Chapter 10 – Kiskiminetas, History of Armstrong County Pennsylvania, Part 2

Chapter 10
Kiskiminetas
Part 2

BOROUGH OF APOLLO

Apollo is a borough. It was formerly the town of Warren, so called after
either an Indian chief or an English trader who bore that name. The town as
originally laid out, it is said, was partly on the upper part of a tract
containing 500 1/4 acres, called “Warren’s Sleeping Place,” and
partly on the lower part of another tract containing 70 1/4 acres, according
to the original surveys. The former was surveyed to John Montgomery and
Alexander Stewart on an application dated February 9, 1769. Thomas and John
Penn, the then proprietaries of the province of Pennsylvania, conveyed it by
their patent dated March 5, 1773, to John Montgomery. The warrant for the
letter is dated December 27, 1774, and it was surveyed to John Montgomery, as
mentioned in old deeds January 17, 1775.

William Smith became the purchaser of both those tracts, at sheriff’s sale,
December 20, 1805. The sheriff’s deed therefor is dated June 28, 1806. They
were sold by the sheriff of Westmoreland county. That purchaser, by deed dated
February 1, 1814, conveyed them to William Johnston and Thomas Hoge for the
sum of $3,708. The executors of William Smith, by their deed dated October 14,
1814, and John Montgomery (son of that patentee) and his wife, by their deed
dated September 28, 1815, contributed to assure the title of those purchasers
(namely, John Montgomery and wife) to both tracts, and the executors to the
smaller tract.

John B. Alexander, of Greensburgh, Pennsylvania, by advertisment in the
Western Eagle dated December 17, 1810, offered for sale “Warren’s
Sleeping-Place” as containing about 570 acres, and the tract on the
opposite side of the river, called the “Three Bottoms,” as
containing about 360 acres, and represented both tracts to be of the best
quality and to contain a great proportion of excellent bottom, and, being
seperated by the Kiskiminetas river, to afford a good seat for waterworks.

Thomas Hoge and wife, by their deed dated November 3, 1815, conveyed the
undivided half part of both those tracts to Rev. William Speer for the sum of
$1,856.56.

By article of agreement dated October 10, 1822, William Johnston’s
executor’s agreed to sell John Andree (or Andrews) the undivided half part of
the tract called “Warren’s Sleeping-Place,” that is , the residue
after Speer and Johnston sold 206 1/4 acres off the lower end to Isaac
McKisseck in 1818. The quantity of land thus agreed to be conveyed to Andree
was supposed to be 400 acres, for which the later agreed to pay $8.75 for each
acre of that moiety, after deducting the number of acres sold to McKisseck,
and in town lots, streets and alleys, which had been previously laid out.
Those executors did not execute their deed to Andree for that moiety, but he
had bought it at sheriff’s sale September 29, 1827. The sheriff’s deed is
dated March 20, 1828.

By deed of partition between Speer and Andree, dated March 8, 1829, the
former took 208 acres and 41 perches of the northeastern part of the
theretofore undivided and unsold portion of the tract, and latter took the
rest.

The town of Warren was surveyed off into lots, streets and alleys by
William Watson, in November, 1816. These lots are fifty in number and are
repectively 66 X 165 feet, each containing a quarter of an acre. Water (now
Canal) and Back (now Church) streets are parallel to the Kiskiminetas
river—the former being from 90 to 100 and the latter 60 feet wide, and are
intersected at right angles by North, Main, Indiana and Coal Bank streets,
each 60 feet wide. An alley 30 feet wide intersects Water street between lots
Nos. 20 and 21 and Back street between lots Nos. 11 and 30. Four other alleys
parallel to Water and Back streets are respectively 12 feet wide. Two acres
adjoining Back street and opposite the eastern end of Main street and lots
Nos. 10 and 11 were laid out agreeably to the terms of sale of the town lots,
as a public lot for a meeting-house, schoolhouse, etc., which have been used
for cemetery purposes. Rev. William Speer, who survived William Johnston, duly
acknowledged, July 26, 1827, before William Watson, a justice of the peace,
the plan of the town of Warren, as above described, to be the same as laid out
by him and William Johnston in the lifetime of the latter. That plan was
recorded in the office for the recording of deeds of this county, November 8,
1828.

