^: Centennial History of the Borough of Connellsville Pennsylvania i8o6-igo6 BY J. C. McClenathan, M. D. Reverend William A. Edie, Reverend Ellis B. Burgess, J. Aloysius Coll Eugene T. Norton LIMITED AUTOGRAPH EDITION. Registered No. 1±.-^ fuBRARY of CONGRESS Two Cedes Rscelved NOV I iS?0f Copyngfht Entry 2>^ M ^^^^ CLASS A XXc, No. / ^vaz.^ COPY B. Copyright, 1%6 By The Historical Committee of the Connellsville Centennial Celebration. All rights reserved. The Champlin Press CoLUM^pS' Ohio 1906 S^btrattntt Tbis to tne Fathers of our pri( le, Waits of a wander-lust Tbat blazed the path and stirre d the tide Above tbeir buried duct Tbe Red M an of the solitude, The hearts of toil and war. Builders of stone and iron and wood That made us what we are. - -J. A. Coll . TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface, Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Page 5 Pioneers of The Yough, . . . .7 The Incorporation of The Borough, . 65 Civic Development, .... 77 Educational Institutions, . . . 120 The Press 159 Military History, .... 170 Chapter VII Chartered Financial Institutions, . 219 Chapter VIII Coal and Coke, . . . . 263 Chapter IX Merchants of Four Generations, . 292 Chapter X Religious Forces, .... 327 Chapter XI Public Utilities, . . . . 393 Chapter XII Public Institutions .... 433 Chapter XIII Manufacturers, ..... 477 Chapter XIV The Centennial Celebration, . . 529 Index, ......... 561 Map of Connellsville and Vicinity. PREFACE. Pursuant to a call of the Borough Council, an enthus- iastic body of the citizens of Connellsville met in the council chamber of the City Hall on the evening of January twenty- third, nineteen hundred and six. to consider the proposi- tion to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Borough. Rockwell Marietta was elected president of the meeting ; Edmund Dunn, vice president ; William D. McGinnis, secretary ; Raymond S. Coll, corres- ponding secretary, and Isaac W. Rutter. treasurer. The sentiment of the meeting was favorable to the holding of such a celebration, and a strong executive committee of representative men was appointed to take the matter in charge. A number of sub-committees, deemed necessary to the success of the celebration, were also appointed and their duties defined. Among these committees was the Historical Committee, consisting of Doctor J. C. McClenathan. Rev. William A. Edie, Rev. Ellis B. Burgess, J. Aloysius Coll. H. P. Sny- der and Eugene T. Norton, to whom was assigned the task of preparing a historical volume from the written and unwritten records of the past. The magnitude of the task, in view of the limited time, was clearly recog- nized, yet there was an eager determination manifested on the part of each member of the committee to render the best possible service. After the policies of the committee had been carefully outlined, the work was begun. Every nook and cranny of the town, in which it was believed old documents might be stored, was searched. Old family Bibles with their pre- cious records and other valuable papers were carefully examined. Correspondence was begun with the scattered b CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE sons and daughters of the pioneers. The response was quite gratifying. While many found it impossible to an- swer our questions, all were willing to render the largest possible assistance. We take this opportunity of extending to them one and all our hearty appreciation. The Execu- tive Committee of the Centennial Association also mani- fested a deep interest in the work, and gave liberal financial assistance, without which this volume could not have been published. We realize that in many places we have not been able to supply the fullest information, but we have aimed at thoroughness and endeavored to confine ourselves to well authenticated facts. The data given will be found more reliable than that of any previous local historv. With all the labor involved in the preparation of this volume, the task of the committee has been a pleasant one. Our delving amid the ruins of the past has given us a stronger appreciation of the character of the men who laid the foundations of the city. We give our work to the pub- lic in the hope that a better knowledge of the work of the fathers may arouse our civic spirit and make us worthy successors of worthv mjin. ■^ CHAPTER I THE PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH One hundred and fifty-five years ago — a short time in the perspective of history — the site of Connellsville was part of a vast wilderness, whose solitudes were rarely broken by the visit of any white man. All that section of country now embraced within the confines of Fayette county was claimed by the powerful federation of north- ern Indian tribes known as the Iroquois. By permission of these northern Indians, several tribes of Delawares and Kanhawhas made it their home. One of these tribes loca- ted their village on what is , known as the Shield's tract about five miles east of Connellsville. Here an extensive burial ground was located covering several acres, a ridge of small round stones marking the position of each grave. Historians who have visited the spot believe that more than a thousand Redmen here sleep the sleep of death. Sev- eral of these graves were opened, a few years ago, reveal- ing a thin line of dark brown dust at a depth of two and a a half feet where the body had lain. A number of flints of various kinds were found, but no bones, indicating a great age for the old burial place. Near this burial ground an old Indian fort was located, around which large num- bers of flints were picked up a generation ago. The indi- cations are that this was once the site of a large and pop- ulous village of the Redmen. Another and smaller village was located on the south bank of the Youghiogheny River about two miles above the mouth of Bear Run. Here also quite a number of flints have been found. It is to these Kanhawha Indians, who built their villages along the head waters of the Youghiogheny, that we are indebted for the name of our beautiful river. Youghiogheny, in the lang- 8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE uage of the Kanhawhas, means "four rapid streams," and has reference to the junction of the rivers at Confluence, Pa. Another Indian village was that of the Delaware chief, Nemacolin, on Dunlap's creek in the northwestern part of the county. Still another village was located in Perry township on lands of James Hunter. A gold amulet, a silver knee-buckle and other interesting relics were found here. The most important Indian village of the region, however, from the standpoint of local interest, was situated on the Wilkey farm a short distance southwest of New Haven. This was a palisaded village of the Dela wares, occupying a beautiful knoll that commands a wide view of the surrounding country. It is an ideal site for a home. The palisades extended in the form of a great circle about the brow of the hill, and enclosed more than four acres of ground. Within this enclosure the Indians had their huts and also their burial ground. Hundreds of bodies are believed to have been buried here, and every spring human bones and Indian relics of various kinds are turned up by the plow. A fine scalping knife, battle-axe and other Indian flints from this old fort are now in the possession of the writer. About two hundred yards directly east from the fort ran the old Catawba war trail. Between the fort and the trail was one of the finest springs of water in all this section of the country, which the Indians walled up with masonry, a wall within a circular wall, the stones being laid in a cement made of yellow clay. Portions of this stone work can still be seen. Just without the enclo- sure, on the southern side of the hill, was an old Indian apple orchard, one of whose trees was still standing a few years ago. Buried beneath its friendly shade the bodies of two Indians were found lying side by side. Several years ago, in digging a post hole in the center of the old fort, workmen came upon the skeleton of an Indian chief. From the size of the bones it was evident that he was a man of powerful physique. A string of sixty-one ivory PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 9 beads was found around his neck. The splendid preserva- tion of these remains, as well as the finding of an old musket barrel in one of the graves, would indicate that this village was occupied by the Indians as late as the first three or four decades of the eighteenth century. But at the time of the English occupation the fort had been destroyed; by whose hands no one can tell. The only one of these villages then occupied was that of Nemacolin, so that we may speak of all the region under consideration as "a land without a people." One hundred and fifty-five years have transformed this deserted hunting ground of the Iroquois into the eastern gateway of an empire of fabulous wealth and universal influence. Ultra-montane America, the miracle of civic history, now sways the world. Who were the men and what were the influences that made this mighty transformation possible? To these, so far as they relate to the develop- ment of the Yough region, this chapter of history is de> voted. A well-established tradition informs us that a num- ber of bold French traders from the Canadas with their Indian wives built their homes on the Monongahela river at the mouth of the George's Creek as early as 1730. If this be true, Fayette county enjoys the distinction of hav- ing the first settlement of white men in western Pennsyl- vania. Some features of the tradition, however, may rea- sonably be questioned. The French traders of that period Were about as wild as the Redmen with whom they traded, and had little desire for a permanent home. It is prob- ably true that they lived here at the time specified and culti- vated some of the soil, but it is scarcely credible that they occupied the land with any intention of efifecting a perma- nent settlement. Long before the first wave of English set- tlers had poured through the defiles of the Alleghanies they had gathered their possessions together and sought a more congenial home in the virgin forests of the great West. Another tradition, of even more doubtful value, tells of a Pennsvlvania German trapper named Longabaugh, who 10 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE built his solitary cabin in what is now Soisson Park about the year 1732. Here he is said to have lived the life of a hermit for more than sixty years, never having married, and never having permitted any one to share his cabin. He is described as a man of unusual strength and agility, fearless of every danger, and uniformly successful in all his encounters with the Indians. He lived by the chase, carrying his peltry on his shoulders to the nearest trading post and bringing back such things as he found necessary to his humble life. In the summer of 1800 he mysteriously disappeared. A neighboring settler, John Trump, who went to the cabin, found everything in good order, but the old hunter had gone, and never returned. The ravine that traverses the park still bears his name. The oldest English settlement in Fayette county, of which we have an authentic record, was made in 1751 by Wendell Brown and his three sons, Maunus, Thomas and Adam. This was about two years before Christopher Gist effected his settlement at Mount Braddock. The Browns built their first cabin in Provance's Bottom along the Mon- ongahela river, but for some reason the Indians did not want them there, and persuaded them to take up other land in George's township. For several years these four men lived in these western wilds alone, with only the Red- men for their neighbors. Yet they were never molested. On one occasion, Thomas was caught spying upon the In- dians, and had his teeth knocked out by a tomahawk for his insolence ; but aside from this they received the most kind and generous treatment as neighbors and friends. The French occupation of Fort Ducjuesne, in 1751, put ap end to this strange experience. The Browns partrioticallv rallied to the help of Colonel Washington, doing every- thing they could to furnish him with provisions for his lit- tle army. They were at Fort Necessity at the time of the surrender, July 1, 1751 ; and, their cabin having been de- stroyed by the French, returned with the defeated army to Virginia. In 1758, after the expulsion of the French PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 11 by General John Forbes, they returned to Fayette county, bringing" with them their wives and children and estab- lishing" themselves permanently in their western homes. The history of western Penns}'lvania, however, is more than the history of individual endeavor. The French traders and their wives on the Alonongahela river, Wendell Brown and his three stalwart sons in George's township. Bud Longabaugh in his hunters cabin on the Chestnut Ridge and Christopher Gist with his little company of set- tlers at Mount Braddock, were but pawns in the great game of politics played by France and England for the control of western Pennsylvania and the Ohio valley. To the French King must be credited the first move. The whole western country was claimed for him by right of discovery. This claim was further enforced by actual possession. From his well established military posts in the Canadas he sent out his men into every part of the western country, carry- ing with them presents of all kinds, and receiving fine furs and the favor of the Indians in return. Cp to the year 1740, nearly all of this rich fur trade was under French control. In that year George Croghan, the influential Irish trader, crossed the mountains by way of the Conemaugh Valley, and entered into competition with the Canadians. The Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, in IT 48, sent Conrad Weiser, in company with Croghan and others, to Logstown on the Ohio river to treat with the Indians and endeavor to win their favor. Their mission was successful. The Indians were ready to treat with both the Eng- lish and the French, inasmuch as this meant more presents for them and higher prices for their furs. In that same year, John Hanbury, a merchant of London, Thomas Lee and a number of other prominent Virginians formed the "Ohio Company," and petitioned the king for a grant of five hundred thousand acres of land on the south bank of the Ohio river, on condition that they would effect an English settlement in the forks of the Ohio, build a fort and maintain a garrison. It was purely a commercial 12 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE enterprise but the king was quick to see its political im- portance, and, on March 18, 1749, instructed the Lieuten- ant Governor of Virginia to make the grant according to the terms proposed. The company at once purchased land and established a trading post at the mouth of Will's Creek, intending to make this a base of supplies for their work. Christopher Gist, one of Fayette county's most illus- trious pioneers, then a resident of North Carolina, was employed by the company to explore these lands. He set out on his journey, October 31, 1750, and returned May 19, 1751, during which time he traveled about twelve hun- dred miles, and visited many Indian towns, finding them all eager to enter into trade relations with the English. But. inasmuch as his explorations were chiefly confined to the country north of the Ohio river, he was sent out a sec- ond time with special instructions to explore the land "be- tween Mohongaly and Big Conhaway." This second tour employed him from November -4, 1751, to March 29, 1752, and enabled him to make a more satisfactory report to the company. To Colonel Thomas Cresap of Oldtown, Md., was entrusted the important task of opening up a trade- road over the mountains. Securing the assistance of Nem- acolin, the well-known Delaware Indian chief of Fayette county, he marked out a road from the mouth of Will's Creek over the mountains to Mount Braddock, and thence along the valley of Redstone creek to the Monongahela river. This was not a new road but a well-beaten Indian trail that had been used by the Redmen for many years. The road from Mount Braddock to the mouth of Redstone creek followed a branch of the main trail. In 1753 this road was cleared at a considerable expense by the Ohio Company and made passable for pack-horses. These aggressive movements of the English were viewed with serious alarm by the French, who determined to establish garrisons in the disputed territory. Accord- ingly they built Fort Presque Isle early in 1749, and Forts PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 13 Le Boeuf and Venango soon after, with the intention of making them the first hnks of a great chain of forts ex- tending from Lake Erie by way of the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico. A number of English traders were seized on the Ohio and taken to Canada. Then it was England's turn to be alarmed. ^Nlajor George Washington, then a young man 21 years of age, was sent to Fort Le Boeuf by Governor Dinwiddle of Virginia to demand an explanation of these outrages and incidentally to acquaint himself with the designs of the French. Accompanied by two interpreters he came to the home of Christopher Gist at Will's Creek, and asked him to be his companion and guide on the long and dangerous journey. It was Xovem- ber 14 of the year 1753, and a journey through the wilder- ness of northwestern Peimsylvania in the dead of the win- ter was no pleasing prospect, but it was the king's busi- ness, and the next morning ]\Ir. Gist led the way over the mountains. The following Sunday was spent by the little party in the new home erected by Mr. Gist at Mount Braddock during the preceding summer. Arriving at Logstown, five days later, they were joined by the Half King and three other friendly Indians, who accompanied them through the forest on their way to the French forts. At Fort Le Boeuf, Washington presented his creden- tials, and was received with characteristic French civilitv. The Commandants admitted the arrest of the English traders on the Ohio, but declined to discuss the justice of it, saying that they had received their orders from the French government, which, as true soldiers, they were bound to obey. After two days of fruitless parleying, Washington, with heavy heart started on his long journey homeward. It was, confessedly, one of the most trying experiences of his life. In his private journal he says of the trip from Le Boeuf to Venango : "We had a tedious and very fatiguing passage down the creek. Several times we had liked to It!: centennial history of connellsvtlle have been staved against rocks ; and many times were obliged all hands to get out and remain in the water half an hour and more, getting over the shoals. At one place the ice had lodged and made it impassable by water ; we were, therefore, obliged to carry our canoe across the neck of land, a c[uarter of a mile over. We did not reach Ven- ango until the 22nd, where we met our horses." The over- land trip from Venango to Mount Braddock was even more exhausting. The way lay through the winter forest with only an occasional deserted Indian hut to offer protection against the cold. The springs were frozen so hard that it was difficult to secure water to drink. On the fourth day they fell in with an Indian, who had evidently followed them all the way from Venango with malicious intent. Toward evening he attempted to kill Washington but failed. Gist was angry and wanted to kill the Indian at once, but Washington magnanimously interposed and sent him away unharmed. After enduring the greatest fatigue the two men reached the Mount Braddock settlement on the second day of January of the new year. Here they met a party of Virginians, in the employ of the Ohio Company, on their way to the west with seventeen horses laden with materials and stores for the proposed English fort in the forks of the Ohio. It was the purpose of the Ohio Company to entrust the building of this fort to Colonel Thomas Cresap, Captain Trent and Christopher Gist, but developments came so thick and fast that memorable winter that Governor Din- widdle sent Captain Trent with a company of forty-one men to the scene of action before Washington and Gist had returned from their trip to Le Boeuf. Captain Trent was a Pennsylvanian by birth, a business partner of George Crog- han and Benjamin Franklin, a man of considerable intel- ligence and well qualified for the task. He hastened with his force to the mouth of Redstone Creek (one mile below Brownsville) where he built the log storehouse known as the "Hangard." From this point he marched by land and PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 15 ice to the forks of the Ohio where, on February l?th, he began the erection of a fort. By means of friendly Indian scouts he learned that the French were about to descend the river in force from Venango, and, leaving his little com- pany under the command of Ensign Ward, hastened over the mountains for reinforcements. The fort was not yet completed when it was invested, April 17, 1751:, by a force of more than one thousand French and Indians. Resistance was hopeless. The fort was surrendered and the little gar- rison retreated up the Monongahela to the Hangard and thence across the mountains to Will's Creek. The victor^ completed the captured fort and named it Fort Duquesne, in honor of the French Governor-General of Canada. The interest in the great game of the two monarchs now became intense. Diplomacy was discarded. The war god was summoned to preside. Lieutenant-Colonel George Washington was commissioned to lead a regiment of Vir- ginia troops against the invaders. This force at the begin- Tiing numbered 150 men, but was subsequently increased to 293. The inadequacy of this small force was fully real- ized by all, but, at a council of war held April 23rd, it was decided to march as far as the Hangard, fortify the place and hold it until reinforcements should arrive. The Indians were especially eager for the war, and it was chiefly because of their importunities that the advance was made. At Great Meadows the command was met by Chris- topher Gist, who brought the news that AI. La Force with a scouting party of fifty men had been at his Mount Brad- dock home the day before and would have destroyed all his property but for the intervention of two Indians who were on guard. Washington then entrenched his arm}- and sent out his scouts along the trail. By the cunning of the Half King and his Indians the hiding place of this scouting party was discovered, about five hundred yards east of the trail. Leaving a strong guard for his baggage, Washington led his men through the deep woods at night and surprised the Frer'^h in their camp. As soon as they were discovered PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 17 the Virginians and their Indian aUies rnshed to the attack. After fifteen minutes of sharp fighting the French were overwhehiied. Nine of their number, inchiding Junion- ville, were killed, one severely wounded and twenty-one, including their commander, captured. Fayette county was thus the ground on which Washington fought his first bat- tle and achieved his first victory. After the fight was over the French prisoners claimed that they were friendly en- vovs, but the Virginia Colonel believed them to be hostile spies and treated them accordingly. Two days later Wash- ington advanced his forces to Mount Braddock, where he began the erection of a fort, but, learning that the French were preparing to send an overwhelming force against him, a council of war was held at which it was unanimously decided to retreat to Will's creek. But the retreat was found more difficult than the advance. The whole army had only "two miserable teams fit for use and a few pack horses." Washington himself gave up his saddle horse to be loaded with munitions of war. The command had nine swivel guns and these were dragged over the rough moun- tain road by hand. Upon reaching the Great Meadows it was found that the overburdened soldiers were too ex- hausted to proceed any further, and it was decided to for- tify and defend themselves as best they could, while wait- ing for re-inforcements and needed supplies. Because of these conditions their fort was named Fort Necessity. In the meantime the French had not been idle. News of their first disaster had been carried to Fort Duquesne by fugitives, and, on June 28, Captain De Villiers, a half brother of the slain Jumonville, with a force of 500 French and almost as many Indians, set out on an expedition of retaliation. The command ascended the Monongahela in periguas as far as the Hangard. Here De Villiers left all his artillery and made a rapid night march to Mount Braddock, hoping to surprise and effect a speedy capture of the entire English force, but, when they reached the fort, the Virginians had disappeared. Chagrined at his 18 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE failure the French commander was about to retreat to the Hangard. when a deserter brought the intelhgence that Washington had buih a fort at the Great Meadows, only thirteen miles to the east, and was not in a position to resist a spirited attack. The French then pressed for- ward, and, on the morning of July 3rd. came in sight of the fort. A heavy rain was falling, and no attempt was made to capture the fort by direct assault. Scattering themselves through the woods on the high ground nearest the fort, the assailants kept up an incessant rifle fire at long range during the entire day. At eight o'clock in the evening the firing ceased, and De Villiers requested a parley. The terms of capitulation proposed by the French were promptly accepted, and signed by the commanding officers at the hour of midnight, so that at sunrise, on the morning of July -ith, 175-1:, the English marched out of their fort with drums beating and colors flying, on their way to the east. Washington's loss in the engagement was 12 killed and 43 wounded ; the French loss was 3 killed and 17 wounded. The baggage of the Virginians v/as almost a complete loss, since the men were too much ex- hausted to bring it away. The jubilant French destroyed the fort on the morning of the evacuation and in the after- noon began a hasty retreat to Fort Duquesne. At the Gist settlement, a compau}- of men. under M. de la Chauvig- nerie, was detailed to destroy all the English settlements in the disputed territory. The store house of the Ohio Company and fourteen settler's homes were burned to the ground. Twelve of these homes were in the Mount Brad- dock settlement. One of them was the home of William Stewart, the New Haven pioneer, who located here in 1753 and after whom the crossings of the Yough were then named. The heaviest loser was Christopher Gist, whose actual losses were not less than one thousand dol- lars. In October of the same year, he petitioned the Vir- ginia House of Burgesses for an indemnity, but his peti- tion was rejected, an act of clear injustice to the man who ranks among the most influential of Virginia's pioneers. 20 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The results of the campaign in 1754 were greatly dis- appointing to Governor Dinwiddle and the British Minis- try, but they recognized the bravery of Washington and his men, and made them a special grant of two hundred thousand acres of western land as a reward for their serv- ices, in addition to their regular pay. And although their first effort had resulted in failure it strengthened their determination to possess and control the valley of the Ohio. A more formidable campaign was planned, and, on June 7th, 1755, the van guard of the army of Major Gen- eral Sir Edward Braddock left Fort Cumberland on its way to the west. This army of General Braddock was composed of the 44th and 48th regiments of English in- fantry, together with a number of independent companies of Colonial troops, numbering all told 3150 effective men. Lieutenant Colonel Washington accompanied the expedi- tion as one of the general's aides. The army moved slowly, and, on June 28, reached the Gist settlement at Mount Braddock. From this point Braddock moved to the north along the old Catawba Indian trail, widening the road and making it passable for the heavy artillery as he went. On June 29 the army encamped at New Haven, and, on the following day crossed the Yough and encamped on the old Davidson farm. It was the original intention of the commanding general to follow the Nemacolin path all the way to the French fort, but, for' some reason, this plan was abandoned; and, turning sharp to the left, he crossed the Monongahela river at "Braddock's Upper Ford" near McKeesport, thence down the river to a point below the mouth of Turtle Creek, where he recrossed the river to the field of battle. The French, numbering less than three hundred men, were posted on the high ground opposite the fording to dispute the English advance. The Indians, numbering about seven hundred, concealed themselves in two deep ravines extending down to the river on either side of the French position. As the well-drilled English infantry advanced to the attack and drove back the French, PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 21 the Indians suddenly arose from their conceahiient hke a horde of screaming" devils and from behind trees and fallen logs poured such a murderous fire upon the Eng- lish flanks that the battle was soon transformed into a horrible massacre. If the English officers had been familiar with the ground and cleared the ravines by a spirited charge they might have changed defeat into victory, but they were not. Of the 1460 brave men who crossed the river on that memorable morning of July 9, 1755, no less than 8TT were killed or wounded, of whom 63 were com- missioned officers. General Braddock himself received a mortal wound. Every officer above the rank of captain except Washington, who seemed to bear a charmed life, was either killed or disabled. The panic-stricken remnant of the army which succeeded in escaping to the south bank of the Monongahela could not be rallied, and the retreat became a wild rout. All the night long the dazed men fled through the forests, nor rested until they had placed manv miles between themselves and their dreaded' foes. A number of the bravest, under Captain Stewart of the Virginia troops, rallied about their stricken General and bore him from the field. Fortunately for the defeated army, the Indians were too intent on scalps and plunder to attempt any pursuit, or hundreds more would certainly have perished. Immediately after the battle, Washington with an escort of two private soldiers was sent with dis- patches to Colonel Dunbar encamped on Laurel Hill, urg- ing him to hurry forward all his available men to cover the army's retreat and also to provide hospital stores. The messengers reached Dunbar's camp early the next morning, but the news of the defeat created a second panic. The cowardly teamsters unhitched their horses and fled. Many of the soldiers followed their example, and it was only b_v adopting heroic measures that Dunbar prevented the flight of his entire command. The next day the wounded general with his faithful escort reached the camp. Under a courageous leader it might have been possible to have 22 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE rallied the broken army here and made a second advance, but leadership and courage were both lacking, and it was soon apparent that orders would be issued to retreat to Fort Cumberland. Whether Braddock ever gave this or- der or not is uncertain, but, if it was given, Dunbar was only too ready to obey. The preparations for the retreat were begun by the destruction of the artillery, the muni- tions of war and all the supplies that had been forwarded to this point. iVll the artillery, with the exception of two pieces, was bursted; fifty thousand pounds of powder were emptied into a large pool of water, nearly all the solid shot were buried and a number of wagons which it was found impossible to move because of the desertion of the team- sters with their horses were burned. Then the retreat be- gan. At the end of the first days' march the army encamped about two miles west of the Great Meadows. Here, at eight o'clock on the evening of July 13, Braddock breathed his last. Washington and Orme, two of his faithful aide^, remained with him to the end. Shortly before he died he bequeathed to Washington his favorite horse as well as his body servant, evidencing the warmest affection for the young Virginian. The next morning he was buried in the camp where he died, and all traces of his grave were carefully obliterated, in order to prevent the possible mutil- ation of his body by pursuing Indians. Fifty- seven years later, workmen, engaged in repairing the road at this place under the direction of Abraham Stewart, exhumed the bones of a man believed to have been General Braddock. The people of the vicinity believed this and collected some of the larger bones as relics. About eight years after these bones had been found, some of them were collected by J\Ir. Stewart and reinterred at a spot which has ever since been known as Braddock's grave. Whether the bones were really those of the ill-fated general no man knows. After Braddock's death the retreat of his army to Fort Cumberlind was conduc^:ed in a more orderly manner. jraddock's grave. 24 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The wagon train with its burden of sick and wounded led the advance, tlien came the main body of tlie army with the remaining artillery and ammunition, and finally two full companies of the English infantry and Captain Stew- art's Virginians as the rear guard. Fort Cumberland was reached without further mishap, July 20, and, thus the second effort to wrest the control of the valley of the Ohio from the French ended in greater disaster than the first. For the ■ next three years the country was left in the undisputed possession of the French and their allies. The Indians made daring raids over the mountains, and no Eng- lish settler was bold enough to establish a home on the disputed territory. In 1756 there were scarcely one hun- dred men found in Cumberland county, then embracing all the territor}- of Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna River, which the preceding year had a population of more than three thousand. Hundreds of settlers abandoned their homes, and desolation ruled everywhere along the border. This condition of things remained until William Pitt be- came Prime Minister of England. B_v him new life was instilled into the English colonies, and, in 1758, General John Forbes with an army of l.ood men, frightened the French out of Fort Duquesne, and built Fort Pitt in its place. This bloodless victory established the English in control of the valley of the Ohio, and Opened up the land once more for settlement. In the spring of 1759 the boldest of the English pion- eers began to return to their western homes. It was an exceedingly hazardous venture because of the continued hostility of the Indians, and only the bravest were willing to undertake it. Among these were the Browns of George's township and the Gists of Mount Braddock. Christopher Gist the father of the latter family was one of the boldest men on the frontier. He was of English descent, being one of the three sons of Richard Gist of Maryland. He was married to Miss Sarah Howard and had five children, Nathanial, Richard, Thomas, Anne and Violette. He built r-i::::EERS cf the yough 3o his first cabin at Mount Bracldock in 1T53, but v/as so busily engaged in the miHtary and civil service of Mr- ginia that he never seems to have made it his home. In 1754: this cabin was destroyed by the French, and, in 1759, when his children returned to rebuild it, he was sum- moned on a mission to the southern Indians, among whom he was stricken with the small-pox from which he died. During the Braddock campaign he rendered the most val- uable service to the English general as guide and scout, a service for which the King gave him a special grant of several thousand acres of western land. It is said that on the morning" of the fight at Braddock's field he had- reached, in company with two Indians, a point within a half mile of Fort Ducjuesne. The greater portion of liis life was spent on the frontier, often among rough irre- sponsible men, but in spite" of all this he is known to have been a man of sterling moral character and strong religious feelings. To him, strange as it may seem, belongs the credit of having conducted the first Protestant services among the Indian? of the state of (Jhio.. This was on Christmas day of the year 1150, and the Indians were so well pleased v»-ith him that they urged him to remain among them as a missionary. He was a devoted member of the Church of England. Of his children, Nathanial married and removed to Kentucky. During the revolutionar}- war he was a Colonel in the 'Virginia line. Some of the most eminent citizens of Kentucky are numbered among his descendants. His sister Anne, who never .-narried, made her home with him. Molette was married to William Cromwell. Richard Gist perished at the battle of Kings' Mountain. Thomas Gist remained at Mount Braddock and tventuallv became the owner of all his father's land,- a princelv estate of more than twenty-three hundred acres. As a man of large possessions, he was also a man of large influence. He held a commission as a Justice of the Peace for Ciimberland county in 1770, which was renewed b) Be:! ford countv in 1771 and bv Westmoreland countv in 26 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ii?;':. He entertained George Washington at his home in 1770. In 1780 he died and was buried by request on his Mount Braddock farm. His only daughter, Ehzabeth Johnson, and his brother's children shared the estate, the larger part of which soon after passed into the hands of Colonel Isaac Meason. From 1759 to 1765 the Gists had but few neighbors. Many bold Virginians would have been glad to take up the rich lands adjoining, but the Indian terror held them in check. Practically the only settlements that were made in the new country during these first six years of the Eng- lish occupation were those in the immediate vicinity of Fort Pitt, Fort Burd and Fort Ligonier, under military permits. Here the settlers were under the protection of the garrisons, but in the surrounding country the Indians were the masters. No white man could live in the open country west of the Laurel Hill in safety, unless he had in some way secured the permission of the Redmen. It was not until 1763, when Colonel Henry Bouquet inflicted a decisive defeat upon them at Bushy Run in Westmore- land county, that they were willing to make terms of peace. This was the signal gun for western settlement. In the spring of 1765, a large number of settlers, chiefl}^ from Vir- ginia, built their cabin homes on Fayette county soil. But these first settlers were all trespassers. Neither the Indians nor the English government wanted them here. The land still belonged to the Indians, and it was the policy of the English King, now that he was once more at peace with the French, to cultivate their good will. On October 7, 1763, the King had issued a special proclamation, in which he affirmed his tender regard for his red children, his desire to protect them in the pos- session of their hunting grounds and forbidding any officer of the crown to grant warrants of survey for any of the Indian lands. The authorities of both Virginia and Penn- sylvania endeavored to enforce the terms of the procla- mation, but with little eflrect. The risins: tide of emigTa- PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH tion overflowed all restraints. In June 1}(J(), Captain Alex- ander AlacKay was sent to Fort Burd wth a company of soldiers, with instructions to expel the trespassers from the country. But the settlers laughed at all their threats and stuck to their homes. The situation then became so grave that Governor Penn issued a manifesto, September 23, 176G, in which he forbade "all his Majesty's subjects of this, or any other province or colony, from making any settlements, or taking possession of lands, by marking trees or otherwise beyond the limits of the last Indian purchase within this province, upon pain of the severest penalties of the law, and of being excluded from the privilege of securing such settlements should the lands, where they are made, be hereafter purchased of the Indians." But still the forests rang with the sound of the axes of the pioneers. On February 3, 1708, an Act of Assembly was passed, imposing the severest penalties upon all violators of the settlement laws, and a special commission, with a Presby- terian minister at its head, was sent to western Pennsyl- vania to induce the settlers to vacate. Several conferences were held with the settlers in this vicinity, who respectfully listened to the words of the gentlemen of the commission, but declined to give up their homes. They were not afraid of the Indians ; thev were not afraid of the civil power, they were not afraid of anything. Those who were expelled by force of arms waited until the soldiers had returned to the fort and then quietly resumed possession. For a while it was feared that this lawless settlement of the country would precipitate a war with the Indians, but, in October 1768, a treaty was held with the Iroc|uois at Fort Stanwix, New York, at which time the Pennsylvania proprietaries purchased all the land west of the Laurel Hill and south and east of the Ohio and Allegheny rivers for the con- sideration of £10,000. The express assent of the Dela- wares and Shawnees was not given to this sale, but they acquiesced. The Iroquois were the rightful owners of the land. 28 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE On April 3, 17G9, the Pennsylvania land office was opened for the disposition of these lands. There was such a rush that it was found necessary to put the applications in a box as they were received and draw them out in lot- tery fashion in order to decide conflicting' claims. In spite all the threats of the State to debar the first settlers from any share in the newly purchased lands they were actually given the preference on all occasions. The surveys for the Fayette county lands were begun by Archibald, Moses and Alexander McClean on August 12, 1T(39. About one hun- dred and fifty surveys were made within the present limits of the county during the first two years, showing how quickly the best lands were taken up. The price of the land was first fixed at £5 per 100 acres and a nominal quit rent to the proprietaries of a penny a year for each acre. A few years later the c[uit rent was removed, and the price reduced as low as 50 s per 100 acres. During the boundar}^ controversy with Virginia, "Virginia cer- tificates" were issued to all settlers who would build a cabin and raise one crop, at the rate of ten shillings for each one hundred acres. Each certificate was limited to four hundred acres. Because of the comparative cheap- ness of these lands, many of the settlers in southwestern Pennsylvania took out their titles under the laws of Mr- ginia. All of the early settlers of the Yough region, so far as we can learn, purchased their lands from the State of Pennsvlvania. One of the most prominent figures among these pio- neers of 1765 was AVilliam Crawford. He was born in what is now Berkeley county, West Virginia, in 1732. His parents were Scotch-Irish, and many of the virtues of that hardy race were accentuated in him. In 1736, his father died, leaving two children, William and Valentine. His mother soon after married Richard Stephenson, to whom six children were born, John, Hugh, Richard, James, Mar- cus and Elizabeth. The Stephenson home was a frequent stopping place for George Washington, during the time of PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 20 his engagement as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax. Both the Crawford and the Stephenson boys were noted for their strength and agihty, and Washington often engaged in sport with them after the work of the day was over. The warm friendships of tlie boys ripened into the stronger friendships of the men, and were never broken, it was from Washington that WilHam Crawford learned the art of surveying, and it was also through his influence that he obtained a commission as Ensign in the military service ot Virginia, in 1755. It is commonly supposed that he was a member of Braddock's army. This is incorrect. His first trip west of the mountains was made in 1758, as an officer in the army of General Forbes. The western country made such a strong impression upon his mind that he resolved to make it his home. For several years he was prevented from carrying out his purpose by the hostile attitude of the Indians, but in the fall of 17(i5, when this danger had subsided, he came over the mountains on horse-back by way of the Braddock road, in company with his half-brother, Hugh Stephenson. When he reached the second crossings of the Yough, where the town of New Haven is now located, he was so much pleased with the fine meadow lands lying in the bend of the river, that he here decided to build his home. The two men surveyed a tract of 376^ acres, and put up a log cabin, mto which Crawford moved his family the following year. The exact time of his settlement is fixed by a deposition preserved in the "' Virginia State Papers" at Richmond, Virginia. "Colonjel William Crawford deposeth and saith that his hrst acqtiaintance with the country on the Ohio was in the year 1758, he then being an officer in the Virginia service. That between that time and the year 1765 a number of settlements were made on the public roads in that country by permission of the several commanding officers of Fort Pitt. That in the fall of the year 1765 he made some improvements on the west side of the Alle- gheny Mountains ; in the spring of the year following he settled, and has continued to live out here ever since. That before that time, and in that year, a considerable number of settlements were made, he thinks near three hundred, without permission from any COr 111 S'o J J 5& \ ^-1 OU r ^ fafo -7 4- 8^ 90 ■0 >o -0 35 43 83 91 CMURC M 3to ' 31 '^^ > 45 sa \ 53 foO ■! ' bl 6S fo9 -7fc. 71 84- 85- 9a 93 98 IE«P 130 I3T 135 145 /4fo \SB, ;j-* "~FTl^ >\ p> cj w 99 IZ3 STREET 38 62- ALLC'V 78 et> 94- 39 4-1 79 87 95 u J CL a < loo C ] 10) lOg , C 109 Ufa I J m ,.4 [ ^ 1^5 STRETE-r 118 lafo I i7 13a )33 /4-0 141 148 J49 iSh |S7 f^ PUSL/C -TV Ti 134- 14a IS 15, 46 IZ 80 ©S 9e 1(2. 6- — D 12.0 3 las 144 w/^te: r stre: bt THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF THE BOROUGH. 50 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE removal of their persons or property to any place whatever. But the said Zachariah Connell reserves to himself, his heirs, and assigns all that piece of Land situate between Water Street and the River, and extending from Rogers Mills down to Spring Street or State Road, Provided always that none of said town or others shall at any time erect a ferry-boat for public use, or Keep and maintain a Canoe or other Vessel for the purpose of conveying any person or persons, thing or things, across said River other than their own families or their own property. And providing also as the privilege is joint, that no person or persons. Company or Companies, shall at any time or times hereafter occupy more of the margin of said River for the purpose aforesaid than is absolutely necessary, accord- ing to the various changes and circumstances of the case, to the end that all foreigners as well as Citizens may be equally or pro- portionately advantaged thereby as their necessity require. And, whereas, there is near said Town, on the verge of said river an excellent Stone Coal Bank from which coal may be conveniently conveyed by water along all the front of said Town, and also a Stone Quarry, where stone may be got for building, and the said Zachariah Connell being desirous of giving all the encouragement and advan- tages that the nature of the case will admit of, consistent with his own interest and safety, doth hereby grant unto the inhabitants of said Town, their heirs, and assigns forever, the free and full privilege of digging and removing, from said Stone Coal Bank and Stone Quarry to their habitation or place of abode within said town only any quantity of Coal and Stone necessary for their own particular use. And the said Zachariah Connell doth hereby grant to be sur- veyed and laid out for the use of the Inhabitants of said town the timber and stone on one hundred acres of land adjacent thereto for building, &c. And whereas there are sundry springs within the lim- its aforesaid, and the said Zachariah Connell being desirous that as many of the Inhabitants of said Town as possible ma}' receive mutual advantages therefrom, doth give and grant unto the inhabit- ants of said town, and others traveling through said town, the com- mon use and benefit of said springs, to be by them conveyed or conducted through all and every part of said town at their pleasure for their mutual convenience and advantage, reserving, nevertheless, to the owner of Lots out of which the fountain issues the full privi- lege of erecting any house or other convenience at the head of said spring, so as not to prevent the other inhabitants from free access thereto at all times. And provided the said house or other conveni- ence will and shall not have a tendency to disturb or affect the water flowing from said spring so as to render it disagreeable to the other inhabitants. And provided also that by said building or other con- venience the Inhabitants shall not be prevented from having access to the fountain for sinking Pipes or conduits for the conveying of the water aforesaid and screening or securing the same from filth or other injury, and Whereas it is the desire of the said Zachariah PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 51 Coimell that the inhabitants of said town should be accommodated with a commodious seat whereon to erect a house or houses for pubhc worship and school or schools, he for that purpose alone appropriates the Lots Nos. 88 and 96 on said plan for said purpose, free and clear of purchase money or ground rent, forever to the inhabitants of said town, their heirs, and successors, to be held in common for the purpose aforesaid, or jointly, as the inhabitants may choose, and also a sufficient quantity of suitable ground con- venient thereto, and not included in the said Town, or in the one hundred acres aforesaid, not exceeding an acre, for the purpose of a Grave Yard. And to prevent a misunderstanding of the grant made of the timber and stone on the hundred acres aforesaid, the said Zachariah Connell hereby declares that the said Timber and Stone shall be removed or prepared for removal before the sale of the land whereon it may be. Provided always that the said Zachariah Connell hereby reserves to himself, his heirs, or assigns, the purchase money for each and every Lot so laid off for sale, and an annual ground rent of half a dollar for each Lot, the ground rent to be paid to the said Zachariah Connell, his heirs, and assigns, at the town aforesaid, on the first day of May in each and every year forever, and the said Zachariah doth hereby coven- ant with the inhabitants of said town that all moneys that shall become due and owing unto him for ground-rents for the space of four years from the date hereof to be applied to raising a meet- ing house or meeting houses, and School or School Houses on the aforesaid lots appropriated to that use. And whereas in length of time it may be convenient for some of the inhabitants of said town to have outlots for pasture, the said Zachariah Connell doth hereby grant to be surveyed and laid out for the use of the inhabi- tants of said town the one hundred acres of Land above mentioned adjacent to said Town, in Lots of not less than one acre nor exceeding four acres each, subject to such purchase money as the parties may agree upon. In witness whereof the said Zachariah Connell has hereunto set his hand and affixed his Seal, the twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety- three. ZACHARL\H CONNELL. (Seal.) Sealed and delivered in the presence of JONATHAN ROWLAND, ALEXANDER McLEAN. Fayette County, ss. : The sixth day of January, Anno Domino, 1800, Before me the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, personally came Zachariah Connell and acknowledged the foregoing Instrument of writing to be his Act and deed. JONATHAN ROWLAND. 52 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The original copy of this charter is now in the posses- sion of Harry C. Norton, of Connellsville. It is said upon good authority that the framer of this historic document was Doctor James Francis, the pioneer physician of Con- nellsville, who came to this vicinity first about the year 1790. He was engaged in the practice of medicine along the Mo- nongahela river, giving special attention to the emigrant camps for some time previous to this. Upon first coming to Connellsville he made his home in an old log house on Water street, near the home of Zachariah Connell. He was a warm personal friend of Mr. Connell, a man of high lit- erary tastes, a successful practitioner and an eminent and influential citizen. He married the widow of Doctor Thomas Pierce, and went to housekeeping on East Main street. From here they moved farther up the hill to the bend of the street, where he died in the year IS^tO. He was the father of three children — John, Jane (Mrs. Dorsey), and Mary (Mrs. Knox), all of whom died of tubercular trou- ble at an early age. The Borough of Connellsville, as originally platted, contained 180 quarter-acre lots and formed almost a per- fect square. Its extreme boundaries were — North alley. East alley. South alley and the river. The first sale of lots, of which we have any record, took place in 1795, and the purchasers were — Thomas Rogers, George Livingston, George Lamb, Asa Dudley, Michael Senniff, Morris Mor- ris and Patrick Meligan. The price of the lots, regardless of location was £3 specie and an annual ground-rent of half a dollar. In the later deeds the ground-rent clause is omitted. Other purchasers of Connellsville lots prior to 1806 were Michael Aultman, Melchoir Endley, Thomas Gibson, John Lewis, Daniel Bowers, James Rowland, Nicholas Johnson. Frederic Bollard, John Woodruff, An- thony Banning, Daniel Rogers, Henry Fox, Charles Wells, Benjamin Wells, Joseph Page, James Blackstone Jr., Joshua Lobdill, Samuel Trevor, Caleb Trevor, William Stewart, John Barnhart, Caleb Squibb, Isaac Mears, James Francis, '^^^-O^'-fo^^^-^rxAJC (0rU^ u-yM4 ^tfn«<^>Wi^ --v^ ^^^*r^ AUTOGRAPHS OF PIONEERS. 54 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE James Irons, Timothy Hankins, John Fidlar, Matthew Thom, Charles Wihiams, George Mathiot and George Swartz. Many of these original purchasers were only speculators who never made Connellsville their home, but their investment was a good one, for the most desirable lots trebled in value within the first ten years. Mr. Connell sold lot 61 to James Irons in 1801 for $58.00, and lot 103 to Matthew Thom in 1803 for $48.00. The choice locations seem to have been those on Water and Spring streets. Main street was known as Spring street in early days, because of a fine large spring located just a short distance east of the Colonial Bank. For many 3^ears the waters of this spring were piped out to the road and slaked the thirst of both man and beast. It is to this spring in particular that reference is made in the town charter. Its waters now flow quietly into the public sewer, and few of our citizens are aware of its location. On June 6, 1795, a change was made in the propri- etorship of Connellsville to which no reference has ever heretofore been made in any local history. On that date, Zachariah Connell sold the entire "Mud Island" tract, in- cluding the ferry and all the unsold lots of the Borough, to Benjamin Chew, Jr., of the City of Philadelphia. Mr. Chew at once appointed Samuel Trevor and John Rice Connell as his local agents, and the original letter of in- structions is still preserved among the papers of the Con- nell family. This arrangement remained in force until October 25, 1798, when Mr. Chew made a return deed of the property to Mr. Connell. It is much to be regretted that no picture or silhouette of the founder of Connells- ville was ever taken. The picture given in tlie Centennial Souvenir Program as his was spurious. He is described as a typical Scotch Sandy with red hair, brown e3^es and a florid complexion, about five feet, nine inches tall, straight as a popular, strong and muscular and possessed of a con- stitution that could endure the severest hardship. He died in his Water street home, August 2G, 1813, and was buried PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 55 in the little family grave plot on East Francis avenue hill. His last Will and Testament, made a few weeks before his death, is given herewith. ZACHARIAH CONNELL'S WILL In the name of Almightj^ God, Amen. I, Zachariah Connell> of the town of Connellsville, being deeply impressed with the uncertaint}' of life, have made this my last Will and Testament. I give to my wife, Peggy, the new stone house that I am now building (which is to be finished out of my monej') to live in during her widowhood, and one third part of my estate during her natural life ; after her disease to be divided equally between , mj' two youngest daughters, Peggy and Eliza. I give to my daughter, Hetty Black, five hundred dollars, to be deposited in the hands of my executors, to be appropriated to her personal benefit in that way which they in their judgment shall think most proper. I give to my four grandsons, Zachariah, Samuel, William and John Black all that tract of land tying situate in Ohio State, whereon my daughter Hetty Black now lives, to be equally divided among them. I give to m}* son John Connell the debt which he now owes me on a book account. I wish all my debts to be punc- tually paid. After my debts and the above legacies are paid, my desire is that the balance of my estate, whatever it may be, should be equally divided between my other six children (leaving out John and Hetty) one sixth part to each. And I appoint my son, Hiram Connell, William Page and Greenbery R. Jones, executors of this, my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby revoke and cancel all Wills by me heretofore made, and do by these presents acknowledge this my last Will and Testament. Signed this 2nd day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirteen. ZACHARIAH CONNELL. (Seal.) Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of DANIEL ROGERS, JOHN PAGE. Soon after his death, all of Zachariah Connell's first children except Hiram had removed to Ohio. The widow, with her two little daughters, Margaret and Eliza, removed to the stone house becjueathed to her by her husband, where the girls grew up to womanhood and married the Phillips brothers of 56 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Uniontown. John Wesley Phillips, the husband of Margaret, bought out the local interests of all the other Connell heirs, built a brick house near the stone dwelling and carried on cabinet making here for a num- ber of years. He was a partner with Isaac Meason, Jr., in the Yough Bridge Company, and, in 184G, was elected a member of the House of Representatives. His children were Charles W. Phillips, Indianapolis, Ind., Zachariah Connell Phillips, Uniontown, Pa., Mrs. Eliza Jane Darling- ton, Los Angeles, Cal., and Wesley H. Phillips, Mrs. Ella Whitmore and Mrs. M. Alice French of San Diego, Cal. The two branches of Zachariah Connell's family were re- united in the far west when Carey R. Darlington, the great grandson of Rebecca Connell was married to Eliza Jane Phillips the grand daughter of Margaret Connell. Among the more influential citizens of Connellsville, prior to 1806, in addition to those whose names have been mentioned, were Daniel Rogers, George Mathiot, Samuel and Caleb Trevor, Benjamin Wells, David Barnes, Anthony Mansfield, Banning and Joseph Page, Sr. - Joseph Page, Sr., was a Jersey man, who came to Connehsville in 1801, and, on October 26th of that year, purchased the "Confi- dence" tract of 302 acres from Zachariah Connell for £536. This tract was located along the river immediately south of the "Alud Island" tract, and embraced the larger part of the ground now occupied by the Baltimore and Ohio yards. At the upper end of this tract he erected a mill, the race for which was more than a quarter of a mile in length. Mr. Page was the father of seven children — Jonathan, John, Samuel, Joseph Jr., William, Rebecca and Mary. Jona- than Page was a shoemaker and lived and died in the old stone house on Meadow alley. Samuel Page purchased the old homestead in 1814, but sold it a few years later to the Gibsons, bought the old Banning property on Water street and lived there for a number of years. He also kept the old stone tavern on East Main street. William Page became a Methodist minister, married a daughter of Zach- 58 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ariali Connell and removed to Ohio. Joseph Page, Jr., hved and died in New Jersey. j\Iiss Rebecca Page mar- ried D. S. Knox, and became the mother of Senator Phil- ander C. Knox. Anthony Mansfield Banning was the pioneer Methodist preacher of this vicinity. He was born in Maryland, in 1768, and ran away from home at sixteen years of age, after he had been converted at a Methodist camp-meeting and felt called to preach. Upon coming to Fayette county in 1786, he located in the Alount Braddock settlement, but came to Connellsville quite frequently and conducted expe- rience meetings in the home of Zachariah Connell. For a number of years he preached here and at other points throughout the country, but conducted a tannery and a tavern at the same time, not deeming either business incon- sistent with his high calling. He married Miss Sarah Mur- phy and was the father of eight children. In 1810 he re- moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio. His family has reflected great honor upon their father's home. David Barnes purchased property in Connellsville in 1803, and in 1803 moved from Irishtown, near Breakneck Furnace, and opened a tavern. He was one of the most useful men in the community, and did much to develop its resources. Benjamin Wells and the Trevor brothers were the first merchants of the town. Their public record is given in another chapter. George Mathiot was one of the most conspicuous fig- ures in the early history of the Borough because of his long service as Justice of the Peace. He was born in Lan- caster county. Pa., October 13, 1760. On October 3(), 1787, he was married to Miss Ruth Davies at Elk Ridge, Maryland, went to Ellicott's Mills, and from there came to Connellsville in a wagon, camping and sleeping in a tent, arriving here July 12, 1796. In 1800, he was commissioned by Governor Thomas McKean as Justice of the Peace, a position that he filled with much credit until compelled b}' TWO OI,D LOG HOUSES OF THE PINNACLE. ■60 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE the infirmities of age to resign. In 1802 lie purchased property on West ]\Iain street, where he Hved to the day of his death, April 4, 1840. Mr. Mathiot was of French Huguenot parentage, and demonstrated his good blood by enlisting in the patriot army, November 18, 1776, and serv- ing to the close of the war. He was an ardent Methodist, and his home was usually the stopping place of all the itinerant preachers of his day. Mrs. Mathiot was a Quakeress and a woman of rare character. Eleven chil- dren were born to them — Jacob D., Eliza, Catherine, Mary, Joshua D., Cassandra. John, Susan, Ann AL, George E., and Henry B. Some of these children had distinguished careers in other parts of the country. So far as we can learn, none of their descendants are now living in this community. Daniel Rogers, the first Burgess of Connellsville, comes from an interesting pioneer family. This family came to Dunbar township about the year 1768 and took up con- siderable land by "tomahawk right." Becoming dissatis- fied for some reason with their location, they moved west of the Monongahela river, but, after severe conflicts with the Indians, in which three of the men lost their lives, retiu'ued to this part of the country and settled in the Cross Keys district. This district received its name from the fact that one of the Rogers brothers was a smith, who set up a large pair of crossed keys over his shop door as his professional sign, and when he opened his house called it the Cross Keys Tavern. Daniel Rogers, son of James Rogers was born in this district, June 8, 1778. He may be called a child of Connellsville for his whole life was spent either in the town or its immediate vicinity. When he was yet quite a voung man he built a grist mill on the old island above the bridge, which, for many years, was one of the most important industries of the town. Disposing of his mill to the Pages he embarked in the mercantile business on Water street. In 1806, he built the brick house on the ■corner of W^ater and West Main streets, and here he con- PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH (>I ducted a general store for a number of years. This is the oldest house now standing in the Borough, and is in a fair state of preservation. In 1810. he was interested in the building of a paper mill on the Yough above Connells- ville. He was also engaged in the cattle business and em- ployed a great company of boys every summer at 12>4 cents a day to make hay for his cattle. He was rather an eccentric individual, but clever and influential in public affairs. He married Miss Mary Meason, a daughter of Colonel Isaac Meason, and was the father of two children- Catherine (Mrs. Banning) and Thomas. The declining years of his life were spent in New Haven, where he died, September TS, 1872, at the ripe old age of 94 years. His body lies at rest in the little cemetery on New Haven hill. Another pioneer, who deserves more than a passing notice here in view of the fact that more than one thou- sand of his descendants are now residents of Connellsville and vicinity, was Peter Stillwaggen Sr. ^Ir. Stillwaggen was born in Germany, and came to America about the year 17G5. In IT 75 he was married to ^liss Elizabeth Poole in the German Lutheran church of Philadelphia, Pa. In July of the following year, he enlisted in the patriot army as Sergeant of a company commanded by Captain Holmes., He was also a member of the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment. He took part in the battles of Colts Neck, Brandywine, Ger- mantown, Trenton, ]\Ionmouth and Eatontown. While out on an expedition near Eatontown he was captured by the British and confined in an old sugar house in New York for nearly two vears. During his absence, his home was plundered bv the British troops, and his wife so mistreated that she applied to General Firman for relief, who gave her a home with the wife of Captain Huddy. Just before ^-^ the battle of Trenton, a company of Tories, commanded ^ by. Captain David Smith, again visited the Stillwaggen ^• home, plundering it of all its remaining valuables and burn- : \\ ing it to the ground. ^Irs. Stillwaggen, hearing of their coming, hid with her two little children in an adjoining c4. >^. "-^ 'G2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE field, and watched in anguish while the work of destruc- tion was carried on. She then once more sought refuge in the camp with her husband. The commanding officer treated her kindly and allowed her to stay. She made herself useful by washing and baking for the soldiers and caring for the sick and wounded. At the battle of ]\Ion- mouth she distinguished herself by her courage, and car- ried ammunition for the artillery. By some she is believed to be the Molly Pitcher of historic fame. At the close of the war, Peter Stillwaggen received an honorable discharge and settled with his family at Deckertown, N. J. He was the father of thirteen children — Daniel, Hannah, William, Sarah Ann, Mary, Catherine, Andrew, Peter Jr., Susannah, Josiah Decker, Andrew Poole, Henry and John. In 1802 he came to Connellsville, and established a home in the neighborhood of Peach and Water streets. The children at this time numbered but nine, four of them having died. By a mere chance of fortune. Captain David Smith, their old Tory enemy, also came to Connellsville after the war, living with his son Asher Smith, on the corner of Cottage •avenue and East Main street, and it is said upon good au- thority that some of the plunder of the Stillwaggen home was afterwards discovered there in an old chest. Wil- liam, the oldest son of the family, was married to Miss Margaret Wilson of Deckertown, and had eleven children — ■ Peter (husband of Margaret White), Joshua, Sophia, Eliza, (I\Irs. Stephen Robbins), Josiah Decker (husband of Elizabeth Eicher), Sarah (Mrs. Josiah Marietta, mother of the large Marietta family of Connellsville), Henry Nash (husband of Mary M. Curry), Joseph, Mary, John (husband of Elizabeth Stoufifer) and William Wilson (hus- band of Maria AI. Rockwell). William Stillwaggen inheri- ted much of the patriotic fire of his parents and was a veteran of the war of 1812. Sarah Ann, his sister, mar- ried Henry Nash, a Methodist minister and moved to Ten- nessee. Another sister married Mr. Haven, an Englishman, and lived and died in Connellsville. Among her grand chil- PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH G^J dren were Mrs. Anne Robbins (deceased), Mrs. Eliza Newcomer (deceased), Mrs. Mary Enos and Mrs. Kate Kurtz. Henry Nash Stillwaggen, son of William was a soldier in the Mexican war, and received an injury while building" a bridge for the artillery before Vera Cruz from which he never fully recovered. John Stillwaggen, son of Peter Stillwaggen Sr., died without issue at Broad Ford. Andrew Poole Stillwaggen, another son, married Miss Catherine Buttermore and removed to the west; Catherine Stillwaggen, a daughter, married a Mr. Conklin and died at the early age of 22 leaving two children, Daniel and William : another daughter married a Air. Polk and re- moved to Tennessee ; of the families of the remaining chil- dren we have no definite knowledge. Peter Stillwaggen Sr., died in Connellsville in December, 1831 ; his wife, Eliz- abeth, with a marvelous vitality, lived to be one hundred and fifteen years of age. Even at that advanced age she was remarkablv active and able to attend to many of her household duties. One Monday afternoon she was left at home alone, and her grandson, on his return, found the interior of the house on fire. Securing help he put out the flames as quickly as possible, but his grandmother was then already dead. It is believed that she was smoking a pipe and that sparks from this set her clothing on fire. At the close of the period of which this chapter treats, January 1, 180G, it was scarcely possible to discern more than a feeble outline of the present town of Connellsville. On Water street there were eight log houses, owned bj Thomas Page, Zachariah Connell, John Gibson. Joseph Rogers, Benjamin Wells, Jonathan Moody, David Stewart and Peter Stillwaggen. On South ]\Ieadow alley there was a stone house and the Banning tannery. On South Pitts- burgh street there was an empty log house and Jonas Coal- stock's blacksmith shop. On Main street, from the river to the top of the hill, there eight log houses, occupied by Squire Mathiot, Samuel Trevor, EHjah Crossland (butcher and plow maker) Charles Williams (blacksmith) James 64 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Nixon (store keeper) John Hinebaugii (blacksmith), Jesse Taylor ( stone mason ) , and E. Clayton. On the same streei there were four log taverns, kept by David Barnes, John Barnhart, Thomas Keepers and Cornelius Woodruff ; a stone house occupied by ()tho Williams, a hatter, and the frame residences of Doctor James Francis, Adam Snider, Cornelius Woodruff Jr., and Wihiam Davis. All of Main street from Meadow alley to Mountain alley, on the north side, was unoccupied by a building of any kind. On the pinnacle, above the bend of the street, there were four or live scattered dwellings, one of which was a tavern kept by Nancy White. All told, there were not more than thirty- six buildings of any kind within the Borough limits at the time of its incorporation. Yet her citizens seem to have had great faith in her future. They were not satisfied to include only the chartered Borough within the limits of the corporation, but included the entire tract of 152 acres. How well the work of their children has justified their faith will be told in the succeeding chapters. CHAPTER II. THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH. One hundred years ago our fathers asserted for them- selves a separate place and a proper name that marked them apart from the rest of the world. If we have lost some- thing of the odor of the forest, the simplicity of the rocks and the uncultivated air of the backwoodsman, in its place we have much of the culture, the comfort and the industry of a modern civilization. Xature has been lavish in her gifts to this immediate locality. Scarcely can there be found a stream of water so clear, so pure, so beautiful and with such a wide variety of scenery as the "Dare-Devil Yough." The mountains and the river seem lo vie with one another in producing scenes of the rarest loveliness. Yet to this wealth of natural beauty is added the charm of a mild climate and an almost incredible mineral wealth. Such is the happy situation of Connellsville, about fifty-eight miles east of Pittsburg. It received its name from Zachariah Council , its founder and one of the earliest settlers in this region. It had been chartered as a town for more than twelve years before its citizens were impressed with the necessity of a Borough government for their proper development and pro- tection. Some of these men were wise enough to see that inasmuch as their town was situated at the head of naviga- tion on the Yough it possessed many of the natural advant- ages of a thriving city. At the time of the incorporation of the Borough a number of its citizens were wholly en- gaged in the construction of boats and rafts on which emi- grants flocited their goods down the river on their way to Kentuckv and Ohio. Their very occupation was a proph- ecv of the citv that was sure to come. GC) CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSYILLE The first step to organize the Borough of Connellsville was taken January 1st, 1806. A preHminary meeting was held to estabhsh the boundaries of the proposed new bor- ough. The following account of this meeting was found in the old house of Joseph Herbert, on ]\Iain Street : "At a meeting of the inhabitants of Connellsville pursuant to notice, held at the House of John Barnhart on the first day of January, 1S06, it was agreed that the lines to include the contem- plated corporation shall begin at the mouth of the Run, where it empties, into Joseph Page's saw mill race, and the further bounds of the Corporation to be ran under the direction of the following seven persons : Anthony Banning, Samuel Trevor, John Barnhart, George Mathiot, David Barnes, James Blackstone and Daniel Rogers." "It is further agreed that the five following persons shall be a Committee to draft a petition to the Assembly, and the Bill for the Incorporation of the Borough to be submitted to the Inhabitants at a meeting to be held at this House, on Tuesday evening next, viz; Samuel Trevor, Daniel Rogers, Doct. James Francis, Isaac Meason, Jun., Esqr. and Isaac Mears. Witness our hands" JESSE TAYLOR, JOSEPH PAGE, Sen'r., MICHAEL BRYON, DAVID BARNES, CHARLES WILLIAMS, CHARLES WELLS, BENJAMIN WELLS, WILLIAM TIPTON. On the following Tuesday evening, the Bill for the Incorporation of the Borough was submitted to the peo- ple and endorsed bv them. It is generally conceded that this Bill was drawn by Doctor James Francis, the first physician who practiced medicine in this locality. This Bill of Incorporation became a law by the Act of Assembly passed March 1st, 180G. AN ACT. To erect the town of Connellsville, in Fayette County, into a Borough. P. L. 391. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the town of Connellsville, and its vicinity in the County of Fayette, shall be and the same is hereby erected into a borough, THE BOROUGH OF 1806 68 CENiENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLS\ILLE which shall be called "The Borough of Connellsville," bounded and limited as follows : That is to say, beginning at a place known by the appelation of "Gregg's Butment," on the West side of the Youghiogheny River ; thence in a direct line across said river to a sycamore near the mouth of Connell saw mill run ; thence south eighty-tive degrees east eighty-six perches to a stump ; thence north forty-nine and a half degrees east sixty-four perches ; thence north twenty-seven degrees east one hundred and twelve perches ; thence north forty-six degrees west nineteen and five-tenth perches ; thence south thirty-three degrees west twenty perches ; thence north fiftj'-seven degrees twenty-six perches ; thence south eighty degrees west one hundred and sixty-eight perches to the river ; thence following tne last said coiu'se across the ri^er to low water mark ; thence up said river, following its different meanders to the place of beginning. SECTION 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for all persons entitled to vote for members of the Legislature, who have resided in said borough twelve months previously to such election, to meet at the school house in said borough (or at such other place as may here- after be appointed), on the first Monday in April in every year, and then and there elect by ballot, between the hours of twelve and six o'clock of the same day, one reputable citizen residing therein, who shall be styled "The Burgess of the said borough," and seven reputable citizens residing therein, who shall be a Town Council, and shall also elect as aforesaid one reputable citizen as High Constable; but previously to such election the inhabitants shall elect two reputable citizens as Judges, one as Inspector and two as Clerks of said election, which shall be regulated and con- ducted according to the general election law of this Commonwealth, so far as relates to receiving and counting votes, and who shall be subject to the same penalties for malpractices as by the said law is imposed ; and the said Judges, Inspectors and Clerks, re- spectively, before they enter upon the duties of their offices, shall take an oath or affirmation before any Justice of the Peace of said County, to perform the same with fidelity; and after the said election shall be closed shall declare the person having the greatest number of votes to be duly elected ; and in case any two or more candidates shall have an equal number of votes, the pref- erence shall be determined by lot, to be drawn by the Judges and Inspector, whereupon duplicate returns thereof shall be signed by the said Judges, one of which shall be transmitted to each of the persons elected, and the other filed among- the records of the cor- poration ; and in case of death, resignation, removal, refusal to accept, or neglect or refusal to act after acceptance of any of THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH 69 the said officers, the Burgess or in case of his death, absence or inabiht}' to act, or when he neglects or refuses to act, the iirst named of the Town Council shall issue his precept, directed to the High Constable, or when there is no High Constable, or where he refuses or neglects to act, then any of the members of the Town Council, shall advertise and hold an election, in manner aforesaid, to supply such vacancy, giving at least ten days' notice thereof by advertisements set up at four of the most public places in the said Borough. SECTION 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the first Monday in April next, the Burgess and Town Council duly elected as aforesaid, and their successors, shall be one body politic and corporate in law, by the name and style of "The Burgess and the Town Council of the Borough of Connellsville," and shall have perpetual succession, and the said Burgess and Town Council aforesaid, and their successors, shall be capable in law to receive, hold and possess goods and chattels, lands and tenements, rents, liberties, jurisdictions, fran- chises and hereditaments, to them and their successors, in fee simple or otherwise, not exceeding the yearly value of five thou- sand dollars, and also to give, grant, sell, let and assign the same lands, tenements, hereditaments and rents, and by the name and style aforesaid, they shall be capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in any of the courts of law in this com- monwealth, in all manner of actions whatsoever, and to have and to use one common seal, and the same from time to time, at their will, to change and alter. SECTION 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That if any person duly elected as Burgess, or a member of the Town Council, or Constable, shall refuse or neglect to take upon himself the execution of the, office to which he shall have been elected, every person so refusing or neglecting shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty dollars ; which fine and all other fines and forfeitures incurred and made payable in pursuance of this act, or of the by-laws and ordinances of the Town Council, shall be for the use of the corporation. SECTION 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the Burgess, Town Council and High Constable, and each of them, before entering upon the duties of their respec- tive offices, shall take an oath or affirmation before any Justice of the Peace of said county, to support the constitution of the United States and of this State, and to perform the duties of their respective offices with fidelity ; and the certificates of such oaths and affirmations shall be filed among the records of the said cor- poration. 70 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE SECTION 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the Town Council to meet as often as occasion may require, and enact such by-laws and make such rules, regulations and ordinances, as shall be deter- mined by a majority of them, necessary to promote the peace, good order, benefit, and advantage of said Borough, particularly of providing for the regulation of the market, streets, alleys, and highways therein ; they shall have power to assess, apportion and appropriate such taxes as shall be determined by a majority of them necessary for carrying the said by-laws, rules and regula- tions into complete effect, and also to appoint a Town Clerk, Treasurer, two persons to act as Street and Road Commissioners, and a Clerk of the Market, annually, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary from time to time ; provided, That no by-law, rule or ordinance, of the said corporation, shall be repug- nant to the constitution or laws of the United States, or of this Commonwealth, and that no person shall be punished for the breach of a by-law or ordinance, made as aforesaid, until three weeks have expired after the promulgation thereof, by at least four advertisements set up in the most public places in the said Borough ; and provided also. That no tax shall be laid in any one year, on the valuation of taxable property, exceeding one- half cent in the dollar, unless some object of general utility shall be thought necessary, in which case, a majority of the free-holders of said Borough by writing under their hands, shall approve of and certify the same to the Town Council, who shall proceed to assess the same accordingly. SECTION 7. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Burgess elected and c[ualified, agreeably to this act, is hereby authorized and empowered to issue his precept, as often as occasion may require, directed to the High Constable, commanding him to collect all taxes assessed, and fines and for- feitures imposed by this act, or by the ordinances and regulation of the corporation; and the same to pay over to the treasurer; and the said Burgess is hereby authorized to carry into effect all by- laws enacted by the Council and whatever else shall be enjoined upon him for the well ordering and governing the said Borough ; he shall have jurisdiction in all disputes between the corporation and individuals arising under the by-laws, regulations and ordi- nances. SECTION 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That it shall be the duty of the Town Clerk, to attend all the meetings of the Town Council, when assembled upon busi- ness of the corporation, and perform the duty of clerk thereto, and keep and preserve the common seal and records of the cor- THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH Tl poration, and be answerable for the same, and also for the faithful discharge of all duties which may be enjoined upon him by virtue of this act, or of the acts of the corporation, and his attestation, with the seal of the corporation, shall be good evidence of the thing or act so certified. SECTION 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the Treasurer shall give security for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and for the safe delivery into the hands of his successors of all monies, books and accounts appertaining thereto upon demand being made by the Burgess for that purpose. SECTION 10. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the Street Commissioners, Treasurer, Constable and Clerk of the Market, as well as all other officers who may be appointed by the corporation or council shall render their accounts 'to the council once in every year for settlement ; and the said accounts being adjusted and settled accordingly, shall be forthwith published by the said Council, showing particularly the amount of taxes laid and collected and of the expenditures. SECTION 11. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That it shall be the duty of the High Constable to give notice of the elections by setting up advertisements in the market and three other public places in the said Borough, ten daj^s pre- viously thereto ; he shall attend and see that the same is opened at the time, and in the manner directed by this act ; Provided, That Samuel Trevor, and George Mathiot, Esquire, of the said town, or either of them, shall publish and superintend the election to be held on the first Monday of April next, as herein before directed. SECTION 1:2. And be it further enacted l)y the authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons shall think him, her or themselves aggrieved by anything done in pursuance of this act, he, she or they may appeal to the u.ext court of quarter sessions to be held for the proper county, upon giving security according to law, to prosecute his, her or their appeal with effect, and the court having taken such order therein as shall seem to them just and reasonable, the same shall be conclusive against all parties. This Act of Assembly was modified by a general act approved the 3d day of April, 1S51, entitled an "Act to Regtdate Boroughs," as follows : Petition of Citizens of Connellsville presented March 4th, 1852. tX, CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE To the Honorable, the Judges of the Court of Quarter Ses- sions of Fayette County : The petition of divers citizens of the Borough of Con- nehsville, in said county, humbly showeth, that they labour under great inconvenience in ascertaining the powers con- ferred by the Act of the Legislature incorporating said Borough, approved March 1st, 1806. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray the Court to confer on the Borough of Connellsville as now incorporated, with its title and present boundaries, all the rights, privi- leges, powers and restrictions conferred by the Act of the Legislature, approved the 3d day of April, 1851, entitled an Act Regulating Boroughs. And also declaring and conforming said Borough into a separate and distinct school district with and in conform- ity to the said Act approved April 3, 1851. And your peti- tioners will pray : Names Names John Davis, W. W. Hickman, George White, John Mitts, Aaron Bishop, Josiah Marietta, And ninety others. ORDER OF COURT. Application confirmed by the Court, and all the powers of the Act of Assembly approved the 3d clay of April, 1851, "Regulating Boroughs," conferred upon the corporation of the Borough of Connellsville. 4th March, 1852. By the Court, Rich. Huskins, Clerk. The poll-list of the Borough for 1806 was found among some old papers in the old Herbert Homestead on Main street. On the half of a sheet of foolscap folded lengthwise is the original heading, as follows : "Names of the voters of the Borough of Connellsville, 7th day of April, 1806." On this sheet are the following 32 names, viz : 1. William Tipton 17. 2. Daniel jMathias 18. 3. David Barnes 19. 4. Joseph Page ^ 20. 5. James Lofrarty 21. 6. Tymothy Hawkins 22. 7. Andrew Banning 23. 8. Charles Williams 24. 9. Samuel Trevor 25. 10. Isaac Mears 26. 11. James Francis 27. 12. Hiram Connell 28. 13. William Davis 29. 14. Adam Snider 30. 15. Joshua Hunt 31. 16. William Mefford 32. THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH i .^ George Alathiot Jonas Colstock John Barnhart Andrew Ellison Cornelius Woodruff Daniel Rogers William Morrow Joseph Mahaffy John Keepers Jonathan Moody Cornelius Woodruff', Jr. David Stuart James Blackstone Benjamin Evans John Page ^^ Caleb Trevor This election was held in the log school house which had been erected by private subscriptions on the lots do- nated by the founder of the town, where the High School building now stands. The two preceding elections for Bull- skin township were also held in this same school house. The name of Zachariah Connell does not appear among the voters of this list, for the reason that it was a principle of his, that those to whom he sold his lots, should control the town, and that he should not exert any authority over those who had cast their lot with him in this new venture. He had already been elected to the high office of Con- stable in Bullskin township in the year 1803, and also as one of the first three commissioners of Fayette county. From additional information, it is certain that this is the correct list of the names of the men who voted at the first election held for officers of the Borough. This election was held on the 7th day of April, 1806. At this election Daniel Rogers was elected Burgess and the following persons, members of the first Town Council: Samuel Trevor, Charles Williams, James Francis, John Barnhart, Hiram Connell, William Meff'ord and Anthony Bannins:. 74 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The above officers are the persons named in the deed made by Zachariah Connell for a part of Lot No. 94 for a Market House, dated "the loth day of October, 180G," and duly placed on record in the Recorder's office of this county. The first meeting of the Borough Council was held April Kith, 1800, and there and then began the political history of that small hamlet. Little did that Burgess and Town Council think that the}' were making histor}- that would be eagerly scanned by those located on the same spot a century later, when that hamlet had developed into a large and prosperous city. The minutes of this, the first meeting of the Borough Fathers, is well preserved in the old minute book and is here reproduced in full. No. 1. — At a meeting of the Council of the Borough of Con- nellsville, convened by mutual agreement on the IGth day of April, 1806. John B. Trevor was chosen Tow^n Clerk. The Council then proceeded to business and passed the following ordinances, viz : No. 1. — An ordinance respecting the Borough seal. No. 2. — An ordinance enjoining the Burgess to qualify all the Borough Officers. No. 3. — An ordinance respecting the duties of the Treasurer. No. 4. — An ordinance establishing the fees to be charged by the Burgess and High Constable. No. 5. — An ordinance imposing a fine of ten dollars on any person elected by the Council as Officer of the Borough who re- fuses to act in that capacitj^ No. 6. — An ordinance respecting the qualifications of the Bor- ough Officers appointed by the Council. No. 7. — An ordinance enjoining the Town Council to notify persons appointed to Office, of their appointment. No. 8. — An ordinance enjoining the Burgess to draw his order on the Treasurer for the payment of such accounts as are approved of by the Council. No. 9. — An ordinance appointing an assessor and two assist- ants. No. 10. — An ordinance appointing two Street Commissioners. No. 11. — An ordinance appointing an Inspector of Lumber and Boats. No. 12. — An ordinance making the High Constable Collector- No. 13. — An ordinance respecting the paving of the Streets. No. 14. — An ordinance respecting hogs running in the Borough. THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH 75 No. 15. — An ordinance imposing a fine of one dollar on any person who gallops a horse within the limits of the Borough, etc., etc. No. 16. — An ordinance respecting partition fences. No. 17. — An ordinance respecting bathing in the river. No. 18. — An ordinance respecting the salary of the Town Clerk. The Council then make the following appointments: John Page, Assessor; Cabel Trevor, Benjamin Evans, Assist- ant Assessors ; George Mathiot, James Blackston, Street Commis- sioners ; Joseph Rogers, Treasurer ; David Barnes, Inspector of Lumbe". Ihe following resolutions were then read and adopted, viz: Ptsolved, That every member of the Council and the Town Ckrk wdio does not attend the meetings at the hour appointed or within thirty minutes thereof shall forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar, to be disposed of as the Council shall direct, unless the excuse offered by such delinciuent or delinquents shall be deemed sufificient to exonerate him or them from the fine by a majorit}' of the members present. Resolved, That the Council adjourn until convened by notice given in writing by the Town Clerk. Adjourned accordingly, JOHN B. TREVOR, T. C. The series of 18 ordinances passed at the first meeting of Council has but a few of any material interest. The first one refers to the seal of the Borough, and states "that the eagle on the reverse side of a United States half dollar shall be the seal of the corporation until another is adopted." This seal is reproduced on the cover of this history. The third states that the Treasurer shall be recjuired to give two hundred dollars security to the Burgess, instead of to the Council, for the faithful performance of his duties. The eighth directs that the Inspector of Lumber shall "measure and determine the value of any boards, plank or scantling, brought for sale to the Borough, if called upon by the seller or purchaser thereof and that he should be paid for any number of feet less than one thousand 3o cents and one and one half cents for each one hundred feet thereafter. 76 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The duties of the High Constable are defined in Num- ber 12 as that of a tax collector, and that he should pay the taxes when collected to the Treasurer, and receive for the collection 2^ per cent for all taxes collected. In number 15 a fine of one dollar was imposed upon any one caught galloping a horse within the Borough, or for discharging a fire arm for amusement or mischief within the Borough. One third of this fine was to be paid to the informant, and the balance to the Borough Treas- urer. This first minute book is six by eight inches in size and contains 262 pages of well written transactions of the Borough Council. This book is written close to the mar- gins of the page, and no space left either at the top or bottom of the page, showing that our fathers had an econ- omic view of the Borough's business. It is written with quill pens and with ink that is perfectly legible one century after and in handwriting that is today unsurpassed. It in- cludes the minutes from the first meeting, April 16th, 1806, to July 2nd, 1833. In a number of instances, the date and the number of the meeting is written in Latin, showing that the Clerk was a man of some erudition. Thus this little band of men looked up for guidance to the principles of "True Democracy" which are "enduring because they are right, and invincible because they are just." CHAPTER III. CIVIC DE\'ELOPMENT. This chapter relates chiefly to the business transactions of the Town Council. It must be remembered the Council for many years was the only elective body in the Borough, drafting- all the Borough laws, executing them by the assist- ance of the Burgess, and having full control of the town schools. The Act of Incorporation of the Borough stated that the first election should be held in the school house. And it seems certain that this was also the meeting place of the Council for a number of years. Earlv in the history of our Borough, the members of Council took action looking toward a permanent home of their own. At the fifth regular meeting, held June 24, IStXi, the Council proceeded to fix upon a site proper for a market house for the use and convenience of the inhabitants of the Borough. ^Ir. Zachariah Connell, being present, offered to donate a part of a lot fronting 14 feet on Spring street and 40 feet on Church street. The oft'er was accepted and a deed for the same received dated October 15, 1806. This lot a few years later was considered too small on which to erect a market house, and an additional strip was pur- chased from Greenberry R. Jones, for the consideration of $8.51^. This purchase was made by order of Council, June 12, 1810. Previous to this time, by an ordinance passed April 24, 1801), Council had appropriated an addi- tional strip giving six feet more frontage on Spring street. A lot now having been secured, the free holders petitioned Council, October 2, 1809, to lay a tax sufficient to build a market house. At this meeting, the Council by a vote of four to three passed a resolution fixing the tax, at three- fourths of a cent on the dollar of taxable property. Before this taxation was fixed at one half cent on the dollar for THE FIRST MARKET HOUSE AND OI,D CITY HAIJ^ CIVIC DEVELOPMENT all purposes. David Barnes prepared a plan for a market house and submitted it to a meeting" of Council, October 5, 1809. This plan was accepted and at the same meeting the Clerk was ordered to advertise for bids for the erection of the building. At a meeting' of Council, October 11. 1809, David Barnes was granted the contract, upon his l)id of $90.00 with a bond for the faithful performance of his contract. We find also that at the ]\Iarch o, 1810 meeting, David Barnes was given two orders amounting to $10().0() for erecting the market house, so it was a long time ago that the orders given by Council exceeded the contract price. The same contractor was then given $8.00 to build steps to get into the building and two double gates to keej) out the sheep. Any one who cut up and sold a beef in the market house was reciuired to pay 25 cents and on failure to do this was fined $1.00, with the exception of those who rented stalls by the year. An addition was made to this building" fronting on Pittsburgh street in 1858, built by Jacob Rhodes, which was used as a Council Chamber, Burgess office and lockup, and later as a place for keeping the fire hose. The front part was rented for general business purposes. But with the improvement of the town the old market house had to disappear, and, in its place. Council decided to erect a substantial three-story brick building". The contract for the erection of this building was awarded to Calhoun & Co., for the sum of $5,350. Work was commenced on it in August, 188(), and the building was completed and taken ofif the hands of the contractor, February 24, 1887. The front of the first floor was rented for general business purposes, the back part was used as a Burgess ofBce, lockup and hose room. The front room of the second floor was occupied by the Town Council, and the rest rented as offices. The third floor was furnished as a lodge hall and leased to various secret organizations. This building answered the general purposes of a city building 80 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE for a brief space of time. It was objected to very fre- quently bv the citizens, on account of its being located in such a public part of the town, so that all arrested persons were brought so prominently before the people. The Town Council finally worked up their courage to the point of action and decided, by resolution, to erect a City Hall, on what was known as the public ground. This was at once objected to by some of the adjoining property owners, and an injunction (preliminary) was granted June 21, llJOl. Testimony was taken and arguments heard, and on July 15, 1901, this preliminary injunction was dissolved by Judge Robert E. Umbel. Exceptions were filed to this decision, and again they were overruled. An appeal was then taken to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which sustained the action of the lower court. It was claimed that the Town Council had no other authority for the erection of a City Hall, than a municipal ordinance of the Borough, directing it to be erected there, and that the ground was given by Zachariah Connell, the donor of the land, in 1793, whereb)- he dedicated the said public ground to "be and continue free for the use of the inhabitants of the said town and for travelers who may erect thereon temporary boat yards or may from time to time occupy the same, or any part thereof for making any vessels and other conveniences for the purpose of conveying their property to or from the said town," which dedication by the owner makes it illegal for the Town Council, by a Borough ordinance to take any part of said public ground for building purposes. The answer prepared by the counsel for the Borough admitted the , dedication and the purpose of the Council ; and claimed that the Council had a right to erect said build- ing on said grounds, that it would improve the public grounds, and that it was not contrary to the dedication of the grounds by Zachariah Connell, in his charter of 1793. The findings of the Court were that Mr. Zachariah Connell was the owner in fee when he made the dedication to the inhabitants of Connellsville, that the public use "for CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 81 travelers who ma}' erect thereon temporary boat yards, etc." had ceased to exist; that the dedication by Zachariah Connell was an irrevocable dedication of the land ; that it is a grant to a charitable use of a two-fold character, namely for the use of the inhabitants of Connellsville and for trav- elers to build boats, and that either branch of this charita- ble use could exist without the other ; that the Burgess and Town Council of Connellsville are ex-officio trustees and vested with reasonable discretion in the execution of their trust, that the proposed use to be made of this ground, is not inconsistent with the dedication and grant of said land, and the erection of said buildings is part of or at least germane to the use for which it was originally dedicated. There were two questions involved in this legal contest — first, whether a Borough Council, acting solely upon the authority of its own ordinance, could erect a building upon this public ground, which had been preserved free from all buildings for more than one hundred years, and ; second, whether or not a public use created by the owner of land, can be lost by non-use or be extinguished by a Borough or a Court. The decisions of the various courts in favor of the Borough, giving them the right to occupy and erect thereon buildings, was not only a glorious victory for those con- cerned in this work, but it was the means whereby a dis- graceful plot of ground in the center of the Borough, has been transformed into one of usefulness and beauty. The Town Council lost no time, after disposing of the old public building by auction to the highest bidder, to use this money to erect on this plot of ground a large and com- modious City Hall. Plans were prepared, and bids received, and the contract let to Calhoun & Co.. August 3, 1901, for the erection of the present public building for the sum of $15,1-1:0. A strike among the mechanics delayed the work, and it was not completed and occupied until August 18, 1902. This building is two stories high, with a finished basement and attic, built of buff brick and of the old Dutch stvle of architecture. X 1 1 k te^^- - NEW CITY HALT-. CI\IC DE\'ELOPMENT The grounds around the City Hah have recently been graded, and, by the donations of several citizens, planted in beautifully arranged flower beds, and grassy plots, mak- ing it an attractive spot to strangers and a joy to the heart of every citizen of the Borough. BOROUGH EXTENSIONS The original plot of the town, as laid out by Zachariah Connell on the 21st day of Alarch, 1793, was bounded on the north by North alley on the east by East alley, on the south by South alley and on the west b}' the Youghiogheny river. The plan of lots as incorporated by the Act of Assembly, March 1st, 1806, included Connell's plan of lots, and much additional territory, which is described and bounded in Chapter II of this book. On April 20th, 18T4:, Council passed an ordinance admitting a large section adja- cent to the Borough of Connellsville as a part of said Bor- ough. This petition contained the names of many residents not now living, as James Calhoun, Henry Porter, Thomas Balsley, Jacob ]\Iay, A. S. Cameron, James P. McKarnes, Samuel Porter and some still living as John Detemple, James Stafi^ord and others. This section, lying adjacent to the said Borough, is described as follows, to wit: "Beginning on the west side of the Youghiogheny River where the present upper line of the Borough touches low water mark, thence up the west side of the said river, at low water mark, by the several courses thereof feet ; thence across said river to the eastern bank thereof, thence south seventy-eight degrees, east two hundred and ninety-eight feet to Grays' orchard fence; thence crossing the Pittsburg and Connellsville railroad and Trumps' run where a small stream enters the same, south seventy-six and Yz degrees, east nineteen hun- dred and fifty-seven feet to a stone ; thence crossing the Trump road north thirty degrees east two thousand five hundred and fourteen feet to a large black oak ; thence crossing the Clav Pike north thirty-five degrees, east, three 84 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE thousand two hundred feet to a red oak. a corner ; thence north thirty-two and one-half degrees west seventeen hun- dred and sixty-five feet to the angle formed by the junction of the Break Neck and Mt. Pleasant roads ; thence north seventy-one degrees east two thousand nine hundred and twenty feet crossing a public road and Mountz Creek to a point in the public road where the South Western Penn- sylvania Railroad crosses the same ; thence by said public road four hundred and sixty-four feet to a point where the railroad of the Pittsburg & Connellsville Gas Coal & Coke Co., crosses the same; thence by the present line of the railroad of said company four thousand one hundred and seventy feet to where the same connects with the Pittsburg & Connellsville Railroad ; thence crossing the mouth of Mountz creek and also crossing the Youghiogheny river by straight line feet to low water mark on the lower side of Opossum Creek, where the same empties into said river ; thence up said river on the western side of said river at low water mark feet to the present lines of said Borough to the place of beginning, be and the same is here- by admitted a part of the said Borough of Connellsville, and hereafter the said section shall forever be deemed and taken and allowed to be part of said Borough and subject to the jurisdiction and government thereof as fully as if the same had been originally a part of said Borough." No additions were made to the Borough from 1874 until 1905. The growth of the town has been constant since the addition in 1874 and the building line has pushed itself beyond the confines of the Borough in almost every direc- tion. Particularly marked has this been toward the south, due to the numerous manufacturing plants located in that vicinity. A petition of the residents of the South Side was presented to Council, early in the year 1905, for admission to the Borough. By an ordinance, dated March 20, 1905, their request was granted. This plot was bounded by the river on the west, Woodlawn avenue on the south, and chieflv bv Isabella street on the east. The chartered Bor- OI.D I.AND MARKS OF THE BOROUGH. 86 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ough of 1806 contained 152 acres. The additions of 1874 contained 436 acres making" in the Borough at that time 578 acres. The addition of 1905, known as the South Side addition, contained 218^ acres, so that the Borough of Connellsville at this date contains 796^^ acres. This latest addition to the Borough is tlius described : "Beginning at a point on the west side of the Yougli- ioglieny river and at the present Borough line ; thence south 77 degrees, 39 minutes east 705.2 feet to a point in the B. & O. yards; thence south 78 degrees 3 minutes east 1957 feet to a point on the east side of an alley running be- tween Davidson avenue and Newmeyer avenue ; thence north 28 degrees 13 minutes east 1682.3 feet to a point in the middle of Isabella street ; thence south 35 degrees 54 minutes east 1354.32 feet to a point in the middle of New- meyer avenue and Isabella street; thence south 16 degrees east 1926.59 feet to a point on the extension of Woodlawn avenue; thence south 86 degrees 2 minutes west 440.21 feet to Oak street; thence south 89 degrees forty-four (44) minutes west 1967.2 feet to Etna street; thence south 16 degrees east 117.37 feet to Soisson street or Gibson ave- nue; thence north 79 degrees 20 minutes west 183.50 feet to a point; thence south 84 degrees 10 minutes west 351.3 feet to a point in Gibson avenue ; thence south 71 degrees west 251.5 feet; thence south 58 degrees west 237 feet to a point; thence south 76 degrees 38 minutes west 760 feet to the west side of the Youghiogheny river ; thence along and with the Youghioghen}^ river and its meanderings to the place of beginning, and lying adjacent to the said Bor- ough of Connellsville, to be annexed to, admitted to, taken in and made part of the said Borough of Connellsville and that boundary lines of the said Borough of Connellsville be and they are hereby extended so as to include all of the aforesaid and hereinbefore described piece or parcel of land, which said territory so as aforesaid to be annexed is shown and delineated on the plot annexed to and made part of the said petition, a copy of which said petition and of which said CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 87 plan are hereunto annexed and herebv made part of this ordinance. 