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GEORGES

Is 1783, when Fayette Connty n-as formed from a I F o r a hundred years past the Delaney Cave has part of Westmoreland, this was one of the origins1 / been sought as a place worthy of the sight-seer. Lo- townships, and was bounded and described as folIons: cated as i t is near the summit of the Laurel Hill " Beginning at John Main's, on Jacob's Creek ; thence , range, and commanding thus a magnificent view of to Jesse Bayle's; thence in same direction to the line the beautiful Ialids towards the setting sun, i t affords of Wharton township; thence bc the same until oppo- attractions not possessed by t h e Nammoth Care of

I site Charles Brownfield's; thence by Charles Brown- Kentucky. I t would be difficult for the most accn- field, Thomas Gacldis, the Widow NcClelland, and the rate observer to form any definite conception of the residue of the line of Union township to the head of vastness of space here presented to the eye. Miles to- Jennings' Run ; thence by the lines of German township to the beginning, to include the three first above- mentioned persons, to be hereafter known by the name of George' township."

This township seems to have possessed many n ~ t i r - ral attractions, and was settled a t a very early date. The fertile valleys, the abundant supply of excellent

ward the north and south, the fair valley a t the base of the mountain is visible, wllile stretching far toward the west the beautiful landscape is shut out from ~ i e m only when the horizon limits it, far away over the JIonon- gaheia in Greene County. A description of the care, frotn the pen of John A. Paston, of Philadelphia, who visited it in 1816, is given in the general history

water, the superior timber, and many other attractive of the county. The manner in which this care de- features of this township led to its rapid settlement, rived its name is readily traceable to the fact that a and soon made i t one of the most populous and Mr. Thomas Delaney n-as owner of the lands bP- important townships of t h e county. Before West- neath which the cave is located. About the year moreland County had been erected this region had lSOO two men, Crain and Simmons, from Smithfield, quite a number of settlers, and when Fayette mas ' went to the care to explore i t ; they wcre lost in it, struck off from Westmoreland, after the burning of and remained there two days and two nights before Hannastown by the Indians, this mas quite a densely- the people succeeded in finding them. When found

I peopled section of the cevv connty. In December, they mere locked in each other's arms, and were almost 1845, a part of Georges township was taken t o form dead for want of water and food. Nicholson. 1

/ This tomnship is very rich in mineral resources, This township i n its varied and picturesque beauty ' and on this account the early settlers, seeming to un-

is excelled by few in the United States. Here we ' derstand thoroughly where to locate in order that they h a ~ e the "White Rocks," famed not only for their might have rich possessions i n mineral lands. came I great natural attractiveness, but aside from this they , and settled near the base of the mountain, and soon are noted as the place where the " Polly WilIiams ' thereafter the ores they had discovered were worked murder" occurred in August, 1810. The chasm is ' into iron, and the coal nras dug and used as a fuel, SoIne fifty feet in depth, and the huge gray stones / although not to any great extent, for the mood was stand in mute grandeur with all their romantic his- everywhere a t that time. As early as 1790 tory clustered around them. I n ages to come, when ' coal was dug by George Hertzog in this county, on they have gathered all the enchantment which time / the Springhill Furnace property, not far from Hay- c jn lend, and the additional charm of ancient re- \ dentown. I t the Upper Freeport rein, and people mernbrance shall hare caused the facts to be thought ' came many miles to get some of the wonderful fuel of as traditionary, then will the traveler come for ' dug from the earth. In addition to the bountiful hundreds of miles to look upon the place where the I supply of coal and iron ore, the hand of Nature has

1 base inhumanity of man mas displayed, and examine provided the very best fire-clay in the conntry. On the great gray stones where the crimson heart-blood the property of Abraham Low there is a silver-mi ne, of Polly Williams was shed by the hand of her se- jvhich, perhaps, might be worked in paying quanti- ducer. ' ties if capital was brought into requisition. I t is said

that Mr. Low was at one time offered fire thousand 1 By 31. 31. Hop\wud.

The riame of this towuship, origin:tlly George. 11;ts become Lr f;merul for his mine an us:tge Georgex, uud the k t e r i~ therefore idopted in this histury. The silver-bearing rock is of a dark color, and when

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GEOBGES TOWNSHIP.

broken the metallic lustre can be seen on every face of the fracture. I t is stated that the Indians had a lead-mine in this t o~vnd~ ip , and used the lead in n~oulding bullets. Evidently it must have been very pure ore, or i t would not ha\-e been either possible or expedient to have used i t as we use merchantable lead. Upon several occasions the Browns and other Terp early settlers attempted to find out the locality of this mine, for lead was in detnand on the frontier; but, owing to the fact that they risked their lives if found matching the Indians, they never succeeded in finding the treasure for which they sought.

The earliest settlement of vhich any positive in- formation can be gathered is that which was made upon the land now owned by Mr. Joel Leatherman. This settlement was made probably as early as 1730, which is demonstrated from the following facts: The grandfather of Basil Bro~vnfielcl settled in this county soon after Braddock's defeat, say 1760; he lived to be a rery old man, and Mr. Basil Brownfield said that when he was a little boy he often heard "his grandfather and father mention the French village which hsd once stood upon the Leatherman farm. At some time, early in the eighteenth century, a party of Frenchmen settled there and built a village ; they were on good terms with the Indians, and to some extent intermarried with them. They were a progressive and intelligent community, and immediately began to improve their new home. After hnving resided there a number of years, they from some cause mcated the premises, and when the nest white settlers came upon the scene, some thirty years later, the village had gone to wreck, and a dense thicket had taken its place.

Towards the close of the century 31r. Joel Leatlier- man's father purchased the tract of land from Richard Reed, and soon thereafter they proceeded to grub the thicket of hazel-bushes, and after due preparation i t was sowed in grass. Upon plowing it they found the remains of the houses, onc of which had a solid stone foundation and a floor of stone. Some articles of crockery-ware were also found, and irons of peculiar 'device; the remnant of what had been a well ; also a macadamized road running through the fhrm ; and upon opening the coal-bank near by it was found that it had been mined before and considerable of coal used. To make all of these improvements mould require a good many years of labor for such a small colony, and the land, too, was densely overgrown with hazel-bushes when the first permanent settlers c:tme into F a ~ e t t e County. I n order to have erected this village and added all the improrements i t would, as we have stated, hare required no brief time; then after i t had been abandoned i t must have taken a series of years to have reduced such durable buildings to ruins so that a thicket might spring up and occupy the place where the buildings had been erected. All of which mould tend to impress us with

the fact that there were settlers of our own color in this county long before the coming of the permanent settlers. such as the Browns, Gists, and others. What the name of this French village was we never may know, neither can we expect to learn of the particu- lars as to the length of its duration or the causes which led to its abandonment; yet i t is a satisfaction to know that there Rere white people who had a home in these beautiful valleys a century and a half ago. I n addition to this fact, Georges township has the credit of one of the earliest permanent settlers. As early as 1752 or 1753, Wendall Brown and his three sons, Maunus, Thomas, and Adam, settled in Provance's Bottom, on the Monongahela Rircr, but changed rery soon to Georges and Union townships, where some of their descendants yet live. The change from the place of their original settlement mas brought about by the Indians, who assured them that their new home, in what is now Georges township, would be better, the iand being, as t l ~ e y said, much richer. When Washington surrendered Fort Xecessity in 1784 the Browns accompanied him and his troops back to their old Virginia home, but a few years thereafter retnrned to their former frontier home, after Gen. Forbes had reinstated the English dominion.

I n 1787 the number of property-owners in Georges township had increased until there were more than two hundred, as follorrs : Jacob Abraham, Ichabod Ashcraft, Daniel Ashcraft, Richard Ashcraft, Ria11 Ashcraft, Robert Allison, John Archer, William Archer, Robert Erownfield, Charles Brownfield, Bnzil Bowell, Alexander Buchanan, Joseph Boultinghouse, John Boultinghouse, John Bell, Humphrey Bell, Eze- kiel Barnes, Sylvanus Barnes, JeremiaP-BE$, Cathe- rine Bzvens, Peter Byrnllardt, Samuel Bovey,Melchior Baker, John Carr, Moses Carr, Thomas Carr, Elijah Carr, Absalom Carr, Joseph Coombs, John Coombs, William Coombs, Edmard Coombs, Jr., George Conn, William Cubert, William Cross, John Chadwick, John Coon, James Calvin, Christley Coffman, Jr., Edward Coombs, Sr., Owen Davis, James Dale, Roger Dough- erty, William Downard, Jacob Downard, James Don-nard, Benjamin Davis, John Drake, Samuel Drake, James Dummons, Evan Davis, William Davis, Le r~ i s Davis, Sarah Drake, Thomas Dnwnard, John D. Duval, Peter Edwards, Benjamin Everett, Henry Efford, John Fowler, John Finley, Daniel Ferrel, William Forgthe, Mark Graham, Daniel Green, William Green, Uriah Glorer, James Graham, Cl~nrles Glover, Moses Oard, William Graham, John Graham, Benjamin Hardin, John Hutson, John Hustead, Mat- thias Hanfield, Peter Hawfield, Catherine Hawfield, Elizabeth Hamfield, Thomas Heddy, Sr., Thomas Heddy, Jr., James Eeddy, John Hayden, John Har- rison, John Harnet, James Hay, William Hoagland, Isaac Hoagland, Robert Hannah, David Johns, John Jenkins, Philip Jenkins, James Jameson, " Little"



566 HISTORY OF FATETTE COUNTY, PENSSYLVANIA.

Daniel Jolinston, Jaiiies Jolin, Jolin Jnckson, Henry , William James'; thence tl~rougli the re~l lair i i t~g por- Jcnnings, Joseph Kinnisoii, James Kinnison, Sr., . tion of Georgrs to\rnship altnost on a line wit11 tlie J a m e s Kinnison, Jr. , J a n l e ~ Lupton, A1es:l:ider Mc- present JIorgantown road. I t \vaj on this trail tha t the D : ~ ~ i a l d , 1s:tac JIcDonald, Dirvid JIcDonald, Mary Grassy Run road was laid out. I t was confirmed and l lcDonald, Jolili JIcDowell, Artliur JIcCiiristy, d b r a - ordered opened up, thirty-tliree feet \\vide,at JIarclises- linni JIcCafferty, JVilliarn JIininger, D;iniel JIinson, , sions, 1784, which a:ls the second sessions of the court. David Jiereditll, Daniel Xosford, \CTilliam JIitcliell, I A t t h e previous sessions the vie\\- l i d been prayed J o h n Moore, Rachel McDonald, Xd;1111 JIcCnrty, , for, a n d Euipsou Brownfield, Henry Beeson, James James XcClean, Sr., James JIcClean, Jr., Alexander , Sea l , Jolin Swearitigen, and Aaron JIoore appointed JIcPllerson, Jeremiah JIcDonald, Jolin JICDOIY, Ste- ( viewers. The " Sandy Creek" road ~ 3 s i n existence pile11 -\l;lckey, George JIain, \Villi:un S i s o n , Cliristo- I long before Fayet te County c:une illto being. I t came plier Soon, Allen Oliver, James Orr, Jolin Phillips, j fioni the Ten-Mile settlement i a Grcene County, Isaac Pliillips, Thomas Pliillips, Jenkins Phillips, crossing the Xonongaliela River a t Hyde's Ferr?-, aaud Benjamin Phillips, Ricliard Poundatone, Jolin Pat-. thence passing tlirougli H;rydento\rn to David Jo!Iin's terson, IVillino Patterson, John Pierson, J o h n Q u l r - ! mill ; thence u p Laurel Will, tlirough tile Sjlody Creek

1 den, Adam Quarden, R i c i w d Reed, Tllomns Reed, settlement, to Daniel JIcPeck's and on to ITirgitiia. I t Satnuel Reed, Caleb Reed, Andrew Reed, Giles Reed, ! was b y this road that Rev. Joseph Doddridge traveled Tlionlas Reed, Jr. , Robert Ritehe?, James Robinson, ( in 1774 when lle made liis tour west of the -Illegl~eny Jos1lu:r Robinson, Henry Robinson, \Villinm Robin- : Mountains, a t whicli t ime lie preaclied a t tlie 3lourit son, I'ldip Rogers, Sr., Philip Xogcr.s, Jr., IXenry 1 Moriah Presbyteriirn Cl i~~rc l i , in Spri~igliill to\vnsliip, Rogers, IVilliarn Rlioades, Jacob Rime, Satlianiel / near S e w Genera. After the organization of the Reeves, Jonatlian Rees, William Snllisbury, J o h n 1 county t l ik was the s e c o ~ ~ d road viewed and ordered Shacklet, Peter Smith, Cl~arles Smi th , Henry Smitli, I opened by tlie court. This was opened as so ordered Phi l ip Sniitli, Pheltg Sniith, George Smith, Corbet I Dec. 28, 1785. Tlie viewers were Zadoc Springer, Smith, Wil1i:~m Smith, Andrew Smith, G. Sangston, Phi l ip Jenkins, J o h n Hil l , O w n Davis, a n d \Vil- Zadoc Springer, Jolin Street, J o h n S l imks , Peter ; liam Hill. Snider, Joseph ~ti!lwell; Jacob Soutilard, J o h n Scott, ' ASIICKAFT'S WET.

Basil Sillwood, Samuel Stephens, Philip Slick, James On the property now o w l r d b ~ - Mrs. Evans MTillson, Steel, William Sharon, Obadiah Truas, Hendrick I in this towrisliip, and on the line of tlie Clierokee Taylor, J o h n Taylor, J o h n Tucker, Joseph Thomas, / trail, stood tlie Aslicraft fort. To this place of refuge George Tobin, Let-i l'llontas, U. Vandeventer, Jaines tlie settlers were accustomed to flee when Indian diffi- Whi te , Jol in W i i t e , Sr., Jolin White, Jr., James culties were feared. It was named after Ichabod White , Jr., Levi Wells, Samuel Woodbridge, J:lnles dshcraft, \rho took up this property (1992. acres, Walker, Wiliiam Welsli, n'iiiiam Watson, Jesse called " BufLlo Pasture"), receiving liis Imrrant for Wortliington, Zacliariali Wheat, ibrul ialn i t , it, : I - 29, 1 Here they built their fort Isaac White, Daniel IVood, David IVood, Kuth Wliite, / near a bubbling spring. Long since tlie fort has Eyhraim \Vooclruff, Jesse York, Jeremiali York. 1 disappeilred, b u t the spring gushes forth t o the

T h e quota of tax for Georges to~vnsliip in 1796 was sunlight just a s i t did a century and a quarter ago. $272.57. I n 1808 it had increased to $337, and h a d 1 The fort mas bu i l t on t h e sanie $:in as otber early !line tnills, fire forges and furtisces, three tan-yards, 1 forts7--the second story pr(je&ted out about one foot

I seven distilleries and breweries, four hundred a n d ' over tile losver, so tllnt ill case tile Ilidians slioulcl ninety-two horses, fire hundred a n d eight cat t le ; t h e / attempt to fire t h e furttlley wu]d be readily sllot fionl total amount of the assessment being $2'33,663. Tlie j tile loop-lloles above. There N : L ~ a stockade of an number of acres of land t:iken u p in 1796 was Iiiore j acre ,yith a ditch and picket-lille for the purpose of -

than twenty-three thousand. 111 1810 the population 1 protecting the stock from tile depredations of tile wxs two tliousa~id and eighty-six. I n I S P O , when t h e savages. I t is related tha t one morning ATrs. Racllel census was taken, i t was foulld t h a t there was a de- / Asllcraft Iyas aTval;ened },y the call of a turkey gob- crease of fifty-fire in t h e population. At the n e x t bler. Sile told her husband tli:rt slle beliered slle

I census of 1S80 the population was ~ W O thousand four : \yould go out and kill it. H e r llusballd said slle had hun.lrkd and sixteen. better not, i t might be a n Indian. The call was re-

peated, and Mrs. Aslicraft cautiously opened one of OLD ROADS. I the port-holes a n d looked out. Presently the c:tll of

Georges tomnsliip has the lionor of the first road ' the turkey gobbler was repeated, a n d then out came after Fayette County was organized. An old trail, ) tlie liead of a n Indian to see if a n y one was stirring known as t h e "Cherokee" or "CatawLa Trail," ran in the fort. S h e quietly took down her trusty rifle, througli Georges to~vns l~ ip , entering Fxyette County 1 i d tlie n e s t t ime lie :are tlie call and protruded his a t Grassy Run, in Springliill to\rnsllip, a n d passing liead from behind tlie tree she sent a bullet through tlirougli t h e land of Charles Griffin by Long's Mill, / his head, striking him square between the eyes. Asli-

I Ashcraft'sFort, Phi1ipRogt.r~' (now Alfred 8:e\vart7s), 1 craft's fort was built a t the crossing of two Ind ian 9



GEORGES TOWKSBIP.

! trails. A t this cross-roads suicides were buried, in road. Mr. Shadrack also carried on the wagon- conforn~ity with an old Englisli captom. I t is s:iid making business. that the Indian shot by hlrs. Ashcraft wa.s interred a t / James Miller had a powder-mill here in 1810. H e this place. I t is also related (but how truly is not 1 pulverized the charcoal by hand in a mortar, alid known) that he was skinned, and his skin tanned i made both rifle and blasting powder. H e also.made and made into razor strops, ~ I ~ i c l i were distributed I grindstdnes, and lle ~ v a s the man ~ h o took a stone among the settlers as trophies. such as he used for grindstones and cut the inscrip-

In the valley, near Fort Gaddis, Daniel Boone and tion upon it and put i t up a t his own expense to ~narl i his companions encamped when on their m y to the the last resting-place of the murdered Polly Williams. Western wilds. This was previous to the year 1770. The Haydentown flouring-mill wns built about Mr. Bxsil Brownfield said that an old man who died 1775. I t was tsftern-ards owned by Philip Jenkins,

Fort.

a great niany years ago-in fact. soon after the com- who received i t from his fiitl~er, John Jenkins. I n mencement of this century-informed him that he saw Daniel Boone when he was camped near Gaddis7

There was an Indian village near where Abraham Brown now l i ~ e s , four miles west from Uniontown, and there mas an Indian burying-ground near the illa age. I n this graveyard some bones of immense size have been found, indicating an uuusual height / Swanep. Tliis was one of the \-my earliest flouring-

I i

-

for the person when alive.

