Transcribed by: Pat Collins. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.
Link to a sketch of Cherry Township from the Atlas of Butler County, G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1874.
Surnames in this chapter are:
ALLISON, ARMS, ARMSTRONG, BAILEY, BARD, BARRON, BEAN, BILLINGSLEY, BLACK, BOLLINGER, BOOK, BOVARD, BOYCE, BRADEN, BRAHAM, BRINKER, BROOKMYER, BROTHER, BRYAN, BUTTS, CAMPBELL, CHRISTIE, CHRISTLEY, CHRISTY, COULTER, CRAIN, CROSS, CURRY, DeWOLF, DeWOLFE, DOUBLE, DUNN, EHRHART, ELLIOTT, EMERICK, FERGUSON, FINDLEY, FLOYD, FOGAL, GALLOWAY, GIBSON, GLENN, GRAHAM, GREEN, GROSSMAN, HANNA, HARTLEY, HENDLEY, HENRY, HINDMAN, HOCKENBERRY, HUTCHISON, JACK, JAMISON, KELLY, KELSO, KIESTER, KIMBERLY, KORN, LAVERTY, LAWRENCE, LEASON, LINN, MARSHALL, McBRIDE, McCALLEN, McCANDLESS, McCLOSKEY, McCOMBS, McCOY, McELHANEY, McELVAINE, McGREGOR, McMURRY, McQUISTION, MENARD, MILLER, MOORE, MUNSON, MURRIN, MYERS, NEGLEY, NYE, OWENS, PEARSON, PETERS, PORTER, POTTS, PURVIANCE, RAWLE, RAY, RENNICK, RHODES, RIDDLE, ROSE, RUSSELL, SAMPLE, SETH, SHANNON, SHULTE, SMART, SMITH, SPEARMAN, SPROUL, STAGE, STEVENSON, STEWART, STILLWAGON, STIVERT, STOOPS, SULLIVAN, THOMPSON, THORN, TINKER, VOGAN, WALKER, WASHABAUGH, WEBB, WELSH, WIGTON, WOLFORD, YOUNG.
Cherry township, organized in 1854, is watered by Slippery Rock creek, its north and south branches, MURRIN's run and FINDLEY run. In the vicinity of Anandale the elevations are from 1,450 to 1,490 feet above ocean level, while in the southwest quarter of the township 1,400 feet elevations are found. The highest rock discovered is the Upper Freeport sandstone, and the lowest, the Homewood, as seen near water level on the main stream and its feeders. Kittanning coal has been mined on the GALLOWAY and GROSSMAN, the BRYAN, the Robert BLACK, John SMITH and the HOCKENBERRY farms, a seam of cannel coal being found in the mine on the last named farm, near Five Points. The effect of the Union Coal and Coke Company and the Gomersal Coal Company's enterprise in opening up the coal fields of this section cannot be overestimated. The ferriferous limestone quarry and kiln, southwest of Anandale, near the Robert BLACK dwelling, were known years ago when McGREGOR operated them.
The population in 1840 was 625; in 1850, 970; in 1860, 907; in 1870, 903; in 1880, 1,161, and i n 1890, 1,433. The total assessed value January 1, 1894, was $296, 712, the county tax, $1,186.35 and State tax, $68.40.
Michael STEVENSON, his wife Sarah, and sons John, James and William, came from Ireland in 1798 and settled here. The three sons afterward served in the War of 1812. All three of them died within ten days after their return home of [p.648] "Black Rock fever." In 1803 John was the owner of 400 acres of land in this township, and was practically the head of the family until the breaking out of the War of 1812 called him into the service of his country.
Andrew STEWART came here from Northumberland county in 1798, and settled on 400 acres of land, where some of his descendants still live. He was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county, and served at Black Rock in the War of 1812. He married Mary RUSSELL, and reared a large family.
John CHRISTY, a native of Ireland, came here from Westmoreland county in the spring of 1799, and settled on 400 acres of land where his granddaughter, Mrs. Martha CAMPBELL, now lives. Robert McCALLEN, who married Polly GROSSMAN in 1797, the same year in which her father settled here, came in 1799, and cleared land for Benedict GROSSMAN his father-in law, until he purchased a farm for himself near New Hope church.
