History of Butler County Pennsylvania, 1895x04
The Pioneers, Chapter 4
Transcribed by: June Mackey For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.
Surnames in this chapter are:
ADAMS, AGGAS, AKINS, ALEXANDER, ALLEN, ALLISON, ALLSWORTH, AMMERY, ANDERSON, ANDREW, ARMSTRONG, ATWELL, BAKER, BARNES, BARNET, BARNHART, BARR, BARRON, BARTUR, BAUMGARDNER, BAYLES, BEATTY, BEIGHLEY, BELL, BENEZETTE, BEST, BISH, BLACK, BLACKWELL, BLAIR, BLEAKNEY, BOGGS, BOLTON, BONNER, BORLAND, BORTMASS, BOVARD, BOWERS, BOYCE, BOYD, BOYLE, BRACKNEY, BRACY, BRADY, BRANDON, BRATTON, BREWER, BRINKER, BROOKS, BROWN, BRYSON, BUCHANAN, BURBRIDGE, BURD, BURKHART, BURNS, BURNSIDES, BURROWS, BYERS, CALLAHAN, CAMPBELL, CANAAN, CARNAHAN, CAROTHERS, CARR, CARROTHERS, CARSON, CARTER, CARVAN, CASEY, CASNER, CHAMBERS, CHRISTIE, CHRISTY, CLARK, CLOWS, CLUGSTON, COATES, COCHRAN, COLE, COLLINS, COLMER, COMPTON, CONLEY, CONN, CONWAY, COOK, COOPER, COPELAND, COSBY, COULTER, COURTNEY, COVERT, COYLE, COZENS, CRAIG, CRATTY, CRAWFORD, CRISWELL, CRITCHLOW, CROOSIKS, CROSS, CROWE, CRUIKSHANK, CUMBERLAND, CUNNINGHAM, CURRY, CYPHER, DAIRY, DAMBACH, DANIELS, DAUBENSPECK, DAVID, DAVIDSON, DAVIS, DENNISON, DENNY, DICK, DICKEY, DIXON, DOBSON, DODDS, DONOGHEY, DOUGAL, DOUGHERTY, DOUGLAS, DOUGLASS, DOWDEN, DOWNING, DUFFY, DUGAN, DUKE, DUNBAR, DUNCAN, DUNLAP, DUNN, DUNNING, DUNSEATH, DURE, DURNEIGH, EANEAZ, EDDY, EKIN, ELDER, ELLIOTT, EMPISH, ERWIN, ESINGTON, EUARD, EVANS, EVERS, FAIR, FERGUSON, FERRY, FEZELL, FINDLEY, FITZSIMMONS, FLEEGER, FLETCHER, FLICK, FORQUER, FORRESTER, FORRINGER, FOWLER, FRANKLIN, FREEMAN, FRENCH, FRYER, FULTON, FUNK, GALBRAITH, GALBREATH, GALLAGHER, GARDNER, GARVIN, GAWEAL, GEIGER, GIBBS, GIBSON, GILCHRIST, GILLESPIE, GILLILAND, GILMORE, GIRTY, GLASS, GLOVER, GOLD, GORDON, GRAHAM, GRANT, GRAY, GREEN, GRIFFIN, GRINDER, GROSSMAN,GUFFY, GUNN, HAGENS, HAGERTY, HAGGERTY, HAINES, HALE, HALL, HAMILTON, HANLEN, HANLEY, HARBISON, HARDY, HARKINS, HARPER, HARRIS, HARSHMAN, HARTMAN, HARVEY, HAWK, HAYS, HAZLETT, HEMPHILL, HENDERSON, HENRY, HIGGINS, HILLIARD, HINDMAN, HINDS, HOCKENBERRY, HOGAN, HOGE, HOLLAND, HOLLINGSWORTH, HORNER, HORTON, HUDSON, HUGHES, HULTZ, HUMPHREY, HUNTER, HUSTON, HUTCHINSON, HUTCHISON, IRVINE, IRWIN, JACK, JACKSON, JAMESON, JARVIS, JOHN, JOHNSON, JOHNSTON, JOLLY, JONES, JORDAN, KEARNS, KEIFFER, KELLER, KELLY, KENNEDY, KERR, KIESTER, KILGORE, KIMES, KING, KINKAID, KIRKER, KIRKPATRICK, KISER, KNOX, LAFFERTY, LAVERE, LEASON, LEFEVRE, LERKEN, LINDSEY, LINEBERGER, LINHART, LINN, LIST, LITTLE, LOFFER, LOGAN, LOGUE, LONGLEY, LOWRIE, LYON, MAGEE, MAGERS, MAHAN, MARTIN, MATTHEWS, MAXWELL, MCALLISTER, MCANNALLY, MCBRIDE, MCCAHAN, MCCALL, MCCANDLESS, MCCASLIN, MCCLEARY, MCCLURE, MCCOLLOUGH, MCCOLLUGH, MCCOLLUM, MCCONNELL, MCCOOL, MCCOY, MCCUE, MCCURDY, MCDADE MCDERMOTT, MCDONALD, MCDOWELL, MCELFISH, MCELROY, MCFADDEN, MCFARRON, MCGAFFEY, MCGEE, MCGINLEY, MCGINNIS, MCGOWAN, MCGREW, MCJUNKIN, MCKEE, MCKIMM, MCKIMMONS, MCKINNEY, MCLAFFERTY, MCLAUGHLIN, MCLEOD, MCMAHON, MCMICHAEL, MCMURRAY, MCNAIR, MCNEES, MCNICKLE, MCQUISTION, MCSPARRIN, MCWRIGHT, MEALS, MEANS, MECHLING, MEEKER, MILLER, MILLIGAN, MINNIS, MONTOOTH, MOORE, MOORHEAD, MOREHEAD, MORRIS, MORROW, MORTIMER, MOSER, MUHLEISEN, MURDOCK, MURPHY, MURRAY, MURRIN, NASH, NEAL, NEATE, NEELIS, NEGLEY, NESBIT, NETHERCOAT, NEWELL, NEYMAN, NICKERSON, O'CULL, O'DONNELL, O'FARREN, O'HARA, ORNER, OZENBAUGH, PARKER, PARKS, PATTERSON, PATTON, PETERS, PETERSON, PEW, PHILLIPS, PIERCE, PISOR, PLANTS, PLUMMER, POLLOCK, POPE, PORTER, PORTERFIELD, POTTER, POTTS, POWELL, PRIMER, PRIOR, PYLE, QUINN, RAMSEY, RANKER, RARDEN, RATHBUN, RAY, REDDICK, REDICK, REED, REEP, RERL, REX, REYNOLDS, RICHARDSON, RIDDLE, RIMBEY, RIPPEY, ROBB, ROBERTS, ROBERTSON, RODEBAUGH, ROGERS, ROOKE, ROSENBERRY, ROWLAND, RUDOLPH, RUSSELL, RUST, SAGERSON, SALTZMAN, SANDERSON, SANDFORD, SAWYER, SAY, SCHOLAR, SCOTT, SEFTON, SHAKELY, SHANNON, SHANOR, SHEAFFER, SHEVER, SHIELDS, SHOCKNEY, SHORTS, SHRYOCK, SILVEZ, SIMPSON, SKILLEN, SLOAN, SMETHERS, SMITH, SNYDER, SPEAR, ST. CLAIR, STEEL, STEEN, STEINTORF, STEPHENSON, STEVENSON, STEWART, STINCHCOMB, STINETORF, STOOLFIER, STOREY, STOUGHTON, STRAWICK, STREATOR, STUDEBAKER, SULLINGER, SULLIVAN, SUMNEY, SUNS, SUTTON, SWEENEY, TAGGERT, TANNEHILL, TAYLOR, TETBAULT, THOMAS, THOMPSON, THORN, TIMBLIN, TODD. , TOM, TOWER, TRAXLER, TRIMBLE, TRUBY, TURK, TURNBULL, TURNER, TURNEY, UDDO, VANDERLIN, VANDYKE, VARNUM, VINCENT, WADDLE, WALKER, WALLACE, WALSH, WALTER, WARD, WARMCASTLE, WASSON, WATSON, WAYLE, WEED, WELSH, WHITE, WHITEHEAD, WHITMIRE, WIGFIELD, WIGTON, WILES, WILEY, WILKINS, WILSON, WINTERS, WIRT, WONDERLY, WOODCOCK, WRIGHT, YOUNG