Andree, soon after his purchase, conveyed to John McElwain an interest in
11 acres of that half of the tract which he bought at the sheriff’s sale,
which 11 acres were called the “new addition to Warren,” surveyed,
probably, by Robert McKissen. Andree and McElwain jointly conveyed a number of
lots in that “addition” to divers persons.

John Cochran and Abraham Ludwick cleared the principal part of the land
within the limits of the town exclusive of the Guthrie and Chambers plots.

The first settlers before the Pennsylvania canal was made were Joseph
Alford, John Cochran, Abraham Ludwick, Isaac McLaughlin, Michael Risher,
Robert Stewart and John Wort.

POSTAL

Before the establishment of the postoffice here, August 15, 1827, the
points nearest to Warren for receiving mail matter were Freeport and
Kittanning. Milton Dally was first postmaster. The department gave this office
a name different from that of the town, because there was another office in
this state by the name of Warren.

Whether Postmaster-General McLean or one of his subordinates conceived,
when he bestowed on this office its classical name, some citizen or citizens
of Warren to be endowed with some or all of the attributes ascribed by the
poets and mythologists to be the illustrious Apollo, the writer is not
informed.

The first seperate assessment list of the town of Warren, then in Allegheny
township, was made in 1830 thus: John Alford, lot No. 22, 1 horse, 1 head of
cattle, total valuation $58; James II Bell, lot No. 16, 1 house, 1 other lot
not known, $156; Catherine Cochran, lot No. 34, 1 house, 1 head of cattle,
$31; Robert Cochran, single man, lot No. 9, $25; Andrew Cunningham, lot No.
48, 1 head of cattle, $31; William Davis, lot No. 17, 1 house, blacksmith,
$91; Philip Dally, lot not known, one house, $225; Samuel Gardiner, lot No.
255; William Graham, lot No. 48, 1 house, 1 head of cattle $31; John Lewellyn,
lot No. 4, 1 house, 1 horse, $255; Robert McKisson, lot No. 15, 1 house, 1
head of cattle, $106; Alexander McKinstry, lot No. 1, 1 house, $252; William
McKinstry, 1 lot and house, $225.25; John McElwain, lot No. 3, 1 house, 2
horses, 1 head of cattle, $601; Isaac McLaughlin, lot No. 38, 1 house,
transferred to John Mcelwain, —-; William Mehaffey, half-lot No. 24,—–;
Peter Risher, lot No. 18, 1 house, 1 horse, $225; John wort, lots Nos. 5,6,1
house, 1 tanyard, 1 horse, 2 cattle, loy No. 12 unseated, $247.

The valuation of unseated lots varied from five to ten , twenty, thirty,
and forty dollars each.

Eight years before, the county treasurer advertised twenty-five of Warren
inlots for sale for taxes, county and road, each of which varied from five to
seven, ten, twelve, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five and thirty-five cents
assessed upon each lot. The heaviest burden of those taxes was borne by lots
Nos. 1 and 28, and the lightest by lots Nos. 9, 10, 42, 43, 46, and 47.

The first assessment list for the “new addition” was made in
1832, thus: Smith Agnew, 2 lots and houses, 1 head of cattle,$808; James Barr,
carpenter, lot No. 41, 1 house, $150; Andrew Brown, lots Nos. 4, 5, 1 house,
$50; James Chambers, lots Nos. 22, 23, 1 house, 1 head of cattle, $158;
Nicholas Day, 1 head of cattle, $8; Abraham Findley, lot No. 16, 1 house, 1
head of cattle, $258; Jacob Ford, 2 houses and lots, 1 head of cattle. $366;
Francis Graham, lot No. 17, 1 house, $100; William McKinstry, carpenter, lot
No. 40, $100; Alexander Sharp, lot No. 21, 1 house, $100; Francis M. Thompson,
lot No. 39, 1 house, $150.

