W 1587
Sheaffer, Henry 1587
Shearer, Samuel 1304
Shearer, Samuel W 1304
ShetHer Family 1220
Sheffler, Samuel 1219
Sherman, Jonathan C 1540
Sherman, John H , 1540
Shields, Adam 1074
Shields Families
861, 1010, 1050, 1074, 1234
Shields, Franklin 0 1010
Shields, George C 1050
Shields, Jay H 861
Shields, Samuel M 1234
Shields, William 1035
Shields, William D 1085
Shields, W. L., M. D 860
Shirley Family 1031
Shirley, Thomas Elgin 1031
Short, Blaine 1405
Short Families 767, 1405, 1586
Short, George M 1586
Short, William J 767
Shultz, Henry 1016
Shultz, Thomas G 1016
Sickenberger Family 1353
Sickenberger, William N 1353
Sides, Adam 1466
Sides Families 1200, 1312, 1466
Sides, Stuart J 1312
Sides, WiUiani 1200
Silvis, Jacob . 1447
Simpson Families
754, 775, 1022, 1063, 1407
Simpson, George E., M. D 775
Simpson, Hugh 874
Simpson, Nathaniel C 1063
Simpson, Robert E 1407
Simpson, William A., M. D. . 754
PAGE
Siverd Family 1308
Siverd, John B 1308
Skinner Family 907
Skinner, Lon H 907
Skog, J. Oscar 1386
Sloan, Barclay S 686
Sloan Family 686
Smith, Mrs. Alfred L 604
Smith, Andrew J 987
Smith, Clarence E 911
Smith, Ebby W 1349
Smith, Ebenezer W 890
Smith Families
891, 910, 911, 942, 963
987, 12.54, 1349, 1445, 1458, 1580
Smith, Howard D 1580
Smith, Jacob 1445
Smith, John 1254
Smith, Dr. John H 1472
Smith, John R 910
Smith, John T 963
Smith, Stacy H , 1458
Snyder Families
949, 1085, 1318, 1495, 1562
Snyder, George J 1318
Snyder, Harry A 1561
Snyder, Harvey C 1495
Snyder, Jackson K 1086
Snyder, John D 949
Snyder, John W 1552
Snyder, William H 1086
Somerville, Ezekiel 1280
Somerville Family 1280
SommervUle, Alan 0 718
Speedy Family 1382
Speedy, J. Clark 1382
Spencer Family 1159
Spencer, Capt." Peter C 1159
Spicher, Clarence C, M. D 956
Spicher Family O.Ki
Spicher, Samuel 1327
Spiers Family 1153
Spiers, Harrison 1153
Sproull Family 762
Sproull. Eev. William J.. 258, 762
St. Clair Families
620, 803, 1014, 1575
St. Clair, Hiram 1369
St. Clair, James 1393
St. Clair, James J 803
St. Clair, John P 619
St. Clair, Mrs. Mary E 1370
St. Clair, Samuel G 1575
St. Clair, William A 1014
Stadtmiller, Bennet 1509
Stadtmiller Family 1509
Stahl, Harry D 1269
Stahl, Samuel E 1269
Stahl Family 1268
Stahll, Wasiiington 1123
Stanley Family 1242
Stanley, Tracy C 1482
Stear Family 1130
Stear, John ' 1237
Stear, John C 1130
Stear, Peter 1520
Steele Family 651
Steele, Samuel C 651
Steffey, Calvin H 1484
Steffey Families 1484, 1506
Steffey, Scott V 1506
Steffy, Mrs. Mary J .'1511
Steffy, Thoma-s S 1511
Stephens, Benjamin L 1443
Stephens, Edward H 1466
Stephens Families
670, 862, 1211, 1296, 1466
Stephens, George M 674
Stephens, Harry 1296
Stephens, John H 675
Stephens, Judge Marlin B 675
Stephens, Samuel H 1538
Stephens, T. D., M. D 862
Stephens, William S 672
Stephens, Thomas P 1211
Sterner Family 1496
Sterner, Harry E 1496
Stevens, Samuel 1039
Stewart, Alexander H., M. D. 954
Stewart, Archibald T 1497
Stewart, Archible 1174
Stewart, Archie J 1172
Stewart, Charles C 706
Stewart Families . . . 703, 793, 954
1020, 1120, 1172, 1174
1314, 1321, 1345, 1497, 1504
Stewart, George R 1314
Stewart, James C 704
Stewart, James N 793
Stewart, John 1321
Stewart, John G 704
Stewart, Joseph C 1037
Stewart, J. Milton 1345
Stewart, John Murdock, M. D.1120
Stewart, Joshua T 705
Stewart, Miss Marinda 1174
Stewart, Robert L 1504
Stewart, Robert M 1020
Stewart, Welmer D 1020
Stiffey, Cyrus 1255
StinVv Family 1255
Sill I j-amily 824
Siiit. William H 824
Stiver, Adam T 858
Stiver Family 858
Stonebraker Family 1431
Stonebraker, Henry 1431
Stoops, David 1474
Stoops, Robert 1474
Stouffer, Cyrus 1126
Stouffer Family 1126
Strawbridge, Robert 1486
Streams, J. A 1162
Streams Families 1076, 1162
Streams, Samuel 1162
Strong Family 1489
Strong, Lowry F 1489
Strong, Wayne P 1110
Stuchul, Robert H 1148
Sutor Family 1258
Sutor, Rufiis'A 1258
Sutton Families 602, 912
Sutton, J. Blair 912
Sutton, Thomas 602
Swank Family 1386
Swank, George W 1386
Swartz, D. Harvey 1490
Swartz Family 1490
Swasy Family 957
Swasy, John H 957
Taylor Families 724, 1512
Taylor, Harrison L 634
Taylor, John Bell 724
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Taj-lor, William B
Telford, Eev. John C, D. D. .
Telford, Judge Stephen J
384, 392,
Templeton Families 1067,
Templeton, Robert F
Templeton, William N
Thomas, Evan J
Thomas Families
616, 1151, 1168, 1328,
Thomas, Hiram
Thomas, H. WaUace
Thomas, Jesse
Thomas, John C
Thomas, Lewis
Thomas, Lewis M
Thomas, Thomas D
Thomas, Verna C
Thomas, Wilson C .'.
Thompson Families . . 708, 782,
lOo-i, 1178, 1422,
Thompson, Harry E
Thompson, Horace J
Thompson, John D
Thompson, John G
Thompson, J. Wilson
Thompson, John M
Thompson, Robert A
Thompson, Thomas W
Thompson, William
Tiger Family
Tiger. Jacob
Timblin Family
Timblin, Ward N., V. S
Tomb Families 737,
Tomb, Hugh D
Tomb, John C
Tomb, Robert J., M. D
Travis Family
Travis, Harry M
Travis, William G
Treese (Dreese) Famil
Treese, William C '
Trefnv, Eev. Charles L 997
Trimble, Mrs. Dnisilla 1358
Trimble, Felix B 1206
Trimble, George 1358
Trimble, Thomas 1206
Trindle. Robert 1379
Trindle, William 1379
Truby, Simeon H 1186
Truby Family 1186
Truitt Family 985
Truitt, Dr. Harrv W 985
Tuck. Charles W 832
Uncapher, Albert F 1147
Uncapher Families 1147., 1384
Uncapher, Joseph W.' 1384
rrey, William it 1197
Vogel Brothers 1339
Vogel, Edward G 1340
Vogel, John W 1340
Waddell Family 1485
Waddell, Samuel R 1485
Waddle Family 971
Waddle, James E 972
Waddle, Samuel 972
Wagner Families 732, 1310
1503
1067
1.503
1152
1331
1325
616
1331
1227
1151
1578
785
782
1054
1422
1178
784
708
882
1263
1263
1574
1574
795
795
797
737
1531
1531
1531
1499
1499
PAGE
Wagner, John W 1310
Wagner, Joseph Sides 1311
Wagner, William B 732
Wainwright Family 1332
Wainwright, Samuel M 1332
Wakefield, Edward B 950
Wakefield Families 700, 950
Wakefield, James M 700
Walker Families ..666, 1093, 1101
Walker, James G 1093
Walker, Robert A 666
Walker, Samuel W 1101
Walker, Zenas T 1584
Wallace, Ephrarm 999
Wallace Families 999, 1385
Wallace, Harry W 1385
Walter Family 910
Walter, WilHam 910
Waltemire Family 1267
Waltemire, Jesse" B 1267
Warden Family 1076
Wardrop, William B 1525
Warrick, James 887
Warrick, Mrs. Margaret .... 887
Wassam Family 1152
Wassam, Peter" W 1152
Waterson, John 1362
Watson, Alexander P 1350
Watson Families 655, 1350
Watson, James P 656
Watson, Thomas C 656
Watt Families 728, 1403
Watt, .John W 728
Watt, Thomas M 1403
AVav Family 1330
Way, Jesse L 1330
Weamer. Andrew 1326
Weamer Family 1326
Weamer. Harry L 764
Wehrle, Richard W 1184
Wehrle Family 1184
Weir Family 1196
Weir, John 1196
Weiss, Frederick 1228
Weitzel Families 876, 950
Weitzel, Frederick 875
Weitzel. William F., M. D. . . . 950
Welch, Edgar J 1078
Welch Family 1078
Welehonce Family 1028
Welchonce, Harry M 1029
Welehonce, Svlve'ster C 1028
Wells, John C 1561
Wells Family 1561
Welteroth, Joseph 1405
West Family 723
West, Frank W 723
Wetzel Family 955
Wetzel, Samuel S 955
Wheeler, John 1390
White Families 575, 1149
White, Gen. Harry. . .384, 387, 580
■^Tiite, Judge Thomas. 383, 385, 575
Widdowsou, Clark B 1052
Widdowson, Edmund 777
Widdowson, Mrs. Estella 962
Widdowson Families
777, 1052, 1136, 1236, 1244, 1367
AViddowson, Harvey D 1136
Widdowson, Harvey E 1236
Widdowson, John D 962
Widdowson, Joseph A 1244
Widdowson, Kelson 1367
Wieezorek, Rev. Francis L. 943
Wiggins, Albert A 1457
Wiggins, Judge Coulter
„:••.■••■• 389, 470, 669
Wiggins, Mrs. Elizabeth ....1457
Wiggins Families 669, 1231
Wiggins, James R 1231
Wiggins, Mrs. Sarah J.... 1.599
Wiggins^^ Thomas jjig
Wiley Family jo-g
Wiley, James M . . '. '. '. . [ '. ' '. ' 1^73
Wilhelm, Augustus . . .'.'.['.'.'.Wil
Williams, Elmer E 735
Williams, Hugh E . .1273
Williams Families . . 736 990
1191'1171.n93.1210, 1273, 1364
Williams, John J 1193
Williams. John W. 1170
Williams, Joseph T ;;.':i364
W ilhams, Richard . . . 990
Williams, William M '.i"09
Williamson Family 906
Williamson, Jesse J 906
Willy, Christ :.■.■;. '1509
Wilson, Andrew W 393 70Q
Wilson, Bradley W '. . '1043
Wilson Families ...
... .617, 626, 720, 819, 966," 1362
Wilson, Frank i3g2
Wilson, Harry W . 790
Wilson, J. Willis 626
Wilson, Marsellen C 1366
Wilson, Mrs. MarseUen C....1366
Wilson, Robert 1043
Wilson, Robert H . . .. 617
Wilson, Robert M 393 734
Wilson, Eev. W. J 947 1597
Wimer Family 963
Wineberg Family 1477
Wineberg, Marti'n C '.'. .1477
Wingert, Henry G 1.527
Winsheimer, Frank 1175
Winsheimer Family 1175
Winters, Henry C 1508
Wissinger, Mrs. Elizabeth m-
len 1271
Wissinger Family 1421
Wissinger, Lewis S 1271
Wissinger, James 1421
Wohlers, Claus ]452
Wohlers. Mrs. Flora .1453
Wood, Dr. Edwin K 825
Woolweaver Family 14.53
Woolwea%er, John A 1453
Work, David Brown 981
Work Families 744, 980
Work, Milton 744
Work, Silas W 982
Work, William A. S 982
Wortman, Calvin M 1415
Wortman Family 1415
Wray Family 619
Wright Family 1427
Wright, Jeflferson 1427
Wyncoop Family 1547
Wyncoop, James S 1547
Wynkoop Families 664, 1290
Wynkoop, Matthew B 1290
w"ynkoop, Matthew C 664
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Young Family
Young, Mrs. Jane
Young, Prof. Josias H....
PAGE
, . . . 815
, ... 815
, ... 877
. . . 815
Younkins, Jacob
Younkins, Jacob B
Zacur, George
Zanoni, Dante
PAGE
1463
1463
Young, Robert
, . . . 877
1593
PAGE
Zehner Family • 1076
Zehner, Peter 1076
Zener Family 1414
Zener, Mary 1414
HISTORY OF
INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CHAPTER I
THE WILDERNESS
To a person who has witnessed all the
changes which have taken place in the west-
ern country since its tirst settlement, its
former appearance is like a dream or ro-
mance. He will find it difficult to realize the
features of that wilderness which was the
abode of his infant days. The little cabin of
his father no longer exists ; the little field and
truck patch which gave him a scanty supplj-
of coarse bread and vegetables have been
swallowed iip in the extended meadow, or
grain field. The rude fort in which his people
resided so many painful summers has van-
ished and, like the baseless fabric of a vision,
left not a wreck behind. Large farms, with
splendid mansion houses and well-filled barns,
hamlets and villages now occupy the scenes of
his youthful sports, hunting or military ex-
cursions. In the place of forest trees or
hawthorn bushes he sees the awful foinim of
.iustice or the sacred temple with its glitter-
ing spire pointing to the heavens ; and instead
of the war whoop of savages or the howl of
wolves, he hears the swelling anthem or peal-
ing organ.
Everywhere surrounded by the busy hum
of man and the splendor, arts, refinements
and comforts of civilized life, his former
state and that of his country have vanished
from his memory; or if sometimes he bestows
a reflection on its original aspect, the mind
seems to be carried liack to a period of time
much more remote than it really is. The
immense changes which have taken place in
the physical and moral state of the country
have been gradual, and, therefore, scarceh'
perceived from year to year; but the view
from one extreme to the other is like the pros-
pect over a vast expanse of water, of the
opposite shore, whose hills, valleys, mountains
and forests present a confused and romantic
landscape, which loses itself in the distant
horizon.
One advantage, at least, results from hav-
ing lived in a state of society ever on the
change, and always for the better; it doubles
the retrospect of life. With me, at any rate,
it has had that effect. Did not the definite
number of yeare teach me the contrary, I
should think myself at least one hundred
years old instead of fifty. The case is said
to be widely different with those who have
passed their lives in cities, or ancient settle-
ments, where, from year to year, the same
unchanging aspect of things presents itself.
There life passes away as an illusion or
dream, having been presented with no strik-
ing events, or great and important changes,
to mark its different periods, and give them
an imaginary distance from each other, and
it ends with a bitter complaint of its short-
ness. It must be my own fault if I shall ever
have occasion to make this complaint. I do
not recollect ever to have he; rd it made by
any of my contemporary countrymen whose
deaths I have witnessed.
A wilderness of great extent, presenting
the virgin face of nature, unchanged by
human cultivation or art, is certainly one ot
the most sublime terrestrial objects which the
Creator ever presented to the view of man;
but those portions of the earth which bear
this character derive their features of sub-
limity from very different characteristics.
The great deserts of Africa wear an imposing
aspect even on account of their utter barren-
ness of vegetation — where no tree affords
fruit, or shelter from the burning heat of the
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
day, no bird is heard to sing, and no flower
expands its leaves to the sun — as well as from
their immense extent. In the steppes of Rus-
sia, the oriental plain of Tartary, the traveler,
did not his reason correct the illusion of his
senses, at the rising and setting of the sun
might imagine himself in the midst of a
boundless ocean, so vast, so level and monoto-
nous is the prospect around him. What must
be the awful sublimity of the immense regions
of polar solitude, where the distant sun re-
flects his dazzling rays from plains of snow
and mountains of ice !
The valley of the Mississippi, whose eastern
and western boundaries are the Allegheny
and Rocky Mountains, the northern the chain
of lakes which separate us from Canada, and
the southern the Gulf of Mexico, in addition
to the imposing grandeur of its vast extent,
is an immense region of animal and vegetable
life, in all its endless varieties. In all this
vast extent of country no mountain rears its
towering head to vary the scenery and afford
a resting place for the clouds, no volcano
vomits forth its smoke, flame and lava in
sublime but destructive grandeur. Even
those portions of this valley which in ages
past were the beds of lakes, but have been
drained by the sinking of the rivers, present
a rich vegetable mould.
This great country seems to have been
designed by Divine Providence for the last
resort of oppressed humanity. A fruitful
soil, under a variety of climates, supplies
abundantly all the wants of life, while our
geographical situation renders us unconquer-
able. From this place of refuge we may hear,
as harmless thunder, the military convulsions
of other quarters of the globe, without feeling
their concussions. Vice and folly may con-
quer us ; the world never can. Happy region !
large and fertile enough for the abode of
many millions. Here the hungry may find
bread, and conscience the full possession of
its native rights.
One prominent feature of a wilderness is
its solitude. Those who plunged into the
bosom of this forest left behind them not only
the busy hum of men, but domestic animdl
life generally. The departing rays of the
setting sun did not receive the requiem of the
feathered songsters of the grove, nor was the
blushing aurora ushered in by the shrill
clarion of the domestic fowls. The solitude
of the night was interrupted only by the howl
of the wolf, the melancholy moan of the ill-
boding owl, or the frightful shriek of the pan-
ther. Even the faithful dog, the only stead-
fast companion of man among the brute crea-
tion, partook of the silence of the desert; the
discipline of his master forbade him to bark,
or move, except in obedience to his command ;
his native sagacity soon taught him the pro-
priety of obedience to this severe government.
The day was, if possible, more solitary than
the night. The noise of the wild turkey, the
croaking of the raven, or "the woodpecker
tapping the hollow beech tree," did not much
enliven the dreary scene. The various tribes
of singing birds are not inhabitants of the
desert; they are not carnivorous and there-
fore must be fed from the labors of man. At
any rate, they did not exist in this country
at its first settlement.
Let the imagination of the reader pursue
the track of the adventurer into this solitary
wilderness, bending bis course towards the
setting sun, over undulating hills, under the
shade of large forest trees, and wading
through the rank weeds and grass which then
covered the earth. Now viewing from the
top of a hill the winding course of the creek
whose route he wishes to explore, doubtful of
its course, and of his own, he ascertains the
cardinal points of north and south by the
thickness of the moss and bark on the north
and south side of the ancient trees; now de-
scending into a valley and presaging his
approach to a river by seeing large ash, bass-
wood, and sugar trees, beautifully festooned
with wild grapevines. Watchful as Argias,
his restless eye catches everything around
him. In an unknown region, and surrounded
with dangers, he is the sentinel of his own
safety, and relies on himself alone for protec-
tion. The toilsome march of the day being
ended, at the fall of night he seeks for safety
some narrow, sequestered hollow, and by the
side of a large log builds a fire, and, after
eating his coarse and scanty meal, wraps him-
self up in his blanket and lays him do\vn on
his bed of leaves, with his feet to the little
fire, for rest, hoping for favorable dreams
auguring future good luck, while his faithful
dog and gun repose by his side.
But let not the reader suppose that the
pilgrim of the wilderness could feast his
imagination with the romantic beauties of
nature without any drawback from conflict-
ing passions. His situation did not afford
him much time for contemplation. He was
an exile from the warm clothing and plentiful
mansions of society. His homely woodsman's
dre.ss soon became old and ragged ; the crav-
ings of hunger compelled him to sustain from
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
3
day to day the fatigues of the chase. Often
had he to eat his vension, bear meat or wild
turkey without bread or salt. Nor was this
all; at every step the strong passions of hope
and fear were in full exercise. Eager in the
pursuit of his game, his too much excited
imagination sometimes presented to him the
phantom object of his chase in a bush, a log,
or mossy bank, and occasioned him to waste
a load of his ammunition, more precious than
gold, on a creature of his own brain, and he
repaid himself the expense by making a joke
of his mistake. His situation was not without
its dangers. He did not know at what tread
his foot might be stung by a serpent, at what
moment he might meet with the formidable
bear, or, if in the evening, he knew not on
what limb of a tree, over his head, the mur-
derous panther might be perched, in a squat-
ting attitude, ready to drop down upon him
and tear him to pieces in a moment. When
watching a deer licking from his blind at
night the formidable panther was often his
rival in the same business, and if, by his
growl, or otherwise, the man discovered the
presence of his rival, the lord of the world
always retired as speedily and secretly as pos-
sible, leaving him the undisturbed possession
of the chance of game for the night.
The wilderness was a region of supersti-
tion. The adventurous hunter sought for
prophecies of his future good or bad luck in
everything about him. iluch of his success
depended on the state of the weather; snow
and rain were favorable, because in the
former he could track his game, and the latter
prevented them from hearing the rustling of
the leaves beneath his feet. The appearance
of the sky, morning and evening, gave him
the signs of the times with regard to the
weather. So far he was a philosopher. Per-
haps he was aided in his prognostics on this
subject by some old rheumatic pain, which he
called his weather clock. Say what you please
about this, doctors, the first settlers of this
country were seldom mistaken in this latter
indication of the weather. The croaking of a
raven, the howling of a dog. and the screech
of an owl, were as prophetic of future mis-
fortunes among the first adventurers into this
country as they were amongst the ancient
pagans; but above all, their dreams were re-
garded as ominous of good or ill fortune.
Often when a boy I heard them relate their
dreams, and the events which bore out their
indications. "With some of the woodsmen
there were two girls of their acquaintance
who were regarded as the goddesses of their
good or bad lack. If they dreamed of the
one, they were sure of good fortune; if of
the other, they were equally sure of the bad.
How much love or aversion might have had
to do in this ease I cannot say, but such was
the fact.
Let not the reader be sui-prised at the
superstition which existed among the first
adventurers into the western wilderness.
Supei-stition in all those who occupy perilous
situations in life is universally associated
with ignorance. The comets used to be con-
sidered harbingers of war. The sea captain
nails an old horseshoe to the foot of the mast
of his ship to prevent storms. The Germans
used to nail the horseshoe on the doorsill to
prevent the intnasion of witches. The Ger-
man soldier recites a charm at the rising of
the sun, when in the course of the day he
expects to be engaged in battle, by the means
of which he fancies that he fortifies himself
against the contact of balls of every descrip-
tion. Charms, incantations and amulets have
constituted a part of the superstition of all
ages and nations. Philosophy alone cart
banish their use.
The passion of fear excited by danger, the
parent of superstitution, operated power-
fully on the first adventurers into this coun-
try. Exiled from society and the comforts
of life, their situation was perilous in the
extreme. The bite of a serpent, a broken
limb, a wound of any kind, or a fit of sickness
in the wilderness, without those accommoda-
tions which wounds and sickness require, was
a dreadful calamity. The bed of sickness
without medical aid, and, above all, to be
destitute of the kind attention of mother,
sister, wife, or other female friends, those
ministering angels in the wants and afflictions
of man, was a situation which could not be
anticipated by the tenant of the forest with
other sentiments than those of the deepest
horror.
Many circumstances concurred to awaken
in the mind of the early adventurer into this
country the most serious and even melancholy
reflections. He saw everywhere around him
indubitable evidences of the former existence
of a large population of barbarians, which
had long ago perished from the earth. Their
arrowheads furnished him vnth gun flints;
stone hatchets, pipes, and fragments of earth-
enware, were found in every place. The re-
mains of their rude fortifications were met
with in many places, some of them of con-
siderable extent and magnitude. Seated on
the summit of some sepulchral mound con-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
taining the ashes of tens of thousands of the
dead, he said to himself: "This is the grave,
and this, no doubt, the temple of worship of
a long succession of generations long since
molded into dust; these surrounding valleys
were once animated by their labors, hunting
and wars, their songs and dances; but obliv-
ion has drawn her impenetrable veil over
their whole history. No lettered page, no
sculptured monument, informs who they were,
whence they came, the period of their exist-
ence, or by what fearful catastrophe the
iron hand of death has given them so com-
plete an overthrow, and made the whole of
this country an immense Golgotha."
Such was the aspect of this country at its
first discovery, and such the poor and haz-
ardous lot of the first adventurers into the
bosoms of the forests. How widely different
is the aspect of things now, and how changed
for the better the conditions of its inhab-
itants! If such important changes have
taken place in so few years, and with such
slender means, what immense improvements
may we not reasonably anticipate for the
future !
CHAPTER II
REMAINS OF AN EXTINCT PEOPLE
The western country, in common with al-
most every other region of the earth, exhibits
evidences of a numerous population which
must have existed and perished long anterior
to the period of history. The evidences of
the most remote population of our country
are found only in the few and rude remains
of their works which have escaped the ravages
of time. Such of these antiquities as have
come under the notice of the author shall be
described, with some remarks upon them.
Arrowheads, at the first settlement of the
country, were found everywhere. These
were made of flint stone, of various sizes and
colors, and shaped with great skill and neat-
ness. Their fabrication required more skill
and labor than that of making our ordinary
gun flints. From the great numbers of these
arrow points, found all over the country, it
is presumable that they must have been in
general use by a large population, and for a
great length of time. The author has never
been informed whether, at the discovery and
settlement of America by the Europeans, the
Indians were in the habit of using them.
Some of these arrow points were of great size
and weight, so that those who used them must
have been gigantic fellows, and of great
muscular strength. For a long time after the
settlement of the country the Indian arrow-
heads furnished the main supply of gun flints
for our hunters and warriors, many of whom
preferred them to imported flints. The ar-
row points have nearly vanished from the
country.
Stone pipes and hatchets were frequently
fDiiiul here in early times. The pipes were
rudely made, but many of them of very
fanciful shapes. The existence of these pipes
shows very clearly that the practice of smok-
ing acrid substances is of gi-eat antiquity.
Before the use of tobacco the Indians smoked
the inner bark of the red willow mixed with
sumac leaves. They do so still, when they
cannot procure tobacco.
Some fragments of a rude kind of earthen-
ware were found in some places. It was
made of potter's earth mixed with calcined
shells, and burnt to a proper hardness. This
ware was no doubt used for cooking.
Some rude trinkets of copper have been
found in some of the Indian graves. These,
however, were but few in number, and ex-
hibited no skill in the art of working metals.
IMany years ago I procured ten copper beads,
which were found in one of the smaller
graves. The whole number found at the time
was about sixty. They appeared to have been
made of hammered wire, cut off at unequal
lengths, and in some of them the ends were
not more than half their surface in contact,
and so soldered.
The ancient forts, as they are called, are
generally found in the neighborhood of the
large graves along the river, and mostly on
the first alluvion of their bottoms. The.v are
of all shapes and various dimensions. They
have lieen so often described by various
authors that a description of them is not
necessary here. Whether they were really
fortifications, or ordinary inclosures of their
towns, is not so certain. It is said to have
been a common practice among the Indians
of ^lissouri to inclose a piece of ground.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
whicli they intended for a town, with stock-
ades on each side of which they threw up a
mound of earth, and that when one of their
towns has been so long deserted that the
stockading has rotted down, the remaining
mound of earth has precisely the same ap-
pearance as one of the ancient forts. If this
was their origin, and most probably it was,
they were fortitications in the same degree
that the walls of all ancient towns and cities
were, and not otherwise.
The sepulchral mounds make by far the
greatest tigure among the antiquities of our
country. In point of magnitude some of them
are truly sublime and imposing monuments
of human labor, providing for the burial of
llie dead.
Most of the writers on the antiquities of
our country represent the sepulchral mounds
under consideration as peculiar to America.
Were such the fact, they would be objects of
great curiosity indeed, as their belonging ex-
clusively to this quarter of the globe would
go to show that the aborigines of America
were different from all other nations of the
earth, at least in their manner of disposing of
their dead. But the fact is not so. The his-
tory of these ancient sepulchers of the dead
embraces Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as
North and South America. Large groups of
these mounds are met with in many places
between St. Petersburg and Moscow in Rus-
sia. When the people of that country are
asked if they have any tradition concerning
them, they answer in the negative. They
.suppose that they are the graves of men slain
in battle; but when or by whom constructed,
they have no knowledge. Near the mouth of
the river Don there is a group of five mounds
which from time immemorial have been
denominated The Five Brothers. Similar
mounds are very numerous along the shores
of the Black Sea, and those of the Sea of
Azof, and throughout the whole country of
Crimea. The}' are found throughout ancient
Greece. In the neighborhood of ancient Troy
there are several of them nearly as large as
any in America. The mound described bj'
Bobbins, in the vicinity of Wadinoon in
Africa, is certainly an ancient sepulehi-al
mound although he calls it a natural one.
This is the more probable as the remains of
fortifications or town walls, similar to those
in our country, exist in abundance in the
neighborhood of Wadinoon. On the hills
near Cambridge in England are shown two
large barrows as the tombs of Gog and ilagog.
Tlie cairns of Scotland are structures of the
same kind, but wholly of stone. Peru and
Mexico contain a vast number of those
mounds, of all shapes and of large dimensions.
Lastly, the famous pyramids of Egypt have
been ascertained to be sepulchral edifices,' In
all probability they are coeval with the
sepulchral monuments of other ciuarters of
the globe already mentioned. They were de-
signed for the last and permanent exhibition
of the regal gi-andeur of those monarchs by
wliom they were successively erected.
The great number and magnitude of the
sepulchral monuments of antiquity serve to
show that, during the time of their erection
over so large a portion of the earth, mankind
generally must have been actuated by a strong
desire to preserve the remains of the dead
from dissolution, and their names and re-
nown as far as possible from oblivion. The
extensive catacombs of Egypt, Syracuse and
Palestine are fully illustrative of the general
wish for the preservation of the body after
death, and posthumous fame. What niust
have been the labor and expense of excavating
limestone or marble rocks to such vast extent
and with such excpiisite workmanship for the
purpose of furnishing elegant and imperish-
able recesses for the dead !
The ancient Egyptians held the first rank
among the nations of antiquity, for their care
and skill in preserving the remains of their
dead. To the most splendid and extensive
catacombs, they added the practice of em-
balming their bodies, many of which have so
far escaped the ravages of time. These em-
balmed bodies, preserved from putrefaction
liy cerates and bandages of linen, are still
found, sometimes in solitary cells, and some-
times in large numbers, in newly discovered
catacombs ; but for want of letters, their early
history has vanished forever.
While the ancient Egyptians skillfully pre-
served the individual bodies of their dead,
other nations were in the practice of collect-
ing the bones of their people and depositing
them in sepulchral monuments of a national
character. Nearly all the sepulchral mounds
which have been thoroughly opened, in Asia
and America, contain, about the center of
the bottom, a coffin, or vault of stone, con-
taining but one skeleton. This, we may rea-
sonably suppose, was the sarcophagus of the
patriarch, or first monarch of the tribe or
nation to which the sepulcher belonged.
Thenceforward all his people were deposited
in the grave of the founder of the nation. In
process of time, the steadily increasing
mound became the national history. Its age
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was the age of the uatiou, and its magnitude
gave the census of their relative numbers,
and military force, with regard to other na-
tions about them. What a sublime spectacle
to the people to whom it belonged must one
of those large sepulchers have been! The
remains of the first chief of the nation, with
his people, and their successors, through many
generations, reposing together in the same
tomb!
It is a well-kno\\'n fact that some nations
of Indians, ever since the settlement of
America by the Europeans, have been in the
habit of collecting the bones of their dead,
from every quarter, for the purpose of de-
positing them, with those of their people, at
their chief towns. This must have been the
general practice during the time of the erec-
tion of the large ancient graves of our coun-
try; for the bones found in those of them
which have been opened have been thrown
promiscuously together in large collections,
as if emptied out of baskets or bags.
Besides the large graves, smaller ones are
found in many remote places, far from the
large mounds and all traces of ancient forts.
Most of these are made wholly of stone, and
for the most part contain but a single skele-
ton. Were these solitary mounds erected to
the memory of the individual whose remains
they cover? Such appears to have been the
fact. That a similar custom prevailed among
the ancient Hebrews we have evidence in the
burial of Absalom, the rebellious son of
David, who although unworthy of a place in
the royal sepulcher, was nevertheless honored
with such a rude monument of stones as we
often meet with in our country. After he
was slain by Joab, the commander in chief of
his father's army, "They took Absalom and
east him into a great pit in the wood, and
cast a very gi-eat heap of stones upon him."
From all these facts, it appears that the
strong desire of posthumous fame induced
those nations amongst whom the art of writ-
ing was unlmown to preserve the remem-
brances of their chiefs, or friends, by erect-
ing over their dead bodies a heap of earth, or
a pile of stones, as well as to make the con-
gregated dead of many generations a national
monument and a national record.
The great antiquity of the monuments in
question may be ascertained by many facts
which cannot fail to strike the notice of an
attentive observer of the relics of antiquity.
In America, so far as the author knows, none
of the large mounds is found on the first or
lower bottoms of our rivers, but always on
the second or highest alluvion; and such is
their situation in Europe and Asia. * * *
Their locations, mainly along the large rivers
and on the shores of lakes, betoken the
primeval state of nations. As the spoils of
the water are more easily obtained than those
of the forest, and these last more easily than
the productions of the earth, the first em-
ployment of man must have been that of fish-
ing, and his first food the production of the
waters.
These mounds and forts are not found in
any great numbers along the shores of the
main oceans. This circumstance goes to show
that those by whom they were made were not
in the practice of navigating the great seas.
That their existence is of higher antiquity
than the commencement of the period of his-
tory is evident from the fact that none of them
contains a single inscription of any kind.
Another evidence of the great age of these
rude remains of antiquity is this: There ex-
ists nowhere even a traditionary account of
their oi'igin. At the earliest period of the
Grecian history they were supposed to be the
graves of giants. After what lapse of time
does tradition degenerate into fable! At what
period of time does fable itself wear out, and
consign all antiquity to a total and acknowl-
edged oblivion ! All this has happened with
regard to the antiquities under consideration.
From all these considerations, it appears
that any inquiry concerning the history of
the antiquities of our country would be a
fruitless research. "Close shut those graves,
nor tell a single tale," concerning the numer-
ous population whose relics they inclose.
The antiquities of our country do not pre-
sent to the mind of the author the slightest
evidence that this quarter of the world was
ever inhabited by a civilized people before it
was discovered by the Europeans. They
present no traces of the art of building, sculp-
ture or painting; not a stone marked with a
hammer is anywhere to be found. It is sup-
posed by some that the aborigines of this
country were in the habit of using iron tools
and implements of war; that such was the
fact appears very doubtful. There can exist
no specimens of iron coeval with the antiq-
uities of this country, as iron, in almost any
situation, is liable to rust and pass to its
primitive state of ore. At the discovery of
America the Indians knew nothing of the
use of iron. Any people who have ever been
in the habit of using iron will be sure to leave
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
some indelible traces of its use behind them;
but the aborigines of this country have left
none.
Barbarians, in many instances, have pos-
sessed, and do still possess, the art of writing;
but it is not to be presumed that a civilized
people ever were destitute of that art. The
original inhabitants of this country pos-
sessed it not, or they would certainly have left
some traces of it behind them.
After having passed in review the antiqui-
ties of our country, particularly the melan-
choly monuments of the ancient dead, what
have we gained? Simply this, that the gen-
erations of remote antiquity were eveiywhere
the same, at least in their reverence for the
dead, whose monuments constitute almost the
only history which they have left behind
them ; and that, for want of letters, and other
testimonials of arts and sciences, we are war-
ranted in saying that their state of society
must have been that which we denominate the
barbarous; yet their history, rude as it is, is
entitled to respect. They were no doubt the
antediluvian race ; they were the primeval
fathers of mankind, the immediate progen-
itors of our race, to whom the munificent
Creator gave dominion over the "fish of the
sea, the fowl of the air, and every living thing
that moveth upon the earth." From them we
have inherited our existence and our charter
to this possession of the world. Even the
barbaro\is state of society is entitled to re-
spect ; for barbarism has its virtues.
Much as the physical happiness of man
has been augmented by civilization, how far
has his moral state received improvement
from the augmentation of his science and
civilization? Have they made his heart the
better? Have they taught him the noble
philanthropy of the good Samaritan ? Or has
he only exchanged the ferocity of the savage
for the cunning of the sharper? Are the
vices of our nature diminished in force, or
are they only varnished like the whited
sepulcher and placed under concealment, so
as to attain their objects with gi-eater effect
and on a bi'oader scale? Have the political
institutions of the world become sources of
freedom, peace and good will to the people?
Let the boasted regions of our forefathers,
enlightened Europe, answer the inquiry.
There legal contributions, insupportable in
their amount, induce all the miseries of
pauperism; royal ambition presents its mil-
lions of subjects to the deadly machinery of
modern warfare; but are the valiant dead
honored with a monument of their existence
and bravery? No! That insatiable avarice
which knows nothing sacred, makes a traffic
of their bones, while the groaning engine eon-
verts them to powder to furnish manure for
an unfriendly soil. If this is civilization,
pray what is barbarism?
A veneration for antiquity seems to be
natural to man; hence we consider as bar-
barians those who demolish the relics of
antiquity. "We justly blame the Turks for
burning the fine marble columns of ancient
Greece into lime; but do we display a juster
taste, with regard to the onl.y relics w^ith
which our country is honored? Wlien those
relics have disappeared, and nothing but their
history shall remain, will not future genera-
tions pronounce us barbarians for having
demolished them ? Those venerable sepulchral
mounds ought to be religiously preserved,
and even planted with evergi-eens. They
would figure well in our gi-aveyards. public
squares and public walks; but what is likely
to be their fate ? If in fields, for the sake of a
few additional ears of corn or sheaves of
wheat, they are plowed down; if within the
limits of a town, demolished to afford a site
for a house or garden, or to fill up some
sunken spot, while the walls which inclosed
the towns or forts of the ancients are made
into brick. Such is man. Such are the en-
lightened Americans!
CHAPTER III
EARLY SETTLERS
Without doubt the first white settler of
Indiana connty was George Pindley, who had
migrated to the Piimroy and Wilson settle-
ment, or what is now Derry township, West-
moreland county, in 1764. The next year lie
selected the tract afterwards occupied by his
grandson, George Findle.y ilathews, in East
Wheatfield township, near the present town
of Cramer, Indiana Co., Pa. This selection
was made by a tomahawk, but these tomahawk
rights were as valid in those days as the more
eumberaome surveys of later dates. His visits
to ^his land were as frequent and his stay as
long as the troublesome times would permit,
and when the Revolutionary war began he
had a clearing of about ten acres, and a rude
cabin for his bride, whom he had married in
Maryland, not far from Hagerstown, in 1776.
In 1784 he again returned to his improve-
ment, and continued his residence there,
though repeatedly forced to seek shelter at
Port Ligonier, or Palmer's Fort. His home
was spoken of. May 29, 1769, as the "Findley
Cabbins," in some of the application war-
rants of that year. There were many early
settlers whose graves were scattered in out-
of-the-way places through the township, of
whom no account is given except that they
were pioneers. William Clark was mentioned
as prominent among the pioneers. His im-
provement was not surveyed till June 22,
1776, and is described as situated on the
"path" between Conemaugh and Blacklick
ad.ioining George Findley, and including
Wipey's "Cabbin" (Wipey was a peaceful
Delaware Indian who was murdered by the
whites).
Wallace's Fort, erected in 1764 or 1765,
Gilson's Fort near New Derry, and Craig's
Fort on the Loyalhanna, were the resort of
the fleeing inhabitants when the alarm signal
of three rapid shots told that the red face
was nigh. The Wallace Fort contained about
a half acre of ground and had a tine l)lock-
house within the inclosure. In any case of
actual attack by the Indians, the women and
children were placed in the lower story, while
the men proceeded above, and from the port-
holes the trusty rifles made havoc with the
brutal foe.
The early pioneers were exposed to con-
stant peril from the Indians. Although they
lived in times of comparative peace, the
treachery of the red man was too well known
to permit them to be caught unprepared for
an attack. The Indians generally made their
raids in the fall of the year. During harvest
time they often became very troublesome.
They lurked in the woods, and cut off the un-
suspecting settler when he least apprehended
danger. The pioneers plowed and reaped
with rifle in hand. One of the old pioneers
used to relate how he stood with his rifle in
hand, while his wife brought water from the
spring. After the French and Indian war,
in 1763, the Indians were not so hostile as
when incited by the French. But when the
Revolutionary war broke out, being urged by
Great Britain, they attacked the settlers with
ruthless and constant barbarity. William
Findley, author of a history of Western
Pennsylvania, speaking of this period, says:
"During the whole time of the Revolutionary
War, and for some time after it ceased, the
country was cruelly wasted by perpetual
savage depredations."
In the month of I\Iay, 1772, Fergus Moor-
head, his wife and three children, his two
brothers, Samuel and Joseph, James Kelly,
James Thompson and a few others, bid fare-
well to their friends in Franklin county, and
set out on their journey to the "Indian
Country" west of the AUeghenies. Though
the prospects of acquiring extensive posses-
sions and wealth for themselves and posterity
might buoy up the adventurous spirits of the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
three brothers, it may well be imagined that
Mrs. Moorhead left home and all endearments
with a heavy heart. But being a woman pos-
sessing great energy of character, as is shown
in the sequel, and touched, perhaps, with that
romantic spirit peculiar to that period of
which we are writing, she pressed forward
with a firm step and a resolute heart, deter-
mined to share with her devoted husband the
dangers and trials of the wilderness.
Fergus Moorhead had a wagon in which he
placed the provisions necessary for the
journey, his farming utensils and household
effects. This was drawn by three good horses.
Ilis other live stock consisted of a yoke of
oxen, two milch cow.s. several head of sheep
and hogs, and a lot of fowls. The progress
of the party was necessarily slow. The mil-
itary road opened out some years previous,
from Cumberland to Fort Pitt, was the only
one that led at that time across the moun-
tains, and was in many places scarcely trace-
able, while it occasionally passed through
swamps and ravines, and then again over
rocks and along mountain slopes, so -as to
render it almost impassable. But even this
road, bad as it was. had to be abandoned, as
its course diverged considerably from the
point which the adventurers wished to gain.
Hence the.y had to make their way. as best
they could, through the wilderness. It would
be useless to attempt a description of the
trials, the hardships and the dangers to which
the party were daily and hourly exposed.
Beasts of prey were roaming on all sides,
seeking an opportunity to devour them. The
rattlesnake and copperhead lay coiled among
tlie weeds and bushes, ready to strike the
deadly blow. And. most dangerous of all,
the war whoop which sounded from hill to
hill, and echoed through the intervening val-
leys, gave warning of the proximity of the
savage, thirsting for plunder and for blood.
Both night and day they were continually in
peril. With nothing but the heavens for a
covering they laid down at night to rest
themselves, and forget for a few hours the
fatigue of the day in the lap of "nature's
fond nurse, calm sleep," while one of the
party stood sentinel, not knowing what mo-
ment they might be attacked by the wild
beasts or the Indians. Frequently the.y had
to halt and cut away logs and remove other
impediments, and as there were no bridges,
they had frequently to cross the streams at
imminent risk.
At the end of four weeks from the time
tliey had left Franklin county the party
reached their point of destination. "Where
the town of Indiana is now built, was the spot
that had been selected for a settlement by
Fergus jMoorhead, who had made an excur-
sion into this section in 1770. For some rea-
son the party changed their determination,
and located a few miles further west. Having
sat themselves down in the forest, without
house or shelter, and remote from the nearest
settlement, we may readily imagine that their
situation was far from being comfortable.
The land afterwards owned by Isaac A. ^Moor-
head was that which they selected for their
future home. They naturally looked around
to find a spot of ground on which to erect
buildings that would answer their immediate
necessities, and selected the site of the Isaac
Moorhead house. On the next morning they
commenced the work of building a cabin.
They also built pens for their horses, cows,
oxen, sheep, hogs and fowls. When the build-
ings were completed they were once more en-
abled to lie down, if not under their own
■'vine and fig tree" at least beneath their
own roof, and enjoy the refreshing sweets of
slumber. We next see them laying the "axe
to the root" of the sturdy oaks of the forest
and prostrating them with unsparing hands.
They planted some corn and potatoes, for
which they had cleared and grubbed a small
patch of ground, and after this put another
one in order for the garden. When this was
completed. Joseph and Samuel 3Ioorhead left
their brother and his family to return home.
By this time harvest was rapidly approach-
ing, and it was necessary that provisions be
collected for the stock the next winter. In
this respect Fergus Moorhead was highly
favored. The land subsequentlj' owned by
David Ralston, south of Indiana, was then
partly clear of timber and brush, and clothed
with a coat of luxuriant grass, of which he
cut a sufficient quantity to supply his animals
during the whole winter.
During the summer he employed himself in
clearing land for the piirpose of raising grain.
The difficulties of a pioneer's life can only be
apprehended fully by those who have had
such experience as this family had. and the
hardships and annoyances are almost beyond
human conception. They were encouraged
with the promise made far back in the days
that are numbered with the past, that "the
desert places should be made glad and the
wilderness to blossom as the rose."
The venomous reptiles and beasts of prey
with which the country abounded proved the
greatest annovance. It was almost impossible
10
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
to go beyond the cabin door without hearing
the quick snap of the vicelike jaws of the wolf
or seeing the subtle panther crouching on a
neighboring tree, its fiercely brilliant eyes
peering through the thick foliage, or the blood-
shot eyes of the catamount glaring hideously
from a neighboring thicket. It was not uu-
common to be confronted by a huge bear or
two, that were at all times ready to greet the
intruders with a friendly "hug." The cop-
perheads and rattlesnakes were so numerous
that, attracted by the shelter of the house,
they would steal into it and secrete them-
selves in the beds or any place that would
afford them concealment." The cunning fox,
too, could be seen loitering around, in con-
stant readiness to commit some petty depre-
dation.
The cattle were in constant danger of the
most ferocious of these animals, and not in-
frequently it was necessary to take the dogs
and go to their relief. At night they were
very much annoyed by attacks on the cattle
or sheep in their pens, and Mr. Moorhead
would frequently be forced to arise and
assist the dogs in driving them away. This
was always attended with the greatest dan-
ger, from the fact that the snakes were
so numerous as to almost preclude the
possibility of escaping unharmed. They were
also in constant dread of the Indiaiis, who,
when the attention of the dogs was drawn to
the nocturnal depredators of the cattle and
sheep pens, might seize the opportunity to
attack the family in their wildwood home.
He had brought with him a sufficient quan-
tity of flour to answer his family's wants till
his potatoes and corn would be matured and
fit for use in the fall. He cai-ried the corn to
a mill on the Kiskiminetas, in what is now
Westmoreland county, to be ground into
meal. Here new difficulties had to be en-
countered, inasmuch as he had to go the in-
tervening distance between his house and the
mill without the aid of a road, his eoui*se ly-
ing through the woods, up hill and down
dale; through brake, bush and swamp, his
only guide the bright sun that shone in the
heavens above him. At night he had to lie
outdoors, and his horses had to content them-
selves with such sustenance as the woods af-
forded. The dangers of the day would only
be supplanted by those of the night. We
can imagine that his was "no very comforting
condition, ' ' and the thought that his wife and
three children were alone in the midst of the
wild forest was not calculated to add to his
peace of mind.
The wild game which abounded in the _
woods supplied him with all the animal food"
of which he was in need, but for salt, to-
bacco, iron, clothes, etc., he had to return to
Franklin county, and these articles had also
to be packed across the mountams, on horse-
back. This was no small undertaking for one
man, nor was it unattended by great danger,
for it required three or four weeks to make
the journey. During all that time he would
travel day and night, halting only long enough
to permit his horses to graze on the grass that
grew in the woods, which was the only food
upon which they had to subsist, not knowing
at what moment he might be killed by the In-
dians, or devoured by some wild beast. The
thought that his small family might be at the
mercy of the savages, and that on his return
he might find them murdered, his home
burned, and his goods destroyed, was a source
of infinite concern to him, and but served to
urge him along the more speedily.
Under such difficulties and anxieties the
^Moorhead family lived for four years, from
the time they left their home in Franklin
county, and located in Indiana county, till the
ever memorable year of 1776. Independence
year was fraught with important national
events and individual incidents. In that year
the American colonies took active measures to
shake off the "British Yoke," and the same
year several engagements occurred on land
and sea. The British employed all the In-
dians that would engage on tlaeir side, to the
number, as has been estimated, of about twelve
thousand, but many small parties, acting as
spies and marauders on the frontier, were not
inchided in that estimate.
At this time of which we write Samuel
Mooi'head, who had been elected captain, was
stationed (July, 1776) with a small company
of backwoods militia at Kittanning. Being at-
tacked with smallpox, he was unable to per-
form his duty as an officer, and on this ac-
count went to his brother, Fergus, and pre-
vailed upon him to take command of the com-
pany, while he remained with Fergus's family
until he had recovered from his illness. He
then went to Kittanning, where he and his
brother passed the evening in talking about
their family and friends, and planning how
they would manage their business. It was
decided that Fergus should return to his home
on the following morning, in company with a
soldier, named Simpson. A party of Indians
who were lurking around the fort overheard
the conversation of the Moorheads, and being
familiar with the road Moorhead and Simp-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
11
son would take in the moi'ning — it being then
known as the "Kittanning Path" — they se-
creted themselves near it, on a hill, since called
"Blanket Hill," about midway between Kit-
tanning and Moorhead's, and there awaited
the approach of their intended victims. Upon
the arrival of Sloorhead and Simpson, who,
though on hoi-seback and armed, did not sus-
pect an attack, the Indians fired, killing Simp-
son and the two hoi-ses on the spot, and before
Moorhead could get away they seized him and
made him a prisoner. After scalping Simp-
son, they stripped off his clothes, and left his
naked body l.ying at the side of the path, with
the two dead horses.
The Indians ordered Moorhead to take off
his boots and loaded the two saddles and bri-
dles on his back and started with him into the
woods, so as to evade pursuit, marching in
single file and taking care not to trample
down the weeds, in order to leave their trail
as indistinct as possible. In this way they
proceeded rapidly all day, and in the evening
came to a halt to take supper, which consisted
of the remains of a deer killed some days
previous, and of a groundhog, which one of
the party shot during the evening. Having
finished the meal the party prepared for lodg-
ings by gathering some diy leaves on which
to sleep, and then made aiTangeraents to se-
cure Moorhead against escape during the
night. They caused him to lie down and drove
a stake into the ground on each side of him,
and passed a long rope over his body, on each
end of which an Indian lay. In this way
they confined him each night during his cap-
tivity.
On the following morning Moorhead was
deprived of his clothes, and was forced to
put on Indian dress. He was compelled,
as the day before, to carry saddles and bridles,
and to travel all that day and all the day fol-
lowing, without eating anything. They took
from him his tobacco, Uius depriving him of
what, under the circumstances, would have
been to him a gi'eat luxury. After traveling
about fift.y miles over hills and rocks, through
swamps and thickets, and crossing streams
and ravines, they reached an Indian camp.
The Indian that shot Simpson, and the
one who firet seized Moorhead, fired their
guns and raised the scalp halloo as they ap-
proached the encampment. This was a long
yell for every scalp that was taken, followed
by shrill, quick, piercing shrieks. These were
answered from the camp by the discharge of
rifles, and whooping and cries of joy. All
rushed out to meet the approaching party.
As the Indians crowded around him, Moor-
head expected to be put to death at once, but
they offered him no violence, and entertained
the war party with great hospitality. Here
they remained two nights and a day, and,
leaving early in the morning after the second
night, ti-aveled about forty miles, and in the
^ evening reaching an Indian village. Here
he saw the Indians for the first time perform
several dances, one of which was the war
dance, from which circumstances he inferred
his hour was come, and that he was to be
killed forthwith. But his apprehensions were
happily unfounded, though he was compelled
to pass through a trying ceremony. After
kindling a large fire the whole company, men,
women and children, danced around it for a
long time, and then formed into two lines,
armed with hatchets, ramrods and switches.
Having thus arranged matters, they called
jMoorhead to run the gauntlet, but as he had
never before heard of such a ceremony he did
not understand them. His captor endeavored
to explain it to him, saying he was to pass
through the two lines and receive a blow from
each individual as he passed, and exhorted
him to run his best, as the faster he ran the
sooner the performance would be over. Moor-
head entered upon the chase with the feelings
of a man who supposed he was running for
his life, and was severely switched along the
line, three fourths of the way, when a tall
chief, more devilish, if possible, than his com-
panions, threw sand in his eyes, which added
to his pain and completel.y blinded him. He
tried, however, to proceed, but in his efforts
to gi'ope along, he was pushed about from
one to another, and struck and switched, until
two young warriors each took him by the
hand, and ran with him into the wigwam,
where he was quickly visited by his captor,
who asked him if he felt sore. Moorhead
replied that he felt very much hurt, and in-
quired what he had done to merit such usage.
The Indian told him that he had done no
harm, but this was the customary treatment
of their prisoners ; that he had now seen all
their ceremonies, and that in the future he
would receive better treatment.
Moorhead was taken by his captors to Que-
bec. On the way the party traveled veiy
slowly, some days advancing but two or three
miles". Relying entirely upon their success in
hunting for means of subsistence, it may be
readily understood they did not "fare sump-
tuously ' ' every day, but of what they had, the
prisoner now always got his share. When
tliey reached Quebec. ]\Ioorhead was sold to
12
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the British, and thei-e kept in confinement for
eleven months. From the British he received
worse treatment than at the hands of the In-
dians. His food was of the coarsest and most
unhealthy sort, the bread being dry and
mouldy and the meat sour and at times almost
putrid. From the second day of his captivity
to the close his garments were neither changed
nor washed. During all that time his hair
was not cut nor combed, nor his beard shaved.
At the end of eleven months he was exchanged
and sent to New York.
From New York, Moorhead set out immedi-
ately, on foot, for his former home in Frank-
lin county. Though supplied with provisions,
such was the reduced state of his health, in
consequence of long confinement and ill treat-
ment, that he was able to carry only a small
stock with him. He was obliged to stop fre-
quently during the day to rest, and, as his
journey was mostly through the wilderness,
he had to sleep at night in the open air. At
length his stock of provisions was exhausted,
and he was compelled to kill a dog that had
followed him from New York, and subsist
upon its meat. Even this unpalatable food
did not hold out, and he lived for many days
on frogs and fruits. So altered was his ap-
pearance that when he reached his father's,
in Franklin county, no one knew him.
From the day he was taken prisoner until
his arrival in Franklin county he had not
heard a word of his family, neither did his
family know anything of his fate. Mrs. iloor-
head had been left with three small children,
and soon after her. husband's capture gave
birth to a fourth, which was one of the first
if not the first white child born in the county,
and was named by his mother Fergus, after
the father. In the meantime one of the chil-
dren had died of smallpox, and upon Mrs.
Moorhead devolved the duty of placing her
child in the silent grave. Shortly afterwards
she was visited by her brother, who assisted
her in boxing up and burying her provisions
and effects, after which she accompanied hira
on horseback to her former home in Franklin
county, where she remained till the unex-
pected return of her husband; for all had
given him up for lost.
In 1781 the Moorhead family returned to
their home in Indiana county. The articles
which had been buried were mostly in a good
state of preservation. The live stock was gone,
having most probably been killed by the In-
dians. A number of families from the coun-
ties east of the mountains came with Moor-
head and settled in this vicinity. Among tlie
number were James Kelly, James Thompson,
Moses Chambers, Colonel Sharp, Samuel and
William Hall, brothers, the Walkers, Doties
and othei-s.
The first thing they did was to erect a fort
or blockhouse near Moorhead 's cabin (on the
present site of the stone house, E. B. Campbell
farm) large enough to contain all the families
and their effects. Here they remained at
night and also during the ensuing winter, con-
sidering it unsafe to sleep in their cabins.
They next betook themselves to clearing out
farms, and worked alternately on each tract,
so as to give each individual an eciual chance
with the others, to have his ground prepared
for seeding in the fall. While the party was
at work felling timber and clearing the
ground, two or three men stood guard with
loaded rifles, so 'as to give timely notice of
the approach of danger, and be ready to re-
sist an attack from the enemy. But fortu-
nately the Indians did not trouble them.
In the course of a few years, the settlers
became comfortably situated. They raised live
stock and gi-ain in abundance, engaged in
domestic manufactures, and erected saw and
grist mills, and soon became a thrifty com-
munity. Their' children grew up and settled
on lands around them, and each year brought
arrivals of new families from the East.
As the settlements increased, the Indians
withdrew, and in a little over twenty years
this section had been organized into a county,
its seat of justice had been located, and its
public buildings were erected.
Mr. Moorhead died at the age of eighty-nine
years, and left a numerous and respectable
progeny, many of whom are yet residents of
this county. Some of them occupy the very
spot which was the scene of so many trials
and hardships in days of yore.
■ ' Dr. Doddridge tells us that in his lifetime
he had noted marked changes in climate.
When he first ventured into this section the
snow lay long and deep amid the unbroken
forests, and the summers were short and hot.
With the first breath of spring, the season that
brings such joy to the hearts of all in this
day. the fathers and mothers of that day
looked with a kind of terror on the trees, as
they clothed themselves in verdure and deep-
ened the gathering shadows of the pathless
woods. Then it was that the Indian chose
liis season of warfare and rapine. Then was
the season of their scanty harvests, i)lanted
in fear and worked in parties large enough to
afford a respectable fighting force, while the
families huddled together in the stockades and
fcj^
^^^^ -||
fellr
■:-i-
^^^^H
^^'
'
Old ;\IounnEAD Fort
On the E. B. Campbell Farm, White Township
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
13
forts, watching and waiting for the return of
the men. Not a single time did the.y open the
gates of their forts in the morning without
the fear that the savages were lying in am-
bush. Then the adventurous pioneer, who re-
fused to listen to warnings, boasted that his
crop of corn was better worked than that of
his more circumspect neighbor, who retired
within the fort at the first call of spring.
If the savages had been seen in the neighbor-
hood, runners were sent out in all directions.
At night the runner came stealthily to the
window or door, and gently rapped to awaken
the sleepers. Constant fear taught our fore-
fathers to sleep lightly. A few whispered
words exchanged, and he disappeared in the
forest to warn the next cabin. All was then
quick and silent preparation. No light dare
be struck, not even to stir the fire, but dressing
the children as quickly as possible, and pray-
ing that the baby would continue to sleep, for
his cry might mean desti-uction, they caught
up a few articles in the dark, and taking the
rifle from the peg feared every shadow, while
they stole oft" to the fort. The other children
were so imbued with fear, that the name, In-
dians, whispered in their ears, made them
mute."
Another attempt at making a settlement
within the limits of Indiana county was made
in the year 1769, in the forks of the Cone-
maugh and Blacklick. The country had been
explored as early as 1766-67, and the explor-
ers were particularly pleased with it. It was
clear of timber or brush, and clothed in high
grass — a sort of prairie. Moses Chambers
was an early settler. Having served several
years on board a British man-of-war, he was
qualified for a life of danger and hardship.
jMoses continued to work on his improvement
till he was told one morning that the last
.iohnnycake was at the fire. What was to
be done ? There was no possibility of a supply
short of the Conococheague. He caught his
horse and made ready. He broke the johnny-
cake in two pieces, and giving one half to his
wife, the partner of his perils and fortunes,
he put up the other half in the lappet of his
coat with thonis, and turned his horse's head
to the far east. There were no inns on the
road those days, nor a habitation west of the
mountains, save, perhaps, a hut or two at
Fort Ligonier. The Kittanning path was
used to Ligonier, and thence the road made
by General Forbes' army. Where good pas-
ture could, be had for his horse, there Moses
tarried. To him day was as night, and
night as the day. He slept only while his
horse was feeding; nor did he give rest to his
body nor ease to his mind until he returned
with his sack full of corn. Moses Chambers
was not the only one who had to encounter
the fatigue and trouble of procuring sup-
plies from Franklin county. All had to do
so, such was the condition of this country, and
such^the prospect of settlers after the peace
of 1763. A scarcity of provisions was one
of the constant dangers of the early settlers,
and, to make the case worse, there were no
mills, even after they began to raise grain.
The first year some Indian corn was planted.
It grew and in the form of "roasting ears"
was gladly gathered for food. One can al-
most see the hardy dame, with her home-made
apron of ""lye color and white" pinned round
her waist, stepping cautiously between the
rows of corn, selecting the finest, that is to
say the best, ears for dinner, ay, and for
breakfast and supper, too. About the year
1773 William B. Bracken built a mill on
Blacklick, which was a great convenience to
the settlers. They marked out a path by which
they traveled to Bracken's mill. Around and
near him gathered John Stewart, Joseph Mc-
Cartney, John Evans. Thomas Barr, and John
Hustin. About the year 1774, Samuel Moor-
head commenced building a mill on Stony
run, but before it was completed the settlers
were driven off by the Indians. They fled to
what was then called the Sewickley settle-
ment. This was during the Dunmore war.
However, they returned in the fall to their im-
provements, and Moorhead completed the mill.
Along and near Crooked creek located An-
drew Shai-p (killed by the Indians in 1794),
Benjamin Walker, Israel Thomas, James ile-
Creight, Jacob Anthony, David Peelor, and
John Patison. Among the early settlers along
the Conemaugh river, Blacklick creek, and
its tributaries, and in the southern part of
the county, were Charles Campbell, Samuel
Dixon, John ilcCrea, John HaiTold, Phillip
Altman. Patrick McGee, Archey Coleman,
George Repine, Malachia Sutton, William
Loughry, Jonathan Doty, Jacob Brieker,
James Ewing, James Ferguson, Peter Fair,
James MeConib, Samuel McCartney, John
Neal, Alexander Rhea, William Robertson,
Daniel Repine, John Shields, Robert Liggett,
David Reed, William Graham, Ephraim Wal-
lace, George ilabon, the Hices, Hugh St. Clair,
James McDonald, and William Clark.
The northern part of the county, in the
early days called "the Mahoning country,"
was settled at a more recent date. Among the
early settlers were the Bradys. the Thomp-
14
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
sons, William Work, Hugh Cannon, John Lea-
sure, William McCall, John Park, William
MeCreiy, the Pierces, Robert Hamilton,
Joshua Lewis, and John Jamison. In addi-
tion to those named, among the early settlers,
in the central portion of the county, were An-
drew Allison, Thomas Allison, Gawin Adams,
George Trimble, Alexander Taylor, John Ly-
tic, Daniel Elgin, Conrad Rice, Thomas Wil-
kins, Daniel McKisson, James Mitchell, An-
drew Dixon, John Agey, Blaney Adair,
Thomas McCrea, Thomas Burns, William
Lowry, John Wilson, Robert Pilson, John
Thompson, Patrick Lydick, James Simpson,
Christopher Stuchell and William Smith.
Little is known or recorded concerning the
adventures of the settlers during the war of
the Revolution, and the subsequent campaigns
of Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne. It is prob-
able their residence here was precarious and
unsettled. Every settler was a soldier, and
preferred, indeed, occasionally the use of the
i-ifle to that of the axe or the plow. John
Thompson was one of the very few who re-
mained here. He erected a blockhouse six
miles northeast of Indiana borough, where
he resided throughout all the troubles of the
frontier. After Wayne's treaty, in 1795, the
settlers again returned to their homes, and
resumed the occupations of peace.
Object which invited early settlers. — Land
was the object which invited the early settlers
to cross the mountain, for as the saying then
was, "it was to be had here for taking up";
that is, building a cabin and raising a crop
of grain, however small, of any kind, entitled
the occupant to four hundred acres of land
and a preemption right to one thousand acres
more adjoining, to be secured by a land office
warrant. This right was to take effect if there
happened to be so much vacant land, or any
part thereof, adjoining the tract secured by
the settlement right.
Tomahawk rights. — There was, at an early
period of our settlement, an inferior grade
of land title, denominated the "tomahawk
right," which was made by deadening a few
trees, near the head of a spring, and mark-
ing the bark of one or more of them with the
initials of the name of the person who made
the improvement. For a long time, many bore
the names of those who made them. We have
no knowledge of the efficacy of the "toma-
hawk" improvement, or whether it conferred
any right whatever, unless followed by an
actual settlement. These rights were often
bought and sold. Those who wished to make
settlements could cut their favored tracts of
land to take the tomahawk improvements
rather than enter into quarrels with those
that made them. Other improvers took the
land with a view to actual settlement, and
happened to be staid veteran fellows, taking
a very different course from that of purchas-
ing the "tomahawk rights." When annoyed
by the claimants under these rights they de-
liberately got a few good hickories and gave
them what was called in those days a "laced
jacket," that is, a sound whipping.
Early settlers came in spring. — Some of the
early settlers took the precaution to come over
the mountain in the spring, leaving their fam-
ilies behind to raise a crop of corn, and then
return and bring them out in the fall. This
was considered the better way. Others, es-
pecially those whose families were small,
brought them with them in the spring. The
Indian meal which they brought with them
over the mountain was usually exhausted six
weeks too soon, so that for that length of
time they had to live without bread. Lean
venison and the breast of the wild turkey
they were taught to call bread. The flesh
of the bear was denominated meat. This ar-
tifice did not succeed very well. After living
in this way some time they became sickly —
their stomachs seemed to be always empty, and
tormented with a sense of hunger. How nar-
rowly the children watched the growth of the
potato tops, pumpkin and squash vines, search-
ing from day to day to get something to an-
swer in the absence of bread ! How delicious
was the taste of young potatoes when they
could get them! Wliat a jubilee when they
were permitted to pull the young coi-n for
roasting ears, still more so when it had ac-
quired sufficient hardness to be made into
johnnycakes by the aid of a tin grater ! They
then became healthy, vigorous and contented
with their station, poor as it was.
Why the settlers liked the land here. — Ow-
ing to the equal distribution of early land,
directed by our land laws, and the sterling
integrity of our forefathers, in their observ-
ance of them, we have no district of "sold
lands," as it is called, that is, large tracts
of lands in the state of unfruitfulness, neither
sold nor improved, as is the case in Lower Can-
ada, and the northwestern part of Pennsylva-
nia ; these unsettled tracts make huge blanks in
the population of the counties where they'
exist. The different lines between those whose
lands adjoined were generally made in an
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
15
amicable manner before any question was
raised. In doing this they were guided mainly
by the tops of ridges and watercourses, hence
the greater number of farms in the western
part of Pennsylvania bear a striking resem-
blance to an amphitheatre. The buildings
occupy a low position, and the tops of the
surrounding hills are the boundaries of the
tract to which the family mansion belongs.
Our forefathers were fond of farms of this
description, because, as they said, they are
attended with these conveniences, ' ' that every-
thing comes to the houses down hill." Most
of the early settlers considered the land as of
little value from this point of view, that after
a few years' cultivation it would lose its
fertility, at least for a long time. It was
said that such a tield would bear so many
crops, and another so many more or less than
that.
THE LOG CABIX
Trees of uniform size, as nearly as might
be, were selected, cut into pieces of the de-
sired length, and carried or hauled to the site
of the proposed building. At each end was
placed an expert hand with an axe to saddle
and notch the log. The saddling was done
by hewing the end of the log so as to give
the upper half the shape of the roof of a build-
ing. A notch was then cut into the log to lit
the saddle, and of such depth as to bring the
logs together. The usual height was one story.
The gable was laid up with logs gradually
shortened up to the top or peak, giving the
shape or pitch of the roof. On the logs which
formed these gables were laid stout poles,
reaching from one gable to the other, at suit-
able distances to hold the covering, which
consisted of bark peeled from elm or bass-
wood trees. The strips of bark were about
four feet long and about two or three feet
■n-ide, and laid in tiers, each lapping over the
preceding one, after the manner of shingling.
The bark was kept down by a heavy pole laid
across each tier, and fastened at the ends.
Sometimes, instead of bark, a kind of shingle
was used, split from straight-grained trees,
and resembling \uidressed staves of flour or
liquor barrels. These by some were called
shakes. They were laid about two feet to
the weather, and were then fastened down b,y
heaw poles called weight poles, as in the
case of bark roofs.
At one end of the building, a space of about
eight feet in length and five or six feet in
height was cut out and the space filled by a
stone wall, laid in clay or mortal", for a fire-
place. The chimney, resting on props made
in various ways, was commenced at a proper
height above the hearth, very wide, to cor-
respond with the broad fireplace beneath it.
It was built with split sticks of timber, re-
sembling common strip laths, but being much
larger, they were laid up in the manner
of a cob house, the chimney being gi-adually
narrowed upward to the top, where its size
was about the same as was that of any ordi-
nary brick chimney of a frame house fifty
years ago. The inside was plastered with
clay, or mud and chopped straw, the latter
answering the same pui-pose as hair used in
mortar in plastering the inside walls of a
house. This "stick chimne.y," or "stick and
clay chimney," was far from being fireproof.
Fire would sometimes be communicated to the
sticks from soot, and alarm the family. A
speedy application of water thrown up plen-
tifully inside soon allayed all fear.
A door was cut through one side of the
house, and split pieces for doorposts, some-
times called ''door checks," were pinned to
the ends of the logs with wooden pins. For
the want of boards to make dooi-s, a blanket
was used to close the entrance until boards
could be obtained. The hinges and the latch
were both made of wood. The latch was
raised from the outside by a string passing
through the door and fastened to the latch
inside. The safety of the family during the
night was effected bj' drawing in the latch-
string. Floors were made of split slabs, hewed
on one side, and sometimes called puncheons.
For a window a hole was cut in the wall
large enough to admit a sash of four or six
panes of seven by nine glass. When glass
could not be had, the hole was closed with
gi-eased paper pasted over it. The cracks be-
tween the logs were filled with mud or clay,
the larger cracks or chinks being partly closed
with split pieces of wood before the mortar
was applied.
Immigrants, as a rule, brought no bedsteads.
A substitute was made by boring holes in
the walls in the corner of the house into
which the ends of poles were fitted. Three
corners of the bedstead being thus fastened
to the walls, it required but a single post.
It now needed only a cord, which was some-
times made of ebn or basswood bark.
A view of the internal arrangements of
these pi'imitive dwellings would be interesting
to those who are acquainted with pioneer life.
On entering (supposing it to be mealtime) the
smaller children would be seen standing or
16
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
sitting around a large chest in which some of
the more valuable articles had been brought,
and which served as a table ; the parents and
.older children sitting at a table made, per-
haps, of a wide puncheon plank, partaking
of their plain meal, cooked by a logheap fire.
In one corner of the room were one or two
small shelves on wooden pins, displaying the
tableware, when not in use, consisting of a
few teacups and saucers, a few blue-edged
plates, with a goodly number of pewter plates,
perhaps standing singly on their edges, lean-
ing against the wall, to render the display of
table furniture more conspiciious. Under-
neath the cupboard were seen a few pots, a
spider and perhaps a bake-kettle. Not a suf-
ficient number of chairs having been brought,
the deficiency had been supplied with three-
legged stoolsmade of puncheon boards. Over
the doorway lay the indispensable rifle on
two wooden'hooks nailed to a log of the cabin.
On the walls hung divers garments of female
attire made of cotton and woolen fabric, some
of which had done long service before their
removal hither.
Log cabins were lighted in the night time
in different ways. In the absence of candles
and lamps light was, through the winter sea-
sou, emitted from the fireplace, where the huge
logs were kept burning. A substitute for
candles was sometimes prepared by taking a
wooden rod ten or twelve inches in length,
wrapping around it a strip of cotton or linen
cloth, and covering it with tallow pressed on
with the hand. These "sluts," as they werc-
sometimes called, afforded light for several
nights. Lamps were prepared by dividing a
large turnip in the middle, scraping out the
inside quite down to the rind, and then in-
serting a stick about three inches in length
in the centre so as to stand upright. A strip
of linen or cotton cloth was then wrapped
around it, and melted lard, or deer's tallow,
was poured in up to the rim of the turnip
rind, when the lamp was full. Lamps of
this kind were only occasionally used; more
often a dish of refuse grease, in which a rag
was inserted and set on fire, and fed with
the melted fat, would aft'ord a sort of dismal
light, and yet more disagreeable odor. By the
light of tiiese and other rudely constructed,
lamps, the women spun and sewed and men
read when books could be obtained, or worked
at some implement of household or field use.
When neither lard nor tallow was on hand,
the large lilazing fire supplied the needed
liuiit. Bv these great fireplaces many skeins
of thread were spun, many a yard of linen
woven, and many frocks and pantaloons made.
Living in houses like those described was
attended with serious discomforts. A single
room served the purpose of kitchen, dining
room, sitting-room, bedroom, and parlor. In
many families were six, eight or ten children,
who were, with their parents, crowded into
one room. In one corner was the father and
mother's bed, and under it the trundle-bed
for the smaller children. The larger ones
lodged in the chamber, which they entered by
a ladder in another corner, and sometimes
made tracks to and from their beds in the
snow driven through the crevices by the wind.
Nor did the roofs, made of bark or "shakes,"
protect them from rain in the summer. How
visitors who came to spend the night were dis-
posed of, the reader may not easily conceive.
Some, as their families increased, built on
their houses an additional room of the same
size and manner of construction as the former.
Such were some of the dwellings and condi-
tions of many of the pioneers of this portion
of the State. Many were in a condition which,
for comfort and appearance, were far inferior
to that described in the foregoing. Imagine
the state of those who. on foot and with packs
on their backs, forced their way through the
wilderness and tried to improve a piece of
land.
CLEARING THE LAN'D
The lands in this section were covered with
a dense and heavy forest. To clear the soil
of this timber required an amount of hard
labor of which many of its present occu-
pants have no adequate conception. Many
now living on the hard-earned fortunes of
their pioneer fathers and grandfathers could
not be induced to enter upon a similar course
of labor.
The early axes were rude and clumsy af-
fairs, of twice and thrice the size, and double
to quadruple the weight, of those in use now.
The first improved were called Yankee axes
by the early woodsmen, and were introduced
into this county in 1815. Arnold Scale took
a "Yankee axe" in 1820 for a debt of six
dollars, interest for six years and .justice's
costs, and was glad to secure it at the price.
In about ten years after the introduction of
the improved axes, the double-bitted axes came
into use and are now the favorite of the woods-
man.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
17
UNDERBRUSHING AND LOGGING
The first part of the clearing process was
' ' miderbrusliing. ' ' The bushes and the small-
est saplings were cut down near the ground
and piled in heaps. The trees were then
felled, their trunks cut into lengths of
from twelve to fifteen feet, and the brush
and .small limbs thrown into heaps. After
the brush had become thoroughly dry, the
whole field was burned over, thus assur-
ing an abundant crop. The next part of the
process was "logging." or log rolling. This
required the associated labor of a number of
men, who in turn assisted each other. The
neighbors, on invitation, attended with their
handspikes. These were strong poles, about
six feet in length, flattened at the larger end,
in order that they might be more easily forced
between the logs. Logs too heavy to be car-
ried were hauled to a pile by a team (gen-
erally oxen^. and rolled upon the pile with
skids, one end lying on the gi-ound, the other
on the heap. The heaps were then burned,
and the soil was ready for seeding. Timber
was so plentiful at this time that the settlers
thought nothing of burning it. This was a
great waste of timber. If we had all that was
buraed at that time, it would be very valu-
able to us to-day. I\Iost of the logging was
done by ' ' bees. ' ' A number of the neighbors
would come together with their teams, at-
tended by a sufficient number of extra hands,
and a whole field of several acres would be
logged in an afternoon. For these logging
"bees." as at house and barn raisings, there
was generally a two-gallon .iug of whiskey.
Most of the men were moderate drinkere;
some, however, gave indications, by their many
witty sayings, that they had overstepped the
bounds of moderation. But there were also,
thus early, a few teetotalers, whose incredulity
as to the magic power of strong drink as an
assistance to manual labor had caused them
to abandon its use.
ANIM.U. LIFE
The wild animals inhabiting this section at
the time of the first settlers were the deer,
bear. wolf, wildcat, panther or painter, fox,
otter, porcupine or hedgehog, raccoon, wood-
chuck or groundhog, skunk, mink, muskrat,
opossum, rabbit, weasel and squirrel. None
were much feared except the bear and wolf.
The former was the most dangerous, the lat-
ter most destructive to propert.v. The bear
is generall.y ready to attack a person; the
wolf seldom does so unless impelled by hunger
or in self-defense. For many years it was
difficult to protect sheep from the ravages of
wolves. Sheep had to be penned overnight.
Many were destroyed in the daytime, near the
house. It is the nature of the wolf to seize
the sheep by the throat and suck its blood,
and leave the carcass as food for other carniv-
orous animals, provided the number of sheep
is sufficient thus to satisfy the hunger of their
destroyers. Pigs and calves also were some-
times victims of these pests of the early set-
tlers. Persons were followed by wolves to
the very doors of their dwellings, and the
sleep of families was often disturbed during
a great portion of the night bv their bowlings.
To effect the destruction of these animals,
bounties for their scalps were offered b.y the
public authorities, and this induced hunters
and trappers to devote much time to the de-
struction of wolves. As wolves hunt in the
night, when the.v cannot be shot, most of them
were probably caught in traps, of which there
were several kinds. One was a pen built of
small logs or heavy poles, six or seven feet
high and narrowed upward. Into this pen a
bait was thrown. A wolf could easily enter it
at the top, but was unable to get out. Another
was a steel trap, with jaws a foot or more in
length. The clamps were notched like a cross-
cut saw. It resembled in form a common
spring rat trap. Attached to it was a chain
with hooks, not to fasten it, but to make it
difficult for the wolf to drag it. Caught, as
he probabl.y would be, by the foreleg while
trpng to paw out the bait, if the trap were
fast he would gnaw off his leg and be gone.
THE WOLF HUNT
All the settled portion of this section of the
State suffered severely from the depredations
of wolves. The deep recesses of the ravines
formed for them secure safet.v. where, dur-
ing the daytime, they could quietly digest the
mutton of the night before. Eighty and
ninety years ago wolf hunts were common.
The people became exasperated at the loss of
their stock, and formed parties to exterminate
the animals. Meetings were held at vai-ious
points, and plans devised. A certain section
of country, containing ravines, was determined
upon, and simultaneous attack was made upon
all sides. The men, early in the forenoon,
formed a continuous line and entirely encir-
cled the section. The number of men on the
lines were sufficient to be within speaking dis-
tance of each other. The signal for ad-
vancing would be given by the leader, and
it was carried from man to man. the lines
moving forward in splendid order, growing
18
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
more compact as they advanced toward the
ravine and descended its side. No mau was
to fire his gun until he received the command,
and it was known that the lines were closed
up. Finally the order to fire was given and
the signal gun was discharged. Instantly
the tiring became general. After the first
discharge of firearms, the deer and rabbits
within the lines became frantic with fright,
making the rounds and seeking an opening
through which to escape. After all the game
that could be seen had been dispatched, a com-
mittee was sent within the inelosure to search
under all logs and fallen trees to ascertain
if any game had fled to any of these places
for safety. After the return of the commit-
tee the men, by orders, moved towards the
center of the inelosure, bringing in the game,
consisting of from two to two dozen wolves,
one or more bears, several deer, etc. If a ra-
vine was too large it was subdivided, and one
division after another was "cleaned out."
After a few years it was only occasionally
that wolves were troublesome, as they gen-
erally left for some more secure quarters.
EARLY FARMING
Agriculture is a term hardly applicable to
pioneer farming. The implements used would
in' this age of improvement attract attention
as great curiosities. The virgin soil, as has
been observed, was ready for the seed when
cleared of its timber. The principal instru-
ment of tillage for several years was the tri-
angular harrow, usually called drag. This
consisted of pieces of timber (hewed before
there were mills for sawing), about five inches
square and six feet long, put together in the
form of the letter A. The drag was some-
times made of a crotched tree, and needed
no framing. The teeth made of wood were
double and even treble the size of those now
used, in order to stand the severe trial they
were to undergo. The drag bounded along
over stubs and roots and stones, up and down
the hillsides, drawn generally by oxen, often
driven by boys.
When the roots had become sufficiently
brittle to admit of the use of the plow it was
used. "When the first "Yankee improved
plow" was brought into the country one man
said, "The critter is too darned small. It will
go to pieces sure." Another said. "Give me
a plow with a twelve-foot beam and a seven-
foot handle, and I can handle it." The old
plow somewhat resembled the present plow,
inasmuch as it was used for the same purpose.
At first it was made entirely of wood; then
iron points were added; and then an iron
shoe, colter, etc. ; and, gradually, it was im-
proved, until superseded upon the advent of
the \ankee castiron plow. Later improve-
ments in the plow and harrow, and the inven-
tion of cultivators, corn planters, drills and
other labor-saving implements, have wonder-
fully changed the aspect of farming, and in-
creased the power of production. Weeds were
not so troublesome then as now, for many new
weeds have sprung up since the railroads
reached the prairies. The lighter farm imple-
ments as now used were unknown. Heavy wood-
en scoop shovels and forks with prongs an inch
thick were considered necessary. In due time
wheat was produced sufficient to sustain the
families and a little later laws were passed to
prevent the manufacture of wheat into whis-
key, as it was needed for the support of the
people and the soldiers. Rye was almost as
much used as wheat and corn, and buckwheat
and oats were soon introduced. Barley and
rye were produced more abundantly about the
time of the Civil war than ever before or since.
Barley was worth six shillings, four pence per
bushel in 1808. Rye was used instead of cof-
fee in war times, because coffee could not be
had or was too high.
In harvesting, the change is no less strik-
ing. Before the decay and removal of stumps
permitted the use of grain cradles, wheat was
cut with the sickle, now a rare implement. It
was then a staple article of mei-chandise. In
the old daybooks or journals of the early mer-
chants could be found, under the names of
scores of customers, the charge, "to one
sickle," followed in many cases bv that other
charge, "to one gal. whiskey," an article
deemed by some as necessary in the harvest-
ing operation as the implement itself. The
cradle which supei-seded the sickle is now a
thing of the past. It has given 7"ilace to the
reaper, an instrument then seeminarly no more
likely to be invented than the phototrraphic
art or the means of hourly intercourse with
the inhabitants on the opposite side of the
globe. Imagine a farmer of Indiana county
to-day, attempting to reap a wheatfield of
forty acres with a sickle ! Then think of those
western fields of one hundred to five hundred
acres in extent ! There was nothing for a
farm horse to do except plow or carry bur-
dens, most work being done by oxen.
The packsaddles and sleds gave place but
slowly to wagons. The first wasron is said to
have been drawn across the mountains in 17'^9
by oxen. Wagons were not considered safe
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENN^^YLVANIA
19
among the hills. The only loc-k or brake was
a chain, and these were scarce. To brake
them on a steep hill meant destruction. For
several years there were extremely few wag-
ons and roads on which to use them. A more
simple vehicle was used. From a small tree
was taken a piece having at one end two
prongs. The single end was put in the ring
of the ox yoke, the other resting on the ground.
Across the prongs puncheon boards were laid
and kept from sliding upwards by long
wooden pins set perpendicular in each prong.
Sometimes the oxen or horses were attached
to the lower end of a log trough, the bottom
of which had been flattened and the end
hewed away from the under side to fit it, like
a sled runner, for sliding over the rough
ground. Some of the early settlers came into
the country on "sled-ears," and used them
for transportation purposes for several years.
A sled car consisted of two poles, one on each
side of the horse, one end of it being fastened
to the hames, the other resting upon the
ground. On the parts resting on the ground,
puncheon boards were laid, and prevented
from sliding upwards by long wooden pins
in each pole.
The pioneer's first harness was made of
withes, with crooked roots or pieces of limbs
or trees for hames. It was not long before the
tanning of hides was commenced and then
good, substantial home-made leather harness
was made.
Grain was generally threshed with the flail,
ten or twenty bushels constituting a day's
work. There were no fanning mills in the
early times. (Ninian Irwin and a neighbor
built the first fanning mill in 1824.) Some-
times the grain was spread in shallow depths
on the floor where it was threshed and placed
in a box perforated with holes, or in a riddle
(a very coarse sieve), about thirty inches in
diameter and five or six inches deep. To raise .
the wind a linen sheet, possibly taken from
the bed, was held at the coraers by two men,
who gave it a semi-rotary motion or sudden
swing. A man would shovel or stir up the
wheat on the floor, or hold up and shake the
box or riddle with its contents, and the wind
caused by the motion of the sheet would blow
away the chatf. In this way about ten bushels
could be cleaned in half a day. The introduc-
tion of fanning mills was of great service and
they soon came into general use. In the
middle of the century what was Imown as
the bunty horse-power machine, in which a
cylinder was used to thresh out the grain,
was introduced. The power was furnished
by horses walking in a circle, attached to
arms or sweeps. This required the assis-
tance of neighbors and big dinners at the
house. The old Milltown machine, manufac-
tured in this country, was introduced before
the war, and this has been followed by many
improvements. The traction engine, which
liauls the cleaner from place to place, was not
known as late as 1876, though there was a
machine on exhibition at the Philadelphia
Centennial which could move itself forward
and backward by its own apparatus, propelled
by steam, but it was of English manufacture
and too heavy for use. From this idea has
grown the traction engine, which is common
to-day and which has been the forerunner of
the automobile.
The grass was first cut with the sickle, but
only for a brief period, as scythes were soon
brought in by the immigrants and the hay
harvest became a matter of considerable im-
portance. A lad of sufficient age to drive
a team can now cut with a mower from fifty
to one hundred acres in an ordinary hay sea-
son, and the hay may all be made during the
same time by one person. The long swordlike
scythe attached to its snathe gave place to the
mowing machine in 1847, but the machine did
not come into common use until almost ten
years later.
The husking of the corn was generally done
in the field. In some parts of the country the
ears, when fully ripe, were broken from the
stalk, thrown into heaps, and then hauled into
the barn and thrown in long heaps across the
barn floor, ready for a corn husking, to w'hieh
the neighbors, old and young, were invited to
participate on some evening. The anticipation
of a good time secured a good attendance. A
good supper, which several of the neighboring
women had assisted in preparing, was sei-ved
from eight to nine o'clock. The "old folks"
would then leave, and in due time the boys
would gallant the girls to their homes. The
recreation afforded to the young people by the
freciuent recurrence of these festive occasions
was as highly enjoyed, and quite as innocent,
as most of the amusements of the present
boasted age of refuiement.
HATING IX THE OLDEN TIME
"Ilayiug in the old days was a much more
formidable yearly undertaking than it is to
modern farmers. Before the era of labor-sav-
ing haying implements farmers began the
work of haying early in the day and season,
and toiled "hard until both were far spent.
20
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Human muscle was strained to exert a force
equal to the then unused horsepower. On
large farms many 'hands' were required.
Haying was an event of importance in the
farmer's year. It made great demands upon
his time, strength, and pocketbook. His best
helpers were engaged long in advance, some-
times a whole season. Ability to handle a
scythe well entitled a man to respect, while
haying lasted. Experts took as much pains
with a scythe as with a razor. Boys of to-day
have never seen such a sight as a dozen stal-
wart men mowing a dozen-acre field.
"On the first day of haying, almost before
the sun was up, the men would be at the field
ready to begin. The question to be settled at
the very outset was as to which man should
cut the 'double.' This was the first swath to
be cut down and back through the center of
the field.
"The boys brought up the rear in the line
of mowers. Their scythes were hung well ' in, '
to cut a narrofr swath. They were told to
stand up straight when mowing, point in, keep
the heel of the scythe down, and point out
evenly, so as not to leave 'hog troughs' on
the meadow when the hay was raked up. Im-
patient of these admonitions, they thought
they could mow pretty well; and looked am-
bitiously forward to a time when they might
cut the 'double.' "-
FARE OP THE EARLY SETTLERS
Among the many hardships of pioneer life,
not the least is the" difficulty of procuring
bread. For at least two years the settler in
the woods must obtain his family supplies
chiefly from other sources than his own land.
This difficulty was enhanced by the remote-
ness of his residence from older settlers, where
his supplies were to be obtained. Hence, those
who settled in this section within the first few
years, had a severer experience than those who
came after a surplus of grain was produced
and mills for grinding it were erected at ac-
cessible points. Rev. Mr. Woodend, in his
centennial discourse, says: "The people who
settled this country when it was a wilder-
ness, are worthy of all honor and kind remem-
brance. ' ' A later writer has said : "A more
intelligent, virtuous and resolute class of men
never settled any country, than the first set-
tlers of western Pennsylvania ; and the women
who shared their sacrifices were no less wor-
thy." They came here, many of them, in
poverty. They found little but hardships for
very many vears. Thev found the land cov-
ered with timber. There were for many years
neither mills nor factories. With their own
strong arms they must cut down the forest,
fence the fields and build log cabins. Some of
the first settlers lived on potatoes chiefly, the
first year of their coming.
Upon fish and game the pioneers relied for
provisions until they could raise vegetables
and grain. Whole families for many weeks,
even months, tasted not a particle of bread,
subsisting upon grain and other products of
the forest. "Ramps" or leeks, with which
the woods abounded, furnished to some extent
food for man and beast. Leaves, which were
in some regions far advanced before the disap-
pearance of the winter snows, furnished for
cattle a valuable pasture ground; and the
bulbs later in the season were, in time of
scarcit.y, used by settlers as a substitute for
common articles of food. Families, too, lived
for weeks on whole wheat and on meal from
corn pounded out at home. For this purpose
one end of a large block was scooped out,
making a cavity to hold a half bushel or less
of corn. A spring pole was fixed over the
rafters or to something else of proper height.
On the end of the pole, a wooden pestle was
suspended by a rope. It will readily be im-
agined that the principal use of the pole was
to assist in raising the pestle ; and that a small
quantity of grain was pounded out at a time.
The pestle was not in all cases hung to a pole,
but was sometimes used wholly by the hand
of the operator. A corn cracker or hominy
block was attached to some of the first saw-
mills, and to these settlers would resort for
many miles and wait sometimes two days in
order to get a chance at the hominy mill.
House Furniture and Bid. — The furniture
for the table, for several years after the set-
tlement of this country, consisted of a few
pewter dishes, plates and spoons; but mostly
of wooden bowls, trenchers and noggins. If
these last were scarce, gourds and hard-shelled
squashes made up the deficiency. The iron
pots, knives and forks were brought from the
east side of the mountains along with the salt
and iron on packhorses. These articles of fur-
niture corresponded very well with the ar-
ticles of diet on which they were employed ,
"Hog and hominy" were proverbial for the
dish of which they were the component parts.
Johnnycake and pone were at the outset of
the settlements of the country the only forms
of bread in use for breakfast and dinner. At
supper, milk and mush was the standard dish.
When milk was not plenty, which was often
tlie case, owing 1o the scarcity of cattle, or
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
21
the want of proper pasture for them, the sub-
stantial dish of hominy had to supply the
place of them ; mush was frequently eaten
with sweetened water, molasses, bear's oil, or
the gravy of fried meat.
Every' family, besides a little garden for
the few vegetables which they cultivated, had
another small inclosure, containing from half
an acre to an acre, which they called a "truck
patch, ' ' in which they raised corn for i-oasting
ears, pumpkins, squashes, beans and potatoes.
These, in the latter part of the summer and
fall, were cooked with their pork, venison and
bear meat for dinner, and made very whole-
some and good tasting dishes. The standard
dinner dish for every log rolling, house rais-
ing and harvest day was a pot pie, or what
in other countries is called "sea pie." This,
besides answering for dinner, served for a
part of the supper also, what remained from
dinner being eaten with milk in the evening,
after the conclusion of the labor of the day.
In the whole display of furniture, delft,
china and silver were unknown. It did not
then as now require contributions from the
four quarters of the globe to furnish the
breakfast table, viz., the silver from Mexico;
the coffee from the West Indies ; the tea from
China, and the delft and porcelain from Eu-
rope or Asia. Yet our homely fare, and un-
sightly cabins and furniture, produced a hardy
veteran race, who planted the first footsteps
of society and civilization in the immense
regions of the West. Inured to hardihood,
bravery and labor from their early youth, they
sustained with manly fortitude the fatigue of
the chase, the campaign and scout, and with
strong arms ' ' turned the wilderness into fruit-
ful fields" and have left to their descendants
the rich inheritance of an immense empire
blessed with peace and wealth.
The introduction of delftware was consid-
ered by many of the backwoods people as a
culpable innovation. It was too easily broken,
and the plates of that ware dulled their scalp-
ing and clasp knives; tea ware was too small
for men; such might do for women and chil-
dren. Tea and coffee were only "slops,"
which in the adage of the day "did not stick
by the ribs." The idea was they were de-
signed only for people of quality, who do not
labor, or the sick. A genuine back^voodsman
would have thought himself disgraced by
showing a fondness for those slops. Indeed,
many of them have to this day very little
respect for them.
Dress of the Indians and Early Settlers.— -
The hunting shirt was universally worn. This
was a kind of loose frock, reaching half way
down the thighs, with large sleeves, open be-
fore, and so wide as to lap over a foot or more
when belted. The cap was large, and sometimes
handsomely fringed with a raveled piece of
cloth of a different color from that of the
hunting shirt itself. The bosom of this dress
served as a wallet to hold a chunk of bread,
cakes, jerk, tow for wiping the barrel of the
rifle, or any necessary for the hunter or war-
rior. The belt, which was always tied behind,
answered several purposes, besides that of
holding the dress together. In cold weather
the mittens, and sometimes the bullet-bag, oc-
cupied the front part of it. To the right side
was suspended the tomahawk and to the left
the scalping knife in its leathern sheath. The
hunting shirt was generally made of linsey,
sometimes of coarse linen, and a few of dressed
deerskins. These last were very cold and un-
comfortable in wet weather. The shirt and
jacket were of the common fashion. A pair
of drawers or breeches and leggins were the
dress of the thigh and legs; a pair of moc-
casins answered for the feet much better than
shoes. These were made of dressed deerskin.
They were mostlj' made of a single piece with
a gathering seam along the top of the foot,
and another from the bottom of the heel,
without gathers, as high as the ankle joint or
a little higher. Flaps were left on each side
to reach some distance up the legs. These
were nicely adapted to the ankles and lower
part of the leg by thongs of deerskin, so
that no dust, gravel or snow could get within
the moccasin.
The moccasins in ordinary use cost but a
few hours' labor to make them. This was
done by an instrument denominated a moc-
casin awl, which was made of the backspring
of an old claspknife. This awl with its bucks-
hom handle was an appendage of every shot
pouch strap, together with a roll of buckskin
for mending the moccasins. This was the
labor of almost every evening. They were
sewed together and patched with deerskin
thongs, or whangs, as they were commonly
called.
In cold weather the moccasins were well
stuffed with deer's hair, or dry leaves, so as
to keep the feet comfortably warm; but in
wet weather it was usually said that wearing
them was "a decent way of going bare-
footed"; and such was the fact owing to the
spongy texture of the leather of which they
were made.
Owing to this defective covering of the
feet, more than to any other circumstance.
22
"HISTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the greater number of our hunters and war-
riors were afflicted with rheumatism in their
limbs. Of this disease they were all appre-
hensive in cold or wet weather, and there-
fore always slept with their feet to the fire
to prevent or cure it as well as they could.
This practice unquestionably had a very salu-
tary effect, and prevented many of them from
becoming confirmed cripples in early life.
In the latter j^ears of the Indian war our
young men became more enamored of the In-
dian dress throughout, with the exception of
the matchcoat. The drawers were laid aside
and the leggius made longer, so as to reach
the upper part of the thigh. The Indian
breechclout was adopted. This was a piece
of linen or cloth nearly a yard long, and eight
or nine inches broad. This passed under the
belt before and behind, leaving the ends for
flaps hanging before and behind over the
belt. These flaps were sometimes ornamented
with some coarse kind of embroidery work.
To the same Ijelts which secured the breech-
clout, strings which supported the long leg-
gins were attached. When this belt, as was
often the case, passed over the bunting shirt
the upper part of the thighs and part of the
hips were naked. The young warriors instead
of being abashed by this nudity were proud of
their Indian-like dress. They went into
places of public worship in this dress. Their
appearance, however, did not add much to
the devotion of the young ladies.
DRESS OP MEX
Moccasin shoes, buckskin breeches, blue
broadcloth coats and brass buttons, fawnskin
vests, roundabouts and woolen wammuses,
leather or woolen gallowses, were worn with
coon or sealskin caps in winter and chip or
oat-straw bats for summer. Every neighbor-
hood had then usually one itinerant shoemaker
and tailor, who periodicallj' visited cabins and
made up shoes or clothes as required. All
material had to be furnished, and these itin-
erant mechanics worked for fifty cents a day
and board. Cordui-oy pants and corduroy
overalls were common. The old pioneer in
winter often wore a coonskin cap, coouskin
gloves, buckskin breeches, leggins, and a wolf-
skin hunting shirt.
The wammuses, breeches and hunting shirts
of the men, the linsey petticoats, dresses and
bedgowns of the women, were all hung in
some corner of the cabin on wooden pegs. To
some extent this was a display of pioneer
wealth.
DRESS OF WOMEN
Home-made woolen cloth, tow, linen, linsey-
woolsey, etc., were the materials in use.
Barefoot girls "with cheek of tan" walked
three or four miles to church, and on nearing
the church would step into the woods to put
on the shoes they carried with them. Some
of these are living to-day. A woman who
could buy eight or ten yards of calico for a
dress at a dollar a yard put on queenly airs.
Every married woman of any refinement then
wore daycaps as well as nightcaps. Women
usuallj' went barefoot in the summer, and
in the winter covered their feet ^vith moc-
casins, calfskin shoes, buffalo overshoes, and
shoepaeks.
Linen and tow cloth were made from flax.
The seed was sown in the early spring and
ripened about August. It was harvested by
"pulling." This was generally done by a
"pulling frolic" of young people pulling it
out by the root. It was then tied in little
sheaves and permitted to dry, hauled in, and
thrashed for the seed. Then the straw was
watered and rotted by laying it on the ground
out of doors. When the straw was again dried
it was "broken in the flax-brake," after which
it was again tied up, in little bundles, and
then scutched with a wooden knife. This
scutching was a frolic job, too, and a dirty
one. Then it was hackled. The hackling
process separated the linen part from the tow.
The rest of the labor consisted of spinning,
weaving, and dyeing. Linen cloth sold for
about twenty-four cents a yard, tow cloth
for about twenty cents a yard. Weaving
originated with the Chinese. It took a thou-
sand yeai-s for the art to reach Europe.
The linsey petticoat and bedgown, wiiich
were the universal dress of our women in
early times, would make a strange figure in
our days. A small home-made handkerchief,
in point of elegance, would illy supply the
place of that profusion of ruffles with wiiieh
the necks of our ladies are now ornamented.
They went barefooted in warm weather, and
in cold their feet were covered with moccasins,
coarse shoes, or shoepaeks, wiiich would make
but a sorry showing beside the elegant mo-
rocco slippers, often embossed with bullion,
which at present ornament the feet of their,
daughters and granddaughters.
The coats and bedgowns of the women, as
well as the hunting shirts of the men, were
hung in full display on wooden pegs round
tlie walls of their cabins, so that while they
niSTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
23
answered in some degree the place of paper
hangings or tapestry they announced to the
stranger as well as neighbor the wealth or
poverty of the family in the articles of cloth-
ing. This practice has not yet been wholly
laid aside amongst the backwoods families.
The historian would say to the ladies of
the present time, our ancestors of your sex
knew nothing of the ruffles, leghorns, curls,
combs, rings and other jewels with which
their fair daughters now decorate themselves.
Such things were not then to be had. Many
of the younger part of them were pretty well
grown up before they ever saw the inside of
a store room, or even knew there was such a
thing in the world, unless by hearsay, and
indeed scarcely that. lastead of the toilet,
they had to handle the distaff or shuttle, the
sickle or weeding hoe, contented if they could
obtain their linsey clothing and cover their
heads with a sunbonnet made of six or seven
hundred linen.
Subsistence by Hunting. — This was an im-
portant part of the employment of the early
settlers of this country. For some years the
woods supplied them with the greater amount
of their subsistence, and with regard to some
families at certain times, the whole of it ; for
it was no uncommon thing for families to live
several months without a mouthful of bread.
It frequently happened that there was no
breakfast until it was obtained from the
woods. Furs and peltry were the people's
money. They had nothing else to give in ex-
change for rifles, salt and iron, on the other
side of the mountains.
The fall and early part of the winter was
the season for hunting the deer, and the whole
of the winter, including part of the spring, for
bears and fur skinned animals. It was a cus-
tomary saying that fur is good during every
month in the name of which the letter r oc-
curs.
As soon as the leaves were pretty well down
and the weather became rainy, accompanied
by light snows, men, after acting the part of
husbandmen so far as the state of warfare per-
mitted them to do so. began to feel that
they were hunters. They became uneasy at
home. Everything about them became dis-
agreeable. The house was too warm, the
feather bed too soft, and even the good wife
was not thought for the time being a proper
companion. The minds of the hunters were
whollv occupied with the camp and chase.
They often got up early in the morning at this
season, walked hastily out and looked anx-
iously to the woods and snuffed the autumnal
winds with the highest rapture, then returned '
into the house and cast a quick and attentive
look at the rifle, which was always suspended
to a joist by a couple of buck's horns, or
little forks. The hunting dog, understanding
the intentions of his master, would wag his
tail and by every blandishment in his power
express his readiness to accompany him to the
woods.
A day was soon appointed for the march
of the little cavalcade to the camp. Two or
three horses furnished with packsaddles were
loaded with flour, Indian meal, blankets and
everything else requisite for the use of the
hunter.
A hunting camp, or what was called a half-
faced cabin, was of the following form : the
back part of it was sometimes a large log;
at the distance of eight or ten feet from this
two stakes were set in the ground a few inches
apart, and at the distance of eight or ten feet
from these two more, to receive the ends of
the poles for the sides of the camp. The
whole slope of the roof was from the front to
the back. The covering was made of slabs,
skins or blankets, or, if in the spring of the
year, the bark of hickory or ash trees. The
front was left entirely open. The fire was
built directly before this opening. The cracks
between the logs were filled with moss. Diy
leaves served for a bedding. It is thus that
a couple of men, in a few hours, will con-
struct for themselves a temporary but toler-
ably comfortable defense from the inclemen-
cies of the weather. The beaver, otter, musk-
rat and squirrel are scarcely their equals in
dispatch in fabricating for themselves a covert
from the tempest ! A little more pains would
have made a hunting camp a defense against
the Indians. A cabin ten feet square, bullet
proof and furnished with portholes, would
have enabled two or three hunters to hold
twenty Indians at bay for any length of timo.
But this precaution was never attended to ;
hence the hunters were often surprised and
killed in their camps.
The site for the camp was selected with all
the sagacitj' of the woodsmen, so as to have it
sheltered by the surrounding hills from every
wind, but more especially from those of the
north and west.
Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit
of game, in which there was nothing of skill
and calculation: on the contrary the hunter,
before he set out in the morning, was informed
by the state of the weather in what situation
he might reasonably expect to meet with his
game; whether on ithe bottoms, sides or tops
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of the hills. In stormy weather the deer al-
ways seek the most sheltered places, and the
leewai'd sides of the hills. In rainy weather,
in which there is not much wind, they keep
in the open woods on the highest ground.
In every situation it was requisite for the
hunter to ascertain the course of the wind, so
as to get the leeward of the game. This he
effected by putting his finger in his mouth and
holding it there until it became warm, then
holding it above his head; the side which
first becomes cold shows which way the wind
blows.
As it was requisite, too, for the hunter to
know the cardinal points, he had only to ob-
serve the trees to ascertain them. The bark
of an aged tree is thicker and much rougher
on the north than on the south side. The same
thing may be said of the moss, it is much
thicker and stronger on the north than on the
south sides of the trees.
The whole business of the hunter consists
of a succession of intrigues. From morning
till night he was on the alert to gain the wind
of his game, and approach it without being
discovered. If he succeeded in killing a deer,
he skinned it and hung it up out of the reach
of the wolves, and immediately resumed the
chase till the close of the evening when he bent
his course towards his camp ; when arrived
there he kindled up his fire, and together with
his fellow hunter cooked his supper. The sup-
per finished, the adventures of the day fur-
nished the tales for the evening. The spike
buck, the two and three pronged buck, the doe
and barren doe, figured through their anec-
dotes with gi-eat advantage. It would seem
that after hunting awhile on the same ground
the hunters became acquainted with nearly
all of the gangs of deer within their range,
so as to know each flock of them when they
saw them. Often some old buck, by the means
of his superior sagacity and watchfulness,
saved his little gang from the hunter's skill
by giving timely notice of his approach. The
cunning of the hunter and that of the old
buck were staked against each other, and it
frequently happened that at the conclusion
of the hunting season the old fellow was left
free, uninjured tenant of his forest ; but if
his rival succeeded in bringing him down,
the victory was followed by no small amount
of boasting on the part of the conqueror.
"When the weather was not suitable for
hunting, the skins and carcasses of the game
were brought in and disposed of.
Many of the hunters rested from their la-
bors on the Sabbath day, some from a motive
of piety ; others said that whenever they
hunted on Sunday they were sure to have bad
luck all the rest of the week.
HOUSEHOLD MANUFACTURES
Nearly all the. clothing of the early settlers
was made from cloth of home manufacture.
Long after the country had passed into its pio-
neer state, the women carded, spun, wove,
colored and fulled the fabric, and when this
was done they made the clothing without the
aid of tailors or fashion plates. When more
spinning was to be done than the wife could
do in addition to her ordinary housework,
and where the daughters were too young to
help, spinsters were employed to come into
the families to spin flax in the winter season
and wool in the summer. The price usually
paid these spinsters was a shilling a day, a
day's work ending at early bedtime. Some
will be surprised when told that many of
these women had money to show at the year's
end. It was the custom, to some extent, to
count a certain number of "runs" as a day's
work. This had a tendency to accelerate the
motion of the wheel and lessen the hours of
labor. The spinning exercise is one which
the young women of modern times have never
enjoyed. The wheel used for spinning flax
was called the "little wheel," to distinguish
it from the "big wheel," used for spinning
wool. These "stringed instruments" fur-
nished the principal music of the family, and
were operated by our mothers and grandmoth-
ers with great skill attained without expense,
and with far less practice than is necessary
for our modern dames to acquire a skillful
use of the elegant and costly instruments.
They were indispensable household articles,
and were to be found in nearly every family.
The loom was not less necessary than the
wheel. There were many houses, however, in
which there was none. But there were always
those who, besides doing their own weaving,
did some for others. Woolen cloth was made
in the home. There being at first no carding
machines, wool was carded and made into short
rolls with hand cards. These rolls were spun
on the "big wheel," which is still to be seen
in some of the houses of the old families, be-
ing occasionally used for spinning and twist-
ing cotton yarn. It was turned by hand and
with a velocity to give it sufficient momentum
to enable the nimble mother, by her backward
step, to draw out a twist and thread nearly
the length of the cabin. The same loom was
used for both linen and woolen. A cloth
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
25
was sometimes called linsey or linsey-woolsey,
the warp being linen and the filling woolen.
In the early part of the century Archibald
Matthew, a cloth dresser by trade, came to
East Wheatfield township. Wool for men's
garments was then generally sent to him to
be fulled and dressed, if the parties lived
within a convenient distance. He in a short
time (date unknown) built a small woolen
mill and carding machine. Much dyeing was
done in the family. Butternuts were used
to make brown, peach leaves for yellow, and
myrtle for a red shade. Woolen was also
made and worn by the mothers and daughters.
Flannel for women's wear, after dyestufifs
were to be had, was dyed such colors as the
wearer fancied. It was sometimes a plaid
made of yarns of various colors, home-dyed.
To improve their appearance, these flannels
were sent to a cloth dresser (after such a me-
chanic had come into the country), for a
slight dressing. Dyewoods and dyestuffs
formed no small part of the early merchant's
stock. Barrels of chips. Nicaragua, logwood
and other woods, kegs of madder, alum, cop-
peras, vitriol, indigo, etc., formed a large part
of the teamster's loading for the storekeeper.
I\Iany can yet remember the old dyetub, stand-
ing in the chimney corner, covered with a
board and used as a seat for children, when
the stools or homemade chairs were wanted
for visitors. Nearly all the coats, "wam-
muses," pants, etc., were made of homespun
goods. When a young man appeared in a
suit of "boughten" cloth, he was an object
of envy to his associates.
For many years, few except merchants,
lawyers, doctors and some village mechanics
wore cloth that had not passed through the
hands of the country cloth dresser. Hence
the early merchants kept small stocks of
broadcloths.
There were also tailoresses who came into
families to make up men's and boy's winter
clothing. The cutting was done by the vil-
lage tailor, if a village was near. Bad fits,
which were not uncommon, were generally
charged to the cutter. Hence the custom of
tailors, when advertising, "cutting done on
short notice and warranted to fit," to append
the ovei'-prudent proviso, if properly made
up. These same tailoresses charged for their
work two shillings per day. This was thought,
by some, a little exorbitant, as the usual price
of help at housework was but six shillings per
week, Sundays not excepted. For a while the
pioneers wore moccasins, and then boots and
shoes were made of tanned leather. Farmers
subsequently got the hides of their slaughtered
cattle tanned "on shares," or if their share
was insufficient to shoe the whole family, for
the tanning and dressing other means of pay-
ment was provided. Then there was in the
ueighboi'hood a circulating shoemaker, who
made his yearly autumnal circuit with his
"kit." The children had a happy time dur-
ing his sojourn, which lasted one, two or more
weeks, according to the number of feet to be
shod. The boys, who had doffed their old
shoes when the winter snows had scarcely dis-
appeared to enjoy the luxury of going bare-
foot, were now no less joyful in the anticipa-
tion of new ones to protect their feet from
the frost or early snows.
Large boys and girls, when leather was
scarce and dear, were known to go barefoot
the greater part of the year. It was not a
rare thing to see girls, as well as boj-s, not in
the poor families, at Sunday meetings with
feet unshod. Some made shoes for themselves
and families. Boots were little worn even
by men except in winter season. Men's boots
and shoes were usually made of coaree leather,
called cowhide. Occasionally a young man
attained the enviable distinction of appear-
ing in a pair of calfskin boots, made by a
skilled workman. Boots and shoes for both
feet were made on one last. In those days,
rights and lefts were not known. In this de-
partment of dress, as in others, in respect to
style and cost, the past and the present ex-
hibit a remarkable contrast.
EARLY COOKING
To witness the several processes in cooking
in pioneer times would likely surprise and
amuse those who have grown up since cook-
stoves came into use. The first thing to at-
tract attention was the wide fireplace. Ket-
tles were hung over the fire to a stout pole,
sometimes called lug-pole, the ends of which
were fastened on the sides of the chimney at
such height as to be safe from ignition from
the heat or sparks. The kettles were sus-
pended from trammels, which were pieces of
iron rods with a hook ,ou each end. The
longest one reached nearly down to the fire,
and with one or more shorter ones, a kettle
was brought to the proper height aliove the
fire. For the want of iron, wooden hooks
were sometimes used for trammels, which
being directly above the kettles, were safe
from fire.
The long-handled frying pan became a com-
mon cooking utensil. It was held over the
26
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
fire by hand ; but to save time the handle was
laid on a bos or back of a chair, the pan rest-
ing on the fire, while the cook was setting the
table. The pan was also used for baking
shortcakes. It was placed before the fire,
leaning slightly backward, with coals under
and back of it to bake the under side. A
more convenient one was the castiron, three-
legged, short-handled spider, which was set
over the coals on the hearth for frying meat.
The legs were of such length and so ad.justed
that, when used for baking cakes and bread,
by turning it towards the fire to the proper
slope, handle upwards, it kept its position.
An early mode of baking corn bread, was
to put the dough on a smooth board, about
two feet long and eight inches wide, placed
on the hearth in a slanting position before
the fire. When the upper side was baked,
the bread was turned over for baking the
other side. When lard was plentiful, the
bread was shortened and called johnnycake.
But a better article for baking bread than
either the pan or spider was the castiron bake-
kettle, in some places called "dutch oven,"
with lugs and a closely fitted cover. Stand-
ing on the hearth with coals under and over
it, bread and biscuit were nicelj^ baked.
Bread for large families was, in after years,
usually baked in large outdoor ovens built
of brick or fireproof stone. Turkey and
spareribs were roasted before the fire, sus-
pended by a string, a dish or a pan being
placed undenieath to catch the drippings.
Some of the inconveniences in cooking in
these open fireplaces can be readily imagined.
Women's hair was singed, their hands were
blistered and their dresses scorched. A frame
house with jamb fireplaces, in a measure re-
lieved the pioneer housewives. In one of the
jambs was fixed an iron crane which could be
drawn foi-ward when kettles were to be put
on or taken off:. The invention of cookstoves
began a new era in cooking; and some averse
to the innovation intimated a desire to return
to the "old way," which will hereafter be
known only to history.
AN EARl^Y WEDDING
For a long time after the first settlement
of this country the inhabitants in general
married young. There was no distinction of
rank and very little of fortune. On these
accounts the first impression of love resulted
in marriage; and a family establishment cost
but a little labor and nothing else. A descrip-
tion of a wedding from the beginning to the
end will serve to show the manners of our
forefathers and mark the grade of civilization
which has succeeded to their rude state of
society in the course of a few years.
In the first years of the settlement of this
county a wedding engaged the attention of
the whole neighborhood; and the frolic was
anticipated by old and young with eager
expectation. This is not to be wondered at,
when it is told that a wedding was almost the
only gathering which was not accompanied
with the labor of reaping, log rolling, build-
ing a cabin, or planning some scout or cam-
paign.
In the morning of the wedding day the
groom and his attendants assembled at the
house of his father for the purpose of reach-
ing the mansion of his bride by noon, which
was the usual time for celebrating the nup-
tials, which for certain must take place before
dinner.
Let the reader imagine au assemblage of
people without a store, tailor or mantuamaker
within a hundred miles ; and an assemblage of
horses without a blacksmith or saddler within
an equal distance. The gentlemen dressed in
shoepacks, moccasins, leather breeches, leg-
gins, linsey hunting shirts, and all home-
made. The ladies dressed in linsey petticoats
and linsey or linen bedgowns, coarse shoes,
stockings, handkerchiefs and buckskin gloves,
if any. If there were any buckles, rings, but-
tons, or ruffles, they were the relies of old
times, family pieces from parents or grand-
parents. The hoi'ses were caparisoned with
old saddles, old bridles or halters, and pack-
saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over
them; a rope or string as often constituted
the girth as a piece of leather.
The march, in double file, was often inter-
rupted by the narrowness and obstructions
of our horse paths, as they were called, for
we had no roads; and these difficulties were
often increased, sometimes by the good and
sometimes by the ill will of neighbors, by
felling trees and tying grape vines across the
way. Sometimes an ambuscade was formed
by the wayside, and an unexpected discharge
of several guns took place, so as to cover the
wedding company with smoke. Let the reader
imagine the scene which followed this dis-
charge ; the sudden spring of the horses, the
shrieks of the girls, and the chivalric bustle
of their partners to save them from falling.
Sometimes, in spite of all that could be done
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
27
to prevent it, some were thrown to the ground.
If a wrist, elbow or ankle happened to be
sprained it was tied with a handkerchief, and
little more was thought or said about it.
Another ceremony commonly took place
before the party reached the house of the
bride, after the practice of making whiskey
began, which was at an early period. When
the party were about a mile from the place
of their destination, two young men would
single out to run for the bottle; the worse
the path, the more logs, brush and deep hol-
lows the better, as these obstacles afforded an
opportunity for the greater display of intre-
pidity and horsemanship. The English fox
chase, in point of danger to the riders and
their horses, is nothing to this race for the
bottle. The start was announced by an In-
dian yell; logs, brush, muddy hollows, hill
and glen, were speedily passed by the rival
ponies. The bottle was always filled for the
occasion, so that there was no need for judges ;
for the first who reached the door was pre-
sented the prize, with which he returned in
triumph to the company. On approaching
them he announced his victory over his rival
by a shrill whoop. At the head of the troop,
he gave the bottle first to the groom and his
attendants, and then to each pair in succes-
sion to the rear of the line, giving each a
dram ; and then, putting the bottle in the
bosom of his hunting shirt, took his station
in the company.
The ceremony of the marriage preceded
the dinner, which was a substantial back-
woods feast of beef, pork, fowls, and some-
times venison and bear meat roasted and
boiled, with plenty of potatoes, cabbage and
other vegetables. During the dinner the
greatest hilarity always prevailed; although
the table might be a large slab of timber,
hewed out with a broadaxe, supported by
four sticks set in auger holes, and the furnish-
ings some old pewter dishes and plates, the
rest wooden bowls and trenehei's. A few
pewter spoons, much battered about the edges,
were to he seen at some tables ; the rest were
made of horns. If knives were scarce, the
deficiency was made up by the scalping knives
which were carried in sheaths suspended to
the belt of the hunting shirt.
After dinner the dancing commenced, and
generally lasted till the next morning. The
figures of the dances were three and four
handed reels, or square sets and .iigs. The
commencement was alwavs a square four,
which was followed by what was called jig-
ging it off; that is, two of the four would
single out for a jig, and were followed by the
remaining couple. The jigs were often ac-
companied with what was called cutting out ;
that is, when either of the parties became tired
of the dance, on intimation, the place was
supplied by some one of the company without
any interruption of the dance. In this way
a dance was often continued till the musician
was heartily tired of his situation. Towards
the latter part of the night, if any of the
company, through weariness, attempted to
conceal themselves for the purpose of sleep-,
iug, they were hunted up, paraded on the
floor, and the fiddler ordered to play "Hang
on till tomorrow morning."
About nine or ten o'clock a deputation of
the young ladies stole off the bride and put
her to bed. In doing this it frequently hap-
pened that they had to ascend a ladder in-
stead of a pair of stairs, leading from the
dining and ball room to the loft, the floor of
which was made of clapboards lying loose and
without nails. This ascent, one might think,
would put the bride and her attendants to
the blush ; but as the foot of the ladder was
commonly behind the door, which was pur-
posely opened for the occasion, and its rounds
at the inner end were well hung with hunt-
ing shirts, petticoats and other articles of
clothing, the candles being on the opposite
side of the house the exit of the bride was
noticed but by few. This done, a deputation
of young men in like manner stole off the
groom, and placed him snugly by the side of
his bride. The dance still continued; and if
seats happened to be scarce, which was often
the case, every young man, when not engaged
in the dance, was obliged to offer his lap as a
seat for one of the girls ; and the offer was
sure to be accepted. In the midst of this
hilarity the bride and groom were not for-
gotten. Pretty late in the night some one
would remind the company that the new
couple must stand in need of some refresh-
ments, and "black Betty," which was the
name of the bottle, was called for and sent up
the ladder.
In the course of the festivity, if any wanted
to help himself to a dram, and the young
couple to a toast, he would call out:
"Wliere is black Betty? I want to kiss
her sweet lips." Black Betty was soon
handed to him. Then holding her up in his
right hand he would say:
"Health to the groom, not forgetting my-
28
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
self; and here's to the bride, thumping luck
and big children."
This, so far from being taken amiss, was
considered as an expression of a very proper
and friendly wish, for big children, especially
sons, were of great importance; as we were
few in number, and engaged in perpetual
hostility with the Indians, the end of which
no one could foresee. Indeed many of them
seemed to suppose that war was the natural
state of man, and therefore did not anticipate
any conclusion of it ; every big son was there-
fore considered as a young soldier.
But to return. It often happened that some
neighbors or relations, not being asked to the
wedding, took offense; and the mode of re-
venge adopted by them on such occasions was
that of cutting o£E the manes, foretops and
tails of the horses of the wedding com-
pany. Another method of revenge which was
adopted when the chastity of the bride was a
little suspected was that of setting up a pair
of horns on poles, or trees, on the route of the
wedding company. This was a hint to the
groom that he might expect to be compli-
mented with a pair of horns himself.
On returning to the infare, the order of
procession and the race for black Betty was
the same as before. The feasting and danc-
ing often lasted for several days, at the end
of which the whole company were so ex-
hausted with loss of sleep that several days'
rest were requisite to fit them to return to
their ordinary labors.
Should I be asked why I have presented
this unpleasant portrait of the rude manners
of our forefathers, I in my turn would ask my
reader, whv are you pleased with the histories
of the blood and carnage of battles? Why
are you delighted with the fictions of poetry,
the novel and romance? I have related truth,
and only truth, strange as it may seem. I
have depicted a state of society and manners
which are fast vanishing from the memory of
man, with a view to give the youth of our
country a knowledge of the advantages of
civilization, and to give contentment to the
aged by preventing them from saying "that
former times were better than the present.'
THE HOUSE WARMING
I will proceed to state the usual manner of
settling a young couple in the world.
A spot was selected on a piece of land ot
one of the parents, for their habitation. A
day was appointed shortly after their mar-
riage for commencing the work of building
their cabin. The fatigue party consisted of
choppers, whose business it was to fell the
trees and cut them off at proper lengths ; a
man with a team for hauling them to the
place, and arranging them, properly assorted,
at the sides and ends of the building; a car-
penter, if such he might be called, whose b\isi-
ness it was to search the woods for a proper
tree for making clapboards for the roof, 'rhe
tree for this purpose must be straight grained
and from three to four feet in diameter. The
boards were split four feet long, with a large
frow, and as wide as the timber would allow.
They were used without planing or shaving.
Another division was employed in getting
puncheons for the floor of the cabin; this
was done by splitting trees, about eighteen
inches in diameter, and hewing the faces of
them with a broadaxe. They were half the
length of the floor they were intended to
make. The materials for the cabin were
mostly prepared on the first day and some-
times the foundation laid in the evening. The
second day was allotted for the raising.
In the morning of the next day the neigh-
bors collected for the raising. The first thing
to be done was the election of four corner
men, whose business it was to notch and place
the logs. The rest of the company furnished
them with the timbers. In the meantime the
boards and puncheons were collecting for the
floor and roof, so that by the time the cabin
was a few rounds high the sleepers and floor
began to be laid. The door was made by saw-
ing or cutting the logs in one side so as to
make an opening about three feet wide. This
opening was secured by upright pieces of
timber about three inches thick, through
which holes were bored into the ends of the
logs for the purpose of pinning them fast,
A similar opening, but wider, was at the end
for the chimney. This Avas built of logs and
made large to admit of a back and jambs of
stone. At the square, two end logs projected
a foot or eighteen inches beyond the wall to
receive the butting poles, as they were called,
against which the ends of the flrst row of clap-
boards was supported. The roof was formed
by making the end logs shorter until a single
log formed the corn!) of the roof. On these
logs the clapboards were placed, the ranges
of them lapping some distance over those next
below them and kept in their places by logs
placed at proper distances upon them.
The roof and sometimes the floor were fin-
ished on the same day of the raising. A third
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
day was commonly spent by a few carpenters
in leveling of? the floor, making a clapboard
door and a table. This last was made of a
split slab and supported by four round legs
set in auger holes. Some three-legged stools
were made in the same manner. Some pins
stuck in the logs at the back of the house sup-
ported some clapboards which served for
shelves for the table furniture. A single fork,
placed with its lower end in a hole in the floor
and the upper end fastened to a joist, sei-^'ed
for a bedstead by placing a pole in the fork
with one end through a crack between the
logs of the wall. This front pole was crossed
by a shorter one within the fork, with its
outer end through another crack. From the
front pole, through a crack between the logs
of the end of the house, the boards were put
on which formed the bottom of the bed.
Sometimes other poles were pinned to the fork
a little distance above these, for the purpose
of supporting the front and foot of the bed,
while the walls were the supports of its back
and head. A few pegs around the walls for a
display of the coats of the women, and hunt-
ing shirts of the men, and two small forks or
buck's horns to a joist for the rifle and shot
pouch, completed the carpenter work.
In the meantime masons were at work.
With the heart pieces of the timber of which
the clapboards were made they made billets
for chunking up the cracks between the logs
of the cabin and chimney; a large bed of
mortar was made for daubing up those cracks ;
a few stones formed the back and jambs of
the chimney.
The cabin being finished, the ceremony of
house warming took place before the young
couple were permitted to move into it. The
house warming was a dance of a whole night 's
continuance, the company being made up of
the relations of the bride and groom and their
neighbors. On the day following the young
couple took possession of their new mansion.
PIONEER LEGAL RELATIONS OP MAN AND WIPE
Up to and later than 1843, Pennsylvania
was under the common law system of Eng-
land. Under this law the wife had no legal
separate existence. The husband had the
right to whip her, and only in the event of
her committing ci-imes had she a separate ex-
istence from her husband. But if the crime
was committed in her husband's presence, she
was then presumed not guilty. Her condition
was legally little, if any, better than that of
a slave.
Under the common law, husband and wife
were considered as one person, and on this
principle all their civil duties and relations
rested.
The wife could not sue in her own name,
but only through her husband. If she suf-
fered wrong in her person or pi'operty, she
could, with her husband's aid and assistance,
prosecute, but the husband had to be the
plaintiff. For crimes without any presumed
coercion of her husband, the wife could be
prosecuted and punished, and for these mis-
demeanors the punishments were severe.
The wife could make no contract with her
husband. The husband and she could make
a contract through the agency of trustees for
the wife, the wife, though, being still under
the protection of her husband.
All contracts made between husband and
wife before marriage were void after the
ceremony. The husband could in no wise
convey lands or realty to his wife, onty and
except through a trustee. A husband at
death could bequeath real estate to his wife.
^Marriage gave the husband all right and
title to his wife's property, whether real or
personal, but he then became liable for all
her debts and contracts, even those that were
made before marriage, and after marriage he
was so liable, except for "superfluities and
extravagances."
If the wife died before the husband and
left no children, the husband and his heirs
inherited her real estate. But if there were
children, the husband remained in possession
of her land during the lifetime of the wife,
and at his death the land went to the wife's
heirs.
All debts due to the wife became after mar-
riage the property of the husband, who be-
came invested with power to sue on bond, note
or any other obligation, to his own and ex-
clusive use. The powers of discharge and
assignment and change of securities were, of
course, involved in the leading principle. If
the husband died before the recovery of the
money, or any change in the securities, the
wife "became entitled to these debts, etc., in
her own right. All personal property of the
wife, such as money, goods, movables and
stocks, became absolutely the property of the
husband upon marriage, and at his death went
to his heii-s.
Property could be given to a wife by deed
of marriage settlement.
Property could be settled on the wife after
marriage "by the husband, provided he was
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
solvent at the time and the transfer not made
with a view to defraud.
The wife could not sell her land, but any-
real estate settled upon her through ai trustee
she could bequeath.
The husband and wife could not be wit-
nesses against each other in civil or criminal
cases where the testimony could in the least
favor or criminate either. One exception only
existed to this rule, and that was that "the
personal safety or the life of the wife gave her
permission to testify for her protection."
LABOR AND ITS DISCOURAGEMENTS
The necessary labors of the farms along the
frontiere were performed with every danger
and difficulty imaginable. The whole pop-
ulation of the frontiers huddled together in
their little forts left the country with every
appearance of a deserted region; and such
would have been the opinion of a traveler
concerning it, if he had not seen, here and
there, some small fields of corn or other grain
in a growing state.
It is easy to imagine what losses must have
been sustained by our first settlers owing to
this deserted state of their farms. It was not
the full measure of their trouble that they
risked and ol?ten lost their lives in subduing
the forest, and turning it into fruitful fields ;
but compelled to leave them in a deserted
state during the summer season, a great part
of the fruits of their labors was lost by this
untoward circumstance. Their sheep and
hogs were devoured by the wolves, panthers
and bears. Ilorses and cattle were often let
into their fields, through breaches made in
their fences by the falling of trees, and fre-
quently almost the whole of a crop of corn
was destroyed by squirrels and racoons, so
that many families, and after an hazardous
and laborious spring and summer, had but
little left for tlie comfort of the dreary winter.
The early settlers on the frontiers of this
country were like Arabs of the desert of
Africa, in at least two respects; every man
was a soldier, and from early in the spring
till late in the fall was almost continually in
arms. Their work was often carried on by
parties, each one of whom had his rifle and
everything else belonging to his war dress.
These were deposited in some central place
in the field. A sentinel was stationed on the
outside of the fence, so that on the least
alarm the whole company repaired to their
arms, and were ready for the combat in a
moment. Here, again, the rashness of some
families proved a source of difSculty. In-
stead of joining the working parties, they
went out and attended to their farms by
themselves, and in case of alarm an express
was sent for thenj, and sometimes a party of
men to guard them to the fort. These fami-
lies, in some instances, could boast that they
had better crops, and were every way better
provided for the winter than their neighbors.
In other instances their temerity cost them
their lives.
In military affairs, when every one con-
cerned is left to his own will, matters are sure
to be but badly managed. The whole fron-
tiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia presented
a succession of military camps or forts. We
had military officers, that is to say, captains
and colonels, but they, in many respects, were
only nominally such. They could advise but
not command. Those who chose to follow
their advice did so to such an extent as suited
their fancy or interest. Others were refrac-
tory and thereby gave much trouble. These
officers would lead a scout or campaign.
Those who thought proper to accompany
them did so, those who did not remained at
home. Public odium was the only punish-
ment for their laziness or cowardice. There
was no compulsion in the performance of
militaiy duties, and no pecuniary reward
when they were performed.
It is but doing justice to the first settlers
of this country to say that instances of dis-
obedience of families and individuals to the
advice of our officers were by no means
numerous. The greater number cheerfully
submitted to their directions with prompt and
faithful obedience.
GAMES AND DIVERSIONS
These were such as might be expected
among a people who, owing to their circum-
stances as well as education, set a higher value
on physical than on mental endowments, and
on skill in hunting and bravery in war than
on any polite accomplishments, or fine arts.
Amusements are, in many instances, either
imitations of the business of life, or, at least,
of some of its particular objects of pursuit;
on the part of young men belonging to nations
in a state of warfare, many amusements are
regarded as preparations for the military
character which they are expected to sustain
in future life. Thus, the war dance of sav-
ages is a pantomime of their stratagems and
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
•■U
horrid deeds of cruelty in war, and the ex-
hibition prepares the minds of their young
men for a participation in the bloody trag-
edies which they represent. Dancing, among
civilized people, is regarded not only as an
amusement suited to the youthful period of
human life, but as a means of inducing
urbanity of manners and good personal de-
portment in public. Horse racing is regarded
by the statesman as a preparation, in various
ways, for the equestrian department of war-
fare; it is said that the English government
never possessed a good cavalry until, by the
encouragement given to public races, their
breed of horses was improved. Games, in
which there is a mixture of chance and skill,
are said to improve the understanding in
mathematical and other calculations.
]Many of the sports of the early settlers of
this country were imitative of the exercises
and stratagems of hunting and war. Boys
were taught the use of the bow and arrow at
an early age ; but although they acquired con-
siderable adroitness in the use of them, so
as to kill a bird or squirrel sometimes, yet it
appears that in the hands of the white peo-
ple the bows and arrows could never be
depended upon for warfare or hunting, unless
made and managed in a different manner
from any specimens of them which I ever
saw. In ancient times the bow and arrow
must have been deadly instruments in the
hands of the barbarians of our country ; but I
much doubt whether any of the present tribes
of Indians could make much use of the tlint
arrowheads which must have been so gener-
ally used by their forefathers.
Firearms, wherever they can be obtained,
soon put an end to the use of the bow and
arrow; but independent of this circum-
stance, military as well as other arts some-
times grow out of date and vanish from the
world.
One important pastime of our boys was
that of imitating the noise of every bird and
beast in the woods. This faculty was not
merely a pastime, but a very necessary part
of education, on account of its utility in cer-
tain circumstances. The imitations of the
gobbling and other sounds of wild turkeys
often brought those keen-eyed and ever watch-
ful tenants of the forest with the reach of
the rifle. The bleating of the fawn brought
her dam to her death in the same way. The
hunter often collected a company of mopish
owls to the trees about his camp, and amused
himself with their hoarse screaming; liis howl
would raise and obtain responses from a pack
of wolves, so as to inform him of their neigh-
borhood, as well as guard him against their
depredations.
This imitative faculty was sometimes req-
uisite as a measure of precaution in war. The
Indians, when scattered about in a neighbor-
hood, often collected together by imitating
turkeys by day and wolves or owls by night.
In similar situations our people did the same.
An early and correct use of this imitative
faculty was considered as an indication that
its possessor would become in due time a good
hunter and a valiant warrior.
Throwing the tomahawk was another boy-
jsh sport, in which many acquired consider-
able skill. The tomahawk with its handle of
a certain length will make a given number of
turns in a given distance. Say in five steps
it will strike with the edge, the handle down-
wards; at the distance of seven and a half, it
will strike with the edge, the handle upwards,
and so on. A little experience enabled the
boy to measure the distance with his eye,
when walking through the woods, and strike
a tree with his tomahawk in any way he
chose.
The athletic sports of running, jumping
and wrestling were the pastimes of the boys,
in common with the men. A well grown boy,
at the age of twelve or thirteen years, was
furnished with a small rifle and shot pouch.
He then became a fort soldier, and had his
porthole assigned him. Hunting squirrels,
turkeys and raccoons soon made him expert
in the use of his gun.
Dancing was the principal amusement of
our young people of both sexes. Their dances,
to be sure, were of the simplest forms, three-
and four-handed reels and jigs. Contra
dances, cotillions and minuets were unknown.
Shooting at marks was a common diversion
among the men, when their stock of ammuni-
tion would allow it; this, however, was far
from being always the case. The present
mode of shooting ofifhand was not then in
practice. This mode was not considered as
any trial of the value of a gun ; nor, indeed,
as much of a test of the skill of a marksman.
Their shooting was from a rest, and at as
great distance as the length and weight of
the barrel of the gun would throw a ball on
a horizontal level. Such was their regard to
accuracy, in these sportive trials of their
rifles, and of their own skill in the use of
them, that they often put moss, or some other
soft substance, on the log or stump from which
32
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
they shot, for fear of having the bullet thrown
from the mark, by the spring of the barrel.
When the rifle was held to the side of a tree
for a rest, it was pressed against it as lightly
as possible, for the same reason.
Rifles of former times were different from
those of modern date: few of them carried
more than forty-five bullets to the pound.
Bullets of smaller size were not thought suf-
ficiently heavy for hunting or war.
Dramatic narrations, chiefly concerning
Jack and the giant, furnished our young peo-
ple with another source of amusement dur-
ing their leisure hours. Many of these tales
were lengthy, and embraced a considerable
range of incident. Jack, always the hero of
the story, after encountering many difficul-
ties, and performing many great achieve-
ments, came oif conqueror of the giant. Many
of these stories were tales of knight errantry,
in which some captive virgin was released
from captivity and restored to her lover.
These dramatic narrations concerning Jack
and the giant bore a strong resemblance to
the poems of Ossian, the story of the Cyclops
and Ulysses, in the Odyssey of Homer, and
the tale of the giant and Greatheart, in the
"Pilgrim's Progress." They were so ar-
ranged, as to the difi'erent incidents of the
narration, that they were easily committed to
memory. They certainly have been handed
down from generation to generation, from
time immemorial. Civilization has, indeed,
banished the use of those ancient tales of ro-
mantic heroism ; but what then ? it has sub-
stituted in their place the novel and romance.
It is thus that in every state of society the
imagination of man is eternally at war with
reason and truth. That fiction should be ac-
ceptable to an unenlightened people is not to
be wondered at, as the treasures of truth have
never been unfolded to their minds ; but that
a civilized people themselves should in so
many instances, like l)arbarians, prefer the
fairy regions of fiction to the august treasures
of tnith developed in the sciences of theology,
history, natural and moral philosophy, is
truly a sarcasm on human nature. It is as
much as to say that it is essential to our
amusement ; that, for the time being, we must
suspend the exercise of reason, and submit to
a voluntary deception.
Singing was another, but no ver.v common,
amusement among our first settlers. Their
tunes were rude enough, to be sure. Robin
Hood furnished a number of songs; the bal-
ance were mostly tragical, these last denom-
inated "love songs about nuirder." As to
cards, dice, backgammon and other games of
chance, they knew nothing about them.
PIONEER EVENING FROLICS
In the pioneer days newspapers were few,
dear, printed on coarse paper, and small.
Books were scarce, there was only occasional
preaching, no public lectures, and but few
public meetings, excepting the annual Fourth
of July celebration, when all the patriots as-
sembled to hear the Declaration of Inde-
pendence read. The pioneer and his family
had to have fun. The common saying of that
day was that "all work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy." As a rule, outside of the
villages, everybody lived in log cabins, and
people were bound together by mutual de-
pendence and acts of neighborly kindness.
At every cabin the latchstring was always
out. The young ladies of the "upper ten"
learned music, but it was the humming of to
' ' knit and spin ' ' ; their piano was a loom, their
sunshade a broom, and their novel a Bible. A
young gentleman or ladj' was then as proud
of his or her new suit, woven by a sister or a
mother on her own loom, as proud could be,
and these new suits or "best clothes" were
always worn to evening frolics. Social
parties among the young were called ' ' kissing
parties," because in all the plays, either as a
penalty or as pai-t of the play, all the girls
who joined in the amusement had to be kissed
by .some one of the boys. To the bo.vs and
girls of tliat period —
■'Tlie earth was like a garden then,
And life seemed like a show,
For the air was rife with fragrance,
The sky was all rainbow.
And the heart was warm and joyous;
Each lad had native grace,
Sly Cupid planted blushes then
On c'vcry virgin's face."
The plays were nearly all musical and
vocal, and the boys lived and played them
in the "pleasures of hope." while usually
there sat in the corner of the cabin fireplace
a granddad or a grandma smoking a stone or
clay pipe, lighted with a live coal from the
woodfire, living and smoking in the "pleas-
ures of memory."
The plays were conducted somewhat in this
A popular play was for all the persons
present to join hands and form a ring, with
a dude of that time, in shirt of check and
liear-greascd hair, in tlie center. Then they
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
33
circled round and round the center person,
singing :
■■King William was King James' son,
And of that royal race he sprung;
He wore a star upon his breast.
To show that he was royal best.
fio choose your east, go choose your west.
Go choose the one that you like best ;
If he's not here to take your part,
Go choose another with all your heart."
The boy in the center then chose a lady from
the circle, and she stepped into the ring -^vith
him. Then the circling was resumed, and all
sang to the parties inside,
■■Down on this carpet you must kneel.
•Just as the grass grows in the field ;
Salute your bride with kisses sweet,
And then rise up upon your feet."
The play went on in this manner until all
tlie girls present were kissed.
Another popular play was to form a ring.
A young lady would step into the circle, and
all parties would join hands and sing,
••There's a lily in the garden
For you, young man;
There's a lily in the garden.
Go pluck it if you can." etc.
The lady then selects a boy from the circle,
who walks into the ring with her. He then
kisses her and she goes out, when the rest all
sing.
"There he stands, that great big booby,
Who he is I do not know;
Who will take him for his beauty?
Let her answer, yes or no."
This play goes on in this way until all the
sirls have been kissed. Another favorite play
was :
•■Oats, peas, beans, and barley grows ;
Xone so well as the farmer knows
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grows;
Thus the farmer sows his seed.
Thus he stands to take his ease;
He stamps his foot and claps his hands.
And turns around to view his lands," etc.
Another great favorite was:
"Oh. sister Phoebe, how merry were we
The night we sat under the juniper-tree,
The juniper-tree, I, oh.
Take this hat on your head, keep your head warm,
And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm,
But a great deal of good, I know,'' etc.
Another wf
'• If I had as many lives
As Solomon had wives.
I'd be as old as Adam ;
So rise to your feet
And kiss the first you meet.
Your humble servant, madam."
Another was:
"It's raining, it's hailing, it's cold, stormy weather;
In comes the farmer drinking of his cider'.
He's going a-reaping, he wants a binder,
I've lost my true love, where shall I find her."
A live play was called "hurly-burly."
' ' Two went round and gave each one, secretly,
something to do. The girl was to pull a young
man's hair; another to tweak an ear or nose,
or trip some one, etc. When all had been
told what to do, the master of ceremonies
cried out, 'Hurly-burly.' Every one sprang
up and hastened to do as instructed. This
created a mixed scene of a ludicrous char-
acter, and was most properly named 'hurly-
burly.' "
THE WITCHCRAFT DELUSION
The belief in witchcraft was prevalent
among the early settlers of the western coun-
try. To the witch was ascribed the tremen-
dous power of inflicting strange and incurable
diseases, particularly on children, of destroy-
ing cattle by shooting them with hair balls,
and a great variet.y of other means of de-
struction, of inflicting spells and curses on
guns and other things, and lastly of changing
men into horses, and after bridling and sad-
dling them riding them in full speed over
hill and dale to their frolics and other places
of rendezvous. More ample powers of mis-
chief than these cannot well be imagined.
Wizards were men supposed to possess the
same mischievous powers as the witches; but
these were seldom exercised for bad purposes.
The powers of the wizards were exercised al-
most exclusively for the purpose of counter-
acting the malevolent influences of the witches,
of the other sex.
The diseases of children supposed to be in-
flicted by witchcraft were those of the internal
organs, dropsy of the brain, and the rickets.
The symptoms and cure of these destructive
diseases were utterly unknown in former
times in this country. Diseases which could
neither be accounted for nor cured were
usually ascribed to some supernatural agency
of a malignant kind.
For the cure of the diseases inflicted by
witchcraft, the picture of the supposed -witch
was drawn on a stump or piece of board and
shot at with a bullet containing a little bit
of silver. This silver bullet transferred a
34
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
painful and sometimes a mortal spell on that
pai't of the witch corresponding with the part
of the portrait struck by the bullet. Another
method of cure was that of getting some of
the child's water, which was closely corked up
in a vial and hung up in a chimney. This
complemented the witch with a strangury
which lasted as long as the vial remained in
the chimney. The witch had but one way of
relieving herself from any spell inflicted on
her in any way, which was that of borrowing
something, no matter what, of the family to
which the subject of the exercise of her witch-
craft belonged.
Wlien cattle or dogs were supposed to be
under the influence of witchcraft they were
burned in the forehead by a branding iron, or
Avhen dead, burned wholly to ashes. This
inflicted a spell upon the witch which could
only be removed by borrowing, as above
stated.
Witches were often said to milk the cows
of their neighbors. This they did by fixing
a new pin in a new towel for each cow in-
tended to be milked. This towel was hung
over the witch 's own door, and by the means
of certain incantations the milk was extracted
from the fringes of the towel after the manner
of milking a cow. This happened when the
cows were too poor to give much milk.
The first German glass blowers in this coun-
try drove the witches out of their furnaces
by throwing living puppies into them.
The greater or less amount of belief in
witchcraft, necromancy and astrology serves
to show the relative amount of philosophical
science in any country. Ignorance is always
associated with superstition, which, present-
ing an endless variety of sources of hope and
fear, with regard to the good or bad fortunes
of life, keeps the benighted mind continually
harassed with groundless and delusive, but
strong and often deeply distressing, impres-
sions of a false faith. For this disease of the
mind there is no cure but that of philosophy.
This science shows to the enlightened reason
of man that no effect whatever can be pro-
duced in the physical world without a corre-
sponding cause. This science announces that
the deathbell is but a momentary morbid mo-
tion of the ear, and the deathwatch the noise
of a bug in the wall, and that the howling of
the dog and the croaking of the raven are but
the natural languages of the beast and fowl,
and no way prophetic of the death of the
sick. The comet, which used to shake pesti-
lence and war from its fiery train, is now
viewed with as little emotion as the movements
of Jupiter and Saturn in their respective
orbits.
An eclipse of the sun, an^l an unusual
freshet of the Tiber, shortly after the assassin-
ation of Julius Ctesar by Cassius and Brutus,
threw the whole of the Roman empire into con-
sternation. It was supposed that all the gods
of heaven and earth were enraged and about
to take revenge for the murder of the dicta-
tor; but since the science of astronomy fore-
tells in the calendar the time and extent of
the eclipse, the phenomenon is not viewed as
a miraculous and portentous, but as a common
and natural, event.
That the pythoness and wizard of the He-
brews, the monthly soothsayers, astrologers
and prognosticators of the Chaldeans, and
the sybils of the Greeks and Romans, were
merely mercenary impostors, there can be no
doubt. To say that the pythoness and all
others of her class were aided in their opera-
tions by the intervention of familiar spirits
does not mend the matter, for spirits, whether
good or bad, possess not the power of life and
death, health and disease, with regard to man
or beast. Prescience is an incommunicable
attribute of God, and therefore spirits can-
not foretell future events.
The afflictions of Job, through the interven-
tion of Satan, were miraculous. The posses-
sions mentioned in the New Testament, in
all human probability, were maniacal dis-
eases, and if, at their cures, the supposed
evil spirits spoke with an audible voice, these
events were also miraculous, and effected for
a special purpose. But from miracles no gen-
eral conclusions can be drawn with regard to
the divine government of the world. The
conclusion is that the powers professed to be
exercised by the occult science of necromancy
and other arts of divination were neither more
or less than impostures.
Among the Hebrews the profession of arts
of divination was thought deserving of capital
punishment, because the profession was of
pagan origin, and of course incompatible
with the profession of theism and a theocratic
form of government. These jugglers per-
petrated debasing superstition among the
people. They were also swindlers, who di-
vested their neighbors of large sums of money,
and valuable presents, without an equivalent.
On the ground then, of fraud alone, accord-
ing to the genius of the criminal codes of
ancient governments, this offense deserved
capital punishment.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
35
But is the present time better than the past stores and trade
with regard to a sviperstitious belief in occult
influences ? Do no traces of the polytheism of . A great inconvenience incident to pioneer
our forefathers remain among their Christian life is the want of the many articles essential
descendants 1 This inquiry must be answered to the comforts of a family, which the farm
in the affirmative. Should an almanac maker cannot supply. Therefore no immigrant is
venture to give out the Christian calendar more welcome in a new settlement than the
without a column containing the signs of the Ai'st merchant. Fortunately, there are sel-
zodiac, the calendar would be condemned as clom wanting those who are ready to establish
being totally deficient and the whole impres- a store when and where there is a population
sion would remain on his hands. sufficient to sustain one. All of the early
But what are these signs? They are eon- stores were kept m log buildings. The first
stellations of the zodiac, that is, clusters of stocks of goods were small, yet they corn-
stars twelve in number, within and including pnsed most of those articles which were
the t'ropics of Cancer and Capricorn. These needed by the settlers.
constellations resemble the animals after But the gi-atifieatiou of some at the advent
which they are named. But what influence of the early merchant was greatly moderated
do these clusters of stars exert on the animal by their inability to purchase his wares. The
and the plant? Certainly none at all: and inhabitants were generally poor. They had
yet we are taught that the northern constella- expended nearly all their money in their re-
gions govern the divisions of living bodies moval, and the little they had left was wanted
alternatelv from the head to the reins, and to 'Jiiy absolute necessaries. Farmers who
in like manner the southern from the reins liad been here long enough to raise a small
to the feet. The sign then makes a skip from surplus obtained some money from newcom-
the feet to Aries, who again assumes the ei'S- But the majority were not so fortunate,
government of the head, and so on. About Goods were dear, having been transported
half of these constellations are friendly di- at great cost. They were first brought from
vinities and exert a salutary influence on the Carlisle and Chambersburg, aud sometimes
animal and the plant. The others are malig- four weeks were occupied in the round trip,
nant in their temper, and govern only for After wagons were introduced the round trip
evil purposes They blast, during their reign, ^^vas usually made in about ten days, though
the seed sown in the earth and render medi- on many occasions double that time was used,
cine and operations of surgery unsuccessful. But the high price of the merchant's goods
We have read of the Hebrews worshipping '^vas but half of the farmer's misfortune,
the hosts of heaven whenever they relapsed ^^hile he had to pay a double price for nearly
into idolatry and these same constellations every article of store goods, he, much of the
were the hosts of heaven which thev wor- time, was obliged to sell the products of his
shipped We it is true make no offering to farm at about half the cost in labor. Wheat
these hosts of heaven, but we give them our sometimes sold as low as a shilling per bushel;
faith and confidence. We hope for physical corn, 6d. per bushel; lye. Is.; buckwheat, Is ;
benefits from those of them whose dominion oats, 6d. per bushel ; tallow, 2 cts. per pound ;
is friendly to our interests, while the reign lard, 2 cts per pound; pork, 4s. per cwt. ;
of the malignant ones is an object of dread beef. Id. to 2d. per pound ; and other products
and painful apprehension. Let us not boast m proportion. Ofttimes the prices were double
very much of our science, civilization or even and even five times the foregoing, but the
Christianity while this column of the relics market as a rule was weak and no buyers.-
a ■' J.-11 T ^.,,-.^.r.c ti,^ Phvictinn the earliest account book which we have
of paganism still disgraces the Cluistian ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^_^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^
calendar.
but as this only gives the aggi'egate amounts
I have made these observations with a vle^^ ^^^^ ^^^^.^ ^^,.^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^-^^ ^^^ ^^^
discredit the remnants of superstition ^^^^ ^^ reckoning was by pounds, shillings
still existing among us. While dreams, the
howling of the dog, croaking of a raven are
prophetic of future events we are not good
Christians. While we are dismayed at the
signs of heaven we are for the time being
pagans. Life has evils enough to contend
with, without imaginary ones.
and pence, and until a comparatively late
period the prices of goods per yard or pound,
both in selling and buying, at wholesale and
retail, were given in shillings aud pence. Be-
tween 1794 and 1800 some of the prices were :
';Wool hat, lis. 3d.: (1794) bandana handkf.
lis. 3d. : half a pound of cut and dry tobacco,
\±2[
36
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Is. 6d.; (1795) 1 skillet, 12s.; half a pound
of lard, UVid; one-fourth bushel of salt, 6s.
Bi/od. ; 8V2 pounds of bacon, 8s. 6d. ; pound
of coffee, 3s. 9d. ; 1 pair mockisins, 3s. 9d. ;
half a quire of paper, Is. 6d. ; two pipes, lid. ;
one-fourth pound of tobacco, 9d ; half a bushel
of potatoes, 3s. 9d. ; half pound of gun
powder, 5s. Ti/od. ; two yards of calico, 7s. ;
one pound lead. Is. IQi/od. ; one pair boots,
2£ 16s. 3d.; one- fourth yd. eorderoy, 4s.
9yod. ; one-half dozen knives and forks
(1798), 12s. 6d.; two pounds soap, 2s. lOi/od. ;
five tin cups, 4s. 8d. ; five yards Durant (?),
1£ 2s. 6d. ; one peck salt, 7s. 6d. ; one crooked
comb. Is. lOi/od. ; (1794) one pen knife, 3s.
6d. ; three-fourl;hs yard Mersailles pattern, 14s.
i/od. ; two and one-half yards muslin, 9s.
4^d. ; one yard muslin, 3s. "9d. ; three and one-
half yards binding. Is. 7d. ; one and a fourth
yards calico, 9s. 4i/2d. ; one ounce indigo. Is.
6d. ; forty-seven pounds of iron, l.£ 19s. 2d. ;
one pair leggins, 7s. 9d. ; one quart whiskey.
Is. lOi/od- ; one pair cotton cords, 7s. 6d. ;
one-half dozen spoons, 10s. IV^d. ; one pair
Rose Blankets, 2£ 12s. 6d. ; one pair cotton
hose, 15s. ; one quire paper, 3s. ; one mill saw-
file, 5s.; one blanket, 19s. 9d. ; one gimblet,
4s.; two dozen screws. Is. IQi/od. ; two hun-
dred tacks, 3s. 9d. ; two pounds coffee, 8s. ;
one ounce indigo. Is. 6d. ; one-fourth pound
(1796) of pepper, 2s.; four skanes thread.
Is.; five yeards ribbon, 7s. 6d. ; nails one
pound, 3s. ; one nutmeg. Is. ; factory muslin,
one yard, 6s. ; Maccaboy snuff, one pound,
13s. ; three sticks twist, 3s. ; one pair shoes,
15s., one dozen buttons, 3s., one razor, 2s. 6d. ;
(1789) one yard scarlet cloth, 3s. 6d. ; one-
half a hundred quills, 8s. ; three yards Fur-
stin (1797), 16s. 9d. ; one yard swanskin, 7s.
71/id. ; one-half a pound of lead. Is. ; one quart
salt. Is. lOi/od.; one paper of pins (1798),
3s.; one pair of sisars (1798), 4s. 9d."
Whiskey, that staple article in those days,
varied in price from 6s. to 15s. per gallon,
but the books indicated no perceptible de-
crease in its consumption. On the 26th of
December, 1789, Charles Campbell is credited
with one barrel of salt, £7 10s.
PIONEER PRICES FOR SKILLED AND UNSIvILLED
LABOR
For Carpenters
1800 '. ... 7(1 cents per day
1810 $l-On per day
1820 1-13 per day
18.-!0-1840 1-40 per day
1850-1860 1-50 per day
For Day Laborers
ISOO 62 cents per day
aSlO 82 cents per day
1820 90 cents per day
1840-1SG0 $1.00 (about) per day
Previous to 1840, a day's work was not
limited by hours. It was by law and custom
from "sunrise to sunset," or whatever the
employer exacted. In 1840, however. Presi-
dent Van Buren signed the pioneer executive
order fixing a day's work in the Washington
navy yard at ten hours per day. It took a
great and protracted struggle for years to
secure the general adoption of the ten-hour
system.
But our surprise at these prices will be
less when we consider the cost of transporta-
tion. With the products of their farms, at the
prices they bore a few years later, farmers
could hardly have paid for store goods, at
the prices charged. Nor did farmers find
permanent relief until the commencement of
the canal and development of the furnace
business.
In those days, whiskey was the article
whose sale was never diminished on account
of hard times. In 1797 we count, on five
successive pages, sixty-nine separate and dis-
tinct charges for this article. During the
war of 1812, flour rose to $19 per barrel;
hollow castings ten cents per pound, and salt
$12 per barrel. Maple sugar was exchanged
at six cents per pound for goods; butter at
six to eight cents; oats, ten to twelve cents
per bushel ; and other produce in proportion.
To facilitate the collection of debts, mer-
chants, after cattle were plenty, received the
same in payment from their customers and
drove them to Eastern markets, or sold them
to drovers from the East. Pork also was
taken on account at prices which contrast
strikingly with the present. Well-fatted pork,
dressed, was sold for two dollars per hun-
dred pounds. Lumber with its products, lath,
shingles, etc., was received, and other things,
such as furs, etc.
NATURE OP TRADE
From what has been said in the previous
paragraphs, the reader will readily infer that
trade was greatly restricted by the scarcity
of the usual circulating medium. Few goods
were sold for cash. Business was done on the
credit and barter system, not only by and
with merchants, but between the people.
Notes were made payable in grain, lumber,
HISTORY OF IXDLVNA COUNTY, PENXSYLYAXIA
37
cattle, furs, etc., and sometimes contained the
stipulation, ''at cash prices." Almost every-
thing had a cash and a barter, or a credit
price. It was, however, not always easy to
ascertain tlie cash price. ^lerchants often
suffered great loss by this system of trade.
Losses by bad debts, and losses on grain and
other commodities, which it was almost im-
possible to sell for cash, rendered the business
an unsafe one.
Most of the business was, for many years,
transacted in tlie river towns which were first
settled, and possessed superior commercial
advantages. Maple sugar, long an important
article of trade, came in large quantities from
the settlements. The inhabitants generally
supplying themselves, the price is said to have
been, at times, as low as four cents per pound.
Almost the only store sugar for years was the
white, refined, put up in hard balls, solid
loaves of a conical form, and called loaf or
lump sugar, and was wrapped in strong,
coarse paper. It was sold chiefly for sweet-
ening medicines and the liiiuors of tavern-
keepers.
JIAPLE SI'GAR INDUSTRY
One of the i)ioniH'r industries in this wil-
derness was niiii>li'-suiiaiinaking. The sugar
season connneuced cither in the last of Feb-
ruary or the first of ilarch. In any event,
at this time the manufacturer always visited
his camp to see or set things in order. The
camp was a small cabin made of logs, covered
usually with clapboards, and open at one end.
The fireplace or crane and hooks were made
in this way : Before the opening in the cabin
four wooden forks were set deeply in the
ground, and on these forks was suspended a
strong pole. On this pole was hung the hook
of a limb, with a pin in the lower end to
hang the kettle on. An average camp had
aliout three hundred trees, and it reciuired
six kettles, averaging about twenty-two gal-
lons each, to boil the water from that many
trees. Tlie trees were tapped in various ways,
viz. : First, with a three-quarter-inch auger,
one or two inches deep. In this hole was put
a round spile about eighteen inches long,
made of sumacli or whittled pine, two spiles
to a tree. The later way was by cutting a
lioUow notch in the tree and putting the spile
below witli a gouge. This spile was made of
pine or some soft wood. At the camp there
were always from one to three storage
troughs made of cucumber or poplar, and
each trough held from ten barrels upward.
Three luuidred trees required a storage of
thirty barrels and steatly boiling with six
kettles. The small troughs under the trees
were made of pine and cucumber and held
from three to six gallons. We hauled the
water to the storage-troiighs with one horse
and a kind of "pung," the l)arrel being kept
in its place by plank just far enough apart
to hold it tight. In the fireplace there was
a large backlog and one a little smaller in
front. The fire was kept up late and early
with smaller wood split in lengths of aliout
three feet. We boiled the water into a thick
.syrup, then strained it through a woolen cloth
while hot into the syrup-barrel. When it had
settled, and before putting it on to "sugar
off." we strained it the second time. During
this sugaring we skimmed the scum off with
a tin skinnuer and clarified the .syrup in the
kettle with eggs well beaten in sweet milk.
This "sugaring off" was always done on
cloudy or cold days, when the trees wouldn't
run "sap." One barrel of sugar-water from
a sugar tree, in the beginning of the season,
would make from five to seven pounds of
sugar. The sugar was always made during
the first of the season. The molasses was
made at the last of the season, or else it would
turn to sugar in a very few days. The sugar
was made in cakes, or "stirred off" in a
granulated condition, and sold in the market
for from six and a quarter to twelve and a
half cents a pound. In "sugaring oft'." the
syrup had to be frequently sampled by drop-
ing some of it in a tin of cold water, and if
the molasses formed a "thread" tliat was
lirittle like glass, it was fit to stn*.
Skill and attention were both necessary in
"sugaring oft'," for if the syrup was taken off
too soon the sugar was wet and tough, and
if left too long, the sugar was burnt and
bitter. Time has evoluted this industry from
-Xorth western Pennsylvania.
Sugar is supposed to hav(' l)i'i'n first used
by the Ilclirews.
REFLECTIONS (IN PIONEER LIFE
The history of pioneer life generally pre-
sents only the dark side of the picture. The
toils and privations of the early settlers were
not a series of unmitigated suft'erings. The
addition of each new acre to their "clearings"
brought with it fresh enjoyment, and cheered
them on in pursuit of their ultimate object,
an unincumbered and a happy home. They
were happy also in their fraternal feelings,
or, as one expressed it, "the feeling of brother-
38
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
hood — the disposition to help one another";
or, in the language of another, "society was
uncultivated; yet the people were veiy
friendly to each other, quite as much so as
relatives at the present day."
We could not hardly endure the thought of
exchanging eur comfortable and elegant car-
riages for the rude ones of our fathers and
grandfathers, which sen-ed for the purposes
of visiting, and of going to mill and to meet-
ing ; yet who doubts that families had a ' ' good
time" when they made a visit to a "neigh-
bor" at a distance of several miles, through
the woods, on an ox sled? Our mothers were
clad in homespun of their own make; and
not a few remember the glad surprise when
fathers, on their return from market, pre-
sented their faithful helpmates with a six-
yard calico dress pattern for Sunday wear.
And it is presumed that the wearer was in
quite as devotional frame of mind, and en-
joyed Sabbath exercises quite as well, as she
who now tlaunts her gorgeously trimmed silk
of fifteen or twenty yards, made up into a
style transforming the wearer into the "like-
ness" of something never before seen or
known "above," or "on the earth beneath,"
and altered with every change of the moou..
People were happy in their families. The
boys, having labored hard during the day,
sought rest at an early hour. Parents had
the pleasure of seeing their sons acquiring
habits of industry and frugality — a sure prog-
nostic of success in life. The ' ' higher civiliza-
tion" had not yet introduced
"In every country viUage, where
Ten chimney smokes perfumed the air"
those popular modern institutions, the saloon
and the billard room, in which so many youths
now receive their principal training. Fewer
parents spent sleepless nights in anxious
thought about their "prodigal sons" or had
their slumbers broken by the noisy entrance
of these sons on returning from their mid-
night revels. They saw no clouds rising to
dim the prospect of a happy future to their
children. Never were wives and mothers more
cheerful than when, like the virtuous woman
described by Solomon "they laid their hands
to the spindle, and their hands held the dis-
taff"; or when, when with their knitting
work or sewing, and baby, too, they went — un-
bidden, as the custom was — to spend an af-
ternoon with the "neighbor women," by
whom they were received with a hearty un-
ceremonious welcome. The "latchstring was
out" at all times; and even the formality of
knocking was, by the more intimate neigh-
bors, not observed.
Nor did they lack topics of conversation
at these visits. Prominent among them were
their domestic affairs — their manifold indus-
rial entei'prises and labors — and the antici-
pated reward of their privations and toils.
Their conversation, some may suppose,
evinced no high degree of intellectual culture ;
yet, as an indication of such culture, surely
it would not suffer in comparison with the
gossip of many of our modern ladies at their
social gatherings.
The following extract from the pen of a
pioneer mother in another county may be
read with interest by some:
"The country arouud us was an entire
wilderness with here and there a small cabin,
containing a small family. We were nearly
all new beginners, and although we had to
work almost day and night, we were not dis-
couraged. There were many and serious
trials in the beginning of this country, with
those who settled amid the heavy timber, hav-
ing nothing to depend upon for a living but
their own industry. Such was our situation.
However, we were blessed with health and
strength, and were able to accomplish all that
was necessary to be done. Our husbands
cleared the ground, and assisted each other
in rolling the logs. We often went with them
on these occasions, to assist in the way of
cooking for the hands.
"We had first-rate times, just such as hard
laboring men and women can appreciate. We
were not what now would be called fashion-
able cooks ; we had no pound cakes, preserves
or jellies, but the substantials, prepared in
plain, old-fashioned style. This is one reason
why we were blessed with health; we had
none of your dainties, knickkuacks. and fix-
ings that are worse than nothing. There are
many diseases that we had never even heard
of forty to sixty years ago, such as dyspepsia,
neuralgia and many others too tedious ta men-
tion. It was not fashionable then to be
weakly. We could take our spinning wheels
and walk two to four miles to a spinning
frolic, do our day's woi'k, and after a first-
rate supper join in !3ome innocent amusement
for the evening. We did not take particular
pains to keep oxw hands white ; we knew they
were made for our advantage; therefore we
never thought of having hands just to look
at. Each settler had to go and assist his
neighbors ten or fifteen days in order to get
help in return, in log rolling time; this was
the only way to get assistance. I have
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
39
thought proper to mention these things, that
the people now ma,v know what the early set-
tlers had to undergo. We, however, did not
complain half as much as people do now. Our
diet was plain ; our clothing we manufactured
Ourselves. We lived independent, and were
all on an equality. How the scene has
changed ! Children of these same pioneers
know nothing of hardships; they are spoiled
by indulgence, and are generally planning
ways and means to live without work. ' '
It is, indeed, to many who have been
brought up in the lap of ea.se, not a little sur-
prising that a wife and mother should do the
housework for a family in which were six,
eight or more children, and occasionally some
hired men, without extra help. Yet such in-
stances were common.
But advancement in society is an American
trait. Had we pursued the course of the
greater number of the nations of the earth,
we should have been, at this day, treading in
the footsteps of our forefathers, from whose
example in many respects we should have
thought it criminal to depart.
The horse paths by which the early settlers
made their laborious journe.vs over the moim-
taius for salt, iron and other necessaries were
succeeded by wagon roads, and those again by
turnpikes, which brought the distant region,
once denominated as the backwoods, into close
and lucrative connection with the great At-
lantic cities. Then followed, in quick suc-
cession, as if by magic enchantment, canals,
railroads and telegraphs. The duration of
time for making the once perilous journey
over the mountains was successively reduced
from weeks to days, and from days to hours.
The ruder spoits of former times — the
trials of muscular strength and activity — ■
gave way to the more noble ambition "for
mental endowments, to the spread of educa-
tion, and skill in the useful arts.
In the stead of the rude song, roughly and
unskillfully sung, succeeded the psalm, the
hymn, the quartette glee, and the swelling
anthem.
The linsey and coarse linen of the early set-
tlers were in time exchanged for the substan-
tial and fine fabrics of Europe and Asia, and
soon superinduced the spirit of American
genius for manufacture, which we now see
fairly rivaling the world's industries.
The hunting shirt gave place to a suit of
broadcloth, and the feet that once trod in
moccasins were enclosed in boots and shoes
of tanned leather.
Our development in the useful arts finally
brought forth our great mamifaetories of iron
and steel, crockery and glassware, implements
and machinerj', and the rude utensils of the
pioneer are supplanted with articles of the
most improved utility and beauty, fabricated
at our very doors.
Instead of a blind imitation of the manners
and customs of their forefathers, the people
thought and acted for themselves: they
changed themselves and everything around
them. The changes gave new currents to
public feeling and indi\idual pursuit, causing
the improvements in the dress of the people
and the furniture of their houses. Had the
hunting shirt, moccasin and leggins contin-
ued to be the dress of the men, had the three-
legged stool, the noggin, the trencher and
wooden bowl remained as the furniture of
their houses, progress towards science and civ-
ilization would have been much slower.
CHAPTER IV
MODES OF TRAVEL
Most striking changes have occurred in the standing that the horse was seklom allowed to
modes of travel during the past century. One fall short of a trot. The balance of the night
hundred years ago most of the travel was on we stayed at Mr. Robert McCrea's, and al-
foot. It was not uncommon for men to walk though only nine miles from Indiana, we
to Pittsburg and Harrisburg and sometimes rode thirty miles to reach home. When more
to Philadelphia. The grandfather of the than half the distance had been ridden, we
writer walked to Philadelphia from Buffing- were farther from home than when we started
ton township, Indiana county, to purchase his in the morning.
farm, traveling on an average four miles per "Fitted out with a good horse under me,
hour. In those days horses were scarce, but and a tin horn in my belt, I usually started
when horses became more plentiful horseback at four o'clock in the morning, meander-
riding became the connnon mode of travel, ing now upon this side, then upon that, of
The father and mother rode on horseback to the Pittsburg road, making that highway my
church and the children walked until they center of operation, until I reached Elder's
conceived the idea that it would be good fun Ridge, where I had my dinner, and horse
to break the colts and ride with their parents fed at Mr. Robert Wilson 's, not far from where
to church. The mails were all carried on the Elder's Ridge academy now stands,
horseback. The personal experience related When approaching a box on the side of a
by J. S. Reed will give some idea of the dif- tree in the woods, where a package was to be
ficulties encountered in carrying the mail on left, I gave the signal by blowing my horn,
horseback in the early days. The following that the nearest subscriber might know to
is the story as told by him: "On New Year's examine the box for the package; but never
day of 1827, I commenced my apprenticeship, waited a moment longer than I could place
in the Indiana and Jetferson Whig, the tirst the package in the box, and be off again at a
Democratic paper in Indiana county. It was fast gait.
established by Alexander Taylor, who sold to "About every third or fourth trip a fresh
John IMcCrea, with whom I served my appren- horse was necessary, which was obtained by
tieeship. The terms of the apprenticeship either selling the one on hand and buying
were, that I should find my own clothing, and another, or swapping directly for another. At
ride two days in the week, alternately with length the boss purchased an Indian pony,
Samuel Young, a boy near my own age (eight- which I taught to perform many antics; one
een years), who had been in the office a few of which was to stop short, when the rider
weeks before me, and serve three years. At would say 'stop.' This pony performed all
that time there were only three post offices in that was required of him, while the distribu-
the county, and our business was to carry the tion of newspapers was necessarily performed
packages of newspapers in saddlebags, on by the 'printer's devil' on horseback, and was
horseback, and leave them in their respective instrumental in giving a great deal of .sport
boxes fixed to the sides of trees, at blacksmith to the boys then in and about Indiana. A
shops, gristmills, and private houses, to suit fresh rider would be mounted upon him to
the convenience of subscribers. The first day's take a ride, and told to say 'stop,' when the
ride, measuring all the zigzags we made, pony was on the gallop. The rider would
counted fifty miles. The first eighteen miles say 'stop,' as directed. The pony would in-
were ridden before breakfast ; and in winter- stantly stop, with his head a little downwards;
time, when the days were short, and the roads so unexpectedly, that the rider would pitcli
bad, the last eight or ten miles of that day's forward on the pony's neck, when he would
ride were to be ridden after night, notwith- drop his head so low as to let his rider down
40
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
41
head-t'oremost to the ground. Another boy
would mount feeling confident that he would
stick on ; but only to share the same fate as
liis predecessor, until sometimes from a half
dozen to a dozen of an evening, one after an-
other, would mount, to be surely let down in
the same way.
"'Sly boss dispensed with tlie distribution
of his newspapers on his own hook, and ob-
tained two contracts for carrying the mail on
horseback — one from Indiana to Port Barnett,
in Jefferson county, by way of Ewing's Mill
and Punxsutawney, then merely having a
name as a white man's town; the other from
Indiana to Blairsville ; and, as I had proved
myself to be an expert in horsemanship, I had
the honor conferred on me of I'iding both
routes.
"The round trip to Port Barnett. by the
route directed by the post office department,
to and from, was one liundred and sixteen
miles. I left Indiana on Tuesday morning in
wintertime so early as to be at Crooked Creek
l)y daylight, and took breakfast and dinner
each week at Mr. Henry VanHorn"s, sixteen
miles on my route, and continued on the after
part of the day, having the mail changed at
Mahoning and at Punxsutawney. rode on and
stayed over night at Mr. Isaac Lewis's, at the
edge of an unbroken wilderness of seventeen
miles — the first house being Port Barnett. a
tavern on the clay pike leading from Erie to
Lewistown, a mile and one-half east of where
Brookville has since come into existence.
"This wilderness was to be crossed both to
and from Port Barnett in one day, with the
addition of six miles to Punxsutawney. mak-
ing forty miles through mud and pine roots,
endangering the horse's legs in many jilaees
of being broken.
"I endured hardships and risks of life
throughout the winter of '28 sufficient to make
the hair turn grey upon a nervous man's head.
There was not a bridge across a stream on
the whole route. There are five streams on
the route which were afterwards navigated
for many miles above where they were then
to be forded. Old men will remember that it
rained almost incessantly during the winter
of 1828, and consequently the streams were
often over their banks and rushing through
the laurels and hemlock timbers the whole
breadth of the bottom land along them. In
approaching the bed of the stream the horse
would blunder over pine stumps hidden un-
der water, and next plunge into a mudhole
so deep as to bring the water upon his sides.
The main current of the streams was ex-
tremely swift, and their lianks so entangled
with laurel and drift that there was great
danger of being beaten down below the cross-
ing, which would have been certain death to
both horse and rider.
"The regulation was to ride through the
wilderness on Wednesday before breakfast,
take breakfast at Port Barnett, which stood
on the north bank of Sandy Lick (or Red-
bank, as it is now called). On three occasions,
that winter, to cross Sandy Lick was alto-
gether impossible. The first I started as
usual before daylight, without breakfast;
got to the bank of the creek about ten o'clock,
blew my horn, and was answered by Andrew
Barnett (postmaster) that it was impossi))le
to cross the stream through the drift that was
passing. So I had to tack aliout with the mail
as it was, and ride to the settlement without
breakfast or feed for my horse. The road
was bad, and my horse weak with luinger
and fatigue was unable to make time. Night
came on me before I reached the settlement.
I had fed my horse before starting in the
morning; but had not eaten anything from
supper the night before, until late at night
after arriving at the place I had started from
in the morning.
"On another occasion my boss sent with
me to lift some money that was collected for
him. which I put into a large calfskin pocket-
book, ilost of the mone.v was silver. When
within about fifteen miles of Indiana on my
way homeward, I overtook Francis Gumpers,
driving cattle. Just as I approached, the
cattle took fright and I left the road. I
.lumped off my horse, gave him the rein and
In-ought back the cattle to the road some dis-
tance ahead, while he rode on, leading my
horse with the mail, and my overcoat thrown
across the saddle. After again mounting and
riding some miles. I found that the pocket-
book and money were gone. I turned my
horse and rode at a fast rate in search of the
lost treasure, but without success. When I
again met my old friend Gumpers, with his
cattle, I intrusted the mailbag to him with a
promise that he would deliver it at the post-
office in good time. But as bad luck would
have it, his cattle left the road, he left his
horse, his horse left liim, took to the woods,
lost the mail, and finally got to a farmhouse,
where his owner found him next day, minus
the mail. I rode back until benighted, stayed
over night at a farmhouse on the road, but
sleep was a stranger that night. ]\Iy boss had
lent me his boots, new calfskin, which slipped
on with a pretty good fit. That unlucky day
42
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
it had rained so much as to wet them both
inside and outside. I sat by the fire until
they got dry. With a great deal of difficulty
I got one of them otf with a bootjack, but the
other was not to be got off, even though the
old farmer got me down on my back and
pulled till he hauled me along: then one of
his boys at my request caught by my shoulders
and held back while his father pulled ; but all
to no purpose. The boot was there, I insisted
on sitting by the fire; but boot or no boot I
must go to bed. So neither barefoot nor shod
I spent the night in bed. The next morning
the boot that was off would not go on, though
soap and smoke and sweat and breath were
liberally expended in the effort to get it on.
I rode back to a place where I was last sure
of having the pocketbook, but without hearing
anything of it. After returning to within a
few miles of town I heard that the mail had
been lost, which added no little to the chagrin
I was already suffering. It is beyoud the
power of my pen to describe my feelings as
I rode up street with one boot immovably
on, and the other in my hand, while from
every shop or store window and door I had
to hear the sarcastic inquiry, 'Tom, where 's
the mail ? What 's the matter with your foot ? '
The mail had been found by an honest
hunter, who had carried it to town on his
back, and delivered it to the post office, a fact
which I only learned when I called upon Mr.
Dennison, the postmaster, to give myself up
to the consequences of my carelessness. It
was some consolation to know that I was for-
given, so far as the mail matter was con-
cerned. But how to meet my boss without his
money was the question. After putting away
my horse I ventured to the office where, con-
trary to my anticipations, I was met with a
smile instead of severity.
"The money was safe, though neither boss
nor I knew it until I arrived at Jlr. Van-
Horn's (my place of breakfasting) on the
following week. Two young men , one a
nephew of Mr. VanHorn's, foimd it but a few
minutes after it had been dropped, .iust where
I had thrown my overcoat across the saddle,
which turned the mouth of the side pocket
down, and the weight of the silver in the book
had caused it to drop out. I was very satis-
factorily surprised when it was handed to
me with the $42, the amount I had lifted, in
it, and boss was as much surprised when I
handed it to him on my arriving at home.
"On another trip I left Mr. Lewis' in great
haste, supposing I had overslept myself, be-
lieving it to be davbreak when I first awoke.
There was a little snow on the ground, hazy
clouds, hiding the moon, and snow together
making it almost as light as day. I jumped
up, dressed, fed my horse, and hardly waiting
till he was done eating, started. I rode on
and on, deeper and deeper, into the dreary
wilderness, the light only changing the dark-
ness as I got into the dense pine timber, or
becoming lighter as I emerged from it into
open wood. At length the moon went down;
then came on a torrent of rain; the little
snow in a few minutes was gone, and such
darkness was never surpassed, even in Bg}^)!
My horse stopped and I could hear the water
rushing against his legs. I was afraid to
move him, lest he might have left the road,
and was in the Ijed of some stream, where he
could go no further. So I sat upon his back
not knowing how soon he and I might be
washed away by the rising flood. There I sat
for hours, the rain pouring down, and, as I
imagined, the waters rising to floods (as in-
deed they were) in the streams both before
and behind me. While sitting there, I could
hardly know which I feared most, being
drowned or eaten by wild beasts, as wolves
and panthers were numerous in those wilds.
A Mr. Henry Brewer had shot an old she
panther, and captured five young ones, in the
same wilderness, but a short time previously.
This circumstance made my fears the greater.
"Daybreak at last appeared, when I found
myself sitting upon the horse's back, the horse
in the middle of the road ascending the hill
north of Big Sandy, and the water rushing
down the road sufficient to run a mill. I put
spurs to my horse, and by sunup had plunged
through Sandy Lick, which was considerably
swollen, had my horse fed, mail changed, and
breakfast in a hurry, that I might get back
through Sandy Lick and Big Sandy before
they should get too high to be forded. This
I effected by fast riding and reached the set-
tlement much earlier in the day than on any
other occasion.
"The regulation was to leave Indiana on
Tuesday mornings, make the trip, and arrive
again on Thursdy by three o 'clock p. m. ; and
leave on Friday morning for BlairsviUe, re-
turning the same evening."
Our merchants generally rode on horse-
back to Philadelphia, a distance of 248 miles,
to purchase their stocks of merchandise.
Thomas Sutton kept a horse chiefly for the
purpose of going to Philadelphia to lay in his
stock of goods. A. W. Taylor tells of his
father going to HaiTisburg to attend the ses-
HISTOET OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
43
sion of the Legislature, with his own horse
and sleigh.
For many years it was the custom to carry
the grain to mill on horseback. This was a
job for the boys. As a rule two long tow
bags were filled with grain and thrown across
the horse's back by the father or a big
brother and the boy placed on the horse to go
four or five miles to mill. When the bags
slipped ofi:', as was usually the case, it was
impossible for the boy'to get the bags on the
horse again until he would find some man to
give him assistance. The slipping off usually
occurred either going up or down hill.
Forty years ago neither a bugg.y nor a
carriage was seen in a funeral procession.
The relatives all rode by twos on horseback.
Singing schools and spelling bees were very
common forty j'ears ago, and the young men
of the neighboi-hood lined up on both sides
of the entrance to the church or schoolhouse
to ask the young ladies for their company
home. If the young ladj^ did not want a
young man's company she "sacked him," but
if she accepted she would take hold of his
arm, which was extended to her, and be es-
corted to a stump or a rail fence ready to
.iump on behind him on his prancing steed.
The wilder the horse the more interest to the
young people. A young man took gi-eat jjride
in having a sleek horse, a good saddle and
bridle, and a large spur. Horse racing by
both sexes was a very common sport. At that
time the ladies rode on sidesaddles; now but
few of the young ladies can ride, even astride.
As time went on buggies and spring wagons
came into use. Buggies displaced horseback
riding and the spring wagon was used instead
of the heavy wagon which was used on the
farm for haiiling. going to mill, to the store,
and to the church. The spring wagon gave
place to the surrey, which was more conven-
ient, protected from the rain and storm, and
more in keeping with the times. The cart,
a two-wheeled vehicle, one that would shake
you to pieces, was used, but has almost
gone out of us(\ During the winter the
"spider" and the ".iumper" gave way to
the sleigh. The sleigh and the sled are still
in use, but we do not have the snow for sleigh-
ing as in former times.
The stagecoach and the canal boats have
given way to the electric car and steam car;
the buggies, surreys, and dray wagons to the
automobiles. "We are moving at a rapid rate.
Distances that required an entire week to
travel can now be covered in a few hours.
Time and business have liecome so important
that men cannot afford to spend so much time
in travel.
Indiana county has shared in all of these
improvements. Almost all important points
in the county can be reached by trolley or
railroad. From Indiana town we have street
ear communication with Blairsville and all
intervening points ; with Clymer, making con-
nection with the Pennsylvania and New York
Central railroads to Cherrytree and Glen
Campbell, Pine Flats and Heilwood, and Dix-
onville: and with Creekside and Ernest.
The Indiana Street Railway Company was
chartered in April, 1902. The incorporators
were John A. Scott, D. H. Tomb, M. C. Wat-
son, J. Wood Clark, Griffith Ellis, Henry Hall,
Walter Arms, J. N. Stewart, D. L. iloorhead
and W. H. Jackson. This company sold to
Hon. John P Elkin and his associates August
6, 1907, and took the name, Indiana Count.y
Street Railways Company. The present of-
ficers are as follows: T. L. Eyre, Philadel-
phia, president; James B. Phelom, Punxsu-
tawney. Pa., vice president ; John G. St. Clair,
Indiana, Pa., secretary and treasurer. The
company has thirty-seven miles of street rail-
ways and is in a prosperous condition.
There are two railroads going out from
Indiana, the Indiana Branch of the Pennsyl-
vania and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pitts-
burg. The Indiana Branch railroad, extend-
ing from the Blairsville Intersection to Indi-
ana borough, a distance of nineteen miles, was
opened under the direction of the Pennsyl-
vania Company on the 5th of June, 1856. At
that time it consisted of a single track, had
three bridges and seven intermediate stations,
and employed two daily trains. In 1859 over
forty tons of freight were handled. During
1858 over six thousand tickets were sold at
this station. For many years there were only
two daily trains, the one leaving at 6 :15
o'clock in the morning, causing passengers
to leave the town without breakfast; and
the other at 4:30 in the evening. Now we
have five trains leaving and returning daily
on the Indiana Branch, connecting with
the Pennsylvania at Blairsville Intersection,
and one train, "The Mountain Goat," daily
between Cresson and Indiana by way of
Ebensburg, Vintondale, and Black Lick.
With the band playing and whistles blow-
ing and lusty cheers from a thousand throats
the first passenger train on thelndiaua Branch
of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg rail-
way rolled into the county seat 9:10 o'clock,
the first Monday morning in May, 1904. A
good portion of the population of the town
44
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and two Imudred girl students from the
normal school crowded the platform of the
station, mounted to the top of flat cars and
stood on board piles to join in the welcome.
Had the big glittering engine been a hero
of national fame it would not have received
fonder caresses than were bestowed upon the
iron monster as it stood panting and throb-
bing, after the initial run from Punxsutaw-
uey. A procession headed by the Indiana
Band and town council marched to the court
house, where a jollification was held. The
meeting was addressed byHon. Harry White,
who told of the experience of the Indiana
county residents in buying stock for the In-
diana Branch of the Pennsylvania railroad,
which had a monopoly of the business of this
territory for nearly half a century. Attorney
John A. Scott, representing the Buffalo, Roch-
ester and Pittsburg Railway Company, stated
■ that while the main object in constructing the
line was to secure a road for freight traffic
the passenger department would not be
slighted and that good service would be given
at all times. Hon. John P. Elkin, who spoke
of the industrial interest of the county and
the great stores of hidden wealth which lie
under the local hills for development, proph-
esied that the population would take mar-
velous leaps in the next few years and that
by the close of the next decade there will be
100,000 residents in the county and 15,000
in Indiana.
J. J. Archer, the ticket agent, reported that
one hundred and sixty tickets hacl been sold
at Indiana the first day. This railroad trav-
erses a beautiful farming section in the north-
ern part of the county, and is of great benefit
to the inhabitants of that section. The road
is well patronized. There are two trains daily
which not only accommodate those who wish
to go north in the morning and return in the
evening, but also those who wish to come to
11i(» coiuity seat and return the same day. At
Creekside the train connects with a branch of
the same road which goes to Shelocta, Park-
wood, Mclntyre. Jacksonville, Altman, "West
Lebanon, Clarksburg and Iselin. Two trains
are run on this, branch daily, accommodating
the residents of the southwestern portion of
the county. A combination train runs daily
from the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg
depot at Indiana to Vintondale. It traverses
its own track to Josephine and from there to
Vintondale on the Penn.sylvania line.
About ten years ago the Buffalo, Rochester
& Pittsburg Railway Company built a road
from Punxsutaw'ney down the Big IMahoning
creek past North Point, Loop, and Goodville
to Dayton and thence to Butler, where it con-
nects with what was formerly the Narrow
Gauge, but now the Buffalo & Ohio, at New
Castle. There are two trains daily on this
road.
The North-Western Railroad Company was
chartered by act of Assembly, approved Feb-
ruary 9, 1853. The road extended to Blairs-
ville down the valley of the Conemaugh and
Kiskiminetas rivers, through Indiana and
Westmoreland counties, to Freeport, in Arm-
strong county. At this point it left the Al-
legheny and ascended the Big Buffalo to
Rough run ; thence up Rough run to the head
waters of Coal run ; thence down Coal run to
Butler, and thence through Butler and Law-
rence counties to New Castle, where it con-
nected with the Cleveland and JIahoning rail-
road, the intention being to form a continuous
I'kilroad route, without break of gauge, to
Chicago, St. Louis and the West. The North-
AVestern Railroad Company, after grading
that part of the road from Blairsville to Alle-
gheny Junction and completing the masonry,
failed and was sold out at Philadelphia, in
May, 1859, and purchased by a committee of
the bondholders recognized as the Western
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, under a
charter approved March 22, 1860. The work
of completing the road was begun in the
spring of 1863. The track was laid each
way, from Blairsville west and Allegheny
Junction east. Passenger trains were put on
in the fall of 1864, and run from each end.
The high bridge over Wolford run was finished
in 1865, and through trains immediately put
on, running between Blairsville and the Al-
legheny Valley railroad at the mouth of the
Kiskiminetas river. The bridge over the Al-
legheny river was completed in 1865. The
part of the road from Freeport to Allegheny
city was completed in the fall of 1866 and
trains began to run through from Blairsville
to Allegheny city at once. The branch to
Butler was completed in 1871. The first train
ran from Blairsville to Saltsburg. This road
which is now the Pennsylvania Railroad of
the Conemaugh Division (commonly known as
the West Penn) has four trains daily from
Pittsliurg to Blairsville Intersection tiy way
of Saltsburg and Blairsville, giving the resi-
dents of the southwestern part of the county
railroad facilities to Pittsburg and the east
as well as to the county seat.
In 1912 the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany completed a road from Vintondale up
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Blackliek creek by way of the Red Jlill, White
Will, to Colver and thence to Pine Flats.
After a long delay the New York Central
and Pennsylvania Railroad Companies com-
pleted the road from Cherrytree to Clymer in
November, 1905. Shortly afterwards the rails
were laid up Dixon's run to Dixonville, a dis-
tance of three miles, and down Twoliek creek
to Sample run. a distance of a mile and a half.
A peculiar coincidence in railroad building:
in the county is the fact that the Buffalo and
Susquehanna completed its line from Juneau
on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg to
Wallopsburg by way of Covode and Plumville
to Wallopsburg at the same time.
In April, 1905. the New York Central and
Pennsylvania completed the railroad to Heil-
wood. the new coal town on Yellow creek, by
way of Pine Flats. The New York Cen'tra"l
and Pennsylvania Companies both run daily
passenger trains from Cherrytree to Heilwood,
Clymer and Dixonville.
CHAPTER X
ROADS
THE FIRST ROAD
After the close of the Revolution the Gen-
eral Assembly of Pennsylvania, by act of
March 29, 1787, directed that commissioners
should be appointed to survey a highway over
the Allegheny Mountains between the watei-s
of the Frankstown branch of the Juniata river
and the Conemaugh river. By the same act
the commissioners, having surveyed the pro-
posed road, were further directed to trace
the course of another road, beginning at the
termination of the first mentioned road, and
leading along "the left bank of the Cone-
maugh" to that point "where the river began
to be navigable, at all seasons. ' ' Down to this
time communication between the Juniata and
the Conemaugh valleys had been maintained
by bridle paths. The connuissioners were ap-
pointed, and on Dec. 18, 1787, their report of
the survey they had made was confirmed by
the Council of the Commonwealth, the Con-
stitution of 1776 being still in force. On Sept.
25, 1788. the opening of both roads was con-
tracted for by Robert Galbraith. then the pro-
thonotary of Bedford county. The contract
was for the whole length of road from Franks-
town, now in Blair county, to the point where
the Conemaugh "began to be navigable at all
points." This point was seventy miles east
of Pittsburg by water. On Jan. 4. 1790, ]\Ir.
Galbraith wrote to the Council that, agreeably
to contract, he had opened the road from
Frankstown to the mouth of Blackliek creek.
The Blackliek enters the Conemaugh from the
north, a short distance below Blairsville. At
its mouth there once stood a small town called
Newport. A ferry connected Newport with
the opposite side of the Conemaugh in Wf«t-
moreland county. The Frankstown road was
subsequently, about 1791, extended by way of
this ferry to Pittsburg, and its name is re-
tained in Frankstown avenue of that city.
It crossed the Alleghenies through Blair's
Gap ill Blair county and through the central
part of Cambria county near Ebensburg,
thence passing through Armagh and north of
Blairsville to its terminus at the mouth of
Blackliek creek. This was the original
Frankstown road. It was a thoroughfare con-
necting the eastern and western parts of Penn-
sylvania. It was succeeded early in the
nineteenth century by the so-called Northern
turupike, which was otherwise known as the
Huntingdon turnpike.
In the early days the cost of transportation
between -the eastern and western parts of
Pennsylvania by bridle paths, pioneer wagon
roads, and turnpikes was a serious matter.
"The good old times" were accompanied by
great drawbacks and this was one of them.
In Washington's diary of his trip to western
Pennsylvania in 178-i he sa.ys, speaking of
Pennsylvania: "There are in that State at
least 100,000 souls west of the Laurel Hill
who are groaning under the inconvenience of
a long land transportation." In 1784 the
freight rate from Philadelphia to Pittsburg
was 121/) cents per pound, while in 1786 a
rate of $10.50 per hundred weight (112
pounds) was charged for the same distance.
In 1803 the charge for hauling most articles
of merchandise from Philadelphia to Pitts-
burg was $5 per hundred.
In 1817 it still cost $100 to move a ton of
freight from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. The
Pennsylvania Railroad Company now per-
forms the same service for a few dollars.
46
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
About 1890 an old gentleman who had been a
merchant wrote to George B. Roberts, then
president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany, as follows: "Before any canal was
made I shipped eight hundred barrels of flour
one winter from Pittsburg to Philadelphia by
wagon, the freight on which was $2,400, being
$3 per barrel. That was called back loading
(Conestoga wagons, six horses, and bells).
My first load of goods, sixty years past, cost
$4 per hundred pounds from Philadelphia to
Pittsburg. Having handled Uncle Sam's mail
bags for over sixty-one years consecutively I
have taken two bushels of oats, or four pounds
of butter, or five dozen of eggs, or two bushels
of potatoes, for a letter that came 400 or more
miles. ' ' Those were the days when it was not
required that postage should be prepaid and
when the rates were high.
After communication between Philadelphia
and Pittsburg had been opened by means of
roads and turnpikes, so that wagons and other
vehicles could pass over them with reasonable
speed, lines of stagecoaches were established
for the conveyance of passengers and for car-
rying the mail between the two cities and in-
termediate points. Ringwalt says: "For
many years two great lines of coaches run be-
tweeii Pittsburg and Philadelphia starting
daily; the 350 odd miles between the two
cities were passed over in about three days,
that is, if the roads were in very good con-
dition, but more time was usually required.
Every twelve miles a change of horses was
made, and quickly. No time was lost and no
rest was given to the traveler. The fare on
the coach from city to city varied ^mewhat,
as did the condition the roads were in, or as
the rival lines cut the closest on prices. A
through pass ticket from Pittsburg to Phila-
delphia was all the way from $14 to $20,
which in those days meant more than the
same does now. There were special rates to
emigrants, but they were brought west in
covered wagons, and not on the regular
coaches.
"For twenty-five years emigrant travel
formed a big portion of the biisiness along the
turnpike. It was mostly from Baltimore,
thousands of emigrants landing there, and en-
gaging passage to the West through com-
panies engaged in that business alone." Egle
says that in August, 1804, the first through
liiie of coaches from Philadelphia to Pittsburg
was established.
Ringwalt further says: "The stagecoach
feature of the old turnpike is something with
such a dash of liveliness about the very
thought of it that it awakens our interest. It
was truly the life of the turnpike. Dashing
along at a gallop, the four horses attached to
the coach formed quite a marked contrast to
the slow-plodding teams drawing the big wag-
ons. Then there was something of more than
ordinary interest about the coach itself and
the passengers as well." The driver invari-
ably carried a horn with a very high pitched
tone, which he winded at the brow of the last
hill to signalize his approach.
After the National road and the turnpikes
had been built in Pennsylvania, a large busi-
ness was done for many years, and until about
the middle of the last century, in driving cat-
tle, horses, sheep and hogs from the interior
and western parts of Pennsylvania, and even
from Ohio, to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and
other eastern markets. The clouds of dust
raised by the droves, the long lines of Con-
estoga wagons vinited to make the thorough-
fares of that day real arteries of commerce,
which should not be lightly considered in
comparison with the more expeditious trans-
portation facilities of the present day.
There were stagehouses or hotels placed all
along the turnpikes. Here passengers secured
a hasty meal while change of horses was made,
and the present generation cannot realize the .
commotion that was caused by the rival lines
with horns blowing, streamers flying and
horses on the full run. Sometimes as many
as thirty stages stopped at one of these hotels
in a single day. Most of them were drawn by
four horses, but in climbing the mountains
six were frequently used. For the accommo-
dation of wagons and drovers the roadhouses,
with large wagon yards, averaged one for
every two miles along the road. These were
built especially for the pui-pose and consisted
principally of a large kitchen, dining room,
and very large bar room, the latter also serv-
ing as a lodging room for wagoners and dro-
vers. Six and eight-horse teams were usually
accompanied by two men, and all of them car-
ried their own bedding, which was spread out
on the bar room floor before a huge log fire
in the chimney-place in the winter.
The drover was ' ' the man on horseback ' ' of
his day. He was a person of consequence.
But he has departed. And the old stage
drivers and wagoners! To-day they are
scarcely to be found, "most of them having
thrown down the reins and put up for the
night."
HISTORY OF INDI.y^A COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
THE MAIL STAGE
In July, 1827, in the "American," we find
the following regarding the stage route from
Ebensburg to Butler, via Indiana and Kit-
tanning : ' ' The subscriber having become the
proprietor of the line of stages, respectfully
informs the public that he has provided him-
self with new stages, excellent horses, and
careful drivers; and is in all respects, fully
prepared to render entire satisfaction to those
who may patronize his line. Leaves Ebens-
burg every Thursday at ten o'clock A. M.,
after the arrival of the Harrisburg and Pitts-
burg stage, and an-ives at Butler, on Satur-
day, at ten o'clock A. M. before the arrival
of the Pittsburg and Erie stage at that place;
so that passengers going in the direction of
Erie can have a passage in that stage. Re-
turning leaving Butler every Sunday, at
eleven o'clock A. M. after the arrival of the
stage from Erie, and arrive in Ebensburg
every Tuesday at six P. M. ; from which place
passengers going eastward can take the stage
the next morning.
"Passengers coming in this line as far as
Indiana who may wish to visit Blairsville or
Greensburg can, at all times be furnished with
a conveyance to either of those places.
' ' Leonard Shryock. ' '
These stage wagons were driven by four
horses. The rate from Ebensburg to Butler
was $3.75 ; from Butler to Kittanning, $1.25 ;
from Kittanning to Indiana, $1.25 ; from In-
diana to Ebensburg, $1.25. Way passengers
were charged 6 cents per mile.
state roads
1810. — The road from Milesburg, Center
county, to Leboeuf, Erie county, was located
in 1810, and passed through the northeast
comer of the county. The survey is dated
Nov. 24, 1810. The commissioners were:
Francis McEweu, John Maxwell and Joseph
Moorhead, of Indiana county. In the same
year a road was surveyed from Indiana to in-
tersect this road.
1818 — An act passed the Assembly in ISIT
for the location and survey of a road from
Bedford, Bedford county, to Franklin, Ven-
ango county. The road was located and sur-
veyed in 1818, and passed through Armagh,
Indiana and other points in this county. The
distance of this route was one hundred and
twenty-eight miles. The commissioners were :
A. McCalmont, Venango county; Isaac Proc-
tor and Daniel Stanard, Indiana.
1825— The "Old State Road" was located
from Philipsburg, Center countv, via Indiana
to Pittsburg m 1825. The survey is dated
April 11, 1825. The commissioners were: J
B. Shugert, John Taylor, of Indiana, and A.
B. Reed.
1826 — The road from Ligouier to Blairs-
ville, and thence to Indiana, was located and
surveyed in 1826.
1838— The "New State Road" was located
from Curwensville, Clearfield county, to East
Liberty, Allegheny county, or as surveyed by
IMeek Kelly in 1838. The commissioners were :
Alexander Patterson, William McCuthin and
Closes Boggs.
1842 — The road from Cherrji;ree to inter-
sect the Waterford and Susquehanna turn-
pike was surveyed by David Peelor in 1842,
the distance being fit\v-five and a half miles.
The viewers were Robert Woodward, Henry
Trease, Peter Clover, John Sloan, Jr.; John
Decker and Heth F. Camp.
EARLY COUNTY ROADS AND ROAD VIEWEES
At March sessions, 1807, petitions were pre-
sented for roads; from Clark's mill to Indi-
ana, from Rodgers' mill to Indiana, from Cam-
bria county line to Armstrong county line,
from Ann Shai-p's to the county line, from
Elder's Ford at Conemaugh river to ^M'Kee's
miU near McFarlau's mill. John Robinson,
Wm. Cummins, Alex. Lyons, John ilitchell,
Thomas Allison and Chr. Harrold, viewers.
At September sessions, John M'Cready,
Michael Campbell, James Gordon, Samuel
Dickson, Daniel Smith and James Caldwell
were appointed to examine a route from New-
port to Indiana and report at the ensuing
Thomas Sanderson, John il'Crea, Robert
Kelly, ^Michael Campljell, Adam Altman and
Francis Boals, were appointed to view and
locate a road from Campbell's mill on Black-
lick to Empfield's mill on Yellow creek.
Alex. Taylor, Alex. Lyons, Christian Roof.
Daniel Smith, Samuel Dixon and George Ran-
kin were appointed to make a view of a road
from Barr's store on Chestnut Ridge to in-
tersect the road from Gen. Campbell's mill
to Sloan's Ferry.
Thomas Benson, Benjamin Walker, Joseph
Moorhead. Samuel ^I'Nitt, David M'Cul-
lough and Alex. Taylor were appointed to
view a road from Indiana to the road from
Woodward's to Bolar's.
48
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Win. P. Brady, Joshua Pearee, John
Thompson, Jr., John Parks, Wm. Work and
Hugh Brady appointed to report on a road
from Brady's mill on Little Jlahoning to the
contemplated West Branch road.
James M'Comb, Adam Thompson, Thomas
Baird, James Matthews, Moses Thompson, Jr.,
and William Coleman appointed to report on
a road from Conemaugh river opposite Port
Johnston to Harden 's branch, where it in-
tersects the Indiana road.
Reports of Roads Confirmed. — From Isaac
Rodger's mill to Indiana. From William
Clark's mill to Indiana. From Indiana to in-
tersect at McFarlan's mill. From the Arm-
strong county line to Brady's mill. Prom
David Fulton's to Brady's mill. From New-
port to intersect the Indiana road.
Thomas Allison, John Wilson, Thos.
M'Cartney, David Cummins, Joseph Moor-
head, and James Wilkins, Sr., were appointed
to locate a road from Indiana to Allison's mill,
on Yellow creek.
Wm. P. Brady, Thomas Lucas, Sam'l Scott,
James M 'Henry, Capt. Hugh Brady and
James Johnston appointed to lay out a road
from Joseph Barnett 's on Redbank to Brady 's
mill.
Thomas Allison, Esq., Michael Hess, James
M'Kee, Peter Sutton, Joseph Parker and
James Moorhead appointed to report on a
road from M'Kee 's mill to Indiana.
Pay of Viewers. — June 7, 1807, order is-
sued to William Evans and Peter Gordon for
assisting to view and lay out a road from
David Fulton's to Brady's mill, $10. To
John Evans for services on same road, $6. To
James Gordon, Samuel Dixon, Daniel Smith,
John M'Crady, and Michael Campbell, $2 each
for viewing and laying out a road "from New-
port to Indiana." To Matthew Wyncoop for
assisting in laying out the road from David
Fulton's to Brady's mill, $5. To William
Clark, Esq., William Parker, Moses Craw-
ford and George Findley, for viewing and
laying out a road from Rodger's mill to In-
diana, $3 each, and to William Lapsley and
Thomas Sanderson, $1 each.
June 10th, 1807, To John Robertson, John
Mitchell, and Alex. Lyons, for viewing and
laj'ing out road from McFarlan's mill to In-
diana, $3 each. To John Work as one of the
viewers of the road from David Fulton's to
Brady's mill, $5. To Thomas Bracken, An-
drew Wilkins, Sam'l Stevens, Benoni Wil-
liams, $6 each, and to Joseph M'Cartney,
Esq., $1, for viewing and laying out a road
from William Clark's mill to Indiana. To
Christopher Harrold for services on same
road $2.
June 12th. 1807, To Joseph Moorhead, Esq.,
Benjamin Walker and James M 'Knight, $6
each, for assisting in laying out a road from
Cambria county line to Armstrong county
line. To Gawin Adams $4 and Phillip Rice
$3 for services on same road. To James
Brady for services in laying out a road from
Armstrong county line to Wm. P. Brady's
mill, $5. John Jamison, assisting to make
State road, $8.
June 15th, 1807, To Thomas M'Cartney for
assisting in laying out the road from Cambria
county line to Armstrong county line, $4. To
Alexander Taylor $2, and Jacob Anthony,
David M'CuUough, William Calhoun, Wil-
liam Rankin and Robert Walker $1 each, for
viewing and laying out road from Ann
Sharp's to Armstrong county line.
The foregoing appear to have been the first
public roads laid out after the organization
of the county.
CHAPTER VI
THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL
The location of the Pennsylvania Canal was
begun April 20, 1825, by Nathan S. Roberts,
an engineer, and was completed Dee. 6, 1826,
and placed under contract the same year. In-
structions were given to have particular re-
gard to economy in all things. Mr. Roberts
estimated that it would be necessary to have
one engineer at $3,000 per year and reason-
able expenses; two assistant engineers, one at
$3 per day and expenses, and one at $2 per
day and expenses; two target men at $1.50
per day each and find himself; and two axe
men, at $1 per day each and find himself.
The general dimensions of the canal were
fixed as follows : Width at the water line.
40 feet ; width at bottom, 28 feet, and depth,
4 feet. The locks were 15 feet wide and 90
feet in length in the chamber.
Governor Schultze in his message of 1826
favored the Pennsylvania Canal. He stated
that the transportation by land from Phila-
delphia to Pittsburg would be reduced twenty
miles. The object of the Pennsylvania Canal
was to develop the natural resources, and
cherish the industry of the Commonwealth by
bringing all its important sections as near as
possible to a sure and profitable market.
At that time it was estimated that 578,160
bushels of salt, and 17,440 tons of iron, ar-
rived annually at Pittsburg by land and water
from districts bordering on the Conemaugh
and Kiskiminetas. Tlie Transportation of
goods by land, from Philadelphia and Balti-
more to Pittsburg, amounted to 9.300 tons a
year, for which $465,000 was paid; and the
return transportation to these places was 5,300
tons, for which $132,500 was paid. The ag-
gregate of this land transportation on 14,600
tons may be added to the tonnage already
stated as existing on the Juniata and Kiskim-
inetas. Xor did this estimate include the flour,
whiskey and other produce which arrived at
Pittsburg by land, and was carried by land
from the neighborhood of the Juniata. The
trade on the Juniata amounted yearly to
$1,188,000.
It was believed that the commerce already
existing was an ob.ject sufficient to justify
the undertaking proposed. But when the
immense quantity of mineral and agi'icultural
products, comparatively worthless, which a
safe communication with a steady market
would raise at once to their proper value, was
taken into the account, the aggregate as above
stated sinks into insignificance. It was ex-
pected that the iron and coal trade of the
Juniata, and the supply of salt, coal and iron
of the Kiskiminetas. would increase in the
same ratio. These things alone would afford
the State a handsome revenue.
Wm. Darlington, president, and James ilc-
Ilvane. secretary, reported Feb. 27, 1827, as
follows :
'"One view of this subject remains to be
suggested, which is entitled to great weight
with the intelligent and patriotic. The State
of Pennsylvania has advantages of the highest
grade ; and sources of wealth almost without a
limit. But while the bounties of nature have
flowed so copiously, the great principle in
the order of Providence which calls for hu-
man eflt'ort, in exact proportion to natural
capability has been indelibly written on her
mountains and her torrents. For want of
such exertion the prosperity of Pennsylvania
has comparatively languished, while a more
enterprising neighbor has advanced with un-
paralleled rapidity. Without artificial navi-
gation, the citizen of Pennsylvania has been
limited in his commerce to the course of a
stream or has found in his mountains an im-
passable barrier to a profitable market. Hence
each section of country has had a different
outlet, most of it beyond the borders of the
State; hence that wealth has been dissipated
among strangera, which ought to be accumu-
lated in emporiums of our own; and worse
perhaps than all, a disunion of interest and
of feeling has been created which is dangerous
or enfeebling.
"The system proposed is deemed adequate
to the remedv of all these e\ils. It will give
49
50
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
scope to our natural resources, and to our
most valuable industry, axid increased secur-
ity. It will unite all sections of the State by
the band of common interests and mutual de-
pendence. It will insure our citizens the
profits of our industry, and accumulate that
wealth which industry and enterprise, com-
bined with natural and artificial advantages,
cannot fail to produce."
The committee appointed to make investi-
gations regarding the advisability of making
the Pennsylvania Canal reported as follows:
"The greatness of the commercial empo-
rium, and the superiority of the market on the
Delaware, contrasted with the seaport on
the Chesapeake, or any of the seaports of the
South, will always attract the western trade
into the Pennsylvania Canals. This result
cannot be prevented by New York, as our
route will be shorter and less interrupted by
ice. When besides this advantage we con-
sider the superior productiveness of the coun-
try through which the Pennsylvania Canal
will flow; the fertile valleys of the Susque-
hanna, in their present cultivation, sending
annually to the market products to the amount
of nearly four millions of dollars; the ex-
tent to which the manufacture of salt may
be cai-ried; the immense masses of coal; the
beds of iron ore, the most precious of metals,
and would be converted into all its ar-
tificial forms; the new mineral wealth
which would be discovered by means of
the geological and mineralogical survey now
contemplated; and when we further con-
sider the numerous branch canals and auxil-
iary railroads, which would soon be con-
structed, it will be perceived that the tonnage
on the Pennsylvania route Avill be of vast
magnitude, and greater than that which will
ever pass upon any other route between the
eastern and western waters. If then we as-
sume that after the completion, the total of
the tonnage of the descending- trade will be
200,000 tons, which is but little more than the
present tonnage of the Susquehanna; and if
we compute the tolls at an average sum of one
cent per ton a mile, for a mean distance of
300 miles, it will give an annual sum of
$600,000. From which, if we make ample
deductions of 20% for repairs and superin-
tendency, say $120,000, there will be an an-
nual revenue of $480,000. This sum will pay
the interest on ten millions of dollars, for
money can be secured from the banks at 41/2%-
Besides it has been ascertained that more than
one million of dollars have been paid for
many years in succession, for carrying com-
modities from the Atlantic ports to the west-
ern waters.
"The next proposition which it is the pur-
pose of the committee to sustain, is that the
contemplated improvements will enliven the
great roads of the State, and render pro-
ductive the vast amount of stock in turnpikes
and bridges (which has been computed at ten
millions of dollars), and of which the state
owns more than two millions of dollars.
"A full development of our resources will
give fertility and population to the barren dis-
tricts, and spread agi-iculture, manufactures
and commerce over the whole State, embrac-
ing twenty-nine millions of acres. One of the
results of this general prosperity will be an
active intercourse between the various parts
of our Commonwealth, and a vast increase
upon the roads and bridges of those vehicles
which pay toll without wearing out the road.
"In presenting genei-al considerations in
favor of the canal policy, the committee may
be allowed to advert to the facilities it will
hereafter afilord for the construction of rail-
ways. Many intelligent persons are of the
opinion that from the immense field for pro-
ductive industry and active labor presented
by Pennsylvania and from the magnitude of
future trade between the seaports of our
State and the great growing country of the
west, railroads will hereafter be constracted
parallel to our canals."
The act to begin the Pennsylvania Canal at
the expense of the State passed Feb. 2-5, 1826.
In 1827 the State appropriated five millions
of dollars for the Pennsylvania Canal. Jan.
30, 1827, George T. Olmstead, assistant en-
gineer to Nathan S. Roberts, reported to the
Legislature of the State as follows:
"The examination down the Conemaugh
and Kiskiminetas has been confined exclusively
to the north bank of the river, and is com-
paratively the best, particularly when taking
into view the advantage of a southern expo-
sure. The line has been located with a strict
adherence to a canal navigation, and no in-
surmountable obstacles have been found to
prevent such location, notwithstanding im-
provements by slackwater navigation would
perhaps be advisable in some places. It has
been suggested that an improvement of the
river passing through Laurel Hill and Chest-
nut Ridge would be the cheapest or best mode
to pursue. There would be no serious ob-
jection to a slackwater navigation past Laurel
hill ; the river has a descent of 32 feet to five
miles, and could be overcome with two dams,
while the Chestnut Ridge has a descent of 64
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
51
feet iu the same distance, aud would be more
expensive than a canal.
"The stone necessary for the construction
of locks can be found principally in the vicin-
ity of the canal ; in some places, however, there
will be a difficultj' in obtaining stone of good
quality — the stone required for aqueducts,
culverts, bridges, etc., can be obtained at al-
most any point along the river.
' ' Beginning at Johnstown and extending to
the mouth of the Kiskiminetas there was 64
miles of canal and 46 locks. The estimated
cost is as follows :
Total amount of excavation, em-
bankment, etc. . . . ._ ;|^654,124.93
368 feet of lockage (a) $600 per
foot 220,800.00
35 bridges (aJ $250 8,750.00
32 miles of fence @ $480 15,360.00
$899,034.93
Add for contingencies lO^c 89,903.49
.$988,938.42
"At this time no complaints were made by
any person through whose lands the canal
passed.
"The eleventh mile ran by Rodger's mill
at old Ninevah. The line ran between the saw
and grist mill. It was suggested that it would
be better to move the grist mill below the
canal. This was done. The cost of making
this mile of canal was $12,808.30.
"The lock at a small town called Abner-
ville, east of Centerville, was on the fifteenth
mile, and was the thirteenth lock west of
Johnstown. The cost of this mile was
$3,473.62.
"The thirty-second mile commences at
Blairsville, and with the exception of two
short pieces of narrow bottom land, an em-
bankment in the bed of the river will be
necessary the whole distance, from 6 to 12
feet below. The mile will cost $21,426.60.
"Mile 35 commences with a piece of deep
cutting, and continues about 12 chains over
very steep sideling grounds; the line then
continues in the road on a narrow bank to
Blaeklick creek, which will require an aque-
duct of two hundred feet— surface water IS
feet below and about two feet deep."
The western division of the main line of
the Pennsylvania Canal, as it passed along the
Conemaugh, frequently opened iuto a series
of slackwater pools in the river. Slackwater,
the time when the tide runs slowly, or the
water is at rest ; or the interval between the
flux and reflux of the tide. Slackwater navi-
gation, uaAngation iu a stream the depth of
which has been increased, and the current di-
minished, by a dam or dams. Nine miles
below Blairsville the canal passes through a
tunnel over 1,000 feet long, and emerges upon
a stone aqueduct across the Conemaugh.
To the travelers passing up the canal, the
view of the aqueduct, and the western entrance
of the tunnel, with the river aud rugged moun-
tains above it, is exceedingly picturesque.
Previous to the construction of the canal, the
Conemaugh was a rough impetuous stream, of
dangerous navigation.
Before the slackwater dams were built, the
rapidity of the water through Chestnut Ridge
was such that a heavily loaded boat, after en-
tering Richard's Falls, ran a distance of
seven miles with the swiftness of the fastest
racehorse, and in that distance were two of
the shortest bends that ever a large craft of
any kind was piloted around. These were the
Spruce Bend and Packsaddle Falls. At the
Spruce Bend a ridge of rocks projected almost
across the river from the north side, leaving a
channel of very little more than the width of
the boat, aud the bend was so short that as the
l5oat passed her bow was heading straight for
the rocks on the north side, not much more
than the length of herself ahead. If the pilot
missed the exact spot on entering the chute,
or a stroke of the oar was missed by himself,
or his bowsman, the boat was smashed to
pieces and often men killed among her broken
timbers, or drowned in the boisterous billows.
At a veiy early day three brothers were lost
from a boat that was wrecked on this reef of
rocks, and from that circumsstauce they got
the appellation of the "Three Brothers," and
were known by that name as long as the chan-
nel of the Conemaugh was navigated. Rich-
ard's Falls were often run l)y good pilots, by
keeping the boat in her proper position while
rounding the Horseshoe Bend at Lockport,
without the stroke of an oar when entering or
passing through, and as we swept down the
straight rapids from the mouth of Tubmill
to Spruce Bend an awful silence generally
prevailed, our oars held in the proper po-
sition to be dipped in the twinkling of an eye,
at the pilot's command. As we came to
the first bend the orders were given, "To the
left." The blades were dipped, and every
man's shoulder to the stems, dashed them
across the boat with a rapidity that cannot be
described. All except the pilot and the bows-
man wheeled their backs to the oar and dashed
back, followed by the undipped oars in the
hands of the pilot and bowsman; the blades
52
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
were dipped and every man wheeled with the
quickness and exactness of rapid machinery,
and we extended the chute, as if it were pos-
sible to add anything to the motion and the
strength of the men's nerves. The pilot's
voice was heai'd above the roar of the con-
vulsed waters, "Hard to the left," "Hard to
the left," "Hard to the left"; and without
time to breathe as we entered the Packsaddle,
"Hard to the right"; and in the twinkling of
an eye every man was on the opposite side of
the oars, and all shoulders to their work, dash-
ing them in the opposite direction ; and with
a higher speed than that of lightning train of
cars behind time, we passed that awful preci-
pice, now to be seen by the traveler on the
Pennsylvania railroad. All reeking with
sweat, and bosoms heaving with respiration, a
shout of joy was raised as we emerged from
the Packsaddle. All dangers were then be-
lieved to be passed.
Boatmen from Johnstown and Ligouier Val-
ley considered all danger passed when they
had got safely through Chestnut Ridge, though
there were scary places below to those who
had seen nothing worse. These were Brown's
Dam and Campbell's Dam on the Conemaugh,
Kiskiminetas Falls on the Kiskiminetas, and
Pocketv Chute on the Allegheny river.
Mr. T. C. Reed gives the following: "The
last craft of any kind that was ever run down
the channel of" the Conemaugh through the
Ridge, was a craft of green boards which was
built at the foot of Richard's Ealls, on the
north side of the river. It was getting dark
when we had finished building our raft and
hanging our bars. Lest the water should fall,
to be too low in the morning, we pushed out
and ran the frightful falls bends in darkness,
having nothing visible but the white foam of
the dashing waves and the rugged movuitain
sides for our guides. Brother Andy was the
pilot, and, if I remember correctly, Henry
Harr the bowsman, and Robert Riddle and
myself the only common hands. We ran safely
through, landed that night at Blairsville, sold
our boards to Noble Nesbitt, to be delivered
at Livermore. The Pennsylvania Canal was
just coming into existence. We shoved out
the next morning, our raft of green boards all
under water, except the floor, which was
merely on a level with the top of the water.
In crossing Campbell's Dam. at the mouth of
Blacklick, she dived to the bottom. The dash-
ing of the waves would have washed us off if
we had not held on to the oars, one of which
had become unshipped, leaving us to drift at
the mercy of the current, standing in the
water almost to our arms, with the raft un-
der our feet. As we drifted along she kept
gradually rising, until at last, about a mile
below the dam, she came to the top of the
water, when we quickly reshipped our un-
shipped oar and landed safely at Livermore.
Thus ended the navigation of the Conemaugh
river.
"The same year, 1829, the Blairsville Dam.
the two dams in Chestnut Ridge, and the two
dams in Laurel Hill, were built, and the only
boating from Johnstown, or the valley, to
Pittsburg afterwards was done on the canal.
The canal was located along the end of my
father's liouse. The canal was first com-
menced by the filthiest, most ignorant, and
uncivilized men that ever Cork emptied into
the United States. On the first Sabbath after
getting into their shanties, they got out with
their shotguns and commenced shooting the
poultry about the barnyard. My father went
out and remonstrated, but he was answered :
'Be jabers it's a fra country, an' we'll shoot
as minny checkens as we plaze. '
' ' On the 4th of July a regular old-fashioned
celebration was got up at Lockport on the line
of the canal. The Irish in attendance fnr
outnumbered all others. While the oration
was being delivered they swore they would
P'at the speaker ofi' the stand. They made the
attempt but failed. They were driven out of
1he village, many of them badly used up.
They made a threat to take the place on the
following Saturday. There were about five
hundred men engaged in building the aque-
duct. Tlie contractor provided every man
with a rifle and ammunition for the occasion.
On the appointed day the Irish collected in
great numjjers on the bank of the river op-
posite Lockport, where they came in view of
over five hundred armed men. They were
informed that if they attempted to cross the
river they would be shot down. They scat-
tered off faster than they had collected.
' ' On one occasion three of my brothers, three
or four hired men, and myself, were going
home to dinner from our work at the saw-
mill, on the lower end of the farm. We were
crossing the fields some rods from the canal.
We saw and heard a great commotion, but
had no thought of anything unusual, and
were passing by as we were in the habit of
doing, supposing it to be but a common Irish
fray among themselves, when we heard a well-
known voice calling out: 'Will j^ou fellows
allow a fellow to be murdered by a set of red-
mouthed Irish?' It was William Bennett.
More than one hundred Irishmen had him sur-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
53
rounded. Their noise could only be compared
to the barking of as many angry bulldogs, but
their courage fell far short of the courage of
that animal. He had threatened the first
man that would come within a rod of him,
and they had made their inner circle fully
that distance from the center which he oc-
cupied. AVe all ran to his rescue, and such a
chattering of brogue has seldom been heard.
Those who made the first break didn't wait
to see whether there were a dozen or a hun-
dred of us, and more than one-half of them
didn't know why the rest ran. The panic-
stricken crowd might be compared to as many
sheep with dogs let loose among them. They
never stopped to look behind them, till they
were out of sight, and how far they ran before
they discovered they were not pursued, we
never knew.
■ ■ There were a great many cart horses used
in building the embankment at the east end
of the aqueduct. These were turned into my
father's grain fields at the back part of the
farm after night, and taken out before day-
light in the morning; when the grain was
nearly ready to be harvested, and before we
knew of it, the crop was entirely destroyed.
Our horses were poisoned by arsenic being
put upon theii- chopped feed in such quantity
that they had eaten but little of their feed.
One of my brothers was on horseback on an
errand. The feed was ready mixed in the
feed box. He came home about dark, and
fed all the horses in the stable. The next
morning the one he had been riding was ly-
ing dead in the stable, and five others were
so badly poisoned that some of them never re-
covered, but died lingering in misery for some
months after receiving the poison.
"About a mile of fence, together with the
partition fences, the breadth of the first tier of
fields along the river, were burnt in the shan-
ties for fuel, and the whole laid waste during
the two years of making the canal. The owner
of the farm below my father's threatened the
contractor with the law. if he would not pay
for damage done to his farm. He replied :
'D — n ye. bring on yer sheriff', an' I set me
ban's on him, an' guv him a good batin, an'
he'll not trouble me much.' He brought the
sheriff, and the sheriff brought three or four
rugged fellows with him from Indiana, and
enlisted as many from the neighborhood of
the scene of action. As they approached they
were met by about one hundred Irishmen,
armed with picks and shovels. One of the
sheriff's posse drew and presented a pistol,
which was sufficient, and they didn't bate the
sheriff. ' The contractor was taken to Indiana.
An Irishman from Blairsville bailed him for
his appearance at next court, and before he
left the justice's office he said to the prosecu-
tor: 'Now, sur, I've guv bail, and I'll just go
home an ' set me ban 's to work, an ' we '11 pile
up all the rails on yer place, an' burn them to
ashes.' Before he had finished he found him-
self again in the hands of the sheriff, who took
him to jail, where he remained a long time be-
fore he could procure sufficient bail to release
him till court. He was compelled to pay dam-
ages, and taught that a 'fra country was not
Mhat he took it to be.'
"Before the Pennsylvania Canal was con-
structed, salt and Juniata iron were carried
across the mountains on packhorses. Two or
three of the settlers were furnished with
bacon, dried beef, deerskins, venison, etc., and
all the horses in the neighborhood. A train of
packhorses consisted of from five to a dozen
and even more, tethered by a hitching rope
one behind the other. The master of the train
rode before or followed after the horses and
directed their movements bj' his voice. About
fifteen miles per day were traveled in this
manner, and each horse carried about two-
hundred pounds' burden. The harness con-
sisted of a packsaddle and a halter, and the
lead horse often had, in addition, a circling
band of iron over his withers attached to the
saddle and to which were hung several bells,
whose tinkling in a way relieved the monotony
of the journey and kept the horses from going
astray.
"The paekhorse required the use of a pack-
saddle. It was made of four pieces of wood,
two being notched, the notches fitting along
the horse's back, with the front part resting
upon the animal's withers. The other two
were flat pieces about the length and breadth
of a lap shingle, perhaps 18 inches by 5 inches.
They extended along the sides and were fas-
tened to the ends of the notched pieces. Upon
the saddles were placed all kinds of merchan-
dise. Bars of iron were bent in the middle
and hung across ; large creels of wicker work,
containing babies, bed-clothing, and farm im-
plements, as well as kegs of powder, caddies of
spice, bags of salt, sacks of charcoal, and boxes
of glass, were thus carried over the mountains.
They crossed Laurel Hill on the road leading
from Shrum's mill to Johnstown. By what
route they crossed the Allegheny mountains,
I do not know. After arriving at the caravan-
sary, and exchanging their commodities for
salt and iron, they loaded their horses by
bending the bars of iron and hanging them
54
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
across the paeksaddles on the horses' backs.
The salt was carried in large bags of home
manufacture. To protect the salt from rain
the bags were covered by bearskins. Their
homeward journey was performed by the same
routine of the eastward trip. Shoppers from
Pittsburg went to Philadelphia in squads of
eight or ten to lay in their yearly supply of
goods and brought them to Pittsburg in this
manner.
"The time came at last to relieve the com-
munity along the Conemaugh of their annual
trip for salt and iron. An enterprising Ger-
man, named John Benninger, built a quai'ter
stock furnace and tilt-hammer forge on Tub-
mill creek, not far from where Ross Furnace
was afterwards built, and another tilt-hammer
forge on the same creek, where Bolivar now
stands. A considerable amount of bar iron
was made by these works, but so brittle that it
was unfit for the farmers' use, and the con-
sequence was that he failed, and the works
were suffered to go to i-uin.
"By some means a road was opened across
the mountains to Johnstown, I believe the old
Franksto^vn road — and Juniata bar iron was
brought in wagons to Johnstown, and carried
to Pittsburg in flatboats at times of high water
or freshets. Persons passing along the Cone-
maugh river at the present day can form no
correct idea of its appearance in the high
water before the rocks were blasted out and
the slackwater dams built in the mountain
passes. I doubt whether a more difficult
stream was ever navigated by men of any age.
A great many were drowned in proportion to
the number engaged in boating. For some
years after boating commenced six or eight
"tons were considered to be a load for a large
boat. But one adventurer after another
loaded heavier and. heavier, until, fifty tons
of pig metal were loaded and carried safely
by different boatmen.
"Bar iron was the principal loading for
boats built at Johnstown. After Westmore-
land Furnace, Washington Furnace, and Ross
Furnace were built, and the northern turn-
pike was completed, boats built on the south
side of the river, in Ligonier Valley, were
loaded with pig metal, and those built on the
north side were chiefly loaded with bar iron,
brought by wagons to different boatyards
along the north bank of the river. JTost of
the pig metal stopped at Pittsburg, the great
iron emporium of the world, to be manufac-
tured into castings; but much of the bar iron
went on down the Ohio river to Cincinnati
and Louisville, and some was run on down the
Mississippi to New Orleans in the same boats
in which it left the Conemaugh valley.
"The main line of the Pennsylvania Canal
with its connecting railroads was opened for
business throughout its entire length in the
spring of 1834, the branches being opened at
later dates. Important and valuable as these
improvements were, in the aid they gave to
the development of the material resources of
Pennsylvania, and in bringing into closer re-
lations the whole people of the Commonwealth,
it is painful to record the fact that the opera-
tion of the main line and its important
branches virtually came to an end within
thirty years after it began. This ever to be
regretted termination of a great and useful
enterprise was due primarily to the inefficient
and sometimes corrupt management of the en-
tire system and next to the competition of the
Pennsylvania railroad, the building of which
was authorized by an act of the Legislature
dated April 13, 1846, and which was com-
pleted to Pittsburg on Dec. 10, 1852. On Aug.
1, 1857, the State sold the whole of the main
line to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
for $7,500,000, which soon abandoned the
great part of the canal.
"Ephraim Stitt, of Blairsville, was prob-
ably the last captain to bring through freight
from Pittsburg to Johnstown. He brought a
cargo consigned to the Cambria Iron Company
in 1859. About Dec. 1, 1860, the Mononga-
hela, of which George Rutlidge was captain,
brought a cargo of salt and grain from Liver-
more to Johnstown, and this was probably
the last boat to bring a load of merchpndise
to the latter place. There were no lock-ten-
ders at this time. On May 1, 1863, the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company abandoned the
canal between Johnstown and Blairsville.
"The first tunnel that was built in the
United States formed a part of the Portage
Railroad. It was made at the staple bend of
the Conemaugh, four miles from Johnstown.
The tunnel was made through a spur of the
AUeghenies, near which the stream makes a
bend of two miles and a half. On the western
division of the Pennsylvania Canal, at a plnce
then and now called Tunnelton, about half
way between Johnstown and Pittsburg, a tun-
nel was built between 1827 and 1829 throush
one of the foothills of the AUeghenies. This
tunnel connected with an aqueduct over the
Conemaugh. It was the third tunnel that
was built in the United States."
CHAPTER VII
MINERAL RESOURCES OP INDIANA COUNTY
THE INDIANA QUADRANGLE
GEOGRAPHY LOCATION AND AREA
The Indiana quadrangle, which embraces
one sixteenth of a square degree of the earth's
surface, extends from latitude 40° 30' to 40°
45' and from longitude 79° 00' to 79° 15',
and has an area of about 227 square miles. It
is situated in Indiana county, Pa., and is
named from the town of Indiana, which is in
the central portion of the quadrangle.'
TRLANGUL.VTION DATA
The triangulation stations described be-
low, determined by the United States Geo-
logical Survey, give precise locations for
several points within and ad.iacent to the Indi-
ana quadrangle. These stations are marked
by stone posts 42x6x6 inches, set about three
feet in the gi'ound, in the center of the top of
which are cemented bronze tablets marked
" U. S. Geological Suiwey — Pennsylvania."
Kunkle. — On the land owned by Phil'p Kun-
kle: about two miles north of Creekside post-
office, near western end of a high ridge having
scattered trees on the eastern end.
Coleman. — In "White township, about two
miles west of Indiana, on laud owned by D.
Coleman.
Reference marks: Stone sunk 2 feet below
surface of ground in direction of Kunkle
station ; distant 10.2 feet to cross on stone.
Stone sunk 18 inches below surface of ground
in direction of "Warner station ; distant 12.3
feet to cross on stone.
Pouiand. — On a high hill on land owned
bv W. S. Rowland: about four miles north of
Plumville. in South IMahoning township, and
near the line between "West Mahoning and
South Mahoning townships.
1 The Indiana quadrangle is included in the area
surveyed by W. G. Piatt in 1877. and his report on
Indiana county (HHHH), published by the Second
Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, was frequently
consulted in the preparation of this account.
Warner. — About three miles southwest of
Indiana, in White township, on the highest
part of a bare, round-top hill, on land owned
by ;\Ir. Warner.
Nolo. — About one fourth mile north of Nolo
post office, on land owned by Mr. McCafPery,
on high ground, but not the highest point.
Reference marks: Stones set 1 foot below
surface of ground, with cross on top. and set
on line with Evans and ilcCoy: distant 10
feet from station.
Strong. — In Cherryhill township, about two
miles southwest of Greenville village, on the
highest hill in the immediate vicinity, on land
owned by H. B. Strong. There is a lone tree
on the southwest part of the hill.
Evans. — On Evans hill, Brushvalley town-
ship, on land owned by John Evans, on high-
est part of hill, cleared of timber with the
exception of two small chestnut trees.
Indiana Normal School. — Station mark:
Cupola of normal school building.
Widow. — In Blaeklick township, about six
miles east of Blairsville. on the Blairsville and
Ebensburg pike, on a bare hill about twenty
rods south of the road, on land owned by heirs
of J. W. Thompson.
Watt. — About one mile southwest of Tan-
nery and one and three-quarter miles north-
west of Parkwood post office, on the highest
point of the western one of two hills about
the same height and one mile apart. The
land is owned by Thomas Watt.
Broadview. — About three and one-half
miles north of Shelocta and a few rods east
of the Armstrong-Indiana county line, on a
high, bare hill, with some timber on the south-
west slope. Tlie land is owned by John
Russell.
McCoy. — About one mile southeast of
Taylorsville, on a bare, round-top hill owned
by .Tames McCoy.
" Palmer. — About two and one-half miles
south of Rochester iMills post office, in Grant
to^Tiship, on a very high, partly cleared ridge,
on land owned bv Mr. Palmer.
56
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Reference marks: Stones set 1 foot below
surface of ground, with cross on top, in line
with stations Rowland and McCoy ; distant 10
feet from station.
TOPOGRAPHY
Phymoffraphic Relations. — The two char-
acteristic plains of the Allegheny plateaus are
represented in the Indiana quadrangle, but
their features ai-e so indistinct as to be almost
unrecognizable. Chestnut Ridge represents
the escarpment which elsewhere divides the
lower, western plateau from the higher pla-
teau on the east.
West of Chestnut Ridge rounded hilltops
and divides, ranging in elevation from 1,250
to 1,400 feet, are thought to mark the lower,
western plateau. It is supposed that they are
the remnants of a more or less even surface
which was produced by long-continued stream
action when the entire region was nearer sea
level than now, probably in Tertiary time.
Later uplift and exposure to subaerial con-
ditions have caused such erosion of the country
as to leave in western Pennsylvania only the
present faint traces of the old surface of de-
nudation.
The top of Chestnut Ridge is the sole rem-
nant in the quadrangle of the older and higher
plateau. Remnants of this are strikingly ap-
parent in the area lyiug eastward, in the even-
crested sky line formed by the tops of Dias
Ridge and Laurel Hill as seen from the top
of Chestnut Ridge. It is thought that this sky
line marks an old land surface which once
constituted an extensive and approximately
flat low-lying plain. The geologic date of the
formation of this old plain, the last traces of
which are now passing away, is not known,
but possibly, when detailed mapping shall
have progressed across the State to the At-
lantic coast, this physiographic stage can be
correlated with a similar stage there recog-
nized and referred to Cretaceous time.
Surface Relief .—Chestnut Ridge is the most
pronounced topographic feature of the Indiana
quadrangle. The ridge enters in the south
central part and extends northeastward across
the quadrangle. It is a narrow highland belt,
the distance from valley to valley on either
side being only about five miles. The west-
ern slope is the steeper, there being a change
in altitude of 800 feet from the top of the
ridge to Twolick creek, while on the east the
falf to Brush valley is only about 500 feet.
The ridge is dissected, but within the limits of
the quadrangle is crossed by only one stream,
Yellow creek, which flows in a narrow gorge.
The top of the ridge is characterized by a
number of knobs, ranging in elevation from
1,700 to 1.900 feet. Chestnut Ridge marks the
position of an anticline, which will be referred
to below. It is capped by heavy sandstone,
blocks of which litter the slopes and make the
region difficult of access.
Dias Ridge, sometimes called Nolo Ridge,
occupies a small area in the southeast corner of
the quadrangle. It is similar to Chestnut
Ridge, from which it is separated by a gently
undulating valley formed in shale and drained
by Brush creek.
West of Chestnut Ridge the country is more
open and the topography is less rough. The
region is occupied by three southwestward
flowing streams, Twolick and Crooked creeks,
which have cut broad and well-pronounced
valleys in the general upland surface, and the
south bi-anch of Plum creek, which drains the
northwest corner of the quadrangle. The
divides between these creeks form low, ill-
defined ridges, the tops of which are marked
by isolated, rounded knobs. In the southwest
corner of the quadrangle the hilltops range
between 1,250 and 1,400 feet in elevation. The
divide between Twolick and Crooked creeks is
a higher area, much of which is above 1,500
feet, and a number of hilltops reach 1,600
feet. Between Crooked creek and the south
branch of Plum creek the surface is lower, the
hills averaging only about 1,400 feet.
The area ad.iacent to the town of Indiana
is characterized by gently undulating topog-
raphy, marked by a few low, rounded hills.
This open stretch contrasts strongly with the
rougher .surrounding country, and doubtless
accounts for the fact that this part of the
country was settled early, the relatively fertile,
gently rolling country being naturally more
attractive than the ridges.
Drainage. — The drainage of the Indiana
quadrangle passes entirely into the Allegheny
river. The main waterways are Twolick, Yel-
low and Brush creeks, which flow southward
to .ioin the Allegheny by way of Blacklick
creek and Conemaugh river, and Crooked
creek, with its tributary, the south branch of
Plum creek, which, flowing westward, reaches
the Allegheny by a more direct route. The
northeast corner of the quadrangle is but a
few miles from the divide between the Atlantic
and the Gulf of Mexico, where the headwaters
of the West Branch of the Susequehanna
river approach those of Twolick creek.
An interesting feature of the local drainage
is the abnormal direction of flow of the head-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
waters of McKee run and Crooked creek.
Branches of McKee run heading near Grove
Chapel have courses which suggest that they
have not alwaj-s flowed into Crooked creek,
and some tributaries of Crooked creek in the
vicinity of Tanoma and Onbei'g likewise are
reversed. Between Onberg and Tanoma,
Crooked creek flows northward, while its
branches flow southward. These facts sug-
gest that in an earlier stage of stream devel-
opment in this region the drainage of the area
between the towns of Indiana and Dixonville
was different from the existing system. There
seems to have been a reversal of drainage, in
consequence of which certain streams which
formerly were tributary to Twolick creek now
flow into Crooked creek. For some reason,
streams draining into Crooked creek had the
advantage over those which flowed into Two-
lick, whereby the Ci'ooked creek drainage was
enabled to cut back the divides at the ex-
pense of the Twolick drainage until finally
the headwaters of certain branches of Two-
lick were tapped and their drainage was
turned into Crooked creek.
GEOLOGY
STR.\TIGR.\PHY, CARBOXIFEROUS SYSTEM
Character and Thickness. — The rocks ex-
posed at the surface in the Indiana quad-
rangle, except the alluvium found in the creek
bottoms, are all of Carboniferous age. The
surface rocks belong chiefly- to the Cone-
maugh and Allegheny formations, but where
Twolick and Yellow creeks and Allen run cut
through Chestnut Ridge the Pottsville for-
mation is exposed, and on Yellow creek, for a
short distance probably, the 3Iauch Chunk
shales also outcrop. From the lowest geologic
horizon to the highest, only about 1.100 feet
of roek in the vertical thickness intervene.
These rocks are shales, sandstones, thin lime-
stones and coals.
The different sections illustrate the varia-
bility of the sucession. Though a section in
one part of the quadrangle may have approx-
imately the thickness and general character
of a corresponding section in another part, it
is likely to show many minor variations. This
is very apparent in the field. On attempting.
for instance, to trace a sandstone which at one
locality is thick and prominent, it may be
found that it soon becomes more shaly and
less prominent, and finally may lose its dis-
tinctive features and pass into a sandy shale,
or even into a sliale with no snnd admixture.
Farther along the same horizon the sandy
phase may reappear, so that the horizon may
again be marked by a prominent sandstone.
The strata therefore frequently occur as lenses,
and just as a sandstone merges into a shale, so
limestones and shales pass by transition into
one another from point to point. Any phase
may be strongly developed locally and else-
where may fade out or merge into something
else. Such changes are characteristic of these
Upper Carboniferous rocks.
Too much emphasis, however, must not be
laid upon this irregularity. Over widely ex-
tended regions uniform conditions prevailed
and sedimentation resulted in strata which
occur without much variation at the same
horizon in large areas, and which can be
traced many miles. Such hoi-izons seiwe very
useful purposes in determining the geologic
position of a series of rocks, and thej' make
convenient division lines in mapping. The
Pittsburg coal, the Upper Freeport coal, and
the Pottsville sandstone are examples of
strata that are persistent and distinguishable
over wide areas.
Some idea of the character of the rocks
which underlie the Indiana quadrangle, but
which do not outcrop within it, is furnished by
the records of deep wells that have been sunk
in search of gas. It must be borne in mind,
however, that the holes were churn-drilled
and that the value of such records varies with
the care exercised by the recorder. The in-
terpretation of these records is accordingly
only tentative.
All the wells which go deep enough show a
conspicuous series of red shales and sand-
stones, the top of which lies between 1,400 and
1.500 feet below the Upper Freeport coal.
Their average thickness in this region is about
.350 feet. These rocks probably constitute a
part of what formerly was called the Red
Catskill, but as a distinct bed they are not
known in outcrop, and conseciuently they have
not received a specific name.
An interval of about 550 feet above the
top of the Devonian red beds is shown by the
different records to be occupied by a series of
rocks which is largely shah*, but which in-
cludes several beds of sand. In one of these
sandstones, lying about 1.100 feet below the
Upper Freeport coal, natural gas in paying
cjuantities has been found, a fact which will
be refeiTcd to more fully under the heading
"Mineral Resources." The exact stratigraph-
ie horizon of this series can not now be
stated, but is near the base of the Carboni-
ferous and the top of the Devonian.
58
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mauch Chunk Shale. — Of the rocks exposed
at the surface of the Indiana quadrangle the
Mauch Chunk shale is the oldest, though very
little is known of it within this area. The
records of deep wells show an interval of shale
at the Mauch Chunk horizon between the
Pottsville formation and the Pocono sand-
stone. In some records these shales are re-
ported red and in other no mention of the
color is made. The thickest occurrence re-
corded in this vicinity is in the Pickels well,
on Chestnut Ridge, in Burrell township, where
114 feet of red sands and shales are reported
at the Mauch Chunk horizon. Northwestward
the thickness diminishes considerably.
Along Yellow creek where it crosses the
Chestnut Ridge anticline there is sufficient
interval for the Mauch Chunk to occur unless
the Pottsville is unusually thick, but the rocks
underlying the normal thickness of Pottsville
in the Yellow creek gorge are concealed by a
talus of heavy sandstone blocks. Inasmuch
as in the region immediately south and south-
west of the Indiana quadrangle the Mauch
Chunk shales are well represented, and be-
cause within this area some red material has
been reported at the Mauch Chunk horizon in
deep-well records, the presumption is that
these rocks do outcrop in the Indiana quad-
rangle. This was the determination of the
Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania,
and the Mauch Chunk is mapped accordingly.
Pottsville Formation. — The Pottsville for-
mation in this general vicinity consists of two
beds of sandstone separated by an interval of
shale which sometimes cames a bed of coal.
But within the Indiana quadrangle, because
of poor or incomplete exposures, no exact
sections can be measured. Most of the records
of deep wells within the quadrangle do not
show distinctly this threefold division, but
they give a general thickness of about 100
feet for the formation.
The Pottsville formation outcrops in three
localities in the Indiana quadrangle — along
Twolick creek where it emerges from Chestnut
Ridge, in Allen run, and along Yellow creek
where it crosses the Chestnut Ridge anticline.
On Twolick creek the Pottsville occupies a
small area near water level, the presence of
the formation being made conspicuous by large
blocks of sandstone in the creek. On Allen run
for about a mile large blocks of snndstone
near water level are thought to mark the out-
crop of the Pottsville. Along Yellow creek the
outcrop of this formation is greater. A heavy
sandstone is there well developed, but the
exposures are poor for detailed study. The
hillslopes from the top of the formation down
to the creek are strewn with huge blocks of a
fine-textured, compact, whitish sandstone.
Here the Pottsville measures about 100 feet.
Allegheny Formation. — Overlying the
Pottsville is the Allegheny formation, which is
widespread in its occurrence and distinct in
its definition. The Allegheny formation has
been called the Lower Coal Measures, but in
conformity with the custom of denoting for-
mations by geographic names it has been
named the Allegheny formation, from Alle-
gheny river, where it is prominently exposed.
The top of the Allegheny formation is marked
by the Upper Freeport coal and the formation
is delimited below by the Pottsville sandstone.
Next to the Conemaugh the Allegheny is
the most widespread formation of this quad-
rangle, and its outcrop is important because
of the associated coal beds. The map shows
these rocks to outcrop in areas crossed by an-
ticlinal axes along Chestnut Ridge, Rayne run,
Crooked creek, McKee run, and the South
branch of Plum creek.
The thickness of the Allegheny formation
in the Indiana quadrangle is about the same
as in the adjoining regions. Although there
are striking differences in stratigraphy, yet
the total thickness of the formation is rather
uniform. About 300 feet is the average, as
the following well records show: The Win-
sheimer well, two and one half miles west of
Homer, gives a thickness of 285 feet, while the
diamond-drill hole near Graceton records 318
feet without certainty that the top of the
Pottsville was reached. A diamond-drill hole
near Gettysburg, about seven miles northeast
of the cjuadrangle, shows a thickness of 303
feet for the Allegheny formation; the gas
wells on the south branch of Plum creek below
Willet, about 300 feet; the St. Clair well, a
mile south of Indiana, 301 feet ; and the Law-
rence well, in Blacklick township, a few miles
southwest of the quadrangle, 300 feet.
The formation consists of shales, sandstones,
a few thin limestones, and several beds of coal,
some of which are of considerable economic
importance. The Upper Freeport coal lies
at the top of the formation and is rather per-
sistent in its occurrence. This stratum is, how-
ever, subject to variation, which will be dis-
cussed under the heading "Mineral Re-
sources." Below^ this coal at an interval vary-
ing from 0 to 40 feet the Freeport limestone
and Bolivar fire clay members are often pres-
ent, and these also will be referred to again.
Then, after an interval of from 20 to 80 feet
of dark shales, another coal sometimes occurs,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
59
which is called the Lower Freeport. Below
are drab or dark-colored shales or sandy shales,
sometimes a thiu bed of limestone, and occa-
sionally a hea\T sandstone. This sandstone
shows a thickness of 63 feet in bore hole No.
1, near Graceton, where its top occurs 100 feet
below the Upper Freeport coal.
About the middle of the Allegheny forma-
tion sometimes occur two or three beds of
coal which are called the Kittanning coal.
Only one of these, so far as known, is well
developed in the Indiana quadrangle. This
occurs about 200 feet below the Upper Free-
port and is called the Lower Kittanniug coal.
Drill records show in places a heavy sand-
stone above this coal, and also one below.
Thus, in a drill hole north of Yellow creek,
near the east side of the quadrangle, a heavj^
sandstone was encountered whose top is 165
feet below the Upper Freeport coal ; and drill
hole No. 1. near Graceton, shows 5-4 feet of
sandstone about 30 feet below the Lower Kit-
tanning coal.
In places limestone occurs associated with
these coals. A bed of impure limestone 8 feet,
9 inches thick was found in a drill hole on
Ramsey run 175 feet below the Upper Free-
port coal ; and in the same hole 4 feet, 5 inches
of gray limestone occur 238 feet below the
Upper Freeport. The former occurrence is
noteworthy' because the limestone appears in
the horizon of the Vanport (Ferriferous)
limestone member. West of the quadrangle
this limestone is well developed and is an im-
portant key rock. Eastward it thins out. In
the Indiana quadrangle the presence of the
Vanport limestone member is recorded in only
this diamond-drill hole, afid its outcrop is
found at only one locality — along the axis of
the Chestnut Ridge anticline, on the north
slope of Yellow creek. Here fragments of
limestone were found 80 feet above the top
of the Pottsville and 20 feet below the Lower
Kittannmg coal.
From the horizon of the Vanport limestone
member to the base of the formation the rocks
are usually shales, among which one or two
thin and unimportant layers of coal some-
times occur.
ConemaugJi Formation. — The rocks belong-
ing to the Conemai;gh formation, which di-
rectly overlies the Allegheny, have been called
the Lower Barren Pleasures because they
rarely carry workable coal and they lie be-
tween formations which do contain valuable
coal beds. But for the sake of unifonnity in
geologic nomenclature the rocks have been
named the Conemaugh formation, from their
outcrop along Conemaugh river. The Cone-
maugh formation is widespread in its occur-
rence and is well defined. It is delimited
above by the Pitt.sburg coal and below by the
Upper Freeport, both coals being excluded
from the formation.
The Conemaugh formation, as shown by the
geologic map, extends over most of the Indiana
quadrangle. Except in the Chestnut Ridge
region and a few other districts where the
Allegheny formation outcrops, Conemaugh
rocks are everj^diere exposed at the surface.
The entire thickness of the formation is not
present in the Indiana quadrangle. In the
region to southwest of the area under con-
sideration these rocks have a rather constant
thickness of from 600 to 700 feet, but there is
evidence that this thickness increases some-
what northeastward. The best interpretation
that can be given to several diamond-drill rec-
ords in the southwestern part of the Indiana
ciuadrangle, toward the center of the Latrobe
syncline, places the Upper Freeport coal at an
elevation of 650 to 680 feet, while adjacent
hills on which the Pittsburg coal has not been
found rise to a little more than 1,300 feet.
These figures call for a thickness of over 600
feet for the Conemaugh formation, an estimate
which is borne out by facts in the territory to
the south. A deep well at the Columbia Plate
Glass Works at Blaii-sville gives an approxi-
mate thickness of 675 feet for the Conemaugli.
The Lawrence well on Grej's run, about a mile
south of the southwest corner of the Indiana
quadrangle, shows a thickness of at least 6''^0
feet for the Conemaugh formation when there
is added to the well record the thickness of
rocks on an ad.iacent hill on which the Pitts-
burg coal does not outcrop.
As a whole the Conemaugh formation is
composed largely of drab and reddish shales,
but it is also characterized by the occurrence
of important beds of sandstone. Minor beds
of limestone and some coal are also included
within the formation.
There are four principal sandstones, but
these occur as lenses or beds of limited extent
and of local thickness instead of uniformly
persistent strata. They therefore form mem-
bers of the Conemaugh formation rather than
distinct formations by themselves. The
names given to these sandstones are those
adopted in other localities where the Cone-
maugh formation occurs, and their relative
positions are approximately the same. AcKial
identity in correlation caii not be established
becaiise of the noncontinuity of the deposits
as traceable beds. In lithologic character
60
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
these sandstones resemble one another so
closely that they can not be distinguished, but
their stratigraphic position sei-ves to identify
them. They range from hard, compact, fine-
textured white or buff sandstones to friable
and coarser-textured, much iron-stained sand-
stones. Locally these rocks become conglom-
eratic, the pebbles of quartz occasionally at-
taining the size of beans. The sandstones
vary in thickness from a few feet to 60 or 70
feet. A common measurement when they are
well developed is between 20 and 30 feet.
The Connellsville sandstone member in this
quadrangle is thin bedded, drab, and mica-
ceous. It occurs about 80 feet below the
Pittsburg coal, though in the type locality
this interval is only about 50 feet. The Con-
nellsville sandstone member outcrops in the
Indiana quadrangle on only a few hills in
the southwest corner, adjacent to the Pitts-
burg coal area.
The Morgantown sandstone member occurs
about 500 feet above the Upper Freeport coal
and is usually well developed. It is present
on the hills west of Homer, on White, Cole-
man and Warner hills, and between Grove
Chapel and Tanoma.
The top of the Saltsburg sandstone mem-
ber is about 200 feet above the Upper Free-
port coal. This sandstone outcrops at sev-
eral localities in this quadrangle and occa-
sionally is strongly developed, but at several
places where its presence would be expected
the sandstone phase is not present. The
Saltsburg sandstone member occurs at Homer,
at Edgewood, and along the road ci'ossing the
hill northwest of Ideal. It is also well devel-
oped on Dias Ridge, in the southeast corner
of the quadrangle. It appears at the bend in
the road between Indiana and Mechanicsburg
just south of Twolick creek, and again on
this road a little lower down the dip of the
east flank of the Latrobe syncline, a short
distance north of the creek. Thence south-
westward it forms a bench along the hillside
to the railroad cut south of Reed station. It
shows in the western limb of the Latrobe
syncline on the road along McCartney run a
half mile west of Reed, where it has been
quarried. This occurrence of the Saltsburg
sandstone member is mentioned in detail be-
cause it gives a surface demonstration of the
existence in this region of the Latrobe syn-
cline.
The ilahoning sMinlstiiin' member occurs at
the base of the Conciiiiiimii formation. It is
generally present within this (juadrangle, and
its outcrop being contiguous to that of the
Upper Freeport coal the position of the Ma-
honing can be easily followed on the map.
Tliis sandstone is prominent on Chestnut
Ridge, about McKee run, and between Cham-
bersville and Gaibleton. It is poorly devel-
oped or not present at its horizon in Dixon
run and in the south branch of Plum creek.
It is recorded in several diamond-drill rec-
ords, though in others it is absent. A strik-
ing example of change in sedimentation,
characteristic of the Coal Measures, is well
shown by the distribvition of the Mahoning
sandstone member. It is strongly developed
as a massive conglomeratic sandstone on the
ridge north of Penn run and east of Twolick
creek, but in the nearby valley of Dixon run
is scarcely recognizable.
Drab shales and sandy shales, occasionally
interbedded with bluish and reddish shales,
are the most abundant rocks of the Cone-
maugh formation. They occur between the
sandstones that have just been mentioned and
replace them wliere they are not developed.
Locally the reddish shales attain prominence.
For instance, the small hill east of the freight
station in Indiana shows such a local devel-
opment. These shales are about 350 feet
above the Upper Freeport coal.
Only a few outcrops of limestone were ob-
served in the Conemaugh formation. On the
hillside east of the road between Cherry run
and Twolick creek, about one and one half
miles southwest of Homer, is a thin bed of
limestone carrying brachiopods. This bed oc-
curs about midway in the Conemaugh forma-
tion and probably represents the Ames (Crin-
oidal) limestone member. Another exposure
of what is believed to be this limestone occurs
near the road forks at the head of Mudlick
run. In Brushvalley, about three quarters of a
mile northwest of Rico, underlying a coal
which is there locally developed, is a limestone
which has been quarried. This coal and
limestone are thought to belong to the Elk
Lick horizon and to be somewhat over 300
feet above the Upper Freeport coal.
The Conemaugh formation carries several
coal beds, some of which within the Indiana
quadrangle locally attain workable thickness.
These coals are not persistent and their oc-
currence is most irregular. They will be
considered under the heading "Mineral
Resources."
QrATERN.UlY SYSTEM
Alluvium. — The flood plains of the stream.-,
are composed of alluvium, consisting of sand.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
61
clay and silt. This material is made up of
disintegrated rock particles which have been
washed down from the hillsides and deposited
in their present positions in times of high
water. The most conspicuous occurrences are
along the larger creeks and are mapped, but
similar deposits too small to be shown on the
map occur along all the streams. The allu-
vium is fine-grained and where well developed
makes valuable farm land.
STRUCTURE
The Indiana ciuadrangle. situated as it is
in the northeastern part of the plateau region
not far from the Allegheny Front, conforms
in geologic structure with the Allegl^eny
Plateau. The rocks are bent into a series of
low folds, which decrease in magnitude
westward.
The structure contours are drawn with ref-
erence to the Upper Freeport coal, the con-
tour interval being 100 feet and the datum
plane sea level. Ideally everywhere along any
contour line the coal is at the same eleva-
tion, and everywhere along the next contour
above the elevation of the coal is 100 feet
higher. The intersection of surface contours
and structure contours of the same elevation
marks the position of the outcrop of the
Upper Freeport coal. Where the elevation
of the surface at any point is greater than
the elevation of the coal at that point, as
shown by contiguous structure contours, the
approximate depth of the coal below the sur-
face may be found by subtraction. "Where
the elevation of the surface is less than the
corresponding elevation of the coal the latter
has been removed bv erosion and the con-
tours simply show structure.
Suppose, for instance, the position of the
Upper Freeport coal is desired at the In-idge
crossing Twolick creek in the northern part
of the town of Homer. It will be seen by the
map that the elevation of the surface at this
point is a little under 1.020 feet and that the
bridge is a little above the 800-foot structure
contour. The Upper Freeport coal, there-
fore, is here about 1.020 minus 800 feet, or
about 220 feet, below the surface.
These structure contours, from the nature
of the data on which they are based, cannot
be made absolutely accurate, and this fact
must be borne in mind. Nevertheless, the
more facts used in their construction the more
correctly can they be drawn. In the region
southwest of the Indiana quadrangle, in the
Connellsville basin, there is a great mass of
mine data giving instrumeutally determined
elevations of the coal. Structure contour
lines constructed on this basis are very ac-
curate and show that the main folds are com-
plicated by many minor variations. In the
Indiana quadrangle thei'e are no such avail-
able data, and the broadly curved contour
lines illustrating the structure of this region
represent only the main features. Doubtless
here, as in the region farther south, the rock
structure is intricately warped, but the de-
tails of these fluctuations can be determined
only by actually following any one stratum
over a considerable area as in coal mining.
The structure contours of the Indiana quad-
rangle are based on the position of the Upper
Freeport coal, determined by its outcrop and
by the records of a number of diamond-drill
and deep-well borings. Moreover, the roads
within the quadrangle have been traversed
and the positions of the different rocks noted.
This information, taken in connection with
the records of the drill holes, often gave val-
uable data regarding the position of the
Upper Freeport coal horizon. But over much
of the quadrangle the surface rocks are shale,
sandy shale and shaly sandstone having little
individuality, so that in many places informa-
tion on which to draw structure contours is
very meager. It is believed, however, that the
main structural features of the quadrangle
have been determined.
Chestnut Ridge Anticline. — The most per-
sistent and pronounced fold within the quad-
rangle is the Chestnut Ridge anticline. This
is one of the strongly developed folds of the
Allegheny Plateau and can be traced for
miles. The axis of the anticline corresponds
with the crest line of Chestnut Ridge and
crosses the southeastern part of the Indiana
quadrangle in a slightly curved line. From
the Conemaugh river to the southern limit of
the area under consideration the pitch of the
Chestnut Ridge anticline is northward, caus-
ing the elevation of the Upper Freeport coal
along the axis to fall from a reported altitude
of 2,300 feet on the Conemaugh river to 1,700
feet in the southern part of the Indiana quad-
rangle. This descent of the axis continues
for a short distance in the area under consid-
eration and then rises, bringing the coal again
above 1,700 feet on the road between .Mechan-
iesburg and Indiana. Northeastward the axis
continues to rise, so that the coal occurs above
1.800 feet near the road between Indiana and
Pike's Peak. Farther northeast the axis falls
again, until about halfway between Penn run
and Twolick creek the coal on the axis is be-
62
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
low 1,600 feet. Thence the axis rises, aud
where it leaves the quadrangle the Upper
Freeport has an elevation of nearly 1,600 feet.
The slope of the flanks of the Chestnut Ridge
anticline is generally steeper on the west, and
the height of the fold is most pronounced in
the southern part of the quadrangle. Here
there is a rise of over 1,000 feet in the posi-
tion of the Upper Freeport coal from the
trough of the syncline west of Chestnut
Ridge to the crest of the anticline at the top
of the ridge. Toward the north this differ-
ence in elevation decreases to 600 feet and
less. On the eastern slope of the anticline
there is an interval of from 400 to 700 feet
between the coal at the crest of the arch and
the coal at the base of the adjacent trough.
Bruslt Valley Hynclinc. — The syncline im-
mediately east of the Chestnut Ridge anti-
cline is marked by the valley of Brush creek
and is called the Brush valley syncline. The
exact position of the axis and the depth of
this fold are not well known, but from the
information at hand the relations seem to
be as represented by the contours made. The
Upper Freeport coal lies beneath the surface
in Brush valley within the Indiana quad-
rangle. This coal has an elevation of less
than 1,200 feet in the middle of the basin
north of Rico, and thence southward grad-
ually rises, with the axis of the fold, so as to
outcrop at an elevation of about 1,300 feet
at the old Oberdorff mill on Brush creek, half
a mile south of the quadrangle.
Nolo Anticline. — East of the Brush valley
syncline, occupying the southeast corner of
the quadrangle, is the northwestern flank of
the Nolo anticline. This fold was so named
by W. G. Piatt because its axis passes near the
town of Nolo. Within the Indiana quad-
rangle the Nolo anticline is topographically
marked by Dias Ridge. The Upper Freeport
coal is not brought to the surface within the
quadrangle by this fold but by outcrops in
the valleys of Blacklick and Little Yellow
creeks, and by the occurrence of recognizable
sandstone on the ridge it is known that the
Upper Freeport horizon rises from approxi-
mately 1.200 IVcl ill the l!i-ush valley syncline
to ovci- l.soo r,.i>( on III,' Xiilo iiiitirline.
Latn,lu Siiiirliii, .-- Wrsl of Ch,. stunt Ridge
there is a well-marked syncline which has
been named from the town of Latrobe, in
Westmoreland county, where it is well devel-
oped. This fold has bcm Iraird from Indiana
to Scottdale, and its sdiitliw.ird continuation
is known as the riiiontdwn liasin. Between
Blairsvillc and Tndiiina the Latrobe svncline
rises and flattens out. Along the axis of the
syncline on the Conemaugh river the elevation
of the Upper Freeport coal horizon is about
300 feet above sea level, while south of the
town of Indiana the position of this coal along
the same axis is over 1,000 feet. A mile south
of Indiana there is a local rise of the Latrobe
syncline, producing a small ai'ch across the
trend of the axis. North of the town the
syncline pitches downward for a short dis-
tance, only to rise again toward Crooked
creek. In the region between Indiana and
Crooked creek there is little to indicate the
geologic structure, but northeast of the creek
the Latrobe syncline is split in two by a
southward-plunging anticline whose axis ex-
tends along Rayne run.
The axis of the eastern fork of the Latrobe
syncline passes between Dixon aud Rayne
runs and rises northeastward, so that the
Upper Freeport coal, which on the axis near
Tanoma has an elevation of about 1,100 feet,
on the same axis in the northeast comer of
the quadrangle has an elevation of nearly
1,500 feet.
The western fork of the Latrobe syncline is
not well marked. Its axis passes east of
Kelleysburg and rises northward gradually.
Richmond Anticline. — The axis of the anti-
cline which divides the Latrobe syncline ex-
tends from Rayne run northeastward between
the towns of Deckers Point and Marion
Center and is well marked near the town of
Richmond, on Little Mahoning creek. This
fold rises sharply northward, so that the
Upper Freeport horizon, which at the mouth
of Rayne run has an elevation of about 1,150
feet, on the highland northeast of the Indi-
ana quadrangle is over 1,700 feet above the
sea.
Jacksonville Anticline. — In the southwest-
ern part of the quadrangle the rocks of the
western flank of the Latrobe syncline rise
gradually westward to the crest of the next
succeeding fold, the Jacksonville anticline.
Consequently the Upper Freeport coal, which
in the trough of the Latrobe syncline west of
Gracetou has an elevation of about 600 feet,
on the crest of the Jacksonville anticline has
an altitude of over 1,200 feet. This fold has
been called the Saltsburg anticline, but it is
thought desirable to refer to it here as the
Jacksonville anticline. The fold is well devel-
oped near the town of Jacksonville, on Ault-
man's ran, about two miles from the western
edge of the Indiana quadrangle. The use of
this local name .seems preferable, because it
is not vet known whether the fold is the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
same one that crosses the Conemaugh above
Saltsburg.
The so-called Indiana Anticline. — The
stmcture here oiitlined is very different from
what was formerly supposed, and this change
of interpretation needs a word of explanation.
The map of Indiana county issued by the
Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania
shows the Indiana anticline extending in a
straight line across the county and passing
through the town of Indiana. This supposed
fold has been thought to be continuous on
the southwest with the Fayette anticline in
Westmoreland county, and on the northeast
with the Richmond anticline, but it has been
determined that this interpretation is incor-
rect. The Richmond and Fayette anticlines
are not continuous. The former pitches
southwestwai-d and the latter pitches north-
eastward, and the area between the Cone-
maugh river and Crooked creek along the ex-
tension of the axes of these folds is occupied
chiefly by the Latrobe syncline. It is an odd
coincidence that the axes of the Richmond
and Fayette anticlines fall in line with each
other, and it is not surprising that these folds
have been thought to be continiTous, for in
the intervening region surface exposures are
poor and the structure can be deciphered only
by detailed work. The jDresent determination
is fully proved by the records of about fifty
diamond-drill holes lately put down by the
Rochester and Pittsburg Coal and Iron
Company.
McKee Run Anticline. — A low anticline
which crosses McKee run and which, there-
fore, may be called the IMcKee run anticline,
causes the Upper Freeport coal to outcrop
for a short distance along that run. This anti-
cline was formerly supposed to be a continu-
ation of the Jacksonville anticline, but dia-
mond-drill records indicate that the axes of
the Jacksonville and JMcKee run anticlines
do not coincide. The Jacksonville fold
merges into the next syncline to the west
about five miles west of Indiana, and the axis
of the McKee run fold strikes into tlie north-
west flank of the Latrobe syncline in the
vicinity of Edgewood.
The McKee run anticline is a low, gentle
fold which makes itself apparent by bringing
the Upper Freeport coal to the surface at an
elevation of about 1.100 feet on 3IcKee run,
and also on Crooked creek at approximately
the same elevation. The axis crosses this
creek about halfway between ChambersviUe
and Gaibleton, but its northeastward exten-
sion is not plain. This anticline is important
because of the occurrence of gas along its
nortliwest flank in the vicinity of Creekside.
COAL
The mineral resources of the Indiana quad-
rangle include coal, natural gas, clay, sand-
stone, limestone, water and soils.
Coal is the most important of the mineral
resources of the Indiana quadrangle, and for
many years a number of small banks, to sup-
ply local demands, have been in operation.
The Pittsburg coal outcrops a short distance
to tlie south, but is not present in the Indiana
quadrangle because the rocks containing it
have been eroded from the surface. There
are a few hills in the southwest corner of the
quadrangle that are just high enough to carry
this coal if the Conemaugh formation had its
usual thickness of 600 feet; but, as already
stated, there is evidence of a local thickening
of the Conemaugh, which would account for
the absence of the Pittsburg coal.
The Pittsburg being absent, the coals of the
Indiana quadrangle are limited to those
which occur in the Conemaugh and Allegheny
formations. .
Country banks show the presence of coal of
workable thickness in the Conemaugh in a
few localities, but by far the most important
coal beds belong to the Allegheny formation.
In this connection it may be observed that
some misconceptions exist regarding the
occurrence and names of coals in this forma-
tion. The common opinion that the Allegheny
coals are very regular is probably due partly
to the fact that a number of generalized sec-
tions have been published showing a definite
number of coal beds, and that these sections
have been wrongly assumed to have wide
application.
The generalized sections of this formation
in the Allegheny valley contain seven coals,
which have been named Upper Freeport,
Lower Freeport, Upper Kittanning, iliddle
Kittanning, Lower Kittanning, Clarion and
Brookville, while in the sections representing
the formation in the first basin west of the
Alleghenv Front these coals have been desig-
nated by letters E, D', D, C, C, B and A
respectively. These coals are all found some-
where, and the generalized sections are meant
to show simply their relative positions. It
is an error, however, to assume that all these
coals must occur everywhere throughout the
area in which the formation is found.
Some workers in the field, not thoroughly
64
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
realizing the facts as to the distribution of
the coal, have assumed that these seven coal
beds are actually continuous over wide areas,
and that wherever a coal is found in the
Allegheny formation it must be correlated
with one of the coals in the general section.
But a careful consideration of the records of
diamond drills that have pierced the entire
formation or a study of complete natural ex-
posures shows that often fewer than seven
beds of coal occur in the Allegheny forma-
tion, and that when neighboring sections are
compared the coals in one cannot always be
correlated with those of the other.
It is important to draw attention to these
conditions, but at the same time it is by no
means asserted that none of the coals of the
Allegheny formation have a widespread and
continuous distribution, for the Lower Kittan-
ning in particular is remarkably persistent.
When this variability is borne in mind it be-
comes evident that it should not be lightly
assumed that the presence of a bed of coal
in one locality in the approximate strati-
graphic position of a coal in another locality
necessarily implies that the two coals are
identical. Such identity appears to be tacitly
assumed in the wide application of the same
names for the coal beds of the Allegheny
formation.
CO-tLS IN THE ALLEGHENY FORMATION
The Allegheny coals of workable thickness
within the Indiana quadrangle, so far as
known, are the Upper Freeport, Lower Free-
port and Lower Kittanning. The whole area
of the quadrangle is indicated as underlain
by workable coal except the valley portions
below the outcrops of Lower Kittanning coal.
UPPER FREEPORT COAL
The Upper Freeport is the most important
coal in the quadrangle. Numerous openings
have been made along the outcrop of this
bed, and most of the drill holes which have
penetrated its horizon have struck coal.
Though it occurs generally throughout the
area under consideration, it is not everywhere
of equal importance, and locally it is either
absent or becomes so thin as to be of little
use. The Upper Freeport coal outcrops in
six more or less distinct areas in the Indiana
quadrangle. These areas are along Chestnut
Ridge, on Dixon, Rayne and McKee runs, on
Crooked creek, and along the south branch
of Plum creek.
Chestnut Ridge. — Chestnut Ridge is the
most extensive of these areas, and numerous
country banks have been opened on the coal.
The principal coal workings within the
cjuadrangle are those of the Graceton Coke
Company at Graceton. This company oper-
ates two mines in the Upper Freeport coal
and manufactures coke. The mines ai'e lo-
cated on the outcrop, favorably for gravity
drainage. The dip of the coal is regular, be-
ing about eight and a half per cent toward
the mouth of the mine. The coal averages 6
feet in thickness and is parted about 3I/2
feet from the base by shale, which varies
from 4 to 12 inches. The upper bench carries
considerable sulphur and only the lower bench
is used, after washing, for making coke.
The coke is bright, hard, and has well-
developed cell structure. The entire product
of the mines is used by one company in mak-
ing steel, and the coke is said to have a good
reputation.
A number of openings have been made on
the Upper Freeport coal on Chestnut Ridge,
in the southern part of the quadrangle, and
measurements show that in this region there
is little variation in the thickness of the coal.
Farther north there are fewer openings on
the Upper Freeport coal. Where exploited
in the vicinity of Evans hill the bed is re-
ported to be of little value. This, however,
appears to be only local, for on Twolick creek
southeast of Indiana the banks of McHenry
and Agey show that the coal is well developed.
Northward the Upper Freeport coal again
decreases in thickness. In the several coal
banks near Greenville there is further evi-
dence of thinning. North of Greenville the
Upper Fi-eeport coal appears to be unimpor-
tant within the quadrangle. It is incon-
spicuous beneath the massive Mahoning sand-
stone which forms the ridge north of Penn
Run, and on the 1,600-foot hill about two
miles north of Greenville the Upper Freeport
has not been found. A sandstone thought to
be the Mahoning caps this hill, and a thin
bed of coal supposed to be the Lower Free-
port occurs below the limestone on the hillside.
The Areal Geology sheet may be misleading
here because the boundary line between the
Allegheny and Conemaugh formations com-
monly marks the outcrop of the Upper Free-
port coal, wliereas here the boundary line,
which is drawn at the supposed horizon of the
Upper Freeport, does not mark the presence
of the coal, but merely shows the line of
separation of the two formations.
Di.rnn and Rayne Iiuns. — In tlie valley of
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Dixon ran the Upper Freeport coal is unim-
portant. Probablj- this statement is true for
most of the Rayne run area also, but there the
stratig:raphic position of the workable coal is
not yet determined, as will be set forth more
fully under the heading "Lower Freeport
Coal." The uncertainty of the Upper Free-
port in this region is indicated by the fact
that a diamond-drill hole put down between
Dixon and Rayne runs, one and a half miles
northeast of Tanoma, shows no coal at this
horizon.
Crooked Creek. — Between Chambersville
and Gaibleton the McKee run anticline causes
the Upper Freeport coal to appear a few feet
above water level for about one and one half
miles along Crooked creek. The Mahoning
sandstone is well developed and the Freeport
limestone has been quarried at a few local-
ities. Several small openings have been made
on the coal in this region.
South Branch of Plum Creek. — Along the
south branch of Plum creek and its tributary,
Sugarcamp run, a coal is exposed which is
thought to be the Upper Freeport, although
the Mahoning sandstone is not present. The
coal is underlain by limestone, and the deep
wells in this vicinity strike the gas sand at
the same distance below this coal as do the
wells near Creekside, where the coal is known
to be the Upper Freeport.
Openings have been made at several places
along the outcrop, which is not far above
water level. In the Brown bank 33 inches
of coal were measured. At the Parke and
Trusal banks, on Sugarcamp run, the coal
measures 3 feet, 5 or 6 inches, parted by a
1-ineh band of shale 5 inches from the base.
W. G. Piatt reports a thickness of 3 feet, 4
inches, inchiding a 1-inch shale parting near
the base, in the Marlin bank near the mouth
of Sugarcamp run.
McKee Run. — On IMcKee run the Upper
Freeport coal outcrops near water level for
about half a mile, and several banks have
been opened within this distance.
Underground Occurrence of the I'ppcr
Freeport Coal. — Concerning the underground
occurrence and condition of the Upper Free-
port coal within the Indiana ciuadrangle con-
siderable information exists because of the
recent diamond-drill explorations carried on
by the Rochester and Pittsburg Coal and Iron
Company and by others. Through the cour-
tesy of those in charge the depth of the
Upper Freeport horizon is given to the pub-
lic, but there is little available information
as to the thickness and character of the coal.
In the Latrobe syucline south of Indiana
the Upper Freeport has been rather carefully
explored, and in general there seems to be a
good body of coal. In the continuation of
the basin northeast of Indiana not so much
exploration has been carried on, but judging
from the scanty information available the
Upper Freeport seems to be variable in its oc-
currence. It appears to thin out in the north-
east part of the quadrangle, where the Lower
Freeport is the most important coal.
In Brush valley very little information
exists concerning the character of the Upper
Freepoz-t. The indications are, however, tliat
the coal decreases in thickness from its devel-
opment of 6 feet on Chestnut Ridge, but not
enough drilling has been done to thoroughly
test the region.
Still less information exists concerning the
underground development of the coal in
the Eldersridge syncline within the Indiana
quadrangle.
LOWER FREEPORT COAL
The Lower Freeport coal is not persistent
nor often very thick in the Indiana quad-
rangle. Blossoms of this coal were noted at
several localities and the bed was penetrated
in several drill holes, but so far as known
it attains workable dimensions only in the
northeastern part of the quadrangle, in the
vicinity .of Dixon and Rayne nins.
Dixon Run. — In the valley of Dixon run
several coal banks have been opened on a coal
which is supposed to be the Lower Freeport.
The Mahoning sandstone is not conspicuous
in this region, but the workable coal is over-
lain by limestone, and farther up by a thin
bed of coal, which are thought to be respec-
tively the Upper Freeport limestone and eoal.
Moreover, in the adjacent valley of Buck run,
which is just off the northeast edge of the
quadrangle, a coal supposed to be the Lower
Kittanning occurs about 160 feet below this
bed. This interval corresponds very well with
measurements made in other parts of the area
under discussion, and affords corroborative
evidence of the Lower Freeport age of the
Dixon run coal.
This coal is mined by Ed Woodison on the
top of the divide between Dixon and Buck
runs, about a mile north of Twolick creek,
where a measurement of 4 feet, 4 inches of
coal was obtained. From this point the dip
of the western flank of the Chestnut Ridge
anticline carries the coal rapidly down nearly
to water level in the vallev of Dixon run. In
66
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the banks along the run south of Dixonville
the coal varies from 3 feet, 6 inches to 4 feet.
At the Black bank, half a mile north of
Dixonville, it measures fi-om 4 feet, 2 inches
to 4 feet, 4 inches.
Raijne Run. — In the valley of Rayne run a
number of country coal banks have been
opened, but whether this coal is the Upper or
the Lower Freeport is uncertain. The Ma-
honing sandstone, which, when present, serves
as a guide to the identification of the Free-
port coals, is not well developed in this region.
Locally a limestone occurs beneath the main
coal, which would tend to show that it is the
Upper Freeport, but, on the other hand, a
thin coal outcrops from 20 to 40 feet above
the main seam, which implies that the latter
coal is the Lower Freeport. If this be so, the
limestone would be the Lower Freeport in-
stead of the Upper Freeport limestone, which
usually is better developed.
This is an illustration of a difficulty that
occasionally besets the correlation of coals. If
the Mahoning were well developed here, or if
both the Upper and the Lower Freeport lime-
stones were present, or if there were a com-
plete section connecting the coals under con-
sideration with some definite horizon either
above or below, there would be no doubt. Or
if these questionable coals were separated by
a gi-eater vertical interval the general geo-
logic structure would throw important light
on the subject. Again, the presence of fossils
would be important. Occasionally cases of
this kind arise, when the question must be
left open for further light. It is tentatively
assumed that the thin upper coal is the Upper
Freeport. Fortunately the distance between
the coals is so small that the resulting error
in mapping, on either supposition, is not
great.
At Botsford's bank, about half a mile north
of Rayne post office, on the road to IMarion
Center, the coal measures 3 feet, 10 inches;
and on the farms of John Little and J. E.
Manners, in the valley west of Botsford's
bank, similar conditions prevail. That is, the
main coal is almost directly underlain by
limestone, and about 30 feet above is the out-
crop of a thinner bed of coal with no sand-
stone exposed. In the H. Edwards bank, on
Crooked creek, a mile below Tanoma, there
is a bed of coal which measures 3 feet, 2
inches; and in the "Walker bank, on Crooked
creek, about half a mile below Rayne ran,
the coal is reported to be 2 feet, 8 inches
thick.
KITTANNING COALS
The Kittanning coals seem to be repre-
sented in the Indiana quadrangle by only one
principal bed. This is shown by the few
diamond-drill records that give the thickness
of the entire Allegheny formation, and field
observations on the outcrops confirm their
testimony. The records, however, show the
occasional presence of other thin coals belong-
ing to the Kittanning group, and it is pos-
sible that further drilling will reveal a
greater thickness of these coals.
The principal Kittanfling coal occurs about
200 feet below the Upper Freeport and is
considered to be at the Lower Kittanning
horizon. The occurrence of this coal at the
surface is limited to the deeper valleys of
the Chestnut Ridge region. This line has been
checked by the location of several country
banks, but in the intervals between local mines
the outcrop line is based on structure con-
tours.
Several old banks have been opened on this
coal in the southern part of the quadrangle,
but measurements could not be made in them.
Along Furriers run southwest of Evans hill
there are two old openings, on the farms of
Mrs. Douglas and William Lewis, where the
coal is reported to range from Bi/o to 4 feet
thick.
Along the flanks of the ravine of Yellow
creek where it cuts through Chestnut Ridge
there are several banks on this coal. At Fet-
terman's, near Yellow creek, west of the road
which passes just east of Moose and Strongs
hills, the coal is said to measure 3 feet, 8
inches; and at Campbell's bank, at the head
of the run in the bend of the road on the
north side of Yellow creek south of Strongs
hill, the coal is 4 feet thick. This also is the
measurement in the bank on the east side of
the road passing southward from the Indiana-
Greenville pike to the Yellow creek ford,
northwest of IMoose hill.
Twolick creek between Sample run and
Ramsey run flows approximately parallel to
the strike of the rocks, and in this interval
several openings have been made on the
Lower Kittanning coal.
Along the Indiana-Greenville pike near the
Twolick creek bridge are two old openings on
opposite sides of the stream, where this coal
measures about 31/0 feet. Farther up the
creek several old openings are passed before
Lydick's, just above the mouth of Allen run,
is reached.
On Penn run and its tributaries there are
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
67
several banks opened on the Lower Kittau-
ning coal. At Green's, near the road extend-
ing northwestward from Greenville to Penn
run, the coal measures 3 feet, 10 inches; and
at Ackerson's, on the north fork of Penn run,
one and a half miles clue north of Greenville,
this coal is mined and is said to vary from 3
feet, 10 inches to 4 feet, 3 inches.
Several other openings have been made on
this coal in Twolick valley, in the eastern part
of the quadrangle, but the banks are not be-
ing worked and measurements in them could
not be made.
The underground extension of the Lower
Kittanning can be inferred from the records
of only a few drill holes, but these indicate
that the horizon is a persistent one. A drill
hole near Graceton shows a thickness of 3
feet, 3 inches of this coal. The presence of a
coal 1 foot, 4 inches thick at the base of the
Allegheny formation is also shown by the
drill at Graceton.
In Bnish vallej' there is indication that
one at least of the Kittanning coals is well
developed. Thus far only two drill holes in
the valley have reached the lower coal horizon,
and these did not penetrate the base of the
Alleghenj' formation. The records of these
drills show the presence of a bed of coal about
170 feet below the Upper Freeport horizon.
A further reason for expecting that these
lower coals may be present in Brush valley
is that along Blacklick creek at Vintondale,
only a few miles from the Indiana quad-
rangle, active coal mining in the Kittanning
horizon is being carried on. The exact strati-
graphic position of this Blacklick coal has not
yet been detennined, but diamond-drill sec-
tions furnished by j\Ir. C. R. Claghome show
the general occurrence of two of the Lower
Allegheny coals about 35 feet apart and
measuring 2 feet, 6 inches and 4 feet.
CO.\LS IN THE COXEMAUGH FORM.VTIOX
Records of diamond-drill holes show much
variability in the number, position, and thick-
ness of coal seams in the Conemaugh forma-
tion. The number of coals present in a vei--
tieal thickness of 300 feet above the Upper
Freeport horizon varies from none to five.
Generally these coals measure only a few
inches. There are,- however, at a few localities
in this quadrangle, occun-enees of Conemaugh
coals of workable thickness. These areas are
in the vicinity of Gaibleton. south of Onberg,
and in Brush valley.
About Gaibleton there are two coals above
the Upper Freeport horizon. The lower of
these has been exposed in an old bank on the
east side of Pine run near its mouth, and an-
other bank which is thought to be on the same
coal has been opened near the roadside a mile
southeast of Gaibleton. This coal is reported
to be about 2 feet thick, and it is estimated to
be 60 feet above the Upper Freeport coal.
The higher coal in the neighborhood of Gaible-
ton is exposed in a few banks along Brush
run and on the hills west of Rajme run.
This coal is reported to be about 3 feet thick,
and it is estimated to be 130 feet above the
Upper Freeport.
On the headwaters of Crooked creek, be-
tween Onberg and Ideal, there are also several
banks opened on coal in the Conemaugh
formation. It is reported that this coal
averages about 3 feet in thickness. The coal
clearly lies above the Mahoning sandstone,
which is well developed toward Twolick creek.
It is estimated that the interval between this
coal and the Upper Freeport horizon is about
100 feet. There is no present evidence that
this coal is continuous with that on Brush
rim.
In Brush valley, on a hillside three quarters
of a mile northwest of Rico, there is an old
bank in which the coal is reported to be 31/^
feet thick and to overlie a bed of limestone.
This outcrop seems to be of small extent, but
it is interesting because of the clue furnished
as to the depth of the Brush valley syncUne.
The relation of the coal and limestone, taken
in connection with the records of a few drill
holes in this valley, suggests that this coal
may be referred to the Elk Lick liorizon,
which generally occurs somewhat over 300
feet above the Upper Freeport.
Another coal, repoi'ted to be 3 feet thick,
occurs in Brush valley in an old opening on
the west fork of Brush creek about one and
a half miles southwest of Mechanicsburg. The
best evidence available makes it probable that
this coal is a little less than 200 feet above
the Upper Freeport.
It is thought that the coal near water level
at the old Oberdoi'ff mill, about two hundred
rods above the mouth of Brush creek, is the
Upper Freeport. This coal is overlain by a
massive sandstone and imderlain by lime-
stone, but absolute correlation has not yet
been established.
NATURAL GAS
Occurrence. — Natural gas has been suc-
cessfully exploited in two localities within the
68
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Indiana quadrangle, about Creekside on
Crooked creek and in the vicinity of Willet
on the south branch of Plum creek. Wells
have been drilled elsewhere, but, although
gas has been reported from some of them, no
wells within the quadrangle outside of the
two areas named have produced gas in pay-
ing quantities. Oil has not been found in the
quadrangle.
General Bclatiuns.— The Creekside field is
a small, isolated one, while the Phim creek
area forms the northern end of a larger pro-
ducing field known as the Willet field. It is
interesting to note that these two gas fields
lie among the most easterly in the entire pro-
ducing area. East of Chestnut Ridge no im-
portant occurrences of gas or oil have been
found, the producing area being confined to
the region of gently folded rocks that lies to
the west of that ridge. Eastward the rocks
have been too much folded and broken to
favor the retention of whatever oil or gas they
may have contained.
Relation to Structure— The relation be-
tween the structure of the rocks and the occur-
rence of gas and oil in the Appalachian field
has long been recognized. By far the larg-
est proportion of gas wells are located well
up the flanks or along tlie axes of anticlines,
while oil is associated with the flanks of syn-
clines. These relations are explainable by
supposing a natural distribution, according
to gravity, of the liquids and gases which
exist in the interetices formed by the loosely
fitting rock particles. For instance, suppose
a folded bed of sandstone to be permeated by
gas, oil, and water; the heavier water would
tend to seek the low-lying troughs of the
synclines, while the lighter oil would ascend
the flanks of the synclines, and the still lighter
gas would tend to seek the arches of the
anticlines.
The occurrence of gas within the Indiana
quadrangle is no exception, the wells in the
vicinity of Willet being along the flank of
the Roaring run anticline, while those of the
Creekside field extend along the McKee run
anticline. Two deep wells have been drilled
on the west flank of the Chestnut Ridge anti-
cline, the Phillips well, on Yellow creek one
and a half miles northeast of Homer, and the
Porterfield, on Twolick creek east of Indiana,
While no important amounts of gas were
obtained it is interesting to note that sonie
gas was found in the extreme eastern locality
and that gas now escapes from the Phillips
well. No wells have been put down along the
Richmond anticline within the quadrangle.
Stratigraphic Position of the Gas Sand. —
Gas in paying quantity has been found at
only one geologic horizon within the Indiana
quadi-angle, though some of the deep wells
report the presence of a little gas at several
horizons. The important gas sand in this
region occurs about 1,100 feet below the
Upper Preeport coal and about 400 feet above
the top of the red beds previously described
as marking the upper part of the Devonian
system. These intervals are remarkably con-
stant, varying only a few feet in all the
records examined.
Prom the proximity of the fields and the
constancy of the intervals between recogniz-
able rock horizons it is probable that the same
bed of sandstone carries the gas in both the
Willet and the Creekside field, but with the
present information it is impracticable to
correlate this gas sand with that of other
fields. While it is recognized that the fa-
miliar names of gas sands used by the drillers
constitute a serviceable terminology, it should
be understood that the names indicate only
approximate geologic position instead of
actual identity of sandstones. The gas sand
in the field under consideration has approxi-
mately the position of the Murrysville sand.
Willet Field. — The gas-producing area of
the Willet field within the Indiana quad-
rangle is limited to a few square miles in the
vicinity of Willet. Gas was discovered in
this region in the Kelly No. 1 well in De-
cember, 1890, and other wells were soon put
down. In 1891 gas was piped to Indiana,
which since that date has been supplied from
the Willet field by the Indiana Gas Company,
now the American Gas Company. Efliorts
have been made to find a northeastern ex-
tension of this producing area, but thus far
without success. To the sovithwest, however,
there are a number of good wells, some of
which contribute to the Indiana supply, while
gas from other wells is piped to Pittsburg.
Of the nine wells put down in this general
vicinity within the Indiana quadrangle, six
produce gas and three are failures. Thus far
not one of the producing wells has been ex-
hausted. No very systematic records have
been kept of the pressure, but it is said that
the Kelly No. 2 w^ell, near the ci-eek, not far
from the northwestern edge of the quad-
rangle, had a rock pressure of 275 pounds
when the well was drilled in 1891 and a
minute pressure of 125 pounds through a
5%-inch casing. In 1901 the rock pressure
in this well had decreased to 100 pounds. One
of the best wells in the Plum creek field was
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
69
drilled in 1901 on Dutch run about four miles
southwest of the point where the south
branch of Plum creek leaves the Indiana
quadrangle. This is the Boyer well, which is
reported to have had a rock pressure of 350
pounds and a minute pressure of 245 pounds
in a Gy^-inch casing.
The gas sand in the Willet field varies
from 15 to 25 feet in thickness and is a uni-
form, moderately compact, light-gray sand-
stone, admirably adapted for the storage of
gas.
Creekside Field. — The gas-producing area
of the Creekside field, as now known, is lim-
ited to about one square mile along Crooked
creek, in the vicinity of Creekside. This pool
was first struck in ]\Iarch, 1900, and in the
fall of 1901 the wells came into the control of
the Indiana Gas Company and the gas was
piped to Indiana. Seven wells have been
.sunk in this field. Four of these are re-
ported to be good, or fairly good, and three
are dry. Rock pressure in the best Creek-
side well is reported to have been 325 pounds,
and the minute pressure 105 pounds in a
4-incli casing.
The Creekside gas sand, while thought to
belong to the same horizon as that in the
Willet area, is of much coarser texture, being
sometimes conglomeratic.
BRICKMAKING MATERIAL
This is widely distributed in the Indiana
quadrangle, but it has not received much at-
tention. It consists of shale and fire clay.
These are of sedimentary origin and are com-
posed of fine-textured, more or less decom-
posed rock fragments. These deposits occupy
well-mai-ked stratigraphic positions and often
are persistent over considerable areas.
Sliale. — Fine-textured and homogeneous
deposits of shale are of widespread occurrence
in both the Conemaugh ancl Allegheny for-
mations and outcrop over a large part of the
area under discussion. These shales are not
utilized except for the manufacture of build-
ing and paving brick in the towns of Indiana,
Clymer and Garfield. They seem to offer a
field worthy of investigation. Homogeneous
deposits of fine-textured, moderately fusible,
and fairly plastic clay shales are valuable not
only for the manufacture of building bricks,
but for making paving bricks and for many
other uses to which clay is applied. In con-
junction with associated beds of limestone
these shales also might be used in the manu-
facture of cement.
Fire Chnj. — Fire clay is clay that will re-
sist a high degi-ee of heat. It is utilized in
the manufacture of firebrick and other arti-
cles for which clay is adapted. Valuable
beds of fire clay are present in the Allegheny
formation, the mo.st famous being the Bolivar
clay, which is extensively worked at Bolivar,
on the Conemaugh river. At the type locality
it occurs from 10 to 20 feet below the Upper
Freeport coal. Another valuable deposit of
fire clay often occurs below the Lower Kit-
tanning coal. This bed is extensively worked
at New Brighton, near the mouth of the
Beaver river.
In the Indiana quadrangle no attempts
have been made to utilize fire clay. Diamond-
drill records show several beds of fire clay in
the Allegheny formation. An outcrop of
homogeneous, fine-textured, hard, drab fire
clay, reported to be from 6 to 8 feet thick,
was observed at the Bolivar horizon, on the
property of J. S. Ralston, .just south of the
Indiana-Greenville road, near the summit
of Chestnut Ridge. Other outcrops should
be sought on the hill slopes of the Allegheny
formation going down from the Upper Free-
port coal, likely horizons being a few feet be-
low the Upper Freeport coal and below the
Lower Kittanning coal.
SANDSTONE
Sandstone suitable for building purposes
occurs in many localities within the Indiana
quadrangle. The principal beds are the Con-
nellsville. Morgantown, Saltsburg and Mahon-
ing, of the Conemaugh formation; the Free-
port and Kittanning, of the Allegheny for-
mation, and the Pottsville sandstone. No
elaborate tests of these sandstones have been
made, and but few stone buildings have been
constructed within the area under consider-
ation. A notable stone structure is the county
courthouse at Indiana, which is said to be
built of JIahoning sandstone.
The available sandstones are of a variety of
colors and textures, varying from whitish and
greenish, through buff, brown and red. and
from soft and loose-textured to hard and com-
pact rocks. They can be obtained in blocks
of convenient size, which apparently can be
ea.sily dressed.
The Pottsville sandstone in several localities
outside of this ciuadrangle is crushed and
used for making glass. In the area under con-
sideration this rock is a pure sandstone, gen-
erally free from iron stains. It occurs along
Yellow creek adjacent to the Chestnut Ridge
70
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
anticliae, on Twolick creek at the eastern edge
of the quadrangle, and in a small area on
Allen run.
Thin beds of limestone which have been re-
ferred to as occurring in both the Conemaugh
and Allegheny formations are available for
leaking lime for use as a fertilizer. The lime-
stone most used is the Freeport deposit, which
lies between the Upper and Lower Freeport
coals. This limestone generally ranges from
2 to 6 feet in thickness and is found in a
number of localities within the quadrangle.
Limestone in connection with suitable deposits
of shale is a possible source of crude material
for the manufacture of cement.
The Indiana quadrangle is well supplied
with water. A number of creeks and runs
make flowing water widely accessible, springs
are frequent, and water for domestic use is
easily obtained from shallow wells.
Deep-seated underground water is also
available. The different beds of sandstone re-
ceive water at their outcrops, and being perv-
ious and commonly overlain and underlain by
relatively impervious shales, the sandstones
are saturated with water and constitute reser-
voirs. Since there are several synclinal basins
within the Indiana quadrangle artesian water
thus becomes available. That is, if holes be
sunk to water-bearing sandstones in proper
places, water will rise in the holes to different
heights, and sometimes to the surface, accord-
ing to the artesian head. This artesian head
is determined by the difference in height be-
tween the elevation of the outcrop of the sand-
stone and its elevation in the well. Promising
localities for artesian water are in synclinal
areas where sandstone outcrops along adjacent
anticlines. In the basin of the Latrobe syn-
cline west of Homer City, for instance, arte-
sian water has been found in the Mahoniug
sandstone which outcrops on Chestnut Ridge.
Large supplies of artesian water, however,
should not be expected.
Seven wells were drilled in Indiana be-
tween 1883 and 1891, from which the town was
supplied with water. But in 1899 this source
proved in.sufficient and recourse was had to
Twolick creek, which now supplies water of a
much inferior quality. One of these wells
was put down 3,300 feet in search of gas, hav-
ing been located along the supposed Indiana
anticline; the other six range in depth from
175 to 350 feet. Water in them is derived
from both the Mahoning and Saltsburg sand-
stones. In five of these wells the water is re-
ported not to have risen above the horizon at
which it was struck, but in two it rose 20
feet.
There are also three successful deep wells
in use at the State normal school in Indiana.
These were sunk from 190 to 210 feet below
the surface. Some water is derived from the
Saltsburg sandstone, but the main supply
comes from the Mahoning. In these wells the
water is reported to rise 120 feet above the
water-bearing horizon.
Excepting the alluvium in creek bottoms
the soils of the Indiana quadrangle are de-
rived from the immediately underlying rocks.
Being the products of the disintegration and
decomposition of sandstones, shales and thin
limestones, more ' or less mixed with the re-
mains of animal and vegetable life, the soils
of the area under consideration are mostly
sandy and clay loams. The gently undulating
topography of the greater part of the quad-
rangle causes farming to be an important in-
dustry, and with intelligent care the soils give
profitable returns. Chestnut and Dias Ridges,
however, are forest areas. Their steep slopes
are strewn with sandstone blocks and the
soil is lean and sandy.
ELDERS RIDGE QUADRANGLE
GEOGRAPHY LOCATION AND AREA
The Elders Ridge quadrangle is located in
central western Pennsylvania. It extends
from latitude 40° 30' on the south to 40° 45'
on the noi'th, and from longitude 75° 15' on
the east to 75° 30' on the west. It includes,
therefore, one sixteenth of a square degree
of the earth's surface, and covers an area of
227 square miles. It takes its name from a
small \'illage in its southern central part, in
Indiana county, almost on the Armstrong-
Indiana county line.
About half of the quadrangle is in Arm-
strong county and half in Indiana county.
The N. 36° E. line, which forms a portion of
the boundary between the two counties, ex-
tends from tiie upper right-hand corner of the
quadrangle to the Kiskiminetas river in the
lower left-hand corner. The portion of the
quadrangle lying soutli of the river, about
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
five square miles in all, is a part of ^Yestmore-
land county.
TRIAXGULATION POINTS
The exact location of the Elders Eidge
quadrangle with reference to latitude and
longitude is determined from certain high
points, the position of which has been ascer-
tained accuratelj- by triangulation. There are
four triangulation stations within the boun-
daries, and five near by, which give complete
control of the quadrangle.
These stations are mai-ked by stone posts,
6x6 or SxS inches in cross section, set about
three feet in the ground. In the center of the
top of each post is cemented a bronze tablet
marked "U. S. Geological Survey — Pennsyl-
vania." For the convenience of engineers
making surface surveys the following descrip-
tions of these stations are given.
Kunlie. — On land owned by Philip Kunkle ;
about two miles north of Creekside post office,
near western end of a high ridge having scat-
tering trees on the eastern end.
Broadview. — About two and a half miles
north of Shelocta and a few rods east of the
Armstrong-Indiana county line ; bare hill, with
some timber on the southwest slope. The land
is owned by John Russell.
Coleman. — In White township, about two
miles northwest of Indiana, on a high hilltop,
on land owned by D. Coleman.
^yarner. — About three miles southwest of
Indiana, in White township, on the highest
part of a bare, round-top hill, on land owned
by Mr. Warner.
Wait. — About one mile west of Tannery
and one and three-quarters southeast of Park-
wood post office, on the highest point of the
western one of two hills of about the same
heisrht and one mile apart, on land owned by
Thomas Watt.
Hood. — In Young township, about one mile
east of Elders Ridge post office, on the highest
point of a bare round-top hill owned by
Calvin Hood.
Tabernacle. — About one and a half miles
southeast of Clarksburg post office and about
six miles by road northeast of Saltsburg, on
the highest part of a bare, cultivated, round-
top hill owned by the heirs of S. W. Cole-
man.
BENCH MARKS
Precise-level lines have been run over the
Elders Ridge quadrangle, and elevations are
based on and adjusted between bench marks
established by spirit leveling. All bench
marks are referred to an aluminum tablet
in the foundation of the "Seventh Avenue
Hotel" at Pittsburg marked "738 Pittsburg
1899," the elevation of which is accepted as
738.384 feet above mean sea level, and are
stamped with the letters "Pittsburg" in ad-
dition to their figures of elevation.
TOPOGRAPHY
SURFACE RELIEF
•f
The highest point in this quadrangle is
Watt hill, in Armstrong township, Indiana
county. Its top is 1.620 feet above sea level,
or nearly 300 feet higher than the road cor-
ners at Parkwood. The point of least eleva-
tion is on the Kiskiminetas river below Sa-
lina, where the level of the water is about 800
feet above tide. Crooked creek has nearly the
same elevation where it leaves the quadrangle
a few miles to the north.
Throughout this quadrangle the surface is
hilly. For this reason roads find better grades
along the valleys than on the higher land, al-
though some highways on the divides have
easy grades for several miles. Because a
large portion of the surface of the region is
underlain by the rocks of one formation — and
they vary but little from place to place — there
is not much change in the character of the
surface relief.
DRAINAGE
The drainage system of this quadrangle is
developed to the extent that streams penetrate
all parts of the area. The main streams are
still cutting rapidly and not building exten-
sive flood plains. As is the case throughout
much of western Pennsylvania, they are liable
to floods, due to occasional hea^^^ precipitation
and to stripping of the former foi'est.
All the drainage is tributary to the Alle-
gheny river. The streams are so small that
none is navigable, even for rowboats, except
on short stretches. The largest is the Kis-
kiminetas river, which is fonned by the .iunc-
tion of the Conemaugh and Loyalhanna at
Saltsburg, about three miles south of the
border of the quadrangle The Kiskiminetas
crosses the southwest corner, flowing due north
for two miles, and then west at a right angle
past Avanmore and Salina, about five and a
half miles in all. It empties into the Alle-
gheny near Freeport.
The main tributary of the Kiskiminetas in
72
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the region under disenssiou is Blacklegs creek,
which has its rise in the country about West
Lebanon and Parkwood, and flows in a direct
course to its mouth, one and three-quarters
miles south of Edri, near the American
Sheet Steel Company's plant. Big, Marshall,
Hooper, Whisky and Harper runs are the
principal branches of Blacklegs creek.
Crooked creek is the second largest stream.
It flows west across the northern half of the
quadrangle in a course which its name de-
scribes. From Shelocta to Southbend, a vil-
lage located almost in lie center of the quad-
rangle, the stream flows through an open val-
ley ; but from Southbend to the western border
it cuts a good-sized gorge, making steep rocky
bluffs, in some places over 250 feet high.
RELATION OP TOPOGR.VPHY TO MAN's ACTIVITIES
Of the thirty or more hamlets in the El-
ders Ridge quadrangle, only a little more than
half are on the banks of streams in the val-
leys; the others are on the uplands. The
reason for the location of some of these settle-
ments is apparent. The location of West Leb-
anon on the top of a hill 1,300 feet above
sea level may have had its origin in the open-
ing of a 7-foot bed of coal (Pittsburg) in the
ravines which head around the hill. The
principal occupation in this quadrangle is ag-
riculture and grazing.
Roads for the most part are along the
stream valleys, where the grade is easy. The
longest stretches of stream-grade roads are
along Blacklegs creek above Girty, Plum creek
and Cherry run. Ridge roads are common
and in some cases good. The road from West
Lebanon to Spring Cliurch is conspicuous on
the topographic map for its directness and
comparative levelness.
Crooked creek carries a sufficient volume of
water to furnish power for a number of mills.
It falls 130 feet from Shelocta to Cochran
Mills, a distance of nearly eighteen miles as
the stream flows; this furnishes enough head
for water power at frequent intervals. Black-
legs creek has been dammed near its mouth,
where the grade is so low that the stream is
ponded for some distance.
GEOLOGY
STRUCTURE
The rocks of the Elders Ridge qiiadrangle
are bent into a number of nearly parallel
wrinkles or folds which have a northeast-
southwest trend. In describing these folds
the upward-bending arch is called an anticline
and the downward-bending trough is called
a syncline. The axis of a fold is that line
which at every point occupies the highest
part of the anticline or the lowest pai-t of the
syncline, and from which the strata dip in an
anticline or toward which they dip in a syn-
cline.
METHOD OP REPRESENTING GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE
There are in current use two methods of
representing geologic .structure. The first and
most obvious method is by means of cross sec-
tions which show the various strata as they
would appear if cut by vertical planes en-
tirely across the quadrangle. This method is
effective only where the dip of the rocks is
perceptible to the eye. In the Elders Ridge
quadrangle the rocks dip so gently that the
anticlines and synclines would not be very
apparent on such sections; besides, the sec-
tions illustrate the structure only along cer-
tain lines and do not give the shape of the
arches and basins, and these are of the great-
est importance in the commercial develop-
ment of the field, as regards both the mining
of coal and the exploitation for oil and gas.
The second method has been used in deline-
ating the bituminous coal field of western
Pennsylvania. It consists in the representa-
tion of the surface of some particular stratum
which is known through its wide exposure
in outcrop, its exploitation by mines, its
relation to some other bed above it, or the
records of wells drilled for oil and gas. The
defonned surface of the key stratum is then
represented by means of contour lines which
show the form and size of the folds into which
it has been thrown and its altitude above sea
level at practically all points within the quad-
rangle.
In this quadrangle the Upper Freeport coal
bed is a widely outcropping and well-known
stratum and is used by drillers in some fields
as a key rock in determining the position of
the oil and gas bearing sands. The floor of
this bed has been selected as the surface upon
which to represent the geologic structure of
the quadrangle.
Where the Upper Freeport coal shows in
natural outcrop its altitude has been deter-
mined at many points. Where it occurs below
the surface its existence and position are
known through the records of the gas wells
of the region. After its altitude has been
determined at a great many places, points of
HISTORY OF. INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
equal altitude are connected by contour lines ;
as, for example, all points having an altitude
of 900 feet above sea level are connected by a
line, which then becomes the 900-foot con-
tour line. Similarly, all points having an al-
titude of 950 feet are connected by the 950-
foot contour line, and in like manner con-
tour lines are drawn covering the entire ter-
ritory at vertical distances of 50 feet. These
lines are printed on the economic geologj'
map, and they show, first, the horizontal con-
tour of the troughs and arches; second, the
relative and also the actual dip of the beds,
and third, the approximate height of the Up-
per Freeport coal above .sea level at any point.
The depth of the reference stratum below
the surface at any point is obtained by sub-
tracting its elevation, as shown by the struc-
ture contour lines, from the- elevation of the
surface at the same point. Suppose, for in-
stance, the position of the Upper Freeport
coal is desired at Parkwood. The elevation
of the surface at the road corners is 1.325
feet, and the 800-foot structure contour line
passes through the place. The Upper Free-
port coal, therefore, is here about 1.325 minus
800 feet, or about 525 feet, below the surface.
As a rule these structure contours are gen-
ei-alized. and are only approximately correct.
They art liable to error from several condi-
tions. Being estimated on tlie assumption
that over small areas the rocks maintain a
uniform thickness, the position of a contour
will be in error by the amount by which the
actual thickness varies from the calculated
thickness. It is well known that in some
places the interval between two easily deter-
mined strata will vary by many feet in a
short distance. Such cases make the deter-
mination of the position of the reference
stratum difficult when it lies some hundreds
of feet below the surface. In parts of the
bituminous coal regions of Penns.ylvania, how-
ever, records obtained in drilling for gas and
oil give the changes in the inteiwal. and thus
control the determination of structure and
the position of the reference stratum.
DETAILED GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE
The general structural features of the El-
ders Ridge quadrangle have the same south-
west-northeast strike that characterizes the
whole Appalachian province. The strongest
features are three anticlines and two syn-
clines. These axes are named from localities
where they are strongly developed, or from
places near which they pass. The iirst of
these in this cpadrangle, taking them in the
order in which they occur from east to west,
is the Jacksonville anticline, which passes near
Lewisville and Jacksonville (Kent post office).
The next is the Elders Ridge syncline, which
brings the Pittsburg coal down so that it
lies in the hills under several square miles of
this territory. The Roaring run anticline par-
allels this syncline on the west for a short
distance, but is broken up in the middle of the
quadrangle. On the west of the Roaring run
anticline is a basin which is not strongly de-
veloped on Crooked creek, but becomes more
pronounced to the north and may be known
as the Apollo syncline.
Where the Upper Freeport coal is com-
pletely hidden beneath the surface, its posi-
tion is calculated from higher beds in sight at
the surface, with the assumption that inter-
vals between members are fairly constant.
In a few parts of the quadrangle the depth of
the coal below the surface is known from deep-
well records. The occurrence of the Pittsburg
coal in the midst of the Elders Ridge syncline
and midway between the outcrops of the Free-
port coal on Aultmans and Roaring runs gives
good control on the position of the latter bed
beneath the surfa'ce in the southern half of
the quadrangle. The interval between these
two coal beds varies from 630 to 700 feet in
this part of the State. The accuracy of this
measurement is verified close to the axis of
this basin by the record of a well drilled at
water level near the mouth of Blacklegs creek
and close under the outcrop of the Pittsburg
coal. The mouth of the well is about 320 feet
below the Pittsburg coal, and the Upper Free-
port coal was found at a depth of 324 feet,
giving a thickness of 644 feet for the Cone-
maugh formation at this point. The deter-
mination of the position of the reference
stratum throughout the entire quadrangle is
believed to be accurate within a contour in-
terval, and in those portions where the upper
Freeport coal is exposed at the surface for
long distances the variation from reality will
probably be not more than 20 feet. Besides
representing the depth of the reference
stratum below the surface or its elevation
above mean sea level, the contour lines show
with some degree of accuracy the relation of
the various slopes to each other and the ap-
proximate grades which may be expected if
at any time mining operations are prosecuted
upon this coal bed.
Jacksonville Anticlinf.—The structural
fold, which is a strong feature in the south-
74
HISTORY ap INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
east corner of this quadrangle, reaches its
greatest elevation in the vicinity of the vil-
lage of Jacksonville and takes its name from
that place. To the south it crosses the Cone-
maugh river about two miles east of Salts-
burg and maintains a southwest course for
some miles, gradually losing strength as it
continues into Westmoreland county. To the
north the crest of this anticline can" be traced
but a short distance beyond the boundary of
this quadrangle; in fact, it is vei-y incon-
spicuous on Curry run and gives place to the
McKee run anticline, which is offset a short
distance to the east. The Freeport coal on
the crest of this anticline in the vicinity of
Jacksonville is about 1,280 feet above' sea
level. From here it falls rapidly to the west,
so that the Pittsburg coal, which is strati-
gi-aphically from 600 to 700 feet above it,
is found at the same elevation above tide on
the west side of the valley of Blacklegs creek.
Elders Ridge Synelinc— The Elders Ridge
sjTicline was described and accurately
located by the Second Geological Survey of
Pennsylvania under the name Lisbon-West
Lebanon syncline. This name, however, has
been abandoned for the shorter one, which
is taken from a small village in the center of
this basin and located almost on the axis.
The Elders Ridge s.yneline is traced across
Indiana county from Plum creek, dipping
gradually to the south. Where the axis en-
ters the Elder's Ridge quadrangle, three miles
east of Sheloeta, the reference stratum is 900
feet above sea level. From here it falls gradu-
ally to a point between Elders Ridge and
Big run, where the Upper Freeport coal is
not more than 400 feet above sea level. The
axis rises from Big run to the south fully 150
feet before it reaches the southern edge of
the quadrangle. The Elders Ridge syncline
crosses the Kiskiminetas river near Edri, and
pursues a comparatively direct course north-
east through Elders Ridge near the academy,
passes one half mile west of West Lebanon,
and in the valley of Gobblers run turns
sharply to the east, so that it lies fully a mile
south of Sheloeta. It is by reason of this syn-
cline that the small area of Pittsburg coal is
found on the hills. Westward from this axis
the rocks rise more rapidly than to the east,
and the Upper Freeport coal appears again
on Roaring riin and Crooked creek. From the
description it will be seen that the Elders
Ridge syncline is a canoe-shaped basin, and
within the limits of this quadrangle is shallow
at both ends and deepens toward the middle.
Dutch Run Anticline. — North of the Elders
Ridge syncline and east of the Roaring run
anticline in Indiana county there is a low
structural fold which has enough strength to
raise the Upper Freeport coal just above
water level along the lower courses of Dutch
run and Plum creek. The axis of this fold
crosses the south branch of Plum creek three-
fourths of a mile east of the Armstrong-In-
diana county line and crosses Dutch run
aliout the same distance west of Advance. It
pursues a direct course to Plum creek, paral-
leling Dutch run for three miles, and crosses
the former stream a mile above its mouth.
This axis was called the Roaring run an-
ticline untler the misapprehension, that the
fold extended from Plum creek to Crooked
creek and was a part of the axis seen on
Roaring run. The records of a number of
wells obtained in this territory after the
Indiana folio had been completed showed that
tlie axis terminates two miles north of Idaho.
Although this fold is nearly parallel with
the northeast portion of the Elders Ridge
syncline and falls in line with that part of
the Roaring run anticline which lies south
of Crooked creek, it cannot be considered as
a part or a spur of the latter fold, for the
reason that the axis of the Dutch run anti-
cline plunges toward the much higher flank
of the Roaring run anticline. This name,
Dutch run, is taken from the stream which
the anticline mostly follows.
STRATIGR.\PIIY, CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM
All of the rocks seen at the surface in this
ciuadrangle belong to the Pennsylvanian se-
ries of the Carboniferous system. Three for-
mations are present — the Allegheny, Cone-
maugh and Mouongahela. These are, respec-
tively, the Lower Productive, Lower Barren
and Upper Productive measures. The Alle-
gheny formation is exposed along Roaring
run. Crooked creek. Plum creek, Dutch^run,
and Aultmans run^a small portion of the
whole surface. The Monougahela formation
underlies a belt of country about nine miles
long and three miles wide between the Kis-
kiminetas river and West Lebanon. The
rocks underlying the remainder and by far
the largest poi'tion of the sui'face belong to
the Conemaugh formation. More than 1,100
feet of stratified .rocks are exposed at the
surface in this quadrangle. They are divided
among the formations as follows : Allegheny,
240 ; Conemaugh, 650 ; Monongahela, 216.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
COAL
Coal is the most important of the mineral
resources of the Elders Ridge quadrangle.
Two beds of workable thickness are exten-
sively exposed. These are the Upper Free-
port and the Pittsburg. A third bed, the
Lower Freeport, which is usuallj' thin, has a
local importance in some places where it
thickens considerably. Sevei'al other beds too
thin to be of economic importance are present.
These coals are in the Allegheny and Monon-
gahela formations, and lie between the Van-
port and Benwood limestones. Although
eight or nine seams ocei;r in this interval, it
must not be assumed that they are everywhere
present or are alwaj's of the same thickness.
The generalized sections so often published
are meant to show onl.y their relative posi-
tions. It .should be understood that these
beds vary in position with relation to other
beds and that their thicknesses are not con-
stant. The description will begin with the
lowest coal exposed in the area and end with
the highest. No mention will be made of the
Gallitzin and Redstone coals, which are mere
streaks where seen and undoubtedly are small
throughout the quadrangle.
It may be well here to define certain terms
in common use. An opening is a small exca-
vation which reveals the coal in place and the
thickness of the bed. A coal bank is a small
mine in which a few men, from one to ten, are
employed, and in which the coal is mined and
brought out to the scaffold without the use of
machinery. A coal mine employs enough men
to require a mine boss, probably uses machines
for undercutting the coal, and hauls by means
other than hand. Coalpit is a term applied
without discrimination to openings, banks and
mines.
LOWER FREEPORT COAL
Whether this seam is present throughout
the Elders Ridge quadrangle is questionable.
In the vicinity of Jacksonville, Conemaugh
township, the Jacksonville anticline raises the
Allegheny formation high above water level,
so that the horizon of the Lower Freeport
coal is exposed for a number of miles. The
coal is not more than 20 inches thick on Reeds
run. and it is probably less than 2 feet thick
at the head of Neal ran. The bed has been
opened on the east hillside three fourths of
a mile north of Jacksonville and found to be
only 2 feet thick. This is probably the normal
occurrence for this part of the county. Near
the mouth of Neal run, however, the Lower
Freeport has an unusual development. It
has been mined near the schoolhouse two miles
north of Jacksonville by I\Ir. Clark Neal and
ilr. William H. ]Martin. In both these banks,
which are nearly opposite each other on the
same run, the Lower Freeport coal measures
5 feet, 2 inches. The bed is very even and
does not carry a large per cent of sulphur, but
is considerably intermixed with thin bands of
earthy material which in places gives it a
large percentage of ash. It is the presence of
this impurity that gives it its great firmness,
causing it to come from the mine in large
blocks. The coal has a dull luster generally,
but shows numerous bright pitchy bands.
The lower bench, which is 20 inches thick, is
harder than the rest. It is overlain by 8
inches of a softer coal which is excellent for
blacksmithing purposes. The coal has been
mined on this run continuously for nearly
sixty years. In the first hollow south of Neal
run the same bed has been mined on the Mar-
shall farm close to the axis of the Jackson-
-ville anticline, the seam measuring 4 feet,
6 inches thick.
It is believed by some people in the vicinity
that the Lower Freeport seam maintains a
thickness of from 4 to 5 feet throughout a
considerable area in this part of Indiana
county, but this is readily disproved by an
examination of the outcrops in the immediate
vicinity "of the coal banks above mentioned.
It is possible that the bed attains the same
thickness at other points where it is hidden
beneath the surface, but it is ciuite certain
that the development on Neal run is veiy local,
and will extend less than a mile in any di-
rection.
A coal i-eported to be 5 feet thick in the
Stahl well is at the proper horizon for the
Lower Freeport. It is a clrarn-drill measure-
ment, however, and therefore unreliable. The
bed is not known on Conemaugh river a few
miles south of this well.
UPPER FREEPORT COAL
The "foui'-foot coal," as it is called, has
an extensive exposure in this quadrangle.
Its outcrop is to be found in all four corners
and well in toward the middle of the area.
By far the longest line of outcrops is in the
northwest quarter of the quadrangle, where
the coal is above water level on every ti-ibu-
tary of Crooked creek. The average thick-
ness of the bed is probably a little under 4
feet, and the coal is everywhere somewhat
76
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
slaty aud sulphurous. The areas in which
the coal outcrops are so detached that they
may well be described separately.
Southeast Quarter. — The Upper Freeport
coal is brought to the surface in the southeast
corner of the quadrangle by the Jacksonville
anticline. The axis of this fold in the geologic
structure crosses the Conemaugh river half
way between Saltsburg and Tunuelton with a
strong northeast trend. It turns northward
near Lewisville and passes one mile west of
Jacksonville, pursuing a course nearly parallel
with Eeeds run, and disappearing soon after
entering the Indiana quadrangle near Tan-
nery. The coal is exposed along the whole
length of Coal run, and on Aultmans run
northward from the mouth of Coal run to
the headwaters of Neal and Reeds runs. The
bed has been opened at short intervals north
and south of Jacksonville and shows a thick-
ness ranging from 3 feet, 6 inches to 4 feet,
7 inches. An average thickness for the coal
in this vicinity is 4 feet.
In an opening at the western head of Coal
run the bed was seen 4 feet, 7 inches thick,
while on the northern branch of the same
stream near the road forks, one mile due
west from Jacksonville, the coal seen in a new
test pit measured 3 feet, 6 inches. On Ault-
mans run the bed is 4 feet thick on the fol-
lowing farms: McKee, Pails, Jacks, Means,
McFarland, Evans and Mclntyre. It meas-
ures 3 feet, 11 inches on the Clawson farm
and at a point two miles northeast of Jackson-
ville on a tributary of Aultmans run ; 3 feet,
10 inches at George Dickey's farm; and 3
feet, 10 inches to 4 feet in the A. W. Robin-
son bank and the abandoned workings near
the head of Reeds run. Near the mouth of
Reeds run, where the Lower Freeport coal has
an unusual development, the Upper Freeport,
60 feet above it, is from 4 feet to 4 feet, 3
inches thick.
The Upper Freeport coal with its underly-
ing limestone is also exposed for more than
a mile at the upper end of Marshall run, in
which distance it rises 170 feet on the flank of
the Jacksonville anticline. There are a num-
ber of openings on the coal in this ravine, but
they were so badly caved that no measure-
ments of the coal could be made.
It is known that the Upper Freeport coal
is thin in the southern central part of Young
township, where it lies deep below the surface.
Soutluvest Quarter.— The Elders Ridge
syncline carries the Upper Freeport coal sev-
eral hundred feet below the surface. Well
records show that at the mouth of Black-
legs creek it is 320 feet and at the mouth of
LongVun 2.50 feet below water level. If the
inteiwal between the Pittsburg and Upper
Freeport coals remains the same as on the
river, the latter coal should be about 800 feet
below the village of Elders Ridge.
Northeast Quarter. — On the south branch
of Plum creek the Upper Freeport coal is
exposed just above water level for three miles
by the uplift of the Dutch run anticline. One
mile of this outcrop is on the Elders Ridge
quadrangle and the other two extend up to
Willet on the Indiana quadrangle. The coal
on this stream measures from 2 feet, 10 inches
to 3 feet, 6 inches in thickness.
PITTSBURG COAL
Occurrence. — The northernmost remnant of
the Pittsburg coal seam, which underlies about
two thousand square miles in the southwest-
ern part of Pennsylvania, is in the Elders
Ridge quadrangle. This remnant is a small
area which lies along the Armstrong-Indiana
county line and is detached from the main
body of the seam.
E.Ttent. — Geographically the limits of the
Elders Ridge coal field are clearly defined.
It is bounded on the north by Gobblers run,
on the east by Blacklegs creek, on the south
by Kiskiminetas river, and on the west by
Long run. It is about ten miles long and
three miles wide, with the long axis in a
northeast-southwest direction. This belt of
coal is divided transversely into three large
blocks by the valley of Whisky run and Big
run, which have cut through the horizon of
the coal and expose long lines of outcrop on
both sides of the streams. The middle one of
these three blocks, which lies between Olivet
and Clarksburg, is the largest, and the north-
ernmost is the smallest. All three have irregu-
lar outlines. There are a number of outliers
of a few acres in extent on the northern and
western sides of the field. Roughly estimated,
there are about 14 square miles of coal in this
area, or between 8,500 and 9,000 acres. The
coal has been mined out from 600 or 700 acres.
The thickness of the bed will average close
to 7 feet.
Structure of the Pittsburg Coal. — This coal
field lies in a structural basin known as the
Elders Ridge syncline. It crosses the river
above Edri, passes close to the Foster mine,
a few rods east of the Robert Fritz bank, and
through Elders Ridge near the academy. It
enters the northern block between the W. B.
Davis and John D. Hart heirs' Ijanks, passes
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
77
west of West Lebanon, and leaves the field
near Ilolsten Brothers' baiik. The beginning
of the sharp deflection to the east, which takes
the axis to Crooked creek, nearly two miles
east of Shelocta. is shown north of the coal
banks on the Hugh Blakely and Madison
Craig farms. All of the coal on the east side
of this syncline rises toward Blacklegs creek,
and all on the west toward Long run. The
basin is deeper in the vicinity of Elders
Ridge than at Edri or West Lebanon, so
that the structural shapQ of the field is a
broad canoe-like fold, with the rocks dipping
from all sides toward the center. The dip
is gentle, being just enough to aid the oper-
ations of the miner.
A large number of openings have been made
on the outcrop of the coal. Many of these
were abandoned after a small ciuantity of coal
had been taken out, and have been closed for
years. Other banks to the number of ten or
twelve are kept open and are operated by one
or two men throughout the greater part of
the year. Among these country banks are
those of Ilolsten Brothers, iMadison Craig,
Wilson Blakely, John D. Hart. Harry Hart.
Robert Fritz, Samuel White, MeComb, Thomas
Hart and John Hart. These small banks sup-
ply fuel for only a narrow belt of farms, be-
cause the Upper Freeport coal is mined on
Roaring run and on Crooked creek below
South bend less than two miles west of this
field, and both the Upper and Lower Free-
port coals are mined to the east not more than
three miles from Blacklegs creek.
The Foster mine is owned by the Saltsburg
Coal Company and was reopened in the fall
of 1903 after standing idle a number of years.
The coal is hauled down the run and around
the face of the river bluff to the tipple on the
railroad by a narrow-gage steam locomotive.
In December, 1904, this mine was producing
750 tons per day. At the Edri mine, which
is situated on the hill east of the station of
that name, the cars are brought out by mules,
and lowered about 200 feet to a tipple on a
spur from the railroad. A double-track grav-
ity incline is the method for lowering and
raising cars. About fifty men are employed
and the daily output is 200 tons. This mine
is operated by the Edri Coal Company.
The Bowman Coal jMining Company, S. J.
Robinson, superintendent, operates a mine
near the southern extremity of the field on the
hill about three fourths of a mile south of
Edri. The company employs sixty men and
ships from 200 to 250 tons daily. Mules are
used for hauling the coal from the breast out
to the brow of the hill, where it is lowered by
an incline to a railroad tipple.
The Conemaugh Coal Companv, of Blairs-
ville. Pa., F. :\I. Graff, superintendent, in 1903
opened a mine a half mile east of the Bowman
Company mine. There were one hundred men
on the pay roll in December, 1904, and thev
were getting about 7,000 tons per month. Al-
most 1.000 feet of heading per month were
being driven in the fall of 1904, and it is ex-
pected that an additional capacity of 1.000
tons will soon be developed. A large tipple
has been built over a railroad spur at the
sheet-steel mill and ears are handled on the
incline by steam power.
The Pittsburg Gas Coal Company has
started a new coal town on Harper run, about
one and a half miles south of Elders Ridge.
This company began operations in the sum-
mer of 1903 by building a dam across the
run, erecting power houses, and starting six
headings on the coal. Three of these head-
ings are on the east side of the run and have
natural drainage. The other three, on the
west side of the run, are down the dip of the
rocks, so a heading is being run almost due
west to Big run to give natural drainage to
all the workings in that part of the mine.
Electric haulage and all modern improve-
ments, both inside and outside, are used at
this mine.
The company erected 350 to 400 houses on
its town site, known as Iselin. In ^ilarch, 1905,
according to John Reeds, assistant general
manager, the town had a population of 2,000,
and the company was employing 400 men and
producing 1,850 tons of coal daily. Now
there are 1,600 nu-n and the dailv production
is 6,000 tons.
The Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg rail-
way has been extended from Creekside, In-
diana county, to Iselin. It began hauling coal
from this mine in August, 1904.
ThicJcness of the Pittsburg Coal— The Pitts-
burg coal bed in the Elders Ridge field is
slaty and much parted in some places; in
others it is clean and almost unbroken. It
varies in thickness, including its partings and
roof coal, from 7 to 10 feet. Generally the
roof coal is not taken, being so much parted
by thin bands of shale that it has little value.
I\Ioreover the shales over the roof coal are
so soft and friable that the coal has to be left
to support them. The bed has been opened
at a great many places in this basin, but there
are hardl.v more than twentv localities where
accurate measurements of the seam can easily
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
be made. A few measurements are given in
detail to show the character of the seam.
Northern Block. — That portion of the El-
ders Ridge field which lies east of Whisky
run is the smallest of the three blocks into
which the field is divided. The small outliers
of a few acres in extent which are seen near
West Lebanon are the most northern rem-
nants of the great Pittsburg coal bed. Be-
yond this point the bed would be carried above
the present surface by the rising axis of the
Elders Ridge syncline if projected beyond
the outcrop.
About two thirds of a mile north of West
Lebanon Holsten Brothers own a coal bank
which was opened many years ago, but has
been worked actively only since 1900. The
coal dips southeast and is practically free
from partings and horsebacks. The section
is as follows:
Section at Holsten Brothers coal bank
Ft. in.
Coal 2 2
Shale and coal 0 4
Coal 2 5
Shale 0 y.
Coal _2 ^
Total 7 11/2
In a small outlier of the coal, a short dis-
tance east of West Lebanon, Wilson Blakely
owns a bank. The coal in this bank shows the
following thickness.
Section at Wilson Blakley coal bank
Ft. in.
Coal 1 8
Shale 0 11
Coal 3 11
Shale 0 1
Coal (seen) 1 3
Total 7 10
In the fall of 1903 this bank was delivering
2,500 bushels a month to the steam shovels
working on the Buffalo, Rochester and Pitts-
burg railroad cut near Parkwood, and the
Madison Craig bank was working on a similar
order.
These northern banks in the Elders Ridge
field furnish a large part of the local supply
in the Crooked creek valley. Being compact
and hard, the Pittsburg coal comes out of the
mine in firm blocks, which in spite of their
impurities are preferred by the farmers for
use in stoves and grates to the softer coal from
the Upper Freeport seam as mined on
Crooked creek.
CHAPTER VIII
CHANGES IN THE SYSTE^^L OF WEATHER
Great changes have taken place in our sys- but naked rocks. The mills were not expected
tern of weather since the settlement of the to do any grinding after the latter end of
western country, yet these changes have been ]May, excepting for a- short time after a thun-
so gradual that it is no very easy task to dergust; our most prudent housekeepers,
recollect or describe them. At the first set- therefore, took care to have their summer
tlement of the country the summers were stock of flour ground in the months of March
much cooler than at present. For many years and April. If this stock was expended too
we scarcely ever had a single warm night soon there were no resources but those of the
during the whole summer. The evenings were hominy block or handmill. It was a frequent
cool and the mornings frequently uucomfort- sajang among our farmers that three good
ably cold. The coldness of the nights was due rains were sufficient to make a crop of corn,
to the deep shade of the lofty trees which if they happened at the proper times. The
everj-vvhere covered the ground. In addition want of rain was compensated in some de-
to this, the surface of the earth was still fur- gree by heavy dews, which were then more
ther shaded by large crops of wild grass and common than of late, owing to the shaded con- ■
weeds, which prevented it from becoming dition of the earth, which prevented it from
heated by the raj-s of the sun during the day. becoming either warm or dry, by the rays
At sundown the air began to become damp of the sun, even during the warmest weather.
and cool, and continued to increase .in cold- Frost and snow set in much earlier in former
ness until warmed by the simshine of the day. times than of late. The corn in this district
This wild herbage afforded pasture for our of the country was mostly frostbitten by Sep-
cattle and horses from spring till the onset of tember 22d. Siich early frosts of equal sever-
winter. To enable the owner to find his ity have not happened for some time past,
beasts, the leader of each flock of cattle, horses Hunting snows usually commenced about the
and sheep was fumished with a bell sus- middle of October. November was regarded
pended to the neck by a leathern or iron as a winter month, as the winter frequently
collar. Bells, therefore, constituted a con- set in with severity during that month, and
siderable article of traffic in early times. sometimes in the early part.
One distressing circumstance resulted from For a long time after the settlement of the
the wild herbage of our wilderness. It pro- country there was an abundance of snow in
dueed innumerable swarms of gnats, mos- comparison to the amount we iisually have
quitoes and horseflies. These distressing in- now. It was no unusual thing to have snows
sects gave such annoyance to man and beast, from one to three feet in depth, and of long
that they may justly be ranked among the continuance. The people became tired of see-
early plagues of the country. During that ing the monotonous aspect of the country so
part of the season in which they were pre- long covered with deep snow, and "longed to
valent, they made the cattle poor and lessened see the ground bare once more." The labor
the amount of their milk. It was customary of opening roads through those deep snows,
to build large fires of old logs about the forts, which fell in a single night, to the barn,
the smoke of which kept the flies from the spring, smokehouse and corncrib, and espe-
cattle, which soon learned to change their cially that of getting wood, was in the high-
position with every change of wind, so as to est degree disagreeable. A tree, when fallen,
keep themselves constantly in the smoke. was literally buried in the snow, so that the
Our summers in early times were mostly driver of the horses had to plunge the whole
very dry. The beds of our large creeks, ex- length of his arms into it to get the log chain
cepting in the deep holes, presented nothing around the butt of the tree to haul it home.
79
80
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Tlie depth of the snows, the extreme cold and
length of our winters, were indeed distressing
to the first settlers, who were but poorly pro-
vided with clothing, and whose cabins were
mostly very open and uncomfortable. Get-
ting wood, making fires, feeding the stock, and
going to mill, were considered sufScient em-
ployment for any family, and truly those lab-
ors left them little time for anything else.
As our roads, in early times, did not admit
of the use of sleighs, the only sport they had
in the time of deep snow was that of racing
about on the crust of its surface. This was
formed by a slight thaw succeeded by a severe
frost. On this crust they could travel over
logs, brush and, owing to great drifts of snow
in many places, over the highest fences.
These crusts were often fatal to the deer.
Wolves, dogs and men could pursue them
without breaking through the crust. The
deer, on the contrary, when pursued, owing
to the smallness of their hoofs, always broke
through it unless it was vincommonly hard.
The hunters never killed the deer in the dead
of winter, as their skins and flesh were then
of little value. Taking advantage of them in
the time of a crust they held to be a dishonor-
able practice, and always relieved them from
the pursuit of dogs and wolves whenever it fell
in their way to do so. Foreigners, however,
who were not in the habit of hunting, often
pursued and caught them on the crust for
the sake of informing their friends in the old
country by letter that they had killed a deer.
The spring of the year in former times was
pretty much as at present. It commonly be-
gan with an open spell of weather during the
latter part of February, denominated by some
pawwawing days, and by others weather
breeders. The month of Slareh was com-
monly stormy and disagreeable throughout.
It was a common saying that spring must not
be expected until the borrowed days, that is,
the first three days of April, were over. Sugar
was often made in the early part of April. It
sometimes happened that a great part of
April was but little better than March, with
regard to storms and rain, snow, and a cold
chilling air. One year there were forty frosts
noticed after the first day of April, yet the
fruit was not wholly destroyed that year.
During these days they never failed having
cold, stormy weather, with more or less frost.
On the whole, although the same variable
system of weather continues, our springs were
formerly somewhat colder, and accompanied
with more snow than they are now, but the
change, in these respects, is no way favorable
to vegetation, as our latest springs are uni-
formly followed by the most fruitful seasons.
It is a law of the vegetable world that the
longer the vegetative principle is delayed, the
more rapid when put in motion. Hence those
northern countries which have but a short
summer, and no spring, are among the most
fruitful countries in the world. In Russia,
Sweden and Denmark, the transition from
winter to summer occupies but a very few
days ; yet a failure of a crop in these countries
is but a rare occurrence ; while in our lati-
tudes vegetation prematurely put in motion,
and then often checked "by the laggering
rear of winter's frost," frequently fails of at-
taining its ultimate perfection.
From this history of the system of the
weather of our early times, it appears that our
seasons have already undergone great and im-
portant changes. Our summers are much
warmer, our falls much milder and longer,
and our winters shorter by at least one month,
and accompanied with much less snow and
cold than formerly. What causes have ef-
fected these changes in our system of weather,
and what may we reasonably suppose will be
the ultimate extent of this revolution, already
so apparent, in our system of weather?
In all countries the population of a desert
by civilized and agrici;ltural people has had a
great effect on its climate.
Italy, which is now a warm country, with
very mild winters, was, in the time of Horace
and Virgil, as cold and as subject to deep
snows as the western country was at its first
settlement. Philosophy has attributed the
change of the seasons in that country to the
clearing of its own forests, together with
those of France to the north, and those of
Germany to the east and north of Italy. The
same cause has produced the same effect in
our country. Every acre of cultivated land
must increase the heat of our summer by aug-
menting the extent of the surface of the
ground denuded of its timber, so as to be
acted upon and heated by the rays of the
sun.
The future prospect of the weather through-
out the whole extent of the western country
is not verj' flattering. The thermometer in
the hottest parts of our summer months al-
ready ranges from ninety to one hundred de-
grees. A frightful degree of heat for a coun-
try as yet not half cleared of its native tim-
ber! When we consider the great extent of
the valley of the Mississippi, so remote from
any sea to furnish its cooling breezes, without
mountains to collect the vapors, augment and
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
diversify the winds, and watered only by a
few rivers, which in the summer are dimin-
ished to a small amount of water, we have all
the data for the unpleasant conclusion that
the climate of the western regions will ulti-
mately become intensely hot and subject to
distressing calms and droughts of long con-
tinuance.
Already we begin to feel the effects of the
increase of the heat of the summer in the nox-
ious eflluvia of the stagnant water of the
ponds and low grounds along the rivers.
These fruitful sources of pestilential exhal-
ations have converted large tracts of our coun-
try into regions of sickness and death, while
the excessive heat and dryness of our settle-
ments, remote from the large watercourses,
have been accompanied by endemic dysen-
teries in their most mortal forms. Thus the
most fortunate regions of the earth have draw-
backs from their advantages which serve in
some degree to balance the condition of their
inhabitants with that of people of countries
less gifted by nature in point of soil, climate
and situation.
The conflict for equilibrium lietween the
rarefied air of the South and the dense at-
mosphere of the North will maintain the
changeable state of weather in this country-,
as there is no mountainous barrier between us
and the northern regions of our continent.
GRE.\T ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, .JUXE 16. 1806
As this remarkable phenomenon occurred
at a time when the population of the county
was very limited, there are few persons now
living here, or elsewhere for that matter, who
can give a correct description of it. As it
was a "thing of terror" to many of the people
in those days, and for years was a topic of
discussion, we append extracts from papers,
books, etc., to show its appearance at other
points, as the same characteristic obscuration
extended throughout the boundaries of Ven-
ango county, the eclipse being calculated to
be total in such parts of New York, New Eng-
land, Ohio and Pennsylvania as were situated
between 41° 35' and 43° 5' north latitude.
Gen. Simon DeAYitt. of Albany, in giving an
account of the eclipse, observed : ' ' Fortun-
ately on the morning of that day, the atmos-
phere was very clear. The eclipse began at
9 hours, 5 minutes. 12 seconds. A. M. : the
beginning of the total obscuration was 11
hours. 8 minutes. 6 seconds : the end of total
darkness. 11 hours. 12 minutes, 11 seconds;
and of the eclipse, 12 hours. 33 minutes, 8
seconds; length of total eclipse, 4 minutes,
5 seconds."
At Pittsburg many were troubled as to
whether or no the end of all things had come.
Some hitherto hardened sinners besought the
Almighty to forgive them their past trans-
gressions. Sermons were preached on the
Sunday previous (15th), and the text, "re-
pent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand," used on that occasion with peculiar
prophetic fervor, was duly appreciated on the
morrow. This occasion, like many others, il-
lustrated the old saying :
When tlie devil was sick, the devil a monk would be.
But when the devil got well, devil a. monk was he.
At Philadelphia, a total obscurity suddenly
turned the day into night. Business ceased,
and the sounds of merriment and bustle of
the crowded streets were hushed.
In the city of New York, a sudden and dis-
mal gloom overspread the face of nature ; the
tliermometer indicated a fall of the quick-
silver of eighteen degrees, and the atmosphere
was sensibly cooler. Not a cloud was to be
seen.
An old settler, speaking in regard to this
subject, said: "I thought the day of judg-
ment was at hand and I was scared. The
chickens went to roost, and everything was as
still as night." Another remarked, "I was
working on the mountain, and all of a sudden
it became so dark that I could not see my way
down the ravine. I waited and waited, it
seemed to me a whole day, before the sun
shone again."
A Cooperstown (N. Y.) writer saj-s : "The
atmosphere at this place on IMonday last was
serene and pure. The sun was majestically
bright, until fifty minutes past nine o'clock
A. M.. when a little dark spot was visible
about forty-five degrees to the right of the
zenith. Tlie shade increased until fifteen min-
utes past ten, when stars began to appear, and
the atmosphere exhibited a gloomy shade. At
twelve minutes past eleven, the sun was wholly
obscured, exhibiting the appearance of a black
globe, or screen, with light behind it, the rays
only of which were visible, and which were too
feeble to occasion sufficient light to form a
shade. ]Many stars now appeared, though
less numerous than are usually seen in clear
evenings. There was now 'darkness visible.'
a sort of blackish, unnatural twilight. The
fowls retired to their roosts, and the 'doves
to their windows.' The birds were mute, ex-
cept the poor whip-poor-will, whose notes par-
tially cheered the gloom. The dew descended,
82
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and nature seemed clad iu a sad, sombre and
something like a sable livery.
"At fourteen minutes past eleven, a little
bright point appeared to the left of the sun's
nadir, similar to the focus of a glass when
reflecting the rays of the sun. Suddenly a
segment of the circle of that glorious orb
emerged, and seemed to say 'sit lux' and was
obeyed immediately, 'lux fuit,' as quick as
thought. A small pin could be discovered on
the ground. A more wonderful and pleasing
phenomenon can hardly be conceived. The
doves left their retirement; the whip-poor-
will's melody ceased; and the face of nature
again smiled. But some stars were still vis-
ible, and Venus displayed her beauty until
twelve o'clock. At forty minutes past twelve,
the sun shone in full splendor, and in turn
eclipsed the moon and all other heavenly
luminaries by its glorious effulgence."
Rev. Dr. Nott, president of Union College,
in his account says : "At the instant the last
ray was intercepted and the obscuration be-
came total, a tremulous undulating shadow,
a kind of indescribable, alternate prevalence
and intermixture of light and shade, struck
the earth, and played on its surface which
gave to the most stable objects the semblance
of agitation. It seemed as though the moon
rode unsteadily in her orbit; and the earth
seemed to tremble on its axis. The deception
was so complete that I felt instinctively, and
in spite of the instincts of my reason to the
contrary, a tottering motion. Some who were
present, I observed took hold of whatever was
near them for support, while others leaned
forward, and insensibly flung themselves into
an attitude which indicated that they found
it difficult to stand
"The scenes described at the commence-
ment of the total obscuration reappeared when
the first rays of the sun were reappearing;
the same apparent agitation of the surface of
the earth ; the same apparent struggle between
light and darkness; the same separation be-
tween light and shade into distinct and alter-
nate arches, and the same motion reversed;
for now the arches of light seemed to crowd
those of shade inward; and the whole move-
ment was from the horizon towards the center,
which continued about the same time, and dis-
appeared in about the' same manner, as above
described."
COLD VSTEATHER
1816
The year 1816 is memorable for extreme
cold weather. There were frosts in every
month, and the harvest of wheat and potatoes
was nearly a failure. The corn crop was
destroyed at each planting, and a general
gloom settled over the community. The
farmers wore overcoats in the harvest field,
and the weather was decidedly cool during
the year. The snow was unusually deep in
the winter of 1815-16, and for nearly three
months the river was closed by ice. The
flood of the spring, in height and destructive
power, was nearly equal to that of 1806.
a prophecy in 1835 *
The Approaching Comet
Lieutenant R. Morrison, of the Royal Navy,
has published a most interesting work upon
this magnificent phenomenon which is ex-
pected to be seen in the course of the year
1835, between the months of May and August,
in the constellation of Ursa Major. Lieuten-
ant Morrison states that it will be far more
splendid than the one of 1811 ; some writers
affirm that "it will afford a degree of light
equal to a full moon, that its tail will extend
over 40 degrees," and when the head of the
comet reaches the meridian its tail will sweep
the horizon.
The author says :
"Relying on the correction of our princi-
ple of cometary influence, we venture to pre-
dict that the summer of 1835 will be remarked
for its intense heat, which may be expected
to destroy the harvest in some parts of the
world. That year will be noted for earth-
quakes and volcanoes, and other similar phe-
nomena. The end of 1835, or early in 1836,
may be expected to be remai-kable for some
one or more extensive earthquakes, because
the frequent internal changes which the com-
bustion creates, must necessarily produce a
derangement of electricity. And while the
comet is near the earth, overcharged with
' From the Fain
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
electricity, if there be any internal cavity of
the earth deficient of that fluid, it will rush
into the earth at that spot. This we take to
have been the cause in 1456 near Naples, when
the sudden rendings of the earth destroyed
40,000 human beings."
METEOROLOGICAL RECORD, 1911 AND 1912
W. B. Wehrle
1836
The summer of 1S36 was nearly as cold as
that of 1816. There were frosts in every
month in the year; there were one hundred
and seventy-eight days of east wind and rain,
and the only summer weather occurred in the
first fourteen days of September, when the
mercury in the thermometer ranged up to
ninety degrees.
1859
The great frosts of June 5th and 12th, 1859,
are worthy of mention. "The wheat and rye
were just in blossom, and there was every
prospect of a bountiful harvest. But these
frosts smote the fields as with the besom of
destruction. The evening before, nature
smiled, like Eden almost, with beauty and the
prospect of plenty ; but on the Sabbath morn-
ing the fields were blasted, as though the
breath of the Sirocco had swept over them.
A deep and heavy gloom settled over the com-
munity. The question of bread became ex-
ceedingly practical, and the fear arose that
multitudes of our citizens would be obliged
to leave their homes for a warmer sky and a
more genial atmosphere. But the danger
over. Corn was plenty in 'Egypt,'
were found for purchasing it, and the
next year brought good crops. ' '
Jan. 14 59 Jan. 10 6
Fpb. 17 60 Feb. 11 10
March 13 67 March 16. . .3'/>
April 27 79 April 3 14
May 28 9S May 5 26
June 11 96 June 15 46
July 4 103 July 18 46
Aug. 10 99 Aug. 20 43
Sept. 2 & 8 88 Sept. 14 37
Oct. 4 79 Oct. 29 23
Nov. 11 68 Xov. 13 11
Dec. 10 68 Dec. 5 11
Total Precipitation for 1911..
1912
Jan. 1 51 Jan. 13.
Feb. 26 50 Feb. 10.
March 19 . . .
66
March 3..,
...10
6.72
April 15...
....80
April 20..
. .21
4.90
May 28....
....88
May 14...
..33
3.55
June 29
....90
June 8
..34
4.23
July 3
....92
July 28...
. .48
8.85
Aug. 13....
....85
Aug. 28 . . .
..43
5.67
Sept. 10
....93
Sept. 30..
Oct. 6
....84
Oct. 37....
. .27
4.60
Nov. 6
....73
Nov. 29 . . .
. .18
1.23
Dec. 6
....64
Dec. 13...
8
5.42
7%
Total Precipitation for 1912.. 56.87
The average annual rainfall in Indiana
county is from 45 inches to 48 inches.
Prom the first of July, 1912, to the close
of the year there were only fifty-seven clear
days. On June 16th 3.17 inches of rain fell.
CHAPTER IX
BEASTS AND BIRDS OF INDIANA COUNTY
The reader need not expect that this chap-
ter will contain a list of all the beasts and
birds which were tenants of the western wild-
erness at the time of its first settlement. We
shall only briefly notice a few of those classes
which have totally or partially disappeared
from the country, together with those which
have emigrated here with our population.
This enumeration, so far as it goes, will serve
to make a distinction for the natural his-
torian, between those beasts and birds which
are naturally tenants of the wilderness and
refuse the society of man, and those which
follow his footsteps from one region to an-
other, and although partially wild yet subsist
in part upon his labors.
The buffalo and elk have entirely disap-
peared from this section of the country. Of
the bear and deer, but very few remain. The
wolves, formerly so numerous and so destruc-
tive to the cattle, are now seldom heard of in
our older settlements. It may seem strange
that this ferocious and cunning animal, so
long the scourge of the mountainous districts
of Europe, should have so suddenly disap-
peared from our infant country. The saga-
city of the wolves bids defiance to the most
consummate craft of the hunters, many of
whom, throughout life, never obtained a single
chance to shoot at one of them. Sometimes,
indeed, they outwitted them by pitfalls and
steel traps ; but no great number were killed
by either of these means ; nor had the price
set upon their scalps by the State Legislatures
any great effect in diminishing their number
and depredations. By what means then did
their destruction happen ? On this subject we
will hazard the opinion that a greater num-
ber of them were destroyed by hydrophobia
than by all other means put together. An
animal so ferocious as a wolf, under the in-
fluence of madness, bites evei-ything he can
reach. Of course the companions of his own
den and thicket are the first victims of his
rage. Hence, a single wolf would be the
means of destroying the whole number of his
fellows, in his immediate neighborhood at
least. In the advanced state of the disease
these animals lose their native wildness, leave
their dens and thickets and seek the flocks
and herds about farmhouses, and in some in-
stances have attempted to enter the houses
themselves for the purpose of doing mischief.
The buzzards, or vultures, grey and bald
eagles, ravens, or, as they were generally
called, corbies, were very numerous here in
former times. It was no uncommon thing to
see from fifty to one hundred of them perched
on the trees over a single carcass of carrion.
All these large carnivorous birds have nearly
disappeared from our settlements.
The wild turkey, which used to be so abun-
dant as to supply no inconsiderable portion
of provision for the first settlers, is 'now
rarely seen.
The different kinds of woodpeckers still re-
main in the country, with the exception of the
largest of that genius of birds, the woodcock,
which is now very scarce.
The black and grey squirrels still remain in
the country. These beautiful but desti-uctive
little animals gave great annoyance to the
first settlers by devouring large quantities of
their corn in the fields before it was fit for
gathering. There is something singular in
the history of the squirrels. Sometimes in the
course of a few years they become so numer-
ous as to threaten the destruction of whole
crops; when, as if by common consent, they
liegin an emigration from west to east, cross-
ing the river in countless numbers. At the
lieginning of their march they are very fat,
and furnish an agreeable article of diet; but
towards its conclusion they become sickly and
poor, with large worms attached to their
skins. After this emigration they are scarce
for some years, then multiply, > emigrate and
perish as before. The cause of this phenome-
non is unknown. It cannot be for the want
of food, for the districts of countries which
they leave are often as fruitful as those to
which thev direct their course, or more so.
84
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
85
The terrible panther, as well as the wild
cat, has also taken leave of ns.
Thus, in far less time than it cost the Jews
to rid themselves of the serpents and beasts
of prey which infested the "hill country of
Judea," we have freed ourselves from those
which belonged to our countiy. Our flocks
and herds are safe from their annoyance, and
our children are not torn to pieces by a "she
bear out of the wood. ' '
In return for the beasts and birds which
have left us, \ye have gained an equal num-
ber from the Atlantic side of the mountains
which were unknown at the first settlement
of the country.
Our mornings and evenings are now en-
livened with the matins and vespers of a
great variety of singing birds, which have
slowly followed the emigration from the otlier
side of the mountain.
The honey bees are not natives of this
country, but they always keep a little iu ad-
vance of the white population, "^"e formerly
had some professed bee hunters; but the
amount of honey obtained from the woods was
never considerable, owing to the want of a
sufficient quantity of flowers to furnish it.
Crows and blackbirds have of late become
very plenty. They were not natives of the
wilderness.
Rats, which were not known here for sev-
eral years after the settlement of the country,
took possession of it. in its whole extent, in
one winter season. Children of twelve years
old and under, having never heard their
names, were much surprised at finding a new
kind of mice, as they called them, with smooth
tails.
Opossums were late comers into the coun-
try. Fox squirrels have but a very few years
ago made their appearance on this side of
the mountains.
Thus our countiy has exchanged its thinly
scattered population of savages for a dense
population of civilized inhabitants, and its
wild beasts and large carnivorous fowls for
domesticated animals and fowls, and others
which although wild are inotfensive in their
habits, and live at least partially on the labors
of man.
The following information was obtained in
an investigation made by Mr. "\Y. E. Cl.vde
Todd, the ornithologist of Carnegie Museum,
Pittsburg, Pa., who spent four days, June 22
to June 25. 1892, in Indiana county. His
stopping place was a farmhouse two miles east
of the village of Twolick on Twolick creek, a
few miles south of the town of Indiana, and
near Chestnut Ridge, This ridge is the most
western range of the Appalachian chain iu
Pennsylvania, entering the State from the
south about the middle of the southern boun-
dary of Fayette county and terminating a
short distance east of the place of his ob-
servations. At this point it becomes nothing
more -than a series of broken ranges of hills
which to the northward finally disappear into
the general level. The elevation of this part
according to the contour map of the United
States_ Geological survey is 1.500 feet, but
there is good reason for believing that to the
southward the ridge attains a height of 2,000
feet, since the town of Ligonier, situated east
of the range in Westmoreland county is
known to be 1,748 feet above tide.
He found this locality poorer in conifers
than tlie Buifalo creek region which he had
visited, and was told that they predominated
only in the northern and eastern parts of the
county. Pine Flats, fourteen miles east of In-
diana, being said to be the western limit of
their abundance here. No pines were dis-
covered and the hemlock was confined to the
bottomlands of the Twolick and Yellow creeks
and even there they occurred only at intervals.
However, where it was found, it was very
often to the almost complete exclusion of other
forest trees. Progress through such gloomy
tracts of woods would have been practically
out of the question had it not been for an oc-
casional cattle path or a small stream flowing
through the midst, so dense were the thickets
of laurel and rhododendron beneath. This
growth, as well as that of the hemlock, often
extended a short distance up the adjoining
hillsides, especially if they were steep and had
a northerly exposure, though the laurel in
places composed thickets by itself, while the
rhododendron was not found outside the shade
of the liendoeks.
These tracts of hemlock forest in the creek
bottoms, with their undergrowth of laurel
and rhododendron interspersed with small
pools of stagnant water, were far more prolific
in bird life than the hills and uplands above,
although of so limited extent in comparison.
Black-throated Blue, Black and Yellow Black-
l)ui-nian. and Blue Yellow-backed Warblers,
were the characteristic birds of such cool and
shad.v recesses, within which they were abun-
dant, but outside of which they were not
found. Several other species were more or
less common also in such situations.
The high hills in which Chestnut Ridge ter-
minates are clothed from base to summit with
a deciduous forest of which oaks of several
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
species and chestnut are the most prominent
trees. The latter seemed to be more abundant
near and on the summit than lower down.
Black-throated Green Warblers were numer-
ous throughout this woodland, where about
the only other birds found to any extent were
the Red-eyed Vireo, Golden-crowned Thrush,
Black-and-white Warbler, Wood Thrush; and
White-breasted Nuthatch, but none of these
was nearly so common as the species which
were confined to the hemlocks. At some points
where the original forest had been cut and
second growth and tracts of bushes and scrub
had taken its place, the Chestnut-sided Warb-
ler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Brown Thrasher
and Cat Bird were found as well as a single
individual of the Cerulean Warbler, which
species was otherwise observed only in the
open woods of the uplands outside of Chest-
nut Ridge. The cultivated districts were
found almost altogether in these uplands, the
birds of whose orchards, fields and woods did
not differ materially from those found in like
situations in Beaver county.
In considering the faunal relations of the
locality he found that three species occur
which are usually considered to belong to the
Canadian fauna, namely, Dendroica caerules-
cens, Dendroica maculosa, and Dendroica
blackburniae. It is a noteworthy fact that all
these birds, which are abundant here in suit-
able situations, are rather uncommon in the
Buffalo creek region.
Sixty-four species were observed during his
stay, of which the following is a list.
Spotted Sand-piper. — Common at certain
favorable points along Twolick creek, but
observed also about marshy spots in the up-
land.
BoB-VTHiTE. — Quite abundant in the upland
meadows and grain fields.
Ruffed Grouse. — Met with but once, in
the laurel and rhododendron thicket of Yel-
low creek bottom.
Wild Turkey. — On the last day of his
stay, a wild turkey hen, accompanied by three
young, less than a %veek old, appeared near
the house. It is quite possible that there were
more young, but these were all that could be
found. They were captured and taken into
the barn, with the object of decoying the
parent inside and capturing her also. She
refused to enter, however, but presently flew
to the roof, and afterwards lingered about for
some time, and doubtless was in the vicinity
when he arrived on the scene, but he was pre-
vented from making a search by lack of time.
Wild turkeys were tolerably common in this
county and did considerable damage in the
grain fields; on several occasions nests with
eggs are said to have been found.
Mourning Dove. — • Common everywhere
except in the deep woods.
Sharp-shinned Hawk. — One observed near
the summit of Chestnut Ridge.
Red-tailed Hawk. — A pair seeen circling
over the summit of Chestnut Ridge.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo. — Observed but
twice.
Belted Kingfisher. — Pound along Yellow
creek on one occasion. From the lack of banks
suitable for nesting purposes, it is judged it
was not numerous.
Downy Woodpecker. — Found in the for-
est.
Red-headed Woodpecker. — One individual
noticed in the upland, between Twolick and
Homer City.
Whip-poor-will. — Several were heard.
Chimney Swift. — Seen but once.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — An indi-
vidual observed along Twolick creek, at the
village.
Kingbird. — Common. Found in orchards
and at some points along the streams.
Crooked Flycatcher. — Not common.
Phoebe-bird. — Common.
Wood Pierce. — Common in the deciduous
forest.
Acadian Flycatcher. — This species was
fairly abundant throughout the forests of
the creek bottoms and was often found higher
up along courses of smaller streams.
Least Flycatcher. — A single pair was ob-
served in the trees surrounding the house
where I was staying.
Blue Jay. — A few observed.
Crow. — Abundant.
CowBiRD.^A small party was noticed in
an upland pasture between Twolick and
Homer City.
Red-winged Blackbird. — Found commonly
in and about the upland streams.
Meadow Lark. — Not uncommon in the up-
land.
Baltimore Oriole. — Two or three were
found in orchards about the houses.
Crow Blackbird. — Found in the same sit-
uation as the last species, but more common.
American Goldfinch. — Numerous every-
where except in the forest.
Vesper Sparrow. — Common in the pastures
and along the roadsides.
Grasshopper Sparrow. — One pair was met
with frequenting a pasture field across the
road from the house.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
87
Chipping Sparrow. — Common and familiar
as usual.
Field Sparrow. — Numerous in waste past-
ures and in the bushy growth along fences.
Song Sparrow. — Abundant. Found in its
usual haunts.
TowHEE. — Common in briery thickets and
on the edges of the woods.
Cardinal. — Several pairs were found, all
in second growth and bushy thickets, both in
creek bottoms and on the hillsides.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — The rose-breast-
ed gi-osbeak is one of the most abundant birds
of this region. It does not affect the oak woods
of Chestnut Ridge nor yet the denser parts
of the hemlock forests but prefers the rich
woods that border this last, as well as the up-
land woods near streams and tracts of second
groAvth interspersed.
Indigo Bunting. — This bird was found
commonly in its usual haunt of bushy, briery
thickets along the edges of the woods.
Scarlet Tanager. — Another very abun-
dant species specially partial to the hemlock.
Cliff Swallow. — Observed about farm
buildings, but not so numerous as the nest
species.
Barn Swallow. — Abundant about farm
buildings.
Red-eyed Vireo. — Very abundant through-
out the woodland in the bottoms and on the
hilltops.
Warbijng Vireo. — One pair was noticed in
an orchard surrounding a farmhouse.
Black-and-white Warbler. — This species
was one of the very few that were uniformly
common in the hemlocks in the second growth
and in the oak forests of Chestnut creek.
Golden-wixged Warbler. — But one ob-
served on the edge of the woods on the bank
of Twolick creek.
Parula Warbler. — Very common in the
hemlocks, where its humming note could be
heard continually. It usually kept high up in
the very tops of the ti'ees.
Yellow Warbler. — Found mostly in the
orchards about farmhouses : two nests, one
containing young, were discovered in a growth
of willows fringing Twolick creek just behind
the village.
Black-throated Blue Warbler. — This
warbler was confined to the hemlock forests
of the creek bottoms, where it was abundant
and in full song, haunting the dense laurel
and rhododendron thicket beneath, thougli
sometimes mounting to the trees.
Magnolia Warbler. — Equally abundant
with the last species and, like it, confined to
the hemlocks and uudergi-owth below, where
its sprightly song was constantlj' heard.
Cerulean Warbler. — Much to my surprise,
I found the Cerulean Warbler quite common
and musical in the dry, open woods of the up-
lands, though the only specimen secured was
taken in a tract of dense second growth on a
creek hillside.
Chestnut-sided Warbler. — Only two in-
dividuals noted, both males in full song, ob-
observed in a shrubby patch of briers, bushes
and young trees, fringing a forest on a creek
hillside. There is reason to believe that species
was more common than it appeared to be.
Blackburnian Warbler. — Another of the
relatively northern species found exclusively
in the conifers of the creek bottom, where its
flaming breast flashed in and out of the hem-
locks.
Black-throated Green Warbler. — This
bird would be expected to occur most common-
ly in the hemlock forest, and though it actually
was found on the edges of this to some extent,
it was more numerous throughout the high
oak and chestnut woods that cover Chestnut
Ridge from base to summit, always keeping
high in the treetops.
0\'enbird. — A very common species found
throughout all kinds of woodlands.
Louisiana Water Thrush. — A single pair
recorded as frequenting a small stream flow-
ing through the laurels and rhododendron
gi'owth in the hemlock forest of Yellow creek
bottom.
JMartland Yellowthroat. — Quite common
at intervals in the waste ground along the
banks of Twolick creek.
Yellow-breasted Chat. — A few pairs of
this distinctly southern species were noticed
in the thickets to which it is always so partial.
Catbird. — Common in briery thickets.
Brown Thresher. — One pair accompanied
by their young were seen in a thicket.
White-breasted Nuthatch. — Rather com-
mon throughout the woodland.
Tufted Titmouse. — A pair observed on one
occasion in the yard around the dwelling.
Black-capped Chickadee. — Two noticed
with the pair of Tufted Titmice mentioned
above, and later another accompanied by their
now almost full-fledged young.
Wood Thrush. — Common throughout the
the woodland.
Robin. — Abundant as usual.
Blue Bird. — Several observed in an upland
pasture on one occasion.
CHAPTER X
NUMBER AND VARIETY OF SERPENTS
Among the plagues of the Jews, at the time
of their settlement in the land of Canaan,
that of the serpents, which abounded in that
country, was not the last. In like manner
the early settlers of this country were much
annoyed by serpents. Of the poisonous kinds
they had but two, the rattlesnake and the
copperhead, both of which were very numerous
in every section of the country, but especially
the rattlesnake. There were also different
kinds of blacksnakes, but these last were not
poisonous. The bite of the rattlesnake was
frequently mortal, always extremely painful;
that of the copperhead not much less so.
Let the reader imagine the situation of our
first settlers with regard to those poisonous
reptiles, when informed that a harvest day
seldom passed in which the laborers did not
meet with some of them. The reaper busily
employed with his sickle was suddenly alarmed
by the whiz of a rattlesnake at his feet; he
instantly retreated, got a club, and giving
the snake a blow or two finished the execution
by striking the point of the sickle through its
head and holding it up to the view of the com-
pany. It was then thrown aside by the root
of a tree, or in a bunch of bushes, and labor
recommenced. This often happened a half
dozen times in a single day. This was not the
worst. Owing to the heavy dews and the
growth of rank weeds among the small grain,
it was necessary to let the grain lie in grips
a day or more before it was bound up. The
rattlesnake often hid themselves under these
handfuls of grain, and hence it often happened
that they were taken up in the arms of those
who were employed in gathering and binding
them. Even if the laborer happened to be an
old man stiffened with toil and rheumatism
he dropped all and sprang away with the
agility of a boy of sixteen, and however brave
in other respects it was some time before the
tremor of his limbs and the palpitation of his
heart wore off.
Terrible as the serpents were to men, they
were still more so to women, to whose lot it
generally fell to pull the flax. The flax patch
was commonly near the grain fields. While
the men were reaping the grain, the women
were pulling the flax. The rattlesnakes were
often met with among the flax. When this
happened the women screamed with all
their might. A race then took place among
the younger reapers to decide who should
have the honor of killing the snake. In
the race each one picked up a club, and the
first to reach the serpent instantly dispatched
it. This was a little piece of chivalry
with which the girls were well pleased.
Very few women had the hardihood to attack
and kill a rattlesnake. At the sight of one
they always gave a loud shriek, as if conscious
of being the weaker vessel ; in similar circum-
stances a man never does this, as he has no
one to depend upon for protection but himself.
Some women were so overcome with terror at
the sight of a rattlesnake as to become almost
incapable of moving.
Every season, for a long time, a number of
people were bitten by these poisonous reptiles.
Some of them died; those who escaped death
generally suffered a long and painful confine-
ment, which left some in an infirm state of
health for the rest of their lives.
In the fall these reptiles congregate in cav-
ities among the rocks, where it is said that
they remain in a dormant state during the
winter. These dens were common all over the
country, and many of them well known to the
people, who much dreaded the egress of their
poisonous inhabitants in the spring of the
year, not only on account of themselves, but
also on account of their cattle, many of which
were killed by the bites of the snakes.
A rare piece of sport among the children
on a warm day in the spring of the year, when
they knew the snakes to be out among the
leaves sunning themselves, was " to encircle
the den, which included several acres of
ground, parting the leaves to prevent the fire
from spreading through the woods, and then
setting fire to the dry leaves inside the circle
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
In a short time the snakes would be jumping
and writhing in the blaze of the leaves. After
the burning was over they collected a con-
siderable pile of burnt snakes.
In an attempt to destroy a den of snakes
in the Allegheny mountains, by the time the
settlers had killed about ninety of them they
became so sickened by the stench of serpents
that they were obliged to quit the work, al-
though there were still a great number of them
in view. Another attempt to demolish a snake
den took place in the State of Iowa. The
snakes had chosen one of the old Indian
graves, composed mainly of stone for their
residence. They gave such annoyance in that
neighborhood that the settlers assembled for
the purpose of destroying the den. In doing
so they found several hundreds of snakes, to-
gether with a vast quantity of the bones of
those which through a long series of years had
perished in the den. These were intermingled
with the bones of those human beings for
whose sepulture the mound had been erected.
Do these reptiles possess that power of fas-
cination which has so frequently Ijeen ascribed
to them? I have never witnessed an instance
of the exercise of this power. I have several
times seen birds flying about them, approach-
ing close to their heads, and uttering noises
which seemed to indicate the greatest distress ;
but on examination always found that the
strange conduct of the bird was owing to the
approach of the snake to the nest containing
its young. That such eases as those are often
mistaken for instances of the exercise of the
power of fascination is quite certain ; never-
theless that this power exists, there can be no
doubt. The greater number of the early set-
tlers say that they have been witnesses of the
exercise of this power, and their testimony
is worthy of credit. It seems from some re-
ports worthy of belief that even mankind, as
well as birds and beasts, are subject to this
fascinating power of the serpents.
This power of fascination is indeed a strange
phenomenon. According to the usual muni-
ficence of nature, the poor miserable snake,
which inherits the hatred of all animated
nature, ought yet to have some means of pro-
curing subsistence as well as of defense. He
has no teeth or claws to aid him in catching his
prey, nor feet to assist him in flight or pursuit.
His poison, however, enables him to take re-
venge for the hatred entertained against him,
and his power of charming procures him a
scanty supply of provision. But what is this
power of fascination? Is there any physical
agency in it? It must be admitted that there
is some physical agency employed in this mat-
ter, although we may not be able to ascertain
what It is. If there be no such agency em-
ployed in fascination by serpents, it must be
eifected by a power similar to that which
superstition ascribes to charms, amulets, spells
and incantations, a power wholly imaginary,
unknown to the laws of nature, and which
philosophy totally rejects as utterly impos-
sible. On this subject we hazard the opinion
that the charm under consideration is eifected
by means of an intoxicating odor which the
serpent has the power of emitting.
That the rattlesnake has the power of giv-
ing out a very offensive vapor I know by ex-
perience, having often smelt it on warm sunny
days, especially after a shower of rain, when
plowing in the field. This often happened
when I did not see any snake; but it alwavs
excited a painful apprehension that I should
speedily meet with one. A person once ac-
customed to the odor of a serpent can never
mistake it for anything else.
I have heard it said, although I cannot
vouch for the truth of it, that a snake, when
in the act of charming, appears, by the alter-
nate expansion and depression of "its sides, to
be engaged in the act of blowing with all' its
might.
I think it in every way probable that in
every instance of fascination the position of
the snake is to the windward of the victim
of its charm. But why should this intoxicat-
ing odor draw its victim to the source whence
It issues ? Here I must plead ignorance, to be
sure ; but does anything more happen to the
bird or beast in this case than happens to man
in consequence of the use of those intoxicating
gases, or fluids, furnished by the art of chem-
istry ?
A person affected by the exhilarating gas
clings to the jar and sucks the pipe after he
has inhaled its whole contents ; and is not the
madness occasioned by inhaling this gas equal
to that which takes place in the bird or squir-
rel when under the influence of the charm of
the serpent? The victims of this serpentine
fascination scream and run, or flutter about
awhile, and then resign themselves to their
fate. In like manner the person who inhales
the gas is instantly deprived of reason, be-
comes frantic, and acts the madman ; but
should he continue to inhale this gas, even
for a short time, death would be the conse-
quence. The same observation may be made
with regard to alcohol, the basis of ardent
spirits, the liabit of using which induces a
90
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
repetition of the intoxicating draught until, settler at night knew not where to set his foot
in spite of every consideration of honor, duty without danger of being assailed by the fangs
and interest, the indulgence ends in slow but of a serpent. Even his cabin was not secure
inevitable suicide. from the invasion of snakes. In the daytime,
The reader has perhaps never seen one of if in the woods, he knew not in what bunch of
the poisonous reptiles which so much annoyed weeds or grass he might provoke a rattlesnake
his forefathers ; but in gratitude he ought to by the tread of his foot, or from behind what
reflect on the appaling dangers attendant on tree or log he might be met by the bullet or
the settlement of his native country. The first tomahawk of an Indian.
CHAPTER XI
INDIGENOUS FRUITS OF THE COUNTY
After having described the western wilder-
ness, an account of its native fruits cannot be
improper. To the botanist and agriculturist
this history cannot fail of being acceptable.
To the former it will serve to show the great
improvement which cultivation has made upon
the indigenous fruits of the forest. To the
latter it will point out what plants may yet
be cultivated with success, although hitherto
neglected. For instance, should he inquire
whether this country is calculated by nature
for the cultivation of the vine, he has only to
ask whether the country in its original state
produced the fruit of the vine. Those early
settlers who profited by the indication with
regard to the cultivation of the apple tree,
furnished by the growth of the crab apple in
the country, derived great advantage from
their correct philosophy, in the high price of
their fruit, while those who neglected this
indication, and delayed planting their trees
until they witnessed the growth of fruit on the
trees of their neighbors, were left several years
in the rear in this respect.
In giving the history of our native fruits I
shall follow the order which they ripened from
spring until winter, our manner of gathering
them, with some remarks on the present state
of those of them which still remain in the
country.
The first fruit which ripened in the country
was the wild strawberry. It grew on poor
land, on which there was no timber. There
were many such places of small extent, on
the points of hills along the creeks. They were
denominated "bald knobs." The fruit was
small, and much sourer than the cultivated
strawberry. It was not abundant in any
place.
The service trees were the first in bloom in
the spring. Their beautiful little flowers
made a fine appearance through the woods,
in the month of April. The berries were ripe
in June. They are sweet, with a very slight
mixture of acidity, and a very agreeable
flavor. The service trees grew abundantly
along the small watercourses, and more thinly
over the hills at a distance from them. A few
of these trees still remain, but their fruit is
mostly devoured by the great number of small
birds which have accompanied the population
of the country. The time for gathering the
service hemes, as well as other fruits, was
Sunday, and in large companies, under the
protection of warriors in arms. In doing
this a great number of the trees were cut
down, so that our crop of them was lessened
eveiy year. This fruit may be considered
as lost to the country, for although the trees
might be cultivated in gardens, the berries
would all be devoured by the small birds be-
fore they would be fully ripe.
Blackberries grew in abundance in those
places where, shortly before the settlement
of the country, the timber had been blown
down by hurricanes. These places we called
the "fallen timber." When ripe, which was
in the time of harvest, the children and young
people resorted to the fallen timber in large
companies, under a guard, for the purpose of
gathering the berries, of which tarts were
often made for the harvest table. The fallen
timber, owing to a new gi-owth of trees, no
longer produces those berries, but enough of
them are to be had along the fences on most
of our farm.
Wild raspberries of an agreeable flavor were
found in many places, but not plentifully any-
where.
Gooseberries of a small size, and very full
of thorns, but of an agreeable taste, grew in
some places in the woods. The amount of them
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
91
was but small. "Whatever may be the reason,
this fruit does not succeed well when trans-
planted into gardens, where they flower
abundantly, but shed the berries before they
become ripe.
Wortleberries were never abundant in this
section of the country, but they were so in
many places in the mountains.
Wild plums were abundant in rich land.
They were of various colors and sizes, and
many of them of an excellent flavor. The wild
plums of late j'ears have, like our damson
plums, fallen oflf pi-ematurely. The beetle bug,
or cureulio, an insect unknown to the country
at its first settlement, bat now numerous
everywhere, perforates the green fruit for the
deposition of its egg. This occasions a flow
of juice of the fruit, so that it becomes gummy
and falls ofE.
An indifferent kind of frait, called buck-
berries, used to grow on small shrubs on poor
ridges. This fruit has nearly vanished from
the settled parts of the country.
Our fall fruits were winter and fall grapes ;
the foi-mer grew in the bottom land. They
were sour, of little value, and seldom used.
The fall grapes grew on high grounds, par-
ticularly in the fallen timber land. Of these
grapes we had several varieties, and some of
them large and of excellent flavor. "We still
have the wild grapes, but not in such abun-
dance as formerly. In process of time they
will disappear from the country.
Black haws gi-ew on large bushes along the
moist bottoms of small watercourses. They
grew in large clusters, and ripened with the
first frosts in the fall. Children were very
fond of them. Red haws grew on white thorn
bushes. They were of various kinds. The
sugar haws, which are small, grow in large
clusters, and when ripe and free from worm,
and semi-transparent, were most esteemed.
The berries when ripe are large, and make
a fine appearance, and being almost free from
worms the children are very fond of eating
them.
"Wild cheiTies were abundant in many
places. To most people they are very agree-
able fruit. They are now becoming scarce.
Pawpaws were plenty along the great water-
courses and on the rich hills. Some people are
fond of eating them. Scarcely any beast will
touch them ; even the omnivorous hog never
eats them. It is said that raccoons are fond
of them. They are still plenty in manj' places.
The crab apple was very abundant along
the smaller watercourses. The foilase of the
tree which bears this fruit is like that of the
domestic apple tree, but not so large. The
tree itself is smaller, of a slower growth than
the orchard tree, and the wood of a much
firmer texture. It blossoms a little later than
our orchards, and when in bloom makes a noble
appearance, and fills the surrounding air with
a delicious fragrance. The crab appears to
be a tree of great longevity. Sour as the crab
apples were, the children were fond of eating
them, especially when in the winter season
they could find them under the leaves, where,
defended by the frost, they acquired a fine
golden color, a fragrant smell, and lost much
of their sourness. One or more of these in-
digenous apple trees ought to be planted in
every orchard, in honor of their native tenancy
of our forests, as well as for the convenience
of our ladies, who are very fond of them for
preserves, but are sometimes unable to pro-
cure them.
Of hickory nuts we had a great variety;
some of the larger shellbark nuts, with the
exception of the thickness of their shells, were
little inferior to the English walnut. Of white
walnuts, we generally had a great abundance ;
of black walnuts, many varieties as to size
and amount of kernel. Hazel and chestnuts
were plenty in many places.
Thus a munificent providence had furnished
this region of the earth with the greater num-
ber of fruits which are to be found in the old
world: but owing to the want of cultivation,
they were -inferior in size and flavor to the
same kinds of fruit in Europe.
It may not amiss to notice in this place the
changes which have taken place in the growth
and bearing of some of our fruit trees since
the settlement of the country.
Peach trees were planted at an early period.
For some time a crop of peaches once in three
or four years was as much as was expected.
After some time these trees became so far
naturalized to the climate as to bear almost
every year. The same observation applies,
although in a less degree, to the apple trees
which were first planted in the country. Their
fruit was frequently wholly killed by the frost.
This has not happened for mpuy years past.
The pear and heart cherry trees, althou?h
they blossomed abundantlv, bore but little
fruit for many years; but in process of time
they afforded abundant crops. Such was the
effect of their becoming naturalized to our
climate.
The peach and pear trees did very well
until the year 1806. when a lonsr succession of
rainy seasons commenced, during which the
trees overgrew themselves, and the falls being
92
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
warm and rainy they contiuued their growth
until the onset of winter. Their branches
were then full of sap, and as water occupies
a greater space when frozen than when fluid,
the freezing of the water they contained
burst the texture of their wood, and rendered
it unfit for the transmission of sap the next
season. This fact leads to the conclusion that
those soft-wooded fruit trees ought to be
planted in the highest situations, and poorest
land, where they will ha-s'e the slowest possible
growth. The few dry seasons we have had
latterly have, in some measure, restored the
peach trees. If such seasons should continue
for any length of time, the peaches and pears
will again become plenty.
If annual plants, as well as trees, possess
the faculty of becoming naturalized to soils
and climates remote from those in which they
are indigenous, what great advantages may
we not reasonably anticipate for the future
prosperity of our country, from this import-
ant law of the vegetable world ? If, by a slow
progress from south to north, the period of the
growth of a plant may be shortened to th'ree
fourths, or even less than that, of the time of
its growth in the south, the sugar cane, already
transplanted from the islands of the AVest
Indies to the shores of the Mississippi, may
slowly travel up that river and its branches
to latitudes far north of any region which has
heretofore witnessed its growth. The cotton
plant and coffee tree, in all probability, will
take the same course.
The conclusions of philosophy, with regard
to the future, are prophetic, when correctly
drawn from the unerring test of experience.
In the prospect here presented of the practic-
ability of naturalizing the plants of the south
to the temperate latitudes far north of their
native region, it is only saying that what
has happened to one plant may under similar
treatment happen to another. For example.
How widely different is the large squaw corn,
in its size and the period of its growth, from
the Mandan corn? The latter ripens under
the fortieth degree of north latitude ; and yet
the squaw and Mandan corn are not even
different species, but only varieties of the
same plant. The squaw corn might travel
slowly to the north, and ultimately dwindle
down into Slandan corn ; while the Mandan
corn, by being transplanted to the south, in-
creases in size and lengthens the period of its
growth.
These observations have been made to show
that the independence of our country may be
vastly augumented by a proper attention to
the laws of nature with regard to the vege-
table world, so that we may hereafter ciiltivate
within our own country the precious fruits
even of the tropical regions.
, CHAPTER XII
FORMATION OF THE COUNTY
Indiana, a western county, was created by
Act of Assembly of 1803 out of parts of West-
moreland and Lycoming counties. That part
south of the Purchase Line was taken from
Westmoreland county and that north of Pur-
chase Line was taken from Lycoming county.
The Act in substance is as follows :
' ' That those parts of the counties of West-
moreland and Lycoming included within the
following boundaries, viz. : Beginning at the
corner of Armstrong county on the Kiskim-
inetas river, thence up said river to the Cone-
raaugh river, thence to the line of Somerset
county (now Cambria county), thence a
straight line to the Canoe place (now Cherry-
tree), on the west bank of the Susquehanna
river; thence a north course along Potter's
district line twelve miles; thence a due west
course to Armstrong county line ; thence along
said line to place of beginning; the same is
hereby erected into a separate county to be
henceforth called Indiana county, and the
place for holding the courts of justice in and
for said county shall be fixed by the legisla-
ture at any place at a distance not greater
than four miles from the center of said county,
and the governor is hereby empowered and re-
quired to appoint three commissioners, any
two of whom shall run, ascertain, and plainly
mark so much of the boundary lines of Indiana
county as is hereafter described, before the
first day of October next. The commissioners
shall receive as a full compensation for their
services therein the sum of two dollars for
every mile so run and marked, to be paid out
of tile moneys raised for the use of the said
county of Indiana."
The Act provides that the said commission-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
9:i
ers shall also ascertain and particnlarly de-
scribe the center of said county and make a
report to the trustees hereinafter named to
make proposals for the convej'ance of lands
for county uses, and the commissioners shall
be allowed a reasonable compensation for
their services. The commissioners' first order
book shows that on November 10, 1803, an
order was issued to Thomas Allison, Michael
Campbell and Joseph McCartney for $230.40
for ranning the boundary line and ascertain-
ing the center of said county. The Act pro-
vides that for the present convenience of the
inhabitants of the said county of Indiana an
enumeration of the taxable inhabitants of
the county shall be made and it shall be other-
wise directed by law, the said county shall
be annexed to the county of Westmoreland
and the authority of the judges thereof shall
extend over the county of Indiana.
William Jack. James Parr and John Pome-
roy of Westmoreland county were appointed
as trustees for the county of Indiana with
full authority to receive proposals which shall
or may be accepted of under the same trusts
and for the sole use and benefits of the said
county. As soon as it shall appear by an
enumeration of the taxable inhabitants within
the county of Indiana, the county according
to the ratio which shall then be established
for apportioning the representation among
the several counties of this Commonwealth
shall be entitled to a separate representation,
hold the courts of justice at such place as
may be fixed by the Legislature and choose
their county officers in like manner as the
other counties may or can do.
It is further enacted that the commission-
ers of the county of Westmoreland shall have
power and are authorized to assess and levy
county rates for county uses and purposes
in the county of Indiana, and the treasurer
of Westmoreland shall open an account for
Indiana county from which such rates and
levies shall be raised and collected, and shall
pay out of the moneys raised all the expenses
of assessing, levying and collecting the same
therein, together with the expenses- of run-
ning the boundary lines of Indiana county,
and the expenses of ignoramus bills and other
costs of prosecution chargeable to the county
which shall be exhibited against persons re-
siding within the county and also all rewards
for wolf scalps and animals of pi-ey destroyed
in said county, for which a reward is or shall
be given by law. and the remainder shall be
applied to and for the use of the county of
Indiana; and that all the county taxes as-
sessed for the current year by the commis-
sioners of Westmoreland and Lycoming
counties shall be for the use of the county in
which such sum is assessed.
The commissioners appointed to establish
the place for holding the courts of justice in
the county of Indiana performed their duties
and reported the same to the Legislature of
the State which in General Assembly met,
appointed Charles Campbell. Randall Laugh-
lin and John Wilson trustees for the county
of Indiana, and authorized them to survey
250 acres of land, agreeable to a description
given of the situation and boundary thereof
in the grant and obligation of Alexander
Craig for George Clymer, made by him to
the present Legislature for the use of the
county of Indiana ; and the trustees were
authorized to lay out a convenient lot or lots
not exceeding four acres, whereon the public
buildings for the county of Indiana should be
erected : and the residue of the said 250 acres
was to be laid out in town lots and out lots
in such manner and with such streets, not
more than one hundred nor less than seventy
feet wide, and lanes and alleys for the public
use, as the trustees shall direct. The town
lots were not to contain more than two thirds
of an acre and the out lots not more than
three acres. The streets, lanes and alleys
were to be and remain highways forever.
The town lots and out lots were to be sold by
the trustees by public auction at such time
as they might judge most advantageous to
the county. The trustees were to advertise
the sale of lots three times, at least, in one
or more of the newspapers of Pittsburg, Wash-
ington, Greensburg, Lancaster and Philadel-
phia, two months before the day appointed
for such sale, and before the advertisements
were published the trustees wei'e to submit a
map or draft of the town and out lots to the
secretary of the Commonwealth to be de-
posited in his office, and with the money aris-
ing from the sale of the lots the trustees were
to proceed to erect a courthouse, jail and
necessary public buildings for the use of the
county. The trustees were then reciuired to
receive a deed or deeds of conveyance in fee
simple from Alexander Craig for George
Clymer and have the deed or deeds recorded
in the office for recording deeds in the county
of Westmoreland, and when trustees had so
done they were to make and grant sufficient
deeds in fee simple for the lots sold.
Within one year after the courts of law
and board of commissioners were established,
94
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the trustees were to surrender and convey to
the county commissioners all trusts vested in
them, and the commissioners were empowered
to perform the several duties which remained
to be done as fully and effectively as the
trustees could do. The trustees were to re-
ceive $1.33 for each day employed in the ner-
formanee of the duties of the aforesaid trust,
together with all expenses necessarilv in-
curred for assistance in laying out lots, streets,
lanes and alleys. The same was to be paid
by the treasurer of Westmoreland county out
of the taxes levied on the county of Indiana.
The trustees were required to file a draft of
the survey in the office of the recorder of
deeds for Westmoreland county.
On March 10, 1806, an Act was passed to
organize the provisional county of Indiana,
and in substance was as follows:
"That after the first Monday in November
next, the inhabitants were to enjoy all and
singularly the jurisdiction, powers, rights,
liberties and privileges within the same which
the inhabitants of other counties in this State
enjoyed by the constitution and laws of this
Commonwealth."
All actions of trespass and ejectment for
the trials of titles of land, actions of trespass,
quare clausum fregit, for entry into any
lands or tenements within the county of Indi-
ana, which at the time of passing of this act
or before the first Monday in November next,
commenced in the court of Common Pleas or
Circuit court of Westmoreland county, and
which on the first Monday of November are
still pending and undetermined, shall be
transferred to the court of Common Pleas or
Circuit court of Indiana county, there to be
tiled according to law in the same manner
on the first Monday of November next.
The prothonotary of Westmoreland county
was required to make out within thirty days
a docket containing a statement of all such
actions then pending and \indetermined, in
the said county of Westmoreland, and to de-
liver to the prothonotary of Indiana county,
who was to pay the prothonotary of West-
moreland county for every action contained
in said docket the usual fees allowed for sim-
ilar services, which were to be reimbursed
to him by the county of Indiana.
The sheriff, coroner and other public officers
of Westmoreland county were to continue to
exercise the duties of their respective offices
within the county of Indiana as heretofore
until the first Monday of November next.
The commissioners of Indiana county were
authorized to erect a courthouse, prison and
other public buildings for the safe keeping of
records and other public papers, on the public
grounds appropriated for the purpose. The
county commissioners were authorized to pro-
cure a house in or near Indiana town, as con-
venient as will admit at the least expense, in
which the courts of the county shall be held
until the courthouse can be erected. If no such
building could be found, the commissioners
were to have the power to erect temporary
buildings for that purpose.
The general election was to be held the
second Tuesday of October next to choose two
fit persons for sheriff', two for coroners, and
three for commissioners in Indiana county.
This Act provided that Jefferson county
should be annexed to Indiana county, and
that the commissioners of Indiana county
were to have control over Jefferson county.
Indiana county was first represented in
the General Assembly of Pennsylvania by
James McComb, who was assemblyman from
1803 to 1808, and James Brady, who was
State senator from 1803 to 1815.
The first president judge of Indiana county
was Hon. John Young, of Greensburg, who
served from 1806 to 1836; the first associate
judges were James Smith and Charles Camp-
bell; the first prothonotary and clerk of the
courts was James McLain, who served from
1806 to 1818; the first sheriff was Thomas
McCartney, who served from 1806 to 1809.
The first county commissioners were William
Clarke, James Johnston and Alexander Mc-
Lain; the first clerks to the commissioners
were Alex. Johnston, for trustees of county,
1804, Paul ^Morrison, for trustees of county,
1805, James Riddle, for commissioners, 1806;
and the first coroner was Samuel Young, who
served from 1806 to 1809.
Indiana county is bounded on the north
by Jefferson county, on the east by Clearfield
and Cambria counties, on the south by West-
moreland county, and on the west by Arm-
strong countv. It lies between 40° 23' and
40° 56' north latitude, and 1° 49' and 20°
14' west longitude from Washington city.
The Conemaugh river (called Kiskiminetas
from its junction with Loyalhanna creek)
flows along the entire southern boundary of
the county from east to west. The west
branch of "the Susquehanna river touches the
county on the northeast. Some of the spurs
of the Allegheny mountains run into the
county on the northeast. Laurel Hill is on the
east. " Chestnut Ridge enters on the south and
runs in a northerly direction about half the
length of the county. The dividing ridge or
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
95
watershed in the northeastern part of the
county divides the waters of the Susquehanna,
that flow into Chesapeake bay, from the
streams emptying into the Conemaugh and
Allegheny rivers flowing southward, finally
reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The lowest part
of this watei-shed is 1,300 feet above tide-
water. The county is well watered by numer-
ous small streams and creeks — the largest of
them, Blacklick, Yellow creek, Twolick and
Blacklegs, emptying into the Conemaugh;
Crooked creek. Plum creek, Little Mahoning
and Canoe, into the Allegheny; Cushion and
Cush creek into the Susequehanna. The
streams flowing into the Conemaugh have a
fall of from twenty to thirty feet to the mile ;
those flowing into the Allegheny from ten to
fifteen feet to the mile: and those into the
Susquehanna from thirty-five to forty feet to
the mile. Inundations are very rare. Owing
to the rolling character of the surface, there is
little marsh land. The western division of
the Pennsylvania canal, once passing through
the Conemaugh valley, is now discontinued.
The amount of lockage was about two hun-
dred and fifty feet. The area of the county
is 775 square miles. The average altitude of
the county is 1,300 feet above tide. The sur-
face is rolling, cut into small valleys and
hills b3' the numerous small streams. The
principal eminences are called "round tops."
which rise from 300 to 500 feet above the
general surface of the county. Doty's round
top, on the line of Grant and Canoe townships,
is said to be the highest point in the county.
Oak's Point, highest peak of the Chestnut
Ridge, is 1.200 feet above the Conemaugh
river. In about one fourth of the county (the
eastern part) the timber is principally white
pine, spruce and hemlock. The balance of
the county is covered with white oak, black
oak, chestnut oak, red oak, poplar, chestnut,
hickory, sugar maple, walnut, cheriy, locust,
cucumber, birch etc.
The principal minerals are bituminous coal,
salt, iron ore and limestone. Gas is found in
the vicinity of Willet. Washington township.
The soil in the eastern part of the county is
loam and sand as far as the pine timber
extends. In the balance of the coimty, the
soil is loam and slate, \\ath clay admixture
in spots. The subsoil is clay and slate. The
subjacent rock in the lowland is a pecu-
liar hard-blue, micaceous sandstone. In the
higher tablelands it is variegated, blue and
red. In the Conemaugh valley there are sev-
eral salt wells from which have been manu-
factured a very good quality of salt. Several
springs in the county are thought to possess
medicinal cjualities. The water used for
domestic purposes in the towns and villages
is obtained from wells at the depth of from
fifteen to thirty feet. There are a few wells
in Indiana and Blairsville bored to the depth
of two thousand feet or more.
About five sixths of the county is arable
land, large portions thereof highly fertile, pro-
ducing grass. Indian corn and all the cereals.
The water privileges are extensive and the
climate is healthful.
COMPARISON OF THE CENSUS OF THE TEARS
1810 and 1910
The census of 1840 showed the following
in Indiana county: Number of horses and
mules, 6,524; neat cattle, 18,199; sheep, 35,-
894 ; swine, 24,377 ; bushels of wheat, 195,254 ;
barley, 297 : oats, 356,046 ; lye, 78,021 ; buck-
wheat, 80,806 ; corn, 171,018 ; pounds of wool,
51,193 ; pounds of hops. 605 ; pounds of wax,
2,693; bushels of potatoes, 103,807; tons of
hay, 25,193; tons of hemp and flax, 3%;
pounds of sugar made. 12.282; value of the
poultry, .$8,343; dairy, products, $33,739;
products of the orchard, $5,908 ; homemade or
family goods, $30,053. Three commission
houses with a capital of $7,500; 69 retail dry
goods, gi-ocery and other stores, with a capital
of $171,116; value of machinery manufac-
tured, $5,650 ; value of bricks and lime, $2,415 ;
number of fulling mills, five; number of
woolen manufacturers, five; value of manu-
factured goods, $2,700. sixteen men employed,
and the "capital invested, $7,250 ; value of
hats and caps manufactured, $1,990, persons
employed, six, and capital invested, $2,405;
number of tanneries, twenty-six, sides of sole
leather tanned, 1,739, upper leather tanned,
3,472, number of men employed, forty-one,
capital invested, $18,905; number of dis-
tilleries, seven, gallons produced, 5,750; the
number of breweries, one, gallons produced,
1,400, men employed, ten, capital invested,
$1,635 ; value of carriages and wagons manu-
factured, $4,708, men employed, twenty, cap-
ital invested, $2,952 ; number of flouring mills,
three, barrels of flour manufactured, 2,750;
number of gi-ist-mills. fifty-one; sawmills,
seventy- four ; value of manufactures, $25,-
450, number of men employed, 123, capital
invested, $80,070. The number of wooden
houses built, seven, men employed, twenty,
the value of constructing or building, $3,050.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Total capital invested in manufactories,
$119,474.
The census of 1910 shows the following in
Indiana county:
Number or
quantity Value
Land area, acres 5:i0.560
Population, total 1910 66,210
Farmers, native 4.304
Farmers, foreign-born, white. 150
Farmers, negro and other non-
white 5
Farms operated by owners... 3,533 $14,758,386
Farms operated by tenants ... 863 4,260,093
Farms operated by managers. 64 584,610
Total number of farms 4,459 19,603,989
Total farm acreage 432,977 13,957,939
Average acreage per farm .... 97.1
Improved acreage 315,480
Woodland acreage 96,679
Other unimproved land 20,818
Average improved acreage per
farm 70.8
Buildings 6,645,050
Implements and machinery 1,168,451
Domestic animals, etc.:
Cattle 22,748 634,580
Horses 10,470 1,351,196
Mules 486 63,936
Swine 20,581 144,874
Sheep 16,069 ■ 65,888
Poultry 203,601 116,394
Bees (colonies) 4,067 20,448
Field Crops:
Corn acres .... 25,796
bushels.. 740,879 518,615
Oats '. . . . acres. . . . 25,453
bushels.. 536,411 336,885
Wheat acres .... 17.045
bushels.. 330,951 198,856
Buckwheat acres.... 20,303
bushels.. 356,631 178,315
Rye acres .... 8,960
bushels.. 90,631 63,435
Potatoes acres 4,116
bushels.. 398,097 218,953
Hay and f orage .. acres ... . 48,918
tons 42,882 600,348
FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS
All that part of Westmoreland county
north of the Conemaugh river, was called
Wheatfield, and the first assesment was made
in 1779. Armstrong was formed from "Wheat-
field in 1785 ; Banks from Canoe township in
1868 ; Blacklick from Armstrong township in
1807; Brushvalley from Wheatfield in 1835;
Buffington from Pine township in 1867 ; Bur-
rell from Blacklick townsliip in 1853 ; Canoe
from ^Montgomery township in 1847; Center
from Armstrong in 1807; Cherryhill from
Green and Brushvalle.y in 1834; Conemaugh
from Armstrong in 1803 ; Grant from Mont-
gomery in 1868 ; Green from Wheatfield in
1816. Mahoning was formed from that part
of the county taken from Lycoming county
in 1803. The first assessment is dated in 1807.
East Mahoning was formed from Mahoning in
1846, West Mahoning from Mahoning in 1846,
North Mahoning from Mahoning in 1846,
and South Mahoning from ]\Iahoning in 1846.
Montgomery from Mahoning in 1834, Pine
from Wheatfield in 1850 ; Rayne from Wash-
ington and Green in 1845 ; Washington from
Armstrong in 1807 ; East Wheatfield from
Wheatfield township in 1859; West Wheat-
field from Wheatfield in 1859; White was
formed from three miles around the borough
of Indiana in 1843; Young from Blacklick
and Conemaugh in 1830.
It will thus be seen that from Wheatfield
the sixteen townships south of the Purchase
Line were formed. That part of Indiana
county which lies north of Purchase Line was
taken from Lycoming county, and in 1807
was called Mahoning. From IMahoning the
eight townships north of the Purchase Line
were formed.
BOROUGHS OP INDIAN.-i. COUNTY
The boroughs of Indiana county were in-
corporated as follows: Armagh, April 10,
1834; Blairsville, March 25, 1825; Cherry-
tree, April 30, 1855; Clymer, February 29,
1908; Creekside, June 5, 1905; Glen Camp-
bell, Sept. 27, 1894; Homer City, Sept. 26,
1872 ; Indiana, March 28, 1816 ; Jacksonville,
September 29, 1852; Marion Center, March
28, 1868; Mechanicsburg, January 2, 1857;
Plumville, December 6, 1909; Saltsburg.
April 16, 1838; Shelocta, April 15, 1851;
Smicksburg, June 28, 1854.
EARLY ELECTION PLACES
1785. — "The election for that portion of
Westmoreland county north of the Cone-
maugh river being the first district shall be
held at the dwelling house of Samuel
Dickson."
1792. — "The freemen of the first district of
Westmoreland county shall hold their elec-
tion at the house of William Neal."
1802. — "The electors residing within
Wheatfield and Fairfield townships. West-
moreland county, shall hold their general elec-
tion at the house of Richard Dimsey, in the
town of Armagh."
1807. — "Armstrong, Washington and Cen-
ter townships, in the county of Indiana, be
and the same hereby erected into a separate
election district and the electors of the town-
ship aforesaid shall hold their general elec-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
97
tions at the house now occupied by Peter
Sutton in the town of Indiana or at such other
house in town as the commissioners of said
county shall direct. Blacklick township at
the liouse of Patrick McGee. Conemaugh
township at the house of John Marshall. IMa-
honing township at the hoi;se of James
Brady, Sr."
1808. — "Armstrong township at the house
of David McCuUough."
EARLY ASSESSMENTS
In 1805 the assessment book for Wheatfield
township showed that land was assessed from
25 cents to $4 per acre; horses, $20; oxen,
$12 ; and cows, $8. All occupations and single
freemen were assessed at $10. The title to
land was mostly patent or warrant. A dis-
tillery owned by James Campbell, a shoe-
maker, assessed for $9.50, and a grist-mill
owned by William Clark was assessed at $120.
At that time few persons owned more than
one horse and one cow. ]\Iany did not own
either. William Boals. a single man. owned
four horses and six cows. We find many
persons owning large tracts of land. Robert
Weir owned one thousand acres assessed at
25 cents per acre. In Wheatfield township.
there were 15,655 acres of unseated land as-
sessed at 371/2 cents per acre. In 1809 the
county conuuissioners placed a rate of one
third of a cent on the dollar on the assessed
valuation of taxable property in Wheatfield
township.
The following is the list of taxes paid on
unseated lands to Joseph McCartney, treas-
urer of Indiana county, in 1807: Armstrong
township, county tax, $188.34, road tax,
$103.88 ; Wheatfield township county tax
$99.70, road tax, $13.59; Conemaugh ' town-
ship, county tax, $11.17, road tax, .$8.61; Ma-
honing township, countv tax, $93.64, road tax,
$59.08.
In 1840 Indiana county had a total popu-
lation of 20,784. Of this number, twenty-five
persons were employed in mining; 4,5.36 in
agriculture; 127 in commerce; 815 in manu-
factures and trades; five in navigatitDn of the
ocean ; 104 in navigation of canals, lakes and
rivers; ninety in learned professions and as
engineers; twenty-eight were drawing pen-
sions for Revolutionarj- or other military
services: seven were deaf and dumb, three
were blind, twelve insane and idiots, at priv-
ate charge, two deaf and dumb colored ; three
colored insane.
CHAPTER XIII
POLITICAL PARTIES
Party organization in the government of a
country exists in proportion to the recogni-
tion of freedom of thought and action among
the people of that country. Where this free-
dom is denied, political activity has nothing
upon which to rest. We are not surprised at
the absence of party organization in countries
like Russia or Turkey. In fact its growth in
modern Europe is a thing of recent times.
Its conception rests upon difference of
opinion freely expressed. No matter how
great this difference is, it is of no importance
without freedom of expression. Only where
emancipation of opinion is enjoyed do parties
flourish. The sifting of Europe to secure the
planting of America came about through the
struggle for emancipation. It resulted in the
selection of a rare people for the beginning
of a great civilization. The restrictions of
governmental decrees on the freedom of the
intellect, the clipping of the wings of the
mind bj' a short-sighted policy, based upon
the theory that the most direct route to great-
ness was by the suppression of political and
religious heresy, were the chief occasions for
the alarming exodus of some of the best brain
and heart of the Old World to the virgin soil
of the New.
The very first amendment to the Federal
constitution declared that Congress shall have
no power to make any law abridging the free-
dom of the press or of speech, or respecting
the establishment of any religion, or prevent-
ing the people to peacefully assemble to
petition the government for the redress of
grievances. In this sense the American polit-
ical party is unique. This constitutional pro-
tection furnished the most fertile soil for
party growth. In this soil at one time or other
almost every theory that has occupied the
mind of a citizen has been planted, and has
sprouted, some to grow and others to wither.
The observer of the development of political
institutions in America will be able to detect
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
at least two forms of political theory. The
one expresses itself in the tendency toward
centralization in government; the other to-
ward decentralization. In the government of
Greece the pendulum swung to the side of
self-government of the free cities, thus deny-
ing the needed central authority over them
in matters of general concern which de-
feated all desires for uniformity in adminis-
tration. The government became loose in its
parts and was wrecked upon the rocks of
anarchy. Rome employed a different policy,
which swung the pendulum to the opposite
extreme. In the Roman regime there was a
recognition of the principle of local self-
government, but there was no affiliation be-
tween these local governments and the Imper-
ial governments; hence the tendency toward
disregard for the local need and rights, which
led to usurpation of power and the ultimate
rise and fall of the monarchy. England, after
the struggle of the centuries for the recogni-
tion of the principle of self-government, took
the longest step toward the solution of the
problem. For centuries the power in that
country was in the crown. Then for a less
duration it was in the lords. In modern Eng-
land the power is in the people, represented
in the commons.
The American Revolution, which secured
not only the recognition of the principle in
question, hut entire independence of the
Colonies, shifted the struggle of the two
political theories from the Old to the New
World.
The situation of the Colonies, the partial
recognition of local government, the character
of the colonists, the wide separation and great
variety of interests — all conspired to educate
the people in an appreciation of the value of
local government. The Revolution and, espe-
ciallyrthe chain of courses leading to it, were
the "occasion for a conflict of theories. The
self-governing impulse had flowed out into
the great charter of human liberties, the
Declaration of Independence, and had de-
clared to all the world that the people were
endowed Avith the inalienable rights of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The Revolution left the Colonists in undis-
puted possession of the right of self-govern-
ment. It detached the last vestige of monar-
chial government and left the Colonies to
create some substitute. The old school of
thinkers contended for coercive power in the
head; the other jealously guarded the rights
of the several parts. The former insisted that
the experience of the past decade proved the
imbecility of a government without such cen-
tral authority, while the latter pointed to the
regime under George III, and insisted that
it proved that all our woes dated from the
exercise of the very powers contended for by
the friends of centralization. This contention
separated the people into two factions; the
one making the Nation the chief repository of
strength and welfare of the people, the other
making the States that repository. Thus was
created party division over the old question
which engaged the best thought of the race.
Perhaps the real exponent of the central
theory of government was Alexander Hamil-
ton, of New York, and the leading exponent
of the looser theory was Thomas Jefferson, of
Virginia. The greatest single performance of
Washington as the first president was his
inauguration of the two theories as well as
of determination. Heredity helped furnish
the seed, and environment assisted in prepar-
ing the soil.
The party system was a natural outgrowth
of conditions. The very motive which
prompted the earliest settlements insured a
distinct political system. The oppression
from which the fathers fled prompted that
freedom of speech and of worship. While
religious differences gave life to various de-
nominations, and political differences per-
mitted separate political parties, the spirit of
democracy was sufficient that between demo-
cracy and aristocracy the latter had no
footing. The nearest approach was the pre-
Revolutionary division, the Tory versus the
Whig. While democracy was supreme in the
New World, its very suggestion implied
variety of method.
The rational basis for party division in
this country is the contention between liberty
and authority. Leaders have arisen who stood
as the exponents of these principles in the
American system. Parties have been orga-
nized upon these principles as fundamental.
In this party contention, each factor has re-
vealed both its strength and its weakness, and
in obedience to the law of the suiwival of the
fittest the resultant of the struggle is a system
which incorporates both elements as co-
ordinate. Upon these two fundamental ele-
ments, liberty and authority, the structure of
the American system has been erected.
For one hundred and twenty-four yeare
the party system has been maturing. Prom
1789 to isoi the Federalist party had control
of the machinery of the government. During
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
much of this time aggressive opposition was
ofifered by the Anti-federalist, better known
as the Republican, party. From 1801 to 1845
the Republican party, later called the Demo-
cratic party, held control, with the possible
single exception of the .vounger Adams,
1825-29. While he was a Republican Adams
differed from his party upon the construction
of the constitution. Yet as a Republican he
had conducted the foreign relations depart-
ment of Monroe's cabinet, of which he was
regarded the most distinguished member.
Harrison's inauguration in 1841 was the in-
troduction of the Whig party to power, but
the death of Harrison on April 4, 1841, and
the inaugui-ation of Tyler limited the Whig
control to a single month. Tyler broke with
his party on the bank question, and returned
to his former Democratic allegiance. In 1845
Polk's inauguration permitted the Democrats
to continue their policy. In 1849 the election
of Taylor gave the country its only Whig
administration. Taylor died in office, but his
policy was continued with Pierce and Bu-
chanan down to 1861. In the latter year
Lincoln inaugurated the Republican rule
which continued without interruption for
twenty-four years. It then gave way to the
Democratic party under Cleveland. After
four years the Republicans returned to power
under the second Harrison, who after four
years again gave way to the Democrats under
Cleveland. After four years, Cleveland gave
way to the Republicans under McKinley.
The Federalist party controlled the govern-
ment twelve years, the old Republican party
twenty-four years, the National Republican
party under John Q. Adams four years, the
Democratic party, including the Tyler regime,
thirty-six years, the Whig four j-ears, the
Republican party forty-four years, ending
with Taft in 1913. During this period of
one hundred and twenty-four years the gov-
ernment has been administered, at one time
or another, by six different parties, if the
parties are distinguished by name; if by
political theory, only two have been in con-
trol. The old Republican and the modern
Democratic party held the same theory of
government, and should be identified in name
as well as in principle. The Federalist, the
National Republican, the Whig and the Re-
publican all advocated similar principles, and
should be regarded the same party with dif-
99
ferent names. Taking the view of parties, the
one has stood from the beginning for strong
central government, the other for local self-
government. The one employed the broad or
loose construction of the constitution, the
other the narrow or strict construction. Dur-
ing the one hundred and twenty-four years of
national existence the Democratic party has
conducted the affairs of the nation sixty
years, and the Republican party sixty-four
years. The Democratic party has been in
power since March 4, 1913.
To the Federalist party the country owes
the organization of the government and the
inauguration of the government's politics.
Under Washington and Hamilton the finances
were provided, a high credit was established,
neutrality was announced which has been
consistently followed to this day, a strong
and vigorous foreign policy was outlined. To
the old Republican party the country is in-
debted for much of its liberties, for freedom
of speech, of the press, of worship and the
right of petition. To it also the States owe
the largest recognition of local self-govern-
ment, and also the first step of marvelous
expansion which the' country has experienced
in the one hundred and twenty-four years of
national existence. To the National Republi-
can party the country owes the fostering of
the constructive policy in the establishment
of internal improvements, the defense of a
system of national banks, and the adoption
of the policy of protection of American in-
dustries. To the Whig party it owes a con-
tinued fostering of these principles. To the
Democratic party is due the continued de-
fense of the cardinal principles of the old
Republican party. The work of expansion
begun by that party in the purchase of
Louisiana and Florida was continued by it
in the annexation of Texas, the occupation of
Oregon, the prosecution of the Mexican war
with the consequent accession of the vast
Southwest. One of its fundamental principles
is the protection of the many against the few.
It therefore declaims against special privileges
and abuses of corporate wealth. Its platform
is the welfare of the many and special priv-
ilege to none. To the Republican party the
country owes the abolition of slavery and the
citizenship of the negro. To it, mainly is due
tlie prosecution of the war and the preserva-
tion of the Union. It was during the period
100
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of its incuiubeiiey that new applications of
electricity were made, various products of the
mine were improved, such as steel, and a
vast impulse in transportation was exper-
ienced, as well as a commercial awakening
such as the world never saw before.
Of the third parties which have existed at
one time or another in the life of the nation
not one lived to pass from the stage of the
third party to that of first, or even second, in
national aiiairs.
In this county a majority of the promi-
nent men were Federalists, but the Anti-Fed-
eralists (Democrats) had a slight preponder-
ance, notwithstanding the fact that the Fed-
eralists had the advantage of a newspaper,
The American, the publication of which was
commenced in 1814 by James McCahan. In
1815 the printing office was located on the
A. N. Taylor lot. It was destroyed by fire,
the first fire which occurred in Indiana. The
paper was soon established on better footing
than before, for all the people, in accord with
the spirit of the times, subscribed for the
paper and gave it their patronage. The pub-
lication of the first Democratic paper in the
county was commenced in 1821, by Alexander
Taylor and C. H. Wheelock. under the name
of the Indiana and ./< I)', rson Whig.
In 1826 the Ann rifun cslablishment was
purchased by A. T. ^Muorhcad, Sr., and his
father, James Moorhead, was installed as edi-
tor and publisher. The printing office at that
time was located on Water street, in the build-
ing afterwards occupied by Michael Job. In
the year 1826 the alleged abduction of Wil-
liam Morgan by the Masonic fraternity oc-
curred at Batavia, N. Y., in consequence of
which the most intense excitement was preva-
lent throughout the western parts of New
York and Pennsylvania, and eastern Ohio;
and a new political party sprung into ex-
istence under the name of Anti-masons, which
embraced within its folds such prominent
men of the day as John Q. Adams, of Massa-
chusetts, Thurlow Weed, William H. Seward.
Francis Granger, and Horace Greeley, of
New York ; Thaddeus Stevens, Nevil B. Craig,
and Charles Ogle, of Pennsylvania. The
new party became powerful in a number of
the States. In 1832 the Anti-masons earned
the electoral votes of Vermont. The warfare
was exceedingly bitter. The doors of the
lodges were closed and their meetings sus-
pended. James Moorhead at once gave ad-
hesion to this party, and with all his energy
as man and publisher sought to advance the
policy and doctrines of the new party; and
the American became an Anti-masonic for-
warder. As early as 1827 the Anti-mason
party was organized in Indiana county. Soon
the whig, then published by John MeCrea,
also unfurled the Anti-masonic banner. In
about 1826, John McCrea, who had served his
apprenticeship in the office of the Whig, pur-
chased the establishment, and continued the
publication. Soon thereafter, probably in the
latter part of 1827, or early in 1828, the Amer-
ican was merged into the Whig, under Mc-
Crea, James JMoorhead and the former pub-
lisher of the American, shortly thereafter re-
moving to Ashtabula county, Ohio. This new
party to a great extent disrupted the old par-
ties in our county, and was the dominant
party here till 1840, when the Anti-masonic
party of the State and everywhere became
merged in the Whig party, which hitherto, in
this State, was chiefly confined to Philadel-
phia and some of our eastern counties. By
this time the Anti-masons generally had come
to the conclusion that a pure moral question
disconnected from the financial and material
interest of the country was not a suitable
foundation for a successful political party.
In 1832, Jolm Taylor purchased the W}iig
office from John McCrea and gave the paper
the name of the Free Press, conducted it in
the interest of Anti-masonry, and as the ex-
ponent of the progress and development of
the county.
In 1833, or possibly in 1834, the Inquirer,
a Democratic journal, was commenced by
Fergus Cannon. Its publication was con-
tinued for several years. It was printed in
the room used as the office of the "Kline
House." This paper probably passed into
the hands of Mui-phy & Woodward. Aug-
ustus Dunn, for a time, was the editor and
writer, though his name did not appear as
such in the paper.
In 1840 the Liberal party, better kndwn
perhaps as the Abolition party, had its rise.
That a portion of mankind should be held in
fetters by another portion of the human fam-
ily was repugnant to the feelings of philan-
thropic people everywhere, and now that the
issue was brought forward in the politics of
the country James Moorhead, the old Anti-
mason warrior, again stepped forward in the
interest of human rights and began the pub-
lication of the Clarion of Freedom in 1840.
Most earnestly, in season and out of season,
did Mr. Moorhead combat the doctrine of
slavery, until in 1854 when the Know-nothing
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
101
epidemic broke out. The Know-nothing party
was so called because of the custom of its
members in replying to all inquiries relative
to the doings in their orders, ' ' I don 't know. ' '
It swallowed up the Whig party, which was
the ruling party hei'e, and greatly demoral-
ized the Democratic party. The Republican
party, in 1856, swallowed up the Know-noth-
ings and still further weakened the Demo-
crats.
There is always present in the countiy a
considerable party which believes in the "soft
money" theory. This party can see no ra-
tional basis for the claim of intrinsic values.
To it money may be anything that the gov-
ernment which issues it calls money. A piece
of paper with the government's stamp upon
it is money, as truly as the gold or silver
coins with the government's stamp. The
utility of such money has been tested in times
of emergency. Its advocates refer to the vari-
ous periods when the government through
necessity has been compelled to adopt their
theory. This they declare is proof of their
contention. These advocates are found in
every country and at all times.
In this country, as in others, the "soft
money" theory is uniformly offered as the
remedy for industrial stagnation. When-
ever business is disturbed and hard times
are promised, the "soft money" advocate is
on hand with his stock of argument that he
has what the country needs. His position
invariably appeals to the debtor class and
wins its support. All nations have at one
time or other of their existence passed
through this stage.
The first step towards a partisan organiza-
tion was in November, 1874, when a Green-
back convention met in Indianapolis and
adopted a platform of principles. A few
months after the formal organization of the
Greenback labor party in Indiana county the
members of that party exerted themselves to
secure the establishment of a newspaper de-
voted to the exposition of their political views
and opinions, and the first number was issued
on September 20, 1878. The intention was to
run the paper until the close of the campaign
in the following November. But when the
returns of that election came in and the as-
tonishing result was announced it was re-
solved that its publication should be discon-
tinued. The paper was called the Indiana
National, and its founder and publisher was
Frank Smith, who for many years was con-
nected with the Indiana Messenger.
The Prohibition party held its first na-
tional convention in September. 1869. It was
not called for the purpose of noniinating a
candidate for office, but to inaugurate a na-
tional temperance movement. The question
of the use of intoxicating liquors has more or
less agitated the people for many years. The
first public temperance society in this coun-
try was organized in 1826. At that time the
use of intoxicating beverages was so common
among all classes of people that total ab-
stinence was not essential to membership.
Ten years later a national convention of tem-
perance workers declared for total abstinence.
The adherents were ridiculed and derisively
nicknamed "teetotalers." Four years later
the movement was stimidated by the oi-ganiza-
tion of the famous Washingtonian Society in
the city of Baltimore. This organization was
started by half a dozen men who had been
addicted "to the habit of drunkenness. The
first national nominating convention of the
Prohibition party was held in 1872. It nom-
inated James Black of Pennsylvania for presi-
dent. The party polled 5,608 votes in the
election. In 1884 there were two conventions,
both claiming to be of the Prohibition
party. The one was held in Chicago. Its plat-
form was a patch quilt. It denounced secret
societies and was similar to the old Anti-
masonic party. The other convention was
held in Pittsburg, under the name of the Pro-
hibition Home ^ Protection party. It de-
nounced both the old parties for their atti-
tude upon the liquor business. In 1896 the
party divided upon the money question into
the Narrow Gangers and the Broad Gangers.
The latter insisted upon making its fight in-
clude the money question in the interest of the
free coinage of silver. It thus appears that
the Prohibition movement has failed thus far
to enlist the temperance element of the coun-
try. .
In 1891 a People s party was organized,
composed of the adherents of the principles
of the Greenback party, the Union Labor
party, the United Labor party, and the Farm-
ers' Alliance. This new organization adopted
a platform declaring for the free coinage of
silver. It polled 1,040,886 votes. It is the
only third party to control the electoral vote
102
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of any State since the war of the Rebellion,
and that in one election only.
In 1900 the followers of Eugene Debs
organized for political action. They held a
convention and nominated Debs as their can-
didate for president. Electoral tickets were
voted for in thirty-two States. In 1904 the
same candidate was nominated and received
more than four times as many votes. The
vote was larger than that of both the Pro-
hibition and the People's parties.
In 1896 the campaign between the Repub-
lican and DiMiiiirr.-itii' i)arties was conducted
npon the silvn' (imslioii. Prior to this date
efforts had liccii mailc to commit the Demo-
cratic party to the free coinage of silver. Mr.
Cleveland, then the controlling personality
of the party, backed by the Eastern States,
prevented the partj^ from taking such posi-
tion. By 1896, through the almost united
"West and South the Democratic convention
adopted a platform declaring against mono-
metallism and in favor of bimetallism, that
is, against the use of but one standard in
favor of a double standard. It declared that
both gold and silver were the money of the
constitution, and the act of 1873, which made
gold the standard, was a crime against the
people of the United States. It pronounced
in favor of the "free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
of sixteen to one without waiting for the aid
or consent of any other nation."
The Republican party in its national con-
vention declared in favor of "sound money."
It pronounced against the free coinage of sil-
ver, except by international agi'eement, and
pledged itself to maintain the gold standard
until such agreement could be reached.
Upon this issue was conducted the whirl-
wind campaign that has gone into history as
the Bryan Silver campaign. Aside from the
Hard Cider campaign of 1840, it was the
most exciting and spectacular campaign in
the history of American politics. It resulted
in a contest between the Eastern and Cen-
tral States on the one side, and the Western
and Southern States on the other. In 1900
the issue was again fought, between the two
parties, led by the same candidate. The re-
sults indicated that the silver issue had lost
its hold upon the voter.
A number of third parties have sprung up
in the country, but none of them has been
able to take first place or even second. In
1900 the Prohibition party had 335 votes,
Socialist party 50. and People's party 29.
In 1911 the Keystone party came into ex-
istence. Its supporters were those who were
dissatisfied with the two old parties and raised
the cry that the old parties were run by
"bosses." The Keystone party made an
earnest effort to elect county officers, but
failed. In 1912 the sentiment for Roosevelt
becanie very strong in the county and most
of the advocates of the Keystone party sup-
ported the Washington party, which polled
a majority for Roosevelt, but the Republican
party elected its candidates for State and
county offices.
The Prohibition candidate, Chaffin, had 695
votes, the Socialist candidate, Debs, had 524
votes, the Democratic candidate, Wilson, had
1,590 votes, and the Republican candidate,
Taft, had 1.720 votes.
CHAPTER XIV
COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS
MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY — SENATORS
MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY — REPRESENTATIVES Laird : 1902, A. F. Cooper. S. J. Smith ; 1906,
]M. C. Watsou; J910, James T. Henry; 1912,
1803 to 1808, James MeComb ; 1808 to 1809, M. C. Watson.
James Sloan; 1809 to 1815, James McComb;
1815 to 1816 David Reed ; 1816 to 1818, James
M. Kelly, Joshua Lewis; 1818 to 1819, James
M. Kelly, Samuel Houston; 1819 to 1820, 1803 to 1815, James Brady; 1815 to 1819,
Robert Orr, Jr., Samuel Houston; 1820 to John Reed; 1819 to 1822, Henrv Allshouse ;
1822, Robert Orr, Jr., Robert Mitchell; 1823 1822 to 1825, Robert Orr, Jr.; 1825 to 1830,
to 1824, John Taylor, Joseph Rankin; 1825 to Eben S. Kellv; 1830 to 1835, Robert Mech-
1826, David La'wsou, Joseph Rankin: 1826 Hng; 1834 to'l838. Meek Kelly; 1839, Find-
to 1827, David Lawson, Thomas Johnston; ley Patterson; 1841 to 1844. William Bigler,
1827 to 1828, David Lawson, Joseph Rankin;
1828 to 1829, Robert Mitchell, Joseph Rankin ;
1829 to 1830. David Lawson, Joseph Rankin ;
of Clearfield; 1847, William F. Johnston;
1850, Augustus Drum; 1851 to 1853, C.
Myers; 1854 to 1856, Samuel S. Jamison;
1830 to 1831, Robert Mitchell: 1831 to 1833, 1863. Harrv White; 1864 to 1865, Thomas
William Houston; 1833 to 1834. James M. St. Clair; 1866 to 1874, Harry White; 1877
Stewart; 1834 to 1836, William Banks; 1836 to 1879. Thomas St. Clair; 1884, George W.
to 1838, James Tavlor; 1838 to 1839, William Wood; 1892, James G. Mitchell; 1900, John
MeCaran, Jr.: 1839, Allen N. Work; 1840 to S. Fisher; 1908, T. M. Kurtz.
1841, John Cummins; 1842 to 1843, John
McEwen; 1844 to 1845, John McFarland;
1846 to 1847. William C. McKnight ; 1848 to
1851. William Evans; 1852 to 1855. Alex.
McConnell; 1856 to 1857, R. B. Moorhead;
1858. John Bruce; 1859 to 1860, A. W. Tay-
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
1840. Albert G. Marchand, Westmoreland
county, Democrat ; 1842 to 1844, Joseph Buf-
fingto'n, Armstrong county. Whig; 1846, Alex-
lor; 1861 to 1862, James Alexander; 1862 to ander Irwin, Clearfield county. Whig; 1848
1863, Richard Graham; 1863 to 1864, J. W. to 1850, Alfred Gilmore, Butler county,
Houston; 1865 to 1866, George E. Smith; Democrat; 1852, Augustus Drum, Indiana
1867, W. C. Gordon. A. W. Kimmell; 1868, county. Democrat ; 1854 to 1860, John Covode,
W. C. Gordon; 1868, R. H. McConniek; Westmoreland county. Republican; 1862 to
1869 to 1870, D. M. Marshall; 1871, Thomas 1864, J. L. Dawson, Fayette county, Demo-
McMullin, H. K. Sloan; 1872, Thomas Mc- crat; 1866, John Covode, Westmoreland
Mullin; 1873 to 1874, Daniel Raniey ; 1875, county. Republican; 1868 to 1870, H. D. Fos-
A. W. Kimmell, J. K. Thompson : 1876, ter. Westmoreland county. Democrat : 1872,
A. W. Kimmell, J. K. Thompson; 1877, A. W. Taylor, Indiana county. Republican;
H. Fulton, Jacob Creps; 1878, A. H. Fulton, 1874, George A. Jenks, Jefferson county,
Jacob Creps; 1879. A. H. Fulton, John Hill; Democrat: 1876 to 1878, Harry White, In-
1882, William C. Brown, John Lowry ; 1884, diana county. Republican ; 187S to 1884, Alex-
John P. Elkin, John Lowrv ; 1886, John P. ander White, Jefferson county. Republican;
Elkin. S. J. Craighead; 1888, E. E. Allen, 1884 to 1886, James T. Maffet, Clarion coun-
Dr. William Hosack ; 1890. Noah Seanor, Dr. ty, Republican ; 1886 to 1888. Samuel A.
John W. ]\Iorrow: 1892, Noah Seanor, Dr. Craig. Jefferson county. Republican; 1888
William Hosack ; 1894, Noah Seanor, John Mc- to 1890, George F. Huff", Westmoreland
Gaughey : 1S96, John McGaughey, Dr. John county. Republican : 1890 to 1892, Daniel B.
W. Morrow; 1898, H. J. Thompson, M. K. Heiner, Armstrong county, Republicaji;
103
104
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1892 to 1896, Edward E. Robbins, Westmore-
land eouuty, Republican; 1896 to 1898, Sum-
mers M. Jack, Indiana county. Republican;
1898 to 1902, William 0. Smith, Jefferson
county. Republican; 1902 to 1906, Joseph G.
Beale, Armstrong county, Republican ; 1906
to 1908, J. N. Langham, Indiana county. Re-
publican, the present incumbent.
PRESIDENT JUDGES
Hon. John Young, of Greensburg, West-
moreland county, 1806 to 1836 ; Hon, Thomas
White, of Indiana, Indiana county, 1836 to
1847 ; Hon. Jeremiah M. Burrell, of Greens-
burg, June, 1847, to March, 1848 ; Hon. John
C. Knox, of Tioga county, June, 1848, to De-
cember, 1850; Hon. Jeremiah M. Burrell, of
Greensburg, December, 1851, December, 1855 ;
Hon. Joseph Buffington, of Kittanning, Arm-
strong county, June, 1855, to April, 1871;
Hon. James A. Logan, of Greensburg, June,
1871, to January, 1875; Hon. John P. Blair,
of Indiana, January, 1875, to January, 1885 ;
Hon. Harrv White, of Indiana, January,
1885 to 1905 ; Hon. S. J. Telford, of Indiana,
January, 1905, to present time.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES, APPOINTED OR ELECTED
1839 ; Robert Craig, December, 1839, to 1845 ;
Alexander W. Taylor, 1845 to 1851; N. B.
Loughry, 1851 to 1854; John Myers, 1854 to
1857; J. R. Porter, Jr., 1857 to I860; E. P.
Hildebrand, 1860 to 1866 ; John Lowry, 1866
to 1872 ; A. C. Boyle, 1872 to 1882 ; William
Daugherty, 1882 to 1888 ; John A. Scott, 1888
to 1894; J. Elder Peelor, 1894 to 1900; W. R.
Calhoun, 1900 to 1906; A. L. Gilbert, 1906
to August, 1908 (died), John C. Wells was
appointed by the judge to fill out the term;
John C. Wells, 1909, to present time.
REGISTERS AND RECORDERS
James Speer, 1821 to 1824; W. Douglass,
1836 to 1839, and January 4, 1839, to Feb-
niary 11, 1839 ; Isaac M. Watt, 1839 to 1842,
and January, 1847, to December, 1847 ; Wil-
liam McClaran, 1842 to 1845, and 1845 to
1847 ; David Peelor, December, 1847, to 1853 ;
John H. Lichteberger, 1853 to 1862; A. L.
McCluskey, 1862 to 1868 ; W. R. Black. 1868
to 1874 ; David R. Lewis, 1874 to 1880 ; Ben-
.iamin F. McCluskey, 1880 to 1884; John A.
Findley, 1884 to 1890 ; James McGregor, 1890
to 1896; James N. Stewart, 1896 to 1902;
Horace M. Lowry, 1902 to 1908 ; J. Blair Sut-
ton, 1908 to present time.
1806, James Smith, Charles Campbell;
1818, Joshua Lewis (succeeded Smith) ; 1828,
John Taylor; 1829. Andrew Brown; 1830,
Samuel Moorhead, Jr. ; 1836 Robert Mitchell,
M. D. ; 1842, Meek Kelly, James IMcKennon ;
1843, John Cunningham; 1845, Fergus Can-
non; 1846, Joseph Thompson; 1849, James
M. Stewart, M. D. ; 1851 to 1856, Peter Dilts,
Sr.; 1851 to 1861; Isaac M. Watt; 1856 to
1866, John K. Thompson, :\I. D. ; 1861 to
1866, Peter Sutton; 1866 to 1871, T. B. Al-
lison; 1866 to 1871, Joseph Campbell; 1871
to 1876, Peter Dilts, Jr.; 1871 to February,
1874, James S. Nesbit (resigned) ; February,
1874, to January 1, 1875, William Irwin.
PROTHONOTARIES, CLERKS, ETC.
James McLain, 1806 to 1818, also register
and recorder; John Taylor, 1818 to 1821, also
register and recorder; James IMcCahan, 1821
to 1824; Alexander Taylor, 1824 to 1828,
also register and recorder; William Banks,
1828 to 1833, also register and clerk; R. B.
McCabe, 1833 to 1836, also register and re-
corder; Thomas Laughlin, 1836 to 1839, and
January 4, 1839, to February 11, 1839 ; Fer-
gus Cannon, February, 1839, to December,
SHERIFFS
Thomas McCartney, 1806 to 1809 ; Thomas
Sutton, 1809 to 1812; Robert Robinson, 1812
to 1815 ; Thomas Sutton, 1815 to 1818 ; James
Elliott, 1818 to 1821 ; Henry Kinter, 1821 to
1824 ; Clemence McGara, 1824 to 1827 ; James
Gordon, 1827 to 1830; James Taylor, 1830
to 1833 ; Joseph Loughry, 1833 to 1836 ; James
Kier, 1836 to 1839 ; William Evans, 1839 to
1842; David Ralston, 1842 to 1845; Simeon
Truby, 1845 to 1848 ; Gawin Sutton, 1848 to
1851; John Mullen, 1851 to 1854; John Mont-
gomery, 1854 to 1857 ; Joseph R. Smith, 1857
to I860; A. P. Thompson, 1860 to 1863;
James R. Dougherty, 1863 to 1S66; Jacob
Creps, 1866 to 1869; Henderson C. Howard,
1869 to 1872; James R. Dougherty, 1872 to
1875 ; William C. Brown, 1875 to 1878 ; Dan-
iel Ansley, 1878 to 1882, January 1st; Mar-
tin F. Jamison, 1882 to 1885; James Mc-
Gregor, 1885 to 1888; D. C. Mack, 1888 to
1891 ; H. P. Lewis, 1891 to 1894 ; D. C. Mack,
1894 to 1897; T. S. Neal, 1897 to 1900; D. E.
Thompson, 1900 to 1903; Josiah Neal, 1903
to 1906; Jacob Wettling, 1906 to 1909; H.
Wallace Thomas. 1909 to 1912; George H.
Jeffries, 1912 to present time.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
105
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERALS
The first record of the criminal courts that
we find is that of the June session of 1817.
Thomas Blair's name appears as the prose-
cuting attorney for the Commonwealth. No
evidence as to when he received his appoint-
ment or was sworn in. He seems to have held
the office until
March 9, 1819, when William H. Brackin-
ridge, Esq.. was sworn as deputy attorney
for the United States for Indiana county, and
also as deputy attorney general for the State
of Pennsylvania.
September 13, 1819, Henry Shippen, Esq.,
produced a deputation from Thomas Ser-
geant, Esq., attorney general of the Com-
monwealth, appointing him deputy attorney
general for the county of Indiana, and was
sworn according to law.
Thomas White seems to have been the in-
cumbent of the office, but there is no record
of his commission.
March 25, 1822, W. R. Smith, Esq., prose-
cuting attorney, not appearing, Mr. Canon
was appointed by the court. He was also
appointed at the June session. Smith receipts
for fees at September session, 1822, from De-
cember session, 1822. Thomas White receipts
attorney general fees, but this is the only
evidence that he held the office.
March 23, 1821, Ephraim Carpenter, Esq.,
was sworn in as prosecuting attorney for the
Commonwealth, being deputized by Fred
Smith, attorney general of the Commonwealth.
He seems to have held office continually up to
1836, but there is no record of his reappoint-
ment or his taking the oath of office.
William Banks, Esq., was sworn as deputy
attornev general for Indiana eountv March
28, 1836.
Augustus Drum, Esq., was sworn in as dep-
uty prosecuting attorne.y for the county of
Indiana on the 25th of March, 1839.
Thomas C. McDonald, Esq., was appointed
prosecuting attorney by the court at the June
session, 1842. Also at the September and
December sessions of the same year and March
session, 1843.
June 26, 1843, Thomas Sutton. Esq.. pre-
sents his credentials as deputy attorney for
this county and is sworn accordingly.
September 25. 1844, court appoints Thomas
C. McDowell to prosecute on behalf of the
Commonwealth.
And now, to-wit, :\Iareh 24, 1845. John Pot-
ter, Esq., comes into court and presents his
commission as prosecuting attorney of tliis
county and is sworn accordingly.
June 22, 1846, Ephraim Carpenter, Esq.,
appointed prosecuting attorney for the Com-
monwealth this session.
September 28, 1846, the court appoints
Pliny Kelly, Esq., to prosecute for the Com-
monwealth.
At December session, Ephraim Carpenter
receipts for fees, but there is no other evi-
dence of his appointment.
March 22, 1847, Ephraim Carpenter ap-
pointed by the court as prosecuting attorney ;
also at June and September sessions of same
year.
December 27, 1847, commission from Ben-
jamin Chafney, attorne.y general for the
Commonwealth, appointed Orville H. Brown,
Esq., deputy attorney general for the county,
read and oath of office administered.
March 27, 1848, Ephraim Carpenter ap-
pointed to prosecute for Commonwealth the
present session.
June 26, 1848, commission by Benjamin
Chafney, attorney general, appointed Eph-
raim Carpenter, Esq., deputy attorney gen-
eral for Indiana county, read in open court.
September 25, 1848, Alex. Taylor sworn as
deputy attorney general of Indiana county.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
Edmund Paige, 1850 to 1853; Henry B.
Woods. 1856 to 1859 ; John Lowry, 1862 ; Dan-
iel S. Porter, 1856 to 1868 ; William R. Alli-
son, 1871; Samuel Cunningham, 1874; M. C.
Watson, 1877 : Summers :\I. Jack, 1883 ; John
:\L Leech, 1889 : John L. Getty, 1895 ; W. M.
Mahan. 1898; George J. Feit, 1901; W. F.
Elkin, 1907, present officer.
.JURY COMMISSIONERS
1867, I. M. Watt; 1867, Robert Crawford;
1870, A. L. McCluskey; 1870. James Bailey;
1873, James P. Carter ; 1873, John Robertson ;
1876, W. H. Coleman ; 1876, Francis Laird ;
1879, William Shields; 1879, Nathaniel Nes-
bit: 1879, Andrew Shields, Nathaniel Nesbit;
1885, George W. DeLancy, John Elder; 1888,
James S. Haslett. A. Y. Barclav; 1894. James
L. Langham, James M. :\Iillen ; 1897. J. Scott
ilcGaughev, Lemon B. Kinsev ; 1900. J. Scott
McGaughev, Jackson McMillen : 1903, Wil-
liam B. Lang, James H. Blose ; 1906, W. F.
George, John K. ilcElhoes; 1908, Harry
Bryan, Sylvester C. Thompson ; 1912, Harry
Bryan, B. F. Lydiek.
106 HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
AUDITORS Brink; 1859, Charles N. Swoyer, elected but
died before taking office ; 1859, William Earl,
1839, Abraham Davis; 1840, Thomas appointed; 1861, James Moorhead; 1863, W.
Laughliu; 1841, Alexander White; 1842, H. Coleman; 1865, John A. Stewart; 1867,
Thompson McCrea, for two years; 1842, Pul- George AV. McHem-y; 1869, Noah Lohr; 1871,
lerton Woods ; 1843, John Clark ; 1844, John James M. Sutton ; 1873, George H. Johnston ;
McNiel; 1845, Robert Elder; 1846, James H. 1875, John Ebey; 1878, John Trubv; 1882,
Young; 1847, Edmund Paige, Sr. ; 1848, John John T. Gibson; 1885, T. C. Ramey; 1888, D.
Pollock; 1849, Isaac Kinter; 1850, Cornelius A. Lukehart; 1891, G. H. Ogden; 1894, Sam-
Lowe; 1851, James C. Dill; 1852, Elijah Cris- uel Nesbit; 1897, Phil M. Sutton; 1900, D.
well; 1853, Abraham Wolf; 1854, J. H. Al- w. Simpson; 1903, Harrison Seanor; 1906.
lison ; 1855, William Riddle ; 1856, Samuel W. i. R. ]\IcMasters ; 1909, J. C. Leasure ; 1912,
Drips; 1857, Robert Hughes; 1858, Josiah J. Willis Wilson, to present time.
Shields ; 1859, John L. Work, three years ;
1859, Hugh Cunningham, two years; 1860, commissioners
Samuel Wilson ; 1861, John Brink ; 1862, John commissioners
Wachob ; 1863, Thomas R. Lukehart ; 1864, William Clarke, 1806 to 1807 ; James John-
Samuel H. Thompson, three years; 1864, ston, Alexander McLain, 1806; William
John Brink, one year ; 1865, Samuel McCart- Clarke, Alexander McLean, 1808 ; William
ney ; 1865, William S. Davidson ; 1868, Joseph Clarke, Rev. John Jamieson, 1809 ; James Mc-
Griffith ; 1868, R. H. Armstrong, two years ; Knight, Rev. John Jamieson, Robert Robison.
1869, A. J. Hamilton ; 1870, Samuel M. Haz- 1810 ; Robert Robison, Joshua Lewis. Rev.
lett; 1871, H. P. Lewis; 1872, James Ansley; John Jamieson, 1811; Robert Robison.
1873, Joseph Griffith ; 1874, W. G. Stewart ; Joshua Lewis. Joseph Moorhead. 1812 ; Fran-
1875, J. H. Dix; 1875, John G. Robertson; eis Boals, Joshua Lewis. Joseph Moorhead.
1875, J. Gamble Fleming ; 1878, Jacob S. 1813 ; Joseph Moorhead, Francis Boals, Alex-
Stuchell, J. K. McElhoes; 1882, Jacob S. ander McLain, 1814; Alexander McLain,
Stuchell, Francis Harbison, Jr., D. R. Jen- Francis Boals, Gawin Sutton, 1815; Gawin
kins; 1885, M. D. Shields, J. M. Hart, S. B. Sutton. Alexander McLain, Thomas Sharp,
Work; 1888, J. Clark Weamer, Joseph Hoi- 1816; Gawin Sutton, Thomas Sharp, John
sopple, D. H. Tomb ; 1891, J. W. Wiggins, C. Smith, 1817 ; Thomas Sharp, John Smith.
Hart, J. J. Thompson; 1894, J. T. Davis, Thomas Laughlin, 1818; Thomas Laughlin,
James G. Walker, John Barber; 1897, W. John Smith, Joseph Henderson, 1819; Wil-
F. George, George J. Feit, John F. Barclay; Ham Clarke. John Smith, Joseph Henderson,
1900, W. F. Walker, J. L. Peterman, Harry 1820; Joseph Henderson. William Clarke,
W. Fee; 1903, A. W. Ewing, Charles A. Clemenee McGara, 1821; Clemence McGara.
Nichol, H. S. Buchanan; 1906. Charles A. Stewart Davis. William Clarke. 1822, Stew-
Nichol, R. E. Roberts, H. S. Buchanan ; art Davis. Clemence McGara. Alexander Pat-
1909, S. S. Gibson, R. J. Wood. Adam P. Low- tison. 1823; Alexander Pattison. James Gor-
ry, S. S. Gibson, dying, and James Speedy don. Stewart Davis, 1824; James Gordon,
being appointed to serve the last year of his James Todd, W. W. Caldwell, 1826 ; Peter
term; 1912, R. J. Wood, James Speedy, Dilts. W. W. Caldwell, James Todd, 1827;
Frank E. Groft. Samuel Trimble, Peter Dilts, James Todd,
1828 ; Samuel Trimble, Peter Dilts, Archibald
TREASURERS Johnston, 1829; Samuel Trimble, Archibald
Johnston, Gawin Sutton, 1830; Gawin Sut-
1811-12. James McKnight ; 1813. Thomas ton. William Leard, 1833 ; James Lewis, Alex-
Sutton; 1815-16. John Taylor; 1817-18. Wil- ander McMullin. 1834; James McComb, Wil-
liam Lucas; 1820-21. William Douglass; 1822- liam Laird. Alexander McMullin. 1835;
23, Alexander Taylor; 1824 to 1826, William James McComb, James Lapsley, John Cum-
Trimble; 1827 to" 1829, William Lucas; 1830 mins. 1836; John Cummins. James Lapsley.
to 1832, Blanev Adair; 1833 to 1835, James Joseph McMasters. 1837; William Smith,
Todd; 1836 to 1838. I. M. Watt; 1839-41, W. John Cummins, Joseph McMasters?, 1838;
W. Caldwell; 1842, William Bruce; 1843, W. William Smith. Philip Rice. James Rhea,
Douglass; 1845. William W. Caldwell; 1847. 1839; John Dick took his seat October 20th.
Samuel R. Rankin; 1849. William W. Cald- in lieu of Smith; Philip Rice, James Rhea,
well; 1851. James Hood; 1853. Garvin Sut- John Dick. 1840; Philip Rice. James Rhea,
ton; 1855. Thomas McCandless; 1857. John John Dick, 1841; Charles Campbell took his
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
107
seat November 2d, in lieu of Dick : James
Rhea, John Dick and Charles Campbell, 18-42;
Thomas Stewart took his seat October 24th,
in lieu of Rhea; John Dick, Charles Camp-
hell. Thomas Stewart, 1843 ; John A. Jamison
took his seat October 23d. in lieu of Dick;
Charles Campbell, Thomas Stewart, John A.
Jamison, 1844; Alex. T. ]\Ioorhead took his
seat in lieu of Stewart ; Charles Campbell,
John A. Jamison, Alex. T. Jloorhead, 1845 ;
Abraham Davis. November 3d. took his seat
in lieu of Campbell; John T. Jamison. Ales.
T. Moorhead. Abraham Davis. 1846 ; Novem-
ber 2d. Thomas Walker took his seat in lieu
of Jamison : Alex. T. Moorhead, Abraham
Davis. Thomas Walker, 1847; October 25th,
Jacob Gamble took Moorhead 's seat; Abraham
Davis. Thomas Walker. Jacob Gamble. 1848 ;
October 14th, Thomas Gibson took Abraham
Davis's seat; Thomas Walker, Jacob Gam-
ble. Thomas Gibson. 1849 ; October 15th, John
Lytle took Walker's seat; Jacob Gamble,
Thomas Gibson. John Lytle, 1850; John
Sliields took Gamble's place October 21st;
Thomas Gibson, John Lytle. John Shields.
1851 ; November 3d, Samuel H. Johnston took
Gibson's place; John Lytle, John Shields.
Samuel H. Johnston. 1852"; October 25th, Rob-
ert H. Armstrong took Lytle 's place: John
Shields. Samuel H. Johnston. Robert H. Arm-
strong. 1853; November 1st. Moses T. Work
took Shield's place; Samuel H. Johnston.
Robert H. Armstrong, Moses T. Work. 1854;
George Lowman. 1855 ; October 17th. John
Gourley took Armstrong's place; Moses T.
Work. George Lowman, John Gourley, 1856 ;
David Henderson took Work's place October
29th ; George Lowman, John Gourley. David
Henderson. 1857 ; Thomas Davis took Low-
man's place November 3d: John Gourley,
David Henderson. Thomas Davis, 1858 ; A.
L. McCluskey took Gourley 's place October
25th; David Henderson. Thomas Davis. A.
L. ^McCluskey, 1859; October 26th. William
Johnston took Hendei*son's place; Thomas
Davis. A. L. McCluskey, William Johnston.
I860; October 15th, Samuel Irwin took
Davis' place; A. L. McCluskey. William
Johnston. Samuel Irwin, 1861 ; Andrew
Shields took ilcCluskey's place November
12th ; William Johnston, Samuel Irwin, An-
drew Shields, 1862; Samuel Irwin. Andrew
Shields. S. A. Allison. 1863 ; Andrew Shields,
S. A. Allison, W. C. McCrea. 1864; S. A. Al-
lison. W. C. McCrea. W. G. Stewart, 1865;
W. C. :McCrea. W. G. Stewart, R. Adams.
1866 : W. G. Stewart, R. Adams, G. Shryoek,
1867 ; Robert Adams. George Shryoek, Elliott
Ferguson, 1868; George Shryoek, Elliott Fer-
guson, James T. Van Horn, 1869; Elliott
Ferguson. James T. Van Horn, John S. Flem-
ing, 1870 ; James T. Van Horn, John S. Flem-
ing. Jacob Darr. 1871 ; John S. Fleming.
