Pittsburgh Streets - User contributions [en]

Notes:Randall Street

2026-09-06T19:45:53Z

Bkell: done

1890-09-06: "New charters granted," ''Pittsburgh Post'', {{page|3}} ({{npcom|86439641}}): "The following charters were granted at Harrisburg yesterday: {{...}} Schenley Park Land Company, Pittsburgh, with a capital of $100,000 and these directors: Charles Succop, S.{{thin}}P. Conner, A.{{thin}}A. Adams, J.{{thin}}W. Patterson, Thomas Jones, William Schildecker, John F. Armstrong, Pittsburgh."

[[Source:Schenley-park-land-co-plan]] (Sept. 1890): Randall St.

[[Source:Martha-e-lamb-plan]] (Nov. 1890): "Street 40′"

[[Source:Ja-kaercher-plan]] (rec. 1892): Randall St.

[[Source:Ordinance-1909-1910-716]]: "Randall, from Gladstone to Stanley, 15th wd."

[[Source:Resolution-1999-551]]: "That the name of Randall Street between Gladstone Street to Moon Way in the 15<sup>th</sup> Ward, 5<sup>th</sup> Council District of the City of Pittsburgh is hereby changed to Quirin Lane."

[[Source:Ordinance-2015-15]]: "the name of Quirin Lane, from Rosalia Place at its eastern end to Grit Way at its western end, shall be and the same hereby changed to RANDALL STREET, located in the Fifteenth Ward"

Randall Street

2026-09-06T19:45:41Z

Bkell: street signs still say Quirin Lane

{{street
|neighborhood=Greenfield
|former-name=
{{former name
|name=Quirin Lane
|when=1999–2015
}}
}}
'''Randall Street''' was laid out in 1890 in a plan of lots by the Schenley Park Land Company.{{r|schenley-park-land-co-plan}}

Randall Street was renamed '''Quirin Lane''' in 1999.{{r|resolution-1999-551}} It was changed back to Randall Street in 2015,{{r|ordinance-2015-15}} though street signs still say "Quirin Lane."

==References==
{{references
|ordinance-2015-15
|resolution-1999-551
|schenley-park-land-co-plan
}}

Source:Fleming-first-growth

2026-08-08T19:43:28Z

Bkell: add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=First growth of Pittsburgh described
|subtitle1=Rugged topography of city's land cause of peculiar layouts
|subtitle2=First houses given
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-04-08
|section=5
|page=2
|npcom=85873814
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-first-growth
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-first-growth/content

2026-08-08T19:43:20Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|FIRST GROWTH OF PITTSBURGH DESCRIBED}}

{{deck|Rugged Topography of City's Land Cause of Peculiar Layouts.}}

{{deck|FIRST HOUSES GIVEN}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

SOME further consideration of the first plans of Pittsburgh is necessary in order to trace the growth of the town. Special attention must be given to the rugged topography of the place. This will be noted fully.

It is evident that the surveyors had their troubles, as Thomas Vickroy recounts in his deposition made in 1841. Today even, comment is made upon the poor planning of the original town. Vickroy explains why some streets were made narrow and others of uniform width throughout the plan. {{sic|Wood's|Woods'}} and Vickroy's plan of Pittsburgh, it may be stated, was acceptable to the proprietaries of Penn's Manor ot Pittsburgh—the Penn heirs and their agent, Tench Francis. The surveyors laid out the town in lots, streets and alleys. On the face of the plat, the lots were all numbered, the size of each stated, the width of the alleys given and the width of all the streets, except Water street.

On one side of that street were the lots commencing at the junction of the rivers and extending up to Grant street. Water street was left a roadway, irregular in width and buildings, between the roadway and the river.

At Ferry street this roadway was fewer than 50 feet in width. It was about the same at Market street. At Redoubt alley, now called Blockhouse way, it was about 20 feet in width, becoming narrower as it approached the Point. This ill-conditioned roadway became Water street. Its high banks and irregular outline did not prevent its becoming a busy thoroughfare, and in the early days of Pittsburgh borough the principal residence street, while the business houses grew along Market street. The growth along the adjacent street will be reverted to today and some idea given of the sparsely settled village previous to 1800, or shortly after it was granted a borough form of government.

{{subhead|Never a Boom Here.}}

There was a slow growth. The town was a frontier town, long distances intervened between us and the civilization and manufactures of the East. The nation was new. The Indian troubles were long continued. There was never a boom here.

January 9, 1796, the Pittsburgh Gazette printed a paragraph, stating that "the number of inhabitants in the borough of Pittsburgh, as taken by the assessors last week, amounts to 1,395."

Neville B. Craig comments on this statement and states that it is the earliest authentic account of Pittsburgh's population and that it is well to notice the condition of this place and its appearance at that time. He assumes six persons as an average to each house and this will give 232 houses in the town. His own memory, he continues, "goes back pretty distinctly to that time" and he can not conceive where that number of houses could then be found. He says:

"I have tasked my own memory severely, and with the aid of one whose recollection is more distinct than mine have made out the following enumeration of the houses in Pittsburgh about the time mentioned."

{{subhead|Totals 102 Houses.}}

Mr. Craig wrote this in 1852. He was born in Bouquet's block house in 1786, and hence at the age of 10 his memory would be good, and 55 years later would not be seriously impaired. Mr. Craig totals 102 houses. Of these, 10 were on Market street and 10 on Front street (now First avenue), 18 on Water street, nine on Second street (now avenue west of Market street) and six east of that street; seven on Wood street, nine on Fourth street (now avenue, east of Market street) and two west of Market; one only on Third street (avenue) and seven on Ferry street.

Fifth street (now avenue) had "Battle Row" between Wood and Smithfield and two or three more, and three west of Wood street. There were three houses on Penn street (now avenue, east of Fort Pitt), two on Liberty and three in the Diamond; one on Marbury street (Boquet's old Redoubt) and in Fort Pitt four or five, Craig concludes.

Craig allows eight persons to a house, which makes the population "a little over 800." H. Niles, in his Register (Vol. 30), states, without giving his authority, that Pittsburgh had 36 log houses in 1786 one stone, one frame house and five small stores. Craig comments that the detail and particularity of statement seem to give it some credibility.

{{subhead|1,565 Here in 1800.}}

In 1800 the United States census gave Pittsburgh 1,565 inhabitants and from the Gazette list this shows an increase of only 170 in the four years from 1796. There was a more rapid growth in the next decade, for in 1810 the increase was 3,203. The growth from 816, Craig's estimate, in 1796, to 1,565, the 1800 census enumeration (to be taken as absolutely correct) shows an increase of 749 and nearly double, which looks reasonable.

From the study of these statistics we must particularly admire the brand of assessors we had then. They found, according to Craig, nearly double the number of people there really was. Of course, Mr. Scull, the editor of the Gazette, was not to blame. He, as an editor, postmaster, publisher, job printer, etc., was a busy man and could not stop to count the people. There is no doubt he accepted the item as turned in by the assessors. He had no reason to go back of the returns. But Mr. Craig, from his own long experience as an editor, might have suggested another reason for the Gazette's figures as turned in by the assessors. They may have been the result of a typographical error, or even a clerical error.

{{subhead|Town's Appearance Described.}}

It is clear that, although created a borough in 1794, Pittsburgh was not much of a town, and at the time (1796) the assessors' figures were published, 12 years had elapsed from the date of Col. {{sic|Wood's|Woods'}} survey of Pittsburgh. It is clear also from Craig's enumeration where the majority of the people dwelt: on Market, Water, Front, Second, Ferry and Wood streets. Sixty-seven houses of Craig's total were on these streets. His memory extended also to the occupants and owners, many of whom he mentioned by their first names.

Mr. Craig next describes the appearance of the town in detail. Market street seemed to become the main business street by reason of its central location and despite its narrowness. Wood street at Water was impassable when the river was moderately high on account of the "gut" or deep gulley there. Soon after the borough was incorporated a stone bridge was built across this at Front street, now First avenue.

The wharf was nothing but a rugged, irregular bank, the width varying from {{sic|Wood's|Woods'}} lots to the break of the bank. At Market street this distance was between 50 and 60 feet. But there was a deep gulley there also, that had been worn in the bank. A wagon could scarcely pass along. At the mouth of Chancery lane there was another chasm in the bank, and Craig states that a horse could not pass between the post at the corner lot and the steep bank.

{{subhead|Careful Driving Necessary.}}

At Ferry street there was a similar difficulty, and here it required careful driving also. At "Redout" alley, now Blockhouse way, there was a steep and stony descent to the level of the covered archway which led from Front street, just below Redoubt alley, into the Monongahela River.

A pond extended along the south side of Liberty street from Diamond alley to Fourth street (now avenue), and from this pond a deep ditch led the water into the archway at Front street. Craig could never learn by whom this archway was built. It was no trifling work. The sides, which were about four feet in height, and the top were of hard burnt bricks and the bottom of flag stones. Craig and his boy companions often passed through this archway. He speculates that there must have been a gulley extending up from the river below Redoubt alley; and infers that when Col. Grant, who built the redoubt which stood on the river bank just above that gulley, he probably had the archway (or culvert, it may be termed) constructed to facilitate the communication between his redoubt and Fort Pitt. How, it is not exactly clear. Evidently the archway was built for a purpose. It fulfilled that purpose in perilous days. Grant's redoubt, spelled always as Bouquet's "Redoubt," must not be confounded with the latter. Grant was undoubtedly the British major who came here in advance of Forbes and who was defeated on Grant's Hill in September two months before Forbes came in 1758.

{{subhead|Name Is a Misnomer.}}

The name Blockhouse way, a change from Redoubt alley, is not a desirable one. We have but one block house now, Bouquet's, at the foot of Penn avenue, and Blockhouse way does not lead to it or near it. When Woods surveyed the town with Grant's blockhouse or redoubt still standing, "Redoubt" alley, as then spelled, was a proper designation for the little thoroughfare. Now, as Blockhouse way, it is a misnomer and misleading. Better had it been left Redoubt alley.

Craig remembers that Water street, gradually narrowing, was closed at West street by a fence extending to the foot of the bank, so that persons going to Jones' Ferry from any place on Water street had either to climb the steep bank and go along the beach or else turn up from Water to Front street and go along Front to Liberty street and thence to the ferry at the foot of Liberty street. An examination of the map of Pittsburgh made in 1795 with reference to Craig's enumeration of the houses in the town in 1796 shows that the map maker has furnished reference marks to 46 houses, but under Fort Pitt and Fort Fayette enumerates 10 more, viz: The barracks, the commandant's house, the storehouse, storehouse for flour and magazine at Pitt, and the block house, two stories, six-sided; the magazine, the officers' quarters of brick, two stories; the barracks, two stories of hewn logs, and the guard house at Fayette.

{{subhead|Buildings Marked on Map.}}

Counting the houses as drawn on the map of 1795, noting several not numbered, we find 93 houses indicated, which, counting those in the forts, tallies closely with Craig's list.

There are other buildings than dwellings marked on the map; Gen. Wayne's old stables left standing at the mouth of Sukes Run, about the site of the Baltimore and Ohio freight depot; the First Presbyterian Church, a log structure at Wood and Virgin alley (now Oliver avenue); a boat yard, between Short street and Redoubt alley on Water street; the market house; the jail; Samuel Sample's tavern at Water and Ferry streets, where Washington stopped in 1770, and Irwin's Hall at the Diamond and Market street, where the first courts of Allegheny county were held. All the forts—the two Pitts and Fayette—are designated, the Second Fort Pitt especially in a complete ground plan.

A large sand bar lay in the middle of the Monongahela, extending from Sukes Run to Fort Pitt and on most of the bar a crop of buckwheat was grown in 1795. Between Penn street and the Allegheny River, extending from Marbury street, later Third, to Barker's alley, above St. Clair, now Federal street, were remains of the orchards known as the King's Orchards in colonial days. One house stood on the north side of Penn street (now avenue) above Pitt street, now Stanwix.

{{subhead|Senator Ross' Home.}}

Jean Marie's house on Fourth street (now avenue), above Cherry alley, was the most southerly residence. Across Grant street, diagonally facing the Fourth street road, was Senator Ross' home. At Irwin street, later Seventh street and Liberty, were the mansion and grounds of Dr. Nathaniel Bedford. There was an orchard around the middle ferry house at Wood and Water streets. Judge Alexander Addison's dwelling stood alone at the corner of Smithfield and Second, and at Smithfield and Fourth was the next house, on the edge of Hogg's Pond, in a small triangular plot formed by the street and the pond. The owner's name is not given—doubtless it was only a log cabin.

The two widows Butler, Mrs. Gen. Richard and Mrs. Col. William, lived at Penn and Marbury streets. The log church was away up town. And doubtless the walking was bad at times, for we are told religion languished for some years.

Such is a brief {{sic|reveiew|review}} of the extent and character of the town of Pittsburgh prior to the beginning of the nineteenth century. When Market street began to take on business aspect, Pittsburgh really began to grow, and it is well to remember that in 1816, when the city was chartered, its boundaries were identically the same as those of the borough created in 1794; in fact, the ground covered by Col. {{sic|Wood's|Woods'}} survey of 1784 with the areas of the forts added. The boundaries of the town and city were the rivers, Grant street and Washington street, which first extended from Liberty to the Allegheny river. Cut up with sluices, gulleys, ponds and with the precipitous Grant's Hill on the southern edge the town could grow only in the flat region towards the Point, and though Market, Ferry and the first three cross streets were made only 40 feet in width, it will be noted that they show the earliest growth, keeping pace with Water street.

{{subhead|Blacksmith Shop at Third.}}

In 1796 Mr. Craig counts the 10 houses on Market street from Fourth street to Water, thus: The old jail at the corner of Fourth; John Irwin's, Molly Murphy's, a tavern; Brady's smith shop on the corner of Third; Horner's, corner of Second; Judge H.{{thin}}H. Brackenridge's, Dr. Peter Mowry's, Samuel Ewalt's at Water street, and Christy's, also at Water Street, the latter not mentioned on the map of 1795.

On Wood street the same year Mr. Craig remembers the two Wilkinses, John, Sr. and Jr., Henderson, who owned the middle ferry, Sturgeon's, Palmer's log house and Rody McKinney's.

On Ferry street he enumerates Devereaux Smith's, Diehl's, Frank's, Charles Richard's, Willock's and two other log houses. Richards, a colored man, kept a tavern on the corner of Second street, "a good tavern," the reference note on the map tells us.

For Front street, now First avenue, Mr. Craig's list runs as follows: Ward's, M. Adams', George Adams', Hanlon's stone house; Larwill's, Cooper's, Watson's log tavern and Delaney's.

Watson's Tavern was on the southeast corner of Front and Market streets, doubtless facing Front. It was a noted place in its day.

{{subhead|Lists of More Houses.}}

On Second street (avenue), east of Market street, were six dwellings, the uppermost Judge Addison's. On Second, west of Market, were nine houses, which Mr. Craig lists thus: "Fox Gibson's, Chamber's, Gen. Gibson's (the first brick house), Turnbull's storehouse, McLaughlin's, "Jinny Lang's, Ben Askin's and Maj. Irwin's. Ben Richards, a colored man, was the only dweller on Third street (avenue), as Craig remembers, and at the corner of Chancery lane. None of these houses but Richards' are noted by a reference line on the map of 1795.

Water street, with 18 houses, claims attention as the main street, such as it was, and Craig begins with Col. Pressly Neville's, then McIntyre's, John Scull's, where the Pittsburgh Gazette was printed; Wilmer's, Duncan's, J. Irwin's, John Ormsby's, Samuel Sample's, John Neville's, Isaac Craig's, Grant's redoubt, Abraham Kirkpatrick's, Gen. O'Hara's, Adamson Tannehill's, Morrow's, Green Tree Tavern, Henderson's Ferry House, Senator Ross' home before he moved to the Fourth street road, and Peter Andrian's, sometimes spelled Andrian.

{{subhead|Other Locations Given.}}

Craig's list runs toward Grant street, Ross and Audrain, were above Smithfield street, the ferry house, Green Tree tavern and Tannehill's between Wood and Smithfield streets; Ewalt's at Market street, the upper corner; John Ormsby's, between Chancery lane and Ferry street; Sample's tavern, next door; John Neville's and Maj. Craig's in the next block west; Grant's redoubt, on the line of the present Water street, directly in front of Craig's; Kirkpatrick's and O'Hara's were between Short and West street. Pressly Neville's is marked at the corner of Market street, across from Ewalt's. This is especially prominent on the plan of Col. Campbell, the old military plan of Pittsburgh.

John Scull's home on the map of 1795 is marked at Market and Front streets, the northeast corner. Craig remembers Scull's house as still on Water street that year and as Craig then lived within a few doors and knew John Scull well, in after years becoming editor and proprietor of the Gazette, we must accept Craig's testimony, which can be verified easily by reference to the Gazette files.

Then, too, on the map of 1795 the first postoffice is given at Front street (First avenue) and "Redout" alley, G. Adams, postmaster. John Scull, by the directory of 1815, was living at the northwest corner of Market and Front streets. We learn from the history of the Pittsburgh postoffice that it was moved in 1797 from Scull's on Water street, where it had remained from the time it was opened in 1787, to a substantial log house on Front street near Ferry street. The map of 1795 shows this located as noted. The map man, it seems, moved the office two years too soon. The Gazette office, Scull's print shop, and the postoffice were all in the same log structure on Water street.

In the early days of Pittsburgh the taverns were all near the water front except the Black Bear, which stood until within recent years on what is now Masters Way, leading from Diamond to Fifth avenue. Mr. Craig mentions also Molly Murphy's a famous place, the Green Tree Tavern, Charley Richards' and Samuel Sample's. No doubt he remembered all these places in his boyhood and as he lived until 1863, saw them disappear.

In the wagoning days the necessity for other and greater taverns came and they gradually moved uptown. Then the canal came and more public houses became necessary.

{{subhead|Depots for Conestogas.}}

Russell Errett, in his "Chapters of Pittsburgh History" in the volume issued by A. Warner & Co., in 1889, dwells on this phase of business growth and its relation to business in general and speculates on the connection that can be made with Col. {{sic|Wood's|Woods'}} survey when local traffic is given consideration.

Mr. Errett relates that the "great caravansaries" for the Conestoga wagons were on Liberty, Fifth and the streets {{sic|belong|below}} Fifth avenue. Very few now can recollect them, but some traces were still to be found even after the canal was opened. There was one at Liberty and Seventh avenues, the "Spread Eagle Tavern;" and one at the corner of Wood and Fifth, and further up Fifth—near Smithfield, nearly opposite the postoffice, there was a great arch under which the wagons used to drive, and a high courtyard around which frame dwellings were erected. This courtyard was an old wagon yard and the houses around it had been originally stables or a part of the tavern buildings.

{{subhead|Traffic Concentrates.}}

Certain it is that tavern keeping of that kind was a huge business up to 1830, and the proprietors (the Penns) must be supposed to have had sense enough to see that traffic with the East and West would concentrate here so largely as to make special provision for it necessary. Could they have foreseen the days of railroads and telegraphs and the change they would work in the methods of business, they would have made the lots on Front street outfront on Market, Wood, Smithfield and Grant, but who of the present generation would have acted differently had they lived in their times and circumstances?"

These words were written about 1888. Mr. Errett during almost the whole of his newspaper career was an editorial writer, fond of speculation, one can infer. The truth is the Penns cared very little, so they sold their land. They left this solely to Tench Francis, their agent. Francis left it with Woods and Vickroy and whatever they did was to be. The sub-divisions that came naturally gave frontages on the main streets, Wood, Grant, etc. Market stayed narrow and has never been changed. Yet it was the first great business street of the town.

The story of that business growth is an interesting one, too, but must be deferred. Thomas Vickroy in his deposition referred to last week, gave us valuable history.

Source:Pittsburgh-1795

2026-08-08T19:01:42Z

Bkell: reproduced in Source:Fleming-first-growth

{{map
|title=Pittsburgh 1795
|year=1869
|histpgh=DARMAP0203
|in=Durant@'plate IV,{{space}}following{{space}}p. 58'
|note=Reproduced in {{subref|history-of-allegheny-county@484}}; in {{subref|fleming-first-growth}}; in {{subref|flemings-views@16}}; in {{subref|four-corners-southeast}}; in {{subref|buvinger@22}}; in {{subref|lorant@62–63}}; and in {{subref|regan@57}}.
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Pittsburgh-1795
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-street-scenes

2026-08-07T05:56:37Z

Bkell: also on page 5; add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=Street scenes change with city's growth
|subtitle1=Familiar thoroughfares have presented many phases and made history
|subtitle2=Wood and Sixth ave.
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-03-25
|section=5
|page=2, 5
|npcom=85859202 85859208
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-street-scenes
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-street-scenes/content

2026-08-07T05:56:12Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|STREET SCENES CHANGE WITH CITY'S GROWTH}}

{{deck|Familiar Thoroughfares Have Presented Many Phases and Made History}}

{{deck|WOOD AND SIXTH AVE.}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

EVERY street has a growth and a development. These terms are not synonymous. A street may have growth in dimensions; be widened or lengthened. Its character develops. The story of this growth and development is the history of the street.

Many of our downtown streets furnish interesting history along these lines. The transitions from a residential to a business thoroughfare or from a manufacturing one, in whole or in part, have been frequently observed in Pittsburgh. These transitions are slow; nevertheless in time they change the character, the looks, the business of the street and the trend of travel.

There is a continuous change perceptible in some streets. Modern architecture tends most forcibly to change the appearance of our streets, especially {{sic|down town|downtown}}. Modern systems of passenger transportation have caused congested vehicular traffic. Auto vehicles have made our thoroughfares well nigh as dangerous as the tracks of any of our great railroads. We are ready for the double-decked street or sidewalk.

{{subhead|Streets Even Die Out.}}

The changes of 50 years in many of our streets have been numerous and varied. Streets even die. Searching old street lists and old city maps one is astonished at the number of streets that have passed away. The ground is yet there, but there is no need of the sign, "No thoroughfare."

Vacations, of course, have been the chief causes of this passing of former thoroughfares and by this means the railroads have been the chief beneficiaries. We can see this in many instances. The Pennsylvania Railroad from Thirty-third street in, and its Monongahela Division from South Twelfth street eastward are familiar examples, where once were many streets and structures, a better term than dwellings, predominating.

Manufacturing concerns and even individuals have profited by the vacation of streets. Other business interests also. Witness the historic ground at the Point and note the passing forever of streets almost as old as the town.

One may speak of physical changes in our streets. Widenings for example. Diamond alley to Diamond street, Virgin alley to Oliver avenue. Lengthenings, more properly extensions, can be readily called to mind. Familiar ones downtown are Diamond street to Fifth avenue, and Forbes from Boyd street to Diamond.

{{subhead|Changes Become Rapid.}}

All these changes are betterments. They bring about new architecture and new business relations. The transformation of lower Forbes street into a business thoroughfare is becoming more rapid. This same transformation has taken place in all our downtown streets. The old residences still standing in the lower avenues from Sixth down Seventh (entirely transformed) prove conclusively the former residential character of these avenues, originally called streets, and laid out by Col. George Woods and his assistant, Thomas Vickroy, in 1784, in the original survey of the town of Pittsburgh.