The first of the line of packets from Warren to Pittsburgh was called the
Apollo, of which John B. Chambers was the captain.

BOROUGH

By act of assembly March 15, 1848, the town of Warren, then in the township
of Kiskiminetas, was incorporated into the borough of Apollo, with all and
singular the powers and franchises in said act specified. One reason for
changing the name from Warren to Apollo was, because goods shipped to that
point from the East were often carried past it to Warren, in Warren county,
Pennsylvania.

By act of March 31, 1859, the boundaries of the borough were extended as
follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of the borough at a post, thence
down the Kiskiminetas river, making that river a line for the distance of 155
perches, to a water-ash a few rods above the mouth of a run; thence from said
river south 63 degrees east 74 perches to a locust; thence south 15 1/2
degrees west 98 perches to the northeast corner of the borough; thence to the
northern line of the borough south 81 degrees west 98 perches to the place of
beginning.

The first borough election was held May 8, 1848, when Robert McKissen was
elected burgess, and William Nichols, William Miller, George C. Bovard, John
T. Smith, John Elwood and David Risher town councilmen.

The first board of school directors was elected at spring election in 1850,
and consisted of Wm. C. Bovard, John B. Chambers, John T. Smith, Thomas
Cochran, Samuel Owens and H.M.G. Skiles.

By act of March 26, 1868, forty-three feet square of North street,
immediately in front of the Presbyterian church edifice, was vacated and
declared to be no longer a street or highway, and the title thereto was vested
in John B. Chambers, D.C. Blair, William A. Fulton, and Alexander McCulloch,
trustees of the Presbyterian church, and their successors, for the use of the
church.

By the act of March 8, 1869, the lines of the borough were so extended as
to include the lands of Michael Cochran, which thereby became subject to the
laws and regulations of the borough.

A considerable portion of the territory annexed to the borough by the act
of March 31, 1859, became vested in John B. Chambers, who caused forty-five
building, or in-lots, and twenty-one out-lots, to be surveyed and laid out,
December 4, 1865. The portion of Canal street in this plot is thirty-three
feet wide, and those portions of Church, Locust, Wood, State, and Union
streets within it are, respectively, forty feet wide. Adjoining and above this
plot, extending to the alley between and parallel to Mill and Maple streets,
and between Church and Canal streets, is a smaller plot, laid out about the
the same time by James Guthrie, and below and adjoining it i.e. the Chambers
plot, is another plot more recently laid out by Simon Truby, through which
extend, nearly east and west, First and Second streets. The land between the
canal and the Kiskiminetas river from North street, down to or near the
rolling-mill, was formerly owned by David McLane, for several years editor of
the Pittsburgh Gazette, who long ago laid out lots thereon, called the McLane
plot, but very few of them were sold. The J. Morgan lot is one of them.

By the act of March 12, 1870, the burgess and town council were authorized
to levy a street tax not exceeding ten instead of five mills, as provided by
the act of March 15, 1848, as a street tax, and required property-owners to
pave their sidewalks fronting on all streets with brick or stone; and in case
they neglect or refuse to do so, the burgess and town council are authorized
and directed to have such paving done, accepting, if they see fit, a plank or
board walk in such instances as the owners are unable to pave with brick or
stone. That act also provides that liens may be entered on the mechanics’ lien
docket, to secure the costs incurred for any pavements made by the town
council, and that the same collected by due process of law, and furthermore
that all improvements then made or to be thereafter made, should be kept in
good repair by the owners and their successors.

