Chapter 8 – Plum Creek Township, History of Armstrong County Pennsylvania

Chapter 8
Plum Creek Township

Derivation of the Name –Organised in 1810 — Very Early Settlement �Blockhouses
— An Indian Attack — Women Making Bullets — Children Captured by the
Savages — Bridging Crooked Creek — First Application to the Court for a
Bridge — Absalom Woodward — David Ralston — A Tavern Tragedy of 1809 �The
Sharps � Land Tracts Originally Surveyed in the Township –Three Hundred
Acres of land for Five Shillings � Centennial Celebration 1876 (Note) — The
First Iron Plow � Mills � Churches � Schools � Whitesburg — Some
Mentionable Events � Items — Borough of Elderton — Its Early Residents �Incorporated
— First Officers — Religious History � Educational � Temperance �
Soldiers’ Aid Society � Geological Features

The name is derived from the creek which the Indians called Sipu-as-han-ne.
Sipuasink means the place of plums. Sipu-as-han-ne, then, means a stream in
the place of plums, or a stream flowing through a section of country in which
plums are abundant. It was also called Alum Creek. It is so named on the
Historical Map.

No movement was made either to divide or to change the boundaries of the
six original townships until 1809. The inhabitants of Kittanning Township
having presented their petition setting forth that they labored under numerous
disadvantages by reason of the extent of their township, and praying that
proper persons might be appointed to divide it, the court of quarter sessions,
at December session, 1809, appointed Robert Beatty, John Thomas, and James
Kirkpatrick for that purpose. Their report, signed by Robert Beatty and John
Thomas, was presented June 20, 1810, and approved; in which they stated they
had run, marked, laid off and divided said township according to these courses
and distances:

�Beginning at the fording on Mahoning creek, where the road leading from
Kittanning to Reed’s mill crosses said creek, thence southward along said
road to the top of the creek hill, about one mile thence south 640 perches
to a hickory; thence south 3 degrees west 800 perches to a post; thence
south 3 degrees east to a W. O. 450 perches; thence south 43 degrees east 40
perches to a W O. at Peck’s house; thence south 5 degrees west 1,293 perches
to Cowanshannook, about 20 perches below the mouth of Huskinses’ run; thence
south 23 degrees west 2,265 perches to the west branch of Cherry Run, about
80 perches above the mouth of Long run; thence down Cherry run to where the
same puts into Crooked Creek.” The name of the new township thus
formed, on the draft accompanying the report, is “Plum Creek;”
“Surveyed by me, Robert Orr, Jr.” Its northern boundary was
Mahoning creek; its eastern, Indiana county; and its southern, Crooked
Creek.

Such were the boundaries and extent of Plum Creek township, until the
former were changed and the latter was curtailed by the formation of the
townships of Wayne, Cowanshannock, Burrell and South Bend, and the borough of
Elderton.

The Historical Map of Pennsylvania indicates that there was an Indian town
about a mile and thirty rods above Crooked Creek, on or very near the Indiana
county line, in the southeastern part of the township. Permanent settlements
by the whites were made in the eastern and southeastern portions of Plum Creek
township, as originally formed, before and when it was a part of Armstrong
township earlier than in any other part of this county. The reason why it was
first settled is not stated. The streams, the water-power, and the
considerable scope of productive and comparatively level land in that section
may have been more attractive to pioneers than the more broken and rugged land
in other sections.

The early settlers there were subject to the attacks of the Indians. A
blockhouse was built on the land then owned by William Clark, but which is now
owned by S. E. Jones. There was another house with portholes — not built,
perhaps, expressly for a blockhouse, but used as a place of refuge and defense
from those attacks-on the road now leading from Elderton to the old Crooked
Creek Salt Works, on the farm heretofore known as the Downs’ farm. It was
attacked one morning by the Indians. George Miller and James Kirkpatrick were
then in charge of it. The Indians fired upon them, killed a child in the
cradle and wounded an adult person in the building. The women made bullets
while the men were defending them and their children. One Indian, while
putting a charge of powder in his gun, was shot through the hand and body and
was killed, and some of the other Indians were wounded. George Miller escaped
from the rear of the building, mounted a horse and started for Clark’s
blockhouse. In his absence the Indians fled, carrying with them the dead and
wounded. Two children, John Sloan and his sister Nancy, were captured about
the time of that affair on the farm near the present Lutheran and Reformed
church, formerly in Plum Creek, but now in South Bend township, and about
sixty rods northwest from the present residence of William Heintzelman. They
were working in the cornfield at the time. Having been retained by the Indians
several years, they were exchanged near Cincinnati or Sandusky, Ohio. They
returned home the same year that Samuel Sloan, still living, was born. Their
relatives and some other settlers soon after their capture followed the trail
of the Indians to the point where they crossed the Allegheny river above
Kittanning. The writer’s informant, ex-sheriff Joseph Clark, also said he had
seen bullet-holes in the door of the above-mentioned house on the Downs’ farm,
and that his aunt, Mrs. Joseph Clark, had told him that she used to stand,
with rifle in hand, and guard her husband while at work on the farm now
occupied by William T. Clark in Plum Creek township.

From 1810 till 1821 many tomahawks, darts and flintheads were found on the
farm now owned by William Herron, which is about half a mile northwest of the
junction of Plum creek with Crooked creek, and on the west side of the former,
which then divided the farms of William Clark and David Ralston. George Miller
was the earliest white settler in this township. He located where the
Kittanning and Indiana turnpike crosses Plum creek, in 1766. Twenty years
later John and Peter Thomas settled about a mile and a half north of that
point at “Elder’s Vale,” elsewhere mentioned, where the latter built
a gristmill, afterward owned by Robert Woodward.

Among the earliest emigrants to the southeastern part of Plum Creek
township, which was then, 1788, in Armstrong township, was the late Absalom
Woodward, Sr., who, with his wife and two children, came that year from
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and settled near what is now Idaho. He was a
hardy and energetic pioneer, and an enterprising, public-spirited citizen.

The petition of sundry inhabitants of this county, putting forth that a
bridge was much wanted across Crocked creek, in Allegheny township, at or near
the place where the road from Absalom Woodward’s to Sloan’s ferry crossed that
creek, and praying the appointment of viewers, was presented at December
sessions, 1805, the first held in this county. Whereupon the court appointed
James Elgin, Christopher Ourey, James Clark, Robert Brown, James Sloan and
Michael Mechling, who reported at March sessions, 1806, that a bridge was much
wanted there, and that the probable expense, $450, was too much for one or two
townships to bear. Their report was referred to the grand jury, who were of
opinion that, as there had been no settlement between Armstrong and
Westmoreland counties, it would then be improper to make any allowance out of
the treasury to carry into effect the prayer of the petitioners. At September
sessions, 1806, Absalom Woodward presented his petition, offering to advance
the money that might be appropriated for building that bridge. The matter was
again refereed to the grand jury March 17, 1807, who reported favorably, and
the county commissioners, after consulting with the grand jury, also reported
favorably — both were of opinion that the erection of that bridge would be
too expensive for the township. The application had to pass still another
ordeal. The law required the approval of two grand juries. The second grand
jury at December sessions’ 1807, reported that bridge to be necessary, a yet
the probable expense that might accrue would be too weighty a burden for our
present situation.” A bridge was afterward built there, either at private
or public expense. The court records show nothing more concerning it, except
that the petition of inhabitants of Plum Creek township was presented
September 24, 1818, setting forth that the bridge at that place had been swept
away by the flood in February of that year; that the fording there was
impassable and that the desired bridge would cost more than is reasonable for
one township to con-tribute; and praying the court to appoint viewers.
Whereupon David Johnston, Philip Mechling, James Elgin, Joseph Clark, Isaac
Wagle and James Richards were appointed, who reported favorably at the next
December sessions. Their report was approved by the grand jury, and after
having been held under consideration was finally approved by the court and
ordered to be laid before the county commissioners, and there, except an order
mentioned below, endeth the record. The writer has thus fully noticed the
applications for that bridge because the original one was the first
application for a county bridge that was made to the first court held in this
county, and drew forth from Mr. Woodward an offer that must have been quite
liberal in those early days.