2nd. "That the Borough SoHcitors be, and thev are hereby authorized to prepare and file in the Court of Quar- ter Sessions of Fayette county, a plan or plot showing the boundary of the original Borough of Connellsville and the extension hereby admitted, and a certified copy of this ordinance and the description of the boundaries of the orignal Borough of Connellsville and of the Borough of Connellsville as hereby extended, as directed by the Act of Assembly in such case made and provided." POPULATION. The earliest record of the number of people living in Connellsville is that of Thaddeus Mason Harris of the Massachusetts Plistorical Society, who made a tour through this region in 1S03. In his journal of ^Monday, June 13. 18(»3, he made the following note: "After dining in Union- town with Judges Addison and Rol^erts and other law- yers, towards evening" we pursued our journey as far as Connellsville, where we slept. This town has been settled eight years. It is pleasantly situated on the Yough River and contains about 80 houses, and 400 inhabitants." His description of our river is also interesting: "The name of this river is spelt by some writers Yohogany, and by others Yoxhiogeni, by General Braddock it is written Youghgoughane, but the common pronunciation is Yoka- ganv, and the inhaljitants in these parts call it the Yough River." The above statement undoubtedly refers to the number of people in this entire region and not the town alone. The U. S. Treasurer's reports give the following figures : Year Population Year Population 1810 498 1870 1293 1820 600 1880 3615 1830 1205 1890 5629 1840 1436 1900 7160 1850 1553 1906 11200 1860 996 88 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE VALUATION. The total valuation of the Borough for the year 1899 was $3,002,585. The valuation for the year 1906 is $3,362,115. VOTE. The total Borough vote for the year 1895 was 1030. The total Borough vote for president in 1900 was 138-1-. The total Borough vote for president in 1904 was 1665. The number of registered voters in the spring of 1906 was as follows : First Ward, 527 ; Second Ward, 530 ; Third Ward, 632; Fourth Ward, 717. Total, 2,-t06. BOROUGH SEALS. The first Act of the first Council, and the first ordinance passed at the first meeting, was to adopt a seal for the Borough of Connellsville. This meeting" was held April 16, 1806. At the seventh meeting of Council on Sept. 5, 1806, the Clerk was authorized to procure a seal and a screw for the use of the corporation, and to draw on the Treasurer for the amount of the same. This seal is a reproduction of the eagle side of the silver half dollar of that date, with the inscription, "Borough of Connellsville." SECOND SEAL. It was first used by Council, July l-t, 1843, when it was attached to a supplementary orchnance passed at that date. This same seal was readopted by an ordinance passed April 12, 1886, which states that the seal shall be the "plow and anvil surrounded by the inscription. Borough of Con- nellsville, Pa." These two seals are reproduced on the cover of this book. BOROUGH OFFICIALS. The following list of Borough officials has been com- piled from the records : 1806 Burgess : Daniel Rogers. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 89 Courtcil: Samuel Trevor, Charles \Mlliams, Dr. James Francis, John Barnhart, William Alefford, Anthony Banning, Hiram Connell. Town Clerk: John B. Trevor. High Constable: William Davies. Treasurer: Joseph Rogers. Street Commissioners : George ]Vlathiot, James Blackstone. /^-Assessor: John Page. Assistant Assessors: Caleb Trevor, Benjamin Evans. Inspector of Lumber : David Barnes. 1807 Burgess: James Blackstone, elected July 25th, 1807. Council: Samuel Trevor, Anthony Banning. Dr. James Francis, John Barnhart, Wm. ]\leiiord, J no. Page. High Constable: Andrew E^Uison. Town Clerk: Jno. B. Trevor. Treasurer: Joseph Rogers. Street Commissioners: Charles Williams, William Davies. Assessor : George Mathiot. Inspector of Lumber: David Barnes. Assistant Assessors : Daniel Rogers, David Barnes. 1808 Burgess: James Blackstone. Council: Samuel Trevor. Charles Williams, Anthony Banning. Dr. James Francis, John Pag< Jonas Colstock, Daniel Rogers. Town Clerk: Jno. B. Trevor. High Constable: James Leonard. Treasurer : Joseph Rogers. Street Commissioners : John Barnhart, David Barnes. 1809 Burgess: Abraham Baldwin. Council: Joshua Gibson. George Mathiot. Caleb Trevor, John Lamb. Isaac Mears, Charles WeHs, James Lafferty. High Constable : Elisha Clayton. Clerk: J. D. ^lathiot. 90 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Treasurer : John B. Trevor. Street Commissioners : Daniel Rogers, Alexander Campbell. Assessor : Joseph Rogers. Assistant Assessors : James Francis, David Barnes. Inspector of Lumber and Boats : David Barnes. 1810 Burgess : Abraham Baldwin. Council : Doctor James Eastep, Doctor Robert More, John Fuller, David Barnes, Daniel Cohanour, Jesse Taylor, Joseph Rogers. High Constable : William Kirk. Clerk : John Lamb. Treasurer : John Page. Street Commissioners : James Francis, Joshua Gib- son. Assessor : Isaac Mears. Assistant Assessors : Caleb Trevor, Charles Wells. Clerk of the Market : Otho Williams. Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood : David Steward. In ( )ctober Anthony Banning was appointed Assessor for the year 1810, and Zachariah Connell and David Stewart, Assistant Assessors. 1811 Burgess: John Lamb. Council : Caleb Trevor, Daniel Rodgers, Elisha Clay- ton, Charles Williams, David Steward, James Francis, Richard Hardin. High Constable : David Smith. Clerk : Joshua Gibson. • Treasurer : John Page. Street Commissioners : Otho L. Williams, Anthony Banning. Assessor : Samuel Trevor. Clerk of the Market : James Lafferty. Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood : David Barnes. 1812 Burgess : John Lamb. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 91 Council : Abraham Baldwin, Caleb Trevor, Charles Williams. Utho L. Williams, Daniel Cohanoiir,. James Lafferty, Robert Long. High Constable : Daniel Smith. Clerk : Joshua Gibson. Treasurer : John Page. Street Commissioners: Alexander Johnston, James. Stafford. Assessor: John Fuller. Assistant Assessors : Richard Thusden. Robert D. More. Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord A\'ood : Wm. ]\L'Cormick. 1813 Burgess: John Lamb. Council: Caleb Trevor, Charles \\'illiams, John M. Burdette, Jacob Kuhn, William Kirk. Michael Gil- more, Daniel L. Norton. High Constable : Otho L. Williams. Clerk: Otho L. WiUiams. Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. Street Commissioners : Thos. Emery, James Shaw. Assessor : Joshua Gibson. Assistant Assessors : ^^'illiam McCormick, Michael Trump. Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood : David Steward. 1811: Burgess : Daniel L. Norton. Council: Joseph Barnet, William Kirk, James Fran- cis, Isaa^ !'. [ears, Charles W'illiams, Robert Long, John Fuller. High Constable : Michael Trump. Clerk: Otho L. Williams. Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. Street Commissioners : William Kirk, Otho L. Wil- liams. Assessor : Caleb Trevor. Assistant Assessors: John Lamb, Otho L. WiUiams. _ 93 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood: David Stewart. Clerk of the Market: Elisha Clayton. 1815 Burgess : Isaac Mears. Council: Elisha Clayton, James Shaw, John M. Bur- dette, Elisha Crossland, Daniel L. Norton, Hiram Herbert, Robert D. More. High Constable : William Kirk. Clerk : David Steward. High Constable : Caleb Trevor. Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. Street Commissioners : George Mathiot, Stephen Smith. Assessor : John Lamb. Assistant Assessors : William Davidson, William Mefford. Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood: Mi- chael Trump. 181(J Burgess: Isaac Mears. Council : George Mathiot, William Davidson, John Lamb, Robert Long, Charles Williams, James Francis, John Heinbough. High Constable : Elisha Crossland. Clerk : Jonathan Kurtz. Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. Street Commissioners : William Little, George Mor- iarti. 1817 Burgess: Isaac Mears. Council : Abraham Baldwin, George Mathiot, Caleb Trevor, Charles Williams, Robert Long, Elisha Crossland, John Adams. High Constable: Joseph Keepers. Clerk : John Boyd. Treasurer : Elisha Clayton. Street Commissioners : Samuel Page, Joseph Culbert- son. 1818 Burgess : John Boyd. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 93 Council : Isaac Alears, Abraham Baldwin, Caleb Tre- vor, Robert Long, James Francis, Alexander John- ston, Henry Welty. High Constable: George Marietta. Clerk: William G. Turner. Treasurer: Elisha Clayton. Street Commissioners: George Mathiot, Frederick Bierer. Sexton and Inspector of Cord Wood, sold within the Borough: Peter Stillwagon. 1819 Burgess : John Boyd. Council: George Mathiot, Henry Welty, Robert Long, John Lamb, Frederick Bierer, Caleb Trevor, William Litle. High Constable : Thomas Kilpatrick. Clerk : Dr. Charles McLane. Treasurer: Elisha Clayton. Street Commissioners: Herman Gephart, Asher Smith. Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Boards: Michael Trump. Sexton and Inspector of Cord Wood: Peter Still- wagon. 1820 Burgess: John Lamb. Council: John Fuller, Michael Trump, Richard Crossland, Daniel Cohanour, Timothy Buett, Fred- erick Bierer, Jesse Taylor. High Constable: Wihiam Baltzley. Clerk: Charles McLane. Treasurer: Robert D. More. Street Commissioners: George Marietta, Andrew Stillwagon. Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber: James Shaw. Sexton and Inspector of Cord Wood: Peter Still- wagon. Dos: Killer: Adam Snider. 94 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 1821 Burgess: Isaac ]\Iears. Council : John Lamb, Michael Gilmore, Robert Long, Samuel Page, Hiram Herbert, Asher Smith, Mi- chael Trump. High Constable : Richard Crossland. Clerk : Charles AIcLane. Treasurer : Lestor L. Norton. Street Commissioners : Alexander Johnston, Moses McCormick. Sexton : Peter Stillwagon. Inspector of Cord Wood : William Little. Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Michael Trump. 1822 Burgess : George Mathiot. Council : Abraham Baldwin, Alichael Trump, Elisha Clayton, Hiram Herbert, Herman Gebhart, Caleb Trevor, Asher Smith. Hig'h Constable : John Adams. Clerk : Caleb Trevor. Treasurer: Alexander Johnston. Street Commissioners : George Marietta, William Litle. Sexton : Peter Stillwagon. Inspector of Wood : Alichael Trump. Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Michael Trump. 1823 Burgess : Carlos Alonzo Norton. Council ; Isaac Mears, Joseph Keepers, Moses Mc- Cormick, Theophiles Sheppard, William Mifford, Josiah D. Stillwagon, Samuel Page. High Constable : John Boyd. Clerk: Isaac Mears. Treasurer: Alexander Johnston. Street Commissioners : Valentine Coughenour, Rob- ert Long. Sexton : Peter Stillwagon. Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Michael Trump. CIVIC DEV^ELOPMENT 95 Inspector of Cord Wood : William Litle. 1824 Burgess : Abraham Baldwin. Council : Robert D. More, Daniel Rogers. George JMathiot, William Davidson, Henry Welty, Michael Trump, Hiram Herbert. High Constable : Herman Gebhart. Clerk : W' m. Clemens. Treasurer : Alexander Johnston. Street Commissioners : Asher Smith, Asa Smith. Sexton : Alichael B. Lore. Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Boards : Michael Trump. Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. 1825 Burgess : Abraham Baldwin. Council : W' illiam Davidson, Asher Smith, William Balsley, Joseph Keepers, George j\Iarietta, Richard Crossland, William Clemens. High Constable : John Fairchild. Clerk: William Clemens. Treasurer : Lestor L. Norton. Street Commissioners : Dr. Robert D. More, Theo- philus Sheppard. Inspector of Boats, Boards, W'ood and Lumber: Mi- chael Trump. Keeper of Ladders : Stewart Johnston. 1826 Burgess : Caleb Trevor. Council : Robert Long, Joseph Herbert, Samuel Tre- vor, Thomas Keepers, James Collins, John B. Stewart, Isaac Taylor. High Constable : Robert McGuire. Clerk : William Davidson. Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. Street Commissioners : \'alentine Coughanour, Hiram Snyder. Sexton, Michael B. Lore. Inspector of Cord Wood : Henry Welty. Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Henry Weltv. 9G CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 1827 Burgess : Herman Gebhart. Council : Andrew Stillwagon, Robert Long, Joseph Trevor, Henry Welty, Michael Trump, George Marietta, William R. Turner. High Constable : Samuel McCormick. Clerk : Joseph Trevor. Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. Street Commissioners : Joseph Herbert, Valentine Coughanour. Sexton: ^Michael B. Lore. Inspector of Boats, Lumber, etc. :Hiram Herbert. Keeper of Ladders : David Weymer. 1838 Burgess: Lester L. Norton. Council : Hiram Herbert, Samuel Page, Jonas Coal- stock, William Davidson, Herman Gebhart, Thos. Keepers, Richard Crossland. High Constable : Asher Smith. Clerk : Joseph Barnett. Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. Street Commissioners : Theophilus Sheppard, Samuel McCormick. Sexton : Michael B. Lore. Inspector of Boats, Lumber, etc. : Hiram Herbert. Trump. Clerk of the Market : Robert Long. Keeper of Borough Ladders : Hiram Snider. 1829 Burgess : Robert Long. Council : Abraham Baldwin, Samuel Page, John W. Philips, Caleb Trevor, James Collins, William Bals- ley, William Davidson. High Constable : John Balsley. Clerk : Caleb Trevor. Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. Street Commissioners : Asher Smith, Charles King. Ladder Keeper : Clement Smith. Sexton : Michael B. Lore. Inspector of Boats and Lumber : Michael Trump. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 97 Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. Clerk of the Market : Alexander T. Keepers. 1830 Burgess : John Fuller. Council : Joseph Trevor, Joseph Rogers, Valentine Coughanour, Alexander T. Keepers, Henry W. Lewis, George Marietta, Herman Gehhart. High Constable : James Collins. Clerk : Henry W. Lewis. Treasurer : Henry Blackstone. Street Commissioners : James \\ haley, Thomas L. Kilpatrick. Sexton : George Marietta. Ladder Keeper : William Litle. Inspector of Boats and Lumber, Alichael Trump. Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. Clerk of the Market : Robert Torrence. 1831 Burgess : Josiah Kurtz. Council : Isaac Taylor, John Wilson, Samuel Page, JMichael Trump, John B. Boswell, Andrew P. Stillwagon. High Constable : Jacob Conrad. Clerk : Alichael B. Lore. Treasurer : Robert Long. Street Commissioners: Washington W'haley, Joseph Kimmel. Sexton : Thomas L. Kilpatrick. Ladder Keeper : Herman Gebhart. Inspector of Lumber and Boats : Valentine Cough- anour. Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. Clerk of the Market : Samuel ^IcCormick. 1832 Burgess : Council : John W. Phillips, David Shallenberger, Samuel Marshall, James Collins, Jacob Conrad, Richard Crossland, Samuel McCormick. Clerk: Henry W. Lewis. Treasurer : Caleb Trevor. 98 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Street Commissioners: Hiram Herbert, John B. Bos- well. Inspector of Wood and Coal: Washington Whaley. Sexton : Thomas L. Kilpatrick. 1833 Burgess : William Davidson. Council : Caleb Trevor, Hiram Herbert, Lester L. Norton, James G. Turner, Josiah Kurtz, William Neal, Valentine Coughanour. High Constable : Noble C. McCormick. Clerk: Henry W. Lewis. Treasurer : Joseph Herbert. Street Commissioners : Samuel Marshall, Thomas L. Kilpatrick. Sexton : Thomas L. Kilpatrick. 1857 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. Council : Samuel Crossland, Joseph Fuller, Jonathan Enos, Joseph Trump, N. C. McCormick, Bateman Goe. Constable : Joseph Murray. Clerk: R. M. Murphy. 1858 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. Council: Joseph Trump, Jonathan Enos, H. B. Goe, N. C. McCormick, John Fuller, Stephen Robbins. Constable : Amos Stafford. Clerk: R. M. Murphey. 1859 Burgess: R. M. Murphey. Council: H. B. Goe, N. C. McCormick, John Fuller, Stephen Robbins, T. R. Davidson, Lutellus Lind- ley. Constable: M. B. Stauif"er. Clerk : R. M. Murphy, Joseph Johnston. 1860 Burgess : John K. Brown. Council : John Fuller, Stephen Robbins, Lutellus Lindley, Joseph Herbert, Jonathan Enos, Stephen McBride. Constable : Samuel Page. Clerk : Joseph Johnston. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 1)9 1861 Burgess : Abraham Gallentine. Council : Lutellus Lindley, Joseph Herbert, Jonathan Enos, John Fuher, Stephen McBride, Samuel Freeman. Constable : Samuel Page. Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 1862 Burgess : Benjamin Prichard. Council: Jonathan Enos, Stephen McBride, John Fuller, Samuel F>eeman, Joseph Herbert, Lutellus Lindley. Constable : Samuel Page. Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 1863 Burgess : Benjamin Prichard. Council: John Fuller, Samuel F>eeman, Joseph Her- bert, Lutellus Lindley, John D. Frisbee, John Kil- patrick. Constable : James Stafford. Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 1864 Burgess : James N. Walker. Council: Joseph Herbert, Lutellus Lindley, John D. FVisbee, John Kilpatrick, Joseph Trump, Samuel Page. Constable: James Staft'ord. Clerk: Joseph Johnston. 1865 Burgess: James X. Walker. Council: John D. F>isbee, John Kilpatrick, Joseph Trump, Samuel Page, Joseph Herbert, John Greenland. Constable : Lloyd Johnston. Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 1866 : Burgess : Thomas M. Fee. Council : Samuel Page, John Cooley, Joseph Her- bert, John Greenland, David Connell, Joseph Keepers. Constable : Lloyd Johnston. ' Clerk: J. T. McCormick. 1867 Burgess : Gen. R. T. Galloway. : 100 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNTLLE Council : Joseph Keepers, J. Kurtz, J. W. Coulter, David Connell, Joseph Herbert, John Greenland. 1868 In this year two separate elections were held for Borough Officers, by two different sets of officers. Both elections were unsatisfactory and declared null and void. The Court held a new election for Burgess, but the condition was still unsatisfactory and so remained until the year 1869. After this year seven councilnien were elected annually. 1869 Burgess: Samuel J. Cox. Council : Robert B. Cox, David AVelsh, Jonathan Enos, Pienrv N. Stillwagon, John Kilpatrick, James McGrath, Samuel Freeman. Constable : Robert Atkinson. Clerk: J. T. JNIcCormick. 1870 r)urgess : Samuel J. Cox. Council: John Kilpatrick, Jonathan Enos, William llannam, John Beatty, J. R. Alurphy, John D. Frisbee, James AIcGrath. Clerk : J. T. JMcCormick. Treasurer : John D. Erisbee. 1871 Burgess: JMajor Benjamin Prichard. Council: James Johnston, (President) John D. Eris- bee, Edward Dean, Joshua A^ance, Samuel Page, Peter IMartin, Joseph Marietta. Treasurer: John D. Erisbee. Clerk: J. T. AlcCormick. 1872 Burgess: Benjamin Erankinberger. Council: Joshua J\I. Dushane (President) Christian Snyder, John D. Erisbee, Benjamin E. Baer, John Kilpatrick, George W. Eoust. Constable: Thomas M. Eee. Clerk: J. T. Johnston. 1873 Burgess: Benjamin Erankinberger. Council: John R. Nickel, Jonathan Enos, David Ma- haney, Henry Shaw, James Cunningham, S. P. L. Franks. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 101 Constable : ]\Iilton S. Collins. Clerk : David Barnes. Treasurer : Josiah B. Kurtz. 1874 Burgess: Benjamin Frankinberger. Council: Dr. John R. Xickel, (died July IT, 1874), James Cunningham, S. P. L. Franks, George W. Stillwagon, Joseph [Marietta, Jacob i\L Luellen. Clerk : David Barnes. Treasurer: J. B. Kurtz. 1875 Burgess: James E. Stillwagon. Council: David L. Walker, M. B. Stauffer, (died March 16, 187Gj, W. Kilpatrick, Thomas Adams, Samuel Heffley. Constable : Robert Atkinson. Clerk: Lee H. Walker. 187G Burgess : Joseph F". Torry. Council: David Blackburn, J. T. AlcCormick, James Cunningham. Henry Porter, J. T. Herwick, Joseph Johnston. Constable: W^m. Shaw. Clerk: Isaac ]\I. Xewcomer. Treasurer : J. B. Kurtz. 1877 Burgess : J. Emmet Stillwagon. Council: Joseph Johnston, J. T. AlcCormick, Thomas Edmonds, Province Buttermore, James ]\IcGrath, John T. Herwick. Constable : Alexander P. Tarr. Clerk : Henry Page. 1878 Burgess : Benjamin Prichard. Council : J. T. AlcCormick, Province Buttermore, Thos. V. Edmonds, Hugh Stillwagon, George Enos, Peter Stouffer. Constable : Ross Balsley. Clerk : Henry Page. Treasurer : L. P. Xorton. 1879 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. Council : Hugh Stillwagon, Rockwell Marietta, Chris. 102 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILEE Balsley, William Hannam, Joseph M. Kurtz, Lloyd Johnston. Constable: J. H. McCormick. Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 1880 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. Council : Joseph T. A'IcCorniick, Isaac Rutter, Hiram Balsley, W. J. Hannam, James McGrath, J. R. Balsley. Constable : J. H. McCormick. Clerk : Samuel M. Foust. Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 1881 Burgess : John Kurtz. Council : Lloyd Johnston, Henry Wicham, Edmund Dunn, Winfield S. Hood, Benjamin F. Boyts, Jesse H. Purdy. Constable : Waitman Davis. Clerk: J. S. McCaleb. Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 1882 Burgess : J. E. Stillwagon. Council : Isaac W. Rutter, Wm. H. Sturgis, Jesse H. Purdy, Crawford Stillwagon, Rockwell Marietta, Peter J. Harrigan. Constable : Ross Balsley. Clerk : Hugh Stillwagon. Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 1883 Burgess : James Gray. Council: J. M. Snyder, G. W. Newcomer, Clark Col- lins, J. T. McCormick, J. T. Greenland, Edward Dean. Clerk : H. P. Snyder. Treasurer : Lester Norton. 1884 Burgess : James FI. Gray. Council: Clark Collins, I. T. Russell, Jesse Town- send, Reece W. Barnes, Henry C. Huston, James T. Greenland. Clerk: J. S. McCaleb. Treasurer : L. P. Norton. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 103 1885 Burgess: J. E. Stillwagon. Council: J. T. Russell, J. M. Townsend, Clark Col- lins, Reece W. Barnes, Jos. T. McCormick, Rock- well Marietta. Secretary: J. S. McCaleb. Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 1886 Burgess: Jas. M. Cavender. Council: Crawford Stillwagon (President), J. S. McCaleb. J. T. McCormick, J. M. Townsend, Cyrus Echard, John Neeb, Rockwell ^larietta, I. T. Russell. Secretary: James Echard. Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 1887 Burgess: A. Yohe. Council: Crawford Stillwagon (President), A. B. McHugh, John T. Ward, Christian Snyder, Frank Coughanour, R. Marietta, S. R. Long, J. S. Mc- Caleb. Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. Treasurer: Lester P. Norton. 1888 Burgess: Albert Yohe. Council: Christian Snyder (President), A. B. Mc- Hugh, L. W. Wolf, Samuel R. Long, Rockwell Marietta, Frank Coughenour, George McCartney. Secretary: W. H. Hugus. Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 1889 Burgess: W. S. Yard. Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), L. W. Wolf, Philip Wilkey, Martin Mullen, W. H. Bry- ner, James H. Yates, George W. McCartney, W. A. Bishop. Secretary : W. H. Hugus. Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 1890 Burgess: W. S. Yard. Council: W. A. Bishop (President), S. S. Stalil. J. W. Stouffer, P. J. Harrigan, Martin Mullin. Rock- 104: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE well Marietta, James H. Yates, Crawford Still- wagon. Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 1891 Burgess: J. Emmet Stillwagon. Council: Crawford Stillwagon (President), H. C. Huston, Thomas Farrell, Samuel Heffley, W. S. Schenck, S. S. Stahl, P. J. Harrigan, Rockwell Marietta. Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 1892 Burgess : Samuel R. Long. Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), John Barge, P. J. Harrigan, Conrad Hoop, H. C. Huston, Thomas Farrell, Samuel Heffley. W. S. Schenck. Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. Treasurer: P. J. Pagan. 1893 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. Council: C. Hoop (President), P. S. Newmeyer, P. J. Harrigan, Wm. T. Buttermore, Lin. F. Ruth, John Barge, Renwick Davidson, R. Marietta. Secretary : Byron Porter. Treasurer : Lloyd Johnston. 1894 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), P. S. Newmeyer, P. J. Soisson, L. F. Ruth, S. S. Stahl, J. H. Paddock, William T. Buttermore, J. W. But- termore. Secretary: J. H. White. Treasurer : George W. McCartney. 1895 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), S. F. Hood, W. S. Hood, W. A. Bishop, S. S. Stahl. P. J. Sois- son, William T. Buttermore, J. W. Buttermore. Secretary : Raymond Coll. Treasurer : The Yougli Bank. 1896 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT K'S Council: Rockwell Marietta (President). S. F. Hood, W. S. Hood, W. T. Buttermore, Michael Hurley, Joseph W. Williams, Clair Stillwagon. Secretary: H. A. Crow. Treasurer : I. W. Rutter. 1897 Burgess: J. S. Bryner. Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), C. M. Hyatt, J. W. Williams, Clair Stillwagon, M. Hur- ley. L. E. Bishop. J. B. Echard. J. F. Holland. Secretary : H. A. Crow. Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 1898 Burgess : J. S. Bryner. Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). J. E. Rey- nolds. L. E. Bishop. J. E. Holland. C. M. Hyatt, Michael Madigan, J. B. Echard, Joseph D. Wilson. Secretary: J. B. Skinner. Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 1899 Burgess: J. S. Bryner. Council: tlair Stillwagon (President), J. E. Rey- nolds, C. B. McCormick, IMichael Madigan, Jesse Handcock, ^Marcus ^Marietta. Joseph D. Wilson, Jacob Brickman. Secretary: George B. Brown. Treasurer : I. W. Rutter. 1900 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). C. B. McCor- mick. C. M. Hyatt. John Davidson, Jr., Marcus Marietta, Jacob Brickman, J. S. Norris. Secretary: George B. Brown. Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 1901 Burgess : J. B. Kurtz. Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). C. M. Hyatt. Geo. Porter. John Davidson, W. H. Hugus, Mar- cus Marietta. A. C. Jones. A. D. Soisson. Secretary : George B. Brown. Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 1902 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. 106 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Council: Clair Stillwagon (President), George Por- ter, E. N. Stahl. W. H. Hugiis, F. R. Bradford, Marcus Marrietta, D. R. Smeach, A. D. Soisson. Secretary: George B. Brown. Treasurer: I. W. Rutter. 1903 Burgess: Charles W. Patterson. Council : George Porter ( President ) . First ward — George Porter, E. X. Stahl. Second ward — W. D. Anderson, John Davidson. Third ward — William L. Buttermore, Clair Still- \vagon, William McCormick. Fourth ward— J. C. Lytle, J. S. Marietta, Robert Felty. Secretary : George B. Brown. Treasurer : 1. W. Rutter. 1904: Burgess: C. W. Patterson. Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). First Ward— George Porter, E. N. Stahl, J. W. Stouffer. Second ward — Walter Adams, Nicholas Hoye. Third ward — William Buttermore, Clair Stillwagon, William McCormick. Fourth Ward— J. C. Lytle, J. S. Marietta, Robert Felty. Clerk: George B. Brown. Treasurer : L W. Rutter. 1905 Burgess : C. W. Patterson. Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). First ward — George Porter, John Dean. Second ward — Walter J. Adams, Nicholas Hoye. Third ward — Clair Stillwagon, William McCormick. Fourth ward — Robert Felty, James S. Marietta. Clerk : Georoe B. Brown. Treasurer : 1. W. Rutter. 190G Burgess : A. D. Soisson. Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). First ward — Tohn Dean, George Porter. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 10' Second ward — Weaker Adams, X'icholas Hove. Third ward — William McCormick, Clair Stillwagon^ Fourth ward — Robert Feltv, J. S. ^vlarietta. Clerk: W. D. McGinnis. ' Treasurer : I. \\'. Rutter. STREET PAVING. The visitors who came to Coiinellsville previous to the year 1892, no doubt thought that our founder had chosen a very appropriate name, when he directed the State author- ities to name the patent for this place "Mud Island." In summer the streets were covered with fine dust and in winter coated with a thick layer of mud. The color of this mud and dust depended on the special taste of the pre- ceding Council. One year it would be yellow, due to the taste of the sandstone Council ; another year it would be black, due to the coke cinder Council ; the next year it would be a hard guess to tell the color, as that Council would haul anything on the streets that would fill the mud holes. IJut all this began to change, when Council passed its first ordi- nance for paving and curbing Main street from Arch street to Pittsburgh street on June 22, 1892. The Council, not satisfied with its good work at this meeting, proceeded to pass an ordinance for the paving and curbing of Peach street from AVater street to Pittsburgh street at the same meeting. Council authorized the paving of Pittsburgh street from Green street to Gibson avenue June 20, 1893. The paving of this street led to considerable trouble and to some legal controversies, due to certain defects in the peti- tion and the assessments, but the differences were finally compromised, and all the property holders with a few excep- tions paid their assessments. Water street was paved in 1896. Prospect street was paved in 1899. From that date on. the Council has paved a number of streets and alleys each year, until nearly all the streets and alleys of the town are paved with vitrified brick. There are now^ in the Borough over (5 miles of paved streets and' allevs. OLD BRIMSTONE CORNERS. CIVIC DE\'ELOPMENT 109 SEWERS. One of the requisites for the success of a town is a sewerage system, not only from the standpoint of good health, but also from a business view. The first sewer con- structed in Connellsville extended from the river up Peach street to Pittsburgh street. It was jointly owned bv Col. J. M. Reed and Dr. J. J. Singer and was constructed in the spring of 1885. Other sewers were constructed by the School Board for the use of the school l:)uilding, and other private parties. On Tune 22, 189->, H. P. Berryhill was granted by Council the right to construct and maintain a system of sewers on certain streets of the Borough. The companv organized to do this work was known as the Connellsville Sewer Company. They at once pro- ceeded to construct a sewer from the river up ^Tain street to Snyder street, then soon after up Apple street to Pitts- burgh street ; then on Pittsburgh from Apple street to the Porter building ; then on Arch street from Apple to Orchard alley ; then on Orchard alley from Arch street to Prospect street. The sewers constructed by this Company were pur- chased bv the Borough in 19i)0. These sewers then be- came a part of the general system of sewers as planned to cover the entire Borough. By an ordinance passed August 6, 1900. the Alain street sewer was extended to the Borough line. An election was held on July 9. 1900 on the ciuestion of increasing the Borough's indebtedness $75,000 for the purpose of constructing a complete system of sewers. The people voted in favor of the system of sewers as planned bv the Borough engineer. The Council passed an ordi- nance on September 7, 1900. to issue coupon bonds to the amount of $75,000 to execute the will of the people. An attempt was made to sell these bonds at 3^ per cent interest, but on account of the condition of the money market, the rate of interest had to be increased to ■4 per cent by a revised ordinance passed October 15, 1900. 110 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE For the purpose of paying the interest and Hquidating the principle of these honds, an annual tax of two mills, com- mencing' in 1901, and to continue until the bonds are paid, was levied and assessed. The interest and principle of these .bonds were directed to be paid at the Union Trust Company ■of Pittsburgh, Pa. The Borough reserved the right and privilege to redeem at par and accrued interest, any or all of these bonds after five years. During the next year all the money was expended in constructing sewers on all the main streets and on a number of the alleys of the town. The total length of all the sewers of the town is 19 3-10 miles, so that today this town can boast of one of the most complete systems of sewers to be found in any town of its size in this state. PAPER CURRENCY. Few people are aware of the fact that the Borough Council once in its history assumed the high obligation of placing in circulation paper currency. On June 11, 181G, a motion was passed to have bills of currency struck for the Borough of Connellsville, and at this meeting Isaac Mears was appointed to ascertain the easiest plan and best mode of having this currency pre- pared. On June 21, ISIG, he reported to Council that the eas- iest way was to have the bills of currency printed. On July 9, 181(J, the following ordinance was passed by Council for printing and issuing small paper money for change : "Whereas, great inconveniences have occurred in this Borough and its vicinity for want of small change of a suitable character since silver coin has ceased to be the circulating medium, therefore to remedy the same as weh as other great evils in existence, viz : The circulation of various small notes of doubtful character and to which very small confidence is generally attached, it is deemed to have l)ecome necessary and expedient to issue small notes from CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 111 the Treasury of this LJorough for the purpose of small change; to effect which object, First — Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Borough of Connellsville and it is hereby ordained by the authority of the same that there shall be a quantity of notes printed as soon as practicable at the expense of the Bor- ough, to an amount which shall alwavs appear on the Treas- urer's books, the description of which notes to be as follows: notes of o() cents each, notes of "35 cents each, notes of 12^ cents each, notes of (534 cents each, made payable to bearer on demand, at the Borough Treasurer in Current liank paper. Second — And be it further ordained bv the authority, aforesaid that all the notes which may be issued shall be signed by the Burgess, and countersigned by the Treasurer, whose duty it shall be to sign the same in behalf of the Cor- poration. Third — And be it further ordained by the Authority aforesaid, that as soon as these notes can be made ready, the Treasurer shall issue them in exchange for species, if any is offered, or for Current Bank paper to any person applying for them, but shall not in any case let them out on a loan. Fourth — Be it further ordained by the Authority, afore- said, that the money arising from the sale or exchange of notes as aforesaid, shall be and remain inviolable from all appropriations for any expenses or out-layings of the Borough. exce])ting only for the procuring said notes, but it shall form a fund solely for the redemption of them until they are all called in. and redeemed as before ex- cepted. Fifth — Be it further ordained by the Authority, afore- said, that the tickets aforesaid shall be printed under the direction of the Burgess, which officer together with the Treasurer shall be entitled to and receive such compensa- tion for the services they may render, under and in pur- suance of this ordinance as shall be deemed adequate and reasonable by the Council." 112 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSYILLE Five members of the Council voted for this ordinance and two against it. But April -1, 1817, the Council sold to John Lamb, all their interest in and all the Borough tickets issued or to be issued for his own proper use, on the con- dition that he should pay one hundred dollars to the said Council and insure them against any expense or damage in consecjuence of their distribution or redemption. This is the last account we have of the Borough transacting a banking business of its own and judging from the brief time it conducted it, no doubt it proved a complete failure. WATER WORKS. For a number of years, the water cjuestion had been an important subject to all the residents of the Borough. Up to this time the citizens had obtained their supply of water from springs and wells, but as the number of inhab- itants increased the danger of contamination of this kind of water supply increased in like proportion. What to do and how to do it, had been an open c[uestion when W. S. Kuhn made a proposition to supply the town with pure mountain water from mountain springs. This proposition was finally reduced to a contract which, on March 29, 1883, was duly signed by the Borough Council of the first part and W. S. Kuhn and his associates of the second part. This contract gave the Water Company the privilege of laying water pipes beneath the surface of the highways of the Borough, with all necessary facilities and privileges for laying and repairing said water pipes. For this privilege W. S. Kuhn and his associates "agree and bind themselves and their successors under the penalty of forfeiting all their rights under this agreement," First — To repair all damage occuring to the surface of said highways in the exercise of said privilege of laying the water pipes. Second — To furnish to every citizen requiring it, with- in the limits of their occupancy of said highways, a con- stant and sufiicient supply of pure water for ordinarv house CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 113 visfc, upon condition of such citizens paying to them Cjuar- terly, in advance of the yearly charge for water privileges, to the said parties of the second part, as shown in the fol- lowing schedule of yearly prices : Dwelling house for one family, for the first faucet $5.40 and for each additional faucet $2.25; for the first bath tub $;>.G0 ; for the first set for water closet $3.60, each additional $2.25. The maximum charge for a single family, including stable for four horses and use of hose, shall be $22.50. When a meter is used the charge is 27 cents for one thousand gal- lons. This contract calls for the erection of 50 fire hydrants for the yearly sum of $16.25 each, the second 50 to cost $25.00 each, and all over 100 hydrants $22.50 each. The water line to be extended to any part of the Borough where the annual receipts will amount to 10 per cent of the cost of the line. Article 9th is of special importance since it is so fre- quently referred to and discussed by our citizens. Article 9th. — It is further understood and agreed by the parties of this contract that the same shall continue in full force and effect for and during the period of twenty- five (25) years from ]\Iarch 29, 18S3, with privilege for party of the first part to purchase these water works on or after fifteen (15) years at a fair appraisement, made by three disinterested parties, one selected by the party of the first part, one person bv party of the second part, these two to select the third. This contract is signed by T. W. Rutter, President. P. J. Harrigan, W. H. Hugus and J. H. Purely for the Coun- cil, and W. S. Kuhn for the Water Company. PITTSBURGH AND CONNELLSVILLE RAILROAD. Transportation by rail or by water has been one of the chief factors in the upbuilding of every important city. But all rules have their exceptions, and for a time this applied to Connellsville. The population of 1553 in 1850 was reduced to 996 in 1860, a CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 115 direct loss in ten years of 557 persons. Even in 1870 there w^ere but 1292 residents, so that it required more than 20 years for the town to recover from the effect of the en- trance of the railroad. The cause was not the railroad, but the debt contracted by the Council to obtain the road. The ordinance placed a debt upon the Borough so heavy that it frightened many of the inhabitants away. Some of them believed when the Sheriff" would come to collect the in- terest and principal of the bonds, nothing would be left. We are told that at every time the shrill whistle of the loco- motive was heard in our valley an inhabitant immediately got up and left the town. Little the wonder it was so, when we learn that each passenger engineer blew his whistle 20 minutes continuously before the departure of his train to notify the inhabitants of the time of his going. Time has also changed the freight shipments of this region ; the first car-load of freight consisted of 500 hoop poles and 500 pounds of buckwheat flour shipped by James Stafford of town and John Kooser of Springfield. The Town Council on May 7, 1855, directed the Burgess to subscribe for 2000 shares of the capital stock of the Pitts- burg and Connellsville Railroad Company, the same to be paid in the bonds of the Borough. Each share of stock to be of the par value of fifty dollars. This act placed a bonded debt of $100,000 upon the Borough. It is doubtful if all the property of the town, at a forced sale, would have brought this figure at that time. The total valuation of taxable property in 1860 was $18,-1:80 or less than one-half of the bonded debt of the Borough. In 1860. ^lay 31, the Council laid a special rail- road bond tax. of 16 cents upon the dollar of valuation. If this tax had been all collected it would have furnished the Council $7,756, but at the expiration of five years much of it was uncollected and uncollectable. x^fter much worry, many meetings of the Council, a number of public meet- ings of the citizens held in the different churches for coun- sel ; the emplovment of a number of different attorneys. CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 117 some of whom gave them advise against their own interests ; trials in the Pittsl:)urg'h courts ; and much correspondence with the railroad officials, a compromise was agreed upon with President Latrobe. This compromise was that the Borough should pay to the Railroad Company the sum of $15,000 for the bonds, which were all to be returned to the Borough and to be destroyed, but the Borough was to re- tain the railroad stock. ( )f this stock some was sold to help pay this $15, 000 indebtedness, and the balance was divided among the tax payers, in proportion to the amount of the bonded tax that each taxpayer had paid. XEW HAVEN BOROL'GH. New Haven is located opposite Connellsville on the west bank of the Youghioghenv river. It is closelv con- nected with Connellsville in a business and social way, and the two boroughs are bound together Ijy a strong and sub- stantial iron bridge. As early as 1753 William Stewart lived on the west bank of the Youghiogheny. For this man Stewart's Cross- ing was named. The first white man to permanently locate here was William Crawford, who built his log cabin near what is now known as the Crawford spring, in the lower ])art of New Haven in 1(()5. A patent for the land was issued in the name of his son John, some four years later, for 376^ acres. John came into actual possession of this land after his father's death, and sold it to Edward Cook on Novem- ber :37, 17.S('). The next transfer was to Colonel Isaac Mea- son. Isaac Aleason's son was Isaac !Meascn, Jr., and was associated with his father in business. He erected a store building near the Crawford spring and did business there for a number of vears. Isaac Meason, Sr., is credited with being the richest man in this part of the country. Among the taxables for Dunbar Township in 1799, he is credited with 6400 acres of land, one foriie, one furnace, one grist mill, and two 118 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE saw mills. His store was chiefly for his own employees as he practically owned everything on that side of the river. The Measons laid out New Haven in 1796, but the town did not grow fast, and did not succeed in obtaining a post office until 1878. In 1815 it contained but two streets and about 100 inhabitants. The town in its early history had a great number of ups and downs ; first were its prosperous days under the success of the woolen manufactories, then under the Orth Brothers in manufacturing clothing for the army, then the National Locomotive works, each had their day of pros- perity, and each in turn ended in failure. In 1839 at the March session of Court a petition was presented, praying for the incorporation of New Haven Borough, signed by Thomas Foster, John Newcomer, Jr., George W. Vance. Daniel Rogers, James Robinson, Val- entine Coughenour and others. The Grand Jury reported favorably, and, on June 7, 1839, the report was confirmed by Court. Opposition arose at once to the adoption of the charter by those who thought their taxes would be increased. By legal action it was de- ferred until 184:2. In that year an election was held in the school house and William McFarland was chosen Burgess and R. A. Mcllvain weighmaster. Before the Council elected could meet and organize, they were informed by an anonymous letter, that, if they did organize, the town would be burned. The letter had its desired efi^ect, it so frightened the Councilmen, that they never made even an attempt to organize. This election and charter therefore failed for want of action. No attempt was then made until March li, 18G7, when Court again issued a decree authorizing the organization of the Borough under the charter of 1839, and appointed W. H. Brown, Judge, J. V. Rhodes and S. G. Smutz in- spectors, to hold an election for Borough officers on Fri- day, March 29, 1867, and appointed Hugh Cameron to give notice of said election according to law. CI\'IC DEVELOPMENT 119 At this election S. G. Smutz was elected Burgess, R. A. Mcllvain, George Nickel, J. \'. Rhodes, J. M. Lytle and Hugh Cameron, Councilmen. W. H. Brown was elected Constable, George J. Ashman was elected Treasurer. This is the list of officers elected at the first election for the per- manent organization of the Borough of New Haven. The present officers of 1906 are : Burgess, Samuel E. Nelson. Members of Council, J. R. Balsley, President; Robert Sheppard, Harmon Hays, B. D. Shoemaker, Reason Moore, Samuel Torrence, Aleck McBeth. CHAPTER I\^ EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. The early settlers along the Yough were friends of education. Though they were, for the most part, plain, hard-working men, living in a comparative wilderness, en- gaged in laborious and incessant toil and exposed to dan- gers from wild beasts and savages, they believed that edu- cation was necessary to the public welfare. Accordingly, they built school houses in all the settlements at the earliest possible date. These were of necessity humble structures. They were usually of unhewn logs. The seats were made of trees split in two, and placed with the flat side upon long pegs, and the windows were generally made of greased paper, admitting but little light. The course of study em- braced but little else than "the three R's." The teachers were often rude in their manners and meagre in their attainments. But there were devoted men among them who did faithful work, wielded great influence and contributed their share to the moral and intellectual advancement of the community. In all these efl^orts to establish schools, the pioneers or our region were acting in harmony with the founders of the commonwealth. In his Plan of Government for the Colony of Pennsylvania, William Penn gave order that education should be "carefully propagated." He directed that "the Governor and Provincial Council should erect and order all public schools," and that "all persons having children and all the guardians and trustees of orphans shall cause such to be instructed in reading and writing that they may be able to read the Scriptures and to write by the time that they attain to twelve years of age," — the penalty of neglect being a fine of Five Pounds ($20). The provisonal constitution of 1T7'G required that 120 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 1'21 schools should be established in every county, and. in the constitution of 1790. it was provided that '"the legislature, as soon as may be, shall provide by law for the establish- ment of schools throughout the state, in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis."' Legislation was tardy and, for many years, inefficient ; yet schools sprang up and multi- plied in the frontier regions of western Pennsylvania. Even classical schools here and there came into existence. These were generally established and taught by pastors. Several were in what is now Washington county, as that of Rev. Thaddeus Dodd. opened in 17,S-.\ on Ten ^lile Creek; that of Rev. fohn ]\IcMillan. opened at about the same date at Chartiers, and that of Rev. Joseph Smith, on Buffalo Creek. At least one such classical school was opened in Fayette county. It was located in Dunbar township — on the old Tanner farm — and was opened in VtiU by the Rev. James Dunlap, pastor of the Laurel HiU Presbyterian church, assisted by Air. William Littell. The preceptors announced that they would teach Latin, Greek and Hebrew, elocution, grammar, mathematics, natural and moral philosophy, logic, civil history, rhetoric ; and stated that pupils from a distance could have "boarding, washing, et cetera at reputable houses in the neighborhood, at the low rate of ten pounds per annum." This school continued until 1803, when Rev. Mr. Dunlap accepted the presidency of Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa. As to the ordinary schools of that period, we know little, — though we have good reason to believe that our own town of Connellsville enjoyed educational privileges before its incorporation as a borough. Air. Zachariah Connell showed himself a friend of education and a public-spirited man when, in the Town Charter, executed March 21, 17'.);), he appropriated two lots, Nos. 88 and IXi on the town plot, as "a commodious seat" whereon his fellow^ townsmen might erect "a house or houses for public worship and school or schools," "free and clean of purchase money or ground- rent." These lots he granted "forever to the inhabitants of 122 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLS\TLL]-; said town, their heirs and successors, to be held in common for the purpose aforesaid, or jointly, as the inhabitants may choose." Mr. Alexander Addison, some years afterward, purchased from Mr. Connell two lots (T2 and 80) adjoin- ing the school lots on the east, and presented them to the Borough in 1812 "for the use of an English school or schools." These four lots were conveyed to the Borough by a deed dated May 30, 1812, signed by Zachariah Connell and Margaret his wife, and witnessed by Anthony Banning and George Mathiot. The lots form an oblong square con- taining one acre, bounded on the north by Fairview avenue, to use present-day names, on the south by South alley, on the east by Library avenue, and on the west by Pittsburgh street. They lie on an eminence which was originally much higher, having in recent years been cut down, and which was at one time known as Mount Puff. Pittsburgh street (then called Church street) extended no farther than what is now Church place. The "cut" had not yet been made, and a steep path led up the hill. When the Borough was incorporated in 180G, a school house stood on the hill, about where Pittsburgh street now passes through it. The school house referred to is known to have been in existence in March, 1804. According to an old record a Bullskin township election was held in it on the third Saturday of that month, but the date of its erection we are not al)le to give. It was built by subscription of the townspeople, was built of logs, was built on Mount Puff, and did duty until October 9, 1829, when it was wrecked by fire. The "wreck" was sold at public outcry soon after, the auctioneer receiving one dollar for his services, but, for some reason, not receiving it until the fifth of the following May. We know little of the surroundings of the old log school house. A burial ground stood on the southern side of the school. As early as 1806, the pupils could look with awe upon the graveyard, as it was called, and see quite a number of graves, some of them with white or brown head- stones. Eight vears later, thev mav have been entertained EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 123 at recess by watching the stray hogs being ignoniiniouslv thrust into a hog pound that had just been erected by the Borough officials on the northeast corner of the school grounds, and next to a hop yard known as Barnhart's. The pupils who ventured close enough to the hog pound to exam- ine it, would find that it had "a good gate and iron hinges." We know little of the school-room furniture. Xine years after the incorporation of the Borough, two writing tables, fifteen feet long and seventeen inches wide, were ordered to be made for the school. These were merelv boards fastened to the walls at which the older pupils sar to practice penmanship, while their younger and smaller fellow students sat on rude benches with no desks at all. These wall-desks needed to have "a suitable slant" for good writing, and the benches were generally too high for phys- ical comfort. The school house had been erected by popular sub- scription, but in ( )ctober, 1S06, the people asked that the Burgess and Borough Council should take charge of it, and six months later (April 2, 1807,) an ordinance was passed granting the request of the people, vesting" the right and control of the school and school property in the Bur- gess and Council. Thus the Borough Council directed and managed the school, keeping the property in repair, employ- ing teachers and doing whatever else might be needed, and this relationship continued for twenty-eight years. The schools of the Borough were under the jurisdiction of the Council until the enactment of the Common School Law in 1834: by the Pennsylvania legislature. The attendance during this period could not have been large. An old record (1819) intimates that there were sometimes rival teachers who secured more or less patron- age, and received encouragement from members of Coun- cil. A Borough ordinance inflicted a fine of twenty dollars on such members of Council, an ordinance which was re- pealed in 1819. About thirty pupils attended the Borough school during the quarter ending in February, 1821. Two- 134 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE years later the number rose to thirty-five. The teachers employed by the Council, so far as the Council records show, were Andrew Donogh (first mentioned in 1807). Benjamin Evans, Oliver Sproul, William Beatty, Seth Elias, George Bell, Dennis O'Keefe, William Clemens, Messrs. Fleming, Lewis and McLaughlin, the last-named teacher appearing in the record in July, 1S28. What appointments were made in the six years that remained of the Council's control of the school, we do not know. Sometimes there seemed to be a difficulty in finding teachers. Council now and then advertised for a teacher, but as a rule there were applicants. The man who "was permitted to teach in the Borough School House" visited the citizens and took subscriptions, the subscribers agreeing to send one or more ])upils to the school for the quarter or the year and to pay a certain amount for each pupil. In some cases, the amount was two dollars, sixty-two and a half cents for each pupil twelve and a half cents of which amount went to the Coun- cil for the rent of the school house. Sometimes the teacher was required to give bond for "the payment of twelve and a half cents per quarter for every scholar which may be sent to school." The rents were applied by Council to repairs and the maintenance of the building, though it more than once occurred that a teacher was given the use of the building "without rent, he to make all repairs," and to allow elections and public meetings to be held in it. The teacher was his own janitor, making fires, cleaning, sweep- ing, keeping the house in order with his own hands or at his own expense. The State Law of 181 i) made provision that "indigent children" might be admitted to the schools at the public expense. The indications are, however, that not many of that class applied for admission to the log school house on Mount Pufif. Here, as in most other com- munities, few were found who were willing to humilate themselves by announcing their poverty to the public author- ities. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 125 The schools of the period referred to were commonly stvled "pav schools," and "subscription schools," and their patrons were "subscribers." A subscription list, dated X'o- vember, 1820, contains the names of twenty-five of the resi- dents of the Borough, with the number of children each of them agreed to send to school, and the amount to be paid per scholar to the teacher, Mr. Dennis O'Keefe. The list is as follows : Scholars Scholars Jonathan Page 2^ James Inglis 1 H. Gebhart 1 S. G. Wurtz 2 Adam Snider 1 Samuel Sharpies 1 Sarah Keepers 1 James Carr 2 Nancy White 1 James Noble 1 Clement Smith 1 Michael Gilmore 1 John Talbot 1 Daniel Coughenour .... 1 James Johnston 1 Encal Clayton 1 Alexander Johnston . . 1 ^2 William Little >2 George ]\Iarietta 1>2 Esther Campbell 1 John Salyards 1 James McBride 1 Daniel Harshman ....1 Alfred McCormick. . . .1 Hiram Herbert 2 Scholars, oO. LESTER L. NORTON, Treasurer of the Borough of Connellsville. The above is a correct return of the Borough School for the third quarter, ending in February, 1821. Yours with respect, D. O'KEEFE." (The half scholar, in the above list, is a scholar that was to attend the school half time.) Mr. O'Keefe taught reading, writing, spelling, gram- mar and arithmetic. We do not know what text-books he used — perhaps "The Western Spelhng Book," which had been extensively in use for ten years, or "The L^iited States Spelling Book," prepared "by sundry experienced teachers," and published in 1811. In arithmetic, it may be that he 126 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE used Stockton's "Western Calculator," which at the time had passed through several editions. His pupils may have had frecjuent occasion to quote the old-time saying : "Multiplication is vexation, Division is as bad, The rule of three perplexes me, And fractions drive me mad." It may be noted that, in the schools of by-gone days, it was no uncommon thing for problems to be put into poetic iorm : "If to my age there added be One-half, one-third and three times three, Six score and ten the sum would be ; What is my age? Pray, show it me." "Just sixteen yards of German serge For ninety dimes had I ; How many yards of that same cloth W^ould fourteen eagles buy?" When Mr. O'Keefe came to the writing lesson, he was "kept busy. He had to set the headlines, make the straight strokes, the pot-hooks, the hangers, the small hand. He had to see to it that his pupils had each a goose quill, for there were no steel pens. Mr. Gillot did not make steel pens until the very year Mr. O'Keefe began teaching in Connellsville. The pupils brought the quills, but the teacher had to sharpen them and keep them in order. As for pun- ishments, a rod was considered an indispensable article of school furniture. Whether of birch or of hickory, it was freely used. The schoolmaster often carried the rod in his hand as he moved about the room. Sometimes he kept a collection of rods on the wall — rods of different length and the thickness to suit the age and size of youthful offenders. Sometimes a listless, sluggish pupil was put upon a dunce-block, with a fool's cap on and a pair of leather ^spectacles. THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE UNION SCHOOL. 128 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The pupil who violated the rules was made to stand on a chair or bench, often to stand on one foot. A scourge,, made of strips of leather and called the tazvs, was a favorite instrument of punishment in some schools. Boxing the ears was at times resorted to as an effective way of securing order. All in all, the rod was the chief means of discipline. It was applied with great zeal, and few there were in the schools who were not well acquainted with it. It was used to punish all manner of offences, whatever the degree, and not infrequently a victim could not have told what he was being whipped for. There was another punishment for the boys of the school — and that was the sending of a boy to the other side of the school room to sit with the girls, a punish- ment to which some of the boys submitted with good grace and hearty resignation. We have already referred to the "wrecking" of the old log school house on the !)th of October, 1829. After that event, the Borough was without a school house of its own for a period of about ten years, all schools being held in rented rooms during that time. It is true that eft'orts were made from time to time to have a house erected. Four months after the old building was destroyed, a subscription was made by a goodly number of citizens toward a new building. The matter being brought before the Council, that body authorized the citizens to appoint a building committee and go forward with the work. Later, a remonstrance, signed by certain citizens, was presented to a special meeting of Council, and so, "with occasional resolutions by the Council to build a new school house, and remonstrances against the same by the inhabitants of the Borough, nothing was accom- plished," and year after year passed without a school build- ing. At this time the subject of popular education was being earnestly discussed throughout the State of Pennsylvania. The imperative need of a better system was widely felt. Laws had been enacted, but they were "limited in their application and local in their object." Education was largely EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 129 left to voluntary effort. There was no efficient plan for fur- nishing to the people systematic opportunity of study, while for the poor the provision made by law was ineffectual. The schools languished and declined in influence. The Penn- sylvania society for the promotion of public schools, in a document published in 1839 (shortly after our log school house was wrecked ) , made the statement that out of four hundred thousand children in the State of Pennsvlvania between the ages of five and fifteen, "more than two hun- dred and fifty thousand, capable of receiving instruction, were not within a school during the last year." Wise men and women were alarmed. The future was imperilled. A "judicious, well-arranged system of universal education," such as was contemplated by the framers of the State Con- stitution, could not be too soon adopted and too faithfully carried into effect. There was much agitation of the sub- ject — in meetings of educators, in papers and pamphlets and in the Legislature. Governors, one after another, spoke of the subject in their inaugural addresses and in their exec- utive messages at the opening of each successive session of the Legislature, strongly recommending a more liberal and enlightened system of education. It was reserved for Governor George Wolf, the sevendi Governor of the State and a Pennsylvania German, to secure the enactment of a law which, with certain amendments and additions, has given us our present splendid and eminently successful sys- tem of public schools. He had for years, in public and in private, advocated such a law, and from the time he took the gubernatorial chair on the 15th of December, 1829, he lost no opportunity to advocate this as "the cherished purpose of his administration," and as a measure second to none in its "importance to the general prosperity and happi- ness of the people of the Commonwealth, to the cause of public virtue and of public morals, to the hopes and expec- tations of the rising generation to whom the future political destinies of the Repubhc are to be committed. Nothing," he said, "will add so much to the sum of individual and so- 130 CENTENNIy\.L HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE cial improvement and comfort as a general diffusion of the means of moral and intellectual cultivation among all classes of our citizens." The Governor met with wide-spread and determined opposition on the part of various classes of people, but with unfailing perseverance and earnestness he labored on in behalf of his favorite measure. He secured an Act of Legislature, in the session of 1831-33, levying a tax for a school fund. A year later, he secured the appointment of a commission "to collect all the information and possess themselves of all the facts and knowledge that can be ob- tained from any quarter having a bearing upon or con- nection with the subject of education, and to arrange and embody the same in a report to be transmitted to the Leg- islature at the next session for examination and final action thereon." That commission, composed of thoroughly competent men, brought in an elaborate report of their investigations and asserted that a system of common schools, "sustained and encouraged by the public bounty," is superior "to every other plan of education of a private or partial character." A bill was drawn. It embodied what was regarded as the best features of the systems most successful in other States. It passed both houses of the Legislature by a very large majority. Governor Wolf gratefully said: "It passed both branches of the Legislature with a unanimity rarely ecjualled, perhaps never surpassed, in the annals of legisla- tion." And so came into existence the law to which our State owes so much of its progress and happiness. THE COMMON SCHOOL LAW OF 1834. But if Governor Wolf was the founder of our com- mon school system, he ntay also be called its defender and preserver at a crisis when it was in danger of being over- thrown. A fierce effort was made by its enemies to strangle it in its cradle. This effort was made the very next year after the law had been enacted, at the next session of the EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 131 Legislature, the session of IS'^lo. Xotwithstanding the very large majority by which the bill had been passed, there was continued an even intensified opposition to it in many quarters. A bitter sentiment rapidly developed, and an alarming attempt was made in the Legislature to repeal the new law, and to re-establish the old svstem of sub- scription schools. The attempt would, in all probability, have been successful but for the untiring exertions of Governor Wolf and the powerful speech of Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, who, in later years, became a leader in the Lower House of the National Congress, and was admiringly styled by his party The Great Commoner. ( )ne who heard Mr. Stevens' speech has described the orator standing in the broad, mid- dle aisle just in front of the presiding officer's desk, his face all aglow, his voice quivering with emotion, his feeble frame swaying back and forth and seeming to have taken on supernatural strength, his hearers awed and motionless. In closing his speech, he referred to the fact that Governor Wolf belonged to a different political party from that to which he belonged himself, and added: "He has been guilty of many deep political sins, but he deserves the undy- ing gratitude of the people for the steady, untiring zeal which he has manifested in favor of common schools.* * * I trust that the people of this State will never be called on to choose between a supporter and an opposer of free schools. But, if it should come to that; if that should be made the turning-point on which we are to cast our suff- rages ; if the opponent of education were my most intimate personal and political friend and the free school candidate my most obnoxious enemy, I should deem it my duty, as a patriot, at this moment of our intellectual crisis, to forget all other considerations, and I should place myself unhesi- tatingly and cordially in the ranks of him whose banner streams in light." When the vote was taken, it was found that the friends of common schools had carried the day. The arguments against the Law of 1834 seem trifling 132 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE in the present day, but they carried great weight at the time and were Hstened to with great attention. The taxes, it was urged, would be enormously increased. The people in general were able to pay for the schooling of their chil- dren and it would be reducing them to the level of paupers to give them the schooling free. The opposition was car- ried, in some communities, to great lengths. It was made a political issue here and there, and members of the Legis- lature of 1834 who voted for the law failed, not a few of them, to be re-elected. Severe language was used. Offen- sive epithets were hurled at the supporters of the law. At least one legislator who voted for the bill was hanged in effigy. Mr. Christian Ruth, formerly of Philadelphia, now . a resident of Connellsville, remembers a riot which he wit- nessed in the vicinity of the first school house opened in Philadelphia under the new law. For two or three days the disorder continued in the neighborhood of the building, corner Third and Master streets. The house was assailed, many people were injured, the whole city became excited, and the military had to be called out to disperse the crowds and restore order. The new law made it optional with each district whether to accept its provisions or to reject them. Manv districts were slow to avail themselves of the benefits and opportunities of the free school system. Of nine hundred and seven school districts in 1836, five hundred and thirtv-six accepted the system, three hundred and sev- enty-one did not accept it, and several years elapsed before it was in universal operation. But Connellsville accepted it promptly. There were grumblers and doubters, and there were those who refused to send their children to the free schools, but the majority of the citizens voted to adopt the system as a marvelous improvement upon the old. The citizens having so decided, the Court of Fayette county, at the January term, 1835, acting in conformity with the re- quirements of the law, transferred the schools of the Bor- ough and township to a Board of School Directors, em- powered it to levy taxes for school purposes, to receive a EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION: 133 due share of the State appropriation and to have undivided authority over the schools and the school property. The Court appointed William Davidson and Henry W. Lewis directors, and two months later an election was held, in compliance with the law, resulting in the choice of Valen- tine Coughenour and James G. Turner. These first direc- tors were men of ability and prominence. Mr. Davidson had served several years in the Legislature and had been speaker of the House in 1818. Mr. Lewis was an English- man of education and talent who had been a lawyer. Messrs. Coughenour and Turner were influential citizens and mem- bers of Council. The subject of building school houses was taken up afresh. In 1838, Dr. Lutellus Lindley and Mr. John Ful- ler were elected directors. Dr. Lindley, a native of Ohio, had been located in our town only four years, but had al- read}^ become a leading physician and a highly esteemed citizen. Mr. Fuller, a tanner by trade, was three times a member of the Legislature and was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1838. These directors urged the importance of securing new buildings, and their efforts were crowned with success, for during their term of office three school houses were erected, and opened as the property of the Board. These were one storied, one roomed brick buildings, each about twenty-six feet sciuare. They are referred to in the records as Nos. 1, 2 and 3. No. 1 was popularly known as the school on the Pinnacle, standing on Snyder street. The brick was made from clay in the immediate neighborhood. This building still stands. On ceasing to be used as a school house, it was sold to the late John K. Brown, and by his heirs to Clair Still- wagon, whose father, the late William P. Stillwagon, had at one time taught school in it. It is now used as a dwelling. No. 2 was built on the school house grounds, near where the high school now stands. In the records, though generally styled school No. 3, it is sometimes spoken of 134 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE as the school on Mount Puff and, in a few instances, as the scliool on Baldwin's hill. When it had served its day, it was turned into a home for the janitor and remained such for several years before it was taken down. School house No. 3 was located close to the Quaker burial ground on ground bought from Henry Black- stone. The ground was then outside the Borough limits, but was within a very short distance of the northwest cornei of the Borough, nearly opposite the present B. & O. water tanks, and in the point formed by the junction of Witter avenue and Favette street. The building was used exclu- sively by the township from 1852 until 1871, when it came into the Borough with the 51 acres added by the Connells- ville Building and Loan Association. It was variously known as "No. 3,"" "the Quaker Graveyard School," and "the North Bend School," the latter name having been given it from its location, overlooking a bend in the Yough River. It was sold by the school board, August 4, 1891, to Mrs. Catherine Cramer for $350, and was occupied as a dwelling until a few years ago when it was torn away and a two story frame dwelling erected on the site. It is a matter of regret that no school board records have been found earlier than March 30, 1848. It would be impossible to give an accurate list of teachers before that date. Even in the old log school house, there were teachers who are not mentioned in the Council minutes. One of these was Thomas McMullin, a Dunbar township man, afterward a farmer and County Commissioner, who taught in the log school house two or three years before it was destroyed. Our fellow-citizen, Mr. J. M. Lytle, attended Mr. McMul- lin's school at five years of age, and remembers him kindly as his first teacher. Among the early teachers were a Mr. Hunter, who became a physician, and another Mr. Hunter who was much given to pulling his pupils' ears ; Mr. Hugh Espey, of Ty- rone township, afterward County Treasurer ; a Mr. Brazee, an exceptionally good teacher, who used no rod ; Mr. Bud- EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 135 ariah Page, familiarly known as "Bud" Page; Messrs. Mc- Giffin and Dare ; Robert Torrance who taught in his own house on Church, now Pittsburg street, and is said to have had as many as eighty pupils in his school; Nathaniel Walker, from Dunlap's Creek, and James Mcllvaine who taught No. 2, the new brick school on Mount PufT, in 18i0. Many of the teachers during the first thirty years or more of the Borough's history were from Ireland. Occa- sionally "the Yankee School Master" came, but much oft- ener "the Irish School Master" appeared in town and ap- plied for a school. They were from the north of Ireland, (Scotch-Irish), and though there were some excellent teachers among them, their brogue perplexed and amused the pupils, as they were told to stand upon "the flure," to be good or they would get "a baiting," and not to whit- tle "the boords." They were generally strict in discipline, and believed in the educational value of the rod. One of them, who taught in Connellsville and New Haven at in- tervals for twelve years or more, was noted as a disciplin- arian. "A man severe he w^as, and stern to view, — Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disasters in his morning face ; Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he." It was one of the favorite sa}'ings of this good man from Ulster as a warning to an idle or mischievous scholar: "I see it's a bit of the birch you're wanting. You'd better behave, or 3'ou'll get what you're workin' for." The building and opening of the three brick schools was an important and gratifying event in the educational history of our Borough, but wathin a few years the school population outgrew the accommodations. Rooms had to be rented, as in former days. At a meeting of the School Board held at T. G. Ewing's store on Monday evening, October 2, 1848, it was decided "to rent an extra house ;" 136 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE other houses may have ah-eady been rented. At about this time, an additional building was advocated, and the Board, at a meeting in John Cooley's shop, Friday evening, March 30, 1849, appointed John Cooley and Stephen Robbins a committee to make an estimate of the "cost of a brick house, sixty feet long, twenty-two feet wide and eight feet high, said house to be for the use of two schools." The state of the treasury was such that in order to build the house, it would be necessary either to levy an additional tax of "thirty cents on the one hundred dollars over and above what has heretofore been laid," or to close all the schools for a year. It was submitted to a vote of the people and on Saturday, May 13th, an "election" was held to decide the question of an additional tax, John Cooley acting as judge, Stephen Robbins inspector, and William Cooley and Mat- thew Seaton, clerks. When the vote was counted, it was found that thirteen of "the taxable inhabitants" had voted for the additional tax and that thirty-seven had voted against it. Notwithstanding this, the Board decided, eighteen days afterward, to advertise the sale of a contract for build- ing the house in question. On Saturday afternoon, June 30. 181:9, bids were received and "the building of the school house" was "knocked off to John Shallenberger" for $550, he to find all the materials and "put the house up, everything complete, by the first day of November." The next Satur- day evening, July 7, the Board of directors received a remonstrance, signed by "many of the citizens," objecting to the location, claiming that the building ought to be put somewhere else than on the Connell school grounds. The Board answered that no situation, suited to the convenience of the "vacant districts," could be had, and dismissed the whole subject. "Be it resolved," said they, "that the present Board have nothing more to do in the matter." Almost 20 years passed before a new building was erected. When the Common school law of 1834 was accepted and was put into operation in our community, the Bor- ough of Connellsville and the township of Connellsville con- ^^._,^^^^^^^^^z THE SECOND WARD SCHOOL 138 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE stituted one district, and this arrangement continued until March 1852. At the March term of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Fayette county, that year, the Borough of Con- nellsville was made a separate and independent school dis- trict. In comphance with the requirements of the law and in obedience to "the proclamation of the high sherifif of the county," an election was held for six school directors, Mon- day, April 5, 1852. The following persons were elected: Stephen Robbins, Josiah Kurtz, Abraham Shallenberger,. John Taylor, John Collins and George White, the first two for one vear, the second two for two years, the third two for three years. Stephen Robbins was made president of the Board, Josiah Kurtz, secretary, and Abraham Shallen- berger, treasurer. A tax of "thirty cents on the one hun- dred dollars was levied for school purposes for the current year." By this separation from the township, the Borough lost the school at the Quaker Graveyard which, as we have said, was outside the existing Borough limits. That school became the property of the township. A substitute was. found for it in October. A building, owned by Mrs. Sarah Clayton and situated on what is now the southwest corner of Grape and Meadow alleys was rented. It was once a carpenter shop, but it was made to serve as a school room for many years and was called No. 3. It would be hard to form a list of the rooms rented from 1835 onward. The Fuller School was beside a tannery south of the present freight depot of the Southwest Penn'a railroad. The pupils made good use of the heaps of tanbark as a play ground. Another rented room was on Grave street (now Fairview avenue ) , another was on Peach street ; another in what afterward became the S. W. Penn'a railroad station ; one was rented in '55 from J. T. McCormick ; one in '56 from Thomas Evans. In almost every year, several rooms were rented. Sometimes the directors owned the seats and desks, sometimes the teacher owned them. In either case they were often stored in the old market house when schools were closed. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS lo!> Up until 1854, when the ofihce of County Superintendent was created, the teachers were examined bv the directors. The minute of October IG, 1848, tehs us that "Ahnon Green- man was examined in the following branches, viz : Read- ing, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and geography." The examination was satisfactory, and the secretar}- of the Boand was ordered to give him a certificate. A week later, David Connell and William Shafer "appeared before the Board" for a similar purpose. Such entries in the records are found at frequent intervals. The directors often had assistance in this w^ork from a minister or an experienced teacher. From this w^ork they were relieved when it was made the duty of the countv superintendent to conduct such examinations. Prof. Joshua \\ Gibbons, of Brownsville, was the first of our county superintendents, and served four terms. His first visit to our Board was made on Thurs- day, September 14, 1854. He was a man of herculean frame, of unusual ability and strict integrity. The teachers reported to the Board every month the names and occasionally the ages of their pu])ils, their at- tendance, their progress in general, and their conduct. Some of the reports made out bv Messrs. Josiah D. Stillwagon and David Barnes have been preserved. Those of Mr. Still- wagon are fancifullv embellished wdth pictures and other productions of his own pen, and show that from February 6, 1849, until March 8, 1850, there were about eighty pupils enrolled in the school on the Pinnacle, with an average at- tendance of fifty. Space would fail us to give an account of the teachers in the '50s and "60s, to come no nearer to our own time. Josiah D. Stillwagon, who taught a number of terms, and became prominent in the business and politics of the Borough in later life, David Barnes, who taught manv years and afterward held a clerkship in the State Capitol and other responsible positions, the last being that of agent of the S. W. Pennsylvania Railroad in Con- nellsville, John Bolton, who taught several years in. this place, then for seventeen years in the schools of Ports- IrtO CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE jnouth, Ohio, and for thirty years in the high school of Cleveland. Ohio. In the last named school he was a teacher of science. He retired from work about 3 years ago, and is now living near Mill Run. The list of Connellsville teachers includes Joseph T. McCormick, prominent in later life as a manufacturer, banker and capitalist, always interested in the schools and frequently serving on the Board, its secretary for some years ; James Stimmell, who became a soldier in the Civil War; Benjamin JFrankenberry, who afterward moved to Tennessee and died there ; Peter A. Johns, Otho Williams, Albert S. Cameron, and many others deserving of mention. Some became ministers as Rev. Amos Hutton, who taught in '59, and Rev. Joseph AI. Collins, who taught in "GO. Mr. Collins, now living in Uniontown, was licensed to preach in June, '59, and during his active ministry held important charges in the Baptist Church, his last charge being at Perry, Kansas. We read of no female teachers until in the '50s. The first of which we find record were Miss Jane McCormick (Mrs. Christian Snyder), who taught No. 2 in 1850, and Miss Margaret Collins (Mrs. Matthew Cooley), who taught the Clayton school that same year. Then came Miss Mary Buckingham, Miss Anna Shallenberger, Miss Azubah Melindy and others, but the male teachers were greatly in the majority until near the close of the '60s. School teachers have never received extravagant salaries, but in the early days of the Borough their income was small. In 1851, male teachers were allowed $20 a month, female teachers $12.50 a month. The next year the female teachers received $13.50. The school term in the days of the old log house was seldom more than four months, some- times less. In later days five or six months seem to have been the rule. Often there was a winter school and a sum- mer school, the former for the larger pupils, the latter for the smaller. The latter were caller primary schools, juvenile schools and even infant schools. As late as 1860, the teachers were required to build the fires and keep the house clean EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 141 at their own expense. In 18G1, sextons were employed by the Board at a cost of fifty cents each per month. What amount of time or strength these sextons gave to the work, the records do not say. No doubt they earned their money. The salaries of teachers gradually advanced until in 1870 the principal male teacher received $80 a month, and the female teachers $40. There has been later advancement and it is sincerely to be hoped that those who teach our youth in the public schools to love their country and to be good, intelligent, honorable citizens will soon be accorded a compensation somewhat commensurate with the value and dignity of their calling. Many of the old-time customs have passed away. Men who are not yet infirm with age remember the Christmas times when in the morning, the scholars got into the school ahead of the teacher, fastened the door and the window^; and notified him that he would not be allowed to come in until he had solemnly agreed to give them a generous "treat" of apples, cakes and the like. The scholars generally brought food with them and were prepared to spend the- day, if necessary, "barrino- out" the teacher. Success, in most cases, crowned their undertaking. THE UNION SCHOOL BUILDING. The three storied brick school house, now standing' on Fairview avenue, on the eastern end of the school house grounds, was erected after much discussion and delay. In March, 1863, the subject was considered by the Board, the need of such a building being recognized by all present. It was decided to take "immediate measures to have an Act of Assembly passed to allow the schools of this Borough to be suspended for one or two years for the purpose of al- lowing the taxes to be used in building a union school house. We hear nothing, however, of such measures being taken. Three years later, March 2, 1866, Richard Campbell, the secretary of the Board, was appointed to go to Mc- Keesport "to examine" the L^nion school house in that place. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 14;) and on the 11th of March it was decided "to build a three story house, (JOxlJG," and to issue bonds for the necessary funds. Nothing further seems to have been done until May 6, 1867, when a plan, submitted to the Board by Barr & Moser, architects, of Pittsburgh, was adopted. Messrs. A. Shallenberger and J. T. McCormick were appointed to su- perintend the erection of the building. From the first there was determined opposition to this building. It was said by some that the Borough would be plunged hopelessly into debt, and by others that a building of such dimensions would not be needed for fifty years to come. The question agitated the community. Sides were taken and it was made an issue, the overshadowing issue in municipal politics. On the 21st of May, a protest came before the Board signed by oS citizens. In August a ques- tion arose between the Borough Council and the Board which for a time threatened a collision. In March, 18(58, an unsuccessful eflrort was made within the Board itself to have the new house made two stories high instead of three. The only change was made May 4, 18()8, when it was decided to make it fifty feet by seventy instead of sixty by sixty-six. The w^ork, begun late in 1867, was completed June 11, 1869. On that day the building was "taken ofl:' the hands of the contractor," and on Monday morning, June 14th, the schools were opened in the new Union school house, under Connellsville's first principal, Samuel A. Espey. Mr. Espey had been elected April 8th, and he served as principal six years. He proved himself thoroughly fur- nished unto his work — firm, prudent, active, a man of fine intellectual training, of attractive character and winning manners. He was devoted to the work of teaching, and rendered most valuable and efficient service in organizing our Union schools. From Connellsville he went to Alle- gheny where he has been through all these thirty years the honored and successful principal of one of the city schools. On opening the new building and until the year 1878, 144 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE only the first and second stories were occupied as school rooms, eight rooms in all. The third story was fitted up in a humble way as a hall. Though intended for school pur- poses, it was in demand for various entertainments, being the only hall in town. Soon after it was opened, the "j\Ie- chanic's Dramatic Association" received "the use of it at $15.00 a night." The Carrington Cornet Band gave three concerts in it. Exhibitions and lectures were also given in the hall. But in the summer of 1878, two rooms were fitted up on the third floor for additional schools, and soon the School Hall was no more. The patrons of these entertain- ments in the hall seem to have been sometimes noisy, for the Board was compelled, on some occasions, to employ "two persons to attend as policemen — to enforce good or- der and arrest any or all persons engaged in an}' acts of misdemeanor," the Board to pay half the expense, the Bor- ough the other half. Notices were likewise posted in the hall prohibiting persons from "standing on the benches or sitting on the backs of same." After Mr. Espey, J. V. Porter was elected princi- pal in 18^5, serving two years; A. Ereeman in 18(7; Erank Erye in 1878 ; M. L. Baer in 1871), serving until 1884. In June 1881, it was decided to consolidate rooms Nos. 11 and 12, "making the consolidated room the principal's room," one of the teachers being "assigned to that room as assistant principal." This was the beginning of the present high school. On January 10, 1882, the Board accepted a recommendation of the principal, Mr. Baer, to "have a graduating class every year" and to "adopt a course of study for each class." Accordingly, a class of six grad- uated in May, 1882. Eive young women and one young man composed the class. The commencement exercises con- sisted of music, essays and recitations, and were held in Newmyer's Opera House. This, the first of our Connells- ville school commencements, was an interesting and signi- ficant event in the educational history of the Borough. The total enrollment for 1882 was 849 ; the average attendance EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 145 530. This showed advancement since 1811 when OHver Sproul taught 38 scholars in the old log school house on that same hill, and since 1821 when Dennis O'Keefe taught 30. The treasurer's report for 1882 showed receipts for school purposes to the amount of $6,932.07 that year, which was in striking contrast with the financial statement of 1848 which informs us that the tax duplicate for that year amounted to $490.83. The State appropriation for 1882 amounted to $824.50; in 1835 it was $88.17>4, and that was for Borough and township together. THE UNION SCHOOL HOUSE MOVED. The cutting down of Fairview avenue ( formerly Grave street) and the cutting through of Pittsburgh street created a doubt as to the safety of the Union school house. In the summer of 1885, the subject occupied the attention of the Board as well as the public, in general. After considerable discussion and a variety of suggestions as to the best plan to be pursued, correspondence was opened with H. Felt- man & Co., house movers, Chicago, 111., which resulted in a contract with that firm, decided upon by the Board, May 6, 1886, for the removal of the building to the east end of the school lots. The contract was to the effect that the Board would ''build the foundation and pay for the excava- tion under the school house," while Feltman & Co., would remove the building to the new foundation, doing it for $2,500. A bond for $15,000 was given by the firm for the safety of the building. Work began at once. On June 11, 1886, the Board decided that the schools should be opened the first ]\Ionday in September, "provided building would be ready and to continue from such commencement during eight months." But when the first Monday in September came, the building was far from being ready. Steam heat- ing had been contracted for, but the apparatus had not yet been installed ; many repairs to the building were needed and the Chicao:o firm had not vet entirelv fulfilled its con- 14:6 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE tract. At their meeting of October 29, 1886, the directors reconsidered the action of June 11th, and decided that the school term should begin the first Monday of November and continue seven months. This led to a somewhat sensational event known as "the teachers' strike." The Board met Tuesday, November 2nd, and a delegation of teachers met with it. The committee, for such the ladies were, presented a paper protesting in the name of the teachers elected in June, against the reduction of the school term from eight months to seven. The directors declined to reverse their action. The principal and seven of the teachers refused to sign the articles of agreement unless the term was made eight months, and it was resolved by the Board to dismiss all those who refused to sign the articles, and to serve a legal notice upon them that they would no longer be allowed to act as teachers, and others would be employed in their stead. November 9, 1886, the Board proceeded to an election to fill the vacancies created by "the strike." L. M. Herrington was chosen principal instead of Miss M. Agnes MacKay (now Mrs. MuUin, of Minnesota), who had been elected in 1881: as the successor of M. L. Baer. The other vacancies were filled, and, to use a hackneyed phrase, "the incident closed." THE SECOND WARD BUILDING. On the loth of April, 1887, the Board decided to build a brick school house on lots recently purchased at a cost of $2,200, lying on Highland avenue and Grant street in the Second Ward. It was felt that the crowded condition of the schools rec^uired a comparatively large building. Ac- cordingly an eight roomed house was determined upon, the cost of erection not to exceed $16,000. It was decided to issue bonds for $20,000 bearing interest at five per cent. The action of the Board was energetically opposed by many of the people. A meeting, held in Newmyer's Opera House, protested against a building so large and costly, and when EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 147 a new Board went into office June 6, 188 T, the action of the former Boar" //as reversed and a brick building of four rooms was contracted for. The new building was begun in September, 1887, was finished January 3, 1888, was furnished during the spring and summer of that year, and opened September 3, 1888. The accommodations continued inadequate. Rooms were rented, among which were one from Conrad Hoop on Snyder street, from November, 1889, until June '91 ; one from,! E. W. Horner on Pittsburgh street in '91 ; one in the Weihe hall, one in Odd Fellows' hall and one in the Kurtz building — all three in '93. On the 30th of August, 1891, the Board adopted a resolution to erect a house, con- taining eight rooms, "said building to be erected on lot in Fourth Ward now owned by School Board." In other words, the building was to stand where the three story building (now known as "the old building") had originally stood — the corner of Pittsburg street and Fairview avenue. And thus THE PRESENT HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, came into existence. The grounds had been graded, and a retaining wall had been built. Plans were adopted, Sep- tember 35, 1891. The contract was soon afterward made. A modern building of handsome appearance, substantially built of brick, and well-appointed was completed in the summer of 1895, and was thrown open for school purposes the first Monday of September of that year. It was a two-story building and the High School occupied the second story. The erection of a building in the Third Ward was dis- cussed in Board meetings as early as ^vlarch, 1891, perhaps earlier. In 1893, it was agreed upon to purchase grounds if a suitable location could be obtained, but it was not until 1900 that the Third Ward School House was secured. In that year, a two-story building, of buff brick, of good archi- tectural design, with eight rooms was erected on Tenth street, at the head of Peach. 148 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Still another building was projected in 1905 to be lo- cated in the Fourth Ward. It was completed September 1, 190G, and is situated on the South Side on the east side of Race street, some distance south of Patterson avenue. It is of grey brick, graceful in its proportions and imposing in its appearance, and contains 12 rooms. As to the cost of the various school buildings erected in the Borough, we have only partial knowledge. We know nothing of the cost of the old log school house, though it may safely be asserted that it was little. Rev. Alexander Clark, D.D., editor of the "School-day Vis- itor," described a similar structure in which his father had taught, and said that it was built in a day and cost thirty- two dollars. Nor do we know what "the three little brick houses" cost. The three story Union school building cost about $15,000, and its removal in 1886 cost about $5,000. The Second Ward building cost about $14,000, the High School building about $17,000, the Third Ward building about $14,000, and it is estimated that $50,000 will be expended on the construction and equipment of the new building in the Fourth Ward. We have already mentioned the principals from Samuel A. Espey, first principal, to L. M. Herrington, who served from November, 1880, until June, 1887. The following names complete the list to the present time : Jacob I. Humbert, (1887-1890); John S. Christy, (1890- 1893); William G. Cans, (1893-1897), and James P. Wylie, the present principal, who took charge of our schools in 1897. The study of vocal music was introduced into the schools in 1897, and, with some periods of intermission, has continued to this time. Alexander B. Morton is the present teacher. Attendance or truant officers have been employed, in compliance with the Act of Assembly of July 11. 1901, to look after and, if necessary, "arrest and apprehend" truants and others who fail to attend school within the period of compulsory attendance. 150 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Flags were occasionally unfurled over the schools be- fore the Act ®f July 2, 1895. On the 4th of July, 1876, the Centennial Fourth, the Stars and Stripes waved from early morning from the belfry of the Union school house. On Christmas afternoon, 1888, a memorable scene took place in Newmyer's Opera House. It was the presentation of two large and beautiful flags by the Junior Order of American ]\Iechanics to the school board to be placed upon the two buildings of that time, one on the Union building and one on the Second Ward building. The directors and other representatives of the schools occupied the platform, and an interested audience filled the house to its utmost limits. Speeches of presentation and acceptance were de- livered, and other appropriate exercises, musical and lit- erary, were held. The celebration of Columbus Day, October 31, 1892, was another lesson in patriotism. It was held on the Fourth Ward School grounds. The building was lavishly decor- ated with flags and streamers. A platform stood on the grounds. A multitude of happy school children, in holiday attire, carrying flags and flowers, filled the enclosure, while a great throng of people stood in the streets. Short addresses were made. Patriotic selections were recited, and patriotic songs were sung by the children, their multitudinous voices- lifted up in clear, silvery tones and ringing far out over the surrounding streets. Love of the flag, love of the prin- ciples which it represents and of the land over which it floats is a cardinal virtue, and we may well be thankful for the work of our common schools in nourishing this noble sentiment. A literary society was organized in the high school in the autumn of 1884. Three years later, the work of the society was made part of the school curriculum. The so- ciety was the outgrowth of the "Public Fridavs" of earlier years. Two societies are now in existence. The wisdom of the Board in assuming a share in the financial support of the Carnegie Free Library has been EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 151 clearly demonstrated. The scholars make generous and in- creasing use of the library and in various ways, the educa- tional value of the institution is beyond question. At the close of the last school year, May, 1906, there were 34 schools, with 34 teachers, one assistant teacher and one music teacher. The schools were open nine months, with an enrollment of l,-430, and an average attendance of 1,263. The graduating class numbered 16, of whom 12 were young women and 4 were young men. The treasurer's report, April 2, 1906, showed a balance in the building fund of $38,397.14 ; in the sinking fund $4,512.66; in the library fund $1,482.01, and in the general fund $8,363.09. The school tax duplicate for 1906-7 is $33,621.15. The present Board of Directors, organized the first Monday of June, 1906, is composed of the following per- sons : Eugene T. Norton, president ; Robert Welsh, secre- tary ; Thomas Holt, treasurer ; E. C. Higbee, Dr. H. F. At- kinson, Dr. M. B. Shupe, W. S. Schenck and John L. Gans. The Board on being organized took action making the high school a separate and independent institution in accord- ance with the State law, and, with a view to increasing its efficiency, enlarged the curriculum and lengthened the course from three years to four. Prof. W. S. Defifenbaugh was elected principal of the high school, and Prof. J. P. Wylie was re-elected principal of the Ward schools. Action was also taken encouraging and urging candidates for the teaching profession to secure a normal school education. PRIVATE SCPIOOLS. Connellsville has had a goodly number of private or select schools, and many of these have been well attended. In 1826, D. S. Knox, afterward widely known as the cashier of the Monongahela Bank in Brownsville, taught a select school on the east side of Peach street, below Meadow alley, and later a school on or near the northwest corner of Main street and JMountain allev. 153 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE In later times, Revs. Messrs. Sutton and Rupert opened schools in various parts of the Borough. A man of Irish birth "kept school" on Water street. It was a common thing" for him to fall asleep in school hours, often with his head resting upon the desk, while the pupils made good use of their liberty, and often when he awoke, he found that they had pinned placards upon his back or even tied him to his chair. Many excellent teachers conducted private schools from time to time. Among these was Corbin A. Gilbert who had a school in the Clayton house in the '50s. There was probably no discourtesy intended to him by the boy of poetic gifts who composed a stanza which was frequently and gleefully quoted by his schoolmates. The stanza was as follows : "Gilbert's pigs were in the pen, They only get out now and then ; But when tiiey get out they run all about, And eat up all John Cowp's sour krout." Another select school was taught at a later date by Miss Margaret M. Bell, who had been a teacher in the Third Ward public schools, Allegheny. Miss Bell, now living in Braddock, was a faithful, judicious, pains-taking teacher. She was deeply interested in her pupils, loved her work and was quite successful in it. During her stay here, she taught in a room on the northwest corner of Pittsburgh and Main streets, and in the old Odd Fellows' Hall, as also in New Haven. Several parochial or church schools are in existence in Connellsville and New Haven, chief among which, in point of the number both of teachers and scholars, is the school of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Con- nellsville. In addition, kindergartens, night schools, summer normals, and business colleges have been opened at various times. NEW HAVEN SCHOOLS. The intimate relations existing between Connellsville and New Haven fully justify us in giving an account of EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 153 the schools in our sister J»oroug"h across the Yough. The earhest school of which any record is found was a school taught in 1815 by Mrs. Sarah Alcllvaine in her own home on Front street. New Haven in that year had only two streets built upon, and little more than a hundred inhabitants. Pupils from the Connellsville side of the river were in Mrs. Mcllvaine's school among them some mem- bers of Zachariah Connell's family. Soon after this date, a Air. Ellis opened a school on the second floor of a house on Second street. In 1S18. Stephen Smith, who lived in the country and worked part of the time in Rol^inson's mill on Possum Run, taught in a house on h^ront street, owned at the time by Caleb Squibb. The next year, Robert Wright, wdio afterward became a physician, taught in the Scjuibb house. In lcS-^1, Jarvis F. Hanks taught in a house on the river bank near the Gregg mill. In IS-i;), Oliver Sproul. who both before and after this date taught in Con- nellsville, taught in New Haven on Trader's allev, near Front street. Stewart H. Whitehill taught in Stephen Fair- child's house, corner Second street and Trader's allew ]\lr. Whitehill, who afterward w^ent w'est and died there, was a man of scholarly attainments and occasionally delivered lec- tures to the young people of Connellsville and New Haven on historical and other subjects. He is said to have taught in 1839 and the early '30s. A Mr. PearsoU was another teacher of that period. His school was held in an al^andoned Avareroom on the river bank. A few years later, Flavins Josephus C. Worrell taught in a one-story brick school house on Third street, a short distance north of the present South West Pennsylvania rail- road trestle. The house had been built by subscription, was somewhat enlarged in 18-17 or '48, served as a school for many years, then as a dwelling and was removed only a few years ago. Mr. Worrell was an intelligent and enterpris- ing teacher. Of genial and cultivated manners himself, he included lessons in politeness and courtesy in the school curriculum. There are citizens of New Haven who have 154 CEf''.ENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSXILLE been accustomed to speak of the old Third Street school as the "Green Level Seminar}'." That name was facetiously bestowed upon the school by Mr. Worrell during his con- nection with it, in allusion to the open fields or commons at that time surrounding it. Mr. Worrell came from New Jersey and, after his school engagement here, returned to that State. Dunbar township, which then and for years afterward included New Haven, promptly accepted the common school law of 1834:. "The public school system was inaugurated in 1835, and May 22nd of that year the school appropriation apportioned to Dunbar was $113.33)4 from the State and $225. GG^^ from the county." It was not until New Haven became a Borough in 1867 that a school building was erected at public expense within the Borough limits. The directors of the township schools had erected, in about the year 1848, a one-story frame building just outside the present Bor- ough. This was used for a considerable time as a school, attended by the youth of the village, and was known gen- erally as the "White school house," to distinguish it from the little red school house on Third street. It is still stand- ing and has long been occupied as a dwelling. It is on the river bank, directly across the street or lane from the foun- dry of the Connellsville Alanufacturing and 2\Iine Supply Compan}' bv which it is now owned. Since 1835 there have been many teachers both of pub- lic and private schools in New Haven. Marlin D. Dimick taught in 1840, Mrs. Robert Dougan in 1845, Daniel Forry in 1846. Mr. Forry went as a lieutenant to the Mexican war, and died at Vera Cruz. Rev. Kensev Johns Stewart, rector of the Episcopal Church, New Haven, taught an acad- emy in the Third street school in 1847, had an addition made to the building, had pupils from Greensburg and other points at a distance, and employed persons of thorough education for assistants. Mr. Stewart did much for the cause of education in this and in other communities. He was born in New Castle, Delaware, March 12, 1817, graduated from THE OLD WHITE SCHOOL HOUSE NOW A DWELLING THE SEVENTH STREET SCHOOL THE THIRD STREET SCHOOL 156 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in the Class of 1837, held a number of important pastoral charges, published sev- eral volumes on historical and other subjects, received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Washington and Lee University in 188U, and spent his closing years in Richmond, Va., where he died June lU, 1902. Mr. John Bolton, already spoken of as a teacher in Connellsville, had a select school in the White school. New Haven, and also taught in the Third street public school. In 1857, Rev. James Black, D.D., pastor at that time of the Connellsville Presbyterian church, opened a select school in the Mcllvaine hall, northwest corner of Main and Pront streets. The course of study included the classics and the higher mathematics, and the school was well pat- ronized. Dr. Black resigned his pastoral charge in the spring of 18 GO, and devoted the remaining years of his life to the work of teaching". He was the first president of the Pennsylvania College for Women in Pittsburgh, and a pro- fessor first in Washington and Jefferson College, Penn., and then in Wooster University, Ohio. He died in Wooster, December 23, 1890, aged 65 years. C. C. Baugh, in 1859, Miss Margaret Bell, in 1860 and Pollard Morgan, in 1861, taught select schools in the Mcllvaine hall. Mr. Morgan was a theological stu- dent, a candidate for the Presbyterian ministry. Soon after leaving New Haven, however, he became a Roman Catholic, went to the City of Rome, and in course of time entered the priesthood. Rev. Timothy O'Connell, rector of the Episcopal Church, taught a select school in the hall in 1875. He was an Irish Canadian and is said to have been a relative of Daniel O'Connell, the great Irish orator and statesman. An- other teacher was Joseph Moreland, for many years past a leading attorney in Morgantown. The New Haven school district was established June 1, 1868, the year after the Bor- ough's permanent organization. It thus became independent of the township. The first Board of directors was com- EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 157' posed of S. G. Smutz, president ; I. V. Rhodes, secretary ;, S. S. Myers, treasurer, Hugh Cameron, George Nichol and J. M. Lytle. The salaries of teachers amounted the first year to $;320. When that part of the town, lying west of Fourth street, was taken into the Borough ( the Ashmun — Torrence Addition) a two-story frame school building, erected by the township Board in the 'TOs, was made the property of the New Haven Board and has continued to be occupied as a school. It is known as the Seventh street school house. It was enlarged some years ago, and now has six rooms. In 188"3, the two-story brick house, with four rooms, was built on Third street, one block south of Main street. The following persons have served as principals of the New Haven schools since the opening of this two-storv brick building: J. W. Sleesman, J. K. Rush, John S. Christy, Lee S. Smith, J. M. Murtland. W. D. McGinniss. L. B. Brownfield. J. S. ^vIcKee, B. T. Frazee and H. G. May. Mr. May, the present incumbent, took charge of the schools in 1903. There are ten schools and ten teachers, with a term of eight months. The enrollment for the school year ending the last of April, 1906, was 405, and the average attendance 375. The school tax duplicate for 190(5-T is $().OG3.71. The Board of directors consists of the following persons : Dr. G. W. Gallagher, president; Charles H. Balsley. secretary, Lutellus L. Herbert, Aaron Fornwalt, Kell Long and Henry Rhodes. The new suburb of New Flaven. Greenwood, has a school house of four rooms, built by the township of Dun- bar in 1905. It is of brick and is two storied; it is thor- oughly modern in its equipment and is "beautiful for situa- tion," commanding a view of mountain and valley. Connellsville township has five school buildings — the Narrows with two rooms, the Germany Hill (Broadford) with one room. Rock Ridge with two, the Washington with two, the Gibson or South Connellsville with eight. In addi- tion to these, the township has schools in three rented rooms 158 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE in South Connellsville, making eleven schools in all. The schools are under the care of a township superintendent. There is also a township High School, held in the Gibson building, from which a class of six graduated in 1906. This review of our local school history discloses the fact that our people have not been indifferent to the welfare of the young, and it may be asserted that, with the passing of the years, the value of intelligence has been increasingly recognized and appreciated. The State has been generous in the aid it has extended to our common schools. It illus- trates both the growth of our population and the growth of State liberality to note the fact that the State appropria- tion of $75,000 in 1835 has risen to $5,500,000 in 1906, of which amount Fayette county is to receive $98,771.33. In 1880, Connellsville received $777 from the State ; in ]906 she received $6,363.06. In 1880, New Haven received $102.85 from the State ; in 1906 she received $1,570.74. The amount raised by taxation has been large, also, as our tax duplicates from year to year show, but no money has been better spent. It has been a most profitable investment. As a safeguard of free institutions the school ranks only second in importance to the church. "Liberty is not the child of ignorance;" and in no nation on the face of the earth is it so overwhelmingly important as in ours that there should be general intelligence, education of all the people in body, mind and heart. Washington, in his farewell address, gave counsel which Americans ought never to forget,— "Pro- mote," said he. "as an object of prime importance, institu- tions for the general diffusion of knowledge ;" and James Monroe laid down a doctrine equal in value to his more famous "Monroe doctrine" : "Let us by all wise and con- stitutional measures promote intelligence among the people as the best means of preserving our liberties." Honored, then, be the name of every man or woman who, from the days of our old log school house down, has faithfully tried to make our communitv wiser, brighter and better ! CHAPTER V. THE PRESS. It is not possible to write the history of Connellsville without reference to the Press. It ranks with the Church and the pubHc school as a maker of history. It stands in close touch with the moral, social, intellectual and political life of the community ; it furnishes the media through which public sentiment is expressed and by which public policies are definitely determined. The press is not only an important factor in the making of history, but also in recording it. It is the public news gatherer. Few items of historic value escape its keen re- porters. Were it possible to secure full files of all the papers of Fayette county from the fifth day of December, 1797, when the first number of the "Fayette Gazette and Union Advertiser" appeared, to the present, they would furnish, us with a perfect cyclopedia of Fayette county history. But who has these files ? Their rich values were not fully real- ized at the time, and no one took the trouble to preserve them. We are delighted when we can lay our hands on a few stray copies of the earlier editions. Even their adver- tisements are read with interest and photographed as curios. Fayette county enjoys the distinction of having the second oldest newspaper published in western Pennsylvania. The initial number of the "Pittsburg Gazette" appeared on the twenty-sixth day of July, 178G; the "Fayette Gazette and Union Advertiser," of which the "Genius of Liberty" of Uniontown is the legitimate successor, made its first appearance on the fifth day of December, 1797. This enterprise of Fayette county journalism will be the better appreciated when it is remembered that, at this time, the entire county could not have had a population of IGO CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLS\ILLE more than sixteen thousand, and these were so widely scat- tered and hard to reach as to make the circulation of a news- paper exceedingly difficult. The town of Connellsville was then little more than a cluster of ten or twelve log" houses with a population of not more than sixty souls. This pioneer newspaper, as published by Messrs. Stew- art and Mowry, the first proprietors, was a four-column folio, ten and one-half by sixteen and one-half inches in size, and ultra-Federalistic in politics. The earliest copy of this paper, now in existence, is a copy dated August 23, 1799. It gives evidence of the fact that the path of the editors was not one of roses. News items are scarce. Dis- cussions of long-forgotten public issues fill its columns. Ad- vertising undoubtedlv furnished its chief source of revenue. In spite of all obstacles however, the little paper lived and prospered, and the Fayette county press has consequently a continuous history of one hundred and nine years. In 1805, the paper was sold to Messrs. Allen and Springer, who published it under the name of ''The Genius of Liberty and Fayette Advertiser," having for its motto the words of Gov- ernor McKean, "the charms of novelty should not be per- mitted so to fascinate as to give to mere innovation the semblance of reform." It was about the same size as its predecessor, but was later cut down to a three-column folio eight by twelve inches. It was hard to make a pioneer newspaper a financial success as the frequent changes of ownership seem to indicate. On May 5, 1S12, the paper passed into the hands of Jesse Beeson, who published it with the motto : "Here shall the press the people's rights proclaim With truth it's guide, the public good it's aim." Since that time, there have been manv changes in the own- ership and management of the paper, but it has never failed to make its regular visits to the news-hungry public, and today enjoys a large circulation. Another pioneer paper of the county that circulated in Connellsville homes was the "Pennsvlvania Democrat" of THE PRESS 161 Uniontown. This paper was a six-column folio, and was first published by Jacob B. Miller, in 1827. It was founded as the advocate of the re-election of President John Ouincy Adams. It was also strongly anti-AIasonic in principle. The subscription price of the paper was $2. 