HATDESTOWN.

Tliis town is located upon a tract of land known as Haydenberg, which was patented by John Hayden in 1787. Haydentown was laid out soon after 1790, and ~t first bore the name of Georgetown, By deed for one-fourth of an acre of ground, lying in George- town, from Rohert and Mary Peoples, dated Sol-. 20, 1793, we lenrn that tliere was a forge there then, and one of the bound:wies in the description is Forge Street. Robert Peoples evidently owned much of tlie land, and may have laid out the town. The forge spoken of is evidently the same one which w s sold to Hayden and Sicholson in the previous spring.

John Hayden was the son of William Hayden, ~ 1 1 0 came from tlie East to Georges townsliip in 1781. His mother was a daughter of a wealthy merchant of Philaclelphia by the name of Kichol- son. We beliere that it was Nr. hTicholson's son who Ivas State comptroller, and embarked with John Hayden in the iron manufacturing business. I n the town nnmed in honor of John Hayden there was more iron made in 1510 than in tlie city of Pitts- burgh, the iron being worked into hoes, ases, sickles, scythes, log-chains, trace-chains, etc. The sub,ject of this brief notice was a good soldier i n the war of 1776, and an estinlable and energetic citizen thereafter; doing much to promote early industries. H e raised a family of twenty-two children.

The first store ever kept in Haydentown was probably that of Jesse Evans, who had one there about the year 1800. Since then Joseph Kyle and James D. Low have had stores.

In 1818. Jehu Shadrack was making scythes and edge-tools in Ha\-dentown. San~uel Anderson learned the trade under him, and followed it successfully a t Hagdentown and a t his s:and on the Morgantown

mills n-est of the mountains. Previous to its erection i t was the custom to go to Cumberland for flour.

Public-houses were kept by William Speaf, James .

JIiller, George Sixon, Matthew Doran, - Davis, Joseph Victor, Otho Rhoades, Jacob Kyle, and Joseph Kyle. The first school ever taught in Haydentown was taught by Andrew Stewart, before 1810.

For a number of years, commencing about 1825, Rev. Peter T. Laishly held religious service in the house of Philip Victor, and organized what was called the "Bible Christian," or " New Light Church." Some years afterwards lie left the Fen- Lights, and connected himself with the Xethodist Protestant Church, and preached for that den.omination for a number of years. About fifteen years ago the ad- herents to this church succeeded in building a house of TI-orship in Haydentown.

I n the vicinity of Haydentown mas the old Fair- view Furnace, previously known as the " Mary -4nn" Furnace, with considerable settlement clustered about it. At this place 3Ielcliior Baker nianufactured guns about the year 1800. Abraham Stewart made knives, forks, spades, shovels, stirrups, bridle-bits, trace- chains, etc. H e mas what was cal1ed.a whitesmith. Col. John Morgan and the Ron. Andrew Stewart (son of Abraham) both learned the trade of whitesmith in Stewart's factory. Here a t the Mary Ann Furnace, which ran about a ton and a half of metal daily, tlie pig-metal was converted into salt-kettles, tea-kettles, etc. These mere usually taken to New Gelleva, and shipped by the river down to New Orleans. They were also sent to Canada. At that time tliere were eight or ten mouldiug-shops there in full operation. ~ h o place is now but a ruin of what was once a prosperous and thrifty village.

Not far from Haydentown is the Woods tannery, which mas built by George Patterson about 1825.



565 HISTORY O F FAPETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. --

1 H e was succeeded by Charles Brownfield, Zadoc posed limestone, but found i t would not work; taking Brornfielcl, Henry Stinlple, George Woods, and some of it h e went t o a n old blacksmith-shop n-hich Smith Fuller, a n d William H. B:dy. Dr. Smith stood at t h e corner of a n orchard on t h e property of Fuller is now t h e proprietor. The new tannery mas Richard Reed, bo l~ght by the Leathermans in 1799, built about 1857. 1 a n d a t present in the possession of Mr. Joe l Leather-

I Before 1800 Joseph Page had a carding-machine , man. H e r e h e soon discovered that t h e supposed

above where Smith Brownfield now has one. The j limestone w s iron ore of t h e best quality. -4fter new one of Brownfield's was built in 1568. There was making his discovery, hir. Hayden hurried off to one other before that, located farther up the Pine ' Philadelphia to see i f h e could there interest some Grove R u n ; i t vas built by Alexander Brownfield. vr-e,llthp person or persons in t h e manufacture of iron.

We find h e r1-a~ successful in h i s efforts, for in 1791, IROS ISDUETRIEP. 3lnrcl1 31st, lie entered into partnership with J o h n

This torvnship n-as one of the first nes t of the dl le- I Kicholaon, State comptroller, under articles of agree- glieny Jlountains to introduce t h e nianufacture of me:~ t , by \~- l~ ic l l a forge and a furnace \\*ere to be built i r o ~ ~ . Here, about the yenr 1790, Thomas L^n-is built and put in operatioa on laud which I ~ a d been pur- the old Pine Grove Forge, which was locatcd on the chased by Raydell, and on other lands i n Georges Pine Grove Run, on the property now owned by XI-. township t o be purchased of Jo-eph Kuston, then Thomas Farr. T h e first mention of the old Pine sheriff of Fayet te County. T!le rewl t of this agree- Grove Forge is in t h e 1ninn:es of the Mount JIoriali ~ n e n t , the con~plction of IIxydcn's forge, but failure Baptist Church, i n Smithfield, showing that Ricl1:irtl to finish t h e contempiated furnxce, n-ill be found Reed had loaned Thomas Lewis one hundred pound- more fully mwtioiiecl in another part of this work, in of Penn.syl~ania money, and w.ls t o receive in pay- t l ~ e account of iron a n d iron-works in t h e county, as ment four tons of iron from his forge. Previous to will also be found sepnr.lte mention of t h e old "Fa i r - this he hnd been making iron, and Jir. Basil Grown- , field." tlie " Xary Ann," the " Fairchance," and Oli- field said that lie had a1v;ays understood from old phnnt's Iron-Work.;, which were erected a t different people t h a t Pine G r o w was t h e 1-ery first forge nest , periods in Georges t o ~ ~ n s h i p . of the Alleghenies, and 31r. Brownfield was raised a t Smithfield, but a few miles from t h e location of this COKE MASUFACTURE.

forge, a n d could remember back as far as 1800. Jacob This business has recently taken rapid, progressive Searing, \vllell a. very old man, informed Jo3epll strides in th i s to~ \nsh ip , and it is only a question of a Hickle tllat he dug ore for Tllo1n,zs LelviJ for a ntlm- few years unt i l there mill be a continuous line of ber of yexr-. before he hi led, and tlie f:iilure occurred ovens t l ~ r o y h Georges township, along t h e lincof the it1 1799. Tile earliest mention of this forge wllich JYe Southwest Railway. Already t h e F:drchance I ron find upoil the county records is in a mortgage made ' Company have o\-ens manufxturing coke, which by Thomas Lewis to Philip Jenkins, of Georges town- they consume in the furnace. The " Fayet te Coke ship, i n 1796, which embraced " all t l ~ a t certain and Furnace Company" ercctecl extensive coke-works tract of lnncl, located in Georgcs township adjoining in 1881 a t Oliphant's, and have nolv one hundred lands of Joseph Stillwell, John Shacklet, the heirs of and thirty ovens in successful operation. h u ~ u s t m Smith, and IVillirim Davis, ~ v i t h his forge, T h e " N a r i e Coke-Worki," owned and operated by houses, and all manner of buildings." 811 of this : Bliss & ~ i a r s l ~ a l l , of Uniontown, are located on tract of land was held by warrant and improvement. Georges Creek, about half a mile from Fnircliance,

At this forge, by the uqe of charconl, they worked ' on the land known as t h e Jacob Kyle f i ~ r n ~ , which the raw ore into bar iron of unusual to~1ghne.s. The is onc of t h e finest mineral farms in Fnyette County. ore used was specially adapted to their crude process, Fif ty or sixty acres l ie o : ~ water-level. T h e ores are of and was excellent when made into bar i ron; i t lVas superior quality,-Blue Lump, Big Bottom, and Red what is known a s t h e " Recl Short ;" t h e thickness of F lag , - -d l of them t h e finest of blne carbonates. T h e t h e vein is about two and one-half feet. coal is worked from crop. Tlie land on which this

The forge property was finally sold a t sheriff's sale plant is located is admirably adapted in every respect t o Isaac Sutton, for one hundred and forty-five dol- foi furnaces and for the manufacture of coke, being lars. After this saleby t h e sheriff in 1800we find t h a t abundantly supplied with pure water from copious Thomas Lewis mortgaged one-half of a four-hundred- springs and from Georges Creek, which runs through acre tract, upon which was erected a forge, dwellin'g- t h e farm. T h e prescnt number of ovens a t these house, etc. Tliis tract mns located on George; Creek. works is sixty, which will be increased to one hun-

About the year 1789, J o h n Hayclen dug out what dred, giving employment to about forty men. h e supposed mas limestone from the creek-bed of a tributary to Georges Creek, in Georges township. MILLS.

The location is said to have been on the line which One of t h e earliest i ~ d u s t r i e s of the township was divided the properties of t h e late F. H. Oliphant and t h e erection of mills. One of t h e first mills \yest of

I Rev. Isaac JVynn. H e attempted t o burn his sup- t h e mountains mas t h a t a t Georgetown, now Hayden-



GEORGES TOWNSHIP. 563

town. Before the erection of this mill, and Beeson's, these houses of entertainment had increased until at Uniontown, the people went to Fort Cumberland ' they numbered fifteen or twenty in Georges township for their flour. This mill was built, i t is said, by , alone. A considerable number of these mere located Robert Peoples and Jonathan Reese, two of the most on the Uorgantomn road. One feature of the hotels energetic business men of thc frontier country. I t ' of that day was their peculiar signs ; for example, Pat- was in existence a t the opening of the Revolutionary rick Gallaher kept the tarern where he had as a sign mar, and ~vas owned by Philip Jenkins as early as the " Jolly Irishrnan ;" Daniel Dimond, the "Black 1787. Other proprietors have been William S i son , Bear ;" J0h3 Emery, " The Green Tree;" John Chad- Andrew Stewart, John Oliphant, Jehu Shadrack, wick, "The White Horse ;" Moses Pu'ixon, " The Fox nho was succeeded by Andrew XcClelland. Philip and Dogs;" Wi!liam Spear, in Haydentown, the Victor, when he came into possession of it, remodeled "Cross Keys ;" James Miller, in Haydentomn, "The it and sold it to Jehu Sl~adrack, after which it passed I Black Bull." In 1791, Hugh Marshall \\-as keeping

I into the hands of William S~vaney, who operated it tavern, licensed by the court of Fayette County ; in

I a number of years, but long since it was allowed to 1792, Cocrad Jlaller mas added to the list; Cdeb pass into disuse, and is now but a renlembrance of Hayes in 1793; John Chadwick in 1794; Joshua what it was in past years. J:itniaon, 1795 ; Thomas Jackson, 1795 ; John Mintun,

Xear Smithfield, Jonathan Reese built a saw-mill before 1790, and i t was a t this mill that the timber was sawed for the Mount Xoriali Baptist Church in 1785. At first horse-power was used; afterwards they substituted water-powr for its propulsion.

Nison's mill, now Abel's mill, was built before the year 1800. I t was originally constructed by Moses Sison, who disposed of it to Jefferson Niron, after which i t passed into the hands of Pierce Vernon and John Vernon, then J. BPackeldo~vncy, who sold i t to Bryson Abel, and i t still remains in the possession of this binlily. This was an excellent flouring-mill i n its time.

The Ruble mill was origrinally the property of Me- shack Davis and Jesse Evans, and was a log structure. After JJaris and Evans sold it, Lyons and Thomas 13att came into possession, and they sold to Kathaniel G. Hurst. I n 1844, JZr. Hurst had the new mill buiit upon the site of the old one, the mill~vright being William S. Barnes. The contractors upon the frameworli were Robert Britt and Robert Britt, Jr . The mill was remodeled by Xr. Mickey. Mr. Hurst traded i t to George T. Pnull for a farm in Dunbar to\\-nship about the year 1858. Mr. Paul1 disposed of it to IVilliam Mock, of Westmoreland County, from whom the present owner, Mr. Jacob Ruble, purchased it. H e has renlodeled it recently. It has been a good mill, and the water supply is sufficient to rut] it all the year.

Weaver's mill was built about 1806 by Charles Rrorvnfield, who eventually disposed of i t to James Domnard. Other owners have been William and

1796; Patrick Gallaher, 1796; John Stark in 1796; Barnet Erertson in 1797 ; William Spear, 1798 ; and in the same year Paul IFT. Houston, Isaac Groorer, Richard Whealen, Robert Brownfield ; and from 1809 down to the present time the following persons hare kept tavern, some for a brief time, others for a series of years: San~uel D. Bowman, Thomas Pugh, Joel Kendall, Jacob Hager, David Curry, Wil- liam Moore, Lott \IT. Clawson, Kathaniel G. Smith, Joseph Lewis, Samuel TVilcy, Aaron Joliff, George Traer, Dnrid Trg-stler, Kathan Style, Joseph Tictor, Noses Nison, John Thompson, Joshua Brown, James Ni!ler, Daniel Dimond, David Victor, Joseph Taylor, Join Emery, Otho Rhoades, David Hare, Thomas Iliff, J:inies Bryant, Andrew Collins, George Y' I ixon, Darid Parks, J:imcs Doran, Zachariah Wheat, Jacob Johnston, Matthew Doran, Nathan Morgan, Darid Fisher, Jacob Kyle, EIias Bailey, Joseph Kyle, Thomas Gaddis, John Richards, Peter Gof, William Campbell, Andrew McClelland, Aaron Stone, Thomas Stentz, John Hall, Henry Kyle.

DISTILLERIES.

Both previous and subsequent to the Whiskey In- surrection whiskey was the staple commodity of the country west of the A!legheny Mountains. The facilities for shipping grain were poor indeed, and the settlers of the Redstone country soon found that they could distil the grain into whiskey, and thus ship i t i n a form not so bulky and more valuable. Soon distilleries sprung up on almost erery farm of preten-

Henry Brownfield, TVilliarn and John Ritenour, John ' sions, and a goodly portion of these establishments Wearer, and the present proprietor, Jacob Wearer, ' were in Georges tomahip. Among the number may who has constructed in recent years one of the best be mentioned John Vernon's, near Fairchance; grist-mills in this section of tlie county. Thomas Do~vnard's, near Walnut Hill, in the Brol\.n

About 18.75, George Patterson erected what was 1 settlement. Moses Xison had one at Fairchance a t afterjYards knorvn as Whistler's mill ; it occupied a the time of the TVhiskey Insurrection. Richard Reed site near ivhere Wood's tannery is at present located. had one at the same time. located upon the farm then

1 olvned by him, now in possession of Joel Leatherman. TAVERFS. I Col. Zadoc Springer had one a t the same time.

For !he aceommodation of the publie tarerns were Squire Ayres had one a t an early date. There was ~ tab l i rhed a t a rery early date. Soon after 1800 1 also one in Smithfield, one on the Smith property



CEORGES .TOlJ7TTKSTIIP. 57 1

wick rhut tllc lo or. A b w t two minutes after hl: r ~ t u r n e , l .