Jacob Darr. James M. Work, 1872; Jacob
Dan-, James M. Work, George W. Boaden-
hamer. 1873; James M. Work; George W.
Boadenhamer, Samuel G. Miller. 1874 ; George
W. Boadenhamer, Samuel G. Miller, Francis
Mabon. 1875 ; Jeremiah Lomison. Frederick
Cameron. Frederick Buterbaugh. 1876-78 ;
John G. Robinson. A. P. Thompson, William
Daugherty. 1879-80; William Daugherty,
John G. Robinson, Absalom Thompson, 1879 ;
James Johnson, William ilabon, Jr.. Jere-
miah Wakefield. 1882; A. W. Steele, R. N.
ilcCombs. Jeremiah Wakefield. 1885 ; J. Wil-
son Shields. J. M. Marshall. D. C. Kennedv.
1888 ; John C. Cameron. A. C. Rankin, A. H.
Braughler. 1891 ; Adam Black. Clarence Hart,
Robert McElhoes, 1894; Hiram Stuchell, M.
H. Henry. C. F. Murray, 1897 ; James K.
Dick, T. P. Stephens, Peter Freeh, 1900;
Columbus ilcCoy. Johnson Moorhead. John
A. Campbell. 1903 ; Cyrus Stouffer. George L.
Shaffer, W. L. Neal, 1906; J. U. Marshall. D.
T. Neil. A. F. Bowman. 1909 ; E. M. Ansley.
Jolm Bennett. J. il. Wakefield, holding office
at present time.
CLERKS TO COMMISSIONERS
Alex. Johnson, for trustees of eount.y, 1804 ;
Paul Morrison, for trustees of county, 1805 ;
James Riddle, for commissioners, 1806 ; James
McKnight. 1807; Daniel Stauard, James
M. Biddle. 1808; Daniel Stanard, 1809-10;
James McKnight. 1811 ; James M. Kellv.
1812-13; John Wilson, James Coulter, 1814;
John Wilson, John Taylor, 1815 ; Gawin Sut-
ton, John Taylor, 1816; Daniel Stanard,
Stewart Davis. 1817; Stewart Davis, 1818 to
1820 ; Robert Young, 1822-23 ; Ephraim Car-
penter. 1824; Stewart Davis. 1825; William
Banks. 1826 to 1828 ; John Johnston, 1829 to
1832; William Banks, 1833; Joseph J.
Young. 1824 to 1837; William M. Stewart,
I. M. Watt. John Mvers. 1838; Robert M
Gibson. 1839 to 1840 ; A. W. Taylor, 1841 to
1847; Edward Paige, 1848; J. H. Lichtber-
ger. 1849 to 1852; George Shrvock. 1852 to
1864; W. R. Black, 1865 to 1869; James B.
Work. 1870 ; W. H. Coleman. 1871-72 ; D. R.
Lewis. 1878-74; J. T. Gibson. 1875 to 1878;
J. P. St. Clair. 1879-82 ; J. J. Lewis. 1883 to
1885; J. H. Stewart 1886 to 1888; Frank
Empfield. 1889 to 1896; J. A. Grossman,
108
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1897 to 1899; J. W. Neal, 1900 to 1902; G. Edmund Paige, 1871 to 1886; John R. Cald-
W. Earle, 1903 to 1908; Walter H. Ayers, well, 1886 to 1895; D. L. Moorehead, 1895
1909 — to present time. to 1911; Hiram Smith, 1912 to present time.
DISTRICT SURVEYORS, DEPUTY SURVEYORS,
COUNTY SURVEYORS
The district survej'ore, whose services ex-
tended over that part of Indiana county,
north of the old Purchase Line, were : James
Hamilton, John Brodhead, James Johnston,
James Potter and William P. Brady.
Those serving within the limits of the pur-
chase of 1768 were: Joshua Elder, John
Moore, Joseph L. Findlay, Eonieu Williams,
James Ross, Thomas Allison and Alexander
Taylor.
Their successors were : John Taylor, 1815,
also served as surveyor general; Robert
Young, 1818; Alexander Taylor, Jr., 1819;
Meek Kelly, 1821; John Taylor, 1825 to
1827 ; Meek Kelly, 1830 to 1833 ; Robert Mc-
Gee, 1834 ; William Evans, 1836 ; Robert Mc-
Gee, 1839; Thompson McCrea. 1850; David
Peelor, 1856 ; William Evans, 1859 ; Edmond
Paige, 1862; Thompson McCrea, 1865 to 1868;
Samuel Young, 1806 ; Joseph Turner, 1809 ;
William Shields, 1812; James Loughrey,
1815; William Douglas, 1818; Peter Sutton,
Jr., 1821; James E. Cooper, 1824; Samuel
George, 1827 to 1830; Samuel McCartney,
1833-36; William Henry, 1839; John Me-
Quilkin, 1842 ; James Hood, 1845 ; Samuel
Trimble, 1848; James McLain, 1851; J. W.
ilabon, 1854; J. A. Jamison, 1857; J. I.
Kelly, 1860; William Shields, 1863; Joseph
Gilbert, 1868; John Clawson, 1869; Wil-
liam H. Coleman, 1872; Samuel A. Smith,
1875; Irvin McFarland, 1878; John W.
Books, 1882; Dr. N. F. Erenfield, 1885; Dr.
N. F. Erenfield, 1888; W. T. Miller, 1891;
W. T. Miller, 1894; Dr. M. M. Davis, 1897;
Dr. M. M. Davis, 1900; Dr. M. M. Davis,
1903; Dr. W. D. Gates, 1906; Dr. James S.
Hammers, 1909 ; Dr. H. B. Buterbaugh, 1912,
in office at present time.
CHAPTER XV
VETERANS OF INDIANA COUNTY
The history of every generation centers in Newmarket, Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, Sec-
a few great names and its principal events end Bull Run, South Mountain, Anti'etam,
are directed by a few great men. If we would Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station
get a correct knowledge of the history of any and Mine Run, and the three veterans also
period or people, we must look at this history were in the battles of the Wilderness, Spott-
from the standpoint of those who directed its sylvania, North Anna and Bethesda, and sub-
great movements. We get the most accurate sequent cami^aigns of the war.
knowledge of history when we study biog- It is presumable that men who passed
raphies of great men. If we would know through all of this service were wounded
the history of this country, we must study sometime, and while our roll does not show
the lives of Washington, Lincoln and other it we have the evidence of their service in
great men who were national leaders in great tlie hard-fought battles of the war ; and
national crises. If we would understand the though they had not sought honor or fame —
history of the military movements during the they are none the less deserving of the warm-
war of the Rebellion, we must study the est gratitude of all good people. Some of
biographies of Grant, Sherman, Thomas and the bravest and best of men fill "unknown"
other great military leaders. Nevertheless, graves. All that was required of the soldier
if we study history only in this way we are was to perform well the part assigned him,
in danger of losing sight of the fact that these and the order of the general was of value
men were but the leaders and not the army, only when enforced by the soldiers in the
Our country was not saved by the courage, ranks, so the honor or fame of the one can-
skill and self-sacrifice of a few great com- not be separated from the duty and bravery
manders alone, but by the courageous, patient of the other, and around the transparent light
patriotism of private soldiers, field and line of leadership of the general-in-chief let us
officers who faced the greatest dangers and weave a garland of duties and sufferings of
made the greatest sacrifices with the least the private soldier.
hope of reward. It would not be possible to 40th Pennsylvania Volunteers, 11th Re-
make a record of all the brave acts of these serves. — Of this justly celebrated regiment
brave men; we may not be able even to call Indiana county furnished the men, officers
the roll of the men who took an honorable and all, for Companies B and E, over thirty
part in the great war of the Rebellion, but men for Company A, fifteen for Company D,
there should be a clear, concise and complete thirty-five or more for Company I. These
history of every organization which took part, were among the early companies formed in
and the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the county and were made up largely of
did well when it made some provision for pre- hardy sons of farmers and lumbermen,
paring and preserving such a history. The regiment was organized at Pittsburg,
Pa.. Thomas F. Gallagher, colonel; James R.
INDIANA COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861 Portcr, lieutenant colonel: and Samuel M.
HISTORY OF REGIMENTS OR COMPANIES Jackson, major. Of these Lieutenant Colonel
Porter was ot Indiana county, but he resigned
38.th Pemisylvania Volunteers, 9th Re- before the regiment went into active service
serves. — This regiment embraced a few Indi- and the county was not represented by a field
ana county men, a roll of whom we give in a officer until the appointment of Capt. D. S.
general list. Mr. Joseph P. Robinson tells us Porter as lieutenant colonel, in May, 1863.
that the county was represented in the battles On the 24th of July the regiment pro-
of Drainsville, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, ceeded to Harrisburg and was furnished arms
109
110
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
by tlie State ; reached Baltimore the next day
and Washington on the 26th; was mustered
into the United States service the 29th and
30th, and soon after went into camp at
Tennallj-town. The arms of the State were
exchanged for those furnished by the goy-
vernraent and camp duty drill and detail
work on the defenses of Washington ensued.
In September the regiment had its initia-
tion to the destructive features of the war
in receiving a few shots from a Rebel bat-
tery at Great Palls, on the Potomac.
During the stay at winter camp the men
seemed anxious for the more active campaign
work and a friend visiting the regiment re-
marked it. Colonel Gallagher is reported to
have said to some of the men that before the
war closed they would be fully as anxious to
avoid the fight, and did say to the friend, in
substance, this : "I expect a severe war. You
see here a thousand men ; I think there will
not five hundred of these return home."
Prophetic words and how true they were!
At the reunion in 1879 the invitations to sur-
vivors did not exceed three hundred. The
invitations included recruits of 1862, 1863
and 1864, as well as original men.
Early in the spring of 1862 the regiment
moved to the vicinity of Fairfax cemetery,
having participated in the cold and weary
marches in the rain in the first movement to-
wards Manassas. The reserve division was
assigned to the First Corps and moved to
Catlett station and thence to Falmouth ; then
detached from its corps, ordered to the Pen-
insula and attached to Gen. John Fitz
Porter 's corps, on the 25th of June, reaching
the Chickahominy river, where it was or-
dered on picket duty in immediate presence
of the enemy, on the next day receiving fire
from Rebel "battery, while some portions of
the Union line were hotly engaged in what is
known as the battle of Mechanicsville, and
covered the rear of its brigade in the retro-
grade movement that ensued. On the next
day at Gaines' Mill, the regiment, except
Company B, Captain Porter, was hotly en-
gaged with orders to hold the line at all haz-
ards, which it did until all but one regiment
on both flanks had fallen back. Then, too
late for safety, it with the New Jersey regi-
ment attempted to do so, but the Confederates
had them nearly surrounded by an impetuous
charge, encircling tliem so that a half hun-
dred only escaped, the balance alive surrend-
ering. To have attempted to fight it out
would have been madness inexcusable. There
was a weary march to Richmond in the night,
and after being exhibited to the citizens of
Richmond the men were transferred to sandy,
shadeless. Belle Isle until exchanged and sent
to join the army at Harrison's Landing. In
the meantime. Captain Porter gathered the
scattered men of the regiment and with Com-
pany B formed two companies, placing one
under command of Lieut. Hannibal K. Sloan,
and these two companies represented the reg-
iment in the battle at Charles City Cross
Roads. They tell an incident of the night
before the battle there. They were instructed
that a gap must be left for a Rebel force to
pass through, and it did seem to pass directly
through the Union line. This was most prob-
ably true — in the fact of passing by in the
intricate winding of the roads near White
Oak Swamp the Confederates may have
passed round a detached force without dis-
covering it. It is further stated that some
of the Union men, not fully aware of the con-
dition of affairs, came near discovering them-
selves to the enemy. These facts are from
those who were on the ground.
The battle of Charles City Cross Roads was
a teiTible one for the remnant of the reg-
iment. They went in with 106 muskets, and
in the loss in wounded, killed and prisoners
came out with about fifty men. Corporal
Charles Shambaugh of Company B captured
a battle flag from the enemy and Serg. H. C.
Howard had a lively bayonet fight.
The regiment, reduced in numbers by loss
in dead, wounded, sick and detail for guards
at Craney Island hospital, was moved by way
of Falmouth, Kelly's Ford and Warrenton to
Gaines' Mill, was attached again to Mc-
Dowell's corps, and participated in the sec-
ond Bull Run eompaign, and on the 29th and
30th of August was hotly engaged with the
enemy, on the evening of the 30th receiving
a destructive fire from the enemy on the
flank, being compelled to fall back. Many
brave men fell. Lieutenant Coder, of Com-
pany E, was wounded. The loss in the regi-
ment was about seventy. The reserve corps
now moved into Maryland under the com-
mand of Gen. George G. Meade and the next
engagement of the regiment was at South
Mountain, charging up those rough and
ragged heights under a terrible fire from the
well-posted enemy with varied success and
terrible loss. The attack ended in success and
the enemy was finally driven from the posi-
tion in confusion. Colonel Gallagher was
wounded: and of Indiana county officers,
Capt. Nathaniel Nesbit was mortally wounded,
and Quartermaster H. A. Torrence severely
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
111
wounded ; Colonel Sergeant Hazlett of Com-
pany E fell severely wounded. A few days
later the regiment was again engaged, at the
battle of Antietam. Its loss here was not so
great as at some other battles, but it did the
duty assigned it bravely and creditably.
Thomas S. Moore, private of Company B,
mortally wounded, deserves special mention
for bravery. After the battle of Antietam
the regiment lay for some time near Sharps-
burg, Aid., thence moved towards Fredericks-
burg, Va., suffering in the movement all the
misery described in the sketch of other regi-
ments on the same march; was recruited in
strength by the return of the detail from
Craney Island hospital.
The crossing of the Rappahannock below
Fredericksburg was effected on December
13th. The reserves under General Meade,
attached to Reynolds' corps, were sent for-
ward on the left, and after suffering a severe
tire from Rebel batteries were ordered to move
forward on the enemy's works. By excellent
maneuvering, under a deadly fire, the result
desired seemed accomplished, the 11th having
pushed forward to the enemy's reserve, find-
ing them with arms stacked and completely
surprised. The reserve men have always as-
sumed that supports hurried forward at this
critical time would have assured victory to the
Union army. 'Compelled to fall back, the
11th lost heavily. The Confederate reserve
force was hurried forward and a large por-
tion of the 11th killed, wounded or taken
prisoners. The regiment had done its work
too well for its own safety. Captain Coder
is said to have gone into the engagement with
thirty-one men of Company E, and came out
with only Privates Fritz and Myers. Private
Fritz afterwards carried the regimental
colors. The loss to the already decimated
regiment was over one hundred men. Priv-
ates William Conner, mortally wounded, and
James H. Trimble, killed, are especially men-
tioned by Colonel Porter for their bravery.
Before we note the further work of the
regiment, we call attention to changes in
Indiana county officers. In Company B,
Capt. D. S. Porter was promoted to lieuten-
ant colonel; Lieut. H. K. Sloan promoted to
captain ; and the summer and the fall cam-
paign included the promotion of Archibald
Stewart to first lieutenant and John S. Sutor
to second lieutenant. Sergeant McCandless
had been promoted quartermaster sergeant;
Davis, discharged ; Fair, mortally wounded ;
Weaver, promoted to first lieutenant in the
135th Pennsylvania Volunteers; Kulms.
killed: and II. C. Howard, promoted to first
sergeant.
In Company D, William C. Coleman, [n'o-
moted to first sergeant.
In Company E, Capt. Nathaniel Nesbit had
died of wounds and Lieutenant Coder pro-
moted to captain ; Richard il. Birkman, now
second lieutenant, was advanced to first lieu-
tenant; J. P. R. Commiskey had been com-
missioned second lieutenant. Company D,
105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was killed at
Fair Oaks ; Charles W. Herring was now first
sergeant of Company E.
In Company I, David Berry had lieen pro-
moted to second lieutenant.
These were deserved promotions and the
survivors of Company D speak in glowing
terms of praise of Captain Sloan, not only
for bravery as leader but for sociability witli
the men of his command.
Having now anticipated the summer and
fall campaign in the record of promotions, we
return to note that in the latter part of the
winter and the spring of 1863 the regiment
was assigned to duty within the defenses of
Washington. The ob.iect of this transfer was
the recuperation so much needed by the men,
who were worn down by excessive duty at the
front.
During the march into JIaryland and
Pennsylvania, in June, 1863. the Reserves
again joined the Arm.y of the Potomac at
Frederick, Aid., and with it entered the ter-
rible struggle on Pennsylvania soil. On July
2d, to the left of Cemeteiw Hill and near
Little Round Top, the regiment became en-
gaged, driving a largely superior force of
Rebels ; finally charging down the slope to the
right front of Little Round Top, supported
by the brigade, and routing the enemy in
the immediate front. The next day it was
again called into the severe struggle with the
foe, who this time chose to take the aggressive.
The loss in the regiment at the battle of
Gettj'sburg was over forty men, among them
Lieut. Col. D. S. Porter, wounded.
In the subsecjuent movements to the Rappa-
hannock, Rapidan, the retrograde to Centre-
ville and return to the vicinity of Culpeper,
the regiment was engaged at Bristoe Station
and at Rappahannock Station, suffering but
slight loss.
In the Mine Run campaign the regiment
became engaged at New Hope Church, suffer-
ing some loss, and in this short campaign, in
common with others, endured intense suft'er-
ing. In the winter of 1863-64 the regiment
encamped and did duty on the line of the
112
HISTORY OF LVDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Orange & Alexandria railroad, and while
there Lieutenant Colonel Porter resigned.
Crossing the Rapidan on the night of May
3, 1864, the regiment entered the Wilderness,
becoming engaged with the enemy on the even-
ing of the 4th. The 7th Reserves were almost
wholly captm-ed and the 11th barely escaped
it, suffering serious loss in getting a junction
formed with the Union lines. It participated
in the engagements of the 5th and 6th, and
again at Spottsylvania, 9th to 14th of May,
Private William B. Elliott of Company B
capturing a battle flag of the enemy. At
North Anna the company waded the river
under a hot fire of shell from Confederate
batteries and in the subsequent engagement,
in a decoy movement to entice the Rebels to
advance and become subject to the lire of
the massed and well posted reserve division,
the 11th occupied the weak decoy line and
in the maneuvering did creditable work, suf-
fering considerable loss. Captain Coder, of
Company E, now commanded the regiment.
Colonel Jackson having command of the bri-
gade. With the hard-fought battle of Be-
thesda Church ended the term of service of
the men, and they bid adieu to the service
honored for bravery and patriotic duty.
For meritorious duty the president, in
1865, brevetted Lieut. D. S. Porter, colonel;
Capt. H. K. Sloan, major; Capt. Daniel R.
Coder, major; Lieut. Richard M. Birkman,
continuing in service with the 190th Penn-
' sylvania Volunteers, was promoted to captain
of Company A, June 1864, and brevet major,
April, 1865 ; Sergt. William C. Coleman was
also commissioned first lieutenant. Company
I, 190th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The vet-
erans and recruits were all transferred to the
newly formed 190th Regiment and passed
through the battles and duties of the closing
campaign of the war. Lieut. John S. Sutor
was promoted to captain of Company K.
We deem it proper in this connection to
follow these men. The 190th and 191st Regi-
ments were formed of veterans and recruits
of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer regi-
ments. The 190th was composed of men of
the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Reserve regi-
ments. After those whose terms of service
had expired were gone, these hastily formed
regiments were immediately sent to the front
at Cold Harbor and were engaged with the
foe, and in the movements towards the James
river were attacked and had a severe fight at
Charles City, lasting the entire day.
The imperfect company records of the
190th cause us to fail in o])taining the record
of some members of the 11th transferred to
it, and others were transferred to it while
prisoners in Confederate hands. Both of
these regiments were engaged at Petersburg
in the series of fights from June 15th to 30th,
losing heavily. The loss in ofScers was es-
pecially severe. Almost the entire regiment
was surrounded and captured at Weidon
railroad, August 19, 1864, and suffered un-
told hardships during a captivity lasting till
the spring of 1865 and almost to the time of
Lee's surrender.
The few men left in the spring of 1865,
gathered together from detached duty and
elsewhere, participated in the final campaign
at Hatcher's Run, Gravely Run and Five
Forks, and were warmly engaged at the two
last named places. They were moving for-
ward with detachments of "Bucktails" and
others, in the skirmish line on the "double
quick," when the order to cease firing was
received and they discovered the white flag
indicative of the surrender of General Lee.
41st Pennsylvania Volunteers, 12th Re-
serves.— This regiment was organized in July,
1861. One company was recruited in Indiana
county by Capt. A. J. Bolar, assisted by the
citizens of the village of Armagh. It was
among the first companies recruited in the
county for three years' service. The regi-
ment remained at Camp Curtin till August
10th, where it was mustered into the United
States service and sent to Tennallytown, near
Washington, where it was assigned to the 3d
Brigade of the reserves. In October the regi-
ment was moved to the Virginia side of the
Potomac and went into winter quarters at
Camp Pierpoint. On Dec. 20th it participated
in the engagement at Drainsville, Va., where
for a considerable time the regiment was ex-
posed to a severe fire from Confederate bat-
teries without being able to return the fire,
a very trying position for veteran troops and
more so for men first under fire. The 12th
was ordered to advance and take the battery
in its front, but the Confederates fled before
the advance, leaving the field to the Union
forces.
In March, 1863, it was in the movement to-
wards Manassas, experiencing all the discom-
forts others did in this event.
Omitting the routine duties of camp life,
we next note that the 12th was detached from
its brigade and ordered on guard of the
Orange & Alexandria railroad. On the way
to join the brigade, which in the meantime
had moved to Falmouth, Va., the regiment
was annoyed by guerrillas, whose
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
113
almost always seemed to be to murder strag-
glers from the main body. Company C and
Captain Bolar's company, H, were ordered
to the rear and burned the farmhouse where
the guerrillas made their headquarters, but
the villains escaped before these companies
reached the place. The Reserve Corps was
now ordered to the Peninsula to join Mc-
Clellan, the 12th debarking at White House,
Va., May 14, 1863, and by the 18th was on
duty on advance picket at the Chickahominy
river, next day moving to Ellerson's Mills,
on Beaver Dam creek. On May 25th it was
sent on picket duty on the line from IMeadow-
bridge to Ellerson's Mills, remaining until
next day, in the latter part of this time re-
porting every hour to headquarters the move-
ments of the enemy in front. When called
in. it was assigned position on extreme left
at the Mills. At three o'clock the battle
opened at Mechanicsville. and the 12th held
its position against all odds, hurling back
each advance of the foe. During the night
the Union forces, except the 12th, were with-
drawn and it was to withdraw at daylight.
The enemj' discovering the condition attacked
again, the 12th becoming more desperately
engaged, if possible, than on the day before,
but retired in good order leaving the Con-
federates, as their only trophy, the occu-
pancy of the position. Tired and hungiy, the
regiment moved direct to the battleground
at Gaines' Mill, and was placed on the front,
in support of Griffin's battery, which during
the day it gallantly supported at desperate
cost of blood and life, successfully repelling
the charges on the battery so, this day, the
12th may be said to have fought two distinct
battles, first at Mechanicsville and next at
Gaines' Mill. The next day, without food or
water, it marched in guard of reserve artil-
lery nearly eighteen miles. The reader will
allow us the diversion here to say the asser-
ton "no water" is literally true in regard to
the whole army ; men would march on buoyed
up by the hope of water somewhere ahead, to
find only stagnant pools in swamps in which
were the bodies of dead horses. Men and
horses suflfered beyond description for want
of water to quench the feverish thirst.
We quote from Colonel Taggart's report:
"The White Oak creek which we crossed
about noon, June 29th, was a complete quag-
mire, from the thousands of horses, teams
and artillery which were continually passing,
and water to drink was not to be had. Some
of the men became almost delirious from
thirst, and once, when I halted for a rest for
a few minutes, I discovered them drinking
from a stagnant puddle in which was the
putrid carcass of a dead horse. ... I
promised them good water at White Oak
Swamp, . . . but as we arrived there we
found it utterly unfit to drink." At night
they found good water in a small stream, the
next day reddened by their blood, for the next
day the battle of Charles City Cross Roads
was fought. The 12th was divided into de-
tachments, and separated some distance, also
widely separated from the balance of the
division. The Rebels attacked in solid charge
and in a few moments it was a hand to hand
confiiet, with one detachment, and it was com-
pelled to fall back. The other detachment
held its ground for a time, but the battery
it was supporting, in its hurry to get away
drove through the line in hot haste regard-
less of the men in its support, trampling some
of them underfoot in this mad dash to the
rear. The regiment rallied in a body and
continued in the fight till the close, that night
moving to Malvern Hill. The reserve coi-ps,
being almost out of ammunition (some por-
tions averaging but three rounds to the man),
was held in reserve mostly. Still it partici-
pated as reserve, and some portions were in
close proximity to the terrible onslaught of
the evening of the day, moving to Harrison's
Landing and subsequently to the south side
of the James to guard against night attacks
of Rebel artillery, which on one or two oc-
casions had annoyed the camps at the landing.
From the Peninsula the 12th was moved to
Falmouth, Va., thence to Bull Run battle-
grounds, where it did creditable work, the
first day being moved frequently under fire
without opportunity of returning it, but on
the second day not only served on skirmish
line, and in the grand charge of the division,
but late in the day was in line to receive and
repel with tei-rible fire the charge of the Con-
federates upon the Union left flank; after-
wards moving to the support of troops on the
right. Those in front at this point giving
way, again the 12th was brought into action,
holding its ground until ordered to fall back,
and form a new position. It then marched
into Maryland and occupied the center of the
line in storming the heights at South Moun-
tain, and on the 16th and 17th of September
engaged the enemy on the bloody field of
Antietam, where its loss, especially in
wounded, was heavy.
We next follow it to Fredericksburg, De-
cember 13th. where on the right of Lee's
fortified position, the reserve corps made a
114
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
desperate fight, turning the position of the
enemy, and driving it froiu a portion of
its works. Supports not being sent forward
in time, the reserves reluctantly left the posi-
tion taken at terrible cost of life.
The reserve corps, being much reduced in
numbers, was ordered to the defenses at
Washington, where it remained until Lee's
invasion of Penns.vlvania, when it again
joined the Army of the Potomac. The 12th
reached the battleground at Gettysburg July
2nd, and was moved into position just as Gen-
eral Sickles' corps was being forced back.
Moving at once into position under fire
from Confederate sharpshooters, the regi-
ment hastily constructed cover of stone and
such material as could be had, thus partly
protecting it from the fire of the enemy.
At night it was moved into position on
Round Top, and in the night constructed a
stone wall for defensive breastworks, which
it occupied most of the day, July 3d, not be-
ing pressed forward in the charges made to-
wards the center.
We next find the regiment engaged at Bris-
toe Station, and again in the advance on
Rappahannock Station, thence moving for-
ward with the army to Brandy Station.
In the campaign against the Rebel posi-
tion at Mine Run, it became engaged near
New Hope Church.
After the return from Mine Run campaign,
it was again sent to guard Orange & Alex-
andria railroad, where, on account of sneak-
ing, cowardly and murderous guerrillas, it
was necessary to build blockhouses for the
protection of its guards.
Returning to the army again it moved in
the Wilderness campaign, being engaged in
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Potomac
river, near North Anna river and Bethesda
Church, the fight at Bethesda Church occur-
ring on the last daj' of its three years ' of serv-
ice. In the meantime, Captain Bolar, who
had been wounded and taken prisoner at the
Fredericksburg battle, had returned, being
promoted to major of the regiment. Com-
pany H lost a good many soldiers and citi-
zens in killed, and others bear the marks of
wounds on their bodies. We sum the battle
record as follows: Drainsville, Mechanics-
ville, Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross Roads,
Malvern Hill (slightly). Bull Run, South
Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettys-
burg, Bristoe Station. Rappahannock Station,
-Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsvylania, Jeri-
cho, Ford and Bethesda Church.
"Honor to the brave!"
43d Pennsylvanm Volunteers, 1st Light Ar-
tillery, 14th Reserves. — Indiana county had
thirty men in this regiment, one in Battery
A, three in F, the balance in Battery G. Of
those in Battery G, five were detached for duty
with the 5th United States Artillery, Battery
L, and were attached to Averill's cavaliy di-
vision, participating in all the engagements,
and many of the skirmishes beginning at
Snicker's Gap, July 18, 1864.
William J. Fuller was killed at Winchester,
July 24, 1864; was struck by a piece of shell
on the left breast, tearing away almost the
entire side and shoulder ; was still alive when
last seen, but as it was the "skedaddle" from
Winchester he fell into the hands of the Con-
federates and without a doubt fills an un-
known patriot's grave on the blood-stained
plains of Winchester. The balance of the
men of Battery G were never called into en-
gagement, and the duties were the routine
usual in fortifications, where for most of the
time they were stationed, near Washington,
D. C, Point of Rocks, and Maryland Heights,
sei'ving, armed with muskets, while at Point
of Rocks, five months.
The three who served in Battery F were
with Grant in the campaign of 1864, before
Richmond and Petersburg, and Ricketts' bat-
tery being so well and favorably known in
history and by fireside we need no more than
mention it.
The one in Battery A, who lost his life,
was a good soldier; he had his leg so badly
mangled by a piece of shell as to cause ampu-
tation, which resulted in death. Our quota-
tions are notes of Dr. W. S. Shields, of Mar-
ion, whose name appears in the roll of Bat-
tery G.
46th Pennsylvania Volunteers. — The 46th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, after the enlist-
ment of Indiana county men, whose names
we give, soon moved to the Western Army,
under the immediate command of General
Joseph Hooker, and in his 20th Army Corps,
skirmished with the enemy near Dalton, Tenn.,
and was in the line attacked by General John-
ston at Resaca in his effort to break the Union
lines. The regiment held its position and re-
pelled the charge of the enemy. Under fire
from the enemy, the regiment's temporary
breastworks served as a partial protection,
and the regiment's loss was slight. In the
days subsequent to the battle, the regiment
was in several skirmishes, and it was almost
a continual skirmish on some part of the line,
the principal ones in which the regiment was
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
115
engaged being at Pumpkin Vine Creek and
New Hope Church. It was in the repulse of
Gen. Hood's attack on McKnight's brigade at
Gulp's Farm, inflicting severe loss upon the
enemy. The loss in the regiment in this en-
gagement was near fifty men, killed and
wounded. It also participated in the fights
at Dallas, Pine Knob, Kenesaw Mountain and
Marietta, Captain Stolzenbaeh, of Company
C, in one of these engagements having his
hand shot off. The 46th regiment occupied
an exposed position at the battle of Peach
Tree Creek, before Atlanta, suffering severe
loss, making a successful charge upon the
enemy's lines. It was among the first regi-
ments into the city, suffering some loss in
the capture of the place, the occupancy of
which was still disputed by the enemy. It
then marched northward, foraging for its
supplies, until it reached Savannah. In the
subsequent marches through North and South
Carolina, the company had some skirmishes
with the enemy, with which its active work
ceased.
55th Bcgimenf, Pennsylvania Volun-
ieers. — The 55th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol-
unteers, was recruited in the summer and fall
of 1861 by Col. Richard White, under au-
thority of Governor Curtin. The regiment
was made up of companies from different sec-
tions of the State, Company F, Captain Nes-
bit. from Indiana county. In November,
1861, it left Camp Curtin for the field of ac-
tion with thirty-eight officers and seven hun-
dred and fifty men. It was stationed at Fort-
ress Monroe till December 8, 1861. when it
was ordered to Port Royal, S. C, and from
there to Hilton Head, doing genei'al guard
duty till February, 1862, when it was ordered
to Edisto Island, where it served in detach-
ments at various points, widely separated.
While on this island an attack was made on
Companies E and F by a Confederate force
variously estimated, probably five hundred
strong. Company E retiring, the heat of the
fight fell on Company F. Lieutenant ]McEl-
haney and eleven men were captured in the
commencement of the assault, and were
brought up and exposed to the fire of their
own men, a devilish act. only to be thought
of by demons. Corporal Cunningham was
killed when the others were captured. The
remainder of the company checked the ad-
vance of the enemy, but were compelled to
withdraw in the face of the largely superior
force of Confederates, losing everything at
the post except their guns. In escaping,
some swam the river, while others improvised
a ferry by making a raft of such nuiterial as
could be got hold of, and formed a rope by
fastening gun straps together. They still
had to wade and swim nearly one mile in
overflowed swamp, reaching the main body
of the regiment with guns fllled with mud,
clothes covered with the same, some without
hats, and in a pitiful plight every way.
Lieutenant McElhaney was kept prisoner for
one year.
On October 21, 1862, the regiment was in
the movement up Broad river, landing at
]\Iackey's Point ixnder cover of gunboats. An
advance was made at Pocotaligo bridge, the
ob.ject of which seems to have been the de-
struction of part of the Charleston & Savan-
nah railroad.
On the 22d, it met and drove the enemy at
Caston, and again at Framptou, driving the
Rebels across Pocotaligo bridge, which they
burned in 'their retreat. A fight of several
hours occurred here, the Union force with-
drawing when nearly out of ammunition, the
Confederates i-eceiving support from Charles-
ton and Savannah by trains every two hours.
The 55th lost about thirty killed and wounded.
Company F having but a slight proportion of
the loss.
The regiment was next stationed at Beau-
fort, S. C, for more than a year, seiwing as
heavy artillery in the forts and picketing
Port Royal feriy, ten miles away. Captain
Nesbit was in command at Port Royal ferry
for two or three months, having two guns
and supports for the same.
On January 1, 1864, the larger part of the
regiment enlisted, and on returning from fur-
lough brought recruits, increasing the regi-
ment to nearly one thousand, five hundred
men. In April it was ordered to Gloucester
Point, Va., where it joined the 10th Army
Corps, and thence to Bennuda Hundred, to
operate against Richmond. While here, at
one time, the regiment was armed with axes
and put to work to fell timber in front of
the works, with Captain Nesbit in command
of the choppers. The Confederates kept up
a constant fire by artillery and sharpshooters,
getting so hot the officer of the day ordered
tlie men back within the works, when Gen-
eral Butler in person ordered them out again.
Tliey bravely returned to their work, and
after the work of the day was over went on
skirmish line on the front, remaining two or
tliree days.
On the 9th of ]\Iay. Ames" division moved
out and destroyed a portion of the Richmond
& Petersburg' railroad, the 55th regiment
116
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
claiming to have been in this movement as
early as the 8th of Maj-. In all the movements
following this towards Petersburg, at Swift
creek, in the change of direction towards
Richmond at Proctor's creek and Drury's
Bluft', the regiment participated, fighting al-
most constantly from May 8th to 16th. At
Proctor's creek. May 16th, the 55th held its
ground firmly until nearly surrounded, when
a forlorn hope charge was made by three com-
panies of the regiment, led by Colonel White.
They found the enemy too strong for them,
and Colonel White, having his horse shot un-
der him, was taken prisoner with some of his
men in the effort to fall back, or rather fight
out of their surroundings, the loss to the regi-
ment in the eight days being fifteen officers
and three hundred men, the colonel captured,
lieutenant colonel wounded and captured,
s«rgeon and adjutant captured. Captain
Shearer then took command of tl>e regiment,
falling back .to Bermuda Hundred.
On May 20th, the regiment was attacked
when in support of the picket line, and here
again held its position until the line on both
sides fell back, and it had to fall back to es-
cape capture. Lieutenant Adair and a por-
tion of Company F were cut off from the
regiment, and for two hours were supposed to
be taken prisoners, but fought their way out
before night.
The regiment was next in detached force
sent to General Grant, before Richmond, then
moving on Cold Harbor. It reached Cold
Harbor June 1st, and iunnediately moved
to the front, participating in the constant
fight of days at that point.
On June 3d, the regiment charged on the
Confederate works en masse, taking the first
line of works and almost reached the second
when the line gave way and the regiment was
ordered to fall back. In the meantime Cap-
tain Shearer had fallen wounded and Cap-
tain Nesbit assumed command.
When the order came to fall back, it was
mistaken by the regiment for order to lie
down. A portion of the regiment, with Cap-
tain Nesbit, lay down immediately under the
Confederate works, and the portion that fell
back was rallied by Captain Hill, who, in the
face of a terrible fire from the enemy's line
of works, took the flag of the regiment and
mounting the line of works already taken,
with it in his hand, called on his men to rally.
The men in front with Nesbit were getting
back to detachments, creeping back most of
the way to escape the terrible fire they would
have had to suffer if they got upon their feet.
Captain Nesbit was wounded while getting
his regiment to change position in the pits,
exposing himself to the fire of the enemy in
so doing. Captain Hill then took command.
The 55th remained deployed in the pits as rear
guard, while the division withdrew from the
works a few days later, and when it withdrew
went via the Pamunky, York and James rivers
to Point of Rocks, Va., and on the 15th was
in assault upon the enemy's works at Peters-
burg, some of which were taken with sixteen
guns and three hundred prisoners ; the loss
on our side was about six hundred men. Next
morning the 55th was ordered forward as
skirmishers, getting close up to the enemy's
lines, the detachment under Lieutenant Adair
using all its ammunition and begging for
more, the men holding the position for some
time with ammunition carried to them by
drummer boys in their caps. This is prob-
ably true with regard to the whole regiment,
but it is not certain that all the regiment was
on the skirmish line.
A day or two later the regiment was again
ordered' f(i cli.i !■<;■(' the line and in this charge
lost sevcri'ly, ils loss being estimated at three
officers aiid ri^iity men.
On Septeiiihcr 28th, in the night, the regi-
ment ei'ossed the James river and moved to
the support of troops that stormed Fort Har-
rison on the 29th, and in the afternoon was
detailed to storm a portion of the enemy's
works beyond, supported by other regiments.
It advanced over a quarter of a mile of open
ground to Chapin's Farm, subject to a con-
centrated fire from the enemy's works, dis-
abling so large a proportion of the already
decimated ranks it was compelled to fall back,
leaving the dead and wounded in the hands
of the enemy. Lieutenant Adair and Cap-
tain O'Neil fell mortally wounded; the loss
in killed, wounded and missing was one half
of the force in the charge.
In December, by consolidation of the 10th
and 18th Army Corps, the 55th was assigned
to the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps,
and on December 10th was attacked feebly
by Confederate cavalry at Signal Hill. The
regiment was under cover and easily repulsed
the attack.
The latter part of -March, 1865, the regi-
ment crossed the James river, marched to
Hatcher's Run, Va., and was on the skirmish
line in the general advance of March 31st, at
that point, losing in killed and wounded about
twenty men. It was next engaged in the
charge on Fort Baldwin, being the first regi-
ment to occupy it, suffering only slight loss.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
117
To understand fully the term slight loss
as we apply it to old regiments of the Armies
of the Potomac and Virginia, the reader of
their history must bear in mind that the
number of men was small; the 55th at this
time possibly did not have more than two
hundred effective men.
The regiment served in the closing move-
ments, and afterwards in detachments under
orders from the Freedmen's Bureau till Aug-
ust 30, 1865.
Of Colonel Richard White, whom we may
claim for Indiana county, his men say of him
he was a kind man, a good soldier, an ex-
cellent drill officer, and a commander who, at
all hazards and without regard to popularity,
insisted upon his men getting good clothing,
the best rations the government could furnish ;
all they wanted in reason, that could be ob-
tained.
Company B, 56 fh Pennsylvania Volun-
teers.— In response to the call for three hun-
dred thousand men to serve for three years,
or during the war, a company under the name
of Blairsville Guards, led by Captain William
Melntire, left the railroad depot at Blairs-
ville October 24, 1861, for Camp Curtin,
Harrisburg. Previous to this, two companies
had gone from Blairsville and vicinity, and
many citizens entertained the opinion that
the community had been drained of its fight-
ing material ; so that the third effort to raise
more men had less of enthusiasm in it than
the former two, yet not less of the spirit of
sincere devotion to the flag.
In about two months from the first signa-
ture, sixty men had expressed their willing-
ness to go, and impatiently awaited the order
to rendezvous. The day of departure drew
on.- From early dawn till the evening of
October 23d, squads of men were constantly
arriving in town, and found entertainment
in the homes of the hospitable citizens, or
were lodged for the night at the hotels. By
daylight next morning the town was all astir,
as busy hands and anxious hearts pi-epared
the last article of comfort for the soldier, or
crowded the streets to drown their suppressed
sorrow in the excitement of the hour. At the
request of Robert Hummil, Esq.. the com-
pany assembled in the United Presbyterian
Church for religious sei-vices, conducted by
Revs. William Connor and George Hill, after
which the line was formed i^i front of the
drill room, on Main street, and every man
that desired it was presented a copy of the
New Testament. From here they marched
to the cars at the depot, where with tearful
eyes and straggling cheers, the farewell was
given, and the "boys were off for the war."
Fifty-four of the sixty men were accepted
and mustered into the United States service,
attached to the 56th Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, Colonel S. A. Meredith command-
ing, and given the second position of honor.
Company B. During its stay in Camp Cur-
tin, from time to time recruits arrived, until
the company roll contained about eighty-five
names. William Melntire, of Saltsburg, was
tendered the captaincy, solely on account of
supposed military knowledge acquired from
service in the Mexican war. The entire labor
of recruiting the company was borne by J. A.
Cunningham, and the necessary funds fur-
nished by the firm in which he was a part-
ner.
On ]March 8, 1862, the regiment left Camp
Curtin for Washington City, encamping a
short time on Meridian Hill, thence moving
to Fort Runnion. An earthwork was thrown
up to pi'otect Long Bridge. The few days
spent here were fully occupied with practice
on heavy artillery to the great dissatisfac-
tion of the men. They insisted all the while
that they did not come out to train siege guns
under the very shadow of the Capitol, when
the post of danger was in the front. In army
parlance, "the company was spoiling for a
fight."
April 4th found the regiment, with other
troops, aboard transports, steaming down the
Potomac to Budd's ferry, on the Maryland
side. April 24th it crossed the Acquia creek,
in Virginia, and was assigned to the duty of
guarding the railroad from this point to Fred-
ericksburg. This was not dangerous work,
as the whiz of the Rebel bullet never was
heard, yet the deadlier malaria prostrated
many of the men with sickness and laid num-
bers in the grave.
On August 9th the regiment was attached
to the 2d Brigade (General Abner Double-
day's), 1st Division (General King's), in
command of General McDowell, forming part
of the Army of Virginia defending Washing-
ton City. Early in this month the scattered
forces of the Army of Virginia centered at
Cedar ]\Iountain, where General Pope gave
battle to Stonewall Jackson.
King's division arrived too late to take par+
in the battle, which resulted in Jackson's
withdrawing his forces in the direction of
Gordonville to unite with General Lee's
army, now moving toward Washington. In
turn, Pope's army withdrew to the north bank
of the Rappahannock, hotly pursued by the
118
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
enemy. Here Company B heard for the first
time the shriek of Confederate shell, and
realized as never before the loss of individ-
uality in war. Almost daily, artillery duels
were fought with the enemy, as our forces
stubbornly resisted his advance in order that
time might be gained for the Army of the
Potomac to free itself from the Peninsula
and take position between the Confederates
and Washington.
On August 28th, the 56th regiment had its
maiden battle. As King's division was march-
ing along at the close of the day toward Cen-
treville, unconscious of danger, the first in-
timation of the presence of the enemy was a
shower of shells from a masked battery to the
left of the road. At the command of the
general, "bring the van forward at a double
quick," the insolent battery was stormed, the
fire of concealed Confederate infantry drawn
and the almost hand to hand conflict opened.
The strife was short but terrible, the loss
heavy on both sides on account of the close-
ness of the battle lines. Fortunately for us,
night threw her friendly mantle over the
bloody scene and hid from view the weakness
of our forces. The Rebel guns ceased firing
first. Cheer after cheer rose from our ranks,
the "claim of victory," and the battle of
Gainesville was ended.
The examination of prisoners showed that
we had fallen in with Jackson's entire army,
and the boldness with which we had accepted
this challenge of battle led the enemy to think
it was contending with Pope's main body.
Our forces left the field during the night,
and daylight next morning found them at
Manassas Junction, the experience of the night
lingering like a bloody dream. The second
Bull Run battle opened on this day (29th of
August), and the 56th regiment was called
into action, as well as on the following day,
to cover the retreat. From this until the end
of the war its fortune was joined to that of
the Army of the Potomac, taking part in most
of its battles, rejoicing in its victories and
sharing in its defeats, so that we will not at-
tempt a recital of the many marches of the
56th, its cheerful evenings around the camp-
fires or its awful visions of the dread battle-
field strewn with the slain, but will close this
sketch with an extract from a letter of Briga-
dier General Cutter, (commanding 1st Di-
\ision, 1st Corps, at the Battle of Gettysburg,
Pa.), to Governor Curtin. He says: "It was
my fortune to be in the advance on the morn-
ing of July 1, 1863. When we came upon
the ground in front of the enemy. Colonel
Hoffman's regiment (56th) got into position
a moment sooner than the others, the enemy
now advancing within easy musket range.
The atmosphere being a little thick, I took
out my glass to examine the enemy. Being
a few paces in the rear of Colonel Hoffman,
he turned to me and enquired, 'Is that the
enemy?' My reply was, 'Yes.' Turning to
his men he commanded, ' Ready, right oblique,
aim, fire!' and the Battle of Gettysburg was
opened. The fire was followed by other regi-
ments instantly; still that battle on the soil
of Pennsylvania was opened by her own sons,
and it is just that it should become a matter
of history. I desire to say to your Excel-
lency that the 56th is one of the very best
regiments in the service, and I hope you will
cause proper measures to be taken to give
that regiment the credit which is its due, of
having opened that memorable battle."
From the foregoing it will be seen that
Indiana county's sons had part in the honor
of opening the battle that hurled the proud
Confederate army south, never to return.
Company B went into this fight with two com-
missioned officers and twenty-four men. Let
the list of killed and wounded answer whether
they were faithful to duty or not.
The 56tli Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun-
teers participated in the following named
battles of the Anny of the Potomac. Organi-
zation from year 1861; commencement 1862,
up to 1865 : Rappahannock Station, Va.,
August 23, 1862; General Pope. Sulphur
Springs, Va., August 25, 1862 ; Pope. Gaines-
ville, Va., August 28, 1862 ; Pope. Groveton,
Va., August 29, 1862 ; Pope. Manassas, Va.,
August 30-31, 1862, Pope. South Moun-
tain, Md., September 14, 1862; General Mc-
Clellan. Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862 ;
McClellan. Union, Va., November 1, 2, 3, 4,
1862; McClellan. Fredericksburg, Va., De-
cember 12, 13, 14, 15 ; General Burnside.
Chancellorsville, Va., April 27, 28, 29, 30,
1863; General Hooker. Beverly Ford, Va.,
June 9, 1863 ; Hooker. Gettysburg, Pa., July
1, 2, 3, 4, 1863 ; General Meade. Mine Run,
Va., November 27, 28, 29, 30, 1863; Meade.
Wilderness, Va., May 6, 7, 1864; Meade.
Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 9, 10, 1864; Meade.
Spottsvlvania, Va., May 11, 1'2, 13, 14, 15,
1864; iVIeade. North Anna, Va., May 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 1864; Meade. York River, Va.,
May 28, 1864;' Meade. Cold Harbor, Va.,
June 1, 2, 3, 4; Petersburg, Va., June 17 to
June 25, 1864 ; Meade. Weldon Railroad, Va.,
August 18, 19, 20, 21, 1864; Meade. Dab-
nf>v's Mills, Va- February 5, 1865; Boyd-
HISTORY OF IXDIANA COUNTY. PENXSYLVAXIA
119
town Plank Road, February 6, 1865; Squir-
rel Level, Va., February 7, 1865; Hatcher's
Run. Va., Februaiy 10, 11, 1865; Rowanty
Creek. Va., March 31, 1865 ; Five Forks. Va.,
April 1, 1865; Sutherland's S. S. R. R., Va.,
April 2, 1865; Surrender of General Lee,
April 9, 1865.
Company A, 61st Pennsylvania Volun-
fcrrs. — This company was organized in July,
1861, by the iinion of two companies re-
cruited for three months' service, one by
John Pollock, in East Mahoning, North Ma-
honing. i\Iontgomery and Canoe townships,
the other by Jacob Ct'eps, in Rayne, Green
and East ]\Iahoning; the two embracing the
villages of Covode, IMarchand, Georgeville,
Richmond. Decker's Point, Taylorsville, Dix-
onville, Kellysburg, Kintersburg and Marion
Centei'. The call for three years caused man.y
to withdraw, and a union of the remnant of
two companies was effected at Decker's Point,
ilarion from thenceforth became the general
headquarters for recruiting, where the com-
pany was fully organized in July, 1861, by
the election of Jacob Creps, captain; John
Pollock, first lieutenant: G. W. Brady, sec-
ond lieutenant; Frank M. Brown, first ser-
geant, and a full complement of minor of-
ficers.
The request of 0. H. Rippey, of Pittsburg,
to join his regiment was granted by a vote
of the company. The citizens gathered at
Marion Center in immense procession to ac-
company the soldiers to Indiana ; the citizens
of Kintersburg gave a free dinner, and those
of Indiana free lodging for the night. The
men went by rail in box ears to Pittsburg,
and quartered in Camp Wilkins, and were
mustered into the United States service Aug-
ust 21, 1861.
By order of the Secretary of War, about
September 1st the partly filled regiment was
ordered to the front, only three companies,
viz.. Creps'. Gerard's and Foulk's, beins:
full.
The following history of this command is
from notes by J. 'SI. Walker :
We were stopped at Harrisburg on the
plea of "no transportation." and sent to
Camp Curtin to await it. An effort was made
to break up the regiment; Captain Foulk's
company was bought off, and Company A as-
signed to another regiment. Captain Creps
and Gerard objected to the assignment, as
well as to all offers for purchase. Company
A insisting that Captain Creps should sac-
redly keep its pledge to Colonel Rippey.
Then all cooking utensils were taken from
us. and orders were issued to strip us of our
uniforms, which had been furnished by the
State, the post commander instructing the
post ciuartei-master to give us no rations, ex-
cept upon requisition in the name of the regi-
ment to which we had been assigned.
Anticipating trouble, we had sent our old
clothing home, and of course retained the uni-
form. Captain Creps furnished security for
the government price of the rations until
the matter could be settled, as it was in part
by Colonel Rippey, upon his arrival, agree-
ing that the State should have the credit of
his regiment, and he, in consideration there-
for, should have his regiment filled ; an agi-ee-
ment for some reason never fulfilled by the
State on its part. In conseciuence of this little
unpleasantness, the companies not so fortunate
in the matter of uniforms, suffered for want of
clothing, men going on picket duty at Camp
Advance, Va., without shirts or pants, being
wrapped in blankets secured around them with
their gun straps, their own clothes worn out in
building Fort Lyons, and the government not
yet able to uniform and fully equip its army.
After those rejected in examination were
sent home, and two transferred to Company
B, the company went to the fi'out with 101
officers and men, going into camp south of
Alexandria, Va., subject to orders of General
Jamison, and spent the fall of 1861 alternat-
ing between drill and detail work on Fort
Lyons, being moved February 19, 1862, to
Queen's farm, north of Washington, D. C,
and attached to Graham's brigade, Buell's di-
vision. Key's (4th) armj' corps.
Great anxiety prevailed on account of an
order to disband all regiments not number-
ing eight hundred men. Colonel Birney, in
the interest of a brigadier general's com-
mission, agreed to allow four companies of a
regiment to be transferred to the 61st, and
this transfer also included the commissions
of both the lieutenant colonel and major for
the regiment. Still further to make matters
smooth at Han-isburg, he required the post
savings fund of the 61st. The signing of the
order for this fund being refused by Captain
Creps. Acting Lieutenant Colonel, closed final-
ly all chance for promotion for him during
the war. and he remained senior captain of
the regiment for three years, often command-
ing the regiment, but the combined vote of
the line officers was not sufficient to gain him
promotion.
On March 10, 1862, we marched to Pros-
pect Hill, Va., on the way to Manassas, but
learning that the Confederates had evacuated
120
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
their works, leaving only wooden guns, we
turned our faces towards camp again, passing
two days and nights near Chain Bridge, on
short rations, clothes wet through, no shelter,
fire would not burn, and we did not under-
stand soldiering very well at that time, so
that, to the company, it was one of the meni-
orable events of the war.
March 26, 1862, we went on board the old
rotten steamer "Wilson Small," arriving at
Hampton, Va., on the evening of the next
day. This was one of the perils of the serv-
ice, and fair weather probably our only sal-
vation. The steamer was so worthless and
overloaded we had to so divide as to balance
the vessel ; the captain of it finally prohibited
our moving around any, and cursed us when
we tried to stretch our cramped limbs, so we
sat still, trusting the Lord for fair weather to
reach Fortress Monroe. The cragy old boat
sunk shortly after we landed, and we hoped
it would never be resurrected from its watery
grave.
The next stopping place for any length of
time was at Warwick C. H., Va., April 6,
where we were first fired on by Confederate
artillery, April 15th, and the occasional sing
of the sharpshooter's bullet introduced us to
that so prominent feature of warfare on the
Eebel side during the war; and they finally
got so good range of our camp that we moved
to a more sheltered place. Here we lived
three days without rations, nine miles of
corduroy road having to be built before we
could be supplied. However, we could get
fair drinking water by digging a hole eighteen
inches deep, anywhere, but the offal of the
camps was buried at about the same depth,
and it required strong faith to accept the
theory there advanced that a few inches of
earth as a filter purified the water. The
pickets of the 61st regiment were first into
the Confederates' deserted works on our
front May 4, 1862; our regiment taking its
place in the line of march reached Williams-
burg too late to be engaged there, but was
pushed forward on advance picket near New
Kent Court House, March 14th. We reached
the Chickahominy river at Bottom's Bridge,
May 21st, and Companies A and H crossed
— the first troops over — and picketed the
front while the pioneer corps bridged the
same.
On the 29th and 30th of May, we occupied
a position at Fair Oaks Station, the enemy
in front and an overflowing river with the
bridges swept away in our rear. We were
attacked May 31st, by a large force of Rebels,
and fought until our ammunition was spent,
clubbing muskets and fighting. A skirmish
line was pushed forward on our right flank
and rear. Notes taken on the field place
Company A's loss in killed and wounded at
thirty-four. In the wounded list were Cap-
tain Creps and Lieutenants Pollock and
Brady, Lieutenant Pollock fighting hand to
hand after being wounded. He died a few
days afterwards and Indiana county lost a
brave soldier and useful citizen. Captain
Creps, being but slightly wounded, took com-
mand again next morning. General Key's re-
port says of the regiment : " It fought with ex-
traordinary bravery and the casualties in the
61st amount to 263 and are heavier than any
other regiment in Conch's division. The 61st
withdrew in detachments, some of which
came again into action near my head-
quarters." The real loss of the regiment
was 280. •
June 27, 1862, Companies A and H were
ordered to establish a picket line on the left
of Seven Pines, where we were attacked by
the full battle line of the enemy. Being de-
ployed in open ranks, we retired with but one
man wounded and a few bullet holes in our
clothes. For the first and only time during
the war, we were called cowards, and then
by the colonel of the 55th New York regi-
ment that ran away in a body at Fair Oaks
a few days before, and now attempted to do
what we failed to do but could not succeed,
and a full brigade was ordered forward which
with guns and shovels fought and fortified,
alternately.
June 28, 1862, we moved in a line of march
in McClellan's retreat toward the James
river, encountering some Confederate cavalry
at Charles City Cross Roads, but soon routed
them without any serious casualties in the
company ; and reached the James river on the
30th, returning to Malvern Hill in the even-
ing. We moved in support of the batteries
early in the morning of July 1st, losing one
in the company mortally wounded, another
slightly, in getting into position, where our
protection was secured somewhat by lying in
an old road worn in the sand a few inches
lower than the surface ground on the side
next the enemy. Here for several hours an
almost continuous fire of shot and shell fell
around us, shells bursting but a few feet from
our heads and fragments falling beyond us.
Case shot were little used then and without
them it was impossible to dislodge us. To-
wards evening, with other troops, we made
a flank movement down a muddy and woody
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
121
i-aviiie oil the right, at right angle with the
batteries, creeping into position on our hands
and knees, coming out on the flank of the
Confederates as they charged on our batteries,
doing a work of carnage to their "close col-
umn" en masse troops that defies any de-
scription. But few of them were left to tell
the tale. We remained on the field meeting
another weaker charge, and alternating with
the batteries lying down while they fired close
over us, and charging while they ceased, un-
til the field seemed completely deserted by
the foe at eight P. M. Our loss was compara-
tively small. Company A's casualties not ex-
ceeding eight, and the regiment's loss thirty-
four. The bad aim of the enemy has credit
for this, as nearly every volley fired was too
low, raising a cloud of dust twenty feet in
front of us.
July 2, 1862, we moved to Harrison's
Landing in deep mud and stopped where we
could neither sit nor lie down, but after sev-
eral hours of suffering got to a better place
in the woods and the sound of the pioneer's
axe was heard. "With the exception of one
recoiinoiter to Malvern Hill, and an occasional
shell thrown from the south side of the James,
we had quiet. At this point Captain Creps,
to relieve himself of an unpleasant duty,
asked the company to elect a second lieuten-
ant, which resulted in the election of Isaac
M. Price, a corporal, an action of which the
company may well be proud, for none ever
questioned his ability or bravery.
August 16, 1862, we left Harrison's Land-
ing for Yorktown, which we reached on the
20th, our knapsacks, sent by steamer on the
11th, reaching us the 24th. We were detained
at Yorktown ostensibly to level down forts,
but "the boys" will remember the oyster,
lobster and clam fishing.
August 28th, we went on board the bark
"Metropolis," in tow of the "City of
Richmond," and started up the bay
that night in a driving storm. Our bark
very nearly ran down the steamer, which was
also loaded with troops. "The boys" had
got almost proof against cholera morbus, but
didn't know how to flank seasickness and
were captured.
Ofl: Occoquan creek we were ordered to
proceed to Alexandria and from there we
were ordered to the army near Fairfax Court
House, arriving on the morning of September
2d, where we learned of the disaster to our
troops at Bull Run.
We were then ordered on the rear guard,
retiring slowly to Alexandria ; thence we
went by steamer to Kingstown, to George-
town, crossing the south side of the aqueduct
bridge in the night; next morning, Septem-
ber 4th, recrossing at Chain Bridge, we
marched to a point above Great Falls, where
we were posted as guards along the river
and crossings.
_ September 14th, we moved by way of Rock-
ville and South Mountain, reaching battle-
field at Antietam on the evening of Septem-
ber 17th, and next morning, the front towards
Sharpsburg, we skirmished with the enemy,
continuing all day, losing some wounded. We
pushed forward and past Sharpsburg on the
morning of the 19th, and finding the enemy
across the river there, we retraced our steps
and moved up the river to Williamsport,
where in skirmish with the Rebel rear guard
we lost John A. Work, killed. We then went
iiito camp near Downsville, Md., and aliout
this time were transfei-red to the 6th Army
Corps.
On October 19th, we made a reconnoissance
to Hancock, Md., marching in one day twen-
ty-eight miles, returning to our old camp
again. It was on this march we first met
General Kilpatrick, then a colonel, whose
boyish face we were loath to believe was that
of the dashing cavalryman of such notoriety.
October 31st, we left Downsville and
marched to Harper's Ferry, thence down
the Louden valley and via Thoroughfare Gap
to New Baltimore, Va., guarding trains No-
vember 6th and 7th, in a disagi-eeable snow-
storm. We remained at this point until we
received the farewell visit of General Mc-
Clellan, when we moved forward again, reach-
ing Belle Plains, Va., in the midst of a driv-
ing snowstorm, December .5th. We suffered
intensely on the night of the 6th, our blank-
ets, not very dry, freezing stifi", where not in
contact with our bodies.
On December 12, 1862, we crossed the Rap-
pahannock below Fredericksburg, and that
and the next day lay under the artillery fire
till quite late on the second day, when we
moved to the front on the left, our movement
opposed by artillery and desultory infantrs-
fire, neither inflicting much loss. ' The next
two days were spent in maneuvering and
there could not have been much ground be-
tween the river and hills we were not marched
over, the enemy sorely vexed trying to keep
range of us in all our movements. This was
our share of the first Fredericksburg, but
thousands fell elsewhere on the field in a vain
endeavor to storm the Confederate strong-
hold.
122
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The next move was in the historical "mud
march," fair at the start, but rain came in
dashes, filling the sand and overflowing the
streams — wagons sunk in to the axles, and
mules buried in mud and water. Yet Com-
pany A was never caught straggling any-
where when moving towards the foe and re-
ported in good shape, except muddy and wet,
at the appointed camp near the United States
ford, on the evening of the 20th of Decem-
ber. Many regiments were discouraged by
this unfortunate march so soon after the ter-
rible repulse at Fredericksburg, and it is
doubtful whether they could have fought if
called into action. The entire object of this
march failing, the regiment returned to
■ camp and was transferred to "Light Di-
vision, "Gth Corps. ' '
"We then proceeded to make dugouts in the
hillside near Belle Plains, although under
marching orders all the time, and fixed up
the best we could for the winter. The sur-
vivors of the regiment yet wear the green
cross of the Light Division over the white
one when wearing the corps badge. During
the winter a bakery was built, and we ate
"soft bread" the first time in eleven months.
Company A had received to this time twenty
pairs of brothers; we name a few and refer
you to the company roll: J. A. and H. V.
Stewart; L. and 1. V. Brady; E. W. and R.
W. Fairbank; I. N. and David Price; and of
which but one remained to tell the tale at
the close of the war, and he almost helpless.
On the night of April 20, 1863, Company
A, with others, carried the shallops or pon-
toon boats from the heights to Franklin's
crossing, one mile, and were to man the boats,
row across, and drive the enemy's pickets
from their pits. The order was counter-
manded on account of fatigue of the men.
After many moves we found ourselves at day-
light, Sunday morning. May 3d, in the city
of Fredericksburg, preparing to charge the
heights above it, the 61st to go out double
quick, left in front, and form line by file left
on the charge after getting across the canal
on the street bridge. Conflicting orders were
given by the lieutenant in command of left
company, doubling his men at the end of the
bridge. In this double quick movement, the
moving column ran into them, and for a few
fatal seconds, under a terrible fire of grape
and canister, there was confusion. Captain
Creps and Lieutenant Price, of Company A,
both ran forward to assist in getting all right
again, for all were anxious to get forward
out of range of the artillery. The Captain
got pushed off the bridge into the canal, wad-
ing out on the other side with his long boots
full of mud and water, and took command
of the regiment when Commander Spear fell.
This momentary delay righted, Company A
crossed and was over the enemy's works al-
most as soon as any of the troops, capturing
most of the Confederates in the works it
sealed. The loss was reported as ninety-nine
men in the regiment, seventy probably having
fallen in that charge, but the fight continuing,
in the effort to reach Hooker's force at Chan-
cellorsville, more men being wounded, the
actual loss of the charge cannot be given.
On the evening of the 4th, in the effort to
reach Bank's ford after a detour from the
main force to hold Stonewall Jackson's force
at bay at a certain point, the 61st was fired
into by our own batteries, the first shell kill-
ing five men. Captain Creps ordered the
regiment to seek cover in a stream bed in the
mud and water, and ran forward in the face
of the battery, three charges being fired be-
fore he reached it and stopped its dreadful
work. The remnant of the regiment crossed
at Bank's ford. The light division was so cut
up in the two days' fight that it was dis-
banded and the 61st assigned to the second
division.
June 7, 1863, we once more crossed to the
south side of the river and reconnoitered
about the enemy's works, but no engagement
ensued and we withdrew, Lee by this time
moving northward, west of our entire force.
This was our third and last crossing of the
Rappahannock near Fredericksburg.
June 14th, marched northward, going thir-
ty-two hours without sleep, only reaching
Dumfi-ies in that time, being so often de-
layed ; thence to Fairfax C. H., forming line
of" battle near Centreville; the enemy with-
drawing, we marched by Manassas to Bristoe
Station, where, for five days, the small force
there seemed to be entirely separated from
all the army, and in suspense we awaited
the sound of gun or arrival of mail. Leav-
ing on the 26th, we made a forced march via
Drainsville, Va., Edwards Ferry, Poolesville,
Md., Newmarket and IMount Airy Station,
to a point near Manchester, Md., one day
making thirty-six miles. We were ordered
forward to join the forces at Gettysburg on
the evening of July 1st, but passed a sleep-
less night in getting fairly under way and
marched thirty-six miles July 2d, reaching
the field before night, and were immediately
pushed forward in line of battle ; after which,
in dividing the 2d Division, 6th Corps, into
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
12;i
details for weak points, our brigade was as-
signed to duty as flank guard to the right of
Brook river, and while skirmishing was kept
up all day along our line, our loss was slight.
R. W. Dilts of Company A was taken prisoner
on skirmish line. We occupied a post of
honor and usually a very dangerous one, but
not so at Gettysburg, as there was no attempt
made to turn either flank. The enemy falling
back we followed closel.v in an almost con-
tinuous skirmish with them on the road we
went until we reached "Waynesboro. After
crossing Antietam creek, they made a decided
stand, attempting several times to destroy
the bridge in their rear. The good people
of Waynesboro handed us food as we marched
through their streets and encouraged us by
their many deeds of kindness in the twenty-
four houi-s we remained near their town.
For a few days more ensued marches and
skirmishes near Hagerstown and Funkstown,
until the last squad of Confederates was
driven across the Potomac. July 4th, when we
marched b.v way of Harper's Ferry and down
the Virginia valleys again. In the days sub-
sequent to the Gettysburg battle on the march
we lost more men from sunstroke than
wounded, the heat being our most terrible
enemy.
July 23d, we were attacked by a squad of
cavalry while we were guarding supply trains
near White Plains, Va.. with occasional re-
lief served as train guard to camp near War-
renton, Va. This was our long turn at this
kind of duty, and the boys of Company A
did not admire it. preferring the battle line
to managing mule trains and Confederate
guerrillas. In camp near White Sulphur
Springs the company was recruited very
much by new men and return of sick and
wounded, and had an inspection each Sun-
day, the Lord willing. One inspection here
was by the colonel of the 7th llaine Volun-
teers, a regular army officer, and he kept us
standing in line three hours.
September 16th, left Sulphur Springs,
marching to Culpeper C. H., Va., and here
turned out at "present arms" to receive our
warm friends and comrades, the Vermont
brigade, as they returned from an expedi-
tion North to quell riots gotten up in behalf
of and to further the interest of Jefferson
Davis, Esq., & Co. Went on advance picket
October 5th, at railroad bridge at Rapidan,
where for once, sharpshooting ceased and we
conversed with the enemy. Retired to Rap-
pahannock Station night of October 10th.
crossing the river closely pressed by the en-
emy, but returned and recrossed the river
in support of cavalry which drove the enemy
back beyond Brandy Station. At midnight
of the 11th they attacked us again and we
slowly retired, crossing the river again be-
fore daylight. Our march continued north-
ward through the day and night, making
three days and nights without rest or sleep,
except that obtained under arms. We moved
on in much the same style, sei-ving in rear
guard or on skinuish line and marching al-
ternately, without daring to unpack our
knapsacks, till we reached Gainesville, Va..
October 19th. Resting one night we about
faced and marched to New Baltimore, where
we were moved to the front, where the cav-
alry fight had just ended, placed on skirmish
lines; but the enemy withdrew and we were
called in again and sent on like duty at War-
renton. This was probably the longest con-
tinued duty of this kind we ever did, and
weary, hungry and without food, we re-
ported to our brigade, from which for sev-
eral days we had been detached.
November 7, 1863, we marched to Rappa-
hannock Station; found Rebels in some force
on this side of the river. The company par-
ticipated both in driving in their skirmish
lines and in the subsequent charge upon the
fort, losing some wounded.
The Rebels retreated to the Rapidan and
we went into camp near Brandy Station and
from that place moved on the Jline Run cam-
paign, suffering more in three days than pen
or words can ever tell. Crossing the Rapidan
at Jacob's ford, we had a little brush with
the enemy where we seemed to be sent in sup-
port of a portion of the 3d Corps; then by
movement to left and thence to Mine Run,
and in the night were formed for charge on
the enem,y's lines; but morning discovered
to us a frozen, icy stream, dams on it and a
formidable abattis beyond, which with the
severe cold and freezing to death of wounded
pickets who had got hurt in crossing the
stream were sufficient to defer the charge.
We formed in circles and ran continuous
races to keep from freezing, getting no real
rest day or night until we recrossed the Rapi-
dan.
The latter part of February and March
1, 1864, we were in reeonnoitering party with
Custer's cavalrj- to Freeburg ]Mills. the cav-
alry pushing forward almost to Charlottes-
ville.
During the winter several members of Com-
pany A reenlisted for the war and the com-
pany received recruits enough to fill it up ;
124
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Indiana county furnishing the men. The
morale of the company was always good and
an inducement to friends to see that it was
kept recruited with good men.
May 4, 1864, we crossed the Rapidan and
on the 5th at noon engaged the enemy in the
Wilderness and continued till night, driving
them from their position and holding them.
On the morning of the 6th the fight was re-
newed without relief, ammunition being for-
warded to the lines. During the day we
were relieved from front and formed in re-
serve line. At sunset the Confederates mus-
tered tlieir force for a charge, and in the dusk
of evening pushed forward, flanking the 3d
Division, and thus compelling our brigade
of the 2d Division to fall back and partly
change front, which could not occur in that
dense woods, without somewhat scattering
our men, who soon rallied, and Company A
with others deployed, this deployed line
checking the advance of the Confederates in
the flank, our troops resting nearly on the
old ground at nine p. m. Company A's loss
in the two days was heavy — among others
Lieutenant Brown, mortally wounded.
On the night of INIay 8th. in getting into
position near Spottsylvania C. H., Com-
panies A and I ran into a Confederate force
trying to move to their rear in the open space
between the lines and a hand to hand fight
ensued in which Sergt. L. Brady was killed
and several others wounded. The day and
night of the 9th was sub.iect to heavy artil-
lery fire, one shot killing five men in the regi-
ment.
May 10th, was a day of continuous fighting
with a charge on the enemy's works in the
evening, where our regiment captured a bat-
tery and a line of pits. Company A's loss
for the day was slight. The regiment rested
on the 11th and dried its wet clothing and
prepared for the fatal 12th of May where in
an effort to hold the ground thus far taken
from the enemy it was fought over repeatedly,
each in turn having possession of the works,
our regiment in one charge losing ninety
men. Firing never ceased all day and the
regiment remained in the works over night
and part of the 13th, and on the 14th we
moved to the left of Spottsylvania where, on
Sunday, we had prayer instead of inspection.
On the 17th we moved back to the right,
passed Alsop farm and a little to the right
of the battleground, and advanced on the
enemy's line on the morning of the 18th, but
retired under cover from the artillery fire,
finding the enemy strongly fortified. Our
regiment's loss here was nine wounded and
one killed. We inmiediately moved back to
the left again and then followed almost contin-
uous active work — in skirmish May 26th, then
train guard, in skirmish on the 28th, severe
skirmish again beyond North Anna river,
]\Iay 31st. Being at this point on the ex-
treme right, we became rear guard again to
Cold Harbor, coming in too late to participate
in the day's fight of June 1st, but we pushed
to the front, in the evening. The evening of
June 3d were were in the general engagement
along the line being covered by breastworks
our loss was slight; by June 5th the works
were extended till the opposing forces were
but a hundred yai-ds apart and in the con-
tinued rattle of musketry along the line
Lieutenant Price was wounded. We have
spoken of his bravery before, but let us re-
cord here, when told his wound was so serious
he must go to the hospital, he cried with
grief at being separated from his company.
He gave his life for his country, ancl our
flattering words affect him not. The regiment
retired from the immediate front at Cold
Harbor June 6th, the loss to that time in the
campaign being, according to Bates' History,
Pennsylvania Volunteers: "In killed, wound-
ed and missing, about thirty officers and four
hundred enlisted men."
The regiment now moved towards the
James river, crossing familiar ground of the
campaign of 1862, and on this march some
of Company A had no rest or sleep for three
days and nights except under arms by the
wayside, a few moments at a time. We
crossed the James river with the rear of the
supply train on the night of June 16th reach-
ing the vicinity of Petersburg on the 17th,
weary and footsore, yet we moved to the
front near the Appomattox river. The next
day we supported some colored troops that
stormed the pits and small forts in our front,
which we occupied under fire from skirmishes
till midnight, June 21st, when we moved a
few miles to the left, where our skirmish line
was left to expend all its ammunition and
fall back, losing considerable ground before
support was got forward. While the regi-
ment's loss was slight, we felt very severely
the loss to the 4th Vermont, which was cap-
tured almost entire in the dense thickets in
our front and near the Weldon railroad.
There was a feeling akin to brotherhood ex-
isting between the 61st and the "Vermont
brigade."
June 29th, hearing the sound of Wilson's
guns in the rear of the enemy, wo were jnished
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
125
forward to Ream's Station, but too late to
help them. Captured a few Confederates
scattered in the woods, recapturing a few of
AVilson's cavalrymen, buried some of his dead,
gathered up some "contrabands" hidden in
the woods, and brought in some caissons
abandoned by both sides; also tore up three
or four miles of railroad track, burning the
ties and heating and bending the rails.
Jul.y 9th, embarked at City Point and
landed at Washington, D. C, July 11th, when
we were told that the Confederates were men-
acing the defences of Washington, militiamen
and citizens holding them back. Flags and
banners were flung to the breeze, kerchiefs
waved by the ladies, and cheers rose from
groujjs on the sidewalks, as our veteran 6th
Corps advance moved out of Seventh street
in our usual "arms at will" and forced march
style, and soon occupied ground within the
line of forts. On the 12th moved out and
found the enemy in considerable force in
front of Fort Stephens. The Confederate
outposts called to each other, "The Arm3- of
the Potomac" so loud as to be heard by our
company. The fight was sharp, the loss to
Company A three killed, six wounded, and
this loss, considering our reduced numbers at
this time, was heavy, for very few of the
wounded in the summer's campaign had yet
returned to the company. Horace A. Ellis.
of Company A, 7th Wisconsin, in hospital
recovering from wounds, got a gun and went
into the battle by the side of his brothers
Asaph and John of whom John Ellis was
killed.
In pursuit of the enemy we crossed the
Potomac at White's ford, wading it — water
some places to our belts, and at Lessburg, Va.,
found Confederate guerrillas secreted in the
houses. These murderers were the most con-
temptible of all men. and the annoyance to
soldiers in the ranks. The fact is that some
of our conunanders sacredly guarded their
property with Union troops as we marched
up and down the valleys, until circumstances
compelled the scorching they afterwards got.
Company A, of the 61st regiment rarely found
a man of Union proclivities in these Virginia
valleys. They were easily recognized if only
suspected of being Union men, for the Con-
federates drove off their stock. Finding the
enemy's rear guard at Sniker's Gap and
Early safe in the Shenandoah valley, we re-
traced our steps to Leesburg, and thence to
Fort Gaines, D. C, on July 23d.
Julj' 26th, marched through Mar.yland to
Harper's Ferry, Va., and after much man-
euvering, "making history," it was called
then, the troops finally got to Fredericksburg,
Md. It could scarcely be called marching,
for all seemed to tinaily get to doing about
as they pleased, and armj^ curses heaped upon
the imaginable head of General Wright, who
was generally far enough ahead to be out of
danger. Men fell by scores from the effects
of sunstroke, unable to march, and not half
enough ambulances to carry the sick ; not over
one hundred men of our brigade stacked
arms when halt was ordered at Frederick,
^Id., on the evening of July 30th. These
are days of hardships that will never be for-
gotten while soldiers live to tell the story.
The well-founded complaints of the men fin-
ally wrested from the commanding officer an
order respecting the subsequent marches,
whicli being enforced by the men themselves
made matters much better. The boys of 61st
will likelj- never forget the first morning's
march after the order was issued, when tlie
regulation hour by the order had come for
breakfast, how they stopped in a field, when
almost to a wood ; the hour had come and they
meant to enforce the order, and after that an
aid came back to inform us of the hour.
August 3d, we started for Shenandoah
valley again, coming up with a Confederate
force at Cedar Creek, Va., they having by
this time got the harvest pretty well off in the
valley. General Early being as good a harvester
as the Confederates ever had. Had quite a
severe skirmish with the Confederates here
August 13th, driving them to Strasburg,
when it seemed about time for us to retro-
grade, and we reached Charlestown on the
18th.
August 21st. 1864. the last day of the three-
years service for the first hundred men of the
company — we copy notes taken on the field:
"We were very much surprised this morning
by the Confederates coming down on our
pickets on the pike and driving them back.
Our regiment was chosen from our brigade
to go to their support. Regiments followed
each other until three from our brigade were
on the line, our regiment engaged with the
enemy. Are losing a good many men. Lieu-
tenant Price wounded again, we fear mor-
tally. The regiment remains in the line at
noon, and ammunition is being taken to it.
We have lost four officers at noon. The regi-
ment is being relieved at dark. Two more of
Company A wounded but not forced to leave
the field. Regiment's loss four killed and
eighteen wounded." At one o'clock on the
morning of August 22d. those whose term of
126
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
enlistment had expired received orders to
inarch from the line of battle, and the regi-
ment was ordered back at daylight. Thus
ended the three years of sei-vice. We re-
mained with the company and regiment till
September 3d, when others' time expired;
and on that day, near Berryville, Va., we
took leave of the regiment, Company A, about
tifteen, and probably seventy in the regiment.
Were supplied with one hundred rounds of
ammunition, if need be to fight our way to
Harper's Ferry. Were mustered out at Har-
risburg September 7th, and reached Indiana
September 9, 1864.
The veterans and recruits, nearly all vet-
erans in service now, retained the name and
place in the battalion, receiving by consolida-
tion the veterans of Company H, few in num-
ber, and we would note here that Company
A was the only one in the regiment that kept
recruited as the war progressed, consequently
formed a large part in the battalion which
was engaged in the fight at Opequan Creek,
September 19th. Was in the storming of
Fisher's Hill, September 22d, and also in the
engagement at Cedar Creek, October 19,
1864, and "for gallantry in this engagement
was highly complimented by the command-
ing general."
It was then moved back to Petersburg, was
recruited to the proportions of a regiment
again by the addition of companies of one-year
men and March 25, 1865, was in the attack
and storming of the Confederates' outworks
and in the front of the assault upon the main
works at four o'clock next morning, in both
cases successful. Pushing forward after the
retreating forces, the regiment took during
the day "two Confederate colors, a wagon
train, fifty-two men, sixteen hoi-ses, and three
brass twelve pounders with caissons."
On the morning of April 3, 1865, the regi-
ment "fired its last shot at the enemy," and
its active service ceased.
Many of the survivors of Company A live
in Indiana county, and, we believe without
exception, are respectable and useful citi-
zens. The name of Dr. George R. Lewis, of
Indiana, Pa., belongs in this history. He
served as surgeon of the regiment from Sep-
tember, 1863, to the close of the war, having
been promoted from assistant surgeon of the
54th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Battles and principal skirmishes: Battles
—Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862 ; Malvern Hill,
Va., July 1, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., May
3 and 4, 1863 ; Wilderness, Va., May 5 and 6,
1864; Spottsylvania, Va., May 10 to 12, 1864;
Cold Harbor, Va,, June 1 to 5, 1864; Fort
Stephens, D. C, July 12, 1864; Opequan
Creek, Va., September 19, 1864; Fisher's
Hill, Va., September 22, 1864; Cedar Creek,
Va., October 19, 1864; Petersburg, March
25 and 26, 1865. Skirmishes— Seven Pines,
June 27, 1862; Charles City Cross Roads,
June 29, 1862; Sharpsburg, Md., September
18, 1862: Williamsport, Md., September 20,
1862; Frederickburg, Va., December 13,
1862; Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863; White
Plains, Va., July 23, 1863; Brandy Station,
October 11, 1863: near Jacob's ford, Decem-
ber, 1863; Spottsylvania, May 8, 1864; Spott-
sylvania, May 18, 1864; Po River, May 26,
1864; North" Anna river. May 31, 1864;
Petersburg, June 18, 1864; Weldon Railroad,
June 21, 1864; Cedar Creek, August 13,
1864; Charlestown, Va., August 21, 1864;
Cedar Creek, August, 1864; skirmish April
3, 1865.
G7th Bcgimcnt, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
— This regiment was recruited under orders
of the secretary of war, authorizing J. F.
Staunton to recruit a regiment. The larger
part of the regiment was recruited in the
eastern part of the State, with a portion from
AVestmoreland, Indiana, Jefferson and Clar-
ion counties.
The officers of the regiment were: J. F.
Staunton, colonel; Horace B. Burnham, lieu-
tenant colonel ; Harry White, major ; John F.
Young, ad.jutant, and Robert Barr, svirgeon,
the three last named all of Indiana county.
In April, 1862, it went into service at An-
napolis. Md., doing duty as railroad guards;
afterwards furnishing guards for camp
parole. The number of men from Indiana
county being small, Sergt. W. H. Fairbank
was sent as recruiting officer to the county,
where, under direction of Maj. Harry White,
he recruited about one hundred men, which
were distributed in seven companies of the
regiment.
In February, 1863, it moved to Harper's
Ferry, thence to Berryville, Va., where it
joined Milroy's force in the Shenandoah val-
ley, after which for a time its duty was
guard duty at the passes from the Shenan-
doah to the Virginia valleys, and twic/C rec-
onnoitered as far as Upperville, Va. To-
wards the first of April, 1863. it was stationed
at Berryville with the brigade to which it was
attached from that time till June, engaged
in the attempt to prevent the cavalry raids
of the Confederates Jones, Imboden and Mos-
by, who frequently attempted raids into
^Maryland and Pennsylvania.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
127
Gen. R. H. Milroy at this time commanded
the force in the valley, consisting of about
ten thousand men, under orders from Gen-
eral Schenck, at Baltimore, as department
commander.
The bulk of Lee's army quietly slipped
away from the lines at Fredericksburg and
moved northward. So well did he elude any
vigilance there might have been on the part of
General Hooker that the first intimation Gen-
eral Milroy had of the movement was the
presence of Confederate troops in large num-
bers pressing into the valley by the gaps
connecting with the A'irginia valleys. Even
then he might have retreated, but it seems
was loath to believe an extensive movement
northward could be made without him being
apprised of the fact by Hooker or Halleck.
At a signal from Winchester, the troops
near Berryville started for that place, but
found their way already occupied by the ad-
vance of the Confederate force moving in
rear of tlie position at Winchester. The 67th
regiment made a detour to escape an attack,
marching thirty miles to join Milroy, reach-
ing him at ten o'clock p. Ji. After a short
rest it was ordered into the pits surrounding
Star Fort, one and a half miles northwest of
Winchester. Advancing at noon to the relief
of the 87th Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the
suburbs of the town, it held that position
under a hot fire till night, when it was or-
dered back to the fort.
General Milroy, finding his force sur-
rounded, determined to strike some point in
force and cut a way through. Spiking his
guns, drawing his powder, and leaving his
trains, he got his troops under way before
daylight. Four miles out the ^Martinsburg
road, he met the enemy in force. The 67th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and 6th ^Maryland,
were deployed to the right, and were not in
the charge. After awaiting orders for awhile
and receiving none, they attempted a detour
to the right to pass left flank of the enemy,
but ran into a strong force where, in an un-
equal contest, they fought gallantly but to
no purpose. Being completely oveipowered,
they scattered, some of the officers and men
escaping, but a large proportion were taken
prisoners, among them ^laj. Harry White;
the 6th Maryland escaping in the meantime
by a further detour to the right. Of the por-
tion taken prisoners, the men were released
in from two to three months, but their officers
were detained about one year. I\raj. Harry
White, then a member of the State Senate,
and that body a tie on all questions of im-
portance without his vote, was subjected to
greater indignities, hardships were imposed
upon him in prison, and bloodhounds put
upon his track in an attempted escape. Those
escaping reached Hai-per's Ferry and joined
the remnant of Milroy 's force, where the reg-
iment was reorganized and assisted in forti-
fying Maryland Heights, and afterwards,
when these fortifications were dismantled,
guarded the removal of the ordnance to
Waslungton. where they received the news of
the victory of our arms at Gettysburg, and
the fall of Vicksburg. The regiment then
joined the Army of the Potomac near Fred-
erick, 'Sid., and was assigned to duty with the
3d Army Corps.
On the 11th of October the paroled men,
now exchanged, joined the regiment, which
then participated in the remaining movements
of the fall campaign, going into winter quar-
ters near Brandy Station. Va. During the
winter of 1863-64 most all eligible reenlisted,
and about 350 of them were furloughed in a
body, taking their arms with them, the re-
mainder being attached to the 138th Penn-
sylvania Volunteers, for duty until their re-
turn, seiwing in the campaign of the spring
of 1864. in the Wilderness, before Spottsyl-
vania. and in the march towards Richmond
and Petersburg, thus passing through one of
the most terrible campaigns of the war, in
which verj' few regiments served without
heavy losses.
The veterans returned to Belle Plains, Va.,
at the expiration of furlough; remained on
duty there a week, thence to Fredericksburg,
and to Port Royal, where Colonel Staunton
was placed in command of the post, it being
at that time a base of supplies. The next
duty was at White House Landing, in guard
of Sheridan's supply train while he was on
a raid in some force to Lynchburg, Va. While
there they were attacked by rebel Confederate
cavalry. June 13th, which did not make a
direct assault upon them, but brought a bat-
teiy to bear upon their position. Under a
severe fire from the battery and skirmishers
they succeeded in removing the wagon train
to the south side of the Pamunky. Sheri-
dan's arrival, just in time, probably saved
them another visit to Confederate prison pens.
On the 15th of June they started to the wagon
train on the James river, and with the ex-
ception of a skinnish with Confederate caval-
ry at White Oak Swamp reached Petersburg,
Va., without further trouble, where they were
joined by the detachment serving -tt-ith the
i38th Pennsvlvania. In the meantime, the
128
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
division to which the 67th belonged was trans-
ferred to the 6th Army Corps and partici-
pated in the movement to the Weldon railroad
in the attempt to reach and relieve Wilson's
cavalrj'.
Returning to Baltimore, the 67th quartered
at the relay house until it moved to join the
6th Corps, and participated in the marches
up and down the valleys of Maryland and
northern Virginia in the campaign of the
summer, all of which availed little to the
country but entailed hardships that men can-
not forget. Captain BaiTy commanded the
regiment at this time, the command devolv-
ing upon Adjt. Gen. Young of Indiana
county in September, 1864.
The regiment was in the engagement of
September 19th, at the crossing of Opequan
creek in the taking of Winchester. Being on
the extreme right of the 6th Coi-ps, and a
space left between it on the left of the 19th
Corps which was widened by the 19th not
getting forward so rapidly as the 6th, the
Rebels interposed a force in the gap, striking
the 67th on the flank when it was in the act
of wheeling off a Confederate battei-y already
captured. Men are now living who remem-
ber having hold of the battery, trying to take
it away by hand, when compelled to forsake
it and run to prevent capture. The regiment
soon rallied again and its third division was
first to reach the heights at Winchester, from
which it had tried to fight its way out one
year before. The regiment's loss in this
fight was heavy. The companies were mostly
led by sergeants who served as captains,
doing commissioned officers work on ser-
geants' pay, not being able to get promotion
on accoiint of their superiors in prison hold-
ing their rank ; hence the usual incentive was
lacking, loyalty alone governing their actions,
which deserves special attention.
At Fisher's Hill, September 22, 1864, the
regiment pushed forward close under the
enemy's works, sheltering as best it could
until the flank charge was made by the 8th
Corps, when it joined in the general advance
in the storming of the Confederate position,
joining in the pursuit of the scattered foe,
striking the rear guard at Harrisburg, where
the regiment was sent on the skirmish line
in the evening: but by the morning the
enemy had disappeared. Returning to Cedar
Creek, it was in camp, some of the men sleep-
ing, when the attack was made on our lines,
October 19th. Yet the regiment formed, as
indeed the entire 6th Corps, all of which
formed as well as possible and kept up a lim-
ning fight until the arrival of Sheridan on the
field, when in the general advance it fuUv
maintained its credit, suffering considerable
loss of men.
At the close of the fall campaign the regi-
ment returned to Petersburg. Major Young
resigning, the command devolved upon Capt.
John C. Carpenter, of Indiana county. The
regiment participated in the stoi-ming of the
strongholds at Petersburg in the spring of
1865 and the subsequent movement against
these armies; then moved towards Danville,
N. C, where General Johnson still had a
strong Rebel force ; and with this its active
work ended. The regiment returned to Wash-
ington and was mustered out July 14, 1865.
In the months of March and April, 1865,
one full company of one-year men was en-
listed in Indiana county for the regiment,
reaching it after its active service was over.
The company was assigned as Company B,
taking the place of old Company B, which
had been consolidated with Company E. It
was a fine body of men, many of whom had
seen service before and all of whom enlisted
during the days of the siege of Richmond and
Petersburg and deserve mention in connec-
tion with the regiment.
74th Begiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
— This regiment for the three-year service
was organized at Pittsburg and was composed
entirel.v of Germans. In the fall of 1864,
after the three-year men were discharged,
the regiment, composed of veterans and re-
cruits, was assigned to duty in West Virginia
and seven new companies assigned to it who
enlisted for one year. One of these, which
in Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volun-
teers is accredited to Indiana and Westmore-
land counties, we find was recraited and or-
ganized in Indiana county, Gawin A. McClain,
captain, John Kinter and John Me Williams,
lieutenants, and was mustered into service
March 11, 1865. Captain McClain was dis-
charged May 8th and Lieutenant Kinter
being pro-captain, in the county it is best
known as "Captain Kinter 's company."
Another company accredited to Pittsburg
was largely made up of Indiana county men,
the balance nearly all Jefferson county men,
John G. Wilson, captain. Captain Wilson
was discharged May 8th and Peter C. Spen-
cer of Indiana county made pro-captain.
Captain Spencer was formerly of the 105th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and P. E. Horn,
second lieutenant, had served three years in
the 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers. This com-
pany was mustered out March 1 to 15, 1865.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
129
These eompauies served as guard ou the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, upou which
raids had frequently been made by Confed-
erate guerrillas, remaining ou duty in this
capacity or in guarding government supplies
as long as their services were needed, and
were discharged August 29, 1865. We cannot
think that the Confederates would have done
much injury to this road or its branches ex-
cept so far as it would be an injury at the
expense of the government, but the guard
was more for the purpose of securing safety
to Northern passengers and government
stores being sent over the road.
7Sth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry. — This regiment was organized in
response to the president's call for 300,000
men for three years. By an order of the
secretary of war, Camp Orr, on the north-
eastern bank of the Allegheny river, about
two miles above Kittanning, was authorized
as a rendezvous for the organization of
troops. There was at first a question as to
whether the encampments of State troops
should be under control of the United States
government or under the control of the
( 'ommonwealth ; but it was finally decided
that they were to be under the con-
trol of the Commonwealth. Wealthy citizens
of Kittanning furnished the money to sustain
tlie encampment. It was called Camp Orr
in honor of Gen. Robert Orr and was located
on the fair grounds and on a farm belonging
to the Gilpin and Johnston heirs. William
Sirwell was placed in command of the en-
campment and afterwards became colonel of
tlie 78th regiment. The first company came
into camp on the 14th of August. 1861, and
by the 17th of September all the companies
were in camp and temporarily organized.
Company A was recruited in Indiana
( ounty under the direction of William Cum-
mins and others. An old military organiza-
tion had been in existence at Chambersville
for a number of years and a majority of this
organization responded to the president's call
for troops, enlisting for three years or during
the war. These, with other enlisted men,
assembled at Chambersville, Indiana county,
on the 27th day August, 1861. and were given
a farewell banquet by the citizens of the com-
munity. It was a beautiful day and seemed
much like an ordinary Fourth of July cele-
bration. Uniform soldiers mai'ching to mar-
tial music with their streaming banners were
the center of attraction. The company was
composed mostly of farmers and the .sons of
farmers, descendants of pioneers, who had
erected homes and carved for themselves and
their families an honorable destiny in the
northwestern part of Indiana county. The
great majority were unmarried young men
and the average was not above twenty-one
years.
Living amid the quiet and peaceful sur-
roundings of these better days, secure in our
comfortable homes, we can hardly realize
what it meant for such a company of young
men to leave home for the tented" field. All
sought to be cheerful, hopeful and happy,
but there was a deep undertone of anxiety
and sadness. Husbands and wives, brothers
and sisters, parents and sons, felt that they
might be bidding a final farewell to each
other, for there was a possibility if not a prob-
ability that they should never again meet
each other on earth. The future was uncer-
tain and seemed very ominous. The clouds
of war portended a most terrific storm.
The martial music, the streaming banners and
the patriotic enthusiasm could hardly sup-
press the sobs of grief or hide the dark fore-
bodings.
The company marched or was transported
to Indiana, and thence by way of Elderton
to Camp Orr. An organization was effected
at Camp Orr with William Cummins as cap-
tain, John Marlin as first lieutenant, W. R.
ilaize as second lieutenant, James Miller,
Evan Lewis, William Garrett, Daniel Both-
ell and J. T. Gibson as sergeants, with Wil-
liam W. Bell, David Blue, William Thomas.
George Adams, David A. Rankin, James A.
Carroll, William Fleming and John M. Brown
as corporals.
Company D was recruited at Cherrytree,
on the Susquehanna river in the northeastern
part of Indiana county, by Michael Forbes
and others. It was made up of lumbermen,
farmers and mechanics, with an average age
of about twenty-two yeai-s. The company
entered Camp Orr September 6th, and was
organized with jMiehael Forbes as captain ;
Robert H. McCormiek, first lieutenant ; Wil-
liam J. Nugent, second lieutenant ; Adam C.
Braughler, Thomas M. Bell, Leonard D. IIol-
lister, Joseph L. Buterbaugh and David
Barkey, sergeants; and Isaac Kearn, Lewis
D. Shaw, Samuel Irwin. Abraham C. Wike,
George Langdon, Betherel Johnston and
John Shetters. corporals.
Companies B, F, G, I and K were recruited
in Armstrong county; Company C and Com-
pany E were recruited in Clarion county;
Company H was recruited in Butler county.
Wlien ordered to the front in Octoljer,
130
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1861, it was attached to McCook's division.
Army of the Cumberland, and during its
term of service was in the Western Army.
In the several camps at Nolan Station, south
of Nolan creek, Mansfordsville and Green
river, its duties were drill and preparation
for future service. When the campaign of
the spring of 1862 was commenced, the 78th
was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and for a
time guarded the railroad from Nashville to
Columbia. On the 12th of IMay it joined an
expedition against the Confederate cavalry
which escaped across the Tennessee river, and
the regiment returned to its old quarters.
Its next duty was to guard on the Tennessee
& Albermarle railroad, and next as rear guard
to Buell's army in its northern movement
to intercept the Confederate General Bragg,
who was moving into Kentucky; and during
Buell 's movement into Kentucky the regiment
remained at Nashville, Tenn., besieged by
Confederate forces. On the 26th of October
General Rosecrans' forces reached Nash\'ille
and the garrison could again hear from com-
rades elsewhere. For a month more the reg-
iment guarded Nashville, or did camp duty
near, until the campaign against Bragg 's
Confederate forces was commenced.
At Stone River the regiment was hotly en-
gaged, Negley's entire division fighting more
than their number. Company A lost heavily,
and the slight loss in Company D is accounted
for by the position it occupied in the line.
The regiment was engaged in the fight part
of two days, and did credit to itself and its
leaders, losing in killed and wounded 190
men. After the battle the regiment did pro-
vost guard duty at Murfreesboro until the
spring of 1863.
In June, 1863, the regiment participated
in driving the Confedei-ates from Tullahoma
across the Cumberland mountains and across
the Tennessee river, but without any serious
engagement.
It was next in the movement across the
Tennessee river in August, and thence across
the mountain range, encountering many dif-
ficulties, especially in getting down to Look-
out valley, when bridge building over gorges
had to be done as it progi'essed.
After foraging supplies for itself and
others in the valley, it proceeded over Look-
out Mountain and Missionary Ridge into the
Chickamauga valley. Here a detachment of
the regiment was attacked, and held a largely
superior force in cheek until supports came
up. In General Rosecrans' withdrawal
towards Chattanooga it became engaged Sep-
tember 19th and 20th. At Chattanooga for
one month it was constantly annoyed by shot
and shell from the enemy's batteries, finally
participating in the struggle which drove the
enemy from Lookout ]\Iountain, afterwards
assisting in fortifying the heights on the
mountain itself, provisions being carried to
the men on pack mules.
In the campaign of 1864 it was engaged at
Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap, Reseca,
Dallas, New Hope Church, and Kenesaw
Mountain ; thence moved to Chattanooga and
guarded railroad supply trains for the army.
It was then first ordered to Tullahoma, and
next to Athens, Ala., but both orders being
countermanded did again march to Nashville.
Assisting in the affray of the 27th at Pulaski,
it again returned to Nashville, thence to
Franklin, and as mounted infantry served a
short time under General Rousseau in south-
ern Tennessee, returning to Nashville a few
days after its term of service expired.
The opinion prevails in some places that
the average soldier is reckless, profane and
less careful of the rights of his fellow men
than the average citizen at home. A member
of the 78th regiment says that he has been
intimately associated with soldiers and with
men in all the various professions and avoca-
tions of life, and wishes to bear this testi-
mony : ' ' The average soldier of the 78th regi-
ment did not have as much culture as the
average professional or business man with
whom I have come in contact ; he did not say
as much about religion as the average man
with whom I have been most intimately
associated; he could not boast of his bank
account, but he had as much real manliood
as anyone whose friendship I have ever en-
joyed. There is something about ordinary
business — there is something about all the
contentions of commercial, social and politi-
cal life — that has a great tendency to make
a man selfish, not to say mean, and unmanly.
One business man feels perfectly free to let
another take the worst of the bargain and bear
more than his share of the burden of any
business enterprise, while he gets more than
his own share of the benefit. One Christian
is often found very willing that other Chris-
tians should bear all the burdens, reproach
and self-sacrifice of carr.ying on Christian
work and contending against wrong-doing,
while he is willing to take all the honors,
whether deserved or undeserved. I have even
found ministers of the gospel who didn 't think
it necessary to bear one another's burdens.
In contrast with this, it may be truthfully
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
131
said that the soldiers of the 7Sth regiment
generally moved on a higher plane and main-
tained a higher code of morals. No good
soldier would ask or expect his comrades to
face dangers or endure hardships or bear bur-
dens that he was unwilling to accept for him-
self. The officer or soldier who was unwilling
to take his full share of the dangers and bur-
dens soon came to be reckoned unmanly and
cowardly. Soldiers had the highest regard
for their enemies whom they met on the
battlefield, but they had the greatest possible
contempt for shirkers, and cowards and
traitore, in their own rank. I have known
men in social, business and even in church en-
terprises to encourage their men to go for-
ward in arduous and dangerous undertakings,
and when their representatives were bearing
the brunt of the battle they would begin to
fire on them from the rear. I never saw
anything of this kind on the part of a soldier
in the 78th regiment. At the end of the three
years' service we knew each other better, and
we could depend on each other more con-
fidentially, than we could when we first en-
tered the army. AYhile we sincerely hope
that the time may soon come when there will
be no bloody battlefields and no need of sol-
diers, it must be confessed that military life
in active service has a good tendency to
develop in most men a verj- iyj>e of real
manhood."
The regiment was mustered out of the
United States service at Kittanning by
Lieutenant Ward, of the United States army,
on the 4th day of November, and was paid
on the 5th of November, 1864. The soldiers
and officers of the regiment then returned to
their respective homes and took up at once
the active duties of home life. It is not
necessary to say that they were still deeply
interested in everything that concerned the
progress of the army, in conquering the Re-
bellion. Most of them expected to enter again
into service for their country if they should
be needed, and some of them did reenlist.
103d Pcnmijlvania Volunteers. — This un-
fortunate regiment was recruited in the coun-
ties of Clarion. Butler, Armstrong, Allegheny
and Indiana. Company G was almost all from
Indiana county. Enlisted in the fall of 1861,
and winter of 1861-62, at a time when the
Federal government was hard pressed to arm
and uniform its troops, the regiment suffered
for want of proper clothinsr. Being sent to
the front in the spring of 1862. its first sei-v-
ice was in the miasmatic swamps of the Pen-
insula, and it experienced greater ' suffering
than regiments more used to hardships by
liaving wintered in camps at the front. It
participated in the battle at Williamsburg,
Ya., during the retreat of the Confederates
toward Richmond, and came out of the fight
with credit ; captured a Confederate flag dur-
ing the engagement, changing position under
fire without break, going on advance picket
for the night after the close of the battle.
The regiment was among the first troops
at Seven Pines, on the Richmond road, after
crossing the Chickahominy river, and for a
few days was engaged in constructing tem-
porary breastworks. Part of the regiment
Mas on picket in front of Seven Pines, on the
Richmond road, after crossing the Chicka-
liominy river, and for a few days was engaged
in constructing temporary breastworks. Part
was on picket in front of Seven Pines, May
31, 1862, when the enemy advanced in force
on that point and Fair Oaks Station, and the
regiment soon became engaged in support
of the picket line, where it did creditable
work, falling back slowly until, it is claimed,
the Union guns, in attempting to get range
of the Confederate lines, fired into its ranks,
wlien it scattered, falling back to earthworks,
afterwards getting into the works in detach-
ments, where it remained till night. This
regiment, with others of Casey's division, fell
into disrepute here, which in the cooler judg-
ment of the survivors of the war, who have
had many years to reflect, may now be deemed
unjust. Much was expected of General Casey,
and but little performed, but his men were not
well drilled (the enemy being in strong force,
as was fully demonstrated by the bloody field
of Fair Oaks) other regiments, not of Casey's
division, failed later in the day, and we can-
not help but believe that the plan all through
the early part of the war, of fighting a brigade
or a division at a time, was a fatal mistake.
* * * The loss in disabled and killed in
tlie 103d was heavy, and speaks in its defense
at this place. The regiment participated in
the battle at Malvern Hill, and served on rear
guard in the further retreat to Harrison's
Landing.
Leaving the Peninsula at the same time
with McClellan's army, by special order Wes-
sel's brigade was sent to Norfolk, thus sep-
arating from the Army of the Potomac. It
was next moved to Suffolk, and assisted in
fortifying the place; also, built winter quar-
ters, which were left on December 5, 1862,
when the brigade moved to Newbern, N. C,
where it joined the forces under General Fos-
ter; a little later the regiment, in the move-
132
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
iiieiit towards the iuterior, had a slight
skirmish at Southwest creek, and supported
a battery in the attack upon Kinston.
The i03d regiment was then ordered to
cross the swamp in front and charge the
enemy's works. Getting through the swamp
as best it could, in mud and water, under a
heavy fire from Confederate batteries, the
regiment formed on the opposite side and gal-
lantly charged and captured the enemy's
works in its front, capturing almost an en-
tire regiment of infantry. Other regiments
were hastily brought forward and the Con-
federates driven from the entire field.
The regiment then returned to Newbern,
and was stationed in barracks at the Neuse
river, where it remained for the winter.
In the spring of 1863 it was moved to Ply-
mouth, N. C. on the Roanoke river, which
place it assisted in fortifying, and afterwards
occupied, the available force at that point be-
ing only about 1,600 men in the spring of
1864. The Confederates in the meantime con-
structed the ram "Albemarle," which was
run past Plymouth in the night without dis-
covery. It immediately attacked and de-
stroyed the gunboats of the Union in the
river, and then directed its fire on the little
garrison. At the same time a land force of
7,000 to 8,000 men moved upon the works.
The garrison fought through the day against
hope, and on the next day, April 20th, was
compelled to surrender. Then ensued suffer-
ing and starvation of which but few are now
left to tell the tale.
Bates says : ' ' The officers were immediately
separated from the men. not again to be
united, the latter being sent to Anderspn-
ville to starve and die by scores; the former
to Macon, Ga., and subsequently those of the
highest grade, including Colonel Lehman, to
Charleston, S. C, where they were placed
under the fire of the powerful Union bat-
teries, then engaged in bombarding the city."
The wounded were left in the hands of the
enemy, and most of them died. Of about
four hundred men and officers of the 103d
taken prisoners, 132 died at Andersonville,
seven more at Florence — some by the way in
transfer to the coast, others on the way to
Camp Parole, while a very few reached home
on furlough eventually to die of disease
caused by starvation. Indiana county
mourned her loved brave who were thus in-
humanly put to death.
The proof is evident that we can be gen-
erous as well as brave, in fact that the lives
of these murderers were spared by a gov-
ernment representing the widows and orphans
of the brave men whose lives were thus pit-
ilessly crushed by concerted plan. When
a brother fell by the enemy's bullet, we ac-
cepted it as a result of war, but when fiends
like Wirtz were put in charge of our loved
ones, with orders to starve them into a con-
dition to unfit them for further service, be-
fore exchanging for well-fed Confederate
prisoners, and we see the evidence that he
did his work so well, it adds poison to the
dart already so keenly felt by the bereaved
ones.
In preparing a roster of Indiana county
soldiers, we noticed the numbers of some of
the graves are about 11,000, which indicates
that just that many wei-e starved to death be-
fore their turn came.
On June 25, 1865, eighty-one men were
mustered out of service, the remainder of that
regiment once numbering over one thousand.
A few had been mustered out by expiration
of term, but nearly all had reenlisted for the
war.
105th Pennsylvania Volunteers. — This reg-
iment was recruited by Capt. Amor A. Mc-
Knight, of Jefferson county, imder permis-
sion granted by the Secretary of War. Cap-
tain :McKnight had served in the three months '
volunteers, as captain of Company I, 8th Reg-
iment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regi-
ment was organized at Pittsburg, Pa., Sep-
tember 9, 1861, then nine companies, of which
B, G, H and I were almost wholly from Jef-
ferson county J C, Clarion county; D, Clear-
field county; A, Jefferson and Indiana coun-
ties ; F, Indiana county ; and K, Indiana
county. The first organization being a mili-
tia company, it was recruited to the required
number from Westmoreland, Clearfield and
Jefferson. Company E was obtained from
Colonel Leasure's "Roundhead" regiment,
after both regiments had gone to the front.
This company was almost wholly from West-
moreland county.
During the winter of 1861-62 the regiment
encamped south of Alexandria, Va., and the
time was spent in drill and detail work on
forts with an occasional visit to the vicinity
of Pohick Church on picket duty, or in ex-
pectancy of meeting the foe, for frequent
alarms were manifest on this portion of the
line; a detachment of the 105th receiving
and returning the fire of Rebel pickets here
on one occasion.
In March, 1862, the regiment moved by
transport to the Peniii^ula, and suffered
all that those miasmatic swamps produced of
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
i;53
sickness, aud many brave men fell victims to
the climate.
During the siege at Yorktown, it was sub-
jected freciuently to fire from Rebel batteries,
and after the evacuation by the Rebels the
regiment reached the battle line at Williams-
burg, in time to relieve other wornout and
weary engaged forces, and was the first to
occupy the city, and its flag was triumphantly
flung to the breeze on the courthouse.
It crossed the Chickahorainy river May
23d, and moved to the Richmond & York River
railroad, remaining until the 29th, when it
was moved to the railroad bridge, but on
the 31st was pushed forward to the line
of battle left of Fair Oaks Station, and front
of Seven Pines. The seven companies first
on the ground were ordered to charge upon
the enemy, who now had possession of Casey 's
camp. Meeting the enemy at the edge of the
camp, the 105th. on its portion of the line,
drove the Confederates back through the
camp and into the woods beyond, but the
right of the line being forced back, the regi-
ment experienced difficulty in withdrawing,
and waded out through the swamp. Com-
panies A and I. reaching the field a little
later, were ordered into service on the left
of the 57th Pennsylvania Volunteers, hold-
ing their portion of the line until ordered to
withdraw. Amongst others who fell was
brave Lieutenant Cummiskey of Indiana.
This battle, survivors tell us, was one of the
most terrible of the war to this regiment.
It was a day of losses to the Pennsylvania
regiments, and we refer to the 23d. 61st. 63d,
and others. In some histories of the war. the
105th scarcely gets justice, but this may be
accounted for by the manner in which they
are written. In speaking of army corps.
Keys' corps suffered two thirds of the loss,
or 4,000 men out of a force of 12,000. while
the general loss to Heintzelman's corps was
not great ; yet the 105th regiment sustained
a loss as great as some regiments of Keys'
corps. Headley makes the loss to the 105th
over 250 officers and men. but by comparing
the best reports obtainable we place the loss
in killed, wounded and missing near 200.
The regiment dearly earned its blood-bought
laurels, but from this time to the end of the
war it never once flinched when called upon
to meet the foe.
It was attacked again June 25th. when on
picket duty, losing two killed and six
wounded, and in the retreat to Harrison's
Landing participated in the engagement at
White Oak Swamp, but was not in the imme-
diate front.
June 30th it was engaged all dav in the
battle of Charles City Cross Roads, hotly
engaged most of the afternoon, losing fifty-
six in killed and wounded ; and again at Mal-
vern Hill. July 1st, it lost one half of the
entire available force of the regiment in
killed, wounded and missing, in that fierce
and terrible battle in which the bravery of
our troops was equaled by the daring and
terrible charges of the enemy. Yet our own
arms were truly victorious, and the Union
forces withdrew from the field the victors.
Resting at Harrison's Landing till August
14th, the regiment proceeded to Yorktown,
thence to Alexandria, and on August 22d to
guard the railroad from Manassas to Cat-
lett's Station. Portions of the regiment bare-
ly escaped capture. Companies E and K had
but scarcely left Bristoe Station when Gen-
eral Jackson's column reached it. capturing
Captain Consor and his company (4). Com-
panies E and K. returning towards Bristoe
to reconnoiter, ran into the Confederate force,
and the shrewdness of Sergeant Keiflim prob-
ably saved them from capture, for. when chal-
lenged, his repl.v, ' ' First brigade of Kearney 's
division." was efi'eetive. The officers giving
loud commands indicative of an advance of
a full regiment, 'quietly ordered a retreat.
The next day the regiment was in support of
batteries. The morning light had discovered
to them 10.000 of the enemy in battle array,
which, members of Company K say to us, was
one of the grand sights of the war. The
movements of the Rebels could be distinctly
seen, aud tlie danger for the time .seemed to
be forgotten in the interest in the panorama.
The next engagement was that of Companies
B and G. a detachment of the 87th N. Y. V..
and a few pieces of artillery, when on guard
at ilanassas. Captain Craig and a portion
of his command were captured after a brief
struggle in the darkness of the night.
The entire regiment was brought into bat-
tle at Bull Run. August 29th. lying all day
under a heavy artillery fire, until five o'clock
p. M.. when it was advanced to the front,
stubbornly fighting, gaining and losing by
turns, and finally forced to retire. Still hope-
ful of ultimate success, it stopped at the rail-
road and renewed the fight. The Rebels in-
terposed a force rearward, causing confusion
in the ranks for a time, but the regiment
reformed in the face of all this, and a second
retreat was ordered. The loss was gi-eat.
Some wlio fi^ll have never been accounted for.
134
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and are supposed to have yielded up their
lives on this bloody field. It was still further
engaged on the 30th, under artillery fire, a
terrible ordeal for infantry. There seems
nothing in war so despicable as to be subject
to a destructive fire that cannot be returned
for lack of range. Under cover of darkness
a retreat was effected, and the next day the
regiment went into position near Fairfax
C. H., where it participated in the fight of
the day, in a raging storm, at Chantilly,
and deployed as skirmishers on the line at
night.
The regiment was now withdrawn to the
defenses at Washington for recuperation, and
did not participate in the Maryland cam-
paign.
After the Antietam battle, the regiment
participated in the subsequent marches up
and down the Virginia valleys, and at the
battle of Fredericksburg, December 13," 1862,
it was moved forward to support the Penn-
sylvania reserves then engaged, but was too
late to retrieve the disaster of the day to
those noble regiments. It was moved for-
ward in close proximity to the Rebel works,
and for forty-two hours laid exposed to the
fire of the Rebel sharpshooters and artillery,
suffering a loss of three officers and eleven
men. We stop here to note the fact that the
Rebels here positively refused to allow the
wounded and dying to be removed under flag
of truce, until many had died of exposure
and lack of attendance. Excusers and apolo-
gists for the Rebels have never given any
valid reason for this, and here we began to
realize how these Southern demons proposed
to conduct the war, this being but the begin-
ning of hellish acts of cruelty and inhumanity,
which survivors of the war can never fully
condone. And what a striking contrast the
tender care bestowed upon their dying left
on the field at Antietam! After this the
regiment had its share of the discomforts of
the "mud march," and for the winter en-
camped near Potomac creek. Virginia.
At Chaneellorsville, May 1, 1863, the regi-
ment with its brigade formed in battle line
near Chancellor House, receiving a severe
shelling, and next day went on skii-mish line,
and on the 3d of May became hotly engaged
with the foe, in the afternoon charging upon
the works the 11th Corps and hastily evac-
uated the day before. The first line was taken
and held till the men were out of ammuni-
tion, when it fell back to Chancellor House.
In leading the charge. Colonel IMcKnight fell ;
Captain Kirk, of Company F. of Indiana
county, was killed instantly; the loss of of-
ficers and men seventy-seven. After this bat-
tle the Kearney badge of honor was conferred
upon the commissioned officers, and those
non-commissioned officers especially men-
tioned for bravery. Whether selecting a few
in a regiment where all were brave was wise
or not we cannot .judge, but we know that
the recipients of the badge afterwards did
honor to themselves, the donors, and their
counties. Among those of Indiana county
the lot fell to Sergt. Robert Doty, afterwards
killed at Gettysburg, Pa. ; James Sylvis, pro-
moted to second Lieutenant of Company B,
and George J. Reed, who died of wounds re-
ceived in the Wilderness, Va. Of Jefferson
county, among others was Sergt. A. H. Mit-
chell, who came home captain of his company,
and after the war was for many years a resi-
dent of Indiana county.
At Gettysburg, on Pennsylvania's soil, the
regiment won new laurels, if such could add.
to its honor. It fought on the line of the
Emmitsburg road, losing heavily, yet retir-
ing in good order, the loss to the regiment
being over one-half its number. Sergeant
Doty, of Company F, was killed in the early
part of the engagement by a sharpshooter
(as supposed) while the regiment was in sup-
port of the skirmish line. During the en-
gagement Lieutenant McHenry, of Company
K, was wounded and disabled for further
service. We would gladly mention others if
space permitted, but we quote Colonel Craig,
who said: "The 105th never fought better
than at Gettysburg," and this was great
praise, for of the battle at Fair Oaks Head-
ley's history says : "Napoleon's veterans never
stood firmer under a devastating fire." Fol-
lowing this battle. General Sickles having lost
a leg, and became disabled for service, the
2d and 3d Corps were consolidated, and the
3d Corps ceased as a distinctive organiza-
tion.
After Lee was driven South, in the retro-
grade to Centerville, Va., the regiment became
engaged with the Rebel cavalry at Auburn,
Va., September 13, 1862. In the movement
southward again, had a slight skirmish at
Kelly's Ford, and a sharp one at Locust
Grove ; thence moved to Mine Run, and suf-
fered the extreme cold and fatigue of that
short but terrible campaign, and during the
winter of 1863-6'4 nearly all the available
force of the regiment reenlisted for the war,
and the regiment was furloughed in a body.
May 4, 1864, it crossed the Rapidan, and
entered upon the Wilderness campaign,
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
135
passing over the field of Chancellorsville of
one year before. The men found the bones
of their comrades exposed to the elements,
for the Rebels had never buried them, only
throwing a little dirt or rubbish over the
bodies where thej' lay, the skull of Captain
Kirk protruding from his sepulcher, and
some of his bones exposed to the air. His
remains were recognized by distinctive marks.
It is hard to write these things of ' ' Southern
chivahy, " but all manly virtues seemed to
have left the breasts of leaders and followers,
and even now, when cooler judgment should
rule, many of them glory most in what w'as
most to their shame- On the evening of the
5th of i\Iay, the regiment became engaged in
the "Wilderness, having a severe battle, losing
the colonel, badly wounded, and lieutenant
colonel mortall.v wounded, and many brave
officers of the line dead or w^ounded; among
the latter we name Lieutenant William Kim-
ple and James S.ylvis. Again, on the 6th, the
regiment was moved front and participated
in the terrible struggle of the day, where
none could tell the turn of battle except by
.sound, and on the 7th was in reconuoitering
force, to ascertain the Rebel position. The
remnant of the 63d Pennsylvania Volunteers
was now assigned to duty with the 105th, and
on the 9th, at the Potomac river, the regiment
was severel.v shelled by the enemy, and after-
wards, during the progress of the battle of
days before Spottsylvania, was in the success-
ful charge led by General Hancock on the
enemy's works, Lieut. A. H. Mitchell, of
Company A, capturing the flag of the 18th
North Carolina Regiment: Corporal Kendig,
of Company A, 63d, capturing the flag of an-
other North Carolina regiment. The color
bearer of the 105th being disabled, Serg. John
W. Smith, of Company F, was appointed color
bearer, and was killed at Petersburg a month
later.
The regiment participated in the battles
from May 9th to 18th, and in the subsequent
movements reached the North Anna at Tay-
lor's bridge, and charging on the enemy
without firing drove him. capturing some of
the works, and held the position until night;
thence by way of Hanovertown on the Pa-
munky river. Salem Church, and Tolopotomy
creek to Cold Harbor, taking position in gen-
eral line at a point near the ilechanicsville
road, and having part in the series of battles
at Cold Harbor'; It is told of William W.
Hazlett and Charles Gill, of Company F,
that during Hancock's charge of the Con-
federate line they were taken prisoners. Be-
ing stripped of all except clothing they were
ordered to the rear. Picking up guns in the
rear somewhere they started for the Union
lines, encountering a company of Confed-
erates between the two picket lines. By a
little ruse on their part they succeeded in
inducing the company to ground arms, and
the two boys marched them prisoners to Gen-
eral Hancock's headquarters. The General
afterwards granted them a furlough of thir-
ty-five days, but Gill in the meantime had
been wounded and captured, his leg ampu-
tated, and could not take advantage of the
merited favor. Hazlett was of Georgeville,
Indiana county, and Gill of Meadville, Penn-
sylvania.
The 105th performed an active part in the
battles before Petersburg, Va., June 16th to
30th, and we give the summing up of its
losses in the summer campaign by quoting
from the history of the 105th Regiment, Penn-
sylvania Volunteers: "During the months
of May and June the regiment lost three
commissioned officers, killed, fifteen wounded
and one missing ; sixty-one enlisted men killed,
168 wounded and twenty missing; total 268.
When they started in the campaign they had
331 guns and twenty-one officers; at this
date, July 4th, they had 121 guns, the entire
force. The list of killed did not include those
who died after being sent to Northern hos-
pitals."
In July, 1864, by additions in recruits for-
warded by Governor Curtin, the regiment
was enabled to hold its organization, and the
63d Pennsylvania Volunteers, by its own
choice, was consolidated with it in preference
to all others, having served in the same brig-
ade for three years, and as a part of the regi-
ment for the spring and summer. Thus the
brave and reliable 63d ceased to exist as an
independent organization.
We cannot follow the regiment in the ardu-
ous work and duties of the siege of Peters-
burg more than to say that it was frequently
engaged with the enemy, in each instance
keeping up its well-earned reputntion for
bravery and efficiency.
In the closing campaign of the war at
Hatcher's Run and Sailor's Creek it did ex-
cellent service in the battles, and in the cap-
ture of men, ordnance and supplies after the
assault and victory at the latter place. By
this time William Kimple had by a series of
promotions become captain of Company F,
and in like manner Milton W. Adair captain,
and John M. Bruce first lieutenant, of Com-
136
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
pany K; all three of these men had enlisted
as privates in 1861.
loSth Pennsylvania Volunteers. — This regi-
ment was organized and mustered for nine
months' service in the latter part of August,
1862. James R. Porter, of Indiana county,
was appointed colonel, and the staff officers
partly from the three ludiaiin county com-
panies, A, D and I, connniUKh'd liy Capts.
Samuel T. Nicholson, John G. Wilson and
John A. Kinter.
The term of service expired at a time when
drilled and effective men were needed at the
front, and were relieved of service when in
presence of the enemy which liad twice de-
feated the Union forces in the attempt to
effect a permanent lodgment south of the
Rappahannock. A number of the men of
the Indiana county companies, after a short
visit to their homes, reenlisted in the
regiment of the three-year men at the
front, and we find their names in the 40th,
41st, 55th, 61st. 67th. 78th and 105th regi-
ments; also in the 4th and 14th Cavalry;
those remaining going into the 206th regiment
for one year's seiwice, or assigned to the 67th
and 74th regiments, and we find it almost im-
possible to glean out of all this list the re-
maining ones. We presume that the same
statement is true in regard to Companies F
and G from Westmoreland and B from Jef-
ferson counties, for most all of the list of
regiments we named received recruits largely
from these counties.
The regiment was composed of excellent
men, and with the patriotic spirit evidenced,
no doubt desired to make a more effective
record, but General Wadsworth, iipon its ar-
rival at Washington, assigned it to duty in
detachments as provost guard, prison guard,
and kindred duties, till April, 1863, when it
joined the forces on the Rappahannock near
Fredericksburg, and was assigned to duty
with the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 1st Army
Corps.
April 29, 1863, the regiment had an intro-
duction to genuine warfare in a sort of long
range duel with sharpshooters on the op-
posite bank of the Rappahannock ; by a brisk
tire preventing them from picking off our
gunners at the batteries in position near the
river. During the day the regiment lost some
wounded. It remained in support of the bat-
teries until ordered to join Hooker's force
at Chancellorsville, where it participated, los-
ing a few men prisoners when on duty as
skirmishers in front of its brigade, but did
not become ens
This regiment did all duty required of it
at any time, and many of the men after-
wards served in the harcl-fought battles of the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania C. H., Cold Har-
bor and Petersbiirg, in all of which some of
the above named regiments were hotly en-
gaged. Quite a number of cripples and dis-
abled ones can refer to the 135th regiment as
the preparatory school through which they
Company E, liSth Pennsylvania Volun-
teers.— This company was recruited in In-
diana county by John F. Sutton, assisted
by J. H. Benford, but was partly made up of
men from Jefferson and Armstrong counties'
Sutton had somo military experience, having
enlisted foi' 1lnv.' months' service in the 19th
Ohio Volunlccis. i)arlieii3ating in the defeat
of the Rebels at Rich Mountain, W. Va., and
also in driving them from Beverly. He had
also assisted in recruiting Company G, 103d
Pennsylvania Volunteers. The company was
fully organized and mustered into service
September 2. 1862, and assigned to the 148th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. James A. Bea-
ver, of Center county. Charles Stewart, cap-
tain of the company, was wounded at Chan-
cellorsville and resigned, Lieut. John F.
Sutton succeeding to the captaincy.
The three companies from Indiana, Jeffer-
son and Clarion formed a very effective force
in the regiment, and did work for which
Pennsylvania's history gives no credit, but it
is our business to write of Indiana county
soldiers, and we therefore correct errors only
as far as Indiana county men are concerned.
The tirst battle was at Chancellorsville May
1, 2 and 3, 1863, a terrible initiation, but it
came out of that unfortunate battle with
honors gained by bravery and duty; the loss
in the regiment was 125 killed and wounded.
We omit the routine of marches, which
were similar to those already written in the
61st, 40th and others, until we reach the field
at Gettysburg, July 2. 1863, where the 148th
occupied a position in what was called the
"wheatfield," near "Round Top." Here for
one hour the regiment was engaged in a deadly
contest, and again on the 3d came into action
in the general attack along the lines. No
pen can describe the scene at Gettysburg —
author and artist both have failed, and the
name Gettysburg indicates daring, bravery
and slaughter we cannot portray.
In the advance down the valleys of Vir-
ginia again, the regiment participated in all
movements of the 2d Corps, to which it was
attached.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
13-;
In October, during the retreat of the Army
of the Potomac to Drainsville, the 148th was
in the engagement near Aiiburn ^Mills and
Bristoe Station. Upon the advance again to
south of the Rappahannock, it participated
in the Mine Run campaign, one of short du-
ration, but memorable on account of suffer-
ing.
May 3, 1864, the regiment crossed the Rapi-
dan, stopping on the ground fought over just
one year before. Lieut. James M. Sutton sleep-
ing on the same spot upon which he had
slept one year before. During the two first
days in the "Wilderness the regiment was not
eailed into action on the front, acting only
as supports to the troops engaged on the night
of the 7th, within range of the enemy "s rifles,
and was finally pushed forward on the skir-
mish line. In the thicket of brush, which all
so well remember, it was very difficult in
some instances to tell friend from foe, and
here Lieut. J. M. Sutton, with Privates D-
Sutton and William ]\I. Hallowell. were or-
dered to discover the position. Creeping for-
ward on their hands and knees to find who
was in front, they could distinctly hear the
Confederates talking. In further reeon-
noissance they discovered a line proving to
be a New- York regiment, also in trouble, hav-
ing no connection on the right. The two
then joined, forming a line and closing the
gap. This incident is but one of many such
that occurred in troops getting into position
in the woods in midnight darkness. On the
night of the 8th the regiment, while on picket,
got divided bj* a mistaken order none have
ever been able to account for. and it again
became the duty of Lieutenant Sutton to
discover their position. In the light of the
great fire of the Confederates' burning
breastworks, it was a dangerous mission, and
in the terrible rumbling of two moving armies
a difficult one. Halted at one point, whether
by friend or foe he knew not, he promptly
answered, giving the name of the regiment
when he found a detachment of a regiment,
in command of a lieutenant, lost, and formed
in hollow square, for protection from assault
on any quarter. After much difficulty all
was righted, and the movement continued
towards the Po river. Such were the nights
in the Wilderness, never to be forgotten by
the participants.
Crossing the Po river on the 9th. the 148th
drove the force of the enemy from the hill
beyond, suffering some loss, and on the 10th
was in the terrible fight best known as Spott-
sylvania. The Confederates drove in their
skirmishers with serious loss, and tlie regiment
was finally compelled to fall back on its bri-
gade, having lost 200 officers and men. Lieut.
James M. Sutton was wounded, losing a
leg. Again in the terrible carnage of the 12th
the 148th was engaged, being in the successful
charge of the morning upon the enemy's first
line of works, and in the after struggle at
the second line, losing twenty killed, and the
usual proportion of wounded.
It then participated in the series of marches,
skirmishes and battles on the line from the
Wilderness to Petersburg; at Cold Harbor
being in charge on the enemy's works, which
was successful at the time, but could not be
held, the entire line falling back and fortify-
ing another line. For a further history of '
this we refer to sketch of the 55th Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers. The work of Pennsylvania
regiments in the Army of the Potomac is so'
inseparably connected, we ask the reader to
read all as though he read the history of one.
On the evening of June 16th the regiment,
with others, was repulsed in a charge in the
enemy's works at Petereburg, but the contest
was kept up the 17th and 18th, until the
enemy abandoned a portion of his works.
From the 15th to the 30th it was continuous
duty and fight, and on the 27th of July at
Deep Bottom, north of the James river; again,
on August 25th. in a terrible engagement at
Reams Station, when the Rebels made a des-
perate attack, compelling the division to fall
back. Colonel Beaver was here wounded for
the third time, losing a leg, and Capt. J. F.
Sutton commanded the regiment for some
time at Fort Steadman.
The 148th was now armed with Spencer re-
peating rifles. General Hancock designating
the regiment for this special honor in its di-
vision.
On the 27th of October a detachment of
the 148th of 100 men was ordered to take a
portion of the enemy's works. Captain Sut-
ton was asked to command the storming party,
but having just returned from two days'
picket in the swamps he could not run, hav-
ing stood in the water of the swamps until
his knees were stiffened. The work was un-
dertaken by Capt. J. Z. Brown, a gallant
officer. The enemy's works were scaled, and
more men captured than there were in the
assault, including four commissioned officers.
The enemy now moved forward on him, com-
pelling him to retire.
We now quote from Bates' History. Penn-
sylvania Volunteers, correcting the quotation :
"Upon the opening of the spring campaign
138
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of 1865, the regiment moved with the brigade
ou the 25th of March, and participated in the
action at Hatcher's Run, and on the 31st at
Adams' Farm. On the 2d of April it moved
five miles through the enemy's lines, and came
upon the South Side railroad at Sutherland 's
Station, the first division in advance, where
the Rebel forces were posted and determined
to stand. The 2d Brigade led, supported by
the 4th, and as it approached the enemy's
well-chosen position he opened a terrible fire
which checked its advance, killing and wound-
ing large numbers. Seeing the disaster Gen-
eral Miles detached the 148th and, deployed
as skirmishers, he ordered it to advance. With
Captain Sutton in command of the regiment,
it moved resolutely forward, and by a skill-
fully executed maneuver, fianked the enemy's
works and opened a well-directed and enfilad-
ing fire from the repeating rifles. Stunned
by the suddenness and severity of the blow,
nearly an entire brigade threw down its arras
and surrendered. Major Ulmer of the 4th
North Carolina surrendering his sword and
pistol to Captain Sutton. On the following
day Cxcneral Miles issued an order commend-
ing the gallant conduct of the regiment, an-
nouncing the result of the charge to be 700
prisoners, two pieces of artillery and two
flags." Its last battle was at FarmviUe,
April 7th, but it participated in all the clos-
ing movements of the campaign, including
Lee's surrender.
At muster out, June 3d, 1865, Captain
Sutton was the only officer with the regiment
who had mustered into service with it in
1862, and he was commander of the regiment
from i\Iarch 28, 1865, to the close of its duties.
We now close with its battle record, in-
cluding skirmishes and assaults upon it by
the foe, so far as we have been able to gather
the record: Chancellorsville, May 1 to 3,
1863 ; Haymarket, July 25, 1863 ; Gettysburg,
Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863 : Auburn and Bristoe
Station, October 14, 1863; Kelly's Ford, No-
vember 7, 1863; Mine Run, November 30,
1863; Wilderness, May 4 to 7, 1864; Po
River and Spottsylvania, May 9 to 14, 1864;
Cold Harbor, June 3 to 10, 1864 ; Petersburg,
June 15 to 30, 1864; Deep Bottom, July 27,
1864; Reams Station. August 25, 1864; sec-
ond Deep Bottom, August 14 to 20, 1864;
charge on works at Petersburg, October 27,
1864; Hatcher's Run, Adams' Farm, Suther-
land Station, and Farmville, March 21 to
April 7. 1864; and Lee's surrender.
One hundred and thirty-seven men at mus-
ter out represented the old regiment, with a
few more serving as commissioned officers not
included in the count.
159th Pennsylvania Volunteers — 14th Cav-
alry.— There were probably more Indiana
county men in this cavalry regiment than in
any other one, and while it is a great task
to write the work of an active cavalry regi-
ment for three j'ears of service, we try to
note a few things in which Indiana county
men participated, and prefer to let the boys
tell their own story. Up to 1879 there was a
very incomplete record of the men of this
famous fighting regiment. In Company K
alone we find the names of seven men in suc-
cession marked by Bates "not accounted
for," who were all killed, or died in the serv-
ice. The death rate among Indiana county
men were not large, however.
The larger part of the men of this county
went into service in 1862, at the time the regi-
ment was organized, and passed through the
most active service of the war.
In May, 1863, the regiment was attached
to Averill's mounted force in West Virginia,
and in detachments served in Philippi, Bev-
erly and Webster; and later, in a body at
Philippi, had a smart skirmish with Con-
federates surrounding the post at Beverly,
July 2d, forcing them to withdraw, and again
at Huttonville, on the 4th. At this time the
battle of Gettysburg was reported in progress,
and the cavalry division was ordered to join
the cavalry of the Potomac. This was not
accomplished till Lee's army was safely across
the river into Virginia. In pushing forward
in pursuit the Rebels were encountered near
Martinsburg, on the 15th.
During the month of August the regiment
was in a continuous series of skirmishes and
battles, at one time, near the Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs, fighting dismounted,
repelled the infantry charges — in this alone
losing eighty men.
In November, 1863, the regiment was in
the Droop Mountain raid, engaged the enemy,
fighting on foot, and drove them from their
position.
Again, December 8th, the regiment moved
on the raid to the Virginia & Tennessee rail-
road, where heavy damage was inflicted by
the destruction of bridges (railroad), Rebel
stores, etc., and in the retreat occurred an
incident the survivors of the war frequently
refer to as one of the memorable events of
their service. At Jackson river the 14th Cav-
alry, being in the rear with trains which it
was almost impossible to move, got separated
from the main force and was surrounded by
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
i;i9
the Confederates. Under a flag of truce a
surrender was demanded, but the men cor-
ralled the train and set fire to it. The com-
mand swam the river and drew the guns
with them across, cheered bj^ the Confederates
while crossing. While the colonel seemed
to be in a study what to do, walking back and
forth with arms folded, waiting a further
communication on terms of surrender, a pri-
vate called from the ranks, "death in prefer-
ence to Libby prison," which was echoed by
a hundred voices, which decided the matter.
Their ammunition was all drowned, so the
order was given to sling their carbines and
draw their sabres, and a break was made for
freedom. We quote the words of one who
was in this desperate charge : ' ' We selected
Jackson's cavalry, and broke for them — they
thought they had us, and were so surprised
they fled in every direction, and we fairly
flew through; our pieces of artillery seemed
to scarcely touch the ground as the.y went,
and before the Confederates recovered from
their surprise we were almost out of range."
From the same soldier we gain the informa-
tion that at Craig's creek the cold was so in-
tense as to freeze their horses' manes "stiff
like a board," and we cj[uote from Averill's
report: "I was obliged to swim my command,
and drag my artillery with ropes across
Craig's creek seven times in twenty-four
hours. ' '
The 14th, in its retreat, encountered more
frozen streams ; the horses being smooth shod,
they were compelled to walk most of the
time for three days. A few already crippled
tried to ride, and we know of some yet living
who were yet further injured by their horses
falling with them. The loss to the i-egiment
in this third raid was about fifty. From
Bates' History we quote: "In recognition
of the great service which the command had
performed, the war department ordered the
issue of a complete suit of clothing to each
member of the command as a gift from the
government." From one of the men we
quote: "Our shoes were worn out so much
our toes stuck out to the cold, and several
had their feet frozen badly." Averill's of-
ficial report says, "my command has marched,
climbed, slidden, and swam three hundred
and forty-five miles since the 8th inst."
During the winter of 1863-64, while suj)-
posed to be in winter quarters, having a gen-
eral headquarters at ]\Iartinsburg. W. Va., it
was kept on duty much of the time, and early
in the spring of 1864 it moved forward in
another raid upon the Virginia & Tennessee
railroad. On ]\Iay 10th, at Cove Gap, in a
fight with the enemy, it lost fifty men killed
and wounded, besides losses in minor skir-
mishes.
The regiment was next in the campaign
under General Hunter, as part of the regi-
ment was engaged at New Market, and again
at Piedmont, dismounting and charging
earthworks when advantage was to be gained
by it.
It particiiDated in the fight at Lexington,
June 12th, and skirmished nearly all day
June 13th, and again at Lynchburg on the
15th. Again on the 17th at Liberty, in a
shari) fight for several houi's, it succeeded in
holding a large Confederate force in check
while the forces under Averill and Crook
were retiring to the Kanawha. The loss here
was about twenty-four, and the regiment
suffered a further loss of eight men near
Salem in a charge by Schoonmaker's brigade,
to recover guns taken in an unexpected
charge Jjy Rosser's Confederate cavalry.
We now pass to the time of Early's raid
into Maryland in July, when the 14th had
part in the attack at Winchester, July 20th,
which was successful; but a few days later
the whole force was compelled to fall back
to Hagerstown, Md. After the burning of
Chambei"sburg, Pa., the 14th was in the chase
of the Confederates into West Virginia, and
at Moorefield had a shari> fight, losing thirty-
five men, in this fight having the satisfaction
of completely routing the enemy.
Its next movements were in connection
with the army under Sheridan in the valley,
participating in all movements, being highly
complimented for gallantry, especially at
Winchester, Cedar Creek, Harrisonburg,
Wier's Cave and Front Royal.
The winter of 1864-65 was a disastrous
one, the regiment losing heavily at both j\Iill-
wood and Ashby's Gap. We would be glad
to add a complete battle record to this, but
it was in almost continuous fighting for two
years over so great an area, we do not see
that we can do justice to it, but we do know
that while the children of the sui-vivors live
the heroic deeds of the 14th Cavalry will be
fireside stories to be remembered by the gen-
eration to come. Captain Duff, of Armstrong
county, under whom the Indiana county boys
mostly served, has a warm place in their
hearts, and we have heai-d Lieutenant Mc-
Laughlin of this county highly commended.
177th Pennsylvania Volunteers. — This regi-
ment was organized in the fall of 1862, for
nine months' sei-vice. having Company K
140
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
credited to Indiana county, recruited mostly
in that portion of the county adjoining the
Cambria county line, and there were also men
of this county in other companies. Hugh J.
Brady, of Indiana county, was appointed
lieutenant colonel.
The more complete individual record of
these men will be found in regiments in
three-year and one-year service, and the his-
tory of them would. in a measure be a repe-
tition of accounts given of the men of the
135th regiment.
In December, 1862, the regiment was foi'-
warded from Camp Curtin by way of Wash-
ington, D. C, to Newport News, and after-
wards to Suffolk, reporting to General Viele,
on the east bank of Nansemond river, where
it was put to work at clearing away the for-
est on the west bank of the river.
In January, 1863, while a strong recon-
noissance was being made to the Blackwater,
the 177th was left to guard the works at Suf-
folk and was attacked by a body of Rebel
cavalry. This occurrence caused a strict vig-
ilance on the part of the men, and General
Corcoran returning to the works in the night
attempting to pass without giving the count-
ersign, "came near losing his life." The
General afterwards complimented them for
good conduct. In March, 1863, it was sent
to Norfolk and ordered on duty at Deep Creek
with Colonel Wiestling, of the 177th. iu com-
mand of the post. The duty here seems to
have been as guard to prevent the carrying of
mails to the South, as this business had been
carried on much to the detriment of the Union
army.
The 177th regiment has the credit of break-
ing up the mail routes capturing a number
of carriers, and considerable mail matter ;
also destroyed a large number of Rebel boats
in the i-iver, engaged in a sort of piratical
business and blockade running, conveying
goods to the South.
It was transferred to the Army of the
Potomac, then in Maryland, in July, 1863,
and assigned to the 12th Army Corps, but
before it was called upon to do duty in biattle
line the enemy had retreated to Virginia
again, but remained on ^larylaud Heights
until ordered to Ilarrisburg, to be mustered
out of service.
So far as we have lieen able to gather in-
formation, there were no deaths of Indiana
county men, though the regiment suffered
much from sickness, both at Suffolk and Deep
Creek.
The record shows a large percentage of de-
sertions, nearly all from Harrisburg — these
records may be unjust. The record would
indicate that the men came home from Har-
risburg, and failed to return ixntil it had
i-emoved to the front, where they found dif-
ficulties in the way of reaching it again, and
never reported.
206th Pennsylvania Volunteers. — This regi-
ment was organized at Pittsburg, Pa., Sep-
tember 8, 1864, by the election of Hugh J.
Brady, of Indiana county, colonel ; John T.
Fulton, of Westmoreland county, lieutenant
colonel, and Josiah B. Ferguson, of Indiana
county, major. Colonel Brady had consider-
able military experience, having served in the
Mexican' war as major of the 10th Regiment,
Pennsylvania Militia, in the emergency call
of 1862, was lieutenant colonel of the 177th
regiment for nine months' service, 1862-63.
Companies A, C, D, F, G, H and I were
recruited in Indiana county. Company B in
Jefferson county, and E and K in Westmore-
land county.
Most all the field and line officers had seen
service in other regiments, and the greater
part of the men who served in the 135th Penn-
sylvania Volunteers' nine months' service of
1862-63, now returned to service again in
this regiment.
Proceeding to the front, it was attached
to the 18th Corps, near Bermuda Hundred,
but soon after moved to the north side of
the James river, and was assigned to duty
with the engineer corps and built Fort Brady,
north of Dutch Gap. In the latter part of
October it was assigned to the 3d Brigade,
1st Division, 10th Corps, and went into win-
ter ciuarters, its duties principally drill and
routine camp duty.
Upon the reorganization of the army corps
the 206th was assigned to the 24th Corps,
and continued on duty with the Array of the
James, under General Ord.
When the spring campaign opened the
206th was ordered to remain in camp, doing
provost duty, and was thus partially pre-
vented from participating in the historical
events of the general assault upon the lines
of the enemy; yet, upon the evacuation of
Richmond, the 206th was the first to enter
the city, a thing desired much by veterans
in service long before. Some of the men com-
posing the 206th had participated in the Pen-
insular campaign under McClellan, when the
most ardent desire was to enter Richmond
in triumph.
For a time the regiment did provost duty
in the citv, and afterwards, for a short time.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
141
performed the same duty at Lynchburg. The
record of the regiment is not a bloody one,
and to the writer of this sketch, and prob-
ably many others, it is a relief to write or
speak of at least one company or regiment
whose bodies do not lie buried in Southern
soil.
The men did the dut.y assigned them, and
in this stand on equality with their comrades
in arms. The regiment had its place in the
army and is entitled to share in the honor
that crowned the L'nion arms in the cam-
paign of 1865. It lived to see the result
thousands died to accomplish, and to be the
first to fling to the breeze in the Rebel capi-
tal the stars and stripes of the L'nion.
Militia of Indiana County, 1S61 to 1865. —
The militia organizations of the county in
1861 were Init few and not much interest
manifested ; but such as they were, they
formed the liasis of organization of some of
the companies of men recruited in 1861 for
three years' service.
In 1862, M'hen General Lee, after defeating
our armies at Bull Run, moved northward
into Maryland, the southern counties of.
Pennsylvania were in danger of invasion,
and Governor Curtin issued a call for the
people to arm (September 4, 1862), and a
little later issued a general order calling for
volunteers to organize and arm for defense of
the State (September 10, 1862) ; immediately
following this with a call for 50,000 men (Sep-
tember 11, 1862). promising the men they
should be held for service only for the emer-
gency, and should be mustered out as soon
as, in the opinion of the executive, it would
be prudent to do so.
The call was heralded throughout Indiana
county, and so early as the 10th, the day the
Governor called for actual enrollment of men,
there were several companies ready to move.
One company, Capt. Lawrence S. Cautrell.
Lieuts. John Hill and Joseph K. Conner, get-
ting transportation, was assigned to the 10th
regiment as Company H. The other com-
panies followed as fast as transportation
could be procured, and by the 15th four more
companies were to the front, assigned to the
23d regiment. Colonel Wiestling. These
companies were Company B, Capt. Eph'raim
Davis. Lieuts. William B. JIarshall and James
E. Coulter; Company H, Capt. Thomas R.
McComb, Lieuts. Josiah Work and J. B.
Hunds; Company I, Capt. Samuel J. Craig-
head, Lieuts. Alexander Hazlett and Robert
Anderson ; Company K, Capt. George E.
Smith, Lieuts. John Gibson and Josiah M.
Ansley. Hugh J. Brady, of North Mahon-
ing township, was appointed major of this
regiment.
Another company was recruited in the
vicinity of Saltsburg, Capt. Hail Clark;
Lieuts. Andrew D. Ferguson and William H.
Junkins, but not assigned to any regiment.
These companies, forming almost a regi-
ment of men, were all gathered together in the
interim between September 4th and 12th,
eight days. There were men in some if not
all of these companies who had already seen
service in the early campaigns of the war,
and while they were not called upon to eon-
tend with the foe in deadly strife, the up-
rising of an army in the space of a week in
the State of Pennsylvania had an encourag-
ing effect upon the weary troops of the Army
of the Potomac, we .iudge equally dishearten-
ing to the rank and file of the Confederate
forces beaten and driven back from the bloody
field of Antietam.
These militia forces were disbanded upon
the retreat of the invading foe, but their ser-
vices to the State and nation were not yet
ended, as we shall see. Colonel Weistling at
once proceeded to organize a regiment, se-
curing as many of the men of the 23d militia
regiment as could go, and by the 20th of
November the oi-ganization of the 177th Penn-
sylvania Volunteers, for nine months' service,
was effected. Maj. H. J. Brady, of Indiana
county. Lieutenant colonel of the regiment;
of this we give history elsewhere. (See 177th
Pennsylvania Volunteers.)
In the spring of 1863 Lee, repulsing our
attacks upon his stronghold at Fredericks-
burg, planned a second invasion of Maryland
and Pennsylvania, the blow being most direct-
ly struck at Pennsylvania, and as introduc-
tory to the action of our citizens at this mem-
orable time, we should recall the fact that
much discontent was felt at the North, and
opponents of the war were at work with a
will, adding fuel to the fire of discontent, and
disapproval of the war. Lee was for several
days in advance of the Union ai-my, finding
no considerable force in his way. Capturing
a portion of General Milroy's force at Win-
chester, and compelling the balance to seek
safety in the works of Maryland Heights,
opposite Harper's Ferry, he triumpantly
marched into Pennsylvania. The only small
force in the way at all was that under General
Couch, with headquarters at Harrisburg, Pa.,
and General Brooks' small force on the bor-
der of western Penns.ylvania, and extending
to Ohio. The general government, seeing the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
danger, called for troops from the nearest
States, asking of Pennsylvania 50,000 men.
The people were disheartened by Confeder-
ates successes South, and diversions in their
favor in the North, and responded slowly,
no considerable force of militia being organ-
ized until Lee's army, 100,000 strong, was on
Pennsylvania soil, levying contributions of
money and material upon its defenseless
towns, asking the town of York, Pa., alone,
for $100,000 in cash ; and $28,000 was actually
paid, besides food and clothing furnished.
Very few regiments from Pennsylvania
were organized until the decisive battle of
Gettysburg was fought, July 1st to 3d, yet
we shall see that Indiana county "came to
the front" with a will, for we find it had
eight companies mustered into service as ear-
ly as July 3d to 8th, and followed this with
six more "before July 23d. There was some
dissatisfaction on the part of some troops on
account of being mustered into United States
service, and Governor Curtis, being called
upon, assured the troops that they would be
discharged as soon as danger to the State was
averted, and more than this gave them the
choice to elect to serve six months, or during
the emergency. We do not learn that there
was much demur among Indiana county men,
the first companies all being sworn into United
States service 'on the plighted word of Gover-
nor Curtin that they would not be detained
beyond the exigency calling them to arms.
The 54th regiment. Colonel Gallagher, of
Westmoreland county, was mustered July 4th,
with Thomas K. Weaver, of Indiana county,
lieutenant colonel. Company A, Capt. Joseph
K. Weaver, ■nith Lieuts. John Hill and J. K.
Anderson, was nearly all from Indiana
county: Company D, Capt. John H. Devers,
Lieuts. Byron Porter and Josiah Henderson,
all from Indiana county; Company E, Capt.
Nelson Henry, Lieuts. D. A. Ralston and
James Patton, largely of Indiana county;
Company H, Capt. (Rev.) Samuel Hender-
son, Lieuts. Robert Smith and David Reed,
all of Indiana county.
The 57th regiment was mustered in by
companies July 3d to 8th, and organized by
electing Jomes R. Porter, of Indiana county,
colonel. Company A, Capt. William R. Ford,
Lieuts. Robert A. Henderson (pi-ovost adju-
tant) and Alexander Craig; Company C,
Capt. Hugh Weir, Lieuts. James B. Sansom
(editor Democrat) and James Fleming (color
company) ; Company E, Capt. Joseph Persh-
ing, Lieuts. James P. McClelland and Hugh
Pershing: Company F, Capt. George E.
Smith, Lieuts. Robert N. McCombs and Wil-
liam C. Gordon ; all of Indiana county.
, The nexl six companies wei'e organized
into an independent battalion, under John
C. Lininger, of Indiana county, as lieutenant
colonel, including three other companies, the
first. Company B, under command of Charles
]\IcClain, from Jefferson county, partly made
up of Indiana county men; the second. Com-
pany C, Capt. William Neel, Lieuts. Thomas
K. Hastings and W. C. Brown, was made up
very largely from Indiana county, the bal-
ance from Jefferson county; the third, Com-
pany H, Capt. Charles W. Whistler, mostly
from Westmoreland county.
The other companies. A, D, E, F, G, and I,
we claim as Indiana county companies. Com-
pany A, Capt. Thomas J. Moore, Lieuts.
Daniel C. Davis and Marion M. Davis; Com-
pany D, Capt. John W. Coleman, Lieuts.
George W. Wilson and William T. Jackson;
Company E, Capt. William P. Altemus,
Lieuts. William W. Altemus and George R.
Bolar; Company F, Capt. Daniel Tincom,
Lieuts. Samuel W. Campbell and 0. S. Mc-
Henry ; Company G, Capt. Robert L. Ritchie,
Lieuts. Benjamin F. Speedy and Daniel
Latshaw (in this company probably enough
men to balance what we allow Jefferson
county, in Captain Neel's company) ; Com-
pany I, Lieut. William B. Marshall. This
battalion was elected to serve for six months,
and was so mustered into the United States
service.
We will follow each in a brief description
of its duties. The 54th and 57th regiments
were both assigned to the command of Gen.
T. H. Brooks, and rendezvoused in the neigh-
borhood of Pittsburg, Pa. The rebel cavalry
leader, Gen. John H. Morgan then on a raid
through Indiana and Ohio, had by this time
got so far North as to make his escape some-
what doubtful, and the more so after Lee had
been driven back defeated into Virginia. The
54th, Colonel Gallagher, and 57th, Colonel
Portei', were both moved down into Ohio,
and posted at fords of the Ohio river, by
some of which Morgan had hoped to make
good his escape, the gunboats having effect-
ually stopped him from crossing the river
lower down, and he was also closely pursued
by a land force iinder Generals Shackelford
and Hobson. Attempts to cross over were
made at several points, and some 500 of his
men had effected a crossing at different points
on the river. These, with the loss of 600 in
prisoners in the engagement at the ford
above Pomeroy, had reduced his force very
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
143
much, and made his chances for escape still
less; and, with the loss in prisoners at Belle-
ville, left him with scarcely 1,000 men.
In the race for life, it was feared Morgan
would cross, but the 57th regiment, by a quick
movement of some three miles, reached the
place, and being first on the ground Colonel
Porter so disposed his men that any force
attempting a passage to the river must have
done so under a concentrated fire of the regi-
ment, on a space where not over six abreast
could have formed to charge the obstructed
path. Morgan then tried the position of the
54th regiment, Colonel Gallagher, but found
it impracticable also.
The Ohio militia in the meantime were
pressing the Rebel chieftain closely, as also
Shackelford and Hobson in his rear. Being
thus closely pursued and eavironed, he sur-
rendered to General Shackelford, and the
work and duties of the Penn.sylvania regi-
ments over, they were soon disbanded.
The independent battalion under Colonel
Lininger was retained in service over seven
months, doing duty on railroad guard and
at crossings on the upper Potomac river, with
headquarters at Green Spring Run, W. Va.
It is to the credit of these hastily summoned
together troops for States defense that there
was a willingness to move out of the State
when necessary for the welfare of the country,
aiKl there is no doubt but the militia force
mustered at this time had a wholesome etfeet
upon the general result; and had it been in
the field promptly at the call of the president,
might have added very materially to the
amount of material captured from Lee in his
retreat, for there was but a small force in
the army of the Potomac in fit condition to
follow and harass General Lee in his retreat.
Couch's militia, as well as Crook's, may have
been laughed at as worthless, but we must
not forget "what Washington, Gates and
Jackson severally did with militia; but,
though they had only been held in reserve
or set to guarding trains, their presence
would have had a wholesome effect," and we
do know they did good service in the cam-
paign, those in the west rendering effectual
help in the capture of ilorgan and his troop-
ers, and those in the east disputing every foot
in the advance of Lee's detached forces; and
on looking over the field we believe would
have prevented the crossing of the Susque-
hanna, even if 'Lee had not ordered his de-
tached force under General Early to return
to the main body for the struggle with the
Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg.
Many of the men in these Indiana county
companies of 1S63 had seen hard service be-
fore, having been discharged from regiments
in the Army of the Potomac for wounds re-
ceived in action, and had now so far recovered
as to be able for duty on a short term : others,
to whom this service was the beginning, en-
listed in regiments and went to the front,
and proved by future service that they had
soldierly qualifications.
Militia of 1S64 — There were two companies
largely made up of Indiana county men.
The first was mustered into service in July,
1864, and disbanded in the latter part of
November, 1864; captain. J. G. Wilson;
lieutenants, Samuel McHeury and Peter C.
Spencer. Captain Wilson and Lieutenant
Spencer afterwards recruited a company for
one year's service assigned to the 74th Penn-
sylvania Volunteers, and Lieutenant I\IcHenry
and others recruited a company for one year
service, assigned to the 67th Pennsylvania
Volunteers.
The second company was mustered into
service November 3. 1864, and served till
August, 1865; captain, Joseph K. Weaver;
lieutenants, Anthony Ewing and John W.
Ellinger.
These did general guard duty whenever
required, and were regularly mustered into
the L'nited States service. Captain Wilson's
company doing duty on the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad.
United States Signal Corps. — During the
months of January and Februaiy, 1864, there
were enlisted in Indiana county about fifty
men for the LTnited States signal service for
three years, under order No. 417 of the war
department. The men served in every de-
partment of the army from Virginia to Texas ;
those serving with the Army of the Potomac,
and middle division, being discharged in
August, 1865 ; those in Texas serving longer.
The signal towers on the front were often
shelled by Rebel batteries, and the occupants
had narrow escapes, and the position of the
men were an unenviable one. The tower at
Point of Rocks, Va., was 125 feet high: one
on the James river 130 feet high; and one
at Weldon railroad 158 feet high. The one
at Cobb's hill, near Point of Rocks, Va., was
arranged with windlass and a platform, raised
or lowered by this means. At one time the
men stepped on the platform a little too soon
for the man at the windlass, and the crank
slipping from his hand the platform feU a
distance of one hundred feet, with A. S.
Thompson and J. S. Wyneoop on it. The rain
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
had swelled the woodwork of the hoisting
apparatus, so that at a distance of twenty or
thirty feet from the ground a friction ensued
which so cheeked the force of the fall that
they landed without any serious damage ex-
cept a scare, from which they did not recover
easily, making it difficult for some time, for
them to occupy the tower.
At the outpost station at Cedar Creek, \ a..
October 19, 1864, when the Rebels attacked
and surprised Sheridan's force, but two out
of the six signal men occupying the station
escaped with their lives; one of the survivors
was of this county.
ROSTER OF INDIANA COUNTY SOLDIERS
IN THE CIVIL WAR
38ti
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 9TH
RESERVES
Company C— Kirkpatrick, J. F.. second
lieutenant, wounded at Gaines' Mill, Va. ; re-
signed Nov. 25, '62. Carson, D. R., July 1,
'61; killed at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 30, '62.
Hart W. B.. July 1, '61; served thi-ee years.
Daughertv. R. J.', July 20, '61 : died at Har-
rison's Landing, Va., July, '62. Portser,
Israel. July 20, '61 ; served three years. Port-
ser, Labanna, July 20, '61, corporal; served
three years. Robinson, R. M., July 1, '61;
discharged Jan. 25. '62. Stewart, Samuel,
July 20, '61; wounded; served three years.
Thompson, William E., May 1, '61; dis. Dec.
6, '61.
Company F.— Robinson, Joseph F., cor-
poral, July 17, '61 ; veteran ; served through
the war. Young. Samuel C, corporal, July
6, '61 ; served three years. Chapman, Henry,
private, Julv 9, '61 ; killed at Antietam, Md.,
Sept. 17, '62. Cline, David, July 6, '61;
wounded at South Moimtain, Md. and killed
at Antietam, Sept. 17, '62, (Bates says killed
at Fredericksburg, Va.). Detwiler, William,
July 17, '61 ; served three years. Long, Wil-
liam J., July 1, '61; served three years.
Moore, Adani. July 6, '61 ; served three years.
McPherson. Hiram A., July 15, '61, veteran,
served through the war. McCormick, David
B., July 7, '61 ; died at Smoketo^vn. Md.. Oct.
7, '62. * McKee, James, July 17, '61 ; died at
Washinerton, D. C. Aug. 31, '61. Painter,
Ashford. July 6, '61 ; transferred to Battery
C, 5th U. S'. Artillery, Nov., '62. Painter,
Linas, July 6, '61: trans, to Battery C, 5th
U. S. Artillery, Nov., '62. Smiley. David,
July 13, '61. vet. ; died while home on vet.
furlough. Feb.. '64.
40Tn PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS — IItH
RESERVES
Field and Staff. — James R. Porter, lieu-
tenant colonel (see Company B). Daniel S.
Porter, lieutenant colonel (see Company B).
Hugh A. Torrence, quartermaster (see Com-
pany E).
Co)npany A. — Books, George W., June 25,
"61, corporal, wounded, discharged Dec. 23,
'62. Books, Samuel, Sept. 19, '62, wounded;
trans, to 190th P. V. ; dis. June 1, 1865.
Boring, Jacob S.. Julj' 11, '61; veteran;
trans, to 190th P. V.; dis. on surgeon's cer-
tificate Jan. 6, '65. Books, J. W., Sept. 19,
'62; dis. by special order same year. Bar-
inger, John R. ; Sept. 19, '62; dis. Jan. 5, '64.
Baringer, William, June 25, '61 ; died Dec.
9, '61. Camp, John L., June 25, '61 ; killed
at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. Dunim,
Thomas P., June 25, '61; dis. April 8, '62.
Davis, Benjamin, Sept. 19, '62 ; wounded ;
trans, to 190th P. V. ; dis. Jan. 24, '65. Dun-
lap, William, Sept. 19, '62; trans, to 190th
P. V. Helman, LawTenee, June 25, '61 ; mus-
tered out with company. Helman, Daniel,
June 25, '61 ; killed at Gaines' Mill, June 27,
'62. McCreary, John 0., June 25, '61 ; mus-
tered out with company. McCreary, Wil-
liam, No. 1, Sept. 19, '62; dis. March 3, 1863.
McCreary, James S., June 25, '61 ; vet. ; trans,
to 190th P. v.; absent sick at muster out.
McCreary, William, No. 2, Feb. 16, '64; cap-
tured ; trans, to 190th P. V. ; died at Florence-
S. C, Nov., '64. Makin, John A., Aug. 29,
'62; trans, to 190th P. V.; dis. June 1, '65.
Mardis. Jacob L., Aug. 29, '62; trans, to
190th P. V. ; captured ; died at Anderson-
yille prison pen, July, '64 ; burial record Aug.
9, '64. Moore, John, June 25, '61 ; dis. March
20, '63. Moore, Camp, June 25, '61; dis.
April 11, '62; died Sept. 11, '62; buried at
Point Lookout, Md. Miller, William, June
25, '61 ; dis. Dec. 22, '62. McCreary, Joshua
L., June 25, '61 ; died at Point Lookout, Au?.
17, '62. Patrick, Dallas, Sept. 19, '62 ; trans,
to 190th P. v.; prisoner from Aug. 19, '64,
to Feb. 28, '65; dis. June 6. '65. Powell,
William K., June 25. '61 ; mustered out with
the company. Rummell, James P., Sept. 19,
'62; died at Wind :\Iill Point. Va., Jan. 20,
'63. Ruth, Leonidas, Sept. 19, '62; died at
Belle Plain, Va., Nov. 6, '62. Ruth. Edmund
S., Sept. 19, '62; trans, to veteran reserve
corps. Smyers, Philip, Sept. 19, '62; trans,
to 190th P. V. ; dis. by general order June 1,
'65. Shoepf, John, Sept. 22, '62; trans, to
190th P. V. Woodford. Andrew, June 25,
'61 ; mustered out with the company. Wood-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
145
ford. Powers. June 25, '61 ; mustered out with
the companj". "Wise, John, June 25, '61 ; died
at Washington, Nov. 28. '61. Wareham,
Henry H., June 25. '61; trans, to veteran
reserve corps, came home sick and died.
Company B. — James R. Porter, captain,
June 10. '61; promoted to lieutenant colonel
July 2. '61 : resigned Oct. 24, '61. Daniel
S. Porter, first lieutenant, June 10, '61 ; pro-
moted captain July 2, '61 ; lieutenant colonel
May 14, '63; resigned March 10. '64; bre-
vetted colonel March 13, '65; wounded at
Gettysburg. Pa., July 3, "63. Hannibal K.
Sloan, second lieutenant. June 10, '61 ; pro-
moted first lieutenant July 2. '61 ; captain
Aug. 17, "63 ; to brevet major March 13, '65 ;
mustered out with company June 13, '64.
Archibald Stewart. June 10. '61; promoted
second lieutenant July 2, '61: to first lieu-
tenant Aug. 17, '63 ; wounded May 5. '64, and
died of wounds May 20. '64. John S. Sutor,
June 10, '61 ; promoted fi-om sergeant to first
sergeant ; to second lieutenant Sept. 22, '63 :
to brevet captain March 13, '65; tranferred
to 190th P. v.. May 31, '64. T. j\I. McCand-
less, first sergeant, June 10. '61 ; promoted
quartermaster sergeant Sept. 1, '61 -. mustered
out at expiration of term. Ephraim Davis,
June 10. "61 ; promoted from corporal to ser-
geant; dis. May 31. "62. Richard H. Fair,
June 10. '61 ; promoted from sergeant May
1, '62 : died July 14. '62. of wounds received
at Gaines' Jlill. Thomas R. Weaver, June
10. '61 : promoted from sergeant July 15, '62,
to second lieutenant 135th P. V.. Dec. 16. '62.
William D. Kuhns. June 10. '61 ; promoted
from sergeant to first sergeant : wounded
at Antietam Sept. 17. '62; killed at Fred-
ericksburg. Dec. 13, '62. Henderson C. How-
ard. June 10. '61 : promoted from corporal
to sergeant July 15. "62; to first sergeant
Sept. 22, '63; wounded and prisoner at sec-
ond Bull Run; mustered out with company
June 13. "64. receiving three wounds; paroled.
James L. O 'Neil, sergeant. June 10, '61 ;
promoted to sergeant July 1. '61 ; prisoner
at the Wilderness ]May 5. '64; never heard
from. Samuel McCutcheon. June 10. '61 ;
promoted June 1. '62; dis. Dec. 18, "62.
Benjamin F. Laughlin. sergeant, June 10.
'61 ; promoted from corporal to sergeant ;
wounded at Fredericksburg. Dec. 13. '62 ;
wounded at Wilderness. Ya. ; mustered out
with company June 13. '64. John W. Hum-
phrey, sergeant. June 10. '61 ; promoted to
corporal and sergeant ; mustered out with
company; good record. Gawin A. IMcClain.
sergeant, June 10. '61 ; promoted to corporal
and sergeant; wounded at Bull Run Aug.
30, '62; wounded at Fredericksburg Dec. 13.
'62; mustered out with company. ]\Iichael
O'Neil. sergeant, June 10, '62; died at Rich-
mond. Va., Feb. 27, '65. John j\l. Johnston,
corporal. June 10, '61 ; promoted to corporal ;
died at Fredericksburg. Va., Dec.»14. '62, of
wounds received Dec. 13, '62. William M.
Cummins, corporal. June 10, '61 ; promoted
to corporal;' dis. Dec. 23. '61, for disability.
Charles Shambaugh, corporal, June 10, '61;
wounded at Bull Run, Aug. 30. '62 ; leg am-
putated; captured a battle flag from the en-
emy at Charles City Cross Roads; dis. Oct.
13, '62. George W. Stewart, corporal. June
10. '61; wounded at Antietam. Sept. 17. '62;
dis. March 24. '63. Theodore Henderson,
corporal, June 10, 61 : wounded at Fredericks-
burg. Dec. 13, "62; trans, to veteran reserve
corps. July 1, "63; promoted to corpoi-al.
James W. Howearth. wounded at Antietam,
Sept. 17, '62: at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13,
'62, trans, to veteran reserve corps Sept. 1,
'63. Constantine I\lorton, corporal, June 10,
'61; wounded at Charles City Cross Roads,
June 30, '62; at Bull Run. Aug. 29, '62; at
Antietam, Sept. 17. '62; mustered out with
company. Henry Prothero, corporal, June
10, '61 ; good record ; mustered out with com-
pany. George Spaulding, corporal, June 10,
'61;' wounded at Fredericksburg, Sept. 13.
'62; promoted to corporal; prisoner May 5,
'64. to Dee. 11. '64; dis. Dec. 17. '64. John
M. Shields, corporal. June 10, '61 ; promoted
to corporal ; good record ; mustered out -with
company. J. J. Oatman, corporal. June 10.
'61 ; woimded ; prisoner at Charles City Cross
Roads. June 30, '62 ; wounded at Fredericks-
burg, Dec. 13. '62; at Gettysburg, July 2,
'63 ; promoted to corporal ; mustered out ^vith
company. Daniel Laughner, musician, June
10, '61; promoted principal musician; dis.
Dec. 12, '62. John F. McLain. musician. June
10, '61 ; appointed regimental postmaster.
James N. Adams, private. June 10, '61 ; good
record, mustered out with company. E. E.
Allen, private, June 10. '61 ; promoted to cor-
poral; prisoner May 30. '64. to Feb. 22. '65;
dis. Feb. 28. '65. Joshua A. Allison, private.
Oct. 5. '62 ; wounded at Fredericksburg. Dec.
13. '62 ; trans, to veteran reserve corps. Wil-
liam Atkinson, private, June 10. "61 : died
at Georgetown. D. C. March 29. '62, of fever.
Oscar Bush, private. June 10. "61; died at
Gettysburg. Pa., mustered out with company.
A. F. Bartlebaugh, private. June 10. 61:
killed at Charles City Cross Roads, Va. John
Berger. private. June 10, "61 ; served in sev-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
eral battles and afterwards deserted. John
R. Campbell, June 10, '61 ; mustered out with
company. W. H. H. Coleman, June 10, '61;
promoted couunissary sergeant, mustered out
with company. Thomas J\I. Coleman, June
10, '61 ; dis. Feb. 3, '63, for disability. Sam-
uel Carbough, June 10, '61; wounded and
prisoner at Charles City Cross Roads,
wounded at Fredericksburg, and dis. April
6, '63. Harrison Connor, June 10, '61 ;
wounded and prisoner at Charles City Cross
Roads, and dis. Jan. 9, '63. Edwin Ches-
ley, June 10, '61 ; wounded at Fredericks-
burg, dis. May 7, '63. Jacob L. Craig, June
10, '61; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.,
trans, to veteran reserve corps. "William A.
Compton, Sept. 19, '62; good record; trans,
to 190th Pennsylvania Volunteers, dis. by
general ordei-, June 1, '65. William Conner,
June 10, '61 ; prisoner at Charles City Cross
Roads, Va., wolmded at Fredericksburg, and
died of woimds. :Moses B. Charles, June 10,
'61; killed at Gaines' Mill, Va., June 27, '62.
James Devlin, June 10, '61; wounded at
Fredericksburg, Va. ; mustered out with com-
pany. E. J. Devinney, June 10, '61 ; record
good, mustered out with company. Hiram
N. Dumm, June 10, '61 ; wounded at Gettys-
burg, mustei-ed out with company. Johnston
Davis, June 10, '61 ; teamster, mustered out
with company. John R. Devlin, June 10,
'61 ; wounded at Fredericksburg, trans, to
veteran reseiwe corps. James W. Davis, June
10, '61; wounded at Bull Run, and deserted
from convalescent camp. Alexander G. Eak-
man, June 10, '61; wounded at Gettysburg,
mustered out with company. William B.
Elliott, June 10, '61 ; captured a battle flag
at Spottsylvania, mustered out with company.
William H. Empfield, June 10, '61 ; Avoianded
at Bull Run, and dis. Oct. 20, '62. David
Pyock. June 10, '61 ; record good, mustered
out with company. H. W. Fetterman, June
10, '61 ; killed at Charles City Cross Roads,
June 30, '62. J. T. Gibson, Feb. 23, '64;
musician, trans, to 190th P. V., dis. by G. 0.
June 24, '65. James Glenn, June 10, '61 ;
wounded and taken prisoner at Charles City
Cross Roads, and died at Richmond, Va., July
14, '62. John J. Gromley, Sept. 9, '62; trans.
to 190th P. V. Joseph Huffman, June 10. '61 ;
regimental butcher and served in three bat-
tles; mustered out with company. W. M. J.
Harbison, June 10, '61 ; wounded at Bull
Run and Wilderness, Va. Frank Harbison,
June 10, '61 ; wounded at Bull Run and at
Bethesda Church, Va. Solomon Ilarman,
June 10, '61; prisoner at Charles City Cross
Roads; wounded, leg off; mustered out with
company. William M. Hazlett, June 10, '61 ;
wounded at Charles City Cross Roads; mus-
tered out with company. Samuel B. Har-
rison, June 10, '61 ; dis. July 8, '62. William
Hill, July 11, '61; wounded at Bull Run;
dis. Jan. 12, '63. Thomas B. Hood, June 10,
'61 ; dis. Jan. 29, '63, for disability. John
L. Hall, June 10, '61; veteran, good record;
trans, to 190th P. V. Samuel B. Hall, Jan.
7, '64; trans, to 190th P. V. David Hoover,
Sept. 8, '61 ; good record ; trans, to 190th P.
v., captured; died at Salisbury, N. C, Nov.
30, '64. Jethro W. Hill, June 10, '61 ; killed
at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, '62.
William Henry, June 10, '61 ; killed at Spott-
svlvania C. H., Va., May 8, '64. Henry C.
Hazlett, June 10, '61 ; killed at Charles City
Cross Roads, June 30, '62. David Hauser,
died at City Point, Va., July 4, '64. George
W. Johnson, dis. Dec. 26, ''63. William T.
Kinter, July 11, '61 ; trans, to veteran re-
serve corps; dis. at expiration of term. Wil-
liam Kunkle, July 11, '61 ; wounded at Get-
tysburg, Pa. ; trans, to veteran reserve corps.
John G. Kimberlin, June 10, '61 ; wounded at
South Mountain, Md., and died of wounds.
George W. Lowman, June 10, '61; wounded
at Bristoe Station, Va., arm amputated; dis.
Feb. 15, '64. Allison Lowman, Sept. 19, '62 ;
good record; trans, to 190th P. V.; dis. by
general order, June 1, '65. Jacob N. Lay-
man, July 10, '61 ; wounded and captured at
Charles City Cross Roads, Va. ; trans, to vet-
eran reserve corps. Samuel Lowman, June
10, '61 ; died from wounds received at Charles
City Cross Roads, Va., June 30, '62. J. M.
Laughrey, June 10, '61 ; died Sept. 8, '62, of
wounds received at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29,
'62. William Laughrey, June 10, '61 ; killed
at South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14, '62. Lewis,
John, June 10, '61 ; wounded at Charles City
Cross Roads, Va., and killed at Fredericks-
burg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. Mack, W. H. H.,
June 10, '61 ; good record ; mustered out with
company. McCurdy, John G., June 10, '61 ;
captured at Wilderness May 5, '64. McDon-
ald, William P., June 10, '61 ; prisoner May
5, '64, to Dec. 6, '64 ; mustered out with com-
pany. McHenry, Oliver S.. June 10, '61;
dis." June 21, '62. McCurdy, Samuel R.,
Sept. 8, '61 ; trans, from Company D to Com-
pany B ; dis. June 4, '62. McKelvey, Thomas
H., April 4, '62; dis. on surgeon's certificate.
McGuire, Joseph H., July 10, '61; vet.;
wounded and prisoner at Charles City Cross
Roads, Va. ; trans, to 190th P. V. Mitchell,
Robert M., July 12, '61 ; died at Washington,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
147
D. C, Jlav 31, '62, of fever. Moore, Thomas
S., June lb, '61 ; died Sept. 18, '62, of wounds
received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, "62.
Powell, Henry, Aug. 29, '62; killed at Bris-
toe Station, Va., Oct. 14, '63. Ra.y, Hugh,
June 10, '61 ; discharged Jan. 7, '69, for dis-
ability. Ray, Samuel, July 10, '61; vet.;
good record"; trans, to 190th P. V.; prisoner
May 3, '64, to April 15, '65; mustered out
witii company. Richardson, William, March
21, '62; vet."; trans, to 190th P. V. Smith,
John L., June 10, '61; deserted Sept., '62;
returned March, '63 ; mustered out with com-
pany. Shick, Samiiel, June 10, '61; good
record; mustered out with company. Stew-
art. John W.. June 10, '61 ; dis. Dec. 5, '61.
Sheffler, Uriah, June 10, '61; wounded at
Charles City Cross Roads, Va., June 30, '62.
and dis. Oct. 6, '62. Sherman, Robert F.,
June 10, '61; wounded at South Mountain.
Md., Sept. 14, '62. and dis. Shadrach, Wil-
liam, June 10, '61 ; dis. May 6. '63, for dis-
ability. Smith, Marshall S., June 10, '61;
promoted to sergeant major; mustered out
with regiment. Smith, John A., July 11, '61 ;
vet. ; good record ; trans, to 190th P. V. ; mus-
tered out with company. Stork, William,
June 10, '61 ; trans, to veteran reserve corps.
Stephens, James, Sept. 19, '62; wounded at
Fredericksburg Dec. 13, '62; trans, to 190th
P. V. Henry Stuchel, July 11, '61; killed
at South aiountain, Md., Sept. 14, "62.
George Trimble, June 10, '61: dis. Dec. 30,
'62. William K. Thomas, June 10, "61:
wounded at South ]Mountain, jMd., Sept. 14.
'62, and at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62.
trans, to veteran reserve corps. James H.
Trimble, June 10, '61; killed at Fredericks-
burg, Dec. 13, '62. John Wagner, June 10.
'61 ; wounded at Charles City Cross Roads,
arm amputated and dis., date unknown.
James Wineman. July 17, '61 ; wounded and
prisoner at Charles City Cross Roads, died
at Richmond, Va., July 11, '62. Frank T.
Yoiuig, June 10, '61 : promoted second lieu-
tenant Company G, 67th Pennsylvania A'ol-
unteers, Nov. 5, '62, and mustered out at ex-
piration of time, enlisted in United States
regular army, served two years, returned to
Indiana and died.
Company D. — William C. Coleman, first
sergeant, Sept. 8. '61 ; veteran : promoted
from private to corporal, to tii'St sergeant ;
transferred to 190th P. V., and promoted to
first lieutenant: served through the war;
wounded three times. Peter Bedilliou (or
Redilier), July 16, '61; died Jan. 17, '62.
James G. Devinney, private. Sept. 21, "61;
discharged May 9, '62. Israel Gibson, March
17. "64; trais. to 190th P. V..; died in Rebel
prison. ^lark Gilpatrick, March 17, '64;
trans, to 190th P. V. Samuel F. Hazlett,
Sept. 10, '61; dis. Nov. 21, '62. Joseph B.
Hazlett, March 3, '62; trans, to veteran re-
serve corps. Oscar C. Hoyt, Sept. 21, '61;
died in hospital. James H. McComb, Feb.
9, "64 ; trans, to 190th P. V. ; taken prisoner
and died. William R. McNeal, Sept. 8, '61 ;
died Oct. 25, '62, of wounds received at sec-
ond Bull Run. James Robertson, Feb. 16,
'64; trans, to 190th P. V. Andrew Shauk,
Sept. 8, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to 190th P. V. ; mus-
tered out with regiment. William M. Shear-
er, Sept. 8, '61; dis. Aug. 27, '62, and died.
Thompson, (Samuel F?) Smith, Sept. 8, '61;
dis. Aug. 1, '62, and died. John Shauk, Feb.
26, '64; vet.; trans, to 190th P. V. James
(or .John S.) Stanley, March 31. "64; trans,
to 190th P. V.
Company E. — Nathaniel Nesbit, captain,
June 21, '61; died Sept. 21, '62, of wounds
received at South Mountain, Md. Daniel R.
Coder, lirst lieutenant, June 21, '61; pro-
moted to captain, April 18, '63, to brevet
major, March 13, '65, wounded at Bull Run,
Aug. 30, '62; mustered out with- company,
June 3, '67. Hugh A. Torrence, second lieu-
tenant, June 21, "61; promoted regimental
quartermaster, July 2, '61; brevet captain,
:\Iarch 13, '65 ; wounded at South ^Mountain ;
mustered out with regiment. Richard M.
Biskman, first sergeant, June 21, '61 ; pro-
moted to second lieutenant. May 13, '62; to
first lieutenant, April 10, '63 ; transferred to
190th P. .v.; brevet major, April 9, '65;
mustered out with the company. J. P. R.
Cumraisky, first lieutenant, June 21, '61 ;
promoted to first sergeant, promoted to first
lieutenant Company D, 105th P. V., Jan. 13,
'62; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, '62.-
Charles W. Herring, sergeant, June 11, '62;
promoted first sergeant, mustered out with
company. James C. ilarshall, sergeant, June
21, '61: died of wounds received in action.
James L. Hazlett, sergeant, June 21, '61;
wounded at South ^Mountain, Md., and died
at home from effects of wounds. Theodore L.
^Marshall, sergeant, June 21. "61; promoted
from corporal, wounded, discharged June 9.
"63. John C. Doran, sergeant. June 21, "61 ;
promoted from corjDoral, wounded at South
Mountain, Md., mustered out with the com-
pany. Edward T. Means, sergeant, June 21,
"61 ; promoted to sergeant, wounded at Frede-
ricksburg, mustered out with company, and
died since from the effects of wounds. Wil-
148
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
liam II. II. Lyons, sergeant, June 21, '61 ;
promoted corporal and sergea*nt, mustered
out with company. John Uucapher, sergeant,
June 21, '61 ; promoted to sergeant, mustered
out with company. Williani H. H. Edricks,
corpoi-al, June 21, '61; wounded at Mechan-
iesville, Va., taken prisoner and died at Rich-
mond, Va., Jan. 9, '63. Robert S. McCall,
corporal, June 21, '61; trans, to veteran re-
serve corps. James A. Sliort, corporal, June
21, '61 ; promoted to corporal, died of wounds
received at Gaines' Mill, June 26, '62. Sam-
uel Spires, corporal, June 21, '61; promoted
corporal, dis. on sergeant's eertiticate. George
K. Nesbit, corporal, June 21, '61; promoted
to corporal, died Oct. 14, '61. J. L. McPar-
land, corpora], June 21, '61 ; died from
wounds received at Gaines' Mill, June 27,
'62. Robert McGuire. corporal, June 21, '61 ;
died from wounds received at Gaines' Mill,
June 27, '62. John C Rugh, corpoi-al,
Sept. 9. '61 ; promoted to corporal, trans, to
190th P. v., June 1. '64. Samuel H. Coon,
corporal, Sept. 9, '61 ; promoted to cor-
poral, trans, to 190th P. V., June 1, '64, dis.
at expiration of time. James J. Fritz, cor-
poral, June 21. '61 ; veteran ; captured at
Wilderness, Va., trans, to 190th P. V., June
1, '64, wounded at Gettysburg. James W.
McGinley. corporal, July 15, '61 ; mustered
out with company. W. H. H. Bell, musician,
June 21, '61; dis. Feb. 5, '63. Robert B.
Carrol, musician, July 15, '61 ; color bearer
at South ]\Iountain until relieved by Sergeant
Hazlett: mustered out with company. John
P. Bell, private, June 21, '61 ; mustered out
with company. John Brinks, June 21, '61 ;
mustered out with companv. John C. Bark-
ley. June 21, '61; dis. Jan. 8, '63. T. H.
Butterfield, Sept. 21, '61 ; promoted to hos-
pital steward Nov. 1, '63. James. M. Brown,
July 25, '61: killed at Charle.s City Cross
Roads, June 30, '62; William Carlisle, June
21, '61 ; wounded at Wilderness, May 6, '64.
J. M. Clawson, Juue 21, '61 ; dis. May 17, '63.
William Connor, Sept. 22, '61 ; prisoner at
Wilderness; trans, to 190th P. V. June 1,
'64. Thompson Cramer, Sept. 12, '62;
wounded at Frederieksville : trans, to 190th
P. V. June 1, '64. Thomas Carson, Sept. 9,
'61; killed at Gaines' Mill, Va., June 27, '62.
Robert W. Cathcart, June 21, '61 ; killed af
South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14, '62. Alfred
Canada, July 29, '61; died Sept. 29, '62.
Martin Doran, Feb. 10, '62 ; dis. Feb. 10, '63 ;
reenlisted in United States Regular army;
killed at Wilderness, Va. Gillis D. Dunlap,
Sept. 12, '62 : wounded at Fredericksburg,
Bristoe Station, and once afterward; trans,
to 190th P. v., June 1, '64. Samuel W.
Davis, June 21, '61; trans, to Company I.;
dis. Feb. 10, '63. William H. li. Doak, July
15, '61; died of wounds received at Gaines'
Mill, Va. John Dunkle, Sept. 12, '62; died
of wounds, date unknown. Joseph W. Elder,
July 15, '61 ; mustered out with company.
John W. Ewing, teamster, June 21, '61 ;
mustered out with company. Joseph B. Eak-
nian, June 21, '61 ; mustered out with com-
pany. Henry Eshbaugh, June 21, '61 ; mus-
tered out with company. James M. English,
]\Iarch 1, '62 ; dis. Jan. 30, '63. Abram Esh-
elman. Dee. 9, '63 ; trans, to 190th P. V. June
1, '64. Boyd E. Ewing, June 21, '61; died
Oct. 31, '61. William T. Ewing, June 21,
'61; died May 16, '62. Sol. S. Edwards,
June 21, '61; killed at Gaines' Mill, Va.,
June 27, "62. Aug. A. Ferguson, June 22,
'61 ; trans, to 10th United States Infantry.
Scott M. Ferguson, June 21, '61 ; killed at
South IMountain, ild., Sept. 14, '62. William
C.'Foy, June 21, '61; died of wounds received
at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. Joshua L.
Gray, June 21, '61 ; mustered out with com-
pany. Joshua A. Groft, June 21, '61 ;
wounded ; dis. May 18, '63. George C. Gwin-
ner, June 21, '61 ; dis. Jan. 13, '63. James
Gourley. June 21, '61; dis: Nov. 24, '63.
Samuel i\I. Garris, March 1, '62; wounded at
Fredericksburg; dis. on surgeon's certificate.
Robert Gordon, June 21, '61 ; dis. July 15,
'63. David Griffin, Sept. 12. '62; trans, to
190th P. V. June 1, '64; died in Anderson-
ville prison. Lemuel C. Harold, June 21,
'61 ; mustered out with company. Nicholas
P. Hughes, June 21, '61; dis. May 20, '63;
Sal. Hatch. June 21. '61; killed at Gaines'
Mill, June 27, '62. John D. Hart, Sept. 9,
'61 ; died of wounds received at Gaines' Mill,
June 27, '62. Thomas J. Jenkins, June 21,
'61 ; killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13,
'62. Jacob Kimple, July 25, '61 ; wounded at
Gaines' Mill and South Mountain; mustered
out with company. Jacob Libengood, June
21. '61; wounded in action and dis. Dec. 17,
'62. George W. Miller, June 21, '61; mus-
tered out with company. Robert Makin, July
15, '61 ; mustered out with company. Alex
C. Miller, June 21, '61 ; mustered out with
company. Robert McKeen, June 21, '61; on
detached service with artillery; mustered out
with company. Thomas J. Moses, June 21,
'61; prisoner May 5, '64, to Feb. 27, '65.
John C. Myers, June 21, '61; mustered out
with company. James S. McGuire, June, 21,
'61 : mustered out with company. Uriah
IIISTOEY OF IXDIAXA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 149
Marsh, July 15, "61; mustered out with eom- Cum pan ij /.—David Berry, second lieutei<-
pany. James J. Marshall, July 15, "61 ; mus- ant, June 17, '61 ; promoted first lieutenant
tered out with company. William MePhil- April 10, "63; mustered out with company
imy, July 25, '61; dis. Dec. 7, '61. A. W. ilitehel R. Brown, corporal June 17 '61-
MeCuUough, June 21, '61 (Lutheran min- killed at Fredericksburt;-, Dec. 13, '62. 'aIbx-
ister now) ; dis. May 11, '62. James S. auder Bruce, private, July 9, '61 • prisoner
Moorhead, July 29, '62; dis. date unknown. May 10, '64; died in Audersonville prison
James E. Meaner, June 21, '61; dis. Aug. pen, Oct. 23, '64; grave No. 11329 John
23, '62. G. R. McElhaney, July 15, '61; Brandon, Sept. 10. '61; killed 'at Gaines'
dis. Feb. 2, '63. John N. McKelvey, June Mill, June 27, '62. ' Washington Cun-y July
21, '61 ; dis. Oct. 16, '63. John N. Means, 29, '61 ; dis. Aug. 30, '61. Francis Cruise
June 21, '61; dis. date unknown. Nelson June 17, '61; absent without leave Nov o'
McCormick, June 21, '61; dis. May 10, '63. '62. Thomas K. Crusaw, Sept. 21, ''61; dis'
Norman L. Moore, trans, to veteran reserve Oct. 12, '62. Joseph J. Davis, June 17,' '61 ;
corps July, '63. Samuel A. MeLain, June sergeant; promoted to first lieutenant of Com-
21, '61; killed at Gaines' Mill, June 27, pany E, 177th P. V., Nov 21 '61 Samuel
'62. G. M. McFarland, July 21, '61; killed w. Davis, June 21, '61; dis.' Feb. 10 '63
at Gaines' Mill, June 27, '62. Louis McFar- Cyrus Eakman, June 17, '61; corporal •' mus-
land, July 29, '61; killed at Games' Mill, tered out with company. John A. Flick'inger
June 27, '62. 'William H. Mangaw, June 21, July i^ '61- trans, to U. S. regular army Nov'
'61; died March 21. '64, at Alexandria, Va. 9, '62. John Grumbling. July 1, '61; pro-
William S. Marshall, June 21, '61; died at moted to sergeant; transferred to veteran
Point Lookout, ild., Sept. 14, '62. W. E. reserve corps, Oct. 3, '63. John A. Hill, June
McCausland, June 21, '61 ; died July 8, '62, 17, '61; sergeant; promoted to sergeant
at Philadelphia, Pa. John McPhilimy, July major ; killed at Fredericksburg, Dec 13 '62
25, '61 ; killed at Fredericksburg Dec. 13. '62. Henry A. Harkins, June 17, '61 ; promoted
Andrew R. Mitchell, June 21, '61; wounded corporal and sergeant: wounded and prisoner
and prisoner at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, at Wilderness, May 5, '64, to Dec. 6, '64 ;
'62; died at Richmond, Va., Jan. 9, '63. dis. Dec. 12, '64. "Joseph Henderson, ' June
Robert A. Park, June 21, '61; wounded at 17, '61; mustered out with company.' John
Antietam Sept. 17, '62. Jacob Pehel, June A. Hendricks, June 17, '61 ; dis. Dee. 5, '62.
21, '61; dis. Dec. 12, '61. Samuel Russell, William S. (or L) Hamilton, June 17,' '61 •
Sept. 12, '62 ; wounded at Fredericksburg ; missing in action at Wilderness, May 5, '64 ';
trans, to 190th P. V. June 1, '64. Archibild supposed to have died in Andersonville
C. Rankin, Feb. 20, '62; killed at Gaines' prison. William Hosack, Sept. 10, '61; cap-
Mill June 27, '62. Cornelius B. Riddle, June tured at Wilderness; absent at muster out.
21, '61 ; killed at Fredericksburg Dec. 13. '62. David R. Jenkins, June 17, '61 ; corporal :
Daniel S. Spires. June 21, '61 ; mustered out dis. Feb. 4, '63. Lemuel W. Jenkins, June
with company. Harrison D. Sacket, Feb. 24, 17, '61 ; corporal ; mustered out with coni-
'62; dis. Sept. 16, '62. Samuel 51. Shields, pany. George Jones, Feb. 2, '64; trans, to
June 21, '61; wounded at South Mountain 190th P. V. ; wounded at Wilderness; missing
and dis. James M. Shearer, Jan. 13, '62 ; dis. at muster out. John King, July 18, '61 ;
Jan. 19, '63. John W. Smith. Sept. 9, '61 ; absent without leave, Aug. 25, '62. David
dis. Feb. 7, '63. James Simpson, June 21, Kinkaid, June 17, '61; sergeant; dis. Feb.
'61, wounded at Fredericksburg; dis. March 10, '63. John L. Kuhn. July 9, '61; missing
24, '63. Oliver H. Scott. June 21, '61 ; in action at Bethesda Church, May' 30, '64^^
wounded: trans, to vet. reserve corps, '63. William Kelley, Jime 17, '61; killed at
John P. Snowden, June 21, 61; trans, to Gaines' Mill, June 27, '62. Henry Mundorf,
veteran reserve corps, '63. Josiah Sloan, June 17, '61 ; killed at Bethesda Church, May
March. 3, '62; trans, to 190th P. V. June 1, 30, '64. Benjamin C. McDowell, Feb. 3, '62;
'64. James N. Simpson, June 21, '61; trans, to 190th P. V.; captured and died in
wounded at South Mountain Sept. 14, '62; Andersonville prison. James W. McMasters,
died Sept. 24, '62. Robert P. Sutor, June 21, June 17, '61; corporal: vet.; trans, to 190tli
'61; died at Smoketown, Md., Oct. 19, '62. P. V. Huston Munshower, Aug. 24, '62; dis.
Ira G. West, June 21, 61; trans, to naval Jan. 2. '63. Peter Palmer. Feb. 2, '64; vet.;
service. George Watkins, June 21, '61; died trans, to 190th P. V. Absolom Palmer, Jan.
Oct. 22, '61. Arm.strong A. Wilev. June 21; 2. '62; dis. June 4. '62. Thomas S. Ruther-
killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. ford, Sept. 17, '61 ; dis. June 9, '62. William
150 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Spires, June 17. '61 ; mustered out from hos- discharged. William W. Altemus, July 24,
pital. Lawson Spires, June 17, '61 -. mus- '61 ; wounded at South Mountain and dis.
tered out with company. Joseph Sides, June Franklin R. Barr, July 24, '61 ; mustered out
17, '61 ; trans, to veteran reserve corps. John with company. William Bracken, July 24,
w'ilkins, July 1. '61 : died at Alexandria, Va., "61; mustered out with company. Poster
Oct. 27, '62. Bracken, July 24, '61; dis. June 20, '62.
Thomas Barr, July 24, '61 ; dis. date unkuown.
41ST PENNSYLVANi.v VOLUNTEERS— 12tii Enoch Benson, July 24, '61; died from
RFSERVES wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, '62.
David W. Barkley, July 24, '61 ; killed at
Company H.—A. J. Bolar, captain. July Fredericksburg, Dee. 13, '62. George C.
24, '61; promoted to major, July 8, '62; Cribbs, July 24, '61; mustered out with
wounded and prisoner at Fredericksburg; company. John C. Cameron, July 24, '61;
discharged on account of wounds irccived in mustered out with company. William W.
action, June 30, '64. Samuel M. KIdcr. cap- Canipbell, July 24, '61; veteran; trans,
tain, July 24, '61; promotcdto first licuteu- to lltOth P. V. Timothy Connelly, July
ant, Aug. 20, '61, to captain, July 8, '62; 24, '61; dis. Oct. 15, '62. John J. Cross-
mustered out with company. James S. Kelly, mire, July 24, '61 ; trans, to 51st Regi-
first lieutenant, July 24, '61; resigned Aug. ment, P. V., Oct. 29, "61. John W. Camp-
3, '63. William II. II. Kern, first lieutenant, bell, July 24, '61 ; died Aug. 22, '61. Thomp-
j'uly 24, '61; promoted .to first lieutenant, son Dick, July 24, '61; mustered out with
July 8, '62; dis. April 28, '64. Thomas H. company. Samuel W. Drips, July 24, '61;
Dix, sergeant, July 24. '61 ; promoted to ser- vet. ; trans, to 190th P. V. ; commissioned
geant; wounded May 8, '64; mustered out captain — not mustered. Ezekiel Davis, Feb.
with company. John Bills, sergeant, July 25, '64; trans, to 190th Pa. V. Andrew J.
24. '61; promoted to corporal and sergeant; Duncan, July 24, '61; died of wounds re-
mustered out with company. James Irwin, ceived at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. Sam-
sergeant, July 24, '61 ; promoted to sei-geant ; uel W. Evans, July 24, '61 ; mustered out
mustered out with company. John Evans, with company. Robert C. Edelblute, Feb.
sergeant, July 24, '61 ; promoted to hospital 25, '62 ; wounded at South Mountain and dis.
steward,' mustered out with regiment. M. T. John C. Fulton, July 24, '61 ; mustered out
Moorhead, sergeant, July 24, '61 ; dis. Oct. with company. Joseph Faloon, July 24, '61 ;
31, '62. W. R. Bracken, sergeant, July 24, mustered out with company. Samuel J.
'61 ; wounded and prisoner at Charles City Ferguson, July 24, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to 190th
Cross Roads, Va. ; died of wounds. John P. P. V. William Grumbling, July 24, '61 ;
Griffith, sergeant, July 24, '61; promoted to mustered out with company. David L.
sergeant ; killed at Fredericksburg, Dee. 13, Ginter, Oct. 16, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to 190th P.
'62. James D. Love, corporal, July 24, '61 ; V. Jedediah Grover, July 24, '61 ; dis. Dec.
wounded at Bull Run; prisoner from Dec. 28, '61. William H. Gamble, July 24, '61;
13, '62, to May 8, '63 : mustered out with dis. Dec. 30, '61. J. Grumbling, July 24, '61 ;
company. Andrew Ken-, corporal, July 24, dis. Dec. 31, '62. Alexander N. Hart, July 24,
'61- mustered out with company. John H. '61; mustered out with company. J. D.
Brown corporal, July 24, '61 ; promoted to Hilderbrand, July 24, '61 ; prisoner Dec. 13,
corporal ; mustered out with company. Sam- '62, to May 17, '63 ; wounded at Spottsyl-
uel H. McNutt, corporal, July 24, '61; pro- vania; mustered out with company. Joseph
moted to corporal ; mustered out with com- D. Henderson, July 24, '61 ; dis. Dec. 5, '62.
pany Samuel Johnson, corporal, July 24, William M. Hadden, March 14, '62 r dis.
'61; transferred to veteran reserve corps, April 1, '63. Thomas Hogan, July 24, '61;
mustered out at expiration of term. Samuel served two years and deserted. William Jun-
Cunningham, corporal, July 24, '61 ; wounded kins, July 24, '61 ; mustered out with com-
at Bull Run, and discharged (attorney at pany. John Lawson, July 24, '61 ; wounded
Indiana Pa ) . John C. Lardin, corporal, at Fredericksburg, Va. ; mustered out from
July 24, '61; dis. Dec. 13, '62. George W. hospital. James McDonald, July 24, '61;
Robertson, corporal, July 24, '61; wounded mustered out with company. M. McLaugh-
at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62, and dis. lin, July 24, '61; mustered out with com-
Henry W. L. Drips, musician, March 8, '62 ; pany. Henry Merritts, July 24, '61 ; wounded
trans, to 190th P. V. William Altemus, July May 8, '64 ; absent sick at muster out. Sam-
24 '61 : wounded at Mechaniesville, Va., and uel :McClaran, July 24, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to
. HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 151
190th P. V. James McClune, vet.; trans, to mustered out with company. James E.
190th P. V. ; came home sick and died. Joseph Thomas, July 24, '61 ; died at Camp Pierre-
Mintzer, July 24, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to 190th " pont, Va., March 21, '62. Abel B. Wilson,
P. V. Benjamin May, July 24, '61 ; dis. Dee. July 24, '61 ; mustered out with company.
23, '61, Archibald Miller, July 24, '61 ; John W. Williams, July 24, '61 ; vet. ; trans,
dis. Oct. 15, '62. William ]\Iintzer, July 24, to 190th P. V. Henry Waltermeyer, July 24,
'61. dis. April 12, '63. George Merritts, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to 190th P. V. ' Andrew
July 24, '61; dis. Oct. 8, '62 (dead). Cal- Wolf, July 24, '61; vet.; trans, to 190th P.
vin Martin, June 15, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to 190th V. Joseph Williams, July 24, '61 ; wounded
P. V. William Myers, June 24, '61 ; pro- at Bull Run, Aug. 30, '62, and dis. William
moted to sergeant major, to first lieutenant Waltemeyer, Feb. 13, '64; trans, to 190th
Company I, to brevet captain March 13, '65 ; P. V.
mustered out with company Alexander R. 43^, Pennsylvania volunteers-Ist light
McMullen, July 24, 61 ; killed at Chares artillery-14th reserves
City Cross Roads, June 30, 62. Stotler
Mintzer, March 4, '62; died July 6, '62, of Battery A," Easton's."— Levi Adams, Feb.
wounds received at Charles City Cross Roads. 17^ '64; wounded, and died near Chapin's
George Martin, July 24, '61 ; killed at Spott- farm, Va., Sept. 30, '64.
sylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64. Stewart Battery F, "'Ricketts'."~Charles F. Far-
Meredith, July 24, '61; died May 16. '64. of ren, Feb. 22, '64; mustered out with battery;
wounds received at Spottsylvania C. H., Va. jjed since. John Myers, Feb. 16, '64; mus-
William Makin, Feb. 18, '62 ; killed at Bull tered out with battery. William Wissinger,
Run, Aug. 30, '62. Francis C. Overdorf, July :March 8, '64; mustered out with battery.
24, '61; dis. Sept. 24, '61. Harvey Overdorf, Battery G, "West's."— Thomas C. Baker,
July 24, '61; killed at Charles City Cross Peb. 22, '64; Edward Boring, Feb. 16. '64;
Roads. David C. Overdorf, July 24, '61; Reuben S. Boring, Feb. 16, '64: George S.
killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, '62. Buchanan, Feb. 9, '64 ; Andrew Carney, Feb.
Thomas Painter, July 24, '61 ; wounded at 22, '64 ; James B. Elder, Feb. 17, '64 ; Frank
Antietam, Sept. 17. '62, and dis. Henry r. Fleck, Feb. 24. '64; George Freek, Feb.
Painter, July 24, '61; trans, to 190th P. V. 17^ '64; Solomon Fulmer, Feb. 17, '64; miis-
Archibald M. Rogers, July 24, '61 ; wounded tered out with battery. William J. Fuller,
at Bull Run ; mustered out with company. Peb. 20, '64 ; veteran ; on detached duty with
Bennett Rhodes, July 24, '61 ; mustered out 5th U. S. Artillery, Batterv L ; was killed at
with company. Jeremiah A. Rhodes, July Winchester, Va., " July 24," '64. James W.
24, '61 ; mustered out with company. Alex- Hopkins, Feb. 24, '64 "; promoted to corporal ;
ander Ream, July 24, '61 : dis. Oct. 23. '62. mustered out with battery. David Hancock.
William Ream, Aug. 26, '62 ; trans, to 190th peb. 25, '64 ; mustered out with battery. Cas-
P. V. William Reckord, July 24, '61 ; killed gjus c. Harrison, Feb. 22, '64 ; mustered out
at Wilderness, Va. Robert B. Stewart, July May 23, '65. A. G. Kettering, March 5, '64;
24, '61 ; mustered out with company. Wil- mustered out with battery. Isaac F. Kitner,
liam B. Soniers, July 24, '61 ; wounded at Peb. 17, '64 ; mustered out with battery ; died
Fredericksburg, Dee. 13, '62; absent sick at since. Daniel Long, Feb. 10, '62; Henry Mc-
muster out. David Simpson, July 24, '61 ; Dermitt, Feb. 9, '64 ; William R. Myers, Feb.
wounded at Fredericksburg and dis. James ig, '64; Josephus Osboni, Feb. 17, '64;
S. Stewart, July 24, '61 ; wounded at Antie- Robert W. Rowe. Feb. 8, '64 ; mustered out
tarn, IMd.. and dis. Edward Stephens. July with battery. W. S. Shields, Feb. 22, '64;
24, '61 : dis. Feb. 25, '62. George W. Stout- mustered out with battery ; was physician at
eagle, June 15, '61 ; vet. ; trans, to 190th P. Jlarion. John D. Snyder, Feb. 17, '64. Or-
V. Berd B. Sherman, July 24, '61; vet.; bmdo Snyder. Feb. "25, '64: mustered out
trans, to 190th P. V.; died in Andersonville v ith battery. Daniel D. Smith, Feb 24, '64;
prison. Robert Stunkerd, July 24, '61 ; died at vet. ; died at Harper's Ferry, June, '65. John
Georgetown, D. C, Oct. 13, '64. Henry Shu- a. Vanhorn, Feb. 24, '64. Andrew Wissinger,
man, March 19, '62 ; killed at South Mountain, Peb. 24, '64; mustered out with battery.
Md., Sept. 14, '62. Oliver Sproul, July 24,
'61 ; killed at South Mountain, Sept. 14, '62. 46th Pennsylvania volunteers
John Swarts, July 24, '61 ; vet. ; killed at Wil-
derness, Va. James F. Tomb. July 24, '61; James T. Adair, Aug. 4, '63; promoted to
prisoner, Dec. 13, '62. to May 17, '63 ; first lieutenant and assistant surgeon of 77th
152 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Volunteers. John Barkey, J. Pettieord, corporal, Sept. 30, '61 ; vet.,;
July 13, '63: mustered out with regiment, promoted sergeant; absent; sick at muster
John Ballentine, July 14, '63; mustered out out. Curtis McCornish, corporal, Sept. 30,
vith regiment. Joseph Clingenberger, July '61 ; vet. ; promoted sergeant, second lieuten-
30, '63 ; mustered out with regiment. James ant, first lieutenant ; wounded at Cold Harbor,
Duncan, July 13, '63; discharged by general Va. ; mustered out with company. Isaac
order May 26, '65. James Frederick, July Wilks, Sept. 19, '61 ; died at Beaufort, S. C,
13, '63 ; mustered out with regiment. George Dec. 25, '62. William Cunningham, corporal.
Grove, July 13, '63 ; mustered out with regi- Oct. 21, '61 ; killed at Edisto Island, S. C,
ment. Andrew Hancock, July 14, '63 ; mus- March 29, '62. John D. Glass, corporal, Sept.
tered out with regiment. William Hancock, 26, '61 ; vet. ; promoted sergeant ; mustered
July 14, '63 ; mustered out with regiment, out with company. John Houston, corporal,
Armstrong Henderson, July 14, '63 ; mus- Sept. 26, '61 ; vet. ; promoted commissioned
tered out with regiment. Adam (or Elijah) sergeant, second lieutenant and first lieuten-
Hefner, Aug. 11, '63; mustered out with ant; resigned March 19, '65. George W.
regiment. George Kroft, July 14, '63 ; had Stoops, corporal, Nov. 7, '61 ; discharged May,
feet frozen on picket duty ; toes amputated. '62. C. S. JMcCrea, musician, Oct. 14, '61 ;
Dennis McSweeney, Jiily 13, '63 ; wounded at vet. ; mustered out with company. Mathias
Decard Station, Tenn. ; mustered out with Altemus, private. April 8, '65; mustered out
regiment. James (or John) Mclntire, July with company. Matthew Askim, Oct. 24, '62;
13, '63 ; served to June 20, '65. Matthew T. died in hospital. P. W. Prindenbach, Feb.
Eankin, July 13, '63 ; mustered out with 11, '64 ; mustered out with company. Barna-
regiment. William T. Smith, July 13, '63; bus B. Black, Feb. 20, '64 ; mustered out with
promoted to corporal ; mustered out with company. Taylor Bryan, Feb. 9, '64 ; dis.
regiment. William Stivison, July 13, '63 ; by G. 0. May 13. '65. Joshua Browm, Sept.
mustered out with regiment. Robert K. 19, '61 ; trans, to United States regular army.
Stuchel, July 13, '63; mustered out with regi- J. H. Bridenbach, Feb. 13, '64; trans to vet-
ment. J. Watt Smith, July 14, '63 ; dis. by eran reserve corps ; dis. Aug. 28, '65. William
general order, June' 8, 1865. Jacob Strong, Cummins, Oct. 25, '61 ; vet. ; mustered out
Feb. 27, '64; mustered out with regiment, with company. John S. Coy, Oct. 14, '62;
Washington Wilhelm, July 13, '63 ; mus- mustered out with company. Abraham S.
tered out with regiment. James S. Nesbit, Coy, Oct. 9, '61 ; vet. ; captured ; mustei-ed
captain, Dec. 4, '61 ; wounded at Cold Har- out with company. Samuel Campbell, Oct.
bor, Va., dis. by special order, Sept. 28,- '64. 15, '61 ; vet. ; absent sick at muster out. Wil-
John McElhany, first lieutenant, Sept. 19, liam Cochran, Aug. 24, '62 ; wounded in ac-
'61; captured at Edisto Island, prisoner one tion at Chapin's Farm; mustered out from
year, resigned Feb. 6, '63. William W. Stew- hospital. Robert Crytzer, Sept. 19, '61 ; vet. ;
art, second lieutenant, Sept. 19, '61 ; pro- captured ; mustered out with company. Wil-
moted first lieutenant, March 26, '63 ; re- liam L. Craig, Jan. 9, '65 ; mustered out from
signed Sept. 30, '63. Blaney Adair, first hospital. Westley Cameron, Oct. 14, '61 ;
sergeant, Sept. 19, '61 ; promoted second lieu- trans, to United States regular army. Nich-
tenant, March 11, '63, to first lieutenant, olas Cramer, Sept. 19, '61 ; vet. ; killed at
April 5. '64, to captain, Sept. 19, "64 — not Petersburg, Va. Nicholas Cameron, Sept.
mustered ; killed at Chapin's Farm, Sept. 29, 19, '61 ; vet. ; captured ; killed at Cold Harbor,
'64. R. E. McCrea, sergeant, enlisted Oct. June 3, '64. Daniel Clawson, Feb. 2, '64;
14, '61 ; dis. Sept. 6, '62. Matthew Longrey, wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, '64, and
sergeant, Oct. 7, '61 ; promoted first sergeant, died June 23, '64. Abraham D. Coy, June
March 11, '63, commissioned captain, May 12, 8, '63 ; died in hospital. Bphraim Cramer,
'65 — not mustered; wounded in action, arm Sept. 19, '61; vet.; captured; died in Ander-
amputated. Jacob L. Shank, sergeant, Sept. sonville prison ; grave No. 9,134. John Craig,
30, '61 ; veteran ; Mounded at Cold harbor ; Sept. 19, '61 ; promoted coi-poral ; wounded
mustered out with company. John Kelly, ser- at Cold Harbor, Va. ; mustered out with com-
geant, Sept. 17, '61; trans, to United States pany; veteran. Anderson Carbaugh, Sept.
regular army. Samuel Moorhead, corporal, 19, '61 ; promoted corporal ; killed at Cold
Sept. 30, '61 ; vet. ; promoted sergeant, then Harbor. Frank Davis, Sept. 19, '61 ; vet. ;
commissioned sergeant, then second lieuten- mustered out with company. John W. Dick,
ant, commissioned captain, March 21, '65; Sept. 15, '62; dis. June 26, '63. Samuel D.
killed at Petersburg, April 2, '65. William Devlin, Aug. 21, '62; wounded at Cold Har-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 153
bor; dis. by general order, . J ime 11, '65. Ben- vet.; mustered out with company. Andrew
jamin F. Devinney, Feb. 11, '64; not on Lydiek, Oct. 7, '61; vet.; mustered out with
muster out roll. Thomas J. Davis, Sept. company. Jackson Lemon, Sept. 19, '61 •
19, '61 ; promoted corporal ; died at Fortress vet. ; mustered out with company. ' Noah
Monroe, Nov. 27, "61. Joseph Everett, Aug. Lohr, Feb. 12, '64; wounded at Cold Harbor
21, '62; wounded; dis. on surgeon's cer- and at Petersburg; leg amputated. John
tifieate. Samuel B. Eekmau, Feb. 10, '64; Lydiek, Sept. 30, '61; killed at Petersburg,
mortally wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June David Long, March 28. "62 ; died at Hilton
3, '64. Isaac Empfield, Sept. 19, '61; died Head, Aug. 1, '62. William H. Long, Sept.
Dec. 8, '63. John Fetterman, Oct. 7, '61 ; 30, '61 ; vet. ; promoted corporal and sergeant ;
vet. ; wounded at Cold Harbor; mustered out mustered out with company. John Mont-
with company. Andrew Farren, Oct. 9, '61 ; gomery, Sept. 19, "61 ; vet ; mustered out
captured at Edisto Island ; on detached duty with company. "William MeDermott, Feb. 13,
at muster-out. Noah Fisher, Nov. 5, '61 ; cap- '64; mustered out from hospital. Edward D.'
tured; trans, to United States regular army. JIurphy, Feb. 9, "64; Joseph Muller, Feb. 1,
James Fowler, Sept. 29, '61; dis. July 26, '64; William S. :McClain, Feb. 18, '64; Wil-
1862 (by company roll book). Moses Fry, liam B. ilyers, Feb. 18. '64; Henry Myers,
Feb. 9, '64; died near Petersburg, Va. Feb. 22, '64; mustered out with company!
Henry Fetterman, Sept. 26, '61 ; died Oct. H. Munshower, Feb. 10, '64 ; dis. by general
26, '63. Solomon Fetterman, Oct. 26, '62; order. May 15, '65. George Milliron, Feb.
killed at Chapin's Farm, Va. John Foust, 26, '64; dis. by general order. May 31, '65.
Sept. 19, '61; vet.; promoted to corporal and John A. ]McGee, Feb. 12, '64; vet.;' trans, to
sergeant; mustered out with company. Dan- veteran reserve corps. Stephen ^Marker, Oct.
iel George, Oct. 25, '61; vet.; wounded at 14, '61; vet.; killed at Chapin's Farm, Va.
Petersburg; mustered out from hospital. David Myers, Sept. 30, '61; vet.; promoted
John D. Glass, Sept. 19, '61 ; vet. ; mustered to corporal and sergeant ; mustered out with
out with company. John H. Green, Feb. 22, company. Nelson McCornish, Aug. 24, '62;
'64; mustered out with company. William dis. by general order, June 11, '65. Robert
R. George, Oct. 24, '61 ; vet. ; promoted cor- E. MeCrea, Nov. 5, "61 ; dis. Sept. 6, '63.
poral and sergeant; mustered out with com- John Martin, Sept. 19, '61; promoted cor-
pany. Charles W. Gibson, Aug. 24, '62; poral; died at Fortress ]\Ionroe. Samuel
promoted to corporal ; dis. by general order Overdortt', Oct. 25, '61 ; vet. ; wounded at
June 11, '65. A. Hendrickson, Feb. 15, '64; Petersburg; mustered out with company,
mustered out with company. George J. Had- Isaac Overdorff, Oct. 28, '61 ; vet. ; mustered
den, Feb. 10. '64; mustered out with com- out with company. Alexander Ow, Feb. 18,
pany. Joseph Houston, Feb. 24, "64; wounded '64; mustered out with company. Frank
at Petersburg and dis. from hospital. Thomas Overdorff, Feb. 13, '64; captured; dis. on
Hamilton, Aug. 25, '62 ; killed at Petersburg, surgeon's certificate. Harrison Overdorff,
John Howearth, Sept. 30, '61 ; vet. ; promoted Oct. 12, '61 ; vet. ; promoted to corporal ; mus-
to corporal ; wounded at Drury 's Bluff ; mus- tered out with company. Joseph Pittman,
tered out with company. Eli Isenberg, Feb. Oct. 14, '61 ; vet. ; .mustered out with com-
18, '64 ; wounded at Cold Harbor ; trans, to pany. Nathan S. Parson. Oct. 7, '61 ; vet. ;
veteran reserve corps ; dis. Sept. 15, '65 ; was mustered out with company. William Powell,
in the six months' service of 1863. John Jan. 4, '65; mustered out w-ith company.
Jacoby, Feb. 10, '64 ; mustered out with com- William P. Patterson, Sept. 19, '61 ; prisoner
pany. J. T. Jamison, Feb. 12, '64: dis. by four months; mustered out at expiration of
general order, June 18, '65. Joshua Jones, term. Jacob Replogle, Oct. 28, '61 ; mus-
Feb. 6, '64; missing at Cold Harbor June tered out with company. Josiah Risinger,
16, '64. William King, Feb. 15, '64; mus- Oct. 14, '62; dis. by general order. June 2,
tered out with company. David S. Kerr, Feb. '65. James H. Roberts, Sept. 27, '62; trans.
18, '64 ; wounded ; mustered out \vith com- to veteran reserve corps. Edward Roser,
pany. John Keller, Aug. 8, '62; killed at Sept. 19, '61; died ilarch 16, '64. Joseph
Cold Harbor, June 3, '64. Samuel King, Feb. Reed, Oct. 15, '61 ; vet. ; killed at Petersburg,
10. '64; mortally wounded at Cold Harbor, Va. Daniel Shank, Oct. 24. '61; vet.: pro-
June 3, '64. Dominiek Kenned.v, Sept. 19, moted corporal; mustered out with company.
'61 ; vet. : promoted corporal ; died at Sauls- Jacob Shank. Oct. 24. '61 ; vet. ; wounded at
bury, S. C. : captured; company record says Chapin's Farm and Petersburg; mustered out
he was killed. William Lydiek, Sept. 30, '61 ; with company. Thomas Simp.son, Sept. 19,
154 HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
'61 ; vet. ; John Steffy. Oct. 9, '61 ; vet. ; cap- 56th Pennsylvania volunteers
tured; Samuel R. Shank, Oct. 27. '62; Tobias p , .„ , -, r , a
Stiles Oct. 23, '62; Abraham Steffy, Feb. ^ f'f'»P«7,,f; (All mustered as enlisted,
20 '64; David Simpson. Feb. 19, '64; vet.; ^sept. 25, 1861).-Willard Mclntire, captain;
Frederick Sprankle, Feb. 18, '64; Josiah discharged on surgeon s certificate of dis-
Stake Feb. 18, 164; Louis W. Smith, Feb. 18, ability, Oct. 15, 62. Jesse A. Cunningham,
'64- Michael D. Sprowle, April 11, '65; first lieutenant; promoted to captain; dis.
wounded at Chapin's Pann and Petersburg; Nov. 6 63 on surgeon s certificate of per-
mustered out with company. Jeremiah Stake, manent disability. David Davis, second heu-
Feb. 18, '64; wounded; dis. on surgeon's tenant; resigned May 18, 62. Samuel Mc-
certificate. William A. Stewart, Aug. 21, Cune, first sergeant; promoted to second
'62- dis by general order, June 11. '65. lieutenant and first lieutenant; dis. March 4,
Henry Strong, Oct. 17, '62; wounded at Cold '63. Thomas D. Cunningham, second ser-
Harbor; dis. on surgeon's certificate. H. S. pant; promoted from sergeant to second
Swarts Feb 22 '64; wounded; arm ampu- lieutenant and first lieu tenant; dis. on ac-
tated. 'Isaac Slippy, Oct. 31, '61; vet.; dis. count of wounds received m action, July 1
on surgeon's certificate. Daniel Strong, Sept. '63. Albert A. Kuhn, third sergeant; died
13, '62; dis. by general order, June 11, '65. from wounds received m action at second Bull
Levi Shank, Sept. 13. '62; dis. by general Run, Aug. 30, 62. Joseph P Lmtner, fourth
order, June 11. '65. William Stout, Oct. 20, sergeant ; dis. Nov 11, 62, from wounds re-
'62; died at Beaufort, S. C, Sept. 29, '63. ceived Aug 28, at Gainesville, Va James
David Snyder, Feb. 19, '64; wounded at Speedy, fifth sergeant ; veteran ; killed m ac-
Petersburg and died from wounds received, tion at Hatcher s Run. Feb. 7, 65. Privates
John Strain, Feb. 9, '64; killed at Chapin's -^If^d R. Anderson, wounded Aug. 28,
Farm. John C. Smith, Feb. 18. '64; pro- 62; at Gainesville^ dis. on account of dis-
moted principal musician; mustered out with ability Absalom Brown, ransferred to bri-
regiment. Alfred Slippy, Sept. 19, '61 ; vet. ; |ade band; mustered Avithband^ WiUiam
promoted to coi-poral; mustered out with Brown, wounded Nov 30, 63 at Mine Run;
company. John Sebring, Sept. 13, '62; pro- -Jis. &ept 25 64, at expiration of service
moted principal musician; mustered out with Joseph Blakely, wounded Aug. 28 62 at
William W. Templeton, Feb. 18, '64; mus- Gainesville ; dis. on account of disability, Oct.
tered out mth company. L. L. Thompson, 14- 62. Archibald C. Brown Pro-oted to
Nov. 5, '61 ; captured; trans, to United States color sergeant^ Dec^ 1, 61; died at Washing-
regular army. John L. Taylor, Oct. 12, '61; ton March 30, 62. Samuel Bushman, dis.
vet. ; promoted corporal, sergeant and second ^ept. 24 64 by expiration of term of service,
lieutenant; mustered out with company. Geor-e Clark, died in camp hospital, near
George S. Willett, Sept. 19, '61; vet.; mus- Fredericksburg, June 15, 62 Darnel S.
tered out with company. L. L. Thompson, Brush vet. ; wounded June 18, 64 at Peters-
Oct. 14, '61; vet.; mustered out with com- burg (arm amputated); dis^/eb. 22 65.
pany. Robert Wilson, Sept. 19, '61; vet.; George Clawson, dis. Jan. 7 6d, at 1 ork. Pa.
mustered out with company. Thomas B. James W Compton died at Findly hospital,
Wilson, Feb. 20, '64; mustered out with com- Washms-ton City, Feb 17, 63 ;Toseph J.
pany. George Waltemire, Feb. 13, '64; mus- Crate, dis. March 18. 63; disability John
tered out from hospital. George Walters. W Crusan wounded in action at Gettysburg,
Oct. 21. '62; wounded in action and absent J"Iy 1; 63; died Aug. 10, 63 from wound,
at muster-out. William W. Wolf, Feb. 18. John E. Cunningham, wounded April 29, 63,
,^, X J ^ -ii c'„,...,„i at Chancellorsville ; promoted first lieuten-
64; mustered out with company. Samuel ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ j^^;^ ' , ^^ ^ork River
Wolf, April 11 '6o; mustered out mth com- j^^j,,.^^^^ ^^^ q^^ 24, '64. on account of
pany. David Waltemire, Sept. 19 61 ; dis. ^^^^^^^ Samuel H. Charlton, trans, to vet-
June 26, '63. James M. Watt, l^eb. 18, 64; ^^^^ reserve corps; dis. on expiration of term
dis. by general order, June 8, '65. James B. ^f service. Harvey Dixon, died at hospital,
Work, Feb. 18, '64; dis. on surgeon's cer- Washington, D. C, March 23, '64. Anthony
tificate. George Wike, Oct. 28, '62; dis. on Earheart, wounded July 1. '63, at Gettys-
surgeoii's certificate, date unknown. Daniel bure; dis. Nov. 14, '64, on expiration of term
Waltemire, Oct. 9, '61 ; vet. ; died of wounds of service. William H. Evans. Matthew H.
received at Petersburg. Joseph C. Young, Fails, wounded Aug. 29, '62, at Bull Run;
Feb. 1, '64; mustered out with company. dis. Feb. 9, '63, on surgeon's certificate.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
155
Henry Fox, wounded July 1, '63, at Gettys-
burg ; dis. Sept. 24, '64, on expiration of term
of service. Sylvester G. Gettys, dis. on sur-
geon's certificate, Jan. 28, '63. John D.
Gordon, promoted to second lieutenant; killed
at Gettysburg .July 1, '63. Washington Ham-
mil, died in hospital at Fredericksburg, June
29, '62. John F. Henderson, wounded July
1, '63, at Gettysburg; dis. May 5, '64, on
surgeon's certificate of disability. Morgan
R. Hunter, wounded April 29, '63, at Chan-
cellorsville ; dis. on expiration of term of serv-
ice. Jacob Hicks, taken prisoner Aug. 28,
'62; dis. Feb. 23. '63. George H. Johnston,
promoted sergeant; wounded April 30, '63,
at Ghancellorsville ; arm amputated; dis. July
20, '63. Richard Kelley, wounded Aug. 29,
'62, at Bull Run. James Kelley, wounded at
Chancelloi-sville, April 29, '63; leg ampu-
tated at hip joint; dis. Dec. 7, '63. Robert
Kelley, killed at Gettysburg, July 1, '63.
John Kerr, died April 4, '63, in hospital, at
Washington City. James E. Lant, dis. Nov.
1, '64, expiration of term of service. Chris-
tian Ling, wounded July 1, '63, at Gettys-
burg; died from wounds July 18, '63. George
Marker, dis. May 19, '62, on account of dis-
ability. James S. Matson, wounded Aug. 28,
'62, at Gainesville; dis. Feb. 20. '63, on ac-
count of disability. James A. IMiller, dis. Feb.
9, '63, on account of disability. James Mc-
Crea, wouuded May 25, '64, at North Anna
River, Va. ; died from wound, May 26. '64.
Hu^li McFadden, killed at Weldon Railroad,
Va., Aug. 18, '64. John Martin, dis. Feb. 9,
'63. James McFarlaud, dis. Dec. 5, '62.
Robert Miller, vet. ; died in hospital Dec. 30,
'64, at Beverly, N. J. James ^l. Neil, dis. I\Iay
25, '62. William F. Patch, vet. ; wounded at
Laurel Hill, Va., ilay 10. '64; died from
wound, Jlay 26, '64, in Washington City.
John C. Reid, killed at Bull Run, Aug. 30,
'62. William Richardson, dis. Sept. 28, '64,
on account of expiration of service. Charles
Seigfried, trans, to veteran resei-^-e corps,
Oct. 24. '63. James S. Stimmel, died Jan. 24,
'62. in Blairsville. John W. Triece, wounded
at South Mountain, Sept. 14, '62; died May
6, '64. at battle of Wilderness. John Walker,
dis. Dec. 5, '62, on account of disability.
Richard Wallace, wounded Aug. 28, '62, at
Gainesville, Va. ; dis. March 6, '63, on account
of wound. David Weir, dis. Feb. 4, '63, on
account of disability. Hugh Wiley, dis. on
expiration of term of service, Oct. 28, '64.
Lawrence Kesler. dis. in 1863. Theodore M.
Cprnev, promoted drum major ;. mustered out
with band, Jan. 9, '65 ; vet. Frederick C.
Black. James Repine. Benjamin F. Eai--
heart, wounded at Gettysburg, July 1, '63 ; dis.
on account of wound. Theo. A. Earhart, vet. ;
wounded Aug. 28, '62, at Gaines\'ille, Va. ;
dis. I\Iarch 2, '65. Joseph G. ilarshall, dis.
on expiration of term of service, Sept. 24,
'64. George Uncapher, mustered out at
expiration of term of service, Sept. 24,
'64. Robert Ewing, died July 25, '62, in
hospital near Fredericksburg, Va. David L.
McPhilemy, dis. March 25, '63, on account
of disability. Wallace Elric, wounded July
1, '63, at Gettysburg, Pa., dis. Sept. 25, '64,
at expiration of term. George U. Reid, dis.
June 4, '63, on surgeon's certificate of dis-
ability. James Lancy, wounded May 8, '64,
at Laurel Hill, Va., died in hospital, May 9,
"64, from wounds. John A. Black, promoted
second lieutenant, first lieutenant," captain,
major, lieutenant colonel; wounded July 1,
'63, at Gettysburg, Pa.; wounded at North
Anna River, May 23, '64; dis. July 5, '65.
Westley Brubaker, vet.; promoted sergeant
May 5, '65 ; mustered out with regiment July
5, '65. William Clark, vet. ; wounded June
18, '64, at Petersburg, Va.; mustered out with
regiment, July 5, '65. Daniel W. Dougherty,
vet. : promoted sergeant, first lieutenant ; mus-
tered out with regiment, July 5. '65. David
Frew, vet. ; taken prisoner July 1, '63, at
Gettj'sburg; mustered out \ritli regiment.
Johnston Lawson, vet. ; taken prisoner July
1, '63, at Gettysburg: taken again at Spott-
sylvania, and sent to Andersonville prison;
mustered out with regiment, July 5, '65.
Richard Neil, vet. ; wounded Aug. 28, Gaines-
ville, Va. ; mustered oiit with regiment. July
5, 65 ; vet. Samuel Nesbit, vet. ; wounded at
York River railroad, ]\Iay 25, '64; promoted
sergeant: wounded at Hatcher's Run, Va. ;
Feb. 5, 65 ; mustered out with regiment July
5, '65. Heniy O'Neil, vet.; promoted first
sergeant; second lieutenant; mustered out
v^iWi regiment, July 5, '65. John J. Rankin,
vet.; wounded Aug. 28, '62, at Gainesville,
Va. ; wounded May 9. '64, at Wilderness ;
promoted sergeant, second lieutenant ; mus-
tered out with regiment, July 5, '65. Wil-
liam H. Richardson, vet. ; wounded at Bull
Run, Aug. 30, '62; wounded :\Iay 10, '61, at
the Wilderness, mustered out with regiment,
July 5, '65. Joshua Swartz, vet. ; wounded
at Laurel Hill, Va., J\Iay 10, '64; mustered
out with regiment, Juh- 5, '65. Stewart
Trimble, vet. ; wounded at Laurel Hill, Va.,
May 10, '64 ; mustered out with regiment, July
5, '65. Samuel McKisson, vet. ; taken pris-
oner at Gainesville, Va., Aug. 28, '62; mus-
156 HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tered out with regiment, July 5, '65. John ^Vlteband, wounded at Fredericksburg and
Z. Earheart, vet. ; taken prisoner at Gettys- trans, to veteran reserve corps. Thomas An-
burg. Pa., July 1, '63 ; wounded June 18, '64, derson, wounded at Pair Oaks and dis. John
at Petersburg; promoted color sergeant, Oct. C. Armor, vet.; wounded at Wilderness; pro-
10, '64; mustered out with regiment, July 5, moted commissary sergeant Sept. 4, '64;
'65. John McClaran, vet.; wounded at Pe- served through the -war. J. ]\I. Brewer,
tersburg, Va., June 17, '64 ; mustered out with wounded at Pair Oaks and dis. C. M. Brewer,
regiment, July 5, '65. dis. June, '62. Hugh Brady, wounded at
Pair Oaks aud dis. Isaac V. Brady, wounded
61sT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS at Fair Oaks ; killed at Wilderness May 6,
'64. Daniel H. Bee, wounded at Fort
Company A. — George R. Lewis, surgeon; Stephens, D. C. ; leg amputated. J. K. Black,
promoted from assistant surgeon of 54th vet. ; served to close of war. Samuel Ban-,
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Sept. 18, '63; mus- died in hospital near Providence, R. I. Eli
tered out with regiment June 28, '65. Jacob J. Campbell, wounded at Rappahannock Sta-
Creps, captain; wounded at Fair Oaks and tion; mustered out at expiration of term. C.
Bansford; mustered out at expiration of W. Cessna, killed at Fair Oaks j\Iay 31, '62.
term. John Pollock, first lieutenant ; wounded J. M. Chambers, vet., promoted sergeant, then
at Fair Oaks and died at Portsmouth, Va. first sergeant ; served through the war. Zach.
George W. Brady, second lieutenant ; wounded T. Chambers, vet. ; promoted corporal and
at Fair Oaks and resigned. Frank M. sergeant; served through the war. Robert
Brown, first sergeant, promoted to first lieu- Cravan, dis. '62. Robert Craig, died near
tenant; wounded in Wilderness and died of Alexandria, Va., November, '62. J. L.
wounds. Frank Donahue, sergeant ; wounded Crawford, wounded at Pair Oaks and dis.
at Fredericksburg ; mustered out at expira- J. C. Cameron, dis. ;' date not known. Marion
tion of term. William L. Buchanan, sergeant ; M. Davis, wounded at Fair Oaks and dis.
promoted first sergeant ; wounded at Port Abram Davis, vet. ; wounded at Spottsylvania ;
Stephens, arm amputated. B. P. Rowland, promoted second lieutenant of Company G,
sergeant;' wounded at Fair Oaks; prisoner '65; served through the war. E. D. Day-
three months ; killed at Spottsylvania. A. T. raond, died April, '62. Peter W. Dilts, pro-
Brewer, sergeant ; wounded at Fair Oaks ; moted corporal ; taken prisoner on skirmish
served three years. W. A. S. Work, corporal ; line at Gettysburg, Pa. ; mustered out at ex-
wounded at Fair Oaks ; mustered out at ex- piration of term. William S. Derby, wounded
piration of term. T. H. Brewer, coi*poral; at Malvern Hill; mustered out at expiration
wounded at Antietam and discharged. Wil- of term. James Donahue, wounded at Pair
liam Weaver, corporal ; wounded at Pair Oaks, Oaks and dis. Orlando A. Ellis, vet. ;
and died of wounds. James ]M. Ayers, cor- wounded at Fair Oaks; prisoner three
poral; wounded in Wilderness, and mustered months; wounded at Fredericksburg May 3,
out at expiration of term. Andrew Pearce, '63; wounded at Wilderness; arm ampu-
corporal; wounded at Pair Oaks, and dis. tated. Asaph A. Ellis, vet.; served through
Lemuel Brady, corporal ; wounded at Pair the war. William Donahue, wounded at Pair
Oaks; promoted sersreant; wounded at Fred- Oaks, died on the field. E. W. Pairbank,
ericksburg May 3, '63 ; killed at Spottsylvania, killed at Fair Oaks May 31. '62. R. W.
May 8, '64; best tactician in the regiment; Fairbank, killed at Fort Stephens July 12,
drill sergeant. Isaac N. Price, corporal ; pro- '64. Perry E. Horn, wounded at Wilder-
moted second lieutenant; wounded at Cold ness; mustered out at expiration of term;
Harbor, and mortally wounded at Charles- afterwards second lieutenant Company B, 74th
town, Va., last day of three years' service. P. V., in one year's service. John Herbison,
Israel Grey, corporal; promoted to sergeant; wounded at Spottsylvania and dis. Alex,
wounded at Fredericksburg, :May 3. '63; Harman, wounded at Wilderness and died
wounded at Spottsylvania; promoted ser- of wounds at Philadelphia. Peter S. Justice,
geant-major; mustered out expiration of term, wounded at Spottsylvania and dis. T. W.
John Snyder, muscian and regimental post- Kinter, wounded at Fair Oaks; never found
master: mustered out at expiration of term, or heard from. William Johnston, cannot
A. B. Allison, private ; died near Alexandria, get record ; mustered out from hospital.
Va., Feb. 11, '62. J. E. Allison, wounded Robert Jamison, died near Alexandria, Va.,
at Fair Oaks,' and at Wilderness May 6, '64 ; Jan. 10, '62. Peter Keel, promoted corporal ;
mustered out expiration of term. Fulbert wounded, think at Port Stephens. Thomas
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
IfjT
Lemon, wounded at Seven Pines; taken pris-
oner at Savage Station ; wounded at Spottsyl-
vania, ilay 10, '64, again May 12, and died at
Fredericksburg, Va. Davis A. Lnkehart, vet. ;
womided at Fair Oaks and Fredericksburg;
promoted corporal ; wounded at Spottsylvania ;
promoted second lieutenant, lirst lieutenant
and captain, serving to close of war. Frank
L. Lydiek, taken prisoner at Bank's Ford:
paroled ; served three years. A. B. McQuown,
killed at Fair Oaks. W. L. McQuown, dis.
June, '62. Alexander Moore, wounded at
Fort Stephens, foot amputated, died, sent
home; buried at (xilgal, Indiana county.
Thomas Moore, •woundiHl at Fair Oaks,
mustered out at fXi)iration of terra. D.
McCullough, dis. August, '62. G. B. :Mott,
wounded at Fair Oaks; killed at Fredericks-
burg, :\lay 3, "6:3. William H. Mott. vet-
eran : wounded ; promoted sergeant, served
through the war. A. P. Nefif, dis. June,
'62. Benj. Neal, killed at Fair Oaks. J.
S. Neal, wounded at Fredericksburg, May
3, '63. and trans, to veteran reserve corps.
Hugh S. Pollock, wounded at Wilderness;
mustered out at hospital. David Price, died
at Point Lookout, Md., August. '62. J. T.
Pearce. wounded liy accidental discharge of
pistol in hands of comrade and dis. John
W. Row, trans, to Company B. promoted ser-
geant ; mustered out at expiration of term.
David Riddle, wounded at Malvern Hill and
died in hospital. Joseph Rager. vet. ; wounded
at Fair Oaks and at Spottsylvania ; promoted
corporal. Luther Richards, wounded at Fair
Oaks; j^romoted corporal: wounded at Spott-
sylvania. H. V. Stewart, wounded at Fair
Oaks: promoted corporal; taken prisoner at
Bank's Ford; paroled, killed at Wilderness,
May 5, "64. J. H. Stewart, vet. ; wounded
at Spottsylvania; killed at Petersburg. Wil-
liam H. Stanley, wounded at Fort Stephens,
mustered out at expiration of term. Henry
Sylvis, killed at Fredericksburg, ]May 3, '63.
John Short, killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, '62.
James Short, good record, mustered out at
expiration of term. John R. Stumpf,
wounded at Spottsylvania ; mustered out from
hospital. A. J. Stuchel, killed at Fredericks-
burg, ]May 3, 1863. William Smith, vet.:
wounded at Wilderness : absent at muster-out
of regiment. J. A. Streams, promoted cor-
poral, wounded at Spottsylvania. mustered
out at expiration of term. James S. Smith,
dis. August, '62. Israel D. Spencer, vet. ;
wounded at Fair Oaks, first Cedar creek and
Ys'ilderness: dis. Nathaniel S. Tozer, vet.:
promoted to sergeant : served through the war.
Thomas Tozer, dis. in the fall of '61.
Thomas C. Thnmpson. promoted corporal;
wounded at Wilderness. John P. Thomas,
detailed for work at regimental hospital; mus-
tered out at expiration of term. George R.
Walker, transferred to Company B ; killed in
Wilderness. Calvin J. Work, promoted cor-
poral; killed at Spottsvlvania. J. A. Work,
killed at Willi:inis|i,,rt. Md., Sept. 20, '62.
Harvey J. Work, wounded at Fair Oaks and
Fort Stephens; mustered out at expiration of
term. Samuel Wissenger, mustered out at
expiration of term. William Wissenger,
wounded at Jlalvern Hill and dis. George
F. Weaver, wounded at Spottsylvania and
dis. Alexander Walker, wounded at Fair
Oaks and dis. Johnston Walker, wounded by
accident and died in hospital. James T.
Work, teamster; mustered out at expiration
of term.
Company B. — W^illiam A. Allison, Aug. 22,
'62; promoted sergeant of Companv F, Nov.
1, '64. Christian Albright, July" 14. '63;
wounded at Cedar Creek, Sept. 19, '64. G.
Aikens, July 14, '63 ; killed at Spottsylvania,
May 12, '64. Joseph Burton, July 16, '63;
wounded and taken prisoner at Spottsylvania.
John H. Beekley, July 16, '63; served to
close of war. D. B. Brewer, August, '62 ;
mustered out June 20, '65. J. E. Brewer,
August, '62 ; wounded at Spottsylvania ; dis.
by G. 0., June 3, '65. J. H. Brown, August,
'62; wounded at W^ilderaess, dis. by special
order, June 20, '65. John S. Baker, Feb.
15, '65; dis. by G. 0., June 15, '65. Samuel
Barnett, Februaiy, '64; wounded at Wilder-
ness; served to the close of the war. Philip
Bowen, Feb. 25, "64 ; killed at Fort Stephens.
July 12, '64. John D. Brown, Feb. 25. '64;
mustered out June 20, '65. Samuel Brogan,
Oct. 31, '64 ; mustered out with company. A.
S. Crawford, August, '62; dis. January.
"63. Peter F. Custer, Feb. 18, '64: miis-
tered out with company. George Coy, March
3, '65; mustered out with company. Joseph
T. Dodson, September, '62; mustered out
June 20, '65. George Duff, Oct. 12, '64; dis.
by G. O. aiay 30, '65. Andrew Dick, Feb.
25, '64; wounded at Spottsylvania; trans, to
veteran reserve corps. John N. Dick, Feb.
25, '64 ; trans, to veteran reserve corps. John
Ellis. Feb. 25, '64; killed at Fort Stephens,
July 12. '64. William Filmore, July 14,
'63 ; promoted to corporal ; served to the close
of the war. Samuel Gibson, Feb. 25, '64:
nuistered out with company. Charles Hart,
Feb. 25, '64; died at Alexandria, June 11.
"64. Daniel Helman, Feb. 2, '64; wounded
158
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
at Spottsylvauia ; trans, to veteran reserve
coi-ps. Joseph Hoover, Feb. 25, '64 ; wounded
at Wilderness; mustered out with company.
Alexander Howe, Feb. 25, '64; wounded at
Wilderness; mustered out with company.
Jacob K. Helman, Feb. 2, '64; wounded at
Wilderness; dis. June 5, '65. John Hazlett,
March 3, '65; mustered out with company.
John Harper, Nov. 26, '62; wounded at Wil-
derness, i\Iay 5, '64. William H. Hewitt,
April 4, '64; mustered out with company.
Isaac S. Helman, Feb. 19, '64; promoted to
corporal ; mustered out with company. Alex-
ander Jamison, Sept. 1, '62; dis. June 20,
'65. James T. Jamison, Feb. 25, '64; miss-
ing at Spottsylvania. J. C. Johnston, Feb.
25, '64; wounded severely at Spottsylvania
and dis. John L. Kaufman, Oct. 26, '64;
died at City Point, April 25, '65. John R.
Keel, Aug. 21, '62 ; dis. May 30, '65. George
A. Kurts, Aug. 21, '62; wounded at Wilder-
ness and dis. Irwin Lydick, Feb. 25, '64;
wounded at Spottsylvania. Daniel Loughrey,
Feb. 15, '65; mustered out with company.
Josiah Lockard, Feb. 23, "64; missing at
Spottsylvania, May 12, '64. Nathaniel W.
Lemon, Feb. 23, '64 ; died March 8, '65. Mar-
tin Moot, Aug. 21, '62 ; killed at Wilderness.
J. McPherson, September, '62; wounded at
first Cedar Creek and Spottsylvania; dis.
June 20, '65. Samuel McMannus, Feb. 25,
'64 ; wounded at Wilderness and died at Alex-
andria, June 1, '64. John McCuUough,
Feb. 25, '64 ; wounded at Spottsylvania, Va. ;
dis. June 9, '65. Amos A. Miller, Feb. 21,
'64; wounded at Wilderness. John C. Mat-
thews, Feb. 14, '64; wounded at Cedar
Creek; promoted to sergeant and corporal;
mustered out with company. S. W. McCoy,
Feb. 2, '64 ; wounded at Fort Stephens ; mus-
tered out M'ith company. Daniel Mock, Feb.
2, '64; mustered out with company. Jacob
Mangus, Sept. 2, '64 ; dis. June 20, '65. Sam-
uel L. Meyers ; mustered out with company. N.
S. North, August, '62 ; wounded at Fredericks-
burg May 3, '63 ; served to close of war. Wil-
liam Ober, Feb. 14, '64; promoted corporal;
mustered out with company. F. M. Patterson,
July 14, '63 ; promoted sergeant Company G,
Nov. 1, '64. Daniel Palmer, Feb. 15, '65;
mustered out with company. T. J. Postle-
thwait, Aug. 21. '62; dis. June 20, '65. Daniel
Replogle, Jan. 25, '64; died same year. Ed-
ward J. Robinson, Aug. 2, '62 ; promoted ser-
geant Company F, Nov. 1, '64. Peter Stoy,
Feb. 4, '64 ; wounded Oct. 19, '64. S. Swarts-
walter, July 13, '63 ; wounded at Spottsylvania
and Petersburg. Christopher Stuchel, October,
'61 ; dis. August, '62 ; became blind. John
A. Stewart, July 21, '62; wounded near
Bank's Ford, taken prisoner, lost one arm
and part of other hand at Spottsylvania, May
12, '64; was in hands of Rebels eight days.
Jonathan Stahl, Feb. 3, '64; wounded in
Wilderness campaign. William B. Stahl, Jan.
29, '64; wounded at Spottsylvania; promoted
corporal; mustered out with company. Ed-
ward Smith, April 7, '64; mustered out with
company. William Smith, Feb. 13, '64 ; vet. ;
wounded at Wilderness and absent at muster
out. John Titterington, Feb. 25, '64; taken
prisoner in Wilderness ; health and mind both
impaired by starvation in Andersonville prison
pen. Aaron Titterington, Feb. 25, '64; son
of John ; left at Cold Harbor sick, had permit
for City Point in ambulance ; was lost. Robert
Torrens, Sept. 1, '64; dis. June 20, '65. R.
N. Work, February, '64 ; killed at Wilderness.
J. M. Webster, October, '61 ; absent without
leave, December, '62. John T. Warden, Sept.
10, '62 ; promoted corporal ; dis. June 20, '65.
Simeon B. Wigle, July 16, '63; wounded at
Wilderness; mustered out with company.
Simon Weaver, July 14, '63; wounded at
Spottsylvania; mustei'ed out with company.
Note. — The veterans of Company H also
served in Company A from Sept. 4, '64, to the
close of the war; they were excellent men.
There may be a half dozen names in above
list not of Indiana county. The names known
not to l)e of the county are striken out.
74tiI PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS
Company B. — Jlustered March 1 to 15, '65,
for one year's service. Peter C. Spencer, first
lieutenant, promoted to captain; had served
in the 106th P. V. Perry E. Horn, second
lieutenant ; had served in the 61st P. V. Ezra
Neff, first sergeant; Jackson McMillen, ser-
geant; Daniel Good, corporal; William
Harklerood, corporal. Privates — Samuel C.
Brown, Alexander Colkitt, William M. Col-
kitt, John W. Compton, Samuel Crawford,
Frank Flickenger, John Gall (or Gaul),
James M. Hadden, Luther Henneigh, Nelson
T. Hicks, Charles M. Hicks, Samuel P. Hoover,
Samuel M. Jordan, Samuel Knox, James
Knox, D. M. ]\IcCullough, John C. Peffer,
John C. Pifer, John Pearce, Peter Pearce,
James B. Rankin, John Rankin, Henry Rater,
George Simpson, Jacob Sink, James R. Shields,
Adam Shields, Frederick Walker, John
Walker, John M. Weston, Conrad Zener.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
Company F. — ]\Iustered for one year's serv-
ice March 1 to 6, '65; mustered out Aug. 29,
'65. Gawin A. McClain, captain, discharged
May 8, '65 (see Company B, 11th Pennsyl-
vania Reser\'es). John Kinter, captain, pro-
moted from fii-st lieutenant. John McWil-
liams, first lieutenant, promoted from second
lieutenant. IMatthew S. Ray, second lieuten-
ant, promoted from first sergeant. John W.
Shields, promoted from first sergeant. Peter
Freck (or Freeh), sergeant. Andrew J.
Stumpf, sergeant. Thomas S. ]\IcClain, ser-
geant. William H. Kinter, sergeant. William
C. Dilts, sergeant. Alexander Walker, cor-
poral (61st P. v.). William P. Rowe, cor-
poral. Samuel AVissinger, corporal. William
Thompson, coi-poral. D. T. Faith (105th P.
v.), corporal. Han-ison H. Shields, corporal.
John G. Barr, corporal. Henry L. Kinter,
musician. Henry K. Shields, musician.
Privates — John S. Agev. Thomas Ander-
son (died at Beverly, W' Va., May 19, '65),
Samuel Bethel, Alexander Blue, Jonathan
W. Brown. John Brown, of D, Wm. M.
Buterbaugh, G. M. Buterbaugh, Jonathan
Buterbaugh, Lewis Buterbaugh, Solomon
Buterbaugh, James Baker, Thos. Baringer,
John L. Baringer, David H. Brady, Samuel
Clawson, William Craig. Henry Craig, Wil-
liam A. Conner, William Degarmin, Samuel
Donahue. Geo. Donahue. James A. Dickey,
Charles W. Davison, Samuel M. Fails, William
Faith, John Faith, John W. Findley, Morton
J. Fleming, Samuel Gibson. Robert Galbraith,
Robert C. Hopkins, Albert Howe, Andrew
Harman, George W. Hanna, John Hunter,
William H. Harrison, Andrew Hoover, Joseph
Johnson, Thomas A. Johnston, Archibald
Kinter, Alexander Kimmel, John Lowman,
Thomas C. Laiighrey, John K. Lightcap, John
S. Longwell, Samuel JIunshower, H. ilun-
shower. Henry !M. Meyei-s. Da^^d Meyei-s.
Isaac Meyers, Abraham Moore, Robert I\I.
Morris, John McQuown. Thomas H. Mc-
Quown. William ilcQuown, ~S1. ilcGlaughliu,
W. ilcGlaughlin, John JMcCunn, James
McLeister, R, C. McGaughrey. John IVIcCoy.
Alex. McMillen, James McMillen, H. K. ilc-
Callister, Andrew S. JMcCall. James W.
McHenry. Frederick Pfieffer. William H. H.
Price (died at Clarksburg. W. Va.. April 24,
'65). Augustus Pease. William "SI. Ray, jMyers
J. Rhodes, John J. Rowe. Daniel H. Rowe,
Nicholas B. Short. David A. Short. John
Shaffer, Hiram Stuchel. Silvester Swauger,
Caleb Snyder, Henry Weiss.
61X11 PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. 4tH
CAV^U^RY
Compaujj C. — Tobias Rosensteel, Sept. 12,
'61 : promoted second lieutenant Dec. 14, '64,
first lieutenant July 1, '65 ; not mustered out
with company. Gillis B. Cribbs, Feb. 27, '64;
veteran; mustered out with company. John
G. Doty, Feb. 10, '64 ; mustered out with com-
pany. " Robert Y. Elder, Aug. 31, '64; dis.
by general order May 15, '65. William J.
Henry, mustered out with company. Sam-
uel Frederick, mustered out with company.
John G. Frederick, Feb. 3, '64; mustered out
with company. James Kilgore, Feb. 17, '64;
mustered out with company. W. G. Miller,
Feb. 26. '64; mustered out with company.
Isaac Miller, Feb. 24. '64; mustered out with
company. John jMcGuire, Jan. 1, '64; vet.;
sergeant; mustered out with company. Nel-
son Miller, ilareh 14, '64; mustered out with
company. James ]McKelvey, Feb. 28, '64;
vet. ; corporal ; mustered out with company.
James A. IMiller, Jan. 20, '64; mustered out
with company. John A. McNeil, Feb. 29, '64 ;
mustered out with company. Elias jMoore,
Sept. 17, '64; dis. bv aeneral order jMay 15,
'65. Theodore Marshall, Feb. 25, '64; vet.;
mustered out with company. John Rosbor-
ough. Feb. 16, "64; mustered out ^\'ith com-
pany. Daniel L. Rosenthell, Feb. 11, '64;
vet.*; mustered out ^nth company. Jacob A.
Scott. Sept. 12, '61; dis. on surgeon's certifi-
cate. Alex. Templeton. Jan. 11. '64; vet.;
killed in action IMay 11. '64.
Company D.— John :\I. Black, Feb. 26. '64;
mustered out with company. Benjamin Cabel,
Feb. 4, '64 ; vet. ; mustered out with company.
Daniel F. Dick, Feb. 26. "64; wounded; died
at Washington. D. C. May 16, '65. Samuel
H. Johnston, March 13, "62 ; amount of service
not known. J. N. Haskinson, Sept. 16. "61 ;
mustered out at expiration of term. Isaac
Johns. 3Iarch 31. "64; dis. by general order
:March 8, '65. Phillip Lichenfelt, Sept. 16,
"61; prisoner from October. '63, to August,
"64 ; mustered out at expiration of term. John
T. Lutz, Feb. 26. '64; killed in action June
11. "64. Isaac J. Robb. March 12, "62: pris-
oner October. '63, to August. '64; mustered
out at expiration of term; William J. Ray,
Feb. 15, '64; mustered out with company.
David A. Stephens. Feb. 26. '64: died in the
service. Samuel Trimble. Feb. 26. "64 ; killed
in action June 26, '64. Eli.iah Taylor, ]March
21. "64; mustered out with company. David
J. Wakefield. Jr.. Feb. 24, "64 ; mustered out
160
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
with company. Henry C. Wakefield, Feb. 24,
'64 ; mustered out with company.
Company E. — Abraham S. Martin, Aug. 16,
'61; sergeant; mustered out at expiration of
term, and commissioned second lieutenant,
1st U. S. Infantry, September, "64. Mark
Ray, Feb. 26, '64; mustered out with com-
pany. Nelson M. Thompson, Feb. 26, '64;
veteran ; wounded at Deep Bottom ; mustered
out with company. Sylvester Thompson, Feb.
22, '65; mustered out with company.
67th pennsylvani.a. volun
Harry White, Oct. 31, '61, major; prisoner
from June 15, '63, to Sept. 29. '64; commis-
sioned lieutenant colonel Oct. 31, '64, colonel
Jan. 28, '65 — not mustered; promoted to
brevet brigadier general March 2, '65, after
discharge. Feb. 22, '65. John C. Carpenter,
May 8, '62 ; second lieutenant Company E ;
promoted captain Company K Feb. 3, '63 ;
captured ; commissioned major May 1, '65,
lieutenant colonel May 15, '65 — not mustered;
mustered out June 7. '65, expiration of term ;
after^vards mustered as colonel June 10, '65,
and again mustered out with the regiment
July 24, '65. John F. Young, March 15, '62;
commissioned major Oct. 31, '64 — not mus-
tered; promoted brevet captain March 13, '65,
but had resigned March 12, '65. Robert Barr,
Nov. 8. '61 ; surgeon; mustered out at expira-
tion of term ; promoted surgeon in chief of
3d brigade, 3d Division, 3d Corps, and to sur-
geon in chief of 3d Division, 6th Army Corps.
William A. Rager, May 2, '62 ; vet. ; sergeant ;
promoted first lieutenant April 21, '65; mus-
tered out with regiment. George W. Sloan,
April 10, '63 ; promoted from private of Com-
pany K to hospital steward ; sergeant : pro-
moted first lieutenant of Companv F ilay 16,
'65. William Kellar, March 11, '62; 'pro-
moted from first sergeant to second lieutenant
May 4, '65 : mustered out with the company
July 14, '65. Robert T. Comwell, Sept. 16,
'62 ; captain Company B ; trans, to Company
I; mustered out Oct. 25, '64. Alexander
Adams, October, '62 ; Company Ct ; dis. June
2, '65. Robert Adams, Aug. 28, '62; F; pro-
moted corporal; mustered out with company.
J. R. Adams, Aug. 28, '62 ; F ; dis. by general
order June 20, '65. Jonathan W. Ayers, Sept.
10. '62: E: died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 25,
'62; burial record Nov. 17, '62. W. R. Black,
Oct. 9, '62; G; prisoner from June 15 to
July 25, '63: wounded at Sailor's Creek, Va.,
April 6, '65; leg amputated; commissioned
first lieutenant — not mustered ; mustered out
from hospital. James Bash, '62 ; old Com-
pany B ; was lost, thought to be killed ; never
heard from. Solomon Brown, Oct. 29, '62 ; K ;
promoted corporal; mustered out with com-
pany. Jacob Brown, Nov. 4, '62 ; K ; mustered
out with company. William Black, Nov. 4,
"62 ; K ; mustered out with company. Abram
Bennett, Nov. 4, '62 ; K ; captured ; died in
Andersonville prison Aug. 20, '64. John R:
Bryan, Aug. 28, '62 ; F ; promoted corporal ;
dis. by general order June 20, '65. David
Barry, Aug. 28, '62; F; dis. on surgeon's cer-
tificate April 3, '65. Samuel A. Brown, Aug.
28, '62 ; F ; dis. by general order June 20, '65.
William Buchanan, Feb. 23, '65 ; K ; mustered
out with company. Jacob C. Bash, Nov. 18,
'64 ; G ; drafted in West Virginia ; mustered
out with company. John Barber, April 29,
'62 ; E ; dis. by general order June 2, '65.
John S. Colgan, Sept. 20, '62 ; E ; wounded at
Cedar Creek; trans, to veteran reserve corps.
Samuel Clawson; F: lost at Cold Harbor.
Samuel W. Curry, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ; dis. on sur-
geon's certificate September, '63. John R.
Carnahan, Oct. 29, '62 ; K ; mustered out with
company. James Crawford, Feb. 15, '62 ; E ;
vet. ; mustered out with company. Elias
Cramer, Feb. 27, '62 ; E ; vet. ; mustered out
with company. Thomas Dehaven, Nov. 8, '61 ;
G; died at Annapolis, Md., July 28, '63.
Robert Dyarmin, April 5, '62 ; B ; vet. ; de-
serted after serving over three years. Thomas
A. Douglas. Aug. 28, '62 ; F ; dis. by general
order June 20, '65. Joseph J. Duncan, Oct.
29, "62; K; mustered out with company.
Alexander Duncan, March 31, '62; E; vet.;
dis. by special order Aug. 10, '64. Jas. W.
Davidson, F ; died at Berryville. Edward
Dyarmin, April 5, '62 ; E ; vet. ; deserted after
serving over three years. John Ebey, March
12, '62; E; corporal; vet.; wounded at Cedar
Creek Oct. 19, '64 ; leg amputated. Levi Esch,
Feb. 28, '62 ; E ; vet. William H. Fairbank,
March 12. '62; first sergeant; E; commis-
sioned lieutenant — not mustered; recruiting
officer for three months; mustered out at ex-
piration of term. Hiram Ferrier, Oct. 9, '62 ;
G; discharged on surgeon's certificate Feb.
5, '65. John Ferrier, Aug. 28. '62; H; dis.
by general order, June 20, '65. John S. Flem-
ing, Oct. 29, '62 ; K ; wounded at Cedar Creek,
Oct. 19. '64; mustered out with company.
Henry Fisher, Aug. 28, '62; F: dis. by gen-
eral order. June 20, '65. George Fisher, Aug.
28. '62; F; dis. by general order, June 20,
'65. Jacob Fisher". Aug. 28, '62; F; dis. by
general order, June 20, '65. John Fry, Aug.
28, '62: F. : dis. by general order, June 20,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 161
'65. Edward Petterman, April 5, '62 ; E ; order, June 15, '65. R. T. :MeCouaughy, Oct.
mustered out at expiration of term. John 9, '62 ; F ; mustered out with company. Har-
Fetterman, April 5, '62; E; mustered out at man McAfoos, Oct. 9, '62; G; missing at
expiration of term. Amos Graham, Sept. 20, Wilderness, JMay 6, '64 ; never heard from
'62 ; E ; trans, to veteran reserve corps. George :\Iechling-, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ; died at Fair-
Robert Gamble, March 31, '62; E; trans, to fax. Fairfax Co., Va., Aug.' 25' '63. James
invalid corps ; killed by accident at Kingston, Mahan, Aug. 28, "62 ; F ; dii?'. by general
N. Y. James R. Gailey, Aug. 28, '62; F; order, June 20. '65. Thomas McClure, Aug.
woimded April 5, '65. Andrew C. Glass, Feb. 28, '62; F; dis. by general order, June 20
6, '62; F; served three years. James W. '65. Albert Miller, Feb. 28. '62*; E- ve^. •
Graham, Sept. 10, '62; F; dis. by general promoted corporal; mustered out with com-
order, June 20, '65. John Graham, Nov. 4. pany. James ^Murphy, Feb. 28, '62 ; E ; vet. •
'62; K; mustered out with company. Adam promoted corporal; mustered out with' eom-
Grumbiing. Feb. 27, '62; E; vet.; promoted pan.v. Daniel Marker. March 31, '62; E;
corporal ; mustered out with company. John veteran ; mustered out with company. James
M. Hadden. Aug. 28, '62 ; F ; dis. by general Michaels, Jlarch 29, '62 ; B ; vet. : mus-
order, June 20. '65. Chistopher Hill, April tered out with company. John Michaels, Aug.
5, '62 ; E ; promoted corporal ; vet. ; mus- 28, '62 ; E ; dis. by general order. June 2, '65.
tered out with company. Abraham Hill, Feb. Samuel I\Iumman, Sept. 20. '62 ; E ; dis. by
25, '62 ; E ; vet. ; mustered out with company, general order, June 20, '65. William P.
William H. Henry, March 12, '62; E; served .Miller, Aug. 28, '62; E; died at Annapolis!
nearly three years. Samuel Irwin, Aug. 28, Md., Sept. 18, '62. John H. Nupp, Oct. 9,"
'62 ; F ; promoted corporal ; wounded at Win- '62 ; G ; killed at Wildeniess, May 6. '64!
Chester, Sept. 19, '64; arm amputated. George Henry Overderff, died at Annapolis. Daniel
W. Hill, April 5, '62 ; E ; killed at Winchester, Orner, Nov. 4, '62 ; K ; promoted to corporal ;
Va., Sept. 19, '64. Leonard Huey, F; killed mustered out with company. Reuben Over-
in Shenandoah valley. Jacob Kookenbrod; dorff, April 5, '62; E; dis. June 18, '62.
Nov. 4, '62 ; K ; mustered out with company. Robert Oit, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ; mustered out with
Westley Kinter, October, '62 ; died in Rebel company. Samuel D. Patterson, Aug. 28, '62 ;
prison. Benjamin Lloyd, Nov. 27, '62; K; F; prisoner from June, '64, to April,' '65;
captured; died at Andersonville September, mustered out June 13, '65. ]\Ioses Richie'
'64. John B. Lucas, Aug. 28, '62; F; dis. by March 12, '62; E; mustered out at expiration
general order, June 20, '65. William Long, of term. John M. Rumbach. Oct. 9, '62;
Oct. 9, '62; G; died in Andersonville Rebel H; mustered out with company. Amar-
prison. John Lance, Nov. 4, '62; K; mus- iah H. Reed, Oct. 9, '62; G; dis. by general
tered out with company. Johnson J. Miller, order, June 26, '65. Jacob Replogle, Oct. 9,
musician, Sept. 10, '62; G; dis. by general '62; G; trans, to vet. reserve corps April 1,'
order, June 20, '65. David Mentzer. private, '65; dis. by general order, July 31, '65.'
Nov. 4. '62; K; died November, '64; burial Charles M. Reinhart. Aug. 4, '62; E; dis. by
record Nov. 28, '63. John Miller, Nov. 4, '62; general order. May 18, '65. Charles' Riddle,
K; discharged on surgeon's certificate. Wil- '62; first B; taken prisoner; paroled came
Ham R. Miller, Aug. 28, '62; H; wounded at home and died of fever. Clark D. Rowland,
Winchester, Va. ; dis. on surgeon's certificate '62; dis.; date unknown. Isaac Skiles, Nov.'
;\Iay 11, '65. William R. Miller, Aug. 28, '62; 4, '62; K; mustered out with company. W.
F; wounded in Shenandoah valley and died. S. Swarts, March 24, '62; old company B; dis.
William L. Mahan. Oct. 23, '62; K; mustered April 29, '64. George W. Sutton, Feb. 28.
out with company. Israel Moore. Feb. 23, '62; E; vet.; mustered out ^^-ith company!
'65 ; K ; mustered out with company. William Jonas Sylvis, Sept. 20, '62 ; E ; trans, to vet.
J. Miller, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ; absent without leave, reserve coi-ps. Jacob Sterner, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ;
Oct. 6, '64. James Moore, Oct. 9, '62; K; dis. died at home, June 16, '64. James S. Striek-
by general order, July 11, '65. Marshall ler, Oct. 9, '62; H; dis. on surgeon's certifi-
McDermott, Oct. 30, '62; K; wounded; mus- cate, 13. '64. John W. Snyder, Aug. 28, '62;
tered out with company. Daniel ^Miller, Oct. F; dis. on surgeon's certificate, JIarch. '65.
9, "62 ; G ; mustered out with company. Uriah Sebastian Sickenberger, Aug. 28, '62 ; P ; dis.
;Moore, Oct. 9, '62; G; mustered out with com- by general order, June 20. '65. Thomas P.
pany. John C. ilarcle, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ; trans. Stephens, Aug. 28, '62 ; F ; dis. by G. 0., June
to veteran reserve corps; dis. July 25, '65. 20, '65. Jeremiah S. Sebriug. Oct. 29. '62;
Amos S. Miller, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ; dis. by general K ; wounded ; trans, to vet. reserve corps,
162 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
then commissioned lieutenant in a colored reg- inon Kile, David A. Keefanyer, Samuel
iment. John Sylvis, Sept. 20, '62 ; E ; pro- Lytle, William C. Lowry, William Lowi-y,
moted sergeant; dis. by general order, June Anthony Lowman, Jacob J. N. Lott, John
20, '65. John H. Shaffer, Feb. 24, '62; E; Loughrey, David Man'gus, Thomas Martin,
vet.; promoted corporal; mustered out with William S. McHenry, Clinton D. McKee,
company. William H. Sterner, Sept. 20, '62; George McComb, William M. McCreery (died
E ; promoted corporal ; dis. by G. 0., June 20, July 2, '65), Jeremiah P. Nesbit, Richard
'65. Adam Titterington, Oct. 29, '62 ; K ; mus- Owens, David Pollock, Frederick Pfaff, John
tered out with company. R. T. Templeton, S. Plymer (died Aug. 21, '65), George Ray,
Aug. 28, '62 ; H ; dis. by G. 0., June 20, '65. Augustus Reed, Matthew Rankin, Robert A.
George L. Vanhorn, Oct. 9, '62 ; G ; mustered Robertson, Hugh M. Reed, James H. Sturapf,
out with company. Alexander P. Watson, William H. Smith, Madison A. Smith, M. B.
Aug. 28, '62 ; F ; dis. by general order, June Stomiller, Samuel F. Speedy, George Stahl,
20, '65. George W. Wilson, Nov. 4, '62 ; K ; Bennett W. Vanhorn, M. B. Wyncoop, Robert
dis. by G. 0., May 15, '65. Allen N. Work, C. Wyncoop, Jacob R. Warner, Joseph M.
Oct. 9, '62; G; died at home, Feb. 17, '64. Wilson, William M. Wilson, Joseph C. Wea-
Robert D. Williams, Aug. 18, '62 ; F ; dis. by mer, Henry Wentz, Daniel M. Zorger.
G. 0., June 20, '65. W. N. Woolweaver, April
20, '62 ; E ; mustered out at expiration of 78th Pennsylvania volunteers
term. Franklin Wissinger, May 29, '62 ; E ;
trans, to veteran reserve corps ; mustered out Adam Lowry, quartermaster, Oct. 18, '61 ;
at expiration of term. Alexander Wilson, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 28, '63.
Nov. 4, '62 ; K ; captured ; died July 14, '64, Company A. — Except where other dates are
at Richmond, of wounds received in action, given for recniits, this company was mustered
John Warner, Feb. 4, '62 ; F ; dis. '62. Wil- into service Oct. 12, '61. The veterans and
liam Young, Nov. 4, '62 ; K ; promoted to recruits were mustered out Sept. 11, '65. Wil-
commissary sergeant, Aug. 31, '63. liam Cummings, captain, Aug. 2, '61 ; wound-
Company B. — One year enlistment. Samuel ed at Stone River; promoted from first lieu-
McHenry, captain ; commissioned major June tenant ; mustered out at expiration of term.
14^ '65 — not mustered. Nathan Z. Seitz, first David A. Rankin, veteran ; promoted from cor-
lieutenant; commissioned captain June 14, poral to sergeant, to second lieutenant, to eap-
'65 — not mustered. Dallas Sutton, second tain; mustered out Sept. 11, '65. William R.
lieutenant ; commissioned first lieutenant June Maize, first lieutenant, Aug. 26, '61 ; wounded
14, '65 — not mustered. John T. Kinter, first at Stone River; mustered out at expiration of
sergeant; commissioned second lievitenant term; afterward lieutenant in United States
June 14, '65 — not mustered. John O'Neil, regular army. John M. Fleming, first lieu-
sergeant ; Francis Latimer, sergeant ; Joseph tenant, July 20, '63 ; promoted from sergeant
M. Bell, sergeant; George W. Duncan, ser- to second lieutenant, to first lieutenant; mus-
geant; Nelson O'Neil, corporal; Thomas C. tered out with company. Evan Lewis, second
Lytle, corporal ; Silas W. Work, corporal ; lieutenant ; promoted from sergeant, mustered
John H. Fyock, corporal; Michael Donnelly, out at expiration of term. James M. Miller,
corporal; Archibald McGaughey, corporal; first sergeant; mustered out at expiration of
James L. Rhodes, corporal (died July 2, '65) ; term. Samuel L. Smith, first sergeant; vet. ;
Alexander St. Clair, corporal (dis. June 19, promoted to first sergeant, to second lieuten-
'65); Daniel D. Fitzhugh, corporal; Nathan ant; not mustered; mustered out with com-
C. Giddings, corporal; promoted to hospital pany. J. T. Gibson, sergeant; wounded at
steward. Privates — William Blose. Samuel D. New Hope Church ; dis. Dec. 28, '64. Samuel
Bell, Isaac Beck, Alexander Brown, Wm. Fleming, sergeant; promoted from musician;
Boyles, Chai-les Boyles, Matliias Conrath, mustered out at expiration of term. David
Washington Cook, Porter Clawson, Henry Blue, sergeant; promoted from corporal;
Cooper, Thomas Carpenter, John C. Crosby, mustered out at expiration of term. James
Jacob M. Claudy, James E. Dickson, H. Robinson, sergeant; vet.; mustered out
James Dixon, Marshall T. Dick, John with company. John R. Stewart, sergeant;
0. Drawbaugh, James M. English, Daniel vet. ; promoted from corporal ; mustered out
Fyock, George H. Fleming, Walter Gassate, with company. William A. Miller, sergeant;
John Goodermuth, John C. Harwick, Peter vet.; promoted from corporal; mustered out
Henry, Charles Hibbard, J. H. Halderman, with company. William Thomas, corporal;
James P. Johnston, John H. Kimmel, Solo- mustered out at expiration of term. George
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
163
Adams, corporal; wounded in action; mus-
tered out at expiration of term. Wil-
liam Fleming, corporal; mustered out at
expiration of term. John Stauffer, corporal;
promoted to corporal ; mustered out at expii-a-
tion of term. Archibald McBrier, corporal;
promoted to corporal ; mustered out with com-
pany. John Lukehart, corporal ; vet. ; mus-
tered out with company. John Miller, cor-
poral, Sept. 20, '62 ; trans, to veteran reserve
corps, June, '64. George E. Foy, corporal ;
promoted to corporal ; captured ; died at Rich-
mond, Nov. 19, '63. John M. Brown, trans,
to veteran reserve corps. John F. Rankin,
musician ; mustered out at expiration of term.
Jackson Armstrong, private, Aug. 28, '62 ; dis.
by general order, June, '65. John L. Adams ;
trans, to signal corps. Charles R. Aden ; died
at Chattanooga, Tenn.. of wounds received at
New Hope Church, Ga. Theodore J. Ballen-
tine; mustered out at expiration of term.
Nathaniel S. Bryan; mustered out at expira-
tion of term. Andrew J. Belts ; mustered out
at expiration of term. Daniel Beyers; mus-
tered out at expiration of term. James
Buchanan ; mustered out at expiration of tei*m.
John Bothel, March 2, '65 ; mustered out with
company. Henry P. Brinker, March 14, '65 ;
mustered oiit with company. Daniel Bothel;
dis. March 21, '63. William W. Bell; dis.
March 23, '63. George W. Brink, Aug. 1, '64 ;
dis. by general order, June 19, '65. Leander
Baylor; .joined U. S. regular army, 4th Cav-
alry. Dee. 1, '62; wounded at Rome, Ga. ;
mustered out at expiration of term. George
P. Currie : mustered out at expiration of term.
John 0. Campbell; mustered out with com-
pany. William Cochran; died of wounds re-
ceived at Stone River, Tenn. John Conway,
dis. June 28, '62. James Campbell, dis. March
23. '63. David Clowes, Sept. 10, '62; dis. by
general order, June 19, '65. James Carroll,
died of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn.
James Carnahan, Aug. 28, '62 ; died at Stone
River, Tenn., Feb. 11, '63. Joseph M. Crooks,
died at Louisville, Ky., Jan. 5, '62. William
H. Dickie, trans, to signal corps. John Devlin,
died at Camp Negley, Ky., Dec. 4. '61. James
R. Devlin, died at Nashville, Tenn.. Dec. 4,
'62. Thomas M. Fleming, mi;stered out at
expiration of term. Richard B. Fleming, Aug.
16. '64 ; dis. by general order, June 19. '65.
Clay D. Ferguson, March 31, '64; dis. by
general order, June 19, '64. William K. Gib-
son, wounded in action; mustered out at ex-
piration of term. Andrew Gibson, Marcli 31,
'64; mustered out with company. Reuben
George, March 28, '62; dis. by general order.
June 19, '65. Martin Gable, March 31, '64;
mustered out with company. James A. Guth-
rie, wounded and died at Stone River, Tenn.,
Jan. 23, '63. James D. Guthrie, Aug. 25, '62 ;
dis. by general order, June 19, '65. James
Hall, mustered out at expii-ation of term.
Andrew J. Hannan, March 31, '64; mustered
out with company. John Hefflefinger, dis.
Dee. 19, '62, and died at home soon after.
George Helman, died at Louisville, Ky., Dec.
31, '61. Philip Harman, prisoner Sept. 20,
'63, to Dec. 10, '64 ; dis. March 15, '65. John
A. Hufhan, died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 13,
'64. Robert Jewett, mustered out at expira-
tion of, term. Porter Kelley, mustered out at
expiration of term. R. B. Kilpatrick, mus-
tered out at expiration of term. J. H. Kil-
patrick, mustered out at expiration of term.
Henry Kanouf, Jan. 5, '64; trans, to veteran
resei've corps and dis. Oct. 4, '65. Philip
Kunkle, Sept. 10, '62; dis. by general order,
jTine 19, '65. Thomas C. Kerr, killed at New
Hope Church, Ga., May 27, '64. Thompson
Kelley, wounded at Stone River, Tenn., and
died at Louisville, Ky., April 6, '63. Josiah
Lewis, mustered out at expiration of term.
Josiah P. Lewis, mustered out at expiration of
term. William T. Lewis, mustered out at ex-
piration of term. John Lewis, Aug. 5, '62;
dis. by general order, June 19, '65. Samuel
Lewis, dis. by general order, June 19, '65.
Westley Lossen, trans, to United States signal
coi-ps. James Little, killed at New Hope
Church, Ga., May 27, '64. John C. Lewis;
died at Louisville, Ky., Dee. 15, '63. Franklin
Marlin; dis. Feb. 20, '64. Scott M. Miller,
Feb. 7, '65 ; dis. by general order. May 29, '65.
Ebenezer Mahan, killed at New Hope Church,
Ga., May 27, '64. G. W. McGaughey, mus-
tered out at expiration of term. Daniel Mc-
■\Iillen, Sept. 10, '62, mustered out Avith com-
pany. Eli McCall, Jan. 3, '62 : mustered out
at expiration of term. Eli McPherson, March
4, '62; mustered out at expiration of tei-m.
Peter McSweeney, Aug. 28. '62 ; dis. by gen-
eral order. May 27, '65. ' R. H. McHenry,
trans, to signal corps. J. J. Palmer, mustered
out at expiration of term. George C. Palmer,
trans, to 4th U. S. Cavalry, and died at New
Orleans (the Palmers wei-e step-sons of John
Lucas, of Armstrong township, wiio also had
five sons who served in the Union army, two
of them wounded in service). David K. Ran-
kin, mustered out at expiration of term.
Israel Repine, mustered out at expiration of
term. John Replogle, Feb. 1. '64: vet.; mus-
tered out with company. William H. Ruffner,
Jlareh 3, '64; mustered out with company;
164
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
now a resident of this county. Isaac Rowland,
dis. June 28, '63. Jolui K. Stear, mustered out
at expiration of term. John Shetler, mus-
tered out at expiration of term. Charles C.
Simpson, mustered out at expiration of term.
Alex. K. Stewart, March 31, '64; mustered out
with company. Samuel Smith, Sept. 3, '63;
mustered out with company. Joseph Shields,
dis. Aug. 6, '63. Christian Stewart, Aug. 6,
'64; dis. by general order, June 19, '65. Peter
Small, Sept. 10, '62; dis. by general order,
June 19, '65. Peter Spencer, Sept. 15, '64;
dis. by general order, June 19, '65. John
Shaffer, Sept. 14, 1864 ; dis. by general order,
June 19, '65. John C. Shaffer Sept. 14, '64;
dis. by general order, June 19, '65. William
Sowers, March 21, '65. James Thorn, Aug.
19, '62 (James Thorn, a Tennessee lad twelve
years old, enlisted in this Indiana county com-
pany; was very brave and daring; sui-vivors
of the company think the government com-
missioned him or gave him some appointment ;
after the war the Rebels caught and hanged
him). Joseph Uncapher, mustered out at ex-
piration of term. Abraham Wallace, March
28, '64; vet.; dis. Sept. 19, '64. Jeremiah
Wagoner, died at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 27,
'62.
Compamj P.— Mustered in Oct. 12, '61, ex-
cept where otherwise noted. Michael Forbes,
captain; resigned January, '63. Robert H.
McCormick, first lieutenant ; promoted captain
April 16, '63 ; served three years. William J.
Nugent, second lieutenant; promoted first
lieutenant April 16, '63; served three years.
A. C. Braughler, first sergeant; promoted
second lieutenant April 16, '63 ; served three
years. John W. Ross, sergeant; promoted
first sergeant April 16, '63 ; served three years.
Joseph L. Buterbaugh, sergeant; dis. June 9,
'62. William W. Hamilton, sergeant; dis.
Jan. 14, '63. David Barkey, sergeant, trans,
to veteran reserve corps Jan. 30, '64. Lewis
Z. Shaw, sergeant ; died at Stone River, Tenn.,
May 29, '63. Thompson M. Bell, sergeant;
died at Stone River, Tenn., March 20, '63.
Jacob Durnmeyer, corporal; served three
years. Cyrus Daugherty. corporal; served
three years. Thomas T. Hill, corporal ; served
three years. Bartholomew Fleming, corporal ;
died "at Murfreesboro, Tenn.. 'May 1, '63.
Leonard A. Hallister, musician; served three
years. David S. Ake, private; served three
years. Jonathan Anderson, injured in ser-
vice; dis. Jan. 20, '63. Aaron Burnheimer,
served three years. Samuel Bartlebaugh,
served three years. Mathias Bartlebaugh.
dis. April 29, '63; Jeremiah Cook, wounded
at Stone River; trans, to veteran reserve
corps. Albert Daugherty, served three years.
William Duncan served three years. William
S. Douthett, Sept. 20, '62 ; died at Nashville,
Tenn., Feb. 25, '63. John W. Dougherty,
dis. for disability. Frederick Fuller, served
three years. Francis S. Fairman, dis. Oct. 17,
'64. Samuel L. Fairman, died at Camp Wood,
Ky., Jan. 2, '62. Robert J. Fairman, Sept.
20, '62; wounded and died at Stone River,
Tenn., April 7, '63. John Fuller, died at
Louisville, March 21, '62. George Ginter,
served three years. George Goss, died at
Louisville, May 25, '62. John Hudson, served
three years. John C. Irwin, captured; died
in Andersonville prison. Samuel Irwin, dis.
June 8, '63. Bethuel Johnson, dis. Oct. 28,
'62, at Nashville. Charles B. Kerr, served
three years. Andrew Kelley, died at Camp
Hambright, Ky., Feb. 23, 1862. John Lancy,
served three years. Christopher H. Lute,
served three years. Alexander Lydick, trans,
to veteran reserve coi-ps. Joseph M. Lowry,
promoted commissary sergeant ; served three
years. Archibald JIcLaughlin, died at Louis-
ville, Ky., December, '61. Thomas Mc-
Laughlin, died at Camp Wood, Ky., June 24,
'62. Harrison McLaughlin, died at Nash-
ville, Tenn., Feb. 4, '63. Obadiah McLaugh-
lin, died at Mumfordsville, Ky., March 4, '64.
Franklin Nupp, served three years. Cyrus
Nupp, served three years. Jacob C. NefP,
wounded at Stone River; served three years.
Austin Rankin, served three years. George
W. Rowley, died at Camp Hambright, Ky.,
Feb. 22, '62. James Rowland, trans, to vet-
eran reserve corps; dis. for disability. Sam-
uel Stahl (1st), served three years. Wil-
liam Stiffler, served three years. John C.
Stephens, served three years. John Shetler,
dis. June 23, '62. Samuel Stahl (2d), trans,
to United States regular army, Dee. 1, '62,
and was lost at Selma, Ala. Samuel Stuchel,
died at Louisville, Ky., Dec. 16, '61. James
I\L Thomas, served three years. Silas F.
Templeton. served three years. J. A. Wool-
weaver, served three years. Jacob Wise,
served three years. Banks Woodford, served
three years. Robert M. Walker, served three
year. Abraham B. Wike, trans, to veteran
reserve corps, Dec. 12, '63. John Yeasrer,
Sept. 12, '62; died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb.
1, '63.
Company G.—J. L. Myers, Oct. 12, '61;
served three years.
Me7i mustered for one year's service. —
Company P, Solomon Black, Jacob Clouse,
William' W. Elder, Alex. L. Gaston, Samuel
HISTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
165
Groft, Jam%s Kelley. Company D, Taylor
Potts. CompaBy H, William Klingensmith.
Company G. William A. Stuchel. Joseph
Lydick. Scott Miller. Company I, John Gor-
don. Company C, Daniel Switzer. Com-
pany G, J. A. Cessna, died in service; Henry
Livengood.
103d pennsylvanla. volunteers
Company G. — ]\Iustered in Jan. 10, '62,
except where otherwise noted. John Stuchel,
captain, resigned April 15. '63. James J.
Morrow, captain, Dec. 1, '61, veteran; pro-
moted from second to first lieutenant, Jan-
uary, '63, to captain July 1, '63 ; mustered
out with company. William H. Irwin, first
lieutenant, vet., promoted to adjutant, Nov.
29, '62; mustered out with company. Wil-
liam C. Bell, first sergeant, vet., promoted to
first sei-geant, commissioned second lieuten-
ant : prisoner from April 20, 1864. to March
1, '65; mustered out with company. Robert
Whitacre, sergeant, vet., promoted to ser-
geant ; prisoner from April 30, '64, to March
1, '65; mustered out with company. George
Baker, sergeant, vet. ; promoted to sergeant ;
prisoner from April 20, '64. to March 1. '65;
mustered out with company. John Black,
sergeant, vet. ; promoted to sergeant ; pris-
oner from April 20, '64, to Dec. 1, '64: ab-
sent on furlough at muster out. Andrew
Shaukel, vet., promoted to sergeant ; prisoner
from April 20, '64, to Dec. 1, '64; absent on
furlough at muster out. John Clark, ser-
geant, vet., captured April 20, '64; died at
Florence, S. C, Feb. 1, '65. Joseph W.
Pearce, sergeant ; dis. date unknown. Thomas
Moore, Sept. 7, '61 ; trans, to veteran resen-e
corps. William J. Stuchel; dis. date un-
known. William ]\IcGary, corporal, vet. ;
promoted to corporal; prisoner from April
20, '64, to Dec. 7, '64; absent with leave at
muster out. William flyers, dis. date un-
known. Samuel Barr, corporal ; vet. ; pris-
oner April 20. '64; died at Andersonville,
Ga., July 7, '64. Jacob Weaver, corporal,
Sept. 7, '61 ; died, date unknown. Christopher
Stuchel, corporal, killed (date unkno-mi).
Samuel Spencer, died at Beaufort. N. C, Dec.
23, '63. Heniy K. Barrett, musician, died
at Harrison's Landing, Ya.. July, '62.
George W. Anthony, private : vet. ; captured
at Plymouth. N. C.. April 20. '64. John
Adams, vet. ; captured at Plymouth, N. C,
April 20. '64. Jacob Anthony ; dis. ; date
unknown. George W. Brink ; dis. ; date un-
known. John F. Bruner. Dec. 7, '61 ; vet. ;
prisoner. April 20, '64, to Dec. 7, '64 ; absent
on furlough at muster-out. Frank Brothers,
dis. ; date unknown. Samuel Bagley, dis. ;
date unknown. Henry H. Bell, promoted to
sergeant major, Jan. 10, '62; dis. on sur-
geon's certificate, '62. Peter Barr, Oct. 22,
'62 ; prisoner, April 20, '64 ; died at Ander-
sonville, Ga.. Sept. 7. '64. George W.
Bruner, vet. ; prisoner, April 20, '64. to Dec.
7. '64; absent on furlough at muster out.
William O. Black, vet. ; prisoner, April 20,
'64; died at Anderaonville, Ga., July 18, '64.
William Carson, vet. ; prisoner. April 20, '64.
to Dec. 7. '64; mustered out with company.
James Dunlap, vet. ; prisoner, April 20, '64,
to Feb. 26. '65 ; absent on furlough at muster-
out. James Frederick, Dec. 1, '61 ; dis. on
writ of habeas corpus, Jan. 3, '62. George
M. Fee, vet. ; prisoner, April 20, '64 ; died at
Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 16, '64. Daniel
Fee. died, date unknown. George M. Gour-
ley, vet. ; prisoner, April 20, '64, to Dec. 7.
'64; absent on furlough at muster-out. Dan-
iel Greek, mu-stered out at expiration of term.
Washington Hazlett. dis., date unknown.
James Hopkins, dis., date unknown. Thomas
Jurat, mustered out at expiration of term.
Isaac Kuhn, died at Beaufort, N. C, March
21, '64. David W. Lawrence. Thomas J.
Laughlin. Sept. 7. "61 ; vet. : promoted to
commissary sergeant; captured at Plymouth.
N. C, April 20, '65; died on the way from
Andersonville, Ga., to Florence, S. C. John
^Miller, vet. ; prisoner, April 20, '64, to April
1, 65; dis. July 1, '65. Alexander Maul, dis.,
unknown. Robert ilontgomery, dis., date
unknown. AVilliam McCullough, dis., date un-
known. Andrew McCullough, dis., date
unknown. William C. McCluskey, vet. ;
captured at Plymouth, N. C; died at
Florence, S. C. or on the way from Ander-
sonville, Ga. Martin Neff, dis., date un-
known. George C. Peirce, dis., date un-
known. Moses T. Steel, vet. ; prisoner April
10, '64, to Dec. 7, '64 ; absent on furlough at
muster-out. John Spencer, dis., date un-
known. Jesse C. Stephens, died June 28, '62.
John M. Trimble, dis., date unknown. An-
drew Whitacre, Feb. 24, '64; mustered out
with company. Jethro Warner, dis., date un-
known. Joiin F. Weaver, vet.; prisoner
April 20, "64; died at Florence. S. C, Jan.
25, '65. Henry Wyant. vet. : prisoner April
20, '64; died at Andersonville, June 15. '64.
David White, died, date unknown.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
105th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS
Coynpany A. — A. II. Mitchell, captain,
Sept. 9, '61 ; resident of Indiana county since
the war; promoted from sergeant to first ser-
geant, to first lieutenant, to captain May 7,
'64 ; not mustered ; wounded at Spottsylvania,
and discharged for wounds received at
Petersburg, Jime 16, '64; received Kearney
badge for bravery. Joseph Cummiskey, ser-
geant, Sept. 9, '61, veteran; promoted to
corporal and sergeanf; mustered out with
company. Westley P. Hoover, sergeant, Sept.
9, '61 ; promoted corporal and sergeant ; mus-
tered out at expiration of term. William J.
Mogle, coi-poral, Sept. 8, '62; promoted to
corporal ; wounded at Petersburg, Va. ; mus-
tered out with company. John ]\IcHem-y,
corporal, Sept. 9, '61 ; vet., promoted to coi*-
poral; wounded, mustered out with company.
Henry Weaver, corporal; April 3, '62; vet,
promoted to corporal ; mustered out with com-
pany. Henry Aul, private, Sept. 9, '61;
teamster, vet. ; mustered out with company.
Hardman Altebrand, Sept. 9, '61 ; wounded
at Gettysbui-g and Petersburg; mustered out
at expiration of term. Samuel W. Brewer,
Sept. 9, '61, dis. Dec. 24, '61. Isaac Bower-
sock, Sept. 9, '61; vet., killed in action Aug.
'64, near Petersburg. John Chambers, Feb.
9, '64; mustered out with company. Jona-
than Chambers, Feb. 9, '64; killed in action
Aug. 21, '64 ; buried at Petersburg, Va. John
W. Cary, Sept. 9, '61; died at Philadelphia
Aug. 15, '62. David Cochran, Sept. 9, '61;
vet., wounded at Gettysbiu-g, Pa. ; mustered
out with company. John A. Dehaven, Sept.
9, '61; dis. June 22, '63. John Henneigh,
Sept. 9, '61; trans, to veteran reserve corps.
Robert A. Jordan, Sept. 9, '61; vet., mus-
tered out with company. Robert M. Jordan,
March 3, '64 ; wounded, and dis. on surgeon 's
certificate May 11, '65. John Jordan, Sept.
9, '61; dis. Jan. 22, '63. John L. Mabon,
Sept. 12, '61; dis. April 24, '62. James
Mogle, Sept. 8, '62; wounded; dis. by gen-
eral order, June 2, '65. John Odell, Aug. 2,
'64; mustered out with company. William
Painter, Sept. 9, '61 ; vet. ; wounded and cap-
tured at Boydtown Plank Road, Va. ; mus-
tered out with companJ^ Henry Sutler,
Sept. 9, '61, vet. ; killed at Boydto^vn Plank
Road, Va. Jacob Sutter, Sept. 8, '62, died
Dec. 20, '62. Berry C. Smith, Feb. 6, '64;
wounded at Wilderness; mustered out with
companj^ Peter Walker, Sept. 9, '61 ; dis.
Jan. 12, '62; served a time in United States
regular army. Philip Wining, Sept. 9, '61,
vet.; wounded at Wilderness; tr*ns. to vet-
eran reserve corps.
Company G. — Jacob Harshberger, Oct. 25,
'61 ; dis. March 27, '63. David Keller, Aug.
28, '61, vet. ; promoted corporal ; mustered
out with company. Perry Brink, Oct. 25,
'61; dis. Jan. 19, '64. John Snyder, Oct.
25, '61 ; killed at Charles City Cross Roads,
June 30, '62.
Company D. — James Silvis, Aug. 28, '61;
promoted from sergeant to firet sergeant, to
second lieutenant July 1, '61; discharged
Aug. 6, '64, received the Kearney badge for
bravery. J. P. R. Cummiskey, first lieuten-
ant; killed at Fair Oaks, Va.
Company I. — Mathias Manner, Oct. 5, '61 ;
promoted to sergeant; killed at Wilderness,
May 5, '64.
Company F. — Robert Kirk, captain, Sept.
9, '61 ; wounded at Fair Oaks and Bull Run ;
killed at Chancellorsville. William Kimple,
captain, Sept. 17, '61 ; promoted to corporal,
sergeant, first sergeant, second lieutenant and
captain ; mustered out with company. David
Ratcliff, second lieutenant, Oct. 25, '61 ; re-
signed Dec. '61. Ogg Neil, second lieutenant,
Feb. 19, '62; veteran; promoted to corporal,
sergeant, first sergeant, second lieutenant,
June 8, '65. William T. Stewart, first ser-
geant, September, '61, vet.; promoted to cor-
poral, sergeant, first sergeant; mustered out
with company. Jacob L. Smith, first ser-
geant, Sept. 9, '61; promoted from sergeant;
killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63.
William W. Hazlett, sergeant, Sept. 17, '61,
vet. ; promoted corporal and sergeant ; mus-
tered out with companj^ John M. Brewer,
sergeant, Feb. 28, '64, vet. ; promoted to cor-
poral and sergeant; mustered out with com-
pany. S. H. Pounds, sergeant, Feb. 17, '62;
promoted corporal and sergeant; wounded;
mustered out with company. Robert Doty,
sergeant, Sept. 9, '61 ; promoted corporal and
sergeant; killed at Gettysburg; received
Kearney badge for bravery. John W. Smith,
sergeant, Sept. 9, '61, vet. ; j^romoted corporal
and sergeant; killed at Petersburg, June 18,
'64. Samuel Adamson, sergeant, Sept. 9, '61 ;
died May 20, '63, of wounds received in ac-
tion. Jonathan Brindle, sergeant, Oct. 25,
'61; wounded, transferred to veteran reserve
corps. Joshua Pearce, corporal, Sept. 9, '61 ;
vet. ; pi-omoted to corporal ; mustered out with
compan}^ Joseph Taylor, corporal, Sept. 9,
'61, vet.; promoted to corporal; mustered out
with companv. William H. Hazlett, corporal,
Sept. 17, '61, vet. ; promoted to comoral ;
mustered out with company. John N. " "
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 167
corporal, Feb. 28. "64 ; promoted to corporal ; :\Iaynard, Sept. 9, '61 ; missing in action at
mustered out with company. Ira F. Mott, Wilderness, ilay 5, '64. Robert Jleilanus,
corporal, Sept. 3, '61; vet., promoted to cor- Oct. 26, '61; died at Han-ison's Landing, Va.|
poral ; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. July 10, '62. William T. Neil, May 7, '62 ;
George R. Hall, corporal. Sept, 7, '61; vet,; dis, Aug, 6, '62, David R, Porter," Jaii, 11^
dis. on surgeon's certificate, Oct. 12, '64. '64; died at Philadelphia, Feb,' 13, '65.
Thomas Neil, corporal, Oct. 19, '61, vet,; James R, Pounds, Oct. 25, '61; missing in
wounded, dis. on surgeon's certificate March action at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 2. '63, and
4, '65. Ii-n-in R. Nicodemus, corporal. May never heard from, James W, Shaffer, March
7, '62; wounded; mustered out at expiration 19, '62; vet; mustered out with company,
of term, John N, Vanhorn, corporal, Oct, George Shields, Sept. 8, '62; served four
25, '61 ; dis. Feb, 6, '63, Jonathan Ayei-s, months, deserted and retui-ned November,
Feb. 25, '64; missing in action at Boydtown "64; mustered out with company, David
Plank Road, Va,, Oct. 27, '64. Jas. Aul, Simpson, Feb, 14, '64; dis, by general order,
Oct. 25, '61 ; trans, to veteran reserve corps ; June 27, '65, Da-vid L, Simpson, Sept. 9,
William W. Brilhart, Feb. 10, '64 ; wounded '61 ; killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3,
at Petersburg, Va. ; mustered out with com- '63, Peter C, Spencer, Oct, 25. '61 ; dis, Dec,
pany, John H, Bush, Feb, 28, '64 ; and Jacob 31, '62 ; afterward first lieutenant of Com-
L, Bee, Feb, 11, '64, wounded; absent sick at pany D, 78th P, V,, one year's service; pro-
muster-out, Thomas Brickel, mustered out moted to captain, John Stewart, Oct, 25,
at expiration of term, Samuel Cochran, '65; dis, Jan. 30, '63, David C. Simpson,
Sept. 9, '61; deserted and returned; dis. at Feb. 14, '64; dis. by general order, June 2,
expiration of term. William A, Chambers, '65, Samuel W, Walker, Feb, 18. '64; mus-
April 30, '62 ; trans, to veteran reserve corps, tered out with company, David Willard,
William H, Dickson, Feb. 14, '64; absent on Sept, 3, '61; vet,; killed at Wilderness, Va.,
furlough at muster-out, Jonathan Doty, May 5, '64, John P. Williamson, Oct. 26,
Sept. 9, '61; mustered out at expiration of '61; captured; died 1862. David K. Wil-
term. Chauncy A. Ellis, Oct. 25, '61; good Hams, Oct. 26, '62; trans, to' veteran reserv-e
record; mustered out at expiration of term, corps,
John M. Fleming, Sept, 17, '61. vet, : mus- Company K. — Mustered in Oct, 23, '61, ex-
tered out with company, Samuel Frv. Oct, cept where otherwise noted. Henry Altman,
26, '61 : wounded in action and dis, Jan. 2. captain ; resigned Dee, 1, '61 ; recommis-
'63. John F, Fulraer, Sept, 9, '61 : mus- .sioned first lieutenant ; resigned Jan, 15, '62.
tered out at expiration of term. Samuel D. Samuel McHenry, Jr., captain; promoted
Fulmer, Sept. 9, '61 ; wounded in action and from sergeant to first sergeant, to second
dis. Aug. 24, '64. Joseph Graham. Feb. 23. lieutenant, to captain March 26, '63 ; wounded
"65 ; mustered out with company. George W. at Chancellorsville, and discharged for
Hoover, Oct. 25, '61 ; wounded in action and wounds received at Gettj'sburg, July 2, '63.
died at Fortress Monroe, June 4, '62. Ben- Milton W, Adair, captain, veteran; promoted
.iamin B, Hall, Feb. 29. '64; captured and to corporal, to sergeant, to first sergeant, to
died at Andersonville, July 17, '64. James first lieutenant, to captain ]\Iay 15, '65;
Hopkins, Sept, 9, '62; served one year and wounded; mustered out with company, J,
deserted, H. H, Hallowell, Oct. 26, '61 ; il. Bruce, first lieutenant, vet. ; promoted to
served two years and deserted, Simon D. coi-poral, to sergeant, to first sergeant, to first
Hugus, Sept, 9, '61; dis, IMarch 14, '62. lieutenant May 15. '65; wounded near Cold
John C. Hallowell, Oct, 26, '61 ; dis, Nov, 1, Harbor, ilay 30, '64 ; mustered out with eom-
'62, Thomas M, Hawk, Oct. 26, '61 ; dis. Dec. panv. Daniel S. Drum, second lieutenant ;
24, '62, Samuel Hanna, Sept, 9, '61; trans, resigned Nov, 22, '61. Vincent A. Keiflin,
to 1st U, S, Cavalry, January, '63. George first sergeant, vet.; promoted to sergeant, to
K, Hoover, Oct, 26, '61 : trans, to veteran re- first sergeant ; died of wounds received at
serve corps, October, '63 ; IMethodist minister Gettysburg, Pa. ; buried in Catholic cemetery,
in Illinois, Daniel Johnston, Oct, 25, '61 ; Indiana, Pa, John McGaughey, sergeant,
killed at Bull Run, Aug. 29, '62. Robert J. vet, ; promoted to sergeant ; wounded at Fair
Jewert, Feb. 16, '62, vet, ; wounded in action Oaks, Va., Gettysburg, Pa., and Wilderness,
and died at Washington, D. C, June 4. '64, Va, ; mustered out with company. Robert
Robert S. Loughrey, Feb. 24, '64; mustered T. Pattison, sergeant: killed at Fair Oaks,
out with company, William C. Martin, Sept. Va.. May 31, '62. George J. Reed, sergeant,
17, '61, vet.: died Jan. 6. '65. George W, Dec, 31, '61; vet, died Aug, 2, '64, of
168 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
wounds received at Wilderness, Va. ; re- vate, Company I. John K. Anderson, quarter-
eeived Kearney badge for bravery. John master sergeant, promoted from musician,
Shivler, corporal, vet. ; promoted to corporal ; Company D.
wounded near Appomattox C. H., Va., mus- Company A. — Mustered Aug. 14, '62; mus-
tered out with company. Daniel Shomber, tered out, May 24, '63. Samuel T. Nichol-
eorporal, vet. ; promoted to cori^oral ; good son, captain ; Benjamin P. Speedy, first lieu-
record; mustered out with company. J. M. tenant; Robert L. Ritchie, second" lieutenant;
Torrence, corporal, vet.; promoted to cor- Elisha L. Devinney, first sergeant; J. Stewart
poral ; wounded ; mustered out with company. Thompson, sergeant ; H. H. McCreight, ser-
Calvin S. Adair, coi-poral, killed at Fair Oaks, geant ; John A. Dickey, sergeant ; Mathias
Va., May 31, '62. Martin L. Smith, cor- Drake, sergeant; William D. Fleming, cor-
poral; dis. on surgeon's certificate Feb. 14, poral; Theo. Stonrod, corporal; Samuel E.
'63. William S. McLain, musician; dis. on Couch, corporal; Samuel A. Shields, cor-
writ of habeas corpus September, '62. Robert poral ; John A. Walker, corporal ; John Wis-
S. Beatty, private; dis. Dec. 26, '62. John singer, corporal; William M. Cribbs, cor-
C. Bothel, wounded at Fair Oaks, Va., May poral; William L. Johnston, corporal; Wil-
31, '62; trans, to veteran reserve corps Sept. liam S. McLain, musician; A. H. Armstrong,
1, '63. Zach. Chambers, dis. on writ of musician. Privates — William A. Anderson,
habeas corpus Feb. 10, '62. Hugh C. Cra van, William Armstrong (died March 7, '63),
died at Camp Jameson, Va., Jan. 22, '62. Robert F. Armstrong (died Dec. 17, '62),
Alpheus B. Clark, wounded at Gettysburg, Washington Allen (died Dec. 12, '62),
Pa., July 2, '62, and dis. James M. Cannon, George Bothell, John Bell, William Barnett,
mustered out at expiration of tei-m. Martin John Bothell, Calvin Bartley, William
Davis, Feb. 8, '64, died May 18, '64. of Beatty, William Blakeley, Alex. "Buterbaugh
wounds received at Wilderness, Va. James (died March 28, '63), Washington Cook, Gil-
K. Deemer, Oct. 23, '61, dis. Dec. 17, '62. lis D. Cribbs, Jacob Cribbs. Samuel Cril)bs,
David T. Faith, March 18, '62, .dis. August John A. Cribbs, Joseph S. Carr, Robert Con-
14, '62. Michael Faith, Oct. 23, '61, dis. nor, George H. Cribbs, Daniel Clawson (died
March 19, '62. Frank Grimes, died May 21, Oct. 3, '62), John Downey, Alex. R. Davis,
'62, of wounds received at Chancellorsville, William M. Dodds, John T. Drake, Martin
Va. Joel A. Ginter, dis. Feb. 6, '63. Samuel Davis, D. F. Dickinson, John Davis (dis-
T. Hays, dis. Aug. 9, '62. James Hall, charged on surgeon's certificate; died; buried
wounded, trans, to veteran reserve corps, at Washington, D. C), Joseph S. Fry, Jacob
Solomon Keck, vet., good record, mustered Fry, Richard B. Fleming, William S. Gibson,
out with company. Jos. Klingenberger, dis. William G. Hotham, William Henderson,
July 14, '62 (see 46th P. V.). John Kelley, John W. Henderson, Findley Hall, David
dis. Jan. 18, '62. Samuel A. Lydiek, wounded Hall, George T. Hamilton, John M. Hosack,
at Bull Run August, '62, and dis. James George M. Hildebrand, Isaac Hefaefinger,
McElhose, dis. June 14, '62. George W. Me- William Hanna, Alex. Irwin, John Isenberg,
Henry, wounded at Gettysburg, leg ampu- Robert Johnston, Joseph I\I. Johnston (dis.
tated. James H. Peelor, wounded at Fair April 9, '63), Heni-y Knauf, Michael Kunkle,
Oaks, Va., May 31, ■62, and dis. James Thomas C. Lytle, John M. Long, Henry Long,
Pease, dis. Dec. 29, '62. Samuel Rhoads, dis. Michael Miller, Henry Myers, John H. Miller,
Oct. 22, '62. James S. Switzer, died at York- George McLaughlin, William Mclntire, Sam-
town, Va., April, 1862. James J. Shields, uel A. McNutt, William McNeal, John R.
died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., McAdoo, Ross McCoy, Samuel G. IMcCurdy
May 31, '62. Marshall Shields, dis. Aug. 9, ((jjg March 6, '63), Nelson O'Neal, David
'62 George J Snyder, wounded at Fair q^.^^ j^^ ^ Painter. Robert :M. Reed, Ma-
Oaks Va., May 31, .62, and dis. John Swan- ^^^-^^ ^ j^^^^^ j^j^^^^ Rosborough. James G.
?ir w?; wtL'^ '^1'T '°'?q ^^5^^^"^' Rankin, Daniel Rosensteel, Joseph C. Repine.
64. Henry Wming, dis. Jan. 29, 63. ^^^^^.^.^ ^ g^.^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ g g^.^,^ g^^^^j
1 or A. Smith, Charles Spare, Daniel Strasler, Jos.
135th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS „, A ■ j Oi T r> c-
Sharp, David Steveson, James R, Spenee,
Nine months' service Nelson M. Thompson (see 2d Cav.) ; Lewis M.
James R. Porter, colonel, Aug. 26, '62; Thomas. James M. Thompson, John Titter-
mustered out with regiment. Je,sse Thomas, ington (see 61st P. V.) ; John L. Thomas,
commissioned sergeant, promoted from pri- John J. Taylor (dis. March 6, '63) ; Andrew
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 169
Wissinger, Alex. Weamer. Benjamin Walker, Hiram Titterington, John A. Vanhorn, John
James W. Wiggins (dis. Jan. 8, '63). S. Work, Robert H. Williams, James J. Work,
Company D. — Mustered Aug. 14. '62; Robert N. Work (see 61st Pa. V.), John A.
mustered out May 24, '63. John G. Wilson, Work, Phineas A. AVork, Stewart J. Wvn-
eaptain ; Joseph K. Weaver, first lieutenant ; coop, James T. Welsh.
Thomas J. Moore, second lieutenant; Shep- Company I. — Mustered Aug. 15, '62; mus-
herd M. Hawkins, first sergeant; Eli W. tered out ;\Iay 24, '63. John A. Kinter, cap-
Brady, sergeant; Samuel L. Graham, ser- tain; William W. Adams, first lieutenant;
geant; Clarence Hart, sergeant; Hugh il. George R. Bolar. second lieutenant; Samuel
Thomas, sergeant, dis. Nov. 6, '61; Con- W. Campbell, first sergeant; William R.
rad Peiffer (or Piper) sergeant, promoted Loughrey, sergeant; Sylvester C. Thompson,
to sergeant; Alfred Miirray, coi-poral; Mc- sergeant; Christ. Grumbling, sergeant; John
Lain Sutton, corporal ; Daniel Rhea, cor- McElhoes. sergeant ; promoted to sergeant ;
poral; Robert 0. McGinty, corporal; John- Peter Craig Kinter, sergeant; died Oct. 18,
stone E. Walter, corporal; John R. Brick- '62; John H. Miller, corporal; H. B. Camp-
ley, corporal ; George W. Lafferty, corporal ; bell, corporal ; James Dick, corporal ; John
John M. Lemon, corporal ; Albert H. Hess, Todd Kinter, corporal ; Daniel Belford, cor-
musician ; John A. Hunter, musician ; John poral ; Andrew M. Duncan, corporal ; Samuel
K. Anderson, musician; promoted to quar- B. Harrison, corporal; Garvin S. Hise, cor-
termaster sergeant. Privates — Joseph W. poral; Henry M. Kinter, _ musician ; James
Adams, Isaac Akeright. John Aul, John P. ]\I. Watt, musician. Privates — Isaac S. Al-
Barber, William Bee. Charles Bender. Wil- corn, George Ballentine, Joshua Burkey,
liam G. Beatty. J. G. Buchanan (wounded Samuel Bathurst, Leander Bush, James
at Chancellorsville) ; Solomon Conrath, Wil- Bothel, Adam Blaok, Andrew Burkey (dis.
liam Colwell, William L. Craig, George W. Oct. 30, '62), William W. Campbell," Find-
Colkitt, David N. Conrath, D. A. Clawson, ley Campbell, William W. Crissman, William
John C. Cochran (died at Belle Plain, Va.), Coho, Matthew Cochran, John C. Cochran,
Augustus H. Darby. James Duncan, William Findley Carney, John M. Campbell, Daniel
F. Dexter, Emanuel Earhart (died at Belle Crissman, Abraham Crissman, John Dodson,
Plain. Feb. 22, '63), Theo. S. Fleming, Levi James E. Dilts, Foster W. Davis, James Elder
H. Fulton. James H. Frederick, Francis M. (dis. Dec. 30, '61), Alexander Faloon, en-
Fleck, Samuel Frampton, Martin V, Fry listed in '65 again; Samuel Fleming, Peter
(dis. Nov. 5, '62), Thomas M. Guthrie, Freeh, Daniel Fitshons (or Fitshugh), Wil-
Thomas A, Hopkins, Alexander Hughes, liam Fleming, Franklin Geesey, Samuel S.
Robert C. Hopkins, William M. Hamil, An- Hileman, Isaac S. Helman (see 61st P, V.),
drew K. Hist, David Hilty, Andrew Horrell, John Harman, Francis Herlinger, Lewis M.
Alexander Hopkins (dis. Feb. 11, "63), Jen- Johnston, John Kinter, Heni-y Kelley,
nings Hefflefinger (died Nov. 5, '62), Samuel Thomas Landers, John W. Lomison, David
V, Johns. John S. Johnston, Archer R. Jones, Mardis, Daniel ililler, John K. Myers, ]\Iat-
Reuben Kuhns, John Kelle.v, John B. Keely. hew Markey, James Mahan, James Moose,
Thomas G. Kelley, James W. Kelley, James [Morris C. Moore, George W. Mitchell, Ed-
M. Laughrey, Sampson Love, John W. Lea- ward D. Mui-phy, John N. jMeCormick, Joseph
sure, Daniel A. Laughrey, Abraham Leasure, McGaughey, William H. ilcCallister, Hugh
Theo. S. Marshall. Eli.iah W. ^Moore, John H. Pershing, Richard W, Porter, George
C. Matthews, George Morrison, Robert Mc- Peffer, Isaac T. Pearce (dis. Nov. 24, '62),
Clanahan, Steele ^McGinity, William A. Mc- George W. Reed. Matthew S. Ray, William
Henry, Oliver S. McHenry, James ]\I. ]\Ic- Row, George W. Rhude, Mark Ray (see 4th
Kelvev, William H. McQuown, William H. Cavalry), George Roush, Hiram Rager (dis.
MeCreeiy, Elisha B. McGara, William :\I. Nov. 24, '62), Thomas C. Ramey (dis. Jan. 24,
McGaughev. William K. McClellan, John C. '63), Harrison Spires, Abraham Smith, Peter
McClellan (dis. Nov. 26, '62), John MeWil- Strausbaugh, William A. Stiffey. Samuel E.
liams (died Nov. 13, '62). Hugh R. Pollock Shroek. John C. Stuchel. Samuel D. Stiffey,
(died at Indiana. Pa., on the wav home from David F. Stewart. Jacob Sensebaugh. Nat.
the army), David R. Pringle. David Pollock. W. Stewart, Henry Y. Steer. W. H. B.
Nelson McD. Piper, John J. Rodkey, Robert Sprankle, Alfred Shaffer, J. L. Straus-
M. Ross, Daniel Replogle, John R. Robinson, baugh, William W, Stewart, James A.
Samuel Stahl, Robert A. Steel, Andrew J. Stephens, Samuel Trimble, Jesse Thomas
Stumpf, John il. Stuchel (dis. Feb. 11, '63), (promoted to commissary sergeant), Samuel
170
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Wolf, William T. Wilson, Thomas Wilson,
John P. Wineman, Mathias Yaney.
Note. — Many of these men served in other
regiments. A few of the men named may
not have belonged to Indiana county. We
find it impossible, without great labor, to
separate the list. Those who reenlisted in
three-year regiments will find their credit in
them. We find the list of one-year men in
67th, 74th, 78th and 206th, which embraces
most of them, and we give this list that those
who served but nine months get their credit,
and those who served more get this credit also.
148th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS
Three years' service
Company E. — Mustered Sept. 2, '62. John
F. Sutton, captain; promoted from first lieu-
tenant, Nov. 15, '63; wounded at Gettys-
burg, Pa., and Wilderness, Va. ; mustered
out with company. George Hamilton, second
lieutenant; resigned June 1, '63; was in first
thi-ee months' service; served in navy one
year. James M. Sutton, second lieutenant;
color sergeant from August to November,
'63; promoted to first sergeant, to second
lieutenant Jan. 13, '64; wounded at Po river
May 10, '64 ; leg amputated ; dis. Nov. 8, '64.
John L. Mabon, sergeant ; vet. ; promoted to
corporal and sergeant; mustered out with
company. William Byers, corporal; pro-
moted to corporal ; good soldier ; mustered out
with company. Robert P. Thompson, cor-
poral; promoted to corporal; captured at
Ream's Station, Va., and died at Salisbury,
N. C, Dec. 8, '64. Joseph Hallowell, cor-
poral; promoted to corporal; good soldier;
mustered out with company. Matthew G.
Allison, corporal; promoted to corporal;
died May 19, '64, of wounds received at
Spottsylvania May 12, '64. Isaiah L. Wells,
corporal; promoted to corporal; died at
Philadelphia Feb. 26, '63. James Bear, pri-
vate, dis. June 30, '63 ; died soon after. John
A. Cunningham, wounded in thigh at Po
River, May 10, '64. H. Clingeuberger, dis.
Aug. 3, '63. James Aden, died at Morris-
ville, Va., Aug. 17, '63. Thomas Garrett,
wounded at Spottsylvania jMay 12, '64.
George Groft, wounded at Gettysburg July
2, '63; dis. May 29, '65. John S. Harman,
prisoner near Petersburg June 22, '64; mus-
tered out with company. William M. Hallo-
well, good soldier; mustered out with com-
pany. Henry Homer, wounded at Gettys-
burg July 2, '63 ; trans, to veteran reserve
corps. John Harmau, died at Washington,
D. C, Aug. 17, '63. Lewis H. Irwin, died at
Washington, D. C, Sept. 18, '64. Jacob
Jamison, wounded at Spottsylvania, May 12,
'64; arm amputated; dis. Oct. 7, '64. John
Kunkle, died of wounds received at Gettys-
burg, July 2, '63. Thomas R. Lukehart,
wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, '63; trans,
to veteran reserve corps; dis. June 1, '65.
David F. Lukehart, died at Washington, of
wounds received at Po river. May 10, '64.
William Landers, died at Point of Rocks, Va.,
of wounds received at Five Forks, Va., March
31, '62. John C. Moorhead, orderly at brig-
adier headquarters; mustered out with com-
pany. John Meekans, wounded at Cold Har-
l)or, Va., June 3, '64; foot amputated; dis.
May 29, '65. Thomas McElwee, wounded at
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63; mustered out
with the company. William P. Oberlin, dis.
by general order, June 5, '65. Samuel Pilson,
wounded at Po river. May 10, '64; dis.
by general order, June 5, '65. William
Pringle, died Aug. 24, '64. Joseph Rising,
prisoner at Petersbui-g, Va., Oct. 27, '64;
mustered out with company. John G. Row-
land, captured at Ream's Station, Va., died
at Salisbury, N. C, Feb. 1, '65. Malchiah
Rhodes, Sept. 22, '62; wounded at Gettys-
burg, Pa., July 2, '63; mustered out with
company. Hezekiah C. Reed, trans, to vet-
eran reserve corps; dis. June 30, '65. John
B. Shall, prisoner Aug. 25, '64; to March 1,
'65 ; dis. June 22, '65. Edward Sweeny, dis.
May 29, '63. Joseph C. Speedy, wounded at
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63; dis. April 28,
'64. Joseph L. Sutton, died at Falmouth,
Va., May 25, '63. George D. Welsh, captured
at Ream's Station, Va., died at Salisbury, N.
C, Feb. 6, '65. Lewis A. Welsh, mustered
out with company. Miles Wyncoop, mus-
tered out with company. John S. Wyncoop,
died at Fredericksburg, Va., of wounds re-
ceived at Po river. May 10, '64. James K.
Wells, wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2,
'63 ; dis. Jan. 25, '64. John S. Weamer, died
at Coekeysville, Md., Nov. 30, '62. Clark
Whitacre, died at Alexandria, Va., by com-
pany record June 20, '63, State record, July
7, '63, burial record, June 28, '63.
159tH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 14tH
CAVALRY
Company 7i.— J. B. IMcLaughlin, first
lieutenant, Nov. 23, '62 ; promoted to corporal,
sergeant, second lieutenant, and to first lieu-
tenant, June 8, '65; mustered out with com-
pany. J. A. Austed, Nov. 23, '62. Alex. H.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA 171
Armstrong, Aug. 24, "64. Alex. Ballentine, sergeant nia.jor; Jesse Thomas, quartermaster
Feb. 23, '64; mustered out with company, sergeant; Peter K. Jamison, commissary ser-
George Bothel. Feb. 23, '64. David C. Bothell, geant ; John il. Shields, hospital steward,
vet.; mustered out with company. Samuel Company A. — Clustered for one year's ser-
W. Briggs, Nov. 14, '62 ; dis. by general order, vice, Aug. 26, '64 ; mustered out" June 26,
June 6, '65. James M. Briggs, Nov. 23, '62 ; '65. Thomas J. Moore, captain ; Robert Cra-
promoted to company quartermaster sergeant, van, first lieutenant ; John N. Vaughom,
John Byers, Feb. 23, '64; mustered out with second lieutenant; John Smith Work, first
company. James il. Chambers, Feb. 29, '64, sergeant, died at Point of Rocks, Va., Jan.
wounded ; dis. by general order. May 23, '65. 8, '65 ; Robert J. Hopkins, promoted to first
Jeremiah C. Cooper, Nov. 23, '62 ; drowned sergeant ; Aaron W. Steele, promoted to ser-
in the Potomac and buried at Mount Olive geant; Conrad Peiffer, sergeant; William H.
cemetery, Md. John Do'\\'uey, Aug. 24, '64; Work, sergeant; George Roush, promoted to
dis. by general order June 9, '65. John Feit, sergeant ; John W. Lea.sure, corporal ; Joseph
Nov. 23, '62; mustered out at expiration of Ruffner, corporal; Daniel Snyder, promoted
term. Joseph S. Frj^, Feb. 23, '64; promoted to corporal; Edward H. Ruffner. corporal;
corporal ; vet. ; mustered out with company. Daniel T. Baylor, corporal ; William Bee,
Jacob Fry, reported for this regiment. Daniel promoted to corporal ; William Bowers, pro-
A. George, Nov. 23, '62; killed at White Sul- moted to corporal; Edwin Chesley, promoted
phur Springs, Ya., Aiig. 26, '63. Andrew J. to corporal; Ephraim Lydick, corporal, died
Harman, Nov. 23, '62. David Johnston, Nov. 11, '64; Norman Park, musician; Fred-
Nov. 23, '62 ; served a term .as regimental erick Smith, musician. Privates — Jacob
commissary sergeant. James S. Kelly, ser- Arthurs, George Arthurs, Thomas Arthurs,
geant ; Nov. 23, '62. James 'M. Johnston, Feb. George S. A. Boyer, Jacob Boyer, John ISl.
23, '64; trans, to veteran reserve corps. Bates. Leonard Bates, William H. Bee, Jacob
Robert Johnston, Feb. 23, '64 ; vet. ; mustered Bee, George W. Bowers, Jacob C. Brilhart,
out with company. John A. Johnston, Nov. Thomas Cravan, Benjamin ]\L Campbell
23, '62. Morrow Lytle, Nov. 23, '62; died (died at Fortress Monroe, Va.. Dec. 25, '64);
in service. Robert Lytle, Nov. 23, '62. H. John Doty, James C. Dilts, James Daugherty,
P. Lewis, Nov. 23, '62; promoted to corporal. S. L. Frampton, Joseph Fishei-, Samuel R.
James M. IMiller, Nov. 23, '62. Silas Jliller, Fisher. Harrison Friedlv, Thomas Ferrier,
Nov. 23, '62. John Miller, Nov. 23, '62 ; died Alex. Gonnan, George M. Crumley, Hugh
in service. William (or Wilson) Morrow, cor- Hopkins, George Hess, James Hazlett, Alfred
poral. John W. Matthews, Nov. 23, '62. A. Johnston, Joseph Kennan, Thomas Kerr,
David IMartin, reported to be of this regi- George W. Livengood, Joshua Lydiek, Wil-
ment. Benjamin F. ilcCreight, Feb. 4, '64; liam Lydick, George Lewis, Andrew Lemrick,
mustered out ^nth company. William H. David C. Leasure, Joseph L. Langham, Fred-
Repine, Feb. 29, '64, mustered out with com- erick 'Slock. Martin Myers, William ]\IeGara,
pany. Henry F. Russell, March 3, '64; pro- J. A. McMannes, John McBrier. Samuel S.
moted to corporal; mustered out with com- ilcCreary. John K. ]\IcElhose, ilartiu ~Slc-
pany. Joseph Ross, Nov. 23, '62. Alex. M. Jlillen, John O'Harra, Harrison O'Harra,
Speedy. Nov. 23, '62 ; mustered out with com- Andrew Pollock, John T. Park, George W.
pany. Martin V. Smith, Feb. 23, '64; vet.; Painter, Le^ad D. Palmer (died May 29, "65),
mustered out with company. LTriali Sheffler. J. Oscar Richardson. Andrew H. Ruft'ner, .
Feb. 23, '64 ; vet. ; mustered out with com- David il. Ruffner. John Rowley, Augustus
pany. David Stivison, Feb. 4, '64 ; killed at G. Rishel. R. Jewell Richardson. William H.
Winchester. Frank M. Smith, Feb. 27, '64; Roush (died Feb. 11, '65). :\rilton Shields,
mustered out with company. Thomas W. Clark G. Shields. Daniel S. Smith. Andrew J.
Thompson, Nov. 23, '62. Andrew Wissinger, Smith, Ephraim Steft'y, Samuel Snyder, John
Feb. 23. '64; vet.: mustered out with com- Snyder, ]\Iilton Stuchel. Tobias Snyder,
pany. Le\'i S. Wissenger, Nov. 23, '62. Henry M. Thing, Daniel Thomas. Robert
James A. Walker, Aug. 24, '64. Trusal (or Truzel), Charles H. White, Har-
man Waddle, George W. Wright, David B.
206th pexxstlvaxia volunteers Work.
Company C. — Mustered in for one year,
Hugh J. Brady, colonel; Josiah B. Fer- Aug. 27, '64; mustered out June 26, '65.
guson, major; James L. Crawford, adjutant; William C. Brown, captain; Samuel W.
John Lowry, quartermaster; Hugh Brady, Brewer, first lieutenant; James B. Hinds,
172 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
second litnitenant ; Charles W. Brewer, first musician : died Feb. 28, 73; Robert H. Ful-
sergeant ; Andrew Pearee, sergeant ; James ton, promoted to principal musician ; Daniel
E. Dilts, sergeant ; William L. ]McQuown, Repine, musician ; James Wilson, musician,
sergeant; David S. Downey, sergeant; John Privates — William C. Anderson (died Nov.
McHenr.y, corporal; Thomas H. Ewing, cor- 23, '64), William A. Anderson, Charles D.
poral; Abraham C. Pearee, corporal; Frank- Atkinson, James ^I. Altman, Albert W. Arm-
lin Long, corporal; Patrick ]McGranner, cor- strong, John W. Bennett, Franklin Byers,
poral; John M. Ilazlett, corporal; Joseph David A. lirown, Joseph R. Brown, Richard
Shaffer, corporal ; Thomas P. North, corporal. A. Clawson. A. H. Calhoun, Lemuel L. Fair,
Privates— Robert B. Adams, Clark D. Alii- Dan. M. Fair, William H. Pink, James Goe,
son (died at Point of Rocks, Va., Oct. 4, '64), J. W. Harbison, David J\I. Henderson, Wil-
David Black, Archibald S. Barclay, Samuel liam J. Henderson, Josiah B. Huston, John
S. Beck, Joseph G. Baun, John Bennett, F. Hartsock, Thomas J. Hill, George W. Hill,
Isaac S. Bennett, Henry Bennett, John Peter Harkins, Josc>i)li A. Jnlmston, William
Bishop, William Barber. James Bruce, Johnston, Isaac S. Kliii-viisinith, James Kier,
George Barrett, Michael Borts (died Nov. John Kelly, Timothy C. La\t(in, John B. Me-
24, '64), Benjamin Baird (on Clearfield Intire, John L. iMclnliii', Ilu-rh J. Mclntire,
county line), Alex. S. Crawford, Joseph Hugh Mclntire, Jr.. Alcx.indfr McCracken,
Carey, Joseph Coy, William C. Downey, George D. Miller, William .Miller, John Miller,
John M. Dilts, Timothy T. Duck, Henry Def- Hugh McGee. William McCabria, William
enderfer, Samuel Frampton, James Graham, McConnell, Robert McConnell, James M.
George M. Gromley, David G. Gorman, Marshall, Solomon Mitchell, Thomas C. Ma-
Samuel S. Gamble (died Dec. 1, '64), George her, James Neil. David Nesbit, John A. Pat-
S. Heneigh, James Hanna, John Hickor, terson, James E. Palmer, Charles Palmer,
Robert C. Huey, Samuel C. Hazlett, John George Pease. Richard Porter, Charles M.
Hill, Thomas Lunger, John Lunger. Obadiah Reed, Ben.jamin F. Reed, James Richardson,
Lockard, Robert Martin, Thad. C. ]\Iogle, William J. Siegfried, Daniel Smith, William
George Moot, Joseph Mauk (or Mock), Wil- Smith, William Stewart, Porter Stilsel, John
liam H. jMeComb, Addison J. McComb, Cori- A. Aaron, Robert Scott. Lewis Spires, James
den J. McComb, David W. IMcMillen, Isaiah M. Shannon, James Thompson. John G.
McCuUough (killed at Fort Brady, Va., Oct. Thompson, Andrew L. Wiggins, Joliu Walker,
8, '64), Abraham Nicodemus, Joseph P. James Wilkins (died Nov. 29, '64), Milton
North, Henry C. Peffer, W. P. Postlewait, Wylie (died at Point of Rocks, Va., Dec. 24,
John F. Peiffer, David G. Peiffer, Samuel '64).
Pearee, John Rinn, Jacob Rish, William Company F. — Mustered for one year. Aug.
Riddle, James M. Rifenberick. George W. 26 to Sept. 3, '64 ; mustered out June 26, '65,
Shorthill, Joseph Shields, David Stiver, John A. Kinter, captain; William W. Bell,
Daniel Stiver. John F. Smith, William Sut- first lieutenant, captured, dis. June 5, '65;
ter, James Toy, James D. Taylor, William William T. Kinter, second lieutenant; Wil-
M. Urey, John Varner, William H. White, liam Duncan, first sergeant, promoted from
Alfred N. Walker, Sharp Wright, Porter private; Samuel B. Harrison, second ser-
Wright, John A. Winebark, Martin Wine- geant, promoted from private; John Bothel,
bark. third sergeant, promoted to corporal and ser-
Company D. — Mustered for one year, Aug. geant ; D. J. Flickenger, fourth sergeant, pro-
23 to Sept. 3, '64; mustered out June 26, moted to corporal and sergeant; James E.
'65. William C. Gordon, captain; Joseph Riddle, fifth sergeant, promoted from pri-
Atkinson, first lieutenant: John H. Miller, vate ; George Rank, first corporal; William
second lieutenant; William C. Blakely, first Smith, second corporal, March 12, '65, died
sergeant; Robert T. McCrea, second sergeant; at Rock Hospital, Va., June 26. '65; Steel
Matbew H. Fails, third sergeant ; Nathaniel McGinty. second corporal ; Mathew Harbison,
Davis, fourth sergeant; Edward McGuire, third corporal; William Black, fourth cor-
fifth sergeant; John C. Pattison, first cor- poral; William St. Clair, fifth corporal;
poral; William Ferguson, second corporal; James A. McAllister, sixth corporal; Byran
Robert Thompson, third corporal; Henry McSweeney, seventh corporal; Solomon Con-
Knee, fourth corporal : John Richardson, fifth rath, eighth corporal ; John P. H. Shields,
corporal; W^illiam Ramsey, sixth corporal; musician; Thomas S. Thompson, musician.
Alex. R.Davis, seventh corporal; John Gib- Privates — Nicholas Altimus, Ellis Adams,
son, eighth corporal ; Alex. Brown, principal William Bracken, D. J. Broughler, Thomas
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 173
D. Brady, William Barkey, William Beatty Fry, William Frior. John Giftord, Isaac
(died July 2, '65, at Camp Reynolds, Pitts- Griffith, John C. Goddard, Abrani Hale,
burg, the day he was discharged), Henry Bar- Robert ^l. Hazlett, Henry Hess. W. N. Hilde-
key, Hugh Brady (promoted to sergeant brand, Samuel Huey, 'George W. Henry,
major) , Henry K. Biss, Joseph Bell, Austin Robert John, James John. Henry A. Kiuter]
Cooper, Philander Churchhill, George W. James Kelley, George A. Kanarr, George w!
Croyle (died Sept. 30, '64, at Point of Rocks, Kelley, David B. Lute, Alexander Lytle^ Cal-
Ta.), Andrew Groft, Israel Conrath, Samuel vin Lytle, James J. Lawson, Robert Lowry,
Clark, Gawin Drummond. Westley Drum- Adam Lower, James il. Mon-ison, Robert P.'
mond, Andronicus Dnimmond, Joseph Dona- Mears, Jacob Mardis, John [McBroom, An-
hue, David H. Dunmire, Jonathan Edwards, drew McQuistow; Robert ilcCurdy, James J.
Albert Gouts. Sol. J. Hankison. James Haz- McAfoos, ]\Iatthew Oliver, David J. Palmer
lett, Alex. Hazlett, Daniel Heneigh, Wil- Thomas W. Rhea, George Rish. Robert Reed|
liam Harbridge. David Hamilton, Samuel John C. Stuckel, Joseph Springer, Sol. D.
J. Hellman, P. K. Jamison (promoted Shaffer, Michael Stiles, David K. Stestle,
to commissary sergeant), Robert Kelly, Daniel Spicher, John W. Stewart, David Iv!
Moses Kanarr, Aaron Kanarr, John Dowi-y Stiles, William C. Taylor, James Thompson,
(promoted (luartermaster sergeant), W. William U. Thompson,' Augustus Urius, James
C. Little, John W. Lewis, Tobias Long,< Williard, Andrew Wilson, David P. Weaver.
James Laney, David ilcCardle, Mathias, Note. — There are a few names in this com-
Myers, ]\Iiles ^IcSweeny. George MuUer, J. D. pany that may be of adjoining counties — not
McAfoose, George Mobly, William McGinity, man.v.
William P. Meanor, Jeremiah Peterman, Company B".— Mustered into service for
Jacob Peterman, James L. Park, William one year, Aug. 29 to 31, '64; mustered out
Ruffner, J. G. Stewart, Jacob S. Stuchell, June 26, '65. This company was almost all
George H. Snyder, Robert Small, James from Indiana county, and we have not been
Spence, William H. Shields, Georgian Slos- able to get the names from adjoining counties
son, Alfred Sterner, Samuel Stewart (wound- stricken out. Jo.seph C. Greer, captain; Wil-
ed at Hatcher's Run, Va., April 1, '63, absent liam P. Altimus, first lieutenant; John W.
in hospital at muster out), William Shields, McElheney, second lieutenant; William B.
John :M. Shields (promoted to hospital stew- Hoskinson, first sergeant; Thomas B. Hood,
ard), Fred. Smith (trans, to Company A), sergeant; David Cunningham, sergeant;
William Stuchell (died at White Hill, Pa., John Harris, sergeant; John A, Dickey, ser-
Oct. 31, '64), Robert M. Thomas, John H. geant: David S. Altmau, corporal; Hugh C.
Thomas, Jesse Thomas (promoted to quarter- MeCullum, corporal; Thomas Dick, corporal;
master sergeant), Jefferson Wright, Henry Joseph T. Brantlinger, corporal ; Adam Sides,
Winecoop, Absalom Woodward, Shem White, corporal ; Thomas S. ilcKisson, coi-poral ;
Company G. — Miistei-ed Aug. 20 to Sept. John M. Campbell, corporal; Daniel Miller,
6, '64, for one year; mustered out June 26, Jr., corporal. Privates — Samuel S. Ams-
'65. Robert N. McComb, captain ; John C. baugh, George F. Bowers, D. W. Brantlinger,
Lardin, fii-st lieutenant; Daniel Ramey, sec- John H. Bowers, William T. Calhoun, Sam-
ond lieutenant. Marsh G. Sanders, first ser- uel Calhoun. James Campbell, Samuel Cline,
geant; W^ilsftn Cramer, sergeant; Jacob P. J. B. Cunningham, William Cummins, Wil-
Uber, sergeant; Samuel X. McClellan, ser- liam H. Campbell. John H. Cline, William
geant; ^Morris C. I\Ioore, sergeant: Wallace H. Cunningham, David L. Deyarmin, Wil-
Skiles, corporal ; Joseph W. Long, corporal ; liam T. Deyarmin, Andrew W. Evans, John
James A. Jliller, corporal; Wilfiam Shiles, S. Evans, John A. Findley, William Flem-
corporal ; Robert N. Elriek, corporal ; Andrew ing, Findley Fetterman, Henry Fritz, George
McCleary, corporal ; Thomas Daren, corporal ; S. Galley, George Grumbling, George Hile-
dis. by general order; James G. Shields, cor- man, Joseph S. Kerr, Francis Killen. F. M.
poral, dis. May 26, '65 ; F. F. Marshall, cor- Lichtenfels, James F. Lowman, David Low-
poral, dis. May 30. '65 ; Christ G. Lose, cor- man, Alexander Morgan, John R. Mullen,
poral ; J. F. Cunningham, musician ; John F. Robert ]Maek, David Mack, John Mack. John
Pearce, musician. Pi-ivates — Noah Byer, H. Miller, Andrew ilarsh. James S. ^lullen,
Dillman Caho, Samuel Carney, Henry Cay, Jeremiah W. ilikesell. Samuel McNutt, John
Thomas W. Coleman, John K. Dick. Stephen C. McNutt, Joseph McCracken, Patterson Mc-
Daymond, James R. Ewing, James Fleming, Adoo (died Jan. 12, '65, buried at City Point,
Samuel Fulkimore, Samuel Fisher, John Va.), Aaron Pennross, Samuel P. Palmer,
174 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Silas J. Penross, William Palmer, Dennis united states signal service
Pedicord, Edward P. Palmer, Henry Pen- -n n t> t-dt^i, t- t
rose, Elijah T. Penrose, Samuel Reed, Josiah ^ Tl^o^as Bell Rev. J P Barber, Linus L.
B. Riffle. William Robinson, John Shaffer, Barber Johnston Baird EL. Buterbaugh,
Andrew Sharp, Adam J. Sides, William Stills, &amiiel Cribbs John Cnbbs, Christ. Car-
Michael Stormer, John E. Swarts. John St. baugh David W. Davis, John C. Devmney
Clair, George A. Wood, Henry H. Wood, nineteen months), James G. Devinney
John Wagner. George Walbock, Levi Wal- (nineteen months), James Dickson Joseph
bock, Josiah Wolf, Jacob Wagner. f^ (nineteen months) John S^ Hastings
Company Z.-Mustered for one year's serv- (over t.vo years) McCartney Hildebrand,
ice, Aug. 30 and 31, '64; mustered out, June Samuel Hazlett, Reuben Kuhns ElhottM.
26 '65 Josiah B. Ferguson, captain, pro- Lydick, (eighteen months), Porter Mc-
moted to major; William W. Nesbit, first Caran (nineteen monhs) Jackson McMillen,
lieutenant, promoted to captain; Arthur T. William McAdoo Johu McAdoo Ross Me-
Steams, first lieutenant, promoted from ser- S^^^^.^^^Y "^^^^^^ Steele Me Gimty, Sidney
geant; Samuel J. Conrad, second lieutenant, Marl™ (two years) Robert A. Park, Ben-
promoted from first sergeant; George M. .lamm Park J. A. Pearce (Livermore),
Stephens, first sergeant; James Fowler, ser- J^^omas C. Ramey, R. M. Reed (eighteen
geant; William H. H. Adams, sergeant; Wil- months), Thomas G Rowe (nineteen months)
liam A. Steffey, sergeant: Charles Walbach, Henry Shambaugh Edward Shambaugh
sergeant, Matthew W. Lowman, corporal; (killed m service) R. G Sutton John Sut-
Samuel Pittman, corporal; William H. Orr, ^^'. /'^^'^^ *^- f'TlSi^ ^ ^wf*^'
corporal; J. M. Bartkbaugh, corporal. David Shepherd, Archibald S Stewart (had
Oliver Reed, corporal; Alexander Stuchel, served in volunteers six months; died Ma^ch
corporal; John Bennett, corporal; William 18, '65, during Sherman's march), J. Wil-
W. Campbell, corporal. Privates-Ephraim son Thompson, Archy S^ Thompson, James
Adams, Adam Altemus, Isaiah Bartlebaugh, M- Thompson, George H. Warren D. B.
A. L. Bartlebaugh, Frederick Boyer, Hen- Weaver, James S. Wyncoop, Lucien J. Young
derson Bracken: Samuel Bowers, Jacob (now dead), James A. Imghng.
Bowers, Levi R. Brallier, Abraham H. Brown,
John M. Byers (died at Hampton, Va., Dec. miscellaneous list
28, '64), William Cameron, Philip Cramer,
Michael Cramer, Henry Cramer, Andrew J. W. P. Altman, first sergeant, Company A,
Campbell, Dan. Conrad, Oliver Clark, E. H. 19th U. S. Infantry, three years. J. S.
Daugherty (see 7th Cav.), James Dias, Amond, '63; G, 2d Battalion, six months'
Thomas C. Dias, Jacob Fyock, George service. Henry Altman, '62 ; K, 177th P. V.
Pamwalt, John Fisher, John Fetterman, nine months' service. Thomas W. Anderson
John D.' Findley, John Frits, George '62; captain of Company K, 177th P. V., dis
W. Fouiks, James B. Graham, W. H. charged for disability. W. W. Alsbach, De
H George, Zach. T. Hatch, Nathaniel Hart- cember, '61 ; sergeant Company K, 84th P.
man Samuel Harbridge, George Hess, Ed- V., dis. Feb. 7, '63. George W. Altman, April
ward Irwin, John Irwin, Samuel E. James, 3. '62; I, 55th P. V., died June 23, '64, of
Robert T. Kidd, Henry Keller, William wounds received at Cold Harbor, Va. Thomas
Lower Jacob Ly'dick, Jacob Mangus, Wil- Adams, '61; K, 84th P. V., died of wounds
liam Mills, Emanuel Miller, William L. Mc- received at Port Republic, Va. David F.
Peeters Ham B. McFeeters, Patrick McVey, Brown, June 1, '64; dis. May 3, '65. Ralston
Jacob McDonald, James McCracken, Frank J. Barr March 17, '64; 1st P. V (old 11th) ;
McKelvey, (wounded at Petersburg, Va.), ^'•^'^-A ^rV^^^ ^i' J"";' if'Tii, ?' ^^^■
Samuel A McKelvey, Christ. C. McCornish D^vid Bagley, C, 1st P^ V. (old 11th) died
7n- J TH 1 orT ,^c : n-4. T> • 4- -XT ^ T „^^. of wouuds received at Bethesda Church, \a.
(died Feb. 27, 65, at City Point, Va.), Jacob ^achariah Books, in three and nine months'
Overdorff, Zach. T. Overdorff, Isaac Over- ^^^^j^g Washington Butler. Sept. 23, '64:
doi-ff, John Patterson, Henry Reynolds, John ^^^^^^^ service, dis. June 30, '65. Albert C.
Reynolds, John H. Rogers, Nelson Stephens, Beatty, Sept. 3, '61 ; C, 15th U. S. Infantry,
Westley Stephens, William A. Stephens, ^ig. Sept. '64. Edgar Beatty, Sept. 3, '61 :
George Stewart, John Swank (wounded at c, 15th U. S. Infantry, died at Louisville,
Petersburg, Va.), Thomas Underwood, Wil- Ky., March 22, '63. Joseph Brentlinger, '62;
liam Underwood. K, 177th P. V., nine months' ser\ice. M. L.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Bracken, '62; second lieutenant of Company
K, 177tli P. v., nine months' service; pro-
moted from first sergeant. J. M. Bartle-
baugh, '62; K. 177tli P. V., nine months' serv-
ice. Henry A. Burkhart, '62; E, 177th P.
v., nine months' service. George W. Burk-
hart, '62; E, 177th Pennsjdvania Volunteers,
nine mouths' service. "Wilson Cusick, '62, E,
177th Pa. Volunteers, nine months' service.
Arthur Casedy, July 4, '61, D, 62d Pa. Vol-
unteers ; wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, '63 ;
arm amputated. John Clawson (or Cleuson),
'62; 177th Pa. Volunteers; died March 6, '63.
"William Cunningham, '62; second lieutenant.
Company E, 177th Pa. Volunteers, nine
months' service. Elias E. Coffman, '62; cor-
poral, E, 177th Pa. Volunteers, nine months'
service. Jo.seph Chapman, '62; E, 177th Pa.
Volunteers, nine months' service. Ritner
Cramer, '62; E, 177th Pa. Volunteers, nine
months' service. Porter Campbell, '62; K,
177th Pa. Volunteers, nine months' service.
Ross Classen, '62 ; corporal. K, 177th Pa. Vol-
unteers, nine months' service. B. F. Camp-
bell, '63; E, 2d Battalion, sis months' serv-
ice. James G. Cogan, served in 37th Iowa
Volunteei-s three years. Craig Carney, 63d
Pa. Volunteers, transferred to 105th Pa.
Volunteers; served to close of war. Thomas
Coleman, 16th United States Infantry, three
years. George W. Coleman, Dec. 7, '61 ; vet-
eran, K, 84th Pa. Volunteers; wounded and
captured at Chancellorsville ; wounded at
Petersburg. David Daugherty, June 1, '64;
101st Pa. Volunteers; discharged bj' general
order. May 3, '65. Everett H. Daugherty,
Dec. 16, '61; 7th Pa. Cavalry; dis. August,
'63; nine months in 206th Pa. Volunteers.
William Dougherty, Dec. 2, '61 ; vet. ; G, 101st
Pa. Volunteers; severely wounded in head at
Plymouth, N. C. (became countv commis-
sioner). John D. Elder, July 24, '61, D, 62d
Pa. ; promoted from first sergeant to second
lieutenant; killed at Malvern Hill. July 1,
'62. John Ferguson, '62, E, 177th P."v. ;
nine months' service. Da^dd Faloon, Febru-
avy, '65; served to June, '65, close of war.
R. E. Finley, May 17, '64, D, 1st Pa. Vols,
(old 11th) ; mustered out with company. H.
J. Fulmer, 2d Virginia Cavalry, four years;
resident of this county since the war. Samuel
Faloon, nine months' service. F. E. Goodell.
60th JIass. Vols. : resident of Indiana county
since the war. James Gorman, December, '61,
K, 84th Pa. Vols. : wounded and captured at
Chancellorsville, Va. G. "W. Hood. '63. six
months' service. "W. J. Hefflenfinger. '62, E,
177th P. v.; nine months' service. Barthol-
omew Hadden, '62, E, 167th P. V.; nine
mouths' seiwiee. James Harbison, Jlarch 24,
'64, C, l.st Pa. Vols. ; wounded at "Wilderness ;
prisoner at "Weldon Railroad; died at Salis-
bury, N. C, Nov. 25, '64. Jacob S. Haines,
October, '61; vet.; sergeant, M, 2d Pennsyl-
vania Cavalry ; dis. June, '65. John H. Hill,
Aug. 29, '64; 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers;
dis. by general order June 10, '65. Henry
Hargrave, Sept. 12, '61; Durell's independ-
ent batteiy D; seiwed three years. Robert
Harbridge, Dec. 7, '61 ; corporal, K, 84th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, vet.; mustered out
June 29, '65. David B. Henry, Sept. 20, '61 ;
corporal, I, 55t.h Pennsylvania Volunteers;
vet; mustered out Aug. 30, '65. David Ir-
win, B, 79th P. v., vet.; promoted first ser-
geant; served through the war; now resident
of this county. Benjamin H. Jamison, six
months' service, '64. Samuel H. Johnston, in
4th Cavalry short time, then assistant provost
marshal for Indiana county. Henry Keller,
E, 177th Pennsylvania Volunteers, first ser-
geant; nine months' service. David Kelley,
'62, E, 177th Pennsylvania Volunteers; niue
months' service. Daniel Killin, '62, captain
company K, 177th Pennsylvania Volunteers;
nine months' service; promoted from first
lieutenant. Clark Knott, about 1860 ; United
States regular army ; dis. '79. Michael Keith,
I, 54th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Adam
Keith, Jan. 1, '64 ; vet. ; I, 54th Pennsylvania
Volunteers; mustered out with company.
George J. Keller, on special provost duty in
21st district over two years. Jacob Kanarr,
June 1. '64; 101st Pa. Vols.; dis. by general
order May 3, '65. Moses Livingston, E, 5th
Heavy Artillery; Indiana county since the
war. Noah Livingston, E, 5th Heavy Artil-
lery; Indiana comity since the war. Nelson
Laughrey, '62, 177th P. V., nine months'
service. Alexander Lowman, '62, sergeant,
K, 177th P. v., nine months' service; pro-
moted from corporal. James L. Lydick, '61,
K, 84th P. v.; wounded at Chancellorsville,
Va., May 3, '63; ai-m amputated. Robert L.
Lydick, Dec. 7, '61 ; vet. ; company K, 84th
P. v.; wounded; trans, to veteran reserve
corps, January, '65. Jacob S. Miller. Dec. 21,
'61 ; company K, 84th P. V. ; vet. ; prisoner
from October, '64, to March, '65. John
Marks, Dec. 5, '61 ; K, 84th P, V. ; vet. ; mus-
tered out June 29, '65. J. T. Mahan. six
months' service, '64. Samuel Mock, '62; E,
177th P. v.; nine months' service. John
Morton, '62; E. 177th P, V.; nine months'
service. Andrew Morton. '62; K, 177th
P. v.; nine months' service. Joeepli
176 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Maloy, '62; E, 177th P. V.; nine months' service. George Snyder, '62, E, 177th P. V.;
service. David Mack, '62; K, 177th P. nine months' service. Archibald A. Stewart,
v.; nine months' service. Edward Mill- '62, E, 177th P. V.; nine months' service,
iken, first lieutenant Company K, 177th Joseph H. Steele, '62, ^, 177th P. V.; nine
P. v.; nine months' service; promoted from months' service. Allison Shields, March 17,
second lieutenant. John S. ilelntire, '62; K, "64, C, 1st P. V. (old 11th) ; captured Aug.
177th P. v.; nine months' service. Adam 19, '64, died at Salisbury, N. C. Jacob
Moore, July 6, '61; F, 38th Regiment, 9th Strassler, March 17, '64, C, 1st P. V. (old
Reserves, three years; mustered out at ex- 11th) ; wounded at Wilderness, Va., captured
piration of term. A. H. McWilliams, June Aug. 19, '64, died at Salisbury, N. C. James
19, '61; sergeant, B, 39th Regiment, 10th Speaker, P. R. V. C; trans, to 190th P. V.
Reserves; served three years. William May, George Syberts (or Sybert), July 6, '61, com-
15th U. S. Infantry ; became lieutenant, pany F, P. V. ; wounded at Antietam, Md. ;
Robert A. McAdoo, June 1, '64; 101 P. V.; dis. July 20, '64. Henry Shankle, June 1,
dis. by general order, May 3, '65. Samuel H. '64, 101st P. V. ; dis. by general order. May
Moore, G, 3d P. V.; three months' service; 3, '65. John B. Shankle, Dec. 7, '61, K, 84th
died at Harrisburg, Pa. William Moore, P. V. ; vet. ; wounded at Wilderness and at
Nov. 3, '62 ; K, 177th P. V. ; nine months. Deep Bottom, Va. ; died March 6, '65. John
David IMcCurdy, October, '61 ; corporal com- A. Shankle, March 31, '64, K, 84th P. V.
pany M, 2d Pa. Cav. ; dis. October, '62. James A. Siebald, 40th P. V. 11th reserve, died May
A. McQuown, March 16, '64; C, 1st P. V. 16, '64. R. J. Tomb, M. D., assistant surgeon
(old 11th); wounded at Wilderness, Va. ; 2d Battalion, six months; surgeon of 193d
dis. May 31, '65. L. W. IVIcHenry, March Pennsylvania Volunteers, and fall of 1864
15, '64; C, 1st P. V. (old 11th) ; wounded at and to close of war acting assistant surgeon
Wilderness; captured Aug. 19, '64; died at United States regular army. B. B. Tiffany,
Salisbury, N. C. William Miller, C, 1st P. first sergeant, E, 36th Massachusetts Volun-
V. (supposition only) ; dis. for disability, teers; resident of Indiana county since the
Benjamin May, 15th U. S. Infantry. Wil- war. John Teeter, C, 84th Pennsylvania Vol-
liam McClaran, chief clerk provost marshal's unteers, a resident of the county. John Wag-
office, 21st district, Pennsylvania. James oner, '62; K, 177th Pennsylvania Volunteers,
McCauley; in cavalry; badly wounded; nine months' service. John C. Wakefield,
wounded again on special duty for provost '62; K, 177th Pennsylvania Volunteers, nine
marshal, 21st district, Pennsylvania. Sam- months' seiwice. James F. Wiley, Dec. 17,
uel McLaughlin, K, 84th P. V. ; dis. March '63 ; vet. ; 2d Pennsylvania Cavalry ; served
9, '63. William McAfoos, '61, I, 84th P. V. ; to close of war. Samuel A. Walker, Aug. 1,
dis. Jan. 9, '63. John Neal. '62, E, 177th '63; 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, served to
P. v.; nine months' service. David Orts, A, close of war. John F. Weaver, March 31,
135th P. v.; nine months' service, and in 5th '64; 84th Pennsylvania Volunteers: mus-
Heavy Artillerj'. Edward 0 'Neil, Oct. 4, '64, tered out June 29, 1865. John Woodward,
88th P. V. ; promoted to corporal, mustered '61 ; I, 84th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Joseph
out with company. Pollock, July 25, '61, J. Young, Sept. 6, '66 ; 7th U. S. Cavalry ;
62d P. V. ; served three years, non-resident of promoted to sergeant ; wounded at Sheridan
this county. Theodore Pardee, '61, I, 84th City, Kan., in fight with Indians; served
P. v.; drowned at Hancock, Md. Joseph five years. Robert Young, '63; six months'
Rhea, '62, E, 177th P. V.; nine months' serv- service. James T. Young, '64; six months'
ice. David Risinger, '62, E, 177th P. V. ; nine service. Albert Young, '62; 177th Pennsyl-
months' service. Samuel Ray, '66, 7th U. S. vania Volunteers; died at Suffolk, Va., Jan.
Cavalry; promoted corporal; dis. in 1870. 21, '63. Augustus Yuckenberg, '62; E,
B. D. Rochester, '63, A, 2d Battalion; six 177th Pennsjdvania Volunteers; nine months'
months' service. Augustus Row, commis- service.
sioner of enrollment, 21st district, Pennsyl-
vania, during the war. Robert L. Rodkey, grand army of the republic
Dec. 7, '61, K, 84th P. V. ; wounded and cap-
tured at Chancellorsville, Va.. mustered out Post No. 28, Indiana, Pa. — The post was
June 29, '65. Samuel J. Rodkey, Feb. 22, formed June 28, 1878, and the following were
'64, K, 84th P. v.; mustered out June 29, the charter members: D. S. Porter, Co. B,
'65. J. A. C. Ruffner, corporal. A, 1st Bat- 11th Reserve ; B. B. Tiffany, Co. E, 36th Mass.
talion, Pennsylvania Cavalry; six months' Inf.; William R. Loughry, Co. I, 135th Pa.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENTSISYLVANIA
177
Inf. ; Alex. H. Mitchell, Co. A, 105tli Pa. Inf.
James B. Work, Co. P, 55th Pa. Inf. ; D. F.
Heasley, Co. H. 136th Pa. Inf.; Albert H.
White, Co. F. 7Sth Pa. Inf. ; John T. Gibson,
Co. A. 190th Pa. Inf. ; M. J. Shannon, Co. D,
206th Pa. Inf. ; Josepli J. Young, Co. F. 55th
Pa. Inf. ; Richard :\I. Birkman, Co. A, 190th
Pa. Inf. ; John IMcGaughey, Co. K, 105th Pa.
Inf. ; James :M. Sutton, Co. E, 148th Pa. Inf. ;
John H. Hill, Co. K, 88th Pa. Inf. : William
D. Cherry, Co. E, 206th Pa. Inf.; Arehy S.
Thompson. Signal Corps; E. E. Allen, Co.
B, 11th Reserves: Thomas C. Ramev. Siarnal
Corps ; Robert Barr, 67th Pa. Inf. The only
survivors are B. B. Titfanv, Wm. R. Loughry,
Joseph J. Young, John H. Hill and T. C.
Ramey.
The present members of the post are : B.
B. Tiffany, Co. E, 36th Mass. Inf.; William
R. Loughry, Co. I, 135th Pa. Inf. ; Joseph J.
Young. Co. F. 55th Pa. Inf. ; John H. Hill,
Co. K. 88th Pa. Inf.; T. C. Ramey. Signal
Corps ; George R. Lewis, 54th Pa. Inf. ; A. C.
Braughler, Co. D, 78th Pa. Inf.; Joseph
Faloon, Co. H, 12th Reserves ; John N. Banks,
Co. I. 126th Pa. Inf.; John P. H. Shields,
Co. F, 206th Pa. Inf.; Charles Sharabaugh,
Co. B. 11th Pa. Reserves; James M. 'Slar-
shall, Co. F, 17th Pa. Inf., M., and Co. D,
206th Pa. Inf. : John M. Bruce, Co. K. 105th
Pa. Inf.; Charles Kirchner, Co. C, 4th Pa.
Cavalry : William T. Wilson, Co. I, 135th Pa.
Inf. ; Samuel Cunningham, Co. H, 12th Pa.
Reserves; Henderson C. Howard. Co. B, 11th
Pa. Reserves; John Laney, Co. D, 78th Pa.
Inf.; E. M. Lvdick, Signal Corps; George
W. McHenrv. Co. K, 105th Pa. Inf. ; William
W. Brilhart, Co. F. 105th Pa. Inf.: Harry
White, major, 67th Pa. Inf.; John H. Rod-
kev, Co. I. 2d Battalion; Edward Oneal, Co.
E. SSth Pa. Inf. : Isaac Beck, Co. B. 67th Pa.
Inf. : Aron W. Lang, Co. B., 103d Pa. Inf. ;
George W. Roof. Co. P, 78th Pa. Inf. ; John
Freeh, Co. A. 88th Pa. Inf. : L. S. Wassinger,
Co. K, 14th Pa. Cavalry; John R. Devlin, Co.
B. 11th Pa. Reserves: William Kimple. Co.
F. 105th Pa. Inf.. captain: J. D. :\IcKalip.
Co. F. Independent Battalion: William L.
Buchanan, Co. A, 61st Pa. Inf.; William A.
St. Clair. Co. F, 206th Pa. Inf. ; Jacob Harsh-
berger, Co. G. 105th Pa. Inf. ; John :McAdoo.
Signal Corps; S. G. Barnes. Co. K, 7th Pa.
Cavalrv: Joseph Risinsrer. Co. E. 148th Pa.
Inf.; Leonard A. Hollister. Co. D, 78th Pa.
Inf. ; James S. Hilberrv, Co. B, 78th Pa. Inf. ;
George Hamilton. Co. E. 148th Pa. Inf.: G.
B. Roof. Independent Co. : David R. Pringle.
Co. D. 135th Pa. Inf.: S. C. Kenedy, Co. I,
123d Pa. Inf.; J. Wils Thompson, Signal
Corps; Henry Clingenberger, Co. E, 148th
Pa. Inf. : David Osty, Co. A, 135th Pa. Inf. ;
James Campbell, Co. H. 206th Pa. Inf. ; Wil-
liam Hoosack, Co. I, 11th Pa. Reserves ; J. A.
C. Rufifner, Co. A. 1st Pa. Cavalry; Joe M.
Peirce, Co. A. 3d Heavv Artillerv: J. M.
Laughlin, Co. K, 23d Pa". Inf., M. ! John S.
Hastings, Signal Corps; Samuel A. Douglass,
Co. H, 3d Battalion : Hugh P. Lewis, Co. K,
14th Pa. Cavalrv; Xoah Seanor, Co. F, 28th
Pa. Inf. ; Daniel W. Young, Co. A, 6th Vet-
eran Reserve Corps; J. W. Harbison, Co. D,
206th Pa. Inf. ; William H. :\Iyers, Co. F. 2d
Battalion: Findlav Carnev. Co. I, 135th Pa.
Inf: J. Sloan Asrev, Co. F, 74th Pa. Inf.;
John S. Johnston, Co. D, 135th Pa. Inf.;
George W. Wheeler. Co. D, 3d Pa. Inf. ; A.
B. Bennett, Co. E, 67th Pa. Inf. : Adam Black,
Co. I. 135th Pa. Inf. : Noah Livingston, Co.
H. 2d Battalion; Lewis IM. Thomas, Co. A,
135th Pa. Inf.; William C. Downev. Co. C,
2d Battalion ; John M. ^McAdoo, Co. A. 135th
Pa. Inf.; T. S. Neil, Co. C, 2d Battalion;
John R. Sturapf, Co. A. 61st Pa. Inf. ; J. 0.
DeLanev, Co. M., 5th Hea\^' Artillery; John
A. Bennett, Co. I, 206th Pa. Inf. ; John Stew-
art Thompson, Co. A, 135th Pa. Inf. ; Thomas
J. Postlewait, Co. A, 61st Pa. Inf. ; William
Devarmin, Co. F, 74th Pa. Inf.; James Mc-
Henrv. Co. F. 74th Pa. Inf.; Thomas P.
Stephens, Co. F. 67th Pa. Inf. : John Jacoby.
Co. 3, Independent Battalion ; Abraham Bow-
man, Co. B, 20th Pa. Inf. ; Samuel V. Dye,
Co. A. 132d Pa. Inf.: Robert N. Craig, Co.
A. 89th Pa. Inf. ; William B. Stahl, Co. A,
61st Pa. Inf. ; Samuel Crawford. Co. B. 74th
Pa. Inf.: D. M. Ruffner, Co. A, 206th Pa.
Inf.; J. M. Imbrie, Co. E, 23d Ohio Inf.;
J. C. Speedy, Co. E, 148th Pa. Inf. ; Samuel
]Mundshower, Co. F, 74th Pa. Inf.; James
B. Evans, Co. B, 17th Ohio Inf.; Alexander
McCracken, Co. P, 57th Pa. Inf., il. : David
Martin, Co. K, 14th Pa. Cavalry: William
C. :\ritehell. Co. B. 1st Battalion: Augustus
Pease. Co. F, 74th Pa. Inf. ; Wm. P. Grosse,
Co. A. 14th New Jersev; John S. Amond. Co.
B. 2d Battalion: Joseph H. Fulton. Co. G,
63d Pa. Inf. : G. A. McLain, Co. B. 11th Pa.
Reserves; Smith M. Parker. Co. E, 144th New
York: William D. Bash. Co. B. 10th W. Va. :
George Jluller, Co. P. 206th Pa. Inf. ; Jacob
Kulp: John Brown. Co. B. 4th New Jersey.
Fincllc)) Patch Post. No. 137, BJairsviUr,
Pa. — Charter members as mustered in June
20. 1881: William H. Healy. M. H. Fails,
Henrv F. Rugg. Samuel Earhart. R. S. Davis,
James C. Davis, Clark Knott, T. P. Dixon,
178 HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA :, ;
Samuel Stratteu, Reuben Axe, John Taylor, Kerr, William Irwin, Henry Fritz, W. H. H.
E. M. Evans, M. C. Trimble, R. Thompson, Coleman, David Shepherd, William li. Dickie,
Joseph Nelson, J. F. Altman, J. S. Campbell, Aaron Hendrickson, William S. Greer.
John T. Gray, Joseph Atkinson, Joseph M. The total membership from the beginning
Cribbs, Thomas G. Rowe, William Clark, to the present has been sixty. The following
William H. Stitt, Morris Lewis, Joseph Moor- still survive, so far as known : Israel Kunkle,
head, J. C. Burke, John Wynn, H. A. Tor- Harrison Mundshower, Luman Gilbert, John
ranee, Thompson Adams. The survivors are : K. Myers, Jedidiah Grover, Samuel Sheflfler,
T. P. Dixon, Reuben Axe, E. M. Evans, J. F. Josep'h W. Uncapher, Henry M. Myers, S. H.
Altman, John T. Gray, Joseph Atkinson, Drenning, William Philips, John A. Kerr,
Joseph M. Cribbs, Thomas G. Rowe, William William H. Dickie, John H. Devers, James
H. Stitt and Joseph Moorhead. Hagins, Isaac Griffith, John Laney, John C.
The fifty members on the roll and in Mills, John S. Evans, William Plummer.
good standing now are: Reuben Axe, E. M. Some have removed, and it is not known
Evans, Joseph M. Cribbs, William H. Stitt, whether they survive or not.
Joseph Moorhead, S. D. Stiffey, T. D. Cun- The present members of the post are as
ningham, J. P. Lintner, Isaac Hicks, Samuel follows: William Philips, James Hagins,
A. Crawford, Washington Butler. James E. John Laney, S. H. Drenning, Luman Gilbert,
Kelly, George W. Cribbs, David Muir, John John A. Kerr, John S. Evans, John C. Mills,
C. Doran, John R. Curry, John T. Fry, John Israel Kunkle, Samuel Sheffler, John K.
Mclntii-e, Daniel MeCadden, T. C. Watson, Myers.
Chas. L. Tittle, Porter Clawson, George Cost^ 'Cherrytree Post. No. 40, G. A. R., of
Hiram Rhodes, Isiah Kimball, Cyrus Stouf- Cherrytree. — The following members have
fer, Thomas A. Baird, Marshall Dodds, James been enrolled since the organization of the
E. Murray, Wm. B. Jellison, James M. Alt- post: D. S. Ake, Jacob Arthurs, William
man, Cyrus Kirtland, Fred Jellison. James Ayers, Adam Bowers, Edward Boring, David
Rosborough, John S. Melntire. H. H. Mun- Barkey, Henry Barkey, John C. Bliss, Wil-
shower, Theopholis Graham, Daniel Henry, Ham Bower, A. Byers, Zachariah Books, Isaiah
James D. Layton, Daniel Harkins, Peter P. N. Bartelbaugh, Adam Beck, John C. Biss,
Lefever, Robert Donaldson, William Meyer, William Barkey, Robert Conner, Harry Con-
Geo. W. Lamberson, William Walter, Rush ner, A. S. Coy, John Cunningham, Austin
Morgan, Joshua Richards, James Willard, Cooper, John S. Colgen, J. S. Creery, W. H.
William H. Campbell, J. H. Devers. Campbell, David Cardell, John Dehaven,
Total number of names on roster, 182. William Duncan, D. F. Dunbar, C. C. Dun-
Present officers : John C. Curry, com- kle, A. B. Day, J. D. Dunlap, Jonathan Doty,
mander; J. C. Doran, senior \ace commander; Dr. N. J. Evans, Jacob Ferrier, David Ful-
T. A. Baird, junior vice commander; H. ton, Cyrus Fronk, Josiah Fronk, W. T.
Rhodes, officer of the day ; H. H. jMunshower, Fagen, G. W. Gooderham, Isaac Goss, An-
0. G. ; Marshall Dodds, chaplain ; W. H. Stitt, drew Glass, John Garman. Samuel Good, H.
quartermaster: T. C. Watson, adjutant. B. Hawes. William Holen, J. T. Harkness,
3Iaj. A. J. Bolar Post, No. 533, G. A. B., Robert Harbridge, E. Isenburg, Abraham
Homer City, was organized August 16, 1886, Keim, John Kerr, Robert Kannan, Samuel
by comrades from the Findley Patch Post, Kerr, Jerry Keith, Adam Keith, Levi Keith,
of Blairsville, and Post No. 28, of Indiana, j j ^eith, Michael Keith, J. R. Kulp,
The principal origmaters were Dr. John r^j^^mas Kerr, Edward King, Alex Lesley,
Evans and ex-County Treasurer George H. j^^^^ ^ ^ydick, A. C. Loveless, David Libby,
Ogden. The thirty-six charter members were mTT i t-.-it -m-jT
as follows: Dr. John Evans, G. H. Ogden, T" J- loveless, Daniel Long, David Lang-
Israel H. Kunkle, William A. McNutt don, Sam Lammer, George Lealement, Sam-
Thomas Varner, James W. Kerr, Nelson ^^el Longeneker S. S Langham, Jacob R.
O'Neil, Joseph Shank, Harrison Mund- Lute, George Myer, I. K. Myers, G. W.
shower, William Lucas. JMartin Mvers, Lu- Mogle, Simon McDonnell. Henry McDermott,
man Gilbert, John K. flyers. Jonathan Ed- William McDonnell. A. T. Marthers, Michael
wards. David Risinger. Abram Wallace, Sam- McAnulty, Isaac Mauk, Gideon Mock, Cyrus
uel Nowry, Jedidiah Grover, James K. IMichaels, Oring Michaels, Adam Moore, Wil-
Deemer, Samuel Sheffier, Levi Fritz, Stephen liam Miller, Joseph Jliller, John A. Magee,
Sawder, Joseph W. Uncapher, Henry M. David A. McCordell. W. J. Nugent, H.
Myers, S. H. Drenning, Samuel E. Harris, O'Harra, Daniel Pittman. A. D. Powell, G.
William Philips, S. M. McHenry, John A. W. Prowell, Jackson Petticord, Thomas
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 179
Roger, David M. Ruffner, A. H. Rnffner, T. John Pollock Post, No. 219, G. A. R.,
J. Robison, Ed. Rummel, J. W. Reariek, Marion Center. — Organized Augnist 20, 1881,
David Reifsnider, William Reed, J. E. Rora- with twenty-one charter members: James
baugh, William Rugels. C. T. Smyley, John Frederick, A. S. McCall, Milton StucheU,
Stouffer, B. C. Smith, Henry Shankel, Philip L. A. Hollister, H. P. Lewis, E. B. McGara,
Smyers, Joseph Stiffler. John Sebring, J. C. A. AY. Lang, B. D. Rochester, C. A. Ellis, J.
Stewart, Philip Stiffler, G. H. Stewart, Dan- C. Brown, D. H. Bee, L. N. Park, A. S. Mc-
iel Spieher, J. B. Stall. Jonathan Stall, Wil- Ginity, B. F. Laughlin, F. S. Chambers, J. A.
liam Taylor, R, A. Vanetta, Jeff Wright. G. Stewart, James L. Park, John L Neal ' J H
W. Walker, D. P. Weaver, J. W. Whited. Work, J. M. Byers, W. S. Shields. Com-
John C. Whited. mander, W. S. Shields; adjutant, L. A. Hol-
The present members of the post are: Wil- lister. One hundred have been mustered in
liam Ayers, Adam Back, Edward Boring, I. since. Ten chai-ter members have died, and
N. Bartelbaugh, Adam Bowers. Robert Con- about forty others; now fourteen in good
ner, W. H. Campbell, W. T. Fagen, Samuel standing, il. T. Steeland is commander; N.
Good, H. B. Hawes, Edward King, Jerry W. Stewart, adjutant; A. S. McGinity, quar-
Keith, Levi Keith, Alex Lesley, Sam. Long- termaster.
eneker, S. S. Langham, Simon McDonnell, Lieut. Frank M. Brown Post, No. 266, G.
I. K. Myers, Thomas Roger, Philip Stiffler, Jl. R., Rochester Mills.
John Sebring, Henry Shankel, J. W. Whited. James L. O'Neil Post, No. 537, G. A. R.,
William Armstrong Post, No. 303, G. A. R., Cookport.
Shelocta. — William Armstrong Post was or- Foster Roiinson Post, No. 36, G. A. R,,
ganized May 28. 1889, the charter members Saltsbiirg.
being William Robinson. James Armstrong, Richmond Post, No. , G. A. R.
Amos T. Anthony, Joseph Alshouse, William
H. Ruffner, Isaac Heffelfinger, Robert Arm- ^msT reunion— Indiana countt's honor
strong, Samuel Bothel, William L. Calhoun, ™ the G-^llant Pennsylvania re-
William T. Calhoun, Alexander .Campbell. serves— gr.wd banquet at normal
David W. Davis, S. G. McCurdy, Jacob Fry, school— list of veterans
Joseph Fry Thomas .M. Fleming Samuel [From the Daii,, BUule, Indiana, Pa.]
Lytle, Joseph A. Sharp, Jloses ililler and „, , ^, „_^, j, o x , r-ionn-.
Loben Russell. Thev were mustered in Dec. Thursday, the 25th of September [1879]
31, 1889, by Comrade Henry Hargrave, of ^y.^1 ^^ever be forgotten by the citizens of In-
T-.1J ^ -n i o 1 T X .n ^ 4. diaua county — will ever find a bright re-
Elderton Post. Samuel Lytle was the first ,,embrance in the hearts of the old veterans
post commander, William Robinson adjutant, ^f ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^-^^^ Pennsylvania Redment
The following is a complete list of the mem- 3^,1 visitors who were present at the first re-
bership of the post: Robert Armstrong (de- union services at Indiana,
ceased), Thomas M.Fleming. David W. Davis, Early Thursday morning our street pre-
Amos T. Anthony (deceased), John R. Cox sented a lively appearance, houses were be-
(deceased), S. G. McCurdy (deceased), ing decorated, flags flung to the breezes and
Joseph Alshouse (deceased), Samuel Bothel arches and words of welcome greeting the eye
(deceased). William Robinson. William L. on every side.
Calhoun. Alexander Campbell (deceased), At the Kinter House crossing, a large arch
Francis Faith (deceased), Loben. Russell, hacl been erected. At courthouse square,
James Armstrong (deceased), Samuel Lvtle arches were stretched across with appropriate
(deceased), Joseph A. ShaiT (deceased), mottoes, while at the American House cross-
Joseph :\rcGanghey, William T. Calhoun, mf. fronting the depot, another large arch.
Moses Miller (deceased), Jacob Fry (de- ^^^h the words Welcome lltli Regiment
ceased), John Russell, Alexander S. Craw- ^- ^- ^- ^ stretched across it greeted
J, 'j -,N r^ T-- /J J^ your eye. We have not space to enter much
ford (deceased), George King (deceased), .^^^ ^^^^.^ ^^^^^ .^ ^^ ^,^^^^ ^^^ decorations
John M. Walker, W. H. McCreiglit (de- ^.^^.^ ^^g^^f^^i ^^^ appropriate, and numerous
ceased), John R. Devlin. Henry Sheaffer, enough to show that the patriotic hearts of
John H. Brown, Wilham Ramsey (deceased), Indiana's citizens still held in grateful es-
Isaac Heffelfinger (deceased), Jacob Sihns, teem and veneration Her Soldier Boys.
Enoch Gillam — thirty-two members on the Owing to the accident on Branch road, and
descriptive book, eighteen dead, fourteen the long detention of the train containing
living. The members have scattered, so that the band and the larger delegation of old
now there are only seven active members, veterans, the route of procession and various
180
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
routine business had to be curtailed. Wlien
the shrill whistle of the locomotive was heard,
the cheers that rent the air from the masses
assembled were perfectly deafening. The
procession was formed in the following order :
Gen. T. F. Gallagher, Chief Marshal.
Aids— Capts. A. H. Mitchell, J. S. Nesbit.
Committee of Reception.
Invited Guests.
Altoona City Band.
11 Regiment P. R. V. C. Commanded bj' General
S. M. Jackson.
Co. "D," Capt. Wm. D. Wilson.
Co. "F," Lieut. A. C. Braughler.
West Indiana Fire Company.
Indiana Fire Company.
Soldiers and Citizens.
The route was from Depot down Phila-
delphia street to Sixth street; south to
Church; east to Fifth street; north to Phila-
delphia : west to the court house. The pro-
cession was a very fine one, and was an inter-
esting feature iu the day's doings.
Here General White made the address of
welcome, which was responded to by Gen. T.
F. Gallagher.
An adjournment for dinner was then
made, and we know the boys must have ap-
preciated this part of the programme as it
was almost five o'clock, and some of them
had not tasted food since early breakfast.
At six-thirty, the boys had reassembled at
the courthouse, where the meeting was called
to order by the election of Gen. T. F. Galla-
gher as chairman, Colonel Jackson and Cap-
tain Louden vice presidents, and Col. R. Lit-
singer and Maj. R. M. Birkman, secretaries.
Then the reunion services proper were gone
through with, which consisted first — Oration
of the day, by Capt. George W. Fleeger. This
was truly a grand, noble, patriotic and flowery
outburst of a gallant soldier, recounting the
scenes and actions of the days agone, when
the dark clouds of rebellion, blood and car-
nage were upon us. Captain Fleeger ac-
quited himself nobly in this effort, and was
continually interrupted with storms of ap-
plause.
History of the 11th Reserves, Col. Robert
McCoy. As the hour fixed for banqueting
had now almost approached. Colonel McCoy
was compelled to pass by page after page
of his histor>', which called forth a motion
to have the same published for the benefit of
the survivors of the 11th, which was unan-
imously carried. This, we understand, will be
done in a very short space of time.
Then Colonel Danks favored the bovs, after
repeated calls, with a song, which was rap-
turously received. The meeting then ad-
journed, and the procession was again formed
in front of the courthouse, when, headed by
the Altoona citj^ band, they wended their way
to the normal school, where the banquet was
prepared for them by the ladies of Indiana.
The scene on reaching the normal grounds
was really a beautiful one. Chinese lanterns
lit up the long walks from the entrance gate
fronting Second street to the steps of the
building, and as the wind swayed the varie-
gated lamps to and fro the whole aspect was
one of enchantment, and gave token of the
good cheer within.
When the doors of the spacious dining
room of the normal school were thrown open,
what a sight greeted the eyes of the gallant
boys! The many gas jets, sparkling Chinese
lights everywhere, handsome festoons drop-
ping down in beautiful confusion over the
well filled tables, flags, the names of all the
engagements of importance which the regi-
ment participated in placed along the walls,
bouquets, large ones, on all the tables and
charming ladies to attend the wants of the
hungry luimanity gathered there.
Indeed, the normal dining hall presented
an appearance of enchantment on this mem-
orable evening of the first reunion to the llth
Reserves, and gazing around upon everything,
one recalled to mind all the fairy tales and
places of enchantment read of in early child-
hood.
The banquet set by the fair ladies of
Indiana was superb, and they are certainly
deserving of all praise for the manner they
got up and managed this affair. We had in-
tended printing the menu, but when we came
to putting it together, we found we would
have to take up the space of about a column
alone, in this line. We will only say, there-
fore, that everything necessary to satisfy the
wants of the inner man was there — not for-
getting B. B. Allen's box of genuine hard-
tack, which was generously distributed all
around the different tables. The ladies vied
with each other in their attentions to the old
soldiers and visiting comrades, and we will
just here insert a remark we heard let drop
from the lips of an old battle-scarred veteran
— "that they had the darndest (the old sol-
diers never — well, hardly ever swear, you
know), finest, good looking and best hearted
set of ladies in Indiana that he had ever seen
or ran across." And "them's our sentiments,
too," as the boys say.
After all had partaken heartily of the royal
feast, the finisliing point of the reunion cere-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
181
monies was goue through with by the follow-
ing toasts being proposed and answered in
the following order:
"Our Old Regiment" — Responded to by
Col. S. M. Jackson, of Apollo, in a few well
chosen and patriotic remarks.
"Our Regiment's Friends" — Responded to
by Sheriff J. R. Smith, very feeliugl.v and
appropriately.
■'The Pennsj'lvania Reserves" — Rev. J.
Day Brownlee, of the Sth Reserves, responded
to this. "Well, you all know the gentleman,
and can form an idea of what he had to say,
and he said it so nicely and feelingly, too.
Then Rev. Col. Danks. being vociferously
called upon, recited the "Superiority of the
Blue," and sang that glorious old song,
"Glory Hallelujah," the audience all join-
ing in the chorus.
"Our Educational Institutions, and espec-
ially the Normal School at Indiana" — Dr.
French, of the normal. The Doctor made an
elegant response, and was handsomely ap-
plauded on his conclusion.
"Our Dead Comrades" — Dirge, by the
Altoona City Band.
"The Ministry of Peace" — Rev. Theo. Hen-
derson, of Brookville. This was a very tine
effort, and the speaker was greeted with great
applause.
"The Press" — Responded to by M. J. Shan-
non.
■"Our Comrades of the Army of the Poto-
mac"— Col. Chill Hazzard. This was the
gem of the evening — brimful of whit, spice
and story. The colonel made several "happy
hits." and was roundly applauded when he
concluded.
"To the ladies" — Response by Col. Robert
JlcCoy. The Colonel paid a handsome tribute
to the female sex, and concluded neatly by
giving the ladies who were instrumental in
getting up the banc[uet, and so handsomely
entertaining the boys of the 11th, a veiy nice
"send off."
Then the Altoona City Band favored the
audience with another choice selection, and
the fii-st reunion of the 11th Pennsylvania
Reserves was concluded.
This reunion will long be talked of in In-
diana and immediate vicinity, and that our
good people here will always cherish kind
remembrances of the gallant old 11th Regi-
ment, and the 2.5th of September, 1879, the
boys may be sure to count upon.
The members of the various committees of
the reserves, notably the executive committee
—Col. D. S. Porter! ilaj. R. M. Birkman and
Capt. H. K. Sloan — and the citizens' com-
mittee and our ladies, worked like beavers
to make this reunion a success, which it was
in every particular. Any one acquainted with
the patriotism, spirit, enterprise and good
will of the ladies of our place knows that
whatever they undertake proves successful,
and in this affair they added new laurels to
their already famous endeavors.
Those who would cavil or iind fault at any
little omissions, or think they were not hon-
ored in an especial manner more than anyone
else, considering the arduous task devolving
upon all of them in an affair of this kind,
and the consequent hurry and bustle and
worry of the committees, are not worthy of
the name of good citizens. It was impossible
to entertain everyone, to extend invitations
to all, and the good sense of our people under-
stands all this.
We think, on the whole, Indiana can be
I^roud of her first reunion, and we know the
old vets, say it was boss, and that is all we
care to know, so they were pleased.
That God, in His infinite mercy, may bless
us all, unite us more closely together in peace
and unity, and ever keep alive the fire of
patriotism and love of country in us, is the
heartfelt prayer of the editor of the Blade.
Below we give a list of the members of the
organization present on [Monday.
Company A. — ;Maj. Robert Litzinger, com-
manding. Thomas Jones, Thompson Carney,
Dallas Patrick, John Scanlan, William Sech-
ler, Benjamin Davis, Edgar Evans, Phillip
Smyers, John Shoff, William Wagner, Thomas
Dunn, Phillip Jones, John Maken, William
Miller, Col. Robert Litzinger. This gentle-
man was the first captain of Company A;
was afterward captain of Company C, and
retired from service with the rank of major.
Company B. — Capt. H. K. Sloan, com-
manding. Col. D. S. Porter, Edward Ches-
ley, Samuel Shick, J. G. McCurdy, John Wag-
oner, James Stephens, John L. Hall, Uriah
Shefifler, Harry Coleman, T. il. Coleman, B.
F. Laughlin, Henry Prothero, George Stew-
art, William Cummins, H. C. Howard, B. E.
Allen, Thomas Hood, James W. Howearth,
John Devlin, James Devlin, G. A. I\IcClain,
Rev. Theo. Henderson, Johnston Davis, E. J.
Devinney, Charles Shambaugh, Harry Con-
ner, William Hill, John T. Gibson, Dr. J. J.
Oatman, W. T. Kinter.
Company C. — Capt. .Samuel Louden, com-
manding. Capt. G. W. Fleeger. Lieut. John
H. Sutton, John T. Kelly, :\I. Ileekert,
George A. Black, Samuel Cook. J. W. Camp-
bell, John H. Meeder, J. S. Campbell, Robert
Krause, Samuel Miller, F. II. I\Ionie, D. H.
182
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Russell, Thomas P. Lardin, George Rotlimire,
S. P. Shryock.
Company P.— Lieut. William C. Colemau,
commanding. James McClelland, Alex. Ken-
nedy James K. Moore, D. McDonald, J. B.
Hazlett, S. T. Hazlett, E. Nixon, J. G. De-
vinney, D. W. Graham, G. W. Huselton.
Joseph Robertson, L. W. Graham.
Company E.—U. M. Birkman, command-
ing. W. H. H. Lyons, John Uncapher, Rob-
ert Carroll, William Conner, Thompson Cra-
mer, Gillis Dunlap, John Ewing, Joseph
Elder Samuel Garris, Jacob Kiraple, J. S.
Moorhead. A. W. McCullough, Nelson Mc-
Cormick, James Meanor, George IMiller, John
Rugh, Daniel Spires, James Simpson, J. W.
Smith.
Company i^.— Lieut. W. F. Springer, com-
manding. G. W. Kerner, T. B. Whaley,
Jacob Prettyman, Joseph Marshall.
Company Z7.— Capt. L. Johnston, com-
manding. J. A. Fulton M. C Caudei^,
Jacob Earnest, Daniel Carr, Adam Hutt,
Mariam Carnahan, Samuel Crawford, John
Emmitt.
Company 7.— Capt. E. Waugaman, com-
manding. Lieut. D. Berry, Lieut. J. D. Wal-
kinshaw. David Jenkins, Robert Hammond,
James Robertson, William McRobinson, J. A.
Hendricks, Samuel Stogdon, William Wagle,
Daniel Harkins. William Pike, C. Hashman,
C. Eakman, T. C. Layton, William Hosack,
C. Cunningham, Thomas Graham, George
McCormick, Israel Watterman.
Company IT.— Benj. McClelland, P. A.
Foster, J. P. Miller, E. Birk, John Ingle,
William Knapp.
Band.— SergX. Maj. William Hughes, com-
manding. Robert Davis, Smith, Alex.
Wagle, J. B. Hunter, Jas. Daugherty.
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer /w-
f(j„;,.,,_Pursuant to General Orders No. 7,
AGO dated April 25, 1898, the 5th Reei-
ment Infantry, N. G. P., on April 27, 1898,
left the respective home stations and pro-
ceeded by rail to Mount Gretna, Pa., arriving
early on "the morning of April 28th, being the
first infantry organization in the division to
reach the point of mobilization. The total
strength of the regiment when it reported
for duty was thirty-seven officers and 4»^
enlisted men, a total of 520.
On May 11, 1898, the regiment was mus-
tered into the service of the United States
by Maj. W. A. Thompson, U. S. A., and com-
prised thirty-seven officers and 604 enlisted
men. Pursuant to telegraphic orders from the
war department the regiment broke camp at
Mount Gretna on the morning of May 17,
1898, and at twelve-thirty p. m. started by
rail for Chickamauga Park, Ga., on the after-
noon of May 19th at five p. m. bivouacked for
the night on Snodgrass Hill, and on the morn-
ing of May 20th marched three miles and
went into camp along the Alexander Bridge
road. The regiment was assigned to the 1st
Brigade, 3d Division, 1st Army Corps. On
June 20th Ma.js. John P. Kennedy and Rob-
ert C. McNamara were detailed to recruit the
companies of their respective battalions to
106 men, the full complement, being readily
secured and all the recruits having reported
by July 4, 1898.
Orders were received on June 29, 1898,
to recruit a third battalion of four companies
of 106 each. The work of recruiting and mus-
tering the additional battalion was pbced in
charge of Capt. Hugh S. Taylor, Company
B. Within three weeks all the companies had
been mustered in, and had reported for duty
at Camp Georse H. Thomas. Company T was
recruited at Somerset ; Company K at Wells-
boro ; Company L at Clearfield, and Comnany
M at Gettysburg. Lieut. Col. Rufus C. Elder
was placed in command of the 1st Battalion;
Ma.i. John P. Kennedy, formerly of the 1st
Battalion, was assigned to the command of
the 2d Battalion, and Ma.i. Robert C. Mc-
Namara, formerlv of the 2d Battalion, to
command of the '3d. On August 12, 1898,
the regiment moved about a half mile nearer
Battlefield Station, and escaped along the
Brotherton road. Here there was good drain-
age and high ground. On the afternoon of
the 22d, the regiment left Rossville and trav-
eled by rail to Camp Hamilton, near Lexing-
ton, Ky., a distance of two hundred and fifty
miles, the first battalion reaehins its destina-
tion on the 23d of Ausrust, and the other bat-
talions on the 24th. The camp at Lexington
was all that could be desired for health or
beautiful surroundings.
On September 17, 1898, the regiment was
granted a thirty days' furlough, and eaeh
company was directed to- proceed to its home
station. The headquarters of the reeiment
were established in Altoona, Pa. After the
expiration of the furlough, ten days were
given for muster out, and this time was after-
wards increased an additional twenty days
to give the regiment an opportunity to par-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ticipate in the Peace Jubilee at Philadelphia,
on October 27, 1898. The regiment was
finally mustered out November 7, 1898.
ROLL OP THOSE WHO ENLISTED
FEOil LNDLINA COUNTY
Company Z)— Captain, Absalom W. Smith ;
first lieutenant, George W. Wakefield ; second
lieutenant, W. C. McKee; Zenea B. Adams,
Oliver C. Akins, James R. Baker, Benjamin
R. Barton, John K. Brallier, Edward G.
Bridge, Robert D. Brown, W. D. Calback,
George W. Campbell, Oscar P. Cummings,
Jesse S. Currj-, Edward E. Dixon, Robert S.
Douds, Edwin D. Dunlap, Andrew B. Erb,
Harvey Fails, William H. Fennell, Oliver S.
Fisher, Jacob Fritz, James H. George, Cal-
vin S. Gerhard, Harry Harkcom, Joseph A.
Hill, Augustus E. Huston, John W. Iseman, J.
Arthur Jenkins, Richard Jenkins, Edwin T.
Jones, Harry J. Kelly, Paul E. Kiebler, Harry
S. Kink, Lewis E. Landerkin, Charles F. Liv-
ingston, Rome V. IMcLaran, W^illiam ilc-
Featers, William P. McJunkin, Ira B. IMike-
sell, Thomas B. Miller, Robert J. Monroe,
Logan R. Moore, Arthur L. Nesbit, William
0. Patrick, Harry C. Patterson; Reese B.
Pearce, Joseph A. Pierce, William A. Portser,
Jr., Walter A. Reed, William G. Reed, Hall
S. Rowe, John W. Shadle. Clarence E. Shaffer,
Clarence S. Shearer, Harrv W. Stuchell,
Harry Stumpf, Leroy Taylor, Oliver T. Wal-
ton, Jlilton Wangaman, Edward W. Weaver.
Benton H. Weimer, Charles C. Wilcox. Hugh
R. Wilev, Scott A. Wiley, George H. Wilson,
J. W. Woodend.
Company F — Captain, W. M. Mahan; first
lieutenant, Samuel H. Hughes ; second lieuten-
ant, W. F. Elkin ; Frank G. Agey, Telford M.
Anderson, Walter H. Ayers, Harry M. Bar-
rett, Tosse S. Bell, Joseph A. Blakely, Charles
A. Brady, Myrl W. Brady. Burt A. Brown,
Joseph B. Buchanan, Andrew H, Burnhimer,
Joseph Burford, David M. Campbell. Lee
Campbell, James A. Cathcart, Harry S. Claw-
son, Paul Coleman, William E. Coleman. Wil-
liam S. Coleman. Louis L. Cramer, David N.
Daugherty, Harry W. Earhart, Harry W.
Fee, George J. Feit. James A. Fleming, David
H. George, John W. Gorman, James S. Ham-
mers. Zenas E. Harmon. Roy S. Hazlett. Don
J. Hill, Charles E. Huey, Joseph N. Huston.
James P. Jack, William F, Jamison, James
S. Kaufman. John M. Kerr, Steel H. Kerr,
Irwin H. Knupp, Orren 0. Knupp, Charles
L. Kunkle. Benjamin W. Lambing, Harl B.
Langham. Robert IM. Langham, Iddo il.
Lewis. Charles B. Lindsay, Frank C. Lohr,
Benjamin 0. Marsh, George 31. :Marshall,
183
John R. .^larshall, Charles D. McComish,
Ralph C. McComish, Robert W. McCoy, Man-
uel McCrady, David McHenry, Frank W.
McLaughlin, John A. McLaughlin, Stephen
H. :Mohney, Alexander R. Moorhead, Hugh
jM. Moorhead, Albertus L. Mvers, Mack M
Palmer, John K. Parks, John M. Pierce, Har-
old N. Prothero, Ralph Radcliff, Charles B
Repme, Harry H. Rhodes, William H. Rich-
ardson, Lewis Ruffner, Arthur J. Russell,
James B. Sansom, Wesley Shannon, William
Shaffer, Wilmer A. Sharp, Ralph Shilling
William F. Stonebreaker, Harry B. Streams^
Valentine Stuby, iliehael F. Sweeney, Roy-
den J. Taylor, Charles B. Thomas, Benton R.
Thomas, Israel T. Walker, Harry W. Wat-
son, John E. Weaver. Lewis B. Wetzel, Lewis
A. Wheeler, Joseph C. White, William V.
Wilhelm, Lawrence 0. Williams. Samuel T.
Wingert, John D. Wilson.
Joseph A. Blakley, corporal of Company
F, residence Indiana, Pa. (N. G. P.) ; enrolled
April 27, 1898; mustered into service May
11, 1898; died at Sternberg Hospital, Camp
Thomas. Ga., August 25, 1898. He was the
only one of his company that died in service.
Harold N. Prothero, private of Company
F, residence Indiana, Pa. (N. G. P.); en-
rolled April 27, 1898; mustered into service
May 11, 1898 ; transferred to Reserve Ambu-
lance Corps June 27, 1898, through special
order.
David McHenry, of Company F, 5th Regi-
ment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, also served
in the Philippine Islands.
Edward F. Hamilton, Indiana, Pa. was
sergeant in Company A of the 1st Regiment
of West Virginia Volunteers.
George Bennett. Cookport, Pa., was a pri-
vate in Company F of the 1st Regiment of
West Virginia Volunteers.
Harry 31. Stewart, private of Company
C. of the 5th Regiment, Indiana, Pa. (N. G.
P.); enrolled April 27, 1898; mustered into
service Mav 11, 1898; transferred to Hos-
pital Corps June 23, 1898.
David I\I. Caldwell, batallion adjutant,
residence, Indiana, Pa. (N. G. P.) ; enrolled
April 27. 1897; mustered into service May
11, 1898 ; mustered out with companv Novem-
ber 7, 1898.
G. A. Feidt, private of Company E, of the
5th regiment, residence Indiana, Pa. ; enrolled
June 21, 1898; mustered into ser^^ce June
21. 1898 : mustered out with company Novem-
ber 7, 1898.
Charles H. Somerville, private of Company
B. of the 5th Regiment, residence BlairsvUle,
Pa. (N. G. P.) ; enrolled 1898; mustered into
184
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
service May 11, 1898; mustered out of service
with company November 7, 1898.
Herbert C. Davis, private of Company F,
of the 14th Regiment, residence Indiana, Pa. ;
enrolled May 10, 1898 ; mustered into service
May 12, 1898; mustered out with company
February 28, 1899.
Joseph R. McFarland, private of Company
L, of the 16th Regiment; residence Flora,
Pa.; enrolled July 14, 1898; mustered into
service July 15, 1898; mustered out with
company December 28, 1898.
Alexander M. Stewart, Jr., private of Light
Battery A, which was in the first volunteer
organization mustered into the United States
service from the State of Pennsylvania ; resi-
dence Indiana Pa. ; enrolled May 5, 1898 ;
mustered into service May 6, 1898 ; mustered
out with Battery November 9, 1898. They
established camp in Porto Rico August 10,
1898 ; on August 30, 1898, they were ordered
home— started September 3, 1898.
The 28th and 47th Regiments, Volunteer
Infantry, of the United States Army, were
organized for the Philippine service in July,
1899, to serve for two years, and were dis-
charged June 30, 1901. They were sent to
the Philippines for the pacification of the
islands, arriving there in December, 1899.
The 28th was first stationed on the Island of
Luzon, later on the Island of :Mindanao. The
47th was stationed on the southern part of
the Island of Luzon after taking part in Gen-
eral Kobbe's expedition to open up the hemp
ports on that part of the island.
The following persons from Indiana county
entered the service in the Philippines: Wil-
liam F. Jamison, private of Company C, of
the 28th Regiment of Infantry, United States
Volunteers ; residence Indiana Pa. ; enlisted
July 10, 1899. mustered out May 1, 1901.
Engaged in the battle of Putol, January 7,
1900; engagement at Ponto Bana, November
2, 1900 ; skirmishes at Pesezdos, Marines, June
8, 1900; at Calquitor, December 2, 1900; in
General Wheaton's expedition to Northern
Mindanao, December 31, 1900, to March 11,
1901. He reenlisted, as a private of the Hos-
pital Corps of the United States Army, De-
cember 14, 1901, and served for three years.
His record reads : Character, excellent ; serv-
ice, honest and faithful.
Charles C. McLain, captain of Company
B, of the 47th Regiment of Infantry, United
States Volunteers; residence Indiana, Pa.;
mustered into service Aug. 17. 1899: mus-
tered out June 30, 1899 ; received a medal for
service on which is inscribed "Philippine
War United States Army for service on Phil-
ippine Insurrection, 1899."
Harry George, quartermaster sergeant of
Company G of the 47th Regiment of In-
fantry, United States Volunteers' residence
Blairsville, Pa., received a medal for service,
same as one above mentioned.
Lewis A. Wheeler, Indiana, Pa., who served
as first sergeant in Company F, of the 5th
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, was also
first sergeant in Company K of the 47th Regi-
ment of Infantry, United States Volunteers.
Frank Smith and Herbert Fleming, Ind
ana, Pa., and James Fetterman and Frank
Fleming, of Green township, Indiana Co., Pa.
were privates in Company L of 47th Regi
ment of Infantry, United States Volunteers
William Tait. Ernest, Pa., was a private
in Company B, 28th Infantry, U. S. Vols.
John M. Sprankle, private company F, 14th
Pa. Vols.
Louis E. Schueker, Rochester Mills, Pa. ;
private in Company L of the 16th Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers; served in Porto Rico and
afterwards was a commissioned officer in the
Philippines.
INDIANA COUNTY IN THE MEXICAN W^AR 2d
REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS
There were Indiana county men in at least
three companies of this regiment. In Com-
pany B, "American Highlanders," Capt.
John W. Geary, since major general of vol-
unteers and governor of Pennsylvania; in
Company D, Capt. James Murray, of Ebens-
burg; and in Company E.
Captain Geary was elected lieutenant col-
onel at Pittsburg, and after the death of
Colonel Roberts, at Tuculaya, IMexico, was
elected colonel of the regiment. This regi-
ment did faithful service under General
Scott.
At Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo the larger
portion of the regiment was engaged, those
not engaged having been detained on account
of smallpox, and were not allowed to proceed
with the regiment. These were assigned to
duty as train guard, and an interesting in-
cident of train guard work was related by the
survivors. At El Hoya Pass (probably the
same as Paso de Ovejos) they were attacked
by a strong force of Mexicans, and detached
companies were ordered on skirmish line,
driving the ]\Iexicans five miles. It so hap-
pened that Company B, 1st Regiment, Com-
pany B. 2d Regiment, Company B, Dragoons,
were all in the chase, and it was exceeding
rough country; it was sometimes difficult
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
185
(o understand orders, so when Company B
was ordered to execute a movement all the'
Company Bs were inclined to obey at one
time, causing considerable confusion.
In the affray at Contreras the stronghold
could not be reached without exposure to a
destructive fire, except by a circuitous route
up a ravine through chaparral and cactus;
through this they went, often creeping to
prevent their clothes being torn off by sharp
thorns. Divested of all except their clothes
and guns, they silently and cautiously crept
through this supposed impassable approach,
taking the garrison by surprise. It would
seem that the Mexicans were surprised at all
points, for instead of an enemy menacing
their front at daylight, they too late discov-
ered that the Americans had built a wagon
road around the supposed impassable heights
of Cerro Gordo. It was a night of terror pre-
paring for the assault, but the battle of the
morning lasted but seventeen minutes.
This regiment also participated in the ter-
I'ible storming of the fortress at Chapultepec,
and taking of the City of Mexico.
Several Indiana county men lost their lives
during the ^Mexican war. Daniel Kuhns was
killed at the gates of the City of ^Mexico,
and James Kelley, "William ]\Iatthews, and
Mathias Palmer died there. Hugh J. Brady
enlisted when only seventeen years old, and
Pliny Kelly, a young and slender man, was
refused twice, and going to Pittsburg got ac-
cepted by the Duquesne Grays, and stood the
service much better than stouter looking men ;
in the war of 1861 to 1865 he enlisted again,
in California. William Campbell came home
worn down, and lived but a short time.
ROSTER OF INDIANA COUNTY SOLDIERS IN THE
MEXICAN WAR
William Matthews, Company B, 2d Pa.
Vols. ; died in Mexico. Mathias Palmer, Com-
pany B, 2d Pa. Vols.: died in Mexico. John
T. Tincom, Company B. 2d Pa. Vols. ; pro-
moted to drum ma.ior. Henrv Schnetberg,
corporal. Company B, 2d Pa. Vols. : now resi-
dent of Indiana county. Jacob Kuhn, Com-
panv E, 2d Pa. Vols. Hugh J. Brady, Com-
panv E, 2d Pa. Vols.; colonel of the 206th
Pa. " Vols, in the war of 1861-65. George
Hutchison, Company D, 2d Pa. Vols. Joseph
Mardis, Company D, 2d Pa. Vols. Samuel
D. Killen. Company D. 2d Pa. Vols. David
Buchanan. Companv D, 2d Pa. Vols. Samuel
C. Moorhead, 2d Pa. Vols. William Camp-
bell, 2d Pa. Vols.: died at home soon after
the war. David Kuhns, 2d Pa. Vols. ; killed
at the gates of the City of :\Iexico. Kirtland
Keely. John Shoef. William Todd. Simon
Wise. James Kelley, died in Mexico. Wil-
liam Hood, of Bairdstown, 2d Pa. Vols.
Pliny Kelly, also served in war of 1861-65
in California battalion, 2d ^Massachusetts
Cavalry.
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR OF 1814
[By Alexander McMuUen, who, after the
war, located in Center township. From
Chambersburg "Repository" of 1820.]
During the late war, on or about the 20th
of Februaiy, 1814, a draft was ordered by
Simon Snyder, then governor of this State.
Col. James Feuton* appointed to com-
mand the detachment, and Robert Bull, lieu-
tenant colonel. My brother James, being of
the first class in a company of militia, was
drafted for sis months. He was twenty-pne
years of age, and of a delicate constitution.
It was thought by a council of the family and
friends that it would not do for him to go.
I\Iy father was at that time an advocate and
partisan for the measures of government,
and he then saw the evils of the war. I was
about two years older, and more robust than
my brother, and offered myself, to which my
parents with some reluctance consented.
There were two companies of drafts under
command of Capts. Samuel Gordon and
Jacob Stake, and our company of volunteers,
under Capt. Samuel Dunn. These were all
under command of ila.j. James Wood. Wil-
liam McClelland, brigade inspector, was to
furnish the tents and rations for these com-
panies, but from some cause they were de-
tained, and we remained there for three
days, amid a continual scene of dissipation.
The tents arriving, we commenced our march
for Lake Erie on Monday, the 4th. On the
16th we arrived at Pittsburg, and crossing
the Allegheny river, encamped on the plains
in view of that 'city. The Cumberland men.
coming the next day, encamped on Grant's
hill. Here we received six dollars, for three
months' pay in advance, from the State. The
Legislature had granted this in addition to
the United States' pay, making together ten
dollars a month. After a stay of three days
we commenced our march for Erie, then a
* Colonel Fenton commanded for a time the drafted
men from Westmoreland and Indiana counties. The
incidents in this sketch apply also to the troops from
the aforenamed counties.
186
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
small town, where we arrived after traveling
through a deep snow and swampy roads, for
ten days, with no better beds than hemlock
branches and an Indian blanket for cover.
We arrived in tolerable good health and fine
spirits on the evening of the last day of
March, and encamped on a hill east of the
village, in view of Lake Erie. An old block-
house stood between us and the lake, and a
new one nearly finished beside it, with four
pieces of brass cannon, belonging to the State,
making us safe from the enemy on that side.
The Cumberland volunteers and the drafts
from York and Adams arrived, and the reg-
iment was organized into ten companies of
one hundred men each. In a few days dis-
satisfaction began to appear in several com-
panies, owing to the quality of the provis-
ions. The flour was mouldy and the beef
and pork unfit to be eaten.
Desertions began to be frequent, but being
followed and brought back they were placed
in the guardhouse, and generally punished by
being marched in front of the regiment to the
tune of Rogue's march.
About the 20th, Major Martin, with a bat-
talion of regillars, took his station at the
blockhouses. He was an officer of possessing
appearance, but of intemperate habits. About
this time he made a call on Genton's regi-
ment for volunteers to go with him to Put-
in-Bay, to bring the shattered vessels of
Perry's fleet, and a battalion of regulars,
commanded by Colonel Campbell. He was
furnished with about three hundred men, and
set sail for Put-in-Bay in the fleet that had
been anchored at Erie during the winter pre-
ceding. In about ten days they returned, in
consec|uence of bad weather.
Our men, who had not been accustomed to
nautical life, wei-e glad to get their feet on
solid ground once more. Campbell now took
the command of the regulars, who were con-
siderably reinforced, and in the course of a
few days planned an expedition to Long
Point, in Canada. He wanted as many vol-
unteers from Fenton's regiment as he could
get. Fenton agreed to go himself, and more
than one half of his men. We embarked in
the fleet in the evening, and set sail at dark.
The weather was hazy, with very little wind,
and the next morning we were still in sight,
and not veiy far from the American shore.
About eight o'clock the wind favored us, and
towards sunset our fleet cast anchor at Long
Point. The landing of the troops now com-
menced. A party of British light horsemen
waited on the bank till the men came within
a short distance of the shore, then fired a
volley and galloped ofl:'. We remained on the
shore of the lake during the night without
any disturbance. The next morning a scout-
ing party crossed a creek which emptied into
the lake at this place, and had not proceeded
far before they were fired upon by a party of
Canadians. The fire was returned, and we
took up the line of march for Dover, a small
village about three miles from the lake. The
situation of this village was pleasant, the
houses generally frame, near a beautiful
creek, with a fine log fulling-mill, gristmill
and sawmill. The inhabitants had prin-
cipally left town on our approach. We were
then placed in line of battle; the artillery in
the center, the regulars on the right, a re-
serve in the rear, and a company, I suppose
of observation, some distance off. An order
from Campbell, to set fire to the houses, was
now executed, by men detailed from all the
companies. A scene of destruction and
plunder now ensued which beggars all de-
scription. In a short time the houses, mills
and barns were consumed, and a beautiful
village, which the sun shone on in splendor
that morning, was before two o'clock a heap
of ruins. The women and children had re-
mained in the village, and were permitted to
carry out the valuable part of their movable
property. A party of sailors, appointed to
man the artillery, killed the hogs in the
streets, and severing them in the middle car-
ried off the hind parts, while the head and
shoulders were left in the street.
The line of march was now taken up the
lake. The army halted about a mile from the
lake, at the house of a respectable looking
German, and as it had been ascertained that
the British had no force of any consequence
in that neighborhood, the men were per-
mitted to stroll from the ranks. A short dis-
tance from this house was a pasture lot, in
which grazed a fine English cow. Some of
us who were farmers had a curiosity to ex-
amine this fine animal more closely. This
drew a small group together, when a private
of Gordon's company fired his musket and
broke both her fore legs. The farmer and his
family said nothing, afraid, I suppose, their
own turn would come next, and the officers,
taken up in examining some Canadian pris-
oners, paid but little attention to it.
The sun was setting as the troops were re-
embarked, and shortly after dark we set sail,
expecting to awake in the harbor of Erie;
but judge of our surprise in the morning to .
find that we were not more than a mile from
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
187
the Canadian shore, and four miles from
where we started the evening- before. The
sails were lowered, the fleet stopped, and
boats manned for the shore. A troop of horse
formed on the shore appeared determined to
oppose our landing, but the turning of a long
thirty-two pounder on board the "Poi-cupine"
gunboat, to bear on them, made them gallop
off, without firing a gun. There was a grist-
mill and sawmill, to which our troops set fire.
Orders were then given to re-embark, and
the fleet set sail for Erie, where we arrived
the next evening at dark, generally disgusted
at the conduct of Campbell. When we came
back to the camp we found that a number of
men belonging to several companies had de-
serted, taking advantage of the absence of the
officers. A short time after this a mutiny
was set on foot by some designing men, who
made the soldiers believe that the field officers
and contractors were swindling them by buy-
ing up bad provisions at a low price, and that
good could be bought if the officers wanted it.
Another reason was, they had now been in the
service nearly three months, and had re-
ceived but sis dollars from the State, and as
we expected in a few days to march to Buf-
falo, and be under the United States officers,
they were told that unless they stood out for
their rights then, there would be no use of
doing it at Buffalo.
A paper was drawn up and signed by a
number, who were resolved not to start with-
out two months' pay. The officers, for some
reason, appeared very little concerned about
it. The morning came to start for Buffalo.
Preparations were made by those who were
not in the conspiracy, to start and leave the
mutineers, if they were too strong to be forced
off. The mutineers had loaded their mus-
kets, and had supplied themselves with cart-
ridges, apparently determined not to strike a
tent without money. The regiment had been
formed, roll called, and wagons all ready to
load. Orders were given to strike the tents.
About one half were struck. The remainder
stood, the owners beside them with loaded
muskets. Colonel Fenton began to remon-
strate, but they treated all he said with in-
difference. The adjutant, Thomas Doe, stand-
ing beside him, indignant at such conduct,
wanted the Colonel to use force, but he de-
clined, and at Doe's request gave him leave
to quell the disturbance. The first company,
a finely unifonned company of infantry from
Carlisle, had been active in the mutiny, but
their tents fell before the drawn sword of the
adjutant, and men who appeared detemiined
to die on the spot now .shrunk like children
before one man. The rest followed their ex-
ample, and in less than an hour the leaders of
the mutiny were placed in the blockhouse in
irons, and the regiment was on its way to
Buffalo.
This march was a very pleasant one — the
vegetation was coming on with great vigor,
and the country was fast being settled by
respectable and intelligent looking men from
the Eastern States. After a march of eight
days we arrived on the banks of the Buffalo
creek, where we were met by a fine looking
band of musicians, who escorted us to the
village. This village had been burnt the
winter before by the British and Indians.
The inhabitants were generally living in sheds
of frame and lined with rough boards, a tem-
porary protection from the inclemency of the
weather. West of town, and between it and
the lake, was the encampment of the grand
army, said to be 2,500 strong. These were
commanded by IMaj. Gen. Jacob Brown. A
regiment of artillery on the northeast. We
encamped on the left of the regulars, in a
piece of bushy ground which was soon cleared
off. making it a beautiful spot, with a fine
spring, close to the encampment.
Regulations new to us, and verj^ strict, were
now adopted. We arose at four o'clock (re-
veille beat), and answered to our names. We
had fifteen minutes to prepare for drill, which
generally lasted one hour. Breakfast being
over, the regiment was formed, roll again
called, guards detailed, and the regiment dis-
missed for a short time. The sergeants' drill
came next, which generally lasted till eleven
o'clock. At two, the Adjutant General
drilled the regiment, which were then dis-
missed till nine, when the roll was again
called and we retired to rest. The time
passed away in this manner ; constant exercise,
wholesome provisions and strict discipline
soon made our regiment have another ap-
pearance.
On the evening of the third day of July, the
regulars left their camp, and marched down
to the Niagara river, crossed during the night,
and surrounded Fort Erie, which surren-
dered the next day. There was but one bat-
talion in the fort, and two companies of ar-
tilleiy. These were brought to Buffalo, and
from thence to Greenbush, in the State of
New York, escorted by Captain Alexander's
company of infantry. We crossed on the 5th ;
some out of each company refused to go ; and
some of their comrades were detailed to bring
them by force, which we found to be no easy
188
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
matter, as they had taken possession of an
old battery, and stood in their own defense.
They were about eighty strong. A treaty was
now commenced, and about twenty of them,
with their leader, agreed to come over; the
rest we left, our commander wisely consider-
ing them of little consequence.
In the morning we marched for Chippewa.
The regulars had started the day before.
About two o'clock we halted about two miles
from the creek, where a large body of Indians
of different tribes were preparing to go out
on a scouting expedition. One of their chiefs,
in a speech which for gesture and strength
of lungs I had never heard equalled, was pre-
paring them for bloody deeds. Volunteers
were now called for from Porter's brigade.
The Indians had started towards a pine wood,
back of the fields, where we then halted.
Having lost my sleep the night before, I had,
like a simpleton, lent my musket to Lieuten-
ant Dick, and laying down in a fence comer
fell fast asleep. In a few minutes the sharp
crack of the Indians' rifles waked me, the
noise increased by the quick discharges of
cannon and musketry. I was so much con-
fused that I scarce knew what I was doing.
I ran to Major Wood, who was forming, and
asked them what they were doing.
"Fighting!" was the enswer. "Fall into
ranks ! ' '
I now felt my situation— without gun or
cartridge box. I ran to the bank of the river,
where a boat was lying, which had brought
the baggage down the river, and solicited a
gun, which after some difficulty I obtained,
and soon joined our company. Just at this
time I saw the Indians and some of the vol-
unteei-s flying across the fields towards us.
They had received a warmer reception than
they had expected.
Shortly after they crossed into the woods
they came on a party of Canadians (Indians)
and militia, who fired on them. The fire was
returned, and the Canadians fled towards the
bridge, our volunteers in full pursuit. A
number of the Canadian Indians and their
militia lost their lives in this running fight.
Approaching the bridge they met the British
army. A retreat now commenced, with the
Canadians and some British regulars in full
pursuit. In this retreat, Robert McClelland,
a very respectable man of our company, lost
his life. Almost all the companies of our
regiment lost some men.
By the time the regiment came in view of
the Chippewa creek, the battle was over and
the British retreating across the bridge. A
number of killed and wounded lay on the
plains where the armies had fought. We
marched past them towards the bridge,
saluted every few minutes by the cannon balls
from the British works at Chippewa, which
to us militia was a new but not a very pleas-
ant sight.
After keeping us a considerable time
formed in front, and exposed to the cannon
of the British works, we were marched back
to our camp. That evening we were joined
by a company of Canadian volunteers, who
had entered the service of the United States.
The next morning the dead of both armies
were bui-ied. The killed and wounded
amounted to six or seven hundred, of which
the greater part belonged to the British. Col.
Robert Ball, second in command, Major Gal-
loway and Captain White were taken pris-
oners, besides a number of privates.
About twelve o'clock, a number of men of
different companies were detailed to take the
prisoners, who were all wounded, up the
Niagara, in boats to Buffalo. I was one of
this party. The navigation of this stream,
up the river, is very difficult and laborious.
It was dark by the time we had got eight
miles, and as we were very tired we landed
opposite a house on the shore to rest till morn-
ing. The owner had left this when the army
came down the river.
As some of the men were slightly hurt, and
we in an enemy's country, a sentinel was sent
to watch the boat. About midnight, my turn
came. The moon gave but little light, and
the prisoners and our men all laying quiet,
when the sound of footsteps within a lew
paces startled me. I turned hastily around,
and saw a large Indian, who, when he saw my
musket presented, called out, "don't shoot."
He proved to be one of our own side, on his
road to join the army.
The next day we arrived at Buffalo, where
we were detained for eight days, when we
returned to join the army, who were en-
camped at Queenstown, below the falls of
Niagara.
The river at this town is narrow, and very
deep, and an eddy of backwater renders it an
easy place to land boats. The houses were
large and handsome. Above the town was a
steep hill called Queensto.wn mountain, on
the top of which was a fort, where the vol-
unteers and Indians were encamped. The
New York volunteers having joined us we
were formed into a brigade, commanded by
Gen. Peter B. Porter. After a march to the
neighborhood of Fort George, where we re-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
189
mained two days, we returned to our former
camp at Queenstowu.
On our march up the river, when we came
in view of Queenstown Heights, we discovered
a number of the Canadian militia, who had
taken possession of our former encampment.
On our approach they began to move off. We
pursued them for some miles. Being on a
flanking party with others, our route was
principally through the woods. We returned
in the evening with eight prisoners, most of
them being otfieers.
Nest day we marched to Chippewa and
encamped. There was preparation making
to march to Burlington Heights, but on the
evening of the 25th of July intelligence was
brought that the enemy were in pursuit of
us. and coming up the river below the falls.
Gen. Scott ]\Ioorhead, with his brigade, went
to meet them, and gave them battle about
three miles from the camp. The second bri-
gade of regulars, under General Ripley, has-
tened to his support, and the contest became
warm and bloody. The enemy's artillery be-
ing taken about the time we of Porter's bri-
gade an-ived on the battleground, the enemy,
reinforced, came down the hill directly in
front of us. The brigade was just formed
into line, when I heard the voice of Porter
saying to us. "show yourselves men, and as-
sist your brethren," when showers of musket
balls came over our heads like a sweeping
hailstorm. We returned the fire from the
whole line of the brigade. The firing was
now kept up from both sides with great spirit,
but it was soon evident that there was a great
advantage on our side. The ground the Brit-
ish occupied was considerably elevated, which
exposed them to the elevation that a musket
■\nll take in going any considerable distance,
while their balls were passing high in the air
over our heads. At length the call fi-om the
officers to cease firing and march forward was
obeyed. I had twenty rounds of cartridges
in my box when I went to the battleground,
and when the firing ceased, on examining my
box, I found that the last was in my musket.
Cartridges and flints were now hastily distrib-
uted along the line, and our brave brigade,
blackened with powder, marched forward to-
ward the top of the hill to drive the enemy
from his position there. In our march we
passed over the dead and dying, who were
literall.v in heaps, especially where the Brit-
ish had stood during the battle.
When we arrived at the top of the hill, we
came to a thicket where an old fence had
been. Crossing this disordered the line con-
siderably, and when through it, we found our-
selves within a few rods of the British, who
■were strongly reinforced and turning to meet
us. A deathlike silence for a few moments
prevailed, and both armies stood still. One
of the British officers asked, in a hoarse voice,
if we had surrendered. There was no answer
to this question. He asked again. Lieuten-
ant Dick told him that we merer would sur-
render. The Canadian company on our right
began to falter, and firing irregularly, the
whole bod.v fled back over the British fenc,
they complimenting us with a shower of
musket balls.
A number were killed, and others were
wounded in this tumultuous retreat. Run-
ning about fifteen or twenty rods we thought
ourselves out of danger, and several of us, at
the request of the officers, stopped and were
formed into line.
Colonel Nichols had joined us that eve-
ning with a regiment of regulars from ilis-
souri, who had been kept as a reserve, who.
by skillful maneuvers, placed themselves be-
tween us and the British, and kept up a de-
structive fire on the British, who soon fell
back and the firing ceased. A murmur ran
through the ranks of the volunteer com-
panies, who were contending for places in
the rear, and the groans of dying was all that
was heard for some minutes.
The shattered remains of the brigade be-
ing formed, we were marched to the right of
the line, and near the edge of the precipice
of the Niagara falls. The cannon that had
been taken from the British was at this place.
We were formed in order of battle.
This time to me was one of the most trying
moments of my life. Being warm during
the engagement, I had opened my vest and
shirt collar, and now the night air chilled
me — Death, the common lot of all mankind,
is generally feared the nearer he approaches
us. I felt my situation to be an awful one,
and I did sincerely wish that the British
army, who were on the hill in view of us,
might not come down to commence the en-
gagement again. The British arm.v retiring,
nur company with others, were ordered to
haul the cannon taken from the British, and
tumble it over the precipice. We hauled one
and sent it over the precipice into the river.
We then went back and were ordered to
haul another, but tired out. and half dead for
want of water, the most of our faces scorched
with powder, we refused to do any more, and
our officers led us back to places in the line.
A retrograde march back to the camp now
190
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
commenced, the volunteers in front and the
regulars ini the rear to cover the retreat.
When we arrived at the camp, a number of
men who had run off from its during the en-
gagement came back, and wished to fall into
ranks, but were ordered off by Lieutenant
Patton, who now had command of the com-
pany. The next thing was to make a speech
to us.
He began by saying that he was surprised
at us for not standing our groimd at the
brush fence. If the whole brigade had fled
(as they actually did) Gordon's company
should have remained iirm.
This was too much; we believing that we
had done all that men could do, and this our
thanks ! We broke loose on him with a volley
of insulting language. He standing in front
of us, with a smile, told us that we were dis-
missed, and might go to the river and get
drunk on water.
I now learned that ten of our company were
wounded. There was a number of men killed
in every company except ours. Thomas Poe,
adjutant of the regiment, was mortally
wounded. He was my full cousin, a man of
fine talents, a brave and meritorious officer,
and treated us like brothers.
The next morning a scene of distress pre-
sented itself to my view, which I hope I may
never witness again. I started early to see
Thomas Poe, hearing that he was dying in a
house at Chippewa, a short distance from our
camp. Calling at several of the tents, as I
passed along, nearly all of them contained
one or more wounded men, their clothes cov-
ered with blood, and they suffering se-
verely. John JlcClay, the quartermaster,
was wounded by a musket ball, which cut him
across the fore part of the head, and cracked
his skull. He was lying on his back, his face
in a gore of blood. The strange vnld look,
and deep groan he gave, just as I entered,
drew a smile from me, so accustomed men
become to blood, that they feel but little
sympathy for their fellows.
Coming to the house at Chippewa, I found
Thomas Poe lying on a blanket. He reached
his hand to me and told me that he was mor-
tally, wounded ; that he had but a few moments
to live, and told me that he wished to be
buried on the American side of the river.
The army was at this time on its march,
and passed the house, going to attack the
British. I had no wish to go with them, as I
had become fully satisfied the previous day,
and the officers telling me to stay and attend
Poe. I stood in the door and with sorrow
watched the shattered remains of only twenty-
five out of the hundred that had left Frank-
lin county, as with slow and melancholy steps
they were returning to the scene of action.
In a short time the whole body returned, as
it was found that the British were strongly
reinforced, and were preparing to attack us.
Our troops had suffered severely the night
before, especially one regiment that the eve-
ning before had paraded four hundred men,
now had but eighty-eight. Added to this.
Major General Brown, the commander, and
Brigadier General Scott, who commanded
the first brigade, were both wounded, and the
provisions were also destroyed. Lieutenant
Campbell, a number of the regulars and my-
self carried the wounded Thomas Poe to the
crossing place. Boats were waiting here to
take the wounded across the river. Carrying
him nearly a mile across a plain, in the mid-
dle of the 25th of July, appeared to exhaust
what little strength he had left. I put him
in a boat, in care of Lieutenant Dick and his
Avaiter. He shook hands with me for the last
time. He said to me in a weak voice, "Alex-
ander, you will never see me again in this
world. ' ' He expired in a few minutes. Thus
fell one who had but few equals.
Landing the remaining part of the wounded
now commenced, and there was at least forty
two-horse wagons loaded with these unfor-
tunate men. Their sufferings in this mode of
conveyance appeared to be dreadful, and
their groans distressing. I was now attacked
with a high fever and violent headache, and
had to give up my musket and knapsack and
take a seat in the wagon, but the jolting al-
most deranged me. I then attempted to walk,
but finding my strength failing, and being
behind our regiment, I lay down in front of
a house in despair, not caring what became
of me. The regulars passing at this time one
of their officers, seeing me, assisted me to rise,
and made one of his soldiers support me for a
short distance. I then felt better, and able
to walk without support. It was now dark.
We came to a wash house opposite the village
of Black Rock, and I went into it. The night
was cloudy, and appearance of a storm.
There were a number of stragglers from dif-
ferent companies and we all lay down on the
fioor, and I soon fell asleep, but an affray
of the regulars with some men soon ordered
us out. He sent some of his men to conduct
me to the meadov.' where our company was.
He gave me my blanket, and I was compelled
to lie down in a high fever, just as the rain
to come down in torrents. This, of all
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
191
nights I had ever spent, was the most dread-
ful.
In the morning I found myself lying in
the water two inches deep. I was so weak
that I could scarcely walk. The day before,
I had given mj' messmates my canteen, which
was full of French brandy, ily first thoiight
was to get it, and determined to drink as
much of it as I could, but fortunately for me
m.v comradi;s had disposed of it themselves.
I now went with company to Fort Erie.
This was a small fort of sods, in which were
several men at work, digging and carrying
sods to raise the fort higher, and repair
bastions.
My messmates insisted on me going across
the river until I got better. An application
was made to General Porter, and I crossed
to the United States, after having been in
Canada nearly two months.
I went to the hospital, and Lieutenant Dick,
Peter Keefer, William Edwards and myself
got a tent by ourselves. Some time passed,
when the British crossed the river, and at-
tacked a small body of Kentucky riflemen.
The main body being at Fort Erie, we left
Buffalo and went about two miles to an In-
dian town, belonging to the Seneca Indians,
who liad removed to another about two miles
from this, which also belonged to them. The
situation of the first mentioned village was
pleasant, the houses of one story, and in a
straight line, about sixteen feet square, with
a porch in front the length of the house. A
beautiful meadow, orchard, and small fields
of wheat surrounded the village. There ap-
peared to be about twelve acres of cleared
land. The Indians had left this village a short
time before, in consequence of some of their
people catching the smallpox; they, suppos-
ing that it belonged to the village, left it with
all their furniture, and rush mats, which was
their bedding.
Sta.ving here one night and part of a day,
we learned that the danger was over. The
British, 1.100 strong, attempted to cross a
small creek. The riflemen had thrown up a
breastwork of logs within point blank shot of
the ford, and being excellent marksmen and
retired veterans, the British found it no easy
matter to cross the creek, and after several
ineffectual efforts, re-embarked, after ha\'ing
lost three hundred killed and wounded. The
rifle regiment lost but few, being protected
bv their breastwork.
My companions now left me. The phy-
sician said my disease was dumb ague. I had
high fever through the night, but during the
day was able to walk about though very
weak.
The hospital was intended for the sick and
wounded of Porter's brigade. The superin-
tendent and his assistant were from the
Pennsylvania regiment. I suppose there
might have been sixty of us here generally,
though I never saw the list. There was one
who had charge of the medicine chest, and
like all quacks was, in his own opinion, an
excellent physician. Dr. Mady, the surgeon
of the Pennsylvania regiment, generally at-
tended us once a day, examined the patients,
and left his directions vdth the Irishman who
gave each one his portion of medicine, but
he soon began to enlarge, and took the liberty
of differing from his employer, and as he
distributed he gave what he thought would
effect a cure. Going to him one morning for
Peruvian bark, he felt my pulse and began to
talk very gravely of giving me something
else. I told him I would go by the direction
of the physician. He insisted. I then told
him that he knew nothing about medicine, was
an impostor, etc. He said but little more,
but in the course of the day let me know the
consequences of my hasty expressions. I had
still kept the tent after my companions had
left me. This he ordered to be taken from me.
As I did not choose to go into the sick room,
he let me know that I might find lodgings
where I pleased. I took quarters in the jail
in Buffalo, which was used at that time as a
storehouse.
The noise of repairing old muskets, firing,
etc., at this place, almost distracted me with
the headache. Lieut. Dick procured boarding
for me at the house of a respectable widow,
named St. John, three miles from Buffalo.
Her husband had died some years before, and
left her five children to support. They had
some property in Buffalo, where they had
kept a tavern, but during the preceding win-
ter the British destroyed it all except one
small frame house, which they left her. I re-
ceived all the kindness I could ask. Our life
was economical in the highest degree, and I
believe was a great means of restoring my
health. In a few days I visited Buffalo and
saw such of our company as were in the hos-
pital. I had the company of Major Wood and
Adjutant Kean, a New Yorker, and I soon
began to feel at home.
THE UNDERGROUND RAILRO.ID IN INDIANA
COUNTY
[By an Official]
Although the subject of human slavery had
occupied the minds of the people greatly
192
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
hitherto, it was not until the j'ear 1840 that
public attention was called to the matter in
this vicinity in a way to cause careful and
considerate deliberation. About this period
meetings commenced to be held in school
houses to consider the evil, and it became a
matter of discussion pro and con at public
assemblages of the people. The agitation of
the question of slavery met with the most de-
termined opposition from many good people,
and at the same time was arrayed in its
favor those base elements of society always
found upholding the wrong against the right.
At the period alluded to, several meetings
were held in what was known as ^McMuUen's
schoolhouse, in Center township. Among
the speakers who addressed these meetings in
opposition to slavery were Ephraim Carpen-
ter, William Henry, James ]\Ioorhead and Dr.
Mitchell.
The seed sown by these pioneers of free-
dom fell upon good ground and brought into
the ranks of the "abolitionists" such well-
known and well-remembered men as Hon.
Joseph Campbell, John Allison, Sr., Ales.
McMuUen, John Lytle, John B. Allison,
James Hamilton, John Adair, A. C. Hall,
John Ewing, J. R. Smith, and many others
more or less prominent at that day in that
neighborhood. Meetings in other localities
rapidly followed, and the ranks of the ad-
vocates of the oppressed were swelled by the
addition of hundreds — John Graff, John
E^ing, John Ellis, John and Alexander Sutor
being among the ■ number. The Rev. David
Blair then had congregations in Indiana.
Conemaugh and West Lebanon, and his de-
nunciations of the sin of slavery were con-
stant, and the influence of his preaching was
greatly felt in the accession of good men to
the cause.
A paper published in Washington, D. C.
entitled New Era, was circulated extensively
through the county, and its influence aided
in .extending the work and increasing the
ardor of the opponents of slavery.
In a few years from the commencement of
the agitation there was no section of the
country where the abolitionists were not rec-
ognized as a power, and while the members
of the party challenged debate on the sub.ject
and lost no opportunity of presenting their
views, the.v at the same time were not slow
to avail themselves of opportunities to give
practical assistance to the objects of their
solicitude. For this latter purpose, what was
then known as the "Underground Railroad"
was organized. A description of this will
doubtless be interesting to many who were in
life then, and cannot be devoid of interest to
the generation which have succeeded, and to
whom the workings of this road will be en-
tirely new.
The fugitive slave law, enacted especially
for the protection of slaveholders, imposed
severe penalties upon any person known to
give aid or comfort to the fleeing slave. Men
of means and property were, in many in-
stances, deterred by this law from openly
giving aid to fugitives. Dr. Mitchell had
been convicted of harboring runaways, and
been mulcted in such hea^vy damages and costs
as to seriously embarrass him. The United
States courts, whose jurisdiction extended
over infractions of the fugitive slave law,
were extremely proslavery, and to gain favor
with the Southern owners were ready to bow
to their behests, and the slave power was so
far-reaching and widespread that to oppose
it was to incur social ostracism and political
death. The rulings of the courts, conse-
quently, were often one-sided and partial,
and it was mainly through fear of not ob-
taining justice that the abolitionists organ-
ized the "Underground Railroad." ^Many
of the slaves fleeing from bondage lived along
the border counties of Virginia, and always
traveling by night, and guided by the north
star, their route led them through this county
on their way to Canada. Once on the shores
of Canada the slave stood in no awe of his
master; but this was not the case within the
States or Territories of the LTnion. In day-
light the fugitives sought concealment in the
thick woods or underbrush, and at night pur-
sued his lonesome and toilsome journey to-
wards the polar star, which to him was the
beacon of hope and a ray of light which meant
libert.v.
The town of Indiana and the surrounding
hills (then nearly all thickly wooded) was a
great "depot" on the road. As soon as the
presence of the fugitive was made known to
the railway officials, he was taken in charge
and piloted to the next station, and there
delivered to the care of another "conductor,"
and so on until safely passed to the Canadian
shore. The runaways were furnished with
food, and frequently with raiment, it being
sometimes the case that they were destitute
of garments. The pursuers were often close
at hand, and in some instances were in the
town before the train had started. Many
hairbreadth escapes were made under such
circumstances. One instance I recall to mind
will illustrate this. At one time four or five
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
193
stout negroes were discovered on Caldwell's
(now Gomfer's) hill, in sight of town. They
remained there one entire day, and at dark
it was deemed desirable to have them removed
to Hamilton's barn, a mile distant. This
was safely accomplished. They were given
much needed food, and after eating were
secreted among the hay and straw to gain
rest and sleep. About eleven o'clock that
night the writer heard a faint tap at the door
of his house, in Indiana. Upon opening the
door and peering into the darkness, I dis-
covered the form of old Sheriff James Taylor.
Trembling and almost breathless he rushed
into tlie house, closing the door in haste as
though fearful of discovery. He informed
me of the presence of the slaves at Hamil-
ton's, and said they had scarcely crossed the
pike when their pursuers — six or eight in
number — came along; that the slave-hunters
were now in towti, and intended making a raid
on Hamilton's barn before morning. He
added that something must be done at once
to save the fugitives: that he had property
that if detected in assisting in their flight,
the mastei-s could secure, and that as I was
possessed of little of this world 's goods I must
get them out of danger. I aroused James
M. Hart (now of Saltsburg), and taking a
direction opposite from Hamilton's, to mis-
lead any enemy who might be watching us,
walked rapidly to the residence of David
IMyers. At a gentle tap on his back window
(a familiar signal to him), he quickly arose
and piloted us through the woods and brush
to "Jimmy" Hamilton's. Arousing him and
informing him of the danger, we all repaired
to the barn. Here the negroes were quickly
wakened, and in a few minutes the "train"
was under headway. "Conductor" ilyers in
charge, and passing laboriously but steadily
through ravines and over rocks, fallen logs
and other obstructions, was brought to a stand-
still at the house of Conductor Jacob Myers.
Here they were safel.v secreted for several
days, lantil the immediate danger was past.
Then they were taken in charge by John Jones
and the Sutors. and then by John Ewing, near
Georgeville. From here, provided with food,
etc., they once more set out on their .iourney,
with the polar star as their guide. "We after-
wards learned that they arrived safely in
Canada, and in all probability some of them
are yet living to reeoimt to their children
their perilous escape from slavery. The con-
ductors, I may add, all got home before day-
light, and next morning resumed their usual
-avocations, the members of their families or
neighbors knowing nothing of the work dur-
ing tlie watches of the night. I may as well
state that the slave-hunters were informed
by some sympathizer that the negroes had
been seen in the evening going in the direc-
tion of Hamilton's. At two o'clock next
morning the barn was surrounded by slave-
catchers and carefully searched, but they were
about thirty minutes too late. They were
satisfied by their investigation that the ne-
groes had been there.
They remained about the town and sur-
rounding country for some time thereafter,
continuing their search for the fugitives.
They were kindly treated by the citizens, and
appeared to be enjoying themselves very
well; expressed a good opinion of the people,
but said they were the most close-mouthed
population they had ever seen — especially on
the matter they were most interested' in.
They offered money for information, and
counted down $200 to Samuel M. Jamison,
their hotel-keeper's son. but their bribes or
money availed nothing. Wlien they an-
nounced their departure for Virginia, they
were closely watched, and when well out of
the county the managers of the railroad so
informed the conductors, and the train moved
on with the result already stated.
At another time, five fugitives were se-
creted in a dense woods on the banks of Little
Mahoning creek, near Georgeville. The.v
were closely pursued, and their masters ap-
peared in the locality, and had with them a
large bloodhound. Ben. Wan-en had the run-
aways in charge. He became alarmed and
took Thompson Ha.vs, of Plumville, into his
confidence. Hays, accompanied by his wife,
secreted themselves in a clump of bushes,
some eighty rods from where the negroes had
crossed the road. In a little while one of the
slave-hunters, with the bloodhound, came
along the road. When the dog came to the
point where the negroes had crossed, he
halted and gave evidence that he had got the
scent. The case was desperate, but Hays was
equal to the emergency. Bringing his rifle
to his shoulder, he took careful aim, and shot
the bloodhound down in his tracks. The
slave-hunter was badly frightened, and fear-
ing the same marksman would draw a bead
on him. he put spurs to his horse and galloped
rapidly back the road he had come. The hunt
was not resumed, and the conductor got his
train away safely.
These are mere recitals of hundreds of sim-
ilar instances of the way the underground
railroad was run in this countv, and which
194
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
only ceased operations M'ith the removal of
the cause which had brought it into existence.
Many of those engaged in this work of as-
sisting fellow beings in their flight to freedom,
have gone to their long reward. Others of
us still linger on the sands of time. Whatever
may be the judgment of posterity, of our
action in this matter, it should be tempered
with the knowledge that we believed we were
fully justified in assisting to liberty human
beings, with human instincts and immortal
inspirations and to whom liberty was as great
a boon as to ourselves. We repudiated the
doctrine that one man had a right to enchain
in perpetual bondage and degradation his
brother, and we only carried out our belief
when we assisted to liberty and freedom the
flying fugitive.
A BRANCH OP THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Robert Mitchell, Jr., relates the following
incident : " On a Sunday night in February,
1856, seven colored men came from Johns-
town by the way of Mechanicsburg, where
their pursuers had preceded them two hours,
to our house at Diamondsville, to which they
had been directed by a colored barber at
Johnstown named Williams. They were
nearly exhausted with their walk and as soon
as possible they were provided with supper,
and about midnight were put to bed in our
store-house. I awakened them about three
o'clock in the morning and we started for
Cherrytree by the back road, by way of Hus-
tenvilie and Pine Flats, reaching the village
by daybreak, and thence proceeded toward
George Acheson's in Clearfield county.
"The only person who observed us on the
road was David Kinports of Cherrytree, who
saw us on the hill above the village. We got
within half a mile of Acheson's by ten o'clock ;
so, leaving the slaves in the woods, I went to
Acheson's home and informed him of the
colored men's troubles. He at once went to
the timber and took them to his house and
gave them their breakfast. They went to bed
and slept till four o'clock in the afternoon.
He then started with them for a colored man's
cabin, where they would be directed to Jason
Kirk's house, who lived on the 'Grampian
hills.'
"Meanwhile I started for home, and on
the hill above Cherrytree I met eleven men
in hot pursuit of the slaves. I passed them,
and at about a mile's distance I met George
Spalding, who had a letter for me, informing
me of the close pursuit of the colored men.
"We turned and followed the part}' and
noticed they had stopped at Gamble's mill
and were about to put up for the night. We
hastened to Acheson's, reaching there about
eleven o'clock at night, and informed him of
the close chase. Without waiting fully to
dress, he, with a loaf of bread under each
arm (and minus pantaloons), started for the
negroes.
"When he reached the colored man's cabin,
he took the slaves away to a dark wilderness,
pine country, on Moss creek, a tributary of
the Susquehanna, from whence, after remain-
ing a week, they reached New York State in
safety.
"I subsequently received a letter inform-
ing me of their safe arrival in Chautauqua
county, N. Y.
"In the next morning, Spalding and my-
self apprised Gamble of how matters stood
and he detained the pursuers as long as pos-
sible. ' '
This is one of the many incidents which
transpired on this branch of the Underground
Railroad.
GEORGE ATCHESON
was the great hero of the antislavery men in
this section. Born in Ireland, he was there an
Orangeman, and removed to eastern Penn-
sylvania, whence, at an early date, he mi-
grated to the Susquehanna valley, not far
from the Cherry Tree, where he was among
the earliest settlers.
He was over six feet in height, of strong-
build, with rugged features, and was a
natural orator. For many years he was a
pilot on the river, and he became a successful
lumber merchant. He was passionately fond
of the culture of fruit, and had his Orange-
man's flowers, as well as the Irish hedge,
growing in his garden.
He attended all the principal antislaveiy
meetings of his time, and could entertain for
half an hour at a time such men as Giddings,
Pillsbury, Garrison and others. He expended
thousands of dollars, and being a man of
great energy and determination was regarded
as the leader of the abolitionists.
Personally he was regarded with great
favor by the leaders of the proslavery party,
and he returned their courtesies, while he
never abated in his plans to hurry on to free-
dom all the slaves who came within his reach.
He was at first a Protestant Methodist, but
became a Wesleyan IMethodist after the agi-
tation of the slavery question.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
195
He died in 1878, over eight.y-foiir years of
PENSIONERS IN INDIANA COUNTY IN 1840 *
Names of pensioners for Revolutionary or
other military services and their ages:
BlackHck township — Alexander Campbell,
86.
BrushvaUey townsliip — James Kelly, 71.
BlairsviUe borough — Zebulon Doty, 85;
]\Iott Wilkinson, 75.
Conemaugh township — James Kane, 80;
John Montgomery, 80.
Center township — Joseph Jloorhead, 72;
*From Census of 1840,
James Huston, 82; Benjamin AVilliams, 65;
John Ferguson, 76.
Green township — George Bowers 82-
Henry Kifers, 97.
Wheatfield township— CovnAhis Ilutche-
son. 84.
Young to tVnship— .John Ewing, sen., 75.
Armstrong township—Isnac Akeright, 56.
Washington township—James R. Bell, 46;
John Jamieson, 67; William JleHenry, 70,
Mahoning township — John Leasure, 76:
John Brady, 63 ; Isaiah Yanhorn, 80 ; Thomas
Neil, 78; James Ewing, 73; James Shields,
101; John Brady, 64,
Montgomery township — William White,
84; Job Pearee, 88,
CHAPTER XVI
SCHOOLS OF INDIANA COUNTY
SCHOOLS OF OUE FOREFATHERS
The several religious denominations repre-
sented by the early settlers in the State built
man.v schoolhouses and maintained many
schools, while church and school were planted
together in almost every locality where a con-
gregation of Christians of like faith could
be collected large enough to sustain them;
yet the number of schools established in this
way was entirely inadequate to the accommo-
dation of all the children who desired to
obtain an education. Had there been a school
at every church, many children lived at too
great a distance to attend. But vast sections
of thinly settled country Avere wholly without
churches, and in others the churches were
so scattered that they could not be reached
by young children going to school. Adults
frequently traveled on horseback or in wag-
ons five or even ten miles to church; it was
impossible for little boys and girls to walk
such long distances, often through unbroken
forests. Hence arose multitudes of schools,
sometimes composed of the children of a
single family or of several families, and gen-
erally growing into schools of little communi-
ties or neighborhood schools. They were wide-
ly known by the name of "pay" or "subscrip-
tion" schools. In England such schools are
called "voluntary schools." The establish-
ment of these neighborhood schools was most
rapid in sections settled by people of differ-
ent religious denominations. In communities
composed of a single denomination, and in
towns, church schools were generally estab-
lished in preference; but as the first settlers
in Pennsylvania were divided into many sects,
and as these soon became very much inter-
mixed, it was not long before the neighbor-
hood schools greatly outnumbered the schools
of all the other classes. In proportion to
population, the neighborhood schools were
fewest in the oldest settled parts of the State ;
for as the people moved west into the Cum-
lierland valley, along the Susquehanna and
Juniata and over the Alleghenies, intermin-
gling socially and in business, out of common
toils, common privations, common dangers
and common interests there necessarily came
to be common schools. The churches in the
early days were foremost in the work of edu-
cation everywhere and always, but distinctive
church schools were not numerous in the mid-
dle or northern counties, and very few of them
were established in western Pennsylvania.
Ministers founded schools in these sections of
the State and taught them, but they rai-ely
formed a part of the church organization, as
was so frequently the case in the older settle-
ments. After the Revolutionar.v war, tending
as it did to unite the whole people into one
body, and to stimulate enterprise and quicken
intellectual activity, there was a rapid inerea.se
in all parts of the State in the number of
schools the people established for themselves.
196
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Without any controlling law on the suhject
and, .therefore, necessarily without system,
prompted by the wish to obtain at least some
education for their children, but guided only
by the light which a rough expei'ience in
an American wilderness furnished as to what
should be provided, and limited always by
the scanty means at their command, our fore-
fathers built schoolhouses, employed teachers,
and sent their children to school. McMas-
ter, in his history of the People of the United
States, speaking of the educational condition
of America directly after the close of the Revo-
lutionary war, states that "In New York and
Pennsylvania a schoolhouse was never to be
seen outside a village or a town." He is mis-
taken. In Pennsylvania there was scarcely a
neighborhood without one. At the time of
the adoption of the common school system in
1834, there must have been at least four thou-
sand schoolhouses in the State, built by the
volunteer contributions of the people in their
respective neighborhoods. Thoroughly repub-
lican in principle, these schools of the peo-
ple grew apace with the progress of republi-
can sentiment, and it only required the leg-
islation of after years to perfect the form
and systematize the working of what had al-
ready in substance been voluntarily adopted
by thousands of communities throughout the
State. Such schools were at that day with-
out precedent; they were established by the
early colonists only from necessity ; but as the
people of different denominations and of none
mingled more and more together, their sec-
tarian pre.iudices and customs of exclusive-
ness acquired across the sea began to wear
away, and they finally discovered that neither
sect, nor class, nor race, need stand in the way
of the cordial union of all in the education
of their children. No movement in our whole
history is of more significance than the process
by which the neighborhood schools came to
supply the educational needs of dififerent com-
munities, and frequently to displace other
schools established on a narrower foundation,
making, as it does, the formation of a com-
mon bond of union and the molding of the
population into a common nationality. Nor
does one who fully understands this move-
ment require further light to direct him where
to find the ground upon which our public
school system was based, or how to account
for the sentiment that produced and sustained
it. Its growth is certainly indigenous to
Pennsylvania.