 

An order was issued by the county commissioners September 21, 1814, for
$137.33 for repairing the bridge across Crooked creek at Mr. Woodward’s house.

Another of his commendable acts was the building of a church near South
Bend. The edifice was a log one, yet the offering was liberal, considering the
means which he bad, in common with other early emigrants.

Absalom Woodward, Sr., had thirteen children, eight of whom survived him.
His sons were Robert, Sharp, and Absalom. His daughters were Mrs. David
Reynolds, Mrs. Leonard Shryock, Mrs. Richard Graham, Mrs. Anthony Montgomery,
mother of ex-Sheriff Montgomery, Mrs. William D. Barclay, Mrs. James Todd,
Mrs. William Clark, mother of ex-Sheriff Clark, and Mrs. — Johnston. His
other children died in early life. He died in 1833. Mrs. Jane Montgomery is
the only one of his children still living, who is in her eighty-first year,
having thus far survived her husband seven years.

David Ralston, who married Miss Agnes Sharp, the second daughter of Capt.
Andrew Sharp before mentioned, and the first white child born in this region,
on this side of Crooked creek, was an early settler, having come to Allegheny,
afterward Plum Creek, township, in 1800. His death was tragical. It occurred
in 1809, at a log tavern, then kept on the farm formerly owned by Robert
Woodward, and now by John Ralston. Among the persons stopping there, at the
time, was a man who went out of the house, after dark, for the purpose of
waylaying another against whom he had some grudge. Mr. Ralston soon after went
out, and, having been taken for the one for whom the other was lying in wait,
was struck with a club. The blow, thus inflicted, soon proved to be fatal. He
had in his life-time purchased, and resided on, the several tracts of land now
occupied by Mrs. D. Ralston, Absalom Montgomery, and James McCracken, in the
southeastern part of Plum Creek township. He left three children — David, who
died several years since; John, still living at Elderton, and Mary,
intermarried with William McCracken. Mrs. Ralston, some time after her
husband’s tragical death, married James Mitchell, father of James, Sharp,
Alexander, and William Mitchell, Eliza, wife of A. W. Montgomery, Sally, wife
‘of Samuel Moorhead, and Rebecca, wife of Robert Lytle.

The other children of Captain Sharp not heretofore mentioned were Joseph
Sharp, who lived for many years on Crooked creek, descendants of his still
residing in that section, and Ann, wife of Andrew McCreight, and Margaret,
wife of John McCullough.

The ancient map of this county indicates the following tracts to have been
originally surveyed within the present limits of this township, if the writer
has correctly run its present boundary lines thereon: Jane Elliott, 308 acres;
William Cowden, 290 acres, seated by Absalom Woodward; Benjamin Lesher, 304
acres; Joseph Dunlap, 233� acres; Peter Deshong, 340 acres, seated by
Benjamin Lowry; John Magot, 371� acres, seated by Andrew Dormoyer; William
Sausom, 406.8 acres, seated by Church Smith; Samuel Dilworth, 408 acres; Hugh
Wason, 420.9 acres, “on the waters of the east branch of Cherry Run,
about two miles west of the Kittanning Path,” seated by William Nolder;
John Young, 328 acres, seated by Jac. Rowley; John Alison, 382.56 acres,
seated (140 acres) by Absalom Dornmoyer; Wm. Hurton, 307 acres; Joseph Burden,
362.4 acres, seated by Peter Altman; Robert Cooper, 302.1 acres, seated by
John Willis; A. Woodward, 157.5 acres, seated by George Smith; Christopher
McMichael and James Clark, 487-1/3 acres; George Campbell, 302.122 acres,
subsequently owned by Absalom Woodward; John Findley, 237 acres, seated by
widow Ralston; John Biddle, collector of taxes in Berks county, Pennsylvania,
prior to 1780, 343 acres, seated by James Kean; John Smith, 175 acres; John
Davidson, 425.2 acres, seated by Geo. Smith; John Cooper, 302.1 acres, seated
by Michael Rupert; Michael Campbell and J. Guthrie, 359.9 acres, seated (100
acres) by R. Sloan; R. McKinley and R. Sloan, 100 acres, seated by Hugh Elgin;
William Wason, 310� acres; John Nolder, 188� acres, seated by J. Nolder;
Isaac Anderson, 383.5 acres, seated by James Elgin, who, May 5, 1796; bought a
part of it from Anderson for �50 lawful money of this state; Sarah Elder,
392� acres, seated by R. J. Elder; Jas. Blakeney, 129� acres; John Levyzy,
324 acres, seated by McCain & Jordon; Abigail McAllister, 297� acres,
mostly in Indiana county; Bartholomew Mather, 329 acres; seated by Samuel
McCray; Nicholas Rittenhouse, 308� acres, seated by Moses McClean; Thos.
Shields, two tracts, 803� acres, partly in Indiana county; Arthur Chambers,
228.6 acres; John Eakey, 179� acres, seated by himself; Samuel Dixon, 193
acres, seated by Moses McClean; Thomas Taylor, 253.4 acres; Ann Parks, 327�
acres, partly in Indiana county; Jacob Amos, 426.6 acres, partly in
Cowanshannock township and Indiana county; Mary Semple, 438 acres; James
Semple, 411� acres; John Semple, 408� acres. A patent for this tract was
granted to Walter Finney, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1815, who
and his wife conveyed 100� acres of it to Walter Templeton, January 1, 1816,
“for the furtherance of the said Walter Templeton in his business of
life, and also for the consideration of 50 cents to them in hand paid.”
Robert Semple, Sr., 365� acres, partly in Cowanshannock township, seated by
Samuel Sloan; John Cummins Jr., 98� acres, seated by John Willis; John
Cummins, 171-3.4 acres; Thomas Cummins, 169� acres; John Paul, 361 acres,
seated by Willis & Lowery; Charles Leeper, 99� acres, seated by J.
Guthrie; Joseph Mather, 282� acres; John Fitzer, 364� acres, partly in
Cowanshannock township; Israel Morris, 322� acres; Samuel Morris,* 291-2/3
acres; Thos. Morris, 329� acres (the last three tracts partly in
Cowanshannock township); Larken Dorsey, 312.7 acres; Thomas Hutchinson, 300.8
acres, partly in Kittanning township; Robert Smith, 400� acres, seated by
Thos. Beer; George Meade, 337-2/3 acres, seated by Absalom Hershberger;
William Ewing, 379� acres; Andrew Milligan, 435.8 acres, seated by Philip
Rearigh (300 acres), and Alexander Nelson; Abigail Sargeant, 363.8 acres,
seated by Geo. Boyer; Joseph Ogden, 334.9 acres; Robert Cogley, 435.8 acres;
William Smith, 305.8 acres, seated by A. Craft; Christopher Miller, 305.8
acres; Thomas Hyde, 305.8 acres; Robert Towers, 339� acres; Stephen Lowrey,
353.3 acres, seated by Robert Sturgeon; William King, 392 acres, seated by
Robert Sturgeon; Andrew Craft, 256� acres, seated by Robert Coe; Elijah
Brown, 330.4 acres, seated by Jacob Ruffner; Widow Elisabeth Kealer’s
improvement, about 240 acres; Tobias Long, 328 acres, seated by Archibald
McIntosh; Nathan Burns, 256.6 acres; Jacob Stine, 319� acres, seated by Pat.
Robb, James Burnsides, 321.6 acres, seated by Daniel Ruffner; Geo. Stine, 443
acres; Henry Stine, 404� acres, seated by John Robb; Jeremiah Stine, 401
acres, seated by Wm. Moore; John Garret, 462.3 acres, surveyed to him,
November 10, 1784, “on the path leading from Ligonier to Fort Armstrong,
about six or seven miles from the fort.” — War, July 1, 1784. James
Elder, 343� acres, “on the Kittanning Path,” seated by Sturgeon
& McIntire; Charles Moore, 306-2/3 acres; Thomas Moore, 319 acres; Samuel
Preston Moore, 305.6 acres; Henry Hill, 315 acres, seated by Geo. Shick; John
Carney, 294� acres; Robert Elder, 338� acres, seated by Robert Woodward;
Jacob Evermonde, 346 acres, partly in South Bend, seated by Samuel George and
W. Smith.