FERRIES AND BRIDGES

The first ferry was kept by Owen Jones where the bridge across the
Kiskiminetas now is. Increased facilities for crossing that river were
afforded by the bridge across it, which was erected by a company incorporated
by the act of March 15, 1844, called the Warren Bridge Company, and its
supplement of April 3, 1846. In the course of six or seven years the bridge
was erected., indebtedness had so accumulated against the company that
additional legislation was resorted to to enable it to discharge its
liabiities, in the act of May 1, 1852, which authorized the trustees to sell
the bridge and appropriate the proceeds of the sale to the payment of the
costs thereof and the claims of the creditors in full, if a sufficient amount
were realized, or pro rata, if not, provided, if the company could liquidate
and satisfy the claims of the creditors, before the first of July of that
year, the bridge should not be sold. It was not sold by virtue of that
last-mentioned act. By act of April 20, 1858, any judgment creditor was
authorized to sue out execution against the company, and cause their bridge
and tollhouse to be levied on and sold in the same way provided for the
collection of debts on judgments which are liens on real estate upon which
executions are issued. The act required the sheriff of either Armstrong or
Westmoreland county, as the case might be, to execute and deliver to the
purchaser such a deed as would vest in him all interest, rights, and
privileges of the company; and the act provided that all the corporate powers,
authorties and privileges of the company should also be vested in the
purchasing; and further, that the proceeds of the sale, except the costs,
should be paid into court, and distributed so as to satisfy all claims, if
sufficient, but if not pro rata. All bonds of the company, whether judgment
had been obtained on them or not, were entitled alike in the distribution,
under which act a sale was made to the present company. The bridge consists of
two stone abutments and three stone piers, and a covered wooden arch
superstructure, the original cost of which was about ten thousand dollars.

RELIGIOUS

The presbyterian church, if ever formally organized, was probably organized
by the old Redstone Presbytery, in or about 1825. The first pastor was Rev.
Mr. Lee; the second , Rev. Watson Hughes, whom Rev. Alexander Donaldson, D.D.,
assisted in his farewell communion service, in May, 1838. Dr. Donaldson
preached here occasionally in July and September, and supplied statedly during
the following winter one-third of the time; the third pastor was Rev. Levi M.
Graves, half time, until 1843: the fourth, from 1846 until 1856, was Rev.
Cyrus C. Bristol; the fifth, Rev. Robert McMillen, grandson of the first
president of Jefferson College, Cannonsburgh, Pennsylvania, and apostle of
Presbyterianism in Western Pennsylvania, from 1858 until he became to
enfeebled to continue his pastorate, in 1865; the sixth, Rev. John Orr, from
the last-name year, until compelled by neuralgic affection of his eyes, he was
compelled to resign his charge in 1871; the seventh and present pastor is Rev.
H. McGill. Members, 285; Sabbath-school scholars, 200. Before the first church
edifice, one-story stone, was erected in 1825-26, services were held in the
shade of trees. The pulpit consisted of a platform of logs, which were raised
about five feet above the ground, over which was a board roof. There were no
services in the winter until the meeting-house was erecred; communion services
were held sometimes in barns in the country. The present edifice was erected
on the site of the first one, opposite the head of North street, in 1872-73,
with a lecture-room in the basement.

The first Methodist Espiscopal church edifice, frame, 20X25 feet, was
erected in 1838; the present one, brick, about 40X60 feet, with a lecture-room
in the basement, situate on the southerly side of Mill street, on the second
lot below Church street, was erected in 1851. Members, 232; Sabbath-school
scholars, 150.

By act of April 4, 1844, the trustees of this church were authorized to
sell the lot of ground in the “new addition,” No. 15, and the house
of worship thereon erected and convey the interest of the church therein to
the purchaser, provided that before the sale the trustees should excute a bond
to the commonwealthwith such penalty as should be approved by the judges of
the court of common pleas of this county, and that the proceeds of the sale
should, so far as necessary, be applied to the payments of the debtsof the
church, and the balance in such manner as should be directed by the quarterly
conference with which the church was connected.

This church was incorporated by the court of common pleas of this county
June 2, 1856. D.G. Kinnard was named in the charter as presiding elder, Samuel
Jones, preacher in charge, and Jacob Treetly, Daniel Risher, D.L. Byres, Hugh
Jones, and Samuel Jack, trustees.