The early schools established by the people
for themselves were at first necessarily crude
in organization, narrow in their course of
instruction, poorly taught, and kept in rooms
or houses often extemporized for the purpose,
and seldom possessing any but the roughest
accommodations. As a class they were infe-
rior to the church schools, for these were gen-
erally supervised by the ministers, who sought
to engage the best qualified teachers that could
be found, and to insure good behavior and
fair progi-ess in learning on the part of the
pupils. As to the church schools, but prob-
ably with less discrimination, those able to
pay for tuition did so, vphile the children of
those unable to pay were admitted almost
everywhere gratuitously. Doubtless many
children remained away from school whose
parents were too poor to pay for their school-
ing, and yet too proud to accept charity,
but be it said to the credit of the schools of
all kinds in Pennsylvania, from the earliest
times, that inability to pay tuition fees never
closed their doors against deserving children
desiring admission.
Frequently a school was started in this
wise : The most enterprising man in the com-
munity, having children to educate, would in-
terest his neighbors with the proposition to
start a school. If the proposition was well
received, those interested met together and
appointed a board of trustees, whose duty it
was to procure a suitable room, or build a
schoolhouse, ascertain the number of children
who would attend the school, fix the tuition
fee. employ a teacher, and in a general way
manage the school. The trustees were usually
elected annually at a meeting held for that
purpose by those who were interested in the
school. Women sometimes attended and took
part in such meetings. Land was cheap and
the site was usually obtained without cost,
and the house erected by the gratuitous labor
of those most interested. It is said that it
was not uncommon for skilled workmen to
build a rough log cabin, which they deemed
suitable for a schoolhouse, in a single day.
When money was needed for building it was
raised by subscription.
In other cases the moving spirit in starting
a school was one of the numerous peripatetic
schoolmasters who wandered about from set-
tlement to settlement, seeking employment.
The name peripatetic is taken from Aristotle,
who instructed his disciples while he walked
about the Lyceum. Seeing an opening the
needy schoolmaster would draw up a subscrip-
tion paper, obtain a list of subscribers, rent
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
197
a room or a dwelling, or, it may be, secure the
erection of a schoolhouse, and begin school.
The venerable Dr. Donaldson, of Elders-
ridge, thus describes a representative school-
house of Indiana county, in the year 1811 :
"Upon entering the door, we had to step
down the breadth of one log to reach the floor
of puncheons, laid on the ground without any
sleepers. The fire was built on the ground.
About three feet from the floor, holes were
left between the logs for windows, the light
being admitted through panes of greased
paper. Along the windows, with their backs
to the center of the house, sat the writers,
on benches so high that their feet could not
touch the floor."
About the only branch attempted to he
taught regnlai-ly in the schools in the early
times was reading, and this instruction was
mainly given as a preparation for learning
the catechism and taking part in other reli-
gious exercises. The schools at that day were
generally established as auxiliaries to the
church, and the first primers were ciuite as
much church books as school books, contain-
ing hj'nms, praj'ers, creeds and catechism, as
well as the alphabet and elementaiy lessons in
reading. Such were the characteristics of the
primers used by the Catholic Church before
the Reformation; of Luther's "Child's Little
Primer," which contained the Lord's Prayer,
the Commandments, the Creed, and the Cate-
chism; of the "Prymer" that Henrj- VIII.
in England directed "to be taught, learned
and read" throughout his dominions: of the
primers, or A-B-C books, with which the first
colonists who sought homes in America were
acquainted in the several countries from which
they came and copies of which they brought
with them across the sea and used in the in-
structioii of tlieir children; and. indeed, of
the first books of the kind published in the
New World. As soon as the child had fairly
mastered the reading lessons of the primer he
was expected to learn the catechism, and in
connection therewith to read the Psalter and
possibly other portions of the Bible, commenc-
ing with the New Testament. The nineteenth
century had dawned before a regular series
of readers, with gi'aded lessons, was fairly
introduced into the most progressive neigh-
borhoods, and those more backward were com-
pelled to wait many years for the coming of
their improvement. Even the spelling book
in its modern form is little more than one
hundred years old.
When instruction in writing was first in-
troduced into the earlv schools, it was con-
fined wliolly to boys. Such an acquirement
was deemed unnecessary for girls, and so
deep-rooted was this pre,judice that men who
entertained it could be found almost down to
the present day. Paper was costly in Colonial
times, and it is said that birch bark was some-
times used in teaching children to write. Ink
was made of nutgalls. a round gall produced
on the leaves and shoots of the various spe-
cies of the oak tree. The nutgalls were bniised
and placed in a bottle with a proper propor-
tion of water and some rusty nails. Less
than fifty years ago ink was made from poke-
berries. In some schools an ink boy was ap-
pointed, who carried ink in a bottle or horn
to each writer as he needed it : but it was the
general custom for each pupil to have his
own ink bottle or ink horn. Pens were made
of goose quills, not a little of the master's
time being taken up in cutting and mending
them. In arithmetic there were as many
classes as there were pupils studying that
branch. The teacher assisted such pupils as
needed help, even while a class was reciting
in spelling or reading. Afterwards an im-
provement was made on that plan, and at a
certain time in the forenoon and afternoon
the teacher passed aroimd among the pupils
and solved problems for them. In a large
school, with about twenty in arithmetic, each
studying in a different part of the book, or
in a different book, with difficult problems,
it would sometimes take from one to two
hours to get around. Of course the little
fellows were busy during that time, especially
when the teacher was particularly interested
in some difficult problem in Pike, Gough. or
the Western Calculator: but woe to the un-
lucky fellow who was caught being busy at
anything else than learning his spelling les-
son, or looking steadily at his letters. If it
took the teacher till noon to get thi'ough with
the process, the spellers and readers would
get their forenoon's lessons in the afternoon,
unless, perchance, there were many "hard
questions" in the afternoon, in which case
they were almost sure to get them the next
day. Slates and pencils did not come into use
until after the Revolutionaiy war. and black-
boards as an article of school apparatus are
much more modern. During the last half of
the eighteenth century, for the most advanced
pupils. ma.sters began to select problems from
an arithmetic, or from a manuscript, called
a "cyphering book." in which they had pre-
viously recorded both the problems and their
solutions. Later, however, textbooks, on arith-
metic came into general use. and schools could
198
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
be found where pupils were taught not only
arithmetic, but mensuration, surveying, alge-
bra and astronomy.
Geography and grammar received no atten-
tion as studies in the earliest church or neigh-
borhood schools, and were introduced into
them as distinct branches only to a very lim-
ited extent before the adoption of the com-
mon school system. At the beginning of the
nineteenth century, the great defect was the
want of education that was not satisfied with
an acquisition so limited as that of reading,
writing and arithmetic. There may have been
an occasional teacher or member of the com-
munity who went beyond these simple ele-
'ments, but the people, generally, thought that
if their sons acquired a knowledge of reading,
writing and arithmetic, it was all-sufficient —
their daughters were supposed to need a still
less amount of learning than their sons. Soon
after 1800, however, with the appearance of
textbooks on these subjects, there was a
marked increase in the number of schools
where something of geography and grammar
were taught.
Moral lessons were intermingled with the
other lessons all through the books. "My
view went," says the author, "not only to
make spelling more easy, familiar and agree-
able than usual, but also to cause the bent and
aim of all the lessons from the beginning to
the end to be such as tended to mend the
lieart as well as convince the judgment by
raising in the tender mind principles of com-
passion and tenderness, as well to the brute
creation as to their fellow-men, a nobility of
mind and a love of virtue."
For many years, and down to a period
within the memory of men now living, the
study of grammar was confined for the most
part to a few select schools. It required a
great change in public sentiment and the supe-
rior attractions of the works of Kirkham,
Smith, Brown and others, to secure its gen-
eral introduction into country schools. Kirk-
ham's Grammar was particularly serviceable
in this respect, as its author was a Pennsyl-
vanian, educated at Lewisburg, and his book
published at Harrisburg. The prejudice
against the study of giammar probably arose
from the abstract method adopted in teach-
ing it, from which unfortunately it has not
yet wholly escaped.
Methods of teaching were as varied as were
the characteristics or idiosyncrasies of teach-
ers ; but in the schools of our forefathers they
had certain features in common which must
be noted.
To liegin with, there was little uniformity
of textbooks. Children generally carried with
them to school such books as they happened to
have, and they were seldom asked to procure
others. Instruction was imparted to the pu-
pils as individuals, and not as formed in
classes. The classification considered essen-
tial in a modern school was then an undis-
covered art. Without any general control,
the grading of schools into higher and lower
was impossible. No attempt at such a thing
was ever made, and, if made, could not have
been successful. Each school was established
without any reference to another; each had its
own management, and would have considered
its life sacrificed had it been forced to take
an assigned place in an educational system.
Children were taught as if the only faculty
they possessed needing culture was memory —
as if the only iiilcUcrlual appetite God had
given them «as U)v I'm-ts and forms. Spell-
ing and writing were 1hr branches best taught,
and both of these almost wholly mechanically.
Branches naturally requiring thought were
taught in such a way by rule and example
as to become a mere exercise of the memory.
In giving instruction in the alphabet no
charts were used, no blackboards, no slates, no
blocks. Each child was called upon in turn,
four or six times a day. "to say a lesson,"
which was done by the master's pointing to
each letter and calling upon the child to
name it, and if unable to do so requiring him
to repeat the name as given. No matter how
many were learning the alphabet, each was in
a class by himself; came up and named the
letters from a to "izzard," as the last letter
of the alphabet was generally called. At times
the letters were repeated backwards ; but it
was an extraordinary teacher who had the
ingenuity to teach his pupils to name the
letters when pointed out miscellaneously, or
when named miscellaneously to point them
out. The time required "to say a lesson" was
on the average scarcely more than two min-
utes, and during all the hours of intervening
periods the suffering children were expected
to sit on seats without backs and do nothing.
The first term of the child's life in school was
spent in learning the names of the letters.
"Spelling on the book" was taught by at-
tempting to lead the pupils to give the names
of syllables and words by naming the letters
of which they are composed. The first lessons
consisted of combinations of a vowel with one
or more consonants, arranged so that a kind
of rhyme aided the pi-onunciation; as, ab, eb,
ib, etc. ; ba, be, bi, etc. ; bla, ble, bli, etc.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mouths were frequently speut iu exercises of
this kind, before the pupil made any attempt
to read or pronounce words without spelling
them. It was customary for pupils to "'spell
on the book" until they had gone almost
through the speller, before they were required
to "spell off the book." While this custom
was to the extreme, yet we believe at the
present day the other extreme has been
reached by teaching spelUng exclusively by
"spelling off the book" and by writing the
spellings. "Spelling off the book" consisted
in naming the letters of words pronounced
for that purpose. Some columns in a spelling
book were usually assigned as a lesson, and
the task was to study the words uutil they
could be spelled from memory. The study-
ing was done by repeating the letters of the
words over and over; and when the voices
of all the pupils iu a school were joined in
concert, as they frequently were in preparing
the spelling lessons, the constantly increasing
volume of sound could be heard far bej'ond
the walls of the schoolhouse. It seemed to be
understood that spelling should be prepared
by uttering letters and words in a loud whis-
per, and many masters, othenvise very strict
disciplinarians, suffered the noise as an un-
avoidable annoyance, if not as an agreeable
relief from schoolroom monotony. The whole
process of learning to spell was purely me-
chanical, little effort ever being made to ex-
plain the meaning of words in a lesson, and
none to use them in the construction of sen-
tences. But it must be added that these old
schools turned out many good spellers, the
memory being strengthened by the continued
repetition, and the effort to excel stimulated
by "the trapping system" of the recitation
and the frequent spelling matches that varied
tlie life of the school in the days of our fore-
fathers. Besides, the attention of the pupils
was less diverted by a multiplicity of studies
than in modern times.
The beginners in reading were accustomed
to spell nearly all the words as thej^ went
along before pronouncing them, thus forming
habits that rendered it almost impossible for
thepi to become good readei-s. No attention
was paid to the definition of words or to the
meaning of sentences. Nothing whatever was
required of young learners but correct pro-
nunciation and some attention to arbitrary
pauses at the several marks of punctuation.
Force, emphasis, inflection, expression and, in
most cases, sense were wholly ignored. To
read well was in a general way to read fast,
without being compelled to stop to spell any
of the words. When pupils of the same
grade happened to have books alike they
read in classes ; but it was not uncommon for
one half the pupils in a school to read each
iu his own book by himself. In such cases,
even mistakes in pronunciation usually passed
without correction.
Writing was probably better taught in the
old schools than any other branch. There
was no "system" of writing, no analysis of
lettere, no engraved copies of graded lessons;
but the master wrote a fair plain hand and
the pupils were made to copy it. True, the
first lessons given were meaningless "strokes"
and "hooks" and "hangers"; but the course
usually left the pupils in the command of a
hand neat and legible. The first copy books
were made of sheets of foolscap paper folded
double, cut open at the ends, sewed along the
back and ruled with a lead pencil. The
copies were set by the master, either by writ-
ing lessons for imitation along the line at the
top of the page or at the end of the line down
the left-hand side. The master made and
mended pens, and skill in this art was con-
.sidered one of the prime qualifications of
a good schoolmaster. Makers of mischief
thought themselves comparatively safe when a
crowd gathered around the master's desk with
pens to mend.
When pupils were without books, the mas-
ter instructed them iu arithmetic either by
dictating suitable problems for them to solve
or by copying' same from a mathematical
manuscript or an arithmetic kept for the pur-
pose. With a book of his own the pupil
solved the problems contained in it iu their
proper order, working hard or taking it easy
as pleased him, showed the solution to the
master, and if found correct generally copied
his work in a blank book provided for the pur-
pose. The matter copied embraced about the
W'hole of the arithmetic, including headings,
definitions, rules and examples. Some of these
"cyphering books," the best, one may sup-
pose, having come down through several gen-
erations, are still preserved among old family
records, bearing testimony to the fair writing
and the careful copying, if not to the arith-
metical knowledge, of those who prepared
them. When a pupil was unable to solve a
problem he had recourse to the master, who
solved it for him. It sometimes happened
that a dozen or twenty pupils stood at one
time in a crowd around the master's desk,
waiting with slate and problems to be solved.
By times the teacher was called to the pupil 's
seat by a loud rapping on the slate with the
200
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
pencil. When eight or ten rapped at the same
time, as was the custom, there was a great
uproar in the school. There were no classes in
arithmetic, no explanations of processes either
by master or pupil, no demonstrations of prin-
ciples either asked for or given — the prob-
lems were solved, the answers obtained, the
soliitions copied and the work was considered
complete. That some persons did obtain a
good knowledge of arithmetic under such
teaching must be admitted, but this result was
clearly due more to native talent or hard per-
sonal labor than to wise direction.
So much of geography and grammar as
\vas imparted in the early schools was taught
mainly by question and answer. The master
read the question from the book, and the
pupil gave the answer he had committed to
memory. Taught in this way, without maps,
globes, illustrations, pictures of life past or
present, even geography was a dull study.
Much more dull must grammar have been, pre-
sented wholly in the form of abstract defini-
tions and rules, uneombined with practical
exercises of any kind.
There are some things which we must set
down to the credit of the old schools. As
a compensation to the girls for the pau-
city of their instruction in other respects,
provision was sometimes made for teach-
ing them needlework. Whatever may be
said of their own conduct, old-time school-
masters, especially those of foreign birth,
would not tolerate bad manners in the pu-
pils. They were required to show proper
respect to. the master by bidding him
"good moiming" and "good evening" as
they came into the schoolhouse or left
it, and to take off their hats when they
met him in the street or on the highway.
They were also required by some masters to
lift their hats or make a curtsy to the stran-
gers whom they met on their way to or from
the school, and to receive visitors by rising
from their seats.
As contrasted with the discipline of the mod-
ern school, oldtime school discipline was ex-
ceedingly severe. Its chief aim was to secure
order, and force was the only means consid-
ered effective. Punishment was meted out
for all grades of offense. The makers of mis-
chief and the doers of evil in a school seldom
escaped a full measure of chastisement, and
small allowance was made for even the inno-
cent indiscretions of yoiith. One of the first
qualifications in the master of a school was
considered to be his ability to keep order;
and, to be prepared for an emergency, a bun-
dle of well seasoned rods was concealed in
his desk, or looked threateningly down upon
timid urchins from a shelf on the wall be-
hind it. A long list of rules was generally
read to the pupils at the beginning of the
school term, and it often happened that with-
out waiting for offenses to occur or to try
milder modes of treatment, it was at once pro-
claimed that disobedience would be followed
by punishment. Such a beginning was apt to
be accepted as a challenge by the older pupils,
and a contest immediately began between
strength and vigilance on one side, and cun-
ning and pluck on the other. The victory
was generall.y on the side of the master, but
not always, and instances of his being over-
awed by the opposition, or even of his being
beaten and driven away, were not uncommon.
When not openly defied, he was sometimes
made the subject of personal indignities, and
tricks unknown in modern school keeping were
frequently played upon him. To secure a
holiday or a treat, it was the custom to bar the
master out of the schoolhouse, or to place
some obstruction in the chimney that caused
the fire to go out or the room to be filled
with smoke. His wig might be ingeniously
removed from his head, his cue tied to his
chair, the legs of his chair so weakened that
it would not bear his weight, or his dinner
(including, mo.st likely, the almost indispen-
sable bottle of rum) mysteriously disappear.
Children were not spoiled on account of
the sparing use of the rod in these old schools.
None of them, probably, equaled in number
the punishments inflicted by the famous "flog-
ging schoolmaster," who in his fifty-three
years of service, according to his own faithful
record, administered the following: 911. .500
canings, 121,000 floggings, 209,000 custodies,
10,200 earboxes, 22,700 tasks, 136 tips with
the rule, 700 boys caused to stand on peas,
6,000 to kneel on sharp-edged wood, 5,000 to
wear the fool's cap, 1,700 to hold the rod —
in all, 1,287,936 cases of punishment. An
average of ten or even twenty whippings a
day for the whole term, in one of these schools,
neither excited surprise on the part of the
pupils within, nor provoked inquiry in the
neighborhood outside. There were multitudes
of boys who received their whippings every
day as regularly as they recited, or attempted
to recite, their lessons, and, in addition, these
luckless youths were apt to be whipped at
home for being whipped at school. Instead
of a rod on the back, a ruler on the hand
was sometimes used ; and in certain schools,
for missed lessons, pupils were compelled to
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
201
sit on a dunce block and wear a fool's cap or
a pair of leathern spectacles. Petty punish-
ments were common, such as snapping the
forehead, twisting the nose, boxing or pulling
the ears; and, sometimes, prolonged tortures
were resorted to, like the following: holding
a book in the open hand with the arm fully
outstretched ; bending the body so as to touch
a nail in the floor with a finger; standing
on one foot ; sitting astride a sharp-edged
trestle ; etc. Offending pupils were frequent-
ly frightened by strong epithets such as
"dunce," "blockhead," "booby," "rascal,"
etc. Somewhat of this severity in school dis-
cipline was owing to the stern manners of
the times, and somewhat to schoolroom tradi-
tions, for which preceding generations must
bear a share of the responsibility. Certain it
is that neither in Europe nor America had
the idea come to be entertained, except by a
few, that the best school government is a
government that rules by love rather than by
fear; that tempers justice with kindness; that
trains up the child in the way he should go,
overcoming and rooting out the bad, sowing
the seeds of good, and guarding well the
growth of the tender plant ; that a gentle
hand and a loving heart shape a life which
honors man and is well pleasing to God.
For the want of system in the management
of the old schools, the want of grading and
classification, there was some compensation.
Such as it was, the pupils received individual
instruction. Each was free in most studies
to pursue a line of study by himself. He
was frequentl.y allowed to read from a book
of his own selection, and he could move along
in his arithmetic, mensuration or surveying,
fast or slow, as suited his convenience or his
ability. No force was brought to bear upon
him to take up this study or drop that, and
nothing was taken from his intellectual length
or breadth to make him fit a fixed place in
a class. A school was not then a mill expected
to turn out grists all the same in quantity
and quality, whatever the character of the
grain. With our modern systems and grades
we have leveled up and thus improved the
less gifted classes of society; but there is a
danger that we have leveled down as well,
and may have in consequence deprived society
of its born leaders. A loosely organized school
of the old class could not do a.s much for the
whole body of its pupils as a school graded
and classified as is now the custom ; but it
might have done more for the few who pos-
sessed genius and marked individuality of
character, for such as these thrive best when
allowed to work in their own way and ac-
cording to their own bent.
SCHOOLMASTERS
Of the schoolmaster, a certain proportion
were selected from the neighborhood of the
school to be supplied. In the early days
women were employed in teaching school to
a very limited extent. They seldom held a
more responsible position than that of head
of a small private school, nor were they en-
trusted with the instruction of any but the
younger children. The fact that so many
women are naturally qualified for the work
of teaching is a discovery made at a much
later date.
In many neighborhoods teaching school as a
distinct employment was unknown, and in
many others the ser\dces of professional
schoolmasters were hard to procure. Few
people had then come to see that teaching a
child as he ought to be taught is a task of
extreme difficulty, requiring the most careful
preparation. The opinion was then common
that keeping school was a business so simple
that almost anyone was equal to it. All the
master of the school was expected to do was
to keep order and to follow the usual routine
method of giving instruction in the merest
elements, reading, ^vritiug and arithmetic.
Under the circumstances it is not to be won-
dered at that the heads of families supporting
a school should sometimes look around among
themselves or their neighbors in search of a
young man possessing the physical strength
and courage and the limited literary attain-
ments required of a schoolmaster; nor is it
any wonder that such a young man, desiring
to employ to the best advantage a few spare
months, or to make a little extra money, should
offer of his own accord to take charge of a
school. Jlany such inexperienced young men
were employed as schoolmasters. As a class,
they were at first extremely unskillful and
awkward in the performance of their duties,
possessing very limited knowledge of the
branches of learning in which they undertook
to give instruction, and having no conception
whatever of the great art of teaching school.
Young men became schoolmasters then as
now for the purpose of obtaining the money
for a course of higher instruction, or used the
teacher's desk as a stepping-stone to a place
in some other profession. Belonging to this
class were some preparing to enter a classical
school or college while teaching; some, half
through their college course teaching in a
202
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
half-hearted way aud longing for the day to
come when their half-earned pay would en-
able them to escape from the uncongenial
work of the schoolroom; and othere, students
of theology, of medicine, or of law, like para-
sites living on the school but yielding it noth-
ing in return. This class of schoolmastei-s was
not large in the early days; it is perhaps
proportionately as large to-day as it was a
hundred years ago, but unfortunately it has
at all times been too large. When teaching
comes to assume its proper rank among the
learned professions, able to maintain its own
dignity as a calling requiring the most elabo-
rate special preparation, this one-handed, half-
hearted, makeshift way of keeping school will
be considered an insufferable degradation.
Most of the teachers were without families
and had no fixed residence, keeping school first
in one place and then in another. Wandering
homeless here and there, some of them came
to be well known throughout the country.
They were not all, by any means, like the one
publicly advertised for in the 31arylancl
Gazette, in 1771: "Ran away — a servant
man, who followed the occupation of school-
master, much given to drinking and gam-
bling"; but, as a class, their knowledge was
limited to the merest elements, they were odd
in dress, eccentric in manners, and oftentimes
intemperate. In the schoolroom they were
generally precise, formal, exacting and severe.
If there were few competent teachers of
any class in the early schools of the country,
good reasons can be found in the general con-
dition of educational affairs. There was little
about the schools to attract .young men of
ability and energy. The schoolhouses were
uninviting — an old shop, an abandoned dwell-
ing, a log cabin, or, at best, a small house,
built in the plainest manner of stone or wood.
The furniture was about as rough as it could
be made. The schools were generally open
only two or three months in the year, the mas-
ter's salary was often uncertain and always
poor, seldom amounting to more than ten or
twelve dollars a month, and frequently barely
reaching one half of these sums. It was cus-
tomary for the master to board around among
the patrons of his school, remaining with each
a stipulated time ; and in some instances he
was obliged to take in payment for his serv-
ices, contributions in wood, wheat, corn, po-
tatoes, pork or butter. The schoolmaster, ex-
cept in the best organized church schools, had
no assured social position. He was a man
unrecognized among the positive forces of soci-
ety outside of his own narrow sphere, and un-
welcomed by men of affairs in business or
pi-actical circles. The fact that there were
at all times some men of ability engaged in
the work of teaching, actuated as they must
have been by the spirit of missionaries, is
a green spot in the educational history of the
early days.
EARLY SCHOOLS OF INDIANA COUNTY
One hundred years ago a comparatively
sparse population, scattered over a wide extent
of country, mainly covered with dense forests
and destitute of roads and bridges, opposed
many serious obstacles to the establishment
of good schools within reasonable distances.
The occupations of the people in rural dis-
tricts were also unfavorable to the support of
schools, except those of an elementary char-
acter, and for short terms. The physical
wants of people always claim their first atten-
tion. Before men will patronize schools, and
cultivate their mental faculties, they will
seek means to satisfy their bodily needs. Not
until the means of shelter and subsistence had
been secured for themselves and those depend-
ent upon them, did the sturdy farmers who
first settled these hills and valleys think of
the claims of education. Labor-saving ma-
chinery being then almost unknown among
farmers, agricultural operations were neces-
sarily slow and tedious, and left but little
time for intellectual pm-suits. The threshing
and marketing of a crop, which can now be
easily performed within a week, was then
a severe task, requiring all winter for its
accomplishment. The sons of a farmer in
moderate circumstances thought themselves
fortunate if they could obtain one or two
months of schooling during the year. With
the farmers' daughters the case was even
worse. The operations of the spinning wheel,
needle and dairy, besides the manifold other
duties of the household, occupied so much of
their time and attention that their literary
education was almost neglected, and was sel-
dom pursued beyond the merest rudiments.
It was not an uncommon thing for men and
women to make their mark, as many could
not read and write. Distance to school was
also a hindrance to attendance — three, four
or even five miles to the nearest school being
nothing uncommon.
At the formation of Indiana county, in
1803, there were only two townships taken
from Westmoreland county, Armstrong and
Wheatfield, the former embracing the western
and the latter the eastern part of the county.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
20:^
both extending from the Conemaugh river
to the Purchase Line. Soon after that por-
tion of the county north of the Purchase Line
was taken from Lycoming county, and added
to Indiana, and was called ^Mahoning. These
three townships were from time to time
clipped of parts of their territory and other
townships formed, until in 1835, one year
after the passage of the school law, there
were ten townships and three boroughs which
elected school directors on the 20th day of
March. 1835, as follows: Indiana elected
Rev. N. G. Sharretts, Fergus Cannon, Wood-
roe Douglas, Ephraim Carpenter, John Pat-
ton and Joseph Thompson. Armagh borough
and Wheatfield township elected Archibald
Matthews and William Bracken. Young
township elected William ilcFarland and
Robert Hood. ^Fahoiiinii' township elected
Hii-li TI^nMill..ii ,-111. 1 KdlMTt Hopkins. Cone-
iiKiuuli 1()\Mislii|> I'Icclcd William Coleman and
Samuel IJ. ilillci'. Center township elected
Philip Rice and Adam .\ltimus. Washington
township elected Iliieli Canon and John Mc-
Elhoes. Mechauirsburg and Brushvalley
township elected D. W. Wakefield, James
Stewart, John McNutt, Jonathan Adair, John
Crisswell and William Bracken. Blacklick
township elected Robert McCrea and Robert
Smith. Green township elected William
Sebring and John Price. Montgomery town-
ship elected John Decker and William Thomp-
son.
Prior to 1803 there were several schools
within the limits of the county. The tirst
one of which the writer can learn anything
was in the southwestern corner of what is
now Conemaugh township, about half a mile
from the Kiskiminetas river, in an abandoned
dwelling house, being the first cabin built in
the county, owned by Robert Robinson. The
school was taught by James IMcDowell, and
was kept open about three hours in the even-
ing— the pupils bringing their own candles.
The date of this school was not later than 1785,
but there are reasons for believing that it
was as early as 1777 or 1778. About 1790
there was a school on Blacklick near Camp-
bell's mill. It was taught by a man named
Atwell, and in 1795 or 1796 there was one
on land o^vned by Samuel Earhai't, in Black-
lick township. There was a school above
Blairsville, near Broad Ford. About 1790
there was a school three miles northeast of
Indiana. In 180 — a house was built. on the
Kelly farm two miles southwest of Indiana.
In 1802 a house was erected five miles north
of Indiana and about half a mile from the
Thompson blockhouse. In 1800 a house was
located one and a half miles from Bethel
church, now Center township. In 1802 and
1803 a house was built north of Lewisville.
About the time of the formation of the
county or very soon after the following schools
were established: One in the southwestern
part of Conemaugh township taught by Rob-
ert Work, John Reed, MeVicker, James May,
and Cornelius Campbell; one on the Shields
farm and one on the farm of Thomas Shirley.
Sr. ; one near the old Lapsley tavern, eight
miles east of Indiana and one mile south of
Giveiiyille (John Evans, Esq.. father of ex-
SherilT \\'illi,-im Evans, taught in this school) ;
one on tht' farm of James McLain, about one
mile south of Indiana.
The slates and pencils used in those schools
were dug out of the ground near the school-
houses; and the ink was made by boiling oak
and maple bark together, and adding cop-
peras.
A schoolhouse was built in 1806 about three
miles east of Armagh. Teachers: Thomas
Dorney and Thomas Gallaher. A log house
was erected near where the Presbyterian
Church of Armagh now stands, and was used
for a schoolhouse and a church. Some of the
teachers were Thomas Elliot, John Armitage
and ilatthew Dill. Soon other schools were
established down the river as far as Centei--
ville. and north toward Mechanicsburg, and
northeast to Strongstowu and the Irish Bot-
tom. There were early schools north of Mar-
ion in the Work and Leasure settlement along
Plum creek, and along the Little JMahoning.
in the neighborhood of Smicksburg, along
Crooked creek in the Cummins neighborhood,
and near Shelocta.
In 1806 a hewed log house was built in
Indiana, on the south side of Water street,
between Fourth and Fifth. It was two stories
high, and had been built for a store and a
dwelling house; but as the contractor was
drowned after the openings had been made
for the doors and windows, it was used for
school pur-poses until some one could be found
who could make doors and windows. Henry
Coleman was the first teacher. This was the
first school within the limits of the county
seat. The first house built for school purposes
was erected on the lot owned by John Sher-
man. It was put up about 1810 or 1811.
The next one was on the northwest corner
of Taylor's and Nixon's alleys. John Wilson
and James Coulter taught in this house.
Upon the completion of the academy, in
1816, an elementary school was opened in
204
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
one of the rooms of the building. This room
was used for that purpose until about 1826,
when a brick building of one room was erected
on the southwest corner of Water and Sixth
streets, and soon after, the school becoming
too large for one room, a second building
of the same style and material was completed
on the southeast comer of Church and Fifth
streets. Some of the teachers in these build-
ings were : William J. Bruce, Fergus Cannon,
John G. Coleman, A. W. Kimmel, Robert P.
Reed and A. C. Patterson.
The schoolhouses in the rural districts
were very much the same. A description of
one built in 1805 or earlier, in the southwest-
ern corner of Conemaugh township, about
one and a half miles from the Kiskiminetas
river, will give some idea of all of them.
The building was about 18 by 22 feet, of round
logs, one story high, the cracks daubed with
mortar called "Kat and Clay." A large log
(the mantel) was placed across the building,
four feet from the end wall, and five feet liigh,
upon which the chimney was built, of split
sticks, the cracks and inside daubed with
tough mortar. The floor was made of split
logs, hewed, called puncheons ; the hearth was
of stone, about four feet wide, and as long
as the width of the fireplace; the back wall
and sides of the fireplace also of stone. At
the end of the hearth a piece of mother earth
was left without a floor, to afEord the writers
a place to stick their goose quills to make them
of uniform pliability. There were three sum-
mer beams on which split logs were laid,
face down, and grooved together with mortar
on the upper side ; this was the loft or ceiling.
The roof was made of clapboards, eaves poles
and weight poles. There was one ledge door
in the side, with wooden hinges and latch.
The windows were the whole length of the
side or end of the building ; they were from 8
to 12 inches high, with little posts set in
about every foot, on which oiled paper was
pasted in lieu of glass. Writing boards were
laid on slanting wooden pegs even with the
under edge of the windows, and there was
a hewed slab bench (no back) of suitable
height for the writers. There were lower slab
seats for the spellers and readers. A short
slanting board, in one corner, near the end of
the hearth, was the teacher's desk. He had
a small window near by.
The teachers were usually employed by the
year, salary raised by subscription of from
four to six dollars per scholar, and there were
generally not fewer than twenty-five scholars ;
the teachers boarded round. The education
of the teacher was very limited. Teachers
were not required to pass any examination
prior to 1834, when the school law was passed.
Very soon after this every borough and town-
ship in the county adopted the school system.
This shows that many of our people were in
favor of popular education but when the di-
rectors levied a tax and proceeded to collect
it they found some people unwilling to pay.
From 1834 to 1854 teachers were examined by
the directors. During this time much inter-
est was manifested by the directors in the
schools, but the majority of them were very
poor seliolars, many not being able to read
and write. We can imagine the extent of
the examination.
At a joint meeting of the teachers of West-
moreland and Indiana counties, held in Blairs-
ville in October, 1852, a resolution was passed
recommending that the office of county super-
intendent be established.
The writer does not know the extent of the
efi'ort that was made toward seciiring such
legislation as would create the county super-
intendency, except that, at the meeting of the
institute at Blairsville in October, 1852, a
resolution was adopted, as above related, which
read thus:
''Resolved, that we believe the agency of
county superintendent would be highly bene-
ficial and would promote the uniformity, effi-
ciency, and success of our common schools,
in every respect. We. accordingly, approve
the proposition to have these officers appointed
by law."
FREE SCHOOLS
The constitutional enactments, the laws
passed and their results, the executive recom-
mendations, the reports of legislative com-
mittees, the petitions and memorials from the
people praying for a better s.vstem of edu-
cation— all tliri-ciii s|i(>ken of, point towards
the goal final l\- ivarlicd, a system of free
schools. It is nottnvorthy, however, that dur-
ing all this period of growth it is difficult, if
not impossible, to find a single public utter-
ance indicating a comprehension of the full
requirements of a system of free schools as
understood at the present day, including not
only schools free to all children of proper
age. without regard to class, race, sex or con-
dition in life, but provision for graded and
high .schools and the means of preparing teach-
ers. The light was dawning during all this
long period, but the day had not yet broken.
All the governors, from ilififlin to Wolf, rec-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
205
ommended the adoption of a general system of
education, but thej- seem to have had in mind
only such a system as would fully provide
for the gratuitous instruction of the poor
cliildren throughout the State, or at best a
general s.ystem of free primary instruction.
The Legislature reached no higher ground in
its many reports, bills, discussions and enact-
ments. The short-lived Act of 1824 professed
to lay a foundation for "a general system of
education throughout the Commonwealth,"
but it was so narrow as to permit no child to
attend school at the public expense for a
longer period than three years. Up to 1830
the great free school idea was either yet un-
born in Pennsylvania or concealed by parents
fearful of the dangers that threatened the
life of such an infant in those old times. Even
Governor Wolf became an unconditional free
school man only after he went to Harrisburg.
In his first inaugural address he speaks of
"primary" as synonymous with "common"
schools, and of insuring "to every indigent
child in the Commonwealth the rudiments of
learning" instead of the broader expression
he would have used in later years, to every
child in the Commonwealth all the learning
practicable.
A leading part in the final movement for
free schools was taken by the Pennsylvania
Society for the Promotion of Public Schools.
The Society's ob.ject was the promotion of
education throughout the State of Pennsjd-
vania, by the encouragement of public schools
in which the elementary branches should be
taught in the respective counties of the Com-
monwealth. For the attainment of this end
the Society proposed to open and maintain
a correspondence with such zealous, intelli-
gent and patriotic citizens as might be induced
to co-operate with it, and from time to time
communicate to the public, through the medi-
um of pamphlets and newspapers, such infor-
mation as it might deem expedient, and adopt
such other measures as might appear to be
best calculated to accomplish the object of its
creation. The Society continued to make an-
nual reports for several years. That for 1830
had special reference to the neeessitj- of pre-
paring teacliers. Careful and deliberate sur-
vey of the whole ease led the Society to the
conclusion tliat the most important step to
be taken in the great work which the people
of Pennsylvania had before them, in reference
to this vital matter, was to provide well quali-
fied teachers. The best school system which it
were possible to devise must utterly fail in
practice unless instructors can be had equal
in every respect to their high trust, in a moral
and intellectual sense. The Society urged the
necessity of establishing a seminary in each
Congressional district in the State, where in-
dividuals mvA\t l.c pivpared for conducting a
uniform uiciliod ,,f instruction in the common
schools. Till' S()cir)>' in making a report to
the Legislature in behalf of "a system of pub-
lie schools adequate to the wants of our rap-
idly increasing population" declares that:
There are at least four hundred thousand
children in Pennsylvania, between the ages of
five and fifteen. Of these, during the past
year, there were not over one hundred and
fifty thousand in all the schools of the State.
The proportion of children educated in any
one year, compared with the entire number of
children between the above specified ages, ap-
pears to be but one out of three. In 1829 two
thirds of the children were not in school.
Multitudes are living and continuing to live
in ignorance, and multitudes more receive at
best but the most superficial instruction. In
every school system, it should be a fundamen-
tal principle that every child should have the
opportunity of receiving an education which
will fit him to fulfill his duties.
It was in gi-eat measure through the efforts
of this Society that memorials similar to its
own were sent to the Legislature from many
counties during the year immediatelv preced-
ing the passage of tlie Acts of 1831 and 1834,
and that public meetings were held in divers
places to further the interest of a better sys-
tem of education.
Governor Wolf, in his annual message to
the Legislature at the opening of the session
of 1831-32, spoke strongly in favor of the ne-
cessity of establishing by law a general sj^s-
tem of common school education, by means
of which, in the language of the constitution,
"the poor may be taught gratis."
Petitions for and against a general school
system were presented in both Houses during
the session, some of the latter protesting
against the use of any portion of the public
money for the support of the common schools.
Committees on education had been appoint-
ed from time to time that had reported in
favor of the common schools, but the Legisla-
ture had failed to pass any law for the main-
tenance of public schools. In 1833-34, how-
ever. Governor Wolf's discussion of the sub-
.iect of education in his annual message was
lengthy and earnest. He seems to have
thought that the time had come for a final
effort in behalf of a cause near his heart,
and he made it boldly, strongly, effectively.
206
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The following will show its breadth and
spirit :
"Universal Education, if it were practi-
cal to enforce it everywhere, would operate
as a powerful check upon vice, and would do
more to diminish the black catalogue of
crimes, so generally prevalent, than any other
measure. Our apathy and indifference in
reference to this subject becomes the more
conspicuous when w-e reflect that whilst we
are expending millions for the improvement
of the physical condition of the State, we have
not hitherto appropriated a single dollar that
is available for the intellectual improvement
of its youth, which, in a moral and political
point of view, is of tenfold more consequence,
either as respects the moral influence of the
State, or its political power and safety."
The vote in the Legislature for the free
school law of 1834 was nearly unanimous, but
this unanimity signified little more than dis-
satisfaction with the existing laws relating to
education, and a general desire that a trial
should be made of something that would be
likely to afford better results. In the light of
the events that speedily followed its passage,
it is probable that many members gave it
their assent without full comprehension of
the law they enacted to establish schools, and
it is certain that some of them were able to
offer but a weak defense of their votes when
they came to meet their enraged constituents.
The victory of the free school men was too
easily gained to be sure of its fniits without
further struggle. The enemies of the new
law soon rallied in terrible force, fiercely at-
tacked it in all parts of the Commonwealth,
and for a time things looked as if they would
regain all they had lost.
The Act establishing free schools was ap-
proved of the first day of April, 1834. The
first election for school directors was fixed for
the third Friday of September following, and
on the first Tuesday of November was ap-
pointed the joint meeting in each county
composed of a delegate from the several
boards of school directors and the county
commissionei'S, for the purpose of deciding
whether or not a tax should be levied for the
support of the schools. The sheriff of each
county gave by proclamation thirty days' no-
tice of the election of school directors. As
soon as these notices began to appear the dis-
cussion opened, and certainly no other ques-
tion was ever debated so generally in Penn-
sylvania, or with the same warmtla. with the
same determination, and, if it may be added,
with the same bitterness, as the question of
free schools. It was comparatively well re-
ceived in the counties west of the Alleghenies.
where a diversity in wealth had not yet bred
distinctions of class, and where different na-
tionalities and different religious denomina-
tions had become so thoroughly mixed as to
recognize an educational interest in common.
Free schools were opposed by several classes
of people, and for different reasons. First,
there were then in greater proportion than
now, in the oldest settled portions of the
State, aristocratic families whose American
life had not yet eradicated their Old World
ideas of rank and privilege, and who had no
sympathy with the doctrine of equality upon
which the new law was founded. There must
be, they held, here as in Europe, two classes
of people, a higher and a lower, the first, the
few, to ornament society and to rule and di-
rect its affairs; the second, the many, under
authority, to hew its wood and draw its
water. To educate beyond the mere elements
those who must forever remain at the bottom
of the social scale was in their opinion to
unfit them for the sphere of life for which
they were intended, and to render them un-
happy. The doctrine that all men are cre-
ated equal, that brains and blood truly noble
are as often born in a cottage as in a castle,
they met with a sneer.
The bitterest enemies of the free schools,
those who fought them longest and hardest,
were the ignorant, the narrow-minded and
the most penurious. They argued that the
education of the masses was dangerous, and
would breed mischief of many kinds, idleness,
vice, crime ; that the taxes required to sup-
port free schools would greatly impoverish,
if not entirely bankrupt, the people; that it
was unjust to compel those who had no chil-
dren to pay for the education of the children
of others, unjust for the industrious man who
had saved his money to support schools
for the spendthrift who had squan-
dered all he owned; that the compulsory
features of the law would fasten on the
necks of the people a tyranny w'orse than
that from which their fathei-s escaped by the
war of the Revolution ; that the schools ought
to be called forced schools, rather than free
schools, and that, in short, as quoted by an-
other in the harsh words used at that time,
"free schools are the hotbeds wherein idle
drones, too lazy for honest labor, are reared
and maintained; the free school system was
originated and supported by its partisans for
the purpose of making places for men too
lazy to work, and the school tax is a thinly
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 207
disguised tribute which the honest, hardwork- The State Superintendent, Mr. Burrowes,
ing farmer and mechanic have to pay out of in 1837 gave a summary of statistics as fol-
their hard earnings to pamper idle and lazy lows:
schoolmasters."
The law was weak and defective in many ^hP who p ^,Zh '%°t! f'f'''f^ '" "'^?'='*'' • • ^^'
, , ,, .• 11 -J. 1, J- J .Li. -^"^ Whole number that had accepted the Sys-
points ; but theoretically it embodied the tem -49
great principle of universal education, and The increase during the year 209
this its friends determined to preserve at all '^^'^ "^^"^P^'^ number of common schools in
hazards. The election for school directors The^'inVeTse' during 'the 'year lilt
and the vote accepting or rejecting the system The whole number of teachers' '(male '2,42s) ' "
taken, it was found that of the 987 districts (female 966) .' 3^394
then in the State, 485 either voted outright. The whole number of pupils in the schools. . ..iso^sss
against free schools or stubbornly took no ^';\retnortl83t'.\ '^"-"''* ^* ^""^^ ^^^
action whatever m reterence to the matter. The number of children in the State between '
In Indiana county seven districts voted for the ages of five and fifteen, about 320,000
and three against the system. Three districts -*-^'<^'-age salaries of male teachers per month. . $18.38
were not renrespiiterl Average salaries of female teachers per month 11.96
^^e^e not repiesented. _ Average time schools were open, four months, 3 davs.
Ihe system met with much opposition in
the Legislature of 1835. Thirty-eight coun- From 1838 to 1852 the school system sailed
ties out of fifty-one sent petitions asking for in quiet waters. The number of schools in-
the repeal of the law. We can say to the creased to 9,699; the number of pupils to
credit of Indiana county that no petition was 480,778; the number of teachers to 11,713;
sent from the county. A strong effort was tax levied, $982,196.22. The salaries of teach-
made in the Legislature to repeal the law and ers had not advanced, and the average length
for a time it looked as though the opposers of time the schools were kept open had been
would succeed. materially shortened. During this time the
There were a number of devoted friends of management of the school system was almost
free schools in the House of Representatives, wholly in the hands of the district school
hut the acknowledged leader was Thaddeus boards. Little help came to them from Har-
Stevens. Competent judges of all parties who risburg. and none at all from any otlier quar-
witnessed the fight agree that had he not ter.
stood like a rock, furnishing shelter and im- couxty superintendency
parting strength to the free school combat-
ants, and bidding defiance to the fiercest of The act creating such an office was passed
those who would have struck them down, the and, in accordance with that act, the directors
law of 1834 would have been swept from the of Indiana county met at Indiana on the 5th
statute book or been saved only by the veto of June. 1854, and elected Rev. S. P. Bollman
of the governor, and the day of universal edu- county superintendent, at a salary of $500
cation in Pennsylvania might have been in- per annum. He served nine years, having
definitely postponed. been re-elected twice. In 1863 Samuel Wolf
The closing words of his speech were: was elected, at a salary of $500; but at the
"Who would not rather do one living deed end of a year and a half the salary was in-
than to have his ashes enshrined in ever-bur- creased to $1,000. In 1865 A. J. Bolar, a
nished gold ? Sir, I trust that when we come Presbyterian minister who had served faith-
to act on this question, M^e shall take lofty fully in the Union army and been badly
ground — look beyond the narrow space which wounded, was elected at a salary of $800. In
now circumscribes our vision — bej'ond the 1869 J. T. Gibson, a graduate of Washington
passing, fleeting point of time on which we and Jetferson College and a student at the
stand, and so cast our votes that the blessing Allegheny Theological Seminary, was elected,
of education shall be conferred on every son at a salary of $1,000. He served two years,
of Pennsylvania — shall be carried home to the and upon his resignation Samuel Wolf was
poorest child of the poorest inhabitant of the appointed to serve the unexpired term, and
meanest hut of your mountains, so that even was elected in 1872 and again in 1875, at a
lie may be prepared to act well his part in this salary of $1,000. In 1878 S. J. Craighead, of
land of freemen, and lay on earth a broad and Eldersridge, Pa., was elected superintendent
solid foundation for that enduring knowledge and served for two terms. In 1884 W. A.
which goes on increasing through unceasing Cochran, a graduate of the Indiana State
eternity." Normal School, became superintendent and
208
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
served two terms at a salary of $1,200. In
1890 A. M. Hammtrs was elected superintend-
ent and served three terms. "When elected
his salary was $1,200, but was raised to $1,600
the second term. In 1899 J. T. Stewart, a
graduate of Indiana State Normal School, was
elected superintendent and served for three
terms. The salary when he was elected was
$1,600, but was raised to $2,000 the second
term. In 1908 James F. Chapman, the pres-
ent incumbent, was elected superintendent at
a salary of $2,000 ; but in 1911 the salary was
raised to $2,200.
The schools of this county owe much to the
Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The Revs. James
Power, John Jamieson and Joseph W. Hender-
son, of the Presbyterian and Associate Re-
formed Presbyterian Churches, helped to plant
the first schools, and Rev. S. P. Bollman, the
first county superintendent, was doubtless the
best man that could be found at that time to
make and keep popular an office which met
with much opposition from the people. A.
J. Bolar and J. T. Gibson were both ministers
of the Presbyterian Church, the former for
one year a member of the faculty of the State
Normal School at Indiana and afterwards
principal of the Blairsville Academy.
J. T. Gibson was born in Jefferson county
in 1844, and moved to Creekside, Indiana
county, in 1850. The borough of Creekside is
located on the Gibson farm. He was educated
in Dixon school, an old log schoolhouse near
where the Creekside schoolhouse in Washing-
ton township now stands. He attended the
select schools of the county, the Glade Run
Academy at Dayton, and was graduated from
Washington and Jefferson Colleges in 1869.
After serving two years as superintendent of
the schools he resigned and completed his
course at the Western Theological Seminary.
He preached in Nashville, Tenn., in Baltimore,
Md., for eight years, in Sharpsburg, Pa., for
nine years, and served as secretary and treas-
urer of the Board of Missions for Freedmen
for the Presbyterian Church for five years,
resigning to become editor of the "Presby-
terian Messenger," published in Pittsburg.
He served as editor of the "Messenger" and
"Banner" seven years and has been on the
staff of the "New York Observer" ever since.
Commissioned by Governor Pattison as a
member of the Chickamauga Military Park to
represent Pennsylvania, he helped to locate
the monument erected in honor of the Penn-
sylvania organizations engaged in that battle.
The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by
Washington and Jefferson and Grove City
Colleges. At present he is serving as a director
of the Western Theological Seminary, trustee
of Grove City College and trustee of the Pres-
byterian Hospital of Pittsburg.
Samuel Wolf after his term as count.y
superintendent for ten years taught in the
public schools, completing his fiftieth term in
1898. He resided on his farm in Rayne town-
ship until a few years before his death, Mhen
he removed to Indiana, Pennsylvania.
S. J. 'Craighead, after serving as superin-
tendent of the public schools, was a member of
the State Legislature. He also assisted two
years in visiting the schools of the county. He
removed to the county seat, where he died.
During Mr. Craighead's term many of the
old houses were reseated with patent furniture,
and a number of new buildings erected. Sup-
erintendent Craighead recognized the need of
uniformity of textbooks and a compulsory
school law. At one time he reported that
almost nine hundred children of school age
were out of school. The benefit of the county
institute became felt and a great interest was
aroused and talent from a distance was em-
ployed. The financial report of that time
showed that the expense for the institute did
not exceed $400.
W. A. Cochran after his term as superin-
tendent engaged in the boot and shoe business
in iloxham, Pa., which he still successfully car-
ries on. He is secretary of the school board
of Johnstown, Pa., and secretary and treasurer
of the Mission Boards for the Conemaugh Pres-
bytery, of the United Presbyterian Church.
During his term more that the usual number
of select schools were held in different parts
of the county. He made a great effort to
introduce vocal music into the schools, and
examined the teachers in music. He required
the teachers to subscribe for one or more edu-
cational papers and to take an active part in
the local institute. The schools of Indiana,
Blairsville and Saltsburg arranged a course
of study, upon the completion of which the
pupils graduated and received diplomas.
A. M. Hammers after his term became a
member of the faculty of the Indiana State
Normal School, was superintendent of the
schools of Punxsutawney, Pa., and conducted
a select school at Chenytree, Pa. He died in
1908. The pupils and teachers of the county
and friends of education erected a monument
to his memory, and also one to the memory
of Superintendent Wolf.
- In 1890 Mr. Hammers, with the assistance
of several other county superintendents, in-
troduced a graded course of study. In 1892
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
209
a directors' association was established and in
1897 Visitors' Day was inaugurated. During
his term thirty-nine schoolhouses were built
and flft.y-six supplied with new furniture.
Notwithstanding the great increase in appro-
priation, the average salary of teachers de-
creased $1.37 per month. The county institute
was well attended.
J. T. Stewart, after serving nine years as
county superintendent, spent eight months as
a rest period at Greeley, Colo., and on return-
ing home engaged in the real estate and insur-
ance business. At present he also represents
the United State Fidelity and Guaranty
Company, a bond house of Baltimore, Md.
During Mr. Stewart's term the schools in-
creased in number from 296 to 365. One of
the needs at this present time was good school
libraries. Good books were selected with ref-
erence to the ability of the pupils, and the
schools in the majority of townships purchased
libraries. Also a Teachers' Reading Course
was established. Improvements were made in
school buildings and school grounds. The
Teachers' Institute then was better attended
than ever before. A feature of the term of
which all interested in the country schools of
the county were justly proud, was the winning
of the first prize — thirty dollars — awarded by
the State for the best miscellaneous work done
by ungraded schools. This work was after-
wards sent the same year to the Exposition at
St. Louis, where it won the medal for the
best miscellaneous work of ungi-aded schools
in the United States.
Of the eight who served our county as sup-
erintendents, three were Presbyterians, two
United Presbyterian, one Methodist and one
Lutheran.
The present county superintendent, James
F. Chapman, was born and raised in North
Mahoning township, Indiana county. He at-
tended the country schools and after teaching
two years, entered the Indiana State Normal,
from which institution he was graduated in
the class of 1896. Immediately preceding his
election to the office of county superintendent
Mr. Chapman served in the capacity of super-
vising principal of the Indiana public schools
for seven years. Superintendent Chapman is
a teacher in the Lutheran Sunday school and
a regular attendant at that church.
In 1875 there were 240 teachers employed
at an average salary of $30.74 per month, and
10,004 pupils enrolled, with an average at-
tendance of 73 per cent. In 1880 there were
253 teachers employed at an average salary
of $30.44 per month, and 10,891 pupils en-
rolled, with an average attendance of 81 per
cent. In 1890 there were 276 teachers em-
ployed at an average salary of $32.92 per
month, and 10,828 pupils enrolled, with an
average attendance of 82 per cent. In 1900
there were 314 teachers employed at an aver-
age salary of $32.48 per month, and 10,262
pupils enrolled, with an average attendance
of 85 per cent. In 1908 there were 365
teachers employed at an average salary of
$48.42 per month, and 12,178 pupils enrolled,
with an average attendance of 83 per cent.
In 1912 there were 395 teachers employed at
an average s&lary of $50.82 per month, and
14,049 pupils enrolled, with an average attend-
ance of 85 per cent. The growth is in part
due to the recent coal developments of In-
diana county.
Many of the new towns have made marked
advancement in school affairs. In Heilwood
and Ciymer splendid brick buildings for school
purposes have been erected.
Probably one of the greatest advancements
educationally during the five years of Super-
intendent Chapman's term of office has been
the establishing of high schools in a number
of localities. In 1908 there were two high
schools in the county. In 1912 there are eight
high schools recognized by the Department of
Public Instruction. These are located in Salts-
burg, Blairsville. Homer City. Indiana. Ciy-
mer. Cherrytree and Glen Campbell boroughs;
the Pine township high school is located at
Heilwood.
THE SCHOOL CODE
On ]\Iay 18, 1911, the new school law for
Pennsylvania went into effect. The only
noticeable change that the new law made in
fourth class districts was in the number of
directors, from six to five, and making the
length of term six years. All school districts
of the county (fortj'-two in number) are
fourth class save Indiana borough and Green
township, which are classified as third class
districts. This grade of district is obliged to
keep the schools open eight months each year.
The new code also made provisions, where-
by Indiana countj' will have two assistant sup-
erintendents. The appointment depends upon
the appropriation bill now in the hands of the
State Legislature.
Great changes have taken place in regard
to the amount of tax for school purposes,
raised by local taxation, in comparison to the
amount of State appropriation. The follow-
ing shows the changes in an average township
of the county : In 1875 tlie amount raised by
210
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
local taxation was $1,969.08, and the State
appropriated $275.97. At this time ten
teachers were employed for five months, at $30
per month each. In 1880 the amount raised
by local taxation was $1,362.25 and the State
appropriated $296.74. At this time ten
teachers were employed for five months, at
$27 per month. In 1890 the amount raised
by local taxation was $1,762.62, and the State
appropriated $576.81. At this time ten
teachers were employed for six months, at $30
per month. In 1899 the amount raised by
local taxation was $1,676.57 and the State
appropriated $1,743.46. Eleven teachers were
employed for seven months, at $30 per month.
Prior to 1893, each of the thirty-nine districts
1912 « „ti "»B m
Report of ^'r-^ '^S'-t fe'Sfe" m>.-
School 7;.DO .^^.co .^S.So rt^rt
Townships
Armstrong 12 5 7 42
Banks 13 5 7 43
Blacklick 9 3 6 40
Brushvalley 10 5 5 48
Buffington 11 1 10 70
Burrell 14 4 10 47^/4
Canoe 19 9 10 44
Center 17 7 10 50
Cherryhill 14 7 7 45
Conemaugh 13 3 10 46%
Grant 10 5 5 48
Green 23 11 13 41%
N. Mahoning 8 3 5 40
S. Mahoning 9 2 7 45
E. Mahoning 8 3 5 46%
W. Mahoning 8 3 5 431/2
Montgomery 18 5 13 49
Pine 14 2 13 55
Rayne 19 5 14 51
Washington 13 3 9 50
E. Wheatfield 9 2 7 45
W. Wheatfield 13 7 6 ii^i
White 10 4 6 471/2
Young 15 5 10 44
Boroughs
Armagh 1 1 50
Blairsville 21 3 is 100
Cherrytree 3 1 2 87%
Creekside 2 1 1 55
Clymer 8 3 5 581/4
Glen Campbell 6 3 4 70
Homer City 6 . . 6
Indiana 22 5 17 96
Jacksonville 1 . . 1
Marlon Center 2 1 1 55
Meehanicsburg 1 1 . • 55
Plumville 3 1 1 55
Saltsburg G 1 5 105
Shelocta 1 1 ■ • 50
Smicksburg 3 1 1 50
Independent Disiricis
Clarksburg 1 1 ■ • 60
Georgeville 1 1 50
W. Lebanon 2 1 1 50
Total number of pupils attending the public schools
ers, 134; female, 361; total, 395.
in the county raised much more by local tax-
ation than the State appropriated. For the
year ending June, 1899, there were only seven
boroughs and three townships that raised
more by local taxation that the State appro-
priated.
FIRST COUNTY TEACHERS ' INSTITUTE IN INDIANA
COUNTY
(Prom ilie Pennsylvania School Journal)
TO TEACHERS,
Male and Female, of Common and High Schools in
Indiana, Westmoreland, and adjoining Counties.
The undersigned, a committee appointed by the
preliminary meeting held on the 11th inst., invite you
44
471/0
46%
431/2
44
45%
347
272
309
330
337
349
328
486
433
'!/■>
399
i-V,
184
963
39
80
44
89
)>/=
335
353
108
143
214
320
553
395
192
150
163
$2.91
1.95
2!30
3.14
3.14
1.44
2.35
1.53
12
2.39
11'
1.70
8
2.17
11
2.42
12
1.7S
10
stricts is 14,049. Number of male teach
PIISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
211
fo be present and participate in a Teachers' Insti-
tute, to be lield in Blairsville during the last week
in October.
The Institute will be in session one week, com-
mencing on Monday, October 25th, and will be open,
free of expense, to all teachers who will attend it.
The Committee have engaged the seivices of Hon.
Thos. H. Burrowes, of Lancaster, formerly Secretary
of State and Superintendent of Common Schools, in
conducting the Institute; also those of Rev. S. New-
bury, an experienced teacher from Cleveland, Ohio;
and other gentlemen have been invited to be present
as Instructors, in addition to the gentlemen above
named, and who are also expected to deliver lectures,
the following gentlemen, have been invited to
deliver evening lectures before the Institute:
Rev. A. M. Milligan, Mondaj' evening, opening lec-
ture.
Rev. M. H. Wilson, Tuesday evening, on "The Cul-
tivation of Taste."
T. E. llorgan, Esq., AVednesday evening, "Claims of
the Teacher upon Society."
Rev. W. W. Woodend, Thursday evening, "Claims of
Society upon the Teacher."
Rev. W. D. Moore, Friday evening, "Geology."
In order to enjoy the full advantages of the Insti-
tute, teachers should be present, as far as possible,
at the opening. Each teacher should be provided with
paper and pencil for taking notes, and if each would
come provided with Ray's arithmetic, and some
author in English grammar, an advantage might be
gained.
The committee were instructed to present a special
invitation to female teachers to be present and enjoy
the advantages of the institute. The people of Blairs-
ville have also kindly consented to entertain, free of
all expense, all female teachers who may attend.
Boarding for male teachers can be obtained at mod-
erate rates.
Tlie design of the Institute mav be stated as two
fold:
1. During the daily sessions, to review, under the
direction of experienced teachers, the principal
branches of common school education: thereby both
making advances in actual knowledge of the studies,
and receiving aid with regard to methods of com-
nmnicating that knowledge.
3. During the sessions, to hear lectures on edu-
cational topics, deliberate upon methods of promoting
the best interests of schools, discuss questions with
regards to methods of teaching and governing, and
by free interchange of sentiment, to give each the
advantage of the experience and matured ideas of all
others.
Tlie holding of such an Institute will, we think, be
beneficial to tpin-liers themselves; imparting a pro-
fessional -]Hiit. inndiuing uniformity in modes of in-
struction, .iiu^iiil: li;irinonious action on every sub-
ject invul\ini; tlir interests of education, and elevat-
. ing the standard ui qualification for the business of
teaching. On the community its influence will be not
less salutary. By showing that teachers themselves
are engaged conscientiously and earnestly in the
work of >-(ir-iiii|iin\riiiont, the co-operation of the
commuiiii\ will III -niired in every proper effort to
advance the -ned eaii-ie.
To teacher-, then, we say, let your desire for self-
improvement and your zeal in the cause of education
be evinced by attendance upon the Institute. Why
should not the Instructors in those scores of isolated
school-houses located in every neighborhood in our
region, recognize each other for once as fellow la-
borers, by embracing together this opportunity of mu-
tual improvement?
Many of the fall and winter schools will have com-
menced tlieir sessions previous to that time; but we
think that few school officers, if the matter were
fairly placed before them, would object to allowing
the teacher to dismiss his school for a week in order
to attend the Institute. Teachers of higher qualifica-
tions should be present that they may enjoy the im-
parting to others something of 'tliat with which na-
ture and education may have favored them. Those
less highly favored should be pre>eut tlmt, as far as
possible, the experience and conn-. I ,,i ntlieis may
make up this deficiency. About twenty leaeheis have
already pledged their attendance upen the Instittite.
We hope the attendance may be sucli as to indicate
that the teachers of Indiana and Westmoreland coun-
ties have spirit and energy commensurable with the
greatness of the work in which they are engaged.
J. M. M'Elrov. R. N. Dick, J. Parker, (i. S. Jlendell.
J. il. Barnett.
Blairsville, September 29, 1S52.
MINUTES OF THE CONEMAIGH TEACHERS
INSTITUTE.
Blairsville. October 25. 1852.
According to the call published in the papers, a
number of teachers and others met in the Public
school house. Opened with prayer by Rev. A. 31.
Milligan.
A temporary organization was efl'ected by ap-
pointing .John M. Barnett, President.
After the reading of the call, tlie Committee of In-
vitation, thnnmli tlieii- Chaiini.in. Ce.i. S. Mendell.
reported that linn. TImw. ||. I'nniuwe-. ei l.:ineaster;
Rev. S. New-lnny. of I levehiiel, (il,.,,-. Ilev. .\, M. Milli-
gan, and others of the gentlemen invited us instruct-
ors and lecturers were present.
J. M. McElroy. from the Committee on organization,
reported a constitution and by-laws, which, with
some slight amendments, were adopted, as follows:
Each succeeding generation of the human family
should aim and strive both to raise itself in the
scale of excellence, and also to increase facilities for
more general, more rapid, and yet more lofty eleva-
tion to be attained by generations following. To-
ward the execution of this noble work, education, in
the most comprehensive sense of the term, is the
greatest instrumentality to be employed. This sci-
ence of sciences, this art of arts, claims from the
enlightened friends of Immanit.y. attention and en-
couragement in all its departments. Here, however,
as in everything else, foundation work is of para-
mount importance. No matter how institutions of
every higher grade inay be multiplied, endowed, and
ninn'ne.l with tlinrniiQliiired instnirtovs. sound cduca-
thiii, iiirn|,;,1ile i.t liieliim a iiatiMtv in ;in\ ef these,
01 1 he I II .,| let aiithnrit \ , the e;iii-e iil 1 nil inn in Schools
emerges troni hcncatli the waves of mdirterence and
neglect, and becomes a new Delos to afford it a
place of honorable birth. To wake to life and ttse-
fulness a region of stieli essential value, and "give it
a liieal h.iliitat inn." in.-teail nf tin' mere nominal ex-
i-t-nre it li,i- -n l n i ej [mi e,l. Mini iviider It the true
nadle nl <, li'ine. I- ;;|| nlijert Well WliltllV thC aSSOci-
ati'ii ellnit ul ail wlin,e luiiis oi affection would en-
fold their race, and with soul of aspiration raise them
to the skies. The Teachers' Institute, that wand
which with more than magic influence has been
wielded for a like purpose elsewhere, has at lensrth
fallen into otir hands. .Tovfullv we gather together
212
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
from a wide extent of country "pueri in nuptaeque
puellae"; eagerly we lay united hands upon it, and
expend our combined energies in the pleasing endeavor
to direct it aright. Desiring and hoping soon to see
the day when every county in the Keystone State,
and especially each of those counties represented in
this present convocation, shall within itself furnish a
sufficiency of trained hands for its management, we
now in the incipiency of the movement in this region
organize ourselves temporarily, in the center of a
wider circle, under the designation of the Conemaugh
Teachers' Institute.
E^■E^^IX(;; sessiox.
Institute called to order in the Presbyterian
Church, at 7- o'clock. Opened with praj'er by Rev. S.
Newbury. Addressed by Rev. A. M. Milligan on the
duties of the Christian ministry in regard to Com-
mon Schools. After the address, interesting statis-
tics were given by a number of teachers, in answer to
the following questions: 1. How long is your school
open annually? 3. Number of scholars in attend-
ance? 3. Wages paid? 4. What books used? 5.
What length of time have you taught? 6. Is there a
blackboard in your school, and do you use it? 7. _
What is your method of teaching penmanship?
8. What are your greatest difficulties ?
The Institute was in session five days and at the
■ close the following Resolutions were adopted :
1. Resolved, That in teiminating the first session
of the Conemaugh Teachers' Institute, its members
find even more than their reasonable hope of suc-
cess fulfilled. Teachers in larger number than was
expected have met; have been benefited and inter-
ested, by instruction of the most useful kind; have
been associated together in a kindly professional fel-
lowship, and now depart to their several posts, with
their hands strengthened, their minds elevated and
improved, and their hearts warmed for the better dis-
charge of duty. We can therefore most cordially rec-
ommend the self-improving agency of similar Insti-
tutes to all fellow teachers in every part of the State
and hereby pledge our utmost exertions for the con-
tinuance of its benefits in this region.
3. Resolved, That we believe that the small por-
tion of the funds of the State, necessary to give exis-
tence and aid to a system of Teachers' Institutes in
every county, would be an application of the public
money which, at the present juncture, would yield
more benefit to our public sj'stem of education than
that of like amount to any other object; and accord-
ingly we urge its demand by all citizens desirous of
the perfection of that system, and most earnestly re-
quest its grant by the Legislature.
3. Resolved, That although much good can be ef-
fected by Teachers' Institutes, yet the full prepara-
tion of the teacher for the performance of his mo-
mentous duties can only be effected by a regular,
thorough professional system of training. If it be
true that "the right to punish crime involves the
duty to educate for the prevention of crime," then it
must be true that the same right involves the duty of
providing all the means of education. Of these we
consider Normal Schools, founded by the State, for
the preparation of teachers, as among the most neces-
sary and efficient; and therefore we strongly advo-
cate their earjy establishment.
4. Resolved, That we believe the agencj' of County
Superintendents would be highly beneficial, and pro-
mote the uniformity,, efficiency and success of our
Common Schools in every respect. We accordingly
approve the proposition to have these officers ap-
pointed by law.
5. Resolved, That reason, experience and economy
alike demand the grading of Common Schools, so that
pupils of widely different degrees of advancement
may neither be associated in the same class to their
mutual disadvantage, nor in the care of the same
teacher to the great waste of his time and decrease
of efficiency; and that whether these results be
avoided in towns by the union of several graded
schools in the same building, or in rural districts by
the establishment of primary and grammar or sec-
ondary schools at separate localities, the good effect is
alike desirable.
6. Resolved, That though the assistance of oc-
casional teachers, who merely embrace the profession
for a time with the intention of finally devoting them-
selves to other pursuits, is useful so long as a full
corps of permanent teachers does not exist, yet we
believe that the complete success of the schools will
never be secured till not only a full supply of perma-
nent professional teachers be secured, but till the
present system of frequently changing the teacher of
the same school shall be abandoned.
7. Resolved. That though we believe a full and
familiar knowledge of the textbooks in use in his
school to be indispensable to the efficient teacher, yet
we believe that this is not all sufficient, but that a
proper sense of the importance and responsibility of
his calling and ability to understand human nature
are essential.
8. Resolved, That as teachers we not only are will-
ing to submit to. but demand at the hands of Di-
rectors, a thorough examination into the moral char-
acter and professional qualifications, as well as the
literary attainments of all applicants; under the be-
lief that though such investigation will not have the
effect of creating perfectly qualified teachers where
they do not already exist, yet it will at least give the
due preference to the most worthy and thereby en-
courage self-improvement.
9. Resolved. TThat we most decidedly approve of the
introduction of vocal music into every school, not
merely as an agreeable and useful addition to educa-
tion, but as a harmonizing agent in discipline and
most efficient help in culture.
10. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Institute,
it is a matter of high importance that a uniform sys-
tem of textbooks in our schools be secured; that we
regard any system as preferable to no system; and
that we respectfully but earnestly urge the Directors
of the Common Schools in every district to perform
their duty in this respect, by adopting and requiring
the use of a uniform series of textbooks.
11. Resolved, That the thanks of the Institute are
due and are hereby most cordially tendered to the
Hon. Thos. H. Burrowes for his important services as
principal of the Institute; to Messrs. David Parsons
and Rev. S. Newbur}' for their invaluable daily in-
structions and evening lectures; to the Trustees of
the Presbyterian and Associate Reformed Churches
for the use of their houses of worship; to the School
Directors of Blairsville for the free use of their house:
to the teachers for suspending their school during the
session of the Institute; to the people of Blairsville
for the kind interest they have manifested in the
Institute, and their liberality in entertaining female
teachers free of expense ; and to editors who rendei'ed
invaluable assistance by allowing us the free use of
their columns.
13. Resolved, That in order to secure harmonious
and efficient action by the friends of Education
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
213
tliroughout the State, and with a view to organizing
a State Association, we recommend the holding of a
State Teachers' Convention at Harrisburg during the
coming winter.
13. Resolved, That this Institute is of opinion that
there is an unjust inequalitj- between the compensa-
tion allowed to male and female teachers, and re-
spectfully commends to the consideration of Directors
the justice of such an increase in the compensation
of females as shall be in more near proportion to the
value of the services rendered and the claims of the
sex.
On motion. Resolved, That the blank in the 12th
article of the Constitution be filled with "first"
(making the meeting of the next Institute on the first
Monday of October).
On motion, Kew Alexandria was fixed upon as the
place of holding the next meeting of the Institute.
On motion. Resolved, That Messrs. McElroy, Dick,
ilendell, Parker, and Barnett deserve our gratitude
for their untiring efforts in getting up the Institute,
and we therefore tender them our sincere thanks,
and promise our hearty co-operation in their future
exertions in the cause of the teacher and of education.
Resolved, That we tender our hearty thanks to
Hon. Thos. H. Burrowes for his able and instructive
address.
After closing remarks by Messrs. Newbury and
Parsons, and a parting song, the Institute adjourned
to meet at Xew Alexandria, on the first Monday of
October, 1853.
Thos. H. Burrow-es, Principal.
John M. Barnett, Secretary.
[The Institute was composed of 120 members,
whose names are omitted for want of room.]
THE COUNTY INSTITUTE
The first attempt to have a county oi'ganiza-
tion at the county seat was a meeting called
by County Superintendent S. P. Bollman,
August 22, 1854. After discussing various
topics, one of which was the expediency of
forming a county association, Messrs. S. il.
Clark, J. A. Ewing, Samuel Wolf, Thomas E.
]Morgan'and William Loughry were appointed
a committee to prepare a constitution to be
presented at the next meeting. In December
of the same year the Superintendent called a
meeting and permanent organization was ef-
fected. A. T. Moorhead, Sr., was elected
president, Thomas Gibson, vice president, A,
W. Kimmel. recording secretary, John Barge,
corresponding secretary, and W. H. Coleman,
treasurer, each to serve for one year. The
number of members present cannot be ascer-
tained, but at some sessions there were from
sixty to ninety, and at others twenty to forty.
The County Institute has been a potent
factor in keeping alive public sentiment in
favor of good schools. The institute has grown
from time to time. In 1900 over 300 of the
314 teachers employed were present and dur-
ing several sessions from 1,000 to 1,500 people
were in attendance.
LOCAL INSTITUTES
Washington Township Institute
Washington township organized the first
local institute during the winter of 1853-54.
The meetings were held on Saturdays. During
the forenoon the school where the institute
was held was in session, and in the afternoon
the teachers' methods of teaching were dis-
cussed. Washington towiiship has been the
banner township for local institutes. It has
held them almost continuously ever since.
White township organized an institute in 1854
in which lectures were delivered on grammar,
arithmetic, penmanship, orthography and
order. Center township organized the same
year. Very soon every township in the county
held local institutes.
Conemaugli Teachers' Institute
3Iet at Saltsburg, Indiana county, Monday,
October 2, 1854, at two o'clock, p. m.
Officers : J. A. Brown, A. M., principal ; W.
H. Townsend, R. E. Richards, J. C. Thorn,
assistant principals; Samuel Kennedj', Esq.,
secretary; J. A. Thompson, treasurer.
Instructors: J. D. Cox, A. M., of Warren,
Ohio : Mr. E. Lamborn, of Lancaster county ;
:\Ir. F. J. Thomas, of Pittsburg; Dr. Pearson,
JIassaehusetts ; ]\Ir. J. C. Thom, Eldersridge
Academy; I\Ir. R. Thom, Crawford's Mills
Academy.
Rev. W. W. Woodend, of Saltsburg, was
called upon to address the audience on the
subject of education. He kindly complied,
and, after a brief apology for his unexpected
appearance before the Institute, proceeded to
the task bj'' asking, what is it to be educated ?
The hand may be educated to obey the man-
dates of the will, as exhibited in the art of
penmanship. The tongue may be brought
under subjection to the will and be made by
education a powerful instrument in directing
and influencing the affairs of nations. Music
is an important element in physical education.
This, however, he conceived to be but a partial
idea of education. A person ma.y be able to
read correctly and fluently, he may be able
to ■WTite beautifully and solve every question
in Ray's or Davies' Arithmetic, and yet not
be educated. The requirements of our nature
demand that the moral faculties must be cul-
tivated. The pupil must be taught to think.
Thinking closely and logically supersedes the
necessity of rules. Moral and religious edu-
cation are superior to the physical. A school
without moral instruction, and the Bible as
214
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the textbook, is worse than no school. He con-
cluded by enjoining- upon teachers to weigh
well and consider the magnitude of the respon-
sibility committed to them, He might, he
said, commit with indifference the training
of a dog or a horse to a groom, but his child
being possessed of mind capable of being
trained for higher enjoyments than those of
earth, or of being hurried along the downward
path to perdition, it became him to pause and
consider under whose care and tuition he
should place him. The address was listened
to with interest and profit by the Institute.
But as the reverend gentleman had given his
thoughts on the subject without any previous
preparation, they could not be procured from
him for publication.
After some further business the Conemaugh
Teachers' Institute was declared formally dis-
solved, and the meeting was adjourned with
prayer by Rev. ]Mr. Penny.
White Township Institute
ilr. Burrowes: It is some time since you
heard from us, but we are still alive. Our
township Association held its monthly meet-
ing vesterday. It was very interesting. Essays
and'Leetures were read and spoken on various
subjects, viz. : The Past and the Present ; The
Duties of Parents and Directors; Reading;
Religious Instruction in School; The Effects
of the Normal School; Vocal Music; Bible
Instruction; Geography; The Shady Side of
School Teaching ; The Training of the Immor-
tal Mind ; and The Necessity of Discipline in
School ; accompanied with discussions.
I think we are overcoming the opposition
that existed, and there is no mistake that our
teachers and schools are improving. The fire-
side notion that females are not fit for teachers
is broken do^n, as may be seen by the follow-
ing: Our district has eleven schools; two
years ago, no female was permitted to teach
in it. Last year there was one, this year there
are seven competent females, who are succeed-
ing so well, that those who were heretofore
opposed to them, particularly in the winter,
now remain silent, or say that they do better
than they expected. So much for experience.
January 6, 1856.
Wm. T. H-vmili..
(Nothing like experience. Here it has
taught a valuable lesson. The knowledge is
needed elsewhere. — Ed.]
IXDIAN.V COUNTY NORMAL SCHOOL
The following is a letter written by County
Superintendent S. P. Bollman to Mr. Bur-
rowes. State Superintendent of Public In-
struction.
Friend Biinowcs: After great personal exer-
tion, with tlie co-operation of some of the friends
of education in our county, I have the satisfaction
of informing you that we expect to open a Normal
Scboo,l in Indiana, on Tuesday, the 25th instant,
which will be open for the term of one month. We
conld have wished for a longer term, but this being
a new enterprise, does not meet with such favor as
to warrant us in making arrangements with Pro-
fessors for anj' longer period. We have secured the
Indiana Academy and the basement of the New As-
sociate Church, for the use of the school, and with
them we will be tolerably accommodated. Our Pro-
fessors are men of talent and rare ability in their
respective departments, and we confidently expect
good results. We expect indeed to revolutionize the
common schools of Indiana County.
The services of Stoddard, Walker, Cutter and Corn-
well have been secured. They are all tried men and
with even the imperfect accommodations with which
we shall have to do we know they will make their
work tell. We have now data sufficient to know
that not less than from 50 to 75 Teachers will be in
attendance. We shall expect, Mr. Editor, a friendly
notice in the "Journal"; we need help and sympathy,
and we are sure of yours.
Respectfully youre,
S. P. Bollman, Co. Supt.
Indiana, Sept. 10, 1855.
"This volunteer effort of the teachers of
Indiana, which lately closed a four weeks'
session, seems to have been most spirited and
useful. One hundred and eight teachers were
in attendance ; and the effect produced prom-
ises to be great and lasting. Deputy Superin-
tendent Hickok delivered an address ; and the
instructions are all said to have been appro-
priate and practical. Superintendent Boll-
man deserves great praise for the tact and
perseverance displayed in getting up and man-
aging this school. ' '
From the "Pennsylvania School Journal"
we quote:
"We see by the published list in the Indiana
county papers that the Normal School, recently
closed, in that county was largely attended.
The catalogue presents the handsome aggre-
gate of thirty-eight females and seventy males
—in all 108. This Normal effort seems to have
made the most happy impression, as may be
seen from the following resolutions, highly
complimentary to the County Superintendent,
Mr. Bollman, and no less so to the talented
gentlemen associated with him in the school.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
21:
Resolutions of 1855
■'Whereas, a Normal School has been raised
up and made to flourish in Indiana County,
in the midst of not only a chilly apath.v to-
wards all educational advancements, but of
active opposition arrayed against all improve-
ment in the culture of the youthful faculties;
and whereas this school has been brought into
existence, cherished and sustained, by the dis-
interested and indefatigable energ.y and per-
severance of S. P. Bollman, our County Sup-
erintendent, until the most satisfactory proofs
have been afforded of the incalculable utility
of this school, therefore.
■■B(Solvc<}, Tliat we tlie pupils of the Indi-
ana County Normal School, hereby express our
gi'atitude to our Superintendent, for his un-
wearying labors in behalf of education gen-
erally, and particularly for the improvement
of teachers, and system of teaching, etc.
"Resolved, That we hereby tender our
hi-arty thanks to all the teachere who have
been connected with this institution, inasmuch
as they have manifested their interest in our
institution and its success, by their continued
exertions put forth by night and day."
The following is a complete list of the pupils
wlio attended the Indiana County Normal
School. Quite a number were in attendance
(luring the entire term and the majority from
one to three weeks of the temi.
Armagh — N. ]\IcCartney.
Armstrong— A. W. McCollough, S. ]\I.
Davis. Israel Thomas, J. Miller.
Blacklick — James ^IcCrea, T. D. Ewing,
Israel Rankin.
Brushvalley — John Evans, John Martin, R.
B. George, Alex McBeth, T. S. Robertson.
Burrell — Richard Wallace.
Cherrj'tree — ilary .J. Hamilton, Catherine
Howe.
Center — Joseph Langhlin. William C.
Stew'art, William Kough, J. D. Stewart, Mar-
tin Simpson, John A. Virtue, S. W. Simpson,
^I. J. Hammill. William Pedicord, James
I.ucas, ]\Iary T. Allison, Elizabeth Allison.
Conemaugh — R. A. Wilson, Andrew Getty,
J. S. Templeton, A. C. Templeton, J. F. Moon.
Eldersridge — M. A. Nesbit, Sarah J.
Shearer.
Greenville — P. D. Arthurs, J. D. Laughery,
Elizabeth Todd.
Indiana — Joseph Flude. Sanuiel Wolf, John
A. Keslar, DavidWilson, J. C. Donelly, A. C.
Patterson, D. S. Porter. H. H. Shaffer, Robert
P. Reed, Nancy W. Kelly, Adeline L. Dorney,
Sarah .MeClaren, Man- Tiuthoff, Sarah S.
Simpson.
West Lebanon— Kate McGaugh, S. E. Har-
rison.
North Mahoning— Robert Hammill. Josiah
Work, David Warner.
South ilahoning— J. S. Stuchell. A. D.
Richardson, Nancv T. Allison, Reliecca J
Griffith.
Mechanicsburg — Eliza W. Lougherv. ■
Mitchells Mills— J. L. 0 'Niel.
Pine — John S. Coy, Henry Strons'.
Rayne— Jacob Creps, E.' C. Kinter. Wil-
liam il. Ray, J. N. Adams, J. K. Hani.sou.
Shelocta— E. C. McCollough, H. B. Miller,
M. S. Speedy, Martha A. Patterson.
Washington — Andrew H. Diven, John
Clowes, J. H. McEwen, David Mahon, G. J.
McHenry, John Bothell, Louisa M. Diven,
James M. Carroll.
Wheatfield — Elvira McCartney, Thomas
Griffith, Sarah Ann Skiles, Mary J. Palmore.
Westmoreland — Man^ A. Mathews, Mary J.
Trimble.
White— N. C. Barclay, Charles B. Reed, C.
Wiggins. Walter Bell, J. Evans :\Iyres. An-
drew Ingei-soll. Joseph T. Beck, ' John S.
Suiter, John ilcLain, Mary J. Moorhead, Eliza
Adair, Jacintha Reed, Susan Fei'guson.
Young— T. R. Ewing, James Gray, ilary
Lowrj\
The following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted by the Indiana County
Normal School in 1856 :
"Whereas, We the members of the Indiana County
Normal School are about to conclude a very pleasant
and profitable session; Therefore
"Resolved, That as Teachers and friends of educa-
tion vre have renewed confidence in the utility of
Normal Schools.
"Resolved. That the present session of our Normal
School has been admirably adapted to prepare us for
the important and responsible duties of the school-
room.
"Resolved, That our untiring and eiBcient County
Superintendent. Rev. S. P. Bollman, renewedly meets
tlie esteem and confidence of the citizens, and the
lasting gratitude of the teachers and friends of educa-
tion of Indiana County.
"Resolved, That he has faithfully discharged the
duties of his office; and that we express our earnest
desire that he be re-elected.
"Resolved, That the talented and skillful Instructor,
Prof. S. A. Terrel, has won for himself a reputation
inferior to none who have visited our county as
Educators; and that he has our sincere thanks for
the interest he has manifested in our educational wel-
fare.
"Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt thanks to
Prof. .J. F. Stoddard, for his repeated favors in again
visiting our county, and favoring us with his in-
•aluable instructions.
216
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
"Resolved, That Prof. E. D. B. Porter has proved
himself a talented and able Instructor.
"Resolved, That we appreciate the favors of those
who have addressed us during the present session
of our school; and also the countenance and co-opera-
tion of the citizens of Indiana and vicinity.
"Resolved, That we consider Teachers' Institutes
highly beneficial to the cause of Education; and that
we will use our united efforts for their continuance
and support.
"Resolved, That we consider the study of Physical
Geography essentially necessary to the successful
prosecution of the study of Descriptive Geography;
and that we will endeavor to introduce it into the
schools of our country.
"Resolved, That having experienced the good effects
of our Normal School hitherto, we will do all in our
power for the support of its annual sessions in the
time to come.
"Resolved, That we recommend to the Directors of
Indiana County, the introduction of the following
textbooks into the schools of this county, viz.:
"Arithmetic, Stoddard's Series.
"Grammar, Covell's Digest.
"Geography, Colton's and Fitch's Physical and De-
scriptive Geographies.
"Spellers and Readers, Tower's.
"Resolved, That our thanks are due and are hereby
tendered to the Trustees of Indiana Academy, for the
use of their edifice during the present session of the
Normal School.
"Resolved, That the above resolutions be published
in the Indiana county papers, and in the Pennsylvania
School Journal.
"Resolved, That we recommend to the Teachers of
Indiana county the reading of the 'Pennsylvania
School Journal.'
"Resolved, That we tender to Thomas H. Burrowes,
Editor of the 'Pennsylvania School Journal,' our
sincere thanks for his past favors, in publishing the
minutes of our deliberations.
"T. Hindman,
"Geo. W. Lininger,
"Rebecca A. M'Claran,
"Lizzie M. White,
"Louisa M. Diven,
"Committee.
"Indiana, October 35, 1856."
SCHOOLHOUSES
(By a Teacher in the Fifties)
It has never been our good fortune to
teach in a building worthy the name of school-
house. Nor in all our peregrinations in rural
districts have we ever seen a schoolhouse
which, in our opinion, was the place in or
about which the young idea might learn to
shoot.
Is it any wonder that our jails and peniten-
tiaries find so many inmates? Our children
become so accustomed to gloomy walls, and
uncomfortable seats, to dreariness within, in
short, to what a child regards as imprison-
ment, that in after life they become fit sub-
jects of civil restraint.
And we will not be disappointed at the day
of final reckoning to find that many of the
good people of this earth are charged with
violating the sixth commandment; "Thou
shalt not kill," saith the giver of life and
health ; and yet nine tenths of our Christian
fathers and mothers persist in shortening the
lives of their offspring ; yes, even in torturing
them to death, by confining them in poorly
constructed and badly ventilated schoolrooms.
Oh, how often have we gone to our school in
the morning, actuated by the noblest resolves
to discharge the duties of our calling, and yet,
just as frequently, have returned in the even-
ing sick and discouraged.
You may write and talk till doomsday re-
si^ecting good teachers, and of their capability
to make the schoolhouse a pleasant place,
where children love to go; but we say it can-
not be done, in nine cases out of ten. The
teacher may be patient — and he should possess
the patience of Job ; he may be educated — not
in mere book learning, but in the practical
duties of life ; he may possess the peculiar gift
of being able to communicate his knowledge
to others ; he may be willing to perform faith-
fully the duties of his high and responsible
office; and yet, we say, he may fail to accom-
plish what might be done. Never can he ren-
der satisfaction to those who have entrusted
to him the education of children ; never can
he satisfy his own conscience that all is right,
so long as he is compelled to toil on, from
week to week and from month to month, in our
present schoolrooms. ' Parents complain that
their children are unhealthy, and too frequent-
ly punished at school, and teachers retort by
saying that children are feverish and un-
governable. Both are correct, the parents and
the teacher, so far as regards bad health and
want of attention on the part of the pupil.
But the parent has power to apply the remedy,
and until it is applied no one has the right to
complain of the teacher's discipline, even
though it be of the sterner kind. And we
do not hesitate to say that so long as forty or
fifty and even a greater number of children
are croM'ded into small rooms, uncomfortably
seated, and unventilated, just so long, if the
teacher is expected to preserve good order,
will he be obliged to resort to corporal punish-
ment. We are no defender of the rod except
in extreme cases, and it always gives us pain
to inflict punishment upon a child. We have
great confidence in the power and influence
of kindness, and are firmly convinced that a
"good time is coming," when love will be the
great incentive to improvement, and the best
preserver of good order in the schoolroom.
But establish normal schools in every eoun-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
217
ty; provide the best iustructors for educating
teachers; permit no one to engage in training
the infant mind who has not previously un-
dergone a thorough course of physical, moral
and mental discipline ; remunerate them with
words of sympathy and encouragement and
the highest salaries yet make no improvement
in the construction of schoolhouses, and your
object — that of having good schools — will be
far, very far, from being accomplished.
When the thousand and one unsightly
schoolhouses, or, more appropriately, school
prisons, that now stand at the street corners,
cross roads and on the barren hilltops shall
be regarded as unsuitable for the development
of mind and muscle; when large and com-
modious buildings shall be erected in the very
best locations; when the seating shall be ar-
ranged with strict regard to comfort and
order; when the walls shall be covered with
blackboards, maps and charts, and the teacher
supplied with suitable apparatus; when the
school grounds shall be neatly inclosed, and
tastefully adorned with shrubs and flowers,
with sufficient space for recreation ; then, and
not till then, will the schoolhouse be an invit-
ing place, and going to school a pleasant
duty; and not till then will the teacher be
appreciated.
We quote from the "Pennsylvj
Journal ' ' :
School
A -WORD TO PARENTS HAVING SMALL CHILDREN
AT SCHOOL
I have often been almost overcome with the
thought that there is such a weighty respon-
sibility upon the teachers of the common
school ; to think that the patrons of a district
appear to take so little interest in the welfare
and advancement of the pupils in the school;
and that many are so inconsiderate as to leave
the education of their children solely to the
teacher, and expect him to inspire them with
ambitious thoughts, encourage them in their
labors, and gain the love, respect and confi-
dence of all intrusted to his care. True, this
can all be done by him ; but would not a little
assistance from you (the parents) be of very
great service to your teacher?
Your children are, no doubt, as near and
dear to you as the apple of your eye. Their
success at school is indeed near your heart,
and you cherish high hopes of them in the
future. You are anxious to help them along in
their studies, provided such assistance will not
too seriously tax you. Then, we say, listen
to one or two of the leading points, very brief-
ly stated, wherein you may vastly assist their
instructor.
Keep them regularly at school. The ab-
sence of a single day is very bad— they "drop
a stitch" by so doing, which the next two davs
cannot ' ' lift. ' ' It deranges the teacher 's plans
and makes it vastly easier for the absence to
occur again. Better by far suffer incon-
venience than to keep them at home a single
day. It would, indeed, be better to spare
several dimes and some hours besides, and do
the errands yourself, than keep your children
home to run them.
Be sure they are punctual. Ten or fifteen
minutes in the morning do you but little good
and them a great deal of harm. Arriving at
the schoolroom five or twenty minutes too late,
they disturb the punctual ones, lose an exercise
or two, provoke the teacher, and cultivate a
careless and lazy habit of always being behind
time. It is the habit, thus formed in the child,
we look at more particularly. In after life
it clings to him like frost to a lump of ice.
The more he tries to free himself of the habit
the closer it hugs him, as though there was
truly some dignity in being last in coming.
^ Teach them to respect the rules of school.
Show them ^vherein such regulations are nec-
essary. Talk to them about the many tricks
practiced by some pupils at school, and con-
vince them that it is as easy to do right as
wrong; and also when the wrong is preferred
and the right rejected, that they will be most
assuredly accountable to you for the offence.
In this way you can teach your children to
think before they act, and then to prefer the
right always. They learn to act from principle,
not prejudice, and therefore the childish dis-
position is purged out, and a manly principle
established in its stead, which will carry them
through in after life. Let parents adopt this
plan, and the teacher rarely, if ever, will have
any rule in governing.
If they liave lessons to learn out of school,
assist them. By this the teacher judges of
your interest in their progress ; if they always
go prepared in these home lessons, he is care-
ful that they progress rapidly in their school
studies. He knows he is watched, he feels
doubly interested in your children's welfare,
and consequently he labors more faithfully
for their advancement. But if the evidences
are that you pay no attention to them at home,
and permit them to loiter their time foolishly,
without making any inquiry as regards their
progress and behavior at school, or seeing that
they study during tlie morning and evening.
218
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
he has no evidence that you are taking an in-
terest in the school; he therefore does his
duty mechanically, with little hope for the
better. Many children get the idea, thus, that
he is the only one interested in the school, and
if they study at all do so to please only their
teacher, sometimes not so much.
Sometimes you are at leisure and scarcely
know what to do with yourself. Then bestir
yourselves — assist your children, visit the
school and encoui-age the teachers ; and when-
ever you have opportunity of rendering service
to either, do it ; for you can more than double
the usefulness of the teacher, if you only have
a willing mind.
When the school closes, do not suffer them
to leave off study, but give them, every day,
tasks as a review. Pay strict attention to
them and see that they are faithful to their
charge. In this way, if not constantly advanc-
ing, they will be at least retaining what they
have learaed. Then, when the school com-
mences again, they will be ready to commence
' where they left off at the former school. In
these western counties, where we have only
four to five months school in the year, in how
many schools do we hear the teacher say, "I
began where my predecessor did. ' ' Now, with
a little care on the part of the parents, this
could all be remedied, and our schools would
immediately begin to advance towards per-
fection.
I sincerely hope that the time is not far
distant, when every parent will be aroused to
a deeper sense of his duty, and put forth all
his energies for the furtherance and advance-
ment of the cause of common school education.
With best wishes for your abundant success
and for the enlarged circulation of your most
valuable Journal, I subscribe myself,
R. A. W.
Clarksburg. Indiana Co., Dee. 5th, 1855.
.VCADEMIES AND SEMINARIES
The Indiana Academy was incorporated by
an Act of the Legislature approved March 28,
1814, in which Act Rev. Joseph ^l. Hender-
son, Rev. John Jamison, James MeComb,
James Smith, Thomas Sharp, Robert Sutton,
James McLain, Joseph Moorhead, Blaney
Adair, James IM. Kelly, James McKnight,
Daniel Stanard, John Denniston were named
as trustees, to serve until others should be
elected, as provided for in the said Act.
The sum of $2,000 was appropriated on be-
half of the Commonwealth, to be drawn out
of the State treasury whenever $1,000 in ad-
dition should have been raised by private sub-
scription. One half of said appropriation was
to be invested in stocks and the interest thereof
applied to the support of the academy ; in pur-
suance of which provision, stock to that
amount was purchased in the "Westmoreland
Bank of Pennsylvania," seventy per cent of
which was finally lost by the failure of the
institution. The remaining $1,000 appropri-
ated was used in the erection of the building.
The trustees met at the courthouse on the
2d of ilay, 1814. and elected James M. Kelly
secretary, and James McKnight treasurer, and
on the 18th of June, 1814, James McLain was
chosen president. The site of the academy was
purchased and an agreement entered into with
John Henry and John Loughry for the erec-
tion of a stone building, which was completed
in 1816. The building was located where the
residence of Hon. Silas M. Clark (deceased)
now stands. One room of this building was
used ten or eleven years for an elementary
school.
On June 1, 1818, the academy was opened
under the direction of Rev. John Reid, for the
reception of pupils wishing to study the
higher branches, and from that time forward
teachers were generally employed for regular
sessions. Rev. John K. Kirkpatrick, Thomas E.
Morgan, Rev. Henrv S. Koons, Silas M. Clark,
E. D. B. Porter, J. Willis Westlake, R. T.
Cornwell, and others having charge of the
school. In 1846 the old stone building was
replaced by a neat brick structure, one story
high, with three rooms, and was used for an
academy until 1862. This school had, most
of the time, a large number of students. Many
of the leading men of the country acted as
teachers in this institution, and an impetus
was given to the educational cause that the
passing years have rather increased than re-
tarded.
Female Seminary. — There was for a short
time a female seminary on the northwest cor-
ner of Church and Sixth streets, in Indiana.
Eldersridge Academy. — Eldersridge Pres-
byterian Academy is situated in Indiana coun-
ty, four miles from the Kiskiminetas, a branch
of the Allegheny river. It is about forty miles
from Pittsburg, sixteen from the town of
Indiana, and thirteen from Blairsville.
A few persons began reciting privately to
Rev. Alexander Donaldson, at Eldersridge, as
early as 1832, in the second story of a log
springhouse. The writer has information to
the effect that at first four students were in
attendance : Jacob Kiers, who became a phy-
sician and practiced in Detroit, Mich.; Mat-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
219
tliew Wilson, who became a niiuister and
preached at Jacksonville, Pa.; Mr. McAdoo,
who settled in the oil regions; and Peter Mc-
Goff, who became a banker and located at
Franklin, Pa. This was the beginning of
Eldersridge Academy.
Without at all anticipating the establish-
ment of an institution such as it became, Mr.
Donaldson had been induced to give private
instniction in the classics and other branches
to young men who were preparing to enter
college, or otherwise fitting themselves for use-
fulness. During the winter and spring of
1847 the number of applicants for instruc-
tion had so increased as to render it necessary
either to relinciuish the matter entirely, or pro-
cure assistance in teaching.
Accordingly Mr. J. M. Barnett, of Blairs-
ville, then an undergraduate in Jefferson Col-
lege, was engaged as assistant, and on the 16th
of April in that year the academic school was
opened in Mr. Donaldson's "study" with six-
teen pupils. The whole number admitted
during the first two sessions was thirty-one.
During the second year (1848) twenty-five
new students were received ; third year, thirty-
five; fourth year, forty-one; fifth year, fifty-
eight ; sixth year, fifty ; seventh year, sixt}'-
two.
The fi}'st schoolroom erected was very small,
yet a neat and convenient one-story frame, de-
signed to accommodate from twenty to thirty
students. The founder built it at his own ex-
pense ($320). This proving too small, the
present building, a substantial and convenient
two-story brick edifice, 50 feet by 30, was
erected in 1852, at a cost of $2,000 besides the
grounds and inclosures. It is situated on a
beautiful and conspicuous eminence, and eon-
tains a large study and recitation room capa-
ble of accommodating from sixty to one hun-
dred persons: a second, smaller, recitation
room ; two society halls, and two smaller rooms
designed for library, cabinet of minerals, aji-
paratus, etc.
The institution has the advantage of an en-
tirely rural situation, in an agricultural com-
munity, on the ridge of farm land running
parallel with the river, and which has for
many years borne the name of one of the
early settlers. The school was called into
existence by the wants of the community and
surrounding country.
Mr. Baniett remained as assistant in the
academy until October, 1853. with the excep-
•ion of two intervals of one year each, the
first of which he devoted to finishing his col-
lesriate education. In the second of these in-
tervals J. :\1. McElroy, also a graduate of
Jefferson College, engaged as assistant, and
continued in connection with the institution
until October 1, 1853.
The design of the institution was from its
commencement twofold: To prepare young
men for advantageously entering college ; and
to provide properly qualified teachers for com-
mon and other schools. In both of these it has
had a large measure of success.
As might be inferred from what has been
already stated, the majority of the students
have been young men grown. It was not de-
signed chiefly for small boj's, who would need
the constant oversight of the teacher both in
the schoolroom and at their place of boarding.
A number of such have, indeed, at different
times, been received, and some of them have
made very gratifying progress in study. Still,
it was not designed to be a boarding school in
the commonly received sense of the term ; and
little boys who must have constant attention
and oversight as a condition on which depends
their improvement, parents were not encour-
aged to send.
One important element of success in Mr.
Donaldson's governing we believe was a kind
of silent, unexpressed, unthought-of conscious-
ness of power over students — an assurance
entering into and forming a part of himself,
and pervading every action and movement,
that the students will do right; it must be
SO; it cannot be otherwise. This conscious
power, united with a kindly disposition, supe-
rior scholarship, and a commanding moral
character, gives the possessor an almost
boundless control over those within his influ-
ence.
To illustrate our meaning; W^e have seen
the principal enter the academy the next
morning after an unpleasant rumor had
reached his ears, and at the close of the exer-
cise slowly rise to unburden his mind to the
students, A more than usually grave coun-
tenance betokened deep feeling within. A
pause ensued, during which eveiy eye in the
room was fixed upon him who was about to
speak. Slowly, and in tones of solicitude and
sorrow, he enunciated the question, "Do any
of our students swear ? " ' Another pause, dur-
ing which a pinfall might have been heard,
and which was only interrupted by the guilty
person, a magnanimous young man, rising,
in presence of teachers and fifty fellow stu-
dents, to acknowledge his fault ! The scene
we shall never forget. It was worthy of the
painter's pencil.
Assistant teachers have been numerous,
220
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
sometimes one at a time, but mostly two. The
income from tuition has always been divided
equally between the principal and each assist-
ant. The following teachers, generally aid-
ing themselves in professional studies, have
been employed for shorter or longer terms:
John ]M. Barnett, James A. McKuight, Mat-
thew Clark, John M. McElroy, D. W. El-
der, John C. Thorn, T. B. Elder, J. W. Smith,
S. Kennedy, James E. Caruthers, J. H. Don-
aldson, F. J. C. Schneider, S. J. Craighead,
A. W. McCullough, Eben B. Caldwell, G. B.
Smith, S. S. Gilson, A. M. Donaldson, W. B.
Donaldson, W. W. McLane, H. B. Knight, W.
J. Bollman, John Brownson, R. H. Carothers,
J. M. Duncan, John B. Donaldson, C. F. Gal-
laher, John A. Scott, G. W. Gilbert, S. M.
Jack, Rev. A. S. Stewart, L. A. Frantz, Mag-
gie M. Elder, Maude Elder, P. A. Love and
Wilson Grove.
Soon after the opening of the school patron-
age came from Clarion county on the north
and Cambria county on the southeast, and
all the intervening counties, some even from
Huntingdon, Bedford and Franklin. The
position taken and maintained by students
from the academy in what was then Jefferson
College attracted attention, and numbers who
had enrolled there in the lower classes were
thus drawn to this institution as a more prof-
itable place to spend the earlier years of a
college course. In this way the academy
came to have representatives from all the sur-
rounding States, principally the middle and
western, but even from Mississippi and Lou-
isiana.
Of its students who have attained distinc-
tion over 150 have become ministers of the
gospel, one at a youthful age sitting as mod-
erator of the General Assembly. Many,
crowned with the honorable title of D. D.,
are found occupying positions of eminence
in the church, and nine are foreign mission-
aries. Over eighty have become physicians.
More than ninety have been admitted to the
bar, and of these at least six have honored
the bench. In educational work many are
prominent, one as a college president, others
as distinguished professors or as principals
of academies or high schools. Three are ed-
itors of papers, secular and religious. One
lieutenant governor and numerous State
senators and legislators are included. Many
sleep in the national cemeteries or in their
own churchyards in graves honored by the
nation, while others still survive with military
titles to testify to honorable service. One
had the distinction of marcliing on Sherman's
staff from •'Atlanta to the sea."
Ten or twelve families within a circuit of
two miles for a few years at first accommo-
dated the students with boarding at one dol-
lar per week. Within ten years John Smith,
Christopher Iman and John Thom had erected
boarding houses. During the same time
boarding rose to $1.25 and increased from
year to year until it was raised to $3.50. But
a iJirge number of students have, during all
these variations, rented rooms and boarded
themselves at an expense of little more than
one dollar per week, and while practicing the
close and useful economies of such a life have
taken high grade in scholarship, and as high
a position in the respect and esteem of a com-
munity which has learned to look kindly and
encouragingly upon that class of students.
For a number of years "boarding clubs," as
at colleges, were introduced and the. cost of
boarding reduced to the minimum.
Literary Societies.- — While in the building
first erected all the students were included
in one society, the Amphisbeteon, which held
weekly meetings. When the two-story build-
ing came to be occupied they divided them-
selves equally between two new societies,
called Ereuneteon and Matheteon, in which,
as before, their meetings were held weekly.
In these the exercises consisted of delivering
declamations, essays, original orations and
debates, either prepared or extempore. To
these much and profitable attention was given,
and the interest in them was greatly stimu-
lated by a wholesome rivali-y between the two
societies. Decided opinions have been ex-
pressed by students of this institution, after
having graduated at college, that the socie-
ties here were incomparably better conducted
and more profitable than at colleges where
the members of two societies are distributed
into fraternities, which are more highly re-
garded. These societies have annually
held contests in all their various exercises.
For many years they were held in April, but
recently they have been held just before the
holidays. Picked men are chosen from each
society to contest with each other in decla-
mation, essay, original oration and debate,
and three literary men are chosen to decide
the palm of superioi-ity between them. An
exhibition is also held at the close of every aca-
demic year, in which advanced students of
both societies indiscriminately read essays or
deliver orations, four of »the performances
being awarded special merit, viz. : Saluta-
tory, Latin and Greek orations, and Valedic-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
221
torv. In later years the German oration was
added to the contest. The greatest honor was
conferred upon the winner of the Valedictory
and the next honor upon the winner of the
Greek oration, which is not contested for at
present. This occasion afforded another op-
portunity of enjoying ''a feast of reason and
a flow of soul" as well as of bringing together
in pleasant social intercourse prized patrons,
their friends and acquaintances.
Control. — Immediately after the organiza-
tion of this academy, when such connections
were popular, the Presbytery of Blairsville,
in which this region was then included, ap-
pointed a committee on the subject of a Pres-
byterial Academy, and required those who
aspired after such connection to report the
particulars of their respective schools to that
committee. "When this had been done, on the
report of this committee. Eldersridge, in 1848,
was taken up as the Blairsville Presbyterial
Academy, and trustees or, more properly, vis-
itors were appointed annually to attend its
examinations and advise respecting its man-
agement. Very soon, however, as several
members of the Presbytery became interested
in other schools, which were starting up one
after another within the bounds of the Pres-
bytery, th^y lost their interest in this institu-
tion, and the connection became merely a
nominal one. In the year 1876 Dr. Donald-
son, wishing to secure in a legal way its per-
petuation after he must be separated from it,
selected a board of nineteen trustees (to be
self-pei'petuating) from the different relig-
ious denominations in the vicinit.y, with this
condition, that in choosing the faculty the
principal should always be a Presbyterian.
To this board he conveyed all his right, title
interest and claim to the academy building,
its grounds, appurtenances and franchises,
asking in return that whenever any of his
descendants, one at a time, should be sent to
it as pupil, no charge should be made for tui-
tion. The board, having accepted the trust,
reroofed the building and made other repairs
to the amount of six hundred dollars, and
reelected the faculty. Dr. Donaldson was
retained as principal and reelected each year.
In 1884 he asked to be relieved from all fur-
ther connection with the institution, but the
board unanimously refused to consent. They
acceded to his request, however, in the year
ISSo. He had tilled the office for a period of
over thirty-eight years, with such marked
success in training mind and stamping char-
acter as to justly place him in the front
rank of successful educators.
On the release of Dr. Donaldson from fur-
ther active participation in the cares and
labors of the institution Prof. T. B. Elder,
who had been associated with him as an assist-
ant for nearly half the time since its organ-
ization, was chosen principal. The principals
since Jlr. Elder have been: Messrs. N. B.
Kelly. James Gailev and brother, "W. S. A.
Wilson. W. B. Elder, R. A. Henderson, Pres-
ton Urey and Professor Smith, who has charge
at present. The school has been small for a
number of years, at present not averaging
more than thirty students.
The school became involved financially and
was about to be sold for debt a few years ago,
when Lucius "W. Robinson agreed to give
$3,000 to help pay off the debt and turn the
school over to the board of trustees in five
years, provided the school could be conducted
in such a way that it would be self-support-
ing. This offer was accepted by the trustees
and the school continues to exist.
Jacksonville Academy (By H. B. Mcln-
tyre). — Rev. II. H. Wilson, a minister of the
U. P. Church, laid the foundation for Jackson-
ville Academy by teaching two young men in
his own residence in the village. These young
men were Abraham Lowman and a Mr. Kerr.
Acting upon the suggestion thus made, some
of the fathers set to work to raise a stock
company to erect a building and start an
academy. This was accomplished in the fall
of 1849, when a board of trustees was chosen
to watch over and further the interests of
the young institution. These trustees were
Samuel G. Miller, John ileCurdy, AVilliam
Robinson, George S. Lowman, William McFar-
land, Samuel McCartney.
The principals of this academy in succession
were as follows : Rev. M. H. Wilson, five
years; Rev. J. il. Jamison, one year; Rev.
M. H. Wilson, four years ; Rev. Franklin Orr.
two years; W. A. Leggett, A. B., one year;
H. B. Mclntyre, A. B., one year; Professor
Robb, one year; Rev. Samuel Hood, one year.
The term of the last named closed with the
year 1867. By this time institutions of like
grade had sprung up all over the land, and
almost every village had its select school, and
as a conse(iuence the academy cea.sed to be
self-sustaining. Some time afterwards the
building was sold by the trustees to the school
directors of the borough for a public school-
house.
The institution was a flourishing one dur-
ing the greater part of its existence, and sent
out to battle for the right some very valuable
men. A very large proportion of them found
222
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tlieir way into the gospel ministry, as many,
perhaps, as forty, while others are doing good
service in other professions and callings. Its
bell no longer summons an eager band to their
daily portion of classic lore ; its name belongs
to the list of "the departed"; but it yet lives
influentially in the persons of many who once
were students within its humble walls.
BlairsviUr Academy. — In 1868 measures
were taken by Revs. H. P. Shepley, A. M., and
D. W. Collins, D. D., to found an academy
for the "higher instruction" of young men.
$6,400 was raised in scholarships of $260
each, and a large and commodious two-story
building, with three rooms above and a large
room and vestibule below, was erected in
1869. Seventy-iive pupils attended the first
session in the fall of 1869.
First year, principal. Dr. Collins, assist-
ant, Rev. Mr. Shepley ; second year, principal,
Dr. Collins, assistant. Rev. J. W. Swaney;
third year, principal, Dr. Collins, assistant,
William Bogle ; fourth year, Mr. Eaton, prin-
cipal, and wife, assistant ; fifth year. Rev. N.
R. Johnston, principal, and wife, assistant;
sixth year, AVilliam A. Vis, principal, and sev-
enth year, ]Mr. Bately, principal. In April,
1876, Maj. A. J. Bolar became principal, and
his assistants were William Neuraghan,
Harry St. Clair, Austin Clark, D. M. Shedd
and W. M. Turner. Major Bolar was fol-
lowed by John A. Marquis as principal ; Dr.
Marquis is now president of Coe College,
Iowa.
In 1886-87 the academy was closed and the
building sold to the borough of Blairsville
for a public school. This brick building, on
North Walnut street, has been enlarged and
is now a very neat structure.
The public school building on South Wal-
nut street was erected in 1837, and first oc-
cupied in 1838. ^Martin Brainard and nephew
were the male and jMiss Sarah. Stansberry and
Miss Pollock the female teachers. This build-
ing has been enlarged and remodeled from
time to time.
Blairsville established the first high school
in Indiana county.
Blairsville Ladies' Scminanj. — In January,
1851, there were only two female seminaries
or academies in western Pennsylvania. These
were situated in Pittsburg and Washington.
In the previous year there had been consider-
able talk of establishing a seminary of this
character at some town in Westmoreland or
Indiana county. Saltsburg. New Alexandria
and other places were agitating the question,
but it had not yet reached the point where
the decisive step which would guarantee a
Ijcginning could be made. Meanwhile Rev.
Dr. George Hill, of Blairsville, after some
conversation with the members of his con-
gregation and a friend of "higher education
of young ladies," secured a house, made
arrangements with Porter Turner and wife
to board the pupils if there should be any,
obtained the cooperation of Miss Sarah Knott,
afterwards the wife of George S. Mendel, and
Miss Cornelia Clark, now Mrs. Col. Campbell,
of Altoona, as assistant teachers, and inserted
an advertisement in the "Presbyterian Advo-
cate" of March 5, 1859, and other papers,
which announced the commencement of a sem-
inary for young ladies in Blairsville on the
first Tuesday of May, 1851. The school opened
in May, as announced, with forty pupils.
After the first session he made an effort to
secure a permanent building, which would
have the requisite accommodations for a school
of this character. He foresaw the possibility
of a flourishing school, provided that in its
inception the foundation should be laid upon
a substantial basis. He had able and experi-
enced teachers at command. But the accom-
modations for the school were so meager that
lie resolved to have a building appropriate
for the purposes intended. With him to re-
solve was to act. Without a subscription
paper, or written bond or contract, he secured
$7,000. He himself pledged $500 to the proj-
ect, and the friends of the school, as they
were approached on the subject, gave accord-
ing to their means. John Graff acted as
treasurer and the several sums were paid into
his hands.
The brick main building was commenced
in the winter of 1851-52 and was completed in
time for the ensuing fall session. James Mc-
Kee of Jacksonville was the supervising
builder. The house is three stories in height
and 80 by 44 feet in dimensions. Its cost was
about $1,000 in excess of the money already
raised, but this was provided for amicably.
After having placed the school on a solid
foundation Dr. Hill retired, and Rev. S. H.
Shepley, A. ^I., assumed charge in October,
1852. The latter added the south wing, 50 by
44 feet, and two stories in height. Another
story was added by Rev. J. Jewett Parks, a
later principal of the school. Under Mr. Shep-
ley and wife. Mrs. P. P. Shepley, and the
blisses Sherrard and Howes, the seminary in-
creased in numbers and influence. It was his
desire to make it the equal of Mount Holyoke
and other noted New England schools. How
well his laliors were appreciated, the fruition
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
2-23
of his hopes gratified, we leave to the many
graduates of the school to speak.
Mr. Shepley was succeeded (in March,
1865) bv Rev.' J. R. Hughes, (August, 1867)
Rev. J.'jewett Parks, (August, 1878) Miss
:\rary A. Homans. Rev. T. R. Ewing, Hubert
Rex Johnston, N. S. Fiscus, S. B. Linhart and
Miss Hays.
The assistant teachers have been Nancy
Sherrard. Abbie Hawe.s, Emily Bennett. ^Mary
Martin. Elizabeth N. Pond, Jane W. Baird,
Elizabeth L. Clark, Annie Conwell, Julia R.
ileClosky, Mareia A. Cutler. Margaret Mc-
Laren. Sarah McLaughlin, Julia A. Parker,
Harriet Hawes. :\[artha Hazlett. Olive A. Ba-
ker. Emma A. Noyes. Anna S. Noyes, Har-
riet A. McFarren, Elizabeth A. Shepley,
Julia A. Berry. ]Mary ]\Iartin. Catherine ]Mc-
Ferren. Mary A. Homans, Jennie L. Atkin-
son. Marie D. Parks. Zilpha DeForrest. :\Iary
Pellock. Marv R. Jenks. Hattie Corbett. Lizzie
II. Dever. John AY. Trabert. Helen U. Sturte-
vant and Ella Williams. Of these twelve were
from the New England States, and the best
results of "eastern culture were added to the
native judgment of the Pennsjdvania work-
ers. ' '
In 1880 the teachers were Rev. T. R, Emng
and Airs. M. H. Ewing. principals; French
and German. Prof. John W. Trabert ; English
branches and penmanship. Miss Ella Williams ;
English branches and calisthenics. Aliss R. M.
Gallaher: vocal and instrumental music. Aliss
Zipha DeForrest; and drawing and paint-
ing. j\liss Hattie A. Hill; matron. Airs. Alary
P. Craig.
Among the missionaries who were pupils of
the seminary we find: Catherine C. AIcFer-
ren. who went to Bogota. S. A. ; Alartha Tor-
rence, wife of Rev. T. F. Torrence, Bogota,
S. A. ; Elizabeth Culbertsou. deceased, wife
of Rev. Hunter Corbett, Cheefoo, China ; and
Hattie J. McCoy, TuUahassee, in Indian Ter-
ritory.
Cherrytree Male and Female College. — The
accompanjang copy of an Act of Assembly ex-
plains itself. That the feeling for the pub-
lic good was general in the community is
evidenced by the fact that even at that day,
a quarter of a century ago. twenty-seven of
the citizens subscribed to the stock of the pro-
posed school.
An Act to Incorporate the Cherrytree
AIale and Female College
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and
the House of Representatives of the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania in general assembly
met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority
of the same, that Porter Kinports. E. B.
Camp. John E. Johnson, Jackson Patchin. R.
H. AlcCormick. Jesse AI. Harter. Robert Ale-
Keage. Templeton Hazlett, John F. Notley, B.
F. Douglass, John Curry and Robert Hughes,
of the counties of Indiana, Clearfield and
Cambria, and their associates and successors
forever, be, and the same are hereby, made
and constituted a body politic and corporate
under the corporate title of Chen-ytree Male
and Female College of Indiana County, and
under that name shall have perpetual suc-
cession, and are hereby empowered and made
capable in law to purchase, take hold, and
enjoy to them and their successors land, tene-
ments and hereditaments, stock, goods, chat-
tels, and effects, and to sell, demise, convey,
assure, transfer and dispose of their estate
or interest therein, and also to improve, aug-
mefit and apply the same with rents, issues
and profits thereof to the purpose of their
institution ; and the said corporation, by the
name aforesaid, may sue and be sued, plead
and be impleaded, answer and be answered,
defend and be defended, in all courts of law
and equity ; and to have power to make, have
and iise a common seal, and the same to
change, alter and renew at pleasure, and also
to make and execute such bj'-laws, ordinances
and regulations, not contrary to the laws and
constitution of this Commonwealth, as to them
shall seem meet for the successful management
of said institution.
Section 2. That the said corporation be
authorized to establish and maintain a school
and college for the purpose of imparting to
persons of both sexes knowledge in the vari-
ous branches of science, literature and the
arts, and the board of managers shall have
power to confer upon the graduates of the
said college, and upon others, who by their
proficiency in learning may be entitled
thereto, by the regulations and by-laws of the
said board of managers, such degrees as are
conferred by other colleges or universities in
the United States.
Section .3. That the original capital stock
of said corporation shall be $10,000. divided
into shares of .$25 each, with the privilege to
increase the same to any amount not exceed-
ing $40,000. and the said school or college may
go into operation when the sum of $3,000 has
been subscribed, and 10 percentum of the
same paid in. and the .stock shall be trans-
ferable in conformity with the niles and by-
laws of the corporation. The meetings shall
224
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
be held on the first Tuesday of January in
each and every year, and a majority of the
stockholders either in person or by proxy shall
constitute a quorum. Special meetings shall
be called by the managers at their discretion,
but notice shall be given of the annual meet-
ing and special meeting, in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the board of di-
rectors. The persons named in the first sec-
tion, or a majority of them, shall constitute
the board of directoi-s until the annual meet-
ing on the first Tuesday of January, 1869, at
which time the stockholders, or a majority of
them, shall proceed to elect five of their num-
ber to serve as directors of the said corpora-
tion for the term of three years, or until their
successors are elected, each stockholder to
have one vote for each and every share he
owns. Any vacancy that may occur in the
board of directors shall be filled by the re-
maining members thereof until thfe next tri-
ennial election. No failure to elect a board
of directors on the day fixed by this act shall
work a dissolution of the corporation, but
the directors then in office shall continue to
discharge the duties thereof until a new board
be elected. The board of directors shall have
all the authority, and do and perform all the
duties, of boards of similar institutions, in the
State of Pennsylvania. They shall elect a
president and secretary out of their own num-
ber, and a treasurer, who may or may not be
a director, and shall appoint and employ pro-
fessors and other officers, and shall have the
full and entire control of the institution and
shall make an annual report of all their opera-
tion to the stockholders.
Elisha W. Davis,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
James L. Graham,
Speaker of the Senate.
Approved the 14th day of April, A. D. 1868,
John W. Geary.
The first board of directors organized by
electing R, H. iMcCormick, president; I. A.
Hollister, secretary; R. C. McCurdy, treas-
urer.
We note from the minutes that there was a
strong determination in the beginning to make
the institution a success. For instance, when
the treasurer reported a deficiency, a motion
to accept his report was lost, but at the next
meeting, when he managed to find a balance
of $8.08 in the treasury, the report was ac-
cepted and agi-eed to.
For some time the school seems to have pros-
pered, there being some eighty pupils entered
at one term, but when talk of a State normal
school at Indiana began to be indulged in
tlie promoters of the local school seemed to
lose heart, and the school was finally aban-
doned in 1874.
TJ(C Greenville Academy. — The school at
Greenville was a regularly organized academy.
It was founded as a union enterprise in 1877,
with Thomas McMullen, M. D., William Fair,
Giles Stephens and William Evas as trus-
tees. The first principal was William T. Gal-
loway, who taught two years. He was suc-
ceeded by John P. Hearst, who taught five
months and then became a Presbyterian min-
ister and a missionary to Siam. The third
teacher was Rev. A. N. McCuUough, a Luth-
eran minister who remained in charge two
and a half j-ears. Under these teachers the
school prospered, but afterward declined, and
is now open only in the summer as a select
school. The sessions of the school have been
held in the public school building erected in
1876.
Select Schools. — Since the academies have
closed their doors, select schools have been
held continuouslj' during the summer in all
sections of the county. These schools are
attended principally by those who are prepar-
ing to teach. At first the term was twenty
weeks, but it has been shortened from time to
time until it is but ten weeks. This is due
to the fact that the public school term has
increased from four or five months to seven
months.
The select schools have been a decided suc-
cess and have been taught by the most com-
petent educators of the county. The schools
have been a great benefit to those who were
in moderate circumstances, as it gave them
an opportunity of securing an education at
home at very little cost.
Recently the largest and most successful
select schools of the county were conducted
at Armagh, i\Iechanicsburg, Greenville, Pine
Flats, Grisemore, Cookport, Purchase Line,
Hillsdale, Glen Campbell, Dixonville, Marion
Center, JMarchand, Covode, Smicksburg, Rich-
mond, Plumville, Sheloeta, Parkwood, West
Lebanon, and Saltsburg.
Since teachers noM' receive free tuition at
the State Normal School the select schools of
the county are not so numerous. The high
schools that have been established in Salts-
burg, Indiana, Blairsville, Homer City, Cly-
mer, Cherrytree, Glen Campbell and Heilwood
are substitutes for the old academies and af-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
225
ford young people an opportunity of secur-
ing a college preparator^y education.
Covode Acadcmij. — This school was orga-
nized bj' the congregation of ^Mount Pleas-
ant. At a meeting of the session in the
spring of 1862 it was determined in order to
meet the educational wants of the community
to build an academy. A meeting of the trus-
tees of the church was called April 26, 1862,
and a building committee was appointed con-
sisting of John Gourley, A. J. P. Crawford,
and William G. Lewis, with George H. Mc-
Combs as treasurer. In this movement the
congregation at a meeting expressed hearty
concurrence. The academy building is
located on a lot belonging to the congrega-
ation and was erected in 1862-63. It is
named for Hon. John Covode of Westmore-
land county, who about the time the school
was founded was a prominent member of the
House of Representatives at Washington, D.
C. He recognized the compliment intended in
the name bj' presenting an excellent bell to
the academj-. This academy was under the
management of the session and trustees of the
Presbyterian Church until 1870, when in or-
der to unite the interests of all in its support,
and widen its field of influence, an equal share
in the management of the school was offered
to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Covode
and was by same accepted. Since then, the
board of trastees has consisted of six persons,
three being selected from each church.
If this school has not been one of the most
famous of the land it has yet done a good
work in its own sphere. It has had a yearly en-
rollment of from thirty to forty students and
has en.ioyed the services of many comiietent
and faithful teachers, most of them, however,
for only short periods. From 1861: to 1872, in-
clusive, the teachers in their order were the
following: W. A. Leggett, J. B. ]McIntire,
J. A. Richev. David Brown, S. Miller Davis,
Joseph T. Gibson. W. J. iloore, M. T. Howe,
]\Ir. Sloan. After these, the teachers in order
were as follows: J. IMcGaughev. 1873-7-1:; A.
Forbes Irwin. 1875; W. E. Oiler, 1876; F.
Swartz Crawford, 1877-78; Rev. W. F. Gib-
son, assisted by Rev. D. H. King, 1879;
Samuel Taylor Lewis. 1881; R. H. Hood,
1882 ; J. M. Boggs, 1883 ; S. A. Saxman, 1884 ;
Rev. W. F. Gibson. 1885 ; Samuel T. Lewis,
1885; W. F. Shields, 1886; M. J. Money,
1887 ; D. Elder Craighead. 1888. Of the fore-
going, ^Messrs. Brown. Davis. J. T. Gibson,
McGaughey, Irwin, Oiler. Crawford, W. F.
Gibson, King. Boggs, are Presbyterian min-
isters. Mr. Hood is a United Presbyterian
minister.
The Saltslmrg Academy was established in
18ol. In that year the brick building, 52 feet
long by 30 wide, and two stories high, with a
cupola, was erected at an expense of thirty-
three hundred dollars. The stock was divided
into shares of twenty-five dollars in order to
permit persons of limited means to become in-
terested in its operations. The incorporators
were: Adam Robinson, William Stewart, J.
W. Robinson, S. S. Jamison, Rev. W. w!
Woodend, J. S. Robinson and John M. aiar-
shall. The school opened in May, 1852, with
seventy-five scholars. Rev. W. W. Woodend
being the principal and president of the board
of trustees; J. Allen Brown and wife, ilrs.
Amanda C. Brown, assistants. Rev. :\lr.
Woodend (afterward Dr. Woodend) contin-
ued as principal for seven years. His succes-
sors were : J. H. Stokes, principal ; Bell Dun-
lap, assistant; Dana, principal; G. W. Chal-
fant, principal; Lewis L. Williams, principal;
Albert Brown, principal ; J. W. Foster, prin-
cipal ; S. B. Mercer, principal ; Rev. Dr. Wood-
end, principal, and Frank E. Dow, SI. D., as-
sistant ; Robert Harvey, principal ; S. B. fier-
cer, principal ; G. C. McJunkin, in 1879 ; Wil-
liam J. Alexander, principal, and John M.
Leech, assistant (the last mentioned were
graduates of Lafayette College in 1878) ; iliss
Sarah L. McGee, J. H. Ellwood, S. B. Mercer,
E. L. Earhart, E. B. Earhart, J. M. Foster!
After the Presbyterian reunion, in 1869, the
General Assembly having decided to raise a
memorial fund of $5,000,000, theological semi-
naries, colleges, etc., were designated as ac-
ceptable ob.jects for offerings when chartered
and donated as property to the Presbyterian
Church. In accordance with this ruling, the
Presbyterian congregation of Saltsburg pur-
chased the Saltsburg Academy and appurte-
nances. Several hundred dollars were sub-
scribed to repair and furnish the building, the
late W. W. Woodend. D. D.. superintending
the work. The building and grounds were
put in proper order, pa.stor and people desir-
ing to present a clean offering unto the Lord.
On motion of :Mr. William I. Sterett. it was
resolved that a public meeting be called, April
3, 1871, for the dedication of the Memorial
building. At this time, the name was changed
to "Memorial Institute." Rev. George P.
Hayes, D. D., delivered the dedicatory sermon.
Gifted with rare descriptive powers, he por-
trayed in a graphic manner the dedication of
that grandest of temples pro.jected by the
"sweet singer of Israel" and completed by
226
HISyORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Kiug Solomon. Haviug donned its new dress
and new name and charter, the institute was
donated as part of the Saltsburg Presbyterian
Congregational memorial offering. When this
change was being made some of the original
stockholders who were not members of the
Presbyterian Church voluntarily transferred
their stock in whole or in part to the commit-
tee having the business in charge. Public wor-
ship was held in the Memorial Institute while
the new Presbyterian Church was being built.
This institution has been closed for a num-
ber of years. The building was afterwards
used for the public school until the present
school building was erected in 1912. The old
Memorial Institute building is now used by
Mr. A. E. Ray for a carpenter shop.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL,
INDLiNA, PA.
The plan of this institution was conceived
in the sixties. In 1870 a meeting was called
in the office of J. T. Gibson, who was then
the superintendent of the schools of Indiana
county, and had his office on Sixth street, just
south of the "Indiana House," Indiana. In
response to the call John Sutton, A. W. Wil-
son, Silas M. Clark, Harry White, John H.
Lichteberger, Prof. MeCreery, principal of
the schools at Indiana, and J. T. Gibson,
county superintendent of schools, met and or-
ganized the Normal School Association, elect-
ing John Sutton president, Silas Clark vice
pre.sident, and J. T. Gibson secretary. During
the following winter join1> institutes were held
throughout the county and were addressed by
Silas M. Clark and others, in behalf of the
normal school. During the winter, they raised
$40,000 in subscriptions.
The first recognition by the State was
through an Act of the General Assembly in
1S71, but the seliool was not opened until
May 17, 1875. Its first principal was Dr.
E. B. Fairfield, who afterwards as the first
chancellor of the University of Nebraska so
largely influenced the future of that institu-
tion.
Among the notable men present upon the
opening day of the school was one of Pennsyl-
vania's most famous educators, then State su-
perintendent of public instruction, James P.
Wiekersham, who stated in his public address
that it was his opinion that Indiana's first
building was the largest, finest and best
planned structure devoted to normal school
education in the United States. A monument
to its founders, that building still stands, and
in lionor of the first president of the board
of trustees it is known as John Sutton Hall.
In 1893 there was erected upon the campus
a brick residence for men students. The
building was 40 by 100 feet and consisted of
a basement and three stories. In Febru-
ary, 1906, this building burned to the ground.
There were excellent fire escapes, so not only
were no lives lost, but there were no serious
injuries.
The ruins were not cold before the trustees
were planning for a larger and better dormi-
tory for the young men, and in January, 1907,
the Indiana boys took possession of one of the
best school residences for men in the State.
The building stands upon the site of the old
one, but is somewhat larger and is known as
Clark Hall in honor of the board's second
president, the late Justice Silas M. Clark of
the Supreme bench.
In 1893, also, the board erected to the
northward of the main building the model
school, and named it in honor of their third
president, the A. W. Wilson Hall. This
building contains eight large airy classrooms
with ample playrooms in the basement for use
on stormy days.
The following have served as principals of
the Indiana Normal School : Edmund B. Fair-
field, D. D., LL.D., from 1874 to 1876 ; David
M. Sensenig, M. S., 1876 to 1878; John H.
French, LL.D., 1878 to 1881; Leonard H.
Durling, A. M., 1881 to 1888 ; Z. X. Snyder,
A. M., Ph. D., 1888 to 1892; Charles W. Dean,
Ph. D., 1892 to 1893 ; David J. Waller, D. D.,
1893 to 1906 ; James E. Ament, LL. D., from
1906 to the present time.
The first trustees elected by the stockhold-
ers were : John Sutton, Silas M. Clark, Wil-
liam B. Marshall, Daniel S. Porter, Alex M.
Stewart, William B. Hildebraud, Joseph R.
Smith, Andrew W. Wilson, George S. Chris-
tie, James R. Daugherty, Irwin McFarland,
George R. Lewis. Trustees appointed by the
State were Hon. Daniel J. Morrell, of Johns-
town ; Hon. John K. Thompson, Marion Cen-
ter; Gen. Thomas F. Gallagher, New Alexan-
dria; Col. S. M. Jackson, Apollo; Hon. E. S.
Golden, Kittanning; Hon. J. C. Clark,
Greensburg. Officers of board : John Sutton,
president; Silas M. Clark, secretary; Peter
Sutton, treasurer; W. B. Hildehrand, assist-
ant secretary.
First faculty : Edmund B. Fairfield, D. D.,
LL. D., principal; Hiram Collier, A. M., chem-
istry and physics; J. H. Young, A. M., Ian-
guages; Thomas J. Chapman, A. M., English
grammar and literature; David M. Sensenig,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
227
M. S., mathematics; A. H. Berlin, M. S., su-
perintendent of model school ; A. J. Bolar, A.
M., mathematics and English literature ; Miss
Jane E. Leonard, history and geography;
Mrs. Anna ]M. Sensenig, English branches;
Miss Grace Oviatt, penmanship, drawing and
bookkeeping; Mrs. M. S. Berlin, vocal music;
and Miss ilaggie Lichteberger, instrumental
music.
Present board of trustees : Representing the
stockholders — ^lessrs. Thomas Sutton, Ed-
ward Rowe, Griffith Ellis, J. Wood Clark,
John P. Elkin, Harry W. Wilson, Harry
White, John W. Sutton, William S. Daugh-
ertv; representing the State — Messrs. Sum-
mers M. Jack, S. J. Telford. W. R. Loughry,
J. C. Wallace, J. Dick Wilson, John A. Scott,
John S. Fisher, Tom E. Hildebrand. Officers
of the board: President, Thomas Sutton;
vice president, Hon. John P. Elkin ; secretary,
J. Wood Clark; treasurer, Harry White, Jr.
Indiana's student gi-owth has never been
phenomenal, but it has been steady, and has
increased from 328, the total enrollment of
that first term back in 1875, to nearly 1,500,
the number for the year just closed, the larg-
est in its history.
The year 1903 marked a strong advance in
Indiana's material equipment. The Normal's
Recitation Hall was then erected. It stands
just to the southward of Wilson Hall, com-
pleting the east wing of the quadrangle. A
stately structure it is and one of the most
beautiful on the campus. The dimensions are
a frontage of 130 feet and a depth of 123.
The building is the school proper of the Nor-
mal and contains twenty-four large, beautiful
rooms. The trustees honored themselves by
naming this building after one of their most
widely known and most faithful teachers, Jane
E. Leonard.
During that same year there was erected
to the westward of the south ^\dng of John
Sutton Hall another most beautiful and im-
posing structure, 123 by 92 feet in size and
three stories high. In the basement of this
building are the laundry and storage, while
on the first floor are the kitchens, dining-
rooms, and the steward's office: the musical
conservatory occupies the second story, while
the third floor is used as a dormitory. This
building is known as Thomas Sutton Hall, in
honor of the president of the board of trus-
tees.
During the last few years something more
than $60,000 has been spent in improving the
institution's plant, the most noteworthy im-
provement being the erection of a cold stor-
age plant in connection with the refectory.
This cold storage plant is pronounced by ex-
perts to be one of the very best in all the
counti-y. It enables the school to manufacture
its own ice, and to furnish its students at all
times with the choicest fresh meats.
In 1913 a power plant was built at a cost of
$100,000, which will furnish heat, light, power
and hot and cold water.
During the past year two notable additions
to the buildings have been made — an annex
to the dining hall, seating from eighty to one
hundred; and an annex to the girls' dormi-
tory, accommodating sixty-two girls. The
dining-i'oom annex contains a very large fire-
place, which promotes good cheer and helps
the ventilation materially. The annex to the
girls' dormitory affords to each two girls oc-
cupying it a suite consisting of a sitting-room
and bedroom. There are two large wardrobe
closets, one for each girl. In the bedroom
each girl has her own bed, and there is a
porcelain lavatory supplied with hot and cold
water. No dormitory, however high the
charges of the school, afi'ords its occupants
better rooms than these. This building is
practically fireproof, and its bathrooms — one
on e\ery floor — are tiled and finished in Ita-
lian marble. Occupants of these rooms pay
from seventy-five cents to one dollar a week
extra.
All the buildings are built of stone and
brick in the most substantial manner, and are
heated by steam, direct or indirect, with the
fan system. The main building, used as the
girls' residence, is equipped with two large
passenger elevators — one hydraulic, and one
electric — running from the basement to the
top floor, which makes the upper floors more
desirable in some respects than the lower ones.
This entire building is heated by steam and
lighted by electricity. Every floor is supplied
with an abundance of hot and cold water, and
the bathrooms, lavatories and waterclosets are
of the most approved patterns.
On account of the method of lighting and
heating the possibility of a fire is small, while
danger from it is reduced to a minimum by
ample arrangements for extinguishment, and
by fire escapes abundantly provided for each
floor and for each room. Two new and im-
proved fire escapes were added this last year.
In brief, this immense building is planned
and furnished throughout for the conven-
ience, safety and success of its occupants.
Each student's room is furnished with a
bedstead, a bureau, a washstand with neces-
sary china, two chairs, a study table and a
228
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
neat case of bookshelves. All rooms are car-
peted and have plain shades to the windows.
The night watchmen have their headquarters
in this building, and make the rounds of all
the buildings on the campus four times each
night.
Each student 's room in the boys ' dormitory-
is furnished with two single iron bedsteads,
a bureau, a washstand with necessary china,
two chairs, and a study table. The windows
are provided with plain shades.
The laboratories for physics, chemistry and
biology are located on the first floor of Leon-
ard Hall. Few, if any, normal schools in
this country are better equipped for science
work than is Indiana. These laboratories
are supplied with every necessary instrument
and equipment for individual study.
A good reference library is accessible every
day to all students. Here are found the lead-
ing encyclopedias, dictionaries and other
standard reference books, historical charts,
maps and other conveniences so essential to
successful student life. There is also a large
library of choice works of history, biography
and literature free to all students. It is not
the aim to mass books merely for the sake of
making a large library ; but the aim is to have
every iisable book and periodical. The addi-
tions to the library during the year will ag-
gregate about five hundred volumes. In con-
nection with the library is a reading-room,
supplied with newspapers and periodicals.
The infirmary is pleasantly located in a
retired portion of the south wing of John
Sutton Hall. This infirmary, by every physi-
cian who has ever seen it, has been pronounced
to be one of the finest and best in the State.
It contains three tiled bathrooms, a dispen-
sary, a kitchen and dining-room, nurses' pri-
vate quarters, ample closets, ward for girls,
private room for girls, ward for boys, and
private room for boys. The west end is fitted
for boys, the east for girls. These two apart-
ments are separate and distinct, being divided
by a hall. Every sanitary precaution is here
taken, and every necessary arrangement is
provided for the intelligent care of the sick.
A graduate nurse is always in charge. Many
a serious illness has been averted by early
caring for the student in this infirmary. The
excellent health of our girls is proverbial,
and the infirmary is responsible in no small
degree for it. No extra charge is made for
care in the infirmary, not even for the eon-
sumption of common remedies, a stock of
which is always on hand. But in case the
illness is such as to require the care of a
physician or special nursing, the student pays
that cost, and the cost of filling the physician 's
prescriptions. At some distance from the
main buildings, and off the campus, the in-
stitution maintains a small hospital to which
cases are confined if there is cause to suspect
contagion. In short, every precaution is
taken to protect the health of the Indiana
student ; and during more than a third of a
century but two deaths have occurred in the
institution, and it has never suffered from an
epidemic, notwithstanding the thousands who
have been under its care.
The boarding department of this school is
under the charge of a steward of wide ex-
perience. All who visit the institution are
delighted with its beautiful, spacious dining-
room, and its immaculately clean kitchens, fit-
ted up with every modern appliance of worth.
The kitchen is presided over by an expert
chef. There are four assistant cooks. The
great bake-ovens are in the basement. All
the bread (white, Vienna, Graham, whole
wheat, cornbread and biscuit), pies and pud-
dings are baked here. A professional baker
has charge of the ovens.
It is the steward's aim to provide good, sub-
stantial, wholesome food. While it is plain,
it is always the best quality to be found in our
markets. It is doubtful if there is another
school in the country, whatever its character
or charges, that provides a greater variety of,
or more wholesome, food for its students than
does Indiana. The bills-of-fare vary with
the seasons. Ice cream is regularly served
t^^'ice a week. Special meals are prepared
for the sick.
All water served on the tables is from the
wells at the school, drilled to a depth of more
than two hundred feet.
Each table seats from eight to twelve and
so far as possible is presided over by a teacher.
Students are permitted to room and board
with private fatnilics, or to room in private
homes and take iilmIs in the scliool, at the dis-
cretion of tlic priiicipiil only.
The institution owns a first-class laundiy,
and has it under the management of compe-
tent people. The price of board here includes
free laundry to the extent of ten plain pieces
a week, in addition to towels and napkins.
In the basement of the girls' residence is a
place to do washing and ironing for the use
of girls only, and many of them attend to the
laundering of their own handkerchiefs and
other small pieces. All water in the laundry
is sterilized, in order to eliminate any possi-
bility of spreading infectious diseases.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
229
The institution is fortunate in its location,
the site being one of great natural beauty,
while the surrounding town is characteris-
tically beautiful, and has developed those
moral influences so desirable in the seat of an
institution of learning. The town has a pop-
ulation of more than 6,000, and maintains
churches of the following denominations:
Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, Episco-
pal, Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, Cath-
olic, Lutheran, Baptist, Wesleyan Methodist,
German Lutheran and Christian.
Growth and improvement have especially
marked Indiana in the past few years, and
bid fair to continue. Many blocks of excel-
lent brick pavement have been laid, and con-
tracts for many more have been let.
The place is reached by rail without dif-
ficulty, being the northern terminus of the
"Indiana Branch" of the Pennsylvania, the
change from the main line being made at
Blairsville Intersection, where the Indiana
train awaits the main line train. The Indiana
Branch connects at Blairsville with the West
Pennsylvania division. Indiana is also on
the Buffalo, Rochester c& Pittsburg, which
gives connections with all northern points.
The institution is within ten minutes' walk of
either depot. The Pennsylvania stops all its
trains at the "Campus Landing" on the first
day of each term. Both the railways put on
extra coaches at the opening of each term in
order to accommodate all, if possible, with
seats. The Pennsylvania now runs a special
train for Indiana students only, from the
campus direct to the Union Station at Pitts-
burg, at the close of each term. The train is
chaperoned by teachers.
Telephone connection can be made from
the main building with all leading points.
Reference has been made to Indiana's nat-
urally beautiful location. Here, in the foot-
hills of the Alleghenies, thirteen hundred feet
above sea level, with a clear, pure atmosphere,
its inhabitants have always been free from
miasmic or malarial complaints. For more
than a third of a century the health record of
the school has been phenomenal.
The campus, comprising twenty-three acres,
has its natural beauty greatly enhanced by
the constant care of a landscape gardener.
It is the belief of the institution's authorities
that such surroundings are a potent factor in
the upbuilding of the student's character.
Pennsylvania, in common with most of the
American States, realized practically from its
founding the necessity of an educated citizen-
ship. It is axiomatic that a .just and efficient
government must and will be controlled and
administered by the educated; hence, the
genius of our government implies an educated
citizenship. This attitude of the State toward
the instruction of its people makes it the one
competent agency in supplying qualified
teachers for its schools. This the State of
Pennsylvania does through its public normal
schools, whose function is the preparation of
teachers for the common schools of the State.
The learning and training imparted by the
State through its normal schools has not for
its purpose the bettering of the condition of
one class of persons at the public expense;
the school does not exist for the benefit of its
students simply, but for the benefit of the
whole people, and its work is done with the
general welfare always in view.
It is sometimes declared by some well-
meaning critic that the normal should be "a
purely professional school," meaning that the
school should not do academic work, but de-
vote itself to the teaching of pedagogics, psy-
chology, the philosophy of education, etc. All
experienced trainers of teachere realize the
inefficiency of such work. Those so trained
rarely make successful teachers. As well
might medical students devote their time to
the study of diagnosis and the theory of dis-
ease, apart from materia mediea and the com-
mon diseases encountered in actual practice.
The average high school graduate has been
away from the common school sub.jects for
from four to five years. His knowledge of
those subjects was obtained at an immature
age. In his normal school course they must
be reviewed from the standpoint of a teacher.
His view will be very different from the view
he had as a child. The normal school must
not only teach how to teach, but what to teach
and the educational value of study subjects.
True, it cannot and does not confine its
courses to common school subjects, realizing
the necessity of having the content of its
courses broad and cultural. These facts
make the normal school a desirable institution
in which to obtain a general education for any
purpose in life. More and more farseeing
parents have recognized this, and have insisted
upon the privilege of paying full tuition for
having their children educated in the normal
school, thus benefiting by its peculiar excel-
lence.
For thousands of years thoughtful men
have realized the educational and cultural
value of music, and its psychological effect
in giving tone and sanity to mental life.
American educational leaders believe in music
230
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
as a school study, and insist upon the com-
mon school teachers possessing a fair degree
of musical knowledge and ability. To meet
this demand in training the leading normal
schools have founded strong departments of
music. The department at Indiana has grown
into a well-equipped conservatory, second to
none in this section of the country.
The life of a community detennines the
practical side of its school education. Amer-
ica is a business country ; hence, in its cities
everywhere high schools are offering business
courses. To prepare teachers for this class
of high school work, this Normal maintains
a business school. So thorough and excellent
is the course that many graduate from it,
not to teach, but to take up business careers.
In short, it is the purpose of this institution
to prepare teachers for every grade and kind
of teaching of wide demand.
All questions of internal organization in a
school must be determined by the fundamen-
tal conception of the function of the school.
In determining the nature and character of
discipline in a normal school, the function
of the institution makes it necessary that it be
but slightly, if at all, reformatory in its na-
ture. The general welfare of the State would
not be promoted liy licensing one of evil ten-
dencies or certain shortcomings to teach in
the schools of the Commonwealth. It is,
therefore, the policy of the administrative au-
thorities to ask any student who does not
conduct herself or himself in all things as be-
comes the lady or gentleman, or who is found
not to be adapted to the life and work of the
school for other reasons, to withdraw from
the institution.
lu the government "of the school the larg-
est liberty consistent with good work and
order is allowed. The disciplinary power of
the institution is brought to bear upon the
student only to bring him to a rational un-
derstanding of freedom, and to lead him to
such self-government as wall make him capa-
ble in the future of wisely governing others
who shall become his pupils. It is the de-
sire and aim of the faculty to make the gov-
ernment in the school ethical in its basis.
This school is not denominational in any
sense. Its authorities, however, aim to make
it a place of gentle but positive Christian in-
fluence. To this end family worship is held
daily, and students are required to attend the
church of their own choice on Sunday morn-
ings.
The Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. aid
in the religious culture of all whose homes
are in the institution. They include a large
portion of the students. These associations
have charge of the Thursday evening prayer-
meetings, and hold a joint meeting Sunday
evenings. Endeavor is made to promote Sab-
bath observance. Students are thus encour-
aged to become Christian workers, and school
life is made to minister to the elevation of
Christian life.
Besides these associations, there are vari-
ous others of a practical type and in a highly
prosperous condition.
A ,1
CHAPTER XVII
CHURCHES
PRESBYTERIAN
The Presbj'teriau Churches of Indiana
county are priucipalh' in the Kittanning
Presbytery, the present boundaries of which
are identical with those of the two counties
of Armstrong and Indiana, except that a
small portion of the latter county at the In the first place the origmal Synod of New
southern border, about one tenth of the whole York and Philadelphia had jurisdiction over
in extent, and separated from the rest of the our whole territory ; then, at its organization
county by Blaekliek creek, is attached to the in I'^'SS, the territory became part of the
Presbytery of Blairsville. The Allegheny Synod of Virginia, and finally it was included
river, a 'noble and historic stream, flows in the bounds of the Synod of Pittsburg, the
through the western border of the Presbytery first in the West, formed by the General
in a southerly direction, dividing the county of Assembly ^in May, 1802^ - ^ --'
Armstrong into unequal parts. The Kiski ' ' ^
minetas river with its chief branch, the Cone
maugh, and Blaekliek
southern boundarj\
The territory now covered by the Pres
Synod of Pittsburg erected the Presbytery of
Saltsburg, October 21, 1856.
SYNODICAL CONNECTIONS
The synodical connection of this Presbytery
has been nearly as varied as its Presbyterial.
first meet-
ing was held in Pittsburg on the 29th of
September in the same year. When the Synod
ve" outfinV its of Allegheny was erected, in May, 1854, its
first meeting being held at Allegheny in Octo-
ber of the same year, that part of this Pres-
bytery of Kittanning has been included, bv bytery. as now bounded, lying west of the
turns, in whole or in part, within the bounds Allegheny river was included within its
of several other Presbyteries. First of all, limits. At the reconstruction m 1870, this
it was a part of Redstone, that mother of Presbytery was one of the six assigned by the
Presbyteries west of the AUegheuies, erected General Assembly to the Synod of Erie. Pin-
bv the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, ally, upon the consolidation of synods m 1882,
May 16, 1781, and formally organized at
Laurel Hill Churen. now in Favette county.
it became a part of the Synod of Pennsyl-
vania. Thus, in whole or in part, the Pres-
September 19th of the same year." This pioneer bytery has had six different synodical con-
Presbytery was not described by bounds by nections.
the body creating it, but only by the ministei;s
and churches originally under its jurisdiction,
and hence it reached from the summit of the
Alleghenies to the setting sun, or, at least,
to the farthest western border of civilization.
PL.\NTING AND GROWTH OP CHURCHES
The early settlers in this region were largely
of the Presbyterian faith, and the member-
ship of the churches here now is largely com-
This arrangement continued undisturbed for p^^^^j ^f their descendants, a sturdy, conserva-
twenty years. ^j^e people, trained in the faith which they
That part of the Kittanning Presbytery east ^old, nourished from infancy on the Bible and
of the Allegheny continued in Redstone Pres- ^he Westminster standards.'and devotedly at-
bytery until by the Synod of Pittsburg, in tached to the church of their fathers. AVhile
October, 1830, the Presbytery of Blairsville there are churches of numerous other denomi-
was erected with the "Pittsburg and Stoys- nations of Christians within the bounds of
town turnpike ' ' as its southern boundary. Its this Presbytery, no other in the number of
first meeting was held at Ebenezer, presum- its churches and members, it is believed, is
ably in April following. In this connection nearly equal to that of which this article
it continued twenty-six years, or until the treats.
231
232
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Few rural districts are more solidly Pres-
byterian than this. In connection with the
early settlements, churches soon began to
appear, but in most cases, it is believed,
without any formal ceremony of organization
conducted by Presbytery, as the earliest Pres-
byterial records contain no account of any such
proceedings. The churches seemed to have
been recognized as enrolled by the early Pres-
byteries just as they reported themselves or
appeared at the meetings to make "supplica-
tions for supplies. ' ' For many years churches
were few in number, and far separated from
each other as well as weak in numbers, and
resources, and the earlj^ ministers in supply-
ing their congregations and attending ecclesi-
astical meetings often had long and tedious
journeys to make, a circumstance that, while
involving hardship, contributed, no doubt, to
make them the hardy and heroic men that
they were.
In the bounds of this Presbytery, previous
to 1800, there were two churches. Bethel and
Ebenezer, in Indiana county, about ten miles
apart, each dating from about 1790. The
records of the Presbytery of Redstone show
that on October 15, 1799, the "congregations
of Union and Fairfield" (now Slate Lick) "in
Allegheny county" (now Armstrong) "asked
for supplies, and at the same meeting" of
Presbytery presented a call to Mr. Andrew
Gwin, a licentiate of the Presbytery, which
call he returned to Presbytery on December
25th of the same year in order to accept
another. Thus there were before the close of
the eigliteenth century four established con-
gregations in the territory now occupied by
this Presbytery.
ORGANIZATION OP PRESBYTERY
In view of the extent of the territory
included in the Presbytery of Blairsville and
the necessary labor involved in attending
meetings of the body and performing other
Presbyterial work, it began to be felt, as
churches and ministers increased in numbers,
that convenience would be promoted and the
cause of religion better subserved by dividing
the Presbytery. Accordingly, in Presbytery
at Saltsburg, October 8, 1856, the following
action was taken :
"Resolved, That the Synod of Pittsburg be
requested to detach from this Presbytery the
ministers and churches north of a line com-
mencing on the Allegheny river, at the Penn
township line ; along said line to the Warren
grade ; thence to the Kiskiminetas river ; along
said river to the Conemaugh, to the mouth of
Blacklick, and up that creek to the Blairsville
and Hollidaysburg turnpike road, and thence
eastward along said road to the eastern boun-
dary of the Synod, and that the ministers
and churches so detached be erected into a
Presbytery to be called the Presbytery of
Saltsburg; that said Presbytery be directed
to hold their first meeting at Indiana on the
first Tuesday of January, 1857, at 2 o'clock
p. M. "
The Presbytery as thus defined included
in its bounds parts of three counties: The
northwestei-u part of "Westmoreland, about
one tenth ; the eastern part of Armstrong,
about two thirds, and the northern part of
Indiana, about nine tenths. Its iirst meeting
was held, according to appointment, at
Indiana, January 6, 1857, Rev. Joseph
Painter preaching a sermon on "The Min-
istry" from Ephesians iv. 12, Rev. Samuel M.
MeClung being chosen as its first moderator
and Rev. William W. Woodend as its stated
clerk. At the time of its organization the
Presbytery of Saltsburg contained seventeen
ministers and had under its care thirty-three
churches.
After the reunion of the two branches of
the Presbyterian Church, consummated amid
general rejoicing in the city of Pittsburg by
a joint convention of the two assemblies held
Friday, November 12, 1869, great changes in
ecclesiastical boundaries were made. In
accordance with action taken by the first
reunited assemblv which met in Philadelphia
the third Tuesday of May, 1870, Synodical
and Presbyterial boundaries were made to cor-
respond, as far as practicable, with State
and county lines.
Accordingly in reconstructing the Presby-
teries under its care in accordance with the
general principles prescribed by the General
Assembly, the Synod of Erie which met at
Erie, July 7, 1870, defined this Presbytery to
consist of the ministers and churches in the
county of Armstrong and so much of Indiana
county as lies north and west of Blacklick
creek, and this Presbytery shall he the legal
successor of the Pres))ytery of Saltsburg.
At the time of organization the Presbytery
of Kittanning had under its care twenty-four
ministers and forty-four churches. By the
transformation of the Presbytery from Salts-
burg into Kittanning there was a loss of two
ministers and three churches. On the other
hand, there was a gain of three ministers
and nine churches, a net gain of one minister
and six churches.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
233
By way of accounting for the deviation
from the boundary line of Indiana county in
the formation of this Presbytery at the recon-
struction, it may be remarked that that por-
tion of the county lying south and east of
Blacklick creek contained the town from
which the Presbytery of Blairsville was
named, and as the brethren of that Presbytery
expressed a great attachment to their name
as well as to the portion of territory whence
the name was derived. Synod was prevailed
upon to make an exception to general rules
in this case and to accede to their wishes.
SMICKSBURG CHURCH
The desire for a Presbyterian Church in this
village, situated in the northwest corner of
Indiana county, was indicated in a subscrip-
tion paper drawn December 20. 1852, for the
purpose of erecting a building. This paper
was signed by over one hundred people, many
of them members of other denominations, with
sums promised varying from one hundred dol-
lars to one dollar: Joseph Roliinson. $100 in
material, J. H. iMcComb and Robert Jordan
each $25. Smaller sums are shown with other
names. The donations totaled about $540.
Earlv in the next vear Joseph Robinson,
R. Jordan, J. T. Kerr, J. H. McComb, J. A.
McCorraick, and Lysander Barrett were
selected as a building committee, who pur-
chased two lots of J. Y. Brady and James
Work, and proceeded to build a frame church,
40 by 45 feet, one story, according to a draft
prepared by William M. Findley. The con-
tract was let to George Condron August 19,
1854, for $350. He appears to have only
completed the building as far as the walls,
roofing and floor. It was afterwards finished
by Jacob H. Jamison, and painted by John
McCormick. The cost was from $1^300 to
$1,400, which was raised by various subscrip-
tions, extending beyond the congregation.
The church was organized June 9. 1854, by a
committee appointed by the Presbytery of
Blairsville. consisting of Rev. C. Forbes. Rev.
John Caruthers and William Kirkpatriek,
elder. The following appear to have been the
members enrolled at the organization :
Thomas ]M. Travis, Mrs. Jane Y. Travis, Mrs.
Margaret Hill, ]\Irs. Margaret Adams, Mrs.
Margaret and iliss Sarah Richey, Mrs. Cath-
arine Irwin, ]\Irs. Elizabeth Robinson. John
C. Alcorn, Mrs. Susan Alcorn. Andrew L.
]\IcCluskey, Mrs. Eva McCluskey, David and
Mrs. Nancy Warner, Marcus and Mrs. Nancy
and ilrs. L. Barrett, i\lrs. Sarah Y. Lannum,
Lysander and Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett, Mrs.
Rachael McCormick, James and i\lrs. Mar-
garet Y. Gourley, Miss Louisa B. Gourley,
John and Nancy and Mrs. Elizabeth McClel-
land, Mrs. Sarah Jane Barrett and William
and Mrs. Jane Travis.
Elders. — John McClelland, Joseph W. Mar-
shall and David Warner were elected and
ordained elders. The last soon removed West,
and our knowledge of his history ceased.
J. W. Marshall afterwards united with Plum-
ville Church, and, therefore, ceased to be an
elder in this church. Mr. McClelland, aged
and infirm, was very devoted to the work of
the church to the last. Robert Jordan and
William 6. Travis were ordained in Septem-
ber, 1866. Mr. Jordan died a member of the
church of Gilgal. Mr. Travis died June 5,
1886. For twenty years he was devoted to
the sustaining of this church by his prayers,
time and means. His loss was greatly felt.
He had been clerk of the session for many
years. William H. Crawford, Cyras E. Bar-
rett and Robert Marshall were ordained and
installed by Rev. G. W. Mechlin in 1879. Mr.
Marshall died in August, 1885. His death
was another very serious loss to the congre-
gation. Liberal with his means, respected by
all who knew him and sincerely devoted to the
spiritual and temporal prosperity of the
church, his removal left a void in the flock
hard to fill.
Pastors and Sup2)lies. — Rev. C. Forbes sup-
plied this church with preaching occasionally
while he remained at Glade Run. Rev. J. H.
Kirkpatriek, G. W. Mechlin and others
preached as supplies from time to time, until
Rev. J. M. Jones began his labors in 1862.
He was installed September 29th. Rev. J.
Caruthers preached the sermon. Rev. D. D.
Christy gave the charge to the pastor, and
Rev. G. W. Mechlin to the people. He was
released June 23, 1868. Rev. Carl Moore was
installed August 31, 1869. Rev. W. F. Mor-
gan preached, Rev. J. Caruthers presided and
charged the pastor. Rev. J. Logan Sample, the
people. He was released June 23. 1873.
These are the pastors who have served this
church. Each was installed for one-fourth
time.
Revs. W. F. Morgan, C. C. B. Duncan and
James Caldwell were stated supplies each for
a time, dates not known.
The following students preached during
their vacations while taking their seminar}'
course, about five months each : L. Mechlin,
1875 ; H. T. McClelland, 1876 ; J. C. McCrack-
234
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
en, 1877 ; John S. Plelm, 1879-81 ; A. J. Her-
ries, 1882.
Occasional supplies were appointed by the
Presbytery until the fall of 1884, when the
Presbytery of Kittanning requested the church
of Glade Run to allow its pastor to give
Smicksburg Church some portion of his time
for afternoon service. Glade Run acceded to
this request at their annual meeting, January
3, 1885, granting "Rev. G. W. Mechlin, D. D.,
their pastor, liberty to supply Smicksburg
Church once or twice each month in the after-
noon and two Sabbaths of each year to hold
Communion." In 1888 the membership roll
contained 126 names, of whom only about
twenty remained, and some were quite old and
feeble. The others died or moved. Several
of the largest families emigrated to the West.
Those still remaining held on in hopes of
greater strength in days to come. They were
united and harmonious. The inhabitants of
the vicinity were nearly all allied to churches
of other denominations. The Lutheran Church
kindly opened its building to the use of the
Presbyterians for years, until their house of
worship was ready for occupancy, and in
other ways has shown kindness to its younger
sister.
A charter of incorporation, which legally
secures the property of the church, was ob-
tained from the courts of Indiana county
about 1885.
MECHANICSBURG CHURCH
This church is located in the village whose
name it bears, and was the first organization
in the place. It was organized by the Presby-
tery of Blairsville May 12, 1851, the committee
being Rev. Samuel Swan, Rev. John H. Kirk-
patrick and Elder William G. Stewart, :\L D.
The original membei's were twenty in
number, as follows : George Robertson,
Margaret Robertson, Maiy McDonald, James
Dick, Mary Dick, Elizabeth Stewart, Nancy
Wilkins, Eleanor Wilkins, Sr., Eleanor Wil-
kins, Jr., Robert Ray, Abraham Plickinger,
James McMullen, Margaret McMullen, James
G. Stewart, Rebecca Stewart, James Stewart,
Margaret Stewart, Susan Robertson, Andrew
J. Wilkins, Mary Wilkins, Susannah Fliek-
inger.
The first house of worship was erected by
the Presbyterians and Associate Reformed
Presbyterians, aided by members of other
churches, in 1851, and was jointly occupied by
them. It was a frame structure and cost
about $950. This partnership lasted till 1881,
when the Presbyterian congregation sold its
interest to the United Presbyterian congrega-
tion. In that year the present house of wor-
ship was erected at a cost of about $1,900. It
is a frame structure, 32 by 48 feet, and will
seat about two hundred persons. This con-
gregation is now under the supervision of the
Homer City Presbyterian Church, on account
of the decrease in membership. The church
is now occupied by the United Presbyterian
congregation.
In one respect the history of this church is
peculiar. During thirty-seven years of its
existence it never had an installed pastor. It
had, however, a pretty regular succession of
stated supplies, and enjoyed the services of
many able and faithful ministers. The first
of these was Rev. Samuel Swan, who preached
here as early as 1849, and continued until
1855. The others were as follows : Rev. John
Rice, from 1856 to 1864; Rev. A. S. Poster,
1866-67 ; Rev. J. Logan Sample, 1867-68 ; Rev.
B. Shields Sloan, 1872-74 ; Rev. D. L. Dickey,
1875-76 ; Rev. J. S. Axtell, 1876-78 ; Rev. T. R.
Ewing, 1879-80; Rev. F. Orr, 1886. During
the intervals between the terms of service
above indicated, occasional supplies were sent
from Presbytery. The congregation has been
served since Rev. Mr. Orr's time by Rev. Mr.
McPherran, Rev. Mr. Webb and Rev. Mr.
SprouU.
At the time of the organization Abraham
Flickinger, James G. Stewart and James Mc-
Mullen were chosen elders. Mr. Stewart con-
tinued in service until 1863 and Mr. Flickin-
ger and George W. Robertson were added to
the session. In 1860 William M. Findley and
William P. Gregg were inducted into office,
both serving until 1864. In 1883 Nicholas
Paige and William G. Hovis were chosen.
James McMullen was chosen clerk of session.
The following persons have served for
longer or shorter periods as superintendent
of the Sabbath school: James McMullen,
William P. Gregg. John A. McPeaters, John
C. McCracken. George W. Robertson.
The membership of the church, as reported
for 1887, was fifty-seven.
BLACKLICK CHURCH
This church is located on the creek, and in
the village whose name it bears, in the southern
part of Indiana county. It was organized by
the Presbytery of Blairsville October 31, 1867,
with twenty-four members. For a time it
was statedly supplied by Rev. James Davis.
It was also supplied for a time by Rev. James
R. Hughes while he was principal of the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
235
Blairsville Ladies' Seminai-y. Mr. D. G. Rob-
inson became its pastor by ordination and
installation February 2, 1871; he served also
as a supply to the new organization at Homer
City. The church of Blacklick being iu the
Presbytery of Blairsville, steps were being
taken to have the Homer Church set over
ecclesiastically to that Presbytery, but "be-
fore the Assembly met, pulmonary disease run-
ning a rapid i-aee had brought to an early end
his promising labors and life April 3, 1873."
Further notice of him may be found in con-
nection with the church of Homer.
The church of Blacklick belongs geographi-
cally to Blairsville Presbytery, its connections
with Kittanning being only incidental and
temporaiy. On April 7, 1874, the church of
Homer presented to the Presbytery a call for '
the service of ]\Ir. J. S. Axtell, then a licentiate
of Wooster Presbj'tery. who was granted leave
to prosecute said call in the latter Presbytery.
Mr. Axtell, however, was dismissed by the
Presbyteiy of Wooster to the Presbytery of
Blairsville, which ordained him and installed
him pastor of both Blacklick and Homer, July
28, 1874. To this action the Presbyterj- of
Kittaiuiing took exception so far as it related
to the church of Homer. Correspondence be-
tween the two Presbyteries ensued. The Kit-
tanning Presb3'tery, joined by Clarion and
Blairsville, overtured the Assembly of 1874
for a rule for the formation of pastoral charges
in such cases, and the following was adopted :
' ' When two churches in different Presbyteries
or Synods are so situated as to make it ap-
parent to the Presbyteries to which they belong
that they should be united in one pastoral
charge, the pastoral relation may be consti-
tuted, and both churches shall, for the time
being, be under the care of that Presbytery of
which the pastor is a member, and this Presby-
terial relation shall continue only so long as
the.v retain the same pastor." Mr. Axtell
having his residence at Homer, and this cir-
cumstance determining his proper connection
to be with the Presbytery of Kittanning, he
was at length, July 13, 1876, received and
enrolled by this Presbytery. j\Ir. Axtell had
in the meantime been released by the Presby-
tery of Blairsville from Blacklick. His pas-
torate at Homer t^ontinued until October 17,
1877, when he was released at his own reqiaest.
He later had charges at Clyde and at Celina,
Obit).
On the 10th of July, 1878. the Presbytery
of Blairsville having signified its willingness
that the church of Blacklick should be trans-
ferred to this Presbvterv with a view to the
constitution of a pastoral charge, it was ac-
cordingly enrolled, and a call from it was
presented for the services of Rev. John Gour-
ley, then pastor at Bethel, where he was or-
dained and installed June 6, 1878. This call
he accepted, and his installation at Blacklick
took place September 5, 1878, Dr. Donaldson
presiding and preaching the sermon, Rev. F.
Orr giving the charge to the pastor, and Dr.
Woodend to the people. Mr. Gourley was re-
leased from this part of his charge with a
view of accepting a call from Homer, June 30,
1880. He left the Presbytery October 15,
1883. He later had charges at South Lyon,
Mich., and at Lewistown, Pa. On the release
of Mr. Gourle.y from this church, in 1880, it
fell back to the Presbyterj^ of Blairsville by
the rule of the Assembly. It was reported in
1887 with forty-eight members and Rev. W. B.
Carr as a stated supply. The present pastor
is Rev. W. C. Wallace. The membership is
151. The Sabbath school numbers 180.
Elders. — The elders chosen at the organiza-
tion of this church were John Wright, James
H. Fair and F. M. Kinter. The ruling elders
at present (1913) are: John R. Geary, clerk;
James A. Hayes. M. W. Diviney, William
Hodden. Sanuiel :\r. Fails, J. W. Clark.
Bb.VIRSVILLE CHURCH
In 1821 Rev. Thomas Davis came into the
region near the forks of the Conemaugh and
began preaching to the few early "settlers"
who had taken up their homes there. The first
service was held under the protecting limbs of
a large oak tree. The text of that memorable
sermon is still on record: "Watchman, what
of the night ? Watchman, what of the night ?
The watchman said. The morning cometh and
also the night, if ye will encjuire, enquire ye ;
return, come." Mr. Davis continued to
preach occasionally from his pulpit under the
oak tree. The congregation sat in moss-cov-
ered log or stone pews while some of the
younger people reclined on the green sward.
In the fall a log building was erected and be-
fore the roof was finished and without stoves,
the congregation worshiped in it. The car-
penter 's bench served for the pulpit for years
and the congTegation now exchanged their log
and stone pews for roughly hewn wooden
benches.
Rev. Mr. Davis was at this time a licentiate
of Redstone Presbytery, and so when he
wished to have his church regularly organized
he summoned an ordained man. Rev. Francis
Ilerrou, to his aid. Mr. Herron was a young
236
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
man at this date and a fast friend to Mr.
Davis. He became afterwards the venerable
Dr. Herron, of Pittsburg. On September 21,
1822, Mr. Herron organized the church under
the name of West Union. There were thirty-
three constituents, sixteen males and seven-
teen females. This church was not located in
the town of Blairsville, as that place had not
grown to even a hamlet. It was located about
a mile and a half rJortheast of town, on a lot
now attached to the Elizabeth McCrea farm.
On October 11, 1822, a call was presented to
Redstone Presbytery by the newly organized
church, in connection with the old Salem con-
gregation, for the ministerial sei'vices of Rev.
Thomas Davis, and in November of the same
year he was installed over these two congre-
gations, one half of his time being given to
each.
As the town grew in size and the members
of the church increased in it, the keen eye of
the pastor saw in it the strategic place for
the location of the church. He accordingly
began preaching in the village on the even-
ings of the Sabbaths he preached at West
Union. In 1828 measures were taken to build
a church in town, but much opposition arose
on the part of the country contingency. To
solve the problem, Mr. Davis purchased the
old West Union Church building, moved it to
town, and converted it into a dwelling' house.
This house still stands on Spring street and is
occupied by Mr. Joseph Moorhead, the oldest
living member of the church. In the year
1831 a commodious brick church was built in
Blairsville and services were transferred to it.
The next year, at the request of the congre-
gation, the Presbytery changed the name of
the church from West Union to the First
Presbyterian Church of Blairsville.
In December, 1839, Mr. Davis, being sixty-
seven years and feeling that traveling four-
teen miles and preaching three sermons each
Sabbath, besides looking after a large parish
scattered over a wide territory, was too much
for his failing strength, requested the sessions
of the two churches to procure a co-pastor.
The sessions complied with this request, and
in May, 1840, Mr. George Hill was called from
the graduating class of the Western Theolog-
ical Seminary. In December, 1842, he was
ordained and installed as co-pastor with Rev.
Mr. Davis over the churclus df Sulcm and
Blairsville. This co-pastoi'iMc (■(UitiiiiiiMl until
the death of Mr. Davis, which dci-ui-i'cd in May
of 1848. Speaking in after years of this co-
pastorate. Dr. Hill said : " It is with pleasure
and gratitude I record the fact that the fears
which had been previously entertained and ex-
pressed in reference to the practical working
of such a relation were, by the result of ex-
periment, proven to be groundless. Nothing
whatever occurred during these more than six
years to interrupt the harmony or destroy the
nuitual confidence of those who sustained this
relation."
Rev. George Hill now took full charge of the
field and continued as pastor of both churches
till October, 1849, when Presbytery dissolved
the pastoral relation existing between himself
and the old Salem congregation, and thus ter-
minated the union which had existed between
these two churches since the organization of
West Union. Mr. Hill from this time until his
death was the pastor of the Blairsville Church.
As the church had prospered under Mr. Davis
it continued to prosper under Dr. Hill. In
1881 the old brick church was torn down and
the present fine Gothic cathedral-like edifice
was erected and dedicated free of debt. By
the year 1888 the congregation had grown so
large and the work so arduous that Dr. Hill
felt that he was too aged and feeble to carry
the burden alone, and the congregation called
ilr. J. W. Criswell from the senior class of the
Western Theological Seminary to the co-pas-
torate. Like the former co-pastorate, this one
was also harmonious and fruitful of much
good. It terminated with the death of Rev.
George Hill, D. D., August 22, 1895. Perhaps
very few ministeries have been so abundantly
blessed as that of Dr. Hill. He has left an im-
press on the Blairsville community which the
lapse of years cannot efface.
A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a year;
Eemote from towns, he ran his godly race.
Nor e'er had changed, nor wished to change, his
place.
On the thirtieth anniversary of his pastor-
ate the congregation and friends assembled at
the house of the pastor and Thomas D. Davis,
M. D., grandson of the former pastor, in be-
half of their many friends, presented an ele-
gant silver table service of nine pieces in-
scribed as follows :
presented to
Rev. Dr. and ]\Irs. G. H. Hill,
by the
Ladies op the Blairsville Presbyterian
Church,
With their affectionate regards, on the 30th anni-
versary of his pastorate, June 21st, 1871.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Rev. Adam Torrenee, the only living rep-
resentative of the Presb.vtery then a member
of Jt, that belonged to it when Blairsville
Church was organized, presented a silver ice
pitcher, goblets, bowl and salver bearing in-
scription which explains itself:
TO
Rev. Geo. Hill, D. D., and Wife,
FROM
His Ministerial Brethren of the Presby-
tery OF Blairsville,
On the 30th anniversary of his pastorate,
June 21st, 1871.
The younger man. Rev. J. W. Criswell, now
carried the work on frtone. He was a worthy
successor to a worthy ministerial ancestry.
Mr. Criswell was noted for his scholarship in
and out of the pulpit and genial ways with
his people. Under his wise direction the
church i-eached a high point of efficiency. Mr.
Criswell was compelled through failing health
to give up his labors in February of 1904.
He retired to his home in Vandergrift, Pa.,
where the next year, amidst the tlowers which
he loved so well, he yielded up the pure lily
of his consecrated life to adorn the mansion
of his Master. He was loved and honored by
his people in life, and in death they mourned
for him many days.
For the tirst time in its history the pulpit
of the Blaii-sville Church became vacant.
Rev. S. B. Linhart. president of Blairsville
College, supplied the pulpit for more than a
year. In October, 1904, the congregation
called to the pastorate Rev. "\V. L. Barrett.
He accepted the call and was installed pastor
on January 19, 1905. Mr. Bari-ett, like hig
predecessors, was highly successful in build-
ing up the church, spiritually, numerically
and financially. He also organized the church
into a strong working force, iluch to the
sorrow and regret of his people, Mr. Barrett
resigned his charge December 31, 1910, to
accept a call from the First Presbyterian
Church, Bellefontaine, Ohio. The following
Saturday, January 7, 1911, the congregation
called to the pastorate Rev. IM. JI. McDivitt.
He accepted the call and was installed pastor
over the church, Tuesday, April 25. 1911.
Mr. [McDivitt was born in Clearfield count}%
Pa. His father, who was a miller by trade,
migrated to Westmoreland county, where ilr.
McDivitt received his education in the public
schools. He was graduated from Washington
and 'Jefferson College in the class of 1904,
and afterwards graduated from the Western
Theological Seminary, Pittsburg, Pa., taking
a fellowship which gave him a year of post-
graduate study in Scotland. Mr. McDivitt 's
first pastorate was at the Center Church of
Canonsburg, Pa. From this place he was
called to the First Presbyterian Church of
Blairsville.
What a remarkable history has this church
had ! In all these ninety years .she has really
called only two pastors. Rev. Messrs. Barrett
and ilcDivitt. The church has been wonder-
fully blessed in its eldership and other officers.
They have all been faithful workers in the
Master 's vineyard. And so it was with a great
deal of gratitude and thanksgiving that the
members of the church came together to cele-
brate the ninetieth anniversary, in 1912.
On Friday, September 20th,"Prof. James H.
Sno\ydeu, D. D., of the Western Theological
Seminary, opened the anniversary services
with a most appropriate, keen, masterful ad-
dress on "The Church and Its Value to the
Community." The evening of the same day
the choir of the church gave a classical mus-
icale which was much enjoyed by all who
heard it. Saturday was Old" Home and His-
torical Day. In the morning the sons of the
church paid their respects to the mother
church and gave interesting reminiscences of
the old days and the old-time people of the
congregation. Among these sons were Rev.
George H. Hill, Rev. Hermann M. Hosack,
Rev. John C. Laughlin and Rev. R. Frank
Getty. At noon the ladies of the church
served an old-time dinner, at which sat over
five hundred persons. The after dinner hour
was spent in toasts from prominent visitors,
and then the people en.ioyed a delightful
mingling of old friends, the renewing of old
ties and the forming of new ones. Saturday
afternoon was historical. The ministry of
Rev. Thomas Davis was reviewed by Thomas
Davis, M. D., his grandson. Maj. T. D. Cun-
ningham spoke on the ministry of Rev. George
Hill, D. D., and Rev. C. C. Hays, D. D., and
gave the histoiy of the ministries of Rev. J.
W. Criswell and Rev. W. L. Barrett.
In connection with the anniversary services
were held the rededicatory services of the
remodeled church. In the past year the con-
gregation made needed and artistic improve-
ments. An addition has been made to the
church, in which there are twenty-four large
individual classrooms for Sunday school pur-
poses. All the rooms face into the commod-
ious chapel. Each classroom has been eciuip-
ped with slate blackboards and a set of maps
placed in easy access of each class. These
blackboards and maps, together with chairs
238
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
for tlie infant rooms, were given in memory of
Dr. Hill. In the basement of the addition
have been built a dining room, kitchen, toilets,
gymnasium, and a modern steam heating
plant. A new pipe organ has been installed.
The auditorium has been refrescoed, repainted
and recarpeted. A new lighting system has
been placed in the church. Concrete walks
and steps adorn the outside of the church.
The total cost of the improvements is $16,000,
all of which has been given by the people, with
the exception of a donation of $1,250 from I\Ir.
Andrew Carnegie for the organ. A feature
of the rededication was the presentation of
two hand-carved walnut pulpit chairs by ilr.
John Loughry. Mr. Loughry placed these
chairs in the church in memory of his father
and mother, who were honored members of the
church in the early days.
The rededication services were held on Sab-
bath, September 22d. President James D.
Moffat, D. D., LL. D., of Washington and
Jefferson College, preached the rededicatory
sermon. It was a fitting and powerful address
on Pure Religion.
The average increase of membership from
1822 to 1840 was IGi/o per year, and from
1840 to 1871, 221/2 per year. The increase
from 1822 to 1871 was 971— this amount of
course subject to usual decrease by death, re-
moval, dismissal, etc., so that the comparative
exhibit of actual membership results thus : In
1822, 33 members ; in 1871, total members in
communion, 222 ; in 1913, 608.
The contributions of the church, as by com-
parative statement, show for two years, 1840-
41, the sum of $161.20, and for 1870-71, total
for two years, $3,114.15. The contributions
for benevolent purposes for a period of thirty
years, from 1841 to 1871, show an average
per annum of $487.85, not including private
donations, expenses for house of worship, poor
fund. Sabbath school, or pastor's salary.
The Sabbath school was started in 1820 or
1821, and has been continued ever since with
excellent results to church and community. It
now has a membership of 558. Mr. Frank B.
Andre is the superintendent.
The first ruling elders were Michael Camp-
bell, Daniel Smith and John Cunningham.
The next was John McCrea, June 5, 1830. W.
T. Smith, Samuel Matthews and Mathias Lich-
tenthaler were ordained September 8, 1838.
These were reduced by removal and death till
in 1854 there was none but Judge Cunning-
ham left, and on June 25 of that year James
Speer, H. A. Thompson and Mathew George
were added to the session, the latter by ordina-
tion, the others by installation, having been
ordained in other churches. In March, 1861,
James H. Fair, Joseph Moorhead, Jacob Zim-
mers and J. M. Turner were ordained and in-
stalled, and on April 26, 1868, Joseph Hender-
son, Jesse A. Cunningham and Samuel M. Bell
were added, the former by installation, the
latter two by ordination and installation. Of
these seventeen Dr. Hill says in 1871, "but
five now remain with us ; five others are office
bearers in other churches, and seven have gone
to their reward in heaven. ' '
In 1855 the congregation for the first time
elected a board of deacons, consisting of James
Baird, David Lintner, J%mes H. Pair, Samuel
Kennedy, W. A. Loughrey, Thomas Campbell
and Jacob Zimmers, and subsequently to fill
vacancies James Alexander, E. G. Still,
Thomas Hatham, S. M. Bell, Samuel Barr, M.
H. Hassock and William Lintner.
The present officers are : Michael M. Mc-
Divitt, minister ; Samuel Martin Jordan, min-
ister abroad, Teheran, Persia ; session, William
Pounds (clerk), George L. Clawson, J. M.
Turner, Joseph ]\Ioorhead, Coulter Wiggins,
A. W. Smith, John W. Moorhead, R. P. Doug-
lass, T. D. Cunningham, Joseph France, Clark
Dunlap, Prank B. Andre ; deacons, T. C. Wat-
son (president), William Pounds, E. H.
Curtis (secretary), Clark Dunlap, N. M.
Baker, JI. S. Grumbling, Dr. J. B. Carson;
Charles H. Moore, teacher of Men's Brother-
hood Bible class and president of the Brother-
hood ; William B. Slonaker, caretaker.
ROCKBRIDGE CHURCH
The Rockbridge Presbyterian Church is one
of the five located in the village of Richmond
(Rochester Mills P. O.). At a meeting of
members of the Presbyterian Churches in the
vicinity held July 4, 1868, it was resolved
to invite Rev. John Caruthers, then pastor at
Gilgal, to preach one fourth of the time at
Richmond, to which invitation he acceded, his
active labors there dating from June 1, pre-
ceding. An organization seeming desirable,
Robert Lowry was commissioned to carry a
petition to the Presbytery of Saltsburg. This
petition was presented to the Presbytery, and
the request granted, December 29, 1868, and
Revs. S. P. Bollman and John Caruthers, with
Elders Robert Thompson, Sr., John Gourley
and James S. Martin, were appointed a com-
mittee to effect the organization. This com-
mittee met January 27, 1869, and after a
sermon by Rev. S. P. Bollman from Romans
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
i.l6, the church of Rockbridge was duly or-
ganized.
The original members were thirty-three in
all, as follows : From Gilgal — Eleauor Ayers,
Mary Leasure, Mary Leasure, 2d, David C.
Leasure, Eveline Leasure, S. Porter Black,
Mary R. Black, Violet Arthurs, Isaac Simpson,
Sarah Simpson. John ]\Ioore, Lucy Moore,
Hannah Doty, Thomas Johnston, Isabella
Johnston, Elizabeth Johnston, Sarah J. Mc-
Afoose, Jemima Moore. Samuel Stuchell,
Phoebe Stuchell, George Richardson, Elizabeth
Richardson, Jane Stanley ; from Mount Pleas-
ant— Thomas Arthurs, Samuel Calderwood,
James Saltsgiver, Mrs. Saltsgiver, Robert
Lowry, ;\Iary A. Lowry ; from Marion — Sam-
uel Wingart, Keziah AVingart ; from Clarinda,
Iowa — "William T. Collins. Harriet J. Collins.
The first pastor of the chiirch was Rev. John
Caruthers, who was installed for the fourth
of his time, May 6, 1869, and continued to
ser\'e until October 1, 1872. During the
summers of 1873 and 187-1 I\Ir. Johnston Mc-
Gaughey, a licentiate, supplied the church a
period of six months each year, and in the
intervals there were occasional supplies from
the Presbytery. During the winter season of
1875-77 Rev. Andrew Virtue, then pastor at
Center, held a series of meetings and preached
occasionally, and through his labors the church
was revived and blessed. For six months in
the summer of 1876 Mr. A. F. Irwin, a licen-
tiate of the Presbytery, supplied with accept-
ance this church and Mount Pleasant. In the
spring of 1877 Mr. William F. Gibson, then a
licentiate, began to supply this church in con-
nection with Mount Pleasant and Gilgal, giv-
ing one third of his time to each place. Calls
being made out for him, he accepted them,
and was ordained at Marion. June 28, 1877,
and installed in the charge July 7th following,
the services being at Gilgal. His pastorate
continued until April 25, 1882. when he was
released at his own request.
At a meeting of the congregation held
March 1, 1883, a call was made out for the
services of Mr. A. S. Elliott, in connection
with the other two churches of the charge.
Having accepted these calls, and been or-
dained at Meehanicsburg June 26, 1883, he
was duly installed in the charge, July 31
following, the service being in this church. He
was released April 23 of the following year.
Rev. William F. Gibson began preaching
November 9. 1884, and being called to the
churches of his former charge he was installed
May 12, 1885. He remained to November 9,
1886, having been released by the Presbytery
October 12th preceding.
Rev. Franklin Orr supplied the church for
four months, ending April 17, 1887, and Rev.
J. C. Ambrose for six months from June 1st
of the same year. This church was also served
by Rev. William M. Devors and H. W. Warn-
shuis as regular pastors.
Until recently Rev. Douglas Warden was
stated supply of the church, but at present
there is no pastor.
In connection with a communion service held
October 1, 1871, by Rev. John Caruthers, as-
sisted by Rev. James Caldwell, at a congrega-
tional meeting, a committee consisting of D. C.
Leasure, Samuel Calder-iVood, George Richard-
son, Samuel Stuchel and Robert Lowry was
appointed to secure ground, and to build a
house of woi-ship. A lot of about half an
acre, valued at $150, was secured as a dona-
tion from Mr. Q. Armstrong. The house was
built in 1872. It is a studding frame, 35 by
55 feet, with vestibule, belfry and steeple, the
latter about 70 feet high. The audience room
is finished in chestnut wood. The spire was
struck by lightning June 20, 1887, and dam-
aged to the amount of $100, which was paid
by the insurance company.
At the time of organization Samuel Stuchel,
Robert Lowry, Samuel Calderwood and D. C.
Leasure were chosen elders. The last named
declined to serve. Mr. Stuchel, who had been
an elder at Gilgal, was installed, and the other
two were ordained and installed. Additions
to the session were as follows : March 3, 1S69,
James Saltsgiver. who was dismissed Septem-
ber 2, 1871; November 13, 1875, Aaron H.
Braughler and William H. Stanley. Robert
Lowry first served as clerk of the session. On
April 9. 1887, this office was filled by William
H. Stanley. The present elders are : William
H. Stanley, clerk ; Samuel Calderwood, Aaron
H. Braughler, R. Clark Doty, Herbert H.
Black, William Harvey Lowry.
The following have served as trustees : D.
C. Leasure, S. P. Black, F. S. Black. D. J.
Braughler. J. D. Johnston, Thomas Johnston,
Johnston Sutton. T. il. :Moore. W. :\I. Stuchel,
R. H. Work. Jr., R. Lowry, George Richard-
son, J. H. Black, William' H. Stanley. The
trustees serving in 1888 were Robert Lowry,
president; William Stuchel, secretary; J. D.
Johnston, treasurer: Johnston Sutton. R. H.
Work, Jr., William H. Stanlev.
The present trustees are : S". C. Work, F. B.
Work. L. A. Philippi, A. L. Braughler, Ed.
Altman. J. S. Doty.
Previous to 1872 the Presbvterian and
240
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
United Brethren Churches held a union Sab-
bath school. But in the spring of that year
the U. B. Church decided to organize separ-
ately, and as the Presbyterians were using
their building they also then organized separ-
ately, meeting for two summers in the upper
story of an unfinished house belonging to
Robert Miller. At that time Samuel Stuchel
was superintendent. Others who have served
in the same office for longer or shorter periods
have been Robert Lowry, William H. Stanley,
Aaron H. Braughler, R. H. Work, Jr.
Seasons of special interest in the church
were in the winter of 1875, in connection with
the labors of Rev. A. Virtue, and early in
1885, during the pastorate of Rev. W. F.
Gibson. The report made in April, 1885,
showed 22 additions on profession for the
year. In 1888 the whole number of names on
the roll of communicants was 131 ; the number
of active members, 82; the number of infant
baptisms recorded, 29. The number of active
members at present is 91. The Sabbath
school has an enrollment of 80. W. H. Lowry
is superintendent.
MOUNT PLEASANT CHURCH
During the summer of 1839 Mr. John Nott,
a licentiate, preached occasionally in the barn
of John Gourley in North Mahoning town-
ship, about two miles north of Covode. The
Presbyterians of this neighborhood, most of
whom were members of Gilgal Church, about
eight miles southward, with a few of Perry
ChurL-h, the same distance northward, were
thus brought together, and made to feel that
they were one and should have greater con-
venience in public worship than was afforded
by existing organizations of the Presbyterian
denomination.
Not feeling able as yet to support a new
organization, an arrangement was made with
the churches of Gilgal and Perry, then the
pastoral charge of Rev. John Caruthers, each
to grant the pastor time to preach two sermons
annually. They thus met for worship four
times a year in a log schoolhouse that stood
near the place where the church was after-
wards built. This arrangement continued for
fourteen years.
The church of Mount Pleasant, located at
Covode, formerly called Kellysville, was or-
ganized September 8, 1854, by a committee of
the Presbytery of Blairsville, consisting of
Rev. A. McElwain, Rev. C. Forbes and Rev.
John Caruthers. The original members were
thirty in number, twenty-eight being received
on certificate from the Church of Gilgal and
two from Perry.
About the time of the organization a parcel
of ground was purchased, and on it was
erected, in 1855, a frame building, in size 45
by 60 feet, which is still occupied by the
congregation, and is a fairly commodious and
comfortable place of worship. The congrega-
tion has also a neat and comfortable parson-
age, with five acres of ground attached, and
also ground upon which was erected in 1862-63
an academy building, all of which property is
held under the provision of a charter.
At the time when the erection of a church
building was undertaken, the "dry summer"
had just ended, causing a time of financial de-
pression, so that with great difficulty the
church was completed. The members were
mostly farmers, crops had failed, and pros-
pects were gloomy. At one time the workmen
demanded "flour" or "money," and as
neither could be procured, it seemed that the
work must stop. Just then some timely aid
was received fi-om a friendly church in the
East, and this was followed by help from some
of the churches of the Presbytery. Thus the
people were encouraged, and the work com-
pleted. The new church was dedicated Sep-
tember 9, 1855, Rev. A. McElwain, who was
present, assisting in a communion service, and
preaching the dedicatory sermon from the
text, "And his rest shall be glorious." At
this time nine were added to the church, the
total membership being then forty-six.
At the time of its organization, Rev. John
Caruthers, pastor of Gilgal, the mother church,
took charge of the daughter also, and become
pastor of Mount Pleasant, for one fourth of
his time, continuing faithfully to serve the
congregation until he was released, October
16, 1867. It has been said of him, that "his
labors were abundant; he was instant in
season, out of season." A fuller notice of his
life aiid work will be found in connection with
the churches of Gilgal and Marion Center.
For the time after the release of "Father"
Caruthers the church had only occasional
supplies. At length another pastor was
secured in the person of Rev. Carl Moore. On
the 13th of April, 1869, at which time he was
received by the Presbytery from the Presby-
tery of Cincinnati, he accepted calls from this
church and from Pluniville and Smicksburg,
giving to ]\Iount Pleasant one half of his labors
in the gospel, and to each of the other two one
fourth. From this church he was released
October 2, 1872, but continued to serve the
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
241
other two for about a year afterward. As a
pastor lie was earnest and untiring.
Por several years after this the pulpit was
vacant. During this time Rev. J. L. Sample
and Rev. A. T. Bell held communion services,
and other occasional supplies held services.
During the summer of 1874, for six months,
the church was supplied with preaching by
Mr. J. McGaughey. Mr. A. T. Irwin, a licen-
tiate at the time of Kittanniug Presbytery,
supplied the church in connection with Rock-
bridge for 'six months, during the summer of
1876. On June 27, 1877, this church, Gilgal
and Rockbridge presented to the Presbytei'y
calls for the services of Mr. W. P. Gibson, a
licentiate of the Presbytery of Allegheny, each
asking for one third of his time. These calls
he accepted, and on the following day. June
28th, was ordained. He was installed in the
charge July 7. 1887, Rev. G. W. Mechlin, D.
D., preaching the sermon, Rev. J. L. Sample
delivering the charge to the pastor, and Rev.
A. T. Bell presiding and delivering the charge
to the people. Under ilr. Gibson's labors the
churches were greatly strengthened and en-
couraged. But deeming the work upon this
field beyond his strength, and having a call
from the church of Cherrytree, Mr. Gibson, on
June 22, 1881, asked the Presbytery to release
him from his charge. To this request the
churches made such objection that at its meet-
ing, in October following, the Presb.ytery de-
cided not to effect his release. But the request
being renewed upon the same grounds as
formerly, and the churches expressing reluct-
ant assent, after each church had presented a
call for one half of Mr. Gibson's time and he
had declined to decide between them, the
Presbytery released him from his charge,
April 22, i882, and January 2d, following, dis-
missed him to the Presbytery of Bloomington,
where he had charge of the church at Hey-
worth, Illinois.
A vacancy for a year ensued, when, April
24, 1883, a call was presented from the charge,
each church asking third time for the services
of Mr. A. S. Elliott, a licentiate of the Pres-
bytery of Clarion. Having accepted these
calls he was ordained at Mechanicsburg, June
26, 1883. and installed in the charge at Rock-
bridge, July 31st following. Rev. J. Spencer
presiding and preaching the sermon. Rev. A.
T. Bell giving the charge to the pastor, and
Rev. James Caldwell that to the people. But
this relation was of short duration, for on the
23d of April, 1884, he asked of the Presbytery
to be released from his charge, and the congre-
gation expressing acquiescence the request was
granted, and Mr. Elliott was dismissed to the
Presbytery of Central Dakota. During the
following summer the churches were supplied
by Revs. J. Spencer, B. S. Sloan and A. H.
Jolly. During the tall of 1884 Rev. W. F.
Gibson, being released from his charge in
Illinois, returned to this region, and at the
request of these churches he began to labor
among them. Calls were presented for him
to the Presbytery at, the December meeting,
each church asking third time. At the spring
meeting the Rockbridge call was changed to
half time, and the others were modified ac-
cordingly. These calls Mr. Gibson accepted,
and he was installed for the second time in the
charge at Mount Pleasant, May 12, 1885. In
the services Rev. A. H. Jolly presided and
preached. Rev, L. Mechlin gave the charge to
the pastor, and Rev. A. T. Bell to the people.
The old love being thus renewed, the churches
of this charge indulged the hope that they had
secured a pastor for a long time to come. In
this hope, however, they were destined to be
disappointed. Mr. Gibson, having received a
call to the church at Clyde, Kans., again asked
release, which Presbytery reluctantly granted
October 12, 1886. The churches were then
vacant, having only occasional supplies,
chiefly from Revs. G." W. Mechlin, D. D., L.
Mechlin. B, S, Sloan, J, C. Ambrose and
^Messrs. J. C. Mechlin and L. E. Keith. Later
the church was served by Rev. William M.
Devors as regular pastor, and afterwards by
Rev. W. H. Warnshuis. Until recently Rev.
Douglas Warden was stated supply of the
church, but at present there is no pastor.
At the time of the organization of the
church four ruling elders were ordained, viz. :
William Black, John Gourley, J. L. McComb,
William G. Lewis. Mr. Black died February
2. 1874, and Mr. McComb was dismissed to
Heyworth, 111., in 1866. The following ad-
ditions have been made to the session : A. J.
T. Crawford, who was installed September 3,
18.59; John North and James H. McAlister,
ordained and installed August 2, 1868 ; James
Wachob. Thompson McConaughey, J. L. Mc-
Alister and J. Milton Shields, ordained and
installed December 17, 1875. Of these J. H.
ilcAlister died October 21, 1874; John North
was dismissed to the C. P. Church, Punxsu-
tawney, November 22, 1875, and J. Milton
Shields, M, D., was dismissed to Santa Fe, N.
M., February 18, 1878. The elders at present
are: G. W. McConaughev, clerk; J. S. Flem-
ing, J. M. Hamilton.
Sabbath school has been maintained in the
church from the time of organization, being
242
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
kept open the entire year. In the superin-
tendency of the school there have been but
few changes.
The membership of this church has never
been large. The number reported for 1887
was 66. The membership at present is 31.
The Sabbath school has an enrollment of 25.
ROSSITER CHURCH
In 1900 the church was organized as a Union
Church and later dedicated as a Cumberland
Presbyterian Church with a membership of 35.
In 1909 the Cumberland Presbyterian
Churches were taken into the Presbyterian
Church, hence the church is now Presbyterian.
The present officers of the church are : John
Harvey, elder; Harry Vandyke, Andrew
Thompson, Allen Stewart, deacons. Until
recently Rev. Douglas Warden was pastor,
but the church has no pastor at present. There
is now a membership of 34. In connection
with the church is a Sabbath school which
numbers 160; also a Christian Endeavor
Society, in which the young people are very
active.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ARMAGH
Armagh may be regarded as a continuance
of Wheatfield, and so dates its origin back as
far as October 7, 1786. Probably, however,
it had a sort of reorganization, such as was
then common, about 1820. For a number of
years, supplies had been sent about alternately
to Wheatfield and Fairfield. Fairfield, with
Donegal and Wheatfield, called Rev. George
Hill April 17, 1792, four months after he had
been licensed. He was ordained and installed
at Fairfield November of that year. Rev.
Samuel Porter preached and J. Power gave
the charge. Wheatfield ought to have been
reported to the first Assembly. It was situat-
ed in what is now Indiana county midway
perhaps between Rodgers' Mill on the Cone-
maugh river and Ai-magh. Probably it never
had a house of worship ; if any, it was doubt-
less an humble one. It was ten miles distant
from the pastor's residence. To reach it he
sometimes swam his horse across the river,
preached and returned home in his wet clothes.
Doubtless exposure like this had much to do
with the premature- breaking down of his
mighty constitution.' From this branch he
was released April 11, 17f)8. and gave after-
wards two thirds of his time to Fairfield. For
about twenty years Wheatfield was vacant, re-
ceiving occasional supplies.
Mr. J. H. Kirkpatrick was ordained and in-
stalled at Armagh, December 13, 1826. Rev.
S. Swan preached and David Barclay gave the
charge. Harmony Church had half of his
labors. From Armagh he was released Octo-
ber 3, 1833. Afterwards this was statedly
supplied by Rev. S. H. Terry, pastor at Johns-
town, for "half time from June 9, 1835, till
October 6, 1840, when all his time was given to
Johnstown. Then for four and a half years
there were occasional supplies. Rev. S. Swan,
pastor of Johnstown, then supplied statedly
until May 22, 1846, when for half time he was
installed as pastor. Rev. A. Donaldson
preached. Rev. R. Johnson charged the pastor,
and Rev. G. Hill, the people. He resigned
the charge April 13, 1855, and removed to
northern Illinois, where he supplied at various
points until June 18, 1871, when he came back
to reside in Blairsville. On April 15. 1857,
Armagh in connection with Centerville ob-
tained as stated supply Rev. Ross Stevenson,
who continued in that relation about two
years, doing a great work for the Master. On
January 16, 1861, Rev. 0. H. Miller was
installed as pastor at Armagh in connec-
tion with Centerville. Rev. D. B. Harbison
preached, B. L. Agnew charged the pastor,
and J. W. Walker, the people. He was re-
leased June 17, 1863. On December 2, 1867,
Rev. G. W. Shaffer was installed over the
same charge. Rev. S. H. Shepley preached,
G. Hill charged the pastor, and J. A. Mar-
shall, the people. He resigned the charge
October 7, 1873. Since that time the pulpit
has been filled bv the following ministers : D.
L. Dickey, J. P. Kennedy, D. M. Miller. Mr.
Shearer (who died in Armagh after being
there but a short time), J. M. Hamilton, J. S.
McCutcheon, M. B. Kline, J. R. McMillan, R.
M. Fulton, C, A. Waltman, the present min-
ister. In 1879 there were 120 members, but
at present there are only 67.
Hugh D. Tomb is the clerk of the session.
Mr. J. C. Tomb is the superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of 45.
WASHINGTON CHURCH
In 1872 a few of the citizens of Washington
township agreed to erect a building for the
public worship of God. Inasmuch as the
association contained adherents to various
branches of the Christian Church, the house
was to be open to the use of all Christian
denominations. To complete the project some
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
243
contributed money, some gave building, ma-
terial, and others labored at the buUding. The
house was soon completed. It was 30 by 30
feet, of hewn logs, "shingle roof" — then a
distinguishing feature, furnished with "plain
seats," and named Washington Church.
The lot of ground, containing about fifteen
acres, iipon which this church was erected,
two miles west from the village of Kellysburg
(Home P. 0.), had been donated by Mr.
AYilliam Patterson for church and school pur-
poses, and so deeded without any restrictions.
The nearest Presbyterian Churches were In-
diana and Gilgal, then under the care of Rev.
John Reed.
The first stated supply of Washington was
Rev. Nicholas G. Sharretts, then pastor of the
Lutheran Church, Indiana. He was engaged
to preach during the year 1829, one sermon
each fourth Sabbath afternoon. The next
year Rev. David Barclay, Presbyterian, was
engaged for each fourth Sabbath for one year.
In the autumn of this year the congregation
appointed Mr. Joseph Diven to present before
the Presbyteiy of Blairsville a petition for the
organization of a Presbyterian Church. The
Presbytery granted the request, and appointed
Rev. John H. Kirkpatrick to effect the organi-
zation, who accordingly convened the Wash-
ington society in the springtime of 1831, and
organized Washington Presbyterian Church.
At the organization Messrs. Joseph Diven,
John McGara and Abraham Moore, Jr., were
elected elders. Mr. Diven having served in
the office at Glade Run was installed, Messrs.
McGara and Moore were ordained and in-
stalled. The roll of members at the organiza-
tion cannot be produced.
Soon after the organization Rev. David
Barclay moderated a congregational meeting,
at which a call for one half of the ministerial
labors of Rev. John H. Kirkpatrick was made
out. Elder Joseph Diven was chosen to lay
the same before the Presbj'tery. The call
having been placed in the hands of Mr. Kirk-
patrick, was by him accepted on the condition
that the time be changed from one half to
one third for the first year, and arrangements
were made for his installation. At the in-
stallation Rev. D. Lewis preached the sermon.
Rev. John Reed delivered the charge to the
pastor, and Rev. Elisha D. Barrett that to the
congregation.'
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was
first administered here in April. 1832. Up
to this time forty-four members had been re-
ceived, twenty-three by letter and twenty-one
by profession of faith. Soon after this Messrs.
Christopher McEwen, John Shields and Sam-
uel Lewis were elected, ordained and installed
elders.
In 1834 a second church building was erect-
ed on ground a short distance east of the
present site, donated by ilr. Godfrey Light-
cap. This was a frame building 40 by 40
feet, and cost about one thousand dollars.
In 1848 Rev. John H. Kirkpatrick was re-
leased from the pastoral care of this church.
In 1850 the pulpit was supplied by Presby-
terial appointments. This same year Messrs.
Jesse Marlin and Robert Allison were elected,
ordained and installed elders.
On April 20, 18.52, Rev. S. P. Bollman was
installed pastor for one half time, Rev. C.
Forbes preaching the sermon, Rev. A. Donald-
son charging the pastor, and Rev. D. Lewis,
the people. After serving the congregation
for fifteen months. Rev. S. P. Bollman was
released from the pastorate on account of
failing health, yet continued occasionally to
supply the pulpit.
On September 1, 1857, Rev. William G.
Shand was installed pastor for one half time,
the other half being given to Center, which
pastorate continued for but little more than
one year, or to October 6, 1858. Then the
congi-egation had to depend on the occasional
supplies l^ntil 1860, when Rev. D. D. Christy
supplied the church for a time, and having
accepted calls from this church and Center,
he was installed July 3 of that year. His
pastorate continued to May 4, 1863, when he
was released from the charge. During the
three years following the church was without
a pastor. Rev. S. P. Bollman, however, serving
as stated supply for six months in 1864, and
for three more months in 1865.
On August 21, 1865, Rev. S. P. Bollman,
being then pastor at Center, was installed
pastor of this church for one half time by
a committee consisting of Revs. Caruthers, W.
F. Morgan and Andrew McElwain. This
pastoral relation was dissolved April 12, 1870.
:\Ir. T. B. Anderson, a student of theology in
the Western Theological Seminary, preached
one sermon each Sabbath during the summer
of 1871. The following summer the Presby-
tery sent Mr. E. G. McKinley, another student
of the Western Theological Seminary, to sup-
ply the pulpit for five months.
Having decided to build a new house of
worship the congregation in the fall of 1871
appointed Messrs. John Prothero, Solomon
Lightc'ap, Joseph M. Bell. J. 51. McLaughlin
and William Wallace, a building committee.
The ground was purchased from J. M. and
244
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Oberlin McLaughlin, a few feet southwest,
from the old building, and the house was built
thereon in the summer of 1872. This building
was also a frame one, having a main audi-
torium 40 by 57 by 18 feet, a vestibule 6 by 40
feet and a lecture room in the half basement,
40 by about 30 feet. Its cost when completed
and furnished was $4,000. The church was
formally dedicated to the worship of God June
I, 1873. In this service the scripture was
read by Rev. George W. Mechlin, who also
preached the sermon, and the dedicatory
prayer was offered by Rev. Carl Moore.
Commencing in the fall of 1873 Rev. Carl
Moore preached one sermon every two weeks
till the following spring. At the spring meet-
ing of the Kittanning Presljytery, April 7,
1874, a call was presented for one half the
ministerial services of Rev. Carl Moore. It
was placed in his hands, by him accepted, and
arrangements made for his installation June 6,
1874, at which time the installation was ef-
fected. The sermon was preached by Rev. D.
Hall, D. D., the charge to the pastor was de-
livered by Rev. A. T. Bell, and the charge to
the congregation by Rev. Andrew Virtue. This
pastorate continued till June 27, 1877.
From July 1. 1877, Rev. C. C. B. Duncan
supplied the pulpit statedly for one half time
one year. In the meantime a call was placed
in his hands to become pastor of this church
in connection with Plumville, and was by him
declined at a meeting of the Presbytery, July
10, 1878.
On January 2, 1879, Rev. A. T. Bell, then
pastor at Rayne, was installed for one half
time. Revs. C. Moore, D. H. Sloan and H.
Magill taking part in the services. On June
6, 1883, the call was so modified as to secure
the entire time of the pastor.
The church edifice was repainted, frescoed
and carpeted during the summer of 1884 at a
cost of $700. Of the sons of Washington
Church up to 1888 but one, J. Marshall
Shields, had entered the ministry. He was
licensed by the Presbytery of Blairsville, April
II, 1854. and ordained Aixgust 29, 1855, by
the Presbytery of Erie. He was pastor suc-
cessively at Georgetown, Fairfield, Bridge-
water, Millvale (Pa.) and Orvillo (Ohio"). He
died in November, 1887. Mr. George B.
Diven, a candidate for the ministry, had
reached the .iunior year at Washington and
Jefferson College when he was stricken down
with typhoid fever, and died November 4,
1884. Robert Joseph Diven, recommended
by the session April 11, 1886, was taken under
care of the Presbytery of Kittanning, April 14,
1886, as a candidate for the gospel ministry.
Rev. Frank J. Woodard, a missionary in the
Gilbert Islands, was reared in this congrega-
tion.
The church has been served in the eldership
by Joseph Diven, Robex't Allison, Abraham
Moore, Jr., Peter S. Lewis, John McGara,
John Shields, Alexander Blue, Samuel Lewis,
Jesse Marlin, Christopher McEwen, Patrick
Lydick. On June 24, 1900, the following
elders were ordained and installed : William
Schurr, L. G. Shields, Lewis Wallace, and J.
Lincoln Groft.
The following have served in the office of
trustee: John Bell, Madison McLaughlin,
Patrick Lydick, John K. McElhoes, Peter Mc-
Gara, Jolm Gordon, Henry K. Shields, Samuel
McQuilkin, W. J. Buchanan, J. W. Shields,
David Anderson, Alexander Blue, Jerry Peter-
man, Wilson R. Wallace, Andrew Harmon, S.
C. Lewis. The present deacons are Edward
Thompson, John Sharp, C. J. McBlhoes,
Charles McLaughlin, Charles Bell.
The Sabbath school has been'superintended
by Samuel Lewis, AVilson R. Wallace, John
Prothero, Matthew Baird, Wallace Diven,
William H. Lydick and John Calvin Shannon.
Since 1884 there has been an afternoon session
of the Sabbath school held in the village of
Kellysburg, superintended by John K. Mc-
Elhoes and Samuel McQuilkin. The present
superintendent is J. Lincoln Groft. The
school has an enrollment of 111.
The years in which there were the largest
accessions to the church are 1868, when 29
were received ; 1877, when 45 were added, and
1885, when 34 were added. In 1888 a very
general work of grace was in progress, by
which the membership of the church was re-
vived and 37 persons publicly professed their
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
For the last twelve years Rev. W. J. Wilson
has faithfully served this congregation and
the membership is 138.
FIRST CHURCH, INDIANA
Organization. — Tlie date of organization is
not known. Indiana county was organized
in 1806, but there was no stated preaching in
the county seat at that time. From 1800 to
1806 there were occasional supplies furnished
by the Presbytery of Redstone. The people
assembled in the woods and the hardy mis-
sionary spoke to them from a rough platform
erected under the open sin'. Rev. Joseph W.
Henderson was the first stated pastor in the
county, and the Presbyterian Church of In-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
245
diana was organized by him, it is thought, in
1807. After the organization Mr. Henderson
preached as stated supply one third of his
time for one year. The names of the original
members are not on record. At the time of
the organization services were generally held
in the county jail, but from the erection of
the courthouse, in 1809, it was used as a place
of public worship by all denominations having
preaching in Indiana till 1826-27, when houses
of worship were erected.
Pastors and Stated Supplies. — Rev. Joseph
W. Henderson was stated supply for one third
of his time during the year 1807. The Revs.
George Hill, Samuel Porter. Thomas Davis
and William Speer preached occasionally dur-
ing 1808. The first settled pastor was Rev.
James Galbreath. He was installed pastor
over the united congregation of Gilgal and
Harmony in 1808 and was called to Indiana
and installed for one third of his time in 1809.
In 1810 he resigned at Harmony and came to
Indiana, where he remained until 1816, when
he resigned and went to Huntingdon county.
He died at Ligonier, Westmoreland county, in
1857. The next pastor was Rev. John Reed.
He came as a licentiate from AYashington
county and was engaged in October. 1817, to
preach to the congi-egations of Gilgal and In-
diana as stated supply. He was ordained and
installed pastor of these churches in October,
1818, by the Presbytery of Redstone. In 1839,
he resigned the charge of Gilgal and gave the
whole of hisi time to Indiana until his death,
which occurred September 27, 1840. Mr. Reed
was a man of fine presence, genial manners
and great enevgy. and was held in loving re-
membrance by the survivors of his ministry.
He was followed by Lewis W. Williams, who
came as a licentiate in 1840, soon after ilr.
Reed's death, and in ]May. 1841, was ordained
and installed pastor by the Presbytery of
Blairsville. He resigned in t)ie spring of 1844.
and died at Landisburg, Pa., in 1858. During
Mr. Williams' pastorate, the number of mem-
bers reported was 153, the same as reported by
his predecessor, j\Ir. Reed. During Mr. Gal-
breath's ministry', the number did not exceed
80 or 90.
The next pastor was Anderson B. Quay,
who was ordained and installed in May, 1844.
He resigned in 1850, and died at Rochester,
Pa., in 1857. During his pastorate, the mem-
bership had increased to 190. Rev. ]Mr. Quaj^
was succeeded by Rev. Andrew McElwain,
September 7, 1852, who resigned in 1872 after
a long and eminently successful pastorate of
twenty years. Rev. Mr. McElwain was an
able theologian, an earnest, effective preacher
and a most faithful pastor. His work in In-
diana was twice sealed with a special blessing
of the Holy Spirit resulting in large ingather-
ings. When he was installed there were re-
ported 169 members. When he resigned there
were 362, with a Sabbath school of 360 mem-
bers. During this favored pastorate the
church was an example of beneticeuce, its
gifts in 1872 to Home Missions, $596, Foreign
Missions, $430, Education, $100, etc. Few
pastorates have been more fruitful in good
than this one running through the fifth of a
century.
Dr. McElwain was succeeded by Rev. D.
Hall, D. D., who was installed June 30, 1874.
In the installation. Rev. Drs. W. W. Woodend
and D. J. Irwin, with Rev. J. Francis, of-
ficiated. Early in his pastorate the Congrega-
tional Church was disbanded, and the mem-
bers united with the Presbj'terian, where most
of them had held membership before. In
1876 there was an ingathering, mainly from
the youth of the congregation, of 60 on exam-
ination at one communion, and 82 during the
year. In 1887 a quiet interest resulted in an
addition of 27 on examination in nine months.
The membership at this time was about 480.
Four young men entered the ministry during
his pastorate. Within a year a debt of $1,400
was paid, repairs costing $1,800 completed,
with a new pipe organ in place costing $2,000,
Ruling Elders. — At the organization of the
church, in 1807, James McClain, John Ross,
John Wilson and Joseph Moorhead were or-
dained and installed ruling elders, and in
1810 James McKnight. During the pastorate
of Mr. Reed, from 1818 to 1840, John Doug-
lass, William Lucas, James Todd, Jacob
Peelor. Robert A. Hamilton, James Hamilton,
Clements McGara and Robert Walker were or-
dained and installed ; Thomas Laughlin, John
P. Lloyd and Woodrow Douglass, in 1840;
Joseph Thompson, James McClain, James
Moorhead and John Sutton, in 1851 ; A. W.
Wilson, W. B. Marshall, and Alexander Fair,
December 27. 1868 ; James M. Sutton, Thomas
Sutton and Coulter Wiggins, January 5. 1879.
The present session consists of Dr. William
Hosack, clerk; Messrs. J. N. Elder. Frank
Learn. Elmer W. Allison, William A. Evans,
J. Gamble Fleming, David C. Brown, William
A. St. Clair. Mr. Elmer W. Allison is deacon.
Houses of Worship. — The entire square on
which the Presbyterian, United Presbyterian
and Lutheran Churches now stand was donat-
ed to the town for church purposes by the
Clymer family of eastern Pennsylvania, who
246
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
owned much land in the county. Much of
this ground so generously and wisely donated
was afterwards sold to private parties, and is
now occupied by handsome residences. On
the land thus acquired, the old brick church
was erected in 1827. A second church was
built in 1858. Its length w-as 85 feet and its
breadth 56 feet. The original cost of the
building was about $12,000. It Avas dedicated
October 24, 1858.
The present building is the third church to
be erected upon this choice site. It is built of
Hummelstown brownstone, and was dedicated
in May, 1906. The location is ideal, being as
it is within a square of the business district
and having the quietude of the residence dis-
tricts as well. The building sits well back
from the surrounding strctts, displaying to
fine advantage the splendid architectural lines
of the Gothic structure. The interior con-
tains all the appointments of a modern church,
such as an auditorium with a gallery, having
a seating capacity of one thousand persons ; a
chapel with a seating capacity of five hundred
persons; a parlor, trustee room, pastor's
study, iiho'iv room, primary department,
kitchen and large social hall. The building is
fitted throughout with beautiful art glass win-
dows, the largest and finest of which is that
erected to tiie memory of the late A. W. Wil-
son and John Sutton, men noted for their
religious activity as well as for their business
interests.
The life and energy of the congrega-tion, now
consisting of nearly one thousand members,
has placed it well up among the first five
hundred largest Presbyterian Churches in the
United States. The organizations are the
same as may be found in all churches and are
most efficient. The Sabbath school shows an
enrollment of 600 persons with an average
attendance of 435; and with "Sir. S. W.
Guthrie as superintendent and Mr. Harry "W.
Earhart as assistant superintendent, the school
is advancing in good work daily. A strong
feature of the Sabbath school is the teachers'
training department under the direction of
the pastor's daughter, :Miss Elizabeth Craw-
ford. This with the home study department
places the school among what is known as the
"Front Line Schools."
The other church organizations, such as the
Christian Endeavor Society, Ladies' Aid
Society, and the missionary societies, are fully
awake to their great responsibility and bring
great honor to the church, and since the work
as a whole is most efficient the congregation
is justly proud of its achievements.
A number from this congregation have
taken up the direct work of advancing the
Master's kingdom. Among the most noted
who have entered the ministry are Dr. Robert
Dick Wilson, now of Princeton Seminary and
a world authority on Semitic languages; Rev.
McLain Davis, Jr., Rev. Mr. McCoy; those
who have taken up the work in the foreign
field are Dr. Samuel G. Wilson, Missionary at
Tabriz, Persia; Rev. William Kinter, some-
time missionary in South America ; Rev. Frank
J. Woodward, missionary in the Gilbert
Islands, and Miss Marie Woodward, mission-
ary in the Shantung Province, China.
STRONGSTOWN CHURCH
This was a small congregation with a short
and not specially brilliant record. It was
in the eastern part of Indiana county, at the
hamlet whose name it bore, on the highway
leading from Indiana to Ebensburg. It was
organized by the Presbytery of Blairsville
November 19, 1849. How many were its
original members has not been ascertained
Its name first appears in the statistical re
ports of this Presbytery in 1860, when it is
credited with twenty-two members, and as
having paid $34 for congregational purposes.
The next yeai-, and each succeeding year to
1865, it is credited in the reports with 13 mem-
bers. In 1860 and 1861 it was recommended
to the Board of Domestic Missions for aid to
the amount of $30. For a time during the
earlier part of its existence it enjoyed the
services of Rev. J. H. Kirkpatrick as a stated
supply. Aside from this arrangement it had
only occasional supplies. Dr. Donaldson, in
1873, thus summed up its history in the re-
spect under consideration: "No pastor, one
stated supply, and a long, long vacancy. ' ' At
that time, however, the church had no separate
existence, as Presbytery had formally dis-
solved it October 4, 1865. The record is as
follows: "On motion of Rev. A. McElwain
the members of Strongstown Church were
transferred to the church of Harmony, and the
name of Strongstown was stricken from the
roll of Presbytery. ' '
CENTER CHURCH
Center Church is located on Crooked creek
(Creekside P. 0.), about six miles northwest
of the county seat. It was organized by the
Presbytery of Blairsville September 3, 1851.
The number and names of original members
have not been ascertained. Dr. Donaldson in
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
247
his historical sketch of this church says that it
' ' was organized from Currie 's Run and Wash-
ington to complete, with the latter, a pastoral
charge for Rev. S. P. Bollman." He was
licensed by the Pi-esbytery of BlairsviUe, in
April, 1851, and ordained and installed in the
charge in October of the same year. The two
churches were reported to Presbytery the fol-
lowing April as having 192 members. This
charge he resigned previous to April, 1856, the
churches being then reported vacant with an
aggregate membership of 295. About this
time Mr. Bollman was elected superintendent
of common schools for Indiana county, in
which capacity he served for nine years.
At the organization of the Presbytery of
Saltsburg, January 6, 1857, Mr. William G.
Shand, then a licentiate of the Presbytery of
Cedar, obtained leave to labor in the bounds
of the Presbytery, and so began his labor in
these churches. Calls for his services being
made out he accepted them, August 25, 1857,
and was ordained and installed in the charge
at Center, September 1, following. Rev. W. F.
Morgan preaching the sermon. Rev. John
Stark offering the ordaining prayer. Rev.
John Caruthers giving the charge to the
pastor, and Rev. 6. W. Mechlin, the charge
to the people. The relationship thus formed
was of short duration, ilr. Shand having been
released from the charge October 6. 1858. The
following April he was dismissed to the Pres-
bytery of Cedar, whence he came. He seems
to have had no regular pastoral charge after
this. In 1867 his name last appears in the
Assembly's minutes. He was then reported
as without charge, with his residence at
Davenport, Iowa, where he died at a date not
definitely ascertained.
The next pastor of the church was Rev. D.
D. Christy. He was received as a licentiate
from the Presbytery of Columbus June 26,
I860, at which time lie accepted calls from
this church and Washington, and was or-
dained and installed July 3, following. The
services were at Waishington. Rev. G. W.
Mechlin preaching the sermon. Rev. A. jMcEI-
wain giving the charge to the pastor, and Rev.
J. Caruthers that to the people. The relation
thus constituted existed to May 4, 1863, when
the pastor was released and dismissed to the
Presbytery of Allegheny. He was reported
as stated supply at Zelienople in that Presby-
tery (now Butler) in 1867-68. His name last
appeared in the Assembly's minutes of 1870,
liis address being Coultersville. Pennsylvania.
With the beginning of the year 1864 Rev. S.
P. Bollman, a former pastor, began supplying
the church. On April 12, 1865, he accepted
a call and was installed July 5, following.
Rev. J. M. Jones preached, Dr. Donaldson gave
the charge to the pastor, and Rev. J. Caruth-
ers that to the people. A year later he again
became pastor at Washington. He was re-
leased from the charge April 12, 1870. About
this time he removed from the bounds of Pres-
bytery. Presbytery, having learned that he
had joined the M. E. Church, dropped his
name from the roll December 17, 1872.
Rev. A. Virtue, of the Presbytery of Clarion,
having begun to supply at Center, the congre-
gation decided to avail itself of the provisions
of the sustentation scheme then in force and
to call him for his whole time. This was done,
the call was accepted, and Mr. Virtue was in-
stalled October 15, 1872. But the burden of
support seemed too great, Mr. Virtue was re-
leased for one fourth of his time December 9,
1873, and afterwards became pastor at Cherry
Run, and also preached at Atwood, which was
organized during the time of his ministry, in
1874. His pastorate continued until April 4,
1882, when he was released and dismissed to
the Presbytery of West Virginia. j\Ir. Virtue
was "in labors abundant" and his preaching
was earnest and practical, and to a marked
degree expositor}^ of the Scriptures. During
the first winter of Mr. Virtue's pastorate at
Center the church experienced a revival of
nmch power. The additions on profession as
reported for that year were 38, and the whole
number of communicants, 128.
From April, 1883, Mr. W. T. Garroway
was supply for a period of three months;
from May, 1886, Rev. A. T. Bell was supply
for a year or somewhat more. At other times
the church had occasional services, chieflv
from Rev, F. Orr, B, S, Sloan and A. f.
Bell. The membership as reported for 1887
was 73. Rev. William J. Wilson has served
the congregation since 1891 and ha.s increased
the membership to 133. (See biography of
Mr. Wilson in biographical section.)
The ruling elders in this church, so far
as ascertained, have been the following : Wil-
liam Stuchell, from September, 1848: Philip
Uncapher, Robert Spence. James Carroll,
from May, 1866 ; Alex. McCune, from Janu-
ary, 1874; Jolm Stuchell. Byron McGara,
INIichael Kaufman, from September, 1876;
James Hamilton. Joseph Johnston, from
June 4, 1880. F. E. Fairman and Samuel Mc-
Gara were installed in 1883 : T. Blair r^lcGary
and John C. Kunkle were ordained and in-
248
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
stalled May 22, 1892. The present elders are :
T. Blair MeGaiy, clerk ; David Calhoun, An-
thony S. Stuchel, William D. Fairman, The
last three were ordained and installed March
14, 1898. The membership of the Sabbath
school is 72.
The house of worship first built having been
destroyed by fire, a new house was built at a
cost of about $1,200. It is a frame structure,
'36 by 50 feet, with sittings for about 300 per-
sons. It was first occupied October 2, 1886.
CLARKSBURG CHURCH
. The Clarksburg Church was organized in
the spring of 1857, as we learn from the fol-
lowing minutes taken from the sessional rec-
ords: "At a meeting of the Presbytery held
at Indiana on the second Tuesday of Janu-
ary, 1857, a petition of sundry persons,
members of the Presbyterian Church, residing
in Clarksburg and vicinity, was presented,
praying that a congregation might be organ-
ized by the order and under the care of said
Presbytery. On motion it was resolved that
the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and
the Rev. Alexander Donaldson, D. D., Rev.
George Morton and Rev. Franklin Orr, min-
isters, and William ilcElwain, James Mar-
shall, and Joseph Harbison, elders, be ap-
pointed a committee to organize said organi-
zation. ' '
The above committee met in Clarksburg on
the last Wednesday in March, 1857. Rev.
George Morton was chosen chairman, and
Franklin Orr, clerk. By this committee the
church was at this time organized, and the
following named twenty persons who pre-
sented certificates of dismissal from other
churches constituted its original membership :
Prom the church of Elders Ridge — Samuel
Cochran, Nancy Cochran, Mary Cochran,
Samuel Cochran, Jr., J. G. Thompson, Louisa
Thompson, Jane E. Thompson, Emily J.
Thompson, AVilliam M. Hazlett, Mary Ann
Hazlett, Samuel M. Russell, Polly Russell, Dr.
John Kennedy, Mary Jane Kennedy, J. H.
Caldwell and Martha Caldwell. Frrtn the
church at West Lebanon — Alexander Hazlett
and Mary Hazlett. From the church of
Ebenezer — William C. Marshall and Esther
Marshall.
On the same day Mr. John G. Thompson
and Mr. Alexander Hazlett were chosen rul-
ing elders, and Mr. Hazlett was ordained and
installed. Mr. Thompson being absent from
home that day, and shortly afterwards remov-
ing from the bounds of the congregation, was
probably never installed as an elder.
For a year little or nothing seems to have
been done by the congregation, as the first
meeting of the session after the organization
of the church was in April, 1858. On the first
of May, 1858, the congregation employed Mr.
J. E. Caruthers, a licentiate of the Presbytery
of Saltsburg, as stated supply until the fall
meeting of the Presbytery. Mr. Caruthers
preached during the summer, while at the
same time he filled the position of assistant
teacher in Eldersridge Academy. He also
continued his services for one half his time
during the following winter while comijlet-
ing his studies at the Western Theological
Seminary. Under the faithful ministration of
this devoted servant of Christ the church en-
tered upon a remarkable career of prosperity,
as the following extract from the narrative
of the state of religion found in the minutes
of the sesssion dated AjDril 11, 1859, will
show : ' ' During the year the presence of the
good shepherd has been maintained among
this little flock. The membership has been in-
creased fourfold, the greater part of which
increase has been gathered in from the world.
The Sabbath school during the summer was
well attended and very interesting. At the
close of the summei" the Sabbath school was
merged into a Bible class, which has been
kept up with interest during the winter.
There are now three weekly prayer meetings
carried on. The first is a congregational meet-
ing, under the control of the session. This
had been largely attended during the year,
and often gave manifest indications of the
presence of God's spirit. Next a meeting of
the ladies, conducted by themselves, well at-
tended, interesting and profitable. Lastly a
meeting of the young men, which has been
carried on during the winter months, much to
the edification and spiritual growth of those
who attend."
Brother Caruthers having completed his
studies entered upon his Master's work in
another field of labor, but the life and energy
infused into the congregation during his min-
istrations were kept up the following sum-
mer under the faithful labor of Mr. R. J.
Evans, a licentiate of the Presbytery of
Allegheny. He was a faithful and earnest
preacher, and one of the most amiable and
godl.v of men. Having completed his studies
he devoted himself to the cause of domestic
missions, and was sent by the Board of ]Mis-
sions to Washington Territory, where he en-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
249
tei-ed with zeal and earnestness into the work
assigned him. He was, however, not permitted
to labor long. The Master soon saw tit to
release him from the toil of earth, and call
him to the rest of Heaven. ' " Brother Caruth-
ers has also ceased from his labors and gone
• home to glory. These devoted servants of
Christ have passed away, but their power
and influence are still felt and their names
are tenderlj' cherished in the memories of
those among whom they labored and by whom
they were dearly and tenderlj- loved."
This state of prosperity in the church con-
tinued to a considerable degree during the
following year, part of which the congrega-
tion engaged the ministrations of Mr. J. B.
Dickey. After this, for two or three years,
the congregation was in a very languishing
condition, enjoying only occasionally the min-
istrations of the brethren appointed as sup-
plies by the Presbytery.
On October 1, 1864, the congregation pro-
cured the services of Rev. David Harbison,
pastor of the church of Livermore, as stated
supply for one third of his time. He con-
tinued to supply them for about two years,
preaching every third Sabbath. His ministra-
tions were greatly blessed, and under him
the congregation entered upon a career of
'' prosperity.
During the summer of 1867 and part of
the following winter the congregation was
supplied by Mr. T. R. Ewing, a licentiate
of the Presbytery of Saltsburg. for one half
his time. By his ministrations the congrega-
tion was greatly profited, and continued in
its former condition of spiritual prosperity
and Christian activity. After this, for about
two j^ears, the congregation passed through
another season of great discouragement and
trial, owing to the difficulty of procuring sup-
plies, and there being no congregation in the
bounds with which a pastoral charge could be
convenientlj' formed. At length, after several
earnest but ineffectual attempts, an arrange-
ment was made in the spring of 1870 with
the church of Ebenezer, iDy the pastor being
released for one third of his time, in order
to take charge of the church at Clarksburg.
This agreement having been made, a call was
made out and presented to the Presbytery,
which was accepted, and on the 29th day of
April, 1870, Rev. D. J. Irwin was, by a com-
mittee of the Presbytery of Saltsburg. in-
stalled pastor of the church of Clarksburg
for one third of his time. After tliat time lie
continued to serve both chiirches. generally
preaching at Ebenezer in the morning and
at Clarksburg in the afternoon. Rev. Mr.
Irwin was followed by Revs. A. E. Hubbard,
E. W. Byers, G. A. Pulcher and A. D. Fraser,
the present minister.
In 1S59 the congregation erected a neat
and substantial house of worship. In 1870
thei-e were 60 names on the roll of the church,
but the actual membership was perhaps not
more than 40 or 50. The present membership
is 150.
On the 14th of June, 1856, Mr. Henry Rob-
inson was installed as ruling elder, having
been formerly ordained a ruling elder in the
church of Congruity. Mr. Robert Anderson
was ordained and installed as elder March
11, 1859. The ' following persons have also
been elders in this church: William Kier,
installed June 22, 1860; George Reed, S. P.
Marshall, Thomas Anderson, installed Feb-
niary 20, 1876; James Hazlett, John Ash-
baugh and Robert A. Harbison were added to
the session March 15th, 1878. The present
session are Messrs. R. A. Harbison, T. S.
Marshall, T. S. Ashbaugh, J. C. Rose.
The Sabbath school is in a flourishing con-
dition. The following have been superintend-
ents: Henry Robinson, Thomas 'Anderson,
Thomas Getty, Robert Harbison, Nelson Cole-
man, James Hazlett, John Ashbaugh, John
Cunningham, :\Iatthew Elliott, ilr. R. A.
Harbison is the present superintendent and
the school numbers 105.
The ladies' missionary societies and bands
have been, with fidelity to the Master's cause,
actively engaged in the special department
of the Lord's work committed to them. From
a feeble begiiming and having overcome its
early difficulties and trials, Clarksburg has,
by the blessing of God, grown to be quite a
strong and vigorous church.
The present trustees are H. P. Sandles,
J. T. Young, J. S. Ferguson, Charles Stormer.
Rev. Charles C. Cribbs, a former teacher
of the county, was reared in this congrega-
tion and is now a minister located at Beech-
woods, Jefferson Co., Pennsylvania.
CENTERVILLE CHURCH
The Presbvterian Church of Centerville,
"West Wheatfield township, was organized by
Rev. S. Swan and W. Colledge ilay 12, 1852,
with 20 members and four elders. Rev. S.
Swan, pastor at Armagh, was stated supply
from that date until April 3, 1855, and from
April 15, 1857, Rev. Ross Steven.son was
supply, with eminent success for two years,
Avhile he was supplying also at Armagh. Revs.
250
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
0. H. Miller, G. W. Shaffer and D. L. Dickey
were pastors for the same respective time
at Armagh. For a time this church suffered
seriously from frequent changes of citizens
when changes occurred in the management
of the canal. When the canal was done away
with, the condition became still worse, as Cen-
terville began to retrograde and New Flor-
ence, on the Central railroad and across the
river, where most of the membei-s resided, be-
came a steadily growing town. This church
was disbanded more than thirty years ago and
no traces of the building now remain.
CbYMER CHURCH
The Presbyterian Church was organized in
1908 with eleven charter members, John G.
Lexfield and wife, George Cole and wife, Mrs.
Mary Good, Dr. H. Ney Prothero and wife,
Harry Lynn Prothero and wife, J. Ward
Houk and Alexander Hunter. Only six of
these are still residents of Clymer. The first
meetings were held in the woods, with rough
board seats for pews. The first pastor was
Rev. W. J. SprouU, who also preached at
East Union. The congregation is now united
with Rayne Church, and the pastor is Rev.
A. L. South, who was installed in Septem-
ber, 1912. The handsome brick church is
located on the corner of Sixth and Hancock
streets, and there are 53 active members.
currie's run church
Currie's Run Presbyterian Church was or-
ganized July 7, 1838. The committee on
organization was appointed by the Presbytery
of Blairsville, consisting of Revs. Reed, Bar-
rett and Johnston. Robert M. Walker and
William Anthony were elected ruling elders,
and on the 7th of July, 1838, were ordained
and installed by Revs. Reed and Barrett.
The original members were twenty-nine in
number, as follows: R. M. Walker, Mrs.
Jane Walker, John Robinson, Mrs. Jane Rob-
inson, R. T. Robinson, Mrs. Nancy Robinson,
Samuel Bothel, IMrs. Elizabeth Bothel, Alex-
ander Beatty, Mrs. Deborah Beatty, Robert
Beatty. Mrs. Nancy Beatty, Ruben Jewell,
Mrs. Jemima Jewell, David Anthony, Mrs.
Floranna Anthony. James McElhose, Mrs.
Nancy McElhose, Thomas Lucas, Mrs. Mary
Lucas. Joseph Peelor, Mrs. Nancy Peelor,
John Lucas, Mrs. Susannah Lucas. William
Anthony, Mrs. Nancy Anthony, Miss Sarah
Beatty, Miss J. E. Anthony, Miss Margaret
Anthony.
The first house of worship occupied by the
congi-egation was erected in the fall of 1837,
but was not finished until the summer of 1838.
It was a frame building 40 by 45 feet, 14
foot ceiling, resting upon six posts, two
aisles running in front of the pulpit. There
were four outside doors. In 1865 the house was
repaired, and the door at the south end of the
cross aisle was taken out and a window put
in its place. The repairing at this time cost
$500. Mr. "Stiller" Jemmie Bothel was the
contractor. The cost of the building com-
pleted was $1,400.
In the fall of 1837, when Mr. William An-
thony presented a memorial asking an organ-
ization, the Presbytery complained that steps
had been taken for the building of a church
alreadj', and passed a resolution then that
such step would be a barrier to the organiza-
tion of a church. The church is located one
mile and a quarter east of Shelocta, on the
Kittanning and Indiana pike, near Crooked
creek.
Pastors and Stated Supplies. — Mr. Alexan-
der Donaldson preached for the congregation
on the second Sabbath of June, 1838, while
the scaffolding was still up in and around the
house. It was supplied for the next three
months by Rev. Edward R. Geary, when the
Presbytery of Blairsville appointed Mr. A.
Donaldson stated supply for six months. At
the expii-ation of this period he was unani-
mously chosen pastor, and was installed for
one half of his time on the 20th of June, 1839.
He continued to be the pastor for fourteen
years. "Then, with warm affection subsist-
ing between the pastor and every member of
the flock, and the other part of the charge
wanting all the time, the relation was dis-
solved m the spring of 1853." The Scotch
version of the Psalms was in use all this time.
The singing was led by two clerks, who stood
in front of the pulpit, and for about three
years the Psalm was lined out in couplets at
a time. The communion was administered
with the communicants seated around tables
placed in the cross aisle, and tokens of admis-
sion were also used.
Large numbers walked to church, some of
them as far as six, seven or even eight miles.
It was no unusual sight on Sabbath morning
to see as many as forty walking to the house
of God in company. The church was greatly
blessed during these fourteen years.
Rev. Franklin Orr was unanimously elected
pastor October 3, 1853. and was installed for
half time on the 11th of November following.
He served the congregation with acceptance
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
251
and good success for nearly five years, when
the pastoral relation was dissolved in the
spring of 1858, in order that he might give
his whole time to the territory then covered
by his other church. There was peace and
harmony among the members and a good de-
gree of religious interest. No communion
season passed without some additions to the
membership. In the beginning of his pas-
torate the change of Psalmody took place.
"Some few families and individuals left on
that ground and united with the United Pres-
byterian Church, organized about that time
near Shelocta." "I must add," says Mr.
Orr, "that the congregation was blessed with
a good, intelligent and faithful eldership at
that time, who stood by their young and in-
experienced pastor faithfully. ' '
Mr. M. M. Shirley supplied the pulpit from
April 1, 1858, to June 30, 1859, when he was
chosen pastor, ordciined and installed for two
thirds of his time, giving the other third to
Cherry Run. Serious opposition arising he
resigned in the spring of 1863. Mr. Shirley
was born near Saltsburg, Pa., Febi^uary 27,
1829. At the age of twenty years he pro-
fessed faith in Christ, and united with the
Presbyterian Church of Saltsburg. He pre-
pared for college at the Saltsburg Academy,
and entered Washington College, but did not
graduate. He studied theology with Dr. W.
W. Woodend and at the Western Theolo'gical
Seminary, though not graduating. He was
licensed by the Presbytery of Saltsburg April
7, 1858, and was ordained by the same Pres-
bytery June 30. 1859. His first charge was
Cherry Run and Currie's Run. He was dis-
missed to the Presbytery of Clarion, and re-
ceived by that body October 9, 1864, and was
installed over the churches of Aeademia, Em-
lenton and Rockland June 20, 1865. He was
received by the Presbytery of Erie in 1868,
and was appointed stated supply of the
churches of Utica and Waterloo until Jlay
11, 1873, wiaen he was installed pastor over
the churches of Utica, Waterloo and Mount
Pleasant. He was released from Waterloo
October 20, 1877, and remained pastor of
Utica and Mount Pleasant until his death,
which occurred at Waterloo, Pa., July 22,
1879, of consumption. He left a wife and
six children.
The congregation was supplied by the Pres-
bytery and otherwise until March, 1865,
when Rev. H. K. Hennigh became stated
supply for the remainder of the year. He
then left and soon after removed from the
bounds of the Presbytery. He later became
a member of the Iowa Presbytery, reported
an evangelist, with post office address at Bona-
parte, Iowa. Then, after a vacancy of three
years, supplied meantime by the Presbytery
and students from the Western Theological
Seminary, some of whom the congregation
would gladly have called as pastor, Rev.
George K. Scott was elected pastor in the
spring of 1869. Although his pastorate was
the briefest in the history of the congregation,
yet he did good work and was kindly remem-
bered by all. He tendered his resignation and
the pastoral relation was dissolved in the
spring of 1871.
In 1872 the congregation made out a call
for Mr. Jacob L. Thompson, who had been
supplying them for some time. He did not
accept the call, but continued to supplv the
pulpit until July, 187-4, when a second call
was presented to him from the congregation
for half time, which he accepted, and was in-
stalled July 2, 1874. Mr. Thompson had
previous to this time received and accepted
a call from Elderton Church, and had been
ordained and installed for one-half time. He
served the congregation with a good degree
of acceptance for three years, when he ten-
dered his resignation, and at his earnest re-
quest Presbytery dissolved the pastoral rela-
tion at its spring meeting in Freeport, Pa.,
1886. He was dismissed to the Presbytery of
Blairsville, and accepted a call from ' the
church of New Salem.
The congregation through its delegate. Dr.
R. I\IcChesney, secured the services of Rev.
Lycurgus Mechlin for six months, to begin
the first Sabbath of :\ray, 1876. At the end'of
that time an arrangement was made to supply
the church from the seminary during the win-
ter. In the spring of 1877 he accepted a
unanimous call and was installed pastor for
one-half time the 6th of September following.
The next pastor after Rev. ]\Ir. Mechlin
was Rev. W. J. Wilson, who was installed
June 1, 1891, and was released in 1907. Fol-
lowing Rev. Mr. Wilson was Rev. Mr. Aufifet,
who is pastor at the present time, giving one
half his time to this church.
The Eldership.— Mr. R. M. Walker and Mr.
William Anthony were the first ruling elders
elected. They were ordained and installed
July 7, 1838. Mr. Walker died July 29, 1847.
Mr. Anthony died May 12, 1856. The second
election was held August 30, 1839, when Alex-
ander McNutt, Joseph Hender-son, James
Speedy and James Lewis were elected. Mr.
McNutt died December 4. 1840. Mr. Hender-
son was dismissed to the Presbyterian Church
252
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of Blairsville, Pa., in 1861. Mr. Speedy died
October 20, 1866, and Mr. Lewis March 20,
1852. The third election was held Au^st 23,
1847, when Mr. R. T. Robinson and Mr. John
MeGara were elected. The date of their
ordination and installation is not recorded.
Mr. McGara was dismissed August 17, 1851.
Mr. Robinson was also dismissed, August 1"^',
1854. On January 4, 1851, Mr. Hugh Miller
and Mr. William McKnight were chosen rul-
ing elders. The date of their ordination and
installation was not recorded. Mr. McKnight
was dismissed in 1857. Mr. Miller was the
senior member. Robert McChesney, M. D.,
James L. Lewis and John Walker were elected
December 19, 1854, and were ordained and
installed a few weeks later. Mr. Walker died
April 4, 1882. He was truly a good man, and
highly esteemed by the congregation, the old-
est member of the Sabbath school. Mr. Lewis
was dismissed February 4, 1882, to the Pres-
byterian Church of Indiana, Pa. The sixth
election was held in 1865, when Joseph Cribbs
and Mr. Samuel Fiscus were elected. They
were ordained and installed in August fol-
lowing. Mr. Cribbs died November 6, 1881. At
the election held May 18, 1880, William Flem-
ing, Thomas N. Fleming, Michael Kaufman
and W. A. McChesney, M. D., were chosen.
Their ordination and installation took place
June 13, 1880. The present session consists
of Dr. William McChesney, Michael Kauf-
man, J. C. Walker, Harry Boyer. The pres-
ent membership of the church is 129.
The present church was built in 1889 at a
cost of $4,500. The trustees at this time were
Messrs. Jesse Thomas, James H. Allison, R. M.
Fleming, William Robinson, J. C. Walker.
The building committee consisted of Jesse
Thomas, William Fleming, James H. Allison.
The new building was erected on the William
Robinson farm a short distance from where
the old building was located. The present
trustees are Messi-s. Verne Thomas, Arthur
Miller, Perry McCreight, Albert Miller, Milo
Hileman, J. C. Peelor.
Sahbath School. — The Sabbath school began
with a Bible class taught by the pastor. Rev.
A. Donaldson. The class increased in numbers
and interest until it was found necessary to
organize a Sabbath school in the regular
order. The first Sabbath school in all this
region was organized in 1829 or 1830, by
Francis Fairman, Jesse Marlin, James Speedy
and James Lewis, at the house of Francis
Fairman in Washington township, Indiana
county. Mr. Fairman was superintendent. A
few years later the school was moved to a
public schoolhouse, near James Speedy 's. Mr.
James Lewis was chosen superintendent. The
school was moved again to the Cribbs school-
house, when James L; Lewis became superin-
tendent. This school disbanded a few years
afterwards, and the scholars nearly all went
to Currie's Run, which, with the Bible class
taught by the pastor, formed the Currie's
Run school. Mr. Joseph Henderson is thought
to have been the first regularly elected su-
perintendent. He was succeeded by Mr. Hugh
Miller, and he again by Mr. James L. Lewis,
who served until the spring of 1875, when
William Robinson was chosen his successor.
He served two j^ears and was succeeded by
William Fleming. He served until the spring
of 1881, when Michael Kaufman succeeded
him, serving as superintendent until May 1,
1887. William Fleming was again elected by
the session as superintendent, with Thomas N.
Fleming as assistant. A good many young
people were brought into the church through
the work of the Sabbath school, so that it
is a very important branch of church work.
The present superintendent is Mr. Perry Mc-
Creight. The school has a membership of 60.
SALTSBXJEG CHURCH
In 1769 a patent for a large tract of land
lying between Black Legs creek and the Kisk-
iminetas and Conemaugh rivers was granted
to Hugh and Thomas Wilson. From this time
the wave of emigration rolled in rapidly. The
patentees divided their lands and sold por-
tions to actual settlers. In the early part of
the eighteenth century William Johnston, who
is described as a man of "remarkable energy,
courage and nobility of character," purchased
and occupied a large tract on both sides of
the Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas at the mouth
of the Loyalhanna. Salt, which had been
worth $5 a bushel, became during the war of
1812-15 exceedingly scarce and dear, and Mr.
Johnston, with his characteristic entei-prise,
determined to bore for salt near one of the
"licks" which he had noticed. If he failed
he was a ruined man. But after the expend-
iture of three thousand dollars, ten days after
his partner had abandoned the enterprise in
despair, and at a depth of between three and
four hundred feet, the rude drill, driven by a
spring-pole, "struck brine." Immediate
promise was given that the unsurpassed
beauty of the Kiskiminetas valley would soon
be rivaled by its population and wealth. A
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
253
third interest in the well was sold for $12,000.
New wells were sunk. Settlers and capital
from the East flowed in, and soon the valley
for miles was dotted with salt works. Mr.
Johnston gave to his sister. Mrs. Boggs, that
part of the land which originally belonged
to the "Wilson patent. There, in the winter
of 1816-17, Andrew Boggs, her husband, laid
out the town of Saltsburg. Prior to this the
locality was known as the salt-works. In the
minutes of the Presbytery of Redstone, in
session at Beulah, April 16, 1817, we find the
record of an "application for preaching at
the salt-works," and soon after this "October
21, 1817, the Rev. Porter, second Sabbath of
November, at Saltsburg." From this time
occasional supplies were sent by the Presby-
tery until April 21, 1824, when "application
was made by the people of Saltsburg to be
organized into a congregation, which was
granted," In accordance with this action,
and by appointment of Presbytery, Rev.
Thomas Davis organized the Saltsburg Presby-
terian Church August 21, 1824. The number
and names of the original members were not
known, the early records being lost. Five
years later the number of communicants was
about fifty.
Houses of Worship. — When Mr. Boggs laid
out and sold the first lots in the village of
Saltsburg he deeded to the "Saltsburg con-
gregation" one lot at the northern end of the
plot. In 1819 a lot adjacent to the one
donated was purchased, and the people,
although not yet organized as a church, pro-
ceeded to erect a house of worship. This edi-
fice was of stone, and cost when finished about
six hundred dollars. It was first occupied
for public worship in 1820, and the bare walls
and rafters resounded to the praise of God
ascending from glad and grateful hearts.
The preacher on this occasion was Rev.
Joseph W. Henderson, the pulpit a workbench,
and the pews, the sleepers on which the floor
was not yet laid. For several years little
more was done toward completing and fur-
nishing the house than glazing the windows
and laying the floor. It was finally com-
pleted and furnished with pews and pulpit in
1831, and a few days later (April 1st) was
destroyed by fire.
Soon after the second house of worship, a
substantial brick structure, 60 by 75 feet, was
erected at a cost of about five thousand dol-
lars. This building continued to be used by
the growing congregation until early in 1873,
when upon examination by the architect em-
ployed for the purpose it was pronounced un-
safe. The location being at the extreme lower
end of the village, a new and central site, at
the corner of Salt and Washington streets,
was selected, and two lots, making a plot 180
feet square, were purchased for the sum of
$3,000. April 1, 1874, found the new church
edifice under roof, and $7,261.39 paid on the
work. During the erection of this building
the congregation worshipped in the main hall
of the "Memorial Institute," the property of
the church, and a history of which, by an able
pen, will be found elsewhere.
On November 20, 1874, the church, being
completed at an expense of $27,765, was dedi-
cated with appropriate and impressive serv-
ices. The following carefully arranged
programme was fully carried out:
Opening sermon by the pastor, W, W.
Woodend, November i9th, 7 P. M.
Dedication sermon bv Rev. Dr. Geo. P.
Hays, November 20th. 11 A. M.
Sermon by Rev. Wm. M. Robinson, Novem-
ber 21st, 11 A. M.
Sermon to Yoimg People, by Rev, J. W.
White, November 21st, 7 P. M."
Sermon on Missions, bv Dr. James Allison,
November 22d, 11 A. M. '
Sermon to Youth, by Rev. Dr. T. A. ilc-
Curdy, November 22d,*7 P. M.
Sermon, by Rev, Dr. Alexander Donaldson,
November 23d, 11 A. M.
Sermon to Young People, by Rev. Geo. W.
Chalfant. November 24th, 11 A. M.
Sermon, by Rev. Samuel H. Thompson,
November 24th.
Sermon on Temperance, liy Rev. Dr. E. P.
Swift, November 25th, 7 P. M.
"Thanksgiving," November 26th.
Up to this time there was paid on the build-
ing and grounds $20,336. The principal part
of the remaining indebtedness was allowed to
continue, little more than the interest being
paid, until the year 1882-3, when the balance
of $6,500 was fully provided for by subscrip-
tions, to be paid in three semi-annual install-
ments. It should be added here, that the
usual effects of a church debt had been felt in
all these years, in the dii-ection of the benev-
olent work of the church, of needless post-
l^onement of needed improvements and the
provision of accommodations for the congre-
gation.
This edifice is Gothic in style of architect-
ure, and one of the most substantial brick and
stone structures in this part of the State. The
walls are respectivel}' 18 and 22 inches in
thickness. The main audience room is 80 feet
long, 43 feet, 6 inches wide, and 33 feet high.
254
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
inside measurements. The wing is 46 feet, 4
inches, by 28 feet, 8 inches, and is built in
two stories. It contains a lecture room below,
and session and infant Sabbath school room
above. The windows are modern in style and
filled with a good quality of stained glass,
while the main front window is large, of
beautiful design and yet unpretentious. The
spire is justly regarded as very beautiful,
and has a height of 145 feet. It, with the
entire building, is covered with slate. It
stands today, to all passers by, as a just testi-
monial to the character of an enterpi'ising
and worthy people.
Pastors and Stated Supplies. — In October,
1824, two months after the organization was
effected, Rev. Joseph Harper, a member of
the Presbytery of Richland, was appointed
stated supply by the Presbytery of Redstone,
half of his time to be devoted to this congre-
gation, and the remainder to that of Warren
(now Apollo), until the next meeting of the
Presbytery. On the 3d of May, 1825, he was
installed as pastor for half time, by a com-
mittee of the Presbytery consisting of Revs.
John Reed, Jesse Smith and Thomas Davis.
Little is known concerning him. He is said
to have been an ardent and impulsive man.
His administrations were evidently attended
by tokens of the divine favor. One season of
refreshing during his ministry resulted in the
addition to the membership of the two
churches under his care of sixty-five persons
upon profession of their faith. The pastoral
relation existing between him and this church
was dissolved in April, 1829. Dr. Woodend
in his history written in 1870 says: "We
have not been able to trace Mr. Harper's his-
tory after he left this field. He spent some
time missiouating in Venango county and died
about twenty years since near Beavei*, Pa.
The membership of the church at the close of
Mr. Harper's pastorate was about one hun-
dred. ' '
Mr. Walter Hughes, who succeeded Mr.
Harper, was licensed to preach by the Presby-
tery of Hartford in October, 1829, and began
preaching here soon afterwards (November 1,
1829). He was ordained and installed pastor
of the united charge of Saltsburg and Warren
by the Presbytery of Redstone October 26,
1830, during the sessions of the same meeting
at which steps were taken for forming the
Presbytery of Blairsville. He continued his
labors in both congregations until April 3,
1838, when he was released from Warren and
devoted all his time to this place. His activ-
ity and usefulness were much impaired at
times by family and personal afflictions, yet
it was not till April 9, 1845, after fifteen and
a half years of earnest toil and care, that he
was constrained on account of his health, and
loss of his voice, to seek a dissolution of the
pastoral relation. At the close of his pastor-
ate the membership of the church was 219,
a net increase of 119.
The largest amount of benevolent contrib-
utions in any one year was that of 1838, being
$422, and the highest salary which he received
during all those years was $475. In the his-
tory referred to above, his successor, Dr.
Woodend, says of him: "Pew could speak
more affectionately than he. All felt while
drinking in his words that they were the sin-
cere utterances of an honest and pious heart.
It does not often happen that a people so
long retain their warm attachment to a former
pastor, or that a successor finds in his prede-
cessor so kind a helper and so faithful a
friend. I would be doing injustice to my
own feelings not to express my high appreci-
ation of Mr. Hughes and my entire confidence
in him as a faithful friend and devoted min-
ister of the gospel."
The "History of the Pastoral Charges in
the Presbytery of Kittanning, ' ' by Alexander
Donaldson, D. D., contains the following
reference to Mr. Hughes: "He continued
until 1845, when on account of throat disease
he resigned his charge, and soon after moved
away, chiefly that his successor might have a
fair opportunity to gain the undivided affec-
tions of his people. Afterwards he was pastor
for a while at West Newton, in Redstone
Presbyteiy, and supplied occasionally or
statedly at various other places." He finally
made his permanent residence at Pittsburg,
Pa., where he died very suddenly, March 26,
1870, ripe in years, in dignity, and in meet-
ness for heaven.
W. W. Woodend, D. D., graduated at Jeffer-
son College in the class of 1839. He was priv-
ate tutor in the family of Hon. Henry St.
G. Tucker, of Virginia, one year; principal
of the County Academy at Greensburg, Pa.,
for four years; and served the church of
Corinth, in the Presbyteiy of Steubenville,
Ohio, for one year, previous to his settling in
Saltsburg. He was licensed to preach by the
Presbytery of Redstone October 5, 1843, hav-
ing pursued his theological coui-se privately
under the direction of Dr. J. I. Brownson, of
Washington, Pennsylvania. He preached his
first sermon in Saltsburg on Sabbath, April
28, 1845. From this date he served the
church as stated supply until January 14,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
255
1846, when he was installed as pastor. This
relation, which may be truly designated as a
long, happy and fruitful one, terminated only
after the lapse of thirty-four years. It was
modified by the Presbytery April 23, 1879,
at the mutual request of pastor and people,
so as to constitute Dr. Woodend pastor emer-
itus, with a salary of $200 per annum. Not
proving satisfactory, as standing in the way
of securing a successor, this relation was dis-
solved at the November meeting of the Presby-
terj'. In his quarter centennial discourse later
referred to. Dr. "Woodend gives a brief sum-
mary of his ministerial labors, which clearly
indicates the character of this faithful, labor-
ious and successful workman in the ^Master's
vineyard. This is as follows: "Sermons,
lectures and public addresses delivered, 4,607 ;
pastoral visits paid, 3,676 ; funerals attended,
204 ; marriage ceremonies performed, 187 ;
communion seasons officiated at, 198 ; adults
baptized, 89, infants baptized, 50B ; total,
595 ; admitted on examination, 466, admitted
on certificate, 334, total, 800; ecclesiastical
meetings, conventions, etc., attended, 177 ; dis-
tance traveled (in miles), 31,918."
In addition to the above he served seven
years as principal of Saltsburg Academy, and
sixteen years as stated clerk of his Presby-
tery. Though ceasing from the service of
this church in 1879, he could not cease from
the work he loved so well, and in which he had
. engaged so long. To him, inaction was im-
possible, nay, to him inaction would have been
misery. On the prairies of Kansas, at High-
land, and among the mountains of his native
state, at Philipsburg, he continued the labors
of a pastor until increasing years and gather-
ing infirmities compelled him to cease from
the full service of the pastorate. Even then
he did not cease the hallowed work of preach-
ing the gospel which he loved, but accepted
appointments by his Presbytery, and carried
the bread of life to the poor in the weak and
vacant churches, where the people hailed his
coming with delight, receiving his messages
as from an honored servant of the Lord. He
died at his residence in Indiana, Pennsylvania,
November 21, 1886, and after appropriate,
solemn and tearful services in the church at
Saltsburg, of which he was so long the faith-
ful and beloved pastor, his remains were in-
terred in Edgewood cemetery, Saltsburg.
Samuel W. Miller, D. D., entered upon the
full duties of the pastorate in this church
May 16, 1880, but was not formally installed
imtil a year later. Hickory, Washington Co.,
Pa., was the place of his nativity. He grad-
uated at Jefferson College in the class of 1860,
and at the Western Theological Seminary in
that of 1864. He was licensed to preach in
April of the same year; pastor of the Second
Presbyterian Church, Wooster, Ohio, six
years; of the Pii-st Presbyterian Church,
Mansfield, Ohio, six years.
Rev. George MacKinney Ryall became
pastor in June, 1900, and is still serving. The
present membership of the church is 560.
Ruling Elders. — The elders ordained or in-
stalled between 1824 and 1887 were: John
Robinson, April 1, 1824 (died April 25, 1865) ;
John McKee, April 1, 1824 (died August 18,
1849) ; William H. Wray, April 1, 1824 (dis-
missed or ceased to act April 24, 1854; died
January 1, 1869) ; Andrew Love, 1825 (died
March "16, 1852); Alexander White, 1834
(died October 21, 1842) ; William Jlcllwain,
1840 (died March 11, 1884) ; Samuel Patton,
1840 (dismissed) ; James Rhea, July 22, 1849
(died November 29, 1867) ; William Moore,
July 22, 1849; Thomas McKee, May 23, 1852;
James B. Robinson, December 3, 1858 (died
November 2, 1877) ; James Rodgers, Decem-
ber 3, 1858 (dismissed or ceased to act March
18, 1880) ; Isaiah White, December 3, 1858
(died May 10, 1864) ; Simon B. Mercer, Sep-
tember 8, 1867; James H. Ewing, September
8, 1867; Johnston Glass, September 8, 1867
(died April 22, 1886) ; Daniel Rhea, Septem-
ber 8, 1867; Valentine Blank, June 2, 1878;
Alex. W. Beatty, June 2, 1878; W. G. Me-
Connell, June 5, 1887 ; John Weister, June 5,
1887. The elders at present are : A. W. Wil-
son, Jr., T. S. Stewart, Elmer Onstott, M. D.,
Harry P. Carson, H. F. Dixon. R. W. Hair,
J. C. Moore, R. Y. Elder, A. J. W. Robinson,
W. T. Richards, W. H. Ewing.
The trustees are: A. J. W. Robinson, pres-
ident ; R. B. McNeil, James AV. Lemon, J. W.
Robinson, Archibald G. Campbell, James R.
McKee.
Sahhath School. — From Dr. Woodend 's
"Quarter Centennial" discourse we again
quote : ' ' Perhaps the first distinct movement
of a religious kind looking towards organi-
zation within our boiinds was the opening in
the early part of the nineteenth century of a
little Sabbath school and pra.yermeeting
united, in the Robinson and Wilson neighbor-
hood. This, on days when there was no public
worship at Ebenezer, was held in their private
dwellings. The families came together to one
place on Sabbath mornings and spent the day
in giving and receiving instructions from the
Scriptures, and offering their prayers and
praises before the mercy seat. The school was
256
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
usually taught by jMessrs. Robert and John
Robinson, and is believed to have kept up
until finally ti-ansf erred, when our first church
edifice was erected, to a little log schoolhouse
standing at the end of the railroad bridge.
This little Sabbath school and prayer-meeting
was the germ out of which the Sabbath school
grew, and was probably the earliest move-
ment of the sort in this region of western
Pennsylvania." Although it was certain that
a Sabbath school was maintained in connec-
tion with this church from the time of its
organization, no records for the first forty-
eight years being found, dates cannot be given.
It is believed that Robert or John Robinson
continued to superintend the Sabbath school
for some time after its transfer from the
country. Several years after the organi-
zation of the church, John M. Robinson, sou of
John Robinson, became the superintendent,
and so far as can be learned continued to hold
the office for perhaps a score of years. He
was succeeded by James Jloore, and later by
William Moore. These brothers filled the posi-
tion for the next ten or fifteen years, except
one or perhaps two years, during which it was
filled by Prof. S. B. Mercer. On March 1,
1872, another brother. Chambers S. Moore,
was elected superintendent and continued in
that office four years, and was succeeded as
follows : David S. Robinson, two years, from
April 1, 1876, until April 1, 1878; John S.
Smith, one year, from April 1, 1878, until
April 1, 1879 ; John W. Robinson was chosen
superintendent April 1, 1879. Mr. J. C.
Moore, the present superintendent, has served
for the last twenty-three years.
The first election of Sabbath school officers
by the session of the church was in 1872, and
inasmuch as the Sabbath school records were
not preserved great uncertainty attaches to
order of incumbency, and to dates previous to
that time.
The Sabbath school numbers at present 214
members.
Roll of Ministers of the Gospel Formerly
Members of the Saltshurg Church. — "William
M. Robinson, John Allen Brown, George W.
Chalfant, Alexander S. Foster. James E.
Lapsley, Matthias IM. Shirley, John W. White,
Henry H. White, Moorehead Edgar, John W.
Van Eraan, Walter L. Lyons, A. J. Bolar,
Johnston D. White, Albert H. Brown, J. C. R.
Ewing, John C. Gilkerson. Andrew J. Gregg,
Arthur H. Ewing, J. Stewart Kunkle. Newton
Andrew, Joseph Ewing. ilrs. J\Iary C. Peck,
nee Moore, and Hannah Kunkle wont from
this church as missionaries to China.
Seasons of Special Interest and Large In-
gatherings.— In addition to that during the
pastorate of Mr. Harper, and already noticed,
two stand out with great prominence, and are
esteemed worthy of special mention. In the
summer of 1875 there seemed to be much in
the state of religion in the church to discour- •
age, and little to cheer, the hearts of God's
people. jMany pi-ofessors seemed to have lost
their first love, and some to have fallen asleep ;
mournful inconsistencies and scandalous sins,
in regard to which attendant disciples had
seemed to fail, threatened to rend the church.
The word preached and taught appeared to
produce but slight impression, and few were
inquiring the way to Zion. At the June
communion only two, at the September com-
munion only one, and at the December com-
munion none were added on examination.
About the close of the year many Chris-
tians became sensible that something was
wrong, and through humiliation, confession
and prayer they sought earnestly a revival of
religion. The Weet of Prayer was well ob-
served, but although the services were con-
tinued from day to day for more than two
weeks the interest slackened, the attendance
diminished and the meetings were closed
amidst discouragement. Just then, by the
liberality of the people, the pastor was en-
abled to attend the Christian Convention at
Philadelphia, held during the labors of
Messrs. Moody and Sankey in that city. His,
report on his return seemed to awaken new
interest, and meetings were resumed and con-
tinued for two months, and as a result God's
people were greatly quickened and 105 added
to the church on examination.
The other marked season of interest was en-
joyed during the winter of 1884-85. In the
closing days of 1884 the pastor and session
found that certain professing Christians were
rearing again the family altars which had
fallen into decay, and that certain parents
were evincing an unusual concern for the
salvation of their children ; they also observed
a deeper interest and spirit of inquiry on the
part of non-professors isolated from each
other. At the close of the very interesting
service of the Week of Prayer the meetings
were continued, but without any visible re-
sults until the tkird week, when, in response
to a personal and individual request, the ses-
sion made an appointment to meet inquirers.
When the hour arrived the session was no less
surprised than the dift'erent inquirers pres-
ent when, instead of one, they found twenty-
two gathered for spiritual counsel, and indeed
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
all desiring to make a profession of their
faith in Christ. Preaching services were held
once or twice a day for three months and as
a result the church was much revived and
ninety-nine received into membership in the
church on examination and profession of their
faith. The services differed little from the
ordinary Sabbath services. The preaching,
or rather talking, was done entirely by the
pastor, and the people held up his hands by
prayer and work. One special feature of the
work was the judicious distribution of tracts.
Never did we feel or see more clearly the fact
that success in such work depends upon the
presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and
not on eloquent preaching or exciting services.
Go on, people of God, go on praying,
preaching, teaching, hoping, trusting only in
the Lord, for the Lord will yet give years of
grace. He will bless His people, He will
bless His people with peace, and greatly mul-
tiply the number of those who will turn unto
Him and be saved. Hosauna I Amen" and
amen !
HEILWOOD CHURCH
The church was built in 1906 by the Penn-
Mary Coal Company and remained a union
church for six years. It was organized as a
Presbyterian Church October 27, 1912, with
twenty-one charter members. The elders
were H. R. Eupp, Fred Vinton, James Hawk-
ins. The organization was consummated by
Rev. Mr. SprouU of Penn Run, Pennsylvania;
Rev. ]Mr. Worrall, Chei-rytree, Pennsylvania;
and Elder W. N. Templeton, of Chnner, Penn-
sylvania. In 1910 and 1911 Rev.^J. A. Lesh,
a teacher of the Indiana State normal school,
served the people, and in 1912 Rev. H. L.
Smith. The church has no regular pastor at
present, but has supplies.
Mr. A. W. Donaldson is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of ISO, with an average attendance of
150. The Men's class taught by Mr. H. R.
Rupp has an enrollment of fortj^-two, with an
average attendance of thirty. When the
Sabbath school was organized there was but
one man in it. The Men's class is well organ-
ized and holds socials monthly, and the dif-
ferent committees are assigned special work.
HARMONY CHURCH, PENX RUN
Harmony Church is situated about nine
miles east of Indiana, Indiana county. With
the exception of Ebenezer and Bethel it was
the oldest church in the northern part of Red-
stone Presbytery, having been organized by
that Presbytery in the year 1806, three years
after the formation of the county of Indiana
and the year the town of Indiana was laid
out. TJie first settlers within the bounds of
this congregation were chiefly from eastern
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the rest
from Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Wales.
The names of these were as follows: John
Evans, David Fulton, Thomas Barr, James
Dunwoody, Jolm Huston, Charles Gibson,
James Stewart, Thomas Lapsley, Robert John-
ston, Andrew Wilkie, Joseph and Thomas
Erskine, James and John Lydick, Isaac Grif-
fith, Ad. Carson, Alex, and Samuel Ferguson,
John Coleman, Peter Gordon, ilatthew Ray,
Samuel Moorhead, William Fowler, Thomas
Craven, Alex. Telford and John aiartin.
Three of the sons of the last named were
elders in this and other churches.
Some of these persons, feeling the neces-
sity and desiring the privilege of religious
ordinances, commissioned one of their num-
ber, Thomas Barr, to ask the occasional serv-
ices of Rev. Joseph Henderson, minister at
Bethel and Ebenezer, to which some of these
belonged, but which churches were inconven-
ient to reach on account of distance. Mr.
Henderson readily consented to preach once
each month, on Friday evening, so as to re-
turn to his regular charge on the Sabbath.
He organized the church with ten members.
^Ir. Henderson gave the church its name, and
ilr. Barr relates, "that it was undeserving of
the name at that time, yet it was as a little
oil cast upon the troubled waters" (its Life
had not been a very harmonious one). Three
years after its organization it had only
doubled its membership. In these years the
famous Kentucky revivals took place and their
influence extended to this region. Prayer-
meetings were held and effects similar to those
recorded in other places took place here.
There were doubts in the minds of many
^\-hether this was the genuine work of the
Holy Spirit or not, but- great awe and solemn-
ity pervaded the meetings.
Grounds. — In the year 1821 a grant of
about three acres and thirteen perches of land
was obtained from Mr. Thomas Bradford, of
Philadelphia. The deed for the same was
made to Thomas B. Morgan, James Dun-
woody, James Lapsley and David Pulton,
trustees, for the consideration of one dollar.
On this lot were the schoolhouse, church and
cemetery. In 1861 an additional lot of
258
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ground adjoining the church lot, containing
one acre and twenty-six perches, was pur-
chased from Mary Fairehild, of Boston, Mass.,
for the sum of $25, and made over by deed
to Dr. Thomas McMullen, James M. Barr,
George Ray, James Hadden and William
Martin, trustees, and to their successors in
oiSce. In 1883 a half-acre lot was purchased
in the village of Greenville, one mile from
the old ground (which the congregation still
holds), and on it was erected a new church
building.
Church Buildings. — Harmony Church first
worshipped under the oaks in one of "God's
first temples." After a time they built a lit-
tle log schoolhouse and held services therein.
Some time after a large tent was erected and
generally well filled, for people then came
long distances to church. About 1820 a log
church was built which served till 1844, when
a large frame church took its place. It was
in size 40 by 55 feet, costing seven or eight
hundred dollars. In 1883 a frame church
was built in the village of Greenville, costing
over $4,000 ; size 58 by 38 feet.
Pastors and Stated Supplies. — Rev. Joseph
Hendei-son was supply from 1806 to 1809.
Rev. James Galbreath. a son-in-law of My.
Henderson, was the first pastor, serving from
1809 to 1816. Rev. David Barkley and others
then supplied the church during a vacancy
of ten years. Rev. J. H. Kirkpatrick, of
Armstrong county, became the second pastor,
from 1826 to 1856. Rev. John Rice, a lively
Scotchman, of the Reformed Church, was
third pastor, from 1867 to 1870, for half time.
Rev. B. Shields Sloan, from 1872 to 1882, be-
came stated supply the first two years and a
half, and then was installed the pastor.
After that time occasional supplies were ap-
pointed by Presbytery. In addition to these
Mr. William T. Garroway was stated supply
for sis months and Rev. P. Orr for three
months. Rev. J. MePherrin supplied from
March, 1884, to May, 1885. In 1886 Rev. W.
W. AVoodend. D. D., supplied for six months.
Rev. Mr. Woodend was followed by Revs.
Lewis E. Keith, Henry Webb, Laird R. Wylie,
and William J. Sproull, the present pastor,
who gives one half of his time to this congre-
gation, which numbers 122.
This was the mother church of this region
and from her many other churches have
sprung up. Her membership never was very
large. The following will serve as an exhibit
of alternate growth and decline : In 1806 there
were 10 members; in 1809, 20; in 1833, 106;
in 1848, 87; in 1856, 86; in 1864, 123; in
1872, 140; in 1875, 150; in 1887, 100; in 1913,
122.
This church has seen many changes and has
come up through great tribulation. But she
has done a good work that the Master wiU own
and reward at last.
Ruling Elders. — At the organization of the
church, in 1806, the ruling elders were
Charles Gibson, Alex. Telford and Isaac Grif-
fith. We find no sessional records for this
church from its beginning till the end of
forty-two years. In 1833 (we learn from an-
other source) the elders were — John McFeat-
ers, John Huston, Sr., Robert Johnson, Isaac
Hamilton, James McFeaters and Robert T.
Allison. In 1848 William Evans, Samuel H.
Johnson, John W. Huston and Robert C.
Martin were ordained and installed as elders.
In 1860 Mr. Patrick Lydick was added to the
session. On the 27th of February, 1874, Mr.
James M. Dickey, Joseph Lida, and James T.
Dresser were ordained as ruling elders. On
July 15, 1876, Mr. Samuel S. Gibson, Samuel
Rugh, John O'Neil and Alexander StucheU
were ordained. On November 21, 1885, the
"rotary system" being adopted, Mr. John
O'Neil and Alexander Stuchell were re-
elected; Calvin S. Gibson, Elmer E. Hadden
and James C. Pair were elected and ordained
and all were installed. On March 6, 1887,
Mr. James E. Ray was added to the session.
The present elders are J. E. Ray, G. D. Low-
man, E. E. Hadden.
The trustees are A. J. Stewart, J. M. Gib-
son, J. L. Bence.
Mr. E. E. Hadden is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which is kept open the
entire year, with an enrollment of 175.
NEBO CHURCH (formerly bethesda)
Bethesda Church was situated about sixteen
miles east of Indiana. This church was an
offshoot of Harmony Church. It was organ-
ized Dec. 5, 1857, by a committee of the
Presbytery of Saltsburg (now Kittanniiig),
consisting of Rev. J. H. Kirkpatrick, Rev.
John Caruthers, and Elder E. B. Camp. Mr.
Caruthers preached a sermon after which the
church was organized with twenty-two mem-
bers. Some of the original members were
Alexander Long and wife, John and David
Martin, Alexander Stephens, Lewis Coy,
James Ellwood, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Williams,
Mr. Roberts, Thomas McDowell and wife,
Mrs. Nancy McDowell, James Kelly and wife,
Andrew Kelly. William Long and wife, Wil-
liam Dunwiddie and wife, and James Dun-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
widdie and wife. This church was located
where the Bethesda cemetery now is. The lot
on which the church stood was given as long
as used for church purposes and when de-
serted was to fall back to the original owner.
The first church was built in 1850 by the
Congregationalists and Presbyterians. It
was frame, 25 by 35 feet, costing four or five
hundred dollars. The building was burnt
down by a forest fire in 1883, but had been
vacated prior to that time. The congregation
made arrangements with the Welsh Calvin-
istic Methodists to worship in their house,
about two miles from the old ground. The
Welsh Jlethodists, who had invited the Pres-
byterians to worship with them, finally joined
the Presbyterian Church by certificate.
WTien the Presbyterian Church was organ-
ized at Nebo it was joined by a number of the
members of the Cherrytree Presbyterian
Church.
Pastors and Supplies. — Rev. J. H. Kirk-
patrick was stated supply from 1857 to 1860,
and Rev. J. P. Kennedy from 1860 to 1868.
Rev. S. S. Wylie supplied the summers of
1869 and 1870, and Rev. Thomas Parry the
summer of 1871. Rev. B. Shields Sloan be-
came stated supply for one-fourth time from
1872 to 1882. Rev. Julius Spencer was
stated supply from 1882 to 1885. Since that
time the church has been supplied by Revs.
L. E. Keith, Harvey Shaw, Henry Webb,
Laird R. Wylie, W. H. Robinson, R. J. Rob-
erts, Hugh H. Shaw, James Waite.
Elders. — At the time of the organization
the elders ordained and installed were Alex-
ander Stephens, Lewis Coy, James Dunwid-
die and John Martin, the last of whom died in
1885. On September 9, 1883, Richard D.
Williams, Robert M. Williams and John D.
Martin were added to the session. The pres-
ent elders are: Robert F. Templeton, clerk;
A. S. Elliott, John J. Williams, George M.
Joiner, C. S. Gibson. William Williams, who
died in January, 1913, was a member of the
session.
In 1857 there were 22 members; in 1876,
62 members; in 1886, 76 members; in 1888,
66 members, and in 1913, the membership is
67.
Richard R. Williams is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of 65. This church has not had a rapid
growth, yet it has helped onward the cause
of the Master.
MARION CENTER CHURCH
The Marion Presbyterian Church was
organized June 15, 1860. A petition signed
by thirty-six members from Gilgal Church
was presented to the Saltsburg Presbytery,
asking for an organization. The Presbytei-y
appointed a committee consisting of Revs. G.
W. Mechlin and J. P. Kennedy and Elder
Joseph Diven to complete an organization. A
meeting was held in the barn of Mr. James
Richey, when a sermon was preached by Rev.
J. P. Kennedy, from the text, "He that win-
neth souls is vvise," Prov. xi. 30. After the
sermon an organization was effected consist-
ing of forty-eight members, two being received
upon profession of their faith in Christ, the
rest by letter. The following day four more
were received, making in all a membership of
fifty-two. Following is a list of the original
members: William Anthony, M. D., Jane
Anthony, Maria G. Armor, Mary B. Brady,
Hugh 51. Canon. Mary B. Canon, Jane S.
Canon, Samuel Ci'aig, Jane Craig, James
Hunter, Susan Hunter, Jlilton Lo\'nnan, Wil-
liam Midkirk, Rebecca Midkirk, Elijah Moore,
James McGinity, Elizabeth McGinity, Keziah
MeClusky, David McClusky, Nancy McClusky,
Sarah ]\IcClusky, Mary Park, Robert Park,
Sr., Mary Park, W. N. Prothero, Harriet
Prothero, Eliza Rochester, William G. Stew-
art, Andrew J. Stumpf, Mary J. Stumpf,
Jane Sutor, Agnes Sutor, John Sutor, Sr.,
Jane Thompson, Hiram Thomas, Ann Thomas,
jMaiw J. Thomas, James T. Van Horn,
Ellen Van Horn. Rebecca Work, Harriet
Work, Sophia Work, Rebecca M. Work,
Hezekiah Wood, Jane E. Wood, Robert Wyn-
coop, Margaret Wyncoop. Mrs. Mary Park
was a member of this church for fifty-two
years and during this time never missed a
communion service.
Although this organization was not form-
ally completed until June of 1860, yet there
had been preaching in this neighborhood
since 1839. Rev. John Caruthers began
preaching at that time, holding his first serv-
ice in the residence of Mr. John Park, on
the present site of Marion. Until 1871 the
congi-egation worshipped in private houses,
barns and schoolhouses, and at times in the
M. E. Church, in which they had a large
financial interest. In 1862 the lot of ground
upon which the present church building
stands was purchased of James Richey for
$50, and in 1865 a lot adjoining this, contain-
260
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing a quarter of an acre, was given to the
congregation by Mv. JMcClanahan. The pres-
ent church building was begun in 1868, and
completed in 1871, at a cost of $6,000. It is
a plain frame building with steeple. It has
a lecture room, study and session room in the
basement. The main audience room is 48 by
60 by 22 feet, and will seat from 350 to 400
people. In the summer of 1885, during the
pastorate of Rev. A. H. Jolly, the building
was remodeled in a thorough manner, the
pulpit changed and the pews rearranged so
that the seating capacity was greatly in-
Pastors and Supplies. — The first pastor of
this church was Rev. John Caruthers. He
was installed July 10, 1861, preaching one
fourth of his time here, at a salary of $200
per annum. From 1868 he preached one h.alf
of his time here, and his salary was increased
to $400. He served the church from this time
until October, 1872, when he was released.
Mr. Caruthers was born in "Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1807. He
graduated at Washington College, 1836, and
at Western Theological Seminary, 1839;
licensed by Washington Presbytery, April,
1839; ordained June, 1840, by Blairsyille
Presbytery. He served as pastor at Gilgal
from 1840 to 1872 ; Perry, 1840 to 1854 ; Rock-
bridge, 1869 to 1872. The time of his serv-
ice at old Gilgal marked the brightest period.
He was the organizer of Mount Pleasant,'
Rockbridge and Marion. During his pastor-
ate at Marion, 146 were added to the original
membership of the church, eighty-six by cer-
tificate and sixty by profession, and at the
close of his ministry the membership was 132.
Father Caruthers was married tnace, March
24, 1840, to Miss Sophia Huston, and January
1, 1867, to Miss Mary Kirkpatrick. After
leaving Marion he never was able to preach
much. He spent his last days at Washington,
Pennsylvania, where, after a lingering ill-
ness, he passed away November 27, 1880, aged
seventy-three. He fought a good fight, he
finished his course, and he kept the faith.
Rev. J. Logan Sample was the second
pastor. He began preaching here in the
spring of 1873, and was installed September
16th of the same year. He sei-ved the church
until April 28, 1880, when the pastoral rela-
tion was dissolved. Later he labored as a
missionary in Dakota. Under Mr. Sample's
ministry the church was greatly prospered.
Forty-five members were added by certificate
and sixty-four on examination, making a total
increase in membership of 109. New meth-
ods of church work were organized and car-
ried on very successfully, and the heavy debt
under which the church was laboring was
considerably reduced. A former historian
speaking of this pastorate says: "One error
inaugurated during this pastorate still leaves
its mark upon the congregation. A system of
giving anything or nothing was proposed by
the pastor and accepted by the people, the
effect of %\-hich was to cultivate the habit of
'withholding more than is meet,' which some
have not overcome as yet." The above ar-
rangement held as to the pastor's salary only.
The third pastor. Rev. A. H. Jolly, was
called June 8, 1880, being then a licentiate of
Clarion Presbytery. He was ordained and
installed August 5th of the same year. Mr.
Jolly served the church until July 26, 1885,
when the pastoral relation was dissolved.
His work was greatly blessed. The debt on
the church was cancelled, and the church
building was remodeled at a cost of $850.
About one hundred were received into the
church during this pastorate.
After Mr. Jolly left Mr. John C. Mechlin,
an undergraduate of the Western Seminary
and a licentiate of Kittanning Presbytery,
served the church as supply for one year,
from May, 1886, until jMay, 1887.
The fourth pastor was Rev. John C. Am-
brose. He was a licentiate of Kittanning
Presbytery; was ordained June 28, 1887; re-
ceived the call from the church October 11,
1887, and was installed November 9th, follow-
ing, Rev. D. Hall, D. D., presiding. Rev. A. T.
Bell charging the pastor, and Rev. N. B.
Kelly, the people. Rev. Mr. Ambrose was
followed by Rev. James Caldwell in 1890.
Rev. J. M. Knox served as pastor during
1892. Rev. E. P. Foresman was installed
pastor in October, 1893, and remained until
1905. Rev. A. C. Powell, the next pastor, was
installed in February, 1907, and served until
October, 1910. The church was then without
a pastor until October, 1911, when Rev. R. J.
Roberts, the present pastor, was installed.
The present menbership of the church is 250.
Ruling Elders. — The elders elected when the
church was organized were Robert Park, who
was elder at Gilgal, J. T. Van Horn, William
Prothero and William Anthony, M. D. Mr.
Park was excused from the active duties of
office in 1885, on account of infirmity and age.
He was a faithful and active worker, honored
and respected by all who knew him. Dr.
Anthony was dismissed in April, 1865, and
went to Linn county, Kans. Mr. Prothero
became an elder in the Presbyterian Church
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
261
at DuBois. About 1865 ilr. James C. Me-
Ginity was ordained and installed. He con-
tinued in office, an humble, faithful and ex-
emplary man, until March 21, 1882, when he
was called away by death. In September,
1867, Mr. James S. Martin, who had formerly
been an elder at East Union, was elected, and
continued to be an active member of the ses-
sion. G. J. I\IcHenry, M. D., William T. Me-
Call and Robert Thompson were elected in
January, 1872. ilr. Thompson served until
February 17, 1882, when God called him to
h-is reward. He is said to have been full of
the Holy Ghost, firm, faithful, pure. He had
been au elder at Gilgal before elected here,
and was respected by all. Mr. McCall served
until October 28, 1886, when God called him
also to go up higher. Mr. Adam Campbell
and Mr. Samuel ]\I. Work were elected Sep-
tember 11, 1882, and ordained October 8th of
the same year. Mr. Work was dismissed to
Indiana Presbyterian Church April 3, 1886.
The present elders are: Messrs. John Martin,
George McHenry. Robert Thompson, Norman
Loughry, S. S. McCreery. Rufus Sutor.
The following is a list of the Sunday school
superintendents in the order in which they
served: J. T. Van Horn, J. C. McGinitv,
J. S. Martin, C. P. McGara, G. J. McHenrv,
Rev. J. L. Sample, G. J. McHenry, J. M.
Lytle, G. J. McHenry. Norman Loughry is
the present Sabbath school superintendent.
WEST LEBANON CHURCH
In the winter of 1853 the Presbytery of
Blairsville appointed the Rev. ^Messrs. S. P.
Bollmau and A. Donaldson, with Elders
Joseph Diven and Joseph McGearj^ to divide
Elders Ridge congregation and organize about
one third of it into a separate one in the vil-
lage of West Lebanon and by its name. This
was done March 10. 1853, and the following
sixty-six members were enrolled: Joseph
Harbison, Esq., Rebekah Harbison, Jane
Harbison, Margaret Harbison, Francis S.
Harbison, Parmela Harbison, Matthew Harb-
ison, Mary Harbison, Martha A. Harbison,
Sarah Harbison. Thomas Cunningham, Marj'
Cunningham, Nancy Cunningham, Catharine
Cunningham, William Cunningham, Olivia
Cunningham, Robert Cunningham, Roxanna
Cunningham, David Mears, Margaret Mears,
Robert Mears, William B. Taylor. Elizabeth
M. Taylor, John Reed, Sr., John Reed, Jr.,
Jane Reed, Jr., Mary J. Reed, Jesse Reed,
Sarah Reed. Alex Fulton, Catharine Fulton.
Keziah Fulton, Silas Fulton, Annie Fulton,
Sarah J. Fulton, John MeAdoo, John Elwood,
ilarsaret Elwood, William Crookshanks,
David Blr.kely, Sarah Blakely, JIary Stuchell,
Samuel Gamble, Ellen Gamble, Catharine
McGough, Thomas McGough. ]\Iary A. Mont-
gomery, John McLane. Julia ilcLane, Baptist
Scott, John W. Smith, Jane Smith, John
Shannon, ]\Iary Shannon, Nancy Lowry,
Joseph Crasan. Isabella Crusan. Martha
Crookshanks, Pauline ^Miller, Dr. John Edgar,
Elizabeth Silvas, Jane Stewart, Elizabeth
Cochran, Joseph Collins, Rebekah Collins. Of
these Joseph Harbison, Esq., Silas Fulton,
^latthew Harbison and John Elwood were
chosen as elders. The first was installed and
the rest ordained and installed.
Grounds. — An acre of ground was given by
Joseph Harbison, Esq. On it a low brick
building. 50 by 55 feet, with vaulted ceiling,
was erected in the fall of 1852 at a cost of
about $1,400, but was never formally ded-
icated. It was in use till May 10, 1878, when
it gave place to a neat two-story frame struc-
ture, 65 by 44 feet, on nearly the same ground.
It was neatly frescoed, had stained windows,
and without debt was dedicated December 19,
1878, Rev. J. J. Francis preaching the sermon
and the pastor offering the prayer. John
Oliver, Esq., was the contractor for this also.
During the erection the congregation wor-
shipped in the Baptist Church.
Pastors. — By unanimous agreement Rev.
A. Donaldson, who liad been the pastor at Eld-
ers Ridge, was called to that office here for one
third of his time and at one third of the old
$500 salary, and was duly installed May 16,
1853. Rev. David Harbison preached the
sermon. Rev. Samuel Swan charged the
pastor, and Rev. A. McElwain the people.
Corresponding changes were afterwards made
simultaneously with those at Elders Ridge.
The pastoral relation continued unbroken
imtil April. 1888, when Dr. Donaldson offered
his resignation to the congregation, but the
congregation at a meeting held April 11, 1888,
declined to accept it and the relation con-
tinued. The present pastor is Rev. David
E. Hepler. and the membership is 115.
Biding Elders. — Of the original number
Esq. Harbison died December 15, 1867.
ilatthew Harbison, who was clerk of session
while he lived, died May 2, 1858. Silas Fulton
died January 31, 1884. John Elwood held
the clerk's office from 1863 till 1874, when he
was dismissed to Blairsville. John Wherry,
from Elders Ridge, was installed September
29, 1856. was clerk of session till 1863. and
262
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
again from 1874 to 1877. He represented his
Presbytery in the General Assembly at Pitts-
burg. He died March 10, 1880. James Arm-
strong, from Cross Roads, Presbyteiy of
Blairsville, was installed April 12, 1867. and
died September 20, 1877. Joseph Collins and
Thomas Sharp, Esq., were ordained and in-
stalled April 6, 1860. Mr. Collins was dis-
missed to East Union in the fall of 1867.
Esquire Sharp, with consent of session, ceased
to act May 20, 1876. Alex. Hazlett, from
Clarksburg, was installed May 6, 1864, and
died September 18, 1867. George W. Collins,
W. T. N. Wallace and Robert T. Anderson,
from Clarksburg, were inducted into office
June 14, 1874, the last by installation and the
others by ordination and installation. Mr.
Wallace was elected clerk of session in 1877.
The elders at present are: George W. Col-
lins, clerk ; W. W. Couch, W. A. Dible, Robert
H. Harbison.
Deacons. — Originally this congregation,
like that of Elders Ridge, had no deacons, but
on March 4, 1860, by vote of the congrega-
tion, Francis S. Harbison, John S. Ewing,
Thomas JIcGough, John Fulton and Robert
Cunningham were chosen, ordained and in-
stalled in that office. Robert Cunningham
was dismissed to Unity, Presbytery of Blairs-
ville, in April, 1865, John Fulton to Indiana
in the fall of 1873. Mr. Ewing died. Alex.
Ham. Fulton and Robert S. Townsend were
ordained and installed April 12, 1867. Mr.
McGough soon after, by toleration of the
board, ceased to act. In April, 1887, Mr.
Townsend was dismissed to Kansas City, Mo.,
and William Couch was ordained and in-
stalled.
Sabiath School and Superintendents. — A
Sabbath school with about forty scholars and
five teachers had been held here before the
church was organized. Later it increased to
about 125 pupils and fourteen teachers, being
attended by old and young of both sexes. No
■connected record has been kept, yet the fol-
lowing persons are remembered as holding the
office of superintendent, but not their terms
of service : Joseph Harbison, Esq., Matthew
Harbison, John McLane, John Wherry, John
Elwood, Alex. Hazlett, Francis S. Harbison,
James Armstrong, and W. T. N. Wallace,
who filled the office for over nineteen years.
The present membership of the Sabbath
school is eighty-four.
Prayer Mcttini/. — This was connuenced
early after the organization, and aid was
given to it by John M. Baruett, John M. Mc-
Elroy and John C. Thom, students of theol-
ogy. Generally, however, the elders and
members of the church carried it on by them-
selves, the leader of each meeting appointing
his successor. It was rarely interrupted and
only for brief periods, and the attendance of
all classes was as numerous as is usually seen
where no minister leads and lectures. More-
over, it is believed (that in few congregations
of the same size so many members are will-
ing to take a leading part in prayer and in
conducting the exercises.
Other Pastoral TFo /•;<;.— After fifty favored
years of ministerial labors, the summary in,
1888 of Dr. Donaldson's work was this: "He
has conducted sixty-four district examina-
tions, 585 family visitations with catechizing
and prayer, 401 communions ; admitted to the
church on profession of their faith, 1,704;
sermons preached, 6,756 ; prayer meetings
held, 2,537 ; other addresses, 313 ; visits to the
afflicted, 2,508: officiated at funerals, 425;
baptisms — adults, 112, infants, 1,108; mar-
riages performed, 321. May God's blessing
crown it all!"
TUNNELTON CHURCH
To the Presbytery of Kittanning in session
April 24, 1878, a petition signed by a number
of persons, twenty-four of whom were church
members, was presented asking for the organ-
ization of a church at or near Kelly Station,
Indiana county, and a committee consisting
of Revs. F. Orr and P. Baker and Elder S. J.
Craighead was appointed to visit the place
and make report. The report of the com-
mittee being favorable, Presbytery granted
the organization July 10, 1878, and appointed
Revs. F. Oi-r and John Gourley and Elder
W. T. N. Wallace to effect the organization,
which was accomplished August 9, 1878, the
church taking the name of Tuunelton.
The church was organized with nineteen
members. The names of these so far as re-
ported are as follows : Joseph Critzer,
ilartha Critzer, Joseph EUiott, Elizabeth C.
Elliott, Isabella Crusan, Letitia C. Dunlap,
W. W. Spence, E. J. Spence, Margaret Jones,
Catharine Johnston, Margaret McLaughlin,
Martha Crasan, E. J. Patton, B. J. Patton,
Mary McLaughlin.
The congregation owns a lot of ground
which was purchased of Samuel Waddle. On
this was erected a frame house of worship, in
size 50 by 52 feet, well furnished, and valued
at one thousand dollars.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
263
This church never had a regularly installed
pastor up to 1888. From the organization
until 188.'i Rev. Franklin Orr served the
church as a stated supply. During 1886 and
1887 it was regularly supplied by Rev. T. R.
Ewing. D. D., of the Presbytery of Blairs-
ville. and later by Rev. A. A. Hough, of the
same Presbytery.
At the time of organization Joseph Elliott
and Joseph Critzer were ordained and in-
stalled as ruling elders. Nathaniel Nesbit
was added to the session April 23, 1881,
Samuel "SI. Nesbit October 18, 1884, and John
E. Gill after the last date. The present eld-
ers are: S. M. Nesbit, clerk; J. E. Gill, Samuel
Duncan.
The membership as reported for 1888 was
fifty-one ; the present membership is seventy-
two. The number in the Sabbath school is
sixty-two.
BETHEL CHURCH
As nearly as can be ascertained this church
was organized in the year 1790. The "His-
tory of Old Redstone" says: "George Hill,
grandfather of Rev. George Hill, of Blairs-
ville. was licensed December 22, 1791, at the
church of Bethel, Indiana county, where the
Rev. J. W. Henderson was afterwards set-
tled." The minutes of Redstone Presbytery
show that at its meeting at Pigeon Creek,
October 16, 1792, a call was presented from
the churches of Bethel and Ebenezer for the
ministerial services of Mr. Marquis. This call
was declined. Bethel continued on the roll of
supplies until the year 1798, when Rev.
Joseph W. Henderson became its first pastor,
the church at Ebenezer being connected with
it.
The territory included within the bounds of
Bethel was settled largely by Scotch-Irish
Presbyterians who, whilst they hewed their
homes out of the wilderness, made provision
likewise for the preaching of the gospel. It
is handed down from father to son that the
early supplies preached in a barn belonging
to Slajor ]\IcCombs, within one mile of the
present site. Here a tent was at first erected
for the minister, around which the congre-
gation gathered, some seated on the gi-ound
and others standing, as circumstances deter-
mined.
About the year 1797 a log house was built.
It was commodious in arrangement and fash-
ioned after the most improved style of the
times. The pulpit occupied a place in the
center of one side where there was a recess in
the wall. A corresponding recess was also
made in the opposite side and facing the pul-
pit. In this latter recess was a front door
entrance. A door at each end also opened
into the church. Seats were arranged facing
the center of the building. At the first, how-
ever, the inclosure was without either seats,
floor or stoves, and eyewitnesses have testified
to those still ivmaining that the minister fre-
quently preached in overcoat and mittens,
the hearers making themselves as comfoi-table
as they could, stamping the ground and
swinging their arms around their bodies. In
the year 1842 a frame building was erected
in size 50 feet by 60. This house fronted to
the south, as did the former log building, and
was furnished after the nanner of its time
with smooth flooring, pews and stoves.
Membership. — The original boundary was
very extensive and yet the membership never
became very great, owing to the many other
churches that in time • sprung up and still
remain. These drew so largely in all direc-
tions from this mother church that dissolu-
tion was apprehended. But she still lives and
flourishes like the tree planted by the rivers
of waters, and is bringing forth abundant
fruit. In the year 1834, there were enrolled
136 members; in 1836 they numbered 160;
by 1842 they were reduced to 142 : since that
time the membership has ranged from 160 to
106 ; the present membership is 106. The
membership of the Sabbath school is 110.
Elders. — There have been ruling elders in
Bethel as follows: Gen. Michael Campbell,
Gen. James McCombs, John Allison, Mr.
Sample, John Lewis, Maj. James Laughery,
William Hamilton, John Robinson, William
Anthony. Thomas Hamilton, Evans Lewis,
Joseph Henderson, James Hunter, Alexander
;\Ie;\Iul]iu. James McKee, William Carson, N.
P. Turner. William Johnson. James Reed,
Robert ^McClnskey. J. L. Robinson. Thomas
Hamilton, Daniel Wilson, S. W. Johnson,
Jeremiah Lomisou, John Shields. James W.
George, Harrison Kauffman. and Robert 0.
Allison.' The present elders are: R. 0. Alli-
son, clerk; B. F. Lydick, J. Harvey George,
Ira Gibson.
Ministers. — Rev. Joseph W. Henderson
ministered to the people from 1798 to 1823,
or for the period of twenty-five years. To
him as a minister and a man is duly ascribed
much of that good degree of moral and reli-
gious infiuence that has usually prevailed in
this region of Indiana county. Those who
knew him best always spoke of him in terms
264
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of highest commendation. Taking high moral
grounds, he advocated total abstinence from
all intoxicating drinks at a time when the evil
was prevalent and of high social standing.
The cause of missions found him an ardent
supporter. In the cause of education, the
general intelligence of the people and the
good of society at large he took a deep inter-
est. He died September 19, 1835, in the
eighty-fourth year of his age, and twelve
years after resigning his pastoral charge. He
was buried in Bethel graveyard, and "his
sepulcher is with us to this day."
Rev. Jesse Smith became the second pastor.
He was a man of good natural abilities and
high scholarly attainments. But alas for the
tempter! He fell a victim to strong drink.
Continuing about eight years as pastor, he
was deposed from the gospel ministry for
the sin of intemperance, and never restored.
Rev. Robert Johnston came to Bethel in
November, 1833. The following spring he
accepted a call, and was settled as regular
pastor. He remained until October, 1841,
when, on account of old age and other minor
reasons, he resigned the charge. His ministry
was active and useful here and elsewhere, and
his labor greatly blessed, especially in the
church 'of Scrubgrass, where a ijowerful re-
vival occurred during his pastorate there. He
was a man of strong convictions and unspar-
ing in denunciation of what he believed to be
wrong. B.y this means he frequently en-
countered opposition, and drove from the
church some who could not endure strong
meat. Bethel was his last charge. Living to
a good old age he testified to the grace of God
through all his life, and died in the full faith
of the gospel he so long preached to others.
After Mr. Johnston came Rev. R. "W. Orr,
a returned missionary from China. He, as
a stated supply, ministered to the people for
about a year.
As the fourth pastor came Rev. John
Cross. In the spring of 1845 he was settled
as pastor over Bethel and Ebenezer. This
relation continued until the fall of 1850. Mr.
Cross was a most faithful and laborious pas-
tor. A foreigner by birth and education, and
unacquainted with the ways of the people,
he labored at times under disadvantages. He
maintained a high scriptural standard of
piety. His earnest efforts to bring the mem-
bers of his charge up to this high ideal in the
Christian life gave offense to some of the
more worldly-minded members in the church.
These, by their opposition, succeeded in driv-
ing him away from his charge. The opposi-
tion came chiefly from the other part of his
field of labor. He was truly a godly man.
Not long after quitting his charge he returned
to Scotland, his native land, where in a few
years he died.
For some three years following the pas-
torate of Mr. Cross the church of Bethel was
served by supplies. Of these were Rev. S. P.
BoUman. J. Brown, William College, and oth-
ers.
In April, 1855, Rev. Franklin Orr, a licen-
tiate of the Presbytery of Clarion, and com-
ing from the Western Theological Seminary
at Allegheny, preached six months as stated
supply. A call was then received and accepted
for half time in connection with Currie 's Run
for the other half, each promising $250 sal-
ary. On November 9, 1855, Mr. Orr was or-
dained and installed pastor. Rev. George Hill
presiding and proposing the constitutional
question^. Rev. A. McElwain preaching the
sermon. Rev. George Morton charging the pas-
tor, and Rev. George Hill the people. The
call was twice modified. In 1855 it was
changed from one half to two thirds time, and
the salary advanced from time to time until
it reached $600 for two thirds time. In 1876
it was restored to half time, and the salary
fixed at $500. This relation continued until
April 1, 1877. Mr. Orr still remained a mem-
ber of Kittanning Presbytery, and labored
within its bounds. The writer of this, when
a boy in Ebenezer, knew Rev. ^Ir. Orr and
heard him preach.
At the close of this last pastorate there be-
gan a term occupied in order by the following
named supplies: Revs. J. S. Axtell, J. N.
Diament, Carl Moore, Mr. Wolf, A. H. Don-
aldson, A. B. Wilson.
In the fall of 1879 Rev. John Gourley came
to the field as pastor elect, preaching his first
sermon September 23, 1877. The writer was
a classmate of Mr. Gourley at the Western
Theological Seminary. An earnest, devout
and spiritually minded man, his labors here
were well blessed. He was released from
Bethel June 26, 1883, but remained on the field
until the latter part of July.
Rev. J. H. Bausman came to the field as
pastor elect in September, 1883, and was in-
stalled January 31, 1884. During a series of
special meetings in the month of February
there were received into the church, on pro-
fession of their faith in Christ, thirty mem-
bers. In the year 1886 a new church build-
ing was erected. It was a frame structure,
neat and substantial, capable of seating 300
to 350 people. The total cost was $3,000. In
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
265
the latter part of August, 1886, it was dedi-
cated to the worship of God, free from debt.
Changes in the eldership were as follows:
George Johnston died October 14, 1881 ; Dan-
iel Wilson died August 9, 1885. James
George and Robert 0. Allison were chosen
ruling elders Mav 30, 1885. These were or-
dained and installed July 12, 1885. Mr. Al-
lison was superintendent of the Sabbath
school.
j\lr. Bausman was I'eleased from his charge
of Bethel and Homer in April, 1887.
Rev. R. H. Fulton was licensed by the Pres-
bytery of Blairsville in April, 1876, ordained
by the Presbytery of Pittsburg :\Iay 7, 1887,
and liCM-ame a pastor of Bethel and Homer
City Churches in combined charge. Having
picacht'd to both churches on the first and
second Sabbaths of September, 1887, calls
unanimous were made out. Mr. Fulton hav-
ing signified his willingness to accept, his
installation over the two churches took place
in each church January 31, 1888. Services
were held one at each church everj' Sabbath
in connection with the Sabbath school. Inter-
est was strongly uiiiiiifcslcd, and the people
were very faithful iii al tendance. Good work
was accomplished through the aid of the wom-
en's societies, for the cause of missions at
home and abroad. Ample grounds of about
five acres, more or less, were also the property
of the church. An improvement was made
by an addition on the north side to the fence,
so that a beautiful white pale fence sur-
rounded the church on the north, east and
south sides, running well back to the west.
The church had one entrance, and fronted to
the east, pulpit platform in the west end, or-
gan and choir space to the right, upholstered
pulpit set. The site is in the midst of an an-
cient forest of majestic oaks, and the sur-
rounding prospect is very fine ; beautiful for
situation, the* joy of all her people is Bethel,
of Indiana county. May the Lord continue
to water this portion of his vineyard with
showers of blessings, that much fruits may be
gathered unto the j\Iaster.
CUERRyXREE CHURCH
The first meeting was held in the house of
Richard Bard, Esq., on the first day of Sep-
tember, A. D. 1837. The meeting was or-
ganized by appointing H. F. Camp, chair-
man. It was
"Resolved, 1. That we organize ourselves
into an ecclesiastical society under the name
and title of the Cherrytree Presbyterian Con-
gregation.
"2. That a committee of five (5), viz., Wil-
liam Thompson, Esci., William iMoore, Mat-
thias Bartlebaugh, John McDowell and David
Somerville, be appointed to locate a site for
a house of worshija and to report to an ad-
journed meeting to be held on the 16th in-
stant."
At the time designated, the meeting being
again convened, the committee reported that
they had chosen the site offered and given by
H. F. Camp for that purpose. This report
was accepted and approved, and another com-
mittee consisting of John Armstrong, H. F.
Camp and Peter Newman was appointed to
take subscriptions and build said house, and
also manage the temporal concerns of the con-
gregation. The committee, having received
subscriptions during the remainder of the
year 1837, proceeded in the spring of 1838
"to the erection of a house, and on the 29th
day of May, 1838, it was so far completed
that a meeting for the organization of a
church was held therein.
The cost of said house, so far as it had been
finished at that time, amounted to $261.60,
of which sum .$88.50 was paid by the con-
gregation, $55.42 by William Prout & Co.,
leaving a balance due of $117.68, which sum
was paid by H. F. Camp.
On May 29, 1838, a committee of the Pres-
bytery of Blairsville, consisting of Rev. John
Kirkpatrick and Rev. Erastus Cole, met by
appointment and organized the church of
Cherrytree, with the following roll of mem-
bers : Matthias Bartlebaugh, Mrs. Betsy Bar-
tlebaugh, Mrs. Elizabeth Cole, Heth P. Camp,
Mrs. Phoebe Camp, John Eason, Mrs. Eliza-
beth Eason, Mrs. Phoebe Hollister, Mrs.
Catharine Hewett, John Lowman, Mrs. ilary
Lowmau, William Moore, Mrs. Jane jMoore.
John Lowman and Heth F. Camp were
then chosen and ordained ruling elders. The
congregation then proceeded to give j\Ir. Cole
a formal call to become stated pastor, pledg-
ing themselves to raise $200 annually for his
support, said call being presented to the
Presbytery met at Dennisoutown on the 1st of
June," 1838. The call being accepted by Mr.
Cole, a committee was appointed to install
liim, and on the first Tuesday of September
next following he was duly installed pastor.
In September, 1839, Mr. Cole resigned the
pastoral office and removed to the State of
Ohio. During this period of time five new
members, four on examination and one on
certificate, were added to the church.
For the next six years, from 1840 until
1845, the Presbytery sent occasional supplies
266
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
from several neighboring ministers to preach
and administer the ordinances.
The Rev. John Williams, of the Congre-
gational Church (Welsh), was employed a
portion of his time for about two years dur-
ing 1841 and 1842. Prom 1845 to 1847 Rev.
D. M. Smith preached to the congregation as
stated supply.
In the year 1846 the house of worship,
which up to this time had remained unfin-
ished, was lined and furnished with seats, at
a cost of about $250, making the total cost
$500.
In the latter part of the year 1848 Rev.
David Mills commenced serving the congre-
gation as stated supply, in which office he
continued for some eighteen months.
In January, 1851, Rev. William Edger
commenced his labors as stated supply, hav-
ing declined to accept a call to become the
regular pastor. He served the congregation
only one year, but during that time, as the
result of his faithful labors in public and
private, twenty-three adult members were
added to the church, twenty of them on ex-
amination, seven of whom were heads of fam-
ilies.
In September, 1852, Rev. James Moore
commenced preaching for the congregation,
and on the 27th day of January, 1853, he was
installed as their pastor and continued in that
office until April 14, 1857, when he was re-
leased by Presbytery to accept a call iu the
Presbytery of Huntingdon. During this pas-
torate thirty-three members were received into
the church, nineteen of them on examination,
and a new house of worship was erected in
the central part of the village. This was a
neat frame building, 40 by 60 feet, 24 feet in
height, with basement under the front part
and surmounted by a handsome spire. The
total cost, including the lot, was $3,500, be-
sides the old building. It was dedicated in
December, 1856. On the 3d of September,
1854, the court granted the congregation a
charter of incorporation under the title of
"The Presbyterian Church of Cherrytree."
The first Board of trustees under this char-
ter consisted of George ]\I. Gamble, M. D.,
Matthew McConaughy, E. R. Hollister, E. B.
Camp, James Kelly, Gideon Kinports.
In the spring of 1858 Rev. J. P. Kennedy
visited and preached to this congregation,
and on the 14th day of July, 1858. he was
regularly ordained and installed as pastor. He
was a faithful and successful shepherd of the
flock, and the church was prosperous under
his care. The membership steadily increased,
the debt incurred by building was paid, and
when he was released from his charge, Octo-
ber 6, 1868, he left the church in good work-
ing condition.
From this time until September, 1874,
Presbytery sent occasional supplies, and dur-
ing the summer vacations the pulpit was sup-
plied by students from the theological semi-
naries as follows: In 1869 by Mr. T. D. Wal-
lace, and in 1870 by Mr. S. S. Wylie, from the
Western Theological Seminary; in 1871 and
1872 by Mr. Thomas Parry, from Princeton
Seminary; in 1874 by Mr. D. M. Hazlett,
from Western Theological Seminary, after-
wards missionary to South America ; and from
January, 1875, to July, 1876, by Rev. J. N.
Diament. In April, 1882, Rev. Julius Spen-
cer was employed as stated supply, which re-
lation was continued until July 1, 1886. The
present pastor is Rev. John B. Worrall.
A Sabbath school has been maintained in
connection with the church since its organi-
zation. The school was closed during the
winter months until the completion of the
new church in 1856, since which time it has
been kept up throughout the year. The
names of superintendents, as far as can be
ascertained, are as follows: Heth F. Camp,
Matthew McConaughy, Robert A. Hamilton,
William T. Forbgs, E. B. Camp, D. J. Satter-
field, Elijah P. Baker, J. H. Kelly, Dr. Wil-
liam Hosack, Robert H. McCormick. At-
tendance at one period averaged above 100;
the average attendance in 1887 was sixty-
six ; and church membership, fifty. The mem-
bership of the church at present is 172, and
of the Sabbath school 155.
Register of Elders. — We have the follow-
ing record of elders ordained or installed up
to 1877: John Lowraan, May 29, 1838 (re-
moved before 1847) ; Heth F. Camp, May 29,
1838 (died April 9, 1849) ; Thomas McKis-
ick, July 11, 1847 (removed to Iowa in 1866) ;
AVilliam Herrett, July 11, 1847 ^ceased to act,
1866) ; Shepley Priestly, July 11, 1847 (re-
moved about 1852) ; Charles Priestly, Feb-
ruary 18, 1851; Robert A. Hamilton, Feb-
ruary 18, 1851 (died June 30, 1868) ; John
Martin, February 18, 1851 (dismissed No-
vember, 1857); E. B. Camp, March, 1857;
Benjamin Pittman, October 4, 1868 (died Feb-
ruary 15, 1877) ; William Armstrong, Octo-
ber 4, 1868 ; James McEwen, October 4, 1868 ;
Leonard A. Hollister, January 12, 1874 (re-
moved in 1877) ; John E. Pittman, January
12, 1874 : John Eason, August 25, 1877 ; John
E. Johnson, August 25, 1877. The present
elders are : Frank Pinswait, clerk ; E. B. Mc-
Cormick, Frank B. Camp, C. J. Cameron.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
267
GILGAL CHURCH
Gilgal, a "mother of churches," formerly
of the mother Presb.ytery of Eedstoue, traces
her origin to an " Improvement ' ' entered upon
in 1797 by Robert and Hugh Thompson and
Hugh Cannon, from Westmoreland county,
who were soon followed by other Presbyteri-
ans, or those of like proclivities, locating
chiefly north of the "purchase line" in Ma-
honing. They had occasional preaching un-
til 1806, when Rev. James Galbreath, a licen-
tiate of the Presbytery of Redstone, supplied
them a portion of his time, which led to the
organization of Gilgal congregation in 1808.
Pastorates. — Rev. James Galbreath being
duly installed continued his pastorate until
1817, giving one-half time for several years
to ]\Ianor (later Harmony) Church, and after-
wards to Indiana. He was followed in 1818
by Rev. John Reed, licentiate from Washing-
ton Presbytery, who as pastor equally di-
vided his time between Gilgal and Indiana un-
til 1839. Avhen his whole time was given to the
latter church. He died the following year.
The next and longest pastorate was that of
Rev. John Caruthers, boi'n in Westmoreland
county, ]\Iay 5, 1807, graduated from Wash-
ington College, 1826, from Western Theolog-
ical Sendnary, 1839, a licentiate of the Pres-
bytery of Washington, who supplied this
church from August, 1839, until his ordina-
tion and installation by the Presbytery of
Blairsville, June 4, 18-10. His services were
equally divided between Gilgal and Perry
(the latter church later in the Presbytery of
Clarion) until 1854, when Perry was resigned
to prepare the way for another pastoral
charge, and the time transferred to ]\Iount
Pleasant, a colony of Gilgal, and other points
as providentially indicated, until he was reg-
ularly engaged at other colonies of Gilgal;
Marion from 1860 to 1869, and Rockbridge
from 1869 to 1870. He resigned his connec-
tion with Gilgal in 1870. Mr. Caruthers was
first married in 1840 to Miss Sophia Huston,
and in 1867 to ]\Iiss Mary, daughter of Rev.
David Kirkpatrick. He died at Wa.shington,
Pa., November 27, 1880.
Rev. Carl Moore, received from the Pres-
byterv of Cincinnati, in April, 1869, was
stated supply of Gilgal from 1871 to 1887,
and during that time also supplied adjoining
churches.
Rev. W. F. Gibson, licentiate of the Pres-
bytery of Allegheny, came April 1, 1877, and
after statedly supplying Gilgal, Mount Pleas-
ant and Rockbridge for about three months
was ordained and installed their pastor, which
he continued to be until he resigned in 1882
and went West. The same congregations
were supplied by the Presbytery for six
months in 1882, and then for six months by
Rev. A. S. Elliot, a licentiate of the Clarion
Presbytery, and he being ordained was in-
stalled over them in the spring of 1883, re-
signing a year thereafter. In November,
1884, Rev. W. F. Gibson returned and re-
mained two years. Stated supplies then filled
the pulpit for several years, when Rev. Wil-
liam M. Devors was installed as the regular
pastor, remaining about ten yeai-s. Then fol-
lowed another period of supplies, when Rev.
H. W. Warnshuis became the pastor. In 1911
Pi-esbytery granted the petition to dissolve
the union of ilt. Pleasant, Rockbridge and
Gilgal, and Gilgal and ^Marion were made one
charge with Rev. Richard J. Roberts as pres-
ent pastor.
The Eldership. — At the organization of the
church John Work and Joshua Lewis were
chosen and set apart, and soon followed by
William Hokpins, Hugh Cannon, William
Work, Isaac Van Horn, and later by John
•Sutor, John Hastings, William ilcClusky
and Moses Crawford. In September, 1849,
Robert Thompson, grandson of the patriarch
whose name is mentioned at the beginning
of this sketch, William Black. Robert Park
and Archibald J. T. Crawford were added,
and in May, 1859, Charles Bovard, Thomas
Stewart. Robert Thompson, Jr., another
grandson of the pioneer, and Samuel Stuehell.
Of the foregoing William Black and A. J. T.
Crawford were dismissed to ]Mount Pleasant,
and John Sutor and Robert Park to Marion.
Samuel T. Brady, Samuel P. Black and Sam-
uel K. Lockhart were added September 21,
1867. and John A. Work and Henry K. Dilts
Mav'14, 1886. The present elders are : Wil-
liam A. Stewart, clerk ; W. M. Streams, J. C.
Lockard.
Deacons and Trustees. — In 1842 a board of
deacons was constituted of William Riddle,
John Allison, IMatthew AVyukoop and William
G. Stewart, but it was thought best to em-
phasize the legal obligation in the furtherance
of the finances of the church, and in 1852 it
was incorporated and provision made for a
board of sis trustees. The first were Henry
Van Horn, Jacob Stuehell, John Craig, James
Bovard, John Pollock, John L. McComb.
Houses of Worship. — For some time after
organization worship was conducted in pri-
vate houses, and on sacramental occasions in a
tent. Not earlier than 1810 the first house,
and on the present site, was commenced, but
not finished until several years later. Part
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of the ground was a gift from William P.
Brady. The building was 40 feet square,
and of hewn logs, which had been prepared
for a barn, each contributor having pur-
chased his quota of logs for a stipulated
quantity of wheat. This structure was after-
wards extended 12 feet to meet the increased
demands, and was no doubt the best church
building in a wide extent of countrj'. But
in 1838 it was replaced by a brick structure
50 feet square, costing $1,300, which, how-
ever, in 1887, the congregation removed, erect-
ing a new structure, on the same site, a com-
modious and tasteful house of worship.
31 embers and Colonies. — Probably two hun-
dred names v/ere enrolled down to the year
1840, there being one hundred members at
that time. From 1840 to 1860 287 were added
on confession of faith, and eighty-nine on
certificate. But this church being the first
and for a considerable time the only church
of any denomination in the county north of
Indiana, i1 became the religious home of all
whose doctrinal faith was in harmony with
it. In 1828 Elder William Work died, and
his wife, reared in the Associate or Seceder.
Church, joined with others and formed such
an organization, now the United Presbyterian
Church of Mahoning. In 1843 Rouse's ver-
sion of the Psalms being superseded, a seces-
sion occurred forming an Associate Reformed
organization, now the United Presbyterian
Church of Smyrna. In 1854 about twelve
families of Gilgal congregation located from
five to eight miles north of the church, unit-
ing with others in the vicinity for more con-
venient worship, originated Mount Pleasant
Church, taking thirty-five members from Gil-
gal. In June, 1860, Presbytery granted an
organization at Marion, on the south, which
drew twenty families and about fifty members
fi'om Gilgal. In 1864 some ten or twelve fam-
ilies residing a distance of from five to eight
miles to the east secured from the Presbytery
the organization of the Rockbridge Church
at Richmond. These constant reductions and
other natural causes left Gilgal a membership
of fifty-five in 1887. The present membership
is seventy-four. The Sabbath school member-
ship is eighty.
Miscellaneous. — "Societies" or prayer meet-
ings in the early day were held in private
houses, and were maintained a long time al-
though through much fluctuation. Sabbath
school was in operation during Mr. Reed's
pastorate, and about 1830 Rev. John Andrews,
of the Pittsburg Nccorder, organized local
Sabbath schools, but they had a temporary
existence. In 1840 the church Sabbath
school v,as reorganized and flourished for
several years, when it gradually declined
until extinct, although a district Sab-
bath school was maintained at the Stuch-
ell schoolhouse. In 1859 the district sys-
tem was extended. A very large and vig-
orous temperance society had its existence
here, and the support of the elders, previous
to 1840. Missionary collections were lifted
during the pastorate of Mr. Reed, and since
1840 the church has been in a good degree
regular in its contributions. Three sons of
Gilgal have been given to the ministry : James
W. McCluskey, licensed in 1851 ; James M.
Shields, 1854 J and Joseph S. Stuchell, 1861.
Thus the annals show that Gilgal Church
has held a most prominent and influential
place in the history of this Presbytery, and,
reviewing the churches that encircle her,
north, south, east and west, it may be said,
"Gilgal is mother of them all."
BLDERSRIDGE CHURCH
Motto. — "That which we have heard and
known and our fathers have told us we will
not hide from their children, showing to the
generation to come the praises of the Lord."
At Congruity, June 5, 1830, to the Pres-
bytery of Redstone, was presented a memorial
from certain inhabitants of Conemaugh (now
Young) township, Indiana county, praying
to be formed into a congregation, to be called
Eldersridge. The request was granted, and
Rev. Thomas Davis was appointed to fulfill
it. This he did on the 30th of August, 1830,
and reported it to the Presbytery of Blairs-
ville at its first meeting in the autumn of that
year, for in the meantime that Presbytery had
been organized, including this region. Fifty
persons were embraced in the new congre-
gation, whose names follow : James Smith,
Esq., Mary Anne Smith, John Smith, Jane
Smith, Margaret Smith, Jacob Weamer, Bar-
bara Weamer, David Elder, Julia Anne El-
der, James Elder, John Elder, Elizabeth El-
der, Mary Elder, Robert Elder, Joseph Harbi-
son, Esq., Rebekah Harbison, Sally Harbison,
Joseph Cunningham, Archibald McMeans,
Elizabeth McMeans, Andrew, William and
Robert McMeans, ilary Devers Davis, Mar-
garet ]McjMeans, Sarah McMeans, Samuel
Cochran, Nancy Cochran, John Reed, Sr.,
Jane Reed, Sr., Alexander Reed, Lucy Reed,
John Reed, Jr., Jane Reed, Jr., Abel Findley,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
269
Eliza Findley, Catharine Harbison, Matthew
Harbison, Anne Harbison, ilargaret Patter-
son, Joseph Patterson, Hannah McComb, Sr.,
Hannah JleComb, Jr., Charles ^McComb, ]\Iary
llcComb, David ileComb, William McComb
and Jane McComb, Robert AYray and Abigail
Wray, all previous members of Bethel, Ebe-
nezer or Saltsburg. Of these, Joseph Harbi-
son, Esq., and David JMcComb were elected as
elders, but as the father of the latter lay in
his coffin the day of ordination, it was de-
ferred and effected in December following by
the same minister.
Church Grounds. — Grounds for church pur-
poses were donated, James Smith, Esq., gave
one acre off tlie corner of his farm in the form
of a rhombus. Charles McComb one half acre
in the form of a diamond, all cornering at the
same point, and bounded by lines parallel to
those of each man's farm. Esq. Smith's por-
tion was used mainly for buildings and ap-
proaches to them; Allen ]McComb's for hitch-
ing ground, and Charles JleComb's for cem-
etery purposes. About 1850 the congregation
sold to its pastor one third of an acre from
the diamond, which had disfigured his land.
■Buihlings. — Before the organization, in the
fall of 1829, the original log building, 36 by
24 feet, with a widening of 5 feet at the mid-
dle to connect the central with the end logs,
was erected. It was located near the south
end of Esq. Smith's lot, and cost about $300.
In the fall of 1845 it had become dilapidated,
and a brick building 50 by 40 feet was erected,
10 feet from the north end of the former, at
a cost of about $1,600. Daniel Wilson and
Samuel il. Taylor were the contractors. The
Associate Reformed Church of Olivet was
kindly given in the meantime for the worship
of this congregation. Neither the log house
nor this one was formally dedicated. In con-
seciuence of deficiencies, in the structure this
house was taken down May 10, 1878.
A third house of two stories, 70 by 40 feet,
was built 10 feet north and 6 feet west of
the former, on laud donated by Robert Elder.
It was neatly frescoed and had narrow win-
dows of stained glass, and cost $8,000 and the
material of the former house. John Oliver,
Esq., of Mount Lebanon, was the contractor.
This house was dedicated fz-ee from debt No-
vember 20, 1879. The sermon was preached
by Rev. D. H. Sloan, of Leechburg, and the
prayer offered by the pastor. ]\Ieanwliile the
congregation had worshipped in the Elders-
ridge Academy. It is worthy of note that
Jolm Smith, one of the original members.
was on the building committee of all three
churches.
Pastors. — The congregation had only occa-
sional supplies during the first four years.
Then it obtained Rev. David Kirkpatrick, of
Westmoreland county, for one half time as
stated supply. Pie served it in that capacity
for three and a half years. Then, being called
to Poke Run for full time, he announced his
withdrawal from this congregation April 4,
1838. On that day, by the Presbytery of
Blairsville in session at Saltsburg, Alexander
Donaldson was licensed to preach the gospel,
and persuaded by Elder McComb to fill on
the succeeding Sabbath the pulpit made va-
cant by Mr. Kirkpatrick. This he did on the
8th of April, 1838. Then, while completing
his course in the Western Theological Semi-
nary, he supplied this congregation and Cur-
rie's Run, and for six months also Apollo,
with these two congregations, each for one
third of his time. Then on a .joint call he
was settled as pastor of Eldersridge and Cur-
rie's Run, each enjoying half his time, and
paying him a salary of $250. He was or-
dained and installed at Eldersridge June 20,
1839. Rev. David Lewis preached the ser-
mon, Rev. Robert Johnson offered the prayer
and charged the pastor, and Rev. Samuel
McFarren charged the people. This relation
continued without change till the spring of
1853. Then, owing to the general belief that
the charge was too extensive, Currie's Run
was demitted, and Eldersridge congregation
so divided as to set off about one third of it
as a separate congregation at the village of
West Lebanon. New calls were given with
the same salary, two thirds of it to be paid
by Eldersridge and one third by West Leb-
anon, and the time to be divided in the same
manner. In the spring of 1855 the salary
was raised to $600, and paid in the former
proportion. During the Civil war, by dona-
tions and otherwise, it was made about $750,
and in the spring of 1867, by an appendix
to the calls, it was made $1,000, and contin-
ued that for a long time, each congregation
paying in the usual proportion. For four
years two Sabbaths were given at the Ridge
and one at W. Lebanon. For the next year
two sermons each Sabbath were given at the
Ridge and one at W. Lebanon, and that order
was reversed every third Sabbath. For thirty
years the forenoon of each Sabbath was given
to Eldersridge and the afternoon to West
Lebanon, but the old proportion of salaiy still
continued.
In 1840 Boiling Spring Church was organ-
270
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ized, taking more than half its members from
Eldersridge. In 1853 West Lebanon was
wholly taken from it, and in 1857 the organi-
zation at Clarksburg took more than half its
members from this one. Dr. Donaldson re-
signed after fifty years of service, April 11,
1888, but the members refused to accept his
resignation, so the pastoral relation was con-
tinued. Rev. David E. Hepler is the present
pastor. The membership of the church is
137.
The Eldership. — Of the original elders Jos-
eph Harbison, Esq., having acted as clerk
of the session for fifteen years, and repre-
sented Blairsville Presbytery in the General
Assembly of 1835, was set off to West Leba-
non in 1853, and David McComb died in the
year 1872. Joseph Henderson was ordained
and installed in 1835 and dismissed to Cur-
rie's Run, April, 1839. William L. Cunning
from Ebenezer was installed in the spring of
1838, and in 1840 withdrew to the Associate
Church without asking a certificate. On April
20, 1841, James Elder, John Wherry and
Joseph A. Henderson were ordained and in-
stalled. Mr. Elder, who was clerk of the ses-
sion from 1856 till 1874, and represented his
Presbytery at Baltimore in the General As-
sembly, died February 5, 1877. Mr. Wherry
had held the same office from 1845 till 1856,
beginning the second book of records when
he was dismissed to West Lebanon. Mr. Hen-
derson was dismissed to Indiana on the same
day. Samuel M. Taylor and David Wilson
were ordained and installed April 9, 1853.
Mr. Taylor was dismissed to the Sixth
Church, Pittsburg, in 1857, and Mr. Wilson
to the church of Bethel in April, 1867. John
Thom, Esq., from New Rehoboth, Clarion
Presbytery, was installed June 5, 1855, and
died August 23, 1862. Samuel Kennedy, Esq.,
from Johnstown, was installed and Samuel
Thompson ordained and installed December
12, 1856. Esq. Kennedy was dismissed to
Freeport in October, 1861, and Mr. Thomp-
son to Boiling Spring in 1866. William Fritz
and Samuel Virtue, M. D., were ordained and
installed February 25, 1865. Dr. Virtue was
to West Lebanon in April, 1866.
Townsend, from Boiling Spring, was
installed in the spring of 1865, and dismissed
to Apollo on April 12, 1868. Simon P. Town-
send, Alexander McComb and John Orr, Esq.,
from Freeport, in 1867, were ordained and
installed, the latter, however, having been
ordained previously. Mr. Townsend repre-
sented his Presbytery in the General Assem-
bly at Saratoga. In 1880, by consent of the
session, Mr. McComb ceased to act. Esq. Orr
in 1869 was dismissed to Delmont. S. J.
Craighead, David Findley and John Smith
were chosen to office February 24, 1870, and
the first two ordained and installed April 3d,
and the last September 16th, of that year.
Mr. Craighead in 3874 was elected clerk of
the session and began the third book of rec-
ords, and held that office nine years, repre-
senting his Presbytery at Brooklyn in the
General Assembly of 1876. David Findley
died February 21, 1882. James A. McAdoo,
T. B. Elder and A. D. McComb were ordained
and installed September 3, 1882. Prof. El-
der was elected clerk of ihe session May 26,
1883. Mr. McComb was dismissed to Beatrice
February 11, 1885. The elders at present
are: E. E. Townsend, clerk; Samuel F. Bo-
den, William A. Wray, Samuel Hine.
The Beacons. — In this congregation the of-
fice was so unpopular at first that no one
would accept it, and the financial interests
were managed by a board of trustees annually
elected. But in the year 1859, when the pas-
tor's salary had always been far in arrears,
a resort was made to the deaconry. William
Fritz, William H. Wray, John A. Ewing, S.
P. Townsend and Robert Reeves were or-
dained and installed in that office. Immedi-
ately they addressed themselves to the work,
raised the subscription to the amount re-
quired, and paid the pastor in full. But soon
Mr. Wray moved from the congregation, Mr.
Townsend went as captain to the Civil war,^
Mr. Reeves was absent at his trade. The bur-
den was too heavy for the other two. At-
tempts were twice made to secure assistance
for them, but no one would accept the office.
So in 1863 the congregation, under compul-
sion, relinquished the office and fell back to
the trustees again as agents.
Sabbath Schools. — During the first six
years of the pastorate a Bible class was taught
by the pastor in each branch of the charge,
to pi-epare teachers, and in 1844 a school was
commenced with about fifty pupils, mostly
young, and six teachers, mostly females. For
twenty-five years the school was open only in
the summer season. Then, with reluctance on
the part of some, a winter school was tried,
and with the consent of all was kept up. Old
people as well as young attended it. In 1888
the school numbered 175, with fourteen teach-
ers, and the attendance encouraging. No rec-
ord of superintendents was ever kept, but the
following persons have held the office: Da-
vid Elder, John M. Barnett, John M. McEl-
roy, John C. Thom, James Elder, James E.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
271
Caruthers, John Thorn, Esq., Samuel Ken-
nedy, Esq., William H. Wray, Labana Town-
send, Samuel Guthrie, S. J. Craighead, Wil-
liam Fritz, R. Y. Elder. Some mission schools
were kept up during the summer which need
not be described. The present membership of
the Sabbath school is 212.
TJie Prayer Meeting. — The first eight years
only a monthly concert was observed on the
first Sabbath of each month. #In 1846, when
students were increasing, they, with the pas-
tor in his cabin study, maintained a weekly
meeting. This in the spring of 1850 was open
to the public. Immediately reviving influ-
ences became apparent, spread over the con-
gregation, and with few interruptions con-
tinued for twelve years. During this happy
time large numbers of students joined the
church, and prepared for the ministry. The
influence was also felt in our families. Again
in 1872 large additions were made to the
membership and zeal of the church. At such
times the attendance on the prayer meeting
was cheering, but in time of coldness it dwin-
dled sadly, and few would lead in prayer,
occasionally indeed not one but the pastor.
Still as an almost regular occurrence one true
heart held up his hands and God's promise
could be plead, and some, at least, felt it good
to be there.
General Remarks. — The congregation, when
organized, for four years used the common
Psalmody of the denomination with but lit-
tle opposition. The stated supply preferred
the Scotch version of the Psalms, and to please
him the congregation consented to use it for
the time. When the pastor came many wished
to restore the Psalmody, but most thought
proper to defer it still further, and this was
done for fifteen years, and when the change
was made, in 1853, twelve families went to
other congregations. Precentors lined out
each couplet before singing. But this ceased
in two years. Tokens were given in advance
to communicants and appropriate tables with
seats in the aisles were used. This custom,
too, was given up about 1860, and the ele-
ments of the Lord's Supper have since
been given to communicants in the middle
block of pews, and sister denominations more
especially invited to commune with them, and
many do so.
Eldersridge Academy. — At the ordination
of the pastor the Presb.vtery arranged for a
young man, looking to the ministry, to i-ecite
privately to him. He soon brought another,
and in the following spring three or four
came for the same purpose. So they kept
coming in growing numbers for nearly eight
years, amounting to about a dozen. Then by
the earnest advice of many influential per-
sons Eldersridge Academy was formally
opened with sixteen students, April 16, 1847,
and the assistance of Mr. John M. Barnett.
The pastor's log cabin study was used for
the first quarter. Then a frame building like
a common schoolhouse was erected for the
purpose at a cost of about $300. In 1850 a
two-story building, costing .$2,020, took its
place. But as interest accrued on most of this
during twenty-two years, the cost was nearly
double, and when the whole was paid ofif, in
1872, the entire expense was about $4,000.
This fell upon the pastor as founder of the in-
stitution, and became a contribution from him
to the cause of education. Over 2,500 pupils
have enjoyed its privileges. About ninety
have studied medicine, and nearly an equal
number have been admitted to the bar, and
six of these have signally adorned the bench.
In 1876 the institution was given to a board
of self-perpetuating trustees, under whom he
continued to act as principal. In 1884 he
asked to be released, which was not done till
a year afterwards. Thus the whole time of
his daily teaching and acting as principal was
thirty-eight years and three months. Prof.
T. B. Elder, A. M., who had held the mathe-
matical chair for more than tweutj- years,
was elected principal in his stead.
Ecclesiastical Connections. — This congrega-
tion has been connected with three Presby-
teries. The authority for its organization
was an order from "Old Redstone." For
twenty-six years it was under the jurisdic-
tion of Blairsville, in which time its pastor
was installed on two different occasions, and
when in 1856 the portions of Armstrong and
Indiana counties lying between the Allegheny
river, Mahoning and Blacklick creeks, with
the Conemaugh river, were organized into a
separate Presbytery, this congregation was
included in it. The new organization was
first called Saltsburg, because that village
sustained about the same relation to it as
Blairsville to the old one, and suggested the
line of division between them. But after
the Old and New School Churches united, in
1870, the whole of Armstrong county, with all
of Indiana, north of the Blacklick, was in-
cluded in our Presbytery, and it was called
Kittanning. At the same time, we who had
previously been amenable to the Synod of
Pittsburg were set over to that of Erie, and
when in 1880 synods were bounded by State
lines, we naturally became responsible to the
272
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Syuod of Pennsylvauia, and thus have been
included in three sjaiods also.
Ebenezer Church was organized about 1790
or 1791, and, in connection with Bethel,
formed a pastoral charge. To form any cor-
rect idea of the times in which our fathers
here erected an altar to God, and gathered
around it from time to time to offer up their
sacrifice, and mingle together in scenes of
devotion and praise, we must take into con-
sideration their surroundings. It was about
seven years after the close of the Revolution-
ary war, and about four years after the adop-
tion of the constitution of the United States,
and in the second year of Washington's ad-
ministration. It was about twenty yeai's be-
fore a steamboat was built, and about forty
years before a mile of railroad track was laid
in the United States. The territory included
in the bounds of the congregation at that
time was very large. Many persons came from
Elders Ridge and many others from and be-
yond Saltsburg. It is not known by whom
the cliurch was organized.
Pastors and Supplies. — Rev. Mr. Marquis
preached here in 1793. With this exception
there is no account of any regular preach-
ing prior to the time when Rev. Joseph Hen-
derson probably preached here first, in 1797,
and in 1799 he became settled pastor. He was
a native of Franklin county. Pa. He was
graduated by the College of New Jersey in
1776, and was licensed by the Presbytery of
Donegal June 16, 1779. He was ordained
and installed pastor of the church in Cone-
wago June 20, 1781. On the 15th of April,
1795, he asked leave to resign his pastoral
charge because the congregation failed to
meet their engagements in regard to his sal-
ary, and his request was granted by Presby-
tery.
Shortly after this he traveled westward as
far as Kentucky. On his return he preached
two Sabbaths in the bounds of Bethel and
Ebenezer. On the 11th of April, 1798, he re-
ceived a dismission from the Presbytery of
Carlisle to connect with that of Redstone.
While on his way with his family to the
West he was urged by the congregations of
Bethel and Ebenezer to remain with them,
and he consented to supply them for a year.
Before the close of the year he consented to
remain permanently, and on the 9th of April,
1799, he accepted a call from these congre-
gations to become their pastor, although he
never was formally installed.
Mr. Henderson was truly in many respects
an extraordinary man, and was an earnest
and faithful preacher. He was greatly be-
loved by the congregation, and had the re-
spect and confidence of the entire commu-
nity. He was especially noted for his prompt-
ness and punctuality. He was deeply inter-
ested in all tha missionary operations of the
Qhurch, and was a zealoiis friend and advo-
cate of the cause of temperance, and both by
precept and example inculcated the princi-
ple of total abstinence from intoxicating
drinks. He zealously and faithfully served
the church for more than a quarter of a
century, and in 1824, on account of increas-
ing age and infirmity, he was released from
his pastoral duties, and in patience and res-
ignation awaited the call of the jMaster to
come up higher. He was called to rest Sep-
tember 9, 1836, in the eighty-fourth year of
his age, and now he enjoys the reward of
those who, having turned many to righteous-
ness, shall shine in the fiirmament of heaven.
His mortal remains were buried in the grave-
yard at Bethel, where his sleeping dust, min-
gling with that of many of his loved and lov-
ing parishioners, awaits the resurrection of
the .just.
Shortly after Mr. Henderson's release, Rev.
Jesse R. Smith became pastor. In many re-
spects he was preeminently qualified for the
position. He was a man of tine culture and
highly educated. He was affable and court-
eous, and was a fluent and eloquent speaker.
He unfortunately fell a victim of the snares
of the wine cup. After a pastorate of four
years the congregation, while they loved and
respected him for his many noble qualities of
head and heart, were compelled in great sor-
row and anguish, on account of his infirmity,
to ask a dissolution of the pastoi-al relation.
In 1832 Rev. David Lewis became pastor.
He was born in North AVales October 13, 1786.
Pie was but eighteen years of age when he
began to preach the gospel. After having
preached for twenty-eight years in England
he emigrated to America, and for twelve
years he was pastor of this church, and al-
though he died at the age of fifty-eight, he
had been an herald of salvation for forty
years. In the full vigor of life, and appar-
ently in the enjoyment of perfect health, he
was suddenly called. December 9, 1844, to
cease from his labors on earth and enter into
the rest of heaven.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
273
[u less than a year after the death of Mr.
Lewis Rev. John Cross became pastor. He
was a good scholar, a fine theologian and an
humble, devoted Christian. While all ac-
knowledged him to be an earnest, loving
Christian brother, objections were urged
against him by some that owing to certain
peculiarities of disposition, and his manner
of preaching, his ministrations were not prof-
itable. Feelings of dissatisfaction having
manifested themselves, the pastoral relation
was dissolved in 1850. Shortly after he set-
tled at iliddletown, Franklin Co., Pa., and
there for a short time labored in the Master's
cause with very encouraging success, but at
the call of the Master he ceased from the la-
bor and toil of earth to enter upon the en.jo.v-
ment of his reward in the mansions of glory.
In 1851 Rev. George Morton became pas-
tor, and in 1854, at his own request, he was
released. In 1855 he was a second time set-
tled as pastor, and again, at this own re-
quest, he was dismissed in 1859. Under his
ministrations the congregation en.joyed a good
degree of prosperity.
Part of the following summer the pulpit
was supplied by ilr. George P. Hays (later
Ur. Hays, of Cincinnati), a student oJE the
Western Theological Seminary. The church
remained vacant for about two years, the pul-
pit being supplied by students from the Semi-
narv and others during that time.
On the 11th of April, 1861, ilr. D. J.
Irwin, a student of the Western Theological
Seminary, received a call from this church,
and June 17, 1861, was ordained and installed
pastor by the Presbytery of Saltsburg. Rev.
Charles D. Fraser is the present pastor of the
congregation, which has a memliership of
147.
Houses of Worship. — The first place of
preaching was a tent constructed of rough
boards, and was used only on wet or stormy
days. On pleasant days the services were held
in the surrounding grove. The first house of
worship was about 25 feet square, and was
bililt of hewed logs. The seats were made of
split logs. There never was a fireplace or a
stove in this house.
The second house was also built of hewed
logs, and was about 50 feet long and about
30 feet wide. For a considerable time the
congregation worshipped in this house with
nothing but loose boards for a floor; and for
several winters they had neither stoves nor
fireplace.
The next building was a substantial and
beautiful brick structure, 65 by 45 feet, with
vestibule, session room and gallery, and a
very commodious and well-arranged audience
room.
In 1870 the congregation decided to erect
a new church building, which is the present
house of worship. It was the fcftirth erected
by the congregation, or the fifth place of wor-
ship ijttcluding the tent first erected. It is a
two-story building, 68 feet long and 48 feet
wide, with vestibule and three rooms below,
and audience room and gallery above, and in
regard to comfort and convenience is sur-
passed by few country churches.
For nearly a year the congregation wor-
shipped in the basement, and on the 17th of
October, 1871, the building, being entirely
completed, was formall.y dedicated to the
worship of Almighty God, and soon the glory
of the Lord filled the house and a precious
season of revival was enjoyed during the fol-
lowing winter and spring.
Elders. — The first elders were Patrick
Jack, S. Coulter, John Marshall, and John
Robinson. Since that time there have been
the following elders : James Marshall, James
Coulter, John Douglass, John Ewing, Samuel
Marshall, William Leard. John G. Thompson,
James Fulton, William Conney, William
Moore, John Barkley. John jMiller. Robert
Evring, Tobias Bricker, Samuel G. ililler, John
ilcCurdy, William Wray, Francis Harbison,
James Jack, Robert Wray, R. E. Leard. S. P.
^larshall. James M. Barkley, David Stift'y,
Samuel Nesbit, M. K. Leard. The following
persons composed the sessions in 1888 :
Francis Harbison, James Jack, David Stiflry,
R. E. Leard, Samuel Nesbit, M. K. Leard. The
elders in 1913 are S. T. Marshall, clerk: P.
W. Barkley. Cyrus Stiffy.
Sahhafh School. — The Sabbath school was
organized in 1820, and for a long time was
managed by IMr. James Coulter and J\Ir. Rob-
ert Ewing, without any formal organization,
from year to year. At the death of Mr.
Coulter the Sabbath school was suspended for
some time. About 1830 it was again for-
mally organized by the appointment of Mr.
John Barkley as superintendent. For a con-
siderable length of time the session seems to
have had entire control of the Sabbath school,
as the minutes show that they appointed both
superintendents and teachers. In 1840 Mr.
John Montgomery, a member of the church,
bequeathed $75 to Ebenezer Sabbath school.
With this mone.y a library was purchased,
probably the first the school ever had. The
follo\^-ing persons have been superintendents
of the school : James Coulter. Robert Ewing,
274
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
John Barkley, R. E. Leard, David Stiffy, J.
M. Barkley, Samuel Nesbitt. The Sabbath
school membership at present numbers ninety-
two.
Prayer Bl^eting, Etc. — It is not known at
what time a weekly prayer meeting was es-
tablished, but quite early in the history of
the church there was a monthly concert for
prayer with special reference to mission work
of the church, and at stated times it was the
custom to take up collections to sustain the
various benevolent enterprises of the church.
Ladies' missionary societies were also formed,
and for a considerable time their efforts were
chiefly directed to the work of foreign mis-
sions. In later years these societies have de-
voted their energies to the special department
of Christian work, "Woman's Work for
Woman." The ladies have also done good
work in the cause of temperance.
From the Sabbath school and congregation
the following ministers have gone forth to pro-
claim the gospel of Christ: J. H. Nesbit, T.
D. Ewiug, T. A. McCurdy, T. R. Ewing, S.
M. Davis. N. H. Miller, E. P. Lewis, and later
many others.
. There ai-e now many Presbyterian Churches
in the territory formerly occupied by this
alone. In later years the congregation was
much reduced by deaths and removals, the
membership in 1888 being 160. Rejoicing in
the truth that the God of the fathers is the
God of the children, they still kept the ban-
ner of the covenant unfurled. With a com-
mendable degree of Christian activity they
are striving faithfully to do the work of the
Lord committed to them.
HOMER CITY CHURCH
The early settlers of the neighborhood were
principally Scotch-Irish, among them one
John Alison, who opened up a part of the
country now occupied by the town. The land
was owned previously by Mr. Evans. This
was in the latter part of the last century.
About this time other openings were made by
Messrs. McKissin, McConaugey, Hamilton,
Houston and a few others. The names of
some of these families connect themselves with
times of darkness and scenes of fire and blood
in the mother country, of which we cannot
here speak ; suffice it to say, they loved pure
religion more than the endearments of home ;
they feared less the perils of the wilderness
than the power of Satan's emissaries.
Among these were those of other national-
ities, the Welsh and the Germans, who, with
like motives, shared the toils and enjoyments
of Freedom's home. The early settlers were
largely of the Presbyterian faith and pro-
clivities. Their places of worship were, for the
greater number, Indiana and Bethel. As they
grew in numbers, desire and pui-pose were
formed to procure church privileges near their
homes. Other denominations, the Methodist
Episcopal, the United Presbyterian, the Evan-
gelical Lutheran, and a very few of the Bap-
tist ("Christian"), had already effected their
several organizations.
Desirous of having divine worship accord-
ing to the teachings of their fathers, the
Presbyterians, in the spring of 1870, made
their first arrangements for preaching in the
town (Homer City). Through the efforts of
G. A. Ogden, J. P. Douthett, W. H. Stanley
and others, the services of Rev. D. G. Rob-
inson, then preaching at Blacklick, were pro-
cured. Results were so encouraging that as
early as May follov/ing a meeting was called
in tlie town hall for making more permanent
arrangements. They succeeded in raising $300
toward the support of the gospel, and pro-
cured the services of Rev. D. G. Robinson for
one half time. In the desire to have a church
home, a committee consisting of Dr. John Ev-
ans, Rees R. Ellis and Joseph Griffith was
appointed to petition Presbytery for a church
organization. Said petition was presented
to the Presbytery of Kittanning met at Ma-
rion, Pa., and was favorably received. By
appointment of Presbytery, a committee con-
sisting of Rev. A. McElwain, Rev. Franklin
Orr and Elder W. B. Marshall met at Homer
City July 21, 1870, and organized a church
with the following members : John McClain,
Joseph Griffith, William H. Stanley, Mrs.
Rachel Stanley, J. M. Watt, Mrs. Jane Watt,
Miss M. J. Watt. Dr. John Evans, Mrs. Bell
Evans, John Barclay, Mrs. Margaret Barclay,
iliss Mattie Barclay, John A. Barclay, Joseph
Dauthett, Mrs. Allen R. Dauthett, Walter B.
George, Sirs. Nancy J. George, Rees R. El-
lis, Mrs. Bell Ellis, Jessie Griffith, Mrs. Susan-
nah Griffith, Miss L. E. Griffith, i\Iiss Susan
Griffith, Mrs. Elizabeth Peddicord and, on ex-
amination, Mr. G. H. Ogden, Messrs. Joseph
Griffith, Joseph Dauthett and John Barclay
were elected and ordained ruling elders.
With characteristic zeal these members, on
the 13th of the following month, met and de-
termined "to rise and build." Sufficient
money was procured, a site chosen and ground
broken immediately. Because of unexpected
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
275
delaj's, caused chieflj' by the sudden death of
their pastor, the house was not made ready
for occupanev until the spring of 1873. The
Rev. D. G. Robinson died April 3, 1873. The
congregation met April 13, 1873, and adopted
the following minutes:
"Whereas, it hath pleased a Divine and
overruling Providence to call from his toils
and trials below, to his triumphs above, the
Rev. D. G. Robinson, who has supplied this
church since its organization ; therefore,
'^Resolved, That we bow with submission to
our heavenly Father's will, knowing that he
afflicteth not willing, and that whatsoever he
doeth is for the good of his people ; and,
"Ucsolved, That we tender our heartfelt
sympathy to his bereaved wife and parents
for their irreparable loss."
]Mr. Robinson was an earnest and faithful
minister, and in every sense of the word a
good man.
The neat and commodious church building
was dedicated to the worship of God, free of
debt, June 15, 1873. The total cost was about
$2,500. The dedicatory services were con-
ducted by Rev. J. St. Clair Stuchell, who also
in the prime of life was called to his reward.
At the time of the dedication of the church
there had been received, in addition to the
original membership, twenty-three on certifi-
cate and eleven on examination, making in all
fifty-nine. For about one year after the
death of Mr. Robinson the church obtained
supplies as often as possible. During this
time eight members more were added on cer-
tificate.
On April 4, 1874. a call was made for the
services of Rev. John S. Axtell, for one half
his time. It was accepted by him, and the
church was transferred to the Presbytery of
Blairsville to form a union with the church
at Blacklick. The pastor elect was ordained
and installed by the Presbvtery of Blairs-
ville at Blacklick July 28, 1874, and on the
evening of the same day was installed by a
committee of Presbytery over the church at
Homer City.
On March 21, 1875, Walter B. George and
Rees R. Ellis were chosen and ordained rul-
ing elders. During the pastorate of Mr. Ax-
tell there were received on certificate eight-
een, and on examination twenty-five. Part
of this addition was the fruit of a series of
revival meetings held in continuance with the
■week of prayer.
In April, 1876, the pastoral relation at
Blacklick was dissolved and this church was
transferred to the Presbytery of Kittanning.
Up to 1888 there had been connected with
this church 112 members. In 1875 there was
reported $500 for pastoral support, $38.50
for the boards of the church, and $169.29 for
miscellaneous objects.
The Sabbath school was organized in 1874,
and reported in 1875 a membership of ninety.
In 1873 Hon. Isaac M. Watt and Miss Mag-
gie Wallace, and in 1874 Mr. Richard B. Al-
len and Mrs. Jane Phillips, were removed by
death. Some were removed by letter.
On October 17, 1877, ilr. Axtell was re-
leased from the pastoral charge of Homer.
Rev. T. R. Ewing, principal of Blairsville
Ladies' Seminary, became stated supply in
November, 1878, continuing until the fall of
1879. In the interval the church had Pres-
bj'terial and other supplies as they could be
obtained, ilr. Ewing 's engagement with the
congregation terminated in the fall of 1879,
when the church passed through another pe-
riod of irregular supply until in April, 1880,
Rev. John Gourley was called to the pastor-
ate. Mr. Gourley was alread.y the pastor of
Bethel Church, and in connection with it had
been serving the church of Blacklick. Ac-
cepting the call to Homer City, this church
and Bethel became united under one pastor-
ate. Bethel being allowed two thirds of his
time.
By permission of Presbytery the call was
held for one year, and April 27, 1881, was ac-
cepted. Mr. Gourley was installed June 2,
1881. This pastorate was continued with
profit and blessing to the people imtil June
26. 1883. when Mr. Gourley was released, but
remained on the field as supply until August
1, 1883.
In July, 1883, the church extended a caU
to the Rev. J. H. Bausman, who had been or-
dained as an evangelist by the Presbytery of
Washington at Wheeling^ April, 1883. The
call was held by permission of Presbytery
and accepted at its fall meeting held at Ma-
rion. This call was for half time. Bethel ap-
plying for the other half. Mr. Bausman was
installed January 31, 1884.
Following are the changes in the eldership
since 1876 : Rees R. Ellis was dismissed
(place not mentioned) December 1, 1880.
John A. Barclay died June 16. 1885. On
June 1, 1884. Messrs. George H. Ogden, John
P. St. Clair and James S. Flickinger were or-
dained and installed ruling elders.
From the time of its organization to 1888
the church received into its communion on
certificate seventy-five, and on examination,
101. The roll of membership calling for 110
276
HISTORY, OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
has perhaps a few more than could now be
found within the bounds. There were three
periods of ingathering up to this time that
may be called large if the circumstances of
the field be taken into consideration, there be-
ing no considerable population about the vil-
lage from which to draw numbers of strength.
In February, 1875, under the ministry of
Rev. John S. Axtell, and during a series of
meetings, following the Week of Prayer, sev-
enteen persons professed their faith in Christ
for the first time. During the ministry of
J. H. Bausman, in the winter of 1884, sev-
enteen professed their faith at one time. In
February, 1885, twenty persons were received.
It is written that most of these remained faith-
ful, but that some returned to the world.
The writer is disposed at this point to make
the following comment; that being personally
acquainted with about all of the ministers
mentioned in the foregoing, he can unite his
own with the willing testimony of all the
people in evidence of the high attainments,
the good and faithful qualities, of those who,
in the providence of God, were called to be
overseers of this flock; also that the frequent
change of pastorates is a matter for serious
consideration on the part of both pastor and
people as being detrimental to the spiritual-
ity and threatening to the future prospects of
a church thus subjected. Mr. Bausman was
released from his charge April 27, 1887. The
church then received supplies in connection
wath Bethel for six months.
In September, 1887, Rev. R. H. Fulton,
by invitation, preached on the first two Sab-
baths of the month at Bethel and Homer City.
A unanimous call from each of the churches
was then presented for the pastoral services
of Mr. Fulton. Having signified his willing-
ness to accept, his installation took place Jan-
uary 31, 1888, at each church. The salary
ofiiered by each congregation was -1^500. Mr.
Fulton was licensed to preach the gospel by
the Presbytery of Blairsville in April, 1876,
during his term at the Western Theological
Seminary, at Allegheny, and was ordained by
the Presbytery of Pittsburg May 7, 1877.
The attendance by the people was very faith-
ful. Sabbath schools were well filled up and
in regular session every Sabbath in connec-
tion with the preaching service. The school
of Homer enrolled sixty pupils and Bethel
considerably more than 100. Providence
seemed to be smiling on the efforts put forth,
for the people were of one mind and one
heart. "Thou hast brought a vine out of
Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen and
planted it ; the hills were covered with the
shadow of it and the boughs thereof were like
the goodly cedars." And may the prophecy
continue to be fulfilled with respect to this
portion of God's vineyard, is the prayer of
the pastor.
The present pastor is Rev. J. Reed Morris.
The elders (1913) are: John P. St. Clair,
clerk; J. S. Flickinger, William G. Hovis, W.
W. Coup, Thomas Simpson. The member-
ship of the church is 137 ; and of the Sabbath
school seventy-four.
EAST UNION CHURCH
About the year 1835 Samuel Lydick and
Robert T. Allison gave aboiit four acres of
land in what is now the village of Taylors-
ville to the Presbyterian Church, and upon
this was erected a log church 25 feet in width
and 35 in length. At this time, however, the
people did not seek to be organized into a
congregation. The church was formally or-
ganized by the Presbytery of Blairsville April
29, 1846, Rev. John Cariithers and Rev. John
H. Kirkpatriek being the committee. The
original members were ten in number, as fol-
lows : Samuel Lydick and Catharine his
wife, Robert T. Allison and Jane Allison his
wife, Jane Allison, Mary Nickle, Samuel Wa-
dell and Martha his wife, Mary Ann Shields,
Eliza Allison.
The old church answered and was used as
a place of worship until 1861, at which time
a much more commodious building was
erected, size 40 bv 44 feet, at a cost of about
.$1,500.
Rev. David Mills was the first pastor of
the church, continuing until about 1853.
From about this date Rev. John Caruthers
served as a stated supply until June 13,
• 1857. On the 23d of June, 1857, Rev. John
Rice was installed for the fourth of his time,
the remainder being given to Harmony and
Mechanicsburg. He was released from this
church June 18, 1861. Rev. S. P. Bollman
then served as a supply till about the close
of 1864. Occasional supplies were followed
by different ministers until June 26, 1867,
when Rev. J. Logan Sample was installed for
one fourth time, the remainder being given
to Harmony and Ra>aie. He was released
from this church October 18, 1869. For sev-
eral years following there were only occa-
sional supplies. On April 8, 1874, Rev. A.
T. Bell became stated supply and continued
until March, 1879. During the time of his
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
277
ministry God's presence seemed more visible
than ever before. In the spring of 1876 for-
ty-five persons were admitted to the church
on profession of their faith. On October 9,
1879, Kev. James Caldwell became stated sup-
ply, preaching every two weeks, and served
the congregation until 1892, a period of thir-
teen years. The present pastor is Eev. "Wil-
liam J. Sproull.
Following is the list of ruling elders with
terms of service so far as they can be given.
At the time of organization Samuel Lydick
and Robert T. Allison were chosen, the for-
mer serving for a period of twenty-nine and
a half years and the latter fifteen. From
May 29, 1853, Robert Barbor served for twen-
ty-two years, and James Martin twelve years
from the same date. S. Lowry, James T.
Shields, Joseph Nickle, James Waddell, John
Lowman and Jacob L. Lydick served each two
years from March 12, 1859. From April 3,
1861, Thomas Gibson served for about seven
years. On November 28, 1875, at a congrega-
tional meeting, the rotaiy system was adopted
as regards the eldership. All the elders in
oiBce having resigned, a new election was held
resulting in the choice of James T. Shields,
G. W. Thomas, William Gallagher, Edward
O'Neill, Jacob L. Lydick, who were duly
inducted into office. David Short, chosen at
the same time, refused to serve. Moses Ly-
dick and Robert Barbor served three years
from December 19, 1880 ; James Nickle, three
years from December 19, 1883, and S. S. Gib-
son, three years from December 18, 1S84.
James Hadden was elected in December,
1885, and Bruce Leasure December 18, 1887.
The present elders are: Edward O'Neill,
clerk; Alexander McCoy, W. E. Allison,
Bruce Leasure, Frank D. Donahey, T. M.
Ross, Fred Mock.
The first Sabbath school was organized
about 1858 or 1859, but no records were reg-
ularly kept. So far as can be remembered
the following have served as superintendents :
Samuel Lydick, Jacob Lydick, James T.
Shields, William Gallagher, Samuel L. Barr
and Edward O'Neill. The membership of
the Sabbath school in 1913 is eighty.
The membership of the church in 1888 was
ninety-six; in 1913 it is sixty-four.
JACKSONVILLE CHURCH
The village of Jacksonville is located nine
miles southeast of the town of Indiana, and
nearly half way between Bethel and Eben-
ezer, the oldest churches in the county, dis-
tant three miles from either. The distance
from these nearest churches made it very
inconvenient for members in the village of
Jacksonville to attend church the greater
part of the year. This consideration led a
number of families in and adjacent to the vil-
lage to take measures to provide a church of
their own choice, where they might enjoy
the ordinances of God 's house more regularly.
Accordingly, in the year 1855, the matter be-
gan to assume a definite form, and the result
was that in the summer of 1856 the house
of worship was erected, a frame building, in
size 45 by 55 feet. During the fall and win-
ter of the same year Rev. Franklin Orr, pas-
tor of Bethel and Currie's Run Churches,
preached occasionally in the afternoons and
evenings until about the first of January,
1888. He then preached regularly one third
time, though as yet the congregation had no
regular organization.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Salts-
burg, held at Eldersridge the first Tuesday of
April, 1857, a petition was presented asking
for the organization of a church to be called
"the Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville."
This petition was granted, and a committee
consisting of Andrew McElwain and Frank-
lin Orr, ministers, and William Robinson and
Joseph Henderson, elders, was appointed to
organize said church should the way be open.
On the 19th of June, 1857, the committee met
and completed the organization, the follow-
ing members uniting: William R. Hunter,
Lydia Hunter, Mary Henderson, Lueinda L.
Henderson, Nancy Henderson, Scott Marshall,
Hannah JIarshall, Mary McCurdy, Catharine
Jewel, Samuel Swanger, Sarah J. Swanger,
James McKee, Nancy McKee, Ellen McKee,
William Latimer, Catharine Latimer, D. R.
Stitsill, Matilda Stitsill, John Mclntire, Ma-
ria Thompson. The above were admitted on
certificate. The following were also admitted
on profession of their faith: Clarissa Mc-
lntire, Lueinda Christman, Hannah McKee,
Harriet McKee.
Elders. — An election for elders was then
entered into, resulting in the choice of James
McKee, William R. Hunter and John Mc-
lntire, Mclntire declining. Mr. Hunter was
ordained and, in connection with Mr. McKee,
who had been a ruling elder in the church of
Bethel, was installed. The following persons
have been elders in the church since its or-
ganization: James McKee and William R.
Hunter, installed June 19, 1857 ; William Mc-
278
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Farland, John Mclntire and I. N. Hodge,
June 27, 1858 ; Evan Lewis and J. M. Guth-
rie, January 12, 1863, Israel Thomas and J.
J. Lewis, September 19, 1870 ; J. L. Robinson,
January 17, 1874; J. M. Barkley, Carson
Fails and Walter Robinson, in 1887. The
elders in 1913 are: A. W. Robinson, clerk;
John L. Robinson, William Pails.
A regular call was made and presented to
the Presbytery at its meeting, June 15, 1858,
for one third of the ministerial services of
Rev. Pranklin Orr. The call was accepted.
He was installed on the 28th of the same
month, Mr. Mcilillan and Mr. McElwain be-
ing the committee of installation.
The limited territory occupied by the con-
gregation rendered the growth of the mem-
bership slow. But the saddest trial in the
early history of the church was the removal
of so many of its founders and supporters.
At times the very existence of the church
seemed to be threatened, but a kind provi-
dence raised up others to take their place,
and the church still lived and did a great
work, and, though not free from such trials,
greatly overcame them.
The church from the beginning was blessed
with a good session, and with praying men
and women. The prayer meeting was the life
of the church. With the spirit of prayer came
the spirit of giving and working. So both
time and money were given when the church
demanded either or both. This church has
not been permitted to rejoice in any very
remarkable revivals of religion, yet many sea-
sons of deep spiritual interest have been en-
joyed, and there have been few times when
there were not some tokens of Divine favor
and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Sabhath School— The Sabbath school has
been a power for good ever since the church
was organized. The greater part of the par-
ents attended with their children. It was
made a special feature in the Sabbath school
to cultivate a spirit of missions, and by en-
couraging the children to contribute to some
particular object, the result has been very
gratifying. The present membership of the
Sabbath school is sixty-four ; H. B. Mclntire,
superintendent.
The women of the church have done their
work very well. Always ready to do what
they could, they have been behind few
churches in their gifts to missions, and few so-
cieties of equal numbers showed a greater de-
gree of liberality.
Rev. Pranklin Orr was the first pastor this
church had. Por twenty-six years, as an
earnest and faithful ambassador of Christ,
he proclaimed to them the glad tidings of
salvation, and as a pastor he enjoyed the con-
fidence and esteem of the entire congregation.
He was installed for one third of his time,
but generally preached at Bethel in the morn-
ing, and at Jacksonville in the afternoon,
every Sabbath. At his own request the pas-
toral relation was dissolved December 31,
1884. He, with others, supplied the church
until April 1, 1886, when Rev. T. R. Ewing,
D. D., became stated supply, and continued
to labor with acceptance and profit. Until
recently (1913) Rev. James M. Pinley was the
pastor, but the pulpit is now vacant.
There has been only one church building,
but the old building was repaired through-
out in 1882, at a cost of $400.
In 1888 the membership was ninety. Rev.
William Harvey Robinson entered the min-
istry from this church. He was once and
again a missionary to Africa, and returned
each time on account of ill health. He also
labored as a missionary in Chili, South Amer-
ica. The church as a whole has from the
beginning been an active, working one, though
few in numbers, letting its light so shine and
exerting an influence for good that will be felt
for all time to come. The membership in
1913 is Sseventy-eight.
RATNE CHURCH
Rayne Presbyterian Church was organized
November 16, 1849, by the Presbytery of
Blairsville, through a committee consisting of
Revs. John Caruthers and John H. Kirkpat-
rick. The nearest Presbyterian Church at
that time was Washington, it being seven
miles distant, while Harmony was about the
same distance on the other side. The people
in this community attended one or the other
of the churches, but they had preaching occa-
sionally in the dwelling houses and school-
house close by the present site of this church.
A desire for organization was thus created,
and the Presbytery, being petitioned, ap-
pointed the above committee to efi'ect the
organization. The meeting for this purpose
was held in the dwelling of Mr. Peter Kinter.
At this time there were twenty-three persons
received as members, as follows : Isabella
Kinter, Isaac Kinter, Hannah Kinter, Peter
Kinter, Agnes Kinter, Mary Kinter, Josiah
Kinter, Sarah Kinter, James Moore, Ruth
Moore, Margaret Moore, Matthew Ray, Jane
Ray, John Kinter, Elizabeth Kinter, James
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
279
Kinter, Nancy Kinter, James MeCunn, Cath-
arine ilcCunn, Sarah Ann Kinter, Philip
Rice, Abraham Stuchel, Margaret Kinter.
The congregation continued to worship in
private houses and sehoolhouses in different
parts of the neighborhood for ten yeai-s. At
the end of that time there was a desire to have
a regular place and house of worship. Con-
siderable difficulty was experienced in decid-
ing on a location for the church. There was
great diversity of opinion, some holding for
one place and others for another, until finally
some withdrew from the church. At one time
a site was agreed upon near the residence of
Mr. John Kinter, and lumber was placed upon
the ground, but this was reconsidered, and it
was changed from there to the present loca-
tion. The lot upon which the present build-
ing now stands was then purchased and also
the cemetery connected with the church, mak-
ing in all about one acre.
The first church building was erected in the
year 1859, at a cost of about $800. It was a
plain frame building, with no paint either
outside or in. Its seating capacity was about
250. In 1885 it was found necessary to have
another building erected and here again the
location became a subject of dispute. Some
wanted to build a quarter or half a mile far-
ther north, and when it was finally decided
to build upon the old site another split was
made, and some eight or ten members with-
drew and organized a Cumberland Presby-
terian Church. Tlie3' built about one mile
from the old church.
This second church was completed in 1885,
at a cost of .$1,400. It is a frame building,
50 by 35 feet, with a seating capacity of
250. It is a plain but very neat and substan-
tial building, nicely finished outside and in-
side.
The congregation had no settled pastor
until 1867. Rev. John H. Kirkpatrick
labored in the congregation for eleven years
after the organization. Rev. S. P. Bollman
was stated supply from 1862 to 1865.
Rev. J. Logan Sample was the first settled
pastor. He was installed June 26. 1867, and
continued to serve the church until April 13,
1870, when, at his request, the pastoral rela-
tion was dissolved, ilr. Sample's labors here
were greatly blessed, the number of members
was considerably iiicreasecl, the collections to
the various boards were more liberal, and the
pastor's salary was also increased.
Rev. Mr. Sample was succeeded by Rev. A.
T. Bell, who was the second pastor. During
the summer of 1871 Mr. Bell, then a licentiate
of Pittsburg Presbytery, was employed by the
Kittanning Presbytery to labor here. After
completing his course at the seminary he was
called by this church in 1872, and began his
labors there October 11, 1872. He was or-
dained December 31st of the same year, and
installed pastor for one half time, at a salary
of $450 per year. This pastorate continued
until April 25, 1882, when, by his request,
Mr. Bell was released.
Rev. A. H. Jolly then preached here as
stated supply until the latter part of 1884.
From this time until May, 1887, the church
■was supplied by appointments from the
Presbytery. From May 29, 1887, up to 1888
the church was supplied statedly by Rev. John
C. Ambrose. The stated supply at present
(1913) is Rev. Arthur L. South.
Elders. — At the time of organization in
1849, James MeCunn, James Kinter and
Matthew Ray were elected ruling elders. Mr.
Ray was dismissed to the Presbyterian Church
of Indiana March 11, 1869. Mr. Kinter was
also dismissed. R. R. Ray and Josiah Kinter
were elected in 1857. Mr. Ray was removed
by death October 11, 1885. The ruling elders
at present ("1913) are: John M. Ray, clerk;
ancl Andrew J. Fisher.
The church membership (1913) is seventy-
six and the Sabbath school membership is
thirty.
PLUMVTLLE CHURCH
A petition was presented to the Presbytery
of Saltsburg at the April meeting in 1864
asking for an organization in the village of
Plumville, Pennsylvania. The request was
granted and Revs. John Caruthers, W. P.
Morgan and G. W. Mechlin, with Elders John
McClelland and "William Wallace, were ap-
pointed a committee to effect the organization.
This committee met on the 3d day of June,
1864, in the schoolhouse at Plumville, and
organized Plumville Presbyterian Church.
The original members were the following:
Thomas Wadding, Eliza Wadding, George
•Johnston. Harriet Johnston, Henrietta Johns-
ton. Phebe Johnston, William Wilson, Jane
Wilson, Walter Templeton. .Jane Templeton,
Thomas Waddle, Catherine Waddle, Margaret
Shields, ilary J. Shields, Patrick Lydic, Jane
A. Lydic. S. E. Lydic, John Tnisal,' Elizabeth
Trusal, Peter Sutton, Annie Sutton, Sarah
Sutton, Mary E. Sutton, N. CSutton. The
first seventeen of these original members were
received by certificate from Washington
Presbyterian Church, the last seven from
Rural" Valley.
280
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Pastors and Stated Supplies.— Rev. J. M.
Jones was the first supply. He served the
church from the organization until June,
1868. During this period thirty persons were
admitted to the church and $77 were con-
tributed to the benevolent objects of the
church. After a vacancy of not quite one
year, Rev. Carl Moore was called to the pas-
torate for the fourth of his time, Mount Pleas-
ant and Smicksburg applying for the re-
mainder. He accepted, and was installed in
the charge August 31, 1869. He w-as released
as pastor of this church December 9, 1873,
but served as stated supply until the spring
of 1877. During this time fifty-four mem-
bers were added to the church, and $199 were
contributed to benevolent objects. About
June, 1877, Rev. C. C. B. Duncan began to
supply the church and October 17, 1878, he
was called to the pastorate of this church for
one fourth time. He began serving this
church and Washington, to which he was also
called, but declined the calls and was dis-
missed from the Presbytery July 10, 1888.
During his period of service, seven members
were added to the roll. By the resignation
of Mr. Duncan the pulpit was again made
vacant for a time. It was statedly supplied
in 1879 by Revs. Helm and Leyda.
In April, 1882, the congregation united
with Concord and tendered a call to Rev. J.
M. Kelly for one third of the time. The call
was accepted and the pastor began his labors
April 30, 1882. He was regularly installed
July 3, 1882, by a committee of the Presby-
tery consisting of Revs. A. H. Jolly, A. T.
Bell and J. H. Kerr. During his pastorate
120 members were added to the communion
of the church, and $225 contributed to benev-
olent objects. The cougregatiou at present
(1913) is served by Rev. Lebana H. Shindle-
decker.
Biding Elders. — Thomas Wadding and
Patrick Lydic were installed as ruling elders
June 3, 186-1. Mr. Lydic having been an
elder in the AVashington Church, Mr. Wad-
ding only was ordained on this occasion. Mr.
Lydic died May 19, 1882. James M. Sutton
and Robert F. Allison were installed as ruling
elders October 31, 1869. Mr. Sutton was dis-
missed at his own request in 1871. Mr. Alli-
son died January 9, 1876. R. A. Allison and
H. H. Shields were elected and ordained and
installed in 1871. Mr. Allison was dismissed
at his own request November 15, 1885. Mr.
Joseph ilarshall was installed as ruling elder
September 2, 1876, and served until June 11,
1886. W. A. Wilson and A. Marshall were
ordained and installed June 2, 1883. On
February 7, 1885, the congregation having
adopted the "term service" plan, a new elec-
tion was held. Under this plan Thomas
Wadding, H. H. Shields, W. A. Wilson were
reelected and installed; B. F. Lydic was also
elected, ordained and installed. The elders
in 1913 are: W. M. Bowser, clerk; C. G.
Marshall, J. Frank Marshall, W. H. Wilson,
J. S. Zimmerman.
The membership of the church is 160 and
of the Sabbath school one hundred.
The congregation began to build a church
edifice in the fall of 1865 and completed it
in the fall of 1866. The contract was let to
Mr. Thomas Wadding for the sum of $1,800
for a frame structure 30 by 40 feet.
GLEN CAMPBELL CHUECH
This church was organized about the year
1900. The present elders are: William S.
Martz, clerk ; C. L. Shrode, D. L. Martin, Dr.
E. B. Lewis. The membership of the church
is seventy-two. The enrollment of the Sabbath
school is one hundred and two. The present
pastor of the church is Rev. James Kelley
Argo.
ARCADIA CHURCH
This church was built at a cost of one thou-
sand dollars soon after the coal town of
Arcadia, Indiana county, was started. It has
a membership of twenty-four. The pastors in
order of service since the organization have
been as follows: Rev. Charles B. AVengerd,
Rev. Charles E. Snooks, Rev. Daniel C.
Schnebly, and Rev. James Kelley Argo, the
present pastor, who took charge of the work
on January 1, 1913. He devotes one half of
his time to this church. The names of the
church ofiicers are : Ruling elders, J. S. Kirk-
wood, J. P. Kline, A. 0. Sommerville, Dr. R.
E. Schall; trustees, A. 0. Sommerville, Dr. R.
E. Schall, J. S. Kirkwood, J. P. Kline, John
Harvey, H. C. Cloos, William Lester, J. W.
Kline, S. T. Kerr, John Green, J. C. Stewart,
A. S. Pulmer. John Harvey is superintend-
ent of the Sunday school, which has an enroll-
ment of 70 ; the school kept open all the year.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
281
UNION CHURCH, ERNEST
There is preaching every Sabbath evening
in this church. Rev. W. J. Wilson has
preached here for the past seven years, and
for the past two years he has been assisted by
Rev. J. N. Park, of Indiana, Pa. The organ-
ization was made in the year 1909 by Rev. W.
J. Wilson and 0. A. Cravener. J. Q. Ander-
son has been the superintendent of the Sab-
bath school for the last six years. He is a very
efficient officer, couseciueutly the enrollment of
the school is 2-±0. The ilen's organized class
numbers 52. It is well organized and is doing
excellent service for the ^Master.
CATHOLIC
ST. BERNARD CHURCH, INDIANA
The first Catholic settlers in the town of
Indiana were Francis Gompers (died in 1858)
and William Tinthoff. The latter, then a
single man, removed after a short stay to
Lebanon county, where he married, and after-
wards returned to Indiana. 6. Silvers next
arrived, and for many years kept a tavern in
his own house, afterward the property of the
Catholic clergyman. Mr. Silvers died October
14. 1849. The family of Sweeneys, on the
road leading from Indiana to Strongstown,
were also among the oldest Catholic settlers
in the neighborhood. All of these arrived
here between 1814 and 1822. Later came the
families of Mr. ]\Ialoy and Mr. Sheridan ; then
Andrew Young, in 1829 ; Andrew Stadtndller,
in 1834; G. Adam Young, in 1836; Oliver
Joseph Metz, Herman Custer Camp, John
P. Young, 1838; B. Wehrie, in 1840, and
the three brothers, Conrad, Bernard and
Cyriac Wissel, in 1844. There were perhaps
more Catholics settled around, especially of
the English tongue, the descendants of whom
now no more belong to the religion of their
fathers, because they had no minister of their
faith for many years. A great many of these
settlers came from the eastern counties of
Lebanon, Huntingdon, etc., to whom at that
time the western counties of Pennsylvania
were what the States of the "Great West" are
now to us.
During the early period of their location
all the stations of Catholic worship in Indiana
and Westmoreland counties were supplied
ironi Sportsman's Hall, or HiU Church, now
the Abbey of the Benedictines, at St. Vin-
cent's, in Westmoreland county, where, be-
fore the nineteenth century, Rev. Theodore
B rowers, a Belgian by birth, and of the Fran-
ciscan order, laid the foundation of a parish
church, with which were connected the Cath-
olics of Pittsburg.
The early Catholics of the county had to go
to Hill Church or to Laretto, Cambria county,
where, from about 1800, Rev. Dem Gallitzen,
well known by his labors, zeal and love, was
settled, collecting around him a poor but sin-
cere congregation. After some time all the
counties around were annexed to the Bishop-
ric of Baltimore, until the See of Pittsburg
was erected in 1843.
The first Catholic priest who ever came to
Indiana for Catholic services was Rev. Ter-
reiice McGirr, the eighth pastor of Hill
Church. He erected a small log house as a
place for holding public worship at Cameron 's
Bottom, about the same year that the Clay
turnpike was being made from Indiana to
Ebensburg. This was the first Catholic
church in the county, but was not regularly
attended.
After Father McGirr Rev. T. Bradley, then
residing at Ebensburg, but for a number of
years previous located at Newry, Blair
county, had charge of the Indiana and Came-
ron's Bottom congregations, and attended
more or less until 1844 or 1845, when Rev. J.
A. Stillinger, of Blairsville, took charge of the
Indiana congregation, continuing for about
two \-ears.
In 1845 the Catholic Church at Indiana, a
frame building 30 by 40 feet, was built by
about twenty families belonging to the con-
gregation, at a cost of nearly six hundred
dollars.
In J 847 the Rt. Rev. Boniface Wimmer,
abbot delcatur of St. Vincent, at that time
superior of the monastery at that place, and
itinerant missionary, frequently came to In-
diana and supplied the charge with preach-
ing himself or sent some of his .young assist-
ants to minister in his stead, and kept this up
until 1849. About this time Rev. Nic. Stau-
ber came to Indiana and remained until 1850,
when he was removed. He died at St. Vin-
cent's in November, 1857. After Father
Stauber came another secular priest. Rev.
John Schmied, who left Indiana in October,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1850, and was succeeded by Rev. Will Lam-
bert, an Irishman, who attended the congre-
gation until March, 1851.
No clergyman would stay here any longer,
so the Rev. Boniface "Wimmer resumed the
place, purchased a home and made his resi-
dence here. Revs. Mauris P. Jerome, P. Ilde-
fons, P. Celestine, P. Valentine, P. Alto, P.
Ulrie and P. Magnus Mayer, all of the order of
St. Benedict, attended here at various times
as missionaries. The whole number of these
missionaries who ever attended the congre-
gation was not more than twenty.
Owing, probably, to such frequent changes
in the ministry the congregation did not in-
crease as rapidly as others in the neighbor-
hood. Besides this charge, all the priests
were obliged to attend other missions and
stations, among them Johnstown, Brookville
and Kittanning, and therefore a pastor would
never know all the members of the congre-
gation, which numbered in 1859 over seventy
families; twenty-four of them were of the
English speaking, and the remainder of Ger-
man, nationality.
The next pastors were : Revs. Gerhard Pilz,
0. S. B. ; Blazidus Pilz, 0. S. B. (brother of
Gerhard) ; and Moritz Koeder, 0. S. B., who
officiated from 1859 to 1861. From 1861
until May, 1876, Revs. Ferdinand Wolf, 0.
S. B., Utto Hube, 0. S. B., and Leander
Schnerr, 0. S. B., had charge of the congrega-
tion. On the 28th of May, 1876, Rev. George
P. AUman, a secular priest, became pastor,
and officiated in such capacity until 1884.
He was succeeded by Rev. A. J. M. Brown,
who remained in charge for only one year.
Father M. Steger, his successor, was in charge
for two years. Father Adam Tonner was
placed in charge in 1887, and during a vigor-
ous pastorate of five years made considerable
improvement in the spiritual and temporal
condition of the parish. So forcibly was his
personalitj' impressed on the community that
even now, after twenty years, the present
pastor is addressed as "Father Tonner" by
non-Catholics. His successor was Father
Thomas Kirner, who held the reins for four
years, and was succeeded by Father Daniel
Reutters. His administration lasted only ten
months, when he retired from active work in
the ministry. After a short interregnum,
filled out by the Benedictine Fathers and Rev.
M. Hughes, Father P. J. Vereker was placed
in charge and at the end of four months was
succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. N.
P. McNeils, whose pastorate of more than fif-
teen years is the longest in the history of the
parish.
The foundation of the present brick edifice
was laid in 1869, under the superintendence
of Rev. F. Wolf. The church was dedicated
on the 26th of May, 1871, during the pastor-
ate of Rev. Utto Hube. It is of the cross
form, of Gothic architecture, originally 93^^
by 57 feet in size, seating about six hundred,
but has been remodeled and enlarged.
The height of the tower is 125 feet. The
architect's estimate of the cost was $22,000,
but the actual expenditure in money was only
$10,500, the balance being supplied by the
hard labor of the congregation. The expense
was borne by only sixty -five families.
The priest's house was completed, as well
as the sisters' house, in 1876. For a time a
parochial school under the care of two sisters
of St. Agnes was connected with the congre-
gation, with a daily attendance of from sev-
enty to eighty. The parochial school was dis-
continued during Father Allman's time, and
o\^ing to the decrease in the number of chil-
dren of school age has never been reopened.
SS. SIMON AND JUDE's CHURCH, BLAIRSVILLE
The Catholics of Blairsville were attended
at first by the priests who resided at "Sports-
man's Hall on the Plill," as it is sometimes
called, where St. Vincent's Monastery is now.
The regularly appointed pastors of that place
were Rev. Theodore Brommis, Rev. L. S.
Phelan (or Whelan), Rev. Fr. Lanigan. Rev.
P. Heilbron, Rev. G. F. X. O'Brien, Rev.
Charles Bonaventine McGuire, and Rev. Ter-
rence McGirr, who was the last before Rev.
J. A. Stillinger to take charge of Sportsman's
Hall and Blairsville. The congregation of
SS. Simon's and Jude's Church was organ-
ized in the year 1829, when two lots of ground
were purchased, bearing the numbers on the
plan 241 and 243, in size 120 by 150 feet,
situated at the corner of Campbell street and
Coal Lane. This land was paid for in full
on February 8, 1830, when it was conveyed
to John Brown and John Campbell, of the
borough of Blairsville, by Robert Brown and
Ann, his wife, of the borough of Greensburg.
It was transferred by John Brown and John
Campbell to the first trustees of the congre-
gation, Febi-uary 3, 1831, viz. : John Camp-
bell, William Bradley, Thomas Shannon,
Thomas Donnelly, John W. Brown. By these
gentlemen it was transferred to Rt. Rev. P.
P. Kenrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, Deeem-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
283
ber 9, 1831. The ai'rangement was made a
condition on which the Bishop sent a priest
to take charge of the congregation.
A subscription was taken up in the year
1829, for the purpose of erecting a new
church. The following names appear on the
Hst: John Campbell, John W. Brown, Pat-
rick O'Donnell, James CautweU, John
Sehrosk, Hugh Harkins, Thomas McCul-
lough, Thomas MeFarland, Richard McCabe,
Mark Graham, John Mcilahan, Peter Mc-
Mahau, Lewis Jlittinger, Michael Duras,
Prosper Howard, Benjamin Crissman, David
Mahan, John McAfee, John ilcMullen,
Meredith Reed, Edward Shevlin, Sr.,
Elizabeth Emerson, James ilcDermott, Con.
Johnston, William McAfee, Samuel McAn-
ulty, James jMurray, John Boland, Edward
Laughlin, P. Duffy, Thomas Brown, A. Rich-
ards, James P. Johnston, Stewart Davis, Wil-
liam P. Sterrett, Joseph McMasters, Thomas
Lindsaj', John Sheridan, Lawrence McMul-
len, Daniel Short, Christopher Hughes, Sr.,
James D. McGill, Hugh Curran, John Short,
George Miller, John Conway, Hugh Conway,
James McGuire, John ilcCarty, Dennis
O'Neil, James P. Donnelly, John Flowers,
John Connor, Edw. Davis, William Flowers,
Thomas ilcCaffrey, John Garrigan, James G.
Brown, Rodger Meeching, Daniel O'Neil,
Anthony Loftus, George Glass, ilichael ilc-
Keever, Thomas Donnelly, Henry Reutzel,
Jacob Burgoon, Cornelius Campbell, Rev.
Thomas Heyden, Mathias Blake, Michael
Henry, Charles O'Rourke, William Blakeley,
Michael Leyden, Michael Kelly, Jane Renney,
John Kerboy, Bernard Ferrier, Michael
Brawley, John Walsh, Peter Short, L. S.
Waterman, D. ilcKaley, James Haney,
Daniel Gilmartin. There is also a second
list, exhibiting the names of those who sub-
scribed and paid after the settlement of
March 11, 1830. This arrangement was made
for the purpose of finishing the church, and
to pay the debt due by the congregation. The
managers were William Bradley, Thomas
Shannon, John Campbell, Thomas Donnelly,
John W. Brown. There was also a subscrip-
tion taken up at Bolivar for the benefit of
the church in May, 1831, by Wilson Knott,
superintendent of the canal. The full
amount of subscription was $676.11 ; the cost
of ground. $85: of erection of church, $1,214.-
17. The number of Easter communicants
the first year after the formation of the
church was 180, representing about 300 souls.
The number increased every year till in 1810
it reached 310.
The dedication of the church took place
October 28, 1830, the feast of SS. Simon and
Jude. The Rt. Rev. F. P. Kem-ick blessed
it, assisted by Rev. John Hughes. Father
Stillinger's appointment to the pastorship
immediately followed, and on the Sunday of
Advent, 1830, November 28th, he entered
upon the discharge of his duties.
As the congregation had increased to such
an extent that a larger church was needed,
a new one was erected. The ground was
opened and the foundation laid in 1811, work
commencing in ^Maj-, that year, and the build-
ing was completed by July or August, 1842,
and was dedicated to the service of God on
the 2d of October, by Very Rev. Michael
O'Connor, D. D., V. G. Dr. O'Connor
preached in the afternoon, Rev. Thomas Hey-
den in the forenoon.
The contract Avas let to Christopher McCaf-
frey, of Blairsville, for the sum of $5,800,
the amount of his bid. Some trouble arising
between the contractor and the church com-
mittee about extra work, it was referred to the
courts lor decision, and judgment was in Mr.
McCaffrey's favor for $1,204.67, which made
the whole cost of the church $7,004.67. The
architect was Patrick Cunningham, of Pitts-
burg. The church committee consisted of D.
H. Barr, Esq., John McLaughlin, William
ilaher, John S. Watterson, George Miller.
The church stands on ground adjoining that
of the old church ; its general style is Gothic ;
it is 90 feet long, 48 feet wide, and 25 feet
high, seating about 600 persons. It took
about eight or ten years to pay off the entire
debt. The paintings, which are a marked
feature in the church, put up in the year
1858-59, were painted in Munich, Germany.
The school building was erected about the
j-ear 1855. It was 50 by 30 feet in size.
The convent was erected in 1872. It is
about 40 feet square, and has fourteen rooms.
It is occupied by the Sisters of Charity who
teach the parochial schools.
On the 19th day of September, 1873, Rev.
J. H. Stillinger died, and was succeeded by
Rev. E. McKeever on the 22d of September
of the same year. When Father IMcKeever
took charge the church committee was com-
posed of Messrs. James Layton, James Crate,
Thomas Geary, Frederick Hughes. There was
also a special committee who took charge of
the convent building, composed of Messrs.
William Maher, Patrick Maher, Patrick Mc-
Bride, John B. Bonner, John K. Henry.
There was a debt of $3,000 against the con-
vent when Father McKeever took charge of
284
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
affairs, which was principally due to the car-
penters. The whole cost of the building was
about $9,000. In the year 1875 the church
was frescoed and newly painted. During the
summer of the same year an addition of 20
feet was made to the schoolhouse, and over
the -whole length of the building a fine hall
was erected. These improvements, together
with a great many repairs that had to be
made on the property, cost about $9,000.
The number of communicants in 1874 was
about 500, representing about 900 souls.
During the hard times of the panic the con-
gregation remained at about the same figures.
The graveyard back of the church, consist-
ing of about two and one half acres, was pur-
chased about 1860.
OTHER CATHOLIC CHURCHES
In 1859 the Catholics living in the Mahon-
ings and other northern townships amounted
to only ten families. At that time they had a
church ground and graveyard in North Ma-
honing, but no church. At the date of the
present writing (1913) there are no Cath-
olics, except possibly a few foreign laborers,
in the Mahonings. The descendants of the
original Catholic settlers have either left that
section or affiliated with other churches.
In 1845 a small brick church was built at
Saltsburg by about twenty-five families.
There has been a fine frame edifice at
Cameron's Bottom since 1853. At that time
sixty families and a monastery of the Fran-
ciscan brothers were connected with it. The
old stone church was erected in 1828-29.
Among the priests who attended this congre-
gation were first Revs. Terrence McGirr and
Dennis Kearney. J. Hackett was the pastor
in 1858-59.
During the past ten years nine other Cath-
olic churches have been erected within the ter-
ritory included in the Indiana parish. The
development of coal mining in the county
brought in many foreign-born laborers, and
churches have been built for them in Grace-
ton, Josephine, Lucerne, Ernest, Iselin,
Chambersville, Dixonville and Starford. A
church of the Greek rite has also been built
at Clymer.
BAPTIST
INDIANA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
(J. F. Barnes, huUana, Pa.)
Inasmuch as a number of the churches of
Indiana Association were formerly united
with and formed a part of Clarion Associa-
tion, there is much information contained in
these minutes respecting the • early history
of our denomination within our present As-
soeiational limits that should interest us. Nay,
rather, it should cause us to hang our heads
in shame because of our failure to improve
the opportunities afforded us, inasmuch as a
large portion of our territory was originally
Baptist ground. The good seed had been
deeply planted in the hearts of the pioneer
settlers of our territory by the missionaries
from Beulah Church, located in Beulah City,
Cambria Co., Pa., and carefully watered by
earnest ministers from other localities. They
baptized believers and built up churches, that
through our apathy and indifference were sub-
sequently permitted to languish and die.
And at the present time even the name and
location of some of these churches are entirely
forgotten except by a very few of the older
members of our Association.
By way of illustration: In the minutes
for A. D. 1845 we find a report from Black-
lick Church as follows: "John Scott, licenti-
ate, pastor. Increased by baptism, five; by
letter, two ; decreased by letter, three ; by ex-
clusion, four; present membership, seventy."
Here was a church that had been organized
in 1839, and judging from its report to the
Association it appeared to be in a healthy
working condition. With only two excep-
tions it had the largest membership of any of
the twenty-five churches reporting to Clarion
Association that year. Well, where was that
church located, and what became of it 1 These
queries naturally present themselves to our
minds. It was located in Indiana county on
the eastern slope of the Laurel Ridge — or
Laurel Hill as it is generally called — at a
point near the village of Dilltown, but at that
time no town had been located there. As to
what became of Blacklick Church, I submit
the following: Sometime about 1850 this
church concluded to abandon the former
place of worship. A portion of the member-
ship organized themselves into a church at
Mechanicsburg, Indiana county, and drop-
ping the name Blacklick Church they assumed
the name Brushvalley Baptist Church. This
church became a member of Clarion Associa-
tion in 1852, and at that time reported a mem-
bership of twenty-nine, five of whom had been
received by baptism during that Associational
year.
Another portion of the members of Black-
lick Church organized a church at Armagh,
Indiana county. From the minutes of the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
285
Pennsylvania Baptist Educational Society we
learn that Armagh Church was a member of
Pittsburg Association in 1852. but in 1853
it became a member of the Clarion Associa-
tion. At that time it reported only six mem-
bers. It continued to report and contribute
unto Clarion Association until 1866, when its
name was dropped from the list of churches
connected with that body. The Armagh
Church does not appear to have increased in
numbers very rapidly. The only accessions
reported during its sixteen j^ears' connection
with Clarion Association were in 1856, when
it reported having received two by baptism
and one by letter.
But we have not as yet given a satisfactory
answer to the query what became of the
seventy members of the Blacklick Church. At
the anniversary in 1852 Brother Samuel Con-
rad presented a report from Blacklick Church
stating tiiat they had changed their place of
worship to ilechauicsburg, and changed their
name to Brushvalley Church. A committee
having been appointed Brushvalley. together
with the new churches of East ^Mahoning and
New Bethlehem, was received, and the right
hand of fellowship extended. In that year
Bruslivalley Church reported twenty-nine
memliers. five of whom had been received by
baptism during the year, thus leaving only
twenty-four members that probabl.y came to
Brushvalley from the old Blacklick Church.
There appear to have been only six members
of the Blacklick Church that united in the
organization of the Armagh Church. Now
twenty-four plus six equals only thirty mem-
bers that we can trace from the records in our
possession. This church had a few years
previous reported a membership of seventy,
and since we can only account for thirty of
its members the question arises what became
of the remaining forty. Our answer may
possibly be to some extent conjectural, but
from oral information we have learned the
following facts : A large portion of the mem-
bers of the original Blacklick Church resided
in the near vicinity of their place of wor-
ship, while others lived at points still farther
south and east, and inasmuch as the distance
from the site of the original Blacklick Church
to the site of the Brushvalley Church is fully
six miles, it would make it necessary for many
of them to travel from six to nine miles over
rough roads through a very hilly section of
eountiy in order to reach the new place of
worship. Consequently they were opposed
to changing the place of worship from the
original site to Brushvalley, and when the
change was made many of them from neces-
sity and for other reasons failed to cooperate
with the church in its new location. Buggies
and hacks were not as numerous as they are
now, and the facilities for taking whole fam-
ilies to meetings were not nearly so good as
they are at the present time.
This change was made sixty years ago, and
looking back at this distant day we can read-
ily see that instead of resolving as a church
to change their place of worship they had
granted letters to such of their members as
desired them to form a new organization at
]Mechanicsburg, and to have let those who
were opposed to changing their place of wor-
ship maintain the old organization on the
original site. The result might probably have
been a much larger congregation at Dilltown
today. Such an arrangement would have re-
sulted in general good. For many years
Brushvalley Church appeared to have two
ends to it, one at Dilltown, and the other at
:\Iechanicsburg. They were separated from
eacli other by the Laurel Hill, the central
ridge or anticlinal of the western range of the
great Appalachian system. If there had been
two independent church organizations, one
at Dilltown and the other at ilechanicsburg,
they would each soon have learned to rely
upon their own resources and not have one
section wait for the other to take the initia-
tive in matters of general importance.
At the anniversary of Clarion Association
in 1845 Yellow Creek Church applied for a
letter of dismissal which was granted. This
church was located at Philips' Mills, a place
that is now included within the boundary line
of Homer City. At that anniversary this
church reported a membership of twenty-six,
with John Scott and John Long, both of
wliom were licentiates, as copastors. Nothing
is said as to where this church intended to de-
posit its letter of dismissal, but we presume
it united with the Conemaugh Association,
and like the majority of churches that united
with that body it subsequentlv became ex-
tinct.
In 1858 Diamondville Church, with twenty-
three members, F. HoUeu, pastor, was re-
ceived into the fellowship of Clarion Asso-
ciation. This was a little church that had
been built maialy through the labors of "Fa-
ther" Thomas Wilson, one of the pioneer
preachers of this section who.se home was in
Punxsutawney. By a careful examination of
the names of the delegates sent by this church
from time to time to the Associational anni-
versaries, we discover that it included in its
286
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
membership many of the most wealthy and
influential citizens of that neighborhood. It
seemed to have had a steady growth under
the pastoral ministrations of Rev. Samuel
Furman, A. Shadrach and John W. Evans,
and at one time it reported a membership of
thirty-six. It continued to report to Clarion
Association until 1869, when its name dis-
appears from the list of churches connected
with that body, although at the anniversary
of the previous year it had reported a mem-
bership of twenty-five.
A brief historical sketch of Blacklick No.
2, West Lebanon and Plumville Churches,
which are also now extinct, is given elsewhere.
Several other churches that met a similar fate
will be noticed as we proceed to endeavor to
ascertain the cause of these sad failures.
1st. — These failures were largely due to the
apathy and indifference of the membership of
those churches because a large portion of
them neglected the assembling of themselves
together on the Lord's Day, except when
there ^vas preaching services, which in many
cases were few and far between. Prayer
meetings were seldom held, and Sunday
schools were almost unknown in the majority
of the churches I have named. The young
people were neglected and were not trained
in Bible literature nor indoctrinated in the
teachings contained in God's word.
2d. — The parsimoniousness, or to be more
explicit, the stinginess, of many of the more
wealthy members, who refused to contribute
of their funds as the Lord had prospered
them for the -maintenance of the word and
ordinances.
3d. — The speculative theories in regard to
religion advocated by Alexander Campbell
were introduced by a number of his admirers
and followers, some of Avhom were fluent talk-
ers and eloquent preachers. These views were
embraced by many of the members in some of
those churches, thereby creating dissension
and causing many to withdraw from the fel-
lowship of their respective churches.
4th. — In at least one instance an arbitrary
effort to administer church discipline was the
means of creating a rupture among the mem-
bers that resulted in the formation of two
parties antagonistic to each other and eventu-
ally ended in an annihilation of the church
forgetful of the New Testament teachings,
"Charity suffereth long and is kind."
5th. — For many years, somewhere between
1840 and 1860, there existed within our pres-
ent Associational limits an anomaly known as
the Conemaugh Association, which was an im-
portant factor in bringing about these dis-
astrous results. I have no printed informa-
tion in regard to this organization, for al-
though they printed minutes of their pro-
ceedings, and had their own confession of
faith, yet I have been unable to procure a
copy of any of them. But from what I have
learned by conversing ^ritli those who appear
to know something about that organization,
it seems to have been a sort of semi-religious
organization. It was strongly antislavery or
abolition in character and appears to have
held about the same relation to the regular
Baptist Church that the so-called Free Pres-
byterians bore to the great Presbyterian body.
That the evil which they claimed did exist
was a fact conceded by all. That a political
reformation with regard to the evil was nec-
essary was acknowledged by everybody, but
as to the proper means of effecting this po-
litical reformation, and getting rid of this
evil, there was a great diversity of opinion.
A small minority of the great Baptist body
scattered throughout the length and breadth
of our land who were radicals were in favor
of organizing a third party whose special
ob.iects should be the destruction of this evil,
but a vast majority of our brethen in this
State as well as in other States were in favor
of more conservative measures. So far as I
can learn, the churches composing the Cone-
maugh Association were in favor of the third
party movement and refused to follow with
or admit to membership any one who refused
to become a member of and cooperate with
this third party.
By pursuing the course they did the
churches of Conemaugh Association were not
building upon the solid rock, even Christ Je-
sus, but rather vipon the sinking sand of a
disputed theory as to the manner of getting
rid of an existing evil. The result was that
God did not own and bless its work, and so
far as I know every church organized by that
body, with one exception, became extinct;
whilst a majority of the already established
churches that embraced their views and be-
came members of that organization were
either seriously ci-ippled or else entirely wiped
out of existence.
Take Blairsville for illustration. Our
brethren in that town owned a comfortable
meeting-house, eligibly located on the main
street of that to^vn. Through the liberality
of a Baptist brother who had a large contract
in that town, our brethren were enabled to
dedicate their house of worship free from
debt. For years they continued to work earn-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
287
estly for the I\[aster. Peace aud harmony pre-
vailed, and prosperity attended their efforts.
But in an evil day the advocates of this new
theory in religion visited them. Some of the
brethren embraced these views, whilst others
strenuously opposed them. The result was
dissension in the church and its disruption.
A ma.iority embraced the new doctrine and
held possession of the meeting-house, but they
were unable to meet current expenses. They
contracted debts which they were unable to
pay. Their house of worship was sold bj^
the sheriff and occupied by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company as a telegraph office and
for other purposes.
FIRST CHURCH OF INDIANA
Eev. Samuel Furman, a pioneer Baptist
minister in Indiana county, residing in Green
township, held a few monthly religious services
in. the old courthouse in the town of Indiana,
and under his auspices the First Baptist
Church of Indiana was organized in June,
1858. The constituent members w^ere Lewis
E. Freet, Mrs. Rosanna Freet. William
Shields, Mrs. ilary J. Shields, Mrs. Cathar-
ine Craig and jMrs. Eliza Canning. This lit-
tle band was regula'rly recognized July 13,
1858, by a council called for that purpose,
and the new church was admitted into the
Clarion Baptist Association August 20, 1858.
On August 25, 1877, the Indiana and other
churches were dismissed from the Clarion As-
sociation and on the same daj' the delegates
representing the churches formed the Indiana
Baptist Association, of which this body has
continuously been an active part. The first
house of woi-ship, a frame building, situated
on the corner of Oakland avenue and Church
street, was erected in 1859. during the pas-
torate of Rev. Samuel Furman, and was ded-
icated December 4th of that year. The sec-
ond house, the present brick building, on
the same lot of gi-ound. was begun in 1898
and was dedicated May 14, 1899, Rev. A. J.
Furman. D. D., being the pastor.
The following have served the church as
pa.stors: Rev. Samuel Furman, June. 1858.
to December 18, 1862: Rev. A. H. Taylor,
March 23, 1864, to April 28, 1866; Rev. A.
B. Runyan. February 17, 1867. to January'
1. 1868; Rev. Azariah Shadrach. April 1,
1872, to April 1, 1873: Rev. William Shad-
rach, D. D.. April 1, 1873, to October 1, 1884;
Rev. D. W. Swigart. April 1, 1885. to Janu-
ary 1, 1891: Rev. B. B. Henshev, April 1.
1891. to April 1, 1896; Rev. A. J. Furman,
D. D., November 1, 1896, to November 1,
1905; Rev. H. P. King, D. D., November 1,
1905, to the present date, 1913.
The following members of this church have
served it as deacons: Lewis E. Freet, David
Henderson, Henry Salsgiver, Thomas Ray,
James S. McAnulty, J. ililes Walker, Daniel
Ansley, Joseph F. Barnes, Robert M. Hor-
i-is, Samuel Nelson, Charles W. Brandt, J.
0. DeLancey, Isaac W. Warner, J. M. T.
Lewis, John Houk, George T. Buchanan. The
last four form the present board, who together
with the pastor hold monthly meetings on the
third Sunday of each month.
When the church was organized L. E. Freet
and William Rowe were elected tru.stees and
they served as such until 1876, when on pe-
tition a charter of incorporation was secured
from the Indiana County court. The incor-
porating trustees were John Sutor, Daniel
Ansle.v. J. F. Barnes, J. S. Campbell, Isaac
W Warner, William Philips, and J. S. Mc-
Anulty. The charter requires the election of
seven trustees annually. Aside from those al-
ready named the following have served in
this capacity : C. K. Johnston, James J. Da-
vis, William S. Pattison, William Shields, R.
M. ilorris. John Redhead, J. W. Swartz, H.
E. A. :McNeel. W. H. Warner. Frank Doug-
las, D. A. ilcCardle, H. D. Hildebrand, C.
W. Brandt. G. W. Lovelace. Kellar M. Har-
ris, Samuel Nelson, John A. Bennett, C. G.
Rowe, Barto Beringer, S. S. Gressley, P. N.
Baker. S. E. Buterbaugh, H. :M. Johnston. J.
M. T. Lewis, I. C. Rowland, Mont Stephens,
William A. Glass, J. 0. DeLancey, H. B. Bu-
terbaugh.' A. 0. Cravener, R. R. Cunningham,
E. AY. Griffith. L. Pattison, Theo. Kimmel,
R. :\I. Johnston, P. F. Lewis, H. I. Gross, R.
S. Long. E. A. Fleming. S. F. Warner, G. M.
Marshall, D. H. Wiggins, Lawrence Lockard,
Ward Lockard, Harvey J. Ross, A. G. Graf-
fam, M. J. Hedden, J. Paul Warner, John
Houk, E. il. Lydick, J. S. Johnston, E. C.
Osmun. J. Arthur Warner, D. L. Houk. A. W.
Scott. The last seven persons named form
the present board.
Those who have served as clerks of the
church are: William Shields, 1858 to 1862;
William Rowe, clerk pro tern., for several
vears; J. Miles Walker, 1869 to 1876; J. F.
Barnes, 1876 to 1893; P. N. Baker, 1893 to
1906: A. L. Graffam, 1906 to 1907; W. S.
Garee, 1907 and serving yet in 1913.
The Sunday school of this church was or-
ganized in June, 1872. The following named
persons have served as superintendents:
Lewis E. Freet. 1872 to 1875 ; J. ililes Walker,
288
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1876: J. F. Barnes, 1877 to 1881 and 1884
to 1892; Daniel Ausley, 1882 to 1883; Rev.
B. B. Henshey, 1893; E. W. Griffith, 1894
to 1895 ; S. S. Gressley, 1896 ; R. R. Cunning-
ham, 1897; A. 0. Cravener, 1898 to 1900;
George T. Buchanan, 1901 to the present time.
The Ladies' Aid Society was organized in
1877. Mrs. W. S. Garee is at this time presi-
dent, Mrs. J. D. Hill, secretary, ]Mrs. Margaret
MeCardle, treasurer. It meets once a month.
The Baptist Young People's Union was
formed in 1891. Its officers are : President,
J. Clyde Titterington, secretary, Florence
Barr, treasurer, E. C. Osmun. It meets
weekly.
The Women's Missionary Society was or-
ganized October 19, 1893. It meets monthly
and works in the interest of the Women's
Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary So-
cieties of the North. Mrs. George T. Bu-
chanan is president, Mrs. J. A. Titterington
secretary, Mrs. Ella Smith treasiu-er. The
Young Women's Missionary Society was or-
ganized March 29, 1911. It meets montMy.
The following officers are serving during
1913: President, Veva P. Longwill; secre-
tary, Florence Barr; treasui-er, Zaida Long.
Eight hundred and twenty-nine persons
have been received into the fellowship of this
church; 6 constituent members, 477 by bap-
tism, 276 by letter, 63 by experience, 7 by
restoration. The decrease has been 232 by
letter, 72 by exclusion, 147 by erasure, and
91 by death, total loss 542. The present mem-
bership numbers 287.
COOKPORT piIURCn
In 1867-68 a number of Baptists residing
in Cookport and vicinity, some of them mem-
bers of the Pine Flats Church, and others of
the East ^Mahoning Church, deemed it very
desirable to have a place of worship in the
village. They accordingly set about the mat-
ter in good earnest, and succeeded. Rev. W.
P. England, pastor of the Pine Flats Church,
rendered them good service by preaching for
them a part of his time. Several persons pro-
fessed conversion and were baptized.
In 1870, by advice of Council, they were
organized as a branch of the East Mahoning
Church with thirty-two members. For about
three months in this year Rev. J. E. Dean
served the church and the branch as pastor.
In 1871 Rev. T. C. Gessford was called to
the pastorate of the mother church, and min-
istered to it and the branch till July, 1874,
when his ministry came to a sudden close.
In 1875 the old pastor of the East Mahoning
Church, Rev. S. Furman, was recalled, and
in 1876-77 preached alternately at the church
and at the branch.
In April, 1878, by advice of Council, called
for consultation, the branch was organized
as an independent body, under the name of
the First Baptist Church of Cookport, Rev.
Mr. Furman serving both churches jointly.
The pastors following him were Revs. M. L.
Rowland, A. B. Runyan, J. T. Gallagher, R.
B. Dunmire, H. W. D. Kirkeudall, W. P.
Hile, A. J. Alexander, Mr. Plush and Thomas
Lambert, the present minister.
The church has a membership of eighty-one
The deacons are : J. H. Stump and J. H
Rodkey; the trustees are Solomon Buter
baugh, Charles Henry, J. H. Rodkey; treas
urer, Lawrence Shank; church clerk, W. G.
Stump. ]\Irs. W. G. Stump is superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
mcjit of one hundred.
PINE PL.VTS CHURCH
The Pine Flats Baptist Church was or-
ganized in the month of October, 1845, by
Revs. G. T. Dinsmore and S. D. Morris. Its
constituents were nineteen in number, thir-
teen of whom were dismissed from the Two-
lick Baptist Church, both for the convenience
of its members and the hope of further en-
largement— the distance from Twoliek to the
Flat being seven miles or more. Since its
organization the church has registered the
names of many members. Its present member-
ship is seventy-two.
The following is the list of ministers who
have served the church either as pastors or
temporary supplies: Revs. S. D. Morris, W.
B. Bingham, W. Shadrach, John Thomas,
Samuel Furman, A. B. Runyan, J. W. Evans,
W. P. England, Enos Woodruff, A. Shadrach.
Some time about the year 1840 Baptist
preaching was begun in the vicinity of Pine
Flats and was continued for several years by
Revs. S. D. Morris, Thomas Wilson and Sam-
uel Conrad. When the church was organ-
ized the following ministers were present:
S. D. Morris, G. T. Dinsmore, Samuel Miles.
The council was organized by appointing Rev.
S. D. Morris moderator and' Rev. G. T. Dins-
more clerk. The articles of faith of the Con-
emaugh Association were read and unani-
mously adopted by the church. The church
covenant was also read and accepted, after
which the prayer of recognition was offered
by Brother Dinsmore, right hand of fellow-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
289
ship extended by Brother Morris, and charge
to the church given by Brother Miles.
The first house of worship was built in
1844. The sawed lumber was furnished by
Edward and Samuel Turner, the shingles by
Evan GrifBth, now deceased, and the nails
and glass by Evan Lewis, of Pittsburg. This
house was occupied without permanent seat-
ing until 1853, after which it was repaired
both internally and externally and continued
to be occupied by the church until the third
Sabbath of December, 1887, when it was fi-
nally abandoned as a house of worship. It
had been prophesied by a thrust out enemy
of the church that the time would come when
no prayer would be offered in the old house.
This prophecy has been literally fulfilled. The
old house has ceased to be a house of prayer,
not for the want of worshippers, but because
a more elegant, commodious and comfortable
place of worship has been secured. The old
house v>as beautiful in its day, and although
it was plain and small it required a great
effort on the part of the few members of the
church in that early day to construct it. It
sei-ved our people well in their early history,
but the church had outlived it and the day
came when a more commodious and more
modern structure must be erected. But, oh!
how we love the old home where so many
of us first found the Saviour and where we
enjoyed with God's people so many precious
seasons of refreshing from the manifest pres-
ence of our Lord. There our fathers and
mothers woi-shipped, axid there many hard
battles were fought and glorious victories
won. God grant that the glory of this lat-
ter house may be greater than that of the
former is our earnest prayer.
Inasmuch as the church kept no record for
about six years after its organization, there
is uncertainty as to the first pastorate, but
from what information can be gathered at
this late date it appears that Rev. S. D. ]\Ior-
ris was the first pastor and that he served in
that capacity for several years.
The church soon after its organization
united with the Conemaugh Association and
continued with that body until the Association
became extinct, an event that occurred about
the year 1856. For a few years after this the
church appears not to have been united with
any association, but on the 23d day of Au-
gust, 1862. it united with the Clarion Asso-
ciation, which body was at that time holding
its anniversary with the Mount Pleasant Bap-
tist Church at Corsica, Jefferson Co., Pa. The
church continued in that relation until the
formation of the Indiana Baptist Association
at East Mahoning Church on the 25th day of
August, 1877, when it became a constituent
member of that body.
In 1886 the matter of building the present
house of worship was considered and some
material was gathered together. In the early
part of the summer of 1887 the work was
commenced. The building committee was or-
ganized as follows: William Thorn, presi-
dent; Rev. A. B. Runyan, advisory member;
Williams Davis, solicitor of funds ; Evan Grif-
fith, B. C. Smith, Hugh E. WiUiams. The
lumber was all worked gratuitously by Wil-
liam and Johu Thorn iu their planing mill
at Pine Flats. The oversight of the building
was left exclusively to William Thorn, whose
carefulness, accuracy and good judgment se-
cured to the church a beautiful and substan-
tial house of worship. The ladies of the
church and others, headed by Mrs. Catherine
Thorn, secured the necessary funds and pur-
chased the beautiful chair seatings at an ex-
pense of nearly $500. The expense of pa-
pering the house was also defrayed by the
ladies. The rostrum was furnished with a
Bible, a pulpit, a lamp and chairs, by Rev.
A. B. Runyan and Deacon Hugh Roberts.
The chaii-s for seating were put in place by
W. and J. Thorn, whose skill alone was equal
to the difficult task. John Miller, of Cook-
port, was the contractor and carpenter (how-
ever, the work was done mostly by men in
his employ) ; stone work by G. W. Anthony;
painting and papering by Mr. Conrath, and
plastering by Levi Amond.
The building was completed about the close
of the year 1887 and was dedicated January
1. 1888. Rev. W. Shadrach, of Indiana, was
expected to preach the dedicatory sermon, but
on account of his great age and the inclem-
ent weather he failed to be present. Rev.
D. W. Swigart, pastor of the Indiana Bap-
tist Church, preached the dedicatory sermon.
After the sennon the pastor, Rev. A. B. Run-
yan, stated that the cost of the house includ-
ing the furniture was .$2,800, and with the
exception of about $200 this amount was aU
provided for. An appeal was then made to
the audience and in a very short time the
entire amount was raised, and the dedication
prayer was offered by the pastor.
PLUMVILLE CHURCH
This church was Organized in October,
1849, as a Free Mission Baptist Church, with
eleven constituents who had -nithdrawn from
290
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the Mahoning Church. Persons of extreme
views on the question of slavery became dis-
satisfied with the close connection of the
Northern with the Southern Baptists in car-
rying on the work of foreign missions, and in
many quarters strifes and divisions arose.
Rev. W. B. Bingham, an active and zealous
abolitionist, organized the church and min-
istered to it until February, 1855. He was
succeeded by Revs. W. Shepherd and J. John-
ston.
In 1857 a council of neighboring churches
was convened and recognized the church as
a regular . Baptist Church. Rev. J. J. Short-
hill was called to the pastorate, and contin-
ued to serve the church till September, 1868,
and was succeeded by Rev. H. Jeffries. In
1871 the great majority of the members, be-
lieving this location to be unfavorable to their
growth, obtained letters of dismission, with a
view to organizing a church at Chambersville.
Forty members were thus removed from
Plumville, leaving but ten or twelve at the
last named place. After 1872 this church was
without a pastor, and its members decreased
until in 1879 it reported only seven, and its
name was dropped from the list of churches
connected with Indiana Association in 1880.
BL.4CKLICK CHURCH
The Blacklick Baptist Church was organ-
ized under the supervision of Revs. W. H.
Johnston and F. Hollen, May 29, 1861, with
sixteen members, all of whom had been dis-
missed from the Livermore Baptist Church
in Westmoreland county. In 1862 Blacklick
Church, located about four miles north of
Blairsville, applied for and was received into
the fellowship of Clarion Association. At
this time it reported a membership of thirty-
two with Franklin Hollen as pastor. Dur-
ing the next ten years it appears to have been
without a pastor. Then Rev. Jesse Morgan
served as pastor for two years — 1873-74. Then
it was without a pastor for a term of six years,
when Rev. R. L. Williams at great personal
sacrifice gave this church one fourth of his
time during the year 1879-80. From that
time forward it had no pastor and made no
effort to procure one, and in 1892 its name
was dropped from the list of churches con-
nected with Indiana Association.
LOYALHANNA, SALTSBURG AND KELLY STATION
CHURCHES
The Loyalhanna Baptist Church was or-
ganized at Saltsburg November 29, 1828, by
concurrence and advice of a council of minis-
ters appointed for the purpose of the Red-
stone Baptist Association, namely : Rev. James
Frey, of Big Redstone, Rev. James Estep, of
Forks of Yough, and Rev. John Thomas, of
the Twolick Church, Indiana county.
Its constituents were the following named
persons : ilrs. Mary Johnston, Andrew John-
ston and his wife Martha, John Johnston and
his wife Anna, George Hunt and his wife
Mary, Mrs. Betsie Nicholson and Stephen
Drury.
The first business meeting was held June
20, 1829, at which time Andrew Johnston
was ordained deacon, and Rev. William Shad-
rach, recently ordained to the ministry, was
chosen as pastor. He accepted the call and
entered upon the service immediately, divid-
ing his labor equally between this church
and the church at Mount Pleasant, Westmore-
land county, where on the 10th of December
preceding he had been ordained and settled.
During the greater part of the first year
of its history the little church, through the
kindness of their Presbyterian brethren, had
the privilege of holding their services in their
meeting-house; but this arrangement not
proving quite agreeable to some members of
the session of the Presbyterian Church, the
little band withdrew and held worship at such
places as were found to be most convenient.
Sometimes they met in private houses; some-
times they accepted a tender made to them
to use a meeting-house at New Alexandria,
at which place some of the members resided,
and here they occasionally held the commun-
ion service.
In the opening of the spring of 1830 the
church erected a tent in a beautiful grove,
some three miles from Saltsburg, near the
road leading to New Alexandria. This spot
was selected as the most eligible on which
to build their sanctuary, whenever they should
deem themselves able for the undertaking.
Around this preaching stand, in the open air
and under the canopy of heaven, large as-
semblies gathered to pray and praise and hear
the word.
In 1832, having been greatly strengthened
in the meantime by accessions to their num-
ber, they erected a neat and commodious
brick building, and dedicated it to the wor-
ship of God, free of debt, and having now a
"local habitation" they took to themselves
the name of the Loyalhanna Baptist Church.
This location was well suited to the conven-
ience of the congregation, as the greater part
of the membership, both of the original con-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
291
stituenls and of those who subsequently
united with the church, resided on the West-
moreland side of the Couemaugh.
In March, 1835, their first pastor, after hav-
ing served the church for five years and ten
months, resigned the pastorate to take charge
of a newly organized chiirch in the city of
Allegheny, then called Allegheny towoi. This
parting of a young church with its youthful
minister was the severance of tender ties, mu-
tually painful to both; but the call of duty
seemed to demand the sacrifice, and to this
demand they mutually yielded. At this time
the church numbered" 130 communicants.
On the 6th of April, 1836, the church
elected to the pastorate Rev. Benoni Allen,
who served in the office until August, 1839.
This proved to be before its close a very un-
happy pastorate. Under it a spirit of dis-
cord was engendered among the members,
parties were formed, proper discipline was
neglected, and in the midst of this disorder
the pastor withdrew without being regularly
dismissed. For a long period the strife contin-
ued, and terminated liually by the exclusion
of as many as twenty-one members from the
communion of the church. This occurred Feb-
ruary 15, 1842. Through the years of 1840
and 1841 frequent efforts at reconciliation
had been attempted, but \dthout effect. In
the meantime the disaffected party had with-
drawn from the church and organized a sep-
arate body, under the name of the Livei'more
Baptist Church. This proceeding, being re-
garded as fractious and disorderly, did not
prevent the church, in the exercise of its dis-
cipline, from expelling them from its fellow-
ship. After the lapse of some years a better
spirit prevailed, and a good degree of broth-
erly concord was bestowed, a calm succeeding
the storm. The Livermore Church by re-
moval, death and otherwise has become ex-
tinct.
From 1840 to 1849 the church was served
for brief periods by the following named
ministers, either as pastors or supplies : Isaac
Winn, John Parker, ]Milton Sutton, John P.
Rockefeller, Edward J\I. Miles. Not anything
of special note took place during this period.
In June, 1849, the church called to ordination
Mr. P. M. Weddle, a licensed preacher, who
by the advice of a council called for that
purpose was ordained to the full w'ork of the
Christian ministry and served the church
till June. 1852. He was soon succeeded by
Rev. T. J. Penny, who held the office until
April, 1855. During his pastorate the church
resolved to change the location, and in 1853
liuilt a house of worship in the borough of
Saltsburg, and assumed the name of the Salts-
burg Baptist Church, not, however, without
providing for holding occasional services at
Loyalhanua.
Mr. Penny was followed by Rev. D. W.
Hunter, who ministered to the church from
August, 1855, to April, 1857. The next year
the church was without a pastor.
From March, 1858, Rev. J. R. ilorris de-
voted to the interests of the church one half
of his time for one year. In April. 1859, 'Slv.
W. T. Johnston, a licentiate, was called by the
church to ordination, and served it as pas-
tor from April of that year until April, 1862.
From 1862 to 1864 the church received pas-
toral services from Rev. Samuel Furman,
then pastor of the church at Indiana. In
March, 1864, Rev. A. H. Taylor was called to
the pastorate and remained in office until fail-
ing health compelled him to retire, in ilarch,
1866.
From the last named date until 'Slay. 1867,
the church was without a pastor, at which
time a call was extended to Rev. A. Shadrach,
who accepted, and served the church for a
period of eight years, when he resigned to
take the financial agency of Mount Pleasant
Institute, in Westmoreland county. During
his pastorate the church deemed it advisable
to occupy more fully the ground on the West-
moreland side of the river; accordingly, in
1872, thirty-six members were dismissed for
the purpose of organizing a new church, un-
der the old name of the Loyalhanna Baptist
Church. They built that year a new and com-
modious church edifice and united under the
same pastoral charge with the Saltsburg
Church. At the close of Rev. A. Shadraeh's
pastorate, in April. 1875, Rev. G. W. Baker
was called to the pastorate of the Saltsburg
Church, seiwing it for one year ; and in April,
1876, Rev. John Burke became pastor of Salts-
burg and Loyalhanua Churches. He contin-
ued in the pastorate until April, 1879.
Near the close of Mr. Burke's ministrj' a
new church was constituted at one of his out-
posts, and eleven membei's were dismissed
from the Saltsburg Church, who together
with eleven others, dismissed from the Loyal-
hanna Church, became the constituents of
the new body, under the name of the Kelly
Station Baptist Church. This was added to
Jlr. Burke's charge, and in 1879 Rev. A. G.
Baird became pastor.
The membership of these churches in 1880
was as follows: Saltsburg. 75, LoyaUianna,
63, Kelly Station, 52; total, 190.
292
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
lu 1912 there were eleven members at
Kelly's Station. Rev. A. J. Bowser of Salts-
burg supplied the chui'ch part of the year;
from June, 1912, Rev. J. T. Davis preached
monthly. In June a Sabbath school was or-
ganized with a teachers' training class, an
adult class and a cradle roll department. This
church has taken on new life, having a large
attendance at aU' the services.
TWOLICK CHURCH
The Twolick Baptist Church located on
Dixon's run, in Green township, was organ-
ized in the autumn of 1824. Its constituents,
about twelve in number, were chiefly immi-
grants from Wales. Owing to the loss of the
early records of the church a partial list
only can be given here of these constituents.
Among them were the following persons:
Simon Davis and wife, George Tui-ner and
wife, Elizabeth Price, Mary Shadrach and
John Thomas. The other constituent mem-
bers were persons baptized at the time of the
organization.
This was the first Baptist Church in In-
diana county. It was organized at the house
of Mr. Francis Chapman, who, together with
his wife and several of his daughters, was
among the earliest accessions to the church.
Rev. Thomas Williams and Rev. Benjamin
Davis, ministers of the Beulah Baptist Church
in Cambria county, officiated at the organiza-
tion.
The first settlement in that part of the
county was made as early as 1801-02 by a few
families from Wales, those of John Rees,
Hugh Rees, Simon Davis, David Price and
David Moses. This region at that time was
an iinbroken wilderness, the outer border of
civilization. Between Dixon's ran and the
Susquehanna river no man lived. Wild beasts
roamed the forests undisturbed.
Among the settlers above named were three
Baptists, Simon Davis and wife, and Eliza-
beth Price, wife of David Price. Their mem-
bership was held in the Beulah Baptist Church
near Ebensburg, and ministers of that church
paid them, at long intervals, paternal visits.
It was not, however, until the year 1819 that
any attempt was made to institute a religious
society of any name or kind. In that year
Mrs. Shadrach, a widow, sister of John and
Hugh Rees, with her two sons, John Thomas
and William Shadrach, arrived from Wales.
Mrs. Mary Shadrach and her eldest son, John
Thomas, were members of the Baptist Church
in Wales, and as Beulah, twenty-six miles
distant, was the nearest church of their faith,
they deposited their certificates of member-
ship in that church, and frequently for a time
attended its communion. It is due to the
memory of this Christian woman to state in
this connection that it was mainly owing to
her devoted zeal that the first effort was made
to establish in the neighborhood stated reli-
gious services. In connection with these ex-
ercises prayer meetings held tvom house to
house continued to increase in numbers and
interest. No other organized meetings for
religious worship within a circle of from
eight to ten miles could be found. From 1820
onward more frequent visits were made by
various ministers from Ebensburg, among
whom were George Roberts ( Indejoendent ) ,
William Williams, Thomas Williams, Pestus
Tibbot, Thomas E. Thomas and Benjamin Da-
vis. Converts were made, at first among the
youth mainly, and those of riper years fol-
lowed ; so that by the autumn of 1824 it was
deemed advisable to organize a church.
Soon after the church was formed, Rev.
John Thomas, who had been previously called
to ordination while yet a member of the Beu-
lah Church, was called to the pastorate, and
continued to serve it for a period of six years ;
some of the Beulah ministers continuing,
meantime, to pay him and the church broth-
erly visits.
In 1826 the church licensed William Shad-
rach, the pastor's brother, to preach the gos-
pel wherever he might find 'an open door.
The two brothers during this and the year
following made frequent preaching excursions
through various districts, from Pine Flats
on the east to Glade Run on the west, on the
borders of Armstrong county, and southward
to the waters of Blackliek. The church at
this period had a large territory claiming ser-
vice from it, and drew members into its com-
munion from distances varying from seven to
eighteen miles east and west.
In 1830 the church dismissed thirteen mem-
bers for the purpose of forming a new church,
now known as the Mahoning Baptist Church.
It was organized under the supervision of
Rev. G. I. Mihs and Rev. William Shadrach,
April 18, 1830, at the house of Enoch Hast-
ings, on Glade run, and was the third Bap-
tist church in the county, Saltsburg Church,
constituted in the autumn of 1829, being the
second.
In the year 1830-31 the Twolick Church
was greatly disturbed and very seriously dam-
aged and divided by the introduction among
its members of the doctrinal teachings of
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
293
Alexander Campbell. Hitherto nothing had
occurred to mar their peace or hinder their
progress. Now angry controversy took the
place of their former brotherly greetings, and
hot discussions on "baptismal regeneration"
and kindred matters were substituted for
prayerful endeavors to promote the glory of
God in the salvation of men. The pastor did
all in his power to prevent the breach, and
to heal it after it had taken place ; but among
the advocates of the new doctrine were some
influential men who had hitherto been his
special friends. He became weary of the
strife, and removed with his family to Fay-
ette county, taking with him his aged mother
from scenes which deeply grieved and sad-
dened her heart.
In 1832, the long struggle having measura-
bly subsided, the church called to the pastor-
ate Rev. Thomas E. Thomas, who during his
ministry of two years did much to encourage
the enfeebled church and to rebuild its broken
walls. The next year the church was without
a settled pastor, but received occasional vis-
its from several ministers from a distance,
among whom were David Williams, John P.
Rockefeller and William Shadrach.
In 1836 Rev. Thomas Wilson took charge
of the church under the auspices of the "Bap-
tist General Association for Missionary Pur-
poses," and continued serving the church
for three years. During his pastorate, and
near its close, a new church was organized at
what is now known as Decker's Point, and
was called the Shiloh Baptist Church. Its
constituents numbered fourteen members, all
of whom had been dismissed from the Two-
lick Church for that purpose.
From 1840 to 1850 the church -seems to
have passed through a low and depressed
state. No pastoral settlement is recorded,
though occasional services were rendered by
visiting ministers.
In 1850 Rev. Samuel Furman supplied the
pulpit regularly a part of his time, and in
the autumn of 1852, A. B. Runyan, a recently
licensed young man, was invited to preaeli
for the church, and he pleased them so well
that in February, 1853, he was called by
them to ordination, and continued to serve
the church until March, 1854. The minis-
ters* in attendance at his ordination were Rev.
Aaron Neff and Rev. Samuel Furman.
Rev. Franklin HoUen rendered pastoral
service to the church in the years 1857-58, at
which time A. Shadrach was licensed by the
church to preach the gospel; and after doing
missionary work in this and in the adjoining
county of Armstrong, and receiving ordina-
tion at the call of the Pine Creek Baptist
Chui-ch, in Armstrong county, he was called
to the pastorate of the Twoliek Church in
1863, and continued to devote to its interest
a part of his time until the spring of 1869.
During his pastorate the church substituted
tor the old log meeting-house a new and com-
modious frame building in which they now
worship.
Since 1869 the church has been ministered
unto by Rev. Samuel Furman, Rev. C. A.
Prescott, Rev. Enos Woodruff, Rev. M. L.
Rowland.
It numbers at this time eighty-seveu mem-
bers.
The last sermon in the old church was
preached in May, 1911, after which the
church was torn down and a new one erected
at Dixonville in its stead. The services in
connection with the dedication of the new
Twoliek Baptist Church at Dixonville, Febru-
ary 11, 1912, were impressive and enjoyed by
a large audience. Rev. J. A. Maxwell of Phil-
adelphia delivered the dedicatory sermon, fol-
lowed in the afternoon by Revs. M. L. Row-
land, of Pliunville, H. P. King, of Indiana,
■J. E. Osgood and C. E. Parker, of Dixonville,
and J. T. Davis, of Blairaville. George T.
Buchanan, of Indiana, a former member of
this church, made an address on the growth
and influence of the congregation, which is the
oldest of that denomination in the county.
Rev. James McPhail, pastor of the congrega-
tion, had charge of the services. At the fore-
noon exercises .$1,000 was pledged to free the
church from debt.
The new house of worship is a brick
veneered structure of modern design, costing
$3,371. The interior is made attractive with
a steel arched ceiling, and all the furniture
is in keeping with the modern church edifice.
The pulpit furniture was donated by Mr. Wid-
dowson, the communion table by J. T. Davis,
the communion chairs by H. H. Steving, the
chandeliers by the pastor, and a memorial
window by the family of W. L. Buchanan, of
Indiana. The membership of the church is
116.
TWOLICK MISSION
On December 10, 1912. the Twoliek Mission
hall, built by Edmund Widdowson, was ded-
icated. Then J. T. Davis organized a Sunday
school and held a two weeks' meeting, during
which eighteen professed their faith in Christ.
Rev. James ilePhail preaches here twice a
month.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
WEST LEBANON CHURCH
The West Lebanon Baptist Church was or-
ganized by Revs. T. Dinsmore and J. Johnson
August 7, 1847. This little church, like al-
most all the Baptist Churches in this coun-
try, has struggled hard, in the fact of many
difficulties, to maintain its visibility. Too
weak in financial resources to sustain a reg-
ular ministry, it has had but scant minis-
terial culture. Quite a list of devoted men
is given in its history as having served it
at ■ different periods, but mostly for brief
terms. Some served for a few months only,
others for periods extending from one to
three years. Its longest pastorate, including,
however, but a fraction of the minister's time,
extended toJess than five years. The follow-
ing named ministers have tendered more or
less service to the church: T. Dinsmore,
Aaron Neff, John Thomas, T. Penny, W. B.
Bingham, S. Furman, M. S. Bowser, M. L.
Rowland.
In 1879 Rev. M. L. Rowland served as pas-
tor and the church reported a membership of
only twenty-four, seven of whom had been
received during that year. From that time
forward this church was without regular ser-
vices and the membership decreased until in
1889 only six members were reported. They
disbanded during the following year and sub-
sequently disposed of their property, the pro-
ceeds of which are invested in such a man-
ner that they shall be held sacred for the
use of any Baptist organization that may
make an effort to build a house of worship in
that vicinity.
AMBROSE CHURCH
The Ambrose Baptist Church was organized
in 1880. In 1879 a frame church building
was erected at a cost of $1,200. Rev. A. B.
Runyan was the first pastor and was followed
by Revs. D. W. Griffith, J. T. Gallagher, J.
W. Shoemaker, C. W. Teasdale, R. R. Reidel,
R. B. Dunmire, John W. Cottrell and C. F.
Carll, who is the present minister and gives
one fourth of his time to this congregation,
which has an enrollment of eighty-two mem-
bers.
The deacons are : W. H. Hopkins, William
T. Long, D. W. Brady, clerk, H. S. Chambers,
treasurer, M. A. Wynkoop, Byron Mulberger,
Samuel McMillan. Mr. Byron Mulberger is
the superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which has an enrollment of fifty-four and is
kept open the entire year.
CHERRYTREE CHURCH
This church was built in 187.3 at a cost of
$1,000, and dedicated September 27, 1874,
when Rev. E. Woodruff was pastor. Since
this time the following pastors have served
the congregation : A. Shadraeh, R. L. Wil-
liams, A. B. Runyan, J. T. Gallagher, R. B.
Dunmire, C. E. Parker, H. W. D. Kirken-
dall, W. P. Hile, C. F. Cornman, J. E. Kan-
arr, F. I. Sigmund, C. F. Carll. The church
was desti-oyed by fire in 1908, and has no't
been rebuilt.
BRUSHVALLEY CHURCH
Mr. Hugh Evans, it is believed, was the
first Baptist plant which took root and flour-
ished in Brushvalley. After him came a fam-
ily by the name of Stephens. Branches of
both of these families still remain in the val-
ley, and maintain the principles which they
received from the fathers.
As far back as 1824 (possibly earlier) pi-
oneer preachers from Beulah and Ebens-
burg, in Cambria county, made occasional
visits to the valley, and preached in the house
or barn of Hugh Evans, or under the shade
of trees as circumstances permitted. Among
these pioneers the following named ministers
are still remembered with grateful affection :
Revs. Thomas Williams, Benjamin Davis, John
Thomas, Thomas E. Thomas, Festus Tibbott.
All these, except Benjamin Davis, are gone to
their rest.
The Brushvalley Church was not organized
until the year 18.39. Occasional preaching,
however, continued from the first to be en-
joyed by the people. In September of the
year last named Revs. Samuel Conrad and
John P. Rockefeller were called for consulta-
tion, and after seeking divine counsel and
guidance concluded to organize the little com-
pany into a regular church. Its constituents
numbered sixteen members. Since its or-
ganization it has baptized into its fellowship
many converts. Its present membership is
twenty-nine. The church has suffered much
of late by the removal by death of its most
substantial supporters.
The ministers named below have served the
church : Revs. Samuel Conrad, Aaron Neff,
Thomas Wilson, Samuel C. Morris, John W.
Evans, Joseph R. Morris, Franklin Hollen,
A. Shadraeh, W. P. England, C. H. Prescott,
G. W. Baker, A. B. Runyan, ]\I. L. Rowland,
T. M. Evans, R. B. Dunmire, C. W. Rockwell,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Elias Rowland and J. T. Davis, who gives
one fourth of his time as stated supply.
The trustees are : Andrew Dick, Charles
Sweariugeu, Harry T. Ross ; the deacons are :
Elias Rowland, William Swearingen, Harry
T. Ross, Andrew Dick; treasurer, Harvey C.
Rowland; clerk, Mrs. Chester Rhyme. Mrs.
Alice Rowland is the superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which is kept open the entire
year, with an enrollment of twenty-three mem-
bers.
HOMER CITY CHURCH
This church was built in 1894, when Rev.
A. B. Runyan was pastor. The approximate
cost of the building was .$1,800, and it is a
good substantial frame church. The following
have served as pastors of the church : Revs.
A. B. Runyan, R. B. Dunmire, H. H. Leamy,
C. W. Sheriff, C. W. Rockwell, A. B. Runyan,
R. L. Williams, A. J. Furman, A. B. Whitby
and Rev. R. B. Dunmire, who is the present
pastor and gives all his time to this congre-
gation and that of Blairsville.
The deacons are William Phillips and Peter
Stahl; treasurer, Charles E. Shugarts; clerk,
Miss Lela Furman. The membership of the
church at present is thirty-two. Mrs. Lydia
A. Neal is the superintendent of the Sabbath
school, which is kept open the entire year and
has an enrollment of sixty-two.
GLEN CAMPBELL CHURCH
The church occupied by this congregation-
was built by the Disciples and was purchased
by the Baptist congregation in 1903, for
$1,000.
Rev. A. J. Furman, then pastor of the Bap-
tist Church of Indiana, Pa., being granted a
vacation held a series of meetings in the
Christian Church in August, 1902, and was
assisted in these meetings by Rev. E. E. Hall,
then pastor of the East Mahoning Baptist
church. This led up to the purchase of the
building and an organization of the Baptist
Church in Glen Campbell, Pa. The pastors
since that time have been : Revs. E. E. Hall,
Houck, C. F. Carll, J. A. Klucker. The
church has no pastor at present, but has an
occasional supply sent in by Rev. J. T. Davis,
home missionary of Blairsville. Pennsylva-
nia.
The deacons are: ]\Iessrs. I. I. Gardner,
John Huff, Walter Fee. The trustees are :
Messrs. T. J. Fee, I. I. Gardner, John Huff,
Joe Rowley, H. H. Pennington. Miss Doll
Barkey is the church clerk. The superintend-
ent of the Sabbath school is Alex. Shields.
The membership of the church is sixty-eight.
BL.\IRSVILLE CHURCH
The church occupied by this congregation
was purchased from the IMethodist Evangeli-
cal congregation in September, 1896. It is
a large brick building, 35 by 90 feet, and when
new cost about $15,000.
The following ministers have served the
congregation: Revs. C. W. Teasdale, Daniel
Swigart, M. L. Rowland, A. B. Runyan, C.
W. Teasdale. A. B. Runyan. R. R. Reidel,
J. T. Davis, C. W. Sheriff, J. T. Davis, A. M.
Whiteley and R. B. Dunmire, the present
minister.
Mr. L. C. Smith is the clerk ; George Klein,
treasurer; George Jennings, financial secre-
tary. The trustees are : Charles Stair, A.
Howe, Frank Cover, Harold Bennett, H. F.
Bowser, D. R. ilcKee, George Klein. The
deacons are : A. T. Weimer, G. W. De Lan-
cey, Charles Stair, J. G. McCreery, Harold
Bennett, L. C. Smith. Mr. L. C. Smith is the
superintendent of the Sabbath school, which
has an enrollment of eighty-five and is kept
open the entire year.
Rev. James Patterson, who was reared in
this congregation, is at present a pastor near
Philadelphia, Pa., and H. S. Coulter, of this
congregation, is a student in Bucknell Col-
lege.
This church was richly blessed through the
union meetings held in Blairsville in the
spring of 1912, when twenty-eight persons
united with the church. The present enroll-
ment is 158.
EAST MAHONING CHURCH
In the summer of 1850 Rev. Samuel Fur-
man, then pastor of the Twolick and Pine
Flats Churches, visited by recjuest the neigh-
borhood of the Buterbaughs and preached a
sermon in the old log schoolhouse near John
O'Hara's. The service resulted in the awak-
ening of O'Hara and wife and John Spicher
and wife. At the next meeting these four eon-
verts were baptized. In the autumn of 1851
Mr. Furman, assisted by Rev. Thomas Wil-
son, held a protracted meeting in the neigh-
borhood with good results. Ten pei-sons pro-
fessed conversion and were baptized. During
this meeting the East Mahoning Church was
organized. Its constituents were David Bu-
terbaugh and Frederick Buterbaugh, with
their wives, dismissed from the Twolick
Church; J. O'Hara and wife and J. Spicher
296
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and wife, and Margaret Langham, dismissed
from the Shiloh Church; James Davis and
wife, dismissed from the Livermore Church;
together with the ten baptized, twenty-one in
all.
Prom this time forward Mr. Furman
preached statedly for the new church every
fourth week, occupying for two years the log
schoolhouse. In 1853 the church built a plain
and commodious frame meeting-house, bur-
dened now with no debt, in which worship is
still held. This church was built at a cost
of $3,000.
For ten successive years the church held
a yearly meeting of some days' continuance
which was greatly blessed, the least number
of hopeful conversions at any one meeting
being ten, and the greatest twenty-one.
In 1863 Mr. Furman resigned his pastorate,
having served the church faithfully for the
space of ten years. He was succeeded by Rev.
Franklin Hollen, who served the church for
but one year, at which time the former pastor
was recalled and ministered to the church for
six years more, from April, 1864, to March,
1870. Then he again resigned and, with his
family, removed to Tennessee. In the sum-
mer of 1870 Rev. J. E. Dean served the church
for three months, and in the fall of that year
Rev. T. C. Gepford was called to the pastor-
ate, filling the office until July, 1874, when he
was dismissed. A third call was now extended
to Rev. Mr. Furman, the old pastor. This he
accepted, and in the spring of 1875 moved
from Tennessee to the parsonage of the East
Mahoning Church, remaining until 1881.
The pastoi's since that time have been Revs.
D. W. Griffith, A. B. Runvan, C. P. McMann,
M. L. Rowland, W. P. Hile, C. P. Comman,
E. E. Hall, C. W. M. Turner and Thomas
Lambert, the present minister.
The triistees are : S. P. Baker, William
Rankin, John Parnsworth, J. M. Nupp, H.
H. Houk, W. II. Buterbaugh; church clerk,
Mrs. Charles Keating ; treasurer, Mrs. Mayme
Bnterbaugh.
Mr. J. M. Nupp is superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of
171, and is kept open the entire year.
The congregation has an enrollment of 123
members.
MAHONING CHURCH
This church was organized under the super-
vision of Revs. G. I. Miles and 'William Shad-
rach, at the house of Enoch Hastings on
Glade run, April 18, 1830. Its constituents,
thirteen in number, were dismissed for the
purpose from the Twolick Baptist Church.
On the Sabbath, the day following the organ-
ization, two persons were baptized into its
fellowship, so that there were fifteen mem-
bers at its first celebration of the Lord's
Supper.