The first assessment list of this township, made in 1811, shows that the
valuation of the occupied lands varied from 25 cents to $1 per acre. One small
tract of thirty acres was assessed to William Dotty at 12� cents an acre. The
valuation of the unseated lands varied generally from 50 to 75 cents per acre,
a few tracts at a dollar, and those of Timothy Pickering & Co., in what
are now Wayne and Cowanshannock townships, at $2 an acre. There are not any
unseated lands returned this year. The present valuation of the occupied lands
ranges, generally, from $5 to $8, $10, $15, $20 and $37 an acre. E.K. Bloas’
single acre is assessed at $150.

The order for the survey of the Jane Elliott tract is dated April 3, 1769,
and that for the William Cowden tract May 16 next ensuing.

The dates of a number of the other original warrants are as early as 1773.
On the 7th and 24th of January and the 7th of March, 1774, several of those
tracts were sold by the warrantees to Richard Welles for five shillings per
tract, each being described as containing 300 acres, viz.: the William Smith
tract, “adjoining Jean McAllister, three or four miles from Tohoga’s
cabbins” (at the junction of Plum and Crooked creeks, on the west side of
the former), “on the westerly branch of a large run that empties into
Plumb creek;” the Charles Moore, Thomas Hyde, William Craig, Joseph
Ogden, Samuel Israel and Thomas Morris tracts. Those and other tracts were
sold one hundred and two years ago (counting from 1876) at the rate of five
shillings for three hundred acres, as expressed in the deeds.

Names were given to some, if not all, of these tracts. For instance: the
Mary Semple tract was called “Norway;” the Nathan Burns tract,
“Oran More,” 156 acres 153 perches, conveyed by Burns to John
McMuIIen October 16, 1807, for �156 15s.; the George Stine tract,
“Wheatfield;” the Isaac Anderson tract, “White Oak Bottom;�
the Jacob Stine tract, “Monmouth;� the Abigail Sargeant tract,
“Wolf-harborer;” the Robert Elder tract, “above the trading
path from Ligonier to Kittanning,” 191 acres of which became vested in
Peter Thomas, then in Absalom Woodward, and then in Robert Woodward,
“Elder’s Vale;� the William King tract, “Palace;” the Stephen
Lowry tract, “Green Park,” on a part of which this centennial
anniversary of our national independence was served by a large concourse of
people of this section of the country.* Its various transfers are therefore,
fully given: Warrant to Stephen Lowry dated July, 1784, who by deed dated
December 11, 1786, conveyed his interest therein to Isaac Franks, to whom the
commonwealth issued a patent therefor dated February 17, 1800, who by deed
dated January 10, 1807, conveyed to Samuel D. Franks, of Berks county,
Pennsylvania, for “six hundred dollars specie in hand paid,” who by
deed dated January 1, 1814, conveyed the same to Robert Sturgeon for $600, who
by deed dated August 23, 1819, conveyed 162 acres and 26 perches to Thomas
Sturgeon for $500, who died intestate in October, 1870. Proceedings in
partition were instituted to No. 26 March term, 1871, in the orphans’ court of
this county. The inquest found that this farm of Thos. Sturgeon could not be
parted and divided to and among all his children without prejudice and
spoiling the whole, and appraised the 191 acres and 84 perches which it was
found to contain at $42 per acre, aggregating $8,044.05. Robert McIntosh, the
administrator of the estate, was directed by the court to sell it, which he
did by public outcry at Elderton February 28, 1873, to John A. Blaney for
$5,937.27. Exceptions to that sale were filed, but overruled.

The Bartholomew Mather tract was called �Matherton;” the Nicholas
Rittenhouse tract, “Rittenhousen;” the Joseph Mather tract, “Josephton;”
the Thomas Moore tract, “West Corner;” the Richard Wells tract,
“Hope;” the Andrew Croft tract, “Contentment;” the John
Davidson tract, �Chester;� the James Elder tract, “Eldridge
Farm.”

The warrants for the Joseph Ogden, Thomas Moore, George Snyder and Richard
Wells tracts, elsewhere mentioned, are respectively dated June 20,1774. They
aggregated 1,267 acres, and became vested in Thomas Cadwallader, of
Philadelphia, Pa., who by deed, dated February 18,1808, conveyed them, with
several other tracts,* to John Young, the then president judge of the courts
of this county.

It has occasionally happened that landowners have become permanently
divested of their titles by treasurers’ sales for non-payment of taxes. A case
of this kind is the John Cooper tract, 302.1 acres, below Elderton, on the
eastern branch of the run that empties into Crooked creek, a short distance
below the mouth of Plum creek, It was sold in 1822, by Samuel Matthews, who
was then county treasurer, to Robert Martin, who conveyed it to David Altman,
Michael Rupert and George Smith, They having divided the tract, Altman’s part
was conveyed to George Rowley, January 14, 1824, who conveyed it to John
Ralston, November 8, 1835, for $400.

Within the last halt century the changes of titles have been very numerous,
and the original tracts have been divided, respectively, among several
purchasers. Thus, the Thomas Moore tract, northwest of and near to Elderton,
became vested in Samuel Sturgeon, who by deed, dated May 7, 1860, conveyed 181
acres of it to James M. Christie for $3,000.

Among the early settlers of this township were also Abraham Frantz, Jacob
AlIshouse, Matthew Rankin, Philip Rearigh, now the oldest man in the township,
being in his eighty-seventh year, William Bleakney, John Downs, William
Johnston, William Todd Clark, Sr., Daniel, Henry and John Frailey, Samuel,
John, Robert and James Nolder, John Repine, Robert Sturgeon (1807), William
Graham, Sr., Archibald McIntosh, Daniel George, who several years ago
celebrated the semi-centennial anniversary of his marriage, the Ruperts, too
numerous to mention, James Elgin, George Smith, George Smith (Irish), Henry
Smith, whose widow and eight children survive him, Samuel and William Sloan,
Jacob Klingensmith, A. Dunmire, George Otterman and William Moore. The
last-named was a scout in Westmoreland county during the revolutionary and
Indian wars. Among the papers which he left, now in the possession of his
grand-son, John Moore, are a certificate, appraisement of damages, and a
discharge, of which the following are copies:

 

I certify that William Moore of Westmoreland county hath voluntarily taken
the oath of Allegiance and Fidelity as directed by an Act of General
Assembly of Pennsylvania, passed the 13th day of June, anno Domini, 1777.
Witness my hand and seal the 30th day of May, 1778. [L.S.] CHARLES FOREMAN.

A bill of damage William Moore sustained by the Indians During the time
of the late war in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county. Apraized to �13
by us. A true copy. HUGH McKEE. JOHN SHIELDS. Octr ye 11th, 1784.