C11;11lwicl< rose to l i r . c l ~ t hc Il~ror sI:ut ; MrFirll jerked it 18iT t h e I I ~ I I ~ C S , Or:~,~gctl ~ ' l i : ~ ~ l u i c l ~ 0111, : I I I I ~ s1rt1vk h i 1 1 1 sc!cr:11 ti~ncs wit11 :I. c l u h rill ihc 11c:ld. Jlis > l < u l l \vita I'lxcturcd I)y tllc blow,

was sicknes9 Ile :dn~ittcvl thetn, wllercupon they :lr- ; victccl, : I I I I ~ 1)ct;)rc Iwing esecwtcd 11c in;~tlc :I cor~fcs- restell I ~ i t l t : L I I C ~ 1)rnugllt him to Uniontown :utd corn- sion, in wllicli he st:~tctl that lle ant1 1Tl)tlyl;c Ir:1(1 mittctl 11il11 to j:til. 11111r~l~r1vl ill(: pwl~llt~r, :~rtci : ~ f t r r securing n 11:1nc!sornc

At tltc Court of Oycr ant1 Terlnincr, Decwnl)cr ' huln of I I , I , : I ( ~ ~ t.111.y sunk his 1)otly iil l!row~~fieltl's term, 17!Lk, : u ~ int l ic tn~c~r~t w:~s 11rew1tctl :~g:linst .JOIIII III~II-(I:IIII. lVilli:11!1 Sitlrgis 11:1s i11e conf~wion. N~F: I I I for tllc r n ~ ~ r t l r r of .John Cl~:~(lwick. TIIC T/IV I'OII!, llr;l/irrms i1furrlo~.-Tl1is tragedy oc-cnrrctl jltry cml~:tt~clctl ill t l ~ c c:~sc were \Vtn. Taylor, A(l:ur~ ' : ~ t t l ~ c l \71~ite Itoc*l;s? in this tomnslrip, 1 1 : ~ ~ 1.': ISIO. D U I ~ ] : L ~ ~ , ,J:~col) 1,yo11, I<:t$il h x s h c : ~ r , .T:~tnes >Tcc'l.~nc, 1'11iIi[, I?op>rs: t11c 1wrlwir:1tor of ' t l~is crime, livtvl ncur Rnlrert 3I,:(;l:t11glrlin, I.:lisl~:t l i c w , T l l m ~ : ~ s lingem, ' S(.\v S : I ~ ~ I I I , it1 tlte v:~ll(ty e:~st of t h e to\vn. I I is vic- Jolln \\'ark, 31:1tthc\r Sccly, hIorcs IVclls, : I I I ( ~ %:1- ' tint livib,! at or n i w S e w h l e : n . 1hgci-s 11:ltl Lccn

. ' . doc Sl)rilt:,.cr. .J:LI:I~s llos.s, of I'ittsI)ur:,.h, :~ppcwwl ]):1y111g :~ttc~ntions to 11cr for some time. bIr. IVil- for ~ I I C ,lchf+1111:111t, :1t1(1 -- ( ; x l l ) r : ~ i ~ l ~ fi)r t 1 1 ~ S h t e . li:~tnc, >r:1ry1s S:~tIwr~ W:IS going to S t e u l w ~ ~ ~ i l l e , Ollio, I vc~r~1ic:t of t11~. jury is :IS fi)llo\w : l ' l ~ c ~ j r ~ r y " (lo 8 to lirc~, : I I I ( ~ dc~sirul his (I:~ug$~ter to : ~ c c o i ~ ~ p : t ~ ~ y Itint, say tll:~t, the 11risor1r.r is p ~ i l t y of' ~~rur( l t . r wl~c~rcwit!~ ' Irut I<ogc,:s pcriu:c~lctl her to rc1n:~in where sllc \\.:IS,

lie is rl~:trgctl in tile first clc;rcc'." I I - : ~ ~ ~ t l , s l ~ c , 1 ) c i t l ~ c.!tg:~,<ctl to 11it11, \\.:IS in f l~e11c~d i n do ;IS

I I I I I I , I I : : r I 1 1 1 l I i l . Tl~c, fictllr'r of' Mxry \\'illi:~n~s I I : ~ 11:1d a t ]I:lg.:c~r,st~)\v~~. ITc w:is cxCcutcd in JI:ly, IT!).i, s~~sl)i(.iotls of l ' l~ilip I t o g m on Inore t l lm ol!e ow:1- bet\vcscll t\vo trees tl1:1L stood closc togc:t!~cr or1 s i o ~ ~ . At- onc titnc !?cgcm tried to p c r ~ u ; ~ t l e l ~ c r t o D O ~ ~ I : I S Tllic.l;ct, or Ihr~gl :~. ; Ilotton~, oil tile b:tnks : I C ~ O I I I I ) : I I I ~ 11im to t11e r i w r i~( icr I IC 11:~d sccl~rcctl her, of Rc(lstotlc Creek, :11)i)11t tllrc.o-tl11:1rtc>rs of :I r ~ ~ i l c ' i ~ ~ t c n t l i n ~ tlo1111tlc,- to drown her, but s l ~ e would not from 1711iollto\vr~, intt1lctli:ltc~ly north of the F:iir- go. 011c d:ly 11c toltl her they \voulclgo to \Vood- ( r l l . I I I I u ! l I S s 1 1 r i I : I 1 1 o - 1 I)ritlgc-to\vn gctt. ~r~:trried. ~\ccor( l i t~gly they st:~rtetl o r l ~ ]ftl\v:rrtl I!e!l :is c s c ~ u t i o r ~ c r . I re was ilis~uisetl , soot fiw \\'oo(ll)ritlgctto\vn :la she sulqloscd. Instcad ;tnd not till yc:LrS aRcr \\-as i t k!ro\vn w l ~ o pcrf'or~ncrl of going to tl1;1t pl:lee t h y wcrlt to thc \Vllite Iloclis, the execution. :I. scclritlctl pl:lrc on the summit of tllc n~out~t : i in .

The . lJ,~~tl~,~crE Perl,llr,r.-5?on after 1 ROO :I pcrl(llcr l rc rc l l ~ c terrible trngcdy occurred which 11:1s since stoi)l)cttl :tt :I t:lvcrn s t : ~ ~ t ( l in S ~ n i t l ~ f i ~ l ( l , i l t t~ l t ( l i l~g to ~ 111:1rliet1 t11:tt pl:k(~, :LII(I will fbr ye:Irs to ~ O I I I C i l k - stay ovc>rtligIlt. Jolln Tiplykc :Inti Set1 (::~ssitly wctrc tingrli.<ll it :IS tllc s1)ot wlierc innoc.cnt blootl WIS shetl. tllcrc., ; l l l t l tllcv Ill:l(le tlt,.l~lselrcs ycry :~$rcc:~l,lr to illc ' 1:ront t l ~ o w wllo w r r t l~cre wlrcn 11cr lilklcss body pctldl(sr lrpctn ll,:lruillg t11:lt ! ~ c r:lrrictl :L col~si(l?kll)lc W:ls &tIItltl \vc' k:II'll tllc fi)llo\\ing f:lcts: It srxrtts t11:lt surn of mollcy \\.it11 Ililn. 'I'l~cy clr:~nk :it tllis t : l ~ c r n ' w n l c 1wrsotrs w r r g:~tllerirlg Ilucllcbcrrics 111~1r by, and : ~ t t l lc IVl~it(! JIorse i:tvcr11 until t11c (~o11vivi:iI :1n(1 U I ) O I I 11(>:1ri11g her svreanls t l ~ c y K I I I fro111 tltc sl)irit its IljgIicst (lrp-CC. r o v i n g : i - ~ o s I I I ~ I I I : ~ I I t i ~ i t g it I S : I I I I S 1 : I I III :t

wtll 111et) tllc.y I ~ C r ~ ~ ~ : ~ c l e i l ~ I I C i ~ ~ t l l l l r r to go to 11:1y(len- itiv di~ys :~f icr t l ~ e r ~ s e r e S O I I ~ C o t l ~ e r permlls n(,:lr the



EIISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

White Bocks gathering huckleberries, and they n7ere attracted by the barking of a dog they had with them. Upon going to the place where the dog mas, they found the murdered girl. Mr. Basil Brownfield ' was present, and says that there were signs of the fearful struggle on the verge of the rocks, as though she had escaped from him and had run some distance into the laurel-bushes, where she hadbeen over taker^ by Rogers, and the place where the struggle took place mas torn up for several yards around. She was a strong girl, and he could not drag her back to the cliff of rocks. I t appears as if the struggle must have lasted several minutes, and that, fighting for her life as she was, she could not be overcome until thevillain grasped a large stone in his hand and struck her on the head n-it11 it until she mas insensible, then dragged her back to the precipice, but here she must have shown signs of recovering, for it seemed as if he was afraid to ap- proach the su~nnli t of t,he rock and throw her over for fear that she might in the death-struggle drag him over with her. There is a pa.sage-~':~y to the base of the rocks, and through this there were indications of her having been dragged. H e then went to the summit of the cliff of rocks and cast bowlders down upon her. One of these stones Mr. B. Brownfield has in his possession; mhen he picked i t up it had both blood and hair upon it. In the laurel thicket where the chief struggle occurred was found the bloody stone with which he struck her.

The news of the tragedy flew as though on electric wings, and soon hundreds gathered st the base of the mountain, where the poor murdered girl had been taken, and viewed the crushed and mangled remains. She nras buried and afterwards disinterred, and the gentleman from Kew Salem with whom she had lived having arrived, he recognized her as Mary Williams. Soon after, Phil. Rogers was arre-ted, and the following mention of i t is taken from the court record: " Commonwealth against Philip Rogers. BIrirder, a true bill. I n custody, Jacob Moss" [the man with whom she lived], " for himself and wife, of German township, tent in $200; Dennis NcCuker, of ~ e r m a n t o ~ ~ n s h i p , tent in $100; Noses Nison, of Georges township, tent in $100. Conditioned that they shall appear at the next Court of Over and Ter- miner to testify. August 22, 1S10. Indictment for murder found a t August sessions, 1810. November 22, 1810, defendant being arraigned, pleads not guilty. Issue and rule for trial. Same day tried and verdict not guilty. Same day prisoner discharged." Thus terminated a farce of trial by jury, aud on a technicality of the law, together with the eloquence of Jennings, of Steubenville, Ohio (for- merly from the vicinity of New Salem), the lawyer for Rogers, he mas acquitted. Rogers afterwards went to Greene County, where he married, reared a --

1 W11eu this account was w i t t e n (Jnne, 1881) Mr. Bro\vnfirld was liyirig ;uld iu full pussessiou of his pu\r-els uf recullectio~~. He diad nut lung altar\vardd.

family of boys: and mhen his miserable life was ended his remains mere refused interment in any graveyard.

SCIIOOLS.

One of the first school-houses in the territory mest of the Allegheny Nountains was the old log school- house located between Sinithfield and Haydentown. This building mas erected before 1780, and one of the pupils in i t a t that early date was Robert Brownfield, father of Basil Brownfield, from whom much interest- ing data for this history wits gathered. A 31r. J. Jame- son WE the first teacher. Robert Ritchey, for twenty years justice of the peace for Georges townsliip, SUC-

ceeded Mr. J. Jameson as teacher in this ancient school.

About 1S03, when the Presbyterian Church built their log church building, they also took into consicl- eratiou the feasibility of erecting a school-house, so that their children might secure a rudimentary h o w l - edge of the English language, and liere alongside the cl.iurch they built a rude log school-house, and in 1812, April 27th, they advertised in the Genius of Liberty for a teacher. The following is the advertisement as it appears in the Genius of that date: " 9 Teacher Wanted.-A young man who can come well recom- mended as a teacher of an English school will meet - with good encouragement by applying to the sub- scribers, who lil-e adjoining the meeting-house." Signed by Rev. James Adams, John Xnight, aud Moses Dunham, trustees.

Soon after 1800 the citizens living in the vicinity of where Leatherman's scl~ool-house now stands concluded to erect a building for school purposes. I n accordance with this desire a sufficient sum was soon collected and a log building was erected, which served as a school-house for many years. I t was known as Miller's school-house, and was located on the property of the gentleman for who111 i t mas named.

At Woodbridgetown there mas a log school-house. John Tedrick was the schoolmaster, and was sue- ceeded by Phineas G. Sturgis.

Paull's school received its name from George T. Paull, who aided the enterprise by donating the lot of ground upon which the building was erected. After the passage of the common-school law a t the session of Assembly in 1834 the educational interests took a n advance step. A t January sessions of court, 1833, Squire Ayers and James Robinson mere appointed school directors for Georges towuship, and held their position until an election had taken place. Under this conlmon-school law many schools have sprung up through the township, and one of these is Paull's. Tliere have been two houses devoted to common- school education a t Paull's. The first was a brick structure, and remained but a few years in use, until i t was succeeded by the present school-house, which was erected about 1865. The teachers who have taught here have been William Johnson, Samuel Rothnr- me], James Showalter, Nilton Sutton, James Hol-



GEORGES TOTNSBIP. 57.3

The Three-Mile Spring school, three miles above Haydentown, %-as erected one year ago. I t is a log school-house. The teacher during the last term was James Showalter.

The Leatherman school-house mas built about 1840. The first house, like the present one, was of brick. The teachers in the old building mere Lucien Leech, John G. Hertig, Clark Trance (who afterwards became a Baptist preacher), Rev. John S. Gibson (at present a Cumberland Presbyterian minister), Rev. James Power Baird (also a Cumberland Presbyterian cler- gyman), Samuel J. Acklin, Hugh Smith, James Henry

' Dougherty, Jzmes 11'. French (afterwards a Baptist minister), James W. Showalter, Albert H. Smith. In 1870 the old structuie was torn away, and a commodious new brick mas built to take its place. The other teachers have been James F. Holbert (at present practicing medicine), J. C. Miller, Isaac Coldren, Annie Ogleree, James Miller, Michael Franks, and Lizzie Black.

The Cnster school n-as opened about 1840. The structure was of brick. I n the old building the following persons taught: James III. Hustead, James French, William Patton, John Anderson, Amadee Trader, Sarah Conn, Albert Smith, and Lucien Leech. In 1873 the new school-house was built, and since then the teachers have been Isaac Coldreu, James Presley Smith, William Pouch, and Oliver P. Moser.

The Deyarmon was one of the first common schools in the t o ~ n s h i p after the la^^ went into effect. Some of the instructors have been John G. Hertig, Robert Allen, James W. Shon-alter, 31ilton Sutton, William Nison Canan, Joseph C. Stacy, Herrey Smith, Carrie Herbert, Abraham Humbert, Albert Hutchinson, Frances Mackey. This building has been twice remodeled. The latter alteration was done by the Uniontown Planing Mill Company, during the summer of 1880.

The White Rock school was organizecl in 1879. The teachers hare been Hannah Ruble and Mollie Griffith,

37

--

bert, Clayton Richards, Clay Shondter, Sallie Ruble, / The first building erected for the common schools James Prorance, L. Rhoades, Lizzie Abraham. was a t S~nithfield as early as 1838. The frxme build-

The Pleasant Hill school came into existence about ing is yet standing, but is no longer used for school 1S10, the first building, like the present one, having purposes. During the past few years the directors been a brick structure. I n this school Frederick 1 have rented the academy for the use of the common

I Martin, Nancy Martin, Rev. William R. Patton (be- school. The teachers have been Gideon G. Clemmer, fore entering the ministry), Samuel Rotharmel, Clay- I Nathaniel Walker, Eliza Showalter, Joseph C. Stacy, ton Richards, and Altha Moser taught. I n 1871 the I George G. Hertzog (at present a professor in the Cal-

jtructors: Leah A. Carothers, James W. Sho~valter, Jennie R. Griffith, John C. Niller, Martha Robinson, James P. Smith, Maggie Field, Lizzie Wilson.

The Walnut Hill school mas originally known as Brown's school. The present house is the second within the past forty years; the first was built of logs, the present of brick. Some of the teachers have been J. P. Blair, Elias Green, - Frazer, Carman Cover, Noble McCormick, ?V. Osborn (now a practicing physician in Kansas), Albert H. Smith, Abra- ham Humbert, Nollie Griffith, Sallie Damson, J. Kewton Lewis.

new building mas completed, and since then the teachers have been Dr. James F. Holbert, William A. Richards, James Provance, Oliver I?. Moser, Aaron C. Holbert, Naggie Field, and I. Stnrgis Stentz.

GEORGES CREEK ACADEXY.

ifornia Normal College, Washington County), George I D. Purinton, James W. Showalter, James Prorance,

A. C. Gilbert, Aaron C. Holbert, Tvilliani Richards, 301111 C. Miller, Lizzie Abraham, Michael Franks,

The Raptist Church in Smithfield saw, as early as 1854, the necessity of an academy of learning in the town. The subject was brought up at the monthly meeting. The Methodists and other denominations were willing to aid the enterprise, and tlius the project took definite shape, and in 1856 the court a t March sesaions granted a charter to the Georges Creek Academy, and constituted the following per- jons a bod- politic to carry into effect the object for which i t mas founded, viz., " A seminary of learning." The original trustees Eere Enos Sturgis, Rev. lsreal D. King, Hon. John Brownfield, Dr. H. B. hlathiot, Benjamin F. Brown, William Conn, Isaac Franks, John Summers, Gideon G. Clemmer, A. J. Patton, Luther W. Burchinal, William P. Grifin, James Hess, John Don-ney, Rev. Caleb Russel, John E. Taylor, Aaron TV. Ross. I n 18% the contract n-as awarded to Luther W. Burchinal 8: Co. to build the necessary school-house. I n the spring of 1857 the academy mas ready for occupancy. Since then the Georges Creek Academy has been one of the sources of knowledge for that whole community. Sometimes during its most prosperous sessions there hare been more than one hundred students attending. The professors who have had charge of this academy are as follows, ~ i z . : C. 9. Gilbert, i\Irs. C. A. Gilbert, Aaron Ross, Joscph Smith, H. H. Blis., J. B. Solo-

The Upper Haydentown school building is of stone. The teachers have been Henry JIitchell, Sallie Ruble, school was commenced in 1838 i n John Tamkin, I. S. Stentz, and Hannah Ruble. a frame house. The new building, a brick one, mas

The LowerHaydentownschool was built about 1870. I t is a brick building. The teachers have been Clay-

constructed in 1875. Revs. J. Gibson and J. P. Baird both taught in the old house, and since the new one

ton Richards, Martha Robinson, Snyder Hague, John mas built the following teachers have acted as in- C. Miller, Sallie Ruble, and Leah Carothers. 1 I



5 74 RISTORP O F F A Y E T T E COUNTY, PENSSPLVANIA.

moe, A. L. Puriuton, Fannie Gerard, Miss Bryce, ' Loveberry. I t was the custom to gather in the morn- Carrie Mathiot. 1 ing and remain nearly all day a t the church; the

Gen; Alexander McClellan had built an academy 1 pecjple invariably carried their trusty old flint-lock upon his farm long previous to the erection of the rifles with them, and mere ever on the alert for their Georges Creek Academy. H e used it for school pur- red foe. This building was eventually destroyed by poses and also for preaching, but we will not refer to fire, wlrieh originated in the forest. A few logs were i t here a t length, as it belongs to the portion of left to mark the site of the ancient temple of wor- Georges township which was given to Nicholson ship. In 1820 these logs were risible, but witllin the when it was formed in lSG. I space inclosed within the logs were n-alnut-trees of

After the passage of the act of 1834 establishing thirty years' growth apparently. One feature of the ~ l O U S public schools, the Jauuary term of ctrurt of Fayette pioneers of this section evidently was their reli,'

County in 1835 appointed Squire Ayers and James zeal, and i t I\-as banded down to their descendants, Robinson school directors. The amount of State ap- thus founding the Christian religion, and lending to propriation for this township for 1536 nTas $124.46), I this con~mul~i ty all the prosperity attendmt upon the and county appropriation $243.931. The township rvordiipeis of God.

