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
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.
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 Page 48 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 Page 49 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.
Page 50 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 Page 51 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]
Previous Chapter 03--Public LandsUpdated 29 Oct 2004