At this time the church had no pastor, the
ministers above named being but casual visit-
ors, both engaged in voluntary missionary
tours over territory extending from Center
county, on the east, to Washington county,
on the west. The first regular ministrations
rendered the church were by Rev. Thomas E.
Thomas, pastor of Zion Baptist Church in
Clarion county. He was followed by J. P.
Rockefeller, T. Wilson, Ed. MeCromber, S.
Furman, A. Neff, M. S. Bowser, A. B. Run-
yan, J. W. Shoemaker, D. W. C. Henry.
The present church was built in 1882 at a
cost of $2,000. The pastors in the new
church have been Revs. W. D. Griffith, J. D.
Gallagher, I. W. Shoemaker, C. W. Teasdale,
W. P. Hile, C. P. Cornman, E. Percv French,
M. V. S. Gold, James McPhail and C. P.
Carll, the present minister, who gives half
his time to this congregation.
The trustees are: H. E. Rowland, Charles
Rowland, D. P. Moore, A. C. Lukehart, W. S.
Burns. The deacons are: Evan Lewis, John
Lewis, A. H. Bowser, Clarence Lukehart, E.
K. Nolf, W. D. Raraigh, E. J. Welsh. E. K.
Nolf is superintendent of the Sabbath school.
Two young men from the congregation
liave entered the ministry, Rev. Preston De
Lancey, of Meadville, Pa., and H. E. Lewis,
of Somerset, Pennsylvania.
This church has been greatly blessed. It
has received into its membership many mem-
bers and has at present 140 members. The
enrollment of the Sabbath school is sixty-five,
and it is kept open the entire year.
GEORGEVILLE CHURCH
This church was built in 1886, when Rev.
J. W. Shoemaker was pastor. It is a neat
frame structure and cost $1,000.
The pastors in order since organization
have been: Revs. I. W. Shoemaker, W. P.
Hile, John E. Kanarr, R. R. Reidel, Charles
Teasdale, J. T. Gallagher, M. V. S. Gold,
James McPhail and C. P. Carll, who has
served the congregation since 1910, giving
one fourth of his time.
The deacons are Messrs. John R. Smith,
H. S. Miller, P. A. Weaver, George Fry; the
trustees are P. A. Weaver and George Fry;
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
297
clerk, P. A. Weaver; treasurer, Mrs. A. S.
Aul.
The church membership is thirty-five.
Mr. Silas Mcilillan is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which is kept open ten
months iu the year, and has an enrollment of
forty-five.
RICHMOND CHURCH
As early as 1845 there was occasional Bap-
tist preaching in the vicinity of the present
village of Richmond. The first preachers of
whom we have any record were Aaron Neff
and Thomas Wilson. The few Baptists in
this vicinity for the years from this time for-
ward belonged to the Shiloh Church at Deck-
er's Point. The most active members in the
vicinity having died or removed, interest in
the work about ceased uutil vitalized by the
voluntary labors of Rev. C. H. Prescott, of
Reyuoldsville, Jefferson Co., Pa. He preached
without pay, giving of his own means also
towards the establishment of a church, with a
house of worship of its own. A meeting held
by him in the United Brethren house of
worship resulted in the conversion and bap-
tism of some, who with members from Shiloh
and East Mahoning Churches living in the
neighborhood met and organized January 26,
1875. A council from other churches of the
same faith and order convened July 28, 1875,
in the Presbyterian Church, and reorganized
the brethren as a regular Baptist church.
Ministers present at these services : Rev. Wil-
liam Shadrach, D. D., Rev. Enos Woodruff,
Rev. Daniel Griffith, Rev. Samuel Furman,
Rev. Aaron Neff. Rev. A. B. Runyan. Rev.
Hewell Jeffries, Rev. C. H. Prescott; James
Ansley, of Crooked Creek Church, was chair-
man, and Rev. Enos Woodruff, clerk. The
constituents were: George Barrett and wife,
John C. Weaver and Prudence, his wife,
David Weaver. Conrad Peiffer and Eliza, his
wife, John Lowman, David T. Brown and
Hannah, his wife, David Daugherty and
Caroline, his wife.
A comfortable building was erected in the
summer of 1875, at a cost of $1,500. Rev.
C. H. Prescott served the church as pastor
part of his time for two years, and Rev. D.
W. C. Hervey part of the time for eighteen
months. The ehiirch building is one of four
built at this point since 1860. the first being
built about that year on the south side of Ma-
honing creek, for the United Brethren, and
since then three comfortable churches have
been erected on the north side of the creek,
one each by the Presbvterians, United Pres-
byterians and Baptists. The site of these
three churches fifty years ago was a dense
undergrowth of pine and laurel, and it is now
the prettiest part of the village.
At present the church is without a pastor
and has no services. The six remaining mem-
bers deeply deplore their weakened condi-
tion.
SHILOH CHURCH
The Shiloh Baptist Church, located in
Grant township, was organized June 15, 1839,
by Rev. Thomas Wilson, assisted by Rev.
Samuel A. Morris. Its constituent members,
fourteen in number, were dismissed for the
purpose from the Twolick Baptist Church.
Its present membership is twenty-seven.
The church worships in a neat, commodious
edifice, which is free from debt. Its pulpit
has been occupied by the following named
ministei's : Revs. Thomas Wilson, L. W. Chap-
man, Samuel Furman, F. Hollen, W. Shad-
rach, A. Shadrach, W. P. England, J. G. Con-
over, C. H. Prescott, D. W. C. Hervey, M. L.
Rowland, A. Shadrach, C. P. De Camp, J. T.
Gallagher, A. J. Alexander, C. F. Cornman,
R. L. Williams, C. W. M. Turner, James Mc-
Phail and Thomas Lambert, the present min-
ister, who gives one fourth his time to this
congregation.
The present church was built in 1874 at a
cost of $1,300, when Rev. Thomas Wilson was
pastor.
The present oificers are : D. W. Mumau, W.
P. Kinter, R. F. Hazlett; Mr. G. W. Hazlett
is the superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which is kept open the entire year with an en-
rollment of forty-five.
Rev. J. K. ]Mumau, who was reared in this
congi-egation, is now preaching in the State
of Washington.
FAIRVIEW CHURCH
The Fairview Baptist Church in Grant
township was organized October 11, 1877, and
recognized as a regular Baptist Church by a
council representing several of the neighbor-
ing churches, called for the puiTDOse, in ac-
cordance with the usual practice of the de-
nomination. The ministers serving on the
occasion were Revs. Samuel Furman, J. G.
Conover, I. W. Shoemaker. Its constituent
members numbered about thirty, twenty-three
of whom had been dismissed from the East
Mahoning Church.
At the time of their organization the mem-
bers placed themselves under the pastoral
298
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
care of Rev. I. W. Shoemaker, who served
them for one year. After a brief interval the
church called to the pastorate Rev. M. L. Row-
land, who was followed by Revs. De Camp,
H. W. D. Kirkendall, Teasdale, M. L. Parker,
Alexander, E. E. Hall and J. T. Davis, who
at present supplies the pulpit once a month.
J. D. Spicher is clerk; John McMillan, L.
T. Spicher, F. M. Bartlebaugh, trustees.
The present church was built in 1892 at a
cost of about $1,600, while Rev. R. B. Dun-
mire was pastor.
The present membership is thirty-three.
There is no Sabbath school at present.
DILLTOWN CHURCH
The Dilltown Memorial Baptist Church
was built in 1897 in honor of Rev. Samuel
Conrath and William Stephens, at a cost of
$1,500. The lot on which the church stands
was donated by Mrs. Rebecca Dill. The
church was dedicated October 31, 1897.
For many years the church services were
conducted in the schoolhouse. Prior to this
time the members went to the Brushvalley
Baptist Church, in Mechanicsburg. The dis-
tance being so far and the roads not good, the
Stephens, Conrad, Dill and Altimus fami-
lies, thirty-six in all, withdrew from the Brush-
valley congregation to establish the present
Baptist congregation at Dilltown. The fol-
lowing have served as ministers: Revs. R. B.
Dunmire, Rockwell, A. B. Runyan, Elias
Rowland. At present the church is supplied
by Rev. J. T. Davis, of Blairsville, Pennsyl-
vania.
When the church was organized William S.
Conrad and Samuel Stephens were the dea-
cons. The present deacons are S. W. Hess
and Frank Conrad. The membership is
thirty. Lizzie R. Stewart is the superintend-
ent of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of eighty pupils.
Dr. John Harris, the president of Bucknell
University, was a member of the Brushvalley
Church and attended the Sabbath school in
the old schoolhouse at Dilltown.
CROOKED CREEK CHURCH
The Crooked Creek Baptist Church, located
near Chambersville, in Rayne township, was
organized in the Hawthorn schoolhouse
December 15, 1870, with forty members,
whose connection had been with the Plum-
ville Church. The council — of which Rev.
Samuel Miles of Soldiers Run Church, Jeffer-
son county, was chairman, and J. 0. De-
Lancey, of Mahoning, clerk — was composed
of delegates from Soldiers Run, East Mahon-
ing, Shiloh, Twolick, Mahoning and West
Lebanon Churches. Following the organi-
zation the same council advised the ordination
to the gospel ministry of C. H. Prescott, a
gifted laymen of Soldiers Run Church. The
ordination having taken place, he was chosen
as the new organization's first pastor. While
his stay with this church was comparatively
lirief, his ministerial career thus officially be-
gun in this obscure country schoolhouse was
destined to attain honored recognition in at
least three States, many weak interests find-
ing in him an interested helper and the larger
denominational work in him a liberal sup-
porter. Many through his efforts became
Christians, his eft'ectiveness in personal work
being very marked.
In September, 1871, the church was re-
ceived into the Clarion Association. The year
1871 brought to the new organization the gift
of one acre of desirably located land to be
used for church purposes, the donor' being
Mrs. Charlotte Pierce. Mrs. Pierce, though
not a member of the organization, was a well-
wisher of the undertaking, and her remains
as well as those of her husband repose in the
plot so generously donated in former years.
The church during this year met the need
for a new building by liberal contributions
and willing service, and early in 1872 the
members were enabled to dedicate their new
building free of debt. In the yestrs that fol-
lowed many of the members showed their in-
terest in bringing their neighbors into fellow-
ship with the God they loved by acts of more
than ordinary effort, and their devotion to
their Church was such that many of them
could sincerely say:
For her my tears shall fall ;
For her my prayers ascend ;
To her my cares and toils be given,
Till toils and cares shall end.
This being strictly a country church the
removal of persons joining to places where
employment was abmidant and more remu-
nerative has prevented the membership from
ever becoming large, but many whose going
weakened the home interest added strength
to churches elsewhere and the good that has
been done is known only to God.
The following have served as pastors: C.
II. Prescott, Aaron Neff, H. Jeffries, A. B.
Runyan, D. W. Griffith, M. L. Rowland, I. W.
Shoemaker, C. W. Teasdale (H. F. Loomis,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
299
assistant). R. R. Reidel. R. B. Dunmire, J. W.
Cottrell, C. F. Carll.
The following have served as deacons :
James Ansley. John Long, D. C. Haslet, J. F.
McLaughlin." D. C. Davis, J. C. Kimple, E. M.
Ansley, B. S. Connor.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN
One of the first white men to set foot upon
the soil of Indiana county was Conrad "Weiser,
an Evangelical Lutheran of eastern Pennsyl-
vania, who crossed the mountains in 1748 on
his way to old Logstown, on the north bank
of the Ohio river, to treat with the Indians.
Those who followed him were Scotch-Irish set-
tlers, who braved the dangers of \dlderness
life and endeavored to set up homes for them-
selves as early as 1769. The most attractive
spot to these early pioneers seemed to be in
the neighborhood of Indiana. Here the land
was free from heavy timber and covered with
a rich growth of prairie grass, which made
excellent provender for the cattle during the
winter season. The first two men of whom
history makes mention, who settled in this
neighborhood, were Fergus Moorhead and
James Kelly. A wolf reached through the
chinks of the latter 's cabin one night and
almost tore the scalp from his head, but this
did not deter him or his companion from
bringing out their families in the following
year. The wolves and rattlesnakes were
troublesome neighbors in this locality for a
long time.
The Pennsylvania Dutch, who established
the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in the county; did not come in until the close
of the eighteenth century. There were three
distinct periods of Pennsylvania Dutch emi-
gration to western Pennsylvania before the
year 1800. the first in the spring of 1769, the
second in the spring of 178i, and the third in
the summer of 1794. It was the last wave
that brought a number of Lutheran families
(chiefly from Lancaster, Berks and Franklin
counties) to Indiana county. From these
families the churches in Indiana, Brushvalley
and West AVheatfield were organized. The
churches of the northern end of the county
were not established until a later date.
As late as the year 1827 the Lutheran serv-
ices of the county were conducted exclusively
in the German language. In that year Rev-
N. G. Sharretts introduced English services
in the Indiana, West Wheatfield and Brush-
valley congregations; and to-day the German
language is a strange tongue in all the
Lutheran pulpits of the county. This is a
fact that cannot be affirmed of any other
county within the bounds of the Pittsburg
Synod. A second distinction enjoyed l)y this
county is the fact that all of her Lutiierau
Churches, with the single exception of the
Saltsburg Church, founded by Westmoreland
county Lutherans, are in the fellowship of
the General Synod. When the General Coun-
cil was organized, in 1867, these churches
were connected with the Alleghany Synod,
and the loyalty of that body to the General
Synod was never broken by a single disloyal
act on the part of any of them. In 1887 they
were transferred to the Pittsburg Synod, and
have been strong, unselfish factors in build-
ing up the home mission work of that bod}'.
ZION CHURCH, INDIANA
The splendid victory of General Wayne
over the Indians in Ohio on the 20th day of
August. 1794, made western Pennsylvania
a comparatively safe place for settlement, and
many Pennsylvania Germans gladly availed
themselves of the opportunity of securing
homes west of the Allegheny mountains.
Among those who settled in the neighborhood
of Indiana in 1794 and 1795 were Conrad
Reis, Adam Rowe, Andrew Bates, Christian
Rugh. ilichael Hess, John Farr and Gott-
fried Klingenberger. Preeminent among these
pioneers was Conrad Reis. whose hospitable
home was the rallying center for all the
Lutherans of the comnumity. The traveling
preachers sent out by the Eastern synods to
explore the territory never failed to renew
their spiritual strength before his family altar.
From 1798 to 1806 Rev. John Michael Steck,
of Greensburg, Pa., preached at his house four
times a year to the Lutherans who gathered
there. During the pleasant weather these
services were frequently held in his barn.
Pastor Steck was a very busy man in those
days. He had at least a score of preaching
places and those who could secure his services
once every three months considered them-
selves fortunate. From 1806 to 1813 he was
able to preach for them but once a year.
By this time a number of other German
families had settled in the county, especially
in Brushvalley township, and the people
began to hunger for more frequent services.
In 1813 they were visited by Rev. John Gott-
fried Lampbreeht, a young man from the
University of Goettingen, Germany. They
were well pleased with his services and ac-
cepted him as their pastor. From the regular-
300
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ity of the baptismal records it would appear
that he preached for them every four weeks.
He preached for the Rupp's settlement in
Armstrong county, the Brushvalley settlement
in Indiana county, and the Addison settlement
in Somerset county at the same time. He
organized or reorganized the congregation in
1813. Conrad Reis and Christian Rugh were
the first elders. Michael Hess and John Farr
were the first deacons. The congregation was
not large. At a communion held in Novem-
ber, 1813, twenty-four persons were present,
and at another communion held October 23,
1814, about the same number participated.
In 1813 Conrad Reis donated three acres of
land to the Lutheran and German Reformed
congregation for $1.50, "as long as the sun
and moon shall shine. " It is not known that
he ever made any other will. For some rea-
son a church was not built on this property.
Pastor Lampbrecht came to Indiana as an in-
dependent preacher. In 1816 he applied to
the Ministerium of Pennsylvania for admis-
sion and was rejected. From that date his
name disappears from the records of the
Indiana Church and from the pages of
Evangelical Lutheran history in western
Pennsylvania. His last enti-y in the old
church record bears the date May 15, 1815.
From 1815 to 1822 the congregation was
without a settled pastor and was kept alive
by an occasional supply. In 1817 an im-
postor, named Hoover, preached for them
a while, but he was soon dismissed. In 1818
Rev. John M. Steck visited them. Prom 1819
to 1820 Rev. Mr. Shultze, pastor at Johns-
town, Pa., preached to them occasionally.
The name of Rev. John Adam Mohler of Arm-
strong county also appears upon the record.
It was a time of patient waiting on the part
of the congregation, but the dawn of a better
day was at hand.
When the Pennsylvania Ministerium met
in Gennantown, Pa., in June, 1822, Rev.
Gabriel Adam Reichart was commissioned as
a traveling preacher for western Pennsyl-
vania. In his private diary he says: "With
God I left Lancaster July 14, 1822, visiting
the counties of Lancaster, Perry, Hunting-
don, Indiana, Venango and Erie, the western
part of New York, the northern part of Penn-
sylvania, Tioga, Center, Columbia, and
Luzerne counties, having preached fifty-one
times, baptized sixty-one, administered the
sacrament to fifty-nine, traveling 1,320 miles,
and occupying three months." Indiana con-
gregation received much benefit from his
visitation and thirty-five persons were present
at the communion service which he held for
them. When he was reappointed to his work
by the Synod, the following year, he made
Indiana his place of residence. On the 16th
day of September, 1823, he was married to
Miss Lydia Tyson, of Brushvalley, riding on
horseback with his bride forty-one miles to a
neighboi'ing pastor for the wedding trip.
Pastor Reichart served the congregation as
pastor from 1822 to 1826, resigning only be-
cause the congregation desired English
preaching for the young people and he was
not able to furnish it. In 1822 he organized
a union Sunday school (probably the first in
the county) auxiliary to the American Sun-
day School Union.
in September, 1826, Rev. Nicholas G.
Sharretts was licensed by the West Pennsyl-
vania Synod and commissioned as a traveling
preacher for three months in the counties of
Indiana, Clearfield, Jeflierson, Venango, Arm-
strong, Crawford, Erie and Huntingdon.
The Indiana congregation fell in love with
him and invited him to become their pastor.
This affection was cordially returned. He
took charge of the congregation some time
during the summer of 1827, and served them
for more than nine years, refusing many
flattering offers from other more prominent
churches, until he was called of God to the
church triumphant, December 31, 1836. He
was a man of rich endowments and fervent
piety. The impressions of his first sermon
never abated. His power among the people
increased with the years. He made friends
not only among the Germans of his congre-
gation, but also among the English-speaking
people of the community, and succeeded in
drawing many of the latter into the fellow-
ship of his church. When the West Penn-
sylvania Synod met in his church, in October,
1831, the ordination services were conducted
in English for the first time in the history of
that body, in order that the English-speaking
members of the congregation could under-
stand them. The services of the church were
held in the home of Conrad Reis until 1829,
when the courthouse was rented. Banished
from this place of worship after a few months
of very successful work, the congregation de-
termined to build a church of its own. On
March 22, 1830, a lot was purchased from
Adam Altemus for $100. The trustees of the
congregation at this time were Conrad Reis,
Samuel Guest and James Stewart. The work
of building a church was begun soon there-
after. On Sunday morning, October 9, 1831,
the church was solemnly dedicated to God by
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
301
Rev. S. S. Schmucker, D. D.. of the Gettys-
burg Seminary, under the name of "Zion
Evangelical Lutheran Church." The West
Pennsylvania Synod was in session in the
church, at the same time, and the eighteen
pastors present helped to make the services
exceedingly impressive. "This church was a
brick building, 42 by 50, with basement, vesti-
bule and gallery, cupola and bell, and cost
about $3,000."
While pastor of this church. Rev. Mr. Shar-
retts also preached regularly for the congre-
gations in Brushvalley, Strongstown and
Blairsville. He also preached occasionally
at other points throughout the county. His
zeal was greater than his strength. He suc-
cumbed to ' disease and death December 31,
1836, in the thirty-fifth year of his age, and
was buried by the doorway of the church that
was dearer to him than his own life. Here
his body remained until the death of his wife,
in 1878, when they were laid side by side in
Oakland cemetery. After the death of Rev.
Mr. Sharretts the congregation was supplied
for a few months by Rev. John Brown.
About March 1, 1838, Rev. Jacob Medtart
became pastor of the charge. In 1841 Rev.
John H. Bernheiin, of Eldertou, Pa., asked
permission to hold occasional services for the
Germans of the congregation. The request
was gi'auted, but Rev. Mr. Bernheim at his
second service organized these Germans into
a separate congregation. Zion protested
against this action to the West Pennsylvania
Synod. Rev. Mr. Bernheim was very much
offended by the action of the Synod in his
case, and united with the Evangelical
Lutheran Synod of Ohio. This German con-
gregation maintained a feeble existence for
a number of years, and was finally reabsorbed
by Zion Church. Rev. Mr. Medtart resigned
March 1, 1843. Rev. Henry Bishop served
the congregation. from November 1, 1843, to
November 1, 1849, during which time a par-
sonage was built on the lot at the corner of
Church and Clymer streets at a cost of $1,500.
On July 1, 1850, Rev. C. J. Denninger took
charge, and served until declining health com-
pelled him to resign, September 1, 1852.
Rev. Peter Sahm served the charge from
January 2, 1853, to February 1, 1858.
Prom April 1, 1858, to April 1, 1862, Rev.
William S. Emery was the pastor. During
his ministry the congregation, for the first
time, assumed the entire support of a pastor.
At this time there were about 250 members
in the church and 137 in the Sunday school.
Rev. J. P. Ilentz was pastor from October
1, 1862, to October 1, 1864.
On New Year's Day, 1865, Rev. A. C.
Ehrenfeld became pastor. Under his ministry
the congregation was greatly developed, espe-
cially in the grace of liberality. Extensive
repairs were made to both church and parson-
age at an expense of six thousand dollars.
The memory of his godly life and evangelical
preaching is cherished by many in Indiana
to this day. He resigned the pastorate
October 1, 1875, but continued to reside in
the town until the day of his death, March
10, 1897.
Rev. Charles Steck served the church from
January 8, 1876, to January 3, 1878.
Rev. Peter G. Bell became pastor October
1, 1878, serving Grove Chapel in connection
with the Indiana congregation. Scarcely had
his pastorate begun before "the women of
Zion" began to agitate the question of a
new church. They held a meeting August 2,
1879, and appointed a committee of four
to wait upon the officers of the church. When
this committee appeared before the church
council on the following Monday evening,
tliey received but little encouragement from
any one but the pastor. Not disheartened in
the least, they organized a Ladies' Aid Soci-
ety and proceeded to raise a building fund.
Mother Reis started the good work with a
contribution of $100, and in a very few days
such a sum of money had been raised that the
church council came to the conclusion that if
they did not build a church the women would,
and accordingly went to work. How quickly
tlie women of the church accomplished their
purpose is seen in the fact that on the 25th
day of August, 1879, workmen started to tear
down the old church building. When this
was done the parsonage was removed from the
corner of Church and Sixth streets to the old
church site, and the new edifice was erected
on the corner. It was built in Gothic style,
of brick and stone, and cost about $10,000.
During the time of erection of this building
services were held in the Episcopal Church.
Rev. Mr. Bell resigned the church in October,
1882, and removed to Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Prom 1882 to 1884 Rev. A. C. Ehrenfeld
supplied the congregation.
On May 1, 1884, Rev. Lewis Hay took up
the work. His bow still abides in its strength.
The congregation is larger and more efficient
than ever. The "women of Zion," under the
leadership of Mrs. Hay, are still towers of
strength upon which the congregation can al-
ways depend. During the pastorate of Rev.
302
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mr. Hay the fine parsonage on Sixth street
has been built. It is considered one of the
finest pastors' homes in the bounds of the
Pittsburg Synod. The church has also been
greatly improved, at an expense of several
thousand dollars. It is almost a new church.
During the summer of 1903 Mr. Hari-y Mc-
Creary, a devoted member of Zion, gave $12,-
500 to the Gettyslnirg Theological Seminary,
and thus started the movement which resulted
in the complete emancipation of that institu-
tion from all indebtedness. "Be glad then,
ye children of Ziou, and rejoice in the Lord
your God."
This congregation under the leadership of
Rev. Mr. Hay has grown very rapidly, until
it has a membership of nearly five hundred.
The Sabbath school has kept pace with the
congregation not only in numerical increase
but in organization, efficiency and cheerful
giving. The present superintendent of the
Sabbath school is Mr. D. P. Rinn.
The church has made a record in the last
few years that is very creditable, the Wom-
en's Home and Foreign Missionary Society
numbering more than a hundred members
and doing splendid work. The Junior and
Senior Christian Endeavor societies are both
in a prosperous condition.
BRUSHV.\LLEY CHURCH
The Brushvalley Church is one of the old-
est two Lutheran congregations in Indiana
county. Germans from several counties in
eastern Pennsylvania effected a settlement
here as early as 1794. They were contempor-
aneous with the settlers in the neighborhood
of Indiana, Pa. This settlement at first was
not large, numbering perhaps ten or twelve
families. The major portion of them were
loyal Lutherans who thought it no great hard-
ship to journey all the way to the home of
Conrad Reis, near Indiana, where Rev. John
Michael Steck, the Lutheran pastor at Greens-
burg, preached the gospel four times a year.
By this time the Indians were well out of
the way, and the worst pests which the wor-
shippers had to fear on their journey were
the rattlesnakes with which this part of the
country abounded. Rev. Mr. Steck continued
to fill his quarterly appointment at Indiana
from 1798 to 1806," but from 1806 to 1813 he
was only able to give them a communion ser-
vice once a year.
From 1813 to 1815 Rev. John Gottfried
Lampbreeht, an "independent" preacher
from Germany, preached for the congrega-
tion. His field was less extensive than his
predecessor's, and he was enabled to hold reg-
ular services in the Brushvalley settlement,
preaching in private houses, notably in the
home of Peter Frey, adjoining the present
church property.
From 1819 to 1821 Rev. Wilhelm Shultze,
of Johnstown, Pa., preached occasionally. It
is probable that he may have effected a pro-
visional organization of some kind, for it
was during his term of service (either in 1820
or 1821) that a log church was built. No of-
ficial record, however, was ever made of such
an organization. This log church was the
first house of worship built by Lutherans in
Indiana county, and was known among the
early settlers as Frey's Meeting House. The
deed for this ground was dated January 26,
1822, or more than nine months before the
regular organization of the church. This
seems to indicate that there was a provisional
organization of some kind in the settlement
before Pastor Reichart came upon the field.
Rev. Gabriel Adam Reichart was commis-
sioned by the Pennsylvania Ministerium as a
traveling preacher in June, 1822. In the
month of August he visited the Brushvalley
settlement and organized a large class of cate-
chumens, numbering forty-four, all of whom
were confirmed in the log church January 11,
1823. Among these catechumens was Miss Ly-
dia Tyson, to whom he was married September
16, 1823. The congregation was regularly or-
ganized November 1, 1822. The first recorded
communion service was held January 12, 1823,
at which time the following persons partook
of the sacrament: Philip Fetterman, Lydia
Fetterman, Jacob Soryer, James Strong, Ca-
therine Strong, George Roser, Eliza Brown,
Jehu Tyson, Magdalena Tyson, Maria Hartz,
John Bower, Veronica Bower, Elizabeth
Dearmy, Michael Fetterman, Catherine Fet-
terman, Susanna Stephen, Daniel Fetterman,
Rosanna Fetterman, John Brown, Christian
Keller, Andreas Laumann, Peter Howard,
ilagdalena Howard, Magdalena Bower, John
DunT^el, Susan Dunkel.
Those newly confirmed were: Henry Bo-
wer, Henry Coy, William Dearmy, Peter
Bower, John Coy, John Bower, Jacob Brown,
Henry Bower, Adam Bower, George Keller,
George Nast, John Cramer, Jacob Cramer,
Barbara Coy, Henry Brown, George Brown,
David Bower, John Weik, John Howard,
George Roser, Maria Bower, Sallie Bower,
Catherine Strong, Elizabeth Bower, Chris-
tiana AVike, Polly Bower, Veronica Dearmy,
Lydia Tyson, Elizabeth Fetterman, Magda-
HISTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA 303
lena Brown. Sallie Coy, John Bower, Maria by Rev. P. G. Bell, pastor at Indiana. The
Enipfield, Johanna Strong, Eliza Bower. Cath- local building committee consisted of the
erine Cramer, Elizabeth Nast, Catherine trustees of the church, John D. Paige, Lloyd
Bower, Elizabeth Fetteruian. Elizabeth Jlar- Shaffer. Christian R. Weaver. The church
dus, Catherine Howard, ^Maria Fettennan, was dedicated October 15, 1882, by Rev. P.
Maria Loeman. Polly Roser. G. Bell and Rev. M. 0. T. Sahm. " The cost
This splendid service, which was in itself of the building was $1,160.
an evidence of deep spiritual life among these From 1850 to 1882 the following pastors
pioneers, teaches us how the pioneer pastors served the congregation: Rev. J. C. Deu-
of western Pennsylvania did their best work, ninger. Rev. Peter Sahm, D. D., Rev. William
Not so much by preaching as by catechetical S. Emery, Rev. Henry Gathers (supply). Rev.
instruction they won the hearts of the younger George M. Settlemj'er, Rev. George F. Ehreu-
people. and then organized them with their feld (supply), Rev. Simon P. Snyder; Rev.
parents into permanent congregations. Isaiah B. Crist, Rev. A. W. McCuUough, Rev.
Churches established on such solid fouuda- B. W. Tomlinson (supplj-), Rev. il. 0. T.
tions rarely failed. At this time the com- Sahm (supply).
muuicant membership of the Brushvalley The earlier pastors of this church resided
Church was more than double that of Indiana in Indiana ; Rev. Henry Gathers resided in
congregation. Rev. Mr. Reiehart served the Mechanicsburg; Rev. Simon P. Snyder re-
congregation until August 1, 1827, preaching sided in Homer City; Rev. I. B. Crist re-
exclusively in the German language. His .sided in New Florence, and Rev. :SL 0. T.
resignation was due to the fact that he was Sahm resided in Cookport.
unable to supply the congregation with Eng- From 1883 to 1889 the foUowing pastors
lish preaching, which had already become a served the church: Rev. W. E. Crebs, Rev.
necessity. He was succeeded by Rev. Nicho- John W. Reese, Rev. J. W. Shaeffer, Rev. W.
las G. Sharretts, who was the regular pastor G. Slonaker (supply), Rev. S. V. Dye, Rev.
from August 1, 1827, to December 31, 1836. jaeob il. Hankey (supply), Rev. Samuel A.
He preached in both German and English, gjiaulis (supply)
was greatly beloved by his people, and sur- ' j^^^,- ^^-^ '^-^^ ^^^ venerable congrega-
find'reward P^'*°'"*' °"''' '''^''' '^^^"^ *° ^'' tion suttered greatly from the death of her
"^From" 1837 to 1844 the following pastors °1^^"' '"embers and the removal of the
served the church: Rev. John Brown (sup- fo^^ger to the cities and towns. The mem-
plv). 1837; Rev. Jacob Medtart, March 1, bership gradually declined until not more
1838, to October 1, 1842 ; Rev. David Adam, ^^an thirty partook of the holy communion
November 1, 1842, to September 19, 1844. at her altar. The advisory board of home
On November 1, 1844, Rev. Henry Bishop missions of the Pittsburg Synod came to the
became pastor. During the first year of his rescue and granted a small appropriation,
ministry steps were taken to secure a new which encouraged the congregation to call a
house of worship. A building committee was resident pastor in the person of Rev. J. I\I.
appointed, consisting of Samuel Golden, Ja- Snyder, who came upon the field May 1,
cob Dearmy. Nicholas Altemus, Sr., Adam 1899. He has proved himself to be a true
George, Jacob Shultz. Samuel Roser built servant of God, laboring under many diffi-
the foundation wall, Samuel Shultz was the culties and accomplishing a good work. He
contractor for the carpenter work, and Fred- was followed b.y Rev. P. J. Tau and Rev.
erick Herlinger finished the building. It was John A. Howe, the present pastor. The
a frame church 40 by 50, and located in the church has been thoroughly renovated, and a
old graveyard, a little east of the old log sweet-toned bell placed in the belfry. The
church. It was dedicated some time in the membership of the congregation is now about
fall of 1845. It was called "The Brushval- forty, and with the Strongstown Church
ley Evangelical Church," from its location in forms a self-sustaining charge.
Brushvalley township. Rev. Mr. Bishop re- The church council consists of A. G. Mur-
sigued November 1, 1849. dock and Steven Rand. The deacons are : H.
During the supply pastorate of Rev. M. 0. C. Mikesell, P. J. Bowers. H. il. Learn, I.
T. Sahm the third and present house of wor- V. Buterbaugh. ilrs. ilinnie Hunter is the
ship was erected and dedicated. The con- superintendent of the Sabbath school, which
struction of the building was superintended is kept open all year, with 45 enrollment.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ST. Paul's church, strongstown
It has been a difficult task to write the his-
tory of this venerable church, inasmuch as
there are few church records and almost all
tradition is lost in the silence of the grave.
During, the pastorate of Rev. G. A. Reich-
art in the Brusjivalley congregation, occa-
sional German services were held by him in
private homes in this community. No or-
ganization, however, was effected by him. On
July 1, 1827, Rev. Nicholas G. Sharretts be-
came pastor of the Indiana charge, and soon
became interested in the shepherdless Luth-
erans of Strongstown. He preached for
them occasionally, first in the homes of James
Strong, Jacob Soryer and George Bowers,
and later in an old clapboard schoolhouse.
In the year 1832 a log chui-ch was built by
the citizens "for the use of all Christian de-
nominations." It was constructed of pine
logs, one story high, and about 20 by 30 feet
in size. John Fink did the principal car-
penter work, and Jacob Bennett was the ma-
sou who constructed the foundation wall and
the large chimney at the east end. The build-
ing stood on two lots numbered 36 and 37
in the town plot of Strongstown, each lot
being 200 feet deep and fronting 60 feet on
the turnpike or Main street. These lots were
purchased from James Hill, Sr., and James
Strong for the sum of ten dollars by Jacob
Strong and George Mardus, Sr., acting as
trustees for the purchasers. The deed bears
date July 13, 1833.
An extract from a letter written by Rev.
Mr. Sharretts to Professor Schmucker about
this time will give us a fitting introduction to
the organization of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in this place:
"My Beloved Doctor Schmucker —
"I write these lines in a log schoolhouse
covered with clapboards in a tolerably new
settlement to you, in which I have spent sev-
eral days, where I shall hold preparatory
services for the holy communion on the mor-
row, and confirmation to-day of several young
persons, and we also hope that the presence
of the Lord will be with us in this rough
building. ' '
At this confirmation service, which took
place December 31, 1832, twelve persons were
confirmed. On the following day, January
1, 1833, the holy communion was adminis-
tered to this confirmation ,cla.ss and- twelve
others partook of the sacrament with them.
These twenty-four persons constituted the
original membership of St. Paul's Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Strongstown. The first
union Sunday school was organized in the old
log church May 2, 1851, with Jacob Grom as
superintendent.
In the fall of the year 1856 the Lutherans
and Presbyterians of the community agreed
to build a union church. A new lot was pur-
chased from Michael Strong, Sr., for the sum
of $10. The deed bears the date February 25,
1861. George B. Wike acted as trustee for
the Lutherans and James Grow performed
the same office for the Presbyterians. On this
lot a new frame church was erected by the
two congregations at a cost of $400. Mr. Wil-
liam Young did the carpenter work. Rev.
Peter Sahm, D. D., was the Lutheran pas-
tor and Rev. John Kirkpatrick the Presby-
terian pastor when the services of dedication
took place, which was on Christmas Day, 1857.
This church is still in use, having been ex-
tensively repaired in the summer of 1901.
The following pastors have served the
church: Rev. Nicholas G. Sharretts, Rev.
John Brown, Rev. Jacob Medtart, Rev. John
David Adam, Rev. Henry Bishop, Rev. C. J.
Deuninger, Rev. Peter Sahm, D. D., Rev. Wil-
liam S. Emery, Rev. Henry Gathers (supply).
Rev. George M. Settlemyer, Rev. George F.
Ehrenfeld, Rev. Simon P. Snyder, Rev. Isaiah
B. Crist, Rev. A. W. McCullough, Rev. Leon-
ard Wisehaupt, Rev. M. 0. T. Sahm, Rev.
Reuben Smith, Rev. J. W. Shaeffer (supply),
Rev. W. G. Slonaker, Rev. S. V. Dye, Rev.
Jacob M. Hankey, Rev. Samuel A. Shaulis,
Rev. J. :\Iilton Snyder, Rev. P. J. Tau and
Rev. John A. Howe, the present pastor.
The present church officers are Mr. and
Mrs. A. H. Longenecker, Frank De Armin,
Mrs. Jacob De Armin ; and Mrs. Sarah
Hawksworth, the superintendent of the Sun-
day school, which has an enrollment of 45.
HEBRON CHURCH, BLAIRSVILLE
Blairsville is one of the oldest towns of In-
diana county. It was laid out in 1819, and
named in honor of John Blair, Esq., then the
president of the " Hollidaysburg and Pitts-
burg Turnpike Company." Prom 1825 to
1834, during the days of canal and turnpike
supremacy, it was one of the busiest little
commercial centers west of the mountains.
A number of Lutherans were early attracted
to the town, and they were not left long with-
out a church of their faith. Rev. Nicholas
G. Sharretts, of Indiana, Pa., preached for
them occasionally, and on the first day of
July, 1827, organized them into a congrega-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
305
tion. This was the first distinctively Eng-
lish Lutheran Church organized west of the
Allegheny mountains. Occasional German
services have been held by the various pas-
tors for the benefit of a few Germans in the
community, biit the congregation was organ-
ized as an English Lutheran Church. The
following persons constituted the original
membership : Mr. and Mrs. John Fail*, Sr.,
Mr. and ilrs. Michael Rugh, Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Libengood, Sr.. Jlr. and ilrs. David
Earhart. Jlr. and Mrs. Jacob Loose, Mr. and
Mrs. Peter Mikesell, Catharine Repine, Louisa
Altman, Mary Repine, Dorothy Crissman,
Ann Maria Kunkle, Elizabeth Harrold, Cath-
arine Hill, Charlotte Mikesell, Elizabeth
Mikesell.
Plenry Libengood, Sr., and John Fair. Sr.,
were elected elders, Michael Rugh and David
Earhart, deacons. A log church was built at
once. Mr. Jacob Altman, a Baptist by pro-
fession, but a great friend of Rev. ilr. Shar-
retts, took a great interest in the erection of
this church. Through his efforts a bell was
secured. On ilay 12, 1832, Mr. Altman
united with the congregation, and his entire
family soon followed his example. The cost
of the first church was about .$1,000, but the
date of its dedication is not known. Such
was the influence of Rev. Mr. Sharretts in this
commmiity that the log church soon became
too small to hold the large audiences which
gathered to hear him, and in 1833 the use of
the Presbyterian Church was secured for com-
munion services. In 1835, Mr. Henry Graff,
a beloved elder of the church, presented the
congregation two building lots on the corner
of Campbell and Liberty streets. Prepara-
tions for the building of the new church were
made at once, but just when they were in the
midst of their building operations (December
31 . 1836 ) the pastor died. It cast a gloom over
the entire community, and especially upon
the congregation to which he had ministered
so efficiently for more than nine years. A
regular pastor to succeed Rev. Mr. Sharretts
was not secured for more than a year, and
a number of people grew discouraged and
withdrew from the church. During those try-
ing months Mr. Henry Graff proved a tower
of strength to the disheartened people. By
the force of his example he kept the large
body of the congregation together and at
work, and the new church was completed some
time during the year 1837. 'When it is re-
membered that this church was 41: by 62 feet
in size, built of brick, it will be better un-
derstood what a task the young shepherdless
congregation had before them. The greatest
credit for its successful completion belongs to
ilr. Graff. Peter Graff, a younger brother
of Henry Graff, was also a man of great in-
fluence in the congregation. As an evidence
of his sterling Christian quality we give the
following incident from his mercantile experi-
ences in Blairsville:
It was customary in those days for mer-
chants to treat their customers to an occa-
sional drink of whiskej', and the result was
that the stores were made the loafing places
of a class of men whose presence was exceed-
ingly distasteful to ladies. Mr. Graff deter-
mined 10 purge his store of ^his nuisance.
The whiskey treating was stopped. Some of
the other merchants thought that Mr. Graff
had ruined his trade, but the moral-minded
public thought otherwise. The tobacco spit-
ting and profanity tliat often characterized
other stores were unknown at Graff's and the
ladies of the town found it a very congenial
place for shopping. And thus was virtue re-
warded.
With such strong hearts as this in the con-
gregation, the good ship safely weathered all
her storms until the second pastor. Rev. Ja-
cob Medtart, could take the helm. He served
from March 1. 1838, to May 12. 1839, when
tlw? Blaii'sville Church was separated from the
Indiana charge. His successor, Rev. Augustus
Babb, D. D.. was one of the most successful
pastors the church has known. Through his
efforts the membership was rapidly increased
to 250. but just when the tide of prosperity
seemed most full, an era of emigration from
the town set in which robbed the congrega-
tion of the Graff family and many other most
excellent supporters of the church. About
the year 1850 no less than fifteen families of
this church emigrated to the West at one
time. A number of them located in the vi-
cinity of Polo, 111., and became the nucleus
of a strong English Lutheran Church in that
city. It was during the ministry of Rev. ilr.
Babb that the first meeting was held. May 26,
1842, which resulted in the organization of the
Allegheny Evangelical Lutheran S.ynod. From
1827 to 1842 the church was in 'the fellow-
ship of the West Pennsylvania Synod : from
1842 to 1887, it belonged to the Allegheny
Synod : in 1887 it united, in company with all
the other Indiana county churches, with the
Pittsburg Synod.
During the j'cars of Helirou"s history, a
number of her young men have entered the
gospel ministry: Rev. Daniel Smith Altman,
confirmed by Rev. Dr. Babb in 1839 ; Rev. H.
306
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
L. Chapman, confirmed by Rev. Dr. Babb in
1843; Rev. William H. Wynn, confirmed by
Rev. Peter Sahm, D. D., in 1847; Rev. John
W. Myers, confirmed by Rev. J. R. Williams
in 1864.
The following pastors have served the
church from its organization : Rev. N. G.
Sharretts, Rev. Jacob Medtart, Rev. Augus-
tus Babb, D. D., Rev. Peter Sahm, D. D., Rev.
A. B. Bosserman, Rev. G. M. Pile, Rev. Wil-
liam Kopp, Rev. John J. Suman, Rev. Corne-
lius Nitterauer, Rev. Henry Reck, Rev. Sam-
uel Aughey, Rev. J. R. Williams, Rev. Simon
P. Snyder, Rev. C. L. Streamer, Rev. Charles
M. Stock, Rev. Michael Colver, Rev. P. H.
Crissman, Rev. Samuel E. Slater, Rev. Charles
P. Sanders, Rev. W. W. Criley, Rev. W. J.
Boucher, and Rev. W. Roy Goff, the present
pastor.
During the pastorate of Rev. John J. Su-
man, 1853-58, a good parsonage was built
and the present constitution of the church
was adopted. During the pastorate of Rev.
:Michael Colver, 1881-89, the church was re-
modeled at a cost of $5,500. It was solemnly
rededicated January 2, 1887, Rev. W. W.
Criley, D. D., preaching the dedicatoiy ser-
mon. During the pastorate of Rev. Charles
P. Sanders the church and parsonage have
both been improved at considerable expense.
The scholarly attainments of this pastor are
recognized and appreciated by the commu-
nity ; the Hebron Church is occupying a higher
position among the Evangelical forces of the
community to-day than it has done for many
years.
The present church officers are W. R. Spiers,
J. H. Lore, J. H. Vorlage, William Vorlage,
C. J. Siegfried, Luther ShafEer, J. H. Kiss-
inger, J. K. McConnell, M. L. Wilson, D. W.
Thompson. The membership at present is
239. The superintendent of the Sabbath
school is Charles Palmer, the enrollment 214.
TRADE CITY CHURCH
In April, 1839, German immigrants who had
bought land from the Holland Land Com-
pany and settled in the neighborhood of Trade
City some years before, decided to build a
union church for the use of the Lutheran
and Reformed denominations. There were
twenty-one families engaged in this work, of
which number fifteen were Gennans from the
Patherland and six Pennsylvania Dutch from
Blair and Huntingdon counties. Those who
came directly from the Patherland were
chiefly of the Reformed faith. In view of
their limited numbers, however, it was de-
cided to work in harmony with the Lutherans,
and build one church for the use of both. On
the question of the selection of pastors, how-
ever, there was some division, some favoring
a pastor of each denomination at the same
thne; others favoring one pastor and the se-
lection of Lutheran and Reformed men alter-
nately. The latter plan seems to have pre-
vailed.
John Maul offered a plot of ground for a
church for the small sum of $2.25. This lot
was somewhere on or near the present farm
of Henry Roney. It was accepted at first, but
a better lot was oli'ered by Ludwig Heitzen-
roder at the same price, and Mr. Maul court-
eously took back his lot, allowing the con-
gregation to purchase the more acceptable
site. Prederick Sprankle, Martin Zirkel and
Johannes Knauff were selected as the build-
ing committee, with the first named as treas-
urer. Much of the labor was done gratui-
tously by the members of the church. They
cut and hewed the logs upon their own tim-
berlands, and hauled them to the church lot.
Then they gave their services to the build-
ing committee for any work that might be re-
quired of them. The highest cash subscrip-
tion was that of Prederick Sprankle for $10.
Only about $111.50 in money was invested in
the building, but when completed it was as
neat and comfortable a log church as was to
he found anywhere in the county. The floor
was rough-boarded and the seats rough and
unpainted. The doors, windows and pulpit
were put in place by Heinrich Beck at the
price of $42. The roof was covered with the
shingles and heavy clapboards used at that
time. The church was dedicated August 28,
1841, by the Reformed pastor. Rev. John Alt-
house, in the presence of a great assemblage
of people from far and near. These services
were conducted in the German language.
The conservatism of the people is seen in
their adherence to the German language. The-
odore Roosevelt, in the "Winning of the
West," says that the Germans who settled
west of the Allegheny Mountains were quickly
"Amei'icanized. " This may be true of Ken-
tucky and Tennessee, but it was not true of
western Pennsylvania. Some German set-
tlements in this section remained thoroughly
German, in language and spirit, for more than
seventy-five years after their establishment.
Very little of the land changed hands, and a
close community was maintained. The fa-
thers stoutly resisted every attempt at " Amer-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
307
icanization, " especiallj' in matters of re-
ligion.
Several weeks before the dedication of the
church two constitutions were drafted, one
by Frederick Sprankle and the other by
George Ebel and Herman Fierman. The lat-
ter was adopted by the congregation at a spe-
cial meeting held in August, 1841. On the
same day a church council was elected, con-
sisting of Jacob Shaffer, John Maul, Adam
Schneider, Johannes Knauff, Caspar Werth-
nian, Frederick Sprankle. They were prob-
bly the .six "overseers" required by the con-
stitution. This old St. Paul's Church (called
Round Top) was by far the most vigorous Ger-
man , Church ever established in Indiana
county. It should be one of the best country
churches of the German Reformed faith in
western Pennsylvania to-day. It had a splen-
did start, but was sacrificed to the Gennan
language. For the first few yeai-s it made
rapid progress under the care of its first pas-
tor, Rev. John Althouse. About this time
Mr. Frederick Sprankle introduced a yoiing
man, John David Adam, to the congregation
as a Lutheran preacher, but he was not favor-
ably received. Three reasons were given for
his rejection. First, he was not licensed yet
to preach ; second, the church was not strong
enough to support two pastors at the same
time; third, Mr. Adam was an advocate of
"new measures," and this was very distaste-
ful to the greater portion of the congregation.
All the Lutheran Germans and the German
Americans thereupon withdrew from the
church,. took Mr. Adam as their pastor, and
held services near St. Paul's Church. In the
fall of 1842 Mr. Adam was licensed to preach
by the Allegheny Synod, and his followers
at once demanded the common use of St.
Paul's Church, which heretofore had been de-
nied them. After much discussion this was
granted, and both parties made use of the
church.
Rev. Mr. Adam served the church but for
a short time, for his license was revoked by
the Allegheny Synod. The following pastors
served the Lutherans until 1854 : Rev. Henry
David Keyl, Rev. J. George Donmeyer, Rev.
A. C. Ehrenfeld, Rev. G. M. Pile, Rev. Mr.
Huntziuger, Rev. F. A. Barnitz. In 1854 reg-
ular services in St. Paul's Church were dis-
continued, the members effecting an organiza-
tion in Perrysville, uniting with a few mem-
bers of the same faith from Jefiferson county.
The church that was built there was allowed
to be sold on a mechanics' lien, and the or-
ganization was again started at AYhitesville.
with a preaching station in the wagonmaker's
shop of Frederick Sprankle at Trade City.
This preaching station was the beginning of
Trade City Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The Reformed pastors of St. Paul's Church
from 1841 to the time of disbaudment in
1875 were: Rev. John Althouse, Rev. Ferdi-
nand Engelbach, Rev. Lohbaur, Rev. J. C.
Henneman, Rev. J. Baier, Rev. C. A. Lim-
berg. Rev. Ludwig Crist, Rev. Mr. Hoflfmeyer,
Rev. Mr. Deitz. The congregation clung to
the I'ule that "so long as three members re-
mained, no other language should be preferred
to the German," and it proved to be its de-
struction. One by one the younger members
of the church slipped away to the English
Lutheran services at Whitesville or at Fred-
erick Sprankle 's until none but the "old
folks" remained. When these died. Round
Top Chapel was buried with them.
"The services at Frederick Sprankle 's shop
were continued by the Wliitesville pastors,
Rev. Christian Diehl and Rev. Charles L.
Streamer, until May, 1868, when at the ad-
vice of the latter the people were regularly
organized into an Evangelical Lutheran
Church. At this meeting John Fetterhof and
Frederick Sprankle were chosen elders, and
David Stear and Daniel Ramey were elected
deacons. Plans were at once laid for the
erection of a new church. A lot was secured,
the cornerstone for the new church was laid
August 1, 1868, and the building itself was
dedicated December 13th of the same year.
Rev. Henry Baker, D. D., of Altoona," Pa.,
preached the dedicatory sermon. The build-
ers were George Peflfer and Daniel Ramey. who
took the contract for $1,750, furnishing all
material. Upon the completion of the build-
ing the entire cost was liquidated. Rev. C.
L. Streamer's pastorate in the community ex-
tended from June, 1858, to November 1, 1869,
and was greatly blessed of God. At the time
of his resignation the church had about fifty
members. His successors in office were : Rev.
P. S. Hooper, Rev. George A. Lee, Rev. W.
E. Crebs, Rev. Ephraim Miller, Rev. J. T.
Gladhill, Rev. C. L. Streamer (recalled 1885),
Rev. M. S. Kemp, Rev. Shile Miller and Rev.
Mr. Clancy, the present pastor.
During Rev. Gladhill's pastorate the charge
was divided, and Smieksburg and Trade City
undertook the support of a pastor. During the
same pastorate the church was thoroughly re-
paired, and rededicated September 14, 1884.
The present membership is 130, and it is
considered one of the substantial churches
of the county. The couneilmen now are T.
308
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
5. Neal, William Shaffer, James Prantz. The
stewards are : Harry Hoop, Linus Martin,
Clare Sprankle. The Sabbath school super-
intendent is A. G. Sprankle; there are 100
members of the Sabbath school.
LUTHER CHAPEL, GRACETON
About the year 1828 Rev. Nicholas G. Shar-
retts, pastor of the Indiana charge, began to
hold services in the Blacklick schoolhouse, lo-
cated about one mile from the present site of
the Luther Chapel. A considerable number
of the original members of the Blairsville
Church lived in this neighborhood, and at
their request these services in the schoolhouse
were continued with more or less regvilarity
by the pastor of the Indiana charge until Jan-
uary 15, 1846, when they were organized by
Rev. Peter Sahm, D. D., into a separate con-
gregation. The number of members in the
original organization was twenty-six.
In 1850 it was decided to erect a church. A
building committee was appointed, consist-
ing of Michael Rugh, John Pair, Adam Mike-
sell, Jonas Mikesell. This committee, on
March 13, 1850, purchased a lot of ground
from Daniel Altemus and John Peddicord for
the consideration of five dollars. Upon this
lot a brick church, 35 by 50 feet, was erected
at a cost of $2,500. It was dedicated about
March 1, 1852. Prom the time of its organ-
ization to May 19, 1878, it was served by the
pastors of the Blairsville charge (see history
of that congregation). In 1878 the Blairs-
ville Church became an independent pastorate
and Luther Chapel and Homer City were
made a charge.
The first pastor of this newly formed pas-
torate was Rev. C. T. Steck, who took charge
about August 1, 1878, first as a supply, and
later as the regular pastor. He resigned April
6, 1882. The charge was vacant for over a
year, and then on November 1, 1883, Rev. W.
E. Crebs became pastor. He also served the
Brushvalley Church in connection with Homer
City and Luther Chapel. He resigned April
1, 1884. The following pastors have since
served the congregation : Rev. J. W. Reese,
Rev. J. W. Shaeffer, Rev. G. L. Courtney, Rev.
J. W. Shaeffer (recalled).
Rev. M. Shaeffer continues to serve this con-
gregation in connection with the Lutheran
Church of Homer City.
The officers at present (1913) are as fol-
lows: Elders, Samuel Sheffler and John K.
Mikesell ; deacons. Israel Kunkle, J. K. Re-
pine, W. E. Housholder, Howard Altman.
Robert Fry is the superintendent of the Sab-
bath school, which has an enrollment of 50
and is kept open the entire year.
HOMER CITY CHURCH
This congregation was organized by Rev.
R. A. Fink, D. D., of Johnstown, Pa., presi-
dent of the Allegheny Synod, February 21,
1870. Of the original members, numbering
twenty-eight, many were members of Luther
Chapel. They were taken at once under the
pastoral care of Rev. Simon P. Snyder, who
was then serving the Brushvalley charge.
Upon his resignation in April, 1874, the
church was received into the Blairsville
charge, under the care of Rev. Aiigustus Babb,
D. D., who was the pastor until October 1,
1875. As soon as the congregation was or-
ganized a lot was purchased, and a neat frame
church, costing about $3,000, built upon it.
This church was dedicated to God October 6,
1872. The following pastors have served the
church from the time of Rev. Dr. Babb's res-
ignation : Rev. Charles L. Streamer, Rev.
C. T. Steck, Rev. W. E. Crebs, Rev. J. W.
Reese, Rev. J. W. Shaeffer, Rev. G. L. Court-
ney, Rev. J. W. Shaeffer (recalled).
Rev. Mr. Shaeffer has served this congrega-
tion since 1900. Counting the eight years he
was pastor of the congregation under the first
call, he has been the pastor for twenty-one
years.
The present officers are as follows: Elders,
George R. Stewart and Samuel Kissinger;
deacons, J. N. Sickenberger, W. J. Kunkle, T.
J. Brandon, Samuel Stewart, L. P'. Foust,
Harry Lockard; trustees, W. E. McNutt, J.
Harvey Long, L. Z. McCombs. Clyde W.
Shaffer is the superintendent of the Sabbath
school, which has an enrollment of 125 and is
kept open the entire year.
The following were members of this congre-
gation : Thomas B. Uber, a member of the
faculty of Carthage College, 111. ; James M.
Uber, a Lutheran minister, at Milroy, Pa. ;
C. Frank Johnston, a traveling evangelist;
Clyde W. Shaeft'er, the son of the pastor, is a
Theological student.
SALEM CHURCH, SMICKSBURG
Smicksburg was laid out as a town in 1825,
by a German minister named Schmick. Lu-
theranisin made her debut in the new town
on the same date, for be it known that Pas-
tor Schmick was a member in good standing
of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania. The first Lutlierans who made
Smicksburg their home journeyed all the
way to St. John's Church on Plum creek to
attend preaching services, except on such oc-
casions when they could prevail upon the pas-
tor of St. John's to preach in some private
house in their own immediate neighborhood.
Sometimes union services would be held with
other denominations when an itinerant
preacher happened to pass that way. Rev.
G. A. Reiehart preached for them May 10,
1836. In the spring of 1842 Rev. Jacob Med-
tart, pastor of the Indiana charge, preached
for them regularly, and on May 28, 18-12, or-
ganized them into a congregation, consisting
of twenty-one members, thirteen of whom
were communicant members of the Plum
Creek Church. Jacob Condrou, Cornelius
Lowe and Joseph Black constituted the tirst
church council.
Rev. I\Ir. ]\Iedtart preached every four weeks
for the newly formed congregation at a salary
^of $50 per annum. He served them for ten
months and succeeded in adding fifteen mem-
bers to the church. One of his most efficient
helpers was Mr. Cornelius Lowe. He was the
very heart of the organization. It was at his
solicitation that Rev. Mr. Medtart first be-
gan to preach at Smieksburg. He started a
union Sunday school in the community, and
also held a prayer-meeting evei'y Sunday when
there were no preaching services, and for
three years had "to do all the praying him-
self." He was a member of the first church
council and served in that capacity, with the
exception of two years, until the day of his
death, July 15, 1880. He was one of the most
upright and useful citizens that the com-
munity has ever known.
Rev. Henry Bishop served the church from
November 1, 1843, to January, 1847. Rev.
A. C. Ehrenfeld became pastor in January,
1847, and made Smieksburg the center of
Lutheran operations in the northern end of the
county. His charge consisted of the churches
at Smieksburg, Plum Creek. Round Top and
"Whitesville. with the parsonage at Smieks-
burg. He also had a preaching station at Ru-
ral Village. During his ministry, in June,
1847, a constitution, in harmony with the
Sjniod, was adopted. Rev. Mr. Ehrenfeld
served the congregation about two years. From
June 1, 1851, to 1852 Rev. Grafton :\I. Pile
was the pastor. Rev. F. A. Barnitz was pas-
tor fi'om 1852 to 1854.
On February 25, 1853, a new frame church
was dedicated to God. During Rev. Mr. Bar-
nitz's faithful ministry of two and a half
years forty persons were added to the church.
On June 1, 1855, Rev. Christian Diehl be-
came the pastor. In January, 1858, owing to
ill health, he resigned, but resumed the work
again on June 1st, when he secured the as-
sistance of a young student, Charles L.
Streamer. On June 1, 1859, he resigned the
second time, and his assistant became the reg-
ular pastor. The name of Charles L. Streamer
is one of the best known names in the vicin-
ity of Smieksburg. He served the Lutheran
Church until November 1, 1869, a period of
more than eleven years. At a later date he
was recalled and served the congregation
again for nearly twelve years, making a pas-
torate of twenty-three .years, in which he re-
ceived 231 pereons into the membership of
the church. During his second pastorate the
present church building was erected. The
cornerstone was laid June 12, 1889, Rev. W.
Seiner, of Luthersburg, and Rev. J. M. Rice,
of Shippensville, assisting the pastor. On
jMarch 9. 1890, the church was dedicated. Rev.
J. W. Poffinberger preached the dedicatory
sermon. Rev. A. C. Ehrenfeld, Rev. E. B.
Shaner and Rev. J. R. Focht were also pres-
ent. The total cost of the building was $4,-
650.
The pastors of the church from 1872 have
been as follows: Rev. P. S. Hooper, Rev.
George A. Lee, Rev. W. E. Crebs, Rev. Eph-
raim Miller, D. D., Rev. J. T. Gladhill, Rev.
Charles L. Streamer (recalled). Rev. M. S.
Kemp, Rev. Shile ]\Iiller, Rev. A. R. Long-
necker, Rev. J. F. Stabley and Rev. "W. B.
Clanej^ the present pastor.
During the history of this church the fol-
lowing young men from it have entered the
ministry: Rev. Charles L. Ehrenfeld, Rev.
J. Angus Lowe, Rev. Albert Barrett (Presby-
terian), Rev. C. L. Streamer, Rev. Silas D.
Daugherty, Rev. William Streamer, Rev.
Charles R. Streamer.
The church is thoroughly organized, and
has a good working membership of 160. The
splendid parsonage, valued at $1,500, is
located on High street.
The present council are as follows: Eldei-s,
G. W. Irwin, Adam Black, George Reith-
miller; deacons, A. G. Smith, Merle Stiteler,
Charles Condron. D. K. Stiteler is the su-
perintendent of the Sabbath school ; 'SI. L.
Black, assistant superintendent, and W. L.
Good, secretary.
The following were former superintend-
ents of this school : Cornelius Lowe, Jacob
Ilyskell, David Good, Sr., Daniel Black,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Samuel Bitchey, J. K. Lowe, L. E. Sylvis,
Adam Black, G. W. Irwin, George Reithmiller.
HARMONY ^GROVE CHURCH, WILLET
In the fall of 1869 Rev. J. H. Wright, of
Elderton, Pa., began to preach for a number
of Lutherans living in the vicinity of Mar-
lins Mills. On the 4th day of September,
1870, he organized them into a congregation
with thirteen members. In a few weeks thev
membership was increased to twenty-seven.
Services were held at first in the schoolhouse.
On November 14, 1880, a neat frame church,
costing about $1,100, was dedicated free of
debt. The building committee consisted of John
C. Weber, James Brewer and Joseph Ross.
Tbe following pastors have served the church:
Rev. J. H. Wright, Rev. J. W. Hutchison,
Rev. M. L. Schmucker, Rev. D. W. Lecrone,
and Rev. George 0. Ritter, the pastor at pres-
ent (1913).
The officers in 1913 are as follows : Elders,
John S. Trusal and Harvey Spence ; deacons,
Samuel Spence, Charles G. Orr, Wilbert
Boyer, Homer Park; trustees, P. H. Trusal,
Josiah Boyer, Harvey Roof; recording secre-
tary, James C. Henderson. Samuel Spence
is the superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which has an enrollment of 112. The school
is kept open the entire year.
Thomas B. and James M. Uber, who are
now Lutheran ministers, were members of
this congregation.
The church is one of the most prosperous
country churches of the Lutheran faith in In-
diana county. The present membership is
130. One of the remarkable facts about the
congregation is, that it has been built up very
largely of people who have had no previous
connection with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church. A splendid parsonage, costing
$1,800, was recently built by the charge.
COOKPORT CHURCH
In the year 1828 John Learn, Sr., removed
from Armstrong county. Pa., and settled in the
vicinity of Cookport, establishing what was
afterwards known as the "Learn settlement."
He and his wife were members of the German
Reformed Church, but were compelled to
forego the privileges of the church for many
years in their new home. In 1839 he united
with several others in the neighborhood and
secured the services of Rev. Mr. Barnes, a
German Reformed minister. He preached for
them first in the old Presbyterian Church at
Taylorsville, and later in a schoolhouse. He
catechised and confirmed the greater part of
Father Learn 's children. Communion ser-
vices in the German language were held in
1839 and 1842. After Rev. Mr. Barnes left
there were no services for quite a long time.
Despairing of ever securing the services of a
German Reformed pastor again. Father Learn
repaired to Indiana, Pa., where he consulted
with the Lutheran pastor. Rev. Peter Sahm,
D. D. The latter became very much inter-
ested, and held communion services for them
October 23, 1853. Twenty-nine persons re-
ceived the sacrament on that occasion, nearly
all of whom had been confirmed in the Re-
formed faith. Rev. Dr. Sahm supplied the
settlement with an occasional sermon, holding
his second communion service there Septem-
ber 9, 1855. At the same time a petition was
prepared and sent to the Allegheny Synod,
asking for a pastor. The Synod answered
the petition by uniting them with two other
congregations to form the "Cherrytree Mis-
sion," and commissioning one of their young
men. Rev. Christian A. Petzer, as their first
missionary. Rev. Mr. Petzer entered upon his
work soon after the meeting of the Synod.
His first task in the "Learn settlement" was
to organize them regularly into a congrega-
tion. This was done December 1, 1855. A
constitution was drafted and adopted which
is still the constitution of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Cookport. It was called
' ' The constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran
and German Reformed Congregation at
Learn 's settlement. ' ' The regular pastors have
all been Lutherans, and the accessions have
naturally been to that branch of the church.
Only two of the original members of the Re-
formed faith refused to unite regularly with
the Lutheran congregation. Rev. Mr. Petzer
conducted his services at fir.st in what was
known as the "old frame schoolhouse," ad-
journing the services to an ad,jacent grove
when pretty weather brought out an unusu-
ally large congregation. Later he preached
in a union church built by the Reformed,
Lutheran and Methodist denominations about
the year 1854. His term of pastoral service
extended to July 26, 1857.
The next pastor of the church was Rev.
P. S. Nellis, who served from January 31,
1858, to April 17, 1859. During his pastor-
ate some dissatisfaction arose with the Metho-
dist Protestants about the use of the old un-
ion church, and the Lutherans determined to
build a church of their own. On January
11, 1859, Mr. Andrew Learn deeded to John
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
311
A. Learn, William Cook and Valentine Kerr,
acting trustees of the congregation, one acre
of land for church purposes. The timber for
a new church was hewed by members of the
congregation in the spring of the same year,
but owing to the removal of the pastor in
April building operations were suspended,
and the church was not finished until five
years later. In 1859 Rev. Jacob Wolf sup-
plied the pulpit. From 1860 to 1862 Rev.
Henry Gathers was pastor, preaching in an
old house and barn of Andrew Learn. On
October 8, 1863, Rev. John Forthman became
pastor, and the congregation once more ad-
dressed itself to the task of building. The
church, which was of frame, 40 by 50, was
dedicated some time during the year 1864.
It cost about five hundred dollars in cash,
besides much donated labor and material. Rev.
Mr. Forthman resigned October 23, 1864, and
his successors have been : Rev. Michael Col-
ver. Rev. Leonard Wisehaupt, Rev. M. 0. T.
Sahm, Rev. Reuben Smith, Rev. Samuel Kri-
der, Rev. J. M. Haukey, Rev. George Trostle,
Rev. J. C. McGaughey, Rev. J. A. Flicken-
ger (prevented by sickness from becoming
the resident pastor), Rev. W. G. Slonaker,
and Rev. H. W.' ilaguire, the present pastor.
In 1885 the church building was greatly
improved at a cost of several hundred dol-
lars. The pastor. Rev. Reuben Smith, was as-
sisted by Rev. Michael Colver at the reopen-
ing services, which took place August 23,
1885. In the spring of 1893 the church was
destroyed by fire, and the congregation was
slow about erecting a new church. For four
years they worshipped in the M. P. Church
and then removed to their own unfinished
building. The church was not completed un-
til 1902, during the pastorate of Rev. J. C.
McGaughey. The feast of dedication was
held November 17, 1902, nearly ten years after
the disastrous fire, and the dedicatory sermon
was preached by Rev. S. J. McDowell. It is
to the great credit of this congregation, how-
ever, that they paid all bills as they were due
and dedicated the church free of debt. It
cost about $1,500 in addition to much do-
nated material. The first parsonage, of this
church was purchased in 1871. It was a small
house, located in Cookport, and had been in
usf for a number of years before its purchase.
In the summer of 1892 it was torn down, and
a good pastor's home erected in its stead at
a cost of $1,500. This congregation has passed
through an unusually large number of great
trials, but it has safely weathered them all,
and now has a good church property and a
stable membership of 88.
The officers of the church in 1913 are as
follows: Elders, F. J. Fleming, G. T. Learn,
John Bash, Fred Heni-j- ; deacons, Elias Learn,
T. J. Boucher, George Bagley. Arthur
Stephens is the superintendent of the Sab-
bath school, which has an enrollment of 139.
MOUNT ZION CHURCH, PINE TOWNSHIP
This is one of the congregations of the Cook-
port charge. The first Lutheran services were
held in this community by Rev. Simon P.
Snyder, while pastor of the Brushvalley
charge. His successor, Rev. I. B. Crist, con-
tinued these services, preaching every four
weeks. The congregation was organized Jan-
uary 22, 1877, by Rev. A. W. McCullough,
with twenty members. The services were held
in an old schoolhouse, situated in the midst
of a dense thicket. It was entirely too small
to accommodate ' the people who desired to
attend, and the preacher was always assured
in advance of a packed house. The pulpit was
a store box and the ceiling was so low that
the preacher's head brushed it constantly.
William Schultz bought this schoolhouse and
presented it to the congregation. It served
as a house of worship for ten years, when a
neat frame church with steeple was erected.
This church was dedicated October 10, 1877,
by Reuben Smith and Rev. A. C. Ehrenfeld.
It co.st about $800.
The pastors of this church have been the
following: Rev. Simon P. Snyder (pioneer
supplv). Rev. Isaiah B. Crist (pioneer sup-
ply). Rev. A. W. McCullough, Rev. M. 0. T.
Sahm, Rev. Reuben Smith, Rev. Samuel Kri-
der, Rev. Jacob M. Hankey (supply), Rev.
George Trostle, Rev. J. C. McGaughey, Rev.
W. G. Slonaker. Rev. H. W. Maguire until
1911 (when the church went on the Strongs-
town circuit), and Rev. John A. Howe, the
present (1913) pastor.
The officers in 1913 are as follows: Elders,
Wesley Askins. Artie Davis, Calvin Steffey;
deaconesses, Mrs. Wesley Askins and ;\Irs.
Artie Davis. Artie Davis is superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of 40.
BETHEL CHURCH, RAYNE TOWNSHIP
As early as the year 1839 a number of
Germans, Lutherans and Reformed settled in
the neighborhood of "Dutch Hill." The first
ministers to preach for them were Rev. John
312
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Althouse, of the old Round Top Church, and
Rev. Jolin Charles Henneman, of Jefferson
county, Pa. Both of these men were pastors
of the German Reformed Church. They held
their services in the Bookermyer schoolhouse
and preached only in German. Rev. Mr. Alt-
house may have preached for the congrega-
tion as early as 1840, but Rev. Mr. Henneman
did not graduate from Mereersburg Seminary
until 1848, and did not likely preach for them
until that year. In the year 1844 a log church
was built. It was 22 by 30 feet in size, with
a high ceiling and an old-fashioned wineglass
pulpit. The building committee consisted of
Samuel Bence, Conrad Pfeifer, Andrew
Fischer. Rev. Mr. Henneman preached for the
congregation more as a supply than as a reg-
ular pastor from 1848 to 1851, when he re-
moved to Ohio. After his departure the con-
gregation was neglected and the organization
lapsed. In 1853 they were visited by Rev.
Peter Sahm, D. D., the Lutheran pastor at
Indiana, Pa., who reorganized them on March
30, 1853, into "St. Peter's Evangelical Luth-
eran Church." A constitution was adopted
and signed by the following members: Fred-
erick Pfeifer, Peter Stahl, Andrew Fischer,
Peter Clawson, Jacob Everwine, George
Bence, "Washington Stahl, Samuel Bence.
The old log church served the congregation
as a place of worship until 1875, when the
frame church now in use was erected. The
church was dedicated on the second Sunday
of :^ebruary, 1876, during the pastorate of
Rev. Leonard Wisehaupt. At this time the
name of the church was changed from St.
Peter's to Bethel. The church is a plain but
substantial building, valued at $1,000. The
lot on which it stands was not legally trans-
ferred to the congregation until May 4, 1898.
About the time of the dedication of this church
a new constitution was adopted, but it was
not signed until October, 1881.
The following pastors have served the con-
gregation from the time of its inception : Rev.
John Althouse (supply). Rev. John Charles
Henneman (supply), Rev. Henry Bishop
(supply), Rev. Peter Sahm (supply), Rev.
P. S. Nellis, Rev. Henry Gathers, Rev. Wil-
liam S. Emery (supply), Rev. J. P. Heutz
(supply). Rev. John Forthman, Rev. Michael
Colver, Rev. Leonard Wisehaupt, Rev. A. W.
McCullough, Rev. Amos Sell, Rev. Reuben
Smith. Rev. John Jay Hill, Rev. J. W. Hutch-
ison, Rev. John Tomlinson, Rev. John M. Axe,
Rev. J. K. Hilty, Rev. S. A. Shaulis, Rev. J.
:Sl. Stover, and Rev. Paul J. Tau, who has
been pastor since 1912, preaching every Sab-
batli.
In 1911 a new lnii-k veneered church was
built, and diMlJ.'jilcl F.-bruary 25, 1912. It
is a handsome stnictun' with a high tower in
front. The cost was $4,000.
The church officers in 1913 are as follows:
Elders, James Bence and David Feitshans;
deacons, W. L. Haer, Charles F. Glasser, J.
Luther Bence, S. B. Bence. There are 47
active members, 80 communicant members,
and 103 baptized members. J. Luther Bence
is superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which has an enrollment of 70 and is kept
open the entire year. It is a front line school
with two adult organized Bible classes. A
teachers' training class of four have com-
pleted the advanced Lutheran course and re-
ceived international diplomas. This was the
first class to complete its own denominational
course in the county, and the first to complete
the advanced Lutheran course in Pennsylva-
nia.
.ANTIOCH CHURCH, GRANT TOWNSHIP
Services were conducted in this community
by Rev. Samuel Krider, pastor of the Cook-
port charge, who organized a congregation
and built a good substantial church about the
same time. The church was dedicated to God
November 16, 1890. Rev. Charles L. Streamer,
of Smieksburg, preached the dedicatory ser-
mon. Rev. J. W. Hutchinson preached in
the evening. The building is frame, 40 by
50 feet, and cost about $1,200.
The pastors of this church have been the
pastors of the Cookport charge since its or-
ganization. There were but fourteen char-
ter members, and the congregation now num-
bers 26.
The officers at present (1913) are as fol-
lows: Elders, Peter Reithmiller and Henry
Abel; deacons, Peter Sheasley, Charles Abel,
Henry Fisher.
The congregation does not have a Sabbath
school at present, attending the Sabbath
school in the Pine Vale Christian Church.
ZION CHURCH, GERMANY, WEST W^IEATFIELD
TOWNSHIP
This section of Indiana county was settled
by Scotch-Irish and Germans at a very early
period, with the first named in the majority.
Some of these Germans attended the services
conducted by Rev. John M. Steck and John
G. LampbrCcht in the home of Conrad Reis,
near Indiana, Pa. They were not organized
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
313
as a church until 1822, during the missionary
tour of Kev. Gabriel Adam Reichart. We re-
gret that so little is known of the early his-
tory of this venerable congregation. The old
records have long since been carelessly laid
aside or destroyed, and the voice of tradition
is exceedingly feeble. It is known that Rev.
Mr. Reichart conducted services in an old
schoolhouse, and that the organization was ef-
fected with ten families. The old Indiana
charge served by Rev. Mr. Reichart consisted
of three churches, Indiana, Brushvalley and
Germany. He resigned in the summer of
1827, owing to his inability to preach accepta-
bly in the English language, and was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Nicholas G. Sharretts, who
served faithfullv until his death, December
31, 1836.
For the next twelve years the congregation
subsisted on ''supply services," with the re-
sult that a number of young people united
with the Presbyterians, and the old church
became so weak there were not men enough
left in it to fill the ofSces. They were rescued
from this deplorable state largely by the ef-
forts of that missionary-spirited pastor. Rev.
Peter Sahni, D. D., who aroused the droop-
ing courage of the people, secured the dona-
tion of a lot from Mr. Peter Mikesell for them,
laid the corner-stone of a new brick church
in the spring of 1849, and dedicated it to the
service of God March 10, 1850. This church
was built at a cost of $1,800, and was the first
house of worship owned by the congregation.
In the year 1855 a new charge was formed,
consisting of Germany, New Derry and Cen-
terville (New Florence), and an appropriation
of $50 was granted by the Allegheny Synod
towards the support of a pastor. In 1861 the
congregation was united with the Brushval-
Ie3', Centerville and Strongstown Churches
to form a charge. The arrangement, however,
was onlv continued for a short time. From
1892 to '1897 Morrellville. New Florence and
Germany constituted a charge, the pastor re-
siding in ^lorrellville. Pa. From 1897 to
1901 New Florence and Germany formed a
charge and then the Garfield Church was
added. The membership of this congrega-
tion has never been very large. It now num-
bers forty-five.
The pastors of the church from the begin-
ning have been the following: Rev. Gabriel
Reichart, Rev. Nicholas Goughler Sharretts,
Rev. John Brown (supply). Rev. Jacob Med-
tart (supply). Rev. Augustus Babb, D. D.
(supply). Rev. A. B. Bosserman (supplv).
Rev. Peter Sahm, D. D. (supply), Rev. 'G.
M. Pile (supply), Rev. AY. A. Kopp (sup-
ply), Rev. John J. Suman, Rev. "William
Bradshaw Batchtell, Rev. John Beaver, Rev.
J. Lewis Bell (supply), Rev. George M. Set-
tlemyer, Rev. George Frederick Ehreufeld
(supply). Rev. Simon P. Snyder. Rev. Isaiah
B. Crist, Rev. B. W. Tomlinson, Rev. Augus-
tus Clemens Ehrenfeld (.supply), Rev. Solo-
mon McITenry, Rev. F. H. Crissman, Rev. J.
K. Hilty, Rev. Franz S. Shultz, Rev. Peter G.
Bell (supply). Rev. Samuel A. Shaulis, Rev.
Henry Yoeghtly and Rev. W. il. Spangler,
the present minister, who gives one half of his
time to this congregation.
The elders are A. C. Penrose and "\Y. R.
Lichteufels; the deacons, Joseph A. Walbeck
and T. S. Lynn ; the trustees, John W. Wag-
ner and John H. Cline. Mr. T. S. Lynn is
the superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which has an enrollment of seventy-two mem-
bers.
Franklin P. David.son and Winfield S. Hos-
kinson. who were reared in this congregation,
became ministers.
Christ's church, garfield
The town of Garfield is located on the north
bank of the Conemaugh river opposite Bol-
ivar. The first Lutheran services in this town
were held by Rev. Samuel A. Shaulis, Feb-
ruary 11, 1900, in the Dunker Church. After
preaching four sermons the use of the church
was denied him and services were discontin-
ued. On March 22, 1901. Rev. i\Ir. Shaulis,
assisted by Rev. Samuel J. McDowell, mission-
ary president of the Synod, made a canvass
of the town. Considerable interest was man-
ifested, and the use of the schoolhouse was
secured, in which services were conducted by
Rev. ]\Ir. Shaulis every two weeks. On July
28, 1901. the church was regularly organized
with eighteen members. Seven of these per-
sons were members of the Evangelical Luth-
eran Church of Germany. The first church
council consisted of Samuel FLsher, Mosheim
Lichtenfelts, Leoport Beaufort, Simeon Lynn,
James Cunningham, R. P. Wilson.
After using the schoolhouse for about a
year plans were made by the congregation
for the erection of a new church. The con-
tract was let to Mr. E. M. Lockard. The cor-
nerstone was laid July 12, 1901, and the
church was dedicated November 2, 1902. Rev.
C. B. King, of Allegheny, Pa., preached the
dedicatory sermon. The edifice is a beauti-
ful buff brick apartment church and is an
ornament as well as a blessing to the town.
314
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
It cost $4,000, and is paid for. Tlie lots were
donated by the Robinson heirs through their
real estate agent, Mr. T. B. Robinson.
GROVE CHAPEL CHURCH, EAYNE TOWNSHIP
A number of the earliest settlers of Rayne
township were Pennsylvania Germans, the
majority of whom were members of the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church. As a rule they at-
tend preaching services, with their families,
in the town of Indiana, being regular com-
municant members of the organization there.
About the year 1840 a German Reformed pas-
tor from Jefferson county conducted services
in Bookermyer's sehoolhouse, in the neighbor-
hood of "Dutch Hill," and a number of these
Germans attended these services and later
became associated with the congregation that
was organized there; but the Lutherans in
the southern part of the township continued
their adherence to the Indiana congregation.
As early as 1853 it was the custom of the In-
diana pastors to hold services for these people
in Wolf's sehoolhouse. Rev. John Tomlinson
is authority for the statement that a regular
organization was effected here in the year
1863, and that the f!rst church council con-
sisted of William Wolf, Jacob Garman, Rob-
ert Little, Jacob Faith, George Ray, C. J:
Speedy. This is probably correct, but Rev.
Mr. Ehrenfeld did not report it to the Alle-
gheny Synod as a separate congregation un-
til the year 1875, and then as a strong church
of 106 communicant members.
On June 12, 1872, Mrs. Cooper, of Rayne
township, donated to the congregation a large
lot for a church, parsonage and cemetery. For
this reason it was sometimes called "Coop-
er's church." It is so called in the minutes
of the Allegheny Synod. A building commit-
tee was appointed at once to arrange for the
building of a church. This committee con-
sisted of William Wolf, Robert Little, Jacob
Creps, George Lotz, Erasmus Cooper. The
cornerstone was laid by Rev. A. C. Ehren-
feld July 17, 1873. The church was dedicated
December 28, 1873, Rev. George Scholl,
D. D., of Altoona, Pa., preaching the sermon.
The building was frame, two stories high,
with arched ceiling and corner tower, and cost
$4,000. The congregation was regularly in-
corporated December 12, 1879, during the
pastorate of Rev. Peter G. Bell. Through the
earnest efforts of this same pastor the indebt-
edness of the congregation, which amounted
to $1,400, was removed. He wrought a splen-
did work among these people. Rev. Mr. Bell
resigned October 1, 1882. A new pastorate
was formed March 31, 1883, consisting of
Grove Chapel, St. John's and Bethel Churches,
and Rev. Amos Sell was the first pastor of
this new charge, serving from October 15,
18S4, to October 15, 1885. During his pas-
torate a good parsonage was built, at a cost
of $1,099.
Rev. Reuben Smith served the church from
March 16, 1886, to May 25, 1890, and left the
congregation, upon his resignation, in splen-
did condition. Mr. John Hill, a theological
student, supplied the church for three months
in 1890. Rev. J. W. Hutchison was the pas-
tor from October 1, 1890, to December 25,
1892. About this time, a division of the pas-
torate took place, and Grove Chapel and
Bethel Churches were constituted a charge.
Rev. John Tomlinson served these two
churches from July 1, 1893, to December 1,
1899. Rev. John IM. Axe was pastor from
September 28, 1900, to September, 1903. He
was followed by Revs. J. K. Hilty, S. A. Shau-
lis, J. M. Stover and Paul J. Tau, who is the
present pastor.
Grove Chapel has had some very unfortu-
nate church trials. The advice of Bishop
Hurst is appropriate: "If you must have
a church trial, make all the preparation pos-
sible for it, and then — don't have it."
The church was repaired in 1887, and in
1912 remodeled and repaired at a cost of
$1,100, and rededicated September 29, 1912.
The church council consists of J. A. Con-
dron, secretary, and W. S. Little, treasurer.
The deacons are John W. Snyder, Fred Hu-
ben, Jesse S. Way, John E. Lewis. Mr.
George M. Ray is the superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which is kept open nine
months in the year and has an eni-ollment of
seventy-five.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
Reformed Presbyterian
The United Presbyterian Church is the
principal American representative of the
dissenting churches of Scotland. The oldest
of these was the Covenanting, or, as its
adherents subsequently styled themselves, the
Reformed Presbyterian. Its existence may
be said to date from the Second Reformation
in Scotland, 1638-1646, because it has always
adhered tenaciously to the attainments made
in the National Church at that time. But in
its definite and more independent form it
may be regarded as a result of the badly
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
315
managed battle of Botliwell Bridge, which
took place on the Sabbath, the 22d of June,
1679. The remnant which escaped from that
disgraceful rout, and other sympathizers,
banded themselves together, under the guid-
ance of Richard Cameron and Donald Car-
gill, and utterly refused to have any religious
communion with any minister who had taken
the "black indulgence." And, being out-
lawed, the.y held secret meetings for counsel
and for worship, amidst the hills, and with
arms in their hands, and were popularly
Iniown as "Hill ]Men" and "ilountain Men."
On the 22d of June, 1680, the first anniver-
sary of the Bothwell Bridge disaster, they
affixed a declaration to the market cross San-
quhar, in which they formally disowned
Charles Stuart as their lawful sovereign, for
his perjury, his breach of the Covenant, and
his tyranny; and also denied the right of
James, the Duke of York, to the succession.
, A month after this Cameron was surprised
and slain at Airdsmoss, and the youthful
Cargill was finallv hunted down and executed
on the 27th of July, 1681.
This left the Covenanters without a min-
ister, and they organized a system of societies.
Those in the same neighborhood met as best
they could, and as often as they could, for
mutual prayer and edification. A plan of
correspondence was established, according to
which commissioners from all these societies
met secretly about every three months, in a
general meeting which determined the action
and policy of the whole body, and solved
questions of conscience, but never undertook
the administration of discipline or any official
work. The first of these meetings convened
at Logan House, in Clydesdale, on the 15th
of December, 1681. This method of unity or
s.ystem of government was kept up until a
Presbytery was organized. It was also
adopted in Ireland, and practiced in America
until 1774.
The Covenanters would hear no minister
preach, nor receive ordination from anyone,
who had taken the "indulgence." This com-
pelled them either to do without the sealing
ordinance or procure a minister from abroad.
Mr. James Renwick, a young man of good
education, and one of their number, was sent
in the autumn of 1682 to the Netherlands,
where Mr. Cameron had received his ordi-
nation. After spending the ^vinter at the
University of Groningen he was ordained to
the gospel ministry I\Iay 10, 1683. So hostile
was the government and so vigilant were its
spies that his first sermon was not delivered
till the 23d of November, at Darmede. He
was repeatedly outlawed by proclamation, and
everj' subject was forbidden "to harbor him
and his followers, or supply them with meat
or drink, but to hunt and pursue them out
of all their dens, caves, and most retired
deserts, and to raise the hue and cry after
them"; and such proclamations were always
vigorously and inhumanely executed. Mr.
Renwick was taken and executed on the 11th
of February, 1688, and his was the last life
sacrificed to religious liberty in Scotland.
Providence now brought the Covenanters re-
lief by exchanging their circumstances and
surroundings. James was banished and Wil-
liam of Orange was brought to the throne.
Persecution ceased and the "Mountain Men"
were permitted to worship God publiclj' ac-
cording to the teachings of their own con-
sciences.
The General As.sembly of the Church of
Scotland met again in 1690, and re-established
Presbyterianism. ilessrs. Lining, Shields and
Boyd, with a majority of their followers,
united with the "Kirk," but there was a
minority which refused to do so because of
WilUam's assumption of royal supremacy
over the church. These "Old Dissenters"
were again without a minister, and so re-
mained for sixteen years, but free from per-
secution of any kind.
During the twenty-seven years of persecu-
tion in Scotland a good many families of
Covenanter sympathies tied for peace and
safety to the North of Ireland, where they
settled in little clusters, and were served oc-
casionally by refugee ministers. As early as
1720, and possibly earlier, some of these
families left Ireland and made their homes
in America ; and from time to time othei's
followed, and thus the Covenanting Church
was planted in this coimtry. A few mingled
with this migration who came directly from
the west of Scotland but generally they were
from Ireland, although of Scottish parentage.
These immigrants located principally in
Orange county, N. Y., and in the present
counties of Lancaster, Dauphin, York,
Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and Fulton,
in Pennsylvania. They brought with them
their system of praying societies and general
correspondence, and soon confederated and
kept themselves distinct from the Presbyte-
rian Churches in the neighborhood.
In 1751 the Reformed Presb.vtery of Scot-
land sent over Rev. John Cuthbertson to
minister in this missionary field. He
preached almost every day for a time, at
316
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Oetoraro, Peqiiea, Paxtang, aud across the
Susquehanna at Walter Buchanan's, Big
Spring, Rocky Spring near Chambersburg ;
at Joseph Cochran's in the cove near IMc-
Connellsburg ; returning by way of Gettys-
burg and York counties to his headquarters
on the Oetoraro. At his preaching stations
there were no meeting houses for years.
"When the weather permitted the people met
in their "tents," and when it was not pro-
pitious they did the best they could in their
cabins. This "tent" was pitched in a shady
grove, and consisted simply of an elevated
platform for t-he minister, where he could be
seen and heard liy all ; a board nailed against
a tree to support the Bible ; a few rude
benches for seats; and some boards overhead
to protect the minister from sun and rain.
Thus accommodated, the congregation wor-
shipped a good part of the day.
On the 23d of August, 1752, Mr. Cuthbert-
son held his first communion in America. It
was at the Walter Buchanan "tent," now
New Kingston, Cuniberlaud Co., Pa. A pre-
paratory feast day was observed, tokens of
admission were dispensed, and the services
on the Sabbath commenced early and lasted
nine hours. He paraphrased the 15th Psalm
and preached from John iii. 35, ' ' The Father
loveth the Son and hath given all things into
His hands. ' ' After the sermon he prayed and
the congregation sang. He then expounded
the ordinance which debarred from and in-
vited to the tables. The communicants came
to the table singing the 24th Psalm. After
four table Services were concluded he gave a
parting exhortation to the communicants and
prayed. After an interval of half an hour he
preached again from John xvi. 31, "Jesus
answered them. Do ye now believe?" On
Monday he preached from Ephesiaus v. 15,
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as
fools, but as wise." About two hundred and
fifty comJJiuned, and this must have com-
prised very nearly the entire number of adult
Covenanters in the country, for the place was
central, the season was pleasant, and they
gathered from their different settlements in
what is now the counties of Lancaster, York,
Dauphin, Cumberland, Adams, Franklin and
Fulton, and nearly every adult was a com-
municant. This vs'as the first time that the
followers of Camei'on, Cargill aud Renwick
had ever outside the British Isles gathered to-
gether around the communion table of the
Lord to eat bread and to drink wine in com-
memoration of a Savior's love and atonin'.];
death. To them it must have been a high
day. It brought them to a mount of ordi-
iiances, and spread for them a table in the.
wilderness, giving them thus a tangible evi-
dence ol' the thoughtfulness and tender care
of the Great Shepherd. ■ It also waked the
)nemory of other days and other scenes and
called up the forms and caresses of loved ones
parted beyond the sea. Their tears were
doubtless mingled ones of gladness and of
sorrow, half of earth and half of heaven.
Such a scene of gratitude and of praise, of
memory and of tears, must have strengthened
every heart and (luickened every grace, and
made them sing as they never sanf^ before
that triumphant song which so often sus-
tained and cheered their persecuted ancestors
when "Mountain Men" in Scotland:
God is our refuge and our strength,
In straits a present aid;
Tlierefore although the earth remove,
We will not be afraid.
Mr. Cuthbertson had now finished the first
year of his missionary labors, during which
he preached on 120 days, baptized 110 chil-
dren, married ten couples and rode on horse-
back twenty-five hundred miles. The toil and
labor, the difficulties aud dangers of such a
year's work, cannot now be estimated or ap-
preciated. He was more than one hundred
days in the saddle; he had to cross, without
the aid of bridge or boat, streams of consider-
able volume and often greatly swollen ; he
had to pass from one settlement to another
through miles of unbroken forests, where
were the lair of the wild beast and the wig-
wam of the wilder red man, guided often by
the blazed trees which alone marked the trail.
The summer's sun and the winter's fi'ost, the
drenching rain and the drifting snow, had to
be patiently endured. His studying had to
be largely done on horseback, without the aid
of helps, during the tedious hours of his
lonely rides. His food by day and his lodg-
ings at night were guiltless of any especial
comforts and barely met the demands of
necessity. And yet this apostolic man toiled
on for thirty-nine years, during which time he
preached on 2,452 days, baptized 1,806 chil-
dren, married 240 couples ajid rode on horse-
back about seventy thousand miles, or nearly
equal to three times the distance around the
earth. His dust now sleeps on the Oetoraro 's
bank, awaiting the resurrection of the just.
In the spring of 1773 two additional min-
isters were sent over. Rev. Matthew Lind and
Rev. Alexander Dobbin. These with Rev.
^Ir. Cuthbertson and several ruling elders met
at Paxtang and constituted themselves as the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
317
Reformed Presbyteriau Presbyteiy of Aiuer-
ica. About 1781 this Presbyteiy unanimously
adopted the terms of union, as adopted and
offered by the Associate Presbytery of New
York, and all its ministers and fully organ-
ized eongn'egations went into the union ooji-
summated on the .30th of October, 1782, which
originated the Associate Reformed Church.
As.sociatc Frcshytcrian
The history of the Associate Presbyterian
Church goes back to the year 1733, when
Ebenezer Erskine and three other ministers
of the Church of Scotland refused to respect
an unrighteous and tyrannical sentence of
despotism, declared their secession from "the
prevailing party," made their solemn appeal
"to the first free, faithful and reforming
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland"
and organized the Associate Presbytery. We
cannot follow their instructive histoiy, nor
show how necessary and how just was their
cause. It is now conceded by all impartial
students that they were battling for the same
great principles, substantially, which more
than a century later were upheld by Dr. Chal-
mers and the noble men who followed him
in founding the Free Church of Scotland.
Erskine and his associates deserve our admir-
ation and emiilation as well, for their stead-
fast faithfulness to the pure doctrines of the
Gospel, and for the unflinching courage with
which they maintained them.
As early as 1736 a petition was received
from Londonderry asking that an ordained
minister or probationer be sent to labor in that
district, but the brethren had none to send.
About 1750 missionaries were sent into the
eastern counties of Pennsylvania. In the
struggle between the Colonies and Great
Britain all the ministers of the Associate and
Reformed Churches .joined heartily with the
former. The idea very soon and very natur-
ally suggested itself to these men that if polit-
ical independence of foreign control would be
a good thing, ecclesiastical independence of
a far-off power would not be a bad thing.
The ((uestion was at once started, and mainly
urged by Dr. Annan, whether both branches
of Scottish Presbyterians in this country
could not be united so as to form one national
church oi-ganization, independent in govern-
ment of ail foreign control. The first con-
ference anent this matter was held on the 30th
of September, 1777. at the home of Samuel
Patterson in Donegal. Lancaster Co., Pa.
^Messrs. Cuthbertson, Smith. Proudfit, and
Henderson were present. Other meetings fol-
lowed and on the 13th of June, 1782, the As-
sociate Reformed Church was organized, and
its first Synod met in Philadelphia on the
30th of October, 1782.
United Prcshytcriaii
In 1836 Rev. Hugh McMillan, chairman
of a committee of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church (N. S.), sent a communication to the
Associate Reformed Synod of the West,
proposing a convention of delegates from the
Scottish Presbyterian Churches to see if a
closer union could be effected. The Synod
accepted the invitation. Similar invitations
were sent to the other Sjniods and resulted
in a convention which assembled in t'ittsburg,
October 17, 1838. The work of the conven-
tion was preparatoiy work. Several days
were spent in fraternal conference and in
devotional exercises. Special consideration
was given to the course wliich should be pur-
sued, while yet in a divided state, to promote
a nearer approximation preparatory to
organic union. After a full and free inter-
change of views it was
Resolved, As the judgment of this Conven-
tion, that the ministers of the churches here
represented may interchange pulpits; and it
is recommended to both ministers and people
to unite, as often as opportunity offers, in
meetings for prayer and other religious ex-
ercises.
An address was also prepai'ed to the Chris-
tian public on the subject of the union of the
churches, and an invitation to another con-
vention was given to all those churches which
were agreed in adhering to a Scriptural
Psalmody. A second convention met in Phil-
adelphia in September, 1839. On this occa-
sion there was a free interchange of views on
those subjects on which it had been supposed
that there existed some diversity of opinion
which might i^resent some difficult.y in the
way of union, such as Psalmody, communion,
slavery, testimony-bearing and covenanting.
Provision was made for another convention
and a special invitation was given the Associ-
ate Synod. Conventions were held annually
until nine had passed into history. Every
convention gave the first and best part of its
labors to the hunting up of difficulties and
dift'erences of views, until it was very evident
that present methods would never accomplish
the object desired. The sudden and abrupt
termination of this convention startled the
churches and touched the hearts of the masses.
318
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The union feeling received no check but posi-
tive quickening. A regular correspondence
now commenced between the Associate and the
General Associate Reformed Synods which
terminated in the offer of a Basis of Union
by the former to the latter, which being over-
tured to the Presbyteries, was adopted in 1857
by the General Synod.
As the time approached for the consumma-
tion of the union those who had labored and
prayed for it became very anxious that peace,
harmony and unanimity might characterize
it. To aid in this result a convention was
called to meet in Xenia, Ohio, on the 24th of
March, 1858, to seek by united prayer the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the
churches, that they might be enabled to come
together in true love and confidence. A very
large number of ministers and laymen as-
sembled and spent nearly three days in prayer
and praise and conference with the happiest
effect, and then adjourned to meet in Alle-
gheny in May, just before the assembling of
the Synods, where the same delightful expe-
rience was repeated.
Under these circumstances the two Synods
met on the 19th of May, 1858, the Associate
in Pittsburg and the Associate Reformed in
Allegheny. On the 26th of May, 1858, the
two Synods met together in the City Hall,
Pittsburg, and after prayer and praise and
the contemplated addresses the new body was
constituted with prayer by Rev. Dr. Donald
C. McLaren, moderator of the Associate Re-
formed General Synod. Dr. John T. Pressly
was elected by acclamation as moderator of
the united body, and Dr. Samuel Wilson as
its first stated clerk.
The Basis of Union was the Westminster
Confession of Faith, the Larger and the
Shorter Catechisms, and a Judicial Testi-
mony.
The influence and impulses of the union of
1858 were very benign and happy. A baptism
from on high evidently rested upon the new
church, reviving and quickening her in her
inner as well as in her outer life. But few
incidents have marked the course of the
United Presbyterian Church. She has done
her work quietly and at the same time tried
to meet her responsibilities arising from the
general progress of the age.
CONEMAUGH PRESBYTERY
The Conemaugh Presbytery was organized
at Shelocta, Pa., November 12, 1858, from the
Presbvteries of Blairsville, Clarion and Alle-
gheny, Rev. David Blair presiding. Min-
isters: David Blair, William Connor, Samuel
Anderson, Matthew H. Wilson, Byron Porter,
John C. Telford, J. L. Purdy, David K. Duff,
Hem-y Q. Graham, Joseph C. Grier. Terri-
tory: From the mouth of the Kiskiminetas,
by the Allegheny river, to the New York
State line; thence southward to the head-
waters of the Conemaugh river, on the sum-
mit of the Allegheny mountains ; thence west-
ward by the Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas
rivers to the Allegheny river. On October 20,
1880, Beracha, Smyrna and Mahouing con-
gregations, which in 1872 elected Conemaugh,
were transferred to Brookville.
INDIANA CONGREGATION
Before the union, in May, 1858, of the As-
sociate Presbyterian Church and the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Indiana
congregation beloiiged to the Associate
Presbyterian Church, or, as it was commonly
called, the "Seceder" branch.
At the time when the history of this con-
gregation begins Chartiers was the only
Presbytery of the Associate Church west of
the mountains. It was organized in 1800 with
five ministers. Its territory was "all west of
the Alleghany mountains, with the congre-
gations in Virginia and the Carolinas" — a
rather big field of operations for five preach-
ers; but it was gradually narrowed as time
went on until Chartiers Presbytery, with six-
teen settled pastors, now finds work enough
with the limits of Washington county. Pa.
Under this Presbytery Indiana congregation
began to be, and continued to be until 1822.
From that time until 1858 the Associate
Presbytery of Allegheny had charge of it, and
since that time it has belonged to the United
Presbyterian Presbytery of Conemaugh.
It is pei-haps impossible to fix precisely the
date or the circumstances of the organization
of this congregation. Conemaugh claims to
ha.ve been oi-ganized as early as 1801, and
is probably the oldest Associate Church in
the county. Indiana, in all likelihood, comes
next. We do not know that Crooked Creek,
or West Union, is ever disposed to dispute the
priority, but we do know that no other con-
gregation can,' except Conemaugh, for these
three until after Father Blair's settlement
were the only Seceder Churches in the county.
It is reasonably certain that in the year 1808
Revs. Mr. Wilson and Thomas Allison or-
dained elders and organized a congi-egation
here, and held the first communion. This was
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
319
three years after the laying out of Indiana as
the county seat of what was then a new
county, with a population of less than 600.
The first communion was in the open air, near
the corner of Water and Fifth streets. It is
very probable that before the time of the
organization there had been preaching here
by one or more of the Associate ministers.
The congregation numbered when organ-
ized between thirty and forty persons. No
complete list of their names exists, but among
them were William Trimble and John Clyde,
the first elders; Gawin Adams, James Simp-
son, George Trimble, James Thompson, James
McKee.
From the time of the organization, in 1808,
for about nine j'ears we find no records which
tell of the congregation's condition. There
was no pastor. Rev. Alexander Wilson and
Rev. Mr. McClelland, and perhaps others,
preached here. Passing over these early
years of which we know so little, we shall en-
deavor to ari-ange the facts we know under
the successive pastoral settlements.
Pastorates. — The first, the longest and in
many respects the most important pastorate
is that of Rev. David Blair. It began form-
ally with his ordination and installation in
October, 1818, but really some time before
that, and closed by his release in October,
1862, and thus extended fully over forty-four
years. A full history of his connection with
the congi-egation is given in the sketch of his
life.
After the release of Mr. Blair ineffectual
calls were presented to Presbytery as follows :
March 5, 1863, for J. R. Johnston, of Presby-
tery of Big Spring; June 16, 1863, for J. R.
Kerr, of Presbytery of ilonongahela.
The call for Rev. William Fulton was laid
before Presbytery April 12, 1864. He had
preached here during the preceding winter,
coming out from the seminary at Allegheny.
The call was forwarded to Wheeling Presb.y-
tery, under whose care he was as a student,
and accepted. In the summer of 1864 he be-
gan his labors here. His trials for ordination
were heard by Presbytery at West Union the
24th of August, 1864, and on the 25th of
October following he was ordained and in-
stalled. His ministry here continued until
May 3, 1870, at which time he was released
and accepted a call to the Fourth U. P.
Church of Allegheny. Then his death took
place amid a sorrowing people on the 25th of
June, 1873.
Rev. William S. Owens was called in June,
1871, being at that time pastor of the North
Church, Philadelphia. The call was accepted
in Philadelphia August 15, 1871, and in the
following month he took charge of the con-
gregation. He was installed November 11,
1871. He accepted a call to Steubenville,
Ohio, and was released Jmie 26, 1877.
The congregation were very sorry to part
witli Rev. ;\Ir. Owens, but they were singu-
larly fortunate in securing Rev. J. Day
Brownlee to preach for them that summer.
A call was made out, presented and accepted,
and ilr. Brownlee entered upon his pastoral
duties about three months after the former
pastor was released. He has continuously
served the congregation since that time. Dur-
ing his pastorate the congregation has been
very prosperous and now nimibers 555 mem-
bers. The elders at present are: J. T.
Stewart, clerk; W. B. Pattison, G. P. Mc-
Cartney, Harry Carson, James W. Wiggins,
James A. Simpson. The enrollment of the
Sabbath school is 400 ; Prof. F. Ernest Work
is the superintendent.
Houses of ^Yo)•ship. — In 1818, when Mr.
Blair's ministry began, Indiana was but a
small village. There was then no church
building of any kind in the place, and but
two organized congregations of Christian peo-
ple— the other being the Presbyterian congre-
gation, of which Rev. John Reed was pas-
tor. He settled here the same year as Mr.
Blair. Both these congregations worshipped
in the old courthouse (a new courthouse then),
which gave place in 1871 to the present
structure. Mr. Blair preached here every
third Sabbath and Mr. Reed every second
Sabbath, so that their appointments freciuently
fell on the same day. This matter, so long
as it was necessary, was amicably arranged
by each of the ministers alternately giving
way to the other on the conflicting days, and
fixing his appointment elsewhere to suit.
The first house of worship of the U. P.
congi'egation, and the first erected in the
town, was built in 1826-27. It was a one-
story brick building on the same site which
is now occupied. This house was replaced
in 1851 by a two-story building, the walls of
which stiil stand, though the building was
entirely remodeled in 1867, after the close
of Father Blair's pastorate. The cost of
the first building was probably under $3,000.
The cost of the second house, in 1852,
was about $3,400. The remodeling in 1867
cost $3,300. From time to time the church
has been repaired and in 1909 a new pipe or-
gan was installed at a cost of $2,500.
Rev. Daviel Blair was born in the parish
320
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of Donagor, County Antrim, Ireland, in the
year 1787, "three weeks after old Hallow-
e'en," that is, in November. The name of
his father was Hugh, of his mother, Jane.
They were of Scotch-Irish descent. They
had eleven children, three daug'hters and eight
sons, David being the eighth child. Hugh
Blair with his family attended the Presbyte-
rian Church at Park Gate, County Antrim,
biit for some reason became dissatisfied with
the pastor and joined the Seceder Church.
Donagor congregation about one mile away
was the nearest organization of Seceders, but
in good weather the pastor would preach in
the barns and in the groves in the vicinity of
Hugh Blair's house. _ David's first school
teacher was an old maiden lady named Jen-
nie Taggart, who kept school near his home.
He afterwards attended school in the session
house of Donagor congregation. His instruc-
tor, whose name w^as Haveron, had been edu-
cated for the priesthood, but he got married
and thereafter devoted himself to teaching.
The last night that the Blair family spent in
their old home there was a school exhibition
in the session house. David, being one of the
pupils, was in attendance. One part of the
exercise was the delivery of sentiments by
the pupils. When David was called upon he
arose and said:
This is the last night of our school,
So I hear them say;
To-morrow we will leave our home,
For sweet America.
The teacher had not learned of the in-
tended departure of the family, and when
David repeated these lines he came to him
and bade him an affectionate adieu.
The family crossed the ocean at five dif-
ferent times. The larger part, however, in-
cluding David, went to Belfast the day after
the exhibition and after a delay of a few days,
on the 2d day of October, 1802, set sail "in
the ship "Philadelphia." The sea was rough,
and they landed at the city of Philadelphia
after a passage of nine weeks and three
days. From there they went in a wagon to
the city of Pittsburg, where they met Rev.
Mr. Black, a minister with whom they had
been acquainted in Ireland, and many mem-
bers of their congregation in Ireland who had
settled in that vicinity. The family pro-
ceeded to Steubenville, Ohio, where Ann Stra-
han, David's sister, lived. David \\ath two
of his brothers walked from Pittsburg to
Steubenville. The Ohio river being filled with
floating ice they were unable to get across,
and were detained on the eastern side for
two days. The winter was spent in Steuben-
ville. There, in the spring of 1803, the whole
family met together. Then came the re-
moval to Crawford county. Pa., near Harts-
town, where Hugh Blair, the father of Da-
vid, had purchased 100 acres of land, three
acres of which were cleared and a log cabin
erected thereon. In a short time Mr. Blair
built a log house in which the family lived
until a frame dwelling was erected a number
of years after. He also purchased the bal-
ance of the tract, in all 400 acres. Here they
made their home. On the 10th of March, 1835,
Jane Blair, David's- mother, died aged ninety
years. His father died January 5, 1837, aged
ninety-six years. They were members of the
old Seceder Church and their bodies rest in
the Shenango graveyard. Many of their de-
scendants live in the Western part of Craw-
ford county, and others of them are scattered
throughout the West.
At the time of their removal to Crawford
county, David was a youth of not quite six-
teen, and by no means rugged. Indeed all
through his early manliood he was somewhat
delicate. He had not seriously thought of
devoting himself to the ministry, though the
subject had been mentioned in the family.
His inclination was for books and studies.
His elder brother John sent him a copy of
' ' Brown 's Remains. ' ' The reading of this lit-
tle book made ,a strong impression upon him,
and was largely instrumental in deciding him
to enter the ministry. In this resolution he
was encouraged by a student with whom he
was intimately acquainted. Such were the
natural and simple influences by which Di-
vine Providence ordered the choice of a voca-
tion and decided the course of his life. In
the winter of 1805-06 he began his classical
studies under the direction of Rev. Mr. Mc-
Lean, the father of Dr. D. H. A. ilcLean,
late of Canonslnirg, Pa. Like many others
then since, he had to work his own way for
the most part to an advanced education and
was none the worse for such discipline. In
1810 he enlnvd JcftVrson College, at Can-
onsburg. lie would have been graduated in
1812, bui his hcidlli gave way early in that
year, and he sought its restoration in open-
air work at home. His college course was
thus never formally completed, but his edu-
cation was, for that day, good. With reestab-
lished health, in the fall of 1812, he began his
theological course under Dr. John Ander-
son, of the Associate Church, in the old two-
story log building at Service Creek, in Bea-
ver county. Pa., which is claimed to have been
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
321
the first Associate theological seminary on this
western continent. The usual four sessions
were passed here, study being carried on pri-
vately during the spring and summer months
between sessions. A portion of the second
summer Mr. Blair spent teaching a school ten
miles distant from Service Creek. He took
the old way and made the pupils read the
Bible. He kept up his theological studies,
and at the opening of the tei-ni returned to
the seminary.
One fact characteristic of the spirit of ec-
clesiastics in those days, and strongly illus-
trative of the independence of control and te-
nacity of purpose which always distinguished
Jlr. Blair, we cannot omit. We refer to it
chieflj' because it was but one of several in-
stances during his early ministerial life in
which he came into verj- unpleasant, but to
liim not discreditable, collision as we think
with the rigid views and requirements of
part of the Presbytery. It must be remem-
bered that in all the branches of the Pres-
b.vterian Church, and in others also, the tests
of orthodoxy were formerly defined much
more narrowly than they are now. This was
true even of those ministers whose views were
called liberal, and there were many such, but
in the case of others there was a keen watch-
fulness for heresy, and a success in finding
it which we cannot even understand. The
slightest departure from the most minute
points of the received doctrines, from the
common interpretation of the text from the
current metaphysics of theology, and even a
failure to come fully up to the standards
in modes of expression, were by not a few
regarded as evidences of unsoundness in the
faith; We may not blame these good men of
'"lang sjTie." Their strictness was excess-
ive, but it was sincere and honest. Let us
simply be thankful that we now know as they
did not how to maintain the truth faithfully
and yet not put men in strait- jackets. The
Associate Church has been reported and af-
firmed, and we dare say not slanderously, to
have had its full share of ministers not only
orthodox, but strictly and minutely so. That
Chartiers Presbytery once had some such Mr.
Blair's experience shows. In the j^ear 1813,
while in his seminary course, he received a
text from which to preach a specimen of
progress before the Presbytery. The passage
was in Romans. Chapter i, beginning, "I am
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. ' ' Some-
thing in this discourse when delivered — we
believe it related to the word "law" as used
by Paul, the nature of the covenant of works
and the relation between the law and the gos-
pel—did not accord with the ideas or coin-
cide with the modes of expression which some
of the niembers regarded as alone orthodox.
This discourse, after some discussion, was
condemned, ilr. Blair was examined, but
yielded nothing. He thought he was right
and some of the presbyters, at least among
the;u that man of honored memory, Dr. Rob-
ert Bruce, of Pittsburg, either took the same
view or held the point of no real importance.
The matter was dropped and Jlr. Blair con-
tinued to attend the theological Seminary.
He pursued his studies diligently. Having
i<pent four years at the theological seminary,
he was on the 29th of August, 1816, licensed
to preach. His first visit to this region was
made shortly after, at which time he preached
at Conemaugh and Crooked Creek. The peo-
ple desired that he should be sent back and
some time in the winter following he returned
and preached at Indiana, as well as at Cone-
maugh and Crooked Creek. Early in the
year 1817 a call was made out from the three
cougi-egations and was presented to the As-
sociate Presbytery of Chartiers, at a meetiag
in Pittsburg on the 4th Wednesday of May,
1817, accompanied by the following petition :
"To the Rev. Moderator and other mem-
liers of the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers
to meet at Pittsburg on the 4th Wednesday
of May:
"The prayer of your petitioners of Cone-
maugh congregation humbly showeth : That
having obtained the moderation of a call for
ilr. David Blair, it is our earnest desire that
our call be presented to him as soon as pos-
sible, and that his settlement amongst us in
case of his accepting our call, be forwarded
with all convenient speed. The annual sal-
ary which we promise to pay Mr. Blair for
his ministerial labors is five hundred dollars.
John Pattison, Esq., and Judge James Smith
are appointed commissioners.
"In testimony whereof, we have hereunto
subscribed our names, this 27th dav of May,
1817.
"Elders — James Smith. John Pattison,
William Trimble, John Clyde, Samuel Tem-
pleton. James Hart, Robert Miller.
"ilembers — William Coleman, Francis Me-
Olim. David Hutchinson, James ]\IeKissick,
Sr.. James Smith. "Bartholomew Haddeu, Sam-
uel Lyon. William George, W. Fleming,
James Thompson, Robert Douthitt, John
Black, Nathan Douthitt. Joseph White, Wil-
liam Smith, John Smith, James Smith, Jr.,
Alexander Pattison, WiUiam Calhoun, Wil-
322
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
liam Rankin, John Morrow, Theophilus
Smith, George Trimble, Joseph Scott, James
Templeton, David Gilleland, Robert Henry,
John Jloreland. John Lj'tle, Samuel George."
This paper is signed by seven elders from
the three congi-egations, and thirty men who
were main householders and represented a
much larger number of members. It requires
a little explanation. It is not a call, but sim-
ply a petition accompanying the call. Win-
was it drawn up and sent to the Presbytery?
Unless we mistake its character, it was not
necessary or usual to send such a paper. Our
impression is, and Father Blair's supports it,
that it was known to the people that some
membei's of the Presbytery were disposed to
question the orthodoxy of the candidate, and
they feared some obstacle would be interposed
to prevent or at least delay his settlement,
hence this petition. There may have been
other good reasons to account for it, but in
the light of all circumstances, the explana-
tion seems natural and probable. In what-
ever way its existence may be accounted for
it is an interesting relic of years long gone
by.
The call was sustained and presented. Mr.
Blair was not wiUiug to settle at once, but de-
sired to travel for a year. Under the advice
of Dr. Bruce, he accepted the call upon the
condition that he should not enter upon his
charge for at least a year. The remainder of
the year 1817, and the early months of 1818,
he spent in a preaching tour in the South,
going through Virginia and the Carolinas
and returning by way of Tennessee, Ken-
tucky and Ohio, performing the entire jour-
ney upon horseback. "While in Ohio he
preached several times to the Associate con-
gregation of Xenia. A caU was proposed,
but Mr. Blair said: "No, I could not accept
it, I'have promised to go back to Indiana,"
And though the prospects at Xenia were more
flattering than here, he returned to fulfill the
engagement already made.
In the spring of 1818 the Presbytery of
Chartiers met at Canonsburg, Pa. Mr. Blair
was present and delivered his trial discourses
for ordination. Under the same influence
which had controlled the Presbytery before,
his trial discourses were condemned and re-
jected, and texts for new discourses assigned
to be delivered at a subsequent meeting of
the Presbytery. Mr. Blair proceeded to ful-
fill his remaining appointments and preached
at Indiana. Crooked Greek and Conemaugh,
one day in each. He then visited his home
in Crawford county. From there he went to
Huntingdon, Pa., and on to Philadelphia to
attend a meeting of the Synod in May. Leav-
ing his horse at Philadelphia, he proceeded by
public conveyance up through New York to
Saratoga, preaching in vacant congregations.
Returning, he spent a short time here and
then went to face Presbytery once more.
Presbytery met at Canonsburg. He delivered
his discourses and they were not condemned,
though he did not take back anything of his
so-called error in his former discourse. Rather
amusing is the account he gives of it. It
seems that the fault found with one of his
previous discourses — known as the "popular
sermon" — was that it was defective on the
doctrine of the divine sonship of Christ. Not
that he impugned that important doctrine,
but that he ignored a cei-tain line of metaphys-
ical argiunent in support of it which is neither
scriptural nor intelligible to any human mind.
To draw him out fully he was given the text,
' ' Dost thou believe on the Son of God ? ' ' Mr.
Blair opened his sermon from this text by
saying that the question was asked by the
Savior of a certain man born blind, whose
sight the Lord Jesus had restored by a mir-
acle, and who had been condemned and put
out of the synagogue for confessing his divine
character and mission. After fully elucidat-
ing that point, he made a practical application
by asking whether a Presbytery had ever been
known to do such a thing. Clearly they had
put a sharp sword in his hands when they
gave him that text, and he was bold enough to
smite them with it. When his introduction
was ended, he simply gathered the ideas of his
previous sermon — the rejected one, and pre-
sented them again in the same order, and
nearly in the same words. Rev. T. Allison, a
member of the Presbytery, in his criticism of
this discourse, said : " He has gathered up ev-
erything we faulted in the former discourses,
and has rebuked us openly before the same
congregation that heard the other discourses
opposed. ' ' Rev. James Ramsey only remarked,
' ' I thought the young man had let the mercury
rise too high in the introduction to the popu-
lar sermon, but I approve of the discourses."
It was dvie to the influences of these two mem-
bers of the Presbytery that Mr. Blair's for-
mer discourses had been condemned. At this
time some members of the Presbytery were op-
posed to "occasional hearing." The young
candidate for ordination was known to regard
their opposition as groundless, and for this
opinion Rev. J. Walker desired to have him
tried. The Presbytery did not comply with
Rev. Mr. Walker's request, and the matter
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
323
■was dropped, ilr. Blair was ordained with-
out being asked to comply with the usual rules.
Presbytery appointed a commission of which
Dr. Robert Bruce, of Pittsburg, and Rev. John
Dickey were members to install Rev. David
-Blair, "in the congregations north of Cone-
maugh river." The exact date of ^Ir. Blair's
installation is uncertain. One record fixes it
on the 7th of October, 1818, while the "Re-
port of the Presbytery of Chartiers ' ' to Synod
in May, 1819. sets forth that "on the second
Wednesday of October, Mr. David Blair was
ordained to the holy 'ministry and installed
in the United congregations of Indiana,
Crooked Creek and Conemaugh." At all
events, it is quite cei-tain that he was installed
in October, 1818, by a commission at Crooked
Creek, now known as West Union, at which
time and place Rev. Mr. Blair first held com-
munion and was assisted by Rev. Alex. Wil-
son, from Washington county.
Mr. Blair was the first pastor settled in this
charge. Other ministers had preached here,
and a call had been made out and presented
Rev. ilr. ilcClelland, who declined it.
We have no means of ascertaining the num-
ber of members in the churches over which
Mr. Blair was placed. He relates that there
could not have been more than a half dozen
families in the Indiana congregation. We find
in the statistical table of 1819, published by
Synod, the three congregations are credited
with 230 members.
Wednesday, May 24, 1820, the Associate
Synod met at Huntingdon, Pa., and on the
evening of that day Mr. Blair, by request of
Synod, preached from Acts iv. 12, "Neither is
there salvation in any other : for there is none
other name under heaven given among men
whereby we must be saved." On Monday,
May 29, 1880, a petition was presented to
Synod from the South asking that two minis-
ters be sent to preach for a few months, and
that Rev. ]\Ir. Blair be one of them. That day
the following entry was made in the minutes :
"Nine o'clock P. M. Messrs. ilurray and
Blair were appointed on a mission for three
months (September, October and November)
to the churches under our inspection in the
Presbytery of the Carolinas, particularly to
visit the vacant congregations as extensively
as possible, to inquire into the state of set-
tled congregations, to meet with the Presby-
terj' and make report to next meeting of
Synod; and they were authorized to draw
, upon the Treasurer for a sum of money to
' bear the expenses, not exceeding $100, and
likewise for such sums as may be necessary to
remunerate the preachers who may be em-
ployed to supply their pulpits in "their ab-
sence. Adjourned."
Synod met next morning at six o'clock, and
after appointing a committee of two to pub-
lish the minutes, and some devotional exer-
cises, adjourned.
Mr. Blair was to have been married in the
faU of that year, but when he received his ap-
pointment to the South, he postponed his mar-
riage until his return. He came up the "Val-
ley of Virginia" and stopped at Huntingdon,
where his intended bride lived. The day was
fixed for their marriage and he came on to
Indiana, and resumed his labors among his
people. At the appointed time he returned
to Huntingdon on horseback. Early in the
year 1821 he was married to Miss Margaret
Steele, of Huntingdon. ' ' She proved, as many
here well know, 'a help meet for him,' such
as not everj- minister is blessed in finding.
After a long life of usefulness, she was called
hence, April 6th, 1865, leaving a blessed mem-
ory- to her husband and children and to all
this community."
When Mr. Blair reached Indiana, after his
return from the South, he was amazed to find
charges of heterodoxy had been raised against
him. We need not follow them to their com-
plete failure. These early troubles are best
understood by remembering that Mr. Blair
had no sympathy with the extreme doctrines
— amounting in his view to almost fatalism —
which some of them held. He believed and
preached the old "narrow doctrines as they
were called, in regard to the plan of salva-
tion and the freedom of the gospel offer of
Christ, and all his benefits to lost sinners, sim-
ply as such, and without any limitation by the
sublime mysteries of God's sovereign decrees.
These 'Narrow Doctrines' the United Presby-
terian Church now hold it their glory as a
church to proclaim."
The Associate Synod again convened at
Pittsburg in May, 1821. Mr. Blair and Mr.
^lurray were in attendance and presented a
report of their proceedings in the mission to
the Carolinas. The report was read and ac-
cepted. The following is an extract from it,
and all is of general interest : ' ' We complied
with the directions of SjTiod so far as was in
our power. We entered the service of the
church in the Presbytery of the Carolinas, Mr.
Blair on the last Sabbath of August and Mr.
]\Iurray on the last Sabbath of September,
and we continued our services in the bounds
of that Presbytery until the last Sabbath of
November, during which time we preached
324
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the gospel in the congregations both settled
and vacant and dispensed the Lord's Supper
as often as was in our power. With regard to
the state of the church in the Presbytery of
the Carolinas, the limits of a report of this
kind wiU not permit us to give a particular de-
tail. The people received us with every
mark of affection and attended our ministry in
considerable numbers. They manifested such
a concern for the gospel as will warrant a
minister to hope that by diligence and fidel-
ity to his trust, his labors may be successful ;
but we must acknowledge that the principles
and habits of slavery must be very prejudicial
to the life of religion, even under the most
energetic and faithful ministry; the best
laid plans for reformation are by these de-
moralizing principles powerfully resisted and
owing to the influences of these principles,
the minister of the gospel sees himself de-
prived of communion with the religious who
emigrate to the free States in the western
country in numbers far exceeding anything
known in northern congregations. But not-
withstanding all these discouragements we
have reason to believe that the day is not far
off when a change is to take place with regard
to religion in that country and God will build
up Zion; for slavery is felt more and more
as a moral evil as its bad consequences on
society are by the generality discovered. We
spoke our sentiments with the utmost free-
dom to congregations, to church sessions and
families, and all seemed to be sensible of the
claims of slaves to the privileges of Chris-
tianity and the rights of citizens; and some
we have reason to believe are truly desirous
of knowing how their slaves are to be put
into possession of these privileges. We hope
the Synod will continue their exertion in be-
half of religion in that country, and that the
addition of a number of zealous, faithful min-
isters to their number will be of great advan-
tage to those who are settled, and under the
blessing of the King of Zion, give life to re-
ligion.
" David Blair,
' ' Alexander Murray. ' '
The Synod learning from the above report
"about the act of Synod relative to slave-
holding States, a committee was appointed
to report on the most effective means for en-
forcing the observance of said act among
the people of our communion in said States. ' '
The Synod also resolved "that copies of the
act of Synod on slavery, 1811, be transmitted
to the several ministers in our communion
residing in the slaveholding States, and that
said ministers be enjoined to endeavor to have
said act carried into effect. ' ' Messrs. Doman,
Blair and W. Wilson were appointed a com-
mittee to carry out the will of Synod.
In 1822 Synod met at Philadelphia. Dr.
Robert Bruce and Rev. D. Blair, of Chartiers
Presbytery, and John Dickey, of Ohio Pres-
bytery, presented their petition for the erec-
tion of a new Presbytery comprehending
Pittsburg, Ligonier, Conemaugh, Bethel,
Glade Run and Mr. Dickey's congregation.
The Synod, having heard the members of
Chartiers and Ohio Presbyteries, considered
it expedient to divide Chartiers Presbytery
and appointed the petitioners, together with
several other ministers and their ruling el-
ders, to meet in Presbytery at Bethel on the
first Tuesday of July next at noon, said Pres-
bytery to be designated the Presbytery of Al-
legheny. The new Presbytery was organized
July 9, 1822. The three congi-egations. In-
diana, Conemaugh and Crooked Creek, re-
mained in this Presbytery until 1858, when
the Associate and Associate Reformed
Churches united, forming the United Pres-
byterian Church, and Conemaugh Presby-
tery was organized according to the appoint-
ment of Synod, at Shelocta, Indiana county,
November 12, 1858, and was constituted with
prayer by Rev. David Blair, as appears by
the report of the Presbytery to the First
United Presbyterian Synod, which met in
Allegheny City, Pa., September 28, 1859.
When Mr. Blair was settled it was as pas-
tor of the three congregations, Conemaugh,
Crooked Creek and Indiana. They were then
known to Presbytery and Synod under the
single name of Conemaugh. These were at
that time the only organized congregations
of the Associate Church in this region, so
that Mr. Blair was the Seeeder bishop of all
the congi'egations north of the Conemaugh
river. His home was established in Indiana.
Crooked Creek was twelve miles away, and
Conemaugh fifteen. His labors were not con-
fined to these points exclusively. He preached
as opportunity offered all over the county.
But in the three places he ministered regu-
larly, preaching one third of the time in each
congregation and receiving from each one
third of the salary promised. The county
was sparsely settled then. The census report
for 1820 gives the whole population at 8,882.
The roads are poor enough yet, but grand
highways in comparison with the bridle paths
and stumpy tracks through the woods, and
fords across unbridged streams, which were
the only routes of travel then. For more
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
325
than twenty years he rode this circuit from
Indiana, summer and winter. It is perhaps
owing largely to the constant, regular and vig-
orous exercise in the open air which his
charge necessitated that the somewhat deli-
cate young man. supposed to be a little weak
in the lungs, grew physically strong and built
"ip a constitution which kept him alive to his
ninety-fifth 3-ear.
In the year 1840 he resigned the charge of
Conemaugh, and gave half of his time to
each of the other congregations. The ar-
rangement continued without change until
July, 1852, when Rev. Samuel Anderson be-
came his colleague in the charge of the two
congregations, preaching alternate days with
him, as a rule, at Crooked Creek and at In-
diana. From this time the congregation at
Indiana had preaching full tnne. In July,
1858, Mr. Blair became pastor for the whole
of his time at Indiana, and ilr. Anderson was
settled as pastor of Crooked Creek or "West
Union.
On the 24th of August, 1862, at Elderton,
Pa., Mr. Blair tendered the resignation of
his charge to the United Presbyterian Pres-
bytery of Conemaugh. At a meeting in Oc-
tober of the same year, at Mahoning, he was
finally released. Forty-four years had passed
from the time of his ordination and installa-
tion. During all these long years he had
preached clearly and fullj^ the doctrines of
the everlasting gospel, and performed the
multiple duties of a pastor, visiting the
homes of his people to counsel and to cate-
chise, to comfort the sick and bury the dead,
marrying the sons and daughters of the con-
gregation, and baptizing their children. He
had attained the age of seventy-five years,
and felt that the time had come for his re-
tirement. He knew not, nor could others
know, to what an uncommon length his life
should extend. The fact of his long contin-
ued relations to the same people among whom
his ministry began is of itself no slight proof
of his ability as a preacher, and his excel-
lence as a man.
In 1878, when the old homestead was torn
down to make way for improvements, Mr.
Blair went to live with his daughter, Mrs.
Margaret B. Taylor, of Indiana, where he
made his home until his death in 1882.
Rev. W. S. Owens, in concluding his sketch
of the life of Mr. Blair in his historical ser-
mon of the U. P. congregation of Indiana,
delivered in February, 1880, says:
"We cannot look back over a period of
years so long as that included in Mr. Blair's
ministry here without thinking of the majiy
important moral and religious events it cov-
ers. "We cannot speak of these except as
they were felt here, and as they were con-
nected more or less intimately with his life
and work. There was the great antimasonic
excitement of 1S26 and the year following.
In reference to this, Mr. Blair's teaching and
action were in the fullest accord with the po-
sition which the Associate Church had as-
sumed. * * * There was the question of
slavery. As far back as 1811 the Associate
Church had adopted the position of utter con-
demnation of the institution and had enjoined
the most positive teaching and discipline.
;\Ir. Blair disapproved to some extent the
measures advocated by the early abolitionists,
but from their principles and those of his
church he never swerved. He was among
those who helped to educate the public senti-
ment of this region in the antislavery princi-
ples which ultimately wiped out the foul blot
upon our free constitution and Christian civ-
ilization. There was the question of Union
between the Associate and Associate Reformed
Churches — a question which was always in
agitation from the beginning of his ministry.
He was always a pronounced and active
union man. He resisted the narrow spirit of
exclusiveness and advocated always the broad
principles of Christian charity and iinity
which only in later j'ears have attained gen-
eral acceptance. No man worked harder to
secure that happy union in 1858 which gave
birth to our present United Presbyterian
Church, and no man rejoiced with a greater
joy when it was at last accomplished, after
long years of hopes and fears, of prayers, la-
bors and struggles. * * * j ]ja,ve some-
times thought Dr. Blair is only a generation in
advance of us on that subject. Then, finally,
there was the great Civil war and the issues
involved in it. It began, though it did not
close, while he was still pastor of this church.
I need not say that he was on the side of 'the
Union, one and indivisible,' and that this pul-
pit gave forth no uncertain sounds on the
mighty issues then pending."
Dr. J. Day Brownlee is a native of "Wash-
ington county, Pa. He served in the Civil
war, in Company K, 8th Pennsylvania Re-
serves. He was educated at the "Washington
and Westminster Colleges, and was gradu-
ated from the theological seminary in 1869.
He was licensed May 5. 1869, by Chartiers
Presbytery, and traveled for a year as an
itinerant minister, being ordained May 10,
1870. He served as pastor of the United
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Presbyterian Church of Wellsville, Ohio, from
May, 1870, to December 31, 1875. On Oc-
tober 19, 1S77, he became the pastor of the
First United Presbyterian Church of Indi-
ana, Pa., and still continues to serve that
congregation. From 1895 to 1900 he supplied
the pulpit of the United Presbyterian Church
at Greenville (Penn Run), Pennsylvania.
Dui'ing Dr. Brownlee's pastorate at Indi-
ana the membership of the congregation has
increased from 289 to 555. He has preached
to the Indiana congregation 2,747 sermons,
officiated at 427 weddings, baptized 380 per-
sons, attended 324 funerals and received into
the church to date 1,097 persons. Sixty mem-
bers went fi-oin this congregation to form the
Second United Presbyterian Church.
SECOND CHURCH, INDIANA
The Second United Presbyterian Church
of Indiana, Pa., was begun May 5, 1894,
when twenty-two members of the First United
Presbyterian Church of Indiana decided to
organize a Second Church. The first preach-
ing services were in Library Hall, Rev. H. I.
Graham officiating. Application was made to
Conemaugh Presbytery for an organization,
but the request was refused. An appeal was
made to Synod, who by a vote of eighty-seven
to thirty directed Presbytery to grant the or-
ganization of the Second United Presbyte-
rian Church, Rev. R. A. Jamison officiating.
The elders at organization were: Messrs.
Anderson. Hamil, (Hon. S. J.) Telford, Stew-
art, Rowe. The trustees were: Daugherty,
Adams, Nesbit, Moorhead, Stewart. The mem-
bership was forty-six.
In 1896 a neat brick church was built on
North Seventh street at a cost of $6,500.
The first communion was held by Rev. J.
A. McGill. The pastors who have served the
congregation during its nineteen years of ex-
istence are: Revs. Neil Ferguson, J. M.
Welch, Charles B. Newcomb. The present
(1913) membership is one hundred. The el-
ders are : Messrs. Cummins, Getty, Moore,
(Hon. S. J.) Telford. The trustees are:
Messrs. Alker, Calhoun, Kelly, Stewart. Mr.
Alker is the superintendent of the Sabbath
school, which has a membership of eighty.
Since organization the church has paid for
home support $27,000 and for missions $10,-
000. Including the $6,500 paid for building,
the total amount paid out has been $43,500.
JACKSONVILLE
The village of Jacksonville for years had
no church organization of any denomination,
the one whose history we now trace being the
first established in this place. This does not
seem to have been owing to irregularities on
the part of the citizens, nor wholly to neg-
lect or indifference, but rather to the fact
that flourishing congregations existed in the
vicinity to which many of the people had at-
tached themselves. Before long it began to
attract attention as a promising field for the
establishment of a church bearing on its ban-
ner the old reformation doctrines and prac-
tices. About this time a neighboring congre-
gation of the Presbyterian Church began to
introduce hymns of secular composition into
worship. A number of persons dissatisfied
with this, and preferring the songs of the
Bible as the matter of their praises, began
to turn their thoughts towards a church ad-
hering to the use of these songs.
Rev. Jonathan G. Fulton of the Associate
Reformed Church was then located at Blairs-
ville, Indiana county. Application was made
to him, or probably through him, to the Pres-
bytery of which he was a member, for a sup-
ply of preaching. Mr. Fulton responded in
person, whether on his own responsibility
or by appointment of Presbytery does not ap-
pear. He was the pioneer in the movement,
l)eing the first Associate Reformed minister
to preach at Jacksonville. His eloquence and
power as a gospel minister, as an able ex-
pounder of the Word of God, are well known
and highly spoken of throughout all this re-
gion, and doubtless contributed largely
towards gathering together and uniting
those who were favorable to this enterprise.
By him chiefiy it was fostered — under his
care and labors it grew and speedily devel-
oped into an organization of importance from
the very outset. What is now known as the
United Presbyterian congregation of Jack-
sonville was organized in 1841, under the
care of the Associate Reformed Presbytery
of Blairsville, by Rev. Jonathan G. Fulton
and his session, Messrs. William Pike and
John McCrea, of Blairsville congregation. The
organization took place in Jacksonville in a
building then used for the double purpose of
a schoolhouse and a place of worship. It was
the only building of the kind then in the vil-
lage, and was used in common by all denomi-
nations holding services in the place. Forty-
six members were received at the time of the
organization ; of these, a considerable number
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
327
fiame from the Presbyterian cougregation of
Bethel : of the others, we have no account as
to the source from which they came.
At the time of the organization Messre.
George Lowman, Hugh Blakely and James
Lyons were elected and ordained as elders.
ilr. Lyons soon afterwards removed. Other
members of the session were Robert Gamble,
William Stewart, Francis Crooks, J. Y. Mc-
Cartney, Samuel Wilson, John Gilmore, Sr.,
Alexander Graham, J. Campbell. John Gil-
more, Jr.. William Gammell, John Lytle, Scott
Lowmau. George Graham. Samuel Reed and
William Gammell were ordained as elders
June 17. 1877 ; Hugh Cunningham, M. H.
Henrv and A. G. Stewart were ordained No-
vember 25. 1891 ; T. M. Lowman, T. M. Gra-
ham and R. A. Hart, ordained February 14,
1902. The present elders are: A. G. Stew-
art, clerk; R. A. Hart. The present board
of trustees are : W. H. Frank, Alex. Ewing,
R. 51. Stewart, Clark Henderson, H. C. Neal,
Alex. Cunningham.
The first meetings of the congregation for
religious services were held sometimes in the
house referred to above, in which the organ-
ization was effected, but this being found too
small to accommodate the numbers that came
to hear the Word the meetings were frequently
held in the open air. in a grove by a spring,
perhaps because "there was much water
there." In 1842, or about one year after the
organization took place, they erected their
first house of worship — a brick building. 48
by 55. About the last of June, 1876, it was
taken down in order to make way for another
which was erected in 1880. The audience
room of the new church is 44 by 64, and the
vestibule 8 by 12. It is a frame building,
costing $4,000.
The congregation was for some time at first
without a stated minister. It was supplied
mostly by the different members of Presby-
tery. Prominent among the names mentioned
in this connection is that of Mr. Fulton, who
after organizing dispensed the first commun-
ion in a gi'ove near the village. Large num-
bers of people are said to have been present,
drawn doubtless by the well known ability of
this gifted man of God. His labors were con-
tinued for some time as an occasional, and
then as a stated, supply during one year for
one third of the time. The precise date of
this period we cannot ascertain, but it prob-
abh' ended in the early part of 1843. Of the
next three or four years, we can gather but
little save that during this period the con-
gregation enjoyed the pastoral labors of Rev.
Alex. McCahan for two or three years. He
preached with acceptance in the united charge
of Jacksonville and Olivet, but the length of
his pastorate and the date of its commence-
ment or close cannot be ascertained from any
records in our possession. In 1848 Rev. Mat-
thew H. Wilson became its pastor and con-
tinued in this relation for over fourteen years.
In an obituary notice published in the
"United Presbyterian" of December 10, 1862,
we have some account of his labors in con-
nection with this congregation, from which
we quote : "In June, 1848, he was ordained
and installed pastor of the United Congrega-
tion of Jacksonville, Olivet and Smyrna."
After laboring a little over two years in
the Smyrna congregation with great accep-
tance and encouraging success he resigned,
arrangements having been made in the other
congregations to take the whole of his time.
In 1850 he opened an academy in Jackson-
ville in which he continued to teach, with the
exception of a single session, till 1860. when
his declining health rendered it necessary for
him to abridge his labors. Being elected to
the presidency of ^Madison College, located at
Antietam, Ohio, he resigned, and in April,
1857, entered upon his duties in the college,
accepting at the same time the pastoral charge
of Antietam congregation.
Not finding as promising a prospect of use-
fulness in his new field of labor as repi-esenta-
tions had led him to anticipate, and enter-
taining a strong attachment to the people
of his former charge, he returned the same
fall and resumed the pastoral cares of the
Jacksonville congregation. In August, 1862,
he resigned, and on November 30th of the
same year passed away in death. During
most of his pastorate Jacksonville received
two thirds of his time. He was at first con-
nected with Olivet and then during the lat-
ter part of his ministry with Crete. Before
the commencement of his pastorate ninety-
six persons had been received into communion.
During its continuance 134 were received, so
that up to its close 230 in all had been ad-
mitted to membership.
The next pastor was Rev. M. S. Telford.
He was licensed in April, 1863, and was or-
dained and installed pastor of the united
charge of Jacksonville and Crete April 16,
1864. He continued in this relation until
June, 1872. He seems to have labored among
this people some time before his ordination.
The entire period of his labors was probably
about nine years. He seems to have labored
with much success and was permitted to see
328
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
largely of the fruit of his labors in members
gathered into the Redeemer's fold.
The entire number received into member-
ship during his pastorale is 131, and from
the beginning of the congregation up to the
close of his pastorate 361 were received. The
average ni;mber received yearly during Mr.
Telford's time was a little over twelve; the
average from the year of the organization up
to the close of 1875 nearly ten. Many have
removed beyond the bounds; some have con-
nected with neighboring congregations and
others, not a few, have been taken, as we
trust, to the church triumphant above.
Rev. William McKirahan served the con-
gregation as pastor from 1880 to 1882; Rev.
R. A. Kingan from 1890 to 1894; Rev. S. A.
Hamill from 1895 to 1896 ; Rev. A. J. Calvin
from 1897 to 1904 ; Rev. W. T. Warnock from
1909 to 1911. At present the congregation is
without a minister. The enrollment of mem-
bership is sixty-seven.
Mr. A. G. Stewart is the superintendent of
the Sabbath school, which has an eni-oUment
of seventy-one and is kept open the entire
year.
From this congregation Abraham Lowman
and D. C. Wilson have entered tlie ministry.
CONEMAUGH
The time of the organization of this con-
gregation is clouded in some darkness. There
are, however, two authentic dates between
which the congregation takes its beginning.
The one is the suspension of Rev. John Jam-
ieson by the Associate Reformed Synod,
which began proceedings against him May
27, 1795. Rev. Mr. Jamieson preached, as
one part of his charge, in Conemaugh congre-
gation of the Associate Reformed body, which
worshipped in a building that stood about
one mile south of the present building for
worship. The congregation of Conemaugh
of the Associate Church was formed shortly
after the suspension of Rev. Mr. Jamieson,
out of the members who had left the Cone-
maugh congregation of the Associate Re-
formed body. The first authentic date of its
existence is found in a footnote subscribed to
the minutes of Chartiers Presbytery of the
Associate body of the year 1801, where a scale
of supplies for vacant charges is added, in
which Conemaugh is mentioned. Its organ-
ization took place between the years 1795
and 1801. The next date of its existence is
1808, in which year a Mr. Wilson preached
as supply. Again, all is blank until 1816,
when Rev. D. Blair supplied the congregation,
and received a call to become its pastor for
one third of his time. Having accepted, he
was ordained and installed by Chartiers Pres-
bytery October 7, 1818, pastor of all the con-
gregations north of the Conemaugh river. The
installation services were held at Crooked
Creek, now West Union, Rev. Alex. Wilson
preaching from 2d Cor. iv. 7 : " But we have
this treasure in earthen vessels, that the ex-
cellency of the power may be of God, and not
of us." The congregation then embraced the
territory now occupied by the congregations
of Saltsburg, Blairsville, Jacksonville, Oli-
vet and, partly, New Alexandria, Westmore-
land county. In 1822, some dissatisfaction
having arisen among a few of the members
who were not sustained by Presbytery, Moses
Thompson, William Coleman and others with-
drew and organized the Reformed congrega-
tion of Clarksburg. Rev. Mr. Blair preached
here until the 17th of November, 1839. Rev.
Thomas Gilkerson was the next pastor, from
the year 1840 to 1859; Rev. William Can-
non was pastor from the 5th of April, 1859,
to September 28, 1863 ; Rev. D. W. Collins,
D. D., was pastor from the 4th of January,
1865, to the 14th of April, 1874 ; Rev. W. Mc-
Kirahan was ordained and installed pastor on
the 14th of November, 1876, and remained
six years. The next pastor was Rev. J. W.
Johnston, who served three years. He was
followed by Rev. Quiucy Hamill, who died
after one year 's service. The next pastor was
Rev. A. J. Calvin, who served for thirteen
years. The present pastor is Rev. W. E.
Minteer.
The first place of worship after the present
organization was effected was in Mr. James
McLane's barn, about two miles south of the
present house of worship. The next was a
grove, since used for a hitching place for
horses. Here between four saplings a plat-
form was erected for a pulpit, while the con-
gregation sat on logs drawn to within conven-
ient distance of the speaker. Here in "God's
first temple" they worshipped Him who gives
us all things as devoutly as many a congre-
gation on cushioned seats. The first build-
ing was a log house, built about the year 1820.
The next building was of brick, built in 1836.
The next church, built in 1874, was destroyed
by fire in March, 1900, and in seven months a
new church was ready for occupancy. The
first parcel of gi-ound, two acres and 155
perches, was conveyed by an article of agree-
ment from Nicholas Coleman to Samuel
Lyons, Samuel Parr and William Coleman,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
329
trustees of Conemaugh branch of the seceding
congregation of Indiana, on the 22d of De-
cember, 1817, and was deeded by W. Coleman
and John Coleman to James Coleman, James
Duncan and Robert Thompson, trustees, etc.,
on the 30th of June, 1832, and acknowledged
before Samuel Templeton, Esq.; another par-
cel of 120 perches was deeded by William Me-
Philiney to John H. Hart, Alexander
Templeton and John Campbell, trustees, etc.,
on the 22d of March, 1842 ; the whole contain-
ing live acres and twenty perches, under the
charter granted by the Court of Indiana
county, in 1875. The first trustees were
Robert Coleman, William Dunlap, Thompson
Megaley, Thomas Hart, Samuel Coleman,
Clark Watson.
The elders who have served this church are :
James ilcClain. Moses Thompson, James Mat-
tliews, William Crawford, James Hart, Sam-
uel Templeton, James Kier, Archibald Cole-
man, Thompson McCrea, William Rankin,
James Oliver, James McGinley, John Hart,
Thomas Brown, John Y. McCartney, John
M. Duncan, Francis Crooks, W. J. Coleman,
Robert McGahey, William Dunlap, Thomas
Hart, James Gilkersou, John Dunlap, T. H.
Miller, John E. Duncan, the present elders
being T. H. Miller, S. M. Galley, D. J. S.
Crory, A. W. Duncan.
The present trustees are: J. S. Oliver, H.
B. Fairley, B. H. Fitzgerald, T. A. Hughes,
James Urey, W. J. Armstrong.
In October, 1900, was dedicated the new
church, which is one of the neatest country
churches in the county. It is 40 by 62, the
main audience room being 40 by 30, with a
lecture room adjoining. It is a frame struc-
ture with tower for bell, is handsomely
painted and covered with a slate roof. The
windows are of cathedral glass, and quite
artistic. The building was erected at a cost
of over $3,700.
The man most prominent in establishing
Conemaugh Church was Nicholas Coleman, an
early pioneer, who although born a Catholic
was in early life converted, and united with
the Associate Reformed Church. He located
near where Conemaugh Church now stands
in 1773 or 1774, in what was then a wilder-
ness. Shortly after his arrival the Indians
became troublesome and he fled over the moun-
tains. Two years later he returned, bring-
ing with him other settlers. Here John Cole-
man was born April 9, 1776. He was the
first white child born north of the Conemaugh
river and west of Blacklick creek. The de-
scendants of Nicholas Coleman now number
hundreds, many of whom reside in the vi-
cinity of old Conemaugh and have through
the generations enjoyed worship there.
Wells Cunningham is the supei'intendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of ninety-one. J. M. Duncan and James
Hawk, who were reared in this congregation,
became ministers of the gospel.
Pastors. — Rev. John Jamieson, although not
pastor of the present organization, may be
considered the first of the ancestors of the
present worshipping people. Mr. Jamieson
came to America from Scotland in November,
1782, and was the fii-st settled pastor north
of the Conemaugh river and west of Black-
lick creek. He crossed the mountains on
horses with three children. He came from the
Associated Burgher Synod of Scotland and
united with the Associate Reformed Church
of this country. Mr. Jamieson traveled over
quite an extensive territory as "supply" from
New York to South Carolina ; but his princi-
pal labors seem to have been in a territory
embracing what is now the northern part of
Westmoreland county and the southern half
of Indiana county. He was installed pastor
of Brush Creek, Hannastowu and Conemaugh,
Init was released from Brush Creek and Han-
nastowu and his whole time given to Loyal-
hanua (probably now New Alexandria) and
Conemaugh, ll'th October, 1793. He was
charged with misconstruing the actions of
Synod in reference to Watt 's Psalms, days of
fasting and thanksgiving usually observed ; in
connection with celebration of the Lord's
Supper, etc. These charges were preferred
against him at a meeting of Synod held in
Philadelphia May 27, 1795. Mr. Jamieson
was found guilty and suspended by the Synod.
He was then a member of the Second Asso-
ciate Reformed Presbytery of Pennsylvania.
These dates and circumstances are taken from
his own writings, as there seems to be some
dispute concerning them.
Rev. David Blair was installed pastor in
1818. (See personal sketch under "Indiana
Congregation.")
Rev. Thomas Gilkerson was ordained and
installed pastor on October 28, 1840.
Rev. William Connor was installed April
5, 1859. Born in Allegheny county. Pa., May
17, 1799, he died on the 28th of September,
1863. He graduated at Jetferson College,
Pa., and studied theology (by consent of Mo-
nongahela Presbytery) under the care of Rev.
Alex. McCahan,'at Canonsburg, Pa. He was
licensed to preach in the year 1837, by his
own Presbytery, and installed pastor of Unity
330
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
congregation in Allegheny county, Pa., in
1849. He was settled over Conemaugh in
1859. Here he served his Master until he was
called home. Mr. Connor was a man of fine
personal appearance and by his style and man-
ner commanded the attention of all who heard
him. He was a preacher of very consider-
able power. The following is one of the reso-
lutions passed by his Presbytery in view of
his death :
"Resolved, That in the removal of our
brother we sustain the loss of a faithful
watchman on Zion's walls; a good presby-
ter, and one free from the fear of man that
bringeth a snare, shunned not to declare the
whole counsel of God."
Rev. D. W. Collins, D. D., was installed
January 4, 1865.
Rev. William McKirahan, installed the 14th
of November, 1876, is a descendant of one
of two brothers, all of whose kindred were
killed in Scotland during the persecutions.
The two brothers fled to the North of Ire-
laud with their guns. On attempting to land
they were fired upon. Their boat sinking,
they took' to the water, where one of the broth-
ers was shot through the heel, which bled
profusely, he sinking to rise no more. The
other swam through his brother's blood and
escaped. Samuel McKirahan came to this
country in 1796, and settled in Washington
county, Pa., and afterwards moved to Ohio,
where John, the father of Rev. William, was
born. 3Irs. I. L. JIcKirahan, a daughter of
Rev. J. J\I. Johnston, is a relative of Rev.
John Jamieson. The first members of this
congregation were James McLane and fam-
ily, Moses Thompson and family, Samuel Barr
and family, William Crawford and family,
Nicholas Coleman and family, Henry Kirk-
patrick and family, John Matthews and fam-
ily, and probably others. The first elders
were Moses Thompson, AVilliam Crawford and
James Matthews. This was. in all probabil-
ity, in 1797.
MECHANICSBURG
and the congregation of Pine Grove fi'om
which it had its origin.
As early as the year 1817 Rev. J. T. Bessly,
then a resident of the State of South Caro-
lina, but afterwards for many years a resi-
dent of Allegheny City, Pa., traveled on
horseback from his native State through this
part of the country and preached to the fore-
fathers from whom originated the congre-
gation of the United Presbyterian Church in
this part of the county. After this date, up
to the j'ear 1830, preaching and missionary
labor were done in the same neighborhood
by Rev. Messrs. Pringle, of the Associate
Church; Jamieson, Proudfit, McCrodden,
Moses Herr. Sr., and Moses Herr, Jr., of the
Associate Reformed Church. At this date the
congregation of Pine Grove was organized
by the election of Joseph McCartney and Mat-
thew Dill as ruling elders. Rev. Mungo Dick,
of Sewickley, Westmoreland county, presided
in the organization of this congregation. The
first and only house of worship occupied by
this society was built in a stony hollow about
three miles east of the present site of the
village of Mechanicsburg. Hence it was
sometimes called "Stony Hollow" Church,
and sometimes "Pine Grove" Church. It is
not known what the cost of this house of wor-
ship was. The first pastor of this congrega-
tion in connection with the Bethel United
Presbyterian Church was Rev. N. C. Weed,
who took charge of it in 1833, and was re-
leased in the year 1847. The next pastor was
Rev. S. M. Coon, who took charge of this con-
gregation in connection with Bethel in the
year 1849. He labored as pastor in this con-
nection until the year 1852, when two con-
gregations were organized, composed of mem-
bers which had made up the old charge of
Pine Grove. One of these congregations was
called ilechanicsburg and had its place of
worship located in the borough of Mechanics-
burg. The other was called East Union and
had its place of worship at a point situated
about seven miles east from Mechanicsburg.
The members of the session at the organi-
zation of Mechanicsburg congregation were
Daniel McFarland and Joseph Wilson, and it
had in all about forty members.
The congregation of Mechanicsburg in con-
nection with the Presbyterian congrega-
lion ("old school") of the same place erected
a house of worship in the year 1850 at a cost
of about $950. Rev. S. *M. Coon still re-
mained as the pastor of Mechanicsburg and
East Union congregations in connection with
Bethel congregation until the year 1854,
when he was released. The next pastor. Rev.
J. C. Greer, took charge of Mechanicsburg
and East Union congregations in connection
with Center congregation in 1856, and re-
mained as the pastor in this connection until
the year 1859, when Mechanicsburg and Cen-
ter congregations applied for and obtained his
services for the whole time. Rev. Mr. Greer
remained as the pastor of these two congre-
gations until the year 1864, when he was
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
331
released and went into the Union army in the
war of the Rebellion as captain of a com-
pau3^ The next pastor. Rev. Samuel Mc-
Arthur. took charge of ilechanicsburg con-
gregation in connection with East Union and
Greenville congi-egations in the year 1869.
He remained as pastor in this connection
until the year 1874, when he was released and
moved to New Concord, Ohio.
The next pastor. Rev. D. H. Blair, took
charge of ilechanicsburg congregation in con-
nection with Bethel congregation in the year
1876 and was released in the year 1877, after
having been pastor of this charge for one
year and three months.
In 1880 the Mechanicsburg congi-egation
had a membership of about forty and a Sab-
bath school of about thirty scholars.
Rev. T. P. Patterson then took charge of
the jMechanicsburg congregation in connec-
tion with Bethel, East Union and Greenville
congregations. He served these congrega-
tions until the year 1890. when Rev. J. A. Mc-
Gill assumed his charge. In the meantime
the Greenville charge was dropped from the
circuit and the Heshbon congregation was
added. Rev. J. A. McGill served these con-
gregations for about five years, and was fol-
lowed by Revs. J. M. Imbrie, J. M. Adair,
Ralph McGill, C. F. Campbell, and H. W.
Logan, who is at present the pastor of jMe-
chanicsburg, Heshbon and Bethel congi-ega-
tions.
The elders of the Mechanicsburg congrega-
tion have been : Joseph Wilson, Daniel Mc-
Parland. Alexander Dick, Thompson McCrea,
Albert McCrea, John Hood, J. T. Stewart,
J. A. Palmer, C. C. Stewart. The last two
are the present elders.
The trustees are: James Palmer, Dinsmore
Dick, Alexander Dick, and C. C. Stewart,
treasurer.
The church was blown down in 1899 and
has not been rebuilt. The congregation is
very small at present and holds services in
the Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterians
and United Presbyterians hold a Union Sab-
bath school, but each supports its own pastor.
^Ir. C. C. Stewart is the superintendent of
the Sabbath school, which is kept open the
entire year, with an enrollment of fifty.
The following who were reared in this con-
gregation became ministers: Ralph McGill, a
missionary in Egypt, and his two brothers,
Robert and Milton.
This church was built in 1899 at a cost of
$1,000, when Rev. D. S. Tinker was pastor,
ilauy of the members of this church
formerly belonged to the United Presby-
terian Churches of Bethel and Mechanics-
burg. For a number of years prior to
the building of the church services were
held in the schoolhouse. Other ministers
who have served this congregation are C. F.
Campbell and H. W. Logan, the present min-
ister, who gives this congi'egation one fourth
of his time. The church has an enrollment
of thirty-five members.
The members of session are : Messrs. David
Cunningham, David McCormick, and James
Palmer.
The trustees are : Robert Auld, John Auld,
C. L. Campbell, A. E. Wagner, C. D. Camp-
bell.
Jlr. J. M. Auld is the superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of
fifty.
BLAIRSVILLE
The Blairsville congregation was organized
about 1831. The present church was built
in 1879, when Rev. D. W. Collins was pastor.
It is a brick structure and cost $1,200. A new
church is now (1913) being built which wiU
cost from $3,000 to $3,500.
The pastors have been : Revs. D. W. Collins,
W. H. :.Ic]\Iasters and R. B. McClure, the
present pastor, who has served the congrega-
tion for the last twenty-one years. During his
pastorate the congregation has increased from
146 to 420.
The elders are : Dr. George Hunter, Dr. R.
B. Cummins, W. H. Campbell. Charles D.
Ferguson, John Duncan, JI. H. Henry, 0. A.
Schroek.
Mr. C. M. Kennedy is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment
of 325. The school is kept open the entire
year.
Miss Annie Hamilton of this congi-egation
at present (1913) is a missionary of the
United Presbyterian Church in India.
An attempt was made in 1854 to organize a
congregation of the Associate Presbyterian
Church at Shelocta, but as the persons elected
to the office of ruling elder did not accept the
organization was not then eifected. On May
1, 1856, another attempt to effect an organ-
332
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ization was made, and was successful. The
following named persons, all, or nearly all,
from what is now known as the West Union
congregation, were then enrolled as members
of the Associate Presbyterian congregation of
Shelocta: Robert Beatty, Mrs. Elizabeth
Beatty, iliss Nancy Beatty, John Cunning-
ham, Mrs. Rebecca Cunningham, Mrs. Mary
Wiggins, Miss Jane Wiggins, Miss Sarah A.
Wiggins, Andrew Wiggins, Mrs. Sarah Wig-
gins (wife of Andrew), Thomas Wiggins,
Mrs. Sarah Wiggins (wife of Thomas),
Samuel Wiggins, Mrs. Lena Ann Wiggins,
Andrew Sharp, Mrs. Sarah Sharp, Mrs.
Margaret Smith, Hugh B. Miller, James Kerr,
Mrs. Catherine Kerr, Mrs. Elizabeth Farren,
Mrs. Margaret Walker, Miss Jane Walker,
Charles Kerr, Mrs. Isabella Kerr, Miss Mary
Kerr, Mrs. Hannah Loekhart, Robert H.
Armstrong, Mrs. Martha Armstrong, Hugh
Wigg-ins, Mrs. Jane Wiggins, Miss Susannah
Keener, Miss Charlotte Keener, Miss Jane
Keener, Alexander T. Calhoun, Mrs. Nancy
Calhoun, John Beatty, and Mrs. Margaret
Beatty. Alex. T. Calhoun, John B. Beatty
and John Cunningham were elected ruling
elders, and ordained and installed November
1, 1856.
A lot was purchased from a\Ir. Samuel Wig-
gins, on which the church building was
erected and opened for worship in the sum-
mer of 1856. This house cost $2,077.75. The
building- committee, consisting of R. H. Arm-
strong, James Kerr, John Cunningham, Hugh
Wiggins, continued to manage the finances of
the congregation until May 6, 1862, when, the
congregation having been chartered, a board
of trustees was elected. The first trustees
were David Bothell, David Anthony, Nathan
Douthett, John Cunningham, Samuel Camp-
bell, Benjamin Johnson. Since that the fol-
lowing have been members of the board: J.
W. Calhoun, Moses Wood, Alex. A. Wiggins,
W. L. Calhoun, James Wiggins, Johnston
Keener, Samuel Calhoun, Andrew Sharp, A.
J. Reed, John Russell, W. L. Reed, Samuel
Lytle, John Ramsey, James Campbell, Wil-
liam Wiggins, A. P. Lytle, George Rupert,
Hugh Wiggins, R. H. Cunningham, James A.
Walker.
Rev. Byron Porter was installed as the first
pastor of the congregation on the first Tues-
day of July, 1856. Mr. Porter first preached
but one third of his time at Shelocta, the re-
mainder of his time being given to Elderton
and Crete. At the end of the third year of
his pastorate he resigned Crete and divided
his time equally between Shelocta and Elder-
ton. After a very successful pastorate of over
twenty years he died at his residence at El-
derton, Armstrong county, November 28,
1876. Mr. Porter was born in Bridgewater,
Pa., January 24, 1824. He graduated from
Washington C6llege, Washington, Pa., in 1844,
and at the Theological Seminary of the Asso-
ciate Church at Canousburg, Pa., in 1849. He
was ordained August 21, 1850, and was set-
tled for five years in Randolph county. 111.
On account of impaired health he then came
East and settled as stated above.
On December 11, 1877, Rev. J. Buff Jack-
sou was installed pastor of this congregation
in connection with Elderton. He served the
congregation until 1890. Rev. George W.
Robinson was pastor from 1891 to 1897, Rev.
0. H. Milligan from 1898 to 1903, Rev. A. E.
Campbell from 1905 to 1910. Rev. T. P. Pat-
ton was installed as pastor in June, 1913. He
gives one half of his lime to this congrega-
tion and the other half to the United Presby-
terian Church of Elderton. The present
membership is 144. The Sabbath school has
an enrollment of 100. Robinson Sharp is the
Superintendent and Porter MiUer assistant
superintendent. The school is kept open the
entire year.
The following ministers were reared in this
congregation: John and Clark Wiggins,
Presbyterian ministers in the West, W. T.
Anderson, a United Presbyterian missionary
in India, and J. A. Keener, a United Presby-
terian minister on the Pacific coast.
John B. Beatty, of the original session, died
August 16, 1857 ; John Robinson, Hugh Wig-
gins and Samuel Lytle were added to the
session April 17, 1858. Mr. Lytle was certi-
fied in 1859. John Ramsey and George S.
JMitchell were added to the session August
17, 1859, and William Anderson February 4,
1860. Mr. Robinson died August 29, 1865.
Mr. Mitchell was certified in 1866. Samuel
Lytle returned to the congregation in 1869
and resumed his place in the session.
On January 29, 1871, all the members of
the session resigned, and the congregation
adopted the rotary system of electing elders.
While that system was in force the following
named persons were members of the session:
John Lytle, Andrew Sharp, A. J. Reed,
Charles Barr, J. M. Rankin, James Wiggins,
W. Anderson, Albert Dick, Dr. T. J. Marlin.
On May 7, 1877, it was decided to abandon
the rotary system of choosing elders. On
May 9, 1879, A. J. Reed, James Wiggins, Dr.
T. J. Marlin and Albert Dick, who then com-
posed the session, having resigned, and all
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
333
having been reelected, were, together with
Andrew Sharp, installed. The present elders
are: E. H. Cunningham, clerk; A. A. Wig-
gins, J. R. Wiggins, William Sharp, Thomas
Carnahan, Benjamin Johnston.
By the union formed in 1858 between the
Associate and Associate Reformed Churches
the United Presbyterian Church was formed,
and this congregation has since been known
as the United Presbyterian congregation of
Shelocta.
WEST UNION CHURCH
The first religious services were held in the
grove in which the church now stands. The
congregation was organized in 1814. Rev.
John Jamieson and others supplied with occa-
sional preaching. On or about the 27th of
May, 1817, this congi-egatiou. in connection
with Indiana and Conemaugh, then in the
Presbytery of Chartiers, presented a call for
David Blair to become pastor. This was ac-
cepted on the condition that he should have
the liberty of traveling for one year. Upon
his return he was ordained and installed in
the congregations named in September, 1818.
The elders in the congregation at this time
were James Smith, John Patison, Robert
Miller, John Black, William Calhoun. Mr.
Blair continued his ministrations in this con-
gi'egation every third Sabbath, riding through
cold and storm, seldom failing to be present,
until 1820. when he was called by Presbytery
to preach in the South. On his return, after
an absence of five months, he found some
charges preferred against him for preaching
erroneous doctrine, these charges being made
bj' some members of each congregation. He
was tried and sustained by Presbytery.
About this time Conemaugh Presbytery was
organized, within the limits of which his con-
gregations were located. On the 4th of
August, 1852, Rev. Samuel Anderson was
unanimously called by the congregations of
Indiana and West Union and installed as as-
sistant pastor. In Augiist, 1858, this union
was dissolved at the request of West Union,
Indiana taking the whole of Rev. Mr. Blair's
time, and this congregation Rev. Mr. Ander-
son's.
Being much reduced by the organization
of Shelocta and Elderton, and also by many
families being thrown into Jacksonville, Crete
and Olivet by the union, at the request of
Olivet one third of Mr. Anderson's time' was
granted to that congregation. He continued
to preach and attend all the ordinances in
both congregations until April, 1867, when he
resigned. His resignation being accepted by
Presbj'tery, this congregation for the first
time since its, organization was vacant. In
the following month of :May Rev. J. C. Tel-
ford was called by this congi-egation in con-
nection with Olivet and installed as pastor.
Mr. Telford having some time after this re-
signed the charge of Olivet, his whole time
was taken by this congregation. Since its
organization the following persons have been
chosen elders: David Hutchinson, Alex. Gil-
more, Alex. Henderson, Alex. Patterson, Wil-
liam Lytle, Smith, John Gilmore, Robert
Hood, Alex. Graham, William Smith, James
Calhoun. John Caldwell, John Oliver, R. T.
Hart, John Robertson, D. J. Blakely, John
Wachob, S. T. Smith. William Miller, James
Kier. The elders at present are : R. M. Miller,
J. F. Hood, Thomas Anderson, Alvin Smith.
At present there are 130 members, but no
pastor.
R. H. Hood and H. L. Hood, brothers of
J. F. Hood, and sous of Thomas Hood, who
lived near Eldersridge, were reared in this
congregation and are now successful United
Presbj-terian ministers.
This congregation first worshipped in the
grove and logs were arranged for seats. The
pulpit was about as rude in its construction,
being a platform raised 4 feet from the
ground resting upon log supports. Its di-
mensions were about 5 by 8 feet. In 1815
a log church was built. Its size was 24 by 30
feet. The space between the logs was chinked
and daubed, the roof secured -n-ith ribs and
weigbtpoles. and the doors fastened with
wooden buttons. This being too small to ac-
commodate the congi-egation. they frequently
assembled on pleasant days in the grove,
which came to be known throughout the neigh-
borhood as "the tent."
A few years after this, the church was en-
lai-ged to accommodate the increase in num-
bers. Forty feet were added to its length,
making a house of rather singular dimensions,
24 by 70 feet. It was named by the pastor,
David Blair, ' ' The Forty Foot Lane. ' ' There
was a door at each end and one in the side
of the church. The ceiling was 12 or 13 feet
high. The pulpit was placed in a recess op-
posite the side door. Its height was 5 or 6
feet from the floor, and it was boxed in and
overhung with what no doubt appeared, com-
pared with the surroundings, an elegant
"sounding board." A little lower and di-
rectly in front of the pulpit was another box
of similar construction for the clerk, one of
whom it is said (like the young man under the
334
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
preaching of Paul) fell asleep, and resting
too heavily upon the door the button broke
and he fell into the arms of a good brother
whose surprised ejaculation of "God bless
you" is said to have interfered with the ser-
ious attention of the worshipers and even to
have caused a smile to appear upon the face
of the minister.
The pews seem to have been in keeping with
the surroundings. Some were slabs with
backs set in, others of a finer finish, but the
aristocrat in that line was an "old chair-
maker," who rose to the dignity of a settee
with "rungs and paint."
In 1838 a large and commodious brick
church was erected on the same site. This
was removed in 1877 and the present very
substantial and comfortable house was built.
EAST UNION CONGREGATION
The East Union Church was established in
1852. Many of the members who organized
the congregation had been members at Pine
Grove. It was a long distance to travel on
horseback or walk, consequently it was de-
cided to establish a church on the Armagh
and Strongstown road, and call it East Union.
The first members of session in East Union
congregations were Joseph JMcCartney and
Maj. James Stewart. The East Union Church
was bailt in 1852 at a cost of about $800.
The IMechanicsburg and East Union Churches
being established, the old Pine Grove Church
was abandoned as a place of worshipand sold,
and afterwards occupied as a dwelling. The
East Union Church is' still standing, but has
been repaired several times.
Rev. S. M. Coon was pastor of the Bast
Union congregation until 1854, when he was
released. Rev. J. C. Greer took charge in
1856 and remained the pastor until the year
1864, when he was released and went into
the Union army in the War of the
Rebellion, as captain of a company. The
next pastor, the Rev. Samuel McArthur,
took charge in 1869, and served the congrega-
tion until 1874, when he was released and
moved to New Concord, Ohio. Rev. D. H.
Blair took charge in 1876, and was pastor for
one year and three months. Rev. T. P. Pat-
terson was the next pastor and served the
congregation till 1890. After the death of
Maj. James Stewart, in 1879, the East Union
congregation became a mission station under
the care of the session of Mechanicsburg, and
Rev. T. P. Patterson preached one sermon
each month. Rev. J. A. McGill became the
next pastor, and the following elders were
elected in this congregation : R. W. Mack and
C. C. Stewart. The present elders are R. W.
ilack and J. M. Barkley. The Sabbath school
has an enrollment of 30; J. M. Barkley is the
superintendent.
After Rev. Mr. McGill had served the con-
gregation for five years Rev. J. M. Imbrie
filled the pulpit at various times, and still
continues to do so.
MAHONING CONGREGATION
Mahoning congregation was first occupied
as a preaching station in 1809, and continued
as such about nineteen years. In 1828 it was
organized as a congregation, and the first
officers elected were William McCreery and
Hugh Hamilton. The following members en-
tered the new organization : William, Mar-
garet, Jane and Margai'ct McCreery, James
McCreery, S. P. McCreery, John Hop-
kins, Margaret Hopkins, Rosanna Hopkins,
Robert Hopkins, Robert Hamilton, Jane
Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, Jr., Rachel Ham-
ilton. Hugh Hamilton, Nancy Hamilton, Mir-
iam Work, Aaron Work, Mary Work, Miriam
Work, James Work, Mary Work, A. S. Work,
:M0rgaret Work, John Work, Martha Work,
William Work, Nancy Work, Robert Lytle,
Catharine Lytle, William Lytle, John Lytle,
Elizabeth Lytle, Sarah Lytle, James Mabon,
Jane Mabon, Matthew Steel, Sarah Steel,
Robert Craig, Agnes Craig, Samuel Simpson,
Phoebe Simpson, Andrew Gibson and wife,
John Thompson, Jane Thompson, John Coon,
Nancy Coon, Nancy Smith, ilartha Hopkins,
Margaret Hopkins.
The following officers have been elected
since the first organization: Robert Lytle, A.
S. Work, John Trimble, John Ewing and
Aaron Work, James McCreery, Robert Mc-
Creery, William Hamill, John Clyde, Abner
Briggs.
Rev. John Hindman took pastoral charge
of the congregation in 1830 and continued
until 1849. In January, 1850, Rev. J. C. Tel-
ford took charge of the congregation and
labored as pastor until April, 1867. Rev. D.
jM. Thorn became pastor October 16, 1868, and
continued as such between one and two years.
Rev. D. AV. McLane began pastoral labors the
first of March, 1871, and remained four
years. Rev. D. H. Blair began his labors the
first of August, 1877, and served the congre-
gation until 1883. In 1887 Rev. W. D. Ewing
became the pastor and ministered to the con-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
335
gregation until 1907. Rev. W. S. Sturgeon
has been the pastor since 1910.
The first churc-h building was erected in
1833 on the ground now occupied by the
church. The building cost about $700. The
nest edifice was erected in 1857 at a cost of
about $1,800, and is yet kept in good repair.
The congi-egation at present consists of
forty-eight members. The present officers are :
Elders. William Hamill, A. H. McCreery,
Paul Hopkins. Clark Steel ; trustees, Silas W.
^Vork. Clark Steel. A. H. McCreery.
Mr. Murray Hopkins is superintendent of
the Sabbath school, which has an average en-
rollment of thirty-three.
Two young men from this congregation
have entered the ministry, William H. Mc-
Creery, of Scotland, Colo., and William C.
Work.
RICHMOND
The members of this congregation came
principally from the congregation of ^lahon-
ing, and being six miles from that congrega-
tion the pastors of Mahoning, Rev. J. C. Tel-
ford, Rev. S. Thomas and Rev. D. W. Mc-
Laue. occasionally preached at Richmond.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Cone-
maugh in Plumville, September 8. 1874. about
fifty members and adherents of the United
Presbyterian Church petitioned Presbytery
to grant them an organization, to which the
congregation of ]\Iahoning consented. But as
Richmond was within the bounds of Brook-
ville Presbytery the petition was referred to
it. which at its meeting at Jefferson, in Feb-
ruaiw, 1875. was granted. A commission was
appointed to organize a congregation at Rich-
mond on the 13th of April, 1875.
On the day the commission met and organ-
ized a congregation with twentj'-four mem-
bers. The following are the names: Susan
Hamilton. Euphemy Hamilton, Mary Work,
Aaron Work. Elizabeth AVork, Aaron Elder,
Sarah Work, William Calderwood, Martha
Calderwood, James T. Work, Aaron W. AVork.
Mary H. Work, R. H. Work, Sr.. Eliza Work.
R. il. AVork, Jr., Catherine Work, Josiah
AA^ork. Sarah H. Work, AVilliam Hindman,
William AA^. Hopkins. Robert Y. Campbell,
Samuel Knox, George Piper. Mr. Mitchell.
Three ruling elders were elected, viz : Aaron
Work, William W. Hopkins, Aaron W. Work,
and on June 25. 1875. they were ordained and
installed. The congregation was supplied
with preaching from time to time by Presby-
tery.
As no congregation can prosper without a
house in which to worship God regularly, the
I)etitioners for an organization met on June
11, 1875, to make arrangements for the erec-
tion of a house of worship. Rev. J. C. Greer
preached and offered up a prayer for the
Divine blessing on the undertaking, and by
the good hand of God upon them they erected
a verj' fine frame building 65 feet long and
30 feet wide, with a spire 95 feet high, beau-
tifully situated in the Pine Grove on the bank
of Little Mahoning creek. Air. Josiah Work
was the contractor. It was dedicated to the
worship of God at a meeting of the Brook-
ville Presbytery on Friday, December 3, 1875,
and on the next Sabbath the Lord's Supper
was dispensed, when by the number added
at this and a former communion the mem-
bers amounted to forty-five.
At a meeting of the Brookville Presbytery
on April 11. 1876, this congregation presented
a call to Rev. James Given of the Presbytery
of AA'estmoreland, for three eighths of his time
in connection with a call from the congrega-
tions of Oakland and Susquehanna, each for
one fourth of his time, which was by him ac-
cepted, he having united with the Presbytery
of Brookville at that time. Presbytery, re-
ceiving some aid from the Home Mission
Board for these congregations, appointed him
to labor among them the whole of his time.
He commenced stated service on the third
Sabbath of April, 1876, and was installed
their pastor by a commission of Presbytery
consisting of Rev. D. K. Duff and Rev. AI. S.
Telford, on October 16, 1876. Rev. James
Given was released from this charge in 1898,
having been the pastor for twenty-two years.
He was followed by Revs. J. M. Imbrie, T. C.
Anderson. J. A. Cosby and Rev. Air. Copeland,
1he present minister. The church has a mem-
bership of eighty-six.
The elders at present are: A. W. Elder,
clerk : John F. Blakely. Dr. John AV. Alorrow,
John S. Ross, Earl Philippi. Mr. John S.
Ross is the. superintendent of the Sabbath
school, which has an enrollment of sixty mem-
bers.
This congregation has given one minister
to the church. Rev. Hugh Eraser Given, son
of Rev. James Given, who was ordained in
1894 and has filled pastorates in Providence,
R. I.. Chicago, 111.. New Castle. Pa.: he is
now pastor in the United Presbyterian
Church of Spokane. Wash. Four missionaries
who were children of this congregation have
gone to the foreign field, the first two while
still in its membership, IMiss Annie F. Given,
who went to India in 1886 and retired in.
336
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1896, and Mrs. Jean (Given) Anderson, who
went to India in 1891 and died in 1892 ; Miss
Mary Work, who went to Egypt in 1890 and
retired as Mi's. Hope Hogg in 1894 ; and Miss
Ruth A. Work, to Egypt in 1894, who is still
in active service in the foreign field.
BETHEL CHURCH
is located in Wheatfield township, in the
southern part of Indiana county, about three
miles north of the Conemaugh river and the
line of the Pennsylvania railroad. This is one
of theoldestorganizationsof the denomination
in the county, and like other congregations of
its age, the records of the first years of its
existence are very imperfect. Hence any his-
tory of the earlier years of the congregation 's
existence which can be given at this date must
be only approximately true. It seems that
the first meetings for preaching were held at
the house of Mr. Liggett near Centerville.
Then meetings were held at the house of Mr.
Graham, about two miles northwest from Cen-
terville, and then at a tent near to the present
site of the church. It is thought that the con-
gregation was organized about the years 1808
to 1810, by the election and ordination of the
following named persons as ruling elders:
Allen Graham, David Reed, Robert Sutton,
Andrew Pee, Andrew Griffith. It is not
known what the names or the number of the
persons were who composed the congregation
at its organization, but it is probable that
their number is quite large, as we learn that
there were persons who attended church at
Bethel from different parts of the territory
now included in the townships of East Wheat-
field, West Wheatfield, Brushvalley and
Buffing-ton. The first house of worship was
built in the year 1818, was' a stone structure,
and was put up at a cost of about $1,000.
The second house of worship, a frame struct-
ure, was built during the summer of 1851, at
a cost of about $1,800. This house was burned
to the ground on the morning of the 16th of
October, 1865, just as the congregation was
assembling for public worship on Monday of
the communion services. It was rebuilt dur-
ing the year 1866, at a cost of about $2,400,
and is still occupied by the congregation as
a place of worship.
The congregation was supplied with preach-
ing by Rev. Mr. McConnell and others up to
the year 1818, when Rev. Hugh McCrodden
was "ordained and installed as the first pastor.
He served the congregation in this capacity
until the year 1830.
The next pastor. Rev. N. C. Weed, took
charge of the congregation in the year 1833,
and served as its pastor until about the year
1847, when he was released and removed to
Illinois, where he took charge of a congrega-
tion.
The next pastor, Rev. S. M. Coon, took
charge of the congregation in the year 1849,
and remained with it in this capacity until
the year 1854.
Rev. H. Q. Graham, the next pastor, took
charge of the congregation in the year 1856
and remained until 1874, when he was re-
leased and took charge of the congregations
of Homer and Crete,
The next pastor. Rev. D. H. Blair, assumed
charge in the year 1876, and was released in
1877, after having served the congregation
as pastor for one year and three months.
Since that time the pastors of the congre-
gation have been T. P. Patterson, J, A. Me-
Gill, D. S. Tinker, C. F. Campbell, H, W.
Logan, Rev, H. W. Logan is the present
pastor and gives one half of his time to this
congregation and the other half to the Hesh-
bon and Mechanicsburg congregation. The
elders are: William Campbell, Robert 6.
ilack, Hugh j\Iack. The trustees are: C. M.
McKelvey and John Mabon.
Two young men who were reared in this
congregation became ministers, Rev. D. W.
McClane, who is a United Presbyterian min-
ister in Iowa, and Rev. John Dick, who is a
United Presbyterian minister in California.
The present membership of this congrega-
tion is fifty-six. At one time this was a large
congregation, but the United Presbyterian
Churches of New Florence and Heshbon were
formed from it.
Mr. C. M. McKelvey is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of fifty scholars. The school is kept
open the entire year.
HOMEE CITY CHUECH
Homer City congregation was formed by a
transfer of Center congregation under the
care of the Presbytery of Conemaugh, by di-
rection of said Presbytery at a meeting held
at Shelocta June 17, 1873.
Center congi-egation was organized Sep-
tember 20, 1856, by Rev. M, H. Wilson, and
Elders George Lowman and Samuel Wilson
(in accordance with action of Associate Re-
formed Presbytery of Blairsville), The
elders elected in the new congregation were
Archibald S, Pattison, William C. McCrea.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
The number of members forming the new
organization was about forty. The first ad-
miuistration of the Lord's Supper in the con-
gregation was by Rev. 11. H. Wilson August
24. 1856. Rev. J. C. Greer was called to be
the pastor in the spring of 1857, and was
ordained and installed in June, 1857. This
relation continued till the war broke out,
when Mr. Greer resigned and entered the
army as a captain in the 206th Regiment,
Pennsylvania Volunteers. A call was made
out for the pastoral services of Rev. D. M.
McClelland, which was accepted, and he was
ordained aud installed pastor September 10,
1867. This pastorate continued for about five
years, when at the request of Mr. McClelland
it was dissolved.
A petition was presented to Presbj^tery of
Conemaugh in the year 1867, asking for the
organization of a mission station at Homer
City, and the request was granted. An effort
was made to erect a house of worship in
Homer City, and a proposition was made to
the members of the Presb>i:erian body that a
union church should be built, each contrib-
uting half the cost and enjoying half the
benefits. This was rejected. The congrega-
tion determined to build for themselves, and
the building was completed, being dedicated
August 1, 1869. The entire cost of building
and lot was $2,000. The whole amount was
paid within a few mouths of the completion
of the building. At a meeting of the con-
gregation, July 24. 1869. the following were
elected trustees: For three years, Martin
Kier : for two years, Robert Carson ; for one
year, Peter Kinter.
On account of the growth of the organi-
zation, aud the increasing weakness of Center,
Presbytery resolved unanimously to transfer
the organization of Center to Homer City,
the congregation to be called henceforward
Homer City. A call was made out by the
congregation with Crete congregation for the
pastoral services of Rev. H. Q. Graham, and
he was installed pastor December 8, 1874.
Rev. ;\Ir. Graham was succeeded by Rev. S.
M. Telford, who was followed by Rev. D. E.
Magill, the present pastor, who gives his entire
time to this congregation.
The elders at present are: T. C. McCrea,
S. M.-Miller, J. J. Campbell, E. E. Wineman,
J. S. Allison. The trustees are : A. M. Adams,
S. L. Byers, Frank Reed, Frank Barckley,
J. K. Dick, S. C. Steel. :\Ir. Frank Barckley
is the superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which has an enrollment of eighty pupils.
22
(JAKL.\ND, DECKER S POINT
Shortly after the union of the Associate
and Associate Reformed Churches, before the
Associate Reformed Presbyteiy of Blairsville
and the Associate Presbytery of Clarion were
united in the Presbytery of Conemaugh, the
Presbyteiy of Blairsville appointed a commis-
sion to be held at Decker's Point by Rev.
Samuel Brown, with James Hamilton, Robert
Pollock, James Johnston and S. H. Thompson,
ruling elders, with a view to establish a con-
gregation there if practicable. Accordingly
on Sabbath. September 19, 1858, the Lord's
Supper was dispensed by Rev. S. Brown,
assisted by the above named elders. From
this time there was occasional preaching by
supplies from Presbytery, and the attendance
was so encouraging that the Presbytery of
Conemaugh, composed of the Associate Pres-
bytery of Clarion and the Associate Reformed
Presb\i:ery of Blairsville, appointed Rev.
Matthew Wilson, with James McCreery, Wil-
liam Kinnan and S. H. Thompson, ruling
elders, to organize a congregation at Decker's
Point, which was done June 10, 1859, with
the following members from the Mahoning
United Presbyterian Church: J. R. Bro-mi,
]\Iargaret Brown, ilrs. Margaret Clyde. John
Clyde, Jane Clyde, Margaret Clyde, AVilliam
Riddle, Eliza Riddle, eleven in all : from Pine
Grove United Presbyterian Church: William
Kinnau, Nancy Kinnan, John McCalister,
Mrs. McCalister, Margaret Decker, Samuel
Barr, Isabel Barr, Samuel Miller, Mary Miller,
nine in all ; from Smyrna U. P. Church : Jane
Richardson and. by examination, Nancy Kin-
nan. a total of twenty-two. William Kinnan
and John McCalister were elected ruling
elders, and having been formerly ruling
elders in Pine Grove they were installed July
1, 1859. The congregation was called Oak-
land.
The congregation had supplies of preach-
ing from Presbytery until June 2, 1861, when
Mr. J. T. Wilson was ordained and installed
pastor of Oakland in connection with Green-
ville and Taylorsville. He continued his la-
hoi's one year with acceptance, when he re-
signed. During his pastorate a church build-
ing 50 by 40 feet was erected. In December,
1864, Thomas C. Kerr and John R. Brown
were elected ruling elders, ordained and in-
stalled. From this time the congregation was
supplied with preaching by Presbyteiy un-
til Mr. G. P. Raitt was elected pastor of the
same charge, and commenced his labors June
1, 1866. He was ordained and installed July
338
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
17, 1S66, and labored for three years with a
goodly degree of success, when he resigned.
Rev. J. C. Greer was then stated supply for
about three and a half years. On September
8, 1873, Hugh S. Pollock, James A. McCal-
lister and George F. Hensleigh were elected
to the ofBce of ruling elder, and ordained
and installed December 22, 1873. During the
years 1874 and 1875 the congregation was
supplied with preaching by Presbytery, when
at a meeting of the Brookville Presbytery,
which was composed of part of the Presby-
tery of Conemaugh, a call was presented on
April 11, 1876, to Rev. James Given, of the
Presbytery of Westmoreland, for one fourth
of his time, in connection with a call from
Richmond and Suscjuehanna congregations
for the remainder of his time, which was by
him accepted. He commenced his work of
preaching to them the fovu-th Sabbath of
April, 1876, and was installed thereafter, Oc-
tober 16, 1876.
SUSQUEHANNA
Susquehanna Church was situated on the
public road about half way between Smith-
port and the Susquehanna river. In the year
1842 William Martin and his seven sons emi-
grated from County Down, Ireland. In the
following year Alexander Kirk, David Rad-
cliffe, and Francis Urey also emigrated from
the same place. These, with James Saltsgiver,
were organized in a congregation in connec-
tion with the Presbyterian Church (old
school) in the year 1844. Alexander Kirk,
William Martin and James Saltsgiver were
chosen as elders, and ordained to this office.
Rev. David Mills was the first pastor, and had
charge of the congregation seven years. In
consequence of the Presbyterian Church us-
ing hymns of secular composition in the wor-
ship of God, and the congregation believing
that the inspired Psalms of the Bible alone
' should be used, in the year 1854 it united with
the Associate Presbyterian Church.
In 1855 Rev. James Purely was installed
their pastor in the barn of James Martin, and
was the pastor until 1860. This congregation
became United Presbyterian at the time of the
union of the Associate and the Associate Re-
formed Churches, May 28, 1858.
In 1863, James Martin and James Urey
were chosen and ordained elders. The con-
gregation erected the church edifice in 1869.
Rev. James Given took charge of the congre-
gation April 11, 1876, and was installed pas-
tor October 16, 1876. He was pastor of this
congregation until the church was burned
about twelve years ago. He never disap-
pointed his congregation but twice. Once
he got to Smithport and could not go any
farther on account of the drifts. For many
years he preached two sermons a day. The
church has not been rebuilt, hence the con-
gregation has ceased to exist.
CRETE CHURCH, ARMSTRONG TOWNSHIP
Crete congregation was organized as a mis-
sion station as nearly as can be ascertained
about 1794-95, by Rev. John Jamieson, who
came from one of the Associate Reformed
Presbyteries east of the Alleghenies. They
obtained occasional supplies from the Asso-
ciate Reformed Presbytery of Monongahela.
Then they asked for and obtained supplies
from the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers.
In the course of time the members united
with other organizations in the vicinity, and
Crete, as an organization, apparently ceased
to exist.
The present congregation was a reorgani-
zation upon petition of a few members of the
Associate Church in the region, by a com-
mittee of the Presbytery of Allegheny, in the
month of May, 1854. The number at the re-
organization was twenty-six. The greater part
of these were from the congregations of In-
diana of which Rev. D. Blair was pastor.
In the year 1856 Rev. Byron Porter be-
came the pastor "in connection with Shelocta
and Elderton. Mr. Porter resigned the
charge of Crete in the spring of 1859. They
then united with the congregation of Jack-
sonville and Rev. M. H. Wilson became pas-
tor, in April, 1859. This relation continued
until the year 1862. They presented a call
for Rev. M. S. Telford, and he became their
pastor June 16, 1864.
The congregation was united with the con-
gregation of Homer City by a resolution of
the Presbytery of Conemaugh held at She-
locta June 17, 1873. The united charge pre-
sented calls to the Presbytery for the pas-
toral services of Rev. Henry Q. Graham,
which were accepted, and he became their
pastor December 8, 1874. Rev. Mr. Graham
was followed by Revs. S. M. Telford and D.
E. McGill. who also served the United Pres-
byterian congregation at Homer City, which
congregation decided to have the entire time
of Rev. Mr. McGill, consequently the Crete
congregation united with Jacksonville United
Presbyterian Church in calling Rev. W. T.
Warnock in 1909. He remained as pastor
HISTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
339
until 1911. At present (1913) the congrega-
tion is without a pastor. The membership is
115. The enroUment of the Sabbath school is
100; William Anderson is the superintend-
ent. The elders are : Nelson il. Bothel, clerk,
T. W. Carnahan, Israel Carnahau, I. N. King.
The congregation was chartered soon after
its reorganization.
GREENVILLE CHURCH
was organized in 1858, in a schoolhouse in
the village, by Rev. J. T. Wilson, the members
having been formerly connected with the In-
diana and Mechanicsburg eongi-egations.
Their names were as follows: Robert Simp-
son and wife; A. Wiggins, Esq., and wife;
James Spalding and wife: Wilson Glass-
ford and wife; John McKisson and wife;
Thomas jIcKisson and wife: James McKis-
son ; William Hadden, Sr. ; William Hadden,
Jr., and wife; Gawin Hadden and wife;
Martha Simpson, and Mrs. William iloorhead.
The building was erected in 1868, during
the pastorate of Rev. George P. Raitt. at a
cost of $2,500.
The next pastor was Rev. T. P. Patterson,
who preached once in two weeks. The elders
at that time were Robert Simpson and A.
Wiggins.
SALTSBVRG CHTRCH
The organization of this i-hurch was ef-
fected by Rev. Han.se Lee. but we have no
data of this event. In 1813 the congrega-
tion erected a small brick building sufficiently
large to accommodate their number. Their
first regularly instituted pastor was Rev. Oli-
ver P. Katz, in 1861. He gave one half of
his time to this congregation and the other
half to New Alexandria.
In 1870 the present edifice was built at
a cost of $3,000. It is a frame church lo-
cated on High street, a short distance north
of Point street and near the Memorial Insti-
tute of the Presbyterian Church. This church
is neatlj' furnished.
The pastors in order have been: Revs.
Oliver P. Katz. J. W. Johnston, T. D. Boon
and Rev. W. E. ilinteer, who has been the
pastor since 1907. He gives one half his
time to this congregation and the other half
to the L^nited Presbyterian Church at Gone-
maugh. The membership of the church is
ninety -seven.
The elders at present are: ^Messrs. W. C.
Davis and George M. Lowman. The trustees
are : ^Messrs. Thomas Rhea, William Allison,
George Lowman, Charles Ray, president, R.
H. Wilson, secretary. Mr. W. C. Davis is the
superintendent of the Sabbath school, which
has an enrollment of seventy-eight.
BERACHA CONGREGATION. PLUM\^LLE
About the year 1820 a few families con-
nected with the Associate Presbyterian
Church applied to Allegheny Presbytery for
preaching. Revs. David Blair, Kirklaud and
others were sent as missionaries, and in 1824
the congregation was organized by Rev. D.
Blair and Elder Getty, of Indiana. The el-
ders elected at the organization were John
Clyde. William JIcKee and Samuel Briggs.
In 1827 a call was presented to Rev. John
Hindman, and in the same year he was in-
stalled the first pastor of the congregation,
preaching in it one sixth of his time. The
congregation prospered under his pastoral
care, which continued until about 1850. when
he resigned.
Rev. J. C. Telford was called by the con-
gregation and installed in 1850, and contin-
ued his labors until 1867. The congregation
continued without regular pastoral services
until 1871, when Rev. D. W. McLane was
installed in the united charge of Beraeha,
Smyrna and Mahoning, and continued his
labors four years.
In 1875 the congregation was left without
a pastor and continued so until August 1,
1877. when Rev. D. H. Blair began his la-
bors in the field, and remained until 1883.
Rev. W. D. Ewing was here from 1887 until
1907 ; Rev. W. S. Sturgeon became pastor in
1910, and is the pastor at present, giving
one third of his time to this congregation.
In 1838 Andrew ilorrow and Christopher
Stuchell were ordained and installed as rul-
ing elders, and in 1860 John McEwen and J.
R. Hopkins became elders. On the 25th of
November, 1868, J. R. Stewart, A. Briggs
and William Morrow were elected, and in
December were ordained and installed as el-
ders by Rev. E. A. Brownlee. In 1872 Wil-
son Morrow and John Stuchell were ordained
and installed by Rev. D. W. McLane, and in
1878 Thomas Morrow was installed as elder.
The members of session at present are: Jos-
eph Kirkpatrick. Matthew Streams, M. B.
Allison, Albert ]MeCausland. R. J. Morrow,
J. R. Stewart. The trustees are : James Mul-
berger, Lyle Ashbaugh, Harry Jamison. The
enrollment of membership is sixty-seven.
Lyle Ashbaugh is the superintendent of the
340
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of
fifty-one. The school is open the entire year.
The first church was erected in 1822, the
next in 1854, and the present building was
built in 1904 at a cost of $4,000. This church
is located in the borough of Plumville and
is a neat brick building.
SMYRNA CHURCH, SOUTH MAHONING TOWNSHIP
In 1843, Rouse's version of the Psalms
being superseded, a secession occurred in the
Gilgal Presbyterian Church forming an As-
sociate Reformed organization, now the
United Presbyterian Church of Smyrna. The
congregation has built two churches. The
basement of the first church was used for a
number of years for school.
Rev. Samuel Browne was the first pastor
and in 1848 Rev. Matthew H. Wilson was in-
stalled as pastor. Rev. D. W. McLane began
pastoral labors the first of March, 1871, and
remained four years. Rev. D. H. Blair began
his labors the first of August, 1877, and served
the congregation until 1883. In 1887 Rev.
W. D. Ewing became the pastor, and he
served the congregation for twenty years.
Rev. W. S. Sturgeon has been the pastor since
1910. The membership of the congregation
is fifty-eight.
The elders are : A. H. Mabon, W. A. Ham-
ilton, W. W. Hopkins, clerk.
Elder Fulton is the superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of
fifty.
PLITM CREEK CHURCH, WASHINGTON TOWN-
SHIP
This church was organized in 1847. The
first sei-vices were held in Martin's barn
near the site of the present church building.
The first church building was erected soon
after the organization was effected. The
present building was erected in 1892. The
first communion was held by Rev. il. H. Wil-
son and Rev. Mr. Fulton in the fall of 1849.
The following have been the ministers of
the congregation: Revs. Samuel Browne,
James Given, R. M. Patterson and W. E.
M. Copeland, the present pastor, who has
served the congregation since 1909. He also
serves the congregations of Atwood and Rich-
mond. The membership of the congregation
is sixty-seven.
The elders are: S. M. Fleming, G. M.
McHenry, J. E. Fleming, Archie Browne.
The trustees are : D. P. Bothell, D. D. Cum-
mins, J. D. Wilson. J. E. Fleming is super-
intendent of the Sabbath school, which has
an enrollment of sixty-two.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN
(The following account of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church in northern Indiana
county is from notes of Robert Mclsaac.)
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of the
United States professes to be not only a lineal
descendant of, but identical in doctrine, wor-
ship, discipline and government with, the
Church of Scotland at the time of what is
called the Second Reformation, culminating
about the year 1643, when the "Confession
of Faith," "Larger and Shorter Catechism,"
"Directory of Worship" and form of church
government known as Westminster Stand-
ards were adopted by the General Assembly
of the Scottish Presbyterian Church, and the
National Covenant of Scotland and the Sol-
emn League and Covenant of the Three King-
doms were sworn to by the church, the peo-
ple and government of those lands. Consist-
ent with their principles, they refused to
concur in the revolution established under
William III., in 1690.
As this sketch may meet the eye of those
who have no knowledge of Reformed Presby-
terians, perhaps a remark or two in regard
to their creed would not be deemed out of
place. In common with others who bear the
Presbyterian name, tliey hold the Westmin-
ster Confession of Faith and the Catechisms
(larger and shorter) to be a 'faithful expo-
sition of all Scripture teaching in regard to
both doctrine and practice. The chief point
on which they difller is the application of
their principles to civil government. This,
they believe, is a Divine ordinance, which is
among the "all things" that have been put
in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ in
his mediatorial character. They think,
therefore, that civil society in its organic
capacity should acknowledge God as its au-
thor and Christ as its moral governor and
administer its laws in accordance with His
revealed will. They repudiate, on the one
hand, the idea of making the state the mere
creature of the church, and, on the other, the
notion of making the church the creature of
the state. Each, they hold, occupies an in-
dependent sphere, but each has a duty which
it owes to God and which cannot be neglected
or ignored without incurring His displeas-
ure. They lament that the constitution of
our country, while in many respects a noble
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
:M1
instrument, is sadly out of harmony with the
prevailing Christian sentiment of the people,
inasmuch as it ignores the whole subject of
the relation of a nation to God and His
law, and' makes no provision for our Chris-
tian usages and practices. They have, there-
fore, all along, labored to have it so amended
as to give us an undeniable legal basis for
ehpplains in Congress and other legislative
halls, and in prisons and reformatory insti-
tutions; for the appointment of national fast
and thanksgiving days; and for the reading
of the Bible and other religious exercises in
our public schools. They point to the fact
that these and kindred Christian features of
our government are assailed on the one hand
by popery, and on the other bj' infidelity ; and
they feel that without such a basis there is im-
minent danger that every public religious cus-
tom and observance handed down to us from
our fathers will be utterly swept away. They
would therefore place the nation clearly and
unmistakably on the side of Christ and the
Christian religion, and until this is accom-
plished they believe that consistency with their
principles requires them to occupy a position
of political dissent from the government of
the United States, and to refrain from vot-
ing, holding office or performing any act the
fair construction of which would imply iden-
tification with what they conceive to be its
immoralities. They feel that they should
carry this religion with them into aU the af-
fairs of life; that they should conduct them-
selves as Christians, when acting as members
of the state, no less than as members of the
church, when voting at the polls as well as
when sitting in the sanctuary. While hold-
ing these views, they considered it their duty
to cultivate and maintain Christian friend-
ship with pious men of every name, and in
common with their fellow citizens to labor in
every legitimate way to promote the best in-
terests of our country.
About forty years ago, a part of Mont-
gomery to\^Tiship, near the present village
of Smithport, now Banks township, was of-
fered for sale by Mr. Roberts of New York,
and residents of New York City were induced
to purchase and emigrate, among them a few
families of Reformed Presbyterians. The
first of these were Samuel Becket, James Gra-
ham and James Harbison, who arrived in
1842. followed by Peter, James and John
Sharp, Oliver Martin, and others. These soon
organized into a society, holding meetings for
conference on religious subjects and prayer
on Thursdays and Sabbaths. In a short time
they were discovered and visited by preach-
ers of their own faith, and among others are
named Revs. Dr. Milligan, A. M. Milligan
and Joseph Thornton.
Rev. R. J. Dodds, a young man who had
been ordained to the ministry with the in-
tention of becoming a missionary to the "West
Indies, preached to the different societies in
Armstrong and Jefferson counties and the
northern part of Indiana county, and was
called by and installed over these societies
in June, 1852. The congregation, called Re-
hoboth, embraced an area of forty square
miles, outlined by Kittanning, Armstrong
county, west; Cherrytree, south; the Susque-
hanna river, east; and Warsaw, Jefferson
county, north. He was a man adapted to such
a charge, of great physical endurance, and
mind well stored with both literaiy and the-
ological matter; could accommodate himself
with cheerfulness to the varied circumstances
of the people of his charge, and soon became
a universal favorite among his own and other
religious societies Another society of Re-
formed Presbyterians had sprung up in the
iI;i)iouing townships before Mr. Dodds was
called. Andrew Pollock and family came
from Ireland in 1844, and some time afterward
Mrs. William Thomas and Robert McFarland
fiom West ilahoning township; then James
(jailey, from neai- Cherrytree, joined; others
followed, and soon there were preaching sta-
tions at Beatty's, Work's, and Carr's school-
houses.
The summer of 1856 the Synod of the R.
P. Church resolved to establish a mission ia
Syria and Rev. R. J. Dodds was selected as
one of the missionaries. He preached his fare-
well address to his people in Indiana county
on August 3, 1856, and the same year went
to Syria. The societies depended upon sup-
plies till 1859, when Rev. T. M. Elder was
called, and ordained April 19th. Under the
pastoral charge of Rev. Mr. Dodds the erec-
tion of five churches was contemplated, all of
which have since been built, for until this
time there was but one building within the
area of the charge and that one in Armstrong
county. The first built in this county was in
Montgomery township, called "Bear Run"
Church, opened for service about 1860. The
second, near the line of East and North Ma-
honing townships, was opened August 25,
1861, and was called Oakland. Samuel Becket
was the first ordained elder at Bear Run,
ivhich office he held till his death, in 1866.
In 1860 Peter Sharp, of Bear Run, and Rob-
ert Mclsaac, of Oakland, were chosen elders,
342
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and James Graham and William Martin, of
Bear Run, deacons. In 1861 the congela-
tion was divided into two charges, Bear Run
being \inited with the societies in Jefferson
county, and Oakland with Rehoboth, in Arm-
strong county. Rev. A. J. McParland was
ordained pastor of the former in February,
1865, and Rev. T. M. Elder continued in
charge of the latter until April 1, 1866, when
he resigned. Rev. Mr. McParland next gave
up his charge in Jefferson county, and it be-
came a mission station for some years, when
the connection between Rehoboth and Oakland
was severed, and in 1871 the two societies
in Indiana county were united in a congre-
gation called Bear Run and Mahoning, with
three elders, Peter Sharp, James Graham
and Robert Mclsaac, and one deacon, William
Martin; James Graham, Sr., having died.
The Mahoning or Oakland Church was
built in 1850-56 at a cost of .$1,800. but was
not finished until later. Rev. R. J. Dodds
was the pastor when the church was built.
Later he was the pioneer missionary to Syria.
The following ministers have served tho
church: Rev. J. F. Crozier from 1874 to
1899, Rev. E. M. Elsey from 1904 to date
(1913), giving one fourth ff his time to this
church.
The elders are: Messrs. Andrew Pollock,
James Graham. H. M. Pollock, H. A. Mcls-
aac. Clark Pollock is the superintendent of
the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment
of twenty and is kept open the entire year.
This congregation is small, but its efforts
for the Master have been evident and it has
sent out Rev. R. J. Mclsaac, who is a pro-
fessor in Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa.,
and Rev. J. B. Mclsaac, who is pastor of
Puckety and Shearsburg United Presbyterian
congregations near Leechburg, Pennsylvania.
The present church at Bear Run was built
in 1910 at a cost of $1,000 during the pas-
torate of Rev. E. M. Elsey, who has been the
pastor of the church since 1904. He was
preceded by Rev. J. F. Crozier as pastor.
"The elders of the congregation are Andrew
Pollock and James Graham. The member-
ship is twenty-five. Mrs. E. M. Elsey is the
superintendent of the Sabbath school, which
has an enrollment of twenty-five and is kept
open the entire year.
Rev. R. J. Sharpe, a retired minister, was
reared in this congi-egation, and at present
resides at McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
CLARKSBURG CHURCH
This church is situated in the village of
Clarksburg. A generation has passed away
since it was organized, and as no i-ecords or
written documents of any kind have been
preserved the material for preparing its his-
tory is scant. It would appear, however, that
ahovit 1820 or 1821 Reformed Presbyterians,
or C!ovenanters as they were popularly called,
tirst began to have preaching in this part of
tlie county. At that time two young men,
Richard Wasson and Andrew Stormont, who
had emigrated from Ireland, settled in the
vicinity of what is now known as Kelly's
station. Whether they had been Covenanters
in the laud of their birth or whether in those
early days it was the nearest place of preach-
ing, and they, being piously inclined, wished
to enjoy divine ordinance in some orthodox
church, iloes not appear ; but however it may
have been, they began to wait on the ministry
of the late Rev. John Cannon, who was then
pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian congre-
gation at New Alexandria, a town six or seven
miles distant from them, in Westmoreland
county. With thi., membership of this con-
gregation they seem to have associated them-
selves, and wishing to disseminate the prin-
ciples which they had thus espoused they re-
quested Mr. Cannon to preach for them in
their own neighborhood; but his time being
fully occupied, he had no spare Sabbath
which he could give them. He did the next
best thing, however, preaching for them oc-
casionally on a week day. The field proved
to be a promising one, and in order to be
able to cultivate it properly, he gave up two
other branches of his congregation, both of
which were stronger and more wealthy. He
now began to preach on a Sabbath wherever
he could find a place, sometimes in the woods
when tlie weather was favorable, and some-
times in a barn, holding one or two commun-
ions, through the kindness of Presbyterian
brethren in the church at Ebenezer. Until
a church was built he seems to have preached
mostly either in the barn of the late John
Coleman, whose farm, about two miles south
of Clarksburg, is now occupied by his son
Samuel ; or in the barn or under an apple
tree in the orchard of the late James Gray,
about two miles north of the same village.
At one of these places the congregation
was probably organized, but at what date is
unknown to the writer of this sketch as are
likewise the names and the number of orig-
inal members. At first the congregation, tak-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
343
iug the name of the creek that flows through
this part of the country, was called Black
Legs, but afterwards, when the town grew up,
the name was changed to Clarksburg. In the
summer of 1S31 the first church was built.
It was a frame structure and erected at a
cost of $300. As soon as it was weather-
boarded and roofed the congregation began
1o occupy it, using the sleepei's for seats.
^V]len it was floored their funds were ex-
hausted, and being unable to put in pews
witliout going in debt they seated it with
.slabs, supported on a kind of trestlework of
logs. On these they sat and listened to the
preaching of the gospel, until their financial
condition improved. At this period the fol-
lowing names appear on the roll of mem-
bership: Robert Henry, Moses Thompson,
David Henderson, Robert Henderson, Alex-
ander Henderson, John Coleman, William
Coleman. Robert Coleman, James Gray,
Thomas Galley, James Gailey, Miss Ann Gal-
ley, John Henry, Mrs. Margaret Henry, An-
drew McCreei-y, Samuel McCreery, Miss Jane
McCreery, Daniel Ewer, Samuel Gilmore,
Nancy White, John McCurdy, John Morrison,
Thomas Gemmel, Miss Jane McKelvy, Mrs.
JIartha Smith, Nathan Douthett, Samuel
Barr, ilrs. Francis Barr, John Kirkpatrick,
Mrs. Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Kimbal. The old
building in which they worshiped stood for
forty years, or until the fall of 1871, when a
neat and commodious frame church was
erected a few rods to the southwest of the
former site, at a cost of $3,500.
The first pastor, as already intimated, was
Rev. John Cannon, who continued to preach
part of his time at Clarksburg until
his death, which occurred in the winter of
1836. The place remained vacant, receiving
occasional supplies from Presbytery, until the
spring of 1843, when, in connection with an-
other branch of the same denomination twen-
ty-two miles distant, they extended a call to
Rev. S. 0. Wylie, who became their pastor
until 1844, when he demitted the charge to
accept a call from a congregation in Phila-
delphia. Three years after, or in 1847, Rev.
Robert Cannon, a son of the first pastor, was
ordained and installed, but in 1854 was re-
leased to go to the West. In 1856 the con-
gregation secured part of the time of Rev.
A. "M. JMilligan, of New Alexandria, West-
moreland county, who continued to be their
pastor until 1866, when he transferred to Phil-
adelphia. They then felt that they should
have all the time of a pastor to themselves
and in the summer of 1868 extended a call
to J. A. Black, a young licentiate, who, a
short time before, had finished his course in
the theological seminary. Mr. Black ac-
cepted the call, and on the ISth of Novem-
ber of the same year was ordained and in-
stalled. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Mc-
Clurkin. The congregation is without a pas-
tor at present and for a number of years has
had occasional supplies.
The present (1913) elders are Robert
Henry and ilatthew Oliver. There are but
ten members, and no Sabbath school is con-
ducted.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
The Evangelical Association Churches in
the northern part of Indiatui county. — Isaac
Johns, from Butler county, visited the Ger-
man settlement in North ilahoning town-
ship in 1843 and preached .several times for
the people in private houses. The first ser-
vices were held in John Peft'er's house, and
afterwards in the houses of John Reader and
^lartin Zirkle. Isaac Johns, being only a lo-
cal preacher, could not attend to the work
properly. He therefore notified Revs. Simon
Heis and Howard, who visited the new ap-
pointment.
Late in the winter of 1843, the first con-
gregation was organized under the pastoral
supervision of Simon Heis. It then con-
sisted of John Peft'er, Eva Pefifer, Martin Zir-
kle, Catherine Zirkle, John Reader. Cather-
ine Reader, Andrew Peft'er, Elizabeth Pef-
fer. Margaret Pefi'er. In the spring of 1844
the congTegation was supplied in connection
with other appointments, located in Jefferson
and Armstrong counties, by Revs. Rishel and
Truby. When they arrived they found the
little congregation actively engaged in church
work, holding prayer meetings and class
meetings and visiting among their German
lioimtiymen. During the year the following
members were added to the congi-egation :
Philip Sutter and wife, Jacob Sutter and wife,
Nicholas Loos and wife, John Beam and wife,
Conrad Zener and wife, Elizabeth Feitt. Af-
ter the above addition was made to the church
the members went to work at once to make
Dreparation for the erection of a house of
worship.
In March, 1845, Jacob Rank and B. W.
Cupp were sent by Conference to sei-ve the
charge. Under the administration of Jacob
Rank the church was completed during the
year. The house was built half a mile north-
east of Covode in North Mahoning township,
344
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
on a lot of land then owned by Martin Zir-
kle. The church was a plain log building,
24 feet square, and was at first seated with
slabs, but later was furnished with more
modern pews.
In 1846 Revs. Sill and Brown were sent
by Conference to serve the congregation,
which was then attached to other appoint-
ments and was called Mahoning circuit. The
circuit then comprised all the appoint-
ments of the Evangelical Association in ,the
counties of Indiana, Jefferson and Armstrong.
In 1847 Rev. Mr. Sill was again returned to
the charge, with C. Lindeman as his col-
league. In 1848 Rev. George Bellinger and
J. Weikel served the circuit; in 1849 George
Dellinger was returned to the charge with
Rev. Mr. Kelley as his colleag-ue, and in 1850
Daniel Long succeeded Dellinger and KeUey.
Jacob Rank served the work in 1851, and in
1853 H. Hample: 1854, B. L. Miller; 1855,
George Dull ; 1857, J. M. Zirkle ; 1858, John
Peffer; 1860, A. R. Teats; 1861, J. H. Shaf-
fer and J. J. Bernhart. In 1862 the work
was served by Jacob Honecker, and under his
administration the circuit built a parsonage
in the village of Marchand, which the min-
ister in charge of the work occupies. The
circuit was then supplied as follows: In
1863-64, Christian Stauffer ; 1865, L. B. Dem-
mies; 1867, John Piffer; 1868, Henry
Rhoades.
During the Conference year beginning in
March, 1868, and ending in March, 1869, the
society in the vicinity of Marchand built
the Evangelical Church in Marchand. The
building committee consisted of John Peffer,
John Beam, Philip Enterline. The first board
of trustees consisted of John Gall, John Beam,
John Peffer, John Dorn, Conrad Zener. "With
successful management and incessant labor
the work was pushed to completion in Novem-
ber, 1869. The church is a frame building
38 by 56 and cost $3,000. It has a well pro-
portioned steeple and a fine sounding bell.
On the 14th of September, 1869, the church
was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Escher, of Chi-
cago, as the Emmanuel's Church of the Evan-
gelical Association. The pastor, Henry
Rhoades, and congregation had just cause for
being grateful for their success.
In 1870 G. Foeh took charge of the work
and served it two years. In 1872 he was suc-
ceeded by N. Yoder and W. D. Ordtz; in
1873, J. "Vogle and S. Milliron served the
charge ; in 1874, J. S. Seit ; in 1875 and 1876,
G. Foch was again seated in the circuit. Dur-
ing the Conference session of 1875 the name
of ]Mahoning circuit was changed to March-
and station. In the year 1877-78 J. Dick
served the work, and in March, 1879, Theo-
dore Bach took charge. Worship was con-
ducted in the German and English languages.
There was a division in the Evangelical
Church, and one part is known as the Evan-
gelical Association, the other as the United
Evangelical.
MARCHAND EVANGELICAL ASSOCLVTION
The following ministers have served this
congregation: Revs. Hardy, R. C. Miller,
H. II. Faust, T. B. Havermale, A. F. Rich-
ards, and H. H. Faust, the present (1913)
minister.
The officers are : Plarmon Peffer, class leader ;
Harry Peffer, exhorter; Mrs. Jennie Peffer,
steward; trustees. Samuel Wineberg, George
Beam, Harry Peffer. The membership is fif-
ty-six. Mr. Harry Peffer is the superintend-
ent of the Sabbath school, which has an en-
rollment of seventy-five.
MARCHAND U. E. CHURCH
In 1887 trouble arose in the Evangelical
Church. It started with the bishops, and was
the means of starting the United Evangelical
Church at Marchand. Rev. F. D. Ellenberger
was pastor when the trouble began. He was
followed by Revs. D. J. Hersberger and Allen,
who preached in the old church. The court
decided that the Evangelical association
should have the old church, consequently
under Rev. J. H. Booser some forty or fifty
members left the old church and in 1895-96
they built a handsome brick church at a cost
of about $5,000. The building committee
were : William H. Moot, A. P. Loyd, John and
Jacob M. Zener, Frederick Rish.
The church has been served by the follow-
ing ministers: Revs. J. H. Booser, A. L.
Burket, S. C. Cramer, F. J. Strayer, P. D.
Steelsmith, P. L. Berkey, J. K. Jones and W.
W. Elrick, the present pastor.
Virgil Zener, who was reared in this con-
gregation, is now a United Evangelical min-
ister at Somerset, Pennsylvania.
ZION EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
The church is located near Covode. The
present minister is Rev. H. H. Faust, who was
preceded by Revs. A. F. Richards, T. B. Ha-
vermale, R. C. Miller, and Mr. Hardy. Rev.
Mr. Faust also served the congregation after
1
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
345
Rev. R. C. Miller. The membership is twen-
ty-two. Class leader and exhorter, Rev. J.
H. Miller ; steward, Mrs. George Sutton ; Miss
Blanche Hadden is the superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of
twenty.
ROSSITER EVANGELIC-Ui ASSOCIATION
This church was built a few years ago and
is located in Smyerstown, a suburb of Ros-
siter. The pastor at present is Rev. H. H.
Faust, who was preceded by Rev. A. F. Rich-
ards ; class leader. John Bishop ; steward,
Adam Bishop ; superintendent of the Sabbath
school, George Bishop. The enrollment of the
school is seventy-five.
SALEM EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, CANOE
TOWNSHIP
Under the administration of J. H. Shaffer
a new church edifice was erected in Canoe
township. The society was a branch of the
Log Church congregation near Covode. The
church is a plain frame building 30 by 35.
It was formally dedicated as the Salem
Church of the Evangelical Association by
Rev. George Peffer. The present pastor is
Rev. H. n. Faust, who has just taken the
place of Rev. A. F. Richards. The member-
ship is fifty-one. Class leader, A. L. Stiver;'
exhorter, C. W. Baun ; steward, John Sutter ;
trustees. Robert Emerick, C. W. Baun, A. L.
Stiver. Robert Emerick is the superintend-
ent of the Sabbath school.
CROFT EVANGELIC.A-L CHURCH
The Evangelical Church at Croft was built
in 1900 at a cost of about $1,000. The build-
ing committee was composed of Benjamin
Gilhausen, J. W. Young, Dennis Peddicord,
Mrs. Thomas Stiles. Prior to the building of
this church, services were held for a num-
ber of years in the Barkley schoolhouse. Be-
fore this time services were held in an old
log house on the "Ridge" between Croft and
Dilltown. The place was called "Jericho,"
and at the time of protracted meetings large
crowds assembled. The place of preaching
was then changed to an old schoolhouse which
stood near the homestead of Samuel C. Gra-
ham. As at the former place, large crowds
assembled, perhaps not alwavs to worship
God.
At wresent in the church at Croft there
are but five or six members. The present trus-
tees are John Rodkey and W. H. Auker. The
ministers since organization have been : Revs.
Rittenhouse, Swank, Randolph, Havermale,
Pelfer, Broombaugh, Yakeley, who is the pres-
ent pastor.
Sabbath school has been carried on contin-
uously until this summer. Mrs. W. H. Auker
was the last superintendent and the school
had an enrollment of twenty-five.
JIECHANICSBURG EVANGELICAL CHURCH OP
NORTH AMERICA
The first meetings in the village were held
in 1822 and the congregation was organized
in the same year at the house of Nicholas En-
ders. The original members were: Nicholas
Enders, his wife, Elizabeth Enders, George
Enders, Jacob Enders, Mary Enders and Su-
san Enders, all of the same family; George
Lowmaster, his wife and daughter.
The first church was built in the year 1840,
and was called "The Log Church." The
second was erected in 1858, and was styled
"The Valley Church." The third was built
in the seventies.
Jacob Baumgartner and Joseph Long served
as the first preachers, for only one year. In
the second year J. D. Hall and T. Buck were
the pastors. Other ministers were S. MiUi-
ren, Joseph Porcth.
The first class leader was N. Enders, and
the second John Overdorff. The Saljbath
school from the earliest period was connected
vvith Ihe church, and was at first held in pri-
vate houses.
The circuit of which the Mechanicsburg
Church was a part comprised three churches,
three Sabbath schools, and seven appoint-
ments— all situated in Indiana county.
INDIANA EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
The church of this association was built in
1909 when Rev. W. M. Peffer was pastor. The
association had been formed several years
prior to this time, and services were held in
private houses and in tents. The church was
dedicated April 25, 1909, and services were
held the entire week in honor of the event.
Rev. J. W. Richards, the presiding elder. Rev.
W. H. ]\IcLaughlin and others assisted the
pastor. At this time the congregation had a
membership of 34.
Rev. Mr. PefEer was followed by Revs. J.
W. Richards and R. C. Miller, the present
pastor. The present membership is 61. The
346
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Sabbath school has an euroHment of 75;
James A. Palmer is the superintendent.
The present officers are as follows: Trus-
tees, Frank E. Groft, S. B. Byers, Charles
Humm; stewards, Frank E. Groft, Mrs.
Charles Humm, Martha Miller; class leader,
S. B. Byers.
BLAIRSVILLE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
This association was organized about the
same time as the one at Indiana. The church
is a frame structure costing about $1,000.
The following ministers have served the con-
gregation: Revs. L. B. Wissinger, "W. M.
Peffer, J. W. Richards and R. C. ililler, the
present pastor. The membership is 40. The
Sabbath school has an enrollment of 60 ; Mrs.
J. C. Swanger is the superintendent. The
stewards are: Mrs. Evangeline Esch, Myrtle
Fry, IMrs. Frank Akins.
NOWBYTOWN EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
This organization was effected in 1894, but
the church was not built for several years.
The following ministers have served: Tre-
vor Vaughn, E. H. Swank, Freas Hess, S. C.
Wood, Freas Hess, Trevor Vaughn, E. H.
Swank, T. B. Havermale, C. F. Hartung, T.
B. Havermale, L. B. Wissinger, W. M. Peffer,
J. W. Richards and R. C. Miller, the present
pastor. The membership is 36; the enroll-
ment of the Sabbath school 40 ; Levi Blystone
16 the superintendent.
The following are the officers at present
(1913) : Trustees, Levi Blystone, R. F.
Johns. John Sullivan, George Kreider, J. M.
Fink; class leader, Levi Blystone; steward,
Miss Gladys Fink.
STAKES EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
This 'church was organized as an Evangeli-
cal Church and the building was erected be-
fore the trouble arose between the bishops of
the church. The trouble first started in 1887
at the General Conference in Buffalo. The
General Conference is held every four years,
and in 1891 the church divided and the Evan-
gelical Association held its Conference in In-
dianapolis, and the United Evangelical
Church held its conference at Philadelphia.
When this division came the congregation at
the Stakes Church was divided and those who
took the name of United Evangelical built
Ridge Chapel, in Cherryhill township.
FRIENDSHIP CHAPEL, CHEREYHILL TOVTNSHIP
The church of this Evangelical Association
between Twolick creek and the "Devil's El-
bow," on the Greenville road,- was built when
Rev. T. B. Havermale was pastor, about 1905
or 1906. Rev. C. W. Shields and Rev. W. M.
Peffer served the congregation.
GRACE U. E. CHURCH, CHERRYHILL TOWNSHIP
This United Evangelical Church was built
in 1897 at a cost of about $700. Rev. J. A.
Shaffer was the pastor at that time. The
pastors since 1890 have been: Revs. J. L.
.^luU, F. D. Elenberger, C. W. Sigfried, J.
C. Powell, C. E. McCauley, J. A. Shaffer, T.
E. Baumgardner, F. J. Strayer, N. M. Miller,
:\1. V. DeVaux, H. M. Cook, W. F. Schafer,
L. F. Athey, C. N. Haines, S. B. Rholand, C.
W. Fowkes, the present pastor, who gives
one half of his time to this congregation.
The ruling elders since 1890 have been : D.
P. K. Levan, T. Black, J. W. Domer, D. P.
K. Levan, J. W. Domer, D. P. K. Levan, J.
J. Carmony, J. W. Domer. The membership
is ninety. The trustees are: Steele Berkey-
pile, president; Robert T. Helman, secretary,
M. J. Golden, ilr. Steele Berkeypile is the
superintendent of the Sabbath school, which
has an enrollment of eighty-seven. The school
is kept open the entire year.
ST. mark's U. E. church, .JUNEAU
This church was built in 1895 and dedi-
cated in January, 1896, Bishop Stanford of-
ficiating. Prior to the building of the church
services were held in the schoolhouse.
The following ministers have served the
church: Revs. Reiniuger, J. H. Booser, A.
L. Burket, S. C. Cramer, F. J. Strayer, P.
D. Steelsmith, P. L. Berkey, J. K. Jones and
W. W. Elrick, the present pastor.
Trustees : J. H. Stiver, A. T. Stiver, Joseph
Daugherty, M. C. Wineberg, David Kanoflf;
stewards. William Snyder and S. Lee Stiver;
class leaders, A. T. Stiver and David Kanoff.
The membership is about sixty. C. P. Smith
is the superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which has an enrollment of 110. The teach-
ers' training class is taught by Walter E.
Stiver and the Bible class by David Kanoff.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
The ;\rethodist Episcopal Church was
organized in Baltimore on Christmas Day,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
847
1784. The Baltimore Conference covered a
large territory, extending as far west ^ into
Ohio. To this all the territory of western
Pennsylvania belonged until 1823, when the
Pittsburg Conference was organized. The
Pittsburg Conference at its organization in-
cluded all of western Pennsylvania, eastern
Ohio, and a large part of West Virginia. It
is now comprised in the Erie, East Ohio, West
Virginia and Pittsburg Conferences. Since
the organization of the Pittsburg Conference
in 1823, Indiana has belonged to it. Indeed,
the formal organization of the church here
did not occur until eight years after the or-
ganization of the Conference, though services
had been held since 1820.
INDIANA CHURCH
The first Methodist sermon preached in In-
diana was delivered in the old courthouse in
the year 1820. This was then in a six weeks'
circuit, embracing Blairsville, Indiana, Arm-
agh and other points.
The foundation of the present congregation
was laid in 1831. under the superintendence
of Rev. J. G. Sansom. At that time a class
of persons was formed at the house of John
Lucas, three miles west of the borough of
Indiana. Samuel Douglass, John Lucas. Polly
Lucas. I\Irs. Coulter, Mrs. Stewart and Sam-
uel Douglass were appointed stewards.
The society continued to meet at the above
named place for several yeai-s, holding an
ofiScial connection with the Conemaugh and
Cambria mission. In 1832, in accordance with
the itinerant plan. Rev. William Butt was
appointed to the charge of the mission, with
Rev. John Coil as his assistant. In February,
1834. a quarterly meeting was held in the
United Presbyterian Church in the borough,
at which time considerable religious interest
was manifested and a number added to the
church. Indiana first appears as an appoint-
ment on Conference roll in 1834 as the head of
a large circuit. In 1836 it became a part of
the Blaii-sville circuit, and so remained until
1842. In 1843 Indiana again became the head
of a large circuit.
Preaching services had generallj' been held
in the old courthouse, but several families of
Methodist persuasion having located here in
the years 1837-38, it was deemed advisable
to biiild a church, and a meeting was called
for the purpose of taking the matter into con-
sideration, at which the following persons
were present: Rev. John Coil, pastor of the
circuit, Edward Nixon, W. H. Coleman,
Joshua Shephard, John Lucas, A. C. Hall,
William L. Penton, Robert Craig, and several
others whose names have been forgotten. A
building committee was appointed consisting
of Robert Craig. Edward Nixon, John Lucas,
William Fenton. The lot was purchased from
the executors of Thomas Sutton for $50. The
carpenter work was done by W. H. Coleman.
The building was completed in 1841, and the
first sermon was preached by Rev. D. B.
Campbell. Rev. J. R. Means was the next
pastor sent by Conference to the place.
From the summer of 1836 to July, 1843,
embracing a period of about seven years, the
congregation was favored successively with
the services of Revs. G. D. Kinnear, Harvey
Bradshaw, Simon Elliott, John Coil, Isaac
McCluskey, David Gordon, John L. Williams,
James ^I. Graham. Joseph Shaw, Caleb Fos-
ter, David S. Welling.
At the session of the Pittsburg Annual Con-
ference in July. 1843, Rev. J. G. Sansom was
appointed presiding elder, and Rev. A. G.
Gallaher preacher in charge, with Rev. R. G.
White for his colleague. The latter succeeded
to the office of senior preacher in the follow-
ing year, having for his colleague Rev. R. W.
Barnes.
From 1845 to 1852, the following minis-
ters named are recorded in connection with
the congTegation : John White, George Cran-
age, Edward B. Griffin. M. L. Weekly, Dan-
iel A. Haines, Joseph Woodruff, D. B. D.
Coleman, Joseph Shaw. Hugh Montgomery,
D. B. Campbell, James R. Means, A. J. Lane.
In 1853 the congi-egations of Indiana and
Homer were constituted a separate charge.
Rev. Joseph Horner was appointed pastor,
and about thirty persons were added to the
church during his ministry. He was suc-
ceeded the following year by Rev. T. J. Hig-
gins, his successor being Rev. H. L. Chap-
man. In May, 1857, Rev. J. S. Bracken was
appointed pastor to this charge. After the
expiration of two years he was succeeded b}'
Rev. S. Burt. The dates of appointment of
the succeeding ministers were as follows: 1861,
John C. Hugh ; 1862. R. Morrow ; 1864. M. W.
Dallas: 1867, J. B. Uber; 1869, A. B. Leonard.
In 1869 Indiana became a separate charge with
A. B. Leonard as pastor, followed bv: 1871,
M. B. Pugh: 1872, M. J. Sleppy; 1875. John
A. Danks ; September, 1877. Homer J. Smith.
In 1833 the official board consisted of the
following laymen: James Wakefield, John
Wakefield, John M. Trego, Henry Baker, Jon-
athan Doughty, Thomas Laird, William
Dickey, Samuel Douglass, William Bracken,
348
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
F. Lydie; Samuel Douglass represented Indi-
ana.
In 1843 we find the following additional
names in the official list for Indiana : William
L. Fenton, John Lucas, A. C. Hall.
In 1859 the board comprised the follow-
ing: Edward Nixon, James E. Coulter, Wil-
liam H. Coleman, Joseph Shephard, William
C. Boyle, James Fenton, Joshua Shephard.
There were 150 members, including proba-
tioners, in communion with the church. Also
a flourishing Sabbath school of eighty schol-
ars and teachers was connected with the con-
gregation.
The congregation for several years had no
house for public worship of their own, but
occupied the courthouse until 1839, when the
erection of the edifice which was known as
Armory Hall was commenced. The building
was completed in the following year.
The Register of November 27, 1859, saysr
•'The church is located at the west end of
AA^'ater street. It is 40 by 55 feet, and has
fifty-six pews on its floor. It has neither bell
nor portico, but silently stands its own rep-
resentative until it shall go the way of all the
earth. The brick and stone work was done
by William Brown, of Blairsville; the car-
penter work by Capt. James Sloan, of this
borough ; and the plastering by a stranger. ' '
The property was settled in the hands of
the following persons, who were appointed
trustees : John Fenton, AVilliam Fenton, An-
drew Hall, Robert Craig, John Lucas.
The arrangements for building the present
church edifice were commenced under the pas-
torate of Mr. Sleppy in 1874, but the subscrip-
tion was made during the administration of
Mr. Dauks in 1875, and the work of construc-
tion commenced that year. The plans were
prepared in the spring by J. W. Drum, arch-
itect, of Pittsburg, and the contract awarded
to J. P. Leach, of Indiana, Pa., on the 4th day
of August, for the consideration of $15,500,
the cost of excavating, seating, gas fitting,
etc., to be paid by the church. The lot was
purchased from Mr. B. B. Tiffany for the
sum of $2,000. The cornerstone was laid on
the afternoon of Tuesday, October 5, 1875,
the ceremony being witnessed by a large con-
course of people. The ministers who partici-
pated in the ceremonies were: Rev. B. P.
Brooke, D. D., of Christ Church, Pittsburg;
Rev. J. F. Core, of Greensburg; Rev. H. C.
Beacon, of Johnstown; Rev. J. C. Johnson,
Rev. A. P. Leonard, and Rev. John A. Danks,
pastor in charge. Addresses were delivered
by Dr. Brooke and Rev. Mr. Core. The cor-
nerstone is the second one in the buttress at
the northeast end of the building. A box
containing the following articles was placed
under it: Bible, hymn book. Church Disci-
pline, copies of the county papers, Pittsburg
Leader, and "Christian Advocate," "Ladies'
Repository," Church Almanac for 1875, Min-
utes of Pittsburg Conference (1875), copy of
original specifications, copy of Boston Ga-
zette printed in 1770, names of architect, con-
tractor, trustees, building committee, stew-
ards; officers of Sabbath school, name of pas-
tor in charge when the project was com-
menced, M. J. Sleppy ; name of pastor then in
charge, J. A. Danks.
The board of trustees was composed of J.
B. Campbell, George Rink, D. Ellis, E. C.
Jamison, A. C. Boyle, T. M. Coleman, D.
Mullen.
The board of stewards was: E. C. Jami-
son, J. II. Flude, W. R. Black, L. Keslar, Jr.,
A. S. Cunningham, C. A. McHenry.
The building committee consisted of J. B.
Campbell, D. Ellis, George Rink, D. Mullen,
A. C. Boyle, W. R. Black, J. McParland,
Sarah Sansom, N. J. Lucas.
The building was completed November 1,
1876, and was dedicated Sunday, January
21, 1877, by Bishop M. Simpson, assisted by
Revs. I. C. Pershing, D. D.; L. H. Bugbee,
D. D.; M. J. Sleppy, J. P. Core, J. T. Ri-
ley, George Orbin, A. H. Miller, John Mcln-
tire, D. K. Stevenson, Solomon Keibler, A. C.
Johnson.
The morning sermon was preached by
Bishop Simpson, and made a deep and lasting
impression. Dr. Pershing announced that the
church cost $20,000, $11,000 of which had
been subscribed, and that it was the inten-
tion to raise the remaining $9,000 during the
day. The subscription was started by J. B.
Campbell, $1,000; the Ladies' Aid Society,
$1,000 ; A. S. Cunningham and John Duncan,
each $500; J. McParland, $400, followed by
many others with small amounts. The ser-
vices continued until two o'clock. The Con-
ference trio sang "The Mists Have Cleared
Away," the congregation joined in the dox-
ology, and the Bishop pronounced the bene-
diction.
Another large audience assembledat three
thirty to hear Dr. Bugbee, at which time some
$300 was subscribed. Services were again held
at seven o'clock. The sermon was by Dr. Per-
shing, after which he announced that $1,100
was yet needed to make up the required
amount. More than this sum was raised, swell-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing the subscriptions of the day to $10,005.
The basket collections were $261 additional.
A protracted service was commenced the
day following dedication, which continued
for some weeks, during which the Holy Spirit
woi-ked among the people, and many wander-
ers were brought in.
Two years' time had been given on the
larger subscriptions, so that the last pay-
ment was made under the administration of
Rev. H. J. Smith in 187S, at which time the
church was entirely free from debt.
In February, 1880, the church had a mem-
bership of 350, and a Sabbath school of 150.
The boards were composed of the following
persons : Trustees — J. B. Campbell, D. El-
lis, T. M. Coleman, George Rink, J. McFar-
land, Thomas Lonman, J. A. Bell; stewards
—J. McFarland. W. R. Black, A. S. Cun-
ningham, J. B. Marshall, A. C. Boyle, C. A.
McHenrv, John Truby, D. McLaughlin,
Henry Hall.
In 1SS8, diu'ing the pastorate of Rev. E.
J. Knox, the congregation acquired a fine
parsonage property at No. 956 Church street.
In 1912, during the pastorate of J. W.
Cary, the interior of the church was remod-
eled at a cost of about $5,000. During the
same pastorate more than -450 names have
been added to the list of members.
The pastors since 18S0 have been : 1880-82,
J. F. Jones; 1883, J. A. Miller; 1885, M.
M. Sweeney; 1885-87, S. M. Bell; 1887-89, E.
J. Knox; 1890-91, N. G. MiUer; 1892-96,
M. M. Sweeney; 1897-1902, G. T. Reynolds;
1903-06, G. S. Holmes ; 1907, J. W. Cary, the
present pastor.
The present officials of the church: Trus-
tees, David Ellis, James ilcGregor, J. D.
Dickey, J. N. Stewart, J. H. Pierce. W. D.
Gates, J. Elder Peelor; stewards, E. Walker
Smith, A. S. Cunningham, Dr. C. E. Riuk,
Hon. J. N. Langham. Ma.j. D. W. Simpson,
A. B. King. G. AV. Earl. S. H. Kline, Dr. W.
E. Dodson, W. C. SIcFeeters, A. P. Lowiy, S.
G. Coon, Dr. C. E. Rink, Frank E. sioan,
Prof. J. C. Smith.
The present membership is 25.
The Sabbath school has an enrollment of
600. D. W. Simpson, the present superin-
tendent, succeeded (in 1913) A. S. Cunning-
ham, who had served in that capacity for
thirty-seven years.
Rev. "Walter T. Rink, now a member of the
Des Aloines Conference, went out from this
church.
-MARION CENTER CHURCH
Pioneer preachers of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church were the first ministers of the
gospel, of which we have any note, holding
services in this early settlement. Years be-
fore the town was laid out ministers of this
denomination found their way here, and as
early as 1830 preached in the old gristmill
owned by John Park, and in the barns and
homes of the early settlers. In 1837 a so-
ciety was organized kno^vn as the "Compton
Appointment," having but nine members.
From this time on they had preaching at
stated times.
The first house of worship was erected in
1844. It was a one-story structure, and is
yet standing, having been remodeled and con-
verted into a dwelling, now occupied by N.
G. Kelly and family. The present handsome
and commodious edifice was erected in 1870-
71, at a cost of between seven and eight thou-
sand dollars. It is 45 by 75 feet, two stories
high, with a lofty tower. The large audi-
torium occupies the upper story, while the
lecture room, pastor's study and reading room
are on the first floor. The windows are of
stained glass of handsome pattern, and the
furnishings are good. In 1887 the interior of
the church was remodeled, a handsome arched
hardwood ceiling being one of the important
changes. The woodwork was refinished in ar-
tistic style, the furnishings renewed, and
many other improvements made.
Rev. James Day is credited with being the
first minister to preach here, and was fol-
lowed by Revs. John Summerville, William
Butt, C'. Foster, H. McCall, Joseph Wray
i^who organized the first society.), Augustus
Lowman, James Henderson, Elijah Coleman,
John Coyle, David Gordon, Rankin Hill, 31.
J. Alontgomery, John and Joseph McCartney
and S. H. Nesbit. Of these there are no au-
thentic dates. In 1855 Andrew J. Lane and
Mr. Blackburn were the pastors ; 1856-57,
Richard Cartright ; 1858-59, William Johnson
and ilr. Yarnell ; 1860, J. Neigh ; 1861-62, J. S.
Lemon and J. S. Smith: 1863, M. W. Dallas
and J. C. Heigh : 1864-65, N. G. Miller ; 1866,
A. P. Leonard; 1867-68-69, J. B. Gray; 1870-
71. 31. J. Sleppy, during whose pastorate the
new church was built; 1872-74, J. A. Danks;
1875, W. K. Brown; 1876, F. W. Verticau;
1877. J. J. Moffitt; 1878-80, Nelson Davis;
1881-82. Samuel G. Miller ; 1883-85, S. Keeb-
ler; 1886, J. J. Hickman; 1887. T. W. Rob-
bins ; 1888-89, W. H. Camp: 1890-92, H. J.
Altsman; 1893-9—, Rev. G. H. Huffman.; J.
350 HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
M. Cogiey, six years; E. Fryckland, two ing 1,400 pounds was presented by ]\Ir. P.
years; M. R. Hackman, one year; G. A. C. Betts, of Homer City. The structure was
Sheets, two years; John Hall, two years; and dedicated on August 30, 1908.
J. J. Buell, the present pastor, who has been When organized the society was associated
serving the church since October, 1911. ' with the Somerset charge. Later, in 1829,
The membership numbers about two bun- it became part of the Indiana circuit. Prom
dred. 1830 to 1833 it was part of the Blairsville cir-
The presiding elders who appear to have cuit, and in the latter year again became part
preached more than the amount included in of the Indiana circuit, but later became part
regular duties were ; D. L. Dempsey, 1856-60 ; of Blairsville circuit again in 1836, continu-
W. Lynch, 1860-64; T. ilcCleary, 1864-68. ing in that relation until 1843, when it was
The first officers were : Robert Craig, stew- again transferred to the Indiana circuit. In
ard ; John Compton, class leader ; trustees, 1878 the Homer City and Blacklick Churches
William Meanor, Sr., Robert Craig, William were taken from the Indiana and Blairsville
Brady, James L. Park. circuits and made a charge to be served by
The present officers are: Ira Ellis, S. S. one pastor. This relation continues to the
Wetzel, J. T. Park, J. W. Botsford, George present. The three churches have been served
Botsford, C. C. Griffith, W. C. Griffith, Frank by the following pastors: 1830-31, C. Thorn:
Wells, William Wissinger. 1832, J. G. Sansom and J. Martin ; 1833, N
Noble Wetzel is the Sabbath school superin- Callender; 1834, T. Thompson; 1835, E. W
teudent. Worthington; 1836, G. D. Cinnear and H
HOMEB CITY CHURCH Bradshaw ; 1837, S. Elliot and J. M. Mc-
Closkey ; 1838, J. Coil and D. Gordon ; 1839,
In 1825 Rev. Mr. Conley, a local preacher, J. Coil and J. L. Ray ; 1840, J. L. Williams
visited the neighborhood now known as and J. Graham; 1841, J. L. Williams and
Homer City, and preached in the home of Joseph Shaw; 1842, C. Foster and D. S
William Bracken, ultimately organizing a so- Willing; 1843, A. C. Gallahue and R. J
ciety. William Bracken became the class White ; 1844, R. J. White and R. W. Barnes
leader and continued to hold that office un- 1845, J. White and G. W. Cranage; 1846
til his death, some time in the same year. J. White and E. B. Griffin; 1847, M. L
Services were then held in the homes in the Weekly and D. L. Haines; 1848, M. L
neighborhood, but principally in the home of Weekly, J. Woodroff and D. B. D. Campbell
]\Irs. Mary Bonner on the ilechanicsburg 1849-50, Joseph Shaw; 1851, D. B. D. Camp
road, east of Homer City. Later services bell and J. R. Means; 1852, D. B. D. Camp
were held in the schoolhouse near by now bell; 1853, Joseph Horner; 1854-55, T. J
known as the Upper Homer schoolhouse. Higgins; 1856, J. L. Chapman; 1857-58
Praver and class meetings were sometimes James Bracken: 1859-60, S. Burt; 1861, J
held from house to house. The "log meet- C. High; 1862-63, R. Morrow; 1864-65, M. W
ing house," the congregation's first home, was Dallis ; 1867-68, J. B. Uber; 1869-70, J. S
the first church in Homer City. It was built Wakefield; 1871-72, Richard Jordan; 1873
and dedicated in the year 1840, on what is 74, T. J. Kurtz ; 1875-76, A. C. Johnson ; 18^7-
now Church street, and still stands, but in 78, C. W. ililler; 1879-81, Solomon Keebler
a dilapidated condition. A brick church was 1882-84, W. A. Stuart; 1885, W. Johnson
commenced in 1855 and finished in 1856, the 1886-87, J. B. Uber ; 1888-92, J. N. Pershing
contract price of which was $1,000 (William 1893, H. J. Altsman; 1894, A. P. Leonard
Wilson, contractor), upon a lot where the 1895, J. E. Kidney; 1896-97, H. J. Hickman
present edifice stands. This was demolished 1899-1900, G. H. Hiffman ; 1901-03. J. E. Ins
in the fall of 1907 and a fine edifice in Roman- keep ; 1904-06, S. B. Laverty ; 1907, L. W
esque style built at a cost of $17,500. It con- LePage ; 1908-10, P. A. Richards, the pastor
tains an audience room with a seating capae- under whose pastorate the present building
ity of 300, a lecture room seating 200, a social was erected ; 1911-13, J. C. Burnworth.
room in the basement, \Tith a well equipped On April 20, 1908, this church was incor-
kitchen, two classrooms and a pastor's study, porated under the corporate name of "The
Pine art glass windows were presented by the Methodist Episcopal Church of Homer City,
Ladies' Aid Societj' of the church. Class No. Pa.," with the following persons chosen as
6 of the Sunday school (Mrs. J. B. Grover, trustees for the first year: J. L. Nix, B.
teacher), and by the daughters of the late B. McConnaughey, Harry Plickinger, J. M.
John and Mary Risinger. A fine bell weigh- Carson, J. D. George, D. L. Snyder, B. P.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
351
Wineman, George M. Bell. The present
board of trustees is as follows: J. L. Nix,
B. B. MeCoimaughey, Harry Plickinger, J.
M. Carson. J. D. George, B. F. Wineman, J.
B. Grover, D. E. Risiiiger, H. C. English.
The present class leaders are John S. Evans
and S. H. Drenning. The present Sunday
school superintendent is J. L. Nix.
Rev. W. C. Weaver and Rev. J. N. Bracken
were members of the Homer City M. E.
Church before entering the ministry.
The first or original members of the ileth-
odist persuasion in Homer City were as fol-
lows : ' William Bracken and wife ; Mary
Bonar and her daughters Elizabeth and Jen-
nie; Robert ilontgomery and wife, his two
sisters Jane and ^largaret ; John Mullen and
wife and his sister Jennie; William ilcKes-
son and wife ; William Dickie and wife ; Rob-
ert ]\IcKesson and his sister Sarah ; Michael
Risinger and wife ; Benona Williams and
wife; and William McKee and wife — in all
twenty-four.
decker's point church
This church is under the care of the ]\Iarion
Center IM. E. Church, and is supplied bv Rev.
J. J. Buell.
The present officers are : Washington Best.
Salem Sheesly, Charles Peiffer, Conrad Rice.
Washington Best is Sunday school superin-
tendent.
-JACKSOTCVILLE CHURCH
This ehurcli was organized at the dwelling
house of Robert Hunter, Sr.. in the village of
Jacksonville, in the year 1839. and the con-
gregation met in tiie public schoolhouse from
1841 to 1859. This schoolhouse was erected
for school and church purposes. The original
members were: Daniel Welsh (leader). ]\Irs.
Welsh. James Hunter, Jane Hunter, Martha
Hunter, Nancy McLaughlin. Ellen Jlclntire,
Robert Hunter, Sr.. and wife, and IMary
Hunter.
The first pastors were: Revs. John Coil.
Joseph Ray, Samuel Nesbit, James Beacom,
James Dean, L. M. Weekly. Thomas Higgins.
James Borbridge, Richard Jordan, Robert
Cunningham.
In 1859 a new church was built which was
dedicated in November of that year by Rev.
]\Ir. Williams, the presiding elder. John
Bruce was the contractor for tlie building. It
cost $1,500, and is in size 45 by 54 feet.
The following ministers have served this
church : Revs. Robert Cunningham, two
years; Joseph Shane, two years; S. Howe, two
years; John Wakefield, two years; Appleton,
two years; J. Leonard, two years; Joseph
Pershing, two years; D. Kurtz, two years;
George W. Cook, two yeai-s ; T. J. Hatfield,
two years; Edward J. Knox; and Rev. H. C.
Critehlow, the present pastor.
The present trustees are : S. C. Kennedy,
Samuel Dixon. J. ^l. Ferguson, T. P. Claw-
son, Simon Anthony. Simon Anthony is the
superintendent of the Sabbath school, which
has an enrollment of 30.
The present membership is 36.
STRONGSTOWN CHURCH
This chiirch was built in 1882, at a cost of
about $2,500, while Rev. Nelson Davis was
pastor. Rev. A. J. Esch was pastor from 1879
to ISSl. Since the building of the church the
following pastore have served the congrega-
tion : Rev. S. B. Lavertv, 1883-86 ; G. H. Huff-
man, 1886-88; T. W. Enlilnns, 188S-89; C. C.
Emerson. 1889-92 : A. II. Arkm. 1 ->'.t2-93 : T. S.
Peterson, 1893-95; J. M. Couirv. 1S05-98; Joel
Hunt. 1898-1903; J. M. Bracken, 1903-06;
T. J. Chilcote, 1906-08; W. H. Nevin, 1908-
09; R. P. Andrews, 1910; J. J. Broadhead.
1910-11 ; M. R. Hackman, 1911-12. Rev. P. 0.
Wagner is the present minister and preaches
regularly twice a month, giving one fourth of
his time preaching at this place, and one third
in special meetings and pastoral labors.
The trustees are : ]\Iessrs. Abram Bennett,
Daniel Orner, William Bennett, Henderson
Bracken. Grant Orner, Nicholas Altimus, A.
A. Bennett. The stewards are: Messrs.
Abram Bennett, Nicholas Altimus, Grant
Orner, William Bracken. Class leader,
Abram Bennett.
There are sixtj'-five members and nine of a
class of probationers.
Mrs. Jane Schreckengost is the superintend-
ent of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of thirty, and is kept open the entire
year.
SALTSBURG CHURCH
The first church was built in 1841 and the
present church in 1890. It is a brick struc-
ture and cost $7,000. The pastors since 1880
have been : Revs. E. J. Knox, J. C. Gourley,
E. G. Loughry, H. S. Free. W. I. iloore, G. H.
Huffman, J. I. Hays. C C. Emerson, A. H.
Acker, E. W. Marlett, R. B. Carroll, H.
Household, I. V. Wright, George Sheets, H.
Ferris, I. F. Dyener, I. E. Inskeep and S. B.
352
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Laverty, who is the present pastor and gives
three fourths of his time to this congregation,
which has a membership of 198.
The trustees are: W. F. King, G. E. Mc-
Creery, Edward Franklin, I. W. Serene, H. M.
Householder, I. A. Waddell, I. J. Ward, Y. T.
Pitman.
The stewards are : William Hart, G. T. Mc-
Cormick, I. M. MePhilimy, J. W. Roof, Mrs.
W. F. King, Mrs. I. V. Wilcox, Miss Mary
Serene.
Mr. G. T. McCormiek is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which is kept open the
entire year and has an enrollment of 152.
Two young men of this congregation became
ministers : W. T. Braden, who died March 5,
1905, and J. W. Langdale, who was transferred
to Cincinnati Conference in October, 1912.
NOWRYTOWN CHURCH
This church has an enrollment of sixty-three
members and the Sabbath school numbers sev-
enty. The pastor at present is Rev. S. B.
Laverty, who preaches every two weeks.
MECHANICSBURG CHURCH
This church was incorporated in 1851 and
the frame church building was erected in 1852
at a cost of about $3,000. Rev. Joseph Shaw
was pastor at this time.
The pastors since 1880 have been as follows :
A. J. Esch, 1879-81; Nelson Davis, 1881-83;
S. B. Laverty, 1883-86 ; G W. Huffman, 1886-
88 ; T. W. Robbins, 1888-90 ; C. C. Emerson,
1890-92; A. H. Acken, 1892-93; L. S. Peter-
son, 1893-95; J. M. Coglev, 1895-98; Joel
Hunt, 1898-1903 ; J. N. Bracken, 1903-08 ; T.
F. Chilcote, 1908-10; J. J. Broadhead, 1910-
11 ; M. R. Hackman, 1911-12. Rev. P. 0. Wag-
ner is the present pastor. His time is divided
between three churches, but half the regular
preaching is given to the Mechanicsburg
Church.
The trustees are : Messrs. B. F. Evans, M.
S. Altimus, W. H. Herlinger, R. N. Altimus,
B. F. Stake, Albert Evans, Cicero Grow, W. F.
Snyder, C. M. Thompson. Stewards : Messrs.
John Altimus, C. M. Thompson, George W.
George, Samuel Mock. Class leaders : Messrs.
M. S. Altimus and T. M. Thompson.
The enrollment consists of 150 in full mem-
bership and fifteen of a class of probationers.
Mr. John Altimus is superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of
176 and is kept open the entire year.
Oscar B. Emerson, whose father was pastor
of this cougi-egation, is now a minister at
Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
NINEVEH CHURCH, EAST WHEATFIELD TOVSTNSHIP
The ilethodists had a congregation at this
place as early as 1836. They then held their
meetings in the brick house, the residence of
John M. Barber, up to 1840. This is the old-
est house of the kind in this section of the
county, and was built by Isaac Rodgers in the
year 1816. A subscription paper was gotten
up by John Barber and Daniel Pershing,
dated September 28, 18-40, asking the people
to contribute for the purpose of building a
Methodist Church on the farm of John M.
Barber. This paper was numerously signed,
each one having the privilege of paying his
subscription in labor or material for building
purposes. In this way $250 was raised towards
the building. The house was let during the
summer of 1840 to James Ebbs, a contractor
and builder, and was completed during the
fall of the same year. The edifice was a one-
story building with the ceiling arched at the
highest point about twenty feet from the floor,
and 28 by 35 feet, having a capacity to seat
comfortably about two hundred and fifty per-
sons. This church was dedicated by Rev. Mr.
Williams, a very popular Methodist minister,
assisted, it is said, by a colored minister. The
membership numbered then about twenty per-
sons.
The Methodists continued to worship in this
house until the fall of 1871. During the early
part of the summer of 1871 the trustees re-
solved to make an effort to erect a new build-
ing, and subscription papers for this purpose
were put into the hands of the pastor. Rev.
J. N. Pershing, and John R. Grow, now in
Paris, Mo. They succeeded in getting about
two thousand dollars subscribed, when the
building was let to John Dodson and Frank
Herlinger, contractors and builders, at $1,400.
The structure was completed during the fall
of 1871 and dedicated by the Rev. I. C. Persh-
ing, of the Pittsburg Female College, on the
first Sabbath of November. 1871. There was a
sufficient amount subscribed on the day of ded-
ication to free the church from all encum-
brance. The entire cost reached a few dollars
over $1,900. The building (frame) is_32_by
44 in dimensions. 16 feet high on the inside,
and has stained glass windows and two doors.
The membership at the time the new church
was built numbered twelve persons, and in
1880 there were over one hundred members.
The church is now dissolved.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
BLAIRSVUiLE CHURCH
This church \vas organized about 1824 or
1825. Prior to this time there had been occa-
sional preaching bj^ Rev. J. Wakefield, a pio-
neer local preacher, and missionaries. Among
the original members, \Yhieh are said to have
numbered twelve, were : Jonathan and Eliza-
beth Kuntz, Stewart and Elizabeth Davis,
John M. and Evaline Barber, Henry Keely
and Mrs. Dr. Simmons. Other old members
were: Washington Geer. John Devinney,
John Bruce, Father Kurtz, John Graff, John
and George Stouffer.
The first church was erected at the south
end of Liberty street in 1828. The second was
built on the adjoining lot in 1847, and the
third was constructed partly out of the ma-
terial of the second and using a portion of
its foundation, at an expense of $5,000. The
first church cost $700 and the second $1,700.
In' 1888 a fourth church was erected at a cost
of $40,000.
The ministers having charge of the circuit
and station have been as follows (not includ-
ing colleagues) : Connellsville circuit — Robert
Boyd, John Connelly. David Sharp, Charles
Thorn; Blairsville station — Charles Thorn;
Blairsville circuit — James G. Sansom, Gideon
D. Kinear, Simon Elliott, John Coil, John L.
Williams. Caleb Foster, David S. Welling,
Charles Best, William F. Lauck, Abram L.
Rich, Samuel H. Nesbit, James Beacom,
James Deens, Thomas I. Higgins, Robert Cun-
ningham, John W. Shirer; Blairsville station
— Thomas ilcCleary, Samuel Y. Kennedy,
Alexander Scott, Henry C. Beacom, John
Grant, William F. Lauck, Franklin Core, S.
P. Wolf. Joseph :\Iiller. Homer J. Smith, J.
N. Bracken. D. H. Woodring, Givler. A. C.
Johnston. J. B. Taylor. B. F. Beazell, Thomas
F. Pershing. J. f. Pender, and Harry E.
Johnston, the present pastor.
The membership of the church at present
is over 700.
The first trustees were : John Harrold,
Daniel Steffey. John :\I. Barber, Stewart
Davis. Henry Keely. Isaac Pierce, Jonathan
Doty. Jonathan Kurtz was the first class
leader, and it is said the church was organized
at his house ; the second leader was Samuel
Sharer. The first steward was Stewart Dav's.
The present official board consists of: Trus-
tees. Cyrus Stouffer. president. Charles Rugg,
secretary. Dr. L. S. Clagett. W. P. Graff,
Harry McKee. G. W. Davis, James Nesbit, S.
D. Stiffey; stewards. George W. Davis, presi-
dent. Thomas R. Wilson, H. P. Rhoads, secre-
tary, D. C. Lyons, Frank' Stiffey, W. H. Stitt,
D. C. MeAbee, W. P. Graff, John Loughry,
J. H. Rugg, William Devinney, C. F. ^Mc-
Garvey, S. E. Ferguson; class leaders, J. T.
Frey, J. T. Tyson.
James Nesbit is superintendent of the Sab-
bath school, which has an enrollment of over
500. From 1900 to 1913 Cyrus Stouffer was
the Sunday school superintendent. Mr.
Stouffer was preceded by Paul Graff, who
held that office many years.
The following from this congregation have
entered the ministry: N. G. Miller, D. D.,
Blairsville, Pa., pastor emeritus ; Lucius
Chapman, Uniontown, Pa. ; Alvin Chapman,
deceased; Joseph Morrison, Pittsburg, Pa.;
Nathan Shurick, in the West; T. M. Boyle,
deceased, a former presiding elder of Pitts-
burg Conference; Lyman Walker, deceased,
missionary to Africa under Bishop Taylor.
BLACKLICK CHURCH
About seventy-five years ago a camp meet-
ing was held at Blaeklick by the members of
the Blairsville Methodist Episcopal Church,
but it was not until the spring of the year
1859 that IMethodism obtained a foothold in
the community. At that time the minister
in charge of the Blairsville Church, Rev. R.
Cunningham, held a series of revival meet-
ings in the Bell's Jlills schoolhouse, which re-
sulted in a number of conversions. Twenty-
four of these converts were organized into a
class with G. S. Jamison, of Bairdstown, near
Blairsville, as leader. This good brother
walked from his home to Blaeklick each Sun-
day and conducted Sunday school and led the
class for seven years. At the end of this time
Mr. James Dixon, who is still a member of the
Blaeklick Church, was appointed class leader
and for many years held the office. Of the
twenty-four charter members he is the only
one who resides in the community and of
the other twenty-three only five survive.
At first services were held in the school-
house at Bell's :Mills. but in September, 1859,
a series of tent meetings was held and a
number of people united with the little band.
This seemed to stir up denominational preju-
dices and on Sunday, November 6, 1859, the
members found the schoolhouse closed against
them. Nothing daimted, they held their ser-
vices that day in the open air. The follow-
ing Sunday, owing to the inclement weather,
no service was held. By the next Sunday,
however, they had borrowed a tent from the
Methodists of Blairsville and erected it in
354
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Blacklick, and held services as usual. They
then gave their thought and energy to erect-
ing a church building. Ground was leased
from the railroad company and the members
with their pastor worked in erecting a build-
ing that served them seventeen years. Dur-
ing the pastorate of Rev. A. C. Johnson, in
1875-76, the present church was built. Mr.
James Gardner of Blacklick sold to the trus-
tees for a^ nominal sum the lot on which the
church sta'nds. During the pastorate of Rev.
L. W. LePage in 1908 nearly $1,000 was
spent in improving the church. These, with
the improvements made this year, make it a
very comfortable and handsome building.
The church has a membership of 140 at the
present time and a Sunday school with an en-
rollment of 135.
The present church officers are : Trustees,
Jacob F. Gearhart, Charles Graff, Sumner
Graff, John Campbell, Samuel McFeaters,
Harry Graff, George Rager; stewards, Ja-
cob F. Gearhart, Charles Graff, Sumner
Graff, C. W. C. Nippes, Herman Wiley.
James Dixon and Henry Graff were trustees
and stewards for many years.
From 1859 to 1868 the church was served
by the ministers of the Blairsville Church and
in that period the following pastors served the
congregation: 1859, R. Cunningham; 1860-
61, J. W. Shirer; 1862-63, T. McCleary; 1864-
65, T. Y. Kennedy; 1866-67, A. Scott; 1868,
H. C. Beacom. From 1869 to the present time
the church has been combined with the
Homer City Church and served by the fol-
lowing pastors: 1869-70, J. S. Wakefield;
1871-72, R. Jordon; 1873-74, T. J. Kurtz;
1875-76, A. C. Johnson; 1877, C. W. Miller;
1878, C. L. E. Cartwright; 1879-81, Solomon
Keebler; 1882-84, W. A. Stuart; 1885, W.
Johnson; 1886-87, J. B. Uber; 1888-92, J.
N. Pershing; 1893, H. J. Altsman; 1894, A.
P. Leonard; 1895, J. E. Kidney; 1896-97, H.
J. Hickman; 1898-1900, G. H. Huffman;
1901-93, J. E. Jnskeep; 1904-06, S. B. La-
verty; 1907, L. W. LePage; 1908 to present,
F. A. Richards.
ABM.4.GH CHURCH
The first Methodist preaching in Armagh
occurred probably early in the forties. Just
who was the first Methodist preacher we can-
not tell. There was a class formed as early
as 1845. The church building was erected in
1866 at a cost of $2,200.
When the church was built there was a
membership of eighteen, and the following
were the trustees: Dr. Robert Tomb, Wilson
Bowen, Fiuley Bracken.
The following ministers have served the
church since organization : John J. Hayes,
Joseph N. Pershing, John W. Mclntyre, Alex-
ander Scott, Thomas H. Woodring, Xenas M.
Silbaugh, J. W. Jennings, Norman B. Tanue-
hill, Andrew N. Kendall, Andrew S. Hunter,
W. S. Cummins, A. M. Doak, H. H. House-
hold, W. B. Bergen, G. M. Allshouse, H. H.
Household, M. R. Hackman, J. A. Hamilton,
U. S. Drake, J. S. Potts, W. S. Carroll and
Samuel Hill, the present minister.
At present there are sixty-five members, and
the trustees are : Samuel Killen, Han-y Mack,
Harry Elliott, Solomon Plowman, James
Tomb. Harry Elliott is the superintendent
of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll-
ment of seventy.
The following were reared in this congrega-
tion : Rev. James Bracken, deceased ; Rev.
Watson Bracken, of Dravo, Pa. ; and James
Ballentine, deceased. Rev. Lester Smith, of
Detroit, Mich., was licensed in this church.
HOPEWELL CHURCH, BLACKLICK TOWNSHIP
This church was organized more than one
hundred years ago. There have been three
church buildings. The first was a log church
and was located a short distance below where
the present building stands. The pulpit was
very high and the minister went up a winding
stairway to get into it, and if he was tall his
head would touch the ceiling. The people sat
below on seats made of split logs, with no
backs except in the amen comers. All was
woods around the old church. James Dixon,
who is now ninety-one years old, remembers
seeing William Davis and family going to this
church on horseback, the children riding be-
hind their parents. Others who attended this
old church were Venus Sutton, Ellen and
George Wainwright, Richard B. Clawson,
Gawain Compton, John Ferguson, William
Hanna, Robert Doty, and David Weir. Rev.
Mr. Coyle was one of the preachers in this
church. The second church was built about
twenty years before the Civil war. It was a
frame structure. The third church, a frame,
was built in 1889.
The following ministers have served this
congregation : Revs. Coyle, Jordon, Baker,
Boyd, Solomon Keebler, 0. A. Emerson, J. T.
Steffey, Jose, J. C. High, Samuel Wakefield,
E. J. Knox, J. M. Bracken, Watson Bracken,
Ritter, and H. C. Critchlow, the present
pastor. The membership is over 100.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
355
The present (1913) c-hurch officers are as
follows: Stewards, Elder Lose, Charles
Cramer. ^Irs. John Overdorff, Mrs. William
Dixon. Mrs. William Smith. Mrs. Ben Claw-
son, ilrs. Joseph Mock. Mrs. Louise Long,
Mrs. Benton Davis; trustees, Benton Davis,
land. Noble, Lewis, and Errgel, the present
pastor, who gives one fourth of his time to this
congregation.
Class leader, Joseph Gaston; stewards, M.
M. Gilpatrick and W. H. McCall ; trustees, :\I.
:M. Gilpatrick. D. E. Cessna, Mrs. H. A. Reese,
Joseph Mock. Charles Smith. George Over- ilrs. Ada Smith, W. H. McCall, John C. Huey.
dorff, William Smith. William Dixon, John Mr. il. M. Gilpatrick is the superintendent
Smith. William Dixon is the -superintendent of the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment
of the Sabbath school, which numbers 50. of thirty.
CRAMER CHURCH
The first Methodist society at this place was
organized hefore 1860. and the present church
was erected in 1861 or 1862 by the ilethodists,
Presbyterians and Lutherans. The ilethod-
ists have the preference in the use of the build-
ing, and are responsible for its maintenance.
It is open to all denominations on these terms.
The trustees at organization were : Messrs.
Findley Matthews, James Findley, George
Shrvock. The present trustees are : Messrs.
W. "h. Findley. W. P. and R. G. Cramer.
Harrv Butts. The stewards are : Messrs. ]M.
B. Naugle. G. W. Johns, J. C. GrifSth, W. H.
Findley, W. T. Cramer. Harry Butts. ]\Ir. R.
G. Cramer is the superintendent of the Sab-
bath school, which has an enrollment of ninety.
The ministers who preached in the Armagh
church have served the church at Cramer.
HESHBON CHURCH
The beginning of i\Iethodist preaching in
this vicinity was in Campbell 's schoolhouse in
West Wlieatfield township. The church was
erected in 1871 in Brushvalley to^vnship. about
half a mile from Heshbon. From 1879 to
1883 there was no regular IMethodist preach-
ing in the church, but it was occupied part of
the time by the United Presbyterians, before
they built a house of worship for themselves.
In 1870 James Jamison, Mrs. Lydia (Mack)
Jamison and Mrs. Kate (Butler) Mack be-
came members of this congi-egation ; in 1872,
Mrs. Sarah Palmer Cribbs : in 1875. IMrs. Cath-
arine W. Fee. Daniel Hendricks. IMrs. Eliza-
beth Hendricks; in 1876, Samuel G. Walbeck
and :Mrs. :\Iatilda (Mack) Walbeck.
SMITHPORT (HORTONS) CHURCH
This church was built in 1889 at a cost of
$800. The tirst pastor was Henry Lang. He
was followed by Revs. Jacob Slees. M. D.
Slease, Tom, L. Byers. Rishel, Frank, Aeon.
Caughley, Turner, Emerson, Bergen, Fryek-
CLYWER CHURCH
This church was built in 1909. The build-
ing is a brick ease and cost $3,000. Rev. T. F.
Chilcote was pastor when it was erected. He
was followed by Revs. F. Wineman. Ira Rife
and W. R. Robinson, the present pastor, who
gives three fourths of his time to this congre-
gation.
The following are the church officers : Trus-
tees, J. C. Davison (president), C. B. O'Neill
(treasurer). John IMcGure. Earl Reed. U. A.
Brown; stewards, H. Andrews, Mrs. Harry
Flegal, U. A. Brown. The membership is
thirty-three, ilr. Homer Andrews is the su-
perintendent of the Sabbath school, which has
an enrollment of one hundred.
PENN RUN CHURCH
The present church was built in 1883.
The pastors since 1879 have been as follows:
A. J. Eseh. 1879-81; Nelson Davis, 1881-83;
S. B. Laverty, 1883-86 ; G. W. Huffman. 1886-
88; T. W. Robbins. 1888-90; C. C. Emerson,
1890-92 ; A. H. Acken, 1892-93 ; L. S. Peter-
son, 1893-95; J. M. Cogley, 1895-98; Joel
Hunt. 1898-1903: J. N. Bracken, 1903-08; T.
F. Chilcote. 1908-10; F. Wineman, Ira Rife,
and W. R. Robinson, the present pastor
(1913), who has served Greenville, Clymer.
Diamondville and Starford Methodist Episco-
pal Churches, which are in the same circuit.
The trustees are ; R. E. Simpson, president ;
W. H. H. Adams, secretary; Lowrv Houck,
Mary E. Paul, H. B. Strong. Frank Amond,
^Irs. Harry Shaffer ; stewards, R. E. Simpson,
W. H. H. Adams, Lowry Houck. ilrs. Harrj-
Shaffer, ilr. R. E. Simpson is the superin-
tendent of the Sabbath school, which has an
enrollment of sixty-tive. The membership of
the church is thirty-six.
WEHRUM CHLTRCH
The church in which this congregation wor-
ships was built by the Lutherans in 1903.
356
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The Lutherans sold it to Methodist Christian
Endeavor adherents for $75. The Christian
Endeavor turned it over in 1913 to the Method-
ist congi'egation.
The pastors in order have been : Revs. Dil-
lon, N. H. Nevins, Maddoeks, Andrews, Car-
roll and Samuel Hill. The present trustees
are: Dr. W. H. Nix, C. Kirker, Jesse Craig.
There are eleven members. Mr. Smead is the
superintendent of the Sabbath school, which
has an enrollment of fifty.
leaders are: J. J. St. Clair, John Isenberg,
G. F. Gamble. The number of members is 130.
Mr. George F. Mack is the superintendent of
the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment
of 120.
Rev. Scott Winebrenner, a Methodist Epis-
copal minister in Los Angeles, Cal., was reared
in this congregation. He taught a number of
years in the public schools of West Wheatfield
township.
BLACKLICK CHURCH, BUFFINGTON TOWNSHIP
METHODIST PROTESTANT
The first Methodist preaching in this region
was probably at the house of James Wakefield,
where James Kern now lives, as early as 1830,
if not sooner. Soon after that date a log
church was built near the site of the present
structure. About 1857 the present building
was put up, and in 1874 an addition made to
it. James T. Bracken became a member of
this church in 1838, Twinara J. Bracken in
1846, Mrs. Sarah Davis Bracken in 1847, Mrs.
Elizabeth Berkey in 1832, Fletcher Bracken
in 1852, Mrs. Joanna Clark in 1862, Thomas
Dodd in 1858, Loretta (Coho) Cauffiel in 1858,
Mrs. Cynthia Jane Davis in 1859, Mrs. Ann
(Davis) Graham in 1866, Benjamin Ling and
wife in 1861, Reuben H. Ling in 1860, and
Mrs. Jennie (Coho) Duncan in 1861.
GERMANY CHURCH, WEST WHEATFIELD TOWN-
SHIP
This church was built in 1853 by David
Comfort for $650, when Rev. David Campbell
was pastor. When the church was built the
following were trustees: Joseph Sides, Wil-
liam Holtzer, James Wakefield, Elliott Robin-
son, Thomas Henderson, George Walbeck. Jer-
emiah Wakefield. The pastors since 1880 have
been: Revs. J. N. Pershing, J. S. Melntire,
M. B. Pugh, D. J. Davis, J. J. Hays, George
Huffman, Hickman, W. P. Varner, Mead,
Munden, J. W. Garland, Jones, L. S. Peterson,
0. M. Watson, J. J\I. Cogley, S. G. Noble and
P. J. Chilcote, the present minister (1913).
The stewards at present are : Frank Cable,
G. Irwin Mack, E. S. McClain, J. J. St. Clair,
J. D. Walbeck, Sadie Mack, Viola Lynn, Lydia
Robinson. The trustees are : T. A. Hender-
son, G. F. Mack, J. D. Walbeck, G. F. Gamble,
F. E. Brentlinger, C. S. Duncan, J. J. St.
Clair, B. F. Jones, J. M. Wakefield. The class
HAZELET CHURCH
The first Methodist Protestant Church or-
ganized in the county is known as the Hazelet
M. P. Church. It is located about midway be-
tween Cherrytree and Gettysburg, on the old
State road. It was organized in 1832, in the
house of Rev. Samuel Plazelet, a local preacher
who had moved in from Clearfield county, Pa.
The society was organized either by Rev. Zach.
Ragan, D. D., then president of the Pittsburg
Conference, or by Rev. Robei-t Simonton, who
was pastor of a frontier work extending from
Philipsburg, Clearfield county, to the vicinity
of Blairsville, Indiana county. The organiza-
tion was composed of Rev. Samuel Hazelet, his
wife Sarah, and daughters Anna E. and
Maria; Rev. Samuel Rank, a local preacher,
and his wife, Margaret A. ; John Bartlebaugh
and his wife ; Mrs. Mary King and her daugh-
ter Nancy, and Miss Mary Notley. Others
united soon after.
Nearly all of the original members have
gone to rest. Rev. S. Hazelet and wife both
sleep in the graveyard by the church. Their
children that survive them are in the church.
One son has lieen in the ministry for a num-
ber of years.
In 1854 a good frame church was built, 30
by 40, one story, which is still in use.
The names of the pastors who have served
are : Robert Simonton, I. Huntsman, T. J.
Addis, William McCullough, C. C. Chapman,
C. C. Compton, Henry Palmer, J. L. Turner,
M. Stewart, D. Dershing, John I. Stillions,
Henry Lucas, N. Burgess, Alex. Marple, Anson
Kingsley, W. H. Phipps, William M. Smith,
J. B. Lucas, Alex. Patton, Michael Lee. D. H.
Davis, William Turner, S. F. Crowther, Rev.
J. A. Gehrett.
Some of the officers and efficient workers in
this church have been W. T. Hazelet, James
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
357
W. Hazelet, John Hazelet, P. W. Wassam, R.
W. Smith, M. W. Smith.
SALEM CHURCH
This church was organized in 1839 by Rev.
Thomas J. Addis, in the house of John Dune-
kel. The members of the organization were
John Dunckel and his wife Susan, and their
daughters Keziah and ^Magdalene, Joseph Clif-
ford and wife, and several others. The loca-
tion is in Green township, about three miles
east of Pine Flats. In 1849 a hewed log
church was built on ]Mr. Dunckel's land. It
was lined and ceiled after the style of those
days and is a comfortable house yet.
The following pastors have served this
church : Thomas J. Addis, William McCul-
lough, C. C. Chapman, G. A. Compton, H.
Palmer, J. L. Turner, IMartin Stewart, David
Pershing (during whose term tlie church was
erected), John I. Stillions, H. Lucas, N. Bur-
gess, Alexander Marple, Anson Kingsley, W.
H. Phipps. William :McSmith, J. B. Lucas,
Alexander Patton, :\I. Lee, D. H. Davis, Wil-
liam Turner, S. F. Crowther, Rev. J. A. Geh-
rett.
In 1872, when Rev. Mr. Crowther became
pastor, there were about fifteen members.
During his pastorate of seven years there
were ingatherings until the membership was
increased to thirty-five.
Among the efficient workers in the church
were Thomas Patterson, Esq., Thomas Luck-
ard and John C. Repine, and their wives, all
three of whom are daughters of John and
Susan Dunckel.
In 1884 a new frame church was erected on
the same site the old one occupied. The pas-
tors who have served the congregation in it
are Revs. G. B. Deacon. S. V. Hess, R. T. Cal-
houn, J. B. Shrively, William Burrows, Stat-
ler. At present (1913) there is no regular
pastor, the church being served by supplies.
The church membership is sixteen and the
officers are: Class leader, J. W. Patterson;
trustees, M. L. Patterson, W. B. Douglas,
Samuel Bowser. The superintendent of the
Sabbath school is J. W. Patterson ; the enroll-
ment of the school is 50.
Fleming, Bartholomew, Francis, William,
Elizabeth, Catharine and Maria Fleming,
John Stephens and William McCombs. John
Stephens was elected leader and William
Fleming steward. For several years it was
knoVn as the Fleming Church. The same
pastors served this church who also served the
Salem Church. During the pastorate of N.
Burgess a frame church was erected near the
present site of Cookport and called North
Salem. It was dedicated in January, 1855.
When S. F. Crowther became pastor, in
1872, there were thirty-five members, and dur-
ing the seven years which he remained with
them the membership was increased to seventy,
and a new church was erected in the village
of Cookport, in size 40 by 67, frame, with
spire one hundred feet high — an ornament to
the town.
Among the leading members of this church
have been some of the Camerons, Cooks, Con-
raths, Cunninghams. Buterbaughs, Lockards,
Lovelaces, Meyers, Nupps, Hudsons, Reeds
and Leasures.
GETTYSBURG CHURCH
The First M. P. Church of Gettsyburg
organized in June, 1857, by Rev. Anson
lev, with the following membership : Jacob
G. Ake. H. H. Ruifner, Mrs. Eliza H. Chur-
chill, H. R. Rankin and Mrs. jMary L. Rankin.
For thirteen years they worshipped in the
township schoolhouse, and then erected a
frame church, the first in the place, 40 by 50,
with spire and bell. It was dedicated in 1871
by Rev. S. F. Crowther. It has been served
by the same pastors who served Hazelet, Sa-
lem and Cookport Churches. In 1872 there
were seventeen members, and in 1879 the
membership numbered .sixty. Among the
office bearers and v,-orkers of the church have
been the Akes, Byers, Clarks, Churchills, Dun-
laps, Pittmans, Ruffners, Straslers and
Weavers.
In 1879 Pastor Crowther was elected presi-
dent of the Pittsburg Conference and pastor
of the M. P. Church of Allegheny City, Pa.,
and was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Gehrett.
CHERRYTREE CHURCH
COOKPORT CHURCH
The First M. P. Church of Cherrytree was
The First M. P. Church of Cookport was organized by Rev. S. F. Crowther, August 22,
organized' in ^843 by Rev. C. C. Chapman. 1873. The persons forming the organization
The first members were: Mrs. ^Margaret were: Rev. S. F. Crowther. his wife, C. M.
358
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Crowther, and daiighter, Amelia E. Crow-
ther (Mrs. R. S. Lovelace) ; John Mahaffey
and wife, Ellen Mahaffey; Andrew Fraley
£ind Mary Fraley, his wife; L. M. Clark and
Almira Clark, his wife ; John and Elma Kneed-
ler ; A. R. Lovelace, M. D. ; Robert S. Love-
lace ; H. B. Grumbling ; William W. and Mary
Langdon; Margaret Langdon; R. McKeage
and his wife, Jane McKeage ; William Shaw ;
J. D. Shaffer ; Eliza and Emma Lovelace ;
Miss Maggie T. Kellar, and S. Conner.
They labored under great disadvantages on
account of not having a church edifice. Part
of the time they worshipped in the Presby-
terian Church, and part of the time in the
town hall, and sometimes the Sabbath school
was held in the schoolhouse. Each year>dded
to the membership, but on account of the
financial panic the chyrch building was de-
ferred until 1875. During this year forty-six
were added to the church and preparations
for building commenced. The services all
M'ere now being held in the town hall and were
well attended and full of interest. The work
of church building was pushed forward as
rapidly as possible, but "there were many
'adversaries," and had it not been for the in-
domitable courage of the pastor and a few
others it would have failed.
On the last day cf the year 1876 the first
story of what was then the handsomest church
in this section of the country was dedicated
to the worship of God. The church is 38 by
64 feet, two stories high, with a tower 116
feet high, Gothic style. In order to be ready
to furnish the church as soon as built, the
pastor's wife, Mrs. Crowther, organized a
"Ladies' Church Aid Society" in October,
1874, and kept it in vigorous operation. The
result was they paid for the central front
window, which bears their memorial inscrip-
tion, and furnished the church, as far as fin-
ished, with pulpit, carpet, chairs, and chan-
deliers, and aided by the Sunday school,
bought an organ and clock. The pastor was
assisted in the dedication by Rev. T. H. Col-
houer, president of the Pittsburg Conference,
and Rev. J. H. Hull, of Mount Washington.
They were now comfortably situated in their
new church. All the regular services were
established according to ^Methodist usages and
the good work went on well, but as great re-
vivals are sometimes followed by heavy re-
action, so in this ease "the love of some waxed
cold," and some "went back and walked no
more with Christ," but the faithful went for-
ward and maintained the church in all her
interests, securing her permanency and hope-
fulness for the future.
The five M. P. Churches, Hazelet, Salem,
Cookport, Gettysburg and Cherrytree, all
associated for the support of a pastor under
the name of the Cherrytree pastorate. Each
church owns its own property, but in case of
extinction it vests in the Quarterly Confer-
ence, which is composed of the official mem-
bers of the several churches, with the pastor
as president. The M. P. Church is republican
in government, and maintains an itinerant
ministry, schools, colleges, etc.
Rev. J. A. Gehrett succeeded Rev. Mr.
Crowther in 1879.
CHRISTIAN
The church was organized in 1809. The
founders were Alexander Campbell and his
father. Their plea was, "Back to the Apos-
tolic Church." The members of this denomi-
nation still believe in the union of all Chris-
tians.
In Indiana county Christian churches have
been organized at Indiana, Pine Plats, Pine
Vale, Smithport, Gipsy, Sample Run and
Clymer. The Sample Run Church has been
changed to Clymer.
INDIANA FIRST CHURCH
The church was organized in the German
Lutheran church, where the present Chris-
tian church stands, in 1895. The new church,
which is a handsome brick edifice, was built
in 1910 at a cost of about $15,000.
The church was incorporated September 5,
1910. The lay members when the church
was incorporated were : S. B. Griffith and
wife. J. R. Stumpf and wife, C. E. Barnett,
Samuel Barnett, Belle Barnett, John M. Gam-
ble. W. A. Lovelace, James Mitchell, T. P.
Stephens, C. W. Baker, John B. Mitchell and
wife. There may have been a few others, but
the above signed the application for a char-
ter. The trustees at that time were: S. B.
Griffith, J. D. Widdowson, J. R. Stumpf, W.
A. Lovelace.
Rev. Lawson Campbell was pastor when
the church was built and did much toward its
erection. He was followed by Rev. W. M.
Norment. The church does not have a pas-
HISTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
359
tor at present (1913). The membership is
134.
The officers in 1913 are as follows: El-
ders, T. P. Stephens, S. B. Griffith, W. A.
Lovelace; trustees, J. R. Stumpf, John B.
Mitchell, S. B. Griffith; deacons, George
jMarlin, John B. ilitchell, Ward Lockard, C.
E. Barnett. The superintendent of the Bi-
ble school is C. E. Barnett. The school has
an enrollment of 125.
The following from this congregation are
missionaries: iliss Hulda Stumpf, in Africa
for four years; Miss Cloe Myers and Mrs.
Jane E. flyers, in Africa for three j-ears;
]Mrs. II. C. Saum, in India.
CLYJIEE CHURCH •
The Christian Church, dedicated April 23,
1911, is a brick structure, located on the cor-
ner of Franklin and Seventh streets. The
congregation came from the Sample Run
Church, which was abandoned, and the mem-
bership was between thirt.v and fort.v when
the new church was dedicated. Rev. Mr.
Stickley was the first pastor. The present
pastor is Rev. W. W. Johnston, and there are
over oiie hundred members.
PINE FLATS CHURCH
treasurer, ;\Iiss G. Williams; clerk, Mrs. S.
E. Turner. Frank Parry is superintendent
of the Bilile school, which has an enrollment
of 88, and is kept open the entire year.
ilr. Frank Muse, from this congregation,
is now a minister in the State of Washing-
ton.
SlIITHI'ORT (nORTONS) CHURCH
The church was built in 1868 by the Metho-
dist Episcopal congregation, but was sold for
debt and was bought in by Mr. J. G. Smith.
It stood idle a number of years, but was pur-
chased by ilr. Fred Weitzel, James Gorman
and M. H. Tipton. Jiarch 1, 1883, for the use
of the Christian Church. The price paid was
$600. The first minister was D. M. Kjnter.
The ministers since 1880 have been: Revs.
R. T. Singer. J. R. Ryat, JI. H. Tipton and
Oela J. Howearth, Elders Watkins. L. il.
Streates,- Judson Brown. A. L. A. Inwood,
Cooper. S. C. Bea;ilin. Revs. H. C. Saum, M.
S. Blair and F. S Burns preaching occasion-
ally.
The present officers are: Fred Weitzel,
elder and trustee ; the other trustees are John
Fuller and A. H. Huey. The membership is
twent.y. ]\Iany have moved away or died.
No Bible school is maintained at present. The
congregation has united with the ^lethodist
Episcopal Church in Sabbath school work.
The Church of Christ at Pine Flats was
organized by Elders Pyatte and James Dor-
sey, Januaiw 2, 1856, the members thereof
unanimously agreeing to take Christ as their
"Prophet, Priest and King," and the Bible
as their only rule, faith and practice in all
things relating to the religion of Jesus Christ.
The church was organized with seven mem-
bers, but soon numbered twenty-six. It ap-
pointed Daniel Williams and P. J. Arthur
elders, and J. W. Williams clerk. The church
building was erected in 1858 at a cost of about
$1,500. The church has sustained a regular
pastor about one half his time since its or-
ganization. Tlie pastors have been James B.
Pyatte, James Dorsie, William Griggsby, D.
M. Kinter. George Lobengier. D. 'SI. Kinter,
H. C. Cooper. C. S. Baulieu. M. H. Tipton,
Amos Hutton. Judson Brown, 0. W. Riley,
J. F. Coss. N. L. Atwood, J. G. i\Iassev. R. H.
Sawtella. C. E. Smith, M. A. Stickley, C. E.
Lewis and F. S. Burns, the present pastor.
The present membership of the congi'ega-
tion is 65. The officers are: Elder, J. W.
Williams ; deacons, John Sides, W. G. Trout ;
UNITED BRETHREN
RICHMOND CHITRCH, GRANT TOWNSHIP
This cliurch was organized before (He Civil
war. Tlie present church building was erected
about 1888, when Rev. Mr. Hays was pastor.
The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Mickey.
The officers at present (1913) are as fol-
lows: Trustees, G. 0. Richardson, Oscar
Ricliardson, H. W. Oberlin, John Weaver,
David Ritteuhouse ; superintendent of the
Sabbath school, Harry Weaver. The member-
ship of the church is 74 and the enrollment
of the Sabbath school 115. The school is kept
open the entire year.
NORTH POINT CHURCH, WEST ilAHONING
TOWNSHIP
This church was organized about 1872 and
the house of worship dedicated the same year.
The church is a frame structure and cost
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
about .$1,500. The present (1913) pastor is
Eev. Mr. Mickey, who gives one third of his
time to the congregation.
The trustees are C. H. McClelland, W. H.
Drummond. F. E. Crawford, F. M. Wels-
honce, William Hosack, Camden Weaver, Da-
vid Roush. The membership is 82. The su-
perintendent of the Sabbath school is W.
H. Drummond; the enrollment is 80.
CANOE CHURCH
This church was organized about 1893. The
church building was erected in 1894 at a cost
of $2,400 ; it was dedicated in 1894.
Rev. Mr. Mickey is pastor at present
(1913), dividing his time equally among the
churches of Richmond, North Point and
Canoe.
The trustees are: S. P. Wolfe, William
Armstrong, Jacob' Harrold, George Hawk,
Aaron Leasure. The membership is 93. Clair
Dunmire is the superintendent of the Sab-
bath school, which has an enrollment of 125
and is kept open the entire year.
Rev. Meade M. Snyder, who was a mem-
ber of this congregation, is located near Punx-
sutawney.
WESLEYAN METHODIST
In the organization of the Wesleyan Meth-
odist Churches of this county Rev. R. S. En-
sign, V. B. Jones, Benjamin Longhead, Jos-
eph Campbell and others participated, but
since the Pine Grove circuit was organized
the following named ministers have suc-
ceeded each other on this circuit, from one
to four or five years in succession, as follows :
F. D. Houlett, Benjamin Longhead, Joseph
Campbell. William Austin, James Spear,
Thomas Burrows, E. J. Hayes, A. T. Wolff,
Henry Wesley.
INDIANA CHURCH
This church was organized March 9, 1903,
by Rev. P. B. Campbell. The charter mem-
bers were : C. A. Buchanan, Dillie Buchanan,
Rosanna Goodlin, J. A. H. Longwill, Laura
Munshower, Sarah I. Thompson, John A.
Longwill, Lizzie Longwill, Carrie Crawford,
Delia Goodrich.
The church, was built in 1904 at a cost of
$2,400. The following pastors have served
the congregation: Revs. Gace Chadwick,
John Elliott, A. T. Vestal, W. H. Keneday,
S. E. Graves, C. L. Smith, John R. Babcock,
F. E. Kline. Rev. Mr. Kline resigned in
September, 1913. The membership is 20.
The officers of the church at present (1913)
are as follows: Trustees, Wesley Stephens,
Jacob Myers, C. A. Buchanan; stewards, A.
L. Pierce, Jacob Myers, Mary E. Gibson;
clerk, Dillie Buchanan; tithing secretary,
Laura Munshower; treasurer, Ruth E. Smith;
class leaders, A. L. Pierce, L. B. Wisinger,
Delia Goodrich ; superintendent of the Sab-
bath school, Dillie A. Buchanan. The enroll-
ment of the school is 54.
. DIXONVILLE CHURCH
This church was organized in May, 1855,
with the following members: George Bu-
chanan, Thomas Longwill, Sarah Longwill,
Rev. Joseph Campbell, Catherine Campbell,
James Baker, Sister Baker, Rev. F. D. Hou-
lett, Hannah Houlett. In 1858 a comforta-
ble church, worth about $800, was built, and
afterwards a parsonage on the same lot, worth
about $600.
This church has been served by the fol-
lowing pastors : Revs. Goodwell, Brown,
Lawhead, Spear, Wolff, Burrows, Hare, Wil-
liams, Westlake, Campbell, Richardson,
Ferro, Ingersoll, Davis, Osgood. The pres-
ent pastor is Rev. Mr. Cordner, who gives
one half his time to this charge, which has
a membership of 43.
The church officers are : Class leader. Miss
Emma Mumau; assistant class leader, Mrs.
Harry Hamilton; steward; the following
trustees, James Pugh, Harry Longwill, A.
B. Clawson; treasurer. Miss M. Donahue;
clerk, Marie Fisher. James Pugh is super-
intendent of the Sabbath school, which has
an enrollment of 85.
Three young men from this congregation
have entered the ministry: Rev. J. T. Mc-
Leister, Hillsdale, Pa., Rev. T. H. McLeister,
Rochester, Pa., and J. B. Clawson, Stone
Lake, Wisconsin.
MANOR CHURCH
This church was organized about 1856 by
Rev. Benjamin Longhead. The following
named persons composed the first congrega-
tion: Giles Stephens, Agnes Stephens,
Thomas W. Stephens, Anna E. Stephens,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
361
James Stephens, Nancy Stephens, Elizabeth
Fetterman, Jacob Craig, Susan Craig, Cath-
erine Craig, William Craig, Margaret Ly-
dick.
In 1885 a new church was built.
The pastoi-s who have served this congre-
gation are: Revs. P. B. Campbell, G. W.
Richardson. A. D. Ferro, W. W. Williams,
F. D. Rockwell Ingersoll, F. J. Davis, Wil-
liam Osgood and the present pastor, A. M.
Cordner, who also serves Rich Hill, Dixon-
ville and Spruce Grove.
The membership of the church at present
is 30. The church officers are: Secretary,
Emma Mumau; clerk, George Stephens:
treasurer, S. F. Brown ; trustees, John Shank,
S. F. Brown, George Stephens. Mr. Edward
Putt is the superintendent of the Sabbath
school, which has an enrollment of 40.
Miss Marie Stephens has gone out as a mis-
sionary from this congregation.
PINE GROVE CHURCH
The Pine Grove Church of the Wesleyan
connection of America was organized near
Gettysburg by Rev. R. S. Ens"ign in 1848.
The following names composed the first or-
ganization: Samuel Rank, Mary Ann Rank,
George Rank, Jesse Thomas, Sarah Thomas.
This congregation has a good substantial
church building in which they meet steadily
for public worship.
FREE METHODIST
Origin and Character
(By a Member of the Church)
Wesley says: "In the year 1729 two young
men in England, reading the Bible, saw they
could not be saved without holiness: they
followed after it and invited others to do so.
In 1737, they saw, likewise, that men are
justified before they are sanctified; but still
holiness was their ob.iect. God thrust them
out to raise up a holy people. Methodism
spread through England and America, and
other countries. As it became jjopular there
was more or less departure from the origi-
nal principals and practice of ilethodism."
In the Genesee Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church about the year 1858, sev-
eral preachers and many members were ex-
cluded from the church on various charges
and allegations, but really for their adher-
ence to the principles of Methodism; espe-
cially to the doctrine and experience of en-
tire sanctifieation. Appeals were made to the
General Conference which were denied.
Therefore they felt compelled to fonn a new
organization.
The Free Methodists are a body of Chiis-
tians who profess to be in earnest to get to
heaven, by conforming to all the will of God
as made known in His Word. They do not
believe that either God or Bible has "changed
to accommodate the fashionable tendencies of
the age. They solemnly protest against the
union of the Church ancl the woi'ld. The con-
ditions of salvation as they teach are the same
now that they were eighteen hundred years
ago.
In doctrine they are Methodist. They be-
lieve in the Holy Trinity, in a general atone-
ment, in the necessity of the new birth, in
the witness of the Spirit, in future rewards
and punishments, in that perfect love which
casts out fear.
INDIANA CHURCH
The Free Methodist Church was organized
in 1894, at Fairview Chapel. The first offi-
cers were : Trustees, Simon Anthony, H.
S. Weaver, Miss Mattie Dixon, W. W. Bril-
hart. Mrs. Lucy Abby; Sunday school super-
intendent, H. S. Weaver.
The ministers since 1894 have been: Rev.
P. Osborn, Rev. J. F. Silver, Rev. L. Kight-
linger. Rev. J. G. A. Lenkerd, Miss Mary
Elliott, Rev. L. C. Andre, Rev. W. W. Bruba-
ker. Rev. S. F. Hiehnan, Rev. ]\Ir. Wading,
Rev. L. N. Large, Rev. J. P. Foy, Rev. A. L.
Duncan, Mrs. Cora Spiker, Rev. E. H. Ken-
nedy.
The present officers are: Sabbath school
superintendent. Mrs. Cora Spiker, assistant
superintendent, Arthur Palmer. Tinistees:
John Woolweaver, Alice Clawson, Harry Mc-
Clurkin, A. T. Palmer, Drusilla Rink, Arthur
Palmer, secretary.
BLACKLICK CHURCH
This church was organized about 1893,
when a Pentecostal Band of the Free Meth-
odist Church held services. The following
ministers have served the church: Revs.
Cobb, J. F. Silver, W. N. Spieher, Fox, Wil-
362
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
son, .M. J. Anthony, Mrs. Clara Fay, E. E.
Finley, John E. Douglas, J. H. Spears, J. 0.
Archer and 0. 0. King, the present pas-
tor. The membership is 18.
The present (1913) officers are as follows:
Class leader, D. E. Henry; stewards, Zetta
Howard and Vina Palmer. Zetta Howard is
the superintendent of the Sabbath school,
which has an enrollment of 30.
In connection with Blacklick there is an
organization at Homer City. The member-
ship is 8. Effie Martin is the class leader and
Maud Martin and Harry McNutt are the
stewards. They do not have a house of wor-
ship.
tlie pastorate of Rev. W. B. Elliott, at a cost
of $1,000.
The pastors who have served the congrega-
tion are : J. C. Cunningham, J. H. Hovis,
John Brown, W. B. Elliott, A. Hetrick, H.
Armstrong, J. Smith, J. S. Boyd and Harry
White, the present pastor.
The officers of the church are: Elders, T.
S. Griffith and E. P. Coble; deacons, J. E.
Douglass and Andrew JIcManis. The pres-
ent church membership is 18. Mr. Andrew
I\Ic]\Ianis is superintendent of the Sabbath
school, which has an enrollment of 60 and is
kept open during the entire year.
BLAIRSVILLE CHURCH
BRETHREN: GERMAN BAPTISTS
This church was organized in 1893 when
Rev. Mr. Shelhamer and wife had charge of
a Pentecostal Band of the Free Methodist
Church. The church was organized in the
old Methodist Church where they first wor-
shiped and which is now used by the Bap-
tists. The same year they began building a
church of their own at a cost of $1,100. In
1901 a second church was built, Rev. Albert
Wilson preaching the dedicatory sermon. At
this time the membership numbered 28.
The ministers since organization have been
as follows : Revs. Cobb, Lenkerd, H. A. Bald-
win, R. A. Zahnizer, H. L. Spear (under
whom the parsonage was built at a cost of
$2,500), D. W. Rose, J. P. Foy, J. H. White-
man, B. H. Edwards, H. W. Armstrong, R.
B. Campbell and J. O. Archer, the present
pastor.
The following are the present (1913)
church officers: Trustees, Edw. Cummings,
C. S. Richardson, Grover Evans, William
Walter, L. G. Piper; stewards, Mrs. Cathar-
ine Dennison, Mrs. Hannah Cummings, Mrs.
Daisy Richardson, Mrs. Nellie Evans, Mrs.
Mary L. Piper ; class leaders, Mrs. Mary L.
Piper and Miss Edna Cummings. The mem-
bership of the church is 36.
C. S. Richardson is the superintendent of
the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment
of 40.
CHURCH OF GOD
The Church of God in Green township was
organized in 1881, and the present church,
a frame building, was erected in 1886 during
TUNKERS OR DUNKERS
All the Brethren Churches in America are
the offspring of one organized at Schwarzenau,
Germany, in 1708, consisting of seven souls,
six of whom had been bred Presbyterians and
one Lutheran; not one of these knew there
was a Baptist in the world. They increased
rapidly, spreading to other places, but perse-
cution drove them, some to Holland, others
to Crefeld, and the mother church moved
from Schwarzenau to Serustervin in Fries-
land, whence about twenty families, with Peter
Becker (Baker) as leader, emigrated to Amer-
ica in 1719, landing in Philadelphia in not the
best spirit of brotherly love owing to difficul-
ties among them en route. A portion of them
only settled in Germautown, while others set-
tled at Skippaek, Oley, Conestoga. and else-
where. Thus separated, they grew cold in
religious service, but in the year 1722 Peter
Becker, Johan Gomery, Balser Gansz, Henrich
Traut and others, grieved, and zealous for
their religion, by their exhortations in behalf
of the church, succeeded in a measure in re-
storing the lost interest insomuch that a
great revival was the result; new converts
were baptized by Peter Becker, whom they
delegated to the ministry.
The first converts were Martin Urner, Hen-
ry Landes, Frederick Long, with their wives,
and John Mayl. A church was organized with
seventeen constituent members and the seven
converts to the faith, the first organized
church of this kind in America. We subjoin
the names of those who partook of the first
"love feast and holy communion": Peter
Becker, Henrich Traut, Jeremiah Traut, Bal-
ser Traut, Henrich Holsopple, Johannes Gom-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
363
ery, Stephen Koch. Jacob Koch. Johannes
Hildebrand, Daniel Ritter, George Balser
Gansz, Johannes Preisz, Johannes Kempfer,
Magdalena Traut, Anna Gomery, ilarie Hil-
debrand, Joaan Gansz, and the seven converts
named.
This organization, the baptism and love
feast were accomplished in 1723 at German-
town. Pa. These people worked earnestly for
about three years and organized many other
societies during the .vear 1724. one at Coven-
try. Chester coiint.v. and another in Lancas-
ter county. After this time of earnest work
the churches lapsed into a lukewarm state
until 1729, when Alexander Mack, who had
been the temporal head of the first church
at Schwarzenau. being still persecuted, hav-
ing fled to Crefeld. thence to Holland, now
with about thirty families emigrated to
Pennsylvania. This influx so encouraged the
brethren that new zeal became general and
results of their labors were manifested. The
church increased, extending its influence to
all the States, and in 1870 numbered 100,-
000 communicants.
IIAXOR CONGREGATION
This eouErregation embraces all members
within an area bounded by the Purchase
Line, west by ilahoning road, and the road
from Indiana to Blacklick, south by Black-
lick creek, and eastward extends into Cam-
bria county without any definite line. The
first meetings were conducted by Elders
Sanmel Lydy and George Rarich. of Arm-
strong county. Elder Lydy was elected to the
ministry in 1825 and preached in Somerset
county, and moved to this county about 1840 ;
like most ministers* of the Brethren, he la-
bored on his farm during the week and vis-
ited his brethren, preaching for them on Sun-
days until his death, in April, 1873. Among
the pioneer members of this congregation
were Mrs. JIary and Catharine Fyock. nee
Hoffman. The organization of the society was
effected in 1843 at the house of John Soyster ;
the record of constituency is now lost, but
EJder Lydy was commissioned bishop and
Adam Helman and David Brown elected dea-
cons, probably at the same time, for Mr. Hel-
man was chosen for the ministry but two years
later. John Soyster. a minister, moved here
from the East. Levi Fry was elected to the
ministrv in 1847; David Ober, 1855; Samuel
Brallier, 1858; Joseph Ilolsopple. 1866;
Daniel Brallier. 1868 ; Caleb Secrist, 1873.
The membership in 1870 was about 180,
but was reduced by removal to 160. and the
Sabbath schools had an aggregate attendance
of 150. The first meetings of the congrega-
tion were held in the houses of David Brown,
Adam Gier and John Blickenderfer. in Cher-
ryhill township, but they afterwards erected
houses of worship at ilanor, near Greenville,
one at Purchase Line, Green township, one at
Belsano. Cambria county, and one at Crooked
Creek. Rayne township. These buildings
were not large, but comfortable, erected at
a cost of about $700 each and built in the
order named. 1856, 1870, 1875, and 1880.
Bishop Lydy livecl to see two of these com-
pleted. The tribute paid him by one who
knew his worth is couched in the words. "He
was a good citizen, firm friend and devoted
Christian. ' '
In 1906 the congregation at ilanor pur-
chased the United Presbvterian Church in
Greenville and aoandoned the church at
ilanor. Rev. Walter Myers has been the min-
ister for the past seven years. There are
fifty-two members in the congregation, yir.
C. B. Widdowson is the superintendent of the
Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of
fifty-seven.
MONTGOJIERY CHURCH, GRANT TOWNSHIP
The first meetings were held in 1843. The
first minister was Joseph Shoemaker, who
commenced his work in 1844 and continued
until the organization of the church in 1858.
The church was organized at Cornelius Row-
ley's. George Rairigh, Sr., was among the
early ministers. The first members were
Samuel Spicher and wife, Joseph Spicher and
wife, George Rairigh and wife, and Cornelius
Rowley and wife. The first deacons were
Samuel Rairigh and Henry Spicher. Peter
Beer was chosen for the ministry at the time
of the organization of the church. The first
communion meeting was held on the 24th of
August. 1861, when J. W. Spicher was elected
to the ministry. Other ministers were ilark
Minser. who located here in 1868. elder; and
John W. Spicher, Crissman. John and George
S. Rairigh, Jr., assistants. The first meeting
house was built in Grant township in 1873,
at an expense of $1,500.
364
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
GARFIELD BRETHREN CHURCH
This church was built in 1887 at a cost of
about five hundred dollars. Robert Bowser
was the resident minister at that time, but
the church was under the care of Elder
Hiram Musselman from 1887 to 1891. The
church has been presided over since 1891 by
Elders George Hannawalt, from 1891 to 1898 ;
Joseph Holsopple, from 1898 to 1902; D. J.
Myers, in 1903; Abram Pyock, from 1904 to
1909; S. U. Shober, from 1909 to 1912; and
W. M. Have has charge at present. The pres-
ent pastor is Rev. C. A. McDowell, who gives
all his time to the congi-egation.
The church officers at present are as follows :
Deacons, J. N. Betts, H. T. Montgomery, Mr.
Shetler; trustees, H. T. Montgomery, H. P.
Donahue, C. J. Bowser. The membership is
sixty. H. T. Montgomery is the superintend-
ent of the Sabbath school, which has an en-
rollment of 160. The school is open the entire
year.
David L. Little, who was reared in this con-
gregation, was ordained to the ministry and is
now located at Vandergrift, Pennsylvania.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
CHRIST CHURCH, INDIANA
Prior to 1855 there was no Protestant Epis-
copal Church in Indiana, but services were
held by Rev. Mr. Nash, who with his wife re-
mained some time in town, doing much good
and making such an impression upon the
people that the need of a church was felt.
The services were conducted in the Lutheran
Church, through the kindness of the pastor,
Rev. Mr. Sharretts.
At various times prior to the year 1853
services were held by clergymen of the Epis-
copal Church in the village of Indiana, and
in the early part of that year it was deter-
mined to organize a church. Steps were
taken to have a charter granted by the court,
and on May 6, 1853, a petition was presented
by Messrs. William Scott, Thomas White,
William M. Stewart, Edmund Paige, James
C. Coulter, Titian Coffey, John Hargrave
and Alexander Taylor, on behalf of them-
selves and certain other citizens, asking for
incorporation as a congregation worshiping
Almighty God, "according to the faith and
discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the United States of America." Having
briefly stated the objects, articles and condi-
tions of the said association in compli-
ance with the Act of Assembly, they stated
that they had elected Thomas White and Wil-
liam Scott as wardens and John Hargrave,
William M. Stewart, Edmund Paige, James
S. Coulter and Titian Coffey as vestrymen of
the proposed new Parish of Christ Church.
At that time the parish was under the pas-
toral care of Rev. William H. Paddock, who
in 1854 was called to another field of labor.
Rev. Sylvester S. Nash took his place and in
this year we find the new names of James M.
Sloan and John H. Lichteberger on the list
of vestrymen.
Finally, on March 28, 1855, the follow-
ing order was made: "The application be-
ing heard and considered, the court do here-
by decree and declare that the Reverend
Sylvester S. Nash, Rector, Thomas White
and William Scott, Wardens, Titian J. Cof-
fey, William M. Stewart, Edmund Paige,
John H. Lichteberger and James M. Sloan,
Vestrymen, and their successors in office, may
be and are hereby declared to be a corpora-
tion and body politic by the name and style
of The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of
Christ Church in the County of Indiana."
Hon. Thomas White bought two lots on the
corner of Philadelphia and St. Clair streets,
and donated them to the church, and a sub-
scz'iption was then taken up, Judge Wliite
making up the balance necessary for building
a small frame church. The 13tli day of Octo-
ber, 1855, the deed was made, and Christ
Church of Indiana was organized and its
house of worship consecrated by Bishop
Alonzo Potter. The services for organizing
and consecrating the church were ari'anged
by Rev. WilHam H. Paddock, then rector at
Greensburg. The original members -were
Judge White and Mr. and Mrs. William Scott.
Rev. Mr. Oliver was the first rector, coming
shortly after the church was organized and
remaining about two years. During his stay
William M. Stewart and wife were confirmed
and their family baptized by Bishop Alonzo
Potter. During that period Bishop Potter's
son, afterwards rector of Grace Church. New
York, then rector of the church at Greens-
burg, visited Indiana several times and held
services for Rev. ]\Ir. Oliver.
After Mr. Oliver was called away Rev. Ed-
ward B. Spaulding, a very able, learned gen-
tleman, had charge of the church for about
six months, when he was called to a profes-
sorship in the college at Racine, Wis. Many
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
365
were the regrets when lie left. He was fol-
lowed by Rev. Johu Cronilish, who remained
three A'ears, and several members were added
to the church during his stay. The church
• was then taken in charge by Rev. Floridus A.
Steel, rector at Greensburg. who held services
in Indiana every two weeks. He remained
several years, doing good work, making many
friends for himself and the church. He left
here to accept a call to Hartford, Connecticut.
For some time the church was without a
regular rector, but supplied by missionaries,
an occasional service being held whenever a
clergyman could be spared from anywhere
within reach. Rev. B. B. Killikelh', one of the
oldest clergj-men in the diocese, came often.
Rev. 3Ir. Edwards, Rev. ;\Ir. Spaulding and
others were among the number wlio visited
here. For some time Mr. Steel, then princi-
pal of the public schools of Indiana, read lay
service, kept the church open, and had a
flourishing Sabbath school with about forty
children in attendance, giving work to the
few church people and others who were inter-
ested.
In 1870 the church was given into the hands
of Rev. J. Heber MeCandless, of Pittsburg, a
most energetic, earnest, hard-working church-
man. He held services every two weeks on
Sabbath, often giving weekday services, al-
ways holding Lenten services, was devoted to
his work, always willing to do anything that
was to do, and finding plenty. The Sabbath
school was made most interesting under his
care, and more members were added to the
church than during any other rector's term.
He remained for five years, but resigned on
account of an insufficient salary to support
him. For some time the church was only open
when the dean, Rev. G. C. Rafter, of Johns-
town, or his assistant could visit it.
In 1866 Rt. Rev. John B. Kerfoot was
elected bishop of the diocese and was most
faithful in his care of this little church. It
must have been a failure but for the sym-
pathy and kindness of the good bishop. He
made his visits regularly, causing his peo-
ple to feel and know that, although few in
number, he thought them worth while looking
after. The people were coming and going,
and the membership never exceeded eighteen
or twenty.
The church lost much when in 1867 Judge
Thomas White died, leaving a place that has
never been filled. His presence was never
missed from the church when he was able to
attend. Many times he made the responses
alone — oftener with but two or three to as-
sist. He and William M. Stewart made the
expenses of the church very light to the others,
and his death threw a heavy burden on Mr.
Stewart. It seemed as if the last stay was
gone when, in 1871, Mr. Stewart moved his
family to Philadelphia. The church in all her
struggles was never forgotten by Mr. Stewart,
who always remembered how much need there
was in Indiana and never turned a deaf ear
to a call for help from her. In 1874 a pave-
ment was ordered on Philadelphia street in
front of the church, which was a great ex-
pense, and the church property was adver-
tised for sale for the payment of the debt
contracted in making it. Bishop Kerfoot
came to the rescue and saved the church with
the aid of some small subscriptions. In 1875
the ladies of the church held a "Mush and
Milk" festival for the purpose of securing a
new organ. In one evening $130 was raised,
and the new organ purchased and put into the
church for the Christmas service. In 1878 a
pavement was made on the St. Clair street
side of the church with less trouble than the
first, and this debt was soon paid.
For many j-ears the congregation wor-
shiped in this church, which within recent
years was remodeled, and was made into what
was generally conceded to be one of the most
beautiful churches in this part of the coun-
try. Rev. Alexander Vance, D. D., was then
rector. In the early part of 1899 Rev. Dr.
Vance resigned to take charge of a parish in
Brooklyn, N. Y., and Rev. Graham Adains
was elected in his place.
On December 10, 1899, the parish met with
a great misfortune. The beautiful little
church was burned to the ground and
scarcely anything was saved. All the rec-
ords were destroyed and almost all the fur-
niture, very little being rescued from the
flames. Undaunted the congregation, though
few in numbers, owing to many deaths and
removals, determined to rebuild. They at
once went vigorously to work and within two
years not only rebuilt the church, but in ad-
dition ei'ected a chapel for Sunday school
and other purposes and a rectory for the
clergyman in charge of the parish.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
During the year 1900 Rev. Mr. Adams suf-
fered uiuch from ill health, and in the spring
of 1901 he was granted six months' leave of
absence in the hope that he would recover.
In the summer of that year services were sup-
plied by various ministers and the work of
the parish was maintained by the vestry and
Ladies' Guild. Being still incapacitated by
sickness Mr. Adams, in October, 1901, sent
in his resignation, and in the following month
the vestry unanimously called Rev. George
Rodgers, D. D., who assumed charge of the
parish on the 17th. The resignation of Rev.
Dr. Rodgers was accepted April 16, 1906, and
Rev. John Vaughan Lewis, D. D., of the Dio-
cese of New York, was appointed rector in
charge by the Bishop of Pittsburg and began
his duties July 15, 1906. In May, 1908, Rev.
T. A. Gilbert, Ph. D., became rector, serving
until September, 1909; Rev. Emil S. Harper
served from March, 1909, to December, 1910 ;
Rev. R. W. Nickel, B. D., June, 1911, to Janu-
ary, 1912 ; and Rev. Clarence D. Frankel, the
present rector, has been here since June,
1912. Other rectors who have served since
1880 are: Dr. Herbert Clarke, Lawrence
Bower and Willis Hawkins.
Some few items are worthy of notice. The
church, from being closed so long, was often
damp and very hard to heat during the win-
ter, and on one occasion, when Rev. Mr. Hart-
man, of Pittsburg, was to visit Indiana, the
weather set in very cold. The service was
held in William Stewart's parlor, quite a
number of persons being present. Another
time, when the church was open and service
commenced by Rev. J. Heber McCandless, it
was found to be so uncomfortably cold that
they decided to conclude the service at the
house of Mr. Edward Nixon, which was done,
and the sacrament administered, almost all
the members of the church being present.
Once again, when Dr. Killikelly was holding
a service, it grew so cold that he was obliged
to dismiss the congregation before he was
through with his sermon. One winter, when
without a rector, not wishing to give up the
Sunday school, which was in good condition,
and the church being too cold for the chil-
dren, it was held at the house of Mr. Nixon
for many weeks, until serious sickness in the
family prevented doing so any longer.
Although for some years the church did not
make much progress, the past history only
adds to the interest of it, and it is now in a
flourishing condition.
The members of the board of vestrymen
are: Hon. John P. Elkin, senior warden;
W. F. Elkin, Esq., junior warden; Harry
White, Jr., secretary; Richard W. Watson^
Esq., treasurer; William Robinsteen; Wil-
liam Banks, Esq.; Harry Bell.
CHAPTER XVIII
MEDICAL PROFESSION
A meeting of physicians for the purpose of
forming a county medical society was called
June 23, 1858, and was responded to by the
most influential physicians in Indiana county
at that time. The meeting was organized by
calling Dr. James M. Stewart to the chair,
and appointing Dr. William Anderson secre-
tary. The usual preliminary business neces-
sary for the purpose of effecting a permanent
organization was promptly carried through.
Drs. Thomas St. Clair, Thomas Mabon and
Christopher McBwen were appointed a com-
mittee to prepare a constitution and by-laws.
Drs. William Anthony, William Reed and
Thomas McMullen were appointed a com-
mittee on fee bills. The meeting adjourned
to meet July 21, 1858.
At the next meeting the committees re-
ported, and both reports were adopted with
a few modifications. It was decided that the
name and title of the society should be ' ' The
Indiana County Medical Society."
"The objects of this society shall be the
advancement of medical knowledge; the pro-
motion of harmony, union and friendly in-
tercourse amongst its members; the protec-
tion of the interests, honor and usefulness of
the profession, and to preserve the health
and to protect the lives of the community."
A mimber of by-laws were adopted. The
code of medical ethics adopted by the Amer-
ican Medical Association in 1847 was estab-
lished as the code of the society, and its ac-
ceptance a requisite of membership. The
constitution and by-laws were signed by all
the members present, and the following per-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
367
sons elected officers for the ensuing year:
President, Dr. James JI. Stewart ; vice presi-
dent, Thomas McMullen; secretary, William
Anderson; treasurer, Thomas ?iIabon.
Drs. Thomas Mabou and William Ander-
son were elected delegates to represent the
Indiana County Medical Society in the Med-
ical Sqciety of the State of Pennsylvania, at
its next meeting in Philadelphia, in June,
1859.
Two copies of the constitution and by-laws
were forwarded to the censors of the district.
They were approved, gnd one copy returned
and the other forwarded to the correspond-
ing secretary of the State society.
Drs. James il. Stewart, Thomas St. Clair
and William Anderson were appointed a com-
mittee to address tlie members of the pro-
fession throughout the county, calling their
attention to the importance of the society.
The names of the signers of the constitu-
tion are as follows, and in the following
order: William Anderson, George M. Gamble,
Robert McChesuey, William Reed, Christo-
pher McEwen, Thomas Mcilullen, James Mc-
Mullen, William Anthony. Thomas St. Clair,
William A. Piatt, George Irvin, Thomas
Mabon, Robert Barr, James T. Adair, Robert
J. Tomb, Joseph P. Stewart, Herman Row,
Samuel :\I. Elder, Wallace B. Stewart, Wil-
liam Jack, A. P. Purington, Benjamin P.
Tomb. Samuel W. Virtue, John McParland,
George J. McHenry, W. C. Parker, James L.
Crawford. John W. Hughes, J. il. Torrenee,
S. R. Rutledge, Emanuel Brallier, Chalmers
S. MeCrea, William Hosack, William A. Mc-
Chesney, L. S. Clagett, Thomas Marlin, Wil-
liam N. Cunningham, Samuel L. Wiggins,
G. P. Arney, J. Wilson Morrow, Thomas
Carson, W. T. Larimer.
The present officers of the society, 1913,
are: W. E. Dodson, president: C. P. Rink,
secretary ; M. ^I. Davis, treasurer, all of
Indiana.
An Act of the Legislature passed in 1881
requires all physicians in the different coun-
ties to register in the office of the prothono-
tary their names, the institutions from which
they have graduated, and a copy of their
diplomas. Physicians %vithout diplomas who
had practiced within the ten years before the
act went into force were permitted to register
and continue their professional duties. An
Act of the Legislature approved ^lay 18,
1893. requires that all physicians before en-
tering upon the duties of their profession
must study medicine four years and receive
a medical diploma. After graduation they
are required to pass an examination by the
State Board of I\Iedical Examiners, appointed
by the governor. If this examination be
satisfactory, the applicant is licensed to prac-
tice medicine and surgery by the j\Iedical
Council of Pennsylvania. He must then reg-
ister his name in every county in which he
resides or opens an office.
Pollowing is a list of the physicians who
had been in practice in Indiana county prior
to the Act of 1881. with nativity and medical
school where obtainable, and place or places
in the county at which they located for
practice :
Hugh Adair, born in AVhite towmship,
Indiana county; school, Pranklin Medical
College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of gradua- _
tion, 1847 ; residence. West Lebanon. James '
T. Adair, bom in Indiana county; school,
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
date of graduation, 1869; residence, Indiana,
Cherrytree. Joseph H. Ake, born in Blair
county. Pa.; school, Jefferson Medical Col-
lege (not a graduate) ; residence, Gettys-
burg, Cherrytree. A. H. Allison, born in
East Mahoning township, Indiana county;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. : date of graduation, March 4, 1867 ;
residence, Cookport, Marion Center, Indi-
ana. David R. Allison, born in Center town-
ship, Indiana county ; school. University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; residence. Salts-
burg. Samuel C. Allison, born in Clarion
county. Pa. ; school, Jefferson Medical Col-
lege. Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, ilarchand.
William Altman, born at Indiana; school,
Jeft'erson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.;
residence, Armagh, Indiana. Dr. Anawalt ;
residence, Blairsville. Dr. Andrews ; residence,
Blairsville. William Anderson, born in Green
township. Indiana county; school, Jefferson
^Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence,
Indiana. Joseph M. Ansley, born in South
Mahoning township, Indiana county; resi-
dence, Plumville. AVilliam B. Ansley, born
in Mahoning township, Indiana county;
school, Jefferson Medical College. Philadel-
phia, Pa.; date of graduation, 1867; resi-
dence, Plumville, Saltsburg. William An-
thony, born in Armstrong township, Indiana
county; school, Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Plumville, Cham-
bersville, Marion. A. H. Armstrong, born in
Armstrong township, near Shelocta, Indiana
county; residence, Marchand. Pine Plats. G.
P. Arney, born in Center comity. Pa. : school,
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
residence. Homer City.
368 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Dr. Bain ; residence, Saltsburg. John B. nation, 1868, 1877 ; residence, Blairsville. A.
Bair, born in Allegheny county, Pa. ; school, Jackson Clark, born in East Wheatfield
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; township, Indiana county ; school, Franklin
residence, Marchand. James D. Baldwin, Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa,; date of
bom in Boston, Mass. ; residence, Marion, graduation, 1849 ; residence, Armagh. George
Diamondville. William Franklin Barclay, Cleis, bom in France; residence, Greenville,
bom in Center township, Indiana county; William Craig, born near Marion, Indiana
school, Long Island Hospital College, New county; school. Western Reserve Medical
York ; date of graduation, 1866 ; residence. College, Cleveland, Ohio ; residence. West
Saltsburg, Homer City. Robert Barr, born in Lebanon. Dr. Craighead ; residence, Blairs-
Cherryhill township, Indiana county; school, ville. Dr. Crawford; residence, Armagh.
Jefferson Medical College, Philadeli^hia, Pa. ; David R. Crawford, born at Eldersridge,
date of graduation, 1854 ; residence, Annagh, Armstrong county, Pa. ; school Cleveland,
Indiana. E. D. Barrett, born at Montgomery, Ohio; residence, Smicksburg. James L.
Mass. ; residence, Smicksburg. Samuel D. Crawford, born in North Mahoning township,
Barrett, born in Massachusetts ; school, West- Indiana county ; school, Jefferson Medical
em Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of gradua-
Ohio ; residence, Smicksburg. James H. Bell, tion, 1868 ; residence, Saltsburg. John W.
born in Westmoreland countj'. Pa. ; school, Crooks ; residence, Gettysburg. Joseph
Castleton Medical College, Vermont; date of Crooks; residence, Indiana. Dr. Cunning-
graduation, 1852 ; resideuce, Clarksburg. Sam- ham ; residence, Saltsburg. William N. Gun-
nel G. Berryhill, born in Washington county, ningham, bom in Young township, Indiana
Pa. ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil- county ; school, Jefferson Medical College,
adelphia. Pa. ; residence, Plumville. Ferdi- Philadelj^hia, Pa. ; date of gi-aduation, 1874 ;
nand F. Bingell, came from Germany; resi- residence, Jacksonville, Indiana,
dence, Meehanicsburg. J. J. Bishop ; resi-
dence, Marchand. Dr. Bolinger ; residence, John B. Davidson (Davison) , born in West-
Clarksburg. Emanuel Brallier, bom in Cam- moreland county. Pa.; school, Jefferson Med-
bria county, Pa. ; school, Jeft'erson Medical ical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence,
College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Cherry- Marion. John A. Davis, born in Armstrong
tree. Samuel P. Brown ; residence, Blairs- township, Indiana county ; school, Ann Arbor,
ville. John J. Buchanan, born in Westmore- Mich. ; residence, Jacksonville, Homer City,
land county, Pa. ; school, Ann Arbor, Mich. ; Thomas J. Davison, born in Westmoreland
residence, Dixonville. D. Burrell, born in county. Pa. ; residence, Strongstown. Sam-
Westmoreland county. Pa. ; school, Cincinnati uel F. Devlin, born in Ireland ; residence,
College of Medicine and Surgery, Ohio; resi- Armagh. Henry Dickison, born in Arm-
dence, Taylorsville, Homer City. strong county. Pa. ; residence, Smithport.
William E. Dodson, born in West Mahoning
William Caldwell, born at Indiana, Pa.; township, Indiana county; school, Jefferson
residence, Centerville. Bruce L. Calhoun, Medical College; residence, Smicksburg, New-
born in Armstrong township, ludiana county ; ville, Marion, Richmond. Dr. Duffield ; resi-
school, Cincinnati College of Medicine and dence, Blairsville.
Surgery, Ohio; residence, Clarksburg. Hugh
A. Calvin, born in Crawford county. Pa. ; J. C. Edgar, born in Westmoreland county, ■
residence, Shelocta. Dr. Campbell ; residence, Pa. ; residence. West Lebanon. Samuel M.
Blairsville. J. Gilbert Campbell, born near Elder, born in East Wheatfield township,
Armagh, Indiana county; school. Medical Indiana county; school, Jefferson Medical
Department. University of Maryland, Balti- College, Philadelphia; residence, Jackson-
more; residence. New Washington, Homer ville. Edward P. Emerson, born in Ireland;
City. Terence J. Cantwell; school, Uni- residence, Campbell's Mills, Blairsville. John
versify of Pennsylvania; residence, Blairs- Evans, born in Brushvalley township, Indi-
ville. Thomas Carson, bom in Allegheny ana county; residence, Greenville, Homer
county. Pa. ; school, Jefferson l\Iedical College, City. John N. Evans, bom at Ebensburg,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, 1865 ; Cambria county. Pa. ; school, American
residence, Saltsburg. Luther S. Clagett, born Eclectic College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; resi-
in Maryland; school. Long Island College dence, Cookport, Gettysburg. Cicero M.
Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., also Jefferson Med- Ewing, born in Westmoreland county. Pa.;
ical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; dates of grad- residence, Strongstown, Greenville. James
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
369
M. Ewing. born iu Conemaiigh township,
Indiana county; school. Medical College of
Ohio. Cincinnati: residence, Georgeville,
Plumville, Lewisville.
Henry Faulk, came from (Tcrmany; resi-
dence, Mechanicsburg. Jonathan French, born
in New Hampshire; i-esidence. Indiana. Dr.
Fundenberg; residence, Blairsville.
George M. Gamble, born in Susquehanna
county. Pa. ; school. Jefferson Medical Col-
lege. Philadelphia. Pa. ; date of graduation,
1848: residence. Armagh. Cherrytree. Theo-
dore B. Gamble, born in Susquehanna county,
Pa. : school. Jefferson ^Medical College. Phil-
adelphia. Pa.. Ann Arbor. Mich. ; residence,
Newville. Dr. Gemmill : residence, Blairs-
ville. M. R. George, born near West Lebanon,
Pa. ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
adelphia. Pa. ; residence. Saltsburg. Andrew-
Getty; residence. Armagh. George W.
Gettys. born in Huntingdon county. Pa. ;
residence, Armagh. Indiana. Dr. Gillespie;
residence, Blaii-sville. John Gilpin, born, in
Maryland: residence, Blairsville.' J. R.
Golden, born at Indiana, Pa. : residence,
Strongstown, Covode. George Goodhart, born
in Huntingdon county. Pa. ; residence. Plum-
ville. John B. Green, bom in Cherrj'hill
township, Indiana county; school, Cincinnati
College of ]\Iediciue and Surgery: date of
graduation, 1876 ; residence, Dixonville. Au-
gustus H. Gross; residence. Jacksonville.
John ;\r. Iladden. born in Chcriyhill town-
ship. Indiana county: school. Ann Arbor,
]\Iieh. : residence. Greenville. Andrew A.
Hamilton, born in White township. Indiana
county: school. Western Reserve Medical
College. Cleveland. Ohio ; residence. Strongs-
town. Dr. Hammell: residence. Blairsville.
Dr. Hartwell. bom in Massachusetts; resi-
dence. Greenville. John Hay, born in York,
Pa. ; residence. Armagh. George Ha.ys, born
in New England; residence. Campbell's
^lills. Jacksonville. Dr. Hildebrand : resi-
dence, ileehaniesburg. William Hosaek. bora
in Pennsylvania; school. Jefferson Medical
College. Philadelphia. Pa.: residence. West
Lebanon, Cherrj'tree. Indiana. Dr. Hufe-
land. born in Germany; residence. Indiana.
John W. Hughes, born af Punxsutawney.
Jefferson county. Pa.: school, Cincinnati Col-
lege of Medicine and Surgery: date of grad-
uation. 1863; residence, Blairsville.
Crawford Irvin. born in Blair county. Pa. ;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation. 1847 : resi-
dence, Armagh. George Irvin, born in Cone-
maugh township, Indiana county: school,
Jefferson iledical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
residence, Plumville, Jacksonville.
William Jack, born in Blacklick township,
Indiana county; school, Jefferson Medical
College. Philadelphia ; residence. Plumville,
Jacksonville. Robert M. S. Jackson, born in
Huntingdon county. Pa. ; school, Jefferson
Medical College. Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of
graduation, 1838 ; residence. Blairsville.
Alexander Johnston ; residence. Armagh. Dr
Jones: residence. Plumville.
James Kelly, born in Conemaugh township,
Indiana county; residence, Taylorsville,
Cherrytree. James A. Kier, born in Young
township, Indiana county; residence, Salts-
burg, Dr. Kirkpatrick ; residence, in West- ■
moreland county, near Saltsburg.
Thomas M. Laney, born in Maryland ;
school. University of ^Maryland : residence,
Georgeville, Blairsville. William T. Larimer,
born in Westmoreland county. Pa. ; school,
Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia. Pa. ;
residence, West Lebanon, Saltsburg. James
N. Laughry or Loughry. born in White town-
ship, Indiana county: school, Cincinnati,
Ohio; residence, Marchand. Jlarion. George
R. Lewis, born in Indiana county; school.
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
date of graduation. 1857 ; residence. West
Lebanon. Isaac N. Leyda; school, Universit.v
of Pennsylvania ; date of graduation. 1876 :
residence, Blairsville. Dr. Liggett, born in
Scotland ; school. University of Glasgow :
residence. Centerville. Dr. Livingston: resi-
dence. Mechanicsburg. Henry G. Lomison.
bom in Columbia coiinty. Pa. ; school. Jeft'er-
son Medical College. Philadelphia, Pa. : resi-
dence, Saltsburg. A. R. Lovelace, born at
York, Pa. : school, Jefferson JMedical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence. Cherrytree.
Cookport, Pine Flats. Alonza Lowman. born
at Jacksonville. Indiana county: school. Jef-
ferson Medical College. Philadelphia. Pa.:
residence, Ne^Awille. J. B. Luke, born in
Blair county. Pa. : school. Western Reserve
Medical College. Cleveland. Ohio; residence.
Nolo. Joseph W. Lydick. born in East ]Ma-
honing to\\'nship, Indiana county; school,
Ann Arbor, Mich. ; residence, Smithport.
370 HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
John MeAdoo, born in Young township, residence, Taylorsville, Marion. Samuel Me-
Indiana county; residence, Plumville. Joseph Kee; residence, Georgeville. Dr. McKim,
McBreth, born in Brushvalley township. In- born in the Jiuiiata valley. Pa. ; school, Uni-
diana county; school, Jefferson Medical Col- versity of Pennsylvania; residence, Blairs-
lege ; residence, Ceuterville. William Mc- ville. James McMuUen, born in Center town-
Bryar, born in Westmoreland county. Pa.; ship, Indiana county; school, Jefferson Med-
school. University of New York ; residence, ical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence,
Saltsburg. James S. McCartney, born in Mechanicsburg. Thomas Mcilullen, born in
Armstrong county. Pa. ; school, Jefferson Center township, Indiana county ; school, Jef-
Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
Indiana. Robert McChesney, born in Mer- residence, Blaeklick, Mechanicsburg, Green-
cer county, Pa. ; school. Medical College of ville. John S. McNutt, born in Brushvalley
Ohio, Cincinnati; residence, Shelocta. Wil- township, Indiana county; school, Cincinnati
liam A. McChesney, born at Shelocta, Pa. ; College of Medicine and Surgery ; residence,
school. Medical College of Ohio; residence, Georgeville, Clarksburg. Thomas Mabon,
Shelocta. A. Stansberry McClure; residence, born in Mahoning township, Indiana county;
Diamondville. James D. McClure, born in school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
Westmoreland county. Pa. ; school, Jefferson phia, Pa. ; residence, Jacksonville. Thomas J.
Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.; resi- Marlin, born in Washington township, Indi-
dence. West Lebanon, Armagh. Frank M. ana county ; school, Jeft'erson Medical College,
McConnoughey, born in Westmoreland Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Clarksburg,
county. Pa. ; school, Jefferson Medical Col- Shelocta. Dr. Marshall, from Lowell, Mass. ;
lege, Philadelphia, Pa.; residence, Blairs- residence, Greenville. David M. Marshall,
ville. Robert McConnoughey, born in West- born in Conemaugh township, Indiana
moreland county, Pa.; school, Jefferson county; school, Jefferson Medical College,
Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Covode, Homer
Saltsburg. Chalmers S. McCrea, born at City, Marion. Robert J. Marshall, born at
Saltsburg, Indiana county ; school, Jefferson Greencastle, Franklin county. Pa. ; school,
Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
graduation, 1875 ; residence, Newville. J. residence, Blairsville. Dr. Meeker ; residence,
McCune, born at McKeesport, Pa. ; residence, in Armstrong county, near Smicksburg.
Greenville. J. McCurdy, born in Indiana Christopher C. Miller, born in Brushvalley
county; residence, Armagh. Charles M. Mc- township, Indiana county; school. Medical
Bwen, born at Plumville, Indiana county; College of Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio; residence,
school, Jefferson Medical College ; residence, Jacksonville. Martin L. Miller, boi-n in Indi-
Plumville. Christopher McEwen, born in ana county; school, Franklin iledical Col-
South Mahoning township, Indiana county; lege, Philadelphia, Pa.; date of graduation,
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- 1848 ; residence, Blairsville. Samuel G. Miller,
phia, Pa.; date of graduation, 1855; resi- a Westmoreland county practitioner, regis-
dence, Plumville. Joseph W. McEwen, born tered in West Wheatfield township in 1879.
in South Mahoning township, Indiana county ; Robert Mitchell, born in Ohio county, W. Va. ;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- school, University of Pennsylvania, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; residence, Plumville. William Mc- phia ; residence, Indiana. Thomas iloorhead,
Ewen, born in South Mahoning township, born in White township, Indiana county;
Indiana county; school, Jefferson Medical residence, Strongstown, Indiana. James
College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of gradu- Morgan, born in Cherryhill township, Indi-
ation, 1852 ; residence, Plumville. John Mc- ana county ; school, Jefferson Medical College,
.Parland, born in Allegheny county, Pa.; Philadelphia, Pa.; residence, Saltsburg. John
school, Jefferson jMedical College, Philadel- C. Morrison, born in Westmoreland county,
phia. Pa. ; residence, Saltsburg. William D. Pa. ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
McGowan ; school, University of Pennsyl- adelphia. Pa. ; residence. Homer City, Taylors-
vania; date of graduation, 1851; residence, ville. James Morrow, born in South Mahon-
Armagh. E. Quay McHenry, born in Wash- ing township, Indiana county; school, West-
ington township, Indiana county ; school, Ann ern Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio ;
Arbor, Mich. ; residence, Smithport. George residence, Georgeville. John Wilson Morrow,
J. McHenry, born in Washington township, born in South Mahoning township, Indiana
Indiana county; schools, Jefferson Medical county; school, Jefferson Medical College,
College, Philadelphia, Pa., Ann Arbor, Mich. ; Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Marchand. Wil-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 371
liam L. Morrow, born in Virginia ; school, to'\\iiship, Indiana coimty ; school, Jefferson
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of
residence, Georgeville. Thomas Murray, bom graduation, 1847 ; residence, Indiana. Robert
in the Susqnehanna valley. Pa. ; school, Uni- K. Scott ; residence, Armagh, C4eorgeville.
versity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; resi- James Shields, born near Blairsville, Indiana
dence, Saltsburg. county; residence, Homer City, West Leb-
anon. J. M. Shields, born in Rayne township,
Samuel M. Ogdeu, born in Westmoreland Indiana county; school, Albany Medical Col-
county, Pa.; school, Castleton Medical Col- lege. New York; residence, Smithport, Co-
lege, Vermont; residence, Clarksburg. R. M. vode, Indiana. Winfield S. Shields, born in
Orr, born in Armstrong township, Indiana Rayne township, Indiana county; school,
county; residence, Clarksburg. Albany Medical College, New York; resi-
dence, Marion, Covode. Dr. Simmons; resi-
Dr. Palmore (Palmer), born in Burrell dence, Blairsville. T. P. Simpson; residence,
township, Indiana county; residence, West Blaeklick. William M. Sims, born in Bur-
Lebanon. W. C. Parker, born in Ohio ; school, lington, N. J. ; school, iledieal College of
Starling iledieal College, Columbus, Ohio; Virginia, Richmond; residence, Smicksburg.
residence, Jacksonville. William A. Piatt, John W. Smith, born in Green township. In-
born in Lycoming county. Pa. ; school, Jef- diana county ; residence, Greenville. D.
fersou Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.; Harold Snowdeu, born in Virginia; school,
residence, Chen-ytree. B. B. Pittman, born Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
in Green township, Indiana county; school, residence, Marion. H. S. Snowden, born at
Ann Arbor, Mich. ; residence, Gettysburg. Freeport. Armstrong county. Pa. ; school,
William Powell; residence, Georgeville. A. Philadelphia ^Medical College; residence,
F. Purington, born in Maine; school, Bowdoin Saltsburg. A. J. Souther; residence, Armagh.
(Maine) Medical College; date of graduation. William R. Spear; residence, Blairsville.
1864; residence, Indiana. Benjamin Sterrett, born in the Cumberland
valley. Pa. ; school, Jefferson Medical Col-
D. Carson Rankin, born in Beaver county, lege, Philadelphia, Pa.; residence, Saltsburg.
Pa. : residence, Shelocta. Taylorsville. Sam- James M. Stewart, born in Huntingdon
uel T. Redick. born in Allegheny county. Pa. ; county. Pa. : school. University of Penn-
school, Jefferson Jledical College, Philadel- sylvania, Philadelphia; residence, Indiana,
phia, Pa. ; residence. Saltsburg. Dr. Reed ; Joseph F. Stewart, born in Armstrong
residence. Westmoreland county. William county, Pa. ; school, Jefferson iledical Col-
Reed, born at Indiana, Pa. ; school. Western lege, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Taylors-
Reserve College. Cleveland, Ohio ; residence, ville, Jacksonville. Orlando C Stewart, born
Smicksburg, Indiana. William L. Reed, born at Greenville, Indiana county ; school. Col-
in Armstrong township, Indiana county; lege of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore,
school. Medical College of Ohio, Cincinnati; Md. ; residence, Cookport. Samuel F. Stew-
residence, Shelocta, Jacksonville, Homer City, art, bom in Brushvalley township, Indiana
George J. Reese, born in Clarion county. Pa. ; county ; school, Jefferson Medical College,
school, Cincinnati College of Medicine and Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Armagh. Wal-
Surgery; residence, Smithport. P. P. Rich, lace B. Stewart, bom in Philadelphia, Pa.;
born in Connecticut ; residence. Georgeville. school, Franklin Medical College. Philadel-
James Ross, born at Indiana, Pa. ; school, phia. Pa. ; residence, Armagh, Greenville,
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia; resi- Indiana. WiUiam G. Stewart, born in Brush-
dence, Smicksburg. Herman Row. born in valley township, Indiana county; school, Jef-
Greensburg, Westmoreland county: school, ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.;
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; residence, Armagh, Indiana. Samuel M.
residence, Marion. Indiana. S. R. Rutledge, Swan, born at Armagh, Indiana county;
born in Westmoreland county. Pa.: school, school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; phia. Pa. : residence. Indiana. Barnabas
residence, Blairsville. Sweeney, born in Allegheny county. Pa.;
residence, Smicksburg.
Charles J\L St. Clair, born at Indiana;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- Samuel Talmage ; residence, Newport,
phia; date of graduation, 1878; residence, James Taylor, born in Wheatfield township,
Indiana. Thomas St. Clair, bora in White Indiana countv: school. Jefferson Medical
372
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Center-
ville. James M. Tayloi-, born at Indiana,
Pa.; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
adelphia, Pa. ; residence, Indiana. William
S. Taylor, born at Saltsburg, Indiana county ;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, 1874 ; residence,
Saltsburg. Shadrach H. Thomas, born in
Clarion county. Pa. ; residence. Homer City,
Pine Flats. John K. Thompson, born in
Center county. Pa. ; school, Jefferson ]\Iedical
College, Philadelphia, Pa. ; residence, Marion,
Indiana. Benjamin F. Tomb, born in East
Wheatfield township, Indiana county; school.
Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland,
Ohio; date of graduation, 1867; residence,
Armagh, Mechaniesburg. Robert J. Tomb,
born in East Wheatfield township, Indiana
county; school, Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March
11, 1854 ; residence, Armagh. James M. Tor-
rence, born at Punxsutawney, Jefferson
county; school, Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, 1873 ;
residence, Indiana.
Eugene H. Van Antwerp, born at East
Groveland, Livingston county. N. Y. ; school.
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.;
date of graduation, 1878; residence, Salts-
burg. Dr. Vanhorn; residence, Armagh.
Samuel W. Virtue, born in Ireland; school,
Charity Hospital College, Cleveland, Ohio;
residence. West Lebanon.
J. C. Wakefield, born in West Wheatfield
township, Indiana coi;nty; school, Western
Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio ; date of
graduation, 1878; residence, Greenville,
Strongstown. Adam C. Wassam, born in
Indiana county; school, Cincinnati College of
Medicine and Surgery; residence, Cherry-
tree. Samuel L. Wiggins; school, Jefferson
Medical College, Philadelphia. Pa. ; date of
graduation, 1873 ; residence, Blacklick. Isaac
William Wiley, born at Lewistown, Mifflin
county. Pa. ; school. Medical Department, Uni-
' varsity of New York ; residence, Blairsville.
Frank Young; residence, Armagh. John
Young; residence, Armagh.
The following is a copy of registrations
made in the office of the prothonotary of
Indiana county since the passage of the Act
of 1881 (names in order of registration) :
Neander Franke Ehrenfeld. born in Penn-
sylvania; school, University of Pennsylvania;
date of graduation, March 15, 1880; date
of registration, July 21, 1881. Residence,
Indiana.
William Anderson, born in Indiana county,
Pa. ; school, Jeffei-son Medical College, Phil-
adelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 6,
1852; date of registration, July 28, 1881.
Residence, Indiana.
Augustus F. Purington, born in Maine;
school, Bowdoin College, Maine ; date of
graduation, August 3, 1864; date of registra-
tion, July 28, 1881. Residence, West Indi-
ana borough.
James Monroe Torrence, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school. Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia. Pa. ; date of graduation, March
12, 1873 ; date of registration, July 29, 1881.
Residence, West Indiana.
George J. Reese, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Cincinnati Medical College, Ohio ; date
of graduation, March 23, 1876 ; date of regis-
tration, July 29, 1881. Residence, Smithport.
Charles M. St. Clair, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of gi*aduation, March 25,
1878; date of registration, July 30, 1881.
Residence, West Indiana.
James M. Taylor, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Jefferson Medical College; date of
graduation. March 29, 1848 ; date of registra-
tion, July 30, 1881. Residence, Indiana.
John Anderson Davis, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, University of Michigan ; date
of graduation, March 26, 1873 ; date of regis-
tration, August 1, 1881. Residence, Homer
City.
Jacobine G. Davis, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 11,
1880; date of registration, August 1, 1881.
Residence, Jacksonville.
Fred William Chapman, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, not given ; date of graduation,
not given; date of registration, August 2,
1881. Residence, Blairsville.
Thomas Carson, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 10, 1865 ;
date of registration, August 2, 1881. Resi-
dence, Saltsburg.
Robert Ban-, born in Pennsylvania ; school,
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
date of graduation, March 11, 1854; date of
registration, August 3, 1881. Residence,
Indiana.
Luther Scott Clagett, born in Maryland;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa.; date of graduation, March 11,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
373
1877; date of registration, August 4, 1881.
Residence, Blairsville.
Norris Cameron, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson iledical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 13,
1880; date of registration, August 5, 1881.
Residence, Penn Run.
John B. Green, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Cincinnati Medical College, Ctliio;
date of graduation, February 11, 1876; date
of registration, August 8, 1881. Residence,
Dixonville.
Archibald Falconer, born in England;
school, name not given; date of graduation,
not given; date of registration, August 8,
1881. Residence, Blairsville.
Thomas St. Clair, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 27,
1847; date of registration, August 8, 1881.
Residence, West Indiana.
Shallus Range Rutledge, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March
12, 1870; date of registration, August 9, 1881.
Residence, Blairsville.
John Wilson Hughes, bom in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Cincinnati College Medicine
and Surgery, Ohio ; date of graduation, June
21, 1863; date of registration, August 10,
1881. Residence, Blairsville.
Arthur DeVoe, born in New York; school.
University of Buffalo, N. Y. ; date of grad-
uation, February 23, 1875 ; date of registra-
tion, August 11, 1881. Residence, Indiana.
John Evans, born in Pennsylvania; school,
name not given ; date of graduation, not
given; date of registration, August 17, 1881.
Residence, Homer City.
John Wilson Morrow, bom in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
adelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, ilarch 11,
1875; date of registration, August 20, 1881.
Residence, Marchand.
Robert Johnston Marshall, born in Penn-
sylvania ; school, name not given ; date of
graduation, not given; date of registration,
August 20, 1881. Residence, Blairsville.
Thomas J. Davison, born in Pennsylvania;
school, name not given; date of graduation,
not given: date of registration, August 22,
1881. Residence, Strongstown.
Samuel Lowiy Wiggins, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Jefferson ]\Iedical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March
12, 1873; date of registration, August 23,
1881. Residence, Blacklick.
William W. Johnston, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Bellevue Hospital Medical Col-
lege, New York; date of graduation, March
10, 1881 ; date of registration, August 24,
1881. Residence, Saltsburg.
John McFarland, bom in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 24,
1846; date of registration, August 24, 1881.
Residence, Saltsburg.
William Hosack, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson iledical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa.; date of graduation, March 11,
1874; date of registration, August 24, 1881.
Residence, Cherrytree.
Thomas Jefferson Marlin, l)om in Penn-
sylvania; school, Jefferson Medical College;
date of graduation, March 12, 1873; date of
registration, August 26, 1881. Residence,
Shelocta.
George Jamieson McHenry, born in Penn-
sylvania; school. University of ilichigan;
date of graduation, March 30, 1865; date of
registration, August 26, 1881. Residence,
Marion Center.
Martin Lewis Jliller, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Franklin College, Philadelphia,
Pa.; date of graduation, March 18, 1848;
date of registration, August 26, 1881. Resi-
dence, Blairsville.
John Gilbert Campbell, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school. Physicians and Surgeons Col-
lege, Maryland ; date of graduation, March 4,
1879; date of registration, August 27, 1881.
Residence, West Wheatfield township, Indi-
ana county.
Thomas McMuUen, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Medical College; "date of
graduation, March 8, 1856; date of registra-
tion, August 30, 1881. Residence, Greenville.
William Hunter, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Cleveland IMedical College, Oliio ; date
of graduation, February 25, 1864: date of
registration, August 31, 1881. Residence,
Blairsville.
William Newton Cunningliam, born in
Pennsylvania; school, Jefferson Medical Col-
lege, Philadelphia, Pa.; date of graduation,
March 12. 1874 : date of registration. August
31, 1881. Residence, not giveu.
William Theophilus Larimer, born in Penn-
sylvania: school, Jeft'erson Jledieal College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation. March
12, 1879; date of registration. September 1,
1881. Residence. West Lebanon.
James McMullen. born in Pennsylvania;
school. Jefferson Medical College. Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 10,
374
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1855 ; date of registration, September 1, 1881.
Residence, Mechaniesburg.
Benjamin Franklin Tomb, born in Penn-
sylvania ; school. Reserve College, Cleveland,
Ohio ; date of graduation, February 16, 1867 ;
date of registration, September 10, 1881.
Residence, not given.
Joseph Uriah Blose, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Columbus Medical College, Columbus,
Ohio ; date of graduation, February 26, 1880 ;
date of registration, September 1, 1881. Resi-
dence, not given. (Practiced at Pine Flats
and Cherry tree.)
William Alexander McChesney, born in
Pennsylvania ; school, Cincinnati Medical Col-
lege, Cincinnati, Ohio; date of graduation,
February 16, 1874; date of registration, Sep-
tember 2, 1881. Residence, Shelocta.
William Emery Dodson, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson Jledical College ; date
of graduation, March 12, 1881 ; date of regis-
tration, September 3, 1881. Residence, not
given.
Abram R. Lovelace, born in Pennsylvania;
school, name not given'; date of graduation,
not given; date of registration, September 5,
1881. Residence, Cherrytree.
William Bailey Ansley, born .in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
adelphia. Pa. ; date of graduation, March 9,
1867 : date of registration, September 5, 1881.
Residence, not given.
Orlando C. Stewart, born in Pennsylvania;
school. University of Maryland, Maryland;
date of graduation, March 1, 1878 ; date of
registration, September 6, 1881. Residence
Cookport.
Charles Meigs McCune, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
adelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 12,
1879 ; date of registration, September 6, 1881.
Residence, Plumville.
Winfield Scott Shields, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Albany Medical College, Al-
bany, N. Y. ; date of graduation, January 20,
1874 ; date of registration, September 6, 1881.
Residence, INIarion Center.
William Logan Reed, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, name not given ; date of graduation,
not given ; date of registration, September 7,
1881. Residence, not given.
Benjamin B. Pittman, bom in Pennsyl-
vania ; school. University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, Mich. ; date of graduation, March 30,
1864; date of registration, September 12,
1881. Residence, Hillsdale.
Robert Johnston Tomb, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
adelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 11,
1854; date of registration, September 12,
1881. Residence, Armagh.
Christopher McEwen, bom in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March
12, 1855 ; date of registration, September 15,
1881. Residence, Plumville.
David Ramsey Crawford, born in Penn-
sylvania; school, name not given; date of
graduation, not given; date of registration,
September 19, 1881. Residence, Smicksburg.
John Nelson Evans, born in Pennsylvania;
school. Eclectic Medical College of Pennsyl-
vania; date of graduation, January 2, 1871;
date of registration, September 29, 1881.
Residence, Hillsdale.
Bezaleel P. Wells, born in Ohio; school,
Wellonghby University, Erie, Ohio; date of
graduation, January 26, 1847; date of regis-
tration, October 1, 1881. Residence, Pitts-
burg, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania.
A. H. Allison, born in Pennsylvania;
school, name not given; date of graduation,
not given; date of registration, October 5,
1881. Residence, Marion Center.
John Keen Thompson, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, name not given ; date of gi-ad-
uation, not given ; date of registration, Octo-
ber 14, 1881. Residence, Marion Center.
C. S. McCrea, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson ]\Iedical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March 11,
1875; date of registration, October 24, 1881.
Residence, Newville.
J. R. Golden, born in Pennsylvania; school,
name not given; date of graduation, not
given ; date of registration, December 5, 1881.
Residence. Covode.
Edward Baldwin Gleason, bom in Pennsyl-
vania ; school. University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March
12, 1878 ; date of registration, March 9, 1882.
Residence, Philadelphia.
George Robert Lewis, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson Medical College ; date
of graduation, March 7, 1857 : date of regis-
tration, March 25, 1882. Residence, Indiana.
James C. Short, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Medical College; date of
graduation, March 30, 1882; date of regis-
tration, April 4, 1882. Residence, not given.
Marniora DeVoe. born in New York;
school. Homeopathic Hospital College of
Cleveland. Ohio; date of graduation, Febru-
ary 14, 1877; date of registration, May 12,
1882. Residence, Indiana.
Ambrose Harold Myers, born in Pennsyl-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
375
vania; school, University of ilaryland, Balti-
more, Md. ; date of graduation, March 1,
1882; date of registration, June 12, 1882.
Eesidence, not given. (Practiced in Diamond-
ville and ^Mechanicsburg. )
Alexander j\I. Rea, boru in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa.; date of graduation, March 10,
1865 ; date of registration, June 14 , 1882.
Residence, Clarksburg.
James M. White, born in Pennsylvania;
school, name not given; date of graduation,
not given; date of registration, August 9,
1882. Residence, Indiana.
George S. Eugle, boru in Pennsylvania;
school not given; date of graduation, not
given; date of registration, September 1,
1882. Residence, Smicksburg.
James W. Dunwiddie, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school. University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March
14, 1871 ; date of registration, September 23,
1882. Residence, Pine Flats.
David Bell Sturgeon, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Columbia College, Washington,
D. C; date of graduation, March 1, 1860;
date of registration, October 13, 1S82. Resi-
dence, Indiana.
Harmon Lovelace McCullough, boru in
Penns.ylvauia ; school. Medical Department
of Western Reserve University; date of
graduation, February 28, 1883 : date of regis-
tration, April 24, 1883. Residence, Cookport.
Thomas E. Davis, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefiferson Medical College ; date of
graduation, ilarch 8, 1867 ; date of registra-
tion, June 13, 1883. Residence, Hortons.
Anderson Edgar Tussey, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school. University of ilaryland ; date
of graduation, ilarch 15, 1883 ; date of regis-
tration, September 22, 1883. Residence,
Blairsville.
I. Putnam Kliugeusmith, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school. Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia. Pa. ; date of graduation, March
11, 1875 ; date of registration, December 7.
1883. Eesidence, Blairsville.
Thomas James Henry, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school. University of Wooster, Ohio:
date of graduation, March 11, 1884; date of
registration, ]\Iarch 31. 1884. Residence.
Penn Run.
John Campbell McMillen. born in Pennsyl-
vania; school. Medical Department of Wes-
tern Reserve University; date of graduation,
March 20, 1884; date of registration, April
11, 1884. Residence. Hillsdale.
Francis H. Sinning, born in Ohio; school,
the American Eclectic, of Cincinnati, Ohio;
date of graduation, June 2, .1880; date
of registration, June 3, 1884. Residence,
Indiana.
William B. Walker, born in Pennsylvania;
school, iledical College of Cincinnati, Ohio;
date of graduation, February 17, 1876; date
of registration, July 15, 1884. Residence,
Clarksburg.
Ernest J. Schefifer, born in Germany;
school, the Herford School of Science; date
of graduation, May, 1865, day not given;
date of registration, September 22, 1884.
Residence, Covode.
Edward Hall Dickie, born in Pennsylvania;
school. University of Wooster, Ohio; date of
gi-aduation, July 3, 1884; date of registra-
tion, April 2, 1885. Residence, Georgeville.
George Martin, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, April 2, 1885 ;
date of registration, April 14, 1885. Resi-
dence, Kimmel.
James Calvin Miller, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, April 2, 1885 ;
date of registration, April 14, 1885. Resi-
dence, Cherrytree.
James M. Patton, born in Pennsylvania;
school. College of Physicians at Baltimore,
Md.; date of graduation, March 13, 1885;
date of registration. April 28. 1885. Resi-
dence, Smicksburg.
John Wesley Sykes, born in New York;
school, Homeopathic Jledical College of Penn-
sylvania; date of graduation, March 1, 1855;
date of registration, February 24. 1886.
Residence, Pittsburg, Allegheny Co., Penn-
sylvania.
William J. George, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Universiy of Wooster, Ohio; date of
graduation, Mai-ch 2, 1882; date of registra-
tion, May 4, 1886. Residence, Mechanicsburg.
Joseph M. Kerr, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati,
Ohio ; date of graduation, February 28, 1879 ;
date of registration, March 22. 1886. Resi-
dence, Blacklick.
A. Bryan Krebs, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Cincinnati College, Cincinnati, Ohio;
date of gi-aduation, June 14. 1886; date of
registration, June 17, 1886. Residence. Dix-
onville.
George Hunter, born in State of Indiana;
school, Hahnemann College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
date of graduation, March 31, 1886; date of
registration, October 23, 1886. Residence,
Indiana.
376 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
■William Hugh Hinds, born in Pennsyl- registration, August 7, 1888. Residence,
vania; school, Cincinnati Colleg^, Cincinnati, Mechanicsburg.
Ohio ; date of graduation. May 22, 1878 ; date William Frederick, born in Pennsylvania ;
of registration, December 28, 1886. Resi- school, Western Pennsylvania Medical Col-
dence, Philadelphia. lege, Pittsburg, Pa. ; date of graduation,
Harvey E. McAfoos, born in Pennsylvania; March 22, 1888; date of registration, Septem-
school, Western Pennsylvania Medical Col- ifer 10, 1888. Residence, Avonmore, Penn-
lege, Pittsburg, Pa.; date of graduation, sylvania.
March 24, 1887 ; date of registration, June 30, James M. Peebles, born in Vermont ; school,
1887. Residence, Creekside. American Eclectic College, Cincinnati, Ohio;
William J. Clark, born in Pennsylvania; date of graduation, October 9, 1876; date of
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- registration, October 23, 1888. Residence,
phia. Pa.; date of graduation, March 27, Hammonton, New Jersey.
1849 ; date of registration, September 5, 1887. Merchant C. Householder, born in Penn-
Residence, New Florence. sylvania; school, Jefferson Medical College,
Martin D. Foutz, born in Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pa.; date of graduation, April
school, name not given ; date of graduation, 4, 1888 ; date of registration, November 16,
not given; date of registration, September 1888. Residence, Saltsburg.
14, 1887. Residence, Waynesboro, Frank- John T. Cass, born in New York; school,
lin Co., Pennsylvania. University of New York, New York, N. Y. ;
J. Henderson Lafferty, born in Pennsyl- date of graduation, March 8, 1887; date of
vania; school. College of Physicians, Balti- registration, December 24, 1888. Residence,
more, Md. ; date of graduation, March 1, West Lebanon.
1881; date of registration, September 21, William L. Shields, born in Pennsylvania;
1887. Residence, New Florence. school. University of Louisville, Kentucky;
H. H. Rush, born in Pennsylvania; school, date of graduation. May 2, 1885; date
University of Pennsylvania; date of gradua- of registration, April 8, 1889. Residence,
tion, March, 1868, "day not given; date of Jacksonville.
registration, April 19, 1888. Residence, John Baxter Carson, born in Pennsylvania ;
Belsano, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. school, Jefferson Medical College; date of
David P. Jackson, born in Pennsylvania; graduation, April 3, 1889; date of registra-
school, Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, tion, April 16, 1889. Residence, Saltsburg.
Ohio ; date of graduation, June 27, 1872 ; date Samuel Albert Shaffer, born in Pennsyl-
of registration, April 20, 1888. Residence, vania; school. Western Pennsylvania Medical
Greenville. College, Pittsburg, Pa. ; date of graduation,
Samuel H. Gibson, born in Pennsylvania; I\Iarch 28, 1889; date of registration. May 6,
school, name not given ; date of graduation, 1889. Residence, Rochester Mills,
not given; date of registration. May 11, 1888. William M. Scott, born in Pennsylvania;
Residence, Lock Haven, Clinton Co., P^nn- school, College of Physicians of New York
sylvania. City, New York; date of graduation, June 13,
James Irvin Mabon, born in Pennsylvania ; 1889 ; date of registration, August 12, 1889.
school. Western Pennsylvania Medical Col- Residence, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
lege, Pittsburg, Pa. ; date of graduation, Albert Thompson Rutledge, born in Penn-
March 22, 1888 ; date of registration. May 15, sylvania; school, Jefferson Medical College,
1888. Residence, Greenville. Philadelphia, Pa.; date of graduation, April
Clark Watson Banks, born in Pennsyl- 3, 1889 ; date of registration, September 2,
vania; school, Toledo Medical College, To- 1889. Residence, Blairsville.
ledo, Ohio; date of graduation, July, 1883; Elisha Pope Swift, born in Pennsylvania;
date of registration, May 25. 1888. Residence, school. University of Pennsylvania; date of
Livermore, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, graduation. May 1, 1889; date of registra-
Charles M. Blakeslee, born in Pennsyl- tion, September 21, 1889. Residence, Blairs-
vania: school, not given; date of graduation, ville.
not given ; date of registration, July 22, 1888. Benjamin Coe Irwin, born in Penusyl-
Residence, Luzerne, Pennsylvania. vania; school. Western Pennsylvania iMedieal
Joseph H. Smith, born in Pennsylvania; College, Pittsburg, Pa.; date of graduation,
school. Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio ; March 28, 1889 ; date of registration. October
date of graduation, March, 1876; date of 30, 1889. Residence, Shelocta.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 377
William T. Crawford, born in Pennsyl- 1879; date of registration, October 6, 1890.
vania; school, Western Pennsylvania Medical Residence, Tarentum,
College, of Pittsburg, Pa. ; date of graduation, George Washington Miller, born in Penn-
March 28, 1889; date of registration, Nov- sylvania; school. Western Reserve College,
ember 7, 1889. Residence S.iiickshurg. Cleveland, Ohio; date of gi-aduatlon, JMarch^
Byron Clark, born in l'.iiiis> Ivnuia ; school, 1881; date of registration, January 6, 1891.
University of Maryland, I'.nllimorr, Md. ; date Residence, Mechanicsburg.
of graduation, March, 1881 ; date of registra- James Leslie Harding, bora in Pennsyl-
tion, April 9, 1890. Residence, New York, vania; school, Starling Medical College, Col-
New York. umbus, Ohio; date of graduation, February
Samuel G. ililler, born in Pennsylvania; 28, 1883; date of registration, February 24,
school, not given; date of graduation, not 1891. Residence, Blairsville.
given; date of registration, April 14, 1890. E. E. McAdoo, born in Pennsylvania;
Residence, West Wheatfield township, Indi- school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
ana county. phia. Pa. ; date of graduation, April 15, 1891 ;
John ]\Iilton St. Clair, born in Pennsyl- date of registration, April 21, 1891. Resi-
vania; school. University of Pennsylvania, dence, Indiana.
Pennsylvania, Pa.; date of graduation, March Theodore F. Klayes, born in Pennsylvania;
12, 1875; date of registration, April 18, 1890. school. University of Tennessee; date "of grad-
Residence, Indiana. nation, February 24, 1879; date of registra-
John Albert Barker, born in Pennsyl- tion, June 15, 1891. Residence, Armagh,
vania; school, Jefferson Medical College, James Alex. Bryson, born in Pennsylvania ;
Philadelphia, Pa.; date of graduation, April school, Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati'
2, 1890; date of registration. May 16, 1890. Ohio; date of gi-aduation, March 2, 1880; date
Residence, Saltsburg. of registration, June 24, 1891. Residence,
John Sloan Miller, born in Pennsylvania; Creekside.
school. College of Physicians, Baltimore, ild. ; James Curry Shook, born in Pennsylvania ;
date of graduation, ]\Iarch 18, 1890; date school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
of registration. May 22, 1890. Residence, phia, Pa. ; date of gi-aduation, April 15, 1891 ;
Gettysburg. date of registration, June 26, 1891. Resi-
Jasper Mardis, born in Pennsylvania; dence, Cherrytree.
school, Western Pennsylvania iledical Col- George M. Glasgow, born in Pennsylvania;
lege, Pittsurg, Pa. ; date of graduation, March school, Jefferson jMedical College, Philadel-
27, 1890 ; date of registration, July 29, 1890. phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, April 15, 1891 ;
Residence, Dilltown. date of registration, July 3, 1891. Residence,
James J. McClellan, born in New York ; Glen Campbell,
school. College of Physicians, Chicago, 111. ; A. A. Johnston, born in Pennsylvania ;
date of graduation, February 23, 1886; date school. Western Pennsylvania Medical Col-
of registration, July 30, 1890. Residence, lege, Pittsburg, Pa.; date of graduation,
Columbus, Ohio. March 26, 1891 ; date of registration, July 13,
Henry S. Barrett, born in Pennsylvania; 1891. Residence, Blacklick.
school, Toledo Medical College, Toledo, Ohio ; Thomas Campbell Van Fries, born in Penn-
date of graduation, July 13, 1883; date of sylvania; school. University of Pennsylvania,
registration, August 28, 1890. Residence, Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, March
Smicksburg. 13, 1868; date of registration, December 23,
Mol-itz Salm, born in Germany; school, 1891. Residence, Blairsville.
Nashville Medical College, Tennessee ; date of Merritt B. Shultz, born in Pennsylvania ;
graduation, June, 1877; date of registration, school, Columbus Jledical University, Colum-
August 28, 1890. Residence, Columbus, Ohio, bus, Ohio -, date of graduation, April 7, 1892 ;
John L. Shields, born in Pennsylvania; date of registration, April 14, 1892. Resi-
school. Western Pennsylvania Medical Col- dence, Strongstown.
lege, Pittsburg, Pa.; date of graduation, William Rankin Miller, born in Pennsyl-
Mareh 27, 1890; date of registration, October vaina; school. Western Pennsylvania IMedieal
2, 1890. Residence, Livermore, Westmore- College, Pittsburg, Pa. ; date of graduation,
land Co., Pennsylvania. March 24, 1892; date of registration, May 5,
James E. Montgomery, born in Pennsyl- 1892. Residence, Blairsville.
vania; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil- Harry F. Hazlett, born in Pennsylvania;
adelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, JIarch 12, school, Jefferson Medical ■ College, Philadel-
378
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, April 27, 1892 ;
date of registration. May 27, 1892. Residence,
Cherrytree.
V. A. Murray, bom in Pennsylvania;
school, Kentucky School of Medicine, Ken-
tucky; date of gTaduation, June 18, 1892;
date of registration, February 18, 1893. Resi-
dence, Glen Campbell.
Elliott C. Hunter, born in Pennsylvania;
school. Western Pennsylvania Medical Col-
lege, Pittsburg, Pa.; date of graduation,
March 22, 1888 ; date of registration, August
3, 1893. Residence, Cherrytree.
Elmer Onstoff, born in Pennsylvania;
school. College of Physicians, Chicago, 111.;
date of graduation, February 26, 1889; date
of registration. March 1, 1893. Residence,
Saltsburg.
M. M. Davis, born in Pennsylvania ; school,
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
date of graduation, May 2, 1893 ; date of reg-
istration, May 13, 1893. Residence, George-
ville.
Harry C. Dilts. born in Pennsylvania;
school. Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa.;
date of graduation. May 4, 1893 ; date of reg-
istration, May 13, 1893. Residence, IMarion
Center.
Harry S. Durrett, born in Mississippi;
school. Western Pennsylvania Medical Col-
lege, Pittsburg, Pa. ; date of graduation, Feb-
ruary 27, 1879 ; date of registration. May 19,
1893. Residence, Colorado Springs, Colo-
rado.
John W. Elder, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Western Pennsylvania jMedical Col-
lege, Pittsburg, Pa.; date of graduation,
March 24. 1892 ; date of registration, May 20,
1893. Residence, Saltsburg.
Ira E. Sloan, born in Pennsylvania; school,
Baltimore Medical College, Baltimore, Md. ;
date of graduation. May 8, 1893 ; date of reg-
istration, May 31, 1893. Residence, Kelleys-
burg.
W. M. Kinports, born in Pennsylvania;
school. University of Pennsylvania; date of
graduation. May 10, 1893; date of registra-
tion, June 5, 1893. Residence, Cherrytree.
Elmer Elsworth Heilman, born in Penn-
sylvania: school. College of Baltimore, ild. ;
date of graduation, May 9, 1893 ; date of reg-
istration, July 10, 1893. Residence, Gettys-
burg.
Joseph Moorhead Taylor, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school. College of Physicians, Balti-
more, Md. ; date of graduation, March 13.
1885 ; date of registration, September 14,
1893. Residence, West Fairfield, Westmore-
land Co., Pennsylvania.
James Mathews Knowlton, born in Massa-
chusetts; school, Boston University, Medical
Department, Boston, Mass.; date of gradua-
tion, June 7, 1893 ; date of registration, Oc-
tober 17, 1893. Residence, Indiana.
James H. Kelly, born in Pennsylvania;
school, name not given ; date of graduation,
not given; date of registration, March 15,
1894. Residence, Mechanicsburg.
Isadore A. McClellan, born in New York;
school. Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati,
Ohio ; date of graduation. May 28, 1880 ; date
of registration. May 29, 1894. Residence,
Buffalo, New York.
Samuel H. Haines, born in New Jersey;
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, April 3, 1889 ;
date of registration, September 17, 1894.
Residence, Glen Campbell.
Augustine A. Bancroft, born in Ohio;
school. Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa.;
date of gi-aduation, February 27, 1869; date
of registration, October 4, 1895. Residence,
Williamsport, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania.
John M. Grubbs, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Miami JMedical College, Cincinnati,
Ohio; date of graduation, March 12, 1886;
date of registration, December 21, 1895.
Residence, Armagh.
John P. Fox, born in Pennsylvania ; school.
Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio;
date of graduation, June 2, 1891 ; date of reg-
istration. May 14, 1896. Residence, Alle-
gheny, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania.
George Emerson Simpson, born at George-
ville. Pa. ; school. Western Pennsylvania
Medical College; date of graduation, March
22, 1894; date of registration, December 31,
1894. Residence, Home.
Ralph F. McHenry, born at Marion Cen-
ter, Pa. ; school. Medical Department of West-
ern University; date of graduation, March
21, 1895 ; date of registration, September 6,
1895. Residence. Marion Center.
Thomas David Stephens, born in Cherry-
hill township, Indiana Co., Pa, ; school. West
ern University of Pennsylvania ; date of gi-ad
nation, March 21, 1895; date of registration.
September 12, 1895. Residence, Greenville,
James Harvey Peterman, born at Chambers
ville. Pa. ; school, Baltimore Medical College
date of graduation, April 19, 1895 ; date of
registration, September 21, 1895. Residence,
Grant township, Indiana county.
Howard Barbor Buterbaugh, born at Cook-
port, Pa. ; school. Western University, Cleve-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
379
land, Ohio; date of gi-aduation, not given;
date of registration, September 23, 1895.
Residence, Indiana.
William Oscar Cameron, bom at Indiana,
Pa. ; school. Western Reserve. Cleveland,
Ohio; date of graduation, May 22, 1895;
date of registration, December 26, 1895.
Residence, Armagh.
Charles H. Shadle, bom in Pennsylvania;
school. University of Pennsylvania, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, June 10, 1894 ;
date of registration, May 7, 1896. Residence,
Saltsburg.
John William Clark, born at Bellefonte,
Pa. ; school. ]\Iedieo-Chirurgical, Philadelphia,
Pa. ; date of graduation. 1895 ; date of regis-
tration. June 8, 1896. Residence, Glen Camp-
bell.
William Albert Simpson, born at Virginia
City. I\Iont. ; school. University of Pennsyl-
vania; date of graduation. June 13, 1895;
date of registration. August 26, 1896. Resi-
dence. Indiana.
Ernest Lewis Erhard, born at New Mill-
port. Pa. : school, Western Pennsylvania Med-
ical College ; date of gi-aduation, March 26,
1896; date of registration. September 17,
1896. Residence, Grant (P. 0.), Indiana
Co., Pennsylvania.
Wilmer Grant Lockard. bom at Cookport.
Pa. ; school, Baltimore Medical College ; date
of graduation, April 22, 1896 ; date of regis-
tration. December 25, 1896. Residence, Jack-
sonville.
John A. Weamer. born in South Mahoning
township. Indiana Co., Pa. ; school. Balti-
more iledical College; date of graduation,
April 22. 1896 ; date of registration, Mav 24.
1897. Residence, Brushvalley (P. 0.), In-
diana Co., Pennsylvania.
John P. Laughlin, born at Indiana, Pa. ;
school. University of Pennsylvania: date of
graduation, June, 1897; date of registration,
September 27, 1897. Residence, Indiana.
Norman Lewis, born at Blairsville. Pa. ;
school, Jefferson ]\Iedical College. Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation. 'Slay. 1897 : date
of registration, October 7, 1897, Residence,
Blairsville.
Charles C. Weamer, born in South Mahon-
ing township, Indiana Co., Pa. ; school, W^est-
ern Pennsylvania Medical College. Pittsburg,
Pa,; date of gTaduation, March 25, 1897;
date of registration, October 29, 1897. Resi-
dence, South Mahoning township,
Francis James Madden, bom in Cleveland,
Ohio ; school. Western University of Pennsyl-
vania; date of graduation, March 31, 1895;
date of registration, November 10, 1897.
Residence, Jacksomille.
William Dunn Gates, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Hahnemann Medical College, Phila-
delphia, Pa.; date of graduation. May 12,
1898 ; date of registration, July 5, 1898. Resi-
dence, Indiana.
William Albert Prideaux, born in Penn-
sylvania; school, Medico-Chirurgical, Phila-
delphia, Pa,; date of graduation, June 20,
1899 ; date of registration, November 14, 1899.
Residence, Chen-ytree.
Charles Rowland Stewart, bom in Penn-
sylvania; school, not given; date of gradua-
tion, not given; date of registration, Decem-
ber 1, 1899. Residence, Indiana.
Est ell Bubb Lewis, born in Pennsylvania;
school, Jefferson Jledical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, 'May 15, 1899 ;
date of registration, January 30, 1900. Resi-
dence. Glen Campbell.
David B. Hoeh, bom in Pennsylvania;
school, Medico-Chirurgical College. Philadel-
phia, Pa.; date of graduation. May 20, ]899;
date of registration. February 12, 1900. Resi-
dence, Home.
Evan L. Jones, bom in Pennsylvania;
school. Baltimoi-e iledical College: date of
graduation, April 21, 1898; date of registra-
tion. June 13. 1900. Residence, Sniicksburg.
Harry Young Jlessec, born in New Jersey ;
school, LTniversity of Pennsylvania : date of
graduation. May. 1897 ; date of registration,
October 6, 1900. Residence, Johnsto-mi, Cam-
bria Co., Pennsylvania.
Stanley A. Brallier, born at Indiana, Pa.;
school. Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation. May, 1899 ;
date of registration, April 12. 1901. Resi-
dence, Indiana.
James Franklin Elder, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school. Western LTniversity of Penn-
sylvania; date of gi-aduation. May 22. 1900;
date of registration. May 14, 1901. Residence,
Smieksburg.
Robert B. Calvin, born at Meadville. Pa.;
school. Western Pennsylvania Medical Col-
lege ; date of graduation, May 21, 1901 : date
of registration, January 7, 1902. Residence,
]\Iarion Center.
James Alden Kamerer. born in Pennsyl-
vania : school. Western Pennsylvania iledi-
cal College ; date of graduation. May 21, 1901 ;
date of registration. January 13, 1902. Resi-
dence. Smieksburg.
Roy Ezra Sleppy. born at Avalon, Pa. ;
school. Western University of Pennsylvania;
date of graduation, not given; date of regis-
380 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tratiou, February 1, 1902. Residence, Smicks- date of registration, June 30, 1905. Resi-
burg. dence, Plumville.
Jason Wilson Carson, born in Pennsyl- George Clinton Kilgore, born in Maine;
vania ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil- school, Baltimore Medical College ; date of
adelphia, Pa.; date of graduation, May 29, gi-aduation, not given; date of registration,
1902; date of registration, March 11, 1903. July 26, 1905. Residence, Blairsville.
Residence, Indiana. Harper Ancel Wright, born at Rochester
Harold Ney Prothero, born at Indiana, Pa.; Mills, Pa.; school, Baltimore University; date
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- of graduation, not given ; date of registration,
pliia. Pa.; date of graduation, not given; August 17, 1905. Residence, Rochester Mills,
date of registration, September 5, 1903. Resi- Harry Gilmore Thompson, born at Wilkins-
dence, Indiana. burg, Pa.; school, not given; date of gradua-
Clark Monroe Smith, bom in Pennsylvania ; tion, September 6. 1905 ; date of registration,
school, Ohio Medical University ; date of grad- December 2, 1905. Residence, Marion Cen-
uation, April 16, 1903; date of registration, ter.
April 14, 1904. Residence, Plumville. Charles Howard Bee, born in Pennsylvania;
William F. Weitzel, born in Pennsylvania ; school, not given; date of graduation, not
school, Baltimore Medical College ; date of given ; date of registration, January 16, 1906.
graduation. May 12, 1903; date of registra- Residence, Marion Center,
tion, January 5, 1904. Residence, Gipsy David Albert Brown, born at New Flor-
(now at Indiana). enee, Pa.; school, not given; date of gradua-
Clarence C. Spicher, born in Pennsylvania ; tion, not given ; date of registration, July 7,
school, Baltimore Medical College; date of 1906. Residence, Grant,
graduation, not given ; date of registration, William Henry Nix, born at Edwardsville,
January 13, 1904. Residence, Dixonville 111. ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phila-
(now at Starford). delphia; date of graduation, June, 1905;
Homer Melvin Wellman, born in New York ; date of registration, July 24, 1906. Resi-
school, not given; date of graduation, not dence. Homer City.
given; date of registration, April 20, 1904. George Irwin Yearick, born in Pennsyl-
Residence, Blairsville. vania; school. Medical College of Philadel-
Charles F. Rink, born at Indiana, Pa. ; phia. Pa. ; date of graduation, not given ;
school, not given; date of graduation, not date of registration, August 22, 1906. Resi-
given; date of registration, October 8, 1904. dence, Wehrum.
Residence, Indiana. Harry Beecher Neal, born in Pennsylvania ;
Elias Bi-uce Earhart, born at Saltsburg, school. Western University of Pennsylvania;
Pa.; school, Cincinnati Medical College; date date of graduation, June 12, 1906; date of
of graduation, not given; date of registra- registration, October 12, 1906. Residence,
tion, October 28, 1904. Residence, Salts- Indiana,
burg. William J. Pennock, born at Jamestown,
James Grant Fisher, born in Pennsylvania ; N. Y. ; school, Bellevue Medical College, New
school, not given; date of graduation, not York; date of graduation, not given; date of
given; date of registration, December 22, registration, October 16, 1906. Residence,
1904. Residence, Plumville. Blairsville.
D. H. Noble, born in Pennsylvania; school, Emerson M. Bushnell, born in Vermont;
University of Pennsylvania; date of gradua- school, not given; date of graduation, not
tion, Jvine 15, 1904; date of registration, not given; date of registration, October 24, 1906.
given. Residence, Ernest. Residence, Blacklick.
John Mc. Leonard, boru in Pennsylvania; Frank Clark Katherman, born at Lewis-
school, not given; date of graduation, not burg. Pa.; school, Bueknell University; date
given; date of registration, February 16, of graduation. 1898; date of registration,
1905. Residence, Blairsville. October 29, 1906. Residence, Blairsville.
John Coulter Gourley, born at Marion Cen- Roscoe C. Magill, born in Pennsylvania;
ter. Pa. ; school, not given ; date of gradua- school, IMedico-Chirurgical College ; date of
tion, not given ; date of registration, March graduation, not given ; date of registration,
14, 1905. Residence, Marion Center. November 9, 1906. Residence, Ernest.
M. D. Campbell, born in Pennsylvania ; James Patterson MacFarland, born in Scot-
school, Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- land; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phil-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, not given ; adelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, not given ;
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
381
date of registration, April 27, 1907. Resi-
dence, Dixonville.
Alexander Hamilton Stewart, born in
Pennsylvania ; school. Western University of
Pennsylvania; date of graduation, not given;
date of registration, August 20, 1907. Resi-
dence. Creekside (now at JIarion Center).
David Arthur Chapman, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Baltimore iledical College ;
date of graduation, not given; date of regis-
tration, September 5, 1907. Residence. Iselin.
Wilmer Carroll Kipe. liorn in Philadelphia,
Pa. ; school. Hahnemanii Medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, not
given; date of registration, September 16,
1907. Residence, Indiana.
Robert Ford Hipsley, born in Pittsburg,
Pa,: school. Western University of Pennsyl-
vania; date of graduation, not given; date
of registration, . November 12, 1907. Resi-
dence, Meehanicsburg,
Eugene Storer, born at Wilkinsburg, Pa. ;
school. Western University of Pennsjdvania ;
date of graduation, 1907; date of registra-
tion, November 16, 1907. Residence, Creek-
side.
Charles Paul Reed, born at Jacksonville,
Pa. ; school. Western Pennsylvania ^Medical
College ; date of. graduation, dot given : date
of registration, September 4, 1907. Resi-
dence, Homer City.
Robert Love Anderson, born in Pittsburg,
Pa. ; school. Western Pennsylvania J\Iedical
College; date of graduation, June 7, 1907;
date of registration, February 11, 1908. Resi-
dence, Strongstown.
Abraham Silverman, born in Philadelphia,
Pa, ; school, Baltimore iledical College ; date
of graduation. May 21, 1907; date of regis-
tration, March 16, 1908. Residence, Ernest,
Frank Ridley Widdowson, born in Indiana
Co., Pa. ; school, Jefferson ^Medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation. June
4, 1906 ; date of registration, August 4, 1908.
Residence, Dixonville.
Roy Roscoe Norton, born at Jersey City,
N, J. : school Jefferson Medical College ; date
of graduation, not given ; date of registration,
August 6, 1908. Residence, Coral.
William Johns, born in Pennsylvania ;
school. Western University of Pennsylvania;
date of graduation, June 8, 1908;. date of
registration, November 2, 1908, Residence,
Homer City (now at Meehanicsburg).
Carl Bernard Cranmer, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school, Jefferson ^Medical College, Phil-
adelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation. May 14,
1898 ; date of registration, December 8, 1908.
Residence, Iselin.
John Murdock Stewart, born in Nova Sco-
tia ; school. Western University of Pennsyl-
vania; date of graduation, June 8. 1908; date
of registration. April 12, 1909. Residence,
Marion Center.
Augustine Bancroft, born at Portage,
Ohio; school, Halmemaun Medical College;
date of graduation, not given; date of regis-
tration, April 23, 1909. Residence, Indiana,
E. L. Fleming, born at Sagamore, Pa, ;
school, Chicago College of Medicine; date of
graduation, not given ; date of registration,
August 19, 1909. Residence, Creekside.
Howard Martin Cleveland, born in Penu-
s.ylvania; school. University of Pennsylvania;
date of graduation, June 16, 1909 ; date of
registration, November 26, 1909, Residence,
I da mar.
iliehael Aiistin, boru in Russia ; school,
jMedieo-Chirurgical College ; date of gradua-
tion, 1908 ; date of registration, ilarch 31,
1910. Residence, Josephine.
John Townsend Lafferty, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, not given; date of graduation,
May 4, 1910; date of registration, July 8,
1910. Residence, Coral.
Benjamin Franklin Bowers, born in Vir-
ginia; school. Temple University, Philadel-
phia, Pa.; date of graduation. June 4, 1910;
date of registration, August 9, 1910, Resi-
dence, Dixonville,
Todd R, Boden, born in Pennsylvania ;
school, Jefferson IMedical College, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; date of graduation, not given ;
date of registration, August 10, 1910. Resi-
dence, Eldersridge.
Frank Fisher Moore, born in Ohio; school,
JMedieo-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, Pa. ;
date of graduation, not given; date of regis-
tration, August 31, 1910. Residence, Homer
City.
Willis DeLoss Hall, born in New Hamp-
shire; school. Temple University. Pliiladel-
phia. Pa.; date of graduation. June 4. 1910;
date of registration, January 19, 1911. Resi-
dence, Gipsy.
Charles Chester Wallace, born in Pennsyl-
vania ; school. Jefferson iledical College,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; date of graduation. June
6, 1910; date of registration. January 28.
1911. Residence, Josephine.
A. Jerome Kaiser; school. Atlanta ]\Iedical
College; date of gi-aduation. not given; date
of registration. ]\Iay 15. 1911. Residence,
Edri.
382
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Reuben Elmer Schall; school, Baltimore
Medical College; date of graduation, not
given; date of registration, June 2, 1911.
Residence, Arcadia.
Ray M. Lewis, born in Pennsylvania;
school. Medical College of Pennsylvania ; date
of graduation, not given ; date of registration,
June 22, 1911. Residence, Livermore, West-
moreland Co., Pennsylvania.
William Ridgway Rothe, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Medico-Chirurgical of Penn-
sylvania ; date of graduation, not given ; date
of registration, September 18, 1911. Resi-
dence, Dixon ville.
John Clymer Gotwals, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, Medico-Chirurgical; date of
graduation, not given; date of registration,
September 25, 1911. Residence, Clymer.
William McDowell Johnston, born in Penn-
sylvania ; school, Medico-Chirurgical ; date of
graduation, not given; date of registration,
December 7, 1911. Residence, Cherrytree.
Hal Laureston Speedy, born at Indiana,
Pa. ; school. University of Pittsburg, Pa. ;
date of graduation, June 14. 1911 ; date of
registration, January 27, 1912. Residence,
Indiana.
Joseph Madison Lukehart, born at Plum-
ville, Pa. ; school, Medico-Chiruvgical of Penn-
sylvania; date of graduation, August 1, 1910;
date of registration, March • 1, 1912. Resi-
dence, not given.
Howard Leroy Dovey, born at Latrobe, Pa. ;
school, Medico-Chirurgical; date of gradua-
tion. May 31, 1911 ; date of registration,
March 6, 1912. Residence, Rochester Mills.
Howard Kemp Eamau, born in New York;
school. Medico-Chirurgical of Pennsylvania;
date of graduation, not given; date of regis-
tration. June 13, 1912. Residence, Dixon-
ville.
B. H. DeV. Hotham, born in Pittsburg,
Pa. ; school, University of Pittsburg ; date of
graduation, not given; date of registration,
August 9, 1912. Residence, Homer City.
David Gildner, born in Canada; school,
not given ; date of graduation, not given ; date
of registration, September 5, 1912. Residence,
Indiana.
James Roy St. Clair, bom at Homer City,
Pa. ; school, Jefferson Medical College ; date
of graduation, not given; date of registra-
tion, September 10, 1912. Residence, Homer
City.
Harry Alfred O'Neal, born in New Jer-
sey ; school, University of Pittsburg, Pa. ; date
of graduation, June 14, 1911; date of regis-
tration, March 31, 1913. Residence, Ault-
man, Pennsylvania.
Harry Warner Lloyd, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school Medico-Chirurgical of Pennsyl-
vania; date of graduation, not given; date of
registration, April 30, 1913. Residence, Star-
ford.
Melvile Mack Palmer, born in Pennsyl-
vania; school, not given; date of graduation,
not given; date of registration, June, 1913.
Residence, Homer City.
James St. Elmo Hammers, born at Indiana,
Pa. ; school, Medico-Chirargical ; date of grad-
uation, not given; date of registration, Sep-
tember 8, 1905. Residence, Indiana.
Ray McKelvy Alexander, bom at New
Florence, Pa. ; school, not given ; date of
graduation, September 6, 1905 ; date of regis-
tration, October 9, 1905. Residence, New
Florence.
Benjamin F. Coe, born at Bradford, Pa. ;
school, College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Baltimore, Md. ; date of gi'aduation, not
given; date of registration, November 10,
1906. Residence, Dixonville.
William Allen Evans, born in Raleigh, N.
C. ; school, Jefferson Medical College, Phila-
delphia, Pa. ; date of graduation, not given ;
date of registration, February 1, 1907. Resi-
dence, Clymer.
CHAPTER XIX
BENCH AND BAR
Indiana county was established provision-
ally for judicial purposes, by Act of "The
General Assembly of The Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania," March 30. 1803. William
Jack, John Pumroy and James Parr were
designated as trustees for the county, and
authorized to receive proposals for the grant-
ing and conveying of lands, for the purpose
of erecting the necessary public buildings.
By Act of the 25th of 3Iarch. 1805. Charles
Campbell, Randal Laughlin and John Wilson
were appointed to survey a grant by George
Chnner of 250 acres of land, a portion of
which was set apart for the public buildings,
and residue laid out in town lots, now known
since the consolidation of boroughs as Indiana.
The counties of Indiana, Westmoreland,
Cambria and Ai-mstrong formed the "Tenth
Judicial District," over which Judge John
Young, of Greensburg, Westmoreland county,
presided.
December term, 1806, was first term. Pleas
returnable to the County court of Common
Pleas, held at Indiana on the second ilonday
of December, A. D. 1806, under Act of March
10, 1806.
Before John Young, President Judge, and
Charles Campbell. Associate Judge. George
Armstrong. John B. Alexander, Samuel S.
Harrison, James M. Riddle. Samuel Massey
and Samuel Guthrie, Esq., were sworn, and
admitted as attorneys of said court.
From the organization of the court until
1850, no record evidence of the admission of
attorneys can be found save two. The courts
of Indiana county were then held on the sec-
ond Mondays of March, June. September and
December. And as was then the custom, the
courts were attended by members of the bar
from the several counties of the district, as
well as from adjoining counties. Attorneys
were generally admitted on motion, and min-
ute thereof made. The minutes of the court
during this time have been misplaced or lost.
In the local history of the county is found a
roll of attorneys as reported up until 1859,
giving names of resident and non-resident
members of the bar, but no dates of admission,
as well as notes or sketches of some members
of the bar in the past, "and from which the
writer has quoted what has been said of some
of the resident members of the bar in the
earlv history of the courts."
PRESIDENT JUDGES
Hon. John Young, of Greensbui-g, West-
moreland county. 1806 to 1836.
Hon. Thomas White, of Indiana. Indiana
county. 1836 to 1847.
Hoii. Jeremiah il. Bun-ell. of Greensburg,
Westmoreland countv, June, 1847, to ilarch,
1848.
Hon. John C. Knox, of Tioga county,
June. 1848, to December, 1851.
Hon. Jeremiah :M. Burrell, of Greensburg,
December. 1851, to 1855.
Hon. Joseph Buffington, of Kittanning,
Armstrong county. June, 1855, to April, 1871.
Hon. James A. Logan, of Greensburg, West-
moreland countv. June, 1871, to January,
1875.
The Legislature of 1874 made Indiana
county a separate district, as the Fortieth,
and Hon. John P. Blair was elected in the
fall of 1874, and served till January, 1885.
Hon. Harrv White, of Indiana, January 1,
1885. to January 1, 1895. Reelected 1894,
served second term from January 1, 1895.
Hon. S. J. Telford, of Indiana, succeeded
Hon. Harry White January 1, 1905.
Judge John Young, of Greensburg, who
presided over the courts of the Tenth Judicial
district, was a native of Scotland, was tall and
of a commanding and dignified appearance, a
polished gentleman of the old school, and filled
the position some thirty years. He resigned
in 1836.
Thomas White, of Indiana, was appointed
judge to fill vacancy caused by the resigna-
tion of Judge John Young. As the constitu-
tion of the State then was, Judge White was
384
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
appointed for life or, as the technical expres-
sion of his commission is, "dum bene sese
gesseret" (while he behaves himself). But
a new constitution was framed in 1838, which
changed the term of president judges to ten
years. Under this change Judge White's
term expired January, 1847. Francis R.
Shunk, a Democrat, being governor, refused
to reappoint Judge Wliite, who was a Whig,
although a large majority of the people of
the district petitioned for his reappointment.
The Senate, however, having a Whig ma-
jority, rejected all the Governor's nominees
for the vacancy. When the Legislature ad-
journed no one was commissioned to succeed
Judge White. But Governor Shunk ap-
pointed Jeremiah M. Burrell for a year to
hold the courts. This created legal contro-
versy. To avoid further controversy, and at
the request of Judge White and his friends,
John C. Knox of Tioga county was appointed
in the spring of 1848 to fill the vacancy, and
moving to Kittanning presided until Decem-
ber term, 1851, when under the change in the
constitution making judges elective Judge J.
M. Burrell was elected in the fall of 1851
president judge of the district and served
until 1855, when he resigned.
Judge Joseph Buffingtou, of Kittanning,
Armstrong county, was appointed to fill
vacancy caused by Judge Burrell's resigna-
tion and was elected in 1856, serving a full
term, and reelected in 1866, resigning in 1871.
He died February 3, 1872. He had served as
judge of the Eighteenth Judicial district, com-
posed of Clarion, Elk, Jefferson, Venango and
Mercer, by appointment. Had been pre-
viously elected and served two terms in Con-
gress. In 1852 was nominated by the Whig
State convention for Supreme judge, but was
defeated.
James A. Logan, in May, 1871, was ap-
pointed judge to fill the vacancy, and after-
wards was elected as judge of said district;
and filled the position until 1879, when he
resigned to accept the appointment of assist-
ant general solicitor of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, and subsequently became gen-
eral solicitor of the said companv. He died
October 29, 1902.
Under the new constitution which was in
effect in 1873, by whicli Indiana county be-
came a separate judicial district, now the For-
tieth, John P. Blair, of Tiidijiiia. w;is the first
elected judge of the said dislrict, and served
his full term, until January 1, 1885.
Harry White, of Indiana, was in 1884
elected judge of said district, and served the
full term until January 1, 1895; having been
reelected in 1894, he served two terms.
S. J. Telford, of Indiana, was elected in
1904, and entered upon the duties of his office,
January, 1905.
* * * #
The first record of Criminal court held in
Indiana county is at March sessions, 1807.
The first case tried — No. 1, March sessions,
1807 — is Commonwealth v. William Wilkins,
charged with assault and battery. Defendant
found guilty.
At June sessions, 1807, Samuel Riddle and
Walter Forward were admitted "as attorneys
of this court."
June 8, 1807, Samuel Massey was appointed
and qualified as deputy attorney general be-
fore John Young, President Judge.
The first civil case originating in Indiana
county is the case of George Weir v. John
0 'Conner, No. 1, December term, 1806. Alex-
ander appeared for the plaintiff; Armstrong
for defendant. This was an appeal from the
docket of Justice William Hamilton. The
case was tried June 9, 1807, and a verdict
rendered in favor of the plaintiff for $8.10.
Daniel Stanard, the first resident attorney
of the bar of Indiana county, was born 1784,
near Bennington, Vt. ; located in Indiana in
1807, was well kno^\Ti as an attorney in west-
em Pennsylvania ; was engaged in the practice
of his profession some thirty years. He re-
tired from practice in 18.36, and died at
Indiana March 4, 1867.
From 1807 until 1819 the only resident at-
torneys were Daniel Stanard, James M. Rid-
dle and James M. Kelly. James il. Kelly was
a native of Indiana county, and read law with
George Armstrong, of Greensburg, Westmore-
land county. After his admission to the bar
he returned to Indiana and engaged in the
practice of his profession. He and Daniel
Stanard were among those named as trustees
by the Act of 28th of March, 1814, incorpo-
rating Indiana Academy ; was elected as (Fed-
eralist) a member of the Legislature of Penn-
sylvania ; was a noted attorney, and had a
brilliant but brief career. He died in 1820.
Ephraim Carpenter was born at Sharon,
Vt., August 10, 1788. When a young man he
taught in the academy at Greensburg, Pa.,
where he read law and was admitted to the
bar, and located in Indiana in 1819, and com-
menced the practice of his profession. He
ser\'ed several years, by appointment, as
deputy attorney general of the county : was
also a practical surveyor ; he continued in the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
practice of his profession until his death, June
10, 1860.
Hugh Brady, a native of Indiana county,
read law with Daniel Stanard, and was ad-
mitted to the bar June 27, 1820.
Richard B. ilcCabe. a well-known attoniey,
was born in Cumberland (now Perry) county,
Pa., on the 5th of August, 1792. From 18i5
he was for a number of j^ears engaged in clerk-
ing and as manager of several iron works. In
1820 he went to Harrisburg, where he was
employed in the office of the secretary of State,
and while thus engaged he read law, and was
admitted to the bar. After his admission he
removed to Huntingdon, Pa., where he com-
menced the practice of his profession, subse-
quently removing to Blairsville, Indiana
county, where he continued the practice of his
profession, and enjoyed for most of his time
a lucrative practice. He was appointed and
served one term as prothonotary of the county.
In 1846 he was editor and publisher of The
Appalachian, an independent political journal.
His historical articles found a place among the
standard writings of his time. His reputation
as siich became national. He died January
10, 1860.
Thomas White read law in the office of Wil-
liam Rawle in the city of Philadelphia, and
after his admission to the bar, in 1821, located
in Indiana, and commenced the practice of his
profession. He was then aged about twenty-
one years, and was verj' soon in successful
practice. He was also agent of George Cly-
mer, who owned a large ciuantity of land in
Indiana county. He was appointed president
judge of the Tenth Judicial district in 1836,
succeeding Judge John Young, and served his
full term, until 1847. He was an eminent
lawyer, a just judge, and presided over the
several courts of his district with distinguished
ability. He was instrumental in establishing
the Indiana County Agricultural Society, was
one of its main projectors and supporters, and
its president from its origin until his death.
He devoted much of his time to agricultural
pursuits. Judge White died on the 22d day
of July, 1866, in his sixty-seventh year.
William Banks was born utar Miffiintowu,
now in Juniata county, at that time Miffiin
county. Pa., and studied law in the office of
his brother Hon. John Banks, at ^Mercer, Pa.
He commenced the practice of law at Indiana
in 1824, and for many years was a leading
member of the bar. He became a forcible
advocate, concise and sometimes eloquent. He
was fond of scientific studies, was well versed
in the law, was an able counselor, and was
concerned in a large number of the early eject-
ment suits brought in Indiana and adjoining
counties. His opinion on legal questions was
sought, not only by clients, but by his fellow
members of the bar. He was prothonotary- of
the county from 1828 until 1833 : a member of
the Legislature, and was deputy attorney
general of the county in 1836, by appointment.
After serving in the said several offices he
totally abjured holding office, and pursued the
practice of his profession until his death
August 10, 1871.
Augustus Drum was born at Greensburg,
was a graduate of Jefferson College, studied
law under John B. Alexander, located in Indi-
ana in 1831, and commenced the practice of
his profession. In 1839 was sworn in as deputy
prosecuting attorney for Indiaxia county. He
was a successful lawyer and a gentleman of
pleasant social qualities and tine literary taste.
He was a member of the Democratic party,
and took an active part in politics, and was to
some extent a newspaper writer; was editor
in 1834 of the Inquirer, a Democratic journal
published at Indiana ; its publication was con-
tinued for several years. He served one term
in Congress. He removed to Pittsburg in
1856, and was there engaged in the practice
for some time. He died at Greensburg, Pa.,
September 17, 1858.
Joseph J. Young was born at Greensburg,
Westmoreland county; was a son of Judge
Young; was admitted to the bar and located
in Indiana in 1833. He was engaged in the
practice of his profession for some yeai-s, was
agent and owner of a large body of land in
Indiana county. He retired from practice,
and died at Indiana.
John ilyers was a native of Somerset
county, located in Indiana in 1835. Was a
member of the bar and pursued the practice
of law. Served one term as prothonotary, and
afterwards continued the practice of his pro-
fession until his death.
AYilliam ]\I. Stewart was born at Franks-
town, Huntingdon county, in 1817. Was a
graduate of Jefferson College, Pennsylvania.
He read law with Judge Reed, of Carlisle,
Pa., and also with Judge White, of Indi-
ana, and was admitted to the bar of Indiana
county in 1839. He soon became prominent
in his profession and acquired a large prac-
tice; was engaged in the banking business
under the firm name of Sutton & Stewart,
at Indiana, from 1854 to January, 1864, at
which time the First National Bank of Indiana
was incorporated. He was one of the direct-
ors and subsequently president of this bank.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
He was also, in 1869, concerned in the organ-
ization of the Indiana County Deposit Bank;
was one of the directors and the first president
of the bank. He afterwards, in 1873, removed
to Philadelphia, where he was a partner in
the banking house of B. K. Jamison & Co.,
and where he pursued the practice of his pro-
fession until his decease.
A. W. Taylor was bom at Indiana March
22, 1815, was educated at Indiana Academy
and Jefferson College. He left college in 1836
to fill an appointment as clerk in the office
of his father, Hon. John Taylor, surveyor
general of Pennsylvania. He held the ap-
pointment for three years, then entered the
Law School at Carlisle, Pa. ; afterwards con-
tinued his law studies in the office of Judge
Thomas White, at Indiana, and was admitted
to the bar in 1841, and entered immediately
upon the practice of his profession. He served
two terms as prothonotary of the county. He
took an active part in politics in the organ-
ization of the Republican party ; was a mem-
ber of the Legislature in 1859 and 1860 ; sei'ved
five years as president of Indiana County
Agricultural Society. In 1872 was elected a
representative in the Forty-third Congress,
served on the committee on Railways and
Canals. In 1873 was elected one of the trus-
tees of the Agricultural College of Pennsyl-
vania. He continued in the practice of his
profession until his death, May 7, 1893.
Thomas Sutton, Sr., was born at Indiana;
was admitted to the bar, 1841 ; was appointed
deputy attorney general for the county of
Indiana in 1843. Subsequently he removed
to Clarion, Clarion Co., Pa., where he was
engaged in the practice of his profession until
his decease.
John Potter was admitted to the bar on the
24th of March, 1845, on presentation to the
court of his commission as deputy attorney
general for Indiana county. Sworn accord-
ingly by prothonotary.
Pliny Kelly was born in Indiana county.
Read law with Judge Thomas White, and was
admitted to the bar in 1843. Was a soldier
in the Mexican war; after, his discharge re-
turned to Indiana, and engaged in the practice
of his profession for some time. In 1849 went
to California.
William A. Todd, a native of Indiana
county, read law with Hon. Thomas White,
and was admitted to the bar in 1843. After
his admission he removed to Ebensburg, Cam-
bria county, and formed a partnership with
Ed. Hutchison, and under the firm name of
Hutchison & Todd pursued the practice of
law for some time. Was a soldier in the Mex-
ican war, promoted colonel. After his dis-
charge from service came to Indiana and en-
gaged in the practice of his profession, and
continued therein until his decease, in 1859.
Alexander Taylor was born at Indiana in
1822; was a graduate of Jefferson College;
read law with William Banks, was appointed
deputy attorney general for Indiana county
in 1848. Had retired from practice for many
years prior to his death, July 12, 1893.
G. P. Reed was admitted to the bar in 1847 ;
was associate editor of the Indiana Register
in 1846, in which business he was engaged
until 1852, when elected a justice of the peace
for the borough of Indiana, in which office he
served for several terms. Since deceased.
Edmund Paige was born near Dartmouth,
Devonshire, England, in 1820. Came to this
country in 1831 ; read law with William Banks,
and was admitted to the bar of Indiana county.
Was a practical surveyor. In 1852 he was
elected district attorney for Indiana county ;
was reelected and served the second term, also
served several terms as county surveyor. The
latter part of his life was devoted principally
to surveying. He was very familiar with
original warrants and surveys of the county.
He died some years ago.
Stewart Steel, for many years a resident of
Blairsville, Indiana county, was consul at
Dundee, Scotland, from 1845 to 1849. De-
ceased.
Titian J. Coffey, a resident attorney of
Indiana for a mimber of years, was associated
with Judge Thomas White in the practice of
law; was elected State senator in 185.6, and
served during term. Was deputy attorney
general of the United States from 1861 to
1865. He was a popular advocate at the bar
of the Supreme court of the United States.
Deceased.
Matthew Taylor, born in Indiana; read law
with William M. Stewart; was admitted to
the bar; removed to Erie, where he was en-
gaged in the practice of the law until his
decease.
Levi McElhoes, a native of Indiana county,
read law with 'William M. Stewart, and was
admitted to the bar.
Samuel S. Blair was born in Indiana; read
law with Judge Thomas White, and was ad-
mitted to the bar. Removed to Hollidaysburg,
Blair county, where for many years he was
engaged in the practice of his profession. He
was one of the leading lawyers in the State,
and had represented his district in Congress
several times. He died some years ago.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
387
John Staiiard, son of Daniel Stauard, was
born in Indiana ; read law with Thaddeus
Stevens, and was admitted to the bar; re-
turned to Indiana and commenced the practice
of his profession, in which he was engaged
for some years. Eemoved to Wichita, Kans..
where he died.
William Houston, Jr., was born in Indiana,
and read law with Augustus Drum. Was
admitted to the bar of Indiana county, and
was engaged for some time in practice at
Indiana. Afterwards removed to Tennessee.
Robert Sutton was bom in Indiana, and
was a graduate of Princeton College. Read
law and was admitted to the bar. Was en-
gaged in practice at Indiana for some tune.
Afterwards re'moved from Indiana, and re-
sided at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died.
James W. Johnston, a native of Indiana
county, a member of the bar, for some years
in practice at Indiana. He afterwards re-
moved to Tennessee.
Samuel A. Douglass was born in Indiana in
1827 ; was educated in the common schools and
Indiana Academy. For some .years was en-
gaged in teaching and clerking. He read law
with William M. Stewart, and was admitted
to the bar at September term, 1851 ; was after
his admission again engaged in clerking for
a year or more at Bueua Vista Furnace, and
in 1854, in the District court of Indianapolis,
Ind. He commenced the practice of law at
Indiana in 1855. He was elected secretai-y of
the council of Indiana borough in 1856. and
served continuously as secretary and solicitor,
with the exceptions of the years 1857-1861
and 1863. until September. 1895. making a
service of thirty-six years. He was appointed
deputy collector of Internal Revenue of the
Twenty-first district of Pennsj'lvania in
March, 1869, and held the position for three
years. Was mustered into the United States
service July 1, 1863, as a private of Company
I, transferred to Company H, 2d Battalion.
Infantry, six months Pennsylvania Volun-
teers, and was honorably discharged the 25th
of January, 1864. After his discharge re-
sumed the practice of his profession. He is
a member of Indiana Post, No. 28, Grand
Army of the Republic.
Hugh W. Weir was born in Indiana county,
and read law with Augustus Drum, and was
admitted to the bar at December term, 1851.
Commenced the practice of his profession at
Saltsburg, Indiana county, where he re-
mained a few years, removed to Indiana, and
pursued the practice for a number of years,
then removed to Pittsburg, where he became
associated with Robert Gibson in the practice
under the firm name of Weir & Gibson ; and
subsequently was appointed chief justice of
Idaho Territory. Deceased.
Thomas E. :Morgan, a native of Indiana
countj', read law with Augustus Drum, and
was admitted to the bar 27th of December,
1852. For a short time in practice at Indiana,
and afterwards removed to Illinois. Deceased.
William M. Coulter, born in Indiana, read
law with Augustus Drum, and was admitted
to the bar August 2, 1853 ; was in practice but
a year or so previous to his death.
William ilui-ry, a member of the bar, read
law with Judge Thomas White, and was ad-
mitted September 27, 1853 ; removed to Ebens-
burg, Cambria Co., Pennsylvania.
Lewis ^l. Stewart, a native of Huntingdon
county, read law witli William il. Stewart,
and was admitted to the liar September 25,
1854. Removed.
John Conrad, a native of Indiana county;
a member of the bar; read law with A. W.
Taylor. Removed to Brookville.
G. W. Bonnen, a member of the bar, a
resident of Blaireville. Know nothing more
about him.
Hon. Harry White was born in Indiana.
A graduate of Princeton College, read law
with his father. Judge Thomas White. Was
admitted to practice in 1856. After his
admission commenced the practice of his pro-
fession, and became a member of the law
firm of White & Coffey. Early in life
he took an active part in political affaire;
has held many important political positions.
In 1863 was State senator, and also from
1866 to 1874: was a delegate at law to the
Constitutional convention of 1873. He also
represented his district two terms in Con-
gress. He was mustered into the service of
the Ignited States in 1861 as major of the
67th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers;
passed through the various grades to colonel
of regiment. Was discharged February 22,
1865. Brigadier general March 2, 1865. •' Was
a prisoner from June 15, 1863, to September
29, 1864. Was elected judge of the Fortieth
Judicial disti-ict. Indiana county, in 1S84,
and served his full term. Was reelected in
1894 and served his second term ending Jan-
uary 1, 1905. He was for many years in
the practice of his profession, and was one
of the leading members of the bar, and a
successful lawyer. He has held the position
of member of board of directors of the State
Normal school at Indiana ; a stockholder in
the First National Bank, and also of Indiana
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
County Deposit Bank, and the owner of a
large body of land in Indiana county ; and is
interested in the material development of
the county. He is a member of Indiana Post,
No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic.
Joseph M. Thompson was born in Indiana
August 2, 18.32; was educated at Indiana
Academy and Jefferson College; read law
with William A. Todd, and was admitted to
the bar June 19, 1855. After his admission
commenced the practice of law. In 1856 he
was associated with Hon. S. M. Clark and
John P. Young in publication of Indiana
Messenger, then a Democratic journal, fav-
oring the election of James Buchanan for
president. He was a brilliant advocate, a
genial companion, and faithful friend. He
died August 1, 1884.
James Mathews Coleman was born in
Indiana county; read law with William
Banks, was admitted to the bar December 27,
1855, and was in practice for a number of
years. He is still living. .
H. B. Woods, a resident member of the
bar for a number of years, an associate
editor of the Indiana Register; elected dis-
trict attorney of the county. Removed to
Gettysburg, Pa., in 1860, afterwards to Read-
ing, Pa., where he continued the practice of
his profession. He died in 1866 or 1867.
Hon. John P. Blair was born in Indiana
in 1833. A gi-aduate of Washington College ;
read law with his brother, Hon. Samuel S.
Blair, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and was admit-
ted to the bar in 1856. After his admission
he located at New Castle, Lawrence county.
Pa., where he practiced until 1859, when he
was elected district attorney of that county.
He resigned when the Civil war broke out and
enlisted in Company F, 12th Regiment,
Pennsylvania Volunteers. At the end of three
months' term of sei-vice he reenlisted as a
private, and was elected first lieutenant of
Company I, 100th Regiment. Pennsylvania
Volunteers. He held this position until after
the battles of second Bull Run, Chantilly and
Antietam, when the company was consoli-
dated with Company G, of which he was
commissioned captain. After the capture
of Hilton Head and Beaufort he was detailed
from the company to act as provost marshal
and judge advocate general of the Port Royal
district, which position he held until his
brigade was sent North to join McClellan on
the Peninsula. He was twice wounded; at
first assault on the enemy's earthworks in
the rear of Fort Sumter, in Charleston har-
bor, a grapeshot struck his sword and in-
flicted a wound in his side, and at second
battle of Bull Run he received a painful gun-
shot wound. After passing through the cam-
paign against Vicksburg under Grant, and
the campaign in East Tennessee under Burn-
side, suffering from fever disabled him from
further service, and he was honorably dis-
charged on the 31st day of May, 1864. In
1865 he commenced the practice of his pro-
fession at Indiana, and having the ability,
learning and knowledge of the law he soon
acquired a large practice, and was a success-
ful lawyer. In 1874 he was elected president
judge of the Fortieth Judicial district, In-
diana county, over which he presided with
ability. At the end of his term, January 1,
1885, he resumed and continued successfully
the practice of law. He was a stockholder
and director, solicitor and president of the
First National Bank of Indiana. He died
January 19, 1913.
Hon. Silas M. Clark was born at Indiana
in 1834; was prepared for college at the
Indiana Academy, and graduated at Jeffer-
son College in the class of 1852, having en-
tered junior class two thirds advanced. He
taught the Indiana Academy several years,
read law with William M. Stewart, and was
admitted to the bar in 1857. After his ad-
mission he was associated with Mr. Stewart
in the practice of law, under the firm name
of Stewart & Clark. He was elected a sena-
torial delegate to the Constitutional conven-
tion of 1873. For a number of years was a
director of the public schools. He was one
of the projectors and founders of the State
Normal school at Indiana of which he was a
member of the board of trustees, and the
secretary and president of the board for
most of the time during, the latter part of his
life. In 1886 Lafayette College conferred
on him the honorary degree of Doctor of
Laws. In 1879 he was president of the First
National Bank of Indiana. He was a lead-
ing and able member of the bar, and had a
large and successful practice until 1882, when
he was elected on the Democratic ticket asso-
ciate justice of the Supreme court of Penn-
svlvania. He died at Indiana November 20,
1891.
James A. Getty, born in Indiana county,
was admitted to the bar at September term,
1858 ; commenced the practice of law at Salts-
burg, where he was located for some years.
He died a number of years ago.
John Lowry was born in Armstrong coun-
ty January 25, 1832. Was educated in the
common schools, and by private tutors. He
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
389
read law with Stewart & Clark, and was ad-
mitted to the bar at June term, 1860. Was
district attorney from 1862 to 1865. Was
prothonotary of the county from 1866 to
1872, and he was the editor and proprietor
of the Indiana Times, a Republican journal
established in 1878, and served as a member
of the House of Representatives of Pennsyl-
vania from 1883 to 1886. In 1864 he served
as quartermaster of the 206th Regiment of
Pennsylvania Volunteers for the term of serv-
ice—one year. He died April 23, 1886.
G. G. IngersoU, born in Indiana county,
read law with Hugh W. Weir, and was ad-
mitted to the bar June 18, 1861. Was in
practice of his profession at Indiana for some
years. Afterwards removed to Freeport,
Armstrong county, and is since deceased.
William R. Boyer, a resident of Blairsville,
Indiana county, was admitted to the bar in
1861. He practiced law in Blairsville until
the time of his death, August 17, 1892.
James B. Sansom, a native of McConnells-
burg, Fulton county, Pa., was admitted as
a member of the bar June 16, 1862. He was
editor of the Indiana Democrat, first issued
May 4, 1862, and subsequently published un-
der the firm name of J. B. Sansom & Son.
He died in 1884.
William C. Stewart, a native of Indiana
county, was admitted to the bar March 24,
1863. Removed to Greensburg, where he
practiced law until the time of his death.
T. Benton Dulley was admitted a member
of the bar June 17, 1863. Commenced the
practice in Blairsville. Indiana county. Re-
moved to Gettysburg, where he died some
years ago.
Albert C. Boyle was born in Indiana ;
read law with Judge Thomas White, and was
admitted to the bar June 20, 1864, and im-
mediately commenced practice as junior mem-
ber of the firm of White & Boyle. Served
three terms as prothonotary of the county
from 1872 to 1881. Subsequently removed
to Chicago, 111., where he died.
Coulter Wiggins, born in Indiana county ;
read law with Hon. A. W. Taylor, and was
admitted to the bar June 20, 1864 ; was en-
gaged in the practice of his profession at
Indiana for a number of years. Removed
to Blairsville, Indiana county, where he has
continued the practice of law.
Daniel S. Porter was born in Indiana
county in 1839 ; was mustered into the serv-
ice of the United States in June, 1861, as
captain of Company B, 11th Pennsylvania
Resei'ves; afterwards promoted lieuteuant
colonel. He resigned in the winter of 1863,
read law with Stewart- & Clark, and was ad-
mitted to the bar June 27, 1864. Was after-
wards elected district attorney of the county,
and served from 1865 to 1868. Was elected
a Senatorial delegate to the Constitutional
convention of 1873. Was in active practice
until his decease, ilarch 22, 1884.
John C. Carpenter was born in Indiana
February 5, 1838. In 1861 he was mustered
into the United States service as second
lieutenant of Company E, 67th Pennsylvania
Volunteers. Afterwards was promoted cap-
tain of Company K, of the regiment. Com-
missioned major and colonel. After his dis-
eliarge returned to Indiana, and read law,
and was admitted to the bar ilarch 28, 1866.
He removed to Kansas, where he engaged in
the practice of law.
John N. Banks, a native of Juniata county,
Pa., graduated at Pennsylvania State Col-
lege, then Agricultural College, in 1861. He
was mustered into the military service of the
United States in 1862, as corporal of Com-
pany I, 126th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol-
unteers. After his discharge he attended the
law school of Harvard University one year,
and finished his law course with E. S. Doty,
of ]MifHintown, in said county, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in February, 1866. Located
in Indiana in JMarch, 1866, and immediately
commenced the practice of his profession;
and has been successful, acquiring a large and
lucrative practice. He is solicitor of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company for the
county of Indiana, and for a number of
years was president of the Farmers' Bank of
Indiana, Pa. He takes an interest in Grand
Army affairs, was commander of Indiana
Post, No. 28, G. A. R., for a number of years,
and has filled the position of senior vice
commander of the Department of Pennsyl-
vania.
E. S. McMutrie, a member of the bar of
Indiana county, read law with William ]M.
Stewart, and was admitted to the bar June
18, 1866. Removed.
H. K. Sloan was born at Indiana in 1838 ;
was educated in jthe common schools and
Indiana Academy. He entered the service
of the United States in June, 1861, as
second lieutenant of Company B. Pennsyl-
vania Reserves: was promoted first lieuten-
ant. June 2, 1861, and captain August 13,
1863; and was mustered out June 13, 1864;
was brevetted major March 13, 1865. After
his discharge and return was appointed an
assistant in Ignited States Internal Revenue
390
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
service. In 1870 he was elected a member of
the House of Representatives of Pennsyl-
vania from the legislative district composed
of Indiana and Westmoreland counties, and
served his full term. He also served one
term as State senator, for 1889 to 1892. He
read law with Hugh W. Weir, and was ad-
mitted to the bar September 26, 1867, and
continued in the practice of his profession
until his decease, August 11, 1894.
T. Elder Ralston was born at Indiana ; read
law with A. W. Taylor and Stewart & Clark,
and was admitted to the bar December 23,
1867. Engaged in the practice of his pro-
fession, afterwards removed to St. Louis, Mo.,
where he continued the practice of his pro-
fession. He died a few years ago.
William R. Allison was born in Indiana
county in 1844, was admitted to the bar
September 30, 1868, and immediately com-
menced the practice of law. He served one
term as district attorney for the county, from
1871. Deceased.
John R. Wilson, born in Indiana county
(Center township) June 24, 1841. Was
educated in the academy of the county, and
was engaged at teaching during this time.
He read law with Hugh W. Weir, and was
admitted to the bar October 2, 1868, and im-
mediately commenced the practice of law at
Cherrytree, Indiana county, where he was
engaged in the practice until 1870, when he
removed to Indiana, and formed a partner-
ship with Hugh W. Weir under the firm
name of Weir & Wilson; continued for some
time. In 1873 he was appointed commissioner
of the Circuit court of the United States for
the Western district of Pennsylvania; which
position he held a number of years. In 1863,
upon the invasion of Pennsylvania by the
Army of Northern Virginia, he enlisted for
the three months' service, in Company C,
57th Regiment, Pennsylvania State Militia.
He continued to practice his profession until
his decease, October 15, 1893.
Everett H. Moorhead was born in Indiana
county; was a gi-aduate of Washington and
Jefferson College in 1863 ; read law with A.
W. Taylor, and was admitted to the bar Sep-
tember 20, 1868 ; commen(?ed the practice of
law in Indiana and was in active practice
for several years; having a retentive mem-
ory he had acquired fair knowledge of the
law. He died January 29, 1887.
L. S. Herron, a native of Indiana county,
read law with Hugh W. Weir, and was ad-
mitted to the bar June 18, 1868. Removed.
Samuel Lyon was born in Bedford, Bed-
ford county, Pa., in 1835. Enlisted in Com-
pany H, 107th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol-
unteers, in 1861, and passed through the
several grades of private, first lieutenant
and captain of the company. He served on
the staff of General Baxter, and was dis-
charged in July, 1865. He read law with
his father, William Lyon, and was admitted
to the bar in 1858. He located in Indiana
in 1868, where he was engaged in the prac-
tice of law until 1871, when he removed to
Blairsville, Indiana county, and continued
in the practice of his profession until his
decease, some years ago.
James M. Briggs read law with A. W. Tay-
lor, and was admitted April 6, 1869. Re-
moved to Clarinda, Iowa, where he continued
the practice of his profession.
Samuel Cunningham was born in Indiana
county; was educated at primary schools
and by private tutor at Armagh, in said
county, and was engaged at teaching for a
year or more. He enlisted in Company H,
12th Pennsylvania Resei'ves, in July, 1861 ;
was wounded at battle of second Bull Run in
August, 1862, and was discharged in Jan-
uary, 1863, on account of wounds. After-
wards came to Indiana, and was engaged
teaching in the public schools. He grad-
uated at Washington and Jefferson College
in 1868. He read law with Stewart & Clark,
and was admitted to the bar April 5, 1870,
and iuunediately commenced the practice of
his profession. In 1874 he was elected dis-
trict attorney for the county, and served his
full term, and has continued in active prac-
tice ever since. He has now associated with
him in the practice John S. Fisher, under the
firm name of Cunningham & Fisher.
James Sharp iloorhead was born in Indi-
ana county. A graduate of Washington and
Jefferson College. He read law with Stewart
& Clark, and was admitted to bar April 5,
1870. Afterwards removed to Greensburg,
Pa., and is now one of the leading members
of the bar of Westmoreland county.
J. A. C. Ruffner was born in Indiana
county. He enlisted (becoming a corporal)
in Company A, 1st Battalion, Pennsylvania
Cavalry, for six months. After his term of
service he read law with Col. Daniel S. Por-
ter, was admitted to the bar December 2,
1870, and was in active practice at Indiana
for a number of years; at one time an asso-
ciate in the practice of his profession with
Colonel Porter under the firm name of Porter
& Ruffner. He removed to Greensburg,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
391
Westmoreland county, wiiere he continued
the practice of his profession.
G. W. Hood was born in White township,
Indiana county, a gi-aduate of Westminster
College, Lawrence county. Pa., of the class
of 1870. He read law with A. W. Taylor,
and was admitted to the bar December 27,
1871. In 1873 he commenced the practice of
his profession at Indiana. Pa. In 1884 he was
elected State senator of the Thirty-seventh
district ; was appointed and served on several
important committees, and as chairman of
several, during his term of service. In 1890
he was appointed and served as supervisor of
the Eighth Census district of Pennsylvania.
In 1863 he enlisted in Company F, 2d Bat-
talion, six months' Pennsylvania Volunteers,
and was honorably discharged. He took con-
siderable interest in Grand Army affairs, and
was a member of Indiana Post. No. 28, G. A.
R. He continued in the practice of his pro-
fession until his decease, February 28, 1900.
0. P. Carson was a native of Indiana
county, a member of the bar; he read law
with J. ]M. Thompson, and was admitted to
the bar in 1872. Removed.
Albert W. Kimmell was born in Indiana.
He read law with Col. Daniel S. Porter, and
was admitted to the bar December 1, 1873.
Afterwards removed to Philadelphia, Pa.,
where he died some years ago.
M. C. Watson was born in Indiana county.
He is a graduate of Eldersridge Academy,
Indiana countj\ Afterwards entered the
law department of the University of Ann
Arbor, Michigan, where he remained for one
year. Subsequently came to Indiana, where
he read law with Gen. Harry White, and was
admitted to the bar April. 1874. Was elected
in 1877 district attorney, and served his
term. He was associated with Hon. Harry
White in the practice for some years under
the firm name of White & Watson, and sub-
sequently with S. J. Telford under the firm
name of Watson & Telford: and since under
the firm name of Watson & Keener. He is in-
terested in the material development of the
county, having large interests in coal and lum-
ber. In 1886 had the nomination of his county
for Congress; was a delegate to the National
convention which nominated Harrison for
president, and was twice elected to represent
his district in the Pennsylvania Legislature.
C. Voris, a member of the bar, read law
with Hon. Silas M. Clark, and was admitted
December 1, 1873. Removed to Northumber-
land county; never practiced in Indiana
countv.
H. W. Walkinshaw was born in Indiana
county; read law with Stewart & Clark, and
was admitted to the bar June 11, 1873. Re-
moved to Greensburg, Westmoreland county,
where he is now engaged in the practice of
the law.
John H. Hill was born in Armstrong coun-
ty. Pa. He attended the law department of
the Washington and Lee L^niversity, at Lex-
ington, Va., class of 1873. He read law with
William M. Stewart, and was admitted to the
bar December 7, 1874, and immediately com-
menced practice. In 1864 he enlisted in
Company K, 88th Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and was discharged under gen-
eral orders at Washington, D. C, in 1865. He
is a member of Indiana Post, No. 28, G. A. R.
Thomas Sutton was born at Indiana in
1838 ; a graduate of Princeton, class of 1873.
He read law with Judge John P. Blair, and
was admitted to the bar in June, 1876. He
was one year at Columbia Law School; com-
menced the practice of law at Indiana in
1878. He is interested in the Chilled Car
Wheel ]\Ianufacturing Company, and other
industries of the county, and was a director,
solicitor and president of the First National
Bank, and has been director, secretary and
treasurer of the board of trustees of the
Indiana State Normal school, and a warm
supporter of that institution.
W. T. Cline, a member of the bar admitted
June 9, 1876, practiced law at Saltsburg,
Indiana county, for some time, then removed
to Greensburg, where he is now engaged in
the practice of his profession.
William R. Black, born in Indiana county
in 1843 ; was mustered into the service of the
United States in 1861, as a private in Com-
pany K, 67th Regiment. Pa. Volunteers, was
wounded and lost a limb. Was register and
recorder of Indiana county from 1868 to
1S74. He was admitted to the bar and com-
menced practice ; was for some years engaged
in the publication of the Indiana Progress;
removed to Buffalo. N. Y. ; since deceased.
David Blair Taylor was born in Indiana;
a graduate of Washiugton and Jefferson Col-
lege. He read law with A. W. Taylor, and
was admitted to the bar June 18, 1878. Some
time after his admission commenced practice
at Indiana, and in 1890 formed a law part-
nership with Hon. S. M. Jack. He was clerk
and solicitor for the council of the borough of
Indiana for some eight years.
Hon. S. M. Jack, a native of Summers-
ville, Jefferson county, and a graduate of
the State Normal school of Indiana. Pa.
392
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
After having been engaged in teaching in
common schools in Jefferson county, came to
Indiana and was appointed vice principal of
the high school of the borough of Indiana,
which position he held for four years. He
read law with Hon. S. M. Clark, and was
admitted to the bar at September term, 1879,
and immediately commenced the practice of
his profession at Indiana. He was elected
district attorney for the county, and serving
his full term was reelected in 1886, and served
his second term ; has represented by appoint-
ment of the governor the State on the board
of trustees of the State Normal school at
Indiana. He was elected a representative of
the Twenty-first district of Pennsylvania in
the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses.
W. L. Stewart was born in Indiana county.
He read law with Col. Daniel S. Porter, was
admitted to the bar September 10, 1879, and
commenced the practice of his profession at
Indiana; continued in active practice until
the time of his decease, April 24, 1903.
Hon. S. J. Telford was born in South Ma-
honing township, Indiana county, December
24, 1853. He was a graduate of Westminster
College, was one year a student at the Alle-
gheny Theological Seminary. He was en-
gaged for some time in teaching, and was
principal of the Purchase Line Academy. He
read law with Hon. G. W. Hood, and was
admitted to the bar March 15, 1880. After
his admission he located in Blairsville, in said
county, and was in active practice until 1885,
when he removed to Indiana, and continued
in the practice. Some time after his removal
to Indiana he formed a partnership with M.
C. Watson, under the firm name of Watson &
Telford, and later had associated with him
Ernest Stewart in the practice of law, under
the firm name of Telford & Stewart. He was
commissioner of bankri;ptcy. Was elected
president .judge in 1904.
James W. McCreary, a member of the bar,
read law with Hon. S. M. Clark, and was ad-
■mitted September 2, 1880. Removed to
Greeley, Colo., where he is engaged in the
practice of law.
J. Alvin Swing, a member of the bar, read
law with Hon. Harry White, and was ad-
mitted December 6, 1880. Removed to Lead-
ville, Colo., where he is engaged in the prac-
tice of law.
John M. Leech was born in Indiana county.
A graduate of Lafayette, in Pennsylvania;
located in Indiana, and read law with Hon.
Harry White, and was admitted to the bar
December 7, 1881; was elected and served
one term as district attorney of the county.
Was for some years a member of the firm of
Leech & Elkin.
John T. Stuchell was born in South Jlahon-
ing township, Indiana county; was educated
at Dayton Academy, Plumville Select School,
and by private tutor for languages. He was
engaged in teaching school for some years.
He read law with Hon. A. W. Taylor, and was
admitted to the bar June 13, 1882, and im-
mediately commenced the practice of his
profession. He was for a number of years
secretary of the Indiana County Agricultural
Society. Died October 16, 1904.
John A. Scott was born in Indiana county ;
a graduate of Washington and Jefferson Col-
lege, July 1, 1879. After graduating he
taught at Eldersridge Academy, subsequently
was principal of Johnstown high school. He
afterwards read law with Hon. S. M. Clark
and G. W. Hood, and was admitted to the
bar December 19, 1884, and commenced the
practice of his profession. He served as
prothonotary of the county from 1888 to 1894,
and then resumed the practice of law.
Hon. John P. Elkin was born in West Ma-
honing township, Indiana county, January
11, I860; a graduate of the State Normal
school of Indiana, in the class of 1880. He
taught in the common schools, and in 1882
he entered the law department of the Uni-
versity of Michigan, and graduated from the
same in 1884. After graduating he pursued
the study of law in the office of Watson &
Telford, and was admitted to the bar Septem-
ber 14, 1885. In 1884 he was elected a mem-
ber of the House of Representatives, and was
reelected in 1886, serving two terms. He was
a member of several important committees
on which he served, of some of which he was
chairman. He has been a member of the
board of trustees of the State Normal school.
He is interested in many local enterprises, and
in the material development of the county.
He was appointed deputy attorney general of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Jan-
uary, 1895, served part of the term and re-
signed, and in January, 1899, was appointed
attorney general of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and served his full term. ' In
1902 was a candidate for the nomination of
governor of Pennsylvania at the Republican
convention, was popular with the people, but
was defeated in convention. Is now one of
the judges of the Supreme court of Penn-
sylvania.
John H. Pierce was born in Clearfield
county. Pa. ; a graduate of the State Normal
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
393
school at Indiana, class of 1881. He taught
in the common schools from 1875 to 1883.
He read law with Hon. S. M. Clark, D. S.
Porter, and Jack & Taylor, and was admitted
to the bar September 14, 1885. Commenced
the practice of law at Indiana. He served
several years as secretary of the Indiana
Agricultural Society.
John T. Bell was born in Jefferson county,
Pa. He read law with Hon. S. M. Clark and
J. N. Banks, was admitted to the bar April
26, 1888, and commenced the practice of his
profession.
George H. Fair was born in Indiana county.
He read law with Hon. George W. Hood, and
was admitted to the bar April 26, 1886.
Removed.
D. H. Tomb was born in Indiana county,
a graduate of the State Normal school of
Indiana, of the class of 1878. Was a student
at Washington and Jefferson College for two
j'ears. He was engaged in teaching for some
yeai-s. was the principal of Woodvale public
schools, of Johnstown. Cambria Co., Pa. He
removed to Indiana and read law with W. L.
Stewart, and was admitted to the bar October
31, 1887, and commenced practice at Indiana.
He served one term as county auditor. Died
December 12, 1912.
A. W. Wilson was born at Indiana ; a mem-
ber of the bar, was admitted October 31, 1887.
Now principal of the Kiskiminetas Springs
School.
John L. Getty was born in Indiana county,
a graduate of the University of Wooster, Ohio.
He read law with Watson & Telford, and was
admitted to the bar October 31. 1887. Com-
menced practice at Indiana. He was elected
and served one term as district attorney for
the county.
J. N. Langham was born in Indiana county ;
a graduate of the State Normal school at
Indiana. He was engaged in teaching for
several years. He read law with J. N. Banks,
and was admitted to the bar December 3,
1888, and commenced practice at Indiana.
Subsequently was appointed postmaster of
the borough of Indiana for the term of four
years. He afterwards received the appoint-
ment of assistant United States district at-
torney of the Western District of Pennsyl-
vania, is now congressman for his district and
is serving his third term.
Frank Keener was born in Indiana county.
He graduated at the University of Wooster,
Ohio, in the summer of 1887. In the years
1887-1888 was principal of the Van Buren
high school of Hancock county. Ohio ; also
superintendent of the school of the township
adjoining Van Buren. Subsequently he read
law at Indiana with Watson & Telford, and
was admitted to the bar November 8. 1889,
and commenced the practice of law; after-
wards was for some yeare engaged in practice
under the firm name of Watson & Keener.
Died October 26, 1911.
J. Wood Clark was born in Indiana, a son
of the Hon. Silas M. Clark; a graduate of
Princeton. He read law with Samuel Cun-
ningham and was admitted to the bar No-
vember 3, 1890, and immediately commenced
to practice. He is a member and secretary
of the board of trustees of the State Normal
school.
John S. Taylor, born in Kittauning. Arm-
strong Co., Pa.; a graduate of Washington
and Jefferson College. He read law with Hon.
A. W. Taylor, and was admitted to the bar
]\Iarch 5, 1891, and commenced to practice.
He was private secretary of Congressman S.
JI. Jack of the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh
Congresses, and was clerk and solicitor of
the council of the borough of Indiana.
R. M. Wilson, a member of the bar, read
law with Leech & Elkin, and was admitted
July 7, 1892. Removed to Blairsville to ac-
cept a position as cashier of the Blairsville
National Bank. Became treasurer of The
Savings & Trust Company of Indiana,
Pa., serving until his death, August 7, 1913.
R. M. Ewing. a member of the bar. He
read law with Watson & Keener, and was ad-
mitted July 7. 1892. Removed to Pittsburg,
Pa., where he is engaged in the practice of his
profession.
Elder Peelor was born in Indiana county.
Was educated in the common schools. State
Normal, and law department of the L^ni-
versity of i\Iichigan. He read law with S.
J. Telford, and was admitted to the bar
November 22, 1892, and commenced the prac-
tice at Indiana. Subsequently he was elected
prothonotary of the county, and served two
terms. He afterwards resumed practice and
is now of the firm of Peelor & Feit.
E. Walker Smith was born in Indiana
county. A graduate of the State Noi-mal
school of Indiana. Pa., in 1886. He read law
with W. L. Stewart, and was admitted to the
bar March 7, 1892. and commenced to prac-
tice at Indiana. Mr. Smith prior to his ad-
mission was for many years engaged in
teaching.
Hon. John S. Fisher was born in Indiana
county: a graduate of the State Normal
schooi at Indiana ; was for some years prin-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
cipal of the schools of the borough of Indiana.
He read law with Hon. A. W. Taylor, was
admitted to the bar August 19, 1893, and
commenced the practice at Indiana. Subse-
quently formed a law partnership with Sam-
uel Cunningham, and has continued the prac-
tice under the firm name of Cunningham &
Fisher. Mr. Fisher was elected State senator
in 1899 from the district composed of the
counties of Indiana and Jefferson.
W. M. Mahan was born in Indiana county,
a graduate of the State Normal school at Indi-
ana, class of 1890. He read law with Hon.
George W. Hood, was admitted to the bar
November 14, 1895, and commenced the prac-
tice of the law at Indiana. He was elected
and served one term as district attorney for
the county. Was mustered into the United
States service in 1898 as captain of Company
F, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry, in Spanish-American war.
W. Lowry Hutchison, a member of the bar.
He read law with S. J. Telford, and
was admitted to the bar November 14, 1895.
Removed.
"W. F. Elkin was born in Indiana county ; a
graduate of the State Normal school at Indi-
ana, Pa., of the class of 1890. He read law
with his brother, Hon. John P. Elkin, was
admitted to the bar February 5, 1896. and
commenced the practice of law at Indiana.
He was solicitor for the sheriff of said county.
He was mustered into the United States
service in 1898, as second lieutenant of
Company F, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, in the Spanish- American
war.
Boyd R. Ewing, a member of the bar, read
law with S. J. Telford, and was admitted to
the bar July 6, 1896. Removed to Pittsburg,
where he is engaged in the practice of his
profession.
George J. Feit was born in Indiana county ;
a graduate of the State Normal school "at
Indiana, of the class of 1890. He read law
with Jack & Taylor, was admitted to the bar
July 6, 1896, and commenced the practice of
his profession. He was afterwards elected
district attorney for the county, and is the
junior member of the firm of Peelor & Feit.
In 1898 he was mustered into the United
States service as a private, and afterwards
promoted fifth sergeant of Company F, 5th
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry,
in the Spanish-American war.
Alex Mabon, a native of Indiana county,
read law with Samuel Cunningham, and was
admitted to the bar July 6, 1896. He re-
moved to Pittsburg, Pa., where he is now
engaged in the practice of law.
David Blair was born in Indiana; was a
student at Princeton, and a graduate of Wash-
ington and Jefferson College. He read law
with his father, Hon. John P. Blair, and was
admitted to the bar January 15, 1898, and
immediately commenced the practice of his
profession. He was secretary of the Indiana
County Agricultural Society.
William Banks was born at Indiana. He
graduated at the Pennsylvania State College
in 1894, and read law with his father, John
N. Banks, and was admitted to the bar Jan-
uary 15, 1898 ; has since engaged in the prac-
tice of his profession.
Harry W. Fee was born in Indiana county,
and was educated in the common schools. He
read law with D. H. Tomb, and was admitted
to the bar January 15, 1898, and commenced
the practice. He was elected and served one
term as county auditor and was solicitor for
the county commissioners. He was fourth
sergeant of Company F, 5th Regiment, Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, in the Spanish-
American war. Was mustered into service in
1898. Was major in the 10th Regiment,
Pennsylvania National Guard.
Ernest Stewart was born in Indiana. A
graduate of Princeton. He read law with
John N. Banks, and was admitted to the bar
June 14, 1898, and commenced the practice
of his profession ; was junior member of the
law firm of Telford & Stewart until S. J.
Telford was elected president judge.
Charles H. Moore, a graduate of Grove
City College, read law and admitted first in
Butler county; was admitted to the Indiana
county bar February 5, 1900, and is engaged
in the practice of his profession at Blairs-
ville, Indiana county.
James W. Mack studied law with Jack &
Taylor ; admitted to practice August 18, 1903.
H. E. Anderson studied law with E. Walker
Smith ; admitted to practice October 29, 1904.
Is now practicing law in Allegheny county.
H. W. Earhart studied law with John T.
Stuchell; admitted to practice October 29,
1904.
W. C. Chapman studied law with Langham
& Elkin; admitted to practice September 3,
1906.
W. N. Liggett studied law with Cunning-
ham & Fisher; admitted to practice June
8, 1909.
L. E. Miller studied law with Peelor &
Feit ; admitted to practice October 8, 1910.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
395
J. Day Brownlee, Jr., admitted to practice
January 30, 1911.
Richard W. Watson studied law with M. C.
Watson; admitted to practice February 12,
1912.
Elbie E. Creps was born in Rayne township,
Indiana county; graduated from the Indiana
high school, 1901 ; completed the course in the
Indiana State normal school in 1904 ; attended
Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg for two
years; was for two years a student in the law
department of the University of Pennsyl-
vania ; and in October, 1912, was admitted to
the bar of the Supreme court; he is engaged
in the practice of his profession as member
of the finn of Langham, Elkin & Creps.
LIST OF PRESENT ATTORNEYS
S. A. Douglass
Harry Wliite
Coulter Wiggins
J. N. Banks
Samuel Cunningham
J. A. C. Ruffner
il. C. Watson
John H. Hill
Thomas Sutton
D. B. Taylor
S. M. Jack
S. J. Telford
John M. Leech
John A. Scott
John H. Pierce
John P. Elkin
John T. Bell
John L. Getty
J. N. Langham
J. Wood Clark
John S. Taylor
E. Walker Smith
R. M. Wilson
Elder Peelor
John S. Fisher
W. M. Mahan
W. F. Elkin
George J. Feit
David Blair
William Banks
Harry W. Fee
Ernest Stewart
C. H. Moore
James W. Mack
H. E. Anderson
H. W. Earhart
W. C. Chapman
W. N. Liggett
L. E. Miller
J. Day Brownlee, Jr.
Richard W. Watson
Elbie E. Creps
CHAPTER XX
INDIANA BOROUGH
Conrad Rice the elder was a resident of
Lancaster county. Pa., and a blacksmith by
occupation. Being desirous of securing some
land west of the mountains for agricultural
purposes he purchased from a clergyman in
the neighborhood, named Smith, the right to
160 acres, i-epresented to be nine miles from
Greensburg, at ten shillings per acre. In the
spring of 1794 Rice and part of his family
took their leave, of Lancaster county, intend-
ing to make some improvement on their prop-
erty during the summer, and return for the
rest of the family in the ensuing autumn.
They brought with them a team, some farm-
ing implements, and a set of blacksmith's
tools. Having proceeded as far as "Nine-
mile run," near the present village of Youngs-
town, Westmoreland county, they halted and
began to search for the land described in the
deed from Smith. Hon. William Findley,
after careful examination, discovered that the
land was situated near TwoHck creek, and
advised Rice to look for it in that direction.
After a tedious search of several days it was
ascertained that the land embraced what was
afterwards the James P. Carter farm, adjoin-
ing the borough of Indiana, and after tracing
out the lines and taking a hasty view of the
location Rice commenced retracing his steps,
with the intention of bringing on his family
and team from Youngstown, and of proceed-
ing at once to the erection of a cabin.
There were then no roads on this side of the
Conemaugh river, and Rice returned to Camp-
bell's mill, on Blacklick creek, liy the same
path that had guided him hither.
On arriving there he met Capt. Andrew
Sharp, who was about untying his boat and
stai'ting on that di'^iistiniis trip described in
the Armstrong townsliip cliaiiter. From the
information obtained, liici- deemed it unsafe
to bring on his family immediately. :iii(l lliere-
fore removed with them to Li^ouicr X'allcy,
opposite the present village of Ceiilcrxille,
where they continued until the ensuing spring,
the members who had been left in Lancaster
county having in the meantime re.ioined them.
In the spring of 1795 Rice removed here
and immediately commenced work. A tem-
porary shelter was erected by setting up
wooden forks, and crossing them with poles
which were overlaid with bark to serve as a
roof. About eight acres of laud had been
cleared some years before and a cabin built,
but the occupants had been driven off by the
396
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Indians, and the cabin burned. During the
summer a new cabin, 22 by 24 feet, was
erected, and some ground was cleared, but
Rice's horses, four in number, dying, no fall
grain was sown. In the early part of the
winter a yoke of oxen was purchased, and
trained for plowing in the spring. A black-
smith shop was early erected, and the settlei"s
from all around came here to have their work
done. A Mr. Barnett came all the way from
Port Barnett (near the present site of Brook-
ville, Jefferson county), having employed an
Indian guide to point out to him the path, and
bring him to Rice 's. Small parties of Indians
frequently passed the smith shop, going to
or returning from Ligonier or Greensburg.
The country around the site of Indiana was
then thinly settled. On the farm now owned
by Gen. Harry White was a small improve-
ment occupied by Timothy O'Neil. George
Trimble lived on what was subsequently the
Stanard farm. The McLain farm had been
improved by Gawin Adams. Fergus Moor-
head lived on the Isaac IMoorhead farm, now
owned by E. B. Campbell. Thomas Allison
had made a small improvement on what was
afterwards the Robert Allison property, on
the Blairsville road. What was lately the
Alexander Barclay land had been opened out
by James Kelly, and James Thompson was
residing on the CUu-k B. Thompson property.