The Union Evangelical Lutheran church edifice, frame, 38X50 feet, situate
on the second lot below Church street, on the southerly side of North street,
was erected in 1861.Members, 105; Sabbath-school scholars, 80. Pastors: Revs.
John A. Delo, James Wefley, and M. Colver, the present one.

This church was incorporated by the court of common pleas of this county.
The charter is dated June 2, 1862, and its charter officers were John A. Delo,
pastor; Philip Long and Isaac Townsend, Jr., elders and trustees; James Fair
and C. Kepple, deacons and trustees; and its charter members were John H.
Townsend, S. Truby, George Gumbert, J.F. Cline and Isaac Townsend, Jr.

The United Presbyterian church edifice, frame, 25X30 feet, is situated on a
lot on the southerly side of Mill street and the westerly side of an alley,
between it and the lot on which the public school-house is located. Members,
70; Sabbath-school scholars, 45. This church has not, as yet, had a regular
pastor, but has been statedly supplied.

The First Baptist church edifice, brick, one-story, about 30X40 feet,
situate near the left bank of the old canal, nearly opposite the mouth of
Maple street, was erected in 1873.

This church was incorporated by the proper court, December 21, 1874, and
William reese, Sr., Thomas Reese, Hugh Evans, A.M. Hill, W.B. Ansley and John
morgan were trustees named in the charter.

EDUCATIONAL

Prior to the incorporation of the borough, schools were taught, first in
two different log schoolhouses a short distance east of town, and then in
another schoolhouse in the hollow, the former in Allegheny township until
1832, and both therafter in Kiskiminetas township. Soon after the organization
of the borough, a frame schoolhouse, one story, about 25X30 feet, was erected
on the northerly part of lot No. 30, cornering on Church street and an alley
thirty feet wide. The first teacher was Samuel Owens. In 1863 a new two-story
house 48X45 feet, painted white, with rooms adapted to a graded school of two
departments, the ceiling of one ten and that of the other twelve feet, and
furnished with neat and comfortable pine desks and seats, was erected on an
acre lot now on the southerly side of the upper end of Mill street, near the
intersection of Wood street, which has since been so enlarged as to contain
six schoolrooms, which are furnished with convenient patent seats and desks
capable of accommodating, respectively, from forty to fifty pupils. The
directors have generally been careful in selecting competent and skillful
teachers. Subscription schools have generally been maintained during the
intervals between the closing and opening of the public schools.

In 1860 the numbers of schools was 2; months taught, 4; male teacher, 1,
female teacher, 1; average salary of male teacher per month, $25; average
salary of female teacher per month, $14; male scholars, 61; female scholars,
58; average number attending school, 76; cost of teching each per month, 47
cents; amount levied for school purposes, $254.61; cost of instruction, $200;
fuel and contingencies, $28.60; repairing schoolhouse, etc., $39.91

In 1876 the number of schools was 5; average number months taught, 4 7/8;
male teacher, 1; female teachers, 4; average salary of male teacher per month,
$60; average salary of female teachers per month, $42.50; male scholars, 129;
female scholars, 134; average number attending school, 211; cost per month for
each scholar, 86 cents; total amount tax levied for school and building
purposes, $3,299.40; received from state appropriation, $292.95; from taxes
and other sources, $2,526.18; cost of schoolhouse, $649.19; paid for teachers’
wages, $820; paid for fuel, collector’s fees, contingencies, and other
expenses, $1,335.42.

Milton Dally is said to have been the captain of the first boat that made a
trip on the Pennsylvania canal west of the Allegheny mountains. John B.
Chambers was captain of the first packet-boat that plied between Apollo and
Pittsburgh.

James H. McElwain is the oldest native of and now living in Apollo.