CHAPTER IV
THE PIONEERS
INTRODUCTION -- CHARACTER OF THE FIRST SETTLERS -- THE CABIN HOME -- EARLY HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS--FIRST PERMANENT SETTLERS -- PIONEERS PREVIOUS TO 1796 -- TAXABLES OF 1803--RAPID GROWTH--STATISTICS OF POPULATION
A hundred eventful years have come and gone since the first permanent settlement was made within the limits of Butler county. The adventurous and daring men and the no less brave and daring women who laid the foundations of the present populous and prosperous county in the heart of a great wilderness, have all passed away. They are sleeping in honored graves, amid the scenes that witnessed their fearless discharge of duty, and their patient endurance of privations incident to frontier life. A few of their sons and daughters are yet living, to recall the experiences of those early days, and in their reminiscent moods, trace the events of the intervening years, and, by contrast with the present, show the wonderful changes that have taken place. These remarkable men and women, "who have come down to us from a former generation," may be said to be the only connecting links between the pioneer days and the present, unless it be the graves in which the pioneers themselves are sleeping. The material witnesses or landmarks, such as the old cabin homes, the log school house, the log church and the early mill, have crumbled into ruins, or have been removed to make a place for more modern structures. The tidal wave of progress has swept them away forever, their memory even growing dimmer with each receding year.
The deeds of daring of the men and women who endured so much, in the face of savage foes and forest dangers, to create homes for themselves and their posterity have not been and will not be forgotten or permitted to perish from the memories of men so long as time shall last. They were the stalwart and sturdy sons and the fearless daughters of many lands, who, loving liberty as they loved life itself, sought its fullest and freest enjoyment on the western frontier of the young Republic of the New World. While many came from foreign lands-from Ireland, from Scotland, from France, from Holland, from Germany and from other countries east of the Atlantic, not a few were from the older settled portions of this and other States. These latter, belonging to a class that has constantly grown larger instead of less, were afflicted with earth hunger. They wanted more room and more land than they could secure in their old homes. They felt too crowded, even in sparsely settled districts, and preferred forest solitudes and pioneer perils to the comforts and security of organized society.
It was thus, from over the ocean and from the Eastern States and older counties of the State itself, that Butler county was first settled. Sturdy men with strong-arms and stout hearts felled her forests. Brave women, faithful to every [p. 43] duty of wife and mother, endured the loneliness of the wilderness, and met the many perils and dangers of every-day life, with a fortitude and heroism deserving of immortal remembrance. The sons and daughters they reared, amid the hard conditions that surrounded them, have proven worthy of an ancestry so noted for manly independence, sturdy self-reliance, unremitting industry and incorruptible integrity.
The home of the pioneer was the rude log cabin erected in the midst of the forest. Beneath its roof he found shelter for himself and family. His neighbors and friends and the wayfaring stranger always found the latch-string of the door ready to their hands on the outside, and a warm-hearted and free-handed welcome and a generous hospitality awaiting them on the inside. For the protection of his home against the prowling beasts of the forest and the marauding Indian, the settler relied upon his trusty rifle. The latter was also called into almost daily service in providing meat for his table.
These sturdy settlers led simple, wholesome and neighborly lives. They knew nothing of the complex formalities of the social intercourse of to-day, nor would it have been possible for them to have observed them if they had. They nevertheless lived happily and were constantly helpful to one another. The "ceaseless round of toil" was varied, now and then, by wedding festivities, dances, neighborhood frolics, hunting parties, house-raisings and other social gatherings calculated to break the monotony of their lives, bring them into closer friendship, and foster the neighborly spirit so necessary where neighbors were so few and so far apart.