(All of Mr. Moore’s horses and stock were stolen several times, but he
did not apply for an appraisement for damages, except in that instance, and
he did so then because a favorite horse had been taken. His bill was not
presented for payment.)

 

I do certify that William Moore did belong to My Company and has proved to
me that he is forty-five and is now honorably discharged. Given under my
hand this 19th day of May, 1798. JAMES IRWINE, Capt.

Mr. Moore settled a mile and a quarter southwest of Whitesburgh, about
1816, and died December 7, 1827. The first metal plow, it is said, was
introduced into this township, and into this region, about 1811-12, by James
Elgin, who was very chary of it, gloried in it, and would not allow others to
use it. Another man, without his consent, took hold of it and started a furrow
at a plowing match or frolic. The plow having struck a stone or root,
“kicked” and struck a fence, whereby both of its handles were
broken. Elgin quickly showed his indignation at the liberty thus taken with
his plow. The trespasser made light of it. An altercation of both words and
blows ensued, in which the latter was knocked down. That mode of redressing
grievances was not uncommon in those days, and yet the court was seldom
occupied in disposing of indictments for assault and battery. Elgin had a
chivalric sense of fair play, and in his attempt to maintain it on a certain
occasion in an encounter between two other men, he broke one of his own
fingers and left a permanent mark of his blow on the lower jaw of one of the
combatants.

The first assessment list of Plum Creek township, while of course its
territory was intact, indicates that there were in it then, 1811, two
gristmills and sawmills, owned respectively by James and William Clark and
Peter Thomas; seven distilleries, owned respectively by William George,
William Johnston (two), William Kirkpatrick, James Kirkpatrick, Church Smith,
George Smith and John Willis; one hatter, William Fiscus, and one innkeeper,
Absalom Woodward; number of taxables, 120; population, allowing 4-3/5 persons
to a taxable, 598. The mills owned by Peter Thomas, on the Robert Elder tract,
were the only ones then within the present limits of the township. There are
at present four gristmills in this township: J. Graham’s, on Cherry Run, a
little north of west from Elderton; the Peter Thomas mill, now owned by Prince
& McGerry, on Plum creek, nearly a mile in an air line northeast from
Elderton; the Fleming mill, on the north branch of Plum creek, a little more
than half a mile above its junction; and James Johnston’s on Plum creek, a few
rods west of the Indiana county line. The township map of this year indicates
the present number of sawmills to be three: J. Ralston’s, about 185 rods above
Crooked creek, on the first run west of Plum creek; T. A. McKee’s, on Cherry
Run, about three-fourths of a mile below Graham’s gristmill, and J. A.
Johnston’s, on the longest eastern branch of Plum creek, about 100 rods west
of the Indiana county line.

CHURCHES

Plum Creek Presbyterian church was organized by the “Old Redstone
Presbytery” prior to 1830. The congregation, about that year, erected a
stone edifice about two miles northeast of Elderton, between Plum creek and
one of its western branches. The facts of its early history are obscure. Rev.
E. D. Barrett, a graduate of Williams College, and a classmate of William
Cullen Bryant, gave one half his time to that church for one year, i.e., some
one year while he was pastor of Glade Run church. He, Bryant, and Charles F.
Sedgwick, of Sharon, Connecticut, are the only surviving members of their
class in this centennial year That church was demitted in 1889 on account of
the dilapidated condition of the edifice, its remoteness from Elderton and the
organization of another church, so that it seldom afterward had even supplies.
The Blairsville Presbytery disbanded it in 1845 and attached its members to
other churches.

The Cherry Run Presbyterian church was organized by the Blairsville
Presbytery in 1844. Its edifice is a neat frame, situated about a hundred rods
southeast of Whitesburgh, on the Kittanning and Indiana turnpike. This church
was supplied by the late Rev. John Stark until 1858, he having dissolved his
connection with the Associate Reformed and having been ordained as an
Evangelist in the Presbyterian church. After his labors ceased Rev. M. M.
Shirley was its pastor until 1866; Rev. G.K. Scott from 1867 to 1869; it has
since been supplied. Members, 92; Sabbath-school scholars, 85.

The Methodist Episcopal church edifice, also a neat frame, is situated near
the Presbyterian at this point. The church is in the Knox circuit.

St. Thomas is the name of both the Reformed and Lutheran church, at the
point of the disbanded Plum Creek Presbyterian church above-mentioned. There
appears to be no record of the time when the Reformed congregation was
organized. Rev. Wilhelm Weissel, as is still remember by certain individuals,
preached for some time at the house of John Thomas in that vicinity, and
continued to be the pastor until about 1851. His successors have been Rev. T.A.
Boyer and Frederick Wise. Members, 44; Sabbath-school scholars, 35.

The Lutheran church at this point was organized about 1850, and was
occasionally supplied until 1856. For thirteen years thereafter Rev. Michael
Sweigert was its pastor. His successor, the present pastor, is Rev. J. Wright.
Members, 38; Sabbath-school scholars, 80.

The erection of the present St. Thomas church edifice was commenced in the
summer of 1867 � the cornerstone was laid in the fall, Revs. Michael
Sweigert, F. Wise and J. Wright officiating, and the dedication occurred in
the following winter. The building committee consisted of Geo. Rearich, John
Sell and Luke Bierer. The building is frame, 50 X 45 feet. The consistory of
the Reformed congregation then consisted of Abraham Jewell and Jacob Thomas,
elders, and Herman Rearich and Nicholas Reefer, deacons.

The Mount Union Reformed Congregation was organized at the McCullough
schoolhouse by Rev. Frederick Wise, May 28, 1804. The members of the first
consistory were Elders Philip Rupert and Aaron Smith, and Deacons Obadiah
Rupert and Adam Smith. The congregation soon after prepared to build a church
edifice, and received assistance from individual members of other
denominations. During the progress of the building a Lutheran congregation was
organized and took a half interest therein. Its site is about two and a half
miles southwest of Elderton. The cornerstone was laid June 23, 1869, on which
occasion Revs. Frederick Wise, J. J. Pennypacker and J. F. Wiant, of the
Reformed, Revs. Jonathan Sarver and J. R. Melhorn, of the Lutheran, and Rev.
Byron Porter, of the United Presbyterian church, took part in the exercises.
This church, dual in faith and in the election of officers, but one and joint
in the ownership of the church property � in these respects like the St.
Thomas church –was dedicated October 23, 1870, and the congregations were
incorporated by the proper court December 15, 1871.* The edifice caught fire,
in the midst of communion services, which prevented their completion, on
Sabbath, January 9, 1873, and was consumed. A new brick edifice — the present
one � 50 X 40 feet, was soon after erected on its site by the joint
contributions of the two congregations, and was dedicated June 7, 1874.

The number of members of the Mount Union Lutheran church is 50;
Sabbath-school scholars, 40. St. Paul’s Reformed, under the charge of Rev. A.
K. Kline, a little more than two miles northeast from Whitesburgh, has over
one hundred members, and its Sabbath-school nearly as many. The St. Thomas
church, about six miles and seven-eighths north of Elderton, has about fifty
members.

The German Baptist or Dunkard church was detached from the Cowanshannock
church in or about 1863, and then organized into the Plum Creek church. The
edifice is frame and is situated nearly a mile southeast of Elderton, on the
John Davidson tract, called in the patent “Chester,” on land now
owned by Tobias Kimmell. This church has since its organization been under the
charge of Rev. Lewis Kimmell, who has also devoted much of his time to
teaching public and normal schools in that locality. Church members, 100;
Sabbath-school scholars, 50. One of the five Sabbath-schools in this township
is a Union school, i.e., consisting of scholars belonging to different
denominations.