Additional evidence of this character can be seen on Ross and Grant streets. Ferry and Market streets are completely changed, yet within 30 years Ferry was almost exclusively a residence street. Sixth avenue was once noted as a quiet church and residence thoroughfare. About 1868 the Turners built a hall just about the upper corner of the William Penn Hotel. On the corner of Grant street there was a livery stable. Across was a German Lutheran Church. On the corner of Cherry way the Third Presbyterian congregation built the stone church recently razed for the William Penn Hotel. This church was completed in 1863.

{{subhead|Plenty of Churches.}}

Directly across the street there were residences. Many old frame shacks stood in a hollow and were torn away when the old Pittsburgh Gas Company erected its building that gave place to the present Philadelphia Company building a few years ago.

Diagonally across from the Third Presbyterian Church was the Third United Presbyterian Church, better known as Dr. Prestley's church, from its prominent pastor, the Rev. Dr. James T. Prestley. Below this church were several dwellings extending to Miltenberger alley, now Montour way, then the German Evangelical Church, but not the present structure. Across the street were dwellings, three or four still standing; a frame or two stood at the corner of Smithfield; on the corner for many years there was a plumbing shop which was also a polling place.

{{subhead|Drug Store Is Razed.}}

Below Smithfield on the South Side there were no dwellings. An old brick two stories in height, stood on the corner and can best be recalled as having been occupied as a drug store. This building was razed to make way for the Murtland building, one of the first steel frame structures in Pittsburgh, and it in turn had to go when the Henry W. Oliver building was erected.

Below Trinity Church there stood the building used by the First Presbyterian congregation as a Sunday School room and for prayer meetings and other gatherings. This building was changed into stores when the stone chapel was erected above the church on the Virgin alley side in the rear of old Third National Bank building. On the corner of Wood street were two two-story bricks with attics and dormer windows.

{{subhead|Grocery Stores Gone.}}

Across on Wood street at the corner were one and two-story shacks razed to erect the first building of the National Bank of Commerce. This latter building was completed in 1868 and most of the upper stories occupied by the old Central High School until the fall of 1871, when the school was removed to the Fulton (Fullerton) street and Bedford avenue location.

There were three warehouses from Wood street to Liberty, two wholesale grocery houses and a wholesale clothing store—the latter at the corner of Liberty street. Across the street where the Monongahela Bank building now stands were several brick structures used as stores with a rounded end at Liberty street. This ground was the site of the "Old Round Church," the first Episcopalian edifice in Pittsburgh.

Going towards Smithfield street again—on the corner of Wood street was the first edifice of the German National Bank, now defunct, originally the German Trust and Savings Bank. Next to the bank building at the corner of the alley then called Church alley, were two small yellow frames, the upper one occupied by one Gillespie, an Englishman and a chimney sweep—a lost art in Pittsburgh. Mr. Gillespie also wove rag carpets when sweeping was bad.

{{subhead|Aged Book Seller Gone.}}

Across the alley was the steepleless church of the Cumberland Presbyterian congregation. Then there were residences up to the corner of Smithfield street except that an old frame nearly opposite Trinity Church was occupied as a book and periodical store by an old gentleman named John D. Eagan, a real old-timer in that line of business. It is {{sic|needles|needless}} to say Mr. Eagan always had a complete line of "Beadle's Dime" and Munro's "Ten-Cent" novels, both long out of print, but bringing to the boys of the '60s recollections of real thrills in the story line.

Odd how recollections bring other recollections! How good those novels were can be ascertained from the fact that there were sold 1,000,000 copies of one written by Edmund S. Ellis. Many a reader today can imagine himself a boy again gazing into Old Man Eagan's book shop window in Sixth avenue and mentally vowing he was going to buy the novel of his choice with the next spare dime he had, or into Gildenfenny's, Henry Miner's, Frank Case's or Johnny Pittock's windows on Fifth avenue—all gone years ago—and who all kept the standard literature of the day, including Beadle's and Munro's "libraries."

{{subhead|Old Gazette Building Recalled.}}

Just above Eagan's store was the brick building long occupied by The Pittsburgh Gazette after the paper removed from the old Gazette Building on Fifth avenue, this latter to be occupied by the Pittsburgh Telegraph and where that paper was first issued, the building standing about opposite the Hotel Henry.

This completes the description of Sixth avenue, when Sixth street, 50 or more years ago. Go along it as opportunity may afford and in fancy try to replace the old buildings and contrast them and now. Remember no street cars came down Sixth avenue until about the spring of 1890, when the Central Traction Company, a cable line, the old Wylie avenue and Center avenue line turned in at High street and off at Wood street, thence up Fourth avenue to Grant street, to Webster avenue, to High street, and to Wylie again. There was some looping here and many a car off the track.

{{subhead|Wood Street Changes.}}

So much for the story of one downtown street, but we can take another equally as interesting: Wood street. The name is historic and properly commemorative of Col. {{sic|William|George}} Woods, chief surveyor of the plan known as Col. Woods' plan of Pittsburgh.

We have it so and it has been Wood street for a century and a third. It was intended to have been Woods street, the pronunciation easily gliding into Wood street through lack of effort in articulating and pausing sufficiently long to separate the two s sounds. We have this excess of sibilancy in Hays street and some other names.

{{subhead|Surveyors Came Here.}}

Wood street is a commemoration of a surveyor and a pioneer, yet not a resident of Pittsburgh, for both Col. Woods and his assistant, Thomas Vickroy, came here from their homes in Bedford county at the solicitation of Tench Francis, agent for the Penns, to lay out the town of Pittsburgh and to divide their proprietary manor here into outlots and farms. The survey began in May, 1754.

Wood street had a slow growth as a business street. Old directories, 1826, 1837, 1840, show that the bulk of Pittsburgh's business was transacted on Market street and the few cross streets, Front, afterwards First, Second, Third and Fourth, with the center of trade at Market and Third. Of 49 drapers and tailors listed by Isaac Harris in his directory of 1841 only 10 had locations on Wood street, 11 on Market and 14 on Liberty.

{{subhead|Tailor Shops Near River.}}

A tailor shop at Wood and Water streets would not be considered an advantageous location today, yet there is where William Schoyer did a tailoring business in 1840. Many shops of this character on Market street and on Liberty were near the river and for a good enough reason. Steamboats were numerous and the river the great highway to the West. The wharves were daily thronged with people and transient trade was generally good.

As far back as 1795 we find residences on Wood street; also some public houses. The Pittsburgh Hotel at Third street, away back in 1815, the Western Hotel, the Darlington also. The street seems to have been favored by certain lines of trade. Thus in 1840 of 13 wholesale dry goods houses in the city 12 were on Wood street. Wholesale grocers were more numerous on Liberty street, getting near the canal basins at Eleventh street, 30 of the 53 then along that thoroughfare and only 11 on Wood street.

{{subhead|Marble Works Downtown.}}

Then there were the wholesale drug stores, some hardware dealers, some wholesale and retail looking glass, comb, fancy and variety dealers, three of the four music stores in the city, three of the eight book stores, eight hat, cap and fur stores, five tin and coppersmiths, the warehouses of some glass manufacturers and Lawton's marble works opposite the First Presbyterian Church.

These brief statistics will serve to show the variety of the business carried on along the thoroughfare 75 years ago. But in a few years there came a change. The fire of 1845 transformed much of lower Pittsburgh. Wood street was devastated almost to Diamond alley on both sides of the street. But with the characteristic energy always observable here, rebuilding was rapid, so that much of the architecture of lower Pittsburgh is that erected immediately succeeding the "big fire." Quick construction was most of it.

{{subhead|Only a Few Remain.}}

There are only a few of these structures remaining on Wood street. It may be truthfully stated that the street has been rebuilt within the last three decades. Old-timers recognize but two landmarks—the tenantless buildings at the southwest corner of First avenue and the old St. Charles Hotel.

From the map of 1795 we find Gen. John Wilkins' mansion at the corner of Wood and Fourth on the site of the Arrott Building. The Henderson ferry house was just above the mouth of Wood, on Water street, a run between Wood and the Ferry house; this run the entrance to Hogg's Pond, which extended to Sixth street (now avenue), taking in the ground now occupied by the William Penn Hotel. This ground here was all pile-driven when the Third Presbyterian Church was built. There were other ponds in Pittsburgh, one extended from Second to Fourth, between Wood and Market streets. In fact, we are a much filled in and dug down and dug up city.

{{subhead|150 Log Buildings in 1795.}}

In 1795 Thomas Chapman, a traveler here, reported 200 houses in the village, 150 of them built of logs, and rough-hewn logs at that. It was a pretentious house that was constructed of sawed logs. When we can look at the map of our city in 1795, we must remember that one-fourth of all the residences depicted thereon were log structures. Wood street had three, one on the corner where the Conestoga Building now stands, Gen. Wilkins' house and a long structure of some kind at Sixth street (now avenue) opposite the log church of the First Presbyterian Congregation, which faced Virgin alley, the sides parallel to Wood street, but the church generally spoken of as situated on Wood street, built about 1785.

It is a matter of record that the first brick buildings in Pittsburgh came from the brick taken from Fort Pitt, but these brick structures were on Ferry street, Market, Second and the streets nearer the fort than Wood street.

{{subhead|Two Brickyards in 1795.}}

When Chapman was in Pittsburgh in 1795 he noted that two brickyards were in operation. Doubtless brick houses were erected on Wood street soon afterward and in a decade brick houses were common in the town. Window glass came about this time also, so that pictures of log cabins prior to 1796 with modern windows may be attributed to the eyes of the artists who drew them.

We cannot boast of how nice a town this was in our early days. Samuel Jones, who was the first register and recorder of Allegheny county, resided in Pittsburgh for many years and gave us the directory of 1826. In describing the old town he wrote that the streets were "filled with hogs, dogs, drays and noisy children."

{{subhead|Fifth Avenue the Worst.}}

We must admit some offsets; there were no howling hawkers of fruits and vegetables, no rags nor old iron fellows and no murderous autos.

Wood street with its nearby ponds and its mud probably vied with Fifth street (now avenue) for the palm in degradation. The latter was always spoken of, up to 1840, and later, as an abominable thoroughfare.

But we grew and gradually put on some style. By 1815 Wood street had quite a few dwellers. The main thoroughfare to the Monongahela wharf was Smithfield street on account of the bridge, but Henderson's or the Middle Ferry was at the mouth of Wood and the long rows of packet boats lay along the wharf from Smithfield street down toward the Point. So that Wood street in a short time, keeping pace with the growth of steamboat traffic, became a great thoroughfare and business houses naturally sprang up upon it and its abutting lots became more and more valuable.

{{subhead|Fire Removed Ugly Buildings.}}

The fire of 1845 was costly enough, but it removed from Pittsburgh much that was unsightly and made way for better architecture, the best the times afforded.

The coming of the canal necessitating the reshipping of merchandise, usually of a bulky nature, required the use of many vehicles. Hundreds of drays turned from Wood street into Liberty on their way to the canal basins and warehouses at what is now Liberty and Eleventh street, and on the return trip carried full loads to the steamers and warehouses along the wharf. This made a busy street.

First recollections of Wood street present it as paved with cobblestones, usually procured from the Allegheny River. In fact there were no streets paved otherwise. Along about 1868 there came the wonderful invention of the wooden block pavement, usually square blocks, sometimes conical. Wood street and Fifth avenue were paved with square blocks. It was very, very nice at first—the new pavement certainly contributing quiet and ease, quiet to the business people, ease to the teamsters. The jolt was almost gone.

{{subhead|Pupils Welcomed Change.}}

No class of people on the street realized the quiet part more than the professors and pupils in the Central High School at Sixth avenue. There were no car tracks on Wood street until about 1887. The {{sic|Tranverse|Transverse}} Line was the first, coming in from Forty-eighth street via Charlotte, Butler, Smallman, Liberty to the Baltimore and Ohio Station. Hence the rattle of drays and the heavy hauling over the rough cobblestones on Wood street made a racket all day long and when the softening came all was well.

But, alas, all did not stay well. The blocks rotted and by the spring of 1875 had gradually become loosened, so that the pavement of both Fifth avenue and Wood street became a mixture of sand, rotten foundation boards and rotten blocks, oozy in wet weather—sometimes a quagmire.

{{subhead|Teamsters Shun Wood.}}

Teamsters shunned these streets if possible, also the fire department, for two or three jolts of the men from their machines invoked caution. Fortunately the tumbling ones did not alight hard, usually in mud. By 1876 Councils took pity and repaved both streets, Fifth with granite blocks and Wood street with Ligonier blocks. Now enters Ligonier into Pittsburgh street paving.

Wood street never was much of a manufacturing street. In the 60's and early 70's there was a tobacco manufactory opposite the First Presbyterian Church. This was a "plug" factory and owned by W. & D. Rinehart. The firm has long since passed, and the business in Pittsburgh, once a leading one, is virtually dead.

The young fellows working in the tobacco factory were wont to play ball during their noon hour and utilized the street in front of the church. Some exciting games were played. Soft balls of rags, of course, were in use, but catching practice was with the regulation balls of the period. The audiences were the high school pupils from the upper windows of the National Bank of Commerce Building.

{{subhead|Pictures from Library.}}

There is much more interesting matter that can be written of Wood street and many reminiscences. It is not possible to enumerate and describe the buildings as in the case of Sixth avenue, neither is it necessary. However, some historic Wood street buildings may receive notice later.

The picture of the First Presbyterian Church shown today is from one in the collection of Pittsburgh views in the reference department of the Carnegie Library. It differs from ordinary views by the exhibit of a dwelling to the right on the side next to Virgin alley (now Oliver avenue). On this site the bank building shown was subsequently erected.

{{subhead|Church {{sic|Raised|Razed}} in 1903.}}

The church picture is from a print, a wood cut engraving, most probably taken from "Ballou's Drawing Room Companion," a magazine published in Boston, prior to the Civil War, that had a great circulation and made a special feature in illustrating after the manner of the old Harper's and Leslie's weeklies. The church was the third edifice of the congregation and was erected in 1851 and razed in 1903, when the McCreery Building was put up.

The corner now occupied by the Farmers Bank Building is shown with the adjacent buildings on Wood street and on Fifth avenue. On the Fifth avenue side the billiard saloon became in the '70's Burnell's Museum. About 1880 it was bought by the Sportsmen's Association of Western Pennsylvania and used by them as their headquarters. The corner building was razed in 1903 for the present great structure.

{{subhead|Familiar to Many.}}

Hill & Co. a few years later became the Pittsburgh National Bank of Commerce, Joseph H. Hill president. This bank was absorbed a few years ago by the Mellon National Bank. The first building of the bank, that housed the old Central High School from April, 1868, until October, 1871, is also shown.

The stone chapel of the First Church in the rear of the bank building will be a familiar structure to many, but few will remember the old warehouse of 1851.

Source:Fleming-careers/content

2026-08-05T13:33:51Z

Bkell: typo

{{headline|GIRTYS' VARIED CAREERS ARE RETOLD}}

{{deck|Two of Pioneer Family Become Renegades, and Others Noble Citizens.}}

{{deck|BABY MADE CAPTIVE}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

A NEGLECTED graveyard and a little old brick chapel a few years ago in the southeastern part of Pittsburgh seemed utterly without interest save only the thought that each had seen better days. A statement that the graveyard and chapel might bring up thrilling stories of colonial and Revolutionary days in and about Pittsburgh would have been received with some doubt. A big house not so far away from the chapel and graveyard is connected intimately with them in story, for the builder and original owner of the house, John Turner, donated the ground for the graveyard in 1828 and John Turner was a historic character in Pennsylvania and related to other historic characters.

Turner, although a good sort of a man, was the half brother of the notorious Girtys, Simon and James, renegades. Their history has been written for a century. It may be had in book form in C.{{thin}}W. Butterfield's "History of the Girtys," in our libraries. Incidentally the Girtys must receive some mention for they, too, were pioneers about Pittsburgh, not voluntary residents, but compulsory at first, having been brought here captives by those fierce Indian marauders, the Shawnese and Delawares. After the destruction and massacre at Fort Granville (now Lewistown, Pa.) in July, 1756.

{{subhead|Turner Captured When a Baby.}}

This was the year after Braddock's defeat on the Monongahela when the whole frontier was open to the incursions of the savages and remained so until Gen. Forbes came and drove the French away, erecting Fort Pitt and establishing the town of Pittsburgh in November, 1758.

A few years later came Pontiac's war and more outrages and then Col. Bouquet and his story recently written of in these columns.

John Turner was but an infant when first brought to Fort Duquesne for there was no Pittsburgh then, and it was nine years later when he returned. A new fort stood at the forks of the Ohio and the standard of Great Britain waved over it. Turner was one of the captives whom Col. Bouquet compelled the Indians to release, after this expedition to the Muskingum towns as described in last Sunday's story. Turner came back in the spring of 1765.

{{subhead|Father Became a Trader.}}

Some of the Girty family history must be recited to enable a better understanding of events that led to the coming of the four Girty brothers, their mother, Mrs. John Turner, and young John, to this region.

Mrs. Turner's first husband, Simon Girty, Sr., was an Irish emigrant who came over between 1730 and 1740 and located on the Susquehanna River about Harris' Ferry, subsequently Harrisburg. This was then in Lancaster county. Girty, an uncouth character, found employment as a pack horse driver with an Indian trader, or a trader in Indian goods, which were chiefly rum and gew-gaws, powder and lead, etc., given in exchange for valuable furs.

While employed thus Girty met the woman who later became his wife. She was of a respectable family, and respectable herself. Her name was Mary Kewton and she was of English birth. She was married to Girty in 1741. The next year her eldest son Thomas was born, and in two years the second son, named for his father, who turned out the most notorious renegade that ever infected the borders; some apologists admit that he did at times show a heart and that his brother, James, should be awarded the palm for utter atrocity.

{{subhead|Part of Family Upright.}}

We have the family name commemorated in Girtys Run in Allegheny county, emptying into the Allegheny River at the Forty-third Street Bridge and passing through the borough of Millvale.

Strange circumstances brought the Girtys to Pittsburgh and fastened their name upon this run and these circumstances were additionally strange in ultimate results—the restoration and upright after life of part of the family who remained in Pennsylvania and the most despicable villainy of two who remained with the Indians.

About the time Simon Girty, Jr., was born his father concluded to go into the trading business on his own account and did so. He obtained his trader's license from the provincial government of Pennsylvania, and then removed to a tract of land, 200 acres in extent, on the east side of the Susquehanna, then in upper Paxtong, Lancaster county.

{{subhead|Is Driven Off Indian Land.}}

This was in 1743. At that place the third and fourth sons, James and George, were born. The father and family returned to their previous home on the Susquehanna. Girty passed several years as a trader, sometimes without license. He seems to have been of a roving disposition and was next heard of as a settler on a tract of land in Sherman's Valley, now Perry county, and there he lived until the spring of 1750.

He and other settlers were on Indian land and they were warned by the authorities of Cumberland county then having jurisdiction to get out, but, not doing so, were driven out. Girty returned to the Paxtong settlement and continued to follow his occupation as a trader until 1751 when he was removed from his sphere of usefulness by a drunken Indian named "the Fish," who sank a tomahawk into Girty's brain. Few tears were shed over his sudden taking off.

Girty's desolate widow in a few years married John Turner, who had been in Simon Girty's employ. In 1755 the Turners were living on Penns Creek, now in Union county, in what is known as Buffalo Valley. There young John, destined to be a Pittsburgh pioneer, was born. Soon after his birth the elder Turner sold his land and removed to the Juniata River, about the present site of Lewistown.

{{subhead|Turner Lets Indians In.}}

There tragedy begins in the summer of 1755. Braddock had just been defeated; war declared between France and England and the French Indian allies from the Ohio region had begun to ravish the frontier. The English settlers, driven from the wilderness homes, sought shelter in the frontier forts. The Turners fled to Fort Granville, not far from their home.

July 31, 1756, the Indians appeared suddenly. Turner and a few others had just made the shelter of the fort when the attack was begun. The cunning, lying Indians made many promises of safety if the fort were surrendered. The fort had been set on fire by Indian arrows and the brave commander, Lieut. Armstrong and another man killed while extinguishing the flames. The situation of the besieged was most desperate.

The Indians were led by two noted Delaware chiefs, Shingiss from the Delaware town at the mouth of Chartiers Creek, and Capt. Jacobs from Kittanning. John Turner, too eager to accept the terms of quarter before they were agreed on, ran and opened the gate of the fort; the enemy rushed in and all the inmates were killed or captured. It was a sorry day for John Turner, Sr., for it sealed his doom. With him were taken Mrs. Turner, little John and the Girty brood.

{{subhead|Turner Tortured to Death.}}

Little time was lost in getting the prisoners away. They were driven over the old trail via Kittanning Point in the Alleghenies to the town of Kittanning, where Capt. Jacobs was the chief. There Turner was put to the torture and miserably perished. Having satisfied their vengeance and Indian nature thus, the Indians, as was their custom, became reasonably kind to the other captives and made a division of them. Mrs. Turner and little John were allotted to the Shawanese.

In a few days they were brought down the river by their new masters and landed at Fort Duquesne. This was Young John's first visit to the place where he spent most of his four-score years.

The Shawanese spent some time about the fort. There is a record in the baptisms made by Father Denys Baron, the French chaplain at the fort, attesting that Jean (or John) Turner, son of John Turner, an Englishman and Maria (Mary) Newton, an English woman, was baptized by him as priest in charge at the fort, August 18, 1756.

Later in the summer the Shawanese with their prisoners proceeded in their canoes to Logstown, their town built by the French on the Ohio close to the present site of Ambridge, or old Economy.

Thomas Girty, the eldest of the brothers, was found a prisoner at Kittanning by Col. John Armstrong when he attacked that place September 8, 1756, this attack resulting in the complete defeat of the Indians, the death of Capt. Jacobs and the burning of all the Indian huts. We have the historic town name, and the county name commemorating Armstrong. Thomas Girty returned with Armstrong's army to the East side of the Alleghenies.

{{subhead|Girtys Return West.}}

The three Girty boys and Mrs. Turner were not held long by the Indians. They were back at their old home on the Susquehanna River some time in 1759. In 1764 when {{sic|Col-Bouquet|Col. Bouquet}} had made things reasonably safe about Fort Pitt the three Girty boys and their mother returned to Pittsburgh. Mrs. Turner, because of her relationship, became known as Mary Girty. The land the Girtys settled on is now in the fashionable Squirrel Hill district and was originally known as the Girty tract. It is possible and most likely that her claim was only a "tomahawk claim," that is, the boundaries were blazed on the trees as was the custom and others seeing these marks respected them as indicating land already taken up.

Thomas seems to have rejoined his family, for it is known that Mrs. Turner divided her tract between him and her fourth son, George, some time previous to 1769. John Turner, Jr., had returned to her in 1765.

There are records of the application of Simon and George Girty in the land office of the Province of Pennsylvania and in the same vicinity as Mrs. Turner's claim. George Girty, to make sure of his title, included in his application what had been his mother's land.

{{subhead|Took Land in Squirrel Hill.}}

Thomas Girty's share is supposed to have been the portion of the tract on which the family lived in a log cabin. Of course no other kind of dwelling was then erected on the frontiers and few elsewhere. This land in later years was known as the Castleman tract, much of it coming into the possession of John I. House, a wholesale grocer of Pittsburgh before and after the Civil War. The tract was bisected by the old Squirrel Hill road and lies along what is now Bigelow street. This is in the old Twenty-third Ward, now the Fifteenth.