I reported to the county treasurer Jan. 5 , 1836, in corn- I

pliance with the requirements of.the law. 1 Mount Moriah Baptist Church n-as originally n 1 The subseqnent school directors of this township branch of Great Bethel Baptist Church of Unior.-

have been stephen Richards, William Moser, Wii- liam Miller, Henry Bowell, James Franks, Frederick Roderick, Daniel 81nitl1, Pl'athaniel G. Hurst, Jona- than Custer, Henry Brownfield, Jacob Haldernan, Henry Hayden, Isaac Harvey, Jacob Kyle, John. L. Patton, Samuel Vance, James Hugh, Reuben Hague, Teagle Trader, Willinm McCleary, Joseph S\wney, Ethelbert Sutton, John A. Sangston, John 9. Patton, Humphrey Humphries, IViIliam Vance, Hugh De- yarnton, U. L. Ciemmer, Joseph Moser, John K. Freeman, Moses Nison, A:eu:tnder Smaney, J o h n First, TVm. Sturgis, George D. Moore, Solomon Smith, Robert Britt, George T. Paul], Joel Leather- man, Henry B. Mathiot, Willian~ Hague, John ill. Clark, Alexander Deyarmon, Peter S. Halcleman, Isaac Franks, Sbrahnm Hibbs, John Swaney, Abra- !lam Brown, I?Tilliam Custer, 1Villi:m Rboades, Jack- son Wilson, William L). Xison, Warner Hugh, Otho TTictor, S. A. Fouch, TVilliain Trader, H. J. Dough- erty, William Shoof, Henry Kyle.

CIIURCBES.

One of the earliest chnrches of the county mas on the Philip Rogers farm, in the to\~nship, the property being now owned by the Fairchance Iron Company. The log church mas built upon the summit of a hill, near the Morgantown road and the old Cherokee trail. The site commanded a view of the country eas tnxd to the mountain, and westward over the valley then owned by the Carrs, now in the possession of the Colliers. This church was built before the Revolution. I t mas a German Baptist Church. Nothing is left to mark the location but a very ancient graveyard. TVhen the Corbly family mas murdered by the Inclinns in Greene County a messenger came to this church and informed them of that terrible slaughter. When the news was brought they were a t worship.

Among the ministers w11o cared for this frontier church me may mention John Corbly, the father of the ill-fated family, Thomas Stone, Mayberry, Dayid

town. On the 30th of October, 1784, i t TWS constituted an independent church, with twenty-se~en members, viz.: TVilliani We Is, Rebecca Wells, Jo- seph Thomas, Jane Jenkins, Omen Davis, Hannah Davis, Joseph Brown, Abigail Brown, David Norgan, Robert Hanna, Ann Griffin, Jeremiah Becks, Dinah Becks, Thomas Bowell, Ann Bowell, ~ ic l l a&l Iteed, Sarah Reed, -4nn Coombs, Eliza Carr, Eliza -4sh- craft, Sarah Hardill, Jonathan Pane, Bulthazcr Drago, BLargaret Wood, Philip Jenkins, Jesae Coombs, Abraham Hardin.

After the church had been organized the first pastor to preside over tlie congregation and miuister to tlleir spiritual needr \\-as James Sutton, a brother of Isaac Sntton, then preaching for the Great Bethel Cllurcli. The messengers to the Association, Sept. 10, 1TS3, were Philip Pearce, Thomas 3o\vell, and Rev. James Sutton. At a business meeting held on Sept. 9,1786, the following-named persons were appointed to meet at the house of William Archer, each one being re- quested to bring a liorse, in order to draw logs to the saw-mill to make seats for the meeting-house: David Morgan, William Wells, Richard Reed, Jeremiah Beck, Charles Griffin, Philip Jenkins, Joseph Brown, and John Taylor.

Rev. James Sutton acted as pnstor until May 12, 1787, a t which time he was dismissed at his own re- quest, to accept a call to the Nount Pleasant Church, filonongalia County, Tra. Rev. Samuel Wooclbrirlge was the second preacher for this congregation, ac- cepting a call as early as March 1,liSG. At that time i t seems to have been quite common for thc churches to have two or more preachers a t the same time. One would preach twice in each month, and tlie other minister ~vould alternate with him. On the 3d of November, 1788, Rev. George Guthrie lvas chosen pastor. At this meeting i t mas decided to meet during the winter a t the house of John Griffith; this was necessary on account of the church needing some repairs. Dec. 13, 1788, Philip Jenkins was appointed to assist \Villiam Wells in settling the ac-



GEORGES TOWSSIIIP. 573

count for repairing t l ~ e church. Rev. John Corbly nas the nes t minister, having received his call Dee. 13,1788. On the 13th of June, 1759, D'tvid Love- borrow was called and accepted, becoming their fifth preacher. At the monthly meeting Oct. 10,1789, i t mas decided to complete the carpenter-work on the meetinghouse, and to meet the next Friday to plaster the house. Dec. 10,1791, Owen Davis was appointed to lay out the grounds where the meetinghouse and graveyard were, so that tlie graveyard could be fenced. At the monthly meeting, Sept. 5, 1792, Bobert Han- nah and David Morgan were appointed "to select men to put in joice a t the meeting-house." At this same meeting a call was extended to Rev. Benjamin Stone, of Hampshire County, Va., who became their next minister. Rev. John Patton assumed the pas- torate in 1811, and continued for many years in charge of this church.

I t was decided Feb. 10, lSlG, that "the congregation must h a w a new cl~urch." The old churcl~ had served its purpose well, and now the moremcnt ~x-as to replace it with rt more com~nodious brick cliurcll. Accord- ingly Richard Patton and Robert Ilannah, Jr., were appointed to procure a lot for the sanle. Subsequently Michael Franks and Robert Rritt were appointed to receive from Charles Bromnfield a deed for tlie burying-ground and lot for the new c l iu rc l~ The new church building was erected by Glcleon Way ,as contractor and builder, and wa.s comp!eted ill 1825. About this time Rev. James Frey was called to the charge, and remained p;htor until 1S31, at which time Rev. George .J. Niles, of' Jlilesburg, Cextre Co., Pa., mas called to preach for this people. 0.1 the 13th of February, 1822, Rev. Eenoni Allen sucreedcd G. J. Miles, a t n salary of $150 per year. Jan. 12, 1832, Rev. John Thomas was chosen to preach oace a niontl~. In 1833, Eliel Freeinan was granted periiii&m to hold a singing scllool in the church.

Oct. 10, 1835, Rev. D.tvid T h o m n ~ w;~s called to preach once a month, at a salary of $50 per year. I n March, 1S3G, a Mr. Gould was permitted to talk upon the subject, "The Abolition of Slavery," in the church. H e proceeded to lecture, and considerable controversy springing up, i t was thought best that he should not speak again in the church. When he could no longer secure the church for his lecture against slavery he procured a room in the house a t present occupied by William Campbell as a hotel, and would have spoken there but for the timely knowledge received from a friend that a plan had been perfected whereby he nras to be kidnapped and handed over into the hands of the Virginians, who mere anxious to lay l~ancls upon him.

In 1837 i t was gecided that the members of the church should hand in thcir valuation of property, and support the preacher according to their means. Nay 12, 1535, Joseph Grover, alias William F. Mis- sildine, of Medina County, Ohio, was called, and accepted the call a t $150 per year. After acting as

pastor for a time he became popular and married into one of the most highly respectable families in the church. Soon there came a report injurious to his character; upon inquiry i t mas found to be true. Upon finding that his true character mas known he left the country and never returned. The succeed- ing preacher mas Rev. J. W. R. Tisdale, who came Dec. 8, 1835, a t a salary of $200 per year. A t tlie meeting of Feb. 9, 1839, an Auxiliary Mission So- ciety was organized in conjunction with the " Monon- gahela Home Jlissionary Society." In this society Squire Ayers wrts made president; Enos Sturgis, vice- president; N. R. Walker, secretary; and D. Patton, treasurer. I n 18-13, Rev. A. J. P e n n y was called as pastor, at a salary of $200 a year. The next minister mas Rev. Caleb Rossel, who was called March 7, 1545. H e was followed by Re\-. J. 11. Purinton, March 8, 1851. At the monthly meeting Feb. 7, 1852, i t was resolved to open a Sabbath-school in the church April 1, 1552.

On the 13th of Nay, 1854, Rev. Israel King mas chosen pastor. I n 1855, John Sutton was appointed to take charge of the singing. April 12, 1856, Rev. D. B. Purinton mas called to nlinister to the church, and he served until Sept. 12, 1857, at which time lie mas succeeded by Rev. A. J. Collins. I n 1558, John E. Patton took charge of the choir. I n 1559 the church purchased a house from Willianl Hannah for four hundred and fifty dollars, which they converted into a parsonage.

For a nnmber of years the cl~urch building, n-l~ich liad been completed in 1825, had been considered un- safe; accordingly the church concluded to erect a new house of worship. The following building com- nii ttee was appointed : Phineas G. Sturgis, Jeremiah Burchinal, Luther W. Burchinal, Samuel Anderson, and William Conn. I u 1362-63 the present large ' brick church was built a t a cost of about four thousand dollars, one iiundred thousand brick being required in its construction. The lot. upon which i t was built was bought of William Parshall, Esq. The new church was dedicated in January, 1564. During the two years required for the erection of their new house of worship the Methodists kindly gax-e them permis- sion to hold service in their church.

This church has had since its organization in 1784 the following ministers : James Sutton, Samuel Wood- bridge, George Guthrie, John Corbly, David Love- borrow, Benjamin Stone, James Estep, John Patton, James Frey, George J. Miles, Benoni Alien, John Thomas, Diivid Thomas, Joseph Grover, J. 1%'. I).

Tisdale, A. J. Penny, Caleb Itossel, J. 31. Purinton, Israel King, A. 3. Collins, D. B. Purinton, J. 31. Hall, Jonathan Smith, J. Moffatt, and William Wood. This church has licensed the following persons to preach, viz. : James Patton, Nov. 12, 1809; Willianl French, Sept. 13, 1523 ; Jeremiah Burchinal, Sept. 13, 1823; William TVood, Sept. 30, 1830 ; Levi Grif- fith, Sept. 30, 1830; Darid Evans, Sept. 30, 1530;



HISTORY OF FATETTE COUNTY, PERESYLVANIA.

J ~ ) h n Rockafellow, Auy. 24, 1832; Sbraham Bom- man, June 8, 1833; Garret Patton, Jan. 13, 1839; S. Kendall, April 9, 18%" ITT. TV. Hickman, Nov. 11, 1843 ; Lewis Samnlons, Feb. 8, 1851 ; Berljarnin F. Brown, Aug. 12, 1854; Phineas G. Sturgis, Oct. 7, 1854; George W. Hertzog, Jan. 13, 1855. Some of the secretaries have been Philip Jenkins, Jeremiah Sutton, Richard Patton, Moses Jeffries, Robert Han- nah, Reuben Sutton, David Evans, TV. Miller, Eu- gene Sturgis, D. P. Smith, Phineas G. Stugis, T. J. Conn. Some of the treasurers have been A. J. Snt- ton, T. Bnrchinal, and Gideon G. Clemmer. The following were among the early deacons : Owen Davis, Feb. 12,1755 ; Robert Hannah, Sept. 8, 1792 ; Jere- miah Kendall, Jan. 13, 1798; Michael Franks, Feb. 9, 18-32.

TEXT PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCII.

This church was organized a number of years before the present century. As early as SOT. 14, 1792, David Smith mas licensed by the Redstone Presbytery to preach, and a t once settled a t the Tent and at Georges Creek. These two appointments he continued to fill until shortly before his death, mhich occurred Aug. 2-1, 1803. H e was the father of the Rev. Joseph Snlith, who has in his "Old Redstone" done so much to embalm the history of the Presbyterian Church. At the time when Rev. Smith as pastor over this congregation i t is most likely that they worshiped in an old log house; but previous to 1792 this church had derived its name from the fact. it is said, that they worshiped in a tent. In 1805 the Union Presbyterian Church of Georges torvnship bouglit from Daniel Dimond a lot of ground upon which to build a house of xorbhip. They immediately proceeded to erect their church building, which was a large log structure. I n this church they mor-

'shiped for a considerable length of time. About this time Ebenezer Jennings was their pastor. Rev. Jen- nings was raised on Dunlnp's Creek, near New Salem, this county, and was a brother of the noted attorney from Steubenville, Ohio, who defended Philip Rcgers, and was succesJu1 in clearing him in the Polly 717illiams murder trial.

John A d a m was preaching for the Tent Church during the war of 1812. Then came William Wiley, who was pastor about 1820. Rev. Ashbel Fairchild took charge of t he church in 1827, and remained its pastor for a great many years, during wl~ich time there was great prosperity. The church hacl decided to build a new church. I n tearing down the log structure a melancholy accident occurred, which resuited in the death of Thomas Heddy and Henry Dimond. The weather-boarding on the western p b l e had not been taken off, and the rafters having been stripped of all the boards a puff of mind struck the gable and blew the rafters against one another, there being nothing to stay them, and before they had wnrning sufficient to saye themselres they wcre caught bctween the rafters and were cruslled to

- death, and it was with considerable difficulty that their bodies mere estricated. Mr. DImond's residence was near by, almost opposite the present residence of William James. The pulpit taken from the old log church is a t present used hg a Presbyterian Church near Elliot's Mill, in Wharton township.

The brick building, the walls of which are yet standing, took the place of the former rude building, and met with no accident until April 14, 1878, when, as the sexton was kindling a fire for the morning service, the building was fired from a defective flue and mas soon destroyed. The members of the church immediately set about rebuilding, and the contract was soon thereafter let to Fuller, Laughead & Co., of Uniontown, who soon hnd the new church ready for the dedicatory ceremonies, mhich occurred Aug. 4, 1878, Rev. S. S. Gilson, of Uniontown Presbyterian Church, preaching the sermon, and Rev. S. L. Bergen being installed pastor. In addition to the names of the ministers already mentioned the following hare preached for this church : Revs. Rogers, J. C. Hench, and J. B. Dickey.

The Rev. Ashbel Green Fairchild, D.D., was born a t Hanover, IT. J., May 1, 1795, and graduated at Princeton College in the class of 1813. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Xem Jersey in April, 181G, and was ordained an evangelist by the Reclstone Presbytery, July 1, 1818. H e commenced preaching a t Georges Creek in 1822. I n 1827 he re- signed from that charge, which mas connected with Greensboro' and Norgantol:.~; and mas installed pastor of the Tent Church. H e was the author of the " Great Supper," " Baptism," " Unpopular Doc- trines," and " What Presbyterians Believe." H e died June 30, 1864, after a long and useful life, and left a lasting influence for God and the right.

The Rev. David Smith, the first pastor of the Tent Presbyterian Church of whom we have any knoml- edge, was born in 1777, and after graduating a t Hmnpden Sydney College he came West, and was licensed by the Redstone Presbytery to preach, I Y or. 14, l792;and settled a t Georgej Creek and the Tent Churches. H e was the father of Rev. Joseph Smith, the historian of "Old Redstone." H e died Aug. 24, 1503.

SUITIIFIELD UETTIODIST EPISCOPAL CBURCH.

This society was organized about 1819, by Dennis Batty and a Mr. Stevenson. The place of their meeting was at Dr. Sackett's residence, one mile south of Smithfield. James Smith applied to the preacher on the Redstone Circuit to organize a church, and a suficient number of members having been secured the society was organized. At that time Recl- stone Circuit included all of Fayette County. The original members of this church were as follon7s : James Smith, Candacy Smith, Rschel Smith, Martha Smith, Freeman Smith, Stephen Smith, Mary Smith, Hannah Smith, Benoni Freeman, Mary Freeman, L~c l i a Dunham, E r e Backett, Rebecca Cooley, Nancy



GEORGES TOWXSHIP. 577

Griffin, Gen. Alexander McClellan, and, soon after, Dr. Sackett.

The preaching was continued a t the house of Dr. Sackett for two or three years, after which i t was changed to the house of James McCormick, who had in the mean time connected himself with the church. At sundry times they had service a t Benoni Free- man's and James Smith's. The church had the service of a minister every two weeks. Henry B. Bas- corn, - Poole, John Watterman, Simon Lauck, and Thornton Fleming mere some of the eminent mii~iaters who preached for this church in its infancy. Occasionaliy the presiding elder would come to Smithfield. The mast prominent of these elders was the Rev. Thomas M. Hudson. H e was considered the most eloquent divine that ever preach-d in tllis part of the county. When it was announced that Rev. Hudson would preach the church rvould not hold the congregation, and hundreds wonld stand on the outside and listen to his eloquence. H e not only possessed r&marl;able power and magnetism as a speaker, but was one of the best singers west of the Alleghenies.

In 1833 a camp-meeting \\-as held in the grove on Gen. Alexander NcClellan's place, on the hill above w e r e Georges Creek Academy now stands. Gen. &lcClellan advertised that h e would keep all of the preachers who came to the camp-meeting. This proved to be a great meeting, and thoroughly built up and established Metliodism in the vicinity of Smithfield. Bmong the ministers who were present and preached were Revs. Drummond, George Holmes, TV. Stevens. On Sabbath there were about three thousand people present.

Jan. 27, 1834, the trustees of the Methodist Epis- copal Church bought from Tliomas Gaddis a lot in Smithfield, containing nine thousand six hundred square feet, the consideration having been fifty dollars. The names of the trustees were Benoni Free- man, James McCorniick, Stephen Smith, Thomas Batt, and Alexander Brownfield.

