History of Westmoreland County
Volume 1
Chapter 35
County Officers

CHAPTER XXXV County Officers
The following comprises the list of county officers of Westmoreland County
from the formation of the county to the year 1905:
PRESIDENT JUDGES:
John Moore ���������. 1785-1791
Alexander Addison������. 1791-1803
Samuel Roberts�������.. 1803-1806
John Young���������. 1806-1837
Thomas White�������� 1837-1847
Jeremiah M. Burrell������ 1847-1848
John C. Knox��������.. 1848
Jeremiah M. Burrell������ 1851-1855
Joseph Buffington������.. 1855-1871
James A. Hunter�������. 1879-1890
Lucian W. Doty�������� 1890
Alexander D. McConnell���� 1895
John B. Steel��������� 1901
ASSOCIATE JUDGES:
William Jack��������� 1801
John Irwin���������� 1801
James Barr���������. 1801
William Jack��������� 1806
John Irwin���������� 1806
Jacob Painter��������. 1806
John Lobingier�������� 1821
Thomas Pollock�������.. 1821
James Bell���������� 1841
John Moorhead�������� 1841
James Bell���������� 1851
David Cook���������.. 1851
Sam'l L. Carpenter������. 1856
G.R.D. Young��������. 1856
Robert Given��������.. 1861
John Jones���������.. 1861
Robert Given��������� 1866
M.P. McClanahan������� 1866
John W. Riddle�������� 1871
M.P. McClanahan������.. 1871
PROTHONOTARIES:
Arthur St. Clair�������� 1773
Michael Huffnagle������.. 1776
Archibald Lochry�������. 1779
Thomas Hamilton������� 1793
John Morrison��������.. 1809
James Reed���������. 1818
John H. Wise��������� 1819
Eli Coulter����������. 1820
David Marchand�������.. 1821
William J. Williams������.. 1858
Bales McColly��������.. 1858
George Bennett�������.. 1861
John Zimmerman������� 1864
Lewis A. Johnston������.. 1867
John Zimmerman������� 1870
R.W. Singer���������. 1873
John H. Highberger������ 1876
H.P. Hasson���������. 1879
GLASS:
Randall McLaughlin������ 1830
James B. Oliver�������.. 1836
John Clark���������� 1839
David Fullwood�������� 1842
James McCallister������.. 1848
Samuel B. Ransey������.. 1849
Andrew Graham Sr������. 1850
Joseph Gross��������.. 1852
William McCall��������. 1855
John C. Keffer��������. 1882
John Chamberlain (died)���.. 1885
George W. Flowers������ 1888
John Rial����������.. 1888
Robert A. Hope�������� 1891
Lewis Thompson�������. 1894
Robert A. Rankin�������. 1897
M.F. Null����������.. 1900
M.F. Null����������.. 1903
RECORDER:
New office created by virtue of the law and the Census of 1900, showing a population of over 150,000 in the county.
James H. Gallagher������ 1902
James H. Gallagher������ 1905
SHERIFFS:
This office was an appointive one till 1839
John Proctor��������� 1773
James Carnahan������� 1775
Matthew Jack��������.. 1781
Robert Orr���������� 1785
William Perry��������� 1789
James Guthrie��������. 1790
John Brandon��������. 1792
James Brady��������.. 1795
John Kuhns���������. 1798
John Brandon��������. 1801
John Sloan���������.. 1804
Alexander Johnston������ 1807
Robert Stewart�������� 1810
John Fleming��������.. 1813
Humphrey Fullerton������ 1816
John Klingensmith������.. 1819
John Nicholls��������� 1822
Morrison Underwood�����.. 1825
John Klingensmith������.. 1828
Samuel L. Carpenter�����. 1831
David Fullwood�������� 1834
William McKinney������� 1837
James Harvey��������.. 1840
David Newingham������.. 1843
Michael L. Hays�������.. 1843
David Kistler��������� 1846
John Hugus���������. 1849
John Welsh���������.. 1852
William Welsh��������.. 1853
Valentine Elliott�������� 1856
William Huston�������� 1859
William Bell���������.. 1862
Robert M. Reed�������.. 1865
Daniel F. Steck�������� 1868
Alexander Kilgore������.. 1871
John Guffey���������. 1874
James Borlin��������.. 1877
Henry Kettering�������.. 1880
John M. Stewart�������. 1883
Benjamin F. Byers������. 1886
Lucian Clawson�������.. 1889
Peter F. McCann������� 1892
Harry F. Seanor�������.. 1895
Benjamin F. May�������. 1898
John H. Tresher�������.. 1901
George J. Seanor������� 1904
REGISTER OF DEEDS AND RECORDER OF WILLS
James Guthrie�������� 1790
Robert Dickey��������. 1809
James Montgomery������ 1812
Robert Montgomery������ 1818
Alexander Johnston������ 1830
Jonathan Row��������. 1836
Jacob S. Steck�������� 1839
Archibald B. McGrew�����. 1842
David Cook���������. 1843
James Keenan Jr������� 1849
Randall McLaughlin������ 1853
Jacob M. Miller�������� 1854
Edward J. Keenan������.. 1857
William L. Evans�������. 1860
William C. Guffey������� 1863
Samuel Rock��������� 1866
Clark F. Warden�������.. 1869
John M. Laird��������.. 1872
William B. Snodgrass�����. 1875
James Dennison�������. 1878
William Hugus��������. 1881
E.F. Houseman�������� 1884
Christ Cribbs��������� 1887
Wm. B. Conway�������.. 1890
John R. Oursler�������.. 1893
Samuel G. Stevenson����� 1896
Samuel G. Stevenson����� 1899
CLERK OF THE ORPHANS' COURT:
Up to 1836 this office was filed by the Prothonotary. From 1842 to 1855, they were again united.
