A Bimonthly Publication of the Freeport
Area Historical Society December, 2001
MEETING SCHEDULE:
December 6 7:00
January 3 7:00
Meetings are held at the Freeport Community Center. Program plans are incomplete at the time this newsletter goes to press. What is known is that your presence and your participation are vital to the future of the Historical Society and the Mill.
Robin Bennett has been busy – come and hear about her progress in obtaining a grant to replace the roof of the mill. Robin also had a table at the Community Center craft day and sold some items for the Historical Society.
CHRISTMAS
Speaking of those items, if you need something to complete (or start ) your shopping, we have various items that would make neat gifts.
TODAY’S NEWS – TOMORROW’S HISTORY
Marti Moore made a wonderful point recently in discussing history and how we preserve it. She said. “What record will be left of September 11 other than that from the print media? I know that I did what everyone else did. I used the telephone and email to express myself, leaving no record at all. Of all the generations living in America right now, not one will leave any record of their feelings, thoughts, fears, etc. on that terrible day so that future generations will know. ” This was so well said (in an email ) and it is something for us all to consider. Once in awhile, let'’ actually write a letter or make a tape if that is easier. Some day our descendents will thank us Meanwhile, let'’ work together to maintain the history we do have.
A LETTER FROM THE PAST
Marti Moore shares a letter written to her great grandmother, Emily Weaver Hill of Sarver and Freeport, by her husband, Shiloh Hill. It was written in Tidiout during the oil rush of the 1860’s. Shiloh was there in a futile attempt to find his future.
Tidioute July 15th 1866
Mrs. M. E. Hill
I received your letter of the 9th and was sorry to hear that you was not well you want me to come home as soon as I can, you cant want me home more than I would like to be home my self. I would like to see the little folks, and you.
But as it is I can not get away without hireing another hand in my place. I think we will be done drilling in about two weeks at the farthest the well is down 585 feet now and I think two weeks more will put it down as far as we will go.
I am well we have very warm wether here for the last few days. I think I never felt the heat like it has been up here for the few days back. I was up Denis run today and it does not look like much. Sunday up there some wells are pumping and some are working at there tubeing and sucker rods, and some are drilling. It is the quietest businefs up the Run and hillsides are all lined with derricks, all most everyplace that there is room to drill they are drilling.
Tell Laura and Amon that I have a nice black squirrel for a pet for them when I come home if it don’t die for me. I caught it on Saturday and it eats and appears to get along fine. I can take it in my hands and it will not bite. I do not think it will be any trouble to pet it, if you are not well and cant get along write and let me know and I will come home. I had thought of not going home till the well was drilled. Since I wrote to you last we had bad luck. The cable parted about two hundred feet down in the well and we had to get tools and screw in the top of the old cable and stretch it up and cut it off at the rope socket down five hundred feet. It was a good deal of a job to cut it off at the right place down there.
We stuck on the fourth and we got started on Saturday again and since that we have had no trouble. Last week we drilled 75 feet, your letters come now in about three days and sometimes in lefs I get them. Regularly there for a long time I get none and then when they did come they all came together. Some was wrote 20 days before I got them. Bujt now they come right through.
Yours, Shiloh Hill
(Spelling, punctuation, etc., as written by Shiloh Hill)
HEIRLOOM RECIPES
Shortcake
Mrs. Elmer J. Mickey
(Ida May Garris Mickey)
¼2 Cups flour (Valley Mills all purpose)
½1/2 t. salt 4 t. baking powder
2 T. sugar 1 egg
3 T. shortening ½1/2 Cup milk
Mix flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Cut in shortening, then add egg and milk to make soft dough. Pour into 9 inch round greased and floured cake pan. Bake at 375 until lightly brown.
Note: My grandmother would make this for strawberries, peaches, blackberries or any fruit. I can remember she would sometimes bake this in her black iron skillet. Also she seldom measured anything. My mother (Sarah) and I stood over her and guessed at the amounts. I have made this many, many times.
Q and A
Q. Was there a Madison County in Western Pennsylvania?
A. Well, not exactly. In 1842 Freeport area residents attempted to form a new county out of Armstrong, Allegheny, Butler and Westmoreland Counties, but the bill to create Madison County was defeated in the State House by a vote of 58 to 15. Freeport was incorporated on April 8, 1833, and Jacob Weaver was elected the first Burgess = today the title is Mayor.