Alexander HUTCHISON and family came from Westmoreland county in 1800, but did not own taxable real estate when the county was organized. William HUTCHISON, however, had 228 acres of land, three cows and two horses. The RUSSELL family, who settled in Scrubgrass township, Venango county, in 1798, contributed five sons to the settlement of Cherry. Samuel, the eldest, died in 1870, aged ninety-four years. They were not here when Butler county was organized, but came into the STEWART neighborhood shortly afterwards.
Joseph PORTER, son of Alexander and Margaret (BRADEN) PORTER, of Washington county, settled near the north line of Butler with his parents in 1798, and twenty years after south of the north line of Cherry township. John HOCKENBERRY, who settled in Brady township in 1803, afterwards moved into Cherry and died here. John SMITH, Sr., came from Parker township prior to 1820. In 1821 he married Mary STEVENSON, and began the improvement of the lands which he purchased here. For three-quarters of a century the Smiths of CHERRY township have been leading farmers. James BOVARD, who settled in Fairview township in 1798, moved into this township in 1824, settling on 250 acres of land now owned by his grandson, Charles B. BOVARD.
The old mill, known as RAY's mill, was built early in the century by General CAMPBELL, a soldier of the Revolution. McMURRY's distillery and grist mill were established on McMURRY's run in 1810. Twenty years after the linseed oil and woolen mills were built. In 1843 the property fell into the hands of Samuel McMURRY, Jr., and he added a saw mill. The McCOY & GROSSMAN mill was erected in 1866 on the site of BOVARD's mill.
The first election in Cherry township was held October 14, 1840, when the following vote was cast: S.A. PURVIANCE, sixty-five, and William JACK fifty-three votes for Congress; Charles C. SULLIVAN, sixty-five, and John NEGLEY fifty-three votes for State Senate; Isaac S. PEARSON, sixty five, and George POTTS fifty-three votes for Assembly; Goerge MILLER, sixty-four, and Alexander HENRY fifty-three votes for commissioner; George EMERICK, sixty-five, and David SHANNON fifty-three votes for auditor; Jacob BRINKER, forty-six, and H.C. DeWOLF forty-six votes for long term trustee, and William STEWART, forty-six, for short term trustee of academy.
[p. 649]
The justices of the peace elected from 1840 to 1894 are as follows: Joseph CROSS, 1840; John HANNA, 1840; John GLENN, 1843, 1848 and 1853; Thomas FLOYD, 1845; Johnston BOVARD, 1849; Washington BOVARD, 1854; George E. CHRISTY, 1854; Hiram C. McCOY, 1858 and 1868; Robert DUNN, 1859; Moses CRAIN, 1863; Samuel D. CHRISTY, 1864; John SMITH, 1865, 1870, 1875, and 1880; John McCALLEN, 1871; Robert McELHANEY, 1876, 1881, 1886 and 1891; A.W. CHRISTIE, 1884; Thomas CHRISTLEY, 1887; J.S. CAMPBELL, 1888 and 1893.
[p. 650]
New Hope Presbyterian Church was organized November 17, 1879, by Rev. J.H. MARSHALL and Elder W.P. BRAHAM, with forty-two members. The elders were John PORTER, Robert McELHANEY, Agnew HARTLEY, John WEBB and P.A. SHANNON. Rev. A.W. LAWRENCE was supply for a few months at the beginning; Rev. J.A. MENARD, from March, 1880, to 1882; Rev. Mr. LAVERTY in 1886, and James G. ROSE in 1887. In 1893 this society of 112 members was without a regular pastor. A charter was granted June 24, 1881, to H. L. RHODES, M. BROOKMYER, John PORTER, Robert McELHANEY, P.A. SHANNON, T. J. SHANNON, R.A. HARTLEY and J.D. STEVENSON, the three last named being the trustees.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Anandale was organized in 1858, by Revs. J. McCOMBS and J. NYE, as a class of the Centreville circuit, holding services in an unfinished house of T.F. CHRISTLEY. The first complement of ten members was increased in 1859, when a camp meeting was held near Pleasant Valley Presbyterian church, and many converts were enrolled. Ultimately the Presbyterian church was obtained in which to hold services. Later that year a round log house was erected north of the Presbyterian house, and in it meetings were held until 1863, when it was burned. Nine years later a church building was begun at Anandale, which was completed May 3, 1873, at a cost approximating $2,000. Since the close of the war, in fact, since its organization the ministers named in the sketch of North Hope Methodist church have preached here.