George L. Ramsay������. 1836
William Gorgas�������� 1839
Joseph Gross��������. 1855
Robt. W. Singer�������. 1858
Joseph W. Blair�������.. 1854
Joseph Gross��������. 1870
George W. Frick�������. 1873
James W. Wilson������� 1876
John R. Bell���������. 1879
Darwin Music��������.. 1882
George W. Kistner������. 1885
James D. Best��������. 1888
Edward B. Sweeny������. 1891
Matthew A. Lytle�������. 1894
Chester D. Sensennick����. 1897
Robert M. Jones�������. 1900
Robert M. Jones�������. 1903
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:
The record prior to 1849 is very imperfect.
Christopher Truby�������1774
Benjamin Lodge�������.. 1779
Robert Clark���������. 1779
Joseph McGarrak������� 1783
Alexander Barr��������. 1783
William Jack���������. 1783
William Moore��������. 1785
James Lawson�������� 1785
John Nesbit���������.. 1785
William Moore��������.. 1787
James Lawson��������. 1787
William Jack���������. 1787
James Lawson��������. 1788
William Jack���������. 1788
Eli Coulter����������. 1788
William Jack���������. 1789
John Giffen���������.. 1789
Eli Coulter���������� 1789
John Giffen���������.. 1790
Robert Clark���������. 1790
Benjamin Lodge������� 1790
Robert Clark��������� 1792
Benjamin Lodge�������. 1792
George Smith��������.. 1792
George Smith��������.. 1793
Alexander McDonald�����.. 1793
James White��������� 1793
John Kirkpatrick�������.. 1794
James White��������� 1794
George Smith��������.. 1794
John Kirkpatrick�������.. 1795
James White��������� 1795
Barton Laffer��������� 1795
Jacob Smith���������. 1798
Robert Dickey��������. 1798
James McGreary������� 1798
Henry Allshouse�������. 1800
Jeremiah Murry�������� 1800
James Smith��������� 1800
James Parr���������.. 1802
John Bennett��������� 1802
James Smith��������� 1802
James Parr���������.. 1803
John Bennett��������.. 1803
Isaac Wager���������. 1803
James Parr���������.. 1805
John Bonnett��������� 1805
William Freidt��������.. 1805
Thomas Pollock�������. 1806
John Bonnett��������.. 1806
William Freidt��������.. 1806
Thomas Pollock�������.. 1807
William Parks��������.. 1807
Jacob Linsman�������� 1807
James Kelly���������. 1808
William Parks��������.. 1808
Jacob Linsman�������� 1808
James Kelly���������. 1808
John Sheaffer��������. 1808
Jacob Linsman�������� 1808
Thomas Culbertson������ 1810
Andrew Findley�������.. 1811
James Caldwell�������.. 1814
Robert Williams�������. 1814
John Milligan��������� 1816
Jacob Rugh���������. 1817
James Clark���������. 1819
Samuel Bushfield������� 1820
David Ryall���������.. 1822
Neal Boyle���������� 1822
Jacob Turney��������.. 1823
James Shields��������. 1849
Levi Kempf���������.. 1849
John Horrell���������. 1849
John W. Marshall������� 1850
(One elected each year)
Henry Swartz��������.. 1851
Simon Detar��������� 1852
Jesse Walton��������.. 1853
Alexander Hanna������� 1854
George Albert��������. 1855
F.B. McGrew��������� 1856
G.W. Ross���������� 1857
Samuel McClean������� 1858
John Larimer��������� 1859
John Severn���������. 1860
James Menoher�������.. 1861
W.J. Reed���������� 1862
Abraham Hays��������. 1863
James H. Clark�������� 1864
M.G. Keener���������. 1865
Michael Keffer��������.. 1866
John H. Hiberger�������. 1867
John M. Bierer��������. 1968
George Bridge��������. 1869
Isaac Irwin���������� 1870
Hugh Ryan���������.. 1870
William Deverter�������. 1872
John Herbert��������� 1873
Henry Keely���������. 1874
John L. Bierer��������.. 1875
Clark Butterfield (died)����� 1876
R.P. Arnold, appd������� 1876
J.C. West����������.. 1876
M.M. Dick����������. 1876
Henry Keely���������. 1879
William Taylor��������.. 1879
John H. Townsend������.. 1879
S.G. Brechbill��������.. 1882
H.H. Byers���������� 1882
William Taylor��������. 1882
George Campbell������� 1885
J.B. Felgar���������� 1885
J.W. Hutchinson�������.. 1885
S.W. Shaw����������1888
S.G. Thompson�������.. 1888
S.F. Maxwell��������� 1888
H.S. Bear����������. 1891