Between 1826 and 1862 several churches were built. The first public school was founded in 1857 and in the following year a four-room brick schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $3,000. Population began to increase; in 1849 there were 727 residents, by 1876 the population stood at 2,037. One hundred years later it was 2k708 in part due to the annexation in 1963 of the village of Laneville from South Buffalo Township
Thanks to Rod Chapman for this Answer.
NEWSLETTER
Grist for the Mill needs articles and questions about Freeport area history. If you have a question, we’ll find an answer. Deadline for next newsletter is 1/25/02. Call Don at 295-4635, Carol at 353-2527 or Email pchale@salsgiver.com. We are interested in articles and pictures from days gone by.
FROM JOHN SHOOP’S WEATHER BOOK 1848-1870
The packet boats started to run from Freeport to Pittsburgh on the 23 of March 1857…the last ice boats started out March 26 1857 and stuck on Sandy Crick Island…G. Garver Williamsons hay botes went out March 26 1857…The thermometer stood 22 above zero Mar 27 1857…the thermometer stood 18 above zero April 2 1857...it rained & snowd & very cold April 1 1857…Apr 6 1857 it snowd all day I went to Kitanning the thermometer stood at 18 deg. Apr 7 1857…On Easter day Apr 12 we had snow & was very cold Thermometer stood at 30 above zero…John Started for the ice boats Apr 10 1857 down to Sandy Creek he did not get a chance com back…We had a tremendous snow storm Apr 15 1857…on the 19 Apr 1857 it rained & snowed all Day…the thermometer stood 29 above zero Apr 21 1857…the thermometer stood 25 above zero Apr 24 1857…It is said the first 3 days of a moon where there is 5 moons in a month will rule the first changes…on 27 Apr 1857 it snowed & was cold thermometer 26…I went to Philadelphia May 18th 1857 to buy clothing freturned May 23 same week…there was snow in the Eastren Countys on the 20 May 1857 up the Susquehanna River in many countys from 4 to 6 inches deep…the thermometer Stood at 40 June 5 1857 we had frost June 6 1857…in 1857 we planted our cabbagh in the sing of the feet in the light of the moon & stood, down…There was a tremendous sweping of lumber at Pittsburgh 9 of June there was a los of 60 thousand Dollars…We had very hi water June 12th 1857 it was higher than I ever saw it in June it was up to a notch in a post at the landing.
Editor’s note: Spelling and punctuation are as written by John Shoop
CIVIL WAR VETERANS
Enclosed with this issue is a list of Civil War veterans buried in Freeport Cemetery. Coming soon -–the location of the final resting place of veterans from other wars.
Civil War Veterans
Final Resting Place
G.A.R. MONUMENT
Section Name & Assignment if Known
Top Row
Bole, James
Awe, Peter, CoF, 46th Pa. Inf.
Crytzer, Daniel, CoF. 78th PA. Inf.
Donaldson, Milton
Lewis, Lewis, CoF, 78th, PA Inf.
Moss, Bernard, CoA, 155th Pa. Inf.
Hanford, Thomas (no stone)
Aams, B.F. (no stone)
Lower Row
McNab, Aron (no stone)
Weaver, A.R., CoF, 78th Pa. Inf.
Burkett, Alexander, CoH, 2nd Pa. Cav.
Peditt, Simon (no stone)
Treish, George, Knaps Battery
Stivenson, J. L., CoM, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf.
Stewart, Henery
F-7 Phillips, John, Co C, 139th Pa. Inv.
F-8 Lee, John L., Co B, 1st Lt. Act.
F-21 Kesler, A. J., Co F, 78th Reg. Vol. Inv.
F-22 Brooks, Jerome
F-26 Smith, H. Steel, Co. L, 14th Pa. Cav.
F-44 Duff, John R.
F-47 Atkinson, William B.
F-50 Truby, James H., CoA, 8th Pa. Res.
F-54 Irwin, John R.
F-57 Wallace, David S.
F-67 Redfox, Peter, Co I, 5th Pa. H.A.
F-74 Womersley, Robert, Co G, Pa. Art.
F-75 Pennington, Robert Co. K, 104 Reg.Pa.Vol.
F-81 Syphax, Henery, Co I, 5th PA H.A.
F-82 McElliott, John
F-88 King, B. F.
F-96 Sourwine, H. L.
F-106 Kipp, Silas H.
F-111 Atkinson, George, Co A
F-124 Beale, David C.
F-125 Smith, Phillip, Co B, 78th Reg. Pa.
F-126 Gochring, Henry G.