50, but inasmuch as the advertising was limited it was not a money-maker. The merchants of those days were not much given to printer's ink and only those advertisements that were re- quired by law enabled the proprietor to continue its publi- cation. The subscription list of each of the Uniontown jour- nals at this time was about five hundred, but the money was hard to collect and often left unpaid. For a while, the "Democrat" was edited by J. C. S. Goff and Samuel L. Yarrell, printers in the employ of the first proprietor. In 1830, John F. Beazell became a partner in the ownership of the paper, and four years later it was sold to Samuel and William McDonald who published it for ten years. Since then it has changed hands several times, and since 1893 has been published as "The News Standard." Other pioneer paper that circulated in this vicinity were : "The Fayette and Green Spectator," published in Uniontown, from 1811 to 1811, "The American Telegraph" published in Browaisville, from 1811 to 1818, and "The Western Register" first published in W^ashington, Pa., in 1816. The first local newspaper was "The Gonnellsville ITer- aid" published in 1815, but it is not known who was its editor, or where it was printed. Indeed we would not know that such a paper ever existed if it were not for certain news items copied by the older county papers. Located at such a distance from the county-seat, enjoying but a small part of the legal patronage of the county, and ministering to a comparatively small constituency, this pioneer journal was soon forced to suspend publication. For forty years after this failure, the people of Gonnellsville were satisfied with the service of the Uniontown papers. Occasionallv some local wit would get up a pen-paper, and tack it up 1G2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE at some prominent place to the great amusement of the pnbhc, but that was the nearest approach to a local news- paper the people enjoyed. The papers of the Franklin Lit- erary Society, edited by Joseph T. McCormick, J. D. Still- wagon and others, show that there was plenty of journalistic talent in the community. Quite a number of these interest- ing papers, known as "The Scorpion," "The Ephemeris," "The Jews' Harp"" and "The Blue Hen"s Chicken"' are still preserved by our older citizens. The second attempt to establish a newspaper in Con- nellsville was made by Lafayette Markle, who, in August 1855, published the first number of "The Connellsville Enter- prise." This was really a good paper for those days, and deserved a liberal patronage. The first editor was a man of some historic talent, and the loss of the files of his paper is a distinct loss to the history of the town. The second editor of "The Enterprise" was S. S. White. In 1859, R. Lyle White assumed the management and editorship of the paper, publishing it as "The Fayette Patriot." But for some reason it was not a financial success. The town did not seem able to support a first-class paper and its publica- tion was soon discontinued. To Daniel Peter Stentz, now of Pittsburgh, Pa., belongs the credit of establishing the first permanent newspaper in Connellsville. "The Fayette Monitor and Youghioghenian" was first issued under his management, April 12, 1870. It was a seven-column folio, and was Democratic in politics. The peculiar conditions that obtained in the Democratic party of Fayette county at that time secured for the paper liberal financial assistance and enabled it to succeed in a field where all its predecessors had failed. At no time during the twenty-six years of the paper's publication did the number of regular subscribers exceed eight hundred, but Editor Stentz was engaged in other busi- ness at the same time, and was not dependent upon "The Monitor" for his support. The offices of the paper were located at first on the ground floor of the old frame building adjoining the Roman Catholic Church, then they were re- THE PRESS 1G3 moved to the Odd Fellows building", still later they were removed to the second floor of the building at first occupied. In 1896, Mr. Stentz leased his plant, at $2(i a month, to two young printers in his employ, A. H. Shaffer and D. S. Trim- ble. Vvdio published the paper for two years as "The New Monitor." The attention of these young men, however, was given chiefly to job work, and the paper never had a very extensive circulation. In 1S9.S they entered the employ of "The Connellsville News," and sold their subscription list to that paper. In 18!)9 L. G. Raymond, a New York jour- nalist of considerable experience, came to Connellsville for the purpose of establishing a Republican paper. He was given much encouragement and at once started to work. Leasing the old "Monitor" plant on East Main street, he issued the first number of his paper, "The Fayette County Republican." in April of that year. Mr. Raymond, like Editor Stentz. was a practical newspaper man of the old school, working out the larger part of his editorials at the composing bench. He was an ardent Reiiublican and his trenchant political articles are still vividl)- remembered by local newspaper men. The circulation of the paper steadily increased. Its strong political sentiments gave it consid- erable public favor. But just when success seemed sure the editor was stricken wuth typhoid fever and died. During his illness the paper was edited and managed l^v his gifted daughter. Miss Mabel (i. Raymond. Much of the mechan- ical work of the ]:»aper was also done bv her. After her father's death she was repeatedly solicited to take up news- paper work in the town, but refused all overtures and removed to New York with the rest of the familv. C)n the eleventh day of May 1!)01 William Kooser leased the Mon- itor plant from Mr. Stentz. On the fifteenth day of July, 1902, Mr. Kooser and James C. F)egley formed a ])artncr- ship known as The Fayette Publishing Company, purchased the outfit, exchanging the greater part of it for a new press and other needed materials. An u]3-to-date plant was estab- lished in the Odd Fellows' building from which the publi- 164: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE cation of "The Fayette County Republican" was resumed. Under the new management the circulation was greatly increased, especially in the outlying country districts. On January 25, lOUG, the plant was sold to "The People's Trib- une," the Prohibition paper of Fayette county, and removed to Uniontown. In December 1874, about five years after D. P. Stentz had succeeded in establishing "The Fayette Monitor and Youghioghenfan," the first number of "The Connellsville Tribune" was issued. Its first editor was R. M. Sibbett, and in jDolitics it was Republican. After four years of service Editor Sibbett was succeeded by S. J. Hayes, who espoused the cause of the Greenback party. A few months later, it was purchased by Tilghman Hawes, a newspaper man from Meyersdale, Pa., who for some reason could not make it a financial success, and, in May 1879, the doors of its office were closed by the Sherifif of Fayette county. On the four- teenth day of June of the same year the Keystone Publish- ing Companv, Limited, was organized for the purpose of purchasing the plant of "The Tribune" and establishing the paper on a sound financial basis. The company was cap- italized at eleven hundred dollars, and the original stock- holders were : Porter S. Newmeyer, James T. Greenland, E. V. Goodchild, Isaac W. Rutter, Joseph T. McCormick, Kell Long, Joseph Soisson and Henry P. Snyder. The enterprise was purely public-spirited. The members of the company did not want to see one of Connellsville's news- papers perish, but they were Democrats, and wanted to change both the name and the policy of the paper. The first number appeared July 17, 1879, under the name of "The Keystone Courier." After a short time the word Keystone was dropped. It was an eight-column quarto and was printed on a Washington hand-press, which with a jobber comprised the press facilities of the plant. E. V. Good- child was elected business manager and Henry P. Snyder, editor of the paper. The editor was then a young man, twenty-three years of age, who had little or no experience THE PRESS 165 in the newspaper business and wlio believed that lie could write up the editorial and news columns of the paper during his spare moments while prosecuting his law studies. The press of work, however, soon compelled him to choose one or the other ; the law books were laid aside, and he em- barked permanently upon his journalistic career. He was a Connellsville man by birth and sympathies, and, during the twenty-seven years of his public service as an editor, has done much to advance the material and business inter- ests of the town. The first few months of his labors as a journalist did not make his fortune. He and the business manager had agreed to run the paper for the profits. At the close of business, December 31. 1879, these profits amounted to exactly sixty-four dollars, or six dollars and forty cents a month for each man. But this was a time of foundation building. Large profits were not expected at the beginning. As the months went by, however, it soon became apparent to all that "The Courier" was growing in influence and favor and that it had come to stay. On March 13, 1880, the capital stock of the company was increased to twenty-four hundred dollars, and a Campbell country press was purchased. It was a great improvement over the hand press formerly in use, but it turned with a crank and took lots of muscle to crank oflf an edition of a thou- sand papers. In October of the same year the capital stock was increased to three thousand dollars, and an Otto gas engine was purchased. This was one of the first gas engines installed in western Pennsylvania, and for a time was quite an object of curiosity. It was operated with artificial gas and was a cheap and convenient power, even at the com- parative high price of gas. Mr. Snyder and Mr. Goodchild continued as editor and business manager, respectively, until December 29, 1882, when they bought out the other stock- holders and formed a partnership under the name of Snyder & Goodchild. On February 1, 1885, Mr. Goodchild sold out his interest to A. M. Claybaugh, of Uniontown, and the publishers became Snyder and Claybaugh. The firm con- 166 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVILLE tinned so until April 1, 1886, when Mr. Claybaugh's inter- est was purchased b_v J. H. S. Stimmell, and the firm was changed to Snyder & Stimmell. Just two years later John L. Gans acquired Mr. Stimmell's interest and the firm was again changed to Snyder & Gans. It so continued for three years, when, on April 11, 1891, Mr. Gans' interest was purchased by Mr. Snyder, who became sole proprietor. He continued to be the editor and publisher for a period of twelve years, when, on ^larch 14, 1903, the property was transferred to The Courier Company, a corporation formed for the purpose of purchasing it. Mr. Snyder is the president and managing editor and the chief stockholder of the com- pany. J. H. S. Stimmell, secretary and treasurer of the com- pany, has been with "The Courier" since 1885, and now has charge of all the mechanical work. The growth of the paper has been steady. It started as an eight-column folio, and was of the regulation country newspaper pattern. A story or miscellany made up the first page, editorial the second, local the third and miscellany the fourth. After a few years it was found necessary to enlarge it to a nine- column folio. In the meantime Mr. Snyder had become progressive, cleared the front page of advertising and devoted it to local news. The coke trade was beginning to loom up and this was made a feature of "The Courier." Since 1883, his weekly reviews of the Connellsville coke trade have been accepted as authority in manufacturing cir- cles and by State and Federal statisticians. The Courier office was gutted by fire April 1, 1884, but the paper never missed an issue, though for two weeks it was diminutive. Out of the ashes of the fire sprung a better equipment. A new two-revolution press was purchased, and a new build- ing was erected for the plant on the corner of Water and West Apple streets by the Thomas R. Davidson heirs. On June 8, 1888, a larger press was installed and the form of the paper was changed from a folio to a quarto, the new paper being a seven-column, eight-page paper. This was an enlargement from thirty-six to fifty-six columns. For THE PRESS 1G7 years "The Courier" was a paper of such high exceUence that it was generally recognized as the model country weekly of Pennsylvania. But Connellsville was growing and the time came when it was necessary to issue a daily as well as weekly. The first daily issue appeared November 10, 1902. It was a modest little five-column quarto, but like its mother weekly soon began to grow, and in less than two years became a seven-column, eight-page paper, with occasional editions of twelve to sixteen pages. To publish such a paper required modern machinery. When the daily was started a linotype machine was bought, but the increase in the size of the paper soon made it necessary to add a second machine and a Scott perfecting press to the plant. Under these conditions an edition of five thousand copies can now be printed in about half an hour. The new equipment also enabled the publishers to issue extra editions with ease. During the California earthquake excitement, April 19-20, 1906, three editions were printed each day. When it was decided to publish a daily paper, the Water street quarters were found to be too small, and in September 1902, the plant was removed to the new building erected by Michael Hurley in the rear of his premises at 127 W^est ]\Iain street. The credit for establishing the first daily paper in Con- nellsville belongs to The News Publishing Company. This company was organized January 12, 1898, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. It was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania Ma}^ 2G, 1898. The men most deeply interested in the establishment of this journalistic enterprise were John F. Soisson, John Duggan, J. S. Bryner, L. A. Carroll and Raymond S. Coll. Captain H. A. Crow was made general manager at the start, but with the out- break of the Spanish-American war went with the Tenth Regiment of Pennsylvania \'olunteers to the Philippines. He was succeeded by W. D. ]\IcGinnis, who assumed his position May 17, 1898. The first weekly was issued March 10, 1898, and, on the afternoon of May 10, 1898, the news- 1G8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE boys began to sell tbe first daily on the streets of Connells- ville. Its first appearance was greeted with many dire pre- dictions of failure, but the public soon manifested its pleas- ure and the paper lived and prospered. The first editor of "The News" was Raymond S. Coll, who was called to the position from Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was a member of "The Times" staff. Mr. Coll already had considerable experience in Connellsville journalism, as the industrial reporter and assistant editor of "The Courier," and was well qualified for his work. He held this position until March 1, 1900. when he was succeeded by W. D. McGinnis. Editor McGinnis is the son of Joseph W. and Eliza Jane (Cooley) McGinnis and was born in Franklin township, Fayette county, April 8, 1869. He was a teacher in the public schools of the county for a period of ten years. He came to Connellsville in 1894 to accept the position of principal of the New Haven schools, which position he still held when called in 1898 to the managership of "The News." The double work of manager and editor assumed in 1900 was too heavy for one man. and, on October 10, 1905, Rob- ert D. North was placed in charge of the editorial depart- ment. Mr. North already had considerable practical experi- ence in newspaper work as a member of the reportorial staff of "The News," and later as manager and editor of "The Jeannette Dispatch," and is a strong man in his place. For several vears the following directors have been in charge of the affairs of the company : E. C. Higbee, presi- dent ; W. D. McGinnis, treasurer ; H. A. Crow, secretary ; E. T. Norton and H. M. McDonald. The daily issue of the paper is eight pages, six columns in size ; and that of the weekly eight pages with seven columns. The mechanical department is ecjuipped with linotype machines, five job and two newspaper presses, while in the front offices five type- writing machines are kept busy grinding out the copy to feed the typesetting machines. "The News" circulates throughout all sections of the coke region. In politics it is rock-ribbed Democratic, in THE PRESS 169 principles it is independent, always advocating" what it be- lieves to be right. It enjoys the favor of the chnrches because of its cleanness and its strong stand on many moral questions. The first offices of the paper were located in a frame building on the corner of West Apple and North Arch streets, but were later removed to the present larger quar- ters on East Alain street. Both of Connellsville's papers now have first-class facilities and can be depended on as ■efficient builders of her prosperity. CHAPTER VI. MILITARY HISTORY, The history of Connehsville cannot be written without the mention of "wars and rumors of wars." It is in a his- toric region. At no great distance from it, Washington fought his first battle. Within rifle shot of its present boundaries, Braddock passed on his ih-fated expedition to Fort Duc[uesne, and not many miles away his tragic and pathetic death occurred. Over the mountains that rise in majesty round about us, through "the primeval forests," and across these winding streams, armies have marched, — small armies, indeed, but self-sacrificing and brave, and taking part, unwittinglv though it may have been with some of them, in events of world-wide importance. WHiether on their way to expel French intruders or to quell Indian upris- ings, they were helping to solve the problem : AVhat shall be the future of the Western Country ? By what power shall it be held and ruled? Fort Necessity was a prelude to the Seven Years' war in which almost every nation in Europe was sooner or later involved. The story of the expeditions which one after another passed to and fro through the pres- ent counties of Westmoreland and Favette in the second half of the eighteenth century is a vital part of the gigantic and prolonged contest between England and France for supremacy both in the old world and in the new. Three years after Braddock's defeat, another expedi- tion was sent by the English government to expel the French from the "Forks of the Ohio," and capture Fort Duquesne. The force was composed of about six thousand men, regulars and colonials, and was commanded by General John Forbes. Contrary to the advice of Washington, Forbes chose a route north of the Braddock road, cut a new road, 170 MIl.ITARV HISTORY lil afterward called the Glade road, came into Bedford county in September, 1T58, and sent Colonel Henry Bouquet, with an advance column of two thousand men, to the Loyalhanna river. Bouc^uet, in turn, sent ]\Iajor William Grant, with eight hundred men, most of them Scotch Highlanders, to reconnoiter and, if the wa\- was clear, to seize Fort Duquesne. Grant pushed on until he came to a hill near the fort, where he was attacked by a much superior force of French and Indians, and was defeated with great slaugh- ter, losing more than one-third of his men, and being him- self taken prisoner and sent to Montreal. The hill on which this disastrous engagement took place is in the present city of Pittsburgh. On its summit the county court house stands and, in memory of the unhappy event that occurred on it that September day in 1T58, the hill is to this day known as "Grant's Hill," while the thoroughfare passing over it bears the name. Grant street. On November "^oth, Forbes reached Fort Duquesne with his army, and found that the fort had been abandoned and burned the day before. The French garrison, reduced to not more than five hundred men, hearing of Forbes'' approach, had tied down the Ohio in boats. Forbes at once hoisted the British flag over the spot. Leaving two hundred men as a garrison, the valiant commander returned to Phil- adelphia, where he died the following March. Fort Duquesne was forever lost to the French. A new structure took its place, to which the name Fort Pitt was given, in honor of the great English statesman who was at the time in control of public affairs as Prime Minister. In the Forbes expeditionary force, there are said to- have been 2,700 Pennsylvanians and l,()O0 Virginians. Among the Virginians, there was a man who was destined seven years later to settle on the banks of the Yough, and to become famous as the leader of an expedition himself. We refer to William Crawford, at this time about twenty-six years of age and a resident of Berkeley county, V^irginia. In 1755, the Governor of A'irginia had commissioned Craw- 172 CENTENNIAL HIST(3RY OF CONNELLSVILLE ford as ensign in a company of riflemen, probably on the recommendation of the young man's friend. Colonel George Washington. Though not in the Braddock expedition, as has sometimes been erroneously stated, he rendered import- ant service. For about three years he did frontier duty along the Potomac, acted as a scout, served in the garrison at Cumberland, and was promoted to a lieutenancy. When the Forbes expedition was being organized, Washington was given the command of the Virginians, and, by his own act, made Crawford a captain, an act for which he had the Governor's authority. On receiving his com- mission, Captain Crawford recruited a full company in his 'Own neighborhood and led it in the march westward. After some further military service, he returned to his home in Virginia, and resumed his work as a farmer and surveyor. Twelve years or more pass, and Crawford appears again upon the scene as a soldier. He is now living on the Yough. It is 1774 and "Dunmore's war" is going on. Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, has marshalled .an expedition against the tribes of Indians in the Ohio val- ley. Scenes of barbarity and savage cruelty have been en- acted by these tribes. Far and wide, there has been con- sternation. The settlements have been raided and ravaged. The whole frontier is in a blaze. The red men resent the ■encroachments of the whites. They seek revenge for the massacre of their people at Captina and of Logan's family and kindred at Yellow Creek — seek fierce, immediate, indis- criminate revenge. Western Pennsylvania is roused. "We have every rea- son to apprehend that we shall not long be exempt from the calamities of a savage war." The settlers in what is now Washington and Greene counties flee in large num- bers, to the east side of the Monongahela, and many flee to the east side of the mountain. The men of this region build forts and blockhouses. One is built at Stewart's Crossings. Valentine Crawford, brother of William, builds what he calls "a verv strong blockhouse" on Jacob's creek, MILITARY HISTORY ITS' and says : "The neighbors, what few of them have not run. away, have joined with me, and we are builcUng a stockade fort at my house." Gilbert Simpson builds a fort on Wash- ington's land where Perryopolis now stands. A dozen forts or more are built in the present county of Fayette, and Valentine Crawford writes to Washington in June, 1774: "If we had not had forts built, there would not have been, ten families left this side of the mountains besides what are at Fort Pitt." A large scouting party is sent out after strag- gling Indians who have been plundering and murdering within four miles of the Monongahela river on the western- side ; and in this same month of June a company is raised by William Crawford, living at Stewart's Crossings, and. taken to Fort Pitt to join the Dunmore expedition. Lord Dunmore, "an ambitious, energetic man," musters- a strong force, a force of about three thousand border troops. One wing, composed of men from the Holston, W'atauga. and Kanawha settlements, is commanded by General Andrew Lewis ; the other wing, the right or northern, is led by the Earl himself. Lewis assembles his men near the headwaters of the Great Kanawha, and marches them- to the mouth of that river at Point Pleasant. Here, October 10, 1774, in early morning, he is attacked by a force of nearly a thousand warriors, led by Cornstalk, the famous Shawnee chief. The battle rages all day long, but it ends in the defeat and retreat of the Indians. The right wing of Lord Dunmore's army comes west- ward by way of AMnchester and Cumberland, over the mountains and through our county to Redstone (now Brownsville ) , thence to Fort Pitt. From Fort Pitt he goes down the Ohio "with a flotilla of a hundred canoes, besides keel-boats and pirogues," to the mouth of the Hockhocking river, builds a stockade there, presses westward to the Sci- oto, fortifies himself on the Pickaway plains near Chillicothe, sends word to Lewis to join him at this point, and sends out detachments against neighboring Indian towns. Among these detachments is one commanded br 17i CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE William Crawford, now a major, who with his company has come with Dunmore's army from Fort Pitt. Lord Dun- more knows and values Crawford. Last year (1TT3), he visited Crawford, spent some time at his humble home on the banks of the Yough, and probably went with him to look at the land round about, with a view to making an investment. When Lewis was in the Kanawha valley in June, Lord Dunmore had sent word to the officer in com- mand at Fort Pitt: "You could not do better than send Captain William Crawford with what men you can spare to join him, to co-operate wdth Colonel Lewis, or to strike a blow himself, if he thinks he can do it with safety. I know him to be prudent, active and resolute." But, instead of going with the left wing to serve under Lewis, he accompanies the right wing and serves under the Earl of Dunmore. Neither he nor his commander saw much service in the campaign. Crawford is sent to destroy a defiant Lidian town, called Salt-lick town, in Franklin county, Ohio, and he destroys it, takes fourteen prisoners and rescues several white captives. But the spirit of the Indians has been "broken by their defeat" at Point Pleas- ant. A treaty of peace is negotiated, the Lidians agreeing to surrender all claim to the lands south of the Ohio. So ended Dunmore's war ; a short war, less than six months in duration, but one which had great results. It has been truthfully said of this war that "it was the first in the chain of causes that gave us for our western frontier in 1TS3 the Mississippi and not the Alleghanies." It cowed the northwestern tribes and "kept them quiet for the first two years of the Revolutionary struggle," and allowed the advance of civilization westward. On the 13th day of November, 177-I, Crawford arrived at his home at Stewart's Crossings (New Haven), and the next day he wrote Washington : "Sir, I yesterday returned from our late expedition against the Shawanese, and I think we may with propriety say we have had great success, as we made them sensible of their villainy and weakness, and MILITARY HISTORY IT. I hope made peace with them on such a footing" as wiU be lasting, if we can make them adhere to the terms of agree- ment." We do not know the names of the men of his com- pany, or anything of the losses which the company may have sustained. THE REXOLUTION. Fayette county, to use its present name, cordially •approved the stand made by the colonies against the aggres- sion of the mother country in 1775. The news of Lexing- ton and Concord. April l!)th, 1775, brought forth an out- burst of enthusiastic patriotism. Local issues were for the time forgotten. The partisans of Mrginia and the partisans of Pennsylvania in the boundary line contention were of one mind as to the sacred cause of American liberty. Lhider the call of the Pennsylvanians, the people of Westmoreland county ( Layette being included in it at that time) met Alay ICi, 1775, at Hannastown, the county seat, and adopted a series of radical and energetic resolutions which amounted almost to a declaration of independence, arranging for the forming of regiments and the taking of measures for defense in case of British invasion, and announcing to the world that they were ready to oppose the acts of "a wicked ministry and a corru])ted Parliament" with their "lives and fortunes." On the very same day, a meeting, under Virginian aus- pices, was held in P^ittsburgh, at which "the inhabitants of that part of Augusta county that lies on the west side of the Laurel Hill" adopted resolutions of similar import, and appointed a committee of defense. Twenty-eight prominent and influential citizens were put on this committee, several of them being residents of the present Fayette county and one of them, Alajor William Crawford, being a resident of what is now New Haven. During the fall of that year, Crawford recruited a bat- talion that came in time to be known as the Seventh Vir- ginia Regiment. On the 12th of January, 1776, he was 176 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Virginia ; and on the 11th of the following" October, he was commissioned colonel of the Seventh by act of Congress, his commission dating from August IJrth. The men under his command were chiefly from southwestern Pennsylvania, then claimed by Virginia, and some of them were, no doubt, from the Yough region. They were with Washington in the battle of Long Island August 27th, and in the retreat through New Jersey into Pennsylvania. They crossed the Delaware with him that Christmas night when he advanced upon the enemy, though the river was full of floating ice and the air full of blinding sleet and snow. They were in the battle of Trenton the next day, the battle of Princeton January 3d 1777, the battle of the Brandy wine September 11th, and that of Germantown October 4th. Crawford, their colonel, was sent out with a detachment of light-armed men acting as scouts during the operations round about Philadelphia, in the fall of that year, in which service Washington said : "He rendered efficient service." In the battle of the Brandy- wine, "he took an active and prominent part," according to Washington, and "came near being captured" ; and in the battle of Germantown, General Reed said that Crawford had proved himself "a very good officer." In November of that year, the Congress requested Gen- eral Washington to send Crawford to Pittsburgh "to take command, under Brigadier-General Hand, of the Conti- nental troops and militia in the Western Department," the savages again becoming troublesome along the border. After going to York, Pennsylvania, where the Congress was then in session and receiving instructions, he came westward to his home at Stewart's Crossings and then to Fort Pitt. Washington spoke of him as "a brave and active officer," and the officers of his regiment, on separating from him, presented him with an address in which they said : "We beg leave to take this method of expressing our sense of the warmest attachment to you, and at the same time our sorrow in the loss of a commander who has alwavs been MILITARY HISTORY 177 influenced by motives that deservedly gain the unfeigned esteem and respect of all those who have the honor of serv- ing under him. Both officers and soldiers retain the strong- est remembrance of the regard and afl:ection you have ever discovered towards them; but as we are well assured that vou have the best interest of your country in view, we should not regret, however sensibly we may feel the loss of you, that you have chosen another field for the display of your military talents. Permit us, therefore, to express our most cordial wish that you may find a regiment no less attached to you than the Seventh, and that your services may ever be productive of benefit to your country and honor to yourself." To this address. Colonel Crawford sent an appropriate and appreciative reply. The feelings expressed in this communication from the men of the regiment were, no doubt, the feelings entertained toward Colonel Crawford by all those who, at various times and in various places, served under his command. He was courageous and reliable. He interested him- self in the comfort of his soldiers. With all his fearlessness and vigor, he was prudent. Indications are not lacking that he had skill in the leadership of men, though it mav be he was not capable of large, independent command. He was trusted by those above him, and those under him. He was considerate and kind, and yet firm. In fact, he was a rigid disciplinarian, from all accounts. A credible storv is told that a soldier, named Rotruck, who lived on the west side of the Yough river not far above our present borough lim- its, came home on a furlough to see his sick wife. For some reason, he overstayed his leave of absence. Colonel Crawford, then at home, hearing of the matter, had the man arrested and the case investigated ; believing the man guilty of desertion, he ordered that he be shot at once. Tradition adds that the wife came to the Colonel on bended knee, begging the life of her husband, and, finding her entreaties to avail nothing, she pronounced a fearful curse 178 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE upon him, devoting" him to a death of torture and unspeak- able horror, and his descendants to hves of imbecility and shame. Another regiment, raised in southwestern Pennsylvania in 1777, was the Thirteenth Virginia, often called the "West Augusta Regiment." It was intended for border service, and was raised chietiv through the efforts of Crawford, whom the Governor of Virginia appointed its first Colonel. It was stationed in detachments at various points on the Ohio and Alleghany rivers. Under the authority of Penn- sylvania, a company was raised in Westmoreland county in 1776, with Joseph Erwin as its captain. It took part in the battles of Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown, and was mustered out at Valley Forge, New Year's day, 1778, its term of enlistment having expired. The Eighth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line con- sisted of seven companies from Westmoreland county and one from Bedford, was raised in the summer of 1776, and served until the close of the war. Eneas Mackey was the first Colonel ; George Wilson, of New Geneva, Fayette county, the first Lieutenant-Colonel. After their death in 1777, Daniel Brodhead became Colonel, and Richard Butler Lieutenant-Colonel. The regiment was at Bound Brook, N. J., in the winter and spring of 1777, and a detachment of it was sent that summer with Morgan in his Northern campaign. The regi- ment was ordered to Fort Pitt afterward. It went, under General Mcintosh's directions, to the Wyoming and West Branch valleys to suppress Indian insurrections, and to the mouth of the Beaver and built Fort Mcintosh (where the town of Beaver now stands), and to the Muskingum, where they helped to build Fort Laurens. In these three regiments — the Seventh and Thirteenth Virginia and the Eighth Pennsylvania — there were many men from the Yough region, probably not a few of them from our own vicinity, and it can be safely asserted that this neighborhood was represented in the independent or- MILITARY HISTORY 1T9 ganizatioiis that from time to time were formed for special service on the frontiers. Colonel Crawford took an active part in these border expeditions. He built a stockade fort on the Alleghany river about sixteen miles above Fort Pitt, near the present towns of Parnassus and New Kensington. The fort was directed by General Mcintosh to be called Fort Crawford, and Crawford at intervals was in command of it. He went with the expedition that resulted in the building of the forts Mcintosh and Laurens and in "several minor expeditions against the Indians." George Rogers Clark wished Craw- ford to accompany him in his campaign against the Illinois country, but Crawford felt obliged to decline the invitation. Clark came from Williamsburg, Virginia, with a small force, to Redstone (now Brownsville), where he gathered a few recruits, and on the 13th of May, 1778, left Redstone bound for the Falls of the Ohio ( Louisville ) , with about a hundred and fifty soldiers and with about twenty families, on their way to Kentucky, who desired his protection. In due time he reached the Illinois country, captured Kaskaskia and Vincennes, dealt a crushing blow to the Indians and their British allies, extended our territory westward and rendered a most valuable service to his country for all time to come. LOCHRy's EXPEDITION. The Indians becoming alarmingly hostile and aggres- sive in 1780, George Rogers Clark proceeded to raise a force, intending to march to the Wabash country and, if practi- cable, capture Detroit, the seat and center of the British influence in the Northwest. He went back and forth from the Falls of the Ohio to Fort Pitt seeking troops, but his progress was slow. It is said "he hoped to raise the bulk of his forces" in western Pennsylvania, but from various causes his hopes were not realized. Colonel Crawford, with whom he had served in the Dunmore war, aided him to the best of his ability in securing troops. From Westmoreland countw 110 men joined the expe- 180 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE dition, some of whom, as we know, belonged to that part of the county which was afterward erected into Fayette ; and these 110 men were put under the command of Colonel Archibald Lochry, County Lieutenant. Sixty of the men belonged to Captain Thomas Stokely's Rangers, and fifty of them were new recruits. They went down the Ohio in flat boats to Fort Henry (Wheeling), expecting to join Gen- eral Clark at that point, but finding that he had gone further down the river, Lochry and his men proceeded to a point some miles below the mouth of the Great Miami, August 24, 1789, where they were surprised by a band of Indians under Joseph Brant and "were all slain or captured with small loss to their assailants. Many of the prisoners, includ- ing Lochry himself, were afterwards murdered in cold blood by the Indians." Another company of men from Westmoreland, prin- cipally from the Yough region, went out to take part in this expedition. The company was recruited chiefly by James Paull, afterward Colonel Paull, of Dunbar township, and was commanded by Captain Benjamin Whaley, of Tyrone township. They floated down the river from Elizabeth to Fort Pitt, and from Fort Pitt, where Captain Isaac Craig's artillery joined them, to the Falls of the Ohio. But, "the other forces failing to assemble," the expedition was aban- doned and Captains Whaley and Craig, with their men, came home on foot through Kentucky and Virginia, "encounter- ing innumerable perils and hardships." Colonel David Williamson, of Washington county, led a force against the Indians in the Muskingum valley in 1781 and again in 1782. In his second expedition, he fell upon the hapless, peaceful Moravian Indians, "the Christian Indi- ans," and massacred them, a deed of revolting cruelty. It is not known that any soldiers from Fayette county were in either of these expeditions. If there were any, let us hope that the}' were among the eighteen men who protested against the slaughter of those innocent people, and who withdrew from the scene, calling on God to witness that they abhorred the deed about to be done. MILITARY HISTORY 181 On the 24th of Alay, 1782, a force of 480 mounted men assembled at Mingo Bottom, on the Ohio river, about two and a half miles below Steubenville. These men were about to take part in an enterprise in which our own neighborhood was profoundly interested : Crawford's sandusky ExrEDiTioN. Many of the men were from the Yough, and the leader was the sturdy and well-tested soldier, William Crawford, of Stewart's Crossings, New Haven, now in the fiftieth year of his age. It was an expedition, long felt to be absolutely necessary, to put down the hostile tribes in the neighborhood of the Sandusky river, in what in now Ohio. The fierce VVyandots and Delawares and Shawnees, known as the San- dusky Indians, were bitter enemies of the Americans and, encouraged as they were by the British commandant at Detroit, they kept up an unceasing warfare against the fron- tier settlements. General Washington said: "I am con- vinced that the possession or destruction of Detroit is the only means of giving peace and security to the western frontier," and General William Irvine, now in command at Fort Pitt, said : 'Tt is, I believe, universally agreed that the only way to keep Indians from harassing the country is to visit them. But we find, by experience, that burning their empty towns has not the desired effect They must be followed up and beaten, or the British, whom they draw their support from, totally driven out of their coimtry. I believe if Detroit was demolished, it w^ould be a good step toward giving some, at least temporary, ease to this coun- try." This was the belief of Colonel Crawford and, though he had no intention of going with this Sandusky expedition Oi 1T82, he cordially approved and recommended it. There was no difference of opinion as to the necessity of it, and it was "as carefully considered and as authoritatively planned as any military enterprise in the West during the R.evolution." its promoters being not only "the principal military and civil officers in the Western Department, but 182 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE a large proportion of the best known and most influential private citizens."" The expedition was made up of volunteers from the present counties of Fayette, Westmoreland and Washington, a number of them from the Youghiogheny valley. Colonel Crawford was prevailed upon to go, and with him went his son, his son-in-law, his nephew, and not a few friends and neighbors. On the IGtli of May, he made his will, and on Saturday morning, the 18th, he left home, went to Fort Pitt, had an interview with General Irvme, joined the troops at Mingo Bottom on the 24th, was chosen commander by a vote of the men, started into the wilderness Saturday morning, the 25th of May, reached the Sandusky plains in nine days, and on the -Ith of June entered one of the Wyan- dot towns and found it deserted. The same afternoon his army met a British force, called Butler"s Rangers, and about 200 Indians. The Indians had learned of the expedition, and had sent runners to Detroit asking help. Captain A-Iat- thew Elliott, a tory from Path valley, Pennsylvania, and the notorious Simon Girty, "the white renegade,'" were with the Indians and British. The battle lasted until sundown without marked advan- tage on either side. Colonel Crawford lost five killed and nineteen wounded ; his opponents lost six killed and eight wounded. The Americans "slept by their watch-fires in the grove" from which the enemy had been dislodged, and the enemy camped for the night upon the open plain. The next morn- ing neither side made attack, but, in the afternoon, 140 Shawnee warriors, painted and plumed, came from the south and took their position beside the Delawares and Wyandots, while small bodies of savages were seen coming to the scene of conflict. Lieutenant Rose said, "They kept pouring in hourly from all quarters." A council of officers was held, and a retreat was de- cided upon. Fires were burned over the graves of the dead to prevent discovery. Seven of the wounded were put upon MILITARY HISTORY 183 Stretchers. The others, less seriously wounded, were put upon horses. Crawford and his imperilled army began the retreat as the darkness fell, but they were no sooner in motion than the Shawnees and Delawares attacked them, inflicting some loss and causing much confusion. Three of the divisions hurried off from the route taken by the advance guard, and some of the men got into a swamp or "cranberry marsh." At break of da}-, the retreating army reached the de- serted Wyandot village. Many had become separated from the main body, some of whom were captured b}' the Indians, while others found their way home through the untenanted forests, but somewhat more than three hundred had been able to keep together. Among those who failed to appear when the divisions of the army had come together was Colonel Crawford him- self, and no one could give an}' information concerning him. The surgeon. Dr. Knight, and one of the guides, John Slover, were also missing. Major David Williamson was now in command in Crawford's absence, and the retreat was continued. At noon of June Gth, the army found that it was being pursued, and that the pursuers were gaining on it. The woodland had almost been reached when the men began to be pressed by the foe, and at two o'clock in the afternoon they came to a stand on the eastern edge of the Sandusky plains, near Olen- tangy creek, five miles south of the present town of Bucyrus, in what is now Crawford county, Ohio. A battle followed between the Americans and the allied British and Indians. The Americans were "attacked on the front, left flank and rear," but stood their ground manfully. Then came on "a furious thunder storm," with torrents of rain that rendered much of the powder useless. The battle had lasted but an hour when the enemy withdrew. The retreat was continued with occasional skirmishes, the last shot being fired near the present town of Crestline. On the loth of June, the little army reached ^lingo Bottom 184 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE and crossed the Ohio. The next day they were discharged, and thus a sad and disastrous campaign of only twenty days "came to an end." Many of the missing came in afterwards, but Colonel Crawford, who had been separated from his army the night of the retreat of June 5th, was captured; was taken by sev- enteen Dela wares to the Half King's town (Upper San- dusky), thirty-three miles to the west, where the chief painted his face black and started with him and Dr. Knight and other prisoners to a town of the VVyandots, then to a Delaware town on the Little Tymochtee Creek. All the pris- oners, except Crawford and Knight, were tomahawked on the way. Near the present town of Crawfordsville, in the northern part of Wyandot county, Ohio, Crawford was put to death amid indescribable tortures and indignities. He was tied to a stake, stripped naked, his hands bound behind him. A fire was made near enough to scorch him. "Powder was shot into his body, and burning fagots shoved against him." His executioners taunted him, Simon Girty, "the white renegade," prominent among them. For two hours he bore his excruciating suffering with unflinching fortitude, "speaking low and beseeching the Almighty to have mercy on his soul." He fell, and the savages scalped him and threw hot coals upon his head. Then he rose blinded, black- ened, burnt almost to a crisp, walked once or twice about the stake and fell dead. At sundown, June 11, 1782, the spirit of Crawford passed to rest, while for hours afterward the Indians danced in fiendish glee around his charred and lifeless body. The tidings of Crawford's tragic and awful death spread gloom over all the settlements, called forth utter- ances of deep sorrow from Washington and all his military associates, and darkened the home from which he had reluctantly taken his departure less than a month before. A monument, eight and a half feet in height, stands on the spot where the massacre occurred, and bears the follow- ing inscription : THE SCENE OE CRAWFORD'S DEATH 186 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE "In memory of Colonel Crawford, who was burned by the Indians in this valley. Erected bv the Pioneer Associa- tion of Wyandot county, Ohio, August 30, 1877." The Colonel's son, John, reached home, but his nephew,, William, and his son-in-law. William Harrison, were put to death b}- their Indian captors. Dr. John Knight, after a thrilling experience, made his escape and reached Fort Pitt on the -tth of July, 1782. John Slover made a hair-breadth escape from his torturers and reached Fort Pitt July 10th, James Paull, of Dunbar township, became separated from the army, but with almost incredible perseverance in over- coming difficulties, he reached home. Although but twenty- two years of age, he had already rendered important mili- tary service, and afterward he served with distinction in Harmar's campaign of 1790. He died July 9, 18-11, in the 81st year of his age. John Sherrard, a home-friend of Paull, reached home, though for a time separated from the army and in imminent peril of capture. The State of Pennsylvania promptly paid the losses sustained by those who had served in the expedition, and^ under a special law, granted pensions to all who had re- ceived injuries of any kind. We do not know the number of Revolutionary soldiers who, at some time or other, have lived here. There are well-known names among them, at an}- rate, as Peter Still- wagon, Sr., a sergeant who took part in many battles, Trenton, Princeton and others, was captured and for nearly two years lay prisoner in New York, which at the time was in possession of the British. George Mathiot served in a regiment from Lancaster county. William Turner, of the 8th Pennsylvania line, lived here in 1835, at the age of 87 years. An Englishman who had served in the American army came here after the w^ar, and was a clerk and also a teacher. Jacob Buttermore, of Berks county, was a mem- ber of the "German regiment" for four years and eight months. He enlisted, August, 177(3, in Captain Peter Boy- er's company ; was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton and MILITARY HISTORY 187 Mommouth and in Sullivan's Indian campaign (spring of 1780) ; was wounded at Trenton, though he continued in the service vuitil the regiment was mustered out, New Year's, day, 1781. He died in Connellsville township in 1820, and was buried in the Quaker burial ground. John Sherrard,, later of Dunbar township, went from Lancaster county in what was known as the "Flying company," and was in the- campaign for the relief of Boston. THE WHISKY INSl^RRECTION. At the suggestion of Alexander Hamilton, secretarv of the treasur}', a bill was passed by congress, March 3, 1791, imposing a tax of four pence per gallon on all distilled spirits. This excise law was extremely offensive to the counties of southwestern Pennsylvania. The farmers had a very limited home market for their grain, and they had found that the grain could not be carried over the moun- tains to the eastern market at a profit, unless converted into whisky. "A horse," said they, "can carry only four bushels of rye, but a horse can carry twenty-four bushels of rye when turned into whisky." Every fifth or sixth farmer, in most localities, had a "still house," and was a distiller as well as farmer ; in the winter converting his own grain and that of his neighbors "into a portable and saleable article." The excise law was energetically opposed on the ground that it was not only an interference with their political rights and liberties, but a financial calamity, consuming, as they said, "what little money the sale of whisky brings into the country." The tax on distilled spirits was "regarded in the same light as the citizens of Ohio would now regard a United States tax on lard, pork or flour." Great excite- ment prevailed from the time the law was enacted until in 179-1 it amounted to an insurrection. Washington county took the most active part, but Greene, Westmoreland, Alle- gheny and Fayette were not inactive. Meetings were held. Collectors were denounced, resisted and, in some instances, assailed, tarred and feathered, beaten, threatened, bovcot- 188 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ted, or, as in the case of General Neville and Benjamin Wells, their homes destroyed. Military organizations were formed. The United States mail was interfered with. At "Braddock's Field," Ai:gust 1, 1794, an immense crowd assembled, "of which a good proportion was composed of militia men and volunteers under arms," and hostile oper- ations were freely talked of and even determined upon. The excitement grew so violent and the proceedings so turbulent that President W'ashington issued a procla- mation giving warning to the disaffected people ; the next day he appointed commissioners to visit the region involved with a view of restoring order, but all this failing to secure the end desired, he called out troops, to the number of fif- teen thousand men, under General Henry Lee, the "Light Horse Harry" of Revolutionary fame, and sent them to the scene of the insurrection. One wing of the army came westward by way of Bedford, Somerset and Mount Pleas- ant ; the other wing by way of Cumberland, and Uniontown, meeting" on the Monongahela near Parkinson's P^rry, now Monongahela City. In a brief campaign the insurrection was crushed without battle or bloodshed. The Whisky Insurrection had the sympathy of many of the Fayette county people. Liberty poles, as they were called, were erected in various parts of the county, one of them at the L^nion furnace, Dunbar township. Only a few Fayette county men attended the incendiary "muster" at Braddock's Field. Findley, in his history of the insurrec- tion, says there were not more than twelve. Nor have there heen recorded any scenes of riot in our neighborhood, ex- cept the attack on the house of Benjamin Wells, collector of revenue for Fayette and Westmoreland counties. His house stood on wdiat is now 7th street. New Haven, and he had his office in it. Three times the house was attacked by night, April, 1793, November, 1793, and July, 179-4, On the last occasion, the rioting party set fire to the house .and destroyed it with all its contents. MILITARY HISTORY 189' THE WAR OF 1812. The Borough of Coniiellsville was incorporated at an important juncture in international history. Napoleon Bonaparte was on the throne of France. France and Eng- land were at war. England seized American vessels along the coasts of Europe, claiming" the right of search, crip- pling our commerce, and violating the law of nations toward neutrals. The causes of irritation multiplied until, at three o'clock in the afternoon of June 19, 1812, James Madison, president of the United States, by authority of Congress,, issued a declaration of war. Thus the Second War for Independence, as it has justly been styled, was legally be- gun, after several years of exasperating experiences. Governor Snyder, of Pennsylvania, sustained the na- tional government in its course, and devoted himself faith- fully to the work of securing troops. Recruiting began at once in Fayette county. A com- pany under Captain Thomas Collins, of Uniontown, left the county seat in August, going to Oswego and the New York- frontier. A company was raised in Connellsville in Sep- tember. Its captain was James Whaley ( born March 20,. 1788, in Tyrone township), whose father, Benjamin Wha- ley, had been a captain in Revolutionary times. George Huey was first lieutenant and Hugh Ray, second. The sergeants were Andrew Reece, Patrick Adair, Crawford Springer and Abram Kilpatrick. The corporals were Henry Jones, Aaron Agen, Henry Haselton and John Marple. John Robbins was drum-major, George Biddle drummer and Charles Long fife-major. A dinner was given the company at David Barnes' house (afterward the Page House), on Main street the; day of its departure for the war, and a farewell address was made by ''Father" Connelly. The company crossed the river to New Haven and marched thence to Pittsburgh where, on the second day of October, 1812, they were mus- tered into service, assigned to a regiment commanded by Colonel Robert Patterson and taken to the armv of the 190 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVILLE northwest of which General Wilham Henry Harrison, tlie liero of Tippecanoe, was at the head. In the summer of that year, an unsuccessful campaign under General William Hull, had ended in the surrender of Detroit and the loss of Michigan. On the 22d of Jan- uary, 1813, General James Wilkinson was defeated by the British and Indians near the Maumee Rapids. On reach- ing the field of operations, Harrison, whose aim was to retake Detroit and invade Canada, was obliged to go into winter quarters at Fort Aleigs on the Maumee River, some miles south of the present city of Toledo. Here our Connellsville men were stationed for the win- ter, but when the spring and summer came, they were kept busy in a series of skirmishes and sieges until, on the 5th •of October, Harrison's army totally routed the enemy on the River Thames, Canada, recovered all that Hull had lost and, with Perry's great naval victory of September 10, gained for the Americans the full control of Lake Erie and a strong foothold in Canada. There were other Connellsville men, besides those in Captain Whaley's company, engaged in the War of 1812, as Mr. William Davidson, who had become a resident of the Borough four years before that war began and was through life one of our most influential citizens, and Major David Cummings. who was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Beaver Dam, Canada, remaining a prisoner for six months. Both he and Mr. Davison represented Payette county in the Legislature in after years. Major Cummings was the father of Dr. James C. Cummings, who w^as for many years a prominent physician of Connellsville, and a member of the Legislature in 1843-4. It is worthy of mention that another Connellsville man, a young man of twenty-three years, was one of the heroes of THE ALAMO. T)avid P. Cummings, son of Ala j or David Cummings, was graduated from Jefterson College, Canonsburg, Pa., during MILITARY HISTORY 191 the excitement occasioned bv the Texan war for indepen- dence, and, at the earhest opportunity, he went to the scene of activity to take part in the struggle. He was one of the 172 men who garrisoned the fort known as the Alamo, near San Antonio. Santa Anna, the Mexican dictator, with 4,000 men, bombarded the fort for 11 days. The garri- son fought with unflinching courage until the interior of the fort was "drenched with blood and heaped with corpses." On the 6th of March, 1836, the fort was carried by storm, and not a soul escaped alive. Colonel David Crockett "fell, stabbed by a dozen swords ;"' Colonel Bowie, though ill in bed, and ]\Iajor Evans were shot. The whole garrison was slain, and the bodies were gathered into the center of the Alamo ( originally a Spanish mission and fort, an acre in extent ) and were burned to ashes. The Cummings family monument in Hill Grove ceme- tery bears an appropriate inscription, on one of its panels, to the young hero's memory. THE MEXICAN WAR. The INIexican War began with a slight collision on the Rio Grande between the American forces under General Zachary Taylor and the Mexicans under General Arista, in April, 18-16. On May 11th President Polk, in a special message to Congress declared that "war existed by the Act of Alexico," and Congress authorized him to call out 50,000 volunteers. In the fall of 1846, a company was raised in Connells- ville and Uniontown. It bore the name of the "Fayette County Volunteers," and became Co. H of the Second regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. The recruiting in Connellsville was done under the direction of Dr. William Quail, at his office on Main street, a few doors above the Presbyterian Church. About 30 men enlisted, among whom were Dr. Quail himself, Daniel Forrey, Henry N. Stillwagon, Peter A. Johns, Zephaniah Ellis Barnes, John Bishop, William Freeman, Alexander 192 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Hood, Jackson Kilpatrick and his brother, John P. Kil- patrick, Samuel Page, x\ndrew Pritchard, James Shaw,. James Turner and Wihiani Turner. The first captain of Company H was Wilham B. Rob- erts, a furniture dealer in Uniontown, with Dr. Quail, first lieutenant. On the 2nd of January, 184T, the company marched from Uniontown to Brownsville, and went by boat from that point to Pittsburgh where the regimental organization was formed. Captain Roberts, of Company H, was made colonel. Dr. Quail succeeding him as captain. The regiment was taken by steamboat to New Or- leans, and thence by the J. N. Cooper, a sailing vessel, to Vera Cruz. It took part at once in the celebrated siege of \''era Cruz, under General Winfield Scott, lasting from March Tth, 1S4T. until March 27th, when the city sur- rendered. In the march from Vera Cruz to the interior,, the regiment was assigned to General Quitman's division, taking part in the battles of Cerro Gordo, April 18th, Con- treras, August 20th, and Cherubusco, the same day, in the bombardment of Chepultepec, September 12th and 13th, and in the triumphal entry into the City of Mexico, Tuesda}- morning, September 14th. It was one of the first regi- ments to plant the stars and stripes on the spot where once stood the Halls of the JMontezumas. We are not able to say what losses Company H sus- tained in these and other engagements. Many succumbed to the climate. Colonel Roberts died from disease in the City of Mexico, October 3, 1847, less than three weeks after the entry. His body was sent home and was laid to rest in the Methodist Episcopal burial ground with "every demonstration of sorrow and respect." John Stur- geon, first lieutenant of Company H, died in the City of Mexico, and his body was sent home with that of Colonel Roberts. Daniel Forrey, who had been a school teacher in New Haven and was second lieutenant in Company H, fell a victim to disease and died at Vera Cruz. MILITARY HISTORY 193 Alexander Hood, whose father, Daniel Hood, Sr., had been a soldier under General Scott in the War of 1812, died of yellow fever in the City of Mexico. The army suffered greatly from sickness during the whole campaign. Many were not able to go farther than Vera Cruz. Eighteen hundred men were left behind at Puebla, and seven hundred died at Perote, on the summit of the Cordilleras. After the death of Colonel Roberts, Lieutenant Colonel John W. Geary, afterward a general in the Civil War and governor of Pennsylvania, took command of the regiment, which served until the close of the war. On being mustered out at Pittsburg, in July, 1848, Company H came b>' boat to Brownsville where it was met by an immense concourse of people and received an en- thusiastic welcome. Many people were there from Union- town and Connellsville, and there was great cheering, great beating of drums, great firing of salutes. The festivities of the occasion were marred, however, by an accident, the bursting of a small cannon, which resulted in the death of Samuel Austin, of Uniontown. He had himself been with the army in Mexico, but had come home from Vera Cruz disabled. He had gone with the Uniontown people to give welcome to his returning comrades. Quite a number of Connellsville men enlisted and served in other organizations, among whom were Thomas R. Davidson, John Andrew Cummings (a member of the Santa Fe expedition), Henry L. Reeger, of the 11th U. S. Infantry, and some who were in Captain P. N. Guthrie's company in the 11th Pennsylvania volunteers. OLD-THIE MUSTERS. Until 45 years ago, the militia laws of Pennsvlvania required the enrollment, with certain exceptions, of all able- bodied citizens between the ages of 18 and 45, to be trained to military duty, to be called out in cases of need and to hold annual drills or "training davs,'" everv enrolled 194 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE man to attend these "musters" under penalty of a militia tax. In early days, the men attended the '"musters" with- out uniform or arms, going through the manual of arms with wooden guns, sticks and even cornstalks. Hence, they were commonly styled "the Cornstalk Militia." In time, however, militia companies were formed and regularly armed and accoutered. As early as the '20s, companies of militia were or- ganized in the important centers of the county. The first Connellsville company was the Youghiogheny Blues, or- ganized August 17, 1823. The younger Samuel Trevor was captain in 1824:, a Mr. Smith in 1825, Dr. Joseph Rodgers in 1831, a Mr. White in 1835. In its early days, Uriah Springer was first lieutenant ; Hiram Herbert, first ser- geant ; Provance McCormick, first corporal. The musi- cians were Samuel Keepers, Jacob Eicher and Solomon Reager. Among the "high privates" were Henry and Cyrus White, Robert Torrence, William, George and John Balsley, Jonathan Newmyer, Hiram Snyder, George But- termore, Josiah Stillwagon, John W. Phillips, Richard Crossland, George Ashman, George Nichols and Henry Y. Loar. The company wore blue uniforms, as its name im- plies, and carried fiint-lock muskets with immense bay- onets. The Blues always celebrated their anniversary by a parade on the 17th of August. They "turned out" upon every important occasion, including the -ttli of July. In 1824:, the 4:th of July was a gala day. The Mount Pleasant V^olunteers came over and, with our own Yough- iogheny Blues, paraded through the streets, and afterward sat down to a bountiful open-air dinner, at which William Davidson presided, several persons responded to toasts and Captain Samuel Trevor read the Declaration of Indepen- dence. A still greater day, in the history of the Blues, was Thursday, May 26, 1825. It was the day of Lafayette's visit to Uniontown, when making his second tour of Amer- ica. Many of the militia companies took part in the pro- MILITARY HISTORY 195 cession, the Union Volunteers, the Pennsylvania Blues, the Fayette Guards and the Youghiogheny Blues. Late in the afternoon, thirteen guns were fired out the X^ational Road west of town. The companies were stationed on the hill. Lafayette appeared, drawn in an open carriage by four spirited bay horses. As he was driven along the main street of the county seat, the Union \'olunteers went before him, the other three companies following after him. The street was lined with cheering multitudes. Two triumphal arches spanned the street, and near the court house stood "an elegantly decorated platform" upon which Albert Gal- latin, late secretary of the treasury, delivered an address of welcome to the distinguished visitor. We cannot doubt that Captain Smith was proud of the Blues from Connells- ville, and that every man of them marched with erect head and elastic step, showing that they endorsed the inscription on one of the arches : "Our choicest welcome hereby is exprest In heartful homage to the Nation's Guest." But what greater day could there have been, after all, than the day of the "Big Muster." when the militia of the county met for training, as they did every year, sometimes in this place, sometimes in that. How great the excitement along the Yough, when the muster was held on the green level, the commons at the north end of New Haven. The country people for miles around, men, women and chil- dren, came to town in wagons, in buggies, on horseback and on foot. It was like "show day," and we hear that it was a "bigger day than the Fourth of July." From peep of day, there is stir and bustle. Tents are erected on the green level. The Youghiogheny Blues and the Youghiogheny Greens, our own two home companies, are ready to welcome the outside companies as they arrive. Here comes the Dunbar cavalry on the gallop, and, one after another, the Dunlap's Creek cavalry, the George's Creek cavalry, the Lafayette artillerists, the Union Volun- teers from Uniontown, the sharpshooters from Smithfield, 196 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNTLLE the "Swamp Blackbirds" from Perryopolis — company after company. The citizens are all in the streets, or at the doors and windows. The boys and girls go up to the Pinnacle to sec the company from Springfield coming into town by the Mud Pike, headed by the Salt Lick Buckwheat l^and, with fife and drum. When the militia is assembled, the roll is called. Tht drill is conducted. The general in command, in gorgeous uniform, with plumed hat and huge epaulettes, and mounted on a richly caparisoned horse, dashes up and down the line. The parade is long and splendid. Let us hope that the Youghiogheny Blues will not suffer from heat, in their heavy coats with high, stift" collars, and with their heavy muskets, weighing ten, twelve, some say fourteen pounds. Men from various places meet at the "Big Muster" to transact business, according to previous agreement, while, as for food and refreshments, there are booths and stands on the green level, on the Anchorage and along the streets where the dusty crow^ds can find biscuits, ginger bread, cakes and "small, home-brewed beer." The Youghiogheny Greens, of whom we have just spoken, was a company of militia, raised chiefly through the efl^orts of Herman Gebhart, at one time proprietor of a nail factory on Water street ; many of its members, how- ever, belonging to the New Haven side. It was in exist- ence as early as 1831, for it took part in the general muster at Uniontown in September of that vear. Henrv Black- stone was the first captain. The company was armed with rifles and wore, at first, green hunting shirts, afterward green uniform of the regulation kind. The old-fashioned musters, it may be added, were kept up until the Civil War. THE CIVIL WAR. When President Lincoln's proclamation was issued, April 15, 1861, calling for 75,000 volunteers to preserve the MILITARY HISTORY 1:')7 Union. Fayette county responded so promptly that within six days a company, ninety-eight men strong", left Union- town, for Pittsburgh, to be mustered into the service of their country. This company became Company G. Eighth Penn- sylvania Reserves. Sixteen companies in all, were recruited in Fayette county during the progress of the Civil War. Connells- ville men were to be found in several of these companies, as, also, in companies raised in neighboring counties. Six of our men, for instance, enlisted in Pittsburgh in one com- pany, Companv B, Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and rendered faithful service in the army of the Cumberland. Twenty-five men from Connellsville, New Haven and vicin- ity were in Company K, Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, also in the army of the Cumberland. Among the non-commis- sioned officers of the company were James J. Barnhart, of Juniataville, William Crossland, of Connellsville, and John N. Boyd, of New Haven. James Guthrie Taylor, of New Haven, was mustered in as Second Lieutenant of the com- pany, October 12, 1861, to rank from October Sth. He was wounded May 5, 1862, at Lebanon, Tenn., promoted to first lieutenant July 1, 1863, to rank from May 1, 1863; promoted to captain, Alarch 25, 186-1, to rank from March 1, 186^. Captain Taylor w^as killed in battle at Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, in the Atlanta campaign, August 20, 186-1. He was the youngest brother of Mrs. John R. Johnston, of Connellsville. Company H, 142nd regiment, P. V., was recruited in Connellsville in August, 1862. It was at a critical junc- ture in the history of the war. The army of the Potomac had failed in its campaign against Richmond. The City of Washington was in great peril. Another call for vol- unteers had been issued. Joshua M. Dushane, who had been the last captain of the Youghiogheny Blues and who had hitherto been unable to leave home, decided to raise a company here in his own town ; and so on Thursday, August 8th, he posted notices 198 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE in prominent places that there would be "a war meeting in the Presb3'terian Church" that night, and that there would be "good music and good speeches." When the hour of meeting arrived, the church was well filled. Mr. Alexander Johnston, an elder of the church, was called to the chair. A band of music discoursed patriotic airs. Rev. E. R. Donehoo, D. D., then a young man supplvnig the Presby- terian pulpit, afterward one of the most prominent minis- ters in Pittsburgh, delivered an eloc[uent and stirring ad- dress. Others spoke briefly; then volunteers were called for, and at once men began going forward to give their names at the secretary's table until, in a little while, two-thirds of the company had been raised. The other third was easily secured the next day. On Tuesday, August 13, 1863, at one o'clock p. m., the company left for Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh and Con- nellsville railroad, a great crowd accompanying them to the station and a farewell address being delivered to them by Mr. John Fuller on Main street. At eight o'clock the com- pany left Pittsburgh by the Pennsylvania railroad for Har- risburg where it was mustered into service within a few days. It was assigned to the. 143nd Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, a regiment made up of three companies from Somerset county, and one from each of the counties of Westmoreland, Union, Mercer, Monroe, \en- ango. Luzerne and Fayette, and commanded by Robert P. Cummins, of Somerset county, colonel ; Alfred B. Mc- Calmont, of Venango, lieutenant-colonel ; and John Brad- ley, of Luzerne, major. On arriving at Harrisburg, the Connellsville com- pany elected Joshua M. Dushane, captain ; Daniel W. Dull, first lieutenant ; and Hugh Cameron, second lieutenant, and on being assigned to the 142nd regiment, it was designated Company H. The company roll, including a few men mus- tered in later than August, 1863, was as follows : Joshua M. Dushane, Daniel W. Dull, Hugh Cameron, George H. Collins, Isaac Francis, Jr., Joseph F. Forrey, William F. 200 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Kurtz. Samuel Wilson, John V. Stouffer. James X. Walter, David B. Hood, Samuel H. Dull, J. Robinson Balsley, Jo- seph R. Brown, Joseph Balsley, William Whaley, Romanus Dull, Frederick Shearer, James D. Connell, James Mitts, Levi Firestone, Strickler Demuth, Richard Evans, William Helms, Edward Y. White, William H. Shaw, Abraham Eicher, Henry Kurtz, Winfield S. Hood. Josiah R. Balsley, David R. Gallatin, Jacob Artis, William A. Artis, William Artis, David Balsley, David Bingham, Husing Cooper, Alex. Collins, Jacob Clark, Joseph Coughman, Thaddeus Cunningham, James Cooley, Walter Dull, Stewart Durbin, John W. Eaglen, John C. Francis, Hawkins Firestone, Leroy W. Freeman, Gibson Helms, Garret Hall, Samuel Heffley, Josiah Hodge. William H. Harvey. Joshua M. Hart, Jesse Ingraham, Lloyd Johnston, Joseph N. John- ston, John H. Kern, Singleton Kimmel, Alex. Koover, Isaac Kerr, Henry Loughrey, John Loughrey, Leonard May, John Mitts, William Miller, Frederick Martin, Nathan W. Morris, Robert McLaughlin, Henry Nicholson, Jacob Ober, William H. Porter, John Rowen, William Ritenour, Con- rad F. Rist, Jeremiah Ritenour, Matthew Robbins, Ga- briel Rugg, Levi Stoner. William H. Sheppard, William Shisby, Jacob Saylor. John B. Stouffer, L. W. Shallenber- ger, Clayton Vance, William Williams, Charles H. White- ley, Jacob O. Walker and Wm. H. Whipkey. On being taken to Washington, the 143nd regiment was variously employed until in October, it was moved down the Potomac and. on the 13th of December, fought its first battle at Fredericksburg, Va., where it displayed great valor in the face of a destructive fire, and sustained great loss. It was at this time in the 1st brigade, 3rd divi- sion of the 1st corps, and in this its first battle, as in all that followed, made a record for bravery and efficiency of which none of its surviving members need be ashamed. It took part at Chancellorsville, May 2-4, 1863, and though not actively engaged it was for many hours exposed to a heavy artillery fire, and with the 1st corps covered the re- treat of General Hooker's army. It was almost directly on MILITARY HISTORY 201 the front of the Connellsvihe company in this battle that Stonewall Jackson was killed by the fire of the Northern skirmish line. The 142nd was in the thick of the first day's fight at Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863, in which General Reynolds was killed, and the Union forces were pressed back by over- whelming numbers through the town. It contested the •ground with heroic courage and at immense cost. It held position on Cemetery Hill, July 2nd and 3rd, and though its losses were not so great as on the first day, it ren- dered faithful service and helped to turn back the tide of invasion and to send a thrill of joy and hope to the friends raddock. Another company of guardsmen was raised in our town, and was mustered in. May 5th, 1892, as Company D, of the 10th regiment, with George A. Munson, captain; Alexander Johnston, first lieutenant, and Samuel H. Du- shane, second lieutenant. Tn July of that year, the regi- ment, with others, was sent to Homestead, Pa., to put an end to the "labor war" at that place. The members of Company D, not having received their uniforms and being in citizen's dress, were somewhat scornfully styled by the strikers, "the Tenth Regiment Pinkertons." The men re- mained at Homestead thirty-one days, but without battle or bloodshed. On the outbreak of THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. the 10th regiment reported at Mt. Gretna, Pa., April 28th, 1898, by order of the governor, for the purpose of enlist- ment in the United States service. As a volunteer regi- ment, the 10th was mustered into the service of the United States government. May 12th, 1898 ; Alexander L. Hawkins, colonel ; James E. Barnett, lieutenant-colonel ; Harry C. Cuthbertson and Eberhart Bierer, majors ; Dr. George W. NefT, of Masontown, surgeon ; Drs. Louis P. McCormick, of Connellsville, and John W. Coffin, of Beaver Ealls, as- 208 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE sistant surgeons; H. B. Duncan, adjutant, E. B. McCormick,^ quartermaster, and Rev. Joseph C. Hunter, chaplain. Company D was officered by Frank B. Hawkins, of Washington, Pa., as Captain, Hustead A. Crow, of Con- nellsville, as First Lieutenant, and A. J. Buttermore, of New Haven, as Second Lieutenant. The regiment left Mt. Gretna, May 18th, 1898, for the Philippine Islands, passed through Pittsburgh May 19th, arrived at San Francisco, California, Alav 25th, lay in Camp Merritt until June 14th, embarked that day on the U. S. transport Zelandia and entered Manila Bay July 17th, The men built intrenchments until July olst at a point four miles south of Manila. That night they were attacked by the Spanish forces with a heavy fire of shell from Fort Malate. Most of the men of Company D were under fire for the first time, yet they stood like veterans, displaying great gallantry and repelling the attack made by a vastly superior force. The regiment was in the charge upon Manila in Au- gust, and in the battle with the Filipino insurgents at the De La Loma Church, February 4, 1899, and in several other stubborn and spirited engagements, including the cap- ture of Malolos. Captain Hawkins, of Company D, received an appointment to the regular army and was mustered out June 18th, 1899. Lieutenant Hustead A. Crow succeeded him and was commissioned as captain on the 21st of June, A. J. Buttermore becoming first lieutenant and Samuel V. Ulsh second. It is worthy of special mention and of grateful remem- brance that the somewhat more than 15,000 volunteer sol- diers in the Philippines served voluntarily for more than two months after the treaty of peace with Spain had been ratified in April, 1899, and their term of enlistment had expired. They were entitled to be mustered out. The Filipino insurrection had, however, broken out and if these volunteer regiments had been mustered out, the small force of regulars left behind would have been helpless. It would MILITARY HISTORY 209 have been destroyed by overwhelming numbers. The vol- unteers said : "We will stay until the government can organize an army at home and bring it to the scene of hostilities."" They stayed until sufficient reinforcements came. They stayed cheerfully, willingly, uncomplainingly ; none more so than the men of Company D and the 10th Regiment. As President [NIcKinley said : "They suffered and sacrificed, they fought and fell, they drove back and punished the rebels who resisted Federal authority aird who with force attacked the sovereignty of the United States and its newly acquired territory." The 10th Regiment saw its severest service after its term of service had expired. President McKinley twice recommended to Congress that a special medal of honor be provided for every one of the men "regulars or volunteers, soldiers or seamen"' who had thus loyally served their country in a time of peril. The Congress, at its last session, acted upon the recommen- dation, a tardy acknowledgement of a noble service. In the campaign in the Philippines, our boys gained the name of "the Fighting Tenth," and received high praise in the official reports for their courage, steadiness and effi- ciency as soldiers. The regiment sailed Saturday, July 1st, 1899, on the U. S. transport Senator for San Francisco, stopping five days at Nagasaki, Japan, and touching at Yokohoma. On the 18th of July, a sore bereavement was experienced in the death of the gallant commander. Colonel Alexander L. Hawkins, who had been in failing health for some months, and when the Senator came into San Francisco Bay, August 1st, the waiting multitudes were surprised and grieved to see the flag at half-mast. Funeral services in Colonel Hawkins' honor, were held August 5th, in the Masonic Temple, San Francisco, after which the body was sent under escort to Washington, Pa., where the burial took place. The regiment was mustered out at San Francisco, Au- gust 32nd, after a service of fifteen months and a journey HEADQUARTERS, 10th REGIMENT, NEAR LA LOMA CHURCH LA LOMA CHURCH MILITARY HISTORY 211 by land and sea of more than seventeen thousand miles. On being mustered out, the regiment left for home in a special train of three sections, accompanied by a reception com- mittee that had come all the way from Pittsburgh, and arriving in that city. August 28, at two o'clock p. m. An enthusiastic welcome was given the men in Schenley Park, "participated in by many military and civic organizations," by the president of the United States (William McKinley), the Governor of Pennsylvania, Major General Merritt and Brigadier-General Greene. Company D reached Connellsville the next day (Tues- day, August 29th), and had a magnificent reception. The town was adorned with streamers and flags, the air was filled with music, the streets with people. The company was escorted, in an imposing parade, to Riverside Park where several addresses were delivered, followed by a ban- quet served by the ladies of the town at four o'clock p. m. in the opera house. The 10th Regiment, including Company D, took part in the memorable reception given Admiral Dewey in New York on his return from the Philippines, marching in the land parade Saturday, September 30th, 1899, and greeted with loud cheers along the entire route. A monument, erected by the State in accordance with an Act of Assembly appropriating $20,000 for the purpose, was unveiled and dedicated in Schenley Park, Pittsburg, on the 11th of June, 1904. The monument commemorates the services of the officers and men of the 10th Regiment who died while in the service of their country in the war with Spain. The following is the muster roll of Company D : Captain Frank B. Hawkins, Captain Hustead A. Crow, First Lieutenant Albert J. Buttermore, Second Lieutenant Samniie V. Llsh, First Sergeant James A. Stickel, Quar- termaster Sergeant Samuel S. Clark, Sergeants Robert L. Shaffer, George E. Mills, Alva M. Walters, Robert M. Boyer, James H. Mills, Corporals Walter E. Brown, John SPANISH INTRENCHMENTS AT MAI.ATE 10th REGIMENT GOING INTO BATTLE, MALATE, AUGUST 13, 1! M 11. IT ARY HISTORY 2U S. Pape, Herman O. Welker. Charles E. Maloy, George W. Calhoun, Harry L. Bishop, Howard E. Cromwell, Wil- liam G. \'ance, Albert R. Lowclen, Thomas B. Critchfield, James E. Campbell, Patrick J. Conway, John \V. Findley, Franklin R. Kenney, Joseph Earle Shaw, Musician Samuel E. Bretz, Thomas R. Cunningham, Artificer John M. Mar- tin, Wagoner Joseph Ambrose, Cook Henry B. Clark, Mas- cot "Searchlight" William Doran, Earnest J. Beatty, Harry T. Boyd, Thomas D. Beatty, Frank Bishop, Arthur F. Col- lins, Andrew A. Calhoun, Isaac X. Conklin, Clark G. Coch- ran, Edward C. Caldwell, Clark Collins, Patrick Cummings, Richard J. Crossland, RoUo J. Conley, George E. Conn, James H. Cope, Richard T. Cunningham, John Lewis Cover, William E. DeBolt, James B. Duify, Harry A. Everly, David Forsythe, Earl L. Forsythe, Thomas L. Fagan, Thomas Goodwin, Harry Goldsborough, A'eal Gallagher. George B. Geman, James A. Gaffney, George A. Geddes, James C. Hamilton. Frederick Helms. Harry Hay, Joseph C. Herwick, Wilbur M. Holtz, Harry A. Irwin, Edgar C. Jennewine, Frank C. Johnson, Charles P. Kerr, Harry King, John A. Kesslar, Alexander A. Lempka, William H. Little, Joseph Levy, George C. Morgan, Frederick Menefee, Eu- gene R. Morgan, John R. Aliller, Oliver N. Morrison, James Hervy Martin, Andrew !Mentzer, Jr., Joseph Mc- Ivlannis, Edward P. McDowell, Frank A. AlcClary, James McKenna, James E. Nickel, Daniel J. Newell, George C. Neeb, James Novrcki, Albert H. Ogle, Frank B. Port, Blair W. Peck, Charles Pleasants. Charles J. Rosenecker, Frank B. Reid, Edward A. Smith, Charles Stitzer, Alva A. Snyder, Alexander A. Stillwagon, Jacob P. Sayler, Joel C. Strawn. Frank G. Sisley, Ernest Trump, Edward C. Torne, Henry I. Trout, Rudolf J. Thiempke. Matthew J. Welsh, Harry C. Wilson, Charles W. Wallace, Harry Wolfe, Allen W. Weimer, Morris W. Woods, Edward N. Wood, Edward Worley, James S. Young, Jr. Corporal Walter E. Brown, of Vanderbilt, was killed in the battle of Malate. Twenty-one officers and men were 214 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE wounded during the campaign. The hst ol wounded is as fohows : Lieutenant A. J. Buttermore, Lieutenant S. V. Ulsh, Alva M. Wahers, Howard E. Cromwell, George W. Calhoun, Patrick Cummings, George B. Gemas, Chas. E. Maloy, Alva Snyder, Matthew J. Welsh, Thos. B. Critch- field, Harry L. Bishop, John A. Kesslar, Albert R. Lowden, Joseph Earle Shaw, Edward C. Caldwell, Eugene R. Mor- gan, James Novrcki, Charles J. Rosenecker, Henry L Trout and Charles W. Wallace. A provisional company of National Guardmen was or- ganized in Connellsville on the departure of Company D to the service of the LTnited States in the Spanish war, and continued its organization until Company D's return. It was commanded bv Captain Samuel H. Dushane, and was known as Company W, 17 th Regiment. On the sixth of July, 1900, Company D was re-organ- ized and resumed its place in the militia of the State as Company D, 10th Regiment, National Guards, Colonel James E. Barnett commanding. The first company com- mander, after the re-organization, was Captain Hustead A. Crow, folio we'd by Captain Alexander Johnston, Cap- tain John L. Gans, Captain Albert R. Lowden and the pres- ent commander, Captain Joseph H. Simpson. MILITARY SOCIETIES. Two societies, composed of survivors of the Civil War, are represented in Connellsville, the Grand Army of the Republic and the Union Veteran Legion. William F. Kurtz Post, No. 104, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized May 23, 1879, with the following charter mem- bers: Ed. Dunn, James S. Sanders, Edward Y. White, Rev. John A. Danks, Joseph M. Morrow, H. C. McCor- mick, Lloyd Johnston, R. Bruce Cox, J. M. Dushane, Henry Kurtz, Thomas M. Fee, R. P. Douglas, E. V. Good- child, James Cunningham, Dr. Geo. W^ Newcomer, M. Donley, R. D. Duncan, Irwin McCutcheon and Thomas Porter. The first officers were Ed. Dunn, commander ; R. MILITARY HISTORY 215 Bruce Cox, Sr. vice commander ; Rev. John A. Danks, chaplain ; E. Y. White, quartermaster ; Henry Kurtz, adju- tant ; Joseph AI. Morrow, oi^cer of the day, and Thomas M. Fee, officer of the guard. The present officers are L. W. Port, commander; Lloyd Johnston, senior vice com- mander; Noah Kaufman, junior vice commander; J. R. Balsley, chaplain ; Henry Kurtz, quartermaster ; Thomas M. Fee, adjutant; A. J. Cunningham, officer of the day, and Thomas Gregg, officer of the guard. The present member- ship is -iG. Encampment No. 68, Union Veteran Legion was or- ganized May 15th, 1890. The roster at that time was as follows: James K. P. McKarns, 11th Penna. Infantry (Reserves) ; J. W. McMasters, 12th, Lot Rush 85th, J. Z. Pritchard, 102nd, Adam H. Kerr, 14(»th. J. M. Dushane, Wm. P. Clark, Samuel Heffiey, B. F. Boyts, Nathan W. Morris. Charles H. Whitely. all of the 142nd, John J. Flem- ing 148th, R. Bruce Cox and T. E. Warner, 1st Penna. Cavalry, Alfred W. Hood and Henry C. McCormick, 15th Penna. Cavalry, Isaac C. Shaw, 7th W. Va. Cavalry, G. C. Giles, 1st W. Va. Cavalry, James M. Russell, 1st Iowa Cav- alry, James K. Percy, 2nd Michigan Cavalry, William A. Barnes, 5th N. Y. Artillery, A. S. Cameron. 211th Pa. In- fantry, John C. Cox, Friend Rifles, Sickles' Brigade and John W. Moon, (ith W. Va. Cavalry. The present officers are A. J. Cunningham, colonel commander ; P. J. Kessler, lieutenant-colonel; Clark Collins, major; Chas. H. Whitely, chaplain; J. R. Balsley, officer of the day; Frank Miller, adjutant; Wm. P. Clark, c[uartermaster. The present mem- bership is 38. These societies, the Grand Army and the Veteran Le- gion, celebrate Appomattox Day, visit the cemeteries on Memorial Day, strew flowers upon the graves of the sol- dier dead, hold appropriate memorial exercises, take part in important local celebrations and in various ways seek to perpetuate kindly memories and to promote the cause of patriotism, benevolence and brotherly regard. THE HOME COMING OF COMPANY D MILITARY HISTORY 217 The campaign in the PhiUppines is conimeniorated by two societies with which the Company D volunteers are con- nected. Camp Walter E. Brown, No. 4, Army of the Phil- ippines, was organized in Connellsville in 190;>. It holds monthly meetings, elects officers annually and takes part in patriotic observances. Joseph C. Herwick, Companv D, is the present commander of the camp. The 10th Penna. Regiment A'eteran Association has been in existence several years. It holds an annual re- union on the olst day of July, the anniversarv of the regi- ment's first battle, the battle of Malate. The last reunioiv was held in Donora, Penna. Captain Hustead A. Crow, of Company D, is the present president of the association. From this review of our military annals, it is evident that the Yough region has been represented in all the great American wars, from the first in which our land was freed from the yoke of foreign oppression, down to the last in which this nation of ours came to the relief of a neighbor who lay trembling in every nerve and bleeding at every pore, smote the heavy hand that had crushed that neighbor to the dust, and transformed the victim of Spanish tyranny and misrule into a free and independent state — the republic of Cuba. Men from the hills and valleys round about us fol- lowed Washington and Greene, followed Clark and Craw- ford and Wayne, foUowed Scott and Taylor, Grant, Sher- man, Sheridan, Thomas, Meade. ]\Ien from these streets and lanes were to be found on all the great battle fields of the Civil War, east and west, "above the clouds'" on Look- out Mountain, shoulder to shoulder on the historic heights of Gettysburg, in all the military departments from the Po- tomac to the Gulf, and in all the branches of military serv- ice, infantry, cavalry, artillery. It was the same in our last war. Wherever the Stars and Stripes were carried and wherever the roar of battle shook the trembling earth, sol- diers from Connellsville and New Haven were to be seen, some in Cuba, some in the Philippines, ten thousand miles between them. What the future may add to this chapter of 318 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE military history, we do not know. One thing, however^ is sure, and that is, that whatever wars ma}^ come, what- ever battles may be fought, braver soldiers will never go forth from among us than those whose services are here recorded. Gladly would we believe that our Nation shall "learn war no more,"" and our community no more hear the call to arms. Nevertheless, an age-long battle goes on, the bat- tle between truth and error, between light and darkness. May our community never be lacking in brave men and women to carry on the bloodless struggle for good govern- ment, civic righteousness, universal justice and a world- wide recognition of the brotherhood of man ; and may our experience ever be such as to confirm and illustrate the noble words of Milton : "Peace hath her victories No less renown"d than war." CHAPTER VII. CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. Connellsville had been a Borough for ten years when- some of the most enterprising of its citizens began to real- ize the advantages that a bank would bring to the commun- ity and what a power such an institution would l)e in build- ing up its varied industries. But the directing spirits of the government. State and Federal at this period, favored a monopoly of the banking business of the country by a very few large institutions — a charter could not therefore be gotten from the State of Pennsylvania for a bank. A group of monied men in the city of New York had experienced the same difficulty a few years previously,, when they came to apply for a charter for what is now the second oldest banking institution in that city. The promoters of the Connellsville enterprise profited by the experience of their New York brothers — which goes to show, by the way, that they were not so far out of touch with the Metropolis even though they were, at the time, on; the edge of civilization. The story of the New York institution, iM-iefly told, is as follows. The old bank of New York had long enjoyed a monopoly of the business in that city. It strenuously opposed the granting of another charter, and Alexander Hamilton, at that time secretary of the United States treasury, used every power and influence of his official posi- tion against its being granted. Hamilton was one of the founders of the old bank and very strong politically at the time. His influence had to be overcome. The services of Aaron Burr were secured by the peti- tioners for the charter, and by strategy he accomplished the desired end — even securins^ the endorsement of Ham- 220 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ilton — although it is doubtful if he, Hamilton, knew that he was helping to create a rival to his pet bank at the time. Xew York had long suffered a scarcity of pure water — the yellow fever scare of 1798 had increased the demand of her citizens for an adequate supply. The would-be bankers organized the Manhattan Company for the pur- pose of supplying an abundance of pure water to the City of New York. There were many influential men, however, who thought the water supply should be owned and controlled by the municipality, and accordingly opposed the granting of the charter to a private corporation. By some means, Hamilton was induced to write the '"Honorable Council" from Washington, strongly opposing the idea of a municipal water plant. The letter is a long one and somewhat amusing in the light of subsequent events — at any rate it killed the municipal plant and cleared the way for the granting of the charter of the Manhattan Company which was soon obtained. Besides the authority to acquire lands, build dams, tunnels, canals and pipe conduits for the purpose of supply- ing water to the city, the charter contained the following paragraph, briefl}^ stated: "And * * * it shall and may be lawful for the said company to employ all such surplus capital as may belong or accrue to it in the purchase of public or other stocks, or in any other monied transactions or operations, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the State of New York or of the United States for the sole benefit of said company." This gave a broad charter to the new Company, and it was not long in getting the "surplus capital" to work. Some years later it developed that of the $2,000,000.00 •capital $172,261.19 had been devoted to supplying New York with water, leaving the very creditable "surplus" of $1,827,738.81 to be used in "monied transactions" thus founding a great bank. CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 221 Concealed in the walls of the bank of the Manhat- tan Company's building is a small engine which to this day pumps a slender stream of water into a little wooden tank, and thus arc all the purposes of the Company's broad charter fulfilled. October 8, 181 (J, — a limited partnership, styled the "Connellsville Navigation Company" was organized, osten- sibly for the purpose of improving the navigation of the Youghioghenv River, but really for the purpose of engag- ing in the business of banking. So far as we can learn, the company attempted nothing in the way of its avowed purpose and proceeded immediately after its organization to do a banking business, thus becoming the first banking institution of Connellsville. The Articles of Association set forth, in part, as fol- lows : "We, the subscribers, believing that an association for the purpose of raising a fund to aid in the improvement of the Youghiogheny River, and in erecting a bridge across said river, is a measure of public utility, and will especially advance the interests of this section of the Commonwealth. have formed a company or limited partnership, and do hereby associate and agree with each other to conduct busi- ness in the manner hereinafter specified and described by and under the name and title of the president and directors of the Connellsville Navigation Compan}^, and we do hereby mutually covenant, declare and agree that the following are and shall be the fundamental articles of this our asso- ciation and agreement with each other, by which we and all persons who at au}- time may transact business with the said companv shall be bound and concluded." The capital stock of the Company (Article 1) was fixed at one hundred thousand dollars in money of the United States, "but may be increased hereafter at the discretion of the directors to an}- amount not exceeding $300,000.' The par value of the shares was $100 each. Under Article 2, the following named persons were CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE constituted a board of directors to hold such office until the first Monday in April, 1817, viz: Isaac Meason, Jr., Sam- uel Trevor, Daniel Rogers, Joseph Torrence, James Black- stone, John Strickler, Abram Baldwin, Daniel S. Norton, Jacob Stewart, Andrew Dempsey, John Lamb, Jacob Weaver, Stewart H. Whitehill, James Rogers and James PauU, Jr. The life of the company was fixed in a later article, which declares, "the association shall continue until the first day of April, 1825." The names of the subscribers and the number of shares subscribed by each are as follows : Names. Sha res. Names. Shares. Abram Baldwin 30 Jacob Davis 5 Samuel Trevor 30 James Paull, Jr. 50 James Rogers 20 Jonathan Page 5 Isaac Meason, Jr. 50 Jacob Warsing 5 D. & I. Rogers 50 E. Sallyards 10 John Lamb 20 Joseph Strickler 5 Andrew Dempsey 10 Abraham Stouffer 10 Jacob Weaver 20 Nathaniel Gibson 20 Stewart H. Whitehill 30 S. Stauffer 5 Jacob Stewart 20 Andrew Byers 5 William Lytle 5 James McMillan 5 James Blackstone 50 William Davis 2 James Francis 4 John M. Burdett 5 John Boyd 5 Caspar King 4 Joseph Torrence 10 Henry Etling 3 James McKoun 3 Robert Huey 1 John Stauflrer 20 Geo. Mathiot 3 Samuel G. Wirts 20 Cyrus I. Gibson 5 George Kemp 2 George Ream 5 Daniel Barnes 20 John Hinebaugh 5 Elijah Crossland 5 Robert Smith 10 Samuel S. Neale 2 John Strickler 10 George Oldshoe 2 Moses Vance 10 Michael Gilmore 4 Thomas Atkinson 5 Phineas Rogers 20 Samuel Weel 15 CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Names. Shares. Names. Shares. Philo Hall 5 Robert Philson 10 Thos. & Joseph Gibson 10 John Rogers 30 William Moreland -3 Thomas Perkins 20 John Miner 1 Christian Stanffer 5 Robert Boyd 5 Mahlon Rogers 5 Joseph Culbertson 2 Mark Stackhouse 5 Wm. Kepner 30 George Evans 5 James C. Seaton 34 Luther Stephens b Henry Hartzol 30 John B. Trevor 20 Isaac Gilmer 5 Moses Mercer 3 Peter Xewmyer 10 Ben. Kindrick 40 Jacob Xewmyer 5 George Mathiott fe James Shean 5 Wm. B. Foster 15 Isaac Clears 6 John Fautlinger 20 Martin Stephenson 5 John Jackson 50 John Shaup 1 Robert Hutchinson 2 Samuel G. Wurts 30 ]\Iartin Glassburner 1 Jacob Coslimon o Samuel Candan 3 Christian Stauft'er 10 William Patterson 5 John Tinstman 10 James Hertzell 20 Thos. Bigham 10 Philip Sullivan 20 Matthew Gaut 5 William Paull 20 Dr. L. Hendrickson 5 John Aliner 10 A meeting of the board of directors was held Novem- ber 3rd, 181G, at the house of Andrew Byers. After the transaction of some unimportant business the board ad- journed. According to adjournment, the meeting was held on Thursday. December 5th. ISKi. at Andrew layers' as be- fore, wdth Colonel Joseph Torrence in the chair, and Stew- art H. Whitehill as secretary. The board organized by electing Isaac Meason, Jr., president and John B. Trevor, cashier of the Company. Its first office was located in the storeroom of Samuel Trevor (just opposite the pres- ent Yough House), which was rented at one hundred and fiftv dollars a vear. Afterwards it was moved further 224 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OE CONNELLSVILLE up the street to a building which was located on the rear of the lot now occupied by the Title & Trust Company of Western Pennsylvania, which was known at the time of its demolition as the Dr. George Johnson house. On the 21st of January, 1817, the company issued its notes to the amount of $24,400.00 in bills of the denomina- tion of $10.00. $5.00, $3.00 and $1.00. The business then seems to have gotten under way in earnest, for other issues were made as follows : February Tth, $800.00 ; February 10th, $800.00; March 5th, $8,100.00; April 1st, $12,500.00; making a total issue of $46,000.00 outstanding. From the following entry in the books of the com- pany it would appear that $36,197.00 of this issue was re- tired on November 21st, 1818: ■'Office of the Connellsville Navigation Company, November 21, 1818. "We, the undersigned, appointed a committee to ex- amine the affairs of the Connellsville Navigation Company, to count the money, and ascertain the balance in the hands of the cashier, do find that the balance of the cash account is thirty-seven thousand three hundred and four dollars and fifty cents, which amount J. B. Trevor has this day paid over to the committee, consisting of thirty-six thou- sand one hundred and ninety-seven dollars in our own notes, and eleven hundred and seven dollars and fifty cents in foreign notes. $37,304.50. "We have counted our own notes and sealed them up. Tens $ 8,700.00 Fives 11,970.00 Threes 12,534.00 Ones 2,993.00 $36,197.00 Foreign 1,107.50 $37,304.50 JOHN LAMB, ANDREW DEMPSEY, DANIEL ROGERS." CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS At a meeting of the board of directors, held on the same day, it was voted "that Caleb Trevor, Jr., act as cashier until April 1st next, at the rate of $-100.00 per year, and he to furnish room for books and desk after January 1st." Caleb Trevor, Jr., was succeeded in the cashiership by John Boyd, and the following entry is made in the rec- ords on April 19th. 1819: "Received of Caleb Trevor, Jr., late cashier of the Con- nellsville Navigation Company, the books and papers of the Company, and $()-10.50 in bank notes, as per margin, being the balance of the cash account. Perrvopolis $117.50 Saline (Va.) 121.00 Stewart's . 