SCHOOLS

The first schoolhouse within what are the present limits of Plum Creek
township was erected in 1702 on what is now John Sturgeon’s farm, in the
north-eastern part of the township, a half a mile or more westerly from an old
blockhouse just over the Indiana county line. That schoolhouse was such a one
of the primitive temples of knowledge as are elsewhere described in this work.
It was built by the Hoovers, Johnstons, Repines and Templetons, who were early
settlers in that region. Robert Orr Shannon was the first teacher within its
walls. Another schoolhouse was built a few years afterward on land then
belonging to Absalom Woodward, Sr., about fifty rods east of what is now
called Idaho mill, in the southeastern part of the township. The first teacher
there is said to have been a Mr. Donahoo. He taught in that house as late as
1802. Mrs. Jane Montgomery, widow of Anthony Montgomery, was then one of his
pupils. The barbarous custom of barring out teachers was then in vogue, in
case they refused to treat their scholars on holidays. Donahoo refused to do
so on one of these occasions and was barred out. As he persisted in refusing
to treat them, Abraham Woodward, Sr., as it is related, suggested to the boys
that they had better let him enter the schoolroom, and then bar him in. They
did so and succeeded in making him comply with their demand. When the
teacher’s compensation depended, to so great an extent as it did in former
times, on the good will of his pupils, it may have been politic for him to
have treated them on holidays.

Robert Sturgeon, now one of the oldest inhabitants in this region,
remembers that there was in 1803 a log schoolhouse about 125 rods west Of
Cherry Run, and nearly a mile southeast of Whitesburgh, near the road from
Kittanning to Elderton, on land now occupied by Peter George; one in the
southwestern part of the township, on land now occupied by J. Roley, the
teacher in which was Cornelius Roley.

Robert McIntosh remembers an old schoolhouse on the old state road from
Indiana to Kittanning, about 200 rods southeast from Whitesburgh, on land
formerly owned by Henry Ruffner, but afterward by William S. St. Clair, in
which a teacher by the name of Cook taught in 1810-12; one nearly a mile
northeast of Elderton, on the public road leading thence to Plumville, in
which Rev. John Kirkpatrick, of Greenville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, was
the teacher for several terms, from 1812 until 1815.

There was a schoolhouse in the northwestern part of the township, on a
western branch of Cherry Run, on land now occupied by J. Boyer, in 1832, one
of the teachers in which was Miss Ann Fulton, who, it is said, succeeded
admirably as a teacher and a disciplinarian.

Anthony O’Baldain, educated for a Catholic priest, was one of the early
teachers. John Sturgeon taught from 1846 till 1874, i.e., twenty-eight
consecutive terms. All of these schoolhouses were primitive log ones. The free
school system was readily adopted in 1835, and the requisite number of a
rather better kind of log houses were erected, at suitable distances,
throughout the township, which have since been replaced by comfortable frame
ones. In 1860, the number of schools was 14; average number of months taught,
4; male teachers, 11; female teachers, 3; average salaries of male, per month,
$12; average salaries of female, $12; male scholars, 387; female scholars,
325; average number attending school, 396; amount levied for school purposes,
$1,100; for building, $300; received from state appropriation, $176.61; from
collectors, $1,057.79; cost of teaching each scholar per month, 31 cents; cost
of instruction, $672; fuel and contingencies, $195; building, renting,
repairing schoolhouses, $310. In 1876 the number of schools (exclusive of
three in that part of South Bend taken from the Plum Creek township) was 14;
average number of months taught, 5; male teachers, 11; female teachers, 3;
average salaries, male, per month, $30.45; average salaries, female, per
month, $27; male scholars, 310; female scholars, 248; average number attending
school, 375; cost per month, 77 cents; amount of tax levied for school and
building purposes, $3,644.57; received from state appropriation, $407.34; from
taxes, etc., $2,827.71; cost of schoolhouses, $771.05; teachers’ salaries,
$2,080; fuel, contingencies, collectors’ fees, etc, $384.

The chief occupation of the people of this township has been agricultural.
The assessment list for this year shows the number of clergymen to be 4;
physicians, 2; laborers, 52; blacksmiths, 3; millers, 3 ; wagonmakers, 2;
peddlers, 2; mason, 1; saddler, 1; shoemaker, 1; gentleman, 1. Mercantile —
Numbher of stores, 5; in 12th class, 1; in 13th class, 1; in 14th class, 3.

POSTAL

The mail matter for the people of this township is received at the Atwood,
Elderton, South Bend, and Whitesburgh postoffices. The last-named is the only
one in this township. It was established May 3, 1861, John A. Blaney being the
first and present postmaster.

Whitesburgh is a small village, named after the late Major James White, who
about 1828 surveyed and laid out its lots. It contains several
dwelling-houses, a store, blacksmith-shop, carpenter-shop, hotel, and an
office or offices of two physicians, Drs. Parke and Kelly. A short distance
west of this village and elsewhere in its vicinity are grand, extensive, and
picturesque views of the surrounding country.

SOME MENTIONABLE EVENTS.

A military company, bearing the name of Crooked Creek Rangers, was
organized many years since. It consisted of about fifty or sixty men residing
along Crooked Creek and its vicinity, from across the Indiana county line down
toward its mouth. The uniform consisted of a homemade linen hunting shirt,
dyed in a color like that of tan-bark juice, buckskin breeches, and a cap
surmounted with a coon’s, fox’s or deer’s tail, and each member of the
company, at least each private, was armed with a rifle. When that company was
organized and disbanded, and who were its officers, the writer has not been
able to ascertain.

On Friday, March 28, 1828, occurred a circular fox hunt. The circle began
at the house of Capt. Joseph Sharp; thence to Robert Walker’s, on Crooked
Creek; thence to where the state road crossed near Israel Thomas’; thence to
James Speddy’s; thence to Robert Woodward’s mill (“Elder’s Yale”);
thence to Plum Creek bridge; and thence to the place of beginning. It was
arranged that all the sections should move at the blowing of the horns,
precisely at 9:30 o’clock A.M. A few days before July 12, 1837, occurred a
heavy rain which raised the waters of Plum creek several feet higher than they
had ever before been known to have been by the oldest inhabitants. The
principal portion of the fences, grain, timothy, clover and other crops along
the valley were destroyed. A large number of hogs were drowned. One farmer
lost more than a dozen in one pen. A new bridge on the Kittanning and Indiana
turnpike, and a less valuable one higher up the creek, were swept away. No
lives were lost.

On Thursday night, December 29, 1838, the steam gristmill on Plum creek,
formerly owned by Peter Thomas, but then by Robert Woodward, was destroyed by
fire, together with two carding machines, belonging to James C. Fleming, and
1,800 bushels of grain, which the people of the surrounding country had
deposited there. Hence, that fire was not only a private, but a public
calamity.

The Plum Creek Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated by the
proper court, December 7, 1874. Its object is the compensation of its members
for losses occasioned by fire. There have been a goodly number of staunch
friends of the temperance cause in this township, notwithstanding the vote for
granting license to sell liquor was 161, and that against it 86.

ELDERTON

Is on the tract called “Wheatfield,” which was originally
surveyed on a warrant, dated August 18, 1786, to Sarah Elder, to whom a patent
therefor was issued, April 14, 1799. By her last will and testament she
devised that tract to Joshua Elder, who by deed of gift, dated June 19,1818,
conveyed it to Robert J. Elder, who, November 20, 1822, laid out 14� acres
thereof into 41 town lots, fronting on Turnpike and Saline streets, which
cross each other at right angles. Their width is sixty feet, and that of the
various alleys is from twelve to sixteen feet. These lots were surveyed by
James White. They are all, except three, 66X165 feet. The course of Turnpike
street is north 22 degrees west; of Saline street, south 78 degrees west; and
that of the southeasterly line of the town plot is north 89 degrees west. The
original shape of the town was nearly that of a cross.