The log cabin was, almost without exception, constructed of round, unhewn logs. Necessity made the pioneer his own carpenter and builder, and his tools were usually limited to a spade, an ax and a hatchet. With these he built as best he could. Occasionally some settler, better circumstanced than his neighbors, would take the time and go to the expense of building a cabin out of hewn logs and covering it with a shingle roof; but the cruder structure must be accepted as the typical pioneer home. It was usually one story high and contained but one room. Sometimes, when the family was numerous, a "loft" or attic was added, used for sleeping purposes and reached by a ladder. The roof, covered with clapboards, was supported by pole rafters. The interstices between the logs were filled with small "chunks" of wood, and then plastered within and without with mud mixed with straw. The windows were square holes cut in the side of the cabin, greased paper being used to admit the light instead of glass. The heavy doors were of hewn puncheons and were swung on wooden hinges. A wooden latch, with a buckskin latch-string on the outside, answered from the rising to the retiring of the family, when the door was "barred" on the inside for the night by a heavy cross-piece fitted into latch-like receptacles on either side. Stoves were unknown. A capacious stone fire place, with its huge back log to protect the chimney, which ran up outside the wall, and was made of cross pieces of wood daubed with mud, furnished a cheerful fire both for heating and cooking purposes. The bedstead was a home-made affair fitted into the walls in a corner of the cabin, and the chairs used were puncheon benches with holes bored near the ends into which the supporting legs were fitted.
[p. 44]These primitive dwellings like their builders, have passed away, yet associated with them in the minds of the venerable living, are many happy memories. They were the homes of their infancy, their childhood, their youth, their young manhood and their young womanhood, the scenes of their childish sports, their love-making and their weddings. Beneath their roofs many a loved son or daughter saw the light of this world for the first time, and many a venerable and age-worn parent or grandparent, wife or mother, husband or father, and many a brother or sister, or beloved child, sank into that dreamless sleep which we call death. What wonder, then, that those, who with whitened locks, bowed heads and tottering steps are drawing near the grave, should cherish in tender memory the cabin homes of their childhood, and live over again in reminiscent tales the days that have gone from their lives forever.
It was not until after the close of the Revolutionary War, and the revival of the migratory and land-hunting spirit among the people of the older counties, as well as renewal of immigration from foreign lands, that the section of the State north of Allegheny county, and west of the Allegheny river, began to attract the attention of the settler. Although the land was not open for settlement until 1795, adventurous spirits made their appearance within the boundaries of Butler county as early as 1790. This advance guard, composed mainly of hunters and trappers, whose purpose seems to have been to "spy out the land," cannot be regarded as the actual pioneer settlers of the county. Their usual custom was to come here at the beginning of the hunting season, remain through it, and at its close return to their homes to market the products secured by trap and gun.
The Seneca Indians, who had a village in the county near Slippery Rock creek, at this time, were friendly to the whites, and the early hunters and trappers were kindly received by them. The Delawares and Shawnees, however, who were hostile, opposed the westward march of civilization, and made it dangerous for settlers to venture into the county until after the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. Nevertheless, a few of the more daring, principally the old hunters and trappers, took the risk of coming here between 1792 and 1796, but it was not until the latter year that the settlement of the county may be said to have been begun in earnest.
The first men who came into the county with the purpose of becoming permanent settlers were David STUDEBAKER and Abraham SNYDER of Westmoreland county. They crossed the Allegheny river at Logan's ferry in the autumn of 1790; camped for the night on the site of Butler borough, and then proceeded to an Indian village, on the Slippery Rock, about two miles north of the present site of Mecanicsburg. Here they were entertained by the Indians, with whom they remained about three months, spending the time in hunting and fishing, and in exploring the country. They then returned to their home, and reported what they had seen and experienced during their absence. In 1792 David STUDEBAKER again came to Butler county, bringing with him his youngest sister as housekeeper. They took possession of the little cabin, erected during his former visit, and became permanent settlers. After a time, the young girl, unable to longer endure the loneliness of the forest, begged to be taken home. Her brother complied with the request and brought back an older sister to take her place. His [p. 45] father, Joseph STUDEBAKER, who in early boyhood was taken captive by the Indians and held by them for nine years, and who afterwards served as a Revolutionary soldier under Washington, joined him later.
James GLOVER, a native of Essex county, New Jersey, and a Revolutionary soldier, having served through that struggle, "from the first to the close," at the beginning in the New Jersey and later in the Pennsylvania Line, is credited with coming into the county in 1792, and, in the fall of that year, erecting a hunter's cabin near a deer lick in what is now Adams township. This cabin he occupied during the hunting seasons, until 1795, when he made a clearing around it. In 1796 he entered 400 acres of land, built a better cabin, became a permanent settler, and remained in the county until his death, in 1844, in the ninety-first year of his age. GLOVER, who was a blacksmith, and who had rendered valuable service while in the Continental Army, as an armorer, settled in Pittsburg after the close of the war, where he worked at his trade. A few years later he purchased a farm across the river, in what is now the very heart of Allegheny, and took up his residence upon it. About 1815 or 1816 he leased this farm-the ownership of which he retained after coming to this county-in perpetuity for $75 a year. This and a few other leases of a similar character, caused the legislature to afterward pass a law prohibiting leases in perpetuity.
Peter MCKINNEY, another Revolutionary soldier and noted hunter, so his descendants claim-built his cabin in what is now Forward township, in 1792. It is said that in his youth he came with his parents from Ireland, both of whom died in this country, leaving him an orphan, and that, after their death, he was apprenticed to a man named TURNBULL. He served in the Pennsylvania Line, during the Revolutionary War, as a drummer and fifer, and afterwards saw service during the Indian troubles. He was married at Braddock Field, Westmoreland county, in 1791, to Mary SHORTS, who came with him to Butler county in 1792. The cabin home of the young couple was built on what is now known as the DAMBACH farm. His daughter Elizabeth, born March 23, 1792, is said to have been the first white child born in the county. His wife died in 1839, and his own death occurred in 1844. In 1839, he erected a tavern on the site of Petersville, in Connoquenessing township. In 1849 the town was laid out by his sons, William S. and C. A. MCKINNEY, and named in his honor.