Thomas Girty became a farmer, married and remained on the tract his mother granted him. His marriage was in 1769 or 1770. No further history of him is available.

A score or more years ago old residents of this section who had been born and raised there maintained that there had been a log house on the tract claimed by Simon Girty. Some of these old-timers heard the story of the Girtys from their parents who had been born and reared in the same neighborhood, their memories going back into the eighteenth century.

{{subhead|Spring Near the Cabin.}}

This {{sic|long|log}} house is said to have stood on the land now or late of Charles Neinhauser on the Beechwood boulevard, about the head of Hazelwood avenue and adjoining the brick chapel and Turner burying ground. There was always a spring near a pioneer cabin and there is a good one on the Neinhauser property.

Mrs. Turner is supposed to have lived and died on this land and to have been buried on the land as was customary in olden times when no burying ground was available.

When young John Turner returned from his captivity he was about 10 years old. It is not known now where he was taken by the Indians. Nomads as they were, they may have taken in many locations. Some say in Canada. But being with the Shawanese it is more reasonable to presume that he was with this tribe at their Scioto River towns if not on the Muskingum. These Shawanese towns were long maintained.

{{subhead|Spoke Indian Dialects.}}

John Turner had many characteristics of the Indians, also habits peculiar to the Indian race. In person he was tall and straight, with black eyes, long, straight black hair, but thin of flesh and sallow. He lived a life of activity with all the hardships of a frontiersman. He spoke several Indian dialects and was a valuable man to the authorities in consequence. He had but little English education but all the crafts and wisdom of an Indian.

Withal, he was a man of native ability and thoroughly honest. He was a man of his word also, and enjoyed the respect of all with whom he had dealings. He was a brave man, too, and served his country. With Simon Girty he served in Lord {{sic|Dumore's|Dunmore's}} war against the Indians. There was a strong affection between Simon Girty and Turner. It lasted, too. Dr. William H. Denny, brother of Ebenezer Denny, first Mayor of Pittsburgh, refers to this in his long historical poem entitled "Succotash," which Dr. Denny composed and read at the centennial celebration of the founding of Pittsburgh, November 25, 1858.

Speaking of this brotherly regard, verses 24 and 25 of "Succotash," with Girty the actor, state:

<blockquote><poem>
"He swam the river, if low, he forded,
Where Woodcock's ripple is the crossing still,
Past the two graves, boys, his party murdered,
And went up Negley's Run to Squirrel Hill.

"Then here this hard and subtle renegade
Risked most his life through all that war and pother,
And not for fame or booty or fair maid,
But just to see John Turner, his half-brother."
</poem></blockquote>

Doubtless this expresses a historic truth. Girty did this after his {{sic|apostacy|apostasy}} and came by way of Girty's Run to the Allegheny River.

The old residents of the Squirrel Hill section as referred to have it that they knew from the traditions and records handed down by their ancestors that John Turner built his log cabin in which he lived so many years, about 1778 or 1779. The War of the Revolution was then going on. Simon Girty, in March, 1778, with Matthew Elliott and Alexander McKee, had eluded the forces at Fort Pitt and fled from McKee's house at McKees Rocks. They had been under surveillance and Gen. Edward Hand, in command here, had sent a squad of soldiers to arrest them. The soldiers were too late.

With the three were McKee's cousin, Robert Surphlit, a man named Higgins and two Negro slaves of McKee's. Simon Girty, Hassler, our Pittsburgh historian, states, was a captive among the Senecas after his capture at Fort Granville at the age of 11. Girty is known to have been master of several Indian tongues and to have been of much use to the English forces at Fort Pitt prior to the Revolution, as an interpreter and scout. McKee and Elliott were notorious Tories, who are presumed to have tempted Girty with promises of preferment in the British service.

McKee and Elliott obtained rank in the British service and Girty soon became the scourge of the border and known as the "White Savage" by the frontiersmen. He came to a brutal end after the war of 1812—murdered while drunk. It is possible much of the infamy of his equally reprobate brother, James, attached to him.

{{subhead|James Is Border Scourge.}}

If Simon Girty visited his half-brother, John Turner, it must have been subsequent to the revolution and while Girty was with roaming bands of Indians in this region. His visits were undoubtedly surreptitious.

James Girty had allied himself with the Shawanese, first having been sent from the authorities at Fort Pitt to this tribe on what turned out a futile mission. When he learned of Simon's flight he at once joined him and the other renegades. For 16 years they were the scourge of the borders, ceasing only when Gen. Anthony Wayne had thoroughly subjugated the Western Indians on the Maumee in 1794.

{{subhead|Others Like Their Good Mother.}}

Turner's mother and two half-brothers, Thomas and George, turned out good. James, all historians state, was a natural savage, partaking all the bad qualities of his drunken, worthless father, John Turner. Thomas and George Girty, in their {{sic|heriditary|hereditary}} strain, partook of the gentle and humane character of the mother. There is no record that James Girty ever visited his mother and half-brother, John, in their Squirrel Hill cabin.

The cabin of John Turner, shown today, is near Loretto street, which extends from Winterburn street to the boulevard. To be more exact, at what is now known as Kishon place in Frank street, extending from Hazelwood avenue to Greenfield avenue. This land now or lately belonged to the Beehner estate. The old log house, weather-boarded and cosy, was always a comfortable dwelling.

John Turner was also known as John Girty and under this last name obtained a grant from the state by warrant dated November 12, 1787, for 154 acres of land which was surveyed for him March 13, 1788, and a patent granted him and called Federal Hill, the patent dated July 7, 1788.

{{subhead|John Weds Pioneer's Daughter.}}

Turner was wise enough to obtain a Virginia warrant also, the date of this warrant, January 27, 1786. This tract of 154 acres was that claimed by Simon Girty. Girty, an outlaw and enemy, could in no possible manner have retained it.

About 1783 John Turner was married to Susanna Clark, daughter of neighboring pioneers. They were a childless couple. However, they adopted and reared several children, not formally adopting by legal process, but practically, and these were three children of Mrs. Turner's sisters, by name John McCaslin, Turner Blashford and Susan Halstead.

Turner continued to reside in his old home until 1823, when he moved to a smaller log house on the place and added two rooms to it. There his wife died April 1, 1833. She was a good woman and a good wife.

{{subhead|Gave a Lot for Public School.}}

All the Squirrel Hill district from the Monongahela River to what is now Fifth avenue beyond the Bigelow boulevard became Peebles township and when annexed to the city in 1868 was divided into two wards, the Twenty-second and Twenty-third, now the Fourteenth and Fifteenth. To Peebles township John Turner gave the lot on which the first free school was located. He also gave the lot on which the brick chapel was erected in 1843, five years after he had given the lot for burial purposes. This plot was long known as Turner's graveyard. There many of the early settlers of the district were interred.

John Turner appreciated an education, something that had been denied him. He was surprisingly liberal and public-spirited for a man that had passed through the vicissitudes and the rough life of the border that had been his fate.

Mr. Turner made the deed of the burial plot to David Irwin and John McCaslin as trustees for the people of Peebles township to be kept and reserved forever as a public burial ground. The date the deed was made is July 31, 1838, exactly 82 years after Turner's capture by the Indians, when a helpless baby.

{{subhead|Browns Erect Memorial Church.}}

The graveyard, as sometimes graveyards do, became neglected, but within a few years was reclaimed and put in good order by the late Capt. Sam S. Brown, a native of the vicinity, who with his brother, W. Harry Brown, erected the Mary S. Brown Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church on the site of the old Turner chapel, in memory of their mother.

The Turner land about this graveyard adjoined the land of Thomas Sutch. The burial plot, the deed states, contains 108 perches strict measure. To the deed John Turner made his mark, the consideration was "one dollar, lawful money of the United States well and truly paid."

There was another proper use and behoof of the citizens and inhabitants of Peebles township besides that of burial purposes. It was for the purpose of erecting on the plot "a church for the dispensation of {{sic|the the|the}} Christian religion" if the citizens and inhabitants thought proper. They did. Hence the little chapel of 1843 and the magnificent Mary S. Brown Memorial Church of today.

{{subhead|Died Honored in 1840.}}

When John Turner made his will April 10, 1840, he referred to the burial plot, reciting in his will that he reserved free of all encumbrances the burying ground for the use of the public forever.

John Turner died at his old home on the original Turner tract May 20, 1840, aged 85 years. His surroundings on that beautiful spring day were peaceful. His eventful career closed with complete tranquility. No red foemen roved east of the Mississippi River. In his declining years his memories must have been vivid and his reminiscences, if he related them, many and varied. May 22 they laid him away in the quiet spot his generosity had provided in the rural community in which he had been one of the first settlers and where he passed 72 years of his eventful life. He saw the town of Pittsburgh grow into the bustling, thriving, famous iron city of America. He saw three standards wave over it, the lilies of France, the royal banner of St. George and the stars and stripes. He was in turn under the sovereignty of three nations, always a patriot loyal to king and country, loyal to home, church and kin. If he sorrowed over the infamous career of his beloved half-brother, Simon, he did so in secret.

Turner was a rugged man. He lived in the open, thrived and was honored and he has not been forgotten. He was of the best type of pioneer. An honest man and a worker.

Properly we have his name commemorated in Turner street, near his old farm, a street extending from Shady avenue to Landview street in the Fourteenth Ward.

Let us think of John Turner as a child of the border redeemed from the thralldom of savage foes, to become an honest citizen, a pioneer and patriot.

Burchfield Avenue

2026-08-05T13:32:29Z

Bkell: add origin

{{street
|neighborhood=Squirrel Hill South
|origin=Burchfield family, early Squirrel Hill pioneers
|origin-category=[[Category:Streets named for people]]
}}
'''Burchfield Avenue''' was first laid out in 1893 in the Midway plan by J.{{thin}}C. Aufhammer and S.{{thin}}J. Macfarren.{{r|midway-plan}} It was extended eastward in 1901 in the Squirrel Hill plan.{{r|squirrel-hill-plan}}

In 1917, George T. Fleming wrote a newspaper column including a few paragraphs about burials in the graveyard at the Mary S. Brown Memorial Church. He wrote, "Adam Burchfield died in 1826, aged 64. We have Burchfield avenue from this family name."{{r|fleming-rescued}}

==References==
{{references
|fleming-rescued
|midway-plan
|squirrel-hill-plan
}}

Notes:Burchfield Avenue

2026-08-05T13:21:01Z

Bkell: snippet from Source:Fleming-rescued

1917-02-11: [[Source:Fleming-rescued]]: "Adam Burchfield died in 1826, aged 64. We have Burchfield avenue from this family name."

{{todo|Ira M. Burchfield?}}

Source:Fleming-rescued

2026-08-05T08:33:49Z

Bkell: add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=Girty rescued man from the stake
|subtitle1=History shows renegade was cruel and barbarous, however, to whites
|subtitle2=Gloried in revenge
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-02-11
|section=5
|page=2
|npcom=85848191
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-rescued
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-rescued/content

2026-08-05T08:33:14Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|GIRTY RESCUED MAN FROM THE STAKE}}

{{deck|History Shows Renegade Was Cruel and Barbarous, However, to Whites.}}

{{deck|GLORIED IN REVENGE}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

MANY memories of Squirrel Hill have been awakened by the story of the little brick church and the old Turner graveyard in last week's Sunday Gazette Times. In the mention of John Turner there comes up also all the history of the three Girtys, the scourges of the borders, half-brothers of John Turner.

Some of this border history was reverted to last week. It is voluminous; much of it sad; much of it shocking. The fact that Mrs. John Turner, mother of John Turner, Jr., with her four sons by her first husband, Simon Girty, Sr., were pioneers in the Squirrel Hill district of Pittsburgh, gives this history a local phase and renders all the subsequent history of the Girtys relevant and necessary to complete the story begun within a few miles of Fort Pitt in the days of Col. Henry Bouquet here, 1763–1764.

{{subhead|Simon Refused Army Commission.}}

Then, too, Girtys Run commemorates this notorious family and the passing of the three renegade brothers, James, George and Simon, from even the rude civilization of the border to savage life among the Western tribes. Simon was the last to go, and he became the most notorious, but undoubtedly carried many of the sins of his fierce brothers.

Simon might have remained here with his mother, his brother, Thomas, and his well-loved half-brother, John Turner, on the lands they had settled on in the Squirrel Hill district had the colonial authorities granted him a commission in the Continental Army. His association with Alexander McKee and Matthew Elliott rendered him a subject to suspicion to the patriots, so that when the commission was refused him he became soured and morose and needed little urging to go along with McKee and Elliott in their flight from McKees Rocks in March 1778.

{{subhead|McKee and Elliott Dissatisfied.}}

James R. Albach, in his book, "Annals of the West," published in Pittsburgh in 1848, states that McKee and Elliott were also solicitous of commissions and were dissatisfied for the same reason that Girty was. There was good reason for distrusting McKee. Elliott was thoroughly contemptible. He was a spy and a traitor. The history brought up by the mention of these names has a Pittsburgh side and takes us back to thrilling days here. Some of this history is pertinent today.

Simon Girty seems to have been kind and humane at times and a thorough savage at others. With young John Turner he had served in a company that left here for service during Lord Dunmore's war in 1774. A comrade was Simon Butler, celebrated in Western history under his changed name, Simon Kenton.

{{subhead|Girty Saves Kenton from Stake.}}

A strong and lasting friendship sprang up between Kenton and Simon Girty which was turned to most excellent account when Girty met Kenton in 1774, a naked, blackened captive, condemned to the stake. Girty was successful in saving Kenton's life. It is an accepted fact of history that Girty was present at the burning of Col. William Crawford and had no mercy for that unfortunate man. Dr. Knight, surgeon under Crawford in the expedition, providentially escaped. In his "narrative" he fully describes Girty's conduct on that occasion.

It was on Saturday night, March 28, 1778 that the three subsequent notorious tories, McKee, Elliott and Girty, fled from McKee's house. In many accounts of the attack upon Fort Henry, now Wheeling, W. Va., it is stated that Simon Girty led the Indians. This is manifestly an error, for Girty was about Pittsburgh yet, and did not flee until six months later.

{{subhead|Attacks Are Mixed.}}

In the second attack upon Fort Henry the Indians were led by George Girty. This was September 11, 1782, shortly after the destruction of Hannastown, Westmoreland county. Someone has mixed the attacks and the leaders in the Fort Henry history.

Last week's story stated that George Girty had followed the good traits of the mother and her sons, Thomas Girty and John Turner. This statement is an inadvertence and can not be substantiated. Yet it is not any more at variance with the truth than many other statements of border history especially some concerning the Girty family.

Many facts mentioned last week were taken from a neat little booklet entitled "Squirrel Hill and Its Memories," published by the congregation of the Mary S. Brown Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1906. This church is the successor of the original Turner chapel of 1843. May 28, 1905 the congregation met in solemn service, the book states, to pay homage to the memory of the "Early Settlers of Squirrel Hill."

{{subhead|Say Turner Slew Girty.}}

On this occasion an interesting historical address was delivered by Samuel W. Stewart, a member of the congregation, and many of his statements therein were accepted. Some of them are at variance with standard writers of history. For instance, he attributes the murder of the elder Girty to an Indian. Albach, Hanna and other writers state that John Turner, Sr., murdered Girty in order that he might marry Mrs. Girty.

Albach is specific on this point. He states Girty came to Pennsylvania from Ireland about 1737; calls him a man of bad character (he could have said vile) and of dissolute habits. Beaten and abused by Girty, the poor wife turned to any kind heart near and that man happened to be Turner. George Girty was a typical Girty, Of the five sons of this woman Thomas Girty and John Turner, Jr., turned out upright men and that they did so seems wonderful, considering their environments. They were honest men—so, too, was Simon Girty, in many ways, as will be shown.

{{subhead|Met Indian Captives.}}

Henry Howe in his "Historical Collections of Ohio" has pages of history referring to the Girtys. Mr. Howe travelled over the state in a buggy and made it his business to search out elderly people who knew the facts he wanted. He met some real old people in those years between 1845–48, who had been captives among the Ohio Indians and some who had met the Girtys, one or all of them. Traces of them were lost shortly after the close of the war of 1812.

Mr. Howe also quotes from the many early histories to which he had access and presents many facts and much interesting history. For instance, in the sketch of Henry county (the Howe history is by counties), he states that Simon Girty for some time resided in a log cabin on the Maumee River and that in his day this place was known as Girty's Point.

{{subhead|Girty Liked {{sic|Wisky|Whisky}} Best.}}

Quoting from Campbell's sketches of border life, Howe gives this history:

<blockquote>
Simon Girty was from Pennsylvania, to which his father had emigrated from Ireland. The old man was beastly intemperate, and nothing ranked higher in his esteem than a jug of whisky. Grog was his song, and grog would he have. His sottishness turned his wife's affection. She yielded her heart to a neighboring rustic who, to remove all obstacles to their wishes, knocked Girty in the head and bore off the trophy of his prowess.

Four sons of this interesting couple were left. Three of them, Simon, George and James, were taken prisoners in Braddock's war. George was adopted by the Delawares, became a ferocious savage and died in a drunken fit. James was adopted by the Shawanese and became as depraved as his other brothers.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Was Unrelenting Barbarian.}}

<blockquote>
Simon was adopted by the Senecas and became an expert hunter. In Kentucky and Ohio he sustained the character of an unrelenting barbarian. To the women and children in particular nothing was more terrifying than the name of Simon Girty. At that time it was believed that he had fled from justice and sought refuge among the Indians, determined to do his countrymen all the harm in his power. This impression was an erroneous one.

Being adopted by the Indians he joined them in their wars, and conformed to their usages. This was the education he had received, and their foes were his. His influence was great, and when he chose to be merciful it was generally in his power to protect the imploring captive.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Abusive of Friend and Foe.}}

<blockquote>
His reputation was that of an honest man, and he fulfilled his engagement to the last cent. It is said that he once sold a horse rather than incur the odium of violating his promise. He was intemperate and when intoxicated ferocious and abusive alike to friend and foe. Although much disabled the last 10 years of his life by rheumatism, he rode to his hunting grounds in pursuit of game; suffering the most excruciating pains, he often boasted of his warlike spirit. It was his constant wish that he might die in battle. He was at Proctor's defeat, and was cut to pieces by Col. Johnston's mounted men.
</blockquote>

So much for Campbell's story. Proctor's defeat was on the River Thames, 86 miles from Detroit, October 5, 1813. There the great Shawanese chief, Tecumseh, was killed. We commemorate his name in a street in Hazelwood. Col. Johnston's men were Kentuckians. Proctor was the British commander.

{{subhead|Doubt Cast on Campbell.}}

Howe quotes Campbell as in the foregoing and in his own text says he has some anecdotes and facts which will throw doubt over Campbell's estimate of Girty's character. Howe makes Simon the leader in the Indian attack on Fort Henry at Wheeling. He quotes Dr. Knight and one Col. John Johnston, as to Girty's conduct at Crawford's death, Johnston saying: "Crawford and Girty were intimately acquainted in the early settlement of Pennsylvania. I knew a brother of Girty at Pittsburgh in 1793."

Which brother? Either Thomas Girty or John Turner who was also known as John Girty. Indeed Mrs. Turner, the mother, again became known as Mrs. Girty. Crawford and Girty became acquainted about Fort Pitt and prior to 1778. That much is certain, and not in the early settlement of Pennsylvania, but in the early settlement of the region about the forks of the Ohio, Augusta county, Virginia, for many years and Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, with conflicting claims and Virginia in power. Crawford was an adherent of the Virginia party.

{{subhead|{{sic|Ohion|Ohioan}} Tells of Girty.}}

So history rolls itself along—opening wider at the mention of each border name. Few think that the mention of the well-known suburb, McKees Rocks, or an equally well-known run, Girtys; a city church on land granted to pioneers; an olden time graveyard; can each and all bring up the same train of historical facts and the whole story of thrilling events on our Western border from Braddock's defeat until after the victory of Anthony Wayne, a period of 40 years—four decades of war and savagery.

To return to "Howe's Collections"—In his travels he met an old man near Bellefontaine named Daniel M. Workman, who gave this story:

<blockquote>
In 1812 I went to Malden, Canada, and put up at a hotel kept by a Frenchman. I noticed in the barroom a grayheaded and blind old man. The landlady who was his daughter, a woman about 30 years of age, inquired of me, "Do you know who that is?" pointing to the old man. On my replying "No," she rejoined, "That is Simon Girty." He had been blind for about four years.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Found Girty Had Died.}}

<blockquote>
In 1815 I returned to Malden and ascertained that Girty had died a short time previous. Simon Newton informed me that Girty left the whites because he was not promoted to the command of a company. I was also so informed by my father-in-law, who was taken prisoner by the Indians. Girty was of extraordinary strength, power of endurance, courage, and sagacity. He was in height about 5 feet 10 inches and strongly made.
</blockquote>

Possibly there is some truth in this story. Kenton's part may be right, at least. Remember, when Mr. Workman was at Malden in 1812, he was in an enemy's country. It would add much to the story if he had told or Howe had thought to have asked him where he went from. The War of 1812 was then going on and few Americans were touring Canada of their own accord.

{{subhead|Brutal Looks of Girty.}}

Mr. Howe ran across a man named Oliver M. Spencer who had been taken prisoner by the Indians in 1792, the year after St. Clair's defeat. Mr. Spencer lived with an old Indian medicine man at Defiance or where Defiance now stands and during his captivity met the Girtys of whom all the frontiersmen had heard. Spencer described Simon. Two visitors came to the medicine man's cabin, one a chief named Blue Jacket, the other Simon Girty.

<blockquote>
Whether it was prejudice associated with his look, the fact that he was a renegade, the murderer of his own countrymen racking his diabolical invention to invent new and more excruciating tortures or not; his dark shaggy hair; his low forehead; his brows contracted and meeting above his short, flat nose; his grey sunken eyes, averting the ingenious gaze; his lips thin and compressed, and the dark and sinister expression of his countenance, he seemed, to me, to be the very picture of a villain. He wore the Indian costume but without any ornament, and his silk handkerchief while it supplied the place of a hat, hid an unsightly wound in his forehead. On each side of his belt was stuck a silver mounted pistol and at his left hung a short broad dirk, serving occasionally the uses of a knife.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Exulted Over Revenge.}}

<blockquote>
He made of me many inquiries, some about my family, and the particulars of my captivity, but more of the strength of the different garrisons, the number of American troops at Fort Washington and whether the President intended soon to send another army against the Indians. He spoke of the wrongs he had received at the hands of his countrymen and with fiendish exultation of the revenge he had taken. He boasted of his exploits, the number of his victories and of his personal prowess, then raising his handkerchief he exhibited the deep wound in his forehead (which I afterwards learned was inflicted by the tomahawk of the celebrated Chief Brandt in a drunken frolic) said it was a saber cut which he had received at St. Clair's defeat, and that he had sent the {{3mdash}} Yankee officer to his grave—the latter saying with a great oath. He ended by saying that I would never see home, but if I should turn out to be a good hunter and a brave warrior, I might one day be a chief. His presence and conversation rendered my situation painful.
</blockquote>

Before Spencer was liberated he had a much more unsatisfactory interview with James Girty, who threw a great scare into the captive by pretending to sharpen a knife with which to kill him. Mr. Howe closes his account of the Girtys as far as Henry county is concerned by an extract from the manuscript of one Jonathan Alder, who knew Simon and to attest that Simon was not altogether destitute of kind feelings.