The preachers in this church have been, in addition to those already named, as follows, viz. : J. I<. Niller, John Martin, John J. White, David L. Dempsey, David Hess, William Tipton, Hamilton Cree, Warner Long, Ebenezer Hays, Henry Kerns, Richard Jordan, John L. Irwin, Samuel Wakefield, - Gorden, M. Ruter, - McClaig, John S. Lemon, L. A. Beacom, Joseph Horner, Henry Long, William K. Foutch, William C. P. Hamilton, W. K. Brown, H. Snyder, Isaac P. Sadler, John McIntire, E. B. Griffin, Thomas 11. Wilkinson, A. L. Chapman, J. L. Stiffy, Charles Mc- C a s h , J. Momyer, D. J. Davis, Sylvanus Lane, M. D. Lichliter, R. J. White, John T. Stiffy, and W. L. McGrew, who is the present pastor. Under the pas- torate of John T. Stiffy, i n 1878, a substantial brick parsonage was erected at a cost of about fifteen huh- dred dollars.

This church has produced the following-named

3ersons for the local ministry: Henry B. Slathiot, James H. Green, S. E. Feather, and W. Richards.

The leaders of classes have been William McClearp, John Downey, R. C. Baily, William P. Green, John L. Whetstone, and Wesley Laken. A t an early date here were others.

The stewards of the church have been Henry 13. Mathiot, Ignatiun Feather, Thornton F. Farmer, William E. Reynolds, James McCormick, Aaron Ross, J. H. Stumm, William McCleary, and P. S. Haldernan.

FAIRCHANCE IETHODIST PROTESTAST CHURCH.

This church was built jointly with the Cumberland. Presbyterian Church, about the year 1840. About 1855 the Cumberland Presbyterians sold their interest in the house of worship to the Methodists, and the latter church has until the last few years used this church bui!ding for their meetings. Recently the building has become so thoroughlg unfit for meeting, on account of want of repairs, that the house has been abandoned. The congregation thought that i t mas not worth repairing, and have now collected sufficient money to erect a commodious house of worship, which has been already let to the contractors, and will be completed in the present season (1881).

Among those who organized this church the following members may be mentioned : Elias McIntire, Theophilus Ellsworth, John Means, Jacob Waid, John Pugh, Samuel Colley, Isaac Rarvey, Johu Carr, Abram Hayden, and their several wives.

The ministers who have preached to this congregation are as follows: Denton Hughes, Peter T. Laishley, Amos Hutton, William Betts, F. H. Davis, Isaac Francis, Henry Palmer, Jesse Hull, James Phipps, John Tygert, John Rutledge, Milton Still- well, Peter T. Conaway, Henry Lucas, George G. Con; map, William Wallace, and Edward 8. Brindley.

FAIRCHdNCE CUlIBERLhND PRESBYTERI-AN CHURCH.

This society was organized about 1840. Among the first members were A. J. Osborn, William Campbell, Solomon Smith, Joel Leatherman, Mrs. John Hay- den, and Adam Canan. As early as 1830 there mere some members of this branch of Presbyterianism in Georges township. Prominent among them werc William Nixon, Isaac %on, and Judge Samuel

Ixon. N' On the property of William Nixon, now owned by

Col. J. Robinson, there was a Cumberland Presby- terian camp-meeting held i n 1833, and for several gears subsequent. There were a number of substantial tents erected, and the arrangements were conl- plete for camp-meeting. The Revs. Donnell, Bryan, Sparks, Bird, and John Morgan were present during the exercises, and preached to the large concourse of people that gathered to attend something new in that region. The church mas much strengthened by the additions from the camp-meeting. Afterwards the members succeeded in building a church in uuion



IIISTORY OF FASETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

with the Methodist Protestants, and had preaching for some fifteen years. During the time while the society flourished Revs. Andrew J. Osborn, James Power Baird, TVilliam Hannah, and J. Henderson were pastors over tho flock.

WOODBRIDCETOWX SETESTH-DAY BAPTIST CHUIiC'H. This church was a log structure, and mas built by

the Rev. Samuel Woodbridge, somewhere near 1790. Mr. I?Toodbriclge acted as pastor himself for many years. Enoch David was also a preacher here; h e died Nov. 28, 1798, and his remains mere interred a t the graveyard near tlie church. Other preachers were John Corbly, -Stone, - Mayberry, and Thomas Hersey, who was chaplain of a regiment in the war of 1812. William Brownfield preached there sometimes. I t 11as long since gone to ruin.

GROVE GERJIAS BAPTIST CHURCB.

On Sept. 15,1S37, William Xoser, of Georges township, sold to Samuel Sche, Ephraim Walters, and Daniel Moser, trustees for the Georges German Bap- tist Association, fifteen and a half perches of land in Georges township, for the purpose of erecting a church. I n 1838 this church ( a log building) was bnilt. The families who constituted the membership of this church were the Bakers, Gans, Leathermans, Mosers, Aches, Covers, and Lougsneckers.

The ministers presiding over this congregation have been Joseph Leatherman, Isaiah Custer, James Kelso, James Fouch, James Quinter, Jacob Mack, Joseph I. Cover, A. J. Sterling, and John Johnson. The two last mentioned are the present pastors. About IS61 the old log structure was torn down, and the site mas used for the new frame church which is now used by the church. About 1860 there was a Sabbath-school organized in connection mith this church, through the labors and under the superin- tendericy of William Xioser. I t remained in esist- ence some three or four years.

WALSUT HILL BIETRODIST EPISCOP;\L CHURCH.

There mas a society a t Walnut Hill as early as 1815, and shortly after that (in 1821) they mere successful in building a church, which they used for many years and then converted it into a school-house. The building stood near the residence of Mr. William Trader. George Watters mas the chief mover in the organization of this society. Others of the original members mere George Griffith, Michael Mink, Noble McCor- nzick, Ilrs. Michael Mink, Harriet McCormick, Mary McCormick, Catherine Griffith, Sarah Griffith, Elisha Griffith, and Mrs. Elisha Griffith. On the 17th of January, 1821, a deed for the lot of ground upon which the church n-as to be built mas made by Thomas Downard and Barbara, his wife, to George Griffith, Michael Nink, and Xoble McCormick, trustees of the church, the consideration having been ten dollars, for a certain lot from the tract of land called Thomas- tomn, situate in Georges township, adjoining of James

-- Fouch and Joseph Hadden, containing fifty-eight perches. When this building had become so much dilapidated that i t was no longer fitted for tlie purpose for which i t had been bnilt, the society held meetings at private houses and t11e school-house. About the year lS50 the members concluded that it was best to have a new house of worsliip. A sub- scription paper was started, and with such able meu as John A. Sangston, John N. Freeman, Howard Griffith, and Andrew McClellan to aid in the prog- r e s of the work i t soon took definite shape, and the elegant new brick church building in which the congregation now worships was built. .John K. Freeman, John A. Sangston, Howard Griffith, and Andrew McClelland all aided with both means and influence to the project. Since that time this church has been yery prosperous. The Sabbath-school, which was organized soon after 1850, 11% been kept up as a summer school. Xr. John X. Freeman bequeathed to the ilIethodibt Episcopal Church five hundred dollars at his death. H e was for a great many years actively identified mith this the church of his choice. Some of the millisters have been L. R. Beacom, who was pastor in charge when i t was built; Joseph Hor- ner, Henry Long, William K. Fouch, William C. P. Hamilton, H. Snyder, TV. K. Brown, Isaac P. Sadler, John Mcrntire, E. B. Griffin, T. H. Wilkinson, Rich- ard Jordan, A. R. Chapman, J. L. Stiffy, Charles McCaslin, J. Momyer, D. J. Davis, Sylvanus Lane, M. D. Litchliter, R. J. White, John T. Stiffy, and W. 11. McGrew, the present pastor. I t has belonged to Fayette Circuit, and has been allotted the same pastors the other charges have had. Sometimes John Water- man, H. B. Bascom, John Fielding, Simon Lauck, Thornton Fleming, and other prominent ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church preached to this congregation. Some of the officers in more recent years have been : Stewards, John N. Freeman, James Lewis, William Trader, James Sessler, and Joseph Eangston ; Leader, James Lewis ; Trustees, John 8. Freeman, James Lewis, William Trader, James Sess- ler, Joseph Sangston.

Squire Hayden has been a local preacher, and is connected mith this church. I n 18'78, under the pas- toral cliarge of Rev. John T. Stiffy, this church was remodeled and painted and papered at ao expense of two hundred dollars.

EAEEATR-SCHOOLS.

Perhaps the rery first Sabbath-school in the tomnship, and certainly one of the earliest in the county, was called the " Ore Bank Sabbath-school." Eliel Freeman was tlie superintendent in 1825. I t was a Union school.

In 1842 a Sabbath-school n-as organized at Leather- man's school-house. Solomon Smith, Esq.,was superintendent. This was a Cumberland Presbyteriau school. For the past twenty years there has been a Union school at the Leatherman school-house. Dur-



GEORGES - TOWNSHIP.

ing this time Solon~on Smith, Reuben Hague, Hum- phrey Humphreys, Esq., John C. Xiller, and Lucien Leech have acted as superintendents. This school is in session about six months in the year.

The Tent Church Presbyterian school was organized about 1828, Eliel Freeman having been the first superintendent. He has been succeeded by the following gentlemen : J. Kennedy Duncan, Alexander Deyarmon, Alfred Stewart, William Custead, John Smith, and John Oliphant. I t is a summer school.

The Fairchance Presbyterian school was opened by the efforts of Dr. Ashbel Fairchiid, J. Kennedy Dun- can, and Fidelio H. Oliphant. The superintendents of this school have been Fidelio H. Oliphant, Wil- liam Pastories, J. Kecnedy Duncan, Samuel Duncan, Jod~ua V. Gibbons, and Esquire Humphrey Humph- reps.

The Mount Moriah Union school was one of the first in the field. Previous to 1820 Mr. Basil Brown- field attended Sabbath-school in the old " Log hleet- ing-house" a t Smithfield. At that time Phineas Stur- gis was the superintendent. At that early day there uxs some dissension as to the propriety of having the school in the church; subsequently i t was held for a number of years at private residences. I n 1852 the Baptist Church organized a school, and held the sessions in the "Brick Church." I n 1838 the Mount Moriah Church held Sabbath-school services in the church for a while. Since the last organization, April 1, 1852, the school has been continued, and the place of meeting has been tlie church. The school is in session tnelve months.

The Methodist Episcopal school was organized by IVilliam JfcCleary about 1850. The nest superintendent mas William P. Green, and since that time Dr. Henry B. hlathiot and John Downey have presided over the school in the capacity of superintendent. Under the superintendency of William Mc- Cleary the school made wonderful progress. He acted as its presiding officer until his removal from Smithfield. I n l8Gl the numerical strength of this school mas one hundred and twenty-five. The number on the roll a t present is in excess of one hundred. The school is in session all of the year.

The Haydentown Union school was organized as early as 1838, in the school-house, by F. H. Oliphant and Thomas Faw. Since then the school has had for its superintendents Rev. John McCarty and James D. Lowe.

Paull's Union Sabbath-school has been in existence for about twenty years as a summer school. Mr. George T. Paul1 was instrumental in securing its organization. The superintendents have been Phineas G. Sturgis, John E. Patton, Joseph Hictle, Andrew J. Stewart, George Miller, and Charles H. Rlathiot.

For a number of years a Union Sabbath-school was in existence a t the Fairchauce Methodist Protestant Church.

The Walnut Hill Methodist Episcopal Sabbath-

school was organized about 1850. The superintendents have been Benjamin King, John M. Freeman, and Lucien Leech.

WOODBRIDGETORN.

This mas originally Uifflintown, named, we believe, in honor of Governor Thomas Mifflin. It was then a tomn of some importance. Here John Hall, Joseph Taylor, Aaron Joliff, and David Trystler kept tavern. Col. Thomas Brownfield had a tannery soon after 1800 ; this tannery was built and for a time operated by Joseph Mendenhall. Benjamin Paine had here a cardingmachine before 1800. There mas an old school-house here. John Tedrick taught here, as also Phineas G. Sturgis.

EAIRCHANCE.

This place has grown with the increased prosperity of tlie furnace, until at present it is a town of considerable importance. I n this town there are two churches, viz., Presbyterian and Methodist Protestant, and for a time there mas a Cumberland Presbyterian. The history of these churches will be found under their respective titles. For a great many years F. H. Oliphant and others who mere engaged in the furnace business have had a company store a t this place. I n more recent years the Fairchance Iron Company's store and those of Robert Goldsboro and James Shay have been doing the mercantile trade.

SMITHFIELD.

This tomn was laid out by Barnabas Smith on the 13th day of June, 1799. The tract upon which it was laid out was known as "Beautiful Meadows,'' and mas originally the property of Jonathan Reese, who patented it Feb. 10,1787. Barnabas Smith married Elizabeth Reese, daughter of Jonathan Reese, and through her received this tract of land. John Fisher bought a lot in the town, which was then known as Smithfield; his purchase was made on May 13,1801. Another lot mas bought by Samuel D. Bowman, May 30, 1801. The consideration he paid was fourteen dollars for No. 11 in the plan of Smithfield. Other lot-buyers were Robert Brownfield, Benjamin Wheeler, David Hartman, Isaac Groover, and Samuel Ken- nedy.

From the very first the name of the town mas Smith- field. The Brownfields owned land nearly all around the tomn. About the time of the war of 1812 it was decided'by the governnlental authorities to open a post-office in Smithfield, and then the question arose, What should the office be named? Sonie were in favor o f Smithfield, while others favored Brorvnfield- town. To settle the matter in dispute it was left to the voters of the township to decide what the name of the new post-office should be. Robert Brownfield furnished whisky freely to one of the tavern-keepers, and Barnabas Smith gave an equal quantity to another tavern-keeper, and these gave the ardent freely to the voters. The day was almost gone, and no vot-



HISTOXY OF PAYETTE COUXTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ing had been done as yet, when Col. John Oliphant pnt in an appearance on the scene, and seeing that the v0te.i-s were too drunk to properly exercise their right of suffrage he mounted a store-box, and calling thein to order he said, " We ]la\-e met for tlie laud- able purpose of giving a name to our new post-office, but as the day is f:w spe!lt and I see no c!lance of de- ciding by ballot, now I propose to decide viva roce. I would lilie to accommodate both of the gentlemen mith at least a part of the name. Mr. Smith's first name is Bnmabas, but we all call him 'Barney ;' Mr. Brownfield's given name is Robert, but we all call him 'Bob.' Now I move you that the name of this town hereafter be ' Barney Bobtown.'" The mo- tion received a second, was put, and unanimously adopted. But the name of the post-office aln-ays remained Smithfield. The first postmaster was Andrew Collins, who kept the mail in his store-room. This was during tlie n7ar of 1SE. The mail was received once a meek. David Ctmpbell was mail-carrier, and made the meekly trip on horseback. After Andrew Collins James Culdwell was postnmter, and the office has been maintained erer since its organimtiox, a period of nearly seventy years.

About the year 1800, Henry Whistler had an oil- mill where Wood's tannery now stands.

In and before 1500, Thomas Wynn had an oil-mill a t Fairchance, and made ffxrseed oil.

Janies Martin had a wagon-making shop on the Morgantown road for about ten or fifteen years. H e bought from Edward Coombs, who erected it about 1830, and operated it many years.

Isaiah Jones made powder for a number of years a t the works built by Jones & Sammons, about 1830, near Woodbridgetorno. Some of their powder mas used by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company for blasting purposes.

An old blacksmith-shop was carried on at t6e cross-roads near Deyar~non's, on the Norgantovin road, for many years. Henry Smith manuhctured powder on York's Run before 1800. Recently Jacob Ruble has erected a blacksmith-shop near his mill. I t is in charge of Mr. Rhodes.

Israel and John Sheeler built a foundry, which was afterwards owned and operated by Stephen Rich- ards, G. G. Clernmer, John E. Patton, and John Mc- Curdy. The last named mere the last operators as a foundry, after which i t passed into the hands-of Isaac Franks, who converted it into a grist-mill.' H e asso- ciated Jacob Ruble mith him in the business. Some three years ago the mill mas burned and nerer rebuilt.

John Semmes, Jere Archer, Lewis Grimes, John Getzendiner, Elijah Suttou, Tvilliam Utt, Samuel Reeae, Washi~~gton R.eed, Jacoli Fordyce, Daniel Fordyce, Johnston Divilbes.;, James Huhn, and Squire Bradley have followed the trade of blacksmithing in the township.

- There hare been two pottery establishments in the

town. One was built about lSOO by Robert Bromn- field. In 1803 he sold it to John Fisher. Another came into existence afterwards. These mere carried on by Stephen Richards, Matthias Allensworth, Charles Brownfield, Jr., and Dunn & Clemmer. Both of them ceased operations long since.

The merchants of Smithfield have been Phillips, George Traer, Richard Patton, Andrew Collins, John Hagan, William Stewartson, Daniel Thomas, William Gans, Joseph Victor, Hugh H. Gilmore, -4lbert West, James Oliphant, Thomas Mitchell, Israel Painter, James Caldwell, Samuel Sackett, Stephen Richards, John Brownfield, F. H. Oliphant, Joseph Kyle, Thomas Ocheltree, Robert Jones, Joseph Hpde, James Schroyer, David Patton, William IValk-er, H. S. Sparks, William McCleary, James Davenport, John lvorthington, Ignati~as Feather, E. 0. En-ing, Dunn 8 Poundstone, Sturgis c'k Burchinal, A. J. Stewart, Eugene Brownfield, Feather 8: Jaco, Thomas Conn, ME. E. T. Brownfield, Mrs. I. Feather, and Jacob High.

Drug-stores : D. Patton and William Brownfield, E. A. Hastings, John X . Hustead, John Moore 8t Co.

Saddlers : Henry Rockafeller, - Lockwood, William Campbell, Lewis Clernmer, Abraham Rogers, Allen Byers, John E. Patton, A. B. Crow.