David ARMSTRONG, accompanied by his son, George, and his daughter, Rebecca, came here in 1794, from Westmoreland county, making the journey on horseback. They made their temporary home in a tent or wigwam until fall, when the father and daughter returned to Westmoreland county. The following spring, the entire family came to Butler county and settled in Worth township, on the land held for them during the winter by the son, George.
In 1792, Patrick HARVEY, guided by John HARBISON, the Indian scout or spy, came into the county, and selected a farm in Clinton township marking its boundaries by blazing the forest trees. He then returned to Westmoreland county. In 1793 he went into Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county, and selected a farm on which his cousin, John Patton, afterward settled. In the spring of 1794 he returned to Butler county, and settled on the land selected in 1792. In May, 1795, he brought his family to their new home, where, a year [P. 46] later, his third child, Martha, was born. His wife died in 1831, his own death occurring in 1849.
A pioneer named DANIELS, came into the county in 1794, built a cabin and cultivated a small garden in Marion township, on the land afterwards owned by Robert VANDERLIN. He lived on the products of his garden and the chase until scared away by the Indians, before the arrival of other settlers.
John GIRTY, said to be a brother of the notorious Simon GIRTY, was one of the first settlers in Connoquenessing township. He selected land about a mile south of Whitestown. His mother, a brother and two sisters came here with him. One of his sisters married a man named GIBSON, but died about 1801, and was one of the first persons buried in Mt. Nebo cemetery. Though nothing discreditable could be traced to them, the members of the family were not in good repute. The mother was thought to be a witch and feared as such. Ann GIRTY, the younger daughter, was shot, while standing in the cabin door, by someone unknown. With the exception of Mrs. GIBSON, the members of the family were denied interment in Mt. Nebo cemetery, and "were buried in unmarked graves in the deep woods."
In 1793 William and John ELLIOTT, accompanied by John DENNISON and one or two others, came into the county from Wilkinsburg, as land hunters. William ELLIOTT, in order to secure more than the limit of 400 acres, selected tracts to the amount of 1,400 acres and located the other members of his party upon them to hold them for him. He afterward gave each of them a certain number of acres as per previous agreement. In this manner he was able to report 808 acres for assessment in 1803.
On the night of January 10, 1793, James HARBISON, James HALL, Abraham FRYER, and William HULTZ, hunters from east of the Alleghanies, who had come into the county by way of Logan's ferry, below Tarentum, camped in the forests of Middlesex township. Next day, after engraving their names on trees, to mark the place of their encampment, they returned to their homes. A year later the entire party came again to Middlesex township, selected land on and around the site of their former visit, built cabins thereon and became settlers. Between the time of their first visit and their return, however, Thomas MARTIN, George HAYS and James FULTON, had come into the township, selected land and settled thereon, thus becoming the first settlers of Middlesex.
In 1795 Samuel and Thomas CROSS, Jacob and John PISOR and Henry STINETORF settled in Worth township. In 1794 James HEMPHILL, a noted hunter, with Rudolph BARNHART came into the county, and a year later with Adam and John HEMPHILL, Jacob BARNHART, Sr., and Jacob BARNHART, Jr., made settlements in Donegal and Fairview townships on and around the site of Millerstown. Samuel WALLACE became the pioneer settler of Fairview township in 1795, locating with his family on Bear creek. Robert ELLIOTT, in the same year, selected land and settled in Buffalo township. In this year, also, George BELL settled in the vicinity of "Bells Knob;" Archibald KELLY built his cabin in Parker township and Edward GRAHAM located on land in Concord township.
To these may be added James MCKEE and William KEARNS, who settled in Butler township; Daniel and William MCCONNELL, William MCNEES and Benja[p. 47] min JACK, pioneers of Worth; John MCCANDLESS and Aaron MOORE, early settlers of Franklin; Dunning MCNAIR, a land speculator of Connoquenessing; John EKIN, another pioneer of the same township; Silas MILLER, an early settler and well known hunter, and William THOMPSON, an early settler of Middlesex; John PARKER, the pioneer of Parker township, and Eli SCHOLAR, an early settler of Lancaster township, all of whom are credited with coming in 1795.
The foregoing, while embracing the names of the more prominent settlers between the years of 1792 and 1795, does not contain those of all who came into the county up to that date. A more complete list of those who came after 1795 and up to and after 1800, will be found in the chapters devoted to the various townships and boroughs, to which the attention of the reader is directed.
TAXABLES OF 1803
Perhaps the best information obtainable relative to the number of inhabitants here at the time of the organization of the county, as well as the real and personal property possessed by them, is to be found in the list of taxables of 1803, copied from the first duplicate tax book of the county. It gives the returns of the assessors of the four original townships of Buffalo, Connoquenessing, Middlesex and Slippery Rock, and is as follows:
[Chattel and tax amount not included included in this transcription.]
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.
Name Acres Cows Horses Valu Tax
Joseph Andrew 600
Robert Allison (weaver) 400
George Bell 400
Jacob Barnhart, Sr 400
Rudolph Barnhart 200
Philip Barnhart 200
Jacob Barnhart 200
Jacob Bish 400
John Bonner 200
James Bovard 400
Patrick Boyle 400
John Brown 250
Hugh Brown (saw-mill) ...
William Brown 400
Archibald Black 400
John Burrows 200
Andrew Brown 400
Andrew Cruikshank, Sr 400
Andrew Cruikshank, Jr 400
John Clugston 400
Elenor Coyle 400
John Coyle 200
Matthias Cypher (weaver) 400
Mary Ann Cypher 400
John Craig 400
John Cumberland 125
James Craig 200
John Cooper 400
James Campbell 400
William Colmer 200
William Carr (blacksmith) 270
*S. M., after a name, indicates a single man
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Thomas Cumberland, Jr ...