{{subhead|Said He Was Kind to Prisoners.}}

Alder said:

"I knew Simon Girty to purchase at his own expense several boys who were prisoners, take them to the British and have them educated. He certainly was a friend to many prisoners."

We can note that Mr. Howe makes no effort to reconcile his various testimonials. Spencer, whom he quotes, was probably between 60 and 70 when Mr. Howe met him and doubtless of sound mind and memory, a capable witness, but the reconciliation of the accounts of Simon Girty as an old man, a rheumatic hunter finally killed in battle, and a pathetic decrepit blind man is somewhat difficult.

{{subhead|Remained With the Indians.}}

James R. Albach, historian of our "Western Annals," states that the rest of the Girtys after their capture in 1756, were ransomed from 1758 to 1765, and that only the mother and Simon returned. He may be right in this, despite the fact that a warrant for land on Squirrel Hill was applied for in George's name. Albach states George remained with the Delawares until his death. He became a perfect savage, adopting entirely the manners of the Indians. To consummate cunning he added the most fearless intrepidity. In his latter years he gave himself up to intemperance and died drunk about 1813 on the "Miami of the Lake"—evidently a misprint for Maumee.

Albach says the Shawanese adopted James as a son. As he approached manhood he became dexterious in all the args of savage life. To the most sanguinary spirit he added all the vices of the depraved frontiersmen with whom he frequently associated. "To this barbarian," attests Albach, "are to be attributed many of the cruelties charged on Simon, yet this monster was caressed by Proctor and Elliott."

{{subhead|John Released by Senecas.}}

These two were British officers, the latter, Matthew Elliott, who had fled with Simon. No mention is made of John Turner by Albach. John was undoubtedly released among those forced from the Senecas, Delawares and Shawanees by Col. Bouquet in 1764. He was 10 years old when he was returned to his mother at Pittsburgh. Albach says Thomas Girty alone of the sons returned to civilized life. This is not true. We know Simon did, and remained about Pittsburgh, serving in Dunmore's war, and taking up land on Squirrel Hill, and leaving this vicinity in March, 1778. And there are records showing James returned, but, liking savage life, went again to the Indians. Albach says Thomas was one of the celebrated Sam Brady's spies in the Indian wars after the Revolution and that he died in 1820, probably in Butler county, Pa. He is not of record, any more than John Turner, his half-brother, is, of any connection with Indian life aside from their enforced captivity.

{{subhead|Honest in Money Deals.}}

Albach attests that Simon Girty was scrupulously exact in the {{sic|paymetn|payment}} of his obligations, also that he was a great lover of rum. Albach recounts the Thames battle version of Simon's death—and adds: "This, however, is not certain."

Let us depart from the story of these renegades and come again to the part of Pittsburgh where their mother and good brothers dwelt and where Simon lived, too, until he became an enemy to his countrymen; to the pleasant hills and valleys of former Peebles township of Allegheny county, to memories of the Turner Chapel, the Turner neighborhood and the mention of those pioneers who attended it and the mention also of some of Pittsburgh's foremost citizens, who maintained luxurious homes in the vicinity of the original Turner holdings and on parts of it.

Squirrel Hill is rich in memories. It was a beautiful suburban district when annexed to the city in 1868, and for some years afterwards, and then streets came and the rustic beauty of the region began to depart and is now about gone.

{{subhead|Story of Squirrel Hill.}}

Albert K. Smith, who spent 14 years of his early life in the Squirrel Hill region, writes from his home in Crawford county, Pa., where he has lived for 40 years. He says:

<blockquote>
I can send you a little story of old Squirrel Hill. My father, Dill A. Smith, moved his family there from Colwell street, in the original Sixth Ward, in March, 1854. I was then about 11 years old. Excepting the three years I was in the army I spent the succeeding years up to 1868 in our Squirrel Hill home, and a delightful rural section it was.

Our neighbors were John W. Butler, a retired commission merchnat; Abram Garrison, of the foundry firm of Bollman & Garrison; William H. Williams, a banker; John G. Martin, a bank official; William McKee, a blacksmith, and Joshua Tunstall, a milkman. There also was the Lytle family, John I. House, J.{{thin}}D. Collingwood and some others I cannot recall.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|No Means of Transportation.}}

<blockquote>
Our old home is in Greenfield avenue, about Kaercher street, and is now occupied by Emil Ertzman. There was a frame school house about a mile from us, where I attended. The teacher's name was Wilkinson. Two or three miles to the east of us there was a little Methodist brick church where we used to go with the girls of the neighborhood, most frequently to the revivals that were held there. We would cut across the fields, climb the hills, and climb over the many worm, or rail, fences, that abounded. The girls were always assisted over the fences.

We had no means of transportation to the city except by private conveyance or by walking. Later in the 50's the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad came in along the Braddocks Field plank road, as Second avenue was then called, and it gave us two stations near, one about what is now Greenfield avenue, called Frankstown Station, and the other at Four Mile Run, called Laughlins Station, from James Laughlin of Jones & Laughlin, who had their original Eliza furnace about opposite. There was a rolling mill at Frankstown owned and operated by John Grey & Co. I have been out around the old neighborhood several times, but could find no one I knew in my boyhood days. More than 60 years have rolled away since I first dwelt there. All is changed. Much is memory now.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Sold Out to Jones.}}

Mr. Smith on a recent visit to Pittsburgh and since writing the above lines, was shown the picture of the Turner chapel. He said:

<blockquote>
That's the little brick church where we attended revivals in the fifties. Oh, yes! I remember the old graveyard. I knew the Brown boys, too, Capt. Sam and W. Harry Brown, and am glad they have remembered their mother in so practical and beautiful a manner as in the erection of the Mary S. Brown Memorial Church.

About 1864 or 1865 my brother sold his first home on Squirrel Hill to B.{{thin}}F. Jones of Jones & Laughlin, father of the present head of that firm. My father built a smaller house on a tract adjoining which he owned. This home he sold to George F. McCleane of the Soho Rolling Mills, the firm then Moorhead, McCleane & Co. This was in 1868, when my family left Pittsburgh. Both places were noted for the beautiful and well-kept grounds, handsome floral effects and abundant fruit trees. This was customary then about all suburban homes and Squirrel Hill had as handsome as any other suburb.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|List of Pioneers.}}

Mr. Smith was shown the memorial booklet of the Mary Brown Church and read over the list of many Squirrel Hill pioneer families. Others may do the same. Many of these can be read on the tombstones in the burial ground donated to the township by John Turner, some of the dates of birth going back to colonial days. Adam Burchfield died in 1826, aged 64. We have Burchfield avenue from this family name. Elizabeth Attison died in 1828, aged 73, showing she was born in 1755, the year of Braddock's defeat. Rachel Castleman died in 1832, aged 82, her birth antedating Braddock by five years. John Turner's wife, Susannah Clark, died April 1, 1833, aged 71; John Turner died May 20, 1840, aged 85; Margaret Sutch, born January 1, 1776, died July 29, 1849, so the old tombstones tell the story of pioneers who lived in thrilling years. There were interments as late as December 30, 1878, to-wit: "Delmont Jones, in the seventy-sixth year of his age."

{{subhead|Seven Soldiers Sleep There.}}

There were many burials without a mark of any kind and some with only a plain stone. One soldier of colonial wars, John Turner; one Revolutionary veteran, Abraham Boother (buried with military honors in 1820); one soldier of 1812, William Craig; one of Mexico, Henry Brewno, and three of the Civil War—seven soldiers sleep there and flags fly on each Memorial Day and flowers are strewn on their graves in memory of their services. The Civil War veterans were William Nelson, John Clark and Samuel Fowkes.

Many other names appeal as pioneers—McElroys, Pankes, Herberts, Dukes and Mitchels. There is known to be a record of a house built at a place on the Monongahela called "Summerset" as early as 1760; one by Hugh Reed in 1765, both near Squirrel Hill. Jacob Castleman, William Redding, Francis Wilson, James Blashford, James Fleming, David Irwin, William Craig, John McDonald, James Guffey and John Grace are names of Squirrel Hill pioneers that are reminders that descendants of them are still here.

And there are many others.

Asteroid Way

2026-06-25T13:36:21Z

Bkell: renamed to fix duplication with Adelaide Street

{{street
|neighborhoods=Allentown
|former-name=
{{former name
|name=Adelaide Way
|when=until 1881
}}
}}
This alley was originally named '''Adelaide Way'''.{{r|hopkins-1872}} It was renamed '''Asteroid Way''' in 1881 to fix the duplication with [[Adelaide Street]] in the Upper Hill.{{r|ordinance-1881-33|donalson}} Bob Regan includes "Asteroid" in a list of astronomy-related street names.{{r|regan}}

==References==
{{references
|donalson
|hopkins-1872
|ordinance-1881-33
|regan@68
}}

LaPlace Street

2026-06-25T13:34:24Z

Bkell: renamed to fix duplication with what is today Linden Avenue and La Schall Street

{{street
|neighborhoods=Middle Hill
|origin={{wp|Pierre-Simon Laplace}}
|origin-categories=[[Category:Streets named for people]]
|former-name=
{{former name
|name=Linden Street
|redirect=Linden Street (LaPlace Street)
|when=until 1881
}}
}}
This street was originally named '''Linden Street'''.{{r|hopkins-1872}} It was renamed '''Laplace Street''' by a city ordinance in 1881 to fix the duplication with a different Linden Street in the East End (today [[Linden Avenue]] and [[La Schall Street]]).{{r|ordinance-1881-33}} The street name was established as '''La Place Street''' by another ordinance in 1910;{{r|ordinance-1910-716}} current street signs say '''LaPlace Street'''.

Bob Regan includes "LaPlace" in a list of streets named for noted historical people;{{r|regan}} the implied eponym seems to be {{wp|Pierre-Simon Laplace}} (1749–1827), French scientist and mathematician.

==See also==
* [[Linden Street]], for other streets that have had that name

==References==
{{references
|hopkins-1872
|ordinance-1881-33
|ordinance-1910-716
|regan@63
}}

Loretto Road

2026-05-31T04:27:22Z

Bkell: Source:Bigelow-heights-plan

{{street
|neighborhood=Greenfield
|origin=Its status as a western continuation of [[Loretta Street]], originally named ''Loretto Street''
|origin-categories=[[Category:Streets named for other streets]][[Category:Streets named for their location]]
}}
'''Loretto Road''' was laid out in the Bigelow Heights plan of lots;{{r|bigelow-heights-plan}} the plan and its street names were officially approved by a city ordinance in 1932.{{r|ordinance-1932-288}} This road was named for its status as a western continuation of [[Loretta Street]], which was originally named Loretto Street{{r|ordinance-1880-1881-33}} and continued to be commonly called by that name even after it was officially named Loretta in 1910.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-716}}

==References==
{{references
|bigelow-heights-plan
|ordinance-1880-1881-33
|ordinance-1909-1910-716
|ordinance-1932-288
}}

Loretta Street

2026-05-31T04:26:57Z

Bkell: cite Source:Bigelow-heights-plan

{{street
|neighborhood=Greenfield
|former-name=
{{former name
|name=Loretto Street
|when=until 1910
}}
}}
This street appears, unlabeled, in the 1882 Hopkins atlas;{{r|hopkins-1882}} it was officially named '''Loretto Street''' (ending with ''O'') by a city ordinance in 1881.{{r|ordinance-1880-1881-33}} It was often misspelled ''Loretta'' (with an ''A''), including in city ordinances.{{r|ordinance-1900-1901-71}} This spelling, '''Loretta Street''', was made official by another ordinance in 1910 that established the names of all streets in Pittsburgh.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-716}} The spelling change was probably unintentional, or it was not realized that the official name was previously Loretto, because the preceding ordinance, which listed the name changes being made, did not mention it.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-715}}

Both spellings, ''Loretta'' and ''Loretto'', continued to be commonly used for the street. When a western extension was laid out in the Bigelow Heights plan, it was named [[Loretto Road]], using the original ''O'' spelling.{{r|bigelow-heights-plan|ordinance-1932-288}}

==References==
{{references
|bigelow-heights-plan
|hopkins-1882@16
|ordinance-1880-1881-33
|ordinance-1900-1901-71
|ordinance-1909-1910-715
|ordinance-1909-1910-716
|ordinance-1932-288
}}

Source:Bigelow-heights-plan

2026-05-31T04:26:31Z

Bkell: forgot Recorder ID

{{plan
|title=Bigelow Heights plan of lots
|subtitle1=Laid out by Phillips Avenue Improvement Corp.
|subtitle2=Property situate 15th Wd Pittsburgh, Pa.
|laid-out=1932-03
|recorded=1932-11-10
|plan-book=34
|page=194–195
|recorder-id=3784164
|source-name=Bigelow-heights-plan
}}<noinclude>
{{source content}}

==See also==
* [[Source:Ordinance-1932-288]]
</noinclude>

Source:Ordinance-1932-288

2026-05-31T04:24:46Z

Bkell: see also Source:Bigelow-heights-plan

{{ordinance
|title=An ordinance approving the 'Bigelow Heights' Plan of Lots in the 15th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, laid out by the Phillips Avenue Improvement Corporation and Edward G. Smith and Agnes R. Smith, accepting the dedication of McCaslin street, Loretto road, Glen Lytle road, Minnesota street and Wasser way as shown thereon for public use for highway purposes, opening and naming the same, fixing the width and position of the sidewalks and roadway of McCaslin street, providing for slopes, parking, retaining walls and steps and establishing the grades of McCaslin street, Loretto road, Glen Lytle road, Minnesota street and Wasser way
|year=1932
|number=288
|passed=1932-10-31
|approved=1932-11-04
|ordinance-book=45
|page=29
|in=Municipal-record-1932@appendix:191–192
|note={{reprinted
|{{rp-paper|Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
|date=1932-11-09
|page=20
|npcom=89866494
}}
}}
|source-name=Ordinance-1932-288
}}<noinclude>
{{source content}}

==See also==
* [[Source:Bigelow-heights-plan]]
</noinclude>

File:Bigelow Heights plan.tiff

2026-05-31T04:23:45Z

Bkell: {{Source:Bigelow-heights-plan}}

== Summary ==
{{Source:Bigelow-heights-plan}}

Source:Bigelow-heights-plan/content

2026-05-31T04:23:22Z

Bkell: plan images

[[File:Bigelow Heights plan.tiff|page=1|400px]][[File:Bigelow Heights plan.tiff|page=2|400px]]

Source:Bigelow-heights-plan

2026-05-31T04:23:04Z

Bkell: Bigelow Heights plan

{{plan
|title=Bigelow Heights plan of lots
|subtitle1=Laid out by Phillips Avenue Improvement Corp.
|subtitle2=Property situate 15th Wd Pittsburgh, Pa.
|laid-out=1932-03
|recorded=1932-11-10
|plan-book=34
|page=194–195
|recorder-id=
|source-name=Bigelow-heights-plan
}}<noinclude>
{{source content}}

==See also==
* [[Source:Ordinance-1932-288]]
</noinclude>

Loretta Street

2026-05-30T19:03:45Z

Bkell: Loretto Road

{{street
|neighborhood=Greenfield
|former-name=
{{former name
|name=Loretto Street
|when=until 1910
}}
}}
This street appears, unlabeled, in the 1882 Hopkins atlas;{{r|hopkins-1882}} it was officially named '''Loretto Street''' (ending with ''O'') by a city ordinance in 1881.{{r|ordinance-1880-1881-33}} It was often misspelled ''Loretta'' (with a final ''A''), including in city ordinances.{{r|ordinance-1900-1901-71}} This spelling, '''Loretta Street''', was made official by another ordinance in 1910 that established the names of all streets in Pittsburgh.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-716}} The spelling change was probably unintentional, or it was not realized that the official name was previously Loretto, because the preceding ordinance, which listed the name changes being made, did not mention it.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-715}}

Both spellings, ''Loretta'' and ''Loretto'', continued to be commonly used for the street. When a western extension was laid out in the Bigelow Heights plan, it was named [[Loretto Road]], using the original ''O'' spelling.{{r|ordinance-1932-288}}

==References==
{{references
|hopkins-1882@16
|ordinance-1880-1881-33
|ordinance-1900-1901-71
|ordinance-1909-1910-715
|ordinance-1909-1910-716
|ordinance-1932-288
}}

Loretto Road

2026-05-30T19:01:22Z

Bkell: Loretto Road

{{street
|neighborhood=Greenfield
|origin=Its status as a western continuation of [[Loretta Street]], originally named ''Loretto Street''
|origin-categories=[[Category:Streets named for other streets]][[Category:Streets named for their location]]
}}
'''Loretto Road''' was laid out in the Bigelow Heights plan of lots; the plan and its street names were officially approved by a city ordinance in 1932.{{r|ordinance-1932-288}} This road was named for its status as a western continuation of [[Loretta Street]], which was originally named Loretto Street{{r|ordinance-1880-1881-33}} and continued to be commonly called by that name even after it was officially named Loretta in 1910.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-716}}

==References==
{{references
|ordinance-1880-1881-33
|ordinance-1909-1910-716
|ordinance-1932-288
}}

Loretta Street

2026-05-30T18:52:34Z

Bkell: drop "as early as 1900"

{{street
|neighborhood=Greenfield
|former-name=
{{former name
|name=Loretto Street
|when=until 1910
}}
}}
This street appears, unlabeled, in the 1882 Hopkins atlas;{{r|hopkins-1882}} it was officially named '''Loretto Street''' (ending with ''O'') by a city ordinance in 1881.{{r|ordinance-1880-1881-33}} It was often misspelled ''Loretta'' (with a final ''A''), including in city ordinances.{{r|ordinance-1900-1901-71}} This spelling, '''Loretta Street''', was made official by another ordinance in 1910 that established the names of all streets in Pittsburgh.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-716}} The spelling change was probably unintentional, or it was not realized that the official name was previously ''Loretto'', because the preceding ordinance, which listed the name changes being made, did not mention it.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-715}}

==References==
{{references
|hopkins-1882@16
|ordinance-1880-1881-33
|ordinance-1900-1901-71
|ordinance-1909-1910-715
|ordinance-1909-1910-716
}}

Loretto Street

2026-05-30T18:50:49Z

Bkell: redirect to Loretto Street

#REDIRECT [[Loretta Street]]

{{street redirect
|neighborhood=Greenfield
}}

Loretta Street

2026-05-30T18:50:19Z

Bkell: Loretta Street

{{street
|neighborhood=Greenfield
|former-name=
{{former name
|name=Loretto Street
|when=until 1910
}}
}}
This street appears, unlabeled, in the 1882 Hopkins atlas;{{r|hopkins-1882}} it was officially named '''Loretto Street''' (ending with ''O'') by a city ordinance in 1881.{{r|ordinance-1880-1881-33}} It was often misspelled ''Loretta'' (with a final ''A''), including in city ordinances as early as 1900.{{r|ordinance-1900-1901-71}} This spelling, '''Loretta Street''', was made official by another ordinance in 1910 that established the names of all streets in Pittsburgh.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-716}} The spelling change was probably unintentional, or it was not realized that the official name was previously ''Loretto'', because the preceding ordinance, which listed the name changes being made, did not mention it.{{r|ordinance-1909-1910-715}}

==References==
{{references
|hopkins-1882@16
|ordinance-1880-1881-33
|ordinance-1900-1901-71
|ordinance-1909-1910-715
|ordinance-1909-1910-716
}}

Source:Ordinance-1900-1901-71/content

2026-05-30T18:43:25Z

Bkell: transcribe ordinance

{{center|<big>'''No. 71.'''</big>}}

'''AN ORDINANCE'''—Changing the name of Graphic street, between Bigelow street and Loretta street, to "Pretoria street."

{{sc|Section 1.}} ''Be it ordained and enacted by the City of Pittsburgh, in Select and Common Councils assembled and it is hereby ordained and enacted by the authority of the same,'' That the name of Graphic street, between Bigelow street and Loretta street, shall be and the {{sic|ssme|same}} is hereby changed to "Pretoria street."

{{sc|Sec. 2.}} That any ordinance or part of ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this ordinance, be and the same is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this ordinance.

Passed June 4, 1900.

Approved June 8, 1900.

Ordinance Book 13, page 236.

Source:Ordinance-1900-1901-71

2026-05-30T18:40:59Z

Bkell: "An ordinance changing the name of Graphic street, between Bigelow street and Loretta street, to 'Pretoria street'"

{{ordinance
|title=An ordinance changing the name of Graphic street, between Bigelow street and Loretta street, to 'Pretoria street'
|year=1900–1901
|number=71
|passed=1900-06-04
|approved=1900-06-08
|ordinance-book=13
|page=236
|in=Municipal-record-1900-1901@appendix:26
|source-name=Ordinance-1900-1901-71
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Roosevelt-acres/content

2026-04-26T14:57:35Z

Bkell: styling

{{headline|Roosevelt Acres Open for Public Inspection}}

{{deck|5 NEW HOMES GOING UP; 20 TO BE BUILT|dash=no}}

{{deck|Modern Homes Priced for Less Than $10,000 Each On Lots 50 by 150 Feet.|dash=no}}

Roosevelt Acres, a corporation of which Hyman T. Little is secretary and treasurer and which recently bought 80 acres in the Thirty-first ward, Pittsburgh, and subdivided 50 acres into 175 lots, announce that five houses are under construction and open for public inspection. Twenty more will be built.

The plot is situated in the vicinity of Homestead. Recognizing the need of constructing moderate priced houses, the plot is to be covered with homes to sell for less than $10,000 each. This figure is what the average home seeker wishes to pay. The houses are to be modern in every particular.

'''SIX-ROOM DWELLINGS'''

Each dwelling will contain six rooms, tile bath with shower. The interiors will be finished in California stucco and will have hot water heat and hardwood floors throughout. The exterior construction will be of brick veneer. Celotex and Rocklath will be used for insulating purposes. Easy terms will be arranged in order to give those desiring to own a home opportunity to obtain it.

All improvements are in. Lots for the average home site are 50 feet in width by 150 feet deep, with ample room for lawns and a garden.

Roosevelt Acres in fact offer every convenience. The plan marks the first sub-division development in that territory. It is accessible and convenient not only to Homestead, but also to Munhall, Lincoln Place, Bettis Field, Hays, Glenwood and the Hazelwood Country Club. It is a section which it is assured is bound to come into prominence because of its nearness to one of the county's foremost flying fields.

'''PICTURESQUE GROUND'''

The ground is situated on an elevation and is rolling, giving it the picturesqueness which goes to make a splendid home community. The plan was formally opened a month ago and has excited much interest among the people of the territory.

On Sunday, July 28, Roosevelt Acres will open one of the new modern six-room dwellings, completely furnished, for public inspection. This will be known as the model home in Roosevelt Acres. The first home built was sold for $9,500.

The activity now under way and the numerous dwellings which are being planned promises to make the section one of the most desirable in which to live.