Tin-shops : Eugese T. Brownfield, 51;. Woods.

PIITSICIAXS.

Dr. James Todd was the first regular practitioner of medicine to settle in this vicinity. H e commenced the practice of medicine in Smithfield in 1S22. Since then there have been Emanuel Showalter, - Flem- ing, Henry Matthems, George Gans, B r o w Brown- field, Henry B. Mathiot, U. L. Clemmer, D. Vowell, Samuel Sacket, Jr., Frederick Patton, James T. Bea- zell, James Holbert, Clayton Richards, William Long- anecker.

DENTAL SURGEONS.

Drs. T. F. Fanner and Nr. Watson.

CABIXET-MAKERS.

John Jackson, ~ h o m m Gaddis, J a m s Ocheltree, and Samuel Sutton.

COOPERS.

Lewis Sammons, John Downey.

CARPEYTERS AND BUILDERS.

Henry Huhn, Mr. Phillips, James Vance, John Kramer, Luther W. Burchinal.

WAGON-XAKERS.

George Burris, Samuel KendalI, Orlanzo Lytle, Simeon Zearly, William Hannah.

I. 0. OF. 0. F.

. Gal!atin Lodge, No. 517, I. 0. of 0. F., was organized under charter granted by Sovereign Grand L d g e of Pennsylvania, dated June 26, 1855, and instituted



CEORGES TOWNSHIP. 581

I under D. 1). G. Master David L. Walker, of Con- were Philip Rogers and Robert Richey; the latter nellsrille, Pa., with the foliowing persons as charter ' gentleman served in this capacity for more than

I members : Dr. U. L. Clemmer, H.J; ~ x @ e r t ~ , Capt. J. Hickman, J. E. Patton, J. D. Field, W. T. Good- win, Capt. James Abraham, Rlaj. James M. Abraham, Enos IV. Field, Simeon Zearly, Gideon G. Clemmer, G. R. Miller, TV. T. Ellis, T. P. Burchinal, J. L. Showalter, H. B. Mallaby. The first officers mere as follo~vs: N. G., Dr. U. L. Clemmcr V. G., H. J. Dougherty ; Treas., Gideon G. Clemmer ; Sec., G. R. Miller; Trustees, H. J. Dougherty, L. W. Burchinal, James Abraham.

Past ,Voble Gram&: V. L. Clemmer, H. J. Dough- erty, G. G. Clernmer, G. R. Miller, J. L. S!iowalter, L. W. Burchinal, Enos W. Field, James Abraham, H. B. BZallaby, James M. abraham, IV. R. Griffin, B. F. Black, Sixneon Zearly, 1%'. T. Goodwin, J. E. Patton, J. D. Field, W. T. Ellis, T. P. Burchinal, J. L. Whetstone, J . ;\I. D. Low, J. TV. McCirrty, W. H. Heston, W. E. Reynolds, J. W. Hugh, P. T. Sturgis, Jolin Downey, John Martin, A. J. Miller, B. F. >far- tin, J. C. Miller, P. 5. Ilaldoman, E. 8. Hayden, E. M. Martin, W. E. Moore, Joseph Ewing, James Vance.

TIIE GEORGES C R E E K T R A D I X G CO.\IPdNY

was organized in 1816, to do a general banking and trading. business in the town of Smithfield. The movers in this enterprise were James Brownfield, B. Stevens, A. UcJIasters, 157illiam Abraham, John Show- alter, James Shomalter, Basil Brownfield, and Richard Patton. Of these James Brow~~fidcl wns made the first president. The clerk elected mas Richard Patton, and the directors or board of managers were B. Stevens, A. McMasters, William Abraham, John Showalter, James Showalter, and Basil Brownfield.

The officers of the company mere to consist of a president, clerk, and board of managers. Those first elected to these offices sllould retain their positions until the last Monday in March, 1817, a t which time a new election was to be held. The capital stock mas not to exceed fifty thousand dollars. The shares mere to be tweuty dollars each, payable in gold, silver, or current bank-notes equivalent thereto.

The banking-room was in the brick building then owned by Mr. Basil Brownfield, and now omned and occupied by Mr. William Campbell as a hotel parlor. This banking institution mas in existence in 1819, October 10th (see Mvunt Moriah Baptist Church minutes, volume xi. page 22). In 1822, by action of the stockholders, i t was decided to dissolve the partnership and discontinue the business, accordingly all the outstanding paper money of the concern was called in, redeemed in coin, and burned.

J U S T I C E S O F TIIE PEACE.

The township mas well represented in this office in the days when the justices were appointee! by the Supreme Executive Council. The first occupants of the office after the organization of Fayette County

twenty years under appointment from the Go~~ernor. Others holding this office have been Andrew Oliphant, Enoch Sbraham, Abraham Stewart, Richard Patton, Daniel Thomas, Stephen Richards, Samuel Nixon (at one time associate judge), Squire Ayers: William Abraham, James Brownfield, Solomon Smith, Joel G . Leatherman, George Rertzog, Thomas Trader, James Reeson, Alexander Brownfield, Thomas Williams, Humphrey Humphreys, Alfred Core, George Meason, Jolin R. Neans, Henry Hayden, Reuben Hague, Isaac Peters, William Conn.

Eon. John Brownfield, son of James Brownfield, was born near Srnitlifieid, Dec. 28, 1808. On the 10th of January, 1833, lie married Relindn, daughter of John Hustead. Both are living. JIr. Brownfield has twice had the honor of associate judge conferred upon him, serving in that capacity from 18.54 to iSG2.

Dr. Etnanuel Shomalter commenced the practice of physic in Smithfield some forty or fifty years ago, and afterwards went South, where he became eminent in his profession.

Alexander Clear mas one of the early school-teacli- ers of Fayette County, and a very excellent one he is said to have been. About the time of the n-ar of 1812 he was engaged in his calliug in the town of Nonroe. H e afterwards settled in Geoges township, and taught for a nutnber of years. H e mas a Chris- tian gentleman, and was noted for his fine accomplish- ments as a penman. H e removed, with his son Thomas, to Cumberland abont 1845.

Dr. William Hampton McCormick, son of James McCormick, mas born near Smithfield in 1826. After reading medicine with Dr. Smith Fuller, Uniontown, he attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he graduated, after which h e began the practice of his profession at Donegal, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he practiced for a while, and then changed his location to Grantsville, Md., and from there he wept to Cumberland, where he has been practicing ever since. His practice has been a remunerative one, and he has amassed a considerable fortune.

Dr. James F. McCormick, son of James McCor- mick, ~ v a s born near Smithfield, Ju ly 6, 1839. H e received an academical education at Carmichaelstown, Greene Co., Pa., and at Georges Creek Academy, Smithfield, after mliich he read medicine under his brother Hampton and attended Jefferson Medical College. After completing his studies he located a t Petersburg, Somerset Co., Pa., but afterwards went West, and commenced practicing at Quincy, Ill.,.nnd from there he went to Menden, Ill., and from thence changed to Fowler, where he built up agood practice, but his health failed, and he died there in 1874.

Dr. Alcynus Young ~IcCormick, son of James Mc- Cormick, was born and raised near Shithfield. H e attended school a t C~rmichael's, Greene Co., and



5 3 HISTORY OF FXTETTE COUNTY, PENNSPLVAXIA. I

Georges Creek Academy with his brother. H e then Rev. Joseph Leatherman came to Georges township , read medicine under liis brother Harnpton in Cum- i 7 9 9 . H e a s n Duskard or German Baptist berland, attended Jefferson Jledical College, where preacher, and was for a nutnber of years pastor of he completed his studies, and then located in Fred- 1 the Grove German Baptist Church in this to~vnship. erick City, Md., where he practiced during the latter ' Rev. Isaac IVynn, a Baptiat minister, has always part of the Rebellion. 7Vl1en his brother James be- been a resident of this township, and preaches very came sick he located a t Fowler, Ill., on the Qnincy 1 acceptably to the people through this and adjoining ancl Burlington Railroad, and is still practicing there. townships, usually holding liis meetings in the school-

Rev. Samuel TIToodbridge was the founder of tlie houses. H e resides near Oliphant. town which bears his name. H c came to this coin- Rev. Andrnv J. Osborn, a Cu~nberland Presbyte- munity at a very early date. H e was the pastor of , rian minister, was raised near Fairc11:mce. During the Mount Jloriah Baptist Cllurcli as early as 1755. tlie war of the Rebellion Ile acted as chaplain of the Sl t i~oat contemporaneous with tlle erection of the , Fourteenth Pennsglvania Cavalry. H e had six sons cllurch juit spoken of he built in \Voodbridgetown a 1 in the service. Four of his sons belonged to the Seventh-Day Baptiat Church. same company he enlisted in, viz., Conipany E.

Dr. JaniesBrownfield, souof ex-Judge John Brown- ' H e preaclied for the Cusiberland Church at Fair- field, was born and reared in the torrn of Smitlifield, / chance for a number of years. studied medicine, and is a t present practicing i n Fair- Dr. Frederick Patton, son of A!esander Patton, read mount, \Vest Va. medicine under Dr. H. B. AIathiot, and after attend-

Dr. James Holbert n-as born in Georges. H e taught in the public schools for a number of years, after n-hich he attended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col- lege, and is a t present practicing a t Fairchance.

Rev. 7V. W. Hicknlan mas licensed to preach by Mount illoriah Baptist Church Kov. 11, 1843, since which time he hm presided over the Flntwoods, Uniontomn, and Waynesburg charges. H e is a man eminently fitted for the ministry, and exceedingly popular and useful in his sacred calling.

Rev. George TIr. Hertzog \-;as raised in this tomnship. In January, 1553, he was licensed to preach a t Mount Xoriah Baptist Church, and -since then has been actively engaged in his ministerial duties.

Phineas G. Sturgis was licensed by the Mount IIoriah Church to preach Oct. 7, 18%. For a number of years past he has been engaged in nierchan- dising, and is a t present following that business, having as a partner Mr. Luther 1:'. Burchin:~l, n.110

ing the lectures a t Jefferson 3ledical College, Phila- delphia, lie practiced for a while as partner of Dr. Matliiot. About ten years ago he vent to West Nen- ton, Pu., and located tlierc, w11ere he still renxiins.

I t has been persistently clainled and believed by many that Gen. Sam Huustoa, President of the re- public of Terns, and afterwards Gavernor and United States senator from that State, was a native of the township of Georges, born a t Woodbridgetomfi, where his father, Paul Hcuston, mas a tavern-keeper about the year ISUO, and that tlie young Hoaston was in his youth a sclloollilate of fi:lsil Brownfield, in Georgee. I t is no doubt. correct that there was a Samuel Hous- ton of which a11 this was true, but that-i t was not Gea. Houstun, of Tesm, is rendered more than prob- able from the testimony of one a110 unquestionably knew whereof he spoke. T i n t one was no less a per- sonage than the Hon. Thomas H. Bcnton, United States senator from Missouri, who, in his "Thirty . Years in the United States Senate" (rol. i. p. G T 6 ) , says, " Gen. Sam Houston was born in tlle State of Virginia, county of Rockbridge; he wits appointed

Dr. V. L. ~ l e r n m e r Tvas raised near Smithfield, practiced medicine in that town for sel-era1 years, after xhich he removed to Bro~vnsville. For a number of years he mas editor ancl publisher of the Greenback Banner aucl Labor if dcocnfc.

Dr. Clayton Richards was born in Smithfield, educated a t Jefferson Medical College, and is now practicing in West Virginia.

Mr. A. J. Stewart has been one of the most enter- prising and sn'ccessful merchants of Smithfield for a number of years.

I

has been for many years one of the most enterprisin, w i business Inen in this township. His occupation originally was that of architect and builder. H e had the i contract for building the Georges Creek Acade-my an ensign in tlie army of the United States during and the Mount 31oriali Baptist Church. I the late war with Great Britain, and served i n the

I Gideon G. Clemnler was prominently connected 1 Creek campaign under the banners of Jackson. I

BIOGRAPHICAL

with the Georges Creek Academy and the organizn- tion of Gnllatin Lodge of Od&Fello\vs. A nunlber of years since he went West, where lie is now engaged in the banking business.

SKETCHES.

\\-as the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment to which he belonged, and the first field-officer to whom he re-

' ported." e-

" I t is in men as in soils, whcrc sometimes them is n, rt in of

gold which tlie owner knons not of."-l)lr.~s SWIFT. /

'Fideleo Hughes Oliphant was the third son and fourth in the order of birth of a filnily of ten children .- . -~ . . . . - - .- . ~

I The steel-plate engraving arconip;r~~yir~g this sketch is from a da- gnerreutjpe t;iken when lie was between forty-fisen~ld fifty yeels of nge, and is nn esccllent lilicness of the origiuill at tlmt pwiud of his life.



QEORGES TOn'XSHIP.

-four sons and sir daughters-of John and Sarah guard of the army, where he died on the fourth day Oliphant. Hughes, the subject of this sketch, was 1 after tlie battle, and was buried in the rozd, near the born on the 4th of Jmuary , 1S00, at; Old Fairfield ' site of Fort Necessity, where Washington fought 1:is Furnace, on Georges Creek, in Georges township, Fay- ' first battle, on the 3d of July, 1754. Tradition says ette Co., pa.) Of this old furnace, the rival of another Andrew Oliphant assisted in the construction and on Jacob's Creek, Westmoreland County, Pa., for the ' defense of Fort Secessity. distinction of being the fir5t a t which pig iron was , After the war he moved out to Fayette County: nlade west of the Allegheny Nountains, in which both and settled on land near to Merrittstomn. Hi s re- localities ha re zealous adroertei, nothing but the mains rest in the graveyard of the Dunlap's Creek cicder pile and some of the larger stones of the stack Presbyterian congregation. remain to mark the spot where its proprietors, 1 John Oliphant and Andrew, his younger brother, pioneers in what has grown to be the great industry commenced the iron business a t Old Fi r f ie ld Fur- of Western Pennsylvania, saw and heard their firat n x e , and soon added Fairchance, on the same bantling heave and sigh. stream, to it. &hsequently to this they built "Syl-

His fathel-, Col. John Olipliant, was born in Chester van Forges," on the lower waters of Georges Creek, County, Pa., and-his mother, Sarah McGinnes, b o r ~ near the village of New Geneva. They- made pigs a t in Philadelphia, Pa., w m the only child of a sea-cap- Fairchance, and conrer:ed them into bar iron at

I tain, who was lost in shipwreck. L d t an orphan a t Sylvan Forges; built boats, launched them on the I

an early age, she was adopted by her uncle, the Rev. Jlonongahela a t Genera, and floated their iron down Samuel Woodbridge, of tlie Seventh-Day Baptist the i.iver to Pittsburgh and'poiuts below on the Ohio persuasion, with whom she crossed the mountains on ' to,market. horseback in lTTS or 1779,n1ounted on bales of goods ' They continued as partners in business until strapped upon a pack-saddle.: 1816, when they dissolved and divided the property.

Her uncle Woodbridge settled in Springhill town- Fairchance and Sylvan Forges being considered ship, founded the village which bears hi.; name, built about equal in value, John gave his younger brother, a church in which he preached every seventh day, Andrew, the first choice. He too% Sylvan Forges, and erected a dwelling-house, which in its day and and the p r~pe r ty w3s partitioned on that basis, with-

I locality was considered stylish and commodious. H e out invoking the aid of the courts./ preached without money and without price there until. F. H. Oliphant's first schooling was in a log house, his lips were sealed in death. His remains rest in the still standing in the back-yard a t "Liberty Hall," old graveyard adjoining thechurch, and by his last r i l l where his father then lived, two miles from Fairfield and testament he left some of these village lots for the perpetual maintenance of the church and graveyard in good order, which benevolent intention has been sadly neglected. Squatters and trespassers profane the sacred soil with which pious faith meant to cherish and protect " God's half-acre." Church and church- ~ a r d both feel the cold hand of time heavy upon them, and the colder charity of neglect chills every pilgrim to this sacred shrine.

Tradition says that Col. Oliphant and Sarah Wood- bridge (she took her uncle's name) " made a remark- ably fine couple" when they stood up before the ~enerable uncle of the bride to be united in marriage, some time in the year 1790. Their remains rest in tlie old churchyard a t Woodbridgetown. (~nclrew, the grandfather of Hughes Oliphant, had his home in Chester County, Pa., previously to the war of the Revolution. H e mas a trader, and trans- ported goods over the nlountains on pack-horser, es- changing them with the Indians and settlers for furs and land, for there mas no money there a t that time. Gen. Braddock, iu his campaign against Fort Du Quesne in 1755, pressed him and his pack-horses into his service.) When Braddock fell, mortally wounded, a t t h e battle of the Monongahela, on July 9,1755, he mas carried on a litter swung between two of these horses, under the direction of Andrew Oli- phant, in the retreat to Dunbar's camp, the rear-

and half mile from Fairchance. The teacher was Thomas, father of Gcn. A. G. Porter, lately elected Goyernor of Indiana.

His nes t experience was with Alexander Clear a t Norris S-Roads school-house, where Col. Satnuel Evans, the Morris, Hardin, Tobin, Gans, and Griffin boys and others were among his schcolmates. Here he learned to "read, write, and cipher as far as the single rule of three," and acquired some knowledge of English grammar, geography, history, and book- keeping.

,4fter learing Vr . Clear's school he went to Bran-ns- ville, in the same county, to attend a school of Rev. James Johnson, and while there, in consideration of boarding and lodging, assisted Mr. James Brading in his store mornings and evenings. H e then secured the life-long friendship and confidence of Mr. Brad- ing, and by his industry and attention to the duty before him attracted the notice of George Hogg, Ja- cob Bowman, and Joseph Thornton, leading men of that part of the county, and made them his friends for life.

This, with one session of fire months at Jefferson College, where his older brothers, Woodbridge and Orlando, and subsequently his younger brother, Ethel- bert, graduated, finishad the course of his education before h e mas seventeen years old.