Rice was never molested by the Indians,
though small parties of them often prowled
about the neighborhood. Each. spring, for a
number of years, be and his family went to
the Crooked Creek valley to make maple sugar,
where was one of the Indians' favorite hunt-
ing grounds, but met with no opposition from
them, probablj' because the hunting season
was then always over.
A party of Indians had one fall been very
successful in hunting in this valley, and at
the close of the season hung up the stock of
skins and venison that had been secured to
the limbs of the trees, beyond the reach of
carnivorous animals, intending to return for
it in the course of the winter. Some white
men strolling through the valley discovered
this valuable store of pelti-y and provisions,
and not having the fear of the Indians before
their eyes carried it off. The owners were of
the Seneca tribe, whose great chief, the cele-
brated Cornplanter, was at that time on
friendly terms with the governor of Pennsyl-
vania. Having discovered the offenders, the
in.iured party sought redress with the civil
tribunal, and had them arrested and tried
in the "Quarter Sessions" at Greensburg,
where they were convicted of the offense and
sentenced to imprisonment.
Game of all kinds was plentj'. Deer were
very numerous, and often came close to the
settlers' cabins. At night they would resort
to the "licks," where the hunters, lying in
wait, killed a great many. In this way the
settler's larder — oft times holding "airy
nothing" — was replenished with the "need-
ful" when other means were wanting. In-
deed, venison was then a desideratum in the
culinary department of every cabin, and the
unlucky wight who returned from a hunting
excursion without a "saddle" or its equiva-
lent in other game had sometimes need of all
his eloquence to reconcile the disappointed
"kitchen cabinet." However, we must do the
pioneer dames and daughters the justice to
say that they were generally kind and forbear-
ing and nobly played their part in the excit-
ing drama of border life.
Bears and panthers were likewise occasion-
ally killed by the hunters, and we find on
the records of the county many entries of
moneys paid for the scalps of the latter. The
fierce catamount and the wily fox, though
slain when opportunity offered, were ac-
counted small game — not much sought after,
and only secured because of the value of their
skins and the premiums paid for their scalps.
In every direction the wolves could be
heard all hours in the night, and frequently
during the day ; but on the eve of a storm they
would become unusually boisterous, whole
packs howling together in concert and caus-
ing the surrounding forest to echo and reverb-
erate with their thrilling notes, which, run-
ning through the entire scale, from the deep-
toned bass of some patriarch chorister to the
shrill, startling tenor of the juvenile yelper,
were well calculated to excite apprehension
and generally caused the inhabitants to be on
the alert. Men, however, soon became accus-
tomed to these sounds and heeded them but
little, except when the noisy crowd, prompted
by hunger, approached them or their dwell-
ings in force, and then the unerring rifle
would put the assailants to flight, though
sometimes not until several of their number
had been dispatched.
Among the curious and exciting adven-
tures that occurred was the following: Con-
rad Rice, the elder, was assisted by his two
.sons, Conrad and Philip, and also sometimes
by a young man whom he had hired. The
coal used in blacksmithing was brought from
a bank on TwoHck. above what was after-
wards known as McLain 's mill. Philip and
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
397
the young man above mentioned went one
day with two horses and a wagon to the liank
for coal, the former carrying the rifle and the
latter driving the team.
Having secured their load, Philip told his
companion to proceed homeward with the
team, whilst he would make a circuit through
the woods in search of game. He had gone
but a short distance when he espied a large
buck near the creek. Raising his rifle and
drawing a quick sight, he fired, severely
wounding his game, which, however, ran up
the hill, the blood streaming from the wound
it had received. Philip quickly reloaded his
rifle and pursued in the direction the buck
had taken. ' Before he had gotten half way
up the hill he saw the buck returning toward
him, at ixill speed, closely followed by an
enormous black bear.
So intent was the one upon escape, and so
bent the other upon success, that the two ani-
mals ran close to where Philip was standing
without perceiving him. Then bruin seized
the antlered veteran, and began to "pitch in,"
handling his huge paws with the dexterity of
an accomplished boxer, when a well directed
ball from Philip's rifle laid him sprawling be-
side his intended victim. The buck thus re-
lieved gathered himself up and ran a short
distance further down the hill, where he was
finally dispatched. The two carcasses were
now dragged to the wagon and placed on the
load of coal, the driver having stopped his
team on hearing the fii-st report of Philip's
rifle.
The dwelling house on the Carter farm was
erected by the elder Rice in 1809. and his son
Conrad brought the nails used in the build-
ing from Watersti-eet, on the Juniata, now in-
cluded in Huntingdon county.
THE SITE OP INDIANA
The site of Indiana was originally covered
with a dense growth of scrubby oak, with
here and there a cluster of hazel bushes,
among which the fox and the catamount would
conceal themselves from observation by day,
awaiting the approach of night, when they
would steal forth under its shades, and com-
mit extensive depredations. Here the bear
made its lair, and the wolf dwelt in safety.
The deer, disregarding the dwarfy oaks,
skipped along at pleasure, and beneath their
spreading branches the hare gamboled un-
molested. In the hollow of some solitary tree
the owl made her home, and from its leafless
bough the hawk viewed the surrounding land-
scape.
It was a solitary spot, where even the rude
son of the forest had not deigned to build his
wigwam. But the time had arrived when the
aspect was to be changed. A band of bold
adventurei-s penetrated into the heart of the
unbroken wild, and reared here the standard
of civilization. Their progress was slow at
first. Inconvenience had to be suffered, dan-
gers met, and difficulties overcome. Cut off
from the great thoroughfares of the State,
with a sparsely settled district of country
around them, and remote from mills, factories,
markets and institutions of learning, their sit-
uation would not have been envied by men
accustomed to live at ease, and less calculated
for emergencies such as had daily to be en-
countered. These village pioneers were in all
respects equal to the task before them. They
possessed resolute hearts and strong arms, and
were deeply impressed with that spirit of en-
terprise which is one of the leading charac-
teristics of the pioneer American.
When Henry Shryoek moved here with his
family there was no public road between the
site of Indiana and Campbell's mills. Some
of the settlers had opened a passage for wag-
ons part of the way, beyond which it was
difficult to proceed, and the progress of
Shryoek 's team was necessarily slow. A public
road was located from Indiana, in the direc-
tion of what was aftei-ward Blairsville, in the
ensuing summer, and opened out in the fall
of 1806. Leonard Shryoek, then a mere lad,
often spoke of the appearance of the "town"
and its surroundings at the time of their ar-
rival. His father drove the team to the high
ground somewhere between the site of the
"Indiana House" and the public buildings,
and leaving the wagon with the efi'ects it con-
tained took the family to Conrad Rice 's, where
they remained several weeks, until their cabin,
in what is now the southeast portion of the
borough, was fitted to receive them. They
resided there until the fall of 1805. by whicli
time their domicile on Philadelphia street was
completed. Removing his family and effects
into the "new house." he opened a tavern,
entertaining strangers and selling the "ar-
dent," the demand for the latter being very
great. Leonard, being the eldest son. was fre-
quently sent to Greensburg, on horseback, to
bring groceries and liquors, which were gen-
erally purchased from Simon Drum, then one
of the principal merchants in that place.
Shryoek did a thriving business, and was soon
compelled to enlarge his building in order to
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
accommodate his numerous customers. On
the judicial organization of the county the
judges and la\v5^ers generally boarded at his
house, it being, at one time, regarded at home
and abroad as the "fashionable headquarters
of the to-svn. ' '
After several stores and mechanical callings
were established, and there were all the evi-
dences of a bi-isk trade, it must not be in-
ferred that the site of the town was all
cleared, for this was not fully accomplished
till several years afterward. There ai-e yet
living pioneers who remember when the deer
were still hovering around the place in large
numbers. As an evidence of their boldness
and indifference to the presence of man Leon-
ard Shryock used to relate that he saw at one
time a dozen, of vai'ious ages and sizes, pass
in single file through the bushes over the ris-
ing ground where the residence of Silas M.
Clark now stands. At another time, as he
was hauling hay on a sled in the winter from
a place several miles northeast of the village,
his dogs started and ran down a large buck.
The snow being deep and cinisted, the buck
broke through, while the dogs kept on the sur-
face. The pursued animal was caught near
the sled, where Shryock finished him by means
of a penknife, and then with the aid of a
passer-by placed the carcass on the load of
hay and" drove into town in triumph.
Robert Coulter, coming here with his
father in 1805, was as much disappointed as
the man of earlier days, long celebrated in
popular song as "Yankee Doodle, who could
not see the town, because there were so many
houses." Coulter's disappointment, however,
was the reverse of his. He had been told that
from the point where the residence of S. M.
Clark is situated he could have a full view of
the town. His expectation was on tiptoe, but
on arriving there and casting his eyes over the
prospect spread before him he saw long lines
of stakes peering up through the bushes, des-
ignating the streets and alleys of the village
that was to be, but the houses were ' ' few and
far between," and very unlike what he had
expected to see.
THE BOROUGH
By the act of 1803, providing for the organ-
ization of Indiana county for judicial pur-
poses, "William Jack, James Parr and John
Pomeroy were designated as trustees for the
county and authorized to "receive pi-oposals
in writing from any person or persons for the
granting and conveying of lands within a
certain distance (four miles) from the center
of said county, for the purpose of erecting
thereon the necessary public buildings."
The said trustees, "having received sundry
propositions, after careful consideration,
fixed upon the spot now occupied as the seat
of justice, on condition that George Clymer
should convey to the county 250 acres of land,
as proposed by him through his agent, Alex-
ander Craig.
"Under an Act passed the 25th day of
March, 1805, Charles Campbell, Randall
Laughlin and John Wilson were appointed to
survey 250 acres of land agreeable to the de-
scription given of the situation and bounda-
ries thereof in a grant and obligation of Al-
exander Craig for George Clymer, made by
him to the Legislature for the county of In-
diana, and were further directed to lay out
a lot not exceeding four acres whereon the
public buildings for Indiana county should
be erected, the residue of said 250 acres to
be laid out into town lots and outlots, the pro-
ceeds arising from the sale thereof to be for
the use and benefit of the county. In pur-
suance of said Acts of Assembl.y and of the
arrangement entered into with the said
George Clymer, the last named trustee caused
250 acres of land to be surveyed out of a
body of 3,050 acres, then owned by Cly-
mer; 134 acres and twenty -two perches
thereof having been originallj' warranted in
the name of John Beck; ninety-nine acres and
sixty-nine perches in the name of James Gall ;
and sixteen acres and seventy-eight perches
in the name of William Brown. All these
were parts of larger tracts."
On the 7th day of September, 1805, George
Clymer, then of the city of Philadelphia, and
Elizabeth, his wife, in consideration of the
promises and for the sum of five shillings law-
ful money to them paid, did give, grant and
lease and confirm to the said Charles Camp-
bell, Randall Laughlin and John Wilson, their
heirs and assigns, the aforesaid 250 acres of
land in trust for the use of laying out a lot or
lots whereon the public buildings for the coun-
ty of Indiana should be erected and for laying
out the remainder in town lots in the manner
described by the said last mentioned Act of
Assembly and for the other uses and purposes
contained in the same Act. The execution of
the deed is attested by Ann Clymer and
George Clymer, Jr. The acknowledgment
was taken on the 9th of September, 1805, by
Thomas Smith, one of the judges of the Su-
preme court of the State; and on the 25th
View of Cuukt House Square, Indiana, Pa.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
399
of April, 1807, the deed was duly recorded
in the proper office in this county.
An amusing error which might have proved
serious was committed by the professional
gentleman who had been employed to prepare
the deed of conveyance from Clymer to the
trustees. Taking the surveyor's draft as his
guide, he went on to describe by courses and
distances the tract of land intended to be con-
veyed, but the desci-iption given by him, hap-
pening to bear south from a certain point
when the draft and survey bore north, the
other bearings were reversed, and the conse-
quence was that the deed called for the land
included in Rice's survey instead of that
owned by Clymer. The mistake was not dis-
covered until the town lots had been laid off
and deeds were being made to some of the
purchasers. The town was all right on the
ground, but all wrong according to the con-
veyance. Fortunately Clymer 's deed had not
been'recorded ; it was therefore canceled and a
new one executed.
The trustees, having set apart the quantity
of ground required for county buildings, laid
off the residue of the tract into town streets
and alle.vs, the town lots numbering 225 and
the outlots ninety-two.
The fork of Twolick and Yellow creeks near
the present site of Homer City was a competi-
tor for the honor of being the county seat.
This site was not without advantages, among
which were its abundance of water, its water
power, and the near proximity of coal but
George Clymer, of Philadelphia, with a view
of enhancing his ad.jacent land, offered the
present site as a gift. This, with the beauty
of the situation and its central position,
turned the scale in its favor. The main street
running east and west was named Philadel-
phia street in honor of the residence of George
Clymer. He was further honored by naming
the principal street running north and south
Clymer (now Sixth street). Originally the
public ground where the courthouse now
stands extended from Philadelphia street to
Water street, and from Clymer street to Sut-
ton alley, nearly three acres. The square upon
which the Lutheran, Presbyterian and United
Presbyterian churches stand originally ex-
tended from Clymer street to Vine street and
from Church street to the then southern limit
of the town, embracing about two and a half
acres. Unfortunately, many years ago,
building lots were sold off these public squares
to save the county a pittance of taxes, and
thus was the beauty of the town marred and
the comfort of the inhabitants impaired. This
was an unpardonable blunder. The proceeds
of the sale of the town lots was applied to the
erection of the county buildings, and thus the
old courthouse (a most creditable building in
its day) and the old jail were built without
taxation and without costing the people a
farthing.
Thomas Allison made the survey of the
town. His son, Andrew Allison, and James
Allison, carried the chain and placed the
stakes, and James ilcClain assisted in keeping
the notes. Along Church street they were
obliged to cut a path through the thicket be-
fore running the line. By an entry on the
books in the commissioners' ofSce, it appears
that Alexander Taj'lor also did some survey-
ing. He probably laid off the outlets. The
sale of lots conunenced on the 10th of Decem-
mer, 1805, by public outcry, and was con-
tinued on the 11th and 12t'h. Another sale
took place on the 29th and 30th of April,
1806, and a third on the 1st of July, 1807.
The prices paid for lots ranged from $5 to
$204. Some unsold lots were disposed of by
the commissioners in 1809 and a small num-
ber of others were resold in 1812.
The courthouse was built in 1808-09. John
McAnulty made the brick, John ilathews was
the mason and bricklayer, and John Huey and
John Ross were the carpenters. The ' ' Johns ' '
bossed that job. Indiana was incoi'porated as
a borough March 11, 1816, John Taylor, being
the first burgess. Its growth has been gradual
and substantial ; its citizens generally thrifty.
The present courthouse was completed in 1871
at a cost of $150,000. The population of the
borough at that time, including West Indiana,
numbered about 3,000. The population in
1910 was 5,739.
The stone county jail was commenced in
1806 and completed in 1807. Rev. John
Jamieson was the contractor. The original
draft was drawn by George Weir. The dimen-
sions laid down were 36 by 30 feet ; the lower
story 9 feet, and the upper 8 feet. James
IMahan did the masonry and Thomas Sutton
the carpenter work. The court held its sit-
tings in the upper jail rooms during several
terms, until the erection of the courthouse.
Prior to the erection of this building the
sheriff, having some prisoners in charge, had
a temporary jail constructed of hickory logs,
the sides and floors being of the same material.
The superstructure was about twenty feet
square and was covered with clapboards. It
stood on the public grounds near the center of
the town. Conrad Rice assisted in hauling
the logs for the hickory jail.
400
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
For want of a more convenient and com-
modious building, the commissioners, for sev-
eral years after the organization of the county,
kept their office in the second story of Philip
Rice's springhouse, south of the town.
The first building within the borough limits
M'as erected near a line spring by Henry Shry-
ock in the fall of 1805, and was the only build-
ing in the village when the first lots were sold.
It was a round log building and was situated
about the center of East Philadelphia street,
about midway between Fifth and Fourth
streets. It was kept as a public house during
the first sale and for several years following,
two additions being made to the first house.
A little later Samuel Young erected a cabin
on Water street, on what was afterwards the
William H. Kerr lot, the logs of which were
subsequently torn down and used in the con-
struction of a house on Church street after-
wards owned by Thomas Rockett. About the
same time William Coulter erected a cabin on
what was afterwards called the Crawford lot
on Philadelphia street, and a few other rude
houses were erected in the winter of 1805-06.
The first two houses of any importance were
the two-story shingle-roofed tavern buildings
of James Moorhead and Peter Sutton, erected
in the spring of 1806. The former was located
on the lot afterwards occupied by Col. D. T.
Porter's residence, Philadelphia street, and
the latter on the site of the Indiana Hardware
Store.
The next building was the frame house of
Sheriff Thomas McCartney, erected in 1806 on
the present site of the "Indiana House."
There he made chairs and wheels and subse-
quently kept a hotel. Afterwards Charles
Kenning built a public house on the John Den-
niston corner, now occupied by W. R. Loughry
& Co. In 1807 James IMoorh'ead built the log
house on Philadelphia street which was after-
wards the residence of Alexander T. Taylor.
In 1807 a building was erected for a carding
machine on Clymer. near Sixth street. This
was afterwards used as a printing office by
James McCahan, and afterwards as the resi-
dence of ex-Sheriff Joseph R. Smith.
The first regular merphant was John Den-
niston, in 1806. His store was a hewed log
building 16 by 18 and was situated on the lot
on Philadelphia street, .iust west of Fifth
street. The first blacksmith was Philip Rice,
who resided on a farm adjacent to the village,
and whose shop, erected in 1806, was situated
not far from the residence of Wood Clark. In
1816 William W. Caldwell opened a black-
smith shop. The first wheelwright and chair-
maker was Thomas McCartney. James Camp-
bell was the first shoemaker prior to 1810.
The first cabinetmaker was Samuel Douglass,
who was the first jailer — he had his shop in
the stone jail. After his death his widow still
retained charge of the jail. He was succeeded
by Mr. Ferguson.
Prior to 1810 the following were located in
Indiana : Samuel Barr and John McAnulty,
brickmakers — the latter made the brick for the
first courthouse; John Ross and John Huey,
carpenters ; William Lawson, the tanner, whose
yard was situated on the southeast corner of
Philadelphia and Fourth streets ; David Gilles-
pie, brick and stone mason; the latter 's last
work was the building of the brick house on
Philadelphia street afterwards occupied by
Lawrence Keslar, Jr. ; John Lucas and William
Lucas, tailors — the former erected (1817-19)
the stone house on Philadelphia street which
was occupied by the Hon. A. W. Taylor ; the
latter built the residence on the northeast cor-
ner of Philadelphia and Seventh streets ; and
William Douglass (a son of Samuel Douglass),
watchmaker and clockmaker.
Jonathan French was the first physician,
and James M. Riddle and Daniel Stanard. who
located here in 1807, were the first resident
attorneys. The first located minister was Rev.
John Galbreath, Presbyterian. The first
teacher was Henry Coleman, who taught in
1807 in a log house on Water street, where
a grocery store is now conducted by McGregor
Brothers.
The first child born in the place was (1806)
Sarah Parker, daughter of Joseph and Mary
Parker, nee Young. The second birth was that
of William Moorhead, son of James Moorhead,
born February 14, 1807, in the James Moor-
head tavern. A story is told by Elizabeth
Shryock, then a little girl five years old, that
the Indians were frequent visitors in Indiana,
and that she could remember how she used to
hide among the trees in the town from the
Indians. This little girl afterwards became
the wife of Ephraim Carpenter.
The tanners were Abner Kelly, in a log
building on the northeast corner of Philadel-
phia and Fourth streets, and Joshua ilarlin.
in a log building on the southwest corner of
the same streets. The shoemaker was John
Golden, in a log building on the present site
of the "Kinter House." William Tintoff was
the painter. The carpenters were Alexander
Stewart and Matthew Rankin. John Douglass
was justice of the peace and Samuel Douglass
was the constable. These were all prior to
1819.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
401
[The following is quoted from the '■Pennsylvania
Gazetteer," 1833.]
"Indiana post, borough and seat of justice,
Indiana county, latitude 40 degrees 38 minutes
north, longitude 2 degrees 8 minutes west from
Washington City, distant about 157 miles west
of Harrisburg, 26 miles southeast from Kit-
tanning and thirty-five northeast from Greens-
burg.
"It lies on the line between Washington
and Center townships, and contains about
sixty dwellings, a courthouse of brick, a prison
of stone, commonly untenanted, eight stores,
five taverns, one Lutheran, one Presbyterian
and one Seceder Church, an academy of stone,
60 by 25, in which the languages and mathe-
matics are taught, incorporated 28th ^March,
1816. and to which the State gave two thou-
sand dollars.
"The turnpike road from Ebensburg to Kit-
tanning runs through the town. The town
was laid out on a tract of 250 acres of land,
granted for that purpose, by George Clymer,
in 1805."
The first mill within the limits of the county
seat was a horse mill situated within a two-
stoi-y log building 40 feet square, which was
located in front of what was afterwards the
tannery of Turner & Co., on East Philadel-
pliia street. The mill was erected by Joshua
Marlin about 182]. The mill, according to
several parties who witnessed it working, was
in active operation in dry weather a short time
prior to 1810. The farmers had not only to
pay the toll, but also to furnish the horses for
the power. For several years there were no
bolting cloths, and corn, wheat and buckwheat
were ground indiscriminately on the single
run of country stone. Sometimes as many as
fifty persons were waiting for their turn and
some would be obliged occasionally to wait
three or four daj'S before their tui-n would
come. The mill, even then, was used as a sort
of inn, and gradually its business changed
until it was kept as a hotel by William Craw-
ford. Subsequently it was used as a private
dwelling until 1878, when it was removed.
The first tannery in the county seat was
erected by William Lawson. not long after the
founding of the village, and at first had only
three vats. He sold to -Joshua ^Marlin, who in
1835 disposed of his interest to James Clark,
a .iustice of the peace of West Indiana, who
removed the tannery from its former position
on the southwest corner of Philadelphia and
Fourth streets to the opposite side of Fourth
street, corner of Philadelphia, and the prop-
erty was afterwards occupied as an "Ice
Park." In 1842 :\Ir. Clark sold the tannery
to William Henry. The next proprietor was
William Houston, \'.-ho after a few j-ears gave
way to John G, Thompson, who was the last
occupant. The second tanuerj' was erected
by ila.i. Abner Kelly on the northwest corner
of Philadelphia and Fourth streets, in or
about the year 1823. After an occupancy of
several years he disposed of the property to
Robert Whitby, who managed its operation
till 1844, since which time it has not been in
use.
The next tannery M-as erected by Judge
James ]\IcKennon in 1841 on land purchased
from Robert Whitby in 1840 at the southeast
corner of Cherry alley and Philadelphia street,
and now owned and operated by the Robin-
steen Collar & Leather Company. This tan-
nerj% like all others of that time, was a "cold
water" tannery, no steam being used. It is
the largest tannery in Indiana county, its ca-
pacity for harness leather being about 150
hides per week. ilr. ilcKennon operated the
tannery until 1845. when it was sold by his
executors to Charles B. Campbell, who twelve
vears later disposed of the property to John
R. Campbell and N. P. Turner, they in 1864
selling it to Philip Marshall, who in 1865 im-
proved the plant by adding steam power.
Marshall operated the tannery until about
1876. when it passed into the hands of the
estate of William Beck, deceased. In 1877 the
property was leased and operated by N. P.
Turner and later by Turner & Company (N.
P. Turner. Prof. J. H. Young and Thomas
Sutton") for about three years. In 1880 the
property was leased by Samuel and George P.
^IcCartney. who ran the business until the fall
of 1882 under the name of S. IMcCartney &
Son. In December of that year the property
was purchased of the William Beck estate by
Edward Rowe. who operated the tannery until
1884. when the "Indiana Tanning Company."
a partnership concern, was formed, compris-
ing G. P. McCartney, Prof. J. H. Young, Ed-
ward Rowe, Robert Milliken, Sr., and Robert
Milliken, Jr. The Indiana Tanning Company
largely rebuilt and improved the plant, oper-
ating it quite successfully until 1893. at which
time the Millikens, Sr. and Jr.. sold their in-
terest to the other partners, who added the
manufacture of leather belting to the output.
In 1897 J. H. Young sold out to :\IcCartney &
Rowe. who in 1898 sold the property to B. L.
Junker of Pittsburg, who discontinued the
manufacture of belting, confining the product
to that of harness leather principally, and still
under the name of the Indiana Tanning Com-
402
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
panj^ Mr. Junker improved the plant by in-
stalling a new engine and some other machin-
ery and in 1905 turned the property over to
the "Robinsteen Collar and Leather Com-
pany," a Pittsburg industry, moved to Indi-
ana that year, the product of which is horse
collars; the latter company (a corporation)
has improved the property by the erection of
a collar factory, about 50 by 140 in size and
two stories higla, facing on Philadelphia street,
and by the addition to the tannery of "tan-
ning wheels" that enable them to tan and
turn raw hides into finished collar leather,
ready for use, in from three to four weeks.
The old "cold water" processes required about
four months for collar, six months for harness
and almost a year for sole leather. The little
old "cold water" tanneries, of which there
were many scattered throughout the county,
tried to tan and make nearly everything in the
leather line, but that they were not always
successful is illustrated by a story of one out
on Buck run, fifty or sixty years ago : An old
cobbler by the name of Wright said of J. R.
Buterbaugh, a tanner: "Jake Buterbaugh
can make good upper leather, all right, but
damn his sole." Tanning, as an industry, in
Indiana county, is now almost extinct; forty
to sixty years ago every village had' its tan-
•nery, some of them two or three, and many
were located throughout the country along the
roadside, but practically all have been aban-
doned. The Indiana Tannery is now believed
to be the only one in active operation; from
1885. to 1905 it was at its best as a "harness"
leather tannery, the number of operatives em-
ployed being about eighteen ; • at present it
makes nothing but "collar" leather for the
use of the collar factory, the number of em-
ployees in both plants being about fifty. The
product of the collar factory is shipped all
over the United States and many ai'e exported.
The next tannery was established in 1851
by James Clark and was situated on the north-
west corner of Sixth and Water streets, and
was afterwards used by Isaac Beck for his car-
riage factory. In 1865 Mr. Clark sold the
property to Mr. George Stadtmiller, who occu-
pied it as a tannery for about six years, and
was the last to use it for such purpose.
In 1858 a steam sawmill erected several
years prior by John H. Shryock was sold to
Hodgen & Morrow, who changed it into a
steam tannery. In 1869 James Clark became
the owner, and after carrying it on for sev-
eral years sold the property to Jolm Wetling.
In the fall of 1872, while tlie latter owned it,
the tannery was burned, ilr. Wetling dis-
posed of the lot to C. U. Gessler, who, in com-
pany with his brother, E. Gessler, erected a
tannery on West Philadelphia street. There
were twenty-five inside and eighteen outside
vats. A fourteen-horse power engine and
three men were employed. The capacity per
annum was 2,500 hides. The product was
rough leather, generally shipped to Eastern
cities for a market.
The first man to sell goods was Samuel
Young, who in 1806 had a small stock of goods
in a log cabin which was situated on a lot on
Water street afterwards occupied by John
McGill's pottery. Mr. Young, before the
founding of the village, had resided on a tract
north of the place, now a part of the farm of
Gen. Harry White.
The first steam engine in the town was
brought in 1853 by Shryock & Johnston to a
sawmill located below Daugherty's planing-
mill.
Mr. Ephraim M. Carpenter says: The
first house built in Indiana was in 1806 on
Philadelphia street, in front of where the
Thomas flats now stand. The spring which is
there now was there at that time. The build-
ing was a small cabin built by Henry and
Leonard Shryock. The first building where
the "Moore Hotel" now stands was used as a
hotel and afterwards as a dwelling.
Beginning at the alley east of Daugherty's
drug store, extending west one mile, and south
across the run near the Oakland cemetery, and
east, south of Indiana normal school to rail-
road, thence north irregularly to place of be-
ginning, was the farm of Francis Gompers,
the grandfather of James Gompers. Mr.
Gompers' large bank barn stood where the
Episcopal church now stands. It would cer-
tainly be odd to see this tract of land in wheat,
oats, corn and potatoes instead of the normal
and public schools, churches, flouring-mill and
dwelling houses that now cover the entire
tract.
On the east side of this triangular tract,
Augustus Drum owned several acres where the
large oak trees stand in the beautiful campus
owned by Hon. John P. Elkin. A man by the
name of James Todd, the grandfather of Mrs.
J. T. Bell, deceased, owned where the old stock-
yard stands. James Sutton owned where
Hon. John P. Elkin now lives. James E.
Coulter purchased a lot where Daugherty's
drug store now stands. A large flouring-mill
was built by Mitchell (father of Johnson
Mitchell, deceased) & Boyle, about the time
the raili'oad came to Indiana. It stood on
Church street, where the Buchanan wholesale
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
403
grocery now stands. The plans for the build-
ing were made by Mr. Treese, of Saltsburg.
He estimated the cost of the building at $8,000,
and the real cost was $20,000. His reason for
making such a low estimate was that if he had
given a true estimate the building would not
have been erected. This caused financial
trouble and it was purchased by David Ellis
and Conrad Hoffman. The mill was burnt
July 29, 1858. There was no insurance on
buildings at that time.
The first celebration in Indiana was held
July 4, 1843, in the Drum gi'ove, under the
large oak trees on the lot now owned liy Hon.
John P. Elkin. The dinner was prepared by
AV. B. Clark, who kept a hotel where Godfrey
Marshall's harness store now stands. Large,
long tables were set in the gi-ove, and dinner
served there to those who ^^^shed to buy. The
first brass band that ever came to town came
from Saltsburg on that occasion. The boys
went to the hill near Oakland cemetery to
meet the band and escort them to town. They
came in large road wagons, as that was the
only mode of conveyance at the time. It must
have been a very interesting celebration, for
Pliilip Youngblood, one of the old citizens, re-
plied, "I'se seen more than a thousand
Fourths of July and I never seed one like
this."
On the corner where the W. E. Lougliry &
Co. store now stands jMr. James ]\IcKennan
conducted a general store, his stock including
whiskev. The next building west was owned
by Isaac :M. Watt, father of J. :\I. Watt, de-
ceased. He lived in a brick house on the south
side^of the lot and kept a harness shop on the
street. He afterwards built the house occu-
pied by Sloan Brothers. Next came the build-
ing where the deposit bank now stands. It
was a general store conducted by James Sut-
ton, uncle of Thomas Sutton. As was the cus-
tom in those days he sold whiskey, but was
converted by an evangelist who came here
about the time the Washingtonian Society^ was
in vogTie, and after he was converted emptied
all his whiskey into the street. Whiskey was
sold at fifty cents per gallon.
In the next building Samuel C. Brown kept
a harness shop and sold beer and gingerbi-ead.
It seems that he made money in this way, for
the beer cost very little, being made of sugar,
molasses and rainwater mixed together, and
standing until it fermented.
The next was an old house on the corner.
It was built by Thomas Sutton. Ephraim
Carpenter lived on the corner where the Cun-
ningham Company store now stands. Tlie
building was made of logs and weather-
boarded. It had a double front with an "L."
It is said that the first coui-t of the county was
held in this building. This two-story struc-
ture was burnt in daylight February 12, 1840,
catching fire fi-om a stovepipe which ran
through the floor.
In the next building a drug store was kept
by Mr. Evans, who was a Whig. He and W.
B. Clark had a bet on Clay and Polk, who
were then candidates for president of the
United States. Mr. Evans bet his store and
lost out, and turned the key over to Clark.
Finding that the bet would not hold, he asked
for the key to feed, his horse and would not
give it up again. The same year the Demo-
crats had an ox roast on Vinegar hill, west of
Henry Prothero's liouse. There was a large
crowd and most of the people from a distance
either walked or came on horseback. There
were few buggies.
The first paper-mill was built in 1854 by
Sutton, Wliite & Co. and Shryoek. and was
located where the B., R. & P. depot now stands.
The drying grounds were where the woolen-
mill now stands. The mill was burned in
July, 1859, just one year after the flouring-
mill was burnt. There was $3,000 insurance
on the paper-mill.
The mill was rebuilt and the next firm was
Sutton & Allison, who introduced the steam
drying machinery, and in 1867-68 remodeled
tlie mill. In 1869 the firm name became Sut-
ton & McCartney. They employed thirteen
men, using three tons of straw per day. and
producing daily two tons of strawboard. They
had two engines of 125 horse power and three
tubular boilers of 160 horse power. Sutton
& ^McCartney built a brick structure with a
slate roof, making it as far as possible fire-
proof. These expenditures with additional
machinery involved an outlay of $15,000. The
product of this mill was sold in New York
City. It was a favored brand in the market,
owing to the strength of the fiber of the rye
straw, and the softness of tlie water used in
its manufacture.
There were six acres of ground on Philadel-
phia street connected with this mill, and all
the conveniences of water and' buildings to
afford desired facilities. We present the bor-
ing record of this main well, "of which there
are several, as well as ponds to give a needful
supply of pure, soft water." The diameter
of this well is 6 inches. The record of boring
shows : Clay, 12 feet ; miid. 2 feet ; black slate,
20 feet; white sandstone. 30 feet; black slate,
52 feet; black and white clav, 95 feet: white
404
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
fire claj', 6 feet, and white sand rock, 31/2 feet.
The water rose to within 8 feet of the surface.
"Indiana, the seat of justice for Indiana
county, is located on a beautiful plain, fifteen
miles nearly north of Blairsville, and fifty
miles north of east of Pittsburg. The county
of Indiana is an agricultural one, having, be-
sides the seat of justice, Blairsville, Armagh,
Strongstown and Saltsburg in it."
Directory of Indiana. — Postmaster — -James
McKennan. Merchants — William Houston,
Robert Nixon, Jonathan Ayres, John Patton,
David Ralston, J. and J. Sutton, W. and J.
Taylor. Druggists— Mitchell & Gettys, Wood-
roe Douglass. Attorneys at law — Daniel Stan-
ard, William Banks, John Myers, . Augustus
Drum, Joseph J. Young. Physicians — James
M. Stanard, John Oettys, Robert Mitchell.
Innkeepers — William Henry, William Clarke,
Robert Nixon, W. W. Caldwell. Justices of
the peace — Fergus Cannon, Woodroe Doug-
lass. Prothonotary — Thomas Laughlin. Reg-
ister and Recorder — Woodroe Douglass. Pres-
ident judge of the district — Hon. Thomas
White. — [Harris' Directory of 1837.]
EARLY HOTELS
The early hotels were, in order, those kept
by Henry Shiyock, Peter Sutton, Jr., James
Moorhead, John McAnulty, Charles Kenning,
Thomas McCartney, on the site of the "Indi-
ana House"; Leonard Shryock, in a building
erected by John Douglass and Peter Sutton,
Jr., in what was afterwards known as the
"Kline House"; Chester 0. Jones, in the
Mitchell building on the site of the I. 0. 0. F.
hall; W. W. Caldwell, in the brick building
occupied by Michael Swaney's "Black Horse
Tavern"; Robert Nixon, in the stone building
formerly occupied by him as a store; George
Selvers, in what was afterwards known as the
"Derr House," where he had a brewery, and
he simply added the hotel to the brewery;
William Crawford, in the old Joshua Marlin
log mill ; Bennett Wissel, in a brick building
on the east side of Clymer street, between
Church and Philadelphia streets; William
McCracken, in what is now the "Kinter
House ' ' ; and John A. Jamison, in the Robert
Wliitby brick building, north side of Phila-
delphia street, on the second lot west of Fourth
street.
WEST INDIANA BOROUGH
The petition to incorporate the borough of
West Indiana was approved by the grand jury
June 15, 1870, and on September 28, 1870, the
court confirmed the judgment of the grand
jury and decreed that the said town of West
Indiana be incorporated into a borough. The
first election for borough officers was held at
the public schoolhouse on Tuesdaj', November
8, 1870, between the hours of eight o'clock a.
M. and seven o 'clock p. m. Mr. Dubre Thomas
was appointed by the court to give due notice
of the election, and the following were to be
the election officers: Judge, Peter Sutton;
inspectors, William B. Hildebrand and James
Clark. The election resulted as follows:
Judge of election, Robert Willard ; inspectors,
Archibald S. Thompson and Thomas Sutton;
assessor, Andrew L. MeCluskey; assistant as-
sessors, James L. Hazlett and Lewis E. Freet ;
overseers of the poor, Dubre Thomas and John
Sutor; justice of the peace, Andrew L. Me-
Cluskey; constable, James R. Bell; school di-
rectors, William B. Hildebrand, William B.
Marshall, Thomas St. Clair, Martin Earhart,
John C. Cochran, Peter Sutton; auditors, A.
S. Cunningham, A. J. Hamilton, Philip A.
Williams; burgess, James Clark; town council,
Hugh A. Thompson, Patrick Burns, John H.
Cunningham, Hugh S. Thompson, John S. G.
Wine ; high constable, Philip Muller. The
highest number of votes cast for any candi-
date was 97.
In 1895 West Indiana borough incorporated
with Indiana borough and Indiana borough
was divided into four wards, and on Tuesday,
February 18, 1896, elections were held in the
various wards resulting as follows :
In the First ward the election was held in
the courthouse and the following officers were
chosen : Judge of election, John H. Pierce ;
inspectors, Edson Beck and Fred Selig; con-
stable, Jacob Wetling; school directors, S. J.
Telford and J. N. Laughlin; town council,
James C. McGregor, J. M. Dixon, John F.
Steving.
In the Second ward the election was held
in the election house of the Second ward, and
the following officers were elected : Judge of
election, Samuel Sebring ; inspectors, Scott M.
Geesey and S. P. Wilson ; constable, E. H.
Lichteberger ; school director, George T.
Hamilton; town council, J. M. Cunningham
and H. C. Christy.
In the Third ward the election was held in
the paint shop of R. T. Marlin, and the fol-
lowing officers were elected: Judge of elec-
tion, George J. Feit; inspectors, A. T. Lowry
and Jacob Younkins; constable, G. W. Roof;
school director, V. M. Cunningham.
In the Fourth ward the election was held
in the council chamber of the Fourth ward,
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
405
and resulted as follows: Judge of eleetiou,
William ilahan; inspectors, D. M. Caldwell
and J. A. AVissell ; constable, D. R. Pringle ;
town council, Hugh M. Bell.
The borough ofli'";crs were as follows : High
constable, AYilson Rupert ; auditors, D. W.
Simpson, J. T. Boucher, R. T. Marlin; tax
collector, James A. White; treasurer, A. W.
Jlabon ; street commissioners, John R. Bryan
and William A. Lewis.
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER
To keep abreast of the times and modern
improvements, the necessity for the intro-
duction of electric lighting in the borough
of Indiana became apparent. In the winter
of 1890-91 Edward Rowe circulated a sub-
scription list among the citizens and the
amount thought necessarj- to build an electric
light plant ($20,000) was soon subscribed in
amounts of from $50 to $1,000, there being one
subscription, however, of $5,000. A company
was incorporated in 1891 under the name of
Indiana Electric Company, capital stock,
$30,000 (the amount first subscribed having
been found insufficient) ; $27,850. or 1.114
shares in all, at $25 each, were issued, paid
for, and $10,000 worth of bonds sold. The
original subscribers numbered seventy-one
Indiana citizens, which number was subse-
quently, by the second subscription, increased
to seventy-seven. The first board of directors
were : Edward Rowe. president ; G. P. Mc-
Cartney, W. S. Daugherty, H. M. Bell, W. B.
Kline, J. Wilse ]\IcCartney, treasurer; John
L. Paul, secretary. The different secretaries
during the existence of the company were:
John L. Paul, George W. Gilbert and B. B.
Tiffany; superintendents. S. il. Wlieeler,
Ernest Gawthrop, Edward Rowe, Nelson W.
Dalton and George P. McCartney. A lot hav-
ing a railroad siding was purchased on the
north side of Water street, between Eighth
and Ninth, contracts let and the erection of
a plant begun in the spring of 1891. A slate-
roofed, brick building 46 by 100 feet in size
was built, in which was installed one 100-horse
power boiler, one 125-horse power engine, one
incandescent and two arc light dynamos. The
necessary poles and wires having Ijeen erected
throughout the town, the company began to
supply electricity for both house and street
lighting use on October 24, 1891.
In 1895 the plant was remodeled and added
to by the installation of another boiler, two
new engines and two dynamos. It was consid-
ered at that time as a "model and strictly
up-to-date electric light plant" and was vis-
ited and inspected for information by com-
mittees on lighting from a number of other
towns, continuing to serve such purpose, with
little or no interruption, until 1905. The ma-
chinery was operated only from dusk to dawn,
no day current being supplied. In 1905 the
company was merged with the Indiana Cold
Storage and Ice Company, a new company be-
ing foi-med and incorporated under the title
of the Indiana Provision Company; capital
stock, $175,000; par value of shares, $100
each. The original board of directors of this
company were: R. N. Ray, president: C. B.
Comstock. architect and engineer of construc-
tion: Edward Rowe. G. P. ilcCartney,
George R. Stewart, James St. Clair, J. Wilse
McCartney, treasurer. New three-stoi-y brick
buildings, covering 70 by 200 feet of space,
were erected on Water street, between Tenth
and Eleventh, in which were installed three
boilers, aggregating 1,000-horse power, tur-
bine engines and dynamos of 600-horse power
and ice and refrigeration machinery of 200-
horse power. Large refrigeration and cool-
ing rooms were also installed. Electric cur-
rent for Indiana was supplied from the new
plant late in 1905, and the old plant closed
down and dismantled. Continuous day and
night current was introduced in 1906, and
Indiana then began the use of motors for
driving elevators and many kinds of light
machinery.
Tantalum and Tungsten lamps made their
appearance in 1908. The Tungsten, however,
being the most economical, has practically dis-
placed all others. In January. 1912. the cap-
ital stock and bonds of the Indiana Provision
Company were bought by New York interests,
owners of a large number of plants in Penn-
sylvania, about $210,000 being involved in the
transaction. It is at this writing (1913) oper-
ated under the title of Penn Public Service
Company, who have improved the plant by a
high tension line connecting with their plants
at Blairsville and Johnstown and have rebuilt
the pole line throughout Indiana. The serv-
ice is first class and the business has increased
very considerablv since thev took it over.
W.iTERWORKS
In 1884 .Toel Fink, of Livermore, and his
son, Gilmore C. Fink, of Washington. Pa.,
drilled a well for gas on land of Hon. G. W.
Hood, in "^^'est Indiana, now the Fourth ward.
Indiana. The well was put to the depth of
2,655 feet without having shown a trace of
406
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
gas, but at 325 feet an apparent abundance of
splendid water was encountered, thought suf-
ficient to supply Indiana. Sometime later,
Joel Fink, Mr. Hood and Edward Rowe con-
ferred in the matter and it was decided to
organize a company to build a waterworks
plant. On March 12, 1886, a meetinswas
called for the purpose at the office of Mr.
Hood, and the Indiana Water Company and
the West Indiana Water Company were or-
ganized; the capital stock of each company
was $10,000 : par value of shares, $50 each.
The original subscribers to the stock were:
Joseph M. Pox, of Philadelphia; Joel Fink,
Gilmore C. Pink, Martin Earhart, George W.
Hood, Dr. N. P. Ehrenfeld, Henry Hall, Ed-
ward Rowe. Harry W. Wilson, Samuel A.
Smith. It having been discovered that a for-
mer charter had been taken out and on record
in Harrisburg, as the Indiana Water Com-
pany, these two companies were incorporated
under the names of the Clymer Water Com-
pany of Indiana and the Clymer Water Com-
pany of West Indiana, named after George
Clymer, of Philadelphia, who donated the
land on which Indiana is built. The first
board of directors were: G. W. Hood, Ed-
ward Rowe, Joel Fink, Joseph M. Pox, Gil-
more C. Pink; first president, Hon. G. W.
Hood ; first secretary and superintendent, Ed-
ward Rowe ; first treasurer, Harry W. Wilson.
A plan of mains, gates, fire hydrants, water
tanks, etc, made by Edward Rowe was
adopted and Gilmore C. Fink appointed man-
aging director to proceed with the erection of
a pumping plant, laying of mains, etc. John
R. Bowers bossed 1he laying of mains, which
were the heaviest cast-iron water pipes made
at that time. They were laid in trenches three
and a half feet deep. The reservoirs were iron
tanks, made of boiler iron, and located on
Hood's hill above the pumping plant; one,
holding 200,000 gallons, is located 105 feet
above the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks at
Philadelphia street to the bottom of the tank,
which is 20 feet high and 43 feet in diameter;
the other tank, holding 100,000 gallons, was
located at a point 300 feet above the railroad
tracks, right near where the "bee tree" was
cut. That is another story, but it is history
and might rs well be fired off right here. Back
in about 1880 Joe Thompson, J. A. C. Ruffner,
Frank Sansom and Bberhart Gessler quietly
slipped up on the hill one night to cut a bee
tree that Eberhart had found. They had a
lantern and a lot of buckets to carry the
honey, also some other "necessaries" for that
kind of job. Joe had taken some sulphur to
stifle the bees. Ruffner chopped the tree and
when it fell the other fellows rather backed
off, but Eberhart bravely rushed in to get the
honey, when a bee zipped him on the neck,
and others got into action, too. Eberhart 's re-
marks were not made in whispers. They were,
rather, explosions, good and loud : ' ' Owooch !
Donner wetter ! Dunder und blitzen ! Owwoo !
Git oud, you little teffel, py gripes, zip ! Gott
in himmel, owooch ! Hell ! Owoo ! Choe !
Choe! Phcre iss der soolfire? Dere iss pees
he-er. " They only got about half a pint of
honey, but buckets of fun.
The upper tank was used at the time for fire
purposes, creating a pressure on the mains
of 130 pounds per square inch. Work build-
ing the plant was begun in 1886, but the works
were not completed and water turned into the
mains until June, 1887. The first fire in town
after the water had been turned on only a
week or two was at the residence of William
S. Pattison, on Church street. West Indiana,
and it was successfully extinguished with but
little damage. The second is thought to be
that at the furniture factory of Helreigle &
Hook, on Water street, which was also put
out with no great damage. In building the
works five and a half miles of mains were laid,
and sixty-eight fire hydrants, each having two
outlets, were installed. In 1887 another well
was 'drilled and up to 1898 five more were
drilled, with a view of increasing the supply
of water, making seven wells in operation, the
demands of the town for water continually
increasing and almost from the first being be-
yond the capacity of the waterworks to sup-
ply. In 1899 a new pumping plant was built
on "Twoliek" creek, below the mouth of Ram-
sey run, and a 200.000-gallon tank erected on
Klingenberger 's hill, in White township,
since which time the supply of water has been
adequate for the needs of the town. In 1895
the two boroughs of Indiana and West Indiana
consolidated and became one, under the name
"Indiana Borough." In 1899 the two water
companies consolidated and became the "Cly-
mer Water Company." In 1906-07 the plant
was greatly improved and increased by the
construction of a new 3,000,000-gallon reser-
voir on GoPipers' hill, east of town, the install-
ation of a new, large pump in the pump house
at Twoliek creek, the laying of a twelve-inch
rising main from the pumping plant to the
reservoir, a twelve-inch supply main on School
street from the reservoir to Oakland avenue
(to which )nain all cross streets are connected
by proper mains and gates), and a number of
smaller mains. A thorough and complete fil-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tration plant is also iustalled at the pumps
and all water filtered before being sent to the
reservoir. A chemical treating plant is also
installed there and all water is chemically
treated for the destruction of germs, if any ;
tests of the water are made daily and chemical
anal.ysis shows the supply to be almost abso-
lutely pure. As the demand recjuired, new
mains and extensions have been added from
year to year, until the aggregate length of
mains now in use is about eighteen miles ; the
number of fire hydrants supplied, ninety.
Many fires that otherwise would have been
disastrous have been stopped in their incip-
ieney by the Indiana firemen with water from
these hydrants.
The total reservoir capacity of the works
is about 3.500,000 gallons; pumping capacity,
about 3.000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours.
Indiana has been pretty thoroughly sewered
in the past ten years, causing an increased
demand for water, the number of water eon-
sumere at this time being slightly over thirteen
hundred.
The different presidents of the Clymer
Water Company, in their regular order, have
been : Hon. George W. Hood, Wellington B.
Kline. John H. Hill. Frank L. Harvey (pres-
ent), of Foxburg, Pa. Secretaries and super-
intendents: Edward Rowe. Franklin San-
som. Hugh I^I. Bell, W. S. Hamilton (present) .
Treasurers, Han-v W. Wilson, James R.
Daugherty. Robert :\L Wilson, J. Wilse :\Ie-
Cartney (present, 1913).
Of tile officers of this companv GiLmore C.
Fink died (accidentallv killed) in 1888,
George W, Hood in 1899. Joel Fink in 1906.
Wellington B. Kline in 1904, Hugh M. Bell
in 1910, Robert :M. Wilson in 1913.
INDIANA SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT
The Indiana Sewage Disposal Plant was
constructed in 1909-10, about two miles south
of Indiana. The designs for the plant were
prepared by the firm of ]\Iullen & Pealer, civil
engineers of Indiana. Pa., and the construc-
tion of the work was under the supervision
and direction of the junior member of the
firm, Thomas Pealer, borough engineer of
Indiana. The contractors were 'M. Bennett &
Sons, of Indiana. The following description
of the plant is taken from an article written
bv Mr. Thomas Pealer for the "Engineering
Record." of April 30, 1910:
"Wlien completed the works will comprise
a screening and gi-it chamber, two sludge
tanks, dosing tank and coke chamber, sprink-
ling filters, settling tanks and sludge pond.
The work is being executed in plain and rein-
forced concrete and covers a tract of about
nine acres along the line of the Indiana branch
of the Pennsylvania railroad and the Indiana
electric railroad, about two miles south of the
borough center. The ground surface slopes
from the^inlet end of the works towards a
small creek, known as Marsh run, into which
the effluent will discharge, and between the
points where the sewage enters and leaves the
plant there is a fall of some thirty feet, which
is ample to insure a gravity flow' through the
tanks and filters.
The area of the borough is about one thou-
sand acres, and is divided by two valleys into
four natural drainage districts of about equal
size. The separate sj'stem of sewerage is used,
and no trade wastes or surface drainage are
allowed to enter the sanitary drains, which
consist of two 12-inch interceptoi-s, which dis-
charge by gravity into one 18-inch main sewer
leading to the disposal works. The 12-ineh
interceptors parallel the east and west valleys
to form a junction one mile south of Indiana,
where the two streams which drain the val-
leys combine. The 18-inch main sewer, which
carries the flow from this point to the disposal
works, is approximately six thousand feet
"The 18-ineh main sewer terminates at a
manhole near the inlet end of the works and
from this point is carried to the screening and
grit chamber, where the heavier matters in
suspension will be intercepted. From this
point the flow may be directed either into the
sludge tanks or into a by-pass leading to the
sludge pond, which is located on the banks of
the creek. Under normal conditions, however,
the sewage from the screening chamber will
discharge into an inlet gallery extending
across the end of the two sludge tanks, a num-
ber of inlet openings being provided in order
to secure an even distribution of flow through-
out the width of the latter. The works were
designed to treat 800.000 gallons of sewage
daily; the capacity of each tank is about
200,000 gallons, so that when both are in oper-
ation a detention period of about twelve Iiours
will be afforded. The tanks were installed in
duplicate, so that one may be cut out of the
system and cleaned while the other is in oper-
ation; at all times, therefore, there will be a
continuous flow fz-om the screening chamber
to the dosing tank which feeds the sprinkling
filters.
' ' Provision is made for removing the sludge
from these tanks by means of valved openings
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
iu the floor, which connect to a 24-inch pipe
leading to a settling pond or sludge basin.
Here the liquid will be drained off and the
sludge allowed to dry out.
"The settling pond is an area enclosed by
earth embankments and is filled to a depth of
12 inches with slag, under which stone under-
drains have been laid to carry the drainage
by gravity into the creek near by. The main
sludge pipe from the sludge tanks enters the
pond 12 inches below the top of the embank-
ment, and is laid to encircle the pond; T-
branches with ends controlled by flap valves
are introduced into the main distributing
sludge pipe at frequent intervals, so that the
entire area of the pond may be dosed uni-
formly. A connection to the settling pond by
means of an 18-inch pipe also is made from
the settling tanks, which receive the sprinkling
effluent ; the suspended matter or humus from
the cnished stone surfaces which is deposited
in these basins, therefore, may be disposed of
by the same methods used for the sludge col-
lected in the primary tanks. When the work
is completed it is intended to plant a hedge
around the settling pond, and so screen it off
from the drive which encircles it.
' ' The sprinkling filter beds are to be dosed
automatically by an 18-inch Miller siphon, a
form of apparatus which contains no moving
parts, but is locked or put into operation by
the rise and fall of the sewage level in the
dosing tank. The inlet end of the siphon is
covered by a cast-iron bell 3 feet 6 inches in
diameter and 3 feet deep, and the usual pipes
extend under its rim to form a U-trap, which,
when filled with water, locks the air under
the bell. The working of this apparatus was
described in detail in the 'Engineering Rec-
ord' of August 21, 1909, in connection with
the dosing of the contact beds at Auburn, N.
Y. The chamber is built of reinforced con-
crete and is hopper-shaped, with three of its
sides sloping outward. The tank is built in
this form in order that the head upon the
nozzles, as the sewage level in the dosing cham-
ber falls, may be so regulated as to secure an
even distribution of the spray from the sprink-
lers over the crushed stone area. It is the
intention to apply to the beds at each dosing
about nine thousand gallons. In the side of
the dosing tank, and slightly above the level
to which the liquid will rise before the siphon
is put in action, is an overflow pipe connected
to the main distributor, so that, in the event
of a sudden large flow of sewage or an acci-
dent to the siphon apparatus, the contents of
the tank will be carried through the overflow
and on to the sprinkling bed without flooding
over the top of the dosing chamber.
"From the dosing chamber the sewage will
flow into a 14-inch cast-iron pipe line extend-
ing the length of the bed. This line is laid
inside of a long inlet gallery and is supported
above the floor by a low concrete wall. The
connection between this main distributor and
the siphon is made with a cast-iron T. Lateral
distributors are taken off from the main line
by T-connections every 11 feet 6 inches, and
on each lateral line is a 6-inch gate valve, so
that any of them may be cut out of the system
if so desired. These valves are all in the inlet
gallery and easily accessible.
"The sprinkling filter measures 220 by 100
feet in the clear, and is enclosed by reinforced
concrete walls, those on the east and west sides
of the bed serving also as the walls of the dis-
tributing and collecting galleries. The floor
is of concrete 4 inches thick, troweled to a
smooth finish, and has a fall of IS inches
toward the east or main collector gallery into
which they drain ; since they are open at both
ends they may easily be flushed out from hose
attachments, which are provided. The tiles
themselves each have four openings, two in
each side, and are laid with open .joints so that
the sewage after passing through the crushed
stone bed may drain into them readily.
"The filtering material will be crushed
limestone obtained from a quarry twenty miles
south of Indiana. The Pennsylvania railroad
has built a siding from its tracks to the dis-
posal works, so that the problem of handling
material and supplies is comparatively
simple. The bulk of the limestone will be
graded to three sizes, 4 inch, 2 inch and
screenings, and will be filled in to a depth
of about 61/2 feet above the fioor of the filter.
"In connection with the flushing out of
the underdrainage system it is proposed to
construct a water tower on top of a hill in
back of the screening chamber. This tank
will be of reinforced concrete and is designed
to hold about 15,000 gallons. A gas engine
and pump will be installed at the pump
house and water will be drawn from the creek
and elevated to the tower, so that it will be
possible to obtain at the sprinkling filter a
pressure of 60 pounds per square inch for
flushing. Hose connections have been placed
at various points about the plant and water
under pressure will be available at the dif-
ferent parts of the work.
"The main collector gallery, previously
noted, is 31/0 feet in width and extends the
entire length of the east wall of the filter
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
409
This chaimel drains from either end toward
the center and into a sump about 40 feet
long extending along the ends of the settling
tank. A groove is cast in the concrete tloor
of the collector gallery forming a circular
invert whose bottom is 3 inches lower than
the floor of the collector gallery. From the
sump at the center of the collector gallery the
sewage will flow by gravity into the two sec-
ondarj' settling tanks through four inlets con-
trolled by shear valves, two for each tank.
"'The secondary settling tanks, as was the
case with the primary tanks, are installed in
duplicate, so that citlier one may be drained
and cleaned while the other is in operation;
either one or both may be used, depending
upon the amount of sewage being treated at
the plant and the time necessary for the sus-
pended matter to settle. Each of these tanks
has a capacity of about 50,000 gallons and
the effluent from them will pass direct into
the nearby creek. Provision is made also
for disposing of the sludge collected in these
basins by means of valved blow-offs in the
floor. All of the concrete for the works was
mixed in the proportion of 1 :2 :4 by a Smith
mixer at a central point and carried from the
latter to the forms by wheelbarrows. The
aggregates for the reinforced concrete work
consisted of native stone mixed with gravel,
the stone being crushed and graded by a
plant at the works. New Castle Portland ce-
ment was used."
COUNTY HOME
In 1906 the voters of Indiana county de-
cided that the county should have a home in
which the poor could be taken care of in a
creditable manner. There were 3,018 votes
for and 1,624 votes against the poorhouse.
The districts voting against it were Arm-
strong. Brushvallej'. Green, West Mahoning,
North Mahoning, Rayne. Washington and
White townships, and Jacksonville, Saltsburg
and Smicksburg boroughs. The county com-
missioners began to look around for a location
and decided that the Elmer Campbell farm of
180 acres was the most desirable location at
their command, being near to the county seat
on the macadamized road and near the Penn-
sylvania and Buffalo & Rochester railroads
and the street car line, and beautifully lo-
cated with natural drainage. The farm was
purchased for $18,000 and the contract for
the building was let for $155,000. Two is-
sues of bonds were made in 1908, the first
for $125,000 and the second for $30,000. The
farm has been paid for as well as the second
issue of bonds. At present (1913) $71,000
has been set aside to be used in redeeming
the first bond issue.
The building was completed in 1908 and
opened for inmates September 8, 1908. The
first inmate was Ellen Kelly. The building
is a three-story brick. The basement is used
as a dairy department, storage room and place
of recreation for inmates in winter. On the
first floor are two dining rooms, kitchen, re-
ception room, operating room, pharmacy, two
sitting rooms, one each for males and females,
bedrooms, rooms for clothes, toilet and wash-
rooms. On the second floor are bedrooms,
hospital departments, sewing rooms, and
chapel for holding religious services and en-
tertainments. The third floor is used as a
place of storage. In the annex are the laun-
dry, bakery, heating plant and boiler room.
When the farm was purchased a dwelling
house and large barn stood there. The barn
has been improved at an expense of $800 and
in 1913 a new tile silo was installed at an ex-
pense of $500. The farm has been limed and
is in flrst-class condition. It is well stocked.
In November, 1912, the commissioners pur-
chased seventeen head of thoroughbred Hol-
stein cattle — sixteen cows and one bull — at
Jamestown, Pa. On January 1, 1913, there
were thirty head of cattle, three horses, flf-
teen hogs and 150 chickens on the farm, val-
ued at $2,100. There were also thirty-five
tons of hay, ten tons of straw, two tons of
eornfodder, 500 bushels of oats, 150 bushels
of wheat, 800 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of
potatoes, ten bushels of beets, twelve bushels
of turnips, 300 head of cabbage, 1,800 pounds
of pork, forty gallons of applebutter, tliree
barrels of vinegar, 590 quarts of canned fruit,
all valued at $1,624.
The stewards have been as follows : George
Shaffer, a county commissioner, who resigned
his office to become the steward of the county
home and served until January 1, 1909: W.
il. Piper, who served from January 1, 1909,
to April 1, 1912 : D. T. Neal, froni April 1,
1912, to April 1, 1913 ; and and W. ]\I. Piper,
since April 1. 1913.
girls' industrial home
The Girls' Industrial Home was established
in Indiana in 1894, under the care of the
Children's Aid Society of Western Pennsyl-
vania. The Home was first considered at a
meeting in Oil City, when plans were dis-
cussed, and three locations were viewed, Indi-
410
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ana being selected. The object is to train
girls in housekeeping, give them a good school
education, and then place them in good homes.
The property, situated on Eleventh street,
contains one acre of ground, which was pur-
chased from Major McFarland for $5,000. It
has been improved until it is now worth $15,-
000. The building accommodates sixteen girls,
and as they are given family training and
home life this number is considered sufficient
for a large family. A separate building
serves the purpose of a schoolroom. A ma-
tron and also one teacher are employed. Miss
Bratton, the present matron, has been in
charge for sixteen years. Girls are admitted
to the home between the ages of eight and
eighteen. Six hundred have been placed in
homes since the Home was started. The gn-ls
are taught housekeeping, sewing and also
gardening, doing all the work of the house
under the supervision of the matron. The
home is managed by Mrs. Sue Willard, super-
intendent, and a committee of three ladies of
Indiana, belonging to the Children's Aid So-
ciety.
INDIANA HOSPITAL
The Indiana Hospital, located on the cor-
ner of Church and Ninth streets, is a private
institution founded by Dr. G. E. Simpson
and Dr. H. B. Neal, in April, 1909. Its ca-
pacity is twelve beds. It has been crowded
with patients ever since the day of opening,
and is too small to accommodate the large de-
mand. It has now become merged into the
Indiana General Hospital and will be taken
over by that institution as soon as the new
building is completed.
During the summer of 1912 Mrs. Sue E.
Willard called a meeting to discuss" the advis-
ability of establishing a hospital in Indiana,
Pa, At that meeting a committee of seven
was appointed, as follows: John A. Scott,
chairman; Tom E. Hildebrand, Rev. N. P.
McNeils, J. R. Richards. Joseph W. Clements,
P. J. McGovern, Elder Peelor. The great dif-
ficulty that confronted the committee was the
lack of funds, but John A. Scott had a letter
from Mr. Adrian "iselin, of New York City,
in which he stated that he would be glad to
help the citizens of Indiana to establish a hos-
pital and agreed. to contribute at least $40,000
towards the building, if a local organization
would take charge of it and furnish a suit-
able location, put in suitable condition. He
practically agreed to erect the building.
The committee solicited and raised $17,000
and purchased the fifty-four-acre tract facing
the macadamized road just south of the Fair
grounds from the George C. Dickey estate
and Edward and Joseph P. Mack for $16,500.
Then a permanent organization was made,
charter obtained, and a board of directors
elected, viz. : Hon. John P. Elkin, president ;
John S. Fisher, vice president; J. Wood
Clark, secretary; Tom E. Hildebrand, treas-
urer.
The contract for the building has been let
at $122,000, which amount is to be given by
Mr. Iselin. It is understood that other cap-
italists will contribute $25,000 for equipment.
The hospital organization has expended about
$1,000 in sewers, water, walks, roads and tel-
ephone connections. Experienced landscape
architects have laid out the grounds and sug-
gested plans to make them very beautiful and
attractive.
The building, including the basement, will
be four stories high. It will be of brick, stone
and steel construction, with tile floors. It
will be absolutely fireproof and sanitary in
every respect, and so constructed that it can
be enlarged if occasion demands. The dimen-
sions will be 80 by 140 feet. The first floor
will be occupied by the administrative de-
partment. The second floor will have three
individual rooms, two general wards and oper-
ating rooms. On the third floor there will
be ten individual rooms. The building win
be ready for use early in 1914.
INDIANA Y. M. C. A.
At a citizens' meeting held in the court-
house to consider the erection of a Young
Men 's Christian Association building in Indi-
ana, Harry McCreary was made chairman
and Walter H. Jackson secretary. All who
expressed themselves, including the ladies
present, favored the idea. These officers were
instructed to get into communication with
the State secretary and from him learn how
to proceed.
At the next meeting, which was also held
in the courthouse, the State secretary, Mr. J.
B. Carruthers, was present. The rate for mem-
bership was fixed at $8 per year for adults
and $4 for boys. Mr. Carruthers advised the
next thing to do was to canvass the town and
ascertain how many persons wished to join
a Young Men's Christian Association and
would be willing to pay $8 a year for three
years for such membership. A list of 440
was secured.
At the next meeting it was decided to go
on with an ' ' Eight Day Campaign ' ' to secure
Indiana Hospital, Indiana. P
Y. :\I. C. A. l^riijiixc. Erected ix 1!U:^. Txde\xa. 1'.'
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 411
subscriptions amounting to $50,000, with ilcCreary, John H. Pierce, G. W. Lenkerd,
which to buy ground and build. ]\Ir. Car- J. T. Bell, D. W. Simpson, Walter H. Jack-
ruthers secured Mr. C. F. Fought, ably as- son, I. Earl Lewis, Thomas Sutton, R. N. Ray,
sisted by IMrs. Fought, to conduct this cam- Harry H. Hart, Hon. S. J. Telford, A. W.
paign. Twelve citizens went on a note at the Mabon, Hon. John S. Fisher, WiUiara Roben-
bank for $1,000 to defray the expenses, with steen, J. T. Stewart. The board met the same
the understanding they would lose if the evening and elected the following ofiScers:
campaign failed, but if successful this amount President, Harry ]\IcCreary ; first vice pres-
to come out of the fund as a regular expense ideut, George T. Buchanan ; second vice pres-
item. The campaign v.as begun and success- ident, Thomas Sutton ; recording secretary,
fully completed by the following teams: B J. T. Stewart; treasurer, I. Earl Lewis. The
— George T. Buchanan. Captain, Bert Rus- following board of trustees was elected : John
sell. Prof. A. K. Heekel, J. T. Bell, Chas. Houk, J. L. Orr, W. C. McFeaters, A. S. Cun-
Gessler, Richard Watson, Alex Stewart, Pearl ningham, W. R. Loughry, J. il. Elder, Dr.
W. Walker, Adam Lowry, W. S. Garee, Jos. Wm. Hosack, S. W. Guthrie, Robert Mitchell.
Welteroth: C — Prof. F. Ernest Work, Cap- The association was incorporated April 12,
tain, E. W. McFarland, Paul Smith, Chas. 1911, and after carefully considering the site
Duncan, Jno. A. Scott, A. T. Moorhead, L. for the building, on June 3, 1911, the board
C. ilyers. Jno. L. Getty, L. G. Chase: D— of directors decided to purchase from the
C. H. Miller, Captain, D. F. Riun, Linus Pennsylvania Railroad Co. the site on the
Elkin, J. R. King, Prof. Hickman. James corner of Philadelphia and Ninth streets, 75
Sexton, John De Santis. Prof. John Lesh ; by 200 feet, for $10,000.
E — Dr. E. K. Wood, Captain. Harry Ear- Preparations for a building were at once
hart, Harry H. Hart, Thomas Sutton, S. Ren begun and on February 20, 1912, Mr. B. M.
Pollock, H. M. Lowry, Dr. Wm. Hosack, Lockard was awarded' the contract for the
David Blair, J. C. Wallace; F— Silas C. building, at a cost of $30,485. This did not
Streams, Captain, Frank Moorhead, Jno. S. include the swimming pool which was after-
Fisher, IMerle Mogle, R. T. Marlin, Meade wards included at a cost of $700. The build-
]\Iahan, Elmer Ellis, D. W. Simpson, B. C. ing is a three-story brick structure, with base-
Fleck, Geo. Duncan ; G — S. W. Guthrie, Cap- ment. It is modern in every respect and will
tain, A. W. Mabon, ]\Ieade Marshall, J. C. be dedicated free of debt Thanksgiving even-
Leasure, E. B. Campbell, Dr. Geo. E. Simp- ing, November 27, 1913.
son. Prof. H. E. Cogswell, G. W. Lenkerd,
J. C. McGregor : H— I. Earl Lewis, Captain, municipal buildixg
Ralph Moorhead, Jesse il. Rodkey. H. Wal-
lace Thomas, R. A. Henderson, Geo. Feit, J. In November, 1911, the voters of Indiana
L. Gulp. Chas. Books, T. B. Clark, Wm. Jack, borough authorized the expenditure of $20,-
Chas. ]McCrady, E. C. Osmun; I— Frank 000 for the construction of a town hall and
Wood, Captain, Geo. Little. Wm. Robensteen, a fire engine ho.use. The council advertised
John Houk, R. N. Ray, J. N. Elder, J. R. for competitive plans, which were submitted
Clements; J— J. T. Stewart, Captain; J. L. by eleven architects, Mr. H. King Conklin,
Orr. W. R. Calhoun, Day Brownlee, Frank of Newark, N. J., being the successful corn-
Duncan. M. J. Hedden, C. S. Borland, T. L. petitor. Upon his plans bids were submitted
Edwards, C. R. Clark, Mr. Gilkenson, E. E. and Mr. Fred Herlinger was awarded the
Diekie. contract for $20,000.
Pursuant to a notice mailed to all the sub- The building was begun in the spring of
scribers of the Indiana Y. M. C. A. fund, 1912 and completed in the spring of 1913.
and to those who had signified their intentions It is a three-story structure, including the
to become members of the proposed organ- basement, is built of stone and brick, with
ization. a meeting was held in the courthouse roof of green tile, trimmings a Cleveland
at Indiana on Thursday, :\Iarch 9, 1911, at limestone. The basement is occupied by the
8:15 o'clock, Harry McCreary, temporary fire department, borough weighmaster and
chairman, and Walter H, Jackson, secretary, heating apparatus. The first floor is occupied
The object of the meeting was to effect a per- by the offices of the burgess, tax collector,
manent organization. The following were borough clerk and solicitor and tax assessors,
elected as a board of directors: George T. The second floor is occupied by the council
Buchanan, G. Meade ^Marshall, John D. Wid- chamber and the volunteer fire company's
dowson, Dr. G. E. Simpson, D. F. Rinn, Harry social elubrooiiLS. The tliird floor is occupied
412
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
by the borough engineer, board of education
and Indiana Military band.
The council at the time the building was
constructed was as follows: J. Wood Clark,
president; R. E. Young, W. S. Hamilton, E.
E. Campbell, George J. Feit, Ira A. Myers,
George A. Conrath, James S. Blair, J. I. Shaf-
fer, J. M. Wachob, R. T. Marlin, T. B. Clark;
the borough engineer, Thomas Pealer; solici-
tor and clerk, John S. Taylor; burgess, J. A.
Grossman; street commissioner, James Gom-
pei*s. The committee having in charge the
construction and equipment of the building
consisted of: J. Wood Clark, chairman; R.
T. Marlin, T. B. Clark, Thomas Pealer, and
J. R. Richards, representing the fire depart-
ment.
INDIANA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
An association for the purpose of ' ' promot-
ing the science of agriculture and the im-
provement of the same ' ' was organized on the
3d of January, 1855, and was incorporated
October 1st, 1857, under the name of "The
Indiana County Agricultural Society." At
its organization the following persons were
elected officers: President, Hon. Thomas
White; vice presidents, William Coleman, H.
M. Speedy, M. T. Work, William Evans, I.
Campbell, S. P. Marshall, Adam Johnston,
Esq.; corresponding secretary, Jonathan
Rowe; recording secretary, George Shryock;
librarian, J. H. Lichteberger ; managers,
James Hood, David Ralston, John G. Cole-
man, R. H. Armstrong, J. T. Vanhorn, J. H.
Johnston, James Bailey. David Ralston and
James Bailey having afterwards removed
from the county, James Sutton and James
Hays were appointed.
The following June, at a regular meeting
of the society, it was decided that they should
hold an agricultural fair the next fall. The
following persons were appointed a commit-
tee to raise funds for the society. They
promptly agreed to become responsible for
the sums stated below :
East Mahoning, Moses T. Work, $25;
Green, James Shields, $6; Washington,
Thomas Gibson, $10; Conemaugh, John H.
Hart, $10 ; Young, John H. Hart, $10 ; Blairs-
ville, William Maher, $10; Burrell, H. A.
Thompson, $10 ; Brushvalley, R. B. Moorhead,
$5 ; Indiana, Judge White, $10 ; S. Mahoning,
Abram Davis, $10; White, A. T. Moorhead,
$10; White, A. W. Kinnet, $10; Blackliek,
William C. MeCrea, $10 ; Cherryhill, AVilliam
Evans, $10.
From this time there were annual exhibi-
tions until the year 1859. In that year the
managers decided there should be none "on
account of the June frost," and again in 1864,
on account of the troubled condition of the
country, the annual exhibition was dispensed
with.
The old grounds of the society were located
on the Saltsburg road, between the State
Agricultural farm and State Normal School
grounds and contained thirteen acres. At it3
inception six acres were purchased from
James Sutton and buildings erected thereon
for the accommodation of stock, etc. These
were afterwards found to be insuiScient and
constant additions were made and the grounds
(finally enlarged by the purchase of seven
acres) were generally overhauled, the track
enlarged to a one-third-mile course, buildings
remodeled and new ones added, and the
roundhouse placed in the center of the
grounds.
In 1876 we note that the society advertised
a plowing match at 2 o'clock P. M. on the
Saturday before the fair, and a ladies' riding
match at 10 o'clock, A. M., on the last day,
and the award of premiums was read on the
grounds at 1 o'clock P. M., of the last day of
the fair. It was then the custom to read from
one of the windows of Agricultural Hall the
award of premiums.
The old grounds becoming too small to
accommodate the society they were sold at
public sale December 8, 1891, to Hon. Silas
]\I. Clark, for the Indiana Normal School, for
$8,600. The boys' dormitory is built on this
ground and the remainder of the ground is
used as an athletic field.
In 1891 thirty-nine acres of the new fair
grounds were purchased of H. M. Lowry and
Gamble Fleming for $4,000. The first fair on
these grounds was held in 1892 and each year
since that time a fair has been held. In 1903
an additional ten acres were purchased by
the society from A. C. Braughler for $1,500.
The grounds of the Indiana Agricultural
Society, now containing about fifty acres, are
the finest in the State. The grove of about
fifty large white oak trees is situated on a
gentle sloping hillside from which the large
crowds can view the races on the half-mile
track below. The trees furnish a beautiful
shade which is enjoyed not only while watch-
ing the races but as a place of rest and a con-
venient spot to lunch. At noon on fair days
it is a pleasing sight to see so many families
spreading under the large oaks the contents
of the large well-filled baskets which they
have brought with them. It has become a
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
413
coiumou tliiug for families to "reune" au-
mially on the fair grounds.
On the grounds are the roundhouse, grand
stand 150 feet long, vegetable building, stab-
ling for 130 horses, six cattle sheds, sheds
for hogs and sheep, and poultry house; also
a W. C. T. U. building, dining building, and
a dwelling house for the family that cares for
the grounds. The city water is on all parts
of the grounds and fire plugs are being in-
stalled for the protection of the buildings.
In 1899 stock was sold to pay off the debt
and since that time the society has been in
a good financial condition. There are no
salaried officers except the treasurer and sec-
retary, and all money earned by the society
is used in the improvement of the grounds.
The growth, prosperity, and popularity of
the Indiana County Agricultural Society
have increased with its j'ears. Its list of
premiums has increased until in 1913 they
were valued at $3,000, and the amount paid
for races was $2,500.
OAKLAND CEMETERY '
On December 21, 1863, a meeting was held
in the courthouse to discuss the advisability
of securing grounds for a cemetery. The fol- ■
lowing committee was appointed to look over
grounds and report: George W. Sedgwick,
John Sutton, P. M. Kiuter, James Todd, Hon.
Joseph Thompson, Samuel Rhodes, Hon.
Silas M. Clark, John Weamer, Jr., George
Row, Sr.. Hiram St. Clair, James Hood, Sam-
uel A. Allison.
The committee reported that thirteen dif-
ferent sites had been considered and that they
preferred a different site from that of Oak-
land cemetery, which lies between the Salts-
burg and Warren roads. There were several
objections to this site. The grounds were sit-
uated over a mile southwest of the borough
at such a distance as to require the use of car-
riages at funerals at all times. This would
be burdensome to persons of moderate cir-
cumstances. At that time the dead were con-
veyed to the burial grounds by four or six
men, who carried the body on a bier upon
their shoulders. Most of the residents of
Indiana lived east of the Pennsylvania rail-
road and the crossing where cars shifted was
considered verj- dangerous. It was also
argued that the gi-ound was so wet that it
would recjuire considerable force to submerge
a coffin. The price was considered exorbitant
and extravagant.
On Friday, :\Iareh 18, 1864, a vote was
taken by the citizens of the borough and
White township and resulted as follows: 55
were in favor of the report of the committee,
126 in favor of the Oakland cemetery site, 16
in favor of the White and Carter site, and
163 in favor of the Kaufman site. Upon the
report of the result of the vote at a public
meeting held at the courthouse Mai-ch 21,
1864, Judge Sutton,' William Banks, C. C.
ilcClain. James Clark and Adam Row were
appointed an executive committee with in-
structions to open books for the subscription
of stock in shares of $10 each until $3,000
had been subscribed and paid. About one
hundred persons subscribed for stock.
James Bailey, Peter Sutton, George W.
Sedgwick, William B. Marshall, and William
McCoy made application and on the 30th of
ilarch, 1864, obtained an "Act of Assembly"
declaring them and such others as might as-
sociate with them a corporation or body politic
in the name and title of the Oakland Ceme-
tery Association. Those who objected to the
site of the Oakland cemetery made application
for a charter under the name of the Indiana
Cemetery Association. The site Avas north of
Indiana on the James Clark farm. One per-
son was buried there.
After much controversy and the presenting
to court of petitions by both associations the
Indiana Cemetery Association did not push
claims further and the Oakland Cemetery As-
sociation continued.
The grounds of the Oakland cemetery
were purchased of William IMcCoy for $2,500
and contain fifteen acres. The repairs and
trees which were planted cost $1,500. In 1878
a fence was built around the grounds at a cost
of $2,200.
]Many of the directors having died the
stock passed into the hands of their widows,
and the association did not prosper well. By
the efforts of ilr. Edward Row and others the
stock was sold, younger men were interested,
and the association has since improved the
grounds.
The directors at present are : Harry W.
Wilson, president; Phil. M. Sutton, secretary
and manager: A. W. Mabon, treasurer; J.
AVood, clerk ; Harry Earhart, S. W. .Guthrie,
Elmer Campbell. Harry H. Hart has charge
of the grounds.
GREENWOOD CEMETERY
TIic Incorporation of Greenwood Cemetery
I by S. A. Douglass). — A meeting of the fol-
lowing named persons, A. I\I. Stewart. J. S.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Nesbit, John Robertson, S. A. Douglass, J. N.
Banks, George W. Simpson, W. B. Pattison.
B. B. Tiffany, W. T. Hamill, Jonathan Trim-
ble, James Trimble, Thomas Trimble, J. A.
Bell and Harry Bryan, was held at the office
of A. M. Stewart, in the borough of Indiana,
on Thursday, the 22d day of May, A. D.
1879, for the purpose of considering the pro-
priety of purchasing of grounds in White
township, Indiana county, for the location of
a new cemetery for the burial of the dead.
The meeting was organized by calling John
Robertson to the chair, and appointing W.
T. Hamill secretary. The object of the
meeting had been suggested heretofore to the
aforesaid parties, and had been carefully con-
sidered, and on motion of A. M. Stewart the
following persons were appointed a commit-
tee to prepare articles of association for the
incorporation of a cemetery association: J.
N. Banks, S. A. Douglass and A. W. Taylor.
It was further agreed, and so resolved, that
all parties present form a committee, with
A. M. Stewart as chairman, to view and ex-
amine the different locations proposed and
report on Saturday, May 24th, at six o'clock
P. M. It was also agreed and so ordered that
G. W. Simpson, John Fulton, J. A. Bell, A.
M. Stewart be a committee to canvass for addi-
tional subscribers to the enterprise, and it was
further agreed and so ordered that the name
of the association be "The Greenwood Ceme-
tery." The committee to view gi'ounds suit-
able for the location of a cemetery reported
having viewed grounds of A. W. Taylor,
George Row, John Lamp and James Clark,
situate in White township aforesaid, and
after some discussion as to merits of the dif-
ferent places the vote was taken by ballot on
the diiferent locations, which resulted in fa-
vor of A. W. Taylor. A. M. Stewart, J. N.
Banks, J. S. Nesbit, G. W. Simpson, John
Robertson, R. C. Taylor, S. A. Douglass, W.
B. Pattison and B. B. Tiffany were ap-
pointed trustees for the purchasing of the
grounds and the receiving and collecting of
moneys for the said association, and also se-
lected as a board of managers v;ntil first elec-
tion appointed by the board of managers and
corporators for that purpose.
The board of managers having considered
the ground so selected as peculiarly suited
for a cemetery on account of its elevated and
comparatively secluded situation, as now lo-
cated, one mile south of the borough of In-
diana, facing Blairsville road on the east, and
street car lines on the west, and at the same
time being convenient and easy of access, and
the terms for the payments being liberal, it
was decided to purchase the same. Articles for
the incorporation of the cemetery having been
prepared, read and approved by the said board
of managers, application was made to the
court, and on the 18th day of June, 1S7.9, a
charter was granted by Hon. John P. Blair,
president of the court of Common Pleas, for
the county of Indiana, Pa. The distinct and
irrevocable principle on which this corpora-
tion is founded, and to remain forever, is
that the entii-e funds arising from the sale
of burial lots and the proceeds of any invest-
ment of said fund shall be specifically dedi-
cated to the purchase and improvement of
the grounds of the cemetery,- and keeping
them durably and permanently enclosed and
in perpetual repair through all future time,
including all incidental expenses for approach
to the cemetery, and for the proper manage-
ment of the same; and that no part of said
funds shall, as dividend, profit or in any
manner whatever, inure to the corporators.
The following constitute the board of cor-
porators for the cemetery: S. A. Douglass,
Robert Mitchell, Andrew Gaily, W. B. Patti-
son, J. H. McCune, B. B. Tiffany, James M.
Stewart, J. N. Banks, J. H. Hill, Harry
Biyan, J. L. Orr, George W. Wheeler, A. P.
Cooper, John S. Fisher, J. C. Conner, W. C.
Chapman, Dr. J. M. St. Clair, Dr. H. B.
Buterbaugh, E. E. Williams, J. R. Daugherty,
Jr., P. L. Hamill, J. C. Nix, John Houck,
Charles Nichol. These meet once a year and
elect nine persons as managers, the present
board of managers being : J. N. Banks, presi-
dent; Charles Nichol, vice president; S. A.
Douglass, secretary, treasurer and manager;
W. B. Pattison, J. H. McCune, Dr. J. M. St.
Clair, John S. Fisher, W. C. Chapman.
BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS
Indiana Bent Rung Ladder Companij. — •
The business of the Indiana Bent Rung Lad-
der Company was organized in the year 1891
by Edward Rowe, patentee of the bent rung
ladder; R. D. Hetrick, D. A. Hetrick, W. T.
Wilson, Dr. N. F. Ehrenfeld, E. A. Penning-
ton, A. M. Hammers, John Switzer and W. F.
Wettling, under a copartnership agreement
to do business as the Indiana Ladder Com-
pany. The old furniture factory on Water
street was rented and the company manufac-
tured only the original bent rung ladder. The
amount of money invested by the partners
was about $1,000. The business grew rapidly
and in 1892 the partners bought a lot on
HISTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
415
South street, which is part of the holdings
of the present company. On this lot was
erected a building 50 by 80 feet. In 1893
Messrs. Hetrick, "Wilson and Ehrenfeld dis-
posed of their interests and a new partner-
ship was formed by Edward Rowe. W. F.
Settling and John S. Hastings. Even with
very limited capital and in spite of the de-
pression following the panic of 1893. the lad-
der business maintained a steady and consist-
ent growth. The capacity of the factory was
gradualty increased, all earnings being used
for that purpose. In 1897 Edward Rowe sold
his interest to J. H. Young. In November,
1899, Hon. John P. Elkin became connected
with the institution, he purchasing the inter-
est of J. H. Young. At that time the busi-
ness was incorporated under the laws of Penn-
sylvania as the Indiana Bent Rung Ladder
Company with authorized capital of $60,000,
with John P. Elkin. president; J. S. Ha.st-
ings. treiisurer and manager, and W. F. Wet-
tling, secretary. In order to meet the grow-
ing demand for the company's product the
planing mill property of J. S. Hastings was
piirehased. The Hastings property was later
disposed of and the company added to its
original holdings at South and Eighth
streets until a factory site 200 by 515 feet
was secured and the factory capacity more
than doubled.
In 1902 Mr. Hastings retired from the busi-
ness, his holdings of stock being purchased
by John P. Elkin. In 1904 Mr. Elkin was
elected to the Supreme court bench and sev-
ered his connection with all corporations.
His holdings were taken by "W. F. Wettling
and C. R, Smith.
In 1907 the company began the manufac-
ture of porch swings and in 1909 they se-
cured control of patents on an exclusive line
of camp furniture which promises to develop
a business the largest of its kind in the
country.
In February, 1908, the company pur-
chased for cash the plant of the Everett
ilanufaetui-ing Company, of Everett. Wash.,
embracing a main factory building 40 by 200
with additions 26 by 120 feet, dust house,
power plant, electric light plant, together
with sheds, docks, tramwa.ys, etc., and a par-
tially completed building 62 by 240 feet. The
plant is equipped with new modern machin-
ery in use but a few months. The property
unoccupied covers an area of seven and one
half acres on the v.ater front, which was also
purchased. Of this property the secretary of
the Chamber of Commerce of Everett says:
' ' A verj' conservative estimate of the value of
this tract of water front at the expiration of
six years would be anywhere from fifty to
one hundi-ed thousand dollars."
On May 11, 1910, the plant of the com-
pany at Indiana was visited by fire, which
destroyed the main factory building. The
progress of the company was only tempor-
arily retarded by this calamity. The same
aggressive spirit that has controlled the man-
agement of the company since its birth as-
serted itself and business continued uninter-
rupted. New modern machinerj' was quickly
purchased and installed. In the new factory
in operation shortly after the fire a large sav-
ing in the cost of manufacture was elfected
by the arrangement of machinery. The
handling of material is done with the greatest
economy and without loss of time on the part
of employes. In some cases work that re-
quired four operators in the old factory is
now done by one.
The different buildings of the factory at
present would cover a space equal to 45 by
700 feet in size and are well equipped with
steam and electric power and the best of
wood-working machinei-y. The products of
the factory are single and extension bent
rung and steel brace ladders, a large variety
of step ladders, porch swings of various
styles and camp furniture, consisting of fold-
ing cots and folding stools, tables and chairs
of a number of different varieties. These
goods are shipped all over the United States
and to many foreign countries. The business
shows a constant increase and at times as
many as fifty operatives are employed. The
officers of the company at present are Clar-
ence R. Smith, president, and W. F. Wet-
tling, secretary and treasurer.
Conner Vehicle Company. — This company
built a two-story frame building and a one-
story frame building on Tenth street, be-
tween Philadelphia and Church streets, in
1906. The board of incoi-poratoi-s consisted
of J. C. Conner, president ; Jonathan Learn,
Frank Ross, Edward Segner, Harvev Engle,
W. S. Neff.
The company manufactures all kinds of ve-
hicles of a superiov quality, and does an ex-
416
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tensive repair business. IMr. Frank Ross was
manager until August, 1912, when he sold his
interest to Sir. J. C. Conner, who has been
manager since thai; time, and is now the
owner of most of the stock.
The Indiana Foundry Company succeeded
the firm of Sutton Brothers & Bell twelve
years ago. Since that time their history has
been one of continuous growth, until now
their business is almost five times the volume
it was in 1900, and the plant has trebled in
size. The principal foundry products are
sand drying and heating stoves. Thousands
of both styles are made annually. The Sut-
ton sand drying stove made by this firm is
used by most of the leading steam railroads
and trolley lines in this country and Canada.
Shipments of solid carloads of sand dryers
are made to the Pacific coast and other far
distant points. The sand dryers are ex-
ported to England and other European
countries, the West Indies, South America
and Japan. In fact, through the New York
exporting houses they have been sent to all
parts of the world where steam or trolley
railroads are operated. More than one thou-
sand of them are in use in the collieries of
Pennsylvania alone and they are sold wher-
ever mining is done on an extensive scale.
The heating stoves made by this firm are
also sold extensively to railroads, stores,
schools, churches, factories, dwellings, etc.
The trade is by no means local, as custom-
ers for this style of stoves are on their books
from Prince Edward Island to the Missis-
sippi.
This firm also manufactures boiler grate
bars in immense quantities, having the most
complete line of patterns for this article to
be found in the State.
In the machine shop department many use-
ful articles, such as windlasses, cranes, tire
benders, emery stands, etc., are made and
sold to supply dealers in the principal cities
of the country. During the last year many
new and valuable iron working tools have
been installed, making this the most up-to-
date manufacturing and jobbing repair shop
in the county.
This firm also has a supply department in
which may be found practically everything
that is wanted about a mill, mine, and boiler
or engine room. Few towns the size of Indi-
ana have such a well stocked machineiy supply
depot.
The rapid development of the county in
manufacturing and mining has warranted
the building up of this end of the business to
its present large proportions. .
The whole management of the plant is on a
broad liberal basis and the owners are alive
to all the new methods and policies that will
keep them abreast of the times. There has
not been a more successful enterprise of its
kind in this part of the State.
Penn Enamel Sink Company. — At this lo-
cation, prior to 1871, the firm of Burns, Tur-
ner & Co. conducted a manufacturing busi-
ness. In 1871 Maj. I. McFarland was ad-
mitted to the firm and the business was eon-
ducted under the name of the Indiana Manu-
facturing Company. In 1872 the firm name
of McFarland & Turner was adopted and the
business carried on until 1875, when Mr.
Turner retired. Two large buildings were
used for the manufacture and storage of
cook, parlor and heating stoves, plows, cast-
ings and machinery. The foundry building
was a brick structure, 44 by 170 feet, fitted
up with all modern appliances for the con-
venient handling and manufacture of cast-
ings. The other building was used as a ware-
house, blacksmith shop and woodhouse. It
was a two-story frame building, 40 by 120
feet. Thirty men were employed. Mr. Mc-
Farland was the general agent for the Oliver
Chill Plow, selling sixteen plows in 1867. In
1880, 114 were sold. For nine years he sold
the celebrated Conklin wagon.
The Penn Enamel Sink Company was in-
corporated December 21, 1910, with a capital
stock of $100,000, and manufactures various
enameled products. The company is com-
posed of G. A. Conrath, E. W. Stewart, F.
M. Mclntire, W. R. Calhoun, W. A. Guthrie,
H. E. Pence, W. J. Short and H. L. Short.
The officers are G. A. Conrath, president;
B. W. Stewart, seci-etary; W. R. Calhoun,
treasurer. Sixty men are employed at this
plant, and a prosperous business is carried on.
Indiana Woolen Mills Company was incor-
porated in March, 1901. A new building was
erected on West Philadelphia street for the
purpose of manufacturing woolen goods, mak-
ing a specialty of blankets. The plant is
equipped for producing finished goods from
the raw material, and from twenty-five to
thirty men are employed. The officers are:
Ernest Stewart, president; H. S. Buchanan,
secretary; Tom Hildebrand, treasurer; E. B.
Campbell, manager. The directors are:
HISTORY OF IxNDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
417
Ernest Stewart, H. S. Biichauau, George T.
Buchanan, J. S. McElhoes, E. B. Campbell.
Indiana Boiler Mills. — A flouring mill was
built in about 1873 by J. Newton Hamilton,
in what was then West Indiana and now the
Third ward, Indiana. It was a three run
buhr mill of about twenty-five barrels of
flour capacity per day, also containing buck-
wheat flour and feed grinding machinery.
The mill was driven by a portable (Blandy)
engine and did an ordinary country grist
business. In about 1876 the mill was bought
by Howard & Emigh (H. C. Howard and
C. C. Emigh), who put in a larger boiler and
engine of the stationary type and operated
the mill until 1881, when they sold to Alex.
Henderson, who a few years later sold the
mill to David Lockard, who in 1886 improved
it by changing to the roller process, increas-
ing its capacify In I'orty-eight barrels per day.
In 18S!) Hie mill passed into the hands of
Wegley & Wilson i Fred Wegley and William
T. Wilson). Early in June of that year Mr.
Wegley was accidentally caught in some ma-
chinery in the mill and killed. In July, 1889,
Mr. Wilson and Edward Rowe formed a part-
nership and Wilson & Rowe continued to
operate the mill until April 9, 1890, when the
mill was struck by lightning and entirely de-
stroyed by tire. Wilson & Rowe took in an-
other partner in the person of D. A. Hetrick,
and Wilson, Rowe & Hetrick. after acquiring
more land, erected a complete 100-barrel, rol-
ler process mill on the same site, which new
mill began operations ilarch 9, 1891, just
eleven months after the destruction of the
old one. In 1898 Edward Rowe disposed of
his interest to his partners, who continued
the business under the name of Hetrick &
Wilson until 1911, in which year George C.
Rigg, the head miller, was admitted to the
firm. The mill has been kept up with all
modern improvements, enjoys a large and
growing trade, and is now operated under
the firm name of Hetrick, Wilson & Co.
A story is told f.bout "Newt." Hamilton,
the firet man mentioned, who will be remem-
bered as being very cross-eyed, and who had
been in many kinds of business in his career.
Ojice, as a butcher, he hired a young negro
to hold a calf while he knocked it in the head.
As he drew back the axe to strike, the negro 's
eyes opened very wide, and he yelled. "HoF
on dah. boss, hoF on, hoF on. Is yo' gona
hit whah yo's lookin'?" "Of course I am."
"Well, den, jis hoF yo' caff yo'seff. "
Penn Flouring Mill, David Ellis & Son,
Proprietors. — The frame building was erected
27
in 18.55 by Sutton, JIarshall & Co. for a
planing mill, and managed as such until
1863, when it was enlarged, refitted and
changed into a flouring mill. They were
succeeded by Lowry & Lewis. In 1871 David
Ellis purchased Lowry s interest, and three
years later he also obtained the Lewis por-
tion. At that time there were four runs of
stone with a productive capacity of 100 bar-
rels of flour in twenty-four hours, besides the
usual corn grinding, etc. In 1874 Mr. Ellis'
son, Griffith Ellis, became a member of the
firm. Since that time, much money has been
expended in remodeling the mill. A fifty-
horsepower engine is used and the machinery,
including the patent process, is of approved
manufacture. Under the management of
these gentlemen the trade has increased so
rapidly that they are grinding 50,000 bush-
els of wheat yearly, when formerly 18,000
bushels were considered a large amount.
Since the introduction of the new process in
this mill, in 1879, David Ellis & Son have
been obliged to operate the mill day and
night to supply the increasing demands upon
them.
Daiu/lurtu I'Janinq Mill. Xos. 1044-48
PhUailrlphia ,s7/vr/.— This mill was erected
in 1856 by John H. Shryock. Wagons were
niade in this mill for the Eutaw war. It was
next managed by Cochran & Woodward, then
by Coleman, Ewing & Co., who enlarged the
mill. In 1871 it was purchased by James
R. Daugherty, who was a member of the firm
of Coleman, Ewing & Co. Mr. Daugherty
being elected .sheriff of Indiana county in
1872, the mill was sold to William Sutton,
and in 1877 Mr. Daugherty repurchased the
mill and continued to operate it until, in
1889, W. S. Daugherty became the . sole
owner of the property. For many years, in
addition to the manufacture of doors, sash,
blinds, flooring and all kinds of wood work,
coffins were manufactured. The machinery
in this mill is of modern manufacture and is
e.qual to any and all demands for any quan-
tity or quality of products. W. S. Daugherty
is the manager of the mill at the present time.
Willard Planing Mill. — This mill was a
two-story frame building erected in 1866 by
Robert Willard, who dealt in worked lumber.
He gradually extended the building and in-
troduced the necessary machinery for the
manufacture of material for buiidere' use.
In 1877-78-79 the business done amounted to
from $12,000 to $15,000 per annum. The mill
was afterwards managed by Carnahan &
Cook. It was torn down, and on its location
418
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
stands the beautiful dwelling of J. R.
Richards.
Indiana Lumber & Supply Company was
incorporated October 29, 1903. The grounds
are located at the corner of Tenth and Oak
streets, 200 by 500 feet in size, and two thirds
of this area is under roof. Twenty men are
employed, and a specialty is made of mill
work. The ofQcers are: A. S. Cunningham,
president ; Harry White, vice president, sec-
retary and treasurer ; D. W. Simpson, general
manager; A. A. Simpson. The directors are:
A. S. Cunningham, Harry White, James
Gompers, J. R. Richards, J. M. Simpson, A.
A. Simpson.
Johnstown Sanitary Dairy Company and
Johnstown Sanitary Ice and Cold Storage
Company. — The building on West Water
street in which this company does business
is a three-story brick structure with base-
ment. It was built by the Indiana Provision
Company in 1905 and operated by them as a
cold storage and electric light plant, and for
the manufacturing of ice until 1907, when it
was leased for five years, and purchased in
1912, by the company that now operates it
as an ice and cold storage plant and for the
manufacture of ice cream. The Penn Public
Service Company, however, operates the elec-
tric light plant. The ground upon which this
building is located was owned and used by
J. T. Stewart as a cow pasture when the Buf-
falo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad came to
Indiana.
The following shows the approximate busi-
ness in storage: Butter, 100,000 pounds;
eggs, 120,000 dozen; apples, 10.000 bushels;
cream, 25,000 gallons; ice. 21,000 tons in
June, July and August, 1913.
DIAMOND GL.VSS COMPANY
This plant was established by the" Indiana
Glass Company, which was incorporated April
14, 1892. The first board of directors was
as 'follows: Harrj- White, president; H. W.
Wilson, vice president; Thomas Sutton, sec-
retary; Griffith Ellis, treasurer; D. A. Het-
rick, W. R. Loughry, John S. Hastings. S.
W. Vangersaal was the first manager. He
was suceeded by Griffith Ellis, who was elec-
ted manager and served for one year. The
plant was then closed until 1895, when it was
leased to the Northwood Company for two
years with the privilege of purchasing the
plant. At the end of the time the company
purchased the plant. From the start the
Northwood Company conducted the plant in
a successful manner. In 1899 the plant was
sold to the American Glass Company, who
sold it to the Dugan Glass Company, who
operated it until 1913, when it became the
Diamond Glass Company. The present offi-
cers are: John P. Elkin, president; H.
Wallace Thomas, secretary; D. B. Taylor,
treasurer. Edward J. Rowland is the pres-
ent manager.
This plant has been one of the most use-
ful enterprises ever established in Indiana
and has given employment to from 100 to
200 men, women and boys. At present there
are 180 men and boys employed and 20 girls.
The company pays to its employes $4,000
every two weeks.
Indiana Dye Works. — In 1908 Mr. LeVine
began his business of cleaning, dyeing and
pressing where the Savings & Trust building
now stands. In 1909 he located at No. 678
Philadelphia street, where he continues his
business, which has been growing rapidly.
Prom time to time the plant has been in-
creased ujitil it is second to none in the way of
equipment and the work is put out better and
quicker than ever. Eight persons are em-
ployed and in the near future Jlr. LeVine
expects to build a new plant to accommodate
his growing trade. Wonderful things have
been invented in the way of cleaning ma-
chines. These up-to-date machines are used
in the Indiana Dye Works, where garments
are not only pressed but sterilized by steam
under a high pressure, killing all germs.
The Indiana Marble Works were established
by Samuel Grove in 1855, in a little wooden
shed in the rear of Judge Blair's office. The
first firm name was Grove & Brother, John
A. Grove being associated in the business un-
til 1859. In 1858 they erected a small frame
building on the lot afterwards occupied by
Gessler's confectionery. In 1863 Samuel
Grove purchased the location now occupied by
R. E. Young and made improvements. He
continued in business here until 1888, when he
sold to R. E. Young, who has been engaged in
the business at this location since that time.
In 1913 R. E. Young tore down the old build-
ing and erected a handsome three-story brick
building. The first floor of the new building
is occupied by a jewelry store conducted by
Wayne Riggs' and a clothing store conducted
by Dinsmore Brothers.
" Marble works are conducted by S. W.
Woodburn on Railroad avenue, between Phil-
adelphia and Church streets, and by J. E.
Lewis on Thirteenth street.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 419
BANKS McChesney, A. :\I. Stewart, James P. Carter,
„, , , • . -locc: m, William M. Stewart, B. K. Jamison, Simeon
There were no banks prior to 1855. The Truby, Dr. J. K. Thompson. Isaac Empfield,
early merchants when going for goods packed E. H. Wilson, W. C. Getty John A Stewart
up their Spanish doUars in saddlebags, James S. Nesbit, N. Lohr J H Kinter S p'
mounted their horses, and rode to Philadel- Townseud, Harry White Dubre Thomas'
phia. Long after this they still packed their Jacob Creps. The capital stock was $100 OOO'
money in their trunks, and m the stage divided into one thousand shares of $100
crossed the mountains with aU their funds each. The first officers were • President W
with them. Yet, withal, robberies were very ii. Stewart; cashier, E. H. AVilson- directors'
rare and this personal care of baggage com- w. 11. Stewart, Harry White Jam'es P Car-
paratively safe. ter, John Ralston, Dr. R. H.' McChesney
First .\ationul Ban/.-.— Its predecessors The bank was incorporated on the IJtli of
were the banking house of Hogue & Co., September, 1873, and organized under the
which William C. Boyle managed (Hogue re- charter on the 30th of December 1873 with
siding in Greensburg). and Sutton & Stew- the same capital af. at the first' In '\pril
art, in operation from December 1. 1858, to 1875, the stock was increased to $200 000
January 2, 1864. On the latter date the First The presidents in succession have been ■
National Bank was organized with a capital William il. Stewart, Dr. R. H :\IcChesney
stock of $200,000, divided into two thousand Robert il. Gibson, Dr. N. P. Ehrenfeld
shares of $100 each. The first ofScere were: Judge Harry White. Cashiers: J. M. Watt'
President. James Sutton: cashier. William Tom E. Hildebrand. '
C. Boyle; directors, James Sutton. William Fanners' Bank was organized on ilareh
Banks, John Sutton. Charles Gompers, Wil- 24, 1876, with a capital stock of $100,000
liam JI. Stewart, Thomas White, Alexander The first officers were: President, James A.
M. Stewart. McKnight; cashier. R. C. Taylor- directors,
The primary stockholders were: James S. A. Johnston, Frederick Cameron, J. Mar-
Sutton, William M. Stewart, Thomas White, lin Walker. Calvin S. Fiscus, Israel' Thomas,
Archibald Stewart, John Sutton. James G. George H. Johnston.
Caldwell, William Earl, Dubre Thomas, James A. McKnight, the first president,
Alexander I\I. Stewart, :\rargaret Blair, Wil- served from 1876 to 1888; William B. Patti-
liam Lewis, William Banks, Daniel Stauard, .son, 1889 to 1893: John P. Elkin. 1893 to
George W. Simpson. James G. McQuaide, 1895; J. N. Banks. 1895 to 1903: Robert
Charles Gompers, John G. Coleman, Robert Mitchell, 1903 to 1904; Harry W. Wilson,
McChesney, John Prothero, Josiah Brown, 1904, still serving in that position.
Samuel ilcCartney, William Bothell, Andrew The present officers and emploves (Septem-
R. Sloan, Andrew W. Kimmell, James Me- ber, 1913) are: Harrv W. Wilson, presi-
Mullen, William P. North, John North, dent : John B. Taylor, "vice president ; John
Thomas Davis, James R. Porter, James W. G. St. Clair, cashier; Stephen K. Kiss, mana.
McKennan, John H. Lichteberger. ger foreign department; J. A. Taylor, teller;
The presidents in succession have been: Anthony Graff, teller; Miss Pay " Lighthiser,
William iL Stewart. Alexander M. Stewart, stenographer. The present directors are-
John Sutton, Silas M. Clark, D. S. Porter, Robert ilitchell, D. C. Mack, Godfrey Mar-
John Prothero, Thomas Sutton, A. W. Kim- shall, J. 0. Clark, J. N. Langham, J. C. Me-
mell, A. M. Stewart, W. J. Mitchell, J. P. Gregor, Dr. R. F. McHenry. Harry W. Wil-
Blair, J. S. Blair. Cashiers: E. H. Wilson, son, S. A. Rinn. John B. Taylor, D B Tav-
H. A. Thompson, W. J. :\Iitchell. J. R. lor, J. D. Ake.
Daugherty. The present directors and offi- The capital stock of the bank at present
cers are: J. S. Blair, D. C. Brown, Griffith (1913) is $225,000. The total resources on
Ellis. J. R. Daugherty, Ernest Stewart, May 1, 1913, were $1,807,386.59 ; the surplus
Thomas Sutton, J. Blair Sutton. J. R. and profits were $208,116.40; the deposits
Daugherty is cashier; H. J. Laughlin, teller; were $1,373,620.19.
Elmer Ellis and Charles G. Rudl, bookkeep- The Citizens' National Bank was char-
ers : Paul Lewis, clerk and stenographer. tered December 1, 1905, and opened for busi-
Indiana County Deposit Bank was organ- ness December 4, 1905. The original board
ized on the 4th day of December. 1869. The of directors consisted of: H. M. Lowry,
original stockholders were: John Ralston, president; A. W. Mabon, secretary; D M
William Lytle, Robert M. Gibson. Dr. R. H. Caldwell, J. M. Glassford, J. R. Stuinpf. Mr.
420 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
H. B. Heylman, of Bellefonte, Pa., was cash- was Lot No. 1 in the original plot of Indiana
ier, and jM. M. Carnahan, bookkeeper. In borough, and as this lot was probably the first
May, 1906, Mr. Carnahan secured a position one sold by the trustees of Indiana county,
in the Washington National Bank of Pitts- we append a brief of abstract of title of this
burg, Pa., and B. S. Sloan became the book- property, showing changes in value in about
keeper. On February 22, 1908, Mr. Heylman one hundred years :
resigned as cashier and Mr. B. S. Sloan was The Penns to George Clymer, about' 1790,
elected to the position, which he still occupies, large tract at 16 2/3 cents per acre ; George
The present board of directors are A. W. Clymer to trustees of Indiana county, about
Mabon, president ; H. M. Lowry, vice presi- 1803, 250 acres, donation ; trustees of In-
dent; J. T. Stewart, secretary; John H. diana county to Michael Campbell, Lot No.
Pierce, attorney; D. M. Caldwell, W. S. Car- 1, 1807, $110.25; Michael Campbell to Joseph
nahan, John Houk, Adam F. Bowman. Parker, 1809, $140; Joseph Parker to Robert
The bank opened on Philadelphia street, Nixon, 1811, $450: Robert Nixon to John
just west of the Pennsylvania depot, in the Taylor, 1817, $650; William Banks, trustee,
.west room of the brick building of J. M. to John J. Von, 1833, $945 ; John J. Von to
Stewart & Co. The bank purchased this James Mitchell, 1850, $1,500 ; James Mitchell
part of the building of J. M. Stewart & Co. to Thomas St. Clair, 1850, $1,000; Thomas
and sold it back to them in 1910, when the St. Clair to James Johnston, 1855, $2,500;
bank purchased the present location at Nos. James Johnston to James R. Porter, 1858,
640-642 Philadelphia street, of the Savings $2,500; James R. Porter to James Turner,
and Trust Company, Indiana. The first 1865, $3,650; James Turner to Susan F.
day's deposits were $32,008, and the deposits Rowe, 1874, $8,000; Susan F. Rowe to Ed-
at present are $245,000. The capital and ward Rowe, 1879, $8,000; Edward Rowe to
surplus is $60,000. Savings & Trust Company, 1907, $34,000.
The Savings and Trust Company. — On The old building on the site, erected in
May 19, 1902, the first stockholders, twenty 1807, was razed in 1909. The new building
in number, met to organize a company. The was authorized February 5, 1909, and com-
original subscribers to the stock were Messrs. pleted April 1, 1910, when it was occupied by
S. J. Telford, John S. Fisher, John A. Scott, the bank. It is a five-story brick of fireproof
J. Wood Clark, Ernest Stewart, S. M. Jack, construction and modern in every particular.
Joseph A. Langfill, J. A. Klingensmith, J. C. The first story is occupied by the bank and
Wallace, D. W. Simpson, D. H. Tomb, A. F. the Five-and-Ten-Cent Store of J. G. Mc-
Cooper, Walter P. Arms, Henry Hall, D. M. Crory. The second, third and fourth stories
Caldwell, J. L. Orr, W. R. Calhoun, J. H. are occupied as ofiSee rooms of attorneys, phy-
Engle, Elder Peelor, Dr. W. A. Simpson, sicians, dentists, real estate and insurance
They secured a charter May 21, 1902, but agents. The fourth floor is principally occu-
lt was some time before a building could be pied by the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal &
procured. On January 16, 1903, the board Iron Company, and the fifth floor by the
of directors met to discuss the location of a Cosmopolitan Club. In arrangement, fur-
room. Finally they purchased a part of the nishings, heat, light and elevator accommo-
A W. Wilson building of D. M. Caldwell, dations the building is equipped in an up-
who was occupying the room as a clothing to-date manner. The company's new bank-
. mg home is thoroughly modern in equipment.
The Trust Department was opened July including the chrome steel vault.
^ inno wT a ■ T-. + + c + The original board of directors consisted
?'^T'.nno*^^"''"f ^'^'''^'''w^'P^"'' Of: John A. Scott, president; Hon. S. J.
ber 1, 1903, paying 3 per cent interest on Tgjf^j.^^ ^j^^ president; John S. Fisher, J.
certificate deposits and 31/0 per cent interest ^ Klingingsmith, S. M. Jack, D. H. Tomb,
on trust deposits. Prior to this time no in- l W. R^obinson, J. H. Engle, A. F. Cooper,
terest had been paid by the banks in In- Henry Hall. When the capital stock waa
diana. The bank was established with a increased the board of directors was increased
capital of $125,000 and a paid-up surplus of to fifteen. The officers and directoi-s at pres-
$31,250. On November 14, 1907, tlie capital ent are as follows: John A. Scott, president
stock was increased to $250,000 and the sur- and treasurer; S. M. Jack, vice president; J.
plus to $200,000. Wilse McCartney, assistant treasurer and
On February 23, 1907, the present location secretary; R. A. Henderson, teller; E. E.
was purchased for $34,000. As the location Wells, assistant trust officer. The late Robert
This Building, Ekected in 18<J7. Kazed ix 1909, Occupied Lot No. 1, Present
Site op Savings & Trust Building, Indiana, Pa.
A View ox North Side of Philadelphia Street, between Sixth and Seventh,
Indiana, Pa.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 421
M. Wilson was secretary and treasurer. Di- building has been enlarged and remodeled
rectors: John S. Fisher, of Cunningham & until it is now a brick structure 50 by 139
Fisher, attorneys; D. P. Rinn, lumber and feet, three stories high, with a complete base-
coal; John A. Scott, attorney at law; George meut in which is conducted the grocery de-
T. Buchanan; wholesale groceries ; Dr. H. L. partment. There is a passenger elevator and
MeCuUough, physician; J. Wood Clark, at- also a freight elevator. The company manu-
torney at law; L. F. Sutter, Indiana Hard- faetures its o\ni light used in the building,
ware Company; J. Elder Peelor, of Peelor & and also has its own water system. A mail
Feit, attorneys; James N. Stewart, retired; order department is contemplated and will
J. T. Bell, attorney at law ; Henry Hall, sta- be in effect in a short time,
tionery and legal blanks; H. W. Oberlin W. i?. Loit(//(;'y cC- Co.— The brick building
Brothers, merchants: S. M. Jack, attorney on the corner of Sixth and Philadelphia
^t law. streets, in which this company's store is now
GROWTH located, was originally erected by John Den-
Total Eesotirces niston for a store and dwelling combined.
Ma^' sVim *^"''' °''"^'' * 748 815 17 ^^^ successors were McKennan & Mayes,
May 29' 190.5 .....................[[ 928'73l.'97 afterwards succeeded by Moorhead & Cole-
May 26' 1906 . . . . . 1,139'255!44 man, followed by John Weamer, and George
May 28, 1907 1,221,930.93 W. Weamer & Bro. In 1866 Sutton & Lloyd
A ?il % "^1909 1 453'047'89 ^°°^ charge of the store and conducted the
May 2" 'i9i0 i'665'738 98 business until 1869, when Loughry & Sutton
April 2'9, 1911 ". l',918'675!4l assumed the business. In 1880 the firm was
May 3, 1912 2,122,338.52 changed to Loughry & Hamilton, who con-
May 1, 1913 . 2,350,161.44 tinned the business iintil the finn was changed
September 4, 1913 2,433,855.99 ., ^^T t, t i pn.ii .. £
' ' ' to \\ . R. Loughry & Co., the present hrm
Trust Department name.
., oc Q '^- ^'- l^ff'^^cP <f" ^011. — At this location in
May 29,' 1905 .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.:'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 2o;4.5i:67 ^^^^S Sutton, Marshall & Stewart began to
May 26' 1906 '.'. 6o'565'72 sell drv goods, notions, carpets, wallpaper,
May 28, 1907 92;301.39 etc. In 1873 the firm of ilarshall & Kline
f% \®i \^QAQ ^nl'^-faii ^™s established, which continued in business
May 2, 1910 ..:".;'.:'.::::::::::;::"" 125145^8 ""^^^ ^^e death of Mr. Marshall in 1897.
Aprir'29, 1911 .................[[..... i8o'273.42 Soon afterward J. C. Wallace, of East Liver-
May 3, 1912 195,815.25 pool. Ohio, purchased the building and en-
Sem'ber'4! 1913:::;. ■;;:::::;:::::.•; Ilifi-^M f^'^^ '" ^ f^^^^^ !^^\r^''- Later ins^o?^
' ' became a partner, and they continue the busi-
ness under the firm name of J. C. Wallace &
MERCHANTS, ETC. So,j rpjjp Iniilding has been remodeled and
rri r< ■ 1 /i T 10/^- XI enlarged bv them.
Ilie lunninqham ( innnanii. — In Ibbi the en -r,' .i rT^^ ■ n ■ t s
tirm of John H. Cunnindiam & Co. was es- , ^^T\?''"^ '^''^^^ "" T f T°«, "
tablished on the corner of Tenth and Phila- ;^, ^- f°f ; ^- ?" ^^^''''^ "''' onn^\^ ?'°-
delphia streets, then White township, Indiana ^^'^ ff^'f. '" x?"Tn« p^'^ ii , -'^ / 7
county, which firm continued in business for Present location. No. 606 Philadelphia street,
thirty-six years. In 1871 A. S. Cunningham f ^^\}''''^%''« fovmev\Y occupied by John
assumed charge and conducted the business J^^" .^^^">\ ^""^ ^r' <'0"^\™«"-^ added to
in his own name until 1895, when the firm *"5 stock until tney now have a large de-
name was changed to the Cunningham Com- Partment store. The building has been en-
pany. Ever since the firm was established arged and remodeled and m 1912 a new up-
the business has been managed by A. S. Cun- to-date front was piit in the budding,
ningham, the present owner and manager of ^- ^- -Bz-^/Z^ar/.-In 1876 J. H. Brilhart
the large department store into which it has ^^gan business on Sixth street m a two-story
grown. In 1882 Mr. A. S. Cunningham brick building at the corner of Sixth and
bought the property then owned by ^Iv. Bo- Water streets, and in 1882 moved to present
denhamer, at the present location on the cor- location on East Philadelphia street. The
ner of Carpenter alley and Philadelphia store was first known as Brilhart 's Five-and-
street. It was then a frame building 20 feet Ten-Cent Store. In 1882 the firm became J.
square, with a cellar of the same size. The H. Brilhart & Son, and since 1906, after the
422
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
death of J. H. Brilhart, the business has
been continued by H. H. Brilhart in his own
name. The building is 100 by 60 feet and in
1911 was improved with a new up-to-date
front. It is now conducted as a grocery
store, including a glass and china department.
H. H. Johnston began business at No. 706
Philadelphia street in November, 1907, in the
building of Mrs. Sarah E. Mitchell, where he
still conducts a store, selling floor coverings
and ladies' furnishings. Prom 1902 to 1907
he managed the store of Leslie Pattison, on
Philadelphia street.
D. C. Mack & Son are the successors of J.
R. Stumpf. They have been in business at
No. 715 Philadelphia street since 1903. They
sell general merchandise and notions.
The Bon Ton. — This is a ladies' furnishing
store, selling ready-to-wear clothing and mil-
linery, established in 1908 by S. W. Rose, the
present owner and manager. It is located on
Philadelphia street.
The Hub. — This store was established in
1907 by Heyman Brothers, comprising H. L.
Herman, H. Heyman, I. Heyman and B. L.
Hejmian. They first occupied the first floor in
the Thomas building, and in 1912 moved to
the new three-story building of Judge Harry
White on Philadelphia street. They keep a
complete line of men's and women's ready-
to-wear clothing.
Brody's. — This store, which sells ladies'
and men's furnishings, was opened in 1913
in the old Thomas building on Philadelphia
street, in the room recently vacated by the
"Hub." because of a fire.
Hildelrand Drug Store.— In 1856 W. B.
Hildebrand started a drug store in a one-
story frame building at the present location.
No. 654 Philadelphia street. He conducted
the business until his death. October 1. 1886,
since which time his son. Tom E. Hildebrand,
has been the proprietor. In 1889 the old
building was torn down and the present
three-storv brick was built by Margaret T.
Landis. While the new building was in
course of construction Mr. Hildebrand eon-
ducted his business on the corner now occu-
pied by the Cunningham Company's depart-
ment store. He moved into the present loca-
tion in 1889. This is the oldest store in In-
diana county conducted in the same name.
In this store are sold drugs, stationery and
fine toilet articles. The building is now
owned by John G. McCrory, who purchased
it in 1903 from Mrs. W. J. Mitchell and J. T.
Bell, who purchased it of the Landis heirs.
Hetrick Brothers' Drug Store has been
known in Indiana since 1875. The firm is
composed of D. A. Hetrick and R. D. Hetrick.
They were located in the Odd Fellows' build-
ing for twenty years, and since that time have
occupied their own building, formerly owned
by Nesbit, No. 614 Philadelphia street.
Daugherty Brothers, located at No. 800
Philadelphia street, conduct a drug store and
also keep a line of sporting goods. The firm
consists of J. R. and J. JI. Daugherty. They
began business in 1876, and in 1883 moved
to their present location in the building for-
merly occupied by Steele G. Hartman. They
enlarged the building and increased the
length from 50 feet to 90 feet.
Elmer W. Allison, in 1897, opened a drug
store in the Odd Fellows' building at No.
672 Philadelphia street, where he still con-
tinues to do business. During this time the
building has been remodeled and a new front
installed. The stock of goods has been greatly
increased, making it an up-to-date store.
J. Howard Eouk has conducted a drug
store on the corner of Sixth and Philadel-
phia streets since November 23. 1905.
Noble C. Miller established a drug store
July 27, 1911, in the building formerly owned
by Clark Neale, which was for some time oc-
cupied by Mrs. Empfield's grocery store. The
building has been entirely remodeled and
fitted up as a drug store.
B. W. Wehrle & Co. have a large jewelry
store located at No. 562 Philadelphia street.
This store was started in 1845 by Blasius
Wehrle. In 1887 B. I. Wehrle took charge
of the business, and in 1899 R. W. Wehrle
purchased the business. In 1903 Mr. J. H.
McQuown became a partner and the firm
name became R. W. Wehrle & Co.
Wayne Riqgs & Co.— On May 1, 1911, Mr.
Riggs opened a jewelry store* on Philadelphia
street in the old building owned by R. E.
Young and torn down by him in 1913 to give
place to the handsome three-story brick
building now nearing completion. This is
the latest jewelry store that has been opened
in Indiana, and will be found in the new
building. No. 728 Philadelphia street, after
October 1, 1913.
J. I. Stadtmiller has. since 1902, conducted
a jewelry store at No. 572 Philadelphia street
and in 1913 remodeled the building, making
it a three-story brick.
W. W. Brilhart, jeweler and optician at No.
28 Carpenter avenue, has conducted his busi-
ness in Indiana for a number of years.
H. M. Conrath, jeweler and optician, is lo-
cated on West Philadelphia street.
I'liii. AiHLi'HiA Street, between Sixth and Seventh,
Indiana, Pa.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
423
Miss May Scott started a ladies' furnish-
ings store in April, 1900, in the present loca-
tion on Philadelphia street, and later made a
specialty of millinery, now having a large
trade in that line.
Anderson Millinery. — This store at Nos.
6-8 South Seventh street has been in operation
since August, 1907. In connection with the
millinery department, notions, stamped goods,
etc.. are sold.
Tippery ct Leech have continued the milli-
nery business of M. A. Pounds since Januai-y,
1912. The firm is composed of Miss Blanche
Leech and ^Miss Katharyu Tippeiy.
Miss Helena Yogel opened a ladies' and
children's furnishings store in 1900 in the
building where the Savings & Trust building
now stands. In 1907 she moved to the pres-
ent location, in the building formerly occu-
pied bv ]Mrs. Hare.
Henry Hall— In 1857 Henry Hall started
the first news agency in the town. In 1866
he opened up a book store on Pliiladelphia
street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, in
the building now occupied by Barr's billiard
aud" pool room. In 1867 he removed to a
building west of Samuel Douglass' law office,
and in 1870 to the corner of Sixth and Phila-
delphia streets, in the building now occupied
by Houk's drug store. In 1879 he admitted
his brother. C. W. Hall, and the firm was
known as H. Hall & Bro. for some time.
In 1882 he moved into the Grove building,
which is now being replaced by a new biiild-
ing. In 1888 he moved to his present loca-
tion, the building formerly occupied by Por-
ter Fiscus as a general store. The building
is 60 by 80 feet. He carries a complete line
of books and stationery, and has a printing
establishment in connection with the store,
making a specialty of legal blanks and all
kinds of job work.
Huey d- Moorhcacl.—ln 1906 Charles E.
Huey started a news stand and book store on
Philadelphia street in the building formerly
occupied by H. C. :\IcQuown. In 1910 ilr.
Frank E. ^loorhead entered into partnership,
and the finn was continued under the name
of Huey & Jloorhead. They now have a full
line of books and stationers- and ofSce sup-
plies, in connection with the news agency.
8. R. Pollocl' has had charge of a music
store since 1910, located at No. 616 Philadel-
phia street, opposite the coiirthouse, in the
building formerly occupied by "Work & Son.
Some extensive improvements were made to
the buildins during the last year, and a large
stock of pianos and all kinds of musical in-
struments is kept on hand. This store is
favored with having the agency for the Stein-
way piano, which is unusual for a town the
size of Indiana.
T. B. Clark, photographer on the third
floor of the Farmers' Bank building, has suc-
cessfullj- conducted his business for many
years.
E. B. Springer, photographer, is on Seventh
street in the B. B. Tiffany building, which
was erected in 1870. The business was car-
ried on by ^Ir. Tiffany until a few years ago.
//. C. Chri^sty i£- Co.— In 1873 Christy &
Sharretts opened a shoe store at No. 9 North
Sixth street and in 1885 Mr. Sharretts re-
tired and the firm name became G. S. Christy.
In 1890 the son, Harry C. Christy, became
a partner, and the firm name was changed to
G. S. Christy & Son. After the death of
Mr. G. S. Christy the business was conducted
b,y the son and the firm name remained un-
changed until 1912. when Irvin Glasser be-
came a partner and the style became H. C.
Christy & Co. The store has two entrances
— one at No. 9 North Sixth street and an-
other at No. 581 Philadelphia street. The
firm's special lines are the Walk-over shoes
for men and the Queen for women.
Brown's Boot Store, managed by Fred
Brown & Co., is located near the corner of
Seventh and Philadelphia sti-eets. They
have been in business since December. 1911.
McKinstrys.—lr>. :\rarch. 1908. the Jordan
Company opened a general shoe store at No.
662 Philadelphia street and conducted the
business until 1913. when Mr. Jordan re-
tired and the firm name became McKinstrys,
the owners being T. A. and J. R. ]\IcKinstry.
T. A. ilcKinstry has been a member and
manager of the business since 1908.
J. I. Shaffer.— S\mfler-& Kellar began busi-
ness in the Thomas building on Philadelphia
street, and thence moved to the corner of
Seventh and Philadelphia streets. In 1912
the partnership was dissolved and the busi-
ness was continued by J. I. Shaffer, who con-
ducted a men's furnishings store until
October, 1913, when J. H. Thompson estab-
lished a similar store at the same location.
Moorheael Brothers. — This firm is composed
of W. 0. ]\Ioorhead and D. L. Moorhead, who
conduct a men's clothing and furnishings
store. Thev succeeded the firm of D. M.
Caldwell &'Co. in 1909, at No. 670 Philadel-
phia street.
E. A. Pennington began business in 1878
in the present location, No. 716 Philadelphia
424
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
street. At one time he had five skilled work-
men under his personal supervision.
Buchman Brothers opened a clothing and
shoe store in the Gessler building, No. 804
Philadelphia street, on April 1, 1913.
Vogel Brothers. — The Vogel brothers, Paul,
Wolfgang, George, began merchant tailoring
on Philadelphia street in 1849, where Dr.
H. P. Griffith has his dental offices. In 1870
they built a two-story brick opposite the
courthouse, on Sixth street, 30 by 52 feet,
and at once occupied the south half of the
new building. George died Pebruarv 14.
1876, and Wolfgang sold to Paul in' 1884.
They divided the building and Wolfgang
sold his part, the north, to Prank Marshall
in 1907. Paul Vogel died May 11, 1906, but
the business is still carried on by his two
sons, Edwai-d G. and John W., who have
managed it since 1897. This business has
been carried on for sixty-four years under
the name of Vogel Brothers.' They have the
honor of having conducted their business
longer than any other in Indiana county.
Charles H. Miller began the tailoring busi-
ness in the Gazette building in 1906 and since
1909 has been continuing it in the frame
building of J. T. Bell, No. 683 Philadelphia
street.
Franji- Thurston has been in the tailoring
business since 1908, above Houk's drug store.
7. A. Nolf began the tailoring business in
the Wehrle building on Philadelphia str'eet
in 1908, and since 1910 has continued the
business at No. 662 Philadelphia street.
Pauch Brothers began the tailoring busi-
ness in the Gazette building in 1908, in 1909
moving to the Wilson and Clements building,
above the Plotzer meat market. Since 1910
they have continued the business in the Mar-
shall building on Carpenter alley.
Indiana Hardware Company. — The build-
ing on Philadelphia street in which this com-
pany is located is on the site of Peter Sutton's
dwelling, erected in 1806. The store was
founded by Thomas Siitton about 1811 and
was conducted in a log building in the rear
of the lot where Mrs. ]\I. A. Sutton resided.
After the death of Thomas Sutton his mdow
and John Sutton managed the business for
several years. They were succeeded by
James and John Sutton, who in 1835 built a
one-story brick building on the same lot, 24
by 37. In 1842 the firm became Sutton &
Moore (John Sutton and Col. H. M. Moore).
Thev were succeeded by John Sutton, and by
Sutton & Wilson (A.'w. Wilson) in 1852.
In 1844 A. W. Wilson entered into business
with Sutton & Moore, and in 1847 had charge
of a branch store in Meehanicsburg. In 1858
a two -story brick building, 28 by 65, was
erected. In 1872 Mr. Sutton retired from
the firm and was succeeded by his son, John
W. Sutton, the firm becoming Wilson & Sut-
ton. In 1877 Harry Wilson, a son of the
senior proprietor, became connected with the
business and the firm name was changed to
Wilson, Sutton & Co. In 1880 the present
three-story brick building was erected. In
1908 the building was occupied by A. T. Tay-
lor & Son, and in October, 1909, the present
company took charge of the store.
J. M. Stewart & Go. — This firm is com-
posed of J. M. Stewart, A. I\I. Stewart and
A. W. Mabon. They conduct a general hard-
ware store, on the corner of Railroad avenue
and Philadelphia street. This building,
"The Big Warehouse," was originally a two-
story brick erected in 1853 bv James Sutton,
Peter Sutton, A. M. Stewart and W. B. Mar-
sliall, in what was then a part of the Gom-
pers farm, in an addition to the town of
Indiana. The building was occupied until
1865 by Sutton, Marshall & Stewart, who
conducted a general store, and carried hard-
ware, groceries, lumber, grain, etc. In 1865
A. M. Stewart & Co. (J. M. Stewart) took
charge of the hardware, groceries, lumber,
grain, etc., and W. B. Marshall of the dry
goods and notions. In 1873 W. B. Kline be-
came associated with Mr. Marshall, and in
1880 erected a new building adjoining, in
which they conducted a dry goods store.
From 1879 until 1883 the hardware store was
conducted by J. M. Stewart, at which time
the firm name was changed to J. M. Stewart
& Co., as at present. In 1912 extensive im-
provements were made to the building, mak-
ing it a three-story structure, with a brown-
stone front and large plate glass show win-
dows, and the enl ranee lowered to a level
with the street.
A. T. Taylor & .S^)).— This firm was
started in 1872 under the firm name of Rowe
& Taylor and continued in business until
1885, when A. T. Taylor conducted the busi-
ness in his own name until 1897. Then the
firm name became A. T. Taylor & Son and
they moved to the present site of the Savings
& Trust building. In 1908 they moved to
the present location of the Indiana Hardware
Company, and in 1910 moved to the H. H.
Sieving building, on North Sixth street,
where they still c(jntinue to carry a full line
of hardware and tinware. They also do tin-
ning work.
Sixth ami Sf.vexth,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
425
Eellar Brother.^' Hardware Store, located
on Sixth street, was started by H. Kellar &
Son, and the firm is now composed of Frank
Kellar and Bert Kellar.
Peterson ct Co. — In 1904 the tinn was
known as Appleby & Peterson, who opened a
hardware store in the I. N. Gibson building
on Twelfth street, between Philadelphia and
Church streets. They continued to do busi-
ness here until 1907, when they located in the
two-story brick building owned by the Penn
Enamel Sink Companj-, located between Nos.
1037 and 1051 Philadelphia street. Appleby
retired and Janufirj^ 1, 1910, R. V. Kerr
became a partner, and the business is con-
ducted at the same location bv Peterson &
Co.
Sieving & Streams. — On JIarcli 1, 1S85,
John F. Steving began the furniture and up-
holstering business on Water street just west
of the old ]\Iethodist church, in a two-story
frame building erected by Judge White. The
building was burned. Mr. Steving built the
Weamer building on Sixth street, in which
J. M. Culp sells agricultural implements, etc.,
and .occupied the building September 1,
1888, continuing the business there in his
own name. On .May 18, 1889, he took in a
silent partner, and the tirm name became
John F. Steving & Co. On June 1, 1892,
ilr. Steving became the sole owner, and did
business in his own name. On ilay 1. 1896,
he located in the AVissel building on Philadel-
phia street. On May 18, 1896, he took in a
silent partner, and the firm name was John
F. Steving & Co. On April 1, 1897, he
added undertaking to the business. On
March 1, 1898. it occupied the building now
owned by the Citizens' Bank. On November
1, 1899, he became sole owner of the busi-
ness and took as partner B. S. Sloan, under
the firm name of Steving & Sloan. On
July 31, 1900, Sloan became owner of the
business, except tlie undertaking, which was
held by Mr. Steving. On August 1, 1900,
Mr. Steving occupied the Wissel building,
engaging in the undertaking business and
selling furniture and carpets by catalogue.
Mr. Sloan sold to Thomas Sutton and
:March 4, 1901, Edward Sutton and :Mr,
Steving formed a partnership known as
Steving & Sutton, to do an undertaking, fur-
niture, carpet and queensware business. On
April 10, 1903, they dissolved partnership.
and Mr. Steving continued the undertaking
business.
On ^larch 4, 1907, Silas Streams became a
partner and the firm name was John F. Ste-
ving & Co. On July 10, 1907, they occupied
the Young & Daugherty building. April 1,
1909, the firm name liecame Steving &
Streams. In 1912 they built a three-story
brick 26 by 110 feet at Nos. 721-723 Phila-
delphia street. The building is up-to-date
and is heated by the natural vapor heating
system. They occupied the new building De-
cember 10. 1912, a'id are engaged in the fur-
niture and undertaking business,
//. H. Steving & Son.—Yi. H. Steving
opened a furniture and viudertaking store at
No. 528 Water street in 1878. In 1890 he
built the three-story frame on Sixth street,
opposite the jail, and continued his business
in this building until 1907. In 1888 he pur-
chased the undertaking business of J. R.
Daugherty, Sr. In 1906 :\Ir. Steving built
a four-story brick building on Philadelphia
street, where he has been located since 1907,
engaged in the furniture and undertaking
business and the sale of carpets, rugs and
pianos. In 1914 he will add two stories to
his new building.
Buehheii Brothers opened a furniture
store in March, 1911, in the building for-
merly occupied by L. Pattison. at No. 732
Philadelphia street. The firm is composed
of E. C. Buchheit and H. J. Buchheit.
R. M. S)nifh conducts a wallpaper and art
store at No. 561 Philadelphia street in the
Weamer building. In 1888 Mr. Smith estab-
lished a photograph gallery on the corner of
Philadelphia and Ninth streets, and in 1893
moved to the Thomas building, where he had
a photograph gallery and wallpaper store un-
til 1908. Then he located in the Stadtmiller
building, at No. 563 Philadelphia street,
where he conducted a wallpaper store until
1912, at which time he came to bis present
location.
Job McCreight m 1905 began to sell wall-
paper on Sixth street, opposite the court-
house, and in 1911 he purchased the wall-
paper store of John A. Findley. on Philadel-
]ihia street, in a one-story building just west
of the Penns.ylvania railroad. At present
(1913) he conducts business at both places.
Godfrey Mar.shall opened a harness shop
in a frame building on Sixth street in 1866.
In 1870 he moved to his present location. No,
631 Philadelphia street. When purchased by
Mr. Marshall the building was used as a
hotel by ilr. McClain. It had a stone front,
which ^Ir. Marshall replaced with a brick
front when he remodeled the building, and
there he still conducts his business. Mr.
JIarshall purchased the adjoining building on
426
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the corner of Carpenter alley from the John
Sutton heirs. In the basement of this build-
ing, known as the Marshall building, are a
barber shop and a restaurant, and the first
and second floors are occupied as ofSee rooms
by attorneys, insurance and real estate agents.
In 1910 ilr. Marshall extended the building
back to the alley, building a two-story brick
which is fitted for storerooms on the first floor.
The second floor is known as "Lyric Hall."
Cost Brothers. — Edward F. and William
A. Cost are the successors of the Marshall
Saddlery Company at No. 576 Philadelphia
street, taking charge of the business Novem-
ber 1, 1912. The Cost Brothei-s remodeled
the building in 1913 by putting in a new
front and adding a story. The ^larshall Sad-
dlery Company's business was started by
Philip Jlarshall on the corner of Philadel-
phia and Fifth streets, and in 1900 he located
at No. 576 Philadelphia street, where he con-
ducted his business until his death, in 1910.
His son, Frank Marshall, took charge of the
business in 1910, and conducted it until his
death, in 1912.
John Barr has conducted a cigar store
and pool room on Philadelphia street in the
three-story brick building of J. T. Bell since
the erection of the building in 1898.
W. S. Smathers, the florist, has been doing
a good business since 1910 at No. 13 North
Sixth street.
The Indiana Steam Laundry is located on
Clymer avenue. Osman & McFarland are the
proprietors at present, having succeeded M.
Heddon, who formerly managed the business.
Isadore Fleegler, cleaning, dyeing and
pressing, is located at No. 561 Philadelphia
street in the building formerly occupied by
Mr. Stadtmiller.
Grocers.— R. C. Snyder, W. C. Orr, George
Walker & Co., J. J. Fiscus, Homer W. Koontz,
and John Valaeti, all of West Philadelphia
street; John Bath, Ira A. Myers, the Cun-
ningham Company, John F. Clements, Sloan
Brothers, H. H. Brilhart, W. H. Penton,
Hassinger Brothers, E. C. Clawson, John
Zeman, Joseph Micciche and F. H. Learn,
of Philadelphia street; Little Brothers, Oak
street; William Ross, North Fifth street; Mc-
Gregor Brothers, corner Sixth and Water
streets ; George Graff, Sixth street ; S. W. Gee-
sey. South Sixth street ; A. C. Perrier & Son,
" corner of Wayne and Seventh streets (Point
Store); Shattack & McCoy, Wayne avenue;
J. D. Hill, Oakland avenue; G. G. Compton
& Son, Tenth street; A. W. Scott, corner
Church and Ninth streets; George W. Plot-
zer, Carpenter avenue.
George T. Buchanan, Wholesale Grocer. —
The wholesale grocery business owned and
managed by George T. Buchanan is the largest
commei-cial enterprise in Indiana county.
The investment is considerably more than
$100,000 and the annual sales a trifle less than
a half million dollars. The mercantile tax
paid for the privilege of doing business
amounts to about two hundred dollars each
year, and is by far the largest tax paid for
this purpose in the county.
The wholesale grocery business is the out-
come of the growing needs of our people, and
is a matter of slow but sure development.
Years ago, when the facilities for transpor-
tation in the county were limited, a few large
retail stores located in different parts of the
county bought some lines of goods in large
quantities, and divided their surplus with
their neighboring merchants. This manner
of handling merchandise was continued un-
til 1902, when the time seemed ripe to estab-
lish a strictly wholesale house. In this year
a partnership was formed by Alexander
Stewart, A. W. JMabon and John Bennett,
who went into the wholesale grocery business
under the name of Mabon, Bennett & Co.,
and conducted the same until the end of the
year 1905, when the present owner formed
a partnership with Mr. Bennett and bought
the business of JIabon, Bennett & Co. The
new firm under the name of Buchanan &
Bennett then conducted the business until
October, 1909, when Mr. Bennett retired.
From the beginning of the business its
growth has been steady and sure, but it has
been more rapid within recent years.
Mr. Buchanan is recognized by all familiar
with the grocery trade as one of the most ca-
pable grocers in western Pennsylvania. He
has been connected with the trade in this line
since 1887 and has mastered the business in
all its details. He is a tireless worker, an en-
thusiast, and at the same time a man of sound
business judgment. He has the happy fac-
ulty of recognizing ability in others and
much of the success of his enterprise is due
to the intelligent and loyal support of his
coworkers. He never vises the word "em-
ployee," but considers all actively connected
with his organization as partners so far as
their own department is concerned.
Following is the pers(mnel of his force at
this writing (September 3. 1913) : Office-
Madge R. Lydick, credits and accounts, in
present position since 1902; Mildred L. De-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
427
Lancj', stenographer ; wareroom — Frank B.
McKee. manager, in present position since
1902 : Earl L. ilorton ; Joseph Z. Corey ; Wil-
liam Paul Buchanan ; trucking — Harvey S.
Fails; salesmen — James I. Henderson, in pres-
ent position since 1908 : Charles T. McLangh-
lin. in present position since 1910 ; William
N. Templeton, in present position since 1913.
In addition to the above a number of others
have been connected witli the business at
various times, many of whom received such
help and inspiration as to enable them to go
into business for themselves and make a suc-
cess.
The real estate is located on the comer of
Church street and Railroad avenue, having
a frontage on Church street of 100 feet and
extending back along the railroad 200 feet.
A private railroad siding extends the entire
length of the property.
The main building is 40 by 120 feet and
three stories high. Tliree other buildings on
the same lot are used for storage, and a ten-
ant house nearby furnishes a home for the
caretaker and watciiman. All these buildings
are kept well filled with merchandise and
much is stored at times in public warehouses.
In addition to merchandise shipped from
stock the house does a large business in
"drop shipments," goods sold by the differ-
ent salesmen and shipped direct from the
manufacturer to the merchants, thus saving
enormous expense in freight and extra labor.
Indiana is .justly proud of this commercial
enterprise and the merchants in the county
have been ^.oyal in their support. It is well
for all that this spii'it of mutual interest pre-
vails, for it requires more than seventy dol-
lars everv business day for this house to pay
salaries', expenses and dividends on the in-
vestment.
The future of the business is bright and
promising. The difficulties of establishing
and promoting such an enterprise have been
mostly overcome, and there seems to be no
reason why this house should not only hold
its present lead in Indiana county, but event-
ually become one of the largest and strong-
est commercial industries in western Penn-
sylvania.
Indiana. Wlwlesale Company, incorporated
May 29, 1912, under the laws of the State of
Pennsylvania, authorized capital $100,000;
R. N. Ray, president; John Bennett, secre-
tary and treasurer. — The warehouse at the
corner of Eishth and Water streets is 50 bv
200 feet, built of buff brick and hollow tile,
with steel trussed roof! reinforced concrete
floors, electric elevator and electric lights.
Three representatives soliciting from retail
merchants cover Indiana county and part of
Jefferson, Armstrong, Cambria and West-
moreland counties. The firm carries a full
line of groceries, also dealing in produce,
fruits, poultry, butter and eggs, selling about
$1,000 worth per day. It opened for busi-
ness January 13, 1913. There is a Pennsyl-
vania railroad siding the full length of the
west side of the building.
City Grocery, at No. 732 Philadelphia
street, has been conducted by Ira Myers since
1904. He makes a specialty of the Premier
line of groceries, which he purchases in New
York City. He began the grocery business
in the Gessler building on Philadelphia street,
on the Pennsylvania. railroad, ]\Iareh 14. 1900,
where he continued until he moved to the
present location.
E. C. Clawson conducts a grocery store on
East Philadelphia street in what is known as
the A. M. Stewart property. Mr. Clawson
opened a restaurant in Indiana in 1904, and
conducted a successful business until April,
1912, when he went into the grocery business.
John F. Clements conducts a grocery store
at No. 628 Philadelphia street, where he has
been located since 1907. He first opened a
grocery store in 1886 and has continued in
the business since that time.
Hassinger Brothers have conducted a gro-
cery and bakery since 188 — at No. 558 Phila-
delphia street. Their father, Clement Hassin-
ger, started a grocery and bakerj' on the cor-
ner of Water and Fifth streets in 1858. In
1869 he traded properties with Fred Keifer.
a shoemaker, who owned the property in
which the Hassinger brothers now conduct
their business.
Myers & Little have had charge of the
restaurant formerly known as Patton's res-
taurant since 1906, and make a specialty of
ice cream. They have their own machinery
and make all their own ice cream.
Frank H. Learn, leader in general merchan-
dise, located at No. 366 East Philadelphia
street, has been in business since August,
1910. The frame building there was erected
by John Manner, who conducted a store for
some years, when he sold the building to John
A. Campbell, ex-commissioner, who afterward
sold it to J. M. Glassford & Co., who con-
ducted the store until it was purcha.sed by
Mr. Learn, in 1910.
Little Brothers, consisting of Charles S.
Little and Harry F. Little, started in the
grocery business on the corner of Fifth and
428
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Oak streets in 1907, and in January, 1909,
erected a new building on Oak street, into
which they moved, and have continued to do
a successful business since that time.
Meat Markets. — J. J. Fiscus, Homer W.
Koontz, John Bath, George W. Graff, G. G.
Compton & Son, George W. Plotzer, W. H.
Fenton, and Shattack & McCoy.
Plimibers.—E. R. Lumsden, No. 724 Phil-
adelphia street; Joseph Welteroth, corner
Philadelphia and Fifth streets ; A. T. Taylor
& Son, No. 21 North Sixth street ; C. A. Bu-
chanan, No. 1033 West Philadelphia street.
"The Moore," corner of Philadelphia and
Eighth streets, is conducted by H. C. Moore.
This hotel was formerly a private residence.
In the summer of 1865 it was enlarged by
Solomon Barhart, who added a story, and first
opened it as a hotel, calling it the "Conti-
nental." In 1876 Martin Earhart became the
proprietor and owner. He added the rear
wings, and changed the name to the "Amer-
ican." After the death of Mr. Earhart the
hotel was remodeled and is now a large five-
story brick structure, owned by H. C. Moore.
The "Indiana House" on the southeast cor-
ner of Philadelphia and Sixth streets is con-
ducted by Edward Empfield, who made it a
five-story brick structure. The hotel was first
opened by Mrs. E. 0. Clements in 1869.
The "Clawson House" on the corner of
Water and Sixth streets is conducted by C.
M. Wortmau. For many years this house
was conducted by W. H. Clawson.
"West Indiana House," on West Phila-
delphia street, has been controlled by John
Houk since April 3, 1898. He purchased the
biiilding in 1900 and remodeled it and built
an addition 16 by 38 feet. He also built a
three-story barn 60 by 90 feet, in which he
can stable sixty-two horses.
The ' ' Kinter House ' ' on the corner of Phil-
adelphia and Fifth streets is conducted by
W. H. Clawson.
The "Central Hotel" on Philadelphia
street is managed by C. J. T. Long, who was
proprietor of the "West Indiana House" for
a number of years.
The "Manner Hotel" on East Philadelphia
street is owned and managed by Elmer Man-
ner.
The "Barr House" on East Philadelphia
street is conducted by F. S. Barr.
The IndiatM Progress is acknowledged to
be the oldest paper in Indiana county. It
lays claim to this distinction because it is a
continuation of the American, which was es-
tablished in Indiana in 1814 by James Mc-
Cahan, who, according to local history, was
the pioneer newspaper publisher of the
county. At that time, when the county seat
was a mere village, the publication of a news-
paper was wrought with great difficulty and
labor. The office of the American was lo-
cated on East Philadelphia street, on the A.
W. Taylor property, and while the newspaper
was less than two years old the plant was de-
stroyed by fire, which was the first real con-
flagration at the county seat. The public
was not slow to appreciate the worth of a
newspaper even in those early days of the
county, and the liberal contributions that
came promptly to the publisher made it pos-
sible to re-establish the paper within a short
time. In 1826 the American was purchased
by A. T. aioorhead, Sr., and his father, James
Moorhead, the great-grandfather of the pres-
ent editors of the Progress, assumed charge
of the paper. The office of the America^n was
then located on Water street, on the property
now occupied by the residence of Mi-s. S. B.
Jobe. In 1828 James Moorhead retired as edi-
tor and the American was merged with the
Whig, which was established in 1821 by Alex-
ander Taylor and C. B. Wheelock. The plant
again changed hands in 1832, when John Tay-
lor became the editor and proprietor, and for
two years he published the paper under the
title of The Free Press.
The newspaper business pa.ssed again in
tlie control of the Moorheads in 1834, when
William Moorhead assumed the management,
and in June of the same year issued the
paper under the name of The Indiana Regis-
ter. Later the paper passed into the hands
of G. P. Row and James W. Hill, but in
1852 it again changed hands and for seven
years was under the management of Jona-
than Row. Although edited by the Rows, who
were able newspaper men, Augustus and
George Row assumed charge of the plant
in 1859 and published the paper for a period
of ten years.
James Moorhead. the veteran newspaper
man, again entered the field in 1840, when he
began the publication of The Clarion of Free-
dom., and fearlessly championed the cause of
antislavery until 1854, when the plant was
purchased by G. P. Reed and Robert Henry,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
429
who changed the name of the paper to The
True American, which was merged in the Reg-
ister in 1866.
Not content to remain out of the ranks,
James Jloorhead, now well advanced in years,
organized The Independent, which was a pro-
nounced antislaverv paper, and after his death
in 1S57 his sons, James W. and William Moor-
head, continued its publication until 1860,
when the plant was moved to Blairsville. In
1866 Maj. K M. Birkman assumed charge of
the plant at Blairsville and began the publi-
cation of the Press, but during the latter part
of 1869 Major Birkman was induced to bring
the plant to Indiana, and under his manage-
ment the Press, American and Register were
consolidated, and on January 21, 1870, the
initial number of The Indiana Progress was
issued. In politics the Progress has alwaj's
been a distinctly Republican newspaper and
has fearlessly supported the policies of the
party since its birth.
Under the management of Major Birkman
the Progrtss prospered and he continued to
be its editor and publisher until March, 1880,
when failing health compelled him to retire
and William R. Black purchased the plant.
Mr. Black conducred the paper until 1887,
when it was purchased by the late A. T. iloor-
head. At that time the plant was located in
the Harry White building on Philadelphia
street. In 1892 Mr. iloorhead associated with
him in the business his son, A. S. Moorhead.
True to its name, the paper continued to be
progi-essive and the business expanded to such
proportions that it was necessary to seek
larger quarters. In 1896 the Progress moved
to its present quarters on North Seventh
street, where it occupies a three-story building
designed and erected according to the require-
ments of a modern newspaper plant. In 1903
another som, A. R. iloorhead. purchased an
interest in the business and it was owned and
conducted bj- A. T. Moorhead & Sons. Fol-
lowing the death of the senior editor, the late
A. T. Moorhead. on October 18. 1912, A. S.
and A. R. Moorhead became the sole editors
and proprietors.
The art of publishing and printing has kept
pace with the rapid strides made in the de-
velopment of the county, and today the Prog-
ress owns one of the most modem country
newspaper plants in the State. The old-style
hand composition has been supplanted by the
modern Mergent.haler linotv-pe, and fast
presses driven by modern power have short-
ened the long-drawn-out "press days" to a
few hours. Many other modern methods have
been instailed that have contributed to the
growth and development of the paper. The
management has endeavored to make the
Progress a distiuctlj- county newspaper, rep-
resentative of every locality, and the reading
public has not been slow to appreciate its
worth. The best proof of this assertion is the
splendid record that the Progress has made
in circulation during the last year. It is the
only newspaper in Indiana or adjoining
counties that has a paid-in-advanee subscrip-
tion list and its weekly circulation totals over
3,700 copies.
The Indiana County Gazette, now known
as the Ineliana Evening Gazette, was estab-
lished in ludiana on Wednesday, August 13,
1890, with Warner H. Bell as editor and man-'
ager. As it now is, the Gazette was progressive
in every .sense of the word. The need of
another paper in Indiana county at a popular
price was nnperative, and the Gazette entered
the newspaper field with a subscription price
of $1 a year. For many years the Gazette was
published in the building now known as the
"Montgomery Hotel." On April 20, 1892,
Mr. Bell retired as editor of the Gazette and
he was succeeded by Emery W. Bartlett, who
himself retired March 8, 1893, when ilr.
Walter H. Jackson was elected editor. Prom
that time until this present year Mr. Jackson
presided over the editorial department, and
only recently severed his connection with the
Gazette to go into other business in Pittsburg.
Robert Hastie Ray is at present editor and
manager and Frank M. Smith is city editor.
Ten years ago the Indiana Publishing Com-
pany, publishers of the County Gazette, in-
augurated the fii-st and at present still the
only daily paper in Indiana county, namely,
the Indiana Evening Gazette. On January 1,
1913, the two papers consolidated and the pub-
lication is 710W known as the ludiana Evening
Gazi tte, serving a subscription of some 3.000
daily. After leaving the Philadelphia street
building, the Gazette was printed in the build-
ing now occupied by the Huntingdon & Clear-
field Company, and some years ago moved into
its present home, corner of Carpenter alley
and Gompers avenue.
The Gazette has made many long strides for-
ward since its inception and now presents,
through its modern equipment, a modern
newspaper, complete in every detail.
The Indiana Times was established at Indi-
ana by John Lowry and J. A. C. Rairigh. The
first issue appeai-ed on September 4, 1878.
Two months later John Lowry purchased the
interest of Mr. Rairigh and successfully con-
430
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ducted the paper until his death, April 23,
1886, shortly after which his son, Horace M.
Lowry, became o\yaer and publisher of the
paper, continuing its publication. The Times
has always been liepubliean in polities, not
of the hide-bound kind that sees no virtue in
its opponents, but liberal enough to criticize
acts and measures advocated by its party lead-
ers which it believed not to be best for the
whole people, and commending some measures
advocated by its political opponents; always
endeavorinc'; to support those policies which
will yield ecjual justice to all.
Messenger. — In 1865 ]\Ir. Westlake was suc-
ceeded by ex-Sheriff Joseph R. Smith and his
son Samuel A. Smith, under the tirm name of
J. R. Smith & Son. On the death of the sen-
ior partner, in 1887, Frank M. Smith was
admitted to the firm and the partnership of
S. A. Smith & Bro. was formed, continuing
until 1901 when Frank I\I. Smith died and
S. A. Smith assumed charge. Since t^ie death
of the latter in 1904 the publication has been
continued by his estate. The Messenger con-
tinues Republican in politics and has a large
circulation throughout the county.
The Indiana Democrat, the only Demo-
cratic sheet in the county, is located on Church
street. This paper was first issued on the 4th
of May, 1862, by James B. Sansom, who for
the preceding ten years had been the editor
and publisher of the Fulton Democrat, of Mc-
Connellsburg, Fulton county. The first press
used in the Indiana Democrat office was for-
merly in the Mountadn Echo office of Johns-
town, of which George Nelson Smith was the
editor. On the first of November, 1869, John
R. Donahue became the proprietor, and was
succeeded on the 1st of May, 1871, by Mr.
Sansom, who associated with him at that time
his son Frank, the firm becoming J. B. San-
som & Son. It is now J. B. Sansom.
SOCIETIES, CLUBS, LODGES
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union
of Indiana is about thirty-five years of age,
being organized about 1878. Among the char-
ter members of the society were: Mrs. J. J.
Davis (now of Apollo), president, Mrs. J. S.
Russell, Mrs. Agnes Sutton, Mrs. M. L. Birk-
man, Mrs. Cordelia Barr, Mrs. Conrad Hoff-
man, Mrs. E. R. Hildebrand, Mrs. George "W.
Bodenhammer, Mrs. John W. Sutton, Miss
Jennie Mitchell. The purpose of the Union
is to protect the home by promoting the tem-
perance cause. The organization is active and
at present (1913) there are 130 members on
the roll. The executive officers are: Mrs.
Linus Lewis, president; Mrs. Pauline Niehol,
recording secretary; Mrs. J. S. Russell, cor-
responding secretary; and Miss Annie Given,
treasurer.
The Century Club, the Shakespeare Club
and the Inglesides are all literary in their na-
ture and are supported by representative peo-
ple of the town. Their meetings are intel-
lectual feasts.
Indiana Lodge, No. 313, F. and A. M. —
This lodge was chartered January 11, 1858,
and constituted April 7, 1858. The charter
members were : Robert Crawford, James
Sloan, James G. Caldwell, James Johnston,
John Eason, Harry White, James Bailey, W.
B. Marshall, Robert Walkinshaw, Charles
Swoyer, Thomas St. Clair, M. D., "William
Reed, M. D., William Crawford, George W.
Sedgwick.
The first officers were: Worshipful mas-
ter, Harry White ; senior warden, W. B. Mar-
shall; junior warden, Robert Crawford; sec-
retary, George W. Sedgwick; treasurer,
James Bailey.
The worshipful masters since organization
have been: Harry White, J. M. Getty, Wil-
liam B. ]\Iarshall, Andrew McClusky, James
Turner, Hannibal K. Sloan, Daniel S. Porter,
Wellington B. lOiue, James B. Sansom, Irwin
McFarland, Joseph F. Barnes, William S.
Daugherty, John B. Marshall, Matthew C.
Watson, John W. Sutton, Albert C. Boyle,
Henry Hall, Hugh M. Bell, John M. Leech,
Franklin Sansom, Jonathan N. Langham, Al-
exander T. Taylor, Steele G. Hartman, Au-
brey M. Hammers, John Lisle Apple, McClel-
land Gorden, Charles T. Lemmon, John A.
Scott, John C. Patton, Tom E. Hildebrand,
Harry H. Brilhart, Harry C. Christy, How-
ard B. Buterbaugh, William Taylor, Joseph
Elder Peelor, George J. Feit, Robert M. Mul-
len, Richard W. Watson, J. Howard Houk,
Hariy Bell.
The present officers are: Worshipful mas-
ter, Harry M. Bell; senior warden, John G.
St. Clair ; junior warden. Hart B. Daugherty ;
Secretary, McClelland C. Gordon; treasurer,
Henry Hall.
The present enrollment is 171. The lodge
meets the second Tuesday of each month in
the third story of the Deposit Bank building.
Palladium Lodge, No. 346, I. 0. 0. F., In-
diana, Pa., was organized February 19, 1849,
with J. G. Caldwell, Charles Slaysman, John
Hunter, W. B. Clark, David Peelor, William
C. Boyle, Thomas S. Searle, John H. Shry-
ock and Wm. M. Coy as the charter members.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
431
From the first members the following of-
ficers were elected and installed: Noble
grand, John H. Shyrock; vice grand, David
Peelor; secretarj', Thomas Searle, treasurer,
William C. Boyle.
The lodge has had a steady and continued
growth until to-day it numbers 150 active
members. It is the most substantial lodge
in the county from a financial standpoint,
having a property of its own, valued at nearly
$15,000, free of debt, and $1,500 invested in
county and school bonds.
It is one of the few lodges in the State
that have the distinction of having a member
in the possession of what is known as the
Veteran's Diamond Jewel, Mr. John "Weir,
of this place, having been a member of this
lodge for over fifty years. This jewel was
presented to him by the lodge at a special
meeting of the grand lodge in this place about
five years ago. when James ilontgomery,
grand master, was present, and made the pres-
entation speech.
The present officers of the lodge are as fol-
lows: Noble grand, C. E. Bath; vice grand,
Guy G. Morris; secretaiy, A. P. Lowry; treas-
urer, T. B. Clark; trustees, John Weir, W.
Ed. Smith, James A. Peterman. The meet-
ings are held every ilonday evening at 8
o'clock.
Una Bebckah Lodge, No. 292, the
auxiliary of the Odd Fellows lodge, was or-
ganized January 12, 1905, with over sixty
membei-s. The first officers were as follows:
Noble grand, Mrs. A. R. Lowry; vice grand,
Mrs. G. Wilse Earl; secretary, Miss Mary
Braughler; treasurer. Mrs. W. Ed. Smith.
The present officers are : Noble grand, Jay
Braughler; vice grand, Carrie Lydick; secre-
tary, Mary Braughler; treasurer, Laura
Lewis. The lodge numbers about sixty, and
iiieets the second and fourth Thursday even-
ings of each month.
Indiana Lodge, No. 931, B. P. 0. Elks, was
instituted July 15, 190-1, with fifty-eight mem-
bers. Exalted rulers: Jason W. Carson,
1904-1905; T. E. A.Dugan, 1905-1906; H. W
Thomas, 1906-1907; J. R. Richards, 1907
1908 ; S. W. McHenry, 1908-1909 ; J. A. Cross-
man, 1909-1910; Richard W. Watson, 1910
1911; A. M. Wonder, 1911-1912; Warren'P
Kline, 1912-1913 ; E. B. Campbell, 1913-1914
The lodge purchased from James H. EUrin
the old residence of John P. Elkin on October
1, 1906. On the 29th of November, 1906,
it was destroyed by fire. The present build-
ing was erected in 1907 and 1908. The mem-
bership at present is 240.
Company F, of Indiana, is the local organ-
ization of the Pennsylvania National Guard;
three officers, sixty-four men.
CHAPTER XXI
xVEMSTRONG TOWNSHIP— SHELOCTA BOROUGH
Armstrong was the second township formed
north of the Conemaugh river, and at one
time embraced nearly half of what is now
Indiana county, south of the Purchase Line.
The township received its name from Colonel
(afterwards General) Armstrong, the com-
mander of the celebrated expedition against
Kittanning. The township was organized
about 1784 or 1785, as the earliest assessment
list bears the date of 1785.
Among the early settlers of Armstrong
township was John Robinson, Sr., who came
in 1787, to the farm occupied by Walter and
John j\I. Robinson. He purchased a tract of
land containing 360 acres, giving 126 acres
to his son John, who moved to the farm in
1817. The Curry Run Presbyterian Church
is located on this farm. He sold 100 acres to
Peter Heffelfinger, and the remainder he gave
to R. T. Robinson. Other early settlers were
Israel Thomas, John McCright, Jacob An-
thony and William Devlin. David Peelor
settled in Armstrong about the year 1789,
Benjamin Walker in 1788. Anthony Run
takes its name from three brothers, William,
Levi and David Anthony, who were among
the early settlers. James McElhoes, Thomas
Lucas and James Boden came to the farm
now occupied by Daniel Anderson in 1790.
Andrew Sharp went to Crooked Creek,
Armstrong township, close to where the vil-
lage of Shelocta now stands, in 1784, where
he erected a cabin and commenced clearing
the ground, with a view of opening out a
farm and making it a permanent home for
himself and his family. But few improve-
ments had then been made in the vicinity,
and in addition to the inconveniences, the
people suffered for want of many of the neces-
saries and luxuries of life. They were much
annoyed by wild beasts and kept in constant
fear of the Indians, roving bands of whom,
coming from the neighborhood of the lakes,
made frequent incursions into this section of
the country. For greater security. Sharp re-
moved his family to Benjamin Walker's
the creek, whose house served both as
a dwelling and fort, it being strongly con-
structed and weU arranged for defense. Here
the family resided for two years. Sharp in
the meantime attended to the improvement of
his farm during the summer, but generally
returned to Walker's in the evening, after
the work of the day had been completed.
So much were the settlers exposed and so
continually were they in awe of the hostile
Indians, that they seldom ventured to their
fields or clearings singly, but assembled to-
gether, and went from farm to farm, and
planted their corn and potatoes, some stand-
ing guard whilst the rest were engaged at
work. Yet, notwithstanding all their precau-
tions, they were sometimes taken by surprise.
Adjoining his house. Walker had a rye-
field, in which the grain had been cut and put
on shock. Mrs. Walker, one day, was look-
ing over the field, when she espied an Indian
at the farther end, gliding into the woods.
On further examination it was ascertained
that the Indian had been within three rods
of the house, the marks on the ground, where
he had lain behind a shock of rye, leaving no
doubt on the subject. He had evidently been
reeonnoitering the premises.
James Clark 's mill, at South Bend, the only
one then in the neighborhood, afforded an-
other place of security, as did also Cunning-
ham's house, which was fashioned after the
manner of a blockhouse, with strong doors
and portholes. Joseph Clark, a son of James
Clark, was acting as a scout, traversing the
country far and wide, watching the move-
ments of the Indians and making report to the
settlers whenever he saw any indications of
danger. On one occasion during his absence
on this service, his wife got several of the
neighbors to plant her potatoes, she tak-
ing one of their rifles and acting as sentinel
until the men had completed their work.
It must be remarked, however, that some
of the men of the frontier gave themselves
but little concern in regard to the Indians;
as an illustration of which it is mentioned
432
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
433
that at one time, wheu the whole neighbor-
hood had become alarmed, Joseph Wawson,
at the entreaties of his wife, accompanied her
to Walker's, he singing and whistling as he
walked leisurely along, his arms crossed on
his back, while she was in momentary dread
of being either seized or fired upon by In-
dians. Fortunately the Indians had taken
another direction, and the pair passed on to
Walker's in safety.
Samuel Sloan lived between Shelocta and
South Bend. He and two of his children were
engaged planting corn, in the spring of 1793,
wheu, being called to the house, he left them
at their employment. On his return, soon
after, the children were- missing, and he felt
convinced that they had been taken captive
by the Indians. The alarm was given through
the neighborhood and a consultation had,
when it was resolved not to pursue, lest by
attacking the Indians they should be prompted
to kill the children. This was the most pru-
dent course. The children 's lives were spared,
and at the general pacifieatiou in 1798 they
were delivered up by their captors. After
their return the children stated that when
they had been secured iu their father's field,
the Indians went in the direction of where
Lowry was plowing, some distance off: that
they got within rifle shot of his cabin; that
Mrs. Lowry was sitting at the cabin door,
smoking a pipe; and that a consultation was
had as to how they should proceed. A hand-
spike, which Lowry had set against a tree.
and which the Indians believed to be his rifle,
probably saved ^Irs. Lowry 's life, for they
turned noiselessly away with their captive
children, leaving Lowry aud his wife unmo-
lested.
In the year 1793 Kirkpatrick. living near
where the village of Middletou. in Armstrong
county, now stands, heard a tap at his door,
while he was engaged with his family in wor-
ship. Supposing a neighbor to have arrived,
he arose and opened the door, when he was
met by a stout Indian, who endeavored to
spring into the house. Kirkpatrick gave him
a push and a scuffle ensued, pending which
two balls were fired from without through
the open door, killing a child that was lying
in the cradle, and wounding Charles Mc-
Cright, who happened to be there at the time.
With the aid of some of his family, Kirkpat-
rick succeeded in closing the door and shut-
ting out the Indian. He then seized his rifle
and went to a porthole, and on looking out
discovered the two Indians who had fired,
standing between trees. He fired and killed
one of them, when the other two composing
the party, took to their heels and ran off,
making ■"fence-corners" as they went, so as
to dodge the balls, should any more shots be
discharged from the house, A boy, twelve
years of age, named George ililler,' mounted
a horse and rode to Clark's mill to give the
alarm. In the course of the day a number
of men collected at Kirkpatrick 's; but as the
live Indians had escaped, they decapitated
the dead one and stuck his head on a tall
pole, in a conspicuous place, as a warning to
any of his comrades that might come that
way.
At first thought such an act may seem
atrocious, and if committed at the present
day would certainly meet with universal con-
demnation ; but allowance must be made for
the times iu which men then lived and the
circumstances by which they were sur-
rounded. For more than half a century the
Indians had annoyed the advance of inhabi-
tants of this State, commencing their depreda-
tions on the banks of the Susquehanna and
extending them to the waters of the Alle-
gheny, as the tide of emigration rolled for-
ward, leaving marks everywhere of their ra-
pacity and crueltj'. Post and Weiser had
gone amongst them as missionaries of peace
and talked to them on the warpath and in
their wigwams, endeavoring by arguments
and entreaties to terminate their depredatory
incursions and instil into them the priucij^les
of humanity. But all their efforts were un-
availing, and the Indians continued to plunder
aud kill, as they had done before, their chief
■delight being in widows' tears, in oi-phans'
cries and human blood. Few families there
were biit had to lament the death, by the
hands of the Indians, of one or more of their
friends. It must therefore not be wondered
at that men should have become hardened
under repeated sufferings, and that they
were prompted thereby to acts of retaliation
such as that which we have noticed.
Sharp, growing tired of the troiibles by
which he was constantly surrounded, and of
the conflicts in which he was almost daily
compelled to engage, resolved to remove to
one of the most densely settled districts in
Kentucky, where he would have more ample
protection of life and property, and where
the prospect of acquiring a competence for
his rising family was far more encouraging.
To this end he hastily arranged his business
and employed his time in building a boat to
carry him to what was then regarded as the
El Dorado of this continent. WTien all his
434
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
arrangements had been completed, he placed
his family and effects in the boat, and, on the
30th May, 1794, launched it upon the waters
of Blacklick, at Campbell 's mill, and bid adieu
to his friends and neighbors who had as-
sembled to witness his departure. He was
joined by Taylor and Connor with their fam-
ilies, and Charles McCoy, a single man. They
reached a point on the Kiskiminetas near the
mouth of Roaring run before sunset, where
they concluded to halt during the night, while
some effects belonging to the emigrants were
being brought in a canoe from another point
a short distance off. The boat was fastened
to the shore, and some horses on board were
taken out ; and while these were being tied to
trees by their halters the men were fired upon
by a band of Indians, who had been lying
in wait within fifteen yards of the landing.
Taylor escaped unharmed ; but McCoy and
Connor's son were killed and Connor and
Sharp severely wounded, the latter having
received a ball in his left side and another
through his body, and had his right eye-
brow carried away. Mrs. Sharp made a nar-
row escape. At the time the firing com-
menced she was sitting in tlie boat, regaling
herself with a smoke, when a ball fired from
the shore struck her pipe and shivered it to
atoms, without doing any injury to her per-
son. One of the yellow rascals had evidently
taken aim at her head.
Connor and Sharp, though both badly
wounded, succeeding in pushing off the boat
and in getting it into the current. — We should
here remark that at the moment when the
party were first fired upon, Connor was en-
gaged in loading the rifles that were on board,
so as? to have them in readiness for service.
This was fortunate; for the Indians, as soon
as they saw the boat afloat again, followed
on shore, discharging many shots, but with-
out any effect. The situation of the emi-
grants was now become critical in the ex-
treme. Connor was perfectly helpless from
his wounds and died the next day. His little
son, a lad twelve years of age, assisted Sharp
as well as he could in guiding the boat. The
latter, on seeing the pursuit, mustered
strength sufficient to fire a rifle, and succeeded
in killing one of the Indians. But his
strength soon began to fail, and Mrs. Sharp
was compelled to work the oar in order to
keep the boat in the channel.
Besides the three women — Mrs. Sharp,
Mrs. Connor and Mrs. Taylor— there were
in the boat fifteen children, of various ages,
making the whole number of persons orig-
inally shipped twenty-two, of whom two, as
we have noticed, were killed at the first fire,
and one had escaped, leaving nineteen, two
of them mortally wounded.
The Indian shot by Sharp was carried off by
his comrades, who continued the pursuit fOr
a distance of twelve miles. Connor's little '
son, growing weary of the conflict, called to
them at one time to come and take charge
of the boat; but they were afraid, saying
there were .some men concealed among the
effects, who wished to draw them into a snare.
After rowing all night and the next day till
eleven o'clock, Mrs. Sharp had the satisfac-
tion of hearing that white men were seen
on the shore. Signa4s of distress were made,
when four men approached, who tendered
their services to the distressed party. Enter-
ing the boat, a lamentable scene met their eyes.
Sharp was writhing with pain from his
wounds. Connor was dying, and the women
and children filled the air with their cries
and lamentations. Mrs. Sharp, whose nerves
had been excited to their utmost capacity
by the trying and terrible scenes through
which she had passed, now relaxed into a
cpiiet and solemn calm as she surrendered
the boat 's helm to one of the men ; and all
poured out their soul's homage to Him who
hearkens to the cries of the distressed, and
who mercifully "tempers the storm to the
newly shorn lamb."
The boat, now well manned, moved along
rapidly on the waters of the Allegheny. Ar-
rived at Pittsburg, the whole party were
landed and quartered as comfortably as the
circumstances would admit of. Drs. Bedford
and Mowry attended on Sharp, dressed his
wounds, and gave him every attention in their
power. For a time they had hopes of his
recovery. His wounds were healing and his
strength improving; but the discharge of a
cannon at the fort on the morning of the 4th
day of July, in honor of the day, startled
him and started the principal wound in his
body to bleed afresh. Every effort to save
him proved abortive, and he gradually sank
until death put an end to his sufferings, hav-
ing lived thirty-nine days after being
wounded.
Mrs. Sharp and her children continued at
Pittsburg some time, when Alexander Sharp,
brother to Andrew, took them to Cumberland
county, where they all remained together
the ensuing three years. Their real estate in
Indiana not having been disposed of, at the
end of that term Mrs. Sharp, accompanied
by several of her children, returned to it
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
435
and prosecuted the work which had been be-
gun under the auspices of her lamented hus-
band. The ensuing year the rest of her chil-
dren joined her; and, uniting their efforts,
the}' soon fitted up a comfortable home and in
a few years found themselves in easy cir-
cumstances, surrounded by kind and friendly
neighbors and in the enjoyment of peace and
plenty.
At the period to which the foregoing narra-
tive refers, the country lying between the Sus-
ciuehanna, Allegheny and Kiskiminetas was
but sparsely settled ; the Indian and the Maid
beast roamed through the forest at will; the
hills were covered with tall timber and the
vallej's with a rank growth of grass and
weecls; the cowpath served as a road, direct-
ing the traveler from house to house; of
churches and schoolhouses there were none,
and of mills and workshops but a few; and
yet there subsisted among the settlers a com-
munity of feeling which rendered life not
only tolerable, but pleasurable. But the hand
of time, and the spirit of improvement have
changed the scene — and the reader knows the
rest.
In 1804 an Act was passed by the Legis-
lature of Pennsylvania, establishing an elec-
tion district, and stating that elections should
be held at the house of Jacob Haas, of said
district. In 1807 the townships of Armstrong,
Washington and Center were erected in to
a separate election di-strict and the electors
of the township were authorized to hold their
general elections at the house of Peter Sut-
ton, in the town of Indiana, or at such other
house in said town as the commissioners of
Indiana county shall direct. The election
was held at the house of Peter Sutton.
On Jilarch 20, 1807, the first election of
Armstrong toivnship was held in the house of
Jacob Anthony, when the following were
elected: Constable. Jacob Anthony, super-
visors, Joseph McNutt and "William Calhoim ;
overseers of the poor. John Pattison and
Nathan Douthitt ; fence appraisers, Benjamin
Walker and Thomas Benson. Robert Robison
and James McNutt were the judges of the
election. Thirty-five was the highest vote
east for any candidate. In 1808, an act was
passed authorizing the elections to be held
at the house of David ]McCullough, said town-
ship.
The soil is a sandy loam and well adapted
to farming. Coal is found in abundance. The
only borough in the township is Shelocta, sit-
uated on Crooked creek. The principal oc-
cupation of the people is farming. Some of
the best farms in the county are in this town-
ship. The farmers are industrious and are
recognized as independent thinkers.
Stewartsville (Parkwood P. 0.). — Parkwood
was laid out by Thomas McCrea on New
Year's Day, 1848, for William Anderson, Sr.
It was named Stewartsville in honor of Archi-
bald Stewart. The first house was erected
for a dwelling by Samuel Anderson on the
corner of Indiana and Clarion streets. The
first store was established in 1851 by Thomp-
son ilcCrea and Robert Smith. Their suc-
cessors were Patterson McAdoo, Joseph M.
Laughlin, Wallace & Fulton, and Carnahan
Bros., the present firm.
The first blacksmith was James Ray, in
1848-49. The first shoemaker was Thomas
McGaughney. the first and only cooper Wil-
liam Gray, 1852-56. The first wheelwright
was Charles Kerr, 1850-51. The first carpen-
ter was James Anderson. 1876. The first
teacher was Mr. ilcClain, who taught in a log
house on Indiana street. The post office was
established in 1870. William Calhoun was the
first postmaster.
Tannery Village. — Samuel McCullough
started a tannery on the site of the village
in 1839. In 1860 he engaged in the shook
business and also had a small store. About
this time the place began to have some im-
portance as a trading post. The post office
was established in 1854, with Mr. ilcCullough
as postmaster. In 1870 the office was removed
to James A. Laney's, about two miles dis-
tant from the village. Mr. McCullough was
succeeded in 1866 by John W. Henderson.
The majority of the citizens have been in-
terested in education. Forty years ago there
were twelve school districts in the township,
and the same number toda.v. The following
were pupils in the Parkwood school : Rev.
J. N. Norris, a Presbyterian minister; Rev.
J. A. Keener. LTnited Presbyterian minister
on the Pacific Coast ; Rev. W. T. Anderson,
a United Presbyterian minister who is serv-
ing his third appointment as a missionary in
India ; W. A. Cochran, who was superin-
tendent of the schools of Indiana county, now
a merchant in Johnstown, Pa. ; Dr. W. B.
Ray, a physician at Glenshaw, Pa. : H. E.
Anderson, an attorney; J. B. Keener, an at-
torney on the Pacific coast; Logan Anderson,
an attorney.
The following were pupils in the Hilltop
school : Rev. A. W. jMcCullough, a United
Presbyterian and Lutheran minister, de-
ceased ; Rev. Harvey Robinson, a Presbyter-
ian minister.
436
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The following were pupils of the Anthony
school: Dr. Kennedy McCurdy, who died
when ready to practice; Dr. J. Martin Mc-
Curdy, a physician at Dravoesburg, Pa. ; R. E.
Harbison, a teacher and dentist, practiced
at Reynoldsville, Pa., deceased ; J. Elder Pee-
lor, a teacher and at present a successful at-
torney at Indiana. Pennsylvania.
The following attended the Walker school :
Revs. John and Clark Wiggins, United Pres-
byterian ministers, John now deceased and
Clark in the ministry in Kansas; Dr. Hind-
man Armstrong, who at one time practiced
at Cookport, Pa. ; Dr. A. W. Calhoun, a physi-
cian in Denver, Colorado.
Rev. N. S. Fiseus, a Presbyterian minister,
and D. I. Johnston, an attorney in Oklahoma,
were pupils in the John Fleming school.
The following were pupils in the Peelor
school : Thomas JMcElhoes, an attorney ;
Earl Miller, a successful attorney at Indiana,
Pa.; Jesse E. Fleming (son of R. M. Flem-
ing), went to Denver, Colo., engaged in the
lumber business, and has recently been ap-
pointed as chairman of the committee to de-
vise ways and means for tunneling the Rocky
mountains so as to gain a shorter route be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific. He and his
brother Calvin, also a pupil of the school,
have become very prosperous citizens in that
great western city of Denver.
Margaret Dean Anderson, of this town-
ship, has been a United Presbyterian mis-
sionary for thirty years.
Some of the largest and most successful
select schools of the county have been con-
ducted at Sheloeta, Parkwood and Hilltop.
Rev. A. N. McCullough conducted the first
select school in the township at Hilltop. The
school was afterwards taught by Mr. Harvey
Stewart. Mr. J. Elder Peelor conducted a
very large and successful school at Parkwood.
At present there are four clun-ches in the
township, the United Presbyterian Churches
of Crete, West Union and Sheloeta and the
Curry Run Presbyterian Church. It is the
only township in the county in which Pres-
byterianism is almost universal. Nowhere
else in all this section of country can be found
three United Presbyterian Churches so close
together.
The Andersons of Armstrong township
have a remarkable record of longevity which
is worthy of mention here. William Ander-
son and Elizabeth Logan, who were married
in 1814, lived together for fifty-seven years,
and the following is the record of their chil-
dren : John Anderson and Eliza Caldwell,
who were married in 1843, lived together
for fifty-one years; they are the parents of
Thomas Anderson, of Parkwood, Pa. James
Anderson and Margaret Dean were married
in 1842, and lived together fifty-seven and
one-half years ; Margaret Dean Anderson, the
missionary, is their daughter. Mary Anderson
and Augustus Reed lacked twenty-two days
of living together fifty years. Daniel Ander-
son and Mary B. McCollam were married in
1853, and celebrated their sixtieth anniver-
sary. Margaret Anderson and Thomas Cald-
well were married in 1853 and lived together
fifty-five years, nine months. Nancy Ander-
son and James Ray were married in 1851
and lived together forty-six years. Martha
Anderson and John Forsythe were married
March 10, 1863, and celebrated their fiftieth
anniversary this year.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing number of acres of cleared land,
20,005; timber land, 2,497; taxables, 412;
valuation of taxable real estate, $396,475;
number and value of horses assessed, 360 — •
$16,485 : number and value of cows assessed,
344 — $5.821 ; cost of assessment of township
for 1913, $6,408; money at interest, $125,-
584.66.
SHELOCTA BOROUGH
On the border of Crooked creek, nine miles
west of Indiana, on the pike leading to Kit-
tanning, is located the borough of Sheloeta.
The place was called Sharpsburg, or Sharp's
Mill, till 1836, when the village was platted
by Abner Kelly, and called Sheloeta, for an
Indian chief, as tradition has it, who fre-
quented "Caliposenk" or Crooked creek.
The first house was erected in the spring
of 1822, by Thomas and Joseph Sharp, a
short time after the construction of the Eb-
ensburg. and Butler pike. In the summer of
the same year they erected a sawmill, and in
1824 a gristmill, known as Sharp's mill,
which ground the grain until 1874. The lo-
cation of the old mill can still be seen.
The Detar & Lytle gristmill was erected in
1874, and is now owned by Edwards & Son,
who have made great improvements by in-
stalling the roller process of the very best
material. The mill is patronized from a large
scope of country, customers coming four or
five miles. It has a large trade in oats, corn,
bran, and winter wheat flour — every few
days a carload of grain is received at this
mill.
Mr. Kelly built a tannery in 1833, when
he came to the site of the village. The tan-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
437
nerj- used water power tiU about 1876, when
steam was instituted.
The tirst blacksmith was David Ralston,
afterwards a sheriff of the county. The sec-
ond was Jacob Downey, who labored at the
trade over sixty-eight years. At present
there are two blacksmith shops, Shafer's and
McGaughey 's.
Shelocta was incorporated as a borough
April 15, 1851. Prior to 1836 Thomas Sharp,
Joseph Sharp and Jonathan Peacock were
postmasters. The postmasters from 1836 to
1861 were Joseph Clarke, Daniel Metzgar,
Dr. Robert McChesney, Samuel Walker. J.
J. Anthony held the office from 1861 to 1872 ;
G. W. Kelly from 1872 to 1881 ; Rankin Hef-
felfinger from 1884 to 1897 ; T. M. Carnahan
from 1897 to the present time. The first man
to take the mail from Shelocta to Pittsburg
was Alna Kelly, who carried it once a week
in a saddlebag on horseback. It was also
carried to Pittsburg by Abram and Philip
Frantz and Jacob Silvis. From Shelocta
north to Barnard it was carried by Samuel
Henderson and John Russell. Robert Mc-
Creight was the first mail carrier on the pike
east and west on horseback; he carried the
mail twice a week. It was carried by Henry
Smith and William Wilcox in a buggj'; in a
two-horse hack by Mr. Henry, Harry Wood
and Samuel Jewart. The mail was carried
by Peter Croyle by hack when the B. R. & P.
railroad was built. Then the contract was
let to T. E. Sharp to carry the mail from
Shelocta station to Shelocta, Elderton, Gas-
town and Advance, coming around in a circle
to Shelocta. He began carrying ^lareh 5,
1905, continuing until January 31, 1908, at
which time the star route was discontinued.
At present there are three rural routes start-
ing from Shelocta. The first started Septem-
ber 15, 1905. and has been carried contin-
ously since that time by Steel Kerr ; the sec-
ond, on February 15, 1906, carried bv John
A. Campbell; the third, February 1, 1908,
carried by T. E. Sharp. Shelocta has two
arrivals and two departures by mail daily
except Sunday. The carriers in order are:
John Russell, W. F. Sell, Earl Sell and John
Russell.
The first election was held in the house of
William Lowry. The election officers were:
Judge, Joseph Henderson ; inspectors, Alex-
ander Walker and J. J. Anthony; Samuel
W. Douds was elected burgess, and R. M.
McChesney, John Anthony, Robert Johnston,
and J. S. George were elected members of
council.
The first Crooked creek bridge on the pike
was erected in 1822, and has been rebuilt
three times. The Shelocta bridge was built
in 1835, and was replaced in 1866.
The first merchant was James Thompson,
succeeded by Thompson & Nixon, and Robert
M. Nixon. J. J. Anthony commenced mer-
chandising in 1839, in Ralston 's blacksmith
shop. Then the firm of Henderson & Mc-
Cartney, followed by Samuel i\IcCartney,
were in op_^eration. G. W. Kelly opened "a
store in 1853 and continued in business over
thirty years. At present there are two gen-
eral stores. The proprietors are W. S. Carn-
ahan and W. W. Harbison.
For several years William Richards had a
carding machine in the upper part of the
old Sharp mill. He removed to Jefferson
county. The mill was rebuilt by Joseph
Henderson in 1847. The second carding ma-
chine was built by Henderson & McCartney,
about forty feet above the Sharp mill, re-
ceiving its power from the race. Subse-
quently, it was purchased by John Anthony,
who had obtained possession of the Sharp
saw and grist mill. The carding machine
has been removed, and the sawmill has not
been in operation for many years.
The first shoemaker was John Vaugh, in
1832. James Hunter was the second, and
Aaron Smith, in 1841, was the third.
The population of Shelocta in 1910 was
117. The borough supports one school. Select
schools have been conducted by R. E. Har-
bison, J. T. Henry, J. C. WTiite and J. F.
Russell. There is no church in the borough
at present.
The first physician was Hugh Calvin, who
was succeeded by Robert McChesney, with
whom his son. W. A. McChesney, was after-
wards associated. John McChesney also be-
came a licensed physician, but died about the
time he began to practice. The next physi-
cian was Dr. Marlin. The present physician
is J. H. Smith.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Taxables, 60: valuation of taxable
real estate, $21,700; number and value of
horses assessed, 23 — $710 ; number and value
of cows assessed. 11 — $220 ; money at jnterest,
$30,510.25.
CHAPTER XXII
BANKS TOWNSHIP— GLEN CAMPBELL BOROUGH
Banks, the most northwestern township of
Indiana county, was formed from Canoe
township in 1868, the report of survey bear-
ing the date of March of that year. It re-
ceived its name from William Banks (father
of Attorney John N. Banks of Indiana), a
well-known attorney of Indiana, Pa. This
name was selected "by Squire D. G. Gorman
and Henry Prothero. When the township
was formed from Canoe the vote for or against
the division was taken June 6, 1868, and re-
sulted in 110 voting for the division and
none against it. The first officers of the town-
ship were: Justice of the peace, Daniel
Weaver; assessor, George Devers, school di-
rectors. J. T. Sebring, William H. MeFar-
land, Andrew Pearce, James Elsey, David
Neal, and John Cesna.
Banks township can boast of its great
amount of valuable white pine that has been
cut, of some of the most fertile farms, the
highest snowdrifts in the winter, the best
roads in the summer, and the most healthful
climate in Indiana county. Until about 1901
lumbering was the chief occupation of the
neighborhood. The principal part of the
lumber was taken to Burnside and McGees,
and rafted on the Susquehanna to Lock Ha-
ven and Marietta. Afterwards logs were
floated on Bear run and Gush creek, by way
of the Susquehanna to Williamsport. In later
years, the timber was manufactured on the
ground, the pine shipped to Williamsport,
and the hemlock, cut into fencing boards six
inches wide, was hauled to Indiana, Pa. It
took two days to make the round trip to In-
diana, a distance of thirty miles.
At present the coal underlying is occupy-
ing the attention of many of the inhabitants.
The flourishing borough of Glen Campbell
was taken from Banks township. Sidney, on
Bear run, once a lumber town, is now a coal
town. The Pennsylvania railroad runs
through Sidney. The length of the railroad
within this part of the county is four miles.
The town was started by Issett & Wray. W.
H. Strickland was the moving spirit for the
town. The coal operations were first started
by Harvey Bowers, of Punxsutawney, Pa. A
sehoolhouse was located at Sidney during the
lumber boom and taught four years by R. J.
Beckett. It was then abandoned and the
sehoolhouse moved to Logan, a smaU coal
town one mile southeast of Smithport. The
Bear Run Coal & Coke Company operates
there at present.
The Superior Coal Company has an open-
ing on Bear run, near the Jefferson road,
the old underground railroad. The town has
been named Lockvale.
It is worthy of note that in the northern
part of this township, in the vicinity of Flora
P. 0., some of the best farms and most pros-
perous farmers in Indiana county are found.
In 1870 the township had a population of
747, and in 1910, a population of 1,872, aside
from the borough of Glen Campbell, which
has a population of 1,099. In 1870 there were
six school districts, one of which, ' ' The Fry, ' '
was a joint district. The Washington dis-
trict included what are now known as the
Pleasautdale and McKee schools. The
Brickell district is now known as Fetter-
man's school; the Urey district, as the Pine
Grove and Cross Roads schools; Brady dis-
trict, as the Rowley school. The Smithport
and Fry districts remain unchanged. The
Graham and Sidney schools have been estab-
lished in later years.
In 1870 the vicinity north of Bear run was
called "The Wilderness," but the immense
amount of valuable white pine and hemlock
that has been cut in that wilderness has proved
its value. The Graham tract of timber, which
is still standing in this vicinity is by far the
most valuable piece of timber land in Indi-
ana county.
The churches of the township are the Chris-
tian and Methodist in Smithport, the M. E.
Church, known as Steffy Chapel, near Flora,
and the Covenanter Church, near Bear run.
A United Presbyterian Church on the Jef-
438
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
439
ferson road about a half mile from the
Coveuanter Church, was burned about twelve
years ago. Rev. Mr. Given was pastor of this
church for more than twenty yeai-s. He
lived at Richmond and never disappointed
his congregation but twice ; once he got to
Smithport and could not go any farther on
account of the drifts. For many years he
preached two sermons a day. Rev. Mr. Given
died in Indiana in 1912.
The following old settlers are still living:
Jlrs. Eliza Jane Baird, ^Messrs. Samuel
Brady, James Hanna, James Graham, James
iMartin, James Pierce. Andrew Limerick, and
ilr. and Mrs. Fred Weitzel.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing number of acres of cleared land,
14,295; timber land, 5,415; number of tax-
ables. 557; valuation of taxable real estate,
$237,431; number and value of horses as-
sessed. 236 — $7,985; number and value of
cows assessed. 219 — $2,404; cost of assess-
ment of township for 1913, $84.30 ; money at
interest, $10,158.95.
Smithport. — The old settlers in the vicinity
of Smithport were: Joseph Steer, George
Pearce. Simon TJlier, George Huffman and
John 'M. Hughes. The first settlers on the
site of Smithport were : Simon Tiber, a hunt-
er; Casper Smith; John Winsheimer. and
John Havelick. In 1848 Mattias Smith
erected a log cabin. In 1854 J\I. C. Getty built
a store house and commenced the sale of mer-
chandise. The place was called Smithport
on account of the number of Smiths in the
neighborhood who owned land upon which the
village was situated. The village was sur-
veyed in 1864 by Edmund Paige, and resur-
veyed by him in 1867. The post office (Hor-
tons) was established in 1856. ^Mrs. E. G.
Horton, the mother of John Horton, for
whom the post office was named, was in charge
until 1866, when she was succeeded by Henry
Prothero, who was postmaster imtil 1892,
and for many years a successful merchant
at that place. Smithport is on the dividing
line between the eastern and western waters.
The house of John Horton, located in the
town, is so situated that the water falling
from one side of the roof runs into the Sus-
quehanna river, and from the other side into
the Little IMahoning, the waters of which
finally reach the Gulf of Mexico.
Smithport has been a center of business
enterprise and schools. Some of the most
successful select schools in the county have
been at that place. Teachers of the select
school were. Hon. John P. Elkin, of Indiana,
Pa.; Charles Riddle, an attorney of Seattle;
James Campbell, real estate agent in Pueblo,
Colo.; Attorney H. E. Anderson, and J. T.
Stewart. The writer can look back to the
summer of the Johnstown flood, when he
taught his first term of select school in Smith-
port, and recall with pleasure the names of
some of the pupils who attended his school:
Clark Gorman, who is now a successful physi-
cian in the northern part of the State; S. J.
Smith, who was assemblyman from Indiana
county, and also in the state of Oklahoma,
and is now mayor of Sapulpa, Okla, ; Ney
Prothero, who is a prominent physician of
Jeannette, Pa. ; John T. Kane, a successful
merchant of Glen Campbell, and Mrs. Hallie
Gorman-Bird, a very successful teacher in
the Pittsburg public schools.
Urey, first called Bryson, is a coal town
north of Glen Campbell about two miles
from the Clearfield county line. Operations
were begun there in 1889. Henry and George
Prothero gave eleven or twelve acres for the
town in order to have the Pennsylvania rail-
road come to the place. The mines are all
drift mines and the veins worked are "B"
vein and "C" and "C Prime." They range
from four feet to eight feet in thickness. Urey
is located in what they call the Irish settle-
ment.
GLEN CAMPBELL BOROUGH
The to-s\'u of Glen Campbell was first
started in 1889. It was incorporated as a
borough September 27, 1894. In 1900 it had
a population of 1.628, and in 1910, a popula-
tion of 1,099. For many years Glen Camp-
bell was the most flourishing coal town in
Indiana county. It is the oldest coal town
in the county, and at present supports one
bank, six schools, three churches, and two
lodges. The citizens are progressive, and
have always taken an active part in the af-
fairs of the county and State. S. J. Smith,
now mayor in Sapulpa, Okla., served two
terms as Assemblyman from Indiana county,
and I. R. McMasters served one term as
treasurer of Indiana county.
The petition for Glen Campbell to become
a borough is dated March 5, 1894. The
papers were presented to the grand jury and
after hearing the parties, and a full investi-
gation of the matter, it was found that the
law, under Act of Assembly, had been complied
with and the prayer of the petitioners was
granted. It was authorized that the election
440
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
be held annually, the third Tuesday of Feb-
ruary, as provided by the constitution. The
eoui-t decreed further that the first election
be held October 13, 1894, at the wareroom of
B. B. Kime, in the said borough, between the
hours of eight o'clock A. M. and seven o'clock
P. M., and designated S. J. Smith to give due
notice of said election. The court appointed
Andrew Patrick judge and William. Lewis
and D. I. Stadden inspectors.
The election resulted as follows: Justices
of the peace, I. R. MclMasters and J. E. Mil-
ler; town council, II. E. Clark, A. M. Riddell,
S. J. Smith, Irwin Ryan, Irwin Gardenier,
D. I. Stadden; constable, Henry Barkey;
high constable. Grant Snyder; overseers of
the poor, H. E. Williams and Daniel Ruffner;
auditors, L. D. Mumau, R. S. Craig, S. L.
Fyock; tax collector, A. M. Riddell; assessor,
B. B. Kime; school directors, J. H. High-
berger, J. 0. Clark, John Baird, Charles
Caldwell, Dr. G. M. Glasgow, and L. D.
Gardiner; district treasurer, J. 0. Clark;
judge of election, IMa-ss Work; inspectors,
Scott Marsh and Irwin Gardenier; burgess,
James Black.
The following are the places of business :
The Burnside Supply Company conducts
a general merchandise store in the building
first occupied by T. J. Gates and D. I. Stad-
den, in 1889, and afterwards by Smith &
Stadden. The general manager of the pres-
ent store is P. T. Grist, Portage, Pa. Mrs.
Barbara France conducts a millinery store.
Mr. A. M. Hamaty for eight years has con-
ducted a fruit store. Michael Haraany for
nine years has conducted a shoe and grocery
store." J. T. Kane, a former teacher of the
county, for the last sixteen years has con-
ducted a racket store. S. C. Long for the last
eighteen years has conducted a butcher shop ;
Mr. James Nelson, since 1889, a grocery store ;
Mr. F. A. Nelson since 1890, a millinery store ;
Mr. L. D. Mumau, since 1889, a barber shop.
Mr. J. E. Miller, a contractor and jeweler
since 1890, built the first houses in Glen
Campbell. Mr. W. S. Marts for five years
has had a general store, and prior to this
time was clerk for Gates & Stadden. Mon-
mouth Supply Company, started fourteen or
fifteen years "ago, by H. E. Clark and D. S.
Ake, with Mr. Charles Sloan, now of Creek-
side, as manager, is now owned by the Irish
Brothers, of Philadelphia, Pa., and is run in
connection with the mine. Mr. C. L. Shrode,
for fifteen years, has carried on a butcher
shop. Grant Snyder, the proprietor of the
"Commercial Hotel," who first came to Glen
Campbell as a clerk for Clark & Watson,
lumber dealers, opened up the "Capitol
Hotel," which was conducted by Snyder &
Fitzpatrick; he has been proprietor of the
"Commercial Hotel" the last four years.
Mr. W. J. Trevesick, who conducts a novelty
store, came to Glen Campbell as manager, for
Reikard Bros. Coal Company, Philadelphia,
Pa. The Standard Oil Company conducts a
business here with Anthony Gorman of La-
Jose, Pa., as local distributor. Mr. J. E.
Coalmer has conducted a feed store and har-
ness shop for seventeen years. A. H. Good-
man has conducted a clothing store, selling
men's furnishings, for the last sixteen years;
when he came here first he had but a small
stock of goods and opened in the Weaver
building, but now occupies a part of the Odd
Fellows' building. L. D. Gardner & Bro.,
have conducted a hardware store since 1890.
H. W. Thomas has an undertaking establish-
ment. T. J. Fee has an extensive repair shop
and has charge of the local garage. John B.
Conner has conducted a drug store for the
last twenty years. Mrs. Sarah A. Evans has
a grocery and confectionery store.
The town has two blacksmith shops and
two livery stables. The streets are not paved,
but there are two miles of concrete -pave-
ment. For the last fourteen years the Glen
Water Company has supplied the town with
water.
The First National Bank, Glen Campbell,
Pa. — This enterprising country bank was
organized in 1899, and opened for business
Julv 25th of that year with a paid-in capital
of $50,000, which was increased to $100,000
in January, 1905. It is known as a careful
and conservative institution, conducted in
the interest of its depositors, stockholders and
the community, and has been a very potent
factor in the development of Northern Indi-
ana county. The confidence which its patrons
have in the management is indicated by the
steady and healthy gi-owth as shown by the
comparative statement of resources for each
alternate year from date of beginning busi-
ness, as follows:
July 25th, 1899 (Opening Day) $ 42.286.97
.January, 1901 175,144.41
January, 1903 316,198.94
January, 1905 422,11.1.24
January, 1907 453.085.15
January, 1909 459,350.71
January, 1911 542.512.31
January, 1913 641,574.48
In January, 1905, a cash dividend was de-
clared and since that time the stockholders
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
441
have beeu receiving cash dividends regularly
each quarter, and iu addition thereto a sur-
plus and undivided net profit account has
been accumulated out of the earnings, which
at the present time amounts to $41,332.50.
The incoi-porators selected as president
John W. Clark, one of the most successful,
widelj' known and highly esteemed business
men of the county, who continued in this of-
fice and directed the bank's affairs until his
death, iu April, 1905, at which time the di- '
rectors filled the vacancy by selecting from
their number Joseph 0. Clark, a son, who has
continuouslj' held this office since his father's
death. ^Ir. Clark has a pleasing personality,
is a hard worker, and while he is extensively
interested in other directions much credit is
due him for the strong position this institu-
tion holds in the community. Mr. J. D. Ake,
another of the influential business men of this
community, was selected for vice president,
which office he has continuously held. Mr.
J. A. Klingensmith, formerly of Salteburg,
this county, was selected as cashier, which
position he resigned in January, 1901, and
S. L. Clark, who held the position of book-
keeper from the time the bank started, was
promoted to succeed him, holding the position
until January, 1908. He then resigned to
take up more actively his personal interests,
which required the major portion of his time
and necessitated moving his family to Phil-
adelphia. In order that the bank might have
the benefit of his experience and counsel he
was elected second vice president, which of-
fice he now holds. Mr. T. Stewart Pearce,
formerly cashier of the State treasury de-
partment, succeeded Mr. Clark as cashier,
which position he resigned on account of
poor health April, 1910 ; Mr. Nathan C. Har-
vey, then occupying the position of assistant
cashier, was promoted to fill the vacancy.
The officers at this time are: J. 0. Clark,
president ; J. D. Ake, first vice president ; S. L.
Clark, second vice president ; N. C. Harvey,
cashier: Everett Ake, assistant cashier. The
directors are: J. D. Ake, S. L. Clark, John
H. Patchiu, H. P. Dowler, George McKeage,
Carl E. Patchin, Dr. R. E. Schall. William
JIcMillen, J. 0. Clark.
The Clark Brothers Coal Mining Company
was organized under the laws of Pennsyl-
vania during the latter part of 1905, bv H.
E. Clark, J. 0. Clark and S. L. Clark, their
general office being at Twelfth and Chestnut
streets, Philadelphia, Pa., with branch offices
at Glen Campbell, Indiana county, and Smoke
Run. Clearfield Co., Pa. Their authorized
capital is $100,000. The officers of the com-
pany are: J. 0. Clark, president; S. L.
Clark, secretary and treasurer. The directors
are: H. E. Clark, J. 0. Clark, S. L. Clark.
:Mr..S. L. Clark has charge of the Philadel-
phia office, from which point the coal is sold
throughout the Eastern States, New England
States and Canada.
This company operate seven mines located
in Indiana and Clearfield counties, are in-
terested in several other operations, and con-
trol by contract the output of several mines,
so that their maximum daily capacity is ap-
proximately three thousand gross tons.
The Clark Brothers Coal Mining Company
were unable to secure an adequate car supply
and other facilities from the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, such as they had a right
to expect from any common carrier. In
order to enforce their rights iu this respect
they in connection with the Hillsdale Coal
& Coke Compan.y brought suit before the
Interstate Commerce Commission, at Wash-
ington, D. C, and the State courts, which re-
sulted in an unanimous verdict from the
seven members of the commission strongly
condemning the methods employed by the
railroad company in distributing its coal cars
equipment, and award in the sum of $31,-
127. 9'6, quoted from report of Commission, as
follows: "It is ordered. That the above
named defendant be, and it is hereby, auth-
orized and directed to pay unto complainant,
Clark Bros. Coal Mining Company, on or
before the 1st day of June, 1912, the sum of
$31,127.96, with interest thereon at the rate
of 6 per cent per annum from June 25th,
1907, as reparation for defendant's discrim-
ination in distribution of coal cars, which
discrimination has been found by this Com-
mission to have been unlawful and unjust,
as more fully and at large appears in and
by said reports of the Commission."
This company won its case in the County
and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania, the
verdict rendered amounting to $124,443.
Every independent producer of coal has been
benefited by these decisions and it is quite
certain that the old system of favoring cer-
tain operators who distributed their coal
stocks gratuitously among railroad officials has
forever passed. Much credit is due Hon. D.
L. Krebs (deceased), of Clearfield, Pa., Hon.
Harrv White, Indiana, Pa., A. M. Liveright,
Esq., Clearfield, Pa., and A. L. Cole, Esq.,
DuBois, Pa., counsel for Clark Bros. Coal
Jlining Company for the able manner in
442
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
which these cases were handled in a great various oiificers of the Pennsylvania Railroad
fight for a righteous cause. Company, that in 1905 suits were begun be-
The Glenwood Coal Company began open- fore the Interstate Commerce Commission of
ing the mines here in May, 1889, and shipped the United States and the State courts of
the first car of coal on October 21, 1889. Pennsylvania, which culminated in one of the
They opened mines Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and had fiercest legal battles of the present day, re-
at one time a daily output aggregate of 2,000 suiting in victory March 7, 1910, when the
tons. All these mioes were located at Glen Interstate Commerce Commission handed
Campbell, Pa., employing 450 to 500 men. down an opinion condemning the rules and
The seam worked is known as "C Prime." regulations under which the Pennsylvania
The output was shipped to New England Railroad Company distributed its available
and Eastern markets over the Pennsylvania coal car ecpipment. Because of the import-
railroad. I\Iines 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 have since ance of this decision to the coal industry of
finished and are worked out, and the com- Indiana county, the State of Pennsylvania
pany are now operating what is known as No. and the entire country, wherever coal is pro-
61/2 'mine, in the "B" vein, having an out- duced, we have obtained permission from the
put of 300 tons daily, employing about sev- Hillsdale Coal & Coke Company to quote
enty-five men. from this opinion the following:
The Hillsdale Coal & Coke Company was "Upon all the facts shown of record the
organized under the laws of Pennsylvania Commission therefore finds that throughout
November 26, 1902, by H. E. Clark, J. D. the period of the action the system upon
Ake, S. H. Hicks and J. 0. Clark, their gen- which the defendant distributed its available
eral office being located at Glen Campbell, coal-car equipment, including system fuel
Pa., with an authorized capital of $50,000, cars, foreign railway fuel cars, and individual
which capital was increased October 28, 1903, or private cars, has subjected the complainant
from $50,000 to $150,000. The officers of to an undue and unlawful discrimination."
this company were : S. H. Hicks, president ; In this connection an important disclosure is
J. D. Ake, vice president; J. 0. Clark, secre- made in a letter of record here, addressed to
tarv and treasurer. The directors were : H. the president of the Clark Bros. Coal Min-
E. Clark, S. H. Hicks, J. D. Ake, J. 0. Clark, ing Company under date of March 6th, 1907,
Upon the death of S. H. Hicks, which oc- by the general superintendent of coal trans-
eurred in the latter part of 1908, Mr. J. D. portation of the defendant company. It is
Ake was chosen president of the company, there stated that the distribution of coal cars
which position he has occupied up to the on the lines of the defendant on that date
present writing. was as follows:
This company owned two operations on Percent
the Pennsylvania railroad lines and had a System cars for company coal 21
capacity exceeding one thousand gross tons Foreign cars for supply coal 6
per day. Owing to discrimination practiced Individual cars 45
against it by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- System cars for commercial coal 25
pany in the rating of its mines and car sup- Foreign cftrs for commercial coal 3
ply, it was able to ship but a small portion ■
of its daily output capacity. It is a well- Total 100
known fact among coal operators and others „ «. . , ■ ..
identified with the bituminous industry of "This condition of affairs emphasizes the
Pennsvlvania that during the vears 1902 to inequity of a system of distribution that first
1907 and prior thereto there were certain deducts from the rated capacity ot a mine
favored operators, who, during periods of the tonnage represented by the capacity ot
stress, shortage of cars, etc., when high prices the cars specially assigned to it and then uses
prevailed received a greater rating and a the remainder as a new basis for determining
larger percentage of cars than they were en- the proportion of unassigned cars that the
titled to which created general dissatisfac- mine is to have. The^ figures above given
tion and' ill feeling bv the independent oper- show that 72 per cent of all the cars available
ators toward the railroad company. This on the lines of the defendant on the dat^e men-
condition of affairs became so serious with tioned were assigned cars, and but 28 per
the Hillsdale Company, notwithstanding their cent were unassigned cars. Manifestly such
vigorous protests made in personal interviews a basis of distribution can have but one ten-
and voluminous correspondence with the dency, and that is, not only to steadily in-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ci'ease the physical capacity of the mines that
regularly receive this large percentage of as-
signed ears, but also steadily increase their
commercial capacity, an advantage which the
mines having the benefit of no assigned cars
obviously can not enjoy. With such a large
percentage of assigned ears it cannot be
doubted that the equipment furnished to
some of these mines was sufBeient to approxi-
mate their ratings, while the small percent-
age of unassigned cars makes it equally clear
that the mines having no other cars must have
fallen substantially short of their ratings.
"We further find that the continuance of
that system of distribution for the future
would be unlawful on the same grounds."
By Commissioner Prouty : ' ' The delays
and expenses of the law are proverbial. Es-
peciall.y is this true where the defendant is
a railroad company with unlimited resources.
It is notorious that shippers forego claims
which they believe to be just rather than
incur the cost and annoyance of attempting
to enforce them by law. One cardinal pur-
pose of the act to regulate commerce was to
provide a speedy and inexpensive method by
which the shipper could obtain relief in such
cases. My own observation is that, to an ex-
tent, this expectation of the framers of the
act have been realized. The complainant
does ordinarily obtain his order for damages
with less delay and outlay than in court, and
the railroad generally pays the award. The
complainant claims to have been damaged by
more than .$100,000 through the discrimina-
tion which we have found to exist, and its
evidence tends strongly to support that claim.
A material part of these damages never can
be recovered unless awarded in this proceed-
ing, and that through no fault of the com-
plainant, which seasonably began and has
zealously prosecuted its complaint. Days
have been spent in taking the testimonj'; all
the facts are before lis, and I strongly feel
that we should proceed to assess and order the
payment of these damages."
By Commissioners Lane and Clements-.
"The imdisputed testimony in this case
shows that the complainant has been sub-
jected to gi'oss discrimination. The com-
plainant was often compelled to go without
cars days at a time while certain of its com-
petitors had no difficulty in securing an
abundant car supply. The record further
shows that the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany spiked the switch leading to the mine
of the Hillsdale Coal & Coke Company so
that for nineteen months the complainant
was unable to ship a ton of its output. If
inecjuitable car distribution niles can be held
discriminatory and the Commission so finds,
how can we look with greater benignity upon
the absolute refusal of the defendant to serve
one shipper while transportation facilities
are freely accorded to his competitors? In
my opinion the spiking of the complainant's
switch by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany constitutes unlawful discrimination in
its vicious aspect.
'•Be this as it may, the finding of the Com-
mission is as follows: Upon all the facts
shown of record the Commission therefore
finds that throughout the period of the action
the system upon which the defendant distrib-
uted its available coal car equipment, includ-
ing system fuel cars, foreign railroad fuel cars,
and individual or private cars, has subjected
the complainant to an undue and an unlaw-
ful discrimination. Prom this finding it
necessarily follows that the output of the
complainant's mines during the period in
question does not fairly measure its normal
commercial capacity. Its shipments have
been arbitrarily and unjustly restricted by
the operation of the unlawful rules of the
defendant, and when this Commission per-
mits the' Pennsylvania Railroad Company to
take that restricted commercial output as a
factor in determining the rating of the mine
for purposes of car distriliution, it is obvious
that the past discrimination is being indef-
initely perpetuated. This proposition seems
so self-evident that it ought not to be neces-
sary to support it by illustration. Let us
take the case of a mine the physical capacity
of which is 500 tons per day. By reason of
the discriminatory practices of which it has
been the victim its commercial output during
the past year was restricted to 250 tons per
da.y. A competitor, on the other hand, with
the same physical capacity as well as the same
business efficiency, was "favored by the car-
rier and thereby enabled to market all the
coal that it could produce during the preced-
ing year. Under the rule which we are now
considering the rated capacity of the mine
which has been the victim of discrimination
is some 375 tons per day. while that of the
favored mine is 500 tons per day. Again,
take the case of a mine whose switch was
spiked so that it had no output whatever dur-
ing the past year. Under the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company's rule its present physical
capacity of 500 tons is added to its past com-
mercial capacity (zero) and the sum divided
by two, the result being 250 tons, the rating
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of the mine for purposes of car distribution.
Can there be any question that by sanction-
ing this rule we are permitting the defendant
to prolong discriminatory practices indef-
nitely? It would appear that this discrimi-
nation will be progressively diminished as
the years go by, but this, I submit, does not
temper the injustice of the rule."
ORDER
At a General Session of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, held at its office in Washington, D. C,
on the 7th day of March, A. D., 1910.
Present :
Martin A. Knapp,
Judson C. Clements,
Charles A. Prouty,
Francis M. Coekrell, Commissioners.
Franklin K. Lane,
Edgar E. Clark,
James S. Harlan,
No. 1063.
HILLSDALE COAL & COKE COMPANY
vs.
THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY
This case being at issue upon complaint and answer
on file, and having been duly heard and submitted
by the parties, and full investigation of the matters
and things involved having had, and the Commission
having, on the date hereof, made and filed a report
containing its conclusions thereon, which said report
is made a part thereof; arid it appearing that it is
and has been the defendant's rule, regulation and
practice, in distributing coal cars among the various
coal operators on its lines for interstate shipments
during percentage periods, to deduct the capacity in
tons of foreign railway fuel cars, private cars, and
system fuel cars, in the record herein referred to as
"assigned cars," from the rated capacity in tons of
the particular mine receiving such cars and to regard
the remainder as the rated capacity of that mine in
the distribution of all "unassigned" cars:
It is ordered, That the said rule, regulation and
practice of the defendant in the behalf unduly dis-
criminates against the complainant and other coal
operators similarly situated and is in violation of the
third section of the act to regulate commerce.
It is further ordered. That the defendant be, and
it is hereby, notified and required on or before the
1st day of October, 1910, to cease and desist from
said practice and to abstain from maintaining and
enforcing its present rules and regulations in that
regard, and to cease and desist from any practice
and to abstain from maintaining any rule or reg-
ulation that does not require it to count all such
assigned cars against rated capacity of the particular
mine or mines receiving such cars in the same man-
ner and to the same extent and on the same basis
as unassigned cars are counted against the rated
capacity of the mines receiving them.
The Hillsdale Coal & Coke Company were
also victorious in the County, State and
Supreme courts of Pennsylvania, the rules
and regulations of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company being severely criticized by these
courts as they were by the Interstate Com-
merce Commission. The result of this litiga-
tion has been far-reaching in its effect for
good throughout the country, not only greatly
benefiting the independent coal operator
wherever located, but benefiting every other
shipper of any commodity who has to depend
upon a common carrier for his car supply.
The churches in Glen Campbell borough
are Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Union and
Catholic.
The assessors book for 1913 shows the
following in Glen Campbell borough: Num-
ber and value of horses assessed, 90 — $3,335 ;
number and value of cows assessed, 59 —
$1,480; taxables, 315; taxable real estate,
.$85,135; money at interest, $42,126.79; cost
of assessment, $29.30.
CHAPTER XXIII
BLACKLICK TOWNSHIP
Blaeklick township was formed from Arm-
strong township in 1807, and took its name
from Blaeklick creek, spoken of by early
wi'iters and settlers as being on the site of
the present Blaeklick station. Armstrong
and Wheatfield were then the only townships
in the county. The Act which made it a sep-
arate election district specified that the gen-
eral election should be held at the house of
Patrick McGee. Blaeklick township is in a
flourishing condition. The principal produc-
tions are wheat, corn, oats, coal and lime-
stone. In past years particular attention was
paid to breeding fine horses and cattle. The
surface is moderately hilly and was inhabited
by descendants of Ireland, Germany and Eng-
land, and a few people from the New England
States. In 1870 the population was 1,016.
In 1910 the population was 800. Among the
early settlers were : Rev. Henry Baker, John
Harrold, George Altman and Patrick Mc-
Gee. John Jamieson was one of the first
ministers in Indiana county ; he resided on
the farm afterwards occupied by W. J. Cole-
man. William McCrea was also one of the
early settlers. Other early settlers were Arch-
ibald Coleman, George Repine, Malachia Sut-
ton and Joseph Spiers. Gen. Charles Camp-
bell came before the Revolution. In 1775
(after the war commenced) he and five other
settlers were taken prisoners by the Indians
and were held in custody five years, and were
then exchanged or escaped. After peace was
restored, they returned to their former set-
tlement in Blaeklick. Campbell built a grist-
mill and sawmill. The gristmill was after-
wards owned by Lytle & McKeage. Samuel
Dickson was here before the trouble with the
Indians and was driven off but returned
with his family after peace.
Randal Laughlin came to this countiy from
Ireland, when a young man, probably about
the year 1770. He arrived in this country
prior to the Revolutionary war and purchased
the improvement right to a large tract of land
lying part in Blaeklick and part in Center
township, on which a small quantity of ground
had been cleared. He remained some time,
built a .small cabin and otherwise increased
his improvement; after which he returned to
Franklin county, where he had formerly lived
a short time. Some time in the winter of
1777 he mai-ried, and the next spring came
back to his farm, intending to remain here
permanently. But he was sadl.y tHsappoiuted.
Some time in the spring or summer, owing
to the presence of hostile Indians in the
neighborhood, who were prowling about in
all directions, but more especially in the
north, he, with his wife, went to Wallace's
Fort, a short distance south of Blairsville,
where a number of persons were congregated.
During their stay at Wallace's the farmers
went out occasionally to the different farms
in small parties, always armed with their
rifles and prepared to meet the savage foe.
His horses having strayed away from the fort
and supposing they had returned to the farm,
Laughlin, accompanied by Charles Campbell,
Dicksen and John Gibson and his brother,
went out in search of them. While the party
were in Laughlin 's cabin, preparing some
dinner, they were surrounded by a number
of Indians, led on by a Frenchman, and sum-
moned to surrender — the leader telling them
if they would submit none of them should
be injured, but in case the.y resisted their
bodies should be burnt up with the cabin.
After consultation, it was resolved to sur-
i-ender. They were permitted to write a
statement on the cabin door of what had hap-
pened and assure their friends that they
expected all to escape death and return home
again.
The captives were next marched off, well
guarded by the Indians, and the first station
of any importance they reached was Kit-
tanning, then an Indian village on the Alle-
gheny, and at present the seat of justice for
Armstrong county. Here the party remained
several days and the prisoners had to run the
gauntlet and undergo drill, to the great
445
446
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
amusement of the savages. The first few
days they suffered for want of food, and a
roasted groundhog, which was served up in
Indian style, was devoured with great relish.
From Kittanning the captives were taken
to Detroit, where they were delivered to the
British and thence conveyed to Quebec. At
this place they spent a severe muter and
were exchanged the ensuing autumn. In the
meantime Mrs. Laughlin had made her way
to Franklin county as best she could; and
in about eighteen months after his capture
Laughlin returned to the same place and
found her in good health and well cared for,
with their firstborn son over a year old.
Charles Campbell and John Gibson likewise
returned to their homes, but the remaining
two of their companions died on the way.
Laughlin remained in Franklin county until
after the close of the war, when he returned
to his farm in this county. He, with others
of that period, suffered much from the depre-
dations of the Indians and for want of mills,
churches and other comforts and conveni
enees. He subsequently took an active part
in public affairs, and after serving as trustee
in the organization of the county was ap-
pointed deputy marshal and took the census
of 1810. He died in the early part of the year
1818, at a good old age, having resided in the
county, if we include the term of his captivity,
some forty ye^fs. His, as we have seen, was
a chequered life — marked by personal adven-
ture and suffering— exposed to the greatest
of dangers and sub.jected to the severest of
trials— yet coming out of them all. "like gold
tried in the fire," with increased luster and
maintaining a high character for integrity
and rendering himself eminently useful to
the community, "in his day and generation."
Charles Campbell, who is spoken of above,
held the office of trustee for the county, and
was subsequently one of the associate 'judges
of our courts. We have in our possession
the original journal kept by him during the
period of his captivity, which we transcribe
and insert here verbatim. It must be borne
in mind that this journal was subjected daily
to the inspection of British officers, after they
had got control over Campbell and his com-
rades; and this fact will account for the
meagerness of its statements and the want
of minute details.
A Jounml of travels of Chas. Campbell,
of Pennsylvania, Westmoreland county. —
Began his journey on Thursday, the 25th
of Sept., 1777 ; marched 2 miles over Crooked
Creek. 12 miles on his journey.
On Friday, 26th, crossed the Alleganea,
13 miles the said day.
Saturday, 27th, marched to Salt Creek, 20
miles.*
Sunday, 28th, marched to small branch of
Cuscuskey creek, 26 miles.
Monday, 29th, marched to the Munsey or
Crooked Mouth Town, 28 miles.
Tuesday, 30th, stayed there.
Wednesday, the 1st of October, marched
to within four miles of the Salt Lick, 25
miles, t
Thursday, 2d, marched to a camp, about
six miles past Mahono town, 25 miles.t
Friday, 3d, , marched to Chiahoga, 30
miles. §
Saturday, 4th, stayed there.
Sunday, 5th, marched to Black creek, 15
miles.
Monday. 6th, marched to Thos. McCarty's,
on the Grand river, eight miles. — Stayed
there 7th, 8th & 9th.
Friday, 10th, marched to the Frenchman's
camp, 15 miles.
Saturday, 11th stayed there.
Sunday, 12th, sailed in a bark canoe, to
Rock river, 18 miles — 9 miles on Lake Are.H
Monday, 13th, it was so stormy I stayed
there.
Tuesday, 14th, sailed 27 miles and put into
the mouth of a small creek and stayed there
that night.
Wednes. 15, sailed to Sandusky Island, 20
miles.
Thursday, 16th, sailed to Cunningham's
Island, 20 miles.
Friday, 17th, sailed to the main land, 20
miles.
Saturday, 18th, sailed to the French settle-
ment, 20 miles.
Sunday, 19th, sailed to Detroit, 10 miles
where I stayed in the guard house till the
28th.
Tuesday, 28th, I went on board the ship
* Laughlin spoke of having stopped at Kittaning
and there being subjected to the gauntlet, whilst
Campbell makes no mention of the circumstance, or
even of having been at the place; whence we may
reasonably conclude, either the prisoners had at that
time been temporarily separated, or Campbell pur-
posely omitted the account in his journal to escape
censure from the British officers.
t Probably where "Massy Harbison" resided at a
later period, several miles north of the town of
Butler, in Butler County.
t Whether this was an Indian town on the Mahon-
ing river, or the old French village at the mouth of
Beaver, we have no means of determining.
§ Probably a branch of the Cuayahoga.
11 Lake Erie.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
447
Dunmore, commanded by Capt. Andrews,
and sailed to Cunningham's Island.
Wednesday, 29tli, they hoisted their sails;
but the wind was so contrary they were
obliged to come to anchor again.
Thursday, 30th, the wind proved fair. "We
sailed till ten o'clock at night.
Friday, 31st, it being so calm we could
make no way.
Saturday, 1st of November, we came near
Bresked.
Sundaj-, 2nd, we made to Fort Eary.
Monday, 3d, we left the ship and got be-
low and sailed to Fort Slosher, and then
marched to Fort Niagara, 500 miles from
Detroit, commanded by Col. Bolton, and there
remained in the guard till 14th.
Friday, 14th. I went on board the Sin-
cere.
Saturday, 15th, we arrived at Buck Island,
150 miles.
Sunday, 16th. I left the Island in a boat
and encamped that night on an Island in the
River St. Lawrence.
Monday, 17th. we lost our way by taking
the wrong river till we came to an Indian
camp and got them for pilots.
Tuesday, 18th, we came to Swygotchy, 90
miles from Buck Island, and went to the
guard house.
Wednesday, 19th, we left that and en-
camped that night on an Island.
Thursdaj'. 20th. we came to an Indian
camp on a small Lake.
Friday. 21. I came to the Isle of Peru.
Saturday, 22. I sailed to Lesheen, and then
I marched to Montreal, 70 miles from Swy-
gotchy. and went to the guard house till the
4th of December, 1777.
Thursday, the 4th of December. I left
Montreal and came to Point Atramble.
Fridaj', 5th, we came to a Capt. of militia
and got billets * for the night.
Saturday. 6th, we marched to another
Capt. of militia.
Sunday. 7th. we marched to Barkers', 45
miles from Montreal.
Monday, 8th, we got 2 trains, one cariall
and rode to a Sergt. of militia and got billets.
Tuesday. 9th. we marched to a Capt. of
militia and got billets.
Wednesday, 10th, we marched to a Capt.
of militia and got billets.
Thursday, 11th, we came to Three Rivers.
45 miles from Barke.
Friday, 12th, I marched 5 leagues.
* Cards to secure lodgings.
Saturday. 13th, I marched to San's, 5
leagues.
Sunday, 14th, I marched 6
Monday, 15th, marched 5
Tuesday, 16th, marched 7 league
Wednesday, 17th. marched into Quebec,
ninety miles from Three Rivers, and went to
the main guard and stayed there about one
hour, till the Provo Master came and took
me to the Provo guard where I stayed to Sat-
urday, 20th, then marched to Beauport, 5
miles from Quebec.
Sunday. 21st, I got my billet and drew
three weeks' provisions and took it to my
landlord. His friends came that night to see
him, and they ate, drank and sang to eleven
o'clock at night and then broke up company.
Wednesday, 24th, I went to chapel at
twelve o'clock at night.
Thursday, 25th, I went to chapel to see
how affairs were carried on, for I could not
understand by hearing.
Saturday. 27th, my landlord called his chil-
dren together to sup with hiip. They ate,
and drank wine. I sat with them till almost
midnight, and then I left them singing and
drinking.
Thursday. 2nd of January, 1778. my laud-
lord's friends came for to breakfast with him,
and it is the fashion for all. both men and
women of this countiy, to kiss on that day.
Saturday, 10th, we got orders to be ready
to go to the Isle of Orleans.
Sunday, 11th. there was carialls for to
take us to the Island, to a Captain of militia,
six leagues from Beaufort — and there we
were billeted, two in a house.
Monday. 12th, we drew provisions for thirty
days where I remained and drew provisions
for what time I staved at the place.
:\Ionday, 23d of February, 1778, His Ex-
cellency Genl. Carleton came out for to visit
the Priest and gave orders for but one to be
in a house.
Thursday. 26th, I was removed to another
house and there remained till April 7th, when
I went into the woods where they were mak-
ing sugar: and the day getting warm so that
the crust of the snow got soft — the snow was
three feet deep — I was forced to stay to the
next morning and then I came to my billet.
Tuesday, 26th of May, we got orders to be
in readiness to march to Quebec.
Wednesda.v, 27th. we marched to the end
of the Island and then went in a batteau to
the ship Maria, commanded by Capt. Mase,
and went on board and there remained till
June 27th. General Haldeman arrived at
448
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Quebec and relieved General Carleton. July
30, the Montreal sailed home with Sir Geo.
Carleton.
Wednesday, August 12th, they fell down
the river below Quebec. Thursday, 13th,
sailed to Patrick's Hole. — Friday, 14th, they
fell down to the lower end of the Island of
Orleans. Thursday, 20th, came to the Island
of Beck and handed out the pilot on shore —
came to anchor at Gapsey, and put an officer
ashore to take command at that place. Sun-
day, 23d, we came to Cancer and lay at an-
chor till Friday, 28th, and then sailed and
arrived on Saturday 29th at Halifax. 800
miles from Quebec, and lay there till the 11th
September, 1778, and then went to the Provo
guard and remained there till the 7th of Oc-
tober; then went on board the ship Silver
Eel, commanded by Capt. Moor. The 9th we
fell down the harbor and ran aground, lay
there till tide rose, and then got clear. The
10th we sailed out; the 14th in the morning
we came in sight of Cape Ann, and got into
Boston Harbor that night.
[From Boston, Campbell travelled to Penn-
sylvania, sometimes afoot and sometimes rid-
ing in a vehicle; but as the remainder of his
journal is no longer all legible, we shall not
attempt to copy it further.]
Mollie Furnace, one of the early settlers,
came with the Dicksons and often told of
nursing Gen. George Washington. William
Loughry, by appointment, was the first jus-
tice of the peace. Robert Doty was the first
justice under the new law, and served twenty-
four consecutive years. Jonathan Doty, one
of the early settlers, died at the advanced
age of ninety-nine years and was buried at
Hopewell Church. Jacob Bricker, one of the
early settlers, was taken prisoner by the In-
dians at the time of the Indian war and kept
prisoners for seven years, from the age of
fourteen until he was twenty-one years old.
John Dickson, born in 1771, the first white
child born in Blacklick township, died at the
age of seventy-two and was buried in the old
graveyard at Blairsville.
Newport. — Newport was founded by Alex-
ander Denniston, the father of John Dennis-
ton, between 1787 and 1790. He purchased
the improvement right of George Findley.
By the Act of March 29, 1787. a road was
ordered to be opened and established between
the navigable waters of the Frankstown
branch of the river Juniata and the river
Conemaugh. The road was run and marked
in December, 1787. Not long after this New-
port was founded and a blockhouse or forti-
fied building gave security to the village.
A new county was expected to be formed
out of Westmoreland and a village was com-
menced in the expectation that if such a di-
vision of territory would be made Newport,
being in or near the center, would become
the county seat. However, the Conemaugh
was made the line and Newport's expecta-
tions were blighted. Newport was located
near the Conemaugh river about midway be-
tween Blairsville and Livermore. • The town
has been deserted.
Fifty years ago there were seven school
districts in the township, and to-day there
are nine school districts. The McCrea dis-
trict was divided into two districts, now
known as the Gordon and Mahan districts.
The Graff district was formed from part of
the Dickson district. The improvements made
by the Graffs in that vicinity made it neces-
sary to establish a school. What was called
the Coleman district is now better known
as the Archibald school. In 1912 there were
156 pupils in the public schools. The Hope-
well Methodist Episcopal is the only church
in the township. The cemeteries are Hope-
well and Fairview.
On March 20, 1807, the first election of
Blacklick township was held in the house of
Patrick McGee, when the following officers
were elected : Constable, Benjamin Clawson ;
supervisors, Daniel Smith and Gaven Sutton;
overseers of the poor, John McCready and
Patrick Jack; fence appraisers, Richard
Clawson and James Caldwell. At this time
the election board consisted of two judges,
who were Albert Lyons and Joseph Loughry.
The following persons attended the public
schools of Blacklick township: James K.
Shields, Methodist Episcopal minister, of Chi-
cago : J. H. Miller, Presbyterian minister, of
Oklahoma ; James Jack. Presbyterian min-
ister; Fulton Jack, an attoimey, of Nebraska;
T. B. Miller, physician, of Pittsburg, Penn-
sylvania.
Old residents of Blacklick township who
are still living: John Ackerson, John Arch-
ibald, R. J. Billingslee, Benjamin Clawson,
Thompson Cramer, W. H. Dickie, James
Dixon, Sr., Porter McClaren, J. K. Mikesell,
J. T. Smith, W. J; Smith, J. D. Thompson,
J. JI. Wiley.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Number of acres of cleared land,
15,21.3; timber land, 2,291; taxables, 340;
valuation of taxable real estate, $401,619;
number and value of horses assessed, 324 —
$9,862; number and value of cows assessed,
359 — $4,232; cost of assessment of township
for 1913, $73.46 ; money at interest. $115,313.
CHAPTER XXIV
BRUSHVALLEY TOWNSHIP— MECHANICSBURG BOROUGH
Brushvalley township, formed from Wheat- erected. The citizens of ilechanicsburg bor-
field township in 1835, in 1870 had a popu- ough, with the assistance of the township,
lation of 1,402, and in 1910 had a population erected the present two-roomed public school
of 899. The township was so called from the building.
valley of Brush creek. In the early days the At present there are ten school districts
timber along the creek was short and com- in the township, just the number fifty years
pared by the settlers to brush, hence the name ago. A few years ago there were eleven, but
Brush creek. The soil is a sandy loam; it is the Underwood school has been closed. Last
adapted to grain and stock raising, which is year there were 226 pupils in the schools of
the chief emploj'meut. Coal, iron and lime the township,
are found here in abundance. Among the Brushvalley has just reason to be proud of
first settlei-s was James McDonald, who set-
tled in 1790 in ilechanicsburg, which is the
principal village.
The first election in Brushvalley township
the record that it has made in educational
lines. The .select schools that have been con-
ducted in Mechanicsburg from time to time
have been a great factor in arousing a healthy
was held Friday, March 18, 1836, in the house educational sentiment. The young people
of George Robinson in Mechanicsburg, and who have been educated in the public and
the following officers were elected : Con- select school have taken first rank in the
stable, George Robinson; supervisors, James higher institutions to which they have gone.
McDonald and Andrew Lowman; overseers Pupils from these schools have gi-aduated
of the poor, James Stewart, Esq., and Na- from the normal schools of the State, State
thaiiiel Brvan ; auditors ilatthew Dill and
Samuel Wilson ; school directors, David W.
Wakefield, Maj. James Stewart, John Mc-
Nutt. Jonathan Adair, John Criswell and
William Bracken ; township clerk, David
Boner ; fence appraisers, David Boner and
John Overdorf; election officers — judges,
Maj. James Stewart and James McFeatere;
inspector. John Trimble; clerks, J. M. Bark-
ley and M. Creswell.
The first school in the vicinity was the
Bowles sehoolhouse on the John Criswell
farm, about 1803 or 1804. For some time
there was no floor or loft. The chimney was
College, and other institutions of like rank.
The first preaching near the site of Me-
chanicsburg was by R«v. James Wakefield, a
local Methodist Episcopal minister, on the
Hugh Evans tract, afterwards occupied by
Rev. A. B. Runyan, but now by Matthias
Altemus.
Thomas Baxter was killed in 1804 at the
raising of the William Wilson barn. He was
buried at the Creswell graveyard. This was
the first cemetery in this section and this was
the first interment.
The first gristmill in the vicinity was the
old Evans mill, and the second in the viein-
of wood and consisted of a back wall j^y ^^^ Empfield's which was built early ii
and opening in the roof for smoke. Greased
paper covering holes in the logs answered
for windows. The benches and desks were
of slabs with peg feet. Paddles with letters
pa.sted on them were the books for the little
ones, and Bibles, spellers, etc.. formed a mis-
cellaneous assortment of books for the elder
pupils. In 1829 Samuel Wilson taught
the century, perhaps 1804. Isaac Griffith,
the next proprietor, was succeeded by Jona-
than Adair and Jesse Willet. who sold to
John Simon. John Wakefield erected a grist-
mill in 1822 on Big Brush creek. Adam
Altemus in 1829 built the mill afterwards
owned bv Christian Weaver; the mill is now
school on the site where Mr. Truby located operated by William Altemus. In 1833, Rob-
his store. About 1848 a village school was ert :\IcCormick erected a gristmill on Little
29-
449
450
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Brush creek. This has long since been aban-
doned.
Other merchants of this vicinity were:
John Bossinger, who kept a general store in
Heshbon; Moorhead & Cribbs, dealers in
ready-made clothing and general merchan-
dise, and J. Truby & Brother, dealers in
general merchandise and ready-made cloth-
ing; both kept stores in Mechanicsburg. H.
H. Pershing, dealer in groceries, boots and
shoes, and shipper of country produce, had
a store in the Creswell school district.
The following were manufacturers and
dealers: N. Altemus, manufacturer of flour
and feed at the old Altemus mill ; G. G. Clark,
undertaker and manufacturer and dealer in
furniture; M. L. Stewart, manufacturer of
upper leather, harness and saddles, at a place
now called "Slabtown," where there was a
woolen factory and a tanyard.
Brush valley, in the vicinity of Mechanics-
burg is the most beautiful valley in Indiana
county. In the last few years the farmers
of this valley have been liming their land,
planting orchards, and making their farms
not only beautiful but productive.
This township has furnished its share of
men who have figured prominently in the
affairs of the State and the county. Robert
B. Moorhead, of Mechanicsburg, served in
the Legislature for two years, 1856-57.
Simeon Tniby, of Mechanicsburg, was sher-
iff of Indiana county from 1845 to 1848. John
Truby, of Mechanicsburg borough, was county
treasurer in 1878-81. Thompson McCrea was
county surveyor, 1850, 1865-68. Edmund
Paige was county surveyor in 1862, 1871-77.
Dr. Alexander McMixllen was county commis-
sioner in 1834-35. John A. Campbell, of Hesh-
bon, was county commissioner from 1903 to
1906. Frank McFeaters, a son of Anderson
McFeaters, who for many years resided in
Brushvalley township, is president of the
shortest railroad in the United States. Harry
W. Pee, a prominent attorney of Indiana. Pa.,
was a pupil and teacher in the public schools
of this vicinity. John G. McCrory, who has
made such phenomenal success of the five and
ten cent stores, was reared in Mechanicsburg
borough. Cephas Mack, who was the general
manager of the McCrory stores, and who has
now taken up the business for himself, was
reared in Brushvalley township.
The churches of Brushvalley township are
the Lutheran, two and a half miles east of Me-
chanicsburg, near Simon's Mill; the United
Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal near
Heshbon; and the Bethel Evangelical, about
midway between Mechanicsburg and Heshbon.
The merchants at present are A. W. Camp-
bell and Bruce Wagner, of Heshbon, and
Harry Empfield, of Rico.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Number of acres of cleared land,
18,050; number of acres of timber land, 6,-
745 ; number of taxables, 341 ; number and
value of horses assessed, 327 — $13,054; num-
ber and value of cows assessed, 341 — $5,276;
money at interest $56,880.08 ; valuation of tax-
able real estate, $414,826; cost of assessment
for the year 1913, $83.64.
MECHANICSBURG BOROUGH
The first improvement near the site of the
village of Mechanicsburg was the cabin of
James Williams, erected about 1780 on the
property afterwards owned by the Miller
heirs. This was an extremely rude, round log
house, about 8 by 10 feet, and for several
years after the founding of the village re-
mained in its original position. Early set-
tlers in the vicinity were: Adam Richey,
about 1798, on the tract owned by John Brink-
man, where Andrew Campbell lived and died ;
William Wilson, about 1800, on the Jacob
Overdorff property, who had a distillery at an
early date; James McDonald, about 1800, on
the farm now occupied by George Hileman:
William Ferrier, about 1800, on the Armon
Tyson tract (Ferrier became discouraged and
committed suicide and his family left for the
South, and the land was sold for $14 to pay
taxes) ; Joseph Wilson, about 1801. on the
farm afterwards occupied by Joseph Wilson ;
John Wolf, about 1800, on the farm after-
wards owned by Simeon Truby; Robert El-
gin, about 1800, on the McFeaters property:
Thomas Richard and Francis Bowles, about
1800, on the Stineman land: Richard Dias.
about 1800, on the tract owned by the Page
heirs; Thomas Sanderson, about 1801, on the
waters of Brush creek, on the land after-
wards occupied by Alexander Getty and
Henry Miller, and Patrick, about
1801, on land afterwards occupied by John
McCormick. The first settlers on the site of
IMeehanicsburg were John Criswell and Sam-
uel Stephens. Mechanicsburg was laid out by
John Taylor for Robert McCormick in Sep-
tember. i833. Being a place for mechanics,
it was called Mechanicsburg. The first lot was
sold September 7. 1833. to Stephen Adams.
The first house was erected on Main street by
Samuel Wilson and was afterwards occupied
by Elizabeth McLaughlin, who was the first
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
451
weaver. The second cabin was built by George
Robertsou for a hotel. The next house was
erected by Simeon Truby, who kept in it the
first store. One year prior to this Mr. Truby
opened a store on the Hugh Evans farm. This
was said to have been the first store in the
township. The first blacksmith in the vicin-
ity was Leonard Gosshorn and the second was
George Turner. The first in the village was
George Deitriek. The first tannery was Ben-
jamin Elliott's, on the Overdorff place. The
first in the village was established about 1834
by William Glass. This was situated on the
lot afterwards owned by Richard Donahue.
The first wagonmaker was John Marks. The
first shoemaker was Richard Donahue. The
first cooper was Mathias Yaney. The first
cabinetmaker and undertaker was Jacob
Clark. The first milliner was Margaret Mc-
Laughlin, and the second Mrs. Buchanan.
The first tailor was William IMcIntire. The
first justice of the peace was James Stewart,
and the second was George Robertson, who
was the first constable.
The petition to make Meehanicsburg a
borough was presented to court in Septem-
ber, 1856. The petitioners were as follows:
James Stewart, John Overdorf. William W.
Adams, Richard Donahey, M. Wilson, Jr.,
Henry Snyder, John Marks, Thomas G. Clark,
Christien "Miller, John Miller, John Fry, R.
B. Moorhead, Simeon Truby, Michael Sow-
ers, David Waltimire, Levi Adams, Joseph
Marks, William Lydia, Joseph Wilson, Joseph
McNutt, Jacob Clark, Nicholas Peddicord,
Joseph ai. Loughry.
The petition was approved by court Jan-
uary 2, 1857, and William Lydia was ap-
pointed by the court to give notice to the
citizens of the time and place of holding said
first general and borough elections. William
Clark and Nicholas Pettieord were appointed
inspectors and Thomas G. Clark judge. . The
election was to be held in the house of John
Overdorf.
The first election in Meehanicsburg borough
was held March 20, 1857, and resulted as
follows : Constable, William Lj^dia ; high
constable, Henry Snyder; town council, Rob-
ert B. Moorhead, Matthew Wilson, James
Stewart. Henry Snyder and James McMul-
len; burgess. Nicholas Peddicord; justice of
the peace, Thomas Clark; judge, Michael
Sowers ; assessor, Simeon Truby ; school direc-
tors. Robert B. Moorhead, Matthew Wilson,
James Stewart, Christian Miller, John Over-
dorf and James McMullen; inspector, John
^Miller; auditors, John Marks and James
Stewart ; overseere of the poor, Henry Snyder
and Richard Donahue; election officers —
Judge, Thomas Clark; inspectors, John
Marks and Nicholas Peddicord.
Dr. Hildebrand was the first physician in
Meehanicsburg. He moved there from Som-
erset county about 1839, remained but a short
time and moved away.
Dr. Livingston came to Meehanicsburg
about 1840, and practiced there nearly two
years, and then moved away.
Dr. Ferdinand F. Bingell came from Ger-
many to Meehanicsburg in 1843, and prac-
ticed there about two years. He then moved
to Johnstown, Pa., practiced there a few
years, and then located in Marietta, Ohio.
He lived there a short time, returning to
Johnstown, where he practiced until his
death.
Dr. Henrv' Faulk, a practitioner from Ger-
many, located in Meehanicsburg in 1845, and
practiced there until 1849, when he moved
to Ohio.
Dr. James Mc^MuUen, a native of Center
township, was educated at the Indiana
Academy, studied medicine vfith Dr. Grass,
and graduated at Jefferson College, Philadel-
phia. Locating in Meehanicsburg in 1849,
he practiced there until his death.
Dr. Thomas McMullen practiced in Me-
ehanicsburg in 1854 and 1855.
Dr. Benjamin F. Tomb moved from
Annagh to Meehanicsburg in 1867, and prac-
ticed there for many years. He afterwards
moved to Johnstown, Pa., where he practiced
until his death.
Other physicians were George Smith,
Myers, Weamer. Campbell, Hepsley, and
William Johns. Dr. William Johns, the pres-
ent physician, has a wide and successful
practice.
Meehanicsburg has always been a good
place for merchandising. Few business men
have been so successful in the store as Mr.
Simeon Truby and his sons. Simeon Truby
had the distinction of starting the first store
in Brushvalley to\^Tiship and the first in
Meehanicsburg borough. The merchants of Me-
ehanicsburg at the present time are Messrs.
H. S. Truby. Edward Buchanan, William
Cunningham and H. T. Ross.
Meehanicsburg has always been a flourish-
ing borough and has taken an active part
in the affairs of the county. It has been
452
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
especially active in the work of the church
and the school.
The tirst church was erected in 1851, by
the union of the Presbyterian and United
Presbyterian congregations. Following this
the Methodist Episcopal, the United Brethren,
the Baptist and the Evangelical established
church homes. At present the United Pres-
byterian and the United Brethren congrega-
tions have no houses of worship. The United
Presbyterians worship in the Presbyterian
church.
For many years Mechanicsburg has been
an important center for select schools. It is
one jof the places in the county where the
citizens take a deep interest in education and
give their support to the school. The names
of Truby, Davis, MeCrea, McMullen, Me-
Featers, Altemus, Campbell, Rugh, Overdorf,
Cunningham, Rowland, Kelley, Evans, Hile-
man, Donahue, Fee, Stewart, Brinks, Macks,
Buchanan, Yaney will be remembered, as
residents of this borough and vicinity who
for many years have given their support to
the Select School of the village.
The present two-room school building was
erected in 1860 by the citizens of the borough
and Brushvalley township. The bell on this
building is the one used on the old academy
at Indiana, Pa. It is an excellent bell and
has the same clear, musical sound as when
first used.
The select schools have been taught by Rev.
Mr. McCarther, Dr. John Harris, Rev. T. P.
Patterson, Miss Emma J. Ruffner, Rev. A.
W. McCullough, Mr. J. P. Lytle and Otis
Thompson, William Price, J. T. Stewart and
H. W. Fee, Rev. Mr. Irwin, Eward William-
son, C. A. Campbell and R. C. Walbeck,
Earl Miller, Miss Mary McCormick, T. S.
Bracken, J. E. Weaver and Frank Coulter.
For the last two years the school has been
conducted by C. A. Campbell and Miss Vesta
Lowry.
In the recollection of the WTiter five min-
isters have gone out from this school. One
young man is superintendent of the car shops
at Altoona, Pa. ; two are mail carriers in the
city of Pittsburg; one in Windber, Pa. ; one
in Sharpsburg, Pa. ; one in Monmouth, 111. ;
one in Indiana, Pa. ; one a physician at
Seward ; one an attorney and postmaster at
Indiana, Pa. ; two have graduated from State
College; and still others have made notable
records.
CHAPTER XXV
BUFFINGTON TOWNSHIP
Buffington township was separated from
Pine township in 1867, and was named in
honor of Judge Joseph Buifington. The first
settlers were Joseph McCartney, on the place
now occupied by Harry Stephens; Michael
Campbell, where Mrs. Catherine Cameron
now lives; John McPherson; John Stewart,
where John Rodkey lives; Charles Stewart,
on the present property of William Auker;
Thomas Bracken; William Clark, who lived
not far from Dilltown; and Matthew Dill.
Very familiar names are: Graham, Dun-
can, Mardis, Cameron, Altimus, McFeeters,
Stephens, Schultz, Bennett, Grow, Strong,
Dearmin, Lemmon, Reaver, Stiles, Helman,
Conrad and Young. The Campbells, Me-
Phersons and Stewarts were soldiers in the
army of Lord Cornwallis in the Revolutionary
war. They were natives of Scotland, and
after the cessation of hostilities wended their
way to what is now Buffington township.
There was a blockhouse or fort on the Jo-
seph ]\IcCartney farm near where the East
Union United Presbyterian church now stands.
The special election after the organization
of the township was held in August 16, 1867,
in a log house that stood on the James Mc-
Kee farm, and the following were elected:
Justice of the peace, Maj. James Stewart;
constable, Joseph Mardis, of Mexican war
fame; school directors, James Duncan, Nich-
olas Altemus, John Weaver, William Conrad,
J. T. Bracken and Jacob Shultz; assessor,
James Stewart, Jr. ; assistant assessors, Adam
George and William Young; supervisors,
James Grow and William R, Doak; auditors,
William Wachob and J. T. Bracken ; overseers
of the poor, George Wilson and Jacob JIardis.
Dilltown was laid out in 1850 by William
Stephens and James C. Dill, a civil engineer,
for whom the town was named. The town
is located on the AVilliams Stephens fann,
and was at one time called Franklin. The
Williams Stephens sawmill was erected in
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
453
1840, Jacob Gamble being the millwright.
His gristmill was built in 1843, by Mr. Gam-
ble also. In Dilltown there are at present two
general stores, one managed by George M.
Stephens, who is the postmaster; and the
other by Harry Dill.
Blacklick furnace was built in 1845 by
David Stewart, of Cambria county, but has
not been in operation for forty years. All
traces of the furnace are gone. At one time
it was a place of special interest, when the
digging for ore and the furnace were in full
blast. The old ore banks from which the ore
was taken may still be seen in this part.
For many years there has been a store at this
place. It was conducted by William "Wil-
son. Thompson Clark, in later years by Morris
Buterbaugh, and now by J. M. Mack. The
first postoffiee. called BufSugton, was located
in ]Mr. Buterbaugh 's store for several years,
but was afterwards taken across Blacklick
creek, where it still remains, and the name
changed to Wheattield.
The Schreckengost mills (now owned by
John Ewing), which were called Stumpf's
mills, were for many years known as Kellar's
mills. The gristmill was built by Christian
Kellar. Jr.. in 1838. on Laurel run, a tribu-
tary of Yellow creek, and at the corner of
four townships as now divided, viz., Pine,
Buffington, Brushvalley and Cherryhill. Mr.
Kellar built a sawmill prior to building the
gristmill. He owned and managed the prop-
erty until his death, after which the heirs
sold it. in 1879. to John R. Stumpf, who after-
wards sold it to Schreckengost, and he sold
it to John Ewing. The capacity of the grist-
mill in a good stage of water was about thirty
bushels of wheat per day.
The "Old Factory" on Yellow creek, which
was operated by John Dick and others, was
well patronized by the people in that section.
It had a carding machine for preparing wool
made cloth, suits, etc.. and a loom for weav-
ing carpet. This factory was in iise for many
years. Just east of the factory, on the same
creek, the Misener gristmill was located. This
was one of the oldest mills in the county and
was run by Samuel Misener for many years.
After his death it was operated by David
Bonner.
The making of shooks was for some time
an important industry in the township. Dill-
town was the important center. This, together
with the dierging of limestone and making
of ties, which were hauled to Ebensburg and
Nineveh (Seward), furnished the chief occu-
pation through the winter months.
The coal has not been developed to any
great extent. The coal town of Wehrum was
started in 1901 and has had rather a flourish-
ing history. At one time a national bank was
in operation, but the works having shut down
caused a financial disturbance and the bank
was closed. The town is on better footing
now and the mines are working regularly.
There is a large modern hotel, as well as a
company store, in the town.
There is another opening of coal at No. 3
Mines, about three miles from Wehrum. The
Vintondale Lumber Company has a large lum-
ber yard at Rexis.
Dilltown was at one time the only town
and post office within the limits of the town-
ship. Now, near the center of the township
is Croft post office, northeast of this the
Blaides post ofiSce, and a post office at Weh-
rum. There are two rural routes, one from
Vintondale, and the other from Dilltown. For
many years the farmers in the northern part
of the township got their mail at Strongstown
and Nolo, post offices in Pine township, and
usuall.v went for their mail but once a week,
on Saturday.
William Stephens, who lived at Dilltown,
used to tell of walking to Mechanicsburg to
school, a distance of five miles. The first
schoolhouse in the township of which there
is any record was built on the farm now
owned by Dickson Tomb, across the road from
the old camp-meeting ground. Rev. William
Bracken, a local j\lethodist preacher, and
father of Mrs. Washington Tomb, taught in
this school. He was a very strict teacher, and
the boys were treated to a whipping once
around every day, which same treatment was
administeretl at home by the fathers of the
boys.
There was a schoolhouse on the Matthew
Dill farm, about a half mile between the pres-
ent Dilltown and the Mechanicsburg road.
It was in this schoolhouse that Dr. John Har-
ris, president of Bucknell University, received
his first school education. Forty years ago
there were seven schools in the township, but
for many years only six, the Graham school,
of district No. 4, being abandoned. Wlien
the coal was opened at No. 3 Mines and Weh-
rum, one school was established at Rexis. and
a four-room building was erected at Weh-
rum. Two years ago the directors established
a new district from the Duncan and Grow dis-
tricts, and located a schoolhouse near William
Bracken's, one mile west of the Duncan Red
Mill. There have been but two or three select
schools in the township. For several years a
454
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
select school was conducted at Duncan school-
house, taught by John Tawny, Hattie Davis,
Augusta Seaton and J. A. Dill. Most of the
teachers attended select schools at Strongs-
town, Armagh, Meehanicsburg and Green-
ville.
The people of the township have just rea-
son to be proud of the professional men that
were educated in their public schools. The
present judge of Cambria county, M. B.
Stephens, and his brother John, a prominent
attorney in Johnstown, were pupils of the
Dilltown school. Other pupils of this school
were T. S. Bracken, who graduated at the In-
diana normal school and afterwards from
Bucknell University, and taught in the select
schools of Indiana county, was principal of
the school at Derry, Pa., and is now principal
of the township high school at Perryopolis,
Fayette county; and his sister, Carrie
Bracken, who graduated March 6, 1913, at
the State Normal University of Greeley, Colo.
M. B. Schultz, a successful physician of
Johnstown, Cambria county, was a pupil of
the Grow school district. J. C. Duncan, a
successful dentist of Lockport, N. Y., who has
also practiced in Johnstown, Pa., and Cleve-
land, Ohio; Charles Altimus, a dentist of
Johnstown; Benjamin Altimus, a dentist of
Scottdale, Pa., Edward Davis, dentist
of Yonkers, N. Y. ; Harry Graham, alid Wil-
liam Hanna, dentists, both deceased, were all
pupils of the Duncan district.
Dr. John Lowman (grandfather of Dr.
John Lowman, of Johnstown, Pa.), who was
raised in the "Lowman Hollow," Dr. Jasper
Mardis, a successful physician, who on ac-
count of ill health has ceased to practice, and
his brother Frank, who is now a successful
dentist of Johnstown; John H. Wachob, who
held responsible positions in the schools of
Indiana and Johnstown; J. T. Stewart, who
graduated in 1888 with J. H. Wachob at the
Indiana State normal school and was super-
intendent of the schools of Indiana county
for nine years; and C. E. Stewart, who grad-
uated at the State normal school of Greeley,
Colo., and is now principal of the township
high school at Aki-on, Colo., were all pupils
in the Barkley school district.
In the Dodson district, John and Scott
Mardis, brothers, became successful dentists.
Hetrick Bonner, a successful attorney of Pitts-
burg, was a pupil of the Red Bank school.
The personnel of the township has changed
to a marked degree in the last few years.
The greater part of the old citizens have died
or moved away. Among the oldest citizens
that now remain are: Benjamin Gilhousen,
Mrs. Samuel Schultz, Mrs. William Conrad,
Mrs. Dan Conrad, Mrs. William Stephens
(mother of Judge Stephens), Mrs. Samuel
Mardis, David Grow, John Stiles, Dennis
Petticord, Milton and Adam Hoffman and
Emmanuel Dearmin.
The churches in the township are: The
Baptist Church of Dilltown, East Union
United Presbyterian Church, United Evan-
gelical Church, the M. E. Church near Black-
lick furnace, the Union Chui-ch (now Method-
ist Episcopal Church) at Wehrum, and the
Orthodox Church. The cemeteries are 'Slc-
Cartney, Blacklick and Orthodox.
There are a number of valuable farms in
the township. The most progressive farmers
have limed the land and are raising good
crops of hay, wheat, corn, rye, oats, buck-
wheat and potatoes. At least ten or twelve
of the farmers have purchased chopping mills
that are run by gasoline engines.
At one time the township was well timbered
with hemlock, pine, oak, chestnut, walnut, and
other timber common to that region. There
are still several good tracts of timber within
the township which are now being cut.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing number of acres of cleared land, 7,789 ;
tiiuberland, 9,487 ; taxables, 429 ; valuation of
taxable real estate, $339,354; number and
value of horses assessed, 195 — $5,730 ; number
and value of cows assessed, 195 — $1,950 ; cost
of assessment for 1913, $44.18; money at in-
terest, $17,661.11.
The following is an exact copy (spelling,
composition, etc.), of an apprentice's agree-
ment in 1803 :
"This Indenture made this Nineteenth Day
of February A. D. one thousa"nd eighteen hun-
dred and three Witnesseth that Matthew Dill
by and with the consent of his Father Matthew
DiU — Testified by his witnessing these pres-
ents hath Voluntary and of his own free will
and accord put himself Apprentice unto
Thomas McCartney of Wheatfield Township
Westmoreland County State of Pennsylvania
with him to dwell after the manner of an
Apprentice for and during the term of three
full years Commenced the first of January
eighteen hundred and three in all which time
Apprentice of his master — Faithfullj' shall
serve his secrets keep his lawful Commands
everywhere gladly obey he shall not absent
himself Day nor Night from his Masters'
Service without leave but in all things Demean
himself as a good and faithful Apprentice
ought to do in consideration of which hia
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
455
master shall teach or Cause him to be taught
the art misterj^ and trade of a Spinning
Wheelwright and Chairmaking to the best of
his skill and judgment such as he now prae-
tiseth to Furnish his Apprentice in Sufficient
diet Lodging and Aprel during his term and
at the end thereof to give him a Good and
Compleat Suit of Cloathiug a fur hat Broad-
eloath Coat a fashionable Jacket and Breeches
Shirt and Gotten Stocking New Shoes and
Bandanna handkerchief and a Suit of every-
day Cloatliing in testimony whereof Both
parties have hereunto set their hands and
afixed their seals the day and year above
written.
Tesster
:\Iatthew Dill Senior.
^IaRGARET ]\rcCARTNEY.
Matthew Dill Jun
Thomas McCartney
CHAPTER XXVI
BURRELL TOWNSHIP
Burrell township was formed from Black-
lick in 1853 and was thus designated for
Judge Burrell. The population in 1870 was
1,374, and in 1910, 3,109. It has a very ir-
regular boundary, as may be seen from the
map. The surface is an alternation of hill
and dale, grove and meadow, which is divided
into farms, most of which are highl.v produc-
tive. The minerals are coal, iron ore, fire
clay and stoneware clay, and limestone. The
surrounding hills are teeming with bitumi-
nous coal, large quantities of which are mined
and shipped. Chestnut Ridge, extending
from Westmoreland county into the eastern
portion of this township, is cut at this point
by the Conemaugh river, which separates
Indiana and Westmoreland counties, leaving
"Pack Saddle" upon the left bank, and
"Oak's Point," which is an elevation of about
1,200 feet above the river, upon the right
bank. This eminence affords one of the finest
views in western Pennsylvania and well re-
pays the visitor for the weariness of the trip
in reaching its lofty summit. The "Point"
and the "Pack Saddle" hills .stand as watch-
towers for the Conemaugh valley. The bank
of the river about a half mile above Blairs-
ville is very high and precipitous, and is
known as the "Alum Bank." There is here
an upright wall of nature's own masonry, in
some places fifty or sixty feet high, and below
this an abrupt descent of about one hundred
feet to the water's edge covered with forest
trees. This cliff is a mile or more in length.
Several veins of iron ore and coal have been
opened upon its space. There is also an ex-
tensive vein of fire clay and an alum deposit.
Blairsville. Blacklick and Josephine are
the principal towns in the township. The
road laid out across this township was called
the Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turn-
pike, and was completed to Blaii-sville in
1819. Samuel McAnulty, Samuel Eckles,
John Cunningham and David Short were
among the first who came into town. The
first tavern within the limits of the to^vnship
was kept by Andrew Brown on the Robert
Smith farm from 1817 to 1823, when he sus-
pended business there and moved into Blairs-
ville. George MulhoUand kept a store near
this tavern, which was the first store in this
vicinity, for several years.
The first schoolhouses were on the old Me-
Crea and Philip Altman farms, and these
were erected prior to 1800. but their date of
construction and their first teachers are un-
known. ]\Iaster Thomas Wilkie was an early
teacher in both these buildings. The fii"st
school in the northeastern part of the town-
ship was situated on the Daniel Smith farm,
where the Blacklick station now is. William
Faloon was one of the early teachers.
Bell's Mills. — The first improvement at this
point on Blacklick creek was made by Walter
Bell, whose lands lay on both sides of the
creek about one mile from the present Indiana
railroad. The first mill erected was a saw-
mill, which was used to cut lumber to build
the grist-mill. The grist-mill was built in
1839, probably not fully completed until
1841. The village lots were laid out in 1848,
by David Ralston, the owner of the mill.
Blacklick Manufacturing Company. —
Among the manufacturing interests of Indi-
ana county the above named company de-
serves special mention. Its works were lo-
cated about one and a fourth miles east of
Blacklick station and connected with the sta-
tion by a tram railway. They were erected
in 1869 for the purpose of making firebrick
456
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and tile. The firm was composed of E.
Robinson, C. Hadley and P. McKinter. The
works at this time consisted of a clay mill
driven by an engine of thirty-five horse
power and a yard capacity of 4,000 bricks
per day, with two kilns of 30,000 capacity
each. In May, 1872, Mr. Robinson sold his
interests to J. M. Guthrie, of Indiana, Pa.,
and in July of the same year E. W. Giddings
and E. G. Mildren, of Johnstown, Cambria
county, bought the establishment. They im-
mediately doubled the size of the yard, also
the capacity by running day and night. In
November, 1873, Mr. Mildren purchased the
interest of Mr. Giddings, and in addition to
the manufacture of brick and tile commenced
making "Bessemer tuyeres," on what is
known as the "Ostrander Machine." In 1874
Mr. Mildren added another powerful steam
tuyere machine. In connection with firebrick,
he manufactured nozzle stoppers, chimney
tops, fire clay dust, gas retorts and settings.
In 1875 the two old kilns were removed and
two crown kilns were built, with a capacity of
45,000 each. At these works were employed
upwards of one hundred men and boys. The
payroll amounted to about $1,900 monthly.
In the fall of 1872 Messrs. Kinter, Thompson
and Carter built the works located at Black-
lick station. They were purchased by E. J.
Mildren and run by a twenty-five horse power
engine. They had a capacity of 4,000 bricks
and 300 tuyeres per day. This company had
a well stocked general store in connection
with the works. The store was under the
management of Mr. C. Moore, and a pros-
perous business was done.
Josephine Furnace & Coke Company. — In
1905 Corrigan, IMcKinney & Company pur-
chased the Bell's Mills property owned by
Anna M. Guthrie, the Dalzell tract, and the
entire village of Bell's Mills, consisting of
eight dwellings, for $40,000. The old houses
were torn down and 165 new ones were built.
The company has built two blast furnaces
for the manufacture of pig iron. Through
the efforts of Mr. A. G. Yates, president of
the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railway
Company, this new indvistry was brought to
this county. In order to induce Carrigan,
McKinney & Company to locate in this sec-
tion the railroad interests were compelled to
make valuable concessions of land as well as
to build an expensive system of tracks and
trestles. Bringing the industry here afforded
traffic for the Indiana Branch of the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburg Railway Company,
which has a line extending south of Indiana,
Pa., to the new plant at Josephine. Another
object was the development of the coal field
owned by the Iselin interests in the vicinity
of Josephine. On the other hand, Corrigan,
McKinney & Company were attracted to this
county by the fact that a location was avail-
able in the Pittsburg district, which is one of
the chief markets for pig iron. Another rea-
son is that they own a coal field of six thou-
sand acres in Burrell township, extending
from Bell's Mills to the Coneniaugh river
and from West Wheatfield township into
Coneniaugh township. The site is an ex-
cellent one, as pure water can be furnished
from Blacklick creek at small expense and
shipping facilities are afforded over both the
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg and the Penn-
sylvania railroads. All the ore, coke and
other material used in the process of manu-
facturing pig iron is shipped over the Buf-
falo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad, but the
product of the furnaces is distributed by both
roads. The building was begun in 1906 and
on January 14, 1907, the first furnace, which
cost $1,000,000, was started by the Josephine
Furnace & Coke Company. In 1907, when
the coal was being operated and the construc-
tion work was being done, one thousand men
were employed. In 1911 a second furnace
was built and at present there are at least
two hundred men employed, with a monthly
payroll of $25,000. The output every twenty-
four hours is 500 tons — furnaces running
day and night. The plant at this place cost
the company at least $2,000,000.
At first the company purchased 5,000 acres
of coal with the expectation of making their
own coke and with no thought of starting
a furnace. After the furnace was started it
became necessary to connect their coal field
with the furnace property, consequently ]Mr.
H. L. Taylor leased one thousand acres of
coal that connected the two holdings.
The places of business in the town of Black-
lick are as follows: The general store of J.
H. Bell & Co., which has been controlled by
the same family for half a century ; the meat
market and grocery of Sumner Graff, which
is perhaps the oldest storeroom in the village ;
the hardware, furniture and grocery store
conducted by D. A. Palmer & Son, who liave
an undertaking business in the same connec-
tion; L. B. Johnston's grocery and dry goods
store; the drug store conducted by J. A.
Shrom ; the clothing store of Joe Shapiro ; a
general store conducted by G. M. Ferraro;
a fruit store by August Cappelitti ; the meat
and grocery store of John Kokas; general
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
457
store and Elk Printing Company, carried on
by W. J. Lyda; the news stand, by Thomas
Phelan ; the Elite Printing Office, by A. M.
Barron, and the Commercial Printing Office,
by J. J. Palmer.
There are two lodges, the Odd Fellows and
the Woodmen of the World.
First National Bank of Blacklick.— The
First National Bank of Blacklick was opened
January 14, 1907, with a capital of $25,000.
The need of a bank at Blacklick became evi-
dent when the town of Josephine was started.
The promoters of the bank were Dr. J. W.
Carson, :\Iessi-s. M. S. Bell, Sumner Graff, T.
C. McCrea, J. R. Housholder, S. J. Sides, W.
H. Robinson, J. F. Gerhard and D. A. Pal-
mer. The presidents of the bank since or-
ganization have been : Dr. J. W. Carson, T.
C. McCrea (deceased) and J. R. Householder.
Mr. William Ashbaugh was the cashier from
the organization of the bank until April 15,
1907, Mr. C. Evans Wiley from April 15,
1907. to December, 1908, and Mr. H. L. Tay-
lor, the present efficient cashier, has been in
charge since 1909. Mr. W. F. Hildebrand is
on the summit of Chestnut Ridge, the other
on the Bolivar road near where the old school-
house stood. In the Blacklick district a
handsome two-room school building was built
about fifteen yeai-s ago. The school building
in the Palmer district was burned and a new
one-room building was built on the road near
the house of Foster Palmer. When the plant
was put in operation at Bell's ilills, now
Josephine, the old schoolhouse in the Bell's
IMills district was abandoned and a new four-
room building was erected just north of Jo-
sephine, near the street car line. At present
there are fourteen schools. Twenty-five years
ago Burrell township could boast of paying
the highest wages to its teachers of any town-
ship in the county.
The churches of the township are Stranford
Methodist Episcopal. Blacklick ^Methodist
Episcopal, Blacklick Presbyterian, Blacklick
Free Methodist, Blacklick Roman Catholic,
and Blacklick Greek Catholic.
The first election in Burrell township was
held March 17, 1854, when the following of-
ficei-s were elected: Justices of the peace,
the assistant cashier. The present board of John Jenkins and Thomas Wilkins ; constable,
directors are : J. R. Housholder, president
Sumner Grafi', vice president; ]\I. S. Bell, W.
H. Dickie, W. P. McCrea, S. J. Sides, J. F.
Gerhard, and H. L. Taylor.
In 1870 there were eight school districts in
Burrell township, namely : Hodge, Smith,
Browntown, Livengood, Morton, Blacklick,
Palmer and Bell's Mills. From the Hodge
and Smith districts the Enterprise district
was formed and the one-room school building
is located along the Pennsylvania Railroad.
There is no school building in the Brown-
town district and the children attend school
in the borough of Blairsville. In the Liven-
good district thei-e are two schools; the new
school building is located in a small town,
along the Conemaugh river, called Stranford.
There are two new one-room school buildings
in the ]\Iorton district. One is on the old
Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turnpike.
Jackson Bell; judge of election, Jonathan
Doty ; assessor, Robert Smith ; overseers of the
poor, Isaac Armel and Nathaniel P. Turner;
supervisors, William Longhry, Jacob Rugh
and James Wiley; school directors, Charles
Campbell, Ausantz, Philip Altman, Jesse
Palmer, David Berry and Thomas Sloan;
auditors, Edward F, Sant, John Wear and
Samuel Orr; township clerk, Joseph Pal-
mer ; election officers — judge, William
Loughry; inspectors, Thomas Adams and
Thomas Campbell.
The assess.or's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Number of acres of cleared land,
11.513 ; timber land, 3,747 ; taxables, 740 ; tax-
able real estate, $618,906 ; number and value
of horses assessed, 249 — $6,960; number and
value of cows assessed, 271— $3,816; money
at interest, $65,033.75; cost of
$73.46.
CHAPTER XXVII
HISTORY OF BLAIRSVILLE AND
VICINITY
(By Thomas Davis Marshall)
INTRODUCTORY
We cannot properly write the histoiy of a
town unless we include its surroundings or
adjacent territory, and some of the things
that occun-ed in the same territory and con-
tiguous land prior to the building of the
town. It follows, also, that mention should
be made of some of the people who inhabited
this same land prior to the time when the
town was planned or prior to the time when
the building of the town commenced. The
waters of the Conemaugh and Blacklick came
this way even before the red man traversed
their banks. The pass through the ridges at
Pack Saddle, where the river so boldly cuts
its waj% was here long before the inhabitation
of the red man, making a gateway where
nature points out the natural and logical Star
of Empire. These everlasting hills, rising in
grandeur and glory, clad in their robes of
green and blue betimes, were waiting for the
races to come and glory in the sublimity and
beauty of the mountains, hills, ravines and
valleys : to admire the rugged banks of these
mountain streams and to receive inspiration
from the music of the river, ever moving
towards the Gulf. River and creek, which
are of about equal proportions, have paid no
attention to straight lines, but cut their
courses in ways very circuitous, whose rugged
and precipitous banks, decked ^^^th rock and
verdure, appeal to our imagination. The flow
of these streams is music to our ears, and
whether we look on them in sunlight or in
shadow we can always see pictures that are
pleasing and invigorating — river and creek
that hand down many legends and much
romance: river and creek with many possi-
bilities for increased duty and usefulness, not
only promotive of industrial interests, but of
great agricultural advancement. The red
men who sped their canoes on this river and
creek, the twin streams, and who often wan-
dered along their banks, are gone ; long since
the cry of the wild animals that drank of
these waters, and traveled over these hills
and through those forests, has ceased: many
of the later inhabitants of the white race have
come and gone, but these mountain streams
still flow on and on and on, the same as they
did from the first. On and on and on towards
the great Gulf, and the Almighty God look-
ing down upon us here says, "Ho, every one
that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." "Let
him that is athirst come. And whosoever will,
let him take the water of life freely," so that
like the rivers, we can live on and on and on
forever.
DAYS OF THE PIONEER
The days were perilous for the pioneer
when the Indians were abroad in the land
and considered the white man as an intruder
and a thief. Then the pioneer was only
partially safe under the protection of the
forts, w'hen the wild beasts endangered the
lives of the settlers and destroyed the domes-
ticated animals. Previous to the year 1758
Westmoreland county, which was contiguous
to the country adjacent to Blairsville, was a
wilderness trodden only by the wild beasts,
the savages, and an occasional white trader
or frontiersman. The access to the forts of
the Ohio in those days was either up the Ju-
niata and then by water down the Kiskimin-
etas and Conemaugh, or by Braddock's road
from Virginia and thence down the Monon-
gahela. The first opening through the wild-
derness of Westmoreland county was cut by
General Forbes' army in 1758. This road
opened the way for numerous pioneers, but it
was only safe for them to live under the pro-
tection of the forts. Loyalhanna and Ligo-
nier were bases of military operation back as
far as the Forbes expedition. There was
also a fort known as Fort Wallace, a mile
458
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
459
and a half south of Blairsville on what is
now known as the Ridgeview road. Fort Ligo-
luer was attacked by a strong force of Indians
in 1763, and the savages were repulsed.
Haunastown was one of the first settlements
in AVestuioreland county, and was attacked
by the Indiajis in 1782, but they were driven
off.
Hannastown was the first place west of
the Allegheny mountains in all America
where English -law was administered. It was
the first place where there was a Declaration
of Independence, the Declaration here having
been made on May 16th, while that at Meck-
lenburg (N. C.) was made on the 20th of
May, according to some chronicles, and on the
30th, according to others. The Hannastown
Declaration is well authenticated, while that
at Mecklenburg was reproduced about 1819
from the then recollection of one of its
authors. Hannastown was the last place
struck by the British and their Indian allies
during the Revolution. Ex-Judge John B.
Steel, of Greensburg, Westmoreland county,
and his brother Joseph W. Steel, now own
the old farm of their father, the former own-
ing the Hannastown end of the property, on
which is the site of the old stockade fort, the
Forbes road, and many other points of inter-
€st. Most of the home farm had been taken
up by Robert Hanna, and was bought by
the Judge's grandfather, John Steel, in 1826,
the Judge's father coming there as a two-
year-old child in 1835. The Judge is now
building a good farmhouse on the exact loca-
tion of the old fort. The Fort or Meyers
spring, which he has walled up with cut stone
and which has been marked by the Daughters
of the American Revolution, was probably
within the stockade in 1774, when the fort
was built, and at the lime of the burning of
Hannastown some years later. The hill back
of the fort, on which is the Steel family burial
place, is Gallows Hill, on which occurred the
execution of the Indian and white man — the
first judicial execution west of the Allegheny
mountains. The Forbes road is now pretty
well marked through Westmoreland county.
Judge Steel's researches, examination of the
records, including the papers laying out
Cochran's Fording road, have convinced
him that Lacock and Temple were right in
their recollection of that road. He had ]\Ir.
Lacock and his old neighbor. Samuel Ruff,
go over the Ruff farm and eastward from the
Ruff residence to connect with what Lacock
and Temple located at the time of their trip
through this region, and they were able to
establish definitely the Hannastown end of
the road, from near Hannastown to beyond
the old Ruti'ner place.
This was only fifteen miles from where
Blairsville is located. This locality was ex-
plored as long ago as 1766 and 1767. In 1771
or 1772 Fergus iloorhead and James Kelly
erected their log cabins here. A wolf got
his head in between the logs of Mr. Kelly's
house far enough to cut his scalp with its
teeth and cause the blood to flow freely.
Moses Chambers, another of these early set-
tlers, started out one time to journey on a
horse to get corn meal, his only provisions
being half of a johnnycake, the other half of
which he gave to his wife. There were no
inns in those days on the road, or habitations
west of the mountains, save possibly a hut or
two at Fort Ligonier. He slept only when
his horse was eating, and had to hasten back
home with his corn meal to save his wife from
stai-ving. The distance was one hundred or
one hundred and thirty miles. Some eight or
ten years after this William Bracken built a
mill on the Blacklick. The settlements were
made gradually here on account of the hostil-
ity of the savages, who made frequent inroads
into the quiet retreat of the settlers, murder-
ing them or driving them off. In 177-t Sam-
uel Moorhead commenced building a mill on
Stony run, a mile from the present site of
Blairsville. Before it was finished they were
driven off by the Indians, and fled to the
Sewickley settlement. Among the earlier set-
tlers were the Manures, Nagles. Ragers,
Storms, Campbells, Hildebrands, Altmans,
Davises, Blacks, Bairds, and Murrays.
The attack referred to, when the pioneers
fled to the Sewickley settlement, was called
Dunmore's war or the "civil" war. The
settlers about here who had to flee lost their
crops and live stock, but they returned in the
fall and Mr. Moorhead completed his mill.
The Indians still made incursions, stealing
horses and committing other depredations.
When the war bugle sounded in 1776 the
Indians took advantage of the situation and
again became hostile, and for some time no
further improvements were attempted, in fact
not until Wayne's treaty was made in 1795.
As late as 1800 not a village existed in this
section except a few log cabins at Saltsburg
and Greensburg; nineteen miles oft" was the
nearest trading town. The village of New-
port, on the Saltsburg road, three miles north-
east of the site of Blairsville, is said to be
about the first that was built in the county,
or in that part of it. It is related that iron
460
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was hiuiled hi'i-e over the Frankstown road
from Juniata county and loaded on flatboats
and taken by water to Pittsburg. At this
time it is said to have cost $300 a ton. The
Smith State road and the Frankstown road
were the first made in this part of the Cone-
maugh valley, these being made in the latter
part of the eighteenth century.
Joseph Barnes, father of Henry, grand-
father of Mrs. Lydia Martin, of Blairsville,
settled near where the Frankstown road
crossed the Conemaugh river going in the di-
rection of Pittsburg, by ferry or ford, in 1799.
He stated that he came in over the Franks-
town road. He commenced to operate a
ferryboat during high water and it is related
that he ferried from twenty to forty teams
across each day at the rate of one dollar a
team. He also built a mill there. At a later
period he built and lived in the large brick
house, across the Conemaugh river in West-
moreland county, known for a number of
years past as the Buerkle property. He was
married to a daughter of Simon Beck, a
Swede, who became a resident of the locality.
He also engaged in keeping a hotel at this
point, as did also a man named Beatty, as
previously mentioned.
The very beginning of things in this locality
seems to have been near the mouth of the
Blacklick creek. This is two and a half miles
northwest of here. Other places, named sub-
sequently, were Smith's on the Frankstown
road, then Brown's tavern, and Campbell's
Mill, where as it is told there lived Gen.
Charles Campbell. We know of no record
that shows this title. His great-grandson
says he was in the Revolution with Washing-
ton. Capt. C. C. McLean, of Indiana, has the
record of a Michael Campbell enlisting as a
sub-lieutenant in Westmoreland county,
March 21, 1777, and of his being captured
by the Indians September 25, 1777, taken to
Quebec, and liberated or exchanged in the
fall of 1778. Gen. Charles Campbell became
the successor of E. Cook as county lieutenant
January 5, 1782 (archives of Pennsylvania,
Series 6, Volume I, page 261; "Old West-
moreland," Hastler's, pages 116 to 118; G.
Dallas Albert's History of Westmoreland
County, page 80 ; Caldwell 's History of In-
diana County, pages 140-141).
Michael, we learn, was an elder brother
of Charles, and one of the original thirty-
three members who organized the West Un-
ion Church about ninety-two years ago ; it was
removed to Blairsville in 1828. Charles
Campbell settled at what has always been
known as Campbell's Mill, on the Blacklick
creek, on the old Smith's State road leading
to Indiana and four miles out from Blairs-
ville. He took up a large acreage by patent,
some of which was at what is called the forks
of the Conemaugh or the mouth of the creek.
His son Charles settled on land near there
and the title to this farm is still in the pos-
session of the heirs of this son, who include
the Dixons (Joseph) at Blairsville; Miss Ma-
tilda Leech, a public school teacher at Blairs-
ville; Mr. Wall Kelley, of New Brighton;
Thomas Campbell, a son of Charles the sec-
ond, residing in Belpre, Kans. (he has a son
Ralph) ; Tillie, daughter of Charles, married
John Hodge and thus some of the Misses
Hodge are interested parties. The land in
cjuestion is back of the West Penn railroad
and back of what is known as Snyder's sta-
tion, called for Antes Snyder, weferred to
elsewhere. This land is situated on what is
known as Burrell Point. Like Pittsburg,
Easton and some few other places, it is be-
tween two leading streams of water, in a very
rare and pleasing location. That locality was,
as has been noted, the beginning of things in
this vicinity, if not in the county, and the
time must come when it will be a place of
great things.
Other descendants of the Charles Camp-
bells, first and second, are Tillie (Campbell)
Dixon, Joseph H.' Dixon, Frank J. Dixon,
George W. Dixon, Herbert S. Dixon, of
Blairsville, Jesse M. Dixon and Alfred C.
Dixon, of St. Paul, Minn. ; Charles, son of
Joseph H. Campbell, and Pearl, a daughter,
of New York. Joseph H. Dixon is dead ; his
wife and daughter live in Coketown. Rev.
J. H. Henderson, great-grandfather of Mrs.
Dixon, who was an earl.y pastor at Beulah
Church, also lived in the early days at Camp-
bell's Mill. In later years J. M. Turner kept
a store there also.
Michael Campbell, elder brother of the
senior Charles, lived also at Campbell's Mill.
Some of his descendants were : Mrs. Daniel
Smith, of Smith's station; George Campbell,
of Kansas, a son ; Mrs. Gardner Turner, and
Mrs. Archy Coleman.
■The Wallace Mill and Fort.— This is sit-
uated on the road now known best as the
Ridgeview road, a mile and a half south of
Blairsville in Westmoreland county. The
mill is said to have been the first one built
and used west of the Allegheny mountains.
The pioneers, it is said, used to crush their
corn by hand. It is also related that per-
sons would come over the paths of the time
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
to this mill as far as the site of Kittanning — •
forty miles. As to this fort, if Blairsville
and vicinity were just a little awake to civic
pride, much would be made of it. The things
that occurred there are of such thrilling in-
terest as to arouse school children or any
persons interested in such stirring times. The
Wallace Fort was erected in 1764 or 1765.
Then there was Gilsou's Fort, near New
Derry, and Craig's Fort, on the Loyalhanna
creek out from New Alexandria.
It is related that George Findley was the
first settler in the county of Indiana in East
AYheatfield township. This was in 1764.
Col. John Pomeroy, Alexander Barr, "Wil-
liam Barr and William Guthrie were noted
settlers in that locality or near New Derry.
Richard Wallace owned the land where the
fort was built and he erected the mill. He
was taken prisoner by the Indians and their
white allies. Major Wilson was the leader
in the locality in defending against and at-
tacking the Indians and the chapters per-
taining to his experiences are of thrilling in-
terest. His skill and bravery were very
marked. It is stated that he was the grand-
father of Wilson Knott, who was superin-
tendent of the Portage railroad and western
division of the canal. This statement as to
Mr. Knott's superintendency we have not
had the opportunity of verifying. It was
noted that he served as postmaster in Blairs-
ville, and we know that he held some official
position on the canal system. Wilson Knott's
grandson Richard is editor of an evening
paper at Louisville, Ky., and another grand-
son is prominent in railroad circles.
SOME EARLY RESIDENTS
James Black was a very early settler in
this locality. He was a soldier iij the Revo-
lution under General Washington. He oc-
cupied land adjacent to where the town now
stands, part of which is occupied by the for-
mer West Penn Glass Company's plant. In
this early day he built a craft on the river,
loaded it with bacon and flour, and taking
one man ^\ith him went by the rivers to New
Orleans and from there to Cuba. He sold
his bacon in New Orleans and flour in Cuba,
receiving $1.200 — Spanish dollai-s. To re-
turn home they took vessel to Portland,
Maine, and came across the country, home,
by the paths of the time and on pack horses.
It seems that the government of Spain did
not allow the taking of money out of the
country at that time, and the captain of the
vessel helped him out. It took months to
make the trip. This was following the Dec-
laration of Independence. Soon afterwards
he sold his land here and went to Harrison
county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder
of his life. He was the grandfather of Mrs.
Jane S. Marshall, wife of the late Dr. Rob-
ert Johnston Marshall, of Blairsville. Mrs.
J. M. Stewart, of Indiana, Pa., is a descend-
ant of James Black, as are Samuel Robinson
and ilrs. Logan R. Moore, of Saltsburg, and
Thomas Davis ilarshall of Blairsville, Dr.
George Hill Marshall, of Pittsburg, and' Mrs'
Jessie C. Bean, wife of Dr. George W. ~
of Kansas City, Ka
KUXXIXG IIISTORr OF BL.MRSVILLE
Blairsville was one of the villages that
originated when it became a fact that the
Northern turnpike, which was to connect the
Delaware at Philadelphia with the Ohio at
Pittsburg, was to be built this route, its eoui-se
being north of the Conemaugh, but it crossed
that river also to the west. The stream makes
a bend here which gives the river for its
southern and western boundaries.
This locality was spai-sely settled years
before the origin of the village of Blaii-sville.
Among the earliest of the settlers of whom we
hear were the Bairds, William and Samuel,
who, it is related, on a trip from here to Ship-
pensburg purchased and brought back the
first family Bible that came into the section.
The village of Baird-stown, just across the
river from Blairsville, took their name.
Little is recorded as to the occupancy of
this locality by the Indians. There is a "fort
near the site of what was long known as the
Wallace mill on the Hillside road, about a
mile, and a half from Blairsville, in West-
moreland county. It is said there was an
Indian village on Blacklick creek, this county,
not far from the present site of what has been
known as the McCormiek bridge. The late
Henry Barnes speaks of having seen Indians
here in his early life.
The Frankstown road, from Juniata county
to the forks of the Conemaugh. or to the vil-
lage called Newport, was opened for travel
January 4. 1790. About a year later it was
extended to Pittsburg, crossing the Cone-
maugh ferry and ford at Barnes, east of the
Buerkle place. It came in from the east and
across the mountains and ridge, the route
being the same later taken by the Northern
turnpike. However, two miles east of Blairs-
ville it turned north and west, crossing Black-
462
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
lick ereek near its mouth and going to New-
port, the first village built in this locality.
This was three miles northwest of Blairsville,
and part of this route was the same as what
was later known as the Saltsburg road. Later
this same road was extended to Pittsburg,
crossing the Conemaugh river by ford about
a mile west of Sloan's cut. Men named
Barnes and Beatty kept taverns near this
ford, and Henry Barnes, a son of one of the
landlords, stated that often there were as
many as one hundred teams there overnight.
At Newport, which wa.s a small village of log
houses built on a bank of the Conemaugh
river, the iron was loaded on the flatboats,
being slidden down chutes. Iron at this time
cost as much as $300 a ton.
Public roads and turnpikes were the next
stage of transportation following the canoe,
Indian trails and other paths used by white
men, and pack horses. Blairsville originated
from the march of empire westward. It is
only a few miles from that noted gateway
through the ridge — we refer to Pack Saddle —
where all trains on the main stem of the
Pennsylvania railroad pass. Ever since, with
a lapse of a decade or less, it has remained
the main line of transportation from the east
to the west.
The late John Bruce, a carpenter and con-
tractor, related to the «Titer that the earlier
houses here were all constructed of logs. It
is told how Isaac Green ran a race in the con-
struction of the fifst two houses, there being
a bounty for the one who completed his first,
and won (see below).
Blairsville commenced as a turnpike vil-
lage in a location of great scenic beauty, near
the base of the Chestnut Ridge, where the
majestic summits of the ridge and surround-
ing hills look serenely do\^ii in imposing maj-
esty. This Ridge could be correctly named
Blue Ridge, for often as we look its covering
is of a decidedly blue cast. Then it is located
on this very twisting and picturesque stream,
the Conemaugh river. On the south side this
river comes in by what is famously known as
the Alum bank. Here there is an upright
wall of Nature's own masonry fifty or sixty
feet high, and below this an abrupt descent
of one hundred feet to the water's edge cov-
ered with trees. This cliff is a mile or two
long. The view from this bank is extensive
and romantic.
Blairsville has never had what would be
called an epidemic of sickness.
Caldwell's history, page 349, says that the
first permanent settler in the vicinity of
Blairsville was James Baird. This was op-
posite where Blairsville was located. His son
James was born there in 1792. James Baird,
Jr., said his father had the warrant which
took up the major portion of the land on
which the town of Blairsville was afterwards
built and sold it to James Campbell, of Frank-
lin county. The turnpike being constructed
from the East, and which was to extend on
to Pittsburg, was named the Huntingdon,
Cambria and Indiana Turnpike Road, John
Blair, of Blair's Gap, Huntingdon Co., Pa.,
being president of the company. The parties
who came to attend the sale of town lots,
whicli occurred November 11th, stopped
largely at Andrew Brown's tavern, now
Smith's, on the road to Indiana and then on
the Frankstown road. The land above what
is now the railroad tracks was a forest, and
in many parts covered with water. The un-
derbrush was cut away and piled at the side
of the street. No road led into the place.
Those who arrived here came by narrow paths.
The Diamond was the center of attraction.
The first lot sold was the one that the "Ex-
change Hotel" was later built on. For many
years this corner was the scene of much ac-
tivity, now it stands dilapidated and an eye-
sore.
Blairsville was named for John Blair, of
Blair's Gap, said to have been the main pro-
moter of the Northern turnpike, or at any
rate one of the principals. James Campbell,
of Franklin county, is said to have owned the
land on which the town was located, and
the early deeds were made out by him. But
it is related that he agi'ced with one Andrew
Brown to make a division for the reason that
Brown owned the land on the south of the
Conemaugh river and in the locality where
Coketown was afterwards built (about 1871-
72), and that there was some prospect of the
turnpike coming that way, the agreement
between Mr. Campbell and IMr. Brown being,
that if it did, Mr. Brown would share the
proceeds of the sale with Mr. Campbell. Be
that as it may, the two leading streets parallel
with Market street running east and west,
were called Campbell and Brown. And then
we have Brownstown.
The first store in Blairsville was that of
Jonathan Doty, started in 1820, and the sec-
ond was opened by George Mulholland, Jr.,
in 1821. The first tavern was that of Abner
Willets, situated on the iiorthwest corner of
Market and Walnut streets. The second
hotel was built by Dr. E. P. Emerson, on
the corner now occupied by the warehouse of
HISTORY OF INDIANA COrNTY, rENXSYLVANIA
463
Lyman Ray. Samuel ^MeAnulty was the first
landlord at that hotel, but he soon built a
large hotel on the northwest corner of the
Diamond, known as " ' The Exchange. ' ' These
hotels all had lai-ge stables for horses. The
first blacksmith was Thomas Lindsey, who
owned the lot known as the Dr. R. J. Marshall
lot, and built on the lower end of it and on
the corner of the alley; this building long
stood asi a stable and was only taken down in
1907. Most of the logs were iu excellent con-
dition. The father of M. E. Thomas and Al-
bert Brown learned the trade of blacksmith
here in the Lindsey shop. The first cooper
was Samuel Eckels; he was" also an early
tavern-keeper. The first doctor was E. P.
Emerson, who first located at Campbell's
Mill, four miles out from Blairsville, making
his home with General Charles Campbell. He
came there from Ebensburg or that locality.
Later be removed his headquarters to Andrew
Brown's, the latter keeping a tavern where
Daniel Smith now resides, near Smith sta-
tion. Dr. Emerson had constructed on the
Diamond a very large brick building, which
was used for residence and business purposes.
He had his stable and all outbuildings also
constructed of brick. These buildings are
still standing, now o^^^led by William Dun-
can. The first tanner was Andrew McCombs.
The first brick and stone mason was William
Brown. The first postmaster was George
Mulholland, Jr. The first tailor was Smith
McMillan ; the first tinner, Abraham Richard.
The first mai-riage was that of John Weir to
Elizabeth Thompson. The first preaching
service was held opposite John Cunningham's,
on the street, the preacher being James Wake-
field. The next preaching service was in
Willets' bar room. The first ministers lo-
cated here were of the Methodist Episcopal
clmrch and their names were S. Dennis. B.
Doi-sey and Thomas Hudson. The first jus-
tice of the peace was Stewart Davis, the
grandfather of I\Irs. James A. Wolf, and he
made the reputation of possessing unusual
ability for the office, and a high sense of integ-
rity. Andrew Brown, one of the original pro-
prietors of the town, came in from Smith's,
where he had been keeping a tavern, and
located in Blairsville. Aaron Devinney was
another early blacksmith. Samuel Crow was
an early taveni-keeper also. Thomas Green
was one of the early carpenters ; John Peters,
one of the early merchants; James Callen,
James Cantwell and James Alexander were
among the first chairmakers; William Lytle
and Henry Keelj' were among the first car-
penters; John W. Brown, Patrick Slameu
and John Ray were among the first black-
smiths; John Shrock among first brick and
stone masons; Robert Longwill was an early
merchant and hotel-keeper; Daniel Short an
early brick and stone mason.
In the beginning of Blairsville the people
had to get their supplies from Campbell's
and Wallace's ]\Iills. The first gristmill was
built in Blairsville in 1831 by Mark Graham,
who had a store and tavern, his brother Ar-
thur conducting the mill in 1832. It was pur-
chased by Alexander and Noble Xesbit in
1833. It stood near Graff's warehouse. In
1840 its boiler exploded. An aged resident
here says that at that time it was o«ned by a
man named Armstrong, whose wife was said
to be a sister of the late Jolm Graff. The
boiler was blown across the river, and struck
a. sixteen-year-old boy named John Bever-
land, and it was some time before they found
his body, from which one leg had been sev-
ered entirely. Bricks were also thrown across
the river by this explosion, a number of them
falling on the deck of a boat where a man
named William Baker was lying, singing cam-
paign songs. His condition for some time was
very precarious, but he recovered and lived to
be an old man.
The firet ferry was owned by Isaac Green,
and operated in the spring of 1819. Mr.
Green at a later period was the proprietor of
extensive boat yards, situated near the canal.
Plugh Richards and James Raskin, it is
stated, also had an interest in the ferry. The
fall of the same year they sold it to George
iMulholland, Jr. The covered bridge crossing
the Conemaugh at the foot of Mai-ket street,
for the convenience of travel on the turnpike,
was erected in 1821-22, James Moore being the
contractor. This bridge was opened for traf-
fic in September, 1822. The cost was $15,000.
It was an arch structure of "worm wag" plan,
three hundred feet in length, and what was
called the single arch, said then and for some
tinae afterwards to be the largest single span
bridge in the United States. It stood for
about seventy years, and was then replaced
by an open iron bridge. The incorporators
and first stockholders interested in this bridge
were: George Mulholland, Jr., C. Hori-ell.
Abner Kelly, John Lytle, Moses ;Mui-phy,
Abraham Herbach. S. Daniels, Sr., Robert
Rainey, James Craig, John Cunningham,
James Elliott, Henry Keely, James Moore.
The first officers chosen were : President. An-
drew Brown ; treasurer, John Doty ; man-
agers, James Moorhead, Samuel Baird, Na-
464
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
thanael Doty, John Bingham, John Ander-
eon, R. K. Simpson.
The first gate-keeper was William Clark,
and the second CTeorge McLain.
Early Postmasters : George Mulholland, Jr.,
John DeVinney, Joseph Chapman, Daniel H.
Barr, George S. Mendell, Wilson Knott, Lucy
Knott, Brice Henderson, Mrs. Mary Hender-
son, and later Mrs. Elizabeth Alter. Of these,
George Mulholland came from Philadelphia,
and was one of the first merchants in
Blairsville. The late Samuel Ray walked
over from Armagh to Blairsville and en-
tered the employ of Mr. Mulholland, and
afterwards by an arrangement \vith Mr.
Mulholland Mr. Ray succeeded to liis busi-
ness. He acquired as much, or more, property
as any other business man here. Jolin De-
Vinney was an old-time merchant. The Barr
family is one of the well known families in the
western part of the state. James P. Barr, a
son of Daniel H. Barr referred to, owned and
dictated the policy of the Pittsburg Post.
The first stage line reached Blairsville in
1819, though no regular line was placed on
the pike until 1820, when the first mail
was delivered here. The first hack line from
Blairsville to Indiana commenced operation
Monday, May 9, 1842. Samuel McAnulty,
proprietor of the "Exchange Hotel," was the
owner of this line, and made three round trips
a week. A stage line was also commenced and
operated from Blairsville to Saltsburg, and
continued until the West Penn railroad was
completed, about 1865. Mr. Joseph Moor-
head has furnished some interesting informa-
tion as to early taverns in and near town and
their proprietors. William Lawson kept a
tavern east of town on the pike at the foot of
Chestnut Ridge. Thomas Adams kept one
east of town on the site of the John Stewart
farm. "Billy" Barr kept one east of town
about a mile, at the large red house. In
Blairsville, on Market street, John Shrock
kept a tavern in the Dr. William Hunter
house. James Geer for some time owned the
hotel on the Ray corner, and conducted a hotel
himself. Abner Willets kept an early hotel
on the John Loughry corner. "Bill" Law-
son for a time kept what is known as "The
Merchants.' " Richard Graham and Me-
Manus Bonner kept taverns in Bairdstown.
"Billy" Hood kept a tavern on the Conwell
place, four miles west of town. "Jockey"
McLaughlin and Jacob Alter kept taverns at
what is known as "The Half Way House,"
on the pike to New Alexandria west of town.
This made thirteen in and within five miles
in any direction from Blairsville.
Blairsville was incorporated as a borough
in 1825. Its first newspaper was named The
Record, and was owned and edited by Thomas
MeParland, who built an office of brick on
North Spring street, opposite where The En-
ti rprise now is. Within a few years he died
of smallpox, and was buried by the father of
Joseph Moorhead. It was a coincidence that
Joseph Moorhead was called upon to do a
similar act some years later when one of the
residents died of the same disease. Before
Mr. McFarland's death John Matthias had
become his partner, and after the death of
Mr. McFarland William Brown became the
partner of John Matthias. The office was
later moved to Market street in the D. E.
Thompson building, and later upon the same
street near Walnut. In 1844 Thomas Ma-
guire, of Johnstown, became manager. He
changed the name to The Citizen. In May,
1848, Richard B. McCabe and Robert A.
Woodward assumed control of the paper and
the name was changed to Appalachian. Three
j'ears later they sold it to Alfred Matthias, a
son of John, the former owner, and William
Caldwell. The paper then became independ-
ent. In 1854 the firm dissolved, Mr. Cald-
well retiring. In November, 1855, Alfred
]\Iatthias sold it to Thomas S. Reid. Alfred
Matthias was a signer to call the convention
which organized the Republican party in
August, 1855. A Mr. Andrews had a paper
for a short time in 1858 which was Republi-
can in politics, but this was discontinued and
for some time Blairsville had no paper. John
Loughrey, of Greensburg, resumed The Rec-
ord, and conducted it for less than a year.
In 1859 James Campbell became editor of
the same paper, and continued it until 1862,
when he sold it to James Steele, of Stewart,
who in 1864 moved to Ashland, Schuylkill
county. In 1859 Dr. Andrew Getty assumed
control of The Record, and continued until
1861, when he discontinued the paper and
left town. Again the town had no newspa-
per for several years. In April, 1865, W. R.
Boyer, an attorney, commenced to edit it
again. In 1866 R. M. Birkman became edi-
tor and proprietor, continuing it for some
years, when he moved it to Indiana, and the
name was changed to The Indiana Progress.
The Blmrsville Enterprise was established
in 1880 by Roliert S. Davis, James A. Wolf
and William Newingham. A year later Mr.
Newingham sold his interest to M. G. Miller
and retired. The next names to appear at
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
465
the masthead were those of James S. Beaeom,
now an attorney practicing law in Greens-
burg, and Stephen J. Telford, who is now the
judge of the Indiana County court. Within
a short time Mr. Telford retired and it be-
came the property of Beaeom Brothers, James
S. and J. Wesley. In 1886 Joseph Moorhead
bought it and continued to condtict it, at a
later period in connection with his son, John
W. Moorhead.
The BlairsiUle Eeporter was launched by
James A. Wolf and Elmer Harn. Later Mr.
Wolf sold his interest to John M. Kincaid,
and in a short time the plant was sold and
was removed to another town.
In March, 1894, John D. Beriy started a
daily called The Courier. After conducting
it about two years he sold it in April, 1895, to
Charles Kerler, Jr. It ran until July 1, 1904,
and then cjuit. Mr. Kerler ten months later
commenced to publish The Courier once a
week, which he continues to do.
THE OLD LOG SCHOOLHOUSE
This was situated on the corner of Liberty
street and North alley. It was not only the
first place where school was kept, but the first
place where public worship was held. It is
still standing, in a dilapidated condition, and
the cemetery connected with it is covered with
a wild growth, and appears to be much de-
serted. Some citizens who \veve among the
most prominent in Blairsville are buried there.
Among these are the graves of Mott Wilkin-
son, a soldier of the American Revolution,
and his wife. Thomas Johnston and his wife
and William P. Johnston are also buried there
and have a monument ; Thomas Johnston died
in 1836, his wife in 1833, and William P.
in 1841. They were prominent citizens of
their day. Miss Ella Ray recently raised a
fund for the purpose of having this cemetery
fenced. This was done, and it is the purpose
of the people to have the old log building re-
habilitated and the ground made and kept
sightly. It is stated that this building was
constructed in 1821 or 1822. The first teacher
was Jesse il. Bishop, the second Lyman S.
Waterman, the third Closes Davis, the fourth
Martin Braiuard, and the fifth Dr. M. L. Mil-
ler. Joseph Moorhead, the editor of the
Blairsville Enterprise, attended school there,
and Rev. Noble G. Miller also practiced on
his A B C's there. The public school build-
ing situated on South Walnut street was
erected in 1837, and first occupied in 1838.
Martin Brainard, his nephew. Miss Sarah
Stansbury and Miss Pollock were the first
teachers. Miss Stansbury became the wife of
James Sutton, of Indiana, Pa. The Suttons
occupied the home now the residence of Jus-
tice John P. Elkin. In 1879 George W. Innes,
iliss Hannah A. Boyle, Miss Kate Walker
and Miss Annie ililler were teachers. Among
the teachers the writer remembers were
Amanda and Hannah A. Boyle and William
R. Ford, the latter the only one distinctly re-
membered, an Englishman and very compe-
tent, clever, thoroughly educated and much
interested in his work. There was also a man
named Lininger. We think he became a col-
onel in the army in the Civil war.
In 1S29-30 a frame market house was con-
structed at the corner of Campbell and Spring
streets, and in 1857 it. was replaced by a brick
building, which a short time ago was remod-
eled. The hotel conducted for some years by
J. K. Henry in Brownstown was built in 1829,
and first conducted by Jacob Alter. The
"^Merchants' " was built in 1831 by Silas
Moore. Among the other landlords that fol-
lowed at this hotel were Benjamin Marker,
Robert Evans, R. Vantine and R. Miskelly.
Mr. John Love, it is stated, built the "Union
House," and also a hotel in O'Harra. Later
James Lore became the proprietor of the
"Union House." Mr. Lore has three sons,
William A., Irvin and Charles, now living in
Blairsville. He sold this hotel to the late
George Wilkinson, who conducted it for many
years verj' successfully ; his son Freeman is
now the proprietor.
E.\RI,Y AND FORMER RESIDENTS, WITH COM-
MENTS
In this list mention is made of a large num-
ber of the earliest residents of Blairsville. and
many others who formerly lived here. It has
not been arranged chronologically.
Cornell, Graham, Dunn, McAvoy, Myers,
Hammer, Dulley, Peters, Beatty, Gilson, Bi-e-
nizer. Baker, Buerkle, Nofsker, Laughlin,
Robinson, McMaster, Johnston, ]\Ioorhead,
Dixon, Conner, Collins, McPerren. Swan,
Bell, Cassidy, Lewis, Ranson, Zimmer, Richey,
Scott, James Black, the Loughreys, Smiths,
Turners, Lintners, Barnes, Georges, Frances,
Sipes. McCurdys, Clawsons, Squire George
Johnston — all are old and respected names.
Some of the farmers were : The Davises, Stew-
art, David and Archibald: Chester C. Rev.
James, Samuel and John Archibald ; Silas Ful-
ton, Zachariah and Elder Laird, Haiwey Ho-
sack, Robert Smith, the Lintners, Libengoods,
466
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Palmers, McCurdys, Uueaphers, MeChesneys,
Colemans, Adams, Butlers, Hothams, Barrs,
Stouffers, Bennetts, Craigs, Wallaces, Simp-
sons; then there were the Shorts, Campbells,
Wynns, Chapmans, Kuhns, Pikes, Betchels.
One of the old firms was S. Cunningham &
Brothers. Joseph Barnes at one time was a
partner with T. S. Reed, editing the newspa-
per. Luther Martin was a merchant and later
he became landlord of the "Everett House,"
formerly "The Exchange." George Cun-
ningham had been a previous landlord here.
Martin Black was an early justice of the
peace and shoemaker. John Wynn was a
shoemaker and had a shoe stoi-e. J. I. Chap-
man, by trade a painter, for some years
owned a drug store. H. P. Shepley entered
the drug business in 1861, buying the store
from D. H. Laney, in the building now occu-
pied by the Blairsville Courier. T. C. Laney,
a brother of D. H., was a physician here.
Thomas Duffy was a shoemaker. Isaac Cul-
bertson had a harness shop. Robert Maul
followed, and Daniel Newingham also came
later in the same business. James C. Day
was an early druggist. I. Heim followed tail-
oring. Joseph Henderson had a grocery. A.
H. Torrance, merchant of Bairdstown, was
an officer in the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves,
and was shot in the head at the battle of
South Mountain, where Capt. Nathaniel Nes-
bit was killed. Major Torrance lived many
years. Joseph Torrance and Washington
Geer were early blacksmiths in Bairdstown
and men of sterling character. Squire Shan-
non is another name talked of. His son P.
C. became noted as an attorney and he be-
came a territorial judge. He lived in Pitts-
burg most of his life. His daughter Sadie is
living here just now. A brother of his named
James was noted as a news writer. Stewart
Steel, an early attorney, lived where William
Dunlap resides. The Dunlap family is large
and they are up-to-date farmers. Robert
Johnston was once engaged in business with
Samuel Dixon; James Alexander also had
been a partner with Mr. Dixon. R. W. Wehrle
was engaged here for some years in the jew-
elry business. Coopering was one of the busi-
nesses followed in the earlier years. John
Richardson, a cooper, later engaged in the
grocery business at the John Loughrey cor-
ner, and this store was purchased by J. M.
Harvey. John Graflf and others of the same
connection and family left worthy names.
Other names deserving of remembrance were
Robert Bartley, Murray, Humphries, Hood,
Lay ton, Shields. James Layton died last
winter aged ninety-four years ; the cheery dis-
position he maintained to the last made him
popular. Some early business men were:
Joseph Loughrey; Samuel Dixon; Abram
Armel ; Samuel McCune ; John S. Watterson ;
Daniel and John Euwer; Alexander Shields;
John Devinney ; the Nesbits ; MiUhousers ;
John Kurtz; Adam Shurick, who was an
early miller and conducted a mill for many
years; Harry Trieee, another early miller,
who also conducted a mill for many years;
E. M. Evans, who took a mill in the same
location, and conducted it until it was burned
(however, it had been sold previously, this
fifteen to twenty years ago) ; Captain Healy,
who conducted the Shurick mill, and for a
time Mclntyre & Findley also conducted the
same mill. George Hill, Johnston Miller and
J. H. Devers were other former merchants,
though of a later period than those first
named. Morgan Neal was another. William
and Nicholas Maher and Patrick Maher are
remembered, William as merchant and
banker, Nicholas as grocer, Patrick as tanner,
having the tannery on the corner of Brown and
Liberty streets. Of their sons, James, Thomas,
Edward and Nicholas D., James and Thomas
were with the ill-fated Collins expedition to
Brazil. Edward occupies a business place of
some prominence in Philadelphia. N. D. is
second vice president of the Norfolk & West-
ern Railroad Company, with headquarters at
Roanoke, Va. Graff, Sheak & Co., large grain
shippers, came in 1865, and remained until
some time in the seventies. John Hill and
Isaac Pore ai-e well remembered names.
James Speer was among the very early gro-
cers. Joseph Henderson came later as a gro-
cer. D. B. D. Coleman and later Alfred
Coleman did business on the Diamond. Sam-
uel McClellen was for years a barber, but
lived retired on account of disability for some
years, dying recently. Other names handed
down are: Samuel MeCune, Columbus Bell,
W. R. Truly, Latta, O'Brien, Fenlon, Long,
Walkinshaw, Litchenteller, Lear, Christman,
Taylor, Ford, Clark, Beyers, Briice, Strott,
McMahon, Bro\ra, JMcCabe, Bonin, Spears,
McCan-ell, Bushman, McGillick, Cassidy,
Herrshheimer, PauU, Dodds, Connell, Sey-
fried, Hughes, Watterman, MeCrea, Sutton,
Keely, Lytle, Bricker. Doubtless there are
others, omitted unintentionally. We would
like to include every name and every fact.
ITEMS OP INTEREST NOTES OF PERSONS AND
INCIDENTS
Robert A. Cassidy, of Canton, Ohio, wlio
lived in youth on West Market street, in tlie
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
467
Alter propert}', where Oscar Alter has the
tin and plumbing shop, and John Iloey his
shoe shop, tells these facts. The first grist-
mill he remembers here was that called the
Peters mill. Mr. Cassidy, then a lad, left
Blairsville in 1856, going to Bellefonte. He
became a soldier in the Civil war and after
his return located at Canton, Ohio, where
he has resided since. This mill alluded to
was located near where the woolen mill stood,
west of O'Harra. Mr. Cassidy relates that it
was burned down and that then the Arm-
strong mill, a three-story building, was put
up a short way north of Market street, facing
Water street. He speaks of a large black
bear that Mr. Armstrong had and of the boys
teasing it, of it breaking its chain and being
pursued by a mob and most cruelly treated,
so that its cries were heart-rending, and of
the painful feelings it gave him. The bear
was killed.
The only foundry Mr, Cassidy remembers
seeing was the one owned by Andrew Steel
just south of the Slaj, T. D, Cunningham
home, on South Spring street, the eastern
wing of which was equipped for rough ma-
chine work. For many years this was one
of the town's most valuable industries. Later
it was turned into a planing mill and the
Berry Brothers removed it above the present
railroad tracks on Market street. There was
also the one conducted by Silas Riggs in
Bairdstown. He says the two boatyards that
he remembers were those of Isaac Green and
of the Union Line, which was comprised
largely of the Graff men. Then he refers to
the fanning mill establishment, which had
been a cooper shop and was operated by the
Bushmans and then by John Sipe. Mr. Cas-
sidy has been engaged successfully in the
printing business.
A captain who operated a packet on the
canal tells very interestingly of carrying
Henry Clay from Pittsburg on his way to
Washington. At the same time there was a
Tennessee senator on the boat who impressed
the captain very favorably. Charles Dick-
ens wrote very interestingly of his trip over
this canal. He was greatly charmed by the
scenery.
Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, and
party came over the turnpike from Ebens-
burg in the winter of 1852. The party were
at the hotel then known as "The Marker
House," now known as "The Merchants'."
During this trip couriers would escort the
Kossuth party out of the towns they departed
from until thev would meet others from the
next town to be visited. James Layton, who
died in Blaii-sville last winter, aged ninety-
four, drove the sled containing this Kossuth
party from Blairsville to Pittsburg. Robert
A. Cassidy, of Canton, Ohio, a native of
Blairsville, tells of trying to get a ride on one
of the sleds, and on this occasion he received
a very cruel lash from the driver of the sled.
The incident almost precipitated a riot.
Among the forwarders on the Pennsylvania
Canal were Clark & Thaw, Charles Clark and
William Thaw. When the first Boatmen's
Association meeting was held in BlairsviUe
iMr. Thaw sent fifty dollars to help pay ex-
penses. That was characteristic of him. He
became wealthy and a vice president of the
Pennsylvania lines west, and had numerous
private interests, but each day in the week
except Sunday he held a reception for per-
sons in need, and if the need seemed apparent
each went away with something.
John Cunningham is a name handed down
to us with great lionor. We can say noth-
ing better or greater for anyone than to say
that he was a man of God. John Cunning-
ham was a Christian possessing the human
touch, one who ministered to the widow and
orphans and sick and afflicted. His name
is held in great reverence by those who knew
him or heard of him and who appreciate a
good man. Early in the war of the Rebellion,
when he learned that his sons Jesse A. and
Thomas D. had enlisted, he said with much
feeling and with tears in his eyes, "Boys,
it is iiard to part with you, but you did right,
some should go." John Cunningham, having
been an associate .iustice, was called "Judge."
He died in April, 1865. He was one of the
thirty-three members organizing the first
Presbyterian Church, two miles from town,
and when the congregation removed to town
he gave them a lot on which to build a church.
Miss Mary and Maj. Thomas Davis Cunning-
ham, of Blairsville, Deputy Attorney Gen-
eral J. E. B. Cunningham, Dr. George S.
and Attorney John Cunningham, of Pitts-
burg, William Cunningham, of Wilkinsburg,
James Cunningham, of the Penns.vlvania
Railroad. East, John and other children of
Wallace Cunningham, living in the West, are
descendants of Judge John Cunningham.
Among those living here were Samuel Lyon
and Brinton Lyon, the former an attorney
and the latter a teacher. Mr. Lyon left a
family, his wife, who was Sara Lowman, for-
merly of Indiana, Pa., dying recently. Mr.
Lyon is remembered as a safe attorney and
counselor, a good soldier and citizen. He
468
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was captain of a company in the Civil war,
going from Bedford, where the family re-
sided. At Gettysburg General Reynolds con-
sulted him as to the surrounding country.
George Bonin, married to a daughter of
Richard McCabe, was another attorney. He
was in the Mexican war, and the burning
sands affected his eyes so that he became
blind. He died here years ago. His wife
died recently.
Stewart Steel was among the first attorneys
to settle here, and he owned the home now
occupied by Mr. and Mrs. William Duulap.
Thomas Benton Dulley is another well re-
membered attorney. He was born and reared
here and opened a law office in Blairsville,
but removed to Gettysburg, where he died in
middle life. He married and made his home
there.
Another attorney was W. R. Boyer, for a
time also editor. Mr. Boyer lived and died
here, coming in the latter fifties, and died
in the 1890 decade.
The Bairds were among the earliest of the
settlers hereabouts. There were six of them,
James, John, Samuel, William, Thomas and
Charles. Bairdstown, across the river from
Blairsville to the west, was named for them.
Bairdstown is built in part at the base of the
hill and along the route of the old pike, and
another part along the route of the old canal.
The village has been made more sightly by
the use of paint. There is a handsome brick
Bchoolhouse. James Murray has a handsome
brick store room and dwelling, and the vil-
lage is quite picturesque.
John Graff was another man who gave his
religious profession the human touch, he and
his wife visiting and ministering to the sick
and also the poor. The late John Hill was
employed by the Graff firm, of which John
Graff was the head, when he was a young man.
He said to the writer that John Graff's exam-
ple and acts had done much to shape his
character. There are many in this community
that can bear testimony as to the goodness
of heart, also, of Jacob Graff, and Paul and
others of the sons of John Graff.
John Hill had a vei-y interesting career as
a business man and otherwise in the com-
munity. When employed prior to the begin-
ning of the war by John Graff & Company he
received four hundred dollars a year, which
was the largest salary then paid to a clerk
in this community. He became a partner of
Samuel Ray and of Isaac Pore, and a leader
in all good things for the community.
J. M. Turner, who resides a mile and a half
out along the Indiana road, is another weU
known citizen and one held in high esteem.
For many years, in connection with Robert
Smith, he was engaged in mining and ship-
ping coal. As a coal operator he was very
highly regarded. He lives on a farm, is the
senior elder in the Presbyterian Church, and
vice president of the First National Bank.
John S. Watterson, a leading business man
here for a good many years, had quite a num-
ber of sons, one of whom, John, became a
liishop in the Catholic Church and A. V. D.,
the youngest, is an attorney in Pittsburg,
with a clientele unrivaled for numbers; he
stands very high in the city in other connec-
tions also.
John Bruce, Robert Johnston, David Da-
vis, John DeVinney, are names all can honor.
The.y were very faithful and active in the
Methodist Episcopal Church. There were also
other Johns, John Short, John Campbell,
John Aurentz, all good and true men. Sons
of John Short and John Bruce died in the
army. Another to die a soldier's death was
Bruce Coleman, a brother of Mrs. R. B. Cum-
mins.
James H. Walker, a native of Butler county,
settled in Blairsville in 1854. He at that
time engaged in the building of threshing ma-
chines, run by horse power, and also in the
foundry business. In the year 1873, he with
two partners, Messrs. W. H. Steitt and George
Ray, erected a planing mill in the town. He
engaged in this business for a number of
years, when an accident incapacitated him
for work and he withdrew from the firm.
In later years he served as squire and tax col-
lector for the borough. Mr. Walker was al-
ways strongly interested in the affairs of the
town and county, and entered into political
questions with great vigor. He held member-
ship in the Cemeteiy Company from the time
of its oi-ganization until his death. He was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He passed away July 4, 1896, at tlie age of
of seventy-three, leaving behind him, we be-
lieve, the record of an upright, honorable cit-
izen.
Wilson Knott, who has been previously
referred to, was one of the superintendents
of the western division of the canal, includ-
ing the Portage railroad, was a descendant of
Major Wilson, the leader among the pioneers
in resisting the incursions of the Indians in
the locality of Wallace's Fort and alwut
Derry. Brice Henderson was a tanner, and
Mrs. Mary Henderson was his widow. Mrs.
Elizabeth Alter was the widow of a soldier
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
469
who entered the army and was never after-
wards heard from.
Robert Evans, the father of Mrs. Antes
Snyder, who resides in the John S. Watterson
homestead after having it remodeled, and
of R. B. Evans, of town, came here in 1856
to take a contract on the North Western
railroad, then being constructed. He did the
gi-adiug on the first section or two out of
Blairsville. He came here from Lancaster
and after the work shut down on this rail-
road he became landlord at the hotel then
called the "Marker House," where he con-
tinued for a number of years as proprietor.
James Clark, an honorable commissioner of
the Pennsylvania canal, during the time of
its construction, was a resident of Blairsville
and died here in 1867. While he was en-
trusted with disbursing large sums of money
and with large interests, there was never a
hint of suspicion against his integrity, and
he handed down to his posterity a most hon-
orable name. His daughter, ]\Irs. John P.
Ford, still resides here, at the age of ninety-
six years. Her son William resides in La-
'trobe, and another son, Albert, resides here,
as do her daughters, Mrs. D. M. Kier, 3\Iiss
Jane Ford and Miss Amelia Ford.
John P. Ford, just referi-ed to, is men-
tioned as one of the early manufacturers here.
He was also one of the town's most intelli-
gent and upright citizens, a man mth a well
stored mind and a remarkable memory.
Matthew George was another early resi-
dent. He had a store in Bairdstown, was a
surveyor of reputation and executed legal
papers. He was among the early eldei's of
the Presbyterian Church. A surviving son,
Laury, and family reside at Mount Pleasant,
this State ; he is a merchant there. Two sons,
Robert and Lewis, and their families reside
here. Harry and Robert, two sons of Robert,
have taken high places as bankers; Harry is
a special bank examiner for the government.
The First National Bank was authorized to
commence business by Hugh McCullough.
comptroller of the cun-ency, March 15, 1865.
with a capital of $80,000. It has renewed its
charter twice and in its history has had five
presidents up to the present year. 1913. in
the order following: William Maher, Sam-
uel Ray, Columbus Bell, Paul Graff and T.
D. Cunningham (died October 9, 1913). In
1903 was erected the three-story brown stone
banking house on the corner of Market and
Stewart streets. In 1912 the capital was in-
creased to $150,000, with a surplus fund of
$150,000. The bank is a depository of the
United States government and of the State
of Pennsylvania. It has always enjoyed the
confidence of the public, has passed safely
through two financial panics, and never failed
to declare semi-annual dividends to its stock-
holders. The officers at the present (1913)
are: President, T. D. Cunningham; vice
president, J. M. Turner; cashier, Wilbm- P.
Graff. Directors : J. M. Turner, F. M. Graff,
Thomas Maher. Cvrus Stouffer, Wilbur P.
Graff, L. S. Clagett, Ralph B. Smith, T. D. *
Cunningham. C. A. Simons.
The Blairsville National Bank was organ-
ized June 9, 1893, by the election of John H.
Devers, president; Robert M. Wilson, cash-
ier; with the following board of directors:
Thomas H. Long, John H. Devers, George
Wilkinson, L. S. W. Ray, W. C. Richey, Dr.
William Hunter, Dr. M. L. Miller. In 1907
John H. Devers retired from the presidency,
and Thomas H. Long was elected his suc-
cessor, which position he still holds. In May,
1903, Mr.Wilson resigned his position as cash-
ier to accept the position of treasurer of the
Savings & Trust Company of Indiana, Pa.,
E. E. Lewis succeeding him as cashier until
August, 1905, when he resigned to accept the
position of State bank examiner. H. P.
Rhoads succeeded Mr. Lewis as cashier, which
position he still holds.
During the summer of 1912 the bank was
remodeled and enlarged, so that the banking
room is now one of the finest in western Penn-
sylvania. One of the many improvements was
the installing of a "Tisco" manganese steel
vault weighing fifty tons. The exterior of
the building is Cleveland grey stone and brick,
while the interior is Italian marble and ma-
hogany.
The present board of directors consists of:
Tliomas H. Long, L. S. W. Ray, Robert M.
Wilson (died August 7, 1913), John H. De-
vers, G. il. Doty.
ATTORNEYS
• Charles H. Moore, attorney at law, was
boim in Steamburg, Ashtabula Co., Ohio,
April 29, 1871, and went with his parents
to Sandy Lake, Mercer Co., Pa., when three
years of age. There he resided until 1899,
when he was married to Agnes, eldest daugh-
ter of S. C. Fulton, of Blacklick township,
Indiana Co., Pa. He graduated at Grove
City College in 1895, was admitted to the
470
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
bar of Mercer county in 1897 and to the In-
diana county bar in 1899, and has practiced
law in Blairsville since 1899. He has one
son, Norman Fulton j\Ioore, who was born
June 14, 1903.
Coulter Wiggins, attorney at law, was born
seventy years ago in White township, Indi-
ana county. He read law with A. W. Tay-
lor in Indiana, practiced in Minnesota six
years, then in Indiana, Pa., until 1890, when
he came to Blairsville, where he has been
practicing since.
Samuel Miller has just commenced prac-
tice here, his office being in the First National
Bank building. His father was for years
pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Salts-
burg, this county.
YOUNG men's christian ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania Railroad Young Men's
Christian Association of Blairsville, organized
February 12, 1911, incorporated December 4,
1911, has a membership of 300. The annual
dues are $3.00. The building is open day
and night. There is a library of between 600
and 700 volumes, and the tables in the read-
ing room contain about thirty-five monthly
and weekly periodicals, besides four Pitts-
burg, one Philadelphia and one Altoona daily
papers, the Blairsville and other county
papers published weekly. There are Sunday
afternoon meetings, Bible classes, men's
prayer meetings, and social and educational
meetings. Shower and tub baths are at the
disposal of all. and there are fourteen beds
for men away from home. The building and
meetings are open to the public, membership
open to every Pennsylvania Railroad em-
ployee.
Officers and directors: C. P. Dixon, presi-
dent; B. F. Sheriff, vice president; R. J.
Claypoole, secretary; T. M. Duncan, Sr.,
treasurer; R. R. Root, J. H. Hill, J. E.
George, Samuel Hovis, Chas. Palmer, J. T.
Tyson, W. D. Devinney, W. B. Spiess, Harry
McKee, R. H. Orwig, J. J. Brantlinger, G. W.
F. Woodside, general secretary.
MASONIC LODGE
Present officers of the Blue Lodge, P. & A.
M., of BlairsviUe, are: Edward Phillips,
worshipful master; Charles W. Rumbaugh,
senior warden; James W. Marshall.
BOROUGH OFFICERS, 1913
Council: F. M. Smith, chairman; George
Hunter, C. J. Gregory, M. G. Miller, W. C.
Luckhart, D. E. Thompson, Cyrus Stouffer,
T. M. Duncan, W. C. Devinney ; E. E. Cribbs,
street commissioner; H. H. Wiley, city clerk.
School directors : George W. Davis ; Claire
Kennedy, secretarj^; Harry P. Rhoads; Ly-
man Ray ; A. T. Rutledge, "M. D.
PRESENT COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ESTAB-
LISHMENTS
Following is a list of the manufacturing
plants under operation in Blairsville at this
time, also of those engaged in the various
other kinds of business.
The Columbia Plate Glass Company is our
largest manufacturing plant and the largest
separate plant in the county. A fuller state-
ment concerning this plant and its officers
and directors will be found under "Blairsville
by Decades."
The large building constructed by the West
Penn Glass Company is now owned by men
living in Newark, N. J., mentioned below.
Additional buildings have been constructed,
and these with the other large building are
used by the Little Giant Food Company, the
Hen-E-Ta Bone Company and the Conemaugh
Utilization Company.
C. L. Tittle, foundry, employs from thirty
to fifty men.
John A. Stokes, machine shop, and engaged
as manufacturer of refrigeration machines,
has been here since 1906.
C. F. Murray has been engaged in the mak-
ing of monuments for twenty-two years and
has a model establishment.
Daniel Sowers repairs and makes furni-
ture. He has been engaged here thus for
twenty-four years.
The P. B. Andre Lumber Company has
been in business for about ten years.
George Marshall, harness shop ; business
has been established for a number of years.
The Edward Phillips Dry Goods Company
has been engaged in business here for some
few years, occupying rooms in the First Na-
tional Bank building. A large stock is car-
ried.
E. J. and Knox Gilmore have a dry goods
and grocery store on Maple avenue. The .joint
establishment is one of the largest in the
town and has been established for the last
sixteen or seventeen years.
The various coal mines operated around
Blairsville are those of the Graff Coal Com-
pany, at Strangford, three miles out ; the
Robert Smith Coal Company, Smith station ;
the mines at what is known as Coalville,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
471
operated by Thomas ilaher and Wilbur P.
Graft', and another one on the same hiU oper-
ated by James Flowers; the Jones mines,
operated at Bernizer, three miles out. The
Graft" Coal Company ship their coal, as do
the Robert Smith and the Jones Company.
The mine of Maher & Graff supplies the
Columbia Plate Glass Company, and James
Flowers supplies the electric light plant.
The Robert Smith Company operate a mine
that was opened as a country bank as far
back as 1818. They commenced shipping in
1856. They have never had any one killed
in their mines, nor had an accident followed
by serious consequences. Robert Smith, the
grandfather of Ralph and Wood Smith, was
a superior man. As he opened a coal bank
in 1818 he must have been enterprising. The
Booth & Flinn Company, of Pittsburg,
operate extensive quarries on Chestnut Ridge,
near Blairsville.
M. E. Brown & Brother, meat packers,
have been established in Blairsville for forty-
oue years. They have been in the wholesale
business for over twenty years, have a nice
plant and employ twenty men. M. E. Brown
is serving his fourth term as burgess of
Blairsville.
The BlairsviUe Enameled Ware Company,
incorporated in 1908, capital stock $75,000,
manufactures eastiron, enameled bathtubs,
sinks, lavatories, and other articles. The
annual output is valued at $300,000. The
employees number 135 men, mostly skilled
mechanics. The officers are : F. D. Cook,
president; W. L. Reed, vice president; I. J.
Bayliss. secretary; H. L. Taylor, treasurer.
The works are situated along the Indiana
Branch railroad, the buildings are modern
and fireproof.
Charles L. Tittle, foundiy. The Blairs-
ville Foundry was put into operation by Sam-
uel Ray in 1874, and after managing it for
four seasons he sold it to Charles L. Tittle.
Mr. Tittle came from Johnstown, Pa., to
Blairsville thirty-five years ago. He engaged
in the foundry business, employing at first one
or two men to assist him. He now employs
from thirty to fifty and is doing a good sub-
stantial business.
The J. G. McGuire Contracting Company
(J. G. McGuire and W. H. Coates) has offices
in the First National Bank building. They
come from New Brighton and have a large
contract for placing sewer pipes, curbing,
sidewalks and street paving in Blairsville.
People's Gas Company: J. M. Torrance is
in charge of the Blairsville office.
R. Einstein, who is engaged in the clothing
and men's furnishing business, also has the
opera house, and in connection two electric
light plants, one of 1,800, the other of 150, kw.
Joseph H. Rugg, manufacturer of tobies
and cigars, has on his pay roll twelve people.
The business was established by Joseph Rugg,
an uncle of his father, in 1843. It was taken
over by Charles Rugg, the father of Joseph,
in 1870, and more recently by Joseph.
A. A. Crabbs, formerly a resident of Ohio,
near Cincinnati, later of Pittsburg, has one
of the finest dairies in the State two and a
half miles from Blairsville, near the Inter-
section.
PRESENT BUSINESS HOUSES
Bakeries :
Link & Hamilton. Mr. M. Link established
this bakery twenty years ago.
Walter Wynn, established ten years.
J. K. Daus, established ten years.
iliss Belle Wallace.
Miss Illie Stitt.
Barbers:
August Berg, twenty-nine yeai-s.
Ralph Groff, five years.
George E. Klein, five years.
William Livingston, since 1890.
Daniel Smith, eight years.
J. S. Graff, twelve years.
George Brazenski, twelve years.
Bhieksmiths:
S. Evans & Sons. Mr. S. Evans is a native
of Bedford county, where he learned his trade
and conducted a shop for some ,vears at the
crossing of the Juniata. He then moved to
Blair connt.v, where he remained for some
years, and then to Blairsville, where he has
been for twelve years. He recently bought
property including two dwellings and a shop.
Albert Deemer.
H. B. Ferguson.
George Hancock.
Candy Kitchen:
Cosmos Brothers.
Candy, Tobacco, Knichkn^icks :
James George. Though badly crippled
years ago in a coal mine accident and not able
to walk except ^dth great effort, he has al-
ways made his living. He is active in the
African Church.
Civil Engineer:
Charles A. Swartz.
Clothing:
J. B. Lintner, established twenty-two years.
Large, well furnished and well stocked store.
472
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Abe Buchmau, twelve years.
R. Einstein, twenty-two years.
Robert Buchnian, since 1886.
Emanuel Buchnian, since 1904.
Abe Elisahof, twelve years.
Confectionery, etc.:
Morris B. Wise Company, confectionery
and other things.
Walter AVynn, ice cream, confectionery,
and other things.
Dentists:
R. B. Cummins.
C. S. Pearce.
S. S. Lowrey.
H. A. Gontz.
Druggists:
Samuel H. Shepley succeeds to a business
established almost a half a century ago by
his father, H. P. Shepley, who died in 1904.
M. G. Miller commenced business in 1881
and has done also a wholesale business for
twenty years.
John M. Wilson has been here for several
years. He has a branch store at New
Florence.
W. C. Anderson has been the owner of a
drug store for about ten years.
Electricity :
The Public Service Company operates the
electrical plant.
Five and Ten Cent Store:
Esch Brothers, here fifteen years.
Chalmers Brandlinger.
Fruit Dealers:
Andy Dimeo.
La Mantia Brothers.
Sam Runzo.
Furniture and House Furnishings:
John C. Short & Son, established by John
C. Short in 1889 ; have fine buildings and
stock.
George W. Davis, established in 1877.
Daniel Sowers repairs and makes furniture.
He has been here for twenty-four yeai-s.
H. W. Ferguson & Son.
Garages:
Brown & McDermitt — John Brown and
George McDermitt.
The Blairsville Automobile Co., T. C. Kerr.
John A. Stokes, garage and automobiles.
General Stores:
Sol. Handley.
Enrico Forni, dry goods and other stock.
Grain and Feed:
Smith & McKelvey have been engaged in
the grain and feed business, combined with
agricultural implements, buggies, carriages
and other things, since some time in the
nineties.
Charles New has been engaged in grinding
feed and in the feed business since 1900.
Grocers:
James Murray, Bairdstown; in business
thirty-five years; fine buildings.
Harry A. New, seventeen years.
Elmer Taylor, several years, succeeding to
the established business of D. E. Thompson.
Hiram F. Bowser, six years.
]\Irs. Albert Kiseel, twenty years.
Joe Frattura, ten years.
J. M. Harvey, since 1874.
E. B. Kettering, at the old stand of D. B.
D. Coleman, later Alfred Coleman, since 1906.
Tony Lorabardo, groceries and fruit.
Joseph Cribbs, thirteen years.
L. DeLuca.
Ada Allen, fifteen years.
David Greasley and son Harry. The busi-
ness started fifteen years ago, when David
Greasley, the father, bought the store of the
late E. E. Allen.
Blanche Baird, nine years.
Mrs. L. J. Steel, twelve years.
Lizzie Ray, three years.
W. M. Hosack, twenty-one years.
W. A. Geary, two stores ; eleven years.
Joe Veratto.
E. J. Gilmore and Knox Gilmore.
Albert Loeffler.
Hardware :
L. S. W. Ray. This business has been
handed down by Samuel Ray, who was one
of the earliest merchants. Lyman Ray and
D. M. Kier compete for being the persons who
have been for the longest time continuously
in business here, that is, who are in business
now.
S. D. Stilfey & Sons' business originated
with S. D. Stifi'ey and a brother, who was
killed by the fall of tile on a chimney on the
Rugg house. They can point back "to many
years of successful business. The present firm
was organized fourteen years ago.
George J. New commenced in 1897. Agri-
cultural implements, seeds, hardware and
other things.
Hotels:
Merchants' Hotel, J. C. Thompson, pro-
prietor.
Union House, Freeman Wilkinson, pro-
prietor.
Insurance:
E. J. Graff.
Sanuiel Wineman.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
473
William Lore.
G. L. Clawson.
Jtivelers:
C. H. Bauer has been here ten years.
J. P. Archibald has been in business for
twelve years.
Karl Stadtuiiller came here recently.
Bert Bronson works in the business and
has patented some inventions.
Justices of ihe Peace:
• J. G. Geib.
Howard Graham.
Liveries:
William Young, 1890.
George Cribbs.
George Neal.
Lumber:
The F. B. Andre Lumber Company was
organized as Andre & Stewart (F. B. Andre
and C. L. Stewart), ilr. Stewart died and
the business is continued as the F. B. Andre
Lumber Company.
Machine Shop:
John A. Stokes conducts a garage, manu-
facturers refrigeration machines, aud con-
ducts a machine shop.
Machinery:
C. S. Wainwright, agent for the Frick Man-
ufacturing Company, of Waynesboro, manu-
facturers of various kinds of machinery.
Marble Cutter:
C. F. Murray has been eugaged in the busi-
ness for twenty-two years.
Meat Markets:
William Heim commenced business fifteen
years ago.
John Loughrey has been engaged in busi-
ness twenty-nine years.
Henry Brothers, Matthew H. Henry and
Robert Heni-y, have been engaged in the busi-
ness twelve j'eare.
Stitt & Walters, John N. Stitt and Paul
Walters. This business was started by J. N.
Stitt and Levi Baylor, later conducted by
J. N. Stitt, the father of John. J. N. Stitt now
attends to the outside part of the business.
Milliner.^:
Irma Boesman has been here five years.
Jliss Anna Fowler has been here six years.
Musical Instruments :
B. J. McGinity & Son.
News Stands:
H. H. Wilson, established 1906.
Mrs. Annie Reed was the first person to sell
daily papers here. She has never been out
of the town except for one trip to Pittsburg
on a canal-boat, when she was a little girl.
Xocclties:
A. W. Ferenz, novelties.
Chalmers Brandlinger, novelty store.
Painters:
Vorlege Brothers, James and William. The
business established by their father j-ears ago.
Lore Brothers, Ii-vin and Charles. Estab-
lished fifteen years.
"W. A. Palmer has been here twenty-five
years.
Photographer:
Chester Early.
Picture "Movies":
Forest Lowman.
George Scurtzinger.
Plumbers, Tinners and Dealers in various
kinds of ivares:
F. B. Pender has been here ten years in the
business.
W. H. Jackson, twenty-one years.
Newton Gibson, many years.
Oscar Alter continues a business established
by his father many years ago.
S. D. Stifl^ey & Sons, business long estab-
lished.
Pool Rooms:
Robert Johnston.
^like Asper.
John Baughman.
Real Estate:
G. L. Clawson. engaged in the business ten
years.
W. H. Stitt, eugaged in the business for
fifteen years.
Restaurants:
Samuel Bennett.
Henry Jellison, established seven years.
iliss Hood.
Beuhlah Catlin.
J. Morton.
Sewing Machines:
James Marts, agent.
Shoes:
J. T. Henry has been here twelve years.
D. M. Kier started in 1889, the firm then
beinsr Harvev, Kier & Co.
Shoe makers:
Bendetto & Co.
W. S. Davis.
John Hoey.
Joe Crawford.
Ross Desabato.
F. Barbera.
Stationery, Tobacco, Toys, etc.:
Alfred Cohen.
Tailors:
William A. Grant, long in the business here.
474
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
George McCune, long established.
Joseph A. Srp, twenty-nine years.
Hector Cardelino.
John Cardelino.
Telepiione:
Blairsville Telephone Company, general,
local, and long distance ; Freeman Wilkinson,
president; E. J. Graif, secretary; E. M. Graff,
treasurer; G. E. Christ, manager.
Wallpaper:
Miss M. G. Davis, established nineteen
years.
BUSINESS PEOPLE, PAST AND PRESENT
The contrast between those who made up
the business roster in former years and now
is very noticeable. Things have become more
cosmopolitan. The trade of shoemaker or
tailor and similar lines of work do not lead
to fortune, but give rather a comfortable and
independent living. What would be desig-
nated as the American boys are not learning
these. They are passing them by. The peo-
ple that work are the ones that make the
money, as a rule, barring exceptional cases.
A trade is a good thing to have, even if it may
seem to appear inconsequential. What we
lerm the foreigners are contending for the
trades, the business and the property, and
they are doing their full share of acquirement.
HISTORY OP BLAIRSVILLE BY DECADES
It is ninety-five years since Blairsville was
born. Divided by decades, we have ten of
them, being now in the middle period of the
tenth. The then village originated with the
Northern turnpike, which marked the march
of empire ever moving westward. And in the
beginning, and for the first decade, Blairs-
ville was a turnpike village, though the latter
part of the decade saw the beginning of work
on the canal. From the various facts stated
we can conclude that the travel in that time
was considerable, and that there was a good
volume of general business; we would .judge
this from the large number of taverns in and
near to town. It is likely also that there were
some thirsty throats. It is hardly possible to
find anyone now living to relate tales of these
turnpike days. But we have read many word
pictures of the arrival and departure of the
stage coaches carrying tlie mails and passen-
gers ; also of the arrival and departure of the
Conestoga wagons. These things were said
to be very interesting events of the day. The
stage drivers, it is related, took delight in
blowing their horns and cracking their long
whips, causing the horses pulling the coaches
to come in with a dash and clatter. The boys,
we are told, would hide under the canvas,
used as a covering for baggage, and situated
on the rack in the rear of the coaches, in
order to get a ride. The Conestoga wagons
with their white covers, drawn by six sleek
horses, having polished harness, set off with
shining brass and carrying musical silver
bells, were something to make the drivers
proud and also to interest the onlooker. It
is stated that the teams that rested over Sun-
day made as good time on the average as those
that kept going on Sunday. Maj. Christo-
pher Libengood, who resided for many years
within sight of Blairsville Intersection, and
who was a very extensive land owner there,
told of seeing Aaron Burr and Henry Clay
as they came through Blairsville on a stage
coach. They stopped at the "Exchange Ho-
tel." Mr. Libengood, then a boy, was getting
a ride under the cover of the trunk rack.
BEGINNING OP BLAIRSVILLE
The first sale of lots in Blairsville took place
on the 11th of November, 1818, when quite a
large number of town lots were sold at public
outcry. These lots were 60 by 150 feet, those
sold at that time running north and south.
The Northern turnpike, connecting the Dela-
ware river at Philadelphia with the Ohio
river at Pittsburg, was then in course of con-
struction and coming this way. The pike as
located through the town became Market
street, its course in from the east and out
westward. Then Campbell and Brown streets
ran parallel with Market, as did also alleys
in the rear of the lots. The cross streets, run-
ning north and south, were Water, Liberty,
Spring, Walnut, and, later, Stewart and East
Lane. Then suburban additions were built.
One of these on the east was called Browns-
town, another on the west and across the
river, Bairdsto\vn, where a number of build-
ings were constructed, followed in time by
O'Harra on the south. North and South
Blairsville and Coketown.
Professor T. J. Chapman, in his history of
the Conemaugh valley, a very small volume
published in 1865, says that Hon. John Cun-
ningham, whose name is of precious and most
honorable memory, settled here when the site
of the town was an unbroken forest, and on
llie lot which he purchased on the south side
of Spring street, just above the corner lot,
constructed a log building which he used for
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
475
a shop. He was by trade a ehairmaker. It was
the second one constructed in the new town,
the tirst to be constructed being by Henry
Keely, a carpenter, and situated on the cor-
ner of Liberty and Campbell streets; it was
later known as the Alexander Shields resi-
dence, and is now occupied by William Cur-
now. It is said Mr. Cunningham boarded
with Mr. Keely, and to get there had to blaze
a way diagonally from the shop to Mr. Kee-
ly's residence. Later Judge Cunningham
built a house adjoining the shop and the same
property has continued in the name of the
family ever since, being still in the posses-
sion of direct descendants.
Then, in the histoiy of Indiana county
published in 1880, these things are stated, in
connection with the first sale of lots in the new
town. In order to give immediate growth to
the village, the proprietors ofEered to give a
lot to the first person who would finish a
house. Isaac Green, a carpenter, in behalf of
Hugh Richards, and James Rankin competed
for this prize. Green's was the first, but Ran-
kin's was completed only a couple of hours
later.
The Keely house must have stood prior to
this, and the building erected by John Cun-
ningham being a workshop, and not a house,
they were eliminated from being competitors
with Green and Rankin.
There is no particular record as to those
that were in the manufacturing industry here
in the first decade, but we are told of a firm
of wagon — and later buggj- and carriage —
makers, kno^\^l as IloUoway & Co. Albert
Ford, a son of the late John P. Ford, states
that in the middle of the second decade his
father became a partner in this firm and later
succeeded to the business, continuing it until
after the war and reconstruction period, but
for five years of the time he turned it over
to Joseph Pry, later taking it over again.
Other workers in that line here were the
Waugamans and a man named Kail Davis.
The close of the fii-st decade gave Blairs-
ville a population of five hundred. The late
John Bruce and David Davis, who were car-
pentei-s of the time, told that most of the
early houses in Blaii-sville and neighborhood
were built of logs. Others told of greased
paper windows, and hewed oak seats in the
eouutiy schoolhouses. George Wilkinson, a
bricklayer by trade, said they got in those
early times one dollar a thousand for laying
brick. Mr. Wilkinson for many years was
proprietor of the "Union Hotel" in Blairs-
ville, which was a temperance house, and it
proved profitable. Prior to taking this hotel,
and in the earlier years, for a short time he
had the "Marker House" and also the hotel
situated on what is now Ray's corner, where
he had license, and in each case he lost monej'.
Second Decade, 182S to 1S3S
During this period Blaii-sville became not
only a turnpike village, but also a State road
and canal village, and its population doubled.
On the opposite side of the river were the
boatyards of Isaac Green and the Union Line
Company, comprising some of ihe Graif men
and others, and it is stated at a later period
that William and Ephraim Stitt also had
boatyards. The west end of the Pennsylvania
canal from Blairsville to Pittsburg was
opened for travel, according to Chapman, in
his history of the Conemaugh Valley, in 1828.
After the canal was thus opened the turnpike
and other roads brought in travelers and
freight and other activities so as to make a
large volume of business. This gave great im-
portance to Blairsville as a depot, and the
place became full of bustle and prosperity.
Long strings of wagons laden with goods of
various kinds were daily arriving and depart-
ing. At night the town was a vast caravan-
sary for the accommodation of man and beast.
Immense hotels and warehouses were erected ;
four or five churches were built within three
years, property increased in value and the
hotels were swarming with speculators, engi-
neers, contractore and forwarding agents.
Jlen gi*ew rich here then, it is stated, in a day.
Some three or four years later the canal was
opened to Johnstown, but did not do much
business between these two points, Blairsville
and Johnstown, until the entire canal system
was opened through from Philadelphia to
Pittsburg, in 1834. But the western end,
from Blail•s^^lle to Pittsbm-g, did a large
business from the first. Social Hall, a very
large brick residence, built in the old Colonial
style, along the canal, four miles west of
Blairsville, was built by one of the contrac-
tors on the canal, and it is stated that many
social functions were given there by the pro-
prietor. This building is still standing, and
the station on the West Penn railroad, three
miles west of Blaii-sville, is named for it.
When the canal was opened for use its entire
length, in 1834. Blairsville lost much of its
transshipping business, the communication
thus established doing away with the traffic
coming into Blairsville over the turnpike, and
the business here was lessened considerably
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in consequence. But the town continued to
prosper and to gain in population.
Third Decade, 1838 to 1848
By this time the town had attained a pop-
ulation of 1,500. It had a large steam grist-
mill, known as the Peters Mill, and a woolen
factory operated by Nickerson & Murphy.
This same mill was operated by Joseph Gwin-
ner from 1860 to 1870, when he died. His
widow, son George and daughter still live in
Blairsville. For a time this property was
owned by William Maher. In 1876 John and
Eli Moorhouse came from Philadelphia and
took charge of it, but in 1881 it burned down.
With the help of the citizens, they purchased
a large building near the railroad that had
been built by Graff, Sheak & Co., dealers in
grain, who came here and commenced busi-
ness in 1865. Eli Moorhouse retired in 1886
and John continued the business until 1897.
He then sold the building to George J. New,
who converted it into a grain, seed and agri-
cultural implement stand. Then at the time
named Blairsville also had a starch factory;
two flourishing brickyards, operated by
Henry Wynn and John Campbell ; two ex-
tensive foundries, operated by Silas Riggs and
Andrew Steel; and several tanneries, Samuel
Matthews and William T. Smith having two
of these, and Patrick Maher coming later with
another, then Speer & Henderson, Dr. Wil-
liam Speer and Brice Henderson, whose tan-
nery Charles G. Kerler later possessed and
operated. Capacious wharves had been built
along the slackwater, and three boatyards
were doing business, having been in operation
for some years. In 1850 business here opened
with very bright prospects. The receipts of
the boating office here in 1851 totaled $11,500.
There was also at this time the wagon and
carriage and buggy works of John P. Ford.
A little later the owners and operators of
flouring mills here were Henry Triece and
Adam Shurick. The Triece mill was taken
over after Mr. Triece 's death by E. M. Evans,
the Shurick mill by Capt. M. H. Healy and
later by Mclntyre & Findley.
The roster of the woolen mill is given as
follows : Nickerson & i\Iurphy, 1852 ; Charles
Nickerson. John Graff. William Lang, Joseph
Gwinner, Bell, Maher & Co., Moorhouse
Brothers, until it burned.
Fourth Decade, 1848 to 1858
This decade marked likely the most striking
activity the town ever had in the way of
transshipments of freight and transfer of
travelers. The Pennsylvania railroad was
completed from Philadelphia to Blairsville in
1851, so that all passengers coming over the
railroad and all freight were transferred
there to the boats. The Zimmer home was the
station and the freight depot was near by.
It was great times for the town. People
passed tlirough by the thousands every week,
making it a great transshipping point, and
the population had increased to 1,500. A
new town or suburb called O'Harra was laid
out by Mr. William Maher around the rail-
road depot on the southern side of Blairs-
ville, and town lots were readily sold for him-
dreds of dollars. Soon afterwards in many
cases they could be purchased for very much
less. Fine houses were erected, and every-
thing was carried along on the top wave of
success. But all this prosperity was evanes-
cent. The Pennsylvania i-ailroad was finished
through to PittslDurg the latter part of 1852.
From this time down to 1860 the town stead-
ily declined. In that year the population was
found to have receded to one thousand souls,
just what it was in 1840. The Blairsville
branch railroad from Blairsville to Indiana
was completed in 1856, and this also tended to
lessen Blaii-sville 's shipping trade considera-
bly, but during this decade the North West-
ern railroad was projected and consti-uction
on it was commenced. The line was planned
to connect Blairsville with New Castle. Con-
siderable gi-ading and other work was done,
bridges were built, but the company failed
and Blairsville and other places interested
were keenly disappointed. Adam Shurick, of
Bedford county, came to Blairsville in 1852
and built a gristmill which was destroyed by
fire March 22, 1861. James H. Walker,^
who came in from Butler county, settled in
Blairsville in 1854 and engaged in the build-
ing of threshing machines^ run by horse
power, and also in the foundry business. Mr.
Walker was the father of Mrs. William White,
Jr., now one of the teachers in the public
schools at Blacklick, and also of Airs. John
Mangan, of Blairsville. John Sipe, father of
]\Irs. Lewis George, of Blairsville, and Mrs.
Mabel Whiteman. wife of T. F. Wliiteman,
of Latrobe, came into Blairsville in 1855, and
commenced the manufacture of fanning mills
on the lot of the late R. G. Stitt on West
Campbell street. A man named Bushman had
also engaged in the same business. James
Lore, who was a tinner and located in
Bairdstown, acquired the "Union House"'
(hotel) in 1852 and conducted it for some
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
477
yeai's. He exchanged it with George Wilkin-
son for a place a mile out on the eastern
pike. Richard McCabe, it is related, was
ahout the first attorney. He is highly spoken
of as a man, citizen, attorney and local his-
torian. Recently A. B. McCabe, the last son
living, and his niece, Sara Woodward, went
to reside with A. B. McCabe 's only living
sister, the wife of Dr. James Shields, in Pitts-
burg.
During this decade some men lived here
that afterwards became prominent in rail-
road and business affairs. Edward MiUer
was the engineer in charge of the construc-
tion of the main line of the Pennsylvania,
that portion looked after from this point,
and the bi-anch into Blairsville. Mr. Miller
lived in the Diamond, likely occupying part
of the Dr. Emerson property, and the engi-
neers had their offices there. The writer has
a large wardrobe which his father purchased
at the sale 'Sir. ililler had on leaving here.
A family named Barnes occupied Rose cot-
tage from 1852 to 1855. a widow, two daugh-
ters and three sons. Oliver W. and William
Henry Barnes were engineers on the original
construction of the Pennsylvania railroad on
the west end known as the Pittsburg division,
Altoona to Pittsburg. The chief engineer was
Edgar Thouipson, afterwards president of the
road, and Edward Miller was principal as-
sistant engineer. The Barneses worked under
him. After the completion of the Pennsyl-
vania road Oliver W. Barnes was for a time
president of the Pittsburg & Connellsville
Railroad, part of the Baltimore & Ohio system.
But soon he went East, and he became a cele-
brated civil engineer and was located for
many years in New York City, dying there
at the age of eighty-six. He bought the land
Latrobe occupies and plotted the village, as
it was then. He called it for Ben.iamin H.
Latrobe, of Baltimore, the celebrated civil en-
gineer. W. H. Barnes, of this family, has
been in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company for sixty years and is now
one of its directors, residing in Philadelphia;
he is now aged eighty-four years. Another
brother. Dr. Willis A. Barnes, resides in New
York City, in Ceiitral Park District, and has
recently contributed some interesting letters
concerning local history here.
The North Western Railroad, which was
planned from Blairs\alle to New Castle, in
Lawrence county, was chartered in 1853 and
work begun on its line in 1854. The company
failed and the road was sold in 1860. The
Pennsylvania R. R, Co. bought it in 1862 and
work was started the same year. The Act
chartering the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany was passed in 1846. Work commenced
on the road July 7, 1847. At the close of
1851 the road connected from the east 'svith
the Portage railroad near HoUidaysburg. In
August following a connection with the Por-
tage system two miles east of Johnstown
brought about twenty miles of the new track
on the Western Division into use, extending
the line to Lockport. In December the West-
ern Division of the road was further extended
to Beatty station, forty-two miles west of
the intersection with the Portage. At the
same time that portion of the road from Pitts-
burg to Turtle Creek was opened, but the
intermediate twenty-seven miles operated by
stage and wagon lines iu the \\anters of 1851
and 1852. In 1857 the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company bought the State Works, which
gave them a continuous line through from
Philadelphia to Pittsburg. Up to that time
the Pennsylvania railroad connected its own
line with the Philadelphia & Columbia rail-
road and ran over the tracks of the latter
from Columbia to Philadelphia. Prom Har-
risburg to Dillsburg it operated over the
tracks of the Harrisburg & Lancaster, which
it did not lease in perpetuity until some years
later.
Fifth Decade, 185S to 1868
During this decade, covering the beginning
and progress of the Civil war, great history
was written in the country. The turning
point in this awful war was on Pennsylvania
soil, at Gettj'sburg. The reconstruction period
followed the close of the conflict. Blairsville,
then having say, in the beginning of this
war, a population of from eleven to twelve
hundred people, sent out three companies for
the service of the United States, also a part
of a company recruited by Capt. Laury Cant-
well, a native of Blairsville, then an attorney
at Battanning, Armstrong county. Then a
company went out for the defense of the State
under Capt. William R. Ford, a principal of
the Blairsville public schools. Then there
were many separate enlistments. The writer 's
brother, Dr. George ifarshall, was one of
these. He went out in the service of the
State under Capt. Ford, then enlisted in the
United States service, but was re.iected by the
surgeon. Later, on account of superior eye-
sight, he got into the signal service, serving
as aid to the commander. Signal Corps, in
the Shenandoah valley, to the end of the con-
flict.
478
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The first company to go out was Capt. Na-
thaniel Nesbit's, Company E, 40th Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers, or 11th Pennsylvania Re-
serves. Company I went next under Capt.
Hudson Spires and was in the same regiment.
These were the only troops having two regi-
ment numbers. Company B followed in the
fall. The expense of enlisting this company
was borne by the business firm of Cunning-
ham Brothers. Capt. Mclntire was chosen
as commander and Jesse Cunningham as first
lieutenant, Thomas D. Cunningham later fill-
ing the same office. This became Company B
of the 56th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Of
course the surrounding country contributed
much to these enlistments.
James Kelley, who just died, aged eighty-
one, was a member of Company B, 56th Penn-
sylvania Volunteers. He was wounded just
prior to the battle of Fredericksburg at a
point on the Rappahannock river while on
picket duty, being struck by a minie ball
above the knee. He was not operated on,
however, for seven hours. One operation fol-
lowed the other. He was taken prisoner and
taken to Libby, later released and taken to
Annapolis, when by reason of neglect another
operation became necessary and the surgeons
amputated at the hip joint. Very few sur-
vive this operation. These men saw hard
service. The history and roster of the com-
panies given elsewhere (Company E, pages
109 and 147, Company I, pages 109 and 149,
Company B, pages 117 and 154) shows the
number killed and missing.
Capt. Nathaniel Nesbit was killed at South
Mountain. Maj. H. A. Torrance was shot in
the head there. Coleman Bruce (a son of
John Bruce) and also a son of John Short
died in the army. Albert Kuhn was killed in
battle. Blairsville always was a military
town, its citizens from the first having their
military companies. The Blairsville Blues,
Blacklick Greys, Bigler Blues and Washing-
ton Greys are talked of, and the great muster
days, the anniversary of Perry 's factory being
one of them.
George S. Mendell. an early postmaster of
Blairsville, and famous as a teacher, came
to Blairsville from New England. He had
two sons, Harry Mendell and Noah Mendell,
and one daughter, Kate Mendell. His son
Harry was a graduate of West Point and be-
came eminent as an engineer in the govern-
ment service. During the Civil war Noah
Mendell, then a resident of Springfield, 111.,
enlisted in the army, became a captain, and
on the march to Fort Donelson became lame,
so that he was ordered to the hospital. Against
the orders of the surgeon, when the word
came to move on to Donelson he managed to
get with his company, and for some distance
marched on crutches. When nearing the fort
they were ordered to charge a masked battery,
and Captain Mendell 's head was severed from
his body by a cannon ball.
Other things of much business importance
occurred in this decade. One was the comple-
tion of the Western Division (now called the
Conemaugh Division) of the Pemisylvania
road. Work was begun on .this road in 1862,
and completed to Allegheny Junction in the
fall of 1864, and from there to Allegheny,
December 1st, 1866. This road after being
opened in 1866 until Robert Neilson took
charge, in 1870, was under Andrew Carnegie,
superintendent then of the Pittsburg Divis-
ion. The construction work was under charge
of George B. Roberts, later president of the
road, but Antes Snyder, assisted by Joseph
B. Hutchinson and others, did most of the
field work and for some time they were in
charge here, under Mr. Carnegie, of the oper-
ating of the road. Blairsville became head-
quarters for the road, and its completion,
coupled with that fact, did much for the
town.
Sisth Decade, 1868 to 1878
This gave Blairsville the Isabella Coke Fur-
nace, situated a mile from the center of the
town and on the south side of the Conemaugh
river. A town was built there which was
first called Cokeville, and afterwards changed
to Coketown. The place had about 800 popu-
lation and was a neat appearing village. The
Isabella Coke Company commenced to build
ovens in the spring of 1872, firing them in the
fall of the same year. They employed three
hundred men. This enterprise continued
until 1903. shutting down for want of avail-
able coal, but a few years before its closing
was purchased by the American Hoop Ti'on
& Steel Company. From the business fur-
nished by the railroad and this company the
town was prospering. In 1873 James H.
Walker and William H. Stitt and George Ray
built a planing mill in the town which was
operated by different firms until some time
in the nineties.
Samuel Ray, in 1874, started a foundry
bought several years after by Charles L.
Tittle, now a good sized and prosperous plant.
During this time Robert Neilson was su])er-
intendent of the West Penn Division, Penn-
sylvania railroad, from January 1, 1870, to
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
479
February, 1874, when he became the general
superintendent for the same road at Wil-
liamsport. James McCreighton was superin-
tendent from February, 1874, to December
31, 1878, when he became general freight
agent for the same company, with offices in
Philadelphia.
Seventh and Eighth Decades, 1878 to 1898
It was rumored that the headquarters of
the division of the West Penn railroad would
be removed to Allegheny, and the officials
were removed there in the spring of 1889,
the shops and the trainmen who had been
changing crews here being removed some
years later. This gave the town another
period of depression and within the next
ten or fifteen years the people got some ex-
periences that possibly were useful in im-
parting \\-isdom, but that caused them to lose
money and also to experience keen disap-
pointment. The Blairs^'ille citizens, or a
number of them, girded on their commercial
and industrial armor and struck out boldly
for the establishment of manufacturing in-
dustries. Hence these industries were pro-
moted : The West Penn Glass Company, later
acquired by the Whitney Company of New
Jersey; the Asa G. Neville Glass Company,
later acquired by the Hamiltons of Pittsburg ;
the Blairsville Tin Plate Mill, and in connec-
tion with this an independent foundr>' and
box factory; the Blairsville Enameling W^are
Company, started by Harry Harlander and
J. Diegleman, and later acquired by a com-
pany of which P. J. .\IcGuire was the head,
and afterwards by the Howell-]\Iacrum Com-
pany, in whose hands it burned in 1905
fthey then removed what was left of the
plant to Unionto^^ai ) ; the Blairsville Lad-
der Company, and another company, to man-
ufacture incubators. The ladder plant had
been a planing mill operated for a number of
years by D. M. Fair, R. W. Hamilton and
J. P. Kennedy, and later by some others.
Harbison & Ferguson, A. T. Harbison & Co.
and Harbison & Watson (Taylor Harbison
and T. C. Watson) also engaged in the plan-
ing mill and lumber business for some years.
Edward B. Taylor was superintendent of
the West Penn Di\asion of the Pennsylvania
railroad, from January 1, 1879, to August
31, 1881. He went to the line of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company west of Pittsburg,
and is now one of the vice presidents of that
line.
A. P. Kirtland was superintendent of the
West Penn Division of the Pennsylvania rail-
road from September 1, 1881, to January 1,
1890, when he retired from the railroad serv-
ice. Mr. Kirtland, during his long residence
in Blairsville, was a citizen highly esteemed
and very public spirited.
The supei'intendents following were J. B.
Hutchinson, now assistant to the vice presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
at Philadelphia, A. S. Robb, James Reed,
David Watt, R. T. Morrow and Andrew
Keyser.
On February 7, 1890, when a storm blew
down the stack of the West Penn Gla.ss Works,
being constructed, two men who were to con-
duct the business, Charley Barr and John
Burney, both ciuite young, residents of Tar-
entum, were killed. This made a great change
in the success and plans of the factory. The
Whitney Company of New Jersey took it in
hand later, but were not successful in oper-
ating it.
The Johnstown flood occurred the same
year. Bodies were floated here and taken out.
A small boy floated within three miles above,
lodged in a tree top and was rescued. He is
still living and visits Blairsville. There was a
Cantwell family living here. One son, Ter
rence, became a doctor and another, Laury,
an attorney. He came in from Kittanning,
where he had located, and recruited some men
during the beginning of the war of the Re-
bellion.
William White did much of the brick and
stone work on buildings here from 1870 to
1890. He introduced the first cement work
in Blairsville.
Ninth Decade, 1898 to 1908
During this period a man named Henry
^Murphy, of Pittsburg, took over the plant of
the ladder company, then being operated by
J. B. Flint, as receiver, and for some time
very successfully continued the manufacture
of worked lumber. A nice pay roll was main-
tained, but the plant was put out of commis-
sion by the cut made by the Peimsylvania
Railroad Company in a change of grade.
About this time brick works were estab-
lished at Blairsville and Blairsville Intersec-
tion, and at the latter point were apparently
successful for some time. Here they were
not, although under the old system brick
^vorks were conducted successfully for many
years.
The Neville Glass Works, under the con-
trol of the Hamiltons, and the management of
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
David Pugh, was operated for some time with
a full force and a good pay roll, but in the
spring of 1903 burned down and was not
rebuilt. A number of Blairsville men, in
trying to promote the various industries
named, parted with one fifth of a million dol-
lars. Were they more courageous and enter-
prising than wise is a question that it is not
our place to answer, or try to answer.
This decade gave us the new Enameled
Ware Company, the Columbia Plate Glass
Company, a large increase in the railroad pay
roll for the men living in Blairsville, the
Hen-E-Ta Bone Company, the Conemaugh
Utilization Company, and the Little Giant
Food Company. These three occupy the
buildings constructed by the West Penn Glass
Company and those adjoining, constructed
by the companies just named. A. E. Fuchs
and J. F. Altemus, of Blairsville, are man-
ager and superintendent, respectively, of the
Hen-E-Ta Bone Company; the president, E.
J. Fuchs, and treasurer, A. K. Fuchs, are
residents of Newark, N. J. The officers of the
Conemaiigh Utilization Company are : T. Bro-
hard, president, E. J. Fuchs, vice president
and treasurer, and A. E. Fuchs, secretary.
E. J. Fuchs is also president and treasurer
of the Little Giant Pood Company.
The Columbia Plate Glass Company, situ-
ated at the bend of the Conemaugh river,
south and west from the main part of the
town, was promoted by W. D. Keys, now a
resident of Wilkinsburg, and he was the first
superintendent of the plant. The buildings
are of brick, and it is said to be the most
complete plant in the world. It has been
enlarged from time to time by additional
buildings, which were also constructed of
brick. There are now forty double brick
dwellings for the use of employees. The cap-
italization is more than one and three fifths
millions dollars. Work commenced on the
construction in 1901, and in 1903 they com-
menced to make plate glass. They have run
the works since it started without intermis-
sion except when it was necessary to stop for
repairs. The officers, with two exceptions,
are residents of Pittsburg: J. P. McKinney,
president: J. B. Davidson, vice president;
C. W. Dahlinger, chairman of executive com-
mittee; C. A. Simon, secretary. The direc-
tors are: J. P. McKinney, J. H. Davidson,
C. W. Dahlinger, John Dewar, Chester T.
Hoag. superintendent, , Edmund C. Bower."
Mr. Simon and Mr. Bower are residents of
Blairsville. This company employs three
hundred men.
Tenth Decade, 1908 to Present
The present population of the town, includ-
ing surroundings, is estimated at 5,000.
Among the enterprises of the last two
decades have been laundries under varying
managements. After operating for some time
they had to give up business.
In 1905 and 1906 the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company commenced to make a low-
grade freight line through the town, and
very much avoidable damage was permitted
that does not seem to be remedial. It was
unnecessary, and the people of the town were
apprised of the impending injury, so that
they saw it coming, but owing to a lack of
public integrity on the part of some, and on
account of a lack of ordinary foresight on
the part of others, combined with the lack of
ability and courage on the part of a majority,
the thing was permitted to occur, and it
stands as a monument to those responsible
for it. This includes some in authority as
to the township roads. One of the worst
things permitted was the change made on the
Saltsburg road. It should have been kept
direct and also have come into the town so as
to connect directly with a main and wide
street, and the law required that this road
should come in as near to the one closed as
possible. The portion of the town above the
railroad is much isolated by railroad cuts
and tracks, as is North Blairsville.
However, the people of the good old town
are not looking into the future with colored
glasses, but with lenses of crystal. Nature
has done much for the place. The scenery
surrounding Blairsville is varied and of great
charm. As we arise in the morning, the wel-
come sight of the green or blue or white clad
summits of the majestic ridge and hill tops
greet us. The river, as it encircles us south
and west, imparts its courage and energj'
and points out its great possibilities. The
splendid example of many of our forbears
gives us great inspiration. The town has a
rich history. The Star of Empire is ever
moving this way, and we should and we will
have a future that can be anticipated with
great pride. Good things are being done
here now. The most extensive system of
street paving that has ever been undertaken
is being accomplished. A new water system
is being installed, and the people will be
supplied with water from artesian wells.
Blairsville College for Women is being re-
organized and will soon loom larger than has
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
481
I
yet been conceived. "We have some fine church
buildings and comfortable school buildings.
The United Presbyterian congregation is
now building an attractive house of worship
on the site of the former one. Its construc-
tion is in charge of Homer and A. B. Ham-
ilton, of Pittsburg, sons of the late R. W.
Hamilton, and W. A. Lear, of Bolivar, is in
charge of the brick work. D. M. Kier is chair-
man of the church building committee and
Claire Kennedy secretary. There is one
man in town that has offered to start a sub-
scription with $10,000 to build a new hotel
as a matter of public benefit to the to'^vn.
An official of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company said to the writer a few days ago
that he thought more money was paid out
here now to employees than when this was
headquarters for the division.
The Kiskiminetas valley commences at
Saltsburg, fourteen miles northwest of Blairs-
ville, and the Allegheny valley about sixteen
miles northwest of Saltsburg, the latter valley
extending on into Pittsburg. The Conemaugh
valley commences above Johnstown some
thirty miles or more ea.st of here. The river
forms on a slope of the Allegheny mountains.
The courses of the Conemaugh, kiskiminetas
and Allegheny rivers make the valleys. The
"West Penn, now the Conefnaugh, Division of
the Pennsylvania railroad follows these
streams and connects with the main st6m of
the road this side of Johnstown. It is used
from Pittsburg hei'e for passenger service
as well as freight, and all Fort "Wayne and
Chicago freights come over this line, the
freights coming through here by subway. The
length of the line is between eighty and
ninety miles. The old "West Penn Division
was opened for passenger and freight traffic
to Saltsburg in July, 1861, and operated by
the construction department, Antes Snyder
being principal assistant engineer. Mr. Sny-
der came from Lj'coming county, Pa., where
he received his training as an engineer, com-
mencing with an uncle distinguished in that
line who lived there. Under George B. Rob-
erts (afterwards president of the entire sys-
tem), as firat assistant, he constructed most
of the "West Penn road, and directed its oper-
ation for some time under the superintendent
of the Pittsburg Division.
"When traffic operations commenced between
Blairs\ille and Allegheny Junction, Antes
Snyder continued in charge as operating
officer, having also charge of the building of
the .Pittsburg branch, at that time, from Alle-
gheny Junction to Allegheny City. After the
road began to operate through to Allegheny
City continuously from Blairsville, Antes
Snyder was made assistant superintendent
under Robert Pitcairn, superintendent, and
had direct charge of operations. He remained
in that capacity until succeeded by Robert
Neilson, who took charge of the operation of
the road, Mr. Snyder being assigned to some
engineering duties upon construction and
right of way. For a short time he was in the
lumber business, returning to the employ of
the Pennsylvania R. R. Co. as engineer of
right of way of the "Western Division, which
office he filled most creditably until his death,
which occurred several years ago. His wife
and daughters live here, as elsewhere noted.
:\Ir. Snyder was an authority on land titles,
a local historian and a Christian gentleman,
interested always in the best things for the
promotion of the community and the State.
Joseph B. Hutchinson, his first assistant dur-
ing the construction of the "West Penn road,
has been connected with the Pennsylvania
system for half a centurj-, in various capac-
ities, now as assistant to the vice president;
he had charge as chief engineer of the change
of grade on the "West Penn Division in 1882.
Others here who were engaged in construc-
tion or other work in connection with the
railroad were: Samuel Rea, now president;
R. L. O'Donnell, now general superinten-
dent; George "W. Creighton, now a general
supermtendent, who did construction work
on the West Penn when the grade was being
changed; and C. S. d 'Invilliers, who became
chief engineer of construction.
The two last named, as well as other citi-
zens of Blairsville, were on the ill-fated Col-
lins expedition to Brazil, in 1878, to build a
railroad around the falls and upper rapids
of the upper Madeira river, the idea being
to run steamboats above and below these ob-
structions and thus connect with the ocean
steamers to New York. The two contracting
firms were P. & F. Collins and Mackie, Scott
& Co. The government failing to make good
caused the abandonment of the project.
Among the Blairsville men connected there-
with were: Charles Bird, who was engineer
in charge of the construction of the Isabella
Coke Ovens at Coketown, near here, in 1872;
Joseph Byers (the Byers family, father and
three or four sons, lived here, and all were
civil engineers of note; Charles Byers was
for a time resident engineer of the Reading
railroad) ; Robert Bruce, now deceased, who
482
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was in the Union army during the Civil war, 1906-07 ; and George W. Creighton, referred
and who continued work at his profession (in to elsewhere.
which he was proficient) in Pittsburg; The State has an armory here, and there is
Thomas and James Maher ; Robert Evans ; a company of the National Guard of Pennsyl-
G. D. Wilkinson ; Freeman Wilkinson ; C. S. vauia, L Company, 10th Regiment, Infantry,
d'Invilliers, eminent as an engineer and a three officers, sixty -four men. Among the
man highly respected, who was in charge of well-known military men of the town at pres-
the work when the extensive change of gi-ade ent are Lieut. Col. George Crede and Capt.
was made on the Conemaugh Division in George McCune.
CHAPTER XXVIII
CANOE TOWNSHIP
Canoe township was formed from Mont-
gomery township in 1847, the date of the
survey being July 3d of that year. It re-
ceived its name from the creek which was
called the Canoe, from the fact that its mouth
on the Mahoning was generally the head of
canoe navigation.
The first settlers were Daniel Brewer and
his sons, the Clawsons, the Hendricks (or
Hendrixes), George Saltsgiver, the States,
John White, the Bradys, Leasures, and others.
In 1827, when Adam D. Tigers arrived, his
neighbors were John N. North; John White;
James Black, on the Mrs. Porter Black prop-
erty; Daniel Brewer, on the George S. Hen-
nigh farm; Egman, on the William Martin
property ; John Brady, on the Tobias Braugh-
ler place ; and the Hendricks, on the George
Smith tract.
The first school taught, supported by sub-
scription, was in the White neighborhood as
early as 1820 or 1821. The name of the first
teacher is unknown, but the building is re-
membered as a very rude round log cabin.
The stories of the past in regard to hunt-
ing indicate the forests as inhabited by nu-
merous bears, deer, wolves, etc. Old men
speak of Henry Brewster's killing eleven
bears in a single afternoon, within a mile of
the residence of C. R. White.
Prior to 1900 lumbering and farming were
the principal occupation of the inhabitants.
The Little Mahoning afforded convenient
transportation for marketing the lumber.
There was little change iu the population
from 1870 to 1900, there being an increase
from 998 to 1,290, but in 1910 the population
was 3,809. This great difference was due to
the mining industries.
Canoe township has made great strides in
education and religious work during the last
ten years. Prior to 1900 there were but few
teachers in the township, but today they can
boast of having among their number some of
the leading teachers in the county. There
are nineteen schools and 869 pupils. The
following are the churches: The United
Presbyterian, Presbyterian and Baptist at
Rochester Mills; the Fairview ,
the Union near Rossiter, the Evangelical at
Smyerstown, the United Brethren at Canoe,
the United Evangelical at Juneau, the Cum-
berland Presbyterian and the St. Francis
Roman Catholic at Rossiter, and the Evangeli-
cal, east of Locust Lane.
Richmond, Rochester Mills P. 0. — The first
settlers on the site of the village were David
Simpson and John Tozier,who owned the land
which included the village. A hemlock tree
stands near the bridge and marks the bound-
ary line beteen the two tracts. The village is
situated in Canoe and Grant townships. The
first lot was sold by David Simpson to Isaac
Bell. Mr. Simpson disposed of the second lot
to Daniel Bell. The first house was erected
by David Simpson for a dwelling. The sec-
ond building was the mill of David Simpson.
The place was known as Simpson's Mill till
1862, when it was called Richmond, on ac-
count of the excitement of the war against
the "Confederate Richmond."
The post office of Rochester Mills was es-
tablished in 1867. J. C. Rochester was the
first postmaster. The first merchant was J. C.
Rochester, 1866, succeeded in 1869 by Duffie
& Rochester.
Robertsville derives its name from Robert
Roberts, who was the proprietor of three
thousand acres of land in the vicinity. He
erected a sawmill and endeavored to found
a village, which today contains a single
house. In 1841 there Avere two dwellings, a
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
483
cabin and a two-story frame house of eight
rooms. In the latter building there resided
(in that year, for a time) Ezra Horton and
wife; John Williams and wife Mary, who
died in her one hundredth year, in 1879 ;
Thomas Smith and ^^afe Mary ; James
Graham and wife Eliza ; James Herbison and
Nancy; Samuel Becket, his mother Sarah,
and ins sister Sarah ; George Mitchell and
wife ; Thomas Bishop, wife and four children ;
William Bishop, and William Wingam.
These were generally Irish and English emi-
grants, who had come to these wilds to seek
a fortune. One was a London tailor, an-
other a cit.y painter, another a city shoemaker,
etc. The}' soon were disgusted with frontier
life and returned to eastern cities.
Locust Lane is located on a tract of land
purchased by William G. Lewis, who erected
his residence in 1860, and commenced mer-
chandising in 1863. In the latter year the
post office of Locust Lane was established
with Mr. Lewis as postmaster. The second
merchant was Henry Miller. The black-
smiths have been Daniel Bee, Philip Palmer,
George A. Gamble and Dennis Gamble. The
steam sawmill commenced operations in the
fall of 1872. It had a circular saw and a
twenty-horsepower engine, and could produce
eight thousand feet of lumber per day.
Rossitcr. — Tills town is situated in the
center of one of the largest coal fields in
Indiana county, having a daily output of
three thousand tons. The town was started in
1901 by the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Cor-
poration and named for William Rossiter, one
of the chief stockholders of the company.
.Messrs. R. A. ShiUingford and W. J. Broad-
meadow were the original promotei-s of the
town for the coal company. The following
are the leading stores: A. F. Kelly Supply,
J. A. Pierce, J. Freas Jones, Frank Fera and
Barnett Leviuson. There are two hotels, ' ' The
Brandon." with M. S. Murray as proprietor,
and "The Rossiter," with W. J. Daugherty
as proprietor. The present postmaster is R.
T. Mogle. In 1907, a rural route was estab-
lished from this place, with A. J. McFarland
as carrier. When the town of Rossiter was
started there was but one schoolhouse, the
Smith, which stood near the dwelling of Mr.
Jacob Smith. At present there are two mod-
ern four-room school buildings. The one in
North Rossiter was built in 1912, the former
four-room building having been burned in
1911.
Frances.— This town was started in 1907
by the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg
Coal & Iron Company, and named for
Frances Blaisdell, daughter of W. S. Blais-
dell, the chief stockholder of the coal com-
pany. The mines at this place have an out-
put of one thousand tons daily.
Smijcrstown. — This town is a suburb and
was started at the same time as Rossiter. A
number of people desirous of owning their
own homes located at this place. The town,
which has a population of almost one thou-
sand inhabitants, took its name from its first
settler. Benjamin Smyers. At this place
there is a new four-room school building.
Juneau. — This is a smaU town on the
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad
located in a beautiful valley at the junction
of the Buffalo & Susquehanna railroad, lead-
ing from this place to Plumville and Wallops-
burg. At this place there is a two-room
school building. Mrs. Emery Shields is post-
mistress.
The first election in Canoe township was
held Friday, February' 11, 1848, at the house
of George Smith, when the following officers
were elected. Justice of the peace, William
Martin Irish, who had thirty-five votes;
supervisors, Adam Tiger and George Pearce;
constable, Charles R. Wliite; assessor, Sam-
uel P. White; school directors, William ilar-
tin, Robert Jlitchell, Job Pearce; judge, Wil-
liam Block; auditor, Daniel Hopkins; in-
spectors, Tobias Braughler and George Piper ;
poor overseers, Adam Tiger and George
Pearce ; township clerk, Simon Henry ; elec-
tion ofificei-s — judge, John Miller; inspectors,
James Gallaher (who made his "mark") and
John Pollock.
The following are the oldest citizens in the
township : Isaac Tiger. Jacob Tiger, Amos
IMiller, Jacob Smith, James Timblin, Charles
White, N. S. North, Joseph Baun, George
Braughler, Adam Shields and Samuel Calder-
wood.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Number and value of horses as-
sessed, 256 — $11,134; number and value of
cows assessed, 276— $3,690; taxables, 1,183;
taxable real estate, $349,554; monev at in-
terest, $73,288.23 ; number of acres of cleared
land, 10,712 ; number of acres of timber land,
6,919; cost of assessment, $82.75.
CHAPTER XXIX
. CENTER TOWNSHIP— HOMER CITY BOROUGH
Center township was formed from Arm- strong townships it was organized into a sep-
strong township in 1807 and in 1870 had a arate election district, and their first voting
population of 1,555 and in 1910 of 3,124. place was in the house of Peter Sutton in the
The soil is generally adapted to raising grain town of Indiana.
and growing stock. There is a sufficient quan- The first schoolhouse was on the farm of
tity of coal to make the opening and work- W. H. McMullen and was erected in 1798.
ing of mines profitable. A great part of the This was a rude log building, 20 by 25 feet
east half of the township is occupied by coal in dimensions, and for the first few years had
companies who are carr.ying on successful no floor. The windows were of greased paper
operations. There were in the township in and a huge chimney occupied one end of the
olden times several blockhouses to which its house. Its round log, chinked, mud daubed
people were in the habit of congregating for sides and clapboard roof made it a curiosity
mutual protection from the ravages of the even in the days of cabins. The first teacher
Indians. One was on the Peter Fair farm, was John Mark, from 1798 to 1801. The next
The logs with marks of portholes still remain, was James M. Kelly (afterwards the noted
Among the early settlers of the county who la^^yer), in 1802, and three other early
fled to the blockhouse, were Samuel Wilkin, teachers were William Fulton, William Flem-
Daniel McKesson, James Mitchell, G. Doty, ing and Thomas McClanahan. The old set-
Thomas MeCrea, Samuel Todd. Thomas Wil- tiers were : James Smith, born on the John
kins carried apple trees on his back from Clawson farm in 1787; Hon. Joseph Camp-
Franklin and planted them on a farm owned bell, born in Center township in 1799, who
by Robert McGee. The family were forced worked with Rev. Joseph Henderson on the
to flee, and while they were away the Indians Henderson farm (the mother and daughter
came and pulled up all the trees except three, took in weaving), was an associate .judge for
which are still standing. The family re- five years, and was among the earliest anti-
turned seven years afterwards. Thomas slavery reformers and champions of the tem-
Burns settled on the farm afterwards owned perance cause in the county; Robert McKis-
by William and Thomas Burns in the year son, who located in Center township in 1796 ;
1791. He brought apple trees from Cham- Mrs. Susan Stewart, born on the Nicholas
bersburg and planted them on the farm. Baroon farm in 1799 ; Thomas Burns, who
The oldest organized church in Indiana purchased the Burns homestead in 1790 (he
county is the Center township. It bears the served four years under the noted Paul Jones
name of Bethel. The Psalm book used by and other American commanders) ; Adam
Rev. J. W. Henderson is still in existence. Johnston, who came to the farm afterwards
Mr. Henderson was the first Presbyterian occupied by George W. Johnston in 1812,
minister in the county and was pastor of the where he erected a cabin and blacksmith shop ;
Bethel church at the time of its organiza- James W. Laughlin, born on the Laughlin
tion. farm in 1809, and Andrew Allison, who set-
The association called the "\¥liiskey Boys" tied on the bank of Twolick on the site of an
had its headquarters at the house owned after- old Indian town opposite the present village
wards by Robert Hamill. John Allison built of Homer City. Here Allison built a cabin
the first gristmill in CenteV township, the site and cleared some ground for agricultural
of which was located on the land afterwards purposes. A hole in one side of the cabin
owned by John H. Devers. served as a place of ingress and egress. One
The township was named from its position, night, while reposing on his rudely con-
In the same year with Washington and Arm- structed couch in one corner, he heard a noise
484
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
485
or stir at the hole, and, looking up, saw a
large panther standing with his head inside
and his paws on the lower leg or sill, looking
wistfully up at some venison that was sus-
pended from a joist in the cabin. Andrew
reached for his rifle, but before he had time
to take aim the panther backed out and dis-
appeared. In 1790 Allison penetrated far-
ther into . the forest and opened up a farm
now owned bv Charles Nichol, of White to^vn-
ship. Here he was the frontier settler, with
nothing between him and the Susquehanna
river but the howling wilderness abounding
with wild beasts and traversed by hostile
savages.
A report having reached him one evening
that the Indians were in the vicinity, he took
his family, consisting of his wife and one
child, and fled to his nearest neighbor, Irwin
Adams, who lived on the G. A. McClain farm.
Mrs. Adams was sick in bed. During the
night the Indians kept them in constant ter-
ror, on? whistling on his rifle charger on one
side of the cabin, and another answering -in
like manner on the other side. The inmates
were on their feet all night, the men having
their rifles in their hands, ready to repel an
attack, and the others being engaged in stop-
ping up the cracks between the logs to pre-
vent the assailants fi'om taking aim at any
one inside. Dreading a warm reception, the
Indians kept at a respectful distance, and
finally withdrew. In the morning Allison
and Adams yoked the oxen and placed ]Mrs.
Adams and her infant daughter (afterwards
Mrs. George ilcCartney. mother of Mr. Sam-
uel ^McCartney, of Indiana) on a sled and
proceeded with their families to the ^Moorhead
fort, on the farm now owned by E. B. Camp-
bell. After remaining there several days,
Allison went to look after his farm and got
some articles that had been left, but the cabin
with all its contents had been burnt, the
Indians having fired it during his absence. He
then returned to his father's on Twolick,
where another fort was being erected. There
he remained until some time in 1793. when he
removed to the forks of Twolick and Yellow
creek on an improvement made by John
Henry at an earlier date, but who on account
of the dangers that surrounded him had re-
turned to his former home in Virginia. At
this place Allison remained until 1795, when
he purchased an improvement made in 1772
by John Hopkins, about three miles south
of Indiana, Hopkins and his family having
fled on account of the Indian troubles. After
Allison had settled on the Hopkins farm the
Indians made sneaking visits to the settle-
ments, but were less hostile than before.
Here again, he was on the frontier, with
neither house nor public road, bridge, church
or sehoolhouse within ten miles. It was truly
a secluded spot : the silence of the forest was
seldom broken except by the howling wolves,
the yelling panther or the crack of the hunt-
er's rifle.
Among the first settlers of what is now
Center to^^Tiship was "William Smith, whose
grandson became sheriff of this county. In
1772 he located on a ti'act of land owned at
this time by John Clawson, and resided there
a number of years. When the Indians began
their depredations in the vicinity he took
his wife and one child to Wallace's Fort.
After being there some days he returned, ac-
companied by jMr. Evans, to get liis plow
irons and other farming implements, and was
at his cabin the very day on which Laughlin,
Campbell and others were taken captives a
mile and half off. After that he took back his
family to his improvement, but was driven
away again by the appearance of hostile
Indians in the neighborhood. This time he
went to Donehue's, above Blairsville. Being
continually subjected to danger, lie at length
took his family and i-eturned to Concocheague,
in Franklin county, his original home, and
afterwards took part in the Revolutionary
struggle, serving as a private in the Penn-
sylvania line. After the war he came to
Indiana county and improved his lands, his
cabin not having been disturbed during the
seven years he was away. Here he resided,
surrounded by his family, until the day of
his death, which oeeun-ed in 1822.
The following incident is illustrative of
the scenes of those times, showing how John
B. Allison, son of Andrew Allison, when only
nine years old was the actual slayer of eight
wolves in one day. About the first of July,
1805, an old man by the name of John Falk-
instine, who had traps set on Yellow creek
and had caught an old mother wolf, came to
Allison's and stated that he had found a den
of wolves in a hollow log about a mile off.
He asked for an axe and some assistance.
Allison, being otherwise engaged, sent his two
sons, Robert and John, with the old trapper.
Having arrived at the place, they found one
old wolf l.ving at the butt of the log with a
lot of young ones. She made an attack on
the party. The old trapper attempted to
shoot her, but his gun missed fire and she
escaped. The young wolves, eight in number,
then retreated into the hollow log. A hole was
486
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
cut into the side of the log where Robert in-
serted a pole, driving the whelps back to the
mouth where the old man grabbed them one by
one by the hind legs and held them until John
killed them with a club as fast as they were
drawn out. There appeared to have been
two sets, one fat and sleek, and the other
lean and rough. Being at last permanently
located and no longer annoyed by the Indians,
Allison succeeded in opening a tine farm and
erecting comfortable buildings. He died on
this farm in 1815, at the age of 58.
Hopkins, while occupying the property,
had built what was then considered a good
dwelling house. For the door he carried pine
boards on a horse from Stony Creek valley,
east of Laurel Hill, it being the first pine
door within the bounds of the county. From
this house John Allison selected twelve of the
soundest logs and used them in building his
house in 1818. This house was on the farm
occupied by Samuel Shearer. It was used
by him for a kitchen. Twelve of the logs
had been cut and hewed 141 years ago.
Andrew Allison was the grandfather of
James Allison, of Homer City, Pennsylvania.
The Allison blockhouse, or old McCon-
aughey Fort, was erected by the Allisons and
other settlers about 1788. It was a round log,
two story (20 by 24) structure, and was sit-
uated very nearly on the site of the R. J.
McConaughey house.
The first improvement made on the Mc-
Conaughey farm was made by James Mc-
Conaughey about the commencement of the
Revolutionary war. He was driven off by
the Indians and subsequently entered the
Revolutionary army for a number of years.
The tract in the patent was called "Nazareth"
and was surveyed on an application dated
April 3, 1769. It was sold to Charles Camp-
bell by the commissioners of Westmoreland
county. In 1788 Campbell deeded the tract to
Robert Allison, who obtained the patent in
1789.
The Graeeton Coke Company. — The first
coke manufactured in Indiana county from
the Lower Coal Measures \v;is |in.duced in
the late eighties by Georuc .Mikcsill. at what
is now the No. 1 plant oT Hit- (ii-accton Coke
Company. He built and operated ten ovens.
In the spring of 1890, a firm composed of
J. W. Moore, John MeCreary and Harry Mc-
Creary, all of Greensburg, Pa., bought this
plant and also a large tract just north of it.
The above plant was at once increased by
the building of thirty-nine more ovens, and
during this same summer of 1890 the Grace-
ton No. 2 plant was built, together with the
town of Graeeton and everything necessary
for an up-to-date coke plant. Harry Me-
Creary was in charge of these operations from
the time the purchase was made until he
. bought the property from the other partners
and sold it to the present owners, the Youngs-
town Steel Company, of Youngstown, Ohio.
At Mr. MeCreary 's suggestion the new
owners placed Mr. H. S. Overly in charge of
the plant. After his resignation, about a
year later, Mr. Everhard Bierer was made
superintendent, and in the course of several
years was succeeded by the present incum-
bent, Mr. C. M. Lingle. The product of this
plant is sold to foundries who require the
highest grade of coke manufactured. Large
sums have been spent by the present owners
in providing machinery of greater capacity,
building additional houses and store.
Indiana Coal & Coke Company. — In the
spring of 1890, a company composed of
Indiana and Blaii-sville citizens called the
Indiana Coal & Coke Company, purchased
the farm on which the present Coral plant
is located and built twenty-four coke ovens.
They shipped both coal and coke for several
years, but as they had no method of washing
the coal the found it difficult to market.
Harry MeCreary leased the property and
continued operating it until March 1, 1902,
j^t which time he sold it to Joseph Wharton,
of Philadelphia, and remained in charge until
the plant was fully developed. It is one of
tlie very best constructed plants in the coke
region, consisting of 300 ovens, together with
the necessary houses to accommodate 400 em-
ployees. The hoiises are of the single type,
being the first of this kind in the county
where such a large number was required.
Mr. John Pulton, of Johnsto^vn, formerly
general manager of the Cambria Steel Com-
pany, and acknowledged one of the leading
authorities on coke, in his last edition of his
book on that subject illustrates this plant and
describes it as a model of its kind. R. M.
JIullen, of Indiana, was the engineer. The
mine produces easily 1,000 tons per day,
most of which has of late yeai-s been shipped
as run-of-mine coal. Coke is manufactured
when the price is high and consumed in Mr.
Wharton's own fuimaces. Mr. Ramsay is the .
present superintendent. He has had a large
experience both in the Connellsville region
and in prominent Southern mining States.
The Lucerne Mine of the Rochester &
Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company. — The de-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
487
velopment of large areas of coal, with the
modern methods of mining necessary for
large constant tonnage production, economical
results with proper preparation of coal, re-
qiiires in this day of advancement and im-
proved methods very large expenditures for
power plants and coal handling facilities,
which until comparatively recent times, were
not considered. The problem often involves
the working of very large areas of several
thousand acres from one initial plant, due to
the coal lying deep and being accessible for
development at but one favorable point. It
therefore becomes necessary to develop such
properties with a large central power plant,
where an ample supply of good water for boil-
ers and condensing purposes is available,
which is a necessity for operating the class of
machinery best adapted to such operations, to
get the lowest possible power costs, and from
such central power station transmit power
long distances to operate the necessary ma-
chinery, both in the mines and in connection
with outside improvements and facilities.
Bituminous coal mining requii'es very large
units of power for cutting the coal, either
with compressed air puncher machines or the
electric coal cutter, and often both types are
used in the same mine, to meet vai-ying con-
ditions; also for the electric haulage of the
coal cars, both in the mines and for outside
hauls to the loading tipple; for operating
ventilating fans, motor driven, where trans-
mission of steam would involve long distances
and be impracticable : for operating mine
pumps and mechanical devices, such as trip-
makers and feeders: also in connection with
tipple machinery such as revolving screens,
shaker screens, picking belts and tipple fa-
cilities necessary for the best possible prepar-
ation of the coal for market.
The new Lucerne mine of the Rochester &
Pittsburg Coal & Ii'on Company, at Lucerne,
Indiana Co., Pa., is such_a development, hav-
ing been especially designed to work a very
large area of coal below water level and to
produce 6.000 tons per day, with thorough
preparation for the market and at lowest pos-
sible cost of production; also to transmit
power to other large plants of this company
and its numerous allied interests. Facilities
for this operation, being the last one developed
by the above company and ,iust gotten under
way. makes it the most thoroughly eriuipped
bituminous coal mine in the State of Pennsyl-
vania.
The Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron
Company, and allied interests, the Jeffei-son
& Clearfield Coal & Iron Company, Pittsburg
Gas Coal Company and Cowanshannock Coal
& Coke Company, have a combined annual
producing capacitv of 10,000.000 tons. The
Lucerne operation, as herein described, is de-
signed for an output of 6.000 tons a day of
eight hours, having ample facilities, both as
to power plants and large steel tipple, for
these results. Lucerne is situated about one
mile from the town of Homer, on the Indiana
branch of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg
Railroad. The coal is the Freeport seam, of
high steaming value, and well known to the
trade where a high grade of steam coal is
desired. The mine openings consist of two
drifts, located on opposite sides of the valley
of Yellow creek, which have been driven on
the outcrop of coal, and a shaft opening to
the dip of the coal used for ventilation, drain-
age and hoisting of coal, the combined output
of the three openings centering onto one large
steel tipple situated about half way between
the different openings by a four-track system
of electric haulage.
The boiler house is a substantial brick
structure in which are twelve Sterling boilers
ha^^ng a combined capacity of 6.000 horse-
power. These boilers are equipped with
Jones undei'feed stokers and consume only
fine slack coal, requiring the services of but
two men to do the stoking. The design of
this building has in view the future addition
of boilei-s of 4,000 horse-power, making the
future boiler plant a total of 10,000 horee-
power. An ash pit runs through the base-
ment of this building in a separate tunnel,
the entire length, where a train of railroad
cars is placed for loading ashes, which drop
from the firing floor through the ash hoppers
to the railroad cars. The boilers are fed with
slack coal from concrete bins elevated near
the top of the boiler house building, and flow-
ing by gravity through pipes to the stokers
and into the fire bos. This boiler house is
completely lighted with electric lights and
is of entire brick, steel and cement construc-
tion and absolutely fireproof.
In connection with the boiler house is a
large power house, a building of the same
character, viz., brick, steel and cement,
equipped -with a powerful crane, and a base-
ment in which all the feed water pumps and
other minor machinery is located. On the
first floor of this power house are two 3,000-
kilowatt, 6.000-volt turbine sets, together
with the exciter sets, steam and motor driven,
switchboard apparatus, vacuum pumps for the
barometric condensers, and one large air com-
488
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
pressor of 5,000 cubic feet per minute ca-
pacity. All the machinery is run condensing
with barometric condensers, and in connec-
tion with which the most economical result
possible to obtain is secured. Air for the
compressor is supplied from a stack which
reaches above the roof of the building, and
within which is a tilter or purifier, which
cleanses the air of any solid particles before
it is permitted to enter the compressor. This
power plant furnishes power for the Lucerne
operation required for coal cutting, electric
haulage, ventilating fans, and all other
machinery and equipment, including sub-
stations located at various points in connec-
tion with the operation.
Power for this operation is also transmitted
to two other large operations, one a distance
of nine miles, and the other a distance of
twelve miles. The shaft is equipped with
complete caging devices, both at the foot and
top of shaft, together with tripmakers, which
handle both loaded and empty cars through
chain drivers, forming them in trips for the
electric motors without handling by hand.
The coal from the two drift openings and the
shaft opening is centered on one large steel
tipple, equipped with shaker and revolving
screens, picking tables, conveyors and load-
ing chutes. The tipple is a massive, thorough
steel structure, having six loading trucks for
railway cars. The mines are ventilated by a
Clifford-Capell fan, 18 feet in diameter by
18 feet wide (motor driven, direct connected)
and of a capacity of 300,000 cubic feet per
minute at slow speed, and capable of very
much larger capacity as occasion requires.
The coal seam at this operation is very uni-
form in thickness and quality, of high heat
unit value, and is Avidely distributed in the
markets of Canada via Lake Ontario, also
through New England and at the seaboard
markets, as well as in Buffalo and Rochester
and all intermediate points.
The company has looked well after the wel-
fare of its employees in building a large town,
consisting of single houses of seven rooms
each, and of chai'acter far beyond the aver-
age of usual mining towns.
In connection with other surface improve-
ments is a large brick repair building, where
all the work necessary in caring for the
machinery and equipment is handled, this
shop embodying a large machine shop, thor-
oughly equipped with tools required, motor
driven, a blacksmith shop, carpenter shop
and electric supply room; in fact, nothing
seems to have been overlooked to make the
plant strictly first-class, durable and fire-
proof, and with a view to large capacity for
many years.
While the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal &
Iron Company and allied companies have
other large and complete plants, this one is
especially referred to, it being the last one
built and naturally embodying all the latest
up-to-date improvements known to bitumi-
nous coal mining, and one is especially im-
pressed with the thoroughness and character
of the equipment and facilities for economical
handling and careful preparation of the out-
put;
President Lucius W. Robinson has been
connected with coal operations and develop-
ment in Pennsylvania for thirty-five years,
and is also the head of several other corpora-
tions allied to the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal
& Iron Company.
The general manager of the Rochester &
Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company, A. W. Callo-
way, with headquarters at> Indiana, Pa., is
a man of large experience and has been as-
sociated with this company for years, having
grown up in the mining industry with the
company. He is assisted by David Fleming,
who has also been connected with the opera-
tions of the above company since starting in
the mining business, and with him is also a
staff including various employees, who seem
to be very proud of their several operations,
and especially this one, which is the last de-
velopment to be completed in this rapidly
growing field.
This company has begun operations on both
branches of Tearing run. The . Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company has
run a branch from Lucerne, east of Homer
City, up both branches of Tearing run, about
seven miles on the "Ridge" between the
waters of Tearing run and Brush creek. The
coal company is called the Brush Creek Min-
ing Company. There are seven openings and
coal has been shipped from two openings since
September 15, 1913.
Two towns, named in honor of Lucius Wa-
terman Robinson, have been started. The one
called Waterman contains eighty houses, and
a postoffice named for the town has been estab-
lished. The town \rill have passenger and
freight service by January 1, 1914. The other
town, Luciusboro, located on the Henry Fritz,
McPeaters and Duncan farms, will be a dupli-
cate of Waterman.
The development of large coal interests in
Center township has brought great accessions
to its population and necessitated the build-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
489
ing of four-room school buildings at Grace-
ton, at Risinger, at Lucerne, and at Ault-
man. The last two were built in 1912.
Twenty-two teachers have been employed to
teach the schools of the township this year.
The churches of the township are Bethel
Presbyterian, Moiint Pleasant, Lutheran,
Methodist, Episcopal and Catholic.
The first election in Center township was
held March 20, 1807, when the following were
elected: Constable, Robert Allison; super-
visor, James Dickson and Samuel Wiggins;
overseers of the poor, David Sample and John
Wilson ; fence appraisers, Fergus Moorhead,
Sr., and John Clyde; auditors, James
Loughry, John Allison, Joseph White and
Bleaney Adair; judges of election, Joseph
Moorhead and Bleaney Adair. Twenty-four
votes is the most that any candidate received.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Number and value of horses
assessed, 372— $19,930 ; number and value of
cows assessed, 468 — $6,805; taxables, 1,144;
taxable real estate, $1,068,361 ; number of
acres of cleared land, 24,331 ; number of acres
of timber land, 1,667; money at interest,
$80,336; cost of assessment, $87.80.
HOMEE CITY BOROUGH
Homer City borough. Center township, is
situated on a body of land formed of parts
of two tracts, one patented in the name of
John Allison, and the other to John and Wil-
liam Climmins. About 1800 Mr. Allison had
a mill on Yellow creek about fifteen rods be-
low the present dam. The second mill was
also erected by i\Ir. Allison. There was a
sawmill and carding machine connected with
it. This was erected several years prior to
the founding of the village. The McCon-
naugheys, who reside opposite the site of the
village, for many years had a canoe ferry on
Twolick. The second Allison mill passed suc-
cessively to the following proprietors: Wil-
liam Richards, Samuel Dixon, James Simp-
son, Robert Craig, Armor Philips (from whom
the post office received its name), Henry Ket-
ler, George Christy and George R. Ellis.
The first store was established by John Mul-
len in 1832. It was located on the east side of
Main street, near Twolick. Mr. IMullen
erected three storehouses before the platting
of the village. The second merchant was
Hugh Devei's, who, not long after the start-
ing of the Mullen store, had removed to this
locality and commenced to sell goods and buy
country produce (eggs two to three cents per
dozen, butter five to eight and ten cents per
pound), which he wagoned to Pittsburg.
This store was situated on Main street directly
opposite J. H. Devers. After a continuance
of ten years he was succeeded by Devers &
Craig, then James & John H. Devers, who
removed to the old storeroom of Mullen &
Allison, afterwards Mullen & Philips.
The village was laid out in 1854 byWiUiam
Wilson, who called it for the ancient poet,
Homer. The Indiana Branch of the Penn-
sylvania railroad was completed to the vil-
lage in 1855. After the suiwey the first house
was erected by Isaac Kilton, the second
blacksmith; this stood below his residence
on Main street. Mr. Wilson then erected a
frame building used as a tavern by Matthew
Kerr, the first carpenter. This house after-
wards became the property of John Peddi-
cord. In company with John Griffith, Mr.
Wilson erected a storeroom in which they
opened the first store after the founding of
the town. This building was erected on the
site of an old storeroom erected several years
before John Mullen.
The first steam mill was erected by Mr.
Wilson for a sawinill. It was afterwards
changed into a gristmill. The first black-
smith on the site of the village was Wilson
McDonald. The first after the platting of
the village was Isaac Killen. The first and
only tailor was Daniel Myers. The first shoe-
maker was John Decker. The first phj^sician
was David Burrel, who only remained a brief
time. Dr. John Evans was the first perma-
nent physician. The first postmaster was Dr.
David M. Marshall. The second was Mrs.
Jane Philips, the third, George H. Ogden.
The present postmaster is John M. Carson.
On February 11, 1876, the office was changed
from Phillip's IMills to Homer City.
The first church after the town was started
was the brick Methodist Episcopal, erected by
Mr. Wilson at the contract price of $1,000.
The first minister was Rev. Mr. Horner. The
first preaching in the vicinity was by the
Methodist Episcopals in a private house
afterwards owned by the Misses Bonner.
Thence the meetings were removed to the
sclioolhouse and then to a log church about
thirty rods east of the brick church spoken
of above. ■ The successive churches were
United Presbyterian, Presbyterian, Lutheran,
Baptist and Free Methodist.
The first justices of the peace after the
act of incorporation as a borough in 1872 were
R. E. Ellis and Daniel Weir. The tannery of
Johnston & Stewart was built in 1861. The
490
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
first bridge over Yellow creek was built in
1835. The "Homer City Hotel" was erected
bj' John H. Devers in 1878-79.
The forks of Twolick and Yellow creek
were the most important streams of Indiana
as an ideal site of the county seat. Had it
not been for the extraordinary overtures of
Mr. Clymer, no doubt that situation would
have been chosen.
Stone, coal and lumber are abundant and
these advantages in connection with excellent
water power and a railroad have made a
rapid increase in population and wealth. In
1880 the borough had a population of 380, in
1910 the population was 985. The palmy
days of Homer City were in 1855, when the
trade from the upper country centered there.
For a number of years the borough had but
few changes, but for the last ten years, on
account of the coal development, it has had
a steady growth.
The present stores are conducted as fol-
lows:
Homer City Pharmaej', the only drug store
in the town, is conducted by J. M. Fleming,
■who bought the store in 1910 from Samuel
Sickenberger & Co.. who had purchased it
after the death of Mr. W. I. Moore in 1890.
Mr. Moore had opened the place in 1890, and
continued in business until his sudden death,
which occurred in the store.
Harry Flickinger has a large store, in which
he sells dry goods, groceries, furniture and
general merchandise, and also conducts the
business of undertaking and embalming.
This store was started in 1878 by his father,
James S. Flickinger, who continued in the
business until 1908. when Mr. James S. Flick-
inger retired and his son, Harry Flickinger,
assumed entire charge. The business has in-
creased from $2,000 per year, when first
started, until the last vear it amounted to
$51,000.
Z. T. Kelly & Son conduct a hardware
store in connection with the tinning and
plumbing business. Mr. Z. T. Kelly has been
in business continuously for forty years.
Prior to 1890 he conducted his business at
Mechanicsburg. The present building has
been enlarged several times to make room
for increasing biisiness and added stock, until
they now have a complete line of hardware
and plumbing supplies.
The meat market of E. J. Jliller was es-
tablished in 1891 on Main street near the
bridge over Twolick creek. The first build-
ing was burnt in 1907, and has been replaced
by a large brick building, where he continues
to do business. One part of this building is
occupied by A. La Mantia & Bros., who have
a wholesale fruit and produce store.
Opposite the meat market of E. J. Miller
is the grocery and general merchandise
store of J. D. George, who has been in business
at this location for the last sixteen years.
Next door to the Homer City Pharmacy
on ilain street is the general merchandise and
grocery store of H. R. Grumbling, who has
been in business here for at least ten years.
The firm of D. L, Snyder & Son are dealers
in general merchandise, fresh and salt meate,
flour and feed. This firm has conducted the
business for ten years.
S. L. Byers, on Main street, conducts a gen-
eral merchandise store on a strictly cash basis.
It is known as the New York Racket Store.
Mr. Byers has been in business in his present
location for the past nine years, having com-
menced his business in 1899 in a store room
west of the Pennsylvania railroad station.
On Main street is the clothing, boot and
shoe store managed by Spector & ilarks.
W. H. Long has a grocery store on East
Main street, and has been in business there
since 1912.
Since 1911 Abe Kriwawnik has had a ladies'
and gents' furnishing store, which is known
as The Fair.
The Indiana County American, published
by Berry Brothers since 1910, is the news-
paper of the borough, and advocates the tem-
perance cause.
The Homer City National Bank was or-
ganized July 20, 1907, with a capital stock
of $50,000. " The first board of directors con-
sisted of E. J. Miller, president; J. L. Nix,
vice president : C. M. Lingle ; F. C. Betts ; Joe
J. Campbell; J. A. Klingensmith, and W. P.
Risinger. The bank was opened in a room
of the "Arlington Hotel" and Mr. S. C.
Steele, cashier of the Madera National Bank,
was elected cashier of the new institution.
In June, 1908, the building now occupied by
the bank was contracted to be built, being
completed in December of the same year.
This building is a three-story brick. The first
floor is used entirely for bank purposes, the
second floor is for office purposes, and the
third floor is used for lodge rooms. The base-
ment is occupied by the barber shop of Henry
Elden. The building is equipped with hot
and cold water throughout, electric lights and
hot water heating system. The institution
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
491
has been prosperous; the deposits, according
to the statement of August 2, 1913, being
$207,056.21, and the surplus and undivided
profits $9,544.00.
William Risinger, S. C. Steele and J. D.
George were elected directors January 14,
1908; J. M. Risinger, July 6, 1908; T. J.
Brandon, December 7, 1909; C. M. Lingle
was elected president, ilay 9, 1911. The
present officers are : J. M. Risinger, presi-
dent; F. C. Betts, vice president; S. C. Steele,
casluer; W. P. Risinger, assistant cashier.
The petition of the citizens of the village
of Homer to incorporate as a borough under
name and style of "Homer City" was laid
before the grand jury June 13, 1872, and
on September 26, 1872, the court confirmed
the judgement of the grand jurj' and decreed
that the town be incorporated as a borough
a:nd that the election be held in the school-
house of said borough November 22, 1872.
David Boyd was appointed by the court to
give notice of said election. William Mc-
Kisson was judge and William Mullen and
Benton Peddieord. inspectors of said election.
The election held in the schoolhouse on Llarch
21, 1873, resulted as follows: Against license,
30 ; for license, 24 ; burgess. David Boyd ;
town council, John H. Devers. William Mc-
Kisson, J. P. Mikesell, John McLain, William
H. Douthitt and John Dodson ; high constable,
R. P. Carson; school directors, John Evans,
William Mullen, William Wilson, R. R. Ellis,
R. Peddieord and James Flickinger; assessor,
Jolm Mullen ; assistant assessors, Abraham
Flickinger and William Wilson: overseers of
the poor, John McLain and Isaac Killeu ;
auditors. Simon Drenning, B. Peddieord and
L. P. Flickinger; judge of election, John
Griffith; inspectors, John F. Barcley and
James M. Watt; constable, Alex ]M. Lucas.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing : Number and value of horses assessed,
50 — $1,778 ; number and value of cows as-
sessed, 21— $409; taxables, 404; taxable real
estate, $225.985 ; monev at interest. $66.-
872.12; cost of assessment, $32.86.
Prairie State Incubator Company. — Twen-
ty-five years ago this famous plant was
started by Hon. A. F. Cooper. It was a suc-
cess from the start and the incubators were
sold in all parts of the United States, and in
foreign lands. Afterward J. L. Nix was
taken in as partner, and later he purchased
the interest of A. F. Cooper also. On August
10, 1911, when the factory force were all
nicely started on their usual day's work, fire
broke out in the main building and com-
pletely destroyed the plant and lumber yards,
sweeping everything before it, e-xeepting the
office building. The loss amounted to over
$100,000. Plans and work were well under
way for a new modern, fire-proof, concrete
plant. The fire destroyed the concrete forms
that had been prepared for the building of
the new factory, which is located a short dis-
tance from the old one. But out of the ashes
has arisen the largest, finest and best equipped
incubator factory in the world. The new
factory and yard covers seven and a half
acres. The buildings are of reinforced con-
crete, the sides of which are so full of glass,
set in steel sash, as almost to resemble a green-
house. The construction affords all the light
necessary even on the darkest days, and gives
fift.y per cent ventilation, which makes the
interior cool and comfortable, even on the
warmest summer daj's. Sanitary precau-
tions are perfect and everything possible has
been done to insure the health and comfort
of the workmen.
The main building contains sixty thousand
square feet of floor space, divided into seven
departments, each separated by a fire wall
and having its own individual fire protec-
tion. The main building is 487 feet long and
272 feet wide. The wings are all 60 feet wide
and finished and protected in identically the
same manner as the main building. A pri-
vate railroad siding, one thousand feet in
length, runs between the two main wings,
thus facilitating the rapid delivery of all raw
material and likewise the prompt loading of
outgoing shipments. The building is heated
throughout by hot water and lighted by Maz-
da incandescent lights from the companies
owTa power plant. The interior is painted
snow white and all the wires and cables are
embedded in metallic conduits, thus insur-
ing safety and improving the appearance of
the interior. The power plant' consists of
a four-c.ylinder automatic gas engine, con-
nected direct with a tbi*ee-phase generator.
This not only fuimishes the power for driving
the 335 horse-power motors distributed in the
various buildings, but also for the electric
lights through the interior. The woodwork-
ing department has modem high speed equip-
ment of the largest size and capacity and a
36 by 24 in. band resaw. planers, moiilders,
matchers, automatic rip saws, automatic lathes,
Sanders, nailing machines, and. in fact, every
modern device for working wood accurately
and at the lowest possible cost. The sheet
metal department is equipped with a full line
of Bliss and Toledo stamping presses. All the
492
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
lamps, re^ilators and thermostats and sheet
metal parts are manufactured by machinery,
and thus the slow expensive hand work is all
eliminated, and one article is just like the
other, insuring that one part or one attach-
ment is equally as perfect as the other.
"While the factory buildings are absolutely
fire proof, the contents will burn, and as no
fire protection is provided by the village the
company have put up a complete waterworks
of their own. Upon a hill eighteen hundred
feet away a concrete reservoir has been built,
having a capacity of 260,000 gallons, with an
elevation of 225 feet above the plant. An 8-
ineh main connects the reservoir with the
yard hydrants and a sprinkling system inside
the buildings insure protection. This system
maintains a constant gravity pressure of over
90 pounds per square inch. The perfection
of its fire system makes possible the lowest in-
surance rate of any plant in a similar line of
business. Tlie saving afforded on this one
item alone amounts to 5 per cent, of the
plant's entire investment.
The Prairie State Incubator plant is thus
the most modern and best equipped incubator
plant in the world and has a capacity of five
carloads per day, and the output is shipped
to all parts of the known world. This beauti-
ful and substantial plant is a lasting monu-
ment to the energy and perseverance of the
inventor of Prairie State Incubators, Mr.
James Love Nix, who thirty years ago, on a
farm in southern Illinois, produced a machine
which from that time to the present has
always been recognized as the most perfect
solution of artificial incubation ever produced.
Mr. Nix has given his constant and undivided
attention to every detail of the plans and erec-
tion of this factory, which accounts for its
thorough equipment and successful com-
pletion.
CHAPTER XXX
CHERRYHILL TOWNSHIP— CLYMER BOROUGH
Cherryhill township was formed from
Green and Brushvalley townships in 1854. In
1870 it had a population of 1,976, and in 1910
the population was 2,198, not including Cly-
mer borough, which had a population of 1,753.
The soil is a sandy loam, and is well adapted
to farming and stock growing. The minerals
are coal, lime and iron. It received its name
from "Cherryhill Manor," surveyed to the
Penns. Rev. Thomas W. Stephens describes
this tract as follows :
"There was a tract of land lying near the
center of what was called Green township, in
1823 called Penn's Manor. It contained about
1,300 acres. The line of my father's place was
along it for about one mile. There were sev-
eral settlers on it when we went into the cabin
on the Johnston place. Some of them had
been there nearly long enough to keep it by
settlement right of twenty-one years, but the
heirs of William Penn were watching them.
They sent an agent to have it divided into
suitable parts for sale. When he came, he
stopped at my father's house and made ar-
rangements for his lodging while he would be
at the job. After seeing around and over it
he proposed to sell the whole thing to my
father for $3.50 per acre, which would have
amounted to .');4,500. Father didn't think it
safe for him to venture such an addition to the
acres he already had. The agent divided it
into small tracts and sold it ovit." This tract
could not be bought now for less than
$100,000.
Old settlers of the township were : John
Lydick, who settled on 'what is now known as
the McGaughey farm, was driven away by the
Indians three times, and tlie last time was
gone seven years (he and his wife were na-
tives of Ireland and emigrated to America
with the Penns) ; James Moorhead, who was a
great-grandson of the pioneer, Fergus Moor-
head ; James M. Barr, who occupied the farm
now owned by George Stephens ; W. H. Cole-
man, who was born on the "Manor" in 1815;
William Fowler, who settled on land adjoin-
ing the "Manor," in 1806, coming from Cum-
berland county; John Martin, who settled in
1814 on the farm now owned by W. J. Had-
den; Shadracli Sicphciis, who settled on Yel-
low creek on hind nl'lci'wards owned by Peter
Coy, in 180."); Willijim Stephens, father of
Rev. Thomas W. Stephens, who settled on the
"Manor" on part of the farm now owned by
George Stephens; Samuel McKendrick, who
in 1828 settled on the "clay pike" near
"Lapsley Tavern"; John Ray, who came
from Ireland and settled on the "Manor"
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
493
about 1S16 ; James Simpson, who came from
East Mahoning township iu 1823; George
Wike, the first of the Wike family, who set-
tled here about 1819 (the oldest pioneer of
the name was Henry Wike) ; John Howearth,
who settled in Cherrj'hill at a point on Two-
lick creek, known as Howearths Mills; John
Evans, who settled where Greenville now
stands, in 1804.
The site of one of the first sehoolhouses in
the township was about one mile west of
Greenville on the Moorhead farm, which was
occupied by Francis Lockard about 1810. It
is on the Kittanning trail. The spring was an
Indian watering place, as the trail deviates
from its course to the spring.
The following gives some of the trials of the
earl.v settlers as told in an interesting way by
Kev. Thomas ^Y. Stephens, of Cherryhill town-
ship : "On the trip over the Allegheny j\Ioun-
tains to our western home, for it was called
' The West ' at that time — but perhaps the next
one you would hear speak of it would say
'the backwoods,' and truly it was backwoods;
it was one broad forest after another for fifty
miles over stones and over creek, not a bridge
to be seen on the way. But by and by we ar-
rived at our destination, a little one-story log
house with clapboard roof and a small kitchen
adjoining, built of the same materials, and
this kitchen was to be our home for the win-
ter— kitchen, dining-room, bed-room and par-
lor, all four in one. The other room was
occupied by an old Irish couple named John-
son and their daughter, Jane. They were to
have it until spring. But I return to our
first spring in the 'backwoods.' Father had
paid what money he had on the land and there
was $300 due, and grain scarce, and hard to
get. As an evidence of the condition of things
at that time in this country, my father had
been securing some grain to do us until we
could raise some. Moses Campbell, who lived
about two miles from us, heard that the Eng-
lish government was giving 100 acres of land
to every man that would settle in Canada and
100 for each son he had ; and he got the Can-
ada fever so bad that he offered father $5.00
for three bushels of rye that he had bought for
his own use. Campbell wanted it for horse
feed on his journey to Canada. Wheat was
very scarce. Corn coaild be raised much
sooner than wheat, so we had to eat corn
cakes very often and pone, as the corn loaf
was called. Sometimes we could get a fat
deer or bear, and then the most of us could
eat corn cooked in any way with good gravy,
but my sister, who was younger than I, got
very tired of it. She said she didn "t like that
'mush bread.' The mush was not quite as
good as if we had milk to take it with, but
father got his shop up, and by saving a little
money from time to time he managed to get
enough to buy a cow. She was a good one, but
she must have salt. Father had to pay $4.00
per bushel for the first salt he got in the 'back-
woods,' and $12.00 for the first barrel. The
cow was the only beast we had for some time
except a dog, and he was almost as necessary
as the cow, because of the bear, the wolf, the
wildcat, the panther and the racoon. Deer
and turkey eciually plenty, and some of them
were cjuite an advantage to the pioneer set-
tlers. A case or two will make it clear.
"My father and his brother built one of the
first sawmills in this part of the country. It
was only two miles from home to the place of
building the mill. Father took his rifle with
him as he went to and fro from his work. That
summer, in going and coming, he shot seven-
teen deer at twenty shots. We had plenty of
fresh meat that summer. The bears and coons
were usually fat in the fall, and any man that
had a good dog and a good gun, and could
manage them, could have oil enough for the
lamps all winter. My mother rendered twenty-
one tinfuls out of one bear. Bears would some-
times kill the hogs, but the hunters usually
kept even with them. My father and William
Frazer, an old hunter, went out with their
dogs on one occasion for a special bear hunt
to return when they were tired of hunting.
They were out two days and a half, and killed
nine bears."
The farm occupied by Samuel Hendricks in
1828, on the clay pike near the Lapsley farm,
was surveyed as vacant land in 1795 by John
Evans for James Simpson, and contained 400
acres. It is near Twolick creek on the Indian
path diverging from the Kittanning trail at
the Brown farm. It was a wild place in 1839,
there being only a cabin built by the Lockards,
and a small clearing. A panther killed Mc-
Kendrieks' dog after they came on the place.
On the farm of the pioneer Samuel Ralston,
on the pike five miles east of Indiana, was
kept a hotel for many years. The property
was first settled by William MeSweeny. The
building was erected about 1830 and for many
years was well patronized by drovers and
wagoners. The Kittanning war trail passes
nearly the entire length of the farm. On the
Campbell farm, now occupied by John Camp-
bell, settled by a man by the name of Fergu-
son about 1803, a log hotel was erected in
1805 or 1806. It was 20 by 30 feet, with a
494
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
"lean-to" on one side. Samuel Reed kept
the hotel and had a smith shop. Travelers
used to drive early and late to reach this
point, which was on an old State road located
nearly on the line of the Kittanning trail.
There was two or three cabins on the tract
prior to Reed's settlement in 1805. A storm
in the winter of 1879-1880 unroofed the old
tavern. In early days it was a good hunting
ground, part of which was called "Plum
Thicket," and there were evidences of an
Indian battle on the ground. The tavern was
noted for the fights that occurred there. An
orchard was planted on the farm in 1805 or
1806, and part of it is still bearing.
Thomas Asking emigrated from Ireland and
settled in the township about 1805. He worked
in a brickyard in Philadelphia until he paid
for his farm. He built a sawmill on the ti*act
in 1822, and others have been erected on the
site since. AA^illiam Murphy, in 1870, started
a woolen factory on Twolick, below the present
site of Diamondville, in a building erected
for a foundry by Spalding & Farren. James
Knabb in 1870 built a sawmill on Laurel run,
near the edge of Pine township on the site of
one built by John Coy in 1841. In 1847 Alex-
ander Stiichell engaged in the furniture,
undertaking and cabinet business in Green-
ville. He used water for power, after six
years introducing a 15-foot ovei*shot wheel.
Benjamin Long and Charles Burnheimer
Ijegan the manufacture of threshing machines
in Diamondville in 1858 and continued for
five years. Mr. Long conducted the business
until 1873, when H. C. Sickenberger became a
junior member of the firm, and the making
of fanning mills was added. In 1876 they
manufactured 140 fanning mills, and in 1878
they made eight single and double strap
threshing machines. They have produced ten
threshing machines in one season. The ' ' Key-
stone Fanning Mill, ' ' invented and manufac-
tured by them, is well and favorably known
in this section.
A gristmill built by Joseph Widdowson was
bought by John Houk and Mrs. Dorcas Houk
in 1877. It was the place of the settlement of
the Widdowsons about 1820. The mill in
later years was run by stoam power, having a
40-horse power engine two lows of burrs, and
a capacity of one liundird Imshels per day.
The residents of Cherryhill are among the
most enterprising of Indiana county. (The
growing borough of Clymer, which is dis-
cussed elsewhere, was taken from Cherryhill
in 1908.) The citizens of this township have
always taken an active interest in politics.
At one time there was a greater majority of
Republicans in this township than in any
other township of the county. It has fur-
nished its share of county and state officials.
Dr. Robert Mitchell was a member of the
Legislature for six years. Dr. Thomas Mc-
ilulleu was assemblyman for two years. Wil-
liam Evans served three terms in the State
Legislature and one term as sheriff of the
county, as county surveyor, and clerk in the
land office at Harrisburg for ten years. Fred-
erick Cameron was county commissioner, one
term; John G. Cameron, one term; Johnston
]\Iooi-head, one term.
The following are the old people who still
live in the township: Mrs. Eliza Houston,
widow of John Houston, daughter of John A.
Jamison ; Clai'issa Empfield, mother of C. W.
Empfield; Richard D. McGaughey; Andrew
Lydick; James Fowler; Rev. Joseph Holsop-
ple; William Fair; William Householder;
Mrs. William Lydick ; J. M. Bartlebaugh ; H.
F. Burkeypile; Milton Carney; S. J. Chap-
man; Henry Golden; Henry James Simpson;
aiatthew Stokes ; Daniel Wolfe ; Mr. and Mrs.
Bennett Wyncoop ; Mrs. Michael Sickenber-
ger; Mrs. Mattie Coy; Mrs. Charles Fyock;
Mrs. Jacob Dick; Mrs. John Myers; Mrs.
Giles Stephens.
The churches of Cherryhill township are
as follows: Manor Brethren, Diamond Metho-
dist Episcopal, Diamondville Union, Ridge
Chapel E. M., Twolick United Evangelical,
Grace United Evangelical, Stakes United
Evangelical, Rich Hill Wesleyan Methodist,
Spruce Wesleyan Methodist, Cherryhill
United Brethren, Greenville Brethren, Green-
ville ilethodist Episcopal, Harmony Presby-
terian at Greenville.
The cemeteries are as follows: Manor Ger-
man Baptist, Harmony, Manor, Howe, Steph-
ens, Diamondville, Rich Hill and Swamp.
The first election in Cherryhill township
was held March 16, 1855, when the following
officers were elected : Justices of the peace, A.
S. ]\I. Cunne and Thomas Askins; constable,
Alexandei' Stui'liill ; auditors, William Evans,
John (u'tty and James Davis; poor overseers,
John Alctiuirc and George Nockinger; school
directors, William Fowler, Andrew Gibson,
Isaac Empfield, Thomas Stephens, Frederick
Cameron and J. R. Buterbaugh; supervisors,
James Haddin and Samuel Howe; judge of
election, James M. Barr; inspectors, Peter
Risiuger and Joseph Cruly, assessor, Archi-
bald Fowler; assistant assessors, Jacob Dorp
and James Lydick ; township clerk, Thomas
Barr; election officers, Samuel H. Johnston,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
495
judge ; John D. Paige and Patrick Lydiek, in-
spectors.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: The number and value of horses as-
sessed, 450 — $16,593; number and value of
cows assessed, 407 — $5,295 ; taxables, 650 ; tax-
able real estate, .$605,412 ; number of acres of
cleared land, 22,283; timber land, 7,553;
money at interest, $112,477.21 ; cost of assess-
ment, $113.10.
Greenville. — Aside from Clymer, the prin-
cipal town is Greenville (Penu Run P. 0.).
The town was located on the Hugh Fulton an^
the William Evans farms. The first building
on the site of the village was the dwelling of
"William Evans. He laid out lots in 1838, and
called the village Greenville for the township
of Green, in which it was then situated. The
second house was the mud building or clay
house of David Davis, situated on the lot west
of the "Mansion House." "William Evans and
Samuel "Wiggins erected the firet salesroom.
This was situated near the site of the build-
ing formerh' occupied by J. C. Rugh & Broth-
er, and here was inaugurated the first store
in the village. The second mercantile estab-
lishment was managed and owned by Samuel
and Andrew Wiggins. The post office in
Greenville was established in 1839, and the
first postmaster was Andrew Wiggins. A
black walnut desk used in the old post office
is now owned by C. W. Empfield. For many
years the post office was located in the store of
J. C. Rugh & Brother. The next postmaster
was Sanford Pattison, a Democrat, who
located the office on the main street opposite
where the ^Methodist church now stands. It
was afterwards moved to the residence of
William Shalito and from there to the present
location, where the office is in charge of W. H.
H. Adams.
For many j^ears Greenville has been a cen-
ter for select schools. It may boast of having
had some of the largest and most successful
schools in Indiana county. The citizens have
always been interested in the select schools
and have helped to make them a success. The
success of its present school still continues.
Fifty yeai-s ago Greenville was a very busy
village. Through this place much of the haul-
ing of lumber was done from the vicinity of
Ghen-ytree to Indiana. A resident of Green-
ville remembers seeing one hundred teams
going through the village in one day. Today
the lumber is going the other way — from In-
diana to the county towns.
Mr. Isaac Empfield started a hotel in 1850
where his son, C. W. Empfield, now lives. The
hotel was conducted by him for twenty-two
years, until his death, and was conducted
until 1880 by his wife and above named son.
The "Houston Hotel" was built in 1859 by
Simeon Truly and was kept by John Houston
until his death; since that time it has been
conducted by ilr. Houston 's wife and daugh-
ters. The hotel formerly conducted by Mr.
William Lydiek is now conducted by Mr.
Lowry Houck.
At one time there were three tanneries in
the town : one on the pi'operty of James Davis,
formerly owned by Frank Stewart, was oper-
ated more than forty-five years ago by Alex-
ander and William Thompson; another was
built by P. S. Risinger and operated by
him and James :\I. Dickey more than fifty-
five years ago ; a third, built and operated by
Anthony Smith, was in later years operated
by Robert :\Iillikin, Sr., and Robert Millikin,
Jr., but is not in operation now.
The woolen mill of Penn Run was started
by William ilurphy and afterwards con-
ducted by W. H. Green. The mill was burned
in the fall of 1911 and was not rebuilt.
The first gristmilt, run by J. M. Barr. was
a small water mill run by an overshot wheel.
The mill was purchased from Mr. Barr by
.Robert McKeoge, who sold to J. C. and Sam-
uel Rugh, who operated the mill until it was
burned, June 1, 1885. It was rebuilt by J. C.
Rugh, Frederick Cameron, aaid William ]\Ic-
Featers. Mr. ^McFeaters bought the interest
of Mr. Cameron, which he disposed of to Wil-
liam Fair. The interest of Mr. Fair was sold
to James Fowler. On January 1, 1913, the
mill was purchased by John H.'Lytle. It was
at first run by water power and afterwards
by steam. The roller process was installed in
1886.
The places of business; —
^Ir. C. B. Widdowson keeps a general store
in the central part of the village in the build-
ing erected by ilr. Crawford. ^h\ Widdow-
son purchased the store building of the Fred-
erick Cameron heirs. In this building Lowry
Cameron conducted a store five years. The
business has been conducted by C. B. Wid-
dowson since April 1, 1901.
il. L. Houston began business on the oppo-
site side of the street from the Widdowson
building in 1876. For twelve years he made
and sold cigars, but at present conducts a
racket store.
On December 25, 1897, Mr. J. M. Fyock
opened a general store on the main street op-
po.site the "Houck Hotel." In connection
with the store he conducts an undertaking
496
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
which he has been engaged for the
past twenty years.
The old drug store near the J. M. Fyoek
store, conducted by Orrin Pattison since July
30, 1912, was formerly conducted by Messrs.
Samuel Glassford, J. M. Stewart, North Ly-
dick, R. H. Plude and E. G. Smith. Mr.
Plude kept his drugs in a small building on
the opposite side of the street, near the center
of the town.
In 1907 Mr. F. M. Burkhart built a large
and handsome store building on the StucheU
property, where the old cabinet shop formerly
stood.. Here he conducts a general merchan-
dise and hardware business.
Diamondville {Mitchells Mills P. 0.)— The
tract upon which this village is situated con-
tained 400 acres and was purchased by Dr.
Robert Mitchell, because it was "the nearest
pine tract to Pittsburg." Thomas Barr
pointed out the timberland to the Doctor
about 1822. The first movement was made by
Robert Mitchell in 1823. He and A. T. Moor-
head, Sr., erected a gristmill some time during
the season of 1824. Mr. Moorhead was the
first miller, and was succeeded by Thomas
Lockard. The gristmill was built of logs, 20
by 30, two stories high, had one run of coun-
try stone, and used a "rye fly" something
like a tub wheel. It was enlarged in 1825,
and was then supplied with an undershot
wheel, and two run of stone. The second mill
was erected by Doctor Mitchell in 1838. It
was a two-story frame building 50 by 50, had
two sets of burrs and an overshot wheel twelve
feet in diameter. The village was called by
Doctor Mitchell "Diamondville" because the
property was the diamond, or had the great-
est value of all the pine tracts in that section.
The first birth was that of Joseph McCloud
Moorhead, in 1825. He was the son of A. T.
Moorhead, Sr.
Hustonville. — The commencement of this
village was the building in 1850 of a smith
shop and house for the smithy of Robert Hus-
ton. Other mechanics moved in and there
are now eight houses, store, post office and
shops. The first store was established by Eli-
jah Cresswell in 1853, the present one by J.
H. Bllwood in 1879. The first blacksmith was
Henry Truxell, who came from Cambria
county in 1850. He was succeeded by David
Dougherty, who came from Blair county in
1858.
CLYMEE BOROUGH
Clymer, a prosperous coal town located at
the moutii of Dixon's run, along Twolick
creek, on the Robert Lydick farm, formerly
known as the "Billy Weimer" farm, about
eight miles north of Indiana, and connected
tlierewith by electric cars, was formed from
Cherryhill township in 1905. It had a pop-
ulation of 1,753 in 1910.
The name of the town was suggested by
John S. Fisher and adopted by the Dixon
Run Land Company, which established the
to^vn. "Clymer" was chosen in honor of
George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration
of Independence, a member of the Conistitu-
tional committee that adopted the Constitu-
tion of the United States, a friend of George
Washington, and the one to whom belongs the
distinction of being the founder of Indiana,
owing to the fact that he donated the ground
for the county seat. The land company sold
the lots^ at public and private sale. In this
respect Clymer differs from any other coal
town in the county. All available lots have
been sold. The policy of the promoters is "a
fair deal to every man," and the fact that
it is the center of large coal operations has
made it one of the largest and most prosper-
ous coal towns of the county. The Clearfield
Bituminous Coal Corporation, Rembrandt
Peale, and the Pioneer Coal Company have
branch offices in Clymer.
A number of years ago the Berwind-White
Coal Company purchased coal lands in the
vicinity of Clymer, but they shifted their oper-
ations to Somerset county and made Windber
their center of operations. The first exten-
sive mining in this vicinity was done by the
Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation and
the Pioneer Coal Company. Their purchases
were followed by the Russell Coal Mining
Company and Rembrandt Peale, J. L. Mitch-
ell and associates, J. H. Weaver, the Oper-
ators Coal Mining Company, and the Green-
wich Coal Company.
The Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corpo-
ration, owned by the New York Central &
Hudson River Railroad Company, is not a
commercial company, but produces coal ex-
tensively for the railroad. It has operations
at Sample run, below Clymer, and at the
Barr slope, near Dixonville. It also has a
large development at Rossiter, in Canoe town-
ship. Its holdings (aggregating more than
160,000 acres) and operations extend into
Clearfield, Cambria and Blair counties. The
company employs many thousand men and
produces 200,000,000 tons of coal annually.
In the vicinity of Clymer there are two good
commercial seams of coal, known as the
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
497
Lower Freeport, or bed "D," and the Miller
seam, or bed "B. "
The Pioneer Coal Company has its hold-
ings in Chei-ryhill and Green townships -and
has two large developments on Buck run,
just east of Ch-mer, and one at Starford in
Green township. This company is operating
the "B" seam and is producing an excep-
tionally fine quality of steam coal.
The Russell Coal Mining Company, which
is affiliated with the Rembrandt Peale oper-
ations, has two extensive mines on Dixon run
and another on Buck run.
Rembrandt Peale with his affiliated com-
panies is the largest independent coal pro-
ducer in the Clearfield district. He has large
holdings in Green, Cherryhill and Wliite
townships.
J. L. Mitchell, who was one of the pioneers
in the coal interests in Cambria county, owns
several thousand acres of coal in Cherryhill
township in the Penn Run district. These
lauds are undeveloped, but are readily acces-
sible to the Cherrytree & Dixonville railroad
and will no doubt furnish the basis for a
large mining industry at no distant date.
Clymer Brick and Fire Clay Company. —
This company was incorporated April 9,
1907, by the following board of incorporators :
Hon. John S. Fisher, president ; G. W. Leuk-
erd, secretary; Robert 'M. "Wilson, treasurer.
The original board of directors were: John
S. Fisher, president ; G. W. Lenkerd, secre-
tarv; Robert ]\I. "Wilson, treasurer; T. L.
Snvder. of Clearfield; H. A. Kratzer, Clear-
field; H. N. Widdowson, Mahaffey; Henry
Hall, Indiana ; Thomas Bellis, Altoona ; Wil-
liam D. Kelley, Philadelphia. The board re-
mains the same except that on the death of
Robert ]M. "Wilson, R. A. Henderson. Indiana,
Pa., was elected to his place ; and H. C. Christy
and W. S. Hamilton, of Iru:liana, Pa., fill the
vacancies caused bv the deaths of Thomas
Bellis and William "D. Kelley.
The company owns about two hundred
acres of land in Cherryhill township which
it purchased from Giles Stephens and the
Pioneer Coal Company. It has a modern brick
plant of fireproof construction, which in-
cludes a power house, machinery room, waste
heat dryer, ten rectangular down draught
kilns, stock sheds, blacksmith shop, etc. The
investment in the plant amounts to $150,000.
The product of the plant consists of paving
and building brick and radial chimney brick.
The principal business is the manufacture of
radial brick, of which 30,000 tons per year
are made. The product of the plant is pur-
32
chased principally by two firms, the Alphons
Custodis Chimney Construction Company and
the M. W. Kellogg Company, and marketed
in all the Eastern States, including the New
England States, Canada, Porto Rico, Cuba
and Honolulu.
The clay deposit is considered one of the
finest in the State. It is about seventeen
inches in thickness and immediately underlies
a three and a half foot vein of coal.
Indiana county possesses great areas of
clay and shale suitable for the manufacture
of paving and building brick and other clay
products. These deposits have scarcely been
touched. One of the gi'eatest resources of
the county lies in the undeveloped beds of
clay.
The clay deposits of the United States,
which were valued at $172,000,000 last year,
rank third, being excelled only by the de-
posits of coal and iron. The clay product of
Pennsylvania amounted to $21,000,000 last
year, l3eing excelled by only one State, Oliio.
Indiana has its share of the clay deposits
of the State and its manufacture will become
one of the leading industries of the county.
The first resident of the new town was John
A. Dillon, who came to Clymer from Clear-
field in 1905, and started a boarding house on
Hancock street. During the fii'st year he had
from fifty to sixty boarders, mostly engineers
and officers of the C. B. Coal Corporation,
who were superintending the building of the
new town. Mr. Dillon, having kept hotel at
Ansonville for fifteen years, and the restaurant
in the New York Central station in Clearfield
for seven years, soon established a reputation
for satisfying "the inner man, " although it
was with some difficulty that he could get
enough provisions from the surrounding coun-
try. IMr. Dillon, in 1912, moved to a private
residence on Sixth street where he still lives.
The petition to make Clvmer a borough was
filed October 28, 1907, and the order of court
authorizing it as a borough was filed February
29, 1908. The survey of the borough shows
that it is bounded by the lands of the Pioneer
Coal Company, Clymer Brick & Fire Clay
Company, J. W. Aekerson, William Kephart,
Mrs. L. Dearmin, Bituminous Coal Corpora-
tion, Kinter Brothers, John McHendricks,
Mrs. il. J. Oberlinan, James W. Davis, Wil-
liam Bamett, Sirs. J. S. Rowe, and Twolick
creek, and contains 30-1.78 acres.
The election for the borough officers was
held April -4, 1908, in room No. 1 of the second
floor of the Clymer Hardware Company's
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
building, on the corner of Franklin and Sixth
streets. Frank Fleming was appointed by the
court to give due notice of said election. The
court directed that Alexander Hunter be
judge and A. F. Roser and J. H. Fagan in-
spectors. The election resulted as follows:
Burgess, J. A. Dearolph ; justices of the peace,
H. D. Smith and J. C. Davison; tax collector,
J. G. Lixfield ; assessor, Orvil Krough ; audit-
ors, W. H. Brewer and L. C. Bence ; judge, A.
F. Roser ; inspectors, A. W. Hetrick and James
Irwin; poor overeeers, J. E. France and Ira
Brown ; high constable, John Wolf ; constable,
H. F. Fleming ; treasurer, W. F. Neeley ; coun-
cil, H. R. Depp, A. Clemenson, Dr. H. N. Pro-
thero, John McGuire, Dr. W. A. Evans, Joseph
Christy, and John Morrow; school directors.
Dr. L. E. Ackerson, Walter Robins, James St.
Clair, T. C. Stanley, David Black, and David
Abram.
Principal stores:
The A. F. Kelly Store ; the Victor Trading
Company; W. C. Strong & Son, who occupy
a brick building on Franklin street, built in
1906, into which they moved in 1907, conduct-
ing a general merchandise store; George
Dixon & Son, located on Franklin street, who
have conducted a general merchandise store
since 1906 ; other merchants are H. Levinson,
J. C. Christy, Peter Paytash, Frank Pertra-
tis, there is also Thomas' Five and Ten Cent
store. The principal meat markets are con-
ducted by T. C. Stanley and John Rozella.
There are two druggists in the town, John W.
Evans and Thomas Kirkman, who purchased
the store of the Lydick Drug Company. There
are two hardware stores, those of the Clymer
Hardware Company and the Eureka Hard-
ware Companj'. Naum Cooper has a tailoring
establishment. John Dearolph is an under-
taker and furniture dealer. C. B. O'Neil,
jeweler.
The physicians are Dr. Benjamin Coe and
Dr. J. S. Miller. Dr. L. E. Aekei-son. a na-
tive of Cherryhill township, is the only den-
tist in the town.
There are two hotels, the "Neely Hotel,"
W. F. Neely, proprietor, and the "New Cly-
mer House," Edward Dwyer, proprietor.
Clymer National Bank. — The Clymer Na-
tional Bank began business January 16, 1911.
The handsome brick building 50 by 60 was
erected in 1911. The first floor is occupied by
the bank and a mercantile establishment, and
the second floor by office rooms. There is a
photographer's room and a barber shop in
the basement. The bank was organized with a
capital stock of $25,000 and has increased its
resources very rapidly. The officers are as
follows : Ed Widdowson, president ; Dr. L.
E. Ackerson, vice president; H. Andrews,
cashier; E. C. Meek, assistant cashier. The
directors are : David Ober, W. A. Evans, S. A.
Krider, C. E. Fulton, Peter Paytash, J. A.
Dearolph.
The churches of Clymer borough are First
Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Greek
Catholic and Christian.
There are two brick school buildings. The
eight-room school building was erected soon
after the town was started, but not being suf-
ficiently large to accommodate the rapid in-
crease in the number of school children, last
year a two-room building was constructed
near the street car line. There are ten teach-
ers employed and a two-year high school
course was added to the curriculum in 1912.
The principal of the school is Ernest Mc-
Laughlin, a graduate of the Indiana State
normal school. He was reared in Sheloeta
borough.
The assessor's book for 1913 of Clymer bor-
ough shows the following : Number and value
of horses assessed, 53 — .$2,250; number and
value cows assessed, 67 — $1,340; taxables,
669; taxable real estate, $187,661; money at
interest, $11,795.39; cost of assessment,
$90.72.
CHAPTER XXXI
CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP— SALT SBUEG BOROUGH
Conemaiigh township was formed from
Armstrong township in 1807. It received its
name from the river which forms its southern
boundary. It lies in the southwestern corner
of the count}'. In 1870 it had a population
of 2,152, including Saltsburg, and in 1910 the
population was 2,510, not including Saltsburg,
which alone had a population of 1,044.