111.00 New Salem 286.00 New Ohio 5.00 Total $(U0.50 JOHN BOYD, Cashier." A new board of fifteen directors was elected, August 18, 1820, of which Isaac jNIeason was president. John Boyd was re-elected cashier and continued in that capacity dur- ing the life of the Company. After the retirement of the Company's notes before mentioned, November, 1818, there still remained in circu- lation $10,403.00. Of these $8,891.00 were redeemed and cancelled at various times until P'ebruary 15, 1831, leaving $1,512.00 not presented for redemption. The business of this Company had practically ceased October 5. 1830, after an existence of fourteen years. There are a few unimport- ant entries in the books however up to August 27, 1831. THE BANKING HOUSE OF JOHN T. HOGG. From 1831 Connellsville seems to have been without banking facilities until 1854, when "The Banking House of John T. Hogg" was established. This w'as a private bank with wide connections. The Banking 'Houses JOHN f- HOG€ hew Ynrk, !!^^S Hiiril St., PhiUiiIdphin, ] !<^niri:1t, ■/Mlcci'hcny Co.^ j •1*'^"-"* . Some! set t-o., | iiiit '-n'lf, Wesli«orelati ! Co, S •mv]' * mU , Fujette Co., r.>, jT, !- r .., • . ' -1' . ■ Tti Bank Not(>> .'. !■ ^' . '■*■} u ^. \.-*r- and other S ■■'• ^-r-.^ = .■ v'^<" ' < :t:ui ^' ■> ilectio»ii> •- , '-.fl. \IK MNi' .V UUmT I'AINT t^ uii ^ MAN' rA(mti^> ' ADVERTISEMENT OF THE BANKING HOUSE OF JOHN T. HOGG CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 22? head office was located in New York, and there were branches in Philadelphia, Somerset, Mt. Pleasant, Union- town, Brownsville and New Brighton, Pennsylvania , be- sides the one at Connellsville. Mr. Crawford Vance had charge of the Connellsville bank, which was located, at first, in a room on Main street where the Yough National bank now stands. Later it was moved to a room about the present location of the Yough House office. The State authorities permitted Mr. Hogg to issue "scrip," which he did under the title above given. This was quite a privilege and was considered a great compli- ment to his integrity. The bank went out of existence in Connellsville in 1857. The whole chain was discontinued on account of the defalcation of the cashier of the Philadelphia office. The safe of the Connellsville branch is said to have been one of a very peculiar construction and was brought from the East, over the mountains at cjuite an expense. It was unlocked by a tube device, which pulled out from the face of the door and was worked in and out by some arrange- ment, known only to the operator, to undo the combination lock. This safe was sent to Pittsburgh after the banking house was discontinued in Connellsville, and Mr. Crawford Vance, at one time, had to go down there to unlock it, as those in charge had become confused on the working of the com- bination. The Democratic Sentinel and The Connellsville Enter- prise of 1855 and 1856 contain an advertisement of this banking house, that is reproduced on the following page. GEORGE A. TORRENCE AND COMPANY. From the closing of the Banking House of John T. Hogg until 1867, Connellsville had been dependent upon Uniontown, Brownsville and Pittsburgh for its banking facilities-— chieflv Brownsville. 228 CENTENNIAL EIISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The leading merchants of the town (the onl}' persons who had safes) became the custodians and depositaries of valuable papers, jewelry and money, for such of the citi- zens as did not care to keep those things at home, and to whom it was not convenient to go out of town for such serv- ices. Indeed, some of the merchants became bankers in fact, for they took money from some of their customers on deposit giving a memorandum for it (not a note) and bought and sold, notes, judgments, mortgages, etc., as any banker might. On some of the money so deposited a low rate of interest was allowed, but in most cases it was forced on them for safekeeping — the customer being willing to forego the interest return, in exchange for the greater se- curity of his savings, offered by the merchant's safe. George A. Torrence was familiar with the above con- ditions and knew something of the needs of the town and surrounding community; November 8th, 18()T, with A. E. Claney as cashier, he opened a private bank. This house was continued under his own name until January, 1871, when Joseph Johnston, retiring from the firm of Frisbee, Johnston and Compan}', became a partner and the firm name was changed to George A. Torrence and Company, Bankers. The bank was located in the Johnston house on West Main street, a brick building which stood a little west of the center of what is now the Frisbee Block. The house prospered and was quite a factor in the financial and commercial life of Connellsville and vicinity until 1873, when the failure of Jay Cooke and Company (the New York and Philadelphia correspondents of the firm) precipitated a panic throughout the country, and forced this house (and many others in all parts of the United States) to ask for an extension, which was granted. Money, however, continued close, uneasiness and dis- trust prevailed throughout the financial and business world, and finally the bank was compelled to close in 1875. The house of George A. Torrence and Company was CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 229 an important factor in the extension of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad from Connellsville to Cumberland and aided in quite a measure the building" of the South West Pennsyl- vania railroad from Greensburg to Connellsville and Union- town. The promotion of these enterprises has been of un- told benefit and immeasureable value to the commercial life of Connellsville. THE YOUGH NATIONAL BANK OF CONNELLSVILLE. The oldest existing banking institution in Connellsville is the Yough National Bank which commenced business under the title of The Youghiogheny Bank, with a paid up capital of $25,000.00. It was chartered by the State of Pennsylvania, May 9th, 1871. The first officers were elected July 29th, 1871. M. O. Tinstman was president; A. C. Knox, cashier ; the directors besides the president were Daniel Kaine, Josiah Kurtz, James Allen, J. M. Du- Shane and Isaac W. Rutter. September J:th, 1871, was the first discount day of the bank. The banking office was at first located in the Snyder Building (now Central Hotel) on Water street. From there it was removed, in November, 1874, to the room now occupied by the post office in the Hurley Block, West Main street. In the spring of 1888 it moved into its present quar- ters in the Soisson Building on the North Side of West Main street, which had been fitted up and equipped in what was considered a very elaborate and complete style, including among its fixtures a Corliss safe and vault. Upon the death of M. O. Tinstman, February 15, 1873, J. M. DuShane succeeded as president, and continued in that office until January 8th, 1880, when he retired and was succeeded by John Newcomer, who held the office tmtil 1893 when the bank was converted into the Yough National Bank. Mr. Newcomer was desirous of being relieved of his duties as president on account of his advanced years. ;S30 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE and Joseph Soisson, who is now president of the bank, was chosen to succeed him, and has held the office ever since. Mr. Newcomer was continued as a director until his death in 1902. A meeting of the stockholders was held June 27th, 1872, for the purpose of voting on an increase in the cap- ital stock by the sale of five hundred (500) additional shares (par value $50.00 each), which was agreed upon, and the new stock was sold at a premium of five dollars per share. The board of directors elected January 8th, 1880, con- sisted of James Allen, John Newcomer, Daniel Kaine, Jo- seph Soisson, J. M. DuShane, Joseph T. McCormick and Joseph R. Staufifer. At a meeting of the stockholders held January 19th, 1893, it was decided to convert the Youghiogheny Bank to the Yough National Bank of Connellsville with a capital of $75,000.00. A new board was elected on February 6th, 1893, and was composed of the following persons : John Newcomer, Joseph Soisson, Joseph R. Stauffer, B. F. Boyts, P. S. New- myer, Joseph T. McCormick and James Allen. At this meeting, besides electing Mr. Soisson president, B. F. Boyts, who had been a director of the bank since 1891, was elected vice president. The National Bank began business February 23, 1893, and had forty shareholders. After a service of fifteen years A. C. Knox resigned as cashier on February IGth, 1886, to become cashier of the Fifth National Bank of Pittsburg, and was succeeded by J. C. Kurtz, who had entered the employ of the bank in September, 1878, as a clerk. Mr. Kurtz served until 1898, when he resigned on account of ill-health. John A. Armstrong was elected assistant cashier in 1886, and remained with the bank until April 20th, 1887.' Lin F. Ruth was chosen teller on the resignation of Mr. Armstrong and was advanced to the position of assistant THE VOUCH NATIONAL BANK 23Z CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE cashier shortly thereafter, in which position lie continued to serve until 1896. In July 1890, Joseph R. Paull, now vice president of the bank of Pittsburg National Association, entered the employ of the bank as bookkeeper, and continued for sev- eral years in that capacity. George T. Griffin was elected bookkeeper in March, 1891, and was advanced to teller, then assistant cashier and upon the resignation of J. C. Kurtz in 1898, was elected cashier. Mr. Griffin resigned April 1, 1906, on account of physical disability and was succeeded by Eugene R. Floto, of Meyersdale, Pa., formerly assistant cashier of the Citi- zens National Bank of that place. The present board of directors (August, 1906), con- sists of Joseph Soisson who was elected in 1876, Joseph R. Staufifer, who was elected in 1880 ; B. F. Boyts, who was elected in 1890 ; W. F. Soisson, who was elected in 1902 ; Robert Felty, who was elected in 1904 ; H. M. Kephart, who was elected in 1904 ; Andrew Haas, who was elected in 1904; S. J. Harry, who was elected in 1905; M. B. Shupe, who was elected in 1905. The officers and employes at this time are : Joseph Soisson, president, elected in 1893 ; B. F. Boyts, vice pres- ident, elected in 1893 ; E. R. Floto, cashier, elected in 1906 ; J. S. McKee, assistant cashier, elected in 1903 ; Jas B. Stader, teller, 1901 ; Conrad Gutbrod, bookkeeper, elected in 1905 ; Miss Ruth Artman, stenographer, elected in 1906. The Yough has turned out ciuite a number of men who are now occupying prominent positions in the financial world ; among them might be mentioned the following : A. C. Knox, vice president ^Mellon National Bank, Pitts- burg, Pa. ; Joseph R. Paull, vice president Bank of Pitts- burg National Association ; Lin F. Ruth, president Title & Trust Company of Western Pennsylvania and president, Colonial National Bank, both of Connellsville ; J. A. Arm- strong, cashier Second National Bank of Connellsville ; J. L. Kurtz, cashier Citizens National Bank of Connellsville ; CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Charles S. Hall, cashier Broadway National Bank of Scott- dale, Pa. Of the original stockholders who still hold stock in the bank or whose shares are still held by their estates are the following: J. M. DuShane, J. T. McCormick, John H. McClelland, Joseph Soisson, John Newcomer, John D. Frisbee, Mary Allen and Samuel Porter. James Allen, a member of the first board of directors served continuously until his death a short time ago. Since its organization the bank has paid sixty-six {6()) dividends ranging from three per cent to six per cent semi- annually. The first dividend, amounting to three per cent was declared December 2Tth, 1871, payable January 1st, 1872, out of the earnings of the first four months. Since that time it has missed only four dividends at the regular periods of January and July. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CONNELLSVILLE. The First National Bank of Connellsville was organ- ized on the 15th day of March, 1876, with a capital stock of $50,000.00, divided into 500 shares of $100 each. The stockholders elected from their number the following di- rectors to serve until the annual meeting in January, 1877 : John D. Frisbee, John M. Cochran, P. S. Newmyer, J. T. McCormick, Wm. A. Davidson, J. R. Laughrey, John K. Brown, Nathaniel Ewing, Joseph R. Staufifer, Edward Dean and Dr. J. J. Singer. The board organized the same day by choosing John D. Frisbee, president, and P. S. New- myer, vice president. On March 20th the room "occupied by A. B. Morton's jewelrv store" was rented for a term of years at $-100.00 per annum. J. S. McCaleb was elected cashier on March 28th and on April 8th Joseph M. Kurtz was chosen teller. 234 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The bank began business on Monday, April 17th, 1876, in the counting room of Frisbee, Cooper and Company. It was decided to buy bonds sufficient to take out the entire amount of circulation authorized by the National Bank Act, at a meeting held May 27th, 1876, and this seems to have been the first meeting in the bank's own office. The directors, by resolution dated June 24th, 1876, decided to pay interest on time certificates of deposit at a rate not to exceed three (3) per centum per annum. The first examining committee was appointed July 29th, 1876, and consisted of Messrs. McCormick, StaufTer, Laugh- rey and Ewing, who performed that duty on August 17th, 1876. Josiah Kurtz was appointed a director on September 2, 1876, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of John K. Brown. On October 31, 1876, a report of the earnings showed the bank to have earned $2,120.50 after deducting all ex- penses, losses, etc. A dividend of three per cent was de- clared on the capital stock and the balance placed to sur- plus and profits account. Dividends have been made regu- larh' since that time at the semi-annual periods, May 1st and November 1st, in each year, with the exception of three times. May and November, 1878, and May, 1879, when the profits were applied to wiping out the premium paid on United States bonds held to secure circulating notes. In November, 1880, the dividend rate was raised to four per cent, semi-annually, and in May, 1888, to five per cent, semi-annually, in November of the same year it was in- creased to six per cent semi-annually, and has been con- tinued at that rate ever since. The surplus fund had grown meanwhile to $50,000.00 with undivided profits of $9,300.00. At the annual meeting of shareholders in January, 1881, the number of directors was reduced to eight. Upon the retirement of P. S. Newmyer, who resigned in January, 1882, J. T. McCormick was elected vice presi- THE OI^D FIRST NATIONAI, BANK AND THE OLD SYCAMORE 1io(J CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE dent and continued in that office until succeeded by Joseph R. Stauffer, the present incumbent, in January, 1891, Mr. McCormick having" taken the presidency of the Second Na- tional Bank. William VVeihe was elected a director, July 15, 1881. At the same meeting the cashier reported the purchase of $50,000.00 United States 3^ per cent bonds (known as extended 6's of 1881) at 103;^. An additional clerk in the person of John M. Stauffer was employed October 29th, 1881, "owing to the increased business of the bank." He resigned in May, 1882, to take the cashiership of the Scott- dale Bank, and was succeeded by Eugene T. Norton on May 31st, 1882. March 30. 1882, it was voted to "deposit the 3^ per cent bonds, purchased some months previously, as security for circulation and sell the four and one-half and four per cent bonds now in the hands of the treasurer of the United States." This was accomplished in due time with a nice profit to the bank. The 3^4 per cent bonds were called for payment and on October 3rd, 1882, at a special meeting, the board reduced the circulation to $11,250.00 and authorized the purchase of $12,500.00 United States Registered 4:'s of 1907. On December 30th, 1882, the cashier was authorized to look for a suitable lot as a site for a building for the bank. A number of locations were considered and negotia- tions entered into for the same, but the purpose was not accomplished until twelve years later when the Goldsmith property on West Main street was purchased for $23,000.00. J. M. Kurtz was made assistant cashier on April 25, 1885, and upon the resignation of J. S. McCaleb to go into the Foreign Exchange and Steamship business, became cashier on February 1, 1887. E. T. Norton at the same time was made assistant cashier, and George W. Stauffer, clerk. The business had grown too large for the cjuarters in the Morton Building, so November 1, 1888, a committee CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 237' appointed for the purpose reported that the western room in the Goldsmith building had been rented for a period of ten years at $165.00 per year. The building in which this room was located was ijurchased by the bank, as mentioned- above, from Henry Goldsmith, on September 4th, 189-t. With the building was included a vacant lot, on the nortk west corner of which stood a very large sycamore tree, one of the landmarks of the town and for vears a favorite meeting place, on warm summer days, for the old men of the village, who would sit, usually on store boxes, beneath its shade and whittle and argue to their heart's content. The first meeting of the board in their new quarters was held May 1, 1889. On July 20th, 1889, George W. Stauffer was made teller and the directors resolved at the same meeting that the by-laws be amended at the next annual meeting, with a view to reducing the number of directors to seven, which was done January 14, 1890. H. C. Norton was employed November 17, 1889, as a clerk. The bank had since its organization been open from 9:00 o'clock A. M. to 4:00 P. :\I., on January 13, 1891, it was decided to close at 3 :00 o'clock P. AL, after March 1st, in order to give the employees more time in which to make their daily settlement. H. C. Huston was elected a director on January 29th, 1892, to succeed John Sterrett, who died the early part of that month. The capital stock was increased January 3, 1893, to $75,000.00 and a dividend of 50 per cent on the existing capital declared payable on demand. The tenth day of the same month J. S. McCaleb, Lloyd Johnston and John Barge were elected as new members of the board, Mr. Weihe retiring. Robert Norris succeeded Lloyd Johnston, April 21, 1894, Wm. Weihe having taken J. S. McCaleb's place in January. The articles of association were amended at a meeting- of the stockholders, Januarv 14, 1896, extending the cor- 238 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE porate existence of the bank until March 25, 1916, which was duly approved by the Comptroller of the Currency. At the annual meeting, January 11, 1898, L. F. Ruth was elected a director to succeed Hon. Nathaniel Ewing. Since the organization of the bank the officers and employees had given bonds, secured by individuals, as surety to the bank, for the faithful performance of their duties. On April 30th, 1898, it was resolved, that hence- forth all of the officers and clerks be bonded in some good surety company — the bank to pay the premium on said bonds. J. M. Kurtz was elected a director and second vice- president on January 9th, 1900, and at the same meeting E. T. Norton was made cashier, George W. Stauffer. assist- ant cashier, and H. C. Norton, teller. The circulating notes of the bank were increased by resolution March 15, 1900 to $75,000.00, the directors hav- ing authorized the subscription to that amount of the Span- ish War loan of 1898 — said bonds being used to secure the circulation and the fours of 1907, sold. The directors, for some time, had been discussing the question of improving the property of the bank with a modern, up-to-date bank and office builcHng, and finally on May 19, 1900, Mowbray and Uffinger, architects of New York were employed to prepare plans, the intention being xo erect a bank, office and theater building four stories high. Some of the board were not favorable to the pro- ject, as to part of the building being used for a theater, so the architect was asked to make plans for a six-story bank, office and store building, which plans were presented and approved, and bids were received thereon, April 4, 1901. Work was commenced May 1, 1901, and the new building was formally occupied by the bank February, 1903. The building is in the style of the French Renaissance, six stories high and constructed of polished pink Milford granite, white marble and red pressed brick. An elaborate, massive cornice of copper surmounts the front and sides of THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK 240 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE the building", while handsomely wrought copper panels are used in the front arches. The bank occupies 25x120 feet on the corner of the iirst iioor, while the remainder of the same floor is occupied by the office entrance and the Wright- Metzler department store. The banking room is finished in San Domingo mahogany with Pavanazzi marble, wains- coting and counters — a cast bronze screen, surmounting the latter. The vault contains two hundred and fifty safe deposit boxes and weighs 100,000 pounds, being built of chrome steel three inches thick. The outside door is five inches thick and weighs 10,000 pounds, the inside door is three inches thick and weighs three tons. The upper floors of the building are divided into offices, and these are served by two electric elevators — one in front and one at the side entrance on Meadow lane. August 9, 1902, E. T. Norton was chosen as a director to succeed J. M. Kurtz, deceased. John Barge died No- vember 10, 1902, and was succeeded by J. L. Kendall. H. C. Huston died February 19, 1903. and E. C. Higbee was elected to succeed him at a regular meeting of the board held April 18, in that year. In June, 1903, a foreign department was opened by the bank to buy and sell foreign drafts, bills, etc., and for the sale of steamship tickets. Mr. Anton Ruskovic was elected manager of this department by the board. The business soon made such progress that for the convenience of its patrons a room was fitted up in the basement in March, 1904. An addition to the rear of the building was made in the summer of 1906 — one story being added over Wright- A-Ietzler Company's store for their use. In going over the minute book it is noticeable that very few regular meetings of the board have failed of having a quorum present, and most generally a full board. Where a regular meeting has been unavoidably missed there has always been a special meeting to make up for it. The examining committee as appointed from vear to CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 241 year has never failed of accomplishing- its duties — formerly twice a year, but for some six years past, four times yearly. These examinations, as shown by the reports filed, have been painstaking and thorough and have been the subject of favorable comment by the representatives of the depart- ment of the Comptroller of the Currency. Two of the present directors, Messrs. Frisbee and Staufter, were members of the original board, and John D. Frisbee has been re-elected president of the bank every year since its organization. The following named persons have served on the board of the First National Bank, besides those already mentioned, for the periods given below: John H. McClelland, from January, 1877 to I\Iarch, 1885 ; Dr. G. W. Newcomer, from January 1877 to January 1881; F. B. Hambry, from Jan- uary 1877 to January 1882 ; Lloyd Johnston, from January 1877 to January 1881 ; John Sterrett. from Januarv 1883 to January 1892 ; James Lewis, from Januarv 188(i to Octo- ber 1889. The present board consists of the following directors: John D. Frisbee, Joseph R. Stauffer, William Weihe, Robert Norris, E. T. Norton. J. L. Kendall and E. C. Fligbee. The officers and employees at this time are: John D. Frisbee, president; Joseph R. Staufifer, vice president; E. T. Norton, cashier; George W. Staufifer, assistant cashier; H. C. Norton, assistant cashier ; Fred Frisbee, teller ; Ella Sauter, teller's clerk ; Edward Sellers, bookkeeper ; William R. Bowden, bookkeeper ; Clififord Edmonds, exchange clerk ; Alice Sauter, stenographer; Anton Ruskovic, manager of the foreign department; W. A. Salomon, foreign "clerk ; John Ruskovic, foreign clerk; S. S. Clark, building super- intendent ; Antonio Caprio, janitor. THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK OF CONNELLSVILLE. On October 31st, 1890, the Second National Bank of Connellsville was organized with the following board of 342 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE directors, viz : Joseph T. McCormick, John D. Frisbee, Joseph Soisson, Kell Long, Worth Kilpatrick, ElHs PhilUps, Joseph R. Stauffer, Charles Davidson and Joseph M. Kurtz. Joseph T. McCormick was chosen president, Worth Kil- patrick. vice president, and John A. Armstrong, cashier. The capital stock was fixed at $50,000.00 and a call for 50 per cent thereof was made. The first annual election of directors and officers was held in accordance with the by-laws on January 13th, 1891, when the same board of directors and officers as noted above were re-elected and Joseph R. Paull chosen teller. The bank opened for business on March 16th, 1891, in the room now occupied by the bank on the south west cor- ner of Main and Pittsburgh streets. In the early morning of Sunday, January 26th, 1896, a fire broke out in a store room next door, which burned through the rear of the building completely destroying the board room of the bank and damaging the counting room so badly that it had to be entirely re-furnished. It was Sunday noon before the fire had been sufficiently controlled to permit the room to be entered, yet by the untiring efforts of the bank's officials and employees the room was cleaned, fitted with temporary fixtures and opened for business Mon- day morning at the usual hour. On January 12, 1897, the stockholders amended the Articles of Association reducing the number of directors from nine to seven. The present officers are : Worth Kil- patrick, president; J. M. Reid, vice president; J. A. Arm- strong, cashier, Alex B. Hood, teller ; B. J. Thomas and Clyde Whitely. bookeepers. The board of directors at present, besides the president and Adce president, consists of the following: Charles Davidson, Kell Long, Cyrus Echard, R. S. Paine and Dr. L. P. McCormick. Of those who have served on the board since the organization of the bank, in addition to those originally elected and mentioned above, might be named the following with the dates on which thev were elected : THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK 24:4: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE On January 12, 1893, J. M. Reid and James Junk. January 9, 189-1:, Edmund Dunn and John F. Soisson. On January 11, 1898, R. S. Paine. Mr. Soisson died November 21, 1899 and Dr. Ellis Phillips, who had previously served on the board and having returned to New Haven, Pa., after an absence of several years, was elected in his stead at a meeting December 12, 1899. Upon Dr. Phillips' moving away for the second time, Cyrus Echard was elected to take his place at the annual meeting held January 12, 1904. President Joseph T. McCormick died May 2, 1904, and on May 28, following. Worth Kilpatrick, the present incumbent was elected to that office. At the same meeting J. M. Reid was made vice president, which ofhce he still holds. Dr. Louis P. McCormick was elected to fill the va- cancy caused by the death of his father, J. T. McCormick. at a meeting held June 9. 1904. In March, 1902, the bank purchased from the heirs of J. D. Still wagon the property at the north west corner of Main and Pittsburgh streets with a view to erecting thereon a banking house. This property fronts 24 feet on Main street and 165 feet on Pittsburgh street and is con- sidered one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in Connellsville. The bank contemplates erecting thereon a handsome building at an early date. THE TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. Since the year 1900, there has been a remarkable in- crease in the number of trust companies throughout the country. This has been especially true in Pennsylvania, and has been the result in a large measure of a demand in certain lines of trade for banking institutions with larger powers and broader charters than those granted to national or state banks. In the various fiduciary capacities incident to modern business methods the trust company has marked CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 245 advantages over the individual. The large issues of honds bv the increased number of corporations during the several vears past alone making a place for such institutions as trustees — the death of an individual acting in this capacity might work many vexatious annoyances, whereas the cor- poration goes on, regardless of the death of its ofificers, and the trusteeship continues in the same name. There are other places, too numerous to mention here, that can be tilled by the trust company to advantage, all growing out of present business methods. To meet this demand, nineteen of the representative business men of Connellsville met December 4, 1899, and organized the Title and Trust Company of Western Penn- sylvania. Fifteen of their number were elected to act as a board of directors, who met on the same da}', ap])ointed a committee on permanent site, issued a call for 10 per cent, of the capital stock to be paid in on December 11, IS!)!), and elected L. F. Ruth as president. On December 11, a meeting of the board was held in the office of William A. Davidson, Escp, at which time the resignations of five members of the board were received and accepted. These vacancies were quickly filled and plans for aggressive work adopted. Two days later the board authorized the purchase of the Wetherell and Dr. George Johnson properties, fronting 5? feet on North Pittsburg street and 99 feet on East Main street, regarded as one of the most desirable business sites in the city. On January S, 1900, the bank was opened for business in Old City Hall. It was the first savings bank of Connells- ville and indeed the first permanent savings institution of Fayette county, paying three per cent, interest on savings. Later the rate of interest was raised to four per cent. Dur- ing its short history the bank has paid $52,.")0().()O in divi- dends and about the same amount in interest to its de- positors. The company was regularly incorporated under the Act of Assembly of April 29, 1874, and its supplements. The 246 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE charter was obtained January 11, 1900. Under the char- ter the capital stock was fixed at $250,000.00. The first board of directors, under the charter, was composed of L. F. Ruth. Rockwell Marietta, George J. Humbert, W. M. Ruth, Joseph Soisson, H. P. Snyder, S. R. Slaymaker, "W. A. Davidson, J. D. Madigan, A. D. Soisson, E. K. Dick, B. F. Keister, A. J. Cochran, Charles Donnelly and A. W. Mellon. By a vote of the shareholders, October 15, 1903, the capital stock was increased from the authorized capital of $250,000.00 to $500,000.00, one half of which or $250,000.00 was paid in. The new issue of $125,000.00 was sold at a premium, which gave a paid in surplus of $125,000.00, making the total capital and surplus paid up of $375,000.00. On January 19, 1900, the contract for the erection of the new bank building was awarded to James Wherry and Com- pany of Pittsburgh, Pa. It is five stories high and built of buff Pompeian brick and native sand stone, after the style of the Italian renaissance. It is fireproof throughout. The banking room, which occupies the commanding cor- ner, is fitted up in mahogany, marble and bronze, and is admirably adapted to the business of the company. The entire plant, including furnishings, represents an outlay of $149,700.00. The new building was occupied May 1, 1901 ; and in the early part of June, an "open house" was held to inaugurate it. On April 10, 1900, W. M. Ruth, the first treasurer of the company resigned and Edward K. Dick was elected to fill his place. The officers elected at the last annual, meeting are: Lin F. Ruth, president; Rockwell Marietta, first vice president ; W. H. Hugus, second vice president; Edward K. Dick, secretary and treasurer; J. M. Gray, assistant secretary and treasurer ; Ray Mestrezat, teller; Byron Porter, bookkeeper and notary public; Miss Elizabeth Ankeny, stenographer. The present board of directors is composed of Lin F. Ruth, Rockwell Marietta, W. H. Hugus, Edward K. Dick, J. M. Gray, William Gibson, A. D. Soisson, W. H. Soisson, THE TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY'S BUILDING 24:8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLI.E A. J. Cochran, Charles Donnelly, A. W. Mellon, Robert Pitcairn, B. F. Keister, Clair Stillwagon, E. C. Higbee, Harry Dunn and J. W. McClaren. The company has given more attenntion to its bank- ing department than to its other lines of business, but the trust department has been steadily growing and the man- agement hope to make it one of the most important fea- tures of the institution. THE CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK. The Citizens National Bank was chartered in the sum- mer of 1902 and opened for business on the 13th of Octo- ber in that year in the Markell building, corner of North Pittsburgh and West Apple streets. Its capital stock, paid in, is $100,000.00, divided into 1000 shares of $100 each, and is very widely distributed amongst the people of Connellsville and vicinity. A board of thirteen directors was elected at the outset, made up of the following stockholders: F. E. Markell, president; W. H. Brown, first vice president; John S. Detwiler, second vice president; B. F. Boyts, John D. Sherrick, T. J. Mit- chell, J. R. Laughrey, S. E. Frock, H. F. Atkinson, F. T. Adams, J. D. Jackson, H. M. Kerr and J. R. Davidson. Robert W. Soisson was elected cashier, and E. L. Sherrick, teller. Upon the death of John S. Detwiler, H. M. Kerr succeeded as second vice president. In January, 1906, the stockholders increased the board to 17 members as follows: J. D. Sherrick, S. J. Harry, Joseph Soisson, Charles Detwiler, I. C. Smutz, T. J. Mit- chell H. M. Kerr, S. E. Frock, J. R. Davidson, W. H. Brown, B. F. Boyts, F. E. Markell, H. F. Atkinson, F. A. Kail, G. W. Campbell, J. D. Madigan and Biddle Horn- beck. Of these F. E. Markell is president, W. H. Brown, first vice president; H. M. Kerr, second vice president. James L. Kurtz has been cashier since March 15, 1905, Edgar J. Smutz, teller ; J. D. Lambert, bookkeeper ; Pearl Fries, stenographer. THE CITIZENS NATIONAI, BANK 250 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The business of the bank has grown very rapidly and it now has total resources almost four times the amount shown in its first statement to the Comptroller of the Cur- rency. THE COLONIAL NATIONAL BANK. This, the youngest of the banks of Connellsville, was organized October 5th, 1904, with a capital stock of $100,- 000.00 and a paid in surplus of $25,000.00. The charter was granted October 18th, 1904, and the bank opened for business November 1st, 1901. The officers and directors at the time of its incorpora- tion were: L. F. Ruth, president; Rockwell Marietta, first vice president; E. K. Dick, second vice president; Harry E. Schenck, cashier; R. W. Singer, assistant cashier; J. N. Ruth, teller. Besides the first three named above the board consisted of W. H. Hugus, Harry Dunn, Clair Still- wagon, A. D. Soisson, T. B. Palmer and J. C. Detwiler. During the erection of its own building at the corner of Main and Pittsburgh streets, the bank occupied tempor- ar}' quarters in the Masonic building. The new building was completed and the bank moved in on January loth,, 1906. This is a beautiful building, monumental in design, and in Colonial style, erected of pure white marble, with pink Milford granite base ; the interior is beautifully fin- ished in mahogany and marble and decorated in fresco. It is equipped with all the modern conveniences for the transaction of its business. The present board of directors consists of : L. F. Ruth, Rockwell Marietta, E. K. Dick, Clair Stillwagon, T. B. Palmer, P. H. Beighley, Harry E. Schenck, J. C. Detwiler, W. H. Hugus, A. D. Soisson, Harry Dunn, and John Dug- gan. The officers are : L. F. Ruth, president ; Rockwell Marietta, first vice president ; E. K. Dick, second vice presi- dent ; J. N. Ruth, assistant cashier and teller ; Willet Hal- stead, clerk ; Miss Mary Ankeny, stenographer. THE COLONIAL NATIONAL BANK Zb2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE THE NEW HAVEN NATIONAL BANK. With the continued growth of New Haven and the increase in the number of its manufacturing and business -.iiLerests, Connehsville became too far away for the con- venience of a number of its business men. These condi- tions brought about the organization of the New Haven National Bank, which took place August 9th, 1902. The capital was fixed at $50,000.00. The charter was granted September 4th, 1902, and on the same day the bank com- menced business, with the following officers and directors : Kell Long, president; L C. Smutz, vice president; James L. Kurtz, cashier ; directors, Kell Long, L C. Smutz, G. W. Ciallagher, James J. Barnhart, T. H. Hazen, P. J. Tor- may, B. O'Connor. The directors at once set to work to procure permanent quarters for the bank, and early in 19()o purchased the prop- erty at the south west corner of Main and Fourth streets, about 40 feet front by 120 feet deep, from S. F. Russell. A contract was let on March 2Tth, 1903, for the erection of a three-story bufl: brick building, the ground floor of which was designed for the bank and a store room, the two other floors being divided into dwelling apartments with all mod- •ern conveniences. The bank occupies the corner room and is very cosily arranged and fitted up. The building was completed and occupied by the bank on November 30th, 1903. On December 12th, a public re- ception was held bv the officers and directors, and the build- ing was formally opened. Edgar J. Smutz was elected bookeeper April 14th, 1903. On March 1st, 1905, James C. Long was elected •cashier, succeeding James L. Kurtz, who had resigned to accept the cashiership of the Citizens National Bank of Con- nehsville. Charles S. Hall was elected bookkeeper, March lOtli, 1905, to succeed Edgar J. Smutz, who took a similar position in the Citizens National Bank of Connellsville. On October 5, 1906, John H. Work was chosen to succeed '^\ THE NEW HAVEN NATIONAL BANK 254 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Charles S. Hall as bookkeeper. j\Ir. Hall having resigned to assume the duties of cashier of the Broadway National Bank, Scottdale, Pa. The board at present is constituted as follows : Kell Long. G. W. Galagher. P. J. Tormay, Lloyd Johnston, Henry Rhodes, T. H. Hazen and James J. Barnhart. The officers are : Kell Long, president ; G. W. Gallagher, vice president ; James C. Long, cashier ; John H. W^ork, book- keeper. THE FAYETTE SECURITIES COMPANY. Among the financial institutions of Connellsville there is one, little known, which occupies a rather unique posi- tion, in that it has a charter from the State of Pennsylvania constituting it a "holding company," so called, since the famous "Northern Securities" decision. The Fayette Securities Compan}- was chartered on the 20th day of August, 1902. with an authorized capital of $50,000.00. The incorporators were John L. Cans, L. S. Hyatt and F. T. Evans. The purpose of the corporation as stated in the appli- cation for a charter is "purchasing, holding, selling, assign- ing, transferring, mortgaging, pledging or otherwise dis- posing of the shares of the capital stock of, or any bonds, securities or evidences of indebtedness created by any other corporation or corporations of this or any other State." The business of the corporation is to be transacted in the Borough of Connellsville. and it is to exist perpetuall}'. At a meeting held October 21, 1902, the following board of directors was elected: Robert L. Brownfield. John D. Frisbee. Kell Long, P. S. Newmyer, Philip Wilkey, R. L. Brownfield, Jr., and E. T. Norton. Of these R. L. Brown- field was chosen president, and E. T. Norton, treasurer. I. F. ^'^^ilkey was elected secretary by the board. At the annual meeting November 9th, 1903, W. H. Wilkey succeeded Philip Wilkey as one of the directors, and, upon the organization of the board. Mr. J. D. Frisbee CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 255 was chosen president, Air. Brownfield having expressed a desire to be relieved of the duties of the position and hav- ing nominated Mr. Frisbee. The corporation at its last annual meeting, after an existence of four years, showed total resources of nearly $200,000.00. The business of the company has been strictly confined to investment securties — nothing of a speculative character being dealt in under any circumstances. Before many years this corporation will take an important place among the financial institutions of Connellsville and vicin- ity, not only on account of its large resources but because of the wide powers given it under its charter. Its office is in the First National Bank building. The officers and directors elected at the last annual meeting, held recently, are: John D. Frisbee. president; E. T. Norton, secretary and treasurer ; Kell Long, Wilmer H. Wilkey, P. S. Newmyer, Joseph R. Stauffer and Charles Davidson. CONNELLSVILLE AIUTUAL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. Tlie organizers of the first building and loan associa- tion started in Connellsville, petitioned the court of Fayette county at the December term, 1869, to grant "to them and to their associates the powers and immunities of a body corporate and politic in law," under the above title, and with an authorized capital of $100,000.00, divided into 1000 shares of $100 each. The signers of the petition were as follows : P. Mc- Cormick, John D. Frisbee, Christian Snyder, H. E. Sad- ler, Thomas M. Fee, E. Dean, D. Welsh, J. M. Lytic, B. F. Baer, M. Goldsmith, J. Weibel, A. E. Claney, D. Blackburn, W. E. Francis and Joseph E. Forrey. The corporation was to have for its object "the grant- ing of loans to its members, and to assist them in their business and in acquiring homesteads." 256 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE B}'^ order of the court, Alarch 11, 1870, the incorpora- tion was effected. A resolution was passed October 18th of that year au- thorizing the purchase from Dr. J. C. Cunimings of a tract of land north of the Borough containing 51 acres and agree- ing to donate a part of this tract (bounded by Mounts' Creek, the Youghiogheny River and the railway track) to the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad Company, on the condition that the said railroad company would agree to build their shops upon it. This the railroad company agreed to and the shops were built. The land was pur- chased by members of the board of directors, and trans- ferred to the association Xovember 9, 1871. The tract had previousl}' been laid out in building lots. It was de- cided to reserve the three blocks fronting the railroad, and offer for sale the remainder in alternate lots. Sales were made from time to time, and the business of the association was closed with the disposal of the few remaining lots, some time in 188";;. During its life the company made a number of loans for building and other purposes, but it never made more than the one real estate purchase and seems to have grad- ually closed its affairs so soon as that was disposed of. The last officers were: J. M. DuShane, president; P. S. Newmyer, vice president; John Kurtz, treasurer; H. P. Snyder, secretarv. The board of managers were : William Weihe, T. ^I. Fee, J. T. McCormick, B. Welker. William P. Clark, Stephen Rutherford, and John Rutherford. There ■ were about lifty-five stockholders at the close.- PEOPLES' BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. In compliance with an Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations," approved the 2Gth day of April, A. D., 187T, a number of citizens of Connellsville applied for let- ters patent for a corporation to be called "The Peoples' Buildino- and Loan Association of Connellsville." CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 257 The object of the corporation was declared to be "for the purpose of accumulating a fund by the periodical con- tributions of the members thereof, and of safely investing the same." The place of business was fixed at Connellsville, Fay- ette county, Pa. Article 4 of the application states, that "said corpora- tion is to exist perpetually." The names and residences of the original subscribers and the number of shares subscribed by each are as fol- lows : B. Porter Chas. H. Ways J. C. McClenathan Lin. F. Ruth J. R. Paull Lloyd Johnston J. S. McCaleb Henry P. Snyder Mrs. Byron Porter Miss Ella Kurtz Henry Goldsmith J. M. Cavender George W. McCartney Prov. Buttermore George B. Freed J. M^Reid Samuel Hefiiey J. C. Kurtz W. A. Hogg G. C. Armstrong R. S. Paine all residents of Connellsville, Pa. Article G fixed the number of directors at nine, and the names of those chosen for the first year follow: B. F. Boyts, H. P. Snyder, Henry Goldsmith, J. M. Reid, J. 10 B. F. Boyts 10 10 K. C. McCormick 5 10 J. C. Moore 10 5 Mrs. D. Roberts 10 5 E. T. Norton 5 5 J. ^L Kurtz 10 10 Crawford Stillwagon 5 10 J. P. Cranston 5 W. Howard Thomas 5 5 George R. Long 10 20 John Conlon 5 5 Jacob Morgan 5 5 George W. Morgan 5 5 Leighton W. Jones 5 5 M. B. Walker' 5 10 John DeTemple G 10 Chas. Fee 3 5 A. B. O'Neil 5 5 H. P. Berryhill 5 5 S. Buttermore 10 10 John L. Gans 5 258 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE M. Kurtz, George W. McCartney, J. C. McClenathan, Lloyd Johnston and J. M. Ca vender. The names of the first five directors above given were signed to the application for a charter which was dated September 9, 1890. The capital stock was fixed at $1,000,000.00 divided into 5,000 shares of $200 each. The method of paying the premium on loans was fixed in Article 8 as required by the Act of April 10, 1879 : "The premium or bonus bid for the prior right to a loan shall be paid in periodical installments." The charter was granted October 6, 1890, and is signed by Governor James A. Beaver. The association proceeded at once to business and elected J. M. Kurtz, president ; Lin. F. Ruth, treasurer ; Sam H. DuShane, secretary ; W. A. Hogg, solicitor. An auditing committee was appointed for the first year, consisting of J. C. Kurtz and E. T. Norton. The present officers and directors follow : Henry Goldsmith, president ; L C. Smutz, vice president ; Alex B. Hood, secretary; James B. Stader, treasurer; S. R. Goldsmith, solicitor. Directors — Dr. J. C. McClenathan. Robert Welsh, W. S. Yard, Joseph A. Mason, Robert W. Soisson, C. M. Stoner, John Keck, J. B. Kurtz and P. Bufano. The published statement dated September 30, 1905, follows, and shows something of what the association is doing and has done for the community : Total loans made in Connellsville since organization $750,000.00. LOANS ON REAL ESTATE Loans on Real Estate September 30, 1904 $85,150.00 New Loans made 20,800.00 105,950.00 Loans matured series I 5,800.00 Loans paid off 6,600.00 12,400.00 Loans in force September 30, 1905. . $93,550.00 Average premium bid on money, 35 per cent. CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 359 ASSETS Cash $ 524.60 ^lortgage loans 93,550.00 Collateral loans 3,873.80 Real estate 3TG.75 Unpaid premium 76.70 Unpaid Dues 2,035.5-i Unpaid interest 523.65 Unpaid fines 29.92 100,990.96 LIABILITIES Capital stock $72,788.15 Paid up stock 15,100.00 Certificates of deposit 11,418.75 Undivided profits 35.02 Reserve for State taxes 99.27 Overpaid dues 1,542.56 Overpaid premium 3.46 Overpaid interest 3.75 100,990.96 LOANS ON STOCK AS COLLATERAL Collateral loans September 30, 1904. $ 5,476.55 New loans made 1,333.80 6,810.35 Loans paid off 2,936.55 Collateral loans September 30, 1905. $ 3,873.80 THE CONNELLSVILLE BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. This association was incorporated under Pennsylvania laws on January 11, 1897, with a perpetual charter. The capital stock was fixed at $1,000,000.00, divided into 5,000 shares of the par value of $200 each. The name under which the charter was granted was the South Connells- ville Building and Loan Association ; by action of the stockholders in January, 1904, the name was changed to the Connellsville Building and Loan Association. The officers elected when the company was first organ- ized were : Joseph Soisson, president ; Edmund Dunn, 260 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE vice president ; H. L. Kurtz, treasurer ; Emmor Saunders, secretary; P. S. Newmyer, solicitor, and the directors were George J. Humbert, J. A. Zimmerman, J. R. Davidson", S. A. Spencer, S. R. Slaymaker, J. H. Caudy, W. F. Soisson, J. C. Munson and F. A. Kail. The object as stated in the petition for letters patent was "for the purpose of raising money to be loaned among its members and depositors, and for such other purposes as are authorized by law." Stated annual meetings of the stockholders shall be held (x-lrticle VI) on the last Monday of December for the nomination of officers, and on the last Monday of January of each year for the election of officers and the transaction of the affairs of the association * * * nine or more members shall constitute a quorum. Section 7, of the By-laws provides for the appoint- ment of a committee on securities, composed of five mem- bers of the board, whose duty it shall be to examine per- sonally all real estate offered as security for loans, and report to the board their appraisement of the value of the same and also their opinion as to the advisability of making the loan. Stockholders shall not be under twenty-one years ot age according to Section 9. Married women, (Section 36) "may hold stock in this Association and have all the rights and privileges of other stockholders of the same series." Section 38 authorizes the board of directors to pur- chase, improve, rent, sell, and convey real estate with full powers on such matters. The Constitution and By-laws were amended by the stockholders in January, 1901, quite a number of minor changes therein being effected, although the main object was to amend the provisions as to withdrawals, which under the old By-laws discriminated against the holders of "running stock." The present officers and directors of the association ut ecc 50 i 00 { im Banks and Treasu96 '\ 29 ] ments, Bonds, Real laneous OTAL ASSETS 76 i 1 Stock (Paid in) bO ( s and Profits 08 t iting Notes J50 C ts-=including CertificT i e to Banks, Etc. {I" S laneous ..I 1 FAL LIABILITIES .76 S Amount Paid in Divi< ce Organization S 1 41 88 16 41 37 Comparative Statement Showing the Condition of the Several Banking Institutions of Connellsvillc a.ul Ncnn HaNon trom 1S7» to 1906 |u i.riAi. AssK-rs BlK.IHnroui Youi;hio)(heny Bank Vou)(h National Kank of Connellsville State Initltutlun ( O.liHT Wl l.ifW 00 J!J,707 ai» 6,734 ao Sept. 1881 7,071 II) 1»H,751 .la 1!0,007 01 laTS.-KKl '20 riO.CKH) DO ri.oTi 1 1 NatlofuJ Clurtcr Mar. 1893 $17C,«:iI HI 52.7.0O 02 08.070 42 (W,862 22 I 7'..0<)0 oo rjr,.07U 71 •2'2r,r,;iii :», Feb. 1901 J2C7.400 (K l.'.>yi.l5 71 150.2(12 4( 01,020 2C 7.''>.o(>o oo or,,:}7i oi 7r..ooo oo June 1906 Hl>2,67<; 80 KiO.707 72 44.003 60 SG.Ml 02 Rrst National Bank of ConneUs>iUe June 1876 H4.075 21 40.00-1 7m 11.373 01 4,414 70 e 70.0 02 80.»I8 at 118.1)20 0-1 73.150 01 724.490 21 ■ 906 JOSS.OO-I Ita 570.422 27 2Itl.0e3 III 132.03O 51 »l.s3 lO.OUII no 24.fiU0 78 23.120 lO 3.808 Ol 11.2.'>ll IKl 130.117 DO Feb. 1901 190* rflC28»l 41 58,(1211 2:. 227.038 67 38,781 13 H7;l.730 2« I73.I50 2«1 70.130 41 33,319 01 ««pJl.i:i.-. 111! J7.V).IU15 s- Title and Vrwil Com- pany of Western l^nn., ConneUsville IUt 1*01 i Mjt <90* Cili/cn's National Bank of Connellsville I M.ivro 270.S7O 4U.4M7 mil 21,I70 0I 8,:IA4 211 J 1:18.282 wv 2110.058 23| «M.533 26 -.m.oiu 43 l-i.447 M $127,7(«> 01] 30.HUO M 28. KU M IS,4M0 ft3 Jun« 190* fltM.OTX 40 133,3A7 M,n2U ai M,:uui 1(1 {L^O.INM IH',1 J84'J,87l 3.1 J2.5:U1 (Ml f738.l>80 70 (.'olonlal National 1 Now llaNon Nntlonat Bank of Connellsville I Itank otNew Haven, Ha. Nov. 1904 » 11.880 00 IMl,2ft« IH> 4(1,752 (V7 a.l70 7(1 84 00 jr.'8.U'J S!l $ .MI.INMl IM 7l.r.7i; 8: 12..'>IN> 01 181.058 (Kl I35.22tl CO.OOO 0(1 515.1O0 lO 2SM.087 08 I0.800 2(1 «5(I.(MMI (H> 070 7(1 25,IMM) «M( KKI.IUel 81 a 1. 470 0(1 1842.871 :ia t2(m,5:i3 do SIIIO.IMMI (Ml 43.KIII |:i tlO.'.'OO (1(1 4115.0'IU 27 |90i Sept. 1902 1906 (101, l»8 541 185.551 22 38,3(14 J»,287 12 JUHI.O.H 31. 110 (15 IIHI.IMHI (Ml tt(IN.401 58 t 2.S25 00 13.700 37 I I.XIII 31 3.0,S0 00 $115,003 01 04.2113 01 20.523 44 10,732 01 fMi.imo oo 10.71'-' 8,% riO.tuHi 00 A Statement Showing the Financial Qrovvth of Connellsville as Illustrated by n Comparison of the Total Resources and Deposits of its Bankin); Institutions, During 35 Years, from 1871 to 1906 Deposits Total Resources September, 1871 $ 5,147 41---.^ .f 30,438 54 September 1881 -- 463,401 88 623,743 89 March 1893 709,048 16 1,079,217 97 February, 1901 ---- 1,924,393 41 2,685,894 00 June, 1906 3,679,382 37 5,494,882 49 CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 261 are : Edmund Dunn, President ; D. F. Lepley, Vice-presi- dent ; James L. Kurtz, Secretary ; J. Fred Kurtz, Treasurer ; E. C. Higbee, Solicitor. Directors, F. A. Kail, W. F. Sois- son, P. J. Tormay, J. D. Madigan, J. M. Cecil, Peter Rutsek, Clark Collins. V. H. Soisson and S. R. Goldsmith. A statement of its condition at the close of business December 31st, 1905, follows: Net profits for the year 1905 : — Dividend on Installment Stock, 10y2% 5,822.29 Dividend on Paid Up Stock 6%. . 58.80 $ 5,881.09 RESOURCES. Cash on hand $ 2,G30.29 Mortgage Loans 53,850.00 Collateral Loans 2,201.00 Real Estate 6,145.75 Accounts Receivable 56.37 $64,883.41 LIABILITIES. Capital Stock Account : Installment Stock $63,584.96 Paid Up Stock 1,050.00 $64,634.96 Undivided Profits 248.45 $64,883.41 MORTGAGE LOANS. Loans in force January 1. 1905 $56,150.00 Loans granted in 1905 11.800.00 $67,950.00 Loans cancelled in 1905 14,100.00 Loans in force December 31, 1905 $53,850.00 262 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE COLLATERAL LOANS. Loans in force January 1, 1905 $ 3,360.00 Loans granted in 1905 100.00 $ 3,460.00 Loans cancelled in 1905 $ 1,359.00 Loans in force December 31, 1905 $ 2,201.00 INSTALLMENT STOCK. Shares in force January 1, 1905 940^ Shares issued in 1905 113 1,053>^ Shares withdrawn in 1905 217 Shares in force December 31, 1905 836j5^ PAID UP STOCK. Shares in force December 31, 1905 534 Number of shares borrowed on 280^4 Free Shares 561^ Number Male Stockholders 98 Number Female Stockholders 30 CHAPTER VIII. COAL AND COKE. England gave us Blackstone ; our laws are her laws. Our wealth is our own. The Romans and the Grecians put the forge into the hands of Vulcan ; England borrowed it for her people ; America spoke to him, and he moved into our land. The God of Ages buried the fuel for his bellows under our green earth ; our men dig it daily from the ribs of Erebus, and feed it into the thousands of fiery throats that we call coke ovens. Mere blocks of rough stone and clay, they are, nevertheless, the vitals of Connellsville. as Connellsville is the heart of their dominion. They are the frying-pans at our hearth-stones, the chains that shackle the wolves shut out of our doors, the fullness of our money- bags, our benediction, so that the hundred years of Connells- ville becomes in truth the fifty years of her coke industry' . And like many giants of trade and commerce and inven- tion and art, the coke trade came to us, a little waif from, other parts long since forgotten. The child that could not thrive in other cradles, here grew to be the king of his tribe. His conception is as dim as the morning mist. In the year 1831, Isaac Meason was making things of iron at Plum- sock, near what is now known as Upper Middletown, in this county. It is set up that he made coke out of the Red- stone coal for use in his foundry, and so he did ; but he was unable to make coke that was satisfactory. Meason had hired a man named Nichols, who had come to this coun- try from Durham, England, where coke had for years been made in bee-hive ovens and in pits on the ground. Nichols, it is contended, induced Meason to make the experiment, but the Redstone coal, being a little too hard, did not make good coke. These operations are enshrouded in mystery, 26.3 264 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE and are tradition rather than history. Claims have been advanced that about this time coke was also made in Hunt- ingdon county, and at Mt. Savage, Md. In 183G, F. H. Oli- phant made some coke at the old Oliphant Furnace, south of Uniontown, from what he called "Blue Lump Ore," and it is tradition that he sent samples of this to the Franklin Insti- tute in Philadelphia. The furnaces in those days used char- coal for fuel, and there is no record that Oliphant long made use of coke for his furnace. But in the meantime the real beginning of the coke industry had been made. And just as Connellsville today sets her seal upon the richest and largest coke production in the world, so she had the honor to build the first success- ful bee-hive oven in the country. Few residents of Con- nellsville today know that the first coke oven in the Con- nellsville region was not built near Dawson, as history has always spoken, but in the very heart of Connellsville itself, and not three hundred feet from the old stone house built by Zachariah Connell. The history of that one lone oven is most interesting. It was the outcome of the carding and fulling industry. In Newton, Conn., there was born in the year 1797, a man named Lester LeRoy Norton, who, in tender years, came to Connellsville. On the north bank of Connell Run, a short distance above the new Hogg Addition bridge, there stands the ruin of an old building. It was erected by Lester Norton, his brother, and uncle ; it was four stories high, built of stone, entered from the level of the valley into the first story, and from the level of what is now Fairview avenue into the fourth story. This build- ing was erected for the manufacture of cotton, and was operated by the waters of Connell Run. Meanwhile, the raising of sheep had become an avenue of prosperity to Fayette county farmers. Norton watched the growth with interest. He was a pioneer, not a builder of private fortune. So he built, farther down the stream, at a point about three hundred feet below the South Side culvert, a second fac- tory, for the carding, spinning and fulling of wool only. COAL AND COKE 2G5 This new factory, like its predecessor, was operated bv water power, a race having been built along the side of the stream, to give sufficient fall. But Norton was not long satisfied with the profits derived from this mill. The mak- ing of iron was fast becoming a leading industry in the infant county, and Norton, ever ready to try the new, began to dismantle his carding factory in 1831, and to convert it into a foundry. His first move was to put up a cupola large enough to melt three tons of iron a day. He produced the blast for this by connecting the crank from the water wheel which had turned the machinery of the carding factory to an overhead beam, which worked in turn a piston in an air- tight box called a bellows. Were that same primitive iron manufacturer to stand before one of the million-dollar blow- ing engines of the Homestead furnaces, he would not know that it is still his box bellows, doing the same work, on a grander scale. But his plan proved a success. Meantime, the adventurous Nichols, disgusted with failure at Upper Middletown, drifted into Connellsville. He was complete master of the foundry business. Norton placed him over his new foundry. His other assistants were Hamilton Alton, a first-class molder, Leonard Buel, who had a reputation for making tea kettles, and Jacob Robb, who, under the care of Nichols, soon became a valuable fireman. Norton's son, Philo Norton, who survives today, the father of Eugene T. Norton, cashier of the First National Bank, was a lad in teens, and was pressed into service to clean w'are and supply the blacking. Years before this, probably as early as 1810, Zachariah Connell was supplying free coal to the citizens of Connellsville from an opening in the old Plummer mine, on the east bank of the Youghiogheny, just north of town. The fuel for Norton's foundry was hauled from the old Plummer mine in wagons, this coal having passed into pri- vate ownership. Nichols still had hopes of making coke for foundry purposes, and notwithstanding his failure at Upper Middletown, he induced Norton to make a second trial here. Nichols designed the oven, and it was built bv 266 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE John Taylor, a stone mason, who later figured in the build- ing of ovens near Dawson. This one oven was designed to make only 24 and 36-hour coke, because Nichols saw that the blast from the wooden bellows was not strong enough to consume 48-hour coke, which, because of the elimination of a greater proportion of gases, would be harder in cell structure. Also, while the oven was of the regular bee-hive type, as Nichols had seen erected in the Durham field, it was smaller, being only twelve feet square, erected of stone and having a hive of bricks. The coal for the charge was hauled from the Plummer mine, and the first smoke from a Connellsville coke oven went skyward. This time Nichols saw his persistence bear fruit, and the year 1833 saw the first coke drawn from a bee-hive oven in this region. Nichols knew that Meason would desire coke. Norton communicated with the man who had failed where he had succeeded, and the result was that Meason con- tracted for all the coke that Norton himself could not use, Meason or his representative coming here to make the bar- gain. This surplus was boated down the Youghiogheny River to McKeesport, thence up the Monongahela to Brownsville, whence it was hauled in wagons to Meason's foundry at Plumsock. Afterwards, some of this coke was hauled from Connellsville across the country to Plumsock in wagons. Norton soon saw his demand for coke greater than he could supply from his one oven, so, under Nichol's direction, he began making coke in ricks on the ground. Because of the excellence of the coal, this proved a decided success, and before long Norton was manufacturing many more times as much coke in ricks or pits than he was able to produce from his oven. In 1834 Lester Norton purchased the Plummer farm for $37 an acre. It is probable that he had dreams of a gigantic iron and coke business, but he was unable to carry them into reality. Many years before he died he sold the foundry property, and he disposed of his farm, containing about seventy-five acres, to his son Philo in 1855, for $100 COAL AND COKE 267' an acre. But he had pointed the way to the manufacture of coke, and others were quick to grasp his ideas, and to use them to better advantage. After Nichols had completed the remodeling of the fulling factory, and the building of the first coke oven, he left this town, settling in Donegal. West- moreland county, and his presence there and his knowledge of what he had left behind can be traced in the long line of wagons that for many years continued to haul coal from the Plummer mines to the old furnaces in the Westmoreland hills, and the factories and distilleries in the vicinity of Laurelville. Deluded people — under their very feet was the same black vein, but years passed before the opening of their eyes, and the dark pits of compressed sunshine they were seeking ! Among the visitors that came often to Norton's, foun- dry and little coke plant was one Herman Gebhart, at times a merchant, at times a manufacturer, always an enterprising citizen ; sometimes striving alone, sometimes in partnership with fellow townsmen. He was a warm friend of Norton's, and because of his oft-repeated visits to the foundry, became much interested, not only in the moulding of pots and ket- tles, and other shapes in iron, but in the making of coke. Just what influence his early interest in the business had on the infant industry will be observed later. Besides being one of the first paper makers in Fayette county, Gebhart, in partnership with Asa Smith, operated, at one time, a nail factory on the present site of the B. & O. railroad passenger station. He later leased this to James Harvey White and Silas White. The latter, while on his way with his family to Louisiana, was detained here by the illness of his son, who died of smallpox, and was buried here. The Wliites evidently did not prosper in the nail business, and subsequently the nail factory was converted into a foundry, and operated by John and Jacob Anderson. Geb- hart, it will thus be seen, was constantly in touch with the industries in which the need of coke was apparent, and Nichols, coming from England with his knowledge of the 268 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE fuel there, probably diffused enough knowledge among the early residents here to keep the worm working in Gebhart's mind. Gebhart's ventures in the paper business proved suc- cessful for a time, but as the industry passed from the hills of Fayette county into the overwhelming gulf of the city factory systems, which also killed off the carding and full- ing mills in this vicinity, he was keen enough to withdraw from the enterprise before it had disgorged from his pockets all it had put into them. In 1842 he left Connellsville, and, settling in Dayton, became one of the prominent residents of that growing town. That he left Connellsville, and made his home in the district which later aff'orded a market for the great industry which was to grow up behind him, is one of the finger-boards along the highways of the coke trade. The history of the Connellsville coke region has always begtm with the printed story of how the first coke made was boated down the river to Cincinnati, but from the fore- going facts it will be easily understood why it went to Cin- cinnati, why Gebhart was called in to help dispose of it after it arrived there, and why it was manufactured by a partnership including John Taylor, the stone mason. James Francis is a name to be conjured with in this history. His deeds are set forth in other chapters, yet, of all the acts he accomplished, that which shines out most gloriously for this region today was, that when he died, William Turner, his brother-in-law, came into possession of some of his property and his money. Turner's father was William G. Turner, an Englishman, who was in turn a teamster or a surveyor, just as opportunity gave him display for his resources. The Turners had, like Nichols, seen coke manufactured in their native land. The younger Turner was also a surveyor, but he found so little to do that he kept tavern part of the time, and ere long had enough funds to erect the "Turner Inn," the old stone hostelry with the plastered walls now used as a company dwelling house at Trotter. Here he lodged the drovers and herdsmen, coming and going with their stock, and his fame spread far and wide COAL AND COKE 269 as a royal host and entertainer. He also owned the only boat of consequence on the river at this place, which he called the "Walking- Ritchey," named, it would seem, as an ironical slap at a certain old school-master who paraded the village streets, with his advice ever ready at the tip of his tongue, often when it was not asked for. As soon as the younger Turner got his raise of good fortune, he evidently began to look about for investment. He was acquainted with John Tavlor, the stone mason ; Taylor had in the meantime come into possession of some land at the mouth of the Hickman Run on the Youghiogheny River, below Broad Ford. Tn 1(S41, Turner, who was the moving spirit, looked over the field, in order to pick out partners who would combine the brains and backing for the new venture in coke making. Tavlor was a stone mason — he could build the ovens ! Be- sides, he had the coal land. Turner himself knew how to make the coke. But whom might he select otherwise, to complete the partnership ? Not only would he produce coke — he must market it. There were no railroads ; only the river as a means of transportation. And what was a river without boats? "Zooks !" we can almost hear the English- man say, 'T must get carpenters into this firm!" And he did. His choice fell upon Provance McCor- mick and James Campbell. Turner seems to have been a sort of silent partner, notwithstanding the fact that he sug- gested the organization of the partnership, although, since he was not a stone mason or a carpenter, the reason why, in the notes of the early coke history, he does not stand out prominently until the finished product was ready for ship- ment to market, may be readily explained. The partners wasted little time. Taylor set to work at once, and erected the four bee-hive ovens, and after building them, was the man that mined the coal for them. The agreement concern- ing this partnership, its operations, and the divisions of the proceeds, would be an interesting document, if it existed today. McCormick was a great-grandson of William Craw- 210 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ford, the pioneer of Stewart's Crossing, and from early manhood had been compelled to face big problems in the world. Up until 1830 he had been a teamster part of the time, hauling merchandise between Pittsburgh and Phila- delphia. After this he had for some time been employed in the manufacture of gun barrels for the Government. The new ovens were located at what was then known as Sedg- wick Station. All through the fall and winter of 1841, the little ovens continued to produce coke, and by the spring of 1842 the diminutive plant was ready for its shipment. Campbell and McCormick in the meantime had been busy on the construction of two flat-boats. Turner probably was in communication with Major Gebhart about this time, be- cause it is difficult to disassociate the idea of his actions from this time on with his partnership with the firm in the beginning. Gebhart had come back from Dayton to Connellsville, and stopped at Turner's home. Turner, learn- ing from him the rapid growth of the iron business down the Ohio River, asked him if he did not think it would pay to make coke here and ship it down the river by boats. Gebhart advised Turner that he believed the plan would be profitable, and the result of that advice was that, when the riat-boats which McCormick and Cariipbell had built were loaded with two thousand bushels of the coke at Sedgwick, Turner purchased the cargo. He himself piloted the two boats down the Youghiogheny River, starting with a freshet in the spring of 1842, and reaching Cincinnati in safety. It does not seem probable that Turner had any dealings with Major Gebhart in Dayton as he went down the river with his boats. But when Turner tried to dispose of his coke in Cincinnati, he learned that he was sadly ahead of his time. The foundrymen called the coke "cinders," but they did not ■despise it so much on that account, since that was the early name of coke. Turner, in distress, had recourse to Geb- hart. The latter went from Dayton to the assistance of his friend, and it was through his influence entirely that Tur- ner was able to dispose of the half of the cargo by peddling THE GATEWAY TO WEAI.TH IN THE CONNELI.SVILLB COKE RRGION 272 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE from place to place, getting an average of eight cents a bushel. The other half of the cargo was then boated up the canal to Dayton, and there Gebhart induced Armstrong, the proprietor of the largest foundry in Dayton, to use the coke. There is an old tradition that in part payment for this Turner was given a patent iron grist mill, for which great things had been promised ; that this mill was brought home by Turner and placed in the Strickler & Nickel grist mill in New Haven ; that it proved a failure, and was later sold for the puny sum of thirty dollars. Proof of this story seems elusive. At all events, the first partnership firm in the coke business was too easily discouraged. Turner evidently did not purchase a second cargo from the McCormick, Taylor and Campbell Company, and the ovens were allowed to be- come idle. But down in Dayton, Armstrong was using tiiat one boat load of coke, and praising its c|ualities. Had there been means of easy communication at that time, it is aiuiost a certaint) that the hardy coke pioneers, instead of dissolv- ing partnership, as they did, would have been busy getting out the second shipment to go down the river. For not long after this transaction, the Armstrong foundry sent a repre- sentative here, offering a market and a fair price for all the coke that could be sent down the Youghiogheny. Turner's historv, after this venture, is not so clearly known, respecting his coke operations. That he did not give up his dream is certain. For old residents remember that he was accustomed to load his boat, "The Walking Ritchie," with coke, and take it down the river, bringing back in it domestic supplies. This seems to verify the story that after his venture with McCormick and Campbell and Taylor, he began the manufacture of coke in ricks on the ground at a point near what is now the Fort Hill works, under some agreement with Thomas Gregg, and that later, when Gregg erected a small plant of bee-hive ovens, Turner, in partner- ship with Richard Bookens, continued to boat the product down the river to the foundries at Cincinnati and other Ohio River towns. COAL AND COKE 273 Notwithstanding the discouragement of Tavlor, Mc- Cormick and Campbell the httle plant at Sedgwick was not long idle. A sturdy infant had been born in 1823, and his parents christened him James Cochran. His neighbors re-christened him "Little Jim." When a mere lad, with his brother Sample Cochran, he had been employed to wash sand at the banks of his uncle, Alordecai Cochran, along the Youghiogheny River a short distance below Broad Ford. The two boys became ambitious. They built a boat which would hold one hundred tons of sand. James Cochran seems to have done the work, because there is a record show- ing that he gave a half interest in the boat to his brother to pay for the lumber used in the construction. The two boys took a cargo of sand to Pittsburgh, where they sold it to the glass factories, receiving two dollars a ton. They sold the boat in Pittsburg also, and returned home each with about fifty dollars in pocket. Feeling rich, they leased two of the four ovens of the Fayette works at Sedgwick and after making two boat loads of coke each boat holding six thousand tons, they boated it down the river. The start was made April 1st, 1843. They had a covering of sand over one part of the cargo, and on this sand bed a large fire was kept burning. By the time they reached Wheeling, with no other covering over them than the blue sky, they discov- ered that the cargo of coke under the sand was afire. It was with difficulty that they prevented the fire from burning and sinking the boat. Before proceeding farther down the river, they erected a shed over the coke, and the larger fire was not necessary. When they reached Cincinnati, it was several days before they happened across Miles Greenwood. He was the man who started the Connellsville coke industry on its on- ward rush to gigantic proportions. He had been using Monongahela River coke in his foundries. Greenwood was born in New Jersey in the year 1807. He moved to New York, thence to the New Harmony Community, whence he drifted into Pittsburg in 1825, where he learned the iron business. Three years later he opened an iron foundry in 274 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Pittsburgh, and then moved to Cincinnati, where he enlarged the business, employing, in 1828, ten hands. This was the size of his foundry when the Cochrans sold him their cargo of coke at seven cents a bushel. That the coke did him no harm is evident from the fact that in 1850 he had so pros- pered that his foundry was employing three hundred work- men. In 1861, still continuing the use of the Connellsville coke, his entire plant was turned into a Government arsenal, with seven hundred workmen employed, and during the Civil War turned out forty thousand Springfield rifles, two hundred bronze cannon, hundreds of caissons and gun car- riages, and one sea-going coast defense monitor. From the time Greenwood first tried the modest cargo of the Cochran's coke, he would use no other. For the first consignment he paid half cash and gave notes for the other half, which notes he was able to pay before their maturity. The Cochrans continued to make coke at the Fayette works, which was enlarged in 1860 to thirty ovens. In 1865 Schoen- berger & Co., of Pittsburgh, purchased a one-third interest in this plant. The iron makers had at last awakened to the real worth of the Connellsville coking fields ! But in the meantime operations had been growing else- where. When Turner erected three ovens near Fort Hill, and was able to sell the coke in Cincinnati, Col. Alex Hill opened the vein of coal near the Thomas Gregg ovens, and erected there four ovens. Soon after he built eight more. This must have been about 184-t or 1845. These ovens were all of the same type, the bee-hive oven, and very small at that. About this time, also, a new name came into the coke industry. Stewart Strickler was born in New Salem, Fay- ette county, in 1812. It is a noteworthy incident that this man had his birthplace in the old town which is today the hub of the busy circle of plants in the Lower Connellsville region. He moved into this district when young, and en- gaged in the business of boating eggs, and other produce, down the Youghiogheny River to Pittsburgh and other COAL AND COKE 275 points below. In 1837 he failed financially, and found him- self plunged into debt. But he was made of stern clay. He remembered that at Jacob's Creek, where the old Trumball Furnace had operated for many years, but which had been out of blast for as many more years at this time, he had seen a great pyramid of iron ore slag and cinders. He knew that in the old process of smelting, much of the iron was left unextracted from the ore, and he conceived the idea of pur- chasing this pile of slag, boating it down the river to the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati mills, and there selling it to the proprietors. He built a boat, bought a cargo of the stuff, paying fifty cents a ton for it, and took it to Pittsburgh. He sold the whole cargo at $1.50 a ton. This seems like a scheme easily planned to us who live in these times where every scrap of the market, the home and the mill is turned into something else, but in Strickler's time this was a much keener example of industrial acuteness. The man who could realize profit out of an old stone furnace ruins in the bushes was the sort of a man who would not stop to delve deeper into the resources of nature. And so Strickler's next move was the purchase of ten acres of coal along the Youghiogheny River, which he did in the early forties. That purchase was the nucleus of the development which sprang up around the little village known as Jimtown. where the Sterling works are now located. There Strickler built six bee-hive ovens, and the coke produced therein he at first sold to the Cochrans. In 1855 he purchased 80 acres of the Jesse Taylor tract of coal, in the same neighborhood, be- cause he seems to have foreseen the advent of the railroad up the Youghiogheny River, and had a vision of the future prospects of coke making. His vision came true. And when, in 1857, the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad was built, he erected eighty ovens on this Taylor tract. Sterling is some distance up the hollow from the Youghiogheny River, and in order to get the coke to the railroad, Strickler laid a tram-road from his plant to the railroad siding. From the first this plant made money for its owner. The 276 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE coke was sold to Grafif, Bennett & Co., of Pittsburgh, who used daily in their foundries two thousand bushels. This contract was in force for several years, and from 1860 till 1864 the Pittsburgh company was supplied wholly, or nearly so, from this Sterling works. By this time the iron men were fully convinced of the necessity of Connellsville coke, and Graff, Bennett & Co. made Strickler an offer of thirty- five thousand dollars for a one-third interest in Sterling. Strickler accepted the bid. and a few months later Schoen- berger & Co. purchased the other two-thirds interest for forty-thousand dollars. Strickler, had he made investment of these funds, which made him rich at that time, in Con- nellsville coal fields, and in their development, would have left the wealthiest generation in Fayette county. But he seems to have been satisfied with his transaction, and later moved to Tennessee, where he died. As an instance of the rapid growth in the value of Connellsville coking coal lands, even in those early times, it may be cited that in the years between 1831: and 18-tO, Strickler purchased his father's farm at a price averaging thirty dollars an acre, and in 1864 he sold it to J. K. Ewing for two hundred dollars an acre ; Ewing, in turn, selling it not long afterwards for double the latter sum. But long before this the name of Norton had come back into prominence in the Connellsville region, as that identified with the making of coke, and the old Plummer mine was again associated with the infant industry. Philo Norton, the son of Lester LeRoy Norton, who had built the first coke oven in the Connellsville region, took up the manu- facture of coke in the year 1855. Many years before Lestei Norton had died, he sold the old foundry property, but his son Philo had purchased the old Plummer surface and coal, and there he determined, in 1855, to erect coke ovens. The opening of the seam of coal was made near the top of the hill, on this farm of seventy-five acres, and the four ovens were built on the east bank of Mountz Creek, not more than two hundred feet from the present Davidson bridge, at the :OAL AND COKE 2i end of Eighth street. A road was excavated out of the side of the embankment, leading off from the Eighth street road, and from the yard the coke was hauled in wagons to the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad. Norton also burned the coal in ricks, and made five times as much in these pits as in his ovens. The coke, when burned long enough, was drawn out with hooks, and cooled with water thrown on by the bucketful. Philo Norton never shipped any coke in boats, all of his production going out on the railroad. He received three cents a bushel, aboard the cars. Norton asso- ciated with him in his enterprise John Meskinnin and Wil- liam Faber, and this firm made the first definite contract with the railroad for Connellsville coke shipments. This hap- pened in the year 1858. Graft', Bennett & Co. desired a regu- lar supply. Between Connellsville and Pittsburgh the rail- road company charged a freight tarift of twenty-two dollars a car. This rate, the consumers thought, was exorbitant, but there seemed no redress, because Graft, Bennett & Co. had no space for a storage capacity in Pittsburgh ; only one producer in this region had such a capacity, and that producer was Norton's firm. Without storage capacity at the producing and the consuming ends of the industry, boat transportation was out of the question, since the Youghio- gheny River aftorded boating stage only during freshets. Graft, Bennett & Co. therefore applied to Norton, in the hope that he might be able to lighten the burden of freight rates. Benjamin Latrobe was then president of the Pitts- burgh & Connellsville railroad, and, knowing his fondness 'for figures and tabulated prospectuses, Norton went to him with a sheet of convincing statistics. Norton, in his esti- mates, had allowed for only one freshet a year, when three could be depended upon ; he counted the cost of holding the production in stock for one year, charging ten per cent, interest on the money necessary ; he counted the cost of handling at double the prevailing prices ; likewise he counted the cost at running it by boat to Pittsburgh at double the average price, and doubled the estimated cost for loss of 278 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE boats, accidents and break-downs. The total cost for send- ing the coke into Pittsburgh by boat, on these figures, was a little less than six dollars a ton. Latrobe examined the figures, considered for some time, and then said : "You have put the matter beyond all doubt ; what do you propose to do?" Norton replied that his firm would give the rail- roads a rate of nine dollars a car. This rate was accepted, and a written contract drawn upon these lines. This con- tract is in existence today. Towards the close of the Civil War, Norton had on hand between three and four hundred thousand bushels of seventy-two and ninety-six-hour coke, which went to all parts of the country. Every car load brought back an order for more "of the same kind." In 1862. Norton sold out to his partners, who in turn took in others. Norton had had a twenty-years" lease on the David- son farm, with the privilege of a renewal for a like period of years, and when he sold out to Meskinnin and Faber these mining rights went with the deed. Daniel R. David- son was not then a member of this coke firm, because he seems to have been devoting himself to railroad building. He later sold the surface also to the firm of Meskin- nin, Faber & Bailey, who built the Davidson works. Norton had sunk the shaft for this plot of coal on the bank of the Youghiogheny River, and his intention was to mine the coal, and run the headings so that the main haulage would emerge from the hill opposite his four ovens. His plan was to build a block of ovens on the river, but when his partners came into possession of the lease and his interest, they erected the ovens on the present site of the works. These ovens were larger than others previously erected. The first oven, built by Lester Norton, made only fifty bushels of coke at a charge ; Philo Norton's ovens made each from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and ninety bushels. In the meantime the coke industry had been thriving elsewhere. As stated, in 1860 thirty ovens were built at Sedgwick; in 1864 Cochran & Keister built the Jackson works of forty ovens on the Hickman branch, and shipped yrrms.^ -LX".~:i-€-»~mr:-:fe.r "— - 280 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE the coke to the railroad by tram till the Hickman Run branch was built in 1871. Then the Laughlin plant was built, a short distance below Broad Ford, about the time the Connellsville Gas Coal Company was organized, which was an outgrowth of the Philo Norton venture. In 1866 forty ovens were built at Davidson by this company. John F. Dravo took charge of the company's interests in 1868, and greatly enlarged the plant. Watt, Taylor & Co. entered the field in 1869 with a plant of forty ovens at Watt station. Watt and Davidson were the only coke plants on the Fay- ette branch till 1872, when Paull, Brown & Co. erected a plant of one hundred ovens on the James Paull farm west of Dunbar. The next development was along the Mt. Pleasant branch of the B. & O. railroad, where Henry Clay and Mor- gan works were built in 1871 ; and from this time onward the history of the Connellsville coke region is only a repeti- tion of new strings of ovens going up, immense aggrandize- ment in wealth, many successes and very few failures. In 1876 there were three thousand ovens in the district, and three years later the number had increased to four thousand. Then came a sudden and unprecedented demand for Con- nellsville coke, largely made by the growth of the iron business in Allegheny county. Although the heart of the iron trade in this country today, strange as it may seem, Allegheny county did not have a single furnace within her boundaries between the years of 1791, when the old Shady- side Furnace was abandoned, till 1859, when Graff, Bennett & Co. constructed the Clinton Furnace, which this firm blew in on coke on the last Monday in October, 1859. In the year 1880 the H. C. Frick Coke Company erected a crusher, for the purpose of grading the sizes of coke for foundry and domestic uses. It was about this time that the first big shipments to San Francisco were made, the smelting indus- try there causing a demand for the Connellsville article on the Pacific slope, and so rapid was the growth of the demand from this tinie on that, except in times of general business depression, the Connellsville region has never been able to supply the demand of the consumers. COAL AND COKE 281 From the late seventies on. the history of the coke region has been largely the biography of one of the gigantic figures in the world's financial and industrial interests today. Henry Clay Frick. He was born in the little hamlet of West Overton, a short distance north of Scottdale. When very young he appeared as a youth with resolute face among the people of Broad Ford. His rapid acquisition of plant after plant in the coke fields has always baffled his biographers, and his success in these ventures can only be based on the single theory that he had a keen insight into the needs of the future ; stood on the brink many times, but always leaped at the fortunate moment ; was taciturn enough to keep his prospects to himself, ventured far enough to haz- ard big stakes, then stepped into the scales with the weight of enough work to turn the balance in his favor — and won ! As the president of the H. C. Frick Coke Company, he p''ade gigantic strides, until his firm name came to stand for leadership in the Connellsville region. Its position is the same today. In 1882 the H. C. Frick Coke Company owned only Henry Clay Frick, Morgan. White. Foundry. Eagle. Summit. Tip Top and Valley, numbering 1.022 ovens, out of a total of 8.430 in the region, the district then comprising sixty-seven plants. The Connellsville coke region today comprises ninetv-nine plants, and a glance at the table will show that as the region has grown, the Frick Companv has increased, instead of decreased its dominating influence. The second name of importance in the coke industry in its years of wonderful growth is W. J. Rainey. now dead. Starting with the ownership of a single plant in the early eighties, he increased his holdings to their present remark- able showing. He was the sole owner of the plants that bear his name, and they are still operated under his name, the same as if he still lived, no readjustment of the estate having "been made so far as this operative title is concerned. The table will show the Rainey holdings. The man who is responsible for the wonderful success and growth of the H. C. Frick Coke Company is Thomas VIEWS IN CONNKIJ.SVILT.E COAI, AND COKE REGION COAL AND COKE 283 Lynch, whose present high place as president of the com- pany today is only the culmination of a record as long and as praiseworthy as the life of the company itself. He started in a humble clerical position at Broad Ford, when Mr. Frick was a boy, and as Frick grew in power and wealth with the assistance of the Fergusons, the Mellons and An- drew Carnegie, Lynch grew in executive ability and wide generalship. Mr. Lynch is not only the president of the H. C. Frick Coke Company holdings in the Connellsville region, but his management extends over all the coal and coke hold- ings of the United States Steel Corporation, including those in the Pittsburgh district. West Virginia and elsewhere. The distinct feature of the Connellsville coke industry is its simplicity. Just as Lester Norton dumped the Plum- mer coal into his little crude oven, burned it till he had clari- fied it of its gases, and then drew it out ready for use, so is coke made in this district at the present time. All the ovens are of the bee-hive type, with the exception of a few experi- mental ovens, and the one plant of the Semet-Solvay Com- pany at Dunbar. This plant, a model in every respect, was begun in 1895, when 50 ovens were built, and enlarged in 1903, when GO ovens were added, and has been successfully operated without a single shut-down ever since that time. Pitch and ammonia are extracted from the coal burned, and the gas resulting from combustion is carried off below the ovens and used to operate the boilers of the plant, and to operate the machinery of the Continuous Glass Press Com- pany's plant, located a short distance up Dunbar Creek. The coal burned in these by-product ovens is mined from the Freeport vein between Dunbar borough and the Youghio- gheny River. This is the only plant in the region using Freeport coal, but manv tests are now being made of the cores taken from diamond drill holes put down in different parts of the region, and there is a probability that ere long- plants of coke ovens long idle because of the exhaustion of the supply of the Connellsville seam, will be bright once again in the manufacture of coke from this Freeport vein^ 28-i CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE There have been many guesses made as to how long the Connellsville coking coal will hold out. It is difficult to esti- mate, because the number of coke ovens so steadily grows, the exhaustion of the coal depending entirely upon the brisk- ness or dullness of national business conditions. It is esti- mated, however, that the Connellsville coking belt alone contains something like 64,000 acres of coal, and that about one-third of this amount has already been worked out clean. The Connellsville region today comprises, according to the last tabulated report of The Connellsville Courier, ninety- nine plants, having 23,713 coke ovens; the Lower Connells- ville region has fifty-five plants and 10,690 ovens. The rapid growth of the industry in the Lower Con- nellsville region is the wonder of all who have taken note of its beginning and its advancement. For years and years the coke manufacturers refused to consider the coal in the Lower Connellsville field as fit for coking purposes. It is much harder than that in the real Connellsville vein. But the changes in the manufacture of steel, the urgent demand for coke and the real worth of this seam all combined, within the last ten years, to give it a place of prominence only second to that of the Connellsville field itself. As soon as the plants erected at Continental, Leckrone, Footedale and elsewhere demonstrated that the Lower Connellsville region was destined to have a great future, P'ayette county went "coal crazy!" Farms that had been considered only heir- looms of dead fathers and grandfathers, suddenly blos- somed into gold. Options were taken on every acre of coal land in the southern end of the county, these options were sold and resold again, till, finally, the coal seam alone with mining rights brought as much as two thousand dollars an acre ! Farmers, suddenlv enriched by the cash sale of the coal under their farms, went into the coke business them- selves in many instances, and every branch of the profes- sions was depleted to fill up the ranks of "coal men," — men who shut their law offices to option the black diamonds mider the hills, men who, not worth a penny to-day, by the COAL AND COKE 285 turning of a deal were worth a hundred thousand dollars to-morrow. As Uniontown was close to these operations, nearly all this wealth settled down in that town, and Fay- ette's capital became the Rome of this new invasion into new fields. This wealth is today reflected in the home life of Uniontown's business men, and in her banks, one of which takes first rank in the State of Pennsylvania, and second in the United States ! This story is an attempt, not to describe coke mak- ing, but to tell of the history of that manufacture. Still, a few figures showing the growth and magnitude of the business may be interesting. At the time this book goes to press the two Connellsville regions are sending out coke at the rate of about four hundred thousand tons every week ! This is at the rate of about twenty million and eight hundred thousand tons a year. Estimating that this would be about sixteen thousand cars a week, the year's production would make up a train so long that the engine in front of it would go to San Francisco and come back to Connellsville before the caboose had gotten started out of the Connells- ville yards ! For the year nineteen hundred and five the two Connellsville regions produced from their thirty thou- sand eight hundred and forty-two ovens, nearly eighteen millions of tons of coke, which, at the average price for the year, estimated at $2.2G a ton, brought in the magnificent revenue of almost forty-one millions of dollars ! In 1880. the seven thousand ovens shipped something a little more than two millions of tons at an average price of $1.79 a ton, giving a revenue of about four millions of dollars. The reve- nue for the year 190(3 will approach sixty millions of dol- lars ! The Connellsville Coke region has seen many bitter strikes, the chief of which were in the years 1880, 1884, 1886, 1889 and 1894. Many men were killed, especially in the last two. In the spring of 1894, Joseph Paddock, chief engineer for the H. C. Frick Coke Company, was beaten to death with clubs at the Davidson plant. After a pro- 286 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE longed and notable struggle, the workmen gradually returned to work, this strike bringing about the disorganiza- tion of labor unions in the coke region. The workmen in the region, numbering about thirty thousand, are paid wages according to the "Frick scale," which fixes the prices paid for mining coal, drawing the ovens, etc., according to the selling price of coke. Although this scale may not be fol- lowed accurately, the workmen's wages have steadily ad- vanced since 1894, till now they are receiving the highest prices ever paid in the district, and the relations between capital and labor are so genial and happy that conditions have excited the admiration of the world. The mining of coal has seriously interfered with the springs and streams in the Connellsville district, and as the watering of ovens and the operation of the plants requires a large supply of water throughout the district, it has been necessary to install great water systems. The H. C. Frick Coke Company gets its supply of water from the Trotter Water Company and the Mt. Pleasant Water Company principally. The former has a pumping station above Con- nellsville on the Youghiogheny River with a capacity of ten .millions of gallons a day, another on the Monongahela River at Huron with a capacity of six millions a day, an- other at Broad Ford, while the Mt. Pleasant Water Com- pany dams the waters of Jacob's Creek at Bridgeport, West- moreland county, and supplies the town of Mt. Pleasant as well as the plants in the north end of the region. There is a continuous network of pipe lines from United to the Monon- gahela River, with reservoirs and miles on miles of branch lines. The first plant built was that at Broad Ford, which was erected in the early eighties. Although the coke is drawn from the ovens of the Connellsville regions by hand, there has recently been pat- ented by the Covington Machine Company of Covington. Ky., an electric coke drawer, which has proven successful at Continental No. 1, where three are in operation, and at the Oliver plant, where two are working. Each of these machines can draw thirty-six ovens a day. The appended table shows the name of each plant in the two Connellsville regions, the number of ovens at e^.ch. and the names of the owners. COAL AND COKE y.si CONNELLSVILLE COKE REGION. NO. OVENS NAME OF WORKS NAME OF OPERATORS 362 Acme W. J. Rainey 82 Acme Penn Coke Co. 375 Adelaide H. C. Frick Coke Co. 252 Alverton No. 1 H. C. Frick Coke Co. 104 Alverton No. 2 H. C. Frick Coke Co. 302 Atlas Cambria Steel Co. 400 Baggaley H. C. Frick, Coke Co. 100 Bessemer H. C. Frick Coke Co. 200 Bitner H. C. Frick Coke Co. 240 Brinkerton H. C. Frick Coke Co. 156 Buckeye H. C. Frick Coke Co. 86 Bourne Wharton Furnace Co. 120 Boyer ^lt. Pleasant Coke Co. 260 Calumet H. C. Frick Coke Co. 301 Central H. C. Frick Coke Co. 54 Chester E. A. Humphries & Co. 50 Claire Penn Coke Co. 108 Clarissa James Cochran Sons Co. 120 Coalbrook H. C. Frick Coke Co. 400 Continental No. 1. .H. C. Frick Coke Co. .300 Continental No 300 Continental No 100 Crossland 333 Davidson . 40 Dexter . . , 230 Dorothy . 80 Eagle .... 48 Enterprise 218 Elm Grove 120 Empire . 20 Florence 186 Fort Hill 97 Foundry 50 Franklin , H. C. Frick Coke Co. , H. C. Frick Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. J. R. Stauffer & Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . W. T. Rainey . Bessemer Coke Co. .E. A. Humphries Coke Co. . W. J. Rainey . H. C. Frick Coke Co. .Lincoln Coal & Coke Co. 288 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 105 Frick 50 Gilniore .... . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . Gilmore Coke Co. 408 Grace 150 Hazlett 272 Hecla No. 1 . . . W. J. Rainey . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . Hecla Coke Co. 500 Hecla No. 2. . . He^la Coke Co. 300 Hecla No 3 Hecla Coke Co 50 Hester . . ^enn Coke Co. 120 Henry Clay . 20 Home . .H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . Stauffer & Wiley 355 Hostetter . . . . . Hostetter-Connellsville Coke Co. 100 Humphreys . . . Bessemer Coke Co. 250 Juniata . . Tuniata Coke Co. 306 Kyle 500 Leisenring Nc 500 Leisenring Nc 504 Leisenring Nc 308 Leith 227 Lemont No. 1 350 Lemont No. 208 Mahoning . . ). 1 ). 2 ). 3 3.. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . Cambria Steel Co. 510 Mammoth . . 400 Marguerite . . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 165 Morgan .... 540 Mt. Braddock 80 Mt. Hope . . . . .H. C. Frick Coke Co. . .W. J. Rainey . . Taylor & Co. 82 Mullen 197 Mutual 329 Nellie . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . Brown & Cochran 252 Oliphant . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 328 Oliver No. 1 . . .Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 480 Oliver No. 2 . . Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 300 Oliver No. 3 . . . Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 400 OHver No. 4. . . Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 228 Painter 489 Paul . . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . . W. J. Rainev 92 Pennsville . . . . Pennsville Coke Co. COAL AND COKE 289 62 186 445 650 110 300 625 252 205 151 61 901 100 155 100 121 40. 464 60 72 350 251 80 200 352 130 500 241 23,713 40 32 138 40 400 ■ 400 16 16 No Percy . . Rainey . Redstone Revere . Semet-Solvav Shoaf Southwest No Southwest No Southwest No Southwest No Spring Grove Standard Sterhng- Stewart Summit Tip Top Thomas Trotter Tyrone Union . United . Vahey . Veteran White . Whitney Wynn . Yorkrun Youns^stown Percy Mining Co. , .W. J. Rainey H. C. Frick Coke Co. , W. J. Rainey , Dunbar Furnace Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. Cochran Bros. II. C. Frick Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. Stewart Iron Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. The Why el Coke Co. H. C. Frick Coke Co. Kendall Coal & Coke Co. W. J. Rainey , H. C. Frick Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. Veteran Coke Co. , H. C. Frick Coke Co. . Hostetter-Connellsville Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. Ada Royal Coal & Coke Co. Annamyra Leckrone Coke Co. Atcheson Republic Iron & Steel Co. Baxter's Ridge .... Baxter's Ridge Coal & Coke Co. Brier Hill ^ Brier Hill Coke Co. Buffington H. C. Frick Coke Co. Burchinal Smithfield Coal & Coke Co. Byrne Byrne Coal Co. 290 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 30 Century Century Coke Co. 402 Colonial No. '• Colonial Coke Co. 49 Colonial No. 2 Colonial Coke Co. 31 Colonial No. 3 Colonial Coke Co. 90 Cyrilla Rocks Coal & Coke Co. 140 Crystal Sackett Coal and Coke Co. . 200 Dilworth Dilworth Coal Co. 240 Donald Southern Connellsville C & C Co 100 E. Connellsville ...East Connellsville C & C Co. - 500 Edenborn H. C. Frick Coke Co. 35 Edna O'Connell Coal & Coke Co. ' 30 Emory Southern Fayette Coke Co. 75 Ellsworth Ellsworth Coal & Coke Co. ^ 400 Footedale H. C. Frick Coke Co. 80 Fretts Southern Fayette Coke Co. 459 Griffin Bessemer Coke Co. 60 Hero Hero Coal & Coke Co. 200 Hustead Hustead-Semans C & C Co. y 200 LaBelle LaBelle Coke Co. 220 Lafayette Atlas Coke Co. - 432 Lambert H. C. Frick Coke Co. •516 Leckrone H. C. Frick Coke Co. 400 Lincoln Lincoln Coal & Coke Co. 232 Low Phos Connellsville Central Coke Co. ■^185 Martin .Bessemer Coke Co. 202 McKeefry McKeefry Coal Co. 30 Newcomer Newcomer Coke Co. 400 Orient Orient Coke Co. 32 Parshall No. 1 . . . . Puritan Coke Co. 100 Parshall No. 2 Puritan Coke Co. 30 Perry Perry Coal & Coke Co. 50 Plumer Plumer Coke Co. "^ 400 RepubHc Republic Iron & Steel Co. 132 Rich Hill Rich Hill Coal & Coke Co. /500 Royal W. J. Rainey 30 Sackett H. R. Sackett Coke Co. 200 Shamrock Favette Coke Co. COAL AND COKE 291 20 Smithfield Uniontown Coke Co. 80 Solon Prospect Coal & Coke Co. -too Southern Southern Connellsville C & C Co 160 Struthers Struthers Coal & Coke Co. 150 Teresa Sunshine Coal & Coke Co. 160 Taylor Taylor Coal & Coke Co. 160 Virginia Masontown Coal & Coke Co. •- 325 Washington No. I.Washington Coal & Coke Co. " 441 Washington No 2. Washington Coal & Coke Co. " 300 Washington No. 3. Washington Coal & Coke Co. 10,690 CHAPTER IX. MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS The first merchants of western Pennsylvania carried their stores about the country with them on the backs of their horses. They were the packers. And since the first permanent resident of Connellsville was one of these trav- ehng traders it will be seen that the town has been a busi- ness center from of yore. William McCormick, this pion- eer of the business world, was a resident of Winchester, Va., and, after making several trips to western Pennsyl- vania with his string of pack horses, came to the conclu- sion that Stewart's Crossing was the natural business cen- ter of the entire Yough region, took up two tracts of land on the Connellsville side of the river and built for himself a substantial log home. His log barn was built about one hundred yards back from the river and was a comfortable home for the faithful public carriers. At first he drove his string of horses to Hagerstown, Winchester and Bal- timore, where he found a ready market for the peltry and other western produce that he was able to gather up by trad- ing with the Indians and the early settlers. Later, when game became comparatively scarce, the eastern load was made up of rye whiskey, an equally marketable commodity. The western load was usually made up of salt and iron. There were no salt wells in this vicinity at that time. Iron ore was found in abundance in the Chestnut and Laurel mountain ranges, but no attempt was made to reduce it, and iron implements of every description had to be brought from the east by the packers. It was quite a profitable business. Tea, coffee, spices and other little things such as the house wife desired were also carried, but they made up a comparativelv small part of the load. The grocery stores of those days, with the solitary exception of the salt bag, MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 293 were found in the gardens and fields. The shoe stores of the period were found to one side of the fire place of each cabin home where the man of the house in the fall of the year made his shoes and shoe packs from leather of his own tanning. The dry-goods establishments of the time were found in the flax patches which were found on every farm. The friendly flax supplied a score of needs. By the aid of the spinning wheel it furnished the clothing for the entire household. The finest of the pre- pared flax was used for sewing thread, the next grade for the bed linens and towelings, the next for ticking and coarse linen, while the coarsest of all was used as the chain for the weaving of the linsey woolsey out of which all kinds of wearing apparel were made. This home-spun was not as fine a grade of cloth as could be bought in the stores of Baltimore and other eastern cities, but it was considered good enough and was worn by all classes of people. To give some variety to their dress, the women soon learned to dye this material, red or blue or black to suit their tastes. The pack horses of the trader therefore were never overburdened with dry goods. During the busiest period, William ]\IcCormick was the owner of ten or twelve horses ; he also owned five negro slaves, some of whom worked with him on the road and others on the farm. About the year 1789, wagons began to take the place of the pack horses, and a new order of things was begun. The betterment of the public roads and the large increase in the population of the coun- try made it possible to establish permanent stores in the centers of trade. One of these natural trade centers was Connellsville. and Benjamin Wells, with his two sons, John and Charles, were its first merchants. Wells, on first com- ing to this part of the country, in 1790, located on the New Haven side of the river and entered the service of the Federal Government as an excise collector. This posi- tion, coupled with the man's natural stubbornness, made liim one of the most unpopular of men, and it seems strange A RECEIPT OF CALEB TREVOR MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 295 that he ever succeeded in establishing himself in business at all. The "whiskey boys," who tried by threats to drive him out of the country, finally burned his house to the ground, July 11. 1794, and then, disgusted with the whiskey r)usiness, the collector bought a lot on Water street in Connellsville and erected a log house that served the double part of store room and dwelling. His two sons some- time after this removed to the west, but Mr. Wells con- tinued in business here until about the year 1830, though he never had much influence in public affairs. The first successful merchants of the town were the Trevor brothers, Samuel and Caleb, who established their business in a log house that stood on West Main street, nearly opposite the present Post Office. This store was a great improvement over the Water street establishment of Benjamin Wells, and the Trevors soon became wealthy and influential citizens. In the year 1808, they paid the heaviest taxes in the Borough. The exact date of their establishment here is hard to give, but it was probably in the spring of 1795. The court record shows that Samuel Trevor witnessed a deed of Zachariah Connell, executed July 9. 