S.W. Shaw���������.. 1891
S.W. Maxwell��������.. 1891
Hugh Henderson������� 1894
W.D. Reamer��������.. 1894
J.V. Huff����������� 1894
W.D. Reamer��������.. 1897
J. McCoy Dinsmore������ 1897
Harry Mansfield�������... 1897
W.D. Reamer��������.. 1900
George M. Earnest������ 1900
R.N. Gay����������. 1900
Hugh Price���������.. 1903
George M. Earnest������ 1903
Daniel A. Mowery������.. 1903
W.D. Reamer��������. 1906
B.F. Shaffer��������� 1906
D.W. Shupe��������� 1906
COUNTY TREASURERS:
J.J. Wirsing���������. 1879
John J. Knappenberger����. 1882
James M. Reed�������.. 1885
Eli Chambers��������.. 1888
Philip Fisher��������� 1891
Wm. H. Saam��������.. 1894
David H. Rankin�������.. 1897
Daniel F. Beltz��������. 1900
A. Shumaker��������� 1903
H.F. Bovard���������.. 1906
COUNTY SURVEYORS:
W.F. Miller���������� 1881
Samuel N. Ferguson�����.. 1884
Samuel N. Ferguson�����.. 1887
Wm. R. Barnhardt������.. 1890
Wm. M. Lloyd��������.. 1893
J.J. Neel����������� 1896
J.J. Neel����������� 1899
Wm. H. Matthews������� 1902
Wm. H. Matthews������� 1905
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS:
Silas A. Kline��������... 1881
A.M. Sloan���������� 1884
Deena C. Ogden�������. 1887
J.E. Lauffer, died and Curtis H.
Gregg appd�������. 1890
Joseph H. McCurdy������ 1892
Wm. C. Peoples�������.. 1895
Wm. C. Peoples�������.. 1898
Jesse E.B. Cunningham���� 1901
Jesse E.B. Cunningham���� 1904
Our early settlers were too busy to pay much attention to politics. Our vote
in the early years of last century was very meager, for the great contending
parties of a later date had not been formed and party lines were not yet
drawn. Most of our county officers were appointed by the Governor, and there
was but little excitement concerning elections. The Jackson-Clay-Adams contest
for president in 1824 brought about a bitter partisan feeling throughout the
country. For the first time in our county we had a real presidential contest
when John Quincy Adams was a candidate for re-election in 1828 and Andrew
Jackson was pitted against him. The official vote of the county, as published
in the Westmoreland Republican and Farmer's Chronicle of November 7, 1828 was
as follows:
District Jackson Adams
Greensburg 98 32
Hempfield 545 16
Unity 141 37
Mount Pleasant 69 6
South Huntington 267 21
Rostraver 170 55
Fairfield 180 27
Donegal 172 35
Ligonier 189 38
Youngstown 203 55
Derry 368 39
Washington 207 11
Allegheny 187 19
Salem 223 41
Franklin 283 22
Mount Pleasant District 287 85
Jackson District 192 49
Sewickley District 136 41
Total 3917 629
Jackson majority over Adams in entire county, 3,288
The presidential election in 1832 when Jackson was a second time a candidate
for the presidency, and was opposed mainly by William Wirt, was equally
bitter, though not quite so one-sided, as the following record of the official
returns show:
Districts Jackson Wirt
Greensburg 86 30
Hempfield 416 65
Mount Pleasant 74 7
Unity 115 43
Unity District 193 79
Jacksonville District 173 69
Sewickley District 89 78
Mount Pleasant District 325 95
Franklin 263 22
Washington 199 28
Allegheny 251 26
Derry 276 40
Donegal 147 25
Fairfield 178 23
Ligonier 142 55
Salem 193 60
Rostraver 121 57
South Huntingdon 178 59
Total 3419 861
Jackson's majority over Wirt, 2,558
Westmoreland County was then, like the state, strongly Democratic. For more
than fifty years it was a stronghold of Democracy, and was pointed to as the
"Star of the West". It was seldom in all these years that a Whig or
a Republican was elected to a county office. The notable exceptions of the
later elections were the election of Evans in 1860 as register and recorder,
and the election of James A. Hunter in 1879, as president judge, both being
elected by the Republicans. The election of Judge Hunter was brought about by
a dissatisfaction in the Democratic party with their nominee, A. A. Stewart.