On July 3, 1882, a postoffice was established here under the name of Coaltown, and Perry SHANNON appointed postmaster. Mr. BOLLINGER, who succeeded H.W. ELLIOTT, is the present incumbent. The cyclone of June, 1882, described at the close of this chapter, brought the village prominently before the people, and had some effect in winning the recognition of the postal authorities.
At present James WELSH is the general merchant and mine superintendent, while H.W. ELLIOTT carries on the old SAMPLE & ELLIOTT store, and V. FOGAL the drug store. There are now sixty-nine houses belonging to the company, or twenty two-story, forty-two one-story and four double houses or blocks, exclusive of the large wash-house and other buildings. The private buildings, about twenty in number, include the hall built by Jacob RENNICK and Perry DOUBLE & Company for religious, musical and secret societies, and for village purposes.
The Union Coal and Coke Company commenced operations at Coaltown in [p.651] November, 1879; but the railroad, built by that company, was not completed until December, 1880, when the first coal was shipped by rail from this point. In June, 1881, the building of coke ovens was commenced and the first shipments of coke made in December following. By April, 1883, there were fifty ovens in operation, and the production of coal for shipment equalled 300 tons a day. The officers in 1879, were Henry RAWLE, chairman, and George G. STAGE, of Greerville, secretary, treasurer and manager. The other stockholders were J.J. SPEARMAN, George BOYCE and P.L. KIMBERLY, of Sharon, Pennsylvania. J.J. SPEARMAN has been chairman since 1881, while Mr. STAGE holds the same position to which he was elected in 1879.
Gomersal was named by the Gomersal Coal Company, the name being derived from an English coal town. The president is Charles ARMS, of Youngstown, Ohio. The banks are in the Middle Kittanning vein. Sixty miners and other employees bring the number of workers up to seventy-five. The daily shipment is about 150 tons of screened coal, shipped to Youngstown and Buffalo. The company leased their lands here from John SMITH, George W. HOCKENBERRY, Jacob WOLFORD and R.F. CHRISTY in 1881, and began building the same year under the superintendence of William FERGUSON, who still holds that position. There were forty-five different houses erected, including the large apartment houses of six apartments each. The store, also built by the company, has been operated by three firms. SPROUL & STOOPS have had it for the last five years and the postoffice for about three years. The Gomersal South Branch Railroad was constructed four miles from Branchton, in 1882. F.W. FERGUSON is book-keeper and operator. There are two main drifts in operation.
The Garfield Mine, north of Gomersal, is operated by the Mercer Mining and Manufacturing Company. For over three and one-half years it was idle, and the work of cleaning up had commenced when the reduction of 1894 interrupted it. The company have about twelve frame houses there. There are now only three families in the place.
Bovard, near the confluence of McMURRY's run and Slippery Rock creek, takes its name from the pioneer family of this section, one of whom located here. When the railroad was constructed the place became of more importance than even in the days when BOVARD's mill was the only attraction. In 1866 McCOY & GROSSMAN's grist mill was built on the site of BOVARD's mill, and about the time the depot was erected a dozen or more of large frame houses were put up. The GROSSMAN mill and blacksmith shop, and J.A. BAILEY's store represent the manufacturing and mercantile interests of the village.
Anandale, surveyed in 1840 for John HANNA, is a pleasant hamlet. The founder established the first tavern there, and also the first store. Through his exertions it was made a postal village, with himself as postmaster, and for over half a century it has played an important part in the history of this township. Hiram C. McCOY, at one time associate judge, Rev. James GREEN, B. SHULTE, J. D. VOGAN and Braden PORTER are all counted in its old mercantile circle, while John RIDDLE, J. STILLWAGON, Jacob SETH and Richard GRAHAM were among its tavern keepers. In January, 1858, the name of Anandale postoffice was changed to WIGTON's Store, and John WIGTON was appointed postmaster; but the old [p.652] name was afterwards restored. The present postmaster is Mrs. Clara McCOY, who was appointed in December, 1893.
Moniteau is one of the new postoffices, of which J.H. GRAHAM was appointed postmaster in 1894.
[End of Chapter 65 - Cherry Township: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
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Updated 07 Jan 2000, 12:11