1795. The receipt of Caleb Trevor that is repro- duced on the accompanying page bears the date October 9, 1795, and indicates that they had then been in business for some time. Another bill rendered by these pioneer merchants to Mrs. Shriver, of Dunbar township, in 1797, will furnish us with some idea of how business was done. Mrs. Shiver for Gaspar Hadi,ing BO'T OF S. AND C. TREVOR 1797 / s d 3rd July 3^ lb. of nails 5 1% 1 lb. of tea 2 9>^ 8 5 By Cash 8 5 lib. tea 6s. 7>^d. Cups, Plates, Indigo, Pins, Tea Pot, Ribbon, Tape, Snuff Amt. ■[£. 13s. 7>^d. 296 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE In 1808 they built a good brick store room and dwell- ing on the corner of Main and Arch streets, where their business was successfully continued for a number of years. This building is still standing, but has been remodeled to such an extent in recent years and altered in appearance by the regrading of the street that it can scarcely be recog- nized as the old Trevor store. Caleb Trevor never married, but made his home with his brother. For a while he was associated with one of the Gibsons in the iron business, but never gave up his interest in the store. Samuel Trevor was one of the most capable and public-spirited men of his day. His name is associated with every important public movement in the town. It was chiefly due to his influence that the First Baptist church of Connellsville was, organized in 1796. He \-/as a man of versatile character and was twice elected to the State Legislature. He was the father of seven chil- dren, John B., Joseph, Caleb, Jr., Samuel J., Sarah, Mary and Susan. His eldest son, John B. Trevor, inherited the business ability of his father, serving as the local post- master for a number of years ; as State Treasurer from 1820 to 1822, and as Prothonotary of Fayette county from 1822 to 1824. He was the first cashier of the Connells- ville Navigation Company, the first banking institution established in the town, serving from 1816 to 1819, when he was succeeded by his brother, Caleb Trevor, Jr. Upon the death of the elder Trevors, (Samuel, dying July 26, 1820, and Caleb, March 22, 1821), the store was conducted by the two youngest sons of Samuel Trevor, Samuel Jr., and Caleb Jr., under the name of the original firm. Sam- uel Jr., was a man of considerable popularity, the first captain of the Youghiogheny Blues, and was generally known as Captain Trevor. He married a daughter of Colonel Isaac Meason, Jr., and in 1829, removed to Cin- cinnati, Ohio. After his departure the store was conducted by his brother Caleb, until the year 1836, when he too removed to the west. It is said that Caleb's removal was MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 397 due to the influence of his wife, a Philadelphia woman of considerable culture, who was never satisfied with his quiet home on the Yough. The last of the Trevors to leave the community was Doctor Joseph Trevor who practiced medicine in New Haven until 1867, when he removed to New York. For a number of years the Trevor store was the business center of the community. The town was not large, but the country people for miles around came here to do their trading. Butter and eggs, pork and poultry, wool and flax, wheat and corn and all kinds of country produce were received at the store. Nine-tenths of the business was done without the exchange of a single dol- lar. The produce was sometimes turned into cash bv sell- ing it to the furnace men, sometimes it was sent to the Pittsburgh markets. \'ery little silver money was in circu- lation, and much of the paper currency was of such a fluc- tuating value that business men did not care to handle it. In 1816 the Borough of Connellsville issued currency •of its own, but this was soon withdrawn. From 1816 to 1831 the Connellsville Navigation Company took care of the mone}' market, but for the next forty years the town was without banking facilities of any kind. The third store established in Connellsville was that of Daniel Rogers, who began business in an old log house on South Water street in 1798. This store was convenient for the country people, who brought their wheat and corn to the old grist mill on the island, and was well patronized. In 1806, Mr. Rogers built a substantial brick house on the corner of Main street, nearly opposite the entrance to the old wooden bridge across the Yough, and here he con- ducted a general store for a number of years. This prop- erty is now known as the Banning House and is the oldest lousiness block now standing in the town. Like all the other merchants of that period. Mr. Rogers did not give his entire time to the store. It was often allowed to run itself while he was busy with other things. For a while lie was engaged in the paper business in South Connells- 298 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ville ; later he gave his attention to cattle raising on his New Haven farm. His successor in business was Jacob Lobengier, who kept the store for a short time and was succeeded by William Lytle, who was the proprietor for two years. In 1828 the property changed hands and was converted into a tavern. From 1818 to 1820, Stewart H. Whitehill kept a little store where the Smith House now stands, but never did much business. It is said of him that he would frequently lock up his store on warm after- noons and go out to see the boys play ball. He was finally sold out by the sheriff. Lester L. Norton, the pioneer of the coke industry, kept a small store on West Main street for several years for the benefit of the workmen in his filling mill and foun- dry, but never made any attempt to build up a large gen- eral trade. James Nixon also had a small store on the same street several years earlier. Still another pioneer merchant was Elisha Clayton, who had a store where the First National Bank now stands. While he kept the store his two daughters, Mary and Harriet, carried on the millinery trade in a private room in the same house. So far as we can learn they were the pioneer milliners of the town. Mr. Clayton remained in business here up to the time of his death, in 1836, when the store passed into the hands of his son-in- law, Crawford Vance, and when Mr. Vance gave it up in order to become the manager of the John T. Hogg bank, it was taken by Doctor Joseph Rogers, who ran it for two years and then went to Fayette furnace to engage in the iron business. When Caleb Trevor, Jr., retired from the brick store in 1836, he was succeeded by Thomas Ewing, who came here with his father from Uniontown Pa. About the year 1845, they vacated this room and moved to a brick house that had been built by James Lafferty on the corner where the Title and Trust Building now stands. Here they con- ducted a general store for about five years, during which THK OLDEST BUSINESS BLOCK IN CONNELLSVILLE (Built in 1806) 300 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE time their location was given a name that has not been -iaKi-otlen-to-this- day. and- is not- Hkely to be forgotten for _generations to come. The Ewings were great Democrats, and tne pohtical discussions that took place in their store room sometimes grew so hot and sulphurous that it was called "Brimstone corner" by the townspeople. At the time the name was treated as a political joke, but today no Connellsvillian thinks of using any other. The commanding figure in the business history of this early period, the man who succeeded in absorbing the larger part of the trade of the community and holding the same position in the popular esteem as the elder Trevors in previous years, was Alexander Johnston. Mr. Johnston was a native of Ireland who came to America at the age of nineteen. At first he located on Chartiers creek in Washington county; then he came to the Yough region. He had no settled home, but made Jones Mills, in West- jnoreland county, his lieadquarters, from which point he peddled dry goods all over this part of the country. Hi"; «'ood nature, strict integrity and Irish wit made for him hundreds of friends, and he was welcome in many homes. After a time he was able to save enough money to buy a horse and light wagon and did a larger business than ever. He would send out the word in advance — "Cheap Alex is coming with his big yard stick," and the people would wait for his coming. Being of quite a frugal dis- position he saved a considerable siim of money so that in 1810 he was able to buy a good brick property in Con- nellsville and open up a permanent stor-e. To the west of this brick building and on the same lot was a log house in which lived Daniel Hood with his large family of nine boys and one girl. One of these boys, A. W. Hood-- was taken into the Johnston home when he was only ten years of age and has given us a description of how business was done in the Johnston store. The store room was rather narrow, with shelves along the wall on both sides, admit- ting but one lone counter. All the sfoods were brouo:ht MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 301 by teamsters from Philadelphia and Baltimore, whose large wagons with six horses would easily haul a hundred cwt. at a time. Among those who were engaged in this business at that time were Presley Whaiey, Charles Walker, Jacob and George Buttermore. The speed of these big road teams was about fifteen miles a day, and two months were generally allowed for a trip from Con- nellsville to Baltimore and return. Mr. Johnston never kept a very large stock of goods in the store, perhaps never more than two thousand dollars" worth at one time. Three barrels of brown sugar and two bags of green coffee was considered a large invoice even of those staples. Fre- quently the stock of these things would run low, and then no one would be allowed to buy more than two or three pounds of each. Mr. Johnston usually made two trips to Philadelphia every year himself, to select goods for the store, making the journey on horseback. By having his horse shod on Saturday and taking an early start on Mon- day morning he could usually get to Philadelphia before the following Sunday and not be absent more than fifteen days on the trip. The money for the purchase of the goods was usually carried in the saddle bags. Profiting b}' his experience as a peddler, Mr. Johnston kept a team of his own and sometimes two out on the road trading with the country people. This kept the people in close touch with the store and built up trade. Sometimes the driver would do more business in a day on the wagon than the men in the store, but he never handled very much money. The team would leave the store in the morning with sugar, coffee, tea, calico and such things, some of which may have been ordered a day or two before, and come back in the evening without a dollar, but laden with butter and eggs, chickens and ducks and all kinds of country pro- duce. But the merchant was perfectlv satisfied, for he expected to make a profit on his goods as well as on the produce. Even in ' the store very little cash money was handled, and when there was six or eight dollars in, the 303 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE cash drawer at the close of a days' business it was con- sidered very good. The larger part of this money was silver coin in the form of "levies" and "fippeny bits." Yough Bridge tickets were used as money for a number of years, circulating at their face value. Eggs were re- ceived at 3 cents a dozen, butter at 8 cents and dressed pork at 3 cents a pound. In the fall of the year great quantities of fresh pork, much of it in the form of stuffed sausage, would be received. This usually found a ready market among the furnace men. Much of the butter re- ceived was kegged and sent to Baltimore. A great deal of corn was received in trade, which was sold to the drove stands along the pike. The store was usually opened up about seven o'clock in the morning and kept open until nine o'clock at night. In the evening light was furnished by tallow candles, which stood on the counter. Few clerks were needed, Mr. Johnston and a boy usually taking care of the store. At meal time, all went to the dining-room together, and the door was left open so that customers who were in a hurry could make their wants known. At the beginning of his business career, Mr. Johnston sold whis- key over his counter at 25 cents a gallon, and frequently invited his customers to help themselves to the contents of the little brown jug, but in later years he became quite an ardent temperance man and the whiskey was put out. He was a man of strong character, one of the charter mem- bers of the Presbyterian church of Connellsville, and for a while paid one-half of the minister's salary. The older •citizens still speak in glowing terms of his ardent patriotism during the Civil war. A war meeting was held in the Presbyterian church in 1862 at which he presided, and the young men of the community cheered him to the echo. He was married in 1812 to Miss Margaret Clark of Dunbar township, and was the father of six children — Joseph, William C, John R., Elizabeth (Mrs. Dr. Joseph Rogers), Nancy (Mrs. James Blackstone), and Margaret (Mrs. Daniel R. Davidson). In 18^6, he retired from business THE OLD FRISBEE STORE 30-1: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE and the management of the store was assumed by his eldest son, Joseph, who also retired in 1858. In November, 1861, a new figure entered the business arena of Connellsville. who was to exert an even wider influence than Alexander Johnston. This was John D. Frisbee, who already had four years of experience in mer- chandizing among the gold seekers of California. The retirement of Joseph Johnston left a splendid business opening for an energetic young man, and Mr. Frisbee was quick to take advantage of it. In partnership with William Cooper and Co., wholesale grocers of Pittsburgh, he opened up the store, December 11, 1861, under the firm name of Frisbee, Cooper and Co. In 1865, Joseph John- ston was taken into-; the company, and the firm name be- came Frisbee, Johnston and Co. At the end of five years Mr. Johnston retired and the firm resumed its original name. From 1880 to 1897 the store was run under the name of John D. Frisbee, when general merchandizing was discontinued and the Frisbee Hardware Company organized. Mr. Frisbee, at the beginning of his business career, adopted; a number of the policies of the Johnston store and by sheer energy made them productive of wealth. He established rural routes and sent out his store wagons in all directions. For a long time he kept two teams on the road, one following a route north of the river, the other to the south. Both teams required two full days to make their round trip. In a few years the name of John D. Frisbee was known far and wide. Several men from Somerset county, working independently, brought regu- larly large quantities of country produce to the Frisbee store. The store never did much, advertising, for the wagons alone were the best of advertisers. These teams,, in the course of a week, would gather in an enormous- quantity of country produce, a single wagon sometimes bringing in more than six hundred dozen of eggs at one time. As the town grew in size the local demand for this produce became greater. The housewives soon learned to- MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 305 know the fine quality of the Pennsylvania Dutch butter that was brought in by the Somerset county wagons, and frequently there would be more than fifty dinner plates in the store, each one bearing a slip of paper marked with the name of the owner, waiting for a print of Somerset county butter. All the various kinds of produce gathered up by the Johnston wagons were also brought into the Frisbee ware rooms and prepared for the market. In addition to these, old rags, shingles, cooper stuff, locust posts and lum- ber of various kinds were received in trade. Sometimes there would be tons of these old rags stored up in the ware- house awaiting shipment. The lot on the northwest corner of Pittsburgh and Alain streets was then owned by Mr. Frisbee, and on the rear end of this the lumber received in trade was stored until it could be sold. For a number of years the Frisbee store was the leading business house in all this section of country. It was divided into five apartments, and required from twelve to fifteen employees for its operation. The hours of business were from seven in the morning to ten at night, and there was but little wasted time. A bookkeeper was employed all the time, for a large credit business was done, especially with the farming people to whom a credit of six and eight months was frequently given. The first clerks employed by the store were, A. W. Hood and W. S. Hood, two brothers, whose experience in the Johnston store enabled them to render quite valuable service. Among the many employees of this store, in addition to the two above named, were J. C. Stimmell, Henry Wagner, Clem Woods, Clark Mc- Guire, Robert Galloway, James Green, Samuel R. Long, Hiram Herbert, Joseph Herbert, W. E. Barnett, Clarence Morton, William Eccles, Samuel Zimmerman. James Hazen, Cash Malcolm, James Barnett, Judson Ritchey, Alonzo Norton, W. H. Soisson, Walker E. Francis, Wil- liam F. Soisson, Abe Stouffer, Arkie Murrie, John Shal- lenberger, S. E. Frock, Amzi Nichol, Grant Nichol, Wal- ter Burchinal, Albert Smith, John A. Green, Herman 306 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Englehart, John Hair, Robert Grim. Samuel Drew, Wil- liam Stetson, Harry Jennings, Wilson Hamilton, John Dickson, Edward Turner, McLain Crossland, Joseph Meyerchak, Robert Sydow, James Nelson, Daniel Wilhelm, Edward Lyons, Charles Clark, Harry Seaton. A. D. New- ell, John Halloway, Byron Porter, Thomas Mahan, George Reed, Robert Halloway, George Freed, Herman Otto, Her- bert C. Frisbee, Albert Vance, Lee Snyder, and Misses Sadie Port, Laura Robbins, Blanche Robbins, Emma Cunningham, Maggie Thomas, Sarah Levine, Mary Herbert, Emma Fris- bee, Annie Egan, Sarah Quinn, Elizabeth White, Sue White and Katie Guiler. Mr. Frisbee did all his own buying and frequently made four trips a year to Philadelphia and New York for this purpose. For a while Miss Emma Frisbee, his daugh- ter, accompanied him and assisted in the selection of the dry goods. Traveling salesmen were unknown in the busi- ness world of 1860, and every merchant was required to select his own stock. Mr. Frisbee has taken an active interest in a num- ber of other affairs, was one of the prime movers in the organization of the First National Bank, in 1876, was elected as its first president and has held the position ever since. He is one of the central figures in the business history of the town. Nearly all the general stores of fifty years ago carried a limited stock of drugs and patent medi- cines, but of course made no pretension of com- pounding prescriptions or doing a regular drug business. The pioneer druggist of the town was Ebenezer Smith, who started in business about the year 1828 in a room on the corner of Meadow alley and Main street. He was a phar- macist of the old school, made all his own pills and other preparations from the raw materials, mixed and sold great quantities of horse powders, and compounded medicines of almost every description for the healing of both man and beast. His successors at the same stand were David S. Knox, Michael Lore and John Scott, who found it profitable to add a full line of dry goods and groceries to their stock. MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 307 D. S. Knox was the druggist who began the manufacture of McClane's Liver Pills, after the formula of Dr. Charles McClane, a local physician. These three men were in part- nership under the firm name of Scott, Knox and Lore in 1832, when Noble C. McCormick bought out their stock and established himself in business in a frame building that stood on the corner now occupied by the Second National Bank. About the year 1858, Mr. McCormick removed his stock to the adjoining building, and his son-in-law, James N. Walker, kept a drug store in the old corner building from 1858 to 1877, when he removed to the West. In 1865 Harry C. McCormick, son of Noble McCormick, entered the drug business, buying out the store of William McCray in the old Herbert building. In 1867 he became a partner in the firm of Noble C. McCormick and Company in general merchandise. On November 10, 1876, he secured full con- trol of the store, sold out the dry goods and groceries at public auction and kept only the drugs, in which position he remained until 1901, when he sold the property to F. A. Kail and removed to Rockwood, Pa. Another of the early druggists of the community was Provance McCormick, a great-grandson of Colonel William Crawford. Mr. McCormick was a carpenter by trade, but, having been injured, looked about for another calling and concluded that he would undertake the drug business. No- ticing an advertisement of a McKeesport druggist offering his stock and fixtures for sale, he bought them and opened up the store in company with his son, Joseph T. McCormick, in his property on Water street. The firm was known as P. McCormick and Son, and remained in business from 1852 to 1875. On February 27, 1866, Joseph T. McCor- mick purchased an interest in the McGrath and Winslow car shops, but still kept the drug store and there did all his clerical work. Their successor was C. N. Boyd, who kept the store from 1876 to 1879, and then sold out to J. C. Moore, who has been in business at the old stand ever since. 308 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Another of our veteran druggists is Frank Huston, who came to Connellsville in 1871, and opened up his store in the room he stih occupies. His brother, the late Henry C. Huston, came with him, and occupied one-half of the store room with men's clothing. An examination of the old prescription files of this store shows that Mr. Huston did a large prescription business, the local physicians at that time having quite generally given up the practice of compound- ing their own medicines. In this store the first plate-glass front of Connellsville was established, and for some time was quite an object of curiosity. During the last fifteen years the methods of conducting the drug business have greatly changed. It is no longer possible for carpenters to give up their trade and go to work selling drugs. Only thoroughl}^ qualified men are admitted to the profession under the law, and the local pharmacies have been advanced to the highest standard. Among those who have engaged in the drug business here, in addition to those whose names have already been mentioned, we note the following: Eli C. Suter, George Booher, Doctor Morrison, Webb Baer, Homer Hargrave, F. E. Markell and Brother, H. P. Berry- hill, Albert Evans, A. A. Clarke, Graham and Newcomer, Keaggy Brothers and H. A. Barclay. The pioneer silversmith of the town was Robert Mc- Guire, whose bright eyes and eagle-like countenance are yet vividly recalled by our older business men. His chief occu- pation was the manufacture of silver spoons, in which art he was an adept. These spoons were usually made out of Spanish silver dollars and were sold at $2.50 each. Another of these early silversmiths was John Wood- cock, some of whose handiwork can still be seen in the homes of the older families of town. About the year 1834 a clock-maker by the name of Jacob Conrad located here, but remained only a short time. The first regular jewelry store was opened by Alexan- der B. Morton, in June, 1845. He was a native of Scotland and a skilled workman, having served a full apprenticeship SOUTH PITTSBURGH STREET IN 1855 310 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE of seven years in order to learn his trade. When he came to Connellsville, Alexander Johnston said to him: "Mr. Morton, you're the verra mon we want. Stay with us." And Mr. Morton stayed. He started up in a little room on the corner of Meadow alley and Main street. He did all kinds of fine repairing, and also kept a fair stock of watches, clocks, jewelry, musical instruments and notions of various kinds, buying his goods in New York City. In 1846 he moved into the Trevor building, on the corner of Arch street, where he remained until 1851, when he purchased the building now occupied by Davidson's grocery from Alexander Johnston, remodeled the lower story for business purposes and lived with his family in the other part. Here he remained until 1887, when he sold out to A. W. Bishop, the present occupant. Like all the other merchants of that day, Mr. Morton was compelled to accept wheat, corn and other country produce in lieu of cash. Some of his clock trades now seem quite amusing. The first year after he located here, another jewelry store was started by Jacob Stahl, but he only remained about two years. For a number of years he was the only jeweler in the town. E. V. Goodchild and Charles H. Ways were his first real competitors, and they did not go into business until in the seventies. C. M. Hyatt entered the field in 1882, and Mr. Morton was then almost ready to retire. A partial list of the other jewelers of the town's history is as follows: Mrs. C. H. Ways, C. L. Clark, Mrs. C. L. Clark, Jacob Strouse, Charles .Matthias, Sylvester Coyle, C. T. Giles, A. B. Kurtz, Wil- liam Herzberg and Messrs. Whitsett, Smith, Ross, New- comer and Nesbit. In early days the shoe business was altogether in the hands of the shoemakers. Factory-made shoes were almost unknown until about the year 1859. Connellsville people seemed to take quite naturally to shoe making, and made the greater portion of the boots and shoes of the Yough region. In the year mentioned, John D. Boyle, of Union- THE JOHN K. BROWN SHOE SHOP AND HOME East Main Street 312 CEXTENXIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE town, Opened up a shoe store on East Main street, with Tliomas M. Fee as manager, in which he offered factory- made shoes for sale at prices so much lower than those offered by the local shoemakers as to bring about a revolu- tion in the shoe business. The shoemakers seemed to real- ize that their trade was gone and there was quite a scramble to adjust themselves to the new conditions. The large num- ber of shoemakers who enlisted in the army in 1861 and 1862 may be partly accounted for in this way. John D. Boyle, the man who started this little business ferment, kept the store but a few months, when he sold out to Joseph M. Lytic, who gave Mr. Fee an interest in it and retained him as manager. They kept the factory-made shoes and also employed a number of local shoemakers to work for them, among whom may be mentioned John K. Brown, Hugh L. Cameron, William H. Shaw, George O'Brien, Thomas Moreland and Jacob Wible. In 1864 the stock was sold to Mrs. Elizabeth McBride, who opened up a store on West Main street. When Thomas M. Fee returned from the war he went into business for himself in a little basement room on East Main street, where Rockwell Marietta now lives, that had been occupied for a number of years b}- "Auntie Hare," with her tempting stock of candies, cookies, hot gingerbread and home-brewed beer. Here he remained until his growing business compelled him to move to a larger room farther up the street. In addition to the shoes he also kept a full line of trunks and hats. Twice every year he was compelled to make the trip to New York and Boston in order to replenish his stock. He retired from business in 1870. Among the shoemakers who felt the competition of the eastern factories most sharply were Aaron Bishop and his two brothers, George and John. Stephen Bishop, the father of these three boys, had settled in Connellsville on Trump run at a very early date and the boys had all learned the shoemaking trade when quite young. Aaron had his shop where "The News" now has its ofhce, and here, about MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 'Sl'6 1861, he laid in a stock of the factory-made shoes. As a matter of business poHcy he sold the factory shoes only when compelled to do so, claiming that it would take two pairs of them to outwear one pair made at his bench. Many people agreed with him and said that the factory shoes could never be made to fit properly, but in spite of every- thing more and more of them were sold. The low price won the day. Mr. Bishop, yielding to the inevitable, came down the hill in 1879, entered into partnership with Lloyd Johnson, and established the shoe store of Bishop and John- son, adjoining Brimstone corner. In the spring of 1880, Robert Norris, then a young man, started to work for them as a clerk, and rendered such efficient service tiiat in 1883 he becamic a member of the firm of Bishop, Johnson and Norris. In 188T the firm was changed to Johnson and Norris. and again in 1900 to Norris and Hooper. One of the most successful pioneer shoe men was Lewis A. \\'etherell. He was born in Athol, Aiass., in 1812, and came to Connellsviile in 1850. A few months after his coming he formed, with two other eastern men, a partnership known as Aialindy, Davis and Wetherell. They purchased a lot lacing G(j feet on ]\Iain street and 165 feet on North l^itts burgh street, on the corner of which stood a two-storv brick dwelling house, for about $1200. In this building the firm opened up its business ; but a few months after starting, Air. Davis died and then Air. Alalindy wanted to dissolve the partnership. Air. Wetherell bought the interest of both men in the firm and carried on the business alone. He started by employing a few shoemakers in the brick building, but business soon increased under his skillful management to such an extent that he was compelled to build a special workshop adjoining the brick building on the east. It was a two-story building, modeled after the eastern factories, with ever}- convenience for the accommo- dation of the workmen. In this shop he employed at times from twenty-five to thirty-five men. In addition to these he employed quite a number of women around the town as 314 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE binders and finishers. A large part of the shoe business in those days was done in the fall of the year. At that time every man bought a pair of good boots, expecting to make them last for a full year. Often the country people would come in by families, each one being measured for a pair of boots or shoes, as the choice might be. The former gener- ally had the first choice, even among the women. When the order was finished and the father of the house called to take them home, it is said that he furnished a good illustration of a traveling shoe store. For a while there were quite a number of peripatetic shoemakers, who roamed about the country, boarding with the people for whom they worked until they had made a pair of shoes for each member of the family. When J. D. Boyle introduced the factory-made shoes to the trade, Mr. Wetherell was quick to see the results. About the year 1861 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Willard B. Drury, of Worcester, Mass., in order to handle the new style of footwear. Two stores were opened in western Pennsylvania, one in Greensburg under the management of Mr. Drury, and the other in Con- nellsville under the care of Mr. Wetherell. This partnership was dissolved four years later, when the stock of the Greens- burg store was removed to Connellsville. Mr. Wetherell remained in the shoe business here until 1874, when he sold out and retired. He died in Connellsville, November 16, 1881. One of his strong New England traits was a love for the beautiful. His large, well-kept yard on North Pitts- burgh street, extending all the way from the corner building to Orchard alley, with its beautiful green banks, rich flower beds, and fine fruit trees, is still remembered as one of the beauty spots of the Connellsville of 1860. Every inch of this ground is now occupied by business blocks. A. A. Wetherell, son of the pioneer, had a shoe store in the corner building for a number of years. Other pioneers of the shoe trade in Connellsville were David Blackburn, who opened a store in 1868, MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 315 and continued until 187G, John Rutherford, who kept a store in the Kilpatrick block from 1871 to 187-1,. and Richard S. Paine, son of a veteran shoemaker, who started in business in 1875, and conducted a very success- full store for twenty-four years, when he sold out to Mitch- ener and Hormel. Among the other shoe firms of the town we note the names of J. S. Shively, R. M. Sibbett, Richard Campbell, J. C. Lytle, Lytle and Soisson, James N. Frew, son, Donnelly and Irwin, John Irwin, W. C. Downs and Gorman and Co. After the year 1865 most of the gen- eral stores kept a full line of shoes. The large department stores have also claimed a share of the trade. Another branch of trade that has passed through changes very similar to those of the shoe business is that of men's clothing. In early days this business was entirely in the hands of the tailors. The first man to bring the factory-made clothing to town was Gustavus Bash, a Jewish peddler, who came here in 1853 and opened up a store in the old Page House on East Main street. Bash had been a ped- dler in France and Switzerland before coming to this coun- try, and then carried a pack through western Pennsylvania for several years before settling down in business in Con- nellsville. He was a man of considerable intelligence and good humor, and did quite a successful business, yet he was a true son of Israel and drove many shrewd bargains with the country folk who brought him all kinds of country pro- duce for exchange. Many interesting stories are told of his business experiences. As an expert trader he rarely got the short end of any kind of a deal. After a few years he removed his store from the Page House to an old frame building on the opposite side of the street, and later to the Wilkey building, where he did a large business. In 1868 Henry Goldsmith came to Connellsville and started to work for Mr. Bash, but in 1870 started up in business for himself. With characteristic enterprise he painted the front of his itore in stripes and called it the "Red, White and Blue" to ittract attention. In 1876 he gave to his store the name of Oak Hall. He was one of the most successful early mer- 316 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE chants of town, remaining in business until 1897, when he retired in favor of Goldsmith Brothers. For several years Mr. Bash was the only dealer in ready-made clothing in town. Many people regarded the factory goods as decidedly inferior, and stuck to the merchant tailors. About the year 1860, Henry Heffley came to Connellsville and established himself in the tailoring business in the Reisinger building, keeping a small line of ready-made clothing at the same time. In 1868, Marcus Goldsmith started up in business in the Newcomer building. In 1879 he sold out and started to work for Henry Goldsmith. Another early clothier was Jacob Reffner, who kept a store on Brimstone corner. About the year 1874 no less than sixteen of the local merchants kept more or less ready- made clothing for sale. During the panic this number was reduced to four or five. H. C. Horner, father of E. W. Horner, entered the merchant tailoring business here in 1877. His first shop was on North Pittsburgh street, where Scott's grocery is now located. When he came here the tailoring business was chiefly in the hands of Samuel Cox and Henry Heffley. The latter was very much put out because of his coming, and issued a circular letter in which he warned the public not to give the new comer any of their patronage. This was the best kind of an advertisement for Mr. Horner, who took the matter good-naturedly, and, being something of a wit himself, issued a reply in the form of a jocular poem, signed Hans Hogelspitzen, the first verse of which read as follows : "Now you know dot naughty old tailor .So talk about mine peezness und sich Und says to der peebles all round here Dot me noddings don't know how to stich." The result of the incident was a windfall of trade for Mr. Horner, and he had a thriving business for a number of vears. His son, E. W. Horner, succeeded him in busi- MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 317 ness in 1891, and in 1895 formed a partnership with J. W. McClaren which continned until 1901, when Mr. McClaren purchased the entire control of the store. Some time later Mr. Horner again established himself in business in the Marietta block, where he still conducts a general men's clothing and furnishing store. About the year 1880, a Jewish lad not more than thir- teen years of age began to carry a pack through the coke region, selling dry goods and clothing. In spite of his youth and inexperience he had a good trade, and, on New Year's Day, 1888, opened up a store of his own in Connellsville. The boy was Sam Goodman. He had natural business qualifications, was quite a strong advertiser, and in a short time occupied three rooms with his business. In 1896 he removed his store to the Newcomer building on North Pittsburgh street. A partial list of the merchant tailors and clothiers of Connellsville whose names have not already been mentioned, is as follows : Henry Weihe, Morris Ko- backer, Reuben Miller, John F. Norcross, Charles Norcross, C. A. Pool, D. Cohen, Levinson and Cohen, Harry Mervis, Max Tumpson, Jacob and Samuel Kinsburski, Henry Hus- ton, Clabaugh Brothers, H. J. Boslett, J. R. Nelson, H. E. Penn, Harry Victor, William Herzberg, P. Bellano and L. Ruttenberg. The large department stores also carry a full line of men's clothing. The first photographer of town was Byron Porter, who' established his business in 1869. The first baker was William Templeton, a Scotchman, followed by John Weller, Conrad Hoop, Hamilton Graham, Edward White and others. The first butcher was Elijah Crossland, who found such a light demand for fresh meat in the town in 1806 that he made and sold wooden plows as a side line. Frederick Bierer, a German, succeeded Mr. Crossland, and did a good business. Valentine Coughanour, George McCormick, Wil- liam McCue and John Hetzel Sr. were other pioneers of the trade. Up to the time of building the first City Hall, the 318 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE meat business was carried on in the old Market House on the corner of Pittsburgh and Main streets, after that it was done in private shops. The first man to give his entire attention to the hard- ware business was Joshua M. Dushane. As a boy in his Westmoreland county home, Mr. Dushane was impressed with the cook stove business, believing that he could make his fortune in it. He picked out Connellsville as an ideal business center, and, coming here in 1850, started up a store in the old log house that had been built by the Trevors. He sold cook stoves and a general line of hardware, and en- gaged also in the tinning business, sometimes employing four or five men. His principal tinners were James Robb and Samuel Kurtz. He remained in this business until 1858, when he sold out to Samuel Kurtz and went to Somerset. The outbreak of the war spoiled all his business plans, and, in the summer of 1862, he returned to Connellsville, raised a full company of men in six days, and marched to the front. Taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, he was reduced to a physical wreck in southern prison pens, and for several years after the war was not able to re-engage active- ly in business. Five or six years were spent in the revenue service. In May, 1872, he purchased the interest of Forrey and Reisinger in the firm of Francis, Forrey and Reisinger, which had been established in 1864, and conducted a general store for twelve years under the firm name' of Francis and Dushane. He then retired from active business life. Another pioneer hardware man was J. D. Stillwagon, a Connellsville man by birth and training, who kept a store on Brimstone corner for more than twenty years. After Mr. Dushane's first retirement in 1858, Samuel Kurtz was the town's tinner until 1864 ; then in 1867 . Mr. Stillwagon started up in business. About the same time, in company with Captain Lloyd Johnson, he purchased this valuable corner lot for $1,800 from John D. Frisbee. One-half of it could not be purchased to-day for less than $50,000. Upon the rear of this lot, fronting on North Pittsburgh street. MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 319 Mr. Stillwagon erected what was then considered a fine brick dwelhng house. This corner hardware store, for a number of years, was headquarters for Democratic news. In the evening, after the mail came in, all the old Democratic war horses of the town would gather in the store and listen to Mr. Stillwagon reading the Pittsburgh Post in his inimi- table way. During election times his store was always crowded in the evenings. He was quite a humorist, and his salt river tickets and funny papers are still vividly remem- bered. He retired from business a few years before his death, which occurred June 8, 1893. Other firms who have engaged in the hardware busi- ness here are : J. R. Balsley, Fayette Lumber Company, J. B. Skinner (the pioneer plumber), Munson Brothers, Tur- ner Hardware Company, Frisbee Hardware Company, Schell Hardware Company and the Hoop Hardware Com- pany. The grocery business of the town from the beginning was in the hands of the general merchants. The first man to give his attention exclusively to high-class groceries was Captain Edmund Dunn, who came to Connellsville in 1873 and opened up an attractive store on East Main street, in partnership with P. J. Stouffer. In 1874 he removed to the Odd Fellows' building and conducted the store under his own name. In 1881 N. B. Harding became a partner, and a full line of dry goods was added to the stock. In 1884 this partnership was dissolved and the store removed to the Newcomer building. In 1894 the groceries were sold out, and the store given up exclusively to dry goods, carpets, etc. In 1897 the store was removed to the commodious rooms of the Dunn-Paine building, on the east side of the street, where it still remains. Harry Dunn entered the store as a clerk in 1890, and, in spite of many flattering offers, has stuck to his post and done much to make the Dunn store the splendid emporium of high-class goods that it now is. Another veteran merchant, now retired, is A. W. Hood. 320 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE who has spent his life in Connellsville. His early experi- ence was received in the Johnston store ; later he worked for seventeen years in the store of John D. Frisbee. In 1882 he established a general store in the Casino building, under the firm name of Hood Brothers and Company, the members of the firm being A. W. Hood, W. S. Hood and P. S. Newmyer. In 189U this partnership was dissolved,. A. W. Hood retaining the dry goods and continuing in busi- ness until 1896, when he retired. His brother retained the groceries and remained in business at the same place until 1896. Another of the older grocery men of town is J. V. Percy, who started a general store on the corner of Pros- pect and Main streets in 1865. It was he who started the movement of business away from the West Main street cen- ter ; it is claimed also that he was the first man to establish a local delivery wagon. The first grocery store of the South Side was started by Mrs. James Darr (Mrs. Anna Clark) ; the pioneer grocer of the Pinnacle district was Peter Martin. To give a full list of the retail grocers who have been in business in Con- nellsville during all these years would be quite difficult, inasmuch as many of them were here for but a very short time. A partial list, omitting those whose names are men- tioned elsewhere, is as follows : Adam Armstrong, John Rigley, John Porter, J. B. Skinner, James A. Zimmerman,. Swartz welder and Miller, Mrs. S. A. Marietta, Sembower and Wortman, J. M. Sembower, J. R. Wortman, John Davidson, Jr., S. A. Davidson, M. J. Davidson, George W. Brickmann Company, W. R. Scott, J. M. Herpick, H. J.. Wells, John Campbell, F. B. Luteman, W. H. Showman, J. H. Hoover, D. J. Hoover, A. M. Lyons, Charles Echard,. James Nickelson, Strickler Stacy, F. C. Rose, Rose and Her- rington, Nickelson and Edenbo, Daniel Sinclair, J. E. Col- Hns, Clarence Stillwagon, Berg Brothers, W. H. Friend, J. A. Rankin, Patrick May, Nicolay and May, Asa Steyer,. Michael Rendine, Mrs. J. N. Trump, H. M. Powell, R. B. A MODERN BUSINESS BLOCK 332 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Shaw, Keagy Brothers, Paul Beighley, J. E. Palmer, J. S. Patterson, Hileman and Richter, J. M. Young, B. F. Ru- dolph, George Hileman, John T. Kooser, A. Gigliotti, Italo- American Grocery Company. The wholesale grocery business was established in Con- nellsville in January, 1898, when Robert Felty and others organized the Connellsville Grocery Company. Doyle, Brill and Company, wholesale confections, etc., were established in 1893 ; Bixler and Company in 1906. The wholesale fruit and produce business is in the hands of F. T. Adams. R. J. Welsh and L. Raimondio. The first 5- and 10-cent store in town was established by Abe May in the Soisson building. His successor was C. C. Crill, who in turn sold out to D. K. Artman in 1887, who has carried on the business ever since. It is difficult to give a complete list of the notion mer- chants of town, since nearly all of the larger stores keep some lines of these goods, and the trade cannot be classified. The first furniture stores of Connellsville were found in the cabinet-maker shops, of which there were quite a number. Some of these cabinet makers were carpenters, who naturally drifted into the furniture-making business because of their skill in fine wood work. Among the best chair-makers of early days were John Turner, Moses Mc- Cormick, Andrew Stillwagon and Thomas Boley. John W. Phillips, son-in-law of Zachariah Connell, was a cabinet maker, and employed a number of workmen in his shop on lower Fairview avenue. Matthew Seaton and George W. Herbert were the men who made the coffins and took care of the undertaking. About the year 1872, Thomas Porter and his brother opened an undertaker's establishment on West Main street. Little by little, as the demand for it increased, they added a large stock of factory made furniture, and the business of the cabinet makers soon came to an end. This store after a time passed into the hands of Samuel Porter, a brother of Thomas. For a number of years the Porters enjoyed a monopoly of the furniture business in the community. Their MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 323 first local competitors were G. B. Conn and Thomas W. Morris, who opened undertaking rooms on the corner of North Pittsburgh and Peach streets, about the year 1879, under the firm name of G. B. Conn and Company. Three years later this partnership was dissolved ; Mr. Morris took the business into his own hands and added a full line of furniture. After the death of Mr. Morris, which occurred in July, 1890, G. C. Armstrong. L. L. West and Mrs. Morris each took a third interest in the business and carried it on as Morris and Company. J. E. Sims became the practical undertaker of this firm in 1893, succeeding W. H. Barnes, and held the position until 1902, when he went into business for himself. In 1903 the partnership of West and Sidersky was formed, handling furniture alone, which continued for about a year, when J. E. Sidersky took the business into his own hands. Morris and Company still continue the un- dertaking with Charles C. ^Mitchell as their director. In 1892, J. B. Stader came to Connellsville from Lat- robe, and opened up a furniture and undertaking business in the room adjoining the Yough House. In 1894 he ac- cepted a position with the firm of Samuel Porter, and a year later purchased the undertaking part of the business for himself, the furniture being bought by the Standard Furniture Company. Mr. Strader then stocked his store with new furniture but in 189T sold it out and kept the un- dertaking alone. The large furniture house of B. P. Wal- lace was established in 1899. From 1895 to 1899 Mr. Wallace had been in the piano business in New Haven, but on coming to Connellsville soon enlarged his store to its present proportions. The Rosenblum Furniture Company started in business in a modest way in the Odd Fellows' building in 189-i, under the firm name of Rosenblum and Silverman. It has occupied the present quarters in the McClenathan block since March 1906. The Odd Fellows' building also witnessed the founding of the Aaron store in the year 1892. From 1893 to 1897 324 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE the store was located in the Newmyer building ; then it was removed to the McClenathan block where it remained until the present fine building was occupied, March 16, 1906. On the morning of May 2, a disastrous fire burned out the three highest stories of the building, but the lower floors were protected by a temporary roof and business was pushed on while the upper part was torn down and rebuilt. One of the early general stores of the town, not yet mentioned, was that of the Newcomers. John and Joseph Newcomer opened up this store about the year 1854. From 1857 to 1863, John Taylor was a member of the firm, and the Taylor tanneries and the store were operated together. To meet the money question, this firm issued scrip of the value of 25 c, 50 c, and $1.00, payable at the store, which circulated among the tannery men and also to some extent among the people of the town. In 1863 this firm dissolved and John Newcomer continued in business alone for about two years longer, when he sold out and retired. Prominent among the early merchants of the town were Henry Shaw and Samuel Reisinger. Samuel Reisin- ger and Josiah Kurtz were partners in the hatter's trade, the former peddling the hats through all the surrounding country. Henry Shaw first kept a little general store of his own on West Main street, and then went into partner- ship with Air. Reisinger. In 1862, Josiah Kurtz bought out the interest of Mr. Reisinger in the store and formed the partnership of Shaw and Kurtz. This was the beginning of the Kurtz store. In 1865, Henry J. Kurtz entered this store as a clerk; in 1867 he secured an interest in the firm, and, although there have been a number of changes in the make-up of the firm since that time, he is still actively engaged in busi- ness at the same stand. From 1862 to 1867, it was Shaw and Kurtz; from 1867 to 1870, Josiah Kurtz and Sons; from 1870 to 1875, J. and H. Kurtz, (Josiah M. Kurtz be- ing the senior partner) ; from 1875 to 1888, Henry and Josiah B. Kurtz; from 1888 to 1896, Kurtz and Freed; — .- MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 325 from 1896 to the present, H. and J. Kurtz. Since the time of Kurtz and Freed, the store has carried only dry goods and notions. During his long service, Mr. Kurtz has seen many changes in the business life of the town. In the early years the hatters controlled the hat business, the cabinet makers the furniture business, the potters the crockery business, the tailors the clothing business, etc., while the general stores carried only such things as the specialists could not supply. In course of time the centralization of labor and the invention of modern machinery enabled the general stores to undersell the specialists on their own ground. This in turn made the business of the general stores so large that only the brightest of business men could manage them to advantage. Young men starting out in life, made a spe- cialty of certain lines of trade and did it so effectively that business again was thoroughly divided. For a period of fifteen or twenty years the specialists held the field, and then reaction brought about another concentration of busi- ness in the modern department stores. The father of this movement in Connellsville was Morris Kobacker, who came here in October. 1889, and opened up a miniature depart- ment store on tne Stillwagon corner, under the firm name of Kobacker and Company. Business was good and a sec- ond room wao rented for the dry goods department in the Greenland block. When this company dissolved partner- ship Morris Kobacker retained the clothing and men's fur- nishings, renting a room in the Weihe building. When the Porter building was erected on North Pittsburgh street, Mr. Kobacker saw his opportunity and established "The Fa- mous" department store. This was the first store of its kind in the town and employed from twenty to forty people. Since December 31, 1901, this store has been operated by the firm of Mace and Company. The large department store of the Wright Metzler Company, which occupies two floors of the First National Bank building was established in April, 1904. Recently a 326 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE branch store has been established in Uniontown. In 1900, W. N. Leche and H. S. Buckwalter established the large dry goods store of Leche and Buckwalter. Some time later Mr. Leche purchased the interest of his partner and has since carried on the business under his own name. Featherman and Frank and Long Brothers are also enterprising dry goods merchants. Connellsville business men have long been noted for their enterprise. Since the days of Alexander Johnston, who refused to sit in his store and wait for the trade to come to him, but sent out his wagons into the surrounding country to bring in the trade, they have been regarded as the most energetic trade-makers of the Yough region ; and at no time have they held such a position of prestige as at present. Shoppers from Union- town, Dawson, Dunbar, Scottdale and all the neighboring towns are attracted to their well-stocked stores, especially during the holiday season. And it is their firm determina- tion to hold fast to this trade. The organization of the Connellsville Merchants' Association has served to draw the men closer together and open up new channels of busi- ness enterprise. The accomplishment of the past four gen- erations has been great, but those of the future promise to be s^reater still. CHAPTER X RELIGIOUS FORCES This region was settled by Christian people. It is true that there were not a few reckless spirits among the early inhabitants. Those who led wild and irreligious lives ; those to whom nothing was sacred and who shrank not from deeds of violence and cruelty. But, as a rule, the men and women who came to these hills and valleys were a God- fearing, home-loving people. A more intelligent, indus- trious, sincere and faithful class never settled any country. A large proportion of them had been members of the Church before coming here, and, in spite of the privations and perils of pioneer life, remained true to their religious profession. They read their Bibles. They held meetings for prayer. They kept up family worship. They formed themselves into congregations, and the building of their own humble cabins was followed by the building of their schools and churches. Where churches had not yet been erected, serv- ices were held in shady groves, "God's first temples," with a pulpit made of rough slabs often called a "tent," and seats made of hewn logs, or in barns, in cabins, in blockhouses or in the fields. The first houses of worship were rude in their architecture and primitive in their arrangements. They were built of logs, with puncheon floor and with seats sometimes of planks, but oftener of hewn logs resting on blocks and with a wide rail for a back. For windows, small openings were cut in the logs, and these openings, as a rule, were covered with paper or linen, "oiled with hog's lard or bear's grease." Stoves were seldom used. In cold weather, the worshippers sat with blankets or coverlets wrapped about them. Fires were sometimes built outside, around which people gathered be- fore and after service. The roof was of clapboards, the 327 328 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE door swung on wooden hinges, the pulpit was high, the minister's head elevated well-nigh to the ceiling. The first churches were small, often only twenty by twenty feet, though there were some that reached the dimensions of seventy by forty. In these larger churches, many pulpits were eight steps in height, and had a sounding board over them, often painted blue and sometimes ornamented with pictures of the sun, moon and stars. There were no instru- ments of music used in the earliest churches. There were few tunes. Psalm-singers knew only the "twelve tunes of David" — Mear, Dundee, Devizes and others. A precentor or "dark," as he was quite universally called, led the sing- ing and the whole congregation sang "air." Tenor, bass and alto came later. Ecclesiastical architecture grew with the growth of the population until, early in the last century, churches of brick and stone, commonly one storied and simple in style, were here and there erected. The more imposing of these old- time brick churches had a high gable front, "large windows with small 9x12 glass," and the windows screened with the old style slat blinds, "the slats held together with tape." The pulpit was about ten feet high, with stairs and railings on each side. Some pulpits were of the wine-glass pat- tern ; others were massive from the floor up, completely concealing the average-sized minister when seated, from the view of the congregation. The pews were high and had doors, closed with a wooden button. The first known religious service in what is now Fay- ette county, was conducted by George Washington. This was at Fort Necessity, in 1754, where he led his little army in daily prayers, according to the ritual of the Church of England. It is also said that he read the service at the burial of General Braddock, Monday morning, July 14. 1755, and it is probable, though not certain, that he did. Christopher Gist, at even an earlier date, may have held re- ligious service, in this county, for he was a faithful and devoted member of the Episcopal church, and is known, RELIGIOUS FORCES 329 on one occasion, at least, to have read prayers before a company of Indians and delivered a religious address to them — an event which occurred Christmas, 1T50. in Ohio. The first settlers, many of them, came from Virginia, and the English Episcopal church was, at the time, the Established Church of Virginia, the "legal religion" of the colony. Accordingly, many of the first settlers were mem- bers of that church. Colonel William Crawford, if not a member, was, at least, an adherent of that church and gen- erous host that he was, entertained clergymen who came to explore the field and care for the religious interests of the Episcopal people. One of these clerical visitors was the Rev. Daniel McKinnon. an Englishman, who came to this ■ vicinity some time before the Revolution, and held services. In 1775 or 177G, he sailed for England on business, leaving his three daughters in this country, to be educated at Frederick, Maryland. The vessel on which he sailed was lost at sea, and all on board perished. One of the three daughters was afterward married to Thomas Rogers, of Dunbar township, and from the worthy couple have de- scended several families of prominence in this community. Another Episcopal "missionary at large" was the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, who had been duly ordained and officially ap- pointed and who held services here at intervals, from 1780 to 1790. For a considerable time there was no regular place of worship, but when the log school house was built in Con- nellsville, that unpretentious structure was secured by the Episcopalian people for purposes of public worship on the Sabbath. It continued to be so used until its destruction in 1829, when a removal to New Haven was decided upon. Among the ministers who served the congregation, v^^hile its meetings were held in Connellsville, were Jehnu Clay, in 1810 ; Jacob Morgan Douglas, in 1815 ; Samuel Johnson, in 1820 ; Jackson Kemper (afterward Bishop of Indiana), in 1825; Dean Richmond, John P. Bausman, who 330 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE gave half his time to the Brownsville church, and the other half to Connellsville and Uniontown, and Lyman N. Free- man. Among the early settlers of our county, were many who belonged to the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, and for many years they constituted one of the most influential religious bodies within our bounds. Near Uniontown, stood the old Sandy Hill log meeting house where the Beesons, Hackneys, Woodwards and others wor- shipped in peace and quiet. In Jefferson township, was the Providence meeting-house, and not far from Star Junc- tion is the old burial ground, known as the Cope or Red Lion cemetery, where many who worshipped in that meet- ing-house have been laid to rest. In Redstone township was the old Center meeting-house, and in Bridgeport the old stone meeting-honse. In Connellsville and vicinity, there was a goodly num- ber of Quaker families before the year, 1800. John Gib- son, a Quaker from Chester covmty, owned a log house on Water street, near Main, in which the Quakers held their meetings for years. Mr. Gibson donated to the Connells- ville society about a quarter of an acre of ground as a burial place. A stone wall was built around it and it was popularly known as "The Quaker Graveyard." It lay on the high bank of the river, at the junction of Witter avenue and Fayette street. The Society of Friends has long since passed away, both from covmty and from Borough, but we may well cher- ish the memory of those lovers of peace and promoters of good-will among men, and assign them an honorable place among those who have contributed to the public good. The Baptists came early upon the scene, as early as 1766. They settled in the Redstone valley and on George's creek, and later, on Indian creek and Jacob's creek. The Great Bethel Baptist church, Uniontown, was organized November 7, 1770, by Henry Crosby. The Redstone Asso- ciation was formed in 1776. The Mount JMoriah church RELIGIOUS FORCES 331 in 1784, and at this date an organization of the Baptists "near and beyond the Youghiogheny" was under consider- ation. The Presbyterians came in large numbers, taking up lands, clearing farms, building log homes, schools and churches. They were Scotch and Scotch-Irish, either by birth or by descent, a sturdy, industrious, substantial peo- ple. In the year 1759, Rev. Dr. Francis Alison, of Phila- delphia, one of the finest scholars in the Presbyterian church, came as the chaplain of Colonel James Burd's ex- pedition. He preached every Sabbath on the march, and' in the fort built by Colonel Burd at the mouth of Dunlap's creek, Brownsville. In 1760, the Svnod of Philadelphia sent two ministers, one of them being Rev. Hector Alison, "to see what may be done in the way of missionary efforts." In 1766, Revs. Charles Beatty and George Duffield were sent by the Synod "to explore the frontier settlements and to ascertain the condition of the Indians." At Fort Pitt, Mr. Beatty preached to the garrison, and Mr. Duffield preached to the people who "lived in some kind of a town without the fort." The missionaries, on their return, re- ported numbers of persons on the frontier earnestly desir- ing the enjoyment of reUgious privileges. Others were sent by the Synod to supply the frontier settlements with preach- ing, and were instructed to take no money for their min- isterial labors, showing at once the straitened circumstances of the people and the liberality of the Synod. Many Scotch- Irish settlers from eastern Pennsylvania, from Virginia and" some directly from the north of Ireland, located, in 1770-1, in Washington and Fayette counties, the tide of immigration constantly growing in volume. In 1771, Rev. James Finley spent two months as a missionary in this region. In 1783, he moved here and located as a pastor, a number of famil- ies, from his former charge in Maryland, coming with him. 332 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Dr. James Power, then in the 29th year of his age. "a graceful speaker and a poHshed gentleman," crossed the mountains in 1774, and spent the summer of that year in missionary labors in southwestern Pennsylvania. In 1776, he returned to make this region "his permanent home" and after a few years of missionary work, became the reg- ular pastor of the Mount Pleasant and Sewickley congre- gations. Dr. James Dunlap, a native of Chester county, became pastor of the Laurel Hill and Dunlap's Creek congregations in 1782. The Redstone Presbytery, the first presbytery erected west of the mountains, was formed September 19, 1781. As to churches, the Dunlap's Creek church was organ- ized in a sugar-grove, 1774; the Old Frame church, Tyrone, Laurel Hill, Sewickley, Mount Pleasant (middle church), 1776-7; Rehoboth and Round Hill, 1778; Tent, 1792; Little Redstone, 1797; Uniontown, about 1799. The history of Methodism in Fayette county dates from about 1780, when Robert Wooster, "a local preacher from England," began preaching in the neighborhood of Uniontown. The Baltimore Conference formed the Red- stone Circuit, May 28, 1784, and appointed John Cooper and Samuel Breeze to the circuit for one year. They were fol- lowed by Peter Moriarity, John Fittler and Wilson Lee. Bishop Francis Asbury made several visits to Fayette county, the first being in 1784, when he preached in Union- town to an audience of several hundred people. It is said that the first Methodist meeting-house west of Laurel Hill was Fell's, a log structure, built in 1785-6, about two miles •east of the present town of Bellevernon. The Methodists grew rapidly in numbers and influence. Ministers and members were alike noted for their zeal and perseverance. Their earnest appeals, their fervent prayers, their hearty singing, their unconventional modes of reli- gious work, their untiring and energetic labors, their readi- ness to adapt themselves to circumstances, contributed to RELIGIOUS FORCES 33S the progress of JNIethodism. When Robert Ayres and John Smith rode the circuit in 1?8G, they made a tour of the Yough valley, and it is quite likely that they made Connells- ville one of their places of preaching. The Methodists of this place for several years held their membership in the Uniontown church, but services were frequently held here, and a class or society was, no doubt, in existence. Zacha- riah Connell had been a Alethodist for years. He was one of the trustees of a Methodist church which bought an acre of ground from Isaac Meason, the deed bearing date May 26, 1790. .-inthony Mansfield Banning, an itinerant preacher, came here as early as 1189. In 1791, he took up his resi- dence. iViethodist people in this vicinity may have been accustomed to have meetings here, to listen to Banning's sermons, it is reliably stated that experience meetings were nela m those early times, in tne home of Zachariah Con- neli, and, in ail probability, meetings of the same kind were lieid at Mount Braddock, where a number of Alethodist tamiiies lived. I'ne i^utlicran church came into southwest Pennsyl- vania at an early date, as, also, did the German Reformed. Germans trom the eastern counties and from the leather- land settled in the region as early as 1762. They brought with them a great love of education and the institutions of religion. In the absence of regular ministers, the school- masters who had come with them were, in many cases, au- thorized to act as lay preachers. These school-masters con- ducted public worship, baptized the children, read sermons and performed various other ministerial acts. One of these was Balthaser Aleyer, who came to Westmoreland in 1769,. and located in the Harolds settlement, about three miles southwest of Greensburg. He was widely known and highly esteemed as a most devoted and efficient worker. The Germans were most numerous within the present bounds of Westmoreland county, especially along the line of the Forbes road. Among the early Lutheran ministers ooi CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE were Revs. Anthony Ulrich Luetge, John M. Steck, John Stouch, F. H. Lange, who traveled extensively through Westmoreland and Fayette counties, caring for the religious welfare of the Lutheran settlers and organizing them into congregations, while among the Reformed ministers en- gaged in similar work for the Reformed people, were Revs. John William Weber, Henry Hobbiston and William Winel. In German township, Fayette county, Jacob's Evangel- ical Lutheran church was established as early as 1773, a Reformed congregation being formed at about the same time. The two congregations, in course of time, secured a glebe or church farm of more than 100 acres, called "The Strait and Narrow Way," and erected a house of worship, holding the property in common. Many such "Union -churches," as they were called, were to be found among the German people in earlier days, owing partly to the limited resources of the congregations, and partly to the scarcity of ministers. In most instances, there was a common treas- ury, and one board of trustees composed of Lutheran and JReformed members. The church council was likewise com- posed of an equal number of elders from each congrega- tion. This arrangement gave evidence of the fraternal and harmonious relations existing between the two denomina- tions, but these ecclesiastical unions generally ended in the jdecline and death of one or the other of the two congrega- tions. It may be added that the Germans had a meeting- house in George's township, about the year 1774, and that the baptismal records of Good Hope church, in Salt Lick township, date back to 1788. The Roman Catholic church, now so strong in south- western Pennsylvania, had feeble beginnings. The first 'known celebration of the mass west of the Alleghenies was at Fort Duquesne, in April or May, 1754. It was celebrated by the French chaplain. Father Denys Baron, a Franciscan priest. The next known celebration was in June, 1789, near *Greensburg, when the Rev. John Baptist Cause visited sev- RELIGIOUS FORCES 335 eral families who had come from eastern Pennsylvania. A young French priest, Benedict Joseph Flager, visited Pitts- burgh in 1793, and spent six months there, ministering to the few Catholics in the town and in the fort. The church grew so slowly that it was not until 1808 that the first Catholic church (old St. Patrick's) was built in Pittsburgh, and not until 1843 that the diocese of Pittsburgh was formed, with Rev. Michael O'Connor its first bishop. But, with the re- markable industrial development of western Pennsylvania, there has been great increase in the Catholic population, and churches have been multiplied throughout the region. The first settlers, whatever their creed or church, had anything but a life of ease. This western country was, in truth, a "howling wilderness," and none but brave men and women could have endured the toils and hardships to which their religious work subjected them. Their meeting-house^ were few and far between. Many of the people had a dis- tance of ten, fifteen, twenty miles to travel, in attending public worship ; they were fortunate who lived within five miles of the place of meeting. Their journeys were not made in comfortable conveyances, and over macadamized roads, for such things were as yet unknown. On horseback or afoot, they traveled over roads that were often mere bridle-paths. When the pastor of the Brush Creek Re- formed congregation gathered together his class of cate- chumens, the children were brought from beyond the Kis- kiminetas and even beyond the Allegheny. In times of Indian invasion or alarm, the men came to the meeting-house armed. They stacked their guns, and stationed sentinels to give the signal in case of danger. Vig- ilance was needed, for Indian hostilities frequently occurred. Rev. John Corbley, of Muddy creek, Greene county, was on his way to church. Sabbath, the 12th of May, 1783, with his wife and five children, when a band of Indians suddenly came upon them, and killed the wife and three of the chil- dren. Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, of Ten Mile, Washington county. 336 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE wrote in his diary : "For some time we have been unable to administer the Lord's Supper, owing to the incursions of the savages." For the same reason, the Presbytery of Redstone was compelled to change the place of its first meeting, and, at its second meeting, failed of a quorum. It was no uncom- mon thing for the settlers to take refuge in the forts or blockhouses, and many a Sabbath service has been held in such structures. On account of Indian troubles, churches were sometimes long in building, like the Harrold's church, Westmoreland county, which stood unfinished for several years ; and during the Indian raids, churches were sometimes burned, like that of the Old Brush creek congregation, in the same township. The ministers of that period were exposed to special hardships and hazards. Their preaching places were widely separated, involving journeys of from ten to fifty miles, and long absence from home. There were no finger-boards, no bridges, and fording places were often hard to find. They were often compelled to swim the streams, to preach in wet clothes, to guard against savages, to go long without food and sleep in the forest. Of books they had few, of luxuries none. Their dwellings, their dress, their food were of the simplest description. Among them were men of rare intel- lectual force and scholarly attainments. A large propor- tion of them were graduates of literary institutions. They had been educated in the schools of Germany, England, or the eastern part of our own land. The first members of the Redstone Presbytery, Power, Dunlap, Dodd, Smith, Mc- Millan, all, without exception, were graduates of Princeton College. Their salaries were small. Often they were under the necessity of teaching or farming to eke out their scanty income. And yet, these men were not only uncomplaining, bul they were untiring in their zeal, unfaltering in their dis- charge of duty, and undaunted by the perils and hardships of their chosen lot. For the most part, they were character- RELIGIOUS FORCES 337 ized by cheerfulness and geniality. One of their own num- ber said : "Some of them were men of considerable wit, and, in its proper place, all of them indulged in a heartv, joyous spirit." While this was said of the clergy of a particular denomination, it might have been said of the clergy of those times, in general. Their self-denial, their persever- ance, their pastoral fidelity, their dignity and force of char- acter, and their wise foresight in seeking to provide for the moral and religious needs of the future, entitle them to last- ing and grateful remembrance. It is true that there were ministers, here and there, whose severit}- of look and solemnity of speech made peo- ple, especially young people, afraid of them. A minister of that period met a boy who was riding horseback, with a bag of grain under him. He saw that the boy was shying off, and in danger of bringing the bag of grain in contact with the fence. The minister called to him, and said : "Don't be afraid, my son; Til not hurt you." "The deil trust ye!" said the boy, with a look of great alarm and anxiety. But, as a class, the pioneer ministers, though positive m their convictions and sometimes austere m their man- ners, were far from being ill-natured or harsh. Many of them were men whom old and young respected, reverenced and loved. The parishioners, large numbers of them, were of the same spirit as the preachers. They were men and women of stern religious principle, and were fearless, energetic and self-reliant. They were a Bible-reading and church- going people, and beneath a rude, rugged exterior, beat hearts as loyal to home and conscience and truth and duty as were anywhere to be found. They were not adventurers. They were men and women chosen by providence for a great task, and they have impressed themselves for good upon the whole region in which their lot was cast. As the years have gone by, great changes have taken place. When the hardships of the wilderness" and the perils from Indians were reduced, people became more controver- 338 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE sial. Public debates came into vogue, for a time. Ques- tions of doctrine, modes of baptism, forms of church gov- ernment were warmly discussed. On Wednesday, June 12, 1893, a great concourse of people assembled in a grove near Greensburg. They came from far and near, some of them a distance of fifty miles, to hear a debate upon foreordination and kindred points. Rev. John Jamieson, a Scotchman, a graduate of St. An- drews University, championed Calvinism, while Rev. Val- entine Cook, a young mmister, a Virginian bv birth, upheld the doctrines of Arminianism. Discussions on baptism were held several times in the southern part of our county in the early years of the last century, Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green Fair- child, taking part in all of them. But there was, from the first, much good feeling be- tween the denominations. In our Borough, the use of the Baptist and Methodist meeting-houses (the first erected) was frequently given to the Presbyterians and others who had not yet organized or built. A movement was inaugurated, at an uncertain date, to erect a Union church, to be used by the Baptists, Presby- terians and Episcopalians. A subscription paper was drawn up in which the subscribers state the importance of "the regular observance of the Sabbath day in the public and solemn acts of religious worship," and add : "We, the sub- scribers do agree to pay into the hands of Alexander John- ston, Caleb Trevor and Daniel S. Norton, or either of them, the several sums annexed to our names for the purpose of erecting a meeting-house in the Borough of Connellsville for the use of the Baptist and Presbyterian denominations on the following fundamental conditions, viz: 1. The Pres- byterian denomination shall occupy the house on the first and third Sabbaths in every month, and the Baptists on the second and fourth, and with respect to extra time, it shall be left to the discretion of the trustees as to the occupancy of the same. 2. As soon as it shall be ascertained that funds can be raised to erect and complete a meeting-house RELIGIOUS FORCES 339 as aforesaid, the subscribers shall meet and choose seven trustees, three of whom shall belong to the Baptist, three to the Presbyterian, and one to the Episcopalian church, who shall select a suitable piece of ground on which the same shall be erected and hold it in trust for the purposes above mentioned." The date of this subscription paper is somewhere be- tween 1808 and 1817. The proposed Union meeting-house was never built, but the effort to secure it is an indication of friendly relations between the denominations referred to. The methods of raising church funds have undergone many changes. At one time, funds were raised by subscrip- tion. The amount subscribed was often called "steepens" (stipend^, and some subscribers paid their share of the preacher's salar}' in vegetables, grain, flour, or other pro- visions. Church dues were also paid in work, in boards or in nails. A debt due, in 1828, to the Methodist Episcopal church of this place was settled, in part, by delivering to the trustees one hundred pounds of bar iron at four cents a pound. Penny collections were taken up in a hat, a basket or in a black poke attached to a pole. Church services have been much reduced in length. The "long prayer" was often a half-hour long, and the ser- mon occupied from an hour and a half to two hours. In warm weather men were at liberty to remove their coats, and the minister frequently set them the example. Drowsy hearers could rise, and overcome their drowsiness by stand- ing awhile. It is said that, on a summer's day, one might have seen twenty, thirty, forty people, of both sexes and of all ages, "standing bolt upright," in various parts of the house, during the sermon. When our Borough was incor- porated, in 1806, there was not a church building within its limits. The old log school house was still in use as a house of worship. Several years passed before a church building was erected. Now there are sixteen in Connells- ville and five in New Haven, and almost all denominations are represented in our community. How great the trans- TEMPLES OF THE FATHERS RELIGIOUS FORCES 341 formation since the days when the forests were our tem- ples and "the aisles of the dim wood" rang with "hymns of lofty cheer !" Twenty-five years ago or more large numbers of peo- ple from central Europe began coming into the Connells- ville coke region. They are chiefly from Austria and Hun- gary, and number at the present time about thirty-two thou- sand in the region, representing thirteen dififerent national- ities and languages. Slovak, Bohemian, Croatian, Magyar, Polish and others. In recent years, they have been build- ing churches of their own. In the United States there are now about 260 Catholic churches and about 120 Protestant churches for these people. Connellsville has a Slovak Lutheran church and a Magyar or Hungarian Catholic church, and New Haven has a Slovak Catholic and a Polish Catholic. There is a Greek Catholic church at Leisenrino^ No. 1, about two and a half miles west of us. These people are mainly employed at the coke plants, though not a few are in business, and on small farms. In 1881, there were only three or four Italian families living in Connellsville and New Haven, but in the last eight or ten years their numbers have multiplied, by a remarka- ble immigration, until at present the resident Italian popu- lation of the two Boroughs and Dunbar township is esti- mated at three thousand persons. They are engaged in var- ious kinds of business and labor, try to get their own homes and send their children to English schools. There is now an Italian Catholic church in Connellsville. A service for Protestant Italians has been conducted for a year and a half in the Presbyterian church, under the direction of an Italian missionary. We proceed now to give brief historical sketches of our existing local churches, in the order of their formation : THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CONNELLSVILLE. This church was organized June 26, 1796. It is the oldest ecclesiastical organization in Connellsville, and the 343 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE fourth oldest Baptist church in Fayette county. The Great Bethel Baptist church, Uniontown, was constituted in 1770, the church at Turkey foot in 1774, the Mt. Moriah church in 1784. The following persons were the first members : David Lobdell, Joshua Lobdell, Samuel Trevor, Caleb Trevor, Michael Bryant, Sarah Muir, Sarah Trevor, Nancy Bryant and Mary Lobdell. The first deacons were Samuel Trevor and David Lobdell. During the first eight years, there being no regular pastor, the services were conducted by visiting clergymen or by men selected from their own number. The first regularly installed pastor was the Rev. James Frey, who served from 1804 to 1809, Rev. George Watkins served from 1810 to 4815, Rev. James Estep, afterward D. D., became pastor in 1815, and continued as such until 1830. His was the longest pastorate in the history of the congre- gation, and it was during his pastorate that the first house of worship was erected. Deacon Samuel Trevor and his brother, Caleb, donated the ground for the building, on the southwest corner of Pittsburgh and Apple streets, and contributed generously to its erection. It was built in 1817, and was a one-story brick building, with three large Cor- inthian columns in front. In this house, the church wor- shipped sixty years. The first years were years of steady growth in num- bers and influence. Many of the officers and members were representative persons in the Borough, and the church stood high in the esteem and confidence of the community. During this period and for many years afterward. Deacon Provance McCormick was a tower of strength to the church. He was an active and prominent office-bearer in the church for fifty-six years. The harmony and prosperity were seriously interrupted by the agitation and discussions connected with the rise of a new ecclesiastical organization under the leadership of the Rev. Alexander Campbell, a Baptist minister and a THE THREE HOUSES OF WORSHIP OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 344 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE member of the Redstone Association. The controversy lasted several years. At a meeting of the Association in the old Redstone church at Smock, Franklin township, in September, 1826, a heated and prolonged discussion was held on the questions then at issue among Baptists. Rev. Alexander Campbell was the leader of one side, and Rev. William Brownfield, ot the Great Bethel church, Uniontown, the leader of the other side. When the vote was taken, the "'regular" Baptists, under Brownfield, were found in the majority, and the op- posing forces were practically excluded from membership in the association. Mr. Campbell and followers left the house and, at their rec^uest, he mounted a rock and preached a sermon on the matter in controversy. In time, the excluded churches formed a new associa- tion, which afterward withdrew from the Baptist connec- tion, and became known simply as Christian churches. Al- most every congregation in the Redstone Association was affected by this movement, and the Connellsville church was no exception. Many members withdrew from it, weak- ening it to such an extent that for some years it was diffi- cult to continue the work. In 1832, Rev. Benoni Allen was in charge; in 1835, Rev. J. P. Rockafeller; in 1837, Rev. Milton Sutton, who served the church four years. From 1840 to 1850, the pastors were the Revs. J. W. Tisdale, E. D. Brown and John Parker. The Rev. W. W. Hickman was oastor in 1851-2. Rev. John Scott was pastor for a time soon after, but from 1854 to 1864, the church was served mainly by supplies. Revs. W. W. Hickman, N. B. Critchfield, David Williams and W. H. Cooper had pastoral charge from 1864 to 1875. Rev. R. C. Morgan served for several years, beginning April, 1876. The old meeting house was taken down in 1877, and a two-storied brick building was erected in its stead, on the same site. This was a substantial and, for that time, com- modious building, and cost about $12,000. For several years of the next decade, the congregation RELIGIOUS FORCES 345 had many trials and there was much division and hindrance in the work. Peace and harmony were, in a measure, re- stored under the tactful and consecrated leadership of the Rev. James A. Maxwell, who took charge, early in 1892. Mr. Maxwell remained four years, resigning in March, 1896, to accept a call to the First Baptist church, McKees- port. Pa. During Mr. Maxwell's administration, a congre- gation of seceded Baptists, which had been in existence sev- eral years and had been served by the Revs. Hamilton and Preston as successive pastors, agreed to disband their or- ganization and return, as most of them did, to the old church. Soon after the close of this excellent and fruitful pas- torate, an unfortunate choice of pastor was made, and the church was subjected to a severe trial. A small number withdrew, though the congregation, in general, stood firm and loyal. Rev. J. Spencer Kennard, D. D.. was secured in 1897 as a stated supply, and acted as such for several months. He proved to be an experienced and able adviser and leader. Rev. T. J. Edwards was pastor from 1898 until 1904. Dur- ing his pastoral term, the congregation disposed of its prop- erty on the corner of Pittsburgh and Apple streets, realizing $17,000 from the sale, and built the fine stone structure at the southeast corner of Baldwin avenue and South Pitts- burgh street. This, its third house of worship, with organ, and furnishings, cost about $40,000. It is of old English Gothic architecture, well-built and of graceful proportions. The auditorium, with its massive columns, symmetrical arches and beautiful decorations, presents a most pleasing and attractive appearance. Rev. Maynard R. Thompson ministered to the church from July, 1904 to July, 1905, and Rev. A. A. DeLarme from October, 1905 to September, 1906. Mr. DeLarme re- signed in order to take the pastoral charge of the First church, McKeesport, as the successor of Rev. Jas. A. Max- well. The membership of the Connellsville church, in May, 346 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 1906, was 301, and during the past year, over $3,000 has been raised for congregational, denominational and benevo- lent purposes. The present pastor. Rev. E. A. E. Palmquist, took charge of the church, November 1, 1906. The official mem- bers are as follows : L. V. Marshall, church clerk ; Chas. Hatfield, treasurer ; John Bailey, W. E. Penn, William Stauffer, David B. Evans, R. L. Boyd, C. S. Smutz, David Workman, deacons ; F. C. Rose, Austin Cable, W. G. Rob- inson, A. M. Smith, Theodore Hazen, trustees; J. J. Mit- chell, Superintendent Sabbath School. THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH The early history of Methodism in Connellsville is in- volved in some degree of obscurity. It is certain that the Redstone circuit, the first circuit west of the mountains, was formed in ITS-l; but it is not known precisely when Con- nellsville became an appointment or preaching place on that circuit, when a formal organization was efitected, or even when the first house of worship was erected. It is certain, however, that Connellsville was an appoint- ment on the Redstone circuit in ISOO, that Rezin Cash and Isaac Robbins were the circuit preachers that year, and that members were received into the church, among them the wife of Dr. James Francis. It is beyond doubt that Rev. Anthony Mansfield Ban- ning, John Page, Greenbury Jones, George Mathiot and es- pecially Zachariah Connell took part in the establishment of the church. Zachariah Connell was a member of the first recorded board of trustees. He was devotedly attached to the INIethodist church, opened the doors of his own home to religious meetings, conducting meetings himself, and evidently very generous in the support of the church. He was a "teetotaler," an exemplary Christian, honest and pub- lic spirited, and held family worship morning and evening. Until 1863, the Connellsville congregation was, with the exception of one or two years, on a circuit of appoint- RELIGIOUS FORCES 347 ments. Two, sometimes three, preachers were on the cir- cuit, and among these were Thornton Fleming, "of excellent memory" (1813), Charles Thorn, Jacob K. Miller (1828),. David Sharp, Jeremiah Knox (1835), Samuel Wakefield, D. L. Dempsey (1838), P. M. McGowan, Joseph Ray (1847), Wm. Stewart, John Wakefield (1855). The first stationed pastor, after the church was taken off the circuit in 1863, was J. W. Weaver. The next year Charles W. Smith was pastor. He spent from September 5 to October 17 of the year in front of Petersburg in the service of the Christian commission. The following" is a list of the pastors from that time to the present: James J. Jones, 1865-7, Chas. W. Scott 1868-9. Simpson W. Horner 1870-1, T. H. .Wilkinson 1872-4, J. F. Jones 1875-6, John A. Banks 1877-9, Joseph Hollingshead 1880, M. L. Weekly 1881, Robert T. Miller 1881-4, Robert B. Mansell 1884-7. John W. Baker 1887-91, T. F. Pershing 1891-6, Joseph B. Risk 1896-99, M. J.. Sleppy ('99-1902), M. A. Rigg (1902-06). The present pastor, A. J. Ashe, took charge in October, 1906. The first house of worship was the "old stone house- on the hill, "which was situated on the southwest corner of Prospect street and Orchard alley. It is not known pre- cisely when it was built, but it was built at some time before the death of Zachariah Connell in 1813, for in an old docu- ment of unknown date, Zachariah Connell is named as one of the "trustees of the Methodist meeting-house in Con- nellsville." The structure seems to have been long, how- ever, in reaching completion. It is implied, in a financial statement, dated January 2, 1815, that the house was not ceiled and floored long before that date. The pulpit was contracted for by the women of the congregation and paid for by them as shown by a subscription list, dated November 29, 1819. Hiram Herbert, the pioneer cabinet maker, built the pulpit. Michael Gilmore "sealed" and floored the build- ing. The property was sold in 1836 to John Taylor, who sold 348 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE it in 1836 to John Taylor, who sold to Gebhart, Freeman & Co., and for some years it was used as a foundry. About thirty-five years ago, it was purchased by the Roman Cath- olic congregation. In 1836, a part of lot No. 132, southwest corner of Apple street and Meadow alley, was bought for $100 from Wihiam Davidson. The deed bears date of March 1, 1837. A one-story brick church was erected, in 1836, upon this ground, and was used as a house of worship until, during the pastorate of Rev. Robert T. Miller (1881-4), it was taken down to be replaced by the present two-story brick building. The present building was not completed until in the early part of Rev. R. B. Mansell's pastorate (1884-87), though the lecture room was in use for service before Rev. Mr. Miller's term closed. The building is neatly and substantially constructed, with a graceful spire, with large and handsome windows, with a sonorous bell and with a seating capacity of some- what more than four hundred. The church was dedicated, June 14, 1885, by Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D. D., L.L. D., then of Washington, D. C, now of New York, who preached in the morning on, ''Have Faith in God," and in the evening on, "Whatsoever a man Soweth That Shall He Also Reap." During T. H. Wilkinson's pastorate ('73-74), a lot was secured on the southwest corner of Pittsburgh street and North alley, and a two-story frame parsonage was built thereon. Tliis house was sold for $5,500 in 1893, and a two-story frame house purchased in its stead for $4,000. This house, situated on the northeast corner of Eighth street and Murphy avenue, was occupied as a parsonage for several years. It was sold during M. J. Sleppy's pastorate, and the present large, convenient and attractive brick par- sonage was built on ground donated by A. B. Morton, and situated on the northwest corner of South Pittsburgh street and Morton avenue. The building was erected 1900-1, and cost $7,500. RELIGIOUS FORCES 349 The first board of trustees, of which we have record, consisted of Zachariah Connell, Anthony ^^lansfield Banning, Greenbury Jones, John Page and, perhaps, one other. The trustees in 1823 were George Mathiot, Stewart Johnston, Michael Lore, Gustavus Kells, Samuel Parker. Theophilus Sheppard and Asher Smith. In 1819, Charles McLane was secretary and treasurer. May 30, 1830, George Mathiot, John W. Phillips, Asher Smith, and Jacob Conrad were trustees. Alarch 1, 1837, John Wilson, Philip Snyder, Jacob Conrad, Levi B. Page, and Samuel Marshall were trustees. In 1848, the trustees were Levi B. Page, John Wilson, Henry Detweiler, James Wilkey and Dr. Lutellus Lindley. The present officers of the congregation are, as fol- lows : trustees, John B. Skinner, Christian Felty, A. J. Francis, L. A. Howard, George Powell, Albert B. Kurtz, F. C. Johnston, S. W. ]\Ietzler ; stewards, W. H. Hugus, W. J. Hicks, Harry Crossland, C. E. Demuth, A. A. Clark, A. M. Simpson, Henry Rhodes, E. W. Horner, A. H. Murie, John B. Davis, Dr. S. G. McCune, W. S. Behanna, S. B. Henry. The church has a prosperous Sabbath school, a large and active Epworth League, several missionary and other societies and a membership of about five hundred. THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH On the second day of November, 1830, a general con- vention of those who came to be known as Methodist Prot- estants was held in Baltimore, Md. At that convention, a constitution was framed and adopted, with rules for the dis- cipline and government of the church. It was at about this date that the ^lethodist Protestant congregation of Connellsville was established. An old M. E. conference record describes 1830 as the year of a "radi- cal secession at Connellsville," and the statistics of the cir- cuit show a decrease of 139 members that year. On the 30th of January, 1831, it was announced, at a meeting of 350 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE the trustees of the M. E. church, that John W. PhilUps and Asher Smith, who had long been members of the board, "dechned serving any longer as trustees." It may be pre- sumed that, inasmuch as these two men were among the founders of the M. P. congregation, that congregation had but lately been founded. It is altogether likely, therefore, that the organization dates from November or December, 1830. The meeting for effecting the organization was held in the Baptist church, and was presided over by the Rev. George Brown. Moses Scott, a weaver in New Haven and a local preacher in the M. E. church, entered into the new organiza- tion with great zeal, and traveled widely through this re- gion, establishing several other societies. A circuit, with twelve appointments upon it, was formed, called the Union circuit, and connected with the Ohio Methodist Protestant Conference. Moses Scott was ordained deacon by the con- ference in 1831, and was appointed to this circuit, with Wil- liam Marshall as his associate. They served one year. With the exception of the year 18J:8, the Connellsville church was attached to a circuit, usually with two preachers in charge, until 1869, when it became a station. Among those who were on the circuit were James Robinson, in 1839, John Scott, D. D., in 1843, George Brown in 1849, Henry Lucas, in 1858-59, and 1865-6, and James B. Lucas, in 1861-2. The stationed pastors from 1869 down have been, C. P. Jordan, William Reeves, William Collier, John Gregory, A. D. Brown, J. F. Dyer, Geo. C. Sheppard, F. M. Foster, A. R. Seaman, A. E. Fletcher, Geo. C. Conway, A. W. Rob- ertson, P. T. Conway, Geo. W. Morris, and W. H. Gladden. Rev. Leigh Layman, for eleven years a missionary in Japan, is the present pastor, having taken charge of the •church in September, 1906. Ground for a house of worship was donated by John Wesley Phillips, already mentioned as having been a trustee in the M. E. church, son-in-law of Zachariah Connell. He was also a liberal contributor to the erection of the building. 1. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 3. METHODIST EPISCOPAI. CHURCH 4. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH 352 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE which took place in 1832, when WilHam College and James Porter were on the circuit. The ground is on the south side of Apple street, near Arch, and the first house of wor- ship erected on it, was a plain one-story brick building, with three doors, one in the front, and one on each side, the side doors opening into an aisle running crosswise in front of the pulpit. The opening sermon was preached by the Rev. J. B. Lucas, from the text, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" The trustees in 1833 were John Wesley Phillips, Asher Smith, Thomas Kilpatrick. Samuel Freeman. Isaac W. Francis, John Stillwagon and John Semple. During the pastorate of Rev. George C, Sheppard which began in 1882, the first church building was removed, and the present attractive and commodious house of wor- ship was reared in its stead. The erection of the new house began April 1, 1883, and was dedicated December 23, 1883. Rev. George B. McElroy, of Adrian, Mich., preached in the morning, and Rev. Dr. T. H. Colhouer, of Pittsburgh, in the evening. In the afternoon, a fraternal service was held, with addresses by neighboring pastors and visitors. The weather was exceedingly unfavorable. A fierce moun- tain storm fell upon the town that morning, with rain, sleet, snow and furious blasts of boisterous wind, continuing all day long. The church was filled nevertheless, at these ded- icatory services, and the cost of its erection ($14,000) was almost entirely provided for during the day. During the pastorate of William Collier (1871-73) the parsonage was built, a two-story frame house next door to the church on the east. The present of^cers of the congre- gation are Rev. Leigh Layman, pastor ; Lloyd Johnston, Worth Kilpatrick, Geo. B. Brown, Joseph Stillwagon, Jo- seph DeHaven, Jesse Herbert, trustees ; B. L. Berg, C. L. Inks, W. W. Pickett, Wm. McDowell, Mrs. Mora Shaner, Mrs. Melissa Gaudy, Miss Etta Berger, Miss Mabel Still- wagon, stewards. RELIGIOUS FORCES 353 THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH This church was organized October J:th, 1831. On that date, the Presbytery of Redstone was in session in the Re- hoboth church, near Bellevernon and, at that meeting, "a memorial" was received "from the inhabitants of Connells- vihe." "praying to be organized into a congregation and, also, to obtain supplies." The record of Presbytery states that the memorial "was granted." Twenty-two names were enrolled, namely : Alexander Johnston, Mrs. Margaret Johnston, Miss Nancy Johnston (afterward Mrs. James Blackstone). William Lytle, Mrs. Mary Lytle, Isaac Taylor, Mrs. Rachel Taylor, Mrs. Sarah Turner, Dr. Joseph Rogers, Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, Eliz- abeth Canon, Xancy Norton, Louisa Norton, Alargaret Francis, Harriet Fuller, Margaret Lytle, Caroline Trevor, Mary Barnett, Samuel Finley, Mary Finley, Samuel McCor- mick and Elizabeth McCormick. Of these 32 persons, 19 had belonged to the Tyrone church (Tyrone township) and the twenty-two are all now dead. These charter members, almost all of them, were resi- dents of Connellsville. There were other Presbyterians, members of the Laurel Hill church, living in Dunbar town- ship and near our town, most of whom, in a comparatively short time, identified themselves with the new organization. Alexander Johnston, who came to Connellsville in 1808, already an elder in the Tyrone church, served as the first and, for ten months, the onl}' elder in the Connellsville church. A Scotch-Irishman by birth, a Presbyterian by con- viction, a man of great force of character and of great per- severance in church work, the congregation is largely in- debted to him for its success in the early years of its his- tory. For many years before the organization was formed, Mr. Johnston held meetings for prayer and conference in his own house, and secured preaching services at frequent intervals, these services being held in homes, in the school house, or in one of the churches, as opportunity was af- 354 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE forded. These services were conducted for the most part by neighboring Presbyterian ministers, sometimes by Rev. James Guthrie, pastor of Laurel Hill and Tyrone and some- times by Rev. William Wylie, pastor of the Uniontown church. After its organization, the church was supplied for a time by the Rev. T. M. Chestnut, being followed by the Rev. John L. Hawkins as stated supply from December 15, 1831, to June 20, 1837, becoming pastor at the latter date. He was under the direction of the general assembly's board of missions during the period of his service as stated supply, and labored alternately at Connellsville and Indian Creek, there being a number of families at Indian Creek belonging to the Connellsville church. The first pastor. Rev. John L. Hawkins, was born in Chambersburg, Pa., August 8th, 1800 ; graduated from Washington College in 1818 ; licensed by Washington (Pa.) Presbytery, April 21, 1825, and ordained by same, October, 1827. After serving the Connellsville church five and a half years as stated supply, Mr. Hawkins was installed pastor on the 20th of June, 1837, on a salary of $-1:00 a year. At his installation. Rev. William Johnston presided, and Rev. Noah H. Gillett preached. His pastorate continued until April 12, 1843. After leaving this charge, he served the churches of Sharon, Mt. Carmel, Baxter Springs and Car- bondale, Kansas, and was honorably retired in 1887. He died at Fort Scott, Kansas, June 14th, 1897, in the 97th year of his age. The second pastor was the Rev. Ross Stevenson, who, after supplying the church for some months, was ordained and installed as pastor, June 13th, 1845, by the Presbytery of Redstone, Rev. James Guthrie presiding and addressing the pastor, Rev. Samuel Wilson preaching the sermon, and Rev. Noah H. Gillett addressing the congregation. Dr. Stevenson was born in Strabane, Tyrone county, Ireland, November 12, 1814. He graduated in 1840 from Franklin College, Ohio, and in 1844, from the Western RELIGIOUS FORCES 355 Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa. He was licensed to preach by the Ohio Presbytery in June, 1843. He was re- leased from Connellsville, October 6. 1852, after which he was not only a stated supply in several places, but was pastor for five years in Johnston, eleven in Ligonier and Pleasant Grove, Blairsville Presbytery, five in Pisgah and Troy, Clarion Presbytery, five in Florence. Washington Presbytery, and somewhat less than four in Lower Ten Mile church, in the same Presbytery. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Franklin College in 1878. He was a forcible preacher, a faithful pastor and an honored Presbyter. After a brief illness, he died at his home in Washington, Pa., January lU, 1893, in the seventy-ninth year of age. On a memorial, adopted for record by his Presbytery, it is said of Dr. Stevenson : "For fifty years he was permit- ted to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, and in all his several pastoral charges lying in western Pennsylvania, his name has become a very familiar and honored one in all this region." The third pastor was the Rev. James Black, afterward D. D., L.L. D. He was ordained and installed, June 14, 1853, Rev. Henry W. Biggs preaching the sermon, Rev. Samuel Wilson presiding and charging the pastor, and Rev. J. R. Hughes charging the people. Dr. Black was not only a diligent pastor, but conducted a classical school for some years in New Haven. He was a thorough Christian gentleman, a man of ripe scholarship and held in high esteem by all who knew him. He was released from this church in April, 1860, and accepted a professorship in Washington College, Pa., now Washington and Jefferson. Later, he was president of the Western Pennsylvania College for Women, Pittsburgh, and still later, a professor in Wooster University, Ohio. He died in Wooster, Ohio, December 23, 1890, aged 65 years. The fourth pastor was Rev. Noah H. Gillett Fife, or- dained and installed, April 29. 1863, and released Novem- 356 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ber 29, 1867. Dr. Fife is at the present time pastor of the Presbyterian church in Clearfield, Pa. The fifth pastor was Rev. Alexander Ballantyne Fields, born in Allegheny Co., Pa., October 16, 1835, graduated from Jefiferson College in 1857, studied in the United Pres- byterian Theological Seminary, Allegheny, was licensed and ordained by the Westmoreland U. P. Presbytery, came into the Presbyterian church, was installed pastor at Con- nellsville, January 29, 1868, and was released June 1, 1869. He died at Brockwayville, Pa., October 17, 1886, aged 51 years. His death was caused by a railway accident. The sixth pastor was Rev. John M. Barnett. who was installed on the third Monday of May, 1870, and released June 1, 1882. Dr. Barnett is now the senior member of Redstone Presbytery, and for several years has been chap- lain of the Sanatorium at Markleton, Pa. The seventh pastor. Rev. Albert Z. McGogney, was installed October 25, 1882, and was released September 28, 1886. He is now pastor of the Presbyterian church in Paola, Kansas. The present pastor, the eighth, is Rev. William A. Edie, who took charge on the first Sabbath of February, 1887, and was installed May 19. 1887. Among those who supplied the congregation during in- tervals of pastoral vacancy were Revs. James F. Holcomb. William P. Moore and Elijah R. Donehoo. Dr. Holcomb was stated supply from April to September, 1860. He is a native of Connecticut, a graduate of Jefferson College, Canonsburg, and of the Western Theological Seminar}, Allegheny, and has been a missionary in India since 1870. under appointment of the Presbyterian board. Dr. Moore served as a supply for one year from March 24, 1861. In 1862, he became chaplain of the 14:2d regi- ment, Pennsylvania Infantry, one of whose companies (Co. H.) was recruited in Connellsville by Captain J. M. Du Shane. Later, he was pastor in Fredericksburg, Ohio, where he died. May 3, 1894, aged 64 years. RELIGIOUS FORCES 357 Dr. Donehoo served the church from April 1, 1862, until December 37, 1862. He went to Pittsburgh, where he was pastor of the West End church until the summer of 1906. He has for many years been prominently identified with various forms of benevolent and religious work in the city. The elders of tne church have been ol in number. Alexander Johnston, the first elder, served until his death, September 3, 1861:. The following persons were added to the eldership, October 28. 1832, viz: William Lytle, died, December 7, 1845, Isaac Taylor, died, August 29. 1869, and Joseph Paull, February 11, 1880. The following were added. March 7, 1811: Robert Torrence, Noble C. McCormick and William Cunningham. On January 7, 1850, Wm. McCrea, John Taylor and Jo- seph H. Cunningham were made elders ; September 29, 1851, Samuel Russell was added to the list; March 20, 1866, Robert Beatty ; February 21, 1868, James Allen ; April 16, 1873, John R. Johnston; second Sabbath, Febru- ary, 1871, Thomas W. Watt; April 5, 1871, A. B. Hosack and H. C. McCormick; November 28, 1875. Wihiam Bar- nett and Adam Armstrong; May 6, 1878, Chas. N. Boyd and Jacob May ; December 7, 1879, James Calhoun and Hugh M. Kerr ; September 1, 1883, James L. Paull and Wm. D. McDowell, (Mr. Paull was ordained and installed, April 16, 1873, but in 1871 was transferred to the Dunbar church, returning to the Connellsville church in 1883). On November 6. 