MILITARY

The Independent Blues of Apollo were organized as a volunteer company in
1848. Its first captain was Thomas C. McCulloch, now a practicing physician at
Kittanning. After his removal from Apollo he was succeeded by Samuel Owens in
1855, A.J. Marshall in 1856, J.C. Crawford in 1858 and Samuel M. Jackson
immediately after the firing on Sumter in April, 1861. Its services were
promptly tendeered on President Lincoln’s first call for 75,000 troops, but
not in time to be then accepted. It was directed by Gov. Curtin to be held in
readiness for future service, and June 5, 1961, it left Apollo for Camp
Wright, and was assigned as Company G to the 11th regt. of Pennsylvania
Reserves, in which it served valiantly during the war. Captain Jackson having
been promoted to the rank of colonel December 13,1863, First-Lieut James
P.Spear succeeded him as captain, who on his subsequent promotion to rank of
major, was succeeded by First-Sergt. James H. Mills, who continued to be its
captain until that regiment was honorably mustered out of service after the
close of the war. The ranks of that company were filled by gallant and
patriotic men, not only from Apollo but from the surrounding country. Among
its heroic deeds was its participation in the notable charge upon the rebel
breatworks at Spottsylvania. When the writer mentions the names of the
officers of that or any other company he does so as though they represent or
personify the rank and file of the heroic “boys in blue” who served
under them. All of their names and those of their compatriots in the military
service from Armstrong county would, the writer is informed by one of them,
fill at least one hundred pages.

There appears to have been an earlier military company bearing the name of
Charlestown Guards, which was probably organized in or prior to 1840, the
particulars of whose history the writer has not had the pleasure of
ascertaining.

SOLDIERS’ AID SOCIETY

An organizationof the ladies of Apollo and vincinity was effected at an
early stage of the war of rebellion, which, like those in other places in this
county, was effective in collecting such material and making up such articles
as were needed for contributing to the health and comfort of the sick and
wounded soldiers.

A post of the Grand Army of the Republic was in existence for a number of
years.

TEMPERANCE

Nothing has come to the writer’s knowledge respecting temperance
organizations, except that a lodge of Good Templars was organized in 1868.

The petition of the people of this borough was effective in causing the
sale of intoxicating liquors within its limits to be prohibited by the actof
March 27, 1866, which is still in force. The vote February 28, 1873 was—
against license, 109; for it, 4.

THE APOLLO CEMETERY

Was incorporated by the proper court September 7, 1868, The charter members
were Thomas A. Cochran, Samuel M. Jackson and John B. Chambers.

LODGES

Masonic. No. 437 was constituted March 4, 1869. Its hall is in the second
story of the new bank building, in the second square above the canal, on parts
of lots Nos. 3 and 4, on the southerly side of North street. Its membership is
42.

Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mineral Point Lodge, No. 615, was
instituted December 14, 1867; members 75. The Kiskiminetas Encampment, No.
192, was instituted December 13, 1869; members, 30.

The Improved Order of Red Men. Caughnewago Tribe, No. 228, was instituted
in December, 1875; members, 20.

Order of United American Mechanic. Kiskiminetas Valley Council, No. 325,
was instituted in the spring of 1875; members, 53.

The hall, or place of meeting, of the last named four lodges is in the Odd
Fellow’s building, on lot No. 2, as numbered in the original plat of the town
of Warren.

TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS

The number of merchants and such mechanics as are usual in every town has,
from the first settlement of this place, been adequate to its wants. The first
resident physician was Robert McKissen, whose successors at different periods
have been William Brown; William P. McCalloch, who was surgeon, or assistant
surgeon, in the 78th regt. Pa. Vols.; Thos. C. McCulloch, Thos. H. Allison,
William McBrair, O.P. Bolinger, J.S. McNutt, W.B. Ansley, J.W. Bell and Robert
E. McCauley. A dentist was first assessed in 1851. The first resident lawyer,
since 1855, is Jacob Treetley, and later, John B. Guthrie and Horace N.
McIntyre.