About this period of his life, financial trouble, the



554 I I ISTOItF O F FATETTE COUSTY, PENXSYLVBNId.

result of too much lending of his name, falling upon his father, ~vith the accumulation of years, he entered his office a t Fairchance, and a t eighteen years of age the entire business devolved upon him. He paid just debts and resisted the payment of unjust claims until all mere settled and the property relieved. r On the 6th day of November, 1521, he married Jane Creigh, the oldest daughter of Samuel Duncan, Esq., of the Fayette County bar, from which came a family of eleven children,-John, Duncan, Orlando, Henry, James and Ethelbert, Elizabeth, Xary Louise, Jane, Sallie Ann, and Ellen. On the 8th of Kovernber, 1871, they celebrated their golden weclding a t the residence of the oldest daughter, Mrs. R. P. Nerin, Sewickley, Pa., a t which all the children living and many grandchildren were present. June 5, 1576, his wife Jane died, and he aftern-ards married her younger sister, Nary E. Duncan, who survives hinl. -' In 1820 or 1821 he purchased Erailldin Forge, ar, the Little Falls of the Youghiogheny River. hauled pigs from Fairchance, hammered them into bar iron, and with the fall and spring freshets floated the iron domn the Youghiogheny and ktonongnhela Rirers to Pittsburgh, and sometimes down the Ohio to Cincin- nati, selling what he could for cash, and trading the balance for store goods and provisions for the f~lrnace and forge.

In 15%-%,in connection with two other gentlemen of Pittsburgh, h e built the Pennsylvania (now the Wayne) Rolling-Mill, and not agreeing cordially with his partners, he sold his interest to Mesys. Xilten- burger E; Brown, returned with his family to Frnnklin Forge, and conducted the business there in connection with Fairchance for a number of years without a dollar of money. I t wzs all barter and t r ~ d e . Frank- lin Forge was a centre of business. H i s iron mas the currency of the country. Farmers brought in their produce to the mills, traded it for iron, taking what they wanted for present use, and a certificate of de- pobit for the balance. His office and iron-house became a bank of deposit. T l ~ e r e mas no money in the countrv, and so this system of trade went on for years, the iron not leaving the warehouse only a t the semi- annual freshets, when all on hand went domn the river, and a new stock would accumulate a t the mare. home. The wagons that brought pigs from Fair- chance returned loaded with flour and other suppliee accumulated in the mill ax the forge. H e has often declared that this mas the most satisfttctory period ol his businejs life. But he looked beyond the beautiful hills and wild, romantic surroundings of the " Little Falls" for wider fields and deeper mines. H e san the day of the forge-fire and the tilt-hammer passing away, and in 1832 sold Franklin Forge to Messrs Miltenburpr & Brown, of Pittsburgh.

Leaving his family in Uniontown h e started f o ~ Tennessee, with a view of entering into the iron bnsi ness there with Messrs. Yateman, but not bein: pleased wit11 the situation, he returned to Cincinnati

burchased a steam-engine and the option of a lot of and in Covington, rented a house in Cincinnati, and nade other arrangements for building a rolling-mill.

Coming home, he yielded to the eloquent pleadings ,f the gray hairs of his father and mother and the ears of his sisters, abandoned the Cincinnati scheme, 11-ought the engine to Fairchance, and in the fall of S32colnmenced building a rolling-mill, nail-factory, - tc., alongside the f~~rnace , which in the spring and ~umnler of 1833 were in full operation.

H e made a superior article c,f iron and nails. They lecame popular as soon and as far as they mere kno~vn, ind these iron-works went on through good times and lard without a, strike or stop, except for necessary re- lairs, until after the property was sold to a New YorB :ompany in 1570-71.

In hard times dicker and trade mas resorted to ga in , as in previous years a t " Little Falls." Wagons sere loaded a t the works, started on the old Sational -oad, selling in the towns through which they passed, 1x1 the balance converted into store goods and gro- :tries in Baltimore. These in turn were loaded into ;he wagons to "plod their weary may" back to the works.

H e had coal and iron ore and limestone in the ;round, and timber for charcoal in the mountains. He had only labor to pay for. The raw material ive:lt into the furnace, and came out bar iron and nails at the other end of the same building, alnlost without getting cold in the process. When times were Eard and iron ~vas dull, selling for cost, or less than cost, the store made a little profit, or made up the loss.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad having made its way out to Cumberland, these tactics had to be and were changed to another direction. The surplus of iron accumulated a t the works was shipped on steamboats a t Bromnsville, and bartered and traded down the river for anything that would be useful at the works, or for which there was a market in New Or- leans. There the balance of the iron and such other freights as had been collected by the may mere converted into sugar, coffee, tobacco, etc., one part being shipped u p the ricer by steamboats for the works, another shipped by sea to Baltimore and sold or ex- changed for dry-goods, which in turn found their may to Fairchance.

I n 1848 he purchased " Springhill Furnace," and in 1570 sold two-thirds of both these properties to a New Pork company, and subsequently sold the other third to the same parties. H e seemed then to be entirely out of active business, but in the mean time he had purchased the " Sunnie Brae" property, on the Southwest Branch, Pennsylvania Railroad, from the heirs of Noses W. Nixon, and the site being eligible, and the building of the railroad secured, visions of another furnace soon began to float through his brain.

I n the summer of 1878 he conlmenced preparations, and in the fall and wiuter of 1875-76 built " Oliphant



GEORGEB TOWSSIIIP. -

Furnace," on the Sunnie Brae property, getting into operation early in the suamer of 1576, but this ven- ture did not prove a success. The times were too hard to make money on pig iron, and to zdd to other dranrbacks, in the night of the 7th of November, 1878, the furnace buildings took fire and b u ~ n e d down, and on the 11th of the same month he sold the Sunnie Brae and Oliphant Furnace property to his son Duncan, who a t once rebuilt the furnace, put it inoperation again in the early spring, added numerous improvements in the way of dwelling-houses for hands, new hot-blast, etc. Under this management it was continued in blast until KO\-ember, 1580, when it was again sold to the Fayette Coke and Coal Com- pany.

While operating " Franklin Forge" Mr. Oliphant introduced a new process in making iron between the pig and the forge fire or puddling oven, which he called refining, blowing the iron in an open coke fire. It was a very simple and inexpensire addition, was au economy i n the end, and improved the quality of the iron.

While in Tennessee he was the first to think of and . suggest placing the engine boilers a t the top of the

furnace stack, instead of consuming and wasting large quantities of wood or other fuel under them on the ground below. ilmong other improvements he adopted this plan when he came into possession of " Springhill Furnace," where the stone coal mas not of a very good quality or very plenty.

I n 1836-37 he successfully experimented, and, as is claimed, was the first iron man in the United States who had a real and substantial success in making iron in any considerable quantity with coke. H e n7as noL well prepared for this experiment; the furnace stack was old, built for cold blast and charcoal, and

Slr. Stockton i t was introduced to the notice of the War and Navy Departments, where i t more than ;hod every test to which i t was subjected, and h e sold hundreds of tons to the government for gun- barrels and chain-cables.

I n this connection his iron came under the obser- vation of Asbury Kimble, a very ingenious and in- xlligent man, who believed from its quality that it would make good steel. H e visited the works, and the result was the building of a steel furnace at Fair- chance in the fall of 1837, in which a good quality of steel s a s made from this iron. But consumers would not beliere i t to be as good as the imported; there was little or no sale for it. The enterprise was abandoned, leaving Mr. Oliphant with a stock of steel on hand of his o\irn make large enough to last him for the rest of his business life a t Fairchance. H e used none other,-the best proof of its good quality.

" F. H. Oliphant inherited all the nobler traits of character which distinguished his father. H e was particularly noted for kindness to those in his employ. I n their temporal welfare he manifested a deep personal interest. H e built comfortable homes for them, planted fruit-trees in their yards, and in every way sought to assist theni in lightening the burdens of a toilsome life. He has made tens of thousands for others where he has made hundreds for himself."

" The subject of this notice was no ordinary man ; he was a remarkable man, and his entire business career, throughout a long life of untiring energy and unselfish and unflinching integrity of purpose, has shown it. I n addition to his regular business a t tintes he took hold of others, such as plying steamboats between Pittsburgh and Western and Southern ports. Before the railroads pierced the Allegheny Mountains he owned and ran a fast wagon line between Cumber-

but little alteration mas made in the blast. The fur- land and Wheeling. ~ h & line carried .only fast nace ran a blast of about fire months on coke, mak- ' freight, and soldiers during the Mexican war. His ing a fair quality of iron, good enough for nails, but, 1 wagons were lighter than the ordinary regulars, and although he rolled and piled the iron and then rolled 1 were drawn by mule teams, wl~ich were changed a t it again, i t was not -' Oliphant's iron." Timber was ' fixed points along the road.' still plenty fur charcoal, and he s e n t back to his first "Perhaps there was no wider known, or more gen- lore. I erally respected gentleman in all his time in this

I n the spring of 1537 h e deposited in " Franklin county. Of aciire habits, he did much to develop Institute" of Philadelphia specimens of the ore, coal, , the mineral wealth of this section of the State, and and limestoue, and iron and nails made from these its people are largely indebted to him for the prom- raw materials, where they still remained a t last ae- inent part he has all the time taken in building u p counts, and although the managers conceded that he its interests and promoting its welfare." had substantially earned the medal offered in 1833 i t 1 On the 16th of April, 1870, "about one hundred was not awarded, on the technicality that the iron ' of his employ&, men, women, and children, and a had not been made within the time limited in the 1 sprinkling of neighbors and friends, assembled in the offer. rolling-mill, and sent for Mr. Olipliant. When lie

The superior quality of Mr. Oliphant's iron ~ r a s , ~rnlked into the mill he was naturally very much indisputable. L. W. Stocliton, presideut of the " Xa- surpriscd, and inquired what i t all meant. This in- tional Road Stage Company," used large quantities ' quiry was hastily answered by the Rev. Peter T. of i t a t their " stage-yard" in Uniontown, and al- Lashley, who mounted a store box, and after making though they were not on friendly terms, he often ' a neat and appropriate address, presented him, for the declared emphatically that " Oliphant made the best ' ------- iron that ever went into a stage-coach." Through I 1 .In~ericuii S f m d w J of Felr. '24, 1~70, mid ?&ar~h 13 ,1~ i9 .



5S6 HISTORT OF FXPETTE COITNTP, PENNSYLVANIA.

those who did not understand him he was supposed to be harsh and severe in his nature; but he was a man of deep and strong feelings, and in a way was very sensitive, though a proud reserve kept the secret of this quality so close that few suspected i t mas there. He mas of strong physique, and of estraor- dinary powers of endurance, often surpassing those of young ancl vigorous men, working his brain and his body as unsparingly as if they had bcen machines made of his own iron, insensible to the pleasures or necessity of rest. His manner was sometimes brusque, and more decided than the occasion seemed to require. His words mere outspoken frankness when he had anything to say, and sometimes gave offense when none was intended. Always ready to forgive an in- jury, he was a firm and constant friend, and, like his father before him, seriously damaged his fortune "by the too inuch lending of his name." Of great moral and physical strength and courage, h e "dared do all t!mt might become a man," feeling, ~v i th the great poet of nature, that " h e who dared do more was none." Strong in his convictions, he was hard to move from them. Impressed by the prccepts and the examples of his father and uncle, he naturally fell into political ranks adverse to the Democratic party, but not to Democratic ideas, and remained so through life. Of iron nerve, he seldom gave outward signs of emotion, and those who knew him best can recall but one or two instances in which he was known to have been unmanned. I n his younger days he was fond of military parades and displays, loved poetry, and coulcl to the last recite long passages from Scott and Burns. Especially fond of the old Scotch songs, when he was well stricken in years and had an ewu- ing a t home his daughters charmed the hours away with the music and mords of the same airs and lines with which his "Bonnie Jane" chained his Heart and hand " in days 0' auld lang sy ne."

1 LirziOnlo~m Democlnt, Dee. 11, 1878.

people assembled, with a valuable gold-headed cane. ' From the outbreak to the close of the war of the When the speaker handed the old captain the cane ' Rebellion he was intensely loyal to the Union, and i n token of the donors' respect, tlie venerable gentle- 1 nearly depleted his iron-works of hands to put me11 lnan of iron constitution, as well as manufacturer, 1 in the field; nor did he spare his own family. When read the inscription carefully, and while tears trickled I taking leare of his son Duncan, starting with 11;s I down his cheeks he said, in words ever to be remem- company into service, he said, " Go, my son, and do bered, 'My friends, I have not words to express my ) your duty; I would rather see you in an honored sincere and heartfelt thanks and gratitude for this , grave than hear that you had faltered." There was valuable espression of your regard.' The boys threw 1 no tear in his eye, only the fainted tremor on his u p their caps and cheered, while the old men and ' l ip ; then added, "1 once heard pour grandfather sap women went forward and grasped his honest hand 'Xo one of the name ever turned his back on a friend with the espression, 'God bless you !' trembling on or zn enemy;' you will not be the first to break the every tongue. After a few side remarks, they passed 1 c l ~ d n . Farewell." out, with tears of sorrow and affection flowing pro- / One of the instances in which he mas known to fusely down their cheeks. There were but few dry / hare been unmanned was when the cane was pre- eyes in the c r o ~ d . ' ~ I sented to him on retiring from business. H e was

I I n his pril-ate life and in his family he \\-as kind quite unnerved with emotion : sweet and sad mem- and affectionate, consulting more the convenience and ories seemed to crowd upon him, and the strong man, comfort of others than his own. W i h strangers ~ n d like Jacob of old, "lifted u p his voice and wept"

I tears of joy and grief. And again when the death of his youngest son, " Bertie," a t Yorktown, was announced to him, his head sank upon his wife's shoulcler ; they mingled their tears ancl sobbed aloud together for their "Benjamin" of eleven children.

I t w:ls no'unusual thing for him to ~ n o u n t his llorse (famous old Marmion, almost as xell known through the county as his rider) in the evening after a hard day's work at the forge, ride to Pitt&ulgh, thirty-fire miles away, for breakfiist, be on font all day long, and home again for breakflat next morning; and this often occurred with him in his business between the " Little Falls" and Fairchance. He said he could " sleep quite refreshingly a good part of tlie time on old 3larmion."

About the year 1820-51, in company wit11 other young men of the locality, lie raised and organized the " F:tyette Caralry," of wliich he \\-as elected captain ; commanded the colnpany until lie moved to Pittsburgh, and after two years' absence, returning to Fayette, hc was again elected captain, and continued in command until 18%. Kor had his militxry proclivities entirely forsaken him when tlle war broke out in tlie spring of 1861. H e raised and organized a company of mounted men for any service that might fall to it at, home or in the field, in whicll sonie of his old comrades of the Fayette cavalry joined him.

Hearing that the "Black Horse Caralry" v a s plundering Northwestern Virginia and threatening Jlorgantou-n, he loaded wagons with provisions, mus- tered his troop, and srartcd for them. "By the time they reached the Cheat River the command had swelled to two hundred. This advent into West Vir- ginia was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. The women rushecl into the roads, throwing up their hands, and shouting, ' The Pennsylraniar~s have come! the Pennsylvanians have come!' U7he11 he reached Grafton the accession to his force had :lug- rnented i t to five hundred. There was but little



GEOBGES TOlT7ESEIIP. -

discipline among the men, but they were a11 I son yourself when you have the power, and Juliet you I armed and good marksmen, and to a body of are entirely too much of a politician for a woman." irregulars, like themselves, would have proved no I Growing warm i n a discussion during the war, insignificant foe. The rebels abandoned Grafton as : he declared a wish "that old Jackson was back to tlley entered it, and there seeming no further use shoot down rebels ancl liang u p traitors to the Union." for them they returned home." l I t is believed this I " What !" sail1 some one present, " would you bring unauthorized raid saved West Virginia to the Union. old Jackson back?" " Ires, to save the Union," was I This troop maintained its organization throughout 1 the answer. " Forgive him his war on the tariff and the war.

There were four things h e disliked with a cordial the Bank 1" " Yes ; and the salt-pans too ; anything to punish Rebellion and save the Union," was his

hatred,--whisky, tobacco, a litwsuit, and Gen. Jack- reply. son. Once, and only once, a candidate before the ' JVithin a year after the sale of the " Olipllant Fur- people for oflice, he ran as the Whig candidate for nace" property he began to fail in phydcnl health, Congress in 1838 against Enos Hook, Esq., a lawyer and the decline continued until his lamp of life went of Waynesburg, Greene Co., and, as he espected, was ) out on the morning of the 10th of November, 1879, - badly beaten, but his candidature well illustrates one , a t the residence of his oldest son, John, on the Sunnie of these three traits of his character, Being accosted Brae fhrin, within two miles of Fairfield, wilere he one day by a man who n-as drunk, he said, "Go 'way, was born, witbin two mile3 of Fairchance, where he Jack, you are drunk; I 1von7t shake Eancls with you." ' toiled, arid within the sight of his last lingering loolc

I A friend suggested " that was no way to he n candi- upon earth he could see orer the intervening ~voocls date." He answered, " I can't help i t ; I won't be and vales the " old Tent Church" in which he and his seen shaking hands with a drunken man, and if I wife together, in 1823, professed the faith in which can't be elected except a t the expense of my self- tlley lived and died, and in n-hich he became a ruling respect I shall stay at home."' elder in 1838.

He banished whisky from the furnace aud works, ' On the 12th of Korember, 1879, he was borne from so far as he could control it, f ro~n the start. Tobacco ' the Presbyterian Cllurch in Uniontown, where the nas a necessary of life with furnace men, almost as ! funeral serviccs were conducted by the Revs. 8. S. urgent a? bread itself, and he had to endure it. His ) Bergen and Isaac Wynn, by six of his grandsons, and dislike of lawsuits resulted in part from the fact that 1 buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. they would not always go his way, and then the law, the court, the jury, and the lawyers would be all

I

nrong, and he never could get i t through his head, although he had a brother and a son a t the bar, that lawyers half earned their fees.