Source:Hopkins-1876

2026-04-19T21:37:37Z

Bkell: fix title and publisher

{{map
|title=Atlas of the County of Allegheny Penna.
|subtitle=From Official Records Private Plans and Actual Surveys
|publisher=G.{{thin}}M. Hopkins, C.{{thin}}E.
|city=Philadelphia
|year=1876
|url=http://historicpittsburgh.org/maps-hopkins/1876-atlas-pittsburgh-allegheny
|page={{{page|}}}
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Hopkins-1876
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-careers

2026-04-06T17:29:47Z

Bkell: add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=Girtys' varied careers are retold
|subtitle1=Two of pioneer family become renegades, and others noble citizens
|subtitle2=Baby made captive
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-02-04
|section=5
|page=2
|npcom=85848054
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-careers
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-careers/content

2026-04-06T17:29:35Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|GIRTYS' VARIED CAREERS ARE RETOLD}}

{{deck|Two of Pioneer Family Become Renegades, and Others Noble Citizens.}}

{{deck|BABY MADE CAPTIVE}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

A NEGLECTED graveyard and a little old brick chapel a few years ago in the southeastern part of Pittsburgh seemed utterly without interest save only the thought that each had seen better days. A statement that the graveyard and chapel might bring up thrilling stories of colonial and Revolutionary days in and about Pittsburgh would have been received with some doubt. A big house not so far away from the chapel and graveyard is connected intimately with them in story, for the builder and original owner of the house, John Turner, donated the ground for the graveyard in 1828 and John Turner was a historic character in Pennsylvania and related to other historic characters.

Turner, although a good sort of a man, was the half brother of the notorious Girtys, Simon and James, renegades. Their history has been written for a century. It may be had in book form in C.{{thin}}W. Butterfield's "History of the Girtys," in our libraries. Incidentally the Girtys must receive some mention for they, too, were pioneers about Pittsburgh, not voluntary residents, but compulsory at first, having been brought here captives by those fierce Indian marauders, the Shawnese and Delawares. After the destruction and massacre at Fort Granville (now Lewistown, Pa.) in July, 1756.

{{subhead|Turner Captured When a Baby.}}

This was the year after Braddock's defeat on the Monongahela when the whole frontier was open to the incursions of the savages and remained so until Gen. Forbes came and drove the French away, erecting Fort Pitt and establishing the town of Pittsburgh in November, 1758.

A few years later came Pontiac's war and more outrages and then Col. Bouquet and his story recently written of in these columns.

John Turner was but an infant when first brought to Fort Duquesne for there was no Pittsburgh then, and it was nine years later when he returned. A new fort stood at the forks of the Ohio and the standard of Great Britain waved over it. Turner was one of the captives whom Col. Bouquet compelled the Indians to release, after this expedition to the Muskingum towns as described in last Sunday's story. Turner came back in the spring of 1765.

{{subhead|Father Became a Trader.}}

Some of the Girty family history must be recited to enable a better understanding of events that led to the coming of the four Girty brothers, their mother, Mrs. John Turner, and young John, to this region.

Mrs. Turner's first husband, Simon Girty, Sr., was an Irish emigrant who came over between 1730 and 1740 and located on the Susquehanna River about Harris' Ferry, subsequently Harrisburg. This was then in Lancaster county. Girty, an uncouth character, found employment as a pack horse driver with an Indian trader, or a trader in Indian goods, which were chiefly rum and gew-gaws, powder and lead, etc., given in exchange for valuable furs.

While employed thus Girty met the woman who later became his wife. She was of a respectable family, and respectable herself. Her name was Mary Kewton and she was of English birth. She was married to Girty in 1741. The next year her eldest son Thomas was born, and in two years the second son, named for his father, who turned out the most notorious renegade that ever infected the borders; some apologists admit that he did at times show a heart and that his brother, James, should be awarded the palm for utter atrocity.

{{subhead|Part of Family Upright.}}

We have the family name commemorated in Girtys Run in Allegheny county, emptying into the Allegheny River at the Forty-third Street Bridge and passing through the borough of Millvale.

Strange circumstances brought the Girtys to Pittsburgh and fastened their name upon this run and these circumstances were additionally strange in ultimate results—the restoration and upright after life of part of the family who remained in Pennsylvania and the most despicable villainy of two who remained with the Indians.

About the time Simon Girty, Jr., was born his father concluded to go into the trading business on his own account and did so. He obtained his trader's license from the provincial government of Pennsylvania, and then removed to a tract of land, 200 acres in extent, on the east side of the Susquehanna, then in upper Paxtong, Lancaster county.

{{subhead|Is Driven Off Indian Land.}}

This was in 1743. At that place the third and fourth sons, James and George, were born. The father and family returned to their previous home on the Susquehanna. Girty passed several years as a trader, sometimes without license. He seems to have been of a roving disposition and was next heard of as a settler on a tract of land in Sherman's Valley, now Perry county, and there he lived until the spring of 1750.

He and other settlers were on Indian land and they were warned by the authorities of Cumberland county then having jurisdiction to get out, but, not doing so, were driven out. Girty returned to the Paxtong settlement and continued to follow his occupation as a trader until 1751 when he was removed from his sphere of usefulness by a drunken Indian named "the Fish," who sank a tomahawk into Girty's brain. Few tears were shed over his sudden taking off.

Girty's desolate widow in a few years married John Turner, who had been in Simon Girty's employ. In 1755 the Turners were living on Penns Creek, now in Union county, in what is known as Buffalo Valley. There young John, destined to be a Pittsburgh pioneer, was born. Soon after his birth the elder Turner sold his land and removed to the Juniata River, about the present site of Lewistown.

{{subhead|Turner Lets Indians In.}}

There tragedy begins in the summer of 1755. Braddock had just been defeated; war declared between France and England and the French Indian allies from the Ohio region had begun to ravish the frontier. The English settlers, driven from the wilderness homes, sought shelter in the frontier forts. The Turners fled to Fort Granville, not far from their home.

July 31, 1756, the Indians appeared suddenly. Turner and a few others had just made the shelter of the fort when the attack was begun. The cunning, lying Indians made many promises of safety if the fort were surrendered. The fort had been set on fire by Indian arrows and the brave commander, Lieut. Armstrong and another man killed while extinguishing the flames. The situation of the besieged was most desperate.

The Indians were led by two noted Delaware chiefs, Shingiss from the Delaware town at the mouth of Chartiers Creek, and Capt. Jacobs from Kittanning. John Turner, too eager to accept the terms of quarter before they were agreed on, ran and opened the gate of the fort; the enemy rushed in and all the inmates were killed or captured. It was a sorry day for John Turner, Sr., for it sealed his doom. With him were taken Mrs. Turner, little John and the Girty brood.

{{subhead|Turner Tortured to Death.}}

Little time was lost in getting the prisoners away. They were driven over the old trail via Kittanning Point in the Alleghenies to the town of Kittanning, where Capt. Jacobs was the chief. There Turner was put to the torture and miserably perished. Having satisfied their vengeance and Indian nature thus, the Indians, as was their custom, became reasonably kind to the other captives and made a division of them. Mrs. Turner and little John were allotted to the Shawanese.

In a few days they were brought down the river by their new masters and landed at Fort Duquesne. This was Young John's first visit to the place where he spent most of his four-score years.

The Shawanese spent some time about the fort. There is a record in the baptisms made by Father Denys Baron, the French chaplain at the fort, attesting that Jean (or John) Turner, son of John Turner, an Englishman and Maria (Mary) Newton, an English woman, was baptized by him as priest in charge at the fort, August 18, 1756.

Later in the summer the Shawanese with their prisoners proceeded in their canoes to Logstown, their town built by the French on the Ohio close to the present site of Ambridge, or old Economy.

Thomas Girty, the eldest of the brothers, was found a prisoner at Kittanning by Col. John Armstrong when he attacked that place September 8, 1756, this attack resulting in the complete defeat of the Indians, the death of Capt. Jacobs and the burning of all the Indian huts. We have the historic town name, and the county name commemorating Armstrong. Thomas Girty returned with Armstrong's army to the East side of the Alleghenies.

{{subhead|Girtys Return West.}}

The three Girty boys and Mrs. Turner were not held long by the Indians. They were back at their old home on the Susquehanna River some time in 1759. In 1764 when {{sic|Col-Bouquet|Col. Bouquet}} had made things reasonably safe about Fort Pitt the three Girty boys and their mother returned to Pittsburgh. Mrs. Turner, because of her relationship, became known as Mary Girty. The land the Girtys settled on is now in the fashionable Squirrel Hill district and was originally known as the Girty tract. It is possible and most likely that her claim was only a "tomahawk claim," that is, the boundaries were blazed on the trees as was the custom and others seeing these marks respected them as indicating land already taken up.

Thomas seems to have rejoined his family, for it is known that Mrs. Turner divided her tract between him and her fourth son, George, some time previous to 1769. John Turner, Jr., had returned to her in 1765.

There are records of the application of Simon and George Girty in the land office of the Province of Pennsylvania and in the same vicinity as Mrs. Turner's claim. George Girty, to make sure of his title, included in his application what had been his mother's land.

{{subhead|Took Land in Squirrel Hill.}}

Thomas Girty's share is supposed to have been the portion of the tract on which the family lived in a log cabin. Of course no other kind of dwelling was then erected on the frontiers and few elsewhere. This land in later years was known as the Castleman tract, much of it coming into the possession of John I. House, a wholesale grocer of Pittsburgh before and after the Civil War. The tract was bisected by the old Squirrel Hill road and lies along what is now Bigelow street. This is in the old Twenty-third Ward, now the Fifteenth.

Thomas Girty became a farmer, married and remained on the tract his mother granted him. His marriage was in 1769 or 1770. No further history of him is available.

A score or more years ago old residents of this section who had been born and raised there maintained that there had been a log house on the tract claimed by Simon Girty. Some of these old-timers heard the story of the Girtys from their parents who had been born and reared in the same neighborhood, their memories going back into the eighteenth century.

{{subhead|Spring Near the Cabin.}}

This {{sic|long|log}} house is said to have stood on the land now or late of Charles Neinhauser on the Beechwood boulevard, about the head of Hazelwood avenue and adjoining the brick chapel and Turner burying ground. There was always a spring near a pioneer cabin and there is a good one on the Neinhauser property.

Mrs. Turner is supposed to have lived and died on this land and to have been buried on the land as was customary in olden times when no burying ground was available.

When young John Turner returned from his captivity he was about 10 years old. It is not known now where he was taken by the Indians. Nomads as they were, they may have taken in many locations. Some say in Canada. But being with the Shawanese it is more reasonable to presume that he was with this tribe at their Scioto River towns if not on the Muskingum. These Shawanese towns were long maintained.

{{subhead|Spoke Indian Dialects.}}

John Turner had many characteristics of the Indians, also habits peculiar to the Indian race. In person he was tall and straight, with black eyes, long, straight black hair, but thin of flesh and sallow. He lived a life of activity with all the hardships of a frontiersman. He spoke several Indian dialects and was a valuable man to the authorities in consequence. He had but little English education but all the crafts and wisdom of an Indian.

Withal, he was a man of native ability and thoroughly honest. He was a man of his word also, and enjoyed the respect of all with whom he had dealings. He was a brave man, too, and served his country. With Simon Girty he served in Lord {{sic|Dumore's|Dunmore's}} war against the Indians. There was a strong affection between Simon Girty and Turner. It lasted, too. Dr. William H. Denny, brother of Ebenezer Denny, first Mayor of Pittsburgh, refers to this in his long historical poem entitled "Succotash," which Dr. Denny composed and read at the centennial celebration of the founding of Pittsburgh, November 25, 1858.

Speaking of this brotherly regard, verses 24 and 25 of "Succotash," with Girty the actor, state:

<blockquote><poem>
"He swam the river, if low, he forded,
Where Woodcock's ripple is the crossing still,
Past the two graves, boys, his party murdered,
And went up Negley's Run to Squirrel Hill.

"Then here this hard and subtle renegade
Risked most his life through all that war and pother,
And not for fame or booty or fair maid,
But just to see John Turner, his half-brother."
</poem></blockquote>

Doubtless this expresses a historic truth. Girty did this after his {{sic|apostacy|apostasy}} and came by way of Girty's Run to the Allegheny River.

The old residents of the Squirrel Hill section as referred to have it that they knew from the traditions and records handed down by their ancestors that John Turner built his log cabin in which he lived so many years, about 1778 or 1779. The War of the Revolution was then going on. Simon Girty, in March, 1778, with Matthew Elliott and Alexander McKee, had eluded the forces at Fort Pitt and fled from McKee's house at McKees Rocks. They had been under surveillance and Gen. Edward Hand, in command here, had sent a squad of soldiers to arrest them. The soldiers were too late.

With the three were McKee's cousin, Robert Surphlit, a man named Higgins and two Negro slaves of McKee's. Simon Girty, Hassler, our Pittsburgh historian, states, was a captive among the Senecas after his capture at Fort Granville at the age of 11. Girty is known to have been master of several Indian tongues and to have been of much use to the English forces at Fort Pitt prior to the Revolution, as an interpreter and scout. McKee and Elliott were notorious Tories, who are presumed to have tempted Girty with promises of preferment in the British service.

McKee and Elliott obtained rank in the British service and Girty soon became the scourge of the border and known as the "White Savage" by the frontiersmen. He came to a brutal end after the war of 1812—murdered while drunk. It is possible much of the infamy of his equally reprobate brother, James, attached to him.

{{subhead|James Is Border Scourge.}}

If Simon Girty visited his half-brother, John Turner, it must have been subsequent to the revolution and while Girty was with roaming bands of Indians in this region. His visits were undoubtedly surreptitious.

James Girty had allied himself with the Shawanese, first having been sent from the authorities at Fort Pitt to this tribe on what turned out a futile mission. When he learned of Simon's flight he at once joined him and the other renegades. For 16 years they were the scourge of the borders, ceasing only when Gen. Anthony Wayne had thoroughly subjugated the Western Indians on the Maumee in 1794.

{{subhead|Others Like Their Good Mother.}}

Turner's mother and two half-brothers, Thomas and George, turned out good. James, all historians state, was a natural savage, partaking all the bad qualities of his drunken, worthless father, John Turner. Thomas and George Girty, in their {{sic|heriditary|hereditary}} strain, partook of the gentle and humane character of the mother. There is no record that James Girty ever visited his mother and half-brother, John, in their Squirrel Hill cabin.

The cabin of John Turner, shown today, is near Loretto street, which extends from Winterburn street to the boulevard. To be more exact, at what is now known as Kishon place in Frank street, extending from Hazelwood avenue to Greenfield avenue. This land now or lately belonged to the Beehner estate. The old log house, weather-boarded and cosy, was always a comfortable dwelling.

John Turner was also known as John Girty and under this last name obtained a grant from the state by warrant dated November 12, 1787, for 154 acres of land which was surveyed for him March 13, 1788, and a patent granted him and called Federal Hill, the patent dated July 7, 1788.

{{subhead|John Weds Pioneer's Daughter.}}

Turner was wise enough to obtain a Virginia warrant also, the date of this warrant, January 27, 1786. This tract of 154 acres was that claimed by Simon Girty. Girty, an outlaw and enemy, could in no possible manner have retained it.

About 1783 John Turner was married to Susanna Clark, daughter of neighboring pioneers. They were a childless couple. However, they adopted and reared several children, not formally adopting by legal process, but practically, and these were three children of Mrs. Turner's sisters, by name John McCaslin, Turner Blashford and Susan Halstead.

Turner continued to reside in his old home until 1823, when he moved to a smaller log house on the place and added two rooms to it. There his wife died April 1, 1833. She was a good woman and a good wife.

{{subhead|Gave a Lot for Public School.}}

All the Squirrel Hill district from the Monongahela River to what is now Fifth avenue beyond the Bigelow boulevard became Peebles township and when annexed to the city in 1868 was divided into two wards, the Twenty-second and Twenty-third, now the Fourteenth and Fifteenth. To Peebles township John Turner gave the lot on which the first free school was located. He also gave the lot on which the brick chapel was erected in 1843, five years after he had given the lot for burial purposes. This plot was long known as Turner's graveyard. There many of the early settlers of the district were interred.

John Turner appreciated an education, something that had been denied him. He was surprisingly liberal and public-spirited for a man that had passed through the vicissitudes and the rough life of the border that had been his fate.

Mr. Turner made the deed of the burial plot to David Irwin and John McCaslin as trustees for the people of Peebles township to be kept and reserved forever as a public burial ground. The date the deed was made is July 31, 1838, exactly 82 years after Turner's capture by the Indians, when a helpless baby.

{{subhead|Browns Erect Memorial Church.}}

The graveyard, as sometimes graveyards do, became neglected, but within a few years was reclaimed and put in good order by the late Catp. Sam S. Brown, a native of the vicinity, who with his brother, W. Harry Brown, erected the Mary S. Brown Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church on the site of the old Turner chapel, in memory of their mother.

The Turner land about this graveyard adjoined the land of Thomas Sutch. The burial plot, the deed states, contains 108 perches strict measure. To the deed John Turner made his mark, the consideration was "one dollar, lawful money of the United States well and truly paid."

There was another proper use and behoof of the citizens and inhabitants of Peebles township besides that of burial purposes. It was for the purpose of erecting on the plot "a church for the dispensation of {{sic|the the|the}} Christian religion" if the citizens and inhabitants thought proper. They did. Hence the little chapel of 1843 and the magnificent Mary S. Brown Memorial Church of today.

{{subhead|Died Honored in 1840.}}

When John Turner made his will April 10, 1840, he referred to the burial plot, reciting in his will that he reserved free of all encumbrances the burying ground for the use of the public forever.

John Turner died at his old home on the original Turner tract May 20, 1840, aged 85 years. His surroundings on that beautiful spring day were peaceful. His eventful career closed with complete tranquility. No red foemen roved east of the Mississippi River. In his declining years his memories must have been vivid and his reminiscences, if he related them, many and varied. May 22 they laid him away in the quiet spot his generosity had provided in the rural community in which he had been one of the first settlers and where he passed 72 years of his eventful life. He saw the town of Pittsburgh grow into the bustling, thriving, famous iron city of America. He saw three standards wave over it, the lilies of France, the royal banner of St. George and the stars and stripes. He was in turn under the sovereignty of three nations, always a patriot loyal to king and country, loyal to home, church and kin. If he sorrowed over the infamous career of his beloved half-brother, Simon, he did so in secret.

Turner was a rugged man. He lived in the open, thrived and was honored and he has not been forgotten. He was of the best type of pioneer. An honest man and a worker.

Properly we have his name commemorated in Turner street, near his old farm, a street extending from Shady avenue to Landview street in the Fourteenth Ward.

Let us think of John Turner as a child of the border redeemed from the thralldom of savage foes, to become an honest citizen, a pioneer and patriot.

Source:Fleming-uprising

2026-03-29T04:26:59Z

Bkell: add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=Tory uprising here in 1778 recalled
|subtitle1=Flight of McKee from McKees Rocks due to trip ordered to York
|subtitle2=Hassler's account
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-02-18
|section=5
|page=2
|npcom=85848428
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-uprising
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-uprising/content

2026-03-29T04:26:38Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|TORY UPRISING HERE IN 1778 RECALLED}}

{{deck|Flight of McKee from McKees Rocks Due to Trip Ordered to York.}}

{{deck|HASSLER'S ACCOUNT}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

MANY letters come to The Gazette Times and direct to the writer of these articles, written by people who are interested in them. Some are long, many offer suggestions, some comment on the articles; some recite family history, some are personally reminiscent and not a few contribute facts of history.

These latter should receive notice and in whole or in part be published, especially when well authenticated.

Family histories, unless connected with some historic event or some event of local interest, cannot be given much if any mention. These serve a good purpose, however. They tell of family pride in the records of the ancestors who helped constitute the nation, either by service in the {{sic|Revoluntionary|Revolutionary}} or Colonial wars or by some civil procedure. It is evident from the number of such letters received that there are in Pittsburgh and in Western Pennsylvania and adjoining states many descendants of our pioneers who are justified in making themselves known and in voicing their appreciation of the efforts of The Gazette Times to furnish historical facts that appeal not only to them but to the masses who delight in reading the records of the past.

{{subhead|Libraries Have Histories.}}

Some of these letters have come from distant points, attesting the widespread circulation of The Gazette Times. Numerous requests come for information such as records of service of {{sic|Revoluntionary|Revolutionary}} ancestors, dates of settlements hereabouts, and even {{sic|geneological|genealogical}} lines are requested. Such information as can be had, or mention of records, where it can be obtained, is always given. Much cannot be given for lack of records or their inaccessibility.

Our main libraries do a good work along these lines, especially the reference department of the Carnegie Library. Everything pertaining to Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh history is garnered carefully, arranged, catalogued and filed. Many do not know of this system of historic records; many who do appreciate it greatly. Then again the libraries have many volumes of Pittsburgh papers securely bound, many scrapbooks that have been donated containing historical matter and, in fact, everything in the way of local history that can be picked up—story, song and sketch.

{{subhead|Historian Asks Information.}}

Not only do letters come expressing appreciation of the history stories herein, but many telephone calls. There are offers of material for future stories, mention of pictures, offerings of loan and views of heirlooms and rare books and old newspapers. All such receive thanks for their kindnesses and interest and much of this matter has been used.

Henry Haymond of Clarksburg, W. Va., historian of Harrison county, that state, wrote:

<blockquote>
I have read with great pleasure from time to time your articles on the early settlements of the Monongahela valley as printed in The Gazette Times.

My apology for troubling you is that I am seeking the facts regarding the Tory uprising at Pittsburgh in 1778, and will be very glad if you can refer me to any report, history or official documents that will aid me in collecting material for the purposes of my history.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Trouble of Importance.}}

<blockquote>
There is a tradition that wild excitement was created by the discovery of a plot or an uprising in favor of the King and that some sort of court was held at Redstone Old Fort for the trial of the conspirators.

But whatever occurred it is certain that the trouble was considered of sufficient importance to receive the attention of Congress and the Virginia Assembly.

An act was passed by the latter body reciting that Congress had appointed Samuel Washington, Gabriel Jones and Joseph Reed commissioners to repair to Fort Pitt to investigate the rise, progress and extent of the disaffection in that quarter.

The Virginia act conferred similar powers upon the committee and authorized it to apprehend such inhabitants of the counties of Ohio, Monongalia and Yohogania as should appear to have been engaged in any plot or conspiracy and to deliver the offenders to the proper authorities to be prosecuted according to law.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Has Aged Discharge Paper.}}

<blockquote>
My great grandfather, William Haymond, settled near Morgantown in 1773. Previous to that time he had served three years in a Virginia regiment at Fort Pitt, Presque Isle, Redstone, and surrounding territory. I have his discharge dated at Fort Lewis, Va., in 1762, and signed by Adam Stephen, lieutenant colonel. Washington had in the Forbes expedition to Fort Duquesne in 1758 been colonel of this regiment.
</blockquote>

At the time Mr. Haymond wrote but slight reference to this attempted uprising could be found. Our Pittsburgh historian, the late Edgar W. Hassler, makes some mention of it in his work, "Old Westmoreland," a history of Western Pennsylvania during the revolution.

The uprising was fomented by Alexander McKee and Matthew Elliott during 1777, but Gen. Edward Hand, in command at Fort Pitt, was most wary and before the plot was fully {{sic|under may|underway}} McKee and Elliott fled to the British, taking Simon Girty with them, in March, 1778.