1892, John Adams, Jr., was installed, L. W. Wolfe and Harry S. Spear ordained and installed. On April 10, 1903, Isaiah C. Smutz, Alfred W. Hood and John A. Armstong were ordained and installed as elders. For somewhat more than seven years after its organ- ization, the congregation held its services chiefly in the Baptist church, then on the corner of Pittsburgh and Apple streets, and occasionally in the Methodist church, then on Prospect street near Main. On April 2, 1836, the ground on which the Presbyterian church now stands was pur- 358 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE chased from Joshua G. Gibson and the minor heirs of Jo- seph Gibson for $450. John Fuller and Isaac Taylor acted as agents for the congregation in making the purchase, and Alexander Johnston and Isaac Taylor were appointed a committee "to receive subscriptions for the erection of a meeting-house." The building was erected after consider- able delay, and was "opened for the occupancy of the con- gregation," January 6, 1839. The church record states that "the occasion was marked with appropriate religious services." Early on Sabbath morning, March 29, 1863, the building took fire and was par- tially destroyed. The celebration of the Communion had been arranged for and, notwithstanding the fire, the plans were carried out by holding the service in the Baptist church. The walls, however, were left standing, and it was not long until the building was repaired and re-opened. Meanwhile the services were held, for the most part, in the Baptist church, which at the time had service on alternate Sabbaths. In 1884, the old building was remodeled with new front and new roof, and with a chapel added to it. The church was re-opened Sabbath, December 21, 1884, with a dedica- tory sermon by Rev. W. H. Jeffers, Professor of Old Testa- ment Literature, in the Western Theological Seminary. Allegheny, Pa. The parsonage, 125 Peach street, was built in the sum- mer of 1871, as a memorial of the reunion of the new school and old school bodies in 1870. It was built at a cost of $3,116, upon two lots donated by John R. Johnston, John Taylor and Thomas W. Watt. In 1874 members living in and around Dunbar were dismissed to organize themselves into a church at that place. In the early days the Dunbar people had to walk or drive to the church. When the railroad was built to Dunbar, Elders Joseph Paull and Thomas W. Watt secured from the officials the privilege of running a large hand car on Sabbaths to Con- RELIGIOUS FORCES 359 nellsville. This was continued until March, 1870, when the hand car proving too small to accommodate the people, a special car was chartered for the use of church-goers. This arrangement, however, was discontinued in September, 1873. The organization of the Dunbar church, Wednesday, April 29, 1874, was granted by the Presbytery upon the recommendation of the pastor and session of the Connells- ville church and upon a petition signed by 85 residents of the town and township of Dunbar. A Sabbath school was established soon after the church of Connellsville began its existence and, as the years have passed, seven auxiliary societies have been formed, mission- ary, benevolent and local. The present session is composed of Rev. William A. Edie, moderator ; Hugh M. Kerr, clerk ; L. W. Wolfe, Harry S. Spear, Isaiah C. Smutz, Alfred W. Hood and John A, Armstrong. The trustees are Dr. G. W. Gallagher, president; Wil- liam S. Yard, secretary ; Isaiah C. Smutz, treasurer ; Col. James M. Reid. John M. Herpick and J. Renwick Davidson. The deacons, to whom is committed the relief of the poor and those in straits, are William L. Robbins, John Hoop, William E. Barnette and Alfred W. Hood. The fiftieth anniversary of the church's history was ap- propriately celebrated October, 1881. The seventy-fifth anniversary was celebrated October 7-14, 1906. On Sabbath, the 7th, the pastor preached a historical discourse ; Tuesday, the 9th, a reception was held, at which addresses were delivered by Rev. John B. Reed, of Laurel Hill (conveying the congratulations of Presbytery) ; Rev. John M. Barnett, D. D., of Markleton ; Rev. Ellis B. Burgess, of Trinity Lutheran church, Connellsville, and Rev. James B. Hill, of Dunbar. Services preparatory to the celebration of the communion were held Thursday and Fri- day evenings, 11th and 12th, when Rev. H. W. Hanna. of the Dawson and Tyrone churches and Rev. Charles G. Fisher, of the Mt. Pleasant (Aliddle) church, preached. On Sabbath, the 14th, Rev. E. R. Donehoo, D. D., of Pitts- burgh, preached and assisted in the administration of the Lord's Supper. OOU CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES Or CHRIST). This congregation was founded in the year 1832. Les- ter L. Norton and J. Newmyer were the first elders, and David Shallenberger was the first deacon. For a long time the homes of Lester L. Norton, Joseph Herbert and William Davidson furnished the meeting places of the congregation. It was customary to have preaching services at irregular intervals, in a meeting continued two or three days. "The Millennial Harbinger," a church paper published by Thomas and Alexander Campbell, was read by the members, and from it they derived much instruction and inspiration. The congregation emerged from the house to house plan in 1845. In that year, under the pastoral care of Dr. William Poole, a modest, one-storied stone meeting house was erected on a lot donated by Joseph Herbert, situated on South alley, near Mountain allev, now Carnegie avenue. There were between forty and fifty members, who, by giv- ing tinte, materials and money, completed the house, which is said to have been worth at the time about $600. Less than $125 was given in cash. This stone church was occupied until 1874, when it was sold to the German Lutherans who have enlarged and remodeled it, and continue to worship in it. A new church was built in 1874 on the east side of Pittsburgh -street, on ground now occupied by the Dunn-Paine building. The dedicatory services were held September 13, 1874, the sermon being preached by Prof. C. L. Loos, of Bethany College. In 1897 the congregation sold the Pittsburgh street church property and proceeded to erect the beautiful and commodious sanctuary which it now occupies, completing it in 1898. It is of buff brick, modern in all its appointments, and stands in a commanding location, on the northwest corner of South Pittsburgh street and Library avenue. It was dedicated Sabbath, June 26, 1898, Rev. F. M. Rains, of Cincinnati, Secretary of the Foreign Missionary Society of RELIGIOUS FORCES 361 the Christian church, having charge of the dedicatory ser- vices. Among those who ministered to the church as pastors and suppHes, up to 1880. we may mention the following: Chauncey Ward, Dr. Philip G. Young, Dr. William Poole, Bryson Pyatt, Jarnes Darsie, Judson Benedick, Lyman P. Streator, Leroy Norton, Samuel Fowler and Wesley Lari- mer. Not a few of the pioneer preachers of the denomina- tion have preached to the congregation here, and among them, at intervals, both Thomas Campbell and Alexander Campbell have addressed large and appreciative audiences. One of the above named preachers, Judson Benedick, was a lawyer, with a reputed income of $6,000 a year, who, nevertheless, went from place to place and preached for $500. He was a vigorous speaker, a keen debater, aggress- ive in his methods and unsparing in his self-denial. From 1880 to the present time there have been seven pastors. Lewis B. Hyatt was pastor four years, J. F. Sloan four years, John F. McKee two years, Herbert Yeuell one year, Henry J. Seaman two years, William R. Warren six years. Charles M. Watson, the present pastor, took the pastoral charge in the summer of 1903. There were also several stated supplies — Douglas Dowling, R. A. Cutler and Wil- liam D. Cunningham. The church has a membership of almost 100, and is well organized and equipped for work. The ofificers at the present time are: Elders, J. R. Balsley, W. B. Minor, W. S. Schenck, H. H. Yarnell; deacons, C. D. Schell, J. L. Kurtz, J. L. Cans, J. M. McCormick, J. Robinson, H. Kurtz, W. H. Cottoni ; trustees. E. T. Nor- ton, Dr. S. S. Stahl, W. S. Schenck, R. Norris ; financial secretary, R. Norris ; treasurer. G. W. StaufTer ; church clerk, H. C. Norton. The congregation has a comfortable parsonage, 509 Race street. CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. The beginning of this church as a separate parish dates from 1869. 362 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The Catholics of Fayette county had received clerical visits at intervals from an early day. For instance, Rev. Stephen Bodin visited them in 1807, Bishop Egan in 1811, Bishop Kendrick in 183-1, and at ot^^er times Rev. James Ambrose Stillinger, Rev. Father Gallitzin and others. On the occasion of his visit in 1831, Bishop Kendrick said of the Catholic people of this county that they "are to be pitied, being able only four times a year to enjoy the presence of a priest." In the summer of 1837 Rev. Michael Gallagher was appointed to take charge of the district, then "compris- ing the counties of Fayette. Greene and Washington and part of Somerset and Allegheny counties." He retired in 1848, "followed by a long list of successors." During this period and for some years after, "no mass was said any closer to Connellsville than Uniontown," where sixteen Catholic families and forty-two communicants were re- ported at the Easter communion in 1856. The first celebration of the mass in Connellsville was held in 1856 by Rev. Malachi Garvey, in whose care Fayette and the eastern part of Greene and Washington counties had recently been placed as a mission. The service was held in the home of John O'Donnell, and the number attend- ing it "did not exceed half a dozen." From this time until the year 1869 the priest visited Connellsville about four times a year, celebrating the mass in private houses, most frequently in the homes of Edward Dean and James Mc- Grath. In the year namied. Rev. Robert Waters became resident pastor, and in 1871 the congregation purchased the old one-story stone house, southwest corner of Prospect street and Orchard alley, which had been originally a Meth- odist Episcopal church, but had for many years been used as a foundry. The house was fitted up as a place of wor- ship, and was consecrated by Bishop Domenec, of the dio- cese of Pittsburgh. Rev. Waters was followed by Rev. Edward Dignam, who, in 1884, began the building of a new church on the southwest corner of Prospect and Apple streets. His sue- RELIGIOUS FORCES 3QS cesser was Rev. C. A. McDermott, during whose pastorate the new church was completed. It was a large and impos- ing brick structure, Gothic in style, cruciform in shape, 115 feet long by 80 feet wide in the transepts and fifty feet in the main, with a graceful spire and a handsome interior, and costing about $50,000. The dedicatory services were held by Rt. Rev. P. Phelan, Bishop of the diocese of Pitts- burgh, on Sabbath, May 22, 1887. Father McDermott was a devoted worker and a man of scholarly tastes and attain- ments. He was transferred to the cathedral in Pittsburgh,, and is at present in charge at McKeesport. He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel O'Connell, during whose pastorate the new church was destroyed by fire- Between 11 and 12 o'clock Friday night, January 22, 1892,, the church was found to be on fire. In a remarkably short time the whole interior was filled with the flames. Soon the lofty spire crumbled and fell into the street, and within a few hours the beautiful edifice was reduced to a heap of smoking ruins. The congregation, though deeply grieved, faced the situation with admirable courage. Services were held in the old stone house, which had of late been used as a parochial school, and to which a brick second story was added, and plans were at once formed for the erection of a new church. The ruins were cleared away. The framfe building on the northwest corner of Main and Prospect streets, which had been purchased from Capt. Lloyd John- ston a few years before for a convent, was moved to the site of the church that had been burned, and it was decided to erect the new building on the corner vacated by the re- moval. The excavation was made during Father O'Connell's pastorate, though the building was for a considerable time delayed. Rev. Francis Ale Court, on being appointed pas- tor of the church, let the contract, and the erection of the building went forward with energy. The stay of this pas- tor, however, was short. In November, 189G, he was taken THE FIVE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF CONNELLSVIHE AND NEW HAVEN RELIGIOUS FORCES 365 ill with typhoid fever and was at once removed to Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, but before the month of November was gone he breathed his last. He was buried in Scranton, Pa., a few days before Thanksgiving. A thorough gentleman, a man of genial manners, of refined tastes, of liberal spirit and kind behavior. Father McCourt was deservedly popular, and his death was sin- cerely regretted by the whole community. Rev. John T. Burns, the present pastor, was trans- ferred from New Brighton, Pa., and took charge of the church here December 22, 1896. His faithful and abund- ant labors have been rewarded with success. The church was completed the following summer, and was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. P. Phelan, D. D., Bishop of the diocese of Pittsburgh, on Sabbath, the 13th of September, 1897. It cost about fifty thousand dollars, and under Father Burns, the entire indebtedness has been removed. The building occupies a commanding situation and presents a stately ap- pearance. It is 129 feet long and 65 feet wide, is of red brick, with stone trimmings, and is beautiful in its furnish- ings. The congregation now numbers not less than 400 families, and has about 1,500 communicants. Its property occupies the entire block from Main street to Apple, and consists of the church, the parochial school, a rectory and a convent. The present church committee is composed of Joseph Soisson, Sr., James McGrath, John Dixon, Hugh Coll, Joseph Tippman, Joseph Aladigan, P. May and P. J. Tormay. ST. John's evangelical Lutheran church (german). In the spring of 1871 this congregation was organized by Rev. H. J. H. Lemcke, of West Newton. The following persons were prominent in the organization, as supporters of the enterprise, viz : Christian Snyder, Jacob Siller, John Hetzel, Sr., Conrad Otto, Heinrich Meister, John Wilhelm and Jacob Scheibel. The next year the congregation was united with Christ church, West Newton, constituting a 366 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE parish with Rev. Mr. Lemcke as pastor, who conducted services in German and EngHsh every other Sabbath. The services were held at first in the old Odd Fellows' hall, but in 1874 the Disciples' church on South alley, a one-story stone building, was purchased for $3,000, and was fitted up for worship. Rev. Mr. Lemcke was released in February, 1877, going to the Lutheran church of Eliza- beth, Pa., and leaving behind him a membership of 40 com- municants. Rev. Philip Doerr served the church from May, 1877, to September, 1881. There were now 115 communicants. Rev. W. A. C. Mueller was called September, 1881,. and St. John's was constituted, at that time, a separate parish. During his pastorate, which closed in June, 1884, the communicant membership increased to 229. Rev. C. F. Tiemann, the next pastor, began his work about the first of July, 1884, and during his pastorate St. John's became an exclusively German church. He resigned in September, 1889. He reported a membership of 400. Next came Rev. G. A. Firgau, who remained from September, 1889, to No- vember, 1892. Rev. Ph. Lamerdin took charge March 5, 1893, and continued in charge about a year. He was pas- tor during a time of great industrial depression and labor agitation, and thinking to better the condition of his people, he led a colony of Germans to Wisconsin. The member- ship was reduced to 150. November 1st, 1894, Rev. L. O. Hammer was elected pastor, and was installed November 25th by Rev. Philip Doerr. He was active, faithful and successful in his work, strengthening the church and increasing the membership to 300. He re- signed in March, 1897. Rev. G. L. Lohman took charge in April, 1897, and was installed in June by the Revs. D. M. Kemerer and F. W. E. Peschau, D. D. In the spring of 1901 a new church building was decided upon, and on Sep- tember 4th the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ser- vices, in which the pastor was assisted by Revs. F. W. Kohler,. D. M. Kemerer and J. C. Kunzman. The structure RELIGIOUS FORCES 367 was completed in the summer of 1902, and was dedicated in August of that year. It stands on the old site, the side stone walls of the old church being retained. An addition of l-i feet in front, and about 10 feet in the rea rwas made. Two corner towers, one of which is surmounted by a spire bearing a large gilt cross, and contains two large bells which were dedicated on Pentecost, 1902. The whole church is 44x60 feet in size, and is built of red and yellow pressed brick. The cost, with furnishing, was about $15,- 000. Rev. Lohman was released in October, 1904. Rev. George Dietz entered upon his work as pastor of St. John's in February, 1905. He has been faithful and devoted in the discharge of his duties, and the church has been blessed with harmony and growth under his ministry. He is the present pastor. In Rev. Mueller's time the parsonage, a frame build- ing beside the church, was purchased ; in Rev. Hammer's time the debt on the parsonage was removed, and in Rev. Lohman's time the house was enlarged and greatly im- proved. A frame school house, 24 feet square, was built in the rear of the parsonage in 1901. The congregation has a Sabbath school, a Ladies' Aid Society and other auxiliary organizations. It has a com- municant membership at present of 500, many of whom come for miles in order to attend the services. THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The United Presbyterian church of Connellsville was organized October, 2, 1876, by commissioners appointed by the Westmoreland Presbytery. Ten persons were received as charter members, viz : A. H. Patterson, M. M. Patter- son, James Parkhill, Kell Long, Nancy Patterson, Louisa Parkhill, Mary Moreland, Jennie Moreland, from the Laurel Hill U. P. church ; and John C. Graham and Mary J. Gra- ham from the Buena Vista U. P. church. A. H. Patterson and John C. Graham were elected elders. Their ordination and installation took place October 30, 1876. 368 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE For more than seven years the church services were held in Reisinger's Hall (Main street), the Odd Fellows' Hall, and in the New Haven school house. Rev. Robert B. Taggart served as stated supply until early in 1877, fol- lowed by Revs. Alexander R. Rankin, Thos. P. Patterson, James A. Brandon and others in the same capacity. The first regularly installed pastor was Rev. David F. Mustard, who served from June 9, 1885, until July 1, 1886. Rev. James A. Brandon was then called. He did not accept the call to the pastorate, but labored as stated supply for about a year. Rev. John H. Gibson was the next pastor, continuing as such from September 6, 1887, to December 18, 1894. The church was served by supplies from the latter date until the latter part of 1898, when Rev. W. R. Lawrence took charge and remained until the autumn of 1902. A period of discouragement followed. Services were held irregularly. Some members of the Presbytery advised the withdrawal of the financial aid which the church had hitherto received from the Board of Home Missions. The people persevered, however, in the work, manifesting great patience, faith and hopefulness. November 32, 1903, Rev. J. J. Huston, D. D., entered upon the pastoral care of the church. At his installation Rev. J. A. Douthett preached, and Rev. H. W. Millen and Elder Gill made the customary addresses. Dr. Huston, still pastor, has been prospered in the work. The congregation has been largely increased in mem- bership, and is united, active and greatly encouraged. The church has become self-sustaining, no longer asking or re- ceiving financial aid from the denominational Board, and contributes its full quota to all the Boards. A Woman's Missionary Society has been formed. The Sabbath school has grown rapidly, and has a large membership. Its offer- ings have greatly increased. The Young People's Union has been organized and is doing a good work. In 1884 the present house of worship was erected at a RELIGIOUS FORCES 369 cost of about $5,000. It stands on ground purchased from Mrs. James Blackstone, North Pittsburgh street, facing Pulaski. James Long, deceased, an elder in the Laurel Hill United Presbyterian church, was a generous contributor to the Connellsville church, and it was largely through his liberality that the church was enabled in 1903 to secure the present substantial and commodious parsonage. It is a brick building, 415 Johnston avenue, and was purchased from David B. Evans for $5,000, of which Mr. Long gave $3,000. The present officers are: Rev. J. J. Huston, D. D., pastor ; elders, John McKesson, ordained and installed March 5, 1890 ; R. A. Hamilton, December 3, 1898 ; W. E. Shaw and Dr. J. French Kerr, December 4, 1904; trustees, Kell Long, J. A. McKesson, Albert H. Long, D. P. Patter- son, W. H. Fairlamb and J. A. Wilson. TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. Trinity church is one of the youngest of the religious forces of Connellsville, its beginnings dating back to the summer of 1884, when a little company of earnest people gathered in the home of B. F. Boyts, and discussed the ad- visability of organizing a church of Reformation faith. For a number of years Lutherans had been coming to Con- nellsville seeking homes, but never in such numbers as to warrant the establishment of a church. The more loyal of these newcomers, after the year 1871, interested them- selves in the English Lutheran Sunday school, conducted by a Mr. Wentzler, in the St. John's German church at 9 o'clock every Sunday morning. Many of the English speaking children of the community found a delight in at- tending this Sunday school, and still speak of its services as a pleasant memory. The first pastors of the German church were very favorably disposed toward the English work, and gave it the fullest encouragement. The coming of larger numbers of strict Germans into the community, however, changed conditions and the English speaking 370 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Lutherans found it the part of wisdom to secure a church of their own. The Somerset County Conference of the Alleghany Synod was appealed to, and Rev. J. F. Shearer, then pastor of Trinity church of Somerset, Pa., after one or two pre- liminary visits, organized them into a regular congregation September 16, 1884. Only nine persons signed the peti- tion to the Court for a charter, so that the charter member- ship includes only that number, but fully thirty other de- voted Lutherans were affiliated with the movement from the beginning. ' This organization was effected in Goodchild's store- room on North Pittsburgh street, where services were held for some time. Mr. B. F. Eoyts was greatly interested in the young church, and acted sometimes as a janitor and man-of-all-work in order to help along the cause. He was elected the first treasurer of the organization, and has held the position with praiseworthy fidelity to the present time. The Board of Home Missions of the Evangelical Luth- eran church was asked for help and responded very lib- erally. With this help Rev. L. L. Sieber was secured as pastor and served the church from December 1, 188L to September 1, 1890. During his pastorate the place of hold- ing services was changed to the Newmyer Opera House, then to Newcomer's Hall, and finally to the chapel of the present church building on East Apple street. The lot for this building was purchased July 28, 1885, for $3,700. The work of building was begun the follow- ing spring; the cornerstone was laid in June, 1886, Rev. W. W. Criley, D. D., conducting the service ; the chapel was dedicated March 6, 1887, Rev. F. W. Conrad, D. D., preaching the dedicatory sermon. The whole building was placed under roof, but only the chapel was used for services for a ' number of years. The congregation was weak, a debt of $7,800 was left upon the building, and the people felt unable to complete it at the time. The second pastor was Rev. U. A. Hankey, who served THE THRKE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES OF CONNELLSVILLE 372 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLL from May 1, 1891, to December 1, 1894. Under his min- istry the congregation grew in numbers, and confidence was estabHshed in its success. All bills were promptly paid and seven hundred dollars were paid on the debt. Just when the church seemed to be gathering her strength for a forward movement, sickness compelled the pastor to resign. The third and present pastor is Rev. ElHs B. Burgess, who entered the field May 30, 1895. Dur- ing the summer of that year the church was completed. It was dedicated by Rev. A. S. Hartman, D. D., Rev. John Weidley, D. D., Rev. U. A. Hankey, Rev. J. W. Poffinber- ger and the pastor, amid great rejoicing, December 8, 1895. The church, with the lot, has cost over $20,000, and is now free of debt. The church became self-supporting May 27, 1900, and today has a confirmed membership of 535. The church has had a Pentecostal growth during the past two years, more than 200 persons having been added to its membership in that time. The Sunday School has a total enrollment of more than three hundred. In addition to these, there is a Home Department of 180 members and a Cradle Roll of 69 members. The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, organized in 1893, has 84 members, and is doing excellent service. The Ladies' Aid Society was organized soon after the beginning of the church, and has raised thousands of dollars for its local support. In the dark days of her his- tory the preservation of the church was credited under God to the devotion of these women. There is a Senior and Junior Y. P. S. C. E. in connec- tion with the church. Trinity Circle of King's Daughters is another active organization that has done much under the excellent leadership of Miss Mary Brickman to build up the spiritual and benevolent work of the congregation. THE SLOVAK LUTHERAN CHURCH. St. Peter's Slovak, Lutheran church was organized in RELIGIOUS FORCES 373 the year 1895, by the Rev. C. L. Orbach, of Braddock, Pa. Services were held for about ten years in a two-story brick dwelHng, formerly known as the Enos house, No. 210 Easi Main street, the first floor being remodeled and made into a suitable hall. The present pastor. Rev. Martin Tomaska, took charge of the congregation and of the mission field in 1897. The congregation is composed of working people, chiefly miners and coke workers. They are scattered through the coke region from Tarr to Fairchance, and westward as far as Jacob's Creek. In 1905-6 the congregation erected a neat and conven- ient house of worship on Porter avenue, a short distance from South Pittsburgh street, costing $10,000. There are about 750 communicant members. Through the summer from twenty-five to thirty-five children attend the parochial school connected with this church. The present pastor serves three other charges, one at Irwin, one at Spangler, Cambria county, one at Grassflat, Clearfield county, and holds services at Uniontown, Mt. Pleasant, Greensburg and other points. THE SOUTH SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH. This church was constituted in the early part of 1897. For some time the services were held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Main street. A lot was purchased in 1898 from the heirs of John T. Hogg, deceased, the deed for which is dated June 7, 1898. The lot is on the southwest corner of South Pittsburgh street and Morton avenue. The present well-built and well-arranged brick church was erected in 1901. The dedicatory services were held February 2, 1902. Rev. J. T. Morgan, of Cleveland, O., preached in the fore- noon, a fraternal service was held in the afternoon, and Rev. Mr. Lucher preached in the evening. The present pastor is Rev. Lin M. Jaco. TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH. The organization of this church was effected in Odd 374 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Fellows' Hall, East Main street, on the 22nd day of Janu- ary, 1899, with 22 members. It was under the supervision of Rev. Dewalt S. Fouse, D. D., Superintendent of the Gen- eral Synod's Board of Home Missions of the Reformed Church in the United States. Rev. Andrew J. Heller, D. D., by the authority and under the direction of the Board of Missions, had prepared the way for the founding of the congregation, and he was' subsequently, on the 5th day of March, 1899, installed pas- tor of the congregation, by a committee of Westmoreland Classis, consisting of Revs. E. D. Meixell and H. S. Garner. The first consistory was composed of William M. Ankeny, elder, and Solomon Lepley and J. S. Miller, deacons. The congregation received its charter from the Court of Com- mon Pleas of Fayette county, August 12, 1899. The con- gregation worshipped in Odd Fellows' Hall until December 1, 1899. Its house of worship, erected on the northeast corner of Pittsburgh and Green streets, was dedicated Janu- ary 1st, 1900. Rev. Thos. S. Land, of Manor, Pa., preached the sermon. Revs. E. D. Meixell, of Scottdale; D. A. Sou- ders, of Irwin; J. H. Mickley, of Johnstown, and H. S. Garner, of Greensburg, were present and took part in the service. Dr. Heller is still pastor. The present consistory consists of the following: ' Elders, Wm. M. Ankeny, Rus- sell "K. Smith and B. F. Rudolph; deacons, O. Stanley Gettys, Chas. A. Purbaugh and Chas. A. Burton. This church has a fine location, and has encouraging prospects. Valuable aid has been given in the work of the church by the Young Peoples' Society, the Women's Mis- sionary Society and the Sabbath School. THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. The denomination to which this congregation belongs adopted, at its Conference in 1800, the name. United Breth- ren in Christ. The congregation in Connellsville was or- ganized in the month of January, 1901, in a vacant store room on South Pittsburgh street, between Baldwin an;l 1. THR TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH - THE SOUTH SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH 3. THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 4. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 376 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Crawford avenues. The charter members, nine in number, were L. H. Fitzmeier, H. W. Bridegum, J. Smith Detwiler, James Sivits, P. C. Stillwagon, EHzabeth Fitzmeier, Emma Bridegum, Lorena Detwiler and Rosa Sivits. The first official Board was as follows : Trustees, L. H. Fitzmeier, H. W. Bridegum, J. S. Detwiler and James Sivits. The presiding elder of the West District of Allegheny Confer- ence, Rev. L. W. Stahl, appointed J. K. Huey to serve as pastor until the next annual conference, September, 1901. In the summer of 1901 the trustees purchased ground on the southwest corner of Crawford avenue and Race street, with a view of building a church thereon. During Rev. Huey's pastorate of less than eight months the congregation had encouraging growth, a membership of 51 being reported to the annual Conference. Rev. J. H. Pershing, D. D., was appointed at that Conference, and served one year, during which time 12 new members were added to the church. The property on the corner of Craw- ford avenue and Race street was sold to the Steam Laun- dry Co. in the spring of 1902, and two lots were purchased on the north side of Crawford avenue, facing Race street. The erection of the present church and parsonage was be- gun early in the summer of 1902, and the work was com- pleted in January, 1903. The church contains an audito- rium, 31: by 46 feet, and a Sabbath School room underneath, .34 by 25. The parsonage is connected with the church, has six rooms and a reception hall. The whole structure is of brick, occupies a conspicuous position and cost about $10,000. Rev. W. V. Barnhart, the present pastor, was appointed by Conference September, 1902, and took charge at once. On its completion the church was dedicated the first Sab- bath of February, 1903. The dedicatory service was con- ducted by Rev. W. R. Funk, D. D., of Dayton, Ohio, Pub- lishing Agent of the denomination, assisted by the pastor and by Rev. S. W. Keister, of Mount Pleasant, Pa., at that time the presiding elder of the district. RELIGIOUS FORCES 377 During 1905 a successful effort was made to remove the debt of the church, and a thanksgiving service was held Sabbath, September 17, 1905, to celebrate the happy achieve- ment. The two former pastors were present, Rev. Huey preaching in the morning and Dr. Pershing in the evening. The presiding elder, S. W. Keister, and one of the local ministers, were also present, and assisted in the services. At the close of the evening service the pastor called the trus- tees to the platform and while they stood in a half circle about him he burned the mortgage with red fire, after which the large audience joined heartily in the Long Metre dox- ology. The membership is above 250 at the present time. The present Board of Trustees consists of the following per- sons : H. W. Bridegum, president ; L. H. Fitzmeier, sec- retary; A. S. Ridenour, treasurer; J. L. Sisley, John F. Kooser, J. S. Detwiler and James Kiddie. MOUNT CARMEL ITALIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. This congregation was established in the early part of l903, through the energetic and self-sacrificing efforts of Rev. Carmine Fienelli, the first pastor. A convenient and neat frame church was built and dedicated within a few months. It is located on Baldwin avenue, near Carnegie avenue. On Wednesday evening, Dec. 23, 1903, Father Fienelli lost his life in the wreck of the Duquesne Limited train on the B. and O. railroad at Laurel Run, below Daw- son. He was returning from Pittsburgh, where he had been buying gifts, decorations and sweetmeats for a chil- dren's entertainment on Christmas. He was buried in the Catholic cemetery in Connellsville. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph diSabato, who serves a large and growing con- gregation. ST. EMORY HUNGARIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. In January, 1903, steps were taken for the establish- ment of a church for the Hungarian or Magyar Catholics of this vicinity, by Peter Rutsek, of Connellsville, and Emorv Brutoczki, of Adelaide, Pa. Bishop Phelan, of the diocese 378 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE of Pittsburgh, gave permission for the calUng of a priest August 18, 1903. Accordingly, Rev. Adalbert Lorick, of Budapest, Hungary, was called September 20, 1903. Rev. Lorick accepted the call, arrived in Connellsville March 31, 1904, and was received into the Pittsburgh diocese April 1, 190-i. The congregation was organized by Rev. Lorick May 8, 1904, and the building of the church was begun August 1, 1904. The cornerstone was laid October 9, 1904. The church was dedicated July 16, 1905. It is a one-story brick structure on Arch street, north of Porter avenue. It has a spire surmounted by a cut glass Mosaic cross. The "blessing of the bells" took place on Sabbath, June 3, 1906. Eight societies from as many places paraded the streets, and an impressive service was held in the church, after which the procession formed again and went to the new Hungarian cemetery, where the prayers of the congregation were offered for the dead. There are two bells, one of which bears the name of St. Emory, the other St. George. The cemetery ground adjoins Chestnut Hill cemetery, and was purchased April 8, 1906. The congregation is com- posed of about 130 Hungarian families living at different points in Fayette and Westmoreland counties, with about 800 members. THE CHURCH OF GOD ( WINEBRENNARIAN) . This, the youngest church at the present time in the borough, was established March, 1905. Meetings were held for several months in the homes of the members. A one-story fraiTijC house of worship was built on the north- west corner of Murphy avenue and Park street. There is a membership of about fifty. The Sabbath school has an average attendance of 60, and there are 18 members in the Christian Endeavor Society. The congregation is hopeful and active. The first pastor was Rev. Sylvester Fulmer, serving from March to October, 1905. The second pastor was Rev. Jonathan S. Boyd, from October, 1905, to Octo- ber, 1906. The present pastor is Rev. David A. Stevens, who took charge in October, 1906. RELIGIOUS FORCES 379 SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE CHURCHES. Several church organizations have existed in former days in what was formerly called White Rock or Gibson^ but now called South Connellsville, a comparatively exten- sive suburb of the borough of Connellsville. About 1878 a United Brethren organization was formed and services were held in the school house, the only public building at the time in the community. This work was directed successively by Revs. Lane, Stahl and Workman, but was discontinued in or about the year 1883. Five or six years later a revival occurred in connection with services held by local workers, and resulted in the for- mation of a religious society known as "Christ's Gospel Union," and the erection of a frame house of worship on Pittsburgh street, nearly opposite the Gibson school house. This work was also discontinued after a few years. The building was leased by a White Rock Methodist Protestant mission in 1891, in charge of Rev. A. R. Seaman, who was followed by Rev. John E. Allgood, at the close of whose ad- ministration in 1895 or 1896 the work ceased. In May, 1897, the Welsh United Congregational church was organized with thirty members. Rev. R. A. Morgan became the pastor, with the following deacons: Benjamin T. Williams, secretary ; Thos. Jones, treasurer ; Griffith Thomas, Wm. Rees, Wm. Evans and Joshua J. Evans. In November, 1901, Rev. R. A. Alorgan left, and a call was given Rev. Richard Powell. Mr. Powell accepted the call, and took charge March 9, 1902, the church built by the "Gospel Union" having been secured for the services of the congregation. Under the faithful labors of this pastor, cor- dially assisted by the officers and members, the membership increased until it reached 80. The church has a Sabbath School, a Ladies' Aid Society, a Christian Endeavor Societv and a Band of Willing Workers. The work goes on with earnestness, though the long shut-down of the tin mill, in which most of the male nuembers of the congregation have been employed, has occasioned great loss. The services are- in both Welsh and Engflish. :880 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The Evangelical Church is another organization at work in the same field, dating from 1898 when Rev. E. E. Crouse, the first pastor, was sent by the annual Conference. Joseph Soisson, of Connellsville, presented the church with a lot on Wine street, east of Pittsburgh for a house of wor- ship. The cornerstone was laid in March, 1900, and the building was completed and opened for service in July of the same year. The annual Conference met in the church the following September, at which time the church was made a station, and Rev. W. E. Bassett was appointed pastor. He served the congregation until September, 1902, when Rev. W. H. McLaughlin was appointed to the work, serv- ing until September, 1905, when Rev. W. E. Bassett was returned and is now pastor. The church has been pros- pered, and the membership has reached 200. A Woman's Missionary Society helps in the education of a student in the Bible Woman's Training School, Tokio, Japan, and in other work of the Missionary Board. The Young People's Alliance numbers 65 members. The officers of the church are: W. E. Bassett pastor; S. S. Kern, W. S. Ringer, John Trombly, trustees ; Ira Miller, John Hartman, George Hartman, stewards. NEW HAVEN CHURCHES. TRINITY PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In the first part of this chapter, we have given some ac- count of this congregation when its services were held in Connellsville. In the year 1832 the present house of wor- ship was built on the corner of Main and Fifth streets. New Haven, and opened for public worship. The date of the formal organization of the church is not positively known, but the erection of the meeting house put the work upon a more substantial basis than it had hitherto had, and its dedi- cation was doubtless an occasion of great interest and satis- faction to the congreeration. RELIGIOUS FORCES 381 The ground was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Rog- ers, who, in addition, contributed liberally to the building. A beautiful memorial window has been placed in the church in memory of Mrs. Rogers' kindly gifts and deeds. Later James Mcllvaine presented a church bell and a large brick dwelling house for a rectory. The rectory is located on Fourth street, south of Main. Still later, a chapel or Sab- bath School building was added to the church by Dr. and Mrs. Ellis Phillips as a memorial of a deceased child. Through a legacy from the late James Mcllvaine, "the parish enjoys the benefit of two endowments." In recent years the congregation has sustained heavy losses in the removal of many of the old and honored fami- lies whose names had long been associated with the work of the church, among them the Hogs::, Phillips. Wharton, McCormick, Gutelius and Gibson families. Since the build- ing of the Xew Haven church, the following ministers have had charge: Revs. Silas Freeman, J. J. Kerr, J. J. Mc- Elhinney, Wm. Arnott, Kensey Johns Stewart, whose con- nection with educational work has been spoken of in our chapter on the schools ; Edward Walker, Wm. J. Hilton, N. M. Jones, Samuel Cowell, J. G. Furey, H. T. Wilcoxon, Geo. Hall, C. X. Quick, Faber Billesby, Richard S. Smith, G. C. Rafter, J. H. McCandless, S. S. Chevers, G. W. Eas- ter, Timothy O'Connell, W. G. Stonex, J. L. Taylor, J. T. Hargreaves and T. S. Cartwright, D. D. After ten years of laborious work. Dr. Cartwright was released October 1. 190G, and returned to England, the land of his birth and early ministry. The church has not as yet secured a rector in his stead. The vestrymen at present are : George A. Torrence, William Sansom, John B. Frost, Joseph S. Bryner. Earl Vanatta, George N. Woods and Wade E. Hews. Of these persons, George A. Torrence and William Sansom are wardens. Earl Vanatta secretary and John B. Frost treasurer. A Sabbath School and sev- eral auxiliary societies have been in existence for many years. THE THREE PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF NEW HAVEN 1. TRINITY EPISCOPAL 2. MOUNT ZION BAPTIST 3. A. M. E ZION RELIGIOUS FORCES 383 Members of the African race came into this region with the first settlers. For the most part they came as servants or slaves, with the people from Virginia, Mary- land and even from Eastern Pennsylvania, slavery being still in existence in Pennsylvania. In the Act for the grad- ual abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania, passed by the As- sembly in 1780, the provisions were such that as late as 1840 sixty-four slaves were still living in the State. Among the first settlers who held slaves were Col. William Crawford and his brother Valentine, Providence Mounts and Isaac Meason. The registers show that Zachariah Council had two slaves, and that a Presbyterian minister, Rev. James Finley, of Rehoboth and Round Hill, had eight, to whose religious welfare he gave much attention, and for whose future support he made provision in his will. The colored people attended service, as a rule, with the whites, and in some cases were members of the same religious organiza- tions. In the Redstone circuit of the Methodist Episcopal church, in 1790, there were 334 whites and six colored. In 1800 there were eight colored members in that circuit ; in 1810, there were 16. In later years the colored people be- gan holding meetings of their own. They held them often in the Quaker Graveyard school house, and often in the old White school house in New Haven. At a meeting of the Connellsville School Board, April 11, 1859, a request was made by the colored people for permission "to hold meet- ings for Christian worship" in the Pinnacle school house. The request was granted, on condition that "the meetings be- held on the Lord's day in the day time." There are no colored churches in Connellsville. There are two, however, at the present time in New Haven. THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. This congregation was constituted in Mathiot's hall. New Haven, in the year 1878. A few years later ground Avas purchased from George A. Markle, and a neat one- story frame house of worship was erected on it. It stands ■on the north side of Main street, between Sixth and Sev- 384 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE enth, and has a bell and vestibule. The name, Payne Chapel, was given it in memory of the late Bishop D. A. Payne. The building was dedicated in 1884 by Rev. J. J. Jones. The first pastor was Rev. Charles Herbert, and the first Board of Trustees was composed of the following persons : Wm. Sturling, Jesse Freeman, Jacob Johnson, Alex. Davis and Abraham White. The present pastor is Rev. William N. Young, who took charge of the church in October, 1903. The present trustees are: T. H. Brown, S. R. McNeal, A. J. Taylor, Chas. Ashbury, Calvin Wash- ington, John Poindexter, Burrel Mills, S. Drew, M. O. Hunter. THE MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH (aFRICAN). This church was organized in Connellsville in the year 1883, by Rev. J. C. Robinson, a Baptist missionary, who served the church about three months. The charter mem- bers were twelve in number. Upon Rev. Robinson's retire- ment from the field, Rev. T. H. Ford, of Washington, D. C, was installed pastor. Mcllvaine Hall, corner Main and First streets, New Haven, was rented and in it worship was held several years. A lot was then purchased for $400 on Fourth street, near Trader's alley, New Haven, and a frame church erected at a cost of $2,000. Rev. Ford's pas- torate was seven years in length. He was followed by Rev. P. H. Thompson, of Nelson county, Va., who remained with the congregation four years. During his stay the entire debt of the church was paid. Rev. R. D. Epps, B. D., of Harrisburg, Pa., became the next pastor. He has continued in this position to the present time, having faithfully labored for ten years, and during his pastorate the congregation has had encouraging growth. W. L. Corbin is the church clerk. ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST SLOVAK CATHOLIC CHURCH. This congregation of Slovak people was organized Oc- tober 4, 1895. A one-story brick church building, occupied at one time by a United Brethren congregation that had RELIGIOUS FORCES 385 disbanded, and situated on the corner of Seventh street and Trader's alley, New Haven, was bought, remodeled and used as a house of worship for several years. Rev. R. Wider was the first minister. He came from Silesia, and took charge at the time of the organization of the church. He died February, 1897, and was buried in the cemetery of the church, on the Leisenring road, near Trotter. A beau- tiful monument was erected over his grave. July 4, 1906, by the Catholic Union, the congregation and other friends. Rev. E. E. Gellhof, the present pastor, took charge April, 1897. The Seventh street church becoming too small for the large and increasing congregation, lots were purchased on the corner of Main and Eighth streets, and the present beautiful and commodious church was built. It is of brick, is splendidly furnished, and is two-storied. The corner stone was laid on Thanksgiving day, 1899, and the church was dedicated one year later. Thanksgiving day, 1900, with imposing ceremonies. Rt. Rev. Hapde, Bishop of South Carolina, preached in English ; Rt. Rev. Nepomuk Jager, Abbott of Bohemian Benedictine Fathers of Chicago, preached in Slavish. A chime of bells, costing $1,600. was dedicated Thanksgiving day, 1902 ; candelabra costing $1,300, Thanksgiving day, 1904; and a pipe organ, costing $3,500, Thanksgiving day, 1905. Andrew Carnegie gave $1,500 toward the purchase of the pipe organ. The church, with its furnishings, cost about $50,000. The Seventh street property was sold to the Polish Catholic church. There are in all about 500 families connected with the con- gregation, scattered all the way from Ohio Pyle to Layton, many living as far as Springfield on one side and the Leisen- rings on the other. The national societies have 900 memi- bers, and the Catholic Slovak Union 1.000. A comfortable parsonage is on Main street, close to the church. THE POLISH CATHOLIC CHURCH. This church was organized in 1903, and worships in the one-story brick building purchased that year from the 386 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Slovak Catholic congregation. It is located on the corner of Seventh street and Trader's alley. In the front of the church is a tablet with Polish words painted thereon. These words, translated into English, constitute the corpo- rate name of the organization : "Church of the Holy Trin- ity." A parochial school house stands next to the church on the west, and a parsonage stands next to the school house. Both school and parsonage are two-storied frame buildings. The first pastor, Rev. Krapinski, served the church two years. The second and present pastor, Rev. Lunawski, has been in charge one year; 180 families are connected with the congregation. They are from Austrian and Russian Poland, and are an intelligent, industrious, law-abiding peo- ple. They are chiefly employed as miners and coke workers in the region roundabout, but an increasing number buy homes and small farms, having for the most part been peasant farmers in their native land. THE YOUNG MEN's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF CONNELLS- VILLE. Pennsylvania was the first state in the Union to em- ploy a State Secretary' in Y. M. C. A. work. The first man to occupy that position was the Rev. Samuel A. Taggart, and Connellsville was one of the first places visited by him in his official capacity. This visit was made in 1871, though no organization was effected for a number of years after- ward. After repeated but unsuccessful attempts, the pres- ent organization was formed in 1893. On March 6th of that year a meeting was held in the Presbyterian church, at which it was decided to start an Association, and members were received. At a meeting in Kilpatrick's hall, held the next day, the following officers were elected: Col. James M. Reid, Kell Long, David B. Evans, George B. Brown, N. B. Sproat and Charles M. Hyatt, trustees; and James L. Paull, John Adams, Jr., Lin F. Ruth, B. F. Boyts, D. K. Artman, J. M. Kurtz, E. B. Cameron, J. L. Cans, H. C. Norton, W. THE YOUNG MKN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING (Opened in 1906) 388 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE H. Hugns, E. W. Horner, J.-M. Sembower, E. D. Turner, Dr. H. F. Atkinson and L. S. Lincoln, directors. The Board of Directors organized March 8, by electing James L. Paull president, E. W. Horner first vice president and Dr. H. F. Atkinson second vice president, H. C. Norton sec- retary, and Lin F. Ruth treasurer. In the month of March the Association purchased the property of Capt. Thomas M. Fee, corner Pittsburgh street and Fairview avenue, at an approximate cost of $4,000. The dwelling house on the property was remodeled and occupied as headquarters, with K. Clifford Seip as General Secretary. In less than a year the work was suspended, and after a time the building was rented. The organization was kept intact, and interest did not wholly die, but four years passed before the work was resumjed. During those four years a part of the frontage on Pittsburgh street was sold to L. W. Wolf, and the pro- ceeds were applied to the reduction of the debt. The annual Convention of the Associations of the Third Pennsylvania district was held in Connellsville, December, 1898, and immediately after the convention S. M. Bard, then State Secretary, and E. B. Buckalew, his assistant, gave valuable aid in reviving the work. Rooms were se- cured in the Masonic building and C. Edgar Reed, of Erie, was appointed General Secretary. He took charge Janu- ary 9, 1899, and continued with the Association until Octo- ber 31, 1906, with the exception of about a year, during which H. A. Bricker, of Williamsport, Pa., filled the posi- tion. April 20, 1899, the Association moved to the second and third floors of the Kilpatrick building, 107 East Main street. Four years later the Main street building having been sold, and the purchaser wishing immediate possession, it was decided to inaugurate a movement to secure an As- sociation building. An office was rented on the second floor of the Weihe building, and a canvass made to secure funds for building purposes. Subscriptions to the amount of $13,140 were secured. In the autumn of 1903 the work of excavation had begtm, but it was not until 1905 that the RELIGIOUS FORCES 389 building was erected. In the summer of 1906 it was com- pleted. The property is valued at $50,000, and the present home of the Association is regarded as one of the best build- ings of the kind in the State outside the cities. It is of buff brick, and is three stories in height. On the first floor are two store rooms ; on the second floor, a reception hall, read- ing rooms, committee rooms, boys' rooms, offices, parlors and a lecture room seating 300 persons ; on the third floor, four class rooms, ten dormitories and janitor's living apart- ments ; while in the basement are bath rooms, a swimming pool, 12x30 feet, and a large and finely equipped gymna- sium. The officers of the Board during the erection of the building were : E. W. Horner president since 1898, Joseph McConnell first vice president, James C. Long second vice president, James M. Cecil recording secretary, and H. L. Douglas treasurer. Dr. G. W. Gallagher was chairman of the building committee. August 21:, 1906, the following persons were chosen and constitute the present Board of Directors : Worth Kil- patrick president. Dr. G. W. Gallagher first vice president. Joseph McConnell second vice president, James C. Long secretary, H. L. Douglas treasurer, I. C. Smutz. E. W. Hor- ner, Eugene T. Norton, W. N. Leche, John A. Armstrong, E. R. Floto, J. L. Kurtz, A. S. Silcox, J. Wilbert Brown and John Curry. The trustees are: Col. J. M. Reid, Kell Long, H. M. Kerr, Worth Kilpatrick, W. H. Hugus and W. S. Schenck. Before the close of the former Board's term of service, Mr. C. Edgar Reed tendered his resignation as General Secretary, the resignation to take effect October 31, 1906. It was accepted by the Board with sincere regret. On Thursday evening, August 30, a Business Men's dinner was given in the hall of the new Association building, attended by about 150 of the business men of the commu- nity. Hon. James A. Beaver, one of the judges of the Su- perior Court of Pennsylvania, was the guest of honor, and made the principal address, speaking of the claims of the 390 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Y. M. C. A. from a business standpoint. A resolution was adopted providing for a debt-raising campaign in the month of September, subscriptions to be secured for $30,000, the amount needed to pay off the entire indebtedness, and pro- vide in part for the expenses of the coming year, and all subscriptions to be conditioned upon the whole amount being raised before September 30, 1906. Fifteen leaders were appointed who afterward selected team-s of ten or more men each, in order to conduct the campaign in a system- atic way. Saturday evening, September 29, $8,000 re- mained to be made up of the amount required. The As- sociation workers redoubled their efforts, and just as the midnight hour arrived the ringing of church bells an- nounced to the community that the whole amount had been raised. A jubilee meeting was held Sabbath afternoon in the hall. A large and animated assembly sang songs of praise, and listened with pleasure to the many brief ad- dresses that were made. The success of this work was due chiefly to L. W. Mumma, the special Financial Secre- tary, who rendered most admirable service. Rev. John Al- bert Eby accepted a call from the directors to become Gen- eral Secretary, and took charge the first of November. Tuesday evening, November 6, a supper was given in one of the Association rooms by the trustees and directors as a reception to Mr. Eby and a farewell to Mr. Reed, for six years the highly esteemed and faithful General Secre- tary. A well-filled purse was presented to Mr. Reed in token of the high regard in which he has been held by the officers and members of the Association. For seven years the work has been greatly aided by the Ladies' Auxiliary, which at the present time has a mem- bership of 135, and of which Mrs. Lloyd Johnston is the present President. It is worthy of mention that for several years a Balti- more and Ohio railroad branch of the Y. M. C. A. carried on an excellent work, though with very inadequate facili- ties. George E. Enterline was in charge of this work dur- RELIGIOUS FORCES 391 ing the greater part of its continuance. Soon after his departure to enter the ministry of the Baptist church the old railroad building in which the work had been carried on was demolished (1903), and the work has not been re- sumed. THE woman's christian TEMPERANCE UNION. This worthy institution was organized May 1, 1881. At a meeting, held in the afternoon and evening of that day, in the Presbyterian church, Connellsville, Mrs. Annie Wit- tenmyer, of Philadelphia, who was president of the first W. C. T. U. national convention in 1874, and State President in 1881, delivered two addresses on temperance work. At the close of the evening address a local union was formed, with the following officers : Mrs. Lutellus Lindley president, Mrs. N. B. Long corresponding secretary, Mrs. W. L. Neff recording secretary, Mrs. R. C. Morgan treasurer, Mrs. J. M. Barnett, Mrs. A. D. Brown, Mrs. L. B. Hyatt, Mrs. Wm. B. Minor and Mrs. A. Hutton, vice presidents. Notwithstanding many discouragements, the meetings have been regularly held from that time to the present, and the work has been carried on without interruption. Ser- vices of praise and prayer and conferences on plans and methods are of frequent occurrence. The Union has brought lecturers on temperance and kindred topics, dis- tributed much literature, aided in bringing about various reforms, held mothers' meetings, parlor and cottage meet- ings and meetings for young, established Loyal Legions, visited the schools in the interest of scientific temperance instruction, sustained temperance work among the miners, conducted flower mjissions and for 16 years has maintained a department for the relief of the poor. During the indus- trial depression of 1892-3 the Union raised funds, collected clothing and provisions, opened headquarters in a vacant store room in the Morton building, Pittsburgh street, and rendered valuable and timely aid to many families that were in need. 393 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The following persons have served as Presidents : Mrs. Lutellus Lindley, Mrs. N. B. Long, Mrs. Thomas M. Fee, Mrs. W. L. Neff, Mrs. James L. Paull, Mrs. WiUiam A. Edie, Mrs. A. R. Seaman and Mrs. Geo. B. Brown. Some of these Presidents served several years and at va- rious times. The longest term was that of Mrs. Edie, who served twelve consecutive years, from April 27, 1887. The present officers are : Mrs. Geo. B. Brown, presi- dent; Mrs. Elizabeth Lucas, vice president; Mrs. W. R. Clasper, secretary, and Miss Mary Kane, treasurer. CHAPTER XL PUBLIC UTILITIES The founder of Connellsville, in his wisdom and fore- sight, provided the first pubHc utiHties of the town when he gave it its charter. Of these, the franchise for the first one mentioned was reserved to himself, and consisted of the right to operate a ferry between Connehsville and New Haven, or Stewart's Crossing. This right was exercised by Zachariah Connell and his associates from 1793 to 1800 for the convenience of travelers of the "Great Road" or others who might wish to transport themselves or property from one side of the river to the other. The second, third and fourth were dedicated to the use of any of the inhabitants of the community without let or hindrance, and free of charge forever. These con- sisted of "an excellent stone coal bank on the edge of the river," and a stone quarry, "where stone may be got for building;" but of more immediate good and convenience was the setting aside of certain springs or fountains for the benefit of all. The terms under which these utilities are placed at the disposal of the people of the town will be found in an- other part of this history, where the charter is given in full. THE YOUGHIOGHENY BRIDGE COMPANY. On March 15, 1800, authority was conferred by act of the Legislature under which Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell built the first bridge across the Youghiogheny river from Connellsville to what is now New Haven. Said act provides in part as follows : "An act to authorize Isaac Meason and Zachariah 393 394 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Connell, their heirs and assigns, to erect, build and main- tain a toll bridge across the Youghiogheny River at Con- nellsville in Fayette county. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful for Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell, their heirs and assigns, to erect, build, support and maintain a good and substantial bridge over and across the Youghiogheny river at Connellsville, near the great road leading from Philadelphia to Uniontown across said river ; and that the property of the said bridge, when built, shall be, and the same is hereby vested in the aforesaid Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell, their heirs and assigns forever ; and that the said Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell their heirs or assigns, may demand and receive toll from travelers and others, not exceeding the following rates, viz : For every coach, landau, chariot,, phaeton, chair, or other pleasure carriage, for each horse drawing the same fifteen cents ; for every loaded wagort or cart, for each horse drawing the same, twelve and one- half cents ; for the same carriage when empty, for each horse drawing the same nine cents ; for every sleigh or sled when loaded, ten cents for each horse drawing the same ;. for the same empty seven cents for each horse drawing the same ; for every single horse and rider, six cents ; for every horse or mule with their burden or load, four cents ; for every horse or mule without burden or load, three cents ;. for every foot passenger one cent; for each head of horned cattle, two cents ; for each sheep or swine, one cent ; and for all carriages which shall be drawn by oxen or partly drawn by oxen and partly by horses, two oxen shall be estimated as equal to one horse in charging all the afore- said respective tolls, and each mule as equal to one horse : Provided always nevertheless, that nothing in this act con- tained shall extend to authorize the said PUBLIC UTILITIES 395 MEMORANDUM OF AN AGREEMENT made the 4th day of September, eighteen hunured and thirteen,, between Hiram Connell, WilHam Page and Greenberry Jones,, executors of Zachariah Connell, deceased, of tlie one part and Isaac Meason, Jr., of the other part. Witnesseth, That the said executors for and in considera- tion of the yearly rent of four hundred dollars to be paid as is- hereinafter mentioned, have leased by these presents do lease unto Isaac Mason, Jr., and his assigns, all their mterest in the bridge at Connellsville with the house occupied by Mrs. Wal- lace, for the term of one year, to commence as soon as Firman & Trump complete the repairs they have contracted to make and fully to be completed and ended: And the said Meason on his part covenants and agrees tO' pay to the executors aforesaid four hundred dollars, in four equal quarter yearly payments, to commence and be counted from the commencement of this lease. And it is further agreed on the part of the executors that any repairs that the said Meason may be under the necessity of making on the half of the bridge next Connellsville shall be re- tained out of the rent aforesaid, and that if it should so happen that the bridge, by floods in the river, or otherwise should be injured and rendered impassable, then and thenceforth the rent to cease and determine until the damage be repaired. In testirnony whereof the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals. Test. HIRAM CONNELL (Seal) WILLIAM PAGE (Seal) G. R. JONES (Seal) ISAAC MEASON, Jr., (Seal) It is agreed that this lease commence the twentieth of Octo- ber, 1813, and it is agreed on the part of Isaac Meason, Jr., that the families of the executors, foot and horse, pass free and that Messrs. Page and Jones have the privilege of passing the bridge free with their teams to supply the said Meason and the Messrs. Taylor with the coal now contracted for. ISAAC MEASON, Jr. April 9th, 1814, received of Meason, Jr., two hundred dol- lars for rent reserved in the within article. G. R. JONES. 396 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE October 17, 1814, received of I. Meason, Jr., two hundred dollars for rent as above. G. R. JONES. October 13, 1814. It is truly agreed by the parties to the within lease, that Isaac Meason, Jr., is to have the bridge from the 20th inst. until 20th October, 1815, for four hundred and fifty dollars, to be paid in quarter annual pay't. Witness their hands and seals. Test. G. R. JONES (Seal) Jos. Rogers of Jones. ISAAC MEASON, Jr., (Seal) It is hereby agreed by the parties to the above lease, that Isaac Meason, Jr., is to have the bridge for one year, commenc- ing the 20th October last part, and ending the 20th October, 1816, for four hundred and twenty-five dollars, payable quarterly. Witness their hands and seals the 20tli October, 1815. Test. WILLIAM PAGE (Seal) Daniel Rogers. G. R. JONES (Seal) ISAAC MEASON, Jr., (Seal) Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell, their heirs and assigns, to erect or build a bridge in the manner in this act before mentioned, on any private property — without the consent of the owner or owners thereof, or to erect the same in such manner as in any way to injure the navigation of said river, or the passage over the ford across the river, near where the bridge may be erected." It was further provided by the act "That all poor per- sons, or those who may be exempted from payment of county rates and levies, shall have liberty to pass and repass over and across said bridge toll free." The time was limited to one year for beginning the erection of the bridge and to three years for its comple- tion. The work was completed within the limit of time fixed by the statute although it is not known exactly when it was thrown open to the public. Its location was nearly one hundred feet up stream from the present bridge and '^i.j-.^^^^ /^(:U^^ ^^^-,^*:.^ Xf^ AN OLD YOUGHIOGHENY BRIDGE AGREEMENT 398 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE was a wooden-bent structure, resting at the two ends on abutments, which were rude affairs, each formed of a strong crib-work of logs filled in with stones. The bridge re- mained for perhaps, fifteen years, and was carried away by floods sometime in the year 1816, or early in 1817, as evidenced by a niemorandum found, showing that a ferry was in operation by Joseph Keepers and George Sloan in the spring of 1817. The abutment and old toll house re- mained standing for a number of years at the Connells- ville end — about opposite the present Hotel Haas, on Water street — in fact, the toll house was not demolished until the building of the railroad made it necessary, which is within the memory of many now living. In the year 1818 the second bridge was built. This was also a wooden-bent structure, built after a model fur- nished by Adam Wilson, a Scotchman, known throughout the country for his ingenuity. This bridge was supported above by four heavy arches, formed of two-inch oak planks l)olted together, and it rested between the abutments on three strong bents of heavy timber, having breakers ex- tending from their bases up stream between thirty and forty feet and sloping at an angle of forty-five degrees from the bed of the river to the chords of the bridge. For nine years this bridge stood intact, but in 1827 the span next to the New Haven shore fell, while a wagon heavily laden and •drawn by six horses was upon it. It went down with a crash, yet it fell so squarely that neither horses, driver, wagon or load sustained any serious damage. The work of rebuilding the fallen span was at once undertaken, and the wooden arches replaced by a kind of truss work. While the repairs were being made, Samuel Downey ran a ferry to take care of the traveling public. In February, 1831, a heavy ice gorge in the river broke up and carried away all of the bridge except the new span on the New Haven side. A great improvement on the first two bridges was made in on 3 built in 1832 by the Meason and Connell heirs. The bridge was built with two spans, resting on stone abut- PUBLIC UTILITIES 399 ments and a stone pier in the river. The spans were sup- ported by soHd wooden arches and the superstructure was covered to protect it from the weather. For about twenty- •eight years this bridge did duty, until April, 1860, when a great and sudden rise in the river undermined the pier and ■carried the whole structure away. The water rose at that time to within about two feet of the bridge floor and within a foot of the roadway on Front street, New Haven. James H. White made two or three unsuccessful at- tempts to build a bent bridge of short spans during the summer and fall succeeding the flood which destroyed this bridge, but his eft'orts were frustrated each time by a rise in the river which carried away his bents, and finally the plan was abandoned. This work was attempted some forty or fifty feet further up the stream than the location of the last •one. The history of the old bridges is hardly complete with- out some mention of "Aunt Jenny" Wallace (sister of Zachariah Connell's second wife) who held the position of toll-taker for many years. She must have been a quaint character, indeed, if all the stories told about her are true. .Some of these anecdotes savor much of the Stone Age, and will hardly justify repetition here. Suffice it that there were a great many jokes played upon her and she was much teased by the boys and practical jokers of that time. The bridge was hers in so far as her relations to the patrons of the bridge were concerned. She haggled for the last cop- per and was, from all reports an efficient and faithful guard- ian of her trust. One who was a boy in her time describes her as of sour visage and generally uninviting aspect, ■clothed in an old black dress the right side of which she would grab with her left hand and with her right plunge inlio the depths of her pocket to make change for a "fip." -Let us hope that her sourness of countenance was only the mask assumed to impress the flippant passengers with the importance of her trust. After the destruction of the third bridge, other parties 400 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE made arrangements with the owners of the Meason-Con- nell franchise, under which a new bridge company was formed, and by act of the Legislature, passed April 17, 1861, supplementing the act of March 15, 1800, was created a body corporate under the name of the "Youghiogheny Bridge Company" with an authorized capital stock of $20,- 000.00, divided into eight hundred shares of the par value of $25.00 each. Stock in the new company was issued to Mrs. Mary Meason, George E. Hogg and James H. White for their property and interest in the old charter and these three were the incorporators named in the application for the new charter. A meeting of the stockholders was held at the office of George J. Ashman, July 20, 1861, when George Nickel was elected president; George J. Ashman, secretary and treasurer, and James Wilkey, Samuel Russell, Provance McCormick, James H. White and John K. Brown, mana- gers. A building committee composed of James H. White, George Nickel and Jonathan Hewitt was appointed by the managers, and a contract with Christian Snyder was en- tered into, for the erection of the stone work, on August 24, 1861. Plans were submitted by a Mr. Smith, an engineer from "down the river," for a suspension bridge. They were adopted, and work was commenced the same year and finished in the summer of 1862, at a cost of $19,- 600.00. The suspension cables were anchored in masonry covered with iron — two on each side of river — and passed over saddles in stone towers, perhaps twenty-five feet high. From these cables, the wooden bridge was suspended. Jonathan Hewitt resigned from the building committee at the time of letting the contract, and the work seems to have been carried on under the supervision of Nickel and White until March 11, 1862, when White resigned from the board of managers. George A. Torrence was chosen to succeed him as one of the board, and L. A. Wetherell was appointed to his place on the building committee. At a special meeting of the board of managers, held THE Or.D SUSPENSION BRIDGE 402 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE July 30, 1862, a number of resolutions were passed, begin- ning with the following preamble : "Whereas, the Presi- dent and managers of the Youghiogheny Bridge Company congratulate themselves and the stockholders upon the com- pletion of their bridge, which for some time past has been open for public use." Following this is a series of resolu- tions authorizing the delivery of the shares of stock agreed upon to Mrs. Mary Meason, George E. Hogg and James H. White in exchange for their property and franchises ; authorizing the payment of bills by the treasurer, and in- structing him as to the manner in which the accounts should be kept ; requesting an accounting from James H. White "for the proceeds of the ferry for the time which he had the same after it belonged to the company." A dividend of four per cent was declared January 31, 1863. Josiah Kurtz and J. M. Lytle were appointed to conduct the annual election for officers and managers, held May 4, 1863. George A. Torrence moved away and Thomas R. Davidson was chosen in his place, January 30th, 1864, and on May second following he was elected president. James McKearns had been chosen a manager, vice L. A. Wetherell retired. Adam Byerly was the first toll-taker, but he is not mentioned in the minutes until February 1st, 1865, when it was resolved "that the salary of Adam Byerly, the gate- keeper be advanced to twenty dollars per month from this date." Like "Aunt Jenny" Wallace, Adam Byerly was made the subject of many practical jokes and especially so as he was very zealous in attending to his duties as toll-taker — he could not see a cent escape him (officially,) without tak- ing it as a personal afifront, so deeply in his heart were the interests of his company. Some of the young folks of Con- nellsville attended a select school kept in New Haven by Miss Bell. On their way to and from school, in winter, they would cross on the ice when it was sufficiently strong PUBLIC UTILITIES 403 or in summer when the river was quite low there were days when the bolder ones would wade over, but never without a protest from Adam, who would plead with them on ac- count of the danger of their being drowned and end up by a tirade against them for defrauding the bridge company. He likewise took exception to teamsters allowing anyone to ride over with them when fording the river, which was often done in those days. June 19, 1871, Adam Byerly resigned. The resigna- tion was accepted with a resolution of appreciation for the faithful manner in which he had discharged his duties as a toll receiver, and as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the managers he was voted a substantial sum ''as additional compensation." Adam Eccles was employed to take his place. Daniel Kaine had been elected president succeeding Thomas R. Davidson, at the annual meeting held May 1, 1871. Fifty dollars was voted to Connellsville Borough at a meeting held October 31, 1871, to be used "towards fixing and beautifying the public grounds below the end of the bridge." George J. Ashman had been in ill health for some time, and on January 25, 1872, Josiah Kurtz was appointed treasurer to relieve him. Mr. Ashman died March 18, 1872, and A. C. Knox, on May 6, 1872, was elected to succeed him. S. P. Knox was elected treasurer May 5, 1879, and held that office until May 1, 1880, when he removed from Connellsville "much to the regret of the board." A. C. Knox was re-elected in his place. May 7, 1883, one hundred dollars was appropriated to- wards repairing the state road westward from New Haven, "said amount to be paid to H. Wickham and expended under his direction." George B. Kaine was elected president to succeed his father on May 4, 1885. On May 3, 1886, J. C. Kurtz suc- ceeded A. C. Knox as treasurer, and held that office until 404 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE May 2, 1898, when he resigned and Kell Long was elected. Upon the death of Adam Eccles, Henry Shaw was made toll-taker, this was on July 18, 1887. Leroy White succeeded Henry Shaw on December 5, 1889, and was al- lowed one assistant. Upon his death, Theodore F. White was elected to his place, November 4, 1892, and has been head toll-taker since, although he now has two assistants. P. S. Newmyer was chosen a manager October 30, 1886, to succeed James McKearns (who had died). Mr. Newmyer was elected president at the meeting held May 7th, 1888, and has been continuously re-elected since. A great many of Connellsville's best men have served upon the board of managers of the bridge company. Among them, besides those already mentioned, might be named the following: Aaron Bishop, M. O. Tinstman, J. T. Mc- Cormick, Samuel Freeman, Joseph Paull, Josiah Kurtz and James Allen. In the spring of 1890 a report became current that the bridge was unsafe — a committee was appointed to have an expert examination made of the property — an expe- rienced engineer was procured who submitted an exhaus- tive report in August of that year pronouncing the cables and fastenings, superstructure and all to be in excellent condition. He further suggested a plan whereby the ca- pacity of the bridge could be increased by adding a foot- walk at the lower side — this plan was adopted and the im- provements made in the winter of 1890-91, at a cost of about $7,500.00. A petition was presented to the court of quarter ses- sions of Fayette county in November, 1890, for the appoint- ment of appraisers to assess damages if any to the Yough- iogheny Bridge Company, by virtue of their making it a free bridge. The viewers met and assessed damages, but the county authorities never acted on the matter. In the fall of 1892, a movement was started to build a free bridge from Apple street, Connellsville, to Traders alley, New Haven. This was opposed by the Bridge Com- PUBLIC UTILITIES 405 pany as being equivalent to confiscation of their property and was so determined finally by the Supreme Court of the State, whose verdict stopped the project. November 1, 1897, a committee of the board was ap- pointed to confer with the stockholders and consider the advisability of building a new bridge. This was finally de- cided upon and a contract let to the Pittsburgh Bridge Company, on July 11, 1898, for the erection of an "over- head" bridge (with reference to the B. & O. R. R. Com- pany's Tracks and Water street). This contract was after- ward amended, and new specifications submitted which were adopted October o, 1898. The starting of the work was delayed, pending an agreement with the town council of Connellsville as to the place of landing. This was finally adjusted and an agreement entered into between the bridge company and the borough authorities on October 17, 1898. This is a lengthy document and covered all the points at difiference. The Bridge Company giving a bond in the sum of $50,000.00 for faithful performance. Within a few days from the signing of this agree- ment the work was started. This is a steel truss bridge of five spans with steel girders and beams upon which rests a floor of wood, treated with creosote and overlaid with paving brick. The structure was completed and accepted from the contractors at a meeting on November 29, 1899. The street railway entered into a contract with the bridge company for the privilege of crossing the bridge on October 18, 1900. The officers and managers of the company, since May, 1904. are as follows : President, P. S. Newmyer ; Treas- urer, E. T. Norton ; Managers, John D. Frisbee, Kell Long, Isaac F. Wilkey, Philip Wilkey and E. T. Norton. WATER. Out of the hills of West Virginia, crossing Maryland in a generally northern course, flows the Youghiogheny, a beautiful mountain stream of water, as pure and clear as PUBLIC UTILITIES 407 any in the world. Its whole life has been a struggle, for it has fought through mountain after mountain, bursting through the Laurel Ridge of the Alleghanies, crossing the Ligonier Valley and finally cutting Chestnut Ridge in twain, gives Connellsville what all towns and cities most need and few have, an abundant supply of good water — essential to the health of her people, to the success of her manufactories, to her future prosperity. Few people appreciate the temperamental and moral effect of a living stream on a communit}' — that it does have a beneficent and appreciably wholesome influence on human character can be proven in more ways than one. There are larger rivers than the Youghiogheny, but none more beautiful, none more incipientlv pure. The success of Connellsville's first enterprises were de- pendent upon this river, as the reputation of her world- famed coke (to a degree not generally accredited) is de- pendent upon it today. The very birth of the town grew out of the fact that the river was navigable from that point for the boats of the period, and formed an important link in shortening the way to the west. Alud Island would never have been conceived as a place for human habitation but for that fact, and Connellsville would not have been called into existence. May the wisdom of her people and of the state author- ities keep the Youghiogheny ever undefiled. The source of the domestic water supply of Connells- ville in its earlier historv was from a number of large springs or "fountains," as Zachariah Connell termed them in his charter, which gushed from the hills surrounding the town, and were so situated as to be convenient to most of its homes. The spring most drawn upon was located on the south side of East Main street, near Pittsburgh street on the Barnes property. It was one time called McClane's spring from the fact that Dr. Charles McClane (inventor of the celebrated "Liver Pills" and "Worm Specific") at one time lived nearby. The supply from this fountain was 408 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE pure, copious and unfailing. Water was piped to several parts of town from it, one large user being a brewery located in the rear of the present Frisbee property on Main street. Wooden pipes — hollowed out of logs — were used as conduits. Not many years ago some of them were dug up and found to be wonderfully well preserved. Until comparatively recent years a watering trough was maintained near the spring on Main street and it was a popular place for "watering horses and cattle." Another good spring was located at or near the corner of Pittsburgh street and Church Place, where Dr. New- comer's building now is — this spring was walled up and protected for many years. Still another bountiful supply of most excellent water welled up "right out of the solid rock" near the old stone quarry to the east of the Connellsville Distilling Company's plant. This was by some called Francis' spring and by others Lewis' spring. This water was also "piped" to a number of houses in the vicinity, and is still used by resi- dents in that neighborhood. The -proximity of this water supply accounted for the location close by of the old Snyder Brewery, which at one time flourished there. Before we leave this subject we wish to mention two wells that flourished with the springs and to a much more recent period. The Robbins well on South Prospect street was considered especially pure, and was used by druggists in their compounding. A well on Meadow lane, equipped with an enormous log pump built by Michael Trump, was open to the public and used for sometime after the coming of the Connellsville Water Company. The Connellsville Water Company was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania in 1883. The charter was secured and works were erected by W. S. Kuhn and asso- ciates of Pittsburgh. Later the charter and franchises were turned over to the American Water Works and Guarantee Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., of which Mr. Kuhn is vice president and treasurer. 410 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The first reservoir was built about two miles east of town, at the foot of the mountains on McCoy Run, and utilizes the water from McCoy's spring and a number of smaller mountain streams. McCoy's spring has been fa- mous for years for its pure, cold water and never varying supply. The capacity of this reservoir is 5,000,000 gallons. The rapid growth of Connellsville during 1884 made it necessary to provide a still larger storage basin. Con- sequently, about 1885, the Breakneck Reservoir was built, about four miles northeast of town, on the site of the old Breakneck furnace. This basin has a capacity of 20,000,000 gallons, and is supplied by several mountain streams. At each of these reservoirs a watchman is kept all the time, whose duty it is to patrol the streams to head- waters weekly — summer and winter, to prevent their pollu- tion. The company keep the grounds about both basins in a good condition all the time, and, as they are well laid out, present a beautiful appearance, set-off as they are by the surrounding mountains. On the Youghiogheny river near Blue Stone quarry, about two miles southeast of town and above all contam- ination, the company maintain a pump house and filtering plant with a capacity of 2,500,000 gallons of water every twenty-four hours. The equipment consists of three pumps of 2,500,000 gallon capacity each for the twenty-four hours, one of which pumps the water from the river to the filter, another forces the filtered water into the mains, while the third is held in reserve to provide for accident or other contingencies. All of the water taken from the river is carefully filtered, and once a month samples of water are sent to the company's chemist for analysis as a further precaution against contamination. The pumphouse and other buildings are surrounded by lawns and driveways, and the company invite inspection by the public. There are about forty miles of pipe and eighty-six fire hydrants in the town. The :i ^nation of the storage reservoirs in the moun- 412 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE tains high above town enables the company to maintain a high fire pressure all the time — no engines being required to throw the water over the highest buildings. The rates to manufacturing concerns as well as to private consumers are reasonable, and a never failing and abundant supply of clear, pure, wholesome water is always at hand for all purposes. The present officers of the company are J. H. Purdy, general manager, Pittsburgh, Pa. ; J. David Stillwagon, su- perintendent, local office, 118 North Pittsburgh street, Con- nellsville, Pa. The water company had one serious break a few years ago, when the excessive rains augmented by a cloud-burst carried away a part of the Breakneck Reservoir and flooded the valley to Mounts Creek. The damage was soon repaired and the dam re-inforced against like occurrences in the future. THE CONNELLSVILLE AND NEW KAVEN GAS AND WATER COMPANY was incorporated March 7, 1871. The incorporat- ators were Joseph Johnston, Christopher S. Sherrick, Ed- ward Dean, David Welsh, and Dr. Ellis Phillips. On the 23rd day of September, 1871, the stockholders met and elected from their number the following named board of managers : Joseph Johnston, Edward Dean, Ellis Phillips, David Welsh, John D. Frisbee and J. T. McCormick. Of these, Joseph Johnston was chosen president, John D. Fris- bee, treasurer ; J. T. McCormick, secretary. A committee was appointed in July, 1872, to secure a site for the erection of a gas works, and, on the 31st day of that month, reported the purchase of a lot from the Connellsville Mutual Building and Loan Association for the purpose. The location is on Mounts Creek, near its confluence with the Youghiogheny river. A contract was made with Connolly and Taylor of Pittsburgh to build the works com- PUBLIC UTILITIES 41J plete and lay all gas mains ready for use on or before No- vember 1st, 1871, for the sum of $22,000.00, which was done, and J. T. McCormick was appointed superintendent of the works. The company was prosperous for a time, but seems ever to have suffered from a lack of broad, liberal man- agement. Its managers, of whom there were many, never appear to have grasped the opportunities offered under its broad charter and liberal franchises — not only to further the interests of the company, but of the community as well — they seem on the contrary, to have been peculiarly short- sighted in their administration of its affairs. One of the objects in view in the formation of the company was to supply the borough with water, which is authorized in the charter; this privilege was bartered to the promoters of the Connellsville Water Company for a few thousand feet of new gas mains and a cash considera- tion entirely inadequate to the benefits conferred. Natural gas was brought into town ; then, electric light. The competition thus engendered and the improve- ments in the distribution of electric light finally brought matters to a point where the control of the company passed to the electric company and thence through it to the light- ing branch of the West Penn Railways and its allied com- panies. The company is* still in existence and is ofiicered by the West Penn Company. Hiram Austen has for twenty- three years been in charge of the works. The authorized capital was $35,000.00 consisting of 1,400 shares of $25.00 each. Of this amount 1,019 shares or only $25,475.00 was ever paid in. A copy of an agreement between the company and Connellsville Borough follows, — this contract was made in 1880 — an earlier one could not be found, although the streets were lighted by the gas company prior to the date of this asfreement : ■ CC't^^/i, ^S^*«r /X«L^^^ /^Si ^i; £in^iaCt!^t. a^ 7^ ^^^^^^ ^' »^p>/«^?*' ,»f i^^Z^ . ^^-^.^ <^t^j;^~^ i5>^ ^/l*;— ^^.^Xngf CL/''^--- ;% FACSIMII^E OK CONTRACT WITH THH CONNELLSVILLE, NEW HAVEN CAS & WATER COMPAQ PUBLIC UTILITIES 415 TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. Telegraphic communication was first established with Connellsville in the latter part of 18G4, when an office was opened by the Western Union, although the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad had a private service lor the opera- tion of their road at an earlier date. For a number of years the office was in the Smith House. Afterwards it occu- pied a room where the Yough National Bank now is, for quite a number of years^ — moving thence to the Borough building corner Main and Pittsburgh streets. It is now lo- cated opposite the Hotel Marietta in the old J. D. Still- wagon house (now the property of the Second National Bank). Miss Cora B. Anthony is in charge. An office was established by the Postal Telegraph Cable Company for the service of Connellsville in April, 1899. It first occupied a room on West Main street — thence it was moved to Brimstone corner. It is now located in the Kail property on West Main street. The office is now in charge of Mrs. Cree Horner. THE ELECTRIC COMPANY. Connellsville had had a gas plant since 1871, but, as its lines were not sufficiently extended, the demand for a better and farther reaching lighting system became more and more urgent upon those citizens not within the circle of illumination. In the fall of 1889, John L. Gans and E. T. Norton started a subscription paper which culminated in the incorporation of a company under Pennsylvania laws with a capital stock of $30,000.00 (shares $100 each) under the name of "The Electric Company." A remarkable fact about this company (when con- sidered in the light of present-day methods) is. that the stock was fully paid in in cash before the work of con- struction was begun. The charter was dated November 13, 1889, and the first officers and directors were : John D. Frisbee, presi- dent; J. M. Reid, Charles Davidson, J. S. McCaleb, ElHs 416 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Phillips, John L. Gans. secretary, and E. T. Norton, treas- rrer. A contract was entered into with the Keystone Con- struction Company of Pittsburgh for a full Westinghouse equipment, steam and electric. It consisted of an arc-light generator with a capacity of 50 lights, two alternating cur- rent incandescent generators with a capacity of 750 sixteen, candle power lamps each. One generator was held in re- serve as the company had consumers promised for only 700 sixteen candle power lights. The steam plant con- sisted of one forty horse power Westinghouse simple engine and two compound engines (seventy-five horse power each) of the same make, with boiler capacitv sufifi- cient to take care of the maximum loads . All the necessary switchboards and apparatus appertaining thereto was in- cluded with sufficient converter capacity to provide for the initial installation. Connellsville borough contracted for twenty-eight arc lights and' sixteen incandescent series lamps — a contract was made with New Haven Borough for seven arc and two series lamps. The power house was situated at the corner of Grape and Mountain alleys, on land purchased from H. P. Sny- der and now occupied by the Connellsville Distilling Com- pany. The building was a substantial brick, and the foun- dations for the machinery were put in in the most approved manner. Cedar poles were used for transmission lines, which were exceptionally well installed. The plant was a good orie in every respect, as evidenced by the fact that for the thirteen years of its existence the incandescent system was out not more than ten minutes on three occasions, and the arc lights were out only three or four nights, for which heavy storms were responsible. Work was commenced on the plant about November 1st, 1889, and the lights turned on February 9th, 1890. W. A. Bishop was made superintendent in the fall of 1891. The plant grew steadily till in 1904 it had a capa- PUBLIC UTILITIES 417 city of some 8,000 incandescent sixteen candle power lights and about 14,000 wired up. The meter system was in- stalled shortly after the plant began operation, which ac- counts for the large number of lights connected with its lines in excess of its capacity. The arc lighting had grown in the rneantime to a capacity of 150 lamps with about 100 lamps in service. Parties interested in the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connellsville Railway Company bought out the local owners June 2, 1902, at which time the officers and directors were J. M. Reid, president; E. T. Norton, secretary and treas- urer; Charles Davidson, John D. Frisbee and Kell Long. A list of the original stockholders follows with the number of shares held by each : Name. Shares. Charles Davidson Twenty J. S. McCaleb Fifty Kell Long Ten R. S. Paine Ten Eugene T. Norton Ten John D. Frisbee Twenty-five H. C. Huston Five H. P. Snyder Five H. S. Spear One T. H. White Fifteen Chas. H. Ways Two J. M. Reid Twenty H. C. McCormick One Ellis Phillips Ten James Allen Ten George A. Torrence Ten W. A. McHugh Five W. S. Hood Two A. W. Hood Two B. F. Boyts Five J. A. Zimmerman P"'ive A. W. Bishop Two 20) 50) 10) 10) 10) 25) ■5) 5) 1) 15) 2) 20) 1) 10) 10) 10) ^) 2) 3) 5) 5) 2) 418 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Name. P. Berryhill One F. Norcross One F. Everett Two Buttermore One Shares. 1) 1) 3) 1) H. J- D. S. G. R. Long Ten G. F. Pritchard One ( 1) John Davidson Three (3) J. R. Davidson Three (3) J. C. Sloan Three (3) C. M. Miller Three ( 3) I. C. Smutz One (1) T. F. Mahon Two ( 2) John Jay Gregg One (1) Thomas Adams Five ( 5 ) W. H. Thomas Two (3) W. H. Soisson Two ( 2) John F. McClelland Two ( 2) John Henry Two ( 2) J. M. Kurtz Two ( 3) S. E. Shepp Two (3) John Dean Three ( 3) A. W. Bauman Two (3) John A. Guiler One ( 1) J. C. Munson Ten . (10) John B. Marietta One ( 1) Samuel Heffly Two (3) George W. Stauffer Two (3) John L. Gans Five ( 5 ) On December 5, 1904, the company was merged into the West Penn Electric Company, an auxiliary of the West Penn Railways Company. The old power house was abandoned — current being taken from the large station of the Railways Company described elsewhere in this history. WEST PENN ELECTRIC COMPANY. The acts of the Legislature of Pennsylvania providing PUBLIC UTILITIES 419 for the incorporation of certain companies do not make it legally possible to conduct the electric lighting business under a street railway charter. That income and profit from its surplus power might be properly realized the West Penn Railways Company organized December 5, 1904, the West Penn Electric Company with a capital stock of $500,- 000.00 and the following officers and directors: W. S. Kuhn, president; J. B. Van Wagener, vice president; J. H. Purdy, secretary; J. F. Cockburn, treasurer and Jerome Hill, Jr. C. W. Scheck is now secretary and J. B. Van Wagener vice president and treasurer — no other changes are noted in the organization. This company now practically controls the electric lighting and power business of Fayette and Westmoreland counties. Among the more important plants operated by it are ones at Connellsville and New Haven, Uniontown, Scottdale, Greensburg, Mt. Pleasant, Dawson and a num- ber of smaller installations and much isolated business trib- utary to its lines. THE YOUGH LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY. Organized primarily to furnish power to the Connells- ville Suburban Street Railway Company and light to South Connellsville, this company was incorporated April 26. 1899, with $15,000.00 capital (shares $30.00 each) and the fol- lowing directors and officers: Joseph Soisson, president; John D. Frisbee, Joseph D. Madigan, W. A. Davidson, John F. Soisson, George J. Humbert and S. R. Slaymaker. R. W. Soisson as secretary and treasurer. Shortly after the erection of the plant a franchise was secured from Connellsville Borough, and the lines extended over a part of the town for an incandescent lighting service, in competition with the Electric Company. Its power house was located at South Connellsville. This company is still 420 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE in existence although it was sold early in 1903 to interests at present identified with the West Penn Electric Com- pany. CONNELLSVILLE. NEW HAVEN AND LEISEN- RLNG STREET RAILWAY COMPANY. In the summer and fall of 1890, John K. Ewing, Jr., secured the necessary rights of way for an electric street railway from Connellsville to Leisenring, Pa. On account of the inability of the company to secure the right to cross the suspension bridge (which was not considered strong enough to carry such heavy traffic) the line was built from New Haven to Leisenring under a charter from the state of Pennsylvania dated May 9, 1891. The authorized capi- tal was $100,000.00 divided into 2,000 shares of the par value of $50.00 each; $70,000.00 of which was paid in and bonds issued for $30,000.00. The officers and directors were John D. Frisbee, presi- dent ; Joseph Soisson, A. D. Boyd, John K. Ewing, Na- thaniel Ewing, John K. Ewing, Jr., (who was also secre- tary), and E. T. Norton, treasurer. John L. Gans was superintendent and looked after the construction of the road, which was completed October 31, 1891. The first car was run on the afternoon of that day. The car was crowded, for many were drawn out of curiosity to see the operation of the first "trolley" in Fayette county. It was in charge of a representative of the General Electric Com- pany, which had furnished and installed the electrical and power equipment of the road. The run out to Leisenring was very successful, on the return trip, however, while coming down the hill into New Haven the motorman lost control of the car. He put on the brakes, but the car slid and struck a passing freight train at the crossing of the South West Pennsylvania Rail- road's "Possum Run" branch. The car struck with such violence that it was thrown back and turned clear around ; A DECADE ON THE WEST PENN. SYSTEM 422 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE the rear end of the car was demolished. The motorman and two or three others on the front platform jmnped — escaping unhurt, but a man and a boy on the rear plat- form were thrown under the wheels of the passing train — the man being killed and the boy losing a leg. The other occupants of the car came out unhurt excepting slight in- juries from broken glass, etc., sustained by three or four, and the general shaking up and fright given. This was a serious blow to the commercial and finan- cial success of the road, and plans were at once laid to avoid this dangerous grade, which was accomplished, about a year and a half later, by the purchase of a private right of way through the Hogg and Banning properties and building about one half mile of track. About the same time this change was being made an extension was built westward from Leisenring to Graham's Crossing, about a mile and a quarter nearer Leisenring No. 3 or Monarch. The road was operated under practically the same man- agement for nine years until December 31, 1900, when it was merged into the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connells- ville Railway Company. Prior to this merger, however, the line had been oper- ated for a short time by the Mr. Pleasant, Scottdale and Connellsville Electric Street Railway Company, and later by the Connellsville and Uniontown Railway Company — both of these companies being afterwards absorbed by the Pitts- burgh, McKeesport and Connellsville Railway Company, which in turn was merged into the West Penn Interurban Railway Company. The Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connellsville Railway Company was capitalized at $3,500,000.00 stock and $3,- 500,000.00 in 5 per cent bonds — it was incorporated under Pennsylvania laws, December 31, 1900. The project was conceived by W. W. Staub, a telegraph operator of Pitts- burgh, who proposed to build a line covering the entire Con- nellsville Coke Region and connecting it with Pittsburg. 424 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The first step was the purchase of the Connehsville, New Haven and Leisenring Railway Company and was carried through successfuhy b}' enhsting W. H. Graham as presi- dent and M. K. Salsbury, secretary (both Pittsburgh men) who, by buying other small lines through the district to be covered, evolved what is now the WEST PENN RAILWAYS COMPANY. A Pennsylvania corporation with an authorized capital stock of $6,000,000.00 ($3,250,000.00, common stock and $2,750,000.00 of 5 per cent, non-cumulative preferred stock) and $6,000,000.00 in five per cent bonds of which $3,026,000.00 are outstanding. The officers of the com- pany are E. C. Converse, chairman of board; W. S. Kuhn, president ; J. S. Kuhn, vice president ; R. P. Watt, secre- tary; J. B. Van Wagener. treasurer. Directors: E. C. Converse, W. S. Kuhn, R. P. Watt, J. B. Van Wagener, John E. Borne, W. H. Graham, W. A. Shaw, C. A. Painter and A. J. Retzki. This company was incorporated February 19, 1904, and now traverses the most remote parts of the "Coke county." The manager is W. E. Moore, and the transportation de- partment is directly under the care of J. W. Brown. A power house costing over $1,000,000.00 is situated a little south of Connellsville on the Youghiogheny river. This plant is equipped in the most modern manner and capable of developing 10,000 horse power to be increased within a few months to 15,000 horse power, the work be- ing now under way. The plant has among other up-to-date machinery three steam turbines of 1,000 K. W. capacity each, and another is now being erected to have a capacity greater than the three combined or 3,250 K. W. This plant is furnishing light and power to a district with a radius of over fifty miles, throughout the counties of Fayette and Westmoreland and reaching into Allegheny and Washing- ton counties. The company is already doubling its capa- i26 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE city, and it will be only a short time until this must be vastly increased for the demand for electric power alone is making tremendous strides. A high potential current is delivered at convenient points along the line, and by the use of rotary or "step-down" transformers is converted to the proper voltage. Its car barns and repair shops are located near New Haven. Necessarily there are car barns at other points on the line, but the largest and most important are located here as well as the general offices of the company, which are in the Title & Trust Building, Connellsville. The road-bed and overhead work (trolley lines, feed lines, etc.,) are substantial and well built. Good big cars are used, and they are equipped with motors capable of making excellent time under all conditions. There are one hundred and twenty-five miles of track in the system, and this bids fair to be largely increased within a short time, as a number of extensions are under way and projected. The link connecting McKeesport and Greensburg will alone add quite a mileage, and upon its completion make a continuous line from Pittsburgh to the "Klondike" coal field of southern Fayette county. Main or Spring street of Zachariah Connell's time, and indeed for many years thereafter, would never have been conceived as the possible highway of such an immense traffic as is now half-hourly carried up and down the hill by the West Penn Railways Company, especially when it is remembered that a comparatively few years ago the grade was worse than that of Apple street today — the first "hump" taken off was as high as the second floor of the present Odd Fellows' Hall — a grade which would cer- tainly be discouraging to even the modern "trolley." CONNELLSVILLE SUBURBAN STREET RAILWAY COMPANY. A charter was granted by the state of Pennsylvania PUBLIC UTILITIES 437 to this company on September 15, 1896. The capital stock was $25,000.00, shares $50.00 each. The officers and directors were : S. R. Slaymaker, president ; Joseph Soisson, John D. Frisbee, P. S. New- myer, John F. Soisson, John F. Barry, R. W. Soisson, sec- retary and treasurer. It was built to take care of the travel between Connellsville and South Connellsville and extended from Main street Connellsville via Arch, Green and Race streets to Soisson Park, South Connellsville. When it was first started the power was bought from the Connellsville, New Haven and Leisenring Street Rail- way Company. Later those interested started a light and power company as a separate proposition and the necess- ary current for the operation of the railway was purchased from it. This company was merged on April 14, 1905, with the West Penn Interurban Railway Company at the time the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connellsville Street Railway Company was merged into that corporation and is now operated, as is the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connells- ville Street Railway by the West Penn Railway Company. TELEPHONES. About four-score years after the incorporation of Con- nellsville Borough, the Connellsville Machine and Car Company, whose shops were at "Sodom" and office near the "B. & O. depot" installed for their convenience a tele- phone service under license of the "Bell Company." About the same time Kell Long, with a flouring mill on the New Haven side of the river and a warehouse and store room near the "South West" Station in Connellsville, put in a like service with a private pole line about three- quarters of a mile in length. A great deal of curiosity and interest was aroused amongst the younger generation of Connellsville through the establishment of these lines, and in fact the older folks were not averse to trying the telephone when opportunity 4^8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE offered to learn if you could hear "plainly and distinctly over it" and if you could tell who was speaking. Only a little more than twenty years have gone by, and the telephone is so much a thing of every day necess- ity that every little village and hamlet throughout the countr}', isolated farm houses and all sorts of out-of-the way places have a service capable of putting them in com- munication not only with the larger towns and places of their neighborhood but with the more remote cities and districts as well. It is another of the great aids to civiliza- tion, so new and yet so common, that we only wonder when we do not find a transmitter and receiver ready to our hand. THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND PRINTING TELE- GRAPH COMPANY licensed, by the owners of the "Bell Telephone." established an exchange in Connellsville in 1888. The or- ganization of the head office was still in its infancy, and they had few exchanges outside of Pittsburgh and Allegheny county. It was through the efforts of A. C. Gray, chief operator of Pittsburgh and J. S. AlcCaleb, a banker and foreign exchange dealer of Connellsville, that the exchange at the latter place was established. Operations were begun with about ten subscribers, with Miss Laura Everett, now Mrs. Martin Meagher as local manager, operator, collector, and accountant. Mrs. Meagher had a great many inter- esting experiences growing out of the ignorance of the peo- ple as to the uses and possibilities of the telephone in every day life, and tells many amusing stories of some of the earlier and more unsophisticated patrons. The growth of the business from 1888 until 1895 was very slow on account of the rates then charged and also for the reasons that the convenience and economy of the telephone were not yet fully appreciated. In 1896 the very high royalties paid to the Bell Company were reduced, and in consequence the local charge for service was reduced PUBLIC UTILITIES 429 almost 50 per cent and an active campaign started to in- crease the number of subscribers, which soon resulted in quadrupling the business of the exchange. The first competition was met with about 1896, but competition in the telephone business, as in many other lines of trade, proved a benefit to the company already es- tablished, by educating the public in the many uses of the telephone and increasing its need. Every new subscriber secured made the service more desirable and in many cases absolutely necessary to some one else, so that there are today more than 800 subscribers connected with the Connellsville exchange. The Connellsville branch is managed by Clarence Gib- son with headquarters at Uniontown, Pa., under him at Connellsville are fifteen operators, two clerks and collect- ors, two solicitors, a wire chief and three regular linemen. MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIR- GINIA TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, or as commonly called the Tri-State Telephone Com- pany. This company was incorporated November 12, 1897, by Milton I. Baird, et al., of Pittsburgh, who thereupon constructed a small telephone system with Connellsville as the central point. They built a line to Uniontown and established an exchange there ; another to Normalville, where it branched, one part going to Indian Head, the other to Ohiopyle, at which latter place a small switchboard was installed. A line was con- structed to Scottdale, an exchange established there ; a line running thence to Alverton and Acme, near Mr. Pleasant. From Uniontown they secured the Fayette Gas Company line to Masontown, where a small exchange was estab- lished ; they also bought the Farmington Telephone Com- pany, which was operating a line from Uniontown to Farm- ington. An exchange was also established and maintained at Dunbar. 