The soil is a rich loam, well adapted to agri-
cultural purposes. The principal minerals
are coal, iron ore and limestone. The surface
is hilly and is well watered by Black Legs
creek and numerous other streams that empty
into the Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas rivers
bordering on the souths An old citizen gives
the origin of the unique name of Black Legs
creek. It appears that among the relics that
were early discovered along its bank was an
old gun bai-rel upon which were the initials
"B. L.." and the nameless creek was called
Black Legs. The Kiskiminetas river is
formed from the confluence of the Conemaugh
and LoyaUianna, south of Saltsburg.
The tii-st settlers in this locality were mostly
Scotch and Irish, and came from east of the
Alleghenies, especially from Franklin and
Columbia counties. They were a very sober
and industrious people. From 1770 until
1794 the settlers were quite insecure on ac-
count of the Indians. A blockhouse was
erected on the Dickson farm as a means of
defense. One of the Indian war paths was
along the Loyalhanna. There was an Indian
town about one mile below Saltsburg on the
left bank of the Kiskiminetas river. Xotwith-
standing frequent annoyances by the Indians,
the settlements were rapidly extended. Many
of the residents had been reared under Pres-
byterian influence and brought their Bibles
with them, and held family worship regularly.
In 1766 Robert Robinson, Sr.. came to this
locality and built a cabin in sight of the river
opposite Coalport. and soon afterwards built
his residence upon a farm afterwards owned
by "W. J. Sterrett, where he lived until his
death.
In 1776 Rev. James Power became pastor
of :Mt. Pleasant and Sewickley churches, and
began to preach as stated supply at Unity,
fourteen miles distant from Saltsburg. the
nearest point for public worship prior to
1783, the close of the Revolutionary war.
From that time the Presbytery of Redstone,
which then embraced all of this region, sent
out numerous supplies into the thinly settled
districts, by whom churches were organized.
There were no settled pastoi-s imtil in 1790.
On the 22d of November of that year, old
Salem, Congruity. and Poke Run obtained
under shepherds, Jlr. John ]\IcPherrin being
ordained and installed pastor of the first (in
connection with Unity), and ]\Ir. Samuel Por-
ter of the other two churches. Rev. Joseph
Henderson was called to the congregation of
Ebenezer April 9, 1799, and became its pastor.
To these points, where tents and afterwards
rude log houses of worship were erected, our
forefathere from the surrounding coi^ntiy
gathered with their families for public wor-
ship.
A log gristmill was erected on Johnston's
point in Westmoreland county, near Salts-
burg, at a very early date, to which the set-
tlers packed their grain to be prepared for
food. From the Indiana county side they
came from five to ten miles across a region of
country but thinly settled and winding
through unbroken woodland to the very edge
of the river, which- they forded at a point .iust
above the junction of the Loyalhanna with the
Conemaugh. Later there was an oil mill and
"still house" built upon the point, and bu.si-
ness began to center at this place. Flatboats
were laden with home products for New
Orleans. This was the only route for trade
until the opening of the Pennsylvania canal,
which did away with flatboats.
Other old mills were Thompson's mill on
Altman's i-uu. Ly tie's mill on Elder's run,
Treas's mill on Bl&ck Legs run, near Salts-
burg. These mills were all run by water
power — overhead wheels with buckets. At
500
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
present there are no gristmills in the town-
ship, but a number of the fai-mers now supply
themselves with gasoline engines for chopping
purposes. The real discoverer and manufac-
turer of salt in this locality was one William
Johnston, who came from Franklin county in
1800 and settled upon the point. A full de-
scription of the salt works is found elsewhere
in this book.
The first schoolhouse within the limit of
Indiana county of which the writer has any
knowledge was in Conemaugh township, about
a half mile from the Kiskiminetas river. It
was an abandoned dwelling house, being the
first cabin built in the county. The building
was owned by Robert Robinson, and the school
was taught by James McDowell. The school
was kept open about three hours in the even-
ing. The date of this school was not later than
1785, but there are reasons to believe that it
was as early as 1777 or 1778.
Before Rev. Joseph W. Henderson began to
preach at Ebenezer, in 1797, there was a
schoolhouse built near where the church now
stands, and ,a Mr. Meldron was the teacher. In
1780 there was a schoolhouse about one mile
above Saltsburg, near what is now White sta-
tion on the West Peun railroad. It was an old
house then. Thomas Irwin taught that year.
Mr. McCreery taught school in a log house
about 1790, where the United Presbyterian
church of Conemaugh now stands. The base
of the chimney of this house still stands on
laud owned by the James Oliver heirs. Mar-
garet Coleman, who died in 1912, at an age of
ninety years, attended this school. In 1802
or 1803 a schoolhouse was built north of Lew-
isville. Master Fulton taught the school in
1806 and for ten years afterwards. Some time
before 1805, a schoolhouse was built where the
night school before mentioned was kept. The
first teacher was Robert Work. He was suc-
ceeded by John Reed. Mc Vicar, James May
and Cornelius Campbell. Soon afterwards
another schoolhouse was built, between 1800
and 1805, on land owned by Thomas Shirley,
Sr. In 1809 or 1810 a schoolhouse was erected
on land of Richard Clawson. The teachers
were IMaster Nesbit and James Coulter.
Shortly aftcrwai'ds a schoolhouse was erected
on land of Silas l^'iilton, and about the same
time one on laud owiumI and occupied by Sam-
uel G. Miller. Tli.^ 1,';m-1mts cf the school last
named were Jaiiirs Duncnu, William Martin,
John Jamison and Saiiiu<l Ciavcu. In 1840
Conemaugh township had five schools and 337
pupils. At that time it had more schools and
more pupils than any other district in the
county. At present there are thirteen schools
and 458 pu^Dils. For many years Conemaugh
township stood in the first rank along educa-
tional lines. The early schools of Saltsburg,
the largest town and only borough, are dis-
cussed elsewhere in this book,
Tunnelton, a very progressive little town
along the Conemaugh division of the Penn-
sylvania railroad, was formerly known as
Kelly's Station. The first improvement here
was made by John Kelly before the Revolu-
tionary war. Being driven out by the In-
dians, he buried his pots, etc., and returned to
Lancaster county and enlisted in the army.
He applied for a patent for the land March 1,
1775, in the name of his father, James Kelly.
He returned home from the army with camp
fever and died. The patent was granted to
James Kelly for the land, 200 acres, adjoining
lands of Joseph Williams and Thomas Reed,
above on the river, and William Osprey, be-
low, on November 3, 1784. Samuel Kelly, a
brother of John, enlisted in the Revolutionary
war at the age of seventeen years, and at the
close of the war came and settled on the tract,
and was followed by his father, James Kelly,
a few years later.
Clarksburg is a beautiful village located in
the northern part of Conemaugh township on
Black Legs creek. It is five miles from Salts-
Inirg, which is connected with it by a macad-
amized road. The daily trains at Saltsburg
are met by an automobile conveyance, which
runs to (jlarksburg, and this accommodates
passengers who wish to go to Clarksburg,
Eldersridge and Iselin and who at that point
can take the train on the Buffalo, Rochester
& Pittsburg railroad to Indiana and north-
ern points.
There are two general stores in Clarksburg.
The one is conducted by W. A. and J. M.
Hart, who keep the postoffice, and the other
is conducted by J. T. Young. Samuel Baroni
has a grocery and meat market.
By a special Act of the Legislature Clarks-
burg had been an independent school dis-
trict and had but three school directors, but
when the new code became a law the district
again became part of the township. In com-
pliance with the code the citizens of the dis-
trict made application to the court for an in-
dependent school district. The application
was granted and the court appointed five
school directors.
Among the very old settlers of the town-
ship were the following:
Robert Roliin.son settled in the southwestern
part of the township, and his descendants are
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
501
among the largest of any connection in the
county. Soon after 1780 he moved from Big
Sewickley on packhorses, crossing the Kiski-
minetas river in a canoe, and floating the
horses over the river, and settled on a tract of
land, the warrant of which is dated February
25, 1780. The tract was called "York" and
contained 210 acres. The consideration was
the sum of three pounds, eight shillings, law-
ful money. The land was situated on the
north side of the Kiskiminetas river at the
mouth of the Robinson run.
John ilarshall settled on the old ^Marshall
farm of 424 acres about 1768. His family was
driven away by the Indians to the eastern part
of the State, where they remained for several
years. William ^Marshall located on a farm
of 428 acres about the same time, and Samuel
Marshall on a farm of 287 acres.
Nicholas Coleman took up land on the Coue-
maugh in 1771, near the Conemaugh church.
He built a shanty and planted peach seeds
brought over the mountains. The Indians
approaching, his wife carried their child on
horseback to a fort near Greensburg, and then
to their home east of the mountains. When
they returned to the farm, in 1774 or 1775, the
peach trees they planted were laden with
peaches, which they made into peach brandy
and sold in the frontier to\vn of Kittanning.
They dug up their pewter spoons, kettles and
utensils, which they had buried from the In-
dians. Their descendants are still living on
this farm (Robert M. Coleman).
Joseph Rhea settled in 1806 at a point gen-
erally known as Coalport. The Coalport
farm is supposed to have been settled by the
Hindmans, but no record can be found of
them earlier than 1800. They were an un-
fortunate family — one drowned, one killed at
a raising, and another met an accidental death
in some manner, all in the space of one year.
This farm received the name of Coalport at
the building of the canal. James Alcorn had
the first store about 1829, and for some years
a store was kept at this point by Samuel N.
Kier, of Pittsburg, and George Wilson, of
Indiana, Pa. The business of the place ceased
with the closing of operations on the canal.
On this farm have been found skeletons of
men, probably Indians, and from old burial
places on this farm some old settlers think
the Indian town, Old Town Bottom, opposite,
across the Kiskiminetas, extended across the
river on the present Indiana county side.
From one of these graves enough stones were
taken to build a chimney.
Samuel Nesbit, who came in 1816, was the
father of Samuel Nesbit, who was treasurer
of Indiana county and lived on the old home-
stead which was patented by Joshua Elder
March 18, 1788, and known as the Alexander
Thompson farm. The farm has been owned
by four generations of the Nesbit family
since 1817. It was surveyed by Thomas :Mur-
ray October 5, 1773. The claim is said to have
been sold at one time for five shillings. An-
other claim in the same neighborhood was
traded off for three yards of shirt cloth.
Matthew ilcDowell, who came to this coun-
try not long after the Revolutionary war, set-
tled on a tract known as "Black Walnut
Bottom," on Black Legs creek. The tract
contained about 400 acres, all of T^hich is
tillable. A patent for this tract was applied
for by George Armstrong, April 3, 1769, and
was deeded to Samuel Dickson July 15, 1771.
Robert Shirley settled on Black Legs about
two miles from Saltsburg. Samuel Kier set-
tled in 1806. John Ewiug came to this vicin-
ity and settled on what was afterwards ilc-
Farland's mill in 1788. James Nowry. a pio-
neer on Black Legs creek in 1811, settled on
the homestead afterwards owned by his son,
Archibald M. Nowry. John Fleming settled
about 1772. Alexander Lytic settled in 1800
on a tract situated on Lytic 's run ; there was a
small improvement when he purchased the
tract and he built the fii-st sawmill in that
neighborhood in 1811, and the stone mansion
now occupied by the widow of John Lytle.
James Hart settled on the farm known as
Cooperstowu in 1806. The first survey of the
farm was made in 1773. John Drummond,
Sr., settled on the Osprey tract, adjoining the
Kelly tract, in 1812. There was an old Indian
camp on the Osprey tract on the site of which
there were mounds of shells and broken pieces
of crockery ware, which seem to have been
burned, of some coarsely pulverized material.
Robert ilcGaughey in 1818 settled on part of
the Thomas Reed tract near Tunnelton. Sam-
uel Lyons settled one mile from Saltsburg in
1793. Robert Wilson settled about two miles
from Clarksburg in 1791. He was driven
away by the Indians three summers, but re-
turned to his improvements as soon as he
deemed it safe.
CIRCULAR HUNT IN CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP
At a large representative meeting of the cit-
izens of Conemaugh township and Armstrong
township, held at the residence of Col. John
Neal on Wednesday, February 20, 1828, for
the purpose of agreeing on measures prepara-
502
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tory to a general circular hunt in said town-
ship, Capt. John Smith was appointed chair-
man, and Archibald Cunningham, secretary.
At the meeting it was decided the neighbors
of Indiana, Armstrong and Westmoreland
counties should attend the hunt on March 11,
at eight oclock A. M., to commence at James
Smith's in Conemaugh township. Divisions
of the circle were formed and men appointed
to have charge of each division. No firearms
were to be brought on the ground, but each
man was to be armed with a suitable cudgel,
and, if convenient, have a horn ; but no dog
was to be let loose until commands were given
by the men and officers.
SALT MANUFACTURE
In the Conemaugh valley there were several
salt wells from which was manufactured an
excellent quality of salt. The existence of salt
water in this section was indicated by the ooz-
ing of water, slightly brackish, through the
fissures of the rock. These places are called
licks, from the fact that deer and other ani-
mals resort to them, to drink the water and
lick the mud or rocks, though the salt is
scarcely perceptible to the human taste.
Hence, "watching a lick" was a phrase often
heard among sportsmen in that part of the
country; and it was common to see a kind of
scaffold or nest among the branches of a neigh-
boring tree, in which the gunner awaited the
approach of the unsuspecting animal to its
favorite lick. Many deer were killed in this
manner.
About the year 1812 or 1813 an old lady
named Deemer discovered an oozing of salt
water at low-water mark on the Indiana side
of the Conemaugh river, about two miles above
the present site of Saltsburg. Prompted by
curiosity, she gathered some of the water to
use for cooking purposes, and with a portion
of it made mush, which she found to be quite
palatable. This discovery very shortly led
to the development of one of the most import-
ant business interests in the county. About
the year 1813 William Johnston, an enterpris-
ing young man from Franklin county, com-
menced boring a well at the spot where Mrs.
Deemer made the discovery, and at the depth
of 287 feet found an abundance of salt water.
The boring was done by tramp or treadle,
the poles being connected with open mortise
and tongue, fastened with little bolts. The
salt was manufactured by boiling the water
in large kettles, using wood for fuel, until with
the opening of additional wells the wood from
some fifty or sixty acres of woodland had been
consumed for this purpose. Originally the
pumping was done by blind horses, and the
salt sold at five dollars per bushel retail, but
as the wells multiplied the price came down
to four dollars. Mr. Johnston's success in-
duced many others to embark in the business,
most of whom were successful. Very soon the
hitherto silent and solitary banks of this river
were all bustle, life and enterprise. Well after
well was sunk; competition ran high, and
brought the price of the article lower and
lower, until it was reduced to one dollar a
barrel. This was too low. Some establish-
ments were abandoned, others were carried
on midst every difficulty. However, a reac-
tion, which was naturally to be expected, at
last took place; the price was fixed at two
dollai-s per barrel, which afforded a fair profit.
The business regained its former spirit, and
the quantity manufactured rapidly increased.
With the increase of the trade came new ma-
chinery and appliances in the manufacture of
the salt. The unwieldy kettles were dispensed
with, and large pans of half-inch iron, some
20 feet long, 10 to 11 feet wide, and 8 inches
deep, were used instead ; coal was used as fuel,
the blind horses wei'e put aside, and the steam
engine introduced for both boring and pump-
ing. The place was called the Great Cone-
maugh Salt Works, from the name of the river
upon which they were located, and a post office
with that name was established there.
The Salt Works were located at what is now
White's Station, on the Conemaugh division
of the Pennsylvania railroad. For the last
five or six years coal has been successfully
mined at this place and a company store has
been established.
Churches of Conemaugh. — Presbyterian
Churches at Ebenezer, Clarksburg and Tun-
nelton ; Conemaugh United Presbyterian
Church ; Baptist Church at Tunnelton ■ Meth-
odist and United Evangelical Churches at
Nowrytown ; Covenanter Church at Clarks-
burg.
At one time a select school was conducted
at Lewisville, but in recent years no select
schools have been conducted in the township
except in the borough of Saltsburg.
The first election in Conemaugh township
was held at the house of Samuel Marshall
March 20, 1807, when Archibald Marshall was
elected constable; Robert Fulton and John
Matthews, supervisors; Robert Ewing and
Thomas Reed, overseers of the poor. The elec-
tion officers at that time consisted of two
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
judges. John ]\Iarshall and Alexander
Thompson.
At March session of court, 1807, the per-
sons appointed to divide the townships of
Armstrong and Conemaugh made a report
and presented a plat or draft of the division,
dividing said townships into five, to wit:
Blaeklick. Conemaugh. Center, Armstrong
and Washington, which report and draft was
approved by the court.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing : Number and value of horses assessed,
403 — $17,595 ; number and value of cows as-
sessed, 379— .$9,383: taxables. 1.160; taxable
real estate, $749.853 ; cleared land, $18.977 ;
timber land $1,390; money at interest, $53,-
699 ; cost of assessment, $97.04.
SALTSBUBG BOROUGH
The fii*st survey in the vicinit.y of Saltsburg
bears the date of June 20. 1769. and the ap-
plication was made April 3. 1769, by William
Gray. The tract was called ' ' Gray 's IMount, ' '
and was convej'ed to James Montgomery, j\Iay
8, 1772. The tract is described as situated
west of Black Legs town, on the north side of
a small run including several small springs.
An Indian trail is shown on the plat as pro-
ceeding toward Fort Pitt.
In the same year an application was made
for a survey of a large tract l.ving between
Black Legs creek and Kiskiminetas and Cone-
maugh rivers (on part of which i^altsburg was
afterwards located), by Hugh and Thomas
Wilson, to whom we are informed the warrant
and patent were afterwards granted. At this
time the wilderness was scarcely broken b.v
the "white man's foot." "Wild animals of
every description adapted to this latitude
roamed the forests in countless numbers."
The purchase of 1768 had called attention to
the backwoods and now the law of 1769 per-
mitting the application of survey was immedi-
ately taken advantage of by many hardy pio-
neers who rolled the wave of immigration so
rapidly that in 1773. Westmoreland county
was organized, and the settlement was ex-
tended upon the upper portion of the river.
But the frequent attacks of the savages forced
the people often to retire to the older settle-
ments and there was no security of life or
property till after the treaty of 1795.
These early pioneers were generally Scotch-
Irish, and according to Findley "were a more
sober, orderly people than commonly happens
in the first settlement of a new country." A
grer.t portion were farmers' sons who emi-
grated from the old countries and were gen-
erally acquainted with each other.
In the winter of 1816 and 1817 Andrew
Boggs, the father of the late Judge Jackson
Boggs, of Kittanning, who had pm-chased a
considerable body of land and located upon it
at this place, laid out and sold the first town
lots. In a short time a town began to rise from
the woods. From its inception, by common
consent, it received the name of Saltsburg,
purely from the great interest which at that
early day absorbed the attention of the peo-
ple of this locality. At the time of the first
sale, January, 181 1 , one lot was deeded to the
"Congregation of Saltsburg," there being no
other religious denomination here, it would
seem, but the Presbyterian.
The first house was erected in 1819-20 on
the lot occupied by the Presbyterian Church.
It stood in the rear of the site of the church.
The first tavern was opened in 1820 by John
Williams, who remained only a short time. He
stayed away till about the "time of the build-
ing and again made an attempt at the tavern
business. He was succeeded by Isaac Fitz-
gerald, who left in 1821. Both of these houses
were rude cabins and were illy constructed to
afl'ord much entertainment for the weary
traveler.
John Carson, about 1827, was the first
tailor. Joseph Anderson, in 1831. was his
successor. He also was among the early
landlords. The first blacksmith was Daniel
Davis. The first merchant was George John-
ston, in 1829. In 1831 the merchants were:
Edward Carlton, George Johnston and Robert
ilcllwain, the latter receiving as partner in
that year, William ilcllwain (who continued
in business till 1875). In that year a small
school was kept in a little log house which
stood near the trestle work of the railroad
bridge. Abner Whittlesey was the first
teacher, and John Bucklin the second.
Weaver did the tanning and made hats. A
stoi-y is told of his preparing a wonderful hat
out of the shaggy coat of a colt. Simon Drum
was the next tanner. His tannery was in the
rear of the Earhart house. There was not a
located physician. Doctor Kirkpatrick. of
Salem occasionally visited the place, when the
disease was beyond the usual home relief.
The first canalboats that reached Saltsburg
were the "Pioneer" and "Pennsylvania," of
David Leech's line, on the 15th of ilay. 1829.
They proceeded as far as Blairsville and re-
turned to Saltsburg. For several years after
the completion of the canal and the opening
up of navigation through the main line from
504
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Harrisburg to Pittsburg, no business of any
importance marked the history of Saltsburg,
save the boatbuilding industry. In 1835-36
Robert Young, Butler Myers, Jacob Newhouse
and others leased several acres of ground
above Point street and prepared a yard for
the construction of canalboats and for a num-
ber of years this business was vigorously
pushed forward. Some of the finest and most
symmetrical heavy freight boats on the canal
were constructed in this yard. It gave em-
ployment to quite a number of workers in
wood and added not a little to the progress
and improvement of the town. With the in-
vention of section boats constructed in three
or four compartments, which were clasped to-
gether for navigation and separated and
placed on trucks for conveyance over rail-
roads to save reshipment of freight, the boat-
building interest received an impetus. Ways
were erected for the purpose of drawing boats
from the water for repair and this in connec-
tion with the construction yard gave employ-
ment to a large number of laborers, summer
and winter. This enterprise continued cjuite
vigorously until the purchase of the main line
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, when
the business was abandoned.
In 1882 the tracks of the railroad were
changed and placed on the bed of the old
canal. In 1884 a new station was built at
the present location, and the old station is
now used for the Town Hall.
WAY BACK IN THE SIXTIES A PEN PICTURE OF
SALTSBURG
(J. C. Moore, February 21, 1913)
I want you to wander back with me to the
scenes of my boyhood, to a little village called
Saltsburg, situated on the banks of the Cone-
maugh and Kiskiminetas rivers — not the
Saltsburg of today but the one I lived in away
back in the sixties.
"Backward, turn backward, oh time in your
flight;
Make me a child again, just for tonight."
I want to sit at the old familiar spot at the
Point where we would catch great strings of
fish ; I want to hear the plaintive song of the
whip-poor-will and the tinkling of bells on the
distant hills sweetly mingling with the happy
chorus of the song birds in their morning or
evening serenades ; or hear the musical note of
the boat horn giving the signal to open the
lock on the old Pennsylvania canal. A vision
of the happy past opens before me and I can
imagine I am a boy again playing around the
old familiar places that I am about to describe.
I can never forget the Indian shows — with real
Indians ; for mouths after the show had gone,
the hills resounded with our Indian whoops
and yells, and with faces painted, and feath-
ers on our heads and down our, backs, we went
forth on the warpath and in our imagination
scalped many a white man. I will commence
this story with a description of the old brick
church which stood at the north end of town
on the spot now occupied by S. M. Kiebler
as a planing mill. The memory of the old
brick church is very dear to me, for in it the
writer along with about one hundred other
young people made a public profession of our
faith in Christ, a decision the wisest and most
important any young person can make ; for a
truly successful life depends upon this deci-
sion, and youth is the time to decide this im-
portant matter before the cares of business
and the pleasures of this world crowd upon
us and we forget
"There is a time we know not when,
A point we know not where,
Tliat marks the destiny of men
For glory or despair."
The old church had two doors in front and
one at the upper side. The pulpit was high
and reached by many steps. The choir box in
the rear of the church was also high and boxed
in with entrance in the center and reached
from each aisle; seats, pulpit and choir box
painted whil*. The fronts of the front seats
were made to let down and were used as tables
at communion season, also tables were set in
the aisles to accommodate communicants. All
members of the church were obliged to get
from the elders a little lead token which would
entitle them to the privilege of communion.
These tokens were collected by the elders as
soon as the communicants were seated at the
About half the basement next the road was
used for a Sabbath school room, for prayer
meeting and old fashioned singing school.
Across the street was a house and a large
yellow warehouse fronting on the canal basin.
The basin was very wide so that boats could
be turned there. Next on the basin and on the
spot occupied by Harry Starry as a garage was
Kingsley & Kelly's general store; across the
alley James Alcorn's general store, in part of
the building occupied by the Alcorn heirs ; op-
posite the Alcorn and Black properties the
canal lock, and a bridge across just below the
lock; on the west side of the lock the Hugh
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Kelly property. Hug-li Kelly was the lock
tender and we boys thought of Samson when
we would see him open the great gates him-
self. On the east side of the lock Henry Blank,
the baker, lived and such good big ginger
cakes he did bake — big as a butter plate and
all for one copper cent ; across the alley the
stone house occupied by William ilcQuiston
as dwelling and store room, and fronting on
canal his large warehouse; another old house,
then the tenpin alle.v, about where the depot
now stands; across the alley below the Freet
property an old house (can't recall who lived
there), but in the basement of the house Wil-
liam Fulton had a butcher shop. He butch-
ered about once a week. If you wanted to
get a good piece of meat you had to get up
at three or four o'clock in the morning, go
gtand in line and wait your turn, just about
like the arrangement you have now for getting
your tickets marked off for the lecture course ;
first come, get the pick ; last come, a soup bone.
A high bridge crossed the canal on this street.
West of the present depot and across the
canal the V. Blank property; at the river
bridge the tool house on the south side of
Washington street below the canal and two
old houses on the James P. Watson property.
Opposite the depot, the old stone house occu-
pied by William Mcllwain as general store.
This is the stone store referred to by the ' ' little
customer's" first visit to the burg — who saw
such wonderful things beyond Hood's hill.
The house below was the warehouse and stood
in the rear of the stone house at that time.
Another large warehouse and stable stood be-
tween that point and C. J. ilartin's property.
An old warehouse where C. J. j\Iartin's res-
taurant now stands. Another high bridge
crossed the canal here on Point street where
John McPhilimy has his furniture store, and
was occupied by Stewart, Robinson & Co., gen-
eral store. At this point on the canal the
packets always stopped ; just east of the Salts-
burg House was a large white house occupied
by ilr. McWilliams, the miller, and west on
Point street the old stone house, and the
Weaver property on the corner now occupied
by T. N. Forbes : opposite was the Laird prop-
erty and above that next to the canal a little
frame house (I think at one time occupied by
my friend. R. J. Irvin, with his mother and
sister). On the site formei-ly occupied by
the Patterson ililling Company was I\Iajor
Laird's flour mill, and further out in the
river a large sawmill, and under the sawmill
was a great place to gig or spear fish ; many a
fine string of fish I took home from that spot.
505
Joseph Andre was the sawj-er and a good,
jolly, kind-hearted man he was. In one part
of this sawmill they had a shop for turning
the great high posts used in those days for
making beds. And don't I remember the old
null dam and swimming hole below the dam !
We could dive oft" that dam and go down so
deep that the water was as cold as spring
water. But now, alas, there is neither a dam
by a mill site or a mill by a dam site.
Now I don't mean to swear, and it reminds
one of the little boy who asked his papa if it
would be swearing to say cofferdam. "Why,
no, my son, but why do you ask ? " " Wliy, if
grandma don 't quit her coughing she '11 coft'er-
dam head off."
On the plot of ground where Joe Serene's
house stands was a large tanyard and shop,
and only one other house until you cross the
alley at the Doughty property. There was one
other house, another tanyard and the Andre
property. Where the glasshouse now stands
was a large sawmill and a bridge crossed the
canal at this point. Now coming back to
AVashington street, where the Freet house
stands was an ice house; where Joe McClar-
an's drug store is now was Portser's car-
penter shop ; opposite the Freet house was the
John Reed and Dr. John :\IcFarland property,
the Marshall tavern; and on Allison's corner
the Redpath general store ; where A. J. Mc-
Quiston now lives was an old house occupied
by Alexander Fleming, and at the other end
of the lot where H. L. Weamer has his store
was Fleming's harness shop ; the O'nstott prop-
erty was occupied by ilrs. Mcllwain as a
dwelling and general store ; across the alley,
the building now occupied by Delisi as fruit
store, J. S. Robinson's drug store ; next a little
white frame which stood about a foot below
the level of the street where Elmer Goodlin's
drug store is was Hawkin's tailor shop, and
where my store room stands was a little black
schoolhouse, where I got my ideas started to
shoot and they have been shooting ever since
— seldom hitting anything worth while. Next
the Carnahan property, used as dwelling,
tailor shop and many years as postofSce ; west
on Point street the John Kilpatrick dwelling
and store; next below was the Captain ilc-
Intire house; Captain ilclntire was the cap-
tain of a military company called the "Black
Hornets ; " to my mind this was the first mili-
tary company I ever saw. West of the Mc-
Intire propert.y, the large brick, the Taylor
property, occupied as dwelling and harness
shop ; below that an old tumbled down and
vacant house; where the Ta,ylor bargain store
506
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
now stands was a dwelling occupied by George
Myers ; east of that an old vacant house, and
next to that a very large building, the Gosser
tavern; and between that and Dr. W. B.
Ansley's property was a lumber yard. The
S. S. and William Moore property, then the
large brick, the Earhart tavern. I have seen
Point street from the Earhart tavern down
past the Gosser tavern nearly to the canal
filled with wagons loaded with lumber brought
from the north and going to market, and
many of these teams ou their return loaded
up with salt at Saltsburg to be taken north.
Going south on Salt street the same old
buildings are there that were there when I
was a boy. ' Where Mrs. McParland lives was
a long, low house, property of David Hender-
son; then from there to the large warehouse,
at the spot where Joe Ferguson's house stands,
the following new houses on the south side of
the street: H. L. Weamer, R. V. McClaran,
D. C. Whitesell and Joe Ferguson's houses,
and am not sure but Albert Smith 's house was
built since. The balance of the houses on that
side of the street have been greatly improved
and very much changed.
Where Frank Bell lives was a house occu-
pied by James Daugherty, a cooper by trade,
and he was considered a great violinist in
those days. This part of town I was not very
familiar with. An old house stood where
Sumner Stahl's building now stands. The
Methodist Church is new, also the property
just north of the church occupied by H. F.
Dixon. A little low house stood where Hugh
Gallagher's house stands and where L. R.
Moore's house stands was a cabinetmaker
shop, and the power used for turning bed-
posts, etc., was dog power. On the ground
occupied by R. A. Walker was the William
Sample property, the house occupied as dwell-
ing and tinshop. An old house stood where
James W. Robinson's house now stands, with
a carpenter shop on Market street, facing the
Stahl property. The cornice of this old shop
was bored full of holes by the bee borers. I
remember we boys had quite an argument as
to whether these borers could sting or not.
F. M. Rombach was one of the boys on the
negative side of the argument and to convince
the rest of us that he was right, and, being
venturesome, he knocked one down, and plac-
ing his finger on the danger spot settled the
point of discussion by exclaiming, "By
George, they can sting." So I would advise
the boys to keep away from the business end
of a borer. Where Davis Brothers' lumber
yard is now was Butler Myers' boatbuilding
and repair yard; opposite the T. M, Duncan
property was a row of stables ; in the rear of
the bank a large barn or livery stable; in
front of W. T. Rhea's livery stable was a
manure pile which covered half the street,
where dozens of hogs slept. Many a time we
boys would pick out each a nice fat hog, catch
him by the ears, jump astride, and with a
grunt he was off and we enjoyed a regular
bronco ride so long as we stuck.
The whole block from Stahl's to the post-
ofBce and up to the alley below Elmer Good-
lin 's property nothing remains as it was then.
About as far back as the rear of the Odd
Fellows' building was a store and frame house
(rear stone and front frame) owned and occu-
pied by John Guthrie; about where Stahl's
building stands was a large barn, and from
that corner all along the street was a row of
cherry trees extending to the postoffice and
from there up Point street to the alley. The
balance of the property was an apple orchard.
About where 0. L. ilcGogney's house stands
was the old cider mill with a stone spring
house in the rear. In this old farm house,
barn and orchard I spent many a happy day
with my boyhood friend. Page Guthrie. Well
do I remember the large fireplace in the
kitchen with its iron cranes hanging with
cooking pots and kettles and the wide shallow
kettles on the hearth with lids turned up like
pans to hold the hot coals to bake the bread
and roast the meat. Everybody used the old
dip candles in those days and it was my de-
light to snuff the candle. The property where
R. T. George has his store was the old Porter
homestead. James Porter, father of David
Porter, of Avonmore, owned clear up to the
old railroad. I can imagine I see Mr. Porter
yet, coming to the front door and ringing a
large dinner bell that could be heard all over
the little village for the boys to come to meals,
and it was the signal for the rest of us boys
to go to "eats."
Going north on Salt street was a little black
shoe shop kept by Squire Young. Then the
Haller property and James Daugherty prop-
erty, now Mrs. Graham's property; then the
stone house next to the church, where Dr.
J. A. Barker lives. I think Dr. Woodend
lived there or Rev. Hughes. Between that
and Washington street was the Jamison home-
stead, a large stone house which stood back
fi-om the street within five feet of the railroad
wall ; a walk extended between a row of trees
down to the street, and along the street in
front of where the Presbyterian Church now
stands were two or three large Balm of Gil-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
507
ead trees, verj- high, and the boy who could
throw a stone over them was considered a
hero. Where the fountain stands the old
weigh scales stood and the ;\Irs. B. S. Kelly
property was owned hy James B. Robinson,
and next to it his furniture store; then came
Robert ileCrea's drug store and house; then
the little brick on the corner of the alley, occu-
pied by Andrew Taylor, the baker ; across the
alley where Dr. Montgomery lives was a small
grocery and next to it a blacksmith shop ; then
J. & C. S. ^Moore's store and the large double
house on the corner; above the church on the
hillside the John Martin property, and where
N. S. Ames lives the Walkinshaw homestead;
the John White property, where Davis Ewing
lives ; across the street the William Mcllwain
property; I don't recall anything above this
point but fields.
On Point .street above the old railroad on
the north side of the street was the Stittsell
property, and just above it, where the James
Ewing house stands, was a large brick church
— the United Presbyterian ; then the little
house above the Ewing house, occupied by
Alex Akemau, the cooper ; and just across the
street the old Aeademj- building, where I fin-
ished my education — too soon; above this
point I am lost again on this side of the street,
unless it would be the old house opposite the
M. Y. Patterson property, occupied then by
John Campbell, Esq.
On the other side of the street above the
old railroad was an old carpenter shop and
brick house, then owned by James Hart ; above
that a very large building, the Rowe & Clark
carriage shop, extending from Elmer Good-
lin's house to High street; above that point
there were a few houses: on ^Market street
above the railroad were three houses on the
north side of the street and one little
frame house on the other side of the street,
just below the present school building. On
the site of the present school building stood
an old two-roomed schoolhouse, one room up-
stairs and one down. In those days you were
promoted down, and your health wasn't good
unless you got a good licking at lea.st once a
week — and as my health wasn't very good I
got licked every day and sometimes twice a
day. Above this point was fields and woods.
There may have been other houses back over
the hill, but if there were am' I don"t recall
them.
So far as I can rememljer this was the vil-
lage of my bojiiood days. I know it is not
complete, but there are a few of the older
Saltsburg boys still living who could take this
matter up and go liaek to the time the old
bridge was built and the old Academy. The
only man living today that I know who' worked
on the building is S. S. Jamison. There are
D. Galbraith, C. Hart, J. S. Hart, Maj. R. J.
Irvin, S. S. Jamison, Dr. J. K. Weaver. F. :\I.
Rombach, Theodore Fleming, W. E. Martin,
J. Clark Moore, Dr. W. I. Taylor, W. S.
Daugherty and David Porter. These men, if
they would, could add some very interesting
history in regard to the old salt works and the
early days of Saltsburg, but perhaps when
you read this document you will feel like a
certain young man who took his best girl
out riding and his admiration of her got the
better of his judgment and he said: "Susie,
will you be my wife ? ' ' and of course she said :
"Yes, George, I will." Then George subsided
into a very thoughtful and quiet mood. When
Susie remarked : ' ' George, why don 't you say
something?" he said, "there has been too
much said already."
Ferries and Bridges. — The first ferry in the
vicinity of the city of Saltsburg was on the
" Kee.sk 'kshee-man nit'toos," which signifies
"Cut Spirit" (or, in modern vernacular, Kis-
kiminetas— or itis). near the junction of the
"La el' ban' neck" or "Middle Creek," and
"Quin nim mough" koong, or "Can ua
maugh" (latterly spelled Conemaugh) or
"Otter Creek," according to its Indian mean-
ing. ^Mio managed this ferrj' we cannot
definitely state, but the names of Johnson.
Deemer, Robinson and othei-s are associated
with it long before Andrew Armstrong, a col-
ored man, had located his ferr\^ to carry pass-
engers about 1816 or 1817. His charges were :
' ■ ;Man. 6 cents ; horse, 10 cents : and horse and
wagon, 25 cents." The next ferry was com-
menced in 1836 by James Dougherty, who
kept a hotel on the river bank; his ferry was
located immediately below the toll bridge.
Tlie first bridge at Saltsburg was a toll
bridge, erected in 1842, at an expense of
.$10,000, by the Saltsburg Bridge Company.
Absalon Woodward was the contractor. Dan-
iel McKean was master carpenter and John
Stoops, master mason. The first officials were :
President, Alexander White; treasurer, Wil-
liam Mcllwain, and secretary, William Dickey.
The first bridge over the Loyalhanna, at tlie
"point." was built about 1820 on wooden
bents by Jacob Weister. It was aboiit 100
feet in length and consisted of a single i-oad-
way. The next was erected in 1847.
Cemeteries. — The Old Burial Ground is sit-
uated on the southern limit of the borough
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
on the bank of the Conemaugh river. When
this spot was chosen, probably about 1810, it
was a pleasant and convenient place for the
dead. In the course of years the surveyors
for the Pennsylvania canal traversed the bank
of the river, and the final location of the im-
provement penetrated the sacred spot, result-
ing in the exhumation of some of the bodies,
rendering the place no longer tenable. Of all
interred there but two graves have been pre-
served with any indications of care, and they
are surrounded by a small inclosure.
The Neil) Burial Ground. — Between the
years 1817 and 1820 interments were made in
the gi'ounds adjacent to the stone Presby-
terian Church. The lot, containing about half
an acre, was purchased by Matthias Rombach
at a sheriff's sale of the real estate of Jacob
Drum, and by him deeded to Alexander
White, in trust for the citizens of Saltsburg
and vicinity as a burial ground. For years
the ground lay open. Those who buried their
dead there enclosed with wooden structures
the small space chosen for the purpose, to
preserve it from the trespass of animals. On
Sabbath, April 21, 1832, the church was de-
stroyed by fire. A west wind prevailing,
many of the wooden inclosures were burned.
The cemetery was afterwards surrounded by
a rough wooden fence.
Edgewood Cemetery. — The burial ground
at the Presbyterian Church having become
crowded to excess, it was deemed expedient
to purchase a larger piece of gi-ound and lay
it off in systematic order for cemetery pur-
poses. Having this object in view, an organi-
zation for a Cemetery Company was effected
in 1868, and the purchase of suitable and con-
venient grounds made. The area selected for
this purpose lies within a quarter of a mile
of the eastern limit of the borough line, south
of the Indiana road, extending to the brink
of the precipice at the river, and contains
about ten acres. It was purchased from R. R.
McCrea at the price of $150 per acre and is
well situated for the purpose. The grounds
were laid out in streets, avenues and lots with
Quaker precision (the streets running at right
angles) by J. S. Robinson and S. S. Portser,
whose correct judgment is made apparent in
the substantial conveniences of the whole plan
and execution of the work. ' ' Saltsburg Ceme-_
tery," the original name, was supplemented'
in 1869 by that of "Edgewood Cemetery."
"Long Center" street, 16 feet wide, traverses
the length of the ground north and south, and
"Short Center" crosses the same east and
west. On each side of these streets and around
the circular lot in the center of the ground,
set apart for the soldiers' monument, a margin
of 6 feet is reserved for trees, shrubbery and
Howers, a design which is to be carried out by
a like arrangement surroiinding the whole
area. The margin streets are 13 feet and the
avenues 5 feet wide. There are 605 lots 20
feet square, and an entrance to each one is
secured from either a street or an avenue. A
lot 75 feet by 120 feet, situated on the west-
ern side of the cemetery, is set apart for single
burials. On a lot 40 by 85 feet in the north-
western corner in front of the entrance at the
small gate is located "The Lodge," a build-
ing for the reception of funerals in inclement
weather.
The Soldiers' Monument is one of the prin-
cipal features in beautifying the cemetery, and
certainly the most attractive. It is situated in
a central circular lot laid out and reserved for
the purpose. The central diameter of the
space upon which the monument has its foun-
dation is 20 feet, while the whole diameter of
the circle embracing the ground for the pur-
pose is 135 feet. The base of the monument,
pyramidal in form and about 5 feet in height,
is constructed of layers of gray sandstone,
having a corrugated surface. This is sur-
mounted with a die and cornice 3 feet 4 inches
square and 6 feet high, upon which are en-
graved the inscriptions, viz. :
{North Panel)
Behind this slab a box contains
The deeds of men, likewise the names,
Who- nobly for their country's cause,
In vindication of her laws,
Which now commands the world's applause,
Risked their lives.
Some still are living, some are dead.
No Spartan crown to deck their heads;
But a grateful people from memory dear,
Around this shaft will drop a tear.
Requiescat in pace.
{West Panel)
In memory of the soldiers
of this vicinity, who fought and died
to save our country.
All honor to their memory, so noble and so brave,
may God protect the country
they gaive their lives to save.
[South Panel)
Those brave men, to whose honor this monument is
erected, leave a history of their achievements written
upon the hearts of their countrymen for all time.
{East Panel)
Liberty to be perpetuated, must be protected.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
They are free whom the truth makes free : All else
are slaves beside.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
509
Upon this die is placed an obelisk 25 feet
high of gray sandstone, with a corrugated
finish, on the apex of which is placed a bronze
globe, standing upon which is a bronze eagle
with outstretched pinions, in the attitude of
preparing to soar -upward.
The names of the soldiers from the imme-
diate vicinity who sacrificed their lives in the
service of their country are inclosed in a box
in the base of the monument. The monument
was erected under the supervision of the board
of managers of the a.ssociation, John ]\Iartin
being the contractor, the author of the inscrip-
tions and the architect. The subscriptions for
building the monument were paid into the
managers' hands for that purpose. The mon-
ument is plain and unpretentious, yet impos-
ing, and a characteristic emblem of the fear-
less spirit whose deeds it is intended to com-
memorate. Around the base of the monument
the space is ornamented with evergreens,
flowers and appropriate devices of art to ren-
der the place a fitting memorial for the pa-
triotic dead.
Churches. — The churches of Saltsburg are
Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, Methodist
Episcopal, Baptist and St. John's Lutheran.
The new piiblic school building, which was
erected in 1912, is a brick structure, modern
in every particular.
Business Pleices of Salfshtirg
J. C. iloore Supply fompany, conducted by
J. C. Moore. lor,-itcil on Salt street, is one of
the oldest places df Imsiii.'ss in the town. The
store was started in iMil liy William ]\Ioore,
who took his son, J. C. ^loore. into partner-
ship in 1875. At the death of William ]\Ioore.
in 1891, J. C. iloore continued to conduct the
store, which was then called the J. C. Moore
Cash Hardware Store, and in 1907 the firm
name was changed to J. C. ]\Ioore Supply
Company.
The Shupe Hardware Company, located on
Point street, in the building formerl.y occupied
by J, W. Shadle, has been in business here
since August, 1910.
Stahl's meat market, corner of Salt and
jMarket streets, was established in 1879 by
G. W. Stahl, who afterwards took his son,
Charles E. Stahl, into partnei-ship. In 1905
Charles E. Stahl bought the store and assumed
entire charge. Mr. Charles E. Stahl has the
unusual record of having begun to sell meat
when nine years old, and since that time has
not missed more than ten days from his place
of business. There is also an ice plant con-
ntH'ted with the store, where ice is manufac-
tured.
R. B. ]\IcNeil, grocer, has been engaged in
business on Point street since 1891. In 1889
he commenced business on Salt street, in the
furniture store now conducted by J. W. Rob-
inson, to whom he sold the business.
R. T. George has conducted a grocery store
on the corner of Salt and Point streets in the
building formerly owned by Gravenstine.
E. E. Goodlin's drug store, formerly known
as McFarland's drug store, located on Salt
street, has been conducted by j\Ir. Goodlin
since 1905, he having been in McFarland's em-
ploy prior to that time for twentj'-one years.
Joseph A. McClaran has had a drug store
on the corner of Washington and Salt streets
since 1884. Mr. ilcClaran is at present post-
master at Saltsburg.
Hugh A. Jackson, who was principal of the
schools of Saltsburg for four years, is now en-
gaged in the real estate and insurance busi-
ness, and in 1901 purchased the jewelry store
of Robert Lang, He still manages the store
in connection with his other business,
J, T, ilcLaughlin & Co. have a ladies' fur-
nishings and millinery store on Salt street,
where they have been in business since 1912.
They came here from Eldersridge, where they
had conducted a store for twenty-three years.
Richards & Lemon have a dry goods and
millinery store on Point street, started in 1912.
J. W. Roof conducts a variety store on Point
street in the building formerly occupied by
John W. Green, ilr. Roof has been here since
1909.
Taylor's bargain store has been conducted
on Point street since 1900.
James W. Robinson's furniture and under-
taking store on Salt street has been associated
with Saltsburg since 1891, when he purchased
the store of R. B. ]\IcNeil. ]\Ir. Robinson also
conducts a livery opposite the railroad station.
John ]\I. :\IcP'hilimy started a furniture and
undertaking store in 1906 in the building of
W. R. Mcllwain, formerly occupied by W. E.
Allison's dry goods store.
W. T. Richards since 1905 has managed the
shoe store on Point street, which was started
by J. H. Richards in 1870.
E. D. Ewing has conducted a men's furnish-
ing store on the corner of Salt and Point
streets since 1907.
H. L. Weamer has supplied a number of
citizens of Saltsburg and surroimding country
with shoes and men's furnishings for the past
twenty-five years, and still continues in busi-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
J. B. Johnston & Son have had a tailor shop
on Salt street for seventeen years; and also
sell ready-made clothing.
The Patterson Milling Company was orig-
inally started by M. V. Patterson, who erected
a building in 1880 about 500 feet from where
the present building now stands, farther up
the river. In 1911 the old building was de-
stroyed by fire, and the Patterson Milling
Company was then incorporated and erected
the large structure now standing along the
railroad on Point street. Its capacity is 125
barrels of flour per day. The offieere of the
company are : H. C. W. Patterson, president
and treasurer; P. P. Evans, vice president,
and J. M. Pattei-son, secretary.
The Saltsbiirg Press was established in 1875,
and is now edited by R. A. Walker.
The First National Bank was organized in
1882. It was originally the Farmers' and
Merchants' Bank, which was organized in
1876. The capital stock of this bank is now
$100,000. The present officers are : James P.
Watson, president; R. B. McNeil, vice presi-
dent; H. F. Carson, cashier. The directors
are : James P. Watson, R. B. McNeil, R. W.
Fair, Albert Smith, R. Y. Elder, Samuel Wad-
dle. Joseph Rhea, T. R. Johnston.
Hale Clark 's carriage f aetoi-y. Previous to
Mr. Clark's arrival in 1848, Daniel Walter
had a carriage shop 20 by 60 feet on the lot
east of Mr. Hart's residence. In the spring
of 1849 the firm of Rowe, Clark & Keister pur-
chased the stock of ilr. AValter, and in 1850
they also bought the building and ground. In
1854 Mr. Keister retired from the firm, and
in 1857 Mr. Rowe disposed of his interest to
Mr. Clark. The business is now conducted by
]\Iurray J. Clark and Ferdinand G. Clark,
sons of Hale CLark. The best of material, the
most expert workmen and improved machin-
ery have been used here to manufacture any
and all sizes of carriages used in this section
of the country. From 1867 to 1873 twenty
men were employed, and the gross trade was
$18,000. In 1878 six men were employed and
the business was proportionately less. In 1873
Mr. Clark built a carriage repository 30 by
50 feet, one story, in Indiana. In 1874 he
erected another, 50 by 24 feet, two stories, in
Butler. Owing to the pressure of the times
he was forced to abandon these branches and
concentrate his energies in Saltsburg.
The foundry of Rodger & Blank was erected
in 1850 by Andrew Steele. In 1851, when Mr.
Rodger arrived, it was a small affair, using
two horses to raise the blast furnace and em-
ploying two laborers. Mr. Rodger purchased
it in July, 1851, and in 1853 Valentine Blank
became connected with the firm. They em-
ployed an eight horse power engine and three
men, and their trade came from Indiana,
Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. They
manufactured stoves, plow castings and did
general country work, most of their orders
demanding heavy castings. For plow castings
they had a capacity of 100 per day.
The J. R. Reed tannery was erected iu 1847,
and was managed by him for forty years. It
was on the bank of the Conemaugh, between it
and the old canal. Six hundred hides were
tanned annually in the thirty-two vats. The
first permanent tanner in Saltsburg was Simon
Drum. His place was located on Point street
in the rear of the Earhart Hotel. He was
succeeded by John Guthrie in the same loca-
tion. Thomas and John Robinson had the
third tannery, and it was located on the bank
of the canal. J. R. Reed's was the fourth
tannery.
The present borough ofScers are : H. C. W.
Patterson, burgess;' J. E. Elrick and P. A.
Waugaman, justices of the peace ; D. W. Stahl,
constable; W. C. Davis, E. R. Walter. J. F.
Piper, J. A. McClaran and Dr. E. Onstott,
school directors; members of council: J. A.
Getty, president; W. H. H. Miller, Robert H.
Wilson, Joseph Serene, R. V. McClaran, H. C.
Kahney, W. E. Allison, A. H. Beatty, secre-
•tary; R. B. McNeil, borough treasurer; Frank
Waddle, water engineer.
The population of the borough is 1,044.
Hotels. — The "Kiski Hotel" is one of the
old landmarks of Saltsburg. It was formerly
called the "Marshall House." The following
persons have conducted this hotel: Samuel
Lafferty, James Dean. Joseph Andei-son, Jacob
Hine, Richard Cruikshant, Robert Jones, Jack
Green, William Stewart and Dr. A. A. Ames,
the present manager, who is a veterinary sur-
geon.
The ' ' Saltsburg House ' ' is managed by Mrs.
C. M. Wieneke, who in 1908 remodeled the W.
R. Mcllwaine residence and converted it into
a hotel.
The ' ' Central Hotel ' ' is no longer used as a
hotel, but is occupied by lodgers.
Kiskiminetas Springs School, .just across the
river from Saltsburg, is recognized as belong-
ing to the town. The school was organized in
1889 by A. W. Wilson, Jr., of Indiana, and
R. W. Fair, of Blacklick. They secured sixty-
five acres of land on the palisades, overlooking
the headwaters of the "Kiski," the town of
Saltsburg, and a great fertile valley. In 1902
W. H. JleColl, of :\Ialone, N. Y.," was taken
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
511
into the firm, and in 1913 I\Ir. Fair retired
and the school was reorganized with A. W.
Wilson, Jr., president: W. H. McCoU, vice
president ; F. D. St. Clair, secretary and treas-
urer ; J. L. Blarks, dean, and J. J. Daub, regis-
trar. They have bought the estate of Captain
Resse, of Pittsburg, consisting of 136 acres,
with a three-story brick house erected thereon,
which makes a total of about 200 acres of
ground surrounding the buildings. This
school started with twenty boys and in 1913
had an enrollment of 130, with prospects of
150 the coming year. The faculty now num-
bers twelve.
Saltsburg was incorporated as a borough in
183S. First election, August 11, 1838 ; second
election, April 16, 1839. In 1838 Dr. Thomas
IMurray was elected burgess; Alexander
White, assistant burgess : Alexander Whister,
burgess; William ilcllwain, James B. Robin-
son, Josepli Anderson. James McLaughlin,
Robert ilellwain, members of council.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Number and value of horses, 77^
$3.340 : number and value of cows assessed, 4
— $80 ; taxables, 441 : taxable real estate,
$284,110; money at interest, $50,277.12; cost
of assessment, $54.
CHAPTER XXXII
GRANT TOWNSHIP
Grant township was formed from ilontgom-
ery township in 1868, and was named in honor
of Gen. U. S. Grant.
Kinter Hill, in the north end of the town-
ship, is one of the highest points in the tovm-
ship, and presents a fine view eastward to the
neighboi'hood of Ebensburg and westward to
the hills west of the Allegheny river. Near
by, and parallel, is the Bald Ridge. Thirty
years ago this was a barren ridge, upon which
but little wood grew. Now it is quite well
covered with a small growth of timber, but
the indications are that it will not attain any
size; it is merely brush fifteen to twenty feet
in height. It is noted as the place where
David Gorman froze to death in 1842. He
had been to John Decker's in the evening in
the interest of his duties as collector, and ciuite
late started for home, in the extreme north
end of the township, and was frozen by the
way. A search revealed the body, but none
of the secrets of the death. There. were marks
indicating that he had a premonition of com-
ing death.
Doty's Round Top, in the extreme north of
the township, is said to be the highest point
in the countj'. It is of evenly circular form
and is a landmark not easily forgotten when
once seen.
East Run is the present name of the village
on the farm fii-st settled by George Buter-
baugh.- The neighborhood was formerly
known as "Big Bottom." In early days the
brush along the run was the place of bear pens
or traps, and the hunter was often rewarded
well for the labor of building these.
Colfax (Decker's Point P. 0.).— The post-
ofiSce was established in 1855 and was called
for John Decker, the first settler in the vicin-
ity. . This site was first called Decker's Point
about 1830 or 1831. The fii'st postmaster was
William Midkdrk, and the second W. N. Pro-
thero. The first merchant was John Lewis,
the second was W. N. Prothero, and the thircl
H. J. Thompson, who was succeeded by his
son, ilurraj' J. Thompson.
The village was platted in 1867 on the lauds
of Adam Titteriugton and W. N. Prothero,
and was named in honor of Schuyler Colfax.
It is generally known as Decker's Point. The
blacksmiths have been : David Bates, Adam
Beck. David Ruffner and James jMartin. The
first wagonmaker was ilichael Kunkle. The
first carpenter in the settlement was William
Warden, and in the village, John Stump. The
first teacher at the ■"Point" was Eliza Price,
who taught in 1837 in a little log schoolhouse.
The first minister to preach at the "Point"
was Rev. Thomas AYilson, a Baptist, and the
second a L'nited Presbj'terian. Adam Knarr
had a planing mill in the village for about
two years. There is one hotel in the village,
conducted by a Mr. HoUen. It is a modern
buff brick structure, which serves the purpose
of a hotel and dwelling. It was built in 1912.
H. J. Thompson & Son conducted a store at
Decker's Point for a number of years, and
when the coal town of Heilwood was started
the son, J. ]\I. Thompson, took charge of the
coal compan,y's store, and Austin G. Bowers
took charge of the store at Decker's Point.
The store is now conducted by Harry E.
512
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Buras. A new store building was erected by
Austin Bowers, who sold to Mr. Reithmiller,
who sold to Charles A. Palmer.
Nashville was named for William Nash
Prothero, who made the first improvement
and opened the first store in 1872. The steam
sawmill was erected by James Barkey in 1873.
He was followed by McCall Brothers. The
successors of William N. Prothero were his
brother James, and since 1877, H. Prothero,
Widdowson & Co., James Bliss and McCracken
& Hetzler. The village numbers ten houses,
but since the lumbering has ceased little inter-
est is attached to the place. The postolSce of
Ord was located here, but has been discon-
tinued. '
About midway between Nashville and Deck-
er's Point a general store has been conducted
■ for a number of years by Harvey Reithmiller.
Richmond (Rochester Mills P. 0.;.— The
first settlers on the site of the village were
David Simpson and John Tozer, who owned
the land upon which it is located. A hemlock
tree stood near the bridge which marked the
boundary line between the two tracts. The
village is situated in Canoe and Grant town-
ships. The first lot was sold by David Simp-
son to Isaac Beck. Mr. Simpson disposed of
the second lot to Daniel Bell. The fii-st house
was erected by David Simpson for a dwelling.
The second building was his mill. The place
was known as Simpson's Slill till 1862, when
it was called Richmond, on account of the ex-
citement of the war against the ' ' Confederate
Richmond. ' '
The postoffice of Rochester ]Mills was estab-
lished in 1867. It was kept near where the
Gilpatriek blacksmith shop now stands by B.
P. Duffy and J. C. Rochester. It was then
moved across the bridge over the Little Ma-
honing into Canoe township, and is now kept
by Samuel Crawford. From this office there
are three rural mail routes. The carriers are
Clair Work (1), AYilliam Richardson (2) and
David Rittenhouse (3).
The first merchant was J. C. Rochester,
1866, succeeded in 1869 by Duffy & Roches-
ter. W. P. Oberlin & Sons conducted a gen-
eral store for more than twenty-five years.
Upon the death of W. P. Oberlin the store be-
came the property of H. W. and C. A. Oberlin,
who still conduct a general business, sell farm-
ing implements and buy feed by the carload ;
in fact, they have a wholesale business.
The general store of Widdowson & Ross was
conducted by them for a number of years, but
after they dissolved partnership it was car-
ried on under the name of Josiah Widdowson,
Sr. After his death the ownership became
vested in his nephew, H. D. Widdowson, who
has a very prosperous general store.
In 1908 G. 0. Richardson established a gen-
eral store and during the same year Walter
H. Ayers purchased a half interest, which he
sold back to ]\Ir. Richardson in 1909. ]Mr.
Aj'ers sold his interest when he was selected
as clerk for the county commissioners.
The general store which was controlled by
Mr. N. S. Tozer for eight or ten years is now
conducted by his wife, Mrs. Margaret Tozer,
the husband having died in 1913.
Messrs. John S. Ross and John Weaver suc-
cessfully conduct an undertaking business.
The drug store in the building owned by
John S. Ross has been in charge of J. C. Doug-
lass.
For a number of years there were two hotels
in the village, but at present there is only
one, which is kept by C. E. Richardson, whose
father, A. J. Richardson, opened the hotel
more than twenty-five years ago and was pro-
prietor until his death. The "Widdowson
Hotel" was conducted for a number of years
by William Widdowson until his death in 1890,
when his \\ife, L. Eva Widdowson, assumed
control. It was sold to Dr. J. W. Evans, who
sold to Mahaffey & Cooper, who sold to the
Farmers' Bank of Indiana, Pa., in 1909. It
has since been purchased by C. A. Oberlin,
who uses the building as a residence.
There are three blacksmith shops, controlled
by Thomas G. Gilpatriek, John Snyder and
George Snyder.
The oldest citizens of the township are :
]\Iessrs. Thomas Barrett, A. U. Bash, William
Bowers, ,S. A. Cochran, J. C. Dilts, John
Doty, Alex. Douglass, John Farnsworth, W. J.
Jeffries, Samuel Kerr, J. W. Leasure, Robert
aicAdoo, J. J. McAfoos, J. A. ilclnown, Fred-
erick Pfeffer, Peter Reithmiller. J. 0. Rich-
ardson, Salem Sheesley, W. H. Stanley, G. H.
Stewart and James T. Work.
The chvirches of Grant township are as fol-
lows: Shiloh Baptist, ^Methodist Episcopal
and United Presbyterian at Decker's Point;
Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren at
Richmond; Fairview Baptist, near Hillsdale;
East ilahoning Baptist, near Purchase Line;
Antioch Lutheran, Pine Vale Christian.
The first election in Grant township was
held Friday, February 9, 1866, when the fol-
lowing officers were elected: Justice of the
peace, F. Holland; constable, Thomas C. Kerr;
judge of election, William Riddle ; inspectors.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
513
"William lIcQuown and Daniel Daugherty ; as-
sessor, William Jlelnown; supervisors, Wil-
liam Ashbaugh and George Doty; school di-
rectors, Adam King. J. ^. Riddle, Jonathan
Langham, J. M. Walker, Leonard McCune,
David Dangherty ; poor overseers. S. B. I\Iiller
and William McAlister; auditors, G. W. Rid-
dle, S. G. Lowry and J. M. Walker ; fence ap-
praisers, John S. Best and Samuel Barr ; elec-
tion officers — judge, John T. Stanley; inspec-
tors, J. E. Riddle and G. Buterbaugii.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing : Number and value of horses assessed,
288 — $11,500; number and value of cows as-
sessed. 210— $3,423; taxables, 415; taxable
real estate, $229,953; acres of cleared land,
13,449 ; acres of timber land. 2,687 ; money at
interest, $59,877.15 ; cost of assessment, $38.76.
CHAPTER XXXm
GREEN TOWNSHIP
Green township was formed from Wheat-
field in 1816 and in 1870 had a population of
1,991, and in 1910 a population of 5,021. The
soil, a sandy loam, is adapted to stock and
grain growing, which are followed to a great
extent, although lumbering has been carried
on extensively for many years. At present
mining is a very important industry. Coal,
iron and limestone are found in abundance.
The township received its name from the im-
mense forests of pine and hemlock within its
borders. Some of the old settlers were Thomas
Price, who in 1802 settled about one fourth of
a mile from Dixonville on the farm owned by
Dr. William Shadrach. It is said that
Thomas' mother placed him in a sugar trough
near the run while she was washing her
clothes. Occasionally she cast her eyes around
to see that the baby was safe. All at once a
bear was seen coming do^vn the hill running
toward the child. The woman, alarmed at the
probable fate of her child, hastened to the
rescue, while the bear, thinking an attack was
pending, ran in th*^ same direction. Several
Welsh families, John Reese, David ^Moses,
Simon Davis. David Price and a Mr. Jones,
settled on Dixon run in 1801. Davis and
Roberts, two Englishmen, bought the lands,
or thought they did, and sent out this colony
of Welsh, promising each one fifty acres for
settling. Finding their title to the land not
good, they returned to England discouraged,
wi'iting the settlers they had lost their land.
The lands were held by the colonists almost
twenty-one years before the rightful owmers
made claims, when most of them bought the
tracts upon which they had settled. The
Reeses. Prices and Davises remained on the
land until they died. These settlers at first
went to Ebensburg to attend church, and
Welsh preachers afterwards occasionally vis-
ited the colony. An incident related by
Thomas Price is as follows : At an early day,
when there were no churches, nor settled min-
isters in the township, meetings were held in
private houses. A Mr. Carmalt, father of
Isaac Carmalt, being a preacher of the Society
of Friends (Quakers), had met the people at
the house of Francis Chapman. The congre-
gation were waiting patiently for the minister
to speak, and though some considerable time
had elapsed not a word had been spoken. Sud-
denly a hen rushed into the house, closely pur-
sued by a hawk. As the latter passed by Mr.
Carmalt he grasped it by the wing, went out
of the door to a log heap and laid the head and
neck across a log. William Stephens, who had
accompanied him, picked up an axe and cut
off its head. Gravely as ever they resumed
their seats, not a word being uttered either
by them or by the people during the time of
interruption.
The Connors were among the early settlers
in the vicinity of Cherrytree. They ran some
of the early rafts on the Susquehanna. Jacob
S. Connor was the second white child born in
the vicinity of Cherrytree, the first being
Joseph Barber.
Cookport. — The first settlers in the vicinity
of what is now Cookport were Jacob Connor,
Simon Connor, Samuel. Robert, James and
John Barr. Richard Smith, James Caldwell,
William Cook, James Gardner. William Buter-
baugh and John Learn. Jacob Connor made
the first improvement on the site of the vil-
lage about 1821. William Cook purchased the
Connor property and afterwards presented it
to his son Richard. In 1858 Lewis Shaw pur-
chased a lot and erected a dwelling and black-
smith shop. About this time Richard Cook
514
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
erected a stoi-e room and the place began to be
called Cookport. The first hotel was opened
in 1868 by Andrew Shark. He was followed
by Mrs. Eliza Fleming, Benjamin Williams,
J. T. Gibson. At present S. J. McCuUough
conducts a general store.
B. F. Williams in 1878 built the Cookport
Foundry, machine shop and planing-mill,
which gave employment to eleven workmen.
The business the first year amounted to over
$8,000. He manufactured a shingle machine
of his own invention which he sold at a lower
rate than the old machine.
Cookport is located in a beautiful level
section of country. It is in the central part
of the township and until recently all the
voters of the township were obliged to go to
Cookport to vote. It being a large township,
election days brought large crowds to the
town and political excitement ran high. Cook-
port was the capital where all business of the
township was transacted, but since the coal
has been developed towns have sprung up all
around the township seat. The coal towns
of Starford, Lovejoy, Shanktown and Sax-
man have all sprung up in recent years and
have been prosperous. They have been the
means of greatly increasing the population of
the township. In each of these places a num-
ber of stores have been established and the
farmers find a good market for their produce.
For a number of years general stores have
been conducted by Edward 0 'Neill and J. B.
Siverd. These stores are not located in towns,
but are carried on for the accommodation
of the farmers in the vicinity of their loca-
tion. '
Dixonville. — This village received its name
from Dixon's run, upon which it is situated.
The latter was called for the Dixons, who
resided below Indiana and were accustomed
to pasture their cattle along this stream. The
place was located on the farm of Richard
Price and was first called Dixonville in 1860.
The first merchant was George Rowe, Jr., who
commenced business in 1866 and continued
until 1871. Longwill & Buchanan were his
successors. They sold to Marshall Gilpatrick
in 1872. J. S. Long^vill opened a store in
1874 and retired in March, 1878.
At present general stores are conducted by
Charles L. Bence, J. F. Lightner, J. H.
Swisher, and the Victor Trading Company.
Sam Sadwitz conducts a clothing and gen-
eral store and a five-and-ten-cent store. A.
C. Fisher is the postmaster.
The churches of the town are Baptist, Wes-
leyan Methodist and Catholic. There is a
four-room public school building. The lodges
are: Odd Fellows, Moose, United Mine
Workers and Path Finders.
Dixonville is located in a very extensive
coal field and during the past five years the
coal has been operated here and at Idamar,
which is about one mile north of Dixonville.
This town was a quiet country village, but it
is now a busy coal town with a much larger
population.
The Operators' Coal Mining Company,
with its principal office at Johnstown, Pa.,
operates an extensive mine at Dixonville.
This ' company is now acquiring a field of
about six thousand acres of coal in East and
West Wheatfield townships and is destined to
be a very important factor in the coal in-
dustry of the county. At Dixonville the com-
pany is operating the " D " seam, but has the
" B " seam in reserve.
Kesslerville (Berringer P. 0.). — This vil-
lage was platted in 1871 by Peter Kessler, who
purchased the tract which includes the site of
the village from the farm of Reuben Boring.
The first building was erected by William
Nicholson, a blacksmith, for his shop. He
erected a second building for his residence.
The next was the carpenter shop of John
Garman. Jacob Connor erected the next
building for a store house. The first and only
store was opened by Pitman Berringer in
1877, when t]je post ofSce was established.
The post office has been discontinued.
Pine Flats. — The first settlers in the vicin-
ity were John Huston, James Dunwoodie,
Robert Dunwoodie, Alexander Stephens,
Joseph Askins, Thomas Huston, Robert Evans,
Hugh Huston, James Ellwood, Daniel Wil-
liams, William Arthur, Thomas Askin, Hugh
Perry, Hugh Williams, and others. Evan
Williams in 1860 erected a store house on the
north side of the Susquehanna road. In this
building he sold goods for three years. H. J.
Ellwood commenced merchandising in the Dr.
Thomas room, but after a year he removed
to Hustonville. He was succeeded by Thomas
Cook.
Pine Flats is beautifully located on the
edge of the pine timber regions and for many
years has been a noted summer resort. It
is a quiet country village and the refreshing
pine breezes have been enjoyed in the sum-
mer by many people from the city.
For many years Pine Flats did not have the
advantage of a railroad. To reach the county
seat the citizens had to drive a distance of
sixteen miles, but now they have the advan-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tage of two railroads, the Pennsylvania and
New York Central.
The Pine Plats Acadeinv was founded in
1852 by W. M. .McKee, who had charge of it
for two or three yeai-s. It has been in opera-
tion under different persons for many years,
but has been closed for several years.
TaylorsvUle (Utah P. 0.) was laid out on
the lands of Robert T. Allison and Samuel
Lydick and was named in honor of Geu.
Zachary Taylor. The first houses were erected
in 1854 by A. T. Moorhead for a dwelling and
store room. Both were destroyed by fire and
were replaced by i\Ir. Moorhead. He was
succeeded in 1866 by W. S. Davidson, who
has since continued in business. About 1860
George Keeler had a store and shook shop
which continued operations for a few years.
The first church was the "Union," erected
about 18.32. The second was the Presbyterian
and was called "East Union" and the third
was the United Presbyterian.
The petition to make the village of Taylors-
ville in Green township a borough was ap-
proved by the grand jury j\Iarch 24, 1858, and
by the court June 25, 1858. The court de-
creed that the general and borough elections
should be held in the carpenter shop of Jacob
Boucher in said borough. The first election
for borough officers was held the first Tuesday
in September, 1859. The court appointed
Thomas Allison to give notice of said election,
and Samuel Lydick .judge, John Anderson
and Robert T. Allison inspectors. The elec-
tion resulted as follows : Burgess. A. T. Moor-
head, Jr. ; justices of the peace. Joseph Moor-
head and Thomas Allison ; constable, James
T. Shields ; judge of election, Jacob L. Lydick ;
inspectors, Robert Allison and Jacob Boucher ;
street commissioner, Jacob Allison; auditors,
Jacob L. Lydick and John Anderson; high
constable. Joseph Stewart ; town council,
Jacob Allison, James T. Shields, Joseph Stew-
art. Thomas G. Allison, ^Moses Lydick : school
directors, Joseph Stewart, Moses Lydick,
Henry Loekhart; assistant burgess, Thomas
Allison; assessor, Thomas G. Allison; over-
seers of the poor, Thomas G. Allison and Ja-
cob Boucher.
On September 24. 1873, the citizens of the
borough of Taylorsville presented a petition
to the grand jury annulling the charter of
said borough. On the same day the grand
jui-y approved of the petition ; December 25.
1873, the court decreed that Green township
appear at next term of court to show reasons
why the prayer of the petitioners should not
be granted and that such notice be given
through the weekly newspapers for three sue
cessive weeks. On 15, 1874, the court
finding that more than two thirds of the citi-
zens of the borough signed the petition, and
that the law had been complied witli, annulled
the charter and further ordered that Taylors-
ville become a part of Green township as pre-
viously. The cost of proceedings was paid by
the petitioners.
The Purchase Line Academy was estab-
lished in 1873. J. L. Myers, Hon. S. J. Tel-
ford, P. Trimble, Attorney D. H. Tomb, Dr.
Matthews, Prof. S. L. Barr, Prof. H. D. Con-
dron, Attorney Earl Miller, Hon, J. T. Henry,
Robert Henderson and Donald Patterson
have been principals of this school. The
building is a neat frame located in a beautiful
grove in the northern part of the township.
The intelligence of the people is an evidence
of the success of the school, which has been
kept up continuously and is still flourishing.
In connection with the school is a boarding
house where many of the pupils can be ac-
conunodated. It is the only boarding house in
connection with a school in the county with
the exception of the Indiana Normal. TJie
boarding house had added to the success of
the school, for in it pupils can be accommo-
dated at a very low rate. The academy is lo-
cated in a quiet, country place, away from
any railroad or mining town, in a community
where the surrounding influences are of the
very best.
A select school at Grisemore was conducted
by Prof. Dubre Thomas during the summer
of 1894, and by J. T. Stewart during the sum-
iners of 1895-96. Here, in the country, was an
ideal place for a select school. A better class
of people cannot be found anywhere in In-
diana county, ilost of them are Welsli, and
they were so enthusiastic over the success of
the school that they opened their homes and
accommodated the students at a very low rate.
They solicited students for miles around, oven
in Cambria and Westmoreland counties, and
enrolled almost one hundred pupils, many of
whom were preparing to teach and did teach
the coming winter. This school was of short
duration, but from it have gone out successful
physicians, attorneys, business men and
teachers.
Green township "Circular Hunt" was or-
ganized at the house of Thomas Barr in Green
township. Invitations were given to the in-
habitants of the surrounding country to at-
tend on Wednesday. April 23. 1828,' at nine
o'clock. The circle was to commence at the
house of William Stephens. John McRee,
516
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Joseph Gibson, Thomas Barr and John Pat-
terson were the horsemen to ride around the
lines and keep order. No firearms were al-
lowed on the ground, but every man was to
be provided with a wooden staff and a horn,
and no dog was to be let loose until orders
were given. The center was designated in
"Pine Hollow" on the day previous to the
hunt, and the outer and inner circles were to
be in charge of A. T. Moorhead, James Ham-
ilton and Thomas Barr, Sr. The proceeds of
the game caught was to go to the benefit of
the Harmony congregation.
Green is the largest township in Indiana
county. It is watered by the north and south
branches of Twoliek creek, Dixon's run and
Cushian creek. It is bounded on the north by
the Purchase Line. In the northern part is
the State road; the Homer, Cherrytree and
Susquehanna road passes through Pine Flats
and No. Nine to Cherrytree.
At one time Green township could boast of
its hemlock and pine timber. It contained a
vast acreage of the finest timber that could
be found west of the Allegheny mountains,
but most of it has been cut. In an early day
the lumber was rafted on the Susquehanna
river to Williamsport, Lock Haven and Ma-
rietta, and at a later date sawed into bill stuff
and boards and shipped or hauled to market.
It is not until recent years that railroads have
traversed the township. Much hauling was
done to Indiana, where boards, etc., were sold
and traded for clothing, groceries, salt, etc.
The coal developments in recent years have
brought many settlers to the township, and
where the coal has been operated new towns
have been started.
In 1903 Greenwich, the coal town of the
Greenwich Coal & Coke Company, was located
along Douglass' run in Green township. When
in operation about one year there were 160
dwellings. The mines employed about 300
men, who were mostly English-speaking work-
men. The company is o^\Tied by interests rep-
resenting the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany, and a branch of the road enters the
town. W. A. Saxman is president of the com-
pany, and M. J. Bracken is general superin-
tendent.
At present (1913) the Greenwich Coal &
Coke Company has three openings in Green
township, two at Shanktown, where the "B"
seam is operated, and one at Saxman, just
across the Cambria county line, where the
"D" seam is operated. The output at Sax-
man is 1,000 tons and at Shanktown 1,200
tons daily. The coal from Shanktown is
shipped over the Cherrytree & Dixonville
branch to Cherrytree, and from there by way
of Cresson to the East. The coal from Sax-
man is also shipped by way of Cresson over
the Pennsylvania to the East.
At Lovejoy there are about one hundred
houses, and two hundred houses at Saxman,
to accommodate the miners.
These are practically new mines, equipped
with modern machinery, and will develop into
very large operations. The coal at Shanktown
is a high-grade steam coal, while that at Sax-
man is used almost exclusively for by-product
purposes and is considered the best quality
by-product coal in the Allegheny mountains.
The assessor's book of Green township for
1913 shows the following : Number and value
of horses assessed, 530 — $19,350; number and
values of cows assessed, 597 — $6,942 ; number
of taxables, 1,537 ; value of real estate, .$699,-
058 ; number of acres of cleared land, 25,353 ;
timber land, 7,262; money at interest, $154,-
351.74; cost of assessment, $138.40.
There are seventeen churches and nineteen
schoolhouses.
The first election in Green township was
held at the home of David Fulton, March 15,
1822, and resulted as follows: Constable,
Abraham Lydick; supervisors, John Bartle-
baugh and Jacob Lydic, Jr. : overseers, John
Huston and William Stephens; fence ap-
praisers, James Lapsley and John ^lartin ;
township clerk, John Evans ; judges. Jacob
Lydic, John McDowell, William Stephens.
CHAPTER XXXIV
EAST MAHONING TOWNSHIP— MARION CENTER BOROUGH
THE MAHONINGS East Mahoning township is one of the four
,r 1, ■ X 1- i! J- lOA/^ J townships formed from Mahoning in 1846. In
Mahoning township was formed m 1806 and ^g-Q ^^^j^^^ ^ population of 1,133; in 1910,
originally embraced all that part of Indiana 337 ^he surface is rolling, the soil fertile!
county north of the Purchase Line. In 1834 j^ ^^ ^^jj ^^.^^^^^^ ^^. tj,/ Little Mahoning
It was divided, the eastern halt receiving the ^.^^^j^ ^^^ numerous" small streams. It^
name of Montgomery township, and the west- ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ -^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^.^^j j^
ern was still knoxra as Mahoning^ In 1846 the principal mineral and is found in abun-
Mahonmg was separated into West, East, ^^^J^_ ^he principal town is Marion Center,
North and South Mahoning townships In ^ prosperous borough, situated in the
184 r Montgomery was divided into Montgom- so^th^rn part of the to^™ship.
erv and Lauoe townships. Ihe former was ,,-11 mi in <. i- j a t t* -n
„„„;., „„ „f J •„ Tcco ■«+„ n + „ 1 Tr„ + Mills. — The Enterlme aud ilottern mill was
again separated in 1868 into Grant and Mont- t j v, m -v -n j. i- ■ lo^n ta • i„
gomery; the latter in the same year was erected by Philip Enterlme m 1860. It is two
formed into the present Banks and Canoe and a half stories in height and has three runs
townshins ^ stone, two being b rench burrs. It can
The first election of Mahoning township was ^f^<J thirty-five busliels of wheat and fifty
held March 20, 1807, at the house of James «f, ^^°P Pf i^li- ,T ^i"™'''"*'" ^''''^'''^
Brady. The following officers were elected: ^^heels, each of thir y-five horse power, are
Constable. William Hannah ; supervisors, "sed. The mill is still in operation, but used
James Brady and James McHenry ; overseers P^^^P^^^ /T.-?°PSr^- 1 1 -ii ., ■ >
of the poor, Isaac McHenry and William The Work Mill.-The od mill on this site
Work; fence appraisers, James Ewing and was erected m 1842 by Alexancler Caruthers
William Diltz; judges, Joshua Lewis and Wil- ^^^f William Fm ey. It was 30 by 3fa. used
liam Hopkins. a " rye fly " wheel and had two runs of stone.
In 1808 Mahoning township, which then in- 0°^ being of country make In 1862 it was
eluded the eight townships north of the Pur- remodeled by Mr. Fmley, who disposed of the
chase Line, was assessed at the rate of one- P^perty to K. H. Work, who also repaired it
third of a cent on the dollar, and the valuation f,^*^ P^^ it m good order. In 1877 was erected
was $30,099.60. The assessors were William the present building 36 by 48 and two stories
Work. William McCreerv and John Park. In ^n ^lieight He used two Burnham turbme^s
1810 James Bradv. the assessor for Mahoning, ^^"^'j ^^^ Leffel wheel He has a 16-foot head
had the following bill : «'?<^ f ^'^ grind eightj' bushels of wheat and loO
ot chop per day. In the season of 18/8 he
Two days' attendance on the county commis- ground 13.700 bushels. The mill was pur-
sioners $2.00 ':^,]-^^gQ([ ^y Aaron Patehin and more than
Nine davs' taking m the returns of the town- ^ . /i i • j. 11 j ii, n
sliip ; 9 00 twenty-five years ago he installed the roller
Four days' making out duplicate .......... 4.00 process, which was the first roller process in
Two days' taking in the returns to the County all this section of countrv. The mill is now
Commissioners 2.m ^^^.^^^ ^^, j^^^ g_ j^^^^ ^^^^^ j^j^j^ s,_ Knolf,
Total $17.00 and is doing a prosperous business.
-, -.a^. ^ ,, , • -, r , The first schoolhouse north of the Purchase
In 1814 Jonathan Avers was assessed as fol- ^ine was erected in 1807 within the woodland
_ ■ ^ ._ „„ 100 rods north of what was afterwards the
198 acres at 1.50 $297.00 . -, „,t m -rt- i rv\ i „;i-q-,
Blacksmith (occupation) 40.00 residence of Moses T. Work. The building
Horses and cows 66.00 stood near a fine spring, where the ruins of
~ the old chimney can still be seen. The Van
Rate one-li°aTf cent ' on ' the ' dollar! which made ^^^' ^ "orns. Bradys and Works raised the building.
his taxes $1.91 It was sixteen feet square, built of logs, had
517
518
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
oiled paper for windows, and at first a wooden
chimney, which was soon supplanted by one
of stone. The first teacher was William Work,
who taught in this house for several years and
in this vicinity for seventeen years.
Georgeville. — The firat house on the site of
the village was erected by Lansing Bills, a
blacksmith, a short time after the laying out
of the road from Indiana to Diltz's mill.
When the road from Plumcreek to Curwens-
ville was made. Bills left and was succeeded
by Christopher Bair, who was also a smith and
succeeded to the former's business. At a
later date Henry Kinter kept a store in a mud
house on the Plumcreek road, about a fourth
of a mile from the village. He subsequently
removed to Georgeville, where he was the sec-
ond storekeeper. About 1824 George Hoover
erected a residence and tanyard. About 1830
Andrew Comptar arrived ; he was a brother-
in-law of Hoover and also a tanner. Together,
about this time, they laid out the village and
called it Georgeville for Mr. Hoover. The
postoffice for several years was kept at
E wing's mill and was then called ^lahoning.
It was removed to Georgeville, subsequently
was taken to Ewing's mill, and again returned
to GeorgeviUe. Henry Kinter wa§ the first
postmaster in the village. The first church in
the vicinity was the log church of the German
Lutherans, about a half mile northeast of the
town. The second church was the Methodist
Episcopal, located within the cemetery
grounds. The first preacher at the latter was
Rev. Eli.iah Coleman. The first school was
taught in the log German Church. Schools
were taught in the basement of the M. PI
Church for several years.
Some of the old settlers of the township
were : John Park settled on the ground where
Marion Center now stands about 1800. James
Brady occupied the farm afterwards owned
by John A. Mabon, 1804. He was a cousin of
Capt. Samuel Brady, the Indian fighter. Wil-
liam Work came from Cumberland county to
the foot of "Squirrel Hill," not far from the
present site of New Florence, 1801, and in
1804 he located on the tract owned by Moses
T. and Elijah I. Work, East Mahoning town-
ship. John Leasure, one of the scouts sent to
guard the houses of the settlers along Crooked
creek, came to the farm occupied by Samuel
T. Brady. The patent of the farm liears the
date of January 17, 1802, and it contained
396 acres. William McCreery came and
settled on the Hugh Speedy farm. In remov-
ing his goods from Mifflin county to Cone-
maugh township he made nineteen trips on
packhorses. In 1803 he purchased the home-
stead occupied by his son the late Wm. W. G.,
in East Mahoning township. John Hopkins,
who located in Wheatfield township in 1808,
lived on the Hopkins homestead. Caspar Mogle
came to the farm afterwards occupied by
Henry Hoover. Jonathan Ayers settled in
Newport on the Conemaugh river, where he
worked at his trade as a blacksmith ; his shop
was patronized especially by the boatmen, who
frequented the place during high stages of
water. In 1804 he removed to the farm in
East Mahoning township afterwards occupied
by his son James. Here he erected a smith
shop, cabin, etc., and worked at his trade and
farmed as circumstances demanded. He was
the first blacksmith located in the county
north of the Purchase Line. The well known
Ayers log house, torn down in 1875, was
erected on "The Manor and Brady's iMill"
road in 1820. It was 48 by 33 feet in size, two
stories high, and for sixty years was a central
point. From the time of its construction it
stood at the .junction of the Indiana and
Punxsutawney and Georgeville roads, and the
marks of the old "Manor" route, long since
abandoned, can still be seen in front of the
site of the building and on the hillside in the
rear. Mahoning post office was kept in it for
several years by Jonathan Ayers, and in more
recent days James Ayers had charge of Ayers'
post ofSce in the same building. From 1847 to
1853 William B. Marshall and James Sutton
had a large and well patronized store in the
front room of the old building. From 1846
it was for many years the voting place of the
township. Owing to its location it was a
favorite stopping place for travelers and team-
sters, and many a merry party of Punxsutaw-
nians have gone in their sleighs or carriages
to partake of a repast at "Ayers" or min-
gle in the mazy walks of the dance to the
early hours of the morning. The Ayers farm
was patented in 1800 in the name of William
T. Brady, and the tract was called Oak Hall.
Jonathan Ayers was as well known east of
the mountains as in Indiana county on account
of his packing for many years tow and flax
eastward, and iron and salt westward. His
smith shop was patronized by settlers living
thirty and even forty miles distant, and from
an auger to a horseshoe, he could supply all
their wants.
The citizens of this township have always
been interested in education. For fifty-.seven
years Marion Center has had select schools, a
description of which will be given under an
account of the borough. In 1808, a house
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
519
which became unfit for a dwelling house, near
Marion Center, on the Meanor farm, close to
the present road, was converted into a school-
house, and "Big Robert" Thompson, so called
to distinguish him from two or three other
Thompsons of the same name, taught in it for
two or three years. It is said that he was
remarkably good in mathematics. North of
Marion Center, in the Work and Leasure set-
tlement, early schools were conducted.
The number of school districts has not
changed, but the names have changed. The
Lowman district was called the Beatty dis-
trict. Pickering Run district was called ' ' Owl
Hollow." The Brandon district was called the
Lighteap district. Upper Creek district was
called Work district. Hamill was called
Simpson district. On the west central part
of the township, along the South ]\Iahoning
line, an independent district was formed, and
the children of the district attended the
Smyrna school in South JIahoning township.
The Georgeville independent school district
is in East Mahoning township.
North of the Brandon school on the Indiana
and Puiissutawney road was located the
■ ■ Half Way ' ' house, kept by R. T. Brady. It
was for many years a noted stopping place
for teamsters traveling between Indiana and
Punxsutawney. For many years goods were
hauled from Indiana to Punxsutawney. Many
lumbermen in the vicinity of Punxsutawney
hauled boards to Indiana and exchanged them
for dry goods, groceries, salt, etc. J. N. Simp-
son conducted a hotel called the "Union" on
the north side of the Little Mahoning creek,
on the road leading from Indiana to Punxsu-
tawney.
Very few changes have been made in East
Mahoning township. There are but few for-
eigners, for the reason that the coal interests
have not been developed. An opening has
been made near Savan, but very little has
been accomplished.
The following is an account given by David
W. Elder of the journey of the Elder family
to Indiana county and also a description of
their home, in his own words :
It was on ilonday, about noon on the 6th
day of April, 1835, that we — that is, Robert
Elder and his family — started on our journey
from our old home in Franklin township,
Huntingdon Co., Pa., to our new home in
Indiana county. If any inquisitive person
should wish to discover the place from which
we started, he will find it near the foot of
Tussey mountain, half a mile above the vil-
lage of Graysville, on a small stream called
"Fowler's run."
Our family consisted of father, mother and
seven children, Jane, J. Reed, David W., Mary-
Ann, Elizabeth, Robert B. and Margaret; the
children ranging in age from eighteen years
to seven months.
We had been "just a going" to start for
several days, but could not get ready. Even
on that morning, it wasn't certain that we
would go. It had rained some, and the
weather was threatening. What influence set
us in motion I know not, but about nine
o'clock it was decided that we should go, and
from that time all was hurry and bustle. I
have little recollection of particulars. I re-
iiicmber that we children had our fa<-es
washed and were fixed up as if we were going
to church. I remember seeing tlie men carry-
ing out heavy articles of furniture and pack-
ing them in the bed of the four-horse wagon
that was to carry us over the mountains. I
remember the crowd of neighbors that came
to see us off, and bid us good-by. The fare-
wells were doubtless serious enough between
the grown persons, but they did not affect me.
1 have no recollections of feeling any regret at
leaving the old place. I had only pleasant an-
ticipations of the new sights I would see. It
seemed to me like a holiday excursion. I did
not realize the greatness of the change we were
making. I little thought that in a few months
I would be longing for a sight of the mountain
top, the brook, and the big willow, where I
used to make whistles and flutter wheels.
Some of the men and boys came with us a
considerable distance to. help drive the cows
and get them trained to follow the wagon.
After we passed the church, and got into "the
barrens, ' " they gradually left us. Mr. George
Fry drove the wagon the first day, and his
son Levi, a gawky, good-natured boy. was the
last of the boys to leave us, and would not
have turned back then but for a positive order
from his father. He left reluctantly, bidding
us all good-by.
We crossed the little Juniata, where Spruce
Creek station on the Pennsylvania railroad
now is, but there was no railroad there then.
We stopp.ed for the night in the little town
of Waterstreet. The next morning George
Fry returned home, and LTncle David Elder
drove the team the rest of the journey. We
followed the turnpike passing through Canoe
valley, getting into Ilollidaysburg in the even-
ing. We had intended to stop there that
night, but could not get accommodations for
our stock and went a mile fartlier toward the
520
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
mountain, and stopped at a public house kept
by a Dutch farmer named John Widensall.
This day I first saw a canal boat and a rail-
road car.
The following day we went over the moun-
tain on the turnpike, and were often in sight
of the cars of the Portage railroad, which
then crossed the mountain at Blair's Gap.
We lunched at the "Stone Tavern" on the
summit of the mountain. We hoped to reach
Ebensburg that night, but failed to do so, and
had to put up at Wherry's, "a very uncom-
fortable place," a mile or two from Ebens-
burg.
Early in the forenoon of the next day we
passed through Ebensburg, and here we left
the Northern turnpike, and entered on what
was called the Clay pike, leading to Indiana.
As this latter road was not macadamized, and
the ground was wet, and the load heavy, the
wagon made slow progress. Stopping at a
country tavern at noon, kept by an old Welsh-
man, named Griffith Rowland, we reached
Strongstown on the edge of Indiana county
at dusk, and put up for the night. I was so
tired that night that I fell asleep in the bar-
room behind the door and was not missed till
the landlord went to close the door after all
the rest had retired. There were two or three
other flittings at the inn, and the landlord in-
quired which of them had lost a boy. The
family roll was called. I was missing, and
was restored to my proper place. It took us
all the next day to get to Indiana, where we
put up at the hotel now called the "Indiana
House" (though it has been rebuilt since
that time).
On Saturday morning we left behind us
not only macadamized roads, but even clay
pikes, and entered on the rough, hilly and
muddy road of the "backwoods." When we
started on Monday we had hoped to reach our
.journey's end by Saturday evening, but it
was now plainly impossible. At noon we
reached "Katy Buchanan's," a public house
between Indiana and Punxsuta-\\Tiey. (The
old "Wall's" Tavern, five miles south of
Punxsutawney, was opened a few years be-
fore.) A little before sunset we reached the
house of Joseph McPherson. an old acquain-
tance of my father's. He took us in, and
hospitably entertained us until Monday. On
Sabbath we attended Jlahoning Church,
where we met many of our new neighbors, and
gave them notice of our coming.
On Monday morning we began the last
stage of our wearisome journey. It had rained
the night before, and the roads were heavy
and our progress slow. I can recollect but
few of the incidents of that part of our jour-
ney. On our way we met some of our neigh-
bors coming to meet us. We made a stop at
the house of Scroggs Work. Here a path led
through the woods to the cabin. Reed was
sent by that route to kindle the fire at the
house, while the wagon went by a more cir-
cuitous route. The public road at that time
ran directly past Scroggs Work's house, and
kept its course south of, and nearly parallel
with, the present line of the public road, and
nearly a hundred yards distant therefrom.
Prom a point where the end of the lane now
is, a road, or rather a path, ran up to the
house, passing along nearly the same route
that the lane does now. Some young men
had cut a way for the wagon that morning,
but a four-horse wagon was a conveyance be-
fore unknown in that region, and their road
was too narrow. Men and boys with axes
cut a wider passage, and the wagon moved
forward a few rods at a time as a way was
made for it. It was just about noon when
we reached the house, and just a week from
the time we started.
The house stood a few feet south of the
frame house now standing. It was a log cabin,
18 by 16 feet, and a story and a half high.
The longest dimension was from the lower to
the upper side, although the gables faced
north and south, so that the ends of the
house were longer than the sides. The logs
were unhewn, the roof was made of clap-
boards, kept in place by weight poles. The
door was in the south end, and the chimney
in the upper side. The jambs were about six
feet apart, and the chimney was on the out-
side. It was a wooden chimney, built of logs
and sticks protected from the fire at the lower
part by stones, and at the upper part by clay.
The drip of the upper half of the roof fell
upon the chimney just above the mantel, and
to protect it a section of a hollow log was put
under the eave to serve as a spout. The only
window was in the north end, and contained
six lights of 8 by 10 inch glass. There was
no staircase, and the loft could be reached
only by a ladder.
The barn stood on a little rise in ground
between two spring draughts, aliout forty
yards south of the house. It was a double
log cabin barn, two bays with an intervening
space for a threshing floor, though I think
there was no floor there. It had a clapboard
roof with weight poles. A little springhouse
built of poles, with a sloped roof, stood just
below the spring head. The farm contained
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
521
about ninety acres, of which only about twelve
acres were cleared. All the land lying west-
ward of the present lane or road running
through the farm was in woods. The tiat land
just below where the buildings stood was a
swamp so deep that adventurous cows in the
springtime, seeking the grass and herbs grow-
ing there, sometimes stuck fast and had to be
pried out with rails or poles. This swamp was
the abode of numerous frogs and their
music (?) on a warm evening in springtime
was deafening.
The flat land at the southeastern corner of
the farm was covered with sugar, hickory,
linden, ash and elm trees. The land up the
run on the hillside was covered with oak and
chestnut, except a portion of the hillside at
the northeast corner of the farm, which had
no timber on it, but was covered with scrubby
bushes and was called the "Bald Knob." The
farm had been unoccupied for a year when
we came and was greatly out of order.
Our nearest neighbor was Scroggs Work,
who lived about one hundred rods to the
southwest of us. His house stood where later
stood the frame house occupied by his son,
Elijah Work, Jr. His family consisted of
himself, his wife, Margaret, nee Brown, and
five children: Miriam, John, Rachel. ]\Iarga-
retta and William, who was fourteen months
old. Our next neighbor down the creek was
Allen M. Work, who owned the farm after-
wards occupied by his son Ephraim. Allen's
house stood below the creek road, and also
below the road leading across the creek at
that point. The next below was Sylvanus
Ayers. the blacksmith. The Ayers farm ex-
tended over the creek and included the land
afterwards owned by Robert Loughry. The
Ayers building stood near where the present
buildings are ; the shop stood near the cross-
ing of the creek road and the Indiana and
Punxsutawney road. Up the run north of
Sylvanus Ayers lived Jonathan Kinnan, on
the farm afterwards occupied by David Pol-
lock. His house stood on the eastern side of
the hollow, where the Indiana and Punxsu-
tawney road used to run. Down the creek
road below Sylvanus Ayers, on the farm
owned by William Hamill, lived Hugh Col-
gan, who came to the farm in 183-5. The farm
on the creek where the Indiana and Punxsu-
tawney road crosses it was taken possession of
by John Simpson about the same time we
came here. Colgan sold the farm to John
Simpson, and then put up buildings on what
is now the Hamill place, to which he then re-
moved. Up the creek road our next neighbor
was William Work. His house stood by the
roadside about the same place where stands
the house now occupied by J. C. Work. Next
above William Work lived John Work. The
next was Aaron Work, whose house was on the
south side of the road just opposite the large
frame house now occupied by JMrs. Robert H.
Work, Sr. About thirty rods above Aaron
Work's house on the south side of the road,
in a small hewed log house, lived Allan Craw-
ford. Solomon Leasure lived on the farm
later occupied by his son David. Solomon
lived in a small frame house, the only one in
the neighliorhood. David Simpson lived on
a farm which included what is now the vil-
lage of Richmond. He had the only flouring-
mill in the neighborhood. Simpson lived in
a double log cabin across the road from the
mill, but a little lower down. At Simpson's
the settlement virtually ended. The public
road extended no farther. An almost un-
broken wilderness extended to the line of
Clearfield count}'. A few adventurous pio-
neers, indeed, had gone into this wilderness
and made improvements, and kept up com-
munication with the settlements by bridle
paths through the woods. Among these were
Daniel Brewer, William White and James
Black. In some sense these people were our-
neighbors, as they were obliged to depend on
the people of the settlement for assistance in
many things. To the northward of us there
was an unbroken belt of woodland extending
nearly to where the village of Marchand now
stands, containing several thousands of acres.
This woodland was, in fact, an arm of the
great wilderness to the east of us already men-
tioned. Cattle and sheep pastured on it in
the summer. Hogs grew fat on it in the au-
tumn, and in some parts of it huckleberries
and rattlesnakes abounded in their season.
The people who lived beyond this belt of
woodland on what we called ' ' the ridge ' ' were
not regarded as neighbors. We met them oc-
casionally at church and at military training,
but we did not have intimate relations with
them.
It would be monotonous to describe separ-
ately the houses of the settlers. A general
description will answer for all. The house
was a log cabin of about the same dimensions
as the one on our farm. Sometimes the logs
were hewed, oftener they were not. Each
house was a little above one story in height,
and none was fuUy two stories. In most cases
the roof was of clapboards kept in place by
weight poles. Each house consisted of one
room below and a loft above, which was
522
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
reached by a ladder. The chimney was some-
times on the outside, and sometimes on the
inside, but always had a wide fireplace.
Stoves were unknown, and wood the only fuel.
Scarcely any one of these houses was visible
from another. Each settler had cleared a
small opening around his buildings, whilst a
broad belt of woodland lay between him and
his neighbor, shutting out the view. It was
only by climbing a hill that one could see that
the country was inhabited.
The only gristmill in the neighborhood was
Simpson's. The nearest store was Henry Kin-
ter's, near Georgeville. The nearest post
ofSce was Mahoning, at what was then Ew-
ing's, now Stear's, mill, seven miles down the
creek. It was supplied by a weekly mail car-
ried on horseback. The only churches within
ten miles were Gilgal and Mahoning, and the
ministers of both churches resided outside of
the congregation.
There was a little schoolhouse on the creek
road about a quarter of a mile below Scroggs
Work's. It stood in the woods below the road.
It was about fifteen feet square, built of un-
hewn logs, and had a clapboard roof. It was
one story high, and the joists were high
enough for a tall man to stand straight under
them. The door was about five feet high, hung
on wooden hinges and fastened with a pin.
The two windows were merely widened cracks
between the logs with no glass in them. The
lower floor was of loose boards. The upper
floor was of still looser boards. The fireplace
consisted of three flat stones in one corner of
the room, one horizontal for a hearth, and
two perpendicular in the angle of the walls to
serve as .iambs. An opening in the floor above
served as a flue, and cracks in the gable and
roof furnished an exit for the smoke. The
only furniture in the house was a bench made
by driving four stout oaken pegs into the
round side of a slab about eight feet in length.
Another bench was extemporized by putting
one end of a loose board into a crack in the
wall and resting the other end on a log of
wood on the hearth. The building had been
used only for a summer school and had to be
refitted before winter school was held in it.
The first term was taught by Polly Work in
1833, and the second term by her in the sum-
mer of 1834. Allen N. Work taught first in
the summer of 1835, and was the only teacher
until 1839. when Jane Campbell taught the
last term in this old schoolhouse.
The next school house was located on what
is now the farm of Phineas A. Work's heirs.
The following teachers are given in the order
in which they taught : William H. Fairbanks,
a three months' spring term, and a three
months' fall term; A. N. Work, two months'
winter term; A. Hinman, two months' fall
term; James B. Work, three and a fourth
months, winter and fall term; A. Hinman, a
three months' spring term ; A. N. Work, three
months' fall term; A. Hinman, three months'
fall term; A. N. Work, a three months' fall
term; Hezekiah Wood, three months' winter
term ; George Richardson, Jeremiah B. Work,
I). W. Elder, A. N. Work, J. R. Elder, John
L. Work, Silas Warren, Jeremiah B. Work
(two terms), James M. Work, J. Smith Work,
Robert Cook, Thomas Hindman, Mr. Wimer,
Tliomas Hindman, Harriet Work, Maggie
Kinter, Mary E. Allison and Nancy P. Hamil-
ton, Susan Mcanor, Lizzie Simpson, Mary Mc-
Ginity, Nancy I'. Hamilton, Ada Brady, Mary
J. McCreery, Maggie McCreery (two terms),
William Meaaor, W. E. Simpson, John Cal-
derwood, Jennie Black, Almira Hopkins,
Allen Work, Alex. McGough, Allen Work
(two terms), Samuel Hamilton, Robert ]\lc-
Isaac, Josiaii Work, Alda Baylor, Josiah
Work, Lizzie Work, M. E. McCreery, Olive
Nichol, Viola Lewis, Etta M. Work, Frank B.
Hastings, Hattie M. Work, W. C. Work, ]Mar-
tha Work, JIarie Moore, Martha Wyncoop,
Mrgil Zeanor, Horace M. Hudson, Genevieve
Morrison (two terms), Marie Moore, J. S.
Ross and Ebert Simpson, Vernie Mottern,
Rachel Meaner, Lulu Dilts, Mary McCon-
aughey and William Moore, Leland Kepler,
Vada Walker, Bertha Work, Eugene Elder,
Jacob Brilhart, Eugene E. Elder (the last two
terms ) .
The following who were educated in this
school became teachers : J. R. Elder, ilary A.
Elder, John B. Work, Nancy J. Work, Allen
S. Work, George Hall, ^Miles Walker, David
W. Elder. Etta M. Work. Eugene E. Elder,
Ethel G. Work, Hattie M. Work. Of this
school, John B. Campbell became a physician,
Robert H. Work a lumbei'man, Moses T. Work
a professor of music, Elija Work a merchant.
A. W. Steele a commissioner of Indiana
county, M. C. Simpson a stock dealer, A. W.
Elder a justice of the peace for fifteen years,
Norman Hamilton an architect and contrac-
tor, and Glen Kuntz a bookkeeper.
There were no carding machines, fulling
mills or woolen factories in the neighborhood,
and there was probably not a steam engine
within thirty miles of the place. Scarcely a
farmer along the creek had a wagon, the haul-
ing being done with sleds. Of course, reapers,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
523
mowers, gn-aiu drills aud hoisting forks had
not then been invented.
The following East Mahoning boys found
their work along professional lines: David
Elder, attorney, Pittsburg, Pa. (deceased) ;
James M. McCreery, State Senator, Greeley,
Colo. : Rev. W. H. JleCreery, United Presby-
terian minister, Loveland, Colo.; Dr. Hubert
Work, physician, founder of sanitarium,
Pueblo, Colo. ; Rev. Jeremiah Work, professor
of Bible, Tarkio, ilo. ; Rev. St. Clair StucheU,
Presbyterian minister, W^ashington, D. C. ;
Luther A. McQuown, editor of the "Rafts-
man's Journal" and State Senator, Clearfield,
Pa.; Rev. Samuel B. Latferty. M. E.*minister,
Saltsburg, Pa., and Rev. Joseph Lafferty,
M. E. minister, formerly of New Kensington;
Rev. George Rowe, M. E. minister, McKees-
port, Pa.
Among the elderly residents of the town-
ship are the following : David B. Work, Wil-
liam Hamill, James M. Loughry, T. H. Craig,
Milton Work, Alex. Streams, A. S. Work,
H. P. Lewis.
The Gilgal Presbyterian, the Mahoning
United Presbyterian, Covenanter, and Metho-
dist Episcopal and Baptist of Georgeville are
the churches of East Mahoning township.
The first election in East Mahoning town-
ship was held Friday, February 6, 18-16, at
the house of widow Ayers, where the follow-
ing officers were elected: Justices of the
peace. Peter Brewer and Allen W. Work
(se^en candidates) ; constable, James Lydick;
assessoi-. Samuel Brady; judge of election,
Peter Sutton; inspectors, Peter Riddle and
John M. Henderson; auditors, Henry Kinter,
Hugh Hamilton, Samuel D. ]McCreery ; school
directors, Gawin Adams, A. S. Work, S. H.
Thompson, James JlcCreery, John Craig,
Charles Bovard; township clerk, A. I. T.
Crawford; assistant assessors, John Work and
Robert Hopkins ; supervisors, John Brady and
Robert Elder; fence appraisers, Samuel H.
Thompson and John Allison ; overseers of the
poor, James Lydick and John Simpson ; elec-
tion officers — judge, Jonathan Doty: inspec-
tors, Reuben Hastings and Christopher
Stuchel. The greatest number of votes polled
for any candidate was 81.
The assessor's book for 191.3 shows the fol-
lowing in East IMahoning township : Number
and value of horses assessed, 350 — $12,175;
cows, 265— $3.985 ; taxables, 326 ; taxable real
estate, $273,557 ; acres of cleared land, 17,371 ;
acres of timberland, 1,393; money at interest,
$44,802; cost of assessment, $51.20.
MARION CENTER BOROUGH.
Marion Center is situated on a tract of land
which originally embraced 408 acres, the pat-
ent of which was issued to James Johnston,
deputy surveyor, on the 31st of January, 1798.
In the patent the tract is called "Greenland"
and is described as situated on the waters of
Pine run.
In 1795 John Park came to this portion
of Pennsylvania to make surveys under the
direction of ilr. Johnston. In 1798 he pur-
chased the "Evergreen" body of land, though
he did not get his deed until the 2d of De-
cember, 1803. In 1799 he erected a log cabin
16 by 20 feet in what is now the southwest
end of the village, on the site where now
stands the house of the Richey farm, now
owned by J. H. Rochester. This was the first
house erected in this section north of Penn's
purchase line. Elisha Chambers, Hugh
Thompson, William McHenry, Fergus Moor-
head, Jacob Shallenberger and five friendly
Seneca Indians assisted in the raising. The
Indians, according to tradition, would not
work until the bottle of whisky was passed
and each had drunk a portion thereof. Then,
upon a signal from the chief, who shook ener-
getically a gourd partly filled with corn, they
went to work with much awkwardness, but
good-naturedly, and the first building on the
present site of the thriving borough of Marion
Center was erected. After the raising they all
went to Hugh Thompson's place, about two
and a half miles down Pine run, where the
Indians and the whites had a grand frolic.
The red men danced to the music of the
shaken gourd and there was naught to disturb
the harmony of the hour.
It is said that when Mr. Park first came to
this region he encamped on the site of his
cabin. Near it was a fine spring. On the
opposite side of the run was a party of Indians
who had erected their wigwams there, no
doubt, on account of the spring, as well as
the abundance of game iu the surrounding
forest. The next comer in this neighborhood
was James Johnston, a nephew of the sur-
veyor, who located about half a mile west of
Mr. Park. The next was Daniel Davis, the
grandfather of Clark Davis, who settled about
a mile south of ]\Ir. Park. William Smith,
called "Old Billy," and his son William,
termed ' ' Big Billy, ' ' with their families were
the next arrivals. They occupied Mr. Park's
cabin until he arrived in 1808 with his family,
and then they removed to the farm now occu-
pied by Benjamin D. Rochester.
524
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The first death in this settlement was a little
daughter of "Big Billy" Smith. She was
buried in the southeast corner of what is now
the Jane Duncan farm, and the grave, with
others, is to-day marked by a number of
stones. In 1810 Mr. Park built a tanyard
about thirty rods from his cabin on the lot
now owned by his grandson, Dr. L. N. Park,
on South Manor street. In 1817 he erected
a hewed log house, with dormer windows and
piazza in front, which stood in the rear of
McLaughlin, Kinter & Company's warehouse,
and part of it was used as a granary, until it
was finally torn down. Fergus Blakeney as-
sisted in its construction. It was considered
in its day the best house north of the purchase
line.
Up to this time, owing to the great distance
to a gristmill, the pioneers had to depend on
their hand mills for their grinding, and Mr.
Park's next step was to erect a small grist-
mill. It was located on the lot now occupied
by the Marion Center National Bank. The
stones, about three feet in diameter, were
from the neighboring hills; the power was
produced by from two to four horses or as
many oxen, and its capacity was about twenty
bushels of grain per day. In 1834 he erected
a waterpower mill on the rear of the lot occu-
pied by the tannery above mentioned. A rude
horizontal water-wheel with a side-chute pro-
duced sufScient power to grind thirty bushels
of wheat per day. The mill was in operation
until 1855.
James L. Park, son of John Park, started
the first cabinet factory and carpenter shop
in connection with the water gristmill.
The first distillery in this section of the
country was erected by James Ewing on the
Abner Griffith farm, now occupied by William
Morrison. Not long after this Thomas Jones
started a distillery on the place afterwards
owned by Johnston Lightcap, now occupied
by Mr. Swan and family. The third was built
by James Johnston on what was afterwards
the Jefferson McKee tract. The next was
erected by Abram Davis on the McLanahan
tract. The fifth was inaugurated by Jerry
Brown on the Brown homestead, near the
Mahoning U. P. Church, now the site of Hugh
Pollock's residence. Then Robert Hamilton
started one on the John Hamilton farm, and
about the same time John Lea sure engaged in
the distilling business on his farm. John
Decker erected a distillery on the Robert Park
farm, now within the borough limits. "With
liquor thus abundantly produced it was no
wonder that the early settlers were addicted
to the free use of the potent beverage.
The first schoolhouse on the site of the town
was built on or near where the barn of N. W.
Stewart now stands, on North Manor street.
The site was afterwards the property of
Joseph Brady, who erected the dwelling where
N. W. Stewart now resides. This school-
house was a rude log building with a puncheon
floor. The seats and desks were made of slabs,
the de-sks being fastened to the walls with
wooden pins, thus compelling the pupils to
sit with their faces to the wall while doing
their sums or taking their lessons in writing.
The windows were of oiled paper, excepting
one at the master's desk, which contained six
small panes of glass. The chimney occupied
one entire end of the building, and huge logs
were rolled into the cavernous fireplace. Wil-
liam Work, the pioneer, was the first teacher
in this building, and taught several terms.
Samuel Craig was the second master, ilar-
garet Park, afterwards the wife of Samuel
Craig, and Robert Craig, a Scotchman, were
teachers in this house. This was before there
was any public school law in Pennsylvania,
and the school was kept up by the subscrip-
tions of the settlers. This building was de-
stroyed by fire about 1834, and until about
1848 the children of this section had to go
to school at a house near where the Lowman
schoolhouse now stands, or another near the
Brandon schoolhouse. About that year the
second schoolhouse was erected in the town,
was afterwards used as a residence by Rev.
J. C. Brown, and is now the site of Dr. J. M.
Stewart's residence. The third schoolhouse
was erected about 1860 on High street, near
the Presbyterian Church. The present build-
ing, located on the corner of High street and
North ilanor street, was erected in 1901.
The settlement continued to grow, and in
August, 1842, the town was laid out by Mr,
Park, the first sale of lots occurring in the suc-
ceeding month. The plat embraced eight
acres, with one main street and two rows of
lots on either side. At the sale of lots from
fifteen to twenty acres were sold at an average
of about sixteen dollars each, the highest price
being thirty dollars for the large corner lot
where the Rochester store has stood for many
years.
The first house erected after the platting
of the town was on Main street, by Hezekiah
Wood, the pioneer chair and spinning wheel
manufacturer. This building was afterwards
enlarged, remodeled and converted into a
dwelling and drug store by Dr. A. H. Allison,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
525
and has sinoe been replaced by a new build-
ing; now occupied by Shields ' Pharmacy.
Hezekiah Wood, Sr., was the first shoe-
maker, and his reputation at the last was
equally as good as that of his son at the
bench.
The second building, which stood on the
east side of the Wood residence, was erected
by James Park for James McKelvey, the first
blacksmith. This was afterwards occupied by
Jlrs. Hutchinson, and Robert Hopkins. The
building on this site is now used for the post-
ofBce.
The nest house was William Campbell's on
the west side of the Wood property. The first
wagon shop was carried on in the building by
William Brown. Dr. W. S. Shields now lives
on this site, having erected a new residence.
The first harnessmaker was William Rich-
ardson, who lived in the Wood residence, and
traveled from place to place wherever required
to make harness. In 1858 E. H. Griffith
started a harness shop on the Park lot on the
corner of ilain and I\Ianor streets, and in
1862 erected a new residence with harness
shop adjoining, on Main street, where he still
resides. He then added the making of saddles
to his business, and continued to do a large
business until the use of saddles was largely
replaced in the country by vehicles.
JlcCracken & Conrad were the first mer-
chants. Their store was commenced in 1845
in the room afterwards occupied by Mrs. ilary
Pounds as her dining room of the "Exchange
Hotel." After conducting the store here for
three years it was transferred to Gettysburg.
Hezekiah Wood and Evan Lewis opened the
second store in the east end of the Wood
house, and in 1856 John C. Rochester began
business in this room, but soon erected a store-
room on the corner of Main and Manor streets,
which has been occupied by some of his family
ever since. In 1882 John H. Rochester and
B. F. Laughlin erected a new storeroom on
this site and moved the old room back for a
warehouse. The firm name of Rochester &
Laughlin was associated with Marion Center
for many years. Later Dr. W. S. Shields had
an interest in the store, and the firm was
known as Rochester & Shields. The store is
now owned by Mr. S. H. Jones, who still does
a successful business at the old Rochester
store.
John K. Lewis was the next merchant,
building the room on ilain street next to the
"Union Hotel." He continued in business
for five j'ears, during which time Joseph
Brady was a partner for one year.
In 1866 James Bovard erected the store-
room now occupied by Dr. L. N. Park. James
McGregor, who for some time was a clerk in
the employ of Mr. Bovard, became a partner,
and the firm was known as Bovard & Mc-
Gregor.
ilcLaughlin & ilarshaU were the next mer-
chants, commencing in the building formerly
occupied by John K. Lewis. J. A. Kinter
afterwards purchased an interest in the store,
and the firm was changed to McLaughlin &
Kinter. They erected a building on the lot
now occupied by Aaron Houck's livery. Mr.
Joseph Brady then became a member of the
firm, and they traded as ]\IcLaughlin, Kinter
& Co, The store was entirely destroyed by
fire, and the firm erected a large storeroom on
the old Park lot, at the corner of ]\Iain and
iManor streets. This store was afterwards eon-
ducted by different firms, until it was pur-
chased by Horatius Simons, who converted it
into a hotel, and it has since been known as
the "Mahoning House." It is now managed
by Mrs. Sarah Walker.
]Mr, Linton Park, youngest son of John,
was the first painter in this section, and his
artistic ability .justly entitled him to be desig-
nated as master of the craft in the ilahoning
valley.
The first hotel was opened in 1844 by James
Park, in the building afterwards known as
"The Exchange." J. W. Ayers succeeded
Mr. Park in 1848. For several years Dr.
David M. Marshall occupied it as a private
residence, retiring in 1866, when Mrs. ilary
Pounds remodeled it and conducted a hotel
for several years. The building is now occu-
pied by Chai-les Frampton.
The second hotel was built by Alexander
Adams, on the site of the present "Marion
House. ' ' David Blair was the next proprietor,
and in about a year retired, the building
thenceforth becoming a private residence. In
1879 Adam Bates built a new hotel on this lot,
which has since been known as "The Marion
Hotel." Levi Lowmaster was the first land-
lord, but for the last twenty-five years it has
been conducted by the Flecks, whose efficient
management is known throughout the county.
The "Union Hotel" was erected in 1856,
by John and James Park, the latter using it
as a dwelling house for two years. The prop-
erty was then purchased by Joseph Brady,
who conducted a hotel until 1864. In the flush
times of the war the "Brady House" and the
neighbors would accommodate a hundred sol-
diers with a breakfast on ver>' short notice.
John Brady was the next proprietor, being
526
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
succeeded by John K. Lewis, who was fol-
lowed by Levi Lowmaster. Later James C.
Bovard conducted the hotel for several years.
This building was destroyed by fire in 1905,
and in that year the Marion Center National
Bank was erected on this site.
Dr. James D. Baldwin was the first phy-
sician, having located here in 1843. Dr. J. K.
Thompson was the second, coming in 1845,
and had a wide practice until his death, in
1890. The next physicians in order were
William Davidson, William Anthony, G. J.
McHenry, D. M. Marshall, James N. Loughry,
J. M. Snowden, W. S. Shields (who is still
one of the practicing physicians of Marion),
A. H. Allison (now removed to his farm in
East Mahoning township), Dr. W. E. Dodson
(removed to Indiana), R. P. McHenry, J. C.
Gourley, R. M. Thompson, Dr. Keeler, H. C.
Bee (now in Ohio), and Dr. A. H. Stewart
and Dr. J. M. Stewart, now practicing in Ma-
rion Center.
The first resident justice of the peace in
the village was Robert J. Hopkins. After the
incorporation of the borough, the first justices
were James McGregor and James McGinity.
J. A. Kinter was justice of the peace for fif-
teen years. Others were Tobias Ryckman,
M. W. Smith, A. A. Beans, and the present
justices, N. W. Stewart and A. S. McGinity.
The woolen mill erected in 1864 by Charles
M. Lang was at one time an important indus-
try of the town. At first there were 140 spin-
dles and the engine was only eight-horse
power. Later the plant was enlarged and a
forty-horse power engine, 260 spindles and
other suitable machinery installed. This miU
was equal in products to any other in the
State.
In 1874 the manufacture of the Park &
Beans window blinds (the invention of Mr.
Linton Park) was one of the important indus-
tries of the town.
At the time the early pioneers settled here
the nearest postoffice was Greensburg, fifty-
six miles distant. Later they received their
mail at Indiana. A postoffice, however, was
soon established at Hugh Cannon's, two and a
half miles southwest of town. This postofSee
was named Home (afterwards removed to
Kellysburg) , and until 1857 was the office for
Marion and surrounding country. In 1856
every effort possible was brought to bear upon
the Postoffice Department to secure a post-
office at Marion, but not until in 1857 was this
service granted. The office was named Brady,
and Mr. John C. Rochester was the first post-
master. Tlie folloA^dng have since served in
that capacity : J. A. Kinter, Dr. L. N. Park,
Charles Frampton, Dr. W. S. Shields, Dr.
A. H. Allison, and Ellsworth McGregor, Mr.
H. P. Lewis being the present incumbent. It
was a great annoyance in many ways to have
different names for the town and postoffice,
and in January, 1891, the department, in
compliance with a petition, changed the name'
from "Brady" to "Marion Center," and the
name of the borough was also changed to "Ma-
rion Center."
In 1869 Marion Center (then "Marion")
was incorporated as a borough, the first elec-
tion being held in July of that year. The first
burgess was James Bovard, Sr. The first
council was composed of John H. Rochester,
John Jones, Robert Park, E. H. Griffith and
Joseph Brady. The following have since acted
as burgess in the town : Joseph Brady, P. K.
Jamison, Jesse Thomas, B. P. Laughlin, Dr.
J. K. Thompson, 0. A. Ellis, Dr. L. N. Park,
N. W. Stewart, J. C. Bovard, W. R. Smyers,
D. H. Bee, H. J. Thompson. The present offi-
cials of the town are : John Adams, burgess ;
N. W. Stewart and A. S. McGinity, justices of
the peace; members of council, James C. Bo-
vard, president; Prank W. West, Aaron
Houck, C. R. Griffith, Norris E. Barr, J. W.
Work, Silas W. Work. C. A. Frampton, re-
turn constable; Ira McAfoos, borough con-
stable.
The steam gristmill of Marion was first
erected by Kinter & Richey, and was after-
wards owned by James Midkii-k, Thomas Dun-
can, Thomas & Sutton, Robert Fulton and
J. M. Gamble & Bro., finally being purcliased
by P. W. West and John Rice, ti-ading as the
llarion Center Milling Company. This mill
was totally destroyed by fire on May 25, 1911,
and was replaced by F. W. West and H. P.
Kinter, still under the name of [Marion Center
Milling Company. They now have a modern,
up-to-date plant, one of the most complete in
western Pennsylvania. It has a capacity of
seventy-five barrels of flour and one hundred
liarrels of buckwheat.
In 1873 Dr. L. N. Park opened a drug store
in a room in the building now called the ' ' Ma-
honing House." He afterwards studied den-
tistry and opened an office in connection with
liis drug store. In 1882 he purchased the
building formerly occupied by Bovard & Mc-
Gregor, and moved his drug store and dental
office into this building, where he continued in
business until 1907, when W. C. Griffith pur-
chased the drug store, which he still conducts.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
;V2T
Dr. Earl H. Park, son of Dr. L. N. Park,
succeeded liis father in dentistry, and is now
the only dentist in the town.
The ilariou Center National Bank opened
for business August 21, 1905. The large brick
building, with brownstone front, is located
on the northeast corner of the "Diamond,"
on the site of the "Union Hotel." This is a
good location for business, being at the cross-
ing of the Susquehanna road with the Indiana
and Punxsutawney road, and the growth of
the business has been steady and healthy.
The bank was started with a capital stock of
$35,000 and in three years increased to
••JiSO.OOO. The deposits now amount to about
$300,000; surplus and profits, $58,000. The
otificers are : H. J. Thompson, president ; C. R.
Griffith, vice president; H. G. Work, cashier;
and J. A. Smith, assistant cashier. The direct-
ors are: H. J. Thompson, William Rankin,
H. P. Wetzel, N. C. Simpson, S. S. Wetzel,
C. R. Griffith, C. A. Oberlin, J. M. Thompson.
The Clarion Center Co-operative Creamery
Company was organized ilarch 8, 1913. with
$7,500 capital stock, divided into $100 shares,
the stocldiolders including farmers in the sur-
rounding country. The directors are : H. J.
Thompson, S. S. Wetzel, H. E. Bence, P. W.
West, F. G. Haer, H. A. Mclsaac, C. M. Hast-
ings. The officers are : H. J. Thompson,
president ; P. W. West, secretary ; H. G. Work,
treasurer. The building was erected by the
creamery was started in successful operation
April 28, 1913, with a capacity of 500 cows.
INIarion Center has one of the most wide-
awake newspapers in the county. The Inde-
pendent, edited by C. R. Griffith, was started
in 1881, and has a wide circulation throughout
the county, and to all parts of the country
wherever former residents of Marion Center
are located.
Marion Center has two churches, the Pres-
byterian and the Methodist Episcopal.
The stores in the town now are: II. P.
Wetzel, general merchandise, in business since
1886 ; J. G. Wilson, who succeeded A. L. Guth-
rie in 1912, in a general merchandise store;
J. Walter Work, notions and groceries ; J. C.
McCormick, harness store; ilarion Center
Hardware Company; W. C. Griffith, phar-
macy ; Shields pharmacy ; P. W. Wells, jew-
eler; S. H. Jones, general store.
The first planing-milL in the town was
erected in 1868 by James Park. It was after-
wards operated by P. K. Jamison, L. N. Park,
then by Bovard & McGregor, and is now
owned and managed by J. C. Bovard.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in Marion Center borough : Number
and value of horses assessed, 46 — $2,235:
number and value of cows assessed, 22 — $326
tasables, 152; taxable real estate, $57,38-4
monev at interest, $81,365.68 ; cost of assess-
ment, $21.00.
CHAPTER XXXV
NOKTH MAHONING TOWNSHIP
North Mahoning township was formed
from Mahoning in 1846. It was so named
because of the position it occupied. In 1870
it had a population of 1,263; in 1910, 990.
The soil is sandy loam, adapted to grain and
stock gi-owing, which is the chief employment.
Lumbering has been carried on extensively.
The township is watered by Little Mahon-
ing, ;Mud Lick, Dutch run, Canoe creek. Pine
run and Leasure run.
The coal has not been developed in North
Mahoning township. The only railroad in
the township is the Buffalo & Susquehanna,
which starts at Juneau in Canoe township
and goes by way of Covode about a mile south
of Trade City, where it follows the Little
Mahoning creek ; leaving the creek near Ross-
moyne, it extends through Plumville to
Sagamore.
Davidsville (Trade City P. 0.^— The vil-
lage was named from David Mutersbaugh,
who laid out the town in the fall of 1852.
He owned the land which included the site
of the village, having purchased it of Solomon
Sprankle, who obtained it of the Holland
Land Company. He soon after this migrated
to Virginia. Peter Dilts, Jr., erected in the
same fall the building now known as the
"Davidsville Hotel," for a dwelling and
store house, and kept therein the first mer-
cantile establishment. The second building
was erected by Frederick Sprankle, for a
dwelling and wagon shop. The building was
afterwards used by Mr. Sprankle as his car-
riage and wagon factory. The third house
528
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was the blacksmithy of W. H. B. Sprankle,
who also erected the fourth building for his
dwelling. Mr. Dilts erected several houses,
among them a stone building, in which he sold
goods for some time, and afterwards it was
purchased by David Steele, who after mer-
chandising in it for a few years abandoned
the business, retaining possession of the
building. Mr. T. C. Ramey succeeded his
brother, Hon. Daniel Ramey, in the mercan-
tile business. After Mr. Ramey the store
was conducted by Davis Goheen, who sold to
T. S. Neal and Peter Stear in 1882. In 1886
Mr. Neal purchased the interest of Mr. Stear
and in 1890 built a new store building. In
1896 he sold to George Weaver, but in 1901
Mr. Neal and Joseph Buchanan purchased ^he
store and in 1905 sold to J. W. Hicks, who
in 1911 sold to H. E. Roney, the present
owner.
The hotel at Trade City which is now car-
ried on by W. J. Hicks was opened to the
public in 1853. During the war whisky was
sold at this tavern, but there was no license.
The proprietors of this hotel from time to
time were John Chambers, George Swan,
Philip Huffman, Peter Stear, William Hal-
ben, William Ramey, George Hicks, Joseph
Buchanan.
At one time James Chambers had a store
in the old hotel.
Mwrchand. — The village of Mai'chand is
situated on a plateau, 1,300 feet above sea
level, in the northern part of Indiana county,
eight miles from Punssutawney and twenty
miles from Indiana, the count.v seat. It was
evidently named in honor of Congressman
Marchand, through whom the first post office
was secured. The land upon which the major
part of the town is built was originally pur-
chased from the Holland Land Company,
1822, by Archibald Smeaton, latterly Smitten,
who soon after erected thereon a dwelling
near the Susquehanna road. This dwelling
was about fifty feet from the present resi-
dence of his son, Archibald Smitten. Arch-
ibald Smitten, Sr., for a number of years
continued to be the leading spirit of the
settlement, keeping in touch with the outside
world as a contracting teamster between Pitts-
burg and Philipsburg.
About 1840 the Indiana and Punxsutawney
highway, locally known as the "Big Road,"
was open to travel, and to this avenue of
commence and travel much of the commu-
nity's early prosperty is due.
The first house on the site of the place was
erected by J. Y. Smitten in 1846. This was
bui-ned in 1875. The second building was
erected by T. B. Allison in 1847, and was
afterwards occupied by his son, D. B. Alli-
son. The third house was built by George
S. Haney and was used for many years as the
residence of Mi-s. Polly Brewer. The fourth
house was erected by John W. Compton, and
was ocupied for some considerable time by
James Shields, being burned in 1871. The
fifth house was built by George W. Mc-
Conaughey. The sixth was a small building
erected by David Johnston. J. Y. Smitten
added the main portion and it was afterwards
used as the "Marchand Hotel." The seventh
house was built by Alexander Downey. The
first store was opened by T. B. Allison in his
residence in the fall of 1847. The physicians
in order of their location were J. J. Bishop,
Loughry, John B. Bair, Allison, A. H. Arm-
strong, and the present practitioner, Dr. J.
W. Morrow.
The village grew as the surrounding coun-
try was settled up and became an active cen-
ter of industry, manufacturing and trade.
For more than forty years Judge Thomas B.
Allison and his associates conducted a gen-
eral mercantile business on a large scale, ex-
changing store goods of all kinds for the
products of the surrounding country. Chief
among these products were Ivimber, grain
and live stock. The latter were driven in
large droves across the Allegheny mountains
for the eastern markets, and every normal boy
of this period looked forward with longing
to the time when he would be considered
worthy to accompany a drove "down east."
This laudable ambition was second only to
the higher aspirations which thrilled his
heart with the hope that he might some day
occupy the exalted and envied position so
pompously held by the doughty Dan Bel-
ford on the upper deck of the stagecoach
whence he directed the four plumed horses
that hauled the travelers between Punxsu-
tawney and Indiana, passing through Mar-
chand daily.
From 1850 to 1875, approximately, Mar-
chand enjoyed a local reputation as an in-
dustrial and manufacturing center. Wagons,
sleds, buggies, sleighs, farming implements,
harness, leather, boots and shoes, furniture,
clothing, etc., were here produced, for the
most part from the raw material. It was
during this period that Compton & Moot's
wagon shop, Downey's blacksmith shop,
Stetfey's tannery, Johnson's and Curry's
cabinet shops. Gall's shoe shop. Hind's tailor
establishment, and many other similar insti-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tutions flourished. The adoption of com-
plicated machinery for manufacturing —
creating large centers of industry in places
more favorably situated for manufacturing
purposes — made it impossible for the local
artisans to compete with the new conditions
thus created.
The Marchand Home-Coming every five
years is a special feature of the place. It is
of such importance that the following ad-
dresses made on that occasion in 1905 are
woi-thy of a place in this history.
On early agriculture, trade and financial
conditions and the war period, Mr. A. T.
Brewer, in his address at 10 a. m., Thursday,
among other things said :
This is the way I long have sought
And mourned because I found it not.
As Home Comers we ara> delighted with
the cordiality of reception. The Prodigal
Son has long held the first rank as a recipient
of good things on i-eturning home, but his
laurels, hitherto secure, have been imperiled
if not lost on this occasion. For him the
fatted calf was killed, while for us the smoke-
house has been unlocked, the springhouse has
been invaded, the preserve closet has been
opened and the chickens have run in vain
for their lives. In the palmy days of old it
was a rare thing to find one Good Samaritan,
but we have found a whole colony of them
without a single priest or Levite or robber in
sight. The neighborhood has .justified its
right to all the good things said of its gen-
erosity and hospitality.
Our fathers dedicated us to hard work,
wringing a precarious living from a reluctant
soil. With us the silver spoon was never in
our mouths but always at the lower end of
the rainbow. In silver and gold our ancestors
were poor, but in courage and energy- they
were rich and in hope and faith they were
opulent. Fate paid a high compliment to the
people whom it located in this region by as-
suming their ability to defy the rigors of
winter and the droughts of summer. Hard
as the conditions have been the people here
have worked out their own salvation with the
undaunted bravery of the Spartans and yet
the fear and trembling of true believers. The
triumph has been achieved by means well
adapted to the end under the paramount laws
of necessity.
The heroic achievements of some of those
now honoring me with close attention may be
mentioned without disparaging others of
equal merit, many of whom have long since
joined the innumerable company in the death-
less world. Thirty-five hundred years ago
the Egyptians compelled the Israelites to
make bricks without straw and the Jews have
been complaining about it ever since, but this
ancient Hebrew task was enchanting recre-
ation compared with the modern feat of rais-
ing wheat on a stone quarry.
Day before yesterday I called on Arehy
bmitten and found him at the ripe age of
seventy-five hauling hay out of the field which
includes his barn. The ground was still cov-
ered with loose stones, although they have
been removed annually for two generations.
The production of small detached rocks has
been perennial. Every time Arehv Smitten
has asked that field for bread it has given
him a stone, and when he has removed one
stone a dozen have come to bid it a welcome
adieu and have all remained as harbingers
of tired backs and sore fingers. These stones
lying over the ground and complacently ob-
structing crops, or piled in fence corners har-
boring snakes and toads, have been Archy
Smitten 's constant companions all his life.
That field is a fair sample of the whole farm,
which is one of the best in the neighborhood
because it is level and well watered.
Mr. Smitten is now singled out for men-
tion because his farm adjoins the village of
Marchand and was most exposed, wlien I
was a boy, to juvenile depredations, and the
fact that I am here today alive, with others
of my age, is due to a degree of patience com-
pared with which the boasted virtues of Job
sink into mere routine commonplace cour-
tesies. We boys appropriated Archy Smit-
ten's watermelons, we devoured his musk-
melons, we picked his blackberries, we took
his apples, we went coon hunting to the irrep-
arable detriment of his roasting ears. On
one occasion I remember Mr. Smitten 's say-
ing to me, "Abe, whenever you want some
apples bring over a pillowcase and get all
you want. I don't say this to other bovs who
have fathers to aid them." In those days the
pillowcase, in addition to its ordinary duties,
answered for a bag, there being then a pillow-
case battalion as there is now a tin-bucket
brigade. Yet Mr. Smitten is still happy and
prosperous, and is building a new house for
liimself, his children and grandchildren.
However, Archy Smitten 's existence has
been oriental luxury compared with many
of his neighbors whose premises, originally
accessible only to frosts and snow, to floods
and famine, have furnished the greatest ex-
amples of intelligent courage and skillful in-
530
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
dustry. These less favored neighbors of
Archy Smitten have tilled barren ridges,
rocky ledges, stony hillsides, dark ravines
and haunted hollows, making them blossom
as the rose. "Instead of the thorn came up
the fir tree, and instead of the brier the
myrtle." They made the laurel yield to the
currant and the erabapple give place to the
useful orchard. Wheat, rye, buckwheat and
oats they coaxed from land disdained by
thistles and shunned by ragweeds, while they
caused garden vegetables in delightful exu-
berance to smile from precipitous gorges and
channelly peaks. These men, Avith stout
hearts and strong arms, challenge our admir-
ation as they emerge from the triumphant
conflict like St. Paul's faithful heroes who
subdvied kingdoms and out of weakness were
made strong. All honor to the valiant souls,
living and dead, who have changed this re-
gion from desolate waste to abundant fertil-
ity ; from an empire of weeds to a kingdom
of vegetation.
In New England a stranger once said to a
native, "What do you raise here on these
rocky wastes?" The answer was "We raise
men." So it may be truly said of this section
of Pennsylvania, we raise men.
I am happy to see the brier-infested fences
go down before an enlightened public senti-
ment which enforces the law against allowing
domestic animals to run at large. The last
time I was in ]\Iarchand the bristle-produc-
ing herd had possession of the streets, but now
they are as silent and invisible as their two
thousand terrified predecessors that ran vio-
lently down into the Sea of Galilee.
In the absence of money to pay for store
goods, in early days, farm products became
legal tender; wheat, rye and oats were ex-
changed for sugar, coffee and clothes. As
houses multiplied, creating a demand for
lumber, the storekeeper accepted boards,
shingles and lath for his wares. In the mean-
time, besides the scanty supply of silver and
gold, paper currency appeared, descending
upon the people like the locusts of Egypt and
with equally disastrous effects. There was
a deluge of this so-called money without any
Noah with an ark for the favored few. The
people considered banks a mysterious and
magical means of creating wealth out of
nothing. The banks were located in different
States and operated under State charters;
the more inaccessible their home ofiiee the
better, as the officers could not readily be
found for purposes of demand of payment of
their unsecured notes. These banks printed
their own notes and put them into circula-
tion by lending them at a high rate of in-
terest to their customers. This effected an
achievement unsurpassed in modern times,
as the bankers were thus enabled to collect
interest on their own debts, a device as unique
as it was simple and beautiful, although some
old-fashioned people did not understand it;
hence the latter, the old-fashioned folks,
sometimes demanded payment of their notes
and were called unpatriotic, because such a
demand was liable to cause a run on the
bank. The fact that the notes on their face
were payable on demand made no difference,
the holders had no business to demand pay-
ment and cause trouble. Such a law now
would be welcome to a good many of us, pre-
venting unreasonable creditors from bother-
ing us about our debts.
With the march of civilization and develop-
ment in finance, this scheme for collecting
interest on one's debts has disappeared and
must hereafter be classed as one of the lost
arts. When the banks failed, as they gener-
ally did, sooner or later, they rarely paid
anything on their notes. One concern had is-
sued notes amounting to $580,000 and when
it failed it had what was called a "coin re-
serve" of $86.46, not enough to pay for print-
ing notices of the failure and sending them to
creditors. Whoever owned the money of one
of such banks when it failed had to stand
the loss, and if he, though ignorant of the
failure, transferred the notes after the bank
had failed, he was liable to the transferee for
the amount.
This paper currency was called "wildcat
money" because it came in stealth appar-
ently from the deep forests or tangled jungles
and preferred darkness rather than light. It
was also called "yellow dog money" because
it resembled that kind of animal, which was
always worthless, without pride of ancestry
or hope of honorable posterity. By these
wildcat and yellow dog bankers silver and
gold were considered "dead capital." Be-
fore taking in one of the circulating notes
the person to whom it was offered was com-
pelled to consult the "Bank Note Detector," a
monthly publication, to see first whether the
note was genuine — the country being flooded
with counterfeits — and, second, whether the
bank had failed. If these questions were fav-
orably answered then the "Detector" was
further consulted to see how much discount
the note was subject to, for few of the notes
passed at par.
This condition existed up to 1861 w^hen the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
531
war broke out and the government taxed all
the State banks, good and bad, out of exist-
ence. At that time United States ten per
cent obligations could not be sold at a dis-
count. This is in strange contrast with 1898,
thirty-seven yeai-s later, when the government
asked the people for a loan of two hundred
millions at three per cent for the Spanish
war and on the day set for receiving offers
the people rushed up and subscribed fourteen
liundred millions before they could be stopped
and the Atlantic cable was nearly bumed out
with messages from Americans abroad de-
manding the privilege of loaning money to the
nation.
Previous to the war political excitement
ran high about Marchand for five to ten
years, but without any medium of public ex-
pression through newspapers or meetings.
The pathetic side of slavery was voiced in
negro melodies like "Old Folks at Home,"
and was nourished by stories like "Uncle
Tom's Cabin." From the early fifties John
Covode represented this district in Congress.
He was a farmer, a blacksmith and a man-
ufacturer of woolen goods. As a blacksmith
he had learned to hit hard, and as a politician
he practiced what he had learned by striking
with all his might regardless of ^lurray's
Grammar or Quackenbos' Rhetoric. He was
chairman of a committee of Congi-ess ap-
pointed to investigate charges against Presi-
dent Buchanan. The majority of the com-
mittee found Buchanan guilty, and the
minority found his innocent, their report ap-
pearing in a huge volume called ' ' The Covode
Investigation." As is usual in such eases
nothing ever came of the matter, but it fur-
nished the blacksmith statesman something
to talk about on the stump and a big book
to brandish and pound. At the end of each
part of his philippics he held the volume up
and triumphantly exclaimed: "and them
facts appears in this book in black and
white ! ' '
On one occasion ]\Ir. Covode spoke in Mar-
chand, which was a great event in the neigh-
borhood, especially for the boys, who had
never heard a political speech. He stood on
a store box north of Allison's store and op-
posite Downey's blacksmith shop, looking
prosperous; he had a red face, wore a black
velvet vest and a flowing necktie. Wading
into the Democrats right and left he said they
were deceiving the people and were secretly
planning secession. He said Buchanan had
violated the commandment against lying and
his cabinet members were upholding him in
it and going him one better by breaking the
commandment themselves against stealing.
The next day a discussion arose among
some of us boys about the Ten Command-
ments and where they could be found. I
claimed thej' were all in the Bible. John
Brewer, who was authority on such matters,
said it was no such thing; that the com-
mandments had all been taken out of the
Bible to make the catechism. I bet him a
quart of chestnuts it was not so. We then
went to Aimt Jane Brewer's and got her
Bible and examined it carefully but failed to
find any of the commandments in it, so I lost
my bet and have never gambled since.
In the middle of April, 1861, when Lin-
coln called for seventy-five thousand troops
for three months, the news was twenty-four
houi-s old when it reached ilarchand ; by that
time two hundred and twenty-five thousand
men had volunteered, thus rendering it im-
possible for Marchand boys who were at home
to enter the three months' service. Some,
however, who were away from home enlisted
without returning, thus getting into the first
army. ]\ly brother, Thomas H. Brewer, was
one of these fortunate men, as he entered the
service the 17th of April at Tyrone.
Two or three days after the Biill Run dis-
aster Thomas McComb and I were mowing
grass in his meadow when a neighbor came
along with a copy of the Pittsburg Dispatch
from which he read an exaggerated account
of the Union defeat. The paper told in de-
tail how our troops ran. many of them never
stopping until they crossed the Potomac at
Washington. I told McComb I had promised
my mother not to enlist until my brother re-
turned, but I was going home that night to
see if she would not release me from the agree-
ment. I quit mowing, went home and told
mother I wanted to enlist. She said she nnist
pray about it and would let me know in the
morning. At breakfast the next day she said
I might go, but if I ran like the boys in blue
at Bull Run I need not come back. Many
other mothers shared her feeling, and the
boys of Company A. left in three weeks for
the front under an implied promise not to
run. History tells whether that promise was
well kept. I will only say that so many of
us as got back alive were welcomed by our
mothers.
The records show that seventy-six men went
to the Civil war from Marchand in the four
years beginning April, 1861. Of this num-
ber twenty-five lived in the village and the
others, fiftv-one. received their mail at Mar-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
chand post office. (At this point the secre-
tary, H. E. Moot, read the names as follows,
the audience standing as a mark of respect
to the volunteers: Clark Allison, George
Barto, Thomas Brewer, Samuel Brewer, Ben-
nett Brewer, John Brewer, A. T. Brewer
Charles Brewer, Sam Curry, H. A. Brewer'
James Brewer, Samuel C. Brown, John
Brown, John W. Compton, John Crawford,
Cham Downey, Stan Downey, John Gall, j'.
B. Hinds, David Johnston, Thomas Lunger
John Lunger, Thomas MeComb, Martin Moot!
Daniel Switzer, Joseph Taylor, James Tay-
lor.) These men represented all branches of
the service and held all offices from colonel
to eighth corporal, though most of them knew
what it was to carry a musket and forty
rounds of ammunition. Some were killed on
the battlefield, many were wounded, others
contracted disease hastening demise, while
most others have fallen victims to death's
archer, leaving only a small minority to wit-
ness the marvelous prosperity and renown
of the restored Union on whose possessions
the sun never sets, whose flag protects a
world-wide commerce, and whose power rep-
resents freedom and honor, justice and liberty
to all men.
The story of the Civil war in detail has
never been told and never can be. The his-
torian of that struggle, if he should live as
long as Methuselah and write every day,
would be obliged in the end to admit the total
inadequacy of his record as St. John did in
the^last verse of his Gospel, when he said:
"And there are also many other things
which Jesus did, the which, if' they should be
written every one, I suppose that even the
world Itself could not contain the books that
should be written."
Nor can the individual histoiy of the sev-
enty-six men of Marchand ever be written
even if the data existed for such a history!
Human capacity is too limited to remember
the facts or understand the significance of a
military service in daily contact with an
armed enemy skilled in the use of deadly
weapons. There is, however, an incident not
only proper to be mentioned but which can-
not with propriety be omitted on this occasion.
That incident relates to the death of ilartin
Moot of Company A on May 12, 1864, at
Spottsylvania Court House, Va. It is agreed
by all writers on the war. Union and Con-
federate, that the fighting (m that day was
the most furious in hi.story considering that
the struggle began at daybreak in the morn-
ing and lasted without intermission until
three o'clock the next morning. The battle
occurred the very next day after Grant sent
his grim message to the secretary of war say-
ing he proposed to fight it out on that line
if it took all summer. The engagement was
one of a series of battles beginning in the
Wilderness May 4 and ending at Cold Harbor
June 3.
General Lee on May 11 occupied a fortified
position for several miles to the right and left
of Spottsylvania Court House. At one point
there was a sharp angle in his line extending
toward our front. This was a military fault,
as it exposed that part of his line to attack
vrithout sufficient provision for support.
General Grant, always alert and daring, ob-
serving this angle, decided to capture it. He
therefore ordered General Hancock with the
2d Corps to move in the night of the 11th
up close to the angle and attack it at daylight
on the 12th, and ordered our corps, the 6th.
to support Hancock, and all the rest of the
army to cooperate. Promptly at dawn Han-
cock's men with victorious cheers rushed over
the breastworks, capturing the entire angle
with all its defenders and thirty cannon.
While the 2d Corps men were getting back
their prisoners and cannon strong Rebel re-
inforcements assailed them and drove them to
the outer face of the works they had cap-
tured. At that moment, soon after daylight,
our corps swept forward to the support of
Hancock, whose men were sorely pressed and
many of them were out of ammunition. Oc-
cupying one side of a rifle pit for half a
mile with the Rebels on the other side fifteen
feet away, we fought without a moment's
cessation for the next ensuing nineteen hours,
when the enemy gave up the contest and sul-
lenly retreated. When we first got into posi-
tion close up to the breastworks there was a
Union battery of brass guns on our right
firing into the Rebels over the rifle pit. In
a few minutes these guns, one after another,
ceased firing because the artillerymen were
all killed or wounded. Then the Rebels vrith
a yell charged over the works to capture the
battery, but they were resisted by our in-
fantry to the right and left and soon retreated
behind their works, leaving many killed and
wounded among the guns. At that moment
an artillery officer appeared in our midst and
called for volunteers to man the battery. He
did not call in vain, for instantly Martin Moot
and four others from our company ran to the
battery with the officer. The other four were
Daniel H. Bee, John Stewart, Benjamin Row-
land and Calvin Work. When these men
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
533
reached the battery the silent cannons stood
on ground covered with the dead and
wounded of both armies, but the brave vol-
unteers were not daunted and soon the can-
nons roared again, sending death and de-
struction into the Rebel lines. In a few
minutes, however, the Rebel infantrymen
from behind trees and other protected places
sent a shower of deadly bullets into the new
gunners and again the batteiy was silent.
Daniel H. Bee returned unhurt; John Stew-
art came back with five wounds ; Martin Moot,
Benjamin Rowland and Calvin Work never
returned; their bodies were found the next
morning close to the cannons they had vol-
unteered to serve. The brass guns, however,
were prostrated on the muddy ground, the
Rebel bullets having cut off the spokes of the
wheels supporting the cannon.
The scene along that part of the line on the
morning of May 13th can never be described,
though it has been attempted -by Generals
Grant, Porter, Humphreys and Brig. Gen.
Lewis A. Grant, the commander of the Ver-
mont brigade of our division, and others.
^lartin Moot belonged to Marchard, but his
fame belongs to the United States and will be
cherished so long as valorous deeds are hon-
ored and patriotic efforts recorded as
memorials for the inspiration of mankind.
Enduring memorials are not made of visible
material. The Lincoln monument at Spring-
field is rapidly disintegrating; the Garfield
Memorial at Cleveland needs constant repairs
to retard decay ; and the Grant Mausoleum in
New York will soon crumble. If the deeds of
those men are not immortal, granite and stone
cannot preserve their names. At Bethany
the courageous and unselfish Mary received
a monument of the right kind: "Verily I
say unto you. Wheresoever this gospel shall
be preached throughout the whole world, this
also that she hath done shall be spoken of for
a memorial of her."
Wherever the great Civil war waged for
union and freedom is discussed the deeds of
Martin Moot and men like him, whether the
names be known or not, will be spoken of as
memorials undimmed by age and undimin-
ished by new standards of heroic achieve-
ments. The Civil war soldiers are rapidly
passing away. Last year 53.120 answered to
the last roll call — over one thousand a week.
Every time the sun went down his last golden
rays lingered upon one hundred and forty-
three new graves of old soldiers. At this
rate, in ten years the men who conquered
among the rocks at Gettysburg, struggled in
the Wilderness, and triumphed at Appomat-
tox ; who took Vicksburg and marched to the
sea; who extended American naval fame on
fresh and salt water, will all be gone from
among us, leaving succeeding generations to
preserve the nation and work out its great
destiny.
The address delivered by John C. Barclay
in the Brick Church, Friday evening, Aug.
25, 1905.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends and asso-
ciates of my yoiith :
This is a great occasion, long to be remem-
bered. It should awaken within us serious
thought, reminding us of the flight of time and
the brevity of human life. I was requested
and authorized to speak of and address the
boys and girls of the seventies. This does
not mean the ones who have attained the age
of seventy years, for girls never attain that
age and good boys all die young; hence if I
were confined to this class, I would be com-
pelled to speak to vacant walls and empty
pews. But the boys and girls who dwelt in
this cjuiet little community during that period,
who spent their early days in the schools
of Marchand, Avho went with me to the
schools, churches, picnics, parties, country
wakes and all such other festivities as fell to
our lot, these are the ones that I expected to
appear before to-day, not as an expounder
of new gospel, but simply to look you once
more in the face, to see your bewitching
smiles, to clasp your hand in friendly grasp,
to reawaken and revive the friendship and
fraternity that a half century has not anni-
hilated. We were all boys together. What
a multitude of joy. sorrow, poetry, sadness,
gladness, inexpressible things and conditions
are contained in that one sentence ! ' ' Friend-
ship, thou art a jewel," and what bonds of
friendship still remain unbroken and the ties
of confidence that bind still remain uncut.
The poet has said "the friends thou hast and
their adoption tried, grapple to thy soul with
lioops of steel, but do not duU thy palm with
entertainment of each new-hatched, unfledged
comrade." That advice is as true and perti-
nent as it was the day it was written and has
been a lamp to my feet and a light to my path-
way all along the shores of time. The friends
I see before me have been tested and tried in
many stringent crucibles, and for their fidel-
ity, and unflinching loyalty, I could grapple
them to my soul with hoops of steel. When
I take up this list and scan it over and be-
hold the vacant seats and the once familiar
forms and faces now so conspicuous by their
534
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
absence, I cannot describe my degree of grief.
Many of these are so far away that we need
never expect to see their smiling faces again,
and others whose names might as well appear
on this program have long since been called
to that bourne whence no traveler returns.
I can saj^ with the poet :
When I remember all the friends so linked together,
I've seen around me fall like leaves in wintry weather,
I feel like one who treads alone some banquet hall
deserted.
Whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead, and all
but he departed.
Where we now stand I stood fifty years ago.
I chased the measly little rabbit over these
hills during the cold, frosty days of winter
until my feet were frozen; I have played
among the ferns, fished in the streams ; I had
full knowledge where to find the good sweet
apples, the luscious peaches, the fruits of the
season; who had cross dogs; who "had it in"
for the boys, and was continually on the
watch for something doing. "I have viewed
the landscape o 'er. ' ' I have prized the beauty
and grandeur of the farms (and especially
the orchards) of Allison, Shields, Mclsaac,
Crawford and others, and if there ever was a
place compared with the scenes that poet
beheld when he wrote the song of "The Old
Oaken Buc"ket," it was the Allen Crawford
farm, for there was the orchard, there was
the meadow, and the old well seventy feet
deep, the old oaken bucket, the moss covered
bucket, that hung in the well. On all sides
of us we could see and hear fit subjects for
the poet to sing his dulcet notes of honeyed
song, I sometimes think that Longfellow
came and visited Father Downey before writ-
ing "The Village Blacksmith," but these
men, the pioneers, have lived and played their
part, they have "fought a good fight" and
have gone the way of all flesh and, I trust,
are in that home not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens. We should not pass them
by at this hour of recollection too briefly.
We owe them a debt of gratitude that we will
never be able to pay in cold cash, but let us
not be unmindful or forgetful of the names
of Allison, Brown, Shields, Smitten, Black,
Zener, Brewer, Compton, Dorn, Moot, Fire-
man and a whole host of other horny-handed
sons of toil, who labored in this wilderness
and by their toil, energy and privations
helped to make this community what it is.
They blazed out the trails, built the cabin,
•straddled the brush, cleared the fields, leveled
off the highways, and made the forests to
blossom and bloom as the rose. We must not
pass by and seemingly forget the dear old
mothers of those times: they were partners
in this toil and came in for a very large share
of the burdens and privations of the pioneer
life. They it was that sowed, pulled, scutched,
spun and turned the flax to garments, even
nursed the little lambs and raised them to
sheep, sheared the wool from their backs,
carded it on hand cards, spun it by torch-
light, wove it into fabrics to clothe the house-
hold. We are the living witnesses to confirm
the truthfulness of these statements and we
are not yet as old as some others, The.y en-
dured many privations in the development
of this community, but they were only build-
ing and preparing for our generation to come
in and enjoy the fruit of their labor. We
properly represent the second generation of
this community and to understand the
changes that occur as well as their direction
and consequences, we must compare the con-
ditions existing at different periods of time.
We, the second generation who have here as-
sembled, have great reason to rejoice that we
have lived to see such marvelous advancement
in the affairs of the world. Things have come
to pass that were never dreamed of fifty years
ago, and as we should not be living for our-
selves alone, it should be a source of joy and
satisfaction to know that even gi'eater things
are in store for us and those who shall come
after us. I feel sometimes that it is a mis-
take that we are living in this century. The
improvements during our short life have
been so wonderful, and still going on to
greater and grander achievements, what
might we reasonably expect to behold in the
near future? To the boys and girls of the
seventies, I have not been your guardian
angel, but I have watched your growth and
development, have rejoiced with you over
your victories, and grieved with you midst
your tribulations. "When you laugh the
world laughs with you, when you weep you
weep alone" is not true to any gi-eat extent,
and is more the croakings and complaints of
the pessimist than anything else. The world
to-day is full of real genuine sympathy. In
my vigilance I have discovered the boys and
girls of seventies filling the places and per-
forming the duties in all the callings, vicissi-
tudes and avenues of public and private life,
I have not heard of any of you being in jail or
pleading the statute of limitation to keep you
out of jail, I have not heard of any of the
girls going on the stage to play the part of
an actress in some cheap vaudeville, marry-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing the rin^iaster in haste, to repent at
leisure, from thence to pose in a dime museum
as a heroine of a disappointed love affair.
You have all been good, noble, God fearing,
liberty loving people, and of such is the
Kingdom of Heaven. You have done your
part on this great stage of action. You have
not permitted the banner to trail in the dust.
Providence has not designed that all shall
excel in the same thing. Diversity in busi-
ness calling and lines of vocation is as neces-
sary to the life of a community or a nation as
the air we breathe. We can't all be bankers.
Great care should be taken that we do not
mistake our calling. Pardon this personality,
but I once endeavored to be a poet and after
much thought and musing I brought forth
these lines feeling satisfied that my fortune
was made and my fame eternal. The produc-
tion made its appearance in the Marchand
Star. C. W. Brown was editor and publisher.
Listen to the lines:
If you cannot, like Columbus, foreign lands explore,
Or even be an Underwood and nature's God adore.
If you cannot be a Franklin and draw lightning from
the sky.
Or even be a Washington who never told a lie;
If vou cannot sing like Smitten, or even play like
■ Hall,
You will have to fight like "Kelly" to be a man at all.
Do you know what happened me? A com-
mittee of lunacy was appointed to inquire
into my mental condition and without a dis-
senting voice I was adjudged to be insane.
Suffice to say I never tried to write any
poetry since. I tried to find more fertile fields
for my talents. We all have some talent, at
least we have tact, and let us do our duty
and bear our burdens uncomplainingly, be
manly men and noble, virtuous women, bear-
ing in mind that the man in the workshop,
behind the hoe on the farm, in the store, or
pounding stones on the streets for a liveli-
hood, is as much to be honored and praised
as the general who commands on fields of
carnage or on fighting men-of-war, and the
woman who rocks the cradle and rules the
world and performs the duty of ^vife and
mother and is in spirit and trath a helpmate
to her husband, is only a little lower than the
angels of heaven. This day and time reminds
me that we are all growing old. Listen to
this quotation:
You 're growing old they tell us.
Every year.
Y'ou're more alone they tell us,
Every year.
You can win no new affection,
You have only recollection.
Deeper sorrow and dejection.
Every year.
Too true — life's shores are shifting,
Every year.
And we are seaward drifting.
Every year.
Old places, changing, fret us,
The living more forget us.
There are fewer to regret us,
Every year.
But the truer life draws niglier.
Every year.
And its morning star climbs higher.
Every year.
Earth's hold on us grows slighter.
And its weary burdens lighter
And the dawn immortal brighter
Every year.
That we have lived during a very stirring,
active and sometimes exciting period cannot
be denied. We have seen the era of peace
and the trials and carnage of war. We have
seen prosperity in unlimited forms and
panics, poverty and dire necessity with all
its concomitant evils. We have seen schools
and churches spring up until their tall spires
can he seen glistening heavenward from every
village and hamlet. The old stagecoach has
been supplanted by steam cai-s, trollej^s and
automobiles, and the lightning has been har-
nessed up and put the messenger boy or man
out of business. Education and the methods
of teaching have increased and progressed
until to-day the.v are almost teaching our
children by machinerj-. In our youth there
was not a millionaire in our country, yet we
have lived to see them on every hand; and
the conquest for wealth, and the ambition to
get rich quick, and the desire of a few to
monopolize and gobble up all the lands, tene-
ments and hereditaments that lie on the out-
side, is a menace to our nation. The change
and development are certainly wonderful.
You remember in our young days we had to
go over to Indiana to see the cars ; now we go
down to Richmond and soon we need only go
over to Covode to hear the engine sing his
song while climbing the steeps of Mount Nebo,
and hear the conductor call out Mudliek, Ma-
honing. Georgeville, change cars for Plum-
ville. Kittanning and Pittsburg., Along these
rapid strides of progress have we kept the
pace? If not. do not now lift up a Rachel's
lament and cry. whine and complain, for
behind the clouds the sun is still shining and
every cloud has a silver lining. Listen to
the poet:
536.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Some say this world is an old, old world,
But it has always been new to me.
With its boundless range of ceaseless change
And hopes of things to be.
A new friend takes my hand.
When the old ones pass away.
The old days die, but the light of the sky
Is the dawn of another day.
Some say this world is a cold, cold world,
But it has always been bright to me,
With its hearthstone fires and warm desires
For things that are yet to be.
And if I must labor I wait
And trust in the fields I have sown.
For I know there is truth in the promise of yonth,
I shall some time come to my own.
Some say this world is a bad, bad world,
But it has always been good to me.
With its errors there live dear hearts that forgive
And hopes for the things to be.
This world is not old nor cold.
This world is not sad or bad.
If you look to the light, forgetting the night.
And say to your soul be glad.
In conclusion let me remind you that it is
not all of life to live, nor all of death to die;
that some day, and we have no choice when,
we shall be called hence to dwell. Let us so
The old "Wall's Tavern" was in a high
state of prosperity fifty years ago. It stood
in the rear of "Prescott's Hotel." Isaac
Condron erected the building for a black-
smith shop in 1821. In 1829 James Wall
purchased the property, and from that time
for a period of twenty-five or thirty years the
name "Wall's Tavern" was a familiar word
to teamsters and travelers who were fond of
frolic and boisterous carousals.
The first mill in this township and the
second north of the Purchase Line was the
Dilts mill, erected about 1809 by William
Dilts, on Mud Lick. This was a log build-
ing, having one run of country stone, and was
situated on the H. K. Dilts farm.
The first schoolhouse in the township was
erected about 1815 or 1816 on the John Mitch-
ell farm. It was a five-sided log building,
using one side for a chimney. The first teach-
ers were Robert T. Simpson and George
Robinson. The second schoolhouse was on the
Michael Peff'er farm. The first teachers were
Robert Bacon and David K. Thompson. The
third building was on the comer of the
Shaiifer, Painter and Gourley lands. Samuel
live in the spirit of love and kindly feeling ]\IeKee was the first teacher in this house.
towards each other that heaven will come
down to us while we remain here below, and
that our closing may be as calm and peace-
ful as a summer's eve and that we may be
able to say, "I have fought a good fight, I
Early settlers : Peter Dilts, Sr., located on
the H. K. Dilts farm in 1818, and served as
justice of the peace, county commissioner and
associate judge. His son, Peter Dilts, served
as justice of the peace and associate judge.
have finished my course, I have kept the faith and his son, Henry, was deputy sheriff under
and there is laid up for me a crown of right- "-•■'"'- _ . . _ ,
eousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
Bhall give me at that day and not to me only,
but unto all of them also that love his
appearing. ' '
Covode. — This place for several years was
Sheriff Brown. Robert A. Jordan settled on
the Jordan homestead in 1807. On his first
location in this section he was a neighbor for
several years of James Kelly and Fergus
Moorhead, near the present site of Indiana.
He served in the Revolutionary war through-
out the conflict. John North located in North
called Kellysville, after John Kelly, who Mahoning township in the spring of 1808,
owned the land which included the site of the and first lived in the old log house on the
village. About 1840 he erected a log house John Mitchell (now Gourley) farm. In June
which answered for a store and tavern for of that year he purchased the tract occupied
several years. This building was situated on by his son William P. North. The North
the lot afterwards occupied by Aaron Rishel's homestead of 140 acres was purchased at
residence. The second building was erected $3.50 per acre of Henry Geddes, and formed
by a Mr, Altebron. The third, a stone house, part of a tract called "Evergreen." The ad-
by Alexander Hamilton, and the fourth, a joining tract was called "Springfield." M>.
frame building, by Alexander Hamilton. The North assisted in raising the first house in
second storekeeper was Alexander Hamilton, Punxsutawney. About 1860 Asa Croasmun,
and the third was John Rishel. Squire Sr., came to the vicinity of Georgeville,
Charles R. White of Canoe township relates made a clearing and planted an orchard,
how in passing at an early hour in the morn- His next change was to the John Drum-
ing in December, 1836, where Covode now mond tract, then to the Isaac Carmalt
is, his horse was frightened by a buck and farm, and finally to an 800-acre tract near
doe reclining at the foot of a tree just op- the Cherrytree. William Shields removed to
posite the residence of Justice Crawford. what is called the William McCrea farm. East
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
537
Wheatfield township, in 1800 ; he was wound-
ed in both arms and a leg in the Revolution-
ary war. In 1816 he located on the farm of
George ileConaughey. The father of Wil-
liam Shields died in 1847, lacking one day
of being 115 years of age.
North JIahoning township has furnished
its share of professional men: Dr. F. S.
Crawford, pastor of Presbyterian Church, In-
diana, Pa. ; Rev. R. J. Jlclsaac, professor in
Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa. ; Rev. J. B.
Mclsaac, pastor of Puckety and Shearersburg
United Presbyterian Churches; Rev. Albert
Blose, Episcopalian minister, Chicago, 111. ;
Rev. Peter Diltz and Rev. Frank Diltz, former-
ly Methodist Episcopal ministers in Kansas;
A. T. Brewer, attorney, of Cleveland, Ohio;
John C. Barclay, attorney, of Clearfield, Pa. ;
Lawrence Neal, attorney, of Seattle, Wash. ;
Daniel Ramey, attorney, in Washington, D.
C. ; W. C. Chapman, attorney, of Indiana,
Pa.; Harry Brown, attorney, Punxsutawney,
Pa.; Dr. John W. Morrow, physician, Mar-
chand. Pa. ; Drs. Clark, Brown and Frank
Blose, physicians, Altoona, Pa.; Dr. John
Gourley, physician, Heilwood, Pa. ; Dr. John
Chapman, physician, Jaeksonburg, W. Va. ;
Dr. Harry Diltz, physician, Wilkinsburg, Pa. ;
Dr. H. B. Neal, Indiana, Pa. ; James F. Chap-
man, superintendent of schools of Indiana
county, Pa. ; Dr. J. M. Blose. professor of
music in Washington, Pa. ; Albert Peffer,
manager of the eastern branch of the Red-
path-Brockway Lyceum Bureau; Henry
Moot, formerly a principal of schools, Du-
bois, Pa. ; Hugh Smitten, city treasurer, Ava-
lon, Pa. ; Thomas Diltz, secretary of the Young
ilen's Christian Association, Greensburg, Pa.
The following are the oldest residents of
North ^lahoning township : John Dorn,
Archibald Hadden. Sharretts Sprankle, Jo-
seph Shaffer, Albert Shaffer, Jliles Croasmun,
John Henry, Mrs. John Henry, Mr. and ]\Irs.
T. S. Neal, and James Chapman.
The first election in North Mahoning town-
ship was held Friday, February 6, 1846, at
the house of George Mogle, where the follow-
ing officers were elected: Justices of the
peace. Peter Dilts and Robert Vohn; eon-
stables, Samuel Curry; assessor, John Me-
Henry; judge of election, John Mitchell; in-
spectors, George Mogle and Peter Dilts ; school
directors, Peter Dilts, James Work, Jacob
Shaffer, John ]McHenry, Thomas B. Allison,
Frederick Sprankle; auditors, Jacob Shaffer,
John Ewing, Peter Dilts; overseers of the
poor, Archibald Smitten and Frederick
Sprankle ; assistant assessors, Asa Croasmun
and James Cochran; supervisors, Archibald
Smitten and James Work; fence appraisers,
Peter Walker and John Reashill ; election
officers — judge. John Kelly ; inspectore, George
IMogle and Archibald Smitten.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in North ^Mahoning township : Num-
ber and value of horses assessed, 299 — $9.182 ;
number and value of cows assessed, 301 —
$3,489; taxables. 377; taxable real estate
$228,905; acres of cleared land, 13,427; acres
of timber land, 3,993; money at interest,
$34,674; cost of assessment, $51.62.
CHAPTER XXXVI
SOUTH MAHONING TOWNSHIP— PLUMVILLE BOROUGH
South ^Mahoning township was formed from
Mahouing in 1846, and so named because of
its position. In 1870 it had a population of
1,131 ; in 1910, 1,273, not including Plumville
borough, which in 1910 had a population of
414. It is well adapted to farming and stock
growing. Coal is found in abundance. Among
the early settlers were Andrew Weamer. who
came to the farm owned by Dr. C. ilcEwen,
but now owned by the B., R. & P. Railroad
Company, in 1803. He purchased the land
in 1802, having exchanged a blacksmith shop
and a few acres for the tract, which contained
300 acres. He and his family came over the
mountains in a wagon, and spent the winter
of 1802-03 at Absalom Woodward's, in Arm-
strong county, where he worked at his trade.
He sold a horse and a wagon in order to pro-
vide for the construction of liuildings on his
land. In the spring of 1803 he packed and
carried his goods to his land over a blazed
path » distance of fifteen miles, the only build-
ing on the route being that of Peter Thomas,
about four miles from Woodward 's. Later in
the year John Pierce, Mr. Cochenour and
Joseph Wadding came into the township and
made improvements. James W. Marshall,
who was born in 1796 on Black Legs creek,
Coriemaugh township, located on the ilarshall
homestead, in this township, 1820. His father
had migrated at an early date fi-om the Black
Legs settlement to the vicinity of Glade Run,
Armstrong county. John IMabon settled on
the Robert C. Mabon farm in 1811. James
McCall was born in 1809 on the farm occupied
by William Work, in South Mahoning town-
ship. His father, William ]\IcCall, made the
first improvement on the John Craig and Mil-
ton Work farm, and was among the earliest
settlers of the township, having migrated
from the Ligonier valley. Solomon Weaver
came from Westmoreland county to the Henry
Weaver farm. South Mahoning township. He
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his
father, Adam Weaver, was a captain in the
Revolutionary war. Abram Neff, about 1805,
settled on the farm owned by Joseph Lydiek.
John Neff made a settlement on the Abram
Sink farm in 1810. John MeCune, father of
Dr. Christopher McEwen, located on the pres-
ent site of Plumville in 1816. Thomas Hays
located on the farm of Oliver DeLaneey in
1813. William Tucker settled on the Johnson
ililler farm in 1816. The warrant of the
farm, owned by his son, George Tucker, was
issued January 26, 1774, to Joseph Fawcet.
The patent was granted September 5, 1774, to
Samuel Pleasants. The consideration was
£15 Is. Id. The Tucker place cost $10,000.
and the remainder of the tract is valued at
$13,000. About 1800 Michael Lantz located
on Ross's run, near the present site of George-
ville, and in a few years started a tanyard,
which he sold to one of the Bradys, and then
came to the vicinity of what is called Smicks-
burg. He afterwards resided on the Samuel
Ritchey farm, making the first improvement
in several places. Joshua Lewis, the grand-
father of D. R. Lewis, located in Indiana
county in 1806.
The first schoolhouse was located at the
foot of IMarshall lane on land afterwards
owned by Jacob Keel. It was of the usual
round log type, with greased paper windows
in spaces cut out of the logs, puncheon floor,
log chimney, and puncheon desks and seats.
This building was erected in 1819 or 1820.
Paddles with letters pasted on them were used
by the infant scholars. The Dillworth Speller,
or United States Speller, Western Calculator
and Testament were the text books of the
older pupils. As far as can be learned, Sam-
uel Cresswell was the first teacher. Masters
Craig, Brown and James were also early
teachers in this house.
Probably the first white man to locate above
the Purchase Line was John Ross, an Indian
trader, who had a cabin on the present Sam-
uel K. Lockhart farm in this township. Tradi-
tion reports that this stood about ten rods
north of the run which bears his name, near a
spring, between an oak and a pine, where a
' 538
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
539
pile of stone is said to be the monument of
the ruins of an old house. Not far from this
spring an Indian trail extended from the
south towards the north.
The schools of South Mahoning township
have always been considered as among the
best in the county. In a report coming to the
county papers from a local institute held at
Plumville in 1880 we note the following:
"The South Mahoning schools were never
more successful than last winter and the ad-
vancements made in the cause of education
were never carried on with greater interest.
Citizens, directors and teachers have united
in increasing the efficiency of our schools.
The educational interests of a township are
best cared for when good directors and good
teachers are obtained: then good institutes
are the result. Local institutes were a great
success. Never before were the houses so
crowded. No township should do awa\- with
institutes or ask the teachers to teach twenty-
two days and hold institute besides, as has
been done in some places. Lower the wages
and the best teachers will leave the township
or the profession." In their resolutions they
favored an effort made by the county superin-
tendent to raise the standard of the schools
and suggested that he might do more by at-
tending local institutes and by having a col-
umn in our county papers.
In 190.5 a deal was consummated whereby
the Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad Com-
pany secured the right to use the tracks of the
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Company from
Stanley, two miles east of Sykesville, to Ju-
neau, a point on the Indiana branch, this
county, four miles south of Cloe.
A peculiar coincidence in railroad building
into the county is the fact that the Buffalo &
Suscjuehanna completed its line to Wallops-
burg almost at the same time the train came
for the first time into Clymer. The track
layers reached Plumville on Saturday, No-
vember 11, 1905, and the rails were laid to the
coal plant at Wallopsburg, just west of Plum-
ville, on Monday.
The Goodyears, who owned the controlling
interest in the Buffalo & Susquehanna rail-
road, have purchased a large coal field in the
vicinity of Plumville, and traffic arrangement
has been made in order to reach their coal ter-
ritory. The Plumville coal field of this com-
pany comprises over 10,000 acres. The devel-
opment of this coal field has greatly increased
the population of South Mahoning towuiship.
The development of coal brought about the
change of the village of Plumville to a bor-
ough in 1909, and also the establishing of a
bank.
South Mahoning is one of the most progres-
sive townships in Indiana county and has fur-
nished its share of professional men.
Dr. J. W. ilorrow, of JIarchand, Pa., is
one of the best known physicians in the
county and served two terms in the State Leg-
islature. Hon. John S. Fisher, an attorney of
Indiana, Pa., served as State senator of In-
diana and Jefferson counties. Noah Seanor
was a member of the State Legislature for two
terms. A. W. Steele was county commis-
sioner. J. Harvey Stewart, deceased, was a
prominent teacher of the county and sei'ved
as county commissioner's clerk. Ministers:
Frank R. Allison, Episcopalian, near Harris-
burg. Pa. ; Preston I. De Lancey, Baptist ;
Elmer Dunlap, ]\Iethodist Episcopal; John
Patts. Methodist Episcopal, of Johnstown,
Pa. ; M. L. Rowland, Baptist, retired ; Elias
Rowland, Baptist, Brushvalley. Pa. ; Evesett
Pierce. Methodist Episcopal ; Aaron Neff, Bap-
tist, deceased ; Homer Lewis, Methodist
Episcopal. Physicians : Christopher McEwen,
deceased, who practiced for many years in
Plumville ; Charles il. McEwen, son of Chris-
topher McEwen, Plumville; George A. Alli-
son ; Thomas B. Allison, Tarentum ; W. B.
Ansley, Saltsburg, Pa. ; Josiah Ansley ;
Charles and J. Frank Weamer, deceased ; John
A. Weamer. Tarentum. Pa. ; Harry Allison ;
James G. Fisher, Indiana, Pa. ; Joseph Luke-
hart. Rossiter. Pa. ; A. H. Davis, dentist : W.
E. Bowser, dentist; D. Andrews, dentist;
Thomas Mabon, Pittsburg, Pa. ; D. M. Smith ;
W. L. Shields. Jacksonville (Kent, Pa.) ;
James Miller, deceased, formerly of Jeannette,
Pa.; James Morrow, deceased, formerly of
Dayton, Pa. ; A. H. Stewart, JIarion Center,
Pa., son of J. Harvey Stewart. Attorneys:
Harry S. Lydick, who served in the State Leg-
islature, was assistant United States district
attorney for the western district of Pennsyl-
vania, and is at present assistant solicitor for
the Pittsburg Coal Company, Pittsburg, Pa. ;
William L. Lukehart, Dubois. Pa. (deceased) ;
George A. Lukehart, Dubois, Pa.; John T.
Stuchell, Indiana, Pa. (deceased) ; Samuel T.
Hamilton, Twin Falls, Idaho; Alex. S. Ma-
bon. Pittsburg, Pa.; il. il. Davis, Reynolds-
ville, Pa. Bankers: Enzer E. Lewis, treasurer
of the Real Estate Company, Pittsburg, Pa. ;
I. Earl Lewis, treasurer of the Cambria Title
& Trust Company, Ebensburg. Pa. ; James B.
Green, Ebensburg, Pa. : D. W. Douds, cashier
of the Plumville National Bank; Mr. Wells,
540
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
clerk in the Savings & Trust Company, Indi-
ana, Pennsylvania.
The oldest residents of South Mahoning
township are as follows : James McQuown, W.
G. Brady, Andrew McGaughey, Jackson Mc-
Millen, John R. Smith, John S. Hamilton,
Jacob Smith, S. W. Brady, John C. Loekhart,
A. J. Hopkins, Samuel Hazlett, Jacob Frantz,
Bennett Van Horn, Ebert Kinter, Samuel G.
Moorhead, James M. Wells, John Lewis, Rev.
M. L. Rowland, John Hadden, Robert Alex-
ander Allison, William C. Little, Capt. P. C.
Spencer, Joseph Kirkpatriek, Ephraim Kirk-
patrick, E. P. Lewis, A. J. Beltz, George
Johnston, Andrew Weamer, J. Clark Weaver,
Joseph Crooks, William H. Paul, McKee Wil-
son, James B. Douds, William S. Rowland,
Jonathan Heberling, Robert Marshall.
The Smyrna United Presbyterian, Ambrose
Baptist and Mahoning Baptist are the
churches of South Mahoning township.
The first election in South Mahoning town-
ship was held at the house of David Wyn-
koop, Priday, February 6, 1846, when the
following officers were elected: Justices of
the peace, James G. Brady and David Mor-
row; constable, James Hays; assessor, Solo-
mon Weaver; supervisors, Robert Hamilton
and Robert Guart; judge of election, David
Wynkoop; inspectors, John McGaughey and
John Wadden; school directoi-s, Jajiies Y.
Brady, William Williamson, Joseph Kerr,
James Ansley, John Smith, John McEwen;
assistant assessors, John Lewis and William
Tucker; auditors, John j\IeEwen, James Ham-
ilton, Charles Bryan ; township clerk, Eli Wil-
liamson ; overseers of the poor, John McEwen
and David Wynkoop; fence appraisers,
Thoma-s Luckhart and Levi Spencer; election
officers— judge, George Sink; inspectors, Eli
Williamson and Joss Vanhour. The greatest
number of votes polled for any candidate was
109.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in South Mahoning township: Num-
ber and value of horses assessed, 281 — $9,360 ;
number and value of cows assessed, 312 —
$4,117; taxables, 467; taxable real estate,
$322,982 ; acres of cleared land, 16,227 ; acres
of timberland, 779; money at interest, $74,-
607 ; cost of assessment, $61.20.
PLUMVILLE BOROUGH
The village of Plumville in South Mahon-
ing township was incorporated as a borough
December 9, 1909. The court appointed .G.
E. Shaffer to give notice to the residents of
tlie town that an election would be held Jan-
uary 8, 1910, at the shop of G. p. Shaffer, in
said borough, and that G. E. Shaffer attend
thereat as election constable. The court ap-
pointed James B. Green as judge and William
Douds and M. C. Wynkoop as inspectors.
The election resulted as follows : Burgess, H.
M. Zimmerman; council, J. N. Cochran, D.
W. Douds, W. R. Fulmer, W. B. Lydic, Mc-
Kee Davis, J. S. Zimmerman, D. D. White;
school directors, C. M. McEwen, Amos Pifer,
Porter Fulmer, G. W. Miller, J. S. Zimmer-
man ; high constable. Oral A. Good ; treasurer,
D. Andrews; constable, I. G. Schreckengost ;
tax collector, J. 0. DeLancey; assessor, J.
Prank Runyan; auditors. Clever Pierce, E. J.
Welch, W. L. Good; judge of election, G. E.
Shaffer; inspectors, J. W. Douds and L. E.
Lukehart.
The names of the business firms of Plum-
ville borough are as follows:
W. R. Fulmer, general merchandise; M. E.
Cessna, lumber; G. E. Shaffer, monuments
and tombstones; M. Massimino, meats; H. W.
Smith, hardware; B. S. Peirce, shoemaker;
A. W. Hazlett, restaurant; J. E. Levinson,
ladies' and gents' furnishings; L. E. Luke-
hart, barber; J. N. Cochran & Co., general
merchandise; B. L. Snyder, jeweler and op-
tician; E. Green, druggist; Dr. C. M. Smith,
physician; I. S. Zimmerman, funeral direc-
tor; J. W. Douds & Co., general merchan-
dise; H. M. Zimmerman, earriagemaker ;
Dr. W. E. Bowser, dentist and livery; C.
C. Hoover, hotel and livery; J. R. Un-
capher, saddler; W. R. Lukehart & Co., gen-
eral merchandise ; A. H. Davis, dentist ; M. C.
Wynkoop, furniture; H. W. Kuehner, bar-
ber; Dilla Morrow, millinery; Emma Kirk-
patriek, millinery; Thomas Olsen, wholesale
meats; E. J. Welch, flour, feed and fertilizer;
Plumville Lumber Company, lumber; Dr. C.
M. McEwen, physician; E. T. Wells, black-
smith; Robert Melzer, blacksmith; John St.
Clair, real estate.
The First National Bank of Plumville. —
The first meeting to consider the matter of
establishing a bank at Plumville was held on
April 15, 1905, and was organized by elect-
ing E. Green chairman, and Dr. C. M. Smith
secretary. It was agreed that the title of the
bank should be "The First National Bank of
Plumville," and that the capital stock should
be $30,000, divided into three hundred shares
of .$100 each.
A preliminary application to the comptrol-
ler of the currency was made, and signed by
D. Andrews, R. L. Mahaffey, D. W. Raraigh,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 541
J. N. Cochran, G. S. Griffith, W. P. Miller, Wyukoop were elected as the board of
E. Green, Dr. C. M. Smith and others. Hon. directors.
John S. Fisher, of Indiana, Pa., was selected At the annual raeeting held on January
as the legal representative of the shareholders. 8, 1907, D. Andrews was elected to succeed J.
The preliminary application was approved A. MeCreight, who had resigned. At the
by the comptroller of the currency, and a annual meeting of January 12, 1909, G. W.
meeting was called for May 19, 1905, to effect Peffer was elected a director to succeed Charles
a permanent organization. At this meeting Tucker, who had moved to California,
the shareholders elected M. C. Wynkoop, D. Director S. D. Kerr died in December, 1911,
W. Earaigh, A. W. Clowes, S. D. Kerr and D. and at the following annual meeting D. W.
W. Douds as a board of directors to serve Douds was elected a member of the board as
until the first regular annual meeting. his successor. M. C. Wynkoop, S. S. Burns,
The board of directors organized by elect- G. T. Crooks, H. G. Bowers, A. W. Clowes
ing M. C. Wynkoop as president, and D. W. and D. W. Raraigh have been members of the
Douds as cashier, pro tempore. board of directors continuously since the first
The organization papers, consisting of annual meeting,
articles of association, organization eertifi- For years Plumville has been an important
cate, and by-laws, were prepared and for- school center. The select schools have been
warded to the comptroller of the currency, taught by very prominent educators and were
These papers were approved and the bank well- attended. The success of the schools was
authorized to begin business on August 25, shown by the many successful teachers and
1905. professional men who went out from these
The property owned by D. W. Schrecou- schools. The following were select school
gost was purchased as a site for the permanent teachers: Messrs. J. T. Bell, Indiana, Pa.;
bank building, but it was decided to delay J. Harvey Stewart, deceased ; Dr. Thompson,
the erection of such building until after the president of a college in Ohio ; T. B. Allison ;
railroad was completed to Plumville, and a John S. Fisher, attorney, of Indiana, Pa., who
temporary room was erected on the R. L. taught five terms; John C. Weaver; A. M.
Mahaffey property. Morrow, Dubois, Pa. ; E. J. Welsh, Plumville,
After considering a number of applications Pa. ; J. E. AVeaver, Indiana, Pa. ; Eugene
for the position of cashier, the board of direc- Elder and Frank Terpe, of East Mahoning
tors finally elected D. W. Douds to that township.
position, which he has held to the present Having provided a surplus of $10,000, the
time. M. C. Wynkoop has held the position first semi-annual dividend of 3% was paid
of president, and D. W. Raraigh that of vice on July 6, 1909, and this rate of dividends
president, since the organization. has been maintained since that time, besides
In order to acquire some banking experience adding $7,000 to the surplus fund,
the cashier spent two months with the Punx- The total assets, as given on the first call
sutawney National Bank at Pumssuta\vney, for a statement from the office of the comp-
Pa. The bank opened for business in the troller of the currency for each year since
temporary building on December 26, 1905. organization, is as follows :
During 1906 a two-story brick building IH^ ".'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.]'.'.'.' ['^^S^
with stone and pressed brick front was loos .......[[......[..... i2o'630.i4
erected on the lot purchased from Mr. D. W. 1909 129,235.33
Sehrecongost as the permanent bank build- i^^" 141,730.79
ing. The new quarters were completed in \l\l 172'548'85
February, 1907, and on February 28th the 1913 .............[.,..,.', i94'oo7!75
new banking room was occupied, which has The churches of Plumville borough are
since been the home of the bank. IMethodist Episcopal, United Presbyterian
The articles of association provided for a and Presbyterian.
board of directors, consisting of not less than The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
five nor more than nine members, and it was lowing in Plumville borough : Number and
decided at the first annual meeting to elect value of horses assessed, 61 — $1,975; num-
a board of nine members. At this meeting ber and value of cows assessed, 9 — $121 ; tai-
J. A. MeCreight, S. S. Burns, Charles Tucker, ables, 164; taxable real estate, $56,272: money
George T. Crooks, S. D. Kerr, H. G. Bowers, at interest, $29,992.71 ; cost of
A. W. Clowes, D. W. Raraigh and M. C. $15.84.
CHAPTER XXXVII
WEST MAHONING TOWNSHIP— SMICKSBURG BOROUGH
West Jlahoning was set off from Mahoning
as a separate township and was thus called
from its position. In 1870 it had a popula-
tion of 988, and in 1910, 837. The surface
is hilly and broken. The soil is a sandy loam,
and is adapted to the growing of grain and
stock. Coal and iron are found in abundance.
It is well watered by the Big Mahoning and
the Little Mahoning creeks. The principal
town is Smicksburg borough.
SeUersville, North Point P. 0.— This vil-
lage was thus termed according to James
McHenry, because there was a cellar under
every hoiise. The first house was erected in
1849 by Philip Enterline, and was after-
wards occupied by Henry Startzel. In 1850
Mr. Enterline built the mill, and the first
sermon was preached in it that year by Rev.
Daniel Long, a German Methodist. The first
store was commenced by John Goheen in
1856, and tihree years later William Oist
started a blacksmith shop. The first shoe-
maker was George Drummond. On the north
side, the first house was erected by Benjamin
McHenry in 1867, and was afterwards occu-
pied by Sylvester Welchonce. John C. Steer,
in the same year, was the first blacksmith, and
his shop was the second building. Mr. Wel-
chonce succeeded him in this business. In
1876 Mr. Steer erected his store-house and
commenced merchandising. The "SeUers-
ville Hotel" was built in 1873. John C.
Steer became the proprietor.
West Mahoning did not have the advan-
tages of railroads until about ten years ago,
when the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg ran
a road from Punxsutawney down the Big Ma-
honing creek past North Point, Loop and
Goodville, and thence to Butler, where it con-
nects with what was formerly the narrow
gauge, now the Baltimore & Ohio, at New
Castle. The bends in the Big Mahoning creek
at the Loop are things of natural beauty. It
is said that one can stand on the bluff at the
entrance of the bend and throw a stone into
the water on either side, yet the bend is more
than a mile around. At this bend the rail-
road cuts across and is run on a high trestle,
west of the Loop.
There are eight school districts, but most
of the schools are small. The names of the
schools are as follows: North Point, Loop,
Pine Grove, Dry Knob, Fleck, Toad Alley,
Owl Hollow and White Oak. Select schools
have been held at Loop and North Point, but
as a rule select schools have been conducted
at Smicksburg.
The coal interests of West Mahoning have
not been developed, but some of the best
lime quarries in Indiana county are found in
West Mahoning.
West Mahoning has furnished its share of
State and county officials: Hon. John P. Bl-
kin, who figured so conspicuously in county
and State politics, was in the State Legisla-
ture for two terms, one term attorney general.
State chairman, and at present a member of
the Supreme court of the State; John Wells,
who was clerk in the prothonotary's office,
and now prothonotary of Indiana county;
Josiah Neal, who was sheriff of Indiana
county, and at present is county detective;
Adam Black, who was county commissioner
for one term.
John B. McCormick, who resides in this
township, is known all over Indiana county
because of the singing schools which he con-
ducted in all parts of the county. He always
had his fiddle with him when instructing his
classes. He is the inventor of the turbine
water wheel, which has made him a large
income.
J. E. Weaver, who for a number of years
has been one of the foremost educators of
the county, has taught very successfully in
both the public and select schools.
A. N. Gahagan has been for many years a
very successful teacher in the public and
select schools.
West Mahoning township has reared the
following professional men : Reverend Silas
D. Daugherty. Lutlieran minister, of Phila-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
543
delphia, Pa. ; Rev. Mr. Good, who for many
years was a missionary to Africa; Rev. Ira
Hyskell, a Lutheran minister; Rev. J. N.
Hoover, Methodist Episcopal minister, Pitts-
burg, Pa. ; Rev. Homer Lewis, Methodist
minister, Windber, Pa. ; Eugene Smith, Breth-
ren minister, in New Jersey; the physi-
cians— Dr. W. E. Dodson, Indiana, Pa.;
Dr. W. F. Byer, Punxsutawney, Pa. ; Dr. H.
S. Barrett, deceased ; Dr. William Hyskell ;
Dr. J. A. Elkin. Willet. Pa.; Albert F. and
Joseph Elkin, veterinary surgeons: Dr. J.
Bert Bell, Windber, Pa., dentist ; school prin-
cipals— J. E. Weaver, Indiana, Pa.; A. N.
Gahagan, Smicksburg. Pa. ; W. E. Barrett,
Loop, Pa. ; Edward Barrett, Iowa : Walter
Lewis, Meadville. Pa. : John E. Good, Dubois,
Pa. (now a merchant) : Emery Dodson. Du-
bois. Pa. (now an engineer) ; William Van
Horn was the pioneer teacher of all that sec-
tion of country.
John Travis located on the Thomas Weston
farm. West Mahoning township, in 1806,
and his mill which formerly occupied the site
of Good's was the first in this portion of the
county. His father, William Travis, was bom
on the ocean while his parents were en route
from Scotland to eastern Pennsylvania. The
Travis land was patented to Paul Busti. of
the Holland Land Company, in 1813. There
were plainly visible for many years after the
location of the first settlers several well de-
fined trails or Indian paths on the Travis
farm. From the large number of darts, etc..
found thereon, it must have a favorite haunt
of the aborigines.
The oldest citizens of West Mahoning town-
ship are : Messrs. Fulbert Altabran, W. H.
Allen, John Blose, William Elkin, Robert
Elkin. W. jM. Fitzgerald, John M. Gahagan.
S. T. Good, G. W. Hazlett, A. C. McConnell,
J. B. McCormick. H. L. McKalip, Z. T.
Richie, S. R. Steer, J. C. Steer, J. L. Steer.
J. G. Walker, S. R. Williamson, J. J. Wil-
liamson.
The Methodist Episcopal of Loop and the
United Brethren of North Point are the
churches of West Mahoning township.
The first election in West Mahoning town-
ship was held Friday February 6. 1846, at
the house of Hezekia'h Crissman in the town
of Smicksburg. where the following officers
were elected : Justices of the peace, James H.
McComb and Joseph Robinson ; assessor, John
McGaughey ; .iudge of election, William N.
Sterner; inspectors. George Steer and Sam-
uel Kerr; supervisors, David Hau and John
Allen ; auditors. Samuel Kerr, H. Crissman,
C. Lowe: constable, John Steer; school diree-
toi-s, David Ritchey, Joseph Block, Samuel
Kerr, Jacob Hyskell, John McGaughey, Sam-
uel Good ; overseers of the poor, George Steer
and William Thomas; fence appraisers, Hi-
ram Lovelace and H. Crissman; assistant
assessors. David Ritchey and Samuel Good;
election officers — judge, James J. Davis; in-
spectors, E. T. Fulton and George W. Travis.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in West IMahoning township : Number
and value of horses assessed, 228 — $10,340;
number and value of cows assessed, 335 —
$4,047; taxables, 349; taxable real estate,
$214,033 ; acres of cleared land, 12,264 ; acres
of timber land, 5,864; money at interest,
$31,885.25; cost of assessment, $46.50.
SMICKSBURG
Smicksburg was laid out on twelve acres
which formed jpart of a tract purchased by
Rev. J. George Schmick, of Charles Coleman,
who obtained it from the Holland Land Com-
pany. It was platted in the month of May,
1827, by Rev. Mr. Schmick, who was a Luth-
eran minister of Huntingdon county. The
work began on the 10th of the month and
continued for about a week. Mr. Schmick
was assisted by Frederick Steer, Jacob Steer,
John Stiteler and others, and a plow line or
rope was used to give the ' ' exact dimensions
of the lots and streets.
The first house was erected in June. 1827.
for George Sloniger. by George Steer and his
son Frederick. It was a log cabin and in-
tended for a gunsmith shop. It stood on the
lot east of the Lutheran church, on Main or
Church street, as it is now designated. Mr.
Sloniger never occupied it, but in a short
time after its construction Master Criswell,
a schoolmaster, used it for a brief period as
a residence. The next occupant was Peter
Stiteler. Charles Kerr erected the second
cabin on the lot on Church street, now the
property of George Roush. John Kerr Iniilt
the third house on the lot on Church street,
which is at present owned by J. A. Armor.
Joseph Robinson's wheelwright shop was the
fourth building and the second shop in the
village. Here his neat spinning wheels were
made as early as 1829.
Jacob Burkett kept the first hotel in the
fifth cabin. The house is still standing and
is now occupied by George Lewis. The sixth
building was a frame house, the first in the
village. It was built by Samuel Brink for
a store and tavern. The old chimney and
the remnants of the building can still be
544
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
seen on John Stiteler's lot near the Little
Mahoning.
The iirst blacksmith was John Kerr and the
second was George Steer. The first wagon-
maker was John McCormick, and the sec-
ond was his pupil, George. Stiteler. The first
cabinetmaker was Hiram Lovelace.
The first mercantile firm was Robinson &
Watson, the partners being William Robinson
and W. W. Watson. They began in 1832;
were succeeded in a short time by Mr. Wat-
son, and after a continuance of less than
two years he was sold out by the sheriiJ. The
second storekeeper was James Robinson, who
was succeeded by R. W. Porter. The estab-
lishment, after a year's career, was also dis-
posed of by the sheriff. John McCrea was
the third merchant, and Joseph Robinson,
the pioneer wheelwright, the fourth. The
latter was in active business from 1837 till
his death in 1855.
The first physician was William Simms,
an able practitioner, who had an open hand
for the poor and unfortunate. He erected
the first brick house in 1842.
The first birth was that of John W. Kerr,
a son of Charles Kerr, in 1828. The first
death was that of an infant child of Jacob
Bucket. The first marriage occurred in 1831,
when Joseijh Robinson was united to Eliza-
beth Gahagan.
The first teacher was Samuel Luckliart
and the second was blaster Samuel Criswell.
Both taught schools on the subscription plan.
The second death was that of Thomas Mc-
Pherson, in 1832.
Rev. Elijah Coleman preached the first ser-
mon in the embryo village. The services were
held in the open air, in the summer of 1828.
The fii-st Sabbath school was inaugurated by
Cornelius Lowe, Lutheran, and George W.
Crissman, Cumberland Presbyterian. It was
"union" in name and spirit, and the above
named acted as its first superintendents.
About 1824 or 1825 James Kirkpatrick
erected a small grist mill, with which there
was also a carding machine, about ten rods
above the mill, on what is now the Jacob
Steer farm. Previous to that time the people
went to the William Travis mill, now the
Samuel Good mill, and oftentimes, when the
water was low, they were forced to use hand
mills or to pound corn in mortars for bread.
The Kirkpatrick mill was 20 x 24, two stories
in height, and had only one run of stones,
and these were choppers. The bolt was run
by a tarred hair rope, and the flour was car-
ried up two flights of stairs and poured
into a box, whence a boy shoveled it into the
bolt. This mill would grind about twenty-
five bushels per day. In 1828 Frederick
Crissman became the owner. He sold it to
George Steer, who tore it down in 1839.
Smicksburg became a borough June 28,
1854. The court directed that at the school
house on October 11, 1854, the election should
be held to elect one judge and two inspectors
to hold an election for borough officers. The
election resulted as follows: Judge, B.
Sweeney; inspectors, S. H. Beck and George
Steer. The spring election held March 9,
1855, resulted as follows: Justices of the
peace, Joseph Robinson and George Steer;
constable, H. Crissman; high constable, Wil-
liam Gray; burgess, B. Sweeney; coiincil,
Jacob Hyskell, Hiram Lovelace, J. A. McCor-
mick, H. Crissman, J. J. Neff; supervisors,
David Stiteler and George Stiteler; auditors,
J. J. Neff, T. N. Lewis, J. A. McCormick;
assessor, H. Crissman; assistant assessors,
William Robinson and H. Lovelace; overseers
of the poor, Valentine Kerr and Charles
Oberlin; school directors, Joseph Robinson,
J. J. Neff, Jacob Jamison, H. Crissman, Ja-
cob Hyskell, B. Sweeney; judge of election,
J. A. McCormick; inspectors, George Con-
dron and John Beck ; town clerk, J. T. Smith.
Business interests of Smicksburg:
One of the most enterprising stores of the
borough is located on the southeast corner
of Kittanning and Clarion streets. The
building was erected more than forty years
ago by David Weamer, who in partnership
with Eyler kept the store for some years. It
was then conducted by Weamer & Mar-
shall, and remained unoccupied for a num-
ber of years, after which time it was occu-
pied four years by P. M. Fleck, eighteen years
by D. D. Good and his father, four years
by D. D. Good, and since 1907 by S. B. Good.
It is a general store.
For many yeai-s C. Luther Lowe kept a
store on the northeast corner of Kittanning
and Clarion streets. He sold organs, etc. At
present he is a merchant in Dubois, Pa. The
building was later occupied as a barber and
shoe shop. It was burned five or six years
ago. Mr. Fleck also kept a store on Kittan-
ning street opposite the office formerly kept
by Dr. Crawford.
' In 1881, Francis Elkin, Jr., built a store-
room on the corner of Kittanning and Church
streets where he conducted a general store
until 1906, when he sold the store to Red-
ding Brothers, who were in business until
1909. The store was purchased by D. A.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 545
Lukehart and D. A. Richey, -who sold the shop, but Mr. Condron is still continuing the
goods of the store. The building was oecu- wagon making business.
pied for a short time by John A. Campbell, There is one drug store, which is con-
when it was purchased by Ralph ^Morrison, ducted by Dr. S. A. Kamerer. It was for-
In 1910, when Mr. JMorrison was preparing merly kept by Dr. Crawford and after his
to occupy this building, it was burned. death it was kept by his son for two or three
In 1910 John A. Campbell erected a store years,
building on the corner of Kittanning and The two-room school building was built in
Mill streets and after occupying it a short 1884. The first teachers in the new building
time sold to D. K. Stiteler, who engaged in were John C. Wells and John Smiley. Prior
the mercantile business for six or seven to 18S'l there was a one-room school build-
months, when he sold to McKee Stiteler, who ing on the same site as the present building,
is still conducting a general store. A number of very successful select schools
For the past forty years Miss Maria A. have been conducted in this place. The fol-
Crawford has kept a millinery store, A. C. low promhient educators were in charge:
Cassady kept a confectionery store for six- Oliver Crissman, Hon. John P. Elkin, Prof,
teen years until 1912. ' J- L. Allison, Dr. R. W. Allison, Professor
There is but one hotel in the borough. It Scott, N. G. Rose, H. D. Condron, W. E.
was probably built by James McCombs. It Barrett, Charles Stiteler, Emory Dodson, J.
has been kept open by the following: A. C. E. Weaver, Supt. James F. Chapman, and
Cassady; H. Y. Steer, two years; Luther A. N. Gahagan.
Lowe, one year; J. W. Marshall, sixteen , The village of Smieksburg has furnished
years: J. L. Cain; Beers, one year; its quota of professional and business men:
John Stiteler, four years ; Charles Beck, since Hon. John P. Elkin of the Supreme bench,
1911. Indiana, Pa.; W. F. Elkin, district attorney
More than forty years ago the gristmill ^i Indiana county, Indiana. Pa.; John C.
was built by J. P. Stiteler. The mill was Wells, prothonotary of Indiana county, In-
run by water power until 1882-83. when Mr. diana, Pa. ; D. A. Lukehart. treasurer of In-
Stiteler installed the steam power and rol- (^iana county, Smieksburg, Pa.; John G.
ler process. In 1896 he sold the mill to D. Robinson and Adam Black, commissioners of
D. Barrett, who sold to A. X. Lukehart in Indiana county. Smieksburg, Pa. (when Jlr.
1902. In 1906 it was sold to a partv in Pitts- Black was elected commissioner he lived in
burg. Pa., who sold it to :Mr. Good, the present West Mahoning township) ; Rev. Charles
owner. Streamer (deceased), Lutheran minister;
In the seventies J. K. Lowe and A. R. ^"^v. Mr. Lowe, Lutheran minister in Kansas ;
Glenn started a foundrv and planing mill. ^^'- D- R- Crawford, deceased, physician in
Mr. Lowe purchased the interest of Glenn Smieksburg, Pa., for many years; Dr. Wil-
and conducted the business himself until his l^am Crawford (son of Dr. D. R. Crawford),
death, in 1899. A. R. Glenn conducted a ^ physician in Fowler, California,
furniture and cabinet business until 1905. The oldest residents of the borough at the
when he sold to R. C. Robinson, who for present time are: Messrs. Adam Black, S.
many vears has been the- undertaker in the ^- ^^^r, A. C. Cassady, A. C. Good, Evan
borough. Lewis, D. A. Lukehart, A. N. Lukehart. Rob-
At the present there are no blacksmiths f^'*^ IMcBriar, R. C. Robinson. Thomas Row-
in the borough. J. F. Beck & Son. on Clar- i^^^. M. L. Spencer, J. M. Weston, S. J.
ion street, conducted the shop in 1892. Thev " f^}^^- , ,
sold to Silvis & Haus. Haus sold his interest ^ ^r ^^^l'^}'^ "f Smieksburg borough are
to Silvis. who in 1904 sold to Herbert Bar- Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal and Episco-
rett, who sold to A. G. Brewer; he closed
pal.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the
the shop m 1910. , o w n following in Smieksburg borough: Number
In about 1884 J G.Roush and S W. Con- ^,,^ ,.^1^^ ^f horses assessed, 28-$1.475;
dron built a blacksmith shop and engaged number and value of cows assessed. 21— $515 ;
m wagon and carriage making near the bridge taxables, 104 ; taxable real estate. $33 665 ■
across the Little Mahoning. In 1895 Mr. money at interest. $18,057.20 ; cost of
Roush, who did the blacksmithing, closed the meut. $16.50.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP— CHERRYTREE BOROUGH
.Montgomery township, named for John south to what is now "ilason and Dixon's
Montgomery, an early settler of Coneinaugh Line," and from there east along this line to
township, a Revolutionary soldier, who owned the point of beginning. This procured what
much land in what is now Montgomery, was is now twenty counties, viz. : Union, Snyder,
formed from Mahoning township in 1834. Juniata, Perry, Cumberland, York, Adams,
Containing about thirty square miles, it is Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Cen-
situated in the northeastern part of Indiana ter, Blair, Cambria, Bedford, Somerset, West-
county, and had a population of 3,382 in 1910. moreland, Fayette, Greene and Washington,
It is bounded by Banks township on the north, and parts of seven others, Beaver, Allegheny,
Clearfield county on the east. Green township Armstrong, Indiana, Clearfield, Clinton and
on the south, and Grant township on the west. Lycoming.
The southern boundary line of jMontgomery The western part of Montgomery township
township is the famous Penn's "Purchase is traversed by the watershed dividing the
Line," so called, not because William Penn Mississippi valley from the Atlantic slope,
himself had ever been along this line, but be- with an altitude of 1,700 feet, and the prinei-
cause of his being one of the proprietors who pal streams of the township are Cush creek,
purchased certain lands from the Indians his Rock run and Shryock, all flowing east into
name was used in connection therewith. This the Susquehanna. This latter stream was
line, extending north of west across Indiana named for Henry Shryock, who made the
county and the eastern part of Armstrong first improvements on the site of Indiana bor-
county, was a part of the norihern boundary ough, and in 1818 got lost in the dense forests
of a ipurchase from the Indians by the pro- of the eastern part of the county, being found
prietaries of the Pennsylvania Colony in the near the stream which bears his name,
latter part of the seventeenth or early part of From 1840 to about 1890 the lumbering of
the eighteenth century. It should not be con- white pine was a prominent industry in this
fused with that purchase or treaty of Fort part of Indiana county, the timber being re-
Stanwix, New York, in 1768, or "Walking moved from these lands in Montgomery,
Purchase, ' ' which procured the northern part Banks and Green townships mostly in the
of Pennsylvania, but from authentic Colonial form of square timber, the "sticks" being
history William Penn's "Purchase Line" about fifteen to twenty inches square and
forms a part of the northern boundary of the from thirty to eighty feet long, containing
southern and western section of Pennsylvania, from fifty to one hundred and fifty cubic feet
bounded as follows : Beginning at a point on — square timber being then made, hauled,
the Susquehanna river, now the famous rafted and sold by the cubic foot. The
"Mason and Dixon's Line," the surveyors "sticks" were usually made in the fall of the
were to ascend the Susquehanna to the West .year and winter, being hauled on the snow
Branch thereof and as far up this branch as to the river, where they was fastened together
they could push a canoe, which point was in "half rafts" or "pups" until they reached
named "Canoe Place," now Cherrytree. "the mountains," when two of these "half
From this point they were to travel north of rafts" were lashed together and the raft
west to a fort on the Allegheny river, now floated to market, at Marietta, Pa., until Lock
Kittanning, this latter mete being the ' ' Pur- Haven became the great square timber mar-
chase Line." thence down the Allegheny river ket, as it remained from that time while this
to its junction with the Monongahela and from industry lasted. A raft contained about 8,000
there down the Ohio to an arbitrary point cubic feet and was sold at market for from
from which the line was to extend directly 12 to 24 cents a foot, amounting to from
546
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
547
one thousand to two thousand dollars, out of
which the making, hauling and rafting ex-
penses would be paid, sometimes leaving the
seller as little as $100 or $200 for his timber
and his winter's work. Oak timber was fre-
quently rafted with the pine and brought a
better price. After a winter when there was
not sufficient snow for hauling the timber to
the river, or not enough water in the spring
freshet to Hoat it to market, there were hard
times for the next year or until "after raft-
ing, ' ' as about the only income was the timber
money. It is safe to say that a raft of pine
timber such as brought in the market one
thousand dollars in those times would be
worth almost twice as much were it standing
timber here to-day, to say nothing of the ex-
pense and uncertainty of marketing in those
days.
All these lumber operations were supplied
with dressed pork, beef, grain, and feed from
the farmers in the county, west as far as In-
diana and Marion Center, who hauled such
provisions to '''the river," which meant any-
where in this locality, where good prices were
readily obtained. There was little cleared
land here and the inhabitants were busj' lum-
bering, hence could not jjroduce enough farm
commodities for their own use. The writer
well remembers that as late as 1880 in this
township a hemlock tree had little or no value,
but was an encumbrance. But it was less than
five years from that time until both hemlock
lumber and bark were valuable.
The largest, straightest and best pine tim-
ber was made into spars; as much as $50
would be paid for a single spar, on the stump.
They were hewed round and used for masts
on ocean-going vessels (whose masts are now
made of structural steel). These being much
larger and heavier than the square timber, it
required a special spar sled with a great con-
cave bolster and as many as from six to twelve
teams to haul one spar to the river. Spars
were in length from 50 to 100 feet, from 18
to 30 inches in diameter at the smaller end,
and from 2-4 to -46 inches in diameter 12 feet
from the larger end; this latter diameter, to-
gether with the length, fixing the value of the
spar. A spar was made with an "eye" — a
hole chopped through a tenon, as broad as
the diameter of the spar at each end — by
which it was chained to the sled, and the
chain having a swivel the spar could easily
revolve without upsetting the sled; to the
"eye" of the other end of the spar would be
tied by a bowline knot one or two hundred
feet of strong sea grass cable with which the
spar would be "snubbed" down a hill to pre-
vent its running onto the teams and men. At
the brow of a hill the ' ' suubber ' ' would throw
a coil or two of cable in a loop, over a stump,
and by letting the rope render through the
loop, the spar would be held in check. If the
' ' snubber " ' failed to throw the ' ' hitch ' ' there
was only one thing to do, and that was to
whip up the teams and keep them out of the
way of the spar.
During the last twenty-five years of the
white pine lumbering in this locality much
of the timber was cut into saw logs and floated
to Williamsport, as was also the hemlock and
other woods from 1880 to about 1900. Splash
dams were built in the creeks and the logs
were floated to the river. Great booms were
constructed at ^Yilliamsport to catch and hold
the logs. The timber was usually sold on the
stump, or delivered afloat into the creeks or
river. Awa.y out in the forests logging camps
were built — always called "log camps" —
where as many as one hundred men would be
employed in cutting and "stocking" saw logs,
and many were the tricks played on the nov-
ice. A ■ ' new man ' ' would come to camp seek-
ing employment, and if he were successful in
getting work he would be initiated. For in-
stance: A "greenie" came to camp and was
"employed" by some of the men, not a pro-
prietor or boss, and was sent to a neighboring
camp a distance of several miles for the
"cross-haul." There being no such thing,
someone at the latter place who was posted
gave the new man a skid or piece of a log to
carry back, and when the men at the camp
from which he was sent on such a fool's er-
rand .lumped around, laughed and yelled, the
novice decided to leave, which he did, and
wasn't seen there afterwards. The tirsst log
camp in all eastern Indiana county was that
of Bard & Cassiday, on Cush creek, where
Arcadia row is. JIanj' employed in this camp
came from away down east in Maine and from
Nova Scotia. They were rough but good-
hearted men, and when one of them met death
by accident or disease the doctor's bill and
funeral expenses were paid by his fellows.
These logmen brought into this community
logging tools never before seen and many
terms and words never before heard, such as
pike, canthook. grab, chute, jam, shoecalks,
logmen's flannel, peeling axe. scaler, scrateher,
cookee, lobby, stumpage, hay-road, Lehigh,
skidway. drive, L-hook, boom-scale, calk-set
and many others.
Before logging began here there was much
sawed lumber liauled to Indiana (to "town,"
548
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
it was then called) on wagons, a distance of
from fifteen to twenty-five miles, and dry pine
boards that would be worth $50 per thousand
to-day were sold for $15. It took two days at
least to make the round trip, and in exchange
for lumber were brought back groceries, salt,
clothing, boots, shoes, farm implements and
tools.
There are nine churches in the township,
outside Cherrytree borough : Roman Catholic,
Greek Catholic and Presbyterian in Arcadia;
Wesleyan Methodist and Methodist Protestant
at Hillsdale (the bell now on the M. P.
Church is the old courthouse bell of Indiana
town, having been sold to the church here
when the present courthouse was built) ; Wes-
leyan Methodist at Brickell schoolhouse, be-
tween Wilgus and Gipsy; Union Church at
Gipsy ; Union Church at Bowdertown ; Metho-
dist Protestant at Hazlett schoolhouse, and
Pine Grove Wesleyan Methodist Church, in
process of. construction, at Cush Creek.
There are eleven school buildings in the
township, viz. : Arcadia, Gipsy, Hillsdale,
Hazlett, Irwin, Harter, Clark, Rock Run,
Hooverhurst, Brickell and Blose.
Among the early families in the township
there are the following prominent names:
Notley, Hazlett, Grossman, Trimble, Clark,
Rank, Bostic, Armstrong, Bowder, Cooper,
Gardner, Bennett, Spicher, Barbour, Conner,
Powell, Kerr, Johnson, McCrady, Bartle-
baugh, Lowman, Gressley, Hileman, Gorman,
Henry, Irwin, Blose, Sawyer, Billings,
Sterner, ]\IcCullough, Ruffner, Tonkin. Getty,
Smith, Hamilton, Ake, O'Harrah, Rankin,
Miller, Hess, Ripple, Thomas.
The towns in this township are Cherrytree,
Arcadia, Hillsdale, Gipsy, Wilgus, Hoover-
hurst, Cush Creek and Bowdertown. Of
these Cherrytree, Arcadia, Hillsdale, Gipsy
and Wilgus are postoffices.
Hillsdale is an unincorporated village sit-
uated just east of the crest of the dividing
ridge, in the southwestern part of the town-
ship, and at this writing is a little more than
half a century old.
In 1838 the "New State Road" was lo-
cated from Curwensville, Clearfield county,
to East Liberty, Allegheny county, and the
village was started along this highway. Not
long after its beginning, about 1851, George
Goss, Hugh R. Ra,nkin, John Gromley and
Jacob G. Ake owned the land which is now
the site of this village, three hundred acres
of which, now embraced in the A. C. Rankin
and J. D. Ake farms, were bought by Hugh
R. Rankin's father, William, for the sum of
three hundred dollars in fee simple, or one
dollar per acre. In addition to those named,
among the first settlers in the neighborhood
were William Thompson (for whom Thomp-
son cemetery was named and in which he is
buried), John Powell and Jacob Fridley.
The first building was the store of George
Conrath ("Coonrod") erected in 1849, lo-
cated near what is now the A. C. Rankin
homestead.
About 1851 there was a meeting of the land
owners to decide upon a name for the place,
and after Aaronsville and Watertown (on ac-
count of the many springs and small streams
in the vicinity) and other names were pro-
posed "Monterey" was selected, and the town
bore this name for a short time, until Hills-
dale post office, established at the residence of
Daniel Hill, a mile north of the present town
site, on what is now the Sylvester McMillan
farm, was moved to the village. Mail was
then received twice a week, being carried
through this place on horseback, from New-
man's Mill (Cherrytree) to Georgeville. The
first postmaster was Daniel Hill, who was
appointed under James Buchanan's adminis-
tration. Mr. Hill served two years and re-
signed in favor of M. C. Getty, who served
until 1873, when M. P. Churchill was ap-
pointed under U. S. Grant's administration.
Mr. Churchill has served continuously
(thirty -six years) since that time except for
one term of four years when John Mun-
shower was postmaster.
Among the early settlers of the town in
addition to those named were Henry H. Ruff-
ner, who erected more buildings than any
other settler ; Paul and Jacob White ; Samuel
Pittman; Henry Gromley; D. M. Ruffner,
who built what is now the "Boucher Hotel";
J. H. Brilhart; Andrew Donahue; Dr. John
W. Crooks, who practiced his profession in
the vicinity about three years from 1857 and
made himself famous by killing a bear in a
pine thicket back of what is now the M. P.
Church; and Peter Beer, the "barn builder,"
noted for his great strength. Reliable men
have told of his gripping with his hands the
under part of joists in a building and carry-
ing his 210 pounds' weight in this way the
entire length of the building.
There have been three school buildings,
and some of the teachers were Martin Arm-
strong, Hezekiah Long, James Dunwiddie,
Kate Hugus, Mary Hamilton, Emma Wood,
Dr. Lydic, John and Michael Rankin, Robert
Huey, J. P. Lytic, Silas Thompson, Hon. J.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
549
N. Langham, John L. Getty, Esq., Charles
Fiddle, S. K. Eank.
Arcadia, a typical mining town and unin-
corporated, situated very nearly in the center
of Montgomery township on the south branch
of Cush creek, was started about the year
1900 by what is now the Pennsylvania Coal
& Coke Company, and was reached by the
Pittsburg & Eastern railroad, extending from
Mahaffey, Pa., up to this coal field, a dis-
tance of twelve miles, but this road was later
taken over by the New York Central & Hud-
son River Railroad Company, and this to^vn
is on a six-mile spur from Dowler Junction,
on the railroad from Clearfield to Heilwood.
The population is about 1,200, and there
are three church buildings, two large coal
company stores, meat markets, livery stable,
U. M. W. A., hall in which the township elec-
tions are held, hardware store, several general
stores; and there is at the present time in
course of construction a modern otBee build-
ing and a tile roof, brick power plant for the
Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company, A. 0.
Sommerville, superintendent, which has many
mines in this locality, as has also the Els-
worth-Dunham Company, both coal com-
panies having many miners' houses and other
properties and improvements in this vicinity.
The Pennsylvania Coal and Coke Corpo-
ration has large holdings in Green, Grant,
Montgomery and Pine townships. It operates
extensively in Clearfield and Cambria coun-
ties. Its principal mines in Indiana county
are at Arcadia and AVilgus, there being three
a;t the former place and one at the latter.
There are 550 men employed in both places.
The "E" seam of coal is the seam that is
being mined. The average tonnage for the
four mines is 2,000 tons per day. The coal
is shipped over the New York Central rail-
road and is disposed of to the manufacturing
and railroad supply trade.
In 1902 there was a four-roomed school
building erected here and in 1910 two addi-
tional rooms were built. The principals of
this school have been James Smith, E. E.
Irwin, R. L. Gartley, John Camp, John Ran-
kin, and "W. C. ]\IacFarland is the present
principal.
Just below the town at the high creek bank
there are several springs of brackish water,
of which the deer were fond, and this was
known as the Ashcraft lick, where many of
the pioneer hunters came to find deer. The
"Stone Lick" was above town on the creek
where No. 11 slope now is.
The town formerly had three licensed
hotels, but on account of the strong Prohibi-
tion sentiment developing here there is only
one hotel building at the present time, and
it is not open to the public.
Gipsy. — This town of about 300 inhabitants
is situated in the northwestern part of Mont-
gomery township on the North Branch of
Cush creek, four miles from Glen Campbell,
and is surrounded by many bituminous mines,
among which are those of the Hillsdale Coal
& Coke Company, J. D. Ake, president, J. 0.
Clark, treasurer, with offices in Glen Camp-
bell and Philadelphia; also Irish Brothers,
with a large company store at Glen Camp-
bell in which they have an office, and this
company also has an office in Philadelphia.
Both companies have miners' houses and
other property in the vicinity. The coal is
delivered to the New York Central & Hudson
River railroad at Hooverhurst by the Hoover-
hurst & Southwestern, a coal-carrying road
extending up the creek to "Wilgus.
Prior to 1885 there was no town here, but
the land was covered with a very heavy
growth of timber, principally hemlock, nearly
all of which was subsequently logged and
floated down Cush creek and the West
Branch of the Susquehanna, to Williamsport.
This neighborhood in which Gips.v is now lo-
cated was known as Mark's school district.
The school was then very small and among
the eai-ly teachers were Misses Agnes Graham
and Georgiana Martin, and JMrs. Emma Wil-
son (nee Bostic). There is at this writing
a two-room school building seated with single
desks, the rooms being the best furnished in
the township. At the beginning of the term
in the fall of 1912 the school board found it
necessary to establish another room ; the ad-
vanced pupils are being taught in a hall in
the town.
There is one church edifice in town, Gipsy
Union, biit at the present time there are no
regular services.
There are three large general stores, C.
D. Lydie's, Frank Tiger's and G. M. Brady's.
Prominently connected with the business of
the town are the following: W. D. Hall,
physician; Thomas & Rairigh, inidertakers ;
Clarence Cassidy, meat market; D. P. Spicher,
grocery and bottling works; Albert Rairigh,
pop and mineral waters ; John Brilhart, black-
smith; B. M. Smith, postmaster, and J. E.
Ober, hotel.
The P. 0. S. of A. meets Friday night each
week in the Tiger lodge rooms, and the or-
ganization seems to be in a flourishing eondi-
550
I-IISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tion. It has presented its own and other
schools in the vicinity with flags.
The first election in IMontgomery township
was held at the house of James Black March
20, 1835, when the following officers were
elected: Road supervisoi-s, Samuel Brewer
and John Armstrong; overseers of the poor,
Samuel Miller and John Johnston ; constable,
Cornelius Gailey; auditors, William Riddle,
Adam Tiger, William Thurnburn.
The assessor's book for 1913 for Mont-
gomery township shows the following: Num-
ber and value of horses assessed, 354 — $19,-
100; number and value of cows assessed, 349
—$15,218; taxables, 897: taxable real estate,
$355,926 ; acres of cleared land, 13,960 ; acres
of timberland, 5,031; money at interest,
$63,308.53; cost of assessment," $91.56.
CHERRYTREE
Cherrytree borough was settled early in
the nineteenth century by John Bartlebaugh,
Peter Gordon, Asa Croasmun, William Eason,
Reeder King, Henry Sebring and others.
Abner Bartlebaugh was the first male child
bom at this place, in 1830.
Joseph Williams had the first store in 1838 ;
the first blacksmith was Jacob Hicks, 1837;
the first hotel, Samuel Smith's, 1845; the first
school teacher, Hugh Gallagher, 1831, in Rob-
ert McKeage 's log store building ; the first ser-
mon preached in Cherrytree was by John
Kirkpatrick; the first river bridge was built
in 1848 ; the first raft was run down the river
in 1827, by Josiah Woodford and Reeder
King.
Cherrytree is just gaining considerable
popularity and notoriety. It is located at the
junction of the counties of Indiana, Cambria
and Clearfield, and derives its name from the
fact that its location, in Colonial times, and
during the first half centui-y of our State-
hood, was marked by a huge wild cherry tree,
which stood on the point of land in the forks
of the Susquehanna river and Cush Cushion
creek. This tree marked the point known as
the "Canoe Place," being the head of canoe
navigation at ordinary stage of water and
the place where the Indians customarily tied
their canoes. Subsequently the rush of the
water in the streams cut a channel through
this point of land and made a small island,
upon which stood the cherry tree, and in the
course of time, by the action of the currents,
the banks of the island were washed out. the
cherry tree was uprooted and carried away in
the floods.
Monument Authorized. — An Act making an
appropriation to mark with a permanent
monument the point known as Cherrytree or
Canoe Place.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania in general assembly
met, and it is hereby enacted by the author-
ity of the same : That the sum of $1,500 or
so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and
the same is hereby, specifically appropriated
to erect a monument, with appropriate and
suitable inscriptions, marking the exact spot
known as Canoe Place, being a point on the
boundary of the purchase of Governor Penn
from the Indians, the design of the monu-
ment to be approved by, and the money ex-
pended under the direction of, the lioard of
puljlic grounds and buildings of this Com-
monwealth.
Tile said appropriation to be paid on the
warrant of the auditor general upon a set-
tlement made by him and the State treasurer
upon the itemized vouchers duly certified to
by the board of public grounds and build-
ings.
Approved the 16th day of June, A. D. 1893.
Robert E. Pattison.
The foregoing is a true and correct copy of
tile Act of the General Assembly No. 337.
Wm. F. Harrity,
Secretary of Commonwealth.
The lower base of this monument measures
6 feet, 2 inches across corners, 5'feet, 4 inches
between parallel sides, and is 1 foot, 2 inches
high.
Each side and corner has rockface with
margin lines dressed.
Top to line of second base is fine hammered
work.
Second base : 5 feet across corner, 4 feet,
4 inches between parallel sides, 1 foot high.
Each corner has rockface panel with margin
dressed, the balance of the stone being fine
hammered work.
On one side is carved in relief a canoe.
Third base: 4 feet, 2 inches across corners,
3 feet, 8 inches lietweeu parallel sides, 9 inches
high.
Each corner has rockface panel with margin
dressed. Balance of stone is fine hammered
except face of letters, which are polished.
On one side is cut the name Clearfield, on
another the name Cambria, and on the third
the name Indiana — all in letters 4 inches long,
raised 14 in^li. polished on face.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
551
Die: 3 feet, 10 inches across corner, 3 feet,
4 inches between parallel sides, 2 feet, 6 inches
high.
Each pilaster has rockface panel with
dressed margin.
The balance of the stone is fine hammered
except the panels on each side, which are pol-
ished with a fine hammered margin.
On this stone is cut in sunken letters an in-
scription of about 120 letters.
Cap : 4 feet, 2 inches across corners, 3 feet,
8 inches between parallel sides, 1 foot, 4
inches high — all of fine hammered work ex-
cept the face of letters, "Erected 1894,"
which is polished ; these letters are on one side
only, raised Vi inch, faces polished.
Tower: Circular in form, measures 2 feet,
4 inches in diameter at bottom, 14 feet, 2
inches high ; 1 foot, dy^ inches in diameter at
top; is cut in ten horizontal sections, 1 foot,
5 inches high each. All is rockface work.
Neck: 2 feet, 1 inch iu diameter, 6 inches
high, all fine hammered.
Frieze : 1 foot, 9 inches in diameter ; 1 foot,
1 inch high, fine hammered work.
Cap: 2 feet, 6 inches iu diameter — all fine
hammered work: is surmounted with a brass
weather-vane, 2 feet high, firmly fastened to
stone underneath.
Inscription
THIS MONUMENT
Erected to Mark Canoe Place.
The Corner of the Proprietaries Purchase
From the Indians.
Bv the Treaty at Fort Stanwix. X. Y.,
November 5, 1768.
The postofSce at Cherrytree was first Bards-
ville, 1833, Richard Bard, postmaster: then
Newman's Mill, Peter Newman, postmaster;
the next postmaster was James ]\Iahaffey, and
the ofSce became Gronf iu 1867. which it re-
mained until 1907, when it was changed to
Cherrytree.
The town was made a borough in 1855 by
an act of the Legislature, and the first burgess
was Dr. W. A. Piatt. The place is now a
thriving borough of about 600 population,
having two railroads, the Cherrytree & Dixon-
ville, or Pennsylvania Railroad, from Cresson
and the New York Central, extending from
Clearfield to Heilwood, both in a community
of interest road, connecting at Clymer, Pa.,
with the Indiana Street Railway trolley line,
giving access to the county seat, Indiana, for
the ea.stern part of the county.
Just above this town on what is now the
McKeage property there lived a man by the
name of G. M. Gamble, who was a "con-
ductor" on the "underground" railroad, his
station being between that of Robert Mit-
chell's on Twolick creek, at what is now
Mitchell's ilills. and that of George Atehe-
son, .just above Burnside on the Susquehanna
river. The next station north of Atcheson's
was up Cush creek to that of Samuel Rank's
and his son George, who conducted their
"passengei-s" (always at night) to a point
on the ilahoning waters that is now called
Nicholtown, where they were met by other
friends of the African and taken to the Work
settlement, north of Marion center. At the
time this "railroad" was iu operation no
one could tell, or would tell, its termini. All
that the conductors themselves or the "pas-
sengers ' ' knew was that the line began ' ' away
down South, in the fields of cotton" and
ended somewhere up in Canada. At this
late day much less can be found out concern-
iug it. While these conductors knew they
were violating the laws of the laud, they
recognized a higher power, to which they were
subject, and frequently prayed for the fugi-
tives, and especially for the rulers of our
land, giving the slaves out of their scanty
means money, food and clothing. George
Atchesou used to chuckle and saj', "Indade,
and indade, they can bate (beat) us down in
Congress, but they can't bate us back here
on Cush creek."
There are now here a new Pennsylvania
railroad passenger station; a modern four-
room brick school building: First National
Bank: Cherrytree Iron Works, Schade &
iloser, owners: New York Central & Hudson
Railroad yards ; ]\IeKeage Roller Flouring
..Jlill : Hawes Bros, department store : Dr.
Peterman's drug store; McCormick's hard-
ware store: Johnson's livery stable; hotel,
"Cherry Tree Inn." 0. C. Lonsberry. proprie-
tor; post oflSce, Joseph Seehler, postmaster,
from which office there are three rural free
delivery routes.
First National Bank of Cherrytree. — ■
Cherrytree has one good bank, the First
National, which began business in November,
1903. The origmal capital was $25,000, but
in 1904 this was increa.sed to $50,000. The
surplus (all earned) is $75,000 and undivided
profits $5,000.^ Deposits run from $575,000
to $600,000, and the total assets amount to
aljout $775,000.
The president of the bank is E. W. Smith;
vice president. J. C. Leasure; cashier, Frank
Finsthwait. These gentlemen and the follow-
ing constitute the board of directors : William
McKeage, W. T. :Mahaffey. B. W. Kinports,
552
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
B. W. Hawes. Three of the original directors
have died in the last few years, namely:
Porter Kinports, the first president, Vincent
Tonkin, the first vice president, and W. I\I.
Williams.
The bank building is a handsome new brick
structure 132 by 132 feet, located on one of
the most prominent comers of the town. The
first floor is occupied by the banking room
and a fine drug store, while the second is di-
vided up into eleven large rooms.
Prominently engaged in business and con-
nected with the history of this town during
the lumbering period, reaching to about the
year 1890. were the following family names:
Camp, Kinport, McCormick, McCreary,
Harter. Brilhart, McKeage, Clark, Notley,
Pitts, Sebring. Douglas, Derringer, Grumb-
ling, Needier, Stiffler, Conner, Boring, John-
son, Patchen, ]\Ioore, Baker, Wissinger,
Briekley, Books, Byers, Crossman, Davis,
Hughes, Hollister, King, Lovelace, Wilson,
Patrick, Pittman, Tonkin, Sechler, Breth,
Reed, Ginter, Nugent, Hadden, and others.
By an act of the Assembly in 1868 Cherry-
tree Male and Female College was founded
with a capital stock of $10,000 and was in
progi-ess up to 1875, when the State normal
school at Indiana, Pa., was opened and caused
the abandonment of the project. Judge S.
J. Telford was at one time principal of this
institution.
There is an Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 417,
members of which meet weekly in their own
building.
The church organizations in this town are
Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist
Protestant, all with church edifices, and there
is an Evangelical Church at StifiSertown,
Clearfield county, adjoining Cherrytree.
CHAPTER XXXIX
PINE TOWNSHIP
Pine township was formed from Wheat-
field in 1850, aiid in 1870 had a population
of 921, in 1910, 2,563. This township is
among the lumbering districts of the county.
Among the early settlers were Hugh Donahue,
F. Mulvehill, Johnson Leonard, James Mc-
Caffery, John Okea. It was thus named for
the extensive forests of pine within its bor-
ders.
Strongstown was patented in 1823 by John
Evans for James Strong and James Hill.
The first three houses were erected by Mr.
Strong. The first was occupied by Thomas
Stophel as a cabinet shop. The second was
used by Mrs. Fannie Douthard as a i*esidence
and the third was owned by T. H. Cresswell.
Nolo and Strongstown are located on the
pike leading from Ebensburg to Indiana.
Strongstown was an industrial center in the
lumber business for many years. For a long
time the people for miles around went to
Strongstown to get their mail, especially on
Saturday. It was a great loafing place for
the people in that section, and'it was not an
uncommon thing to see several fights there
on a Saturday evening. At that time they
had the licensed hotel, which was well patron-
ized. Things have' taken a turn there, and
the usual number of stores are there, but not
the fighting and whiskey. The town is located
in a beautiful country, and has supported
some very good select schools.
Nolo was called the "stone house" until
1858, when the post office of Nolo was estab-
lished with W. F. Lydick as postmaster. For
several years, prior to 1858, there had been a
store kept at the stone house by Samuel Todd,
James Sutton, Watts & Thompson, and S.
Golden & Co. George Orner came to Indiana
county about 1847, and located north of
Strongstown. He was a shoemaker by trade,
but gave up the trade and engaged in farm-
ing and lumbering. He invested in timber-
land and in 1853 he and his son Ephraim
erected a sawmill on their timberland in Pine
township on Dutch run, where for many years
they manufactured all kinds of lumber. John
Coy, father of Lewis Coy, who first settled
in Brushvalley township in 1820, came to
Pine township in 1822. Evan Griffith, the
father of S. B. Griffith, now of Indiana, Pa.,
settled where Dilltown now stands, and in a
few years moved on what is now the mon-
astery farm. They remained there a short time
and about 1827 located on the Griffith farm
near Grisemore.
The township is not very well watered. The
streams are Yellow creek, Little Yellow creek
and Dutch run. At one time there were some
fine tracts of timber in Pine township. Much
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
553
of it has been maniifaetured and hauled to
Indiana, CheiTvtree. Johnstown, Armagh
and towns along the Pennsylvania railroad
on the Conemangh. Building material,
shingles and fencing boards were manufac-
tured in abundance.
While there were a number of poor living
in this township, the majority of the early
settlers were well-to-do. In the northern part
of the township lived the "Williams and the
Griffiths families, Welsh people who were
very industrious, and since manufacturing
their timber they have been farming and rais-
ing stock extensively. In the central part of
the township and in the vicinity of the mon-
astery, are many Irish Catholics. They are
an honest, industrious people and have always
been in accord with all movements of ad-
vancement. The writer is w-ell accjuainted
with the Maloys, ilulvehills. Downeys, Burns,
Leonards, Fairbaughs and Hamills, and from
personal knowledge knows that they have
been interested in good schools.
In the last few years special interest has
been manifested in the pi;blic schools of Pine
township. The ungraded schoolhouses have
been placed in good condition, and the graded
school at Heilwood is one of the best in the
county. Pine is the only township in Indiana
county that supports a township high school.
Last year was the beginning of the high
school, and two young men were graduated.
The residents of the town have taken special
interest in making it progressive. It is not
without sport, having one of the best base-
ball teams in the county.
Heilwood. — The town of Heilwood was
started in 1904, by J. H. Weaver & Co., who
opened up three mining operations in Pine
township, Indiana county, and which mines
are tapped bj^ the Cherrytree & Dixonville
railroad, owned conjointly by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company, and the New York
Central & Hudson River Railroad Company,
over which the tonnage from the several
mines is shipped. Development work pro-
ceeded until 1906. at which time the Penn-
Mary Coal Company purchased from J. H.
Weaver & Co. their holdings in Pine town-
ship and improved and enlarged same to such
extent that to-day it is one of the large coal
producing districts of the county. When the
latter company purchased the operations they
secured the services of H. P. Dowler to act as
general superintendent, and he has had charge
ever since. Up to this time five new mines,
making eight in all, have been opened and
developed to such extent that the present
output is in the neighborhood of 4,000 tons
of coal per day. The plant is operated from
one power house, which produces 2,000 horse
power electric and steam energy to operate
the several mines, light the town and furnish
same with water.
The town, proper, located on a high pla-
teau, with wide streets lined with shade trees,
has a population of over 2,400 and has over
400 houses, with electric lights and pure
water from artesian wells in each house ; Pro-
testant and Catholic Churches were built by
the company, who also erected a hotel, public
and high schools, amusement hall and private
hospital, were maintained for the benefit of
their employees. The Heilwood Company, a
separate corporation, own and operate large
department stores. The hospital has proved
to be a philanthropic and most efficient in-
stallation of this broad-minded company.
The Heilwood Inn, Charles Nollenberger,
proprietor, is a place where the traveling
public feel at home, and have the best service
possible measured out to them, together with
the hospitality so characteristic of the host
and hostess.
The sanitation of the town of Heilwood has
set the pace for many of the other mining
towns throughout the State, due to the fact
that every precaution and preventative is
used against the ailments and ills that may
attack the people. In addition to this, first
aid and mine rescue teams and stations are
maintained to prevent injuries, and to care
for same should they occur. The mines are
equipped with all the latest appliances for
the safety and convenience of the employees.
Owing to the healthful location and high
elevation (1,800 feet above sea level), and
fine water supply, the town is considered one
of the most sanitary and healthful in central
Pennsylvania and is so recognized by the
officers of the State board of health.
The Penn-IMary Coal Company owns and
controls 15,000 acres of coal land in this im-
mediate vicinity, which speaks well for the
future of the locality. The operations are in
direct charge of H. P. Dowler, general sup-
erintendent, with Harry Kalloway as assist-
ant superintendent. The hospital has been
very ably handled by Dr. R. F. ^IcHenry, with
Dr. J. C. Gourley as assistant, while the Heil-
wood Company store is managed by J. M.
Thompson, who has proved himself an efficient
and capable manager. The casual visitor is
impressed with the fact that the several de-
partments of this progressive town are work-
554
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing together for the best interests of the com-
pany and their employees.
Penn-Mary Hospital. — In 1905, when there
were but forty houses in the town, a hospital
was started by Dr. R. F. ]\IcHenry in a miner's
shanty of three rooms, and was soon moved
to a small house now used as a garage. It
was afterwards moved to a seven-room dwell-
ing, where it remained until October, 1909,
when it was moved into the new hospital
building, which is located on one of the most
beautiful spots in Indiana county. The site is
at an elevation of 1,800 feet, on a level land-
scape which overlooks the country for miles
around. From every point of view the loca-
tion is ideal. The building was erected at a
cost of $25,000 by the Penn-iMary Coal Com-
pany. The inside furnishings are plain oak
in natural color. The building is plastered
with number one imported Keen's cement,
baseboards being of same material. The cor-
ners are all rounded — not a I'ight-augled cor-
ner in the building.
The building was furnished by money
saved from the assessment of the miners and
citizens. This assessment started in 1905 at
ten cents per month. In 1906 the superin-
tendent, H. P. Dowler, of the coal company,
raised the assessment to twenty cents a month,
and again in 1909 it was raised to forty cents
a month. The first two assessments were
for the benefit of the in.jured miners, while
the assessment of forty cents a month covers
both accident and sickness of all employees
of the company and their families, A\athout
any other charges. Outsiders are charged for
ward services one dollar per day, services of
physician additional. Private rooms are fif-
teen dollars per week, services of physician
and private nurse additional.
There are two wards and four j^rivate
rooms. Twenty-four are accomodated in the
wards and four in the private rooms, but
the private rooms are sufficiently large to ac-
comodate eight.
At the front entrance is a large waiting
room for American people and a nurse's
office. The physicians' room, nurses' office,
dining room and living rooms are fitted out
with plain oak. The balance of the building
is furnished with sanitaiy steel enameled
furniture. All doors are four feet wide and
made of sanitary enameled oak. All fixtures
are brass or nickel, perfectly plain.
The building has modern equipment of
electric lights which are detachable and trans-
ferable, the light being furnished from the
power plant at the works of the coal company.
The heat is the most modern hot water system
attainable. Sterilizers for the operating
rooms and typhoid sterilizers are equipped
with fifteen-horse power high steam pressure
boiler, which also supplies the high pressure
steam to the laundry, which is arranged for
the immediate sterilization of soiled linens,
or any other material belonging to this de-
partment. The laundry equipment is modem
in every particular and is sufficient to take
care of a hospital double this capacity. All
materials leaving this department are not
only cleansed but sterilized before returned
to service.
The sterilizing room is equipped with a
sterilizing plant, modern in every particular.
The hospital is equipped with a modern X-
ray machine and other electric apparatus for
practical electro-therapeutic treatment.
The operating room is equipped with the
most modern furniture obtainable. It is well
lighted and can be heated to 90 degrees
Fahrenheit in zero weather, without raising
the temperature of the remainder of the build-
ing above a normal condition.
Off the operating room is an etherizing
room -which is perfectly plain. In this room
all anaesthetics are started, thus avoiding
all shock to the patient from sight of instru-
ments, or by preparation in the operating
room.
In structure, arrangement, furnishing
and management the beautiful cased brick
building is worthy of the highest commend-
ation and is a monument that will stand
to the credit of its promotors in years to
come. It is the first building erected solely
for hospital purposes in Indiana county.
The Heilwood Dairy. — In connection with a
general merchandise business, the Heilwood
Company, of Heilwood, Pa. (having leased
from the Penn-Mary Coal Company for a
period of twenty years some four hundred
acres of farm land), has inaugurated a milk
business that is modern in every particular,
having erected on this land a dairj^ plant
with all modern improvements. The cow barn,
40 by 130, is finished with concrete floors and
feeding troughs and fitted with steel stalls
and stanchions. Drinking water can be
turned into the concrete troughs any time.
The second floor is divided in two compart-
ments, one for hay and straAV and the other
for feed. On the one side are twin silos, each
holding 150 tons of ensilage and connected
by an entry with the barn proper. Between
the main barn and the milk house an entry
way 8 by 14 contains room for milkers to
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
change clothes and a room containing milk
scales and lavatory.
Barn No. 2 is an emergency building, con-
taining boiler room, coal bins and six big stalls
for sick cows. The entire plant is lighted
with electricity. The cooling room in the
milkhouse is kept at an even temperature by
the ammonia system of cooling.
The herd at present consists of Holstein-
Friesian cattle, and. as the plant is just new,
it is altogether probable that after the weed-
ing out process has been gone through and
the herd well balanced,, the production will
increase gradually. In conversation with Mr.
Blackburn, the superintendent in charge, he
states: "Our aim is to furnish our people
with a necessary product at a minimum cost,
and we to-day are selling our milk at the low-
est price known in the State of Pennsylvania
for the kind."
The production of certified milk is a com-
paratively small iiidnsli'v. still in its infancy,
but in the viciiiit\ n\' large cities this will
soon be the leadiiii;' class of milk sold. The
retail price of eertifietl milk in Philadelphia
and Pittsburg is 15 cents per quart, while
commercial milk sells at 8 cents per quart.
Absolute cleanliness at every stage marks the
protection of certitied milk. First of all the
cows must be free from disease. They are
tuberculin' tested and passed as perfectly
healthy animals by official veterinarians rec-
ommended by the dairy division of the depart-
ment of agriculture at Harrisburg, Pa. Any
cow found to be diseased is immediately iso-
lated, and if the disease is found to be in ad-
vanced stage is killed at once. Barns must be
sanitary in construction, well ventilated and
clean. Cleanliness in this connection means
the absence of any eonl:miiii:i1iiig filth daily.
It means expensive ami i'S|iiiiisil)l(' labor, too.
Pure running water nuisl lie .nccssible at all
times and only persons of good health and
clean habits should be allowed to work in the
milkroom. All milkers are required to wear
clean white duck suits when milking. When
a cow freshens, all the long hairs are clipped
from the udder, inside of hind legs and part
of the tail. Before milking the udders are
washed clean with warm water, and all milk-
ing is done in sanitary pails having two layers
of strainer cloth over the top.
Each cow's milk is weighed at once and
the milk is emptied in a large funnel which
conveys it through to the cooling machine.
In this funnel is a large amount of alisorl)ent
cotton through which the milk filters into the
cooler. Through the cooler is a continuous
stream of fresh water at a temperature of
45 Fahrenheit, which eliminates the animal
heat from the milk and prevents the nndtijili-
cation of the bacteria which cause the disease
germs in milk. When the milk passes through
the cooling process it drops slowly thi-ough
two or more layers of gauze or strainer cloth
and goes into the bottling machine through a
wire strainer cloth. This is the fourth time .
the milk is strained, and it is now bottled in
sterilized bottles. It is then put in the cool-
ing room and an even temperature, and de-
livered to consumer in a condition that will
keep it sweet and pure for twice the length
of time that common milk can be kept. On
a test the Heilwood Dairy shows an average
of 4.4 of butter fats, which is very good qual-
ity. Certified milk is required to have over
3.5 of butter fats. It must be free from
any disease germs and contain only the harm-
less germs natural to all milk. These germs
nuiltiply very rapidly when the animal heat
is retained in the milk and when exposed in
open vessels. This is what causes milk to sour
quickly. It is known that commercial milk
contains ten times the germs that would lie
found in certified milk.
All pails and utensils used in the liandling
of the milk are sterilized daily in live steam,
even to the milking stools. Ventilation is se-
cured by the King sj^stem. Each cow stands
on cork brick floor covered with sawdust.
Once a day cows are curried and brushed and
litter and bedding removed. Eventually the
floor will be covered daily with sprinkling
of land plaster or cheap lime as a deoderizer
or disinfectant, this to be removed with the
litter.
The cows are milked early in the morning
and late in the afternoon, with udders cleanly
washed, and the men themselves observing
every rule of personal cleanliness, washing
their hands after each cow is milked. Stools
and pails are sterilized. The milk being
milked into small mouthed pails through sev-
eral layers of sterilized gauze, the only chance
for it to acquire germs is when passing
through the air into the pails. It is conclu-
sive under these conditions the degree of con-
tamination is unimportant.
This dairy has the hearty indorsement of
the ho]ne physicians on its ' ' baby ' ' milk. Two
cows running low in butter fats are set aside
and fed a special diet free of anything strong,
and this milk is marketed especially for babies
or invalids. For this 10 cents per (juart is
charged.
It is not surprising that a great deal of
556
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
common or eomraeruial milk is unwholesome.
Certainly the price for which it is sold in the
country would not encourage the producer to
be very enthusiastic about making it scien-
tifically pure. The price some sell at must
force economies which preclude the practice
of efScient sanitation. The Heilweod Dairy
not being in business long enough to give the
net cost per quart of its product, but detailed
monthly files are now being arranged, from
which will be known the exact cost of each
bottle marketed.
The first election of Pine township was held
in the schoolhouse at Strongstown IMarch 15,
1850, when the following officers were elected :
Justices of the peace, Maj. James Stewart and
Thomas Stophel; constable, Thomas H. Cris-
well ; assessor, Thomas H. Bracken ; super-
visors, Daniel Cameron and John Fink; audi-
tors, Thomas Davis, James Nesbit, Samuel
Conrad ; school directors, Henry Wyke, Lewis
Coy, Joseph Bryan, Thomas H. Bracken,
Adam Lowry, William Hill; township clerk,
Reuben W. Mervine ; overseers of the poor,
William Graham and Barney McCafifery;
judge of election, Samuel Mardis; inspectors,
George Wike and Adam George ; election offi-
cers— .judge, William Hill; inspectors, Wil-
liam Graham and Francis Mulvehill.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in Pine township : Number and value
of horses assessed, 254 — $6,075; number and
value of cows assessed, 244 — $3,592 ; taxables,
875; taxable real estate, $.349,461; acres of
cleared land, 14,826; acres of timberland,
4,122; money at interest, $55,728.64; cost of
t, .$53.52.
CHAPTER XL
RAYNE TOWNSHIP
Rayne township was formed from Wash-
ington and Green townships in 1847, and in
1870 had a population of 1,731, and in 1910,
3,485. The soil is a sandy loam and is
adapted to grain and stock growing which,
aside from mining, is the chief employment.
Coal and iron are found in abundance.
The township was so called for Robert
Rayne, an early settler on the run which
bears his name. The blockhouse on the John
Thompson (David K. Thompson) farm was
erected in 1790, and torn away in 1811. The
names, so far as known, of those engaged in
its construction were: Jacob Hess, Henry
and Jacob Shallenberger, Ezekiel and Elisha
Chambers, James McKee, John Stuchell,
Timothy O'Neil, and a few others. The
building was originally about 80 feet long,
30 feet wide and two stories in height, and
small round logs were used in its construc-
tion. It had two ranges of portholes. The
brush and lumber were cut off and it was
surrounded by a stockade about 10 feet in
height, made of sharpened poles driven in
the ground. The building was nearly a ruin
when John Thompson came to it in 1801. He
removed the stockade and used part of the
house to repair the remaining portion. We
cannot learn that this blockhouse was ever
attacked, and we have learned from com-
petent sources that the Cornplanter tribe of
Senecas assisted in building the Shoenberger
house on the Robert Little farm. This evi-
dence is conclusive, and we have yet to learn
of any murders committed in this neighbor-
hood by this band after the Revolution.
Some of the early settlers were: James
McKee, who about the close of the Revolu-
tion located at the head of Cherry run, sub-
sequently removed to the farm occupied by
jMcClain Davis and the farm owned by the
McKee heirs in Rayne township; he served
as a scout for a number of years during the
Indian trouble. John Kinter, in 1808, lo-
cated on the Alexander Walker farm; his son
Henry served in the war of 1812, and was
sheriff of Indiana county. John Thompson,
who was among the early settlers of the town-
ship, often made maple sugar on the Little
Mahoning creek while the Senecas were still
denizens of the vicinity. Josiah McElhoes
migrated to the farm occupied by the widow
of James McElhoes about 1793-94; this place
was well known on account of the block-
house erected thereon. Peter Kinter located
in 1808 in the vicinity of Kintersburg. Capt.
Jacob Creps was born on the farm occupied
by Lewis Rhoades; he served as sheriff and
as a member of the State Legislature, in the
sessions of 1877-78; at the age of nine years
he was drummer boy in the old "Washington
Guards," at thirteen years of age he joined
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
557
the "Washington Artilleiy, " as leader of
their martial band, and at sixteen was iirst
lieutenant in the same company; he was cap-
tain of Company A. Andrew Speedy settled
on the property owned by Samuel D. Bell.
William McHeury lived on the Moore farm
about two miles from Indiana, about 1800;
he was a soldier in the war of the Revolution,
and was in the Indian war under General
Wayne.
The McKee mill on McHenry run, the first
mill, a one and a half story (14 by 16) log
building, was erected some years prior to
1806, as several persons speak of its being in
operation in that year. It had an over shot-
wheel 16 feet in diameter and 2 feet wide, and
one set of country stone. The bolting was
done by hand, and in a common sieve. This
mill could grind three bushels of wheat per
hour in season. The second mill was a frame
structure, and the present, the third mill, is
also a frame building.
Kelhjshurg (Home P. 0.). — The village
was named for Meek Kelly, who platted it in
1838 for Daniel Stanard. The first settler
on the site of the place was Michael Stump,
who in 1838 or 1839 built a cabin and black-
smith shop on the forks of the road where
H. L. Kinter's store was situated. John
Sutor made the next improvement. He was
the first carpenter. His house was situated
on the site of Kellar's hotel. The first store
was established by James Bailey and James
Sutton in 1842. They were succeeded by
Sutton & Prothero in 1845, and then by
John P. Prothero and Henry L. Kinter. In
the spring of 1878 James H. Prothero started
a store. Home post office was established in
1840 at the house of Hugh Cannon, who re-
sided between Kell.ysburg and Marion Center.
After its removal to the village John P.
Prothero was the first postmaster. The sec-
ond blacksmith was Samuel McQuilken, who
opened a shop in 1850. The second carpenter
was Josiah Kooser. The shoemakers have
been Thomas and William Dodson, 1858, Ira
Bouton, Joshua Wilson, Isaac Secrist, Wil-
liam D. Bash. The early hotel-keepers were :
Jacob Baylor (1850), Foster Davis, George
Detwiler, John A. Sj-lvis, Henry Keller.
The first minister was Rev. D. D. Christy,
Presbyterian, 1861. The second was Rev.
Charles Duncan, 1877, Presbyterian. The
town hall is 32 by 54 feet in dimensions and
was erected in 1872 at an expense of .$2,000.
Religious services are still held in this hall.
The Union Sabbath school began its sessions
there in 1872 ; the first superintendent was
John P. Prothero.
The general store at Kellysburg is con-
ducted b3^ James Gilhousen, a former teacher
of the county. He purchased the store of
W. L. Way in 1913. Mr. Way had succeeded
A. A. Sloan & Son. B. F. Flech conducted a
store at Kellysburg, but the store was burned.
The post office at Kellysburg is called
"Home." The village is located in a beauti-
ful valley, one of the most productive val-
leys in the county. The people of this sec-
tion have the advantages of the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburg railroad, which runs
througli the central part of the township.
For many years William Weiss has con-
ducted a general store at Gaibleton, one mile
south of Kellysburg.
Ernest. — The -coal operations started at
Ernest in 1905. At that time over 4,000 tons
of coal were mined each day, and the output
assumed such large proportions that it was
necessary to build another steel tipple for
handling the coal. It is one of the chief cen-
ters of the coal operations in this county. At
present, over 1,100 men are employed and
3,500 tons of coal are mined daily. There
are four openings and the seam worked is
the Freeport. A company store is run in
connection with the mines.
There are two churches and one six-room
public school building. Ernest has reason to
be proud of both her schools and the church
work done in the town.
Chambersville was named in honor of
Elisha Chambers, who purchased the tract
which includes the site in 1789. The village
was laid out by William Swan in October,
1848. David Peelor was the surveyor. The
first building was erected by M. C. Getty in
1847; he was the first merchant. His suc-
cessors were William Swan & Bro., John D.
Cummins & Bro., S. A. Allison, S. A. Allison
and William Cummins, James Bothel, John
T. Kinter, Hezekiah Crissman, William
Kimple.
The hotels have been conducted by George
Swan, 1851, James Adams, A. C. Reed, David
]\IcConaughey, Mrs. Margaret Stuchell. The
present hotel is conducted by Watt Kinter.
His predeces.sors were J. T. Hilberry and J.
A. Hoover.
The principal store in Chambersville is that
of the Seneca Mercantile Company, a gen-
eral store run for the accommodation of the
miners. The company purchased the store of
J. C. Kimple. The blacksmith, W. C. Downey,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
has served the people of the vicinity for
forty years.
Kintershurg (Gilpin P. 0.). — This village
received its name from Isaac Kinter, who
opened the first store in 1854, and continued
in business over twenty years. The first im-
provement on the site of the village was made
eai'ly in the century by John Buchanan, who
disposed of the tract to John Kinter, through
whom Isaac Kinter obtained the property.
Isaac Kinter was succeeded in the store by
his son, Jacob P. Kinter. Peter Kinter
started a store in 1853, and was succeeded
by David Laughlin, and in 1867 by J. T.
Kinter. After the first lots were sold P. K.
Jamison erected a cabin and furniture shop
and continued in business for several yeai-s.
He built a number of houses in the village.
Marshall McDermott was the first black-
smith. He was followed by John Smith, John
Faith and Hugh R. Morrison. Henry Craig
commenced a shook shop in 1861 and con-
ducted it for several years. The post office
was established in 1861 and was so called for
the Gilpins, the owners of large tracts of land
in the vicinity.
Tanoma. — The village of Tanoma was
started about 1890. It is named from the
post office established there. The citizens had
much trouble in securing a name for the post
office. Merchants of the place were : Samuel
Koontz, J. S. Buchanan and Roy Kinter. The
present merchant is William C. McCunn.
The churches of Rayne township are:
Crooked Creek Baptist, near Chambersville ;
Washington Presbyterian, west of Kellys-
burg; Rayne Presbyterian: Cumberland
Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal, Ta-
noma ; Dunkard, near Tanoma ; Grove Chapel
Lutheran, on the Indiana-Marion road, seven
miles north of Indiana; Bethel Lutheran,
near Dixonville ; Catholic and Union Church,
at Ernest.
In 1870 there were nine schools in Rayne
township, but now there are nineteen. The
schools of this township have made remark-
able advancement in the last fifteen years.
The teachers, directors, and citizens have
taken special interest in the advancement of
education. The coal operations at Ernest and
Chambersville have added to the number of
schools and also to the population.
The following are the oldest residents of
Rayne township : James Bence and wife, J.
W. Botsford and wife, J. S. Buchanan and
wife, Aaron Burnheimer and wife, Jacob
Everwiue and wife, Jacob Ebey, David Feitz-
haus and wife, George Freeh and wife, Sol-
omon Fullmer and wife, J. B. Harmon, J. S.
Helman and wife, Alex Kimmel and wife,
John C. Kinter and wife, Capt. John Kinter
and wife, J. T. Kinter and wife, John I. Little
and wife, J. P. Martin and wife, F. M. Myers
and wife, J. I. Row and wife, Caleb Snyder,
Milton Streams and wife, William Wissinger,
M. B. Wynkoop, J. S. Wynkoop, David Blue
and wife, W. C. Downey and wife, William
Kimple and wife, T. W. Thompson.
The following physicians were reared in
Rayne township: J. H. Peterman, Cherry-
tree, Pa. ; H. E. Peterman, Baltimore, Md.,
an eye and ear specialist; W. B. Ansley,
Saltsburg, Pa., born in South Mahoning
township, but schooled in Rayne township;
S. M. Bell, deceased; W. W. Bell, Chicago,
III. ; Winfield S. Shields, Marion Center, Pa. ;
Merle Eberwine, Clymer, Pa. ; J. C. McMillen,
Barnesboro, Pa. ; J. I. Buchanan, deceased ;
J. C. Short, deceased. Miss Genevieve Bence
is a trained nurse in Pittsburg, Pa. The at-
torneys fi'om this township are: W. W.
Black, Everett, Wash., who was twice judge
of his county, and also served as county
.superintendent of schools; H. J. McElhoes,
Pittsburg, Pa. ; Elbie E. Crops, Indiana, Pa. ;
and John W. Bell, deceased. Some of the
prominent teachers of the township, from
here : J. M. Bell, deceased ; ex-County Super-
intendent Samuel Wolf, deceased; W. W.
Black, Everett, Wash. ; Sylvester Thompson,
deceased; Mrs. Eva G. Thompson, Trafford
City, Pa. ; Harry Black, Beaverdale, Pa. ;
Norman Glasser.
The first election in Rayne township was
held in the house of Isaac Kinter, March 10,
1846, when the following officers were elected:
Judge, Samuel Crops ; inspectors, George
Mayers and Robert Thompson; constable,
James Kinter; supervisors, John Thompson
and Michael Sigler; poor overseers, Samuel
McElhoes and Peter Kinter; assessor, Abra-
ham Stuchell ; assistant assessors, John Mc-
Elhoes and David Thompson ; auditors, James
Short, Peter Kinter, John Suter; school
directors, Isaac Kinter, Abraham Moore, Jr.,
John Stuchell, Samuel Lewis, Henry Kinter,
John Manner ; township clerk, Jacob Faith ;
election officers — judge, John Thompson; in-
spectors, John Kinter and Abraham Moore.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in Rayne township : Number and
value of horses assessed. 521 — $22,231 ; num-
ber and value of cows assessed, 479 — $6.587 ;
taxables, 854; taxable real estate, $693,294;
acres of cleared land, 26,022 ; acres of tim-
ber, 3,120; money at interest, $126,694.43;
cost of assessment, $90.78.
CHAPTER XLI
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— CREEKSIDE BOROUGH
Washington township was formed from
Armstrong in 1807. It was named in honor
of Gen. George Washington, nnder whom
many of the first pioneers had served in the
Revolution. In 1870 it had a population of
1,466. and in 1910, 1.173. The northern por-
tion of the township is known as the Braddoek
lands and until lately was not much improved,
but at present is in prosperous condition. It
is well watered by Plum creek. ]\Iudlick, Red-
ding i-un. McKee's run and Dark Hollow run.
The" land is hilly, but it is a good farming
district. The people are very industrious.
The coal has not been developed to any extent,
but the township has the best gas producing
area in all this section of countrJ^
The gas producing area of the Willet field,
within the Indiana quadrangle, is limited to a
few square miles in the vicinity of Willet.
'Gas was discovered in this region in the Kel-
ly No. l.well in December, 1890. and other
wells were soon put down. In 1891 gas was
piped to Indiana, which since that date has
been supplied from the Willet field by the
Indiana Gas Company. Thus far not one of
the producing wells has been exhausted. No
very systematic records have been kept of the
pressure, but it is said that the Kelly No. 2
well, near the creek, had a rock pressure of
275 pounds when the well was drilled in 1891,
and a minute pressure of 125 pounds through
a 5"'s-inch casing. In 1901 the rock pressure
in this well had decreased to 100 pounds.
The Boyer well, drilled in 1901, is one of the
best in the Plum creek field. It is reported
to have a rock pressure of 350 pounds, and a
minute pressure of 245 pounds in a 6V4-iuch
casing. The gas sand in the Willet field varies
from 15 to 25 feet in thickness, and is a uni-
form, moderately compact, light gray sand-
stone, admirably adapted to the storage of
gas.
The gas producing area of the Creekside
field, as now known, is limited to about one
square mile along Crooked creek in the vicinity
of Creekside. This pool was struck in March,
1900, and in the fall of 1901 the wells came
into the control of the Indiana Gas Company
and the gas was piped to Indiana. Seven
wells have been sunk in this field. Three of
these are dry. Rock pressure in the best
Creekside well is reported to have been 325
pounds, and the minute pressure 105 pounds,
in a 4-inch casing.
At an early day the voters of Washington
township voted at the house of Peter Sutton,
in Indiana, Pa., but in 1807, by an Act of
the Legislature, the township was erected into
a separate election district, and the electors
thereof held their general elections at the
house of James Brady in said township.
The teachers of Washington township or-
ganized an institute during the winter of
1853-54. Ex-Superintendent Wolf reported
having appended one at the Cummins school-
house. John Bothel and James Adair were
members. The meetings were held on Sat-
urdays. Where the institute met school was
kept open in the forenoon, and in the after-
noon the teachers' methods were criticised
and other methods of teaching discussed.
These workers were too modest to publish
any of their proceedings, nor can their book
of records be found, hence but little is known
of that winter's work; but from that time to
the present the district has kept up its in-
stitvites, with the exception of one or two
winters, and on very nearly the same plan
as at first. For a number of years a three
days' institute was held each term, at which
the largest local church buildings would
scai-cely hold all who attended. Washington
has been the banner township in the county
in carrying on continuously its local institutes.
The wa-iter has had the pleasure of being
present at these local institutes in almost
all the districts of the township and can test-
ify that in each case the meetings were well
attended and good interest manifested. It
might not be out of place to say that the
ladies of the township showed their culinary
559
560
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
skill at these institutes, an excellent meal be-
ing served — roast chicken always plentiful.
There are twelve schools in the township.
The number has not changed for over forty
years. As a rule the schools are not so large
as they were a few years ago. At Five Points
a select school has been conducted, but not
continuously. It was not so large as in similar
schools at many other places in the county,
being conducted principally for persons liv-
ing in the vicinity.
The churches of Washington township are
as follows: Salem Methodist Episcopal,
Willet Methodist Episcopal, Willet Lutheran,
Plum Creek United Presbyterian, and Re-
formed of Five Points.
The first election in Washington township
was held at the house of Patrick Lydick,
March 20, 1807, when the following officers
were elected: Constable, John Bell; super-
visors, William Evans and Abraham Stuchell ;
fence appraisers, Abraham Stuchell and John
Lydick; overseers, James McKee and David
Fulton ; auditors, John Evans, Samuel Young,
Henry Coleman, George Trimbel; judges,
John Lydick and Timothy O'Neil.
Five Points received its name from five
roads centering there. The land originally
was the property of Edward O'Connor. The
first building was erected by Samuel McGara
in 1858, for a store and dwelling. The first
merchant was David Weaver, in 1860. He
was followed by Fleming & Bowman, H. 51.
Lowry & Co., H. B. Miller, and H. P. Trusal,
the present merchant. The blacksmiths have
been Solomon Hankinson, Solomon Black and
William Nesbit. William Miller and Michael
Frick were the first shoemakers. The first
and only cabinet shop and undertaking es-
tablishment was that of Smith & Boyer, now
Smith's. In 1868 C. Morton had a shook
shop.
Marlin's Mills (Willet P. 0.). — Jesse Mar-
lin was the first settler on the tract which
includes the site of the village. He erected
a sawmill in 1832, and a gristmill in 1834.
The latter had one run of country stone, and
one of burrs. It was 30 by 32 feet in dimen-
sions, two stories and basement, and used a
' ' rye fly ' ' wheel. The present mill was erected
in 1871. It is 32 by 38, two stories and base-
ment, has one run of country stone and one
of bun-s, and uses a reaction wheel. The
post office was established in 1854.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing for Washington township : Number
and value of horses assessed, 305 — $14,255 ;
number and value of cows assessed, 380 —
$4,545; taxables, 460; taxable real estate,
$375,326 ; acres of cleared land, 22,548 ; acres
of timberland, 183 ; money at interest,
$91,704.19 ; cost of assessment, $35.48.
CREEKSIDE BOROUGH
Creekside was laid out in 1854 by David
Peelor, for John Weamer. The first build-
ings on the site of the village were the black-
smith shop and dwelling house erected in
1852, by William ]\Ioorhead. This being a
new village, Mr. Peelor so christened it, ' ' New-
ville. ' ' The first store was opened by Andrew
Weamer in 1854. Dr. Gamble was the first
physician, and the second was Chalmers S.
McCrea, of Brushvalley township.
The petition of the inhabitants of Creekside
for the incoi'poration of the town as a borough
was filed May 1, 1905. On June 5, 1905, after
a full investigation of the case presented by
the petitioners, the court found that the law
had been complied with and granted the
pi-ayer of the petitioners that the village of
Creekside become a borough and that it be
styled the borough of Creekside.
The borough covers 120 acres. The court
directed that the annual elections should be
held in the Gibson hall. The court further
decreed and fixed July 11, 1905, as the date
for holding the first election to elect the offi-
cers required by law. Frank Wilson was
appointed to give due notice of said election
and J. Clark Speedy was appointed judge;
J. M. MePeaters and 51. L. Carnahan were
appointed inspectors. On July 11, 1905, the
following officers were elected : Judge, J. C
Speedy; inspectors, J. M. McFeaters and J
A. Stuchell; burgess, J. M. McFeaters; audi
tors, C. B. Sloan, J. C. Speedy, W. R. McEl
hoes; school directors, W. H. Faith, F. C
Clowes, W. E. Gibson, J. S. Bothel, S. W
Zimmerman, J. F. Gibson; assessor, D. A
McKee ; justices of the peace, J. J. McCracken
and J. C. Carnahan; constable, J. M. Kidd
high constable, E. G. Wilhelm; overseers of
the poor, W. H. Byers and Curt Smith
council, J. A. Stuchell, M. L. Carnahan, J
C. Walker, A. G. Wilhelm, W. H. Faith, J
T. Gibson. James Lohr.
Creekside is located at the junction of the
Iselin branch with the Indiana branch of the
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railway, and
to this location the growth of the town is
largely due.
The following are the merchants of Creek-
side: W. C. McElhoes and Charles Sloan,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
561
general store ; H. T. Boarts, hardware ; James The ehurehes of Creekside borough ai"e
Craven, general store ; J. C. Walker, store ; Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian.
Lowry W. Johnson, druggist and postmaster; The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
H. Kleinstub, clothing and general store ; lowing in Creekside borough : Number and
Frank Dixen, butcher; H. W. Moore, but- value of horses assessed, 51 — $1,980; number
cher; John Biondi, F. Matteis, J. Matteis, and value of cows assessed, 13 — $166; taxa-
Andrew Kametz, John Kanyuek, Michael bles, 213 ; taxable real estate, $69,421 ; money
Marco, Angelo Tocci, Valenti and Catalds, at interest, $44,843.25 ; cost of
and Emelio Zamboui. $20.36.
CHAPTER XLII
EAST WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP— ARMAGH BOROUGH
WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP
Wheatfield township was formed in 1779,
and at one time embraced all of what is now
Indiana county south of the Purchase Line.
Old Wheatfield might well be called the
mother of the county, for within her limits
the early settlements began and sixteen town-
ships are now embraced within what were
once her original boundaries. In 1859 Wheat-
field was divided into East and West Wheat-
field townships. The name is said to have
been derived from the "barrens" or places
destitute of timber, affording a good soil for
wheat, hence the ' ' wheat field. ' ' The name of
the township frequently appears in the sur-
veys from 1780 to 1786 and in 1778-79 we
see Wheatfield district.
The first election in Wheatfield township
was held at the house of Michael Dempsey in
the town of Armagh, March 20, 1807, when
the following officers were elected: Con-
stable, David Trimble; supervisors, Samuel
Stephens and George Findley; overseers,
Joseph ]\IcCartney and Robert Rodgers ; fence
appraisers, James Long-street and Findley
Cameron: auditors, Thomas Sanderson,
Thomas Kerr, Isaac Rodgers, Closes Crawford ;
judges. Robert Rodgers and Archibald Me-
Cracken.
The last election in Wheatfield township
was held in the town hall in the borough of
Armagh, March 16. 1860, when the following
officers were elected and the vote was taken
for the division of the township : Constable,
Patrick Smith ; auditors, Samuel Elder and
George ilabon ; supervisors, Edward Dickie
and John Griffith: poor overseers, William
Reynolds and Hugh Mack; school directors,
Johnston Palmer, Adam Coy, James McFar-
land: .judge, William Campbell; inspectors.
Jeremiah Wakefield and James McClelland;
assessor, George Graham. For division of
Wheatfield into East and West Wheatfield,
216. The highest number of votes polled for
any candidate was 259.
East Wheatfield was so named because it
lies east of West Wheatfield. The first settler
was George Findley, who had come to the
Pumroy and Wilson settlement in 1764, and
in the following year had "tomahawked" a
tract of land in what is now East Wheatfield
township and his home was spoken of ilay
29, 1769, as the "Findley Cabbins," in some
of the application wan-ants of that year.
There were many early settlers whose graves
were scattered in out-of-the-way places
throughout the township of whom no account
is given, save that they were pioneers. Wil-
liam Clark was prominently mentioned among
the pioneers. His improvement was not sur-
veyed until June 22, 1776, and is described
as situated on the path between Conemaugh
and Blaeklick, adjoining George Findley and
including "Wipey's Cabbin." (Wipey was a
peaceful Delaware Indian who was murdered
by the whites.)
On the Kittanning path, not far from the
cabins of Findley, William Bracken first
located, and afterwards removed to the site
of his mill, spoken of in another article.
About 1768 or 1769 Matthew Dill located in
the neighborhood of Findley and Bracken.
In 1773 he removed to the north side of
Blaeklick, adjoining William Bracken's claim.
Robert Rodgers located on the tract after-
wards occupied by Mrs. JIartha Rodgers
about 1771 or 1772. The wan-ant is dated
September 29, 1772, and the survey, October
28, 1774. The tract contained fifty-seven and
one-quarter acres, and was described as
situated on the north side of the Conemaugh,
562
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
on the path leading to Blacklick, two miles
from Robert Gibbs, in Westmoreland county.
The tract of land upon which the Rodgers
mill is situated was warranted March 11,
1786, and the survey was made September
7, 1786. the number of acres being 33834.
John Bolar came from England to Pennsyl-
vania when a boy, served in the Revolutionary
war, and settled in East Wheatfield prior to
1800; his tract was named " Bolar 's Chance."
The Wakefields were among the early settlers
of this township. It is said that Rev. James
Wakefield was among the first Methodist
Episcopal ministers in the county, if not the
first. In 1795 John Elder located in this
township, and the same year Frederick
Pershing, Jr., located along the Conemaugh
river. Thomas Bracken removed to the Wil-
liam Bracken farm in 1802. Samuel Killen
came to Armagh in 1810.
The first blacksmith was Barney Bonar.
His shop was situated on Blacklick creek
where Hugh Parker afterwards resided. The
first tailor was John Ling, who traveled from
house to house, and was in all his glory prior
to 1800.
The first gristmill in the township was the
William Bracken mill erected about 1772-74,
as it is mentioned in the surveys of 1772-74,
and called the Bracken mill. This mill was
situated on a run which flows into Blacklick.
During that stormy period, although deserted
for several years, and though many buildings
in this section were destroyed, it escaped all
damage save that from time's ruthless hand,
and upon return of Bracken was again put
in order, and did a large amount of work for
the newcomers who arrived after the war.
The Bracken mill was succeeded by the Wil-
liam Clark mill, a better arranged mill than
its predecessor.
On the site of the old William Bracken
mill, the Foust & Brendlinger mill was erected
in 1873, by William Killen. Foust & Brend-
linger became the proprietors in 1877. The
mill is now run by Samuel Hess.
The next gristmill was the George Findley
mill on Laurel run. The first was erected
in 1784-85 and was a small rude log mill
using a 10-foot undershot wheel, and tiad
only one run of stone. The second was worn
out in 1817 and was then using a breast wheel,
and it, too, had only one run of stones. The
third was erected in 1817, and had two run
of stone, and used an overshot wheel 16 feet
in diameter.
The Isaac Rodgers mill was erected by
Robert Work, a noted wheelwright, about
1784, on the Conemaugh. It was the only "dry
weather ' ' mill in this section and was resorted
to by the people living distant even forty
miles. It was the most noted of all the
early mills and when other mills were pros-
trate with drought it went on its way merrily
grinding night and day. Old settlers speak
of camping near it, and waiting even three or
four days for a chance to get their grist. The
present mill is the fourth on this site.
The Indiana Iron Works (East Wheatfield
township), better known as Baker's Furnace,
were situated in a deep valley near the Cone-
maugh in the southeastern portion of the
township. A furnace was built here by Henry
Noble about the year 1837. Having passed
into the hands of Elias Baker about the year
1848, it was torn down and a new furnace
built. A forge soon after this date was erected
near the furnace, but it has gone to decay.
The furnace has not been in operation for
some years. A bucket factory formerly stood
on the site of these works. It was built about
1828, and was owned by Hart & Thompson.
For some time the place has been called Cra-
mer, because of the operations of Joseph
Cramer. At present a general store is con-
ducted at Cramer by Thomas and Robert G.
Cramer, son of Joseph Cramer. The coal has
been operated for private use for a number
of years. It is of a good quality, and people
have come from several miles around to pur-
chase it.
In 1886 Joseph Cramer conducted a gro-
cery at Cramer, Pa., where his son Robert
G. Cramer became associated in busine.ss with
him. The firm name became Joseph Cramer
& Sons. They handled flour and feed. For
many years they were engaged in the charcoal
and lumber business, at one time having fifty
men in their employ. In 1887-88, they began
the quariying of stone, which has been a
very successful industry. In 1893 Thomas W.
Cramer, a son of Joseph Cramer, became in-
terested, and the name of the firm was changed
to Joseph Cramer & Sons. In 1905 the firm
name was changed to Cramer Brothers,
Bruce Cramer, another son, having secured
the interest of his father. It had then, as at
present, a general store in Avhich a prosperous
business was conducted. Bruce Cramer re-
tired in 1907.
Shoupstown was laid out about 1807 by
Henry Shoup on the old Frankstown road.
It was situated on the hill opposite the resi-
dence of John Shrock. At one time it boasted
of a store and a half dozen cabins. The pike's
erection gave it a deathblow, and there is not
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
563
to-day a single vestige of its existence left on
the hill to tell the story of its downfall.
Nincrch. — The first settler was Robert
Rodgers and the place was known as Rodgers'
Mill for many years. James Fenton started
a store about the same time that the canal
was approaching Blairsville. and left about
the time it reached this locality. The next
merchant was Henry Noble, whose room is
still standing oppo.site the canal lock. Wil-
liam Lapsley was afterwards a partner, and
they called the village Nineveh, managing the
store here for several years. D. W. Wake-
field about this time started a store and tavern.
He was succeeded b^y Patrick Smith and
Thomas Taylor. Richard (iraham was the
next merchant in the Noble building and was
succeeded by William Ford.
In 1832 William W. Wakefield purchased
ten acres of land of John M. Barber and
platted it into regular lots and streets, com-
mencing at the Armagh road and extending
to the graveyard between the canal and the
river.
The blacksmiths were, in order. Daniel
Tinkeom, Benjamin Trimble, Thomas Mc-
Laughlin, Peter Altimus, John Grant, Wil-
liam Goddard.
The first and only church is the ilethodist
Episcopal, mentioned elsewhere.
THE OLD FRAXKSTOWN ROAD
The old Frankstown road ran through the
\ ■ center of East Wheatfield township from
*■ east to west. It was succeeded early in the
nineteenth century by the so-called Northern
turnpike, which was otherwise known as the
Huntingdon turnpike. Now, instead of the
stagecoach and the long procession of four-
and six-horse teams, we see the people speed-
ing along in their automobiles from Pitts-
burg to Philadelphia. The fai-e on the stage-
coach from Armagh to Blairsville was seventy-
five cents. The coach ran every day and car-
ried the mail. It was not an uncommon
thing to see six or eight covered wagons pass
in one day. There was a tollgate at the foot
of the mountains, where Samuel Findley
lives, kept hj William Clark, who also kept
a tavern at the same place. Another toll-
gate was kept by Hugh Parker at Armagh.
The toll was five cents.
In 1891 John Thomas & Son, of Jobnstown.
Pa., began to mine coal at Cramer, employing
seventy-five men, but for two years the mines
have been closed. At present they are open-
ing new coal mines whicli will give employ-
ment to two hundred men, for whom houses
are in coui-se of construction. This firm has
3,000 acres of coal to develop and options on
additional tracts are being made.
Two large stone (juarries with mills are
working a blue rock (juarry, the one making
liallast for the Pennsylvania railroad and the
other grinding sand and making gi-avel for
building purposes.
The only rattlesnake hatchery in Indiana
county is located two miles from Cramer
at a place known as Snake Rocks for the
last century. These rocks cover several
acres of land. Deep crevices run through
them, giving fine winter (juarters for the rep-
tiles. This season the oldest one captured
was fifteen years old, having fourteen rattles.
For several years coal has been mined at
Scott Glen, one mile west of Dilltown, near
the south bank of Blacklick creek.
In 1912 Armorford & Company began the
mining of coal just east of Scott Glen, near
the Foust ]Mill, which is now owned by Samuel
Hess.
The first election of East Wheatfield town-
ship was held in the town hall of the borough
of Armagh, June 1, 1860, when the following
officers were elected : Judge, Isaac R. Brown ;
inspectors, John D. Tomb and James P. Me-
( 'lelland ; poor overseers, Hugh Mack and
Samuel Killeu; justices of the peace. David
Tomb and Hugh Parker; auditors, Thomas
Griffith, George W. Ivearn and William
Bracken ; supervisoi's, Heniy Taylor and
John Griffith : assessor, William Bracken ;
school directors, Hugh Parker, G, W. Kearn,
Isaac Johns, AVilliam Lapsley, Daniel Persh-
ing, Adam Coy ; election officers — judge, John
C. Campbell ; inspectors, Adam Cov and
James P. McClelland.
The following are the oldest residents of
East Wheatfield township: Alfonso Cun-
ningham and wife, Johnston L. Lawson and
wife. R. G. ]Maek and wife. J. A. McCormick
and wife, George iloore and wife, John A.
Bolar and wife, Thomas Dodd and wife, B.
F. Ling and wife. R, C. Ling and wife, Elijah
Jones, William C. Mack, Samuel Wardsworth,
William Rogers, ilargaret Sellers, William
Patterson.
East Wheatfield has furnished the follow-
ing professional men : Ministers — A. J. Bolar,
Pi-esbyterian, county superintendent, de-
c-eased : James Balentine, deceased ; Jolui G.
Dick, United Presbyterian, in the West : Leslie
Smith, Chicago, 111, ; James Bracken, Jletho-
dist Episcopal, deceased: Wat.son Bracken,
Methodist Episcopal; Joseph and Thomas F.
564
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Pershing, Methodist Episcopal; James Wake-
field, the first M. E. minister in the county.
Physicians — R. J. Tomb, Armagh, Pa. ;
Benjamin Tomb, deceased; H. F. Tomb,
Johnstown, Pa. ; "W. E. Matthews, Johns-
town, Pa. ; A. J. Clark, deceased. C. A.
Matthews, dentist, Johnstown, Pa. Attorneys
^Samuel Cunningham, Indiana, Pa. ; D. H.
Tomb, deceased; Loury Hutchison, Homer
City, Pa., not practicing his profession.
Teachers — C. A. Campbell, Armagh, Pa., the
oldest teacher of the county in point of service
and the most efficient teacher in the southern
part of the county. •
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in East Wheatfield township : Num-
ber and value of horses assessed, 238 —
$10,445 ; number and value of cows assessed,
327— $7,937; taxables, 469; taxable real es-
tate, $301,261; acres of cleared land, 12,094;
acres of timberland, 5,487 ; cost of assessment,
$61.50.
Churches in East Wheatfield township :
Methodist Episcopal, of Cramer, and Free
Methodist, near the borough of Armagh.
ARMAGH BOROUGH
Armagh, the only borough in East Wheat-
field township, was the second town in In-
diana county, Newport being the first, and is
the oldest of all the existing towns in the
county. Armagh was founded in September,
1792, by Margaret Jane Graham, the wife of
James Graham. It is a very healthful town
and is located on Laurel Hill, fifteen miles
southeast of the borough of Indiana, and thir-
teen miles east of Blairsville. The first settlers
were a portion of a shipload of emigrants
from Ireland, most of them being from the
counties of Armagh and Antrim, who arrived
in America on the 21st day of July, 1792.
They located in western Pennsylvania, eight
families arriving at the present site of Ar-
magh in the early portion of August of that
year. These eight families were from an As-
sociate Reformed Church in County Armagh,
and were : James Graham, Margaret J., his
wife, and four children ; a Mr. Parker ; David
Tomb (a brother of Mrs. Graham), wife, one
child, and a sister, Mary Tomb; James An-
derson and wife; A. Fee, wife and one child,
Elizabeth ; Alexander Carnathan, wife and
four children; James Leslie and wife; James
Luke and wife; Hugh Junkins and wife.
The site of Armagh was partially covered
with a thin and scrubby growth of oaks, and
was like in appearance to an old field on a
hill. Armagh, Armaghada in the Irish dia-
lect, means a field on a hill, hence its name.
In the first fall of their occupancy they
were forced to flee to the east St. Clair block-
house, near the present site of Laughlin-
towu, in the Ligonier valley; and there was
little feeling of safetj' in the new settlement
until after the treaty M'ith the Indians at
Greenville in 1795. The first birth is said
to have been that of Jeannette Fee, on the
22d of August, 1793.
In the summer and fall of 1799 a subscrip-
tion school, the first school in the village, was
taught by Robert Davis, an old Revolution-
ary soldier who resided near Hoskins' mill.
He died in 1813, over sixty years of age, and
was buried in the old Luther's graveyard.
The scholars who attended this first school
were Katie Tomb, Hugh Tomb, John Tomb,
Elizabeth Fee, Jeannette Fee, Josias Fee and
Elizabeth Carr. There were no books save
tliose in the hands of the teacher. Letters
were pasted on a board with a handle to it,
in shape and appearance like a paddle. The old
log building used for a schoolhouse was lo-
cated south of Philadelphia street, not far
from the Presbyterian Church.
The first tavern was opened by James
Graham. It was a rude log building, like
its fellows, and in the beginning of the cen-
tury was in active operation. A blacksmith
shop was established about 1800 by Peter
Dike, and the settlers for many miles around
came to his place. The next blacksmiths were,
in order, David Campbell, John Clarebaugh,
Samuel Devlin, William Devlin, Daniel Tink-
com, Jesse Butler, John D. Tomb, Richard
Tomb, Thomas L. Biddleman, Abram Wil-
son. Thomas L. Biddleman is the best known
blacksmith in the southern part of Indiana
county. He has worked at his trade for
sixt.y-eight years, forty-four of these years in
Armagh. He has always borne the reputa-
tion of being a first-class workman.
About this time (1800) the place was regu-
larly surveyed by Joseph JlcCartney, and
order took the place of indiSci'iminate lots and
streets. Not long after the opening of the
first smithy, Mollie Dempsey opened a little
store, the first in the village. Her stock was
small, but it was ample to meet all the de-
mands of her patrons. James Luke packed
tow and flax to Hagerstown and Mercers-
burg for her and brought back in return
calico, salt, tea, etc. As an item of interest,
we would state that at Armagh calico was
then sold for fift.y cents per yard, salt at
fifty cents per quart, and other goods in pro-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
565
portion. Mollie's shop was situated in a little
log building which stood east of the old resi-
dence of the Devlins, on the north side of
Philadelphia street.
The nest store was opened by "William
Parker and "William Johnston. In 1810 it
was situated on the south side of Philadelphia
street, near the Presbyterian Church. Old
settlers speak of this store being in operation
as early as 1804. It, too, was a small ailair,
but a great improvement upon its predecessor.
Thomas Dickey was the third merchant and
second tavern-keeper. His location was west
of the present site of Biddleman's blacksmith
shop. James Elliott was the next merchant
and tavern-keeper, his store and hotel being
located in a log building which stood on the
present site of the "Tinkcom Hotel," on
Philadelphia street. He was succeeded by
Robert Brandon, Gen. John Hued, John M.
Davidson, John Thompson, Samuel Singer,
Daniel Tinkcom, "William Parker, Capt. Tink-
com aforenamed, and James Tinkcom. This
hotel is now closed to the public.
The first carpenters were "William and
Samiiel Parker, who were also chair and fur-
niture makers. Alexander Elliott and Sam-
uel Mears were early merchants, on the corner
now occupied by Harry Elliott. They were
succeeded by John Elliott; John Elliott and
J. J. Johnston, A. Elliott and S. A. Johnston,
who continued imtil 1876.
In a building which ^vas situated on the
site of the house owned by Mrs. James Freed,
Frederick Leiddy was an early storekeeper.
He was followed by William Barnwell, Henry
Jloore, Johnston & Thompson, Nutter & Cun-
ningham. The building was destroyed and a
frame storehouse was erected by Mrs. Freed.
In the papers of 1823 James Elliott, Jr.,
announces: "Armagh Inn. James Elliott Jr.
respectfully informs his friends and the pub-
lic in general that he has again opened a
house of Public Entertainment on the prem-
ises formerly occupied by Samuel Parker."
This probably applies to the old building
where Samuel Parker kept a hotel at an early
daj-. He was succeeded by James Elliott,
David McQuiston, the "Widow Rhoades, and
John "^'allace, who was the last innkeeper.
The first tanner was Robert Luther, whose
location was on the southeast corner of Canal
and Philadelphia streets. He was followed
by Ben.jamin Elliott, James Dick, Samuel
Singer, Alex. Elder and Elliott & Beatty, all
being on the same location. In 1842 James
Dick erected a tannery, situated in the rear
of his residence on Philadelphia street. It
had eighteen outside and six inside vats, and
about six hundred hides were tanned an-
nually.
The first physicians in order were: John
Young, Andrew Getty, Dr. Van Horn and
Samuel Devlin. The succession was : Geddis,
"W. G. Stewart, S. F. Stewart, Robert Barr,
R. H. Tomb, "W. B. Stewart.
The first justice of the peace was Jamea
Dunn. The justice who probably did the
most business and served the borough long-
est was Squire Dripps.
The first saddler was Thomas Carr, a bache-
lor, who was also the first postmaster. It was
in his shop and postoffiee that the earliest re-
membered election took place. Thomas Stew-
art was also among the early postmasters.
He had a store and a tavern, and stage ofiice,
the latter being the first established in the
village. He was followed by George Clark
and Kennedy Stewart. The building was
situated on the site of the lot owned by the
Stewart heirs. The Armagh Foundry was
built by James Johnston and Absalom
Thompson, who were succeeded by "William
D. Tomb and brothers.
In 1810. according to Samuel Killen,
Armagh had as many houses and as great a
population as to-day. There was not a church
or a well constructed building in the village.
The nearest church was a log building, erected
by the Presbyterians on the old John Jun-
kins farm. A few years later a stone church
was erected by the "Seceder Presbyterians,"
about three miles west of the place. Traces
of this stone chureh can still be seen close to
the present Bethel United Presbyterian
Church in "West "Wheatfield township. In this
year an era of -prosperity had commenced.
Hundreds of wagons filled with emigrants
passed through en route for Ohio and Indi-
ana. Armagh then boasted of four hotels and
three stores, and every man who had prod-
uce to sell found a good market in the vil-
lage. Farmers, even from Armstrong county,
wended their way to the village to sell their
butter and eggs. In 1820 Armagh had nine
taverns and five stores. In 1832 the State
Gazetteer reported: "Armagh of "Wheatfield
township, Indiana county, on the turnpike
road from Ebensburg to Pittsburg, 170 miles
from "Washington City, 141 miles west from
Harrisburg, contains about four dwellings,
four stores and six taverns."
The older residents of Armagh borough
are: T. L. Biddleman, John Killen, R. J.
566
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Tomb, James Tomb, and Washington Tomb value of horses assessed, 16 — $580 ; number
and wife. and value of cows assessed, 18 — $240; tax-
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- ables, 51; taxable real estate, $12,475; money
lowing in Armagh borough : Number and at interest, $9,247 ; cost of assessment, $11.62.
CHAPTER XLIII
WEST WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP
West Wheatfield township was formed from
Wheatfield in 1859. It is situated in the south-
ern part of the county. The Conemaugh river
flows along the southern boundary of the town-
ship. The population in 1870 was 1,318; in
1910, 1,589. The oldest village is Centerville,
situated in the southern part of the township
on the Conemaugh river. It was laid out in
September, 1828, by William Liggett. The
Pennsylvania canal passed through this vil-
lage. An old Indian village is said to have
stood where Centerville now stands.
Robert Liggett in the year 1790 settled on
the Conemaugh in West Wheatfield township,
on the farm now owned by John Liggett.
David Reed settled on the adjoining farm in
the year 1798 ; he was the first justice. Allen
and William Graham settled in 1795. The
first permanent settler on the Centerville farm,
owned by Liggett, was Ephraim Wallace, who
came in 1800. The farms now owned by Harry
G. Mack and James Dick were settled by the
Hice brothers in 1795. Centerville is located
immediately opposite New Florence. The two
places were for many years connected by a
toll bridge. It was a prosperous community
for many years, until the downfall of the canal
and the building up of the railroad towns
sapped its life blood. In 1896 the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company ran its line through
Centerville, and upon this line most of the
freight of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany is conveyed.
The first sawmill was built by George Ma-
bon, and owned by Thomas and William Ma-
bon. The first gristmill was Hugh St. Clair's,
near the present site of Gamble's mills. The
first hewed log and shingle roof house was
David R«ed's. It was burned by the Indians.
The first stone house was Robert Liggett 's.
The first stone church was the old stone church
of Bethel. The first stated preacher was Hugh
M. Roden. The first Presbyterian minister
was Rev. Mr. Johnston. The first Pre-sbyterian
Church was at Centerville. The first IMetho-
dist Church was the White Church in Ger-
many. The first Lutheran Church was the
brick church in Germany. The first commis-
sioner was Archibald Johnston. The first con-
stable was Samuel St. Clair. The first boat-
yard was David Reed's. The first iron carried
from West Wheatfield to Louisville, Ky., was
by David Reed and John Bennett. The first
raft of logs was run to Newport by Andrew
Reed, Jr., and David Reed, Jr. The first large
orchard was planted by Robert Liggett.
Some of the first white settlers in this vi-
cinity, it is supposed, were exterminated by
the Indians some years prior to the Revolu-
tionary war. There are aged persons yet liv-
ing in this section whose parents were here
many years prior to their births, and found on
their arrival a well filled graveyard on the
south side of the river, opposite the Liggett
homestead, and on the north side two grave-
yards, one known as "Hice's graveyard," and
the other as "Rodgers' graveyard." They
were evidently the gi'aves of white persons,
but who they were, or by whom they were bur-
ied, is not known. There were three graves,
side by side, on part of the old "Reed farm,"
one large and two smaller, with rough head
and foot stones and a well shaped separate tab-
let on each grave. Trees from fifty to one hun-
dred years old had overgrown these graves
when first discovered by those whose traditions
we are now recording. Not only were the
graves an evidence of an unknown and extinct
population, but there also were found the
charred foundations of burned buildings, and
enormously large apple trees. Ninety years
ago one of these old apple trees on the Reed
farm was as thick in the trunk as a flour bar-
rel. On a part of the old "Wherry farm,"
now known as the "burnt cabin tract," there
are a number of old trunks of apple trees,
with numerous living sprouts. Ninety years
ago these trunks gave evidence of having been
a regularly planted orchard. By whom these
trees were planted, or by whom the burned
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
567
cabins had been erected, has remained a mys-
tery.
By a spring on a part of tlie Reed farm now
owned bj' Samuel Alexander, near to Thomas
Crawford's line, there had evidently been a
house of considerable dimensions, and a gar-
den of about an acre in extent, over which
there were large trees growing ninety years
ago. The blackened ruins of a stone chimney,
and stones of the foundation, were evidences
that the house had been burned. Burned clay,
partly decayed charred boards and smaller
pieces of charcoal in great numbers covered
the space where the house had once stood.
Small mounds about a proper distance apart
for corn hills covered about half of what was
supposed to have been a garden. Some of
the roots of the trees were stretched over and
beyond, or encircled these corn hills.
Among those who are known to have first
settled along that part of the Conemaugh river
which bounds this township on the south were
James Clark, Billy Woods, David Innyard,
William Bennett, Archibald ilcGuire, Ben
Sutton, Neal Dougherty, David Lackens,
James Galbreath. On and near to Tub Mill
creek there dwelt the ancestors of the nu-
merous families of Bradys now living in the
northern part of Indiana county. It is claimed
to have been the home for many yeare of the
great Indian hunter. Capt. Samuel Brady.
Tradition reports the first mill of any kind
but hand mills in the Ligonier valley, and the
first power mill west of the Allegheny moun-
tains, was a Tub Mill propelled by water. It
was so constructed that the only wheel was
the water wheel, which turned horizontally
with an upright shaft, upon the upper end of
which were attached the running mill stones,
making exactlj' one revolution for each of the
water wheels. This mill was built by Joseph
Dechard. and from it the stream derived its
name. It was afterwards purchased by Wil-
liam P. Brady, who built upon its site a geared
gristmill, which he sold to a Scotchman named
James Brown. William P. Brady, after the
disposal of the property, together with Big
Joe Brady, Little Joe Brady, Big Peggj^
Brady, John Brady and numerous Hughs,
Sams and Jims, becoming disgusted (as did
also Ben Sutton, Billy Wood, Davie Innyard,
William Bennett, Sr., William Bennett, Jr.,
and others) with the scarcity of bears, wolves,
panthers, etc., as well as Indians, left in
search of homes more prx)lific than their accus-
tomed surroundings. Some went to the north-
ern part of this county, and others migrated
to western Virginia and the Ohio country,
where Capt. Samuel Brady achieved the most
exciting exploits ever recorded in the history
of Indian warfare.
A few miles north from the river on the old
Sides farm stood Fort Hill. The traditions
tell us that it was known as such to George
Findley and the early settlei-s on the river.
The soil of the hill is very rich and until 1817
it was nearly all covered with an unimproved
forest. In the early part of the century the
outlines of the fort were distinctly marked,
being slightly elevated. On the inside were
several mounds. In Scott "s Gazetteer of 1806
we read the following: "In Wheatfield town-
ship, then Westmoreland county. Pa., is a
remarkable mound from which several
strange specimens of art have been taken. One
was a stone serpent, five inches in diametei-,
part of the entablature of a column, both
rudely carved in the form of diamonds and
leaves, and also an earthen urn with ashes."
The mound above alluded to was on the inside
of the fort. Besides the articles aforemen-
tioned, there were found at an early date frag-
ments of pottery of a much finer texture than
that made by the Indians; stones of peculiar
shape, both eai-v-ed and hollowed, as if intended
for utensils for cooking purposes or recepta-
cles. The latter were both large and small.
David Innyard often told of the Indians
leaving the river, going in a northerly direc-
tion in the morning and returning in the af-
ternoon of the same day, loaded with lead ore,
rich enough to melt out and run into bullets.
They would neither tell where they got it, nor
allow any of the few whites to go with them.
About 1829 there was considerable search
made for the lead along the east side of the
Chestnut Ridge on the strength of this report,
but lead was not then nor has it since been
found. Not long after the pioneers already
named had come to the river, Peter Dike, a
Pennsylvania German and an eccentric char-
acter, with a few associates settled near the
foot of Chestnut Ridge. For a time they were
unmolested by their red neighbors, but during
the Revolutionary war the Indians became
their inveterate enemies. The settlers there-
fore joined their neighbors on the river, and
together with those on Tub Mill creek they
built a most formidable blockhouse on what
was then called the "Indian farm," which
derived its name from David Innyard, who
first improved it, and his many Indian neigh-
bore.
Fort Ligonier was too far distant to be
reached in an emergency by families of wom-
en and children with sufficient provisions
568
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
to last for a long siege when they should be
attacked by a large body of their foes. The
blockhouse was about 50 feet long and 16 feet
wide at the foundation and was constructed
of the straightest unhewn logs of the same
length that could be found. The logs averaged
in thickness about a foot at the top or smaller
end. The walls were built perpendicularly to
about the height of a man's breast and were
notched down tightly. The upper log of this
perpendicular wall was notched its whole
length, the notches being 20 inches apart. The
log immediately below it was notched, too, at
distances to correspond to the upper log
turned down so that notch came to notch,
forming portholes of sufficient size to admit
the muzzle of a rifle with the sight clear. The
logs on the next round were notched down
tightly at the corners and all pushed out half
their thickness, and each succeeding round up
to the square was treated in the same manner,
so that it would have been an impossibility
for an Indian or even a panther to have scaled
the walls and come in through the roof. The
whole weight of the body would have been
forced to be supported by the hands or claws,
with nothing to which to cling but the scaly
bark of the logs.
On one occasion there was an alarm of
Indians and all had crowded into the block-
house. The rule was that boys over twelve
years of age should take their regular turn
as sentinels along with the men. The night
came for John Bennett to take his position as
watchman, a little past his twelfth birthday.
Some time before daylight he imagined he saw
an Indian crawling on his hands and feet to-
wards him, with the intention of springing
sudderdy upon him with his tomahawk. The
lad leveled his rifle and fired away at his
Indian. At the alarm all the sentinels rushed
to the portholes with rifles ready charged. The
drums were beaten and the entire force was
placed in position to repulse the enemy when
the attack should be made. Daylight came
and Davie Innyard's brood sow, the first emi-
grant of her kind, was found where John shot
the "Injun" with a bullet hole through her
brain.
On another occasion John and his brother
William, younger than himself, were in the
w^oods hunting their cows, and there met a
neighbor woman. . They had proceeded but a
short distance from where they met her when
they heard a shot some distance behind them.
They were not alarmed, supposing it to be a
white hunter shooting at a deer, but before
they found their cows their father on horse-
back met them and placed the boys on the
horse while he, with rifle in hand, walked be-
fore them until they reached their home. Here
they found the family ready to start to Pal-
mer's Fort, about five miles distant. The
woman was near to David Innyard's little im-
provement when a bullet from an Indian rifle
passed through her clothes without injuring
her. She made her escape to Innyard's, whose
house stood not more than fifty yards from
where Samuel Alexander now lives.
The old foundation of Bennett 's house, but
a few rods above where "Hedge's Sawmill"
stood, was dug up, or perhaps buried under
the towpath of the old canal. Neal Dougherty
lived on the property afterwards occupied by
William Martin. David Brown's farm was on
the site of New Florence. James Clark's
homestead was near the site of the old Clark
mill. Billy Woods lived on the old Milliron
farm afterwards occupied by Tobias Hull. All
of these, with Peter Dike, his colony and the
Tub Mill settlement, on this alarm, fled to the
fort for safety. It was now at the season of
the year that their corn required to be tilled.
The women and the children remained in the
fort. A portion of the men turned out as
scouts, and the remainder, with the boys, con-
tinued day after day to start in the morning
with their horses and their rifles as soon as
it was light enough to see an Indian, and
went to the river, where they plowed and hoed
corn until evening. They always left their
work in time to arrive at the fort before it
became dark.
Some of the patents for land on this part
of the river date back to 1774, and the de-
scendants of many of these early patentees yet
retain the land of their ancestors. Within
the past century David Reed and a few others
whose names we were unable to ascertain,
were soldiers in General Lee's army and
were sent by President Washington into
Westmoreland county to regulate the Whis-
key Insurrection. Reed and some of his
comrades requested and received their dis-
charge without returning to the East. Of
these soldiers. Reed was the only one who
made a permanent settlement in what is now
West Wheatfield township. After building a
cabin and clearing some ground, he employed
Davie Innyard to make further imi^rovements
and gave him his cabin in which to live. He
then built the first hewed log house in the
township with a shingle roof and a stone chim-
ney. He then returned to Franklin county
and married Elizabeth Mitchell, a cousin of the
noted Dr. Robert Mitchell, of abolition fame.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
569
He returned with his wife and had lived about
eighteen months in his new house when it
was robbed and set on tire, during their
absence at their sugar camp. The fire was
discovei'ed from the top of the river hill on
the Westmoreland side, by Rev. James Wake-
field, a local Methodist Episcopal minister.
He hastened with all speed, dashed his horse
through the river, and arrived only in time
to see that it was the work of incendiarism.
At first he supposed the occupants had been
taken prisoners, and that his own life and
liberty were in danger, but he hoped for their
safety, and soon found them busily engaged
in boiling sugar, ignorant of the fact that they
were destitute of the means of procuring a
loaf of bread other than by the charity of
their neighbors. None of these had anything
to spare, and a majority of them had not even
bread enough for their own families. Pack-
horses were immediately started out and as
soon as Reed could arrange for the keeping
of his live stock he left his wife at Mr. jMc-
Guire's and followed Avith his own hoi'ses.
Instead of overtaking the horses first started,
he met his father with ten of his horses laden
with beds, bedding and other necessaries for
housekeeping, and then the horses he had
sent laden with flour. His father told him
to go on over the mountains and pack what
he could bring and he and the man with him
would go and take care of his wife and stock
until his return. When he got back he found
his wife very comfortably situated in Davie
Innyard's cabin, the latter having left some
time previously. They remained in this cabin
until their new one was partly finished, x'emov-
ing to accommodate Isaiah Van Horn, who
had arrived with a large family from east of
the mountains. The latter, the Works, Ma-
bons, Bradys, Hendricks, Hales and many
others removed from this part of the vaUey
early in the century and located in the north-
ern part of the county. These families de-
serve more than a limited notice. Among
their offspring are Gov. Thomas A. Hendricks,
of Indiana, Hon. Robert T. Van Horn, of
Missouri, and others who became noted men
and women.
The first settlers were put to great incon-
venience in getting their grain ground into
meal and flour. There were very early mills,
but on account of drought or other causes
they were often idle. Nearly every family
had a hominy block. From a gallon to a peek
of parched corn could be pounded at a time
and soon reduced to mush meal of rather
coarse quality, but which with good rich milk
made a very palatable dish for a hungry boy.
For a change they had barley prepared in
the same waj-, and with wild turkey, fresh
venison or gray rabbit it made a dish fit for
a king. Fish were abundant in all the streams.
Pike, sturgeon, catfish and buffalo fish weigh-
ing from fifteen to twenty-five pounds were
often caught, and the pike and sturgeon some-
times as heavy as thirtj'-five pounds. Bass,
salmon, redfins, white suckers and high-backs
were caught in baskets in great quantities.
The smaller streams having their fountains in
the roclrv ridges were alive with speckled
ti-out. Wild fruits such as plums, grapes,
blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, mul-
berries and June berries were abundant, and
these for delicious flavor and prolific bearing
have never been surpassed by anj-thing yet
imported and cultivated in this section.
At an early date Ben Cai'son made an un-
successful attempt to obtain various tracts of
land by what were called "Improvement
Rights." He cleared a small patch, gathered
a few stones into heaps, and planted apple
and peach seeds on the bank a few rods west
of Ephraim Wallace's spring. He made an-
other improvement of a like nature at a spring
on the south side of the same farm. Apple
and peach trees from these seeds were mixed
in with a thick growth of forest timber, and
bore until they were over fifty years old.
Some of the apple trees continued to bear
until they were over a hundred years old.
Another of Ben's improvements was located
on the top of "Coal Hill," where he girdled
all the trees on about ten acres of as rich
soil as any in the to^vnship. This tract is
now owned by John Robinson, son of Andrew
Robinson. This portion of Coal Hill was
known as "Carson's Deadening," until im-
proved by Andrew Robinson and the Reed
heirs.
The territory now comprising the two
Wheatfields was at an early date occupied
by three different nationalities. Along the
river the early settlers were mainly Scotch,
and the settlement was called Scotland. The
northeast part was inhabited by the Scotch-
Irish and was called Ireland. The center of
West Wheatfield was settled by the Pennsyl-
vania Germans and was. as it is yet, called
Germany.
Garfield (Rohinson P. 0.), the largest town
in West Wheatfield township, was started
about 1880. It is located in the valley of the
Conemaugh river opposite Bolivar, on the
Pennsylvania railroad. It was named in honor
of President Garfield. The postoffice is called
570
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Robinson in honor of Mr. Robinson, who se-
cured the office. The postmaster at present is
John W. Huston.
The Garfield Fire Clay Company, manu-
facturers of clay products, whose plant is at
Garfield, is the leading industrial establish-
ment in that vicinity. The company manu-
factures high-grade firebrick tile and coke
oven supplies, stove linings, and locomotive
tile specialties. In 1905 the business was in-
corporated, the brick works and real estate
interests becoming the Garfield Fire Clay Com-
pany, and the store the Robinson Company.
The works of the company and a part of the
village of Garfield are located on the farm
owned by the heirs of Elliott Robinson.
This tract contained 425 acres of land and
was called "poplar bottom," on account of
the large number of poplar trees growing
on it.
West Wheatfield has furnished the follow-
ing professional men and women : Ministers —
Daniel McLane, United Presbyterian, de-
ceased; Alexander B. Dickie, United Presby-
terian ; Jeremiah Wakefield, Methodist Episco-
pal ; Scott Winebrenner, Methodist Episcopal,
Los Angeles, Cal. ; Winfield Haskinson, Lu-
theran; Annie Reynolds, Methodist Episco-
pal; Robert B. Bowser, Brethren, Robinson,
Pa. ' Physicians — J. G. Campbell, deceased ;
J. C. Wakefield, Vinco, Pa.; John Palmer;
Edward Dickie, Homer City, Pa. ; William
Johns, Brushvalley, Pa. ; Ray Alexander, Boli-
var, Pa. ; and Amy Haskinson-Owens, Europe.
Attorneys — W. N. Liggett, Indiana, Pa. ; and
J. N. Huston, Pittsburg, Pa. Teachers — Frank
P. Davison, of California; J. F. St. Clair,
New Florence, Pa. ; Jay Bowser, Altoona, Pa. ;
Jgrry St. Clair, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
The following are among the oldest resi-
dents of West Wheatfield township : A. W.
Altimus and wife, Joseph Brendlinger and
wife, James Hall and wife, A. D. Lichtenfels
and wife, Thomas Brendlinger, Henry Ful-
comer, Samuel Fulcomer, John W. Houston,
Samuel H. Jamison, Casper Leibold, John
Lichtenfels, Michael Mack and wife, C. W.
Sutton and wife, William Uncapher and wife,
T. L. Dick and wife, Oliver Bracken, Ephraim
Robinson and wife, J. T. Southwell, Ephraim
Wallace, I. W. Alcorn and wife, G. W. Cribbs
and wife, T. C. Dias and wife, William M.
Palmer, Edward Clause, Samuel Felton and
wife, I. D. Luther, John W. Wagner and wife.
The first election in West Wheatfield was
held June 1, 1860, when the following officers
were elected: Judge, William Campbell;
inspectors, Matthew Wilson and Jeremiah
Wakefield ; assessor, George Graham ; auditors,
James Wakefield, George Mabon, John Alcorn ;
constable, Thomas F. Wakefield; supervisors,
George Bowers and Robert Dick; overseers
of the poor, William Reynolds and John
Campbell ; school directors, Hugh M. Graham,
William Reynolds, James McFarland, John
Alcorn, Jei'emiah Wakefield, Archibald Mc-
Curdey; township clerk, George Gamble;
treasurer, W. B. Haskinson ; election officers —
judge, Israel Doty ; inspectors, Peter Mikesell
and Jacob Gamble.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in West Wheatfield township : Num-
ber and value of horses assessed, 252 — $8,923 ;
number and value of cows assessed, 327 —
$4,638 ; taxables, 551 ; taxable real estate,
$327,801; acres of cleared land, 11,426; acres
of timber land, 8,170; money at interest,
$66,222.15 ; cost of assessment, $86.50.
CHAPTER XLIV
WHITE TOWNSHIP
Wliite township was formed three miles
around the borough of Indiana, in 1843. It
was named for Judge Thomas Wliite, and is
composed of parts of Center, Washington,
Green and Armstrong townships. Its pioneers
are shown in the sketches of the Moorheads,
Kelly and Thompson, and others, in previous
chapters. Much interesting matter is written
in connection with the history of Indiana,
and the reader is referred to those articles
for valuable data in relation to this portion
of the county.
George Trimble, about the time of the sec-
ond removal of the Moorheads to their former
settlement, located near the site of the old
brickj^ard or the Reeder distillery, near Indi-
ana. From this place he was driven away by
the Indians, being either obliged to reside
in the Moorhead blockhouse or to migrate to
his former home. He remained away seven
years. In 1796 he removed to the farm after-
wards occupied by William Ray. In the same
season, and prior to his removal, his son Sam-
uel attended a school taught in an old log
building at this place ; the schoolhouse was
sitiiated on a cross road from Mahoning road
to the pike, about a fourth of a mile south
of the new State road. This Samuel Trimble
served as county commissioner, county audi-
tor and justice of the peace. The George
Trimble homestead was warranted to James
Ramsey in 1784. It was patented to the lat-
ter in 1795, and was called "St. James."
James Thompson located on the Clark D.
Thompson farm. White township, as one of
the companions of the Moorheads. Rev. James
MeClain settled here about 1801 ; for five years
he was a Presbyterian missionary in the South.
Blaney Adair located on the Hiram St. Clair
tract of land in 1803. Gawin Adams was
born at what is now " Potterfield 's Mill,"
White toT\mship, in 1819; he was a son of
James Adams. His father, Gawin Adams,
migrated to Indiana county some years prior
to the Revolution. He erected his first cabin
near the spring on the lot afterwards occupied
5'i
by James ]\IcCracken in the borough of Indi-
ana, and subsequently removed his family to
his improvement. They were driven away by
the Indians and returned about 1790. At
this time they settled on the ilajor Ramsey
tract, afterwards occupied by James Hood.
He afterwards moved to the farm owned by
Gawin Adams McClain, a grandson.
Thomas Wiggins located in White township
prior to 1800. He made the first improvement
on the Robert Wiggins homestead about 1814.
John Agey located in the township in 1810.
The Agey coal bank in this township, situated
about a half mile above Upper Twolick, exliib-
its a 6-foot vein of good coal. It is self drain-
ing. Such strata underlie all the land in this
vicinity. James St. Clair in 1809 settled on
the Capt. Daniel McFarland farm in Brush-
valley township and in 1816 settled in Wliite
township on the farm afterwards occupied
by George Coltebaugh. He was the father
of Dr. Thomas St. Clair, of Indiana, Pa., one
of the most widely known and successful phy-
sicians of his day. ^John Wilson settled on
the Arthur Sutton farm in White township
in 1795. Frederick Wegley kept a general
store in Fain'iew at the point on the Shelocta
and Indiana roads. He engaged in merchan-
dising and buying grain. The store was
opened in 1875.
THE OLD STONE PORT
The old farm upon which Fergus Moorhead
settled in White township was purchased in
1909 by Mr. E. B. Campbell, of Indiana, Pa.
The place has come into progressive hands
and has been improved regardless of cost.
The old stone fort, 16 by 24 feet, is still stand-
ing in a good state of preservation and is
used by the owner as a tool house. The walls
of the cellar under this stone building are
24 inches thick and the old chimney, 5 by 10
feet, extends from the bottom to the top of the
building.
This farm of ninety acres upon which the
1
572
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Indians camped and had their war dances is
in a good state of cultivation, having been re-
cently well limed and five miles of under-
ground ditch and one of open ditch con-
structed. The buildings are new and modern
in every respect. The dwelling house, 28 by
34 feet, is a handsome brick structure with
all modern conveniences. The new bank bam,
50 by 150 feet, is tastefully painted and sup-
plied with modern conveniences also. The
pigpen and spring house are built of brick
and conveniently arranged. The brick power
house was built for the convenience of the
home.
On the five acres left in woods are built a
seven-room bungalow, a swimming pool and
a tennis court. All the buildings on the
farm are lighted with electricity and have the
best of water in abundance.
Mr. Campbell has spent at least $15,000 in
improvements on this farm for his own enjoy-
ment and that of his friends, whom he delights
to entertain in this home. It is an ideal
place to go when you are tired and wish to
enjoy the music of the birds, the shade of
the forest, lawn tennis, or a bath in the beau-
tiful sparkling waters where the sun shines
so radiantly — all these in a quiet way which
not only gives rest to the body but peace to
the mind.
The Indiana Land & Improvement Com-
pany, with principal office in Philadelphia,
has large holdings in White, Center and
Brushvalley townships. This company is on
the eve of installing large developments on
Yellow creek.
The first election in White township was
held in the courthouse, March 15, 1844, when
the following officers were elected : Constable,
Fergus Moorhead; supervisors, James Hood
and William Ewing; judge, Philip Rice; in-
spectors, John Allison and George Rude;
school directors, James Hamilton, John Ryan,
Samuel Lowry, George Dickie, George Mc-
Cartney, James Hart; auditors, John Pilson
and William Trimble ; assessor, James Miller ;
overseers of the poor, James Mooi-head, Con-
rad Rice, William Beck ; township clerk, Ben-
jamin Dearmin ; election officers — judge, Sam-
uel Trimble ; inspectors, John Rice and Robert
McLaughlin.
The assessor's book of White township
shows the following for 1913: Number and
value of horses assessed, 411 — .$23,223 ; num-
ber and value of cows assessed, 501 — $7,989;
taxables, 900; taxable real estate, $763,241;
acres of cleared land, 24,452 ; acres of timber-
land, 2,295 ; money at interest, $102,658 ; cost
of assessment, $65.12.
CHAPTER XLV
YOUNG TOWNSHIP— JACKSONVILLE BOROUGH
Young township was formed from Blacklick
and Conemaugh townships in 1830, and was
named in honor of President Judge Young.
In 1870 the township had a population of
1,509, and in 1910, 3,751. The soil is sandy
loam and limestone land. Coal and lime are
found in large quantities in most parts of the
township. It is well watered by the Black
Legs creek and Altman's run and their trib-
utaries. Among the early settlers were Wil-
liam McFarland, James Millen, John Ewing,
Tobias Long, James Smith, Allen McCombs,
James Elder, Robert Elder, Matthew Watson,
David Hutchinson.
Robert Elder, with his family, was the first
settler on the ridge that bears his name.
James Elder, the eldest son, settled on the half
of the farm that contained the first buildings.
He was a large, muscular man, full of cour-
age, and capable of great endurance. His
children used to say he never was known to
feel fear except on one occasion when coming
home late at night from a neighbor's where
he had been butchering. The wolves, in con-
siderable numbere, came up to him and cir-
cled around with hideous bowlings. He
pounded on a tree with a club and frightened
them away. When the Elders first came to
their new home they found no clearing on
the tract they were to occupy, and their near-
est neighbors were several miles distant. At
that time the settlers were few and widely
scattered in that part of the county. They
built a shanty of fotir upright forks holding
up a roof of bark and brush, having no pro-
tection at the sides. This shanty stood a few
rods from where Prof. S. J. Craighead's house
was situated. They had brought a few cook-
ing utensils and some provisions with them
across the mountains on packhorses. In this
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
573
simple manner they lived until they were
able to erect a house of hewn logs, which was
built in a very short time, on the ground now
used as a garden beside the Craighead house.
This building was used as a blockhouse.
James McKisson came to the McKisson farm
in 1776 and made a small improvement, build-
ing a cabin and raising a crop of corn; in
the fall he was forced to flee on account of
the Indians, but returned in 1790. Francis
Harbison settled on the "William Donahue
farm in 1798 ; the farm contained 305 acres,
and was called Charleston. Robert Fulton
came to Indiana county in 1805, and located
on a tract of land afterwards owned by Silas
Fulton, one and a fourth miles southeast of
West Lebanon; he was accompanied by his
brother, John William. Robert Henderson
settled about 1796 on what was known as
the Frank Cribbs farm. Allen McCombs set-
tled in Young township prior to 1800. The
deed to him for the old homestead was dated
in 1790. This tract was surveyed on an appli-
cation order dated April 3, 1769, and issued
to James ilcConnell. Allen McCombs paid
£174 for the farm. The patent was issued to
Allen JleCombs in 1828, the consideration
being $217.06. John Hazlett came to the
James Hazlett homestead in 1791. He trans-
ported grain and cloth on packhorses eighty
or ninety miles, and brought back salt and
other necessities. William Neal located in
Young township in 1790.
The Caldwell pottery was erected by
Thomas Anderson in 1850. James McNees
was his successor and continued five years,
John Caldwell becoming the proprietor in
1868. Anderson emploj-ed one or two men;
McNees, two to four; Caldwell, five to eight.
The product was gray stone ware, stone
pumps, drain pipe, etc.. and was sold either
from the factory or delivered to stores in
this and the neighboring counties.
George W. Collins conducted the manufac-
ture of threshing machines from 1866 to 1877.
The Collins threshing machine factory was
commenced in 1877 at the present location,
having been removed from West Lebanon.
The product was four-horse and tumbling
shaft threshing machines, sleds, harrows, etc.,
and was sold directly from the factory.
The tradition is that not many years ago
a stone with an arrow engraved upon it. point-
ing towards the creek, stood upon the hill-
side above the factory.
West Lebanon. — The original settler upon
the tract which includes the village was John
Hutchinson. The tract was about a third of
a mile wide and extended from the mouth
of Whiskey run to about half a mile north of
the site of the town. In 1805 his sons John,
James, George, Edward and David occupied
this land. The village was laid out by Thomp-
sofi McCrea, surveyor, on the 25th of Decem-
ber, 1839, for John White and William Kier,
who owned the land upon which the town is
situated.
West Lebanon is located four miles north
of Eldei-sridge on one of the most beautiful
hills in Indiana county. Ten years prior to
1910 the schools of West Lebanon were among
the most successful in the county.
Eldersridge was named for Robert Elder,
who came to that section at a very early day.
The town is located on a high ridge and
although it is small, yet from what has been
accomplished there along the line of education
the reader would think it a city. The Elders-
ridge Academy, which was established and so
successfully carried on for many years by Dr.
Donaldson, was the means of raising the
standard of intelligence in that community.
There is but one store in this place. It is
conducted by the coal company that pur-
chased it from J. T. ilcLaughlin, who kept it
for many years. He was preceded by R. Y.
Elder, James IMiller, and J. J. Bell, each of
A^hom kept store at the same location. The
hotel is kept by Mrs. Remaley. The Presby-
terian is the only church in the town.
Eldersridge Creamery. — The creamery at
Eldersridge was established in 1895. The first
officei-s were: W. T. Caruthers, president,
J. T. Hood, secretary, J. H. Henderson, treas-
urer. Mr. Hood was secretary and manager
from 1895 imtil September, 1911, when the
creamery closed. H. S. Snyder was the but-
termaker during the entire time. This cream-
ery was the only one in the county that was
successful, having but few losses during its
existence. It had no trouble in securing milk
until the coal town of Iselin was founded.
Then the farmers began retailing their milk
in the town.
Iselin is located one mile northeast of
Eldersridge, at the terminus of the Iselin
branch of the Buffalo. Rochester & Pittsburg
railroad. There are five mines at this place,
which give employment to 1,600 men. The
seam worked is the Pittsburg vein, which is
the best vein of coal in the county. Only in
this vicinity is that vein found in Indiana
county. The daily output is 6,000 tons. These
mines have always run regularly. A company
store is conducted in connection with the
mines.
874
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mclntyrc, the new coal town in Young
township, is located on a branch of the Iselin
branch of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg
railroad, in the Neal settlement two miles
northwest of Jacksonville. At this place four
mines have been opened in which 700 men
are employed. The Freeport seam of coal is
worked here and the daily capacity is 2,200
tons. The Jefferson Supply Company con-
ducts a general store here and at Altman,
as well as at Ernest.
Scotland. — That part of Young township
known as Scotland received its name from
the native country of Andrew Cunningham,
who was the first to found the settlement
bearing this name. His settlement is said
to have been made a few years after the close
of the Revolutionary war. Later came Hugh
Cunningham and Alexander Gilmore. John
Gilmore and Robert Park came about 1808.
Thomas Bui-ns, Alexander Graham and Wil-
liam Gemmell followed.
The first election in Young township was
held at the house of Thomas ]\I. Andrews on
Friday, March 14, 1834, when the following
officers were elected : Constable, Horace Fer-
guson; supervisors, William McParland and
David Elder; overseers, Nathaniel Lewis and
Thomas Brown; township clerk, Thomas M.
Andei'son ; judges of election, Hugh Blakely
and Nathaniel Lewis.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in Young township : Number and
value of horses assessed, 332 — $14,430; num-
ber and value of cows assessed, 292 — ^$5,740 ;
taxables, 712; taxable real estate, $775,977;
acres of cleared laud, 20,183 ; acres of timber-
land, 1,481 ; money at interest, $120.767 ; cost
of assessment, $90.78.
.JACKSONVILLE BOROUGH, KENT P. O.
This village is situated in Young and
Blaeklick townships. It was laid out in 1830,
by William and Joseph McFarland, the former
of whom had slept in a wagon on the site of
Jacksonville when it was a wilderness. It
was named "Jacksonville" for President An-
drew Jackson. The first house was erected
by James Alcorn, who was a carpenter and
cabinetmaker; he also kept the first tavern.
The first located minister was Rev. Jonathan
Fulton, United Presbyterian. The first church
was the United Presbyterian, the second was
the Presbyterian and the third the Methodist
Episcopal. The first merchant was John Laf-
ferty. The first mills in the vicinity were the
William McFarland sawaiiill and gristmill.
The first physician was William Jack.
On September 28, 1852, the court granted
tile prayers of the petitioners of the village
of Jacksonville making it a borough and de-
creed that the first election for borough offi-
cers should be held at the schoolhouse of said
borough on the second Tuesday of October,
1852. The court appointed William Hunter
to give notice of said election and Robert
Hunter was appointed .judge and William
Bence and William Laiferty inspectors. The
election resulted as follows : Justices of the
peace, John P. Lafferty and Isa^c Rankin;
burgess, Samuel McCartney ; assessor, William
P. Bence; town council, Anthony Atkins,
Matthew H. Wilson, John Stony, Elliott Fer-
guson, William Peas; constable, David M.
Henderson; school directors, Matthew H.
Wilson, Thomas Mabon, John McComb ; street
commissioner, James Mclntire; overseers of
the poor, John Altman and Colin Mc-
Curdy; assistant assessors, William Lafferty
and William R. Hunter; liii:li (■(mstiilile. David
B. Gibson; auditors, Saiinu'l .MrCarlney and
Isaac Rankin.
The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing in the borough of Jacksonville : Num-
ber and value of horses assessed, 17 — $1,215;
number and value of cows assessed, 7 — $170;
taxables, 60; taxable real estate, $24,150;
money at interest, $40,805.31 ; cost of
ment, $8.64.
Addition, Page 179 :
Lieut. Frank 31. Broum Post, No. 266, G.
A. B., Rochester Mills. — This post was first
organized September 24, 1891, with fourteen
charter members. Conrad Piper, D. G. Piper,
J. M. Gamble and William H. Stanley were
leading members in getting up the post.
Stanley and Gamble are yet living. The post
was disbanded September 30, 1903.
On June 30, 1908, the post was reorgan-
i5:ed with the same name and number. The
surviving members are : John Doty, com-
mander; William H. Stanley, adjutant;
James T. Work, Samuel Lewis, D. J. Braugh-
ler, J. 0. Richardson, James A. ^IcQuown,
William Bowers, D. B. Work, John W. Leas-
ure, John S. Colgan, Robert McAdoo, Joseph
Taylor, Joseph Baun, Charles A. Palmer.
There have been about fort.y members be-
longing to the post during all its existence.
[For other Grand Armv posts see page
176.]
^^^Cc
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. THOMAS WHITE. Some one writ-
ing of this great lawyer aud jurist who
brought fame of such splendid character to
Indiana county, his home, says: "No one
has ever been more deservedly honored for
intellectual power and a pure record of pub-
lic and private life than Thomas White, who
was an eminent lawyer, an upright judge and
a just man." With this preface we come to
the facts of Thomas White's life.
He was of Irish ancestry, belonging to the
AVhites, Butlers and Burkes of Counties An-
trim and Cork, on his father's side. The
Whites of County Cork were persons all of
culture, wealth and power, the grandfather
of Thomas White, John White, being chief
justice of the highest tribunal of Ireland.
Richard White, Thomas White's father, was
an officer in the service of King George III.,
stationed at Hastings, in the south of Eng-
land.
Here, at Battle Abbey, the old Senlac of
Saxon liistory, in the garrison which llaj.
Richard White commanded, Thomas White
was born on Dec. 14, 1799. In 1809 ilajor
White, having resigned from His Majesty's
service, sailed with his family for the United
States. The voyage then lasted three months,
after which time they arrived safely in New
York. After traveling abcput somewhat in
this new eoiintry. Major White because of
some friends, the Perry-Vaughns, settled in
Philadelphia. Here he established a classical
school for boys which became very popular.
Thomas White received most of his educa-
tion in his father's school and from his
mother, a remarkable, brilliant and beautiful
woman. His father's death occurred in 1814,
two years after which Thomas entered the law
office of William Rawle, to prepare himself
for the practice of law. At this time William
Rawle was one of the great lawyers of the
United States. Associated in his office as
students with Thomas White were three other
young men who later became famous, Da-
vid Paul Brown, afterward a leader of the
Philadelphia Bar, Persifer F. Smith, a dis-
tinguished officer of the United States army,
and W^illiam Penn Smith, lawyer and poet.
He also read Justinian and the Civil Law
which is practiced in the Louisiana Courts.
After perfecting himself for practice in this
system of law, he started for New Orleans in
1821. The method of travel then being slow
and generally by stage coach, he stopped, en
route, at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, to visit
some family friends there, by the name of
Smith. ^Irs. Smitli having died, while he was
awaiting her funeral, by a coincidence, he
met a young girl, by name Catharine Brooks
McConnell. She is said to have been a beau-
tiful aud attractive girl, and was the daugh-
ter of Alexander McConnell, Esq., a then
prominent owner of farms and mills in Hunt-
ingdon county. The heart of the young Phil-
adelphia lawyer, en route to the Crescent City,
away at the mouth of the Mississippi, was
stricken by the attractions of this young Jun-
iata Valley girl.
Interest, if nothing more, in the society of
this girl delayed the hitherto haste of this
young man's travel. Being of a social dis-
position with attractive manners himself, he
met warm welcome in Huntingdon society,
and young friends, who had interests and ac-
quaintances out in the town of Indiana, sug-
gested to the intended New Orleans lawyer
that an opening out in the county of Indiana,
by the death of James M. Kelly, who had been
the leading lawyer there, was presented and
that Mr. White, with his Philadelphia educa-
tion, might tind it profitable to visit there.
Interest in this Huntingdon maiden made
the young Philadelphia lawyer entertain sug-
gestions about profitable delay in Pennsylva-
nia. Before this young Philadelphian had
575
576
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
started on his tour to Indiana, he was in-
formed that some eastern capitalists had con-
siderable land interests in the then new coun-
ties of Cambria, Indiana and Jefferson, which
were in charge of James JI. Kelly, as their
representative. Huntingdon friends again
suggested that after the death of their repre-
sentative, this young Philadelphia lawyer
might take Mr. Kelly's place. This and kin-
dred suggestions caused Mr. White to visit
the town of Indiana.
Indiana was then only a sparsely populated
village with few lawyers since the death of
Mr. Kelly. Indiana being by road but sixty-
six miles west from Huntingdon, it appeared
to be a short ride on horseback to where this
young accomplished lawyer left that, to him,
charming girl. The result was that Thomas
White, instead of becoming a lawyer in the
Crescent City, settled down in western Penn-
sylvania, and became one of the leading law-
yers there at that time.
Success attended his professional and busi-
ness efforts. This young girl, whom he had so
accidentally met in Huntingdon, became his
wife in 1825. This marriage was the origin
of the White family in western Pennsylva-
nia. This family never had extended connec-
tions, as none of that name in this region
outside of the family were related.
In person, Thomas White was attractive
and with manners more elegant than were
common at that time in western Pennsylva-
nia. Hence he was often, by his colleagues
at the bar and others, called "Gentleman
Tom."
In his profession he was a close student,
and never went into the courts or tried a case
without a careful brief and thorough prepa-
ration. One of his old students, in speaking
of the course of instruction Judge White
thought was necessary for admission to the
bar, said he had read the Term and all otlier
law reports before being admitted to the Bar.
It may be said, however, that with the great
increase in law books of reports, such educa-
tion would be impossible for admission to the
Bar to-day.
The custom was, when young Mr. White lo-
cated in Indiana to practice law, for the law-
yers to ride the circuit. The Judicial Dis-
trict, in which Indiana county was at that
time, was called the "Old Tenth." It was
composed of the counties of Armstrong, Cam-
bria, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland.
Somerset, however, was soon stricken off to an-
other district. The courts in these different
western counties were held in alternate weeks
so as not to conflict, and, thus, the business of
the courts in the different counties of the
district was generally tried by the lawyers
who rode the circuit. Many varied and amus-
ing incid'Cnts could be narrated among the
lawyers while they rode the circuits. Thomas
White was employed in most of the important
civil cases that were tried in these different
counties. The more important cases were ac-
tions of ejectment on original titles to real
estate. Actions of ejectment was a specialty
with Mr. White, and it is said that Chief Jus-
tice Gibson once remarked, "I consider
Thomas White one of the best ejectment law-
yers in Pennsylvania."
The courts were then composed, in the
different counties of the State, of a President
Judge and two Associates. The President
Judge was required to be learned in the law
or a lawyer ; and the two Associates laymen,
not lawyers.
When Mr. White came to the Bar in this
district, John Young of Westmoreland county
was President Judge. He retired in 1836.
Joseph Ritner, a Whig in politics, was then
the Governor of Pennsylvania. When Judge
Young retired, Governor Ritner appointed
Thomas White as President Judge of the
Tenth Judicial District.
Appointments to the bench then were made
under the Constitution of 1790 and were, in
the ease of President Judge, for life. Judge
White 's commission as President Judge, which
is on record in Indiana county, was for life,
"Dum Bene Sese Gesserit" (While he should
behave himself well).
The Constitutional Convention of 1838
changed the tenure of judges from a life to a
ten year term.
Judge White, after he went upon the bench,
soon became recognized as an able and just
judge, and very popular with all the people
of his district. There were but fifteen Presi-
dent Judges then in the State, and none, con-
fessedly, abler than he. In the course of the
discussion of the judiciary article of the pres-
ent constitution in the convention of 1873,
Judge Jeremiah S. Black said that Thomas
White was the ablest Common Pleas Judge
before whom he had ever tried a case.
His contemporaries said of him that while
on the bench, in the trial of cases, he was
most considerate and agreeable to young and
inexperienced lawyers, by a tactful and pru-
dent suggestive way assisting them; this al-
HISTOKT OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
577
ways, if they had the just side of the case and
agaiust them some experienced leader of the
bar.
That old one time able leader of the Indiana
county Bar, "William Banks, Esq., a few days
after Judge White's death meeting his son
Harry said to him : "Your father's death gives
me great sorrow. Starting about the same
time at the bar, we were always friends. No
professional conflicts ever disturbed our
friendship, and Pennsylvania never had an
abler or more just judge. While socially
most agreeable, he had the highest ideas of
preserving the public respect for and confi-
dence in the dignity and justice of the judici-
ary. M.y only criticism ever was, that every-
body knowing our close intimate friendship,
I sometimes thought he leaned a little against
me in a trial, lest it would be thought that his
friendship affected his faii-ness and imparti-
ality on the bench."
It was rare education for a boy to sit and
hear these learned lawyers and other friends
of a winter evening at Judge White's home,
before a big coal fire, on their social visits,
talk and discuss the law, politics and the cur-
rent events of the State and Nation. Then
when Mrs. White would bring in the waiter
of rambo and other choice apples, fruit grow-
ing, farming and kindred topics would be the
theme. The leading members of a community
nowadays are too much in a hurry for that
agreeable and instructive social intercourse
that so often occurred at Judge White's fire-
side.
Under the provisions of the constitution
of 1838 his term expired in 1847. Francis
R. Shunk, a Democrat, was then Governor.
The people of the district, irrespective of
partj', sent petitions with not less than 25,-
000 signers to the Governor for Judge White's
reappointment. It so happened that while the
Governor was a Democrat the Senate, which
was required to confirm the appointments
of the Governor, had a Whig majority of one.
The Governor, because Judge White was a
Whig, refused to reappoint him, but instead
sent in the name of Jeremiah 'SI. Burrell to the
Senate. Mr. Burrell was a Democratic law-
yer of Westmoreland county. The Senate
rejected his appointment. The Governor then
sent in the name of Wilson McCandless of Al-
legheny county. He was also rejected. The
Governor then sent in the name of Benjamin
Champney of Bucks comity. He was also re-
jected. The Legislature soon adjourning, the
Tenth District was left without a President
Judge. After the adjournment of the Legis-
37
lature the Governor appointed, until the next
meeting of the Legislature, Jeremiah M. Bur-
reU. The Quo Warranto proceedings, re-
ported in the Supreme Court Reports 7 Barr,
Page 34, attest the right of Judge Burrell to
preside in the courts under this appointment.
Some confusion arising, the late John C.
Knox of Tioga county was. in 1848, appointed
as a compromise, and presided in the courts
of the district until 1851.
The refusal of Governor Shunk to reap-
point Judge Thomas White for political rea-
sons, caused extended discussion on the man-
ner of selecting the Judiciary. When, then,
the Legislature of 1848 met, the proposition
was introduced to amend tlie con.stitution so
as to make judges elective. To amend the
constitution requires tlie consent of two suc-
cessive Legislatures, and then a submission
to the people. This amendment, having passed
the Legislatures of 1S4S and 1849, was adopted
by the people in 1850, and the first election of
judges in Pennsylvania was in 1851. This
change in the manner of electing our Pennsyl-
vania Judiciary was, indeed, caused by the
refusal of Governor Shunk to reappoint judge
Thomas White at the expiration of his term,
for political reasons.
While Judge White had always been a Whig
in politics, yet while on the bench he did not
participate in political contests; but subse-
quent occurrences in the political history of
thi; country, ultimating in the great Civil
war, make it pertinent to note a case in 1845
that occurred in the Indiana county courts.
Dr. Mitchell and other citizens of Indiana
county were decided abolitionists. The
Doctor on one of his farms had an under-
ground railway station, as it was called ; that
is, a place for fugitive slaves. Among others,
one negro, Anthony HolUngsworth, escaping
from his masters, the Van Meters of Pendleton
county, Virginia, was refuged on the farm
of Dr. Mitchell, where the borough of Cly-
mer now stands. One Van Meter, claiming to
own this negro as a fugitive slave, followed
him to Indiana county. As tlie Fugitive Slave
law was then, David Ralston, then sheriff of
the county, with Van Meter captured this
slave on Dr. Mitchell's farm and brought him
to Indiana, en route to the return to slavery
in Virginia.
The opponents of slavery employed Wm.
Banks, Esq., to take out a Habea.s Corjuis to
inquire by what right this negro was to be
deprived of his liberty. This writ was made
returnable before Judge White, his court then
being in session. At the hearing the Judge
578
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
inquired by what right this man was arrested
and deprived of his freedom. It was replied
that he was owned by his masters, the Van
Meters, as a slave in Virginia; whereupon,
Judge White required legal evidence to be
produced of the existence, legally, of slavery
in Virginia, and that this man was rightfully
held as a slave under such laws. This was
before the days of active telegraphing or tel-
ephoning and legal evidence of the existence
of slaverj', under the constitution and laws
of Virginia, could not be immediately pro-
duced. Whereupon Judge White, following
the ruling and language of Judge Mansfield
of England in the famous Somerset case, de-
cided that freedom, being the natural condi-
tion of man, this man could only be deprived
of it when charged with crime or by virtue
of some positive municipal law, and no crime
being charged, and no legal evidence of the
existence of any municipal law tliat deprived
this man of his lilierty produced, discharged
him.
While there was much comment at that
time about this decision, yet it was in line
with that famous utterance of Charles Sum-
ner in the United States Senate in 1856 when
he made that speech, "Freedom National,
Slavery Sectional," for which he was clubbed
by Mr. Brooks of South Carolina.
When Judge White left the bench he had
no desire for political office but resumed the
practice of law, and for that purpose formed
a partnership with his nephew, Titian J. Cof-
fey, who himself was a distinguished lawyer
and afterwards became a member of Mr. Lin-
coln's cabinet.
The old firm of White and Coffey was en-
gaged in the trial of nearly every important
case in the different counties of the District
until its dissolution in 1860.
While Judge White, himself, did not seek
public office, yet in 1848, after he had left the
bench, took a great interest in public affairs
and was elected from the then Congress-
ional District, a delegate to the National Whig
Convention, which met at Philadelphia that
year, to nominate candidates for President
and Vice President. He was anxious for the
success of his party and realized that the vot-
ers of Pennsylvania were generally support-
ers of a military hero for President. Having
familiarized himself with the political char-
acter of General Zachary Taylor, a hero of the
Mexican War and commonly called "Old
Rough and Ready," actively advocated his
nomination for President, even against Henry
Clay and General Scott. It is said that Judge
White was entitled to the credit of swing-
ing the whole Pennsylvania delegation to the
support of General Taylor, who was nomi-
nated and afterwai'ds elected.
In 1860, after the election of :Mr. Lincoln,
the war of the Rebellion seemed to be inevit-
able. With the hope of averting it, Virginia
proposed to the border States the convening
of a Peace Congress in Washington City.
Most of the northern states accepted this
proposition and selected, as their representa-
tives to this congress, many of their wisest
and most patriotic men. Governor Curtin
appointed from Pennsylvania seven delegates,
among whom was Judge Thomas White. De-
liberations of this Congress are matters of
history. Judge White made a remarkable
speech before this Congress in the interest of
peace and to avoid the calamity of civil war.
When the war came, although advanced in
years. Judge White was ceaseless in his efforts
to save the union. Two of his sons became
conspicuous in the war. His first born son,
Richard White, raised and commanded the
55th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and
Harry, his youngest son, was commissioned a
I\Iajor in 1861 by Governor Curtin and raised
the 67th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The story
of Harry White's capture and detention for
sixteen mouths in the different Rebel prisons,
because of his prominence in Pennsylvania
affairs, is a matter of history.
Judge White was greatly distressed at the
long confinement of his son Hariy in the
Rebel prisons. He made every effort lie coiild
to have his son released. He traveled to
Washington City and elsewhere, from time to
time, where he could have any influence for
the purpose. This distress and his continual
efforts in behalf of his son, traveling often
day and night, really hastened his death, for,
M-hen he died on the 22d of July, 1866, he
was only sixty-six years of age and possessed
of his old mental activities.
There were four children born in the
White family: Richard, the eldest son, bom
in 1826, after an active career died, at
the close of the Civil war in 1865, of rheuma-
tism contracted while in service in the Virginia
Swamps; Alexander, born in 1828, died in
1890; Juliet, born in 1831, an only daugh-
ter, was of a rare and lovely character, whose
death in 1853 in Philadelphia was a crush-
ing sorrow from which her devoted father
never recovered ; Harry was the fourth and
youngest, who followed, as a lawyer, the pro-
fession of his father, and after a varied career
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
579
sat on, the same bench his father had occupied
in the courts of Indiana county.
Judge Thomas White was not only a great
lawyer but a most enterprising, accurate,
careful and successful business man.
Until 1851 the town of Indiana was enclosed
almost by a Chinese wall. The only way of
getting to, or going from it by public con-
veyance, was by the old stage coaches, often
called "Butter Peddling Wagons." By un-
remitting effort. Judge White with several
other public spirited citizens, succeeded in
inducing the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany to build a branch from Blairsville to
Indiana. Through the efforts of Judge
White and these citizens, the Indiana Branch
of the P. R. R. has been one of the important
feeders to the main line, and became impor-
tant to the travel of this region.
While in the activities of his professional
career he was a great friend to and gave en-
couragement to the young men of the com-
munity. There were many lawyers who re-
ceived their early instruction in their pro-
fession in Judge White's office. There would
often be a half dozen students studying law
in his office. The Hon. S. S. Blair, who after-
wards resided in Blair county and liet-ame
one of the leading lawyers of central Penn-
sylvania, often publicly said that Judge
Thomas White was the most careful, conscien-
tious and competent instructor of young men
studying law in his office (there were many
of them) he ever knew.
While many of the students afterwards be-
came leading lawyers, being, however, while
in the Judge's office of active minds and not
yet of the sedateness of older citizens, they
often played pranks; sometimes on the Judge
himself.
As we have said the counties of Armstrong,
Cambria, Indiana and Westmoreland made
the old "Tenth District." From Indiana to
Kittanning, county seat of Armstrong, it was
by road twenty-six miles; to Ebensburg of
Cambria, twenty-six miles; to Greensburg of
Westmoreland, thirty-five miles. The Judge
and some la^vyers would go to the courts of
these counties on horseback. Judge White
always had good riding horses, and careful
men to attend them.
He usually started on the circuit on Sun-
day. One of his men of all work about house
and stable was a Welshman named David.
While the students then, differing from these
high cost living days, made the fires and
swept the office, David was often about. There
happened to be in the back office an old militia
officer's coat. One Saturday before a Decem-
ber week of Cambria County Court, the stu-
dents got David into the office and said to
him : "You know, David, in Wales the .judges
wear uniforms on the bench, and in Cambria
county, where there are so many Welsh, Judge
White wears this military coat. When he
came from the last court there, by mistake,
he brought this coat home, so, when you bringr
the Judge's horse out to his front door for
him you must have this coat back of the
saddle, spread over the horse's rump. Don't
rumple it up." David, in his innocence, be-
lieved all this. The students managed that
David should bring the horse to the Judge's
front door, on Philadelphia street, wliich
was just where now the street car office is,
about the time the people were coming from
church on Sunday, so that many people would
lie on the street. Sure enough at the proper
time, which was about the usual time for the
Judge to start, David had the horse at the
front door with this military coat attached to
and spread behind the saddle. When ready
to start, the Judge, bundled up. for the win-
ter ride, came to the front door, Jlrs. White
accompanying him to say good-bye, when to
his surprise he saw his uniformed hoi-se and
the people standing on the street looking. The
Judge, surprised, but having a spirit of hu-
mor, could only say, "Why, David." when to
keep from laughing outright he retreated into
the house. Some of the authors of the .joke
were near by, and relieved the situation by
telling David they had just learned that the
Judge had bought a new coat for Cambria,
and to now take the horse to the stable and re-
move this coat. There was a good laugh in the
community about this practical joke of !ho
Judge's .students, who were never rebuked, as
the Judge himself enjoyed the prank.
Judge White sold more land in various
counties in western Pennsylvania than any
other man of his time. Among other land
holders that he represented was George Cly-
mer, one of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence, a great friend of George Wash-
ington, and through whose influence Indiana
county, in 1803, was created. He represented,
also Timothy Pickering of Boston, Horace
Binney of Philadelphia, and other prominent
men.
Near the town of Indiana and north of it
the Gilpins of Philadelphia owned a large
body of land. Beginning in 1847 Judge
White, as the representative of the Gilpin
Estate, subdivided into farms these Gilpin
lands and sold them to various persons who
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
occupied them as farms. Most honest and
patient was he with many of these people,
who starting in with practically nothing, yet
through his indulgence and encouragement,
paid for their farms with their products.
While Judge White was a professional
man, yet he took great interest in farming
and agriculture. In 1854 through his influ-
ence and activity the Indiana County Agri-
cultural Society was organized, and he be-
came president of it and continued from year
to year until his death, the first fair under
his jurisdiction being held in 1855.
In his private life Judge White was a pure
and upright man. There never was a more
devoted husband and father. The happiness
of his home and the comfort of his family
were always his first thought, and no sacrifice
was too great for him to make, to secure
them.
In his religious life he was a sincere and
earnest Christian, despising cant, hypocrisy
or pretense. His chosen church was Protest-
ant Episcopal, and through his efforts, and
mainly from his personal estate, the first
Episcopal Church was built in Indiana and
a congregation established.
There never lived in Indiana county a man
more sincere, honest, enterprising, kind and
encouraging to the poor man struggling for
a living, and just to all men, than Judge
Thomas White.
As he lies on the hillside overlooking Indi-
ana, in what is called White's vault, this
generation knows little personally of him,
but if the graves of many of his time, who
started with nothing but good health, strong
arms, honesty, industry and a desire for a
fair chance to get homes in this, then, new
country, could speak, the kindly utterance
would be heard, we never had a better friend
in our struggles than Thomas White.
GENERAL HARRY WHITE. Some wise
man long ago said, "It is well our great men
have left few sons to shine in the borrowed
luster of a mighty name. ' ' In the larger sense
this is true, but there are conspicuous excep-
tions, an instance of which is found in the
subject of this sketch, Harry White, third and
youngest son of that eminent citizen, Thomas
White, and his wife Catharine Brooks (Mc-
Connell) White.
Born at Indiana, his environment was
happy and his opportunities during his boy-
hood for culture and education, both scholastic
and social, very great. Like most boys he
began at the public schools, then went to the
Indiana Academy. This Indiana Academy
was an old institution and sent into the world
a number of successful prominent men. Judge
Thomas White was one of its founders. When
this academy languished and ceased to "keep
school" Harry White's father secured private
tutors, one of whom was the late Hon. John
P. Penney, of Pittsburg, who, while study-
ing law with Judge Thomas White, was
private tutor to Harry White and the late
Senator M. S. Quay. The private tutor
taught in a building near Judge White's
residence.
Harry was enterprising and ambitious and,
naturally, a leader among his boy friends
and companions. Early in life he had selected
his profession and prepared himself for what
he hoped would be his career. In 1850 he
went to what was called the College of New
Jersey, now Princeton University. Getting
his degree with the class of 1854, he intended,
with one of his school companions, to go
South for a while and teach school ; his father
objected to this and desired him to begin
the study of the law in his office, which he did.
The practice of the courts then, on the
matter of applications for admission to the
bar, was to appoint a special committee of
three lawyers, resident or from abroad, to ex-
amine the applicant. After this examination
in 1856 Harry White was admitted to the In-
diana county bar, and very soon afterward to
the bars of surrounding counties. He assisted
in the trial of a case the day after his admis-
sion.
This year, 1856, was the initial one for the
Republican party in national polities. The
effort of Stephen A. Douglas in the United
States Senate to repeal the Missouri Com-
promise in the organization of the territories
of Kansas and Nebraska, brought the exten-
sion of slavery as the living question of the
hour before the people of the country. Oppo-
sition to this extension of slavery was the
leading principle of the Republican party, and
Harry White, a voter for the first time that
year in national politics, became the first
chairman of the Republican party in Indiana
county. It was no injury to a young lawyer,
in the country districts, to give attention to
political questions then before the nation.
Without previous political experience be made
his first political speech in the town of Blairs-
ville. and organized a vigorous campaign
throughout the county, resulting in a very
large majority for Fremont, the Republican
candidate for president.
Harry White, while active in his profes-
sion in the intervening years between 1856
and 1860, became a very prominent factor in
^^ '^^i
-\
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
581
the polities of Indiana and surrounding coun-
ties. Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland
counties composed a Congressional district,
and after a canvass Harry White was nomi-
nated for Congress in June, I860, at Greens-
' burg, over the late Senator Edgar Cowan.
Being barely of the constitutional age for a
Congressman, and some contentions arising
which apparently endangered the election of
a Republican from the district, he resigned the
nomination against the protest of many
friends, and Hon. John Covode became the
candidate, and with Harry White's active
support was elected. That campaign being
a most active and exciting one, we shall for-
bear narrating all its details.
After Sumter was fired upon, in April,
1861, Harry White for a while, in common
with others, closed his law books and made
ceaseless efforts to educate the people of this
region to the necessities of the great conflict
of arms. He was soon elected captain of a
company and tendered it to Governor Cui'tin.
Because the Governor did not accept his com-
pany, many of its members joined other
organizations. After this Harry White went
to see Governor Curtin and inquire why the
company he had offered was not accepted. In
the interview on the subject the Governor
said, "I did not accept you because of the
request of your father. You know, Harry,
how highly I esteem your father, and with
tears in his eyes he besought me not to accept
you for service, as you were all he had left
at home." Whereupon Harry replied, "I am
sorry to distress my father, but I feel it my
duty to go into the service and am going, if I
have to carry a musket." Then the Gover-
nor said, ' ' If that is the way of it I will com-
mission you as Major of the 67th Regiment,
which is struggling in recruiting at Cam-
macks Woods, at Philadelphia." The com-
mission was authorized by the Governor,
accordingly, and Harry White went imme-
diately to work recruiting to complete the
filling of the regiment, taking some members
of his old company, that he had offered, into
it. Recruiting during the latter part of the
summer of 1861 was not very active for many
reasons, but during the winter of 1862 the
regiment was completely organized and sent
in active service.
The regiment was sent to relieve Gen. Dick
Coulter's 11th Pennsylvania Regiment at
Annapolis. Md., and for several months it
performed the irksome duty of taking charge
of parole camp there, and Major White was
detailed to protect the Annapolis & Elk Ridge
railroad and the Baltimore & Ohio from Anna-
polis Junction to Washington City. After
several months the regiment was relieved from
its irksome duties and sent to Harpers Ferry
and the Shenandoah valley.
In the fall of 1862, while Major \Miite was
in the field, the people of his Senatorial dis-
trict, composed of Armstrong and Indiana
counties, without his request, elected him to
the Senate of Pennsylvania. The Pennsyl-
vania Legislature meeting in January, 1863,
at Harrisburg. President Lincoln sent Major
White a leave of absence during the session
of the Legislature that winter; and he served
in the Senate during the session of 1863. mak-
ing occasional visits to his regiment, then in
winter quarters at Berryville, Va. Having
taken many of his old friends and neighliors
to the service he refused to resign from the
army, and on the adjournment of the Legis-
lature in the spring of 1863 rejoined his regi-
ment. He refused to take his salary as a sena-
tor, but sent it to the Soldiers' Relief Fund
of the two counties of his Senatorial district.
When he rejoined his regiment there was
much active service in the Shenandoah val-
ley. General Milroy was in command of the
division, with headquarters at Winchester,
Va. Major White was assigned to the com-
mand from Berryville to Snickers Ferry.
Almost daily Mosby, Imboden, McNeal and
other Rebel partisan commanders were mak-
ing raids in the valley, and frequently affairs
would be had with these forces of the enemy.
Early in June, 1863, General Lee started on
his campaign to Pennsylvania. The Army
of the Potomac, under Hooker, was down the
Rappahannock near Fredericksburg, and the
only force between Lee's advancing army and
the Pennsylvania line was Milroy 's division, in
headquarters, at Winchester. On the 11th of
June, 1863, Early's and Johnson's divisions
of Ewell's corps of Lee's army approached
Winchester, and the LTnion forces there en-
gaged these Rebel forces for three days. On
the night of the 12th of June Major White
received an order to take the advance with
infantry, cavalry and artillery to the relief
of Milroy at Winchester. Although Winches-
ter was but twelve miles west on a direct road.
yet, owing to the position of the enemy, the
march to Milroy 's relief was roundabout.
Reaching Winchester about midnight, the
fight was resumed on the 13th. Milroy 'a
division did not know it was engaging Lee's
advancing army, but so it was, and in the
fight on the 15th Major White was captured
by the 9th Louisiana Tigers. If the fight of
Winchester had not taken place, the battle
582
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
between Lee and the Army of the Potomac
might not have taken place at Gettysburg.
At the date of his capture all exchange
of prisoners had stopped, and Major White
was sent with other prisoners to Libby at
Richmond. This was the commencement of
a long, painful and historic imprisonment.
The many incidents and occurrences among
the prisoners in Libby during the summer
and fall of 1863 would fill a volume of star-
tling details. This, indeed, was the angriest
time of the war.
When Major White left the Senate, in the
spring of 1863, to rejoin his regiment, the Re-
publican party had five majority. The fall
election that year reduced this majority in
the Senate to one, leaving it 17 to 16.
Under the cartel about the exchange of pris-
oners made in 1862, surgeons and chaplains
as well as nurses were not subject to capture
as prisoners of war, but with the captured at
Winchester, surgeons and the other exempted
classes were all taken to Libby. Among the
chaplains was the late Chaplain McCabe.
After the captured at Chickamauga were
brought to Libby, there were about ninety
surgeons there. The deadlock in the exchange
of surgeons was broken on the 23d of Novem-
ber, 1863, and the effort of Major White to
escape as a surgeon is narrated by Judge
Robert Ould, the Rebel commissioner of ex-
change. In his repoi-t on the subject, pub-
lished in the Annals of the War, he makes
the following reference to Harry White:
"There was one incident in the course of deliveries
which was quite dramatic, though very painful to
one of the parties — a Pennsylvania colonel. In the
beginning of the war surgeons were regarded as
non-combatants, and not subject to detention on
either side. A difficulty, however, arose between
the two governments about one Dr. Rucker, who was
held in confinement on the charge of murder and
other high crimes. The United States demanded his
release, and failing to secure it put Dr. Green, a
Confederate surgeon, in confinement in retaliation.
This led to the detention of all surgeons on both
sides. I made vigorous efforts to restore the old
practice, and at length succeeded. Accordingly, a
day was fixed for the delivery of all surgeons on
both sides at City Point, and" all the Federal sur-
geons were directed to be sent from the Libby prison
and put on board the flag-of-truce steamer. I ac-
companied the party. When we were nearing the
steamer 'New York' I perceived that a signal was
flying for me to come to the shore with my boat.
I did so, and found there a communication stating
that Col. Harry White, commanding one of the
Pennsylvania regiments, had disguised himself as a
surgeon and was then on board my boat. I imme-
diately directed the prisoners to be drawn up in
line on the shore and made them an address, in
which I recounted the efforts I had made to secure
the immunity of their class, and stated that an
officer of the line, not entitled to exchange or release,
was among them, disguised as a surgeon. I then
raised my voice and shouted, 'Colonel Harry White,
come forth.' He stepped in front at once, and in
a few words claimed that he had a right to resort
to any stratagem to effect his release. 1 replied that
I was not there to dispute or affirm what he said
but that he must return to Richmond under arrest. !
It was a heavy blow to him, struck at the moment
wlien he was sanguine of his liberty. Two minutes _ ,
more would have placed him on the 'New York,'
where he would have been safe, even if his dis-
guise had been there detected. He had been a
long time in captivity and extraordinary efforts
had been made to secure for him a special exchange.
He had been elected as a Republican to the Penn-
sylvania Senate, which, without him, was equally
divided between the war and anti-war parties. His
presence was needed to effect an organization and
working majority in that body. I had learned these
facts from more than one quarter, and was not
disposed to assist in giving aid and comfort to the
war party. I was under no duty to release Colonel
White, as the exchange of officers liad ceased. So
obstinate was I that when the Federal agent offered
me a major general and several officers of lower
grade for him I declined to accept. I might have
speculated to great advantage on him if I had been
so disposed, and the situation in Pennsylvania
would liave warranted it. If every officer and man
had been a Harry White there would never have
been any difficulty about exchanges. Indeed, if the
anxiety manifested about him had been distributed,
instead of making him the reservoir of all, it would
have been better for a good many people. 'Great is
Diana of the Ephesians.' "
(Jn his return to Libby, Harry White was
put into one of the famous dungeons at that
place and his experience there would too much
extend the story of his imprisonment. On
Christmas Day, 1863, he was taken from Libby
and under guard sent to Salisbury (N. C.)
prison, with the following order from Gen-
eral Winder, the commandant of Rebel pris-
ons: "I send you Major White of the 67th
Pennsylvania. An important prisoner. You
will deprive him of all money and valuables
and place him in close, separate and solitary
confinement." Having been a prisoner then
for six months, he had no money or valuables
to be deprived of, but was put in solitary con-
finement in a dimgeon 8 feet long and 4 feet
wide and under constant guard. This con-
dition continued for several days when the
dead house was cleaned out and he was placed
there in solitary confinement under guard the
balance of the winter, until the 13th of March,
1864; when he was put in the stockade with
the remainder of the prisoners. This harsh,
severe and unsual treatment, different from
that given other prisoners, was because Harry
White was a Republican member of the Senate
of Pennsylvania, as well as an officer of the
army. In an effort to secure his exchange,
the authorities at Washington had told the
Rebel commissioner of exchange that they had
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
583
his resignation as a senator, and their refusal
to exchange him was only inflicting torture
on him. The Rebel authorities did uot be-
lieve that they had his resignation and placed
him in solitary confinement at Salisbury, to
make it impossible for him to send any resig-
nation, but Harry White, after his failure to
escape as a surgeon, prepared his resignation
on a slip of paper and inclosed it in the back
of a Sanitary Commission Testament, one of
the kind given to soldiers, and gave it to the
surgeon whom he had personated when he
went out with the surgeons and reached City
Point. Following is a copj' of the resignation :
Libby Prison. Richmond. Virginia.
Xovember. 1S63.
Hon. J. P. Penney,
Speaker of the Senate of Pennsylvania.
Dear .Sir:
Considerations I may briefly state, make it prudent
and proper for me to tender my resignation as a mem-
ber of the Senate of Penna.
After the adjournment of our Legislature last
spring, I rejoined my regiment and resumed my mili-
tary duties in the field. Upon the advance of General
Lee's army, in June last, into the Shenandoah valley,
on his Pennsylvania campaign, the forces with which
I was connected were ordered to Winchester, and in
the battle at that place I fell into the hands of the
enemy as a prisoner of war, with other Federal offi-
cers. I was immediately sent to Richmond, and since
the 23d of June I remained a prisoner in the Libby.
Xo e.xchange of prisoners has taken place in the
meantime, nor does any appear to be in early pros-
pect. Shut off for long months from friends and
the outer world, I have yet not been entirely ignor-
ant of passing events. The recent election in our
State has, I learn, altered somewhat from the last
session the political complexion of our Senate. My
absence, it seems, gives to each party represented
there equal numerical strength. This will, in all
probability, embarrass organization and delay
necessary legislation.
I regret the situation and am unwilling my pres-
ent personal misfortune should, in any way, affect
public interests or interrupt, for a moment, that
cordial cooperation between our State and the
National government so necessary in this crisis.
It is true some time must yet elapse before my
presence in Harrisburg is actually required, yet. as
I have no hope of release by general exchange, the
Richmond authorities, I am' convinced, will retain
me as long as possible, because I am a senator and
my vote important. Under the circumstances it
behooves me to do what I can to relieve the difficulty
likely to result from my continued imprisonment.
I am sure you will not doubt me when I confess
it would be much more agreeable to my taste and
feelings to spend the months of the coming winter
in active legislation in our Senate chamber, than to
languish within the gloomy walls of Southern prisons.
My present situation presents the less agreeable
alternative in prospect and I see but one solution
of the difficulty. Other and greater interests are
involved in this matter than my personal ccanfort
and private inclinations. My health, my life, are
nothing to the success of those great principles I
was elected to represent. The people of my district
are chiefly interested in this matter and my duty to
them, in the premises, has given me many an hour of
anxious solicitude in this weary prison life. I can-
not in any way consult with them. They should not,
however, at this time go unrepresented; Their
generous confidence was but recently given me and
they will, I trust, give the approva'l of their voice
to the step I now take, and select as my successor
one who ^vill be as faithful to their interests and th«
great cause of our country as I, at least, tried to be.
Be pleased, therefore, to accept my resignation as
a senator from the 21st Senatorial district. Be kind
enough to convey to my brother senators assurances of
respect and esteem; tell them "though cast down I am
not dismayed,'' though I am in bonds, I am full of
hope. Tell them my prayer and trust is, no word or
act may go out of the councils of your Senate to
weaken the arm or make faint the heart of those
brave soldiers of the Union who are bearing in the
field, to a sure and triumphant success, the greatest
struggle of history. Accept, my dear sir, my per-
sonal wishes for your good health and prosperity. I
am. Respectfully yours.
Haeky White.
In ^lay lie was started with other pris-
oners for Audersouville. but at Chester, S. C,
escaped with some fellow prisoners from the
train and after recapture was sent to Colum-
bia. S. C, to the penitentiary there. Towards
the latter part of June he was started again
with others for Andersonville, and again
escaped, but was recaptured. About the first
of July he was again started for Anderson-
ville. but at Greens Cut, some miles below
Augusta, Ga., cut his way at night out of the
car and was out this time twenty-nine days.
Traveling only at night through the country
in the direction of General Sherman's army,
then on his Atlanta campaign, he lived only
among the negro slaves, and on the 29th of
July he was recaptured in Greene county. Ga.,
by bloodhounds, and carries the marks of
their teeth on his arm.
After his recapture he was taken back to
Macon, Ga.. and then to Charleston, S. C.
and put in the workhouse there with others
under the fire of our batteries on ]Morris
Island, where that famous gun called the
"Swamp Angel" was shelling the city of
Charleston.
When, in the latter part of September,
1864. General Sherman and General Hood,
of the Rebel army, were allowed to exchange
prisoners captured at and after the battle of
Peach Tree Creek, which was in June, 1864,
Harry White, by a ruse, got out of the prison
with these officers and was taken back to
Macon, and thence with others marching to
Rough and Ready, ten miles below Atlanta,
got over into the Union lines, and after six-
teen months of imprisonment, breathed in
Atlanta the atmosphere of liberty. The many
trials, sufferings and peculiar experiences he
584
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
had during these sixteen months of prison,
his different escapes and the different prisons
in which he was confined, would require a
volume for the narration of most harrowing
details.
While belonging to the Army of the Poto-
mac he was temporarily put on General
Thomas's staff, and with him went to Nash-
ville and thence, after some narrow escapes
from recapture through Tennessee and Ken-
tucky, reached his home in the midst of the
excitement of the presidential campaign be-
tween Lincoln, the Republican, and McClellan,
the Democrat. A mere political campaign
was farthest from the thought of Harry
"White when he reached home the night of the
5th of October, 1864, to receive the welcome
of lifelong friends and the embrace of his own
family. While attenuated in body from a
long and harrowing imprisonment, through
"hairbreadth 'scapes and imminent peril,"
yet the atmosphere of freedom and the cordial
welcome of home and friends soon brought to
him health and vigor.
A demand was made of him for service in
the great campaign to keep Lincoln as the
leader of the people against the heretical
proclamation that "the war was a failure."
At a meeting in Philadelphia, Nov. 2, 1864, in
the Academy of Music, with Governor Curtin
presiding, a great reception was given for
Harry White, and he was made to narrate, for
the information of the people, many of his
trials and experiences of himself and com-
rades in Rebel prisons.
In due time, having been commissioned by
the governor of Pennsylvania colonel of his
regiment, and by President Lincoln brevetted
brigadier general, he returned to his regiment
and served until victory came at Appomattox.
When the army was disbanded, returning to
his home in the early spring of 1865, there
was a natural demand among the people that
he should be returned to the Senate of Penn-
sylvania, his election to which, in 1862, had
caused him to suffer so long and painful im-
prisonment. He was elected in the fall of
1865, again, to the Senate of ■Pennsylvania,
once more in the fall of 1868, and again in
1871. He became the leader of his party in
the Senate during all these years, and wrote
and had enacted much, veiy much important
legislation. Among many important measures
in the session of 1869 he wrote and had passed
what was known as the Evidence Act of 1869,
which changed the old rule that excluded in-
terested parties from testifying in their ovn^
cases, so as to allow parties, themselves, to be
witnesses in their own cases, leaving their
credibility 'as a question for the .jury. At the
close of the session of 1870 he was elected
speaker of the Senate.
While not posing as a reformer, yet General
White was sensible of great corruptions and
betrayal of the people's best interests in the
Legislature of Pennsylvania, and during his
third term in the Senate gave much time and
effort to creating public sentiment throughout
the State for a Constitutional convention, to
remedy what he thought were the ills of the
time. This sentiment he thought to excite by
delivering lectures in different parts of the
Commonwealth, the principal thought of them
being the necessity of correcting certain errors
of the time by a new constitution. The initial
lecture, entitled "The Manhood For The
Time," which was published at length in the
Pittsburg Commercial, April 26, 1870 (now
the Commercial Gazette), was delivered in
Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pa. Inas-
much as this is a matter of general public in-
terest and of history, we make some extracts
from it. With ample illustrations from
history and anecdote, self-reliance, courage,
independence, enthusiasm, sensibility, all with
continuity of purpose, were indicated as quali-
ties to make up the manhood required by the
necessities of the times. Never, said he, was
a manhood, made up of such qualities, more
needed in our Pennsylvania than now. The
employments of the mere "litterateur" seem
to have taken wings and fled to the utter-
most. The fires of native poetry have been
quenched. Public life, public office, attract all
with desire. Survey the field. How many
there master the situation? The insincere
demagogue stares at you on every corner.
Rare to find, treading the high plane of
authority, him who, with confident heart, relies
upon the powers kindly given him and with
independent boldness asserts convictions, made
effective by an earnest enthusiasm, tempered
by a heart sensitive to the plain principles of
right and .iustice between man and man. How
little does public position, as at present re-
garded, offer to the laudable ambition of our
young men! No longer does it seem honor-
able or, indeed, respectable to be a member of
our State Legislature. Look at the press of
the day! Pick up any newspaper in our
State. Abuse of the Legislature abounds in
every column. (Here were narrated ilhis-
trative incidents.)
Tt is urged the personnel of the legislative body
ought to be improved; that better men should be
selected. I have seen this tried, or a pretense of
trial, for a number of years. Allow me to say. how-
ever, tliere nro nnw in the Lesislature. in the Senate.
HISTOKY OP INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
585
at least, some as high minded, honorable, intelligent
gentlemen as can be found in Pennsylvania. . . .
The effort to reestablish that confidence between
the people and the lawmaking power of the Com-
monwealth, so necessary to the happiness of the
community and the stability of Republican institu-
tions, is an indulgence in no mere abstraction. The
legislative department affects all the concerns of
life — in the organization, indeed, of the family itself
and the enjo.yment of property. To-day there is a
want of confidence in the legislative department of
government. This confidence should be restored.
The remedy, I have thought for years, is a Constitu-
tional convention. Salutary amendments can be there
matured and submitted to the people, correcting
existing abuses, and when placed in the organic law
a measure of security will be reached.
Thirty-five years have elapsed since our last
Constitutional convention. Changes have been great
in the meantime. Our physical development, our
social condition, our material necessities, our polit-
ical elements, have changed and changed immensely
since the convention of 1838. We have now cities
and towns all over the Commonwealth wliere vil-
lages scarcely existed in 1838. . . . Such marked
changes in our condition as a people, clearly, indi-
cate the necessity of some modifications in our
State constitution; not, indeed, to change our sys-
tem, but the manner of dealing with details. (It
was here indicated that a Constitutional convention
was better than making amendments.)
The method I propose is to provide by bill for the
election of, say, thirty-two delegates at large, each
elector to vote for sixteen delegates, tlius securing
thirty-two gentlemen, possibly the best men of either
party, as delegates at large, and the balance, one
hundred, to be elected in the Senatorial districts.
When the convention assembles it should direct its
attention, first, to the executive office. I would
extend the gubernatorial term to four years, and
make him ineligible more than once in eight years.
This, in the hope of preventing an administration act-
ing in the interest of a reelection.
In our legislative organization I would have
radical changes, increase the numbers of both
branches, to make corrupt combinations more dillicult.
J would make special legislation practically impos-
sible by withdrawing from legislative jurisdiction all
subjects leading to corrupt practices and discontent
among the people. All corporations, public and
private, should be created and regulated by general
laws, A more careful manner should lie pro\nded for
the appropriation of public moneys. Ha^ty legis-
lation should be prevented, as it li;ts Ihcii i)i">t pro-
lific of scandal and reproach. All liills ^IhhiM lir riMd
in extenso when under consideration aiiil tlic yeas
and nays called and recorded on tlio linal passage of
all bills. It has long since occurred to me that
biennial sessions of the Legislature would be abund-
antly frequent, with the power, of course, in the
executive to convene extraordinary sessions. . . ,
Increase of population, enlarged commercial rela-
tions, the discovery of oil, coal operations, and other
new sources of wealth have augmented the business
of courts, necessitating an increase of judicial force.
While I am proud to believe no Commonwealth has
an abler or purer judiciary than Pennsylvania, yet
new arrangement of .Judicial districts is absolutel.v
necessary. Tlie careful attention of the wisest and
best of the State in Constitutional convention to the
subjects indicated, and kindred ones, would bring the
legislation of our Commonwealth greater purity, more
security, and that confidence so "much to be desired
in the administration of her affairs.
This brief reference to a question so important to
every Pennsylvanian may. I hope, excite more than
the passing attention of this audience. If I had the
power I would engage to it the attention of all the
good people of the whole Commonwealth. Here,
then, is a theme worthy your truest manhood.
As a result of this aud similar lectures in
different parts of the Commonwealth, a desire
was created for a Constitutional convention.
In the session then of 1872 General White in
the Senate was made chairman of the commit-
tee on Constitutional Reform, prepared a bill
for a Constitutional convention,' and conducted
its passage through the Legislature of that
year. In the debate in the Senate about this
bill, it was charged with being partisan, Sen-
ator Davis, of Berks county, saying, in oppo-
sition to it, "The Senator from Indiana has
had his own way in framing and passing this
bill." After being charged with being parti-
san, the only vote in opposition to the bill was
that of the senator who made the charge.
As said above, it would extend to undue
length this intended brief epitome of General
AYhite's career, as part of the history of the
county, to give all the details, but it is quite
proper to record that while he presided in
Committee of the Whole during the entire
consideration and discussion of the Judiciary
Article, V, yet it is pertinent to say it was
through his influence and that of his boyhood
friend and neighbor, Silas M. Clark, then a
delegate in the convention and afterwards
a Supreme judge of Pennsylvania, that the
entire plan of .judicial districts throughout the
state, as the Constitution provides, was formed
and passed. Genei-al White also wrote several
sections of Article IV, which relates to the
governor's department, as well as sections of
other articles of the constitution. All the
changes and reforms indicated in the extracts
from the address delivered in 1870. and pub-
lished above, as part of this sketch, were
adopted and are parts of the Constitution.
In 1872 he became a candidate for the
Republican nomination for governor of Penn-
sylvania. He never had the support of what
were called the bosses, but in the State con-
vention of 1872 he was next in strength of
delegates to that distinguished soldier. Gen-
eral Hartranft. who was nominated. But he
was nominated as a delegate at large to the
Constitutional convention. Governor Geary,
while the convention was in session, vetoed
the Congressional Apportionment bill. This
made it necessary for the convention to nomi-
nate three candidates for Congressman at
large, and without his knowledge or desire
Harrv White was nominated as one of these
586
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
candidates for Congress. The convention
would not nominate him for governor, but
piled other honors on him by making him a
delegate to the Constitutional convention and
also a Congressman ; while at the same time he
was a member of the Senate in the middle of
his term. It is a trite saying, "Some people
are born great, some achieve greatness, some
have greatness thrust upon them." Certainly
these honors were thrust upon Gen. Harry
White, but he relieved himself from the situa-
tion by declining the nomination for Con-
gressman at large, and accepted the nomina-
tion as a delegate for the Constitutional con-
vention.
Of course he was elected in the State at
large to the Constitutional convention, and
having been the author of the bill which called
it into existence, as was expected took a lead-
ing and prominent part in the convention.
That great Ip^wyer, William M. Meredith, of
Philadelphia, was unanimously elected presi-
dent of the convention. He was given the
power to appoint all the committees of the
body. He appointed General White chairman
of the committee on legislation and gave him
the power to select his associates on the com-
mittee. This, indeed, was the most important
committee of the convention, as it was in-
tended to pass on measures that affected the
powers of Legislature. It was the legislative
abuses which had created a necessity for and
made the people demand some constitutional
limitations on the legislative power.
Article III of the constitution is on legisla-
tive powers and contained, at the time of its
adoption, the most radical limitations on legis-
lative power of any constitution of any State.
Its pui-pose was to prevent mere class, special
and local legislation : also to prevent unneces-
sary haste in proceedings and extravagance
in expenditures and appropriations. While
some of its remedial provisions have been
thwarted by judicial misconstruction, yet it is
conceived that this third article of the consti-
tution has practically reformed some former
legislative abuses. To refer in detail to its
many sections would make a commentary too
extended for the purpose of this publication.
The sessions of the convention, beginning
in November, 1872. continued with some re-
cesses until December, 1873. During the
winter of 1873 Gen. Harry White was also
a member of the Senate of Pennsylvania, and
chairman there of some of its most important
comraittees. It was, indeed, most exhaustive
labor to attend the sittings of both the Con-
stitutional convention and the Senate of
Pennsylvania, but by unceasing exertions he
attended the important business sessions of
both bodies. While his salary as a senator was
$1,000 his salary as a member of the Consti-
tutional convention was $2,500. This latter
salary he never lifted, but turned it into the
State treasury, where it remains.
The constitution having been adopted at a
popular election, Dee. 16, 1873, went into
effect Jan. 1, 1874. Upon the Legislature of
1874 fell the duty of enacting many general
laws to put the provisions of the new consti-
tution into practical effect. General White,
still being a member of the Senate, prepared
and had passed during the session of 1874
many of the measures required to be enacted
to put the constitution into practical effect.
In 1876 General White was elected to Con-
gress from the district composed of the coun-
ties of Armstrong, Clarion, Forest, Indiana
and Jefferson, that being the year of the close
election between Hayes and Tilden, for the
presidency of the United States. General
White was appointed as one of the so-called
visiting statesmen to Louisiana, to discover
which of the two candidates was rightfully
entitled to the electoral vote of that State, and
has always insisted that while on the face of
the returns, as originally published, Tilden
apparently had the majority, after investiga-
tion and elimination of the electoral frauds
and fraudulent returns in New Orleans and
different parishes Hayes ultimately right-
fully received the electoral vote of Louisiana.
He made various speeches, which have been
published, vindicating the electoral commis-
sion of 1877 in giving Hayes the vote of
Louisiana.
Entering the Forty-fifth Congress, which
began with the extra session called for Octo-
ber, 1877, as a Republican, his party was
largely in the minority, yet having had large
legislative experience he at once took an active
and effective part in that somewhat important
and eventful Congress. Having been educated
in the Henry Clay school of politics, which
taught that liberal construction of the consti-
tution of the United States that authorized
the aid of the general government in "internal
public improvements," he early sought the
improvement, with a view of making them
navigable, of the various important rivers of
his district. Following this policy, he secured
in 1877 the first Congressional appropriation
that was ever made for the improvement of
the upper Allegheny river. That important
river, he argued, if completely slaekwatered to
be navigable all seasons of the year, would be
a large tributarj' to the commerce of western
Pennsylvania.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
587
Having been a soldier, General White
was appointed in his first Congress one of
the seven that made what was called "The
Burnside Military Commission, ' ' which sought
to reorganize the army. Although the House
had a majority adverse to his party, yet he
advocated and had passed through Congress
a report of that commission, which is, prac-
tically, the basis of the organization of the
present army of the United States. General
White also framed and supported, with an
address, an amendment to the United States
Constitution to make United States senators
elective by the people. This proposition, how-
ever, slept a death-sleep in the Judiciary com-
mittee. Many of his friends in Congress
sneered at his efforts in this behalf. But,
now, after thirty years, this change has come.
As a member of the Senate of Pennsylvania
he had participated in six elections of United
States senators, and educated by observation
and experience by such elections he believed
the time had come to allow the people of the
States to elect senators by popular vote as they
did members of the House of Representatives.
While ever a loyal Republican, he was always
of the progressive kind before that term had
become the designation of an organization in
opposition to the old-time Republican party.
While he was a member of Congress that
serious industrial disturbance in the fall of
1877 known as the '"Pittsburg Riots" took
place. General White was then, by commis-
sion of Governor Hartranft, major general of
the 9th Division of the National Guard of
Pennsylvania. As the guard was then or-
ganized, the divisions were, really, small
brigades. That, indeed, was a crucial time of
western Pennsylvania, threatening a large and
sei'ious conflict between industrial forces.
When the riots came General White was
promptly- with his division on the scene with
headquarters at Torreus Station, near Pitts-
Inirg. and did much to restore normal condi-
tions. His division started the first train on
the Pennsylvania railroad after the hostile
interruption of regular trains which had lasted
for about ten days.
The Forty-sixth Congress, to which he was
elected in the fall of 1878, was a most im-
portant one, as its discussions, reviving old-
time war questions, solidified the Republican
party, and in 1880 carried General Garfield
to the White House. General White that
year, against his wishes, was again nominated
for Congress. The Greenback craze, and the
cry of ' ' Greenbacks for Bonds, ' ' was rampant
in the district, and the fusion with the Demo-
crats retired him from Congress, although in
that election he polled more votes than Gen-
eral Garfield did for president.
In 1884, although urged to return to Con-
gress, when he surely would have been elected,
he yielded to the request of many friends and
was elected president judge of his Judicial dis-
trict, and reelected in 1894. This later Judi-
cial campaign was a most eventful one. After
his first election to the bench, in 1884, the
liquor license question, over which the court
had jurisdiction, was a most absorbing one.
While in the Senate, in 1867, he had written
the law under which license applications were
heard and decided. When he came upon the
bench, and in his decisions, as a judge, he
sought to be consistent with his utterances as a
senator. Hence he felt it his duty to decide
every application on the petitions for and
against tlie necessity for each particular
license applied for. The large preponderance
of the petitions in each case being against the
necessity for the license, he refused them all,
thus following the provisions of the law he had
written while a senator. Indiana county was
thus left without a hotel licensed to sell liquor
for ten j-ears.
No further applications for those ten years
were ever made after the first refusals. This
situation organized the liquor interest against
Judge White's reelection in 1894, and he was
elected by less than one hundred majority.
This election, however, was contested under a
law, by a coincidence, which he had written
himself while in the Senate in 1874. This
created a court to be composed of three
judges of nearest adjoining districts. In this
case two of these judges were Democrats and
one a Republican, yet his election was con-
firmed and his majority considerably in-
creased. During this second term on the
bench . however, licenses were granted in
various parts of this district, as the sentiment
on the question had materially changed
through the large increase of population be-
cause of the active coal mining interests.
While, indeed, Indiana count.y was Judge
White's judicial district, yet from time to
time he presided in the courts of sixteen Judi-
cial districts of the State. As a judge he gave
most careful and painstaking attention in the
trial of all cases, and was seldom reversed by
the Appellate courts. His opinions were gen-
erally elaborate and written or expressed in
pure, good English. Since he left the bench
in 1905 he has been active at the bar, having
all the practice he desires.
Born on the property he now owns in In-
diana, much of his life has been spent here,
and he has done much for his native county.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENi^SYLVANIA
That in'osperous educational institution, the
State Normal Suhool at Indiana, owes its crea-
tion to him, for while a senator he wrote and
had passed into law its charter, securing for it
also a State appropriation of $20,000 trf start
on, and he is yet the largest original stock-
holder in the school. While General White
lives in the township of White, which bears
the family name, being called for his honored
father, yet his office, library and interests are
Largely in the town of Indiana, where he was
born.
In 1860, then an ardent young man, he
married Anna Lena Sutton. She came of a
family largely associated with the history of
Indiana county. No woman could have been
better suited to be the wife of this ambitious,
energetic man. Anna Lena White was in all
things the type of highest, purest womanhood.
Possessed of a mind of high order, with it she
had largeness of soul, a fine tact, a most gentle,
gracious manner. In short, she was a lovely
person. It may most truly be said of this
wonderful woman, "Her children rise up and
call her blessed, her husband also, and he
praiseth her."
Of this marriage four children were born,
two daughters and two sons, at this writing
all living : The eldest daughter, Virginia, now
married to John N. Speel, pay director. United
States Navy; Thomas White, civil engineer;
Harry White, Jr., a banker; and Helen, the
fourth and youngest, now the wife of Charles
Edmund Beeson, of Pittsburg. General
White "s family circle had been unbroken until
Feb. 27, 1912, when death claimed his beloved
wife.
Though General White has had a long life,
with a long list of achievements, he is still
occupied with various activities. He is en-
gaged in banking, being president of the In-
diana County Deposit Bank, and is the largest
individual land owner in the county. Neither
heat nor cold nor storm deters him in the pur-
suit of his business or causes him to violate
an engagement. Though advanced in years
his unerring memory is as wonderful as ever,
and he retains his physical and mental
strength without a perceptible waning faculty.
A tine horseman, he has a soldierly bearing
in the saddle, and mounts and dismounts with
the ease and dexterity of long practice, for
he has always loved this recreation. He is
working far into the evening of his days, pre-
ferring this to rusting out. As he goes on his
daily activities we may hear .the echo of
Tennyson 's :
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished. not to shine in use,
As tho' to breathe were life.
JOHN McGEE, who during his life was a
civil engineer and railroad builder, having for
upward of twenty years been a resident of
South America, where he did much in the
way of railroad surveying and constructing,
was a native of Indiana county. Pa., born in
Blaeklick township Dec. 20, 1839.
Patrick McGee, grandfather of John McGee,
and founder of the family in the United
States, was a native of Londondei-ry, Ireland,
and came to America when the country was
still a colony of Great Britain. Crossing the
Atlantic in a sailing vessel, he located in
Franklin county. Pa., in 1771, and there en-
gaged in manufacturing wagons. During the
great struggle for American independence he
joined the Colonial army, and for three years
served as a soldier, being at one time taken
prisoner by the British, and confined in ' a
prison in New York City. After his adopted
country had earned its freedom he came to
Westmoreland county. Pa., and there made his
home until 1794, in which year he came to
what is now Indiana county, locating in Black-
lick township. He continued to make his home
here during the remainder of his life, follow-
ing the trade of wheelwright and wagon-
maker and also engaging in farming on the
property now owned by the Graff family. His
death occurred there in 1818, when he hati
reached the age of sixty-eight years, and he
was buried in Hopewell cemetery. He held
to the faith of the Presbyterian Church. He
was married April 17, 1796, to Esther Pilson,
who was born in 1762 and died in 1830, and
was also buried in the same cemete^^^ They
had these children : James, bom Feb. 14,
1797, who married Mary Loyns ; Robert ; and
John, born May 19, 1801, who married Marga-
ret LojTis.
Robert McGee, son of Patrick, and father
of John McGee, was born on the farm in
Blaeklick township Oct. 25, 1798, and re-
ceived his education in the subscription school
which was opened on the homestead by his
father. His boyhood was spent on the home
farm, and he begaai studying surveying with
Mr. Elliott, of Conemaugh township, a call-
ing which he subsequently followed for over
half a century. In 1835 Mr. McGee was ap-
pointed county surveyor of Indiana county,
acting in that capacity for several years. In
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
589
1852 he removed from Blaeklick to what is
now known as the MeGee faa'm in Center town-
ship, on the west side of Twolick creek, which
was owned by his father-in-law, John Ross,
who patented it in 1826. It had been origin-
ally sui-veyed in 1770 for William Evans.
The part upon which the residence is situ-
ated was first settled by James Wilkins, who,
it is said, planted an orchard of seven apple
trees about 1768 or 1769, but who was later
driven away by the Indians, who cut down
four of the apple trees with their tomahawks.
The stone house which is now occupied by
Mrs. ilcGee was built in 1823, but the
buildings on the place have been improved and
added to. The property contained more than
300 acres of land, undeiiaid with coal, and
here Mr. IMcGee spent the remainder of his
life, his death occurring April 5, 1883. He
was interred in the Homer City cemetery.
In politics he was firet a Whig and later a
Republican, and his religious belief was that
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was
a well-read man for his day, intellectual, and
one of the best-known surveyora of that period.
On April IS, 1839, Robert ilcGee was mar-
ried to Isabella Ross, who was born Feb. 12,
1809, daughter of John Ross, and she died
in 1857, and was buried beside her husband.
They had the following children : John, born
Dee. 20, 1839, is mentioned below ; Martha,
born Feb. 18, 1841, married David Mullen,
who for a number of years was a conductor
on the Indiana branch of the Pennsylvania
railroad; Robert Polk, born Aug. 19, 1842,
was a railroad engineer for a long period;
Sarah Ross was born May 23, 1845 ; James
McKnight, born April 3, 1847, resides at Two-
lick, in Center township ; a son, born Oct. 19,
1848, died the same day; Esther Ellen, born
Feb. 2, 1850. married James ]McGee, of McGees
Mills, Clearfield Co., Pa. ; Porter, born March
2, 1852, was a civil engineer and resided in
Oakland, Cal., where he was killed by a rail-
road train in 1906. After the death of his first
wife Robert McGee was married, Dec. 1, 1859,
to Mrs. Sarah (Humphrey) Ellis, who was
born Aug. 12, 1829, and was the widow of
Griffith Ellis. One child came to this union,
Charles, born Jan. 23, 1861, and now living
at McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
John McGee 's early boyhood days were
spent in Blaeklick township, where he at-
tended the local schools. In 1852 he accompa-
nied his parents to the Ross homestead, in the
vicinity of which he attended the district
schools, and supplemented this by attendance
at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. There
he studied civil engineering, and from his
father learned the profession of surveying, in
which vocation he continued all of his life. In
February, 1872, he went to South America for
Henry and John Meggs, to survey for a rail-
road in the Andes mountains, and on complet-
ing his work returned home. From Peru he
went to Valparaiso, Chile, South America,
where he was engaged in civil engineering for
the same railroad builders. Later he became
a representative of several Pittsburg manu-
facturers of agricultural implements at Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, but one year later returned
to the United States and located at Steuben-
ville, Ohio, with his family. He subsequently
became constructing engineer for the Santa
Fe Railroad Company at Pueblo, Colo., and
served in a like capacity for the West Shore
Railroad Company, between Utiea and Al-
bany, N. Y., in addition to surveying and
building the little branch road ten miles from
Saratoga to Mount ilcGregor, N. Y. Going
thence to the Argentine Republic, he was en-
gaged in constructing for an English syndi-
cate a railroad in the province of Entre Rios,
covering a distance of two hundred miles, the
Hume Brothers being the contractors. Subse-
cjuently he enlisted his services in behalf of
another English syndicate, in gold and copper
mining in Patagonia, and continued to be so
engaged at Capillitas, in the Andes, until 1904,
when the failure of his health caused him to
abandon these enterprises, in which he had
large interests, and to return to his home in
Center township. He had waited too long,
however, and died Dec. 12, 1904. He is buried
in Greenwood cemetery.
Mr. McGee was a Republican in his polit-
ical belief, a member of the Jlethodist Episco-
pal Church, and a Mason in good standing.
During the Civil war he enlisted in Company
C, 42d Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, In-
fantry, but this company was disbanded after
two months at Chancellorsville. He was a
man of keen intellect, gi*eat breadth of mind
and wide general information, and his reputa-
tion as a civil and constructing engineer ex-
tended over two continents.
On Nov. 26, 1866, Mr. McGee was married,
at Marietta, Ohio, to Sarah C. Hodkinson, who
was born at Bedford Springs, Bedford Co.,
Pa., daughter of Matthew and Eleanor (Dug-
dale) Hodkinson. ilr. Hodkinson was a na-
tive of Buxton, England, and for years
was engaged in business at Pittsburg, Pa.,
later becoming one of the best known oil
operators of Marietta, Ohio. His last years
were spent on the MeGee homestead in Center
township, where he became engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, and where his death oc-
590
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
curred. Mrs. McGee's mother was a native of
Ireland, and died at Marietta, Ohio.
Mrs. MeGee still owns and occupies the
homestead in Center township, where she
passes the summer seasons, spending the win-
ter months largely in travel in the large cities.
A lady of culture, refinement, and artistic
taste and temperament, she has traveled
widely throughout this country, as well as in
England and South America. She has decided
ideas on the subject of woman suffrage, being
a firm believer in the principle that those who
pay taxes should have a voice in the govern-
ment. Her children have been carefully
reared and educated, being fitted to take any
position in life to which they may be called.
They are: (1) Sarah Hodkinson was edu-
cated in the public schools and high school at
Saratoga, N. Y., and the Conservatory of
Music at Boston, became musical instructor in
the School for the Blind at Boston, and for the
last three years has been instructor of music
in the Cathedral School at Havana, Cuba. (2)
Eleanor, also a graduate of the schools of Sara-
toga, N. Y., the high school, and the Conserva-
tory of Music, Boston, like her sister traveled
throughout this and other countries, taught
for some time at the Boston School for the
Blind, and is married to William Lawrence
]\Iurphy, a well-known educator of Boston;
they have three children, Eleanor, William
and Francis. In addition to being a skilled
vocal and instrumental musician, Mrs. Mur-
phy has decided talent for painting. (3) Mat-
thew Hodkinson, born at Marietta, Ohio, in
1872, received a public and high school edu-
cation, and then attended the military acad-
emy at Chester, Pa. He then became a stu-
dent in Princeton College, and is now civil en-
gineer for the Ulster & Delaware Railroad
Company. He is unmarried.
HON. JOHN P. ELKIN, a justice of the
Supreme court of Pennsylvania, was born and
reared and developed in Indiana county,
where he has spent most of his life. His suc-
cessful career is fairly representative of the
growth and development of the county and its
people. Born in a log house on a farm in
West Mahoning township in the early sixties,
his elementary education was attended with
many difficulties. The district school was lo-
cated more than a mile from his home and
was open for the instruction of pupils dur-
ing only four months of the year, and this in
the winter season. There was no public road
connecting his home with the schoolhouse. and
it was necessary to cross fields and travel un-
lieaten paths to reach the place where the old-
fashioned schoolmaster taught reading, writ-
ing and arithmetic with a rod in one hand and
a New Testament in the other. The furnish-
ings of the schoolroom were simple and some-
what crude ; the benches were hand made, not
beautiful in appearance, nor comfortable to
sit upon; but they were substantial and an-
swered the purpose. The teacher taught the
beginner the ABC method and impressed
the pupil with the disgrace of not being able
to spell correctly. The methods of teaching
were simple in the extreme, but as applied to
the three branches taught were effective in
producing satisfactory results. Pupils in the
common schools in those days did learn to
"spell and figure." This was the common
school education of fifty or sixty years ago
and it was the foundation upon which the
subject of this sketch builded for the future.
In his ninth year the family moved to the
little village of Smieksburg, where the father
engaged in the store and foundry business.
Here the school was more accessible but the
tcKns were short, not exceeding four months
of the year at any time during this period. In
1872 Francis Elkin, the father of John P.,
associated with several friends, organized a
company to manufacture tin plate in this
country. This was the first enterprise of the
kind launched on American soil. The manu-
facturing plant was built at Wellsville, Ohio,
to which .place the Elkin family moved in
1873. Although a boy not yet fourteen years
of age young Elkin sought and secured em-
ployment in the mill, first as "hammer-boy,"
then as "heaver-up-at-the-muck-rolls, " and
finally as a finisher in the tin-house. He con-
tinued in this employment until the end of
the year 1874, at which time the mill shut
down. At that time the secrets of manufac-
turing tin plate were carefully guarded by
the Welsh people and were unknown to
Americans. The new industry was twenty-
five years ahead of its time in this country,
and it proved a failure resulting in total loss
to those who had invested their money in the
enterprise, including the Elkin family. It
became necessary to start life over again.
Young Elkin then made up his mind to se-
cure an education and lay the foundation for
a professional career. He entered the high
school at Wellsville and 'resumed his studies
with renewed vigor. Necessity taught him
how to study and to apply his mind. He
made rapid progress, and practically finished
the high school course at the end of the school
year. In the fall of 1875 the family moved
back to Smickslnii'g, where there was a vacancy
in the borough school. Young Elkin applied
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
591
for the position and through the assistance
of some of the old citizens who believed in
him he was selected as teacher. He was then
on]}' fifteen and a half years old and he was
required to teach the boys and girls who had
lieen his schoolmates and fi'iends. It was a
trying position, but he finished the tenn with
the approval of the patrons. From 1876 until
18S0 he attended school during the summer
months and taught in the winter seasons. It
was during this time that he attended the
normal school at Indiana one term each year
until 1879, when he borrowed sufficient funds
from a friend to enable him to remain in
school for the entire year. He was graduated
in 1880, after which he again engaged in the
profession of teaching. In the fall of 1881
he matriculated as a law student in the Uni-
versity of Michigan, from which institution
he was gi-aduated in 1884. He was honored
by being selected as the orator of his class, a
distinction sought by many but enjoyed by
few. An unusual event occurred during the
last year of his university course. His father,
who died in December, 1882, had been men-
tioned as a possible candidate for the Legisla-
ture, and some of his friends conceived the
idea that the son might be selected to make
the contest instead of the father. As a result
of correspondence on this question young
Elkin decided to enter the contest and make
the race. He conducted his campaign by
correspondence while a student at the Uni-
versity at Ann Arbor, IMich. The primaries
were held one week after his graduation and
resulted favorably to him. The most impor-
tant event in his life occurred a few weeks
later. He was united in marriage, on June
17, 1884, with Adda P., daughter of John
Prothero, late pre'sident of the First National
Bank of Indiana, Pa. A good wife and a
happy family are the richest blessings vouch-
safed to man on earth. This union has been
blessed with three children : Helen Prothero,
born July 27, 1886; Laura Louise, born June
10, IM'2: and Stanley, bom July 15, 1898.
The eldest daughter, Helen, is married to W.
]\I. Arrastrous, and to their union one child,
Helen Elizabeth, was born Sept. 16, 1910.
Mr. Elkin served as the representative of
Indiana countv in the Legislature during the
sessions of 1885 and 1887. In 1887, as chair-
man of the committee on Constitutional Re-
form, he had charge of the proposed constitu-
tional amendment submitting to a vote of the
people the question of prohibiting the sale of
intoxicating liquors in the Commonwealth.
He is temperate in his habits and believes in
wliolesome practical laws and policies that
have for their purpose the advancement of
the cau.se of temperance. He also served on
the Judiciary General, Retrenchment and Re-
form, and Library committees. He was ad-
mitted as a member of the bar in 1885 and
began the practice of law in his native county-.
He took an active interest in political affairs
and frecjuently represented his county in State
and national conventions, being a delegate to
the convention of 1890 which nominated
George W. Delamater for governor: and in
1891 he was permanent chairman of the con-
vention which nominated General Gregg for
auditor general and Captain Morrison for
State treasurer. At all times he took an active
interest in educational matters, and has been
connected as pupil, student, teacher, director
or trustee with the public and normal schools
of the Commonwealth since the days of his
boyhood. For several years he was president
of the school board of Indiana and for a quar-
ter of a century has been an active member of
the board of trustees of the State normal
school located there. He was elected presi-
dent of the Fanners' Bank in 1893. wliieh
position he occupied until 1895, when he
moved to Harrisburg in order to better per-
form the duties of deputy attorney general, to
which position he had been appointed under
the Hastings administration. In 1896 he was
elected by his Congressional district as dele-
gate to the national convention which met at
St. Louis and nominated "William ]McKinle.v
of Ohio as its candidate for president. He
actively participated in the memorable scenes
of that convention. He was a sound money
man and stood with nearly all of his delesration
against the heresies of the free silver propa-
ganda which then threatened the disruption
of political parties. He witnessed the almost
pathetic withdrawal of Senators Teller of
Colorado, Du Bois of Idaho, Cannon of Utah,
and other free silver advocates from the con-
vention and from the Republican party. L^pon
his return from the convention he was elected
chaii-man of the Republican State committee
of Pennsylvania and conducted an educational
campaign for sound money throughout the
State. This resulted in the largest plurality
ever given presidential electors up to that
time in our State. He served as chairman of
the State committee for five years, during all
of which time the political situation was very
much disturbed- on account of the factional
strife then existing. He resigned as deputy
attorney general in 1897 because of political
differences with the Hastings administration.
In 1898 he conducted a successful campaign
for William A. Stone, who was elected gover-
592
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
nor. In 1899 he was appointed attorney gen-
eral, in which official position he served for a
term of four years. The Legislature of 1899
having failed to elect a senator to fill the
vacancy in the United States Senate, Governor
Stone appointed Senator Quay. This raised a
very interesting constitutional question as to
the power of a governor to fill vacancies by
appointment. The opponents of Senator Quay
challenged the power of the governor to ap-
point and denied the right of Senator Quay
to take his seat in the Senate. The question
was referred to the committee on Privileges
and Elections, of which Senator Chandler of
New Hampshire was chairman, and Senator
Hoar of Massachusetts an active member. It
became necessary to argue this question be-
fore the committee, and Mr. Elkin was chosen
to make the argument. He represented the
Commonwealth and took the position that
under our system of government each State
was entitled to full representation in the Sen-
ate, and if the Legislature failed to elect, it
was the duty of the Governor to appoint. The
opposition was represented by former Senator
Edmunds, of Vermont, a recognized authority
on constitutional law, and Hon. Hampton L.
Carson and George Wharton Pepper, leading
members of the Philadelphia bar. It was a
question of importance to the public, and at
the time the arguments were the subject of
wide comment throughout the country. The
committee sustained the contentions of Mr.
Elkin and reported in favor of seating Sena-
tor Quay. The Senate after prolonged dis-
cussion by a ma.iority of one vote refused to
accept the report of the committee, with the
result that Senator Quay was not permitted
to take his seat. The whole question was fin-
ally settled by the Legislature in 1901, when
Senator Quay was elected for the full term.
In 1902 Mr. Elkin concluded to announce
his name as a candidate for governor. This
led to one of the most spirited political con-
tests in the history of the Republican party in
Pennsylvania. Senator Quay, then leader of
the dominant party, opposed his candidacy,
and in the early part of that struggle asked
for an interview. j\Ir. Elkin complied with
the request and met the Senator at the "Strat-
ford Hotel" in the city of Philadelphia. The
Senator insisted that Mr. Elkin should retire
from the contest, which he refused to do. The
result was an open breach, followed by a
strenuous campaign in almost every county of
the State. Elkin announced that he refused
to be ordered out of the race and made his
appeal direct to the people, who responded by
instructing delegates in his favor in- every
county in which the question was submitted.
Blair, Chester, Dauphin, Lancaster, Northum-
berland and Tioga counties, the city of Wilkes-
Barre, and several other large districts, in-
structed their delegates for him. When the
convention met at Harrisburg in June, it was
found that many of the instructed delegates
had been induced to violate their instructions
and vote for the opposition. It was a memor-
able convention, the scenes and incidents of
which will not soon be forgotten by those who
participated in it. Two thousand miners from
the anthi-acite region with picks on their
shoulders and lamps in their caps paraded the
streets of the capital city carrying Elkin ban-
ners and demanding his nomination. The
sentiment of the people was strongly with
Elkin, but a sufficient number of weak dele-
gates, instructed for him, yielded to the sub-
stantial and persuasive arguments of the op-
position, with the result that he was defeated
by a few votes. Hon. Samuel W. Penny-
packer, a highly respected and able jurist of
the courts of Common Pleas of Philadelphia
county, who was unfamiliar with the methods
employed by his friends at the convention,
received the nomination and became the stand-
ard-bearer of the party. Mr. Elkin accepted
the situation with as much grace as possible
under the circumstances, and upon the ex-
piration of his term as attorney general
resumed the active practice of his profession
during the years 1903 and 1904. He was so
engaged when in April, 1904, the convention
met at Harrisburg for the purpose of nomi-
nating a candidate to fill a vacancy in the
Supreme court. He was not a candidate for
this position, and it was generally thought
that Governor Pennypacker would receive the
nomination. The delegates met at Harrisburg
with this understanding, but on Tuesday after-
noon the Governor announced to a committee
headed by the veteran David H. Lane, of
Philadelphia, that he had decided to remain
in the position to which the people had elected
him and refused to allow his name to be sub-
mitted to the convention. In this situation
the delegates looked about for a new candidate
and finally determined to tender the nomina-
tion to Mr. Elkin. It was a novel situation
and required quick decision. Mr. Elkin after
consulting with his friends concluded to accept
the nomination, which was unanimously ten-
dered him on the following day by the con-
vention. At the November election there were
east for him 737.978 votes in the Republican
column, the largest Republican vote ever cast
in favor of a candidate for a State office in
Pennsylvania. His Democratic opponent re-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
593
eeived 306,265 votes, making the plurality of
Mr. Elkiu 4:31,713, wliicli was the largest
plurality received by any candidate for State
ofSce up to that time. Mr. Elkin assumed his
judicial duties the first of January, 1905, and
at this writing has been on the bench for eight
years, with thirteen years of his term yet to
serve. He is in the enjoyment of his full
physical and mental powers and is much at-
tached to his judicial work. In the spring of
1912 he was favorably considered by the Presi-
dent for appointment to a vacancy in the
Supreme court of the United States. He has
devoted all of his time and energy to the per-
formance of his judicial duties and lias made
a useful and intelligent member of our court
of last resort.
In matters of religious faith Mr. Elkin has
followed in the footsteps of his fathers, who
for centuries were devout members of the
Church of England and in this country of the
Protestant Episcopal 'Church. In England
and Ireland many of his ancestors were clergy-
men and loyal Protestants. In Indiana the
parish is weak, but Mr. Elkin contributes
freely of his means to support the little church
whose servicec he attends.
Soon after his admission to the bar he be-
gan to take an interest in the development of
the coal fields of Indiana county. Indeed, he
may very properly be regarded as a pioneer
in the development of the coal industry in
this county. In connection with Henry and
George Prothero he laid the ' foundation for
opening up the mines of the Cush Creek re-
gion in 1887 and has been interested in that
section from that time to the present. After
several years of efSort they succeeded in hav-
ing the Cush Creek branch of the railroad
built from Mahaffey to Glen Campbell. They
sold to the Glenwood Coal Company the lands
operated by them near Glen Campbell, and
thus began the operations which since that
time have been extended in every direction in
that part of the county. He believed then,
and believes now. in the profitable operation
of our coal lands, and has always been willing
to back his faith by making investments in
different sections of the county. The future
of Indiana county is bright and promising and
no one has greater faith in that future than
the subject of this sketch. Mr. Elkin has been
successful in his business affairs as well as in
his professional life. His energy is untiring
and his industry great. He is preeminently
the architect of his own fortune, as he in-
herited nothing but a strong body and a good
mind. He possesses the qualities of energy
and decision and his success in life bears
testimony to what can be accomplished by
one who, possessing these qualities, knows how
to use them.
jMr. Elkin is a member of the Union League
of Philadelphia, of the American Academy of
Political and Social Science, of the Clover
Club, and of other fratei-nal and social or-
ganizations.
He . made his first appearance as a public
speaker in the campaign of 1878, when he
was not yet nineteen years of age. This was
at a time when the Greenback party was on
the crest of the wave of popular appi-oval all
over the country. He took his position against
the fallacies of the new party, and has alwaj-s
stood for sound money as the only basis to
give substantial and enduring national and
individual credit. In 1880 he stumped the
county for Garfield and from that time until
his retirement from political activity, in 1904,
he participated in every State and national
campaign. He believes that young men should
cultivate the habit of public speaking, and
the earlier they begin the sooner will they
acquire facility of expression and ease of
manner. It matters not how simple the .start,
or how unimportant the occasion, but there
must be a beginning, if a young man ever ex-
pects to become a pubUe speaker. The old-
fashioned literary society, and the debating
club of the country school, were admirably
adapted for developing a taste for public
speaking. Mr. Elkin, in his teaching days, al-
ways made use of the literary society and the
debating club as the most available means of
creatiug popular interest in the cause of edu-
cation in rural districts. He believes in the
country boy raised on the farm, or in the
homes of those who work for a living, and his
experience has taught him that no boy so
raised need despair of success if he has the
ambition to succeed and the application neces-
sary to work out results.
ELKIN FAMILY.
AViLLiAJi Elkin, late of West ilahoning
township, may be said to have been the
head of the family in Indiana county. He
was born in County Tyrone, Ireland,
Feb. 3. 1804, and died at his home in
the above named township May 28, 1896, aged
ninety-two years, three months, twenty-five
days. He was twice married, and raised two
families. He was first married to IMartha
Beattie, who died in Ireland in 1849. Her
children were: Francis, intermarried with
Elizabeth Pratt; William, with Mary Elkin;
594
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
James, with Jane Elkin ; Henry, with Agues
Potter; Eliza, with John Bond; Anne, with
Spencer Barrett, and Sarah, with James Chap-
man. Four years after the death of his fii-st
wife William Elkin married Jane Rippey, in
1853. The children of the second marriage
were : David, intermarried with Etta Lowe ;
Martha, with Thomas Ralston ; and John, with
Emma Sprangle. All of these children lived
in western Pennsylvania, where many of them
with their families still reside.
In 1850 William Elkin made a visit to his
son Francis, who lived in Pittsburg, Pa., and
who had preceded his father to this country.
After remaining here nine months William
returned to Ireland and two years later came
back to Pittsburg with his family. In 1854 he
purchased the old homestead in West Mahon-
ing township, upon which he spent the re-
mainder of his life.
Martha Beattie, first wife of William Elkin,
was the granddaughter of Joseph Hill, who
died in Ireland in 1844 at the ripe old age of
107 years.
Francis Elkin, eldest son of William and
father of Hon. John P. Elkin, died in Smicks-
burg. Pa., Dec. 12, 1882, leaving to survive
him a wife, Elizabeth (Pratt) Elkin, and six
children: Elizabeth Caroline, intermaxried
with William Elkin; James Henry, with M.
Ella Oberlin ; John Pratt, with Adda P. Proth-
ero; Martha Cordelia, with W. D. McHenry;
William Francis, with Ersie C. Maugans ; and
Margaret Alicia, with Robert McKibben.
Martha (Beattie) Elkin, grandmother of
Hon. John P. Elkin, had several brothers and
sisters, hut none of the old stock emigrated to
America. Her brothers, Henry, Robert, and
John, were men of literary ability and became
distinguished scholars. Henry was gradu-
ated from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1847.
He won several scholarships during his uni-
versity course in competitive e.xaminations,
and was graduated with distinguished honor.
He took a theological course and became a
clergyman in the Church of England. He
married the daughter of a bishop and resided
near London, his children still living there.
His brothers, Robert and John, followed in
his footsteps in the matter of acquiring an
education, but did not become clergymen.
They prepared themselves for the profession
of teaching and for many years were leading
instructors in the Queen's naval schools. The
Beattie family was inclined to intellectual pur-
suits and its members took high rank in the
various callings and professions in which they
became engaged. Many of the younger gen-
eration are in professional life in England at
the present time.
The authorities on genealogy hold widely
dissimilar views regarding the origin of the
surname Elkin. In "The Domesday," gen-
erally regarded as an authoritative record in
England, the name is said to be a combination
of "Ella" and "kyn" and was used to desig-
nate the followers of Ella, the leader of a
band of Saxon invaders who landed in south
Britain about the year 514 A. D. He be-
came king of the South Saxons and with his
three sons and followers ruled those people
for a long term of years. He was universally
conceded to be the head of all the subsequent
settlers in Britain — the first Bretwalda. In
the history of the Northmen we find that
"Ella" and "Alia" were used as interchange-
able words and had the same meaning.
Frequently the words "EUakind" and "Alla-
kind ' ' were used in the sense of being synonj'-
mous with "Englishman." According to a
slightly different view the name Elkin, while
used to designate an Englishman, is a modi-
fication or corruption of "Alchen, " a Shrop-
shire land holder in the reign of King Edward
the Confessor, the last of the Saxon kings of
England. There can be but little doubt that
the name Elkin is of Saxon origin and that it
was used to designate the people who followed
the fortunes of King Ella. According to Fer-
guson, a recognized authority on the origin of
names, "Ella" is derived from the Gothic
words "alius" and "alja," meaning a person
from another country, a foreigner, or a wan-
derer. In this connection there appear in the
old German language "alja," "Ello," and
"Ella," and in the later German these words
appear in their diminutive forms as "Alikin"
and " Elikin" ; while in the Anglo-Saxon these
words appear as "Alchen" and "Elkin."
From these words and their derivatives we
learn two facts: 1. That the Saxon kings and
their followers were inhabitants of the Con-
tinent before they became invaders of Britain.
The name Elkin is therefore of Teutonic and
not of Celtic origin. 2. That the original
name was "Elkin" and not "Elkins," be-
cause in all of the derivatives and roots there
is no indication of the addition of the letter
"s, " which was probably added in England
at a much later date. The two forms are used
interchangeably and mean the same thing.
Both branches of the family belong to the
old Saxon stock.
The members of the Elkin family who set-
tled in western Pennsylvania belong to the
branch that emigrated from England to Ire-
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
595
land in the seventeenth eentuiy. The exact
date of the settlement of the Elkin families in
Ireland is not known. The best authenticated
tradition is that in the seventeenth century
some members of the Graham, Ramsey and
Elkin families emigi-ated from England to
County Tyrone, Ireland, and settled near
Omagh. Among those who thus settled in Ire-
land was a certain James Elkin, of whose sub-
se(|uent history little is known. Robert Elkin
was the head of the chief branch of the family
in Ireland. He came from England about the
middle of the eighteenth century and settled
near Omagh. He married JIarjorie Woods,
of County Fermanagh, where some of her
relatives still reside. There is no definite in-
formation concerning this Robert Elkin, but
he had brothers and sisters and no doubt was
closely related to the James Elkin mentioned
above, who also came from England some years
before. It is also very probable that he was
a member of the family of William Elkin men-
tioned in English history as an alderman of
London, and also of John Elkin, one of the
subscribers to the London Company 's Colonies
in America, 1609, and a merchant of London,
where many members of the Elkin family of
England lived.
The history of the second generation in Ire-
land may very properly stiirt with the children
of Robert Elkin and Marjorie Woods, his wife.
They were five in number: Robert, David,
Francis, William and Mary, and were born at
Mullinatomagh. The parents were stricken
with fever and died when the children were
comparatively young. They were taken into
the family of William Smith, a neighbor,
whose daughter Catherine afterward mari-ied
David Elkin, the second son of Robert. David
and his wife by their industry and thrift were
soon able to purchase the farm known as Kil-
buek, which has remained as a homestead in
the Elkin family from that time to the present.
Robert Elkin, the eldest son of Robert and
JIarjorie (Woods) Elkin, came to America in
1794 and made his first settlement in Brush-
valley township, Indiana Co., Pa. He was the
first of the Elkin family to emigi-ate to
America from Ireland. He was a farmer in
Ireland and evidently decided to follow the
same occupation here, and no doubt selected
a farm in that section of Indiana county for
this purpose. For many years he wrote an
occasional letter to his friends in Ireland, but
nothing was heard from him later perhaps
than 1825, except that he had moved from
Indiana county to the central part of Ohio.
In the history of Indiana county published in
1880, it is recorded that Samuel S. Stephens,
who lived in Brushvalley township, married a
Rebecca Elkin in the early part of the nine-
teenth century. This Rebecca Elkin was no
doubt the daughter of Robert Elkin, who set-
tled there soon after coming to this country.
William Elkin, a nephew of Robert P]lkin,
emigrated from Ireland and settled here in
1853. He made a visit to Ohio for the pur-
pose of locating the family of his uncle Robert,
but found they had left there and moved to
Missouri. It is known that Robert Elkin had
a large family and numerous descendants, who
no doubt live in different States of the south-
west. Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and
southern Illinois. There is a large Elkin fam-
ily in that section of the country and no doubt
many of them are the descendants of Robert
Elkin, the first of the family to settle in this
country.
Francis Elkin, the third son of Robert and
]Marjorie (Woods) Elkin, was born at ]\Iullina-
toraagh — the exact date of his birth is not
definitely known, but was perhaps in the year
1784. He married Nancy Park, and to this
marriage three children were born, William,
Mary and Sarah. He died in 1864 and was
buried in Lower Langfield cemetery, where
his brothers David and William were also
buried. In 1905 Hon. John P. Elkin. while
on a visit to Ireland, caused a monument to
be erected in the cemetery at Langfield to the
memory of Francis Elkin, who was his great-
grandfather, and also in memory of his grand-
mother, Martha (Beattie) Elkin. who was
buried at Cappah in 1849. Francis Elkin had
the reputation of being industrious, thrifty,
intelligent and loyal to friendships, princi-
ples, convictions and faith. He was a man of
affairs and had the respect and confidence of
his neighbors, relatives and friends. He lived
a long and useful life and died contented and
happy at the old homestead in Ireland. It
was a matter of regret to him that most of his
immediate family had emigrated to America,
but he was reconciled because he thought they
had greater opportunities here than they could
Iiave in the old country. He lived and died
a member of the Church of England, the faith
of his fathers.
William Elkin, familiarly called "Orange
Billy," was the fourth son of Robert and
Marjorie (Woods) Elkin. ]\Iary Elkin, the
fifth child, was intei-married with a Mr. Hun-
ter, and many of the descendants of this fam-
ily live in Canada.
" That members of the Elkin family were en-
gaged in various occupations and professions
596
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
appears from the fact that in 1559 a certain
George Elkins was graduated from Oxford
and became a clergyman of the Church of
England; and a William Elkiu was made
vicar of the parish at East Cloyden, Bucking-
hamshire, in 1405. Another William Elkin
is mentioned in connection with his daughter
Ursula, who man-ied Sir Roger Owen, a promi-
nent member of Parliament from the County
Salop. The widow of this William Elkin
afterward married Thomas Owen, father of
Sir Roger, and a judge of the court of Com-
mon Pleas during the reign of Queen Eliza-
beth. The members of the original Elkin
family lived in the south and east of England,
especially near Cheltenham and in London.
In the "Munimenta Gildhalae Londoniensis"
there is a reference to a Robert EUkyn, thus
retaining in part at least the early form of
spelling, a combination of "Ella" and "kyn."
He was an office holder during Sir Richard
Wliittington's mayoralty in the sixteenth cen-
tury. In 1547 a coat of arms was granted to
Richard Elkins, and in 1593 another coat of
arms was granted William Elkin. who was an
alderman of Cripple Gate, London. About
the same time the family coat of arms was
authorized to be registered and is still adopted
by the English branch of the family.
In western Pennsylvania the Elkin people
are very generally engaged in agricultural
pursuits. They are industrious, frugal, thrifty
and reasonably prosperous. They are loyal
to friendships, devoted to their families and
maintain correct standards in the domestic re-
lation. They pay their debts, keep their con-
tracts and save their earnings. They live the
simple life and find recreation and enjoyment
in wholesome things.
PRATT FAMILY.
Elizabeth Pratt Elkin, mother of Jus-
tice John P. Elkin, was the youngest
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Carden)
Pratt. She was born on the old homestead in
Queen's County, Ireland, July 16, 1833, and
died at her home in Indiana, Pa., Jan. 2, 1913.
She left Ireland in her eighteenth year and
settled with friends in the city of New York,
where she remained a few years, and then
came to Pittsburg, where she first met and
subsequently married Francis Elkin. The
newly-married couple lived in Pittsburg,
where the husband was employed as superin-
tendent of the iron mills of John Lindsey, his
uncle, who died suddenly during a visit to
Ireland. The death of Mr. Lindsey left the
business in the control of a junior partner,
Christopher Zug, who for reasons best known
to himself found it convenient to dispense with
the sei-vices of Francis Elkin. This changed
the plans of Mr. and Mrs. Elkin, and during
a visit to William Elkin, his father, who then
lived in West Mahoning township, Francis
Elkin concluded to buy a farm and engage in
agricultural pursuits, which he did. Francis
Elkin and his wife thus found their way iuto
Indiana county and began their career here.
They were industrious, saved their earnings
and prospered. After spending several years
on the farm they moved to Smicksburg, where
they spent the greater part of their lives, re-
maining until the death of the husband. Mrs.
Elkin was a helpmate to her husband in every
sense of the word, and loyally supported him
in all of his undertakings. In adversity she
cheered him; in sorrow she comforted him;
and in success she rejoiced with him. She was
loyal to his every interest and always willing
to bear her share of the burdens. In religion
she adhered to the faith of her ancestors, who
for centuries were steadfast in their allegiance
to the Church of England. She was confirmed
as a member of the church in Ireland before
departing for America and for more than
sixty years remained true and devoted to the
church of her choice. Her body lies at rest
near the entrance to the little Episcopal
Church at Smicksburg which her husband was
instrumental in building more than forty years
ago. In later years she attended Christ
Church, Indiana, where she was much es-
teemed by those who attended the services
there.
The Pratt family of Ireland were devoted
followers of Oliver Cromwell, and were ranked
among his favorite soldiers at the time of his
invasion of Ireland. Prior to that time they
had lived in England, but following the for-
tunes of "Old Ironsides" they found their
way into Ireland and became possessed of a
considerable portion of the fair lands of
Queen's County. John Pratt, father of Eliza-
beth (Pratt) Elkin. was familiarly known as
"Cromwell Pratt," because of his devotion
and loyalty to the cause of the Lord Protector
of England, Scotland and Ireland. The
Pratts aided Cromwell in the storming of
Drogheda in 1649 and some of them won dis-
tinction for acts of valor in that engagement.
This was a tradition in the family, passed
down from one generation to another, the
mention of which was always sufficient to stir
the fighting spirit of the Pratts. John Pratt
had a family of thirteen children, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the youngest. They
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
scattered to the four corners of the earth, and
their descendants may be found in Australia,
New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and in
several sections of the United States. AH of
the brothers and sisters predeceased Mrs.
Elkin. It was always a matter of keen re-
gret to her that she was separated from her
brothers and sisters, for whom she had the
deepest affection, but this was the fate which
befell many an Irish family.
Justice John P. Elkin, who bears the name
of his maternal grandfather, during a visit
to Ireland caused a monument to be erected
in the chui-chyard at Rathdowuey in memory
of John Pratt, who was buried there. He
also caused another moniunent to be erected
in the graveyard at Skirk, in memory of his
gi'andmother, Elizabeth (Carden) Pratt, who
survived her husband many years and died at
eighty-nine. The Cardens were a large fam-
ily and much respected. Some members of
this family emigrated to Canada and were in
professional life there.
The Pratt family were of Norman stock, and
the tradition is that they came into England
with William the Conqueror. After the Con-
quest the Pratts and their numerous descend-
ants lived in England for many centuries. A
large branch of the family still resides there.
Mrs. EUdn eame to this country in a sailing
vessel, was shipwrecked, and after many trials
and vicissitudes finally landed in New York
harbor, having spent nearly three months on
the ocean. It was an adventurous voyage and
left her in dread of the storms of the sea. She
never overcame this feeling, and as a result
she was unwilling to revisit the old friends in
Ireland whom she dearly loved and often
talked about. In her bedchamber in the old
home at Smicksburg hung the picture of an
Irish maiden who had come to this country,
underneath which were printed the following
lines, no doubt expressive of her own senti-
ment :
Erin, my country, though sad and forsaken,
In dreams, I revisit thy sea-beaten shore ;
But alas! In a far foreign land I awaken,
And sigh for the friends who can meet me no
more.
She was a devoted wife, a good mother, a
loyal friend, and steadfast in her convictions
and faith. Her wish was that she be buried
by the side of her husband in the old church-
yard at Smicksburg, and this was done. She
spent the happiest days of her life among the
people out there and it seemed most fitting
that her body should rest where her heart was.
LOUGHRY. In the mercantile circles of
the borough of Indiana no name has held more
honorable place than that of Loughry, still
represented there by the members of the firm
of W. R. Loughry & Co., the leading general
merchants. In former years James A.
Loughry and Samuel Lucas Loughry, broth-
ers of WiUiam R. Loughry, both of whom
died in their prime, were also in business
there, the latter as junior member of the firm
of W. R. Loughry & Co., the former for some
time associated with the original house from
which this grew and later on his own account.
"William Loughry, the great-gi-andfather of
William R., James A. and Samuel Lucas
Loughry, was bom in the North of Ireland
and came to the United States when a young
man. He was a farmer by occupation. He
was a member of the famous Boston Tea
Party, and served as a soldier during the
Revolution.
James Loughry, son of William, was born
in Indiana county, Pa., in the early days of
the settlement of this section, and became a
farmer. He died at the age of about seventy.
He married Anna Wilson.
William Loughry, son of James and Anna
(Wilson), was for many years a school teacher
in Indiana county, becoming very well known
in that connection. He was endowed with
high musical talents and was quite noted as
a singer. For many years he was prominently
identified with the Queens Presbyterian
Church, which he served for several years in
the capacity of deacon. He died in Sep-
tember, 18.59, aged forty-six years. In 18.38
Mr. Loughry married Margaret Lucas, who
was born Aug. 18, 1818, in Indiana, daughter
of .Johnand Susanna Lucas, and spent most
all her life at her native place. Mrs. Loughry
attained the great age of ninety-four years,
dying Dee. 13, 1912, at her home on North
Sixth street, Indiana. She was buried in
Oakland cemetery. She was survived by one
brother, William Lucas, of Willet, Indiana
county ; by only two of her ten children, Wil-
liam R. and Mary E. Loughry; and four
grandchildren. At the time of her death Mrs.
Loughry was the oldest member of the In-
diana Presbyterian Church, and though in
her closing days not often able to attend ser-
vices continued her interest in the welfare of
the congregation, among whose members she
was sincerely beloved. She belonged to the
598
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
various church societies and took an active
part in the work of the congregation, having
been associated with its life in, the three build-
ings occupied in the last century. Though
feeble in body in her later years she retained
all her mental faculties to the end. Constant
reading, in which she took deep enjoyment,
kept her informed on the current happenings,
and her excellent memory enabled her to re-
call many things pertaining to the early his-
tory of the town and county, particularly life
and customs in the early days of the borough.
She could remember when the present site of
the place was a wilderness, and had watched
all its prosperity and growth to its present
importance. Her kindly disposition endeared
her to a large circle of friends, and her pleas-
ant life and the many happy associations of
her early years made her a cheerful and de-
lightful companion. The ten children born
to Mr. and Mrs. Loughry were: Susanna,
who died in infancy ; William R., head of the
firm of W. R. Loughry & Co., now living on
East Philadelphia street, Indiana; Matilda
A., who died young ; Elnora, deceased ; John
E., who died at Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1863,
when only sixteen years old, while serving as
a Union soldier in the Civil war (his death
was due to hard service and exposure) ;
Rhoda J., deceased ; Mary E., in partnership
with her brother William in the firm of W.
R. Loughry & Co., now living at the old home
in Indiana; James A., deceased; Samuel Lu-
cas, deceased; and Clara L., deceased.
James A. Loughry was born Jan. 4,
1854, in White township, Indiana county, the
eighth in his parents' family. He received
a common school education there, and began
work in 1867, entei-ing the employ of Loughiy
& St. Clair, who carried on the business from
which the present establishment of W. R.
Loughry & Co. originated. After IMr. St.
Clair withdrew from the business James A.
Loughiy continued with his brother, William
R. Loughry, until 1880, when he had the offer
of a position in a Philadelphia dry goods
house. After five years of business experience
in that city he returned to Indiana and be-
came associated in the grocery and queensware
business with John F. Clements, doing busi-
ness in the old Weamer building, at Sixth
and Water streets. At the end of a year Mr.
Clements retired, leaving Mr. Loughry to con-
duct the business .as sole proprietor, and he
continued at their old location until the spring
of 1896, when he moved to commodious and
handsome quarters, his storeroom being the
same formerly occupied by the First National
Bank, remodeled to suit his special needs. Mr.
Loughry 's methods were always above re-
proach, his transactions square and satisfac-
tory to all concerned, and he commanded a
full share of patronage in the borough, where
he was universally liked and esteemed.
Though he died when only forty-two years
old he had been in poor health for the two
yeai-s previous, and the best medical aid to
be obtained in Indiana and Pittsburg afforded
him only temporary relief. About a year
before his decease he went to New York City,
where for several weeks he was under the
care of a leading specialist, but the improve-
ment in his condition was only slight, and he
failed rapidly until the end, July 18, 1896.
His death occurred at his home on North
Sixth street. Mr. Loughry 's demise was
looked upon as a loss to the whole community,
and there were many demonstrations of sym-
pathy and grief from his various associates.
He was a member of the Masonic fraternity,
holding membership in Indiana Lodge No.
313, of the Royal Arcanum and the Casmo-
politan Club, the members of the latter or-
ganization attending his funeral in a body.
He was buried in the Loughry family lot in
Oakland cemetery.
On March 22, 1887, Mr. Loughry married
Nina Van Voorhis, of North Dakota, who sur-
vived him, passing away Jan. 24, 1912. They
had a family of four children: James Van
Voorhis, born Oct. 5, 1889, who is clerking
for his uncle, W. R. Loughry, of Indiana;
Herbert L., born in 1890, who died in 1910;
William R., born Dec. 15, 1892, who is in the
employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany at Pittsburg; and Margaret W., born
April 4, 1893.
Samuel Lucas Loughry, best known
as ' ' Luke ' ' Loughry, the youngest but one of
the family of ten children born to William
and Margaret (Lucas) Loughry, was born
March 1, 1856, in White township, this county,
two miles east of Indiana borough, whither he
removed with his mother in February, 1860.
In his early bo,yhood he attended common
school, but he commenced work when only
eleven years old, his first employer being
Henry Hall, who was then in business on
Philadelphia street, having a little store on
the Douglass property. He carried the papers
and did such other work as a boy of his years
could perform, and remained with Mr. Hall
nearly three years, and then entered the gro-
cery and queensware store of A. M. Stewart,
in the building afterward occupied by Thomas
Wheeler, next door to the Gazette building.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
599
There he was employed until early iu 1874,
wheu he found employmeut iu the drug store
of Dr. George R. Lewis, learning the drug
business thoroughly during the six years he
was with him, until March, 1880. He then
entered business with his elder brother,
W. R. Loughry, becoming the junior member
of the iirm, which has ever since been known
as W. R. Loughry & Co. His connection with
the business continued until his death, which
occurred the day after Thanksgiving. 1895,
when he was in his fortieth year. He had
been on the streets and at the club the day
before, apparently in his usual health, had
attended the football game at the normal
school and enjoyed his dinner with the fam-
ily at his home, and retired at his usual hour,
never to rise again, life having been extinct
for some time when members of his family
went to rouse him the next morning. For
some time before he had suffered at intervals
from heart disease, to which his sudden tak-
ing away was ascribed.
There were few citizens of Indiana bor-
ough more respected than Mr. Loughry. His
success in the management of his private in-
terests, and a public-spirited desire to see his
community with the best possible advantages,
led his fellow citizens to call upon him for
public service, and though he cared nothing
for the honors of ofSce he discharged his re-
sponsibilities with the utmost regard for the
interests of those whose confidence had been
shown in selecting him. In 1893, against his
personal desire, he was elected a member of
the town council to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of M. F. Jamison, and at the
expiration of his term, in 1895, he was re-
elected for three years' service. The duties
of this position, which he had accepted at the
earnest solicitation of his friends, he per-
formed with honor and credit, proving him-
self highly useful. In the spring of 1895 he
was elected a trustee of the State normal
school at Indiana, to represent the stockhold-
era, and the choice was highly pleasing to
all interested in the success of the institution,
but he had barely undertaken its duties when
death took him. The board of trustees passed
resolutions of regret and sympathy, from
which we quote the following: "Although
but a short time a member of our board of
trustees his tireless energy and activity in be-
half of the normal school had already mani-
fested itself. He was wont to give any mat-
ter left to his care that same generous over-
sight and earnest attention that so strongly
marked his own private business life. Timid
of manner, generous, unselfish, kind, of a
genial and happy disposition, he carried sun-
shine into every walk of life. He never
wearied in any labor that advanced the wel-
fare of his fellow men and the prosperity and
happiness of his community. He was public-
spirited, and his capacious and broad mind
very largely directed the municipal govern-
ment of our town. * * * Ever honorable
as a man. and genial as a friend, his integrity
and generosity endeared him to the people of
the county and all who had any intercourse
with him. * * * From the' rivalries of
life and frictions of interest he retained no
bitterness, but where faults existed, with a
gracious readiness acknowledged his own and
sought to cover those of others with the gentle
shield of charity."
From the resolutions of sympathy passed
by the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana, of which
he was a charter member, and in which he
had held numerous offices, we extract the fol-
lowing: "His long connection with the club
for which he cared so well makes it peculiarly
fitting that we pay this tribute of respect to
his memory. He was one of the original
charter members and his interest in its pros-
perity and success never once abated. Al-
though he took no special part in the social
entertainments of club life, none knew better
than he of what the life should consist and so
directed the internal management of the club
with that broad-minded and unselfish spirit
that so characterized his whole business and
social life. His modest demeanor and kind
and genial disposition endeared him to every
one of us. He was public-spirited; he loved
his town and spent his substance freely in
promoting its prosperity. His unselfish en-
ergj' and activity have given us our own In-
diana united and bound together with the
cords of his weaving. * * * Sterling in-
tegrity marked his every transaction. Pains-
taking and accommodating, he contributed
much to the standard of merit which dis-
tinguishes the business interests of the
county. ' '
Such comments, coming from those who had
known him from boyhood, and with whom
his associations had been close and continu-
ous, throw light on a character notable for
kindliness, unselfishness and broad-minded
philanthropy, and though he died at a com-
paratively early age his influence had been
felt in many avenues of usefulness. He be-
came a Mason in 1877, and joined the Knights
of Honor in 1878.
Mr. Loughry was buried in Oakland ceme-
600
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tery. The members of the Cosmopolitan Club,
forty in number, attended in a body, and the
board of trustees of the normal school also
attended. The services were conducted by
Dr. Hall, of the Presbyterian Church, a close
friend of Mr. Loughry and the family.
JAMES FAIR, late of Blacklick, where he
had made his home for many years, was one
of the most influential residents of that part
of Indiana county in his day. A man of high
ideals and lofty character, he entered into
the interests of his community with an earn-
est desire for its betterment which found ex-
pression in his encouragement and support of
various beneficial movements. In short, he
was a broad-minded and farseeing citizen
whose ambitions extended beyond his personal
and material welfare, whose usefulness was
felt in every activity in the locality where
his lot was cast. He was born June 14, 1819,
near New Alexandria, Westmoreland Co., Pa.,
eldest son of Samuel Fair, who was born
about 1790 in Path Valley, Franklin Co., Pa.
The family has long been settled in this State.
When but a boy Samuel Fair left his home
and came to western Pennsylvania, and was
thereafter dependent mainly upon himself.
He settled near New Alexandria, in West-
moreland county, and about 1816 married
Anne Campbell. They became the parents of
sixteen children, all of whom lived to matur-
ity, James being the second child. Mr. and
Mrs. Fair were members of the Presbyterian
Church. In politics he was a Democrat.
James Fair obtained his education in the
district schools near his early home. When
twelve years old he came to Indiana county,
where the rest of his life was spent. He was
a farmer throughout his active years, and by
his intelligence and industry made a success
of that calling, as he did of everything else
he undertook. He was active in local politics
and church work, and though not a seeker
after office or public honors of any kind ac-
cepted the responsibilities to which he was
called and faithfully discharged the duties of
any position in which he was placed. He was
elected to several township offices, serving as
school director, supervisor and auditor. A
Democrat in his earlier manhood, he became
a Republican upon the formation of the
party, and was in sympathy with its policies
during the war of the Rebellion. In religion
he was a Presbyterian, he and his family be-
longing at first to the Blairsville Church,
which he served as elder for many years. In
1866 he joined the congregation then form-
ing at Blacklick, was one of the first elders of
that church, and, later, superintendent of its
Sunday school. A few years before his death,
on account of failing health, he removed from
his farm in Blacklick township to the village
of Blacklick, where he died Dec. 21, 1900. His
death was regarded as a public loss.
In 1841 Mr. Fair was married to Harriet
Smith, who was born Sept. 25, 1818, daughter
of Daniel and Jane (Copley) Smith, of Black-
lick, the former one of the most prominent of
the pioneer settlers of Indiana county, and a
well-known farmer and stock dealer. Mre.
Fair was well educated, having studied at a
young ladies' school at Hollidaysburg, Pa.,
after attending public school. She died July
19, 1878. We have the following record of
the childi-en of this union: (1) Jane Eliza-
beth died June 6, 1864. (2) Samuel died Aug.
25, 1860. (3) Daniel McClure, born Sept. 25,
1846, enlisted Aug. 25, 1864, in Company D,
206th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, un-
der Col. Hugh J. Brady, and served until
the close of the war ; his was the first infantry
regiment in Richmond after the surrender and
evacuation of that city. After the war he
learned the trade of builder and went out to
Kansas, where he lived for four years. Re-
turning to Pennsylvania he located first at
Blairsville, later moving to Pittsburg, where
he still resides, he and his two sons having a
large business as builders and contractors. In
Kansas he married Adelaide M. Phillips, of
that State, and they have had the following
children: Harriet; Howard McClure; Wal-
lace, deceased : Paul William and Mary Louise,
wife of Roy Hoover, of Spokane, Wash. (4)
R. Willis is mentioned below. (5) James
CampbeU died Sept. 1, 1860. (6) Alice died
Aug. 25, 1860. (7) Harriet Smith, born in
1856, married John M. Connor, of Blairsville,
and has had six children: James, who lives
at home; Eva May, wife of Carl Orr, of
Apollo, Armstrong Co.. Pa. ;;• Cora; Dora;
Beulah, deceased; and Harriet. (8) George
Hill, born Feb. 6, 1861, was educated for the
legal profession and practiced for a time in
Dakota county, Nebr., where he became county
attorney. He is now connected with the rail-
way mail service, and resides at Topeka, Kans.
He married Marthetta Stephens, of Indiana
county, Pa., and they have two children,
Helen Faye and Florence. (9) May C, born
Dec. 24, i862, resides in Blacklick.
R. Willis Fair, M. S.. Ph. D., son of
James and Harriet (Smith) Fair, is one of the
owners and principals of the Kiskiminetas
Springs School, at Saltsburg, Indiana Co., Pa.,.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
601
a school for boys established almost a quarter
of a century ago and now ranking among the
notably efficient preparatory schools in this
part of the country. Mr. Fair was born in
Blacklick, Indiana county, March 20, 1851.
He first attended the public schools of that
locality, and later became a student at Millers-
ville State normal school, from which he was
graduated in 1875. He taught in that institu-
tion the next year, during which the State
normal school at Indiana, Pa., was opened, aud
he was elected to the chair of mathematics.
He filled that position for the twelve years
following, meantime continuing his studies to
fit himself for higher usefulness in the educa-
tional field. His experience there, and obser-
vations made wherever aud whenever oppor-
tunity afforded, impressed upon him the need
for a high-class preparatory school for boys
in this part of Pennsylvania, and when he re-
signed from the faculty of the Indiana normal
school his plans for founding such a school
were already matured, and the practical de-
tails, business arrangements, etc., had been
completed. In 1888, in association with A. W.
Wilson, Jr., A. M., Ph. D., son of A. W. Wil-
son, a merchant of Indiana borough, he opened
what has since been kno\vn as the Kiskimine-
tas Springs School, at Saltsburg. The up-
building aud development of this school has
been practically his life work. His success as
an educator has been acknowledged by the
profession as well as by those who have come
under his training, and in recognition thereof
he was awarded the degree of Ph. D. in 1892
by the Western University of Pennsylvania
(now the University of Pittsburg) at Pitts-
burg.
Mr. Wilson and ilr. Fair had purchased the
hotel property then kuown as Kiskiminetas
Springs, in Loyalhanna township, Westmore-
land county, opposite the town of Saltsburg,
a picturesque natural park of forty acres, lo-
cated on a beautiful wooded plateau a hundred
and fift.v feet above the water on the palisades,
overlooking the town of Saltsburg and the
headwaters of the "Kiski," directly above the
junction of the Conemaugh and the Loyal-
hanna. which form the Kiskiminetas river.
Suitable buildings were erected and equipped,
and the project was launched upon what has
'proved to be a career of continuous successi.
The school has grown steadily, in size as well
as importance, though there has never been
any idea of making it a very large institution,
one of the prime objects of the principals
being to maintain homelike surroundings and
to insure the personal relations between teach-
ers and pupils hardly possible where the at-
tendance is unrestricted. In 1911-1912 there
were 180 students, mainly from Pennsylvania,
West Virginia and Ohio, the gi-aduating class
numbered twenty, aud there were three doing
post-graduate work — one of the supreme tests
of excellence in a school. There are now three
principals, Mr. W. H. MacColl, A. B., having
become associated with the founders of the
school. ]\Ir. Wilson is the instructor in Greek,
Jlr. .Fair in mathematics and English, Mr.
ilacColl in mathematics, and the faculty be-
sides consists of nine members. Besides the
preliminary work four courses are offered,
Classical, Latin Scientific, Scientific and Eng-
lish, the latter being intended as a prepara-
tion for business, the others for entrance to
colleges, universities, and scientific or tech-
nical schools.
No expense has been spared to make the
buildings and equipment as nearly complete
and perfect as possible. The original school
building, and old hotel, standing one hundred
feet from the river and centrally located, con-
tains a beautiful dining room, kitchen, read-
ing room, boys' reception room, the school of-
fices and fifty bedrooms. A three-story brick
building, one hundred feet south, built about
1890, contains the school chapel and assembly
room, the chemical and physical laboratory,
recitation rooms, and a third-floor dormitoiy
for twenty boys. The new gymnasium, com-
pleted three years ago, is of buff brick and
adds materially to the beauty of the campus.
All the buildings are steam heated and lighted
by eleetricit.y from a central power house;
there is hot and cold water on every floor,
and modern plumbing throughout.
Mr. Fair's devotion to his school work,
though that is his main interest in life, has
not precluded his activity in other fields. He
has proved his business ability in various as-
sociations, and is at present one of the direct-
ors of the First National Bank of Saltsburg, a
relation he has sustained for a number of
.vears. He was formerly connected with the
Flint Glass Bottle Company, of which he was
a director. He has taken an active part in
politics, as a member of the Republican party,
and has held public office when he felt he
could best serve his fellow citizens by accept-
ing the responsibility. His long experience as
an educator made him particularly desirable
as a member of the school board of the town-
ship in which he lives, on which he served for
many years : and he represented his district in
the State Legislature in the sessions of 1907
and 1909. He was not a caudidate for re-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
election iu 1910. He partidi^ated iu some of
the most important work done by that body
during that time, in 1907 being a member of
the Capitol Investigation Commission, of
which he was vice chairman. Senator Fisher,
of Indiana, Pa., was chairman of the commis-
sion. Mr. Fair was the author of the Local
Option bill introduced in the House in 1909.
He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian
Church of Saltsburg and of its session, and has
served for twenty years as president of the
board of trustees of that congregation.
On Dec. 26, 1878, Mr. Fair married Marga-
retta A. Means, who was born Nov. 17, 1858,
daughter of James R. and Susan S. (McClel-
land) Means, of Carlisle, Pa., the former of
whom died in 1901 ; he was a farmer. Mrs.
Fair acquired her early education in the com-
mon schools, later taking a course at the Mil-
lersville normal school, from which she was
graduated. Four children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Fair: (1) Ethel Marian, born
Nov. 15, 1884, received her preliminary educa-
tion at the Kiskiminetas Springs Preparatory
School and then entered Vassar College, grad-
uating in 1906. She is now at home. (2)
James Means, born Sept. 21, 1886, took the
civil engineering course at Lehigh University,
from which institution he was graduated in
1908, and is now in the employ of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company, in the engineer-
ing department. On July 25, 1912, he mar-
ried Mary E. Askew, of Altoona, Pa., daughter
of Arthur and Elizabeth Askew, and they re-
side at Harrisburg, Pa. (3) Helen McClel-
land, born April 8, 1891, is now a student in
the New England Conservatory of Music, at
Boston, Mass. (4) Lois Margaret, born Jan.
26, 1897, is at home.
THOMAS SUTTON, for many years one
of the foremost business men of Indiana bor-
ough, lawyer, and at one time prominently
identified with banking interests, was born
there May 3, 1854, son of John and Mary Ag-
nes (Walker) Sutton. He is a member of the
fourth generation of his family to live in In-
diana county.
Peter and Phebe Sutton, Mr. Sutton's great-
grandparents, left the strong Presbyterian
settlement of Basking Ridge, in New Jersey,
one hundred and twenty years ago, and came
to the vicinity of Newport on Blackliek, in In-
diana county. Pa. Some time between 1790
and 1806 he became one of the pioneer settlers
at what is now Indiana borough, in the year
last named having a log hotel on Philadelphia
street, on what afterward was the site of Wil-
son's mercantile establishment.
Thomas Sutton, son of Peter, was engaged
for many years in the mercantile business at
Indiana, and was a prominent man in the early
days of the county, being twice appointed
sheritf, which office he held from 1809 to 1812
and from 1815 to 1818. He died in 1833, at
the age of forty-nine. He married Rebecca
Loughry and they had eight children, five
sons and three daughters.