F-131 Walters, Clarence, Co F, 78th Reg. Pa.
F-134 Clow, Phillip, Co. A. 122, Ohio
F-136 Hill, Samuel W.
F-137 Heasley, B. F.
Section Name & Assignment if Known
F-140 Stewart, Lt. James G., Co I, 123 Reg. Pa. Vol. Co F, 6th H.A.
F-144 Levy, Philip, Co I, 8th Reg. Pa. Vol.
F-146 McNeal, William
F-158 Matthews, Johnson
F-162 Stewart, Jackson
F-163 Harris, William, Co. I, 143rd C.R. Inv.
F-164 Smith, Wells
F-164 Stoup, Sinai G.
F-165 Beatty, Robert
F-168 Slusser, James M., Co. F, 78th Reg. Pa.
F-169 Foster, Henry, Co. H. 114th Reg. O.V.I.
F-176 Forrester, Hugh
F-178 Shearer, Henry
F-181 Brenneman, Alphonso
F-182 Richey, Edward
F-191 Cowen, Edward
F-214 Drake, John T.
F-215 McMinn, Samuel
F-220 Kinsey, John
F-239 Thompson, Stewart
F-241 Gibson, John
F-246 Warner, A.S.
F-247 McKee, Robert B.
F-249 Singer, Daniel
F-249 Gambel, Robert, Co B, 78th Pa. Reg.
F-258 Isenberg, John
F-278 Garver, Charles S.
F-283 Irwin, M. H.
F-393 Mosebaugh, Andrew A.
F-416 Freund, Edwin W.
F-37 Mochanski, Edward
F-355 Myers, Elijah
F-368 VanLew, George W.
F-324 Barkley, Charles
Snyder, Cyrus (Public Ground)
Uptegraph, Phillip (Public Ground)
K-12 Ross, Cornelius
K-13 Livengood, George, Co A, 206th Pa. Inf.
K-63 Flemm, John
K-66 Ross, Willliam D., Co L, W.V. Cav.
K-71 Ingersoll, George
K-86 Shaw, Charles E., Co F, 78th Reg. Pa.
K-87 McCall, Thomas J., Co H, 15th Pa.
K-97 Conley, James
K-104 Petsinger, Henry, Co D, 137th Pa. Inf.
Section Name & Assignment if Known
I-5 Hill, James B.
I-10 VanDyke, Nathan Lee, Co L, 14th Pa. Cav.
I-13 Bauer, Otto, Co D, 74th Pa. Vol.
I-41 Call, George, Co G, 3rd Inf.
I-43 Thomas, Alfred G., M.D.
I-46 Stivenson, Andrew
I-49 Beale, William, Co. I, 5th PA H.A.
I-93 Drury, Walter
I-98 Ammon, Nichlas, Co E, 139th Pa. Vol. Inv.
I-98 Ladley, Richard Co G, 101st Pa. Vol. Inf.
St. Mary’s Cemetary
A-14 Toomey, Daniel, Co K, 104th Pa. Vol.
A-14 Toomey, David, Co C, 139th Pa. Vol.
A-23 Toomey, Edmond
A-33 Call, John
A-45 Ragan, James
B-12 Gallagher, Frank
B-36 Kelly, Michael, Co H, 116th Pa. Vol. Inf.
B-40 Burlbaugh, Nicholas
B-44 Schoonmaker, J. O.
B-41 Waghman, George J., Co C, 169th Pa. Inv.
B- Kritle, Vince Z., Co. G, 83rd Pa. Vo.
B-64 McGinley, David, Co H, 83rd Pa. Vol. Inf.
B-80 Maxler, Frank, Co B, Pa. Vol. Inf.
C-18 Scott, William, Co B, 190th Pa. Vol. Inf.
C-45 Wonder, Ananias
C-61 Gillespie, Capt. Charles B., Co F, 78th Pa.
Vol. Inf.
D- McMilligan, Charles, Co I, Pa. Vol. Inv.
D-34 Haog, Ulrich, Co I, 5th Pa. H.A.
D- Hill, Henry
D-38 Lynch, Nathaniel
D-42 Sweeny, Daniel, Co K, 6th Pa. Cav.
D-61 Scott, John A., Co I, 6th Pa. Cav.
D-36 Kelly, Michael, 14th Pa. Cav.
D-67 Martin, Elijah
E-33 Denny, James, Co F, 78th Pa. Vol. Inv.