Mr. Elder, when he laid it out, named it New Middletown, and it is so
designated in some of the early court records and assessment lists. The first
house erected in it was a small log one, which was kept as a tavern by William
Elgin, whose sign was about 18X8 inches, nailed to a stick stuck in a stump
with this inscription on it: “Oats and whiskey for sale.� Mr. Elder
then lived in a house afterward occupied by John R. Adams, on a farm now owned
by Matthew Pettigrew.

The first assessment list of New Middletown appears to have been in 1824,
thus: Thomas Armstrong, lot No.10, valued at $1: William D. Barclay, lots Nos.
17, 20, 21, 2 houses, $8; William Coulter, lot No. 3,1 house, $2.50; Daniel
Elgin, lots Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 38, 1 house, $5.68; Samuel George, lot No.13, $1;
John George, lot No.12, $1; Dr. Leonce Hoover, lots Nos. 19, 34,1 house, 1
horse, 1 head cattle, $8.50; John Kees, blacksmith, 1 house, 2 lots, $25;
William McLaughlin, 1 house, 3 lots, $25; Moses Miller, lot No. 31, $1.12;
Samuel Sturgeon, lots Nos. 41, 15, $3.50; Robert Woodward, lots Nos. 27, 28,
29, $3.50. The respective valuations of 20 unseated lots varied from 29 cents
to $5. Among the earliest citizens of this town were Thomas Armstrong, tailor,
afterward justice of the peace; Zack Kerr, chairmaker; Hamlet Totten,
shoemaker; Joseph Klingenberger, saddler; William Lytle and William D.
Barclay, merchants; Daniel Elgin and William Coulter, innkeepers, the latter
of whom was justice of the peace for nineteen years; John and William Elgin,
Robert Richey, George Shryock, A. W. Clark, George Smith, James Clark, now of
Indiana, Pennsylvania, who established the tannery now owned by Charles
Rosborough. John Ralston traded a horse with the late Robert Woodward for the
lot on which he still lives, which he grubbed with his own hands. He and
William Lytle entered into partnership in the mercantile business in 1831,
which they carried on in the room now occupied by Dr. J. M. St. Clair.

Among the later settlers were, as the writer is informed, Andrew Kimmel,
Drs. Meeker, Kelly and Allison. The last-named was a surgeon in the army
during the war of the rebellion, and for several years past, he and his son, a
native of Elderton, have practiced in Kittanning. It was in Elderton that Dr.
David Alter first experimented in telegraphing, respecting which he says in a
recent letter to the present writer:

“In 1836, while engaged in experimenting in electro-magnetism, in
Elderton, I received the idea that the galvanic current could be made
available for telegraphing by causing the deflection of magnetic needles,
and in accordance made a plan for pointing out the letters of the alphabet
by deflection, and was successful at the distance of 120 feet. But having no
time nor means to pursue the subject then, I neglected it and did not apply
for a patent.”

There was presented December 8, 1858, to the proper court of this county, a
petition of citizens of the town of Elderton, then in Plum creek township,
setting forth that they labored under many disadvantages and inconveniencies
for want of corporate privileges, and praying to be incorporated under the act
of April 3, 1851. That petition was referred to the grand jury, who returned
to the court that it was expedient to grant the prayer of the petitioners. On
the next day, March 9, the court made the requisite decree incorporating that
town into the borough of Elderton. It is provided by that decree that the
electors of the borough of Elderton and the township of Plum creek might join
in electing a judge and two inspectors of election, before whom the elections
of the township and the borough might thereafter be held-the ballots to be
deposited in separate ballot boxes, except those cast for judge and
inspectors.

The boundaries of the borough were: “Beginning at a post on lands of
William Bleakney; thence south 71� degrees west 120 perches to a post in land
of John Ralston; thence north 18� degrees west 183 perches to a stump on land
of John R. Adams; thence north 71� degrees, east 120 perches to a post in
land of Robert M. Gibson; thence south 18� degrees east 183 perches to the
place of beginning,” containing 137� acres.

The first borough election was directed to he held at the house of Henry
Smith, on the first Friday of April, 1859, of which Robert Martin was
appointed judge and Robert T. Robinson and William S. Cummins, inspectors.
Notice of that election was to be given by the constable of Plum creek
township. Subsequent borough elections were to be held at the time of holding
elections of township officers, which was on Friday next preceding the first
Monday of March until changed to the third Tuesday of February by section
three, article eight, of the present constitution of this state. The first
borough officers were: Burgess, William Lytle; members of town council, Robert
Martin, William S. Cummins, Robert T. Robinson, Bryson Henderson, Joseph
Henderson; street commissioner, John Ralston; assessor, Henry Smith, assistant
assessors, R. M. Gibson, G. W. Burkett; auditor, D. W. Hawk; constable, Elias
Kepple; overseers of the poor, William Alexander, Noah Keifer; school
directors, John H. Morrison, Joseph Klingenberger, Anderson Henderson, William
Haslett, G. W. Burkett, Charles Rosborough.

By act of March 28, 1865, the burgess and town council were empowered to
vacate and supply so much of the Ebensburgh and Butler pike as lay within the
borough limits.

By act of March 9, 1872, the burgess and town council were authorized to
compel by ordinance the owners of property fronting on any of the streets to
pave the sidewalks ten feet in front of their respective lots and keep them in
good order and repair. In case any owner or owners refuse or neglect to pave,
the borough authorities can have the paving of such sidewalks done and enter
up liens for the cost of the labor and material within sixty days of the
completion of the work, having first given thirty days’ notice.

CHURCHES.

The United Presbyterian congregation of Elderton was organized December 25,
1854, as an Associate Presbyterian congregation, with thirty-two members, as
follows: Wm. Lytle, Mrs. Mary Lytle, Miss Elizabeth Lytle, Mrs. Nancy
Henderson, W. S. Cummins, Hugh Elgin, Mrs. Mary Elgin, James Elgin, Mrs. Mary
Elgin, Jr., Samuel George, Mrs. Eliza George, Miss Sarah McCreight, Mrs.
Elizabeth Rupert, Mrs. Jane Clark, Mrs. Eliza Montgomery, Mrs. Martha Martin,
John Ralston, Mrs. Jane Ralston, Mrs. Nancy Mitchell, Miss Nancy Mitchell,
David McCullough, Sr., Robert McCullough, Mrs. Nancy Cullough, David Rankin,
Mrs. L A Rankin, Mathew Rankin, Mrs. Margaret Rankin, Mrs. Mary Rankin, Sr.,
John Rankin, Mrs. Mary Rankin, Jr., Mrs. Jane Henderson, James McCreight.

Wm. Lytle and James McCreight were elected ruling elders at the time of the
organization. Rev. Byron Porter, the first pastor, was installed in July,
1856. For three years Mr. Porter preached at Elderton one-third of his time,
and from that until his death, which occurred November 28, 1876, one-half
time. Mr. Porter’s pastorate was quite prosperous, the congregation having a
membership of over one hundred at his death. Until 1862 the congregation
worshiped in a brick house which had been erected in 1849 as a Union church by
the Presbyterians and Associate Presbyterians of the community. In 1862 the
United Presbyterian congregation built the present house of worship, a
single-story frame structure, at a cost of about $3,000. The house was not
completed and occupied until 1868. Robert McIntosh and David Rankin were
ordained elders August 16, 1856. Brice Henderson, W. S. Cummins, Robert
McCullough and William Smith were ordained elders November 15, 1861. The
session was further strengthened by the addition of S. B. McNeal, November 5,
1864; Alexander Hunter, October 21, 1865; and Thomas Sturgeon and John M.
Hunter, October 3,1879. Wm. Lytle died August 17, 1873, S. B. McNeal in 187–,
and David Rankin October 6, 1880. William Smith and Alexander Hunter were
certified in 1878, and W. S. Cummins in 1878; Messrs. McCreight, McIntosh,
Henderson, McCullough, Sturgeon and J. M. Hunter form the session at this
time.