430 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE At these various places the company at its most pros- perous period operated between 500 and 600 telephones, with results very beneficial to the patrons of the telephone service in general, for rates were very materially reduced and the service much improved all around. In the latter part of 1899, a deal was consummated whereby the ownership of a controlling interest in this company was transferred to New York people who then had in contemplation extensive plans as to the organization of a telephone system to operate between Chicago and Boston in general opposition to the "Bell Company." Some of their plans miscarried and they were obliged to abandon a part of their scheme and confine it to the development of their plants in New York and Boston and intermediate cities. As a consequence, instead of their being any exten- sive improvements in the service of this company, it was grossly neglected and the popular impression seemed to prevail that it had passed into hands friendly to the oppo- sition. This belief was strengthened early in 1903 by the Bell Company giving notice of some distasteful regulations they proposed enforcing such as reducing the free terri- tory of all subscribers to the immediate exchange and in- creasing the telephone rental. The citizens of the com- munities affected became considerably exercised over these conditions, and as a consequence determined to have relief. Ira E. Partridge of Uniontown learned that the New York people still owned a controlling interest in the stock of the Tri-State Company, and with the assistance of other Fayette county citizens purchased their holdings, and at once, upon reorganization of the company, started about rehabilitating it. At this time the company owned about three miles of cable, three hundred miles of wire, and had installed and in use between 300 and 400 telephones. A number of new exchanges have been established and lines extended until connections have been made through other systems with points all over Fayette, Green, West- moreland, Washington, Somerset and surrounding coun- PUBLIC UTILITIES 431 ties ; also with Fairmont and many other towns of West Virginia ; Cumberland, Maryland ; Pittsburgh and a num- ber of places in eastern Ohio. It now has over twenty miles of cable, 1,800 miles of wire and 150 miles of pole line with about 3,500 telephones in service. Of these tele- phones 1,025 are installed in Connellsville and New Haven — a material increase as at the time the present manage- ment assumed charge of the company there were only 260 subscribers in Connellsville. The service is being constantly improved and the most up-to-date equipment installed throughout. All of the new switchboards have a capacity largely in excess of present needs, so that future growth is provided for in advance. The aim of the present management is to make the Tri- State a first-class local service and to confine its operations to Fayette county. The present officers and directors are: R. E. Umbel, president; John M. Core, secretary; F. H. Rosboro, treas- urer, Samuel M. Graham, Frank M. Semans, James M. Reid, Nathaniel Ewing, Charles F. Kefover, Robert F. Hopwood, A. C. Sherrard, James C. Moore. THE SOUTH WEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY. A number of Pittsburgh and Greensburg capitalists formed this company for the purpose of disposing of the natural gas output of the Grapeville field, through a num- ber of the towns of the southwestern part of the state. A franchise was secured to occupy with its pipe lines the streets of Connellsville sometime in 1886. E. E. Crocker had charge of the construction work and was general su- perintendent of the company with headquarters in Connells- ville. J. M. West was the office man at Connellsville — succeeded by P. B. Malone. The office was located in what is now the first floor of the Elk's home. The work was pushed rapidly to completion and in a short time the gas was turned into the mains. The natural gas supply was thought at that time to be inexhaustible, therefore the pro- 4-33 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE duct was sold by contract, and if the house got too hot for the user he never thought of turning off the gas — he raised the window instead, and contributed his part towards heating "all out doors" — the price was the same ! Connellsville contracted for the lighting of the town with a number of flambeaux — in the light of modern ex- perience it is said that one of these lights wasted enough gas to heat two or three ordinary houses for the same time. They were seldom turned out — night or day — as it was too much trouble to light them. This unpardonable waste eventually exhausted the sup- ply, and Connellsville faced the condition of being deprived of one of the greatest conveniences and blessmgs of modtrn life. This continued for about two years — the South West Natural Gas Company having meantime sold its pipe line from Connellsville to Uniontown to the Redstone Water Company to be used as a water line for the Oliver Coke Works at Redstone Junction. THE FAYETTE FUEL GAS COMPANY then entered the field and Connellsville was supplied on a meter basis. This corporation was composed chiefly of Uniontown people of whom J. K. Ewing, Jr., was the lead- ing spirit, and continued the business for a number of years — undergoing a reorganization with slight change of name to the FAYETTE GAS-FUEL COMPANY. In the summer of 1900 this company was absorbed by the Fayette County Gas Company, which has been furnish- ing a good supply of gas since. Its wells are located in Southern Fayette and Green counties, Pennsylvania and in West Virginia. Every efifort is made to husband the output of its wells, and the use of gas as a domestic fuel encouraged rather than for manufacturing purposes. J. W. Reeser is the Connellsville representative of the company. CHAPTER XII. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. CARNEGIE FREE LIBRARY. In this day of great business enterprises, the trained thinker is a necessity. The man who can think clearly and continuously in Greek. Latin, history or literature can apply the same mental powers to methods of business, whether in its planning and financiering, or in its production and distribution. This plan of training we call education. This training can be obtained in our schools, in our libraries, or, perhaps, in the active business of life. In the three great professions of life, college training is an absolute necessity. Without it, a man in these pro- fessions, is only a weakling and handicapped for life. Those who obtain their training in the business world, have first to meet with many failures and disappointments, as is shown by the 95 per cent of failures in all classes of busi- ness. This large per cent of failures is due almost entirely to the one fact, they are not trained thinkers. Many men have not had the advantages to be obtained at school and, moreover, have passed the school age. To those who have mapped out a business course for them- selves and who do not wish to add to the great per cent of failures, there is but one avenue of self-improvement left open, namely, the library, or, the education to be obtained from books. The founder of this institution obtained his business education from a small library of 400 volumes opened to him free once a week. On account of the great benefit derived from this small collection of books, he resolved to use a large part of his great fortune to benefit others in a like manner. 433 434 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Education in the public schools today is not only free but it is also compulsory. The most valuable accessory to the public school is the library, which is not only an aid to the pupil while in school, but furnishes a post-graduate course for him after leaving school. The influence of the library for good is always marked. Its whole tendency is to uplift and benefit, and every true teacher keenly appreciates the value of a public library as a public educator. If Connellsville wishes to be prosperous in years to come, it will become so in proportion as it causes its edu- cational institutions to prosper and grow. Education can make this community one of the greatest in this country and every cent contributed toward that object will help to make more prosperous business men and better citizens. In the same year that this Borough was chartered, on January 38, 1800, a small group of men met in the log school house and organized a debating club called the "Polemic Society." Its constitution would be a model for this day. It was signed by thirteen men as follows : George Mathiot, John B. Trevor, Peter Bass, William Davies, Stewart H. Whitehill, Petty Engle, David Barnes, Wm. McCormick, John Mefford, Jacob D. Mathiot, Baltzer Sni- der, David Melick and John Mahaffy. The questions de- bated at the first meeting were, first : "Was it good policy in our government to make the purchase of Louisiana?" and "Ought the Governor of any state to fill all the offices under his jurisdiction with men of his own political principles?" At a later meeting a motion was passed that all books owned by the different members should be loaned to those who were appointed to debate. This is the first historical mention of the free interchange of books in Con- nellsville. Later a small circulating library of about 400 volumes was established in Connellsville by P. J. Collins. J. C. Moore was elected librarian and the books were circulated from his drug store. The selection of books was not very satisfac- PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 435 tory and the stockholders soon abandoned their use. By vote of the stockholders, this lot of books was donated to the Cottage State Hospital on June 9th, 1893, and they are to be found today on the shelves of the Hospital library. Mr. Carnegie's policy of establishing free public libra- ries becoming known, it was only natural that the public spirited citizens of Connellsville should meet together and assume that their petition for a library would receive fa- vorable consideration from one who had made many mil- lions out of his investments in Connellsville coal. But every enterprise must have a leader and that bur- den rested upon the shoulders of Dr. J. C. McClenathan.^ He visited a number of the leading citizens and was assured of their interest in the project. He then took up the mat- ter with the different members of the Town Council. Af- ter securing their promise of co-operation, the following resolutions were passed on April 14, 1899, at a special meeting of council called for the purpose of considering the library proposition. WHEREAS, In this day of educational progress, . Connellsville is sadly lacking in one of the essential re- quisites of enlightenment, namely, a public library, there being at present no collection of books or periodicals of any kind accessible to our reading public; and, WHEREAS, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, the great Amer- ican manufacturer and philanthropist, has caused to be built in different localities magnificent libraries, which he has generously endowed and dedicated to the free use of the public of the general dissemination of knowledge, to the worthy and patriotic end that the people may become wiser and better citizens ; and WHEREAS, Mr. Andrew Carnegie is a leading stock- holder in the H. C. Frick Coke Company, which company employs, in the section of which Connellsville is the nat- ural commercial and gregarious center, thousands of peo- ple who will be afforded an opportunity to better their con- dition and the condition of their children by the location in their midst of a public library ; and 436 CENTENNIAL HISTUIY OF CONNELLSVILLE WHEREAS, It has been suggested by leading citi- zens of Connellsville that the Burgess and Town Council take this matter up in their official capacity and present it to Mr. Carnegie with a request for its favorable consid- eration, therefore be it RESOLVED, That our earnest co-operation and hearty support is extended to the movement to procure a Carnegie Library at Connellsville, and, in the event of a favorable consideration of the matter by Mr. Carnegie, the Borough's faith is hereby pledged to furnish a proper site for the library, and to guarantee its maintenance in case of the failure of any endowment which the founder may make toward its support. RESOLVED, That the President appoint a committee to act in conjunction with the Burgess and Town Council in carrying these resolutions into effect. Clair Stillwagon, President. Attest : George B. Brown, Clerk. Approved this loth day of April, 1899. J. S. Bryner, Burgess. The resolutions were adopted and the President was instructed to appoint a committee to act in accordance therewith. The President appointed the following committee : L. F. Ruth, L C. Smutz, E. Dunn, H. Coll, J. D. Frisbee, B. F. Boyts, H. P. Snyder, G. J. Humbert, H. C. Huston, Rev. Dr. T. S. Cartright, Chas. Davidson, E. C. Higbee, Esq., J. M. Raid, Dr. J. C. McClenathan, Rev. W. A. Edie, H. P. Berryhill, Rev. E. B. Burgess, C. W. Mauk, Rev. G. W. Morris, J. S. Brvner, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 437 Rev. John Burns, John Soisson, Clair Stillwagon, J as. C. Munson, R. Marietta, J. S. Norris, J. D. Wilson, H. M. Kerr, J. T. McCormick, Rev. J. B. Risk. Geo. A. Markle, This meeting of the Town Council marked the begin- ning of a new era in Connellsville. These councilmen builded better than they thought, when they laid the foun- dation of a popular educational institution to create better citizens. The city and the state furnish free education to the masses, even compelling them to accept such instruc- tion as will better their situation in life, and prepare them to take an intelligent part in the conduct of our govern- ment. This wise policy which opens the doors of our free schools to the children to teach them to read suggests the plan be completed by furnishing them what they should read. The citizens committee appointed by council at this meeting to formulate a proposition to submit to Mr. Car- negie met on the following Tuesday evening in old City Hall. This committee organized by electing Dr. J. C. Mc- Clenathan, president, and Aloysius Coll, secretary. This was an open meeting and was largely attended by the citi- zens of the town, each one expressing his own individual opinion of what was best to be done. After a full and free discussion, it was decided to appoint a committee of two to write to Mr. Andrew Car- negie, expressing their views and requesting his assistance. Dr. J. C. McClenathan and Dr. T. S. Cartwright were ap- pointed to perform this duty. On April 19th, 1899, a letter was mailed to Mr. Car- negie expressing the sentiments of the meeting and appeal- ing to him for assistance. Some fear was at once ex- pressed that we were too late in making our wants known, as Mr. Carnegie was to sail for Europe in a few days. An- other public meeting was held on Friday evening and ar- 438 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE rangements were completed for sending a committee di- rectly to Mr. Carnegie by Monday evening, in case no word should be received from him by that time. On Monday, April 24th, 1899, a letter was received by Dr. J. C. McClenathan from Mr. Carnegie which relieved the committee of the necessity of making the trip to New York. Results came very quickly from the organized ef- forts of the previous week and caused universal rejoicing in the aquisition of so noble and magnificent a gift from Mr. Carnegie. The following is a copy of the letter re- ceived : NEW YORK, N. Y., April 22nd, 1899. Dr. J. C. McClenathan, Connellsville, Pa. Dear Sir: — In reply to yours of the 19th, I will be pleased to give $50,000.00 for the desired library building, provided a suitable site is furnished and the council agrees to grant a fund annually to maintain and operate the library. I am sending a copy of this to President Frew of the Insti- tute at Pittsburgh with whom you can communicate, as I sail next week. Wishing you success in your efforts. Yours very truly, ANDREW CARNEGIE. A general meeting was called by the chairman for Monday evening, April 24 in the old City Hall. The hall was well filled, the meeting taking the form of a jubilee to return thanks to Mr. Andrew Carnegie. A committee was appointed to send the glad news of our rejoicing and our thanks to Mr. Carnegie. On Tuesday morning the committee, consisting of H. P. Snyder, J. B. Risk and T. S. Cartwright, wired the fol- lowing resolutions : "At a full meeting of our general committee, held last evening, the following minutes were adopted, and, by order of the meeting, are now sent to you : First. — The meeting gratefully appreciates your gen- erous offer to give $50,000 toward the establishment of a free library for the Connellsville coke region. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 439 Second. — The meeting, while assuring you of its pro- found gratitude and joy, would also guarantee compliance with your stipulated conditions for a suitable site and ade- quate support. Third. — The meeting records its conviction that your philanthropic example will have a beneficial influence on public sentiment and feeling, while the library itself will aid greatly in the work of social reform, and intellectual and religious progress. Fourth. — The meeting thanks you publicly for your noble gift, and hopes for increasing success in your gigantic undertakings, and wishes bon voyage for you and your family." At the meeting the chairman was directed to appoint a committee of five to take general charge of the library work. A committee of two was appointed to visit Mr. W. N. Frew to ascertain what requirements would be nec- essary to obtain the appropriation. The School Board, Town Council and the general Li- brary Committee met on the following Tuesdav evening in joint session in the Council Chamber. Secretary Welsh reported for the School Board how that body could con- demn the old grave yard. Solicitor Higbee stated how the Town Council could obtain possession of the same grounds, but stated that, in his opinion, it would be better for the School Board to proceed with the condemnation of the old cemetery. The library committee at once agreed with the Town Council and the School Board that the proper location for the proposed new library building was the old cemetery. As a result of this meeting, the School Board was in- structed to proceed to condemn the old ''Council Grave Yard" for a site for the library building. Dr. T. S. Cart- wright and Dr. J. C. McClenathan in a few days visited Mr. W. N. Frew, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Institute. Mr. Frew stated that a site must be 440 CENTENNIAL ^HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE first obtained and a fund of $4,000.00 to $5,000.00 be annu- ally guaranteed by the Town Council. On August 11th, the School Board elected an attorney for the ensuing year and instructed him to proceed with the work of condemning the cemetery for library purposes. The members of the school board for this year were Dr. S. D. Woods, W. S. Schenck, F. E. Markell, J. S. Norris, H. S. Howard and J. C. McClenathan. It required almost one year for the school board to condemn the ground and remove the bodies from the old cemetery. They had first to ask the court to condemn the grounds, then appoint a jury to assess the damages and wait for an- other session of court to have this act confirmed. A lot in the Chestnut Hill cemetery was purchased, an order se- cured from the court to move the bodies, which order had to be properly advertised and confirmed before any work could be begun. After all this work was completed, the auditors of the Borough at first refused to allow this expense, and sur- charged the treasurer, W. S. Schenck with the amount of money expended, which amounted to about $3,000.00. x\fter the misrepresentations which had been made to the auditors had been corrected and the facts made clear to them, two members of the auditing board, L. A. How- ard and J. J. Donnelly made and signed an amended report granting this expense, on November 16, 1900. Thus ended, in failure, the first attempt to injure the library cause. On April 2d, 1900, the School Board passed a resolu- tion to assess a one mill tax for the maintenance of the library as follows : Be it resolved by the Board of School Directors of Connellsville Borough : First. — On condition that Mr. Andrew Carnegie build and erect on said land, a suitable library building, costing at least the sum of fifty thousand dollars, the lot. lately known as the Council grave yard, be donated or held under PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 441 such arrangements as may hereafter be agreed upon by the board and Mr. Carnegie. Second. — That the tax of one mill upon the assessed valuation of the district be levied and collected for this year in the same manner as other taxes are by law collected to be paid over monthly to the trustees aforesaid for the sup- port and maintenance of said library. Third. — That it is the sentiment of the board that the school district should hereafter regularly and annually con- tribute (not to exceed one mill) to the support of said li- brary. Fourth. — That the representative of Mr. Carnegie be invited to meet with the board or a committee appointed by the board at such time and place as may be convenient, to arrange upon a plan for the control and management of the proposed library, which will be satisfactory to both and agreeable to law. At the next meeting of the school board, on April 9th, 1900, three of its members were elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Library, as follows : Dr. S. D. Woods, W. S. Schenck and H. S. Howard. The selection of the beautiful location which the library building now occupies, is due chiefly to the efforts of the members of the school board who were serving at tliat time. When the members of the general committee visited Mr. Frew, he was asked his opinion of the best method of selecting a board of trustees for the library. He emphati- cally stated his opinion that we should follow Mr. Carnegie's idea and select one half the board as a permanent body and divide the other members equally between the school board and the Town Council, as the Institute Board of Pittsburgh had been formed. Mr. C. C. Mellor, chairman of the art committee, very positively endorsed the same plan. This plan was then adopted for Connellsville, Mr. Car- negie appointed six citizens of the Borough, who had been recommended by Mr. Frew, as permanent members of the 443, CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Board of Trustees for the library. This committee of six members was at once approved by the Town Council at a regular meeting" held April 3nd, 1900, as follows: On motion of Marcus Marietta, seconded by Jacob Brickman, the following named persons selected by Mr. Carnegie as permanent trustees for the Carnegie Free Library be approved: E. Dunn. Dr. J. C. McClenathan, Rockwell Marietta. L. F". Ruth, H. P. Snyder and W. H. Hugus. At a regular meeting of council held April 16th, 1900, the following resolution was passed : A committee on public library appeared before coun- cil asking the council to set aside one mill of the taxation of the Borough for 1900, and on motion of Jacob Brick- man, seconded by L. E. Bishop, the following resolution was adopted : Resolved: That we appropriate one mill of the money collected and paid to the Borough treasurer, beginning with the year nineteen hundred (1900), to be paid to the treas- urer of the Carnegie Free Library to be used for the annual maintenance thereof. On April 10th, 1900, the six permanent members, the three members appointed by the school board and the three members selected by the council, making twelve members in all, met in the Council Chamber to organize. The fol- lowing officers were elected: President, Dr. J. C. McClen- athan ; Vice President, Rockwell Marietta ; Secretary, H. P. Snyder, and Treasurer, L. F. Ruth. On April 18th, 1900, the following petition was pre- pared by some of the opponents of the library and addressed to Mr. Carnegie : "Dear Sir : — In order to apprise you of the state of public sentiment in reference to your proposition to give $50,000.00 toward the erection of a public library in Con- nellsville. Pa., provided a site be donated, and provision be made to maintain it, we, the undersigned citizens and tax- payers of the Borough, while appreciating the generosity PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 443 of your offer, would respectfully enter out protest against burdening the town with a debt that it can ill afford to incur under existing conditions. The parties having the matter in charge have neither subscribed anything themselves, nor do they intend*to raise the necessary funds by voluntary donations, but propose to perpetually obligate the Borough corporation for main- tenance by taxation and to invite litigation from the original proprietors of the town, for the library site, which was deeded to the Borough for the purpose of a cemetery. In order to raise the necessary amount for the main- tenance of the library, it will require a two mill tax on the present valuation of the property of the Borough, while the town is in sad need of sanitary improvements, being unsewered, and having but a small proportion of the streets paved. Sewers must be provided in the near future and the town is already in debt almost to the legal limit, yet the promoters of the library scheme propose to obligate the town to far more than the legal limit of indebtedness. We are persuaded, from a slight canvass of public opinion, that a large majority of property holders in the town are opposed to assuming this indebtedness, and, while appreciating your generosity in the matter, would respect- fully request that you withhold your donation until the pro- moters provide for the expense of maintenance by voluntary contributions." After a thorough canvass of the town, a small list of names was obtained and the petition sent to Mr. W. N. Frew, requesting him to forward it to Mr. Carnegie. Mr. Frew immediately answered the petition by saying, 'Tt is hardly necessary for me to do so, as, beyond question, it would be immediately returned to me for action. In any event, Mr. Carnegie would naturally feel that he could not withdraw his offer unless the authorities of Connells- ville decline to accede to the conditions attached to it. If the ground on which to locate the building is secured and the tax levying body, presumably elected by the people. 444 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE legally provides a sum for the maintenance of the library, it will be evidence to Mr. Carnegie that his proposition has been accepted by the people. If the situation is as you say, his offer will, of course, fall to the ground." Witli a restatement of the conditions of the gift, Mr. Frew closed his letter, which, when read and understood, was a very flat refusal to pay any attention to the petition. The work of the school board, in its condemnation of the old cemetery and the removal of the bodies interred therein, having been completed, a deed was executed by the school board, transferring all of its claim and right to the plot of ground, to the board of trustees of the library, on May 15th, 1900. AGREEMENT WTfR THE SCHOOL BOARD. "An agreement made and entered into this 15th day of May, 1900, between the school board and the board of trustees of the library and duly signed by the officers of each party, expressly states that : "First. — The school board hereby agrees to pay monthly to the treasurer of the said library trustees all monies received by the board as the proceeds of any tax levy made by them for the purpose of aiding or assisting in the equipment or maintenance of the said Carnegie Free Library. Second. — The school board, having elected three per- sons to represent them upon the Board of Trustees of the said Carnegie Free Library, for one, two or three years respectively, shall each year hereafter elect one person to fill the vacancies occurring by the expiration of the term of the persons now chosen, or by their earlier death, res- ignation or removal, which persons hereafter elected shall hold their position for the period of three years, or until their successors are chosen. Third. — In consideration of the assistance to be re- ceived from the said school board, the said trustees of the Carnegie Free Library, hereby agree that they will annu- PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 445 ally report to the school board an account of the expendi- tures of the monies received from said board, said account to be verified by the affidavit of their secretary and treas- urer, manager or other proper officer and said account shall be subject to the examination and correction of the auditors by whom the accounts of the school board are audited in like manner as the accounts of the said board." After receiving the guarantee of maintenance from both the Town Council and the school board, and having a title to the old cemetery, the library trustees sent a com- mittee to Mr. Frew to submit these facts to him, and, on January 4th, 1901, Mr. Frew directed the Board of Trus- tees of the library, in a letter directed to the president, to proceed to erect the library building. It was decided to receive competitive sketches for a library building from different architects. Eight different sketches were presented, and, after a careful examination^ the selection for the most satisfactory sketch fell to Mr. J. M. McCollum of Pittsburgh, Pa. This selection was made at a full board meeting on March 12th, 1901. The architect, Mr. McCollum, was directed to complete his plans and specifications at once. After duly advertising for bids for the erection of the library building, the trustees met on April 30, 1901, and examined bids from five different contractors, and awarded the contract to J. A. Nixon of Titusville, Pa., he being the lowest bidder. The contract price of the building alone was $39,850.00. To this must be added extra for foundation, grading, low pressure steam heating plant, steel book stack, interior wood furniture, all gas and electric fixtures, seats for lecture hall,, frescoing, cementing the basement, architect's commission, etc., etc. All of these contracts were let separately to save the commission of the general contractor. The work of erecting the building began in May, 1901. The corner stone was laid Wednesday, July 31, 1901. After a heavy rain in the morning, making the region very 446 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE muddy, the beautiful warm rays of the sun shone down on the assembled throng just as the ceremonies began. This was the auspicious beginning of a glad triumph of educa- tion in Connellsville. Following the invocation, delivered by Rev. M. J. Sleppy, Dr. J. C. McClenathan, the chairman of the Board of Trustees said, "The Trustees have thought best today to lay a corner-stone to mark the beginning of a movement that will be a mile stone in the history of this town. We are today making history that will be remembered and looked to as long as Connellsville shall exist. No one event will be pointed to in the future, as marking the progress of the town, both intellectually and morally, more than the laying of this corner-stone. This library will be a great factor in the home life of the people of Connellsville." Rev. W. A. Edie was then introduced and, in part, said: "This is an interesting occasion. There has been no event in the history of Connellsville more gratifying than the one this morning. Today we lay the corner-stone of an enterprise that will be a public benefit and a public blessing. We are thankful to the Trustees who have labored patiently and carried out their purpose, and congratulate them on their success." The next speaker introduced was Attorney General John P. Elkins, who said: "There was a time when it was thought unnecessary that the masses should be educated, but that time has passed. The library goes hand in hand with the church and school. The base of civilization is the civilization of righteousness, school, church and library." Colonel James E. Barnet, a graduate of the Connells- ville schools, when introduced, proceeded to lay the corner- stone. A cylindrical shaped receptacle, made of aluminum, containing copies of our town papers, documents referring to the library. Borough affairs, and various other data of importance to the present time, was placed in the corner- stone. The Colonel then said : "In laying the corner-stone of PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 447 this building, you are not merely putting in place an inor- ganic block. You are laying the foundation of increased knowledge, happiness, enjoyment and improvement in your community. Within the walls to be erected, you and your sons and daughters and generations yet to come, can sur- vey the whole horizon of human existence and achieve- ment." The library building, which is constructed of buff sand stone with a tile roof, is two stories high with an eleven- foot basement. The first floor plan consists of a general reading room, a children's reading room, a periodical room, a reference room, and a large delivery lobby which is reached by the main entrance and two side entrances. Im- mediately back of the delivery desk is the metal stack room with space for 20,000 volumes which can be increased to 80,000. Each of the large reading rooms will seat 54 people. The second floor contains a lecture hall with a seat- ing capacity of 500, a trustees room and a club room. The two floors are fireproof. The delivery desk is so situated as to command a view of the entire first floor and the two stairways leading to the second floor, all of the partitions down stairs being made of plate glass. This arrangement gives complete supervision of the lower floor to the librarian at her desk. Open shelves are used, the entrance to them being through turnstiles at the sides of the delivery desk. The construction of the building was delayed by strikes and inability to obtain the stone of which the walls are built, so that it was not completed and taken oft' the hands of the contractor until March, 1903. As the building was nearing completion, the Trustees were diligently searching for a suitable librarian. The President of the Board of Trustees had letters and recom- mendations from over twenty different applicants. On May 12th, 1902, Miss Anna Bonnell Day, a graduate of the Drexel Institute Library School, was elected to the position. This popular and efficient librarian still holds that office. 448 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE On November 7th, 1902, the Trustees decided to ex- pend not more than $3,000.00 in the purchase of books for the library. About 2,500 volumes were purchased and some sixty periodicals were ordered for the use of the library. The books were catalogued and prepared for use by Miss Day and her assistants. The library was formally opened by appropriate exercises on the last day of April, 1903. The opening prayer was made by Rev. E. B. Burgess. Mr. H. P. Snyder, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, read a number of letters of a congratulatory nature from Mr. Carnegie and others, and made a few additional re- marks. Mr. E. C. Higbee, President of the School Board, said, "The library is here. It is not a hope or a promise, but a substantial reality, and we ought to be proud to main- tain it. It is now open and it is a mighty power in this intelligent age. It wields a powerful influence for good, and makes a better town, morally, financially and intel- lectually." Mr. H. L. Robinson, counsel for the School Board and for the Library Trustees, gave a history of the rise and progress of the library movement in Connellsville, from its inception over three years before, until its final com- pletion and opening to the public. "This day is one to be marked by a white stone in the history of Connellsville. The establishment and main- tenance of this institution means more to the town than the establishment of a first-class rolling mill. Where there are no books there are no rolling mills, no coke ovens, no business. The success of men of little education does not prove the uselessness of education. The success of the ignorant man is not due to that fact, but to the fact that other men were not like him." Mr. W. M. Stevenson, Librarian of the Carnegie Li- brary, Allegheny, said, "A great deal has been said and written about what the public library can do for the citizen. 450 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE It has been called the universitv of the people, the poor man's college, and I was going to add a new name, the post-graduate school of self-help. The public library is simply a continuation of our public school system, whose chief purpose is to prepare the youth of the land to be useful men and women in the community. The American plan of education has one principal aim in view, that of making good citizens. "Andrew Carnegie sounded the keynote of the art of giving years ago, when he declared that unless gifts were so bestowed as to help men to help themselves, it were better that all such gifts were cast into the depths of the sea. Over half a century ago. Col. James Anderson, of Allegheny, founded a library for the use of apprentices of that city. "Among the lads who came every week to receive books was Mr. Carnegie, then a bobbin bo}^ in a factory, earning $1.20 a week. Impressed by the advantages offered to the working classes bv a library, the boy, Carnegie, then resolved that, if ever surplus wealth came to him, it would be spent in founding public libraries. What was then a boy's day-dream, has now become a glorious reality. Every man, woman and child has a proprietary interest in this library, and all the citizens are, in a certain sense, the cus- todians and guardians of these books. The citizens ought to be vigilant at all times to see that the municipal author- ities appropriate a sufficient amount annually for the main- tenance of the public library." Mr. Stevenson then urged the councilmen and school directors to interest themselves in behalf of the success of the library. In conclusion, he presented the library to Con- nellsville in a few graceful words. Dr. J. C. McClenathan, President of the Board of Trustees, accepted the new library in behalf of the Trus- tees. After reviewing the historv of the library from its inception, he concluded in the words of Andrew Carnegie. "I now pronounce this library open to the public, without PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 451 money and without jirice, in the confident l^eHef that it will prove the fountain from which onlv healing" waters shall fiow." On the followini^' mornin,^'. May 1st. \do:]. the doors of the library were opened to the people. The circulation of books on the first dav was 2(>S volumes and this use of the library continues to be lart^e. far surpassing' the most ardent hopes of its friends. The Trustees had ordered the books and magazines and had assumed the running" expenses, but not a dollar was given them until ( )ctober. 1!>(>4. IS months after the library was opened. The Town Council had changed its political makeup, and the new councilmen refused to give any aid or assist- ance, thus repudiating" the agreement made with Mr. Car- negie. The opposition circulated a petition from the close of the polls in February until the June meeting of Council, by which time they had secured the signature of 1"M voters out of 1,600. No less than fifty of these signers were men whose families were making use of the library. The friends of the institution then prepared a petition request- ing the Council and School Board to fulfil their just obli- gation, and in one day several hundred signatures were obtained. It stated, "We think it is your duty to encourage the library in every possible way, and especially by making the appropriation for maintenance pledged by a former Council and School Board. The public faith should not be dishon- ored, especially in view of the patent fact that the town has received and is making use of Andrew Carnegie's monev contributed upon the express condition that the mainte- nance should be provided equally by the School Hoard and the Town Council." The School Board appropriated $•?, 000.00 for Library maintenance and then employed D. 'SI. Hertzog. an attor- ney, who told them they could not make an ap])ropriation. 452 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE but would have to levy a special tax. This ruling was received November 31, 1903. At the first meeting" of Council in January, 1904, a petition, signed by 13T voters, was submitted, requesting that body to sul^mit the question of maintenance of the library to a vote of the i3eople. according to an act of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, date, June 17th, 1901, P. L. 569. An ordinance was passed January 5th, 1904, submit- ting to a vote of the electors of the Borough the question, "Whether or not the said borough shall maintain, or assist in maintaining, the Carnegie Free Library, out of a fund raised by the imposition of a tax of one mill for that purpose by the Borough Council." First, That at the regular election to be held in February, nineteen hundred and four, the question whether the Carnegie Free Library, located in the Borough of Connellsville, shall be maintained or assisted out of the fund raised by the imposition of a tax of one mill upon all the property in the said Borough, taxable for Borough purposes, shall be submitted to the vote of the duly qualified electors of the said Borough. Second, That if the said question be determined in the affirmative at the said election, the said rate of taxation or appropriation, for said purpose shall not be changed until such change be authorized or directed by a subsequent popular vote. Third, That if said question be determined in the affirma- tive as aforesaid, Council shall proceed, as soon as practicable, to devise plans for properly giving effect to the wfill of the people thus expressed. Fourth, That the proper officers having charge of the prep- aration of the official ballot shall also have prepared for use at said election, a separate ballot as near as possible in the following form: LIBRARY BALLOT. The question to be determined by this ballot is, whether the Borough of Connellsville shall maintain or assist in main- taining the Carnegie Free Library now located in this town, out of a fund raised by the imposition of a tax of one mill for that purpose by the Borough Council. To vote for the measure, make a (X) cross in the square PUBLIC IXSTITUTIOXS 453 to the right of the words "For the Library;" to vote against it make a (X) cross in the square to the right of the words ^'Against the Library." FOR THE LIBRARY AGAINST THE LIBRARY Fifth, This ordinance shall be printed in two daily papers published in this Borough for three consecutive weeks imme- diately prior to election da}-, and printed copies of said ordi- nance shall be properly posted by the constables at the same time and in the same places as the regular election proclama- tion." This election was helvl February 16th, 1904. Out of a total Hbrary vote of 1,303, TGT taxpayers voted for it and 536 against it, giving" a majority of 231 votes to main- tain the honor of the town. During the year 1904: the School Board levied a special tax of one mill for the maintenance of the library ; in 1905, one mill, and in 1906, one-half a mill. Early in the year 1904 the Council voted the library $1,000.00 for its expenses. In 1905 the library received $1,500.00 from the same source, and in 1906 $1,000.00, making in all $3,500.00 contributed by the Council during the four years the library has been open. The old Connell grave yard contained almost one acre of ground, but it did not front on Pittsburgh street, and was bounded on two sides by twenty-foot alleys and on the other side by land owned by the Hogg heirs and others. The hump of earth directly in front of the library was twenty feet high. The Board of Trustees began the work of improving this lot by widening the two alleys to make thirt^■-foot streets and petitioned the County Court to grant the re- quest. Arrangements were then made to have the street above the library paved. One of the adjoining lots had alread}^ been purchased when it was discovered that it was 454 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE impossible to purchase tlie others and that there was no law to compel the owners to sell. Dr. J. C. McClenathan prepared an Act "Authorizing borough councils or school boards of this Commonwealth to purchase, acquire, take, use and appropriate private property for public library purposes, and providing the man- ner in which damages sustained thereby shall be assessed and collected." This act was approved by Governor Stone, May 11th. 1901. P. L. 136. The passing" of the act was chiefly due to the brilliant work of Mr. George M. Hosack, then a member of the General Assembly of this state from Pittsburgh. The Town Council took immediate action under this law and condemned all the ground in the square adjoin- ing the library grounds. Viewers were appointed by the Court to assess the damages. Both parties appealed from their decision. The trial by the Court and jury to assess the amount of damages for taking the property was then held, but the amount of damage was so large that the Town Council could not at that time accept it. In ever}' movement from the beginning the Trustees had met with some form of determined opposition, but they knew not defeat, and with the people's welfare, as a light burning in the long stretch of darkness ahead, thev battled toward that guiding star, undaunted by all obstacles. They achieved success because they were fighting for the right. On ^Nlarch 15th, 1904, a committee, consisting of Capt. E. Dunn. R. ^larietta, Clair Stillwagon, L. F. Ruth and Dr. J. C. ]\IcClenathan, left for New York to visit Mr. Andrew Carnegie to ask him to aid them in purchasing and improving the grounds in front of and to the south of the library building. The next day this committee visited Mr. Carnegie in his residence on Fifth Avenue. They were met at the door by a servant in green livery, it being St. Patrick's day, but not very early in the morning, and simply announced themselves as a library committee from Connellsville. Thev PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 455 were immediately ushered into the magnificent hah and then notified that Mr. Carnegie would see them for two or three minutes. Mr. Carnegie received them in his library where he showed them many of his quaint and curious letters received from kings and potentates from all over the world, in response to his donations for libraries. They were then shown into his private office, where they discussed the needs of the Connellsville library. Air. Carnegie is quick and wittv in conversation and his few minutes had been stretched to one full hour, yet no aid for Connellsville. He had forgotten the Parisian artist who was painting his picture. Once more the need of funds to purchase the lots adjoining the library was mentioned, when the answer came quickly and sharply, "I will not do it." With a few words of farewell, the committee went out of his residence, a disappointed lot of men. It was then decided to draw up a set of resolutions and send them to ]\lr. Carnegie by letter. These resolutions were written on Fifth Avenue Hotel letter heads. They recounted the trials and tribulations which the library had weathered and closed with a printed ballot that had been used at the February election when the question of maintaining the library had been voted upon. Each of the five men affixed his signature and the letter was sent to Mr. Carnegie by special delivery. Early the next morning, before the committee were all out of bed, a telephone call for Dr. J. C. McClenathan came to his room. In response to the inquiry, "Who is there," came the reply, "The 'dark" at the Carnegie house," and he immediately stated that ]\Ir. Carnegie had recon- sidered his reply of yesterday and begged leave to inform the committee that their request of the previous day would be granted. That a jubilee followed this announcement during the breakfast hour only states the fact moderately. In the first mail after the committee returned home, the following letter was received : 456 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE NEW YORK, March 18th, 1904. Gentlemen of the Committee, Free Public Library, Connellsville, Pa. Dear Sir.s: — I do not agree witli you that if the doors of the Library were closed it would be a disgrace to me. I have never pressed communities to establish libraries. I have sim- ply agreed to comply with their requests. Whenever you have heard of a community refusing a library, rest assured it has been applied for, by or with the approval of the authorities of the city. I do think that the community which is not willing to maintain a library had better not possess it. It is only the feeling that the library belongs to every citizen, richest and poorest alike, that gives it a soul as it were. The library buildings which I am giving are the property of all the mem- bers of the communities which maintain them. You did not state to me in your interview that the Borough had refused to maintain the library until it was put in shape. I understood only that it was your desire to improve the ap- pearance of and access to the library, as a matter of pride, a very natural desire on the part of public-spirited citizens. But in providing libraries throughout the country, I must be gov- erned by rules, and if I undertake to give money for such things as patriotic citizens would ask it, I should soon get into trouble. I recognize your earnest public-spirited devotion to the cause, and in this case I will make an exception, and your drafts on Mr. Franks up to eighteen thousand dollars, will be paid, as j'ou expend the money for the purpose named. Let me say this to you in conclusion, that I cannot recollect any community of the size and population to which I have given so much money for a library building. Let me also say that I never met a more public-spirited, able committee. Very truly yours, ANDREW CARNEGIE. In a few days the treasurer received the amount pro- posed. An agreement was at once made with the owners of the property in the square adjoining the hbrary and it was deeded to the Board of Trustees. Bids for grading the grounds and builcHng the retaining wall and steps were received. It was found that the amount of money left after purchasing the property would not be sufficient to do this work by contract, so the Trustees decided to employ day labor and superintend the work themselves to make ends meet. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 45? These were the first pubhc o-rounds to be beautified in the town, and a lesson in civic pride has been taught that has already brought about good results. When the reading habit has once been formed in child- hood, there is no one source of happiness so prolific as this in the after years of life, as it is a well known fact that many people read as much for amusement as for the acquisition of knowledge. The things that are told us when we are young abide with us longer and exert a greater influence on our thoughts and actions than much that we read in later life. In Sep- tember, 1903. Miss Day, the Librarian, inaugurated the "Story Hour" for the little children on Friday afternoons. Either she or the assistant. Miss Sara Seatoi\. has enter- tained the children with stories selected from the best fairy tales, fables, myths and religious stories suitable for the time and season. The object of this work is not only to entertain and instruct the children, but to form in them the habit of coming to the library, where their hungry little rninds are fed with the right kind of diet. The success of the "Story Hour" was instantaneous, the attendance during the first six months being 2, "22-1: children. This year a larger room than was formerly used has been fitted up in the basement for the work which has become a perma- nent feature of the library work. The second anniversary of the opening of the library was celebrated May 16th, 1905. Addresses were made by E. C. Higbee on "The Relation of the Schools to the Library" and the Secretary. H. P. Snyder, on the work of the library during the year. A very entertaining and instructive address was made by the State Librarian, Hon. T. L. Montgomery, of Harrisburg, on the "Development of Pennsylvania Libraries." A fine musical program accom- panied the exercises. The third Founders' Day exercises were held in the Library Hall on May 15th. 190G. Rev. E. B. Burgess •delivered an historical address on "The Founders of ( )ur 458 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSX'ILLE City." The Secretary read the annual report of work done in the Library. The principal address of the occasion was made by A. H. Hopkins. Librarian of the Carnegie Library, Pitts- biii gli. Pa. His eloquent address was along the line of libiary work. (3ne of the chief features of the evening's entertainment was the charming" musical program rendered by soloists and a male chorus of Connellsville, under the efficient management of J. L. Rodrigues. REPORT OF CIRCULATION OF BOOKS IN CAR- NEGIE FREE LIBRARY FROM MAY, 1903, . TO MAY,- 190G. 1903-04 1904-05 1905-06 total. General works . 441 840 790 2,071 Philosophy 187 154 123 464 Religion 288 259 243 790 Sociology and folk-lore... 1,019 1,557 1,408 3,984 Philology 11 18 14 43 Natural science 472 351 451 1,374 Useful arts 266 254 425 945 Fine arts 348 378 541 1,267 General literature 1,367 1,698 2,014 5,079 Travels 783 717 814 2,314 History 1,011 961 917 2,889 Biography 673 473 492 1,63& Fiction 20,629 23,921 24,433 68,983 -Totals 27,495 31,581 32,665 91.741 At the end of the third year the library contained 4987 volumes and had 2638 registered readers. The number of books read the last year was 32,665. In the circulating department there are about 4.000 books, so that each book was circulated on an average of eight times during the year, or, in other words, supposing there are 6,000 people in Connellsville who are able to read, during the vear the library circulated more than five books PUBLIC IxMSTITUTIONS 4.)i) for each one of these persons. This is an excee(Hng-lv good record, and. when we consider that a large proportion of our citizens are engaged in manufacture or railroad work, it makes the above statement even more remarkable. This is far above the average for other cities, and shows that our citizens are hungry for good reading. The periodical room is one of the most popular depart- ments in the library, and contains more than sixty of the standard magazines, literary, artistic, scientific and general. A number of the most poi)ular magazines are circulated when they are one month old. During the present year an arrangement has been made with the superintendent of schools by which each teacher has been furnished with a graded list of the books suitable for her grade. Each pupil is required to read a specified number of books from this list during the school vear, so that the library practically oversees the reading of all the pupils of the public school. ORGAXIZATION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES At the beginning of the work, the organization of the Board was along the lines suggested by Mr. W. X. Frew, of the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, to whom Mr. Carnegie referred our committee when he made the donation. The first Board of Trustees was constituted as follows : Dr. T C. McClenathan, President; Rockwell Marietta. Vice-Pres- ident: H. P. Snyder, Secretary; L. F. Ruth, Treasurer; Samuel H. Howard, Winfield S. Schenck, Dr. Samuel D. Woods, representing the School Board; Clair Stillwagon, Charles M. Hyatt and Charles C. McCormick, representing the Town Council ; Edmund Dunn and William H. Hugus, permanent members of the Board. When the Board was making contracts and purchasing additional grounds, it became evident to all that a charter would give additional privileges and also entitle the Board to a copy of all state publications free of charge. On December 14th, 1904, at a regular meeting of the 460 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Board, Mr. E. C. Higbee was instructed to have the Board of Trustees incorporated. This was done in comphance with an "Act to provide for the incorporation and regula- tion of certain corporations," approved April 39th, 1874, and the supplements thereto, the undersigned, all of whom are citizens of Penns3dvania, have associated themselves together for the purpose hereinafter specified, and desire that they may be duly incorporated according to law. do hereby certify : First: The name of the corporation is Carnegie Free Library. Second: The said corporation is formed for the purpose of managing, conducting, and maintaining a free public library. Third: The business of the said corporation is to be trans- acted at the Borough of Connellsville, county of Fayette, and state of Pennsylvania. Fourth: The said corporation is to exist perpetually. Fifth: The names and residences of the subscribers are as follows: J. C. McClenathan, Connellsville, Pa. Henry P. Snyder, Connellsville, Pa. Linford F. Ruth, Connellsville, Pa. W. H. Hugus, Connellsville, Pa. Rockwell Marietta, Connellsville, Pa. Edmund Dunn, Connellsville, Pa. Sixth: The number of trustees of the said corporation is fixed at twelve, six of whom are called permanent trustees, and are, J. C. McClenathan, Henry P. Snyder, Linford F. Ruth, Rockwell Marietta, Edmund Dunn and W. H. Hugus, all of the Borough of Connellsville aforesaid, and who shall hold their position during life, or during their residence in the Borough of Connellsville, and in the event of a vacancy by reason of the death or resignation or otherwise, of any one or more of the six permanent trustees, the remaining permanent trustees shall choose a successor or successors to fill such vacan- cies, and the remaining six trustees shall be chosen, three by the school board and three by the Town Council, from their respective memberships, who shall hold office during their respective term as such officers, and in the event of the failure of the said school board or Town Council to elect the trustee or trustees to which they shall from time to time be entitled, the board of trustees can fill such vacancy or vacancies. The PUBLIC INSTITUTIOA'S 161 trustees elected by the said school board are now \V. S. Schenck, and E. C. Higbee with one vacancy existing to be filled, and the trustees representing the Town Council are Clair Stillwagon, with two vacancies to be tilled. Seventh: The said corporation has no capital stock and no shares of stock. J. C. :\lcCLENATHAN, (Seal) EDMUND DUNN, (Seal) R. MARIETTA, (Seali L. E. RUTH, (Seal) W. H. HUGUS, (Seal) HEXRY P. SNYDER, (Seal) State of Pennsylvania, County of Fayette, ss : Before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid county of Fayette, personally appeared J. C. McClen- athan, L. F. Ruth, and Rockwell Marietta, three of the sub- scribers to the above and foregoing certificate of incorporation of the Carnegie Free Librarj^ who in due form of law acknowl- edged the same to be their act and deed. Witness my hand and ofiicial seal this 4th daj' of January. 1904:. Byron Porter, N. P. In Re-Incorporation ( No. 361 ]\Iarch Term, 1904. of -{ In the Court of Common Pleas Carnegie Free Librar\' (. of Fayette County. DECREE. And now, June 21, 1904. certificate of incorporation having been presented to me, a law judge of Fayette county, accom- panied by proof of publication of the notice of such applica- tion, as required b}' the Act of Assemblj^ in such cases made and provided, and having perused and examined the said in- strument and having found the same to be in proper form and within the purposes named, in the first clause in the second section of the Act of the General Assembly of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations" approved April 29th, 1874, and the supplements thereto, and the same appearing lawful and not injurious to the community, it is or- dered and decreed that the said certificate of incorporation be and the same is hereby approved, and that, upon the recording of said certificate and this decree, the subscribers to the said certificate and their associates shall be a corporation for the purposes and upon the terms stated in said certificate. Attest: ROBERT E. UMBEL, PETER E. SHEPPARD, Law Judge., Proty. 462 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELESN ILLE On i\Iay 24th, 1!)<)4, the resignation of \\'ilham H. Hugus was received by the Board and accepted. ]\lr. Clair Stillwagon was elected to fill the vacancy as a member of the Board of Trustees. On July 1st, 1904, the Trustees met and proceeded to organize under the charter and elected the following officers: Dr. J. C. AlcClenathan, President; Rockwell Marietta, Vice-President ; H. P. Snyder, Secretary ; L. F. Ruth, Treasurer. The President, Secretary and Treasurer were appointed a committee to prepare by-laws. At a special meeting on September 22, 1904, called for the purpose, the by-laws were read, discussed and adopted. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CARXEGIE FREE LIBRARY. Dr. J. C. AlcClenathan. President. Rockwell jVIarietta. X'ice-President. H. P. Snyder, Secretary, L. F. Ruth, Treasurer, Dr. H. V. Atkinson, Edmund Dunn, Robert Felty. Nicholas Hoye, Rockwell Marietta, Dr. J. C. McClenathan. L. F. Ruth, W. S. Schenck, H. P. Snyder, Clair Stillwagon, Robert Welsh. THE COTTAC.E STATE HOSIMTAL. A fact of supreme import to all is, that we are subject to disease and injury. To those of the medical ])r()fession, whose work is with the sick and suffering, the great boon of this wonderful decade, witli whicli no other can be com- pared, is "That tlie leaves of the tree of science have been for tlie healim'' of the nations." This is ilie Promethean PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS J-<)o gift of the past century to man, says I'rof. Osier. Many men, as well as the surgeons of the town, can well remember the harrowing sights that frequently met their gaze at the railroad depots when the mangled mine and railroad em- ployes were unloaded, with no place to care for them, but Pittsburgh hospitals, over fifty miles away. Often the long ride and loss of time was more than poor nature could endure. These sights were so often repeated that the attention of our lawmakers was attracted to this region and after repeated efforts made to the State Legislature, a suitable law was passed. The first act, donating $12,500 to the town, if a like amount be furnished by the citizens, after a stormy life of a few months, which added no lustre to the names immediatel)- connected with it, passed from the statute books. But those whose business it is to save human life and to alleviate suft'ering, not daunted by their first failure, took new courage and soon had another act passed by the Leg- islature, incorporating our Cottage State Hospital. It is one of four hospitals erected by an Act of the General Assembly of the session of 188T and approved by Governor Beaver. June 14, 188T, entitled "An Act to provide for the selection of sites and the erec- ture of State Hospitals thereon for injured persons to be located within the bituminous coal regions of the Commonwealth, to be called the State Hospital for injured persons in the bitumi- nous and semi-bituminous coal regions of Pennsylvania, and for the management of the same and making appropriations therefor. Section I. Be it enacted, etc.. That the Governor of this Com- monwealth shall, as soon as practicable after the passage of this Act. appoint six Commissioners, one of the said Commis- sioners to l^e appointed from each of the six existing inspection districts of the bituminous and semi-bituminous coal regions of the State, whose dut}^ it shall be to select sites and erect hos- pitals thereon for injured persons to be located at some points within the bituminous and semi— bituminous coal regions of the 4:64: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSXTELE State, comprising the counties of Allegheny, Bedford, Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Washington, Armstrong, Beaver, Indiana, Westmoreland, Cameron, Clarion, Crawford, Clearfield, Elk, Erie, Forrest, Jefiferson. Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Blair, Bradford, Cambria. Centre, Sullivan, Clinton, Huntingdon, Potter, Lycoming and Tioga, who shall serve without compensation, other than their necessary traveling ex- penses incurred while in discharge of the duties herein described and set forth. Sec. 2. Said Commissioners shall within four months after the date of their appointment, select tracts of land of suitable area and character for the purpose named in section first, within the said described region. Sec. 3. Said tracts of land, so selected, shall he approved by the Governor in writing and the deed for the same shall Ix' taken in the name of the Commonwealth, in fee for any land donated for the purpose aforesaid. Sec. 4. The said Commissioners shall adopt such ])lans for said hospitals, as shall involve expenditures, exclusive of the land, of not over sixty thousand, or twenty thousand dol- lars each, when completed: provided, that the plans of the buildings shall be approved by the Board of Public Charities: Provided further, that the land, before provided for. shall be donated. Sec. 5. The said Commissioners shall have power to fix the salary of the superintendents of constructidn, ;ind sucli other persons, as they may think necessary to employ in order to secure the proper and economical constructions of the build- ings: Provided that the total expenses of said buildings shall not exceed sixty thousand dollars. Sec. 6. To enable the Commissioners to make nccessar}- preparations for the erection and completion of the Iniildings herein provided for, the sum of thirty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, annually, for the years A. D. 1SS7 and A. D. ISSS. to be drawn from tlic State treasury, as may be re(|uired in ihe erection of the buildings, lierein Itefore descrilied. on warr;int> signed Ijy the chairman of the Commission and countersigned by the president or general of tlie I'xi.ard of i'ubiic Ciiarilies. Sec. 7. Said Commissioners sli.iU jji-oceed to erect s;iid buildings and complete the same, at as early a period as i)ossihle compatible with the economical, substantial and skillful execu- tion of the work, and shall make report to the P.oard of I'ntilic Charities of the amount of money expended l)y tluni and of the progress made in the erection of tin- buildings. senii-,innuail> at least, and oftener, if so required by said board. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS -1:65 Sec. 8. The said Commissioners, on the completion of said hospitals, shall surrender their trusts to the Board of Managers, to consist of nine members for each hospital, to be appointed by the Governor from the counties named in the first section of this Act. Said managers or trustees shall be a body politic or corporate by the name and style of the trustees of the Cot- tage State Hospitals for injured persons of the bituminous and semi-bituminous coal regions of Pennsylvania, for which they are appointed. They shall serve without compensation, other than necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of the duties pertaining to the above-named institutions, and such expenses shall be paid out of monies in the State treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and shall manage and direct the con- cerns of said institutions, and make all necessary by-laws and regulations not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth. Sec. 9. That these hospitals shall be especially devoted to the reception, care and treatment of injured persons, and that, in the order of admission, this class shall have precedence over paying patients. Sec. 10. It shall be lawful for the trustees of said hospital to receive contributions or donations from any person, firm or corporation offering to contribute or donate any money or other valuable consideration, whether by will, deed, gift or other- wise, to aid in the support, maintenance and for improving the property of said hospital: Provided, that the proceeds of all contributions or donations received by the said trustees, under the provisions of this section, shall be especially appropriated for the purposes herein stated: Provided further, that an item- ized statement of the same, showing the whole amount of monej' received by the said trustees, under the provisions of this section, and the name or names of any persons, firm or corpora- tion contributing or donating the same, together with an item- ized statement of the expenditures of said money, shall be made quarterly, under oath, to the Auditor General, the same as statements for State appropriations are now required by law. Sec. 11. That the Governor, judges of the several courts of record of this Commonwealth, inspectors of mines for the region and members of Legislature, shall be ex-officio visitors of the institution. Approved: The 14th day of June, A. D. 1887." As directed by the above Act, the Governor appointed Henr}^ Warner of Allegheny County, J. M. Reid of Fayette County, John J. Spearman of Mercer Coimty. David Cam- 466 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE eron of Tioga County, the Commissioners to select sites and erect thereon the hospitals. Henry Warner refused to serve and in his place S. H. French of Allegheny County was appointed. By this commission, Connellsville was selected as one of the locations for a hospital, the other hospitals were located at Mercer, Philipsburg and Uloss- burg. A committee of five was elected to select a site for said hospital in Connellsville, namely. Col. j. M. Reid, Capt. E. Dunn, Dr. J. C. McClenathan, Col. B. F. Boyts and J. D. Frisbee. This committee, after examining a number of sites, selected the present beautiful location. It is situated upon a two-acre tract, upon high ground, out of the din and noise of the business part of the city. From its broad porches a good view can be had of a large part of the town and surrounding country. This site was pur- chased by Colonel J. AL Reid and donated by him to the State. The plans and specifications for the building were prepared by James H. Windrim of Philadelphia and aj)- proved by the State Board of Charities. Bids were received for the erection of this building and the contract let to the firm of James Calhoun & Co., for the sum of $i;3,400. on July 20, 1889. Its erection was commenced on Sep- tember 9, 1889, and the building was com]:)lcted and taken ofif the hands of the contractors on May ."Jl. 1890. On October 9, 1890, the Governor, James A. Beaver, appointed the following persons trustees for the hosjiital : Col. J. AI. Reid, James Lochran, Chas. Davidson, James Magee, T. H. White, Peter Wise, Geo. W. Neff, Capt. J. S. Scht.oninaker. D. S. Atkinson. On October 17th, the Trustees met in C. innollsville and organized by electing J. M. Reid. President; f. II. White. Secretary; and Charles Davidson, Treasurer. 'I'his Txiard of IVustees has bcLMi cliangod at xarious times by resigna- tions and deaths. Anions tlinse who haw ser\ed (in this 468 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Board are Dr. J. J. Singer of Connellsville. James Carrigan of Scotdale, H. C. Huston of Connellsville. The Board is at present composed of the following persons: Col. J. AI. Reid, President; Dr. T. H. White. Secretary; Charles Davidson, Treasurer; H. S. Spear, Dr. J. B. Ewing, Dr. G. W. Neff. D. S. Atkinson, Dr. H. J'. Atkinson, H. P. Snyder. At a meeting of the Trustees, held January 6, 1891, a general plan of managing the Hospital was adopted and by-laws for its regulation read and approved. The by-laws, after stating the time of the meeting as the second Monday in each month at 11 o'clock A. M. and recounting the duties of the officers of the Board, state that five members shall constitute a quorum for business except for the election of officers and surgeons and for the discharge of an officer or surgeon, for which purpose "the consent of a majority of all the members of the Board shall be necessary." It provides for an executive committee of five persons, who "shall have the management of the affairs of the Hospital, shall require from the Superintendent as often as they see fit full information of the condition of the house and its inmates, shall have power to make regulations for the internal management of the institution and, under the Board of Trustees, shall prescribe the duties of the Superintend- ent." They shall appoint two of the members a \'isiting Committee, the admission of patients shall be under the control of the Visiting Committee, but no person, except in cases of emergency, shall be committed without an exam- ination by one of the surgeons of the stafif. The Executive Committee shall nominate to the r)oard suitable persons to fill vacancies that may occur on the Surgical Staff. They shall superintend repairs and improvements ordered 1)\ the Board. "The Hospital Staff' shall consist of a sufficient number of 'Regular Surgeons' to serve in pairs for three months, and a number of consulting surgeons from the District." The entire control of patients, as to their regiiiien and treatment, sliall be unck'r the Mos]iilal StalT. "Na^an- PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 4G9 cies in the Hospital Staff may be filled at any regular meet- ing" of the Board, by the election of persons nominated by the Executive Committee of the Board." The Hospital Staff ma_y adopt rules and regulations in harmony with the By-Laws and the Act of Assembly governing the Board of Trustees for their own government. "The Superintend- ent shall be a female trained nurse, who shall, in addition to her duties as nurse shall act as Housekeeper and be directly responsible to the Board for the expense account of the Hospital." In addition to the Superintendent, two female trained nurses are employed, two pupil nurses and two male orderlies and the usual household help. The formal opening exercises of the Hospital were held in the Opera House, January 2Tth. 1891, followed by a reception in the evening at the Hospital. The Hospital was opened for the reception of patients February 1st, 1891. The Board of Trustees selected the following surgeons to take charge of the Hospital for the first year : Drs. Ellis Philips, J. D. Jackson, J. C. JNIcClenathan, R. Torrence, T. H. White, U. B. Shupe, Geo. U. Gallagher. L. P. AlcCor- mick. From this number Philips, Jackson and Torrence have resigned and their places have been filled by Drs. H. F. Atkinson, J. H. Coll, R. S. AIcKee. (T. B. Echard and E. B. Edie have been added to the staff" as assistants.) The surgeons, when they entered upon their duties, which were often onerous and required much time, did so without compensation. Few and far between have been the thanks that an}^ of the surgeons have received for their work in this institution, until recently when the small amount of $50.00 per month has been given to each surgeon when on duty. From $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 worth of surgical work annually has been done by the surgical staff" in this Hospital. When the Hospital was opened Miss A. R. Gad- dis was elected Superintendent. She entered upon her duties February 1st, 1891, but owing to some disagreement with the Board of Trustees, resigned November 15th ,1891. The Superintendents who have held the position are as f(ll-w-: 470 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF C0NNELLS\'1LLE Aliss A. R. Gacklis, from February Ist, 1S!)1. to No- vember 15th, 1891. Miss A. R. Furgeson, from November 15th, 1891, to Jmie nth, 1896. Miss A. M. Hooper, from June 11th, 189(3, to Sep- tember 1st, 1897. Miss E. V. Fast, from September 1st, 1897, to Sep- tember 1st, 1899. ]\Iiss May McCkire, from September 1st, 1899, to Sep- tember 1st, 1902. Miss Florence Haldeman, from September 1st, 1902, to September 21st, 1905. Miss Mable Craft, from September 21st, 1905, to date. The number of patients that have been so seriously in- jured that they have been placed in beds in the wards are as follows per year. This does not include those cared for by the Hospital as visiting or out-door patients, that have been able to go to their homes after dressings. During the year : Year. Number of Patients. Year. Number of Patients. 1891 91 1899 300 1892 113 1900 367 1893 13-1 1901 390 189i 181 1902 - 428 1895 281 1903 521 1896 205 1904 301 1897 236 "1905 448 1898 281 1906 408 From 75 to 207 out-door patients have been treated per year in addition to the above list. There have been admitted to the Hospital for treatment since its o])cning. 4,819 patients. A very large jiroportion of tlic cases arc seriously injured, or for some reason are not desirable cases for the home surgeon to treat. Nearly all tlie deaths occin within a few hours after they arc admitted, and result from the shock or the severe nature of their injuries. The number of capital operations performed range from PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 471 23 in the first year to 100 the past years. These operations consist chiefly of amputations, abdominal sections, treph- ining of the skull, etc. The expense per clay for the treat- ment has varied with the change in the cost of living from $0.80 to $1.20. The number of beds in the Hospital is 38 ; frequently more than this number of patients are in the Hospital, then cots have to be used. The appropriation by the State for maintenance for the first four years was $5,000 per year ; as the number of patients increased, the cost increased until a large deficit existed, then the appropriations were in- creased to $7,500 per year. During the last few years the appropriations have been increased to $10,000 per year. A large number of patients who have been injured, when on duty, that are employed by the different coal and coke companies, and the railroads, now pay $3.50 per week to the hospital for their treatment; also some private cases are admitted for operations, by the members of the Staff of Surgeons, who pay $7.00 per week for the nursing and board, so that under the present conditions the Hospital does not need to be worried by a debt or deficit. STATE ARMORY. This institution had its origin in an Act of Assembly approved May 11, 1905, as follows : An Act for the appointment and maintenance of a Board, to be known as the Armory Board of the State of Penn- sylvania, and for the payment of its expenses, and for providing, managing and caring for armories for the use of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, through- out the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and making an appropriation for the same ; authorizing the State Armory Board to receive from counties, cities, munici- palities and other sources, donations or contributions for the purpose of this Act. Section ]. Be it enacted, etc., that there shall be ap- pointed within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, an 472 CENTliNNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Armory Board, to consist of the Ciovernor, the Adjutant General, and five persons to be appointed by the Governor, of whom three shall be officers of the National Guard, whose duty it shall be to provide, manage and care for armories for the use of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. Sec. 2. That the Armory Board, as appointed, is here- by empowered and directed to erect or provide, anywhere within the limits of this Commonwealth, upon such terms and conditions as shall be decided upon by said Armory Board as most advantageous to the Commonwealth, armories for the use of the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, which armories shall be used for drill, meeting and rendezvous purposes by the organization of the National Guard occupying same, and in wdiich shall be stored and safely kept all property of the United States or of the Commonwealth, issued to such organization for military purposes. Sec. 3. The members of said Armory Board shall per- form the duties imposed upon them by the provision of this act without any compensation for their services ; but their actual necessar}' expenses, incident to the location and es- tablishment of such armories, shall be borne by the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania, and payable from the appro- priation made for armory purposes. Sec. -1. That the said Armory Board shall have full authority to purchase ground in the various localities, throughout the Commonwealth, where it shall be deemed necessary to provide armories ; said ground, in each instance. to be purchased in the name and iov the use of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania; and, upon the ground so ])ur- chased, the Armory Board is authorized and directed to erect, for the use of such company, battery, trooji, battalion, or regimental organization, an armory to be used for meet- ing, rendezvous and drill i)ur])oscs. and in which sliall be stored the ordnance stores, quartermaster stores, and other property issued to the organization occupxing said armorv. When such annor\- or armories are erected or nroNidcil. ihr 4:74: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON N EEF.SNILLE said Armory Board shall have charge thereof and arrange for its occupancy and use under the direction and responsi- bility of the senior officer in command of such company, battery, troop, battalion, or regimental organization. Sec. 5. That the x-Vrmory Board, hereby appointed, shall also constitute a board for the general management and care of said armories when established, and shall have the power to adopt and prescribe rules and regulations for their management and government, and formulate such rules for the guidance of the organization occupying them as may be necessary and desirable. Sec. 6. The term of each appointee shall be for five years from the date of. his appointment. In case of vacancy in the Armory Board, by death or otherwise, the Governor shall have power to fill the vacancy. Sec. 7. That such Armory Board shall have power to receive from counties, cities, municipalities, or other sources, donations of land or contributions of money to aid in providing or erecting armories throughout the Com- monwealth for the use of the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, and which shall be held as other property for the use of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; and such coun- ties, cities or other municipalities are hereby authorized to make such contributions for the purpose of this act. Sec. 8. The maximum amount to be expended for a company of infantry shall be twenty thousand dollars ; for a battery of artillery or a troop of cavalry, thirty thousand dollars ; which shall include the purchase of the necessary ground, where such ground is not donated, and which shall be exclusive of any gift or donation made to or for the bene- fit of any particular armory. Sec. 9. That when the aforesaid Armory I'uard sliall receive from the Governor information (tt the (lisl)andment of the organization of the National Guard of IVMinsylvania. occupying and using an armory ])ro\i(k'(l 1)\ the Coiiinion- wealth under the direction of the .\niior\ Hoard, it shall be the duty of said Armory Board to take charge of such PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 475 armory; and they are hereby authorized and directed to make sale of such armory, at pubHc or private sale, after due publication, for the highest price to be obtained for the same, and return the proceeds thereof into the State- Treasury. Sec. 10. The Board shall make a report, annually ,- of the proceedings incident to the location and management of such armories, respectively ; also a detailed account of disbursements, which shall be filed in the office of the Audi- tor General, and a copy furnished the Adjutant General's Department. Sec. 11. That, for the purpose of carrying- into effect the provisions of the aforesaid act, the sum of two hundred and fiftv thousand ($250,000) dollars is hereby specifically appropriated, out of any monies in the Treasur}^ not other- wise appropriated, which shall be paid by the State Treas- urer upon the warrant of the Auditor General, upon prop- erly authorized voucher of the aforesaid Board. Approved — the 11th day of May, A. D., 1905. SAMUEL W. PENNYPACKER. ' By the authority of this act the members of the Armor}^ Board were appointed on September 20, 1905. The present board consists of the following persons, viz. : Hon. Edwin S. Stuart, Governor of Pennsylvania. Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Stewart. Adjutant General Penn- sylvania. Col. Albert J. Logan, Commissary General N. G. P. Brig. Gen. C. B. Daugherty. Third Brigade N. G. P. Col. William G. Price, Jr., Third Regiment Infantry N. G. P. Col. Louis A. Watres. Col. Willis J._ Hulings, Sixteenth Regiment Infantr}^- N. G. P. This board organized by electing the Governor of the State, President ; General Stewart, Vice President, ancL Benjamin W. Demming, Secretary. 4T6 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE The board decided that they would divide the a])pr(>- priation of $250,000 among the three brigades — or an allot- ment of $80,000 to each brigade — leaving a l)alance of $10,000 for general expenses. The first armory located was at Pittston. Pa., for the use of Companies C and H. 9th Regiment Infantry, and this allotment was $40,000. The armory at Mount Pleasant, for the use of Com- pany E, 10th Regiment Infantry, was completed and dedi- cated on November 10th, 1906. It is beautifully located in Frick Park, and the site was donated by the Borough of Alt. Pleasant. The committee representing the Second Brigade, con- sisting of Colonels A. J. Logan, of Pittsburg, and W. J. Hulings, of Oil City, reported on January lOth, 19()t), in favor of the erection of an armory at Connellsville, Pa., for 'the use of Company D, 10th Regiment Infantr_\-. IMans and specifications were subsequently adopted, drawn by W. G. Wilkins Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., and were advertised, and bids received, and opened July 12th, 190(), but no award was made, owing to the fact that all the bids exceeded the amount of funds available. The committee secured revised plans and specifications froni the same firm of architects, which were presented at the meeting of the Board held x\pril 30, 1907, and approved. An option on a definite site for the Connellsville armory has been obtained and approved, on the corner of Etna street and Washington avenue. The revised plans and specifications are superior in every respect to those first presented. The citizens of Connellsville, led by Col. J. ]M. Reid. Captain J. H. Sim])son, and Rockwell ^Marietta, succeeded in raising the neat sum of $10,000 to be added to the State a];)])r()priation, making a total of $;)0,0()0 for the Armory. CHAPTER XIII. MANUFACTURES. From its birth as a frontier settlement, Connellsville might properly be classed as a manufacturing town. It was here that emigrants and travelers to the West, coming over the mountains from Bedford via Turkeyfoot, reached the first boatable point on the Youghiogheny river. Travel was made easier and expedited somewhat by taking boat at Connellsville and thus by water reaching the prairies of the middle west and the rich settlements of Kentucky. Boats had to be built for the purpose and it was not long until one of the far-seeing settlers established himself in the boat building business and had them ready for the prospective users. The earlier pioneers arriving with their families camped on the river bank and built their own boats — which suggested the setting aside of the ground now occu- pied bv the City Hall — for years called "the bottom" or public square — by Zachariah Connell. for the convenience of travelers and their families and for the purpose of land- ing timber, stone and other building materials and for lading vessels, etc., etc. Fayette county at the time of the founding of Con- nellsville had more good timber than there is now, prob- ablv, in the whole state. Wm. AlcCormick had a sawmill here prior to 1T94 — and there are reasons to believe as earlv as 1789 — much of the lumber was furnished by him to the community. BOAT BUILDING. Boat building might be said to have been the first nota- ble industry of the town, commenced, as already stated. by the westward bound emigrants and traders and soon 477 4TS CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELI.SX ILLE prosecuted as a regular busiuess b\' enterprisiug" residents whom we are informed found it very profitable. The cus- tom was to build flat bottom boats !'?(» to l-jft feet long. 18 to 23 feet wide and 6 to 10 feet deep. The\- were built bottom up — the frames pinned together with wooden pins, "bottoms put on and caulked and then turned by the use of long levers and three or four sampsons ( heav\- ])ieces about twenty feet long with holes bored in them four inches apart alternating from side to side). A man placed at each Sampson would stick pins in the holes to sustain the weight of the boat as it was raised by the levers. When near the perpendicular several men with pike-poles properly dis- tributed along" the boat's length would, at a given signal, give it the necessary impetus and over it would go. The "gunnels" were prepared by squaring the fallen tree with the broad-axe, then hauled to the river bank and placed near one end over a pit eight or nine feet deep. With a whip-saw — one man standing above on the hewed tree and another beneath in the pit — the stick was sawed through its entire length in halves, moving the timl)er forward over the pit as the work progressed. The final caulking .was then done, two long skids or logs extended to the water's edge and on these the boat was launched into the river and sided up. The boat, moved with two sweeps or oars, one forward and one aft. was ready for its cargo of lumber, produce or pig-iron. The usual proceeding was to float down the river until a purchaser was found for both boat and cargo, the "crew" returning overland, unless destined for the West. Some- times a keel boat was pushed by means of pike-poles from Pittsburgh up the river, laden with merchandise, but the condition of the water had to be peculiar]}- favorable for such trips. The business was continued for tift\ \ears or more c|uite successfull}' and received a new imi)elus with the first establishment of the coke industry inan\ years later, imtil the railroad made its rates such that it no lonocr MANUFACTURES 479 paid to lose the time (by reason of waiting" for a proper stage) or take the risk — for not all the cargoes were safely piloted through. The men most generally engaged in the business were Col. Wm. L. Miller, Joseph jMiller, his brother, John Win- ing (married to Miller's step-sister), Uriah Springer, Jr., and his brother Crawford, Christopher Taylor, the Richeys, Whites and some others. Col. Miller's boat-yard was on Water street below the Youghiogheny bridge. He also had one on the New Haven side about where the Southwest Pennsylvania Rail- road bridge is now. IRON INDUSTRY. One need begets another — the necessities of the trav- elers were soon catered to by a "store" followed by shoe- makers, weavers, tailors, etc., — these to be properly housed called for a number of carpenters, masons and other me- chanics. P'or while the pioneer at the outset did all of these things for himself, as soon as he became engaged in some fixed avocation he was too busy to do it properly and thus began a division of labor furnishing permanent employ- ment for many others. Men being here it was not long until the enterprising found other uses for them — the iron ore ot our hills and the limestone and forests adjacent sug- gested the iron furnace and soon the mountains roundabout had a number of such industries. The "smudge" by day and a red glow b}' night located numberless charcoal kilns the predecessors of the coke ovens of today — the value of coking coal was not appre- ciated in America at this time, and the proximity of the forests made charcoal the natural fuel for smelting the iron ore with which the mountains abounded. IRON FURNACES. All of the iron furnaces within a radius of ten miles might properly be said to have been Connellsville indus- 480 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE tries — for it was to Connellsvilk- their output was Ijrouj^iit for shipment down the river and here suppHes were pur- chased and men secured. In fact it was the metro]:)olis of the industry in Fayette county. Of all of the furnaces, the only one in Connellsville proper, as it stands today, was Etna Furnace, sometimes called ]\Iount Etna Furnace, built in 1815, by John Gibson, who came here from Ches- ter county, about l?9o. It stood in the hollow crossed by South Pittsburgh street just beyond Patterson avenue, and at the southern end of Etna street as now opened. The daily output was about 15 tons. The ore was obtained from the mountain-sides nearby — some being brought from dififerent points and mixed to get the proper quality of pig iron. The furnace was sur- rounded by many little log and frame cabins for housing the workmen. The community consisted of several hun- dred. At first the workmen were not charged any rent. In a house centrally located resided one known as the "Doc- tor's Man," whose business it was to go for the doctor if any one was sick. Each family kept a tin horn and if any one got sick at night a blast thereon brought the "Doc- tor's Man," who, when he came made a note of every symp- tom in order to give the doctor an idea of what medicines to take with him. The furnace was operated for thirty years or more, ami practically the same workmen were employed with few changes, for most of the time, until it became necessary to charge a small rental for houses, with five daxs' notice to vacate, which brought a change in the i)ersonnel i^i the workers. F.VYETTE FL'RXACiv In tlie mountains east of Connellsville was anotliev fur- nace built in IS';?? by Dr. Joseph Rogers, el al.. and oper- ated under the hrm name of Joseph tS; ( ieorge I'. Kogers & Co., until is;il. wlien tlie interests of MesM-<. I'reenian. MANUFACTURES 481 Aliller and Linton were purchased by Dr. Joseph Rogers, the firm changed to Joseph and George P. Rogers. Under this title it was continued three years when Joseph Rogers acquired full ownership and carried on the business until 1838. A description of this plant, which can be given accur- ately from papers and drawings still in existence and in possession of the Rogers family, might serve to give an idea as to all the others for they were conducted in much the same manner. The furnace stack was thirty-five feet square at the base and fifty feet high with tw^o openings, one for drawing off the molten metal and the other for the blast. The blow- ing of the furnace was done by means of two large tubes twelve feet in diameter and eight feet high with tops fit like a sausage stuiTer, one going down as the other came up, driven by a thirty-foot overshot water wheel. The water was brought from three dams nearb}'. mostlv in troughs dug from large logs. The furnace was charged or fed by means of a bridge from a high bank just back of the furnace, to the top of the stack. The ore was mined and the charcoal burned in the im- mediate vicnity of the furnace, and required quite a number of miners, colliers, teamsterS; etc., etc. The workmen were housed in 35 or 40 cabins built of round logs and, wath but one or two exceptions, of one room each. A good por- tion of one end of this room was taken up by a large stone chimney with a huge fire place. The fire place was fitted with a log-pole and chain from which hung the famous "dinner pot."' The company operated in connection with the furnace a store and warehouse. The pig-metal was hauled by six horse "bell-teams" over the ridge to Connellsville and unloaded on the banks of the river for shipment by flat-boats to Pittsburgh and other points. In connection with Etna Furnace, John Gibson owned 48'^ CKNTKNNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVILLE and operated on the river bank, a grist-niill, saw-mill, roll- ing" and slitting'-mill and nail shop, having also a tilt hanimci. Just below Connellsville, in fact, at its northern ex- tremity on the river, w^as located the "Stone Mill," built in 1800 by John Gibson and operated for some years as a rolling mill. It was run by water power from ^Mount's creek. At the lower end of Davidson's Island the same John Gibson built and operated the "Yough Forge" early in 1800. After his death it was operated until IH'iij by his sons, Thomas, Joseph, Joshua & James Gibson. Breakneck or Finley Furnace, the remains of which stand in the reservoir of the Connellsville Water Company at Breakneck, was built in 1818 by James Rogers, James Paul and a man named Miller. It was run for 20 years and abandoned in 1838. It had a daily output of about 12 tons. Union Furnace was built by Col. Isaac Meason, and put in blast March, 1?91. Union Furnace was succeeded in 1793 by another and larger furnace of the same name, built near the same site by Colonel Meason and Moses Dillon. It was situated on Dunbar creek, about one mile from the present town of Dunbar. The daily output was from 3 to 6 tons, and when last named tonnage was made, the employees received extra pay. This furnace was suc- cessfully operated for a number of years. The Youghiogheny Iron & Coal Com])anv was incor- porated September 23, 18(U, and succeeded the Union I"\ir- nace. The furnace was a stone stack and the native ores were used exclusively. The employees numbered about l-~)0 men, which included ore miners, furnace men and all others connected with the company. The daily output was about 15 tons. The Dunbar Iron Company succeeded the ^'ough- iogheny Iron & Coal Compan\- in 18^0. Tlirx eniploxed about 2. & ( ). R. R. depot now stands. They were succeeded in the business by Harvey and Silas White, who discontinued it at that stand about 1830. The blast for the furnace at this point was operated by a "tramp wheel," the "power" being a blind horse. The Whites later moved to the "Cjil)Son Mill" where they carried on this and other lines for some time. CJn the New Haven side of the river, one of the early enterprises was a rolling mill. It was located on the river bank near where the present grist-mill stands. The leading spirit in this was Thomas Gregg, a man of manv enter- prises and an inventive genius of note. ( iregg was an inventor and not a business man. Vhv industrx was ni>t therefore successtul from a financial slandjioint. but il still stood in ISlC) as a monument Id his cndcaxur. ;ind was the means of gix-im^' tlie hot-blast stove, in common use b\- iron furnaces, to that trade. MANUFACTURES 485 Another industry which tlirived about this time was a tack factory — which was run by the White family in a small frame building- on Front street, a little south of the rolling mill. The present dam on the New Haven side was built in 1823 by Col. VVm. L. jNIiller, who operated a grist mill, also a saw-mill and a small establishment for carding' and preparing" wool for the country looms. All of which were burned together with Foster's woolen factory about 1835. Colonel ]\Iiller also built a paper mill just below Thomas Foster's woolen mill. He employed twenty-five hands and made writing paper by the exceedingly tedious process of moulding one sheet at a time. This mill was built about 1829, and the foundations and a part of the walls were still standing" in 1883. The present grist mill operated by Kell Long was liuilt in 1848. It has been remodeled several times since, how- ever. On Second street there was until recentl\' an old mill, formerly operated by steam, built in 1838. but operated only ten years. It was know'n for many years as the home of a quaint character by the name of Thomas Fors^the. who utilized the mill for the purpose of drying ginseng in which he was a large dealer. He also taught bookkeeping and many of the present generation owe their knowledge of the art to "Tommy" Forsythe. Many stories are told of the odd contrivances invented b}* him for the purpose of pre- paring ginseng for the market. The establishment could hardly be called a factory as he employed only two or three besides himself even at the busiest periods, but so many inventions came from there, 'all manner and kinds and for the most varied purposes, that it can hardly be passed without mention, at least. The most memorable of these was a fire escape, a model of which was always at hand near his bed in the third story of the mill. In giving a practical demonstration of its use he almost hung himself on one occasion — the audience waverins" between amusement and alarni. 486 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELL.S\II-EE Thomas Foster erected his factory about 18"^;5-l8"i4, a Httle below Miller's mill, and manufactured cassinettcs, jeans and cloths, employing thirty people most of the time. William Yates was a weaver there. After the hre, Foster replaced his burned woolen factory with a nuich larger one, equipped it with machinerw and started what was then considered a business enterprise of the first im]:)ort- ance. He employed about one hundred work ])eople and _^manufactured blankets, woolen cloths, etc.. For a time he did a large and apparently successful business — but this success was only temporary, for in the end financial dis- tress forced him to retire. A Mr. Blucher succeeded him and also failed, as did likewise a ^Ir. Hill who continued the business after J\Ir. Blucher's failure. The property came into the hands of ( )rth Brothers, who. during the war. engaged in the manufacture of armv cloths, and the busi- ness was pushed night and day with a force of one hun- dred and fifty hands. The factory was enlarged, and the west side of the river was full of life and enterprise. Like those who had preceded them, however, they were doomed to disaster. The close of the war found them with an enormous stock of manufactured goods on hand, and in the depression that followed, with shrinkage in prices natural to such times, they went down. The property lay idle until A])ril. ISll, wlien J. \'. Smith and Company converted it into a manufactory for light locomotives, called the NATIONAL LOC(.).AI()Tl\'E WORKS. For a time this business prosjiered and gave employ- ment to upwards of one hundred men. The establishment was sold to Bailey & Dawson and by them to William II. Bailey. The . enterprise appeared to thrive — employment was given to two hundred men and the slio]) was kept running night and da\-. Confidence was alniosl unliniiled. prosperity was evidenced on ever\- hand and the acti\it}- in general business ran high. .Suddenl\ ii (le\ eloped iliat MANUFACTURES 487 the enterprise bordered on failure — when the crash came it developed that the loss entailed was about $100,000.00. New Haven especially had leaned upon this industry and in consequence was well nigh paralyzed, for a time, by the failure. Thousands of dollars were owed to store keepers, employees, mechanics and others — the calamity was wide-spread and the community was lon^' in recovering from its dire effects. The buildings were razed some years ago, the old office only remaining, at the left as you approach the bridge, and occupied as a fruit and candy store. The works occu- pied a strip of ground fifty by two hundred and forty feet — fronting on Ferrv or ]\Iain street and extending down the river to Trader's alley. In the tower of the old building was a bell which served as a curfew for the children of the TO"s. It was not so called, but at nine o'clock every night the factory bell rang, the stores closed, lights went out, and most of the vounger generation made for home, as it was a com- mon admonition on the part of parents. "You must not stay later than the ringing of the factory bell." FOUNDRIES. Gebhart, Norton and Kurtz bought the old Methodist Episcopal Church, wdiich stood where the Roman Catholic Parochial School is now located, in 183(i, and erected a "cupola" as it was then called, or foundry. They first intended to build on \\'itter avenue on the lot now occu- pied by the residence of Captain J. ^I. DuShane : this ground and forty acres adjoining, now known as John- ston's Addition to Connellsville, was covered with timber which was cleared at the point intended for the foundry and a well sunk. The church property being offered for ' sale, their plans were changed and it was purchased in- stead. They manufactured plows and all kinds of small castings and peddled them over the country in exchange for produce. Money was scarce and the products of ex- 488 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNILEE change were used in paying" the labor. Shortly after the operation of the plant was begun, Norton sold out to Sam- uel Freeman, and the firm name was changed to Gebhart, Freeman and Kurtz. After many years they sold out to Torrence, Alunson & Company, who were succeeded by White and Mcliride and they in turn by Armstrong and Keepers. At one time Joseph Trump and James ^Nlcliride oper- ated a foundry on the lot now occupied b}' Alace & Com- pany's store — the business was not long continued, how- ever. In 1831, L. L. Norton put a blast cupola in the build- ing on McCoy's Run where he had previously operated a carding, spinning and fulling mill and went into the foun- dry business, giving especial attention to the luanufacture of fine stoves, tea-kettles, etc.. using coke, which he made on the ground, as fuel. The blast was operated fn^m an overshot water-wheel which got its power from the dam nearby. Philo Norton, still living, tells of working in this ( his father's) foundry as a young boy, his work being that of chipping and smoothing up the kettles and stcn-e castings and pounding up coke in a large kettle for the purpose of making blacking with which to put the finishing touches on the output of the foundry. BOYTS. PORTER & COMPANY YOUGH STEA^I PUMP WORKS. The first foundry established in Connells\illc was started in 1839 by Robert W. Francis and John and Jacob Anderson, and with several changes in the firm name has .continued uninterru])tedl\- to the present day. l\ol)cri \\ . Francis was actively associated in the business for almost half a century till his death in ls;s. The first business which was that of a foundry and ])low works, cousisled ot making plows, stoves and general castings. Tlioy iiNcd a common "air furnace" — burning'" raw coal. All n\ ilu' ■"niik' MANUFACTURES 489 stones" used on the National Pike from Cumberland to Wheeling" were made b}' them. The original foundry was located on the site of the Baltimore & Ohio passenger depot — a little south of the present depot. The plow works was about where the present foundry of Boyts, Porter & Company is located. Francis & Anderson continued as a firm till LSiU, when James W. and Isaac Francis bought Anderson's interest, and the business was carried on without material change until 18GU, when a three-fourths interest was sold to Stauf- fer & Company. On March 1st. 18TU. R. W. Francis. Martin B. Stauf- fer, John, Henry and Samuel Porter and Thomas Tennant formed a partnership under the firm name of Staufter, Por- ter & Company to conduct a general foundr}' and plow man- ufactory. In 1873 they added a new branch for the pur- pose of making forgings and doing machine work under the name of Tennant, Clark and Company. ( the old name being retained for the foundry and plow works). M. B. Stauffer died in 18? G. and his interest in both firms named above was purchased by B. F. Boyts. and from April 1st of that year the business was conducted as Tennant. Porter. Boyts and Company. On February 2nd, 18'7T. the plant was destroyed by fire. In fifteen days temporary buildings were erected and the firm was prepared to fill all orders for castings, ma- chine and forge work. New permanent buildings were started immediately over the temporary structure, and the present brick building represented the complete plant. Some years later an additional building was erected on the north side of North alley. On June 8th. 1878, R. W. Francis died, and on the 29th of the same month the firm of Tennant. Porter, Boyts and Company was dissolved, J. M. DuShane buying the Francis interest and J. M. Reid that of Thomas Tennant. The firm name was charged to the present style — Boyts. Porter & Company, and under the articles of partnership PLANT OF HOVTS I'OKTlCR *■ COMl'ANV MANUFACTURES 491 was for the purpose of conducting a foundry, machine and forge works and to engage in the manufacture of steam pumping machinery. John Porter died March IGth, 1883 and Samuel Por- ter, December, 190(). It is beheved Boyts, Porter & Company make as great a variety of castings as any foundry in the state, and their machine shop and forge department are completely equip- ped to do machine, forge and sheet-iron work of every description. They have given special attention to the man- ufacture of ore-crushers, having shipped them to all parts of the West. Their mine pumps are famous wherever mine pumps are used, an4 are especially in demand on account of their simplicity and the care with which the materials entering into their construction are chosen. "Not how cheap but how good," has been the watch- word of the management and the results are evidenced in the large and constantly increasing business of the firm. CONNELLS\TLLE MACHINE & CAR COMPANY. On September 0th, 18()5, James AIcGrath, then foreman of the smith-shops of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Rail- road at Connellsville, leased from Robert W. Francis for the term of ten years a piece of ground fifty-five by ninety feet, located on North alley, near Water street, for the pur- pose of erecting thereon a machine and smith-shop. On the 16th of the same month he entered into partnership with Bernard Winslow. erected a wooden building thirty by fifty feet, and with three smith-fires and one old lathe, com- menced business under the name of McGrath & Winslow. Their manufactures consisted mainly of railroad frogs and switches and oil tools. On the 29th of February, 1866, Winslow sold out to George B. and Joseph T. McCormick, and the firm name was changed to McGrath, IMcCormick & Company. On September 1st following, William B. Stout and James B. Caven were taken into the partnership, the firm name remaining unchanged. 