Freeport Cemetery
A-1 Boilman, Andrew
A-8 Eckman, Silas, Co D, 14th Pa. Cav.
A-9 Eckman, William C.
A-14 Murphy, Samuel, Co L., 14th Pa. Cav.
A-17 Hamor, A.C. Co I, 78th Reg. Pa. Inf.
A-53 Gibson, Samuel, Co B, 10th Pa. Res. Inf.
A-53 Gibson, William, Co B, 10th Pa. Res. Inf.
A-55 Gibson, A. J.
A-58 Casterline, Elisha, Co F, 78th Reg. Inf.
Section Name & Assignment if Known
A-61 Weaver, B. F.
A-61 Weaver, Henry S., Co F, 78th Reg. Inf.
A-65 Truby, Christian
A-66 Shoop, Simon
A-71 Weaver, James R.
A-75 Clawson, Albert H., Co F, 78th Reg. Inf.
A-75 Shaffer, Samuel, Co F, 78th Reg. Inf.
A-77 Bowman, Thomas
A-81 Girton, Robert
A-94 Andrews, Galen
A-96 Tuxford, Charles
A-115 Hill, Jos H.
A-115 Henderson, J. H.
A-117 Ashbaugh, Meredith
A-122 Burcher, John V., Co L, 14th Pa. Vol.
A-122 Haines, William C.
A-123 Hines, William
A-127 Arnold, Robert V.
A-142 Kuhns, W. Alex
A-143 McCormack, Peter, Co D, 6th Pa. Art.
A-145 Ashbaugh, John
A-145 Easley, Archbald *
B-1 Patterson, Frank K., Brig. Gen 1848-1917
B-4 Furlong, Stephen, Co E, 8th Pa. Rev.
B-8 Ralston, Alfred M.
B-12 Ralston, George L.
B-13 Rowley, Wesley
B-14 Cline, J.F.
B-15 McCulloch, Dr. W. P.
B-16 Torbett, H. W., 1st Lt., Co F, 78th Reg.
B-22 Weinel, J. J., Co I, 139th Pa. Inf.
B-26 Todd, D. S.
B-27 Brenneman, Abner
B-29 Weir, B. F., Co F, 78th Pa. Inf.
B-36 Gibbs, J. Mitchell
B-38 Lowry, Wm.
B-38 Lowry, Robert A.
C-1 Galbraith, Rev. William , 1st Lt. Co G
C-2 Alter, David Jr., Co F, 78th Reg. Inf.
C-4 Lane, William S.
C-5 Bluckley, Cap. John P., Co K, 24th NY Vol.
C-5 Buckley, A. Vesp. Co K, 24th NY Vol.
C-9 Weir, D. M. B.
C-15 McCue, W. Bebton
C-20 Miller, William J.
C-20 Miller, Thomas
C-21 Miller, Robert
D-4 Hill, James M., Co L, 14th Pa. Cav.
D-14 Moorhead, D. Milton
*Last Civil War veteran, died 11/22/33 at age 90.
Section Name & Assignment if Known
D-14 Moorhead, Shepley
D-14 Shirley, John T., Co B, 78th Reg. Inf.
D-18 Spiker, Daniel
D-21 Donaldson, Samuel
D-21 Donaldson, Robert
D-37 Heck, George, Co A, 15th Pa. Cav.
D-39 Posney, John K.
D-40 Douds, Robert
D-57 Sheldon, Samuel, Co F, 78th Reg. Inf.
E-15 Rowland, Alex
E-16 Barnett, Henry
E-19 McKown, David
E-23 Grinder, Jonathan
E-24 Alter, Jacob
E-27 Harris, Horato, Co F, 78th Reg. Inf.
E-33 Hughs, William Wallace
E-33 Hughs, John Stone
E-35 Anthony, Samuel J., Co H, 6th Pa. H.A.
E-37 Hathaway, Thomas H., Co I, 15th Pa. Cav.
E-37 Truby, Robert B.
E-45 Hetrick, John
E-47 Wallice, Edward C.
E-62 Haines, John H., Co C, 139th PVI
E-63 Bash, Martin, Co G, 5th Reg. Pa. H.A. Vol.
E Klingensmith, H., Co I, 123rd Pa. Inf.
E-70 Schwietering, Herman H., Co E, 14th Pa.
Cav.
E-84 Beale, Thomas
E-413 Moody, Robert
G-18 Bartley, William, Co C, 78th Pa. Inf.
G-33 Bruner, Adam Co I, 139th Pa. Inf.