John Sutton, son of Thomas, was born
May 20, 1814, at Indiana, and like his father
was a prominent man in his time. He was one
of the leading business men of his day, being
a successful general merchant for over forty
years, and during that time also dealing in
real estate. He had many other interests,
being president for several years before his
death of the First National Bank and a part-
ner in the firm of i\IcCartney & Sutton, which
operated the strawboard mill during his life-
time. It was not only in business, however,
that he was active and enterprising. Eveiy-
thing that affected the welfare of his fellow
citizens had his hearty encouragement and
support. In fact, he was a leader in many of
the most progressive movements of his genera-
tion. He was the most prominent spirit among
the founders of the State Normal School at
Indiana, and one of the two largest contribu-
tors toward its establishment and support. He
was president of the board of trustees of that
school from its organization until his death.
All public educational projects that seemed
worthy had his interest and support. His
charities and zeal in religious work were un-
bounded. He was a member and elder of the
Indiana Presbyterian Church, and for over a
quarter of a century the esteemed and hon-
ored superintendent of its Sunday school,
laboring faithfully for its upbuilding and
maintenance. In fact, the work which he
loved best throughout life was that connected
with the church and Sunday school. He was
useful in ' every relation of life, helpful to
every cause with which he allied himself, faith-
ful to every trust, generous to the poor, using
his great abilities as much in the advance-
ment of causes that would serve his fellow men
as he did in the promotion of his personal in-
terests. He was a Democrat in politics, but
during the Civil war, though he supported the
Democratic ticket in State affairs, he voted
the Republican ticket on national issues. He
died June 9, 1877. In 1847 Mr. Sutton mar-
ried Mary Agnes Walker, a native of Canons-
burg, Pa., who died in 1898. Like her hus-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
603
baud she was a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
Thomas Sutton, son of John, was reared in
the borough of Indiana and obtained his early
education in the public schools there. In 1870
he entered the sophomore class of the univer-
sity at Princeton, where he took the full three
years' course, graduating in 1873. Returning
home, he then took up the study of law- with
John P. Blair, afterward president judge, and
was admitted to the bar of Indiana county at
the spring term of 1876. In the fall of that
year he entered Columbia Law School, New
York City, to take a special course of studies,
from which he was called home a year later by
his father's last illness. Shortly after his
father's death he began the practice of law, in
which he has since been engaged, spending
about one year in the ofBce of Silas j\I. Clark,
aftenvard a member of the State Supreme
court, making a specialty of collections and
the settlement of estates, in which lines he has
had a very large patronage. How^ever, he has
been very progressive in his connection with
the business interests of this section. In 1878
he became a member of the Chilled Car Wheel
Manufacturing Company, which changed its
name in 1883, becoming Sutton Bros. & Bell,
and later again changed to Indiana Foundry
Company, Limited, of which he has since been
the president. In company with his brother
John W. Sutton he owned the strawboard mill,
the one in which his father w'as formerly in-
terested, the partnership being known as John
W. Sutton & Bro. He was a member of the
Indiana Chemical Company, Limited, organ-
ized in 1887, and was secretary of that con-
cern, whose works were located on the Indi-
ana branch railroad until it went out of busi-
ness. Fifteen men were employed in the
manufacture of wood alcohol, acetate of lime
and charcoal in large quantities. Mr. Sutton
is also a stockholder in the First National
Bank, was a director of that institution from
1881 to 1887, president from 1886 to 1887,
ser%-ed as its attorney from 1884 to 1888, and
elected again as director in 1911. He is also
president of the Keystone Printing Company
of Pittsburg, incorporated in 1911, and vice
president of the Roanoke Valley Orchards,
Inc.. of Salem, Va. Mr. Sutton's property
holdings include valuable real estate centrally
located in the city of St. Paul, ilinnesota.
In spite of his numerous personal interests,
Mr. Sutton has found time to interest himself
in local affairs, has sei-ved his borough faith-
fully as member of the council and auditor,
and has taken a deep interest in the progress
and welfare of the normal school, of which he
was treasurer from 1878 to 1883, when he
was elected a ti-ustee, and served as secretary
of the board of trustees till 1899, at that time
succeeding A. W. Wilson as president of the
board and still retaining that position. He
has long been a member of the Presbyterian
Church, and one of its most effective workers,
also taking an active interest in the Sunday
school. He was ruling elder of the church
from 1879 to 1890. Mr. Sutton's standing in
all circles is high, and his strong influence
has always been exerted for the best interests
of this section. He was one of the organizers
in 1879 of the Shakespeare Club, one of the
leading social and literary societies of the
town, and has been its permanent president
for many years.
On Oct.* 22, 1878, Mr. Sutton married Ella
P. Hildebrand, daughter of Edward P. Hilde-
brand, of Indiana, and they had two chil-
dren: Edward H. and John S. The family
residence is one of the most beautiful in the
borough of Indiana.
STEPHEN J. TELFORD, of Indiana,
Presideut Judge of Indiana county, has been
practicing at the Indiana county bar for over
thirty years. Born Dec. 24, 1853, in South
Mahoning township, this county, he is a son
of Rev. John C. Telford, a United Presby-
terian minister whose long and useful career
included many years of service in this region.
Rev. John C. Telford, D. D., was born Aug.
7, 1821, at East Greenwich, Washington Co.,
N. Y., son of Stephen and Maiy (Cree) Tel-
ford. In 1843 he was graduated from the
academy at Cambridge, in Washington county,
N. Y., and then entered Jefferson College, at
Canonsburg, Pa., as a junior, graduating
from that institution in 1844. He prepared
for the ministry at the Associate Theological
School, Canonsburg, graduating in 1848.
Meantime, however, he had commenced the
active w'ork of the ministry, having come to
South Mahoning township in 1846 to take up
church work, was licensed to preach June
20. 1848, and on Jan. 1, 1850, was ordained
as minister of the Mahoning United Presby-
terian Church. That year he was also in-
stalled as pastor of the Beraeha Church, at
Plumville, this county, and of the church at
Lumber Cit.y, forty miles away in Clearfield
county. He resigned the latter after a few
years' service, but continued in charge of the
Mahoning and Beraeha Churches until 1867,
when he took a charge at West Lebanon which
included two churches. Olivet and West Union.
604
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
He was thus engaged for ten years, after
which he devoted all his time to the West
Union Church. For years Dr. Telford was
recognized as one of the most zealous and in-
defatigable workers in his denomination,
achieving results which fall to the lot of few,
and in 1888 he was honored by having the
degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred upon
him by Westminster College. He was one of
the leading United Presbyterian ministers in
Pennsylvania. In 1850 Dr. Telford married
Martha Oram, who was boi-u in 1828 in Can-
onsburg. Pa., and they became the parents
of one son and four daughters, namely: Jen-
nie P., Mary A., Margaret B., Sarah E. and
Stephen J.
Stephen J. Telford received his early edu-
cation in the public schools of South Mahon-
ing township, this county, where he spent
his boyhood and youth. After a course at
Westminster College he entered the Allegheny
Theological Seminary, where he studied for
one year. He then left school and took up
teaching, at which he was engaged for five
years, the last two years as principal of the
Purchase Line Academy. During this time he
had become interested in the legal profession,
upon which he eventually settled for his life
work, passed the preliminary examination in
1878, and pursued his course of reading un-
der Hon. George W. Hood. After his admis-
sion to the bar of Indiana county, March 15,
1880, he settled at Blairsville, remaining there
for five__years, in 1885 removing to the bor-
ough of Indiana. He formed a professional
partnership with M. C. Watson, under the
name of Watson & Telford, and the firm soon
attained a prominent place among the mem-
bers of the profession in this locality. The
association lasted until 1890. Since Jan. 1,
1905, Mr. Telford has occupied the position
of judge of the Fortieth Judicial district (In-
diana county), having been elected for a term
of ten years. A man of high standards and
marked ability, the eases intrusted to his
care have always received the most conscien-
tious attention. He is a Republican in his po-
litical views, and in religion adheres to the
faith of his father, belonging to the United
Presbyterian Church of Indiana.
In i882 Mr. Telford married Mabel White,
daughter of Col. Richard White, of Indiana.
MAJ. IRVIN McFARLAND was born in
Huntingdon county, Pa., Dec. 21, 1823, of
Scotch-Irish parentage. His father, Robert
McFarland. and uncle came from Scotland in
1810, the unele going to California and dying
shortly afterward. Robert McFarland mar-
ried Nancy Donnely.
When Irvin McFarland was ten years of
age he removed with his parents, one brother
and three sisters to a farm in Jefferson county,
Pa., and he was still quite young when he
began to clerk in a general store. Later on
he formed a partnership with his brother Rob-
ert, having a store in Ringgold, Jefferson
county. After a few years he sold out to his
brother, and opened a stoi-e at Maysville,
where he married Abigail Smith, daughter of
Hulette and Eunice (Wheeler) Smith, farm-
ing people. In 1860 a tornado which swept
over that section of the country completely
wrecked his house and store. His wife was
killed in the storm, and two children badly
injured. He then removed to the oil fields of
Venango county and invested money, being
very successful, one well producing four hun-
dred barrels of oil a day. After selling his
oil interests he moved to Brookville, Pa., where
he became a dealer in lumber (opening the
Pekin Mills) and conducted a general store.
In 1868 he came to Indiana, where he built
the courthouse, being bondsman for the for-
mer contractor, who failed in business, and
taking the contract in order to save himself.
He was a member of the firm of McFarland
& Turner, who owned and conducted the
foundry on West Philadelphia street for
twenty-five years. Major McFarland was a
member of the Methodist Church for sixty
years, and served tlie congregation as steward
and trustee for twenty-eight years. He was a
thirty-second-degree Mason, a deputy grand
master in that order for twenty-five years, and
was a past grand of the local Odd Fellows
Lodge. A member of the first board of trus-
tees of Indiana State normal school, he served
for some years, when be resigned ; he was also
a member of the State College board of trus-
tees some years before his death, and vice
president of the board of trade.
In 1868 Major McFarland married Sarah A.
Sheppard, who survives him, together with
four daughters by his first wife : Misses Car-
rie, Clara and Nan, of California, and Ida,
Mrs. Alfred L. Smith, of Indiana.
Sympathetic by nature, Major McFarland
was ever ready by word or deed to minister to
the vmfortunate or distressed. He endeared
himself to all with whom he came in contact.
He died Nov. 17, 1898.
WILLIAM R. LOUGHRT, head of the firm
of W. R. Loughry & Co., which has the lead-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
605
iug department store iu the borough of In-
diana, has been doing business continuously
for a longer period than any other merchant
of the county. Outside of the great cities, his
establishment is perhaps second to none in
western Pennsylvania, and it is noted not only
for the completeness of its stock but for the
high standards which characterize the treat-
ment accorded to patrons.
]\Ir. Loughry was born in Indiana county
in 1841, and belongs to the fourth generation
of his familj' in this country. His great-
grandfather, William Loughry, was born in
the North of Ireland and came to the United
States when a young man. He was a farmer
by occupation. He was a memlier of the
famous Boston Tea Party, and sei-ved as a
soldier during the Revolution.
James Loughry, son of WiUiam, was Ijorn
in Indiana county, Pa., in the early days of
the settlement of this section, and became a
farmer. He died at the age of about seventy.
He married Anna Wilson.
WiUiam Loughry, son of James and Anna
(Wilson), was for many years a school teaclier
in Indiana county, becoming very well known
in that connection, fle was endowed with
high musical talents and was quite noted as a
singer. For many years he was prominently
identitied with the Indiana Presbyterian
Church, which he served for several years in
the capacity of deacon. He died in 1859. Mr.
Loughry married j\Iargaret Lucas, and to them
was born a family of ten children, namely:
Susanna, who died in infancy ; William R. ;
Matilda A., who died young; Elnora, de-
ceased; John E., who died at Harper's Ferry,
Va., in 186-3, when onh^ sixteen years old,
while serving as a Union soldier in the Civil
war (his death was due to hard service and
exposure); Rodha J., deceased; Mary E. ;
James A.; Samuel Lucas, deceased in 1895,
who was a merchant in partnership with his
brother William ; and Clara L., deceased.
William R, Loughi-y began his education
in the common schools and later was a student
at the Saltsburg Academy and then at the In-
diana Academy. Subsequently he taught
school for three or four terms, and in the
spring of 1861 became clerk in a general store
in the city of Indiana, being thus engaged un-
til his enlistment in the Union army in the
summer of 1862. He became a member of
Company I. 135th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry, for nine months. In 1866 Mr.
Loughrj' formed a partnership with ilr. G.
S. Christy and engaged in the clothing and
furniture business in Indiana under the firm
name of Loughry & Christy. At the end of
one year this association was dissolved, and
Mr. Loughry became senior member of the
firm of Loughry & St. Clair. Two years later
he again changed partners, the firm becoming
Loughry & Sutton, who carried on a general
department store, doing an extensive business
for about ten years. When this partnership
was dissolved Mr. Loughry became associated
in business with his brother Samuel L.
Loughiy under the firm name of W. R.
Loughry & Co., the firm consisting of the two
brothers and so continuing until the death of
Samuel L. Loughry, in 1895. At that time
Mr. Loughry 's sister, Mary E. Loughry, ac-
quired a part ownership of the business, with
which she has since been connected. The es-
tablishment of this finn is commodious and
well equipped, filled with a large stock of
up-to-date goods, and conducted according to
modern ideas which draw patronage from a
large ten-itory. Mr. Loughry is looked upon
as one of the most substantial business men
of Indiana county, and throughout his long
career has maintained a most enviable repu-
tation for honorable dealing and uprightness
of character which can be relied upon iu any
transaction. He is well known throughout
this section of the State in various connections.
He is a trustee of the Indiana State normal
school.
In 1872 Mr. Loughry married Clara Si-
mons, daughter of David Simons, of Indiana,
and they have had three children : David,
who died young; Edgar, who died in 1905,
and who was in partnership ^vith his father
for several years ; and Ralph.
JOHN N. BANKS was born in Juniata
county. Pa., near Mifflintown. His father,
David Banks, owned a large farm, and his
early days were spent on that place, where
he did all kinds of work necessary on a well-
kept and productive farm. At the age of six-
teen, he left home to attend school at Airy
View Academy, in Juniata county, then owned
by and under the control of Prof. David Wil-
son, at that time one of the best and most ex-
perienced educators in eastern Pennsylvania.
After having acquired sufficient preliminary
education he entered the Pennsylvania Agri-
cultural College, where he graduated in De-
cember, 1861. After leaving college he began
the study of law at Mifflintown in the law
office of Andrew Parker, Esq. In August,
1862, he enlisted in Company I, 126th Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and .served
until the expiration of his term of enlistment
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in the Army of the Potomac, taking part with
that army in General McClellau's Maryland
campaign, which ended with the battle of An-
tietam; served under General Burnside and
took part in the battle of Fredericksburg and
in Burnside 's "mud march"; served under
General Hooker and took part under him in
the battle of Chancellorsville. After the ex-
piration of his term of enlistment he returned
home and again entered upon the study of
law, attended Harvard law school one year
and completed his legal studies, preparatory
to admission to the bar, in the law ofSee of
Edmund S. Doty, Esq., Andrew Parker hav-
ing died. He was admitted to practice law
in the several courts of Juniata county in
February, 1866. In March, 1866, he came to
Indiana county, was admitted to the bar of
that county, and began the practice of law
with his uncle, William Banks, Esq.. the busi-
ness being conducted under the firm name of
William and J. N. Banks. This partnership
continued until the death of William Banks,
in August, 1871. After that John N. Banks
carried on the practice of law at Indiana and
soon acquired a good and remunerative pat-
ronage. In 1896 he was appointed solicitor
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for
the district composed of Indiana county. His
time and attention have been devoted to the
practice of law, and whatever success has
followed is due to his close attention to the
duties incident to his professional work. He
is a life member of the Harvard Law School
Association; a member of the Pennsylvania
Bar Association, and of the American Bar
Association; a charter and life member
of the Law Association of Indiana County,
and chancellor of the association, and is presi-
dent of the Board of Law Exajniners of In-
diana County. He was for a number of years
a member of the board of trustees of the Penn-
sylvania State College ; is a member of the
American Academy of Political and Social
Science and a member of the Pennsylvania
Arbitration and Peace Society; he is a mem-
ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and
served for a number of years as commander
of his post, has served as judge advocate of
the Department of Pennsylvania, and as sen-
ior vice commander of the department.
HON. SUMMERS ^M. JACK, formerly a
member of the United States Congi'ess, and
also district attorney for Indiana county, Pa.,
has long been among the foremost members
of the Indiana bar and is associated with large
financial interests in this section. He was
born July 18, 1852, at Summersville, Jeffer-
son Co., Pa., and is a son of Lowry and Cor-
nelia (Baldwin) Jack, and a grandson of
Jacob and Sarah (Collins) Jack, the former
of whom was born in the north of Ireland and
the latter in Center county, Pennsylvania.
Lowry Jack was born July 18, 1830, in
Clarion county. Pa., and died at Chicago, 111.,
Jan. 9, 1893. With hundreds of other skilled
artisans he had moved to the great city by
Lake ^Michigan in September, 1892, to assist
in preparing for the pleasure of the whole
world those wonderful structures which ex-
cited universal admiration during the World 's
Columbian Exposition. He was a carpenter
and painter by trade, and previous to his re-
moval to Chicago had been engaged in the
lumber business at Summersville. He was a
man of sterling character, frequently held
public offices in Jefferson county, and was a
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He married Cornelia Baldwin, who
was bdrn at Summersville, which place liad
been named in honor of her uncle, Summers
Baldwin. The Baldwins came to Pennsyl-
vania from Connecticut and possessed the
thrift and enterprise of New England people.
John Baldwin, the founder of the family in
this country, came over from England with
the New Haven colony and settled at Milford,
Conn., in 1639.
Summers M. Jack was given the best edu-
cational advantages his father could provide
for him in common and private schools, and
later attended the State normal school at In-
diana, Pa. He taught school for six years,
during this period being for several years
vice principal of the Indiana high school. He
then entered the office of Hon. Silas M. Clark
and prepared for the bar, to which he was
admitted in 1879, immediately afterward
opening his office at Indiana, where he has
maintained his home ever since. In the fall
of 1883 he was elected district attorney for
Indiana county, and through reelection served
six years in that office. A Republican by con-
viction, he early became interested in party
and public affairs, and has long been an im-
portant political factor in Indiana county.
In 1886 he was appointed by the State super-
intendent of public instruction to represent
the State as a member of the board of trustees
of the Indiana State normal school, and by
reappointment has sers-ed continuously on
that board for twenty-seven years. In 1898
he was elected to Congress from the Twenty-
seventh Congressional district, and was re-
elected in 1900, serving with honor and use-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
607
fulness for four years. During this time he
was one of the party made up of members of
Congress sent to the Philippine Islands at
the request of Secretary Root, to inquire into
and report on the question of establishing
civil government there. With the commis-
sion he made a circuit of the globe, visiting
Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Arabia, Ceylon, Sin-
gapore, China and Japan, besides stopping at
Manila, on Luzon, and at all the other prin-
cipal islands of the Philippine group. In
1903, with a party of friends, Mr. Jack and
his wife sailed from New York to visit the
"West Indies and Mexico, stopping at Nassau,
Santiago, Cienfuegos. Havana, Progreso. Vera
Cruz and the City of Mexico.
In addition to attending to a large and
lucrative law practice, Mr. Jack has other in-
terests, and is vice president of the Indiana
Savings & Trust Company.
In November, 1881. Mr. Jack was married
to Miss Margaret F. Mitchell, a daughter of
the late W. J. and Sarah E. (Adair) Mitchell,
the former of whom was for many years presi-
dent of the First National Bank of Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack have two sons: William
J., a teacher in the State nonnal school at In-
diana, Pa., and James L., a student at law
in his father's office. Both attended the In-
diana State normal school of Pennsylvania,
graduated at Phillips Exeter Academy, N. H.,
and from Yale College, honor men. With his
wife Mr. Jack is a member of the LTnited Pres-
byterian Church. He is numbered with In-
diana's most representative men.
DOUDS. The Douds family is an old-es-
tablished one in Pennsylvania, where its rep-
resentatives have been numbered among the
ablest men of their times.
Robert Douds was born in Carlisle, Pa.,
where he was united in marriage with Rachel
Mickie. Later in life he came to western
Pennsylvania with his family, locating first in
Allegheny county, where he farmed for some
years. Still later he moved to Indiana county,
where he spent the remainder of his days.
dying on the farm he had acquired. His re-
mains were laid to rest in the cemetery at
Olivet. Armstrong Co., Pa. LTntil the forma-
tion of the Republican party he was a Whig,
and the principles of the former organization
appealing to him he gave it his hearty support.
Early uniting with the United Presbyterian
Church, he held to its faith the remainder of
his life, and died firm in its creed. The chil-
dren born to Robert Douds and wife were:
James, who lived in Saltsburg, Pa. ; Joseph,
who lived in Washington county. Pa. ; Robert,
who died in childhood; Rachel, who died in
childhood ; Eliza, who died at the age of seven
years; Sarah, who married John Moyen;
Fanny, who married Baptist Scott, and her
twin brother Samuel Willison. The mother of
the above named children survived the father
some years, and was laid to rest by the side
of her husband. They were of the sturdy type
of pioneers who were able to endure many
hardships, and not afraid to go into new terri-
tory, content with the promise of betterment
for their children. It was such as these that
made possible the transformation of a wilder-
ness into its present highly civilized condition.
Samuel Willison Douds, son of Robert
Douds. and father of James B. Douds, was
born at Carlisle, Pa., March 21, 1819. He was
brought by his parents into western Pennsyl-
vania, where as he grew to manhood's estate
he found employment for his energies in farm-
ing. At the same time he acquired a limited
education in the local schools, to which he
added until he became a very well-informed
man for his day, so much so that he taught
school for several years, giving his pupils the
advantage of the knowledge he had acquired.
Later on, however, he confined his attention
to farming, first in Washington township, In-
diana county, and later in South ]\Iahoning
township, to which he came in 1832. Here he
bought 135 acres of land, the George Tucker
farm, on which there was a small log house and
log barn. Into this primitive home he moved
his family, and it sufficed until he replaced it
with one of better comfort and larger propor-
tions. ]Mr. Douds began improving his prop-
erty immediately, and took a pride in adding
to the value of his land in this way, engaging
in general farming and stock raising. He was
a man of considerable means when he died
upon his property. April 17, 1899. He was a
consistent member of the Methodist ('hureh.
First a Whig, he became a strong Republican,
and served his fellow citizens as a school di-
rector and also as justice of the peace. Fond
of reading, he kept himself well informed upon
current events, and his opinion was asked and
acted upon by his associates, who recognized
his mental superiority. A man devoted to his
home and family, he took his pleasi;re in the
midst of his loved ones, and liis example of
high moral living and true rectitude is re-
flected in the lives of his children.
Samuel W. Douds was married in Arm-
strong township, Indiana county, to Jane
Bothel, who was bom March 22. 1819,
daughter of James Bothel, of Bothel Mills.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Armstrong township. Mrs. Douds died
in 1879, in her sixty-first year, and was
buried in the same cemeteiy as her
husband. From girlhood she had been a
consistent member of the Methodist Church,
■and active in the work of that denomination.
The following children were born to Samuel
W. Douds and his wife : Martha Jane, now de-
ceased, who was the wife of Dennis Andrews,
a veteran of the Civil war, now a popular
dentist at Plumville, Pa. ; Joseph, who died at
the age of twelve years ; James B. ; Rachel
Ann, who died at the age of fourteen years;
David, who died at the age of ten years;
Sarah, who died at the age of eight years, of
diphtheria ; and Josephine, who died in young
womauhoocl.
Many years have passed since Samuel W.
Douds went to his last reward, and yet no
man can say that his influence is dead. Dur-
ing his upright life he stood firm for what he
believed was right, and never allowed per-
sonal consideration to stand in the way of his
doing his full duty to his community. His
family loved and respected him and his asso-
ciates recognized his leadership, and gladly
followed his advice and profited by his sage
counsel. It would be difficult to give a proper
account of his life and work in so restricted a
space, but many of the conditions of to-day
which are of benefit to the community in
which he lived for so long are the outcome of
his public-spirited efi'orts.
James B. Douds, son of Samuel W. Douds,
and one of the most progressive citizens of
South Mahoning township, is acknowledged as
a leading agriculturist of his section of Indi-
ana county. He was born in Washington
township, this county, Oct. 5, 1847. Growing
up on his father's farm, he was early taught
to labor with his hands and direct his work
with his brains, so that when he came to en-
gage in business for himself he was able to do
so intelligently and profitably. It has been
truly said that in the measure that a man
proves the broadness of his character and his
sense of responsibilities, so does he deserve and
achieve success, and James B. Douds has
proved this convincingly in his career. After
completing a course in the local public schools
he turned his undivided attention to agricul-
ture, and assuming charge of the homestead
conducted it ably and gave his parents com-
mendable filial care in their declining years.
This farm has been in the family for over half
a century, and is one of the best in South
Mahoning township. On it Mr. Douds erected
the present residence in 1908, and his com-
modious new barn in 1912, the latter being the
exponent of all modern sanitary ideas. He
has effected other important improvements
and carries on his farming scientifically. In
addition to following a general line of farm-
ing, Mr. Douds raises a considerable amount
of stock, and has been eminently successful in
all his operations, for he has known exactly
how to go about his work, owing to his long
experience and thorough and intimate knowl-
edge of the subject in hand.
In addition to his agricultural work he is
also interested in the mercantile house of J.
W. Douds & Co., the leading concern of its
kind in Plumville, and one of the largest north
of Indiana. The salient features of Mr.
Douds' character seem to have been a willing-
ness to work hard and an intelligent compre-
hension of the requirements of his line of en-
deavor. These have certainly worked out for
his ultimate success, and he is justly accounted
one of the most substantial men of his part of
the county.
On Sept. 21, 1871, Mr. Douds vras married
to Margaret Jane Morrow, daughter of Wilson
and Margaret (Stuchell) IMorrow, born in
Cowanshannock township, Armstrong Co..
Pa. Mrs. Douds is an intelligent, attractive
woman, devoted to her husband's interests
and in thorough sympathy with them. The
Methodist Church holds her membership and
benefits by her charitable generosity, while her
neighbors appreciate her many virtues. Mr.
and Mrs. Douds became the parents of thir-
teen children : David Wilson is mentioned be-
low; Merle, who died in April, 1912, married
Verna Lydick, and had foi;r children, Marga-
ret, LeRoy, James and Rachel; Jennie, who
was educated in the public schools and the
summer normal under Taylor Bell and Pro-
fessor Tomb, and at the Williamsport business
college, taught school for eight years in In-
diana county, is now the wife of Charles Wil-
son, resides at Newcastle, Pa., and has one
child, Frederick; Georgiana married Robert
Wilson, and has three children, Ella, May and
Boyd, and resides at Cleveland, Ohio ; Joseph
Willison, who is head of the firm of J. W.
Douds & Co., general merchants of Plumville.
and a leading resident of that place, married
Emma Thompson, and has two children, Le-
Roy and Helen ; Thomas Edgar is a railroad
man on the New York Central road ; Martha
Ella, who was educated in the public schools
and the summer normals of Marchand and
Covode, North Mahoning township, taught
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
609
school for eight years in Indiana county, un-
til her marriage to Rev. Robert Q. "Woods, of
Pittsburg, a Lutheran minister, by whom she
has one child, Catherine ilargaret; Nannie
Edua, who is a highly educated and cultured
young lady, is living at home, assisting her
mother in making it attractive ; James Verne
is in partnership with his brother Joseph W.
in the firm of J. W. Douds & Co. ; Dale Mor-
row is at home ; Charles T. is at home ; Carrie
died in childhood: and Alexander died in
childhood. All of the survivors are a credit
to their parents and the Christian home in
which they were reared.
Mr. Douds is independent in his political
views, although he has always inclined toward
the Republican party, especially in national
affairs. He has seiwed as assessor of his town-
ship, and represented the latter on the county
board of supeiwisors. For one term he was a
school director, and has discharged the duties
of these several offices efficiently and conscien-
tiously. Like his wife he is a member of the
Methodist Church, being attached to that con-
gregation at Plumville, and has served it as
a trustee for forty years, and steward for
many years. The church has been the recipi-
ent of man.y generous donations from him,
and it looks to him as one of its pillars. A
man of temperate habits, he has been a mem-
ber of tiie Good Templars society since boy-
hood. He is a man of impi-essive and unselfish
character, and all who know him honor and
respect him, for they know he is worthy of
their regard.
David W. Douds, oldest son of James B.
Douds, was bom in 1872 on the homestead
that has been in the family for over fifty years,
in South Mahoning township. He received a
liberal education in the public schools of his
home locality and the State normal at Indi-
ana, from which he was graduated in 1893.
Although but nineteen years old, Mr. Douds
easily passed the exacting examinations and
for the three succeeding years taught school,
becoming not only an efficient ini5ti-uctor but
a popular one as well. His abiUty received
signal recognition by his appointment as prin-
cipal of the summer normal at Shelocta, Arm-
strong township, and that at Cookport, in
Green township. However, he felt that his
abilities were not given sufficient scope in the
schoolroom, so in 1897 he branched out and in
conjunction with his uncle, Dr. Dennis An-
drews, formed the general merchandise firm of
D. W. Douds & Co., which continued in suc-
cessful operation until the establishment of the
First National Bank of Plumville, at which
time Mr. Douds sold his interest to his broth-
ers, J. W. and J. v., the name changing to
J. W. Douds & Co., under which the concern
is now conducted. As before stated, this is
one of the leading mercantile houses of Indi-
ana county outside the county seat, and its
present prosperity was inaugurated by the
honorable methods and progi-essive spirit of
its founder.
Mr. Douds was one of the organizers of
the borough of Plumville, and was one of the
first membei-s of its council, having been
elected on the Republican ticket. He has been
one of the earnest supporters of his party, and
has proved stanch and true. Like his par-
ents he is a member of the ilethodist Church
of Plumville and vies with them in his gen-
erosity to it, now sendng as a tnistee, and
having been Sunday school superintendent for
the last few years. The Odd Fellows hold- his
membership ajid he is a past grand of the
local lodge, and belongs to the grand lodge of
the State, as well as to the Rebekahs. For
years he was a member of the teachera' insti-
tute and gave that body valuable service be-
cause of his experience and practical knowl-
edge. In fact, his achievements all along
seem to be the result of preparedness and
efficiency for whatever life brings.
Mr. Douds was married, in Cambria county,
Pa., to Grace M. Frum. a most accomplished
lady, and a member of the Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Douds have had three children :
Paul Wilson, James Carl and Wayne Eugene.
The First National Bank of Plumville was
organized in 1905 by D. W. Douds and asso-
ciates, and its handsome bank building, erected
in 1906, is the most imposing structure in the
city. The capital stock of the bank is $30,000,
while its surplus is $15,000. The officials of
the bank are : M. C. W.yukoop, president ; D.
W. Raraigh, vice president; D. W. Douds,
cashier ; D. C. Griffith, assistant cashier. The
board of directors is as follows : D. Andrews,
A. W. Clowes, D. W. Douds, George Peffer,
H. G. Bowers, G. T. Crooks, D. W. Raraigh,
S. S. Burns and M. C. Wynkoop, all of whom
are men of high financial standing, whose
presence on the board insures the solidity of
the bank, and guarantees conseiwative policies
in its management. Mr. Douds has been the
cashier since the organization of the bank.
610
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
According to the statement issued by the
bank on April 4, 1913, its condition is excel-
lent:
ASSETS:
Loans and discounts $117,929.29
United States bonds 12,000.00
Bonds, securities, etc 11,960.00
Banking house, furniture and fixtures . . . 13,825.00
Cash in bank and reserve funds 46,508.38
Due from the United States Treasury . . . 500.00
$202,723.67
LIABILITIES:
Capital stock $ 30,000.00
Surplus and profits 16,835.93
Circulation 9,600.00
Dividends unpaid 43.00
Deposits 146,244.75
$303,732.67
The remarkable success of this institution
can be traced directly to the untiring efforts of
Mr. Douds, who since its inception has de-
voted all his time and attention to it, develop-
ing its resources, and extending its field of
operation. He is one of the able financiers of
Indiana county, whose successful career along
other lines helped to fit him for his present
work. The uniform quality of his accom-
plishments as teacher, merchant and banker
demonstrate beyond question that he is a man
of more than ordinary abilitj', who has care-
fully conserved his talents and used them to
the best advantage. His position in his com-
munity is of such a nature as to crown an
honorable career, for when public approval
has set its stamp upon a man he may feel
that his worth is truly appreciated.
Both father and son, James B. and D. W.
Douds, have proved themselves worthy of their
family name, and demonstrated their high con-
ception of what American citizenship should
be.
JOHN PATTERSON ARCHIBALD, the
leading jeweler of Blaireville, has an interest-
ing history. John Archibald, his grandfather,
was bom in Dundee, Scotland, in 1798. He
came to the United States when about nineteen
years of age and settled in Blacklick township,
Indiana Co., Pa., purchased a large farm and
followed the tilling of the soil all his life. A
typical Scotchman, he had the many excellent
characteristics of his race, and was known far
and wide for his honesty, industry, and re-
ligious piety. He was a Presbyterian.
John Archibald married Elizabeth "Wain--
Wright, and this union was blessed by nine
children: (1) Elzara married John Brown,
and died April 11. 1902, aged seventy-four
years. They had children : Mary, John, Ella,
Margaret and Samuel, all deceased except
Mary Brown ( Gormley ) . ( 2 ) Isaac, who mar-
ried Myrtilla Patterson, died April 23, 1884,
aged fifty-eight years. (3) Mary died unmar-
ried Aug. 28, 1865. (4) Julia Ann married
William Lafever, and died March 24, 1897.
(5) Elizabeth, wife of Frank McConnell, died
Oct. 4, 1872. Their children were Hattie
(now ilrs. J. H. Kress), John and Thomas,
the latter two deceased. (6) Samuel (married
to Lavinia Ann Patterson) is still living
(1913). His children are: John Patterson,
Myrtilla Jane and Samuel Thompson. (7)
John (married to Harriet Fulton) is still liv-
ing (1913). His children are: Esther (Mrs.
George B. Irwin), Martha (Mrs. J. P. Irwin)
and John A. (married to Besse Jewel). (8)
Ellen Jane died when a child about five years
of age, Aug. 28, 1849. (9) George died when
a child about two years old, Oct. 29, 1849.
John Archibald, the father, died Oct. 4, 1867,
at the age of sixty-nine years. He is buried in
the Hopewell cemetery.
Elizabeth Wainwright, wife of John Archi-
bald, was bom in England Dec. 30, 1807. She
came to the United States with her father and
mother, Samuel and Sarah (Cardin) Wain-
wright, about 1815. Her brothers and sisters
were Samuel, Sarah, Theresey, Mary, Isaac,
Ede, Hannah, George, and John. Mrs. Eliza-
beth (Wainwright) Archibald died May 27,
1868, aged sixty years, four months, and is
buried at Hopewell cemetery. •
Samuel Archibald, son of John and Eliza-
beth Archibald, was born in Blacklick town-
ship, Indiana county, Nov. 25, 1838. He at-
tended the country school in the old brick
schoolhouse, then located on the Archibald
homestead, and was well educated for a boy
who lived in his day and generation. He
worked on his father's farm and learned the
lessons of frugality and honesty. At the be-
ginning of the Civil war he was drafted, but
due to the age of his parents he paid a substi-
tute. He was again called at the battle of
Gettysburg, and went with his company, who
were held as reserves. In 1865 he bought the
old Fishel homestead in Derry township, West-
moreland county, one mile from Livermore, on
which farm he still lives. He has been a verj'
prosperous farmer, now owning three farms.
He always took much interest in the schools
of his township, serving as school director for
a number of years. He has been a member
of the Presbyterian Church since his boyhood
days, and has held the office of ruling elder in
the Livermore Presbyteriati Church for nearly
forty years. His life has always been clean,
pure and religious. His word is always as
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
611
good as his bond. He is a total abstainer and
always tights the liquor problem.
Samuel Archibald was married to Lavinia
Ann Pattei-son ou Feb. 19, 1867. They have
three children : John Patterson Archibald, of
Blairsville; Myrtilla Jane (married to John
E. Duncan), of Derry township; and Samuel
Thompson (married to Ella P. Irwin), of
Derry township. The children of John Pat-
terson Arcliibald are named later in this
sketch. The only child of John E. and Myr-
tilla Jane Duncan is a son. Samuel Elmer.
The children of Samuel Thompson and Ella P.
Archibald are JIarguerite, Lavina, Helen and
Samuel J. Archibald.
Mrs. Lavinia Ann (Patterson) Archibald
has a long line of ancestors. Robert Thomp-
son was bom in Ireland in 1732 and came to
America in 1770, settling near Chambersburg,
Pa. In 1790 he migrated to Indiana county,
near Lewisville. He died in 1802, at the age
of seventy years, and Mary (Gordon), his
wife, died in 1846, at the age of ninety-five
years. Their children were : ]\Ioses, Alexan-
der, Adam, William and Ruth.
Moses Thompson was bom in 1772 at Cham-
bersburg. Pa. His first wife was Janet Jami-
.son, who died in 1801. On May 30, 1806,
Moses Thompson married Nancy Coleman.
She died Nov. 16, 1861, at the age of eighty
years, and he died Nov. 10, 1853, at the age
of eighty-one years. The children of Moses
and Nancv Thompson were: Montgomery,
born ]\Iarch 6, 1807, died Nov. 11, 1885 ; Jane
(married James Patterson), born Oct. 11,
1808, died Nov. 1. 1839 ; Marv- (married Sam-
uel Patterson), born Aug. 6. 1810, died June
9, 1885 : Nancv, born Julv 17, 1812, died July
16, 1886 ; EUza, born Dec. 1. 1813, died Nov.
29, 1888 : Ebenezer, born Oct. 31, 1815, died
in vouth; Maria Josephine A. (married B. B.
Rhodes), bom March 16, 1819, died Aug. 1,
1897. (B. B. Rhodes died Dec. 22. 1912,
aged eighty-five years, and Agnes Rhodes,
their only child, died Aug. 25, 1911. aged
about fifty-two years.)
Jane Thompson married James Patterson
Nov. 18, 1828. To them were born Thomp-
son, Samuel. Lavinia Ann and Myrtilla Jane.
Thompson Patterson mai-ried Hannah Kauf-
man and had one son. Calvin T.. who married
Minerva Duncan; they have one child, Daisy
Belle. Thompson Patterson died May 2, 1903.
aged sevents'-three years. Samuel Patterson
died Oct. 29, 1855, when twenty-one years of
age. Lavinia Ann (married Samuel Archi-
bald) died Jan. 22. 1913. Myrtilla Jane (mar-
ried to Isaac Archibald) died Aug. 26, 1873.
James Patterson married Miss Bamett as his
second wife, and their children are James B.,
still living in 1913, and Rebecca (Mrs. Rob-
ert Patterson), deceased. James Patterson
died in 1869, when about seventy years of age.
Mi-s. Lavinia Ann (Patterson) Archibald,
daughter of James and Jane (Thompson) Pat-
terson, was born in Conemaugh township, In-
diana county, IMarcli 17, 1833, and died Jan.
22, 1913, aged nearly eighty years. She at-
tended the country school near Lewisville till
about her fourteenth year, when the family
moved to the place now kno\\Ti as the James
Patterson farm, two miles from New Alexan-
dria, Westmoreland county. She continued
her education in the schools of Derry town-
ship and was considered a leader in the schools
of her time. She was brought up in a Chris-
tian home and a Covenanter in doctrine. She
lived up to her faith, and was a devout Chris-
tian woman of strong personality, whose influ-
ence has made a deep impression upon the
lives of her family. After her marriage to
Samuel Archibald she left the Covenanter
Church to join her husband in the Presby-
terian Church, at Livermore. where she wor-
shipped till her death, Jan. 22, 1913. She is
buried in Blairsville cemetery.
John Patterson Archibald, son of Samuel
and Lavinia Ann (Patterson) Archibald, was
born Jan. 3, 1868, in Derry township, West-
moreland county. He attended the country
school known as the Anderson school, and
summer normals in Livermore borough, till
about seventeen years old. when he began to
teach in his home township. He taught two
yeai"s in Derry township and two yeai's in
Livermore borough. He graduated from the
Indiana State normal school in the class of
1893, and was elected principal of the Salts-
burg public schools the same year, which po-
sition he filled for six consecutive years, when
he was elected principal of the Blairsville pub-
lie schools. At the close of three years of
principalship over the Blairsville public
schools he purchased his present business.
During these thirteen years of school work he
taught summer normals, preparing many
young men and women for teaching and for
college work. He was a member of the State
examining board for permanent certificates for
a period of ten years, and also a member of
the State and National Educational Associa-
tions. His keen interest in educational mat-
ters and his aim to be a leader in his work
induced him to attend county. State and na-
tional meetings of education, thus keeping him
thoroughly posted in his profession. He was
612
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
always a leader in educational work and en-
joyed a wide acquaintanceship with prominent
educators.
For some years he was a member of Com-
pany D, 5th Re^ment, National Guard of
Pennsylvania, seeing service in the Homestead
labor strike and also in the Punxsutawney
strike.
In 1897 Mr. Archibald took the preliminary
law examination at Greensburg, Pa., in a large
class, and passed with the highest average.
He registered with attorney John B. Steele
(now ex- Judge Steele) and continued the
study of law while engaged in school work.
When he purchased his present jewelry busi-
ness he gave up the study of law to devote his
entire time to it. On June 30, 1902, Mr. Ar-
chibald purchased the jewelry store of William
F. Hasinger, closing his long and valuable
career as an educator when he entered business
life. He is still conducting the leading jewelry
establishment of the city, and controls a fine
trade.
In 1907 Mr. Archibald was elected first vice
president of the American National Retail
Jewelers' Association, at the annual conven-
tion in Chicago. During the year he traveled
in several States, organizing and speaking at
State meetings for the president of the asso-
ciation. At Cincinnati, Ohio, at the annual
convention in 1908, he was elected national
president by a large majority over candidates
from three of our largest cities in the United
States. Throughout this year he traveled over
twenty-five thousand miles, attending conven-
tions and speaking at jewelers' banquets. At
the following annual convention, in Omaha,
Nebr., 1909, ilr. Archibald was unanimously
reelected national president for another year,
this being the first time that a national presi-
dent succeeded himself. This year was even
more strenuous. He traveled more than
twenty-five thousand miles, speaking in more
than twenty States, at conventions and ban-
quets. At the annual convention in Detroit
in 1910 he refused reelection as president, but
was elected a member of the national execu-
tive committee. At the close of his service as
national president the members of the Asso-
ciation presented him, at Detroit, a sterling
silver loving cup, having engraved thereon:
"John P. Archibald, President American Na-
tional Retail Jewelers' Association. In ap-
preciation of his valued services as President
of the Association 1908-1910." He still takes
great interest in the affairs of the National
Jewelers' Association and attends all the meet-
ings.
On Nov. 1, 1900, Mr. Archibald was mar-
ried to Nancy Jane ^Vhite Portser, youngest
daughter of Simon and Harriet (White) Port-
ser. Mrs. Archibald was born in Saltsburg.
She graduated from the schools of that bor-
ough and from the Indiana State normal
school, in the class of 1896, and taught four
years in the Saltsburg high school and one
year in the Johnstown public schools prior
to her marriage. Mrs. Archibald has had the
following brothers and sisters: John White
Portser, deceased; William Henry Portser;
Mary Agnes (Mrs. W. B. Ansley) ; Elizabeth
Emma (Mrs. H. H. Robinson), deceased;
Sarah Fullerton (Mrs. D. B. Caulk) ; Edgar
S. Portser, deceased; Paul Portser, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Archibald became the parents
of the following children: John Patterson,
Jr., born Sept. 15, 1901, died Feb. 27, 1902,
and is buried in the Blairsville cemetery;
Mary Lavina and Elizabeth Portser, twins,
were born Nov. 1, 1902 ; and William Fuller-
ton was born Jan. 27, 1910.
Mr. Archibald united with the Livermore
Presbyterian Church (his home church) when
quite a young man and was president of the
Christian Endeavor Society, superintendent
of the Sabbath school and a trustee while a
member in that church. During his six years
in Saltsburg he was a teacher in the Sabbath
school, a member of the choir, president of
the Christian Endeavor Society for nearly
four years and a very active church worker.
He is now a member of the First Presbyterian
Church of Blairsville, was president of the
Brotherhood, and now teaches the Bible class,
having an enrollment of sixty men.
Pie is a thirty-second degree ]\Iason, mem-
ber of the Knights Templar, and Shriner ; be-
longs to the Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum,
and Junior Order of American Mechanics,
and takes a deep interest in fraternal matters.
Socially he belongs to the Twenty Four Karat
Club of New York City and also Pittsburg.
He attends the banquets and social occasions
of these clubs and also of similar clubs in
Philadelphia and Chicago, there meeting the
leading men of the nation. On a late occasion
William Howard Taft, President of the
United States, was present at the Twenty Four
Karat Club banquet in New York, and made
the address.
Politically Mr. Archibald is a Republican,
but on many occasions he votes independently.
He refuses to be bossed by the political rings.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
613
He is a total abstainer from all alcoholic
liquors, and a strong temperance advocate.
During his business career he has spoken on
trade topics to many business men's organi-
zations and enjoys the reputation of being a
good public speaker. In the last five years
he has written many articles on trade topics
for the jewelers' journals. He has in prepara-
tion a book for jewelers. Having visited
nearly seven thousand retail jewelry stores
over the United States, and most of the watch
factories, cut glass, silverware and jewelry
manufactories, and having made a careful
study of the business, his articles are sought
after by the jewelry trade. He was sent by
the National Retail Jewelers' Association to
Washington, D. C, on two occasions to speak
to the committees of the House of Represen-
tatives against the passage of certain meas-
ures. He has a nation-wide acquaintanceship
among business men in his line, and also men
in public life. Thoroughly progressive, he is
able to meet the demands of the times, and
ranks among the prosperous business men of
Indiana county.
After two years of reading and study Mr.
Archibald has just completed a business
course in accounting, advei-tising, credits, buy-
ing and selling and commercial law at the
Alexander Hamilton Institute of New York
City.
JAMES ALEXANDER McKNIGHT, late
of Wa.shington to\vnship, Indiana county, was
born March 21, 1821. in that township, on the
farm which his daughter ^Mary now owns.
The McKnight family is of Irish extraction.
His great-grandparents, Alexander and Eliza-
beth (McBride) ^McKnight, were natives of
County Down, Ireland, and married there.
Coming to the United States in 1790 they set-
tled in Franklin county, Pa., at fii'st, and in
1795 or 1796 moving to Indiana county,
where they located on a tract of 269 acres in
Washington township, which he bought. The
warrant for this tract was issued to Robert
Elder, April 1, 1788. The McKnight family
made the iirst improvements on this land.
Alexander and his wife both died here. They
were Presbyterians in religious faith. In poli-
tics he was a Whig.
Alexander McKnight, father of James Al-
exander ilcKnight, died in 1821. He married
Susaiuia Cummins, and their children were
William C. and James Alexander. The
former, who died at Chambersburg in 1892,
was the father of James A., William C. and
Margaret McKnight, of whom James A. mar-
ried Louisa Lindsey, who survives him with
two children. ]\Irs. Charles G. Richards, of
Auburn, N. Y., and Elizabeth McKnight, of
Newark, New Jersey,
James Alexander McKnight passed his
youth on the home farm. He inherited half
of that property and bought the remaining
half from his brother. He gained an excel-
lent education, attending the public schools
and later the academy at Indiana, and he ac-
complished much by home study, becoming a
fine Greek and Latin scholar. For a time he
taught country schools, and later was instruc-
tor at the Eldersridge academy. He was
highly successful as a farmer, and also be-
came prominent in business, being one of the
organizers of the Farmers' Bank of Indiana,
of which he became the first president. He
was a lifelong Presbyterian in religion and in
political cpiestions was a Republican.
On March 11, 1862, :Mr. McKnight married
Eliza Jane Callen, daughter of Hugh and
Mary (Chambers) Callen. and granddaughter
of William and Jane (Hutchinson) Cham-
bers; Chambersburg was founded by a branch
of this family, ilrs. McKnight died in Jan-
uary, 1866. mother of two children: Mary
C, of Indiana, and Hugh Alexander, who
died in infancy. On July 4. 1876, Mr. :\Ic-
Knight married (second) Emeline S. Callen,
daughter of Matthew and Jane (Paul) Callen.
There were no children by this marriage. He
died in Indiana, Pa., Oct. IS, 1889, and two
years later his widow and daughter removed
to Indiana. His widow died March 23, 1902,
in Pasadena, Cal., while on a visit.
JOHN WESLEY ROBINSON is secretary
and treasurer of the Garfield Fire Clay Com-
pany, manufacturers of clay products, whose
plant is at Garfield, Robinson P. 0.. Indiana
county, the leading industrial establishment in
that vicinity. The Robinsons have been con-
nected with the fire brick manufacturing in-
dustry in this region for a long period, and
their thorough qualifications as business men
and high personal character have been appre-
ciable influences in the development of this
section.
This Robinson faijiily is of Scotch-Irish ex-
traction. Irvin Robinson, the first ancestor
in America, was a native of Enniskillen,
County Fermanagh, Ireland, to which country
his ancestors emigrated from Scotland. He
was one of five children, having two brothers
and two sisters, his brother William living
in England, his brother John and two sisters
coming to Baltimore and settling there; this
614
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
brother visited him once in Indiana county,
but owing to the newness of the country and
difficulty in getting to the post office, the near-
est one being at Armagh, eight miles away,
over a trail through a wilderness infested with
wild beasts, wolves, panthers, wildcats, etc.,
80 that Mrs. Robinson was afraid to let her
sons go to the post office veiy often, all inter-
course and writing stopped and the connec-
tion was lost.
In his youth Mr. Robinson was impressed
into the British army and was sent to serve
in the American Colonies, where the Revolu-
tionary war was going on. He was a soldier
in Lord Cornwallis' army. He carried a Bible
in his breast pocket, and in one of the battles
he was shot, the tallet striking the Bible and
penetrating almost through it, the good book
thus saving his life. At another time he was
struck by a bullet in the arm, causing a pain-
ful wound. He was made a prisoner at York-
town, Va., when Cornwallis surrendered his
army to Washington. At the conclusion of
peace he returned to England with his regi-
ment and was discharged from the service.
During his service in America Mr. Robinson 's
sympathies were with the colonists and though
as a soldier he had to do his duty, he formed
a liking for the country and determined that
as soon as he could he would return to it.
When about twenty-five years of age he was
married to Catherine Elliott, of their native
city, Enniskillen. He was granted a pension
'by the British government for sei-vice in the
army, but did not lift it after he became a citi-
zen of the United States. Two children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson in Ireland,
George and John. These four, with Mrs.
Robinson's parents, the Elliotts, and their
family emigrated to America, landing in Que-
bec in September, 1793, after a stormy three
months' voyage; they did not stop in Canada,
but came to the United States, finally landing
at what is now the city of Hollidaysburg,
Blair Co., Pa. Here he bought the land that
Hollidaysburg is now built on and settled
down, but not for long. Mrs. Robinson's par-
ents had settled in Ligonier valley, between
Fairfield and Ross Furnace, and her longing
to be near her parents paused them to seil
their property, which they did to General
HoUiday, and remove to what is now known
as the "Campbell Farm" in Fairfield town-
ship, about four miles southwest of Bolivar,
Pa. Here Mr. Robinson lived until he finally
moved to what is now West Wheatfield town-
ship, Indiana Co., Pa., across the Conemaugh
river from Bolivar, to the farm now owned by
the heirs of Elliott Robinson, or the property
of the Garfield Fire Clay Company, and on
part of which there is now built the village of
Garfield (Robinson P. 0.). Here he bought
a tract of 425 acres in what was then called
Poplar Bottom, on account of the large num-
'ber of poplar trees gi'owing on it. Here he
lived until his death, in 1829, aged sixty-seven
years, his widow sui-viving until 1859, dying
at the age of eighty-six years.
Mr. Robinson studied medicine three years
and practiced his profession among the then
limited population of that region. He was a
]\[ethodist of Quaker ancestry and used the
Quaker habits and language. Mrs. Robinson 's
mother's maiden name was Woods, and her
family also came to the United States; they
were members of the Church of England.
Episcopalians, in the United States, and one
or more of the sons were ministers in that de-
nomination.
Irvin Robinson and wife had twelve chil-
dren born to them, all of whom lived to raise
families; they were George, John, Jane,
Hance, Irvin, Thomas, Mary, James, William,
Elliott (of whom later), Christopher and
Elizabeth Woods.
Elliott Robinson, son of Irvin and Cather-
ine (Elliott) Robinson, was bom Oct. 8, 1808,
in Fairfield township, Westmoreland Co., Pa.,
and was very young when his parents went
to the farm now owned by the Garfield Fire
Clay Company, in West Wheatfield township,
Indiana Co., Pa. After his father's death in
1829 he bought the interests of the other heirs
in the property left by his father, and he
became the sole support of his widowed
mother, who made her home with him until
her death. While yet a young man he en-
gaged in canal boating, running a section boat
between Pittsburg and Philadelphia. He built
and operated both saw and flour mills in
Wheatfield township, Indiana county, and in
Bolivar, Westmoreland Co., Pa. He was
largely interested in the lumber business dur-
ing the greater portion of his life, as well as
in farming and merchandising. When the
Pennsylvania railroad was building he had
the contract and built the section of the road
from Bolivar west about two miles. He was a
piozieer in the fire brick business, being the
second man to engage in that industry in
Westmoreland county. In about 1856 he and
C. A. R. Benny, of Pittsburg, built what is
now known as Reese, Hammond & Co. No. 2
Works. In connection with Breniser & Com-
pany he rebuilt what is now known as Reese,
Hammond No. 1 Works. In the spring of
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
615
1869 he moved to Blackliek, Indiana county,
where in companj- with F. M. Kiuter and
Charles A. Hadley he built the Blackliek
Manufacturing Company's tire brick works.
Here he lived and operated the works for
about three years, when he returned to his
home in West Wheatfield to\vnship, and soon
after he with three others erected the Enter-
prise or Lincoln Fire Brick Works. He was
interested in the Garfield Fire Clay Company
to the extent of backing his sons William I.
and Thomas J., who started that industry in
1887.
Mr. Robinson very early in life joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church and was an ac-
tive member of it all his life, filling every of-
fice in the church, from tnistee to local
preacher. He was instrumental in building
more churches, and in organizing more new
congi-egations, than any other man in the com-
munity, giving largely of his time and means
to these objects.
In about 1833 Mr. Robinson was united in
marriage to Margaret, daughter of Robert
Nixon, of Fairfield township, Westmoreland
county. Mrs. Margaret (Nixon) Robinson's
mother was Rebecca Lawrence, daughter of
Fitz Randolph Drake, of Piscataqua, N. J.,
a lineal descendant of Capt. John Drake, the
brother and heir of Sir Francis Drake. Mr.
Drake was a royalist, and when the Revolu-
tionary war broke out he went back to Eng-
land. His son-in-law, Lawrence, was a pati-iot
and being in good circumstances financially
furnished Washington's army with cattle and
provisions, seriously crippling himself, how-
ever, as Congress never paid him for these
supplies for the army. Later Mr. Lawrence
removed his family to Pennsylvania, and set-
tled near HoUidaj-sburg. and he and his wife
are buried in the old Frankstown cemetery
near Hollidaysburg.
Elliott and Margaret (Nixon) Robinson had
five children: (1) Irvin, born in 1834. died in
infancy. (2) Eliza Catherine, born in 1839,
married William L. Winkle, and died in 1880.
(3) Mary Jane, born in 1841, married A. B.
Rugh. and resides in Pitcaim, Pa. (4) John
Wesley, of whom later. (.5) Ann Elizabeth,
born in 1846, was a deaconess in the M. B.
Chiirch in Pittsburg, and is now deceased.
After the death of the mother of these chil-
dren, which oecui'red in October. 1847, Mr.
Robinson in 1848 married (second) Sarah A.
Lynn, daughter of Robert Lynn, of Wheat-
field township, Indiana county. Their chil-
dren were: (1) Caroline ilargaret, born in
1849, at present resides in Garfield, Pa., and
is the secretary and treasurer of The Robin-
son Company (Store). (2) William I., born
in 1851, married Margaret McHail, of Boli-
var, Pa., and resides in Bolivar. He is presi-
dent of the Garfield Fire Clay Company, also
of The Robinson Company. (3) Thomas J.,
born in 1853, was vice president and sales
manager of the Garfield Fire Clay Company
and president of The Robinson Company
(Store) until his death, in 1907. He was an
active member of the ^l. E. Church and a
member of Acacia Lodge. No. 355, F. & A. M.,
of Blairsville. Pa. He married Sarah Alice
Kennedy, of Bolivar, and resided in Garfield,
where his widow still makes her home. There
were three other children born to these par-
ents. Simpson N.i Emma R. and James, all
dying in childhood Mrs. Robinson died in
1859. Mr. Robinson married (third) in 1866
Mrs. Sarah Jane (Doty") Sutton, daughter of
Robert and Fannie (Campbell) Doty, and
widow of James Sutton, of Hopewell, Black-
lick township, Indiana county. There were
no children born to this union. Mr. Robinson
died June 10. 1891, lacking four months of
being eighty-three years old. Mrs. Robinson
died in 1894.
Charles W. Sutton, a son of Mrs. Robinson
by her first marriage, lives in Garfield, Pa.,
and is a member of the Garfield Fire Clay
Company and manager of The Robinson Com-
pany (Store).
John Wesley Robinson, son of Elliott and
Margaret (Nixon) Robinson, was bom May
12, i844. He was educated in the public and
select schools and at Jacksonville Academy,
at Jacksonville, Indiana county. He taught
one term of public school, after which he
helped his father, clerking in the store and
keeping his books. In 1869 he went with his
father to Blackliek, where he had charge of the
store of the Blackliek Manufacturing Com-
pany and was with them until 1872. In that
year the Isabella Furnace Company built their
coke oven plant at Cokeville, across the river
from Blairsville. Pa., and he accepted a posi-
tion with Graff, Bailey & Geib, who operated
these works, to take charge of the company
store, being with them until 1876. In 1880 he
with W. L. Winkle, his brother-in-law, went to
Altoona, Pa., where in company with Max
Kinkaid, a banker. John Reiley, superintend-
ent of transportation Pacific Railroad Com-
pany, and S. C. Baker, land owner and capi-
talist, he erected the Altoona Fire Brick
Works, of which Mr. Robinson was the secre-
tary and for about three years acting super-
intendent as well. In the spring of 1885 he
616
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
left Altoona to accept a position with A. G.
Morris, of Tyrone, Pa., as chief clerk, having
charge of and directing all the ofiSce business
for his large lime and limestone business in
Blair, Huntingdon and Centre counties. Here
he staid for thirteen years.
In 1898 he removed to Garfield, Pa., Rob-
inson P. 0., to the old homestead where he
was born, and took the position of secretary
and treasurer of the Garfield Fire Clay Com-
pany, of which he had been a member for
some time. In 1905 the business was incor-
porated, the brick works and real estate be-
coming the Garfield Fire Clay Company, Inc.,
and the store The Robinson Company, Inc.,
Mr. Robinson being a director in both com-
panies and secretary and treasurer of the
Garfield Fire Clay Company, to which he
gives the principal part of his time and at-
tention. He is a man of good business in-
stincts and his long connection with this par-
ticular business makes him an authority on
conditions in the industry.
On Oct. 14, 1880, Mr. Robinson was united
in marriage to Cora E. Agnew, daughter of
Samuel K. and Harriet (Hicks) Agnew,
and now resides in Bolivar, Pa. To this union
eleven children were born, eight of whom are
living: (1) Francis Elliott, bom in 1881, a
graduate of Bolivar high and Bloomsburg nor-
mal schools, is at present the vice president
and superintendent of the Garfield Fire Clay
Company, also a director of The Robinson
Company and vice president. He married
Rebecca M. Hammond, daughter of W. McC.
Hammond, and resides in Bolivar, Pa. They
have one child, Richard E. (2) John Everett,
born in 1883, died in Tyrone, Pa., in his eighth
year. (3) Mary Margaret, born in 1886, is a
graduate nurse of Jefferson Medical Hospital,
Philadelphia, Pa., and is now in the United
States naval hospital service, located at Cana-
cao hospital, on Manila Bay, Philippine Is-
lands. (4) Thomas Nixon, born in 1889, is
at present assistant cashier of the Blairsville
National Bank, of Blairsville, Pa. (5) Paul
Agnew, born in 1891, is a student at Alle-
gheny College, Meadville, Pa., in his junior
year. (6) Eleanor N., bom in 1893, is at
home. (7) Florence, born in 1895, died in
infancy. (8) Richard Vincent, born in 1897,
is at home. (9) A son born in 1899 died the
same day. (10) Katherine, born in 1901, is
at home. (11) Kyle Irvin, bom in 1903, is
at home.
Mrs. Cora E. (Agnew) Robinson's father
was a veteran soldier during the war of the
Rebellion, having spent four years in the ser-
vice and dying in Altoona, Pa., soon after the
close of the war.
Mr. Robinson is an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, having served
as trustee and steward, and is interested in
the Sunday school, in which he is teacher of
the Bible class. He was a charter member
of Altoona Council, of the Hoyal Arcanum,
and is also a charter member of Tyrone Coun-
cil, No. 943, Royal Arcanum, where he now
holds his membership. In politics he is in-
dependent, but having a strong leaning to
the Prohibition party.
H. WALLACE THOMAS is prominently
associated with so many of the most import-
ant enterprises of the borough of Indiana and
with public affairs of Indiana county that a
mere enumeration of his interests would be
sufficient to show his position among his fel-
low citizens. He has recently completed a
three years' term as sheriff of Indiana county.
Mr. Thomas was born May 10, 1877, at Jack-
sonville, this county, son of Israel and Mary
(Fleming) Thomas and grandson of John
Thomas. The latter was born in Wales, and
coming to the United States when a young
man located in Armstrong township, Indiana
Co., Pa., where he engaged in farming. He
died about 1874.
Israel Thomas, father of H. Wallace
Thomas, was born July 1, 1832, in Ai-mstrong
township, Indiana Co., Pa. He was a school
teacher in Indiana county for several yeare,
and subsequently was employed as clerk in a
general merchandise store at Plumville, this
county, continuing there for several years.
He then became a clerk in the store of J. M.
Guthrie, at Jacksonville, Indiana county, and
later entered into partnership with Joseph
Laughlin, in the general merchandise busi-
ness at that place. He was afterward as-
sociated in the same line with Hugh Neal,
under the firm name of Thomas & Neal, at
Jacksonville. Moving to the borough of In-
diana in 1887, he engaged in the business of
importing fine horses, and also carried on a
shoe business there up to the time of his death.
He was one of the original stockholders and
directors of the Farmers' Bank of Indiana,
and stood well among his associates in every
line. He died April 18, 1895. In religion
he was a Presbyterian, and served for several
years as an elder of the church at Indiana.
Mr. Thomas and his wife ilary (Fleming)
had a family of four children : Louisa, Edith,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
617
Heber and H. Wallace. The daughters both
died young.
H. Wallace Thomas received his education
at Indiana, attending the common schools and
later the State normal school. He then found
emplojnuent with the Northwood Glass Com-
pany, with which eoucem he was connected
for a period of thirteen years. He is a stock-
holder and director of the Dugan Glass Com-
pany of Indiana borough, of which company
he is secretary, and is also engaged in the
lively business at that place. Mr. Thomas is
one of the leading business men of Indiana,
is serving as secretary of the Board of Trade,
and has done his full share in promoting local
commercial interests. But he has not con-
fined his energies to business. He served
three years, 1906-07-08, as member of the bor-
ough council, and in 1908 was elected sheriff
of the county, serving a term of three years
in that important ofSce. In politics he has
been prominent as one of the most effective
local workers in the Republican party, is pres-
ent treasurer of the Republican county com-
mittee, and is a member of the Americus Re-
publican Club of Pittsburg. He is also well
kno^^^l in fraternal circles, being a member of
the I. 0. 0. F. and past grand of Lodge No.
346, of Indiana; member of the Royal Arca-
num ; Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No.
1468 ; B. P. 0. Elks, being past exalted raler
of Lodge No. 931, of Indiana; also a member
of the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana.
On Nov. 12, 1902, Mr. Thomas married
Charlotte A. Barnhart, of Indiana.
ROBERT HENDERSON WILSON, of
Saltsburg, Indiana county, Civil and Mining
Engineer, is descended from several families
conspicuous for strength and character among
the early settlers of this region. He belongs
in both paternal and maternal lines to that
sturdy Scotch-Irish stock, industrious, rugged,
leaders of thought and action in every line
of progress, which has been such a strong ele-
ment in establishing the best influence in
Pennsylvania. The names Henderson, Wray
and Wilson are well known and respected in
this part of the State, where representatives
of these families have lived and worked for
several generations.
IMr. Wilson was born July 9, 1851, in South
Bend township, Armstrong Co., Pa., son of
James D. Wilson, grandson of Hugh Mitchell
Wilson and great-grandson of Capt. James
Wilson, whose parents came to this country
from Scotland. Capt. James Wilson was born
in Chester x;ounty. Pa., and shortly after the
close of the Revolutionary war came westward
with a colony to the section now included in
Washington and Allegheny counties, settling
in Allegheny county on the ''Forks of the
Yough" (Youghiogheny). He was captain
of a company of "minute men" and was en-
gaged in one or two expeditions against the
hostile Indians which to some extent still
roamed over the region. About 1783 he mar-
ried Isabella Mitchell, a native of Adams
county. Pa., and they reared a family of six
sons: John (who was a member of the State
Legislature for AUeghenj^ county), James,
Samuel, Thomas, David and Hugh Mitchell.
Hugh Mitchell Wilson, son of James, was
born April 1, 1793, near Elizabeth, Allegheny
Co., Pa., and died July 31, 1872. For a time
he was a merchant at Elizabeth, then farmed,
and later owned and operated a grist and
saw mill until 1834, when he sold out. In
Slarch, 1835, he i-emoved from his native
county to Armstrong county, where he pur-
chased land, finally acciuiring ownership of
over six himdi-ed acres. On Dec. 21, 1815, he
married Mary Henderson, who died June 30,
1867, and is buried beside him in the ceme-
tery at Olivet. They had a family of eight
children, namely : Rebecca, born in 1816,
married Thomas Watson, of Saltsburg ; James
D. is mentioned below ; Rev. Matthew H., born
in 1820, married Mary Blasdell (he was a
noted educator, the founder of Jacksonville
Academy, and for a time president of Madi-
son College, in Ohio) ; Mitchell, born in 1822,
married Elizabeth Moore; Martha, born in
1824, died in 1845; John H., born May 27,
1827, married Nancv J. Warner; Thomas J.,
born in 1829, died in 1890; William T., born
Nov. 4, 1830, married Eliza Scott. The father
was first a member of the Associate Reformed
Church and was practically the founder of
the Olivet United Presbyterian Church and
served as one of its ruling elders for fifty
years. He was a Whig and Republican in
political sentiment.
Rev. Matthew Henderson, the gi-andfather
of ilrs. Hugh M. Wilson, was the founder of
the prominent family of that name in Wash-
ington county. Pa. He came fi-om Fifeshire,
Scotland, where he was born in 1735, and
was a graduate of the University of Glasgow.
In 1758 he was ordained a minister of the
Associate Church of Scotland, better known
as "Seceders," and immediately afterward
came to America, settling first at Oxford,
Chester Co., Pa., and about 1779 coming to
Washington county, where he became pastor
of the churches of Buffalo and Chartiers in
618
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1782. He took a high place among the lead-
ing men of his denomination and became a
noted worker along the lines of higher edu-
cation. He was one of the charter members
of the board of trustees of Washington Acad-
emy, at Washington, Pa., and the first presi-
dent of the board. He was one of three men
who virtually founded Jefferson Academj', at
Canonsburg, Pa., the two above named schools
both afterward growing into collegiate dig-
nity, and being later merged into Washington
and Jefferson College. Mr. Henderson was
also one of the original incorporators of the
academy from which has grown the splendid
University of Pittsburg. His son. Rev. Mat-
thew Henderson 2d, was bom Jan. 10. 1762,
at Octorai'o Creek, Chester county, and came
to Washington county with his family. Like
his father he became a noted religious woi'ker.
He was the first minister of any of the Scot-
tish churches to be educated in America, and
was the first licensed minister of the Asso-
ciate Reformed denomination in America. In
politics he was a Whig. On Oct. 3, 1786, he
married Rebecca Patterson, of Lancaster
county, and they had a family of nine chil-
dren: Martha, Mary (wife of Hugh M. Wil-
son), Matthew (a member of the Pennsylvania
Constitutional convention of 1838), Samuel,
John, Arthur, Ebenezer, James and Rebecca.
James D. Wilson, son of Hugh M. and Mary
(Henderson) Wilson, was born Nov. 5, 1818,
in Allegheny county. He remained at home
until his marriage, and the next month, in
April, 1847, moved to South Bend towTiship,
Armstrong county, settling on a tract of 120
acres near the village of Olivet, which his
father had purchased in 1838. This land his
father deeded to him some time later. Mr.
Wilson followed farming practically all his
life, and became owner of more than 200
acres. He was one of the original stockhold-
ers and directors of the Apollo Savings Bank,
now the Apollo Tnist Company, and served as
director until his death. He was the last sur-
vivor of the original members of the United
Presbyterian Church at Olivet, and died Sept.
16, 1895.
On March 27. 1847. Mr. Wilson was mar-
ried to Nancy Wray, Rev. Alexander Donald-
son performing the ceremony. Mrs. Wilson
was born Aug. 11, 1825, in Armstrong county,
daughter of Robert and Abigail Wray, and
she still survives, living on the old homestead.
She and her children also united with the
Olivet United Presbyterian Church. Mr. and
Mrs. Wilson had six children : Hugh, bom in
1849, who died in infancy ; Robert Henderson,
born July 9, 1851 ; Mary L., born Jan. 5, 1854,
who still lives on the old homestead ; Abigail,
born Sept. 18, 1856, living on the old place;
SaraJi, born in 1860, who died in infancy;
and Hattie S., born April 27, 1864, married
to Charles Stewart.
Robert Henderson Wilson received his early
education in the common schools and Elders-
ridge academy. He took his college course at
the Western University of Pennsylvania (now
the University of Pittsburg), studying civil
engineering, and has since been engaged in
general engineering work. This professional
work has comprehended the design and super-
intendence of construction of important mu-
nicipal water systems, town and city sewerage
and paving, and plans for, and installation of,
extensive colliery plants through the Penn-
.sylvania bituminous region, and he served a
term as county surveyor of Armstrong county.
Mr. Wilson has a large practice as a consult-
ing engineer and geologist, and his work in
this line has been quite extensive, reaching
from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, in
eastern Canada, through Pennsylvania, We.st
Virginia, Ohio, and into Kentucky. He is at
present chief engineer for the Armstrong
County Coal Company and Valley Coal Com-
pany, of Leechburg, Pa., the Aladdin Coal
and Coke Company, with mines at Aladdin,
Pa., the Dents Run Mining Company, Elk
county. Pa., Armerford Coal Mining Com-
pany, Dilltown, Pa., the Kier Fire Brick Com-
pany, Pittsburg, Pa., with mines and plant at
Salina, Pa., and mines at Kittanning, Pa.,
and for the Clymer Water Company, of In-
diana, Pa. He was for sixteen years borough
engineer for Leechburg. Pa., and is engineer
for the boroughs of Hyde Park and Avon-
more. He is a member of the town covincil,
and secretary of the Board of Trade in his
home town of Saltsburg. He is the last re-
maining of the original board of trustees of
Eldersridge academy, having served in that
capacity for thirty-seven years.
In addition to his professional activities
Mr. Wilson finds some time to devote to the
gentler and more thoughtful side of life as
a musical and literary writer, some of his
productions having received not only national
but international recognition and approval.
He is a Progressive Republican in polities,
and is a member of the United Presbyterian
Church.
On Dec. 5, 1878, Mr. Wilson married Emma
L. Blakely, of West Lebanon, Pa., daughter
of James Blakelv, and granddaughter of
David Blakelv. The Blakely family is of
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
619
Irish descent, and was among the eaiij^ pion-
eers in what is now Young township, Indiana
county. J\lr. and Jlrs. Wilson have had seven
children: (1) Florence, born Jan. 11, 1880,
is married to Roy A. Long, a coal dealer and
contractor of Newcastle, Pa. They have one
daughter, Dorothy. (2) Karl C, born Dec.
23, 1881, an engineer and architect, was con-
tractor's engineer in the building of the Car-
negie Library, Pittsburg, Pa. He superin-
tended the construction of the fii-st "sky-
scraper" in Little Rock, Ark., and is now resi-
dent manager for a large architectural com-
pany at Waco, Texas. He married Eva JMil-
ler, of Pittsburg, and they have one son. ( 3 )
Zora Wray, born Feb. 1, 1884, married Clark
J. McKee. also an engineer, for some time
with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company,
later with the State Highwaj- Department of
Virginia, and now mining engineer for the
Keystone Coal and Coke Company, of Green.s-
burg. Pa., having charge of surveys of their
Cambria and Indiana count.y mines. They
have one daughter, Jean. (4) Irene Blakely,
born Jan. 9, 1886, is a successful teacher in
the public schools of Newcastle, Pa. (5) Rob-
ert Murdoch, born June 11. 1888, followed
the family tradition and calling, and is as-
sistant engineer in the office of his father.
(6) James D., born Nov. 14, 1892, died Dec.
2, 1893. (7) Mary Abigail was born Nov.
14. 1894.
Daniel Wray, Mr. Wilson's maternal great-
grandfather, was born in 1754 in County An-
trim, Ireland, and came to America in youth.
He lived at Mercersburg, Franklin county,
and Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county,
in Pennsylvania, before he settled at the site
of what is now Saltsburg, Pa. On March 8,
177.5, he took out a patent for 137 acres of
land on part of which the borough of Salts-
burg now stands, and some of this land is still
o\vned by the Wray family. The laud was at
that time in the woods, and wolves frequently
drove his sheep to the cabin door. In 1781
he married Elizabeth McKibben, and they had
a family of seven children : James, Elizabeth,
John, Jane, Margaret, William and Robert.
The father died about 1825. He was a Wliig
in politics, and a Presbyterian in religious be-
Uef.
Robert Wray, son of Daniel, was bom Dec.
8, 1784, near Mercersburg, Franklin County,
Pa., and came with his father to the site of
Saltsburg in 1800. When his father's health
began to fail he assumed the management
of the farm, and finished paying for it, adding
to what he made by farming by the manu-
facture of salt, which was one of the earliest
industries in the Conemaugh and Kiskimi-
netas valley. In 1819 he settled in Kiskimi-
netas township, Armstrong countj-, where he
continued to reside until his death, which oc-
curred Aug. 15, 1869. He prospered in ag-
ricultural pursuits, and acquii-ed six hundred
acres of land which he divided among three
of his sons, and another tract of 120 acres
near Olivet which he gave to another son.
Few men of his day were more respected, and
he held the confidence of his fellow citizens
to such an extent that he was a frequent neigh-
borhood arbitrator. He was active in the pub-
lic affairs of his locality, holding at one time
or another most of the local offices, and he
was an original and most valued member of
the Presbyterian Church of Eldei'sridge, serv-
ing as a member of the first building commit-
tee of that eougi-egation. In political con-
viction he was a Whig and Republican.
In 1812 ilr. Wray married Abigail Man-
ners, whose father John i\Ianners was born
in 1760 in Washington county. Pa., and about
1810 moved to Kiskiminetas township, Arm-
strong county, where he bought and settled
on a farm of 200 acres adjacent to the pres-
ent coal works near Avonmore. Mr. Manners
was a member of the Pi-esbyterian Church.
In 1785 he married Sallie Couch, and they
had eight children: Joseph, Elizabeth, Na-
than, ilargaret, Nancy, George, Polly and
Abigail (Mrs. Wray).
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Wrav : Sarah, born July 9. 1814, mar-
ried Robert Smith, and died June 13, 1860,
Daniel, born April 1, 1816, married Sarah
France. John M., born Nov. 23, 1817, mar-
ried Anna ^I. Townsend. Elizabeth, born
Jan. 1. 1820. married John A. Ewing. ]\Iar-
garetta, born Feb. 29, 1824. died in infancy.
William H., born Dec. 2. 1821, married Su-
san Townsend. Nancy, born Aug. 11. 1825,
married James D. Wilson. Robert, born Feb.
11, 1827, married Martha Grav. Anna J.
was born March 16. 1830, and Abigail ]M.
July 29, 1832. All of these are now dead
except Mrs. James D. Wilson and Abigail
Wray. It is a rather striking example of
family longevity that Mr. and ilrs. Robert
Wray and seven of their ten children lived
beyond man's allotted span of three score
years and ten.
JOHN P. St. CLAIR, a resident of Homer
City who has been prominent in the life of
that place as business man, public official and
church worker for manv vears, was born Dec.
620
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
31, 1848, at Indiana, the county seat of In-
diana county, Pennsylvania, son of the late
Dr. Thomas St. Clair.
The Sti Clair family is of Scotch-Irish
origin, a branch of the St. Clair family of
Scotland, which was founded in the middle
ages by Sir Walderne de St. Clair, a Norman
knight, who married Margaret, daughter of
Richard, Duke of Normandy. Their second
son, William, settled in Scotland, and one of
his descendants, William St. Clair, became
prince of the Orkney Islands under the King
of Norway, and high chancellor of Scotland
under the royal house of Bruce. In 1741 the
St. Clairs exchanged their lofty title and
island domains for the earldom of Caithness,
which they still hold. The name has since
become Anglicized to Sinclair. Two of the
descendants of one of these earls, through a
younger son, were Gen. Arthur St. Clair and
his cousin James St. Clair, Sr., the former of
whom was president of the Continental Con-
gress in 1787, and commander in chief of the
armies of the United States in 1791.
James St. Clair, Sr., was the great-grand-
father of John P. St. Clair. His parents were
natives of the North of Ireland, and he was
born in 1741 in eastern Pennsylvania. He
lived nine miles from York, Pa., where he
owned a valuable farm and mill, and he was
not only a prosperous citizen of his time but
an earnest sympathizer with the Colonial
cause, serving throughout the Revolutionary
war. His wife's maiden name was Miller.
James St. Clair, Sr., died in York county in
1806, at the age of sixty-five years.
James St. Clair, one of the sons of James
St. Clair, Sr., was born in York (now Adams)
county, Pa., in May, 1774, and passed the
greater part of his mature life in Indiana
county. Pa. In 1809 he came to Brushvalley
township, in 1816 removing to what is now
the northern part of White township, where
he took up a quarter section of government
land and followed farming for many years.
He died in Center township, this county, April
8, 1855, at the advanced age of eighty-one.
He was an old-line Whig in politics. He mar-
ried Jennie Slemmons, who was born in Lan-
caster, Pa., of Irish descent, and was reared
in Washington county. Pa., her father, Wil-
liam Slemmons, removing from Lancaster
to Washington county in 1790 and there fol-
lowing farming until his death, which oc-
curred in 1820, in his sixtieth year. ]\Ir. Slem-
mons was justice of the peace, by governor's
appointment, for a period of thirty years, and
he was a man of the highest character and of
honorable standing. His wife's maiden name
was Boggs, and they had several children.
Mrs. Jennie (Slemmons) St. Clair died Oct.
15, 1855, aged seventy-one yeare, a member of
the Presbyterian Church. She and her hus-
band had a family of ten children, namely:
Margaret, William S., Mary W., James, Sam-
uel, Isaac, John, Robert, Thomas and Iliram.
Thomas St. Clair, M. D., son of James and
Jennie (Slemmons) St. Clair, was one of the
foremost citizens of western Pennsylvania in
his day. Born May 5, 1824, in what is now
White township, Indiana Co., Pa., he lived
on his father's farm there until he reached
the age of fifteen years. His early education
was received in the common schools and at the
academy in Indiana. In 1843 he took up the
study of medicine with Dr. John W. Jenks, of
Punxsutawney, and after a year's study with
him removed to Indiana, where he completed
his preparatory course under the tuition of
Dr. James M. Stewart. Entering Jefferson
Medical College in 1845, he was graduated
and received his degree of M. D. in 1847. Re-
turning to Indiana, he formed a partnership
with his former preceptor, he and Dr. Stewart
practicing together for two yeare, Dr. St.
Clair commencing independent practice in
1849. Dr. St. Clair was not only a skilled
general practitioner, but, what was more rare
in the early days of his professional career,
a reliable surgeon. He was the first surgeon
in this State west of the Alleghenies who suc-
cessfully removed an ovarian tumor, his first
experience of the kind being the removal of
a tumor which weighed forty pounds; his
many subsequent operations of that nature
were successful, and the confidence which a
wide circle of patients placed in his skill and
judgment was justified by a long life of the
most conscientious devotion to the alleviation
of their ills. During the Civil war he was in
the Union service in his official capacity, and
he was in attendance on the wounded after
the Seven Days' fight and the battle of Get-
tysburg.
Though his professional duties wer'e suffi-
cient to fill the life of an ordinary man. Dr.
St. Clair found time for useful activity in the
public affairs of his community, which he
served faithfully and intelligently in many
offices of trust. He was a member of the bor-
ough council, and for several years repre-
sented his district — the Thirty-seventh — in
the State Senate, to which he was first elected
in 1864. At that time the district was com-
posed of Indiana and Armstrong counties, but
when he was reelected, in 1876, it comprised
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
621
Indiana and Jefferson ; he served eoutinuously
until 1880. His services in the Senate were
marked by unswerving fidelity to the intei'ests
of his constituents. He was identified with
the Republican party, and with the reform
element of that party in the days when it
was found necessary to break up ' ' ring rule ' '
and "bossism. " He always had the courage
of his convictions when it came to supporting
candidates, helping good men whether they
belonged to his own party or not. In 1S82
he was identified with an independent move-
ment, and again in 1890 took the stump in
favor of Pattison and reform, doing good
work in both campaigns. As an honest, sin-
cere advocate of the best interests, he found
many friends and supporters and had particu-
larly strong influence with the agricultural
and industrial classes, among which he was
well known, having served three years as
president of the Indiana County Agricultural
Society. He belonged to the M. E. Church,
and served as steward. Dr. St. Clair passed
away in ]Mai'eh, 1893.
On Feb. 24, 1848, Dr. St. Clair married
Charlotte D. Patton, daughter of John Pat-
ton, and she died in June, 1868, the mother of
seven children : John P. is mentioned below ;
James H., a veterinary surgeon, is a resident
of Blairsville, this county; Charles M. gradu-
ated from Jefferson IMedical College in 1878,
practiced with his father for ten years, and is
now located in practice at Latrobe, "Westmore-
land Co., Pa. (he married Sarah D. Taylor,
daughter of Dr. James M. Taylor) ; Charlotte
D. is the widow of J. Lesslie Hazlett; Jennie
S. died young, in 1862 ; Mary L. married Grif-
fith Ellis; Sarah Josephine resides with her
mother in Indiana. Dr. St. Clair married
for his second wife, March 30, 1869, Sarah
Walker, daughter of Moses Walker, of Wash-
ington county, and she survives him, .she and
her daughter Sarah Josephine residing in In-
diana.
John P. St. Clair began his education in
the public schools of Indiana and later at-
tended the academy there. He began his busi-
ness career at an early age with the firm of
Sutton, Lloyd & Co.. in which he had an in-
terest, but was with that concern only a short
time when he left it to become a member of
the firm of Loughry & St. Clair, his partner
being W. R. Loughry. After a time Peter
Sutton bought an interest in their business,
which was subsequently conducted under the
firm name of Sutton, Loughry & Co. In 1871
Mr. St. Clair severed his connection with this
business to join his father in the milHng busi-
ness, he having a one-third interest and his
father a two-thirds interest in the old Two
Lick gristmill, which they bought and oper-
ated under the firm name of Thomas St. Clair
& Son. In February, 1876, they sold the mill,
and thereupon became engaged in the lumber
business at Two Licks station, operating as
the Two Licks Lumber Company, Limited.
Continuing thus until 1879, they sold their
property at the station that year and dis-
solved partnership, John P. St. Clair on Jan.
1, 1879, entering upon his duties as clerk to
the county commissioners, to which position
he had ju.st been elected. He served three
years in that incumbency. In 1882 he became
a third owner of the flour mills at Homer
City, having inherited the interest in this es-
tablishment, one of the oldest of its kind in
Indiana county. Devoting his time to the
management of these mills, and the exten.sion
of the business, he continued to opei-ate them
for a period of fifteen years, during which
time he improved and refitted them through-
out, increasing the capacity to seventy-five
barrels daily. The mill property was valued
at $25,000. Fire destroyed the buildings after
i\Ir. St. Clair had conducted the business for
fifteen years, and he has since given his time
and attention to other business matters, prin-
cipally insurance, he being agent for the Mu-
tual Life Insurance Company of New York,
which he represents in Indiana, Westmore-
land and Armstrong counties. He has also
been engaged in farming and stock dealing,
and is at present interested in coal mining,
having a coal bed on his farm wliich he op-
erates.
]\Ir. St. Clair is independent in politics and
his support of candidates. He has served
seven yeai-s as member of the school board,
of which he has been president and treasurer ;
and was a member of the borough council of
Homer City for several years. He has been
a most active member of the Presbyterian
Church, which he has served as trustee and
elder, and he was superintendent of the Sun-
day school for a number of years; he also
taught the Bible class. Few citizens of the
community have been more thoroughly iden-
tified with its best interests.
On Jan. 4, 1872, Mr. St. Clair married
Martha J. Daugherty, daughter of James R.
and Anna M. (Hart) Daugherty, and sister
of W. S. Daugherty, of Indiana ; an account
of the Daugherty family appears elsewhere.
Mrs. St. Clair is, like her husband, a member
of the Presbyterian Church. Seven children
have been born to them: (1) Mary C, born
622
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
March 3, 1873, in Indiana, received her edu-
cation in the public schools of Homer City
and at thp Indiana normal school. She mar-
ried Paul Moorhead, a lawyer, son of Rev.
W. W. jMoorhead, and they live at Minneapo-
lis, Minn. They ai-e the parents of six chil-
dren. Donaldson St. Clair, Martha, Wallace,
Mary Jo, Pauline and John. (2) Thomas,
born Jan. 2, 1876, in Indiana, was educated
at the public schools of Homer City and at
the Indiana normal school, and taught school
at Latrobe, Pa., for several years. Taking up
the study of medicine he graduated from the
Western University, at Pittsburg, and is now
engaged in practice at Latrobe. He married
Emma Howard, a native of Hagerstown, Md.
(3) Frank D., born June 10, 1879, at Indiana,
received public school advantages at Homer
City and later graduated from the normal
school at Indiana, class of 1897, after which
he taught school at Manor station, in West-
moreland county, for four years. Later he
taught at Kiskiminetas, Westmoreland county,
where he is now manager of the Kiskiminetas
Springs School. He married Bertha Gilroy
Sellery, a native of Kincardine, Ontario, Can-
ada, daughter of Robert and Martha (Gilroy)
Sellery, and they have one child, John Dennis-
ton. (4) John Denniston. born July 4, 1881, at
Homer City, received his education in public
school there, graduated at the Indiana normal
school, class of 1900, and became a teacher.
He died Jan. 19, 1903. (5) Jennie S., born
May 11, 1884, attended public school at Homer
City and later the Indiana normal school. She
married Dr. Charles Paul Reed, who was
born Sept. 30, 1877, son of the late Dr. Wil-
liam L. Reed, of Homer City. (6) James
Roy, born Aug. 26, 1886, in Homer City, re-
ceived his literary education in the public
schools there, the Indiana normal school, and
the Kiskiminetas Springs School, from which
he was graduated with the class of 1906. Af-
ter this he became a student at Jefferson Med-
ical College. Philadelphia, graduating in 1912.
(7) Anna Jo, born Dec. 2, 1888, at Homer
City, completed her education at the Indiana
normal school, and is now the wife of Dr. W.
A. Simpson, of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
JOHN A. SCOTT, lawyer, and president
of the Savings & Trust Company, of Indiana,
has been one of the vital factors in the evolu-
tion of modem commercial conditions in In-
diana county. Becoming associated in a pro-
fessional way with one of the industries of
particular value to Indiana county, the de-
velopment of coal property and its accom-
panying operations, he acquired an intimate
understanding of the local situation which in
time led him to extend his personal interests
into its financial activities. His success in
both lines has stamped him as a man of ability
and force, one who has proved his title to
the high position he holds.
Mr. Scott is a son of Thomas J. and Sarah
A. (Anderson) Scott, and in both paternal
and maternal lines is descended from Scotch-
Irish pioneer stock of Indiana" county. His
great-grandfather Thomas Scott came hither
from his early home in Huntingdon county.
Pa., about 1820, settling on the farm in Bur-
rell township on the Philadelphia pike now
owned by G. W. Butler.
John Scott, son of Thomas, was bom in
Huntingdon county, and coming to Indiana
county with his father afterward lived on the
farm in Burrell township where the latter set-
tled, following farming there for many years.
Thence he removed to the farm in Center
township, this county, where he died in 1859,
at the age of sixty-five.
Thomas J. Scott, son of John, was born
Aug. 24, 1834, in Burrell township, and there
grew to manhood. For many years he was
engaged in the general mercantile business
at Clarksburg, and during his son's service
as prothonotary of Indiana county acted as
deputy. On Oct. 12, 1857, he married Sarah
A. Anderson, who was born Sept. 16, 1839,
in Young township, this county, and reared
there. They became the parents of the
following children : John A. ; May, unmar-
ried, of Indiana, Pa.; William M., M. D., a
physician, of Harrisburg, Pa. ; A. W., de-
ceased; and Lyda 0., now Mrs. Samuel H.
Hughes, of Harrisburg. The father died Sept.
4, 1894. He was a member of the Presb.yter-
ian Church, to which the mother also belongs.
Thomas Anderson, father of Mrs. Thomas
J. Scott, was a native of Mercer county. Pa.,
and about 1824 came to Young township, In-
diana county, where he conducted a pottery
in connection with his farm. In the later part
of his life he purchased a gristmill at Clarks-
burg, which he operated successfully for a
number of years. He died in 1879, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty. He was a strong Pres-
byterian in religious faith, in politics a Re-
publican.
John A. Scott was born Sept. 2, 1858, at
Clarksburg, in Conemaugh township, this
county, where he passed most of his youth and
received his elementary education, attending
public school. He was prepared for college
in the academy at Eldersridge, after which
/
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
623
he took a course at Washington and Jeffer-"
sou College, Washington, Pa., graduating July
1, 1S79. Subsequently he taught one year at
Eldersridge Academy, and then for one year
was a teacher in the grammar school at Johns-
town, at the end of which period he was elected
principal of the Johnstown high school. After
Jiolding that position one j'ear he left it to
devote all his time to the study of law, which
he commenced reading under Hon. Silas M.
Clark. Upon ilr. Clark's election to the Su-
preme bench of the State he continued his
studies with Hon. George W. Hood, and was
admitted to the bar in Indiana county Dee.
19, 1SS4. During the next three years he was
engaged in legal practice in Indiana, and
meantime, in 1886-87, acted as chairman of
the Republican county committee. In the fall
of 1887 he was nominated and elected pro-
thonotary and clerk of the court of Quarter
Sessions and court of Oyer and Terminer,
on Jan. 2, 1888, entering upon the duties
of the office. So satisfactory were his
services that he was elected to succeed him-
self, serving continuously until Jan. 1, 1894.
After completing his two terms of service Mr.
Scott located in Pittsburg, becoming asso-
ciated with Hon. James S. Young (now
United States district judge) in the practice
of law. Owing to the death of his father he
did not remain in that city for long, returning
to Indiana, where he could have a home and
care for his widowed mother, for whom he
built the comfortable residence in which he
now lives. After his marriage his mother and
sister moved into a house he built on the lower
end of the original lot.
Shortl.y after qualifying for admission to
the bar Mr. Scott came into prominence
through his participation in the Blair- White
judicial contest, which resulted in increasing
Judge White's original majority of 79 to 123.
Among the other lawyers conspicuous in the
case were D. B. Taylor. Samuel Cunningham
and J. N. Banks, and the contest was heard
by Judges A. V. Barker (of Ebensburg),
Lucien Doty (of Greensburg) and Calvin Ray-
burn ( of Kittanning) . Mr. Scott's connection
with this investigation, eventuating as it did
favorable to his client. Judge White, could
hardly be construed as injuring his prospects,
which were showing promise even then. His
conduct commended him to the good offices of
Judge Barker, representing the Lackawanna
Steel Company, who engaged Mr. Scott's ser-
vices for that company, to examine and pass
on titles in its purchase of sixteen thou-
sand acres of coal lands in Indiana county.
This was in the year 1899, and practically
marked the beginning of his long and promi-
nent association with a business that has since
developed into one of the important industrial
assets of Indiana county. It was about this
time, in 1901. that the Rochester & Pittsburg
Coal & Iron Company began testing and buy-
ing coal lands in this region, and they, too,
engaged Mr. Scott to examine and pass opin-
ion on titles, his experience and judgment in
this line entitling him to the standing of a
recognized authority. He has continued his
relations with them in this capacity and as
Indiana county attorney since, and he has the
legal business for the Buffalo, Rochester &
Pittsburg Railway Compan.y, looking after
their rights of way and all other matters in
Indiana county. His reputation for alertness
and piiidence in the management of all affairs
intrusted to him, and a conscientious regard
for faith reposed in him, combined with the
abiUty to protect the interests of his clients,
have attracted much confidence. In 1903,
when Corrigan, McKinney & Co., of Cleve-
land, Ohio, purchased lands at what was then
known as Bell's Mills (now known as Jose-
phine), where they erected the first modern
blast furnace put into operation in Indiana
county, Mr. Scott became local attorney for
this immense concern, and has been retained
by them as counselor and adviser to the pres-
ent. Besides giving adequate attention to the
demands of all these corporations, he has ac-
ciuired a private practice which has reached
notable proportions, and the standing of those
who leave the legal details of their affairs to
his direction is a sufficient basis for calling ]Mr.
Scott a leading lawyer of this part of Penn-
sylvania.
Successful as he has been in his profession,
his energies have not been limited to his legal
work. He has attained similar prestige in
financial circles. The rapid development of
the county created a demand for additional
banking facilities, particularly such as a trust
company would ati'ord in the handling of
estates and the carrying through of large
deals. Mr. Scott, together with other live
men who saw the needs of the situation, organ-
ized the Savings & Trust Company, and from
the beginning until now he has served as
president of the same. This institution has
a.ssets of over two million dollars, and its
standing is such that the officials who control
its interests are considered as reliable and
trustworthy as the walls and vaults them-
624
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
selves. Needless to say Mr. Scott's vigilance
and solicitude have had much to do with caus-
ing this attitude on the part of the community.
His characteristic thoroughness in attending
to all matters intrusted to his care has marked
his career in business circles as in the tield of
his profession.
Mr. Scott is also a public-spirited citizen,
who has always given much of his time and
money for the furtherance of public projects
looking toward the advancement and general
good of the community. He is an active mem-
ber of the board of trustees of the Indiana
Normal School, and has lately been influential
in having persons of wealth by large indi-
vidual gifts make possible the establishment
of the Indiana Hospital, a much needed in-
stitution for the town and county. He is also
one of the directors of this hospital.
In every capacity to which he has been
chosen he has devoted himself with a direct-
ness of purpose and decision which have made
his work particularly valuable. In politics
Mr. Scott has always been a Republican, and
he has been an energetic worker in the inter-
ests of his party. In fraternal connection he
is a Mason. His religious association is with
the Presbyterian Church.
In 1899 Mr. Scott married Edith Young,
daughter of Professor J. Young, and they
have three children : John, Florence, and Al-
bert. The family home is at the corner of
Seventh and Water streets, Indiana borough.
CAPT. GEORGE HILL OGDEN was at
the time of his death serving as treasurer of
Indiana county, and had been a resident of
Homer City from the close of his service in
the Civil war. He was one of the best-known
citizens of that place. Captain Ogden was a
native of "Westmoreland county, Pa., bom
Aug. 15, 1839, in the Ligonier valley, and was
a son of Joseph and Jane Anne (Hill) Ogden.
His maternal grandfather, after whom he was
named, was Rev. George Hill, a pioneer min-
ister of the Presbyterian denomination in this
section of the State.
Up to the time of the Civil war Captain
Ogden worked at the carpenter's trade, which
he had learned in youth. On Oct. 4, 1861, he
enlisted in Company E, 11th Regiment, Penn-
sylvania Volunteers, under Capt. H. B. Piper.
"The regiment, known as Col. Dick Coulter's,
was in the thick of many of the hardest fought
battles of the war. At the second battle of
Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862, he was struck by a
minie ball, which he carried in his body the
rest of his life. He received an honorable
discharge from the service on account of his
wounds Oct. 29, 1862, and returning home
lound that he was physically unfit to con-
tinue work at his trade. Accordingly, locat-
ing at Phillipps Mills, now a part of Homer
City, he formed a partnership -svith J. H.
Devers and bought out the general store of
John MuUen and Robert Phillipps. They
conducted the business successfully for a num-
ber of years, and eventually Captain Ogden
bought the interest of Mr. Devers and con-
tinued it alone. Then he removed it to the
location it was still occupying at the time of
his death, at which time he was associated
with his sons. Meantime he had acquired
other interests, being appointed agent for the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Homer
City and serving as such for a number of
years, and for over twenty years he held the
position of postmaster. In the fall of 1890 he
was honored with election to the office of
treasurer of Indiana county, and had served
but five months of his term at the time of his
death, June 8, 1891. He died suddenly, while
going from his office to a fire in Indiana, Pa.
He was buried in Oakland cemetery, at
Indiana.
In 1869 Captain Ogden organized a com-
pany of militia in Homer City and Center
township, and was its first captain. He was
also well known in his active connection wath
the Presbyterian Church, of which he was
long a member, being identified with both
church and Sunday school work. On June 1,
1884, he was elected elder, discharged the
duties of that office conscientiously and was
prominent in all church entei-prises, was for
many years superintendent of the Sunday
school, and at the time of his death was serv-
ing as assistant superintendent. It was said
of him then :^ "His voice was always heard in
defense of the right and in condemnation of
wrong. He was a gentleman at all times.
Of courtly demeanor, pleasant, affable and
kind-hearted, he held his friends with bands
of steel. He was a man of deeds and not of
words, and from the generous promptings of
his heart many a good deed was performed.
His death leaves a void that cannot be filled
and the place made vacant will remain so for
all coming time. He leaves a name behind
him fragrant ^^ith good deeds, and his mem-
ory will ever be gi-een in the hearts of the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
625
many who have shared his generosity and
friendship."
His official associates adopted the following
resolutions on his death :
Taught by the Christian philosopher who believed
death to be the opening door to a happier life and
prayed with rhythmic beauty,
"Life
Then steal away, give little warning;
Choose thine own time.
Say not good-night but in some brighter clime
Bid me good morning,"
We may not complain at the sudden taking oflF of
our friend and associate Capt. George Hill Ogden,
but bowing in reverence
Sesolved, That it is hard to recover from the shock-
ing reality that we have seen for the last time on
earth our agreeable companion, who was every day
gaining in our confidence and esteem. The better we
knew him the better we liked him. As a friend he
was sincere, true and steadfast; as an associate in
public business he was patient, intelligent and con-
siderate; as a public official he was attentive, oblig-
ing and growing in popular esteem; as a husband
and father he was devoted, affectionate and dutiful;
as a man we believed him to be a Christian gentle-
man. His sudden death is lamented by the people
of the county, and is a great grief in the community
in which he resided.
Besolved, That the stricken family of the deceased
has our tenderest concern and deserves our sympathy
not only in words but in every practical way we
can give it.
(Signed)
Harry White,
A. H. Braughler,
.James McGregor,
John A. Scott,
Com.
On May 1, 1866, Mr. Ogden was married,
in Center township, to Nancy H. Dickie ]\Iul-
len, daughter of George and Jane (Dickson)
Dickie, and widow of Hugh Mullen, and they
had two children, George Dickie and Joseph
Clark. Mrs. Ogden is a woman of intelligence
and Christian character, devoted to her home
and family. She is a member of the Pres-
byterian Church. I\Ir. Ogden was a Republi-
can in political matters.
George Dickie Ogden, eldest son of George
Hill and Nancy H. (Dickie) Ogden, was born
May 16, 1868, in Homer City, and there re-
ceived his early education in the public
schools. Later he attended the Indiana nor-
mal school, and Washington and Jefferson
College. Upon leaving school, which he did
at the age of eighteen, he assumed the duties
of railroad station agent at Homer City, suc-
ceeding his father in that position June 1,
1887, and was transferred to Allegheny City
yard as night yard clerk in October, 1890, and
to the position of transportation clerk in the
40
superintendent's office of the West Penn divi-
sion in November of the same year. In May,
1891, he was transferred to Butler as freight
and ticket agent, in February, 1895, to Mc-
Keesport as freight agent and yardmaster,
and on Jan. 1, 1S9S, to Harrisburg, as freight
agent. He was promoted to division freight
agent at Altoona Jan. 14, 1901, and trans-
ferred to the Buffalo & Allegheny Valley di-
vision at Pittsburg in the same capacity on
June 1, 1903, and on March 1, 1906, was ad-
vanced to the position of assistant general
freight agent, east, at the general offices in
Philadelphia. On Slay 8, 1912, he was pro-
moted to be general freight agent of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company. In 1903 Mr.
Ogden married Mary B. MeCandlass, daugh-
ter of Judge Charles MeCandlass, of Butler,
Pa. They have one daughter, Katharine Z.
Joseph Clark Ogden, younger son of George
Hill and Nancy H. (Dickie) Ogden, was born
Nov. 8, 1870,- at Homer City, and began his
education in the public schools there. He also
attended Kiskiminetas Spi'ings Academy, at
Saltsburg, Pa. For a time he was employed
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at
Blairsville, Indiana county. He is now liv-
ing with his mother at Homer City.
REV. JAMES DAY BROWNLEE, D. D.,
the oldest minister in years of continuous ser-
vice in Indiana county, has been pastor of the
United Presbyterian Church in Indiana, since
1877. Dr. BroAvnlee was born Feb. 4, 1842,
in Washington county. Pa., and is of Scotch
descent, his great-grandfather, the first of this
line of Brownlees in the United States, hav-
ing been born in Scotland.
James Bi'ownlee, his grandfather, was born
in Chester county. Pa., and came to Washing-
ton county when a boy. He was a farmer by
occupation. In religion he was a member of
the Associate Presbyterian Church.
John Brownlee, son of James, died in 1874,
and his wife, Mary (Day), died in February,
1885. They were the parents of the following
children: Sarah died when six years old;
Malcolm P. served in the Civil war as a sol-
dier of the loth Pennsylvania Cavalrv, and
died in April, 1863 ; Maria A. died when six
years old ; John Calvin is a farmer of Wash-
ington county. Pa. ; Mary E. is the wife of
William Lindley ; Ella W. is the wife of David
Henrs', of New York City: Rev. H. H. is
principal of the Silliman Collegiate Institute,
at Clinton, La. (he was pastor at Port Gib-
son, Miss., for sixteen years) ; Laura A., who
died in August, 1912, was the wife of Rev. A.
626
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
H. Crosbie of New York City; James Day
completes the family.
James Day Brownlee attended public school
in Washing-tou county, Pa., later going to
Washington College and to Westminster Col-
lege, at New Wilmington, Pa. He took his
theological course at the United Presbyterian
Seminary at Allegheny, Pa., graduating in
1869. In 1870 he took his first pastorate, the
United Presbyterian Church at Wellsville,
Ohio, where he was located for six years. Ow-
ing to illness resulting from a wound he re-
ceived while serving in the army during the
Civil war, he then retired from the ministry
for one yeai". On Oct. 1, 1877, he restuned his
ministerial work as pastor of his present con-
gregation at Indiana. When Dr. Brownlee
came here the church had a membership of
but two hundred seventy, which has now in-
creased to over five hundred, and the work of
the eongi-egation has broadened accordingly.
A second congregation has also been organ-
ized. The affairs of tlie church are now in
most encouraging condition. Dr. Brownlee
is an earnest and forceful preacher, endowed
M'ith oratorical powers which continue to draw
large audiences to his sermons. His sincerity
and energy in and out of the pulpit have won
him the good will and i-espeet of the entire
community, and his long and happy service
in this field has made him widely known.
On June 4, 1861, Dr. Brownlee enlisted for
service in the Union army, becoming a private
of Company K, of the 8th Pennsylvania Re-
serve Regiment, and served until January,
1863, when he was discharged by reason of
disability, having been wounded Sept. 14,
1862, at the battle of South ilountain. He
was in the Patent Office hospital at Washing-
ton, D. C, for several months, and has never
fully recovered from his injuries ; he still car-
ries the bullet in his body.
On Sept. 5, 1866, Dr. Brownlee married Isa
Vance, daughter of Samuel R. Vance, of Law-
rence county, Pa., and they became the par-
ents of the following children: Arthur A.,
a graduate of Princeton University, who re-
sides in New York City ; Mabel I., who grad-
ug,ted from the State normal school at In-
diana, and died at the age of twenty-six years ;
and Paul Vance, who died when twenty years
old. The mother of this family died March
21. 1873, and on Sept. 27, 1877, Dr. BrowTi-
lee married (second) Catherine Smith, daugh-
ter of Alexander and Margaret (McGregor)
Smith, of Wellsville, Ohio. Four children
have been born to this union : James Day, Jr.,
a graduate of Princeton University, now an
attorney at law, of Indiana, Pa. ; Charles S.,
a civil engineer, married to Mabel McCreight,
now residing in Oregon ; May, who is a gradu-
ate of the Indiana State nonnal school and
of Wilson College, taught school three years
at Mount Pleasant, Pa., and has attended Col-
umbia University, New York City, taking a
master's degree; and Bertha, a gi-aduate of
the Indiana State normal school, now engaged
in teaching in Arizona.
J. WILLIS WILSON, Treasurer of Indiana
county, the duties of which oifice he assumed
Jan. 1, 1912, is a native of this county, born
Nov. 9, 1865, son of Joseph and Levina (Mc-
Cartney) Wilson. His grandfather, Joseph
Wilson, was also born in Indiana county, and
was a farmer by occupation. His wife's
maiden name was Wilkie. He was a member
of the United Presbyterian Church.
Joseph Wilson, father of J. Willis Wilson,
was born and reared in Indiana county, and
received a public school education. He was
engaged in business as a dealer in live stock.
During the Civil war he served in the Union-
army as a member of a cavalry regiment for
a short time, being discharged by reason of
disability. He married Levina McCartney,
daughter of George and Nancy (Adams) Mc-
Cartney, the former of whom was born in
Indiana county and was a farmer by occupa-
tion. The McCartney and Adams families
were both among the pioneer settlers in In-
diana county. Joseph Wilson died in 1868,
his wife, who survived him many yeai-s, pass-
ing away Jan. 24, 1912. They were members
of the United Presbyterian Church.
J. Willis Wilson, only sou of Joseph and
Levina Wilson, began his education in the
common schools, later attending the State
Normal School in the borough of Indiana. He
then became a clerk in the store of A. W.
Wilson, at Indiana, and for about twenty
years continued his connection with the mer-
cantile business there in the employ of var-
ious firms. He then became associated with
the Travelers' Insurance Company, and has
engaged in the insurance business, in connec-
tion with other business interests, ever since.
In 1909 Mr. Wilson was elected burgess of
the borough of Indiana, and he held that of-
fice until he resigned, in December, 1911, to
become treasurer of the eountj% to which of-
fice he had been elected Nov. 8, 1911. A man
of progressive disposition, modern standards
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
627
and the ability to put his ideas into execution,
he gives every promise of making a satisfac-
tory record in the important office which has
been intrusted to him. He is well known in
the local fraternities, being a member of the
B. P. 0. Elks, and Woodmen of the World,
and also belongs to the Cosmopolitan Club of
Indiana. His religious connection is with the
United Presbyterian Church.
In 1896 Mr. Wilson married Maggie Wiles,
daughter of D. Wiles, of Sharpsville, Mercer
Co., Pa. They have had three children,.
namely: Margaret, Joseph H. and Dewalt,
the last named deceased.
THOMAS DUGAN, general manager of the
Dugan Glass Company, of Indiana, one of the
home industries upon which the prosperity
of tlftt borough depends, over two hundred
finding emplojonent at the plant or in con-
nection with its business, has himself been
associated with the glass business practically
throughout his working years. He was born
in 1865 in England, son of Samuel and Fan-
nie (Sneyd) Dugan, and attended public
school in his native land. When a youth he
came to the United States, in 1881 locating
at Pittsburg, Pa., where for a short time he
took whatever employment he could find.
Eventually he found work with a glass com-
pany of Wheeling, W. Va., where he remained
until 1883, in which year he returned to Pitts-
burg and took employment with another
glass company. He was with that concern
until 1886, meantime learning the details of
manufacturing so thoroughly that he had be-
come fitted for the responsible part of the
work with which he was later to be intrusted.
His next removal was to ^Martins Ferry. Ohio,
where he was engaged in a glass works for
about three years. Then he went to Elwood
City, Pa., to work for his former employers,
and was promoted to the position of foreman
of their plant, which he held until he came to
Indiana in 1896. Here he accepted the posi-
tion of manager with the Glass Company of
Indiana, which at that time was owned by the
National Glass Company. In 1904 the con-
cern was sold and reorganized, under the
name of the Dugan Glass Company, whose
stock is owned by citizens of the borough of
Indiana, Judge Elkin being president, Sher-
iff H. W. Thomas secretary, and Mr. Dugan
general manager and treasurer. The com-
pany has been successful from the start un-
der the efficient management of ^Iv. Dugan,
who is a recognized authority and expert in
his line. The product of the plant is shipped
to both coasts and there is also considerable
export business, the reputation of the com-
pany having extended to various foreign coun-
tries. The magnitude of the output may be
.judged from the fact that employment is
given to about two hundred thirty hands in
all departments, from which it will be seen
that the establishment is quite important in
its relation to the local industrial situation.
The superior quality of the goods turned out,
and the strictly upright methods of dealing
with customers, have gained for this concern
the highest standing in the business world,
which insures a regular market for its out-
put and steady employment for its help.
Much of the success of the company is justly
attributed to the complete knowledge Mr. Du-
gan has of the various phases of the business,
for he is not only an excellent judge of work-
manship and finished goods, but he also un-
derstands the marketing question, keeps
abreast of progress in evei-y department of
this branch of manufacturing and upholds the
standards for which his concern has become
noted in every respect.
In 1888 Mr. Dugau mai-ried Emily Dorsett,
daughter of Joseph Dorsett, of Allegheny
county. Pa., and they have two children:
Emily L. and Thomas.
Mr. Dugan belongs to the Royal Arcanum
and the B. P. 0. Elks, being particularly
prominent in the latter organization ; he was
one of the organizers and charter members of
the Elks lodge in Indiana and has passed all
the chairs in that body, being a past exalted
ruler. He was one of the committee of five
which supervised the building of the Elks
Home in Indiana.
DAVID IRWIN CUNNINGHAi\I, of
Homer City, Indiana county, member of the
firm of Cunningham Brothers, lumber manu-
facturei"s, is a native of Brushvalley town-
ship, this county, born Aug. 24, 1869, and
belongs to a family of Scotch extraction whose
first representative in Indiana county was
William Cunningham, his gi*andfather.
William Cunningham was a native of the
State of New York. He came west when a
young man, locating in Wheatfield township,
Indiana Co., Pa., where he made a permanent
home. He owned a small farm, but he drove
stage on the old turnpike between Ebens-
628
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
burg, Armagh and Blairsville for some years,
and later drove stage between Butler and
Pittsburg. He was a patriotic Union man dur-
ing the Civil war, and not only gave his own
services in behalf of the cause but also had
five sons who entered the army, one of them
falling in battle. William Cunningham also
gave up his life on the battlefield, dying in an
engagement in South Carolina, at the age of
fifty-six years. He was buried there. His
wife, Esther (Hutchinson), a native of Wheat-
field township, died in East Wheatfield town-
ship and is buried in the cemetery of Bethel
Church, in East Wheatfield township. They
were the pai-ents of eight children: Robert
fell at Fort Donelson while serving as a mem-
ber of the 40th Illinois Regiment during the
Civil war, and died of his injuries; John re-
sides in Johnstown, Pa. ; David is mentioned
below; Samuel, who also served in the Civil
war, is now an attorney at Indiana, Pa. ; Jo-
seph, a soldier of the Civil war, is a minister
of the Evangelical Church ; Albert, a soldier
of the Civil war, is now a resident of Johns-'
town. Pa. ; James is engaged as a merchant at
Seward, Pa.; Alphonse resides on the old
homestead.
David Cunningham, son of William, at-
tended the schools of the home township and
worked at home upon the farm until he was
of age. When twenty-three years old he
rented a farm in West Wheatfield township
which he continued to cultivate until his en-
listment, in July, 1864, in Company H, 206th
Pa. V. I., under Captain Grear and Colonel
Brady, the command being attached to the
Army of the James. He was in the service
eleven months, and was mustered out at Rich-
mond, Va., after the close of the war. Return-
ing home he went to work at teaming in West
Wheatfield township, and followed that line
for two years. He then settled in Brushvalley
township, where he began farming on a tract
of 235 acres, which he operated and improved,
doing general farming and stock raising un-
til he withdrew from such work, in 1890.
That year he removed to the village of Hesh-
bon, where he became engaged in a general
mercantile business. This he carried on for
a period of twenty years, in 1910 retiring and
turning the business over to his son-in-law,
H. R. Faloon, who has since conducted it. For
eleven years, while engaged as a merchant,
Mr. Cunningham was postmaster at Heshbon,
being appointed under the Garfield adminis-
tration. He has served Brushvalley township
as school director and tax collector, being a
man who believes thoroughly in each citizen 's
responsibility and duty to the community. He
has also been active as a member of the U. P.
Church, in which he is serving as elder. In
politics he is a Republican.
In 1864 Mr. Cunningham married Cather-
ine Campbell, who died in July, 1909, at
Heshbon, and is buried in the Bethel Church
cemetery. She was a member of the United
Presbyterian denomination. Mr. and Mrs.
'Cunningham had the following children:
William, who is a merchant at Mechanicsburg,
Indiana Co., Pa. ; Robert, partner of his
brother in the lumber business, who resides
at Heshbon ; David Irwin ; Luennette, who is
manned to William Corson, of Garfield, Pa. ;
Harry G., who resides in Iowa; Ada E., wife
of Joseph Wagner, residing in East Wheat-
field towTiship ; Ethel, who married H. R. Fa-
loon, now a merchant at Heshbon ; and Flora,
deceased.
David Irwin Cunningham, son of David, ob-
tained his education in the district schools of
Brushvalley township. At an early age he
began to help with the work about the home
place, continuing thus until eighteen years
old, when he learned the trade of carpenter.
After following it for a short time he went
to work in the sawmill of Samuel Shafler, in
West Wheatfield to^vnship, being with him for
over a year, and then worked for Joseph
Cramer, on his portable sawmill. In 1889,
just after the Johnstown flood, he went to
Johnstown to work as a carpenter, remaining
there for a year, and in 1890 he joined his
brother Robert and E. E. Kunkle in the con-
duct of a sawmill, under the firm name of
Kunkle & Cunningham. This association
lasted until 1892, when Mr. Kunkle sold out
his interest, and the brothers have been to-
gether ever since under the present name,
Cunningham Brothers, manufacturing rail-
road ties and other lumber. They have cut
off large timber tracts in Brushvalley, East
and West Wheatfield and Buffington town-
ships, Indiana county, and in Somerset
county, tliis State. In 1906 Mr. Cunningham
established himself in business in Homer City
as a dealer in lumber and building supplies,
in addition to his manufacturing business,
but he sold out his interests in that line after
three years in order to give all his attention
to manufacturing. He resides in Homer City.
His interests are very extensive, and steadily
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
629
increasing under his excellent management.
He was one of the organizers, and became a
member of the first board of directors, of the
First National Bank of Blacklick. Though
busy with his own aifairs he has found time
to serve as school director of Homer City for
three years. He is a Republican on political
questions, and with his wife holds member-
ship in the U. P. Church at Homer City.
On Sept. 22, 1S96, Mr. Cunningham mar-
ried Mary E. Duncan, who was born in Cen-
ter township, daughter of Morgan M. Dun-
can, and they have a family of four children :
Iva M.. Flora K., Myrtle M. and Areta C.
The Duncan family, to which Mrs. Cunning-
ham belongs, is of Scotch origin. Her grand-
father, George Duncan, was a native of West-
moreland county. Pa., and was one of ten sons
bom to Samuel Duncan, who came from Scot-
land. George Duncan followed fanning in
Center tott-nship, Indiana Co., Pa., where he
owned a tract of 100 acres, which he continued
to cultivate throughout his active years. He
died in Allegheny county, this State. His
wife, Emilj' (Snyder), of Brushvalley town-
ship, died in Blacklick township, Indiana
county. They had nine children: Ellen,
James, David, Almira. Samuel, Susan ]Mary,
Morgan M., Jolm and Daniel.
Morgan M. Duncan, son of George, was born
Sept. 2, 1851, on the farm in Center township,
and after he grew to manhood learned the
trade of plasterer, which he has followed ever
since. He resides in Homer City. On Feb.
25, 1872, he married Margaret Gamble, a
native of Center township, daughter of Barn-
ard and Harriet (Gan-is) Gamble, the former
a native of Ireland ; the Gambles were farm-
ing people in Buffington township, this county.
Five children were born to Mr. and IMrs.
ilorgan M. Duncan: Minnie il., who died
young; Mary Elizabeth, who married David.
Irwin Cunningham; Anna Myrtle, wife of
Robert Cunningham ; Samuel, of Homer City ;
and Pearl, who died young.
CARL MATTSON HASTINGS, proprietor
of the "Lone Pine" stock farm of East ]\Ia-
honing township, was bom on that farm March
17, 1876.
The Hastings family is an old one in the
Keystone State, and has produced some of the
most substantial men and women Pennsylvania
has known. (I) John Hastings, the first of
the name of whom there is definite record,
died in Lancaster county. Pa., in 1774.
(II) Thomas Hastings, son of John Hast-
ings, died in Lancaster countv. Pa., in 1777
His children were as follows! John, Lydiai
Patience, Sarah, Job and Enoch.
(III) John Hastings, son of Thomas Hast-
ings, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and
IS supposed to have served in the Revolution-
ary' war. He settled in Center county Pa
residing near Belleville, where he died in
1/97. The first name of his wife was Sarah
and they had the followdng family: Enoch'
born m 1(81, who married Eliza Sutor; Eliza-
beth, who married George Leech ; JIary who
married Abel Moore; Thomas; Daniel; Made-
line, who man-ied James Moore ; and John.
(IV) John Hastings, son of Jolm and
Sarah Hastings, was born March 14, 1784 in
Center county, Pa., and later settled in In-
diana county, where he bought a farm in East
Mahoning township and spent the remainder
of his life, djing there July 7, 1865. On Jan.
20, 1803, he married (first) Margretta Diven,
and they had the following children: Will-
iam W., born July 17, 1804, married Feb.
9, 1829, Margaret Johnson ; Thirza, born Sept.
14, 1806, married John Van Plorn on March
11, 1824; Joseph J., born March 9, 1808,
married Mary Jane Kennedy on Feb. 2.3, 1837 ;
Sarah E., born Jan. 11, 1811, married Samuel
Foster on April 14, 1834.
After the death of his first wife John
Hastings married (second), on Feb. 11, 1812,
Isabella Cook, and they had these children:
Mary Ann, born Dec. 21, 1813, married John
Simpson on April 16, 1835, and they became
the parents of Nathaniel Cook Simpson, of
East JMahoning township ; Reuben was born
May IS, 1815 ; Isabella, bom March IS, 1819,
married D. Black on Sept. 12, 1836; John,
twin of Isabella, died in 1872 ; Margretta, bom
Feb. 21, 1821, married Thomas Rea on July
5, 1853; Agnes, born JMarch 15, 1823, mar-
ried John A. Work on April 26, 1849;
Lucinda, bom Feb. 11, 1825, died Aug. 21,
1827; ilartha, bom June 22, 1827, married
Peter B. Simpson on July 4, 1866 ; Robert A.,
bom March 26, 1830, mai-ried Jane Keirs on
Dec. 25, 1853; Lucinda (2) was born March
30, 1832 : John Reed, born Feb. 5. 1836. mar-
ried Mary Eliza Park on June 25, 1858.
(V) Reuben Hastings, son of John and
Isabella Hastings, was born May 18, 1815, and
made his home in what later became East
ilahoning township on the property now
owned by the Lightcap family. He was a
successful farmer and stock raiser, and
630
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
rounded out a useful life, dying in 1875, aged
sixty years. During this long period he be-
came well known in his locality, and noted
for his high sense of honor.
On March 7, 1838, Reuben Hastings mar-
ried Jane Black, and their children were:
James B. ; Lueinda, who married Silas W.
Brady, of Indiana, Pa.; Jane, who married
Allen Hamilton; and Evaline, who married
David Leasure.
(VI) James B. Hastings, son of Reuben
Hastings, was born on what is now the Light-
cap farm in East Mahoning township, in
1838, and was educated in that neighborhood,
and all his life took an interest in euiTcnt
events, being a very well-read man for his
period. jMaking farming his life occupation,
he moved in 1866 from his father's homestead
to what is now the "Lone Pine" stock farm,
a property that contained 120 acres, upon
which he made extensive improvements. Here
he carried on farming and stock raising with
gratifying success until his retirement m
1900, "when he moved to IMariou Center, dying
there June 1, 1906. His remains were in-
terred in the cemetery at Marion Center.
"While living on the farm he erected the pres-
ent residence and barns, and developed the
place into a veiy valuable possession.
A stanch Democrat, he gave the principles
of his party a firm support, and acted as school
director for many yeai-s, and for a quarter of
a century was on the election board, while,
when occasion demanded, he served in other
township ofSces, for he was a man whose in-
cumbency of any office guaranteed safe and
honest administration.
James B. Hastings was married in Jeffer-
son county. Pa., to Rebecca Brown, a daughter
of Andrew W. Brown, and she survives him,
residing in Falls Creek, Pa. Mr. and Mrs.
James B. Hastings had five children : Mary
E., who married A. B. Wright and lives at
Falls Creek, Pa. ; Frank Brown, who resides
in Punxsutawney, Pa.; Reuben Clark, who
died young ; CarlMattson ; and Guy True, who
lives at Ashtabula, Ohio. The family reputa-
tion is fully sustained by the seventh genera-
tion of those whose history is known, and
from all indications the eighth will be reared
to equal honesty of living.
(VII) Carl Mattson Hastings, son of
James B. Hastings, lived at home and at-
tended the schools of his neighborhood, until
he went to Falls Creek to learn the tailor's
trade. But after three months he returned
home, preferring to devote his energies to
farming, for which he felt he was best suited.
His abundant success proves the wisdom of
his choice. He continued to work with lus
father until the latter 's retirement, when he
took charge of the farm, later becoming its
owner. Realizing the importance of cattle
raising, he began specializing with Hereford-
shire cattle, and has also become a large
grower of hogs. At present he is one of the
heaviest stock raisers of his township, and
his product takes front i-ank for quality. As
his needs demanded, Mr. Hastings made im-
portant additions to his barns, and built other
structures for housing and handling his stock,
and now has one of the finest and most com-
plete farming establishments in the county,
abundantly supplied with a superb water
system. His barns are constructed in full
compliance with the sanitary rules and regu-
lations, and all of his work is carried on
scientifically and expeditiously with modern
macliinery and appliances. The brand "Lone
Pine" is known all over the State, he having
established its reputation. Although in the
very prime of life he has already accomplished
much, and has every reason to be proud of
his work.
Politically Mr. Hastings is a Democrat, and
like his father has always adhered to the prin-
ciples of his party. He served as supervisor
of the township, and has been on the election
board a number of times. The Modern Wood-
men of America holds his membership, his
connection being with the local lodge of that
order at Marion Center.
On Oct. 25, 1899, Mr. Hastings was united
in marriage with Mary Louise Kinter, bom in
East Mahoning township, a daughter of Capt.
John A. and Adelaide (Ada) (Brady) Kin-
ter. Four children have been born to Mr.
and Mi"s. Hastings: Mary Josephine, born
Sept. 2, 1900 ; Annie Louise, born Aug. 7, 1903,
who died in 1905; Meredith Adelaide, bom
Dec. 1, 1905; and James Brady (II), bom
Sept. 30, 1910. ]\Ir. and IMrs. Hastings belong
to the Presbyterian Church of Marion Cen-
ter, and are as popular in that congregation
as they are elsewhere, for they have endeared
themselves to many because of their excellent
traits of character and pleasant manner.
Kinter, John Andrew, deceased, father of
Mrs. Hastings, was a school teacher, a mer-
chant, and captain during the Civil war. He
was born in what was known as Kintersburg,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
631
Pa., Jan. 5, 1836, son of William JI. and Mary were protected at home bv hi.s brother and
(Speerty) Kinter. and grandson of John - -
Kinter.
( I ) Philip Kinter, the founder of the f am-
at the end of the conflict he came home and
\vith his brother bought the Bell mill prop-
• 1 • .n ■ ^ . XT ,1 J j-j erty at Blacklick (now Josephine), Pa. Later
ily m this country, c^me from Holland as did he sold his interests and moved to Marion
his wife, who bore the maiden name of Bar- ~ - wcu lu inrtnuu
bara King.
(II) John Kinter, son of Philip Kinter,
was a Revolutionary soldier. He is buried in
the Washington Church cemetei-y
Center. There Captain Kinter was made post-
master and later justice of the peace, holding
that office for fifteen years. He was extremely
modest and retiring, but always willing to
(III) WilliamM.Kinterrson'of John, and ^^^® generously of his time and money to
father of Capt. John Andrew Kinter, was advance any cause he thought worthy. His
born on the old homestead in Rayne township, death occurred Sept. 5, 1902, aud his remains
A fanner 's boy, he was brought up as all lads "^^'ere laid to rest in JMariou cemetery. A
of his time, securing a meager education in Presbyterian, he died firm in the faith of his
the schools of his neighborhood, and assisting church. Politically he was a Republican. He
his father in operating the farm. Later he was a charter member of the first Odd Fellows
engaged in farming for himself, bvit died when lodge organized in Indiana county
still in the very prime of life. His wife died Qn Nov. 18, 1869, Captain Kinter was raar-
in 1863. They had the following family: j-ied in Marion Center to Adelaide Brady, of
Josiah, who died at an advanced age m In- .j^at place, a daughter of Joseph and Mary
married to Sarah Myers and Bell (Park) Brady. They had t.^
diana county, was
(second) to Sarah Nesbit; Martha, who mar-
had two children.
ried Jacob Myers, lived and died on the old °:, ''^'°;'\ ^^''l' Hastings is the younger, the
._ ^„ ,.„.. T„j;„„„ r.„ . T7i„„<-„-. nr;n,- Other being Joseph Brady Kinter, who was
Myers farm near Indiana, Pa. ; Foster Milli
gan, who died in Pittsburg, Pa., married
Martha Thompson: Mary, who married Sam-
uel Kinter, died in Indiana county; John
Andrew married Adelaide Brady.
(IV) Capt. John Andrew Kinter 's boy-
hood was spent on the home fann, where he
alternated healthful work \vith attendance at
born in Marion Center Aug. 2, 1870. He was
graduated from the Toronto Veterinary Col-
lege, and practiced in Danville, Ind., until the
Spanish-American war, when he enlisted, and
was in the Porto Rico campaign as a member
of the battery sent from Danville. After the
war was over he went to St. Paul. iMinn., as
inspector for the Bureau of Animal Industry.
the local schools, the Indiana academy and Joseph Brady Kinter married Anna Linton
the Jacksonville academj^ Later he studied of Danville, Pa., and they have one son,
surveying with David Pealor, and helped to Charles Walter Kinter.
make the first map issued of Indiana county. Mrs. Hastings was born in Marion Center
For a time he was employed as a clerk in the June 15, 1874, and although not brought up
company store at Indiana, Pa. When war on a farm, has proved a faithful helpmate to
was declared between the North and the her husband in his arduous work.
South he recruited Company I, 135th Penn- Mrs. Kinter, mother of Mrs. Hastings, was
sylania Volunteer Infantry, of which he was a useful educator of her day. She was born
elected captain, and sei-v'ed as such for nine on the Brady homestead in Marion Center
months. Returning home, in company ^vith Sept. 3, 1846, and was carefully educated, at-
his brother, F. M. Kinter, who had sold his tending the common schools, the Marion sum-
interest in the company store, he bought the mer institute and Blairsville seminary, and
Rochester store property in Marion Center, began teaching school when only seventeen
and was made postmaster, and was on the years old, in Marion Center. Later she taught
road to achieving material success when once in the difi'erent schools of the county, also in
more he was disturbed by his patriotic senti- Clearfield county. Marrying, she gave up
ments. Responding to another call for troops, teaching, but when the family moved to Bruin,
he raised Company F, 206th Pennsylvania Butler county, Pa., she resumed teaching and
Volunteer Infantry, and served with it as was thus engaged for five years. When the
captain during the last year of the war. His family returned to ]\Iarion Center she re-
regiment was the firat to enter Richmond, a sponded to the demand for her services and
fact that he never forgot. taught there for four terms, and two terms
In the meanwhile Captain Kinter 's interests in the country district. After the death of
632
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
her husband, she began teaching in the in-
dustrial schools of Indiana, and has found
pleasure in her work all her life. A woman
of superior mental attainments, she has been
active for years in the Woman's Relief Corps,
the W. C. T. U. and the JMethodist Church,
which has had her for an earnest Sunday
school teacher and worker. At present she
resides in her own home in Marion Center.
Both the Kinter and Hastings families are
well and favorably known throughout Indiana
and sun'ounding counties.
GEORGE C. DICKIE, late of the borough
of Indiana, Indiana county, was for a number
of years before his death engaged in the leas-
ing and selling of coal lands in this vicinity,
and he was one of the most influential men in
the development of the coal industry in his
section of the State. It was due perhaps more
to his efforts then to those of any other man
that the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg rail-
road was built to Indiana, making possible
the opening up of large tracts of coal land.
Mr. Dickie was bom June 12, 1850, four
miles south of the borough of Indiana, in
Indiana county, Pa., son of George and Jane
(Dickson) Dickie. His grandfather, William
H. Dickie, the founder of the Dickie family
in this region, was of Scotch-Irish extraction.
Coming to Indiana county at an early period,
he located in Center township, on a farm about
four miles from Indiana. There he continued
to engage in farming for a number of years,
prospering, and also followed blacksmithing.
Later he removed to Jacksonville, Indiana
county, where he remained several years, and
on his return to Center township lived on the
farm which he subsecjuently sold to his son-in-
law, Jacob Kaufifman. He passed the re-
mainder of his life in that to\raship, spend-
ing his declining yeare with his son George, at
whose home he died, at the age of eighty-two
years, eight days. Mr. Dickie was a Whig in
political sentiment but not particularly active
in party affairs. He served as school director,
however, after the establishment of the public
schools, and was a man of considerable in-
fluence in his locality. A member of the
M. E. Church, he served many years as class-
leader and was also chorister for a long period.
In fact he was widely known in the latter
connection in this region, having taught sing-
ing for many years.
Mr. Dickie married Jane Allison, a native
of Center township, daughter of Andrew and
Sally (Barr) Allison, the former of whom
served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war
under General Washington. The Allisons are
an old and highly respected family in Indiana
county. Mrs. Dickie died at the home of her
son-in-law, Jacob Kauffman, and was buried
in Oakland cemetery, at Indiana, beside her
husband. Ten children were bom to this cou-
ple : George is mentioned below ; Hannah
married Thomas B. Allison, of Marchand, In-
diana county, who served as associate judge;
Jane mari'ied Rev. J. Gordon, a minister of
the M. E. Church; Ebenezer died at Rock
Island, 111.; Nancy married James Ayers, of
Marion Center, Pa. ; John died in Ohio ; Mary
(Polly) married Samuel Ray, of Crete, this
county; Lavina married Jacob Kauffman;
Elizabeth married John McMuUen, of Center
township, and later removed to Illinois ; Ursula
Toledo married John F. Henderson, and died
in Illinois.
George Dickie, eldest son of William H.
Dickie, was born Sept. 27, 1809, on the farm
in Center township, and obtained his educa-
tion at the subscription school held in a
near-by log house. He grew up on the farm
and from his earliest boyhood was familiar
with agricultural work, which he followed all
his life, and in which he became very pros-
perous. He acquired over six hundred acres
of land. He built a substantial brick house to
replace the first one of logs, and made many
other improvements on his property, Avhich
became quite valuable under his intelligent
and energetic management. In addition to
general farming he engaged somewhat exten-
sively in stock raising, and drove to the eastern
markets for many years. He made a specialty
of the raising of fine sheep, his large acreage
enabling him to keep great numbers. He
died March 5, 1901, in his ninety-second year,
after a busy and useful career, and was
buried in Oakland cemetery. He was a life-
long member of the M. E. Church at Homer
City, and served as steward.
On May" 14, 1835, Mr. Dickie married Jane
Dickson, and they had a married life of over
half a century, her death occurring Dec. 24,
1885. She, too, is buried in Oakland ceme-
tery. They had a family of five children:
William H., who is a farmer of Blacklick
township, this county ; Joseph Dickson ; Nancy
H., widow of Ciipt. George H. Ogden, of
Homer City ; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
■wife of Prank Broski ; and George C. Mrs.
Dickie was a member of the SI. E. Church.
George C. Dickie obtained his early educa-
tion in the Lowerj- school in Indiana county,
later in the winter of 1870-71 attending
Eldersridge Academy and the ilillersville
State normal school, at Millersville, Lancaster
county. Pa. After leaving school he worked
at farming, continuing to follow that occupa-
tion principally until 1901, from which time
until his death he was interested in the coal
indust.rJ^ He was quite successful in leasing
and selling coal lands in Indiana county,
handling large tracts, and as previously stated
was mainly instrumental in having the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburg road built to the
borough of Indiana. He became one of the
prominent factors in the industrial develop-
ment of the county. He continued his farm-
ing operations in addition to his other busi-
ness interests, which became numerous, for
he was a stockholder in the Indiana Trust
Company, the Indiana "Woolen Mills, and other
local enterprises. His progressive spirit and
fearlessness in launching jiew projects made
him a live figure in the business world. He
died Feb. 24, 1912.
On Nov. 26, 1874, Mr. Dickie married Mar-
garet Ann Johnston, daughter of George W.
and Isabella (Speedy) Johnston, of Indiana
county, and to them were born three children :
Clark, D. D. S., now of Yandergrift, Pa., mar-
ried Flora Laufman, and they have one child,
Clark C. ; Laura is the wife of Dr. W. H. Nix
and has one child ; Bell is the wife of Glen JI.
Lee, principal of the Yandergrift schools, and
they have one child, Gladys C. Mrs. Dickie is
a member of the M. E. Church, to which her
husband also belonged.
ARCHIE W. MABON, member of the hard-
ware firm of James M. Stewart & Co., of In-
diana, and president of the Citizens' National
Bank of that borough, is one of the leading
business men of this section of Pennsylvania.
His connection with the hardware business
began twenty-nine years ago. ilr. Mabon is
a native of Indiana county, born June 21,
1862, son of Samuel S. and Martha C.
(Stewart) Mabon.
The ]\Iabon family has been established in
this section for considerably over a century.
William and ilargaret (Brown) Mabon came
to this country from Scotland in the year
1794, bringing with them their family of six
633
children, five sons and one daughter : George,
John, James, William, Thomas and Jane.'
Their home in Scotland was on the river
Tweed, and when they settled in what is now
West Wheatfield township, Indiana county,
Pa., they named a small stream running
through their property Tweed run, by which
name it is still known. WilHam Mabon and
his wife were laid to rest in a little cemetery
near the Pennsylvania railroad, on the tract
where they originally settled in West Wheat-
field township. Of their children: George
had five childi-en, two sons and three daugh-
ters, by his first wife, whose maiden name was
Steele, and by his second wife, Margaret (Mc-
Donald), had a son, Capt. George C. Mabon.
John married Margaret Liggett, and had seven
sons and five daughters, William, Robert,
John, James, Thomas, Frank, Alexander,
Jane, Nancy, Margaret, Mary and Ann ; they
lived in Mahoning township. James married
Jane Smith and they were the grandparents
of Archie W. Mabon. Jane married John
Graham (second), Robert Sutton and (third),
William Baird ; she had no children. William
married Esther Steele and had nine children,
Margaret, George, Jane, John, Margaret B.,
Thomas Jefiferson, Hadassah, James and Will-
iam. Thomas married Jane McLeary and
had children: Margaret (married Y'illiam
Reed), Mary Jane, Emily (married H. A.
Welshonce), Harriet (married John Fergu-
son), William, Thomas, Louisa (married An-
drew Milliken), Maiy A. (married George A.
Jenks), and two others whose names are not
given.
James Mabon, son of William and Mar-
garet (Brownj Mabon, was a native of Scot-
land and an infant when brought with the
rest of the family to the United States. He
settled at Mahoning. He married Jane Smith,
and had two sons and one daughter : Samuel
S., William and Margai-et.
Samuel S. Mabon, son of James and Jane
(Smith) Mabon, died in JMay, 1908. His
widow, Mrs. Martha C. (Stewart) Mabon, is
now (1912) eighty years of age. She is a
member of the United Presbyterian Church,
to which Mr. Mabon also belonged. They be-
came the parents of six children, namely:
Wilson, James L.. Archie W., Robert L., Alex-
ander S. and William.
Archie W. Mabon obtained his education in
the public schools of the home neighborhood.
He worked on the farm in season until twenty
634
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
years of age. and taught school for three win-
ters during his young manhood. In 1883 he
entered the employ of J. M. Stewart, who was
in the hardware business at Indiana, being
engaged as clerk until he became a partner in
the house, in ISSS. The firm has since been
known as J. "SI. Stewart & Co.. and its estab-
lishment is one of the largest hardware stores
in Indiana county. The firm has high stand-
ing in the business world, its reliability and
progi-essive policy enabling it to hold the lead
in the hardware line in this region. In 1911
Jlr. Mabon became president of the Citizens'
National Bank of Indiana, which position he
has since filled. His executive ability and
excellent judgment make his opinion and co-
operation valued in even- enterprise with
which he is associated. He is a member of
the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana, and was
formerly a trustee of the United Presbj'terian
Church, to which he has belonged for a num-
ber of years.
In 1886 Mr. llabon married Cornelia Lytle,
daughter of A. P. and Mary Jane (De Tar^
Lytle, of Indiana, and they have two children :
Audley L. and Alexander W.
HARRISON LLOYD TAYLOR, director
and cashier of the First National Bank of
Blacklick, is a native of Pittsburg, born Dec.
17, 1874, sou of AVilliam H. and Mary
(Bridge) Taylor.
William H. Taylor, father of Han-ison L..
was born in Middlesex township, Butler Co.,
Pa., Nov. 1. 1829, son of "William and ^Margaret
(Brown) Taylor. There he grew to manhood,
and learned the trade of carpenter, which he
followed for some time. He then entered the
employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany "as scales inspector,x and continued in
their sen-ice for a period of forty years, hay-
ing the inspection of all their scales west of
Pittsburg. He made his home in Pittsburg,
where for several yeare he lived retired after
his long and faithful service with the railroad
company. During these years of retirement
he spent much time in looking up the history
of his family, giving most of his attention to
his mother's family, the Browns. After ex-
tensive research work he compiled the history
and had it printed, and it was distributed
among his relatives before his death. Mr.
Taylor was a well-known man and much re-
spected. He was a member and elder of the
Presbvterian Church, and was one of the
founders of the Bellfield Presbyterian Church
in Pittsburg. In politics he was a Republican.
On Dec. 27, 1855, Mr. Taylor married Mary
Bridge, who was born Oct. 9, 1829, and died
July 4, 1904. Mr. Taylor's death occurred
Feb. 13, 1907, and both were buried in the
Allegheny cemetery at Pittsburg. They had
children as follows : May, who was bom Feb.
6, 1857, died April 21, 1872 ; Elizabeth, born
Feb. 9, 1859. died Dec. 13, 1877 ; a daughter,
born in 1861, died in that year, unnamed;
Eleanor, born Feb. 1, 1868, died Nov. 16,
1888 ; Harrison Lloyd was born Dec. 17, 1874.
Harrison Lloyd Taylor, son of William H.
Taylor, obtained his education in the public
schools of Pittsbiu'g, and learned the carpen-
ter's trade, at which he worked for a few
years. He gave this up to take a commercial
course in Duff's commercial college. When
the First National Bank was founded in Black-
lick, in 1907, Mr. Taylor accepted the position
of assistant cashier, and filled it with satis-
faction to his employers until 1909, when he
was elected cashier of the institution. He has
since then proved a most valuable employee,
filling this position of trust and responsibility
in an able manner. The First National Bank
of Blacklick was organized Jan. 14, 1907, with
Dr. J. W. Carson as president ; Mr. W. H. Ash-
baugh was its first cashier, serving for one
year, and was succeeded by Mr. Wiley, who
was cashier until January, 1909, when Mr.
Taylor was elected to that office, and Mr. Mc-
Crea was elected president. The members of
the board of directors of this bank are : Will-
iam H. Robinson, Sumner Graff, W. F. Elkin,
James Gardner, JM. S. Bell, G. M. Doty, J. R.
Housholder, S. J. Sides, J. F. Gerhard, Will-
iam P. McCrea, William H. Ashbaugh and H.
L. Taylor.
Mr. Taylor is well known in Blacklick and
holds the' esteem of all who come in contact
with him, socially or in business. He has
always been a Republican in his political
views, but takes no active part in politics,
gi^^ng his whole time and attention to his
work. Mr. Taylor is unmarried.
E. BRUCE EARHART, M. D., of Salts-
burg, Indiana county, has been engaged in
the ^practice of medicine there for twenty
years. Surgery has been his especial field,
and for several years he has conducted a hos-
pital which has'filled a long-felt want in the
community. He stands high among the mem-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
635
bers of the profession in this section of Penn-
sylvania, being prominently associated with
the various medical organizations and active
in promoting progressive methods and advanc-
ing modern ideas. Dr. Earhart was born in
Indiana county June 15, 1858, but comes of an
old York county family which has been set-
tled there since Colonial times. His great-
great-grandfather was a soldier in the war of
the Revolution.
Anthony Earhart, the Doctor's great-
grandfather, was born in York county and
settled there. His son Michael, the grand-
father, was also a native of that county, and
came to Indiana county, where his death oc-
curred about 1856.
John K. Earhart, son of Michael, was born
in 1820, in Indiana county. Pa., and died in
1898. By occupation he was a farmer and
carpenter. He was a member of the M. E.
Church. His wife, Wilhelmina (Henderson),
was born in 1827, in Huntingdon county. Pa.,
daughter of Joseph and Avy Henderson, and
three children were born to them: Newton.
who is deceased; Emma, who is the ^vife of
George Flemming; and E. Bruce.
E. Bruce Earhart began his education in
public school in Indiana county and later
went to the Eldersridge academy. He took
his collegiate course at Mount Union College,
at Alliance, Ohio, and pursued his medical
studies at the Universitj' of Cincinnati, Ohio,
graduating from the medical department of
that institution in 1890. In 1891 he began
independent practice at Cincinnati, and re-
mained there one year, in 1892 settling at
Saltsburg. Pa., where he has since resided and
found his life work. Some years ago he took
a post-graduate course at the New York Poly-
clinic, gi-aduating in 1903. Dr. Earhart. is an
indefatigable worker, and besides attending
to the large private practice which has come
to him as the result of faithful services to his
patrons he acts as examiner for several of
the leading life insurance companies doing
business in this locality and gives considerable
time to hospital work. On Aug. 15, 1909, Dr.
Earhai-t established a general hospital at Salts-
burg, which was promptly recognized as an
important acquisition in the town, being
equipped with all the modern appliances for
the treatment and care of the sick. It has
accommodations for thirty-five patients, and
has been a success from the beginning. This
institution has given Dr. Earhart an oppor-
tunity to do justice to his surgical cases, in
whicli he has Ijeen eminently successful, his
reputation in that branch being particularly
creditable. His greatest interest has been in
the line of the rapid strides made in surgery
and preventive medicine. Dr. Earhart is a
member of the Indiana County Medical So-
ciety (which he has served as vice president),
the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and
the American Medical Association. Socially
he belongs to the I. 0. 0. F., and his church
connection is with l^e Presbyterian denomina-
tion. As a citizen Dr. Earhart is a force for
good in his eonmninity. Though not a seeker
for public honors or active in olficial circles,
he works quietly but effectively to promote
the general welfare along the most approved
lines of modern social Life.
In 1895 Dr. Earhart was married to Abria
Alcorn, daughter of William and Nancy
(Walters) Alcorn, of Westmoreland county,
Pa. They have two children, John W. and
Nancy.
ROBERT G. MACK, the owner of Grand
View farm, a remarkably fine estate of 210
acres underlaid with valuable coal and lime-
stone in East Wheatfield township, Indiana
county, is a representative of the type of busi-
ness farmers who have caused agriculture to
become recognized as a scientific pui-suit
worthy of the most intelligent. Moreover, he
was one of the first to realize that there was a
practical solution to the problem of changing
conditions which made rural Life undesirable.
His work along that line has gone ahead
steadily since he first became interested. Par-
ticularly noteworthy are the successful efforts
he made to promote that boon to farmers
everywhere, the rural free delivery service,
and his labors for good roads and the better-
ment of the public school system. He owns
and lives upon part of the original tract
settled by his grandfather over a century ago.
The early members of this Mack family in
Indiana county were among the most respected
of the pioneer settlers in what is now East and
West Wheatfield to-miships, and its founder
here was Robert Mack, grandfather of Robert
G. Mack. Robert Mack was a native of County
Down, Ireland, bom about 1763. There he
grew to manhood and married Margaret
Cailipbell, who was born about 1769, and four
children were born to them in their native
home: John, born about 1797; Robert, bom
636
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
about 1799 ; James, born March 3, 1800 ; and
Jean, born about 1803. In the early part of
1803 Robert Mack with his wife and four
children left their native home for America.
While they were crossing the Atlantic ocean,
on a slow-going sailing vessel, their little
daughter Jean died and was buried at sea,
the body being placed in a sack, weighted at
the feet with sand. The burial service was
read by the captain. After landing in the
New "World the family made their way west
of the Alleghenies, locating first near Pitts-
burg, Pa., and later in Wheatfield township,
Indiana Co., Pa., where Mr. Mack settled
down to farming on a 400-acre tract. Here
in the wilderness he had to erect the log cabin
for his family, and began a long, hard fight
for existence, farming by day and clearing
land at night. So rugged was the pioneer life
that the cabin door was never known to be
closed. Rattlesnakes abounded in numberless
dens. By steady industry and thrifty habits
he managed to develop his farm and make
many improvements, and there spent the re-
mainder of his life, dying Aug. 2, 1850. He
was buried in Bethel Church cemetery, in
what is now West Wheatfield township, and a
headstone marks the last resting place of him-
self and wife. Mr. Mack in religious principle
was what was known as a Seceder, later join-
ing the Bethel United Presbyterian Church.
He was an old-line Democrat on political ques-
tions. His wife preceded him to the grave,
dying on the farm Nov. 17, 1839, at the age
of seventy years, and was laid to rest in Bethel
cemetery. She, too, was a member of Bethel
United Presbyterian Church. She was the
mother of thirteen children, those born in
Wheatfield township being : David ; William ;
Samuel; Armstrong; George; Jean (2), who
married William McClain, and died in West
Wheatfield township ; ilargaret, who married
Hugh St. Clair, and removed to Iowa; and
Elizabeth (Betsy), who married William
Campbell, being his second wife.
George Mack, son of Robert, was born m
Wheatfield township in May, 1818. His op-
portunities to acquire an education \yere
limited to the advantages offered at a little
log subscription school which was held only a
few months during the winter season. He
was engaged from early boyhood at farm
work, and grew to manhood on the home place
with his father. For a period he also worked
on the construction of the Pennsylvania canal
and on the construction of the Pittsburg and
Philadelphia pike. But farming and stock
raising were his principal businesses the re-
mainder of his life, and he was very success-
ful. He was hard-working, and not only re-
spected for his sterling qualities but well
liked by all who knew him. He died on the
farm Oct. 3, 1891, and was buried in Bethel
Church cemetery. Like his father he was a
stanch Democrat and a member of the United
Presbyterian Church. In Wheatfield town-
ship George Mack married Martha McDonald,
who was born Feb. 13, 1825, daughter of Sam-
uel McDonald, and died Nov. 25, 1894. She
was a member of the U. P. Church and was
buried in Bethel Cluu-ch cemetery. Nine
children, one son and eight daughters, were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Mack: Robert G. was
born Feb. 26, 1846; Sara Ellen, born Oct.
12, 1848, married Solomon Plowman, and
died in East Wheatfield township ; I\Iar-
gai'et, boi'n Feb. 10, 1851, married Al-
phonse Cunningham, a history of whose fam-
ily is found elsewhere in these volumes;
Melissa, born Dec. 3, 1854, married Dins-
moi'e Dick, of Binishvalley township, a his-
tory of whose family is found elsewhere in
these volumes; Mervilla, born Oct. 6, 1856,
married James Mack, of West Wlieatfield
township; Martha Elizabeth, born May 15,
1859, died April 23, 1864 ; Mary Alice, born
Nov. 4, 1861, died March 31, 1864, she and
Martha dying of scarlet fever within a few
weeks of each other; Araminta Selena, born
Nov. 4, 1864, married Elmer E. Dick, of West
Wheatfield township; Priscilla Jane, born
Nov. 22, 1867, married Thomas S. Lynn, of
West Wheatfield township, a history of whose
family is found elsewhere in this work.
Robert G. Mack, only son of George and
Martha (J\IcDonald) Mack, was born on the
homestead Feb. 26, 1846, and was educated
in the public schools of the township. He
worked under the direction of his father from
early boyhood, and always remained on the
farm, which is a part of the original Mack
homestead. Here he continued with his par-
ents until they died, earing for them in their
old age with the loving devotion which only a
good son and his wife could give. He made
extensive improvements on the farm, in 1875
building a fine home and in 1889 a commodious
barn, and other buildings. The place is known
as Grand View farm because of the fine view
of the surrounding country which is afforded
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
637
from the location. Mr. Mack has been ex-
tensively engaged in stock raising and gen-
eral farming, keeping a tract of 200 acres
under thorough modern cultivation. He is a
firm believer in the soil being a safer invest-
ment and yielding greater returns than a
banking institution, and utilizes his farm
profits in the enriebment of his land and pur-
chase of laboi'-saving machineiy until his acres
yield a vast tonnage and his farm equipment
is perhaps the most complete in the county.
He is a man of enterprise and progressive
ideas, not only on matters affecting his work
but on all subjects which deal with the best
welfare of the communit.y, always supporting
every undertaking intended for the benefit of
the neighborhood and its inhabitants. He was
the earliest promoter of the rural free delivery
in his township, opposing prejudice with time
and money until the system was put into oper-
ation. For seven years Mr. Mack was a mem-
ber of the township school board and served
as secretary of that bod.y. He takes an active
part in literary societies and teachers' insti-
tutes. The mere statement of his official con-
nection with local educational matters con-
veys no idea of the deep interest he has taken
in the schools of his home neighborhood or
the work he has accomplished for their im-
provement along the most advanced lines. He
is a man who demonstrates his worth in every
situation in which he is placed. He was a
road supervisor and an early advocate of good
roads. He is a leading member of the Bethel
U. P. Church, of which he is i-uling elder and
trustee, and at present serving on the build-
ing committee. He is a teacher in the Sunday
school and superintendent, and active in all
chiirch work. For fifteen years he helped
conduct a union Sabbath school in a local
schoolhouse in addition to discharging his
regular duties in the Bethel United Presby-
terian Church. Although his hours of labor
Are determined only by the limitations of day-
light, he has always found time to help in-
crease the social happiness «f his family,
friends and neighbors. The Mack home is
noted for its frequent social gatherings char-
acterized by healthful enjoyment and unsur-
passed hospitality, and Mr. Mack is never
happier than when his neighbors have gath-
ered about his table.
On Dec. 31, 1874, Mr. IMack married, in
East Wheatfield township, Sarah Jane (Sadie)
Butler, who was born Sept. 16, 1853, in East
Wheatfield township, daughter of Samuel and
Elizabeth (Fulcomer) Butler. They have a
family of four children: (1) Curtis Butler,
born Jan. 9, 1876, was educated in the public
schools and has worked from early age with
his father on the farm, now taking the bur-
den of its operation and following in the foot-
steps of his father with equal thrift and de-
termination; he is specially interested in the
raising of horses. He is a member of the U.
P. Church and a Republican in politics. He
is married to Laura Luther, daughter of Isaac
D. Luther. (2) Maude Estella, born May 5,
1878, died June 12, 1880. (3) Emma Pearl,
born Nov. 12, 1879, was educated in the public
schools, at summer normals under Prof. C. A.
Campbell and Prof. J. T. Stewart, at Grove
City College, and taught school several terms
in Buffington and East Wheatfield townships.
She is now the wife of William N. Liggett, a
well-known lawyer of Indiana, Pa. (4) ilattie
Adell, born Aug. 21, 1883, was educated in
the public schools of East Wheatfield town-
ship. She married Lyman D. Mabou, of West
Wheatfield township, where they now reside.
BENJAJMIN F. COE, M. D., physician and
surgeon, of Clvmer, was born at Gillett, Brad-
ford Co., Pa.," July 8, 1872; son of Caleb E.
and Ethlenda (Boughton) Coe.
Harmon Coe, a native of Connecticut, moved
from that State to Delaware county, N. Y., and
thence to Bradford county. Pa., where he
farmed, and he built the first sawmill in the
latter county. There he spent the remainder
of his useful life, and died upon his farm.
During the war of 1812 be served his country
as a soldier.
Caleb E. Coe was born at Masonville, Dela-
ware Co., N. Y., in 1832, while his wife was
born in Columbia township, Bradford Co.,
Pa., in 1833. During the period of his active
life Caleb E. Coe was a farmer, and he died in
Bradford county. Pa., Sept. 7, 1911 ; his wife
died March 7, 1903. They had ten children,
nine being sons. Of these, Sarah, deceased,
was the eldest child and only daughter ; Lyman
is deceased; Caleb is deceased; Edgar is de-
ceased ; Scott is a resident of Elmira, N. Y. ;
Judson and Judd, twins, live in Osceola and
Johnstown, Pa., respectively; Benjamin F. is
mentioned below; Montgomerj' is a resident
of Sayre, Pennsylvania.
When his country had need of him Caleb E.
638
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Coe enlisted for service in defense of the flag,
from Troy, N. Y., in the 7th New York Cav-
alry, for ninety days. He then reenlisted in
the 47th New York Volunteer Infantry, and
served until the close of the conflict.
Daniel Boughton, Dr. Coe 's maternal grand-
father, moved from Connecticut to Delaware
county, N. Y., and thence to Bradford county,
Pa., arriving in the latter State about 1838.
He farmed and was interested in lumbering,
and rounded out a useful life. He, too, served
in the war of 1812.
Benjamin F. Coe received his preliminary
training in the country schools of Bradford
county. Pa., and during his boyhood worked
on a farm. Later he attended the University
of Rochester (N. Y.) for two years, following
which he worked as a telegrapher for the
Northern Central Railroad Company. Hav-
ing decided upon a professional career, he en-
tered in 1892 the College of Physicians and
Surgeons at Baltimore, J\Id., and was gradu-
ated therefrom in 1895. Inunediately there-
after he began the practice of his chosen pro-
fession, at Gazzam, Clearfield Co., Pa., where
he remained ten years. At the expiration of
that period he moved to Dixonville, and later
established an office at Clymer, when the town
was being organized. During the beginnings
of this town Dr. Coe took a vei-y active part
in the work of getting its affairs in shape,
and became well known to the people, not
only professionally, but as a public-spirited
citizen and reliable man. His practice has
grown rapidly, and he now has many clients
over a radius that embraces not only Clymer,
but the surrounding country for a number of
miles. He is also at the head of the Dixon-
ville hospital, which lie built in 1907.
On Oct. 8, 1896, Dr. Coe, was married, at
Trout Run, Lycoming Co., Pa., to Elizabeth
Comwell, born in Lycoming county, Oct. 15,
1876, daughter of Thomas and Harriet ( Eng-
lish) Comwell. Her grandfather, Isaac Corn-
well, came from Connecticut to Pennsylvania
at a very early day, settling in Lycoming
county, and was extensively engaged in lum-
bering and farming.
Thomas Cornwell and his wife are now de-
ceased. They\ had a large family, namely:
Susan, Vfiie of William Follner, of Lj'coming
county. Pa.; Jerry, of WiJliamsport; Delilah
and Charles, both deceased ; Isaac, of North-
umberland, Northumberland Co., Pa. ; Tor-
rence, of Williamsport, Pa.; William, of
Lycoming county. Pa.; Margaret, wife of
Hiram GetcheU, of, Emporium, Pa. ; and Mrs.
Coe. The father of Mrs. Harriet (English)
Cornwell came from England and located in
Lycoming county. Pa., among the early set-
tlers of that region.
Dr. and Mrs. Coe are the parents of two
children. Marguerite and Barbara H. Dr.
Coe belongs to the Indiana Lodge of Elks.
Professionally he is a member of the Indiana
County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania
State Medical Society, and is president of the
former. He and his wife are consistent mem-
bers of the Baptist Church, and give liberally
of their time and means toward its support.
HON. JOHN S. FISHER. The Fisher
family through successive generations has re-
sided in western Pennsylvania since Revolu-
tionary times. In its different branches it is
very numerous, especially in Westmoreland
county, where the old stock originally settled.
Many of its members have risen to distinction
in business, in the professions, and in the
service of their country, in times both of war
and of peace.
The subject of this sketch was born in South
Mahoning township, Indiana Co., Pa., May
25, 1867, to Samuel R. and Maria L. Fisher.
His mother's maiden name was McGaughey,
and she belonged to a prominent family of
Indiana county. His father was a well-t£-do
farmer, highly esteemedl by his neighbors,
who honored him with many local offices. The
grandfather of John S. Fisher was John
Fisher, whose life was devoted to teaching,
he being widely known in Westmoreland,
Armstrong and Indiana counties as "Master
Fisher."
John S. Fisher was educated in the Indiana
public schools and the State normal school of
Indiana, Pa., graduating from the high school
department of the former in 1884, and from
the normal in 1886. After graduating he
spent several ^years teaching, during 1891,
1892 and 1893 serving as principal of the
Indiana public schools. While teaching, he
devoted his spare time and vacations to the
study of law. having as his preceptor Samuel
Cunningham, Esq.. considered by many to be
the leader of the Indiana county bar. In
August, 1893, he was admitted to the bar, and
soon secured an extensive practice. A part-
nership was subsequently formed with, his
^.K
VM
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
639
former preceptor, under the title of Cunning-
ham and Fisher. The firm commands one of
the largest practices in Indiana county, and
its services are sought on one side or the
other in nearly every^ suit of importance tried
in the courts of the county.
In politics ilr. Fisher is an ardent Republi-
can, and has always taken an active interest
in the atfairs of the party. He served at vari-
ous times as count}- chairman, and as State
delegate. He was first nominated for State
senator by popular vote in the Thirty-seventh
Senatorial District by a majority of 4,6-16 ;
was reelected practically without opposition
in 1904, thus serving in the regular sessions
of 1901, 1903. 1905 and 1907. and the special
session of 1906. During this time he served
in the chairmanships of the Judiciary Special,
Corporation and Judiciary General com-
mittees. He was selected as chairman of the
Capitol Investigation Commission, which un-
earthed the gigantic frauds in connection with
the erection of the new Pennsylvania State
Capitol.
In addition to his professional and political
activities, Mr. Fisher has been connected with
numerous business enterprises. He was
among the firet to realize the importance of
our gi-eat coal deposits, and through his efforts
were secured extensive developments in the
Dixonville and Clymer. Brushvalleys. Coral,
and Jacksonville and Lewisville fields. He
was one of the founders of Clymer and has
alwa.ys taken a deep interest in its growth aiid
prosperity. He is president of the Clymer
Brick and Fire Claj' Company and the Cly-
mer Electric Company, and a director of the
Dixon Run Land Company. He was one of
the organizers of the Savings & Trust Com-
pany, of Indiana, and has been a member of
its board of directors since its organization.
He is also largely interested in the State-
Center Electric Company, w-hich operates in
the vicinity of State College, Pa., being a
member of its board of directors, and is a
director of the Clearfield Bituminous Coal
Corporation. For many years he has served
as a member of the board of trustees of the
Indiana State normal school, in which posi-
tion he has continued his interest in the cause
of education. He helped to organize and is
vice president of the Indiana County Hos-
pital, and is president of the Pennsylvania
Good Roads Association.
Mr. Fisher was married to Hapsie Miller,
of South Mahoning township, on Oct. 11, 1893,
and to this union four children have been
born : Charlotte and John Royer, who died in
infancy; Robert Jliller, born Sept. 5, 1894,
and Mary, born March 26, 1898.
Mr. Fisher and all the members of his fam-
ily are members of the Pli-st United Presby-
terian Church of Indiana, Pa., of which they
are active and liberal supporters.
REISINGER OR RISINGER. The Risinger
family of Center township, Indiana county,
now represented by James ^I. and William P.
Risinger, brothers, and jMichael H. and Daniel
E. Risinger, brothers, is descended from John
Risinger, the pioneer settler of the family in
Indiana county.
The Risingers have been settled in Pennsyl-
vania for almost one hundred and seventy-
five years. The first of the name in America
was Hans Nicklaus Risinger, or Reisinger as
it was formerly written, who emigrated from
Germany to America in 1749. He came with
his son John Peter in the .ship "Dragon,"
George Spencer, master, with 563 passengers,
foreigners from the Palatinate .and Zwei-
brueken, Germany. He is also mentioned in
Rupp's "Thirty Thousand German Immi-
gi'ants. " The Palatinates were a thrifty and
industrious people who lived in the lower
regions of the Rhine, and Prowell in his his-
tory of the Palatinates and their emigration
says: "The burghers of its cities were
wealthy merchants. Its fertile fields and vine-
clad hills brought competence and comfort to
its people. Religion and education were so
well diffused that there were no other people
of their day to whom in these respects the
Palatines stood second. The situation of their
native country, the highway of France into
the heart of Germany, together with its beauty
and fertility, made it a Naboth's vineyard to
Louis XIV. of France, whose ambition was
colossal." The revocation of the Edict of
Nantes had driven thousands of Protestants
from France into Germany, where they found
a most needed asylum among their brethren
of the Reformed and Lutheran faiths. The
war of the Spanish succession gave to Louis
XIV. the long-sought excuse to wreak a terri-
ble vengeance on the inhabitants of the Pala-
tinate. He sent an army of 50.000 men, with
orders to its commander to ravage the country
with fire and sword and to make the land a
desert. The French went through the length
and breadth of the country destroying cities,
burning villages, stripping the people of their
possessions, compelling them to pull down
their walls, to stand by and see their wealth
perish in the flames, and then driving them
to the fields, there to perish with hunger and
640
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
cold. In one day the elector, standing on the
walls of Mannheim, counted twenty-three vil-
lages in flames, and to this day the picturesque
ruins along the Rhine river tell but too plainly
the story of the terrible disaster that laid waste
the beautiful fields of the Palatines. The in-
habitants, left without homes or land, turned
to England for assistance. England offered
them homes in the new world, and with their
wives and families they migrated to America.
Lorentz Schmahl, arriving in 1743 in York
county in what was then the Province of Penn-
sylvania, wrote back to Hans Nicklaus Reis-
inger in glowing terms of the opportunities
that the new world held out for the homeless
peasants in Germany. Hans Nicklaus Reis-
inger, who was a widower, at once prepared
to make the journey, arriving in York county
Sept. 26, 1749. Shortly after his arrival Lor-
entz Schmahl died, leaving the widow and a
grown daughter, Eva Schmahl. About the
year 1751 Hans Nicklaus Reisinger married
the widow. Schmahl, and his son John Peter
Risinger shortly after mari'ied the daughter.
They were prosperous and soon had a com-
fortable home.
John Peter Risinger, born near Essenheim,
Germany, who had married Eva Schmahl,
sei-ved as a pi-ivate in the 3d Battalion, York
county militia, in the Revolutionary war; it
was organized in 1775 and commanded by
Col. Richard McAlister. McAlister com-
manded under Washington in the campaigns
around New York and in the battles of Tren-
ton and Princeton. This regiment had en-
listed for six months, but served two months
longer than that. The children of John Peter
Risinger were, sons, Jacob, John Henrieh,
Peter and Henry, and daughters who married
George Spangler and Isaac Lowmaster, the
latter* being a celebrated gunsmith of the
Revolutionary period. ■
John Henrieh Risinger was born in York
county, Pa., March 18, 1768, being the second
son of John Peter Risinger and Eva Schmahl.
He married Magdaleua Myers about 1789.
Their children were named as follows : John,
Jacob, George, Henry, Daniel, Michael, Joseph,
Polly (married John Lininger), Lydia (mai*-
ried to Peter Rhodes), Elizabeth (married to
Andrews) and Mary (married to Jacob
D'Armen).
About the year 1801 John Henrieh Risin-
ger's brother Peter, accompanied by his uncle,
John Small, moved to Beaver county. Pa.,
which was then considered the "far West."
They sent back to York a glowing description
of the lands along Beaver creek. John and
his wife and family made up their minds to
move to this county and take up land sufficient
to give each of their boys a farm. In tr\ie
pioneer fashion they began the overland jour-
ney, reaching Brushvalley, in Indiana county,
in the fall of 1806. Here the mother and boys
made up their minds they would go no far-
ther and settled in that township on what is
now the Dinsmore Dick farm. The following
year the mother died. John married his sec-
ond wife, Elizabeth Lininger, about 1810.
Later he took up a tract of land in Center
township, north of the present town of Homer
CitJ^ He died in 1844, at the home of his
son Daniel, which was on a part of this tract.
Michael Risinger was born near York, Pa.,
in 1798, son of John Henrieh Risinger and
Magdaleua (Myers). Coming with his father
to Indiana county, they located in Brushval-
ley township, but later moved to Center town-
ship. In 1823, he married Rebecca Williams,
who was bora in Brushvalley in 1802, a daugh-
ter of Capt. Benoni Williams, who had re-
cruited a company and served in the war of
1812. For two years after their marriage they
lived on the Runyan farm in Brushvalley. He
then purchased from James Wilkens the tract
of land in Center township lying between the
waters of Twoliek and Yellow creeks, on which
is now located the mining town of Lucerne.
This land was then covered with heavy timber,
walnut and white oak. Locating a spring
near the waters of Twoliek he began to chop
down the forest and build a log house. Hardy
and industrious, he pursued this arduous labor
until a few acres of the gi-ound were cleared,
a log house erected and corn growing in the
field. Those were years of trials and hard-
ships. Their neighbors were few, and at night
the cry of wolves was frequently heard in the
forest. For several seasons the corn crop
was in part destroyed by deer, and the chick-
ens were kept in the cellar of the house to in-
sure their safety from mink and weasel.
Michael Risinger 's children were: Matilda,
married to Rev. J. W. Plannette ; Josiah, mar-
ried to Margaret McKesson; Elizabeth, mar-
ried to J. W. Kerr ; Eva, who died at the age
of twenty-one ; and William, married to Nancy
E. Orr. " The father died in 1883, the mother's
death occurring but two months later in the
same year.
William Risinger was born in Center town-
ship, on July 24, 1841, and attended the pub-
lic school located near the present site of
Upper Homer school. From boyhood he
worked on the farm of his father, clearing the
timber from the land and quarrying thou-
sands of yards of stone, a part of which was
used in the construction of the Indiana Branch
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 641
railway, which passed through this farm. Dur- was associated with him to the end of his life,
ing the year 1868 he erected the frame house giving particular attention to the breeding
in which he lived until his death. Here he and raising of registered Jersey cattle and to
engaged in general farming and stock raising dairy farming and buttermaking. In com-
and in 1890 became associated with his son pany with his brother he was engaged for a
James in the latter line. Mr. Risiuger became period in the manufacture of ice cream. After
one of the largest breeders and raisers of Jer- the death of his father he continued in the
sey cattle in the country. He also became ex- Jersey cattle business until 1911, when he
teusively interested in the dairy business and disposed of most of his stock, keeping sev-
continued in that line up to his death. In eral, however, for his own use. In 1910 he
1883 his fine frame barn was destroyed by fire, built a new home on the site of his father's
but he soon rebuilt it. In 1905 most of the dwelling house, constructed of buff brick. In
homestead farm was sold to the Buffalo & the winter of 1912-13 he became associated
Rochester Coal Company, and on its site is with Mr. Elder J. ililler in the erection of a
built the coal mining town of Lucerne, con- modern theater in Homer City, of which Mr.
taining a population of over three thousand, Risinger acts as manager. After the death
with all the benefits of churches and schools, of his father Mr. Risinger succeeded him as a
and where a large plant was erected for coal member of the board of directors of the Homer
mining purposes. It is the largest coal min- City National Bank, and in 1910 he was
ing town in the county and in 1912 the largest elected vice president of that institution, which
coal tipple in the world was erected there, office he filled for two years. In 1913 he was
During a business trip to Indiana, on May 29, elected president of the Homer City National
1908, and while transacting business in the Bank. Mr. Risinger is a well-read man, lib-
store of William R. Loughry, Mr. Risinger eral-minded and with thoroughly progressive
was stricken with an attack of apoplexy. He ideas, and keeps well informed on all the cur-
was taken to the ' ' Indiana House ' ' and there rent events of the day.
died. He was buried in Greenwood cemetery. On Dec. 27, 1899, Mr. Risinger married Jen-
Indiana. Mr. Risinger was a man well known nie Blakley, who was born in Young town-
and respected and noted for his high moral ship, daughter of Joseph A. Blakley, of that
character. He was well-read, independent in township, a full history of whose family will
his views and actions, held progressive views, be found elsewhere in this work. They have
and took an active part in public matters, had two children: William and Joseph
serving as school director of his township and Blakley, twins, born April 21, 1902, who are
also as tax collector and auditor. He took a now iii school.
deep interest in the local public schools and William P. Risinger, assistant cashier of
in anything for the benefit of his township the Homer City National Bank, was born on
and county and the people. He was one of the Risinger homestead in Center township,
the organizers and charter members of the March 29, 1879. He attended the district
Homer City National Bank, and succeeded public school near his birthplace. On com-
his son William P. Risinger as member of pleting the county course of study of the pub-
its board of directors, serving as such until lie schools he began preparation for the
his death. teacher's profession by attending the summer
On Oct. 29, 1868, Mr. Risinger married normal school conducted by H. V. Rowan in
Nancy Elizabeth Orr. who was bom in Arm- Homer City. In 1897 he taught his first
strong township, Indiana county, July 9, 1845, term of school in the Lytle district of Center
daughter of James and Hannah (Kimmel) township. The next year he was placed in
Orr. They had two children, James M. and charge of the Upper Homer school, a position
William Perley. Mrs. Risinger now resides he held for two years. Under Mr. Rowan, as
with her son James. She is a member of the a private tutor, he continued his studies dur-
Lutheran Church at Homer City, a woman j^g ^j^g evenings, and in the fall of 1899 he
noted for her charity and her devotion to was admitted into the freshman class of Wash"
her laniily. ,, ti- • ington and Jefferson College, at Washington,
James M. Risinger was born on the Rismger following were spent in
farm July 30. 1869. He was ejicaed prin- ^j^.^ institution During the summer of 1901
cipally m the public schools, attending m the , i o.^ - x . > ,-c ^ i •
Risinger district, and in 1889 entered the he secured a State teacher s certificate and in
Pennsylvania State Agricultural College, tak- the fall of that year he again entered the
ing courses in dairying and agriculture. He teaching profession as assistant principal, in
grew up on the farm, assisting his father, and the Homer City public schools. Forming a
642
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
partnership with Prof. E. J. Welsh, the prin-
cipal of the Homer City schools, they con-
ducted a summer normal school in that place
for three years; this school was a successful
one and had a large attendance of teachers
from all parts of the county. In the fall of
1904 he was elected principal of the Penn
public schools in Westmoreland county, where
he continued in that capacity for two years.
Mr. Risinger devoted eight years to teach-
ing, averaging ten months out of the year.
In January, 1908, he was appointed assistant
cashier of the Homer City National Bank, a
position he has filled for the last five years.
He was a member of the first board of direc-
tors of this bank, and was succeeded by his
father following his appointment as assistant
cashier. In 1908 he built the home where he
now resides, adjoining that of his brother,
James. His library, of which he is justly
proud, contains over two thousand of the
world's best books, including many rare and
costly editions. He is well known in the In-
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, being a
charter member of Homer City Lodge, No. 41,
and also a member of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania ; of Blairsville Encampment, No.
168, and Penelope Rebekah Lodge, No. 431, of
Homer City, of which his wife was the first
secretary.
On July 7, 1907, Mr. Risinger was married
to Sara E. Wineman, daughter of B. F. Wine-
man and Catherine (Ellis) Wineman, of
Homer City. She was a successful teacher
before her marriage, and a woman of literary
attainment. She died Sept. 27, 1909, leaving
one child, a son two weeks old, that died in
infancy. Following the death of his wife Mr.
Risinger 's mother took charge of his home,
living with him until September, 1911.
On July 5, 1911, Mr. Risinger was married
(second) to Martha E. Elden, a native of
Hastings, Pa., daughter of Henry and Emma
(Riley) Elden, the former now deceased, the
latter living with her son Henry, in Homer
City. The Elden family emigrated from War-
wickshire, England, in 1883 and settled in
Cambria county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Risinger
have one child, Emma Elizabeth, born Jan.
17, 1913.
JAMES C. MOORE, head of the J. C.
Moore Hardware & Supply Company, of Salts-
burg, Indiana county, is one of the leading
business men of that borough. He has been
interested in his present line since 1875, all
that period connected with the same establish-
ment. Mr. Moore is a native of Saltsburg,
born Dec. 19, 1848, son of William and Jane
(Robinson) Moore, and is of Scotch-Irish de-
scent.
William Moore, the father, was born in
1810 in Butler county, Pa., one of a family of
nine children, and came to Saltsburg when
a young man, making a permanent home here.
He engaged in the tinning business, which he
continued to follow throughout his active
years, widening his interests until he was the
principal partner in one of the largest and
most successful business houses in Saltsburg.
He died there Jan. 1, 1892. He was a highly
esteemed citizen, a leading member of the
Presbyterian Church, which he served officially
as elder, and a Prohibitionist in political as-
sociation. His wife, Jane (Robinson), was
born near Nowrytown, Indiana county, was
one of the ten children of John and Jane
Robinson, and died in 1884, aged seventy-two
years. Mr. and Mrs. Moore had four chil-
dren, namely: James C, Sarah E., Kate J.
and R. Mary.
James C. Moore grew up at Saltsburg and
received his education in the public schools
and academy there. In 1871 he went to Balti-
more and became a time clerk in the office of
the Northern Central Railroad Company, hold-
ing that position until 1875, when he was
obliged to resign because of impaired health.
Accordingly he returned to Saltsburg, where
he became associated with his father in the
store and tinning business, shortly afterward
adding a large stock of hardware.- The firm
was WiUiam Moore & Son until January,
1886, when Ira C. Ewing became a partner,
the name changing to William Moore, Son &
Co. ; Mr. Ewing was connected with the busi-
ness six years. James C. Moore is the only
one of those three partners now connected with
the business, which is now conducted by the
J. C. Moore Hardware & Supply Company
(not incorporated), his associates being his
son Logan R. Moore, J. F. Piper and F. E.
Shupe. The stock originally carried was
valued at $1,500, but has been extended in
various lines until .$22,000 worth of goods are
now kept on hand to supply a trade which is
highly creditable to this progressive house.
They are wholesale and retail dealers in hard-
ware, paints, oil, glass, etc. ; have a complete
assortment of tin, copper and sheet iron ware,
and another department for stoves, grates and
various house furnishings, having a large pat-
ronage in every line, their customers coming
from a wide territory around Saltsburg. They
also make a specialty of all kinds of roofing.
Though he has been obliged to give a large
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
64:j
part of his attention to business to attain suc-
cess, Mr. Moore has found time to interest
himself in local affairs pertaining to the gen-
eral welfare. He has served as secretary of
the board of trustees of Saltsburg cemetery,
and is still holding that office ; is president of
the Board of Trade of Saltsburg; and has long
been a prominent member of the Saltsburg
Presbyterian Church, which he formerly
served as treasurer ; he has been superintend-
ent of the Sunday school for twenty-three
years. He was at one time a member of the
Knights of Honor, Junior Order of United
American Mechanics and Knights of the
Golden Eagle, but at present he is connected
with no secret order except the Masons.
Though formerly a Republican in politics, in
a Democratic community, he was elected to
serve as member of the school board and in
various other offices, and he was burgess for
five years. At present he is supporting the
Prohibition party. Of recent years he has
been spending the winter in Florida, where
he has a cottage in De Land, 110 miles south
of Jacksonville.
In February, 1875, Mr. Moore married
Maggie G. Logan, daughter of David and Mar-
garet J. Logan, of Parker City, Ai-mstrong
Co., Pa.: she died Oct. IS, 1886. They had
three children: (1) Alice has become well
known all over the United States as a capable
worker in the Young Women's Christian Asso-
ciation, and is now preparing to go to Oak-
land, Cal. (2) Logan R., who is in business
with his father, married Helen Robinson,
daughter of Harry Robinson, and they have
two children, Elizabeth and Mary. (3) Mary
has spent seven years as a missionary in China,
where she married Myron Peck, then professor
in a college in that country, now living at Oak-
land, Cal. He is at present engaged as harbor
engineer. They have two children, Gladys
and Albert Carlton.
On May 2, 1888, Mr. Moore married (sec-
ond) Jennie E. Ewing, daughter of Matthew
and Elizabeth Ewing, of Jacksonville, Indiana
Co.. Pa., and they have had three children:
Helen, a gi-adua'te of Wooster University,
1907, now the wife of 0. C. Kelly, of Bloom-
field, N. J., employed by the Westinghouse
Company; Ralph, bom in 1891. who is now
attending State College; and Edward, who
died in infancy.
CORNELIUS CAMPBELL, who was prob-
ably best known as a member of the firm of
Campbell Brothers, of Altoona, was the
founder of what is now the borough of Glen
Campbell, Indiana county, which was named
in his honor. He was a native of Juniata
county, Pa., born Nov. 22, 1828, at Tuscarora,
son of Cornelius and Mary (Adams) Camp-
bell. When a young man he went to Altoona,
Blair Co., Pa., in 1853, at which time that
city was but a small borough. He became one
of the prominent business men of the place,
particularly as one of the firm of Campbell
13rothers, who did much work about Altoona,
as well as on many divisions of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad.
It was in April, 1889, that Cornelius Camp-
bell came to what is now Glen Campbell in the
interest of the Glenwood Coal Company, to
develop the mines. Together with the firm of
J. M. Campbell & Co., contractors of Altoona,
he undertook to build the railroad to ilagee's,
nine miles. The Glenwood Coal Company was
incorporated with a capital of $100,000 (as at
present ) , and one hundred men were emploj^ed
when the mines opened, the work of initial
operations being pushed with such vigor that
the railroad was in operation and the first car
of coal left Glen Campbell Oct. 21, 1889.
(This railroad extension opened the coal field
of Cush Creek.) Now the output has been
increased so greatly that two hundred men
are employed at the two mines of the com-
pany, which produce two hundred thousand
tons annually. This company also owns the
Urey Ridge Coal Company, which employs
two hundred and fifty men and has an output
of three hundred thousand tons yearly. It is
operated with a capital of $50,000. Mr. Camp-
bell was superintendent of these mines until
his death, which occurred in 1892. He was
the first postmaster at Glen Campbell. The
substantial basis upon which the early govern-
ment and business enterprises of this borough
were placed was due largely to his intelligence
and foresight, which were universally recog-
nized by his associates.
From early life Mr. Campbell was a devout
professing Christian, and he was prominently
connected with the Second Presbyterian
Church of Altoona from the time of its or-
ganization until his death, serving it for many
years in an official capacity.
Mr. Campbell was twice married, his first
union, which took place in 1855, being to
Annie Griffin. After her death he married
Elizabeth Craig, of Saltsburg, Indiana
county, who also preceded him to the grave.
Three children born to the first marriage
died in infancy. Two children of the second
marriage are still living, Mrs. William Frank-
lin Beck and Mrs. James Hewett Christv,
644
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
both of Altoona ; the second daughter, Mary,
died in 1889. Mrs. Beck has two children,
Elizabeth Craig and Cornelius Campbell;
Mrs. Christy has one child, Cornelius Camp-
bell.
ARTHUR M. RIDDELL has been one of
the foremost citizens of the boroug-h of Glen
Campbell, Indiana county, a leader in busi-
ness operations in that section, particularly
in the coal industry. Mr. Riddell was born
in Philadelphia, Pa., son of John and Mary
(Mackey) Riddell, both of whom were na-
tives of County Tyrone, Ireland. The father
came to this country in 1862, the mother a
little later the same year, and they were mar-
ried here.
Mr. Riddell obtained his education in the
pubUc schools, attending night school after
he commenced to work. At the age of thir-
teen he found a place as ofSce boy, and in
time learned telegraphy and became an oper-
ator in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company. In June, 1889, he came to
Glen Campbell, Indiana Co., Pa., to become
the assistant of Cornelius Campbell in the of-
fice of the Glenwood Coal Company, and he
was the first telegraph operator for the rail-
road company in that town. Upon the death
of Mr. Campbell he succeeded him as super-
intendent of the Glenwood Coal Company,
and in 1902, upon the organization of the
Urey Ridge Coal Company, of Urey; this
county, he was made general superintendent
of both mines — that of the Cymbria Coal Com-
pany, of Barnesboro, Pa., and that of the
Forge Coal Company, Portage, Pa. Further,
he has an interest in the Pioneer Coal Com-
pany, of Clearfield, Pa., and is treasurer of
the LaSoya Oil Company, of Chelsea, Okla. ;
treasurer of the Giant Electric Light, Heat
& Power Company, of Glen Campbell, which
company he helped to organize; and he was
one of the organizers of the Glen Water Com-
pany, of which he is president. His import-
ant relations to local undertakings, the high
position he occupies in their management, not
only serve to show his business ability but
also his faith in the future of this region and
his earnest desire to aid in the advancement.
There are few men doing more for the up-
building of industrial conditions in this region
or for its development along the most modern
lines. He resided at Glen Campbell from
June, 1899, to April, 1911, since when his
home has been at Altoona, Pa. Mr. Riddell
is a thirty-seeond-degree I\lason and a Shriner,
a Republican in polities, and in religious con-
nection a member of the Presbyterian Church.
On Feb. 18, 1891, Mr. Riddell was married
to Mary Highberger, of Greensburg, Pa.,
daughter of John H. and Mary (Moore)
Highberger, and they have had a family of
six children: Jean B., Margaret E., Sarah
M., Mary Moore, Helen P. and Elizabeth K.
WILLIAM ALLEN EVANS, M. D., of
Clymer, Indiana county, has been engaged in
practice at that point throughout his medical
career, and has been one of the leaders in de-
veloping local interests and resources. He
has not only attended faithfully to his pro-
fessional duties, but has become associated
with public affairs and business enterprises
designed to advance the general welfare of
the borough, where he is justly classed among
the most influential citizens.
Dr. Evans was born April 12, 1874, in
Raleigh, N. C, son of John E. and Ellen M.
(Allen) Evans, and in the paternal line is of
Welsh extraction. His grandfather, Eleazer
Evans, was an early settler in Montour
county. Pa., where he was associated in busi-
ness with the iron industries, continuing to
follow this line until his death, which occurred
Nov. 18, 1879.
John E. Evans, father of Dr. Evans, was
born Sept. 5, 1844, at Danville, Montour Co.,
Pa. He became engaged in the mercantile
business and coal mining, acquiring extensive
interests in the latter line. He acted as sup-
erintendent of mines and developed mining
property, being an able business man. In
1872 he moved South with his father-in-law,
to Raleigh, N. C, living there for a period
of five years, engaged in carrying on
a large cotton plantation. Returning North
to Pennsylvania, be settled in Clearfield
county, where he continued to reside for four-
teen years, thence moving to Cambria county,
where he was engaged in the mercantile and
mining business at Patton, for others. He
died Nov. 16, 1906. Mr. Evans married Ellen
]\I. Allen, who is of Scotch origin and was
born June 4, 1846, at Bellshill, near Glasgow,
in Lanark, Scotland. She survives him, now
making her home with her son Dr. Evans at
Clymer. She is a member of the Presbyterian
Church. Mr. Evans belonged to the Baptist
Church and was an active worker, serving as
presiding elder of the First Baptist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans had a large family, sev-
eral of their children dying in early infancy.
The eight of whom we have record were:
Jennie M., who has a millinery store at Cly-
mer; Mary J., who died in infancy; William
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
645
Allen ; Ellen M., wife of Joseph W. Rankin, of
Clymer; Annie B., wife of Prank C. Little,
of Clymer; John E., druggist, of Clymer;
Sadie, deceased; and Leora, deceased.
William Allen Evans began his education
in a school for boys in Philadelphia, and took
his college preparatoiy course at the Sus-
quehanna University, at Selinsgrove, Pa. He
pursued his medical studies at Jefferson Med-
ical College, Philadelphia, from which insti-
tution he was graduated in 1906, in the sum-
mer of which year he settled at Clymer.
This thriving little borough at that time had
but forty houses and a population of three
hundred ; it now has: twenty-five hundred.
Dr. Evans and four other citizens organized
the borough, and he has continued his interest
in its growth, showing his public spirit in
various ways. He has served twice as mem-
ber of the council, is one of the stockholders
of the Citizens' "Water Company and was one
of the organizers of the Clymer National
Bank, which he serves as director. He has
gained an extensive practice by his intelligent
and conscientious devotion to his patrons, and
has the confidence and esteem of all his fel-
low citizens. He is a member of the Indiana
lodge of the B. P. 0. Elks.
In June, 1907, Dr. Evans was married in
Philadelphia to Rose il. McNellis, a native
of Vermont, only child of Edward and Maiy
McNellis, both of whom died when she was
young. Mrs. Evans spent her early years
with a cousin, later going to New York and
then to Philadelphia, where she was in the
employ of John Wanamaker and Strawbridge
& Clothier as demonstrator. Dr. and Mrs.
Evans have had two children, the daughter
dying in infancy; Allen C, born Feb. 11,
1911, survives. The Doctor owns one of the
most beautiful homes in Clymer.
WILLIAil L. BUCHANAN had extensive
agricultural and mercantile interests through-
out his long business career, in various parts
of. Indiana county, and is now living retired
in the borough of Indiana, whither he moved
in 1904. ]\Ir. Buchanan was born in Loyal-
hanna town.ship. Westmoreland Co., Pa., Feb.
27. 1840, son of George Buchanan and grand-
son of William Buchanan. The family is of
Scotch-Irish extraction, and ]\Ir. Buchanan's
grandfather was bom in County Tyrone, Ire-
land, of Scotch parentage. He and his wife
came to this countrj- from the North of Ire-
land, after their marriage, and settled first in
Butler county. Pa., where he followed farm-
ing and distilling. Thence they removed to
Westmoreland county, Pa., where he died,
in Loyalhanna township. His children were:
William, Arthur, John, George, Frances, Mar-
garet, and perhaps others.
George Buchanan, father of William L.
Buchanan, was born in 1810 in Butler county,
Pa., and in his youth attended the country
schools near home. When a boy he would
gather hickoi-y bark after his work was done,
to make a fire bright enough to enable him to
study evenings, and by perseverance he be-
came a well-educated man, following school
teaching for some time. He learned the trade
of carpenter, and was engaged principally as
a cabinetmaker and farmer. After his mar-
riage he located in Loyalhanna township,
Westmoreland county, where he was em-
ployed at his trade, and thence removed to
Rayne township, Indiana county, where he
passed the remainder of his life, dying there
in 1861, when fifty-one years of age. He was
a devout member of the Wesleyan ]\Iethodist
Church and became quite well known in that
denomination, being a local preacher. But
his absorbing public interest was the subjec-
tion of slavery and the slave traffic. He threw
all his influence into the antislavery cause,
and being endowed with considerable talent
as a campaigner and public speaker took con-
siderable part in the abolition movement in
that capacity, as well as in his connection with
the "underground railway," by means of
which he helped many slaves to escape and
gain their freedom. He was always out-
spoken and uncompromising in his stand
against slavery, and having the courage of
his convictions and the gift of presenting his
views well was a strong influence in the anti-
slavery ranks for a number of years. In his
earlier manhood Mr. Buchanan was a Free-
soiler, the only one in Loyalhanna township,
and he joined the Republican party upon its
formation. His wife, Ann (Irwin), was born
in 1820 in Ireland, and early left an orphan,
coming to America with her father's people
when twelve years old. She died April 2,
1892, in Mechanicsburg, Indiana county, aged
seventy-two years. She, too, was a member
of the M. E". Church. Mr. and Mrs. Buch-
anan had a family of six sons and three daugh-
ters, the daughters dying in infancy. The
sons were William L. ; James S.. of Rayne
township ; George, who is deceased ; Dr. John
I., deceased ; Cyrus A., of Indiana ; and Har-
vey S., of Indiana.
William L. Buchanan was about fourteen
years old when his father moved the family
to Rayne township, Indiana county, and there
646
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
he grew to manhood. He began his education
in the subscription schools, his first teacher
being liis cousin, William Buchanan, and later
went to public school. His iirst woi'k for him-
self was as a farm laborer, working by the
month, and later he drove mules on the old
Pennsylvania canal. After coming to Indi-
ana county he farmed during the summer
season, in the winter and spring being em-
ployed in the lumber woods and at rafting.
He served in the Union army throughout the
Civil war, under two enlistments. In 1861 he
became a private in Company A, 61st Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain
Creps and Col. 0. H. Rippey, of Pittsburg,
enlisting in Indiana county, for three years.
The command was attached to the Army of
the Potomac. He had assisted in the organi-
zation of the company, and went with it to
the front, seeing thirty-eight months of hard
service in the field before he was incapaci-
tated. He took part in the battle of Fair
Oaks, the seven days' fight, the engagements
at Malvern Hill and Antietam. and all the
battles of his command up to and including
Gettysburg, and subsequent activities. In
1863-64 he was a member of a light brigade
of picked men from regiments of different
corps, who did skirmish and reeonnoitering
duty. After Chancellorsville this brigade was
disbanded, the men being returned to their
respective regiments. Mr. Buchanan had
been promoted June 13, 1862, at Harrison's
Landing, to first sergeant. At the end of
his term he was discharged, Feb. 14, 1864,
at Brandy Station, Va., and reenlisted for
three years, on the field, in the same company
and regiment. He came home on a thirty-
days furlough, during which time he married,
and after rejoining his regiment again saw
considerable active service until he lost an
arm at Fort Stevens, in the defense of Wash-
ington, whither the 6th Corps, to which the
61st Regiment was attached, had been sent.
They met Early as he was moving out to the
works in his march on the city, and in the
encounter Mr. Buchanan received a minie
ball in his right arm, close to the shoulder, his
injuries being so severe that the member was
amputated on the field. He was taken to a
hospital in Washington and thence to a hos-
pital in Philadelphia, from which he was dis-
charged Oct. 18, 1864. Up to the time he
was wounded at Fort Stevens he had never
lost a day's duty on account of sickness.
though slightly injured several times. He
was in command of his company at the time,
all the commissioned officers having been
either wounded or away on furlough. The
regiment stood first in loss of officers during
the Civil war, and ranked about fourteenth or
fifteenth in loss of men.
Prom the time of his return from the army
until his retirement a few years ago Mr.
Buchanan was engaged in farming, milling,
stock dealing and merchandising, having
farms in Cherryhill (115 acres) and Green
(sixty acres) townships, Indiana county, and
conducting stores at Dixonville and Indiana.
For several yeara he was located at Marion
Center, this county, engaged in the hotel busi-
ness, and eventually removed to the borough
of Indiana, where he dealt in agricultural im-
plements for some years. Thence he removed
to Dixonville, where he was in business nine
years, having a general merchandise store.
He retired shortly before the death of his
wife, and has not been engaged in any active
business pursuits since, now making his home
in Indiana. Mr. Buchanan was one of the
organizers of the Marion Center National
Bank, and served as director until 1911, when
he resigned. He is still a large stockholder
in the Savings & Trust Company of Indiana.
His ability and honorable dealings brought
him success in his enterprises, and he has had
high standing in the various communities
wliere he has become known through his busi-
ness associations.
Mr. Buchanan is a member of the Veteran
Legion and G. A. R., Post No. 28, and also
of the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana. In
politics he is a Republican but independent
in voting, supporting what he regards as the
best men and measures.
On March 22, 1864, Mr. Buchanan married
Mary Matilda Widdowson, of Cherryhill
township, Indiana county, daughter of
Thomas and Jane (Lydic) Widdowson, and
she died at Indiana March 25, 1906. She
was a member of the Baptist Church and one
of its devoted workers, a member of the mis-
sionary societies and interested in other
church activities. She is buried at Oakland
cemetery. Three children were bom to Mr.
and Mrs. Buchanan: Josephine, who died in
infancy; George T., who is a prominent mer-
chant of Indiana, engaged in the wholesale
grocery business ; and William Orrin, of Lari-
mer, Pa., who carries on an extensive mer-
cantile business, having establishments at
Irwin and Larimer, in Westmoreland county,
this State.
STEPHEN ALEXANDER JOHNSTON,
deceased, who during his life was a merchant
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
647
of Armagh, in East Wheatfield township, In-
diana county, was born in Blair county, Pa.,
in the town of Frankstown, June 30, 1820.
Rev. John Johnston was a celebrated Pres-
byterian clergyman of Huntingdon county.
Pa., and moved to Hollidaysburg, Pa., where
he died. He was a soldier in the Revolution-
ary war, and equally active in waging battle
against the enemies of the gospel.
Dr. Alexander Johnston, son of Rev. John
Johnston, was born in Huntingdon county,
Pa., Feb. 21, 1790, and was educated for the
medical profession at the Pennsylvania Med-
ical College, Philadelphia, following which
he entered upon active practice at Hollidays-
burg, Blair Co., Pa. Later on in life, he
moved to Armagh, Indiana Co., Pa., becom-
ing largely interested in the furnace north
of Armagh, near Blacklick creek. The death
of this excellent man and good physician
occurred in January, 1875, at Armagh, where
he was popular as he had been in his old
home in Blair county, although he practiced
but little after coming to Indiana county.
His remains were interred in the Hollidays-
burg cemetery. Dr. Johnston was a consis-
tent member of the Presbyterian Church of
Altoona. He married Elizabeth Lowry,
daughter of and Mary Lowry,
and the children of this union were: John
Lowry, who was born Jul.y 12, 1816 ; Stephen
Alexander, born June 30, 1820; ^lary, )iorn
Sept. 25, 1823, who died voung; George, born
Oct. 17, 1826; and Jane," born May 19, 1834,
wlio married George Williams Free.
Stephen Alexander Johnston was sent to
the public schools of his native place, but
when he was only twelve years old became a
clerk in the store of John Bell, at Bellwood,
Pa., where he continued to work for several
years. He then came to Indiana county and
formed a partnership with a Mr. McClelend,
under the firm name of ]\IcClelend & John-
ston, this firm operating the Buenavista fur-
nace in Brushvalle.v township, until the busi-
ness was abandoned many years later. Own-
ing a tract of land in Butler county, Mr.
Jolmston lived on it for a time, and gave his
attention to farming, then selling, he located
at Armagh, where his energies found vent in
the management of a flourishing mercantile
establishment in con.junction with Alexander
Elliott, the partners operating under the style
of Elliott & Johnston. After the death of
Mr. Elliott his widow and Mr. Johnston con-
tinued the business until 1880, when the
store was sold to Mack & Campbell. During
the many vears that Mr. Johnston was as-
sociated with this establishment he gained
and maintained a high reputation by the
qualities so characteristic of him during liis
entire life. After disposing of his store, he
bought the Patterson farm, a tract of eighty-
four acres, once known as the old Rankin
farm, near Armagh, but after operating it a
short time, he sold to H. T. McCormack, and
bought the Waterson farm of 137 acres, on
the Philadelphia and Pittsburg pike, west of
Armagh, which is now being conducted b.v
his son, Alexander Elliott Johnston. Mr.
Johnston took pleasure in improving this
property, equipping it with modem machin-
ery. While interested in developing this
place he resided at Armagh, and there died
Oct. 23, 1904, aged eighty-four years, three
months, twenty-three days. He is buried in
the cemetery belonging to the Presbyterian
Church at Armagh. Always firm in his sup-
port of the Democratic party, he was elected
by same to the council of Armagh, sei-ving
from 1867 to 1875 continuously. Interested
in securing pure polities, he served as judge
of election, and education ha\ang in him a
firm friend, he gave the school board his valu-
able advice as a member of that body for some
years. While a member of the Presbyterian
Church, he never held any office in it. He
was one of the organizers of the Farmers'
National Bank of Indiana, which he served
as director, and he was also one of the leading
men in the Indiana County Fair Association.
On Feb. 1, 1848, Stephen A. Johnston was
married, by Rev. Samuel Swan, to Mary
Elizabeth Elliott, born at Armagh Oct. 15,
1830, daughter of Alexander Elliott. Chil-
dren as follows were born to Stephen A. John-
ston and his wife: Elizabeth Lowry, born
Jan. 23, 1849. died July 16, 1865: Margaret
Belle, born June 19, 1851, married John B.
Taylor, and died in April, 1906, in Indiana,
Pa. ; Mary Jane, bom Nov. 17, 1853, resides
at home; Sarah Ida, born April 28, 1856,
died Dec. 10. 1862; Catherine ilaxwell, bora
Sept. 18. 18—, married Arthur Dwight Sut-
ton, of Indiana, Pa. ; Alexander Elliott, born
Aug. 12, 1861, is mentioned below; John B.,
born May 19, 1864, died Feb. 11, 1867, The
mother of this family died June 11, 1906,
aged seventy- five years, seven months, twenty-
seven days, and is laid to rest in the Armagh
Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Alexander Elliott Johnston, only sur-
viving son of Stephen A. Johnston, was
born at Armagh, where he attended pub-
lic school, later going to the normal school
at Indiana. Having decided upon being a
648 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
farmer early iu life, he has devoted himself married a Mr. Knox, and lived in Allegheny,
to agricultural pursuits with gratifying re- Pa. ; and four others who lived and died in
suits. Mr. Johnston is the owner of a fine Ireland.
property of 137 acres of fertile land, on Robert Hood, son of John Hood, was born
which he has many modern improvements, in 1804 in Ireland, and died April 22, 1863,
His farm is fiilly supplied with the best in Indiana county. He married Jane More-
machinery, and he carries on his work ac- head, a woman of Scotch birth, who died Nov.
cording to most scientific methods. Bxperi- 29, 1890, aged eighty years, seven months, one
ence has taught him that general farming day. The children of Robert and Jane
and stock raising pay him best. A Democrat ( Morehead ) Hood were : John is mentioned
of the old school, Mr. Johnston has been a below; Elizabeth died July 11, 1859, aged
member of the school board for many years, twenty-six years, seven months; Jane mar-
aud acted as its secretary, and he is often ried Robert Lendores ; Joseph, who died April
called upon to act as judge of election. The 22, 1865, aged twenty-seven years, three
Presbyterian Church holds his membership, months, married Margaret McCarthey, who
he and his family being connected with that was born in 1835 and died in 1905, and they
denomination at Armagh. had children, Joseph B., Rebecca and
In October, 1886, Mr. Johnston was united James ; Margaret, born in 1849, died in 1903 ;
in mai-riage with Carrie L. Brendlinger, Robert married Ella E. Mabon, of West
daughter of D. W. Brendlinger, and a native Wheatfield township, and had children, Bes-
of Clyde, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the sie. Mabon, Mary, Hulda and James M. ; Mary
parents of four children: Frank, who died Ann, who died Feb. 21, 1884, aged thirty-five
young; Morris B., who is employed in the yeare, was the wife of C. Finley Reynolds,
Johnstown office of the Cambria Steel Com- of West Wheatfield township, and had a son,
pany and Stephen Alexander and David B., Hood; James is mentioned below; Rebecca
both at home. died Feb. 6, 1859, aged nineteen years.
The record of the Johnston family shows Robert Hood came to America from Ire-
that its members have always been farsighted land in the spring of 1856, settling at Center-
men, who have known how to forge ahead ville, which is in West Wheatfield township,
and not only achieve prosperity for them- Indiana Co., Pa., and there rented the Mc-
selves, but help carry to successful comple- Pherson farm, carrying on agricultui'al work
tion public-spirited movements. Many of the extensively, with the aid of his children,
improvements in East Wheatfield township They had all been bom before the family
have been brought about through the instru- emigration. Before leaving Ireland, Mr.
mentality of members of the Johnston fam- Hood had served as an elder in the United
ily. The late Stephen A. Johnston was a Presbyterian Church, and was elected to the
man of unusual caliber, and he left his im- same office in the Bethel Church of the same
print upon the civilization of his day. In faith in West Wheatfield. During his resi-
church and community he was recognized as dence in West Wheatfield township he be-
effectively fighting for the right, and yet it was came one of the leading men of his day and
in his own family circle that his virtues were locality, and brought up his children to be
best known. As a husband he tenderly cher- a credit to their parents and the land from
ished the wife with whom he lived so long and which they sprung. He is interred in the
happily, and as a father, he reared his chil- Bethel cemetery of the Methodist Church,
dren with that kindly severity that looked and his wife lies by his side. They were most
ahead to compass their best interests. worthy people, carrying into their everyday
life the religion they professed, and while
HOOD. The Hood family is of Irish an- material success attended them they never
cestry, but has been located in Indiana county forgot to sympathize with those less fortu-
for several generations. nate, or to render a just proportion of their
John Hood, grandfather of James and Rob- substance to their church. Such as they lay
ert James Hood, of West Wheatfield town- firm foundations for the future greatness and
ship, this county, was born in County Antrim, stability of any country and are a welcome
Ireland, and there followed farming all his addition to any community,
life. He married Rebecca Hutchinson, of James Hood was born March 8, 1846, in
Scotland, and they had children as follows: County Antrim, Ireland, and was ten years
Robert ; James, who lived and died in County old when the family came to West Wheatfield
Antrim, where he was a farmer ; Rebecca, who township. The family homestead being con-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
649
veniently located in the vieiuity of Center-
ville, he had an opportunity to avail himself
of the educational training offered by its com-
mon schools, and made the most of his ad-
vantages. At the same time he performed the
usual duties which fall to the share of a
farmer's boy, so that when his father died,
when he was seventeen years old, he was not
considered too young to assume the responsi-
bilities of farming with his brother, Robert,
and to take care of his mother and sisters.
The brothers carried on the farm, devoting it
to general farming, specializing on stock rais-
ing, and James Hood for several years was
engaged in the butcher business during the
fall and winter months. Now that there is
so heavy a demand for pure milk, Mr. Hood
has branched out extensively into dairying,
shipping milk to Pittsburg. He is also in-
terested in raising small fruit, and has de-
veloped this line of his business activities to
a considerable degree. Like his father he is a
man of good business sense and has known
how to take advantage of opportunities that
came his way. Interested in educational mat-
ters, he has given practical proof of this in
his work as a school director. For two terms
he has been a trustee of the United Presby-
terian Church, which he has also served as
elder. In political faith he is a Republican.
On jMay 7, 1878, James Hood married Fan-
nie ^McElroy, daughter of Jane and Susan
(Barr) McElroy, and they became the par-
ents of the following children : Robert More-
head, who is unmarried, is living at home ; An-
nie E. married Roy Tomb and resides at
Johnstown. Pa. (their children are James and
Joseph ]\Ielvin) ; James M., who was a school
teacher for three years, married Virginia
Mack, and has children. Virginia il., Warren
M. and Ethel F. ; Joseph, a carpenter, is un-
married and lives in Pitcairn. Pa. ; Lynn G.,
unmarried, was formerly employed in a gen-
eral store at New Florence, Pa., as clerk ; John
Green is at home; Bertha married Ward
Mack, a son of James ilack; Nellie, who was
a school teacher for three years, married Ed-
mund Campbell, and is living at Johnstown,
Pennsylvania.
Robert James Hood, present auditor of
Indiana county, and a farmer and .iustiee
of the peace of West Wheatfield to\vnship,
is another member of the old Hood family of
Indiana county. He is a son of Jolin Hood,
a gi-andson of Robert and Jane (Morehead)
Hood, and great-grandson of John and Re-
becca ( Hutchinson") Hood, all mentioned in
the above family history.
John Hood was bom in County Antrim,
Ireland, and died Sept. 16, 1893, aged sixty-
tM'o j'ears, and ten months. He first married
Sarah Ann Dick, who was born in 1838,
daughter of Robert and Jane (Lapsley) Dick,
and died April 2, 1865. One child^ Robert
James, was born of this union. John Hood
married for his second wife Arminta Miller,
born in 1841, who died Aug. 20, 1878, and
one daughter, Jennie Miller, was born of this
mai'riage; she married S. H. Truby, of ilech-
auicsburg, Indiana county.
In 1853 John Hood came to Peunsj'lvania,
settling in West Wheatfield township, and af-
ter three years sent for his parents and
brother and sisters to join him. For many
years Mr. Hood was employed as watchman
for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and
was also on the work train for a long period,
his faithfulness and conscientious work mak-
ing him a trusted employee. Leaving rail-
road work, he took up a tract of land near
Ceuterville, West Wheatfield township, con-
sisting of 148 acres that he cleared and im-
proved, developing a fine property which he
devoted to general farming. From the timber
on his land he manufactured ties for the rail-
road, doing a good business in this line. His
life was an active and useful one, and he
gained not only material prosperity, but the
esteem and confidence of his associates as
well. The Bethel United Presbyterian
Church held his membership, and he served
as deacon for many years. A strong Repub-
lican, he was school director for a long period.
During the Civil war. he served in Company
F. 111th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
enlisting for nine months.
Robert James Hood was born Nov. 23,
1862. in West Wheatfield township. He
married Anna Mary ilabon, daughter of
Thomas J. and Nancy (Milliken) Mabon, of
West Wlieatfield township, and they have be-
come the parents of the following children:
Nancy Mabon, bom Oct. 3, 1888, married
Paul M. Graff and resides in Blacklick town-
ship, where he is a farmer. For five years
prior to her marriage Mrs. Graff taught school
in Wheatfield, having been carefully edu-
cated : she studied under Professors Stewart
and Campbell. John D., bom Sept. 28. 1890,
is a school teacher, and is residing at home.
Harrv Bertram, born June 7. 1892, is at home.
PaulH., bom April 10, 1894, died April 13,
1894. Sarah Ella, born Feb. 27, 1896. James
Clair, bom Nov. 29. 1897, Thomas Edward,
born Oct. 25, 1900, Mary Louise, bom Oct.
650
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
19, 1902, and Virginia Jane, born March 29,
1906, are all at home.
Mr. Hood is an advocate of good schools, as
he attributes much of his success in life to'
the thorough training he received in the
common and select schools to which he was
sent, during which time he was under the in-
struction of Joseph W. Mack for two terms,
and of Professor Newbitt, at Pineflats, one
term. He had the additional advantage of
a course at the Eldersridge academy, where
he was under the instruction of T. B. Elder
and Rev. Dr. Donaldson, and later G. W.
Gilbert. Following his student days Mr.
Hood taught for six years, being assigned to
districts in both East and West Wlieatfield
townships, and became one of the popular
educators of his day and locality.
At the expiration of his six years as a
teacher Mr. Hood followed the example of his
forebears, and began to farm and handle lum-
ber. Later, as the demand increased for pure
dairy products, he entered extensively into
dairying, and has found his investment
along this line very profitable. He also raises
large quantities of sheep and other stock,
which he ships. In addition to these inter-
ests Mr. Hood is president of the New Flor-
ence & Gamble's Mills Telephone Company
in which he is a heavy stockholder. His con-
nection with this company is an assurance
of the stability of the concern, and he takes
a personal pride in aiding to make the service
excellent. A strong Republican, Mr. Hood
has given his party yeoman service both as a
private citizen and faithful official, having
been township auditor six years, and now serv-
ing his second term as auditor of Indiana
county. His popularity may be judged from
the fact that when he was reelected county
auditor, in 1911, he carried every district,
having the honor of being the only candidate
out of forty-four to be so signally successful.
He has also been a school director of his town-
ship, his experience as a teacher being valu-
able, as he understands the requirements and
necessities of a district as no one who had
not taught could. For a period of fifteen
years, Mr. Hood has been a justice of the
peace, and is still filling that office. The
United Presbyterian Church has in him a
faithful member, and he has served it as
trustee, and always contributes liberally to-
wards religious work. Although he was
elected elder he refused the honor. For
years he has taught in the Sunday school con-
nected with the church at New Florence.
While a busy man, with many outside in-
terests, Mr. Hood's real enjoyment is taken
in his home circle, and he is an exemplary
husband and judicious father.
The present representatives of the name of
Hood are maintaining the high standard of
morality and uprightness of living raised by
the ancestors who fii-st located in Pennsyl-
vania, and they are considered desirable citi-
zens in every locality in which they are
known.
EDWARD DWYER, of Clymer, Indiana
county, is master mechanic of the Russell
Coal Company, proprietor of the "Hotel
Clymer" and present member of the bor-
ough council, and his activities and intelli-
gent interest in the general welfare make
him one of the most valuable citizens of that
place. He was born Oct. 22, 1868, in Albany,
N. Y., where his parents, William and Mary
(Carey) Dwyer, lived for some time after
coming to this country from Ireland. They
were born and reared in that country, but
after their marriage decided to try life in
the New World. From Albany they removed
to Trout Run, Lycoming Co., Pa., where Mr.
Dwyer was engaged in mining, and there they
resided for seven years, moving thence to Mc-
Intyre, same county. After some time spent
at that place they removed to Peale, Clear-
field Co., Pa., where Mr. Dwyer passed the
remainder of his life, dying there in 1892.
His widow now lives at Covington, Pa. They
were the parents of five children, four sons
and one daughter: Edward; John, who lives
at Windber, Pa. ; James, of Keystone, W.
Va. ; William, who resides at Berlin, Somerset
Co., Pa. ; and Kate, wife of R. M. Sutton, of
Covington, Pennsylvania.
Edward Dwyer began his education at Mc-
Intyre, Lycoming Co., Pa., and later attended
school in Peale, Clearfield county. At an
early age he began mine work, which he fol-
lowed until he was seventeen, at that time
beginning to learn the trade of blacksmith
at Peale. Later he went to Pittsburg, where
he learned the trade of machinist, remaining
there for three years. Thence he returnedto
Peale, and eventually became connected with
the Russell Coal Company, of Clymer, to
which, in the capacity of master mechanic and
electrician, and as general superintendent, he
devotes the greater part of his time. This
is one of the important local industries, and
its prosperity is a vital factor in the pros-
perity of the town. Mr. Dwyer moved to
Clymer in ' February, 1906, before the town
was organized, and he assisted in the organiza-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
651
tion ; he was elected to the borough council
at the last election, and is now serving as a
member of that body.
On July 26, 1899, Mr. Dwyer was married
at Glen Eichey, Clearfield Co., Pa., to ]\Iaria
McDowell, who was born Feb. 28, 1865, in
Tioga county, Pa., daughter of James Pat-
terson and Jessie McDowell, natives of Scot-
land who early settled in Clearfield county.
The father died in Reyuoldsville, 111.; the
mother is now living at Glen Richey. Mr.
and Mrs. Dwyer have had one child, Avon-
€lle.
Mr. Dwyer is well known in fraternal cir-
cles, being a member of Indiana Lodge, B.
P. 0. Elks; of Melntire Lodge, No. 798, I.
O. 0. F., of Peale, Pa.; and of Callahan
Lodge, K. of P., of Peale. He has held all
the offices in the Odd Fellows and Knights of
PythiE
SIAMUEL CANNON STEELE, of Homer
City, Indiana county, cashier of the Homer
City National Bank, has held that responsible
position since the bank was established. His
important business relations, and the fact
that he is president of the borough council,
indicate sufficiently the high standing he has
attained in the city of his adoption. Mr.
Steele was bom in Westmoreland county. Pa.,
at New Alexandria, May 7, 1879, son of Sam-
uel Alexander McLeod and Sarah Jane (Can-
non") Steele.
The founder of the Steele family in west-
ern Pennsylvania was Andrew Steele, who
was the pioneer settler of the name in West-
moreland county. He was a native of Ire-
land, born in County Londonderry, Province
of Ulster, in 1797. one of the eight children of
Joseph and Elizabeth (Morrison) Steele. He
grew to manhood in his native home and
there married, Sept. 10, 1820, Rosanna Mc-
Elhatten, who was born in 1799. Early in
1822 the young couple with their infant son
left for the New World. Crossing the At-
lantic they landed on American soil and came
out to western Pennsylvania, settling on what
was known as the James Dickie farm, in Sa-
lem township, Westmoreland county, where
they spent four years. From there they
moved to the farm known as the Rev. John
Cannon farm, where they lived and farmed
for eight years, at the end of that time buy-
ing a tract of land in the township now known
as the Steele homestead. There Andrew
Steele spent the remainder of his life, en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a
God-fearing man, a conscientious member of
the Reformed Presbyterian Church, was a
hard worker, temperate in his habits and in
every way a good citizen. His wife, who also
died on the farm, was also a member of the
Reformed Presbyterian Church. They were
the parents of nine children, viz.: Samuel
Alexander, born Sept. 21, 1821; Elizabeth,
March 24, 1824 (who married June 10, 1869,
Samuel McYeal) ; John Cannon, Oct. 21, 1826
(married Dec. 5, 1850, Elizabeth Cannon) ;
Mary Ann, Oct. 29, 1828 (married Oct. 26,
1848, Samuel Mellon, and died Feb. 11,
1887) ; Martha Jane, Jan. 5, 1831 (married
John Shaw) ; Matthew McLeod, Feb. 20, 1833
(married Oct. 24, 1861, Martha Steele) ;
James Hindman, Jan. 8, 1836 (married Jan.
9, 1862, Martha Lowry) ; Andrew Morrison,
Jidy 14, 1838 (married Dec. 25, 1867, Sallie
Steele) ; Joseph Wilson, Nov. 20, 1841 (mar-
ried 3Iay 18, 1864, Margaret Loury).
Samuel Alexander Steele, eldest son of An-
drew, was born in Ireland Sept. 21, 1821, and
was an infant when his parents crossed the
Atlantic to the New World. His early years
were passed in Salem township, Westmore-
land county, where he became engaged in
farming and stock raising. He died while
still in the prime of life, Jan. 20, 1860. He
was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church.
Mr. Steele was twice married. On Nov. 7,
1847, he wedded Nancy J. Paterson, and to
this union five children were born, two of
whom died in infancy, the others being :
Catharine Rosanna, who married Sept. 21,
1876, J. C. Calhoun; Samuel Alexander Mc-
Leod ; and Mary Jane, who married Aug. 26,
1875, Henry Loughrey, of Greensburg. Mrs.
Nancy J. Steele died Jan. 17, 1857, and Mr.
Steele married (second) in 1858 Elizabeth
Steele, who survived him, dying Jan. 1, 1893.
She was the mother of one child, John Ren-
wick, who married Sept. 18, 1888, Tirzah
Mary Elder.
Samuel Alexander McLeod Steele, son of
Samuel Alexander Steele, was born Aug. 4,
1852, in Salem township, Westmoreland
county, where he grew to manhood and ob-
tained his education. When he commenced
work he took up farming, and later, when he
located in New Alexandria, became interested
in the mercantile business. Some time later
he resumed farming, in Derry township, same
county, in the section known as the Rich-
lands, and he followed stock raising as well
as general agricultural pursuits, also dealing
to some extent in stock. Mr. Steele contin-
ued on the farm until 1905, when he retired
652
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
from farm work and removed to New Alex-
andria, now living retired at that place. He
is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church, and is an elder in his church. On
Oct. 11, 1877, he married in Deny township
Sarah Jane Cannon, daughter of John Can-
non. She, too, is a member of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steele: Samuel
Cannon and James Elder, the latter resid-
ing on the homestead farm ; he married Dessa
Long.
Samuel Cannon Steele attended public
school in Derry township and went to the
Greensburg Academy, acquiring an excellent
education in the common branches. In 1898
he began to teach school, in which work he
was engaged until 1904, in several townships
in his native county. He then took the full
course in bookkeeping and banking in the
Iron City College, at Pittsburg, and in De-
cember, 1904, entered his new field of work
as cashier of the Madera (Pa.) National Bank,
with which institution he was connected in
that capacity until the Homer City National
Bank was established, in 1907. He was
elected cashier at the beginning, and has
continued to perform the duties of that po-
sition of trust and responsibility for the last
five years. Mr. Steele has proved himself a
man of keen perceptions, and he is faithful
to every detail of his work. He has become
a respected figure in local business circles.
His public spirit has led him to active par-
ticipation in various movements for the good
of the community. He has been an influen-
tial advocate of good roads, and as an auto-
mobilist has done his share toward obtain-
ing them. In 1911 he was elected to the bor-
ough council, of which he is now president,
and is proving himself worthy of the honor.
In politics he is a Repulilican.
On Sept. 19, 1906, Mr. Steele was married
at New Alexandria to Margaret Guthrie, a
native of Westmoreland county, daughter of
Doty Guthrie, and member of one of the
oldest and best-known families of that section
of the State. They have had two children,
Samuel Guthrie and Robert Cannon. The
fine brick residence on Church street occu-
pied by the family was built by Mr. Steele
in 1908, and is of modern construction and
appointments. Mr. and Mrs. Steele are mem-
bers of the United Presbyterian Church, and
she is a member of its local missionary so-
ciety. He is a member of the Cosmopolitan
Club of Indiana.
Mrs. Steele is a descendant of one of the
Pilgrims who came over in the "Mayflower."
Her ancestor, Edward Doten, the founder of
the name in this countiy, was one of the pas-
sengers who landed at Plymouth Rock in
1620. and the family has been one of sub-
stance and standing in New England down
to the present day, its representatives in every
generation being a credit to the name.
The name was formerly spelled Dotey,
Doty, Dote and Doten. (I) Edward Doten or
Doty, a native of England, was a youth when
he came to America with the little band of
Pilgrims which crossed the Atlantic in the
"Mayflower" in 1620, landing on Plymouth
Rock, in what is now the harbor of Plymouth,
Mass. He was in the service of Stephen Hop-
kins, and he was one of the signers of the
solemn compact made in Cape Cod harbor
Nov. 11, 1620, on board the "Mayflower."
He married Jan. 6, 1634-35, Faitli Clarke,
born in 1619, daughter of Thurston and Faith
Clarke. In 1652 Mr. Doty was one of the
purchasers of Dartmouth, ]\Iass., but later
removed to Cape Cod, locating in the town
of Yarmouth, where he spent the remainder
of his life. He died there Aug. 23, 1655.
His widow married (second) John Phillips,
of Duxbury. Children: Edward. John,
Thomas, Samuel, Desire, Elizabeth, Isaac, Jo-
seph and Mary.
(II) Samuel Doty, son of Edward and
Faith (Clarke) Doty, born in Plymouth in
1643, became quite prominent in the afi'airs
of Plymouth and Cape Cod. Later he re-
moved to New Jersey, locating at Piseataway,
Middlesex county, where he was well known.
In 1675 he was commissioned lieutenant of
the military company of New Piseataway, of
which Francis Drake was captain ; this com-
mission was received in 1678. He became a
member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church,
which was formed in 1700. He died about
October, 1715. In Piseataway, N. J., he mar-
ried Jeane Harman, of that town.
(III) Jonathan Doty, son of Samuel and
Jeane (Harman) Dotv, was born in Piseata-
way, N. J., Feb. 24, 1687-88. About 1717 he
married Mary, and they became the parents
of eight children: William, born Sept. 11,
1719; Jonathan, born about 1724; Daniel,
born about 1727; Joshua, born about 1730;
Joseph, bom about 1735; Mary; Jane, who
married Oct. 21, 1747, John Johnson; and
Elizabeth.
(IV) Jonathan Doty (2), son of Jonathan
and Mary Doty, born about 1724, in Pisea-
taway, N. J., removed with his parents to
Basking Ridge, N. J., where he was a farmer
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
653
and where he died. He married Patience
Sutton, and their children were : Jonathan,
born about 1754; Zebulon, born about 1758;
Nathaniel, born Oct. 19, 1761 ; Joseph, born
Aug. 31, 1764; William, bom Oct. 8, 1767;
and Rebecca, who married and settled in
I'eunsylvania.
(V) Jonathan Doty (3), son of Jonathan
(2) and Patience (Sutton) Doty, born at
Basking Ridge, N. J., about 1754, there grew
to manhood. It is supposed he served in the
Revolutionary war as teamster, in Capt.
Asahel Hinman's Team Brigade of New Jer-
sey, as a Jonathan Doty was on the list of
teamsters; it must have been this Jonathan
or his father. Mv. Doty about 1784, at the
close of the Revolution, came West with his
wife and children, locating in Derry town-
ship, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he farmed
and also kept a tavern. He met with fair
success, and was a man well known and re-
spected there in his day. Subsequently he
removed to Blairsville, Indiana county, where
he spent the remainder of his life, dying at
the ripe age of ninety-six years, in 1850.
He was a member of the M. E. Church, in
which he was quite active, being a local
preacher and exhorter of that denomination.
His first wife, Abigail (McPherson), died
at Blairsville, Pa., about 1815, and he married
(second) Mrs. Nancy (Simpson) Dixon,
widow of Samuel Dixon. His children, all
born to the first marriage, were : Jonathan,
born about 1780; John, born about 1783;
Robert, born in Derry township, Westmore-
land county, about 1785 ; Betse.y, bom about
1787 ; Nathaniel, born about 1789 ; and Gillis,
born about 1790.
(VI) Nathaniel Doty, son of Jonathan and
Abigail (McPherson) Doty, born in Derry
township, Westmoreland county, in 1789,
made his home in Westmoreland county,
where he died Feb. 13, 1844. , He married
Feb. 10, 1814, Margaret Reed, who was born
July 16, 1793, daughter of William and Eliza-
beth (Charlton) Reed, and died Nov. 26,
1867. Children: Betsy, born Nov. 18, 1814,
died Nov. 7, 1834, who married Robert Gil-
son; Abigail, born Oct. 10, 1816; William,
born Jan. 22, 1819 ; Jonathan, born March
27, 1821; Nancy, born Nov. 29, 1823, who
married in 1844, Daniel Simmons, and died
July 8. 1863 ; Mary, born May 10, 1826, who
died Nov. 2, 1854; McQuade, born March 18,
1831 : :\rartha Jane, born June 20, 1834.
(VII) Abigail Doty, daughter of Nathaniel
and Margaret (Reed) Doty, bom Oct. 10,
1816, in Westmoreland count v, married there
.March 26, 1844, John Guthrie, who was born
Jan. 21, 1813, son of Robert and Margaret
(Lover) Guthrie. She died June 30, 1845.
They had one child. Doty.
(VIII) Doty Guthrie, born in New Derry
June 16, 1845, makes his home in New Alex-
andria, Westmoreland county, where he is
ciuite a prominent citizen. On June 5, 1874,
he married Hannah Rachel Peoples, born in
Ligonier, Pa., Aug. 22, 1853, daughter of
Joseph and Jemima (Bigelow) Peoples, and
they had three children : John M., born Aug.
7, 1875; :\Iargaret Ella, Aug. 28, 1879; and
Abigail Jane, April 26, 1884.
(IX) Margaret Ella Guthrie, daughter of
Doty and Hannah R. (Peoples) Guthrie, bom
at New Alexandria, Westmoreland county,
Aug. 28, 1879, married Samuel C. Steele and
has two children, Samuel Guthrie and Robert
Cannon.
JAIIES MITCHELL, retired lumber mer-
chant, whose home is in the borough of In-
diana, was bom there in February, 1836, son
of Dr. Robert Mitchell.
James Mitchell, the grandfather of James
IMitchell, came from the Cumberland valley
and Cumberland county among the pioneer
settlers into this part of western Pennsyl-
vania. He selected, purchased, cleared and
improved a tract of land in Armstrong county,
on which he resided until his death, in 1845,
at the age of seventy. He married Mrs.
Agnes (Sharp) Ralston, who was bom Feb.
21, 1785, the first white child bom west of
Crooked creek, in Indiana county. She died
Aug. 2, 1862. She was the second daughter
of Capt. Andrew Sharp, who served as an
officer in the Revolutionary war under Wash-
ington, and who died at Pittsburg, July 8,
1794, of wounds received in an Indian attack.
Dr. Robert Mitchell, son of James and Agnes
(Sharp) Mitchell, was the second physician to
settle in Indiana county. He was bom near
Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., and was ten
years old when his parents brought him and
his two brothers to what is now Ohio county,
W. Va., the family settling on Short creek.
He read medicine with Dr. McGhegan. in
Washington county. Pa., and graduated from
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, under
Dr. Benjamin Rush, being exceptionally well
prepared for practice for his day. In 1810
he settled in Indiana, Indiana Co., Pa., where
he passed the remainder of his long and use-
ful life. Dr. IMitchell was not only a suc-
cessful physician, hut he took an active part
in the advanced movements of his time, was
654
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
a Whig in politics, and was elected for five
successive years to represent his district in
the State Legislature. From early manhood
he was an ardent Abolitionist and well known
as a defender of his principles, and he was the
only man ever prosecuted in Pennsylvania
under the Fugitive Slave Act passed by Con-
gress in 1793. The Doctor fought the ease in
Pittsburg, before a packed Democratic jury,
and was convicted, the affair costing him
$10,000. But he continued to support the
cause, and he always stood high in the esti-
mation of his fellow citizens, not only in his
own county but throughout the State, and he
lived to see his views triumph, dying April
14, 1862, just a few months before the Eman-
cipation Proclamation was issued. Originally
a Presbyterian in religious connection, he
united later with the United Presbyterian
Church.
Dr. Mitchell was mai-ried in Pittsburg to
Jane Clark, who came from Coleraine, Ire-
land. Her father, Matthew Clark, was driven
from Ireland on account of his religious views,
and landed at Baltimore with his family in
1811 ; his wife was Mary Moore. Mrs. Mitchell
survived her husband for many years, dying
in Indiana in 1889. They were the parents
of eleven children: Mary A. died when
young; Robert and Martha were twins, the
latter dying when twenty-three years old, the
former still living in Indiana; Isabelle mar-
ried Simeon Mitchell, and they settled in
Fond du Lac, Wis., where they died; Anna
Mary, Jane and James all live in the borough
of Indiana; John died in Kansas (he was with
John Brown); Benjamin is deceased; Caro-
line is deceased; William is a resident of
Indiana.
James Mitchell passed his boyhood and
early manhood in Indiana, obtaining his edu-
cation in the public schools and at the academy
taught by Cyrus M. Clarke. When seventeen
years old he taught school in Indiana county.
After commencing business he was employed
in the lumber business by his brother Robert,
who had a sawmill at the site of Mitchell's
Mills, Indiana county, working both in the
woods and at the mill, which he ran for about
fifteen years, being thus engaged until his
retirement. He has owned his present home
on Philadelphia street, Indiana, for over
thirty years. He lived at Mitchells i\Iills
while engaged in the lumber business. Mr.
Mitchell was a highly capable business man,
and has always commanded the respect of his
associates in all the relations of life. He is a
prominent member of the Christian Church,
in which he serves as deacon. In politics he
has always been a Republican.
On Sept. 5, 1859, Mr. Mitchell married, in
Indiana, Martha Louisa Thompson, who was.
born Nov. 19, 1836, near Lewisville, Indiana
Co., Pa., and attended Eldersridge Academy.
Slie was a daughter of Squire John 6. Thomp-
son, who married Jane E. Jamison. Mrs.
Mitchell died in White township June 23,
1881:, aged forty-seven years. She was the
mother of ten children : Jennie, bom in July,
1861, died in March, 1862; Robert Thompson,
born Jan. 18, 1863, near Indiana, learned the
printer's trade on the Indiana Times and ha&
been employed at same in McKeesport, Pitts-
burg, New York City and Philadelphia, hav-
ing been on the Philadelphia Inquirer force
since December, 1891 (on Dee. 31, 1896, he
married Sarah J. Freeze, of Greensburg,
Pa., and they have a son, Herbert F., bom
Feb. 22, 1900) ; Mary, born in March, 1865,
died June 29, 1865 ; Ella, born June 15, 1866,
is married to William J. Houston, of Indiana,
and has four children, Edna, Florence Belle,
Stella Marie and John Mitchell ; Jesse J., bom.
May 1, 1869, now postmaster at Spangler, Pa.,
married Eliza Patrick ; William Clark, bom
Jan. 10. 1872, married Catherine Jordan, of
Millvale. Pa., and has two children, Lucille
and Louise; Emma May, born May 15, 1874,
married Rev. L. B. Fasick (now stationed at
Hopewell, Pa.), and has one child, Florence
M., born March 24, 1900; Clvde Lome, born
Dec. 18, 1877, died March 16, 1899, in Alle-
gheny, Pa.; John Bruce, bom Oct. 12, 1880,
married Maud Widdowson, and resides in'In-
diana; Martha Louise, born July 19, 1883, is
at home.
JONATHAN NICHOLAS LANGHAM, the
subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 4, 1861,
in Grant township, Indiana Co., Pa., one of a
family of twelve children, nine sons and three
daughters, and is the son of Jonathan and
Eliza (Barr) Langham.
The lineage of the Langham family in the
mother country, England, is a long one, as it
can be traced back several centuries. Repre-
sentatives of this family came to America in
the early days, and settled in eastern Penn-
sylvania. Joseph Langham, grandfather of
Jonathan N. Langham, was born in Pennsyl-
vania about the year 1789, and died in In-
diana county in August, 1864. Jonathan
Langham, the father, was bom in Bedford
county. Pa., Aug. 28, 1824, and lived in In-
diana county from the time he was ten years
old. He was a lifelong farmer, and was also
'^f^
K.£UiC^
656 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
year. He was a member of the United Pres- of the board; and is a prominent member of
byteriau Church. In polities he was first a the Presbyterian Church, being quite active
Whig, later a Republican, and took an active in church and Sunday school work. He is
part in public affairs, serving as school di- an honored member of Pinley Patch Post,
rector, supervisor, and in, other local offices. No. 137, G. A. R., of which he has been eom-
On Dec. 24, 1839, he married Rebecca P. Wil- mander, and was adjutant for many years,
son, who was a native of Allegheny county. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
Pa., bom in 1815, daughter of Maj. Hugh M. On Sept. 18, 1872, Mr. Watson married
Wilson, an officer in the war of 1812. Mrs. Margaret Harbison, who was born in Young
Watson lived to the ripe age of ninety-two township, Indiana county, daughter of Mat-
years, dying in Saltsburg Jan. 17, 1908, and thew Harbison. Mrs. Watson died Nov. 27,
is buried beside her husband. She was also 1907, and is buried at Blairsville. She was
a member of the United Presbyterian Church, an active member of the Presbyterian Church,
Eight children, five sons and three daughters, member of the local and foreign missionary
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson : John M., societies, and deeply interested in their suc-
who lives in Kansas; Thomas C, of Blairs- cess. Mr. and Mrs. Watson had no children,
ville ; Mary, wife of Rev. A. T. Bell, of Blairs- James P. Watson, son of Thomas and
ville; Hai-ry, who resides at Greenville, Pa.; Rebecca P. (Wilson) Watson, was born Nov.
Martha, wife of G. P. McCartney, of Indiana ; 19, 1857, at Eldersridge, in Young township,
Emma, wife of George W. Crayton, general and was educated in the public school of the
superintendent for the Pennsylvania Railroad township and at Eldersridge Academy. He
Company at Altoona ; William, who died when worked at home on the fai-m until 1888, in
nine years old ; and James P. which year he came to Saltsburg, and in 1889
Thomas Claek Watson, son of Thomas became interested in the. Saltsburg Glass Bot-
and Rebecca P. (Wilson) Watson, is one tie Works, with which he was connected for
of the best known citizens of Blairsville, five years, acting as treasurer of the company
where for years he was engaged in the lum- in which he was controlling stockholder. He
her business. He is at the present time tax had been one of the first to indorse the idea
collector of the borough. Mr. Watson was of starting the old glass works, and gave the
born March 4, 1842, at Eldersridge, in Young enterprise substantial encouragement, being
township, and was educated in the public largely instrumental in forming the new com-
schools of Young township and at Elders- pany, which purchased the plant of the old
ridge Academy. After that he worked on the Saltsburg Glass Company and immediately
farm until he enlisted, in 1864, in Battery C, remodeled, enlarged and improved the works.
Independent Company, under Capt. J. C. for the manufacture of fine prescription ware
Thompson, serving for ten months in the and bottles of all kinds. The industry was
Union army. He was engaged principally an important one in the borough, seventy-five
doing guard dut.y, and was mustered out of men and boys being regularly employed. In
the service July 7, 1865. Returning home he 1902 Mr. Watson became a member of the
took up farming again on the homestead, and Mitchell- Watson Coal & Coke Company, at
continued to follow general agricultural pur- White, near Saltsburg, and has been general
suits until 1891, when he sold out his farm- manager and treasurer of that concern ever
ing interests and came to Blairsville. There since. There is also a branch at Indiana bor-
he entered the lumber business, forming a ough. On Jan. 1, 1883, Mr. Watson became
partnership with A. T. Harbison, under the a director of the First National Bank of Salts-
name of the Harbison & Watson Lumber Com- burg, and on Jan. 12, 1892, was elected presi-
pany, who carried on business successfully for dent, to succeed John M. Stewart, and he has
ten years, selling out at the end of that period, filled that office of trust continuously for the
Since then Mr. Watson has devoted his time past twenty years, discharging its responsi-
to the office of tax collector for Blairsville bilities to the general satisfaction of the
borough. He has served as councilman of the stockholders and directors. Mr. Watson's
borough and overseer of the poor, and in every important business associations alone would
official relation has performed his duties most entitle him to a place among the most influ-
intelligently and with a public-spirited regard ential residents of Saltsburg, but the many
for the best interests of the whole community, valuable services he has taken the opportunity
He is a citizen who can be relied upon to to render his fellow citizens, incidentally or
support every worthy movement. He is a otherwise, have gained him an unusual meas-
trustee of Blairsville College and secretary ure of personal esteem. He is genial in man-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
657
ner, and holds the confidence he wins, as is
shown by his long service in the borough
council, of which he has been a member for
many yeai-s, and has filled the oifice of presi-
dent of the council board for several years.
On political issues he is a Republican. He is
a member of the United Presb.yterian Church
of Saltsburg.
In 1900 Mr. Watson married Lizzie Mon-
roe, daughter of S. S. Monroe.
HON. JAMES T. HENRY, member of the
State Legislature and well-known shoe dealer
of Blairsville, Indiana county, was born in
Armstrong township, Indiana county, Aug.
18, 1870, son of John and Martha (Forsythe)
Henry.
The Henry family is of Scotch-Irish extrac-
tion, and has been identified with the growth
and progress of Indiana county for over
eighty years.
John Henry, the fii"st of the family to set-
tle in Indiana county, Pa., was a native of
Ireland, born near Londonderry, in County
Deri-y, where he grew to manhood. There
he married Margaret Miller. In 1833, with
his wife and child, he sailed from Belfast,
Ireland, for the New World, and after a seven
w'eeks' passage landed in New York. Making
their way west by canal and the other means
of transportation then available, they located
fir.st in Young township. Indiana county,
where they rented the fann of JIatthew Har-
bison. After farming there for a short period
they moved to Armstrong township, same
county, settling on a tract of seventy-three
acres of uncultivated land. They were the
pioneers in that section. Mr. Henry built a
little log house and made strenuous efforts to
clear the land. Three years later, when his
hard work was meeting with some success, he
met with an accident at a barn raising from
the effects of which he died in ilarch, 1838.
He was buried in the West Union cemetery,
near the homestead farm. The widow, left
with five small children to care for, and ek-
ing out an existence as best she could, had a
hard struggle, but she worked day and night
to keep her family together and succeeded.
She grew her own wool and flax, carded it
and wove it into cloth, and rode on horseback
from her home to Blairsville to dispose of the
product for the necessaries of life. It was
a trip of thirty-two miles. In spite of toil
and hardship she lived to the age of seventy-
three years, dying in 1876. at her home, a com-
fortable frame structure which had sup-
planted the log cabin. She bore the strug-
gles of life with the Christian fortitude for
which she was noted, and instilled her faith
into her children, whom she lived to see sur-
rounded with comforts. She was a consistent
member of the Reformed Presbyterian Churcli
in every sen.se of the word. The five children
were as follows: Sarah Jane, wlio married
John Coldwell, resided in Armstrong town-
ship, and died in Young township ; Cathar-
ine married Robert Blakley (deceased) and
(second) Samuel M. Knox; Margaret married
William Dean, and both are deceased ; John
is mentioned below ; Matthew II. is living re-
tired in Blairsville.
John Henry, son of John and Margaret
(IMiller) Henry, was born on the farm in
Armstrong township, and was but two years
old when his father died. He grew up on
the farm with his mother and sisters and
brother, and he had to walk two miles to the
local school for what education he received.
He worked hard from early boyhood, he and
his mother and younger brother laboring
together to clear the farm. He made farm-
ing his life occupation, and always remained
on the home place, which in time comprised
183 acres. He made extensive improvements
thereon, and followed general farming and
stock raising, also dealing in cattle to some
extent. All his life was passed on the farm,
and he died while still in his prime, Feb. 27,
1887, at the age of fifty-one years. He was
laid to rest in the West LTnion cemetery, in
Armstrong township, adjoining the home-v
stead farm. Mr. Henry was a man well
known for his many Christian virtues. He
took a deep interest in his home and children,
who were early deprived of the loving care
of a mother, Mrs. Henry d.ying while they
were young. He did his duty faithfully and
well, and was a consistent member of the
Reformed Presbyterian Church. He took no
active part in politics, but was interested in
the public welfare and a stanch supporter of
the public schools, giving his own children
the best education within his means.
Mr. Henry married Martha Forsythe, of
Brownsdale, Butler Co., Pa., daughter of
James Forsythe. Mrs. Heni-y died in 1874,
and was buried in the West Union cemetery.
She was a member of the Reformed Presby-
terian Church, a devoted wife and mother,
and esteemed as a good Christian woman.
Six children were born to Mr. and ]\Irs.
Henry : ]\Iargaret E. was the wife of J. N.
Crusan. of Crafton, where she died ; John ^I.
is a foreman in the shops of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company at Altoona, Pa. ; Ella mar-
658
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ried John Knox and resides at West Pitts-
burg, Pa. ; James T. is mentioned below ;
Sarah Malissa died young; Robert E. is con-
nected with the Interstate Cordage Company
at Pittsburg.
James T. Henry attended the public schools
of his native township, also select school and
the State normal school at Indiana, where he
graduated in 1897. He became a school
teacher at an early age, teaching first in his
native township. Later he taught in the high
school of Indiana, was assistant principal of
the high school of Apollo, and assistant prin-
cipal of the high school at Blairsville, teach-
ing altogether fourteen terms. Subsequently
he was assistant to the State superintendent
of schools.
In 1902 Mr. Henry started in the shoe busi-
ness, opening a store in Blairsville, where for
the last ten years he has had a profitable trade.
He is well known and respected, popular with
all classes, and has established himself thor-
oughly in the confidence of his fellow citizens.
He is a stanch Republican and has taken a
deep interest in the success of the party and
its principles. He was a member of the county
committee as well as the committee of Arm-'
strong township. In 1910 he was nominated
and elected to the State Legislature. He is
a man of enterprise and progressive ideas,
especially interested in the question of pub-
lic education.
On April 6, 1898, in Center township, Mr.
Henry married Pearle D. Dickie, a native of
Center township, Indiana county, daughter of
J. D. and Jane (Campbell) Dickie. They
have had a family of four children : J. Car-
lisle, bom Jan. 20, 1899; J. Donald, Julv 6,
1901; J. Monroe, Sept. 10, 1904; R. Lowell,
Aug. 16, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Henry are mem-
bers of the United Presbyterian Church, and
he has taught in the Sunday school and filled
the office of Sunday school superintendent.
He is a merober of the I. 0. 0. F. at Blairs-
ville, is a past grand of his home lodge and
member of the gi-and lodge of the State ; he is
also a member of the Jr. 0. U. A. IM. at Blairs-
ville, was its secretary for four years, and is
also a member of the State council of that
order.
PETER BENNETT (deceased) was inter-
ested in the wholesale grocery business at In-
diana for several years before his retirement,
and for forty years before settling in the bor-
ough carried on a mercantile business at Boli-
var, Westmoreland Co., Pa. Beginning life
in humble circumstances, he forged his way
to success and prosperity by his own efforts,
and the fact that he became recognized as one
of the most substantial citizens of his commun-
ity was due to his perseverance in the face of
obstacles and to his untiring industry. He
was a native of Indiana county, born July
3, 1841, in Bun-ell township, son of Jacob
and Miriam (Isenburg) Bennett. His grand-
father came from England and settled near
Strongstown, Indiana Co., Pa., where he fol-
lowed farming. He died there. His wife
was also English. Their children were Wil-
liam, Michael, Abraham, Peter, Jacob, and
three daughters. Of this family, Michael was
the father of twenty-two children — twenty-
one sons and one daughter; a number of the
sons served in the army during the Civil war.
Jacob Bennett, father of Peter Bennett,
was born in Indiana county, and died at the
age of sixty-eight years, on Twolick creek.
After his marriage he located at Cherrytree,
this county. He was a mason by trade. The
following children were born to him and his
wife : Three daughters who died young :
Sarah, Mrs. James Speaker, deceased ; Eliza-
beth, Mrs. Joshua Brown, of Josephine, Pa. ;
Lydia, who died unmarried; William, who
married a Miss Marks, and died in Indiana
county : Peter ; Catherine, Mrs. Lawrence Hel-
man ; John, of Indiana, who maiTied Mary J.
Lewis and (second) Margaret Dickey; Mich-
ael, of Indiana, who married Lottie Richard-
son; Jacob, who died when thirty-six years
old; Susan, Mrs. Cyrus Lear, deceased; and
George, who married Sarah Shank and resides
at New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
Peter Bennett grew to manhood in Indiana
and the neighboring locality. He went to
school very little in his boyhood, but by hard
study at home managed to secure an average
education ; he learned to write after he was
married. Under his father he learned the
trade of mason, which he followed until he
went into the mercantile business, which he
continued for forty years at Bolivar, Pa., .join-
ing his son John in business under the firm
name of P. Bennett & Son. They prospered,
having one of the best known and best patron-
ized establishments in that section. During
fifteen months of this time Mr. Bennett also
owned and operated a brickyard in Beaver
county. Practically all of the stone work in
New Florence, Westmoreland county, is of
his construction. He proved himself to be
an excellent manager, carrying on all his un-
dertakings successfully. In 1897 he sold his
store in Bolivar and disposed of his real es-
tate there, moving to Indiana, where he
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
659
bought an interest in the wholesale grocery
business, entering the firm of Mabon, Stewart
& Bennett, later Bennett & Buchanan. He
was a silent partner, his son being the active
member. In the fall of 1909 they sold their
holdings to Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Bennett
lived in retirement from that time. He re-
tained real estate interests in Bolivar and
South Sharon, Pa. There were few men in
Indiana more deserving of success and high
standing, for he worked to attain his substan-
tial position, which was a credit to his intelli-
gence, integrity and ambition. His death oc-
curred Sept. 29, 1912, in Indiana. Mrs. Ben-
nett now resides in Bolivar, Westmoreland
countv.
On' May 20, 1862, Mr. Bennett married
Eliza Lewis, daughter of John and Margaret
Moonshower Lewis. They had seven chil-
dren: AYilliam, who died in infancy; John,
who lives in Indiana; Mary, Mrs. Jacob Yea-
ger, of Morrellville, Pa. ; a daughter that died
in infancy ; Harrw of Bolivar. Pa. ; Cora, de-
ceased ; and Everett, of Bolivar. Mr. Ben-
nett had no church connections, nor has his
widow. He was a Republican in politics.
John Bennett, eldest surviving son of
Peter and Eliza (Levris) Bennett, now en-
gaged in business in Indiana as secretary and
treasurer of the Indiana Wholesale Company,
dealers in groceries and produce, was born
in Beaver county. Pa., April 28, 1865. In his
early boyhood he attended school in West-
moreland county. Pa., for five months of the
year, in the winter season, during the slim-
mer months being employed in a brickyard.
He followed this work while going to school
for nine years, after which he became a clerk
in a store at Bolivar, Pa., being thus employed
two years. He then engaged in the general
store business in that town, in company with
Joseph DuShane, this firm continuing for
two years. Then Peter Bennett, father of
John, bought out Mr. DuShane 's interest and
the finn became known as P. Bennett & Son.
who did business at Bolivar for a period of
thirteen years. Then John Bennett became
interested in the wholesale grocery business
in Indiana, Pa., as member of the firm of Ma-
bon, Bennett & Co.. which had an existence
of three and a half years. Mr. George T.
Buchanan then became interested and the
name was changed to Buchanan & Bennett.
These partners were associated for three and
a half years, until in October. 1909, Mr. Ben-
nett sold his interest to Mr. Buchanan. He
spent the next three winters in Florida, at
Zephyr Hills, twenty-five miles north of
Tampa along the seaboard airline railroad,
where he was engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness, and he still owns the most valuable
property in that town. On May 29, 1912, in
company with Mr. Robert N. Ray, he organ-
ized the Indiana Wholesale Company, of
which he became secretary and treasurer, Mr.
Ray being the president. The concern was
incorporated on that date, with .$100,000
capital, and the wide experience both part-
ners had acquired in this line in their prev-
ious ventures no doubt accounts for the not-
ably successful beginning of their business.
From ten to fifteen men are employed. They
have erected a fine new plant, the business
being located in a fireproof building princi-
pally of steel construction, 50 by 200 feet in
dimensions and three stories in height. The
walls are of hollow tile and buff brick, the
roof steel-trussed with asbestos and slate cov-
ering, the floors of reinforced concrete, and
the structure is a credit to the borough and
to its owners. In connection vnih groceries
the Indiana Wholesale Company handles large
quantities of produce. Though most of his
time and attention are devoted to business,
Mr. Bennett has found time to serve the bor-
ough as member of the council, which offic-e
he filled for three years. He is independent
politically, voting as his judgment dictates.
On Sept. 23. 1891, Mr. Bennett married
Annie C. Taylor, daughter of Samuel G. and
Mary M. (Hamilton) Taylor, and they liave
had the following children: Harrv B.. Mnvv
E., Cora B., Charles W. and Nellie G.
CRAMER. The Cramer family is an old
and honored one in both New Jei-sey and
Pennsylvania, as well as in the other States to
which its representatives have emigrated dur-
ing more recent years. The first of the name
of whom there is any definite record is the
great-great-grandfather of Thomas W. and
Robert Grant Cramer, who is known to have
been a soldier in the Revolutionary war fiom
the State of New Jersey.
The son of the above also showed his pat-
riotism by fighting for his country, enlisting
during the war of 1812, and remaining a sol-
dier so long as there was any need of his
assistance.
Wilson Cramer, son of the soldier of the war
of 1812, was the gi-andfather of Thomas W.
and Robert G. Cramer, of East Wheatfield
township, Indiana county. He was born and
reared in New Jersey, where he married
Roxanna Steelman. by whom he had ten chil-
dren : Joseph ; Marj^ A., who married Jere-
660 HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
miah Black ; Elizabeth, who married "William established at that point and named after
Owens; Isaac, who became a minister of the him he was made postmaster, and held that
gospel; FVank; David H., who resides at office for many years. Owing to his wide in-
Cramer, Pa. ; George, who resides at Freeport, terests, he was able to give employment to
Pa. ; Wilson, who was a minister of the gospel hundreds of men, in whose welfare he took a
and' died at Johnstown, Pa. ; Ellen, who mar- deep interest, and the relations existing be-
ried George Dean, and died at Braddock, Pa. ; tween them and him were of a pleasant nature,
and Reuben, who died at Braddock. Intelligent, well-informed, and possessed of
In 1835 Wilson Cramer and his family more than ordinary executive abdity, Mr.
moved from their New Jersey home to Lan- Cramer naturally took a leading part in local
caster county, Pa., and still later went to affairs and was looked up to as a leader of
Shippensburg, this State. After a period at sterling character, who could be trusted to do
the latter point the family went to Virginia the best for all concerned. A stanch Republi-
and spent some years in that State, but eventu- can from the fonnation of the party, he always
ally the father returned to Pennsylvania and supported its principles and never missed cast-
located at Bens Creek, Cambria county, where ing his presidential vote from the time he
he spent many vears. Then he moved to first voted, in 1852. Although he had not en-
Wheatfield township, Indiana county. Pa., ,ioyed all the advantages given his children
where he remained for three vears. He died by the public school system, he believed m it
in Braddock, Pa. He was a'molder, having and gave it his hearty and valuable support,
learned his trade in New Jersey, and some of A very religious man, he was active as a mem-
the changes of residence were" made because ber of the Methodist Church, and helped to
of the requirements of his business. Later organize the society at Cramer. He did not
on in life he worked at Blacklick furnace and confine his activity to generous contributions,
the Conemaugh furnace, and finally became but also gave his time as a class leader, Sun-
interested in charcoal burning. During all of day school superintendent and teacher. In
his useful life he did what he believed was his ^lay. 1906, this excellent man passed away
full duty, and was a most worthy man. at his home in Cramer, and was buried in the
Joseph Cramer, deceased, was for many cemetery at Armagh in East Wheatfield town-
years one of the best-known charcoal manu- ship.
facturers in western Pennsvlvania, while for On Jan. 5, 1854, Mr. Cramer was married
over half a century he was a resident of East at Bens Creek, Pa., by Rev. Richard Jordon,
Wheatfield township. For a portion of this a clergyman of the Methodist Church, to
time he lived in the village of Cramer, which Sarah A. Barclay, who was born in Somerset
was named in his honor. He was born in county. Pa., Dec. 25, 1835. She was a daugh-
Cape May county, N. J., Dec. 8, 1829. Al- ter of Thomas and Eliza (Dougherty) Bar-
thouo-h his opportunities for acquiring an edu- clay, the latter born at Stoystown, Somerset
cation were somewhat limited, he attended Co., Pa., daughter of John and Susan (Wolf)
school all he was able, and continued to im- Dougherty. Her father, John Dougherty, a
prove his mind bv reading and observation, tailor, was born in 1755, and died m 1835. He
Learnint^ the business of charcoal manufactur- was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serv-
ing he found in it his life work. In 1856, ing nearly all of the eight years of that eon-
two years after his marriage, Mr. Cramer flict. Mrs. Barclay, who died m 1898, aged
located at Baker's furnace, now the village of ninety-five years, was a consistent member of
Cramer, in East Wheatfield township, where the Methodist Church from early girihood.
he embarked in the manufacture of charcoal, IMrs. Cramer and her husband had the pleas-
developing large interests. In addition to ure of celebrating the golden anniversary of
this line of business he was an extensive far- their wedding on Jan. 5, 1904, and enjoyed
mer and carried on lumbering, all of his the event immensely. Their married hfe was
operations being upon a large scale. For a very happy one, and they lived long enough
some years he was extensivelv interested in to see their children develop into fine men
the development of the coal mines at Cramer, and women. Mrs. Cramer passed away July
and when he saw that the time was ripe he 18, 1910, and like her mother was faithful m
opened a mercantile establishment there, the her allegiance to the Methodist Church ; her
business being conducted under the style of remains were laid to rest in the cemetery by
Joseph Cramer & Son and Joseph Cramer & the side of her husband. .^ ^ ^ ^
Sons Naturally, as he was so important a Joseph Cramer and his wife had ten chil-
factor at Cramer, when the postoffice was dren: Mary E., born at Bens Creek, Dec. 12,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
661
1854, married WilMam Harvey Fiudley;
Thomas W., born May 10, 1857, is mentioned
below; Annie E., born June 2-1, 1859, mai--
ried William S. Asiicom, and lives at Johns-
town, Pa.; Laura M., born ilay 21, 1861,
man-ied Hai-vey W. Ling, and died July 13,
1897 ; Robert G. is mentioned below ; Joseph,
Jr., bom in August, 1866, died in 1875 ; Maude
E., born March 17, 1869, married John H.
Mj-ers, of Cramer, Pa. : Catherine F., bom
Sept. 6, 1871, married Charles L. McClure, of
Cramer, Pa. ; Aldie, bom in 1874, died in
November, 1875 ; Bruce D., born June 10,
1878, married Gertrude Cai-son, daughter of
Robert Carson", and lives at Fort Morgan,
Colorado.
Thomas Wilson Ceamer, eldest son of
Joseph Cramer, senior member of the mer-
cantile firm of Cramer Brothers, of Cramer,
and a justice of the peace, was born in East
Wheatfield township May 10, 1857. After at-
tending the local schools ^Ir. Cramer worked
with his father at charcoal burning and in his
mercantile establishment. In 1889 he was
made his father's partner, the firm being first
Joseph Cramer & Son and later Joseph
Cramer & Sons, his brother, Robert G., being
also a member of same. This association con-
tinued until the death of the father in 1906,
when the two brothers changed the name to
Cramer Brothers, and are now devoting all
their attention to making their house the
leading one in its line in the township. In
1905 Mr. Cramer was elected a justice of the
peace, ser\'ed faithfully and capably for five
years, and was reelected in 1910, still holding
the ofSce. His sense of justice is so strong,
and his ideas as to the administration of his
office so sensible, that his work in this connec-
tion is very satisfactory in every way, while
his knowledge of the law is such as to make
appeals from his decisions extremely rare.
When Joseph Cramer died it was found that
he had made his eldest son the executor of his
estate, and Mr. Cramer settled it ably and
expeditiously.
Like his father Mr. Cramer takes an active
part in the affairs of the Methodist Church,
has been trustee, Sunday school teacher and
superintendent, and is now recording steward.
Mrs. Cramer is also prominent in the work of
that church and a consistent member of same.
While he is a Republican who has rendered
valuable sei-viees to his party, Mr. Cramer has
never sought or desired office, preferring to
discharge his duties as a citizen in his private
capacity.
In ilav, 1893, Thomas W. Cramer was
married to Laura M. Hill, born in Elderton,
Armstrong Co., Pa., daughter of John Wes-
ley and Martha (Stewart) Hill, and sister
of Dr. R. J. Tomb's wife. Mrs. Cramer is a
woman of intelligence and refinement, and is
bringing up her four children by Christian
precept and example. They are: Clifford
II., a student at the State normal school, In-
diana, Pa.; Ruth M. ; Bessie M., and John
Elkin.
Robert Grant Cramer, junior member of
the mercantile firm of Cramer Brothers, of
Cramer, Indiana Co., Pa., and a son of the
late Joseph Cramer, is the present postmaster
of his village. He was born in East Wheat-
field township, this county, Jan. 17, 1864, and
has spent practically all his life in this locality.
He attended the local public schools, and was
a schoolmate of Prof. J. T. Stewart, the cele-
brated educator and historian of Indiana
county, while attending a summer school
taught by D. H. Tomb, and taking a course
extending over two tenus at the State noraial
school at Indiana. During his boyhood he
worked for his father, manufacturing char-
coal, and later in 1886 became a partner of his
father in the store, the firm being known as
Joseph Cramer & Son, and after 1889, when
his brother, T. W.. was admitted to the firm,
as Joseph Cramer & Sons. His industry and
faithfulness were thus rewarded, and when
the father retired, in February, 1905, Bruce
D. Cramer became a partner, but his health
failing, necessitating a western trip and resi-
dence, he withdrew, and the »ther brothers,
Thomas W. and Robert Grant Cramer, con-
tinued the business as Cramer Brothers, which
style they still retain.
When Joseph Cramer was made postmaster
at the new village of Cramer, Robert Grant
Cramer was made his assistant, and as he was
fully conversant vnth the duties of the office
he was appointed to succeed his father, in
ilay, 1906, so that gives him a period of serv-
ice in the postoffice of twenty-three years,
seven yeai-s of which he has been in charge.
He has always been a strong Republican, and
has served his party as auditor of the town-
ship of East Wlieatfield, and as school direc-
tor, being president of the school board at
present. The Methodist Church of Cramer
owes much to the Cramer family, for they all
have been active in it, and Robert G. Cramer
is no exception to this rule, for he is a mem-
ber, trastee. Sunday school teaclier and super-
intendent, and takes a deep interest in all
branches of church and Sunday school work.
In his everyday life he carries out his creed
662
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
aud is temperate in all things. Fraternally
he belongs to Camp Vestal, Woodmen of the
World, at Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
On Oct. 8, 1890, Mr. Cramer was married,
in East Wheatfield township, to Ida Cather-
ine Stephens, born in that township, daughter
of Sampson and Elvira Stephens. Like her
husband Mrs. Cramer is very much interested
in the .Methodist Church, of which she is a
consistent member. They have had five chil-
dren : Joseph F., Robert Alson, Paul Samp-
son, Theodore and Helen Elvira; Theodore
died at the age of nine months.
REV. WILLIAM D. EWING, B. A., a
minister of the United Presbyterian Church
who. after nearly a half century of labor in
the cause of religion, now lives in comfortable
retirement on the Gen. James McComb farm,
in Center township, Indiana Co., Pa., was
born at Irwin Station, in Westmoreland
county. Pa., Sept. 3, 1836, son of William and
Nancy (Currie) Ewing.
Alexander Ewing, his paternal grandfather,
was born in Ireland, and when his son Wil-
liam was twelve years old brought the latter
on a sailing vessel across the Atlantic ocean,
the voyage taking thirteen weeks. They came
to western Pennsylvania and settled in Penn
township, Westmoreland county, where an
uncle, whose name was also William, had pre-
viously established himself.
William Ewing was reared from the age of
twelve years in Westmoreland county, where
both he and father were farmers. He died in
1863, and was buried in the Long Run Church
cemetery. Prior to the Civil war he was a
Democrat, but afterward voted with the Re-
publican party. He was a reputable citizen,
and a man of good influence in his community.
His first wife, Nancy (Currie), died on the
farm in Westmoreland county, the mother of
the following children: Alexander; Samuel
C, who died in Egypt, while serving there as
a missionary ; William D. ; Mary, who mar-
ried William Ullum ; and John, who now lives
retired at Homestead, Pa. William Ewing
was subsequently married (second) to Mary
Black, who died at Greeley, Colo., the mother
of six children, namely: James L., who is a
resident of Greeley, Colo. : Jane, who married
John Shaw; Sarah, who lives at Greeley,
Colo. ; Rachel, who is the wife of Rev. Mr.
McCurdy, a Presbyterian minister; Joseph
Wallace, who lives in Colorado ; and Helen,
Mrs. Parks.
William D. Ewing 's boyhood days were
spent on the home farm and he attended the
local schools and then the school at Jackson-
ville, Indiana county, which was under the
direction at that time of Rev. M. H. Wilson.
Following this Mr. Ewing entered Franklin
College, in Ohio, where he was gi-aduated in
1861, taking his B. A. degree, and subse-
quently taught school for several terms. In
October, 1862, Mr. Ewing enlisted for service
in the Civil war, entering Company K, 168th
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served
nine months under Colonel Jack and Capt.
J. B. Lauffer. On Sept. 2, 1864, he entered
upon a second term of service for one year,
going out as first lieutenant of Company E,
206th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under
Colonel Brady and Captain Brant, and was
present at the taking of Richmond, Va. In
July, 1865, he was mustered out, at Rich-
mond, Va. During his nineteen months of
army service he never lost a day from the
ranks on account of illness or from any other
cause, and was always ready to perform cheer-
fully any duty assigned him.
After returning from the war and the close
of that part of his life, his thoughts more than
ever turned into peaceful channels, and he
entered upon the study of theology at the Alle-
gheny United Presbyterian Theological Semi-
nary, being licensed to preach in 1866. He
was ordained in February, 1870, and his first
charge was the United Presbyterian Church at
Centerville, in Butler county, where he con-
tinued to serve until 1886. During this time
he ministered also to Bethel Church. After
retiring from this charge he spent the two
years following doing missionary work. In
1888 he was called to the church at Smyrna
and remained for twenty years, ministering
also to the churches at Mahoning aud Plum-
ville, retiring in 1908, after a long and fruit-
ful pastorate. Although in the evening of life
Rev. Mr. Ewing is active in both mind and
body and still frequently fills a pulpit and
preaches with old-time vigor and conviction.
Formerly he was a Republican in his views on
public questions, but for some twenty years
has supported the Prohibition party, being a
zealous advocate of temperance.
On Aug. 30, 1864, William D. Ewing was
married to Margaret McComb, daughter of
John and Margaret (Calhoun) McComb. and
granddaughter of Gen. James McComb.
Gen. James I\IcComb was a native of Ire-
land, and came from that country to America
at the age of eighteen years. For some years
afterward he resided in Westmoreland county,
Pa., but later settled in Center township, In-
diana couuty, on the farm near Jacksonville,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
663
where he died in 1S14, when aged fifty-sis
yeai-s. During the Revolutionary war he had
served as a brigadier general of militia, and
also served in the war of 1812. For thirteen
years he was a member of the Pennsylvania
State Legislature, and was one of the first
ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church in
his community. He married ^lary Jack, who
died in 1833, at the age of sixty-nine years.
the mother of the following children : George,
James, Jane, John, David, Mary, Andrew.
Joseph and Nancy (who married James
McKee).
John McComb. son of Gen. James McComb,
and father of Jlrs. William D. Ewing, was
born in Center township, Indiana county.
Farming was his business through life, and
after purchasing the John Dean farm, in
Center township, a property now owned by
Rev. "W. D. Ewing, he followed agricultural
life there until he removed to Jacksonville. Af-
ter a few years he returned to the farm for the
remainder of his life. He was a member of
the United Presbyterian Church at Jackson-
ville and one of its trustees. He married
Margaret Calhoun, who died at Freeport, Pa.,
and was buried by the side of her husband at
Jacksonville. They had five children, namely :
Jane, who married John Gibson, of Freeport ;
Nancy; Salina, who married David Farns-
worth ; James ; and Margaret, who married
Rev. William D. Ewing.
The following children were bom to Rev.
William D. Ewing and wife : Margaret Cur-
rie died at the age of nine years; IMary
Roberta, after being graduated at the Indiana
State normal school, adopted teaching as a
profession and has taught successfully at
Apollo. Karns City, Harrison City and
Duquesne. Pa. ; Alexander is a farmer on the
homestead in Center township ; William Mc-
Comb, now a practicing attorney residing at
Duquesne. Pa., was graduated from Elders-
ridge Academy and Westminster College, at
Wilmington, Pa., and is married to Flora Belle
Eagley : John Samuel, a farmer in Conemaugh
township, married Nannie Hart, and they
have two children, James Logan and Margaret
Amanda.
Alexander Ewing, of the above family, who
now occupies the old McComb homestead with
his father, was bom at Centerville, Butler Co..
Pa.. IMarch 26. 1873. He was educated in the
public schools of Centerville. and in a select
school taught by Profes-sor Fisher at Plum-
ville. In 1892 he came to his grandfather's
old farm of 190 acres, which he operated alone
until 1908, when he was .ioined by his father.
and they conducted it together until January.
1912, when a division was made and he now
operates 100 acres which was deeded to him
by his father, carrying on general farming
and stock raising. He married Effiebelle Ham-
ilton, a daughter of Allen Hamilton, and
they have three children : William H., James
Paul and John Currie. Mr. Ewing is a Pi-o-
gressive Republican and a man of influence
in his section. He is one of the trustees of
the United Presbyterian Church at Jackson-
ville.
Rev. Mr. Ewing and his wife are among
the best known and most highly esteemed
residents of Center township. They have been
permitted to enjoy a long life together and
have reared a family that reflects credit on
the community. He can look back with a
large measure of happiness over his years of
fruitful endeavor, knowing that his labors
have brought forth a harvest, and that his in-
fluence has been beneficial to all with whom
the accidents of life have brought him into
contact.
HORACE M. LOWRY, of the borough of
Indiana, has been editor and publisher of the
Indiana. Times since 1886. when he succeeded
his father, except for six years during which
he was in the public service. The father was
one of the founders of the paper, whose first
number appeared Sept. 4, 1878.
Mr. Lowry is a native of Indiana county,
bom in Clarksburg, in Conemaugh township.
Feb. 23. 1856. son of John and Nancy (:\Ic-
Cartney) Lowry. The family has long been
established in this part of Indiana. Joseph
Lowry, grandfather of Horace M. Lowrj-. hav-
ing come from eastern Pennsylvania and set-
tled in South Bend township, Armstrong
county, in 1773. His tract of 107 acres was
one of the original tracts of land first taken
up in that township. He served many years
as justice of the peace, and in that capacity
man-ied more couples than any other "squire"
in the county.
John Lowry, son of Joseph Lowrv, was born
Jan. 25. 1832, near the village of South Bend,
and supplemented the education obtained in
the common schools by instruction under pri-
vate tutors. He read law in the office of Hon.
William M. Stewart and Hon. Silas M. Clark,
the latter a judge of the Supreme court, and
was admitted to the Indiana county bar in
1860. In 1862 he became district attorney,
serving as such until 1865. In 1866 he was
elected county prothonotaiy. and held that
office until 1873. In 1882 he became a mem-
664
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ber of the State Legislature and served two
successive terms, being honored with re-elec-
tion in 1884. He gave notably good service to
his constituents, was chairman of the corn-
mittee on Constitutioual Reform, and did
credit to the district he represented through-
out the four years of his membership in that
body. Meantime, associated with J. C.
Rairigh, he« had founded the Indiana Times,
whose initial number, as stated, appeared
Sept. 4, 1878. The partnership did not last
long, Mr. Lowry purchasing Mr. Rairigh 's in-
terest Nov. 13t'h following, and he continued
to he sole proprietor of the paper from that
time until his death, which occurred April
23, 1886. In this relation to the community,
as in every other, he demonstrated a degree
of ability and public spirit which entitled him
to leadership. He was loyal to the interests
of his party, the Republican, to which he was
able to render valuable service through the
columns of his paper, which became one of
the influential journals of the county, reliable
for its news and to be depended upon in the
encouragement and support of the best in-
terests of the public.
In 1855 Mr. Lowry married Nancy Mc-
Cartnev, daughter of Jolin and Sarah (Cole-
man) McCartney, the former of whom was
born in 1808 on what is now the State ex-
perimental farm near Indiana, and was a
merchant for forty years at Clarksburg. His
father, Samuel McCartney, who came from
eastern Pennsylvania, married Nancy Young,
a native of Maryland ; they both died in 1815,
of black fever.
Horace M. Lowry was reared at Indiana and
obtained his education in the public schools
there. Throughotit his business life he has
been associated with the Times, having begun
work as his father's assistant and continued
the paper as his successor after his death. He
is thoroughly adapted for the work, by both
nature and training, and has been public-
spirited in using his paper as the medium of
an influence which has been materially felt in
the progress and advance of this section. The
paper itself is kept up to modem standards,
its material, moral and literary make-iip, as
well as the spirit which animates all depart-
ments, showing that the editor is thoroughly
abreast of the times.
In 1902 Mr. Lowry was elected to the office
of register of wills and recorder of deeds for
Indiana county, in which capacity he served
two terms — six years — acceptably to the pat-
rons of the oiBce. At the close of his official
term he resumed his duties as editor of the
Times.
In 1891 Mr. Lowry was married to Mar-
garet Ella Beatty, daughter of Richard and
Eliza (Wilson) Beatty, of Wilkinsburg, Alle-
gheny Co., Pa. Mr. Beatty for many years
was engaged in the wholesale commission busi-
ness in Pittsburg, and was widely known
throughout western Pennsylvania. Mr. and
Mrs. Lowry have had three children : Horace,
born in 1893, who died in infancy ; Elizabeth
McCartney, born in 1896; and John Beatty,
born in 1899.
MATTHEW CALVIN WYNKOOP, presi-
dent of the First National Bank of Plum-
ville, who has been associated with the busi-
ness and especially the financial interests of
that borough for some years, was born on a
fann in South Mahoning township, Indiana
Co., Pa., Nov. 26, 1859, son of Matthew and
Margaret (Morrow) Wynkoop.
Matthew Wynkoop, father of Matthew C.
Wynkoop. was a farmer and land owner of
South Mahoning township, where he operated
a farm of seventy-six acres, but did not live
long to en.ioy the fruits of his labors, passing
away in 1860, when still a young man. He
was a member of the United Presbyterian
Church, and was buried in the cemetei-y at
Plumville. He married Margaret Morrow,
daughter of Andrew Morrow, of South Mahon-
ing township, and they had three children:
Matthew Calvin, and t-^yo who died in infancy.
Mrs. Wynkoop was married (second) to Isaac
Good, who is also deceased, and she now makes
her home in South Mahoning township.
• Mattliew Calvin Wynkoop was but a little
over a year old when he lost his father. He
grew up on the home farm with his mother,
and his only opportunities for acquiring an
education were such as the local schools af-
forded. At the age of seventeen years he left
the parental roof, determined to make his own
way in the world. Going to the State of
Michigan, he secured employment as a farm
laborer at a salary of fifteen dollars per
month. In 1878 he went West to Colorado,
and locating at Leadville worked in the smelt-
ers and followed prospecting and mining until
1881. In that year he went to Arizona and
^here continued mining and prospecting, but
a short period later removed to what was then
the territory of Washington. There he took
up a government land grant on Puget sound,
homesteading it for seven years, and during
this time worked at farming, cultivated his
own land, and also engaged in lumbering in
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
665
the woods on contract work. These were busy
years, and in 1890 he was able to dispose of
his holdings advaJitageously, then going to
central California, where he followed grain
and cattle ranching in Fresno and Tulare
counties for two and a half years.
In 1893 the call of his native State proved
too strong to be resisted, and Mr. Wynkoop
i-eturned to Penns3'lvania and engaged in car-
pentering at Johnstown for eighteen months,
following which he went to Armstrong county,
and for seven years operated a coal bank in
connection with carrying on agricultural pur-
suits. On leaving that section he came to
Plum\-ille, and here, near the home of his boy-
hood, he established himself in business in
1905 as the proprietor of a furniture and
house furnishing establishment. In that same
year he erected a two-stoiy store building, in
which he has continued to carry on a success-
ful business to the present time. ]\Ir. Wyn-
koop has had a wide and varied experience,
which has not only made him thoroughly con-
versant with business methods in this and
other parts of the countr.y, but has given him
an insight into human nature that has been
of great value to him in bis dealings with his
fellow men. Enterprising and progressive,
shrewd and capable, his connection with any
enterprise is a guarantee of its solidity, and
the confidence in which he is held by the peo-
ple of his community has enabled him to do
much to add to Plumville's importance as a
financial and commercial center. He takes an
active interest in all matters that affect Plum-
ville or its people and has been foremost in
promoting and supporting movements for the
general welfare, Mr. Wynkoop was one of
the organizers of the First National Bank of
Plumville, which was founded in 1907, and of
which he has been president ever since. He
has done his part in encouraging education in
this section, serving as school director of
South Mahoning township for some years, and
also holding a like office in the borough of
Plumx-ille, where he was secretary of the
board. His fraternal connection is with the
Odd Fellows. A Lutheran in his religious be-
lief, he has been active in church work, and
for seventeen years was superintendent and a
teacher in the Sunday school.
Wbile living on Puget Sound. Wash., JMr.
Wynkoop was married (first) to Frances Nor-
ton, of that State, and one cliild was born to
this union. Charles C. who is now in the em-
ploy of the New York Central Railroad Com-
pany, at ]\IcKeesport, Pa. ; he married Edna
Martin, of Pittsburg. Mr. Wynkoop 's first
wife died, and in 1894 he was married, in
Armstrong county, to Mrs. Hannah Charlotte
(Stuchul) Mikesell, who was born in South
Mahoning township, daughter of Robert H.
and Hannah D. (Thompson) Stuchul, and
was the widow of Joseph Mikesell, of Arm-
strong county. Two children have been born
to this union, John C. and Inez C. Mrs.
Wynkoop had one child by her former mar-
riage, Robert S. Mikesell, of Pittsburg, who
married Mai-y Fetters, of Smicksburg, and
has two children, Le Verne and Dean.
GEORGE JACKSON REESE, M. D., who
has been engaged in the active practice of
medicine in Indiana county continuously since
1876, being located at Smithport, is a native-
born Pennsylvanian and a son of Henry and
Jane (Fox) Reese, farming people.
Dr. Reese was born July 4, 1842, in Clarion
county, and there received his early educa-
tion in the public schools. In August, 1861,
he entered the Union service, becoming a pri-
vate in Company C, 78th Regiment, Pennsyl-
vania Volunteer Infantry, and was later pro-
moted to corporal and sergeant in this com-
mand. He took part in the battles of Stone
River, Resaca, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Moun-
tain and Lookout Momitain, Tenn., at which
latter place Dr. Reese did some special scout
duty for General Negley, and after the battle
the regiment went on to Chickamauga, took
part in the action there, and then went on to
Atlanta, being on active duty throughout that
campaign. Dr. Reese had reenlisted at Chick-
amauga before he went to Atlanta. It was
there that the term of the regiment expii-ed
and it was sent to Nashville, where a reor-
ganization was effei ted, the old regiment num-
ber being retained, however. They took part
in the battle at Nashville, and did pi'ovost
duty there until mustered out. Dr. Reese
served until October, 1865, at which time he
was serving as assistant quartermaster. He
received his discharge at Harrisburg, Penn-
sylvania.
Entering Reed's Institute in Clarion county,
Pa., after his army service. Dr. Reese was
graduated from that institution in 1869, after
which he took up the study of medicine, com-
pleting the course at the Ohio Jledical College,
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated and re-
ceived his degree, carrying on his work there
in 1875-76. In 1876 he settled at Smithport
(postoffice Hortons"). Indiana Co.. Pa., where
he has been in general practice ever since.
He has a wide circle of patrons, but in spite
of bis busy professional life he has found time
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
to serve the community well, few citizens hav-
ing the opportunity to observe the needs of a
community as a Doctor may in the coui-se of
his daily duties. He was poor overseer for
six years, and has served many years as school
director. Politically he is a Democrat. He
is prominent in the local fraternal bodies, be-
longing to the I. 0. 0. F. (of which he is a
past, grand). Knights of Pythias, Elks. Union
Veterans Legion and G. A. R.
On April 27, 1877, Dr. Reese married
Amanda H. Horton, of Smithport, after whose
family the postofSce of Hortons was named,
she being a daughter of Ezra and Elizabeth
(Weaver) Horton. Mr. Horton was a far-
mer. Two children were born to Dr. and Mrs.
Reese: Charles B., who graduated from the
Baltimore Medical College and is engaged in
the practice of medicine at Gallatin, Pa. ; and
Daisy May, now the wife of Dr. Earl H. Park,
of Marion Center, Pa., and the mother of one
child, Norman
ROBERT ALVIN WALKER, of Saltsburg,
editor and proprietor of the Saltsburg Press,
with which he has been connected since 1896,
is one of the well-known newspaper men of
Indiana county. He was born May 10, 1864,
in Armstrong county, Pa., son of John and
Christina Ann (Fulmer) Walker, and belongs
to a family of Scotch-Irish extraction which
for a generation had its home in County Done-
gal, Ireland, before the founder of the family
came to America.
John Walker, who established this branch
of the Walkers in America, was born in
County Donegal, Ireland, and had his home
on a twenty-acre farm in Enniskillen, where
he grew to manhood. He manned Nancy
Hamilton, and to them were born six children.
During the Irish uprising in the early days of
the nineteenth century Mr. Walker joined the
political organization known as The United
Irishmen, of which the patriot Robert Emmet
was the head, and Emmet and the movement
had no more lo.yal supporter. After Emmet
gave up his life for the cause the English
government did everything possible to stamp
out the organization, but during the year 1817
a lodge of the order was discovered in County
Donegal and ten of the membere were ar-
rested, the number including John Walker,
while holding a meeting in a barn. They were
convicted for plotting against the British gov-
ernment and sentenced to banishment, John
Walker's term of exile being seven years. He
was placed on board a British privateer do-
ing duty as guard or convoy to merchant ves-
sels to protect them against pirate ships, which
at that time infested the ocean. Later he was
transferred to a warship and while on board
that vessel took part in the great battle of
Copenhagen in 1820. During his seven years
of servitude he was never allowed to leave the
ship for a moment, being constantly under
guard while she was in port. At the end of
the period he was released, but he took an
oath never again to put foot on British soil,
so he turned to the New World, which prom-
ised the freedom of thought and action so dan-
gei'ous in his own land. After a voyage of
eight weeks and three days he landed in Phila-
delphia, where he was subsequently joined by
his wife and children. They came out to
western Pennsylvania, making the journey
from Philadelphia by wagon and settling near
the village of North Washington, in West-
moreland county, and there continued to make
their home until the death of Mrs. Walker,
when Mr. Walker, with his son John and
daughter Jane, who were unmarried, moved
to Armstrong county. Buying a small farm
near Maysville, he passed the remainder of his
life on that place, where he died. He was
buried in the old cemetery at Apollo. A
typical man of his time and race, he was a
Presbyterian in religion and remained a stanch
Irish patriot to the end of his days. His chil-
dren were as follows: Alexander, who died
near Poke Run Church, Westmoreland
county ; John, who died at Rural Valley, Pa. ;
Robert; Martha, who married William Galey,
and died at Leavenworth, Kans. ; Jane, who
married Thomas McLaughlin, and died near
Olivet, Pa. ; and Lydia, who married John
Sindorf, and died near Saltsburg, Indiana
Co., Pennsylvania.
Robert Walker, son of John, was born on
the twenty-acre farm in Enniskillen, May 15,
1809, and was sixteen years old when he
crossed the Atlantic with his mother and the
rest of the family, in 1825, to join his father
at Philadelphia. Coming west with the family
to Westmoreland count.y, he was emplo.yed at
farm labor and also on the construction of the
Pennsylvania canal, and he gained a particu-
larly good reputation as a thresher, working
around among farmers during the winter
threshing out wheat with a flail. Under John
Hamilton, who owned a small mill on Puekety
creek, he learned the miller's trade, spending
three .years with him, after which he boiight a
mill of his own, located on Beaver creek,
where he remained for seven years. While
he was there one of his children was drowned
in the mill pond. In 1848 he moved to Arm-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
667
strong county, Pa., and bought the David
Findley farm in South Beud township, which
with the aid of his sous he cleared and put
under cultivation, making many improvements
on the property besides the house and barn
he built. Through his industry and intelli-
gent management it became one of the best
producing farms in that section. He con-
tinued to reside there until 1874, when he
sold the farm and bought a home in the vil-
lage of Maysville, in Kiskiminetas to\vnship,
where he and his wife made their home until
advancing age made it advisable for them to
make a change, and they went to live with
their daughter. Mrs. R. 'M. Barr, at Shady
Plain. Armstrong county. They were there
until Mr. Walker met with the accident which
caused him to be lame the rest of his life, fall-
ing on the ice and fracturing his hip joint.
A few months before his death he and Mrs.
Walker went to live with their son John, at
Olivet, Pa., and there he died April 30, 1890,
aged eighty years, eleven months, twenty
days. He was buried in Boiling Springs cerae-
ters'. He was a member of the Presbyterian
Church and an upright man in every relation
of life. In politics he was a stanch Demo-
crat, adhering to the foundation principles of
the party.
On March 6, 1834, Robert Walker married
Jane Walker, who was born in 1815, daughter
of James and Catharine (Porter) Walker,
both natives of Ireland. The families were
not related. Mrs. Walker died at the home of
her son, W. Reed Walker, near Spring Church,
Jan. 6. 1894. aged seventy-eight years, ten
mouths, twenty-one da.ys, and was buried be-
side her husband in the Boiling Springs ceme-
tery. Their manied life covered a period of
fifty-six years. She, too, was a member of the
Presbyterian Church. The twelve children
born of this marriage were as follows : Nancy,
born March 14, 1835, married July 17. 1857,
Daniel Knappenberger, and died July 30,
1889 ; James L., born March 31, 1837, married
Sept. 15. 1864, Eliza R. Kirkpatrick, and died
Jan. 8, 1904 ; John was born Sept. 30, 1839 :
Joseph, bom Dec. 20, 1841, married Louisa
Fulmer, and died April 18, 1902 (he was a
soldier in the Civil war) ; Alexander, born
March 27, 1844, was drowned in the mill pond
May 25, 1846 ; Mary Catharine, born July 30,
1846. married Robert :\I. Barr June 25, 1868 :
Martha J., born ]March 15, 1849. died Aug.
30. 1849: Robert Hamilton, born Feb. 11.
1850, died Sept. 26, 1850 ; William Patterson,
born Sept. 3, 1851, died Jan. 10. 1852; Robert
A., Iwrn Jan. 8, 1853, married Mav 4, 1880,
Ella ]M. Carson (he is a physician and prac-
tices at West Monterey, Pa.) ; William Reed,
born Oct. 30, 1856, married March 6, 1879,
Anna A. Almes; Daniel, bom Jan. 5. 1859,
died Feb. 8, 1859.
John Walker, son of Robert, born Sept. 30,
1839. in Westmoreland county, moved with
his parents to Armstrong county and there
grew to manhood. He learned the trade of
shoemaker, and settling in South Bend town-
ship, Armstrong county, there followed his
trade and also engaged in farming, owning a
small farm upon which he spent the remainder
of his life. He died there while still in active
life, Sept. 8, 1905, aged sixty-five years, eleven
months, eight days. Like his father he was a
Presbyterian and a Democrat.
On Nov. 4, 1862, John Walker married
Christina Ann Fulmer, who survives him,
making her home in Armstrong county. She
was also a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. and IMrs. John Walker had eight children,
three of whom died in infancy, the others be-
ing: Robert Alvin ; Aurie Ellen, who married
William E. Dixon and resides at Jacksonville,
Pa. ; Sallie, unmarried, who lives vnth her
mother ; Earl, a farmer of Armstrong county ;
and Walter, a farmer, of Olivet, Pennsylvania.
Robert Alvin Walker, son of John, was bom
in South Bend township and there obtained
his early education in the public schools,
later going to Eldei-sridge Academy, at Elders-
ridge, Pa. After leaving school he was en-
gaged as school teacher for a time, following
that profession three years, part of the time
in South Bend township and principally in
Armstrong county. He next worked at civil
engineering and surveying with Wilson &
Smith, civil engineers of Saltsburg, for three
years, after which he spent two .vears clerking
in a general store at Saltsburg. In 1896 he
succeeded Brown & Love as editor and pro-
prietor of the Saltsburg Press, which he has
published weekly since. The paper was es-
tablished in 1875. He is a thorough news-
paper man, genial, enterprising and progres-
sive, and he has been successful in conducting
a live paper of independent principles, fol-
lowing his personal ideas, for he is independ-
ent in politics. He is fearless in advocating
what he believes to be right and has been able
to serve his community well. He has b^en
burgess of Saltsburg, and in and out of office
has worked for the progress and best interests
of the borough. Fraternally he is an Odd
Fellow, belonging to Lodge No. 646, of Salts-
burg, and he is an active member of the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Presbyterian Church, at present serving as
treasurer of the Sunday school.
On July 31, 1895, Mr. Walker married
Sarah J. Anderson, who was born in Alle-
gheny, Pa., daughter of Matthew and Sarah
Anderson. They have no children.
DAVID T. NIEL, ex-county commissioner
of Indiana county. Pa., and superintendent of
the county poor farm, was born on a farm in
Banks township, Indiana county, July 22.
1853, son of David and Susannah (Keel) Niel.
John Niel, his grandfather, is supposed to
have been bom where he was reared, in West
Mahoning township, Indiana county. He was
a farmer and miller. Before his death he
moved over the line into Jefferson county, and
passed away there. He married Deborah
Pierce, who also died in Jefferson county.
They were excellent people, and held to the
Baptist faith. They had the following chil-
dren: Samuel, deceased, who married Ellen
Lindsey; David, mentioned below; Thomas,
deceased, who served in the Civil war as a pri-
vate in a Pennsylvania regiment and several
times was severely wounded (he married Mary
GraufSs) ; George, who died in Banks town-
ship, in 1911 (married Susanna Adamson) ;
Margaret, of Banks township, who married
Samuel Adamson (deceased) and (second)
J. H. Rager; Mary, Mrs. Drummond, who
died in Banks township ; James, a soldier of
the Civil war, who married Sarah Spencer,
and they died in Banks township ; and Benja-
min, who served over three years in the Civil
war and was killed at the battle of Pair Oaks
(he married Jane Findley while on a fur-
lough, and met death after returning to his
regiment).
David Niel, son of John Niel, was born in
West Mahoning to^vnship, where he spent his
early life, in boyhood attending a subscrip-
tion school held in one of the old log structures
made use of at that day for school purposes.
After marriage he located on a farm of 100
acres, situated in Banks township, and after-
ward bought his father-in-law's farm of 150
acres, later adding eighty acres adjoining and
thus becoming one of the substantial farmers
of his section. In 1864, he enlisted in Com-
pany B, 206th Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry, and served until the war closed, after
which he resumed farming, subsequently sell-
ing his three tracts of land and buying a
smaller tract adjoining, upon which he spent
the rest of his life, his death occun-ing June
18, 1905. His first marriage was to Susannah
Keel, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Keel,
who came to America from Germany ; he was
a Baptist minister. Mrs. Niel died in 1856,
the mother of four children : John K., a resi-
dent of Reynolds, Jefferson Co., Pa., who mar-
ried Elizabeth Pierce ; Jacob, who died young ;
James Henry, who is deceased ; and David T.
The second marriage of David Niel was to
Mrs. Elizabeth Bowers, who suiwives, and the
following children were born to them : Delia,
who married George Long and (second) North
Brattou, and they live in Banks township ;
Geneworth, who died young; Rhoda Belle, who
died in childhood ; and Jennie, who is the wife
of John Fuller and lives in Polk county, Ore-
gon. The father of the above children was a
member of the Baptist Church. In political
association he was a Republican.
David T. Niel grew to manhood on the home
farm in Banks township and after leaving
school, when about fourteen years of age, went
to work at tasks requiring a man's strength
and judgment. He ploughed his father's
fields, helped harvest the crops, and in the
winter time worked in the woods and hauled
logs. Until he was nineteen years of age he
continued to labor for his father, about this
time deciding to establish a home of his own.
He married Feb. 14, 1872, Sarah Catherine
Sheesley, of Jefferson county, a daughter of
Henry and Sarah (Williamson) Sheesley, and
after marriage located on a farm which he
rented in Banks township. Later he bouglit
fifty-six acres in the same township and he
received a gift of fifty acres from his father.
Mr. Niel remained on this farm for several
years and then purchased 103 acres in the
same township, which was formerly his grand-
father Keel 's old homestead. To this he added
two tracts, one of thirteen acres and another
of twenty-five acres, and all this land he put
under a high state of cultivation, cari-ying on
extensive farming operations and raising stock,
in addition to which he was interested in a
lumber business. Mr. Niel 's business activities
also led him into mercantile lines and he con-
ducted a general store on his farm, and during
this time was postmaster at Flora. As a suc-
cessful business man and as a representative
and reliable citizen Mr. Niel became known all
over the county, serving his township as eon-
stable, supervisor, tax collector and justice of
the peace. In 1908 he was elected a county
commissioner and served out his full term of
three years, at the end of which he was ap-
pointed superintendent of the county poor
farm. He still retains his property in Banks
township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Niel twelve children have
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
been born, the family record being as follows :
Ora Etta is Mrs. A. C. Smyers. of Dubois;
Miles Lester, who resides in the State of Ore-
gon, married Rose Hanna ; David Henry, who
lives at Big Run, Jefferson county, married
Edith Mogel; Anna B. is the wife of Calvin
Pierce, of Jefferson county; Charles E., who
lives in Banks township, married Jennie Fil-
ler; Lewis, who is a farmer in Banks town-
ship, married Dolly Henry; Blanche is the
wife of Carl Smith, of Canoe township ; Car-
rie Elizabeth is the wife of Luther Gaston,
of Canoe township ; Dora May is Mrs. H. B.
Bowers, of Banks township ; Bertha Jane is
the wife of Calvin Spencer, who resides on
Mr. Niel's farm; Lott R. lives at Glen Camp-
bell ; Flora D. lives at home. Mr. and Jlrs.
Niel have twenty grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Niel are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has
been a class leader. For twenty-three years,
he has been a member of Mahoning Lodge, No.
927, Odd Fellows, and belongs also to Big
Run Lodge, No. 47, Knights of Pythias.
COULTER WIGGINS, of Blairsville, In-
diana county, a lawyer of almost fifty years'
standing and during a great part of that
time engaged in practice at Blairsville, is a
native of Indiana county, born Jan. 24, 1840,
in White to^\'iiship. His gi-andfather,
Thomas Wiggins, was a large land owner and
farmer of White township, where he was
among the early settlers. He owned a tract
of over four hundred acres, upon which he
made some improvements, and died there
while in the prime of life, leaving a wife and
five 3^oung children. His widow, Elizabeth
(Lytle), who was a native of Princeton, N. J.,
died in what is now Cherryhill township. The
five children, all now deceased, were : Samuel,
Robert, Andrew, John (who died young) and
Margaret.
Robert Wiggins, son of Thomas and Eliza-
beth (Lytle) Wiggins, was born on the farm
in White township, Indiana county, and was
but eight years old when his father died.
His opportunities for an education were
therefore limited. He lived on the homestead
fann imtil he reached manhood, and became
possessor of a part of that property, a tract
of 160 acres on which he made extensive im-
provements and where he continued to engage
in general farming the remainder of his life.
He died on his farm in June, 1890, at the age
of eighty, and is buried in Greenwood ceme-
tery, at Indiana. His church connection was
with the L'nited Presbyterians. In politics
he was originally a Whig, later a Republican.
Robert Wiggins married Elizabeth Coulter,
who was born in Rayne township, Indiana
county, daughter of James Coulter, and died
on the farm June 23, 1855, at the age of
thirty-seven years. She is buried in Green-
wood cemetery. She was the mother of the
following children: Malinda C, who died in
young womanhood; Coulter; Jane Elizabeth,
who married Dr. W. B. Kroesen, and resided
at Etna, Allegheny Co., Pa., where she died;
Ellen, who man-ied Henry Keller, of Indiana;
Margaretta, who married Henry Bryan, of
White township ; and Jemima, who married
Frank Detwiler and (second) Martin F. Jami-
son, and resides in Indiana. For his second
wife Robert Wiggins married Mrs. Lydia
Flude, who died when about eighty years old,
on the farm, leaving one son, James W. ; he
re.sides on the homestead in White township.
Coulter Wiggins, only son of Robert and
Elizabeth (Coulter) Wiggins, began his edu-
cation in the local schools of White township,
and later attended the Indiana Academy.
After leaving school he took up the study
of law in the office of A. W. Taylor, of In-
diana, and was admitted to practice at the
Indiana county bar in 1864. He remained
in the office of Mr. Taylor for another year
after being admitted to practice. In 1865 he
received appointment as clerk in the war de-
partment at Washington, D. C, where he
spent two yeai-s, but on account of his health
he resigned and went to ilinuesota, where he
practiced his profession five years, principally
at Redwood Falls. Meantime he became quite
active in public life there, and .served one
term as district attorney and one term as
Probate judge. Returning to his native
county. Judge Wiggins carried on the prac-
tice of law at Indiana, in the office of J. N.
Banks, continuing there until 1890, at which
time he located in Blairsville. Here he has
since found his field of work, and has per-
formed other important public service as at-
torney for the borough. His office is on Mar-
ket street. Judge Wiggins is noted for his
modesty, but his efficiency and probity have
brought him to the front, and he is popular
as well as respected. In polities he is a stanch
R^^publiean. While in the borough of Indi-
ana he was a member of the school board,
and served as secretary of that body for nine
yeai-s. He is an active member of the Presby-
terian Church, and while in Redwood Falls,
Minn., held the office of elder, to which he
has also been chosen since returning to his
home county, serving in both Indiana and
670
HISTORY OF INDIANA' COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Blairsville ; he has also been a Sunday school
teacher and superintendent of the Sunday
school.
Mr. Wiggins was married Aug. 17, 1869,
in Redwood Falls, Minn., to Adelaide Craigen,
who was born in Hampshire county, W. Va.,
daughter of Jacob I. Craigen, and died at
Blairsville, Oct. 8, 1908; she is buried in
Greenwood cemetery, Indiana. Mrs. Wig-
gins was a member of the Presbyterian
Church. She was the mother of children as
follows: Hubert Paxton, who resides at
Homestead, Pa. ; one that died in infancy ;
Robert Harrison, residing in Blairsville (he
married Blanch Keyes) ; and Elsa Beatrice,
who married Frederick Pfaff and resides at
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
JAMES L. ORR, of Indiana, who is en-
gaged in lumbering and has other business
interests, has been one of the successful men
of Indiana county and has gained substance
and standing entirely through his own efforts,
being a self-made man in the best sense of
that term. He was born in Indiana county
July 20, 1864, and comes of a family of Irish
origin. James Orr, his grandfather, was
born in Ireland in 1798, and was only a child
when he came to the United States. He fol-
lowed farming in Indiana county all his life,
having a large tract of land in Armstrong
township, and died Dec. 17, 1876. He became
a member of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church. His family consisted of eight sons
and six daughters.
Andrew Orr, son of James, was born in
Indiana county, was a farmer by occupation,
and also dealt in horses, cattle and hogs. He
made his home in Armstrong township. His
death occurred in 1894. He was a Democrat
in politics, and for many years had been an
active member of the Lutheran Church, to
which his wife also belonged. ^Ir. Orr mar-
ried Martha J. Lowman, whose father, Abra-
ham Lowman, was a farmer in East Mahon-
ing township, Indiana county, and died at
the age of eighty-three years; he was a Pres-
byterian in religious faith. Mr. and Mrs.
Orr had a family of ten children, namely:
Edwin G-. ; James L. ; ]\Iary Alice, wife of
Samuel Zemor; Elizabeth C, widow of Wil-
liam Bartlett; Agnes L., widow of Frank
Lutz; Bertha A.; Carrie C, wife of Arthur
Hecker; Maggie Olive, wife of Charles Lock-
ard; Grace Amber, and Paul Lafayette.
James L. Orr attended the country schools
in White township. He worked on the farm
until he became of age, after which he started
out for himself, without a dollar of capital,
but with plenty of ambition and energy, and
a determination to win in life's battle. Find-
ing employment in a sawmill, he remained
there until he had mastered the details of
lumber manufacture, and he subsequently en-
gaged in the lumber business on his own ac-
count. Though he has been interested in
other lines also from time to time, he has
continued that business down to the present
time, and much of his prosperity is due to
his success in that line. For more than eleven
years he had a profitable feed business, and
he built a grain elevator at Indiana at a cost
of several thousand dollars. It is still in use
and a monument to his foresight and business
enterprise. In 1912 he constructed the reser-
voir at Creekside (of which he owns part"),
one of the most progressive towns in Indi-
ana county, and he has been as successful
in this undertaking as in other things he has
handled. He is a stockholder and director
of the Indiana Woolen Mills Company, as
well as other local industries which in his
opinion will advance the material well-being
of the borough. His active and prosperous
career entitles him to rank among the solid
citizens of his community.
On Nov. 11, 1886, Mr. Orr married Zulie
A. Cochrane, daughter of James and Nancy
Cochrane, and they have two interesting chil-
dren, James C. and Kathleen. The son has
already shown some of his father's enter-
prising spirit. He has been selling the "Sat-
urday Evening Post" for the last eight years,
and has accumulated enough to buy a share
in the Indiana Savings & Trust Company, and
has a nice bank account.
Fraternally IMr. Orr belongs to the Elks,
I. 0. 0. F. and Masonic lodges at Indiana,
in the latter connection holding membership
in Blue Lodge. No. 313. F. & A. M. For
many years he has been an active member
of the Lutheran Church, having served in the
church council for five years. He is an in-
dependent voter, and served three years as
councilman from the Third ward; he was
elected on the Democratic ticket.
STEPHENS. The Stephens family resi-
dent for several generations in southern In-
diana county was founded there about the
beginning of the last century by Samuel
Stephens, grandfather of George M. Stephens,
who is a resident of Dilltown, in Buffing-
ton township, and of Judge Marlin B.
Stephens, John H. Stephens, Esq., Mary J.
Stephens and Mrs. Olive P. (Stephens)
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
671
Mayer, all of the city of Jolmstown. Pa. The
family has been established in America since
before the Revolutionary war.
Benjamin Stephens, the pioneer of this fam-
ily in America, was born about the year 1735,
and embarked from Plymouth, England, at
the age of twenty-one, to seek his fortune in
the "land of the free." His ship was
wrecked off the coast of Maryland. In his
struggle for life he found the small boats
filled to overflowing, and when he tried to
hold on with one hand and swim with the
other, there were cries of "Cut him off," but
a voice said, "No, I'll balance him," and the
owner of the voice got to the other side of
the boat. The distance to the shore was about
three miles, and by the time it was reached
Benjamin was very much exhausted. He had
a sum of money in his belt, and with that he
began life in the new world. In 1758 he
married a Miss Caldwell, in Somerset county,
Md., and the children of this union were born
as follows : Thomas, 1759 ; Benjamin, Jr.,
1761 ; William, 1763 ; Richard, 1765 ; Rebecca,
1767 (married Joseph Pitman) ; Samuel, Feb-
ruary, 1769; and John, 1771.
Benjamin Stephens emigrated to America
about the year 1756, and was a soldier in the
French and Indian war, serving in the cam-
paign against the French posts on the Canadi-
an border, and was present at the capitula-
tion of Montreal on the Sth day of September,
A. D. 1760. He died in 1814 at his home in
Bedford county. Pennsylvania.
"During the Revolutionary war Benjamin
Stephens and two of his sons served loyally
in the struggle for American independence ;
father and two sons, Thomas and Benjamin,
Jr., being at one time members of the same
company." Benjamin Stephens served as one
of the Rangers on the frontier from 1778 to
1783 (Pa. Archives, Vol. XXIII. 3d Series,
page 236).
Some of the original family located in
Maryland and some in Missouri. "William and
Richard went to the State of Indiana, and
Benjamin, Jr.. pushed on to the State of Illi-
nois. Thomas lost one arm in the Revolution-
ary war: he was never married.
Samuel Stephens was married to Miss Mir-
iam Pitman, in 1793, near Morrisons Cove,
then in Bedford county. Pa. She was the
daughter of Joseph Pitman, who fought in
the Revolution as one of the frontier rangers
from Bedford county. The Pitman family
came from New Jersey some time before this.
She was the grandmother of George M. Steph-
ens, Marlin B. Stephens, John H. Stephens,
Mary J. Stephens, and Mrs. Olive F. (Steph-
ens) Mayer. Samuel and his young wife,
sixteen years of age, came over the mountains
on horseback, accompanied by Samuel's two
brothers, Thomas and John. In a recent his-
torical publication of Cambria county. Pa.,
we find the following: "Samuel Stephens,
shortly after the close of the Revolutionary
war, was imbued, like many of that period,
with the spirit of adventure, and having
learned of the productive soil in the valleys
of the western slope of the iVUeghenies and
the abundance of game on its vast moun-
tain ranges, set out to seek a home for himself
in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. He
was familiar with the country, although but a
boy in years, having accompanied his older
brothers, who traveled through the same on
one of the military expeditions during the
Revolutionary period to the headwaters of
the Allegheny river and the Great Lakes.
Samuel Stephens was accompanied to his new
home by his brothers, John and Thomas,
bringing with them their cattle and such
household goods as were necessary and in
common use at that time in the new country,
and finally located" (1798) "in what is now
Brushvalley township. Indiana county, Pa.,
near the present site of Meehanicsburg. John
and Thomas remained with their brother Sam-
uel for some time, assisting him to clear some
land and erect his cabin house, when they re-
turned to their homes. Thomas had lost an
arm as a result of a gunshot wound in the
Revolutionary war. ' '
Samuel Stephens located on the present site
of ilechanicsburg, where he resided for a num-
Iier of years, nine of his children being born on
that tract, all now deceased, namely: (1) Re-
becca married John Graham, and had nine
children, all now deceased, viz. : Samuel, who
married Elizabeth Brown; James, who mar-
ried Nancy Gibson, and (second) Orma Lyda;
John ; Joseph : Benjamin ; Ann, married to
Robert Woodside, and (second) to John Sad-
dler; Rebecca, married to Mark McFeaters;
Miriam, married to Hugh Cameron ; and Jane,
deceased, married to James Dick. Samuel's
children were: Mary IMagdalene, married,
deceased ; Rebecca, married to "William Sides ;
Amos L., married to Marinda Dick: James
Benson, married to Lizzie Gibson; Susan,
deceased, married to J. T. Griffith ; and Wat-
son, married. Amos L. and James Benson
were both in the Civil war. James is living
on the old homestead, and has quite a large
family. Amos is living in Johnstown. Pa.
(2) Nancy married Jacob Stephens of Ohio.
672
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
(3) Samuel S. married Rebecca Elkins, and
removed to Arkansas. (4) Sarah married
Evan Griffith, and had twelve children, two of
whom reside in Indiana, Pa., namely, Mrs.
Mary (Griffith) Thomas and Stephen Grif-
fith. (5) John, who made his home in Ohio,
married Eliza Williams, and had ten chil-
dren, one of whom is still living, Mrs. Mary
Gleason, residing in Morrow county, Ohio.
(6) Benjamin married Elizabeth Ginter, who
lived and died in Clearfield county. Pa., and
had seven children, one of whom is still living
and resides at Ramey, Clearfield Co., Pa. (7)
Abednego, who lived at Tyrone, Pa., married
Rebecca Elder and left to survive him five
children, three of whom are now living. (8)
William S., father of the subjects of this
sketch, is mentioned below. (9) Joseph mar-
ried Mary Stevens, and had three children,
namely; Meshac, who died in the West, left
to survive him three children; Samson mar-
ried Elvira Conrad, and had seven children,
four of whom are now living; Elias, who
married Melissa Spires and is still living,
had five children, two of whom are living,
Joseph and Leon, who reside on the old home-
stead of their grandfather, Joseph Stephens,
in East Wheatfield township, Indiana Co.,
Pennsylvania.
Samuel Stephens's wife died when Joseph,
the youngest child, was but two hours old, in
December, 1809. She was buried on a part of
the Brushvalley farm on which the village of
Mechanicsburg now stands, and a stone marks
the spot to this day. After the death of his
wife Samuel became discontented, and sold
his farm in Brushvalley, buying another on
Blackliek creek, from Adam Richey, in Buf-
fington township, about one mile northwest
of Dilltown, in June, 1810. This farm is now
owned by Frank G. Conrad. Here Samuel
Stephens laid out the road that leads to Croft,
and thence to McCartney's, where he courted
and married Catherine, daughter of Joseph
and Catherine (Galbreath) McCartney, in
1811. To them were born the following chil-
dren : Miriam, born in 1812, married George
Mattern, both now deceased ; Thomas, born in
1814, is deceased ; Nicholas is deceased ; Mar-
tha, born in 1816, married Samuel Wilson,
both now deceased; Estep married, died, and
left to survive him two daughters ; Samson
is deceased ; Jane married William Wilson,
both deceased, and to this union eight chil-
dren were born, three of whom are now living ;
James is deceased; and two children died in
infancy. Samuel Stephens's second wife died
in May, 1825, and was interred in the McCart-
ney burying ground. In February, 1826,
Samuel Stephens made his third matrimonial
venture, marrying Frances Thompson. To
this union were born in Pennsylvania the fol-
lowing children, all now deceased: Mary,
David and Jonathan, twins, who grew to man-
hood, fought and died in the city of Mexico
in the Mexican war ; and Richard, who died in
infancy.
In 1830 Samuel Stephens determined to go
farther west. Hearing from his brothers of
the fertile and well-watered land in the State
of Indiana, he sold his fann and all the per-
sonal property he could spare, and started
on the first day of April, 1830, with his third
family and household goods, driving to Pitts-
burg by way of the old stone pike, thence by
boat to Cincinnati. His son Estep was the only
one of the other two families of children to
go with his father. They hauled the lumber
to build the raft upon which to float down the
Ohio river. Of that hazardous trip we know
nothing. He finally located in Rushville, Rush
Co., Ind., where he took up two or more
farms, and his family was further increased
by several children, namely: James, born in
1832, married, and died while serving in the
Civil war, after the battle of Pittsburg Land-
ing; Maria, born in 1834, married Mr. Gibson :
Ruth Ann, bom in 1836, married Samuel
Jolilfe; Lucinda, born in 1838, married Mr.
Roberts ; Margaret, born in 1840, married Mr.
Knierehn; and Jehu was born in May, 1843,
two months after his father's death, which
occurred March 23, 1843. All of those are
now deceased. Jehu married Esther Roberts,
and three children were born to this union,
namely: Mary, married, deceased; John D.,
and Dr. William Estep Stephens, of Kansas
City. Jehu married (second) Mrs. Kate
Smith, deceased, and one son, Charles Steph-
ens, of Bluffton, Indiana, was born to
this union. There were three other children
born as a result of Samuel Stephens's third
union who died in early infancy, and to whom
no names were given, making a family of thir-
ty-two. The third wife died March 12, 1886,
at the age of eighty-four years. Samuel
Stephens is buried on the farm of which he
died seized, about one mile from Rushville. A
stone now marks his grave. His will is re-
corded in Rushville, the county seat of Rush
county, Ind. He was a soldier in the war of
1812.
William S. Stephens, bom Nov. 29, 1808. on
his father's homestead farm, on the present
site of the village of Mechanicsburg, was the
next to the youngest son by the first wife. He
-^Cn^f ^ ^---^^/i-^--^
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
673
went east of the mountains with his brothers,
Abednego and Joseph, when he was not yet
sixteen j-ears of age, to work in the charcoal
furnaces, where William was soon promoted to
being a foreman and general overseer. In
1832 he married Mai-y Mattern. and resided
in the vicinity of "Warriors Mark, Hunting-
don Co., Pa. There were four children born
to them as a result of this union in Hunting-
don county: Samuel Shadrach, who married
Mary Myers (both deceased) ; Jacob Meshaeh,
who died young; Maiy Jane; and Miriam
Catherine, who also died in infancy. In 1839
he returned to Indiana county and bought the
old farm which had formerly been owned by
his father, above Dilltown, the same farm
which his father had sold nine years before
to Thomas E. Thomas. Cynthia Ellen and
"William Asbury were born at this place. In
1840 he purchased the homestead in Dill-
town, with its mill sites, which was a dream
of his boyhood, and was realized in manhood.
The sawmill was put up that year, and he
walked from his sawmill to the farm he had
purchased more than one mile each morning
and evening until he had his house on the
present homestead at Dilltown completed far
enough to live in. James Wilson had a cabin
built near, and operated the mill, furnishing
lumber for the entire community. The new
homestead was completed in 1843, and the
gristmill was begun the same year by Jacob
Gamble. It still stands, in good condition, and
is owned and operated by his son George M.
Stephens, who was born in 1844. William S.
Stephens engaged in farming, lumbering and
milling here until his death, Feb. 28, 1888.
Gilbert Lloyd, the next child in the family
of William S. Stephens, was born in 1847 ; he
served in the Civil war with his two brothers,
William Asbury and George M., and was
reading medicine with the late Dr. L. T. Beam,
of Johnstown, Pa., at the time of his death,
Feb. 10, 1873. William S. Stephens's first
wife died in 1853, and in February, 1857, he
married Sarah Ann Skiles, who was born in
East Wheatfield township, Indiana county,
Feb. 2, 1825. To this union were born : James
Estep, who died in 1860; Marlin Bingham;
Olive Frances; John Harris; and Annie, who
died in June, 1873.
William S. Stephens was an energetic and
progressive man, always keeping well abreast
of the times. He was among the first in every
movement which tended to the public good,
and -took an active interest in every project
looking to the abolition of human slavery.
LTpon the breaking out of the Civil war, being
43
then advanced in years, he could not take an
active interest in the field, but he nevertheless
gave every support within his power to the
cause of freedom, four of his' sons serving
faithfully in defense of the Union. During
his long and active life he always found time
to listen with keen sympathy to the appeals
of the less fortunate, and many of those upon
whom the burdens of life were most heavy
have shared in his generosity ; and throughout
the community in which he was so well and
favora))ly known his neighbors were wont to
speak of him as "Uncle Billy." Many of the
young men who have gone out from that little
community and have taken their places among
men of aft'airs, in business, education and the
church, remember most kindly the many words
of encouragement they received from him, as
well as such substantial assistance as he was
able to give them in their preparation for
life's duties.
Dr. John Harris, president of Bucknell
University, at Lewisburg, Pa., writes the fol-
lowing tribute :
"My earliest recollections as a boy and man
include prominently the personality of Wil-
liam S. Stephens. He was always interested
in the school which we attended and was a
frequent visitor. He was in sympathy with
the young alike in their studies, their work
and their sports. As the schoolhouse was on
his land, we made entirely free with his pas-
ture land for ball games and other sports. But
we kept off his grain fields, not because
ordered to, but because no one would trespass
on or injure our 'Uncle William's' growing
crops.
"He originated the Sunday school in the
place, which has since grown into a church.
Entirely free from personal ambition or de-
sire for notice, he usually kept himself in the
background, and let others hold the offices and
receive the honors. In that way he became the
arbiter in all disturbing questions which are
worit to arise in a rural community, and
earned the blessedness that comes to the peace-
maker.
"For myself personally I owe him much.
Left an orphan at the age of six, he became
guardian and a second father to me, giving
advice freely and kindly and aiding me in
many ways. He was in the community 'the
good gra.v head which all men knew,' and his
massive form and genial face have a promi-
nent place in the pictures that are a part of
my memory of early years."
Mere words fail to express much less pic-
ture the true life of a man which is recorded
g74 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in ffood works, as each act of kindness and came from Ihe North of Ireland at an early
every noble deed stand out as silent remind- day with two brothers, Isaac and John, all of
ers more lasting than granite, for the influ- whom served in the Revolutionary war. John
ence of such men lives, and is extended and Skiles and Sarah Wallace were married in
expanded as time rolls on, so that neither time 1801 and had one child, Ephraim ; John
nor distance forms a limitation. Skiles died when Ephraim was about six years
William S. Stephens was an honest and of age. Ephraim and his mother made their
God-fearing man, and was an active and con- home with Ephraim Wallace until Mrs. Sarah
sistent church member from his early youth (Wallace) Skiles married Joseph McKelvey.
until the time of his death. He was instru- To this union one child was born, a daughter,
mental iu building the Mechanicsburg Bap- who died at the age of twelve years. Eph-
tist Church, and helped maintain it as long raim Skiles married Mary Rodgers in 1824,
as he lived.' He died Feb. 28, 1888, in his and Sarah Ann (Skiles) Stephens was the
eightieth year, and was interred in what is tirst born of their children. She has also a
now known as the Conrad burying ground, the direct line of descent from Robert Rodgers,
graveyard on the old homestead where he who fought in the Revolution in 1780, being
played as a boy. A stone marks the spot. a private in the 8th Company, 3d Battalion,
Samuel Shadrach. the eldest son of William Cumberland County Militia. He was born in
S Stephens, went to Illinois and took up a Donegal, Ireland, about 1744, and came to
large tract of land. He had one daughter, America in 1771. He married Sarah Kyle in
Ella Nora, who married Stephen Michaels, Ireland in 1766. He settled on the Cone-
and died leaving to survive her one son, Paul maugh river near the present site of the old
Michaels, of Dallas City, Hancock Co., 111. village of Nineveh, and died in 1800. He had
William Asbury served in the Civil war with but one child, a son Isaac, born in midocean
his brother Oeorge M. He married Isabelle in 1767, who married Mary Heiss, in 1794,
McFarland in 1875, and to this union were and the following children were born to this
born four children,' namely: Harry Wilson, union: Robert, Sarah, William, John, Henry,
Bertha Frances, William Kennedy", now de- Isaac and Mary (twins), Margaret, George,
ceased and an' infant daughter, deceased. Catherine, Joseph, Samuel, Eliza, and Jane
William Asbury died in 1890. The rest of Ann. Isaac Rodgers, the father, died in 1822.
his family live in Oklahoma City, Okla. Mary Mary, twin sister of Isaac, Jr., married
Jane and Cynthia Ellen went to Johnstown Ephraim Skiles, as above stated. Shortly
in 1876 where they were successful as dress- after his marriage Ephraim Skiles settled on
makers' Cynthia Ellen died in 1891; Mary a farm near the present town of Wehrum,
Jane is living and resides on Lincoln Street, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life
Tn the city of'johnstown. and reared his large family of sixteen chil-
Sarah Ann (Skiles) Stephens, the second dren ; he was married four times,
wife of William S. Stephens, deceased, is de- Geokge M. Stephens, son of William S.
scended in a direct line from Robert McCul- and ]\Iary (Mattern) Stephens, was born Aug.
loch who foudit in the Revolution in the 31, 1844, in Pine township, Indiana county,
llth Pennsylvania Regiment. He was born He acquired his education in a local public
in Scotland about 1732, and married a Miss school and at several terms of summer school
McCartney in 1753. To this union were born under the supervision of Prof. A. J. Bolar, at
Janet in 1754, who married Ephraim Wallace Armagh, Pa. For a considerable time he had
in 1774- Atmes, who married Joshua Martin; charge of the store of A. A. Barker, at Dill-
Sarah, who'' married Hugh Barclay, and one town, as well as for the successors, Warren &
son, Samuel. Ephraim Wallace was born in Hatch, who conducted a general store at that
Antrim, Ireland, in 1747, and came to this place. He was eighteen years of age when he
country in 1768. He served in the Revolution g^iigted at Pittsburg for six months' service in
under 'Capt. Henry Rush, Bedford County the Rebellion, joining Company E, 2d Battal-
Militia (Pa. Archives, 5th Series Vol. V, .^^ Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which he be-
page 118). He married Janet McCulloch ^^^^ ^ corporal under Capt. W. P. Altiraus
in Canedogigue, Cumberland Co., Pa., and ^ Lintner. He reenlisted at Pitts-
afterward came to Centerville, where he ^ ^^ Company E, 206th Pennsylvania Reg-
owned a large farm .^ere a dir<.ct d^sceM^ u | ,nder^ommand of Capt. W. W. Nes-
unor:e rborn'Ro'b r't,"join''sarIli Ind bitt and Col. Hugh J. Brady, and sei-ved
We twLs), Samuel and Margaret, Sarah eleven months, during which time he acted as
ma?rTed John Skiles, son of James Skiles, who orderly sergeant. He was mustered out m
^%
'--^'/^i-t^/^^ /
/9
-/t-^^^^^-j^'
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
675
1865, at Richmond, Va. During the next three
years ]Mr. Stephens was employed by a pub-
lishing house in New York City. In 1869 he
took charge of his father's farm, and until
1885 devoted most of his time and attention to
it. In 1885 he purchased the property and
general store of George Dill. Dilltown, Pa.,
where he has since improved the property and
enlarged the business. On Aug. 15, 1887, he
was appointed postmaster at Dilltown, which
position he still holds. The time of Mr. Steph-
ens is fully taken up with his store, post of-
fice, gristmill and farm, all of which he man-
ages with financial success. On his farm he
has erected a modern barn, and his home is
attractive in appearance. He was one of the
founders of the Farmers' Dilltown Telephone
Company. He has found time to take a good
citizen's share in the public life of the com-
munity, and has held various offices in which
his fellow citizens have had the benefit of his
experience and ability. He was justice of
the peace for five years, and has been assessor
and school director. In political faith he has
alwavs been a general Republican.
On Oct. 27, 1870, IMr. Stephens was mar-
ried in Brushvalley township. Indiana county,
to Elizabeth Catharine McFarland, who was
born Feb. 15, 1844, daughter of Capt. Daniel
McFarland, of near Mechaniesburg. They
have had six children, namely : j\Iary Lo-
retta married Samuel E. Allison, now residing
in Indiana, Pa., and has three children,
Cliarles Herbert, George Miles and Nancy
Catherine (twins) ; Cora Ellen, who received
her education in the public schools and under
Professors Stewart and Campbell, is now the
wife of Prof. Joseph Weaver; George Her-
bert conducts the gristmill for his father;
Annabelle is at home ; Augusta Pearl, a gradu-
ate of Rowe Business College, of Johnstown.
Pa., is now holding a position as accountant
in that city ; William Daniel died Dec. 8, 1888.
Mr. Stephens is an active member of the Bap-
tist Church, of which he is a trustee.
]\Iarlin- Bingham Stephens, born May 10,
1860, on his father's farm in the village of
Dilltown. Indiana county, was reared there
and obtained his early education in the local
schools. Later he attended normal and select
school in the county, and taught school for
several years. Then he prepared himself for
the study of law at the Classical and Scientific
Institute of Mount Pleasant, Pa., and soon
after completing his studies there entered the
law department of the University of Michi-
gan, at Ann Arbor, on Oct. 1, 1884. He was
graduated from the law department of that
institution in June, 1886, with the degree of
LL. B. On May 5, 1886, he was admitted to
the bar and licensed to practice law in the
several courts of the State of .Michigan, upon
application and examination in the Twenty-
second Judicial district of that State. Re-
turning to Pennsylvania, he was admitted to
the bar of Wyoming county April 12, 1887,
and on May 16th of that year was admitted to
the bar of Luzerne county, at Wilkes-Barre,
where he opened an office and practiced for a
short time. He then removed to Johnstown,
Pa., where he has since been located, and
where he has attained a leading position in his
profession. He was admitted to the bar of
Cambria county, March 12, 1888, and was sub-
sequently admitted to practice in Indiana (his
native) county: on Oct. 13, 1890, he was ad-
mitted to practice in the Supreme court of
Pennsylvania in the Western district of Pitts-
burg, and on Sept, 25, 1900, was admitted to
practice in the District court of the United
States, In April, 1896. he was selected by
the city council as solicitor of the city of
Johnstown, for a term of two years, and was
again elected to that position in April, 1898,
and was still serving when, in November, 1898,
he was elected to the office of district attorney
for Cambria county. At the expiration of
the term of three years he entered upon an-
other, having been reelected, serving continu-
ously until January, 1905. Since 1896 he and
his younger brother, John Harris Stephens,
have been associated in the practice of law.
Mr. Stephens is a Republican in political al-
legiance. He was elected to the office of
president .judge of Cambria county, being the
47th Judicial district of Pennsylvania, in
November, 1911. and entered upon the duties
of that office Jan. 1, 1912, for a term of ten
years. He is unmarried.
John Harris Stephens, son of William S.
and Sarah Ann (Skiles) Stephens, was born
Oct. 1, 1868, at Dilltown, Indiana Co., Pa.,
and obtained his early education in the pub-
lic school, attending in the home district. He
afterward continued his studies at Armagh,
IMoimt Pleasant Academy, and the National
Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and in
1894 entered the University of Michigan, at
Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating from the law
department in 1896, with the last class al-
lowed to complete the course in two years.
Having been admitted to the bar in Cambria
county in June, 1897, sometime later to the
bar of his native county, Indiana, and the Su-
preme court of Pennsylvania, he has been en-
gaged in the practice of law at Johnstown ever
676
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
since, and is one of the distinguished members
of his profession in this section of Pennsyl-
vania. In addition to the duties incident to
a large law practice, Mr. Stephens has for
years had personal supervision of the exten-
sive stock farms o\vned by himself and
brother, IMarlin Bingham Stephens, at Dill-
town, Indiana Co., Pa., where the breeding
of Morgan horses and high-grade dairy cat-
tle is made a specialty, and it is the most
extensive breeding establishment of its kind
in the State.
On Nov. 8, 1899, Mr. Stephens was married
to Susan Thatcher Samuel, daughter of Eben
and Emma A. (Garman) Samuel, of Johns-
town, Pa. They have five children : Mary
A. F., William S., Marlin Bingham, Jr., John
Harris, Jr., and Susan Thatcher, and reside
at No. 41 Osborne street, Johnstown, Penn-
sylvania.
Olive Frances Stephens, daughter of Wil-
liam S. and Sarah Ann (Skiles) Stephens,
was married May 21, 1889, to Dr. Louis Henry
Mayer, who was born March 8, 1862, in Johns-
town, Pa., and is a successful physician, en-
joying a large and lucrative practice. They
have since made their home on the southwest
corner of Lincoln and Market streets, Johns-
town. They have four children: Louis
Henry, who graduated from Jefferson Medi-
cal College, in June, 1913; Olive Frances, a
graduate of Chevy Chase College and Serai-
nary, Washington, D. C. ; William Frederick,
a senior at Princeton LTniversity; and Steph-
ens, a senior in the Johnstown high school.
McFARLAND. John and Elizabeth (Mc-
Millan) McFarland were natives of Ireland,
and came with their family to America in the
early part of the last century, settling in
1803 in Indiana county. Pa., on the farm now
occupied by Michael Stiles. In a short time
they removed to a farm in Brushvalley town-
ship near by, containing 400 acres, improved
this land, and erected buildings, and raised
and maintained their family thereon. John
McFarland died in 1823, at" the age of fifty-
three, his widow passing away in 1841, at the
age of seventy. They had children as fol-
lows : Robert, deceased ; Daniel ; John, de-
ceased ; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife
of Samuel Stewart ; Mary ; William, who mar-
ried a Miss Sutton ; and James, who married
Sarah McCartney, who was born Aug. 30,
1815, daughter of John and Sarah (Bryan)
McCartney.
Daniel McFarland, son of John, was born
in 1800 in the Tuscarora valley, in MiflBin
county, Pa., and died in 1894. He was con-
nected with the State militia many years,
serving ten years as lieutenant and ten years
as captain. He married Sarah Kennedy, and
his children were: William, who married
Ella Young (he was a soldier in the Civil
war) ; Elizabeth Catharine, who married
George M. Stephens; Isabelle, who married
William Asbury Stephens; Ann Amelia, who
married John McKesson, who is now deceased ;
and John, who married Laura Frankhouser.
HON. SILAS M. CLARK, LL. D., late
Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl-
vania, was born at Elderton, Armstrong Co.,
Pa., in 1834. His ancestors were of the
sturdy Scotch-Irish race, which probably as
much as any other has contributed to the
glory and progi-ess of the State and country.
These ancestors went to western Pennsylvania
from the Cumberland valley, where in the
early affairs of the Commonwealth they occu-
pied an honorable position.
Capt. James Clark, from whom the Judge
was directly descended, was an officer in the
war of the Revolution, and after the close of
that heroic contest settled near Hannastown,
Westmoreland county, the first place west of
the Allegheny mountains where justice was
administered according to the forms of law.
When the Indians under the famous Seneca
chief invaded the settlement, burned the
town and massacred the larger part of the
population in 1782, Captain Clark was among
those who sought refuge in the fort near by,
and prepared to defend it against an ex-
pected attack. But the attack was not made,
for, after plundering the town and reducing
it to ashes, the Indians withdrew. Soon after
this event Captain Clark removed to South
Bend, Armstrong county, where he resided
many years, and died leaving a numerous
and respected progeny.
Judge Clark's maternal ancestor was Fer-
gus Moorhead, who, like Captain Clark, went
to Westmoreland county from the Cumber-
land valley. As early as 1772 Mr. Moorhead
with his family settled near the present town
of Indiana. He was more than usually well
provided with the goods of this world, and
brought to the new home, where land was
abundant, a liberal supply of cattle, sheep
and other domestic animals and fowls to stock
his farm, and implements to cultivate it. Like
Captain Clark, he had dangers to encounter.
The forests were overrun with savage beasts
and peopled with still more savage men. For
four vears, however, the family was unmo-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
677
lested, but in July. 1776. while returning from
the fort at Kittanning. then under command
of his brother Samuel, his horse was shot
under him, and he was taken prisoner by a
band of Indians, who carried him to Quebec,
and sold him to the British. His wife and
children, thinking him dead, left Indiana and
returned to the Cumberland valle.y. An ac-
count of his capture appeared in the Gazette,
Benjamin Franklin's paper, the files of which
are still preserved by the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania. At the close of the Revo-
lution, ilr. Moorhead and his family returned
to the border home from which they had been
so summarily driven five years before, and
there, at the advanced age of seventy-nine, he
died. Among his descendants are the pros-
perous and wealthy ironmasters of Philadel-
phia of that name, and others who have dis-
tinguished themselves in professional and
business life.
In 1835 James Clark, Esq.. the father of
Judge Clark, removed from Elderton and set-
tled in Indiana, the county seat of Indiana
count.v, where he resided in the enjoyment
of the respect of his fellow-men, by whom he
was honored with every evidence of con-
fidence and esteem, and had conferred upon
him many offices and positions of trust. He
died in September, 1891.
With such an ancestor it is not surprising
that Judge Clark exhibited the characteris-
tics that distinctly marked him. namely,
warmness of heart, courage, tenacity of pur-
pose and public spirit. He was essentially a
man of the people, and through all his busy
life found pleasure in serving his neighboi-s.
His own success only multiplied the oppor-
tunities to help those less fortunate, and he
was as free with his means in the dispensing
of charity as he was generous in giving aid
and assistance to deserving young men enter-
ing the struggle of life.
Judge Clark obtained his rudimentary edu-
cation in the public schools of Indiana, in
which he continued as a pupil until he was
sufficiently equipped with learning to enter
the academy of the town. There he pursvied
the course of study that prepared him to enter
the junior class of Jefferson College at Can-
onsburg. Pa., from which he was gi-aduated
in 1852. standing fifth in a class of about
sixty members. He was an adept in mathe-
matics, a fluent and forceful speaker, and in
literature excelled. In recognition of this the
Philo Literary Society invited him to deliver
the valedictory address on the occasion of the
semi-centennial anniversary of the college.
After his graduation Judge Clark became
an instructor in the academy in which he
had been prepared for college and continued
in this position for two years. He entered
into the work with much spirit and earnest-
ness, and aroused among the pupils the great-
est enthusiasm. The s.ympathy with school
work which was implanted dui-ing that period
never abated. Soon after he was admitted to
the bar, and while a young and struggling
lawyer, he was elected director of the public
schools of the town, and for twelve successive
years served the people faithfully and effi-
ciently in that important capacity. Later on
he became one of the projectors and founders
of the Normal School at Indiana, of which
he was from the first a member of the board
of trustees and most of the time president
of that body. The great .success of the insti-
tution is attibuted largely to his intelligent
efforts in its behalf. In recognition of his
long and faithful service in the interests of
educational progress Lafayette College in
1886 conferred upon him the honorary degree
of Doctor of Laws, and the compliment was
never bestowed upon a more deserving re-
cipient, or the judicial ermine more appro-
priate for the person of anyone.
After two years of service as an educator
Judge Clark "abandoned the profession and
entered the law office of William M. Stewart,
a prominent lawyer of Indiana, and in 1857,
at the age of twenty-three years, was admit-
ted to practice at the bar of Indiana county.
Then, as now, the bar of the county embraced
some of the strongest lawv^ers in the State,
but the young aspirant for legal honors was
not long'in making a place for himself among
the most successful, and it is a matter of rec-
ord that during the ten years preceding liis
elevation to the Supreme bench not a single
case of importance was tried in the county in
which he did not appear as counsel. His
fame was not limited to his own county,
either, and during the period of his success-
ful practice he received many tempting offers
to conduct important cases tried elsewhere.
But. as a rule, all such offers were declined,
for unless the persons interested were per-
sonal friends or home clients he preferred to
attend to his extensive and lucrative practice
in his own district rather than go to other
fields.
In his law practice Judge Clark was al-
wavs a clear and profound thinker, a strong
and logical reasoner. and an eloquent advo-
cate of surpassing power. It was a hopeless
case, indeed, where he failed to secure a
678
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
favorable judgment or verdict. Whether
arguing questions of law before a court, or
questions of fact before a jury, the strong
points of his case were so strongly and
forcibly presented that the weak ones were
likely to be lost sight of altogether. Nor was
it in the trial of causes alone that he ex-
celled. Contracts, wills and other legal
papers prepared by him were so skillfully ex-
ecuted, contingencies so carefully provided
for and guarded against, and their terms so
clearly expressed, that they never gave rise
to litigation by reason of their ambiguity.
Judge Clark inherited his political convic-
tions, as his other characteristics, from his
ancestry, and from boyhood was a Democrat.
"While he held it to be both the right and duty
of every citizen to maintain his political con-
victions fearlessly, and share the labors and
responsibilities of citizenship, he was never an
office-seeker, and, with the exception of mem-
bership in the Constitutional Convention of
1873 he never held any office except that of
Justice of the Supreme court. As a member
of the Constitutional Convention he served
on the following committees : Declaration of
Rights. Private Corporations and Revision
and Adjustment. Of that body of Pennsyl-
vania's representative men he ranked as one
of the ablest, and Mr. Buckalew, himself a
member, in his very able work, "The Consti-
tution of Pennsylvania," referring to the dis-
cussion of the judiciary article, makes spe-
cial mention of some of Mr. Clark's speeches.
remarking that they were among the ablest
upon the subjects discussed. During his long
career at the bar he was frequently invited to
accept nominations for office, but invariably
declined, with the exception named and one
other. He was nominated for president judge
of the judicial district composed of Indiana,
Westmoreland and Armstrong counties, and
was defeated by Hon. James A. Logan, the
adverse majority in the district being too
great for one of even his popularity to over-
come. His election to the Supreme bench oc-
curred in November. 1882, and he entered
upon the duties of his office in January fol-
lowing, serving for a period of about eight
years, when he died.
Judge Clark met and discharged the duties
of advanced citizenship in such a manner as
to win the respect, esteem and confidence of
all classes of his fellow-men. Every enter-
prise having for its object the advancement
of the general welfare or the improvement
of his town found in him an energetic and
active supporter. We have spoken of his
interest in education. His interest in agri-
culture was not less; he took time in the
midst of his large practice not only to culti-
vate a fine farm that he then owned, but to
serve for several years as president of the
Agricultural Society of his county, then one
of the most fiourishing in the State. Perhaps
the very best evidence of the esteem in which
Judge Clark was held by his fellow citizens
in his county is the fact that in the election
to the Supreme bench they gave him a ma-
jority of one hundred and fifty-one votes over
his Republican competitor, whilst the Repub-
lican candidate for governor at the same
time had a majority of two thousand. In
his judicial capacity he stood very high, and
was regarded universall.v by the profession
as one of the ablest members of the court.
His opinions, singularly short, were couched
in the clearest and choicest language, and as
readily understood by the layman as the law-
yer. Many of them received favorable com-
ment from the law critics in the leading
periodicals in the country, and all of them
were models of forceful and graceful rhetoric.
Upon the death of the late Hon. Morrison
R. Waite, chief justice of the United States
Supreme court, the leading newspapers of the
State, irrespective of party, pointed to Judge
Clark as a man eminently qualified to fill the
exalted position thus made vacant. In the
support of their petition it was argued that
he was in full vigor of intellect and physical
strength, young enough to promise a pro-
ti'acted period of useful work, and old enough
to bring to the position ripe experience, and
an able and honorable record, both at the bar
a lid on the bench.
On April 26, 1859, Judge Clark married.
Clara Elizabeth Moorhead, daughter of Wil-
liam Moorhead, late of Pittsburg, Pa. Her
death, which occurred Jan. 17. 1887. was the
one great sorrow in Judge Clark's otherwise
happy and successful life. To speak publicly
of a nature so modest and simple, and a life
so private as Mrs. Clark's, seems almost a
wrong, but a sketch of her husband, however
slight, would be incomplete without refer-
ence to the woman whose gentleness and cour-
age and wisdom were the good angels that,
from his earliest manhood, breathed their
benedictions upon him. Mrs. Clark was one
of the women whose lives are noiseless, who
live at home — she was a wife, a mother, yet
her character was so firm, tranquil and self-
possessed, that it would have met without
doubt or hesitation any form of suffering for
conscience or duty. Her absolute truthful-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
679
ness was a standing rebuke to falseness and
pretense, and the memory of her loyalty and
unselfishness is a perpetual blessing. In his
beautiful home life Judge Clark's warm do-
mestic and social nature found its truest ex-
pression. There he met his friends and neigh-
bors in genial intercoui*se and hospitality,
and there, amid the highest charms of life,
his children grew to maturity. He died Nov.
20. 1891.
JUDGE JOHN P. BLAIR, late of Indiana,
was a noteworthy descendant of a time-hon-
ored family and a fitting representative of
that gi-and old Scotch-Irish race so distin-
guished for high moral character, untiinching
courage and undying patriotism. He ranked
high among the foremost jurists and ablest
lawyers of Pennsylvania. He was born at
Indiana. Indiana Co., Pa., son of Rev. David
and Margaret (Steele) Blair. March 28, 1835.
Among the liberty-loving and God-fearing
Scotch-Irish Presbyterian families of the
North of Ireland was the Blair family from
which Judge Blair was descended. His pa-
ternal grandparents, Hugh and Jane Blair,
were meinbers of the Donagar Associate Pres-
byterian Church f.nd were highly respected
in the community in which they resided.
They were the parents of eight sons and
three daughters. They came to the United
States in 1802, and after spending one win-
ter at Steubenville, Ohio, removed to near
Hartstown, Crawford Co., Pa., where Hugh
Blair purchased a 400-acre tract of land.
Here he died Jan. 5, 1837. when in the
ninety-sixth year of his age. His wife had
preceded him to the grave, having passed
away on March 10, 1835, aged ninety yeai's.
Rev. David Blair, eighth son of Hugh and
Jane Blair, was a graduate of the oldest theol-
ogical seminary of the new world and the
founder of the United Presbyterian Church in
Indiana and adjoining counties. He was born
in the parish of Donagar, in Antrim, Ireland,
in November. 1786. In early life he was
somewhat delicate. Having fitted for col-
lege with Rev. Mr. McLean, he entered Jeffer-
son College in 1810 and would have graduated
in the class of 1812 if his health had not
given away early in that year. Recovering
somewhat, he spent the required four sessions
at Dr. Anderson's theological seminary, was
ordained in October, 1818, to the ministrs^ of
the Associate Presbyterian Church, and in-
stalled as pastor of the united congregations
of Indiana. Crooked Creek and Conemaugh.
He spent nearly half a century in laboring
for these churches, anil as the result of his
labors nearly twenty congregations were built
up out of them — an unparalleled fact in the
history of the United Presbyterian denomin-
ation. While inheriting the sturdy independ-
ence and iron-willed determination of his own
race, he was remarkably liberal, chai-itable and
enlightened in his views. Rev. W. S. Owens
pays this just and eloquent tribute to his
character :
' ' He resisted the narrow spirit of exclusive-
ness and advocated always the broad princi-
ples of Christian charity and unity. No man
worked harder to secure that happy union of
1858 (Union of Associate and Associate Re-
formed Churches) which gave birth to our
United Presbyterian Church. In the great
Civil war he was a Union man and his pulpit
gave forth no uncertain sound on the mighty
issues then pending."
In 1821 Rev. David Blair married Margaret
Steele, of Huntingdon, who was a help meet
to him in the fullest sense of that term.
After a long life of quiet and unostentatious
usefulness she died April 6, 1865, when in the
sixty-fourth year of her age. In 1862 he re-
signed from active pa.storal work. In 1882,
in the ninety-fifth year of his life and in the
land of his noble lifework as an able minister
and excellent man, death quietly summoned
him.
John P. Blair was reared at Indiana, and
after completing his academic studies entered
Washington College, from which he was grad-
uated in the class of 1852. In 1853 he en-
tered the law office of his eldest brother, Hon.
Samuel S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg. and after
the required course of reading was admitted
to the bar in 1856. During the ensuing year
he located at New Castle, Lawrence county,
this state, where he practiced until 1859. when
he was elected district attorney of that county.
He resigned when the Civil war broke out aiid
enlisted in Company P, 12th Regiment, Penn-
sylvania Volunteers. At the end of his three
months' term of service he reenlisted, and was
elected first lieutenant of Company I, 100th
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He held
this position until after the battles of second
Bull Run, Chantilly and Antietam, when the
company, whose ranks had been greatly
thinned by the battles through which it had
passed, was consolidated with Company G,
and he was commissioned captain of the new-
formed company, which was designated as
Company G. When Hilton Head and Beau-
fort were captured, in the fall of 1861, he was
detailed from his company to act as provost
680
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
marshal and judge advocate general of the
Port Royal district, which position he held
until his brigade was sent north to join Me-
Clellan on the Peninsula. He was twice
wounded. At the first assault of the enemy's
earthworks in the rear of Fort Sumter, in
Charleston harbor, a grape-shot struck his
sword and inflicted a wound in his side, and
at the second Bull Run battle, where his com-
pany suffered severe loss, he received a pain-
ful gun-shot wound. After passing through
the campaign against Vicksburg, under
Grant, and the campaign in east Tennessee,
under Burnside, he suiTered from a fever, the
seeds of which were sown at Vicksburg, and
which clung to him so tenaciously as to even-
tually disable him for further service, and he
was honorably discharged May 31, 1864.
Soon afterward and before his own recovery
his mother died, leaving his father alone —
the other children being married and residing
elsewhere, and at the request of his father he
left New Castte and commenced the practice
of his profession at Indiana, when his health
was sufficiently restored, in the fall of 1865.
He was soon employed in important cases and
in a short time attained a high standing at the
bar. He tried his cases upon their merits,
became an impressive, earnest and siiccessful
jury pleader and developed those qualities so
essential to a calm, unbiased and unimpas-
sioned consideration of legal matters. His
ability, learning and thorough knowledge of
the law recommended him to the public as
capable of filling the highest judicial position
within the gift of the people of Indiana
county, and in 1874 he was elected president
judge' of the Fortieth Judicial district of
Pennsylvania, composed of the county of
Indiana. When Judge Blair took his seat on
the bench he found the business of the dis-
trict many years behind, owing to the fact
that the county had previous to his election
been included, with Armstrong and West-
moreland counties, in the Tenth Judicial dis-
trict of Pennsylvania, and its judge had found
it impossible to keep up the business of three
counties. Judge Blair entered upon the
duties of his office with the purpose and am-
bition of disposing of this accumulated mass
of business, still further increased by the
financial disturbances commencing in the fall
of 1873, with such rapidity as would be con-
sistent with care and accuracy, and would
leave the dockets entirely clear at the end of
his term. It was no ordinary task, but a
labor of gigantic proportions; yet he suc-
ceeded in its accomplishment and left a clean
docket to his successor in office at the end of
his ten-year term. He decided causes upon
their merits alone after such careful and
thorough examination of every authority bear-
ing upon them as the circumstances would
allow, and by his entire impartiality and able
decisions won the esteem of the public and at-
tained high standing as a judge before the
Supreme court. The records of his district
will show that, notwithstanding the number of
jury cases tried by him, he has the rare dis-
tinction of never being reversed in any of
them. At the end of his term, in 1885, he re-
sumed the practice of law in Indiana, which
he continued successfully, his work extending
into various other counties and before the
Supreme court of Pennsylvania. Judge Blair
was a regular attendant of the Presbyterian
Church and a member of the Union Veteran
Legion. He was a stockholder, and director
and solicitor and president, of the Firet
National Bank of Indiana. He had one of
the finest residences and most beautiful homes
in Indiana county.
On Feb. 14, 1866, Judge Blair married
Elizabeth Sutton, daughter of James and
Sarah Sutton, of Indiana. They became the
parents of three children, two sons and one
daughter: Margaret S., James S. and David.
In politics Judge Blair ever steadfastly held
to the principles of the Republican party. As
a lawyer he was well read and easily gi'asped
the salient points of his cases. As a counselor
his comprehensive knowledge of the general
principles of law rendered his advice very
valuable and as a jury pleader he was logical
in argument and convincing in manner. Be-
fore public bodies or in large assemblages and
important gatherings he was a strong and im-
pressive speaker, clothing logical arguments
in appropriate and eloquent language. He
died Jan. 19, 1913.
CHESTER MUNSON LINGLE, general
manager of the Graeeton Coke Company, of
Graceton, Pa., and president of the Homer
City National Bank, is a native of central
Pennsylvania, having been born at Osceola
Mills. " Clearfield coimty, July 11, 1874, son
of L. G. and Gertrude A. (Munson) Lingle.
The father of Mr. Lingle, who died in 1886,
was a native of Center county, and became
u well-known mining engineer and coal op-
erator. He served as a soldier during the
Civil war. He married Gertrude A. Munson,
daughter of Chester Munson, and a descend-
ant of one of the oldest and best-known fam-
ilies of Hartford, Conn. ; her great-grand-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
681
father, Almond ilimson, served as a soldier
during the Revolutionary war.
The boyhood days of Chester il. Lingle
were spent at Philipsburg, where he attended
the graded and high schools. The death of his
father occurred when he was but twelve years
of age. During his vacations, in the summer
months, when the other lads of his acquain-
tance were engaged in recreation, young
Lingle worked as a trapper in the coal mines,
following this occupation for two seasons.
Desiring to follow the vocation of his father,
he then started to study mining engineering
under A. V. Hoyt, who was a well-known min-
ing engineer at Philipsburg, and continued
with that gentleman until 1899, when he ac-
cepted a position with the American Coke
Company, of Fayette county. He rose to the
position of chief engineer with that concern,
but in 1901 left to become chief engineer of
the Sharon Coke Company, at Ronco, Fay-
ette county, and two years later took the po-
sition of chief engineer with the Briar Hill
Coke Company, also of Fayette county. At
the above named places plants were con-
structed and various extensive improvements
made under his supervision. In 190-4 he ac-
cepted the position of superintendent of the
Graceton Coke Company, of Graceton, In-
diana county, and in 1907 was made general
manager of the concern, succeeding Col. Ever-
hart Eerier. During his administration of
affaii-s the growth and development of the
town and plant have been marked. A num-
ber of new houses have been erected, in ad-
dition to a fine large general store and the
Methodist Episcopal and Roman Catholic
churches, plant No. 2 has been constructed
and the school enlarged, and the population
has increased twenty-five per cent. The town
now has over 160 homes, and over 250 hands,
of difi'erent nationalities, are employed in the
company's plant. Mr. Lingle takes a deep
and active interest in the growth and pros-
perity of the town and the welfare of its
people, is a stanch advocate of education,
and as such is serving as school director, and
as a firm believer in the worth of good roads
is acting as supervisor of Center township.
In 1904 he was appointed postmaster at Grace-
ton, under President Roosevelt's administra-
tion, and still continues to act in that ca-
pacity. In his political views he is a stanch
Republican. Fraternally he is connected with
Moshannon Lodge. No. 391, F. & A. M.. and
Clearfield Chapter, R. A. M., and also holds
membership in the Sons of the American Rev-
olution, the Pennsylvania department of the
Sons of Veterans, the American Institution of
Alining Engineers, the Cosmopolitan Club of
Indiana, Pa., and the Pittsburg Athletic As-
sociation. He was one of the organizers and
is president of the Indiana County Automo-
bile Club. He was one of the organizers and
one of the first directors of the Homer City
National Bank, of which he served as vice-
president for two years; in June, 1911, he
was elected its president, succeeded himself in
that office in Januaiy, 1912, and has contin-
ued to hold this position of great trust and
responsibility to the present time, to the. gen-
eral satisfaction of officials and depositors.
Mr. Lingle in religion is connected with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, which he has
served as a member of the board of trustees,
and in all circles of activity in Center town-
ship is a man who has the respect and esteem
of those with whom he comes in contact. His
duties in the various relations of life are nu-
merous and onerous, leaving him little time
for recreation, but when he feels that he has
earned a rest he takes a vacation and goes on
a hunting and fishing trip, being very fond
of both sports.
In October, 1902, ]Mr. Lingle was married,
in Fayette countv. Pa., to Loretta P. Neff,
daughter of Maj."" Gen. W. Neff, M. D., and
three children have been born to this union,
namely: Loretta Neft', Gertrude Munson and
Carolyn.
WILSON C. DAVIS, of Saltsburg, Indi-
ana county, has been interested in the lumber
business there for over a quarter of a cen-
tury and is one of the notably successful men
of the borough. He was born Oct. 24. 1848,
in Allegheny, Pa., son of George and Martha
(Crawford) Davis, and is of Scotch-Irish
extraction on both sides.
Mr. Davis's paternal great-grandparents
had seven children, born as follows: Betsy,
April 5, 1776 ; Thomas, Feb. 15, 1778 : Sarah,
Feb. 5, 1780; William, Mav 20, 1782; Sam-
uel, June 7, 1785; Joshua, Oct. 20, 1787;
Reason, May 24, 1790.
Joshua Davis, bom in Ireland Oct. 20,
1787. was the gi-andfather of Wilson C. Davis.
Coming to this country he settled in Wash-
ington county. Pa., where he purchased a
farm and resided until his death. His wife
was also Scotch-Irish, and they had the fol-
lowing children: William, born Oct. 16,
1810 ; Lucinda, Feb. 2, 1812 ; George, July 23,
1815; Eliza Jane, Aug. 25, 1822; Margaret
Anne, July 28, 1825.
George Davis, son of Joshua, was born
682 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
July 23, 1815, in Washington county, Pa., and L. Douglas, of Allegheny county, daughter
died Dec. 14, 1870, in Peters township, that of Thomas and Mary (Wright) Douglas,
county. During the early part of his life he farming people of Washington county, Pa.,
ran a boat on the Ohio river, plying between both of whom were natives of that county.
Pittsburg and Cincinnati. Leaving the river Mr. and Mrs. Davis attend the United Pres-
he purchased a farm and followed agricul- byterian Church,
tural pursuits until his death. In 1838 he
married, in Allegheny city, Martha Crawford, ROBERT NELSON RAY has been associ-
a native of Kentucky, who died April 8, 1872, ated with the produce and cold storage busi-
aged fifty-four years, in Peters township. Mr. ness throughout his residence in the borough
and Mrs. Davis were members of the United of Indiana, where he settled in 1893. He is
Presbyterian Church, and in polities he was now president of the Indiana Wholesale Com-
a Republican. They had a family of six chil- pany, who handle groceries and produce. Mr.
dren : Mary Jane married Dunning Hart, of Ray is a native of Indiana county, born Dec.
Washington county, and died April 20, 1911 ; 28, 1854, in Rayne township. His grand-
they had six children, five sons and one daugh- father, John Ray, a native of Ireland, came
ter. Margaret Anna married J. F. Scott, of to the United States when about forty years
Washington county, and had six children, of age, and settling in Indiana county. Pa.,
William H., who died March 19, 1901, in became engaged as a cattle dealer and drover,
Washington, Pa., married Lucy Fife, of Al- also following farming to some extent. He
legheny county, and had five children. Wil- died in 1865, at the age of eighty-eight years.
son C. is mentioned below. Martha Wilson His wife, whose maiden name was Moore,
married A. M. Wilson and (second) J. W. died in 1854. They were members of the
Pollock, and had six children by her first Presbyterian Church.
marriage. George B., bom June 10, 1856, Robert R. Ray, father of Robert Nelson
formerly in partnership with his brother Wil- Ray, was bom in Ireland, and was an infant
son C, is now a contractor and builder of when brought to this country by his parents.
Twin Falls, Idaho; he married Anna M. He obtained his education in the public
Wright, and had three children. schools of Indiana county, and taught school
Wilson C. Davis passed his early life at for a few terms, after which he took to farm
the family home in Washington county, Pa., work. He also learned the trade of carpenter,
working on the farm, and then for some years which he followed for many years. He mar-
was engaged in building, until he became in- ried Agnes Dick, and the following children
terested in the lumber business. In 1886, in were born to them : William D. ; John M. ;
company with his brother George B. Davis Mathew; Sadie B., wife of Thomas Dick:
and 0. R. Lake, he started the lumber busi- Minnie A., wife of J. A. Creps ; Elizabeth, wife
ness at Saltsburg with which he has since of William Borland; Maggie B., wife of
been associated, and which has been his prin- Charles Zehner; Robert Nelson; and one that
cipal interest in life. The firm of Davis died in infancy.
Brothers & Co. was organized in the spring of The parents were members of the Presby-
1886. but George B. Davis is now in business terian Church, which Mr. Ray served for sev-
in Idaho and Wilson C. Davis is the only eral years as elder. He died in 1889, sur-
member of the original firm retaining a share viving his wife, whose death occurred in 1884.
in the business, which is still conducted under Robert Nelson Ray began his education in
the firm name of Davis Brothers & Co. The the public schools of Indiana county, and
planing mill and shops occupy a favorable lo- later attended Eldersridge Academy. After
cation, and the product consists of lumber, teaching school in Indiana county for six
doors, sash and moldings. This firm has a years he went West, and taughtfor five years,
high reputation for high-class work, and the He then became interested in live stock deal-
business has shown a continuous increase from ing, also buying and selling grain, and sub-
the very beginning, occupying a leading place sequently engaged in the mercantile business
among the important industries of the local- for about one year at Lawrence, Kans. Af-
ity. ]\Ir. Davis's ability, no less than his high ter that he was in Nebraska for a time, and
character and intelligent interest in the gen- later in Iowa, where he was in the produce
eral welfare, make him one of the valuable business, there learning the details of that
citizens of the borough. He has been school line of trade, which he has since so success-
director for twelve years. f^dly followed. Coming back East, he settled
On Nov. 27, 1872, Mr. Davis married Maria in the borough of Indiana in 1893, and form-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
683
ing a partnership with C. A. Buchanan
started the first cold storage business ever at-
tempted in Indiana county. This association
lasted for two years, at the end of which time
Mr. Ray bought out his partner and continued
the business alone for about ten years. In
1905 he organized a company which was in-
corporated under the name of the Indiana
Cold Storage & Ice Company, capital stock
$50,000. The Indiana Electric Company
merged into the Indiana Cold Storage & Ice
Company under the name of the Indiana Pro-
vision Company, continuing thus for six
years, when it was again incorporated, with
a capital stock of $175,000. In 1912 the last
named concern sold out to a New York or-
ganization, now known as the Penn Public
Service. Mr. Ray was president and manager
of the cold storage plant for four years, and
it prospered greatly under his direction. In
1911 he formed a partnership with James N.
Elder, under the name of Ray & Elder, deal-
ers in produce, and they did a thriving busi-
ness in the produce line until 1912, when the
association was dissolved. Then, in connec-
tion with John Bennett, Mr. Ray established
the Indiana Wholesale Company, which was
incorporated May 29, 1912, with $100,000
capital. Mr. Ray became president of the
company and Mr. Bennett secretary and
treasurer, and they have had a notably suc-
cessful start, now employing from ten to fif-
teen men. They have a fine new plant, the
business being located in a fireproof building
principally of steel construction, 50 by 200
feet in dimensions and three stories in height.
The walls are of hollow tile and buff brick,
the roof steel-trussed with asbestos and slate
covei-ing, the floors of reinforced concrete, and
the structure is a credit to the borough and
to its owners. In connection with gi-oceries
the Indiana Wholesale Company handles large
quantities of produce.
Mr. Ra.y has shown his business ability in
the management of every enteiprise with
which he has been associated, and he is not
only one of those who keep abreast of the
times, but a leader in adopting new methods
that promise good results, and clever at de-
vising means of gaining and holding trade.
He is a director of the Y. M. C. A. at Indi-
ana and a member of its building committee.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1889 Mr. Ray married Isabella Hastie,
daughter of John and Elizabeth Hastie, of
Indiana county. They have had five children :
Robert H., Nelson DeWitt, Belle Dwight, and
two who died in infancy.
GEORGE J. NEW, hardware merchant of
Blairsville, was born in Baldwin township,
Allegheny Co., Pa., Oct. 10, 1846, son of Cas-
per and Eva (Snyder) New.
Casper New was born in Germany, as was
his wife. They were married at Pittsburg,
Pa., and began farming there in the South
Side Bottoms, thus continuing the remainder
of their lives, he dying in Forward township,
Allegheny Co., Pa., at the age of seventy-two
years. His wife passed away when George J.
New was only thirteen years old, being then
forty-three years of age. There were two
sons and six daughters born to Casper New
and his wife, all of whom survive.
George J. New was brought up on his
father's farm, where he attended school, re-
maining at home until he was twenty-three
years old. At that time he went into a brew-
ing business and continued it for five years,
when he sold and removed to Elizabethtown,
Pa., there conducting a general store for three
years. Leaving that place he went to East
Elizabeth and operated a grocery at Lock No.
3 and also a meat shop and hotel, being thus
engaged for three years. Selling, he went to
Homestead, Pa., and rented a farm which he
operated for nine years, at the end of that
time embarking in the milk business, and also
becoming interested in contracting. In 1890
he located at Blairsville, on the Westmore-
land county side, and bought the Jacob Graff
fann of 300 acres known as theBaird place.
Until 1905 he operated it, and then began
handling farm supplies and feed, and later
hardware, in conjunction with his implement
business, which he had started in 1896. In
1897 he bought the Moorhouse property and
continued to operate successfully at the old
mill until 1906, when he came to his present
location. He is assisted in his business by his
four sons, John G., Charles, Frank and Ed-
ward, who have been associated with liim
since 1897.
In addition to his business interests, l\Ir.
New owns 112 acres of valuable farm land in
Crawford county, Pennsylvania.
In 1867 Mr. New was married to Catherine
Miller, daughter of Jacob R. Miller, of MifBin
township, Allegheny Co., Pa. Thirteen chil-
dren have been born of this marriage : Jacob
and Harry (twins), Edward, Joseph, William
Harmon, John G., Charles, Matilda, Frank,
Margaret, Gertrude, Egbert and Catherine.
Jacob died at the age of thirty-three years.
684
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Egbert at the age of niueteen years, and
Catherine at the age of twenty-two years.
Mr. New has twenty-six living grandchildren ;
three are deceased. The family all belong to
the Catholic Church, of which Mr. New has
been a member all his life.
Mr. New has reached his present enviable
position in the business world through hard
work and wise saving. When he started out
in life he had to borrow five dollars to go
to housekeeping and his present comfortable
circumstances have been attained through his
own efforts.
MICHAEL L. CARNAHAN, contractor
and builder, for over thirty years a resident
of Creekside, was born in Washington town-
ship, Indiana Co., Pa., March 9, 1855, son of
Adam and Elizabeth (Kunkle) Carnahan.
Matthew Carnahan, paternal grandfather
of Michael L.. was originally a farmer of
Westmoreland county, removed with his fam-
ily to Indiana county at a very early date,
and settled in Washington township, where
he continued to farm throughout his life, also
engaging in rafting on the Susquehanna river.
He was buried in Center Church cemetery, as
is also his wife, who bore the maiden name of
Lillie Laughland and was a native of Ire-
land.
Adam Carnahan, father of Michael L. Car-
nahan, was born in Westmoreland county,
Pa., and accompanied his parents to Washing-
ton township, where the rest of his life was
spent iu tilling the soil, and where his death
occurred; he is buried in the family plot in
the Center Church cemetery. His widow still
survives, and is now eighty-four years old.
They had a family of eight sons and four
daughters, as follows: J. C, who passed
away in August, 1911, for several years a
prominent resident of Creekside, and one of
the first justices of the peace elected after the
place was incorporated as a borough ; Michael
L. ; Matthew, deceased, who was the firet of
the brothers to die ; Inez, wife of Scott Coch-
ran, of Turtle Creek ; a child who died in in-
fancy; George B., traveling salesman, a resi-
dent of Creekside ; John, engaged in the gen-
eral hardware business at Marion Center ; Ad-
dis, wife of Anthony Stutchel, of Washing-
ton township; Madison, also a resident of
Washington township, engaged in farming;
Dudley, living near Saltsburg, in Westmore-
land county, where he is engaged in selling
farming machinery ; Frank, operating the old
homestead, and also engaged in the farm im-
plement business ; and Lottie, residing at
home with her mother.
Michael L. Carnahan was educated in the
district schools of Washington township, at
first attending an old log schoolhouse. He
worked on the home farm until he was six-
teen years of age, at which time he started to
learn the carpenter's trade, with his uncle
David Carnahan. In addition to mastering
that trade he also learned that of stone-
cutter, which he has followed ever since, and
has worked at contracting and building
throughout western Pennsylvania, building
schools, residences, churches and business
structures, and at all times enjoying an en-
viable reputation for integrity and fair deal-
ing. He has been a resident of Creekside for
more than thirty years, and long before the
incorporation of that place as a borough
served iu the capacity of councilman of the
town. He helped to draft its by-laws, and in
1906 was elected constable, subsequently be-
ing reelected to the position on two different
occasions. He has been the incumbent of the
office for more than six years, and has given
the greatest satisfaction in his official ca-
pacity. In 1873 Mr. Carnahan joined the Na-
tional Guard of the State of Pennsylvania,
serving with that organization until 1877.
During the great Pittsburg strike he was un-
der the command of Gen. Harry White and
Capt. T. C. Laugherty.
On June 16, 1877, Mr. Carnahan was united
in marriage with Nannie J. Stutchel, who was
born in the town of Plumville, in East Ma-
honing township, Indiana Co., Pa., June 13,
1860, daughter of Christopher and Nancy
(Mahon) Stutchel. Her grandfather, Chris-
topher Stutchel, founded the family in Amer-
ica, coming to the Stutchel settlement in In-
diana county from Germany, at a very early
day. His son, Christopher, was born in South
Mahoning township, whence he enlisted in a
regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers for ser-
vice in the Union army during the Civil war,
and died in battle. He married Nancy ila-
hon, a member of a family which originated
in Ireland, and nine children were born to
them : Rebecca, who is deceased ; William, a
veteran of the Civil war, now residing in
Texas; Angeline, wife of Joseph Pierce, of
Indiana ; Matthias, deceased ; Calvin, of Pitts-
burg; Henry, deceased; Mrs. Carnahan; and
two who died in infancy.
To Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan have been born
eight children : J. L.. a fireman, living at
Creekside; Lorna E., wife of Torrance Greer,
of Latrobe, Pa. ; Vernie Mabel, wife of Em-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
685
est Myers, of Dixonville, Pa. ; Addie B., wife
of William Nofsker, a locomotive fireman, of
DuBois, Pa. ; Jesse MeCrea, living in Creek-
side ; Benjamin R.. engaged in railroad work
at Creekside ; Sophia JL, at home ; and
Thelma Charlotte.
Mr. Carnahan is a member of the Royal
Arcanum at Creekside, and with his wife and
family attends the Presbyterian Church.
THOMAS H. LONG is one of the leading
citizens of Blairsville, Indiana county, where
as president of the Blaii-sville National Bank
he has attained a position of acknowledged in-
fluence in the business world. He has been as-
sociated with banking interests throughout his
business life, and has been with the Blairsville
National Bank ever since it was organized.
Mr. Long is a native son of Blairsville, born
May 6. 1856, son of John G. and Margaret
Ann (Hotham) Long. His father was born
in 1828 at Pleasant Unity, in Westmoreland
county. Pa., the family moving to this region
from the eastern part of the State. He came
to Blaii-sville in 1851 and was a merchant
there for fifty yeai-s, and prominent in other
local activities, well known in Masonic circles,
and a member and officer of the M. E. Church.
He is now (1912) living in Blairsville, at the
age of eighty-three years. His wife, ilar-
garet Ann (Hotham), was of English extrac-
tion, her family coming from England and set-
tling in western Pennsylvania about 1824.
She died in 1889, at the age of fifty-one years.
Mr. and Mrs. Long had three children :
Thomas H. ; Mary Frances, of Blairsville ; and
Charles Wesley, deceased.
Thomas H. Long was reared and educated
in Blairsville and spent the early years of
his life in the mercantile business with his
father. On Nov. 1 1893, when the Blairs-
ville National Bank was organized, he was
one of the incorporators, and he was a member
of the original board of directors, his associ-
ates being John H. Devers, president, and
Robert il. Wilson, cashier; Thomas H. Long,
George Wilkinson, Dr. M. L. Miller, Dr. Wil-
liam Hunter, W. C. Richey, L. S. W. Ray and
John H. Devers, directors. The capital is
$50,000. In 1896 Mr. Long was elected presi-
dent, and Harry P. Rhoads has been cashier
since 1905. The board of directors at present
consists of Robert il. Wilson, L. S. W. Ray
(vice president), John H. Devers, G. M. Doty
and Thomas H. Long. The bank's statement
of 1912 shows deposits of over five hundred
thousand dollars. The new bank building,
which is modern in all its details, is 85 feet
long, and built of Cleveland grey stone and
brick, finished in Italian marble and solid
mahogany. It contains a "Tiseo" manganese
mob and burglar proof steel vault weighing
fifty tons, with six and one-half foot circular
door 16 inches thick and weighing ten tons.
Mr. Long's interest in the public affairs of
the borough has brought him into notice as a
thoroughly public-spirited citizen, one whose
intelligent comprehension of the needs of the
community makes his opinion of value. He
is a member of the M. E. Church.
HARRY P. RHOADS, cashier of the
Blairs\'ille National Bank, of Blairs\dlle, In-
diana county, entered that institution as clerk
in May, 1903, and has been connected with
the bank continuously since. His grandfather,
Jeremiah Rhoads, came to this part of Penn-
sylvania from Berks county, his father, John
W. Rhoads, li\ing here from 1858 until his
death.
John W. Rhoads was bom in Berks county
June 24, 1840. He was engaged in the mer-
cantile business for some time at Indiana,
Indiana county, and Livermore, Westmore-
land county, and then became station agent
for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at
Blairsville Intersection, Westmoreland coun-
ty, holding that position the rest of his life
— a period of twenty-eight 3'eai*s. His death,
which was accidental, occurred in 1899. He
married Amanda Bell, and they had children :
Maggie N. (died in childhood), Harrv P. and
Charles B.
Harry P. Rhoads was born at Indiana
Oct. 4, 1867, and there received his education.
For several years during his early manhood
he was engaged as a music teacher. He then
became a telegi-aph operator, and upon his
father's death succeeded him as agent at
Blairsville Intersection. In May, 1903, he
took a position as clerk in the Blairsville Na-
tional Bank, and in 1905 was made cashier,
which position he still holds. Mr. Rhoads has
won deserved recognition among his fellow
citizens of Blairsville as a responsible and
thoroughly reliable man, and the position he
has gained by his efficiency and integi'ity is
the best part of his success. He is a Mason
(Blue Lodge) and a member of the M. E.
Church, in the work of which he has been
quite prominent, at present serving as stew-
ard and treasurer.
On Sept. 25, 1890. :Mr. Rhoads married
Elizabeth Hill, daughter of Christopher and
Jemima Hill, and they had three children :
Ina Bell, now Mrs. George Skinner, whose
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
husband is a machinist of Bhiirsville; Stella
Celia, a graduate of the Indiana State nor-
mal school; and Mabel Edna, a graduate of
Blairsville high school. The mother of these
died May 16, 1899, at Blairsville Intersection,
and on June 5, 1901, Mr. Rhoads married
(second) Elizabeth Allison, daughter of Rob-
ert 0. and Catherine Allison, of Center town-
ship. To this union also have been born three
children: Eva Gladys, Myra Elizabeth and
John Robert.
BARCLAY S. SLOAN, cashier of the Citi-
zens' National Bank of Indiana, has been as-
sociated with that institution since 1906, and
before that was engaged as teller in the First
National Bank. On both paternal and mater-
nal sides he belongs to families which have
long been identified with this portion of Penn-
sylvania. His grandfather, William Sloan,
was born and reared in Armstrong county,
and was a farmer by occupation.
Rev. Barclay S. Sloan, father of Barclay
S. Sloan, was a Presbyterian minister for
more than forty years. He graduated at
Washington and' Jefferson College, Washing-
ton, Pa., in the class of I860, and had a long
and useful career. He married Cynthia Mc-
Comb, whose father, George McComb. was a
soldier in the war of 1812; after the war he
devoted himself to his trade of tanner and to
farming. Her grandfather. Gen. James Mc-
Comb, was a soldier in the Revolution, serv-
ing as an officer in the American army, and
was the first member of the Pennsylvania
Legislature elected from Indiana countv.
Mrs. Barclay S. Sloan died Sept. 17. 1902, Mr.
Sloan on Feb. 2, 1904. They were the par-
ents of three children: James H., Grace H.
(wife of Dr. J. A. Weamer) and Barclay S.
Barclay S. Sloan was born at Rock Island.
111.. Dec. 31, 1865, and grew to manhood in
Indiana comity. Pa., attending the public
schools and Greenville Academy. Commenc-
ing his biisiness career, be engaged in the
hardware business in the employ of J. M.
Stewart & Co., of Indiana, with whom he re-
mained for a period of twenty years. He
then accepted the position of teller in the
First National Bank of Indiana, holding same
for three years, at the end of which time, in
1906, he became teller in the Citizens' Na-
tional Bank. He was subsequently elected
cashier, which responsibility he still holds.
Mr. Sloan is a man of high personal char-
acteristics, efficient and faithful, and dis-
charges his duties with punctilious care. He
is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. lodge at In-
diana, and his religious association is with
the Presbyterian Church.
On June 7, 1892, Mr. Sloan was united in
marriage with Emma L. Prothero, of Indiana,
Pa., and they have one child, Cynthia.
JOHN W. CLARK. With the death of
John W. Clark on April 30, 1905, Indiana
county lost one of its most useful and suc-
cessful citizens. Mr. Clark's business life
was a strenuous one. In his path to success
many difBculties apparently insurmountable
were met and through untiring energy and
the exercise of good business judgment his
efforts were finally crowned with success. In
his private life there was no flaw. He was
a kindly gentleman, whose charm of person-
ality won him a host of friends, many of whom
sought his wise counsel in hours of perplexity
and distress.
Born on Christmas day, Dec. 25, 1845, on
a farm in Montgomery township, Indiana
Co., Pa., he was a son of Virtue and Cath-
erine (Grove) Clark, who were among the
early settlers and pioneers of northeastern
Indiana county, moving to this region by
wagon from York county. Virtue Clark was
born May 17, 1799, at New Haven, Conn.,
and died Feb. 7, 1863. He served an appren-
ticeship and engaged in the business of sil-
versmith, making clocks, etc., and made vari-
ous trips over the country selling clocks.
On one of these selling trips he met and mar-
ried, on June 10, 1827, Catherine Grove, of
Lewisberry, York Co., Pa., a daughter of
Samuel Grove, of that place. At Lewisberry
the following children were born to themr
Samuel, on March 30, 1828; Jane, Aug. 9,
1829; James, Oct. 20, 1830; Hannah, Jan.
7, 1832; Susan, June 13, 1834; Sylvester,
Dec. 19, 1835 : Luther M.. July 1, 1837 ; Al-
pheus B., Oct. 9, 1839.
In the spring of 1841 Mr. Clark moved
with his family to Montgomery township,
Indiana Co., Pa., where he continued to fol-
low his trade of silversmith. He was of a
jovial disposition, very popular with his
neighbors and associates, very entertaining'
with a fund of anecdote and experiences
gathered while on his many trips over the
countr}' from New Haven. He was a member
of the Masonic fraternity and a devout Chris-
tian. In Montgomery township one daughter
and two sons were born: Mary Catherine,
May 5, 1842, still living, unmarried ; John W.,
Dec. 25, 1845; and George Washington, who
died in early life.
Mrs. Catherine (Grove) Clark was bom in
'Mti
J^':
.^lr6^^:r'
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Lewisberry, York Co., Pa., March 5, 1807,
and died Sept. 10, 1893, in Indiana county.
She was the daughter of Samuel Grove of
that place, and her grandfather, Samuel
Grove, was born in Germany, near Holland,
where he was a large land owner. He came
to America, landing in New York, and emi-
grated to Lancaster county. Pa., where he
followed guusmithing and manufactured
edged tools in Fairview township, near Lew-
isberry borough. At the time he built his
shop there the Indians were still numerous.
He married Katy Ensminger. Their son, Sam-
uel Grove, married Hannah Reinhart, a native
of New York, daughter of Joseph and Susan
(Danner) Reinhart, and they had a family of
twelve children.
Samuel Clark, eldest son of Virtue and
Catherine Clark, born March 30, 1828, died
April 2, 1891. After reaching maturity he
engaged in lumbering and farming. He was
also an expert riverman, being known as
through pilot on the Susquehanna river, tak-
ing timber rafts down the river its entire
lengtli. This was considered a very hazard-
ous undertaking and anyone competent to
engineer safely one of these rafts was much
sought after, and his services were always
in great demand. He had numerous narrow
escapes from total destruction, both of life
and property, intrusted to him, but always
managed to come through safely with both.
He married Lavina Bostic, to which union
four children, one daughter and three sons,
were born, Jeanetta, Edward, Merrel and
James. At the outbreak of the Civil war he
enlisted in the 206th Pennsylvania Volun-
teer Infantry for one year. This regiment
was with the Army of the Potomac. and saw
some severe service.
Jane Clark, the second child of Virtue and
Catherine Clark, was born Aug. 9, 1829. Early
in life she allied herself with the IMethodist
Protestant Church and engaged very earn-
estly in all church work. She was noted for
her Christian attitude during her whole life,
and was much thought of and looked up to
bv her neighbors and associates. She mar-
ried Dec. 24, 1850, George Rank, of Mont-
gomery township, Indiana Co., Pa., and their
children were two sons and two daughters,
Ira C, Anzonette P. CMrs. A. C. Rnnkinl,
Malinda Jane (widow of Dr. H. H. Jacobs)
and Samuel K.
James Clark, the third child of Virtue and
Catherine Clark, was born Oct. 20, 1830. and
died April 24, 1859.
Hannah Clark, the fourth child of Virtue
687
and Catherine Clark, was born Jan, 13, 1832,
and died Aug, 23, 1845.
Susan Clark, the hfth child of Virtue and
Catherine Clark, was born at Lewisberry,
June 13, 1834, and died Feb. 17, 1882. She
was a very estimable woman. She married
WilUam Hamilton, of Montgomery township,
and her children were Ada, Frank, Anzon-
ette, John and Aubrey.
Sylvester Clark, the sixth child of Virtue
and Catherine Clark, was born Dec. 19, 1835,
and died July 23, 1837.
Luther M. Clark, the seventh child of Vir-
tue and Catherine Clark, was born July 1,
1837, taught school for several years, and
then entered mercantile life, establishing a
general merchandise store which proved suc-
cessful and is stiU conducted by his daugh-
ters. He was also engaged in the lumber
business. He mari-ied Elmira Hazlett, to
which union one son and five daughters were
born: Alpheus B., Cora J., Mary, Sibyl,
Blanche and DoUy. Mr. Clark died aged
sixty-five years.
Alpheus Bryan Clark, the eighth child of
Virtue and Catherine Clark, was born Oct.
9, 1839, and became a farmer and lumber-
man. When the Civil war broke out he en-
listed in the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry for three years or during the war.
This regiment was with the Army of the Po-
tomac and saw fierce fighting. He was en-
gaged in fifteen severe battles and innumer-
able skirmishes, serving under Gen. George B.
McClellan and others who succeeded him un-
til the battle of Gettysburg, and was in the
thick of the fighting at Williamsburg, Fair
Oaks, Charles City Cross Roads, Second Bull
Run, Chantilly Court House, Malvern Hill,
Fredericksburg, Chickahominy, Chancellors-
ville, Manassas Gap and numerous others.
At Gettysburg he was wounded, and was mus-
tered out about six months after the bat-
tle owing to disability caused by his
wound. His graphic description of his ex-
periences and all that goes along with a life
amid such stirring events is both entertain-
ing and interesting. In 1906 he moved to
^Maryland, where he is now engaged in farm-
ing and stock raising. In 1868 he married
Larue Thompson, of Indiana county. Pa. His
children are Minnie V., Earnest B., Wilbert
T., Charles E. and George A.
John W. Clark was given the best education
obtainable in the country schools and at an
early age demonstrated his business ability
by saving what little mone.v he could earn
and investing in timber and coal lands. When
688
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
he was twenty-five years old he was exten-
sively engaged in rafting booms, spars, square
and round timber on the West Branch of
the Susquehanna river, some years handling
as many as seventy-five rafts of square tim-
ber and 15,000,000 to 18,000,000 feet of
round timber, which was marketed at Lock
Haven, Williamsport, Havre de Grace and
Baltimore, Md. After the disastrous flood
of 1899 Mr. Clark ceased operations on the
Susquehanna river and gave most of his time
to the purchase and development of coal lands
in Indiana county. He and the late Col. E.
A. Irvin, of Curwensville, Pa., sold and leased
the coal lands where the towns of Arcadia
and Wilgus are located. He was actively en-
gaged in real estate operations on a large
scale. His ability as a financier led to his
being chosen president of the First National
Bank of Glen Campbell, Pa., which institu-
tion opened for business July 24, 1899, an
office which he held continuously from the
date of its organization until his death. Dur-
ing his administration the bank prospered in
ail exceptional degree, paying dividends in
excess of one hundred per cent in less than
six years.
On Aug. 13, 1867, Mr. Clark was married
to Adah S. Hiddleson, and to this union were
born: Harrv Edgar, Feb. 16, 1869; Joseph
Oscar, Sept. 7, 1871 ; James H., July 27, 1874
(died Aug. 20, 1879) ; Samuel L., June 13,
1879; Edna R., Feb. 6, 1883.
Harry E. Claek, son of John W. and Adah
S. Clark, was born Feb. 16, 1869, in Mont-
gomery township, Indiana Co., Pa., and was
given the best educational advantages obtain-
able in the locality, attending the Cooper
school, and later studying at Dickinson Sem-
inary at Williamsport, Pa., for a term of
three months. In the pursuit of business Mr.
Clark has followed a vigorous policy, char-
acterized by enterprise and daring, which
have won deserved success. His larger in-
terests are now in his lumbering operations,
carried on chiefly in Virginia, West Virginia,
North Carolina and Tennessee, his dealings in
lumber having reached such proportions that
he manufactures and handles from forty-five
to fifty million feet annually. He main-
tains wholesale offices in Philadelphia and
Pittsburg, Pa. The numerous other success-
ful enterprises with which he is connected in-
clude the Clark Brothers Coal Mining Com-
pany, of Philadelphia, Pa. ; Hillsdale Coal &
Coke Company, of Glen Campbell, Pa. ; Elec-
tric Coal Company; Laurel Oil & Gas Com-
pany, of Sapulpa, Okla. ; Sapulpa Refining
Company, of Sapulpa, Okla. ; Bull Moose Oil
Company, of West Virginia ; McKim Oil Com-
pany, of West Virginia; United States Land
& Lumber Company, property located in the
State of Durango, Mexico ; South-Mere Farms
& Fruit Company, of Indian River, Fla. ;
Arcadia Water Company, of Arcadia, Pa. ;
Arcadia Land Company, of Arcadia, Pa.;
Indiana County Street Railways Company,
Indiana, Pa. ; Diamond Glass Company, of
Indiana, Pa., and the Farmers' Bank, of Indi-
ana, Pa. He was one of the chief factors in
the reorganization of the Farmers' Bank of
Indiana, in which his brother, J. 0. Clark, is
a director.
On Aug. 24, 1890, Mr. Clark married Verna
L. Darr, daughter of A. W. and Jane E. Darr,
and they have had children as follows : John
W., Jr., born July 28, 1891, who graduated
from the Wharton School, the financial de-
partment of the University of Pennsylvania;
Mary R. and Martha B., twins, born
Oct." 6, 1893, who graduated in June, 1913,
from the Birmingham School for Girls, at
Birmingham, Pa., with the highest honors of
the class of twenty-three members; Ruth E.,
born Sept. 22, 1895 ; and Woodward D., born
Sept. 5, 1898.
Joseph O. Clark, son of John W. and
Adah S. Clark, was born Sept. 7, 1871, in
Montgomery township, Indiana Co., Pa. He
began life on the farm anfl received his edu-
cation in the public schools, Dickinson Semi-
nary, at Williamsport, Pa., the Germantown
Academy, of Germantown, Pa., and Eastman
Business College, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. At
the early age of eighteen he engaged in the
mercantile business, which he successfully
conducted until the bituminous coal strike
of 1894, heavy losses incurred during that
year resulting in a sale of the business at a
"sacrifice. During the latter part of 1894,
without capital, but with a determination to
succeed, he engaged in the lumber business,
at Glen Campbell, Pa., with M. C. Watson,
Esq., of Indiana, Pa., foi-ming a partnership
under the title of Watson & Clark.
In 1899 Mr. Clark took an active part in
the organization of the First National Bank
of Glen Campbell, serving as director of that
institution until the year 1905, when, by unan-
imous vote, he was elected president, succeed-
ing his father, who died in the early part of
1905. Mr. Clark is actively interested in
many other successful enterprises, in various
parts of the country, such as the Clark Broth-
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depositors iiruil 1908, wtien he
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eieeted a vice president, which
since held. In 1908 he moved t;^
sides, stiil •'
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phia. In f
-. Hn.i
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.^sted in timber lands an.
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-.:= In 1900 Mr. Ci. '
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690
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1740. He came from Monaghan, Ireland, and
was of Scotch-Irish descent. The name Dill
is Danish. The ancestors moved to England
and some of them from there to Scotland,
during the time of the Commonwealth under
Oliver Cromwell.
During the troubles immediately before the
French and Indian war Col. Matthew Dill
I, the settler, was one of the five com"
missioners — one of whom was Benjamin
Franklin — appointed to make a treaty with
the Indians at the Crogan fort, which was
located near the Susquehanna, in the lower
end of Cumberland county, Pa. He after-
ward took part in the French and Indian war,
commanding a company against the Indians.
In 1749 he was one of the eight justices of the
peace and justice of the court of Common
Pleas of York county. He died Oct. 13, 1750,
aged fifty-two years, and his remains rest with
those of many of his descendants in the fam-
ily graveyard (which is Presbyterian) a short
distance west of Dillsburg; the spot is marked
by a marble slab. He had seven sons, and a
daughter, Mary, who married Col. Richard
McAllister.
Col. Matthew Dill II, one of the sons of Col.
Matthew Dill I, the settler, was very promi-
nent in York county during the Revolution.
In October, 1764, he was appointed justice of
the peace and the court of Common Pleas,
under the Colonial government, and continued
in the same olfice upon the adoption of the
constitution of 1776. He served in the Gen-
eral Assembly in 1777-78-79. During the year
1779 he was appointed sub-lieutenant of York
county to organize the county militia, and
served in that office from January, 1781, to
April, 1783, during which time he paid to
various captains of companies $2,136, in gov-
ernment money. The names of these persons,
most of whom lived in the upper end of York
county, according to his account, paid by the
government July 1, 1788, were William
Dodds, Alexander Nesbitt, John O'Bleanes,
Andrew Wilson, Thomas Gould, John Mc-
Master, William Coulson, William Ashton,
Daniel Williams and Peter Spese. On March
30, 1780, he was appointed one of the three
commissioners to seize the personal effects of
Tories in York county. For a short time after
the war he was president of the court of Com-
mon Pleas. Colonel Dill commanded the 5th
Battalion of York county for three years, and
was one of the framers of the State constitu-
tion in 1790. For his services in the army he
obtained a free patent for a tract of land
three leagues square, on part of which Dills-
burg is built, and another part is a valuable
ore bank. He was also granted a tract of land
in Washington county. Pa., known as ".Dill-
wood." He married twice. Late in life he
moved to Fairfield, Adams county, where he
died — in April, 1812 — and was buried. He
left six sons, Col. Matthew Dill III (ancestor
of the family in Buffington township, Indiana
county), Maj. James Dill, Col. John Dill,
Capt. Thomas Dill, Dr. Armstrong Dill and
George Dill, all of whom entered the Con-
tinental army. Capt. Thomas Dill, stiident at
Princeton College, was wounded at the battle
of Brandywune. He was afterward presented
by his father the tract of land called "Dill-
wood," where he moved. His daughter, Jane
Dill, married Henry Wilson, from whom de-
scended Rev. Thomas B. Wilson, and whose
children are Rev. Maurice Wilson, of Balti-
more, and Rev. Calvin D. Wilson, of Harford
county, Md. Dr. Armstrong Dill (son of Col.
Matthew Dill II), a graduate of Princeton
College, died Dec. 31, 1788, at the age of
twenty-seven years. His widow, Ann Dill,
married Dr. John Witherspoon, a signer of
the Declaration of Independence.
Col. Matthew Dill II also had six daugh-
ters, as follows: Elizabeth, who married
Thomas Sanderson, and settled in Brushvalley
township, Indiana county, where some of her
descendants now live (two of her great-grand-
sons are Dr. John Dill Robertson and Dr.
William Robertson, of Chicago, 111.) ; Jean,
wife of John Calhoun ; Abagill, who married
Adam Riehey; Martha, who married a Mr.
Dixon ; Nancy; who married a Mr. Armor, and
Mary, who married a ]\Ir. Williams.
Col. Matthew Dill III was born in York
county. Pa., and settled in Indiana county,
on what is now the old Dill farm near Dill-
town, some time prior to 1784, remaining
there until his death, some time after 1829.
He and his wife were both buried in the old
Mathews graveyard in East Wheatfield town-
ship. He married Ann Crane, daughter of
Richard Crane, of Cumberland county. Pa.,
and they had eight children : Matthew IV,
mentioned below ; Richard, who married
Martha McCartney, and died some years later
in Wisconsin (their daughter Eliza married
Ephraim McKelvy) ; John and George, who
both went West when young men, and all
trace of them was lost ; Parmelia, who mar-
ried James Findley and settled in East
Wheatfield township ; Harriet, who married
Robert Luther, of Ligonier, Pa. ; Ann. born in
1799, who married David Faloon, and settled
in East Wheatfield township ; and another
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
691
daughter who married and went to Chicago,
111., but whose name cannot be learned.
Matthew Dill IV. sou of Col. Matthew Dill
III. was born Oct. 3, 1785. in what is now
Buffington (then Wheatfield) township, and
in 1803 learned the trade of spinning-wheel-
wright with Thomas McCartney, the first
sheriff of Indiana county. Spinning-wheels of
his make (with his stamp "M. D." upon
them) are highly prized as relics in the neigh-
borhood. His first marriage, in 1807, was to
Margaret McCartney, daughter of Joseph IMc-
Cartney, and by her he had one child, John
Galbreath, born Oct. 10, 1808. His wife died
Sept. 18, 1809. On Nov. 15. 1810, he married
(second) Mary McCartney, a daughter of
George McCartney, a wine merchant of Dub-
lin, Ireland, and who came to America about
1780 and settled in what is now Blacklick
township, Indiana county, near the present
town of Jacksonville; she was no relation
whatever to his first wife's family. Matthew
Dill IV and his wife settled on the land now
known as the "old Dill farm" in Buffington
township, which he purchased from his father
in 1810. He brought the first cooking stove
to this section of the eount.v. They remained
on this farm until his death, March 25, 1847.
Mrs. Dill lived with her son James until her
death, which occurred June 28. 1871. They
had three children: Elizabeth, who died at
the age of twelve; George, and James C.
]\Iatthew Dill IV and his two wives were
buried in East Union cemetery.
James Coulter Dill, younger son of Matthew
Dill IV and his wife Mary (McCartney), was
born June 22, 1825. on the old Dill homestead
in Buffington township, and began his educa-
tion in subscription school there. Later he
became a student at the Indiana Academy,
and pursued his higher studies at Washington
and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., and
Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., graduating
from the latter institution in 18-49. He was
a classmate of Chauncey ]M. Depew and Ches-
ter A. Arthur, and a member of the Ade-
phorum fraternity. His special studies were
in civil engineering. Returning to his native
town he became one of its most prominent
citizens. Farming was his principal business,
and he was highly successful in that line, ac-
quiring the ownership of nearly 840 acres of
farm and wood land, the resources of which
he turned to good account. Besides cultiva-
ting the arable land, he was extensively en-
gaged in cattle raising, did a large amount of
lumbering and teaming, and did quite a large
business in the manufacture of shocks. For
three years he resided at Johnstown, Pa.,
where he was in the insurance business. Mov-
ing back to Dilltown, he passed the remainder
of his life there. In 1850 he laid out on the
William Stephens laiul the town which was
originally called Franklin, the name being
changed to Dilltown in his honor, and he es-
tablished a general store there in 1858. He
also had an interest in a general store at Ar-
magh, in East Wheatfield township, and was
one of the leading merchants of this section
in his time. He was considered the best edu-
cated man in southern Indiana county, and
was consulted by many on questions of nil
kinds, so great was the confidence his fellow
citizens had in his judgment. He was the
first justice of the peace of Buffington town-
ship, serving two terms in that office. For
one term he served as auditor of Indiana
county. He was connected with the Baptist
Church at Brushvalley and was a liberal con-
tributor to its support, and his wife gave the
ground for the present Baptist Church at
Dilltown in 1897 ; he was superintendent of
the Union Sunday school at Dilltown for a
number of years. In political opinion he was
a Republican. His death occurred Nov. 22,
1885, at DiUtown.
On Feb. 3, 1851, James C. Dill married Re-
becca Conrad, who was born March 12, 1830,
in Huntingdon county. Pa., daughter of Rev.
Samuel and Catherine (Mattern) Conrad, and
died Nov. 23, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Dill are
buried in the Armagh cemetery in East
Wheatfield township. They had children as
follows: (1) Laura IMattern, born Nov. 9,
1851, died Jan. 5, 1910. She married Nathan
B. Westbrooke, of Montgomery county. Pa.,
and had four children : Charles B., who has
been married three times, to Bertha Sliaffer
(deceased), Lucy Row (deceased), and Mabel
Tazewell, respectively; Carrie, who married
W. Hanrattie and after his death Phillip Fox,
who is also deceased ; Harry, deceased, who
married Abbie Simkins; and Ida, who died
when twent.y-seven years old. (2) Harry
Royer is mentioned below. (3) Caroline
Maud, born Oct. 5, 1856, died Aug. 26. 1905.
She man-ied John Lowman, and resided at
Johnstown, Pa. They had children ; Bertha,
Ro.v Leyton (a lieutenant in the United States
navy), ilary, Helen, Rose and John. (4)
Lizzie Rebecca, born Oct. 7, 1858, married
William G. Stewart. (5) John Barvev, born
Feb. 3. 1864, died Nov. 28, 1871. (6) Rose
Lee, born March 6. 1867, resides with Mrs.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
W. G. Stewart; she has been an invalid for
the last eight years.
Harry Royer Dill, son of James Coulter
Dill, was born March 13, 1853, on the old Dill
homestead at Dilltown, and began his edu-
cation in the common schools of BufBngton
township. Later he attended select school at
Armagh and the Johnstown public schools.
His first employment was with the Pacific &
Atlantic Telegraph Company at Johnstown,
as telegrapher, and after a year in that em-
ploy he changed to the service of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad Company, in the same
capacity, at Connellsville, Fayette Co., Pa.,
for a period of twelve years. At the end of
that time he went out to Iowa, where he was
employed by the Chicago, Burlington &
Quiney Railroad Company for a few years.
Returning East he was successively at Hinton,
W. Va., Richmond, Va., and Paris, Ky., where
lie was employed by the Chesapeake & Ohio
Railroad Company for seven years. His next
position was with the Central Railroad Com-
pany of Georgia, for whom he was located at
Macon, Ga., for two and a half years, follow-
ing which he was with the Illinois Central
Raili'oad Company for thirteen years, his
work taking him all over the system of the
Illinois Central railroad. During all these
years he was engaged as operator, train
dispatcher, train master and, the last nine-
teen years of his services, as superintendent
on the different roads mentioned above. Re-
turning to the town of his birth in 190.5, he en-
gaged in the lumber business and opened the
large general business there which he has
since conducted, and which is widely known
all over the adjacent territory as the Dill
Supply Company. He put up the large build-
ing in which the business is carried on. Mr.
Dill is one of the most substantial and re-
spected residents of his part of Indiana coun-
ty. He is at present serving as justice of the
peace and is school director and member of
the local election board. In polities he is a
Republican. He is a Mason, belonging to
the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and
Shrine, and a member of the Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Dill was united in marriage Nov. 27,
1879, with Eva Elizabeth Newcomer, daughter
of Jonathan and Eliza (Keepere) Newcomer,
of Connellsville, Fayette Co., Pa., and they
have five children: Joseph Royer, now em-
ployed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany at Evansville, Ind., who married May
Burtis and has one child, Burtis Royer ; Lula
Kate; Hallie Ryder; Eliza Belle, a graduate
of the Allegheny General Hospital and now
head nurse at the Conemaugh Valley Memorial
Hospital, of Johnstown ; and James New-
comer, who on Dee. 25. 1912, married Edith
Flo Mack, daughter of Robert and Ida Mack,
of West Wheatfield township.
George Dill, second son of Matthew Dill IV
and his wife Mary (McCartney), was born in
1819 in Buffington township, and reared on
the home farm there. When a young man he
moved to Strongstown, in Pine township, this
county, where he kept a general store for a
number of years. He also acquired extensive
agricultural interests, having five difi'erent
farms, and in official as well as business asso-
ciations was one of the most prominent men
of the locality in his day. He was a Demo-
crat in political connection, held many town-
ship offices, and during the Civil war was
with the army as wagonmaster, being an ex-
pert driver; he never enlisted, however.
Eventually he moved out to Kansas, settling
in Clay Center township. Clay county, where
he lived and died. His death occurred in
1905, when he was eighty-six years, five
months old.
On Jan. 16, 1840, Mr. Dill married Eliza-
beth Conrad, daughter of Samuel and — — •
(Mattei-n) Conrad, who came from Hunting-
don county. Pa. Children as follows were born
to this union: Mary Ann married Frank
Ruttinger, and they live in Johnson county,
Kans., where he follows farming ; Amanda
married Archibald Tomb and resides at New
Florence, Pa. ; George Sanford, now engaged
in farming in Johnson county, Ivans., married
Catherine Dunwoodie ; Benson Stewart is men-
tioned below; Anson Jasper mari-ied Mary
Hays; Samuel Asgood, a retired contractor,
is a resident of Clay county, Kans. ; Alma
Jane married Albert Alquist, a farmer in
Clay county, Kans. ; Elizabeth Catherine mar-
ried Arnold Bookman, a jeweler, of Clay
Center township, Clay Co., Kansas.
Benson Stewart Dill was born Aug. 7,
1849, on the homestead at Dilltown, in Buf-
fington township, and attended the common
schools of the vicinity until he reached the
age of fourteen years. He then went to work
hauliiig lumber. Becoming owner of 126
acres in Buffington township, he has made,
extensive additions to it by purchase. His
son now operates 110 acres of the tract. Along
with general farming he has made a specialty
of raising cattle. He is thoroughly repre-
sentative of the best type of modern farmer,
whose skill in management and business tal-
ents are just as important factors as his thrift
and prompt attention to the numerous details
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
693
which make up the sum of farm labor, and he
stands high in the confidence of his fellow
citizens. He has served as school director
and member of the election board iu his town-
ship, participating in politics as a member
of the Democratic party.
Mr. Dill married Matilda Tomb, daughter
of Samuel and Louisa (McCartney) Tomb, of
East "Wheatfield township, this county, and
they have four children: Clatus Wade, who
is farming in Buffingtou townsliip, married
Cora ; Maria Louisa married Irwin ,
and has two children, Mary and William
(they live at Jolinstown, Pa.) ; Elizabeth
Edith is the wife of Harry Stephens, of Buf-
fingtou township ; Mary Catherine is the wife
of Alvin I. Davis, of Buffington township.
THOMAS H. FLEMING, of Indiana, who
has recently become superintendent of the
grounds of the Indiana County Fair Associa-
tion, is a man of proved business ability and
was a successful farmer for a number of
years before he settled in Indiana. He is a
native of this section of Pennsylvania, born
Dec. 25, 1846, on a farm in Kiskiminetas
township, Armstrong county, son of James
Fleming. His grandfather, Samuel Fleming,
came to this country from Dublin, Ireland,
with his parents, and his wife's family came
from the same place with her parents, the fam-
ilies settling in Pennsylvania, where they were
married. James Fleming, son of Samuel,
married Elizabeth Shirley, daughter of John
Shirley, who was a farmer of Armstrong
county, Pennsylvania.
Thomas H. Fleming was three years old
when his father removed with his family to
Washington township, Indiana county, and
there he grew to manhood. He attended pub-
lic school in that township, his first teacher
being John Bothel, after which he was under
the tuition of Mary Griffith, Wesley Bell (now
a physician) and others. Leaving school at
the age of 'fifteen, he worked on the home
place for his father until the latter 's death.
His brothers John, Samuel and Gilbert hav-
ing gone to the front in the defense of the
Union, he was the only son left at home, and
he eared faithfully for his widowed mother
until their return from the army. In 1866
he went to the oil field in Venango county,
and boated oil from Petroleum Center to the
Susquehanna, continuing in that region for
three years. After he gave up boating he ran
the engine at a pumping station. During
that time he had succeeded in saving some
money, with which upon his return home in
1869 he bought the old home place, resuming
farming on his own account. He cultivated
that property for ten or twelve years, finally
selling it to his brother Samuel and removing
to Center township, this county, where he
bought a tract of seventy-two acres, known as
the Judge Campbell farm. He was on that
place for ten years, during which time he
had disposed of the coal rights, and he sold
the land at the end of that time. He then
bought a 125-acre farm in Armstrong town-
ship upon which he remained for two years,
continuing to follow farming, selling that
place and removing to Indiana borough. Two
years after settling there, in 1909, he became
superintendent of the grounds of the Indiana
County Fair Association. His services in this
connection have been highly satisfactory, his
thorough understanding of the requirements
of the position and his high regard for its
responsibilities making him a most desirable
incumbent.
On April 7, 1876, Mr. Fleming married
Mary McAllister, of Rayne township, Indiana
county, daughter of John and Sarah (Keester)
McAllister. They are the parents of ten chil-
dren: James A., now of SteubenviUe, Ohio,
who married Ethel Dowry; Mabel, Mrs. Ira
MikeseD, of Steubenville, Ohio; Ira H., of
SteubenviUe, Ohio, who married Sarah Mc-
Kinstry; Nora, Mrs. Charles Hildebrandt, of
White township, Indiana county ; Sarah, Mrs.
Clyde Cameron, of West Virginia ; Guy M.,
who is in Nebraska; Kenneth, ilargaret,
Dorothy and Helen, at home. Mr. and Mrs.
Fleming are members of the First U. P.
Church. In his political views he has always
been a Republican.
JOHN C. GOURLEY, M. D., physician and
surgeon located at Heilwood, in Pine town-
ship, Indiana county, is associated in prac-
tice with Dr. Ralph F. McHenry, both being
physicians for the Penn-Mary Coal Company.
Dr. Gourley was born in North Mahoning
township, this county, son of George A. and
:\Iargaret (Coulter) Gourley, and is of Irish
extraction, his grandparents and great-grand-
parents having been natives of County Derrt-,
Ireland. The latter were George and Rosanna
(3IcNeill) Gourley.
John Gourley, the grandfather, was born
in 1808 and was but a boy when the family
694
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the ocean to Nova Scotia in 1817. In
1819 they removed to Phihidelphia, Pa., and
in 1821 to Huntingdon county, Pa., where he
continued to live until he settled in Indiana
county, in 1830. His first settlement here
was in West Mahoning township, whence he
and his family subsequently removed to North
Mahoning township, buying land upon which
they passed the remainder of their lives.
John Gourley married Jane Russell, of Blair
county, Pennsylvania.
George A. Gourley, the Doctor's father,
was born in 1840 in North Mahoning town-
ship, this county, and the mother, Margaret
(Coulter), was born in Jefferson county. Pa.,
in 1846, daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Bell) Coulter, early settlers of Jefferson
county. Mrs. George A. Gourley died in 1875,
Mr. Gourley in 1910. They had four chil-
dren: Elizabeth Edith (deceased in 1873),
John C, Herbert M., and Jennie A.
John C. Gourley received his preparatory
education at Covode Academy, the State nor-
mal school at Indiana, this county, and the
Pennsylvania State College. He took his med-
ical course at the University of Pittsburg,
from which institution he was graduated iu
1904 with the degree of M. D. IMeantime, be-
fore he entered medical college, he taught
school for several terms in Indiana county.
Upon his gi-aduation he began the practice
of his profession at Marion Center, this
county, remaining there for two years, and
in 1906 settling at Heilwood, where he has
since been engaged. Dr. Gourley is a mem-
ber of the Indiana County Medical Society,
of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society,
and of the American Medical Association.
Soeiallv he is a Mason, belonging to Indiana
Lodge." P. & A. M.
In 1905 Dr. Gourley married Myra Park,
of Marion Center, this county, daughter of
Dr. L. N. and Martha (Thompson) Park, na-
tives of Indiana county, who now live at Mar
ion Center, where Dr. Park is engaged in the
practice of' dentistry. Four children have
been born to Dr. and Mrs. Gourley : Martha
M., George P., John C, Jr., and Mary J. Dr.
Gourley and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian Church.
JAMES GRAHAM lives in that part of
Banks township, Indiana county, known as
the "Irish settlement," and his father, James
Graham, was one of the little colony who es-
tablished the first homes in that region, his
fellow settlers being Samuel Beckett, James
Herbison, John Williams and Thomas Smith.
James Graham, the father, was a native of
Ireland and came to this country in 1844. In
New York he married Eliza E. Young, also
a native of Ireland who came to this country
in 1844, and they settled in Banks township,
Indiana county, when there were only two
houses between their place and Rossiter.
Bears and deer were stiU plentiful in the sur-
rounding woods, and the country was almost
in its primitive state. He bought 125 acres,
his property including the creek known as
Bear run, and was a farmer all his life, clear-
ing and cultivating the homestead place and
also following lumbering and operating a saw-
mill. He died in 1871 at the age of sixty-
four years, and his widow lived to the age of
eighty, dying in 1898. Four of their daugh-
ters survive : Agnes, who lived at home, died
Aug. 8, 1912; Elizabeth is the wife of An-
drew Pollock, a farmer of Rossiter, Pa. ; Mary
Ann is the wife of Curtin Holden, a miner,
of Banks township ; Jane is the wife of John
C. Fry, of Pittsburg, Pa., superintendent of
lumber yards ; Sarah is the wife of A. W.
Gailey, a contractor and builder of Indiana,
Pa. ; two daughters died in infancy, unnamed ;
James was the only son.
James Graham was born in 1844 in Banks
township, Indiana county, received his educa-
tion in the neighboring countiy schools, and
was reared a farmer. He has always followed
farming and lumbering, and by making the
most of his opportunities has managed his
affairs very successfully, owning two farms,
of 150 and 100 acres, respectively, in Banks
township and several timber tracts in Banks
township, a small lot in Leesburg, Fla., and
an interest in an orange grove near there. His
holdings include his father's old homestead
farm in Banks township. In addition to look-
ing after his agricultural and lumber inter-
ests Mr. Graham has done considerable work
in opening small conununity mines, and has
sold a large quantity of coal land to the Bear
Run Coal Company; he still owns some of
the best coal land in Banks township. He is
energetic in all he undertakes, and his well-
directed efforts have been well rewarded, not
only in material results but in the high stand-
ing he has attained among local business men.
On Jan. 11, 1911, Mr. Graham married
Jeannette L. Crawford, of Philadelphia, Pa.,
who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., daughter
of Andrew and Martha J. (Forsyth) Craw-
ford, who were of Scotch and Irish birth, re-
spectively. The late Mr. Crawford was a car-
pet manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. Graham
have a beautiful home three miles from the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
695
borough of Glen Campbell. They are mem-
bers of the old school Presbyterian Church.
HARRISON SEANOR, of Indiana, Indi-
ana coimty, former county treasurer, and
now serving as deputy State fire marshal, has
like his father been prominent in political
circles in this section, and both have been ex-
tensively engaged in stock dealing, being well
known in that line. He was born May 18,
1863. in Westmoreland county. Pa., where
Jeannette now stands, son of Hon. Noah and
Barbara Ellen (Kinnan) Seanor.
The Seanors are of German origin, and the
name was originally written Zaner. ]\Iichael
Seanor, great-grandfather of Harrison Sea-
nor, was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and
coming to the western part of the State set-
tled on a farm which he purchased in Hemp-
field, on which later a church was built, known
as the Seanor Church. Later he sold this to
his son George and bought a farm on the
Pittsburg pike, in Westmoreland county, at
the present town of Grapeville. He culti-
vated his land, kept hotel, and was an all-
round active and successful business man.
Eventually he sold his farm to his son Michael
and purchased a home in Grapeville. In re-
ligious connection he was a Lutheran, in poli-
tics a Whig. He died in 1867, in his seventy-
eighth year. He and his wife, Elizabeth
(Weible), who was also of Genuan descent,
had six children, two sons and four daughters.
George Seanor, son of IMichael, was born
in 1817 in Westmoreland county, and died in
1851, at the comparatively early age of thirty-
four years. Besides managing his farm and
dealing in live stock he drove a six-horse team
on the old pike, for several years running be-
tween Philadelphia, Baltimore and Pittsburg.
In politics he was a Whig, in religion a mem-
ber of the United Brethren Church, in which
he served as class leader. In 1838 Mr. Seanor
married Sarah Ansley, of Westmoreland
county, and they had four children, two sons
and two daughters: Mary; Harrison, who
was a non-commissioned officer in Company E,
105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was
kiUed May 31. 1862, at the battle of Fair
Oaks; Noah: and Sarah, deceased. The
mother of this family died in 1882, in her
sixty-third year. Her paternal grandfather
served in tlie Colonial army from New Jersey
during the war of the Revolution, and rain
away with and married the daughter of a
Tory (leaving a large fortune behind), who
followed them with a gun for three days.
Their son, Daniel Anslev (father of ]\Irs.
George Seanor, removed to Indiana county,
Pa., at an early day, and cleared a large farm
there. He and his wife, whose maiden name
was Fisher, had a family of nine children,
four sons and five daughters. One of the sons,
Daniel, was sheriff of Indiana county; and
another, Josiah, became a physician and set-
tled in Illinois, where he served as a member
of the State Legislature.
Hon. Noah Seanor, son of George, was born
May 14, 1844, near Seanor 's Church, in
Hempfield township, Westmoreland county,
and attended school in his native township
and county. He was reared on his father's
farm there, near Madison. His father's early
death threw him on his own resources at an
early age, he being only six years old at the
time. For some years he worked by the day.
After his marriage he engaged in farming on
his own account, and in 1864 came to Indiana
county, between his two terms of service in
the Civil war. In 1867 he began dealing
largely in live stock, in which line he became
notably successful, some years sliipping be-
tween one hundred and one hundred thirty
carloads, with a value of over one hundred
thousand dollars. In 1877 he purchased the
farm in South Mahoning township, where he
resided for the next thirty years, built a large
dwelling house and barn there, and made
other notable improvements, having a valu-
able property. He also owned two other
farms, of seventy or more acres each, in Arm-
strong and Indiana counties, the former of
which he sold, and has been a prosperous
business man in all his undertakings. In 1908
Mr. Seanor removed from his farm to Plum-
ville, where he has since resided, and he is now
engaged in lumber dealing and is a contractor
and builder. He is also engaged in lumber
dealing at New Kensington, Westmoreland
county.
After the breaking out of the Civil war
]Mr. Seanor enlisted, for three months. His
company was not accepted. In 1862 he joined
Company H, 14tli Pennsylvania Cavalry, but
his company shortly aftei-ward withdrew from
that regiment and united with the 18th Penn-
sylvania Cavalry. In January, 1863, he was
captured bj^ the Confederates under Colonel
Moseby after shooting two of their horses,
near the battlefield of Chantilly, and sent to
Middleburg, where he was paroled. As soon
as exchanged he re.joined the army, but soon
afterward, upon the application of his mother
that he was not of age and her only support,
he was discharged. In 1865. after attaining
the age of eighteen years, he reentered the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Union army, enlisting in Company F, 28th
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was
discharged at the close of the war. He took
part in Sherman's famous march to the sea,
and was present at Johnston's surrender.
Mr. Seanor has long been a leading member
of the Republican party in his section. In the
spring of 1890 he was nominated for repre-
sentative from his district in the State Legis-
lature, and at the election in the fall was
successful by the largest majority received by
any Republican candidate for such office in
the county. He was twice reelected, serving
three successive terms. The same year he was
unanimously elected to represent Armstrong
county on the State board of agriculture for
the term of three years, in spite of the fact
that his residence was in Indiana county. He
was one of the first members of the Dayton
Agricultural Society and one of the most ac-
tive workers in that organization, serving as
president of its board of managers. Mr. Sea-
nor is a man of notable personal appearance,
being six feet, one and a half inches in height.
He is strictly temperate, indulging in neither
liquor nor tobacco, and his thoroughly upright
life has won him an honorable place among his
fellow citizens. He has never failed them in
any of the responsible positions to which they
have chosen him, his record in any one of
them being sufficient to demonstrate his fit-
ness for other trusts.
On Dec. 4, 1860, Mr. Seanor married Bar-
bara Ellen Kinnan, who was born Feb. 19,
18.39, in Westmoreland county, Pa., daughter
of Jonathan and Mary J. (Stahl) Kinnan,
the former of whom Served three years during
the Civil war as a sharpshooter in a Penn-
sylvania regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Seanor had
a family of seven children, three sons and four
daughters: Sarah J., who married John Fer-
guson, a farmer of New Bethlehem ; Harrison ;
Sherman, of East Liberty, Pa., who married
Mary Johnson; Mary E., deceased, who was
the wife of Charles Kroh; Emma, who mar-
ried George W. Dinger, of Jefferson county,
and after his death became the wife of Robert
J. ]\Ielzer : Annie, who married G. A. Polliard,
of Clarion county; and George "W., living on
the old homestead in South Mahoning town-
ship, engaging in farming and stock dealing,
who married Bertha Shilling, of Jefferson
county and (second) Estella Smauthers, also
of Jefferson county. Mr. and Mrs. Noah Sea-
nor are members of the Jlethodist Episcopal
Church.
Harrison Seanor was a year old when the
family moved to a farm in South Mahoning
township, and there he attended public school
until he reached the age of fifteen years.
From boyhood he helped his father with the
work on the home place and drove stock, and
he continued to live with his parents until
his marriage, which took place in 1882. Then
he located on a farm in South Mahoning
township, where he lived for one year, thence
moving to Washington township, this county,
where he settled on a tract of 137 acres. His
home was on that place for twenty-five years.
In 1903, while living in Washington township,
he was elected county treasurer for a term of
three years, during which he continued to re-
side on his farm. In 1909 Mr. Seanor moved
to the borough of Indiana, where he has built
a beautiful home. He located on his farm
when it was a wilderness known as Bradford
tract, and the old log house which stood there
was his home for the first few years. Mr.
Seanor cleared fift.y acres of that property,
and built a substantial house there. On July
1, 1912, he was appointed deputy State fire
marshal, there being two such officials in the
State, and he is giving excellent satisfaction
in this responsible position.
On Sept. 21, 1882, Mr. Seanor married
Alice Kroh, of Armstrong county. Pa., daugh-
ter of Jacob and Mary A. (Raybuck) Kroh,
and they have had a family of ten children,
namely; (1) Clyde Willis, born July 26,
1884, in South Mahoning township, attended
school in Washington township, where his
parents settled when he was nine months old.
Leaving the public school when thirteen years
old, he was a student at Elderton academy
for two years, and then for one year went
to the Grove City business college. For eigh-
teen months afterward he was engaged as
clerk in the register and recorder's office of
Indiana county, at the end of that time re-
suming his studies, at the Kiskiminetas
Springs School, Saltsburg. He then entered
Washington and Jefferson College, which he
left in his sophomore year, taking a position
as traveling salesman for the Morrisou-Ricker
Glove Manufacturing Company, of Grinnell,
Iowa. On June 5, 1907, he married Charlotte
Grossman, daughter of Mayor J. A Cross-
man, of Indiana, and his wife Agnes (Ober-
lin). Mr. and Mrs. Clyde W. Seanor reside
in Pittsburg. He is a member of the St.
Luke's Lutheran Church there, and in poli-
tics is a stanch Republican. (2) Wilda L.
died in infancy. (3) Beryl Lyman, born
Feb. 2, 1887, was educated in the common
schools, Elderton academy and Grove City
business college. He is now residing on the
HISTOKY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
697
home farm in "Washington township, this
county. He married Ethel Schuekers, and
they have one child, Mildred A. (4) Noah
Blaine, twin of Estella Blanche, born Sept.
22, 18S9, was educated in the public schools,
Elderton academy and Grove City business
college and then went to Nebraska, where he
worked on a farm. He is still living in the
West. (5) Estella Blanche attended public
s.ihool. Grove City high school, and the State
normal school at Indiana, from which latter
institution she graduated in 1910. She has
been teaching in Indiana county the last three
yeai-s. (6) Walter Dale, born Feb. 20, 1891,
attended public school, the Grove City busi-
ness college, and the State normal school at
Indiana, and is now working as a machinist.
(7) Virginia Alice has attended public school
at Grove City, and is a graduate of the con-
servatory of Music at the Indiana State nor-
mal. (8) Wilbur Harrison, born March 22,
1895, is a student at the Indiana State normal.
(9) Lillian Vehna is also attending the In-
diana State normal. (10) ;\Iary Ella, born
July 16. 1900, is attending public school.
Mr. Seanor and his family are members of
the M. E. Church. Politically he has always
been associated wuth the Republican party.
ROBERT McCHESNEY, M. D., deceased,
who for many years was a leading physician
of Shelocta, Indiana county, was born in Mer-
cer county, Pa., son of John McChesney.
John McChesney was bom and reared in
Crawford county. Pa. He mamed Margaret
JIaheu. and they had the following children:
John, who became a physician in Ohio ;
Nathan, who became a farmer in Mercer
county. Pa. ; William, who became a physi-
cian in Canton. Ohio; Addison, who became
a physician in Canton, Ohio; Anderson, who
died while in service during the Civil war;
Robert, who is mentioned at length below;
Eliza, who married Jackson Williams; and
Margaret, who married a Mr. Edwards and
died in Jamestown, Pennsylvania.
Robert jMcChesney attended the Allegheny
College, at Meadville, Pa., and afterward took
his medical course at the Ohio Medical Col-
lege. Cincinnati, some years later taking a
post-gi-aduate course at Rush ^Medical Col-
lege. Chicago. In 1843 he moved to Shelocta,
Armstrong township. Indiana Co., Pa., where
he commenced the practice of his profession.
His circle of patients was scattered over an
area of twenty miles radius, and he rode horse-
back over his territory. Dr. ^McChesney be-
came a well-known figure in his locality, and
was greatly beloved. A great reader, he owned
a fine librai-y, containing all the leading med-
ical works of his time. He was actively inter-
ested in township affairs and served as burgess
of Shelocta and assessor of the township.
Earlier in life he was a Democrat, but later
became a Republican. He rounded out a long
and useful life, dying Nov. 27, 1899, aged
eighty-two years.
Dr. Robert McChesney married Isabel Car-
son, who died in October, 1893, aged seventy-
six years. Both were buried in the cemetery
in Armstrong township. Their children were':
Laura Jane, who died in childhood; John N.,
who is a dentist of Chicago ; William A., who
is mentioned below ; Adeline ; and Mary Eliza-
beth, who married Dr. A. C. McChesney, and
lives in Chicago.
Dr. William Alexander ^McChesney was born
in the borough of Shelocta Oct. 27," 1851, and
for many years was a ph^-sician and surgeon
of Indiana county, but is now retired from
active practice. He attended the local schools
and Eldersridge academy, after which he took
a collegiate course at Westminster. Having
decided upon a medical career, he took a
course at the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons, Cincinnati, Ohio (which is now incor-
porated in the University of Cincinnati), and
following his graduation he took up the prac-
tice of medicine with his father in Shelocta,
and continued in the same until his retire-
ment. For many years he has been a censor
of the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadel-
phia. Dr. ]\IcChesney is now interested in
the conduct of a fine 225-acre farm.
Dr. McChesney married Carrie Curtis
Peelor. who died leaving no issue. For many
years Dr. ilcChesney has been very active in
the Presbyterian Church, of which he is now
an elder. He has served as a school director
and burgess of Shelocta. and bore his part in
the general advancement of his community.
Dr. McChesney belongs to the medical so-
cieties of the county and State, and has an
unsullied record as a skillful and conscien-
tious medical man.
JAMES C. McGregor, who served as
postmaster at the borough of Indiana from
1904 to 1913. is also one of the prominent
business men of that place, interested in va-
rious local enterprises which are factors in the
prosperity of the community. He has con-
ducted his livery business there for almost
twenty-five years and has one of the leading
establishments of the kind in this section. Mr.
McGregor was born in Clarion Center, this;
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
county, Jan. 2, 1865, son of James and Cather-
ine (Pounds) McGregor.
The McGregor family is of Scottish origin.
Its first representative in America, Alexander
McGregor, was born in Scotland, and on arriv-
ing in this country settled in Pennsylvania,
near Bedford, in Bedford county. He was a
millwright by trade, but his principal busi-
ness after settling in his new home was farm-
ing, he having purchased a place which he cul-
tivated until his death.
Daniel McGregor, son of Alexander, was
born in Bedford county, where he grew to
manhood, meantime learning the carpenter's
trade. Coming to Indiana county, Pa., he
lived in Washington township for four years,
at the end of that time moving to Porter town-
ship, Jefferson county, where he made a per-
manent home, remaining there until his death,
which occurred in April, 1880, in his eighty-
ninth year. He followed fanning. In relig-
ious connection he was a Baptist.
Mahlon McGregor, one of the sons of Daniel,
was born in 1810 in Bedford county. Pa., and
when in his twenty-first year moved to Jeffer-
son county, settling in Porter township. He
was there engaged in farming and stock rais-
ing until 1869. when he moved to Cowanshan-
nock township, Armstrong county, passing the
remainder of his life there, engaged in the
same line of work. His death occun'ed July
12, 1873. He was an enterprising and capable
business man, and gave all his attention to his
private affairs, taking no part in public mat-
ters. He was a Republican in politics. His
wife, Margaret ( Chambers) , was born in Perry
township, Jefferson Co., Pa., daughter of
James Chambers, a wealthy farmer of Jeffer-
son and Indiana counties, who also carried on
the general mercantile business. Mrs. Mc-
Gregor died Feb. 4, 1845, in her twenty-sixth
year. She was baptized and married by the
same minister. Rev. John Carothers, who also
preached her funeral sermon. Mr. and Mrs.
McGregor were members of the Presbyterian
Church.
James McGregor was reared on his father's
farm and attended the public schools of the
neighborhood. When thirteen years old he
went to work in a brickyard, where he was
employed for one year, and he also continued
his studies, three years later commencing to
teach. He was thus engaged for one year, and
then became clerk in a store. After seven
years' experience in that capacity he embarked
in the mercantile business on his own account
and in connection therewith also dealt in live
stock, at Marion Center, Indiana county. In
1884 he was honored with election to the oifice
of sheriff of the county, beginning his three
years' term Jan. 1, 1885. In 1889 he was
elected county register and recorder, taking
office on the first Monday in January, 1890,
and being reelected at the close of the term
served another, having six years of continuous
service in that office. He has also held local
offices, having been school director of the
borough of Marion Center for a long period
and justice of the peace five years. In 1899
he was appointed one of the pure food commis-
sioners, serving continuously until now. In
every position to which he has been chosen he
has justified the confidence of his fellow citi-
zens, his ability and integrity having been
demonstrated in a long career of successful
business and official activity. His courtesy
and invariable fairness in dealing with all
made him exceedingly well liked in his various
public capacities. He has always been a
stanch Republican. For over forty years he
has been a member of the Methodist church,
and he has been one of the most effective
workers in the congregations with which he
has been affiliated, having served as president
of the board of trustees of the church at
Marion Center, and a member of the building
committee which erected the present church
there. After removing to the borough of In-
diana, in 1884, he was elected to the same
position he had held at Marion Center and
was one of the committee which had charge of
the building of the handsome Methodist par-
sonage there, in 1888. He has lived at In-
diana since 1884.
On Sept. 20, 1860, Mr. McGregor was mar-
ried to Catherine Pounds, daughter of John
Pounds," of East Mahoning township, this
county. Mrs. McGregor died March 11, 1880,
leaving a family of eight children : Daniel
E., William H., James C, Mary 0., Clara L.,
Alice C, Anna I. and Harvey M. On March
14, 1883, Mr. McGregor married (second)
Mrs. Agnes A. (Duncan) Sutton, and of the
children born to this marriage three survived,
two sons and one daughter, viz. : John, Prank
and Ola A.
James C. McGregor obtained his education
in the public schools of Indiana county. When
a young man he clerked in his father's store
for several years. Though only nineteen when
his father became sheriff he was appointed
deputy, and served acceptably the full term
of three years. At the end of that period he
engaged in the livery business, which he has
since conducted with a profitable patron-
age, also dealing in vehicles. The establish-
ment is up to date in every particular. Mr.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
699
McGregor has other business interests in In-
diana, being a director of the Farmers' Bank,
of the Collar & Leather Company, and finan-
cially interested in other concerns.
Like his father, ilr. McGregor has been
called upon to fill various public positions of
trust. In 1893 he was elected chairman of
the Republican county committee, sei"ving two
years; sei'ved as member of the council of
Indiana borough; and in 1898 was appointed
revenue collector, serving for five years. In
1904 he was appointed povstmaster at Indiana,
to fill a vacancy, and was twice reappointed,
having filled the office continuously from the
time he assumed its duties. Needless to say,
in view of the various honors which have been
conferi-ed upon him, he is regarded as one of
the most useful citizens of the community.
He is a member of the B. P. 0. Elks, and of
the Americus Club of Pittsburg.
In 1885 Mr. McGregor married Kate C.
Derr, daughter of Charles Derr, and they have
had two children, Clark W. (now chemist for
the Penn-ilary Coal Company, at Heilwood,
Pa.) and Nellie V.
ADAM BLACK, ex-county commissioner of
Indiana county, is a resident of West Mahon-
ing township. He is a veteran of the Civil
war, and for many years has been engaged in
agricultural pursuits in Indiana county. He
was born on the old Black homestead in West
Mahoning township June 13, 18-12, son of
Joseph F. and Catherine (Crissman) Black.
Adam Black, the paternal grandfather of
Adam Black, and the first of the family to
come to the LTnited States, was born in Ger-
many, and accompanied his parents to this
country, settling first at Hagerstown, Md.,
and subsequently moving to Blair county. Pa.,
where he was engaged in farming and also
owned a gristmill near Claysburg, Pa. He
and his wife were the parents of eight chil-
dren : Michael, Adam, Henry, Samuel, Jacob,
Joseph F., Catherine and Hannah, all of whom
lived in Blair county with the exception of
Joseph F. Black.
Joseph F. Black, son of Adam Black, was
l)orn in 1801 in Blair county. Pa., and re-
ceived his education in the home schools and
those of Hagerstown, Md. He grew up on
the homestead, being reared to agricultural
pursuits, and was there married, in 1824 com-
ing by wagon to Indiana county, and locating
in West Mahoning township, where he pur-
chased 250 acres of heavy timber land, not a
foot of which had been cleared. Selecting a
spot around a spring, he cleared enough to
allow him to build a log cabin of poplar wood,
which stood until 1866, and later he erected a
frame house. He continued to clear his land,
and converted the place into a comfortable
and valuable property. He was a lieutenant
in the State militia, was an old-line Whig and
later a Republican in politics, and was one
of the founders of the Lutheran Church, in
the work of which he was always active.
Widely known, he was highly esteemed by all
who knew him, and no man of his day and
locality had a wider circle of sincere friends.
His death occurred in 1868, when he was sixty-
eight years of age, wliile his widow survived
until 1891 and was eighty-three years old at
the time of her death. They had" a family of
ten children, as follows : Catherine, deceased,
married George Stear, and lived at Smicks-
burg; Christina, deceased, married Henry
Walter, and lived in Cambria county. Pa.*;
Angeline, who married Jason D. Daugherty,-
lived in West Mahoning township; Daniel, a
farmer of Cambria county, who died at the
age of twenty-eight years, married Elizabeth
Settlendre; Jemima, who married Thomas
Garrett, lived in West Mahoning township
until 1867, in which year they went to Kan-
sas, and there died; Keziah, of Jefl'erson
county. Pa., married David Stoeifer, and died
in Smicksburg, Pa. ; Magdalena taught school
in West Mahoning township until forty years
of age, when she married Rev. R. B. Starks,
and went to Mississippi, where she died ; Adam
is mentioned below; Martin Luther died at
the age of eight years; Hannah married Au-
gust Shaflfer, of Cambria county, Pennsyl-
vania.
Adam Black, son of Joseph F. Black, re-
ceived only an ordinary education in the dis-
trict schools, and remained on the home farm
until enlisting in the Civil war, his first enlist-
ment, for nine months, taking place Aug. 12,
1862, when he became a member of Company
I, 135th Regiment, P. V. I. This organiza-
tion was connected with the Army of the
Potomac, and Mr. Black participated in nu-
merous engagements, including the battle of
Chancellorsville. He received his first dis-
charge in May, 1863, and in August, 1864,
enlisted in Company B, 1st Battalion, to serve
four months, the greater part of his service
being in West Virginia. He was discharged
in November, 1864, and March 2, 1865, again
enlisted, this time for one year or vuitil the
close of the war, becoming a member of Com-
pany B, 74th P. V. I., as sergeant, and as
such receiving his final honorable discharge in
September. 1865. A brave and gallant sol-
dier, he was respected by his officers and ad-
700
HISTORY OF LNDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
mired by his comrades, and in his later years
became a popular member of Indiana Post,
No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic, in which
he held a number of offices.
At the close of the war he returned to the
old homestead, where he was engaged in farm-
ing until 1894, in that year being elected
county commissioner, an office to which he gave
all of his time and attention for three years.
In 1897 he returned to the farm for six
months, since which time he has lived more or
less of a retired life at Smicksburg. An in-
dusti-ious, hard-working man, he was able to
improve the home place until it became a
valuable property, with a handsome residence
and modem conveniences. Mr. Black has al-
ways been a Republican, and in addition to
being county commissioner has served as con-
stable of West Mahoning township, and as
school director, overseer of the poor and
"assessor. Fraternally he is connected with
I. 0. 0. F. Lodge No. 891, of Smicksburg, and
with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and in
former years was a member of the Grange. At
the age of eighteen years he joined the Luth-
eran Church, in the work of which he has
always been active, and for more than twenty
years he has acted in the capacity of deacon.
He is widely and favorably known throughout
this part of the county, where his friends are
only limited by his acquaintances.
On July 4, 1S66, Mr. Black was married to
Nannie J. Brown, of North Mahoning town-
ship, Indiana Co., Pa., daughter of Charles
Brown, of County Donegal, Ireland. Mr.
Brown was twice married, and by his second
wife, Elizabeth Thomas, had two children,
Nannie J. and Susan, the latter of whom mar-
ried J. L. Stear, of West Mahoning township.
On coming to the United States, in young
manhood, Mr. Brown first settled in Clarion
county, Pa., but later came to Indiana county
and located in West Mahoning township,
where he was engaged in agricultural pur-
suits. Mr. and Mrs. Black have had the fol-
lowing children: Mary Elizabeth, educated
in the home schools of Smicksburg, married
0. S. Ghaagan, postmaster and justice of the
peace at Mount Jewett, Pa., and has three
children, Olive, Marie and Adam; Olive is
the wife of Jack Tighe, and has two children,
Brenard and Margaret ; Cora, who taught five
winter and three summer terms in West Ma-
honing township, and eight terms in Homer
City and SmicksWrg borough, married T. A.
Lukehart, a real estate dealer, and died April
19, 1912, leaving one son, Max; Walter D.,
farming on the old Black homestead, married
Cora Rowley, and has four children. Bertha,
Gertrude, Mildred and Alfred; Vernie L.
married George A. Robison, who is connected
with Eberhart's department store, at Puuxsu-
tawney. Pa., and has four children, Dorothy,
LaRue, Florence and Josephine; Dollie died
when six months old ; Merle L., for some years
a school teacher, and now rural free delivery
carrier, married Mae Neal, and has two chil-
dren, Margaret J. and Paul M.
JAMES M. WAKEFIELD took up his
residence recently in the borough of Indiana,
when he entered upon his duties as commis-
sioner of Indiana county, to which office he
was elected in the fall of 1911. He is a native
of West Wheatfield township, this county, and
belongs to one of the early families of that
section, his great-grandfather, David Wake-
field, who was a native of Ireland, having set-
tled in what is now West Wheatfield township
when it was included in Westmoreland county.
David Wakefield was born on the family
estate in County Galway, Ireland, and emi-
grated to America between 1768 and 1773.
His first settlement was in Path Valley, Perry
(then Cumberland) Co., Pa., where some of
his younger children were born. Removing
thence after a residence of fifteen or sixteen
years he settled on the north side of the Cone-
maugh river, opposite Squirrel Hill, then in
Cumberland (later Westmoreland) county,
but now in Indiana county, where the village
of Centerville is now located. The family
lived there about two years, but finding his
title to his land was defective Mr. Wakefield
removed five miles northwest, to near the head
of the west branch of Richards run, in what
was then Wheatfield (now West Wheatfield)
township. This was sometime between 1788
and 1794, and there they remained, David
Wakefield dying there. He was interred in a
private burial ground on the farm. He took
up about six hundred acres of land then in
its primitive state and entirely covered with
woods, built a cabin on his tract, and there
spent the remainder of his life.
David Wakefield, son of David, was born
Oct. 11, 1778, in Path Valley, Cumberland
(now PeiTy) county, learned wagonmaking,
and followed his trade in connection with
farming. He became the owner of his father's
farm of about six hundred acres, where he
spent all the rest of his life, dying there Sept.
16, 1844, when sixty-six years old. After his
death the farm was divided into five different
tracts, his son James buying the one now
owned by his son, James M. His wife, whose
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
701
maiden name was Jane Carnahan, also died
there, at the age of sixty. Oct. 12, 1844, and
they are bnried in the family plot on the farm.
The property is now divided, being owned by
James M. Wakefield (whose name introduces
this article), R. R. Hoskinson. the William
Hoskinson heirs, the R. D. ]\Iaek heirs and I. C.
Liehtenfels. Mr. and ]\Irs. David Wakefield
had the following children: John, James,
Jeremiah. Thomas P., Elizabeth, Mary, Jane
and Caroline.
James Wakefield, son of David and Jane
(Carnahan) Wakefield, was born June 18,
1814, on the old homestead and was reared
there. He taught school for twenty-five years,
became a civil engineer, and followed survey-
ing in Indiana county, becoming very well
known in the pursuit of his profession. He
also owned a farm and followed agricultural
pursuits. For about forty years he served as
justice of the peace in West Wlieatfield town-
ship, being commonly known as "Squire"
Wakefield, and he also served as school direc-
tor of that township. In politics he was asso-
ciated with the Democratic party. In 1839
Mr. Wakefield married Cynthia Palmer, who
was born in West Wheatfield township. Oct.
12. 1818. daughter of Peter and Frances
(Gauphany) Palmer, and of the ten children
bom to them four died young, the others be-
ing: John C. ; Thomas J. : James M. ; Cather-
ine J., who married Jesse Fee: ]\Iary E., who
married Daniel Woods: and Emma L.. who
married John Woods, brother of Daniel
Woods. The parents were active members of
the l\r. E. Church at Germany. IMr. Wakefield
died on his farm Feb. 18. 1888. at the age of
seventy-three years, and is buried in the fam-
ilv plot on the farm. Mrs. Wakefield died
Oct. 23. 1901.
James M. Wakefield was educated in the
public schools of his native township. West
Wlieatfield, having been born on the old Wake-
field homestead March 25. 1852. He assisted
his father with the farm work until his mar-
riage, when he engaged in farming on his
own account on another tract in West Wlieat-
field township, purchasing the home place
after his father's death. The property con-
sists of 128 acres, and there he remained, de-
voting all his time to its cultivation and im-
provement, until his recent removal to In-
diana, where he resides at No. 713 Chestnut
street. Mr. Wakefield was a trusted and
popular public official in West Wheatfield
township, having served eighteen years as
a member of the board of school directors and
one year as supeiwisor. and in the fall of 1912
he was further honored with election to the
office of county commissioner, in which capac-
ity most of his time will have to be spent at
the courthouse. He is well and favorably
known, and has a high reputation for ability
and good citizenship. In politics he is a
Democrat.
On Sept. 30, 1874, Mr. Wakefield was mar-
ried to Sarah Elizabeth St. Clair, who was
born March 6, 1857. in West Wheatfield to-s^-n-
ship, daughter of Hugh and Julia Ann (Rut-
ter) St. Clair, and they have the following
family: Hugh Clinton, who married Mina
Liehtenfels and resides at Youngwood. Pa. ;
Viola Emma, wife of Simeon Lynn, who is
farming her father's homestead in West
Wheatfield township ; Julia Clara, ^vife of
Oren Cribbs, of Dunbar, Pa. : James Elmer,
who married Martha Dietz and resides at Gar-
field. Pa. ; Jacob Clair, who married Frances
Clifford and resides in South Dakota ; C.vnthia
Rebecca, who married Edward Bowser and
resides at Piteairn. Pa. : Laura Frances, wife
of Oscar Hewitt, living at Piteairn. Pa. : Sarah
Jane, wife of William Altimus, of Gai-field,
Pa. : Anna Gertrude, Delia Susan and Grace
Wilda, all at home. Mr. Wakefield is a mem-
ber of the M. E. Church.
CAPT. GAWIN A. McLAIN, a veteran of
the Civil war, living in the borough of In-
diana, has been a resident of Indiana county
all his life. He was born Dec. 15. 1838, on
Philadelphia street. Indiana, and is the son
of Charles C. and Penelope (Adams") Mc-
Lain. both of whom were born near In-
diana. They spent all their lives in this
locality. Mr. McLain was a blacksmith, and
worked at his trade during the daytime, giv-
ing his evenings to the conduct of a small
mercantile business which he owned. In those
days the population was small, but he man-
aged to make a good living by thrift and in-
dustry. He and his wife had but one child,
Gawin A., who was onl.v a year and a half old
when his mother died.
Gawin A. McLain was educated at the vil-
lage school and academy, the latter being then
conducted by Silas M. Clark (afterward
.iudge"). He began work as clerk in his
father's store, and also clerked in the com-
pany store at Indiana, continuing thus until
he entered the Union army for service in the
Civil war. On the night Colonel Ellsworth
was killed he started to form a company, and
the.v were held as reserves until sworn into
the United States sei'\'ice June 10, 1861, serv-
ing from that time to the close of the war.
702
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The command was known as Company B, 11th
Pennsylvania Reserves, under Capt. James S.
Porter and Col. Thomas Gallagher. Mr. Mc-
Lain was in all the campaigns of the Army
of the Potomac, and was wounded twice, at
the second battle of Bull Run and again at
Fredericksburg. He was promoted to corporal
and later to sergeant, and made a highly hon-
orable record. Returning home at the close
of the war, he engaged in farming on his prop-
erty in White towTlship, a tract of 275 acres
of valuable land which he still owns. There
he followed general agricultural pursuits un-
til 1885, when he retired from such work and
removed to the borough of Indiana, which
has since been his place of residence. His
home is at No. 500 Philadelphia street. Cap-
tain McLain has been very successful in all
his enterprises, and in addition to the valu-
able farm previously mentio;ied owned con-
siderable real estate. He has performed his
^^ 'es as a citizen faithfully, and has served
the borough in various capacities, having been
councilman, and later assessor from the Sec-
1 '^ard for two yeai's. In politics he is a
stanch Republican. He is a prominent mem-
ber of G. A. R. Post No. 28, being at present
senior vice commander, and is colonel. He
was a charter member of the Legion, No. 11.
Captain McLain has in his possession a
commission issued to his maternal grand-
father, Gawin Adams, appointing him first
lieutenant of the 3d Company, 1st Battalion of
the 99th Regiment of the militia of the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania. It is dated May
2, 1825.
In February, 1866, Captain McLain mar-
ried Malinda Ann Mitchell, of Indiana county,
daughter of John and Mary (Smitten) Mit-
chell, and they have had a family of five
children, namely: Charles C, who lives in
Indiana ; Howard, now of Wilkinsburg, Pa. ;
John J., also at Wilkinsburg; Martha D., who
lives with her parents; and George P., who is
engaged in the cultivation of the home farm.
JOHN C. LEASURB, who has recently
completed a term as treasurer of Indiana
county, is a well-known official of his home
township as well, and a citizen who has done
his full share of work in the various positions
and duties to which he has been called. He
was born July 16, 1850, in Green township,
this county, son of Peter and Margaret A.
(Miller) Leasure.
Rev. A. Stapleton, in his memorials of the
Huguenots in America, gives the following
concerning the Leasure family: "The Leas-
ure family is both ancient and honorable, and
was originally seated in the Province of
Navarre, France. At the Revocation a branch
of this family was compelled to flee to Switzer-
land for safety, and from whence came
Abraham Leasure, who arrived in America in
1754, and located in upper Dauphin county,
Pa., where the family name is still extant.
A son of the immigrant located in Westmore-
land county. Pa., where his descendants
became prominent, notably Gen. Daniel Leas-
ure, a distinguished officer of the Civil war."
The Leasure family was founded in this
section by John Leasure, great-grandfather
of John C. Leasure, who was of French par-
entage and came to western Pennsylvania at
an early day. Game was still plentiful here
at that time, and he was a great hunter and
bear trapper, trapping proving quite profit-
able as an occupation. His son, John Leas-
ure, engaged in farming in Indiana county.
Peter Leasure, son of John -Leasure and
grandson of the John Leasure who established
the family here, was a farmer and lumberman
in Indiana county during the greater part of
his life. He married Margaret A. Miller,
daughter of Samuel ]\Iiller, who was a soldier
in the war of 1812, and they became the par-
ents of five children : John C. ; Bruce ;
Samantha, wife of Frank Oatman; Ida, de-
ceased, and Miranda, deceased. The father
of this family died in 1905. The mother is a
member of the United Presbyterian Church.
John C. Leasure began his education in the
public schools of the home locality in this
county. He also attended several terms of
summer school, and for four terms was a
student at Cookport, this county. He was
engaged in teaching for thirteen terms, and
after giving up the profession engaged in
farming and lumbering for several years, in
Green township. Meantime he took an active
part in public affairs, serving eleven years as
auditor of Green township and for ten years
as member of its board of school directors.
He made an excellent fecord as a public ser-
vant, so much so that when nominated for the
office of county treasurer, in 1908, he was
elected by a large majority, receiving 6,016
votes as against 1,586 east for his opponent.
He held the office for three years, his services
giving the highest satisfaction to all con-
cerned. Mr. Leasure has also served as mer-
cantile appraiser of Indiana county. He is
a director and vice president of the First
National Bank of Cherrytree, and holds a
sulistantial place among his fellow citizens.
Pew men in the community stand so well
Xy~^^^^^'-<2.^^-iydi^__
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
703
among all classes. jMr. Leasure has interested
himself in the various activities of his neigh-
borhood, is a faithful member of the Presby-
terian Church, which he has served several
years as Sunday school teacher, and gives his
encouragement and support to all worthy en-
terprises which promise to promote the general
welfare. He is a Republican in political
connection.
In 1875 Mr. Leasure married Lucy C. Gra-
ham, daughter of James Graham.
STEWART. The Stewarts of Buffiogton
township were among the first and most re-
spected citizens of the southeastern part of
Indiana county. The pioneers were natives
of Scotland and came to this country shortly
after the Revolutionary war. Two brothers,
John and Charles, came here about the same
time. Charles was a soldier in Lord Com-
wallis's army; John served in the Indian
wars and was severely wounded in the breast.
They settled in what is now known as Buff-
ington township. Their farms joined, Charles
owning wha> is now known as the ilardis and
Auker farms, and John the Rodkey and Stahl
farms. The latter tract was called "Corn-
field." The warrant of the farm was dated
February 13, 1797, and the patent, March
28, 1799. There were mounds on these farms,
which the old settlers pointed out as Indian
graves. Charles Stewart afterwards located on
the McClain farm in White township, which
farm he owned until his death. He was buried
in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
John Stewart was married to Margaret Mc-
Farland. To this union two children were
born : Mary, married to William Wilson, and
James (Maj. James Stewart), married first
to Mary Graham, who lived but eleven years
after their marriage, and second to Elizabeth
Galbreath.