Rev. J. Buff-Jackson was installed pastor of this congregation in
connection with Shelocta, Indiana county, December 11, 1877, and so continues
at this time. There are at present one hundred and thirty names on the roll of
the congregation.

The following are the names of the present members given as nearly as
possible in the order of their admission:

Mrs. Mary Lytle, James Elgin, Mrs. Mary Elgin, Mrs. Jane Clark, Mrs. Eliza
Montgomery, Mrs. Martha Martin, Robert McCullough, Mrs. L. A. Rankin, John
Rankin, Mrs. Mary Rankin, Harvey M. Rankin, Mrs. Bell J. Clarke, Miss Clara
B. Rankin, Mrs. Permelia Sturgeon, R. A. McCracken, Mrs. Bell McCullough,
Mrs. Nancy B. McCullough, Hugh E. Rankin, Hugh H. Elgin, Mrs. Annie M.
Rankin, Miss M. Ella Sturgeon, Mrs. Carrie M. Jackson, Miss M. N. Henderson,
John M. Kepple, Cyrus M. Yount, Byron Porter, Joseph Fry, Mrs. Jane Fry,
Mrs. Mary M. McCullough, Miss Maggie J. McCullough, Miss Amanda J. Elgin,
Miss Mary A. Bleakney, Miss Iris J. Armstrong, Miss Annie M. McCreight, Miss
Ella Hunter, E. L. Porter, John M. Rankin, Mrs. Mary A. Rankin, Mrs. Agnes
J. McCullough, Miss Bell J. Rankin, Alexander Rankin, Mrs. Clara E. Rankin,
Mrs. M. E. Harman, Miss Emma J. Painter, Miss Nancy J. Sturgeon, Miss Mary
E. Lytle, Mrs. H. J. Ralston, Mrs. Elizabeth Keener, Miss A. B. Montgomery,
Mrs. M. J. Ramsey, A. W. Bleakney, R. M. Keener, Mrs. E. J. Ralston, Mrs.
Emma Smith, Mrs. S. A. Henderson, John R. Porter, W. D. McCullough, Mrs.
Lizzie Lightner, Miss Bell J. Sturgeon, Miss Miss N.E. McCullough, T. N.
Ralston, James A. Smith, John Ramsey, Mrs. Mary Ramsey, William Ramsey, L.
C. Gibson, Mrs. C. Gibson, W. B. Sturgeon, A. B. Ramaley, Mrs. M. Kepple,
Mrs. Bell Kaylor, Mrs. Callie Yount, Miss Clara I. Sturgeon, Miss Mary E.
McNeal, James Smith, Mrs. Margaret Smith, Mrs. Nancy Schrecengost, Miss
Della M. Rankin, Miss Bell H. Elgin, Alexander Clarke, Thomas A. McCullough,
Alexander McCullough, Mrs. Jane Moore, James McCreight, Robert McIntosh,
John McCullough, Mrs. Elizabeth McCullough, Mrs. Nancy M. Sturgeon, Brice
Henderson, Thomas Sturgeon, Mrs. M. A. McIntosh, Mrs. Lois Armstrong, Mrs.
Catherine Clark, Mrs. Julia A. Smith, Miss Maggie McIntosh, Miss Ellen
McIntosh, Mrs. Mary Bleakney, Mrs. Jane McCreight, B. W. Armstrong, Mrs.
Mary J. Armstrong, William Sturgeon, Mrs. Nancy Sturgeon, Mrs. Jane
Sturgeon, Miss Nancy Bleakney, Mrs. Nancy McConnell, Mrs. Elizabeth Dixon,
Miss Sarah Smith, William Armstrong, Mrs. Sarah Sturgeon, Mrs. Lydia A.
Frailey, Mrs. M. J. Henderson, Mrs. Mary A. Elgin, John M. Hunter, Mrs. Emma
Hunter, D. A. Ralston, Mrs. Catherine Bleakney, Mrs. M. J. Ramaley, Mrs. A.
M. Porter, M. C. Ramaley, S. W. Smith, Miss E. I. Montgomery, Mrs. S. J.
McCullough, Miss Ella E. Armstrong, Miss Alice B. Graham, W. Hays Elgin, T.
Porter Sturgeon.

The Presbyterian church was organized by the Blairsville Presbytery in
1855. Rev. Wm. F. Morgan was its pastor one-third of the time until his death.
The edifice is frame, 40X50 feet, on the northwest corner of Turnpike street
and the street leading into the Rural Village road. Members, 85;
Sabbath-school scholars, 75.

The Methodist Episcopal church is one of the churches belonging to the
Elderton circuit, at present under the charge of the Rev. A. Cameron. The
edifice is frame, and is situated on the extreme lot, as yet laid out and
occupied, on the right-hand side of Saline street, as the observer faces
southwest, near the present borough line. Members in that circuit, 230;
Sabbath-school scholars, 280.

SCHOOLS.

As early as, perhaps earlier than, 1826 there was an organization called
the “New Middletown Schoolhouse Stockholders,” to whom Robert J.
Elder conveyed, for the sum of ten dollars, a lot containing ninety-two and
seven-tenths perches adjoining, or nearly so, this town, on which a
schoolhouse was erected, and the first school taught in it by Josiah Elder in
1828. That lot has been for years included within the borough limits. The
building is frame. The school board contemplate securing the two lots
adjoining that one and erecting thereon a creditable brick school house.

In 1860 the number of schools was 1; months taught, 7; male teacher, 1;
salary per month, $20; male scholars, 31; female scholars, 34; average number
attending school, 53; cost teaching each per month, 39 cents; amount levied
for school purposes, $175; received from collector, $175; expended — cost of
instruction, $150; fuel and contingencies, $25.

In 1876 there was one school; months taught, 7; male teacher, 1; salary per
month, $40; male scholars, 30; female scholars, 35; average number attending
school, 56; cost per month, 66 cents; levied for school and building purses,
$281.92; received — from state appropriation, $75.33; from taxes, etc.,
$315.92; cost of schoolhouse, $14; teacher’s salary, $280; fuel,
contingencies, etc., $32.94.

The Elderton Academy was founded in 1865. The edifice is frame, one story,
eighteen feet high, about 60X30 feet, with two rooms, and situated on the
left-hand side of Turnpike street, the observer facing southeast, on the ninth
block below Saline street The instructors have been competent, and the average
attendance of students about forty.

A brass band, consisting of fifteen pieces, organized few years since, is
one of the best in the county.

TEMPERANCE. There has been for many years a strong
temperance element in this place. The vote against granting license was 30,
and for it, 8. SOLDIERS’ AID SOCIETY.

On the reception of the news of the first great battle in the war of the
rebellion, and on the first intimation given that various articles were needed
to make the sick and wounded Union soldiers comfortable, the ladies of
Elderton and Plum Creek immediately, even on the Sabbath day, commenced
preparing lint and bandages and collecting delicacies to be forwarded to the
suffering with all possible dispatch, and this was continued for a
considerable time before an association was regularly organized. Much — there
is no record of how much — was thus done, some sending their contributions to
individual soldiers whom they knew. Toward the latter part of the war an
account was kept of the money and articles contributed. The aggregate of the
former was $169.99, which the society expended for material on which they
expended their labor. Thirteen pages, thirteen by eight inches, are filled
with entries of shirts, drawers, packages of bandages, dried fruits, canned
fruits, vegetables, etc., received and forwarded through the sanitary
commission to the army. The money value of all the contributions made by this
society from first to last cannot now he estimated, but it is fair to state
that the gross amount, if accurately known, would appear to be highly
creditable to the humanity and patriotism of those by whom it was contributed.