Though a man of many good qualities, he was defeated by 1065 votes, while all
the other candidates on the Democratic ticket were elected. The year
following, though a strenuous effort was put forth by the Republican party to
carry the county, it was carried by the Democrats, though by somewhat reduced
majorities, and continued in the Democratic column until 1884. In that year an
unusually strong ticket was put into the field by the Republicans, headed by
George F. Huff as a candidate for the office of state senate. James G. Blaine
was then a candidate for the presidency. Having been brought up in an
adjoining county, he was unusually popular with a majority of Westmoreland
voters, who had watched his matchless leadership in Congress with an almost
paternal interest. Though a bitter contest ensued, the entire Republican
ticket was elected by several hundred majority, and Mr. Blaine came within
eight votes of carrying the county. In 1885 the county again went Republican,
but in 1886 it went Democratic, with the exception that Welty McCullough
carried the county and was elected to Congress, and James S. Beacon was
elected to the legislature. In 1887 the county went Republican, and in 1888
the greater part of the ticket was elected. In 1889 it was carried by the
Democrats by a greatly increased majority, and again in 1890, except that Mr.
Huff carried it as a candidate for Congress. In 1891 it was carried by the
Republicans, but by a very small majority, though P.F. McCann was elected
sheriff on theDemocratic ticket. In 1892 the successful candicates were about
equally divided between the two parties. In 1893 the Republicans carried it by
a very large majority, since which time it has been constantly in the
Republican column, with the exception that Judge Lucian W. Doty was re-elected
judge in 1899 by a small majority. In 1905 the Republicans renominated
Alexander D. McConnell for judge, and his nomination was endorsed by the
Democrat party, paying him thus a compliment hitherto unheard of in
Westmoreland politics. Following is a statement of great interest to every
resident of Westmoreland county, and is also valuable as a source of
information and for reference. It gives, in detail, the real estate valuation
and amount of taxation of every borough and township in Westmoreland county
for the year 1905. The figures are taken from the official records in
Controller Hitchman's office and are authentic, though it must be remembered
that the assessed value is rarely ever more than half its real value.
Boroughs Building Tax State Tax County Tax Valuation
Arnold 746.87 80.23 2,614.23 746,677
Arona 110.73 51.10 387.39 110,645
Avenmore 400.41 112.73 1,400.29 399,870
Adamsburg 53.05 63.12 185.59 53,005
Bolivar 244.12 56.47 854.28 244,010
Cokeville 85.59 44.47 299.51 85,534
Derry 584.54 110.03 2,082.75 595,210
Donegal 32.85 15.70 114.81 32,753
East Greensburg 410.70 407.08 1,437.44 410,586
Greensburg..