The first tannery appears to have been established in 1823-4 by John Wort,
on lot No. 41, old plot, whence he removed it to lots No. 3, 5, and 6 on the
southerly side of North street in 1817, for each of the first two of which he
paid $45, and for the other $38.50. The deeds from Johnston & Speer for
Nos. 3 and 6 are each dated January 8, 1817, and for Nos. 5 June 8, 1824. In
1839-40 James Guthrie established his tannery on an acre lot on the southwest
corner of the present Maple and Canal streets. In 1850-1 Simon S. Whitlinger
started his tannery on the northwest part of the square, which corners on Mill
and Church streets, which he sold to John F. Whilinger, who removed it,
several years since, to the lower part of the borough on Risher’s run, near
the present northern borough line. All of those tanneries were operated in the
old slow mode until the removal of the Whitlinger one to its present location,
since it has been operated by steam, that is, its process of tanning is by the
use of steam, and is of course more rapid than was that of of its old
predecessors. The various kinds of shoe and harness leather were manufactured
at all of them, and they still are large quantities at the last-named one.

The first hotel, or tavern, was opened in 1824.

The manufacture of pottery was introduced in 1832-3; of saddles and
harnesses in 1837; if cabinet-ware in 1836; of wagons in 1840; coverlet
weaving in 1841; stonecutting in 1842; chairmaking in 1843; coopering in 1844;
making tinware in 1848; carding in 1848; dentistry, cigar-making, making
mill-wheels, etc., making copperware, in 1851; grocery business, as a seperate
branch, in 1855; teaching music, confectionery as a seperate business, and
butchering in 1858; coal merchant and druggist in 1860; coal hauler and miller
in 1861; coal digger in 1863; brickmaking in 1865; auctioneer in 1867; planing-mill,
foundry and salt merchant in 1868; stove and tin merchant, book agent and
painter in 1870; barber, oil merchant, and broommaker in 1871; Apollo Savungs
Bank—assessed with one-fourth part of lot No. 3 (old plot) at $500— livery
and speculator in 1872; undertaker and silversmith in 1873; oil dealer and
photographer in 1874; lumberman, furniture dealer and brickpresser in 1875.
Some of those branches of business may have been introduced or commenced a
year or two earlier than their first assessments indicate. The capital stock
of the Savings Bank is $50,000.

The Apollo gristmill was erected by John H. and Eden Townsend in 1849. For
the last ten years it has been owned by George Brenner. It is 62X44 feet,
three stories, frame with three runs of burrstones, smutmill, corn-cracker and
sheller, and other modern improvements. It is situated on the southerly side
and at the lower end of Mill street.

A barrel factory was established by Samuel Lack, at the foot of Indiana
street, in 1854-5, and was continued in operation until 1864-5. The annual
product was about 10,000 barrels, and the number of employes varied from eight
to twelve.

With the erection and starting of the iron works came a considerable number
of persons following the various avocations incident thereto, such as manager,
eningeers, rollers, heaters, shinglers, sheares, etc.

Kiskiminetas Iron Company— The certificate of organization of this
company is dated September 20, 1855, accompanied with the declaration of the
stockholders or partners that they wished to become a body politic, under the
act of assembly “to encourage manufacturing operations,” approved
April 7, 1849. The original number of shares of capital stock was 500. The
rolling-mill was erected in 1856. The prime object at the first was
manufacture of nails. That company conveys its property to George W. Cass and
Washington McClintock for $40,000 by deed dated December 8, 1859. Its
interests and that of Washington McClintock in the property of the company
were sold by the sheriff, May 1 and 5, 1860, to Cass and McClintock for
$4,100, to whom James P. Speer conveyed his interest therein, by deed, dated
December 29, 1866. for $5,564.58.