Thomas Cumberland, Sr ...
Archibald Christy 400
Michael Carven 100
Peter Croosiks (weaver) 400
Hugh Dugan (S.M.*) 400
Robert Dunseath 100
James Denny ...
Michael Dagan 400
Thomas Dugan 400
Dennis Dugan 400
Neil Dugan 400
Andrew Dugan 266
John Durneigh 200
George Dougherty 400
Neil Dougherty 400
John Duffy 400
John Empish 400
Joseph Esington ...
DeWitt Forringer 300
Michael Fair 400
John Fair 400
Edward Ferry 400
John Vorquer 400
John Gillespie 400
Hugh Gillespie 600
John Gallagher 400
Peter Gallagher 400
Hugh Gallagher 400
Samuel Hall 400
Stephen Hall 400
William Hazlett 400
James Hazlett (S.M.) ...
James Hemphill (still) 400
Adam Hemphill 400
Robert Hanlen (S.M.) 400
John Hemphill (S.M.) 400
Moses Hanlen 400
William Hanlen, Sr 400
Robert Harkins 200
William Hanley 400
Charles Hunter 400
Jacob Harshman (weaver) 400
Thomas Haggerty 200
Noble Hunter 600
Thomas Jackson 400
Caleb Jones (grist-mill) 200
Leonard Keller (weaver) 100
Samuel Kinkaid 400
John Kirkpatrick 400
Patrick Lafferty 200
Andrew McKim (tannery) 400
David Morehead (weaver) 400
William Moore 400
John McGinley 300
Patrick McBride 400
Charles McCue 400
Patrick McLaughlin 300
John McCollough (pottery) 400
Neil Murray 200
Daniel McCue 200
Paul McDermott 400
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Widow Murdock 400
Samuel Mulligan (S.M.) ...
James Milligan 400
Hugh McElroy 400
Neil McLafferty 100
Manus McFadden 200
John McGee 400
John Nickerson 50
Dominick O'Cull 400
John Orner 200
Patrick O'Farran 400
Dennis O'Donnell (S.M.) ...
Connell O'Donnell ...
Arthur O'Donnell 400
Jacob Peters (S.M.) ...
William Ray 150
Leonard Reep 400
Amos Rowland 250
William Redick (S.M.) 175
George Robertson, or Samuel Riddle 400
William Rooke 400
Connel Rogers (tailor) 400
Benjamen Sawyer (grist-mill) 400
Charles Sweeney 400
Jeremiah Smith 400
Hugh Smith (S.M.) 400
Arthur Smith (S.M.) 400
Robert Smith (S.M.) ...
Jeremiah Smith (S.M.) carpenter ...
John Snyder 400
Henry Sanderson 400
George Stewart 400
Stophel Stewart 400
William Storey ...
James Storey (S.M.) ...
Leonard Silvez (blacksmith) 200
John Silvez 200
Peter Silvez (S.M.) ...
Jacob Silvez 400
Alexander Storey 400
Matthew Smith 400
Henry Smith 100
Henry Tower (tannery) 40
Frederick Wiles 400
Samuel Wallace 200
William Wilson 400
James Walker 400
Alexander Wayle (weaver) 400
Thomas Winters 200
John Winters 400
John Wallace (S.M.) ...
The owners of Depreciation land in Elder's district are given as follows: A. B. Peters, Claudius Bartur, Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Kennedy, John Martin, Alexander McDowell, Jones Phillips, John Irwin, James Tetbault, Hugh Scott, Elijah Weed, John Wilkins, Jr., and William Todd.
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CONNOQUENESSING TOWNSHIP.
James Anderson 1400
John Akins 400
Eliakim Anderson 100
James Anderson 200
Andrew Allsworth ...
William Armstrong (S.M.) ...
Robert Boggs 400
George Bowers 400
John Bayles ...
Robert Brown 400
George Boyd (S.M.) 400
John Barr 400
Joseph Brown 400
Alexander Bryson 400
Aaron Barnes ...
James Burnsides 200
Wm. Boyce 100
James Boyd 250
John Brooks 400
Moses Bolton (gristmill) 800
Thomas Brandon 100
John Beighley 400
Henry Beighley 400
Peter Beighley 350
William Bolton 300
Abner Coates 300
Joseph Chambers (S.M.) ...
John Collins ...
William Crowe 280
John Crowe (S.M.) ...
John Chambers 200
Thomas Cozens 400
John Compton 200
James Cratty (S.M.) ...
Thomas Christie 300
Marvin Christie (S.M.) 400
James Christie 200
William Campbell 300
June Cratty 400
William Cratty 400
John Cratty (distillery) 400
William Carter 400
Daniel Carter 400
Jeremiah Callahan ...
James Critchlow 200
William Critchlow 200
John Critchlow 400
Philip Covert 100
Morris Covert 200
James Casey 400
William Criswell 400
Levanus Cook 100
John Carson 150
Stephen Crawford 400
Joseph Crawford 350
Lims Chambers 422
Samuel Duncan (distillery and mill) 400
James Dunlap 200
Henry Dure ...
Benjamin Davis 400
Isaac Davis 400
William Davis 800
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John Dunn 200
Francis Dairy 172
John Dairy (S.M.) 400
Peggy Davidson 400
James Davidson (S.M.) ...
James Davidson 400
Thomas Dodds 400
William Dodds 250
William Dick ...
John Dick 400
Henry Evans, Esq 400
Isaac Zvans 400
William Evers 400
Patrick Fitzsimmons (S.M.) ...
William Forrester 500
Anne Freeman 200
William Freeman (S.M.) ...