First Ward 1,418.73 1,113.02 4,963.84 1,418,711
Second Ward 1,162.90 1,810.63 4,070.19 1,162,783
Third Ward 792.40 805.42 2,773.68 792,445
Fourth Ward 1,169.14 1,711.41 4,092.19 1,169,045
Fifth Ward 649.98 401.12 2,275.20 649,010
Hyde Park 88.53 10.80 309.92 88,525
Irwin 1,162.22 965.16 4,065.13 1,162,066
Jeannette 2,354.17 296.98 8,241.67 2,353,704
Ligonier 482.14 970.76 1,687.82 482,075
Ludwick 450.44 247.39 1,576.08 450,305
Livermore 44.14 230.22 154.49 44.080
Latrobe
First Ward 471.83 423.16 1,651.47 471,765
Second Ward 1,033.44 670.75 3,617.25 1,033,400
Third Ward 819.60 340.94 2,869.25 819,665
Mt. Pleasant
First Ward 416.15 875.26 ` 1,615.65 460,970
Second Ward 667.50 710.47 2,336.27 667,355
Third Ward 517.27 304.94 1,810.74 517,210
Manor 306.81 580.08 1,073.87 306,745
Madison 11.35 7.74 389.69 111,305
Monessen
First Ward 902.58 271.60 3,158.87 902,235
Second Ward 1,257.06 ----------- 4,400.03 1,256,902
Third Ward 500.61 ----------- 1,751.33 500,235
McMahan 154.62 12.50 540.60 154,340
New Kensington 2,250.45 180.50 7,878.03 2,250,310
New Alexandria 198.75 380.34 695.69 198,681
New Florence 215.67 203.00 754.92 215,635
N. Bellevernon 293.64 313.07 1,027.63 293,550
North Irwin 160.29 71.00 560.92 160,240
Penn 188.74 50.96 660.67 188,670
Parnassus 1,092.34 556.68 3,823.36 1,092,165
Suterville 190.95 88.30 668.26 190,885
Scottdale
First Ward 921.09 1,191.77 3,224.22 920,989
Second Ward 423.69 81.60 1,483.05 423,561
Third Ward 761.65 215.74 2,665.98 761,586
Fourth Ward 204.16 38.08 715.65` 204,043
Salem 162.63 72.18 569.12 162,220
S. Greensburg 635.71 40.16 2,224.47 635,505
S.E. Greensburg 219.80 179.42 769.14 219,705
S.W. Greensburg 626.26 166.36 2,192.00 626,305
Seward 75.04 69.32 262.46 74,900
Smithton 153.59 79.96 537.58 153,540
Trafford City 528.26 139.60 1,848.48 527,969
Vandergrift 1,119.29 108.52 3,917.22 1,119,230
Vandergrift Hts. 419.99 60.69 1,469.61 419,997
Vandergrift East 69.69 ---------- 243.71 69,545
West Newton 843.09 1,721.13 2,950.23 842,552
Youngstown 80.91 108.99 283.22 80,895
Youngwood 372.34 78.70 1,302.97 372,070
TOTALS $31,865.89 $19,897.37 $111,532.06 $31,858,814
TOWNSHIPS BUILDING TAX STATE TAX COUNTY TAX VALUATION
Allegheny 822.43 307.04 2,877.59 821,817
Bell 570,09 169.16 1,995.32 569,898
Burrell, Upper 238,05 53.05 832.59 237,823
Burrell, Lower 641.73 460.07 2,245.84 641,500
Cook 275.75 172.08 966.16 275,715
Donegal 325.83 100.00 1,140.58 325,509
Derry 3,939.31 708.72 13,787.08 3,938,158
Franklin 1,352.36 931.78 4,734.42 1,352,225
Fairfield 533.27 305.06 1,869.58 533,943
Huntington North 2,469.87 644.66 8,643.52 2,468,909
Huntington South 2,032.27 1,134.31 7,112.26 2,031,576
Huntington East 3,028.00 1,011.79 10,598.93 3,027,416
Hempfield 5,361.38 2,572.99 18,760.96 3,359,118
Ligonier 913.18 334.04 3,199.88 913,777
Loyalhanna 438.64 234.02 1,534.64 438,318
Mt. Pleasant 3,913.02 1,319.83 13,692.78 3,911,622
Penn 2,877.12 851.88 10,069.67 2,876,280
Rostraver 3,435.52 2,211.31 12,025.17 3,435,179
Sewickley 2,343.89 791.48 8,209.61 2,344,792
Salem 1,915.08 614.49 6,701.94 1,914,433
St. Clair 232.39 34.48 813.36 232,328
Unity 4,024.72 1,369.33 14,085.06 4,025.655
Washington 813.35 305.47 2,845.77 812,775
TOTALS $42,497.45 $16,637.04 $148,742.71 $42,488,766
GRAND TOTALS:
Boroughs $31,865.89 $19,897.37 $111,532.06 $31,858,814
Townships 42,497.45 16,637.04 148,742.71 42,488,766
TOTALS $74,363.34 $36,534.41 $260,274.77 $74,347,580
"Source: Pages 478-486, History of Westmoreland County, Volume 1,
Pennsylvania by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed January 2001 by Deborah Closey for the Westmoreland County History
Project
Contributed by Deborah Closey for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy
Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/~westmoreland/)
Westmoreland County Genealogy Project Notice:
These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format, for any
presentation, without prior written permission.
Return to Westmoreland County
History Project
|