{{subhead|Many British Partisans Here.}}

Hassler's account is substantially as follows:

<blockquote>
The one event of the Revolutionary history of the border which had the most calamitous results was the flight of the tories from Fort Pitt in the spring of 1778. From the beginning of the struggle for liberty many partisans of King George were to be found on the frontier. Some of these men had been in the British service; most of them were members of the Church of England. Others were animated by that natural reverence which many men feel for their sovereign; many were adventurous and ambitious spirits seduced by British promises of reward. There were some who did not believe that the Revolution would succeed and others grew dissatisfied with the hard circumstances of frontier life in time of war. A few were simply scoundrels, desiring turmoil and plunder. The failure of Gen. Hand's two expeditions had much to do with the dissatisfaction with the American cause which developed on the border in the Spring of 1778. During the winter the British had been in possession of Philadelphia, the American Congress had been driven to York, and Washington's Army was reduced to a half-naked and half-starved remnant at Valley Forge. The cause of liberty languished and there were many defections.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Fomented Trouble Here.}}

This indeed was the darkest period during the long struggle of the colonies for independence and it is not strange that dissatisfaction and consequent plotting were widespread. The fort at the head of the Ohio which the British had abandoned in 1774, became desirable again and to this end they strove by secret agents, fomenting trouble for the patriots. Hassler goes on:

<blockquote>
Governor Hamilton at Detroit, sent many agents, red and white to penetrate the border settlements to circulate offers of pardon and reward and to organize the tories. In February and March, 1778, a daring and shrewd British spy visited Pittsburgh and carried on his plotting under the nose of Gen. Hand. A British flag was set up for a short time in the King's Orchard which bordered the Allegheny River within gunshot of the fort, and there meetings were held by the disaffected among the soldiers of the garrison. Most of the tory gatherings in this neighborhood were at the house of Alexander McKee at what is now McKees Rocks. Another place of assembly was Redstone, where a British flag flew during all of that winter.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|McKee the Leader Here.}}

The King's Orchard lay east of the fort stretching from what was afterwards Marbury street subsequently Third street, to about Fifth or Sixth street, now Federal street. Redstone was the first name of the town of Brownsville, an important place in border days, and for many years afterward.

Hassler's account continues:

<blockquote>
The Tory leader at Pittsburgh was Capt. Alexander McKee, a man of education and wide influence on the border. He had been an Indian trader and for 12 years prior to the Revolution had been the King's deputy agent at Fort Pitt. For a short time he had been one of the justices of the peace for Westmoreland county. He was intimately acquainted with most of the Indian chiefs, and even had a family in the Shawanese nation. In 1764 he received a grant of 1,400 acres of land from Col. Bouquet at the mouth of Chartiers Creek, and he divided his time between his house in Pittsburgh and his farm at McKees Rocks, Bouquet's grant to him.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Broke His Parole.}}

<blockquote>
In the spring of 1776 McKee was found to be in correspondence with British officers in Canada. He was put on his parole not to give aid or comfort to the enemies of American liberty, and not to leave the vicinity of Pittsburgh without the consent of the Revolutionary committee. In February, 1778, Gen. Hand had reason to suspect that McKee had resumed or was continuing his correspondence with the British authorities, and was {{sic|ororganizing|organizing}} disaffection, and he ordered McKee to go to York, Pa., and report himself to the Continental Congress. For a short time McKee avoided compliance with this order on the plea of sickness, but not being able to shirk obedience permanently, he decided to escape to Detroit and openly ally himself with the British cause.
</blockquote>

McKee was not alone in fomenting trouble. He had able assistants and they worked energetically and were only too successful.

Hassler tells of them:

<blockquote>
About a year before this (1777) a young trader named Matthew Elliott, who understood the Shawanese language, had been employed by the Americans to carry messages from Fort Pitt to the Shawanese and other tribes to the westward, in the interest of peace. He had been made captive by hostile savages and carried to Detroit, where after a short imprisonment, he had been released on parole. He returned to Pittsburgh by way of Quebec, New York and Philadelphia, all then in British possession. He had been impressed with the show of British power in the East in contrast with the miserable condition of the American forces. He became convinced that the Revolution would be a failure, and on his return to Pittsburgh got into communication with McKee and others of the Tory party.
</blockquote>

It seems that Hassler's deductions are reasonable, but the subsequent nefarious conduct of Elliott, who became a captain in the British service, shows what manner of man he was.

Elliott was suspected of influencing McKee by the story that McKee was to be waylaid and killed on his journey to York, a long, toilsome, desolate road. It is known that McKee heard such a story and believed it fully. A Tory at heart, it was not difficult to persuade him to violate his parole and plan the successful escape of himself and party from McKees Rocks March 28, 1778. With him fled Elliott and Simon Girty. This was an evil day for the borderers.

{{sic|Perahps|Perhaps}} there are other records of the Tory uprising requested by Mr. Haymond, but with the works at hand the foregoing is all that has been found so far. This will prove an interesting topic of research for the Western Pennsylvania Historical Society. Thomas C. Bradley, a local historian of note, writes the following, for which he asks insertion. He contributes much historical matter not generally known.

Mr. Bradley says:

<blockquote>
In your article "Old Residents Tell About City," which appeared in a recent Sunday edition of The Gazette Times. Actuated by the present motives, and without any ulterior purposes, save to give you what I thought would be appreciated by you as well as the thousands of readers of The Gazette times, namely, that the first fort and the first chapel in what is now the Greater City of Pittsburgh, was named in honor of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, afterwards changed to that of Fort Duquesne. While it is true that two histories—considered the most prominent ones of Pittsburgh—viz., "The Standard History of Pittsburgh," and "A Century and a Half of Pittsburgh and Her People," start with the saying "That the fort was finished and called Fort Duquesne, and while Father A.{{thin}}A. Lambing was a staff member of each history's corps of writers, yet the preface of each will convince you that the extracts from Father Lambing's works were made by others and not himself personally, and I view the matter that owing to the large volume of data that was necessary to go over in the compilation of these {{sic|volluminous|voluminous}} works that the editors condensed matters wherever they could and hence left out some important details. Even Father Lambing himself, in the several works of his to be found in the Carnegie Library, commences with references to the fort being called Fort Duquesne. Yet in his principal work, "The History of The Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny," published in 1880, and which had the high approval of Cardinal McCloskey of New York, and Bishop Twigg of Pittsburgh we learn from page 32 "that the first fort and first chapel was called 'The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary," and in June of 1754 changed to Fort Duquesne. This book is not in the Carnegie Library, but I possess a copy of it. Father Lambing's statement is corroborated by Charles McKnight in his work, "Our Western Borders in Early Pioneer Days" (Page 22); other {{sic|authoritie|authorities}} are John Gilmary Shea Parkman, and some French writers.

You also alluded to Judge McKenna's statement of Bishop Domenec's secret mission to Spain in behalf of the United States government, and finally closed by reference to the flag floating from the spires of St. Paul's Cathedral in April, 1861.

Regarding 'Bishop Domenec's Patriotic Services" you will find my article in The Gazette Times under that title December 28, 1912. I also have in my possession a personal letter from the very Rev. John Hickey then bishop's vicar general, in which he states that he saw the Bishop's Commission from President Lincoln.

And finally regarding the flag on the Cathedral, Father Lambing in his history, page 88, says "that one of the front towers had been raised to the top of the roof" even on that tower a pole could have been fastened yet we find that it was the high tower as you will see by the following: "A Daring Feat.—On Saturday a large flag was placed over the pinnacle of St. Paul's Cathedral, the highest spire in the city. The flag staff was fastened to the cross by F.{{thin}}B.{{thin}}M. Bonsall, a naval officer, who has served 16 years at sea. It was witnessed by thousands of people." The Pittsburgh Gazette, April 22, 1861. The Post, The Dispatch and The Pittsburgh Catholic state the same facts almost verbatim.

Trusting that you will insert this letter so as to place Judge McKenna and myself in the proper light before your readers, I am, very sincerely yours,

{{right|THOMAS C. BRADLEY.}}
</blockquote>

The reference is to Bishop Michael Domenec of Pittsburgh, a native of Spain, and his secret mission to Madrid in 1861 by request of President Lincoln, in order to thwart the efforts of the Confederate emissaries there seeking to have Spain recognize the Southern Confederacy as a nation. In this mission Bishop Domenec was successful, but the facts were not fully known until later years.

Frank B.{{thin}}M. Bonsall, who placed the flag on the middle spire of the old Cathedral at Fifth avenue and Grant street, was a well-known Pittsburgher for many years, following the painting trade. He served through the Civil War in Company H, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and attained the rank of captain. The front towers of the old cathedral were not erected until 1868–69. The middle spire, having become dangerous, was taken down in the early eighties.

{{subhead|Towers Built in 1867.}}

That the front towers were not there in 1861 is attested by reference to page 10 of St. Paul's Cathedral Record, published in 1903. Referring to the Rev. Hickey's pastorate the Record states:

"The next year (1867) Father Hickey began the erection of the two front towers of the cathedral, one was finished in 1868 the other in 1869. They are (were) of unequal height, the one on the Fifth avenue side being 285 feet in height and the other 282 feet."

Again on page 12, the Record says: "Between 1861 and 1876 great additions and improvements had been made on the cathedral. The two front towers were built, the central tower over the transept, being deemed unsafe, was removed, and the dome as we now see it (1903), was erected."

{{subhead|Story of the Pictures.}}

This proves conclusively that no flag could fly from the front towers in 1861, yet there are pictures showing a flag on a rope stretched from the Fifth avenue tower to the dome of the old court house.

The picture of William Pitt shown today was made from a halftone engraved in London from a mezzotint by E. Fisher, from Brompton's portrait. It shows Pitt at full length standing in a large building with columns, in his peer's robes, his left hand pointing to a table on which are papers. Among these are those entitled, "A motion made in 1775 for the recall of troops from Boston;" a provisional act for the settling the troubles in America offered to the House of Lords in 1775; "the Magna Charta," a map of North America showing Long Island and Staten Island, and a long scroll beginning: "It is doing nothing to repeal a few scraps of paper or pieces of parchment called acts of Parliament, but our business is to repeal the {{sic|illwill|ill will}} and the {{sic|animosty|animosity}} unfortunately now subsisting between Great Britain and North America."

{{subhead|$200 Was Price.}}

This picture is in size 23¾ inches by 18¾ inches, the original by Brompton painted in 1789. The catalog price was 50 pounds sterling.

The picture of Washington is made from a half tone engraving executed in London from a fine mezzotint by Valentine Green, a copy of Trumbull's celebrated portrait. It shows Washington, standing in uniform, his right hand holding his hat and leaning on his sword, the left holding a scroll. He leans on right hand, right foot place on an elevation, at his left is his Negro servant with his horse, in the distance is a river with ships firing on a fortification to the left from which the American flag is flying. Under, in a center shield of arms an Indian is depicted supporting the insignia. This picture was priced at 75 pounds sterling. The picture is 23¾ inches by 16 inches; the original by Trumbull was painted in 1781.

{{subhead|Paintings Are Historic.}}

The reproductions today are made from a beautifully printed catalog of a celebrated London firm, dealers in antique books and rare pictures and curios. Notwithstanding the war, catlogs from such merchants are received regularly in Pittsburgh. However, it is not known whether these portraits of Pitt and Washington were sold.

These portraits are historic and pertinent at this time, that of Washington particularly so, his natal day occurring next Thursday. The picture of Pitt is so different from those usually shown of the great British Premier that it is of more than ordinary interest.

Source:Fleming-poorly

2026-03-23T20:29:17Z

Bkell: add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=Washington is commemorated here poorly
|subtitle1=Only "place" and Mount are named after greatest in local history
|subtitle2=Is most honored
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-02-25
|section=5
|page=2–3
|npcom=85857843 85857845
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-poorly
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-poorly/content

2026-03-23T20:29:03Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|WASHINGTON IS COMMEMORATED HERE POORLY}}

{{deck|Only "Place" and Mount Are Named After Greatest in Local History.}}

{{deck|IS MOST HONORED}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

WEEK before last was Lincoln commemoration week on account of the anniversary of his birth, February 12. This week Washington's commemoration comes for the same reason. We accord both equal honor and reverence. In a historical sense Lincoln is not close to Pittsburgh; Washington was, has been and will remain so. From 1758 to the end of his second presidential term in 1797, the name of Washington runs through all the history of our region.

While history is a record of past events, it is lasting, continuous; hence may be spoken of in the present tense. We may say and be understood, that Washington is ever with us. We mean his name and the record of his deeds, hardships, sufferings, trials, adversities and business speculations in the region where he first came into history. We may add to the above list his troubles—those on account of the whisky insurrection for instance. We may also define his trials as tests of his physical strength in flood and field, his afflictions by reason of most inclement weather conditions. All of which inflictions he bore bravely and records no complaint. He kept accurate journals. He was most methodical. There were other trials not physical—trials at law but instituted by Washington—ejectment suits that ousted some squatters on his Washington county lands—all of which is fully written in the histories of Washington county.

{{subhead|Greatest in Local History.}}

Washington is not only alive in our local history by reason of his various activities in the region about Pittsburgh, but from his close relations personally with many of our pioneers, some of these pioneers' descendants being prominent in this community yet.

Under this head we enumerate Col. William Crawford of unhappy end; Col. John Canon, founder of Canonsburg; Gen. James O'Hara, quartermaster general in the Continental Army; Maj. Isaac Craig, Gen. John Neville; his son, Col. Presley Neville; Quartermaster-General John Wilkins, Jr., and Maj. Ebenezer Denny, first mayor of Pittsburgh—in fact the whole of the Fort Pitt contingent of officers in the Continental Army. A long list it is, revealing many commemorated local names. Most of these have been written of in these columns.

{{subhead|Knew Fighting Butlers.}}

It is reasonably sure that Washington knew well all the foregoing men named. It is presumed that he knew all the officers in his army. His corps of officers was at no time so large as to make the remembrance of their names a task of magnitude. We therefore can take it that Washington knew the five fighting Butlers, Lieut. Col. Stephen Bayard, Cols. John and George Gibson, Alexander Fowler, James Johnston, Stephen Lowery, George Morgan, James Morrison and Aeneas Mackay, Majs. Abraham Kirkpatrick, Joel Lewis, John Small and Thomas Smallman; Capts. William Anderson, John Brandon, Samuel Dawson, John Guthrie, Henry Heth, Michael Huffnagle, Thomas Hutchins, John Irwin, George McCulley, Devereaux Smith, David Steel, Adamson Tannehill, George Wallace and John Wilkins; Surgeons Felix Brunot and John Morgan, and Chaplain Hugh Henry Brackenridge. All or most of these we can say knew Washington.

We know that Washington was personally acquainted with Capts. William Trent and Edward Ward, Maj. John Ormsby and Assistant Quartermaster Samuel Sample, and all the officers sent by his orders to command Fort Pitt, Gens. Edward Hand, Lachlan McIntosh, Daniel {{sic|Broadhed|Brodhead}}, William Irvine, Capt. John Finley and perhaps Maj. Joseph Marbury, the latter commanding in 1783–84.

{{subhead|Knew 45 Out of 49.}}

Of 49 names enumerated on the tablet erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution on Trinity Churchyard wall, in Oliver avenue, it is more than probable that Washington had at some time personal relations with at least 45. We are excepting some subalterns, Sergt.-Maj. John Hull, Lieut. Gabriel Peterson and Jacob Springer. He may have known Commodore Joshua Barney during the War of the Revolution, whose bones now rest in the Allegheny Cemetery in the once celebrated "Barney Mound." It is certain that Washington knew Barney afterwards, for Washington sent him to France with James Monroe, the bearer of the American flag to the national convention. This was in 1794, Monroe then being minister to France.

Washington is the greatest name, therefore, in the history of Pittsburgh. He was the commander and associate of all our Revolutionary officers and was followed and obeyed by most of our Revolutionary heroes of the rank and file. He came to the region of the upper Ohio early in life and made six journeys thither. He started again late in life to personally conduct the campaign against the insurgents against the enforcement of the excise laws, generally called the "Whisky Insurrection," by some writers, "The Western Insurrection"—unmistakably an insurrection. That journey of Washington's did not bring him nearer here than Bedford.

{{subhead|Made Two Peaceful Visits.}}

Allusion is made in counting these visits to Washington's activities in the field in Southwestern Pennsylvania in 1754, his acts bringing on the French and Indian War, resulting in the defeat of Braddock and the supremacy of the French on the Ohio from 1754 to 1758. These were days of great moment. Washington shines through all the history of those years, when events of great moment were decided.

Three of his visits to our city or this region were peaceful, three were made in the capacity of a soldier. His mission to the French forts in Northwestern Pennsylvania was a peaceful one, yet futile. His visit in 1754 can scarcely be called a visit for he got as far only as Fort Necessity and that trip began war. He came again in 1755 with Braddock and again in 1770. This last time he journeyed to view his lands on the Kanawha River. In 1784 he journeyed to his Washington county lands in what is now Mount Pleasant township. On this trip he stopped with Col. John Canon, at what is now Canonsburg. In 1770 he stopped in Pittsburgh.

Washington's conduct at the battle of the Monongahela, July 12, 1755, generally known in history as Braddock's defeat, is well known to every school boy. His military career under Gen. John Forbes is not so well known and is scarcely mentioned in school histories. We are best informed concerning this service by Francis Parkman, in his inimitable work, "Montcalm and Wolfe."

{{subhead|City Named Before Built.}}

{{sic|Washingotn|Washington}} saw the banner of St. George raised over the devastated French fort at the Point November 24, 1758. He was in Pittsburgh when the town was created. In fact the town was named before it was built. Forbes wrote "I have called the place Pittsburgh." Col. John Armstrong ran up the English flag over the ruined bastions of Duquesne; the deeping dusk passed rapidly into night; the snow storm that had been threatening broke in fury over the tired soldiers and frontiersmen in their cheerless bivouac by the smoking ruins, but the place—the place was no longer Duquesne; no longer under the sovereignty of France. Henceforth it was Pittsburgh. And Washington was here.

And of all Washington's visits this was the most dramatic. It is recorded that Col. George Washington was sent forward in advance of the main body of the army of Gen. Forbes, and commanded a division engaged in opening the road.

An English prisoner was taken from some French whom Washington encountered. This man confirmed the reports, that Forbes had received, that Duquesne was in a defenseless condition. Col. John Armstrong pushed forward with 1,000 men to assist Washington. Forbes followed November 17 with 4,200 men. Tents and baggage were left behind. Hence the troops depended on their blankets and knapsacks. They were, therefore, poorly equipped.

{{subhead|Smoke Cloud and Explosion.}}

The army crept on; friendly Indians out constantly as scouts, bivouacking wherever night overtook them. November 22 the army reached Turtle Creek, only 12 miles from the fort. There the army halted, awaiting intelligence from reconnoitering parties. The keen-eyed Indians with Forbes discovered the cloud of smoke to the west and called the General's attention to it. It was thick and {{sic|omenous|ominous}}. It was evening when discovered. A halt was imperative. At midnight the sentries heard the dull sound of a distant explosion. It was the passing of Fort Duquesne.

At dawn the general sent a troop of light horse under Capt. John Hazlett forward to extinguish the flames if it were possible. It was clear the French had destroyed the fort and perhaps their town, also.

{{subhead|Find Only Smoking Ruins.}}

Our Pittsburgh historian, Mr. Charles W. Dahlinger, in his description, first recites the {{sic|grewsome|gruesome}} scenes on Maj. Grant's battlefield of September 14, Forbes' route passing over the battleground on what was for many years known as Grants Hill—Court House Hill, the old familiar hump, now mostly cut away. Then Mr. Dahlinger proceeds to say:

<blockquote>
The early winter dusk was stealing on, when the army emerged from the leafless woods, and reached the elevation where Grant had been so terribly punished. Here a short halt was ordered. Before them on the level plain below were the smoking ruins of the fort. Thirty chimneys rose naked above the ashes of as many houses. Not a Frenchman was to be seen. After the commands had been re-formed, with flags flying, drums beating and bagpipes playing, the army marched down the elevation to the plain and onward to the fort. The Southern Indians were in the advance. After them Col. Washington and Col. Armstrong at the head of the Provincials led the way. Of the Provincials, Washington's Virginians in their hunting shirts and Indian blankets, came first, then followed the Pennsylvanians (serving under Armstrong), their green uniforms turned up with buff. Most of the other Provincials marched in the dress now torn and ragged that they had worn when leaving their usual vocations; interspersed were frontiersmen dressed in buckskin, with fringed hunting shirts, {{sic|leggins|leggings}} and moccasins and wearing coonskin caps.
</blockquote>

{{subhead|Scotch Highlanders in Rear.}}

<blockquote>
Then came Gen. Forbes, now terribly wasted, reclining on his litter, but with bright eyes and eager interest, directing the march. Col. Bouquet rode in front of his Royal Americans who followed the Provincials. Their three-cornered hats and dark scarlet uniforms faced with blue contrasted markedly with the diversely clad Provincials. The Highlanders in bonnets and kilts and belted plaids in a long, picturesque line under their colonel, Montgomery, brought up the rear. Not a spectator was there to observe that imposing martial array but a few vagabond Indians who had remained to tell of the departure of the French.
</blockquote>

There is extant and frequently exhibited a fine steel engraving of the raising of the English standard over the ruins of Fort Duquesne. It was shown last November and December in the "City Charter Centennial Exhibition of Portraits, Views and Historical Relics of Early Pittsburgh" in the collection of Miss Winifred Jones. This steel engraving was the frontispiece of an old-time magazine. It represents a group of officers, one running up the flag and the subscript reads, "Washington raising the flag over Fort Duquesne." Mr. Dahlinger, whom we have followed, accords this honor to Col. Armstrong.

Was ever city so founded? And where is Washington's commemoration in this city, one that strikes the tourist with its magnitude and its fine art and evokes the query of its meaning and thus the story of the man and his deeds here and hereabouts?

{{subhead|Commemoration Here Small.}}

Where indeed in this city is Washington's name best commemorated and how? Outside of the city one may answer in Washington county. Within the city one answer that merits attention is the name, Mt. Washington, supplanting the former designation, "Coal Hill." Washington is said to have climbed this hill and his name has been so far perpetuated, having been continued from the borough name, Mount Washington, the borough created about 1806, and annexed to the city in 1874. The borough name for 40 years was maintained in the sub-school district name, the ward originally the Thirty-second.

Since the new school code the name has lapsed and the three schools of the former Mt. Washington sub-district are called by their own names regardless of the sub-district, such divisions having been abolished. So now we hear of the Prospect, Whittier and Cargo schools—like many others no clue in the names to their locations.

{{subhead|{{sic|Wasnihgton|Washington}} Street Passes.}}

What reasons can be advanced that the name of Washington applied to the historic hill will not in time be supplanted with some fantastic and incongruous appellation¾ We have seen historic names go—old-timers at that. Witness the passing of Washington street—to be sure we have "Washington Place" instead applied to the same thoroughfare, but it is unsatisfactory. The name, Washington, was applied to the street upon the laying out of the city in 1784 by George Woods and Thomas Vickroy, the original surveyors, and having lasted 125 years, in all fairness and by right of priority should have been allowed to remain as Washington street.

Who ever heard of the word "place" used to describe a thoroughfare a half mile long, or used as a synonym for road, street, highway, lane, pathway, passage, route, course or way?

{{subhead|Meaning Not Pertinent.}}

The primary meaning of the word "place" is a broad way in a city; an open space; an area, a court yard—which of these is Washington place? We may go through all the other definitions of that word place and find as little pertinency in the use of the word as applied to a way. Some day Washington place will be no more a name and it will dawn on somebody that the "place" is still a public highway and then a new name. Nothing strange about this procedure.