]Ma.i. James Stewart was born on the old
homestead Sept. 25, 1796. He grew to be a
large, robust man, being six feet tall and
weighing almost two hundred pounds. He
was recognized as the strongest man in all
that section of country, and was known to
be an expert wrestler. In those days much
chopping was done, and he was very skill-
ful with the axe and took great delight in using
it. Even at the advanced age of eighty he in-
sisted upon cutting the wood for the old fire-
place— especially the huge backlogs which
only a strong man could carry. He could
take the butt cut of a tree in chopping with
others and always let it do^vn. He was a
man of whom his descendants can feel justly
proud, for he was a leader in all matters of
civil and religious concern. He was widely
known as "Maj." James Stewart, having held
the office of major, etc., in the militia over
forty years. He took an active part in the
affairs of the township, having served in the
capacities of school director, tax collector, as-
sessor, overseer of the poor, justice of the
peace, etc. He was justice of the peace fif-
teen years and had a wide and extensive prac-
tice. It was said that he was as well versed in
the law as the attorneys of his time. Young
and old came from far and near to be mar-
ried by him. His marriage ceremony was
unique, and delivered by him with ease and
dignity. He took an active part in advancing
the schools and was a leader in the church,
being a member of the first Session of the East
Union United Presbyterian Church and re-
maining a member of that church and ses-
sion until his death, which occurred Aug.
11, 1879. For many years he was the super-
intendent of the "Sabbath school of his church.
Being a firm believer in the Psalms as the
only music that should be sung in worship, he
would not permit the singing of a hymn in
the home on the Sabbath day. He had great
reverence for the Sabbath and would not al-
low anyone, whether a member of the home
or a visitor, to whistle on that day.
To his first marriage two sons were born:
John, Sept. 7, 1821, and James, Oct. 5, 1824.
John was married to Sarah Grow and they
reared a family of fifteen children.
James Stewart, son of Maj. James Stewart,
was a large, muscular man, in disposition and
build very much like his father. His occupa-
tion was farming, in which he took special de-
light. He did his work on the farm with care,
and taught his sons the importance of good
farming. He believed that "whatever was
woi-th doing was worth doing well." He ad-
mired good horses, and always had the very
best. He took an interest in the affairs of the
township, serving as assessor, auditor, over-
seer of the poor, justice of the peace, etc., like
his father serving as justice of the peace for
fifteen years. He never had a case taken
from his docket to the county courts. He
was veiy slow to give law and always advised
parties to settle their difficulties without tak-
ing the course of the law. He did not hold
the office for the money it might bring him,
but for the good he might do his neighbors —
advising that peace was alwa.vs better than
strife. That he gave universal satisfaction
as an officer is shown by his receiving every
vote in the township, when he was a candi-
704 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
date for the office of justice of the peace. He ties went to Greeley, Colo., where he grad-
was a faithful member of the East Union uated from the State normal school. He then
United Presbyterian Church and gave liber- came East and on June 27, 1906, married
ally to the support of his church. Sara E. Stephens, of Cherryhill township.
On Aug. 30, 1848, James Stewart was mar- and returned to Colorado, where he is now
ried to Elizabeth Jane Cole, of Ligonier, Pa., principal of the township high school at
who was born Jan. 8, 1828. She was a niece Akron. Their children are Mary and Eugene,
of the second wife of Maj. James Stewart and (3) Wilbert Joshua, born June 29, 1883, grad-
related many times how they made the trip uated from the business college at Denver,
on horseback from the old homestead to Lig- Colo., after which he was elected bookkeeper
onier, her husband swimming the horses across in a bank at Fort Morgan, Colo., where he
the Conemaugh river at Centerville and she married Emma L. Kimball July 5, 1906. At
crossing in the boat. On several occasions present he is a banker in Los Angeles, Cal.
she thought that her husband would be They have had three children, Wilbert (de-
drowned, for horse and rider almost passed ceased), James and Rebecca. (4) James Alli-
out of her sight. She was a most faithful son, born June 22, 1886, died April 1, 1904.
devoted wife and mother, very hospitable, (5) Nannie Pearl, bom March 4, 1889, died
and had a host of friends. To this Nov. 14, 1890. (6) Margaret Elizabeth, born
union the following children were bom: Oct. 29, 1891, graduated from the Indiana
Mary Ann, Jan. 8, 1850; James Cole, Feb. State normal school in 1912 and is now a
26, 1853 ; John Galbreath, Sept. 4, 1855 ; "Wil- teacher in the public schools of Indiana
liam Graham, Oct. 14, 1857 ; Rachel Elizabeth, county. James C. Stewart died March 10,
Dec. 1, 1859; Joshua Thompson, Aug. 22, 1896, and his wife, Clara B., died Jan. 17,
1862; and Charles Clark, Sept. 9, 1865. 1895. They are buried in the East Union
Mary Ann Stewart was married to Samuel cemetery. •
Bracken, May 21, 1874. They had children John G. Stewart was married to Mary
as follows: (1) Thomas Stewart, bom May JIcKee Sept. 11, 1877. Their children are
22, 1875, graduated at the Indiana State Nor- as follows: (1) Robert McKee, born July
mal school in 1900, and after serving as prin- 3. 1878, is now employed by the Pei usyl-
cipal of the Derry schools for two years en- vauia Railroad Company and lives at Turtle
tered the University of Bucknell, from which Creek, Pa. He married Carrie Davis, March
he graduated. He is now the principal of 14, 1900, and their children are Robert, May,
the township high school at Perryopolis, Fay- Mary, Arthur, Beatrice and Vivian. (2)
ette Co., Pa. (2) Rose E., born Sept. 30, James Allen was bom Sept. 9,1880. (3)
1877, married Howard Schmucker, June 25, Clara, deceased, was born April 15, 1882.
1907, and lives in Jolmstown, Pa. Their chil- (4) Mary Agnes, born Sept. 10, 1884, mar-
dren are Ethel and Mary. (3) William Price, ried Harry Spiker Aug. 22, 1905. T) ir
born April 11, 1880, was employed by the children are Harold and Ray. (5) John G xl-
Pennsylvania Railroad Company for a num- breath, born May 22, 1887, was married Sept.
ber of years. (4) Rachel Elizabeth, born Oct. 12, 1910, and has one child, Mary. (6)
23, 1884, taught for a number of years in the Thomas Russell, bom Dec. 24, 1889, has had
public schools of Indiana and Cambria coun- two children, Violet (deceased) and an in-
ties. (5) Charles, born Jan. 14, 1888, is in fant. (7) Annie Bell, deceased, was bom
the employ of the Hupp Automobile Com- Jan. 15, 1894. John G. Stewart died Nov.
pany in Detroit. He was married to Ethel 22, 1894, at the age of thirty-nine, and is
Ferman, of Milan, Mich., March 9, 1913. (6) buried in the East Union cemetery. His wife
Cai-rie, born Jan. 18, 1891, graduated from is living at Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania.
the Greeley (Colo.) State Teachers'' College, William G. Stewart was educated in the
March 6, 1913. The father, Samuel Bracken, public schools of Buffington township and
died Dec. 16, 1896, and the mother, Mary selected farming as his occupation. At the
Ann, died March 18, 1900. Both are buried age of eighteen he conceived the idea that
in the East Union cemetery. the West was a good place for a young man
James C. Stewart was married to Clara and spent the summer of 1876 in Missouri,
Bell Allison, and their children were as fol- where he worked on a farm. He returned in
lows: (1) Elmer Clark, born Feb. 7, 1878, the fall and remained on the home farm with
died Dec. 1, 1896. (2) Charles Edmund, born his parents for several years, during which
Nov. 2, 1880, after teaching a number of time he married Matilda C. Altemus, a
terms of school in Indiana and Cambria coun- daughter of Adam and Catharine Altemus,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
705
of Bruslivalle}- towuship. To this union the
following children were born: (1) Frank-
lin A., born Dec. 9, 1878, married Nellie
Dias July 5, 1905. Their children are Ethel,
Elzie, Mary and Mabel. Franklin is a farmer
of Buffington township. (2) Alice Gertnide,
born Sept. 22, 1881, died March 1, 1906.
(3) Mary Ann, born Mav 10. 1883, married
May 9, 1906, D. W. Duncan, a farmer of
Bufiington township. Their children are
Helen, Hulda, and Chester. (4) Catharine
Elizabeth, born Sept. 21, 1881, taught several
terms of school in Buffington and East
Wheatfield townships and is now a member of
the senior class of the Indiana State normal
school. (5) Joshua Harrison, born Nov. 21,
1888, at the age of eighteen went to Fort
Morgan, Colo., for his health. Not contented
there he went to IMontana, where he stayed
for several years. After traveling through
Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Ore-
gon, Nevada and California he returned
home during the winter of 1911, having spent
six years in the Western States. He is now
farming for his father. (6) Alma Edna, born
Aug. 17, 1898, died Nov. 3, 1903.
W. G. Stewart fii"st went to housekeeping
near the old homestead and farmed for his
father. In a few years he purchased a farm
one mile east of Dilltown on the Armagh and
Strongstown road, and he and his wife, by
their industrious habits, made the money that
paid for the farm. His wife died April 27,
1904, and is buried in the Armagh cemetery.
Mr. Stewart is a Republican and has al-
ways taken an interest in the politics of the
township, having served in the offices of school
director, road supervisor, auditor, tax col-
lector and treasurer, and as an officer of the
election board seventeen terms. He has been
tax collector and treasurer of Buffington
township for the last sixteen yeai-s. He owns
two good farms in Buffington township and
one in Brushvalley township. He and his
brother, J. T., own the old homestead and the
Mahan farm in Buffington township ; he also
owns two dwellings in Dilltown, Pa. The
dwelling in which he lives is modern in every
respect. He has always taken a special in-
terest in good horses and has encouraged the
breeding of blooded horses and cattle in his
community. He is a member of the East
Union United Presbyterian Church.
On Oct. 20, 1906, Mr. Stewart married
Lizzie R. Dill, a daughter of James C. and
Rebecca Dill, deceased, of Dilltown, Pa. At
present he spends his time overseeing his
farms and discharging his duties as road
supervisor and tax collector and treasurer.
Rachel E. Stewart was married to Prof.
John H. Wachob April 24, 1883. Professor
Wachob is a gi-aduate of the Indiana State
normal school and has been prominently iden-
tified with the public schools of Indiana and
Cambria counties. To this union one child
was born March 24, 1884, Rachel Elizabeth,
who taught for a number of years in the
schools of Cambria county. The mother died
July 24, 1885, and is buried in the East Union
cemetery.
Joshua T. Stewart was educated in the
public schools of ButSngton township, the
select schools at Strongstown, Armagh and
G-reenville, Millersville State normal school,
Ada (Ohio) Normal University, and Indiana
State normal school. He was reared on a
farm in Buffington township. He became a
member of the East Union United Presby-
terian Church at the age of sixteen and was
elected superintendent of the Sabbath school
of the same church at the age of seventeen.
At the age of eighteen he entered the profes-
sion of teaching in his native township, where
he taught three terms of school ; also taught
two terms of school in West Wheatfield town-
ship. After having taught five terms in the
public schools and attending school three or
four months in the summer, besides assisting
his parents on the farm, he decided to enter
the Indiana State normal school, from which
he graduated in 1888. After graduating he
taught one term as assistant principal of the
public schools of Indiana borough. The fol-
lowing summer he conducted a select school at
Smithport, Banks township, Indiana county.
On Jan. 1, 1889, Mr. Stewart was married
to Miss Emma Mack, a daughter of Hugh and
]\Iary Ann (McCrorey) Mack, of West Wheat-
field township, and "they went to housekeep-
ing in Mechanicsburg borough, where he
taught the two winters and three summers fol-
lowing. His select schools in this place were
very largely attended and many young men
and women were prepared to enter the teach-
ing profession. He then purchased the store
of William Goffe, in Centerville, Pa., and hav-
ing been elected as principal of the public
schools of New Florence, Pa., decided to locate
at Centerville. With the help of his wife and
clerks he managed the store and taught two
winters and one summer at New Florence and
one summer at Armagh. Pa. These two sum-
mer terms were conducted .jointly by Prof. C.
A. Campbell and J. T. Stewart. There were
one hundred and twenty-five students en-
706
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
rolled in the school at Armagh, ninety of
whom were in the teachers' grade. The joint
school held the following year at Armagh and
New Florence enrolled two hundred students,
the majority of whom were teachers. The two
following summers J. T. Stewart taught at
Grisemore, Pa., a country place where two
very successful terms of school were held. In
these schools, teachers from Indiana, Cam-
bria and Westmoreland counties were enrolled.
He then decided to be a candidate for the
superintendency of the schools of Indiana
county and moved in 1895 to Indiana, Pa.,
that he might be in a convenient place to
make a canvass for the office. He was de-
feated for the office in 1896 and engaged to
teach school at Greenville (Penn Run), Pa.,
where he taught two summers and one winter
term. The attendance at his summer terms
was very large, the enrollment being one
hundred each time. The schools were a de-
cided success and the work was highly appre-
ciated by the pupils and citizens.
In 1899 he was elected on first ballot by a
handsome majority over three other candi-
dates, as the superintendent of the schools of
Indiana county, which position he held for
nine years. During his term the schools in-
creased in number and efficiency and the
Teachers' County Institute and Directors' As-
sociation were a pronounced success. At the
close of his three terms as superintendent of
the schools he with his family went to Greeley,
Colo., where they spent the winter, returning
in the spring to their home on Philadelphia
street, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
Emma, the wife of J. T. Stewart, died Nov.
15, 1910. She was a member of the First
United Presbyterian Church of Indiana, Pa.
She was a loving wife and devoted mother,
and would bear suffering without a complaint
that others might be comforted. She is buried
in the Greenwood cemetery at Indiana, Pa.
Their children are: (1) Joseph Mack, born
in Mechanicsburg, Jan. 9, 1890, was educated
in the public schools of Indiana borough,
Greeley normal school and the Indiana State
normal school. At the age of seventeen he
taught the Ferguson school in White town-
ship, Indiana county, with marked success.
He was employed for two years surveying for
the Buffalo. Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad
Company, and resigned to accept a position
as bookkeeper in the Citizens' National Bank
of Indiana. Pa., which position he held for
one year, when he was elected as the cashier
of the Bolivar National Bank, and in May,
1913, was elected cashier of the Merchants' &
Miners' Deposit Bank of Portage, Pa., at a
salary of $1,500. On Oct. 28, 1911, he was
married to Emma Sacks. They have one
child, Joseph Mack Stewart, Jr., born Dec. 13,
1912. (2) Elizabeth Mary Edna, born in
Centerville, Feb. 10, 1894, graduated from the
public schools of Indiana borough in 1910,
and is now a senior in the Indiana State nor-
mal school. The son and daughter are both
members of the First United Presbyterian
Church of Indiana, Pa. (3) A third child,
Irene, was born Feb. 4, 1897, and died May
8, 1897.
While living in Mechanicsburg, J. T.
Stewart was elected and ordained as elder of
the United Presbyterian Church of that place,
and served in the same capacity in the New
Florence United Presbyterian Church, and
at present is the clerk of the session of the
First United Presbyterian Church at Indiana,
Pa. He is a director of the Citizens' National
Bank and secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at In-
diana, Pennsylvania.
On June 4, 1913, he married Genevieve
Morrison, a graduate of the Indiana State
normal school and a teacher of successful
experience. She is a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. William Morrison, of East Mahoning
township, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.
Charles C. Stewakt, now a farmer of
Brushvalley township, received his education
in the schools of Buffington township and
spent the early years of his manhood working
on his father 's farm, except one summer when
he was engaged in clerking in the store at
Centerville for his brother, J. T. On March
15, 1894, he married Annie Davis, a daughter
of William Davis, of Mechanicsburg borough.
She was a teacher in the schools of Indiana
and Cambria counties. To this union the fol-
lowing children were born: (1) Carrie May,
born Dec. 23, 1894, taught in Blacklick town-
ship, Cambria countv, last year. (2) Mary
Elizabeth, bom Feb. 23, 1897, died March 19,
1898. (3) Charles Davis was born Nov. 25,
1899. (4) James Joshua was bom June 14,
1905. (5) Esther Agnes was born Oct. 22,
1912.
The old farm in Buffington township where
James and Elizabeth Stewart reared this fam-
ily of five sons and two daughters was bought
by Maj. James Stewart of Henry Nixon, the
executor of John Nixon, of Philadelphia, Pa.,
for .$532. The farm contained 2661/0 acres
and allowances, and was purchased June 1,
1827. Maj. James Stewart walked to Phila-
delphia at the rate of four miles an hour
when he made the purchase. It was a good
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 707
farm upon which to rear so large a family, mainiug there until 1862, when he again
and the Christian influence in that home was moved, settling near Carlton, at what was
always strong. Maj. James Stewart remained known as Baker's cross road. ' There he kept
in this home until his death. lie and his two hotel and also followed his trade, doing gen-
wives, his son James, and his wife, Elizabeth, eral blacksmith work, until his enlistment in
are all buried in the East Union cemetery. 1864, for service in the Civil war, becoming
a member of Company A, 5Sth Pennsylvania
ANDREW PHILIP BAKER, resident of Volunteer Infantry, which was attached to
Burrell township, Indiana county, has such a the 24th Army Corps. It is supposed he was
diversity of interests that the mere enumera- injured iu battle by a bursting shell, causing
tion would give considerable idea of his ener- concussion of the brain, and never recovered
getic character and versatile ability. He is dying Aug. 3, 1868, at his home at Baker's
the best-known horseman in western Pennsyl- cross road ; he was buried at Carlton. In poli-
vania, having long been famous for the fine tics he was a Democrat. Mr. Baker was mar-
horses he raises, is engaged in the milling busi- ried at St. Lawrence, Cambria Co., Pa., to
ness and farming, lumber manufacturing and Catherine Waltz, who was a native' of Ger-
contracting, in all which he has been no- many, born on the river Rhine, daughter of
tably successful. With few advantages in his George Waltz, and came to this country with
early life, he has attained his present position her parents in 183.3, the family locating near
entirely through his own efforts, and deserves St. Lawrence, at which place she resided un-
much credit for overcoming obstacles which til her marriage. Two of her brothers are .still
would have seemed insurmountable to one living; George Waltz, of Patton, Pa., and
les,s courageous. Jacob Waltz, of California. Mrs. Baker died
Mr. Baker is a native of Cambria county, Sept. 21. 1912, aged eighty-four years, at the
Pa., born Dec. 15, 1851, at Glen Conell, and home of her son Joseph, "in Blairsville, and
comes of a family of German origin founded the remains were taken to Patton and thence
in this country by his grandfather, Joseph to the home of her son George, the funeral
Baker. Joseph Baker was born in Germany, taking place in St. Benedict's Catholic
on the river Rhine, and came to America early Church. She was buried in the church ceme-
in the nineteenth century, crossing the Atlan- tery, she having been a member of the Catho-
tic in a sailing vessel. Coming west of the lie Church to which Mr. Baker also belonged,
mountains he settled at Glen Conell (now St. She was survived by their eight children as
Lawrence), Cambria Co., Pa., where he ac- well as thirty-seven "grandchildren and thirty
quired ownership of a tract of four hundred great-gi-andchildren. We have the following
acres, hewing a home out of the wilderness, record of their family: Andrew Philip is
He erected a log cabin, set to work to clear mentioned below; Mary married John Bran-
his land, and began farming as soon as pos- iff and lives at Oklahoma City ; John E. lives
sible. spending the remainder of his life at in Illinois; Ella, wife of Samuel Kelly, re-
that place, where he died. He was a member sides in Kansas City. Mo. ; Annie, wife of
of the Catholic Church. • Jack Ward, resides in Los Angeles, Cal. ;
Andrew Philip Baker, sou of Joseph and George resides on the old homestead at Bak-
father of Andrew Philip, was an infant in er's cross road; Catherine married a Mr.
arms when his parents came to the United Murrin and lives in Chicago, 111. : Joseph mar-
States. He grew to manhood at the primil^ive ried Myrtle Spires and lives at Blairsville.
home on the moimtainside, and had but lim- Andrew Philip Baker had only fair op-
ited educational opportunities. When a portunities for acquiring an education, and
young man he moved to the Juniata valley, as he was but sixteen when his father' died
and locating at Lewistown found employment he, being the eldest of the family, had to be
in the Manns axe factory, where he worked their main support. He early learned the
for a short time. Returning to the homestead trade of blacksmith, which he has continued
he took charge of the place, also caring for to follow more or less all his life. In 1871,
his widowed mother for some time. Later he when twenty years of age, he came to Indiana
followed his trade, that of blacksmith, in the county, locating at Campbell 's Mills, in Bur-
.shops at Altoona. was subsequently at Holli- rell township, where he found employment at
daysburg for two years, and from there went his trade with Lytic & IMcKeeg, who were
to Sinking Valley, where he continued to work then operating the old General Campbell
at his trade until 1855. In that year he re- mills, established by General Campbell. In
moved to Glen Hope, Clearfield Co., Pa., re- 1872 he went to Blaeklick station, this countv
708
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
where lie became engaged in horseshoeing and
general blacksmith work, following that line
there with steady success for a period of fif-
teen years. In 1887 he purchased the Camp-
bell Mills and adjacent farm of 134 acres,
which he has continued to operate ever since.
He has acquired other lands, and has carried
on general farming rather extensively, though
that has by no means become his principal
interest. These mills have now been in oper-
ation for about one hundred years, and Mr.
Baker has installed the most up-to-date ma-
chinery, in that branch of his business — as
in every other — following the most approved
modern methods. He has erected a fine dwell-
ing house, barn and other buildings on the
farm, all lighted by electricity, supplied from
the plant at the mill. Everything about the
property is in the most desirable order and
shows Mr. Baker's progressive disposition.
Here also he engages in stock raising, giving
his attention principally to horses, of which
he is a great lover, this branch of his business
affording him as much pleasure as profit. All
of his horses have taken the blue ribbon at
county and State fairs. He has owned some
of the finest stallions in Indiana county,
among them Plowboy, Dick Turpin, Duke of
Hamilton (an imported Clydesdale), Fritz
(a French imported horse). Eclipse (full
blooded), Corbeau (a Belgian horse), Cyrus
(a French horse), Reveur (also imported),
Decerday (which he raised himself). Mr.
Baker has also had a blacksmith shop on his
place, besides his other industries mentioned.
For the last nineteen years he has done busi-
ness as a lumber manufacturer, owning one
or two sawmills throughout that period, hand-
ling principally hardwood, ship and railroad
timber. He was likewise engaged in contract-
ing for some time. His indefatigable indus-
try and genius for management have enabled
him to look after all these concerns without
neglecting any of them, and the prosperous
condition of his affairs bespeaks a degree of
thrift and enterprise highly creditable to his
ability.
In 1874 Mr. Baker was married in Blairs-
ville to Emma Donahey, daughter of James
and Maria (Bills) Donahey, and they have
had four children, namely : Cuy W. has been
employed at the steel mills at Yandergrift,
Pa., for the last fourteen years; he married
Annie Mowery. James Roy was a soldier in
the Spanish-American war, and is a black-
smith, by occupation ; he married Maud Lime-
grover. Joseph Scott, who is now operating
his father's mill, married Malinda Glass.
Catherine is the wife of Joseph Limegrover,
a member of the fire department at No. 29
engine house. East End, Pittsburg. The fam-
ily are Catholics, belonging to the parish of
SS. Simon and Jude in Blairsville.
In .spite of the multitude of private affairs
which Mr. Baker attends to he has found time
for public service, having been a member of
the township election board, clerk of the town-
ship and for four years .supervisor. In politi-
cal association he is a member of the Demo-
cratic party.
ROBERT ALEXANDER THOMPSON,
Avholesale lumber dealer, of Indiana, Pa., was
born June 29, 1849, on a farm in East Mahon-
ing township, Indiana county. The Thomp-
son family is one of the best known and most
highly respected in the county.
Robert Thompson, the founder of the family
in this country, was an early settler in the
northern part of Indiana county. He was
Itoi-n in 1737 in County Derry, Ireland, and
came to America in 1789 with his wife Mary
(Cannon) and their six children, Hugh, Mar-
tha, James, John, Margaretta and Elizabeth,
the family leaving Ireland May 29th. They
first settled in Franklin county. Pa., thence
moving to near Old Salem Church, in Derry
township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where they
lived for a few years, in 1795 removing to
what is now Rayne township, Indiana county,
and settling on Thompson's run, nearly two
miles above where Kelleysburg now is. The
son Hugh and his young wife ^lartha, with
their infant daughter, had attempted to settle
there alone in 1793, but Indian hostilities
compelled them to return to their former
home south of the Conemaugh river. Their
permanent settlement in 1795 was made com-
paratively safe by General Wayne's defeat
of the Indians in August, 1794. Robert
Thompson was known as a man of noble char-
acter and sterling worth, and his wife as a
most estimable woman. We find from the his-
tory of the Presbytery of Kittanning that
they, and their son Hugh and son-in-law Hugh
Cannon, were among the founders of Gilgal
Presbyterian congregation, about four miles
from their home. "Gilgal, a mother of
churches, traces her origin to an improvement
in 1797 by Robert Thompson, Hugh Thomp-
son and Hugh Cannon, from Westmoreland
county, who were soon followed by other
Presbyterians. ' ' To Mrs. Thompson belonged
the honor of giving to the organization its
name Gilgal. The Thompsons belonged to
that sturdy race whose wholesome physical
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
709
and mental traits made them so desirable
founders of the Commonwealth. They were
intelligent and farsighted, industrious and
capable. Their religious faith was strong and
abiding. It is related that on the evening of
the day the family arrived in what is now
Rayne township, though they had no cabin
for shelter, Robert Thompson conducted fam-
ily worship, seated with the older members of
the famil.y upon fallen timber in the woods,
holding the younger children in their arms.
His farm was selected from the northern por-
tion of the tract, and after he and his wife
died their son James and daughter Mar-
garetta, neither of whom ever married, occu-
pied it. :\Ir. Thompson, died Oct. 13, 1809,
and Mrs. Thompson on Jan. 25, 1815. They
and all of their children but Hugh lived be-
yond the allotted threescore and ten, and they
are buried in the cemetery near Gilgal Church,
where they all worshiped. Of the six chil-
dren, Hugh is mentioned fully below. Martha,
born in 1775. resided with her husband. Hugh
Cannon, upon a farm which was the southern
portion of the original ti-act settled in 1795,
and died Sept. 5, 1848, in Rayne township,
the mother of seven sons and one daughter,
"William, Robert, John, Fergus, James, Joseph,
Ilugli ;\I. and ;\Iary T. James, bom in 1778,
di('d Feb. 13, 1849. John, born in 1781, mar-
ried :\Iary McCluskey April 26, 1810, and set-
tled upon a farm west of his father where he
lived until his death, March 27, 1859 ; his chil-
dren were Mary Jane, ^Matilda, Eliza A., Rob-
ert and Margaretta. Margaretta, born in
1785, was burned to death Feb. 23, 1864.
Elizabeth, born in 1788, married Heniy Van
Horn in 1815, and resided in East ]\Iahoning
township, wliere she died Feb. 13. 1858. her
husband dving in 1877 ; their children were
Maiy C. Dorcas L., James T.. Tabitha L..
Robert T.. Isaiah V. and Harry A.
Hugh Thompson, eldest son of Robert, was
born in 1767 in County Derry, Ireland, and
died June 13, 1829. He continued his resi-
dence on the middle portion of the tract where
he settled in 1795 to the end of his days. In
September, 1791. in "Westmoreland county,
he married Martha Thomson, who was of
Scotch descent but a native of County Deny,
Ireland, born in 1770. She was the fifth child
of James and IMary Thomson, who moved
from "Westmoreland county. Pa., to Nicholas
county, Ky. ilrs. Thompson died Sept. 10,
1848. Seven sons and two daughters were
born to her and her husband, all natives of
Rayne township but the eldest for eldest two") :
(1) ]\Iary, born Oct. 10, 1792, was married
Oct. 5, 1815, to John Feutou, and died Dec.
24, 1829. (2) Jane C, born July 26, 1794,
died May 1, 1837. She married John B. Hen-
derson, who was born in 1793 and died Nov.
5, 1844. (3) Joseph, born Jan. 12, 1797, mar-
ried in :May, 1822, Euphemia :Moorhead, who
was born iu 1800 and died Sept. 27, 1873.
He was at one time associate judge of Indiana
county, and died Oct. 27, 1882. (4) Jame.s,
born July 24. 1799, died May 9, 1837, in Phila-
delphia, while buying a stock of merchandise.
On March 16, 1825, he married Ann E. Avers,
who was born Oct. 2, 1803, and died Aug. 28,
1889. (5) Robert, born Dec. 13, 1801, died
Jan. 10, 1879. On June 9, 1825, he married
Man^ Leasure, who was born Feb. 29, 1804,
and died Jan. 23, 1870. (6) John, born June
1, 1803, was a well-known and prominent citi-
zen of Ebensburg. Pa., where he died Dec. 5,
1879. He married Ellen J. Patton, who was
born Feb. 19, 1806, and died March 6, 1872.
(7) "William C, born April 12, 1807, married
Harriet Ferguson, who was born April 10,
1819. They were mari-ied near Mansfield,
Ohio, and afterward removed to Steuben
county, Ind.. where he died ilay 31, 1890. (8)
Hugh A., born April 1. 1810. was for two
terms prothonotary of Clarion county, Pa.,
afterward clerk in the State department under
Governor Curtin, and still later cashier of the
First National Bank of Indiana, Pa. He died
April 23, 1886. On Feb. 21, 1834, he mar-
ried Elizabeth Mulholland, who was born Oct.
29, 1816, and died Feb. 8, 1890. (9) Samuel
Henry was born ]\Iarch 5, 1814.
Ma.j. Samuel Henry Thompson, youngest
of the family of Hugh Thompson, passed his
youth in Rayne township in much the same
manner as other farmers ' sons of the day. He
received his education in the subscription
schools. Soon after commencing life for him-
self he engaged in merchandising, but gave it
up to return to farming because of the great
financial crisis. The farm on which he lo-
cated in East ]\Iahoning township, and where
he lived for nearly twenty-four years, was
bought by Johnston Lightcap in 1861. and in
1862 he moved back to Rayne township, set-
tling upon a larger farm above Kelleysburg,
on Thompson's run. which he had purchased
from Daniel Stanard, Esq. His sons T. St.
Clair and "William Laird afterward owned and
occupied the southern part of this farm ; T.
St. Clair died March 31. 1912.
]\Ia.jor Thompson was one of the leading
citizens of this section in his day. He gained
his title in his connection with the State
militia. He became very prominent as an ar-
710
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
dent Abolitionist, and his place was a station
on the "underground railroad," he and Dr.
Mitchell being closely associated in their efforts
to assist fugitive slaves. We quote from an
article published some years ago: "Major
Thompson was a man of clear conception,
strong moral courage, sound judgment and
generous disposition. Socially he was agree-
able, humorous and witty; firm in his opin-
ions, yet tolerant and liberal; always found
on the moral and progressive side of public
issues, as well as fearless and consistent in the
expression and practice of his convictions.
These characteristics, with his mental ability
and readiness, enabled him to be equal to any
occasion in the discus.sion of all public ques-
tions, in which he was always well and thor-
oughly informed. In determining upon pub-
lic men and measures he 'hewed close to the
line, ' and when quite a young man became an
intense hater of the institution of human chat-
tel slavery, despised the position of the North
as errand-boy and lick-spittle for the South in
that agitation, cut loose from the political
associations of family and friends and took a
forward part in the anti-slavery movement of
that period, when the principal arguments
used against such men by the dominant politi-
cal parties were social ostracism, epithets, slan-
der, rotten eggs, mob law, the destruction of
their printing presses and the occasional kill-
ing of an editor to make proceedings more
effective. He was secretary of about the first
Indiana county anti-slavery organization;
afterward its nominee for prothonotary when
their strength was less than one hundred votes
in the county, and was also connected with
the imderground railway system. To use
one of his own expressions on the subject, he
'denied the right of any man to own, hold in
bondage or dispose of human beings as chattels
unless a bill of sale was first produced from
Almighty God, properly executed and signed.'
His son, Hugh S., remembers that when quite
a small lad a squad of escaping slaves, two of
them mothers with babes in their arms, called
at his father's one morning for food and direc-
tions about the roads; some days later two
grim looking strangers on hor.seback, with
large whips in their hands, passed where he
was at play on the roadside and inquired 'if
any black people had gone along there lately. '
Not understanding the matter, and not know-
ing that the men were slave hunters, he very
innocently told them all about it, right along.
But it was the only and last 'pointer' he ever
gave men and women stealers, for upon tell-
ing his father of the affair at dinner that day
he received some instructive reproof and an
explanatory admonition that enlightened him
considerably. ' '
Major Thompson was quite prominent in
the administration of local affairs, being par-
ticularly interested and active in educational
matters. He seiwed as director when the
school system had its early trials, and was
one of the original board of managers of the
Marion select school, long a successful institu-
tion. At the time of his death, which occurred
on his farm in Rayne township Aug. 15, 1865,
he was serving as auditor of the county, to
which office he had been elected on the Repub-
lican ticket. He was one of the founders of
the Smyrna United Presbyterian Church, near
Georgeville, sei-ved as ruling elder of that
congregation for over twenty years, and was
long one of its main supporters. His wife
also belonged to that church. They'are buried
in Oakland cemetery at Indiana.
On April 12, 1838, Major Thompson mar-
ried Flora A. Stewart, who was born June 1,
1818, daughter of John K. and Elizabeth
( Ai-mstrong) Stewart, the former an old-time
merchant. She died May 11, 1869. "We have
the following record of the nine children, eight
sons and one daughter, born to this marriage :
(1) Hugh S., bom Sept. 9. 1839, married June
10, 1863, Harriet N. Work, who died Aug. 21,
1896, in the Philadelphia German hospital,
while undergoing an operation. On Aug. 18,
1901, he married (second) Mary M. McAnulty,
who was born in 1846 and died April 29, 1911.
(2) John Stewart, born in October, 1841.
served in the Civil war. On May 6, 1866. he
married Maggie T. Moorhead, who was bom
Oct. 5, 1843, and died June 3, 1867. His
second marriage was to Frances A. Smith, who
was born May 2. 1846, and died Sept. 8, 1885.
(3) Archibald S.. born Jan. 23, 1843, was a
member of the United States Signal Corps
during the Civil war, serving with the Army
of the James. He and his brother Wilson
were discharged in August, 1865. arriving
home just a few hours before tlie death of
their father. He married May 22, 1866, Mary
C. Owens, who was born Feb. 28, 1846, and
died in July, 1904. He died July 25, 1909.
(4) James Wilson, born March 30, 1845, is
mentioned elsewhei'e in this work. (5)
Thomas St. Clair, born Sept. 13, 1846, was a
member of the 206th P. V. I. during the Civil
war, serving as a musician. On Oct. 13, 1869,
he married Marietta Bradv, who was born
Feb. 19, 1850. He died March 31, 1912. (6)
Edwin Reynolds, born lyiarch 5. 1848, died
March 27, 1877, and is buried in Oakland
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
711
cemeterj'. He was unmarried. (7) Robert
Alexander is mentioned below. (8) Elizabeth
Hindman, born Aug. 10, 1851, was married
Jan. 25, 1876, to George W. Simpson (who
was born Jan. 26, 1847 i . and they live in Santa
Barbara, Cal. (9) William Laird, born July
14, 1855, was married May 29, 1884, to Louisa
Barber, who was born April 12, 1858, and
they live on the home farm.
Robert Alexander Thompson grew to man-
hood in East ilahoning and Rayne townships.
He began his education in the common school
in East ilahouing township, attending there
until he was ten years old. and then attended
in Rayne township. His first teacher was
Araminta Richardson, now Mrs. Joseph Hud-
son. Up to the age of eighteen he worked on
the home farm, after which he engaged in a
mercantile business in Indiana borough, con-
tinuing same for six years. He then entered
the wholesale lumber business, which he has
carried on very successfully ever since, rep-
resenting many of the big mills in the north
and northwest in his transactions. Mr.
Thompson has been deeply interested in poli-
tics and prominently associated with political
movements. He was at one time a Green-
backer and owned the Indiana News, a Green-
back paper. He was also active in the People 's
party, and served as chairman of the Pennsyl-
vania State organization for seven years,
doing effective work in that capacity. He is
a man of progressive ideas and an ardent
champion of what he considers right, and he
holds the unlimited respect of those with whom
he has been associated in any of the relations
of life.
On Feb. 12, 1879, Mr. Thompson was mar-
ried at Marion Center, Indiana county, to
Josephine Brady, who was born at Marion
Center and there received her education,
spending her life there up to the time of her
mai-riage. She is the daughter of Joseph and
Mary (Park) Brady. Mr. and Mrs. Thomp-
son have passed all their married life in In-
diana, now residing at their beautiful home
at No. 903 Oakland avenue, which street was
named by their daughter Mabel. Thev had
two children: Mildred, bom Jan. 23. 1881,
who was married April 11. 1905, to C. V. Mc-
Creight and continues to reside at home ; and
^Mabel. born July 16. 1882. who died July 14,
1904, at St. Joseph's hospital. Philadelphia.
^h: and ^Irs. Thompson are members of the
Presbyterian Church.
HENRY GRAFF, late of Blacklick, In-
diana Co.. Pa., was during manv vears of his
active life a prosperous agriculturist of that
vicinity, and widely known for his devotion
to religious work, which was one of his main
interests to the close of his long life. Mr.
Graff was a native of Westmoreland countv.
Pa., born Sept. 9, 1826, near Pleasant Unity,
eldest son of John and Lucv Sophia (Hackel
Graff.
John Graff, the founder of this branch of
the family in America, was born Api-il 15,
1763, in Neuwied, Germany, and was the eld-
est of the family of nine children born to
Henry and Mary (Friedt) Graff. His grand-
father resided at Grafnauer. John Graff left
the Fatherland and crossed the Atlantic in
1783 in company with his uncle William
Friedt. They landed at Philadelphia, thence
proceeding to Lancaster county. Pa., where
they spent several years. Coming farther
west they settled in Westmoreland county,
ilr. Friedt locating at Greensburg, while Mr.
Graff settled about six miles from the county
seat, becoming the owner of a tract of 200
acres upon which he made his home during
the remainder of his life. He died Dec. 31,
1818. while still in his prime. He was a man
well read for his day, industrious, devoted to
his family and of high Christian principles.
He was a member of the Lutheran Church, at-
tending near Pleasant Unity. In 1793 ]\Ir.
Graff married Barbara Baum, who was born
in 1775. at Path Valley, in Huntingdon
county. Pa., daughter of Frederick Baum. At
the age of eight years, while out in the woods,
she was captured by Indians, and would un-
doubtedly have been scalped but for the inter-
vention of an old Indian who had received aid
from the Baum family when threatened with
starvation one cold winter. He secured her
release from her captors and returned her to
her home. This happened in 1783. Mrs.
Graff died March 12. 1841, at the age of sixty-
six years, the mother of twelve children,
namely: Henry, born ]\Iay 27, 1794, died
Sept. 9, 1855 ; Mary, born Sept. 4, 1795, mar-
ried Jacob Lose, and died Dec. 4. 1833 ; Sarah,
born Mav 3, 1797, married Daniel Barnes, and
died Sept. 16. 1850; William, born Oct. 1,
1798, died in November, 1882; John is men-
tioned below; Margaret, born May 3, 1802,
married John Collcasure, and died March 24,
1885; Joseph, born Oct. 13, 1804, died in
1806; Elizabeth, born Jan. 7. 1806, married
John Armstrong, and died ]\Iav 19, 1888;
Peter, born Mav 27, 1808. died April 9, 1890 ;
Jacob, born Sept. 5, 1810, died Dec. 9. 1886 ;
Matthew, born Aug. 12, 1812. resided near
Kensington, Ohio; Paul, born May 31, 1815,
712
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was for years a well-knowu and successful
business man of Philadelphia (he compiled
and published a genealogy of the GrafE
family).
John Graff, son of John and Barbara
(Baum) Graff, was born Aug. 3, 1800, near
Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland county, and
obtained his education principally in the sub-
scription schools of that township, attending
the Greensburg Academy for two terms. He
grew to manhood on the home farm, and after
his father's death, which occurred when he
was a youth of eighteen, he remained there
with his widowed mother until 1833, when he
became a merchant at Pleasant Unity, con-
ducting a store at that place for three years.
In 1837 he moved to Blairsville, Indiana
county, at which point he bought a half in-
terest in the warehouse built by his brothers
Henry and Peter. Two other houses were
subsequently built, and he became owner of all
three in 1847, together with the mercantile
business carried on in connection. Taking
several of his sons into partnership, under the
firm name of John Graff & Sons, he continued
his connection with this business to the end of
his days. When he died in Blairsville, Jan.
31, 1885, he was the oldest inerchant then do-
ing business in the county. Mr. Graff made
an enviable position for himself as a success-
ful business man, bi;t he had an equally high
reputation for honesty and uprightness in all
his dealings, in all the relations of life living
up to the Christian standards he professed.
He was a member first of the Reformed
Church and later of the M. E. Church, join-
ing at Blairsville, and was quite active in
church work and a faithful attendant at
meetings. As an ardent anti-slavery man he
was early associated with the Liberty party,
and was its candidate for the State Legisla-
ture and for Congress. He was a zealous sup-
porter of the free school law of 1834, and
served under it as school director. As times
changed he was in turn a Whig, Free-soiler
and Republican in politics.
In 1824 Mr. Graff married Lucy Sophia
Hacke, daughter of Nicholas Hacke, of Balti-
more, Md., and she preceded him in death,
passing away March 4, 1876, at the age of
seventy-one. Eleven children were born to
this union, as follows: Susanna. June 23,
1825 (died July 10, 1825) ; Henry, Sept. 9,
1826; Caroline, Dec. 10, 1828 (married Alex-
ander Shields, and died May 16, 1882) ; Alex-
ander, July 2, 1831; Jacob, Sept. 23, 1834
(married Sallie Davis) ; Nicholas, October,
1836 (died in 1899) ; Paul, July 4, 1838 (for
years president of the First National Bank of
Blairsville) ; James, Januaiy, 1841 (died May
11, 1860) ; Edward, Feb. 18, 1843 (died in
March, 1845) ; Charles H., Feb. 6, 1846 (mar-
ried Margaret Loughry) ; Mary, Jan. 10, 1850
(died March 16, 1850).
Henry Graff, the eldest son, was quite young
when his parents moved to Blairsville, and
there he grew to manhood and received his
education. With his father he acquired a
thorough knowledge of the mercantile busi-
ness and in time became a member of the firm
of John Graff & Sons, with which he was con-
nected until 1854. That year he went West,
settling in Holmes county, Ohio, where he
bought a farm and carried on agi'icultural
work for over twenty years, living there until
1868. Selling out, he returned to his old
home in Pennsylvania, and buying the Ben-
nett farm near Hillside, Westmoreland
county, devoted himself to the cultivation and
improvement of that property for some time.
When he sold it he moved to Blacklick town-
ship, Indiana county, where he bought another
farm, upon which place he made extensive
improvements during the years he w-as en-
gaged in its cultivation. It is now owned by
George Smith. Later he bought another farm,
the place upon which he spent the remainder
of his life, carrying on general farming and
stock raising. He died there March 10, 1899,
and was interred in the Blairsville cemetery.
Mr. Graff was a prominent member of the
]\I. E. Church at Blacklick. He joined that
denomination in 1856, while living in Holmes
county, Ohio, and for forty-three years he
"fought the fight and kept the faith," being
a devoted worker all his life. He served as
class leader, steward and trustee, and in other
church positions, and was faithful in the dis-
charge of every responsibility which he as-
sumed, taking great delight and interest in
religious activities. He was a stanch Republi-
can in politics.
On Oct. 30, 1848. Mr. Graff married Mar-
garet Wilkinson, who survived him, making
her home in Blacklick, Burrell township, with
her daughter. Miss Lucy L. Graff, until her
death, June 23, 1912. She was buried in
Blairsville cemetery. Like her husband. Mrs.
Graff was a faithful member of the IM. E.
Church. Twelve children were born to Mr.
and Mrs. Graff: George K., born Sept. 18,
1849 (died Oct.. 10, 1851) ; Lucy L., April 15,
1851 ; Hai-rv K.. Oct. 30, 1852 ; John E., June
16, 1854 (died May 6, 1856) ; Charles L., Feb.
12, 1856; Mary Jane, Oct. 2. 1857 (married
Robert L. Mabon and resides at Aurora,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
'13
Nehr.); James G.. March 14, I860; Joseph,
Feb. 21, 1862 (died Aug. 25, 1862) ; Caroline
A.. July 28. 1863 (died Nov. 14. 1864) ; Sum-
ner. Sept. 6, 1865 : Gertrude M., Oct. 28, 1869
(married Eev. J. Kurtz Shields, a minister of
the M. E. Church and president of the Anti-
saloon League, appointed by President Taft
as a delegate to the Temperance Conference
in Holland; Mrs. Shields died Feb. 25. 1899,
in Chicago, and was buried in Blairsville,
Pa.) ; Albert P.. Oct. 28, 1873 (died Dec. 8,
1873).
Sumner Gk.\ff. youngest siirviving son of
the late Henry Graff, was born Sept. 6, 1865,
near Hillside, \Vest.morelaud Co., Pa., and re-
ceived excellent public school advantages. He
learned farm work at home with his father and
continued to follow agricultural pursuits until
1901, when he settled in the village of Black-
lick and took up mercantile business. He has
since followed general merchandising and has
also become interested in the meat business,
having erected a slaiighter house, so that he
can do his own biitchering, also buying the
cattle. Though not now actively engaged in
farming he still has agricultural interests,
having bought the Andrew Simpson place of
132 acres, the cultivation of which he manages.
He still owns and resides on the farm, and has
all modern improvements on the place. In
1907 he cut up part of his farm (thirty-two
acres of the Andrew Simpson place) into
building lots, having two hundred, on which
tifty houses, two stores and a public school
have since been built. The little town is
known as Grafton, and his successful man-
agement of this real estate pro.ject has made
Mr. Gratf known as one of the enterprising
real estate men of his locality. The village
and all its institutions and interests have had
the benefit of his best efforts as an aid to
progi-ess. and the entire place is a credit to
his executive ability and acumen. Mr. Graff
was one of the organizers of the First National
Bank of Blacklick. which he served as vice
president and member of the board of
directors.
On Dec. 24, 1891, Mr. Graff married Sarah
E. Geary, daughter of Eobert Geary, of Black-
lick, and the}' have had a family of six chil-
dren, namely: Robert Stanley. Margaret A..
Ra.vmond G., Sarah E.. Emma Lucile and
IMartha Belle. Mr. and Mrs. Graft" are mem-
bei-s of the M. E. Church. Mr. Graff ac-
cepted religion and joined the chvirch in 1885,
at the age of twent.v years, and like his father
he has been active and zealous in its work, giv-
ing liberally of his time and efforts. He is
assistant superintendent of the Sunday school
and takes pai"t in all the church activities. A
firm believer in temperance, he is a stanch
supporter of the Prohibition party and its
principles.
James G. Graff, fifth son of Henry Graff,
was born March 14, 1860, near Pleasant Unity,
"Westmoreland Co.. Pa., and received his edu-
cation in the schools of Indiana county,
whither he removed with his parents when
quite young. Working on the farm during
his early years, he later took up the study of
civil engineering, attending Allegheny Col-
lege, from which he was graduated in 1888.
Going West, he located in Chicago, where he
found his life work. He was the engineer in
charge of the construction of the Madison
street cable line, made the topographical sur-
veys of Jackson park for the national commis-
sion pi-eliminary to the selection of the site
for the Columbian Exposition, made the sur-
veys for the Cicero & Proviso electric railway,
and in 1890 was elected county surveyor of
Cook county. 111. He was reelected in 1904,
filling the office with general satisfaction to
all concerned, no appeal ever being taken from
his office to the courts. His professional stand-
ing was of the highest. Mr. Graft' died Jan.
20, 1906, at St. Joseph, Mo. He had married
in 1892 Frances F. Bell, and they had a son,
Ernest A. IMr. Graff was a member of the
Adams Street il. E. Church, which he served
as trustee and assistant superintendent of
the Sunday school.
CHARLES ROCHESTER GRIFFITH,
editor and proprietor of the Mariou Center
Independent and vice president of the Marion
Center National Bank, was born in that
borough July 2, 1862.
The Griffith family is of Welsh extraction
and possesses many of the sterling characteris-
tics of that hardy people. William Griffith,
born in Wales, left his native land for America
and located in York county. Pa., but later
went to Bedford county, this State, where he
farmed, owning what is now the Bedford
Springs property. After spending some years
in that locality he moved to Somerset county,
continuing farming and stock raising until
his death, which occurred in Jenner township.
He was a member of the Society of Friends,
as was his wife, who bore the maiden name of
Sarah Owens. She died in the same township
as her husband, and both were laid to rest in
the Friends' cemetery in that neighborhood.
Their children were: Mary (Polly), who
married David Richards; John, who located
714
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in Somerset county ; Ann, who married •
Cooper ; "William ; Lydia, who married Thomas
McKee ; Rebecca, twin of Lydia, who married
Peter Berkey; and Hiram, who located in
Somerset county, and married Rebecca Hair.
William Griffith, son of William Griffith,
was born at Bedford Springs and was still a
child when taken to Somerset county. He
grew to manhood in Jenner township, and
there followed farming and stock raising, own-
ing 200 acres of land, which had been a por-
tion of his father's estate. He passed his life
on this property, dying there, and his remains
are laid to rest in the cemetery of the German
Baptist Church, although he and his wife were
members of the Methodist Church. First a
Whig in politics, he later became a Republi-
can. William Griffith married Isabelle Hair,
a daughter of Edward Hair, and they lived
and died in the house where they commenced
their married life, and celebrated the sixtieth
anniversary of their marriage there. She is
buried by the side of her husband. Their
children were: Stephen, who resides at
Johnstown, Pa,; William Henry Harrison,
who died in infancy; Edward Hair; Mary
Ann, who married Benjamin Fleck and lives
in Somerset count.y ; Rebecca Jane, who mar-
ried William D. Morgan and resides in Somer-
set county ; Norman Bruce, residing in Johns-
town, Pa. ; Sarah L., who married Gideon
Walters and resides in Somerset county; and
Priscilla, who died young.
Edward Hair Griffith, son of William Grif-
fith and father of Charles R. Griffith, was bom
in Somerset county Oct. 30, 1837, and at-
tended public school in Jeuner township,
where he was reared on his father's farm. He
remained at home until seventeen years old,
and then went to ]\Iount Pleasant, where he
learned the harnessmaking and saddlery busi-
ness, following it there as a journeyman. In
1858 he came to Marion Center and embarked
in business in his chosen line, and for over
fifty-four years has carried on harnessmaking
and manufacturing, also handling rugs and
similar merchandise. Mr. Griffith built his
present shop, equipped with modern improve-
ments to facilitate his work. He has besides
been engaged in the manufacture of an im-
proved ventilating window blind, as a mem-
ber of the firm of Work, Griffith & Richards,
who built and operated a large sawmill and
cabinet factory, the plant having been one of
the leading establishments of the borough,
giving employment to many, while the product
was distributed over a wide territory.
Mr. Griffith has been active in other direc-
tions. In 1872 he took the daily mail route
from Indiana to Brookville, running four to
eight horse coaches, and thus continuing for
five years. He also conducted a thriving liv-
ery for fifty years, but has sold this. A Re-
publican, Mr. Griffith has confined himself to
casting his vote for the candidates of his
party, not desiring office. The Methodist
Church has in him one of its most active mem-
bers and he serves it as trustee. He was
formerly a member of the local lodge of the
Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and
formerly a member of the grand lodge of the
State.
On Oct. 13, 1859, Mr. Griffith was married
to Mary L. Park, who was bom in Marion
Center, daughter of Robert Park and grand-
daughter of John Park, a full history of which
prominent family appears elsewhere in this
work. Mrs. Griffith died June 2, 1908, after
forty-nine years of happy married life, and
is buried in the Marion Center cemetery. She
was a member of the Methodist Church, and
possessed a lovely Christian character. The
children born to this couple were : Harry P.,
who is a dental surgeon of Indiana, Pa. ;
Charles Rochester ; Frank Pai'k, who is a mer-
chant of Greensburg; Mabel, who married Dr.
William Dodson and is deceased ; William C. ;
and Clarence, who is in the printing business
at Jeannette.
Charles Rochester Griffith, son of Edward
H. Griffith, was educated in the public schools
of Marion Center and the summer normal at
this place, later taking a course under Pro-
fessor Wolf at the institute here. When still
a boy he began working as a printei-, and when
only fifteen yeara old, in 1877, with his
brother, Harry P., conducted a job printing
office at Marion Center, thus continuing until
1882, when he began publishing the Indepe'iid-
ent, the only weekly newspaper in the county
north of' Indiana, which he has developed into
a powerful and popular organ. In connection
with it he conducts a first-class job printing
office. Mr. Griffith is the oldest newspaper
man in the county with regard to the length
of time he has been in the business. In 1894
he issued a history of ]\Iarion Center and its
notable men which had a wide sale. His print-
ing plant is thoroughly modern. He is a live
newspaper man, fearless in expressing his
opinions and supporting those measures he
knows are for the public welfare. He also
owns 'considerable realty in Marion Center and
East Mahoning township, and was one of the
organizers of the Slarion Center National
Bank, which he has served for seven vears as
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
715
vice president. A Republican of influence,
he has reserved the right to deal with local
issues independently, and has been a member
of the borough council for some years, was a
school director for twelve years (acting as
secretary of the board during that period)
and has also been auditor of Marion Center.
He is a member of the Odd Fellows and a
past grand of the lodge at Marion Center, as
well as a member of the grand lodge of the
State. He also belongs to the Rebekahs and
the Modem Woodmen. ^Ir. Griffith has been
superintendent of the ]\I. E. Sunday school
for twent.y-seven years. He was one of the
organizers of the Bible class for young men,
which he now teaches, and his influence over
them is powerful. It would be difficult to
estimate just how much good he has done in
this single line, let alone what he has accom-
plished in other directions. For seven years
he was trustee and treasurer, while for twenty-
seven vears he has been steward of the church.
In 1882 Mr. Griffith married Ella Holt, an
adopted daughter of A. J. Holt, and they
have had four children : ]Maiy, who married
Homer N. Work, a son of William Alexander
S. Work, of East Mahoning township, and
resides at Albany, N. Y., where Mr. Work is
connected with the Western Union Telegraph
Company ; ]\Iona, who was formerly a teacher
in the local public schools, now teaching at
New Kensington. Pa. ; and Lena and -Joyce,
who are at home.
William C. Griffith, brother of Charles
Rochester Griffith, was born Aug. 31. 1871,
and in 1890 entered the drug store of Dr. L.
N. Park, where he studied pharmacv. During
1893 and 1894 he attended the Pittsburg Col-
lege of Pharmacy, from which he was gradu-
ated in March. 1894. Returning to Marion
Center he managed the drug liusiness of his
former employer until 1909. when he bought
it, and has conducted it successfully ever since.
William C. Griffith married Elizabeth Neal.
a daughter of John L. Neal. of East Mahoning
township, and she died in 1903, lea\dng two
children, Edward Clark and J. Neal. ]\Ir.
Griffith was afterward married (second) to
Alice Craig, a daughter of Thomas Craig.
There are no children by this union.
PETER J. McGOVERN was for a number
of years one of the leading contractors of In-
diana and that section of Pennsylvania, and
had had his home and business headquarters
in the borough since 1902. He had so many
important contracts intrusted to him. and
such a variety of work, that a mere enumera-
tion of the structures he undertook and
brought to completion would be sufficient to
show his ability and versatility. His skill and
trustworthiness were up to the highest stand-
ards in his line and were so recognized. Mr.
ilcGovern was born Dec. 25, 1866, on a farm
near Tyrone, in Blair county. Pa., son of
James and i\Iary (McCaffery) McGovern, and
grandson of John ]\IcGovern, and he un-
doubtedly inherited his talents in the line of
construction,
James McGovern was Iwrn in Ireland, and
came to the United States when twenty-two
years old. Locating in New York, he became
a contractor on the Erie canal, and after its
completion settled in Blair county. Pa., where
he did contract work on the Pennsylvania
Central railroad. In fact, he was engaged as
a contractor continuously from the time of his
arrival in this country until his retirement,
in 1886, and was highly successful in every-
thing he undertook. He died about 1894. lie
married Mary McCafli'ery. a native of Ireland,
born in the same county as himself, who came
to this country when thirteen years of age
and settled in New York City, where she lived
until her marriage. She died in 1902. Mr.
and Mrs. McGovern were members of the
Catholic Church. They were the parents of
six children, John, Annie (wife of Daniel
Donley), Thomas, Prank, Patrick E. (of
Punxsutawne.v. Pa.) and Peter J.
Peter J. ilcGovern attended public and
parochial school at Tyrone. Pa., and later
went to the Gregory business college at Al-
toona, Pa., graduating from the latter insti-
tution in 1881. He began business life when
a mere boy. being employed by his father,
who was in the contracting business, with the
details of which he was familiar practically
all his life. Wlien his father retired he was
well prepared to continue the business on his
own account, and he had been a successful
contractor for twenty-two years at the time
of his death. He and his brothers were in
partnership for a time under the firm name of
McGovern Brothers, he and his brother P. E.
McGovern of Punxsutawne.v being associated
for some time. Subsequently ]\Ir. ilcGovern
did business entirely on his own account.
For several years he was located at Tyrone,
Pa., in 1902 moving to the borough of Indi-
ana. He built five miles of the Buffalo, Roch-
ester & Pittsburg railroad, constructed the In-
diana reservoir, most of the town of Ernest,
Pa., and then went to ]\Iarion Center. Indi-
ana county, where (in 1904) he put in the
present waterworks of the town, and the foun-
716
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
dation for the Marion Center National Bank
Building. He also constructed several im-
portant sewers. Then he did important eon-
tract work at Josephine, Indiana county, prac-
tically building that town, his construction
work including the foundations for the fur-
naces. He built the Indiana street railway
from Homer City to Blaii-sville, as well as the
extension and branch road for the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburg railroad. Prior to
this he erected the Indiana public school build-
ing and did the concrete and stone work on
the girls' new dormitory at the State normal
school in Indiana. Another of his notable
works in the county was the extension of the
Jacksonville Branch railroad, and the con-
crete bridge erected by order of the county
commissioners at Jacksonville — the first con-
crete bridge built in the county. He also
put in the waterworks at Clymer, and in the
town of Lucerne, Indiana county, built the
Prairie State Incubator Works at Homer City,
and the lining of the tunnel on the Indiana
branch of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg
railroad. Mr. McGovern had many other
creditable pieces of work in his long record
as a contractor. The magnitude of his un-
dertakings, and the high satisfaction his com-
pleted contracts gave, placed him in the front
rank among the builders of Indiana county
who have kept this section abreast of the times
in the solution of modern construction prob-
lems. He employed a large number of men,
from one hundred to five hundred as occa-
sion demanded, in this respect also being an
appreciable factor in the local prosperity. He
was a stockholder in several industries in the
county promoted by her most progressive busi-
ness men, and was named as a member of the
executive committee for the proposed Indi-
ana hospital, in the success of which he was
deeply interested.
On Oct. 1, 1902, ilr. McGovern married
Mrs. Luesta K. Work, widow of Lester Work,
and daughter of Joel Richardson, grand-
daughter of George Richardson. By her first
marriage Mrs. McGovern had three children :
Glenn R., who is a civil engineer ; A. Gaynell
and Valjean L., both now students at the In-
diana State normal school, ilrs. McGovern
and her children hold membership in the Pres-
byterian Church. Mr. McGovern was a mem-
ber of the Catholic Church. He died Oct. 10,
1912, at the Punxsutawney hospital, in the
prime of life, and his funeral was held at St.
Bernard's Church. He is buried at Indiana.
His high standards of conduct, in both his
business and personal relations, had won him
hundreds of friends in the borough where he
had made his home during his last years.
Since his death his son Glenn R. has been
carrying on the large business, of which he
had acquired a familiar knowledge during
Mr. McGovern 's life.
GILBERT T. McCREA, one of the leading
surveyors and civil engineers of Indiana
county, is a native of the borough of Indiana,
born March 28, 1856.
The McCrea family is of Scotch origin, and
its early members in this county were among
the first settlers in Blaeklick township. The
first of the name in Indiana county was John
McCrea, who located in 1774 on a tract of
land near what is now Rugli station, in Bur-
rell township, which was included in West-
moreland county. He settled there when it
was a wilderness. He married Jane Porter.
In the early part of 1777 they were forced to
flee to AVallaee's fort, in Westmoreland
county, on account of the Indians, Mrs. Mc-
Crea carrying her only child, John. She pre-
ceded her husband to the foi't, he waiting be-
hind to hide the household effects. He was
closely pursued by the Indians as he hurried
to the fort, and died the next day as the re-
sult of the overexertion. His widow returned
to Franklin county, where she married (sec-
ond) William McCrea, by which union she
had one child, Samuel Alexander. The fam-
ily later moved to Uniontown, Fayette Co.,
Pennsylvania.
John McCrea, son of John and Jane (Por-
ter) McCrea, was born in what is now Bur-
rell township Sept. 16, 1776, and was but six
months old when his parents had to leave
their log home in the wilderness to take refuge
in Wallace's fort, to escape the Indians. He
lived with his mother and stepfather until
1800, when he returned to the place of his
birth, Blaeklick township, and settled down
to farming, erecting a log cabin. He contin-
ued to make his home in the township the
rest of his life, extensively engaged in farm-
ing, being a large land holder, the owner of
over 350 acres. He died on his farm, near
Smith station, while living with his son Sam-
uel, in 1861, aged eighty-four years, seven
months, four days, and was buried in Blairs-
ville cemetery. He was a member of the
United Presbyterian Church, and in politics
a Democrat. He was a strong, rugged man,
active and hard-working, and respected by all
for his industrious nature and high moral
character. He married Elizabeth Reed, who
was born May 28, 1776, in Conemaugh town-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
717
ship, Indiana Co., Pa., and died A|)ril '26.
1847, at the ripe age of sfvciiiy yrnrs. ten
months, twenty-eight days. Mrs. .MrCroa was
buried in Blairsville cemetery. She was a
member of the United Presbyterian Church.
To this union the following children were
born: (1) Robert Reed, born Feb. 2, 1802,
was a farmer in Conemaugh township and
later in Saltsburg. (2) William Clark was
born Sept. IS, 1803, and died March 1, 1874.
(3) John J., born April 2, 1805. located in
Armstrong county, and died April 4, 1865.
(4) Thompson, born in 1807, died Nov. 30,
1884. (5) Jane, born Nov. 20, 1809, mar-
ried David Lintner, of Burrell township. (6)
Rachel, born April 23, 1812, married Samuel
Hosack, and died in Blairsville. (7) Eliza-
beth, born April 13, 1814, died in December,
1841. (8) Achsah, born May 8, 1816, mar-
ried John Hart, of Conemaugh township.
(9) Matilda, born Jan. 2, 1820, married J.
Tavlor, of Collinsville, Pa. (10) Samuel, born
in 1822, died April 16, 1864.
Thompson McCrea, son of John and Eliza-
beth (Reed) McCrea, was born in Burrell
township in 1807. on the farm now occupied
by Peter Barroon. There he remained until
his marriage, when he removed to West Leb-
anon, Indiana count}'. He learned survey-
ing with Mr. Elliott, who was a noted sur-
veyor of his day, beginning this work in 1836,
and later served as county surveyor, for a
period of eighteen years, during which time
he laid out the towns of Shelocta and West
Lebanon. After leaving West Lebanon he was
engaged in the grain business at Saltsburg,
buying and selling to the canal trade, and he
also owned boats for the transportation of
grain. In 1852 he settled in Indiana and
lived there until 1857, when he removed to
Mechanicsburg, at which place he passed the
remainder of his lifetime. He became a
prominent citizen there, serving as .justice of
the peace for twenty-five years, and enjoyed
the universal confidence and respect of his
fellow citizens. He died Nov. 30, 1884, aged
seventy-seven years, twelve days, and was bur-
ied in Fry cemetery, in Brushvalley. He was
active in the United Presbyterian Church,
and a Republican in politics.
Mr. McCrea married Anna McKesson, who
died Feb. 6, 1876, in Mechanicsburg, and was
buried in Fry cemetery. She, too, was a mem-
ber of the L'nited Presbyterian Church. They
had a family of fourteen children, viz. : John,
who married Jane Skiles; James M., who died
in young manhood : Robert E.. who died in
young manhood ; William, who died young ;
Ali'xander, who died young; Nancy, who raar-
I ird Shadrach Swartz; Elizabeth; Marinda;
( lialiiiiTs S., M. D., who married Matilda
Couch and died at Creekside, Pa.; Nettie;
Gilbert T. and Albert L., twins; Harry; and
one that died in infancy.
Gilbert T. McCrea was one year old when
he came with his parents to Brusli valley. He '
received his more advanced schooling in the
academy at ]Mechanicsburg, and after leaving
school took up surveying, which he followed
in the home locality for some time. Then he
removed to Pittsburg, where he lived until
] 884. He has given his whole life to his pro-
fession, in which he has made a wide repu-
tation, having been called to do work in Ken-
tucky, Virginia and other States outside of
his own. He now makes his home on the old
Stewart place in Brushvalley township, where
he first came to live in 1876, returning in
1897.
On March 8, 1876, ilr. IMcCrea married
Jettie M. Stewart, daughter of Luther and
Sarah (Hileman) Stewart, and they are the
parents of eight children: Frank, who re-
sides in Pittsburg, married Miss C. Daring;
Annie married Samuel T. Rugh, of Mechan-
icsburg: Merrell married Blanche Lucas and
resides in San Francisco, Cal. ; ilollie B., who
married Lewis Cameron, resides near ilartins-
dale, Mont.; Nettie died at the age of eight
years : Harry, a civil engineer, resides at Mar-
ion, Ohio; Clyde, a plasterer, living in Pitts-
burg, married Hazel Mack; Ethel is a school
teacher and resides at home.
Mr. McCrea is independent in politics and
liberal in his religious views. Enterprising
and progressive, he has attained high stand-
ing in his own line and is the kind of citizen
whose intelligent outlook and broad views
make him valuable to any community.
Robert E. ]\IcCrea, brother of Gilbert
T. McCrea. was bom in Saltsburg and was
the first man in Indiana county to answer the
call of Abraham Lincoln for troops in 1861.
He came back after serving three months and
organized Company F, 55th Regiment, of
which he was sergeant. He was taken sick
at Beaufort, S. C, and was removed to Mech-
anicsburg. Indiana Co., Pa., where he died
ten days later. He was buried in the Fry
graveyard, in Bnishvalley.
Dr. Chalmers S. McCrea, born March
29, 1848. another brother of Gilbert T.
McCrea, was the youngest man to enlist for
the LTnion service from Indiana county, being
only thirteen years of age at the time. He
entered the army as a drummer boy. Subse-
718 HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
quently he 'was graduated from Jefferson of the Pennsylvania railroad within the
Medical College, and began the practice of county, including the towns of Graceton and
medicine at Creekside, Indiana county, where Coral, and purchased all the coal on both sides
he resided until his death in February, 1890, of the Indiana branch from a point just south
when forty-two years old. of Homer City to Blairsville, making him
probably the most extensive individual coke
ALAN ORBISON SOMMERVILLE, of operator and dealer in coal lands operating
Arcadia, Indiana county, superintendent of in Indiana county. He is prominently identi-
the Arcadia and Winburne divisions of the lied in other connections with the life of his
Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company, has been community and, indeed, with interests which
connected with coal operations throughout his extend beyond its confines,
business career. Mr. Sommerville was born Mr. McCreary was born Oct. 30, 1863, at
near Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pa., Feb. 9, 1869, Leechburg, Armstrong Co., Pa., son of Hiram
son of James L. and Jane (Harris) Sommer- and Ruey (Orris) McCreary. His grand-
ville, and comes of Scotch ancestors on both father, George McCreary, was born in 1808
pateimal and maternal sides. His father, in Westmoreland county. Pa., where the city
James L. Sommerville, was a civil engineer, of Vandergrift now stands, and devoted his
and became a coal operator in the early days active years to farming. He died in 187-7. He
of the industry in the central Pennsylvania married Sarah Cline, and they reared a large
field, and was prominently connected with family. All were members of the Lutheran
the production of coal until his death, in 1912. Church.
Alan 0. Sommerville was educated at Belle- Hiram McCreary was born on the old home-
fonte, attending the Bellefonte Academy, stead, where Vandergi-ift now stands. He
from which he was graduated in 1884. He resided there during the early years of his
then entered business in association with his life, but subsequently buying a canal boat he
father, and upon the organization of the Beech followed boating on the old Pennsylvania
Creek Coal & Coke Company, he became as- canal, which he found quite profitable. Canal
sistant superintendent of the mines at Win- boating in his time was an important factor
burne, Clearfield Co., Pa. In 1906 he came to in the transportation business, and the owner
Arcadia, Indiana Co., Pa., as division super- of a boat occupied rather a prominent posi-
intendent for the same company, and in 1908 tiou in the affairs of those days. In his later
was given charge as division superintendent life Mr. McCreary did an extensive contract-
of the Arcadia and Winburne districts, which ing business in Pittsburg and elsewhere. He
now are included in the holdings of the Penn- was a man of ability and resource and suc-
sylvania Coal & Coke Corporation. Though cessful in whatever he undertook, and was
he is particularly well known in the coal in- counted one of the substantial citizens of his
dustry Mr. Sommerville has acquired other locality. To him and his wife Ruey (Orris)
important interests, and has from time to time were born eigh\ children, two of whom died in
become associated with local enterprises of the infancy, the others being : Harry ; Charles
utmost value in the development of the com- K., an attorney, of Greensburg, Pa. ; John E.
munities in which he has been located. His and Robert H., twins, who are successfully
high reputation and solid achievements in the engaged in the oil business in California ;
business world, and the ability which has en- Zelia May, wife of Rev. W. A. Sadtler, Ph. D.,
abled him to attain both, make him one professor in the Lutheran College at Atchi-
of the most esteemed citizens of his section of son, Kans. ; and Emma Florence, wife of Rev.
Indiana county. P. G. Sieger, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran
On Oct. 20, 1910, Mr. Sommerville was mar- Church at Lancaster, Pa. The parents were
ried to Elizabeth L. Snedden, of Heilwood, devout members of the Lutheran Church. The
Pa., daughter of George and Janet (Laird) father died Aug. 1, 1898, and the mother eon-
Snedden. Mr. and Mrs. Sommerville have tinues to live in the old homestead at Leech-
one child, Janet Laird. They attend the burg.
Presbyterian Church, of which they are mem- Harry McCreary attended public school at
bers. Mr. Sommeiwille is a Republican in Leechburg during his early boyhood and
political sentiment. yoiith, and subsequently became a student in
the Utica Business College at Utica, N. Y.,
HARRY McCREARY was a pioneer in the graduating from that institution in the year
coal development of Indiana county. He has 1880. He was at once employed as an in-
built all the coke ovens on the Indiana branch structor in the same institution, where he re-
/'/fClu^ >^,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
'19
maiued until the spring of 1883, when he
entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company at Huff's Scales, near Greens-
burg, Pa. Leaving the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company after a few months, he entered the
employ of J. W. Moore, of Greensburg, an
extensive operator in the Connellsville coke
region of western Pennsylvania engaged in
the manufacture of coke, and at that time
operating the Redstone Coke Works, Brown-
tield station, near Uniontown. After the sale
of this plant he built for Moore the two large
coke plants known as Mammoth No. 1 and No.
2, near Mount Pleasant, Pa. Again after the
sale of these plants he built for Moore the
coke plants known as Graceton No. 1 and No.
2, at Graceton, Pa. Here he developed a
process of washing coal that to this day has
not been excelled in the United States, and
its success was one of the chief reasons for the
prompt purchasing of the coal in that whole
section of the county.
ilr. Moore died in 1893, but Mr. McCreary's
faithful services were recognized by the
widow, for whom he continued the manage-
ment of the coke business until 1900. when he
purchased the plant from her and sold it
together with four thousand acres of ad.ioin-
ing coal to the Youngstown Steel Company,
of Youngstown, Ohio. He then purchased the
property of the Indiana Coal & Coke Com-
pany, and sold it together Avith five thousand
additional acres of coal to Joseph Wliarton,
Philadelphia, Pa., remaining long enough to
build for Mr. Wharton the present Coral
plant. He then sold another five thousand-
acre coal field to Corrigan, McKinney & Co.,
Cleveland, Ohio, on which is now located their
Josephine Furnace plant. Later he sold to
tlie Jamison Coal & Coke Company, of Greens-
burg, Pa., a large tract that has not yet been
developed. A better or more desirable lot of
operators could not be found than those Mr.
McCreary succeeded in interesting in Indiana
county's coal.
Mr. McCreary's experience and responsi-
bilities in the coke business have proved very
valuable to him in developing his business
ability and in increasing his familiarity with
an industry which now forms the basis of the
county's prosperity. It was midoubtedly the
stepping stone to his present interests. He
has been active in the work of the Lutheran
Church, a member of the congregation at
Indiana borough, secretary of the church
council, teacher of the men's Bible class in
the Sunday school and liberal in his financial
contributions as well, his encouragement be-
ing given to all church work and similar in-
stitutions. He is a director of the Lutheran
Theological Seminaries at Chicago, 111., and
at Gettysburg, Pa., and of the Tressler Or-
phans' Home at Loysville, Pa. His en-
thusiasm and energetic disposition have
proved valuable in the advancement of many
worthy causes. He is president of the board
of directors of the Young Men's Christian
Association at Indiana, and from the very
inception of the movement to have a branch
of the Association established there, has taken
a leading part in pushing the work of the
building to successful completion, being the
most liberal subscriber toward its erection.
On May 16, 1894, Mr. McCreary married
Miss M. Zetta Work, daughter of William M.
Work, of East ]\Iahoning township, Indiana
county. They have had three children, one
of whom died in infanc}', the survivors being
Ralph W. and Harry C.
THO:\rAS D. CUNNINGHAM, banker, was
bom in Blairsville, Indiana Co.. Pa., Aug.
17, 1839, son of John and Rachel (Wallace)
Cunningham. His ancestors were among the
first settlers of the western part of the State,
and took a prominent part in its public affairs.
On the maternal side, his great-gi'andfather
Richard Wallace's voice was heard in the liall
of the Provincial Legislature, and his grand-
father Peter Wallace represented his county,
Westmoreland, for twelve years in the State
Legislature. His father, John Cunningham,
attended the first sale of lots in Blairsville and
the lot he purchased still remains in his un-
divided estate. Pietj-, benevolence and jus-
tice were marked traits of his character and
in such esteem was he held by his fellow citi-
zens that he was elected associate .judge of
the county, largely Whig, though lie was a
Democrat. In religious faith he was a Pres-
byterian.
Mr. Cunningham was a student at Jeffer-
son College when the Civil war broke out. He
left his studies and joined the Army of the
Potomac, enlisting in Company B, 56th Reg-
iment, P. v.. in October, 1861, and partici-
pated in all the battles of that army from the
time of his enlistment (save Antietam) till
the battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1863. He
was wounded in the first day's engagement in
this battle and discharged from the service
in November, 1863, on "accoimt of wound re-
ceived in action," as first lieutenant. In
1864 he was graduated from Jefferson Col-
lege with the degree of A. B., and later had
conferred on him the degree of A. M. After
720
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
his graduation he spent one year in the mer-
cantile business with his three brothers and
then entered the First National Bank as clerk.
After one year's service he was made cashier,
which position he held until the death of Mr.
Paul Graff, whom he succeeded as president,
which position he now holds, ilr. Cunning-
ham has always been loyal to his native town,
and has contributed of both service and money
for its betterment. He has served as council-
man, school director, treasurer for its Build-
ing & Loan Associations and Electric Light
Plant, and for many years was one of the
trustees of Blairsville College. He has always
been a Republican in politics and a Presby-
terian in religion. [Mr. Cunningham died
Oct. 9, 1913.— Ed.]
HARRY W. "WILSON. Over one hundred
years ago Joseph "Wilson, the great-grand-
father of Harry W. Wilson, came from
County Antrim, in the North of Ireland, and
settled in Indiana county. He was a man of
great tenacity of purpose, and lived to the
remai-kable age of 103. His son, Samuel \\^i\-
son, was a farmer, took a lively interest in
public affairs, and served as justice of the
peace and school director, and for years was
an elder in the United Presbyterian Church.
He was born Oct. 8, 1800, and married Eliza-
beth "Wilkins in September, 1822. Her father,
Andrew "Wilkins, was among the first white
children bom in Indiana county.
Andrew "W. "Wilson, the son of Samuel "Wil-
son, and father of the subject of this sketch,
was born in Brushvalley township, Indiana
Co., Pa., July 12, 1826. He received a com-
mon school education and when fourteen
years of age commenced to teach school.
"When seventeen years old he went into the
store of Sutton & Moore, in Indiana, as clerk.
After a faithful service of three years they
gave him a small stock of goods to sell in
partnership, and he began his business career
in Brushvalley to\vnship at Mechanicsburg.
Five years thus passed. "When the railroad
was opened to Indiana, Islr. Sutton invited
him to take a half interest in his store in In-
diana, Mr. Moore having died. For twenty-
one years this firm of Sutton & W^ilson was
known throughout Indiana and adjoining
counties.
On July 7, 1853, Andrew "W. AVilson mar-
ried Anna G. Dick, daughter of James and
Annie (Graham) Dick, of Armagh, Indiana
county, the former a native of Belfast, Ire-
land, and a member of one of the numerous
families of Dicks who emigrated from Ireland
about the time of the war of 1812 and settled
in Wheatfield township, Indiana Co.. Pa.
Ten children, six sons and four daughtei-s,
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely:
(1) Harry W., born Aug. 26, 1854, was named
after Mr. Moore, Mr. Wilson's early partner.
(2) Robert Dick, born Feb. 4, 1856, started
to school when but fom* years old, and pre-
pared to enter the sophomore class at Prince-
ton College. He gi-aduated from Princeton
College in 1876 ; and in 1880 at the Western
Theological Seminary — at the head of his
class. He is at present the professor of Old
Te-stament Languages and Literature in
Princeton Theological Seminary. He has the
degrees Ph. D. and D. D. (3) Samuel
Graham, born Feb. 11, 1858, was ready for
the sophomore class at Princeton when fifteen
years old, and gi-aduated from the Western
Theological Seminary in 1879. He afterward
took post-graduate work at Princeton, during
which time he offered himself to the Board
of Foreign Missions and was as.signed to
Persia, in which field he has since labored,
being located at Tabriz. He has the degree
of D. D. (4) John Loughry, born March
26, 1861, became interested with his father
in business, acting as cashier in the store.
(5) Andrew Wilkins, Jr., born June 29,
1863, graduated fi-om Princeton College in
1883. He studied law, and was admitted
to the bar after graduating in 1886 from the
law department of the LTuiversity of Pennsyl-
vania. He was captain of the baseball team
at the LTniversity two years. He received the
degree of Ph. D. from Washington & Jeffer-
son College. He entered into partnership
with R. W. Fair and purchasing a property
at Kiskiminetas Springs, opposite Saltsburg,
opened the Preparatory School for boys which
has been continued to this day with great suc-
cess. (6) Ella il. was prepared in the
Indiana high school and was graduated from
"V^assar College in 1887. She taught Greek
in the Kiskiminetas Springs School until
her marriage with George R. Steward. She
lives at Pasadena, Cal. (7) Annie Elizabeth
attended the Indiana Normal School and
Yassar College. She is the wife of Rev. Alfred
H. Barr, D. D., of Baltimore, Md. (8) James
Dick received his education at the Indiana
State Normal and Kiskiminetas Springs
School. He is now located in California.
(9) Jennie Pearson lives at home. She at-
tended Wellesley College, Mass. (10) ]Mary
Agnes was graduated from the State Normal
School and afterward attended Vassar Col-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
721
lege. She is the wife of Stacy H. Smith, of
Indiana. Pennsylvania.
From his boyhood up Mr. A. W. Wilson was
deeply impressed with an appreciation of the
priceless value of education. He was one of
the gentlemen who established a graded school
in Indiana at a veiy early day. This insti-
tution met with great success, fitting boys for
the sophomore classes of Princeton and Yale.
He was one of the first promoters of the
Normal School and on the death of Judge
Clark became his successor in the presidency
of the board. He was not only a believer, but
a doer, in an educational way, and it is said
that he expended $30,000 in the education of
his children. He became a member of the
Presbyterian Church at an early age and
served his church as trustee, treasurer, elder,
and for eighteen years as superintendent of
the Sabbath School. For nearly a score of
years before his death he was a trustee of
the Presbyterian Western Theological Semi-
nary at Allegheny, Pa. It can be truly said
that he did as much for the mental, moral and
religious life of the community in which he
lived as any man who has ever lived in it,
and the esteem in which he was held by his
neighbors and by those who knew him best
was evidenced by the fact that on the day
of his funeral the business houses of the town
were closed and the large church in which the
services were held was crowded with his
friends. He reared a remarkable family and
taught them the habits of industry and hon-
esty, and while he gave much attention to
their education, he taught them the principles
of business and economy.
Harry W. Wilson, eldest in the family of
Andrew W. Wilson, was born Aug. 26, 1854.
and was baptized in the Presbyterian Church
to which his parents belonged. He received
his early education in the public schools of
Indiana, Pa., and in the fall of 1870 from these
schools he entered Princeton College, as a
member of the sophomore class, graduating in
1873. Returning to Indiana he engaged in
the mercantile business with his father. About
1878-79 he became a member of the firm of
Wilson, Sutton & Co., and in 1883 bought
the share of John W. Sutton, the firm becom-
ing A. W. Wilson & Son, under which name
the business was operated from that time
until the senior Mr. Wilson's death.
Before his father's death ilr. Wilson had
become interested in the exploitation of nat-
ural gas, the Saltsburg Natural Gas Company
being persuaded through his efforts to extend
its lines through Blairs\'ille and the Branch
railroad towns to Indiana. The local com-
pany, known as the Indiana County Gas Com-
pany, was organized in 1890, and opened the
well-known Willet gas fields in Washington
township. It had a capital of !^4.50,000, and
he and liis father were largely interested.
The plant established met the highest expec-
tations of all concerned, and the manufactur-
ers and others who could make use of the
gas patronized the company freely, so that
it was a success from the start. After his
father's death and his withdrawal from mer-
cantile business, Mr. Wilson gave most of his
time to the interest of this concern, with
which he continued his association until it
was sold to the American Gas Company, in
1909. He is extensively interested in oil,
ha\ang large investments in the Oklahoma
oil fields, where he has operated on a large
scale. He is at present operating in the oil
fields of West Virginia. Mr. Wilson is also
connected with one of the leading financial
institutions of Indiana, the Farmers' Bank,
of which he was elected president in 1905,
holding that office continuously to the pres-
ent. His successful conduct of various im-
portant enterprises has placed him among
tlie foremost business men of the county. He
is a trustee of the State Normal School, at
Indiana, Pa., and of Grove City CoUege,
Grove City, Pa. He acted as chairman of the
Democratic county committee, in 1882-83, and
was also a member of the Pennsylvania Demo-
cratic State committee. He was a presidential
elector on the Hancock ticket.
On Jan. 9, 18S3, jMr. Wilson was married
in Kittanning, Pa., to ilargaret Patton,
daughter of Matthew D. and Margaret (Mech-
ling) Patton, and granddaughter of Philip
Meehling, at whose house the ceremony took
place. She was a sister of the late Judge
Patton, of Kittanning. In 1882 Mr. Wilson
had bought the Stannard mansion on Water
street, and there resided until Mrs. Wilson's
death, which occurred Sept. 28, 1889. Two
children survived j\Irs. Wilson, namel.v:
Harry W., Jr., now of California, and ilar-
garet Patton, living at home.
REV. LEWIS HAY. D. D., pastor of the
Lutheran Church in Indiana borough, Indiana
county, has had his present charge continu-
ously since 1885, and deserves much credit
for the thriving condition which the congi-e-
gation has maintained for so many years. He
is an honored citizen of this place and highly
esteemed in all circles. Dr. Hay was born in
1840 at Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa., son of
722
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Robert and Jane (Buhl) Hay and grandson
of Robert Hay.
Robert Hay, the grandfather, was born in
Ireland of Scotch-Irish parentage. He came
to the United States when quite young, and
in his early manhood engaged in the fishing
business along the New England coast for a
.short time. He then came to Pennsylvania,
settling near Pittsburg, in McCandless town-
ship, Allegheny county, where he took up
large tracts of land. It was then heavily cov-
ered with timber, but he succeeded in clearing
a large acreage, and he was not only one of
the most prosperous farmers of the county in
his day, but a man highly esteemed for his
sterling qualities and value as a citizen. He
was one of the charter members of the First
United Presbyterian Church in the city of Al-
legheny, to which he belonged for thirty-nine
years, and for man}' years one of its influen-
tial officials. He died at the advanced age of
eighty-seven.
Robert Hay, son of Robert, was born at
Pittsburg. When a young man he did farm
work, subsequently learning shoemaking,
which trade took him into the business which
proved to be his life work. After following
his trade as a jounieyman a few .years he set-
tled at Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa., where he
remained, engaged in the shoe business, for
a period of thirty -five years, at the end of that
time selling out and going to Pittsburg.
There he again established himself, in the same
line, on the north side, continuing in business
as a manufacturer and dealer for several
years more, and he was very successful, being
one of the most extensively interested in that
field in his day. He was a man who interested
himself in public affairs, particularly the sub-
ject of free education, and he served on the
school board of Allegheny county. His relig-
ious connection was with the Lutheran
Church. He married Jane Buhl, daughter of
Christian Buhl, one of the pioneer settlers at
Zelienople, a successful business man and a
citizen highly respected for his high char-
acter and worth as a man. Mr. Buhl was a
hatter, a trade very important at that time,
and followed that business for several years.
He also dealt in real estate, being himself the
owner of extensive tracts of land. He was
for many years a member of the German
Lutheran Church at Zelienople. Mr. Hay
died in 1887, his wife in December, 1909.
They were the parents of six children, namely :
Lewis ; Emma, who is deceased ; A. B., an at-
torney, of Pittsburg, now serving as solicitor
for Allegheny county; Lucinda; J. Walter,
who is in the realty business at Pittsburg;
and R. H., who is a retired lawyer and re-
sides at Pittsburg.
Lewis Hay attended public school and the
academy at Zelienople, and when he began
the serious work of life was associated in
business with his father at Pittsburg for a
time. His next occupation was as traveling
salesman for a New England leather and shoe
manufacturing concern, with which he was
connected in that capacity until 1873, at
which time he put his determination to pre-
pare for the ministry into practical execution.
He took up a course of theological reading for
one year, and then entered the Western Pres-
byterian Theological Seminary, at Allegheny,
Pa., from which institution he was graduated
in 1877. His first call was to the Church of
the Reformation at Washington, D. C. From
there he went to Brookville, Jefferson Co., Pa.,
where he was pastor for two years, at the
end of that time changing to Leechburg, Arm-
strong Co., Pa., where he was stationed from
1881 to 1885. In 1885 he came to Indiana
as pastor of the Lutheran Church, which at
that time was quite weak, the congregation
numbering only about 165 members, and the
church activities without enthusiastic support.
Under Dr. Hay's pastorate the church has
grown until there are 475 members, with a
Sunday school of 450 members, including a
male Bible class of nearly one hundred, a
mother's Bible class of about fifty and an in-
fant departtnent of nearly one hundred. This
church has the largest missionary society in
the Pittsburg Synod. Over thirty thousand
dollars ha^ been expended upon the church
building and the parsonage property is a very
creditable holding, worth over ten thousand
dollars. The congi-egation is entirely free
from debt. This condition of spiritual and
material prosperity has only been attained
through the most unremitting labors on the
part of the pastor cooperating with his peo-
ple, and the efforts Dr. Hay has put forth
have been recognized and appreciated by his
faithful supporters, who give him the prin-
cipal share of credit for the floi;rishing con-
dition of affairs in the church at the present
time. His -enthusiasm and interest have
never waned, his courage and energy have
never relaxed, and his devotion has been un-
questioned throughout his long pastorate.
The respect in which he is held is by no means
confined to his parishioners.
In 1882 Dr. Hay married, at Leechburg,
Marion Hill, daughter of Daniel Hill. They
have no children of their own, but an adopted
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
daughter, Sarah Meyers, has found a home
with tliem since she was two years old and
has proved a blessing in their household.
E. QUAY McHENRY, M. D.. physician
and surgeon located at Creekside, Pa., was
born near that borough, in Rayue township,
Indiana Co.. Pa., March 4, 1846, and is a
son of Robert and Isabelle (Jamison) Mc-
Henry.
Robert ]\IcHenry was born in Indiana
county. Pa., and spent his active life there in
tilling the soil in White, Washington and
Rayne townships, retiring during his latter
years and moving to ilarion Center, where his
death occurred Oct. 23, 1875 ; his widow sur-
vived until Jan. 23, 1882. Their family con-
sisted of eleven children, namely : Elizabeth,
Ihe widow of Jesse Diven, a resident of Blairs-
\ ille, and now eighty-eight years of age ; Ta-
bitha, deceased, who was the wife of William
Wolf; two who died in infancy; Levi, who
enlisted in the 11th Pa. Vol. Inf., during the
Civil war. was taken prisoner by the Confed-
erates and confined in a prison in North Caro-
lina, and died in Taylorsville, Pa. ; Jane, wife
of Dr. William Anthony, both now deceased;
Dr. George J., formerly of ilariou Center;
Belle, wife of ^Michael Walter, of Pen-v,
Okla. ; R. H., a resident of Hicksville, Ohio,
who served during the Civil war with Com-
pany A, 78th Regiment, Pa. Vol. Inf., re-
cruited at Kittauning; Lovina, widow of Ir-
win Culbertson, and now living in Linn
county, Kansas; and E. Quay.
E. Quay McHenry was educated in the old
schoolhouse which now stands in Washington
township, and his first employment as a youth
was at farm labor. Subsequently he became
a school teacher, teaching during the winter
months for several years, and in 1868 he took
up the study of medicine, finishing his prep-
aration for his profession in the University
of Jlichigan, at Ann Arbor, being graduated
therefrom in 1873. He at once engaged in
the active practice of his profession at West-
over and near Mahaffey, in Clearfield county,
but later removed to Jefferson and Westmore-
land counties, being located at ilurrysville
for fifteen years. In 1910 he returned to
( 'reekside, and has since been engaged in prac-
tice in the old locality where he started life.
On Sept. 1, 1881," Dr. McHenry was mar-
ried, at DuBois, Pa., to Libbie Cameron, who
was born in Nova Scotia, daughter of Angus
and Jessie (Dunbar) Cameron, early settlers
near DuBois. Pa., where Mr. Cameron was
engaged in mining. He died i\Iarch 2, 1898,
while his widow survives and makes her home
with Dr. .AleHenry. They had children as
follows : Robert, living at Reynoldsville, Pa. ;
.Jaiif, the wife of Elmer Jock, of Vandergrift,
Pa.; .Maggi.'. the wife of J. C. Thompson, of
New Kensington; John D., of Ilarrishurg;
Hannah, wife of David Thompson, of Lud-
ii'gtou, ilich.; ilrs. :\IcHenry ; Christina, de-
ceased, who was the wife of Finley Leech;
and Sandy, living in Pittsburg. Four chil-
dren have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Mc-
Henry, namely: Pearl, wife of J. Piper, of
Altoona, has one daughter; P'ord is deceased;
Robert is married and has three chihiren,
Pearl, Eleanora and Quay; Jessie Lsabelle,
unmarried, lives at home. Dr. McHenry was
for a number of years a member of the Ameri-
can Medical Ass-soeiation and still takes an
active interest in its work.
FRANK WHEELER WEST, member of
the Marion Center Jlilling Company, of ]\lar-
ion Center, Indiana county, was born at Eagle
Furnace, Ohio, April 9, 1874, son of Leander
West.
Leander West was Irorn at Sinking Spring,
Highland Co., Ohio, and tliere learned the
machinist's trade, becoming an expert in his
line. Being a first-class mechanic, he found
ready employment at blast furnaces in differ-
ent parts of Ohio and in the South. In 1888
he returned North and located at Bakersville,
Somerset Co., Pa., where he followed his trade
and also carried on a small machine shop.
He died at his home in 1891 from the effect of
a wound received in the Civil war. having had
the misfortune to be shot through the right
lung; he suffered for years. He was buried
in the cemetery at Bakersville. A Baptist
in religious belief, he died tinn in that faith.
Politically he was a Rei)ublir;ui.
At Chillicothe. Ohio. Leantler West was
married to ilary A. Bowman, who survives
him and makes her home at Latrobe. Pa. The
following ehildi-en were born to ]\Ir. and Mrs.
West : Ennna married J. N. McBride and re-
sides at Latrobe. Pa. ; Charles B. also resides
at Latrobe, Pa. : Clara married W. P. Nier,
of Carney, Pa, : Frank Wheeler is mentioned
below; Gertrude married Friah Mail, of Rock-
wood, Pa.; Garnett, living at Mount Pleasant,
Pennsylvania.
Frank Wheeler West attended school in
Ohio until he was fourteen years old, at which
time the family came to Pennsylvania, and
he continued his studies at Bakersville. In
his odd moments ]\Ir. West worked in a mach-
chine shop his father had at home, and thus
724
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
picked up a practical knowledge of the ma-
chinist's trade, so that when he was left fath-
erless, at the age of seventeen . years, he was
able to secure employment in a flour-mill in
Bakersville. While maintaining this connec-
tion he learned to be a miller, and then went
to Jenners Crossroads, in Somerset county,
where he worked as such. Later, he worked
" along the same line at Mount Pleasant and
then at the old Weaver stand in Westmoreland
county. For some years he worked at other
points as a miller, and then returning to Ba-
kersville went into the mill where he had
learned the trade. After a period of useful-
ness there, he returned to Mount Pleasant for
a short tiine and then went to Trauger, West-
moreland Co., Pa., and continued his work
as a miller. After several other changes he
went to Latrobe, Pa., where he spent two years
in the machine shops, in 1900 coming to Mar-
ion Center, Indiana county. Although he
had not received large wages during the pe-
riod he had been working for others he had
been economical and saved his money, so that
he was able to establish himself in business,
renting the old mill from Harrison Gammell,
and operating it for two years. The mill was
tbiii sold, and Mr. West formed a partnership
wi1li Ivlward Wynecoop and located in Glen
('jiiiiplicll, where he conducted a flour and
feed store as a member of the firm of Wyne-
coop & West. At the expiration of six months
Mr. West sold his interest and went to Rich-
mond, Indiana Co., Pa., where he rented and
operated the mill there for two years. Once
more he came to Marion Center, for he be-
lieved this to be a good field of operation, and
forming a partnership with John Rice bought
the old Marion Center mill. The partners
formed the Marion Center Milling Company
and built up a fine business as manufacturers
of flour. In 1911 they were unfortunate
enough to lose heavily by fire, their plant and
stock being destroyed with a loss of $16,000,
to cover which they had only $5,000 insur-
ance. ]\Ir. West estimates his personal loss
at $5,500. In the meanwhile he had been op-
erating the Penn Run mill, with a j\lr. Kinter
as a partner, for two years. So after losing
his other property, he went to Punxsutawney,
Jefferson Co., Pa., and began operating the
Mahoning Valley mill, thus continuing for six
months. Still seeking better conditions he went
to Arcanum, Ohio, where with William M.
Wlialey he purchased a mill and elevator and
operated the mill at that point for two months.
Having by this time matured plans, he re-
turned to Marion Center, and right on the
site of his former plant erected a new mill,
which is one of the finest in the State. Mr.
Kinter owns a one-third interest. The mill
is a four-stoi-y structure, well equipped with
thoroughly modern machinery and appliances
for the production of high-grade flour. The
total cost of the plant was $13,000, and it
has a daily capacit.y of seventy-five barrels of
flour, one hundred barrels of buckwheat flour.
The plant is conducted in a business-like man-
ner. The special brand is ' ' Best Out, ' ' while
the special brand of the buckwheat is "Red
Seal," and both are deservedly popular over
a wide territory. Mr. West is a past master
of the milling business, having devoted his
entire life to it, and learned it from the bot-
tom up. Few men have been able to meet as
liravely as he heavy reverses of fortune, but
he has come out successful after many years
of hard work and thrifty saving, and has
every reason to be proud of what he has ac-
complished. He is essentially a self-made and
self-educated man, having won his way in the
world without any backing of family or
money.
In 1892 Mr. West was married to Alice
Jones, of Weaver's old stand in Westmore-
land county. They have two children, Mil-
dred and llargaret. Mrs. West has been a
■worthy helpmate to her husband, and he at-
tributes much of his success in life to her as-
sistance and encouragement. Mr. West has
voted the Republican ticket and is now an
enthusiastic admirer of Colonel Roosevelt and
his principles. The Methodist Church holds
his membership, and his wife also belongs.
Fraternally Mr. West belongs to the Odd Fel-
lows (at Marion Center) and the Woodmen
of the World.
JOHN BELL TAYLOR, vice president of
the Farmers' Bank of Indiana, is a member
of the family of Taylors who have been con-
nected with that institution continuously
since its organization, in 1876, R. C. Taylor,
his father, having served as cashier from the
time it was opened.
This branch of the Taylor family is of
old Pennsylvania stock, but representatives
of other branches are numerous in other parts
of the country also, and have been from
Colonial times. The Taylors are of ancient
origin, for it was William the Conqueror him-
self who bestowed the motto as the hero was
dying :
Drink to Taillifer, boys!
His heirs shall have a wliole county, fee-simple deeded.
And a motto — Conseciuitor quodcunque petit.
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
In "A Corner in Ancestors" we find:
"Taillefer was the original form of this
name, but simplified spelling has cut out let-
ters here and there, and changed others.
Telfor was an early nondescript form, hardly
worth mentioning. If you inquire its deriva-
tion, or meaning, it is 'iron cutter.' There
are those, however, who presume to suggest
that the name should be Taylzer, or Teazeler
— a form found in records of the sixteenth
century, also Le Tasseler — derived from
tasseles, or teasel, the kind of thistle used
to raise the nap of cloth. The most inter-
esting tradition is that one of William the
Conqueror's knights was the bold Norman
Baron Taillefer, who before the battle of
Hastings, where he lost his life, seemed beside
himself with joy, throwing up his sword and
catching it again, and
"ChantinfT aloud th' lusty strain
Of Roland and of Charlemagne.
"It is the lyric poem of Uhland which re-
counts, in lively measure, the valiant deeds
of this doughty warrior. To his family large
estates in Kent and other counties were
granted. The name all along the ages has
had a variety of forms ; for example, Tayle-
fer, Le Tallyur, Le Talyur, Taillour, Tailyour
(which is the old Scottish form), Tailleau,
Tayleure, Taylurese, Taylour, Taylir, Tayller,
Taillir and Taillor. Present day orthog-
raphy is reduced to the forms Taylor, Tailor,
Tailer, Tailler and, in rare instances, Tayloe.
"The firet of the name in this country was
James Taylor, 'gent,' who was living in Vir-
ginia, 1635, and became a large land o^iier.
His descendants may claim much coveted
membership with the Society of Colonial
Wars, through his son, James, justice of the
peace and surveyor. An old record shows
that his widow, Martha Thompson, received
16,000 pounds of tobacco from the burgesses
for one of his surveys. Their children num-
bered nine, and they were the great-grand-
parents of Zaehary Taylor, president.
"The founder of the New England branch
of the family was John, of Hadley, Mass.,
who is mentioned as a 'single young man,' a
'land owner' and a 'citizen.' In 1666 he
married Mary, daughter of Thomas Selden,
of Hartford.
"Reunions of the Taylor family meet at
the old homestead in Hadley — the place John
the Pilgrim bought from Governor Webster.
The present house is about 150 years
old
"Patriots the Taylors have always been.
725
willing, when necessary, to pledge their lives,
their tortunes and their sacred honors and
t ley number soldiers in evei-y war. William
the tourth from John the "Pilgi-im, was at
the surrender of Burgoyne; Lieut. Augustine
of Comiecticut, Capt. Chase, of New Hamp-
shire. Lieut. Daniel, of Massachusetts were
among representatives of the New England
family in the Revolution, to sav nothing of
the noble army of the rank and file Vir-
ginia patriots include Surgeon Charles, Lieut
\\illiam Capt. Francis and Lieut. Richard,
the fourth from James, settler. Richard re-
ceived a grant of land in Ohio for distin-
guished services rendered in the war.
"Gen. James Taylor, son of Zaehary, was
an officer of the war of 1812, also Elisha
laylor, temperance lecturer.
"Besides the soldiere and statesmen, the
tamily has its authors, poets, dramatists
artists, actors, scholars and educators. Jo
Taylor, actor and friend of Shakespeare,
personally instructed by him how to play
Hamlet, and he is said to have been the orio'-
mal lago. °
"The chief periodical literature in many
New England homes was the Almanac— the
predecessor of 'Poor Richard's Almanac'—
published from 1(02 to 1746 bv Jacob
Taylor.
"Characteristics of the Taylors are incor-
ruptible integrity, persistent- loyalty to duty,
quickness of perception, fertility of resource,
and unflagging energJ^ Of Zaehary Tavlor
It was said, after he had adopted a resolution,
or formed a friendship, no power could make
him abate the one, or desert the other. 'He
was as incapable of surrendering a convic-
tion as an army.'
"'Strong in action, firm in purpose, mod-
est in manner, dress and personal belongings,'
is the verdict regarding one, with the addi-
tion, -none of the Taylors, from the first
ancestor down, has ever lacked coimnon
sense.' "
The Taylors have been entitled to armorial
bearings since the eleventh century, and the
coat of arms shown in "A Corner in Ances-
tors" is quartered as follows: First and
fourth for Taylor, azure, the upper half sable,
charged with two wild boars' heads; second,
for the De Fairsted family, a chevron of
ermine between three greyhounds courant;
third, for the Freeland family, a chevron of
ermine between three rowels of a spur. Crest,
a dexter arm, embossed in armor; the hand,
gauntleted, grasps a javelin. The motto,
726
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Conscqiiitor quodcunque petit, means, "He
accomplishes what he undertakes. "
The various branches of the family in
Indiana county have produced many citizens
of notable worth, its members being prominent
as trustworthy business men and able pro-
fessional workers, and everywhere command-
ing respect for high character and mental
attainments.
John Taylor, founder in America of the
line under" consideration, came from ances-
tors who emigrated from England to Scotland
during the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell.
He came from Scotland to tliis country, set-
tled near Philadelphia, and lived to see his
one hundredth birthday. In religion he was
a strict Presbyterian.
Alexander Taylor, son of John, above, was
born in 1756. Removing to Bedford county,
Pa., he lived there for some time, and then
(before 1790) came west to what is now
Indiana (then Westmoreland) county, pur-
chasing a farm four miles south of what is
now the borough of Indiana. There he died
March 8, 1815. By profession he was a sur-
veyor. He served in the Revolution, in which
war one of his brothers was killed Sept. 20,
1777, at the massacre of Paoli, in Chester
county, Pa. (he served under General
Wayne), and another, Lieut. Matthew Taylor,
fell in the battle of Long Island ; he was but
eighteen years old. Alexander Taylor was
twice married, to Mary McKesson and (sec-
ond) to Margaret McFadden, and he had six
children: (1) Robert married Margaret Pat-
ton. (2) John married i\Iary Wilson and
had children, A. Wilson Taylor (member of
the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1859 and
1860 and a member of the Forty-third Con-
gress), Caroline (who married Joseph J. F.
Young), Dr. James Madison (married Mar-
garet Blair) and Washington, all now de-
ceased. (3) William married Jane Wilson,
and had children, James Knox, John, Alex-
ander, Mary J. (married A. M. Stewart),
Elizabeth (married John G. Coleman) and
Sarah. (4) Alexander, Jr., is mentioned
below. (5) James served as sheriff of Indiana
county and was also a member of the State
Legislature. (6) Matthew was the only one
who did not survive his father. Of this family
John was one of the leading men of Indiana
county in his day, holding many of the high-
est offices, prothonotary, county treasurer,
member of the Legislature, and associate
judge; he was also deputy surveyor, and
surveyor general of Pennsylvania, 1836 to
1840.' The first paper published in Indiana,
Pa., was the American, and its first editor
and founder was James McCahan, succeeded
by James Moorhead. In 1829 its name was
changed to the American and Whig. In 1832
Hon. John Taylor succeeded James Moorhead
and changed the name of the paper to the
Free Press. His descendants have also been
prominent citizens of this section. His son,
A. Wilson Taylor, was born in Indiana
March 22, 1815, on the spot where his daugh-
ters, Misses Fannie, Caroline and Isabel, now
reside, and received his early education under
a private tutor from Philadelphia, Pa., after-
ward graduating from Jefferson College and
Dickinson Law School, Carlisle, Pa. Later
he studied law with Judge Thomas White
and was admitted to the bar in 1841, entering
upon a successful practice, and was always
considered a safe and wise counselor. In
1845 he was elected prothonotary and reelected
in 1848. Early in life he took an active part
in politics and was a power as a political ora-
tor. Being opposed to American slavery he
was foremost in organizing the Republican
party and was recognized as one of its prom-
inent leaders in western Pentisylvania. He
was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature
in 1859, and in 1872 was elected as represen-
tative of his district (Congressional), which
was at that time composed of Indiana, West-
moreland and Fayette counties, during his
term serving on a number of important com-
mittees. He took a deep interest in the agri-
cultural development of his own county and
State, serving for five years as president of
the Indiana County Agricultural Society, and
was also one of the trustees of the Agricul-
tural College of Pennsylvania, and a trus-
tee of the Indiana normal school. On May 8,
1849, he was married to Elizabeth Ralston.
He died May 7, 1893, and was buried in
Greenwood cemetery, which was originally
part of his own farm, and the same farm
on which the costly Indiana hospital is now
being erected.
Alexander Taylor, Jr., was like his father
a surveyor and in the pursuit of that and
other occupations became well known all over
this region. The family have been leading
Democrats, and he founded the first Demo-
cratic newspaper in the county, the Indiana
and Jefferson Whig, the publication of which
he commenced in 1821, in association with
C. B. Wlieelock. At the time of his death,
which occurred Sept. 6, 1828, when he was
aged thirty years, he was serving as protho-
notary of Indiana county, and was most
highly esteemed by all who knew him. He
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
married Sarah Cromwell, and they heeame the
parents of four children, all of whom sur-
vived the father, namely : Robert Cromwell ;
Matthew, deceased, an attorue.y, who married
Sarah H. Sill; ilary. deceased; and Will-
iam, deceased. Of these, Matthew had two
children, Francis M. S. and Helen, the latter
dying in infancy; the former, who became
a elergj'man of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, married Addie Seymour, daughter
of John S. Seymour and niece of Bishop Sey-
mour. The mother, Mrs. Sarah (Cromwell)
Taylor, died in June, 1883.
Robert Cromwell Taylor, son of Alexander
Taylor, Jr., was born June 23, 1822, and be-
came one of the prominent business men of
Indiana borough. He received a good com-
mon school education, and taught school for
some time in his young manhood. He gave
vip the profession to take a high position in
the Shoanberger Iron ilanufactory, at that
time a well-known industrial establishment
in this region. During the several years he
remained there he formed those studious bus-
iness habits and acquired those peculiar qual-
ifications for which he became noted in his
later years, and which had so much to do
with iiis success in the various enterprises
he undertook and his efficient service in every
position in which he was placed. Leaving
the Shoanberger manufactory to engage in
mercantile pursuits on his own account, he
established a reputation for fair and honest
dealing and uprightness which he maintained
to the end of his honorable career. Shortly
after President Lincoln's first inauguration
Mr. Taylor was appointed postmaster at
Indiana, and held the office for eighteen suc-
cessive years. His administration gave great
satisfaction to the patrons of the office, and
he was frequently highly commended by his
official superiors at Washington, receiving
highly complimentary letters from President
Hayes and the Postmaster General, in which
his efficient management of the important
position was acknowledged and commended,
and in one of which he was asked if he would
accept the position of Second Assistant Post-
master General. Feeling then that he had
already seriously impaired his health by too
close application to his work, and knowing
how varied and difficult was the labor required
to properly fill the office tendered, he respect-
fully declined the proffered preferment. And
to this was added a still weightier reason.
His family and domestfc attachments were
remarkably strong, and he was loth to sever,
even in the slightest degree, the loving ties of
home, or surrender even temporarily the quiet
enjoyment and peaceful recreation he found
in the family and social circles where his
youth and manhood had been spent. About
the close of his last term as postmaster, upon
the organization of the Farmers' Bank, he
was tendered the position of cashier, which
he accepted, and held until the time of his
death. The bank was organized March 24,
1876. Mr. Taylor's youngest son, John B.
Taylor, not long afterward became assistant
cashier, in which position he was serving in
187fi. The (■iiiincctinn of the Taylors with this
tinaiicial iiislil iit ioii has been continuous to
the iiresiMit time, and to them should be given
their share of the credit for its career of
prosperity and its unquestioned standing.
The original capital stock, $100,000, has been
increased to $225,000, and its volume of bus-
iness and importance in the business world
have expanded proportionately. The bank
was established in the Shryoek building on
Philadelphia street, when it was opened.
Robert C. Taylor died suddenly of par-
alysis, at his home in Indiana, Oct. 3, 1884,
at the age of sixty-two years. Over a year
before he had suffered a stroke, but recovered
sufficiently to resume his duties at the bank,
though a few months before his death he gave
up active participation in its affaire, turning
over the more onerous duties to his son.
Jlr. Taylor was always active in church
and Sunday school work. He and Rev. David
Blair organized the U. P. Sunday school in
Indiana, the first Sunday school organized
within the bounds of the Presbytery of that
denomination. Mr. Taylor was chosen super-
intendent, and continued to hold the position
for over a quarter of a century, "honoring
the office and maintaining for the school a
foremost place in the ranks of those valuable
institutions. His resignation was brought
about by feeble health, and was accepted with
deep regret by the membership of both the
school and church. In 1858 he was elected
and installed as a ruling elder of the church,
and in that capacity served his Master faith-
fully and lovingly, being solicitous that in
all ways the cause of Christ should be
advanced."
"His love for his family wa.s measureless,
and in his later years he found delight in
mingling with his grandchildren, listening
with grave attention to their griefs, joining in
their plays, laughing in their glees. His devo-
tion to public affairs never led him to forego
the domestic and social enjoyments to which
he contributed the full share of earnest dis-
728
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
courses, pleasant reminiscences, and assisted
in the merriment which is wise and the play-
fulness which is discreet.
' ' In the community he was esteemed one of
the best citizens. He was forward in every
good work tending to the moral elevation of
the conununity and to the development of the
town. His advice on public measures and
improvements was frequently sought, and it
was tempered with reason and devoid of
prejudice.
' ' In his death the widow and the fatherless
have lost a faithful friend, and Christian
charity one of its surest supports."
In 1847 Mr. Taylor married Sarah Jane
Bell, of Westmoreland county, who with three
of the four children born to them survived
him. She is now deceased. Alexander T.,
the eldest son, a resident of Indiana, married
Lydia Wettling; John Bell is mentioned
below; Alice married George Hart and
removed to Kansas.
John Bell Taylor, son of Robert Cromwell
and Sarah J. Taylor, was born in Indiana,
Pa., March 20, 1851, in the house now known
as the A. W. Wilson property, corner of
Church and Seventh streets. He attended
the public schools of Indiana until he was
sixteen years of age, when on the advice of
his physician, on account of his health, he
left school, as he then expected only for a
time, until his health would improve. After
clerking in the A. M. Stewart hardware store
in Indiana for a time, his uncle, Alexander
Elliott, a merchant of Armagh, Indiana
county, asked liim to come to Armagh and
clerk in his store, and he accepted the position
in September, 1867, remaining in that store
until March, 1873, when he was elected to
a position in the First National Bank of
Indiana, Pa. Having accepted this position
he returned to Indiana, and continued as an
employee in the First National Bank until
1877, when he was elected teller in the recently
organized Farmers' Bank of Indiana. He
was afterward made assistant cashier, and
on the death of his father, in 1884, was elected
to succeed him as cashier, being connected
with the bank in that capacity until 1904,
when, with a fast growing business, the insti-
tution increased its capital from $100,000 to
$225,000, and he was elected vice president.
He is still (1913) holding that official posi-
tion, and is a close, hard worker in the inter-
est of the bank. He has also served as treas-
urer of the borough of Indiana for ten or
twelve years, and was treasurer of the school
board for a number of years, in both positions
justifying the confidence his fellow citizens
showed in his financial ability and acumen.
He has a justly high reputation in banking
and general business circles, never disappoint-
ing those who have selected him for high
responsibilities, and in all the associations
of life has measured up to the high standard
characteristic of the Taylors for generations.
Mr. Taylor is a man of rather quiet dis-
position, never seeking publicity. He is a
member of the First United Presbyterian
Church, and socially of the Cosmopolitan
Clvib and the Two Lick Country Club, being
one of the promoters of the latter, and having
a cottage on the club grounds. He is inter-
ested in and fond of sports of many kinds,
hunting, fishing, etc., and has always been
very fond of horses, the greater part of his
life keeping one or two good saddle and driv-
ing horses. In politics he is a Republican,
and with few exceptions has voted the regu-
lar ticket.
In November, 1875, IMr. Taylor married
Margaret Johnston, a daughter of Stephen
A. and Mary E. Johnston, of Armagh, Pa.,
and to them were born: Royden J., a grad-
uate of Cornell University, now living in
Atlanta, Ga. ; and Alice, at home. ^Irs. Taylor
died April 13, 1906.
JOHN WESLEY WATT, elder and
founder of the Seventh Day Adventist colony
in Indiana county, Pa., was born at Haworth,
DeWitt Co., 111., March 14, 1851, a son of
Milton Asbury and Delilah (Morain) Watt,
the former of whom was named for the noted
Bishop Asbury of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
The boyhood days of Elder Watt were spent
on the farm of his father and he attended
the public schools near his home and contin-
ued on the homestead until he was nineteen
j'ears of age, when he started out for himself
and for a short time followed farming. He
had always been of serious mind and in Feb-
ruary, 1874, embraced the faith of the Sev-
enth Day Adventists and began to prepare
himself for the preaching of the Gospel. He
devoted all his spare moments while at home
to the study of theological books and thus pre-
pared himself for the ministry, into which
he formally entered at Nevada, Mo. While
ministering to a congregation of 110 indi-
viduals there for three years he supported
himself by physical labor. In Missouri he
was ordained and remained in that State
for eleven years, and then went to Montana,
recognizing that there was a gi-eat field for
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
729
mission work. During bis four years of evan-
gelistic work there 250 souls were converted.
From Montana Elder Watt went to the
State of Indiana, where he became president
of his church confei'ence, with headquarters
at Indianapolis, and there had under his ju-
risdiction sixty churches and 1,600 souls,
spending three useful years in that location.
His next field of work was North Dakota, and
one year later he went to South Dakota, which
he left a year aftenvard with a prosperous
church community behind him, next invading
Vermont, where he became president of the
conference, with headquarters at Barre. He
remained in that office for six years, or until
1905, when he came to Pennsylvania and set-
tled at Bradford. In 1906 he came to In-
diana county and purchased the John K. fly-
ers farm in Wbite township, known as the
Snyder farm, and here he laid the founda-
tion for great future usefulness, establishing
a colony consisting of eight families. He built
a ehureli and schoolhouse, the students al-
ready numbering twenty. Attention is given
at this school to religious as well as secular
education and a well-trained teacher is in
charge, one who holds a State certificate.
Elder Watt is a man of wide vision and has
shown it in the establishing of his different
entei-prises in the interest of the colony. A
successful broom factory is in operation and
farming and market gardening are thriving
industries. He gives everything his personal
supei-vision at this point, and is also in close
touch with similar work in other sections.
Personally he is a man to inspire esteem and
veneration, and those who listen to his con-
fident hopes for the future are apt to feel
enthusiasm for his aims and respect near to
affection for his sterling virtues.
At Nevada. Mo.. Elder Watt was married,
Nov. 17. 1873, to Mary E. Logan, who is in
full sympathy with her husband and is also
a beloved member of the colony. To Elder
and ilrs. Watt the following children have
been born: Delilah is the wife of Isaac Big-
low, of Washington, D. C. ; Pryor M., who is
superintendent of the farm and broom fac-
tory, married Carrie French ; Maud, who was
educated to be a trained nurse at Battle Creek,
Mich., is engaged in that profession in Okla-
homa; Charles Daelton. who is a graduate of
the Philadelphia Dental College, and engaged
in practice at Barre, Vt., married Lillian
Kenerson, and they have two children. Len-
dell Kenerson and Lorain ; Paul and Dale re-
side at home.
IRVIN ALFRED HEWITT, as.sistant
elder and teacher of the above described col-
ony, was born at Caledonia, Kent Co., ]\Iich.,
June 18, 1874, a son of Alfred and Delephie
(Everson) Hewitt. He was four years old
when the family moved to Erie county. Pa.,
where he attended school, and later had ad-
vantages at the Edinboro normal school and
at Grove City, afterward teaching at Keep-
ville and Lundy's Lane, Pa. In 1898 Elder
Hewitt became a convert to the teachings of
the Seventh Day Adventists and went to Bat-
tle Creek. Mich., where he was engaged for
some time in various occupations of a gen-
eral intellectual nature. Later he returned to
Pennsylvania and taught school at Conneaut-
ville, and when the church colony was estab-
lished in Indiana county by Elder W^att, he
came here to take charge of the edu-
cating of the youth. Elder Hewitt is par-
ticularly well qualified for this important
work, being heartily in sympathy with its
aims and a thoroughly educated man, both
in the Scriptures and in church history, as
well as in other branches of learning.
At Erie, Pa., he was married to Lena Ward,
a most estimable lady. The quiet, wholesome
influence that prevails at the colony speaks
well for those who may be fortunate enough
to be reared and educated there.
MARDIS. The Mardis family is an old es-
tablished one in Indiana county, and its rep-
resentatives are upholding its honor in differ-
ent walks of life.
George Mardis founded the ]\Iardis family
in Indiana, county when he came here from
Frauklin county, Pa. He was of Scotch-Irish
extraction, coming of a race which has pro-
duced some of the most rugged stock and bril-
liant men known in the history of this coun-
try. George Mardis was twice married, his
second wife being Catherine Stafl'ell, daugh-
ter of James Dickis, and widow of Thomas
Staffell. Mr. and Mrs. jMardis had the fol-
lowing children: Joseph, David, Samuel,
Thomas. Sallie and Betsy.
Joseph ilardis, son of George Mardis. died
in August, 18'43, and his wife, Polly (Ber-
ringer), died in ]March, 1850, and is buried in
the U. P. Church cemeteiy at East Union.
The children of this marriage were: Katy,
who married Joseph Duncan ; Su.san. who
married Sam Foy and (second) Washington
flyers; Samuel L. ; George, who married
730
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Nancy Stone; Sarah, who married John Mc-
Laughlin ; Thomas ; John, who married Eliza
Felmey; Mary, who married William Smith;
Joseph, who "married Jane McNutt ; James,
who married Maria Hickman; and Raymer.
Mr. Mardis was a shoemaker and fanner, and
followed both callings all his useful life.
Samuel L. Mardis was born June 27, 1812,
and died July 24, 1881 ; he was buried in East
Union cemetery, Buffington township. He
married Eliza ^Morgan, daughter of John and
Kate (Yertie) ^Morgan, who survives him,
making her home on the old homestead with
a daughter and son. The children born to
Samuel L. Mardis and wife were as follows:
(1) Eli Emerson, born March 10, 1846, died
Nov. 2, 1894. He married Ella Newton, of Ot-
tawa county, Ohio, and was a contractor and
builder until he died. (2) George, born Sept.
8 1847, died at the age of sixteen years, April
29, 1863. (3) Amanda, bom Sept. 23, 1849,
married Thomas C. Hogue, and died July 22,
1890. (4) John, born Feb. 27, 1851, died
Nov. 17, 1878, aged twenty-seven years. (5)
Scott, born Feb. 21, 1853, died May 10, 1880,
aged twenty-seven years. (6) Sanford mar-
ried Annie Miller and (second) Jennie Gib-
son. He resides in Pine township, Indiana
Co., Pa. (7) Jasper, a physician, resides at
home and is in poor health. (8) Benjamin
Franklin is mentioned below. (9) Agnes is
mentioned at length below. (10) Samuel
James is also mentioned at length below. ( 11 )
Minerva married Marlin Cameron, a contrac-
tor and builder of Buffington township. (12)
Curtis A. is unmarried and at home. (13)
Flora married Clark Stein and resides at
Pitcairn, Pennsylvania.
Samuel L. Mardis was a native of Frank-
lin county. Pa., and came to Indiana county
when young, settling with his parents in Buf-
fington township. His first employment out-
side the homestead was on the Pennsylvania
canal, as steersman, and he followed this line
of work until he had saved sufficient money
to invest in 260 acres of land. As soon as he
bought this farm he began operating it. As
there was considerable lumber on his_ prop-
erty, he found it profitable to market it, and
purchased two of the first steam sawmills
that were in his locality, for the purpose of
handling his lumber properly. These mills
were located in different parts of Buffington
township, and in addition to sawing his own
lumber, he had a big trade from others. As
his business developed, he added property to
his original holdings and cleared off a large
tract of timberland. His operations were upon
a large scale, and he became one of the wealthy
and prominent men of his county. Origin-
ally a Whig, when the Republican party was
organized he found in its doctrines a good ex-
position of his political views, and he gave
its candidates his hearty support the re-
mainder of his life. Aside from sei-ving as
a school director he did not enter public life,
his personal affairs absorbing his time and
requii-ing his close attention. Few men of
his locality were more active in the Methodist
Church than he, as he not only contributed
liberally towards its support, but was steward
and class leader, and carried into his every-
day life the principles he professed in his re-
ligious creed. During his long and useful
career he accumulated a large property, and
at the same time built up a reputation for un-
flinching honesty and integrity that nothing
ever tarnished. The influence of such a man
is always powerful, and it is still felt although
he has passed away from this life.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin Mardis, son of
Samuel L. Mardis, was bom Sept. 21, 1860,
on the old ilardis homestead, where he re-
sided until 1881, after which he spent several
years in the State of Ohio. On returning
home, in 1887, he entered the dental depart-
ment of the University of Baltimore where he
graduated two years later, and in 1889 he lo-
cated in the city of Johnstown, where he has
been practicing dentistry up to this time. He
has proved to be one of the most scientific
dentists in western Pennsylvania. In 1890
he was united in marriage to Ida Lichtenfelts,
daughter of Massiun and Katie Lichtenfelts,
of West Wheatfield Township, Indiana Co.,
Pa., and children as follows have been born to
them: Bertha, Ethel Clay, Apie Hazle and
Frank. All are living except Ethel Clay. Dr.
Mardis has handled his financial business in a
very skillful manner, and has become owner
of a number of very valuable properties in
the city.
Samuel James Mardis, son of Sam-
uel L. Mardis, was born Nov. 4, 1863, in
Buffington township, on the old Mardis home-
stead, where his widowed mother still resides.
On Sepf. 13, 1894, he married Elizabeth
Johns, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Rich-
ardson) Johns, whose home was in Seward,
Westmoreland Co., Pa. The grandfather of
Mrs. Mardis on the paternal side was the
founder of Johnstown, Pa., and built the first
house in that city. The children born to Mr.
and Mrs. Mardis have been: Sylvia, Ray-
mond, Harry, George, Millard and Mildred
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
(twins), Martha, ilerle, Roy and Kenneth.
Of these, all are living but the twins.
ilr. Mardis received his educational train-
ing in the common schools of Buffington
township. Mount Pleasant Institute, and the
INIorrell Institute at Johnstown. After leav-
ing the latter institution he returned home and
engaged in farming for a time. Seeing an
opening, he embarked in the typewriter busi-
ness at No. 110 "Walnut street, Johnstown, Pa.,
and conducted same for a number of years.
However, the call of the soil was too great
for him to resist, and returning to Buffing-
ton township he bought a fanu of 170 acres,
on which he carries on general farming and
dairying. His property is one of the best im-
proved in the township, for Mr. Mardis is one
of the advanced agi'iculturists, and carries on
his operations according to scientific methods.
He believes in intensive farming, and in order
to make his land produce to its fullest extent
has ecjuipped his property with the latest im-
proved machinery, which he operates with a
gasoline engine. His residence is a commodi-
ous one. fitted with modern conveniences,
while his dairy barn was erected according to
the most advanced sanitary plans. His other
barns and outbuildings all show that he be-
lieves in housing his machinery and stock
properly, while his fences and various im-
provements are kept in fine condition. His
dairj' is large, and he finds a ready market for
its products, the quality of which is up to
every standard set by sanitary measures. In
addition to his other interests, ilr. ^lardis is
agent for the International Harvester Com-
pany, covering a large territory, and his sales
aggregate a heavy amount each year. In con-
junction with the selling of agricultural im-
plements he handles fertilizers, and writes in-
surance on farming properties. Sucli a man
gives a decided impetus to agricultural in-
terests and proves that the successful farmer
of to-day must be about as good a business
man as can be found in any line.
While attending to the multiple interests
of his many undertakings, Mr. Mardis finds
time to prove his worth as a good citizen.
ha\'ing been a school director for nineteen
years, ovei-seer of the poor for years and a
member of the election board, and for five
years he was a .justice of the peace. The Re-
publican party has had in him a strong sup-
porter. For many years he has been a con-
sistent member of the ilethodist Church, and
his contributions to its support are generous
to a marked degree. A man of decided action,
Mr. ilardis has not onlv known how to ac-
complish great things, hut has gone ahead
ami done them, and his standing among the
])rosperous business men and farmers of In-
diana county is enviable.
Agnes M.vrdis in her useful, busy, liappy
life demonstrates that her sex is amply
able to eaiTy on large interests successfully,
and develop heavy property holdings. Her
father, the late Samuel L. "ilardis, had full
faith in her and an appreciation of her abil-
ity, and chose her to carry out his plans for
the large estate he left behind him. Present
conditions prove fully that his confidence was
not misplaced, and that he could not have
done better than to name her.
Miss Mardis was brought up on the farm,
and luiderstands agriculture as well as her
brothers. Under her active management the
operation of the homestead is carried on, and
the profits shown annually would do credit to
any agriculturist in the county. In addition
to attending to the many duties of business
affairs. Jliss ]\Iardis gives tender care to her
widowed mother in her declining years, and
watches with gentle sisterly solicitude over
her brother. Dr. ilardis, whose poor health is
a source of anxiety to his family.
When Samuel L. Mai'dis bought his original
farm he did not know that it was underlaid
with a rich vein of coal, but he did appreciate
the fact that it was bound to increa.se in
value as the years went on, so declined an
offer made to him in early days, of ten dollars
per acre for the property. Miss Mardis has
refused $110 per acre for it, this remarkable
advance .justifying her father's faith in the
future of this locality.
Like the rest of the family, Miss Mardis is
a Methodist, although her church work is
somewhat curtailed by the heavy responsibil-
ities that rest upon her shoulders, but she is
very charitable, and believes in fonvarding
any movement she believes will work for the
good of the majority.
The Mardis family is representative of the
spirit of the people of this section of the coun-
try. Coming here early in the history of In-
diana county, its members invested heavily in
land, buying it at 3 low price and holding it
for the advance they were sure would come.
They developed the natural resources, contrib-
uted their sliai'e toward improving the neigh-
borhood, and gave their support to the build-
ing of schools and the establishment of re-
ligious organizations. Their endeavors were
directed along the avenues of peace, and the
result of the years of labor, intelligently di-
rected, of the various representatives of this
T.i2
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
family, is siiowii in tlic pn-sc'iit condition ol'
the coininvinity itself, as well as in the well-
eultivated farms and flourishing business con-
cerns that owe their existence to these same
energetic people.
WILLIAM BRIKJE WAGNER is engaged
in luinber dealing and sawmilling and is also
the proprietor of two general stores in south-
ern Indiana county, where his extensive op-
erations have made him very well known. He
resides in Brushvalley township. The branch
of the Wagner family to which he belongs has
been established in America for several gener-
atioiis, and is of German origin. Michael
Wagner, the first of the line to come to this
country, was a native of Germany, and after
(crossing the Atlantic settled in York county,
Pennsylvania.
.Mieiiael Wagner, son of the Michael Wagner
iiienlioned above, was bom in York county,
I 'a., and came from Little York to Indiana
county in 1820, settling in what was then
Wheatfield township, where he followed farm-
ing. He resided on what is now the St. Clair
farm of 200 acres and began improving it,
carrying on the work of development until
he had one of the valuable places in the vi-
cinity. He and his family belonged to the
German Lutheran Church, which he helped
to establish in his neighborhood, and he served
on the building committee that had charge of
the erection of a new place of worship. Po-
litically he was a Democrat. He died in West
Wlieat'field township. He married Ann Sides,
daughter of Adam and Ann (Stcvely- Sides,
and they are l)uried in th(! Lutlieraii Church
cemetery iu West Wheatfield township. Their
children were: Jacob; John, who married
Rebecca St. Clair Campbell and resided in
Urushvalley ; Michael, who married Sarah
Duncan and residt^d in Brushvalley; Sarah,
who married James Mack ; Ann, deceased ; and
Lydia, who married Levi Walbeck.
Jacob Wagner, son of Michael and Ann
(Sides) Wagner, was born Jan. 20, 1821, in
West Wheatfield township, and there _at-
tendcfd common school. He became familiar
with farming as his father's assistant, and
when he was twenty-two years old bought the
Craig farm of fifty acres, to which he later
added 200 acres, erecting a large dwelling
house and barn upon his property. He be-
came one of the prosperous farmers and stock-
men of his township. He was a Republican
in politics, and during the Civil war enlisted
in Company H, 206th Regiment, Pennsyl-
vania Volunteer Infantry, serving from 1861
to 1K64, under Col. Hugh J. Brady. He was
on guard at the L(!e homestead, and was one
of the first to march on to Richmond. At
the close of the war he resumed farming, and
continued actively engaged in agricultural
pursuits until his death, which occurred on
his farm May 4, 1901. In him the German
Lutheran Church had a faithful member and
elder, he giving his support to the congrega-
tion in West Wheatfield township, and he is
buri(;d in the Lutheran cemetery there.
Mr. Wagner married Sarah Walbeck, who
died on the farm Dec. MO, 1886, aged seventy-
ur days. She
li/aheth Wal-
lip. The fol-
oh and Sarah
I wiien iweive
liusl(,n and
Jdlin VV. is a
isliip; Jo.seph
ity. Pa., mar-
dren Fred,
fwi
four yeai-s, one
wasadau-iitcr of Samnel and
beck, of West Wheal Held lowi
lowing cliildren were born to 4
(Wallieek) Wagner: Annie d
yeai's old ; Lvdia married Jo
had children 'Harry and Ivln;
farmer of West Wheatlield In
W., a. resident of Someiset ed
ried Neoma Speclit and has
Dovel and Elizabeth; Jacob died young;
Michael Walbeck is mentioned below; Sarah
Einina is unmarried and resides in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania.
Michael Walbeck Wagner was born in West
Wheatfield township May 5, 1850, and there
received his education in the public schools.
Until sixteen years old he worked on the
farm, and then he learned the trade of mill-
wright with Daniel Breninger, of Cambria
county. Pa., following that work for three
years. After that he was engaged in lumber-
ing for a year before he settled in West
Wheatfield township on his grandfather's
homestead, a traet of si-venty-five acres near
the line of Bruslivalley township. He still
owns and operates this ]>laee, which he has
developed considerably, having built several
houses and a blacksmith shop there; part of
the farm is known as Wagnertown, near
Heshbon, and there he continues to reside.
He has been an industrious and thrifty man,
and has done well in all his undertakings. On
June 18, 1872, Mr. Wagner mai-iied Susan
Mock, who was born in Brnsh\alley town-
ship, daughter of William and .Mary ;\Ioek,
and fourteen children have been born to
them : Jacob Otis, who is on the farm ; W.
Bruce; Mamie, who died young; John M., who
is farming in West Wheatfi(dd township ;
Pearl, married to James McCoUough, a rail-
road man of Derry, Pa. ; Annie, wife of Leon-
ard Shafer; Dessie, married to Robert Mack,
of West Wheatfield township; Chester L.,
deceased ; Michael Karl, a lumberman, of Buf-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
733
fington township ; Emma, wife of George Rey-
nolds, of Derry, Pa., an employee of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company ; Jay Ord, who
is deceased; Ray, who is engaged as store-
keeper ; Laura, deceased ; and Dewey, de-
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are members
of the Lutheran Church. Politically he is a
Republican.
William Bruce Wagner, son of Michael
Walbci'k and Snsan (Mock) Wagner, was
born ()c1. :!n, ls74r, near Heshbon, in West
Wheat lii'id Idwiiship, Where he began his edu-
cation at the disti'ict school. Later he went
to Pi-of. ('. A, CaiiiiilicH's summer school. He
farmed at home with his parents until 1891,
when he went to Bolivar, working at that
place for about five years in the Robinson fire
and clay brick business. In 1896 he returned
to the parental home in West Wheatfield town-
ship, remaining a year, when he went into
the lumber business on his own account, also
opening a general store at Heshbon, on Black-
lick creek, near the Pennsylvania railroad sta-
tion. His wife and a clerk conduct this es-
tablishment, Mr. Wagner's time being occu-
pied principally with his lumber dealings and
his sawmill, which is located in Buffington
township. He also owns another general
store, conducted under the style of the Tall
Timber Supply Company, in Buffington town-
ship, and all his affairs are in prosperous con-
dition. He employs a large number of men
in his various operations, particularly in lum-
bering, as he owns nearly a thousand acres of
woodland; the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany is one of his best patrons. In addition
to looking after these interests Mr. Wagner
carries on a 100-acre farm. He has taken an
active interest in public affairs, and has twice
(1908 and 1911) been candidate on the Re-
publican ticket for county commissioner, but
was defeated. In religious connection Mr.
Wagner is a member of the United Presby-
terian Church. He is generally regarded as
a young man of high ability and character,
one whose success is well merited.
On Sept. 29, 1899, Mr. Wagner married
Zora Clair Campbell, daughter of David and
Martha C. (Carnahan) Campbell, of Hesh-
bon. They have had three children, Florence,
and Zulu and Lulu, twins.
JEFFERSON C. CALHOUN, who is now
living retired in Indiana borough, after many
years spent in agricultural pursuits in In-
diana county, was born May 20, 1849, in
Wayne township, Armstrong Co., Pa., son of
Robert R. and Nancy Sloan (Cochran) Cal-
houn.
Hon. John Calhoun, the paternal grand-
father of Jefferson C. Calhoun, was an old-
time hmiter, trapper and farmer of Arm-
strong county, where he was widely and fav-
orably known. A prominent Democrat, he
served at one time as county judge of Arm-
strong county, and his activities in every walk
of life sei-ved to place him in the confidence of
his fellow citilzens. He married a Miss
Walker, and both died in Armstrong county.
They were the parents of the following chil-
dren: Noah, who lived in Wayne tovraship,
Armstrong county, where he died; Robert R.;
who was the sci-ond in order of birth; Nancy,
who niaiiicd Saiiniel Porter, also of Wayne
township ; .Mai-\-, who married Thomas Richey,
of Wayne township ; William, a farmer, who
went to Illinois and there died; Jane, who
married James Calhoun, of Pine township,
Armstrong county ; Samuel, who spent his life
on the old home place ; and John A., who was
an attorney at law of Kittanning, Pennsyl-
vania.
Robei-t K. Caliioun, son of Hon. John Cal-
houn, and father of Jefferson C. Calhoun,
was born in Armstrong county, and there re-
ceived a common school education. He lived
at home until he was twent.y-five years of age,
at which time he was married and located on
a farm of his own in Wayne township. In
1882 he moved to Dax'ton, and there his death
occurred. He was a I )ciiio(iat in polities and
held numerous township dtlins, and he and
his wife were faithful mciiibcrs of the Pres-
byterian Church. They had five children, as
follows: Ephraim A., who enlisted in Com-
pany K, 155th P. V. I., during the Civil
war, was killed in the battle of the Wilder-
ness, and was buried on the battlefield ; Elmira
A., who married Robert Clever (deceased),
and is now a resident of Dayton, Pa.; Clara
L., who married J. H. Mateer, of Boggs town-
ship, Armstrong county; Lee S., who is farm-
ing the old home place in Dayton, married to
Lina Ambrose; and Jefferson C.
William Cochran, the maternal grandfather
of Jeft'erson C. Calhoun, was born in Ireland,
and canu> to the United States as a young
man, locating in Wayne township, Armstrong
Co., Pa., where he took up wild land, cleared
it, and made a good home for his family. He
was one of the pioneers of his section, partici-
pating in the settlement and development of
his adopted country, and was widely known
in his day. He and his wife had the follow-
ing children : Jane, who married W. W. JNIar-
734
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
shall, of Wayne township, Armstrong Co.,
Pa. ; Nancy Sloan, who married Mr. Calhoun ;
John, deceased, who married Martha McCombs
and lived in Wayne township ; William, de-
ceased, who married Martha McGaughey, and
also lived in Wayne township ; Polly, who
died unmarried ; Eliza, deceased, who was the
wife of Watson Marshall ; James L., deceased,
who married Nancy Bricker, and died in the
West; Robert, who married Mary E. Adair
of Oswego, 111., and lived in the West ; Sam-
uel, who lived and died on the old place in
Armstrong county ; Sloan, who married Lois
Marshall, and lived in Wayne township ; and
Sarah, who married Robert IMcGaughey, and
lived in West Mahoning township.
Jefferson C. Calhoun, son of Robert R. Cal-
houn, received his education in the home
schools, and resided at home until the age of
twenty-seven years, being reared to the vo-
cation of farming. On September 27, 1876,
he was married to Kate R. Steele, of West-
moreland county, daughter of Samuel A. and
Nancy J. (Patterson) Steele, the last named
dying when but thirty-six years old. Samuel
A. Steele was born in Ireland, and when but
six weeks old, in 1822, came to the United
States with his parents, Andrew and Rosanna
(McAhlalten) Steele, of Ireland. The family
settled in Westmoreland county. Pa., where
the grandparents of Mrs. Calhoiin spent the
rest of their lives, Mr. Steele following farm-
ing. They were the parents of nine children,
all of whom are now deceased, viz. : Samuel A.,
Elizabeth, John, Mary Ann, Martha, Matthew,
Hindman, Andrew and Joseph. Samuel A.
Steele spent his entire life in Westmoreland
county, where he was engaged in farming,
and where he died at the early age of thirty-
eight years. By his first wife he had three
children: Kate R., who married J. C. Cal-
houn; Samuel Alexander McCloud, a retired
farmer of Westmoreland county, who mar-
ried Sarah Jane Cannon; and Mary J., the
widow of Henry Laughrey. Mr. Steele mar-
ried (second) Elizabeth Steele, who died in
1894, aged sixty-eight years, and they had one
son, John R., who is living on the old home-
stead.
Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun have had the follow-
ing children: (1) Samuel Steele, for a num-
ber of years a traveling salesman in Penn-
sylvania, and now a farmer of West Mahon-
ing township, Indiana county, is one of the
prominent young citizens of his locality, and
a leading member of the Odd Fellows. Born
Aug. 20, 1877, in Wayne township, Arm-
strong county, he was married May 20, 1908,
to Fannie Bell, of Jefferson county, and they
have two children, Catherine Bell and Robert
Wade. (2) Nancy Jane and (3) Effie E.
are at home. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
Calhoun have been given excellent educa-
tional advantages, attending the home schools
and those at Dayton, and have been trained to
occupy any position in life which they may be
called upon to fill.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs.
Calhoun located on the W. Lindsay farm,
a tract of ninety-seven acres, in West Ma-
honing township, on which they made numer-
ous improvements, Mr. Calhoun continuing
to carry on general farming until 1909, in
which year he removed to Indiana and set-
tled in his present home at No. 202 North
street. He is a Democrat in political mat-
ters, and has served as school director of
West Mahoning township, ever taking an in-
terest in anything that in any way affected
the welfare of his community. With Mrs.
Calhoun he attends the Presbyterian Church,
in which both have many warm friends.
ROBERT M. WILSON, late secretary and
trea.surer of the Savings & Trust Company of
Indiana, Pa., was connected with that
financial institution from its organization. In
the twenty years of his career in the business
he had come to be regarded as an acknowl-
edged authority on banking methods, a man
of reserved opinions and unassuming exterior
whose quiet strength commanded universal
respect. Born on a farm near Belleville, in
Mifflin county. Pa., Jan. 1, 1863, Mr. Wilson
was a son of Jefferson Taylor and Sarah A.
(Gonzales) Wilson, the former of whom died
in 1900. The mother is still living at her
home in Belleville. Mr. Wilson's great-
grandfather, John Wilson, came to this coun-
try from Ireland, settling in 1770 in the
Kishacoquillas valley, in Pennsylvania, where
many of his descendants have lived, a number
still being found there.
Robert M. Wilson spent his boyhood and
youth on his father's farm near Belleville, in
the Kishacoquillas valley. He attended coun-
try school until the age of twenty, when he
entered the State normal school at Indiana,
Pa., graduating tlierefrom in the normal
course in 1886 and in the scientific course in
1888. After that he was engaged in teaching
for two years, as principal of the Philipsburg
high school, in Center county. Pa. In 1890
he registered as a law student in Indiana, Pa.,
with Hon. John P. Elkin as preceptor, was
admitted to the Indiana county bar in 1892,
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
35
and entered upon the practice of law at Blairs-
ville, Indiana county, the same year. In the
fall of 1893, however, when the Blairsville
National Bank was organized, he was offered
the eashiership, which he accepted. The new
bank opened for business on Nov. 1, 1893, and
he continued as its cashier until June 1, 1903,
when he resigned to accept the secretary and
treasurership of the Savings & Trust Com-
pany of Indiana, Pa. He continued his
association with the Blairsville National Bank,
having ever after served as a member of the
board of directors of that institution. His
duties in the Savings & Trust Company, be-
sides the responsibilities of secretary and
treasurer, comprised those of trust officer and
director. His work and worth were thor-
oughly appreciated by his co-workers in the
Savings & Trust Company, whose confidence
in his opinion and reliance upon his judgment
he held as the highest reward for whatever
he accomplished toward the advancement of
their common interests. While the welfare of
this bank was his chief concern, Mr. Wil-
son's interest reached out beyond its imme-
diate needs to all matters affecting the general
situation in banking circles, believing a study
of conditions enables any man to do more
effective work in his special field. His grasp
of the most important requirements, whether
local or general, was recognized by the
profession in his selection as treasurer of the
Trust Company section of the Pennsylvania
Bankers' Association, to wliicli dfficr he was
chosen in 1911 at the Phil;i(li'l|ilii,-i iiu'cting,
and again in 1912 at the Bcdfurd Springs
meeting.
On Oct. IS, 1898, llv. AVilsou was married
to Sara L. Sloan, daughter of Rev. David H.
Sloan, formerly pastor of the Presbyterian
Church at Leechburg, Armstrong Co., Pa.,
which charge he filled for many years. IMr.
Wilson was a member of the Presbyterian
Church. His death occurred Aug. 7, 1913. .
:\IcCLELLAN HOLLIS. mason and build-
er, is a well-known citizen of Blacklick town-
ship, Indiana county, where he was born Feb.
13, 1862, son of Jacob Hollis.
Jacob Hollis was boi-n July 9, 1826, in In-
diana county, Pa., and died in Blacklick town-
ship Feb. 18. 1896. He was a shoemaker by
trade and followed that occupation for a num-
ber of years, making his home in Blacklick
township, near Muddy run. In 1862 he en-
listed in Companj' K, 177th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Killin,
of Armagh, Pa., and served in tlie Union army
for a period of nine months, and he suffered
much in his later years as a result of the
army life. He is buried in Hopewell ceme-
tery in Blacklick township. On Nov. 29, 1855,
he married Nancy Kelley, who was born Dec.
10, 1836, daughter of Archibald and Mary
(Clawson) Kelley, and still survives. Eight
children were born to this marriage: Wil-
liam John, born Nov. 1, 1856, died in Septem-
ber, 1911, at Steubenville, Ohio; James, born
July 26. 1858, died July 4, 1871 ; Milton, born
June 11, 1860, resides at Blairsville, Pa.;
ilcClellan is mentioned below; Clara M., born
Sept. 4, 1864, married Charles Crawford of
Blairsville, May 12, 1886; Mary E., born
July 3, 1866. married Harry K. Miller, of
Blairsville; Harry W.. bom May 23, 1868,
is section foreman on the West Pennsylvania
branch of the Pennsylvania railroad ; Eliza-
beth, born Aug. 28, 1870, died Aug. 30, 1890.
McClellan Hollis attended public school in
his native to\^^lship, and until he was eigh-
teen years old helped at home with the work
on the farm his father owned. Then he went
to learn the trade of mason at Scottdale with
Seth Kelley, Avith whom he remained four
years, when he commenced to work as a stone-
mason on his own account. He has been thus
engaged ever since in Blacklick township,
where he resides, and he has established a
lucrative business as contractor and builder.
He is one of the reliable and respected citi-
zens of his township, and though never an
office seeker has been elected to fill several
township positions of trust, having served as
overseer of the poor and judge of election.
He is a lu'inilili'-aii of the Progi'essive stripe.
In religiniis rdiimi'tiou he is a prominent and
active iiiciiibcr of the M. E. Church, of which
he is a trustee, and he is also interested in
the Sunday school, teaching a class and at one
time acting as superintendent. His wife also
belongs to that church.
On Dec. 4, 1892, Mr. Hollis was united in
marriage, in Blacklick township, with Harriet
Ferguson, a native of the township, daughter
of William D. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Fer-
guson. No children have been born to them.
CHARLES A. NICHOL. who is carrying
on farming operations in White township. In-
diana county, has been a resident of that sec-
tion all of his life, having been born there
Aug. 30, 1873, son of Archibald and Anna
Pauline (Trimble) Nichol.
William Nichol, the grandfather of Charles
A. Nichol, was a native of County Tyrone,
Ireland, whence he came to the United States,
736
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
settling first in Philadelphia. He then took
his family to the Manor district in Cherryhill
township, Indiana county, making the trip
from Philadelphia in a Conestoga wagon, and
there the rest of his life was spent in tilling
the soil. ,
Archibald Nichol, son of William Niehol,
was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Aug. 12,
1821, and was reared to the occupation of
farmer, which he continued to follow all of
his life. He came to White township, Indi-
ana county, in 1865, and in 1893 purchased
what was known as the Hood farm, where
his death cH-rurivd :\raivh 25, 1911, at which
time his widdw moved to the town of Indi-
ana. She still rcsKh's there, at No. 210 South
Seventh street. She and her husband had
ten children, as follows: Rev. William M.,
pastor of the Second United Presbyterian
Church of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Samuel, who is
deceased ; Ralph, who died in infancy ; Frank
A., who died in 1906, at the age of thirty-
seven years, leaving a widow and three chil-
dren, Archie, Arthur and Anna, who reside in
White township ; Clara, who died in infancy ;
Charles A. ; Eda B.. who is a public school
teacher at Elwood, Ind. ; JMartha, who lives
with her mother in Indiana; Grace, wife of
E. Dana Johnson, editor of the Albuquerque
Evening Herald in New Mexico ; and Lucy,
who died in infancy.
Charles A. Nichol, son of Archil)ald Nichol,
received his education in the public schools
of White township and the Indiana State
normal school, aud from boyhood has been
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is
known as one of the progressive and enter-
prising farmers of his township, and his gen-
eral worth as a citizen is acknowledged by
his fellow townsmen. He rendered his com-
munity signal service as county auditor from
1903 to 1909, and at all times "has been ready
to aid any movements having for their object
the general welfare of Indiana county.
On Feb. 22, 1899, Mr. Nichol was married
to Clara May Kanarr, who was born in Grant
township, Indiana county, the eldest child of
Moses and Jane (Hamilton) Kanarr, who
came from Armstrong county to Indiana
county ; and Mr. Kanarr was a land surveyor
of the town of Indiana. Mrs. Kanarr died
in June, 1909, the mother of three children:
Clara May; Anna M., now deceased, who was
the wife of Frank Stormer, of Blairsville ;
and Harry M., chief engineer for the R. &
P. Coal Company, located at Punxsutawney.
Mr. and Mrs. Nichol are the parents of four
children: Dwight A., Hariy A., Anna Jane,
and Day K. The family is connected with
the First United Presbyterian Church of In-
diana, which Mr. Nichol has served as trustee.
The Trimbles, Mr. Nichol 's maternal an-
cestors, are descended from George Trimble,
a native of Ireland, who coming to America
settled in what is now White township, Indi-
ana Co., Pa., where he took up several hun-
dred acres of land. He died on his farm
there and was buried at the town of Indiana.
His children were Samuel, George, William.
John, Jane (Mi"s. Joseph McCartney) and
Mrs. Cummins (who lived in Ohio).
George Trimble, son of George, above, was
born fn what is now White township, Indiana
county, and spent all his life there, follow-
ing farming. He married Mrs. Anna (McEl-
hose) Hutchinson, widow of George Hutchin-
son, and seven children were born to them :
Thomas, Samuel, Jane (Mrs. William Hamil-
ton), Nancy (Mrs. James Kinter), William,
Esther (ilrs. Nathan Hilands) aud George.
The father died on his farm when sixty-five
years old, the mother at the same age, and
they were buried at Indiana.
Samuel Trimble, son of George and Anna,
was born Aug. 1, 1817, in White township.
He learned the trade of carpenter. Wliile a
resident of Indiana county he served as as-
sistant revenue collector. In 1867 he went
West to Iowa, in a party composed of about
twenty families who left southern Indiana
county at that time for the same locality.
He w-as one of the pioneers in the settlement,
bought a farm, and thereafter made general
farming his principal occupation. He died
Nov. 13, 1900, aud is buried there. By his
first wife. Lucy Jane (Magee), daughter of
John and Pauline (Bullard) Magee, Mr.
Trimble had five daughters: Anna Pauline,
widow of Archibald Nichol ; Jane C, who mar-
ried John Patterson ; IMartha G., who married
Andrew Wiggins; Mary A., who died young;
and Lucy Bell, who married John McEvoy.
The mother died Feb. 8, 1859, at Indiana,
Pa., and Mr. Trimble married (second) Mrs.
Lydia (Keller) Reed, daughter of Archie
Keller and widow of Robert P. Reed. They
had two children, Lizzie K. (who married
John Black) and George.
ELilER E. WILLIAMS, a lumber dealer
of Indiana, Pa., was born July 7, 1862, in
Cherryhill township, this county, son of Rob-
ert H. Williams. His paternal grandfather
was a native of Wales, who brought his fam-
ily to the United States about 1830,- and
after a short stay at Pittsburg, came to In-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 737
diana county,- where he bought a farm of 140 called upon to endure another blow for the
acres at Pmeflats. broken-hearted mother fell a \detim to the
Robert H. Williams was born in Wales same disease, dying April 8th, following
about 1818 and was twelve years old when the
family came to the United" States. While he ROBERT J. TO^MB, M. D., one of the old-
had attended school in Wales, he was glad est practitioners of Indiana county and one
of the opportunity to pursue his studies at of the oldest and most honored citizens of
Pineflats, although he soon had to go to work. Armagh, East Wheatfield township, is a na-
As he was anxious for something to do, he tive of that township, born Jan. 30, 1831
hired- with carpenters, blacksmiths or anyone The Tomb family from which the Doctor
who would give hiid honest employment. Fin- is descended was one of the first settled faiu-
ally he went to Pittsburg where he repaired ilies in Wheattield township, Indiana county
boats, but eventually decided to go to farm- having come to that section as early as 1792'
ing, and so bought 240 acres of land in Cher- They were originally of Scotch extraction, but
ryhill township, continuing to operate it un- for generations the home of the family' was
til he retired to Blairsville, where he died in County Armagh, Ireland. David Tomb,
about 1892. In religious faith he was a Bap- the founder of the branch of the family in In-
tist. In politics he always voted the Repub- diana county, was born about 1760 in "County
lican ticket, but he did not seek office. Antrim, Ireland, and was reared there. His
Robert H. Williams was first married to a father. William Tomb, of County Armagh,
Miss Holmes, by whom he had three children : had a family of seven children, named as fol-
Hugh, James and John. His second wife was lows : John, who came to America in 1790 ;
Matilda Heron, of Blacklick township, this Hugh, who remained in the old country-
county, who died in 1907, aged about sixty- David; Catharine, who married James An-
eight years. The children of the second mar- derson : Jlary, who married Richard Demp-
riage were: Elmer E. ; Gertie, who is de- sey; Elizabeth, who married Alexander Car-
ceased : and Milton, who is unmarried. nathan ; and Margaret Jane, who mai-ried Wil-
Elnier E. Williams gi-ew up on the home- liara Parker and (second) James Graham,
stead and in Indiana, and received a fairly Margaret Jane was the first settler in Ar-
good education, although when only fifteen magh, Indiana Co., Pa., with the exception of
years old, he began working away from home Richard Dempsey, who married her sister
for William Williams, in Pine township, re- Mary Tomb. All the rest of the family set-
ceiving six dollars a month for his services, tied in what is now East Wheatfield township.
His next employer was John Williams, an in 1792.
uncle, living in Pineflats. Later he worked David Tomb came to America with other
in sa^vinills by the day, and at length had members of the family in 1792, locating in
$400 saved, with which money he bought a what is now East Wheatfield township, one
half interest in a portable sawmill in partner- and a half miles east of Armagh, which was
ship with J. H. Engle. Still later he sold to then a part of Westmoreland county. Here
his partner and bought one for himself. From he became the owner of 250 acres of land near
these small beginnings he has developed his Armagh, the oldest town in the county, in
interests until he now owns two mills and what was then a wilderness, and on which he
does a large business. Until 1902 Mr. Wil- erected a log house and a log stable. Indians
liams lived at Cookport, then coming to In- were still plentiful in this region, and one of
diana to give his daughter better educational their graveyards was on his farm. Here he
advantages. The family was installed in a hewed out a home for himself and spent the
pretty home on Wayne avenue. remainder of his life on the farm, doing what
On Oct. 6, 1892, Mr. Williams was united he could to clear it up and improve it. By
in marriage with Lottie Conroth, a daughter hard work and intelligent efforts he succeeded
of Solomon and Lydia A. (Eisenberg) Con- in making the land productive. He and his
roth. One daughter, Flossie Ethel, was born brother John patented a tract of over two
of this marriage, and was a lovely girl bud- thousand acres on Blacklick creek. He died
ding into young womanhood, when she was on the farm Aug. 23, 1838, at the age of sev-
stricken Aovm with typhoid fever and died enty-eight years, and was buried in Bethel
March 25, 1911 ; she had made a fine record Church cemetery, in what is now West Wheat-
for herself at the normal school, and would field township. The family were members of
have been graduated in another year. Mr. the Associate Reformed Church, which later
Williams was prostrated with grief, but was became the United Presbyterian Church. He
738
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
married Elizabeth Dickson, who was born
about 1770 and died in 1854, aged eighty-four
years, and was laid to rest in Bethel Church
eeuietei-y. She was a member of the U. P.
Church. Nine children were born to Mr. and
Mi*s. Tomb: Catharine; Hugh; John, who
married Frances Shaw; Mary (Polly), who
married Samuel Killin; Richard Dickson;
Jane ; William ; Elizabeth, who married John
Buchanan, and David, born in 1809, who mar-
ried Angelina Killin (he was justice of the
peace for fifteen years).
Hugh Tomb, the eldest son of David, was
born in Wheatfield township March 1, 1794.
Wliat education he received was obtained in
the subscription schools of the day, and he
could attend only three months or less each
year. Yet he became a well-read man for his
day. He grew up on the farm, woi'king with
his father, and helped while still young to
clear the land. For a period he worked on
the construction of the Pennsylvania canal,
as a hewer of timber, being engaged on the
construction work from Blairsville to Johns-
town. He also hewed most of the timber
used in the construction of the Conemaugh
furnace and the Baker furnace, and hewed
timber used in the construction of log houses
and barns in that section. He settled down
to farming in that part of the township now
known as East Wheatfield, on a tract of 160
acres, which he bought from Judge Thomas
White, father of Judge Harry White. Here
he erected a log house, the logs for which
were hewed by himself, and a part of this
house is still standing, now being used as a
tinshop by Hugh Tomb. He made this house
large and comfortable, and it was his home
for the remainder of his life. He worked
hard to clear up and cialtivate his farm, upon
which he died March 12. 1863 ; he was buried
in the family lot in Bethel cemetery. Mr.
Tomb was a Democrat in polities, and took
considerable interest in locar afEairs, serving
the township as tax collector and doing his
share toward the establishing of the public
school system. He was enterprising and pro-
gressive', keeping abreast of his day and gen-
eration. On Dec. 31, 1818, Mr. Tomb mar-
ried Agnes Devlin, daughter of Samuel Dev-
lin, who died Jan. 30, 1823, aged forty-eight
years. Mrs. Tomb died on the farm and was
buried in Bethel Church cemetery. She was
the mother of thirteen children : Samuel Dev-
lin, born Jan, 30, 1820, married Maria Louisa
Mc'Cortney; David, born Nov. 10, 1821, mar-
ried Matilda Clark and (second') Jane
Bracken; John D., bom Sept. 6, 1823, mar-
ried Lucinda Hutchison; William D., born
Jan. 19, 1825, married Ellen McKelvey, and
resides at New Florence, Pa. ; George Wash-
ington, born March 30, 1827, married Mary
Ling and (second) Elizabeth Bracken, and
resides at Armagh, Pa. ; Richard D., born
Jan. 15, 1829, married Emily Clark, and died
in Armagh ; Robert J. was born Jan. 30, 1831 ;
DeWitt Clinton, born Dec. 19, 1833, married
Mary Berkey and resides at New Florence,
Pa. ; Benjamin Franklin, born July 14, 1835,
was a physician, and died in Johnstown, Pa.
(he married Sarah Odell) ; Archibald D., born
April 11, 1837, maiTied Amanda Dill, and
died in New Florence, Pa.«; Matilda Devlin,
twin of Archibald, died in 1842 ; James F.,
born Jan. 30, 1840, died March 6, 1842 ; James
F. (2 I, born March 17, 1842, resides at New
Florence, Pennsylvania.
Robert J. Tomb attended public school in
the township, the first school he went to be-
ing held in the log house which was owned by
his gi-andfather, David Tomb ; the teacher was
a Mr. McCrudden. He also attended the old
Indiana Academy, and among his schoolmates
there were Judge Harry White, the late Sena-
tor Matthew S. Quay and Dr. Anderson, of
Indiana; the instructor was Professor Searl.
Later he attended Blairsville Academy, taught
by William Cunningham. After leaving
school he took up teaching, his first school be-
ing in Centerville, and he was also engaged
in East Wheatfield township, Armagh and
Brushvalley township. His wages per month
were $13.33, and there was three months'
teaching during the winter season. Having
a strong desire for the professional life, he
read medicine under Dr. James F. Taylor, of
West Fairfield, Westmoreland county, and
subsequently attended Cleveland (Ohio) Med-
ical College. He gi-aduated from Jefferson
:\IedicaI College, Philadelphia, March 11,
1854, after which he began the practice of
his chosen profession in Armagh, Indiana
county. He was a successful practitioner for
the long period of fifty-six years, giving up
active work in 1910. During the first years
of his medical career he had to ride horseback
through woods and swamps and over hills,
covering a territory with a radius of thirty
miles, which included the Wheatfield town-
ships, part of Cambria county and a part of
Westmoreland county. During his long con-
tinued practice he assisted at 5,629 births.
At that time the Conemaugh, Blacklick and
Baker furnaces were in operation and many
families resided in this section.
During the Civil war Dr. Tomb entered the
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
739
service, at Harrisburg. July 11, 1863, be-
coming assistant surgeon in the 2d Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers, and serv'ed until Jan. 21,
1864. On July 14, 1864, he became surgeon
of the 193d Volunteers, having charge of the
regiment, and served until Nov. 9, 1864, being
stationed in southern Maryland. He was in
the army for another period, as contract sur-
geon. United States army. Artillery Brigade.
25th Army Corps, with which he continued
until the close of the war. The Doctor is a
member of G. A. R. Post No. 80, at Johnstown.
The Doctor built the fine residence where he
also had his ofSce. which is one of the finest in
Armagh, and there he is now living retired,
active in mind and body and possessed of a
good memory. He still continues his mem-
bership in the County Medical Society. In
politics he was a Republican up to 1908. when
he became a Prohibitionist: he is a stanch
temperance advocate. He is a prominent
member of the M. E. Church, and serves as
trustee and superintendent of the Sunday
school. His wife also belongs to that church.
On Dec. 28, 1854, in Armagh, Dr. Tomb
married Fannie B. Shearer, who died July
17, 1882. They had an adopted daughter,
Jennie, bom Nov. 30, 1857, who married
Christopher Rugh, who died in 1912. his
widow residing in Greeley, Colo. The Doctor
married (second) June 14, 1883, Mary A.
Hill, a native of Burrell township, Armstrong
county, daughter of John Wesley and Martha
(Stewart) Hill. They have had five children :
Verna, born April 5, 1884, was graduated
from the State normal school. Indiana, in
1904, having taken the music course, and is
now the wife of Charles ilatthews, an archi-
tect, of Beaver, Pa. (they have four children.
May Josephine, Caroline Tomb, Eveline and
Charles H.) ; Virgil, bom Oct. 30, 1886. re-
sides in Johnstown, Pa. ; Fannie, born Sept.
1, 1890, is a school teacher; Homer, bom
April 3, 1892, is at home; Martha, born Sept.
13, 1893, is now attending Beaver College.
SAMUEL S. GIBSON, late of Indiana, had
an active and successful business career, as
merchant, traveling salesman and farmer, and
he was well known in Indiana county, having
ean-ied on the mercantile business at several
points before he settled on his farm near the
borough of Indiana. He was born April 29,
1849, in Cherryhill township, this county, son
of Allison and ISIartha (McKendrick) Gibson.
Allison Gibson was born in Indiana county.
He was a carpenter by trade, but followed
farming most of his life, and died in Green-
ville, this county, when over sixty years old.
He married Martha McKendrick, who was
reared in Philadelphia, and who died at the
home of her son I\Iilton, near Greenville. Mr.
and Mrs. Gibson had the following children:
Samuel S. : Rosanna, Mrs. John Goodland, of
Indiana; Leonard, of Cambria county, Pa.;
Calvin, who is on the old home farm; Caro-
line, who is unmarried; Mary J., who died
when twenty-two years old ; Milton, who lives
near Greenville.
Samuel S. Gibson was reared on the home-
stead place and began his education in the
local common schools, later attending the Mil-
lersville normal school, in Lancaster county,
Pa. He taught school for four years in his
home county, near home, and then clerked in
a store at Nolo for three years, after which he
went to Cookport. Indiana county, and with
the Messrs. Perry formed the finn of Gibson,
Perry & Co.. who conducted a general store.
At the end of five years ilr. Gibson withdrew
from this partnership and moved to Taylors-
ville, Indiana county, where he bought a small
fai-m and also kept store. After one year at
that location he moved to Dixonville, and with
James McKendrick, under the firm name of
Gibson & McKendrick, kept store there for
four years. Then Mr. Gibson sold his interest
in that enterprise and resumed farming for
three years. By this time his sons were grown
and he moved to Indiana, owning a farm near
that borough upon which he resided for the
remainder of his life. In addition to its man-
agement he held a position as traveling sales-
man for a gi-ocery company of Philadelphia,
being thus engaged until his death. Mr. Gib-
son at various times was called upon to act as
auctioneer and mercantile appraiser, and he
proved himself capable in every capacity. He
was well known and well liked, and his death,
which occurred June 1, 1910, was mourned in
many circles. He had been a member of the
Presbyterian Church from boyhood, and soci-
ally he belonged to the F. & A. M. (Indiana
Lodge, No. 313), the Royal Arcanum and the
Knights of the Maccabees. In politics he was
a Republican.
On Nov. 9. 1874, Mr. Gibson married Eliza-
beth Anderson, of Green township, Indiana
county, daughter of Samuel and Sarah
(Dodds) Andei-son. of Butler county: Mr.
Anderson was a well-known farmer of Green
township, served as overseer of the poor, and
was a much respected man of that locality.
Jlr. and Mrs. Gibson became the parents of
740
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
these children: James, who lives in Aspin-
wall. Pa., married Pearl Creek and has one
child, Beatrice P. ; Sarah, who taught school
for five years, is now the wife of Frank Terry,
and lives at Trafford City, Pa. ; Ford is a
banker at Windber, Pennsylvania.
MACK. In East and West Wheatfield
townships, Indiana connty, may be found
many membei-s of the Mack family founded
in this section over a century ago by Robert
Mack. All of the name are noted for high
character and substantial worth, and they are
well represented among the progressive agri-
culturists. Among these are George F. Mack
and David W. Mack, brothers, sons of Jacob
Mack and great-grandsons of Robert Mack.
Robert Mack was a native of County Down,
Ireland, born about 1763. There he grew to
manhood and married ]\Iargaret Campbell,
who was born about 1769, and four children
were born to them in their native home : John,
born about 1797; Robert, born about 1799;
James, born March 3, 1800; and Jean, born
about 1803. In the early part of 1803 Robert
Mack with his wife and four children left
their native home for America. While they
were crossing the Atlantic, on a slow-going
sailing vessel, their little daughter Jean died
and was buried at sea, the body being placed
in a sack, weighted at the feet with sand. The
burial service was read by the captain. After
landing in the New World the family made
their way west of the AUeghenies, locating
first near Pittsburg, Pa., and later in Wheat-
field township, Indiana Co., Pa., where Mr.
Mack settled down to farming on a 400-acre
tract. He had to erect the log cabin for his
family, and began a hard fight for existence
in the ^^^ldemess which lasted many years.
By steady industry and thrifty habits he
managed to develop his farm and make many
improvements, and he spent the remainder of
his life on that place, dying there Aug. 2,
1850. He was buried in Bethel Church ceme-
tery, in what is now West Wheatfield town-
ship, and a headstone marks the last resting
place of himself and wife. Mr. Mack in re-
ligious principle was what was known as a
Seceder, later joining the Bethel United Pres-
byterian Church.' He was an old-line Demo-
crat on political questions. Ilis wife pre-
ceded him to the grave, dying on the farm
Nov. 17, 1839, at the age of .seventy years, and
was laid to rest in Bethel cemetery. She, too,
was a member of Bethel United Presbyterian
Church. She was the mother of thirteen chil-
dren, those born in Wheatfield township be-
ing : David ; William ; Samuel ; Armstrong ;
George; Jean (2), who married William Mc-
Clain, and died in West Wheatfield township ;
Margaret, who married Hugh St. Clair, and
removed to Iowa; Elizabeth (Betsey), who
married William Campbell, being his secobd
wife ; and Joseph.
David Mack, son of Robert and Margaret
(Campbell) Mack, was born in 1802, and
reared in West Wheatfield township. He al-
ways followed agricultural pursuits, owning
and conducting a farm of 130 acres, the place
now occupied by his son Samuel, and in his
later life also operated a sawmill on Germany
run. ITe was one of the prominent citizens
of the township in his day, not only active in
business but also associated with the adminis-
tration of public affairs. He was a lifelong
member of the United Presbyterian Church
and active in all its work. He died Sept. 7,
1878, and he and his wife are buried in the
Bethel Church cemetery. Mr. Mack married
Matilda Craig, who was bom Feb. 25, 1814,
in Indiana county, and died Dec. 16, 1904, and
they had a large family, namely : Robert, who
married Elizabeth Brantlinger and (second)
Sarah Adamson ; Jacob, who married Mary
Jane Wakefield ; John, who married Elizabeth
Murphy; David, who married Mary Jane
Kerr; William, who married Sarah E. Marrs,
and lives at Armagh, this county ; Tillie, who
married Samuel G. Walbeck and resided at
Heshbon, this county ; Samuel, who lives on
the old homestead in West Wheatfield town-
ship (he married Charlotte Roof and their
children are Bart, Charles, Theresa and
Irvin) ; Thomas, who married Kate Roof or
Ruth ; and James W. Few families can equal
the record of this one for patriotism. Six of
the sons served in the Civil war, Jacob and
John in Company E, 11th Pennsylvania Vol-
unteer Infantry ; David in Company K, 177th
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; Robert,
John and David were in Company H, 206th
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
under Captain Greer and Col. Hugh J. Brady ;
William was in the 6th Pennsylvania Heavy
Artillery.
Jacob Mack, son of David and Matilda
(Craig) Mack, was born July 26, 1834, in
West Wheatfield township, and died there in
October, 1909, at the age of seventy-five years.
He obtained his education in the common
schools of his native township. After he be-
gan farming on his own account he bought the
McDonald farm of sixty-eight acres in West
Wheatfield township, later adding fifty acres
HISTORY OF LNDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
(41
to his original purchase. Oq this land he set
out a large orchard and had considerable suc-
cess as a fruit grower as well as in general
farming lines, cleared up the entire tract and
made many improvements thereon, including
a large house and substantial barn. He was a
man of progressive ideas and broad outlook,
and a citizen who won the friendly regard of
all with whom he came in contact. He and
his five brothers all served in the Civil war,
he as a member of Company E, 11th Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain
McCurdy and Colonel Dick. Before the war
he was a Democrat, subsequently a Republi-
can in his political views. He was a member
of the United Presbyterian Church, and he
and his wife are buried in Bethel Church
cemetery. In March, 1866, ]\Ir. Mack mar-
ried Mary Jane Wakefield, who was born in
1844, daughter of Jeriy and Lucinda (Pal-
mer) Wakefield, and died in April. 1906.
Four children were born to them: George
Franklin ; David Wakefield ; Mattie E., who is
married to Frank Brandlinger and lives in
West Wheatfield township; and Ida L., wife
of Franklin Campbell, residing in West
Wheatfield.
George Franklin ]Mack, son of Jacob
Mack, was born Nov. 26, 1866, in West Wheat-
field township, and there obtained his ele-
mentary education in the common schools.
Later he studied under Professor Campbell
and at the State normal school in Indiana
borough, after which he taught school for five
terms, in East and West Wheatfield town-
ships. He worked with his father up to the
time of his marriage, when he moved to Blairs-
ville, for the next few years following the
carpenter's trade. Returning to West Wheat-
field township he bought the Joseph Duncan
farm of 170 acres, formerly owned by the Sides
family, and here he has since been engaged
in general farming. He has built a fine large
barn and made numerous other improvements
upon this property during his ownership, and
he is considered one of the most up-to-date
agriculturists in the vicinity. All local activi-
ties have his encouragement and support, and
he has taken part in public affairs to the ex-
tent of serving as township auditor, to which
office he was elected in 1895. In politics he
is an independent Republican, and his re-
ligious connection is \^ith the M. E. Church, of
which he is a trustee; he also teaches in the
Sunday school. All his famil3^ unite with this
church.
On July 29, 1891, ]Mr. IMack was married to
Sarah Emma Duncan, daughter of Joseph M.
and Catherine (Sides) Duncan, of West
Wheatfield township, and they have three chil-
dren : Vincent Duncan, born March 27. 1892,
now at Pitcairn. Pa., in the employ of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company; j. ]\lerle,
lx)rn :\Iai-ch 16, 1895, at home'; and Freda
Margaret, born Aug. 13, 1902.
David Wakefield Mack, son of Jacob Mack,
was bom April 8, 1868, in West Wheatfield
township, and began his education there at
the Washington schoolhouse, at Little Wash-
ington. Later he attended Prof. J. T.
Stewart's select school at Clyde, and he has
since been engaged in farming at his birtli-
place. He assisted his father until the latter 's
death, and then took charge of the farm, which
he now owns, having lx)ught out the other
heirs. He carries on general farming and
stock raising, and his success is typical of the
high-class work for which the Macks are
noted. He is continually making improve-
ments about the home and surroundings, which
are in creditable condition, and show the thrift
and enterprise which characterize the ener-
getic worker who directs his labors effectively.
He gives all his time to his private affairs,
taking no part in local matters beyond giving
the influence a public-spirited citizen should
extend to movements affecting the general
welfare. He is a member of the U. P. Church.
On Oct. 1, 1889, Mr. Mack married Millie
Rebecca Campbell, daughter of Archibald and
Lizzie (Campbell) Campbell, and they have a
family of four children, namely : Floy Eliza-
beth, David Scott, Jessie May and Frank
Eugene.
WILLIAM D. DUNSMORE, who during
the last four .years has had charge of the en-
gineering corps of the Peacock, Peacock &
Kerr Mining Company, at Clymer, Pa., was
born in Tioga county, this State, May 31,
1872, and is a son of William and Sarah (Gil-
more) Dunsmore.
William Dunsmore, the paternal grand-
father, was bom in Scotland, and on emigrat-
ing to the Ignited States settled in Tioga
county, Pa., where he spent the rest of his
life in mining.
William Dunsmore (2), son of William, and
father of William D. Dunsmore, was born in
Scotland, and came to the United States just
prior to the Civil war, being followed here by
his parents. He spent the rest of his life in
mining in Tioga county, and died there in
Jauuarv', 1902. He married Sarah Gilmore,
who was born in Nova Scotia, and she survives
him and makes her home in Tioga county.
74L'
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
They were the parents of six children, as fol-
lows: Annie, the widow of James N. Patter-
son, living in Tioga county; Jeaunette, the
wife of John Harrington, of Newcastle, Pa. ;
Sarah, unmarried and living in Dubois, Pa. ;
William D. ; James, of Greenwich, England,
engaged in mining ventures; and Ada, un-
married and living in Dubois.
William Gilmore, maternal grandfather of
William D. Dunsmore, was born in Scotland,
and on leaving his native country first emi-
grated to Nova Scotia. Later, however, he
came to the United States, settled in Tioga
county. Pa., and here spent the rest of his
life in mining.
William D. Dunsmore received his educa-
tion in the public schools of Tioga county,
and at the age of sixteen years removed to
Harrisburg, Pa., where he attended the high
school. On completing bis course there he
returned to Mansfield, Tioga county, and
later attended the Pennsylvania State Uni-
versity, graduating therefrom in the mining
course in 1895. He at once accepted a posi-
tion with the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg
Company, as assistant engineer, but left their
employ after nine years to become chief en-
gineer for the Peacock, Peacock & Kerr Min-
ing Company, with which concern he has been
connected to the present time. In 1908 he
came to Clymer, prior to the organization of
the town, taking charge of the engineering
corps. He has established an enviable repu-
tation in his vocation and has the full confi-
dence of his associates.
Mr. Dunsmore was married in Jefferson
county, Pa., in June, 1900, to Myra Jones, a
native of England, who was brought to this
country by her parents, her father 'being en-
gaged with a mining company in Jefferson
county as a machinist. Mr. and Mrs. Duns-
more have two daughters, Sarah and Mar-
garet. The family attends the Presbyterian
Church, and Mr. Dunsmore is a member of
Punxsutawney Lodge, B. P. 0. Elks.
HERBERT P. KINTER, one of the firm of
the Marion Center Milling Company, at
Marion Center, was born in Grant township,
Indiana county, July 11, 1878, a son of Wil-
liam and Martha Jane (Shankle) Kinter.
Samuel Kinter, grandfather of Herbert P.,
was bom in Pennsylvania, and in 1842 be-
came a settler of Grant township. Indiana
county, where he spent the last years of his
life in agricultural pursuits.
William Kinter, son of Samuel, was born
in 1847 in Grant township, Indiana county, on
the farm on which he has carried on agri-
cultural operations throughout his life, and
where he and his wife, also a native of Indiana
county, still reside. They have had a family
of seven daughters and two sons, as follows:
Herbert P. ; Ollie, the wife of 0. S. Gorman,
a resident of Gipsy, Indiana county; Floy,
wife of Spencer Stone, living at home with her
parents; Bertha, the wife of Earl McMillan,
of Wilgus, Indiana county ; Stella, the wife of
John Stroup, of Sapulpa, Okla. ; Bessie, the
wife of Bruce Spicher, of Indiana, Pa. ; Ada,
who was married in June, 1912, to Carl Piper ;
Alda, living at home and engaged in school
teaching in the county; and Homer, the
youngest, living at home.
Herbert P. Kinter was educated in the dis-
trict schools of Grant township, and after
completing his schooling started to farm the
old laomestead place, where he remained until
he had reached his twenty-second year. For
one year he worked in a sawmill, and subse-
quently went to Richmond, where he learned
the trade of miller. In 1902 he went to Marion
Center, where he remained until 1910, which
year saw his advent in Penn Run, where he
carried on an extensive milling business. On
June 10, 1912, Mr. Kinter located at Marion
Center, in company with Frank W. West
erecting a large mill at Maiion Center. The
firm is known as the Marion Center Milling
Company. Mr. Kinter is a young man of
much more than ordinary business capacity,
and his operations have always been con-
ducted in such a manner as to win the entire
confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
On April 4, 1910, Mr. Kinter was married
to Lena Moore, who was born in East Mahon-
ing township, Indiana Co., Pa., Nov. 30, 1879,
daughter of Joseph and Mary (Buchanan)
Moore, both of whom survive, making their
home on the old farm which Mr. Moore settled
on many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Kinter
have three children: William Blair, Joseph
Blaine, and a son yet unnamed. The family
belong to the Baptist Church.
CLARENCE B. O'NEILL, jeweler and
optician of Clymer. Indiana county, has the
only establishment of the kind in that borough
and is one of its enterprising young business
men. He belongs to a family of Irish origin
which was founded here many years ago, his
grandfather, Edward O'Neill, a native of Ire-
land, having come to America and settled in
Green township, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.
Edward O'Neill, son of Edward, was born
in Green township, and was a farmer during
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYI.VAXIA
743
his earlier life. For the last thirty years he
has beeu engaged in the mercantile business,
having a large general store at Lovejoy, in
Green township. He and his wife Ivfaney
(Lydick), who is a native of Cherryhill town-
ship, this county, have had two sons and one
daughter: Verna. who lives at home; Clar-
ence B. ; and Ira B., a resident of Indiana, the
county seat.
Clarence B. O'Neill was born Aug. 1, 1881,
in Green township, and received his education
in the country schools there. His first work
after leaving school was on a farm there. In
1906 he entered the Bradley Polytechnic In-
stitute, at Peoria, 111., attending this institu-
tion for one year. Returning home, he sub-
sequently took a course at the Bowman
Technical School, at Lancaster, Pa., where he
studied optical work, also learning jewelry
and watch making, which trade he now fol-
lows very successfully. In 1908 he settled at
Clymer and engaged in the jewelry business,
which he has since conducted, having built up
a trade which shows a steady increase. He is
a graduate optician and also finds plenty of
Viusiness in that line, his experience and con-
scientious application to the needs of his
customers having gained him a high reputa-
tion for skill and reliability.
On Aug. 29, 1908, Mr. 0 'Neill was married
at Mitchells Mills, this county, to Bertha C.
Goodrich, a native of that place, born Dec.
26, 1881, daughter of Augustus and Mai-tha
(Hall) Goodrich, both of whom are natives
of Pennsylvania. He was a lumberman and
an early settler in Green township. Mr. and
Mrs. Goodrich now live at Mitchells Mills.
They had a family of six children, all of whom
survive, those besides ]\Irs. O'Neill being:
Delia, who is now in Cleveland, Ohio, engaged
in missionary work; Oral, wife of John Lam-
bert, of Somerset county. Pa. ; Blanche, wife
of Rev. M. Wilt, a United Brethren min-
ister of Clearfield county. Pa. ; Ina, wife of
C'lirist A. Hines, of Nyack, N. Y., both en-
gaged in missionaiy work : and Robert, of
Barnesboro, Pennsylvania.
;\Ir. and Mrs. O'NeiU have had two children.
Bernice Gay and Clarence il. ^Ir. O'Neill is
a memlier of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and much interested in its work, having held
the office of superintendent of the Sunday
school.
GEORGE H. JEFFRIES, sheriff of In-
diana county, is a man known personally to
the majority of its citizens. He was born Aug.
9, 186.5, in Grant township, and is a grandson
of William Jeffries, a native of Huntingdon
county. Pa., who farmed there until his re-
moval to Indiana county. Her^ he bought a
farm and passed the remainder of his life.
He married Sarah Pyle.
Noah Jeffries, son of William, was born in
Huntingdon county, and followed farming
throughout his active year.s. He married
iliriam Work, and they became the parents of
six children, namely : Aaron W. ; George H. ;
Sarah and Elizabeth, twins, the latter dving
May 11, 1894; William B., who died when
eleven years old; and Miriam. Mr. Jeffries
was a member of the United Brethren Church,
his wife of the United Presbvterian Churcli.
He died Jan. 12, 1892, she on Sept. 7, 1S94.
George H. Jeffries obtained his education
in the common schools of Grant township, this
county. For more than twenty years after
commencing life on his own account he fol-
lowed the lumber and sawmill business, be-
coming an expert sawyer, and he did well in
that line. He has been connected with the
administration of the law in his community
for a number of j^ears, having served ten
years as constable while a resident of Grant
township. In 1908 he was a candidate for the
Republican nomination for sheriff, but was
defeated. In the fall of 1911 he was again a
candidate for the nomination, which he se-
cured in September of that year, and he was
successful at the election which followed in
November, winning out by a large majority.
Nothing could more clearly show Mr. Jeffries'
character and determination than the story of
the campaign which preceded his election.
Though opposed by a faction of his own party
he did such vigorous and effective work by
personal canvass that he won out by a highly
creditable majority, on his own merits. He
made a tour of the county on foot, and by his
own force and qualifications, his manifest hon-
esty and integrity of purpose, gained enough
friends to make his election assured. Such
a man should be able to serve his community
well and justify the confidence his fellow citi-
zens repose in him.
On Feb. 19, 1889, Mr. Jeffries married
Elizabeth Rittenhouse. daughter of John B.
Rittenhouse, of Indiana, and they are the
parents of thirteen children : Edna N.. who
is the wife of John T. Jamison: Nellie, wife
of H. J. ]Me,vers : Jerry ; Nola : ^largaret : Al-
bert; Dollie": Dorothy; Paul: Harl; Mary:
Isabella, and another son. unnamed.
Mr. Jeffries is a prominent member of the
I. 0. 0. F. lodge at Rochester Mills, of which
he is a past grand, has been secretary of his
744
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1
lodge for over six years, and he represented it
as delegate to the grand lodge at Philadelphia
in 1908. He is also a member of Indiana
Lodge, No. 931, B. P. 0. Elks.
WILLIAM EDWARD ROBINSON, the
leading merchant of Nowrytown, in Coue-
maiigh township, Indiana comity, was born in
that township Oct. 26, 1857, a son of S. S.
Robinson. His grandfather, Robert Robinson,
was born in 1739, in Ireland, and maiTied in
1769 to Rachel Wier. They had eight chil-
dren.
S. S. Robinson, the father of William Ed-
ward Robinson, was born on the farm adjoin-
ing Nowrytown where he died in 1871. He
married Bell M. McLanahan, who was born in
1829, near Indiana, Pa., a daughter of Robert
and Nancy (Moorhead) McLanahan.
William Edward Robinson attended school
in the Robinson District, No. 1, and worked
on the farm of 230 acres until he attained his
ma.jority. Following this he was engaged in
teaming and lumbering for a few years, and
worked at the carpenter's trade for one year,
and then began clerking for Mr. Benter, in
his general store at Edri, in Conemaugh
township, thus continuing a year, during
which time he learned the details of the busi-
ness, so that when he went back to Nowry-
town he was able to embark in the same line
himself, and operate his store successfully and
intelligently. This was in 1887. He has con-
ducted his general store since, and it is known
as W. E. Robinson's Nowrytown Store. He
carries a full stock of goods necessary for use
on the fann and in the home, as well as a com-
plete line of wearing apparel, and for the
last twenty-three years has also filled the office
of postmaster at Nowrytown. In addition to
the interests centered in his store. Mr. Robin-
son is extensively engaged in the poultry busi-
ness, and is a recognized authority in that line.
A man of action, he has carried out his plans
regarding his business ventures in an enter-
prising manner, and is justly recognized as
one of the leading men of his township. In
1909 he became owner of an automobile, the
first to be owned and operated in his locality,
and made use of it to attend the Presbyterian
Church at Saltsburg. In politics he has al-
ways been a Republican, and he has served
as school director for three years. The Pres-
byterian Church holds his membership.
On Aug. 7, 1890, Mr. Robinson married
Bessie L. Piper, daughter of Joseph and Cath-
erine (Larmer) Piper, and they are the par-
ents of four children : Lloyd E., Harry Rex-
ford, Alice Ruth and Joseph Samuel. All
have been given excellent educational advan-
tages, beginning their training in the local
country schools, after which Lloyd attended
the Eldersridge academy two terms, Rexford
attended there one term and also one term at
Kiskiminetas, and Alice went to the Elders-
ridge academy two terms. Joseph is still in
school. Mrs. Robinson was lx)rn at Saltsburg,
Indiana county ; her father came from West-
moreland county, Pennsylvania.
MILTON WORK, proprietor of the Ever-
green farm in East Mahoning township, In-
diana county, is one of the best-known men in
that region and a notably successful agricul-
turist. He is a native of the township, born
Nov. 10, 1836, on what is now the JMcGee
farm, not far from his present home. A de-
scendant of William AVork, the founder of
the family in Indiana county, he is of early
pioneer stock of his section.
William Work was a native of Cumberland
county. Pa., born in 1760, of Scotch-Irish de-
scent. He grew to manhood there, and it is
not known whether or not he took part in the
Revolutionary war. In 1792 he married
;\Iiriam Scroggs, who was also born in Cum-
berland county, in 1775, daughter of Alex-
ander and Rachel (Ireland) Scroggs, the for-
mer a Scotchman. Mr. and Mrs. Work crossed
the Allegheny mountains in 1801 and made a
location in Westmoreland county, Pa., near
what is now New Florence, spending three
years there. Thence they moved to Indiana
county in 1804, settling in what is now the
western part of East Mahoning township, in
which section Mr. Work was a pioneer farmer.
He was also one of the first teachers there,
when the schools were run on the subscrip-
tion plan, and held in log structures with
oiled paper windows and primitive furnish-
ings. Here he passed the remainder of his
days, dying Aug. 1, 1828, of cancer; he was
buried in Gilgal cemetery. Mr. Work was one
of the foundei-s of Gilgal Church, from which
he withdrew, however, in 1818, on account
of doctrinal differences, joining the organiza-
tion of the Associate Church at Mahoning.
His wife died July 28, 1850, and is biiried in
the same cemetery. They were the parents of
fourteen children: (1) Rachel, born Oct. 6,
1793. married Robert Hamilton, and died
April 8, 1878. (2) James, born March 2.
1795, married Mary Ewing, and died Aug. 17.
1860. (3) Lettice, born July 7, 1796, mar-
ried John Ewing, and died Aug. 23, 1871. (4)
A. Scroggs, born Dec. 7, 1797, married Mar-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
745
garet Brown and (second) Nancy Beatty, and
died Oct. 23, 1878. (5) John, born June 24,
1799, married Martha Hamilton and (second)
Sarah Beatty, and died March 6, 1872. (6)
William, born Dec. 10, 1800, is mentioned else-
where. (7) Allen N., born June 6, 1802, mar-
ried Lydia Lewis, and died Jan. 30, 1852.
(8) Sarah, born April 17, 1805, married Mat-
thew Steele, and died April 1, 1887. (9)
Aaron, born Oct. 26. 1806, married Nancy
Smith and (second) Elizabeth Spencer, and
died July 21, 1892. (10) Mary, bom Oct. 12,
1808, died Dec. 27, 1853. (11) Miriam, born
July 25, 1810, married Alpha Limerick, and
died Aug. 11, 1850. (12) Moses Thompson.
born Dec. 5. 1812, is mentioned below. (13)
Susan, born Sept. 30, 1815, married John
Smith, and died Feb. 24, 1844. (14) Eli.iah
I., born Nov. 23. 1818, married Margaret Mc-
Creery, and died June 25, 1892.
Closes Thompson Work, son of William and
]\Iiriam (Scroggs) Work, was born Dec. 5,
1812, in East j\Iahoning township, and there
attended subscription school. His opportuni-
ties for education were limited, but he had
unlimited training of a practical nature, as-
sisting his parents until he started out on his
own account. He was only in his sixteenth
year wjien his father died, and he remained
on the homestead after that until 1836, when
he settled on a tract of land now owned by the
McGee family, in East ilahoning township —
100 acres then entirely in the woods. He first
erected a round-log house and stable, cleared
his land, and subsequently bought another
tract of 160 acres known as the William Mc-
Call place. In 1857 he put up a brick house,
one of the first of its kind in the township,
v'hich is still standing and in a good state of
preservation. He also built a frame barn, and
made extensive improvements of all kinds on
his property, gaining a reputation for hard
work and thrifty habits which he well de-
served. He had a kindly disposition and high
character which made him well liked wherever
known, and he was popular in many circles,
being associated with various local interests
in which he took an active part. He followed
general farming and stock raising to the end
of his life, but did not devote all his time to
that work, serving from 1854 to 1857 as county
commissioner, and holding many other local
offices. He was one of the organizers of the
Indiana County Fair Association, served as
director and one of the managers of same,
was a Whig and Republican in politics, and in
religious connection a member of the Gilgal
Presbyterian Church. He was originally a
member of the United Presbyterian Church.
He was a large man, six feet in height and
weighing ISO pounds. His death occurred on
the farm in March, 1885, when he was in his
seventy-third year, and he was buried in the
Gilgal cemetery.
In 1833 Mr. Work married Margaret Hop-
kins, who was born April 13, 1812, daughter
of John and ^Margaret (Jamison) Hopkins,
and she died Aug. 25, 1844, the mother of
children as follows: Thaddeus C, Iwrn Feb.
23, 1835, died Oct. 9, 1857 ; Milton, born Nov.
10, 1836, is mentioned below; Arabella, born
Api-il 14. 1839. married James I. Work (a
veteran of the Civil war), son of Samuel and
Elizabeth (Johnson) Work and grandson of
John Work, brother of William Work, the
pioneer, from whom the branch here under
consideration descends ; Asenath, born Feb. 15,
1841, died Aug. 19. 1844 ; Ruth, born Nov. 20,
1843, died Aug. 24, 1844. For his second
wife ;\Ir. Work married, Aug. 13, 1847,
Tabitha L. Van Horn, of East Mahoning town-
ship, who died in December, 1890, at the home
of her daughter, ]Mrs. Lytle, of Fort Morgan,
Colo., and the remains were brought East for
interment in the Gilgal cemetery in East Ma-
honing township. She was the mother of
these children : Elizabeth, born Sept. 1. 1848,
married Joseph Hood, of Indiana, and is now
a widow, residing in Iowa ; Francis A., born
Aug. 30, 1850, died Aug. 25, 1876 ; Mary S.,
born Oct. 5, 1852, married A. W. Steele, of
Indiana, Pa.; Ruth, bom Nov. 7, 1855, died
Jan. 3, 1858 ; Sara S., born Feb. 9, 1858, mar-
ried John M. Lytle May 7, 1878, and resides
at Fort Morgan, Colo. : Hubert, born July 3,
1860, married Laura Arbuckle, and is a prac-
ticing physician in Pueblo, Colo. ; Jennie
ilvrtle, born Dec. 2, 1862, died on Christmas
Day, 1882.
^Milton Work spent his boyhood on the farm
and went to the local school, later learning-
the trade of carpenter and .joiner with W. G.
McElhaney, of Indiana. His first wages were
ten dollars a month, and later, when he be-
came a journeyman, he received fourteen dol-
lars a month. After four years at the trade
he returned home, continuing to help his
father until 1863. when he settled on what is
now known as the Evergreen Farm, in East
Mahoning township, formerly part of his
father's holdings, what was once known as the
William McCall farm. On this tract of
seventy-five acres he has lived and worked for
half a century, during which time he has im-
proved it from year to year, keeping abreast
of the progress made in agriculture and show-
746
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing himself to be a typical iiiember of a fam-
ily noted for thrift and well-directed indus-
try. He has followed general farming and
stock raising, making a specialty of raising
and dealing in horses.
During the Civil war Mr. Work enlisted, in
September, 1862, in Company I, 23d Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania State Militia, and was out
for a short time, being stationed at Chambers-
burg, this State. He has always been a stanch
Republican on political questions, and his
church connection is with the United Presby-
terian congi-egation of East Mahoning, to
which he has belonged for over fifty years ; he
has served as trustee of the church.
On June 4, 1863, Mr. Work was united in
marriage with Elizabeth Craig, who was born
near IMarion Center, in East jMahoning town-
ship, April 2, 1842, daughter of John and
Mary (Brown) Craig, In 1905 Mr, and Mrs.
Work made a trip west to the Rocky moun-
tains, visiting Colorado and elsewhere, ilrs.
Work died June 4, 1907, on the forty-fourth
anniversary of their marriage, and was buried
in the East Mahoning cemetery. She was a
faithful member of the United Presbyterian
Church of East Mahoning, and a loving help-
mate through a long and happy married life
to the husband who survives her, The.y had
no children. Since the death of his wife Mr,
Work's niece, Mrs. Stewart, has kept house
for him,
FRANKLIN PIERCE OATMAN, in his
lifetime one of the extensive and progressive
farmers of White township, Indiana county,
was born Aug. 4, 1854, in Rayne township,
this county. He was a son of Joseph Oatman
and grandson of Jacob Oatman, who was but
a child when his father came to the United
States, from Holland, the Oatman and Johns-
ton families — to which latter the wife of
Joseph Oatman belonged — crossing the ocean
in the same vessel. The first account we have
of them is of their residing in a locality in
MiflSin county. Pa., known as "Long Hollow."
The hollow begins at the old iron furnace near
Mount Union on the east side of Jack's Moun-
tain, and extends to McVeytown, formerly
known as Waynesburg, and long ago simply
as Wa.vne. The grandchildren of Jacob Oat-
man remember hearing their parents tell of
their childhood days spent in the "Long
Hollow."
The following letter written by C. L. Oat-
man Oct. 1, 1885, from Lake Geneva, Wal-
worth Co., Wis., gives a brief history of the
Oatman family to which he belongs:
"My grandfather, George Oatman, had
three brothers, Benjamin, Isaac and Joseph.
Their father was a Hollander ; came from Ger-
many and settled in the town of Old Milford,
Conn., about seven miles from New Haven,
where the family were born and reared. My
grandfather and his brother Isaac came to
Vermont. George (my grandfather) settled
in Rutland county, and Isaac in Bennington
county, and Benjamin settled in JetJei-son
county, N. Y. Joseph, the other bi'other, was
called the lost Oatman ; went from home south
and was supposed to be dead. Now you will
know which you descended from — either
George, Isaac, Benjamin or Joseph.
"In 1836, at Beardstown, on a steamboat
on the Illinois river, going up the river, my
name was called and it seemed to startle one
of the passengers who said that was his name
and that that was the first time he had ever
heard it outside of his own family. Compar-
ing notes it was shown that we were cousins
and he a son of Joseph Oatman, with family
who afterward settled in Kane county, 111.
He and a portion of his family left here and
went to Texas and are large cattlemen and
rich. Edward and Frank Oatman reside at
Dundee, 111. Joseph Oatman, the lost one,
went to Kentucky and settled near New Al-
bany on the Ohio river, and this branch of
the family came from Kentucky. Eli Oatman,
my father, was George Oatman 's son ; had two
brothers, Lyman and Eliakim. Royee Oat-
man, son of Lyman Oatman, started for Cali-
fornia in the fall of 1849 with a family of
seven children on the southern route and were
massacred by the Apache Indians. Olive and
a little sister were taken i^risoners. Olive, I
believe, was some twelve years old, and her
sister younger, who died — could not stand the
hardship. Lorenzo, a brother, was left for
dead on the ground, and recovered, but after-
ward died. Olive was rescued in 1856, after
a captivity of some six years. She became
since her captivity finely educated, married a
man from near Detroit, Mich., by the name of
Fairchild, and he is now or was last year a
banker in the city of Sherman, Texas. She
is badly marked (tattooed) about the face. I
have a book of their history. , . , A lit-
tle more history would show that the name was
not originally Oatman, but Hoatman, and
(there) being two of the same name but no
relation at Old Milford, to separate their prog-
eny they cast lots, or drew cuts, as to which
shoidd leave out the 'H,' and our side got
beat and left the name 'Oatman,' as we write
it," In a postscript he adds : "Joseph lived
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
747
iu Kentucky, was a large slave owuer, died
and was buried near New Albany on the Ken-
tucky side of the river and a large monument
raised to his memory. A little more history
of the massacre — when they were murdered on
the southern route to California. The ground
has been enclosed and monuments to their
memory erected by the government, and is
now one of the stop-off places of excursion-
ists."
A similar story is told by the family of
Joseph Oatman of Indiana county. Pa. The
names of the three brothers of their grand-
father, Jacob, are, however, John, George and
Royce: these went to California in 1849, but
it was John's family that was massacred.
They say there was a copy of the history men-
tioned in the possession of their family, but
that it was loaned out and lost : that it was
published in 1850.
Jacob Oatman, grandfather of Franklin
Pierce Oatman. was born in the eastern part
of Penns.ylvania, and died Sept. 12, 1835, at
Water Street. Pa. He married Mary Mc-
Ready, who was born Dec. 4, 1779, and died
Sept. 16. 1850. They had a family of seven
children, one son and six daughters: Lydia,
Joseph. Anna Maria, Jane, Rebecca, Nancy
and Sarah.
Joseph Oatman, second child and only son
of Jacob and Mary (McReady) Oatman. was
born Dec. 15, 1810, and died June 30, 1899.
He came to Water Street, Pa., from the "Long
Hollow," Mifflin Co., Pa.. April 21, 1836.
From there he moved to Williamsburg, where
he resided about eight years, and then moved
again, to Indiana county. This was about
1844. He was foreman for eighteen years on
the Pennsylvania canal, and lived in the same
house with Maj. Samuel Caldwell, who mar-
ried his sister Anna Maria. Ma.jor Caldwell
owned and operated an axe factory at Water
Street foi' many years. The house they lived
in was a double stone dwelling which was long
afterward used as a hotel, and may be so used
yet. The grandfather, Jacob Oatman, died
here shortly after the death of his grandchild
William, son of Joseph.
On July 10, 1834, at the home of the Johns-
tons, three miles above Williamsburg. Pa.,
Joseph Oatman was married to Eliza, daugh-
ter of William and Jane Johnston. Joseph
Oatman in a note written by him in a book
which belonged to him states that "Joseph
and Elizabeth Oatman was joined in wedlock
on Thursday the 10th of July, 1834." And
then he adds— "He aged 23-6-25, She aged
21-7-11." This would make her birthday
Nov. 29, 1812. He also notes that "Johnston
Oatman was born April 9th, 1835, and died
the 29th June, 1835, age 2 mo 18 d." This
was his first child, whose full name was Wil-
liam Johnston Oatman.
The children of Joseph and Eliza (or Eliza-
beth) Oatman were as follows : (1) William
Johnston, born April 9, 1835, died June 29,
1835. (2) George Washington, bom Oct. 12,
1837, belonged to the law firm of Johnston &
Oatman for many years ; Robert L. Johnston,
his law partner, was his uncle. He married
Priseilla Jane Tibbett, of Ebensburg, Pa., and
their children were : George B. McClellan ;
Martha Elizabeth, who married William
Hargnett, of Ligonier, and lives at Wilmer-
ding, Pa. ; Alice Catherine, who married Rob-
ert Gillan, of Johnson, Laurel Hill; and
Annie Laura, unmarried. (3) James Johns-
ton, born at Williamsburg Dec. 24, 1839,
taught public school. In 1861 he enlisted in
Company B, 11th Pennsylvania Reserves;
served three and a half years ; was at the bat-
tle of Peach Orchard, where on June 29, 1862,
he received a fracture of the skull and was
left on the field for dead, but later fell into
the hands of the Confederates and was taken
to Libby prison, remaining there three months.
After the close of the war he taught a year as
principal of the Ebensburg high school;
studied medicine, graduating in 1867 from
Jefferson Medical College; located first at Car-
rolltown, Cambria county ; in 1870 graduated
from Hahnemann Homeopathic College; lo-
cated in Altoona, where he built up a large
practice. In 1897 his wound in the liead so
affected his health that he was obliged to
abandon practice. He died soon after, Jan.
29, 1900, at his home. No. 1700 Fifth avenue,
Altoona, Pa., from the effects of his in.iury
received in the line of duty, but his widow
has nevertheless so far been refused a pension.
In 1868 he was married to Regina H. Me-
Dermitt, daughter of Col. B. A. :\IeDermitt,
of Ebensburg. Their children were born as
follows: William Johnston, April 5, 1869
(draggist at Osceola. Clearfield Co., Pa.) ;
Robert, Nov. 16, 1870 (machinist in Altoona
car shops); Stella Gertrude, Aug. 1, 1874;
Charles Joseph, March 24, 1878 (works in the
Altoona shops) ; Genevieve Catharine, March
26, 1887 ; Ernest Francis, Oct. 10, 1888 ; Ralph
Bernard, Aug. 20, 1896. (4) Martin Luther
married Nannie Evans, of Granville, Ohio.
(5) Marv Jane, unmarried, at present lives at
No. 105 North Fifth street, Indiana, Pa. She
taught in the public schools of Indiana county,
and took care of the old home in her father's
748
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
old age. (6j Auna JIaria died Feb. 26, 1879,
aged twenty-two years. (7) Robert Lipton
married Faimie Yeager, of Napoleon, Ohio.
He died and she married a Mr. McLaughlin,
of Lancaster, Pa., where she now lives. (8)
Franklin Pierce was the youngest.
Franklin Pierce Oatniau grew to manhood
in Rayne township, Indiana county, helping
with the agricultural work on his father's
homestead, and also following lumbering and
eai-penter work. He became an expert me-
chanic, so handy with tools that he could even
build a carriage or do other work not usually
possible to any but an experienced trades-
man. He continued to follow farming and
carpenter work on his father's place in Rayne
township until August, 1894, when he moved
with his family to White township, settling
on the Loekhard farm, a tract of 174 acres
owned by his father-in-law, Peter Leasure.
This farm, located one mile from the center
of the borough of Indiana, he subsequently
bought from Mr. Leasure, and there he con-
tinued to live and work until his death, which
occurred at that place March 2, 1905. He fol-
lowed general farming and stock raising on
an extensive scale, and was one of the most
advanced agriculturists of his district, his
work being done in the most intelligent and
approved manner. He had particularly fine
horses, and his residence and other buildings
were kept in excellent condition, the whole
property presenting a most creditable appear-
ance. He gave all his time to his own work,
taking a public-spirited interest in matters
affecting the general welfare, but never seek-
ing office or entering actively into such affairs.
He was a stanch Democrat in political opin-
ion, and in religious connection a Lutheran,
belonging to the church of that denomination
in Rayne. He is buried in Greenwood ceme-
tery, Indiana.
On March 16, 1886, ilr. Oatman married
Samantha Leasure, who was born on the home-
stead farm in Green township, this county,
daughter of Peter and Margaret Ann (Miller)
Leasure. and to them were born six children,
namely : Margaret Velma, now the wife of
Nealis Groft; Blva, who is now a student at
normal school; Vernie lona, Lucy Catherine,
Martha Jane and Anna Arvilla, all attending
school. Mrs. Oatman now owns and occupies
the farm in White township, where she and
all her children reside, her son-in-law, Mr.
Groft, now conducting the place for her. This
land is underlaid with two fine veins of coal,
though they are not being operated.
We have the followins record of the six
daughters of Jacob and Mary (.AlcReady)
Oatman :
(Ij Lydia Oatman, born Aug. 15, 1809, died
in 1872, aged about sixty-two. About 1829
she was married to James Shorthill, who was
born in 1799 and was about tive years old
when he came to the United States with his
parents, John and Nancy Shorthill, who with
their children Thomas, James and Dennis emi-
grated from Ireland to America about the
year 1804 and settled in MifHin county. Pa.
They afterward moved to Huntingdon county,
having bought a farm of tive hundred acres
in the ridges five miles from the town of
Huntingdon and about three miles from Mill-
creek. James Shorthill sold his share of the
farm and moved with his family to Hollidays-
burg about the time of the construction of the
Pennsylvania railroad. Here they kept a
boarding house for men who worked on the
reservoir. They remained here only about
three months, when, about 1846, they settled
in Indiana county near to the Oatman fam-
ily, some six miles east of the town of Indiana,
which place was laid out about 1805. Thomas
Shorthill, eldest son of John and Nancy,
served in the war of 1812 and died in the
service. Dennis Shorthill went to Clarion
county. John Shorthill, the father, died at
his old home near Millcreek, Pa., but was
buried in the town of Huntingdon.
James and Lydia (Oatman) Shorthill had
children as follows: Mary Jane, born April
28, 1831, married Adam Snyder, by whom she
had no children, and (second) John Johnson,
by whom she had three, Margaret, Ellsworth
and Annes (a daughter) ; Anna Maria, born
June 24, 1832, is the widow of Joseph I\Iauk,
who was a soldier in the Civil war, and she
lives at Marion Center, Pa. (they had no chil-
dren) ; Rebecca, born May 16, 1834, was mar-
ried July 29, 1866, to Joseph McCormick, son
of Joseph, of Smicksburg, Pa., and they have
two children, Eveline Lydia, born May 28,
1867 (married Oct. 18, 1888, James C. Bovard,
son of James ; no children ; they keep hotel in
Marion Center), and Joseph Carothers, born
Sept. 26, 1870 (married Jan. 4, 1894, May
Wyncoop, and has three children, Charles
Lloyd, James Donald and Joseph Paul) ;
James, born in March, 1836, married Elmira
Burke, of Cambria county, and died in 1895
(they had one daughter, Mary, who is mar-
ried and has two children, Gray and ) ;
Sarah Elizabeth died' unmarried; Albert died
unmarried; Joseph died unmarried; George
Washington married Barbara , of
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Canton, Ohio, and had children James and
Joseph, both unmarried.
(2) Anna ilaria Oatman, the second daugh-
ter, was born Sept. S, 1S16. About the year
1839 she became the second wife of ilaj. Sam-
uel Caldwell, then a widower with three liv-
ing children. He was the fourth child and
fourth son of ilaj. David Caldwell, eldest son
of Robert. Caldwell, who came from County
Derry, Ireland, was of Scotch parentage, and
settled at Barree, on the Little Juniata (close
to the present station of Barree on the Penn-
sylvania railroad), in the year 175i. His
brother Charles settled near Alexandria, some
three miles distant, at the same time. These
emigi-ants had previously stopped at the set-
tlement in Cumberland county (now Frank-
lin) kno\^^l as the "Cannogojig" (Conoco-
cheague). Maj. David Caldwell, eldest son of
Robert, became the sole owner of the old
homestead. He married Rebecca Dean, daugh-
ter of Matthew Dean, of Canoe Valley, whose
wife and several children were massacred by
the Indians in 1780, and became the father of
twelve children, from whom are descended all
the Caldwells of the counties of Huntingdon
and Blair. For his first wife Maj. Samuel
Caldwell married ilary, daughter of Israel
Cryder, who lived near the old Caldwell home-
stead at Barree. She was born Aug. 15, 1802,
and died April 18, 1835. She was the mother
of five children : Susanna, born April 22,
1827. was accidentallv poisoned and died Aug.
29. 1836: David, born Nov. 13, 1828, was a
lawver at Huntingdon, and died in Tvrone,
Pa.. April 6. 1893; Israel Cruder, born Jan.
22, 1830, married Rebecca Ellen Riddle, and
died June 21, 1896, leaving two children, John
R. and Samuel Horace, both of whom have
families, the former living in Toledo, Iowa,
where he is a lawyer of fine reputation, the
latter employed in the shops at Wilmerding,
Pa. (Israel C. Caldwell was a merchant and
land speculator, with this peculiarity that he
was always buying but never sold, and about
a year before his death there was a general
collapse of his business affairs) ; Hannah
Mary, born Dec. 9, 1831. married Feb. 22,
1869. N. L. Tabler, and lives near Minooka,
111. (they have three children living. Ella,
Rebecca and Mary : one is deceased ) ; Rebecca
Harriet was the fifth child of Sanuiel and
Mary (Cryder) Caldwell. By his second wife,
Anna ilaria (Oatman). Major Caldwell had
five more children, namely : William Calvin,
born at Water Street, Pa.", May 16, 1840, was
a commercial traveler, and died unmarried
Nov. 16. 1880, at Tyrone, Pa. ; Rebecca Eliza-
beth, born Jan. 17, 1842, at Water Street, was
a teacher in the public schools, and died un-
married Oct. 21, 1875 ; Robert, born in Hunt-
ingdon Dec. 24, 1843, died there Jan. 11, 1848 ;
Letitia ilaria, born in Franklin township
(Elizabeth Forge) Oct. 3, 1845, taught public
school in Huntingdon and Blair counties, and
married Prof. A. W. Greene, a teacher in the
Tyrone schools, and has four children, Orville
Caldwell, Samuel Maurice (married and has
one child), Mary Lois and Maria Letitia
(they live in Clarinda, Iowa) ; and Samuel
Dean, born at Huntingdon Nov. 3, 1847.
After successfully operating an axe factory
at Water Street for many years Maj. Samuel
Caldwell went into the manufacture of
"blooms" at Elizabeth Forge. But the great
depression in the iron trade coming on, he
failed in his new enterprise. He was county
surveyor for six years, and pa.ssed much of
his time in the woods tracing old lines and
settling disputes as to boundaries, being con-
sidered one of the best land surveyors in the
country. About 1850 he purchased a farm
in Black Log valley, in the lower end of Hunt-
ingdon county, to which he removed his fam-
ily, which consisted then (1852) of his wife
and four children, the children of his first
wife not being at home then. This farm he
named "Hickory Grove," from the large
quantity of hickory which grew upon the
place. Here he fai-med until his death, which
occurred May 1, 1857, though he still surveyed
a great deal, often being from home weeks at
a time. It was while on one of his surveying
trips that he contracted the cold which ter-
minated in his death. He died of pneumonia,
which was little understood at that day. His
widow moved with her four children to Shade
Gap in 1858, where at Milnwood Academy
they received a fair educational training,
which stood them all in good stead in after
years, when they were obliged to hoe their
own rows. All four taught in the public
schools of Huntingdon and Blair counties.
Samuel Dean Caldwell, tenth and last child
of Maj. Samuel Caldwell, collected and com-
piled the greater part of the family history
used in this article. After teaching for ten
years he went to the cit.v of Washington and
in the spring of 1874 entered the government
service. He has been there ever since, with
but few intermissions in his employ. The first
two years he was in the treasury department,
was afterward in the postoffice department,
war department, national board of health
(three years). United States Senate (seven
years as private secretary and stenographer.
750
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
several sessions as assistant reporter to the
official reporters of House debates, and the
balance of the time acting as private secretary
to different members of the House and Sen-
ate) and — for the last eight years — with the
Indian Bureau of the interior department.
Among his personal friends he has had the
pleasure of numbering such men as James G.
Blaine, Simon Cameron, Samuel J. Randall,
R. Milton Speer, Gen. Harry White, William
Walter Phelps, John Kean, Jr., Joseph Me-
Kenua, W. D. Washburn, John H. Mitchell,
J. N. Dolph, P. B. Plumb, Gilbert A. Pierce,
and R. R. Hitt. Mr. Caldwell still owns his
old home in Shade Gap, Pa., but in 1890 he
bought a little farm six miles north of Wash-
ington, at Bethesda, Md., in Montgomery
county, where he entertains in true Pennsyl-
vania style those of his friends who take the
trouble to hunt him up. On Oct. 29, 1874, he
married Jennie Gertrude Ardinger, daughter
of Hon. Charles G, Ardinger, of Williamsport,
Md., and they have had four children, three
daughters, all deceased, and one son, who sur-
vives, Samuel Dean, Jr. The latter, born
March 15, 1882, is a graduate of the Western
high school of Washington, D. C.
(3) Jane Oatman, third daughter of Jacob
and Mary (McReady) Oatman, died when
about nine or ten years old.
(4) Rebecca Oatman, fourth daughter of
Jacob and Mary (McReady) Oatman, married
Douglass Wray, by whom she had several chil-
dren. Her second husband was a Hodgman,
and in 1873 they were living in Berea, Ohio.
Her daughter Sarah married a man named
Howard. On April 12, 1836, Dougla-ss Wray
and his wife Rebecca wrote a letter from Mer-
cer, Pa., addressed to Joseph Oatman, Hunt-
ingdon, Pa.; the postage on it was eighteen
cents, and the letter was folded in the old
style, there being no envelopes used in those
days.
(5) Nancy Oatman, fifth daughter of Jacob
and Mary (ilcReady) Oatman, married a
Dickson, and had two children : Walter, who
is deceased, and Mary, Mrs. Bundy, who had
two children. Clara and Frank (they live at
Decatur, Illinois).
(6) Sarah Ann Oatman, sixth daughter of
Jacob and Mary (McReady) Oatman, mar-
ried William Campbell. In a letter written
by William Campbell to Joseph Oatman, dated
A. P. R. R. (Allegheny Portage Railroad)
Aug. 24, 1839, he speaks of a fine boy having
been born to them, and says he will be seven
months old on the 15th of September. He
says he is still living at No. 2, and hitching at
the foot of the plane at the rate of seven dol-
lars per week, or rather one dollar per day
Sunday and weekdays. He says further that
as he (Oatman) in his last letter had talked
of leaving that place (presumably Williams-
burg) he does not know where to address his
letter. He adds in a postscript that the name
of his boy is "Abert" (meaning Albert).
GEORGE T. BUCHANAN, wholesale
grocer, of Indiana, has one of the largest es-
tablishments in that line in western Pennsyl-
vania, and is probably best known in business
circles in that connection. He has acquired
other important interests in this section of the
State, however, and in all his associations is
known as a man of unquestionable ability and
integrity. He was bom June 27, 1867, in
Cherryhill township, Indiana county, son of
William L. and Mary M. (Widdowson)
Buchanan. The family is of Scotch-Irish ex-
traction, and Mr. Buchanan's great-grand-
father was born in County Tyrone, Ireland,
of Scotch parentage. He and his wife came
to this country from the North of Ireland,
after their marriage, and settled first in Butler
county. Pa., where he followed farming and
distilling. Thence they removed to West^
moreland county. Pa., where he died, in Loyal-
hanna township. His children were : William^
Arthur, John, George, Frances, Margaret, and
perhaps others.
George Buchanan, grandfather of George
T. Buchanan, was born in 1810 in Butler
county, Pa., and in his youth attended the
country schools near home. When a boy he
would gather hickory bark after his work was
done, to make a fire bright enough to enable
him to study evenings, and by perseverance
he became a well-educated man, following'
school teaching for some time. He learned the
trade of carpenter, and was engaged prin-
cipally as a cabinetmaker and farmer. After
his marriage he located in Loyalhanna town-
ship, Westmoreland county, where he was em-
ployed at his trade, and thence removed to
Rayne township, Indiana county, where he
passed the remainder of his life, dying there
in 1861, when fifty-one years of age. He was
a devout member of the Wesleyan Methodist
Church and became quite well known in that
denomination, being a local preacher. But his
absorbing public interest was the subjection
of slavery and the slave traffic. He threw all
his influence into the anti-slavery cause, and
being endowed with considerable talent as a
campaigner and public speaker took consider-
able part in the Abolition movement in that
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
capacity, as well as in his connection with the
■"underground railway," by means of which
he helped many slaves to escape and gain their
freedom. He was always outspoken and un-
coiiipromisiug in his stand against slavery,
and having the courage of his convictions and
the gift of presenting his views well was a
strong influence in the anti-slavery ranks for
a number of years. In his earlier manhood Mr.
Buchanan was a Free-soiler, the only one in
Loyalhanna township, and he joined the Re-
publican party upon its forination. His wife,
Ann (Irwin), was born in 1820 in Ireland,
and early left an orphan, coming to America
with her father's people when twelve years
old. She died April 2, 1892, when seventy-
two years old, in Mechanicsburg, Indiana
county. She, too, was a member of the M. E.
Church. Mr. and 3Irs. Buchanan had a fam-
ily of six sons and three daughters, the daugh-
ters dying in infancy. The sons were: Wil-
liam L. ; James S., of Ra.yne township ; George,
who is deceased; Dr. John I., deceased; Cyrus
A., of Indiana ; and Harvey S., of Indiana.
^Yilliam L. Buchanan was about fourteen
years old when his father moved the family
to Rayne township, Indiana county, and there
he grew to manhood. He began his education
in the subscription schools, his first teacher
being his cousin, "William Buchanan, and later
went to public school. His first work for him-
self was as a farm laborer, working by the
month, and later he drove mules on the old
Pennsylvania canal. After coming to Indiana
county he farmed during the summer season,
in the winter and spring being employed in
the lumber woods and at rafting. He served
in the Union army throughout the Civil war.
under two enlistments. In 1861 he became a
private in Company A, 61st Penn,sylvania
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Creps and
Col. 0. H. Rippey. of Pittsburg, enlistinrr in
Indiana county, for three years. The com-
mand was attached to the Army of the Poto-
mac. He had assisted in the organization of
the company, and went with it to the front,
seeing thirty-eight months of hard service in
the field before he was incapacitated. He took
part in the battle of Fair Oaks, the seven days '
fight, the engagements at Malvern Hill and
Antietam, and all the battles of his command
up to and including Gettysburg, and subse-
quent activities. In 1863-64 he was a member
of a light brigade of picked men from regi-
ments of diff'erent corps, who did skirmish and
reconnoitering duty. After Chancellorsville
tliis brigade was disbanded, the men being
returned to their respective regiments. Mr.
751
Buchanan had been promoted June 13, 1862,
at Harrison's Landing, to first sergeant. At
the end of his term he was discharged, Feb.
1-1, 1864, at Brandy Station, Va., and reen-
listed for three yeai-s, on the field, in the same
company and regiment. He came home on a
thirty-day furlough, during which time he
married, and after rejoining his regiment
again saw considerable active service mitil he
lost an arm at Fort Stevens, in the defenses
of Washington, whither the 6th Corps, to
M-hich the 61st Regiment was attached, had
been sent. They met Early as he was moving
out to the works in his march on the city, and
in the encounter Mr. Buchanan received a
miuie ball in his right arm, close to the shoul-
der, his injuries being so severe that the mem-
ber was amputated on the field. He was taken
to a hospital in Washington and thence to a
hospital in Philadelphia, from which he was
discharged Oct. 18, 1864, Up to the time he
was wounded at Fort Stevens he had never
lost a day's duty on account of sickness,
though slightly injured several times. He
was in command of his company at the time,
all the commissioned officers having been
either wounded or away on furlough. The
regiment stood first in loss of officers during
the Civil war, and ranked about fourteenth or
fifteenth in loss of men.
From the time of his return from the army
until his retirement a few years ago Mr.
Buchanan was engaged in farming, milling,
stock dealing and merchandising, having
farms in Cheriyhill (115 acres) and Green
(sixty acres) townships, Indiana county, and
conducting stores at Dixonville and Indiana.
For several years he was located at Marion
Center, this county, engaged in the hotel
business, and eventually removed to the
borough of Indiana, where he dealt in agri-
cultural implements for some yeai-s. Thence
he removed to Dixonville. where he was in
business nine years, having a general mer-
chandise store. He retired shortly before the
death of his wife, and has not been engaged in
any active business pursuits since, now mak-
ing his home in Indiana. ]Mr. Buchanan was
one of the organizers of the Marion Center
National Bank, and served as director until
1911. when he resigned. He is still a large
stockholder in the Savings & Trust Companv
of Indiana. His ability and honorable deal-
ings brought him success in his enterprises,
and he has had high standing in the various
comnninities where he has become known
through his business associations.
Mr. Buchanan is a member of the Veteran
752
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Legion and G. A. R., Post No. 28, and also of
the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana. In poli-
ties he is a Republican but independent in
voting, supporting what he regards as the best
men and measures.
On March 22, 1864, Mr. Buchanan married
Mary Matilda Widdowson, of Cherryhill
township, Indiana county, daughter of Thomas
and Jane (Lydic) Widdowson, and she died
at Indiana March 25, 1906. She was a mem-
ber of the Baptist Church and one of its de-
voted workers, a member of the missionary
societies and interested in other church activi-
ties. She is buried at Oakland cemetery.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mi-s.
Buchanan: Josephine, who died in infancy;
George T. ; and William Orrin, of Larimer,
Pa., who carries on an extensive mercantile
business, having establishments at Irwin and
Larimer, in Westmoreland county, this State.
George T. Buchanan received his early edu-
cation in the common schools of Indiana, and
was a member of the second class to gradu-
ate from the Indiana high school, in 1883.
Subsequently he attended the State Normal
School at Indiana, and then taught for two
terms before entering upon his business career.
He was associated with his father in the im-
plement business for a time, after which they
were interested in partnership in the general
merchandise business at Dixonville. In May,
1890. the year following the Johnstown flood,
Mr. Buchanan engaged in the retail grocery
business at Johnstown, where he remained
four years. His next experience was as
traveling salesman for Francis H. Leggett &
Co., of New York City, wholesale grocers, for
whom he sold goods on the road for a period
of ten years. At the end of that time he
settled down in Indiana, buying a half in-
terest in the wholesale grocery establishment
with which he has since been connected. In
1909 he bought out his partners, and has since
carried on the business alone. He has a very
commodious building, 40 by 120 feet in dimen-
sions and three stories high, and occupies
three warehouses besides. Mr. Buchanan has
made a most creditable record since he en-
tered this concern. His success in building
up and holding trade, his business now
amounting to four hundred thousand dollars
annually, is the best evidence of his progres-
sive and enterprising nature and executive
ability, which combined with untiring energy
have " brought him such high success. His
active policy has been the means of advanc-
ing his business to a foremost place among the
prosperous concerns
of the kind in western
Pennsylvania, and his foresight has enabled
him to do more than keep abreast of the de-
mands of his trade — he anticipates them and
has attractive propositions for his eustomera
which keep the trade interested in every line
he carries. His reputation for just and hon-
orable dealing lias proved a valuable asset in
his independent career. Mr. Buchanan has
become interested in various other industries
in the locality, being a director of the Savings
& Trust Company of Indiana, a director of
the Indiana Woolen Mills Company, and as-
sociated with several enterprises which are
factors in the development and prosperity of
this section.
On May 21, 1891, Mr. Buchanan was mar-
ried to Jennie R. Davison, of Indiana county,
daughter of William S. Davison, of Green
township, and they have two children : Edith,
who is a graduate of the Indiana State normal
school; and William Paul.
Mr. Buchanan is a prominent member of
the Baptist Church, which he is serving as
deacon, and he has also been interested in the
Sunday school, of which he has been superin-
tendent since 1902. He labored zealously and
contributed liberally to secure the establish-
ment of the Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion at Indiana, whose building was erected
in 1912-13. He has been a director of this
institution since its formation. Fraternally
he holds membership in Indiana Lodge. No.
313, F. & A. M., of the borough of Indiana,
and he also belongs to the Cosmopolitan Club.
NATHAN CHARLES HARVEY, cashier
of the First National Bank of Glen Campbell,
Indiana county, has been connected with that
institution ever since he came to the borough,
in 1902. He is associated with other impor-
tant business enterprises there, and has be-
come thoroughly interested in the general wel-
fare of the place, where he has proved him-
self a most valuable citizen.
Mr. Harvey was born June 29, 1868, at
Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Pa., son of Elijah
and Mary (Lamason) Harvey. His father
was a native of Minnesota and was a contrac-
tor and builder by occupation. Nathan C.
Harvey acquired his early education at Jersey
Shore, attending the elementary and high
school^ there, and the Jersey Shore Academy,
and later studied at the Eclectic Institute
there, from which he was graduated. He then
became a drug clerk, and took a course at the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. In 1902
]\lr. Harvey came to Glen Campbell and en-
tered the First National Bank as assistant
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
753
cashier, continuing to liold that position until
elected cashier, May 3, 1910. He holds in-
terests in the Lasoya Oil Company of Glen
Campbell (whose field is at Chelsea, Okla.)
and the Giant Electric Light, Heat & Power
Company, being one of the directoi-s of both
these companies. His opinions on financial
questions and general business conditions are
highly esteemed by those who have had the
opportunity to realize the comprehensive
grasp he has on such matters. He is at pres-
ent serving the borough in the capacity of
school director. Mr. Harvey is a thirty-second
degree Mason and a Shriner, is a member of
the Episcopal Church, and in his political
views is a Republican.
On Oct. 15, 1897, Mr. Harvey was united
in marriage with Edith Scott, of Elmira. N.
Y.. daughter of Winfield S. and Caroline
(Dietehie) Scott.
DANIEL HOWARD owns the valuable
tract of 200 acres in Blacklick township, In-
diana county, where he lives, and is one of
the wide-awake business farmers of his sec-
tion. He was born in that township Nov. 17,
1855, son of Isaac and Rebecca (Bai'oon)
Howard, and is a grandson of Adam Howard,
a native of Westmoreland county. Pa., who
had a family of four children, namely:
George, Jacob (who died unmarried). Isaac
and John. Of these, George Howard married
Sarah Baroon, of Center township. Indiana
county, and they had the following children:
Alexander married ilary Rankin ; Jane mar-
ried Harvey Stewart, of Center township ;
Isaac married Mary Dixon and (second)
Nancy E. McCracken ; Lizzie died young ;
Margaret married John Mack.
Isaac Howard, son of Adam, was born in
Blacklick township, Indiana county, and died
there : he was laid to rest in the Lutheran
cemetery in Center township. In religious
connection he was a Lutheran. All his life he
followed his trade, that of carpenter, residing
in Blacklick township but working all over the
surrounding territory as well, in Indiana and
Westmoreland counties. He was particularly
in demand as a barn bvulder, his experience
and reliability bringing him plenty of work
in that line. He married Rebecca Baroon,
of Center township, who is buried in the
Lutheran cemetery in that township. J\Ir. and
"Sirs. Howard had a family of four ehildren :
Sarah, who married David Altman, a farmer
of Blacklick township; Levi, who died when
ten years old; Daniel; and James, who died
when two vears old.
48
Daniel Howard attended the McCrea brick
school in Blacklick township and worked at
home until he reached the age of seventeen.
From that time he worked for himself, for
three years in the employ of his uncle George
Howard, being twenty years old when he went
to work for William Smith, with whom he re-
mained about twenty-five years, engaged in
farming on his present place. He has since
followed agricultural pursuits on his own ac-
count, and now owns about two hundred acres,
160 of which are under excellent cultivation.
He has cleared much of this land himself, and
has made numerous improvements, being con-
stantly on the alert to discover and apply new
methods of doing his work and conducting his
farm, anything which will increase its value
and productiveness. He does a large butter
and egg business, having been veiy successful
in that line. Mr. Howard has been an active
man. and has acquired other interests besides
his farm, being a stockholder in the First
National Bank of Blairsville and in the Far-
mers' Blacklick Township Telephone Com-
pany. Public affairs have also received some
share of his attention, he having served his
township for three years as supervisor of roads
and for ten years as member of the board of
school directors. In political association he is
a Republican, and he favors the temperance
cause. He and his family are members of the
Hopewell M. E. Church.
In 1880 Mr. Howard married Sarah Eliza-
beth Smith, daughter of William and Ann C.
(Brincker) Smith, the former his longtime
employer. Four children have been born to
this union: Mabel, born Oct. 1. 1880, who
died June 30, 1901 ; William Roy, born March
25, 1887, who resides with his parents; George
Smith, born March 11. 1892, at home: and
Laura Alice, born Feb. 23, 1903.
EDWARD O'NEILL, proprietor of the
leading general merchandise store at Mitchells
Mills, Indiana county, and owner of 200 acres
of land in Green township, was born in that
township March 27, 1846. son of Edward and
Catherine (Kneedler) O'Neill. He is a vet-
eran of the Civil war. in which he received
dangerous wounds.
Sh-. O'Neill's paternal grandfather was a
native of Ireland, and coming to America in
young manhood settled in Center county. Pa.,
where he spent the remainder of his life.
Edward O'Neill, father of Edward, was
born in 1799 in Center county, and in 1840
came to Indiana county and settled near She-
locta, after\vard removing to ^Mitchells Mills,
754
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
where he conducted a store and flour mill as
member of the firm of ilitchell & O'Neill.
Subsequently he located on the farm now
owned by his son, and here he spent the bal-
ance of his life in agricultural pursuits and
in conducting a sawmill. His death occurred
March 31, 1870, in the house in which his son
now resides. Mr. O'Neill married Mrs.
Catherine (Kneedler) Lytle, who was born
Dec. 16, 1803, in Huntingdon county, Pa.,
and she died April 11, 1881, the mother of
the following children: James L. enlisted in
Company B, 11th Regiment Pennsylvania Re-
serves, and was killed at the battle of the
Wilderness, May 4, 1864; John, born April
14, 1836, a resident of Indiana, Pa., served
during the Civil war as a private in Company
A, 67th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry ; Eliza Jane, born April 1, 1838, is the
wife of George H. Fleming, of Indiana, Pa.;
Nelson, born Aug. 1, 1840, who enlisted in
Company A, 135 Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry, and reenlisted in Company A, 67th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, died at Jackson-
ville, Indiana Co., Pa., in 1903 ; Sarah Cath-
erine, born Oct. 13, 1842, is deceased ; Edward
is mentioned below. By her marriage to Mr.
Lytle Mrs. O'Neill had one child, Letitia.
John Kneedler, the maternal grandfather
of Edward O'Neill, spent most of his life in
Huntingdon county, and was a farmer and
stock raiser by occupation.
Edward O'Neill was educated in the district
schools of Green township, and during his
boyhood worked on the home farm. A bright,
enterprising youth, when he was but fifteen
years of age he engaged in school teaching,
but the Civil war roused his youthful patriot-
ism, and in October, 1864, he enlisted in Com-
pany E, 88th Regiment, P. V. I., under Col.
Louis Wagner, of Philadelphia. He saw con-
siderable hard fighting with this regiment,
participating in numerous skirmishes and the
battles of Petersburg and Hatcher's Run, and
in the latter engagement received severe
wounds in the head and hands. On receiving
his honorable discharge Mr. O'Neill returned
to the old home, and worked on the farm until
1882, in which year he engaged in the general
merchandise business at Mitchells Mills, in
which he has since continued, in addition to
cultivating his valuable property of 200 acres
situated in Green township.
Mr. O'Neill was married in 1873 to Maggie
Moorhead, daughter of William Moorhead, an
early settler of Indiana countv, and she died
July 15, 1876. On April 11, 1878, Mr. O'Neill
was married (second) to Nancy J. Lydick, who
wa.s born in Clierryhill township, daughter of
Robert A. and Agnes E. Lydick, early settlers
of that township, and granddaughter of Abra-
ham Lydick, one of Indiana county 's pioneers
who came to this section as early as 1760. Mr.
and Mrs. O'Neill have had three children:
Vernie, who resides at home ; Clarence B., en-
gaged in the jewelry business at Clymer ; and
Ira B,, who is engaged in farming in White
township.
Mr. 0 'Neill is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, of which he is elder, and has been
active in church and charitable work. He
holds membership in the local post of the
Grand Army of the Republic. A stanch Pro-
hibitionist in his political views, he has been
called upon to fill public office, and for ten
years acted very acceptably as justice of the
peace of Green township.
WILLIAM A. SIMPSON, M. D., who is
engaged in the practice of medicine at Indi-
ana borough, where he settled in the fall of
1895, is one of the foremost members of his
profession in this section and has gained high
personal standing as well. He was born in
Virginia City, Mont., in May, 1871, son of
Solomon L. and Mary C. (Means) Simpson.
James Simpson, the Doctor's great-grand-
father, was the first of this family in Pennsyl-
vania. Bom about 1750, he was of Scottish
extraction, but came to the United States from
the North of Ireland, in 1775. He first lo-
cated in the Path valley, in Huntingdon
county. Pa., later moving to Westmoreland
county, where he continued to make his home
until 1785-86. Then he crossed the Cone-
maugh river, locating in what is now Cherry-
hill township, Indiana county, in which sec-
tion he wa,s among the first settlers. By occu-
pation he was a farmer. He married Polly
Pollock, and they became the parents of the
following children: Charity, who married
Thomas Craven; Robert, who married Mary
Shearer; Margaret, who married Moses Gam-
ble ; Nathaniel, who married Catherine Leas-
ure ; James, who married Jane Shearer ; John,
who married Sarah Kirkpatriek; David, who
married Nancy Coulter; Isaac, who married
]\Iary Lewis, and Samuel, who married Phehe
Lewis.
Nathaniel Simpson, son of James, was born
in Pennsylvania and passed all his life in this
State. He married Kate Leasure, daughter
of John Leasure, and they became the par-
ents of the following named children : Betty.
Margaret, Jane, James, John, Solomon L..
Nathaniel, David, William, Catherine and
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
755
Culbertson. The father of this family died at
the age of fifty-six, and the luother subse-
quently married John Colkitt ; she died when
fifty-two years old.
Solomon L. Simpson, son of Nathaniel, was
born in Indiana county, Pa., was reared on a
farm near Georgeville, and followed farming
in this county. He learned the tailoring
trade in Indiana, and afterward went West.
He was twice man-ied, and his children by the
first union, to Annice Warren, were Emma
and Nora; the former married Thomas H.
Vinter and has one child, Emma S., wife of
Dr. G. C. Jenkins, of Germautown, Pa. ; Nora
married John C. Pattou, of Indiana, Pa. Mr.
Simpson's second mai-riage was to Mai-j' C.
Means, a native of Jefferson county, Pennsyl-
vania.
William A. Simpson attended the elemen-
tary and high schools in Indiana borough, and
later the State normal school there. He took
a classical course at the University of Penn-
sylvania, gi-aduating from that institution in
the year 1892, and made special preparation
for his profession by reading medicine under
Dr. N. F. Ehrenfeld, of Indiana, and attend-
ing the medical department of the University
of Pennsylvania, from w-hich he was gradu-
ated in 1895. In the fall of that year he be-
gan practice at Indiana, where he has since
remained. He has become one of the leading
medical men of this section. lie belongs to
the American Medical Association, the State
Medical Society and the Indiana County Med-
ical Society, and has served one term as presi-
dent of the county organization. For many
years he has been associated with the Penn-
sylvania National Guard, and for several years
was assist<int surgeon of the 21st Regiment,
later belonging to the 5th Regiment in the
same' capacity. He is also county medical in-
spector, representing the State department
of health in this capacity, has conducted
the State Tuberculosis Dispensary No. 48
since its incipiency in 1908, and in these vari-
ous trusts has done excellent work. Frater-
nally the Doctor is a Mason, holding member-
ship in Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., of Indiana,
and in Williamsport Consistory, thirty-second
degree. He is a member of the Presbyterian
Church. As phj'sician and citizen he has been
a useful member of the community ever since
he settled in Indiana, and his fellow citizens
respect him for his public spirit and intelli-
gent interest in the general welfare.
In 1901 Dr. Simpson married Grace Tay-
lor, daughter of Alexander Taylor, of Indiana.
She died in 1903. In 1908 the Doctor married
(second) Anna St. Clair, of Homer City, this
county, and they have had one child, Wil-
liam A.
ISAAC HAMILTON MABON is one of the
foremost citizens of West Wheatfield town-
ship, Indiana county, prominent in agricul-
tural and business intei-ests and influential
in public affairs, though he has not held of-
fice, being content to do his share in promot-
ing the general good in his private capacity.
He is a native of the township, born June 17,
1866. son of Thomas Jefferson and Nancv
(Milliken) Mabon.
The Mabon family has been established in
this section for considerably over a century.
William and Margaret (Brown) Mabon came
to this country from Scotland in the year
1794, bringing with them their family of six
children, five sons and one daughter : George,
John, James. AVilliam. Thomas and Jane.
Their home in Scotland was on the river
Tweed, and when they settled in what is now
West Wheatfield township. Indiana Co.. Pa.,
they named a small stream running through
their property Tweed run, by which name it
is still known. William Mabon and his wife
were laid to rest in a little cemetery near the
Pennsylvania railroad, on the tract where they
originally settled in West Wheatfield town-
ship. Of their children : George had five
children, two sons and three daughters, by his
first wife, whose maiden name was Steele, and
by his second wife, Margaret (McDonald),
had a son, Capt. George C. Mabon. John mar-
ried Margaret Liggett, and had seven sons
and five daughtei-s. William, Robert, John,
James, Thomas, Frank. Alexander, Jane,
Nancy, ilargaret, I\Iary and Ann ; they lived
in Mahoning township. James married -lane
Smith and had two sons and one daughter,
Samuel S., William and Margaret; he settled
at ^lahoning, Pa. Jane married John Gra-
ham, (second) Robert Sutton and (third)
AVilliam Baird ; she had no children. William,
the grandfather of Isaac H. Mabon, is men-
tioned below. Thomas married Jane McLeary
and had children: ^Margaret (married Wil-
liam Reed), Mary Jane, Emily (married H.
A. Welshonce), Harriet (married -John Fer-
guson). William. Thomas. Louisa (mamed
Andrew Milliken), Mary A. (married George
A. Jenks), and two more whose names are
not given.
William Mabon. son of William and Mar-
garet (Brown) Mabon, was a large land
holder, owning at one time over six hundred
acres, and became a well-known and prosper-
756
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
oils fiirmei". For many yeai"s he ran a saw-
mill on Tweed run (in West Wheatfield
township) which he had built. He died April
20, 1838, and was interred in Bethel ceme-
tery in West Wheatfield township. On i\Iay
2, 1815, he married Esther Steele, and they
had a family of nine children, born as fol-
lows: Margaret, April IS, 1816 (died
young); George, Dee. 28, 1817; Jane, May
3, 1821 (married Thomas Reed) ; John, Dec.
18, 1822 (died Oct. 19, 1829) ; Margaret B..
Nov. 22, 1824 (married Mungo Campbell,
and lived in Monmouth, 111. ) ; Thomas Jeffer-
son. March 10, 1826 ; Hadassah, Feb. 4, 1828
(married Smith Diek) ; James, Feb. 9, 1830;
and AVilliam, June 17, 1831 (married Eliza-
beth Welshonce). Of this family, George Ma-
bon, born Dec. 28, 1817, died Aug. 13, 1889, on
the farm near Centerville, Indiana Co., Pa.,
where he was bom and reared. For many
years previously he had been connected with
the Tinted Presbyterian Church, "and was
always a consistent, faithful and earnest mem-
ber; studying that which would promote the
best interests of the congregation of which
he was a member, and of the whole church,
Bethel congregation will miss him in many
ways. * * * A large concourse of ac-
quaintances assembled at the funeral, to tes-
tify their respect for one who had for so long
a time been a citizen in the community. In
the exercises, held at his residence, Revs.
Patterson and Graham took part, the former
his present pastor, the latter having been his
pastor for many years preceding. He mar-
ried Jane Ander.son, of Huntingdon county.
Pa., who died in April, 1874. They had a
family of seven children (four sons surviving
the parents) : Nancy, who married WiUiam
Gettamy; John, who married Carolyn Clark;
Esther, who married James IMartin; William
Steel, who married Mary G. Hayes; Mungo,
who married May Chase ; Samuel K. f and
Thomas James, who married Susan E., daugh-
ter of Johnson and Jane (Palmer) Palmer,
and had four children. Jennie Palmer, Ly-
man DeEssa, Leetha May, George Johnson."
Thomas Jefferson Mahon, son of William
and Esther (Steele) Mabon, born March 10,
1826, in West Wheatfield township, received
his schooling there. In his younger days he
did teaming, carrying iron ore. Upon the
breaking out of the Civil war he joined the
6th Pennsylvania Artillery, Battery C, un-
der Capt. David Evans and First Lieut. Wil-
liam Bowden, the second lieutenant being
Jacob J. Grubbs, and served ten months. Re-
turning home he bought a farm of 220 acres
in West Wheatfieltl township and followed
.stock raising in addition to general farming,
raising fine horses and cattle in considerable
numbers. He was a prominent man in the
locality in his time, serving as school director
(fifteen years) and auditor of the township,
was a Democrat in politics and a member of
the Bethel United Presbyterian Church, which
lie served officially as deacon ; he was a strong
advocate of the temperance cause. His death
occurred May 11, 1886.
Mr. Mabon married Nancy Milliken, who
was born March 5, 1835, daughter of John B.
and Elizabeth (Branyan) Milliken, the latter
a member of the Juniata county branch of an
old and honored family who have a printed
history which traces their line back to the
eighth centurv. They came from Normandy.
Mrs. Mabon died May 11, 1888. They had a
family of eight children: (1) John Milliken
is mentioned below. (2) Esther Ellen, born
May 15, 1859, married Robert Hood, and
they live in Westmoreland county. (3) Liz-
zie Bell, born May 18, 1861, married Charles
Harman, a farmer in Brushvalley, and had
children Mabel and George. (4) Anna M.,
born Aug. 9, 1862, married R. J. Hood, of
West Wheatfield township. (5) William B.,
born Dec. 31, 1863, is employed by the Cam-
In-ia Steel Company at Johnstown, Pa. He
married Ella Shelley, and they have two chil-
dren, Frank and May. (6) Isaac Hamilton is
mentioned below. (7) Louise M., born June
9, 1869, married Elmer E. Dickie, of Indi-
ana, Pa. (8) Nancy Jane, born in March,
1873, married James B. McCreery, a farmer
of Westmoreland county, Pa., and has four
children, Hugh, Everett, Lee and Mabon.
Isaac Hamilton Mabon attended the Wal-
lace school in his native township. He be-
came familiar with farm work as his father's
assistant, working with the latter until his
death, when he bought out the other heirs,
taking the farm of 160 acres which he has
since conducted on his own account. He is
a progressive agriculturist in every line he
undertakes, but dairying has been his spe-
cialty and the branch in which he has been
particularly successful. He ships milk daily
to Pittsburg. He is also engaged in stock
raising and lumbering, and was one of the
founders of the Gamble Telephone Company
of West Wheatfield. in which he is a stock-
holder. Mr. Mabon owned some coal land
which he has sold. He- is an active man, and
his thrifty, energetic spirit dominates all his
interests. The fine appearance of his prop-
erty indicates that no pains are spared to
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
keep it in first-class condition, the iiouse and
barn being substantial and well appointed,
and the farm being improved in every respect
to make it up-to-date. Mr. ]\Iabon has sev-
eral fine horses. Though he cares nothing
for public honors for himself he takes a deep
interest in local affairs, seeing that good men
get into office and that worthy movements
are encouraged and given proper support.
He votes independently. He has served as
inspector and judge of the election board.
Mr. ]\Iabou is a member of the New Florence
United Presbyterian Church, which he has
served faithfully as elder and trustee.
On Sept. 5, 1890, Mr. Mabon married Er-
mina L. Mack, a daughter of Robert and
Elizabeth Mack, of West Wheatfield town-
ship, and she died Sept. 8, 1891 ; she is bur-
ied in Bethel cemetery. His second marriage,
which took place Oct. 5, 1893, was to Mar-
garet E. ^McCreery, of West Fairfield, West-
moreland county, who was born Jan. 17, 1863,
daughter of Hugh and Mary (McCurdy) Mc-
Creery, and member of a pioneer family of
Westmoreland county. She died Feb. 3, 1903,
and is buried at West Fairfield. She was
the mother of four children: Hugh ile-
Creerv. born Sept. 6, 1894; Paul, Feb. 6,
1896;" Anna Vista, Sept. 21, 1897; Margaret
Eva, Jan. 28, 1903. On Dec. 29, 1904, Mr.
Mabon married (third) Ella Jane McKelvy,
born Feb. 4, 1869, daughter of James P. and
Isabel flMenoher) McKelvy, the former of
whom died Oct. 5, 1912, and the latter April
29. 1900. No children have been born to this
union. Mrs. Mabon 's parents were members
of pioneer families of the Ligonier valley,
Westmoreland county, who came from the
northern part of Ireland, tracing their line to
the time their ancestors crossed the water to
America. The McKelvys were literarv peo-
ple, who studied the languages and taught
them. Mrs. ]\Iabon is a gi-aduate of the South-
western State normal school, located at Cali-
fornia, Pa., and taught school for several
years.
John I\I. Mabon, eldest in the family of
Thomas Jefferson and Nancy (^Milliken) Ma-
bon. was born April 21. 1856, and is a well-
known farmer of West Wheatfield township.
He obtained his education in the common
schools there. In his younger manhood he
worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany a number of years. In 1888 he bought
the Samuel ]\IcKee farm of fifty acres, and
commenced to devote himself to its cultiva-
tion. Then he bought forty acres of the old
Mabon farm, his property at present compris-
ing about one hundred acres, where he is ex-
tensively engaged in dairying and the raising
of small fruits. In winter he also follows
lumbering. Mr. Mabon has improved his farm
greatly, having built a new house and barn
and made numerous changes for the better
in his home surroundings, all of which have
materially increased the value of his tract.
His progressive and energetic policy has
bijought him continued success. He was one
of the organizers of the Gamble Mills Tele-
phone Company, and is still a director of that
company.
On March 5, 1885, Mr. Mabon married
i'^lizabeth Armeta Cline, who was born in
July, 1861, daughter of Samuel and Lydia
'.Walbeck) Cline, of West Wheatfield town-
ship. They have had five children: (1)
Thomas Jefferson, born :\Iareh 21, 1886, is
farming with his father in West Wheatfield
township. He married Anna Jane Wallace,
daughter of Ephraim Wallace (2) Nora
]Maud, born in October, 1888, taught school
for four years in West Wheatfield prior to
her marriage to George McDowell, of New
Florence, Pa. He is a plumber by trade.
They have had one child, Helen, bom Dec.
7, 1911, (3) Florence Edna was born April
12, 1890. (4) Samuel Cline, born April 22,
1892, has taught school in Cambria county,
Pa. (5) Marion Esther was born June 4,
1899.
ilr. and Mrs. Mabon are members of the
United Presbyterian Bethel Church in West
"^Hieatfield township, and he is a deacon of
ALEXANDER THOMPSON IMOOR-
HEAD was born Aug. 23, 1833, and died
Oct. 18, 1912, after a long and useful life.
He was a son 'of Alexander Thompson ]\Ioor-
head, Sr.. and was born on the old Moorhead
homestead, now known as the M. H. Johnston
farm, on the Saltsburg road in Wliite town-
ship, Indiana county. Receiving his early
education in the district school in the vicinity
of his home, while still a youth he came to
Indiana and learned the printing trade in the
office of the Clarion of Freedom, which was
then published by his grandfather, James
Moorhead, When a young man Mr. Moor-
head located in Taylorsville, in Green town-
ship, this county, where he was engaged in
the mercantile and lumber business for sev-
eral years. Later he conducted a similar busi-
ness in Indiana. He was a lifelong Repub-
lican, and served as postmaster at Indiana
under Presidents Hayes and Arthur. He was
758
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
one of the founders of the Indiana State nor-
mal school, and continued a member of the
board of tnistees of the institution until his
death. In 1887 he became editor and pro-
prietor of The Indiana Progress, which has
long been recognized as the leading newspaper
of Indiana county, and was senior editor of the
paper at the time of his death. He was suc-
ceeded in the newspaper business by his two
Bons, Albert S. and A. Ralph Moorhead, with
whom he had been associated for several years.
Early in life he became associated with the
United Presbyterian Church, and for more
than half a century was actively engaged with
Sabbath school work.
Mr. Moorhead was twice married and was
the father of a large family. His widow, Mrs.
Margaret Ann Moorhead, of Indiana, and
these children are living: Howard H. Moor-
head, of Everson, Pa. ; Mrs. William L. San-
som. of Clarion, Pa. ; Mrs. David K. Hill, of
Leechburg, Pa. ; Mrs. C. R. Lininger. of Chi-
cago, 111. ; Mrs. Howard ]\I. Fair, of Union-
to^vn. Pa. ; Mrs. John K. Brallier, of Latrobe,
Pa. : Dr. Hugh M. Moorhead, of Erie, Pa. ;
Albert S. Moorhead, A. Ralph Moorhead and
Frank E. Moorhead, of Indiana, Pennsyl-
LEON NORMAN PARK, D. D. S., of Mar-
ion Center. Pa., was born in what is now the
borough of Marion Center Oct. 12, 1848, son
of James L. Park and grandson of John Park.
The Park family is one of the oldest and
best known in the northern part of Indiana
county, and its representatives have been as-
sociated with Marion Center for about a cen-
tury.
Robert Park, the first of the family of whom
there is definite record, was born in Ballywal-
ter. County Down, Ireland, where he mar-
ried Jane Bailey, He was an excellent navi-
gator for his period, and making many trips
was impressed with the advantages of the new
world, so in 1794 brought his family to Phila-
delphia, where he taught classes in navigation
and also in surveying until his death, which
occurred in that city in 1795. His widow
married (second) James Johnston, a surveyor,
who lived near Greencastle, Pa., and whose
name is connected with the early surveys of
Indiana county. Mrs. Johnston lived to be
an old lady, dying at Johnstown, Pa., in
1828, when she was 108 years of age.
John Park, son of Robert Park, was born
in Ballywalter, County Down, Ireland, in
1776, and studied surveying with his step-
father. He was given a commission as deputy
surveyor of the western district of Pennsyl-
vania by Governor Snyder before he had at-
tained his majority, and after receiving same
came to Indiana county, and he was the
founder of the family in this section. Arriv-
ing here in 1795, under the direction of Mr.
Johnston he began making surveys in what is
now Bast Mahoning township, and in 1798
bought the "evergreen" tract of land, build-
ing a 16x20 log cabin on it the following
year. It was built in what is now the south-
west end of Marion Center. Although he
lived upon the land for some years he did
not receive the deed for it until Dec. 2, 1803.
His was the first house erected noi'th of Penn's
purchase line. His property comprised 408
acres, and from a portion of it he laid out the
town of Marion in August, 1842, the sale of
town lots taking place in September of that
same year. In the meanwhile, in 1810, Mr.
Park established a tanyard near his cabin
and carried on an extensive business as a
tanner. Replacing his original cabin by an-
other somewhat larger in 1817, he lived in it
for years. It was later used as a granary by
the McLaughlin Kinter Company. Mr. Parks
also built the first gristmill in that part of
the county, and operated it for some time, al-
though it was a crude affair, the motive power
being supplied by four horses. By working
night and day, the mill ground out from thir-
ty-five to forty bushels of wheat. As soon
as he was able to get the machinery ]\Ir. Park
changed it to a water power mill, installing a
water wheel with a side chute. A man of
advanced ideas, he was very enterprising for
his day and his name is connected with many
of the earlier enterprises, among them being
the opening of the first hotel in town, in 1844.
Marion Center continued to be his home un-
til his death, which took place Aug. 10. 1844,
and his remains were laid to rest in Gilgal
cemetery, he having been a member of the
Presbyterian Church of that name, in East
IMahoning township.
John Park was married, in Franklin
county, in 1807, to ]\Iary Lang, born in 1783.
a daughter of Rev. James Lang, a Presby-
terian minister of White Spring, Franklin
Co., Pa. She died in 1864. aged eighty-one
years, and was laid to rest by the side of her
husband. The children born to this couple
were as follows: Margaret H. married Sam-
uel Craig, of Brookville, Pa. ; Robert, a teacher
of Marion Center, married (first) Mary G.
Cannon, (second) Margaretta Thompson, and
(third) Martha Caruthers, a sister of Rev.
John Caruthers; Jane R. married Alexander
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Sutor, of East Mahoning township ; Mary B.
married Joseph Beady, of ilarion Center;
James L. is mentioned below; Anna Eliza
married James Martin, of East Mahoning
township; John married ilartha Curtis, and
lived at Wlieaton, 111. ; Amanda married Rob-
ert Barbour, of Cherryhill township; Linton
was for six years in the ser\'ice of the United
States, one year of that time being a member
of the president's guard, 2d Regiment, at
Washington, D. C, and had the honor of
engraving the broad-axe presented to Presi-
dent Lincoln in 1860.
James L. Park, son of John Park, was born
Aug. 25, 1816, in what is now Marion Center,
and was educated in a subscription school,
the first held in that locality. The building
was a frame one, six-sided, with a puncheon
floor, and instead of glass there was oiled
paper in the window. The first teacher was
William Work, who was succeeded by Samuel
Craig. While securing book training, James
L. Park was also taiight in a practical way,
and learned the cabinetmaking trade, and
later that of carpenter. For years he oper-
ated a cabinet factory, and eventually became
a contractor of some note, building the Pres-
byterian Church edifice, several schools, and
other structures in and about Marion Center.
In 1854 he went to Ohio, and followed his
trade at Massillon and New Philadelphia for
five years, at the end of that time returning
to Marion Center. Still later he became the
only undertaker in the place, and conducted
ihat business in conjunction with his cabinet-
making and carpenter shop. In 1868 he and
his brother Linton erected a planing mill, and
his activities continued until his death, wliich
occurred in Marion Center Oct. 15, 1890, when
he was seventy-four years old. He was laid
to rest in the little cemetery of that place.
During the Civil war, Mr. Park proved his
devotion to his eountrv bv enlisting, in June,
1864, in Company F, 206th Pennsylvania Vol-
unteer Infantry, under Capt. John A. Kinter
and Col. Hugh J. Brady, and served until
the close of the war.
A man widely and favorably known, he
left his impress upon contemporary history,
and his record shows that he was never guilty
of a mean or dishonorable action, for he lived
uprightly and did his full duty as a private
citizen and soldier. Early a Whig, he later
became a Republican, and always upheld the
principles of his party, becoming one of its
local leaders. A consistent member of the
Methodist Church, he took an active part in
its work, becoming a class leader, and his in-
759
flueuce as a Christian was powerful and gen-
erally recognized.
ilr. Park was married, in Brookville, Pa., to
Susannah Early, who was born at Brookville
in 1822 and died in 1850 ; she was buried in
the Gilgal cemetery. Mrs. Park was a good
Methodist in religious belief. The children
born to this worthy couple were : Elijah H.,
who enlisted in Company C, 23d Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry, was wounded at Dark Hol-
low, W. Va., and died June 1, 1862; Robert
A., who enlisted in Co. E, 11th Pa. Reserve
Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at Antie-
tam and discharged, and reenlisted in the
signal corps (he married Eva Thomas and is
now residing at Ridgway, Pa.) ; John L,, who
died in childhood; and Leon Norman.
After the death of his first wife James L.
Park married Anna Loughry, who died at
Pittsburg, Pa., and is buried in the Marion
Center cemetery. The children of the second
marriage were : James L., who lives at Pitts-
burg, married Jessie Work; Jennie E. is a
teacher in the public schools and has been
thus engaged for a quarter of a century;
John and ilary were twins, the former now
living in Oklahoma, the latter dying in child-
hood : Annie Belle, who is the widow of George
Fuller, resides at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
Leon Norman Park, son of James L. Park,
is fully sustaining the reputation of his family
for effective services to his fellow men. He
is a man carefully trained for his chosen pro-
fession, for lie not only attended the local
schools, and later gained a practical knowl-
edge of pharmac.v under Dr. Porter, but after
stud.ving dentistry with Dr. Pierce of Rayne
to^vnship entered the Philadelphia Dental
College, from which he was graduated ■^^ith
the degree of D. D. S. in 1876. In the mean-
while, however, he had passed through some
thrilling experiences, few of which come to
bo.vs as young as he was. Belonging as he did
to so loyal a famil.y, the lad was surrounded
by just those influences that were calculated
to fire his boyish enthusiasm, and when only
fourteen and a half years old he enlisted as
a fifer in Company A, 2d Battalion, six
months' volunteers, in June. 1863. At that
time he weighed only eighty-two and a half
pounds and was one of the youngest enlisted
men in the service. His term of enlistment
was for six months, and at its expiration he
was discharged, in January, 1864, at Pitts-
burg. Returning home, he was dissatisfied,
and reenlisted in Company A, 2fl6th Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers, in June of that same year,
again as a fifer, remaining in the service until
760
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the close of the war. Dr. Park was at the
battle of Fort Harrison, as well as other en-
gagements, including the capture of Rich-
mond, and had the distinction of being one of
the two lifers relegated to play Y'ankee Doodle
as the troops captured the Confederate capi-
tal, April 3, 1865. One of Dr. Park's most
cherished possessions is the fife he played as
his company entered that stronghold of the
enemy. He" was discharged the second time
in July, 1865, and was mustered out of the
United States service at Braddock, Pa. Those
were the days that developed mere lads into
gallant soldiei-s, ready and anxious to risk all
for their beloved country. It is difficult for
the rising genei-ation to appreciate what such
times meant to the people who lived through
them. None of the boys of today can ever
know how precious the flag is to Dr. Park,
for when he was still only a boy, he offered
up his life to protect it, and that he escaped
is only an accident of fate.
Upon his return home, in 1865, he resurned
his .studies, although it must have been diffi-
cult for him to settle down to his books after
his experiences in the army, and a little later
he worked as a carpenter and cabinetmaker
with his father, continuing thus until 1873. In
that year he bought a half interest in the drug
business of Dr. Porter, and a year later en-
tered upon his dental studies, as before stated.
Having received his degree, in 1876, Dr. Park
located at Marion Center, where there was a
good opening, as there were no dentists in the
place, and for thirty-seven years he has been
the leading man in his profession in East Ma-
honing township, being now the oldest den-
tist in active practice in Indiana county.
In addition to giving attention to his pro-
fessional duties Dr. Park continued his drug
business, taking in John Lytic as a partner
and working with him until 1888, when Mr.
Lytle sold, and Dr. Park continued alone un-
til 1905. Then he sold to William C. Griffiths,
who is now proprietor of the drug store. Dr.
Park was one of the first to enter this line
of business in the township, and conducted
his pharmacy, one of the finest in Indiana
county, for thirty-four years. For five years
Dr. Park had his son Earl H. assisting him
in his practice, and in 1905 the son took over
the business, although some of the old pa-
tients insist upon having the father treat
them. At different times Dr. Park has taken
students, all of whom have developed into suc-
cessful dentists, who are now in active prac-
tice in various parts of the State. He has
taken a deep interest in his work and is proud
of his profession and the strides forward that
have been made in it, especially in recent
years.
A man of intense public spirit, Dr. Park is
interested in the town that owes its beginning
to his family, and can always be depended
upon to do all in his power to advance its
interests, and promote the welfare of its in-
stitutions. The public schools come in for a
portion of his attention, for he fully recog-
nizes the fact that in them the future defend-
ers of the country and flag are being trained.
Dr. Park has not been content to give his ap-
proval only, for during fifteen years he served
on the school board, and was president of same
for a number of years. For twelve years he
was a member of the borough council, and
during 1885 was a burgess of Marion Center.
He has also been assessor and collector of
the borough, and was elected to these offices
on the Republican ticket, as he is a stanch sup-
porter of the principles of that party, holding
the men who have represented it in the presi-
dential chair as worthy of his respect and
affection. His first presidential vote was cast
for General Grant, and he has voted for the
Republican nominee for president ever since.
Dr. Park administered the affairs of the local
post office as postmaster for eleven years, and
it was during his occupancy of the position,
in 1891, that the name was changed from
Brady to Marion Center. It is a matter of
pride to Dr. Park that he was appointed by
General Grant, and reappointed by President
Hayes.
The Doctor is a member of Indiana Lodge
No. 313, F. & A. M., Elk Chapter, R. A. M., of
Ridgway; Bethany Commandery No. 83, K.
T., of Du Bois; Williamsport Consistory, thir-
ty-second degree; and Jaffa Temple, A. A.
6. N. M. S., at Altoona. He is also active as
an Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodge at
Marion Center, and is past grand of that body
and a member of the gi-and lodge of the
State. The Presbyterian Church holds his
membership, and receives his generous do-
nations of time and money.
Dr. Park was married, in 1873, to Martha
A. Thompson, who was born in Rayne town-
ship, this county, daughter of William Thomp-
son. Like her husband she is active in the
Presbyterian Church, of which she is a mem-
ber, and her home is the center of a delightful
family life. Three children have been born of
this marriage: Mary, Myra and Earl H.
Mary married E. E. Lewis, who is treasurer
of the Real Estate Trust Company of Pitts-
burg. Myra married Dr. J. C. Garley. Earl
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
(61
H.. born in February, 1S82, after attending
the public schools of his neighborhood en-
tered the College of Pharmacy, Univei-sity of
Pittsburg, graduating in 1902. He then be-
came a student iu the dental department of
that institution, from which he was graduated
in 1905, and immediately thereafter began
the practice of his profession with his father.
Dr. Earl H. Park is a Mason and an Odd Fel-
low, and like his father is a strong Republi-
can. He married Daisy il. Reese, and they
have one son, Norman Reese.
JOHN HENRY CLINE is one of the not-
ably successful men of his section, engaged in
fanning, lumbering, milling, dealing in tim-
ber lands and general real estate transactions,
and though he has now relincjuished arduous
labor he retains many important interests and
continues his business activities, ilr. CKne
belongs to an old family of West Wheatfield
township, founded here almost a century ago
by his gi'andfather, Samuel Cline. who was
born in York county. Pa., where he passed
the first part of his life, his family being born
there. ^Moving to what is now West Wheat-
field township. Indiana Co., Pa., he lived there
among the pioneers for a number of years,
later moving to Greenville. Ohio, where he
died. His children were: Andrew; Henry:
Samuel : and Kate, who married George Ful-
comber and had children, George. Samuel
(who followed farming in West Wheattield
township all his life"* and -John.
Andrew Cline. son of Samuel, was born in
1S06. iu York county. Pa., and came to West
Wheattield township with his parents in the
year 1S20. After working with his father
for some time he rented a farm and began on
his own account, this being the place owned
by grandfather Sides. He was a tenant there
until he bought the property, which consisted
of over 238 acres, part of which he cleared
and all of which he improved, in addition to
general farming carrying on stock raising,
making a specialty of hogs and fine horses.
'Sir. Cline was a man of good education, in
both German and English, and he also had
exceptional business ability, which, combined
with his thrifty and industrious habits,
brought him unusual success. His methodi-
cal management and intelligent care made his
farm one of the best-kept iu the vicinity. Mr.
Cline married Elizabeth Sides, who was a
daughter of Adam Sides, and four children
were born to them : ( 1 ) Samuel, born May
IS. 1830. died March 2. 1908. On Sept. 27.
1860. he married Lvdia Walbeck. who was
born Dec. 19, 1630, and died July 30, 18S5.
Theii- children were: Armenta Elizabeth,
born July 16, 1861, married John Mabon ;
Anna Theresa, born Sept. 27, 1862. married
Joseph M. Mack: Andrew Curtis, born .March
29, 186.5, died April 6, 1866 ; Sarah Matilda,
born Oct. 15, 186 <, married Harry H. Mack;
Nora Eveline, bom March 29. 1870. married
John F. St. Clair, of West Wheatfield, who is
employed as puiv food inspector by the State
of Pennsylvania. [2} WUliam died in in-
fancy. (,3,1 Anna married Harry Penrose, of
West Wheatfield township, and their children
are : Andrew. Mary, John, Elizabeth, Joseph,
Lloyd, Albert, Emory and Charles, [i) John
Henry is mentioned below._ The father of
this family died May 30, 1876, the mother iu
1886. He was one' of the founders of the
•jermau Lutheran Church in West Wheattield
township, served that congregation as elder
for many years and was always a liberal con-
tributor to its support. He and his wife are
buried iu the Lutheran cemeteiy there. They
were held in affectionate regard by all who
knew them.
John Henry Cline was born June 29. 1839.
iu West Wheatfield township, and there at-
tended the Lynn school. But his educational
advantages were somewhat limited, for he be-
gan helping his father, farming and lumber-
ing, at an early age. After attaining his ma-
jority he "cropped" on his father's farm for
five years, and then bought the Jacob Sides
farm of 173 aci-es (which he later sold to his
son Harrj' A. Cline \ Bitying the Robinson
gi-istmill in West Wlieatfieid he also operated
that for a time, and then bought eight hun-
dred acres of timber land, embarking in the
lumber business quite extensively, in his own
and surrounding townships. During this time
he made his home wherever it was most con-
venient, mostly iu Burrell and West Wheat-
field townships. He has continued to deal in
timber lands ever since, bu-ving the land, cut-
ting off the timber, and reselling, and has
also dealt largely in other real estate, being
a notably shrewd buyer. He assisted in laying
out the borough of Farrell. in Hickory town-
ship. Mercer Co.. Pa., built many houses there
and had his own home there for a while, but
he preferred his native township, and in 1890
returned to West Wlieatfieid. bmnng a farm
of 135 acres where he resumed agricultural
pursuits. He still manages the cultivation of
that place in addition to looking after his
real estate and timber interests. There are
two rich veins of coal underlying this prop-
ertv. ]Mr. Cline is a self-made man. and all
762
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the success that has come to him is well de-
served, for he has worked hard to make his
ventures profitable, and all his advancement is
due to his own efforts.
On April 26, 1866, Mr. Cline was married
to Evelin Livengood, who was born Sept. 20,
1848, daughter of Henry and Mary Ann (Wil-
lits) Livengood, of Derry township, West-
moreland Co., Pa., and they have had a fam-
ily of twelve children, namely : ( 1 ) Clark,
born Feb. 7, 1868, now in the lumber busi-
ness in West Wheatfleld township, married
Myrtle Robinson and they have a son, Clark.
(2) Harry A. is mentioned below. (3) Jo-
seph Wilmer, born July 29, 1871, was killed
with a shotgun Nov. 4, 1907, in West Wheat-
field township, and his body was not found
until five days afterward. He was in the lum
ber business and ran several sawmills, and,
having just sold his sawmill to his brother
Harry had a large amount of money with him
when murdered. His slayer, Emanuel Betz,
was convicted, and is now serving a twenty
years' term. Mr. Cline was one of the well
known young business men of his section. (4)
Annie, born May 9, 1873, married Charles
Rashon, an optician, of Johnstown, Pa., and
has three children, Russell, Ellen and Hazel.
(5) Frank, bom Aug. 9, 1875, is working at
home on the farm. (6) Alice, born April 29,
1877, married Andrew J. Riddle, and died
in 1899, and is buried in the Lutheran ceme-
tery in West Wheatfield township. (7) John,
bom March 28, 1879, died in 1898. (8) Gar-
field, born Sept. 2, 1880, now residing in St.
Clair township, Westmoreland county, where
he conducts a sawmill, married Sarah George.
(9) Charles, born Oct. 21, 1884, married Ida
Pickles and resides at Bolivar, AVestmoreland
county, where he superintends the planing
mill of his brother Harry A. Cline. (10)
Daisy, bom Oct. 26, 1887, is at home. (11)
Jessie Hazel, born March 3, 1892, married
Robert Black and resides at Strangford, Indi-
ana county. (12) George Homer, born Oct.
31, 1889, living at home, is engaged in the
lumber business and also owns a sawmill.
Mr. Cline is a member of the Lutheran
Church, which he serves as trustee. In poli-
tics he was originally a Whig, but long ago
joined the ranks of the Republican party,
though he is independent in supporting what-
ever men or measures he most approves.
Harry A. Cline, second son of John
Henry Cline, was born July 13, 1869, in West
Wheatfield township, and there attended com-
mon school. Working with his parents until
he reached his majority, he then bought his
father's farm of 173 acres, and for a time de-
voted himself entirely to farming. Then he
became interested in the lumber business, also
running three steam sawmills, and he has con-
tinued to enlarge the volume and scope of his
various interests until he now has one hundred
men in his employ. He owns and operates sev-
eral up-to-date threshing machines, has over
forty hoi"ses and does teaming, and is also a
successful merchant, owning a large general
store at Bolivar. He has continued his specu-
lations in timber lands, of which he has become
an excellent judge, and the system with which
his difl'erent interests are managed shows him
to be a versatile and thorough business man,
alive to the possibilities of the various lines he
has entered and capable of developing them.
Mr. Cline was married May 29, 1894, to
Elizabeth Griffith, daughter of James L. and
Phebe (Myers) Griffith, of New Florence, Pa.
They have had children as follows: John
Lewis, Phebe Eveline, Myrtle Armeta, The-
resa Virginia, Andrew Scott, Lillie Marie,
Harry Curtis and Ida Elizabeth.
REV. WILLIAM J. SPROULL, pastor of
the Presbyterian Church at Penn Run, Pa.,
was born in Butler county, this State,
Feb. 4, 1848, son of Thomas and Margaret
(Dodds) Sproull.
Thomas Sproull was born in Franklin
county. Pa., the earlier members of the fam-
ily having settled there after coming from
Ireland. His occupation was farming. He
married IMargaret Dodds, who was born in
Ireland, and they both died in 1850, during
an epidemic of typhoid fever. Their family
contained twelve children, as follows: James
M. and John D., both of whom are deceased;
Jane, who is the widow of William A. Dun-
can, and resides at Pittsburg, Pa. ; Elizabeth
and Martha, both deceased; Margaret E.,
who is the widow of W. T. Stouts, residing
in Iowa; Thomas C, who is a retired Pres-
byterian minister; Mary, who is the wife of
John H. Douthett, residing at Orange, N. J. ;
Sarah G., who lives at Pittsburg; a child that
died in infancy ; William J. ; and another that
died in infancy.
William J. Sproull enjoyed educational ad-
vantages first in the Butler academy, at But-
ler, Pa., and later at Westminster College, New
Wilmington, Pa., and Geneva College, Logan
county. Ohio, being graduated from the lat-
ter institution. Subsequently he took a the-
ological course in the Reformed Presbyterian
Seminary at Allegheny. Mr, Sproull there
prepared for missionary work and accepted a
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
J6-A
far distant field, spending seven years, from
1879 until 1886, iu Syria. After returning to
America he located in Franklin county once
more and served as pastor of the church at
FayetteviUe for some yeai-s, going from there
to IMarkle, in Westmoreland county, where
he remained five years. In 1900 he came to
the church at Penu Rim, where he has found
a congenial field of work and a satisfying
sphere of usefulness.
In 1879, in Allegheny county, Pa., Mr.
Sproull was married to Ella Campbell, who
was born in that county, a daughter of Robert
and Mary (Crawford) Campbell, who were
also born in Allegheny county, of Scotch and
Irish parentage. The father followed farm-
ing. The mother survives and continues to
reside in Allegheny county. Rev. Mr. Sproull
and his wife have three children: Evelyn C,
who is bookkeeper for the Hamilton Music
Company. Pittsburg, Pa. ; Florence ]\I., who
is the wife of Zenas Stevens, of Cherryhill
township ; and Chalmers B., who is manager
for the firm of John S. Lang.
In all that concerns the general welfare
of Penn Run, and that serves to raise moral
standards and encourage good citizenship,
Mr. Sproull is deeply interested, and in the
community in which he has spent the past
twelve years of usefulness he is held in uni-
versal esteem, as pastor, neighbor and citizen.
CAPT. CHARLES CAMPBELL JIcLAIN,
of Indiana, manager of the Indiana Gazette,
was born Jan. 31, 1868, at the ]McLain home-
stead in White township. Indiana county, son
of Capt. Gawin A. and IMalinda Ann (Mitch-
ell) McLain. He received his early education
in the public schools near his home, later at-
tending the Indiana State normal school and
Coleman's business college, at Newark. N. J.
At the age of twenty-three years he became
associated with the Wilkinsburg (Pa.) Elec-
tric Light Company, and in 1895 engaged
in the electrical business on his own account,
at "W ilkinsburg. In 1896. though still a young
man in his twenties, he was elected burgess of
that place, and was still serving in that office
when the Spanish-American war broke out
in 1898. He had joined the State militia, be-
coming a member of Company F, 5th Penn-
sylvania Regiment, in which he was promoted
from the ranks up through the various offices
until he became first lieutenant of that com-
pany. Resigning from that command in 1893,
he became a member of Company A_, 14th
Pennsylvania National Guard, in which he
likewise won promotion, rising from private
to sergeant, first lieutenant and eventually
captain.
When the Spanish-American war broke out
Captain McLain volunteered with hi.s regi-
ment, which went into camp at Mount Gretna,
thence to Fort ilott, N. J., and later to Camp
ileade. Pa. From there they were sent to
Summerville, S. C, where he was mustered
out Feb. 28, 1899. Returning to Wilkinsburg,
Captain McLain entered the employ of the
Westinghouse Electric Company for a time,
but it was only a few months before he re-
turned to the army. On Aug. 17th he was
appointed by President McKinley captain in
the 47th United States Volunteers, which was
recruited at Camp Meade and sent out to the
Philippines, sailing from New York on the
transport "Thomas." Landing at Manila in
December, they were on duty on the south
line, five miles below JIanila, and there re-
mained until January, 1900. when the regi-
ment was sent on an expedition under Gen-
eral Kobbe to hemp ports which were closed
to commerce. Captain McLain was on duty
in field campaign work for a period of fifteen
months, during which time he took part in
thirty-three skirmishes. He was detached (at
the end of the fifteen months') from his com-
pany and assigned to police duty at Manila
under Major Taggart, continuing in the army
until June 30, 1901, when he was mustered
out. He was at once appointed provincial
treasurer of Tayabas, and subsequently was
transferred to the more important post, to
Uoilo, the city next in importance to Manila
in the islands. After several years' experi-
ence of an official nature he resigned, in 1907.
and returned to the United States, via New
York.
Upon his arrival at his old home Captain
McLain settled in the borough of Indiana and
engaged in the insurance business, in which
he met with substantial success, carrying it
on until the summer of 1911. At that time he
bought stock in the Indiana Gazette, in which
he is now the largest stockholder, and of
which he has since been manager. The paper
has considei-able influence in this section, and
as a public-spirited and unbiased champion
of the best interests of the borough and county
has the support of a lai-ge number of the best
citizens of the comnuniity.
Captain ^McLain is widely known in frater-
nal circles, holding membership in various
secret societies, the F. & A. M., I. 0. 0. F.,
B. P. 0. Elks. Royal Arcanum. M. W. A.,
Sons of Veterans and Spanish War Veterans
(Foreign Service). He is still a member of
764
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the Pennsylvania National Guard, command-
ing Company F, 10th Regiment; during the
Homestead riots he served as first lieutenant
of Company F of Indiana.
On Sept. 19, 1889, Captain ]\IcLain was
married to Martha L. Lucas, of Indiana,
daughter of David H. and Margaret (McNeil)
Lucas, and they have a family of four chil-
dren, Charles Lucas, James Alvin, Harry
David and Martha Helen. j\Ir. and Mrs. ]\Ie-
Lain attend the Presbyterian Church. He is
a Republican in his political views.
HARRY L. WEAMER, dealer in clothing
and shoes at Saltsburg, Indiana county, is one
of the foremost of the progressive merchants
of that borough, where he has been doing
business for twenty-five years.
The Weamer family is of German origin.
Andrew Weamer, father of Harry L. Weamer,
was born March 22, 1833, at Plumville, Pa.,
and was one of eight children, six sons and
two daughters, born to his parents. He mar-
ried Rebecca Stuchell, who like himself was
of German descent, and they still survive,
Mr. Weamer now (1912) eighty years of age,
Mrs. Weamer aged seventy-two. They had
a family of eleven children, six sons and five
daughters, of whom Lois died in infancy;
Margaret married Charles Shield, an em-
ployee of the Pennsylvania R. R. Company at
Pittsburg, Pa., where they reside (they have
one child) ; Ellen married Albert Bowser, a
grain dealer, of Rural Valley, Pa.; Mary is
the wife of David Smiley, a wagon builder,
of Plumville, Indiana county; Harry L. is
mentioned below; Frank died at the age of
thirty-four years; Charles, who became a phy-
sician, died at the age of thirty years: John,
a coal operator, is living in Somerset county.
Pa.; Wilbur, a coal operator, at Plumville,
married Irma Neff and has three children;
Cora, wife of Ellis Good, of Plumville, has
two children.
Mrs. Rebecca (Stuchell) AVeamer is a
daughter of Christopher Stuchell, a farmer
of Plumville, Indiana county, granddaughter
of Christopher Stuchell and great-grand-
daughter of John Stuchell, a native of Ger-
many, who settled in what is now White town-
ship, Indiana county, in 1805. He had five
children: Abraham, Christopher, Jacob,
Mary (Mrs. McHenry) and Mrs. Caldwell.
The son Christopher married Elizabeth Ly-
diek, and they had nine sons: John, Chris-
topher, Jacob, Abraham, James, William,
Thomas, Joseph and Samuel. The father of
this family was a soldier in the war of 1812.
He was a farmer by occupation. Christopher
Stuchell, son of Christopher and Elizabeth
(Lydick) Stuchell, was born June 21, 1800,
in Rayne township, Indiana county, and died
Sept. 29, 1867, in South Mahoning township.
Me followed farming and was one of the most
respected residents of his section in his day,
serving as elder of the Plumville United Pres-
byterian Church. In politics he was a Whig
and Republican. His wife Jane (Mahan),
daughter of John Mahan, was bom on the
Atlantic ocean while her parents were com-
ing to America, the family settling on the
site of Newville, Indiana county, on Crooked
creek. .Mrs. Stuchell died Dec. 27, 1876, in
South ilahoning township. She was the
mother of three sons and six daughters.
Harry L. Weamer was born Dec. 8, 1864,
at Plumville, this county, and there spent his
early years, meantime receiving a good com-
mon school education in the home neighbor-
hood. Mr. Weamer taught school in Indiana
county. Pa., for three terms before he en-
gaged in business, coming to Saltsburg Feb.
6, 1889, and there he has been engaged in
business for a period of twenty-five years, and
he is not only a leading business man but has
also become influential in the public life of
the town, having been a member of the coun-
cil for twelve years, and burgess. He has es-
tablished a successful trade by considerate
treatment of his customers and the most con-
sistent attention to their wants, his store hav-
ing a reputation for satisfactory service which
wins and holds patrons.
On Dec. 25, 1888, Mr. Weamer married
Ada Small, of Indiana, Pa., daughter of Rob-
ert and Kesiah (Berringer) Small, of Plum-
ville, and they have had two children : Clair,
horn March 16, 1891, who was educated at
Washington and Jefferson College, at Wash-
ington, Pa. ; and Grace, born Nov. 25, 1896.
Mr. Weamer attends the Presbyterian Church.
In politics he is associated with the Republi-
can party. Socially he is a member of Wil-
liamson Lodge, No. 431, F. & A. M., of Salts-
burg, of which he is a past master.
JEREMIAH SEXTON, deceased, who will
be well remembered by those of the older gen-
eration as a man who led an upright Chris-
tian life, was born in County Cork, Ireland,
in 1815, a son of Cornelius and Julia (Dono-
van) Sexton.
Mr. Sexton's parents never left the Emer-
ald Isle, but spent their entire lives there en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits. They had the
following children : Cornelius, who went to
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
765
the diamond mines iu South Africa ; Timothy,
who came to the United States, worked in the
Indiana paper mills four yeai-s, and about
1861 returned to Ireland and married Miss
Donahue, both dying in the old countiy, al-
though some of their children came to this
country and are living iu New York; Jere-
miah; and Kate and Margaret, who died in
Ireland.
Jeremiah Sexton received the education
usually granted the youths of his native coun-
try during his boyhood days, following which
he worked for a time on his father's smaU.
farm and then enlisted iu the British army,
in which he served for some years. On leav-
ing the army he came to the United States
and followed canal and railroad building for
many years, with old Judge White and Gov-
ernor Ritner, and drifted through Virginia to
Pennsylvania, eventually locating iu Indiana
borough. He built ditches by contract and
followed various kinds of labor until his death,
which occurred Jan. 12, 1901. He was buried
in St. Bei-nard's cemetery, having been a
faithful member of St Bernard's Roman
Catholic Church.
Mr. Sexton was married in Indiana, Pa.,
July 5, 1855, to Mary Jane McSwinney,
daughter of Bryan and Mary (Burkholder)
McSwinney. She was born at ]\Iuncie, Ly-
coming Co., Pa., June 28, 183:J, and was one
year old when her parents removed to Wash-
ington township, Indiana county. Her father,
who was a farmer all of his life, was born in
County Cork, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1797, and
came to the United States before his marriage,
following canal construction work under Gov-
ernor Ritner, and coming to Indiana through
the influence of old Judge White. He was
married in Lycoming county, and both he and
his wife died in Indiana county. They had
these children : Mary Jane, who married Mr.
Sexton; Nancy, who married John Kelley,
and died in Kansas ; Peter, who served in the
Union army in a Pennsylvania Volunteer regi-
ment during the Civil war, was wounded sev-
eral times and sent home, where he died;
Kate, who mai-ried Alexander Speedy, of
Plumville, Pa. ; Bryan, who is deceased ; Sally,
who married John Stewart, of Effingham,
Kans. ; Eugene, living at IMcEwen, Tenn. ; and
Abbie, who married Henry lililler, living at
Armstrong, Pa. Mrs. Sexton's father was a
well-educated man for his day and a rapid
mental calculator, and followed the occupa-
tion of examiner of teachers, in the absence
of the examining board of the present day,
besides keeping the accounts of the neighbor-
ing farmers. He was a pioneer of Washing-
ton township, coming here at a time when the
farm produce was packed on horses and taken
to Hollidaysburg, the nearest market.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sexton
were as follows: Daniel; Jerry, residing in
White township, who married Tillie Lewis;
Dennis, who married ilary J. Hall, and is
now deceased ; Timothy, residing in New
York; Julia, who marriecl Bert Cummings of
Wellsville, Ohio ; Peter, living on the home-
stead, who married Minnie Ernie ; and Mary,
twin of Peter, who died at the age of four-
teen years.
Daniel Sexton, son of Jeremiah Sexton,
was born in Washington township, Indiana
county, Aug. 1, 1857, and attended the public
schools of his native vicinity, following which
he went to the normal school for one j'ear. He
then commenced operating the Carter farm,
on the outskirts of Indiana borough, but subse-
quently turned his attention to railroad con-
struction work for a firm of Philadelphia con-
tractors. He completed the old Tliaddeus
Stevens railroad, known as tin- Wcsli-i'ii Main-
land road, running from Cu'tl^ sbiii- lo Blue
Ridge Summit, and was also coniiccti'd with
street railways in southern New Jersey, Con-
necticut, and various points in Pennsylvania,
including Philadelphia. While in charge of
construction work on the main line of the
Pennsylvania railroad, in this State, Jan. 2,
1900, Mr. Sexton met with an awful accident
in au explosion of powder, losing both eyes.
Mr. Sexton was married (tii'st) Sept. 1,
1880, to Mary Isabelle Magee, of Indiana,
daughter of Mrs. Susan ]\Iagee, and she died
in February, 1895, leaving six children:
ilaiy, Kate!^ Celia, Daniel, Louis and Ella.
Mr. Sexton was married (second) Jan. 10,
1898, to Alice D. Magee, of Spangler, Cam-
bria county, daughter of Bernard and Mary
E. (Rankin) Magee, and they have had two
children, Bernardine Frances and Cornelius
Alfonso.
JOHN H. PIERCE, of the borough of In-
diana, has been engaged in the practice of
law there for over a quarter of a century and
has a large and highly creditable patronage,
the class of people who have shown their con-
fidence in him being a reliable indication of
his ability and worth. He has justified that
confidence in all the relations of life and is
one of the most respected citizens of his com-
munity.
Mr. Pierce belongs to a family of Scottish
origin which has been established in this coun-
766
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
try since Colonial days. His grandfather,
William Pierce, settled in Armstrong county,
Pa., at an early day. James Pierce, son of
William, was born in Armstrong county, re-
ceived a good education, and became a suc-
cessful teacher of his native county. His
death occurred in 1864 at Rimersburg, in
Clarion county, whither he had gone on a
business trip. He was an active member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. On April
22, 1852, Mr. Pierce married Sarah A. Har-
rold, who was born in Columbiana county,
Ohio, her parents removing from that lo-
cality when she was small and settling near
Elderton, in Armstrong county. Pa. A few
yeare later they located in Jefferson county,
near Punxsutawney, where they passed the
remainder of their lives. After her husband 's
death Mrs. Pierce moved to near Elderton,
Armstrong county, and later to Indiana, Pa.,
where she died July 13, 1901. She was a
member of the M. E. Church for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce had a family of five chil-
dren, of whom John H. is the eldest.
John H. Pierce was born March 8, 1855,
in Clearfield county. Pa., and during his early
life lived principally near Elderton, Ann-
strong county, where he attended the com-
mon schools, and the Elderton academy.
Later he entered the State normal school in
the borough of Indiana, from which institu-
tion he was graduated in 1881. Meantime, in
1875, he had commenced teaching, and he con-
tinued to follow that profession until the win-
ter of 1883. His law studies were commenced
under Hon. Silas M. Clark, who was shortly
afterward elected to the Supreme bench of
the State. He then continued his prepara-
tion for the legal profession under Col. Dan-
iel S. Porter, and after his death completed
the course of reading with the law firm of
Jack & Taylor, of Indiana. He was admitted
to the bar in Indiana county in 1885, and has
devoted himself to practice ever since. Mr.
Pierce has attained success by the most hon-
orable methods, and his personal and pro-
fessional reputation are alike above reproach.
On Sept. 5, 1883, Mr. Pierce married Josie
Moore, daughter of John and Eliza Moore, of
Whitesburg, Armstrong Co., Pa., and they
have had three children, John M., William E.
and Mary L. All three are graduates of the
Indiana common schools and of the Indiana
State normal school. The eldest son, John M.,
is also a graduate (in the architectural course)
of Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, taught one year
in the Indiana State normal school, one year in
San Antonio, Texas, and is now teaching ar-
chitectural drawing and manual training in
the schools of Reno, Nev. William E. is in his
last year in Washington and Jefferson Col-
lege, and expects to enter the practice of law
with his father. The daughter Mary L. is
with her parents, and is a student of music
in the Conservatory of Music of the Indiana
normal school. Mr. Pierce is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church of Indiana.
In politics he is a Republican. He has been
an interested member of the Indiana County
Agricultural Society, which he served as sec-
retary for several years. He has been closely
identified with temperance work and has for
many years represented the remonstrances
against the granting of liquor licenses by the
court of Indiana county.
WILLIAM FRANCIS ELKIN, of Indi-
ana, district attorney and referee in bank-
ruptcy for his district, was first elected to
the former ofQce in November, 1907, and lias
held the latter by appointment since early in
1905. He is engaged in the practice of law
in partnership with Jonathan N. Laughain
and B. E. Creps, under the firm name of
Langham, Elkin & Creps. Mr. Elkin was
born April 21, 1869, at Smicksburg, Indi-
ana Co., Pa., son of Francis and Elizabeth
(Pratt) Elkin. The family is of Irish origin,
and long resident in the North of Ireland.
Francis Elkin, great-grandfather of Wil-
liam Francis Elkin, lived to be eighty years
of age, and his wife was Nancy Park.
William Elkin, son of Francis and Eliza-
beth (Hill) Elkin, was bom in County Ty-
rone, Ireland, in 1804, and was married in
his native country to Martha Beattie, who
died in Ireland in 1849. She was a grand-
daughter of Joseph Hill, who died in Ire-
land in 1844, at the remarkable age of one
hundred and seven yeai's. William Elkin
came to this country in 1850 and returned
to Ireland after a stay of nine months, in
1852 coming back to the United States with
his family. He settled first at Pittsburg,
coming to West Mahoning township, Indiana
county, in 1854, and settling at Loop, in that
township, engaged in farming throughout his
active years. He had a long life, dying in
1896, at the age of ninety-two. He was a
member of the Episcopal Church. By his
first marriage, to Martha Beattie. he had the
following children, all born in County Ty-
rone. Ireland: Francis. William, James,
Henry, Eliza (wife of John Bond). Sarah
(wife of James Chapman) and Anne (wife
Q^^ SM^.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
767
of Spencer Barrett). By his second mar-
riage, to Jane Rippey, he was the father of
three children, namely: David, John aad
Martha (wife of Thomas Ralston).
Francis Elkin, eldest son of William and
Martha Elkin, was born May 4, 1830, at
Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, and grew
to manhood in his native country. Coming
to the United States in 1851, he located first
at Pittsburg, Pa., where he learned the rolling
mill business, and became superintendent of
the iron mills of Lindsey & Zug, the senior
partner, Mr. Lindsey, being his uncle. Mr.
Lindsey died suddenly during a visit to Ire-
land, and this left the business in the con-
trol of the junior partner, Christopher Zug,
who, for reasons best known to himself, found
it convenient to dispense with the services
of Francis Elkin. This changed the plans
of Mr. and ilrs. Elkin, and during a visit
to William Elkin, his father, who then lived
in West Mahoning township, Francis Elkin
concluded to buy a farm and engage in agri-
cultural pursuits, which he did. He engaged
in farming for some years, later embarking
in the mercantile business at Smicksburg,
this county, where he also built a foundry,
being in business there until 1873, when he
went to Wellsville, Ohio, in company with
others founding the American Tin Plate
Company and erecting the first mill in this
country which turned out tin plate. In 1875
he returned to Smicksburg and resumed the
mercantile business, which he carried on iin-
til his death, Dec. 12, 1882. Mr. Elkin was
deservedly looked upon as one of the most
substantial and influential men of his com-
munity. He was a member of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church, and built the church
now used by that denomination at Smicks-
burg. He was ever one of its most active
workers and liberal supporters, and sei'ved
officially as vestryman. He was a Republi-
can in politics, and though no seeker after
public honors consented to act as school di-
rector of his township. His wife, Elizabeth
(Pratt), a native of Queen's County, Ire-
land, born in 1833, came to the United States
in her eighteenth year. Like her husband
she was a member of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. She died Jan. 2, If)! 3. Mr. and
Mrs. Elkin had the following children: Eliza-
beth C, wife of William Elkin; James H.,
who is deceased ; Hon. John Pratt, now jus-
tice of the Supreme court of Pennsylvania;
Martha C. who firet married Jacob Meister,
and after his death became the wife of W. D.
McHenry; William Francis, and Margaret
A., wife of Robert McKibben.
William Francis Elkin obtained his pre-
liminary education in the public schools,
and began to teach at the early age of fifteen.
He continued to follow the profession for
about ten years, during which time he also
continued his studies, taking the coui-se at
the State normal school at Indiana Irorough,
from which he was graduated with the class
of 1890. He taught another two years after
leaving the nonnal school, and then took up
the study of law with his brother John P.
Elkin. He was admitted to the bar in 1896,
and has been actively engaged in legal prac-
tice ever since. In 1905 he formed the as-
sociation with Mr. Langham which they have
since maintained. In November, 1907, Mr.
Elkin was elected district attorney, in which
office he is now serving his second term, hav-
ing been reelected in November, 1911. On
Jan. 16, 1905, he was appointed referee in
bankruptcy, and has held that office con-
tinuously since. Mr. Elkin has attained a
high position at the bar for both ability and
reliability, and his success and prominence
are the result of well-directed energies and
the best use of his natural endowments.
In 1893 i\Ir. Elkin became a member of
Company F, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Na-
tional Guard, entering as a private and hold-
ing every office up to and including that of
captain. In 1898, during the Spanish-
American war, he was second lieutenant of
his company. His regiment was called out
and stationed at Camp George H. Thomas,
at Chickamauga, Tenn., and while in camp
there he had a severe case of ivy poisoning.
Later he was stricken with typhoid fever.
When the company was mustered out. Nov.
9, 1898, he was on sick leave. He is a mem-
ber of the B. P. 0. Elks, and a junior warden
and vestryman of the Episcopal Church.
W. F. Elkin was married, Dec. 2S, 1911,
to Ersie C. Maugans. They have one child,
Frances Elizabeth, bom Dec. 24, 1912.
WILLIAM J. SHORT, owner of the Ideal
Fai-m, situated in Cherryhill township, In-
diana county, is one of the best-known men
in his district, a leader in advanced agricul-
tural operations, and one whose success in his
work has brought about higher standards in
his section. He was born in Rayne township,
Indiana Co., Pa., March 7, 1858. son of David
A. and Mary Ann (Long^ Short.
James Short, gi-andfather of William J.
Short, came to Indiana county from Hunting-
768
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
don county, Pa., where his parents, emigrants
from Holland, had settled at an early day.
On coming to this county he located on land
in Raj'ne township, on which he carried on
general farming during the daylight hours,
while his evenings were spent in working at
his trade of blacksmith. A sober, industrious
man, he succeeded in accumulating a compe-
tency, and at the time of his death, in Febru-
ary, 1875, his community had no more highly
esteemed citizen. Among his children was
John Short, who enlisted in the Union army
during the Civil war and was killed at An-
tietam fifteen minutes after the start of the
battle. Another son, Dr. James Short, was
born in Rayne township, graduated from Jef-
ferson College, and spent three years as a
surgeon in the Civil war. Subsequently he lo-
cated in Indiana, and was there successfully
engaged in the practice of medicine and sur-
gery until his death, which was caused by
blood poisoning from infection while per-
forming an operation. His ^vife bore the
maiden name of Mary J. McCunn.
David A. Short, son of James, and father
of William J. Short, was born in Hunting-
don county, Pa., and as a lad accompanied
his parents to Rayne township, Indiana
county, where he spent the remainder of his
active life in agricultural pursuits. When
he retired, in 1891, he had acquired five hun-
dred acres of land in one body in Rayne
township. In the fall of 1873 he bought from
Judge Irvin a tract of 193 acres (the greater
part of the farm now owned by his son Wil-
liam) which he rented for two years, his son
W^illiam J. Short locating upon it in 1876.
In 1891, feeling that he had earned a rest
from his labors, Mr. Short moved to Indiana,
and there his death occurred Aug. 6, 1906.
lie married Mary Ann Long, who was born
in Rayne township, and died April 30, 1912,
the mother of the following children: Wil-
liam J. ; Jane, the wife of H. N. Dyaren, a
farmer of Rayne township ; Minerva, wife of
James Bence, also of Rayne township ; Harry
L., a resident of Rayne township, who mar-
ried Mary Widdowson, who is now deceased ;
Laviua, wife of James Wiggins, of White
township ; and Mary and John, who are de-
ceased. David A. Short served valiantly
through the Civil war as a Union soldier.
Crawford Long, the maternal grandfather
of William J. Short, was a native of Ireland,
from which country he emigi-ated to the
United States, settling in Rayne township, In-
diana Co., Pa., where he spent the rest of his
life in farming. One of his sons, William
Long, was born at sea while the family was
making the journey to America.
William J. Short was educated in Rayne
township. In 1876, though only eighteen
years of age, he moved to his father's tract
of 193 acres in Cherryhill township and took
charge of that place, opei-ating it for his
father the next three years. In the spring of
1879 he bought the farm for himself, and
there he has since resided, making many im-
provements and adding to the original tract
until he now has 205 acres. Ideal Farm is
located six miles east of Indiana, and the trol-
ley road to Clymer has 196 i-ods of track run-
ning through his land; he gave the company
free right of way. His property is one of the
best cultivated in the vicinity. Mr. Short
has kept thoroughly abreast of the times, as
his improvements on his farm and home tes-
tify. He was the first anywhere in his lo-
cality to adopt fertilizer as a land dressing,
and he disposed of the first carload of fer-
tilizer sold at Cherrytree, Indiana county.
For three years he was engaged in the stock
business, shipping to the eastern markets,
principally Philadelphia. He has always
taken an active interest in the Indiana Ag-
ricultural Society, and for seventeen years
has acted in the capacity of manager for that
organization.
Mr. Short was married March 7, 1878, to
Miss Maggie M. Bence, a native of Rayne
township, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth
(Renn) Bence, early settlers of Rayne town-
ship, the latter of whom came from Germany,
while the former was of German descent.
Mrs. Short died Feb. 3, 1901, at Longmont,
Colo., whither she had gone in an attempt to
regain her health. She and Mr. Short had a
family of six children, as follows: Elmer E.,
of Washington township, who married Laura
Fyock, of Cherryhill township, and has five
children; Anna, who married Delbert Means,
a resident of Indiana, Pa. ; Blaine, residing
at Dixonville, Pa., who married Florence
Houck, of Rayne ; Grace, wife of Homer Dick,
of Cherryhill, now residing in Indiana bor-
ough; and Mary and Clarence, who live at
home. On Dec."l6, 1902, Mr. Short was mar-
ried (second) to Miss Clara Helman, a native
of Cherryhill township, born May 8, 1863,
daughter of David A. and Elizabeth (Lydick)
Helman, natives of Indiana county. Mrs.
Short's father died in September, 1905: her
mother still survives and is residing in Cher-
ryliill township at an advanced age. "Sirs.
Short is a granddaughter of Abraham Ly-
dick, an early settler of Indiana county.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
(69
Mr. and Mrs. Short are members of the
Presbyterian Church of Peun Run, which he
served as steward for six years. He ha.s
served sixteen years as school director of
Cherrj^hill township.
WILLIAil H. CRAWFORD was for a
number of .years before his death a prosper-
ous farmer and well-known resident of West
Mahoning township. Indiana county. Born
July 22, 1826, in East ^Mahoning township,
this county, he was a son of iloses and Mary
(Jaraieson) Crawford, the former of whom
came from representative pioneer stock and
lived in Indiana county from an early day.
Moses Crawford was born in 1772. His
family was early settled in Kentucky, helping
to begin the development of that State from
primitive conditions, but he was very young
when he came thence to Indiana county, lo-
cating near Centerville. He afterward re-
moved to East Mahoning township, where he
died aiarch 22, 1831. He was a cooper and
cai-penter but gave most of his time to farm-
ing. In politics he was a Whig. During the
war of 1812 he served as a scout. He was a
ruling elder in the Gilgal Presbyterian
Church. ]\Ir. Crawford was twice married,
and by his first wife, whose maiden name was
Scroggs. had nine children: Jane, Samuel,
Mary. John, Allen, David, Ann, Elizabeth and
James. His second marriage was to Mary
Jamieson, daughter of Archie Jamieson, a
Scotch Covenanter, who settled near Armagh,
Indiana county, and followed farming. Her
ancestors claimed kin with William Wallace,
the Scottish hero. She was born in October,
1790, and died April 30, 1864. Seven chil-
dren were born to ]Moses and Mary (Jamie-
son) Crawford, namely: Archibald J. T.,
born Aug. 21, 1819, a well-known citi-
zen of North Mahoning township, died
Sept. 6, 1904; he seiwed many years as
justice of the peace. Rachel, born March 22,
1821. died in December, 1879. Margaret C,
born Sept. 19, 1822, died Jan. 5, 1907. Isa-
belle A., born Aug. 15. 1824, died Oct. 2, 1903.
William Huddleson is mentioned below. Mar-
tha, born in October. 1828, died Oct. 9, 1904.
iloses Scott, born in September, 1830, died
Feb. 7. 1910.
William Huddleson Crawford lived at home
until the time of his marriage, meantime at-
tending the local subscription schools. For
the twelve years following his marriage he
lived in East ilahoning township, in 1869 set-
tling in West Jlahoning township, where he
made a permanent home, his widow and chil-
dieu still occupying the farai thci-e. Mr.
< 'rawford followed farming and also dealt in
horses and stock, and he also took an intelli-
gent interest in public aft'airs, serving his
township in the offices of school director and
auditor. In politics he was a strong Republi-
can, in religious connection a member of the
Presbyterian Church. He died Dec. 5, 1909.
On Oct. 1, 1857, Mr. Crawford married
ilary R. Gourley, who was born Jan. 27, 1841,
on the place where she now lives, in West
Mahoning township, daughter of James and
ilargaret (Travis) Gourley. Her grandpar-
ents, George and Rosanna (McNiel) Gour-
ley, came to America from Ireland in 1816,
and first located in Nova Scotia. They came
to Pennsylvania, settling near Sinking Val-
ley, Blair county, where Mv. Gourley followed
his trade, that of blacksmith, for a time.
Later he bought a fami in Indiana county,
where he passed the remainder of his life,
dying Sept. 6, 1853; his wife died Sept. 9,
1853 (both died of dysentery). He was a
sincere member of the Presbyterian Church,
and used to go eight miles through the woods
on horseback to attend services. His children
were born as follows : Thomas, Oct. 28, 1805 ;
John, May 19, 1808 (died in May, 1891);
James, Aug. 23, 1810 (died :\Iarch 21, 1867) ;
Margaret, Jan. or June 24, 1812; Alexander,
June 4, 1814; George, March 17, 1816 (died
Jan. 23, 1846) ; Rosanna, June 12, 1819 ; Arm-
strong, Sept. 15, 1820 ; Robert, May 27, 1822 ;
Nancv, Nov. 23, 1823 (died in August, 1871) ;
:\Iary Ann, Sept. 18, 1826.
James Gourley, father of Mrs. Crawford,
was born Aug. 23, 1810, near Londonderry,
Ireland, and came to Nova Scotia with his
parents in 1816. He accompanied them to
Pennsylvania, learned blacksmithing and fol-
lowed that trade, and also engaged in farm-
ing, owning a farm in West Mahoning town-
ship, where he died ilarch 21, 1867. He en-
tered the LTnion army during the Civil war,
and his health giving out was assigned to hos-
pital duty, sei-ving to the end of the struggle.
In politics he was originally a Whig, later a
Republican. He fii-st joined the Presbyterian
Church, later becoming a member of the M.
E. Church. His wife, Margaret (Travis), was
born Dec. 7, 1818, and died Jan. 1, 1889, at
Paxton, 111. Her parents, William and Mary
(Gahagan) Travis, were of Irish and Ger-
man extraction, respectively, and stanch Pres-
b\i:erians in religious belief. I\Ir. Travis
owned a gristmill and a farm in West Mahon-
ing township, at what is now the site of Good-
ville.
770
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
James and Margaret (Travis) Gourley had
a family of six cliildren: Louisa, born Feb.
16, 1837, died Sept. 23, 1867 ; Mary R., Mrs.
Crawford, was born Jan. 27, 1841 ; Margaret
Ann, born May 5, 1843, died Aug. 25, 1882;
Joseph T., born July 7, 1845, now resides in
Colorado ; John McNiel, bom Aug. 3, 1847, is
living in Illinois; William S., born Nov. 5,
1850, died Sept. 18, 1853.
To Mr. and JNIrs. Crawford were born
twelve children, all of whom were educated
in the home schools, namely : Ella May mar-
ried Robert A. Dilts, who lives near Trade
City, Pa. ; Vianna M. married Clark Halo-
well, of Dubois, Pa. ; James L., formerly a
teacher, is now a hardware merchant in Burns,
Kans. (he married Myrtle Swengel) ; Lena
married Dr. E. S. Mcintosh, of Burns, Kans. ;
Joseph P. is engaged in the mei'cantile busi-
ness in Sylacauga, Ala. (he married Minnie
Stewart) ; Emily Louise married Frank Lor-
ing, of near Dayton, Pa. ; Frank Earl, of
North Point, West Mahoning township, is a
farmer and manufacturer of cider and vine-
gar, and is serving as justice of the peace (he
married Mary Barrett) ; William H., a har-
nessmaker, of Armstrong, 111., married Edna
Smith ; Mary B. is on the home place ; Charles
H., of Birmingham, Ala., superintendent of
delivery for the Steelsmith Dry Goods Com-
pany, married Olive Williamson; Martha
Ruth, who lives at home, has been an invalid
for several years ; John G., who is engaged in
farming on the old homestead, married Maud
Hicks.
Miss Mary B. Crawford taught school for
ten years in East and West ilahoning town-
ships and Clearfield county, and since giving
up her profession has devoted all her time to
caring for her invalid sister Ruth and looking
after her fann interests. The old home place
has been improved in various lines, including
the setting out of a fruit orchard of 450 trees,
apple, peach, pear, plum, cherry and apricot,
in fine condition.
IRA EVERETT GIBSON, educator and
agriculturist of Blacklick township, Indiana
Co., Pa., belongs to one of the old families of
this section, and was born on the Hugh Gib-
son farm in Blacklick township Jan. 24. 1872,
a son of James Gamble and Margaret (Fair-
man) Gibson.
The Gibson family is of Scotch-Irish ex-
1 ruction, and the founder of this branch in
Indiana county was one John Gibson, who
■was born in the Conococheague valley. Pa.,
and came to what was then a part of West-
moreland county, now Blacklick township,
prior to the Revolutionary war. He became
the owner of a large tract of land, which was
first owned by Thomas Taylor and later by
a Mr. Brooker, the next owner being a Mr.
Dixon, from whom Mr. Gibson acquired it by
purchase. In company with Randall Laugh-
lin he was captured by the Indians, but man-
aged to make his escape and lived to reach the
age of sixty-six years, dying in 1816. He was
an extensive land owner, became prominent
in township affairs, and was widely known
throughout this section. His wife, Jane
(Lowry) Gibson, died in 1837, in her nine-
tieth year. They were the parents of the
following children : Hugh, who married Mar-
garet Gamble; Nancy, who married William
Henry; William, who married Elizabeth Mc-
Fadden ; James, who first married Mattie
Gamble and later Ellen Bruce ; John, who
married Margaret Blakely; Esther, who mar-
ried John Cochran ; and Joseph, who married
Margaret Sloan.
Hugh Gibson, son of John Gibson, and
grandfather of Ira Everett Gibson, made his
home in Blacklick township, where he fol-
lowed farming all his life, and owned the
land which is now operated by the Taylor fam-
ily and by his grandson. He became a well-
known agriculturist, took an active interest
in the affairs of his community, and spent his
life within the confines of his native county.
He married Margaret Gamble, who also died
here, and they became the parents of several
children, among whom was James Gamble.
James Gamble Gibson was born on the old
homestead in Blacklick township in 1826, and
there received his education in the public
schools. He was reared to agricultural pur-
suits, and grew up on the old homestead, on
which he was engaged in farming throughout
his life. He owned and operated 130 acres of
choice land, on which he made extensive im-
provements, and there he continued to follow
liis chosen vocation until his death, which oc-
curred March 29, 1910, when he was laid to
rest in the Jacksonville cemetery. James G.
Gibson was noted for his industry and fixed
habits. He possessed quiet and unassuming
characteristics and was of a retiring dispo-
sition, his greatest interest in life being bound
up in his home and his family. He was a
faithful member of the Presbyterian Church,
attending at Bethel. Mr. Gibson married
Margaret Fairman, who was born in 1840 and
who now makes her home on the homestead,
and they had a family of four children, as
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
771
follows: William, who was born in 1863,
married Laura ilarsli and resides on the
homestead; Jennie M., born in 1865, died in
1911, at Seattle, Wash.; Ira Everett is men-
tioned below; Anna, who was born in 1875,
man-ied Arthur L. Repine, of Blacklick town-
ship.
Ira Everett Gibson, son of James Gamble
Gibson, received his education in the public
schools of Blacklick township and at the In-
diana State normal school. He adopted the
profession of teaching, and in 1895 became
instructor in the pviblic school at Ferguson.
Following this he taught for six terms in
Blacklick township, one term at Jacksonville,
and also the McComb school in Center town-
ship, becoming one of the best-known and
most popular educators in his locality. Af-
ter the death of his father, -with whom he had
been in the meantime engaged in farming,
the family moved to the State of Washing-
ton, on the Pacific coast, and there remained
one year. At the end of that time they re-
turned to the old homestead and again took
up farming, and here !Mr. Gibson has since
carried oii general agricultural work. He is
a Prohibitionist, giving his stalwart support
to the principles and issues of his party, and
at all times advocating temperance. His re-
ligious connection is with Bethel Presbyterian
Church, in which he is an elder and a teacher
in the Sunday school. He also served as over-
seer of the poor and in numerous ways ren-
dered signal service to his township.
In 1901 Mr. Gibson was married in Center
township to Pearl E. Rothmire. who was born
in 1878 in that to^\^lship, daughter of Joseph
Rothmire, and they have had one child, James
Harold, born in 1902, who is at home.
HARRY BEECHER NEAL, :\I. D., gen-
eral medical practitioner of the liorough of
Indiana and one of the proprietors of the In-
diana hospital, is a physician whose energy-
and aggi'essive activity have marked him for
usefulness in the community in which he has
settled. He was born May 17. 1882. at North-
port, Indiana Co.. Pa., son of Thomas S. Neal,
and grandson of John Neal.
John Neal was born in Indiana county and
followed farming here all his life, also engag-
ing in the lumber business. He had a large
family, viz. : George, who is deceased ; Cyn-
thia, "wife of James Coon; Sarah, wife of
Peter Stear ; Thomas S. ; Rawl ; Josiah ;
Aaron; Martha, ^vife of William McKallip ;
Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Austin
Stunkard ; and Emma, married and living at
Northpoint.
Thomas S. Neal, the Doctor's father, is also
a lumberman and farmer by occupation, giv-
ing most of his attention to lumbering. He
niarried Anna Oberlin. and they have had
eight children: Preston, now deceased;
Nioma, wife of Dr. George E. Simpsou ; Law-
rence ; Salina, wife of Ezekiel Barbor ; Irene,
wife of Joseph C. Buchanan; Grace, deceased;
Harry Beeeher, and Walter.
Harry Beeeher Neal attended public school
at Indiana and later the State nonual school
in that borough, graduating from the latter
in the year 1901. He took post-graduate work
in the normal the following year, 1902, and
then entered the medical department of the
Western Uuivereity of Pennsylvania, at Pitts-
burg, from which he was graduated June 12,
1906, the same year beginning practice, at
his present location. He associated himself
with Dr. George E. Simpson, and in 1908 they
established the Indiana hospital, for general
jnedical and surgical treatment, which they
own in partnership. The institution has
proved a boon to the conuuunity and has
been well patronized from the start, its suc-
cess demonstrating the need there was for a
hospital. Dr. Neal has the confidence of his
patrons and the respect of all his fellow citi-
zens. He is a member of the Indiana County
Jledical Society, socially belongs to several
college fraternities, and is a member of the
Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana. His religious
connection is with the Lutheran Church.
On June 20, 1911, Dr. Neal married Roxie
L. Widdowson, daughter of Harvey R. Wid-
dowson, of Rochester Mills, Indiana county.
W^ESLEY ASKINS, who is engaged in
carrying on agricultural pursuits in Cherry-
hill township, Indiana Co., Pa., was born on
the farm on wliieh he now resides, Oct. 26,
1850. son of Thomas and Jane (Stephens)
Askins.
Joseph and Lovina (Pickett) Askins, the
paternal grandparents of Mr. Askins, were
born in Ireland, and on coming to the United
States first settled in Philadelphia, whence
they came to Indiana county in 1805 and set-
tled on a fann located within a mile of the
present property of Wesley Askins, there re-
maining until they died. Of their six children
who grew to maturity, Thomas was the eldest,
the others being: Joseph. William, Nancy,
Eliza and Lovina.
Thomas Askins, son of Joseph, and father
of Wesley Askins, was born in Philadelphia,
772
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Pa., iu 1802. He was reared to agricultural
pursuits, and when a young man purchased
494 acres of land, for which he paid $22,371/2
for the back taxes and costs. Later in life he
sold 150 acres of this property for $600, the
balance being divided among his children.
Mr. Askins passed away Aug. 26, 1872, at the
age of seventy years, and his township re-
garded his death as the loss of one of its best
citizens.
The maternal grandparents of "Wesley As-
kins, Shadrach Stephens and his wife, whose
maiden name was Patterson, were early set-
tlers of Indiana county, settling in Cherryhill
township, where they spent their lives iu
fanning. They had a family of eight chil-
dren, as follows: "William, Alexander, Jane,
Thomas, Mary, Nancy, Margaret and one
other. All are deceased, I\Irs. Askins dying
Sept. 7, 1877.
Wesley Askins was the youngest of nine
children born to his parents, the others being :
"William, who is deceased ; Matthew, deceased,
who was a member of Company F, 55th Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and died in
the service at Point Lookout, July 28, 1864;
Shadrach, who died July 31, 1867; Mary, de-
ceased, who was the wife of William Ray, also
deceased ; Anna, the wife of David F. Stewart,
both deceased; Lovina, who died Dec. 27,
1858; and Eliza and Margaret, who died in
childhood. A son of William Askins, of this
family, William Duncan Askins, formerly a
school teacher in Indiana county, is now a
i-esident of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Wesley Askins received his education in the
common schools of Indiana county and Pine-
flats academy, and at the age of sixteen years
began his career as a school teacher. He con-
tinued as an educator in Pine, Green and
West Wheattield townships for three years,
after which he followed farming several yeai's,
and then again became a teacher, having
schools in West Wheatfield, Cherryhill and
Pine townships. After another short attend-
ance at Pineflats academy, he was in charge
of schools for eight years, then taking charge
of the hotel which is now known as the ' ' Kin-
ter House," of Indiana, for one year. Farm-
ing soon called him back to the laud, however,
and since that time he has been engaged in
tilling the soil, and in selling fertilizer.
Mr. Askins was married in June, 1869, to
Catherine A. St. Clair, who was bom in West
Wheatfield township, Indiana Co., Pa., Dec.
28, 1851, daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Brendlinger) St. Clair, natives of Indiana
county. Samuel St. Clair, the grandfather of
Mrs. Askins, was born in Ireland, and came
to the United States in his youth, settling in
West Wheatfield township, where he was mar-
ried to Catherine Jamison, a native of Brush-
valley township. Joseph Brendlinger, the
maternal grandfather of Mrs. Askins, and his
wife, Susan (Walbach) Brendlinger, were also
early settlers of West Wheatfield township.
Jolin St. Clair, son of Samuel St. Clair, and
father of Mrs. Askins, died Sept. 28, 1902, and
his wife passed away Feb. 28, 1897. They
were the parents of seven children, as follows :
Amanda, the wife of Armstrong Cunning-
ham; Catherine A., who married Mr. Askins;
Joseph, a resident of New Florence, West-
moreland county; Emma, who is deceased;
Margaret, the wife of Joseph Henderson, a
resident of West Wheatfield township ; Re-
becca, who mai-ried James Duncan, of Johns-
town, Pa. ; and John F., of West Wheatfield
township.
" Mr. and Mrs. Askins have had eight chil-
dren, namely: Elizabeth Jane, deceased, who
was the wife of William Rose; John S., a
traveling .salesman, living in Center county,
who married Susan Turner; Joseph W., liv-
ing in Allegheny county, Pa., who married
Kit Bunting, of Washington county, and has
three children, Bessie, Ruth and Clair; Mar-
garet, the wife of John Engle, of Johnstown,
Pa.; Stella, the wife of William Tyger, of
Canoe township, Indiana county, who has five
children, Twila, Dale, Vera, John Wesley and
Margaret V. ; Charles V., a resident of Pitts-
burg, Pa., who married Jennie Burr, and has
two children, Charles B. and Henrietta V.,
twins ; Milton R., a resident of Punxsutawney,
who married Nettie Stiver, and has two chil-
dren, Irene and Orin LeRoy ; and Orin D.,
who for some time was engaged in teaching
school in Indiana county and now resides at
home.
• Mr. Askins is not an office seeker, but has
fulfilled his duties of citizenship by serving
as a member of the board of school directors
and township auditor of Cherryhill township.
He is ever ready to lend his support to those
movements which his good .judgment tells him
are tending to promote education, morality,
religion and good citizenship, and is recog-
nized as a man who has had an honorable
career, and whose integrity is unquestioned.
With his wife he attends the Mount Zion
Lutheran Church of Pine township, Indiana
county.
WILLIAM A. EVANS, who has been farm-
ing in White township for over twenty years.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
73
was formerly a resident of Clierryhill town-
ship and has lived all his life in Indiana
county, having been born April 3, 1841, in
Brushvalley township, where the founder of
the Evans family in this region settled over
a century ago.
The Evanses are of Welsh extraction. Hugh
Evans, grandfather of William A. Evans, was
a native of Cardiff, Wales, and crossed the
Atlantic when a young man, working to pay
his passage on the vessel. Among the passen-
gers was a young English girl with whom he
fell in love, and they were married when they
hmded at Philadelphia. They came west to
the Welsh settlement near Ebensburg, in Cam-
bria county. Pa,, where they remained for a
short time, until they came to Indiana county,
locating in Brushvalley township. They were
among the first settlers there. Locating in
the wilderness, ]\Ir. Evans built his log cabin
and set to work clearing up the land. He re-
mained but a short time on his first farm, buy-
ing a 400-acre tract, all brush and timber,
near the site of ilechaniesburg, upon which he
settled down to farming. ^Much of this land
is still in the family name. Here he built a
dwelling house and barn, and also erected a
saw and gi-ist mill — the first of the kind in
Brush crfeek valley. The mill was of stone,
and stood on Brash creek about three-quarters
of a mile below the present site of Mechanics-
burg, and for many years was a prominent
landmark. He also owned a distillery. He
worked hard and faithfully, prospered in his
own affaii's and did his full duty as a citizen,
being one of the enterprising and progressive
men of his day and generation. He was a
strong abolitionist. He died on his farm in
1849, at the age of seventy years, and was
buried in what is known as the Evans grave-
yard in Brushvalley township. He was a
member of the Baptist Chui-ch, the first Bap-
tist to settle in the to'wnship. His first wife, ■
Hannah, died leaving children as follows :
Ann, who married John Kelly and (second)
James Stewart; John; Hugh, who died at
Altoona ; Marj', who married Henry Grumb-
ling: Elizabeth (Betsy), who first married
Joseph McNutt; Evan, who lived in Brush
Valley ; William : and James, who died in Cen-
ter township. Mr. Evans married for his
.second wife E.sther Creswell. and she bore
him three children: Ellen, Rebecca and Lu-
einda (who married Rev. A. B. Runj-an, a
well-known Baptist minister of I\Ieehanics-
burg) .
William Evans, son of Hugh, was born in
Brushvalley township, passed all his life
on the old Evans farm, and was always en-
gaged in farming and milling. He owned
135 acres. In politics he was a Whig, and he
took considerable interest in the fortunes of
his party and in local public affairs, serving
as judge of elections and as school director.
In religious connection he was a Presbyterian.
He died in 1857, in his fifty-third year. His
wife, Susan (Wilkins), who was bom in
Brushvalley township, daughter of Andrew
and Elinor (Robinson) Wilkins, the former an
early settler in Indiana county, died in 1871.
She was the mother of eight children, five sons
and three daughters, namely : Dr. John, late
of Homer City, where his family now reside;
Andrew W., deceased, who served nine
months in the Civil war; Samuel W., de-
ceased; William A.; Nancy E., who married
Jerry Rhodes (both are now deceased) ; Su-
san Jane, widow of W. Scott ]\IcCormick, of
Indiana ; Sarah Elizabeth, deceased ; and
George W., deceased (his family live in In-
diana borough). Of this family John and
Samuel were in the Union service during the
Civil war for three years, and William was
drafted, but did not have to enter the army
because his three brothers were soldiers.
William A. Evans was educated in Brush-
valley township, where he lived until 1864.
That year he moved to Cherryhill township,
of which he was a resident for twenty-five
years, owning a farm there. In 1889 he came
to his present location in Wliite township, buy-
ing the farm upon which he has since had his
home. Farming has always been his principal
occupation, and in connection therewith he
has been successfully engaged in the breeding
of Holstein cattle, of which he has made a
specialty, being now quite extensively inter-
ested in that line. For nine years he also
carried on dairying. He is a go-ahead farm-
er, and is recognized all over the county as
an intelligent worker along the best modern
methods. In 1893 he was manager of the In-
diana County Fair Association, and when it
changed its location to the present grounds
he superintended the moving. He has served
his township in the offices of school director,
supervisor and overseer of the poor, and in
every position he has been callecl upon to fUl
has justified the confidence placed in him by
his fellow citizens.
Mr. Evans was the first carrier on the mail
route from Indiana to ^Meehaniesburg, in
Brushvalley township. His father had the
contract, and William A. Evans, then a youth
of fifteen, did the work.
In 1865 Jlr. Evans married Flora Stutchill,
774
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
a native of Greenville, Indiana county, daugh-
ter of Alexander and Martha (Evans) Stut-
chill, and granddaughter of ex-Sheriff Evans,
of Indiana county. Mr. and Mrs. Stutehill
lived in Indiana county from an early day.
Two children have been born to ]\Ir. and Mrs.
Evans : Nettie is the wife of James A. Simp-
son, a farmer of White township, and has four
children, Florence, Mark and Martha (twins)
and Isabelle; Mary lives at home with her
parents. Mr. and Mrs. Evans and their fam-
ily are members of the Presbyterian Church
of Indiana, in which he serves as elder.
JOHN H. ROCHESTER, until recently a
member of the leading mercantile firm of
Marion Center, and one of the oldest business
men in Indiana county, was born in West-
moreland county, Pa., near New Alexandria,
in 1845, a son of John C. Rochester.
John C. Rochester was born in Virginia in
1815, coming of English stock. Leaving home
in boyhood, his education was acquired by
self-instruction and experience in the school
of necessity. Going to New York, he obtained
employment on the Erie canal, but later he
went West, and worked at different callings.
After spending some time in the Western Re-
serve in Ohio he came to Pennsylvania, and in
1837 located near New Alexandria, later mov-
ing into that town, where he embarked in the
manufacture of shoes, employing fifteen men
in his establishment. For some time he oper-
ated his plant successfully, and then sold to
go into merchandising \\dth T. G. Stewart.
They conducted a general store until 1856,
when Mr. Rochester came to Indiana county
and settled at ]\Iarion Center, and it was he
who succeeded in getting a x>ostoffice estab-
lished here; he became the first postmaster.
Here he established a store which he carried
on with very satisfactory results until 1868,
when he sold his entire business to his son
John H. Rochester. In the meanwhile he had
gone to Richmond, Canoe township, and there
started another store, being the first merchant
in that locality. In 1867 the postoffice was
established at that point, also through his
efforts, and Mr. Rochester became the first
postmaster. The office was named Rochester
Mills in honor of him. At the same time he
operated the gristmill at that place, remodel-
ing the mill, and made improvements upon it,
and also engaged quite extensively in the lum-
ber business, being a man of affairs. Mr.
Rochester also opened stores at TaylorsviUe,
Smithport and Gettysburg, and was very sue-
in all his operations, for he had execu-
tive ability of an unusual order, and knew how
to handle affairs of magnitude. Selling his
interests at Rochester MiUs to Benjamin Duffie
and I. H. Rochester, Mr. Rochester retired
and made his home at Marion Center, where
he enjoyed his declining yeai-s in the midst of
the comforts his own acumen and foresight
had provided. He died in 1890, aged seventy-
five years, and his remains were interred in
the cemetery at Marion Center. First a Whig
and later a Republican, he was honored by
those parties, and not only was postmaster at
Rochester Mills but also held the same office
at Marion Center when it was called Brady,
taking charge of the office in 1857 and serving
several years. Although his own educational
advantages had been so meager, he took a deep
interest in the public schools.
While living in Westmoreland county Mr.
Rochester was man-ied to Eliza Duffie, daugh-
ter of Patrick Duffie. She died in Marion
Center in 1889, and is buried in the cemetery
at that point. Mrs. Rochester was a consist-
ent member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr.
and Mrs. Rochester had the following chil-
dren: Charles died aged twenty-two years;
Agnes died in infancy ; Margaret is the widow
of B. F. Laughlin and resides in East Mahon-
ing township ; John H. is mentioned below ;
Benjamin Duffie, who was a soldier during
the Civil war, married Laura Wells and re-
sides in East Mahoning township ; Anna M.
married Dr. W. S. Shields, of Marion Center;
Emma married Silas C. Weamer; Harriet
married John W. Frampton, and resides at
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
John H. Rochester attended school in the
home neighborhood until he was ten years old,
when he was brought to Indiana count.y by
his parents, and here he received the rest of
his schooling. From boyhood he assisted his
father in the store, thus learning the business
from the inside, and in 1864 formed a partner-
ship with his uncle, B. H. Duffie, under the
name of Duffie & Rochester, which association
continued one year. In 1865 Mr. Rochester
became his father's partner, the firm name
being John C. Rochester & Son, and in 1868
the latter bought the interest of the former
and continued the business alone until 1872,
when he took his brother-in-law, B. F. Laugh-
lin, into partnership with him, under the
name of Rochester & Laughlin. This firm
built the present store, which is one of the
most commodious in the northern part of the
county, and the partners remained together
until 1894, when the junior partner retired
and Dr. W. S. Shields, another brother-in-law,
i
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
775
entered the firm, the name becoming Rochester
& Shields. After five years' association Mr.
Rochester bought out the interest of his part-
ner and continued alone until 1904, when H.
S. Jones was taken into the business, and on
Jan. 1, 1913, Mr. Rochester sold out to him,
the business being now conducted under the
style of S. H. Jones & Co. In addition to his
mercantile interests J\Ir. Rochester was a mem-
ber of the firm of Dufiie & Rochester for ten
years, and owns farming land in the vicinity
of Marion Center and at other points in In-
diana county. However, he concentrated his
efforts on merchandising, and during the
nearly half a century that he was a merchant
handled an immense amount of business, and
witnessed and participated in many impor-
tant changes.
Practically all of his life has been spent at
Marion Center, and he naturally is deeply in-
terested in the progress of that place, having
contributed lai-gely toward bringing about
present results. Like his father a firm be-
liever in the public school system, he has given
it valuable service as a school director and
secretary of the board for many years. While
he has been a Republican for years, he is inde-
pendent in his views. A ]\Iason, he belongs
to Indiana Lodge, No. 313, Zerubbabel Chap-
ter, No. 162, R. A. M., of Pittsburg, and Pitts-
burg Commandery, No. 1, K. T., as well as
the Mystic Shrine at Pittsburg. He was one
of the organizers of the original Odd Fellows
lodge at Marion Center.
Mr. Rochester has not married, but Mr. S.
H. Jones, who married Alice Frampton, a
niece of Mr. Rochester, and his wife live with
him and make a pleasant home for one who
has eai-ned it in every way.
GEORGE E. SIMPSON, M. D, of Indiana,
Indiana county, belongs to a family which has
been settled here for several generations. His
grandfather, James Simpson, was born in
Georgeville, Indiana county, and followed
farming in this county all his life. He mar-
ried Jane Martin, and they had five children,
namely: John M., Milton, Elizabeth (wife
of James Dilts), Catherine (wife of J. M.
Hazelett) and William.
John M. Simpson, the Doctor's father, was
also a farmer in Indiana county. He belonged
to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
he was an active worker, for many years
serving as a member of its official board. He
married Catherine McGregor, and they had a
familv of five children : - One that died in in-
fancy; Nora, wife of J. ]M. Aul; Edna, wife
of Leland Valentine ; Waldo, and George B.
George E. Simpson was born Oct. 31, 1869,
at Georgeville, Indiana county, and obtained
liis early education in the common schools
and Purchase Line Academy. He also studied
to some extent under private tutors, after
which he taught school in this county for about
four years. He began reading medicine with
Dr. D. R. Crawford, of this county, and then
entered the medical department of the West-
ern University of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg,
graduating from that institution ;\Iarch 22,
1894. He began independent practice the
same .vear at Home, Indiana county, where he
remained about three and a half years, re-
moving thence to the borough of Indiana in
the fall of 1897. Here he has since engaged
in general practice, also extending his medical
work along various lines which have proved
congenial to himself and acceptable to the
community. In association with Dr. Neal he
has established a private hospital in the
borough which has been considered a valu-
able acquisition to the community and been a
success from the start. He has been active in
the professional organizations, being a promi-
nent member of the county medical society,
which he has served as secretary for more
than three years, and also belonging to the
State Medical Society and the American Med-
ical Association. He is physician to the county
home, surgeon to the Indiana hospital (the
private hospital mentioned above) and chief
examiner in Indiana county for the Equitable
of New York, the Northwestern, New Eng-
land, and other life insurance companies. He
has many activities, as may be seen, and takes
care of them all with the conscientiousness
and ability which have made him so thoroughly
trusted wherever he is known.
On June 22. 1893, Dr. Simpson married
Nioma C. Neal, daughter of Thomas S. Neal,
of Trade City, Indiana Co., Pa., and they
have two children, Anna C. and Harold. Dr.
and Mrs. Simpson are members of the Luth-
eran Church.
WILLIAil HARVEY FINDLEY. a farm-
er of East Wheatfield township, Indiana'Co.,
Pa., is a descendant of the first white settler
of Indiana county.
George Findley, the first of the name in
Indiana count.v. is supposed to have been of
Scotch origin. He crossed the mountains and
located at the Pumroy and Wilson settlement,
in what is now Derry township. Westmore-
land county, in 1764. The following year he
776
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
crossed the Conemaugh river to what is now
East Wheatfield township, settling on a tract
of land now owned by George H. Mathews,
which comprised 200 acres of land. The se-
lection was "tomahawked," and his rights
were as valid in those days as under the more
cumbersome surveys of later years. His visits
to his land were as frequent and his stay on
it each time as long as the troublesome times
would permit. When the Revolutionary war
broke out he had a clearing of about ten
acres, on which he had erected a log cabin.
There is a tradition in the family that when
he visited his future home with a bound boy,
by name George Parmer, to look after some
cattle, the Indians surprised them, and Mr.
Pindley was wduiulcil ihi'ough the left arm,
but escaped, while llic hoy was captured by
the savages and scaljUMl ; the Indians came the
next day and buried the body near the run
which adjoins the homestead. In 1784, as
soon as conditions made it safe to do so, Mr.
Findley settled permanently on this farm with
his family, and continued to make his home
there, although frequently forced to seek
shelter at Fort Ligonier or Palmer's Fort.
Here this brave pioneer rounded out his use-
ful life, becoming interested along various
lines, for in 1784-85, he built a gristmill which
is supposed to have been the second in the
county, and in 1788 he added a sawmill to his
plant. He cleared off much of the land, and
was noted for his energy and industrious
habits, and his thrift made possible the ac-
cumulation of a comfortable fortune. His
death occurred on the farm he had redeemed
from the wilderness Sept. 7, 1814, when he was
iifty-eight years old, his remains being in-
terred on his homestead.
George Findley was married, near Hagers-
tovm, Md., and his wife, Elizabeth, also died
on the farm, and is buried there. The chil-
dren of this worthy couple were : James, who
was born in Franklin county. Pa., Dec. 16,
1777 ; Isabelle, bom in Hagerstown, Md., Jan.
28, 1784, who married Andrew Reynolds; and
Elizabeth, who in 1806 married Archibald
Mathews and settled on a portion of her
father's farm.
James Findley, son of George Findley, came
to what is now East Wlieatfield township, with
his parents when a child, and was there reared
to manhood. During the war of 1812 he gave
his country brave service and assisted in the
construction of Fort Meigs. Like his father
he was a farmer and miller, and spent his
useful life in East Wheatfield township, where
he died May 30, 1837, being buried in the
family lot on the farm, where a headstone stiU.
marks his last resting place.
On Jan. 1, 1812, James Findley married
Parmelia Dill, born in 1792 near the present
site of Dilltown, Bufifington township, daugh-
ter of Matthew Dill and granddaughter of
Matthew Dill, who was a colonel of a regiment
in the Revolutionary war. The children of
James Findley and his wife were: George,
born Nov. 16, 1812 ; Ann, born Sept. 19, 1814,
who married William R. Duke ; Mary Jane,
born March 30, 1816, who married Robert Mc-
Cormack; Permelia, born July 11, 1818, who
quarried William Wolf; James, born May 19,
1820; Rebecca, born July 4, 1822, who mar-
ried John Goddard ; A. Mathews, born April
14, 1825 ; Eliza, born June 16, 1827, who mar-
ried Samuel McCune; and Harriet A. Newell,
born Sept. 28, 1829.
George Findley, eldest son of James Find-
ley, was born on the homestead in East Wlieat-
field township, and there he was reared and
sent to the subscription schools of his neigh-
borhood, attending a few months during sev-
eral winter seasons. As soon as he was old
enough he commenced working on the Penn-
sj'lvania canal as bowsman and steerer, and
later became captain of his own freight boats,
which ran from Pittsburg to Johnstown, one
of these boats being the "Drucilla." For
some years George Findley was thus engaged,
subsequently operating the grist and sawmill,
and still later settling down to farming on a
tract of 226 acres known as the Clark farm,
which lay at the foot of Laurel Hill, along the
Pittsburg and Philadelphia pike in East
Wheatfield township. Here the remainder of
his life was spent, he dying on this property
May 18, 1891, when he was seventy-nine years
of age. His remains were buried in the
Armagh Presbyterian Church cemetery, he
having been a member of this denomination
and a generous contributor toward its support.
On March 7, 1850, George Findley was
married to Esther Brown Steele, who was
born March 27, 1820. daughter of William and
Experience (Hill) Steele, who were married
July 6, 1815, the former born March 17, 1793,
died Oct. 17, 1857. Mrs. Findley died Dec.
17, 1894, aged seventy-four years, and was
buried in the same cemetery as her husband.
She, also, was a consistent member of the
Presbyterian Church. The children of George
Findley and wife were : Eliza Jane, born Jan.
2, 1851, died July 14, 1878 ; William Harvey
was born Dec. 12, 1852; George Steele, bom
March 27, 1854, is an- engineer with the Cam-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
777
bria Iron & Steel Company, residing at Johns-
town, Pa. ; Samuel, bom Sept. 7, 1855, mar-
ried Hattie Stephens and (second) BeUe Hart-
man ; James Albert, bom July 31, 1857, died
in 1900; Han-iet Newel, born May 9, 1859,
married John Neal and lives at Fairfield,
Westmoreland Co., Pa. ; John Philip, bom
July 2, 1861, married Mira Bennett and lives
at Johnstown, Pa. ; Experience j\Iay, bom Julv
18, 1863, married Charles Griffith and re-
sides at Cramer, Pennsylvania.
William Harvey Findley, son of George
Findley, and gi-eat-grandsou of George Find-
ley, the founder of the family in Indiana
county, gi-ew up on the homestead at the foot
of Laurel Hill, and attended the public schools
of East Wlieatfield township, and also those
of Buffington township. Until he was twenty
years old he remained at home with his par-
ents, and then went to Johnstown, where he
embarked in a teaming business, driving his
own team, and thus continuing for five years.
At the expiration of that period he returned
to the homestead and did teaming for his
father-in-law, Joseph Cramer, hauling wood
for use in making charcoal. This line of work
engaged him for five years, and he was then
engaged in farming for six years. In 1888
he bought his present property in East Wlieat-
field township,, comprising 175 acres which was
known as the Daniel Stutzman farm. On it
he has since carried on general farming and
stock raising. After buying the farm he be-
gan improving it, and has rebuilt the house
and erected a commodious, modern bam. For
six years he was engaged in a dairy business,
marketing his product at Johnstown, but
found it more profitable to confine his efforts
to farming and the raising of high-grade stock.
A Republican, Mr. Findley has given the
people of his neighborhood valuable services as
judge of election for one term, and for eigh-
teen years was a school director, during eight
of these years being president of the board,
and for five years was supei*visor of the town-'
fehip, being the first supervisor under the new
road law. The Methodist Church of Cramer
has in him a consistent member and faithful
trustee. While living at Johnstown he con-
nected himself with the Knights of the Mystic
Chain.
On Sept. 24, 1873, Mr. Findley was mar-
ried in East Wheatfield township to Mary E.
Cramer, bom at Bens Creek, Somerset Co.,
Pa., Dee. 12, 1854, daughter of Joseph and
Sarah A. (Barclay) Cramer, a fvill histoiy of
whom is to be found elsewhere in this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Findley became the parents of
children as follows: William Howard, bom
at Seward, Pa., June 1, 1874, was educated
in the public schools and the summer school
at Armagh, finishing his training with a
course at the Iron City business college of
Pittsbui-g, and resides at Johnstown, Pa.,
where he is a carpenter; he married Mabel
Nicholson, and they have three children. Al-
berta, Luella and Harvey. Minnie Ora, bom
Sept. 15, 1876, was educated in the public
schools and a summer normal school conducted
by Prof. C. A. Campbell at Armagh, Pa. ; she
married Frank H. Brentlinger, of Johnstown,
and their children ai-e : Donald Findley, Ben-
jamin ^Marshall, Herbert, William Walker, and
Mary Jane. Thomes L., bom Feb. 13, 1878,
died in April, 1879. Elda May, born Jan. 31,
1882. married Charles L. Dick of Clymer, Pa.,
and has five children, Joseph Ellis, Charles
Ford, Lynn Coe. ilary Loraine and Theodore
Carlyle.'^ Clarence H., born July 4, 1884, was
educated in the public schools and resides on
the farm with his father ; he married Viola C.
Cunningham, daughter of Alphonse Cunning-
ham, of East Wheatfield township, and has
children, Mildred Lillian, Mary Cunningham,
Margaret and Bessie. Joseph Cramer, born
Dec. 6, 1886, -Avas educated at the public schools
of Cramer and learned telegraphy at Wehrum,
being now superintendent for the Welbnan &
Seaver Construction Company, of Cleveland,
Ohio, for which he is now traveling. Sarah
Esther, born March 31, 1892, died Sept. 21,
1899. Harvey Steele, born Feb. 20, 1895, liv-
ing at home, was educated in the public schools
of Cramer and the summer school at Green-
ville conducted by Prof. Joseph Weaver, re-
ceiving a teacher's certificate, although not yet
old enough to make practical use of it. Carl,
born Nov. 2, 1898, is at home. Mrs. Findley
is a member of the Methodist Church at Cra-
mer,'and she and her husband are interested
in religious work.
EDMUND WIDDOWSON, president of the
Clymer National Bank, of Clymer, Indiana
county, and one of the leading fanners of
Cherryhill township, was bom in that town-
ship Dec. 15, 1855. His grandfather, Joseph
Widdowson, was a native of England, and
was an early settler in Cherryhill township,
Indiana Co.l^ Pa., where he followed farming
until his death. He is buried in Green town-
ship, at Twolick Church.
Thomas Widdowson, son of Joseph, was
born in 1818 in New York, just after his par-
ents arrived from England. They settled in
Cherryhill township in the early part of that
778
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
year, and here he grew to manhood, took up
farming and passed all his life, dying in
1904. He married Jane Lydiek, who was born
in Indiana county, daughter of Jacob Lydiek,
also an early settler in this region. Mrs. Wid-
dowson died several years before her husband.
They were the parents of fourteen children,
namely : Matilda, deceased, who was the wife
of William Buchanan; John, who died in in-
fancy; Eliza, who lives with her brother Ed-
mund ; Mattie, wife of Jacob Evermne and
living in Rayne township, this county;
Thomas, deceased ; Clara, who died at the age
of twenty-three years; Nelson, of Cherryhill
township ; Nancy, wife of Ross Myers ; Ed-
mund; Sadie, deceased; Jane, wife of Craw-
ford C. Long, of Indiana, Pa. ; Alexander, who
lives in Oregon ; Frank, living in Maryland ;
and Fannie, wife of Gus. Laney, of Indiana.
Edmund Widdowson attended school in
Cherryhill township. He passed his boyhood
on the farm, becoming accustomed to agri-
cultural work from the time he was old enough
to help, but for twenty years he has been in-
terested in the lumber business, which he still
follows. He was in Nebraska in 18S1 and
1882. Ml-. Widdowson now carries on farm-
ing in Cherryhill township, where he has a
tract of 185 acres. In 1906 he sold coal rights
on 150 acres at $100 an acre, reserving the
top seam, which he expects to work himself.
He has been connected with the Clymer Na-
tional Bank from the time of its inception, and
served as a director for one year before he
was elected to the presidency, on Jan. 1, 1912,
to succeed William E. Oakes, the first presi-
dent. He is an able business man, his pre-
vious expei'ience and record winning him the
eonfideuce of his associates, who have shown
their high opinion of his reliability and worth
by choosing him as the head of a financial in-
stitution which bears an important relation to
the prosperity of the community.
In July, 1876, Mr. Widdowson was married
at Marion Center, Indiana county, to Ara-
minta Ruffner, who was born in Green town-
ship, near Cookport, daughter of Daniel and
Susan Ruft'ner, the former of whom is de-
ceased ; Mrs. Ruffner survives, ilrs. Widdow-
son died May 18, 1910, the mother of nine
children, one of whom is deceased. The others
are: Charles, a farmer, who lives in Cherry-
hill township; Eva, wife of Hays Williams;
Orrin, of Cherryhill township ; Lynn, at home ;
Mabel, wife of Harry Wissenger, a miner of
Clymer; Theda, at home; Gainel; and Blair,
at home. On Feb. 6, 1912, :\Ir. Widdowson
married (second) Orretta Barber, who was
born in Green township, this county, daughter
of Robert and Amanda (Park) Barber, both
of whom are deceased; Mr. and Mrs. Barber
were early settlers in Green township.
ROBERT H. MACK, of East Wheatfield
township, Indiana county, located near the
Conemaugh river, was born Sept. 3, 1852, in
what is now East Wheatfield township, on the
]\Iack homestead near the Philadelphia and
Pittsburg pike.
The early members of this Mack family in
Indiana county were among the most respected
of the pioneer settlers in what is now East
and West Wheatfield townships, and its foun-
der here was Robert Mack, great-grandfather
of Robert H. Mack. Robert Mack was a native
of County Down, Ireland, born about 1763.
There he grew to manhood and married Mar-
garet Campbell, who was born about 1769,
and four children were boi'n to them in their
native home : John, bom about 1797 ; Robert,
born about 1799 ; James, born March 3, 1800 ;
and Jean, born about 1803. In the early part
of 1803 Robert Mack with his wife and four
children left their native home for America.
While they were crossing the Atlantic, on a
slow-going sailing vessel, their little daughter
Jean died and was buried at sea, the body be-
ing placed in a sack, weighted at the feet with
sand. The burial service was read by the
captain. After landing in the New World the
family made their way west of the AUeghenies,
locating first near Pittsburg, Pa., and later in
Wheatfield township, Indiana Co.. Pa., where
Mr. Mack settled down to farming on a 400-
acre tract. He had to erect the log cabin for
his family, and began a hard fight for exist-
ence in the wilderness which lasted many
years. By steady industry and thrifty habits
he managed to develop his farm and make
many improvements, and he spent the remain-
der of his life on that place, dying there Aug.
2, 1850. He was buried in Bethel Church
cemetery, in what is now West Wheatfield
township, and a headstone marks the last rest^
ing place of himself and wife. Mr. IMack in
religious^ principle was what was known as
a Seceder, later joining the Bethel United
Presbyterian Church. He was an old-line
Democrat on political questions. His wife
preceded him to the grave, dying on the farm
Nov. 17, 1839, at the age of seventy years, and
was laid to rest in Bethel cemetery. She, too,
was a member of Bethel United Presbyterian
Church. Their children born in Wlieatfield
township were: David; William; Samuel;
Armstrong; George; Jean (2), who married
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
779
William McClain, and died in West Wheat-
field township ; Margaret, who married Hugh
St. Clair, and removed to Iowa ; and Elizabeth
(Betsey), who married William Campbell, be-
ing his second wife.
Robert Mack, son of Robert, born about
1799, came to America with his parents and
grew to manhood in Wheatfield township. He
made his home in what is now West Wheat-
field, where he became engaged in general
farming and stock raising, owning a tract of
100 acres which he himself cleared up and im-
proved, building a log house and barn and
doing all the other work necessary to convert
the property into a hal)itable place. By hard
work he succeeded in making a comfortable
home for his large family, and he was one of
the most respected citizens of the vicinity. He
died on his farm in 18.54, at the age of fifty-
eight years, and was buried in the cemetery
of Bethel U. P. Church, in which he held
membership. In political conviction he was
a stanch Democrat. Jlr. Mack's first wife,
i\Iargaret (ilcDouald). daughter of Joseph
McDonald, of Wheatfield township, died in
Indiana county, and was buried in Bethel
Church cemeterj-. She was a member of the
United Presbyterian Church. Nine children
were born to this union, namely: Joseph,
Robert, Hugh, John, Margaret (married Rob-
ert Campbell), Catherine (married James
Campbell), Mary (married James Smith and
went West), Elizabeth (married Thomas Yertz
and went to Iowa), and Martha (married John
Campbell, who died in Andersonville prison,
and she subsequently married David Brand-
gler, of Johnstown). Mr. ]\Iack's .second mar-
riage was to ]\Irs. Nancy (Ban-) IMitchell,
widow of John ilitchell. and she died at the
age of eighty years, at Titusville, Pa., where
she is buried. The children of this union
were: David; Samuel; Stewart and William,
twins: Nancy, who married William Kerr;
and Belle, who married William Henderson
and resides at Titusville.
Hugh Llack, son of Robert and ilargaret
(McDonald) ilack, was born April 24, 1824,
in what is now West Wlieatfield township, and
there attended subscription school. When
thirteen years old he began to work on the
Pennsylvania canal, being a mule driver on
the towpath between Pittsburg and Johns-
town, was later bowsman and also steersman,
being thus engaged for thirteen years. He
afterward became captain of a packet plying
between Johnstown and Pittsburg; holding
this position four years. After giving up
canal work he settled down to farming in
West Wheatfield township, near the village of
Clyde, where he owned a tract of 100 acres.
He erected a log dwelling and barn and made
many other improvements there, farming that
place until 1865, when he moved to the farm
now o«-ned liy his youngest son, near Center-
ville, in the same township. This was known
as the Hice farm, a tract of 100 acres, and he
cultivated that place all his active years, dying
there at the age of sixty-five years; he is
buried in Bethel -Church cemetery in West
Wheatfield township. He was a member of
the United Presbyterian Church, and was a
man who lived up to high standards in every
relation of life. He was married in West
Wheatfield township to Mary Ann ]\IeCrory,
of Wheatfield to^^^aship. daughter of John Mc-
Crory, and aunt of John G. ileCrory, men-
tioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. IMaek
died on the farm when about sixty-four years
old. and was buried in the Bethel Church
cemeterj\ Like her husband she belonged to
the United Presbyterian Church. They were
the parents of the following children : Jane
Ann, born Nov. 15, 1850, who died Aug. 23,
186.3; Robert H., born Sept. 3, 1852; John
ilcCrory, born Feb. 22, 1854, who was killed
on the Pennsylvania railroad Dee. 19, 1876;
Margaret, born Sept. 26. 1855, who died in in-
fancy : Joseph, liorn Nov. 22, 1857 ; Mary
Elizabeth, born Aug. 30, 1860, who died April
7, 1864; Martha Emma, born Dec. 8, 1862,
who became the wife of Prof. J. T. Stewart, of
Indiana, and died Nov. 15, 1910: and David
Harry, born June 15, 1866, who resides on the
old homestead.
Robert H. JIack. son of Hugh and Mary Ann
QlcCrory) IMack, attended school in West
Wheatfield townsiiip. He was twelve yeara
old when his father moved to the Hice farm
near Centerville, and there he assisted with
the farm work until he reached his majority
and started out for himself. His first employ-
ment away from home was in the stone
quarries of the Penns.ylvania Railroad Com-
pany at Blairsville, where he received $1.80 a
day. After a year there he liecame a hand
on the ballast train at New Florence under
R. C. Leggett. being thus engaged for three
years, at the end of which time he started as
fireman on the Pennsylvania road, between
Derry and Altoona, on both passenger and
freight trains. After four years at this work
he gave up railroad life and returned to agi'i-
cultural work, in 1880 buying 123 acres in
East Wheatfield township, on an elevation
known as Summit Hill, overlooking the Cone-
maugh river and the borough of Seward. It
780
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was owned by Alexander Butler. Mr. Mack
cleared up much of tliis tract, aud cultivated
and improved it, by hard work and thrifty
methods winning success and a place among
the substantial citizens of his township. His
enterprise and progressive disposition, and
his public-spirited interest in the general wel-
fare, have been recognized by his fellow citi-
zens, who have honored him with election to
various local positions of trust. He has served
six years as towoiship assessor, four tenns as
member of the board of school directors, and
as member of the board of elections, being also
inspector and clerk of elections. In political
mattere he has always supported the Republi-
can party and its principles. He is a leading
member of the Presbyterian Church at Sew-
ard, of which he has been steward and trustee,
and served as a member of the building com-
mittee. Fraternally he imites with the Royal
Arcanum.
On March 29, 1877, Mr. Mack was married,
at New Florence, Pa., to Josephine McBurney,
of Centerville, Pa., daughter of Cadwallader
and Rosenna (Freeman) McBurney, of "West
Wlieatfield township. She is also a member
of the Presl)yterian Church. Children as fol-
lows have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mack:
(1) Alpha May (Allie), born May 28, 1878,
was educated in the public schools and at sum-
mer nonnal under Prof. J. T. Stewart and
Prof. C. A. Campbell. She married Armore
P. Clark, and died April 7, 1905, the mother
of four children, Virginia, Robert Paul, Sam-
uel Earl (who died in infancy) and Emogene.
(2) Mabel Satardo, bom Feb. 25, 1880, was
educated in the public schools and at summer
normal under Professors Stewart and Camp-
bell, and taught school for three terms before
her marriage to David Miller Campbell, of
Blairsville, Pa. (3) Mary Bertha, born Oct.
24, 1882, was educated in the public schools
and at summer normal under the same in-
structors as her sisters had, and is now the
wife of Ransom E. Tomb, of East Wheatfield
township. (4) Virginia J., born July 23,
1884, was educated in the public schools and
at summer normal under Professors Stewart
and Campbell, and is now married to Mack
Hood ; they have three children, Mildred Vir-
ginia, Warren Mack and Ethel Frances. (5)
Julia Rea, born Feb. 3, 1893, is a music teacher
and lives at home.
Joseph Mack, son of Hugh and Mary Ann
(McCrory) Mack, received his education in
the public schools of West Wheatfield tovm-
•ship. He worked with his father from boy-
hood until he attained his majority, when he
started to farm on his own account. His first
employment other than farming was with
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as tele-
grapher, but after two years at that he settled
down to agricultural pursuits, near Center-
ville, in West Wheatfield township, farming a
tract of fifty-three acres there for twenty
years. Then he bought his present 80 acres in
West W^heatfield township, where he carries
on general farming. At one time he was in
the lumber business, operating a sawmill, and
when he suffered the loss of his left hand,
which was cut off by a saw in 1886, he bore
his affliction with a fortitude characteristic of
the man imder all circumstances. In spite
of this, however, he has made a success of his
\v:ork and is one of the prosperous men of his
locality. In 1890 Mr. Mack married Florence
Kline, who was born in West Wheatfield
township, daughter of Samuel Kline, and they
liave had the following children : Beulah was
educated in the public schools and at summer
normal under Professors Weaver and Camp-
bell, and she has taught school in Bufiington
and East Wheatfield townships; Edith, edu-
cated in the public schools and the Johnstown
Conservatoiy of Music, is now engaged in
teaching music ; Emma died when eight years
old. Mr. Mack is a member of the United
Presbj'terian Church at New Florence, which
he has served efficiently as trustee and treas-
urer. He is a Republican and has been active
in local polities, serving as judge and clerk of
the election board.
NICHOLAS DANIEL ALTIMUS is living
on his father's old farm in Buffington town-
ship, Indiana county, where he was born Dee.
27, 1860, son of David and Susan (Dick)
Altimus.
The Altimus family, particularly well
known in Brushvalley township, is one of the
oldest and most respected in this portion of
Indiana county. The first of the name in
Brushvalley was Adam Altimus (Altemus, as
the name is also spelled ) , who was of Holland
(Dutch) extraction and a native of Northamp-
ton county, Pa. Coming to Indiana county
about 1798 he located in Center township, near
the line of what is now Brushvalley township,
on what is now known as the Robert McPhetris
farm, and here he settled down to farming,
having a tract of 200 acres, which he improved
very materially. He built a fine brick dwell-
ing house on the farm, the first of its kind in
that section, the brick being made on his place.
He spent his active life on the farm, and when
he retired from active labor moved to Me-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
781
ehaniesburg, where he owned a home aud spent
the remainder of his life, dying there in Sep-
tember, 1863 ; he was buried in the Lutheran
Church cemetery. He was blind some years
before his death. IVLr. Altimus was a member
of the Lutheran Church, was a Whig and Ee-
publican in politics, and was known to all as
a man who did his duty faithfully in his walk
of life. He married E valine (Eve) Shaffer, a
native also of Northampton county, and she
is buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery
near Graceton, in Center township. Children
as follows were born to this pioneer couple:
Nicholas ; Margaret, who married Peter Stefty ;
Daniel, who married Elizabeth Hendrickson;
John, who married Mary A. Drennen ; Thomas,
who was killed, with the horse he was riding,
by a falling tree, while returning from Wake-
field's mill; William, who married Pradenee
Peddicord; Susanna, who married Samuel
Wolf; and David, who married Sarah Peddi-
cord.
Nicholas Altimus, eldest son of Adam Alti-
mus, was born in 1800 in Center township and
there gi-ew to manhood. What education he
received was obtained in the subscription
schools of the day. He worked at home with
his father until of age, when in 182.3 he settled
on Brushcreek run, in Brushvalley township,
and with his father's help built the first grist
and sawmill in Brushvalley township (then a
part of Wheatfield township), which he oper-
ated. In 1853 the old mill was replaced by
tlie present structure, and operations have
been ean'ied on there ever since. In 1848 he
built the frame dwelling house which is now
the home of his son William Wolf Altimus.
Besides attending to the mill work he farmed
a tract of 128 acres near the mill, and was a
successful business man, acquiring the owner-
ship of over five hundred acres before his
death; most of it is still in the possession of
his sons and grandchildren. On Feb. 23,
1872, while leaving his home to attend a sale,
the horse he was riding slipped on the ice and
fell, and Mr. Altimus fell from the horse, his
head striking on the hard ground. He died
from the effects of his injuries in a few days,
and was buried in the Lutheran Church ceme-
tery in Brushvalley township. He was a mem-
ber of the Lutheran Church and active in its
work. In politics he was a stanch Whig and
Republican. He was prominent in local af-
fairs, serving as assessor, tax collector and
school director of the towTiship, as well as in
other public offices.
In 1821 Nicholas Altimus married Mary
Wolf, who was born in Brushvalley township
in 1802, daughter of John Wolf, and died in
that township. She is buried in the cemetery
of the Lutlieran Church, of which she was a
member. Fourteen children were born to this
marriage: Martha H. married Alexander
Noble, and both are deceased ; Margaret mar-
ried Frank Hurlinger and both are deceased ;
Adam married Catharine Conrad; Elizabeth
married C. R. Weaver and died in Brush-
valley; Susanna died in young womanhood;
David, born April 19, 1831, man-ied Susan
Dick, and resided in Buffington township, this
county; James, born Dec. 27, 1832, married
J\laiw E. Dorney, and died in Buffington town-
ship ; Evaline married Robert Pringie ; Sarah
married Amos Knabb and both are deceased ;
Maiy married George Paul; Charlotte mar-
ried Jolm Shaffer ; William Wolf and Mathias
S. are residents of Brushvalley township and
fully mentioned elsewhere ; John A. died when
four and a half years old.
David Altimus was born April 19, 1831, in
Brushvalley township, there attending sub-
scription school. Later he bought part of his
father's farm, a tract of 100 acres located in
what is now Buffington (then a part of Brush-
valley) township, to which he afterward added
500 acres, and he engaged in the clearing and
cultivation of this place with great success,
becoming a prosperous general farmer. He
also raised a large amount of stock, and ran a
sawmill located on Blacklick creek, near the
old red mill, he and his bro*her James build-
ing and operating this mill in partnership.
Mr. Altimus built a large and substantial
house and barn on his farm. He was one of
the prominent men of the locality in his day,
serving many years as township a.ssessor and
auditor, was a Republican in political connec-
tion, and a member of the Lutheran Church.
He died April 16, 1887.
Mr. Altimus married Susan Dick, who was
lx)rn May 19, 1834, in Brushvalley township,
daughter of Daniel and Susan (Lightner)
Dick, and she survives him, now residing with
her son Nicholas. Nine children were born
to this union, as follows: Sarah C. married
James U. Duncan, now a retired farmer, of
Sioux City, Iowa; Robert Thomas married;
Nicholas Daniel is mentioned below; William
Harry, bom July 14, 1863, died in December,
1908, and is buried at Strongstown, this
county, where he had served as postmaster (he
married Jennie Gillespie) ; Lorenzo Dick, un-
married, lives at Sioux City, Iowa ; Katie Belle
married Charter Meeks and lives in Sioux
City, Iowa ; Mai*y Susan married Edward
Burns, who is a farmer and merchant at
782
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Ebensburg, Pa.; John died young; David
Hays, unmarried, lives with his mother.
Nicholas Daniel Altiiuus attended common
school in Buffington township. He has passed
all his life there except one year, when he
was in Sioux City, Iowa, upon his return from
the West purchasing the home place from the
other heirs. He owns and operates 240 acres,
and has followed farming and lumbering. He
sold the old sawmill built by his father. Mr.
Altimus has set out a large number of fruit
trees, built a commodious barn, and made
numerous other improvements upon the prop-
erty during his ownership, and the fine condi-
tion of the place is sufficient evidence of fiis
progressive and enterprising nature. He is
interested in all local affairs, and has held
township office, having served three years as
school director and three years as auditor. In
politics he is a Republican. He is a prominent
member of the M. E. Church at Strongstown,
of which he has been trustee and steward for
the last three years.
On Aug. 26, 1886, :Mr. Altimus married
Annie M. Duncan, daughter of John W. and
Marian (Griffith) Duncan, and they have had
five children : Orah Belle ; ]Maude Delle, who
has taught school in Buffington township for
the last five years ; Susan May, who has taught
four terms of school ; Hugh Mack ; and Russell
John.
HORACE JOHN THOMPSON, president
of the Marion Center National Bank, of
Marion Center, has been closely associated
with the business life of that part of Indiana
county from young manhood. As merchant,
banker and real estate dealer he has been a
leading man in this section, while his efficient
services in the administration of public affairs
stamp him as a citizen of the highest value to
the community. The man of large private
interests is specially fitted to judge the needs
of his town and county, but he is not always
willing to sacrifice time to place his own un-
usual abilities at the service of his fellow citi-
zens. No selfishness of this kind, however,
has governed Mr. Thompson in his relations
to the borough in which he makes his home,
and the influence of his go-ahead disposition
and broad policies is felt in many phases of
life in this locality.
The family to which ]\Ir. Thompson be-
longs has been settled in Pennsylvania for
several generations and is of Scotch-Irish de-
scent. His great-grandfather, John Thomp-
son, w^as one of the early settlers of Center
county. Pa., who came from County Derry,
Ireland, and he located near the site of
Stormstowu, having an 1812 war claim. He
engaged in farming and stock breeding, mak-
ing a specialty of raising ox teams, for sale in
eastern markets. He served for several years
as justice of the peace. Mr. Thompson died
in early life. In religious faith he was a
Presbyterian.
John Thompson, son of John, was born and
reared on his father's farm, where he con-
tinued to reside until his death, in 1877, at
the age of seventy-eight years. He was well
educated for his day, and was a valued em-
ployee of the Potter Furnace Company for
some time, first in the capacity of clerk and
afterward as manager of their extensive iron
works. He resigned the latter position to en-
gage in the general mercantile business at
Stormstowu, and became one of the substan-
tial citizens of that place, admired for his
ability and respected for his honor and in-
tegrity. His .services were constantly in de-
mand among his neighbors in all matters of
importance, especially in legal business. He
served one term as sheriff of Center county.
Mr. Thompson married Lydia Blake, of Ken-
nett Square, Chester Co., Pa., and as the mar-
riage was against the wishes of her parents
they disinherited her.
John Keene Thompson, M. D., son of John
and Lydia (Blake) Thompson, was born in
Center county, Pa., at the village of Storms-
town, twelve miles west of Bellefonte, Dec. 2.5,
1821, and was reared there. At the age of
seventeen he entered Allegheny College, at
Meadville, Pa., studying there two years, after
which he i-ead medicine with Dr. George B.
Engles. In 1844 he matriculated at Jefferson
Medical College, Philadelphia, from which in-
stitution he was graduated in 1845, and the
following March located for practice at Marion
Center, Indiana Co., Pa., where he passed
practically the remainder of his life. Dr.
Baldwin was then the only physician in that
section. Dr. Thompson was soon in command
of a wide practice, which not only covered
his home neighborhood but extended over
parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and Armstrong
counties. In 1863 he removed to Indiana,
where he remained only two years, however,
returning to Marion Center, in which borough
he died Sept. 17, 1890. In his latter years
he lived retired, attending patients only in
his own town, or when called into consulta-
tion.
It was not only as a physician that Dr.
Thompson had a wide reputation. He was
elected associate judge of Indiana county in
mm
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
783
1856, and at the expiration of his term, in
1861, was reelected, serving until 1866. In
1874 he was elected a member of the Penn-
sylvania Legislature, and was reelected in
1875. He also held local oiSces, and was
serving as president of the jMarion Center
school board and burgess of the borough at
the time of his death. Before the war he
was a Free-soiler in political opinion, and
from 1865 was an active Republican, serving
as delegate to the National convention at
Philadelphia that nominated Grant for presi-
dent and as alternate to the convention at
Chicago in 1888 that nominated Harrison for
president. The Doctor proved himself a good
business man in the management of his pri-
vate interests, owning about five hundred acres
of valuable land besides his town property,
and he was a charter member and one of the
directors of the Indiana County Deposit Bank.
He was a trustee of the State normal school
at Indiana. "It has been the privilege of
very few men to be so eminently useful as
Dr. John Keene Thompson was in all that
pertained to the well-being of his neighbors
and the prosperity of his community. As a
physician he had always been successful, as
a judge he was able and impartial, as a legis-
lator none were more active in the interests
of the constituents, and as a man he stood
high in the estimation of his fellow citizens
throughout the county." He was buried in
the Gilgal Church cemetery, whence his re-
mains have since been removed by his son
H. J. Thompson to Marion Center. Dr.
Thompson was a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
On April 6. 1849, Dr. Thompson married
Jane Thompson, daughter of Robert Thomp-
son, and of the seven children born to them
only one, Horace John, survives. Mrs.
Thompson died Jan. 4, 1888, and is interred
at Marion Center.
Horace John Thompson, son of Dr. John
Keene and Jane (Thompson) Thompson, was
Irorn Jan. 14, 1850, in Jlarion Center, and
there began his education in the public schools.
He also attended Indiana Aeademr, under
Prof. Adam Rowes. and among his classmates
at that institution were Alexander Taylor, of
Indiana, Henry Hall, James "Watt, A. S.
Cunningham (the well-known business man
of Indiana), Dr. Frank Ehrenfeld and John
P. St. Clair, the latter of Homer City, this
county. He preferred a business career to
professional life, and accordingly upon his
return from school entered the employ of
Bovard & McGregor, general merchants, for
whom he clerked two years, the first year for
fifteen dollars a month and board, the second
year for thirty dollars a month and board.
In 1873 he began business on his own account,
buying an interest in the general store of
J. C. Rochester, at Rochester Mills, this
county. He spent a year there, in 1874 selling
his interest and going to Decker's Point, this
county, where he bought the store property
(but not the goods) of William N. Prothero
and began business as a general merchant. He
was established there as such until 1894, and
a few years before gave his son a half interest,
the son taking the store when his father with-
drew.
After giving up merchandising Mr. Thomp-
son returned to Marion Center, his early home,
where he has since lived on the spot where he
was bom and raised. Upon the foundation of
the old Thompson dwelling he has erected a
substantial brick residence, one of the finest
homes in that section. He has given con-
siderable attention to real estate since his re-
turn to the borough, and is himself one of
the largest real estate owners in the northern
part of Indiana count.v, having eight farms
situated within a radius of seven miles from"
Marion Center, all underlaid with valuable
coal deposits, as well as other property. When
the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg" Railroad
Corapan.y built the branch lines from Pitts-
biirg through Indiana county ]\Ir. Thompson
became purchasing agent for the company,
buying the land for the right of way; he was
thus engaged for over two years. Local en-
terprises have always received his support and
encouragement. He has been associated with
the founding of two of the most important
concerns of the borough to-day, the Marion
Center National Bank, 1905, and the Heat,
Light & Power Company, 1910, in both of
which he is still a stockholder and seiwing on
the board of directors. He was the organizer
of and largest stockholder in the bank, which
began business Aug. 21. 1905. was elected the
first president of that institution, and has
served in that responsible position continu-
ously since. Under his wise management the
bank has made great strides and is one of the
most prosperous in the county outside of In-
diana borough. The capital stock, originally
.$35,000, was increased in 1908 to .$50,000, and
the latest "condensed statement," made Nov.
26, 1912, .showed the surplus to be over $56,000,
circulation $50,000, and deposits of $295,000;
resources, $452,000. Besides Mr. Thompson,
the officers are C. R. Griffith, vice president;
H. G. Work, cashier; J. A. Smith, assistant
784
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
cashier. The directors are H. J. Thompson,
William Rankin, H. P. Wetzel, N. C. Simp-
son, S. S. Wetzel, C. R. Griffith, C. A. Oberlin
and J. M. Thompson (sou of H. J. Thompson).
The bank building was erected in 1905. This
institution has had a marked influence in the
prosperity of local business enterprises.
Deeply concerned in the agricultural interests
of his conmiunity, Mr. Thompson has been a
liberal patron of the Indiana County Agri-
cultural Association, and has been a member
of its board of managers for the last fifteen
years.
Mr. Thompson has held various borough
offices, serving as member of the borough
council, for several years as burgess, and as"
member of the school board, of which he was
president. He represented his district in the
State Legislature for two terms, and served
his constituents ably and faithfully. He was
a member of the committees on Appropria-
tions, Railroads, Banks and Banking,^ and
Judiciary General. Referring to the "His-
tory of the Pennsylvania State Government, ' '
written by William Rodearmel during the ses-
sion of 1901 and 1902, Mr. Thompson's second
term in the House, we find the following:
"That his merits were appreciated by his
associates on the floor of the House may be
inferred from the fact that he was honored
by an assignment to the committee on the
Judiciary General, a position rarely given to
members other than lawyers and such as have
had considerable experience in legislation. It
is probably safe to say that no new member
has, in recent years, been so highly distin-
guished in the matter of committee assign-
ments. ' ' In politics Ml-. Thompson has always
been a stanch and uncompromising Republi-
can, standing for the principles advocated by
Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, McKinley and Taft.
In 1896 he was a delegate to the Republican
State convention, and was appointed an alter-
nate to represent the Republicans of Pennsyl-
vania at the National League convention of
Republican clubs held at Omaha in July,
1908. Mr. Thompson will fight to defend his
convictions or principles and is true to his
standards. He is a keen business man, and
has a reputation for correct judgment which
makes him respected and tiiisted by all who
have dealings with him. His friends are
many, for he is known all over the county and
has a genial personality which attracts and
holds people. His private and public life are
above reproach. He is a Mason, belonging to
Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., of Indiana ; Zerub-
babel Chapter, R. A. M.. of Pittsburg; Pitts-
burg Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; and the
Consistory at Williamsport, having attained
the thirty-second degree.
In 1871 Mr. Thompson married Annie I.
McMurray, daughter of James and Amelia
(Eason) McMurray, of Burnside, Clearfield
Co., Pa., the former of whom was engaged in
the lumber business for many years in Clear-
field county. For the last two years of his
life he lived with his daughter, Mrs. H. J.
Thompson, and died at her home. He is
buried at Burnside, Clearfield county. All of
his five children have passed away, Mrs.
Thompson dying in September, 1899. She
was the mother of two children, Jolm Mc-
IMurray and Harry Earl. On Feb. 25, 1903,
Mr. Thompson married (second) Bertha Mc-
Connaughey, daughter of Thompson McCon-
naughey, born Dec. 5, 1872. Mrs. Thompson
is a member of the Presbyterian Church and
actively interested in its work.
John McMueray Thompson, postmaster
at Heilwood, Pa., and manager of the Heil-
wood Company, which has one of the largest
general stores in Indiana county, was born
April 11, 1872, at Marion Center, Indiana
county, son of Horace John Thompson. The
first school he went to was at Decker 's Point ;
later he attended at Marion Center, and sup-
plemented his early training by two years'
study at the Indiana State normal. When
nineteen years old he became associated with
his father in the mercantile business, taking
charge of the latter 's store at Decker's Point,
and eventually became sole owner of the busi-
ness there. After his father severed his con-
nection with same he carried it on at the old
location until 1904, when he moved it to Heil-
wood, then a small but enterprising village.
There it was absorbed by the Heilwood Com-
pany and incorporated under the laws of the
State of Pennsylvania. In 1912 the Heilwood
Company increased its capital stock and in
addition to the general merchandise busi-
ness, after acquiring some four hundred
acres of farm land, installed one of the most
complete dairy plants in western Pennsyl-
vania. Mr. Thompson has developed the
business into one of the largest concerns of
the kind in the county and is recognized as
an energetic and progressive young merchant,
of more than average ability and capacity.
Wliile a resident of Decker's Point he served
six years as postmaster, and on the establish-
ment of the postoffice at Heilwood he was
made postmaster there, a position which he
has held to the present time, it now being a
presidential appointment of the third class.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
(85
On June 1, 1899, :\Ir. Thompson was mar-
ried to Jean "Work, who was born in Indiana
county in May, 1873, daughter of Alexander
S. and Mary (Ross) Work, early settlers of
Indiana county. Mr. Work was for many
years engaged in farming, and is a veteran
of the Civil war. He and his wife are now
living quietly at their home north of Marion
Center. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have three
children: Marian Mc^Murray, aged twelve
years; Eugene Weaver, ten years old; and
Horace Alexander, three years old. Mrs.
Thompson is a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
Haert Earl Thompsox. son of Horace
John Thompson, received his education in
the public school at Decker's Point and a
commercial college at Erie, Pa., and became
an expert penman. He entered the era-
ploy of the New York, Philadelphia & Nor-
folk Railroad Company as accountant, and
had entered upon a promising career when
taken ill with malarial tvphoid, from which
he died Oct. 8, 1904, at Norfolk, Ya. He is
buried in the cemetery at Marion Centei'.
DR. ROBERT MITCHELL, the second
physician to settle in Indiana county, Pa.,
was born in 1787 in Cumberland county. Pa.,
near Chambersburg. He was one of a family
of six children, viz. : Gavin, Robert, Isabella,
Jane, Matthew and George. The next we
know of his early history is that when Robert
was ten years old the family moved to Alex-
andra, Ohio Co., Ya. (now W. Ya.), settling
on Short creek, and he made his home with a
relative. Dr. ilagehau, with whom he studied
medicine. He was exceptionally well trained
for his day, graduating from Jefferson Medi-
cal College, Philadelphia, under Dr. Benja-
min Rush. Being prepared to practice he
started out to hunt a location in 1815. Com-
ing to Indiana, Pa., he called upon Dr.
French, the pioneer ph.ysieian of Indiana
county, who invited him to stay and assist
him in his work, as he was in declining health.
The invitation was accepted, and the young
doctor soon found the practice very arduous,
being called to points throughout the county
and frequently beyond its borders. There
being no roads laid out, he was often obliged
to ride horseback through mere bridle paths
or follow the beds of the creeks, and he was
sometimes several days or perhaps a week
from the office. In those days the doctor's
office was generally attached to the residence,
and the doctor's wife had to perform the
duties of clerk as well as hostess to the various
patrons seeking attention and relief. Not
long after Dr. Mitchell's arrival Dr. French
died of consumption, and Dr. Mitchell re-
ceived his practice as well as his library and
office fixtures. He then started a drug store
in connection with his practice.
Dr. Mitchell was more than a successful
physician. He was a man of strong con-
science and an advanced thinker, and took an
active part in the progressive movements of
his time. He was a Whig in politics, was
elected for five successive years to repi-esent
his district in the State Legislature, and was
also appointed associate judge, but he pi-e-
ferred his practice and private life to making
laws. In 1823 he purchased and secured by
warrant 1.550 acres of beautiful pine timber
land in Cherryhill township, on the top of
Chestnut Ridge, laid out a village which he
named Diamondville (as it was on the most
desirable location of the tract), and started
a saw and flour mill. He was a member of the
Presb^-terian Church, and being a good singer
often acted as the precentor in the congrega-
tional singing. But he was probably best
known as an ardent abolitionist, one of those
who suffered for adherence to his convictions.
He was an open advocate of abolition from
early manhood. His boyhood was passed in
Yirginia, where slavery was then in its most
flourishing state, and he had ample opportu-
nity to judge of its merits and demerits. The
horrors he witnessed in his youth made him
vow then and there that if his life were spared
he would do all in his power to accomplish
the do^vnfall of the institution. The spectacle
of two men, slaves, working in the field with
an ox yoke around their necks, fastened it-
self upon his memory, and other ciiielties
and unrighteous features of the system in its
actual operations which he had seen in his
early life led him to sympathize deeply with
its victims and eventually to take an active
part in behalf of those who attempted to flee
from bondage. This was in 1845. Believing
that we should obey God rather than man.
that every yoke should be broken and the
oppressed go free, he acted in accordance with
his own ideas but in opposition to the Fugi-
tive Slave law which existed at that time, and
he was the only man ever prosecuted in Penn-
sylvania under the Fugitive Slave Act, passed
by Congress in 1793. About 1847 he was sum-
moned to appear before the Supreme court in
Pittsburg, to answer for the crime of har-
boring and concealing fugitive slaves. He
had three trials, gaining two and losing the
third, before a packed Democratic jury. At
786
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the first the jury disagi-eed. In those days
abolition sentiments were very unpopular,
and the United States marshal boasted that
next time he would summon a jury that
would put Mitchell through, and after his
labors were completed renewed the boast, say-
ing he had secured a jury to suit his purpose.
When the case was called up a second time,
the defense asked a postponement on the
ground that the jury had been packed and
produced evidence of the violent partisan
character and expressed opinions of its mem-
bers and the open boasts of the marshal that
they had been selected to secure a conviction.
Of the witnesses to these facts stout John
Ateheson, of Clearfield, was the principal.
* * * The defense claimed that Dr. Mitch-
ell had not concealed the men ; that they had
come to Indiana in a most deplorable condi-
tion, i. e., barefooted, with torn and bleeding
flesh, due to the long weary journey over hard
frozen country in bitter weather, were ragged,
hungry and altogether exhausted ; that they
inquired for his house one evening; had been
directed to it and seen to enter; were sent
to the ofQce of the Clarion of Freedom, upon
request, for Mr. James Moorhead, who was
editor of said paper, and were given lodging
in the office all that night. The following
morning the men were breakfasted at Dr.
Mitchell's house, and later he took them out
and bought necessary articles for them, such
as shoes, clothing etc. ; that next day they had
left town, and when captured, some weeks
afterward, were in a waste cabin on Dr. Mit-
chell's land, eight miles from his residence;
that the cabin was near and in sight of a pub-
lic road in an open field, and was often used
as a resting place by chance travelers with-
out knowledge of the owner; that the men
had been living openly in the cabin, and go-
ing out to work where they could find em-
ployment; that no one knew them to be fugi-
tive slaves; that there was no evidence that
Dr. Mitchell had any such knowledge, and
common law would require that he should have
notice that they were runaway slaves before
he could be held responsible for harboring
them as such; that a contrary ruling would
make it dangerous to show any kindness to
any unknown person, as he might be a fugi-
tive, and any chance act of benevolence thus
rendered the actor liable to heavy fines, im-
prisonment, and the payment of the money
value of the object of his charity.
To this prosecution responded that there
were no public roads in Indiana county, in
so far as the court knew; that all that was
known to the court of that county was that
it was a place which every year sent up a
tremendous Whig majority, and was there-
fore a benighted region, fit for treason, strata-
gem and spoils. To show that Dr. Mitchell
knew that the men were living in his cabin,
they produced a note taken from the pocket
of one of them who had been captured after
a desperate resistance. It was directed to a
man who lived on Dr. Mitchell's farm adjoin-
ing the cabin, and ran thus: "Kill a sheep
and give Garriet half. [Signed] Robert
Mitchell. ' '
It was readily admitted that this was no
evidence that Robert Mitchell knew that Gar-
riet Harris was a slave, nefariously intent on
robbing his master of his divine rights ; for
defendant would have given a half sheep or
whole one, wool and all, to any poor man
whom he believed to stand greatly in need of
it. But being known as an abolitionist, and
living in a county which sent in Whig ma-
jorities, it was safe to say that he had known
these men, his ragged compeers, to be slaves;
the law now claimed that they had been — i. e.,
fugitive slaves ; that he had harbored them as
such, although only two of the seven had ever
been in his house, and then with as much pub-
licity as would have attended the visit of any
pauper asking alms; that they occupied the
waste cabin by his direction, and that he in-
tended to conceal them. The judge in his
charge sustained this assumption, the jury
did their duty like Democrats, and Dr. Mitch-
ell was fined $5,000 and costs, which amounted
to $5,000 more, and his pine timber was sold
to satisfy this judgment, "for feeding the
hungiy and clothing the naked." However,
though the trial went against him, it had its
good results. When the decision against him
was rendered there was but one editor in
Pittsburg who dared to criticise it unfavor-
ably, and of that one an apology was de-
manded, on pain of prosecution. The apol-
ogy was so cleverly worded that it courted
suit, but the judge did not enter same, and
when a similar case came up in his court sev-
eral years later he charged the jury that the
defendant was entitled to an acquittal inas-
much as the prosecution had not shown that
he had notice that the man he had employed
was a fugitive slave. The lawyer who de-
fended the latter case may have been mis-
taken in thinking that fear of criticism in an
obscure weekly paper, whose editor boldly
proclaimed the power and purpose to publish
during any legal term of imprisonment in
the county jail, should reverse a legal de-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
787
cision affecting the rights and duties of every
citizen ; but those most intimately acquainted
with the case believed this to be the moving
cause of the judicial repeal of the judicial
enactment imder which Dr. Mitchell's home
in Indiana and hundreds of , acres of his land
were sold by the sheriff.
Dr. Mitchell continued to support the cause,
and he alwaj's stood high in the estimation of
his fellow citizens, not only iu his own coun-
ty but throughout the State, but he died
nine months before the triumph of his views
and the death of the institution he so ab-
horred, his life ending- April 14, 1862, shortly
before the hand of Abraham Lincoln had been
stimulated to write the Emancipation Proc-
lamation. His life closed with a calmness
and serenity long to be remembered by his
wife and six children, who witnessed the sol-
emn change. He had a slight paralytic stroke,
which had no bad effect on his mind, having
no particular disease, but a gradual decline
in strength. The gi-eat work which he saw
begun he left with all other matters which
pressed on his spirits in the hand of God. We
read in the Scriptures of "the rest that re-
maineth for the people of God." Dr. ilitchell
seemed to enter into that rest.
Although firm and unyielding in his ad-
lierence to right and duty. Dr. Mitchell was
never stei-n or hard. Though strong iu the
Christian faith which endures to the end, and
ready to do for the humblest of the race what
iie would have done for his Master, he was
"as mild and meny as if unconscious of his
danger" even when he stood between the
bloodhound and his prey. He had his share
of serious trials and troubles, losing his eldest
twin son (Matthew) by death in his twenty-
third year, and his third sou, John, a young
man of talent, who went to Kansas from love
of liberty when that State was strTiggling
for freedom, and came to his death through
the hardships aud exposures to which he was
subjected ; a non-resistant in principle, he
never carried arms. While assisting John
Brown in the siege of Lawrence he was cap-
tured, while driving a team and wagon to
Atchison for food, and died from the ex-
posure. But none of Dr. Mitchell's afflictions
ever embittered him or served to quench the
happy disposition which found its chief de-
light in administering to the physical and
mental comfort of his fellow men. After the
Presbyterian Presbytery had declared that
slavery was no bar to Christian communion,
Dr. Mitchell and his wife joined what is now
the United Presbvterian Church, then the As-
sociate Presbyterian. He always loved the
Psalms.
On April 6, 1823, Dr. Mitchell was married,
in Pittsburg, Pa., by Rev. Dr. Joseph McEl-
roy, to Jane Clark. Rev. David Blair, pastor
of the Associate Presbj-terian Church of In-
diana, Pa., their life-long friend, was per-
mitted to witness their union, and also, forty
years later, their solemn separation. The
Doctor brought his young bride on horseback
some seventy miles to the home already fur-
nished in Indiana. Many were the trials
they were called upon to meet in the forty
years they were permitted to live together,
but all was overcome by a sense of duty. ilrs.
Jlitchell proved a helpmate indeed, and a kind
and affectionate mother, her remarkably
bright and happy disposition remaining un-
changed to the very last of her life, which
covered eighty-seven years. Even at that ad-
vanced age she took a deep and active interest
in all reforms. She shared her husband's
trials and troubles in the antislavery cause,
believing in the Golden Rule of Christ, aud
taking pride in his brave stand for the right.
She was at all times considerate and hospit^
able. Her last thoughts were for the comfort
of others. Her last words were a prayer for
God's blessing upon her children. In the
latter part of her life her beautiful brow
wore a crown of suft'ering. It is a comfort to
know that she is now wearing the golden
crown of the redeemed. Dr. and Sirs. Mitchell
were blessed with eleven children, viz. : ]\Iary
Ann, who died young; Robert and Matthew,
twins, the former now living retired in the
borough of Indiana: Isabella, who maiTied
Simeon Mitchell, and they settled in Fond
du Lac. Wis., where they died; John; Anna
Mary, who lived in Indiana borough and died
Nov." 7, 1912 ; James and Jennie, living in the
borough of Indiana ; Benjamin, deceased ;
William, a resident of Indiana ; and Caroline,
Matthew Clark, father of Mrs. Jane (Clark)
Mitchell, was born in Coleraine, Ireland, in
1762, son of Francis and Mary Clark. In
1787, at the age of twenty-five, he married
Mary Moore, the daughter of William and
Mary Moore of Coleraine. By occupation he
was a glazier and reedmaker. Dr. Adam
Clark, the celebrated author of the commen-
tary on the Bible, was a cousin and contem-
porary. Rev. James Hunter was pastor of
the Associate Presbyterian Church. The
church building, still standing, at the east
end of the town, is well preser\'ed, though
part of its foundation was laid in the fifteenth
rss
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ceulury. It is a one-story red brick building.
Mr. Clark was a ruling elder of this church.
When James and Anna Mary IMitchell, his
grandchildren, brother and sister of Miss Jen-
nie Mitchell, visited the old world they saw
his name recorded on the church book and
those of his eight children as receiving the bap-
tism. They were presented a cup that was
used at the tea drinkings of the Women's Aid
Society of that church about the first of the
century.
Jane Clark first saw the light of day in
1805, in a story and a half stone house on
Meetinghouse street, Coleraine. The home
had two front windows set lengthways and a
door. The back lot slanted gradually to the
foot, where flowed the beautiful river Bann,
which .just three miles below empties into the
sea. The town is entered by means of a sub-
stantial stone bridge built in 1743, which
crosses, the Bann. Above the bridge one and
a half miles are the beautiful Salmon Falls.
On account of a continuous struggle for civic
and religious freedom and a desire to be sepa-
rated from British rule Mr. Clark longed to
Emigrate to the land of the free. His family
consisted of eight children: William, Mary,
Margaret, James and John (twins), Eliza-
beth, Samuel and Jane. In the spring of 1811
they bade farewell to their old home in Col-
eraine and set sail for the New World, and
some one commemorated the occasion thus :
On the nineteenth of May
From Lough Swillee we sailed a\v;iy.
The day bein" fine, the sky being clear,
Down the channel we did steer.
After being out to sea about two weeks the
vessel was boarded by a British man-of-war
and turned back to Ireland. The offense was
that the vessel had too many passengers
aboard, according to British law. The owner
of the vessel was an American, was tried in
Dublin, found guilty and fined £3,000. While
they lay at anchor there Elizabeth, who had
been ill when sailing, died, and was buried
on her native soil. The trial ended, they
again set sail, heading for New York. Wlien
almost within sight of that harbor they were
overtaken by a storm, and after being tossed
about for seventy-one days entered Hampton
Roads, Va., in distress, on Oct. 29th, five
months, ten days after leaving Ireland the
first time. Mr. Clark having friends in Nor-
folk, Va., dry goods merchants, Nelson & Neal,
went ashore to call on them. They visited his
family and were so attracted by the twin boys
James and John that they persuaded their
father to let them remain and learn the busi-
ness.
As the war with Great Britain was threat-
ening, Mr. Clark decided to settle in Balti-
more. Although Jane was but six years old
she remembered, the siege of the city, the
burying of their valuables, the landing of
General Ross, and often told her children of
these things and of the evils of slavery which
she witnessed while there. At the close of the
war of 1812 the family moved to Pittsburg,
making the trip over the mountains in a Con-
cstoga wagon. Here the Clarks associated
themselves with the Associate Reformed Pres-
byterian Church, now known as the Second
United Presbyterian, on Sixth street, and Mat-
thew Clark was chosen elder. Mrs. Clark died
in 1817 in her forty-ninth year, and was
buried in that churchyard. On Sept. 14, 1818,
JIatthew married Elizabeth Wallace, of Alle-
gheny county. Pa., and l)y her had five chil-
dren : James, Elizabeth, Matthew, Nancy and
Catherine. The last named daughter was
married May 24, 1853, to Rev. John Comin,
D. D., of Muskingum county, Ohio, and they
had nine children, three sons and six daugh-
ters; they all graduated at Muskingum Col-
lege, the three sons studied for the ministry,
and the six daughters married United Pres-
liyterian ministers.
In Rayne township, Indiana county, there
resided on a flue farm Mr. James Getty. Hav-
ing relatives by the same name living in Pitts-
burg, near neighboi-s of Matthew Clark, he
made them a visit. He soon became enamored
of Margaret Clark, and in April, 1819, they
were married, and he brought her to his coun-
try home. Towards fall Margaret, becoming
very homesick and lonely, succeeded in per-
suading her youngest sister, Jane, to make
her a visit. Accompanied by Mr. Getty they
set out in the late fall, on horseback. Being
handsome and affable, she no doubt attracted
some attention in the country.
On alternate Sabbaths it was customary for
the Presbyterians and Associate Presbyter-
ians to worship in the courthouse. One Sab-
bath morning, it being fine sleighing. James
Getty brought his wife and Jane Clark to
town to church in the courthouse. The ser-
vices having begun when they entered. Dr.
Mitchell was standing in front of the judge's
bench, leading the congregational singing. As
they entei'cd the door, his eyes met Jane
Clark's for the first time. It was love at first
sight. It did not take the Doctor long to fuid
an occasion to glide over the snow to call on
the city girl. He rather informally invited
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
789
her to take a long sleighi-ide, which she im-
mediately declined to do on such short ac-
quaintance. When this became known among
the country girls it caused considerable amuse-
ment. But the Doctor was not discouraged,
believing that faint heart ue 'er won fair lady,
continued his suit, and told her afterward that
he respected her more than ever after the
setback. Dr. Mitchell died April 14, 1862, his
wife Sept. 7, 1890.
ROBERT MITCHELL, a venerable citizen
of Indiana borough, now living retired, is one
of its oldest native-born residents, having been
born there Nov. 10, 1826. He is a son of Dr.
Robert ilitchell, who was the second physi-
cian to settle in Indiana county. (See above.)
Mr. Mitchell obtained his education in the
common schools and academy of Indiana. Ac-
quiring an interest in a pine timber sawmill
and country store at what is now the site of
Mitchells Mills, Indiana county, he moved to
that location with his family in the fall of
1849, taking charge of the business, to which
he devoted the principal part of his attention
for the next thirty-five years. For years dur-
ing that period he also served as postmaster.
In the year 1884 Mr. Mitchell returned to In-
diana, where he became engaged in farming
and banking, and he is now the only survivor
of the band of men who organized the Farm-
ers' Bank of Indiana; he is still serving as a
director of that institution. He is also largely
interested in timber and coal lands, and con-
tinues to manage his affairs with the same
ability and acumen which have always charac-
terized his business transactions. Like his
father, he has always taken the interest of a
highly public-spirited citizen in matters af-
fecting the general welfare. He was one of
the spectators at LaFayette Hall, Pittsburg,
when the Republican party was organized,
having attended with his father, who was a
delegate to the convention. Originally he was
a Free-soiler in his political opinions, joining
the Republican pai'ty upon its formation. He
is a member of the United Presbyterian
Church. Mr. Mitchell was one of the first
men at Indiana to subscribe to the Y. M. C. A.,
whose building was erected in 1912, and with
oue exception has been the most liberal con-
tributor to its work at that point. In fact it
was due to his generosit.y that the committee
in charge of the campaign was encouraged to
go ahead with the undertaking. When the di-
rectors were planning for the laying of the
cornerstone it was the unanimous opinion of
the board that Mr. Mitchell should have the
honor, because of his age, long residence in
the town and honorable standing, to say noth-
ing of his special interest in the work, and
he took great pride in accepting. He is now
seiwing as one of the trustees.
On Feb. 11, 1862, Mr. Mitchell was mar-
ried, near Corsica, Jefferson Co., Pa., to Mar-
garet Burnham, of that county, daughter of
Charles C. and Susan (Stearn) Burnham;
I\lr. Burnham served in the war of 1812 in the
company of which his father-in-law was cap-
tain. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell was born one
child. Flora Jane, who is at home with her
parents.
DR. ROBERT JOHNSTON MARSHALL
was a resident of Blairsville from April, 1827,
to April, 1891. a period of sixtj--four years.
He was born and reared on a farm near Green-
castle, Franklin Co., Pa., four miles out from
town, and educated at the cooiitry school,
Chambersburg, Pa., Cumberland, Md., and
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. In
1830 he was married to Jane Stewart Lough-
rey, of Circleville, Ohio, daughter of John
Loughre.y, who resided in the early settlement
of this section near Beulah Church and at
Indiana ; he was a man eminent in all good
work and in tlie enterprises of the time.
There were twelve children born to this union,
Mary Eliza, ]Martin Henry, George Hill,
]\Iargaret Florence, Clara Jane and Jessie
Cornelia being the only ones remembered by
Thomas Davis, seventh and youngest son, the
compiler of this sketch. The others died prior
to his recollection. Dwight at the a;ze of eleven,
and the rest in infancy. Henry Martin died
at the age of sixteen as the result of a skating
accident. Mary' married Orr Lawson. a
Presbyterian minister, and died at New
London, Iowa. They had a son, J. M. Lawson,
now an attorney at law, in Aberdeen, and a
daughter, Mrs. Mabel Neff, a practicing phy-
sician (she has a daughter Dorothy and a son
Philip). Clara married David Jackson, and
she and her husband died at Carthage, . ]Mo.
Her two daughters, Mary and Jean, live in
Joplin. Mo., and one son, Hugh, also lives in
that part of the State of Missouri, ilargaret,
who died in January, 1891, was a brilliant
woman, one who made the most of her oppor-
tunities and got much out of life; she was
a leader in social, intellectual and musical
circles. Jessie married Dr. George "W. Bean,
of Kansas City, Kansas, she and her
brothers George and Thomas being the
only surAavors of the family. George is
a physician and has resided most of
his life in Pittsburg. During the CiAal war
he first enlisted in the State service, and then
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tried to enlist in the United States service,
but was rejected by the surgeon. Later he
tried again and was accepted in the signal
corps, and served until the end of the war.
Mr. Thomas D. Marshall says of his father :
"AVhen I think of my father I recall these
words of Holy Writ, 'Like as a father pitieth
his children, so the Lord pitieth them that
fear Him.' I am very sure my father loved
his children and that they loved him. The
aged pastor George Hill, D. D., at the last
rites of his career said in part of him : ' He
possessed a spirit that loved and cheered
others, that was ever diligent in trying to min-
ister to the sick and suffering, that enjoyed
living and helped others to enjoy it. As an
evidence that he was a child of God he loved
God's house and His people.' Dr. James M.
Stewart, one of the celebrities of the profes-
sion in this part of the State, and who was
located at Indiana, Pa., was fond of my father,
as were other doctors of the time and of this
locality. He had numerous friends in the
profession and among ministers, attorneys
and others. Among these and during the lat-
ter part of his life were Judge Telford and
S. M. Jack. Harry White, Wilson Taylor
and others knew and appreciated him in the
years prior to this. Washington Atlee, M. D.,
who became very celebrated, was a classmate
of my father. The father of George B. Mc-
Clellan, the general, was his preceptor at
medical college. The pioneer doctor rode
horses and rode rather long distances. They
used to have horses that were fine walkers and
pacers. Dr. James Smith, a schoolmate of
my father at Cumberland, Md., told the writer
that he used to, rather frequently, start at
nightfall to ride, when the snow was fall-
ing, into the mountain fastnesses as far as
fifty miles. The early doctor got closer to his
patients than many of the doctors do now.
I remember my father having a call to see a
woman in a condition that required quick
treatment to save her life. The circumstances
were such that ethics was in the way, but he
said, 'Ethics to the winds, when human life
is at stake,' and went at once; the woman re-
covered. In another case, when he was past
seventy years of age, in the wintertime, a
call came for him at midnight to go to the top
of the ridge to minister to a suffering woman.
The woman's husband reported that he had
first tried to get three other doctors, who
were younger, and failed. Likely the man
was poor and not able to pay much. My fa-
ther went. He died in April, the same month
he commenced life in Blairsville, aged eighty-
six. The October previous he went to a func-
tion at Dr.'Klingensmith's and as late as one
o'clock at night spoke for twenty minutes,
during which time his audience laughed much
and heartily at his exhibitions of wit and
humor.
"There is one picture that often comes to
my mind. It is the picture of my father at
the age of twenty-four, standing in front of
his father's farm home. His parents and
other members of the family gathered there
to bid him farewell. He was just starting to
Blairsville, in western Pennsylvania, to com-
mence life as a village doctor. His father
gave him the horse, with a saddle and bridle
and ten dollars, and this was his capital to
commence life. I can see them as the last
words were spoken and the start was made to
ride away over the many mountain chains.
I can often see him as he pursued his lonely
way. I can see him as he rode up the village
street here and as he entered the inn which
became his first home in Blairsville. The
Pennsylvania canal was being rapidly con-
structed. Noble Nesbit, a merchant, who
built the corner where M. G. Miller now lives
and does business, had written him to come to
Blairsville, that it was a coming town."
The following poem was a tribute to Dr.
Marshall :
A Doctor of the Old School.
I can see him in the long ago,
With his beard as white as snow,
Hanging below his 'chin;
The hair on his head was white and tliin.
His face, a face beloved by all,
A forehead broad and grand and tall;
The sparkle of life in his dark brown eyes;
To look in them was to Tea,\ize
That the soul within was great and good;
Kindness and charity he understood;
Stooped were his shoulders and frail his frame;
Old Doctor Marshall — that was his name.
Our old family doctor — everybody's friend;
Always ready his helping hand to lend;
Simple were his manners and gentle his ways,
A little old-fashioned as they say nowadays.
But he gave to all the best he had,
And many were the hearts that he made glad.
He was all that was noble and great and grand,
Yet so humble a servant that all could command — •
The rich, the poor were alike to him.
Not to answer a call he deemed a sin;
His work he held sacred, his calling high.
As now I see his goodness, methinks you and I
Might well emulate his goodness and beauty,
By mixing his virtues with our own daily duty;
He lived true to his calling, God's tool,
tor he was a doctor of the old, old school.
Arthur G. Bosler.
"What shall I say of my mother? By na-
ture she was a noblewoman. Her everyday
life showed that she had been touched by a
Divinity. She had a religion, the Christian
'T^mjJ./iAXv^Ji-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
791
religion, and she lived it. Her belief
and faith was of a remarkable kind, as was
her vision. She was at many a sickbed acting
as nurse. She was ever alert in trying to
minister all she could to cheer evei-yone on
the way, to give aid to the sick and suffer-
ing, to the needy. Her sympathies led her to
reach toward all that needed sympathy, and
in all directions. The people said of my
mother that she was a good woman and I
think they were right. She was also a home
maker and a homekeeper. But my mother
was only a sample of many others of the
time. A couple of years before her death she
went to reside with a daughter at Independ-
ence, Kans., and there she crossed the river to
the other shore."
Thomas Davis Mai'shall was so called for
his mother's first pastor, as were many oth-
ers. Likely he was the last one named in his
honor, in any event it was some little time
after Rev. Thomas Davis had departed from
this world, ilr. Marshall was horn in the
same house where he now lives. At the
age of sixteen he went to Columbus, Ohio,
where he lived with an uncle who established
a prominent public institiWion there, the first
west of the mountains. He was in two dif-
ferent offices there, and while at that place
united with the First Presbyterian Church,
of which his uncle was an elder. He returned
home from there to renew school life. His
next position was with a diy goods house in
Philadelphia, and after filling it for a short
time he traveled successfully for three dif-
ferent wholesale drug houses in Philadelphia.
He had two retail drug stores in Pittsburg.
For a short time he was a Pullman conductor.
In 1876, Centennial year, he operated excur-
sions to the Centennial in Philadelphia, and
ranked second only to the man who took ex-
cursions out of Pittsburg. For four years he
was resident partner of R. P. Briggs & Co., of
Amesbury. Mass., being located in Baltimore
in charge of the business there. Since then
he has engaged in the drug business, newspa-
per writing, and other things.
Mr. Marshall has always been a strong ad-
vocate of right living. He believes in civic
pride and that there is a woeful lack of it.
It is the spirit of civic pride that studies and
makes history. Without it no man can be
what he should be and without it no com-
munity or state or country can be what it
should be. If sublime lives have been lived,
then men can have no better inspiration than
to study these lives and ever strive to imitate
them.
In October, 1889, ilr. ^Marshall married
Lillian Louise Kiefer, formerly of Allegheny.
The Kiefers were a family who followed the
business of tanning leather, operating very
extensive tanneries in Allegheny. To one of
these tanneries Andrew Carnegie delivered
messages when a youth and messenger for a
telegraph company. The Kiefer and Hammer
families were among the first settlers in Pitts-
burg, commencing life there when it was a
small village. The connection of these families
is very large. Charles G. Hammer, Mrs.
Thomas D. ^Marshall's maternal grandfather,
was one of Pittsburg's earlj' and most prom-
inent furniture manufacturers, the firm being
Hammer & Dauler ; the house still continues as
Dauler. Close & Johns. Mr. Marshall appre-
ciates his wife greatly, and gives her all credit
for the harmonious and delightful home life
the family enjoy. They have one son and one
daughter. The latter, who is two years older
than her brother, has the family name, Clar-
ine Loughrej' ; she is now at Bethany College,
"West Virginia. The son is named Robert
Johnston Wanamaker, for his grandfather
and for John Wanamaker, who is an old
friend of his father. He is at present in
the country, recuperating from a spell of
illness. Like his sister he is a graduate of
Blairsville high school, under Principal H.
D. Condron, and both aim to pursue their ed-
ucation farther.
CLINTON DAVIS GORilAN, extensively
engaged in farming in Montgomery township,
Indiana county, has had other business inter-
ests there at various times, but at present is
giving his attention principally to agriculture.
He is a native of the to^Tiship, born May 3,
1859, son of James and Sarah Lydick Gor-
man.
The Gorman family has been in this part
of Pennsylvania for several generations. Dan-
iel Gorman, great-grandfather of Clinton D.
Gorman, came from the State of Indiana up
the river to Leechburg, Armstrong Co., Pa.,
and afterward lived at Hannastown, which
is in Westmoreland county, Pa. In January,
1798, he married Margaret Watson, of Leech-
burg, who died in the fall of that year leaving
an infant son, David.
David Gorman, son of Daniel, was born
Oct. 14. 1798, at Hannastown, and died Nov.
17. 1840, in Indiana county, aged fort.y-two
years, one month, three days. On Dec. 31.
1818, he was married, in Armstrong county,
Pa., by William Watson, Esq., to Jane George,
who was born Oct. 27, 1794, at Hagerstown,
792
PIISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Md., and died in Indiana county, Pa., May
14, 1882, aged eighty-seven years, six months,
seventeen days. She was one of the family of
seven children born to Samuel and Martha
(Dunlap) George, natives of County Derry,
Ireland, both of whom were born in May,
1754. They were married in May, 1776, and
came to America in 1794, landing at New-
castle, Del. Samuel George died in October,
1840, his wife in October, 1850. To Mr. and
Mrs. Gorman were born the following chil-
dren: (1) John W., born Sept. 30, 1819, in
Armstrong county, died Oct. 21, 1892. (2)
Samuel G., born Jan. 29, 1821, in Armstrong
county, died Oct. 23, 1859. On Nov. 7, 1849,
he married Carolina Burkett, the ceremony
being performed by Rev. M. Whipple. (3)
David G., born Api-il 2, 1823, in Armstrong
county, was married by Rev. John Caruthers
Oct. 14, 1845, to Christina Fry, who was
bom Oct. 10, 1827, and their children were
bom as follows: David A., April 15, 1848
(married May 3, 1870, by Rev. M. J. Sleppy,
to R. J. Shaffer) ; Jane E.. Sept. 3, 1849 (mar-
ried Sept. 17, 1872, bv Rev. McCaldwell, to
James A. Whiting) ; IMartha G.. Sept. 27,
1851 (married John H. Reed March 3, 1873,
James Campbell, Esq., performing the cere-
monv) ; Mary C, July 14, 1853 (married Jan.
4, 1872, by D. G. Gorman, Esq., to R. R.
Buchanan) ; William W., Jan. 31, 1856 (mar-
ried August, 1880. by J. L. Smith, Esq., to A.
Jennie Smith); Delila P., Feb. 11. 1858;
Nancy, May 26, 1860 (married Wilson Hurd
Jan. 1, 1880, Charles McMasters, Esq., per-
forming the ceremony) ; Sarah E., July 25,
1863 (married April 9, 1891, by Rev. H. W.
Closson, to J. P. Strasler) ; Henry J., May 21,
1866: John W., Oct. 18, 1869. All of these
were living in 1892. (4) Martha D., bom Feb.
18, 1825, in Armstrong county, was married
Feb. 3, 1847, to Jacob Smethers. (5) Daniel,
born Dec. 31, 1826. in Araistrong county, died
Oct. 4, 1885. On Oct. 9, 1851. he married
Maria Neff. (6) Elizabeth M., born Jan. 23,
1829, in Indiana county, died Jan. 11. 1854.
(7) James is mentioned below. (8) William,
bom May 16, 1833, in Indiana county, died
May 4, 1852. (9) Alexander, born Oct. 22.
1836, in Indiana county, was married Feb. 10,
1870, by D. G. Gorman, Esq., to Mrs. E. C.
Cook.
James Gorman was born in Indiana county
May 29, 1831, and lived in Montgomeiy town-
ship from the age of nine years until his death.
He passed all his life on a farm, engaging in
farming and lumbering, and was not only
successful in the management of his own af-
fairs but a useful public servant, holding the
office of justice of the peace for ten years
(after the Civil war) and serving for years
as a member of the township school board. In
1862 he enlisted in the Union army, becoming
a member of Company I, 84th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, later of Company K,
same regiment. He was wounded at the battle
of Chancellorsville, the bullet entering the
arm and passing through the body, and was
discharged on account of his injuries. Mr.
Gorman died June 11, 1910, aged seventy-nine
years. His wife died Nov. 3, 1902, at the age
of seventy-two. They were married Jan. 30,
1855, by Rev. M. Lloyd.
Clinton Davis Gorman was educated in the
public schools in Montgomery township.
When he became of age he was working as a
woodsman and river driver on the Susque-
hanna, continuing in the employ of others for
seven years and at the age of twenty-seven
entering the business on his own account. He
gave his entire time to that line for seven
years, and was interested in lumbering there-
after to a greater or less extent until 1902.
Meantime he had also acquired farm inter-
ests, and in 1904 became proprietor of the
"Wilgus Hotel" at Wilgus, Indiana county,
which he conducted for three years, also carry-
ing on his agricultural work during that time.
Since 1907 he has devoted practically all his
time to farming, having a tract of 280 acres
in Montgomery township which is under excel-
lent cultivation and steadily increasing in
value under his capable management. Mr.
Gorman leases coal lands on royalty to the
Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company. He is
a thorough and diligent worker, making the
most of his facilities and opportunities, and
has made a substantial place for himself among
the successful men of his township. He is a
member of the Christian Church, and a Re-
publican in political sentiment.
On Nov. 19, 1882, Mr. Gorman man-ied
Essie Galeina Bennett, and they have had four
children: James Doyle, who is engaged in
mining and lives at home ; Orpha Rose, at
home; Isaac Lloyd, who has been engaged at
plastering and is now lumbering, also living
at home ; and Ora Belle, who graduated from
the State normal school at Indiana, Pa., and is
now a teacher in the Carnegie Institute.
Isaac S. Bennett, father of Mrs. Clinton
Davis Gorman, was born Dec. 19. 1836, in
York county. Pa., whence he came to Indiana
county in boyhood. He settled in IMontgom-
ei-y township, where he continued to live until
his death, Nov. 19, 1891. By occupation he
^^^^(^fc^l
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
793
■was a fanuer and lumberman. During the
Civil war he enlisted in Company C, 206th
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
and sei"ved to the close of the conflict, coming
back to Indiana county. He married Lucy
Jane Reed, a native of New York, born Feb.
9, ISSi, who was ten years old when she came
to Indiana county. She died March 22, 1907.
ilrs. Bennett was a Methodist in religious con-
nection, and a devoted church worker.
JA]\IES NELSON STEWART, of Indi-
ana, has been engaged in farming and stock
dealing for over forty years except during
the time he has held public office, and he
has been a successful man in his various un-
dertakings, having done well in business and
made an excellent record as a public servant.
He is a native of Indiana county, born June
11, 1848, on a fann in Brushvalley township.
William Stewart, the great-grandfather of
James Nelson Stewart, was an Englishman
of Irish descent. He came to this country in
Colonial times, and fought under Washing-
ton in 1776. After living for some time in
Maryland he moved thence to Franklin
county, Pennsjdvania.
James Stewart, son of William, fought in
the war of 1812. He mai'ried Margaret
Gribson, and they afterward moved to what
is now Indiana count.v, taking up land in
Brushvalley township, where they lived and
died. Two of their sons. William and Sam-
uel, were physicians, and both practiced at
Armagh, Indiana county, where they died.
Another son. David, was a farmer; and there
were three daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth
and Rebecca.
James Gibson Stewart, son of James and
IMargaret (Gibson) Stewart, was born in
1818 in Brushvalley township, Indiana
county, and he inherited the old home fann
there. But 'he sold that place and bought
another, near Armagh, upon which he passed
the remainder of his life, dying there in
1876. This family have all been Presbyte-
rians. He was a Republican in political sen-
timent. He married Rebecca Loughry,
daughter of James Loughiy. and she sur-
vived him. dying in Indiana in 1887, at the
age of seventy-two years. They Avere the
parents of three children: James Nelson;
A. Lizzie, who taught school for many years,
and died unmarried; and Wilson L., an at-
torney, who died in Indiana.
James Nelson Stewart grew to manhood in
Brushvalley township, and had such advan-
tages as the district schools of the time af-
forded. The rest of his education was ac-
quired after he got out into the world, and
experience has been his best teacher. He
was reared to fanning from his earliest boy-
hood, and in 1871 began farming and stock
dealing on his own account, moving into the
borough of Indiana in 1876. However, he
has not devoted all his time to business, hav-
ing been quite active in the public service
and a leading member of the Republican
party in his county. He was elected regis-
ter and recorder of Indiana county, serving
two successive terms in that office, 1896-1902,
and he has been connected with the revenue
department as storekeeper, holding that of-
f.ce in the Twenty-third district for eight
.vears. While in office he gave up farming
and stock dealing entirely. Besides his
other business interests Mr. Stewart is a di-
rector of the Savings & Tnist Bank of In-
diana, and he served on the building com-
mittee when the fine building of that insti-
tution was erected in Indiana. Mr. Stew-
art was reared in the Presbyterian faith, but
is a member of the 'M. E. Church.
On Feb. 21. 1871, Mr. Stewart was mar-
ried to Louisa J. Rowland, who is of Welsh
descent, being a daughter of John and Jane
(Conrad) Rowland. They have had two
children: (1) Charles Rowland, boi-n in
Brushvalley IMay 12, 1873, began his edu-
cation in the common schools of Indiana bor-
ough, later attending the State normal school
at Indiana for some time, and he then took
a four years' course in the medical school
of the t^niversitj' of Pennsylvania, at Phila-
delphia, graduating with the class of 1899.
He began practice at Allegheny, Pa., where
he has ever since been located. In June,
1903, he married Mary Alice Young, of Al-
legheny, and they have one son, James N.,
Jr. (2) Harry Miles was born in Indiana
April 12, 1878. and after graduating there
from public school took a course at the State
normal school, leaving to assume the posi-
tion of deputy register and i-ecorder under
his father. He served faithfully and well
in that office. Before his term was out he
enlisted, at the age of twenty, with Com-
pany F, 5th Regiment, N. G. P., for service
in the Spanish-American war. At IMount
Gretna he became a member of the United
States hospital corps. While the army was
encamped at Chickamauga he did noble work
among the sick, laboring indefatigably until
one day in the midst of his duties he was
stricken with typhoid fever. He was sent
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
home in Governor Hastings's hospital train,
but had to be taken from the train when he
reached Greensburg, being there for ten
■weeks before he could be brought home to
iBdiana. While at Chickamauga he was the
correspondent of the Indiana Messenger, and
his vivid descriptions and news pleased and
consoled many at home. He received bis
honorable discharge from the service Dee.
15 1898 He then decided to study medi-
cine, and entered Jefferson Medical CoUege,
Philadelphia, where his musical ability made
him very popular socially. He was very
nroficient in his studies, but ill health inter-
fered and he died Jan. 20, 1903. He was
a member of the M. E. Church at Indiana.
Mr. Stewart was unmarried.
HARVEY S. BUCHANAN, former auditor
of Indiana county and a well-known resident
of Indiana, where he has maintained his home
for the last fifteen years, was born m Rayne
township, this county. Oct. 3, I860, son of
George Buchanan and grandson of William
Buchanan. The family is of Scotch-Irish ex-
traction, and Mr. Buchanan's grandfather
was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, of Scotch
parentage. He and his wife came to this coun-
try from the North of Ireland, after their
marriage, and settled first in Butler county.
Pa where he followed farming and distilling.
Thence they removed to Westmoreland coun-
ty Pa where he died, in Loyalhanna town-
ship His children were: William, Arthur,
John, George, Frances, Margaret, and maybe
others. „ .^t c?
George Buchanan, father of Harvey b-
Buchanan, was born in 1810 in Butler county.
Pa and in his youth attended the country
schools near home. When a boy he would
gather hickory bark after his work was done,
to make a fire bright enough to enable him to
study evenings, and by perseverance he be-
came a well-educated man, following school
teaching for some time. He learned the trade
of carpenter, and was engaged principally as
a cabinetmaker and farmer. After his mar-
riage he located in Loyalhanna township,
Westmoreland county, where he was em-
ployed at his trade, and thence removed to
Rayne township, Indiana county, where he
passed the remainder of his life, dying there
in 1861, when fifty-one years of age. He was
a devout member of the Wesleyan Methodist
Church and became quite well known in that
denomination, being a local preacher. But his
absorbing public interest was the subjection
of slavery and the slave trafiQc. He threw all
his influence into the antislavery cause, and
being endowed with considerable talent as a
campaigner and public speaker took consid-
erable part in the abolition movement in that
capacity, as well as in his connection with the
"underground railway," by means of which
he helped many slaves to escape and gain
their freedom. He was always outspoken and
uncompromising in his stand against slavery,
and having the courage of his convictions and
the gift of presenting his views well was a
strong influence in the antislavery ranks for
a number of years. In his earlier manhood
Mr. Buchanan was a Free-soiler, the only
one in Loyalhanna township, and he joined
the Republican party upon its fonnation. His
wife, Ann (Irwin), was born in 1820 in Ire-
land, and early left an orphan, coming to
America with her father's people when twelve
years old. She died Api;il 2, 1892, in Mechan-
icsburg, Indiana count}% aged seventy-two
years. She, too, was a member of the Wes-
leyan Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Bu-
chanan had a family of six sons and three
daughters, the daughters dying in infancy.
The others were : William L. ; James S., of
Rayne township ; George, who is deceased ; Dr.
John I., deceased; Cyrus A., of Indiana; and
Harvey S.
Harvey S. Buchanan obtained his primary
education in the public schools and later was
a student at the Kelleysburg academy, taught
by Judge J. P. Elkin, and at Marion Center
academy, taught by Prof. Samuel Wolf, at
one time county superintendent of schools.
Mr. Buchanan then engaged in teaching, which
profession he followed for eight years in his
native county. At the end of that time he
went West, t'o the State of Kansas, and after
teaching there for three terms went out to
Colorado, where he taught one term. Return-
ing to Kansas he settled at Waldo, where he en-
gaged in general merchandising, carrying on
that business for one year, until he returned
to Indiana county. Pa. Settling at Mechanics-
burg, he became interested in mercantile busi-
ness there, in 1887, continuing same until
1895 at that point. He then purchased a
store at Claridge, Westmoreland county, which
he conducted for one year, and during the
next year he was connected with a coal com-
pany store at Matewan, W. Va., returning
thence to his home county. He has since
made his home in Indiana borough, having
purchased the property at No. 326 Thirteenth
street, where he resides.
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
r!)5
Mr. Buchanau sel■^•ed two terms of three
years each as couuty auditor, to which office
he was tirst elected in l'J02, being honored
with reelection in 1905. He served with honor
to himself and his constituents, making a
highly creditable record in this important of-
fice. 'For six years, 1906 to 1912, Mr. Bu-
chanan was bookkeeper at the Indiana Woolen
Mills, and he is now engaged as a traveling
salesman. In every association he has proved
himself a man of honor and capacity, and he
is esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Bu-
chanan is a member of the Wesleyan Metho-
dist Church and active in its work, having
served as steward. In political connection he
is a member of the Prohibition party.
On Nov. 3, 1897, Mr. Buchanan was mar-
ried to Yenola "Waltmire, daughter of John
A. and Susan Waltmire, of Indiana, and they
have a family of five children, namely : An-
nie Zoe, Alice A., Esther V. and JMarion W.
(twins) and Harvey I\I.
HUGH DIXON TOilB lives upon the old
Tomb homestead in East Wheatfield township,
Indiana county, where he was born Nov. 19,
1863, son of John D. Tomb. The Tombs are
among the oldest families in that section, hav-
ing been here since 1792. The family was
originally Scotch, but for generations resided
in Couuty Armagh, Ireland.
David Tomb, the founder of this branch of
the family in Indiana county, was born about
1760 in County Antrim, Ireland, and was
reared there. His father, William Tomb, of
County Armagh, had a family of seven chil-
dren, named as follows: John, who came to
America in 1790 ; Hugh, who remained in the
old country ; David ; Catharine, who married
James Anderson ; ]\Iary, who married Rich-
ard Dempse,y; Elizabeth, who married Alex-
ander Camathan ; and Margaret Jane, who
man-ied William Parker and (second) James
Graham. ^Margaret Jane was the first settler
in Armagh. Indiana Co., Pa., Avith the ex-
ception of Richard Dempsey, who married
her sister Mary Tomb. All the rest of the
family settled in what is now East Wheatfield
township, in 1792.
David Tomb came to America with other
members of the family in 1792, locating in
what is now East Wheatfield township, one
and a half miles east of Armagh, which was
then a part of Westmoreland county. Here
he became the owner of 250 acres of land
near Armagh, the oldest town in the county,
in what was then a wilderness, and on which
he erected a log house and log stable. In-
dians were still plentiful in this region, and
one of their graveyards was on his farm.
Here he hewed out a home for himself and
spent the remainder of his life on the farm,
doing what he could to clear it up and im-
prove it. By hard work and intelligent ef-
forts he succeeded in making the land pro-
ductive. He and his brother John jjatented
a tract of over two thousand acres on Black-
lick creek. He died on his farm Aug. 23, 1838,
at the age of seventy-eight years, and was bur-
ied in Bethel Church cemetery, in what is
now West Wheatfield township. The family
were members of the Associate Reformed
Church, which later became the United Pres-
bjterian Church. He married Elizabeth Dick-
son, who was born about 1770 and died in
1851, aged eighty-four years, and was laid to
rest in Bethel Church cemetery. She was
a member of the U. P. Church. Nine chil-
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tomb : Cath-
arine; Hugh; John, who max-ried Frances
Shaw; ilary (Polly), who married Samuel
Killin; Richard Dickson; Jane; William;
Elizabeth, who married John Buchanan ; and
David, born in 1809, who married Angelina
Killin (he was justice of the peace for fifteen
Hugh Tomb, the eldest son of David, was
boi-n in Wheatfield township March 1, 1794.
What education he received was obtained in
the subscription schools of that day, and he
could attend only three months or less each
year. Yet he became a weU-read man for his
day. He grew up on the farm, working with
his father, and helped while still young to
clear the land. For a period he worked on the
construction of the Pennsylvania canal, as a
hewer of timber, being engaged on the con-
struction work from Blairsville to Johnstown.
He also hewed most of the timber used in the
consti-uction of the Conemaugh and Baker
furnaces, and hewed timber used in the con-
struction of log houses and barns in that sec-
tion. He settled down to farming in that
part of the township now known as East
AVheatfield, on a tract of 160 acres, which he
bought from Judge Thomas White, father of
Judge Harry White. Here he erected a log
house, the logs for which were hewed by him-
self, and a part of this house is still standing,
now being used as a tinshop by Hugh D.
Tomb. He made this house large and com-
fortable, and it was his home for the re-
mainder of his life. He worked hard to clear
up and cultivate his farm, upon which he died
Rlarch 12, 1863 ; he was buried in the family
lot in Bethel cemetery. Mr. Tomb was a
796
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Democrat iu politics, and took considerable
interest in local ait'airs, serving the township
as tax collector and doing his share toward
the establishing of the public school system.
He was enterprising and progressive, keeping
abreast of his day and generation. On Dec.
31, 1818, Mr. Tomb married Agnes Devlin,
daughter of Samuel Devlin, who died Jan.
30, 1823, aged forty-eight years. Mrs. Tomb
died on the farm, and was buried in Bethel
Church cemetery. She was the mother of thir-
teen children : Samuel Devlin, born Jan. 30,
1820, married Maria Ijouisa McCartney;
David, born Nov. 10, 1821, married Matilda
Clark and (second) Jane Bracken; John D.,
born Sept. 6, 1823, married Lucinda Hutchi-
son ; William D., born Jan. 19, 1825, mai-ried*
Ellen McKelvey, and resides at New Flor-
ence, Pa.; George Washington, born March
30, i827, married Mary Ling and (second)
Elizabeth Bracken and resides at Armagh,
Pa. ; Richard D., born Jan. 15, 1829, married
Emily Clark, and died in Armagh; Robert
J., born Jan. 30, 1831, married Fannie B.
Shearer and (second) Maiy A. Hill; DeWitt
Clinton, born Dee. 19, 1833, married Mary
Berkey and resides at New Florence^ Pa.;
Benjamin Franklin, born July 14, 1835, was
a physician and died in Johnstown, Pa. (he
married Sarah Odell) ; Archibald D., born
April 11, 1837, married Amanda Dill, and
died iu New Florence, Pa.; Matilda Devlin,
twin of Archibald, died in 1842; James F.,
born Jan. 30, 1840, died March 6, 1842 ; James
F. (2), born March 17, 1842, resides at New
Florence, Pennsylvania.
John D. Tomb, son of Hugh and Agues
(Devlin) Tomb, was born on the homestead
Sept. 6, 1823, and attended the log school in
the neighborhood. He worked at home in his
boyhood and youth, and then learned black-
sniithing at Jobnstowu, afterward following
that trade at Armagh, in East Wheatfield
township. Later he returned to the home-
stead, where he erected a shop and followed
his trade the rest of his active life, also cul-
tivating the place, which comprised 260 acres.
He erected a dwelling and made many other
improvements, and built a home near by for
his parents, caring for them faithfully in
their old age. He himself attained a ripe old
age, dying on the farm, and he was buried
in the Presbyterian Church cemetery. He
was a member of that church. In politics he
was a Democrat, and he served his fellow citi-
zens as school director. He married Lucinda
Hutchison, daughter of Robert and Agnes
(Steele) Hutchison, and she survives him,
making her home with her son John Calvin
iu East Wheatfield township. Seven children
were born to this union: Joseph, who is de-
ceased; George Steele, who died when four-
teen months old; Robert Anderson, who lives
in Vandergrift, Pa. ; Nancy Jane, who mar-
ried Joshua Cole ; Hugh Dixon ; Blanche, who
died young ; and John Calvin.
Hugh Dixon Tomb had such educational ad-
vantages as the public schools near the home-
stead afforded. He worked at home until
seventeen years old, when he went to Johns-
town, there learning the trade of tinsmith with
W. W. Pike, with whom he worked for three
and a half years. Thence he went to Derry,
Westmoreland county, and worked one year
for J. W. Valentine. Returning home in 1887
he worked with his father the next four years,
also following his trade. In 1891 he took full
charge of the cultivation of the homestead,
his father removing to the home he had
erected for his father. Mr. Tomb continues
to work at his trade in connection with farm-
ing, having for a workshop the log house
erected by his grandfather, as previously
stated. He has also done work in that line
all over Indiana county. For fourteen years
he has been extensively interested in dairy-
ing, shipping his milk to the Johnstown Sani-
tary Dairy Company, at Johnstown, Pa. He
has been successful in all his undertakings,
and is one of the prosperous residents of his
township. He has served six years as school
director, during three years of that time act-
ing as president of the board and the other
three years as secretary. He has been a tee-
totaler all his life, and gives his vote to the
support of the Prohibition party. In church
association he is a Presbyterian, belonging to
the church at Armagh, which he has sei'ved
twenty years as elder, for a long period as
Sunday school teacher and for thirteen years
as superintendent of the Sunday school.
On May 29, 1890, Mr. Tomb was married,
iu Buffington township, this county, to Delia
Conrad, a native of that township, daughter
of William and Lucinda (Evans) Conrad,
and she died June 15, 1897, the mother of four
children. She was a member of the Baptist
Church of Dilltown. On March 23, 1898, Mr.
Tomb married (second) Mary A. Altemus, of
Buffington township, daughter of Nicholas
and Cordilla (Wolfe) Altemus, and by this
marriage there are seven children. Mr. Tomb's
children were born as follows: Lucinda
Blanche, June 1, 1891 (at home) ; William
Boyd, March 18, 1892 (at home) ; John Bion,
May 29, 1895 ; Mary Viola, June 1, 1896 (died
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
797
in infancy); Joshua Roscoe, Dec. 27, 1898;
James Miles, March 26, 1900; Dora Cather-
ine, Oct. 29, 1902; Henrv Alvin, April 25,
1904 ; Walter Frederick, Jan. 22, 1907 ; Elsie
Cordelia, Aug. 19, 1909; Hallie Elda, Sept.
16, 1912.
John Calvin Tomb, youngest son of
John D. Tomb, was bom on the homestead,
and received his early education in the com-
mon schools of the neighborhood. Later he at-
tended summer normal under Prof. C. A.
Campbell, and taught school for three terms,
one at the Grove school in Buffiugton town-
ship and two at the Trindle school in East
Wheatfield township. He then began farm-
ing, working on the homestead with his
brotlier Hugh for two years, and was en-
gaged in a store at Armagh for two years,
after which he went to Deny township, West-
moreland county, where he clerked in a store
for a year and a half. The next year he
followed teaming, and after the death of his
father resumed farming in East Wheatfield
township on the David Tomb farm of 214
acres, where he has since been engaged in
general farming and dairying, having made
a specialty of the latter line for the last ten
years. He sells his milk to the Johnstown
Sanitary Dairy Company. In July, 1912,
Mr. Tomb's barn was struck by lightning
and destroyed, and he has replaced it with
a thoroughly modern structure. Like his
brother Mr. Tomb is a Prohibitionist in politi-
cal association, and he has been quite inter-
ested in public affairs in his township of which
he has been auditor. He is a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and has served as su-
perintendent of the Sunday school.
Mr. Tomb married ]Melvina Wakefield, and
they have children as follows : John David,
Frank W., Grace, Paul L., Nancy E., and
Ruth.
REV. IRA 0. MALLORY, Litt. D. S.,
a resident of Blacklick, Indiana Co.. Pa., is
an Irish-Canadian by birth, born at Eseott,
Canada, in August. 1855. He was educated in
the schools of his native county and at Albert
College, Belleville, Ontario. He left Canada
in 1884 and went to the Ojibwa Indian Mis-
sion at Iroquois Point, Lake Superior, where
he remained one year. From IMichigan he
went to Illinois, where he served three pas-
torates, wlien he was appointed chaplain of
the Illinois State Reformatory, in which po-
sition he served for four years. He was then
advanced to the position of assistant superin-
tendent, serving under Hon. George Torrence
for four years. From Illinois he went to
Iowa, where he was superintendent of the
Ex-Convicts' Home, at Fort Dodge, for one
year. After leaving prison work he took up
church work again, serving two churches
from that time until he relinquished minis-
terial work in 1912, Manson (Iowa) Congre-
gational Church being his last pastorate. In
Febi-uary, 1912, Dr. ilallory came to Black-
lick, Pa., where he now resides. He is at
present interested in Florida lands.
On Feb. 15, 1912, Dr. Mallory married Mrs.
Anna E. Gardner, and they occupy the home-
stead of the late James Gardner.
Dr. ]\Iallory is an authority on reformatory
work, and is an expert lecturer on crimi-
nology and penal questions. He received his
bachelor's degree from Oskaloosa (Iowa) Col-
lege, and later received the doctor's degree
in sacred literature.
To Dr. Mallory 's first marriage, to Eliza
A. Moxley, of Leeds county, Ontario, were
born three sons: George, the eldest, who is
an attorney at Little Rock, Ark. ; Frank,
postmaster at DeQueen, Ark. ; and Charles,
who is in the mercantile business at Kansas
City, Missouri.
Dr. Mallory is a prominent Mason, belong-
ing to Gardner Lodge, No. 573. F. & A. M. ;
Wilmington Chapter, No. 142, R. A. M., and
Blaney Commandery, No. 5, K. T. He also
holds membership in the I. 0. 0. F. and
Modern Woodmen of America.
JA:\IES GARDNER was the oldest citizen
of Blacklick, Indiana county, at the time of
his death, and he had been the most promi-
nent member of that community for a num-
ber of years. He laid out the town and
named it, and his interest in its development
and welfare never lessened during the al-
most fifty years of his residence there. A
native of IBlair county. Pa., he was bom
April 30, 1832, at Foot of Ten, son of Robert
Gardner and grandson of Moses Gardner.
His great-grandfather served in the Revolu-
tionary war, and his grandfather was a soldier
in the war of 1812.
Robert Gardner, father of James, settled in
Blair county, Pa., and was engaged as a
woolen manufacturer. He married Rebecca
Hartsock, and both died in that county. He,
too, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and
four of his sons were in the Union army dur-
ing the Civil war, one of them. John, having
also sei-ved in the Mexican war. Five children
were bora to Robert and Rebecca (Hartsock)
Gardner, all sons, namely: John, Joseph,
798
HISTORY OP INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
James, Charles H. and David. The last named
was colonel of the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry
Reserves during the Civil war and led the pa-
rade at Washington, D. C, at Grant's inaug-
uration. He is now residing at Clarendon,
WaiTen Co., Pennsylvania.
James Gardner passed his early life and
young manhood in his native county, and ob-
tained his education in the public schools.
He came to what is now Blackliek, Indiana
county, in 1861, as the first agent of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company at that point,
when the Indiana branch was completed. At
that time the station agent was also a purcha.s-
ing agent, keeping the company supplied with
ties and cordwood, and sometimes buying coal.
Mr. Gardner was engaged thus for several
years, resigning the position about 1870.
Meantime he had been acquiring important lo-
cal interests, the proper development of which
demanded his attention. He had laid out the
town and named it, and as he was engaged in
business as a general contractor for some years
had considerable part in the erection of many
of its first buildings. Owning a tract of 260
acres at that site, he gave land for streets and
donated five acres for the use of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company when it was extended
through the town. For some years he carried
on a general store at Blackliek, and was one of
the organizers of the First National Bank
there, becoming the first vice president of that
institution ; before the erection of the bank
building the directors held their meetings at
his house. He sold seventy-six acres of land
where the nearby town of Josephine now
stands. His real estate, commercial and finan-
cial ventures were all successful, and he not
only managed them abl.y, but gave consider-
able time and attention to the formation of
various enterprises important to the improve-
ment of his adopted town, where he established
a beautiful home. His death, which occun-ed
April 6, 1910, at the homestead, was regarded
as a public loss. He was a member of the
]\I. E. Church, and his former pastor. Rev.
Dr. Jacobs, of the First ]\I. E. Church of Al-
toona. Pa., conducted his funeral services,
assisted by Dr. C. L. E. Cartwright, pastor of
the North Avenue IM. E. Church of Pittsburg.
The interment was in Blairsville cemetery,
and Blairsville Lodge of Elks had charge of
the services at the grave. IMr. Gardner was
also a member pf the Masonic fraternity. His
father was made a Mason by special dispen-
sation of King George of England, who was
grand master in Scotland.
]\Ir. Gardner married Hester Cassell, who
died Dec. 24, 1897, and in 1902 he married
(second) Mrs. Anna E. Moreland, of Illinois,
who, on Feb. 15, 1912, became the wife of Dr.
Ira 0. Mallory. They i-eside in the beautiful
Gardner homestead at Blackliek. Six chil-
dren by his first marriage, two sons and four
daughtera, survived Mr. Gardner: William
T., of Stet, Mo.; P. L., of Cluburne, Texas;
Rebecca, Mrs. McDowell, of Pittsburg; Kate,
:\Irs. Miller, of Lima, Ohio; Mrs. E. A.
Holmes, of Superior, Wis. ; and Mrs. Charles
Simpson, of Vallejo, Cal. There were then
twenty-three grandchildren and nine great-
grandchildren.
Mrs. Anna E. Mallory is one of the foremost
workers in the Eastern Star, which she joined
in 1874 at Sparland, 111. She is a past presi-
dent of the Rebekah State Assembly of Illi-
nois, and .served that State ably as official
examiner and instructor for the Rebekah De-
gree. Her connection with this aiixiliary of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has
led her into exhaustive study of Odd Fellow-
ship, in which she is considered so high an
authority that she is frequently called upon
to address lodges of that order. Her thorough
familiarity with the origin and development of
secret societies, benevolent organizations, and
particularly the tenets and work of the I. 0.
0. E., its history, objects, ritual and inter-
ests of all kinds, render her an entertaining
and instructive lecturer, and she has become
widely known and popular in that capacity.
Experience in platform work, joined to nat-
ural gifts of thought and speech, have made
her a fluent and finished talker, and she has
taken the utmost pains to make herself worthy
of the honors which have been bestowed upon
her. Her talents and attainments entitle her
to be called one of the most valuable members
of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs.
Charles H. Gardner, M. D., brother of
the late James Gardner, was bom Feb. 19,
1838, near Duncansville, Blair Co., Pa., and
received his early education in the public
schools. Then he attended the seminary at
Cassville, Huntingdon Co., Pa., and high
school at Hollidaysburg, and in 1861 he began
to read medicine at the latter place, under
Dr. P. S. Leisenring. In 1862 he was mus-
tered into the Union service as hospital stew-
ard, in the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry,
and in 1865 was commissioned acting assist-
ant surgeon. He took part in all the engage-
ments of the Army of the Potomac from Fred-
ericksburg to the surrender of Lee at Ap-
pomattox, and in 1866 resumed his medical
studies, with Dr. C. W. Rollar, of Hollidays-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
799
burg. He took two courses of lectures at
Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York
City, was graduated therefrom in 1868, and
the same year began practice in Pithole, Ve-
nango Co., Pa., where he remained until 1873.
He then settled at Philadelphia, where he has
since followed his profession veiy successfully.
He became a member of the Venango County
Medical Society in 1868, and is now a member
of the Philadelphia County iledical Society:
in 1887 he was a member of the International
Medical Congi-e&s ; and in 1888 he joined the
Red Cross Society. He is a ilason, having
been admitted to the fraternity in 1862, and
a member of the G. A. R. and of the Union
Veteran Legion.
In 1869 Dr. Gardner married Emily H.
Smith, daughter of Hon. Garettson Smith, of
Philadelphia. They have had two children,
Raymond H. (a graduate of the Friends'
Central high school, Philadelphia) and Emily
Florence, the latter deceased.
HUGH CRAIG ENGLISH is very well
kno\\^l in various connections to his fellow
citizens of Homer City. Indiana county. He
has been honored with election to important
offices in the borough, and in every capacity
has discharged his duties efficiently and in-
telligently. He was born in Pine township.
Allegheny Co., Pa.. Dec. 8, 1851, son of John
English, who came to America with his father
and the rest of the family in the year 1825.
from County Down. Ireland. They located
iirst at Philadelphia. Several relatives ac-
companied them, all the others going farther
west and some locating at Pittsburg, Pa.
These relatives later induced John English
and his father's family to join them at Pitts-
burg, and they were soon settled in Pine town-
ship, Allegheny county.
John English was sixteen years old when
he came with his father to America. He had
learned the weaver's trade in Ireland, but
gave it up after a time and became a baker,
being thus employed for some time after his
arrival in Philadelphia, until obliged to aban-
don the work because of ill health. His broth-
ers Samuel and Andrew became residents of
Pittsburg, and they obtained a position for
him in that city as watchman when he came
to western Penns.vlvania. About that time
Pittsburg was overrun with thieves, and 3Ir.
English showed great tact and skill as a de-
tective, finally succeeding in locating and ar-
resting the notorious gang that was causing
the trouble and breaking up and destroying
the organization which, had terrorized the
city. After several years' work as watchman
he decided to quit this hazardous occupation,
and upon the advice of his brothers Samuel
and Andrew bought a fai-m of 220 acres in
Pine township, Allegheny county, near where
they were located. There he spent the re-
mainder of his long life, passing away in 1894,
at the advanced age of eighty-five years, and
was buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery near
his home. In his prime he was noted for his
great strength and fine physique. He took an
active part in the administration of public
affairs in the township where he settled, hold-
ing office for a number of years, as school di-
rector, collector, election officer, etc., and was
held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends
and acquaintances. In polities he was origin-
ally a Whig, later a Republican. He was an
active member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Before leaving Philadelphia Mr. English
married Eliza Bowers, whose father and
grandfather came from Germany, the latter
seiwing as a general in the War of 1812. Mrs.
English died in 1899. at the age of eighty
years, and was buried beside her husband in
Mount Pleasant cemetery, in Pine township.
Twelve children were born to this honored
couple: One died in infancy; Andrew lives
in Pine township, Allegheny county; Alex-
ander lives on the North Side, in Pittsburg,
Pa. : Elizabeth married Joseph Quail, of Belle-
view. Pa. ; John is a farmer in Butler county.
Pa. : Samuel, of Boston, :\Iass., is a noted
horseman; Hugh Craig is mentioned _ below ;
Mary married Cyrus Rea, and lived in But-
ler county. Pa.: James lives at East Liver-
pool, Ohio: :Margaret died when nine years
old: Isabelle married A. C. Irwin, of "Slavs,
Pa. : Matilda is the wife of Harry Dillon, of
Pittsburg (North Side).
Hugh Craig English received his education
in the common schools. When eighteen years
old he began business for himself at Five
Points, Allegheny county, buying and selling
provisions, and marketing, in Pittsburg. He
was very successful in this line, in which he
continued for eleven years, but he decided to
sell and seek a new location, in the spring of
1880 coming to Indiana county. His first
home here was at Cokeville, where he re-
mained one year, the following spring mov-
ing to Homer City. For ten years he followed
the produce business, and for a time was en-
gaged in contracting, building railroad and
telephone lines in Pennsylvania and adjoining
States, but had to give up this work in 1897
because of poor health. A short time after-
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ward he commenced farming, buying the place
in Center township where he has since lived,
and where until recently he was actively en-
gaged in general farming and stock raising.
He has erected fine buildings on this property,
which is kept up in the systematic manner
typical of the way in which Mr. English
looks after all his interests. He has been
prominently associated with the local govern-
ment, having been a member of the council
and served as president of that body. He
has served a number of times on the election
board of Homer City, and is a Republican in
political connection. He belongs to the
Homer City M. E. Church, in which he is a^
prominent worker, having been a trustee for
twenty years. His helpful activity in every
movement in which he is interested, and his
broad public spirit, make him a citizen of
the highest worth.
On May 28, 1874, Mr. English married
Elizabeth Rodgers, daughter of William and
Sarah J. (McCord) Rodgers, of Pine township,
Allegheny county, and the following children
have been born to them : William, a resident
of Homer City, who maiTied May Gerhart;
Minnie, deceased, who was the wife of Calvin
Gerhard, of Blaeklick station, this county;
Jean, at home; Homer Glenn, of Vandei--
grift. Pa.; Rilla; and Marj', a school teacher
in Center township.
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