Barnard Fezell 330
John Graham 400
Daniel Graham 400
Daniel Graham's heirs 400
Malcolm Graham 400
Daniel Graham 800
Angus Graham 300
Matthew Graham 400
William Graham 200
Benjamin Garvin 400
Alexander Garvin 400
John Gallagher 400
John Glass 200
Adam Gilliland (S.M.) ...
David Gilliland (G. and S. Mill) 400
Hugh Gilliland 400
Thomas Gilliland 400
Barnabas Gilliland ...
Andrew Gilliland 300
James Glover 400
John Gunn 400
Thomas Gray 400
Israel Gibson 244
Thomas Girty (S.M.) 400
Robert Hays (distillery.) 400
John Hughes ...
James Hughes ...
John Hindman 200
Joseph Hudson 400
John Haines (G. M.) 400
James Irvine 100
Daniel John 400
Adam Johnston, Sr 400
Adam Johnston, Jr 200
William Johnston 400
James Johnston 400
Benjamin Johnston 400
Capt. William Johnston 600
John Kerr (S.M.) ...
Peter Kiester 400
Lawrence King 200
William Kilgore 100
William Kirker 200
Thomas Lyon 400
Joseph Little 200
Page 52
William List 400
Thomas Longley 100
Henry Loffer 200
William Lerken 200
James McGee 400
William McCandless (tailor) 400
William McCandless (distillery) 400
Robert McCandless 400
Charles McGinnis 100
Charles McGinnis (S.M.) ...
John McDonald, Jr 400
William McDonald (S.M.) ...
Colin McDonald 400
John McDonald (S.M.) 400
Daniel McDonald 400
Abdiel McClure 370
Andrew McClure 180
John McClure (S.M.) ...
Joseph McFarron ...
William McLeod 400
Norman McLeod ...
John McLeod 400
John McLeod (S.M.) ...
Agnes McLeod (S.M.) 400
Mordecai McLeod 400
Mordecai McLeod 400
Archibald McAllister ...
Joseph Means 200
Thomas Means 400
Michael Martin 300
William Martin ...
William Martin 400
Robert Martin (S.M.) ...
John Martin (S.M.) ...
Daniel Martin 400
Samuel Magers 200
James Magers 400
Daniel McDowell 350
Nicholas Muhleisen 400
Dunning McNair 200
Benjamin McLaughlin 300
Thomas McCahan ...
Andrew McGowan 410
James McCahan 400
Robert Miller (S.M.) 400
John Minnis 300
James Minnis (S. W.) ...
William Minnis (S.M.) ...
Henry Montooth 520
Aaron Moore 400
David Moore 200
Samuel McCall ...
James McGrew 400
Peter McKinney 400
Alexander McNickle 400
Rosa Meeker 350
Jesse Nash 400
James Nash 180
William Nethercoat 500
William Neelis 100
Thomas Nesbit (S.M.) ...
John O'Hara 300
Page 53
William Pyle (S.M.) ...
James Parks 800
Matthew Parks 400
James Plummer 400
John Pope (B. M.) 400
Washington Porter 400
Thomas Porter 200
Clark Rathbun 400
Thomas Rathbun 400
James Ramsey 400
Alexander Ramsey 400
John Richardson 400
Robert Reynolds 400
Joseph Roberts 100
Casper Rerl 400
Charles Sullivan 300
James Stewart ...
Robert Stewart 400
Robert Stewart 216
Robert Stewart, Jr 400
Samuel Stewart ...
Joshua Stoolfier (S.M.) 400
George Stoolfier ...
Samuel Shannon 150
Samuel Shannon (S.M.) ...
George Shannon (S.M.) ...
John Shannon 300
Robert Shannon 400
Thomas Shannon 100
Thomas Scott 230
James Shockney (S.M.) 300
Joseph Suns (S.M.) 200
Peter Sheaffer (S.M.) ...
Henry Sheaffer 400
John Saltzman 400
Conrad Snyder 350
William Skillen 400
Samuel Skillen 400
Robert Shorts 200
William Shorts (S.M.) 400
Tobias Stephenson 200
Nathaniel Stephenson 400
John Spear 400
William Steen 400
Francis Sandford 400
John Thompson (B. G.) 400
John Thompson (Muddy Cr.) 400
Andrew Thompson ...
William Thompson 400
James Thompson (S.M.) 400
Matthew Thompson (S.M.) 50
George Uddo 200
John Wilkins, Jr 1090
Matthew White (tannery) 400
John Welsh ...
Henry Welsh (S.M.) ...
Thomas Wilson 400
Louis Wilson 400
James Wilson (S.M.) 200
William Wilson (S.M.) ...
Andrew Wilson 400
Alexander Wilson 200
Page 54
Edward White 400
John Walker 400
Robert Walker 600
Louis Walker 400
John Wigton 350
James Wallace 350
MIDDLESEX TOWNSHIP.
John Alexander 200
William Andrew 200
John Anderson ...
John Anderson 150
Allen Anderson 300
Francis Anderson 100
Stephen Allen 400
Thomas Allen 400
John Adams 400
Thankful Aggas 400
James Allison 200
David Boyle (S.M.) ...
Francis Boyle 200
Thomas Burbridge 300
Paris Bratton 400
James Borland 200
Henry Baumgardner 400
Jacob Beighley 400
Jacob Brown 400
John Byers 400
John Brackney 400
John Burkbart 300
George Brown 200
Samuel Barber 150
James Brown 100
Jacob Burkhart 200
William Brown 200
Stephen Brewer 200
Robert Best 400
Alexander Best 200
James Burns (S.M.) 200
Edward Burns (S.M.) ...
Adam Bortmass 400
Abraham Brinker ...
John Bayles 400
Samuel Bracy 400
William Conway 400
Hugh Conway, Sr 100
John Conway (S.M.) 400
Hugh Conway, Jr. (S.M.) 200
Samuel Cunningham (grist and sawmill) 1000
Mary Cunningham 300
John Cunningham (S.M.) 500
Hamilton Cunningham (S. M. and distil) ...