{{subhead|Names Changed Often.}}

Many names of local import have passed. We hear of Monument Hill, first called Hogback Hill, from its shape, the name coarse and distasteful, changed to Seminary Hill when the Presbyterians built their theological seminary on its summit in 1830. When their building was burned, January 23, 1854, the hill lost its distinguishing landmark, but for 14 years maintained its second and distinguishing name. Then after May 30, 1871, when the Soldiers' monument that still stands thereon, was completed and formally dedicated, the name changed to Monument Hill.

The monument constructed of Massillon sandstone has been refaced once. The elements are always at work. When the monument goes or is removed the designation "Monument" will become inapplicable, just as "Seminary" did. When it will be in order to bestow a new name—that is the usual procedure.

The movement last Thursday begun by the Sons of the American Revolution toward erecting a $25,000 monument to the Father of Our Country in Pittsburgh is a start in the right direction.

{{subhead|Other Names Fugacious.}}

Who hears frequently now of Ayres Hill, or its changed name, Boyds Hill? When the Bluff is mentioned this hill is called to mind, yet the bluff is but the high bank extending perpendicularly from the river. The word cannot be applied to the hill as a whole, its summit nor its slope.

So, too, "Quarry Hill" as an appellation has long gone. We shortened this to simply the "Hill," which is plain enough to Pittsburghers who know but rather needing explanation when strangers are considered, especially when strangers see many hills in and about Pittsburgh. Quarry Hill would not do now for its name, the quarries have long since gone—at least 100 years ago—or close to it.

{{subhead|Herron Hill Passing.}}

Then there is Herron Hill, named for its pioneer owners. This is gradually being supplanted by the more aristocratic designation, Schenley Heights. A recent article speaks of the "Schenley District of Pittsburgh." Which one, pray? There are a number of Schenley districts in Pittsburgh if by the term district is meant plots of ground owned by the Schenley estate. For many years this ground was built upon by tenants holding ground rents. A trip out Penn avenue will bring one to a typical Schenley district in the neighborhood of Twenty-seventh street.

One sees here a vastly different city section from the Schenley Farms tract, a section which owes its development to those who took title from the Schenleys, the Schenley Farms Company and their alienees. There are no farms on the tract now, hence the term "Farms" is a misnomer. It will go and the section will be known as "Schenley." Thus the name of an alien will shine with equal luster with George Washington in Pittsburgh, as applied to a locality. It may be stated that even now George Washington is secondary to Capt. Schenley in this respect. On the score of respectability who could think of comparing Mt. Washington as a locality resident or otherwise with Schenley Farms or its coming name Schenley? No one in the Schenley neighborhood.

{{subhead|We Have Washington Boulevard.}}

Really Capt. Schenley's name is heard oftener in Pittsburgh than George Washington's. The captain surely has the call. We may be assured that we have Washington boulevard, which is only a portion of that fine roadway, the whole called simply the boulevard, the sections Bigelow, Beechwood and Washington practically all one thoroughfare. This should have one name.

But George's friends need not worry. He is well commemorated in our geographical nomenclature and in a hundred forms. We know his name is honored in the appellation of our National Capital, in a state of the Union and in many counties. In fact, 30 states have Washington counties; of the original 13 colonies, counting Maine as part of Massachusetts, nine have honored our first president in this way. When it comes to enumerating towns, burgs and villes with "Washington" prefixed, one would have to take a day to mention all. If he had any time over he could count the Washington townships. When one comes to consider that George Washington has some streets and "places" named for him and these should be counted also the enumerator would likely ask for his discharge.

{{subhead|He Is the Most Honored.}}

Again, if streams, rivers, roads, ships, steamboats, hotels, restaurants, parks, libraries, colleges and people are mentioned, it is time to conclude that Washington of all Americans is the most honored in name commemoration. He outranks any famous American in the number of representations made of him, portraits, paintings, busts and silhouettes, bas reliefs in wax, water color drawings and in sculpture. The most famous artists of his years esteemed it an honor to paint or "sculp" or in some way delineate the Father of our country.

The earliest picture we have of George Washington is by Charles Wilson Peale, painted in 1772, when George Washington was 40, owned by the family of Gen. G.{{thin}}W. Custis Lee of Virginia. Peale made a number of paintings of Washington. The second was a miniature on ivory in 1777, when Washington was 45. Again in 1784, when Washington was 52; in 1787, Washington 55, and in 1795, when Washington was 63. Our best known and universally used portrait of Washington is that engraved from Gilbert Stuart's celebrated painting made in 1796, when Washington was 64. One by Stuart shown today is not so well known. This is the first painting of Washington by Stuart.

{{subhead|Sat for Many Pictures.}}

Other great artists who have depicted Washington were Joseph Wright, James Peale, Edward Savage, John Trumbull, Adolph Werthmueller, John Sharpless and St. Memin, the latter's the last portrait of George painted in 1798, the year before George Washington died. Wright painted George five times. Washington rather liked to have his "picture taken" and sat patiently for days at a time. A number of foreign artists also made paintings of George, some of little value, some fine art, notably those by two Scotchmen, Robertson by name, and not related.

{{subhead|Great Biographies Written.}}

George had some noted biographers also. Jared L. Sparks, once president of Harvard College, who has given us the greatest array of facts relating to Washington. John Marshall, the greatest chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, a name that is resonant of world fame, wrote a life of Washington originally in five large volumes, and that great man of letters, Washington Irving, did likewise, thus honoring the greater man for whom he took his baptismal name.

All these are old works. Marshall knew Washington well and was most competent to become his biographer. Modern biographies of Washington are numerous—all are good reading; all are uplifting. Marshall's first edition appeared in 1805, six years after Washington's death. His second edition, boiled down to two volumes, was published in 1832. The reading of these old works is to be commended. They tell all that was noteworthy of Washington, and Washington began Pittsburgh History and was here often enough to leave his name indissolubly linked with the name of Pittsburgh and hence ineradicable from Pittsburgh's history. We should know much of him.

{{subhead|Libraries Have His Books.}}

Our Pittsburgh libraries do much to encourage historic research, the schools teach history and have from year to year applied the lessons to local records and local phases. The lectures and stereopticon views under the auspices of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania are beginning to be more and more appreciated. Our libraries have gathered in everything extant concerning Washington's career in the region about Pittsburgh, to which ready access may be had in the reference rooms.

In the monthly bulletin of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for February, 1908, there can be found a reference list of the books with all references to Washington's visits to Pittsburgh and the Ohio country. This is a complete list and occupies 11 pages of the bulletin. This list was prepared previous to the celebration of the sesqui-centennial of Pittsburgh.

{{subhead|Wrote Journal at 21.}}

The list is chronological, beginning with Washington's accounts in his letters and journals, first his wintry experiences in 1753 when but 21 years old, Christopher Gist and a party accompanying him, but Washington and Gist returning alone, leaving his retinue to follow. It was while on this trip that he wrote in his journal:

<blockquote>
I spent some time in viewing the rivers and the land in the fork, which I think extremely well fitted for a fort, as it has the absolute command of both rivers. The land at the point is 20 or 25 feet above the common surface of the water; and a considerable bottom of flat, well-timbered land is all around it, very convenient for building; the rivers are each a quarter of a mile or more across, and run here very near at right angles: Aligany bearing N.{{thin}}E., and Monongahela, S.{{thin}}E. The former is a very rapid and swift-running water; the other deep and still, without any perceptible fall.
</blockquote>

Washington writes in the old style of penmanship, capitalizing and punctuation. It seems quaint now. It is concise and accurate in description. The fort came in due time.

{{subhead|His Writings Referred To.}}

The Library Bulletin recites under each subhead the books to be consulted, referring to page and volume. The second sub-head refers to Washington's Fort Necessity campaign, 1754. Under this head the "Olden Time" by Neville B. Craig is the only local publication mentioned. Washington's writings, edited by W.{{thin}}C. Ford, are referred to continuously; so too, Sparks'; also the various histories of Allegheny county, Isaac D. Rupp's and J.{{thin}}R. Albach's histories and J.{{thin}}M. Toner's edition of Washington's journal, this latter most valuable.

Other subheads are given as follows in this reference list: "Braddock's Expedition, 1755;" "Expedition against Fort Duquesne, 1758;" "Tour to the Ohio, 1770;" "Tour to the Ohio, 1784;" "Accounts of Washington's Visits by Other Writers," "Magazine Articles" and "Newspaper Articles."

{{subhead|Local Men Recognized.}}

Under the head, "Accounts by Other Writers," are included 62 names. These include all the noted historians of our country, George Bancroft, Cyrus Townsend Brady, Samuel Adams Drake, Edward Everett, John Fiske, Edward Everett Hale, Albert Bushnell Hart, Archer Butler Hulbert, Henry Cabot Lodge, Benson J. Lossing, Silas Weir Mitchell, Francis Parkman, Horace E. Scudder, Reuben Gold Thwaites, Charles W. Upham and Justin Winsor. Veritably a striking list.

Our local historians and the historians of neighboring counties receive due recognition, viz.: Thomas J. Chapman's works, N.{{thin}}B. Craig's, Boyd Crumrine's histories (Washington county), Franklin Ellis' (Fayette county), Darlington's, "Gist's Journals;" Miss Sarah H. {{sic|Kilikelly's|Killikelly's}} "History of Pittsburgh;" W.{{thin}}H. Laudermilk's "History of Cumberland, Maryland;" J.{{thin}}H. Newton's "History of Venango County;" A.{{thin}}W. Patterson's "History of the Backwoods" (very good for Washington's first two visits), and James Veech's "The Monongahela of Old."

{{subhead|Frost's Pictorial Life.}}

Of course, standard and well-known works such as Sparks', Marshall's and Irving's are mentioned. Then there are various state reports and official publications both of Virginia and Pennsylvania. James Hadden's newspaper stories since printed in other forms, Frost's "Pictorial Life of George, Washington," 1848; Norman Hapgood's biography of him, 1901; James Kirk Paulding's "Life of Washington," 1858, are somewhat less known works—Paulding's for young folks first appearing in 1835.

{{subhead|Quick Publicity Six Months.}}

The magazine articles are especially interesting and valuable. One real old one is the London Magazine for July, 1754, which gives Washington's account of his journey to the French forts the preceding winter. This was quick work for publicity in those days, considering the distance and slow methods of travel.

The "Magazine of Western History," tells the story of Washington's Western lands. Niles' "Weekly Register" between June, 1816, and May, 1818, has various Washington articles. Then we have the "Pennsylvania Magazine of History" and the "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" of various dates more than 20 years ago, and the "Canadian Monthly" for January, 1872, discussing the Jumonville affair, and finally in the "Historical Magazine" for July, 1862, is the outline of M. Thomas' historical poem, "Jumonville," with English translations of parts and comments. This work appeared in Paris in 1759 and painted the death of Jumonville in the most tragic style, ascribing all the subsequent misfortunes of the English to this unpardonable killing, holding it to have been murder.

{{subhead|Washington in a Poem.}}

In this once famous poem Washington, without being once named, parades through its entire length as the Satan as in Paradise Lost. The French seemed, however, to have forgiven him for less than 30 years afterwards they sent troops under Rochambeau and a fleet under DeGrasse to help Washington against Great Britain, and they did help materially.

The long and carefully compiled list of books above is not by any means all the Washington history extant. It is the list of books containing in whole or in part the history Washington made in this region. Much of it therefore is Pittsburgh history—great portion of it indeed. The library has this list printed and bound for distribution.

Peale's picture shown today was painted in 1779 when Washington was temporarily in Pennsylvania. It was once partly destroyed by vandals. In 1779 Gen. Washington was 47 years old. Note the difference from Stuart's picture made in 1795 and the usually shown one by Stuart made in 1796. How age crept on.

Source:Fleming-buying

2026-03-17T16:50:05Z

Bkell: add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=Buying battle field recalls fierce fight
|subtitle1=Westmoreland co. teachers to show patriotism in a new manner
|subtitle2=Mistake rectified
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-01-07
|section=5
|page=2
|npcom=85515513
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-buying
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-buying/content

2026-03-17T16:49:52Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|BUYING BATTLE FIELD RECALLS FIERCE FIGHT}}

{{deck|Westmoreland Co. Teachers to Show Patriotism in a New Manner.}}

{{deck|MISTAKE RECTIFIED}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

THE resolution of the Westmoreland county teachers to purchase a portion of the Bushy Run battle ground near Manor, decided upon at their annual institute in Greensburg in December, and to erect there a suitable monument to Col. Henry Bouquet, revives interest in the story of the hard-fought battle and the importance of the victory to Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and to the English colonies in general.

The purchase and marking of these historical places is generally regarded as the duty of the state, which has a Historical Commission for the purpose and which has done much work along these lines. The intention of the Westmoreland teachers to own, control and mark the Bushy Run Memorial, within the historic county of Westmoreland, is a new step in patriotism, a new method in teaching history and an effective one.

{{subhead|Anxious to Be Accurate.}}

It is necessary to correct a mis-statement in the story of December 24, 1916, in regard to the Pennsylvania Canal on the North Side.

The statement read:

"The right of way in Allegheny from Federal street east was on the bed of the old canal, and until recent years a section of the canal bed was in evidence under the building that stood where a restaurant now stands in Federal street."

This has brought a letter from a former resident of old Allegheny City, in which he says:

"I know how anxious you are to be accurate in your historical contributions and therefore take the liberty of calling your attention to the fact that the paragraph is not strictly correct. The right of way for the Fort Wayne road east of Federal street was located on the north side of the canal. In fact, the canal was in operation for some time after the railroad had been extended to the Pittsburgh side of the river. The canal bed was afterward occupied by the West Penn Railroad and the passenger station of that road (the station now abandoned) was directly over the canal bed on Federal street. I was raised in Allegheny and am certain that the above statement is correct."

They are correct. The mis-statement came in a contribution from another Alleghenian and as he was a friend and a local historian, his data was accepted with no misgivings as to their accuracy. Those who are keeping these stories will appreciate the correction and also the spirit in which it has been made.

{{subhead|History Full of Indian Fights.}}

Coming back to Col. Bouquet and his fierce battle at Bushy Run, the first point to be noted is that standard histories are full of accounts of this battle. Francis Parkman has given us a complete account in his book, "The Conspiracy of Pontiac."

Our local historian, the late William M. Darlington, has put into a most desirable work, entitled "Fort Pitt and Letters from the Frontier," all that is pertinent and accessible of the history of those eventful years. Daniel W. Kauffman of Pittsburgh and William O. Hickok of Harrisburg published in 1846 a volume entitled "Early History of Western Pennsylvania and of the West and of Western Expeditions and Campaigns from 1754 to 1833. By a gentleman of the Bar, with an Appendix containing besides copious extracts from important Indian treaties, minutes of conferences, journals, etc.; a topographical description of the counties of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Somerset, Greene, Fayette, Beaver, Butler and Armstrong. Illustrated by several drawings."

The "gentleman of the Bar" turned out to be Mr. Isaac Daniel Rupp of Harrisburg, author of several county histories of Eastern Pennsylvania. The drawings especially are notable. These are a "Sketch of Col. Bouquet's Engagement with 400 Indians Near Bushy Run, 6th August, 1763," lithographed by Sinclair of Philadelphia; a facsimile from the original drawing and Stobo's plan of Fort Duquesne, accompanying Stobo's letter to Gov. Morris, July 28, 1754.

{{subhead|Chain of Forts on Frontier.}}

The story of Bouquet and events at Fort Pitt in 1763 is told by Rupp in Chapter VIII. The inset sketch of the battle is in this chapter, which takes 35 pages. Rupp's appendix matter, rare and highly pertinent, takes up half his bok. Following the account of Pontiac's war, sometimes called Guyasutha's war, hereabouts, Mr. Rupp proceeds to the story of Lord Dunmore's war. The book is a history of Indian warfare. Mr. Rupp spells the name of the great Seneca chief, Kiashutha, which in the main is used by Neville B. Craig in his historical writings.

Parkman gives the name of the commander at Fort Pitt during the memorable siege by Pontiac's chief lieutenant, Kiashuta, as Capt. Simeon Ecuyer; most writers call him Simon Ecuyer. He was a Swiss, a countryman of Boquet and like him a soldier in the British Army, a cool, brave, energetic commander. The fame of one carries with it the fame of the other, the besieged and the reliever.

The year 1763 was fateful in American history. Then the British settlements did not extend beyond the Allegheny mountains. Bedford in Pennsylvania was the extreme verge of our frontier. To the south of the Virginia settlements extended to a corresponding distance.

Fort Stanwix, named for the British general who built Fort Pitt, was the most important Northern English fort. It stood where the city of Rome, New York, now stands. Two or three smaller posts formed a chain of defense. On the Western extremity of Lake Ontario stood Fort Niagara at the mouth of that river. It was a strong work, a work most necessary to hold as it guarded the whole New York country.

The chain of forts continued to the South, the route following the river by the great cataract to Presque Isle on Lake Erie, now within the city of Erie. There the chain went by a short overland passage to Fort Le Boeuf, on French creek, now Waterford in Erie county. Thence it went to the mouth of French creek, to Venango since Franklin, Pa., thence down the Allegheny to Fort Pitt. We are mindful of Washington's and Gist's journey to LeBoeuf and {{sic|Vanango|Venango}} in the winter of 1753, the forts then belonging to the French chain, no longer tenable by them after the fall of Quebec, practically valueless after the destruction of Fort Duquesne.

{{subhead|Describes Fort Pitt.}}

Parkman says of Fort Pitt that its position was as captivating to the eye of an artist as it was commanding in a military point of view.

He recounts the Braddock expedition, the French fort, the battle with the Indians fought disastrously by Maj. Grant and the coming of Forbes and the building of Fort Pitt, which he described thus:

"It was a strong fortification with ramparts of earth, faced with brick on the side looking down the Ohio. Its walls have long since been levelled to the ground and over their ruins have risen warehouses, and forges with countless chimneys rolling up their black volumes of smoke; where once the bark canoe lay on the strand, a throng of steamers now lie, moored along the crowded levee."

Pontiac, the Indian chief, failed at Detroit where Maj. Gladwyn held out, saved by a friendly squaw by timely warning. Fort Pitt must have succumbed had it not been for Bouquet and Bushy Run.

Previous to the Pontiac outbreak, the borderland was quiet. Early in May, 1763, Capt. Ecuyer received warnings of danger. He wrote Col. Bouquet at Philadelphia.

{{subhead|Suspicion Caused by Indians.}}

"Maj. Gladwyn writes to tell me that I am surrounded by rascals. He complains a great deal of the Delawares and Shawanese. It is this {{sic|cavaille|canaille}} who stir up the rest to mischief."

May 27, at dusk, a party of Indians came down the banks of the Allegheny with laden pack horses. They made their fires and camped on the river bank until daybreak. They had a great quantity of valuable furs, which they traded at the fort demanding in exchange bullets, hatchets and gunpowder—no finery gew-gaws or strouds, (Indian coats), or blankets.

Their conduct was peculiar—sufficiently so to excite suspicion. One could be naturally suspicious of the redskins then and for a century after. The impression deepened that these Indians were either spies or had hostile designs.

These suspicions were well grounded. Hardly had the Indians gone when the tidings came that Col. Clapham, and other persons, male and female, had been murdered and scalped near the fort. Later tidings came of Indians abandoning their towns. This meant that they were bent on mischief. The alarm spread. There were daily refugees, traders and others coming into the fort. News came of the murder and capture of all English traders in the Western country, and the confiscating of their goods.

A messenger sent to warn the garrison at Venango was driven back, returning sorely wounded. One trader, Calhoun, on the Tuscarawas in Ohio with 13 companions was deprived of arms and sent under escort of three braves for safe guidance to Fort Pitt. These guides led the men into an ambush at the mouth of Beaver River. Eleven were killed. Calhoun and two others succeeded in escaping. This was Indian treachery.

Accounts of these outrages came in to Fort Pitt daily. At Fort Ligonier the alarm was great. A volley of bullets fired suddenly upon the garrison there did little harm but left no doubt that the redskins were nearby and in force. Even in the vicinity of Fort Bedford there were outrages.

Boquet was kept informed of affairs by Ecuyer. May 29 the latter wrote:

"Just as I finished my letter three men came in from Clapham's with the Melancholy News that yesterday at 3 o'clock in the Afternoon, the Indians murdered Clapham, and Every Body in his House. These three men were out at work and escaped through the Woods. I immediately armed them and sent them to assist our people at Bushy Run. The Indians have told Byerly (at Bushy Run) to leave his place in four days or he and his Family would all be murdered: I am Uneasy for the little Posts—As for this, I will answer for it."

Boquet meant he would protect Fort Pitt and he kept his word. Ecuyer wrote in French all his letters to Boquet. The above rendition verbatim et literatim is someone's translation.

{{subhead|Disease Within—Indians Outside.}}

Ecuyer got busy. All houses and cabins outside the ramparts of Fort Pitt were leveled to the ground. Before dawn each morning drums were beaten and the troops ordered to the alarm posts. The fort was defended by 330 soldiers, traders and backwoodsmen. The numbers may seem large, but there were within the fort 100 women and a still larger number of children, families of settlers in the neighborhood about to build cabins in and about the new town of Pittsburgh.

Ecuyer was confronted by dangers within and without. He wrote Boquet:

"We are so crowded in the fort that I fear disease, for in spite of every care I cannot keep the place as clean as I would like. Besides the smallpox is among us, and I have therefore caused a hospital to be built under the drawbridge out of range of musket shot. I am determined to hold my post, spare my men and never expose them without necessity."

This letter was written June 16, 1763. Ecuyer had also previously written:

"We have alarms from and skirmishes with the Indians every day but they have done us little harm as yet. Yesterday, I was out with a party of men when we were fired upon and one of the sergeants was killed, but we beat off the Indians and brought the man in with his scalp on. Last night the Bullock Guard was fired upon and one cow killed. We are obliged to be on duty day and night. The Indians have cut off above 100 of our traders in the woods besides all our little Posts. We have plenty of provisions, and the fort is in such good posture for defense, that with God's assistance we can defend it against 1,000 Indians.

Ecuyer lives only in history. Boquet has been commemorated in a street name here. Ecuyer was passed by for {{sic|Wargo|Warlo|probably}} and other designations, meaningless and uninspiring.

Summer came on. The desultory outrages reported were mainly the mischief of unruly young warriors, with no chief of sufficient ability or renown to control them. It became dangerous to venture outside the walls of Fort Pitt. A few attempted it but were shot and scalped by lurking savages.

The sentinels were nightly fired on; even during the day it was dangerous to expose a head above the ramparts. Prowling savages were everywhere, whose numbers seemed daily increasing, yet no attempt was made at a general attack.

This came June 22 when a war party appeared at the farthest extremity of the cleared lands east of the fort. This party drove off all the horses that were grazing there and killed the cattle. Having accomplished this there was opened a general fire of musketry from all sides upon the fort and though the range was long two men of the garrison were killed.

The garrison answered by a discharge of howitzers from the fort, whose bursting shells brought dismay and astonishment to the Indians in the woods. They drew off but at intervals throughout the night the flashes of rifles were seen and Indian whoopings heard.

June 23 at 9 o'clock a.{{thin}}m. the Indians approached the fort, with perfect confidence, and stood at the outer end of the ditch. A Delaware chief, Turtle's Heart, addressed the garrison with a characteristic Indian speech. The Indians were their friends, he said. All the English forts had been overcome except Pitt; a great army of Indians was marching hither to destroy the garrison; they must leave, take all the women and children and go down to the English settlements; they must go at once. There were many bad Indians about, he said, but Turtle's Heart and his warriors would give them safe guarantee. If they hesitated until the six great nations arrived all the garrison and people in the fort would be killed, he threatened.