GEOLOGICAL.

An approximate idea of the geological features around Elderton and
throughout Plum creek township is derivable from the following compilation
from “Rogers’ Geology of Pennsylvania:”

On Crooked creek, 2� miles below Plum creek, the upper Freeport coal is seen
12 feet above the creek, and 42 inches thick as exposed; it soon dips under
the stream. In the bend of Crooked creek the red and variegated shales of the
Barren measures, with nodules of hematitic ore, occur 45 feet above the stream
and fragments of green fossiliferous limestone 30 feet above it- The
Pittsburgh coal occurs upon the upland surface three-quarters of a mile
southeast of this point on Crooked creek.

The black limestone strata are seen rising west under the greenish strata,
one quarter of a mile below the bend, and 20 feet above the creek. Over a dark
greenish stratum 10 inches thick lies a nodular limestone 5 inches thick;
this, again, is capped by green shales. Half a mile below this the upper
Freeport coal rises to a hight of 51 feet above the water level, and is opened
3� feet thick; roof bituminous shale, 1� feet thick.

The ferriferous limestone rises from the creek at Heath’s; it is full of
small bivalves (terebratula, etc.) is flinty, thinly stratified, dark blue,
and 5 feet thick. A quarry of silicious sandstone, greenish-gray and splitting
into slabs, has been blasted in the strata, 20 feet above the limestone, which
slate are used for tombstones in Elderton. Sandstones are largely developed in
the bed of the creek below the next sawmill. A coal bed 1� feet thick is
there, from 20 to 25 feet above the water; the limestone is nowhere visible. A
section made in the lofty sides of the valley at that place is as follows:
Mahoning massive sandstone, 50 feet; upper Freeport coal, irregular (estimated
to be 200 feet above the creek), 3 feet; unknown, 15 feet; Freeport limestone,
18 inches; unknown, 10 feet; sandstone and shale, 40 feet; Freeport sandstone,
50 feet; coal, a few inches; shale, 16 feet; sandstone, 4 feet; unknown, 41
feet.

Kittanning coal (possibly the ferriferous coal), 1� feet; unknown down to
the creek and full of fossils, 6 feet thick. Depth of salt well is said to be
500 feet. A little to the east of this appears to run the highest or axis line
of the third anticlinal flexure. The Freeport limestone, bearing its
characteristic minute fossils, has fallen so far in its level by the time it
has reached Cochran’s mill, 300 yards above the next saltworks, that it is but
24 feet above the dam; it is seminodular, and 2 feet thick. The upper Freeport
coal overlies it 2� feet, and is itself 3 feet thick. It is a thicker bed
some hundred yards southwest, and the coal outcrop is 10 feet above it. A
coalbed is seen at a level 100 feet higher in the hillside. Beneath it is seen
a massive sandstone, but the fossils of the limestone seem decisive against
that supposition. At the lower saltworks is a coalbed 3 feet thick and 60 feet
above the stream.

Turning from the southern to somewhat beyond the northern boundary of Plum
Creek town at Patterson’s mill, on the Cowanshannock creek, the Kittanning
bed, covered by 40 feet of shale, reads thus: Bituminous shale, 3 feet; coal
and slate interleaved, vegetable impressions numerous, 12 inches; coal, 12
inches, 7 feet above level of water; floor, black slate. Lower down it reads
thus: Black slate, 5 feet; coal, 5 inches; bituminous pyritous slate, 18
inches; coal, 15 inches; slaty coal, 14 inches.

Two miles west of Rural village, on a farm formerly known as Smith’s tract,
the upper Freeport coalbed is 150 or more feet above the creek, and is 4 feet
thick, of good quality, but with a little sulphur. Ten feet below it is the
ferriferous limestone, 5 feet thick. Fifty feet below the limestone is seen
the lower Freeport coal, said to be 1� feet thick. Upwards of 100 feet lower
down, near the creek level, is the Kittanning coalbed, thickness unknown. This
locality is on the east side of the fourth axis, and distant from it about 2�
miles; dip southeast.

Such are the geological features of the territory between Crooked and
Cowanshannock creeks, in the scope of country comprised within the limits of
Plum Creek township.

* Samuel Morris, Sr., was an original member of the Board of War, appointed
by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, March 12, 1777.

* The question whether the Centennial anniversary of American independence
should be suitably commemorated began to be agitated by the patriotic people
of Plum Creek Townships and Elderton in the fore part of March 1876. A
committee of arrangements was appointed at a public meeting held soon after,
consisting of J.A. Blaney, chairman; D.B. Coulter, secretary; John Ralston,
Robert McIntosh, L.C. Gibson, J.M. Hunter, D. S. Fraily, T.A. McKee, N. S.
McMillen, Wm. Cessna and N. Reifer, Sr., who discharged their duties
effectively and acceptably. A desire to partake in this celebration seized
many patriotic people of the adjoining townships, so that early this morning
large numbers started in carriages, wagons, on horseback and afoot from all
directions for this point, this grove where a platform has been erected and
other suitable arrangements made for the proper celebration of this Fourth of
July, 1876. The number assembled here is estimated to have been nearly 3,000.
Precisely at 10 o’clock A.M. Robert McIntosh, the chairman, announced that
President Grant’s proclamation suggesting and recommending the proper
observance of this day would be read.

The order of exercises arranged for this occasion was partly carried out,
thus:

 

Reading of the President’s proclamation by the chairman. An eloquent and
patriotic prayer by Rev. Byron Porter. Whittier’s Centennial Hymn, well
rendered by a chorus of a hundred voices, accompanied by a part of the
Elderton Cornet band. Reading the Declaration of Independence by James M.
Patton. Rendering the national hymn �America� by the chorus, accompanied
by the band. Offering by the chairman the sentiment, �The Day We
Celebrate,� which elicited an eloquent and patriotic response from Rev. A.
Cameron. Recess for dinner, which was bountifully spread from numerous
baskets on white cloths upon the ground, and keenly relished by the
multitude who partook of the choice edibles which good housewives and fair
maidens had neatly and carefully prepared. The recalling of the assemblage
to the platform by a spirit-stirring piece, well rendered by the Kittanning
cornet band. And, finally, the delivery of a portion of this historical
sketch of Armstrong county, when, before the portion intended for this
occasion was half completed, the vast audience was suddenly dispersed by the
unexpected approach of a violent storm of rain, thunder and lightning, and
thus the remaining exercises that had been arranged for the remainder of the
day were, by a stern necessity, omitted.

*See sketch of Cowanshannock township.

*The charter members of the Lutheran congregation were � Rev. J. Wright,
the pastor, Wm. Davis, Andrew Dunmire, S.A. Snappenberger, David Landis, A.
Linsenbigler, Adam Long, Alvah, Andrew, David, Edward, James, Philip (of J.)
and Samuel Rupert, John Sheafer, Samuel and Joseph Young.

Of the Reformed Congregation � Rev. Frederick Wise, pastor; Samuel __,
Josiah Boyer, Adam, E.W., F.M., G.W., Josiah F., Joseph, Obadiah, Philip,
Ralston and Wilson Rupert, J.F. Shoup and A. Smith.

Source: Page(s) 201-213, History of Armstrong County,
Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins &
Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 2000 by M. D. Bloemaker for the Armstrong County Smith
Project.
Contributed by M. D. Bloemaker 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