Archibald Cunningham (S.M.) 400
Agnes Cunningham 400
Andrew Cunningham (S.M.) ...
James Carson 200
Robert Carson 200
Page 55
John Carson 200
Isaac Curry 400
Alexander Campbell 200
John Clows 400
Samuel Copeland 296
John Campbell 400
Alexander Campbell 50
John Cowden (S.M.) 300
John Carothers 100
Thomas Carothers 400
Andrew Christy 400
Andrew Christy 400
Alexander Cochran 400
Samuel Cook 300
Henry Casner 400
Charles Duffy 400
Thomas Dunning (distillery) 400
Samuel Dunbar 400
John Dunbar ...
Thomas Dougal 400
John David 400
John David 200
Daniel Dougherty 100
James Douglas (distillery) 300
John Douglas 200
Thomas Dickey 400
David Duke (S.M.) ...
John Elliott 200
Robert Elliott 366
William Elliott 200
David Erwin ...
Robert Erwin 400
Joseph Evans 400
Francis Fryer 400
William Freeman 400
Peter Fryer (S.M.) 400
Abraham Fryer 400
James Fulton 400
Jacob Flick 100
Christian Fleeger 300
James Findley 400
Samuel Findley, Esq 300
David Findley 400
James Ferguson 400
Patrick Fitzsimmons (S.M.) ...
Robert Graham 400
Patrick Graham 300
Robert Graham 300
Philip Grinder 400
Hugh Gibbs 400
James Gilchrist ...
Jane Gibson 200
St. Clair Gibson 300
John Griffin 400
James Gilliland 400
James Guffy 400
Arthur Gardner 200
James Gardner (S.M.) 400
Hugh Gallagher 400
Joseph Gold 400
John Galbraith 300
John Green ...
Page 56
Thomas Horton 400
George Hays 100
James Hays (S.M.) 200
Patrick Harvey 400
Alexander Hamilton 400
Philip Hartman 400
James Harbison 350
William Harbison 250
James Hoge 150
William Hultz 300
George Hutchison, Esq 400
William Hutchison 400
Alexander Hutchison 400
Bernard Hagens 400
Henry Hunter 100
David Harper 200
Peter Henry 400
Robert Hamilton 400
Edward Higgins ...
Robert Harkins 200
Robert Johntson [Johnston?] 400
Jacob Jones 400
Henry Kennedy 180
Martin Kennedy 100
James Kennedy 100
John Kennedy, Sr 400
John Kennedy 400
William Kennedy 300
Ambrose Kennedy 400
William Kennedy ...
Robert Kennedy 200
John Keller 200
Francis Kearns 200
David Kerr ...
James Kerr ...
John Lyon 400
Robert Linn 400
Jacob Linhart 400
Walter Lindsey 400
Isaac Lefevre 400
James Moore 400
Garret Moore 400
James Moore (S. M., distillery) 400
James McBride 400
John McBride, Esq 370
William Martin, Jr 400
William Martin 400
James Martin ...
Thomas Martin 400
Richard Martin 400
Robert Maxwell 300
James Maxwell (S.M.) 400
James McCurdy (S.M.) 200
John McCurdy 400
John Morrow 400
John McJunkin (S.M.) ...
James McJunkin (S.M.) 400
David McJunkin (S.M.) 400
David McJunkin 400
Joshua McElfish ...
Agnes Matthews 400
IZiobard Miller 200
Page 57
James Miller 200
Silas Miller 300
Thomas McCleary 200
John McCleary 200
George McCandless 400
William McCandless 400
James McCandless 400
John McCandless 400
Dunning McNair 200
Thomas Mckee 270
James McKee (S.M.) 400
John McGowan, Sr ...
John McGowan 400
John McQuistion 400
William McDonald 400
Andrew McCaslin 200
Robert McGinnis 300
John McGinnis 50
Robert McCall 400
Bernard McGee 200
Hugh McGee (S.M.) ...
Joseph Means ...
James McCollum 400
James McLaughlin 400
John Moser (S.M.) ...
John Moser, Sr 400
George McGaffey 400
John McCool 100
Jacob Negley 400
William Neyman (gristmill) 500
William Neyman, Jr 200
John Neyman 200
Elizabeth Neyman 400
Martha Neal 200
Abram Ozenbaugh 400
John Parks 400
James Parks ...
James Patterson 400
William Patterson 200
Robert Patterson 400
David Patterson 400
John Pierce 400
Valentine Primer (sawmill) 500
Peter Peterson, Jr: (S.M.) 400
Garret Peterson (S.M.) ...
Daniel Pierce 212
Amos Pierce 300
John Powell 400
Jacob Plants 400
Robert Patton 250
John Pryor 400
George Potter 100
James Phillips (S.M.) 400
John Pew (S.M.) ...
John Potts 300
Edward Quinn 300
John Quinn (S.M.) ...
Samuel Rippey, Esq 400
Hugh Riddle 400
Samuel Riddle (Bear Creek) 400
Robert Riddle 400
Samuel Riddle 200
Page 58
James Ray, Esq 200
John Ray 400
James Ray 400
Benjamin Rimbey (S.M.) ...
Jacob Rudolph 400
Adam Rodebaugh 400
John Reed (S.M.) 400
William Rarden 196
George Rex 400
Samuel Robb 400
Hamilton Robb 400
John Robb 400
John Ranker 100
Henry Rust 400
David Russell 400
Samuel Russell 400
James Russel, Sr 300
James Russell, Jr 400
Philip Russell ...
Thomas Smith 200
Jep Smith 400
James Smith 400
James Scott, Sr 400
George Scott (S.M.) 400
James Scott Jr 400
Jacob Sumney 400
Patrick Sagerson 400
Adam Shanor (distillery) 400
Archibald St. Clair (distillery) 400
John Streator 400
William Stoughton 400
John Stoughton 100
John Spear 400
Mary Steel 370
John Steel (S.M.) ...
George Stinchcomb 400
James Stewart (distillery) 400
John Stewart 400
Robert Stewart 170
David Sutton 300
Daniel Sutton (S.M.) ...