IIESRT BERSARD MATIIIOT, 3l.D.

Dr. Mathiot, of Smithfield, was born a t Connells- His dislike of Gen. Jackson commenced with the rille, Fayette Co., Pa., Aug. 31, 1815. H e is of

high hand with which he carried things in Florida, French ancestry, haring descended from a French -1iangingArb~lthnot and imbruster, and imprison- / officer ~110 , at the tinle of the mass&re of St. Bar- ing the Spanish commissioner, Callava, in 31unroe7s , t h o l o ~ n e ~ v ~ obeyed the yoice of conscience rather than administration, and for some irregularity or failure ' that of the king and charged on the priests with his of memory on the general's part in rcgard to an regiments, for which he was compelled to fly from order for a number of large iron salt-paus, evapora- France. But the king, winking a t his official niiscon- tors, which he ordered ml~ile stopping over night in duct, furnished him a letter intended to serve as a Uniontown, on his way to Washi~gton, as a member I warrant of immunity from civil arrests, and h e re- of Congress, to be made a t Fairchance, to be boated ' turned to France seeking to regain his estates. The down the river to the mouth of the Tennessee, on the 1 fimily still found France dangerous ground on se- Ohio. H; also disliked him later on account of his count of the priests, and Jean JIathiot, gandfhther of war on the tariff and the Bank, which he firmly be- the doctor, emigrated to America i n 1754, settling in licred nould ruin the business prosperity of the I Lancaster, Pa. H e had the previous year married country.

When Jackson mas a candidate for President Catharine Margaret Eernard, daughter of Hon. Jean James Bernard, mayor of Dampierre, France. They

there were frequent animated tilts between him and 1 had three sons,-Christian, who located in Baltimore, his sister Juliet, who, i n sympathy with her Bus- I John, who remained in Lancnster, and George, who band, Cspt. James A. McClelland, was a stalnxrt 1 was the father of the subject of this sketch. Jackson man, and on one occasion, when words w r e George Mathiot was born Oct. 13, 1759, and raised running higher between ti:em than she liked, their in Laneaster, Pa., where be enlisted in the patriot I mother laid her conl~nand upon them to stop, and 1 army Nov. IS, 177G, and served until the close of said, "Hughes, you are a good deal of a Gen. Jack- the war, when h e was honorably discharged. H e - - - - I then located at Elk Ridge Landing, near Ellicottts

1 Ainericnn Stanrhrd, SUV. 13,lS;D. 1 Xills, Yd., where he was married Oct. 31, lisi, to



558 HISTORY OF FATETTE COUSTY, PEXNSYLV.AKIA.

Ruth Davies, daughter of Joshua Davies. of Anne ' the class of 1852. Kature as well as education made Arundel County, Mcl. This lady was a Quakeress, him a physician, and his success was assured from a perfect type of the gentle but strong character we the beginning. For more than forty gears lie lias are accuston~ed to associate with tlie sect to which ranked a t the head of liis profession in his commu- she belonged. I n 1796 they moved west of the moun- nity. With cool judgment and quick perception he tains and located in Connellsrille, Fayette Co., Pa., I unites large sympathy and an exceeding cheerful dis- where they resided until his death, wliich occurred position. I n the sick-room be a t once commands the April 4,1540, a t tlie advanced age of eighty-one. H e respect and secures the confidence of his patients. was a man prominent in liis day in afkirs of church Perhaps he has obtained reputation and practice as and State. H e was commissioned in 1800 justice of much from his cl~eerful, sympathetic manner with the peace for Bullskin to~vnship by Governor Tliomns patients as his s~~per io r skill in administering reme- bIcKean, to serve "so long as you behave goursclf I dies. His physical endurance has been wonderful. well," and served until tlie infirmities of age com- I For t~enty-f ive years liis professional field embraced pelled him co relinquish the office. H e n-as a promi- I an extent of territory that made his average daj7i: nent n~embrr of the Nethodist Episcopal Church. 1 riding about thirty miles, and his visiting-list im- His house was the home for itinerant ministers, whom mense. This mas done in tl:e saddle, and the older his Quyker x~ife cordially and kindly entertained. inl~abitants well remember his celebrated horses George Y:itliiot was the father of eleven children, r i z : 1 " Bill" and '' Charlej-," which were never been wit11 Jacob D., Eliza, Catharine, Ilary, Joshua D., Carsan- their rider, going up-hill or down, in any gait but a clra, John, Susan,Snn X,George I?., and Henry B. Of full gallop. H e is one of the very fen- old-fasliioned these but two are now living, namely, Ann M. Dorsey, I doctors who ansn-er all calls, night or day, regardless widorr of George W. Dorsey, who nov resides 11-ith ' of weather or roads, attending rich and poor alike.

I H e married Rebecca Ruth Brownfield, daughter of Col. Thomas Brownfield, of Georges township, Fayette Co., Blarcli 19,1S41. His domestic life has been most

her daughter, Mrs. Stephenson, of Parkersburg. \V. Va., and Heniy B., the youngest of the family. Sowe of then1 were prominent i n business life and public affairs, and all lived to raise families.

Dr. Mathiot's oldest brother: Col. Jacob D. Mathiot, was well known among the business men of Weatern Pennsglrania, being estensirely engaged in the man- ufi~cture of iron a t Ross Iron-Works, Westmoreland County. He represented this county in the State Legislature in the session of 1833-31.

Another brother, Joshua D. M~th io t , located while t a boy in Kewark, Ohio. H e became a lawyer, and

represented his district, then the Thirteenth, in the United States Congress in 184143, refusing a re- election. A daughter of this gentleman married the distinguished Dr. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, 5. Y. Tlie doctor's eldest sister, Eliza Nathiot, married Col. Dflvidson, an officer of the n ar of 1812. Col. David- son was in Hull's command a t the time of the sur- render of Detroit, and marched out tlie forces immediately under his command and escaped.

Dr. Mathiot had only tlie ad~antages of a conimon- scliool education, and began life on his own account \then, as a boy, he left home with his wardrobe in a cotton handkerchief and fifty cents in his pocket, walking forty miles in a deep snow to accept a position as clerk in the ofice of his brother a t Ross Iron- IVorks. The courage and sclf-reliance here displayed in the youth foreshadowed tlie indomitable energy that lias enabled the man to achiere success against elery obstacle. I n 1837 h e went to Sewark, Ohio, and entered the office of Dr. Anderton Brown as a medical student. H e returned to his native county in 1840, and began the practice of his profession in Su~ithfield us an under-graduate, nl l idi was the common prxtice of the time in Pennsylvania. H e graduated a t Jefferson Medical College, Philadelpliia, in

fortunate and happy. His ~vife has been a helpmeet in the grandest sense. Her liusband's comfort and her clddren's i~appiness have been her greatest care, and to her wifely devotion lie is largely indebted for the comforts of his home, the liospitable doors of which are ever open. I t is proverbial that no house in t!le conlmunity entertains so many persons, friends m d strangers, as Dr. Natliiot's. In politics the doctor has been a decided and positive Whig and Repnb- licnn, an earnest advocate o f the principles and meas- ures of his party. H e has twice been the candidate 3f his party for the State Legislature, but as the ~pposition liad an orer~vhelming majority in the clis- trict. he mas on both occasions-defeated. H e is an earnest and persuasive public speaker, 2nd for a quarter of x century his voice lias been heard in adrocacy of evcry mcrd , temperance;and religious niovement that has agitated the community in which lie lives. Since 1851 he has been an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has held most of its official positions. H e was ordained a deacon by Bishop Morris i : ~ 1859, and was ordained an elder by Bishop Simpson in 1572, and consequently occupies the responsible position of a minister in his church. His services are much sought, especially by the poor, to officiate a t funerals, as he regards it one of the crov-ning glories of the Christian dispensation that the gospel sliall be preached to the poor.

H e is possessed of a comfbrtxble home, most desir- ably located, and sufficicnt means to render his old age secure from want. His family has consisted of ten children, fire of whom are nov living : Caroline, Charles H., Ida F., Edward B., and Perie A. Several of these el-ince excellent mechanical and artistic tal-



GEORGES TOWNSHIP. 588 - ent, in ~vhich rhe doctor takes a father's pride. The daughters are young ladies of careful mental discipline; Charles is engaged in tlie drug business in his llative town ; Edward is just graduated (March 30, iSSSj from Jefferson JIedical College, Philadelphia, wit11 every promise of success in his profession. Dr. Xathiot, like many of our self-made men, has been a n as~icluo~s reader and thoughtful student of the various subjects touc1:ing public interest and general cul- ture, thus largely supplying the lack of a collegiate education. But few vocations in life furnish so many opportunities for usefulness and wide-spread personal influence as that open to an intelligent, Christian physician, imbued with public spirit and possessing 2 mind richly stored with the fruits of years of carc- ful research. With unremitting energy and consci- entious zeal the doctor lias endeavored to discharge the manifold duties tllus open to him, and is still, a t the aye of sisty-seven, an active man, earnestly engaged in the various occupations of his busy life.

REGBEN HAGUE.

Reuben Hague, of Smithfield, is of English stock, and was born April 16, 1S09. Of his ancestors we have no special account save that they mere Quakers ; but his maternal grandfather was a farmer of sorile note, of whose history the legend lias been preserved that he plowed in the forenoon the field of Brandy- nine whereon the fanlous battle took place in ' the afternoon. Mr. Hague has resided in Fapette County sixty-five years. H e was educated in the con~mon schools, and is a bricklayer by trade, and has worked in all parts of Western Pennsylvanin. When he started out in life for liiinself at eighteen years of age he llad only a "quarter" and a "fippeuny-bit" in his pocket, in all thirty-one cents. H e helped lay up the first brick dwelling in Allegheny City. H e u s once a cavdry oificcr in the Virginia militia, au,d h;~s served as a sc11001 director of his township for nearly twenty years. For over fifty years he has been a nlelnber of the Cun~berlancl Presbyterian Cliurcli, and has for n long time been an elder therein. H e is a rigid tcnlperance man, and has been a constant ~vorker in the cause of temperance siuce he became twenty years of age. H e never spent but three cents for whisky for his own use. H e can- not be turned from his course by the taunts and jeers of wine-bibbcla. Nr. Hague is tlie pcjssessor of one of tlie best fruit-orchards in Fayette County. His property consists n~tlinly of real estate. T'i'hatever criticisms the liquor-loving portion of the community may indulge in over his extre~ue but consistent ob- servance of abstiucnce from intoxicating beverages, his neighbors say no liarlnful words of him.

Feb. 14, lSX, Nr. Hague n~arried Mary Swan, who died July 1st of thc same year. Feb. 14, 1839, he uarried again, being united to Nary Leniley. Of

3s

his marriage there are six living c l ~ i l d r e n , ~ ~ a n i u e l ; 3ebecca Ellen, who married William Booth ; Elnily : ?ru:lces ; Jef i ies ; and Snyder. The second Mrs. Bague having died, Mr. Haguc nlarried a third time, To\-. 57, 1862, his wife's inaiden name having been Jane Abraham. A son, James h., is tlie issue of this narriage.

WILLIAM H. TRADER.

William H. Trader, of Georges townsllip, is a man 3f mark, distinctively of that honorable class called 'self-made," having fought the battle of life to finan- :in1 success by his own energy and skill. He was oorn in AIaryland, near the line of Virginia, Jan. 15, 1SlS. When he was two years of age his father left Virginia and settled in Georges township. Mr. Trader never enjoyed opportunities of schooling. What he learned he picked up as he could. His summers mere employed cultivating the home farm, his winters in threshing with a flail, until he became eighteen gears of age, when he left his Father, or "turned out," without money or educatio~~, ' to make his own way in life, first working for a farmer of his neigliborhood.

I n IS41 he married Charlotte Franks, of Nicholson ton-nship. By her lie has ten children, all living,- three sons and seven daughters,-all of whom but one are nlarried. Mr. Trader has held the office of school director and other important township offices. Both himself and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. H e is a modest, unassuming man, and en- joys an excellent business and general reputation. H e has lirecl upon his present farm thirty-five years, and has steadily ~vorkecl on to formie, nccomplishing the purpose of his early life, and is now regarded wealthy, his estate being estimated by his neighbors at from sixty thousand dollars to seventy-five thousand dollars. About two hundred and fifty-seven acres of blr. Trader's homestead farm are underlaid with the five-feet vein and tlie nine-feet vein, also, of Connellsville coking coal.

ROCERT BRITT.

Robert Britt, of Bnithfield, is of Irish descent, and was born in Chester County, Pa., June 4, 1805, and renloved from there with his fatlier to Springhill Furnace, Fayette Co., in August, 1S11. l i e received his education in the colninoll schools. Xr. Britt is by occupntio~l a carpenter. H e spent two years working a t liis t r d e in Kentucky, and, fbllo~v- ing his vocation, passed eight ye:tra of his life in Virginia; the rest has been spent in Fayette County. H e has resided in his present honle for thirty-two years.

Dec. 11,1531, he married dsenath Greenlee, a lady of Irish stock, whose inother was three years old only when brought to America. Of this union are three chilrlrcn,-3Iary E::iily, niari-icd to Bcnj;~inin



590 HISTORY OF PXTETTE COUNTY, PESXSPLVXSTA.

Irish stock, and who served in the war of 1512 as a "dispatcher," carrying orders or dispatches from Erie to Bufalo, N. P. H e bore tlie firat news of Perry's victory to Buffalo.

Mr. Dunn began business life at the bottom of the financial scale, chopping wood at twenty cents per cord when he first came to Fayette County; but he is now in good circumstances, and owns a valuable tract of land, which is well improved. H e settled in his present location in 1S-K H e has been treasurer of Fayette County for two gears and eight months. On Nay 26, 1852, he married Mary A. Zearly, of Nichol- son township, by mlmm he has had eleven children, four of whom are married and have left the homestead, seven remaining a t home. The Dunn family is hardy and long-lived. Mr. Dunn has an uncle who is ninety- eight years of age, a d was married for the second time when he was ninety-four. An aunt of his died a few years ago aged over one hundred years.

Mr. Dunn is a good business man, and commands the respect of his neighbors and a11 others with whom he deals.

Franklin Goodwin ; Frances Elizabeth, wife of Al- COL. J A M E S ROBISSON. bert S. Jliller; and Frank P., who mas educated in Col. James Robinson, of'Oliphant Furnace, repre- the common schools at Washington and Jefferson 1 1 sents the Scotcli-Irish Pre,byterian stock. His grand- College, and the Allegheny Theological Seminary, father settled in 1750, in what was then Georges town- and is now pastor of the Pisgah Presbyterian Church / ship, now Nicholson, upon a farm which remained in a t Corsica, Jefferson Co., Pa. Mr. Britt and his wife the name for ninety-nine years. JamesRob- hare been members of the Presbyterian Church for insoll I,,as born 2i, 1s06. H~ eduwted in tile

than a quarter of a In 1 common schools, and spent over twenty y e n s of his

1881, they celebrated their golden \\.edding. Mr. early mallllood in the iron business with F. Hughes Britt 'Ias the office of school and other Oliphant, atSpringllill and Fairchance Furnaces. TIle responsible township offices. He has always been a greater part of this time he mas superintendent, as Jefferson Democrat, and n e ~ s ~ e r v e d fromllisparty- wllicll he was not only succeas~l,l, but by his utlassunl-

ing yet potent influence obtained and held tlie respect and good will of all in his employ. I n all bqGncs transactions he is a man of the most strict integrity.

JUSTUS DUSN. H e obtained his military title by election to the posi- Justus Dunn, of Georges township, is a prosperous tion of colonel in the State militia, receh-ing his coni-

farmer and stock-dealer, and was born in Erie City, mi*ion from Governor Wolf during the latter's first June S, 181'7. H e is the son of Sitneon Dunn, of term in the gubernatorial chair. Jan. 27, 1857, he

niarried Mrs. Catharine Saams, of Allegheny County, who died Bept. 9,1863, leaving tliree children,-Mar- garet Ann, John Taylor, and Eulma Caroline. The colonel was again married Feb. 13, 1556, to Mi-s Ln- vinia P. Caldwell, of St. Joseph, No., and has no living c1iildrt.n by liis second wife. H e mas elected director of the first railroad built from Connellsrille

, to Uniontown, now owned by the Baltimore and Olih Railroad Company (and in which he is get a stock- holder). H e mas also elected a director of the National Bank of Fagette County at its organization,

l and held positiou as such for a nuniber of years, and

, was elected director of the People's Bank of Fayette I County, which position he still holds. Coal land-, ' railroad and batik stock, and Uuited State3 bonds

i constitute his chief possessions. Col. Robinson is a n energetic man, of few worcls,

pleasant and unobtrusive iu manner, of a kind, benevolent spirit, especially to the worthy poor, greatly attached to home and fireaide, and walks blamele~s before, and is popular with, liis neighbors. Withal,

I a true gentleman of the old school.

GERMAN

THC toivnship of German occupies a position soutli ' it, The town~hip is ell watered, but has no large of a line drawn east and west through the centre of streams except the Jlonongahela, its western bound- the count>-. I t is bounded north by Luzerne and ary. Its principal creeks are Brown's, Middle, and JIenallen, east by South Union and Georges, south 1 Deep, all flowing west and falling into the river. The by Sicholson, we,t by the ~Ionongahela River. There controlling topogrnpl~ic~l feature is a series of Id!s are no mountains nor any considemble elevations in or ridges crossing it fro12 enst to west. When viewed -- -- - -- -- -- - , from a higher elevation, they resemble a plain covcwd

1 DJ James Rvna. I with a multitude cf cones, ~ o i n c large, some small.



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