492 CENTENNIAL IIISTORV OF COX X ELESNILEE Tlie company now added scjme new machinery and he- i^an to extend their business. Machine sho])s of this kind were until then unknown in this region, and peo])le were slow to believe that machine work and heavy and difficult torging's could be done at Connellsville. but the senior ])art- ner. Mr. McGrath. having" served his apprenticeship at the •extensive works of Charles C. Delaney. of JJuffalo, X. Y.. and having" worked in some of the principal work-shops of the country, soon gave evidence that intricate as well as heavy work could be done here as well as in the cities, and soon the company had more orders than their little shop could accommodate. About this time the coke trade began to assume large proportions, and on acc?ount of the scarcity of railroad cars several operators began to provide their own. As these cars, owing to the bad condition of the main road, were continually being Avrecked and broken, it became necessary for somebody to repair them, and the firm of Mc- Grath. McCormick & Co. undertook the business. Having" no suitable place to erect shops, they obtained privilege from the railroad company to lay a track along the bank of the river, immediately south of the present depot, and there in the open air, for two years, they did all the car repairing for the local coal companies, their carpenter shop consisting" of one end of the body of an old passenger car and the other end being occupied by the railroad company as a car inspector's ofBce and pattern shop. On the 13th of March, 18(51), the company succeeded in leasing from P. McCormick the lot adjoining their smith- shop, and immediately erected thereon a small car-shop twenty-five by eighty feet, and began the erection of coke- cars, mine-wagons, and all the various tools used in the making of coke. On the first day of May following, the remaining part- ners purchased the interest of George r>. McCormick. and changed the name of the company tt> '■The Connellsville Machine & Car Company." lUisiness now increased rapid- Iv, and it soon became necessarv to seek a better location MANUFACTURES 493 and erect works of larger capacity. Accordingly on March •2()th. LST->, the company purchased from the "Connellsville Alutual Building and Loan Association" a tract of land lying on the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad at the mouth of Mount's creek, about one-quarter of a niile north of their former location. Here, in the year 1872, they erected a car-shop thirty by one hundred and twenty feet. and on May 21st. 1873, they purchased additional ground adjoining, and erected a machine and forging-shop and foundry of the same dimensions as the car-shop. Later other land was purchased, and the w^orks still further ex- tended and enlarged. On October 1st, 1873, the old shops were abandoned, and the machinery removed to the new. At the expiration of the ground lease in 1875. the old car-shop was removed to an adjoining lot, which had then come into the posses- sion of the company, and remodeled into a hardware store and office. The larger shops required many new tools, and lathes. planes, boring-mills, punches, drill-presses, steam-hammers. etc., were gradually added, until the works were as well equipped as any in the countr}-, and gave employment to from fifty to sixty hands, the products consisting of cars and railroad supplies, and all the various wants of coal. coke and fire-brick works, mills, furnaces, etc. The part- ners were all directly interested in the running of the works, and by careful attention to business had secured the con- fidence and patronage of the coal and iron operators of the entire Connellsville coke region. L'pon the death of J. B. Caven and of W. B. Stout, the surviving partners, James McGrath and Joseph T. Mc- Cormick, continued the business under the old name. Joseph T. McCormick died May 2d, 1904, and his son. Dr. Louis P. McCormick, succeeded him. J. W. Ralston. a son-in-law of Mr. AlcGrath, was taken into the firm and made secretarv and treasurer. The business was continued 494 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE successfully until March 12th, 1!)U5, when the shops on Mount's creek were totally destroyed by fire. It was then decided that before rebuilding, the com- pany should be incorporated, as the business had grown to such an extent that it would recjuire much larger shops, and a more modern and convenient arrangement as well, to proj)- erly handle it. Accordingly, a charter was applied for un- der the name and style of Connellsville Machine and Car Company, which was granted by the State of Pennsylvania on September 30th, 1905. The capital stock was fixed at $150,000. James McGrath was elected president and gen- eral manager ; Charles Davidson, vice-president ; J. W. Ral- ston, secretary and treasurer. These, with Dr. Louis P. Mc- Cormick, W. F. Soisson, Charles F. Hood and W. E. Crow, constitute the board of directors. The erection of the new shops was started at once and are about completed. The buildings are brick, steel and concrete, being fire-proof construction throughout. They are very conveniently arranged for shipping the output of the plant and for bringing in raw material, having direct connections with both the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsyl- vania railroads. The equipment is the very latest and best known, and makes this one of the most complete car, machine and forge shops in the country, — maintaining the reputation long established by its founders. The property on Water street was sold in h>bruary, 1906, to the Connellsville Machine and Car Sup])ly Com- pany. AMERICAN STEEL COMPANY. About ISGG, J. M. Bailey and others of I Pittsburgh, erected an establishment for the manufacture of high-grade tool steel under the above title. The works were erected on the ground now occu])ied by the Sligo Iron & Steel Com- pany, at the north end of I'ittsburgh street, near tlic IX'uid- son Coke Works. The buildini'- was about two luimlred and MANUFACTURES "195 seventy-five feet long by eighty feet wide and thirty feet high. The operation of the plant was not successful and the business was abandoned in less than a year. J. M. Bailey retained the title to the land on which the plant was built, consisting of about fifteen acres, and when, thirty-six years later, the ground occupied by Phillips, Nim- ick & Company, with the Sligo i\Iill of Pittsburgh, was con- demned bv the Panhandle railroad, thus causing the aban- donment of the business at that point, he organized the SLIGO IRON & STEEL COMPANY, with a capital of $250,000, associated with himself a num- ber of Connellsville people, through the efforts of John A. Guiler and others, and moved the business to Connellsville, where it is being operated under the new name. The com- pany gives employment to from three hundred to four hun- dred men and does a business of about $1,200,000 annually. Lipon the organization of the company here, Charles Davidson was elected president ; J. M. Bailey, vice-presi- dent ; E. T. Norton, treasurer, and Joseph McConnell, sec- . retary. Mr. Bailey died in the spring following the organi- zation, and J. M. Reid was elected vice-president to succeed him. The other members of the board of directors (besides those named above) are, J. D. Madigan, J. C. Munson and E. D. Fulton. Charles E. Duncan is manager, Omar S. Decker, sales agent, with an ofiice in Pittsburgh, and J. M. Cecil, chief clerk. The plant covers about three acres of ground along the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad and also has access to the Baltimore & Ohio railroad via the H. C. Frick Coke Co.'s tracks. It includes twenty-four puddling furnaces and four scrap furnaces, a gas house generating sufficient gas for seven large heating furnaces. A twenty-one-inch "Muck" mill, a sixty-inch plate mill, a sixteen-inch bar mill and a nine-inch guide mill, with a twelve-inch independent rouarhinsf mill or "breakdown." The bar and guide mills I PLANT OK THE SIvIGO IRON & STEEL COMPANY MANUFACTURES 497 are "three-high;" as well as the "muck"" mill train, which has an automatic conve}'or and hot scale. The plant is equipped with fourteen boilers of 150 horsepower each, and has a machine shop, blacksmith and roll-turning shop in a separate building. The office is located between the Southwest Pennsyl- vania railroad and ]\Iount"s creek, near the Davidson bridge, and about one hundred feet from the mill. It is a brick building, one and one-half stories high, conveniently fitted aad arranged, with ample storage space in the basement for patterns, small fittings, etc. The building has a hip roof, which allows room for an excellent draughting-room on the second floor. The company has on its own ground adjacent to the mill, twenty tenement houses. CONNELLSVILLE MANUFACTURING AND MINE SUPPLY CO. Located on an ideal manufacturing site in a portion of the Greenwood addition to New Haven, along the South- west Pennsylvania railroad and near the junction of the P. & L. E. R. R. and B. & O. R. R., is one of the latest additions to Connellsville"s manufacturing establishments. The buildings are of brick, iron and wood and are most substantial and modern in every respect. The lighting is excellent as well as the drainage, making a cheerful and desirable place in which to work. The main building is -l:Ox'2(32 feet, 34: feet high in the clear, with a lean-to annex 30 feet wide and 15 feet high in the clear, running the entire length on each side of the main building. In front is a storage and stock vard, trav- ersed by a railroad siding, a branch of which extends into the south end of the main building, aflrording greater con- venience in shipping the heavier manufactured products of the works. At the southeast corner of the building is the office, a two-story brick structure, 25x35 feet, the second floor of which is used for the draughting and engineering depart- ment. 498 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSN ILLE The machine shop proper is 40x1 '^j feet, and contains a number of the largest and most approved machine tools in the country. Running on tracks 26 feet above the floor of the shop is a twenty-ton, electric, traveling" crane, by means of which the heaviest class of work can be easily handled at all stages of construction. There are two machine shop annexes : One on the west side, 30x45 feet, especially fitted up for car wheel axle and heavy pipe work. One on the east side, 30x45 feet, in which are the smaller lathes, drills,' boring-mills, shapers, etc.. for handling the more complicated parts of the various machines manufactured. Joining the machine shop on the north is the foundry, 40x125 feet, also spanned with a twenty-ton electric crane and several jib cranes of from two to six tons each. To the west is a lean-to 30x85 feet, used as a brass foundry, core rooms, cupola room, etc. A hoisting cage, driven by electric motors, places all materials at tlic cui)ola door. The same motor furnishes power for the blast. ( )n the east side of the foundry a lean-to 30xT5 feet is equip])e(l as a rumbler, cleaning room, storage room and moulding floor. Here, also, is a three-story division. ."iOxoi) foot, for pattern storage. Between the foundry and machine shop is a twelve-fool passageway where is located a fifteen-ton platform scale with shop track running across it. On the west side of the main l)uilding arc llirce wings, 40x50 feet each. The first on the south is the structiu-al iron department, wherein are manufactured ln)isling cages, larries, chutes, screens, mine fans, car and structural work. It is equipped with the best ])o\\er-driven bending rt)lls, ])unches and shears of large cajiacily. Xext to the north is the forging shoj), e(|uip])ed with forges, fur- naces and heavy steam lianiniers — the wm-k being handled by a large jib crane. Last is the pattern shop. t'ulK (.'([uiiiped with hitest im- MANUFACTURES 499 proved machinery for expeditiously making the large num- ber of patterns required in such a complex business. The boiler room is located away from the building convenient to the railroad and has a storage capacity for one hundred tons of coal. The exhaust steam from the engine driving the electric generator is utilized in heating the shop by means of a large hot-blast fan — the hot air being driven through large con- ductors, which are in summer used for circulating cold air by a fan for the purpose. Large and roomy toilet and wash rooms for the con- venience of its employees have been fitted up by the com- pany and every effort made to make the surroundings com- fortable and congenial. The company was organized in June, 1901. The offi- cers are, Rockwell Marietta, president ; Clair Stillwagon, vice-president ; W. H. Hugus, chairman of the board ; W. H. Soisson, secretary and treasurer ; D. F. Lepley, general manager. TANNERIES. Anthony Banning, an itinerant ]\Iethodist preacher who had been a business man of no mean ability, as well, built a tannery on McCoy's run south of Zachariah Con- nell's stone house. This was some time between 1791 and 1799. John Fuller built a small tannery on lot 153 of Con- nell's plat, and later removed to East Apple street (about where the English Lutheran Church now stands), and started another tannery. This passed from him to William Goe, Joel Strawn, Cooper and others, and was discontinued about 1870. There is no date obtainable for the establish- ment of Fuller's tannery, but it was previous to 1833. Near Norton's fulling-mill (at the foot of the hill back of the Christian Church), in 1833, was Isaac Taylor's tan- nery. In 1838 he moved his tan-yard to the north side of 500 CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILI.F town, about one square from the present site of the I Balti- more & Ohio railroad depot. The business was successfully managed for many years. He was still in business in 1S.~)(». In the early '40's, Joseph Taylor (a brother of Isaac's) came to Connellsville and started a tannery, near the river on the New Haven side, about where the Southwest Penn- sylvania railroad bridge crosses. BRICK-MAKING. In the hills about Connellsville are many valuable de- posits of fire-clay, silica rock and other excellent bi'ick- making materials. Anthony Banning was the first person to utilize these deposits, making the brick for the first lirick house built in Connellsville — afterwards known as the Stew- art Johnson house. This was shortly after the founding of the town. Later, David Barnes engaged in the business, and was running a brick-yard in 182.3. There were many other brick-makers who followed the lead of these pioneers in a small way, but it remained for Joseph Soisson. founder of the JOSEPH SOISSON FIRE BRICK COMTANY. to enter into the development of the business on an extensive scale. ]\rr. Soisson came to ConnellsA-illc in ISi;.') from ( )ak- dale, on the Baltimore & ( )hio railroad, a shurt distance below Dawson, where he had been o]ierating tlic Milton- burger plant since 18()"2, coming there from IWair coiuUv. Many are the interesting experiences told 1)\ Mr. Sois- son of events that occurred during the Civil War. through the facility of his cla\- mines as hiding ]")laces for tliose who feared the j^rovost marshal and other Cnited States officers in search of men who did not want to tight for the Cnion. Squire J. M. Lytle made a luimber of visits in his cajiaeitN as ]:»r()vost marshal for this i)in'pose. MANUFACTURES 501 The output at Oakdale was small indeed compared to that of the present day, yet Mr. Soisson was compelled to have a storage place in Pittsburgh (close to the present Bal- timore & Ohio depot), as the ironmasters never bought more than 300 or 400 bricks at a time. Upon coming to Connellsville, Mr. Soisson entered into partnership with Spriggs & Wilhelm at White Rock, under the firm name of Soisson, Spriggs & Co. This plant was located at the foot of Gibson avenue, between the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the branch to Union- town, at the present time entirely covered by the B. & O. yards. Air. Soisson anticipated the great demand for fire-brick caused by the development of the coke industry. His first effort in this line was in 1865, while still operating the Mil- tonburger plant, where he made sufficient brick for Stewart Strickler to build ten bee-hive ovens near Dawson. Soon after this work was completed, Messrs. Brown & Cochran, known as "Big Jim" Cochran, of Dawson, and Mr. Brown of Pittsburgh, built what is known as the "Jim- town" works, Mr. Soisson making the brick and shapes for something over one hundred ovens. It is well known, and a fact often commented upon, that the general shape of the brick going into coke ovens has never been materially changed to the present day. These old "Jimtown" ovens have recently been fired up and are used to-day by the Shannon Coal & Coke Co., of Uniontown. In 1872, the Henry AI. Freed tract of land, on which the Alover plant of the Soisson Brick Company now stands, was purchased, thus giving shipping points on the new Southwest Pennsylvania railroad, which was being built at the time as a feeder for the Pennsylvania railroad. This works was established by Joseph Soisson, John Kilpatrick and John Wilhelm, and the partnership w^as called Kilpat- rick, Soisson & Company. Later Mr. Wilhelm withdrew and Worth Kilpatrick succeeded his father, the firm name PLANTS OK THE SOISSdX KIKK I'.KICK. COMPANY MANUFACTURES 503 being changed to Soisson & Kilpatrick. Air. Kilpatrick finally withdrew from the firm and all of the works were consolidated under the name and style of Joseph Soisson and Sons. The Volcano yard at South Connellsville was built in 1883, and the Davidson yard, at the north end of town, in 188G. There were a number of changes in the name of the firm from time to time, but ]\Ir. Joseph Soisson has always exercised direct control of the business. In 189-i, the company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania with the title of the Joseph Soisson Fire Brick Company. Since 1894, the holdings of the company have been increased by the addition of three plants, the Diamond plant near Layton, the Lavenia plant below Dawson, and Kingston on the Ligonier Valley rail- road in Westmoreland county, making, all told, six well- equipped plants, producing 100,000 fire-brick daily. When ]\Ir. Soisson commenced operations in Fayette county forty-four years ago, the output was about 2,000 brick per day, his pay roll amounting to about $G00 per month. To-day the Joseph Soisson Fire Brick Company pay out for labor every month over $15,000. The capital stock of the company is $100,000 ; surplus, $150,000. The business is conducted by the following ofii- cers : Joseph Soisson, president ; W. F. Soisson, manager ; V. H. Soisson, secretary. PITTSBURGH ART STONE COMPANY. C. L. Edmonds and others organized this company under the laws of the District of Columbia in 1905, with a capital of $25,000. Its officers were, L. A. Howard, presi- dent; BVank R. Graham, vice-president; H. A. Crow, sec- retary ; Peter Rutsek, treasurer ; C. L. Edmonds, manager. These gentlemen, with John J. Enos and Dr. E. P. Clark, constituted the board of directors. Ground was purchased in "Dutch Bottom," near the 504 CENTEX XI AL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Soisson Fire Brick Company's works, and a l)uil(ling" erected entirely of artificial stone, including' the roof. 'Jdiis struc- ture is two stories high and occupies 30 feet by 5U feet. The company makes a specialty of artificial stone, but does all kinds of concrete construction and cement work. The most important contracts undertaken thus far are a church in the Oakland district. Pittsburgh, and a residence on the south side of Connellsville for Peter Rutsek, both of which are built of artificial stone throughout. Its work is becoming more and more popular and the officers think the business has a great future. The management contemplate incorporating under Pennsylvania laws and relinquishing the District of Colum- bia charter at an earl}- date. The number of directors has been reduced to five, who are also the officers of the com- pany, as follows : President, H. A. Crow ; vice-president. V. H. Soisson; secretary, Fred Xeuroth ; treasurer, Peter Rutsek ; manager, C. L. Edmonds. PLANING :MILLS AND BCILDING CONTRACTORS. David Walker & Company conducted a planing mill and did general contracting in the buildings formerly occu- pied by the old Fuller tannery on Grape alley. Some years previous to 1S80. he had abandoned the mill and retired from business. J. R. Balsley had been superintendent for James Calhoun and Company for a number of years, and desiring to start for himself, bought the old ])lant and cstal)- lished the Youghiogheny Lumber Yard in lSS-.\ using the old building for his planing mill and shop and the tan-yard for lumber storage. ITe put up a Ijuilding on tlie north west corner of the property, using the first fioor as an office and the second floor as a finishing shop for fine work. About 1885 he erected a two-story structure on Tiiis- burgh street, on part of the ])lot now occupied b\ the .Mc- Clenathan block, and used it as an (office and store room, adding a line of building sui)pHes. Al llie same lime he took into the firm Dr. S. S. ."^tahl, — the name Ikmul;- |. I\. I'.al-le\ :^IANUFACTURES 505 & Co. In 180'^ this partnership sold out to J. C. Munson and others. After a numher of years" retirement from the building and contracting business, Air. Balsley, a few years ago. estabhshed himself in New Haven under the old name of the "Youghioghenv Lumber Yard," giving most of his at- tention- to merchandising in lumber, builders' supplies, etc. FAYETTE LUAIBER COAIPAXY, LIMITED. This company was formed in 189"^. to take over the business of the Youghiogheny Lumber Yard. Its capital was $15,0UO, since increased to $20,000. Charles Davidson was made president; J. C. Munson, secretary and treasurer. These two gentlemen, with Col. J. J\I. Reid, constituted the board of managers. There has been no change in the management since the compau}- started, which in a measure accounts for the company's success. By a policy of fairness in dealing and attention to details maintained by them, they have gained for their com- pany an enviable reputation throughout this part of the state. The plant was lirst located in the buildings occupied by the Youghiogheny Lumber Yard, including the oflface on Pittsburgh street, but upon the erection of the McClenathan building, the company, being obliged to give up its office, purchased a site on Eighth street and Gibson avenue with Pennsylvania railroad connections. The office and planing mill is on the north side of Gibson avenue and the lumber 3'^ard on the south side. The mill is ec[uipped with nine electric motors, aggre- gating thirty-five horsepower. Each machine has its own independent motor, affording great economy in the use of power. The compan}" employs forty men the year round, and at times twice that number. Among the more important buildings erected by this company might be named the First Baptist Church, one of the most beautiful and costlv 506 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE churches in Connellsville, at the corner of South Pittsburgh street and Baldwin avenue. It also erected the Dunn- Paine building, the Third Ward school, both the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania railroad depots, the Slaymaker-Barry Company's buildings, the factory for the Pittsburgh Safe Company, the Sligo Iron & Steel Company, the residence of Charles Davidson, the Wishart building and Baptist Church at Dunbar, Pa., besides a great manv other resi- dences and business houses in Connellsville and vicinity. CONNELLSVILLE PLANING MILL COMPANY. Incorporated 1904, under Pennsylvania laws, with a capital of $25,000. H. M. Kerr is president; J. A. Arm- strong, vice-president, and J. A. Russell, secretary and treas- urer. This corporation succeeded to the business of Cal- houn & Company when the old mill was destroyed by reason of the taking over of the property by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. They built a new mill, operated by a gas engine on South alley and Arch street. Calhoun & Company, a partnership formed in 1883, were the successors of a long line of planing mill operators on the same site, beginning with Carson & Nickel, who were succeeded in time by Calhoun & Carson, James Cal- houn, and James Calhoun & Company. SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE LUMBER COMPANY. John F. Soisson, J. N. Sisley and others organized the above company and a charter was granted by the state of Pennsylvania, July loth, 1896. The capital stock was $10,- 000.00 full paid. The company was called into existence by the increased demand for dwellings caused 1)\' tlie ra]Md dcveloiiment of South Connellsville, the exj^loitation of which ])lacc had been started during the previous year. Its officers and directors were John F. Soisson, president ; J. X. Sisley. sec- retary and manager; Jose])h Wilson. W. II. Wilson and Joseph Welier. MANUFACTURES 507 A planing mill was erected at South Connellsville, and the company soon had a flourishing business. Most of the dwellings of South Connellsville were erected by it as well as many in other parts of Connellsville and New Haven. The present officers are : Vincent H. Soisson, presi- dent ; W. S. Ringer, secretary and treasurer. These, with Michael Hurley, W. F. Soisson and G. A. Whitney, con- stitute the board of directors. CONNELLSVILLE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. On the evening of February 23rd, 1903, a meeting was held in the parlors of the First National Bank of Connells- ville, and an organization known as the Connellsville Con- struction Company formed for the purpose of doing gen- eral contracting, building, painting, and retailing builders' supplies. Offices were secured in the First National Bank building, and property purchased on Gibson avenue and Railroad street for use as a general yard. The authorized capital of this company is $50,000.00, $19,800.00 having been paid in. It is incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, its charter being dated March 25th, 1903. At the time of its formation, there were 46 stockholders. At the stockholders' meeting, the following officers and directors were elected to serve for one year from that date : President, F. T. Evans ; vice president, C. M. Hyatt ; secre- tary, J. Fred Kurtz ; treasurer, C. D. Schell ; manager, A. M. Haines. Directors. — F. T. Evans, E. T. Norton, C. M. Hyatt, C. D. Schell, John Curry, G. W. Stauffer and A. M. Haines. The present officers and directors are : President, F. T. Evans; vice president, C. ]\I. Hyatt; secretary and treas- urer, J. Fred Kurtz ; manager, A. iM. Haines. Directors. — F. T. Evans, E. T. Norton, C. M. Hyatt, E. C. Higbee, John Curry, A. M. Haines and J. A. Guiler. From its inception, the Connellsville Construction Com- pany entered into the business life of Connellsville with 508 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE energy, and it has been a prominent factor in furthering- the interests best calculated to bring the town favorabl}- to the notice of investors and business men. It has not confined itself to doing work for others ; numerous pieces of real estate, in different sections of the citv, have been purchased, and up-to-date, modern dwell- ings erected thereon, same being sold outright upon com- pletion. Approximately, 135 houses and buildings have Ijeen erected since 1903. From sixty to eighty carpenters, painters, masons. drivers, laborers, etc., are employed throughout the year. This company's operations have covered considerable territory, work having been done in Connellsville, South Connellsville, New Haven, Greenwood, Leisenring, Dun- bar, Upper Middletown, Dawson, Vanderbilt. and Moyer. Among the larger buildings erected by them are the fol- lowing: Young Men's Christian Association, The Aaron Company, Masonic Temple, Baltimore & Ohio freight and passenger depot, Leisenring and Greenwood school build- ings, First National Bank building at Dunbar, shops for the H. C. Frick Coke Company at Bitner, h^irst National Bank building at Vanderbilt, etc., etc. Merchandise bought. — 1903, $49,37 5. tiT; 1904, S4(i,- 282.59; 1905, $67,102.30; 1906, $53,614.21. Wages paid. — 1903, $23,901.73; 1901, $23.2SS.-I2: 1905. $27,882.46; 1906, $31,645.03. . Business done.— 1903, $81,128.15; 190^. $9 1.5|;!.51: 1905, $106,061.73; 1906, $98,903.22. THE KEYSTONE PLANING MILL COMl'A.W. Incorporated in the latter part of 1905 with a capital of $5,000.00, the latest addition to Connellsvillc's planing mills and lumber companies has started off ver\ auspiciouslv and has already provided for an increase in iis cai)ital stock of $15,000.00 making a total of $20,0()().(i() i)aier until IMarch ?lst, lSo(i. when the business was closed and the partnership dissolved, its afifairs being wound up by D. S. Knox. The paper manufactured at this mill was of a very superior qualitv, caused as it was said by the clearness and purity of the water of the Youghioghen\- river, which was used in the process. The product of this mill was shipped by the boat load to New Orleans and other jxtints ou the lower river. The business done here both by the original i)ro])rie- tors and their successors (but particularly by Mr. Knox and his associates), was very large and quite a little vil- lage grew up in the vicinit)- of the mill. The ruins of the old mill were still standing and could l)e easily seen from the cars until a few years ago. when the necessities of the railroad for more tracks al)ont de- stroyed them. An old stone house is al)out all thai remains of the once jirosperous manufactor_\- and its neighboring" dwellings. MANUFACTURES 513 The Trevor family had a paper mill in Xew Haven succeeding- Col. Miller, which was afterwards leased to Gebhart & Freeman ( Herman Gebhart and Samuel Free- man alread\' mentioned ) . It was located where Kell Long's warehouse now stands. S. CROSSLAND CARRIAGE AND WAGON COMPANY. In the vear 1839 Samuel Crossland began the manu- facture of "good road wagons" on the left bank of the Youghioghenv river near Broad Ford. He was eminently successful in the production of heavy wagons for farming and other purposes, and became famed far and wide for the wearing qualities of his wagons. A gentleman born and raised in the vicinity of Con- nellsville purchased a farm about 1885, in the highlands of North Carolina ; upon taking possession he concluded to raze an old shed that stood at "an out-of-the-way point on the property. He found within it the front truck of a wagon in good condition, and remarked at once that it had a familiar look. Upon making inquiry he learned that the wagon had been on the property for "upwards of fifty years." and onlv a few years before had the hind-truck been destroyed. He though it looked like a "Crossland wagon," but was ready to abandon the idea when he learned its age. A few davs later in handling some of the boards from the old structure, one of his men found the side-board of a wagon with "Crossland. Pa." painted on it — dim yet legible. The little plant at Broad Ford was oftimes heavily taxed to keep up with the demand which grew apace as the quality of workmanship and material put in the Cross- land wagons became known. The sons of Samuel Crossland were trained to the trade and assisted in the shops. The business was man- aged by the father until 1888, when H. T. Crossland took over the management on account of the advanced age of the founder who was then in his seventy-second year. 514 CENTENKIi\L HISTORY OF COXXlii.LS\'ILI.I': Two years later M. C. Crossland came into the tirni and it was called S. Crossland's Sons. In l!»(il the l)usi- ness was incorporated under Pennsylvania laws with a capital of $4(),0()().()(). H. T. Crossland is the i)resident and treasurer ; W. A. Huster is secretary. THE RIVERSIDE AIETAL REEIXIXG COM PAX Y. In 1895 Charles F. Hood, P. S. Xewmyer and Harr\' S. Stout organized the Riverside Manufacturing Conipanw for the purpose of refining and smelting metals and re- claiming waste. A factory was erected on Race street near Trump run consisting of two buildings about 40 x 100 feet each, one of which was used for the smelting works, and the other for taking the oil out of greasy waste and making it as "good as new," the oils being saved in the process. The business was continued for several years Vv'ith ap- parent success, but finally discontinued for lack of suffi- cient capital. H. S. Stout and others then organized the Riverside Manufacturing and Supply Company, Limited, with a capi- tal of $10,000.00. The property of its predecessor shortl}' thereaftei passed into the hands of the Crescent ^^lanufacturing Com- pany, and Mr. Stout erected a frame building on Cedar avenue at the corner of Vine street and continued the metal refining and smelting lousiness and handled a line of supi)lies for manufactories such as. waste, oil. i)acking. etc. Upon the death of Mr. St(^ut which Innk ])lace a few- years after the estaJDlishment of the works, the business was continued bv his j^artners, W'm. (i. Mar(|ua, b^hn L. Gans and others, who, in September, I'.Mi;. organized the Riverside Metal Refining ComjDany, with an authorized cap- ital of $-35,000. 01). of vJiich $15,000.01) was paid in. I'he side line of su])])lies was disconliuued and cs]H'cial allen- tion "Mven to the metal business. MANUFACTURES 515 The products consist of ingot copper, ingot brass, pig tin, pig lead, spelter, babbitts, solders, phosphor bronze and special alloys made to formulae. Ilie president of the company is E. T. Norton ; sec- retary and treasurer. John L. Gans ; manager, C. W. Nor- ton , sales manager, A. L. Klaus, with an office in the Wa- bash Building, Pittsburgh. HIGHLAND ELECTRO-CHEAHCAL MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY. With the rapid growth of the manufacture of electri- cal machinery and instruments came a demand for a solder- ing compound or flux to take the place of acids which had always been used in the soldering process — the acid injures the insulation and many chemists have endeavored to find a substitute. In the fall of 1(S9G, Charles F. Hood, started the man- ufacture in Connellsville of a soldering paste which over- came the objections to acid — inasmuch as the necessary fluxes are contained in an "envelope" not injurious and being in paste form will not run or spread but stay just where it is wanted. The business has grown remarkabl}' — the product be- ing sold in all parts of the world. Wherever electrical work is carried on, "Highland paste" is known and used. The output was 23,000 pounds last year, having a value of $23,- 000.00. The factory is located on Race street. HUSSAR CHEMICAL COMPANY. Another of Mr. C. F. Hood's enterprises is the man- ufacture of a soldering stick (in tubes) and chloride of zinc salts (in bottles) for the tinning and canning trade, under the above title. This is different from the paste in that the parts to be soldered are first heated, causing the compound to spread. It is much used by manufacturing jewelers and in some lines of electrical work as well. 516 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONXELLSN'JLLE The business was started in IDUT). Associated with Air. Hood in this company is J. L. Schick. The sales last year amounted to 5,000 pounds valued at $5,000.00. HIGHLAND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY. Organized in 1905 by Chas. F. Hood and others for the purpose of manufacturing non-corrosive coating for ise on mine pumps, pipes, etc., wherever exposed to sulphur water. This coating has been found to be excellent also, in ice plants, breweries and like plants where machinery is affected by acids. They manufacture also a red oxide paint for tinners* use in painting roofs, spouting, etc., and a black paint for structural iron work — bridges, fences, fire escapes, furnace stacks and all iron work exposed to the weather. The output last year was two barrels per da}', valued at $20,000.00. The two companies last named occupy the old Cres- cent Manufacturing Company's plant. TRI-STATE CANDY COMPANY. This company was incorporated February 15th. liMKi. under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, for the jiur- pose of manufacturing confectionery and conducting a wholesale business in confectioneries and kindred lines. The corporation was formed for the purpose of takin;.; over the business of Doyle, r>rill & Co.. and Car])cnler Bros., co-partnerships which had 1)een conducting a like business for some years previously. The company has erected at the corner of reach and Arch streets a handsome three-story l)rick building ."l.') x \-\'' feet with a finisJTed basement under the whole. The building is e{|uipped in the most u])-to-(laU' >l\le for the ])ro])er handling of the growing l)usin(.>s oi tlir com])any. MANUFACTURES 517 CONNELLSA'ILLE MANUFACTURING CO^IPANY. This company was organized some eight years ago for the purpose of manufacturing Chmax Washing Tablets. The plant is located in New Haven and has quite an output in its specialty which is in great demand for laundering, cleaning wood-w^ork and paints-, polishing glass, renovat- ing carpets, rugs and general cleaning". It was first manufactured under the name of the Ivory Washing Tablet, but the manufacturers of Ivory Soap con- sidered it an infringement of their trade-mark, so the name was changed to Climax Washing Tablets. I. C. Smitz is at the head of this enterprise. MUNSON HEATER COAIPANY. LHIITED. Incorporated in 190-5 for the purpose of manufacturing heaters on the direct hot-air plan. They have cjuite an establishment at the north end of town near the Sligo Iron & Steel Company's works. The product is very popular and the demand has al- ready made necessary extensive additions to the plant. J. C. Alunson is president, George A. ]\Iunson, secre- tary and treasurer: AA'. J. \\^oodall, manager: P. C. Cash, general sales agent. THE CRESCENT MANUFACTURING CO. AND THE LACKAWANNA LUBRICATOR CO. Was organized in January, 1900, by Pittsburgh and Cleveland parties, and a majority of the stock was accjuired b}' Connellsville people in June of the same year. It began business in the old Riverside Works on Trump run at the southern extremity of the borough. The principal line man- ufactured consisted of brass goods used in sanitary plumb- ing such as hot and cold double bath cocks, compression bibbs, basin cocks in various styles, gas cocks, ball cocks, tank trimmings, traps of all sorts and styles, "connected wastes" overflows, etc., etc. 518 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE In October, 1901, those interested in the Crescent ]\lan- ufacturing Company secured by purchase all the stock, real estate, plant and equipment of the Lackawanna Lubricator Company of Wilmington, Del., formerly located at Scran- ton, Pa. This corporation controls valuable patents cover- ing a line of automatic grease cups and sight feed lubri- cators which have an established reputation among con- sumers. The two companies gave employment to about lUO men and boys and had annual output of about $120,000.00. Scottdale parties became heavily interested in the con- cern and about 1903 the establishment was moved to that place. The officers during the last year of operation in Con- nellsville were: W. F. Stauffer, president; D. B. Williams, general manager ; Geo. T. Griffin, treasurer ; Robert Klemm, superintendent, of the Crescent Manufacturing Company, and John M. Staufifer, president; Chas. H. Smith, Jr., vice president ; Geo. T. Griffin, secretary and treasurer of the Lackawanna Lubricator Company. HUMBERT TIN PLATE COMPANY. South Connellsville was first brought into notice, in- dustrially, during the year 1895, when the organization of the Connellsville Sheet Iron and Tin Plate Company, for the purpose of building a sheet iron and tin i)late works at that place was accomplished. The incorporators of the company were: Cieorgc J. Humbert, G. W. Humbert, A. ^I. King, jr., and T. R. Morgan, all of whom were also directors of it. George J. Humbert was president and treasurer ; G. W. Humliert, vice president; A. M. King, Jr., secretary. A large piece of land was secured from tlic Connells- ville Extension Com])any and work started at once. The plant was completed and i)ut in operation in (^ctol)or, 1S!m;. and consisted of f(nn- mills with C()nii)lotc annealing and tinning equipment. MANUFACTURES 519 The name of the corporation was changed about this time to the Humbert Tin Plate Company. Two additional mills were added during 1897, making it a complete six mill plant, which was successfully operated as such until sold to the American Tin Plate Company in the fall of 1898. It gave employment to 450 men. W. H. Baldridge, of New York, was made secretary and treasurer during 1897, succeeding A. M. King, Jr. The Stickney Iron and Steel Company of Baltimore was leased and operated by the Humbert Tin Plate Company from 189 T until the latter company sold out. The American Tin Plate Company was purchased by the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, which is one of the subsidiary companies of the Cnited States Steel Cor- poration. The plant has not been in operation for some months, it being the policy of the Steel Corporation to operate the smaller plants only when the needs of the trade demand it. Everything about the works is, however, kept in excellent repair and ready to start on short notice. SLAYAIAKER-BARRY COMPANY. BALDWIN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY. The largest lock factory in the world was established at South Connellsville in 1893, and operated steadily and successfully until the fall of 1808 when it was almost com- pletely destroyed by fire. The company gave constant em- ployment to over 200 men and boys, and was much missed in the industrial community surrounding Connellsville. After it was rebuilt the automobile industry began to de- velop on a large scale and the nianagemen': — having the necessary machinery — thought it an opportunity to go into the manufacture of automobiles. In 1900 it was turned into a factory for that purpose, manufacturing all the parts of a steam-propelled automobile, excepting wheels, tires and bodies. The plant was quite extensive and gave employment to o20 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE several hundred men. The main building" was a machine shop and erecting rooms, 400 feet by 40 feet with a lean-to 200 feet by 30 feet. The boiler house was 40 feet l)y DO feet and besides it had complete iron and brass foundries and a hammer shop. Most of the construction was iron and brick. The manufacture of automobiles was a little prema- ture as the business was still in the experimental stage and the owners becoming disappointed in the returns discon- tinued the business. The plant is in excellent condition and repair and will probably be utilized at an early day for some profitable purpose. During" the operation of the automobile works IGO men, mostly mechanics were regularly emplo}-ed. PITTSBURGH SAFE COAIPAXY. On the 4th day of December, 1002, this company was incorporated under Pennsylvania laws with a capital stock of $1,000.00. x\n organization was efl^ected May 20th. l!*o;5. when George J. H. Goehler was elected president; iM-ed L. Xor- ton, secretary, and Adolph B. Goehler, treasurer. These gentlemen also constituted the board of directors. x\t a special meeting of the stockholders held July 22nd. 1903, it was voted to increase the capital stock tt) $ I ■")(•, - 000.00. On July 31st following, new by-laws were adoi)te(l increasing the number of directors to seven. J. A. DeW'itt. Joseph McConnell, B. T. Sherrick and J. D. Madigan were elected to make up the numlier required and at the same meeting Adolph B. Goehler resigned and \\ . II. Ilrown was elected treasurer and a director in his ])l;ice. j. I ). Madigan was chosen vice jiresident as ihe new h\-la\\> make such an officer necessary. Ground was ])iu-chased from Joseph Soisson at ."^outli Connellsville and a plant erected at once. The factors ha> two main buildings ;'>•") feel b\' 2r)(i I'cct each, with a court hft\- feet wide between them. These buildings arr ji>inrd PLANT OF THE PITTSBURGH SAFE COMPANY 522 CENTENNIi\L HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE at one end by a building 40 feet by 50 feet. From one of the main buildings a blacksmith shop 30 by 40 feet and a cabinet room 40 by 50 feet extend into the court. Alto- gether the arrangement makes an excellent shop and a pleasant place to work. The company employs, on an aver- age ninety-five people at the factory and thirteen in the office and as salesmen. About ten finished safes are turned out for each work- ing day. The business has been steadily increasing and the entire output from its jobbing department has been sold for the next year, in advance. Shipments have been made from this factory to every part of the United States as well as to Canada, Mexico and the South American states. At the last annual meeting J. D. Madigan was elected president ; H. T. Cochran, vice president ; Fred L. Norton, secretary, and W. H. Brown, treasurer. These gentlemen with Kell Long, Joseph McConnell and J. A. DeWitt. con- stitute the present board of directors. AMERICAN ALUMINUM COATING COMPANY. A growing enterprise located at South Connellsville is the American Aluminum Coating Company, incor]:)orate(l in June, 190(i, with a capital of $200,000.00. The president of the company is George J. Humbert ; secretary and treasurer, G. W. Delamater, oi Pittsburgli ; superintendent, W. C. \^oight. The directors are Cieorge W. Delamater, George J. Humbert and Lewis \\'alker. The business of the compan\- consists of coating steel sheets with aluminum, the product being used for roofing, flashing, spouting, and most of the uses to which galvanized iron and tin plate are put — aluininuni nol being subject to corrosion or rust, it is especialK' desirabk' inv work ex- posed to weather or hard wear. Since its introduction to the trade there has been a special demand for aluminum coated sheets bv automobile manufacttu-crs as it takes a much nicer finisli tlian other materials. ha\-ing a smoother surface. MANUFACTURES 523 The process is electro-plating on a large scale. The steel plates, from 10 guage, down to much thinner sizes, in sheets 8G inches wide by 120 inches long, are arranged on edge in a properly prepared bath or solution contained in tanks on either side of which are the electrodes. The aluminum being deposited by the action of the electric cur- rent between the electrodes. THE CONNELLSVILLE FLINT GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED. Organized September 15th, 1888, with a capital stock of $15,000.00 paid in. which was increased the following year to $30,000.00, authorized capital, of which $28,500.00 was paid in. The officers and managers were as follows: B. F. Boyts, president; J. C. Kurtz, secretary and treasurer; J. M. Reid, Joseph Soisson. Worth Kilpatrick and John F. Soisson. A list of the stockholders follows : B. F. Boyts 20 shares Charles Davidson 20 E. Dunn 10 " John D. Frisbee 10 " A. J. Johnston 10 " J. M. 'Kurtz 5 Worth Kilpatrick 20 J. C. Kurtz 20 " Kell Long 20 J. C. Munson 10 J. T. McCormick 20 " G. W. Newcomer 20 J. M. Reid 20 " J. F. Soisson 20 Peter Soisson 10 J. J. Singer 20 " Joseph Soisson 20 " J. A. Zimmerman 10 " Total .- 285 shar es 524 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELESNTLI.E The company purchased ground near the Davidson Coke Works — about the present location of the Pittsburo^h Art Stone Company and erected a four pot plant for the manufacture of table ware, colored and plain lamp shades, vases, etc. The enterprise started with every indication of suc- cess, but it soon developed that the practical men upon whom the management must depend could not agree among" themselves, and soon bickerings and quarrels sprung- up. making" frequent changes necessary and resulting" finally in the dissolution of the company. The business was continued for several years and finally dissolved about September 11, ISOli. BREWERIES. The first brewerv of Connellsville was located near the present site of the Frisbee store. The water was piped from the large spring on East Main street in wooden conduits some of which were dug" up only a few years ago, when workmen were excavating for a sewer. The time of oper- ating this brewery cannot be definitely ascertained but it was early in the nineteenth century. Christian Snyder and David Welsh erected a brewery about 18T0 on IMountain allex* at the northeast corner of Apple street. It was a three-story building, the first story being built of hammer-dressed stone and the second and third stories frame. The firsr story is still ^^tanding". having been incorpor- ated into the tenement house which (X'cui:)ied the site of the old brewerv until purchased and C(»n\eric(l into ihe distilling" house of the Connellsville Distilling" C"omi)any. Ale was the onlv product of this establishment and thev made about "i.ooo barrels a year. L'suall\ two "brews" a week were made of about twenty barrels each. The water was taken from the "jane Smith .S])ring"" in ihe i>l(l stone quarry. ( )nl\- malt and hops were used— the ainl)i- tion of Mr. Sn\(ler l)eing to ha\'e his product ahsohurlx MANUFACTURES pure and he would agree to no substitutes or adulterations. The process was very simple : The malt was put in a large copper kettle resting over a furnace on the first floor and extending through to the second story where it was filled from a platform. After being boiled the malt was drawn off into a mash tub where it was stirred with long sticks and allowed to settle. When it had sufficiently cleared it was again drawn ofif into a smaller tub, allowed to settle and then pumped back into the kettle. The hops were now added and the fires started once more under the kettle. After this mixture had been prop- erly boiled it was drawn off into a tub called a "tun" when the yeast was added and after being fermented there it was put in barrels called puncheons. The bungs were left out of these barrels and the contents allowed to ferment again — through the bung-holes. The beer was cooled by running it over copper tubes filled with cold water — the cooling room was a wooden trough about six inches deep and twenty-five to thirty feet square — holding about twenty barrels. The ale was stored until properly aged in cellars or caves about thirty feet under ground and reached by a series of sub-cellars, back of the brewery — insuring an even temperature and the final cave being cold storage. The plant never paid ^lessrs. Snyder and Welsh — some say the product was "too good." In 1877 it was destroyed by fire. PITTSBURGH BREWIXG. COMPANY. About October 1st, 1890, Rockwell Marietta and Mar- cus Marietta began the erection of a brewery at the corner of Pulaski and Eighth streets. The building was com- pleted the following year, and the first beer made in Octo- ber, 1891. In the meantime they had organized the CONNELLSVILLE BREWING COMPANY. A co-partnership composed of Marcus and Rockwell Marietta, ]. D. ]\Iadigan and Peter Soisson. 526 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Rockwell Marietta was superintendent and manager. The sales for the first year averaged 500 barrels per month. In ISyJ: Marcus IMarietta sold his interest to S. E. Frock and Cyrus Echard and Mr. Frock was made super- intendent and manager. Shortly thereafter Peter Soisson died and his interest passed to his sons. W'm. H., and Augustus D. Soisson. During the spring of 1898 a consolidation of the more important breweries of Pittsburgh and vicinity was effected under the name of the Pittsburgh Brewing Company. Ne- gotiations were at once started for the purchase of the plant and business of- the Connellsville Brewing Company, which was accomplished in December, 1808. Joseph D. JMadigan of the old campany was retained as superinten- dent, and has held the position ever since, in addition he has been made a district superintendent with headquarters at Connellsville. The business has grown steadily, until at the present time the sales average 3,000 barrels per month. The old German process of manufacture has been maintained — the management having never adopted the new carbonating pro- cess, believing the old method to be better. The plant cov- ering an acre of ground employs fifty men and fifteen teams. It is equipped in the most modern way and is now abantl- oning steam for electric power. It has four boilers of 80 horse power each, two ice machines with a capacity of 110 tons a day and storage for over 5,0i)0 barrels of l^eer. WHITE ROCK DISTILLING CO^IIWNY. In 1894 ]\Iark Gemas bought a large piece of ground near the Yough Brewing Company on South .\rcli street and contiguous to the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. On this he erected a modern distillery with an annual (luli)ul of 1,300 barrels. It was called the Gemas l)islilk'r\- and was sold about 1S9S to W. C. Reynolds, who ran the business till 1900. In this latter \ear S. K. Reed, Lewis W. Ree.l. J. L. and |. C. .Martin entered into a ])artnershi]) under the MANUFACTURES 527 name of the White Rock Distilhng Company, and bought Reynolds out. The distihery had increased its capacity to about 2,000 barrels per annum and was producing close to that amount. On June 2nd, 1902, the company was incorporated under Pennsylvania laws with a capital of $50,000.00, tak- ing the name of the White Rock Distilling Company, with the following officers, who were also the directors of the company : President, J. I. Martin ; vice president, J- C. Alartin ; secretary, Lewis W. Reed ; treasurer and superin- tendent, S. K. Reed. During 1904 the old Zachariah Connell homestead, at the corner of Fairview avenue and Arch street was pur- chased, and a new plant erected thereon, which was com- pleted and occupied October 18th, 1904. This plot contains 66 feet by 165 feet and the company built three brick build- ings, consisting of a distillery four stories in height, a four- story ware-house and a two-story salesroom and office. The equipment is modern in every respect — the latest and most approved methods of manufacture being emploved. The present output is about 2,000 barrels a year. S. K., and L. AA\ Reed bought the interests of J. I., and J- C. ]\Iartin in April, 1905 ; later Lewis AV. Reed died and the officers and directors of the company are now : L. Guy Reed, president ; S. K. Reed, vice president and treasurer ; Anton Pollak. secretarv. CONNELLSVILLE DISTILLING COMPANY. This company was organized in February, 1902, and incorporated under Pennsylvania laws March 4th, 1902. Clair Stillwagon was president ; George B. Snvder, sec- retary, and Marcus Marietta, treasurer. These three were also the directors of the company. The distillery was erected on the site of the old Snyder brewery. The first story of the present building being that of the original brewery. The old power house of the Electric Company on Grape alley has since been pur- 528 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE chased from the West Penu Railways Company and is now nsed as a warehouse bv the DistiUing' Company. The out- put of the plant at the present time amounts to over 500 barrels of whiskey per year. There have been several changes in the personnel of the officers of the company, who at present are: Larimer Stillwagon, president ; George B. Sn}-der, secretary and treasurer. CHAPTER XIV. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The history of the Centennial celebration is unique in the annals of Connellsville. Nothing like it was ever held before and it will likely be many years before anything sim- ilar is attempted. ( /)nly those directly connected with the great event can realize the vast amount of work entailed in getting matters in proper shape. It must be remembered that the men who conceived the Centennial were amateurs, as it were, and the wonder of it all is not that they did not do better, but that they did so well. The celebration was held on August 14, 15, 16 and li, in the year of our Lord, 1906. Those four days mark the greatest event in the history of Connellsville, and while not as lasting as the coke which has made Connellsville's name famous, they will long be remembered by her citi- zens. All historic paths in Connellsville lead to the great Centennial. It is doubtful if any one man is entitled to the credit of originating the idea of a Centennial celebration. It was one of those spontaneous movements which occur in the historv of every town. This chronicle of the events which took place pertains entirely to facts. The story is written of the events which occurred. The idea originated, it is believed, sometime in the fall of 1905, It rapidly took on a tangible form, as the idea of a big celebration in honor of the town's one hun- dredth anniversary appealed to the patriotism .oi every citi- zen. The first meeting to consider the matter was held January 9, 1906, and others followed until all details were completed. These meetings were usually enthusiastic, but there were times when General Apathy had control. The selection of a date proved a difficult proposition, but the 529 W^" '^9^ ^*f^' if.:.-«^ THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 531 above named ones were finally decided upon as being most satisfactory to all concerned. A Centennial Association was formed with the fol- lowing officers : President, Rockwell Marietta ; first vice president, E. Dunn ; second vice presidents, John D. Fris- bee. Worth Kilpatrick, Joseph Soisson, F. E. Markell, L. F. Ruth and Kell Long : recording secretary. W. D. ]\Ic- Ginnis ; corresponding secretary, R. S. Coll, and treasurer, L \A\ Rutter. The great burden of the -.vork, however, fell on the executive committee, composed of Chairman Clair Stillwagon ; secretary, Josiah B. Kurtz ; assistant sec- retary, W. F. Brooks ; C. M. Hyatt, P. S. Newmyer, Frank R. Bradford, Charles Davidson, John D. Sherrick, J. D. Madigan, P. J. Harrigan, 0. Marietta, Robert Felty, R. D. North, John Dean, A. D. Soisson, George B. Brown, Harry Dunn, L Aaron, Col. J. M. Reid, E. C. Higbee, B. F. Boyts, Robert Norris, R. A. Doerner, William AlcCormick, John Irwin, George Porter and H. P. Snyder. Numerous other committees attending to various details of the work worked in conjunction with the executive committee. For many weeks these various committees worked to- gether, formulating plans for the celebration. Few of those interested realized the amount of work the project entailed until they came face to face with it. In spite of this, wdien the morning of Tuesday, August 14, dawned, it found everything in readiness. The town was beauti- ful in her holiday garb. Every business house was be- decked with bunting and flags, together with many resi- dences. The streets were beautified by large white arches, bright with flags by day and brilliant with electric lights by night. At the corner of Main and Pittsburgh streets, the business center of Connellsville, was erected the mon- ster coal and coke arch of the H. C. Frick Coke Company. This was the feature display of the occasion, it being some- thing entirely original and unique. It was built under the direction of three Frick superintendents, P. J. Tormay, of Trotter, C. B. Franks, of Leisenring, No. 1, and R. C. 0'S2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Beerbower, of Davidson. Chief Electrician W. W. Iforner arranged the ().")7 incandescent lights. The coal and coke used in its construction was picked from the mines and yards of the three plants named. Most of the coke was of the regulation 7 "3 hour foundry variety, although some was burned longer especially for this ])urpose. Idie arch cost more than one thousand dollars. An information booth was established near the arch, convenient to all points. Here were stationed two young men whose duty it was to direct strangers. The bureau was of great value to visitors at all times during the celebra- tion. The visiting newspaper men were well taken care of by the press committee, a room in the Smith House having been equipped with typewriters and other necessi- ties of a reporter. Stafif correspondents of the Pittsburgh pa])ers who attended found the quarters a great conven- ience, as did the local scribes. Ample police protection was provided, but the crowds proved exceptionallv orderly. Arrests were comparatively few and most of the charges were of a trivial nature. The regular force was augmented by the addition of several special men. The West Penn Railways Company also had its full force of special offi- cers on cars at all times while detectives from Pittsburgh kept a watch for crooks and pickpockets. The mammoth coal and coke arch erected on Brim- stone corner by the H. C. Frick Coke Company was not the only feature display of the celebration. The Ualtimcn-c & Ohio railroad, a big factor in the town's i)usiness afifairs, went to considerable expense and had the largest engine in the L^nited States placed on display during the four da\s. This was the Xo. '^400 oi the Mallet ty])e, heller known ])\ railroad men and the ])ublic generally as "( )ld Maude." This engine was (^le of the feature exhi])ils ^li the railroads at the St. Louis Expcxsition. ll is real!\- l\\o engines in one and is used on the Connells\-ille dixision ol llie road as a hel])er between Rockwood and .Sand ralcli. The (.'iigine was suilahl}- decoratecl and ri'sle(l on a siding neai" the depol thp: h. c. frick com, and coke arch 534 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE during" the time it was on displa}'. On the same track with this powerful engine was placed one of the old time loco- motives of the company, showing the wonderful improve- ments made in motive power. Another interesting feature was the Museum, presided over by the ladies of the Museum committee. This exhibit was located in the old Pennsylvania railroad station on Pittsburgh street, and relics of all kinds belonging to pion- eer families of the town were displa3'ed. The museum was kept open all day, during which time it was visited by thousands of people. The grave of Zachariah Connell, the founder of Con- nellsville, was not forgotten and, after being neglected for almost a century, the family burying ground of the Connell family, to the north of town, was purged of weeds and rubbish, a neat, substantial fence erected around it, and a. tombstone placed over the grave. Tuesday morning, August 14, brought with it ideal weather. Promptly at seven o'clock hundreds of whistles and bells pealed forth their summons, announcing the open- ing of the great event. Each succeeding morning this prac- tice was followed. Every train and street car entering Connellsville was crowded with visitors to town, many of whom were returning" for the first time after years of ab- sence. It was literally "home coming week" for Connells- ville. The first event began at 10 o'clock, when the crowds gathered on South Pittsburgh street to hear the address of welcome by Burgess A. D. Soisson and the o])ening" speech by Judge Edmund H. Reppert of Unlonrown. Im-imii a mammoth platform liuilt (in the high school grounds a grand chorus of several hundred school children, led by Professor A. B. Morton and accompanied 1)\ the Ci^nnells- ville Military Band, formed a living American llag and sang patriotic songs. J. 'SI. Lytle. Esq., one of the oldest li\ing" residents of Connellsville, presided on the speaker's stand, erected on the street between the hio-h school and library. .■);!() CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Rev. William A. Edie. delivered the invoLciLion. thanking the Divine Creator for the blessings he had showered on the commnnity and praying for a continuance of the same. Burgess Soisson was then introduced and delivered the following address of welcome : ADDRESS OF BURGESS A. D. SOISSON. ^Nlr. President and Fellow Citizens, Honored Guests, l.adics and Gentlemen: We are assembled today to celebrate witb fitting ceremonies and observances tlie one hundredth anniversary of the incorpo- ration of our town. To trace its growth and development and narrate its early history is not my duty or purpose. Rather it is for me to open these memorial exercises with a word or two of kindly welcome to the manj^ strangers within our gales who have accepted our invitation to assist on this gala day. It is with pardona1)le pleasure and justifiable pride that we meet on this occasion and enter upon the ensuing festivities. One hundred .years is a landmark in this country. The national life of the United States numbers but one hundred and twenty- five years, so that the borough life of our town is almost co- extensi.ve with the national life of the United States. If, how- ever, we could point to nothing but tlie lapse of time, our boast would be idle, l~)ut fortunately for us we are not left in sucli plight. Through various and changing vicissitudes we have ever gained and grown. Though our advancement has ne\er been irregular and spasmodic, it has ever been constant and normal. From a small hamlet clustered in the forest on tlie hill by the river's side, we have grown to a hustling business city, known throitghout the world wherever the iron horse has carried the light of civilization. To our guests and visitors I tender the hospitalit\' of our people. To the former citizens and residents returned to ihe scenes of early life I extend a cordial greeting. One and all I bid you welcome to our city, and hope thai our meeting together shall be for good, and that at the close of this celebration we may one and all, host and guest, feel that it is a ])leasure to have been here. At the close of this ])leasiiig iiivilalioii from the lUirgess, Squire L\tle introduced the s])eakci" of llie (Taw judge l'"d- mtmd II. keijpert of I'uionlowii. |udm' keiiijcrt was given THE CENTENNIAL CEI-K1!KATI0N a rousing- welcome and proceeded, in a loud, clear voice, to deliver one of the finest addresses ever heard here. ADDRESS OF JUDGE E. H. RErPEKf. On the Jirst day of iVIarch, ]80(), the General Assembly of Pennsylvania passed an act which provided and declared that the town of Connellsville and vicinity in Fayette count}' shall be and the same is hereby erected into a borough which shall be called the "Borough of Connellsville." We have met licre to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the day, a day that marked an event wliich in a large measure affected the develop- ment of the natural resources of our country, determined its industries and moulded the character of its people. Small the borough was in population, for the names of its voters numbered but 32, but in courage and self-reliance and in a firm faith in their future, these few were a host. They were a part of the might}' army of pioneers who opened the way for the march of the nations across the continent. On that list are names familiar to those of the present day — Barnes, Banning. Barnhart and Blackstone, Connell and Colestock, Evans. Mor- row, Page. Snyder, Trevor and others. Among them also is the name of Cornelius Woodruff, who kept a tavern. With what unction could he exclaim, were he here today, after listening to the story of the century's progress, "1 told j'ou so," for on the ffy-leaf of one of his books was written this prophecy in his own handwriting: "For those who will come after us will find vast and unde- veloped mines of material for men to work upon, treasures of untold wealth that are now hid from us. All must have ob- served that the progress of the arts and sciences and the gospel, like the sun, is from the east to the west. As the celestial light of the gospel was directed here by the finger of God, it will doubtless drive the heathenness from our land and, marching- through the vast deserts now westward, will develop the hidden g-ems and stores of gold and silver. Huge mountains and mines of these ores will be discovered. It will give employment to millions, not only for war, but for peaceful occupations and the wants of life. These vast quarries will give work for the mechanic to build monuments for the renowned of America, those heroes who gave up their warm blood to save this land for the coming millions. Some great inventions will be made to carrj' on commerce and communication in this to-be-great country." Marvelous it seems that in a little log tavern in Connells- 538 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE ville 100 years ago should have been foretold the untold riches of the gold and silver mines of the Pacific coast, the far greater riches of the coal mines of Fayette county and western Penn- sylvania and the vast system of transportation by land and sea developed and made possible by inventions in the application of steam power and electricity to navigation and railways. Even in that day the town gave evidence of the energy and enterprise that have always distinguished its people. Among its early in- dustries were boat building, milling, the manufacture of agri- cultural implements, pottery and cloth, iron works and the manufacture of pig iron into the finished product, such as rails,, castings, etc., and these industries flourished until local condi- tions and development diverted commercial activity into more profitable channels. With characteristic foresight the people of this communit}' early perceived the great value of railway facilities. While prominent and influential men in other sections of this country were successfully opposing the location and construction of the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio through our territory, moved by the short-sighted belief that the National road was better adapted to promote the public welfare than railroads and that the proposed railroad would ruin the National road and the people of the county, the citizens of Connellsville took a far broader and more comprehensive view. It was largely through their efforts that the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad, ex- tending from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, and the first to enter Fayette county, was built. It is at least certain that it would not have been built and opened at that time, IS.")."), from Pitts- burgh to Connellsville, had it not been for their aid and encour- agement. Results have amply justified their faith in it, and today the railroad facilities of Connellsville surpass those of any other borough of the county, and Connellsville is the only town in the county enjoying a main line service to the large cities of the country. If General Henry W. Beeson were living today, saying with no disrespect to his memory, there is poetic justice in the fact that he would have to come to Connellsville to take a train from a point in Fayette county for Washington, Baltimore, New York, Chicago or St. Louis; whereas but \ov the opposition of himself and his associates, he might lake all drains on the main line east and west at his own door. The Baltimore & Ohio had to build their line through X'irginia in order to reach the Ohio river, but that did not s.ave the National road. Its commerce and its glory departed and the far greater prosperity which the railroad would have brought to tJie county seat went elsewhere. We congratulate Connellsxille tliat. with CENTENNIAI. DECORATIONS 540 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNTLLE better judgment, slic secured a portion of it. and linu- lia> proved that the foresight of the old Connellsvilie taxern keeper was better than the hindsight of hiter generations. Men who have barely reached middle life can remeniher when the industries of Fayette count}- were almost e.\clusi\ei\' those of an agricultural communit}'. Our great natural resources were unutilized, their immense value was generally not even comprehended. It was the persist- ence and enterprise of the men of Connellsvilie and it> \icinit\- that proved to the iron trade and to our own people that out of the coal within our borders could be produced the best fuel for smelting and foundry purposes ever discovered. Con\incin,^ support for this assertion may be found in the fact that to tln> fuel is given the name of Connellsvilie coke, and the coal iroin which it is manufactured is mined froni a basin known a> tlie' Connellsvilie Coal Basin. Our friends of The Courier and the News Standard ma}" argue as to whether Connellsvilie or Union- town is the center of the coke region; but there is no denying the fact that if the seller, in describing the property to be con- veyed, can truly write into his deed the magic words, "'All the nine foot or Connellsvilie vein of coking coal," the price he will receive per acre will be increased by hundreds, possibly ))}• thou- sands of dollars. Tlie limit of value for an acre of genuine Con- nellsvilie coking coal has not yet been reached nor ascertained, although young men who have scarcely attained their majority have seen it increase in some instances from $.j() or less to $;!,()00. While coke had been made in Fayette county as early as ]817', j'^et it was not until in the seventies that its manufacture became a recognized branch of industrial enterprise. Thirty years ago there were but 3,000 ovens in the entire region: tiiere are now 32,000. Of this number nearly 24,000 are in Fayette county. Last year's production reached nearly 18.000.000 tons. The average price per ton was $2.26. This year's production will reach and probably exceed 19,000,000 tons, and the average price per ton will equal if not exceed $2..i0. It is diHicult to appreciate these stupendous figures. To transport ibis enor- mous production will require 430,000 cars. If these were joined together in one continuous train it would more than reacli across the continent and back. Tlie value of the train load would l)e $47, 000, 000, and would re(|nire ;i string of doll;ir l)ill> ])laced end to end as long as the train tn \);\y for it. We are justly jiroud of what oui" i>eo]>le have done on the farm, in the factor}- and the mine. Thi-\' ba\e been full'iiling \hc (li\ine ei inimission gi\x-n to ilu' >(in> of nu-n al tile dawn of THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 511 creation to go forth and subdue the earth and have dominion over every living thing that moveth therein. The Crusader is a romantic figure in song and story, but Zachariah Connell. the pioneer at Stewrart's Crossing, far surpassed him in intelligent comprehension of God's will. Were material prosperity the highest good, we might justly claim to have fulfilled our destiny. But the products of the soil, the mine and the manufactory are blessings only as they serve to develop among men a higher and better life and a higher and better citizenship; to banish ignor- ance and evil and hardship and suffering; to spread knowledge and peace and justice and the gospel of righteousness. The development of our natural resources will bring us little advant- age unless it helps at the same time to develop that which is best in ourselves. The pioneers were mighty men because they were possessed of mighty virtues. Their days are illustrious because their deeds were illustrious. The times have changed, but the qualities that made men great 100 years ago and caused their days to be remembered will make men great today. New times bring new problems, but they are to be solved as were the problems of 100 years ago, with courage and resolution, with endiu-ance and supreme confidence. We need now, as were needed then, the pioneer virtues of the pioneers, truthful- ness, a just regard for the rights of others, self-reliance, fear- lessness, self-respect and trust in Almighty God. Our marvelous material prosperity need be neither a menace nor a danger, as so many fear. It is idle to tell men to quit making money. They cannot help it. The man with a genius for the inception, management and control of great business and industrial enterprises — I mean legitimate, not predatory, enterprises— should have a fair held for the development of his talent to its full limit, and that not only for his own good, Imt for the good of mankind, that thereby life for all may be made better and richer and nobler and filled with higher ideals. Let us not cry out blindly against the production and accu- mulation of wealth, but let us seek to learn how it may be made to serve its best and highest purpose. We have not yet reached the time when a Rockefeller can be classed with a Shakespeare, but the time is rapidly approaching when surpassing commercial ability and success must justify itself not only in material but also in ethical results. TJien and not till tlien may the possessors of such talent be classed with the benefactors of mankind in the realms of learning, literature, music and art. So, teach men not that they must become poorer in order 542 CENTENNIAI. HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE to attain the hig;hcst good, which was the medieval conceptiDii. but that they must become stronger, and that their wealth is to be their servant for all good works, and not their master. The sky is radiant with the bow of spiritual promise. There never was a day when, nor a country where, so great a propor- tion of its wealth was seeking investment in religious, educa- tional, and philanthropic enterprises as in our own, and your borough furnishes splendid evidences of this fact. Your beauti- ful churches and Young Men's Christian Association building, your school buildings and public library, your Cottage Hospital, your streets well paved and sewered and lighted, all attest the growing conception and acknowledgment of the duty which money owes to the community. There never was a time when sin and vice and crime were so hideously ugly and repulsive as they are today, and when misused wealth and misused talent so surely served to intensify their ugliness, and to bring shame and disgrace and punishment to their possessors. Think of the poor wretch in the Tombs prison, and his life of sinful pleasure and indulgence and his million and the mark of Cain! Who would accept his monej- with what he has purchased with it even with freedom from the law added? And think of his only less wretched victim! How sordid the picture! I know it is the fashion for cynics to rail that the law is not for the rich and the powerful; that wealth and influence purchase immunity from punishment for wrong- doing, and the unthinking applaud. But never before was there a time when so high a standard of responsibility attached to the administration of wealth and power, whether corporate, indi- vidual or official. The laws are enforced, offenders, high as well as low, are punished, wrong-doing is restrained and prevented. The efifort to secure by more perfect legislation the protection of private and public rights and the prevention of private and public wrongs, is constant and effective. In a western state in a prison cell lies a former United States Senator whose lofty official position did not protect him from just punishment for official misconduct. In another state only death saved a col- league from a like fate. In a southern state last .\pril the con- viction of Gaynor and Greene was a striking reply to tlmse who mock justice and believe that rich rascals go free. These men are said to have spent two million dollars in endeavoring to avoid a trial on a charge of conspiracy to defraud. iUit flight and lavish expenditure and the ingenious expedients of the ablest lawyers availed them not. That they were liiL-iUy hniuglu back and after a fair trial by judge .-ind jui"_\' were (lu]\- enmieled TYPICAI. CENTENNIAL CROWDS 54:4: CENTENNIAL HISTORV OF CON NELLSVILI.E and sentenced to four years' imprisonment and lines of over half a million each, is a monument to the efficieiic}- of the law and to its honest and efficient administration; and illustration after illustration might be added. So, in comparing the days and deeds of the pioneers with those of our own, let us take hope and be of good cheer. Evil there is, but there is more of good; and the evil will decrease while the good will increase; the evil will grow less powerful and the good more powerful, for such is the will of Almighty God. And in the struggle for a higher conception of the duties and obligations of citizenship, let us emulate the virtues of the pio- neers whose deeds we here commemorate, to the end that we may make this fair land of ours, this proud Keystone of the arch of free commonwealths, this industrial garden spot of Fa^'- ette county, the finest and best for home and humanity upon which the sun shines. This practically entled the morniiii^'s program. In the afternoon a reunion was held at the Carnegie h'ree Library, wliere many of the old timers gathered to renew friend- ships of bygone years and exchange remmiscences. An atttomobile parade was held, abotit one lumdred cars being in line, gorgeously decorated. The first ])rize was awarded to Harry Marietta. After the parade the old people were escorted over town in the machines, many of them taking their first and last automobile ride. Among those who took the trip over town were S(|tiire James M. Lytle, one of the oldest residents of CDnnellsville, who is SG years old; John G. White, ^(> years old; II. L. Regar, the last surviving veteran of the ^^lexican War. who enlisted from Connellsville. iS years old; ( "i. L. Coug- nanour. ?9 years old; James ^\. Stephenson, (i;! years old; John Long, 90 years old; Samuel X. Long. S.") ; William V>. Weihe, 84 ; .William ^L Hatfield, SO; Thomas (Ircgg, (Hi; P. J. Keslar. (i!) ; J. 1). Murray, U\ : Christian Shank. OL the oldest living resident in Connellsville; Williain Kemj). William Beall. Mr. and Mrs. John Shaw. .Mrs. S. I".. Cul- ver, A. B. Morton. John Helms, j. S. Sisley. b>hn Cluimble)-. Leslie Ciilmore. S(|turc \. ."^trawn .Mur])Ii\. .Mrs. Margaret McCov. Mrs. Sara Shaw and .Mrs. .\hirtlia l\ell\. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 5i5 In the evening the Hghts were turned on for the first time, making the streets as bright as day. The big coke arch was a perfect maize of incandescents, while the Hghts on the arches and bnikUngs formed an unnsnally pretty scene. The electric display was one of the finest ever seen in western Pennsylvania. The visiting bands consolidated and rendered a pleasing program from the Library grounds, while the Midway and carnival attractions kept the visitors entertained. The local hotels were unable to cope with the situation, and many people had to gu to Uniontown and Scottdale for a night's lodging. This was true of each night of the Centennial. In one respect the Connellsville Centennial was un- usual. While the entire four days were big ones, two were especiallv large. Wednesday and Thursday were the gala occasions, the Centennial Association handling the first and the Merchants' Association the second. There was much rivalry between the two organizations, but for the most part it was good natured. The big parade of the Centen- nial was held on Wednesday. After the children's chorus and band concert at the Library grounds in the morning, the parade was started. The formation of the line was no easy matter, for it was more than a mile long. For ama- teurs, however, the men in charge performed excellent work. The parade formed on the South Side, nearly every street of that thoroughfare being taken up with some part of the display. The feature of the parade was the one hundred horse team of the H. C. Frick Coke Company. One hundred of the best animals taken from the nearby works of the company, with a man in uniform of blue overalls astride each horse, were hitched to one of the big wagons from the Davidson works. The superintendents of the works represented acted as marshals for this section of the parade and guided the team through the narrow streets of town. It was a difficult matter to turn some of the sharp curves, especially at Brimstone Corner, where the big arch narrowed the street to a considerable extent. 54G CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNEr.LSVTLLE Hours before it was time to start, people began to gather along the line of parade, seeking points of vantage, and once located, they refused to move. V>y the time the line did start, a dense, packed mob of good-natured human- ity was banked along the curbs for miles, while ever}- win- dow along the line was occupied by several spectators. About Brimstone Corner the crowds were especially large, being dozens deep in some places. The town had never before witnessed such a collection of people. There were thousands present, drawn from every city, town and hamlet within a radius of fifty miles. The police had a difficult time keeping the streets clear, and at times the crowds got the best of the officers and completely blocked the thoroughfares. In spite of the vast numbers and unusual excitement, the crowd was orderly. Drunken people were comparatively scarce, and those who became intoxicated were taken in hand by the officers, escorted to the borough lockup and kept there until sufficiently solder to depart. The parade was guided over the route b_\- Captain John L. Cans and R. A. Doerner. The following order was observed in the parade : Mounted officers. Connellsville Military Band. Second Ward Volunteer Fire Departrnc-n:, headed b_\ Fire Marshal W. H. Marietta and Frank Fa}ne, mascot of the Volunteer department, on horseback. South Side Volunteer Fire Departme-rit. Hose wagon and firemen. Carriages. Price Consolidated Band of I'niontown. First Battalion. 10th Regiment, Xational (luard, ''-■-, i 1;y ]\iajor Rich.nrd Coulter, jr., and aide. The com- panies marched in the following order: ComjianN D of Connellsville, Com])an_\- C" of L'niontowu, C(im])an\ !■'. of Ml. Pleasant, Compan}- I of Grecnsburg, and the Imspilal cnrjis. Dunbar I'and. SCENES OF THE PARADE 548 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE Boys' Brigade, with companies from Connellsville, Uniontown and Dawson represented. Modern Woodmen of America, with itecorated float and several members in Hne. Worthing Camp, Royal Neighbors oT America, float from Dawson. Independent Order of Red Men, members dressed in grotesque costumes. Royal Italian Band of Bellevernon. Italian society, over 200 strong, each man carrying an American flag. "Rube Band" from West Newton. Two Slavish societies, 500 men strong. Floats of Yough Brewing Company. Uniontown Martial Band. Float of Lang Coal & Sand Company, followed by float of Soisson Fire Brick Company, men making brick on the wagon. Float of A. Stickel, lumber dealer of Mill Run. Comrade J. J. Barnhart of Dunbar township with wagon and men at work with cradle in imitation wheat rield. Five wagons of Pittsburgh Brewing Company. Wagon of White Rock Distilling Company. Two floats of Zepp & Rutsek, plumbers and tinners. Tom Brierly and Jim Wilson driving in buggy dressed ui grotesque costumes. Wagons of S. B. White and Geisler Brothers. Float of local blacksmiths, with J. .\. Cunningham, Clark Cunningham, Charles Balsley, Fred Paes and T Tarry Hayes making horseshoes and tossing them to tlie crowd. Two wagons of Sligo Iron & Steel Conijiany, willi cold roll and sheets. Carriages. Rice Shaw's Martial lUuid. Foreicrn societv of some 50 members. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 549 Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, about 50 mem- bers. Carriages with Early Settlers, namely, Dave Girard and Bill Marqua ; Andy Haas and Jimmie Howard, and Bill Shaw and Doc Buttermore. dressed m Colonial cos- tumes. Symphony Band of Smithton. Y. M. C. A. Boys, 175 in number, dressed in white uni- forms and carrying canes. Carriages Craft ]\Iartial Band, Aides. Big one hundred-horse team of the H. C. Frick Coke Company, commanded by the different superintendents. The team was driven by Norman Prinkey of Davidson Works. Twenty-horse team from Bullskin township. Wagon of A. E. Wagoner and FloUand Piersol and their guests. Carriages and wagons containing visitors from the outlying country districts. The parade and its environs beggars description. As each person or float appeared the crowds shouted approval. Some of the floats were exceedingly ludicrous. Trolley service through town was suspended a greater part of the morning, it being practically impossible to operate cars through the crowds. It is conservativeK estimated that 25,000 people visited the town on this day. The parade started shortly after ten o'clock, but it w^as after one in the afternoon before it had complete the long route. There was a baseball game in the afternoon, the Uniontown and East Liverpool teams in the Pennsylvania, Ohio and Mary- land League being the contestants. This game was trans- ferred from Liniontown to Connellsville for the day, on account of the Centennial. In the evening another big meeting was held at the Library grounds and the crowd was fully as large as that whicli greeted the speakers on the opening day. The THK H['MAN l-'I.Ar, THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Sol speakers' platform was occupied by the most prominent citizens of town as well as those who made the addresses. The speakers were Ex-Senator George L. Wellington, of Cumberland, Md., and General W. H. Koontz, of Somerset, Pa. j. y\. Lytle, Esq., ])resided. Thursda}-, the third day of the celebration, was "Mer- chants" Dav," the prO;2,"ram having been executed entirely by the Connellsvilie and New Haven Merchants" Associa- tion. Both days had features distinct from each other and equallv as pleas in-^-. In the morning the merchants" parade was the big event, and, as the H. C. Frick Coke Company took such an important part in the Centennial parade, so did the Lhiion Supply Compan}-, an allied corporation, fig- ure in the merchants" pageant. Every one of the 53 stores of this company was represented by a wagon or a float. Some of the designs were very unique. The merchants themselves were warm rivals for first honors, for on this occasion a prize was given for the best float in line. Some of the ideas were extremely unique. Models, ancient and modern, were adopted, some sedate and some ridiculous. Each was a credit to the merchants producing them and to the town in general. The following line of parade was observed : Chief Alarshal E. Dunn and aides. Connellsvilie Aliiitary pjand. Connellsvilie A'olunteer b'ire Department. Hose carriage and paid firemen. Thomas L\-nch and partv in carriages. Burgess A. D. Scisson, Clair Stillwagon, W. D. Mc- Ginnis and William ]\icCormick. Members of Town Council. Executive Committee of the Merchants" Association. Congressman Allen F. Cooper, of L^niontown, and Con- gressman Geo. F. Huff, of Greensburg. Old business men, among whom were J. D. Frisbee, Flenry Goldsmith, P. S. Newmyer, A. B. Morton, Lloyd Johnston, J. C. Lytle and A. W. Hood. TVPICAI, Fr.OATS Ol- MERCHANTS HAV I'AKADE THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 553 Carriages. Greensbiirg- ^lerchants' Association, led l)y the martial band of No. 3 Hose Company. Price's Band, of Cniontown. Float of Boyts, Porter & Co., with Geo. A. Snyder and C. M. Stoner. George W. Campbell, of Xormalville. Float of The Aaron Company, brightly decorated. Float of Sedersky Fnrniture Company. Float of the Rosenblnm Furnitnre Company, with John G. Leslie, Jacob Greene, H. S. Lohr, John Brunson, John Campbell and Joseph May. Float of Mace & Company, beautifully decorated. Wagon of The Aaron Company. Wagon of George \'oscheck, grocer. Wagon of Charles F. Shumaker, tinner. Float of Xorris & Hooper, occupied by a number of young ladies attired in white. Wagon of Henry Rhodes, of New Haven. Wagon of L. Sapolsky, loaded with a sheep and junk. Wagons of E. Dean and Coughenour & Co., pop mer- chants. Floats of Zepp & Rutsek, representing bath-room and, kitchen plumbing, stoves and tinning. Wagon of A. E. Wagoner. Dairy wagon of William H. Minor. Three wagons of Schell Hardware Co., with unique designs. Floats of Andrew Haas, representing the Haas Hotel and Annex. Six wagons of E. U. Hetzel, with float. Two wagons of W. R. Scott. Wagon of J. R. Davidson. Wagon of P. ^lay, the South Side grocer. Two wagons of J. R. Davidson. Two floats of the Tri-State Candy Company. 554 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVTLLE Float of F. T. Evans with the Gold Dust Twins at work. Wagon of S. B. White. Wagon of G. W. Brickman. Wagon of J. M. Young. Dairy wagon of Geisler Bros. Wagon of A. E. Wagoner. Wagon of Britt & Scarry, tinners. Float of the Trans-Allegheny. Wagon of the Lang Sand &. Stone Co., loaded with Connellsville coal. Float of E. Dunn, handsomely decorated. Wagon of Charles W. Keys, the produce man. Float of W. N. Leche, with Aliss Maude Rosselle, 3*1 iss Mary Kerwin, H. M. Bell and George Reagan. Wagon of Kell Long, with milling products. Float of the Munson Co. Float of the Sligo Iron & Steel Co., with sheets of iron. Wagon of the Rush-Moreland Co., of New Haven. Float of the Reinhard Music Co., with graphophone and musical instruments. Wagon of The Aaron Co. Wagon of D. Sinclair. W^agon of Dull & Co., with buggy. Wagon of the Connellsville Distilling Companv. W'agon of the People's Reliable ]\Ieat Market. uni(|ue in its appointments. Wagons of H. FJofFman, lish and produce. Carriages. Wagon of the Wallace Furniture Co. Wagon of the Baltimore House. Float of Renner's Bakery. Float of L C. Smutz. Float of E. G. Hall. Wagon of Singer Sewing Machine Ciimpan\-. THE OX ROAST 556 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNEELSNILI.E Two wagons of the United States Express Co. Wagon of the Anchor Grocery. Wagons of Corrado & Basilona and Pallachni & Cor- rado. The "F. Z." dairy of Frank Zacharias. Wagon of D. F. Girard. Wagon of the Ward-Mackey Co., distributing Tiger biscuits. Rutter's Band, of Uniontown. Store managers of the Union Supply Company. L^nion Supply Company wagons, 5o in all. Bellevernon Band. Boys' Club of the Y. AI. C. A. A. S. Silcox, meat market. The Dunbar Band. Automobile float of Gorman &: Co. Automobile float of Wright-Metzler Co., with Miss Beulah Reagan, James Laughrey, Thurston Aloore. Harry Sharps, E. W. Bowker and Misses Roberta and Helen Louise Felty. Automobile of the Douglas Business College. A mammoth ox roast, attended by 15,0(10 or more peo- ple, was given in the grove on the Hogg Addition, and the accompanying photographs illustrate how the crowtls gath- ered to participate in the festivities. A fine lunch, free to all, was served, the tables covering over an acre of ground. Following the lunch, the guests, who, large a body as they made, did not seem to diminish the crowds down town tn a noticeable extent, spread themselves out in the most cupi)ly C"om- pany, some of whose wagons tra\-eled all niglu long in order to reach Connellsville on time, lie first introihiced Secretary James W. Wardroi). of the .Meridian. s' and Mann- THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 557 factnrers' Association of Pittsburgh, whose address was short. The speaker urged closer co-operation and better organization on the part of all merchants and business men, citing many illustrations on behalf of his argument. Congressman Allen F. Cooper, of Uniontown, was the next speaker, and his address in part was as follows : ADDRESS OF HON. ALLEN F. COOPER. It has been frequently said, and I think generally agreed, at least in this part of the country, that the conditions existing in the iron and coal trade indicate the business conditions of the country. If this be true, then we can take just pride in what has been accomplished by the people of this community along these lines. Fayette county is entitled toa large share of the credit for the introduction and growth of the iron and steel business in the United States. The first iron and the first coke made west of the Allegheny mountains were made in Fayette county. The founder of this town, Zachariah Connell, was not only a wise and sagacious man, but he was a pioneer in the coal business. In his deed of dedication to the public and in the recorded plan of the town in 1793, he not only makes provision, as he terms it, for the reception and entertainment of travelers and the accommodation of such tradesmen and others inclining to settle at or near the said place, but he recites the fact that there is on the verge of the river an excellent stone coal bank from which coal may be conveniently conveyed by water along all the front of the town, and being desirous of giving all the encouragement and advantages that the nature of the case will admit of, consistent with his own interest and safety, granted to all the inhabitants of the town, their heirs and assigns forever, the free and full privilege of digging and removing from said stone coal bank, a quantity of coal neces- sary for their own particular use. So from the time the town was laid out down to the present, coal has been an article of commerce of increasing importance and value. This, to the best of my information, is the earliest record of the superior quality of the Connellsville vein of coal. In the South, at the time of the war, it was said that "Cotton is King." In the West they tell us "Corn is King": but here we say that "Coke is King." The manufacture of coke in Europe dates back many years, but it was not until about 1842 that any serious efifort was made in this section to manufacture it in quantity and place it as a commodity upon the market. The development and growth of odS centennial history of c'oxxi:i.i.s\ti.i.i-: the industry was slow for the first 30 or 40 years, hut in the last quarter of a centur}' the output has multiplied almost ten times. The grand old pioneers of the Connellsville coke business have all passed away, but another generation has continued the work with marked improvement and success. To two Fayette county boys, still living, and whose names are known throughout the' industrial world, particular credit is due for great accomplish- ments in this held of business activity. Today Connellsville coke is the standard, and it and the products manufactured with it, are sold around the world. To illustrate: Two years ago last January, in the National House of Representatives, I heard the Hon. Ebenezer Hill, of Connecticut, a most eminent author- ity on finance and trade, make this statement: Said he, "Two years ago I stood on the deck of a Japanese liner in the harbor of Vladivostok, Siberia. In the hold of the vessel were 700 tons of American agricultural implements that had come across the Pacific ocean from America for the use of peasants of Siberia. Right across the harbor was an English tramp ship loaded with steel rails from Pennsylvania that had been shipped there for the Siberian railroad. That day I went ashore and at night in the hotel at Vladivostok I was introduced to a gen- tleman who told me he was a representative of the Boldwin Locomotive Works, of Philadelphia, who had just finished a contract by which he had put into operation l.")0 Baldwin loco- motives. The next day I rode .500 miles up the Amur river, over American steel rails. The day following I got aboard the steamer to go up the Amur river 1,500 miles; it was a steel steamer and had in tow two steel barges that were built in Pitts- burgh and sent there 12,000 miles. The first night out we wrecked one of these barges and the freight had to be unloaded. There were all sorts of American products in that cargo of freight. Ten thousand miles from here, in the little Siberian village of Gorbitza, consisting of a dozen log houses, in a little store not over 8x10, we bought packages of candy wrapped up in paper on which was printed the picture of William McKinle^^ (cheers') to popularize that candy among the peasants of Siberia." Continuing, he said that all the way across Asia his journey was made safe and pleasant by the Westinghouse airlirake, made in Pittsburgh. This incident occurred bfl'iirc llu' l\usso-Japa- nese War. That war is fresh in the minds of all. The task of shipping the great quantities of supplies and munitions of war for thousands of miles and transporting hundreds of thousands of soldiers was one of the greatest problems of the war. To repair and improve this railway will require tlmusands of tons of steel rails whieli will (huibtK-ss ])v made in llii> eimnirx'. and THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 559 Fayette county will furnish the coke (cheers). So you see, the products of the mills, shops and factories using our Connells- ville coke as a fuel are being sold and used around the globe. The people who are employed in and about this great industry are closely identified with this communitj^ and form a substan- tial part of your society. The farmer finds a ready market for all his produce; the banks, stores and business of all kinds in the merchandise line, thrive and prosper with the fabulous growth of this industry. From two ovens, with an output of two boatloads of coke of doubtful value in 18-12, the industry has grown to 32,000 ovens, with a weekly production of the value of almost a million dollars. The railroads have been overtaxed to transport the product and have had to increase their trackage and equipment at tre- mendous cost. From a few persons engaged in railroading here a few years ago, the force has been increased to the size of a small arm}^ The merchant and the business man is not only the pre- dominating power and influence in the communit}' where he lives, but is the controlling factor in the world. The demands of trade have reached the four corners of the earth. Railroads are building in Alaska, the West Indies and the Philippines. Engineers are threading thier way through the interior of Asia, Africa and South America. The farthest extremities of North and South America are soon to be linked together by a grand trunk line railroad at a cost of $150,000,000. Only two or three days ago the public announcement was made that another rail- road is to be constructed between New York and Chicago, by the way of Pittsburgh, at a cost of $1.50,000,000. The Federal Government has undertaken to build the Panama canal, the greatest engineering feat ever undertaken, at an estimated cost of $145,000,000. The recent session of Congress passed an act incorporating the Lake Erie and Ohio River Ship Canal Com- pany to authorize private capital to construct a waterway be- tween the Ohio river and Lake Erie, the cost of wdiich is esti- mated at $35,000,000. All of these vast undertakings are to facilitate trade. Each and all of these will make business for this community. The increased use of iron and steel for structural purposes, the building of might}^ battleships for our own and other countries, and the many other varied and increasing uses for iron and steel will continue to make an increasing demand for Connells- ville coke. In the general resulting business prosperity, all interests in this community will share. With your railroad facilities and the river; with the untiring energy, sterling integ- 560 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONN KI-LS\ IIJ.E rity and public spirit of your citizens, the power and intluence of your churches and schools and the excellent newspapers pub- lished here, Connellsville is bound to grow and flourish. Coiigressmai'i Cooper was followed by George AI. lio- sack, Esquire, of Pittsburgh, Pa., a former Connellsville boy, who made a ringing address on "Greater Connellsville." Attorney Joseph INIoreland, of Alorgantown, W. \'a., was the last speaker of the day, and his remarks were purely of a reminiscent nature. Following the speeches, the drawing for a free lot be- gan. Coupons had been given by the merchants to their customers. ]\Irs. F. A. Buttermore, of York avenue, was fortunate in having her number drawn out of the barrel the first time. This ended the festivities in Hogg Grove, and crowds dispersed about supper time. The evening of Alerchants" Day was spent in the usual manner. The bands rendered selections on the Library grounds, while the free exhibitions and those that were not free were well patronized. The streets were thronged, but no more so than on the previous evenings. After three strenuous days it is not surprising that tlie last day of the big celebration was comparatively quiet. In the morning a few impromptu speeches were made at the Library grounds. Attorney Hosack made a short address, and he was followed by Attorney E. C. Higbee. of Con- nellsville. who spoke along educational lines, commenting at length on the progress made in Connellsville and the fore- sight of Zachariah Conuell in reserving the grountl he did for these purposes alone. On Friday evening the Centennial came to a close in the midst of a blaze of fireworks and a t\pical nn)unlain storm. Once more the hearts of our citizens are addressetl to business and enterjjrise. What has been done but furnishes a stimulus to greater deeds. ( )ne hundred years more united endeavor will lift our cit\- to a ]:»osition of command- ing importance in western Penns\ Kania, and furnisli tlie occasion of a greater jubilee. Finis. Map of Connellsville and Additions SCALE. 1 INCH--870 FEET INDEX 561 INDEX PAGE American Steel Co 494 American Telegraph 161 American Aluminum Coat- ing Co 522 Armory 471 Art Stone Co 503 Auntie Hare 31^ Banning, Rev. Anthony, 58, Banning House Bank of John T. Hogg.. .. Bank, Yough National Bank, First National Bank, Second National.... Bank, Title & Trust Co... Bank, Citizens National... Bank, Colonial National... Bank, New Haven Nation- al Baptists 330, 341, 373, Baldwin Automobile Co... Bakers Bash, Gustavus Barnes, David Bishop, Aaron Boat Building Borough, Currency Borough, Charter Borough, Original Plan.... Borough, Incorporation . . . Borough, First Council... Borough, Extension of.... Borough, Officers Boyts, Porter & Co Braddock Campaign Breakneck Reservoir Breweries Brickmaking Bridge, Youghiogheny Brimstone Corner 108, 333 299 225 229 23b 241 244 248 250 252 384 519 317 315 58 312 477 110 48 49 65 73 83 20 40?> 524 500 393 300 PAGE Brown Homestead 311 Butchers 317 Cabinetmakers 322 Campbell, Rev. Alexan- der 343, 360 Carnegie Free Library.... 433 Carding Mill 509 Centennial Celebration. .. 5, 529 " Decorations 539 " Crowds 543 " Parades 545 " Addresses ....536, 537, 557 " Committees 530 Chew, Benjamin 46, 54 Chartered Financial Insti- tutions 219 Churches 327 Christian Church 344, 360 Church of God 378 City Hall, Old and New. 78, 81 Civil War 196 Clothiers 315 Cochran, James 273 Coke Industry 263 Coke Arch 531 Company D 204 Connell, Zachariah. 41, 333, 393 Council Cemetery 439 Connellsville (see Borough) " First Lot Owners.... 52 " Navigation Co 221 " Planing Mill Co 506 " Mutual Bldg. & Loan Assn 255 People's Bldg. & Loan Assn 256 " Building & Loan Assn. 259 " Water Company 407 " N. H. Gas & Water Co. 412 562 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE PAGE Connellsville N. H. Leisen- ring St. Ry Co 420 " Suburban Street Ry. Co 426 " Machine & Car Co.. .. 491 " Mfg. & Mine Supply Co 497 " Flint Glass Co 523 " Construction Co 507 " Mfg. Co 517 Cotton Factory 509 Crawford, Col. William 28, 171, 329 Crescent Mfg. Co 517 Crossland Carriage Wks... 513 Department Stores 325 Distilleries 526 Dunbar, Colonel 21 Dunbar Furnace Co 482 Dunmore's War 173 Dunn, E 319 Dushane, Capt. J. M...197, 318 Educational Institutions... 120 Elections, First 73 Electric Company 415 Episcopalian Church ... 329, 380 Etna Furnace 480 Fayette Securities Co 254 " Gas Fuel Co 432 " Furnace 480 " Lumber Co 505 Forbes, General 24, 170 Foreign Population 341 Foundries 487 Fort Duquesne 15 Fort Necessity 17 Fort Pitt 24, 171 Fort Indian 7 Francis, Dr. James 52 Frick, H. C 281 Frisbce, John D 304 Fulling Mill •. 509 P.-^GE Furniture Business 322 Gist, Christopher 12, 24,328 Gibson, John 39, 330, 480 Grand Army Republic 214 Gregg, Thomas 41, 484 Grocers 319 Hangard 14 High School 144 Highland Electro Co 515 Highland Chemical Pro- duct Co 516 Hood, A. W 300, 320 Hospital, Cottage State.... 46:^ Humbert Tin Plate Co 518 Hussar Chemical Co 515 Indian's Forts and Villages 7 Iron Industry 39, 479 Jewelers 308 Johnston, Alexander ... 300, 353 Jumonville 15 Keystone Planing Mill Co. 508 Kurtz, Josiali 324 Longabaugh, Bud 9 Lochry's Expedition 179 Lutherans 333, 365, 369,372 Lynch, Thomas 281 Lytle, William 298, 312 Mathiot, Squire 58 Market House 77 Manufactures 477 McCormick, William 38, 293 McLean, Alexander ... .28, 4.) McGinnis, W. D 167 McCoy's Reservoir 411 Methodists, 332. 346.349.379,383 Mercliants 292 Meason, Isaac 393 Mexican \\ ar 191 Military 1 listory 170 Mount I'utT 122 INDEX 663 PAGE Morton, A. B 308 Munson Heater Co., Ltd. 517 Musters, Old Time 193 Nailmakers 483 National Locomotive Wks. 486 Nemacolin 9, 12 New Haven, Borough 117 New Haven, Early Settle- ment 18, 28 Newspapers 159 Connellsville Herald 161 Connellsville Enterprise.. 162 Connellsville Tribune.... 164 Connellsville Courier.... 164 Connellsville News 167 Connellsville Monitor. . . . 162 Fayette County Republi- can 163 Newcomer, John 324 North, R. D 167 Norton, Lester L..264, 298, 483 Ohio Company 11 Orth Bros 486 Packers 38, 292 Paper Mills 512 Page Family 56 Pharmacy 306 Phillips, John and Charles. 56 Photographers, First 317 Pioneers 7, 53, 263, 335, 336 Planing Mills 504 Population 87 Presbyterians 331, 353 Public Ground 80 Public Schools 129 Public Institutions 43:i Public Utilities 393 Quakers 330 Railroads 113 Rainey, W. J 281 PAGE Revolutionary War 175 Religion 327 Reformed Church 373 Riverside Metal Refining Co 514 Roman Catholics 334, 361, 377, 386 Rogers, Daniel 60, 297 Safe Works 520 Sandusky Expedition 181 Schools 120 " Private 151 " Parochial 152 " New Haven 152 School Children in Centen- nial 550 Settlement, First 9, 2b Seals, Borough 88 Sewers 109 Semet Solvay Co 282 Shoemakers 310 Silversmiths 308 Sla-^maker, Barry Lock Works 519 Sligo Iron & Steel Co.... 495 Snyder, H. P 165 Soisson Fire Brick Works. 500 South Connellsville Lumber Co 506 South Pittsburgh Street in 1855 309 South West Natural Gas Co 431 Spanish-American War.... 206 Stewart's Crossing 18 Stillwagon, Peter 61 Stillwagon, J. D 318 Street Paving 107 Strikes 285 Tanneries 499 Taylor, John.. . .7 266 Tenth Regiment 204 564 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE PAGE Tenth Regiment Veteran Association 217 Teamsters 301 Telegraph Companies 415 Telephone Companies 427 Torrence & Co 227 Trevor, Samuel and Caleb.. 295 Trotter 279 Tri-State Candy Co 516 Union School 141 Union Veteran Legion 215 Union Furnace 482 United Brethren Church ... 374 United Presbyterian Church 367 Undertaking 322 Voters of the Borough.... 88 Voters in 1806 78 Vance, Crawford 298 Wajer Works 112, 407 Wallace, Aunt Jennie 399 P.-VGE Washington, President George 13, 15, 29 War of 1812 189 W. C. T. U 391 Welsh Church 37i^ Wells, Benjamin 187, 293 Wetherell, L. A 313 West Penn Electric Co.... 419 West Penn Rys. Co 424 West Penn Power Plant... 425 Whiskey Insurrection 187 Wholesale Business 322 Youghiogheny, Derivation of Name 7, 87 Blues 194 Greens 196 Bank 229 Forge 482 Bridge 393 Light, Heat & Power Co 419 M. C. A 386 m Xl22 \'^ ??i ..-^X . xOo, ^oo^ ^ •^OO xOo. "^^ ^ ^ * ° /■