The mill was operated by Geo. W. Cass & Co. for eighteen months. In
1863, Washington McClintock, William Rogers, Sr., and W.E. Foale leased these
works, and abandoned the manufacture of nails and commenced that of sheet
iron. Until the destruction of dam No. 2, in February, 1866, these ironworks
were operated by water-power, the supply of water having been obtained from
the Pennsylvania canal. In August of that year, McClintock and Foale retired
from, and Thomas J. Burchfield came into, the firm as active partners, and
Thomas J. Hoskinson as special partner, and the name of the firm was changed
to that of Rogers & Burchfield. A large engine was procured and an
additional waid of rolls laid. Then was commenced the manufacture of the cold
rolled iron for which these works became noted. Their capacity was fifty tons
per week. The number of employes, including the coal diggers, was 140. The
different kinds of manufacture were common, Juniata, Nos. 1, 2, 3 cold rolled,
and showcard sheet iron. These were operated almost continuously from 1866
until 1875, when the firm went into bankruptcy. It is claimed that William
Rogers, Sr., acquired, in 1872, while in Russia, knowledge of the mode of
making Russian sheet iron, and, while thus acquiring that knowledge, was for
that cause obliged to make a sudden exit from the czar’s dominions. The
property belonging to these works consists of two sheet-mills, seven puddling
furnaces, one heating furnace, two sheet furnaces, two annealing furnaces, one
new steam hammer, two gas-wells, sunk for the purpose of obtaining a
sufficient supply of gas for fuel, one of which produces a moderate quantity,
one large, seven-feet-stroke engine, two small ones, twenty tenant houses, one
other dwelling and store-house, a bakery, other necessary buildings, and a
wire suspension bridge across the Kiskiminetas to the railroad siding and
coalbank.

The number of merchants assessed by the mercantile appraiser this year is
twenty-one in the fourteenth and one in the twelfth class, in which are
included the druggists, grocers and confectioners.

POPULATION

In 1850 the number of white inhabitants was 329; colored inhabitants, 2. In
1860, white,449. In 1870, white, 762; colored, 2. The number of taxables in
1876 is 315. At 4 3/5 persons for each taxable, the population is, in this
centennial year, 1,449.

The last assessment list, that is, for 1876, indicates the numbers engaged
in various avocations to be: Clergymen, 4; lawyer, 1; physicians, 3; teachers,
2; dentist, 1; laborers, 90; carpenters, 10; blacksmiths, 6; shoemakers, 3;
saddlers, 2; painters, 3; tailors, 2; clerks, 12; cashier, 1; wagonmakers, 2;
tanners, 2; weaver, 1; watchmaker, 1; cigarmakers, 3; miller, 1; plasterer, 1;
barber, 1; tollkeeper, 1; printer, 1; roll-turner, 1; rollers, 2; puddler, 1;
miners, 6; engineers, 3; heaters, 4; manager, 1; agent, 1; haulers, 2;
stonemasons, 3; butchers, 3; bookkeeper, 1; farmer, 1; planing-mill, 1;
planer, 1; foundry, 1; foundryman, 1; old gentlemen, 4.

FIRES

Considering the age and size of this municipality, its inhabitants have
been rather fortunate in regard to fires. For a period of sixty years after
laying out the town, only three buildings had been burned. An extensive
conflagration occurred Wednesday night, January 19, 1876, which, it is
supposed, originated from overturning a kerosene oil lamp in H. A. Rudolph’s
shoe-store. Twenty-nine buildings in all were destroyed, causing a loss of
$32,000 on which there was insurance to the amount of only $12,000. The high
wind at the time caused the flames to extend rapidly along the southerly side
of North street, from its lower end to the third public alley above the canal,
beyond which were vacant lots of John B. Chambers, where they were stayed.
About twenty-four buildings on the three squares or blocks above the canal, on
the southerly side of North street, and about five on the northerly side of
Main street, were destroyed, among which were several business houses, the
postoffice and savings bank buildings on the former streeet. The people had no
means of extinguishing the fire, except their own vigorous efforts in the use
of common household buckets. It was very fortunate, under the circumstances, a
high wind raging at least a part of the time, that the destruction was not
more extensive than it was. Since then there has been but one
building—Samuel Stull’s— destroyed by fire. The burned buildings are being
replaced, as is generally the case after fires, by more tasteful and
substantial structures. The need of a fire department and more effective means
of promptly extinguishing fires than common buckets, is very apparent.

Source: Page(s) 232-246, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by
Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 1998 by Rodney G. Rosborough for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Rodney G. Rosborough for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy
Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format, for any
presentation, without prior written permission.

Return to the Historical Index

Return to the Smith Project

About Author

Nathan Zipfel

See author's posts