Joseph Sutton (distillery) ...
Philip Sutton (S.M.) ...
Jeremiah Sutton, Sr 400
Joseph Sutton ...
Platt Sutton ...
Jeremiah Sutton, Jr 400
John Shryock 400
Henry Sefton 200
Andrew Strawick 400
Benjamin Thomas 400
William Thompson 100
Moses Thompson (S.M.) 400
Anthony Thompson 400
John Thompson (weaver) 400
John Thompson (blacksmith) 400
John Thompson 400
William Thompson (S.M.) 400
John Thompson (Con. Creek) 400
Hugh Thompson ...
Martin Thompson 400
William Trimble (S.M.) 400
Page 59
Thomas Trimble 100
Adam Turney 400
James Turk, Jr (S.M.) 400
Andrew Turk (S.M.) ...
James Turk, Sr ...
John Turk 400
John Thorn (Tanner) 400
Robert Thorn (S.M.) 400
John Thorn 400
John Tannehill 100
George Timblin 400
Joseph Timblin 400
John Wonderly 400
John Wallace 400
Robert Wallace 200
Felty Whitehead 400
Francis Warmcastle 400
William Wilson 400
James Wilson 200
Benjamin Wallace 200
William White 200
Thomas Watson 200
John Woodcock 400
Matthew Wigfield 200
William Wright (B.C.) 300
Alexander Wright 400
William Wasson 600
Hugh Wasson 400
Francis Whitmire 400
The reputed owners of lands in Cunningham's district of this township were Edward Burd, C. Bartur, Robert Blackwell, Daniel Benezette, John Cunningham, James Cunningham, D. Campbell's heirs, Ebenezer Denny, George Eddy, James Galbreath, Ferdinand Gordon, John Hollingsworth, Benjamin Horner, or Francis Johnson, Joseph Kiser, or Henry Miller, Andrew Kennedy, George Plummer, Joseph Wirt and John Wilson.
SLIPPERY ROCK TOWNSHIP.
Peggy Adams ...
Thomas Adams 200
John Adams 300
William Adams (2 mills) 400
James Allsworth (S.M.) 400
John Allen 200
William Ammery 91
George Armstrong (S.M.) 200
John Atwell, Sr 200
Robert Atwell 400
John T. Atwell 400
David Armstrong (2 mills) 400
Joseph Bleakney 400
John Burrows 130
Samuel Barron 200
James Buchannan (S.M.) 150
Page 60
Nelly Barnet 100
Ebenezer Beatty 400
Alexander Brown 200
Ebenezer Brown 400
John Brown ...
James Bell 200
Rebecca Bell 100
John Bell 400
William Black 400
Robert Black ...
Samuel Black 400
Patrick Baker 200
John Bair 400
Ezekiel Brady (blacksmith) 24
Andrew Cook 400
Peter Cook (S.M.) ...
Stephen Cooper 50
Zebulon Cooper 400
Nathaniel Cooper 100
William Conn (S.M.) ...
Robert Conn 400
John Campbell 130
Samuel Campbell 400
Ann Campbell 400
James Campbell 200
Andrew Campbell 400
Thomas Coulter (sawmill) 250
Abigail Coulter ...
James Coulter (tannery) 100
Samuel Coulter 300
Luke Covert 150
John Crawford, Sr 800
John Crawford 400
George Crawford 400
John Carrothers (tannery.) 400
James Chambers 400
John Chambers (S.M.) 200
Adam Curry 400
James Cosby 400
William Collins 400
John Conley 300
Robert Cochran, Sr 150
Robert Cunningham 400
Edward Canaan 400
John Courtney (S.M.) 300
David Christy 250
John Christy, Jr 180
Abraham Carnahan 400
Edward Cole 200
Thomas Clark 400
George Daubenspeck 200
Philip Daubenspeck 200
Alexander Donoghey 300
John Dickey 200
Alexander Dunlap 200
William Downing ...
James Downing 200
William Dixon 400
Edward Douglass (S.M.) ...
James Douglass (S.M.) 200
George Dobson 200
Sarah Eaneaz 400
Joseph Euard 400
Page 61
Henry Evans 200
John Evans (grist mill.) 400
John Elliott 400
William Elliott 408
James Elder 400
William Ferguson ...
Adam Funk 400
Benjamin Fletcher 300
Harris French 400
Archibald Fowler 384
Alexander Gilchrist ...
William Graham (S.M.) ...
Edward Graham, Jr 200
Edward Graham Sr. 200
Thomas Graham (S.M.) 200
Samuel Graham 200
William Gaweal ...
Benjamin Grossman ...
Michael Geiger 400
Joseph Gilmore 400
Alexander Grant 400
James Gibeson 400
Levi Gibson (distillery) 400
Thomas Humphrey 200
Robert Hindman 200
John Hindman (S.M.) 200
William Hutchison 228
William Holland 400
Charles Hilliard 400
Guy Hilliard (S.M.) 400
Guy Hilliard, Sr 350
Francis Hilliard (S.M.) ...
Alexander Hilliard (S.M.) 100
Jacob Hilliard 200
James Hagerty 400
William Hogan (S.M.) 400
James Hogan 400
John Hockenberry 150
Andrew Hawk ...
James Hale (S.M.) ...
William Hall 400
Ephraim Harris 300
James Hardy 400
Hugh Henderson 100
John Hinds (S.M.) ...
Samuel Irwin 400
Robert Jordan 200
William Jack 400
Benjamin Jack 388
John Jordan 400
Reuben Jarvis 100
Richard Jarvis 400
John Jameson 400
Robert Jameson 400
Thomas Jolly 300
Joseph Kennedy 283
Michael Kelly 400
Archibald Kelly 200
Jonathan Kelly (blacksmith) 200
Joseph Kelly 200
James Knox 400
Frederick Keiffer 15
[End of Chapter 04 - The Pioneers: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
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Updated 29 Oct 2004