The Indians, hoping to gain a safe and easy possession, were quite discomfited, when Ecuyer resolutely refused these demands and replied in kind telling of three armies on the way to his relief. Six thousand English, a host of Virginia frontiersmen, and a large war party of the Delawares', hereditary foes of the Cherokees and Catawbas. Ecuyer besought them to withdraw and save themselves, their wives and children, and said Ecuyer naively: "We hope that you will not tell the other Indians lest they should escape from our vengeance."

{{subhead|Wanted Chance to Massacre.}}

June 26 another parley ensued. A party of Indians numbering among them Shingass and Turtle's Heart, were admitted. These were all chiefs of distinction. They told of the Ottawas about Detroit, spurring them on to overpower and destroy the garrison and people at Fort Pitt. In characteristic Indian language what they had to say came from their hearts and not from their lips. They wished to hold fast the chain of friendship, the ancient chain that their forefathers held with the English. The English had let the chain fall to the ground. The Delawares still had their end fast in their hands. The English, despite remonstrances, had marched armies into their country and built forts that the Indians wished removed. Pitt was one of these. The land was the Indians' land. They recited the demands of the Ottawas and finally demanded that the English leave the fort immediately and no harm would come of it but if they stayed, they must blame themselves for what would happen.

Ecuyer absolutely refused. He could hold out three years, he said; he would fire bombs into them and their bursting shells would destroy them by the hundreds. He again advised the Indians to go home.

From this time, when a general siege was begun, until after August 6 when Boquet came was a critical point in our history.

Notes:Stevenson Street

2026-03-16T01:20:18Z

Bkell: to do: Source:Fleming-physicians

{{todo|[[Source:Fleming-physicians]]: "Dr. Stevenson resided here until 1825 when he returned East and lived a life of leisure well earned. He died in Wilmington, Del., in 1829. He left two sons, both physicians, Dr. Henry Stevenson of the United States Army and Dr. T.{{thin}}S. Stevenson of Carlisle. The family name is commemorated in Stevenson street."}}

Notes:Bedford Avenue

2026-03-16T01:18:24Z

Bkell: to do: Source:Fleming-physicians

Brief biography of Nathaniel Bedford: [[Source:Miller-chronicles]], {{page|5}}.

{{todo|[[Source:Fleming-physicians]]: "We do not name Bedford avenue in honor of Pittsburgh's first physician, that name came most probably from the County of Bedford, the name there from the English county, and in the same way we have Lancaster, York, Cumberland, etc. Bedford avenue originally began at Fulton street, now Fullerton, the part below was called Prospect street. We can think of Dr. Bedford when passing along Bedford avenue. The name is English and he was a native of England. {{...}} ¶ {{...}} ¶ {{...}} Dr. Bedford has some [local commemoration], but slight enough. The old school on Bingham street between South Ninth and Tenth streets is called in his honor, and the old Twenty-ninth Ward was the Bedford school district. The square around the South Side Market at Twelfth street, formerly Denman, was once known as Bedford square."}}

Source:Fleming-physicians

2026-03-16T01:15:18Z

Bkell: add content

{{news
|first=George T.
|last=Fleming
|title=Story of early Pittsburgh physicians
|subtitle1=Tale of Dr. Bedford's grave and transfer to downtown church
|subtitle2=Hardships many
|paper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times
|date=1917-03-18
|section=5
|page=2
|npcom=85858842
|is-subref={{{is-subref|}}}
|source-name=Fleming-physicians
}}<noinclude>{{source content}}</noinclude>

Source:Fleming-physicians/content

2026-03-16T01:14:51Z

Bkell: transcribe column

{{headline|STORY OF EARLY PITTSBURGH PHYSICIANS}}

{{deck|Tale of Dr. Bedford's Grave and Transfer to Downtown Church.}}

{{deck|HARDSHIPS MANY}}

{{byline|By GEORGE T. FLEMING.}}

THE story of the Cub-ba-You-Quit case in last Sunday's Gazette Times made mention of pioneer families in Pittsburgh—Judge Alexander Addison, his daughter Eliza, wife of Dr. Peter Mowry; Dr. William Addison, the judge's son, partner of Dr. Mowry, and Dr. Nathaniel Bedford, preceptor of Dr. Mowry.

William Addison Mowry, whose common-law marriage with the Indian girl, Cub-ba-You-Quit, made the ejectment proceedings in behalf of their daughter possible, was the son of Dr. Peter and Eliza Addison Mowry. Mention of Dr. Mowry and Dr. Bedford serves to recall the story of Pittsburgh's early physicians, also their life stories, and much of this is interesting history, for these men lived in stirring times, had taken part in great events, were builders in a small way of the nation and in a larger sense of the town and city of Pittsburgh. They were noted men in their day, large owners of realty here, and greatly respected.

{{subhead|Mowry First Medical Student.}}

Nathaniel Bedford was the first physician to locate in Pittsburgh and Peter Mowry the first medical student here studying under Dr. Bedford, to whom he was indentured after the manner of the times.

Historians of Pittsburgh say Dr. Mowry was an apprentice of Dr. Bedford. This sounds strange, now one would say a medical student. Apprentices were held to a strict accountability. They lived with their masters and served their term of indenture usually for small pay and a small sum at completion of their apprenticeship. Such was Peter Mowry.

There is a difference of ten years in the brief biographies of Dr. Mowry as they appear in Pittsburgh histories. One states that he was born in 1760, another in 1770. Neither states the place of his birth. One says he entered Dr. Bedford's office in 1786, the other 1784. By the first account he would have been 26 years of age, and by the second, 14. It is more reasonable to assume the latter is correct.

{{subhead|Two Doctors Here in 1786.}}

Dr. Mowry in his will devised his donation of lands to his brothers, Philip and Daniel. These lands were given by the state to Pennsylvania soldiers for services in the Revolution. Peter Mowry could not have been a soldier had he been born in 1770. He could have acquired these lands in question by purchase.

We know from the statement of the Pittsburgh Gazette in its first issue, July 29, 1786, that there were two doctors then in Pittsburgh. One was Dr. Bedford, the other Dr. George Stevenson. Pittsburgh histories state that Dr. Bedford came to Fort Pitt in 1765 as a surgeon in the British army. In 1770 he resigned his commission and took up his permanent residence here.

Dr. Bedford has an interesting history. He was one of the first permanent residents and one of the largest landholders in the old borough of Birmingham. He is described as a polished gentleman, thoroughly educated in his profession as his commission as surgeon attested. He was successful in his business ventures and soon was the possessor of a modest fortune in realty.

{{subhead|Lived at Liberty and Irwin.}}

James M. Riddle's first directory of Pittsburgh (1815) contains the line, "Nathaniel Bedford, gentleman, Birmingham." The map of Pittsburgh for 1795 shows Dr. Bedford's residence at Liberty and Irwin streets, the latter later Seventh street. His grounds occupied the block between Barkers alley, Penn, Seventh and Liberty street.

It is not known in what year Dr. Bedford retired from practice. He was born in 1755, as the inscription on his monument attests, and died in 1818, aged 63. Then he was 10 years old when he came as surgeon to Fort Pitt and 15 when he resigned his commission. If he was a surgeon at Fort Pitt in the British service he must have been here in 1774 or prior to that year, for by orders of Gen. Thomas Gage, commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America, Fort Pitt was then abandoned and seized by the Virginia authorities.

One can see the difficulties a compiler of history encounters when dates are considered. The discrepancies noted in Dr. Bedford's case are only samples. If he was in Pittsburgh prior to 1770 as a surgeon the description of the date of his birth is erroneous, but as it came through Masonic sources it will be accepted by many as correct and the surgeon story passed by as presenting an absurdity.

{{subhead|One of Trinity's First Vestrymen.}}

Dr. Bedford was a prominent man in the young and growing town of Pittsburgh. He was a trustee under the Penn grant of land to Trinity Church, the land on which the church is built, in Sixth avenue. This grant was made in 1787. He was also one of the first vestrymen of the church and a charter member of the congregation.

Dr. Bedford was an incorporator of the Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, that institution merged into the Western University of Pennsylvania, now the University of Pittsburgh. He was burgess of the borough of Pittsburgh in 1806 and must have removed to the south side of the Mononghela after that date.

The history of Lodge 45, Free and Accepted Masons of Pittsburgh records that Nathaniel Bedford was made a master mason in 1785, and that he was master of that lodge in 1800, and that several years later he resigned from the lodge. He died March 21, 1818.

Dr. Bedford was buried on a plot of ground on the hillside above what is now South Twelfth street, the Twelfth street incline passing the spot. For many years his monument erected by the Freemasons could be seen. This plot Dr. Bedford deeded to a Methodist congregation on condition that they build a church on the premises which consisted of a half-acre of ground. The church was built but dissensions arising and the debt on the church not being paid the property went to a sale and was purchased by John Nusser, father of John H. Nusser. The Nusser family lived on the site for many years. Mrs. Nusser is still living in {{sic|Pittburgh|Pittsburgh}}, at an advanced age.

John Nusser changed the church into a dwelling to which later a mansard was added, and for many years Mr. Nusser operated a brewery on the lower end of his lot on what was then Manor street, subsequently used for the right of way of the Monongahela division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The old brewery was immediately above the Twelfth Street incline, along the tracks on the upper side. The Nusser home on the hillside above the site of the brewery is still standing and now used by the St. Vincent Literary Society of St. Michael's congregation.

John Nusser took title to the property in 1854. The family new of Dr. Bedford's interment on the lot and their first act was to ascertain the location of his grave and search for the monument that had stood over it, but which had disappeared. The iron urn that had surmounted it lay in the yard.

{{subhead|Miscreants Tumble Urn.}}

During the exciting times of the anti-Masonic furore that raged in the '30's some miscreants who hated anything pertaining to the craft, knowing of the Masonic emblems on the Dr. Bedford monument, went there and tumbled the urn off and threw the shaft and base into the ravine below, where the Nussers found it by diligent search years afterward.

The monument was set up at one corner of the yard and the urn in the garden. Those who traveled up and down the Twelfth street incline prior to 1907, when the monument was removed, will remember the urn and the well-kept garden around the Nusser home.

John H. Nusser, or Young John, was mainly instrumental in having the monument restored on his father's place and did so at an expense of $27.50, his first earnings. The marble cutter who did the work, amused at the boy's earnestness, agreed to take that sum, although at current rates the job was worth more. Mr. Nusser was about 15 years old at the time. He says he has never regretted the outlay.

{{subhead|Search Reveals Bones.}}

For many years the grave of Dr. Bedford was lost, but the Nussers in digging a cistern unearthed some bones and a search revealed all that remained. At one time alleged descendants of Dr. Bedford came to the Nusser home and wanted to take the remains away but only Mrs. Nusser then knew where they lay and she refused to designate the place, saying they should remain as they were buried and as he had desired.

When the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad, now the Monongahela division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was built in 1873–76, the hillside was cut down quite steep in some places and the Nusser homestead and grounds were much changed.

The doctor's monument he himself selected and he had erected sometime prior to his death and the beautiful Masonic emblems he ordered placed on it. They are still conspicuous on the re-erected monument in Trinity church yard.

In 1857 Lodge 45 appointed a committee to ascertain where the remains of Dr. Bedford lay and to care for the grave, but the effort came to naught. In 1909 the lodge was more successful. Having been notified by John H. Nusser, the remains and monument were transferred to Trinity church yard.

The Pittsburgh chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1909 placed a bronze tablet upon the monument containing the original wording of the inscriptions and the verse which reads:

<blockquote><poem>
The mystic band of Masons bright
Mourn the deceased, a son of Light;
Whose soul dissolved at misery's grief,
Promptly offered sweet relief.
A widowed spouse records his name
Of purest Honor, upright Fame;
A husband's faith, a prent's care,
Claim memory's tributary tear.
</poem></blockquote>

In the final disposition of Dr. Bedford's bones Monongahela Lodge No. 269 of the South Side and some others aided, notably the late John H. Sorg.

{{subhead|Gave Way to Progress.}}

The history of Lodge 45 gives this account of the Doctor:

"The property of which the burial ground was part was needed for the extension of railroad facilities and the last resting place of Dr. Bedford was disturbed by the inroads of progress. Lodge 45, being informed of the sad condition of the monument rising above him, at once, in honor of his having been one of its early members, had the stone shaft and his remains removed to Trinity Churchyard, where he had been a member. The monument may be seen against the west wall of the church.

"A singular fact is that he, a pioneer of Pittsburgh's early days who relieved the sufferings of humanity, should now be side by side with Red Pole, an Indian whose friendliness and love for the whites had saved them many hardships and sufferings—aye, even death—at the hands of his own race."

Red Pole, or Mio-qua-Coo-na-Caw, was a Shawanese chief, who, passing through Pittsburgh with a party of chiefs on their way to Philadelphia, then the nation's capital, took very sick in Pittsburgh and was attended by Dr. Bedford. He died January 28, 1797. "Lamented by the United States," the inscription reads on his tombstone in Trinity Churchyard. He died of pneumonia. The stone over his grave was placed there by the government.

{{subhead|Not Disturbed by Railroad.}}

The lodge account differs somewhat from Mr. Nusser's story. The grave of Dr. Bedford was not disturbed by the railroad cut, having been too high above, and the monument re-erected by John H. Nusser's liberality was not placed over the grave, for at the time he did not know of its location. In time he did know. Some time before the removal of the remains Mr. Nusser told some of the members of a literary society that if they would meet him at a certain place on a fixed night he would show them Dr. Bedford.

{{subhead|Dug Up His Bones.}}

If slang were then in vogue it is presumable that some of the literary fellows said, "Let's beat him to it." And this they did, with pick and shovel and dug up the worthy doctor's bones, taking his skull with them. That night the members rehearsed Hamlet, "Alas, Poor Yorick." Mr. Nusser was considerably surprised to have the skull returned a few days later.

We do not name Bedford avenue in honor of Pittsburgh's first physician, that name came most probably from the County of Bedford, the name there from the English county, and in the same way we have Lancaster, York, Cumberland, etc. Bedford avenue originally began at Fulton street, now Fullerton, the part below was called Prospect street. We can think of Dr. Bedford when passing along Bedford avenue. The name is English and he was a native of England. Some Pittsburgh historians say he never married; the verses state differently.

Dr. George Stevenson was the second physician who settled in Pittsburgh. In the directory of 1815 we find the line, "George Stephenson, physician, west side of Penn between Hay and Pitt"; today Penn avenue between old Fourth and Fifth streets. He was a Revolutionary soldier, born in York, Pa., in 1759, and when that war broke out a student at the Carlisle Academy. He served with credit and distinction, was conspicuous for gallantry at the battle of the Brandywine and endured all the privations of that terrible winter at Valley Forge.

{{subhead|Formed a Company.}}

After the war he returned to Carlisle and having completed his course in medicine located there. When the Whisky Insurrection stirred the old patriots, Dr. Stevenson organized a company of infantry in Carlisle and joined Gen. Henry Lee's army marching to Pittsburgh to put down the insurrection. He was attracted by the beauty of the place and on the expiration of his term of service returned to Carlisle and brought his family here and continued to practice his profession here.

For many years Dr. Stevenson was one of Pittsburgh's most prominent citizens. He first resided next door to the northwest corner of Market and Second streets on Market street. Here he conducted his "shop." All physicians conducted shops—selling drugs, medicines and sometimes surgical instruments. Dr. Stevenson was chief burgess of Pittsburgh in 1801.

We find by looking up the records that Dr. Stevenson served in the Revolution as a third lieutenant in the First Pennsylvania Regiment until 1778, when he resigned to study medicine, but reentered the service in 1779 as a surgeon's mate with the rank of ensign. This position most probably what is now designated as hospital steward.

{{subhead|Lived at Leisure.}}

Dr. Stevenson resided here until 1825 when he returned East and lived a life of leisure well earned. He died in Wilmington, Del., in 1829. He left two sons, both physicians, Dr. Henry Stevenson of the United States Army and Dr. T.{{thin}}S. Stevenson of Carlisle. The family name is commemorated in Stevenson street.

While in Pittsburgh Dr. Stevenson, like most of the soldiers of the Revolution, was an ardent Federalist, and one of the leaders of that party, having for colleagues James O'Hara, Judge Alexander Addison, the Nevilles, father and son, Mayor Isaac Craig, Maj. Ebenezer Denny, Senator James Ross and Editor John Scull of the Pittsburgh Gazette.

Peter Mowry, apprentice in medicine of Nathaniel Bedford, served his time as he was indentured to do. He made rapid progress and soon acquired sufficient knowledge to accompany his instructor on his visits. The life of a pioneer physician was filled with hardships, shared by his apprentices.

{{subhead|Few Street Lights Then.}}

There were no paved streets in Pittsburgh in those years. Sidewalks were few and then constructed of rough planks. At night a few streets were poorly lighted. Many were unlighted—so dark that the famed Cimmerian darkness fairly shone in comparison. The doctor usually rode to visit patients who lived at a distance. Generally he went on horseback; if the roads were in fair condition he rode in the old-time "gig," a two-wheeled vehicle much used by physicians and sometimes called a "chaise."

The doctor carried his medicines with him in his saddle bags and in the sick room mixed his potion, or draught or pills or powders. A very necessary article was a lantern. This in condition for use, always sat in the corner of the hall behind the front door, and the doctor was as likely to go without his hat at night as without his lantern.

Some of these lanterns were expensive and ornamental, with brass frame and plate glass. They were illuminated with a wax candle. Cheaper grades of lanterns were of tin in cylindrical shape containing a tallow dip. These cylinders were perforated. Samples of these old-time articles may be seen in the Carnegie Museum.

{{subhead|Hung Lantern on Saddle.}}

The doctor carried also a stout stick or cane and slung his saddle bags over his shoulder. If on horseback he hung his lantern at his saddle bow, and if in his gig, it sat on the seat beside him.

During the early years of Pittsburgh the burying grounds were around the churches, that around Trinity alone remaining. At funerals the bier was borne on the shoulders of the pallbearers, the distance usually not great. Custom demanded the presence of the attending physician at the head of the procession to the grave. This custom {{sic|lead|led}} waggish Billy Price, foundryman, of Roundhouse fame to call out to a leading doctor, on such an occasion.

"Ah, doctor, I see you are delivering your work the same as I do."

Peter Mowry was a good apprentice. His duties were manifold and sometimes unpleasant. He pounded pungent drugs in an iron mortar with a heavy pestle; he made tinctures and spread plasters; rolled pills and measured powders in the "shop."

{{subhead|Polished His Master's Boots.}}

He was errand boy also—often making long trips with medicine, and often sent by his master for information regarding patients. He usually went along with his master at night as a link boy, or torch-bearer. He cleaned his master's boots, polished his silver buckles and swept and tidied up the office, carried coal and wood and made the fires.

As the apprentice's knowledge increased, so did his responsibilities. He assisted his master in the painful surgery before the use of anesthetics. He drew teeth and let blood, and assisted in all the practice he would ever employ. When he was adjudged sufficiently far along in his course he crossed the mountains on horseback, or by stage, to attend lectures usually at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Peter Mowry went through all this routine in the school of practical instruction. In due time he entered the University of Pennsylvania while the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush was there as a professor.

On his return from his course of lectures Dr. Mowry married Eliza, daughter of Judge Addison and entered into partnership with Dr. Bedford. He soon attained a high rank in the profession and was for some time accounted the leading medical authority in Pittsburgh.

{{subhead|Became Mowry's Partner.}}

William Addison, a son of Judge Addison, studied under his brother-in-law, attended lectures and then spent two years in Paris, finally graduating at the University of Maryland. Upon the completion of his studies he entered into partnership with Dr. Mowry and became one of Pittsburgh's leading physicians. He lived to an advanced age.

Dr. Mowry died in 1833. In his will he styles himself "a practitioner of physick." He had two sons who became physicians, William and Bedford; both, however, died in early life. The Mowry land noted in last Sunday's article consisted originally of 100½ acres, {{nowrap|23 7-10}} perches, strict measure, and was conveyed to him by John Fretchman. It began at the Allegheny River about Fifty-first street and extended to McCandless avenue, crossing Butler street and passing beyond the cemetery, described as in Pitt township and bounded by lands of George A. Bayard, heirs of Jacob Negley and other lands of Fritchman—all pioneer names; Bayard and Negley most common today. Fritchman had much land in the vicinity. In 1830 he lived in Versailles township. The consideration to him for Mowry's purchase was $4,500. On this tract Dr. Mowry resided until his death.

{{subhead|Sold 100 Acres for $50,000.}}

About 60 acres of Bayard's holdings were purchased for the Allegheny Cemetery for $15,000. Later Mr. Bayard sold his entire Hatfield property of 100 acres, including the mansion, for $50,000. Mrs. Eliza Mowry and the other executors of the estate of Dr. Peter Mowry first conveyed the portion of the Mowry estate, about 56 acres, to John H. Shoenberger in trust for the cemetery.

In the report of the cemetery for 1857 there is an item of a payment to Mrs. Mowry and her sons of $14,000 on a debt of $22,595 for the 56 acres. This plot, with the Bayard land and eight acres from R.{{thin}}L. Ewalt, made up most of 167 acres the cemetery contained at that time. The prices paid are low, even for the period. How great a public calamity would it have been had Meister, the assignee of William Mowry's illegitimate daughter, Elizabeth, been successful in his ejectment? Well could Judge Acheson say to the jury on the second trial of the case: "Gentlemen, if you find for the plaintiff you will shake the repose of 56 acres of the dead."

In 1826, when S. Jones published his little directory of Pittsburgh with a steel plate of old Trinity Church as a frontispiece, he enumerated 16 physicians in Pittsburgh, naming Dr. Felix Brunot first, then Dr. Mowry and Dr. Agnew and the others, the latter the father of the late Judge Daniel Agnew of Beaver.

Doctors advertised in those days. Witness this in 1819:

{{subhead|Doctors' Advertisement.}}

"Drs. Agnew and Simpson have formed a co-partnership in the practice of medicine and conjointly tender their services to their friends and all others who may apply for professional aid. Their shop is at the corner of Wood and Third streets, where one or both may at all times be consulted."

And what is wrong with that simple notice?

In 1815 Dr. Peter Mowry lived on the east side of the Diamond, north of Diamond alley—so Riddle put it in his directory. It was years before the streets in Pittsburgh were numbered. He probably had his shop in his residence. Dr. Mowry is without local commemoration. Dr. Bedford has some, but slight enough. The old school on Bingham street between South Ninth and Tenth streets is called in his honor, and the old Twenty-ninth Ward was the Bedford school district. The square around the South Side Market at Twelfth street, formerly Denman, was once known as Bedford square.

Dante Alley

2026-03-12T22:36:33Z

Bkell: redirect to Dante Way

#REDIRECT [[Dante Way]]

{{minor redirect}}

Denny Alley

2026-03-12T22:36:15Z

Bkell: redirect to Denny Alley

#REDIRECT [[Dante Way]]

{{street redirect
|neighborhood=Central Business District
|origin-categories=[[Category:Streets named for developers]][[Category:Streets named for landowners]]
}}

Dante Way

2026-03-12T22:35:28Z

Bkell: Dante Way

{{street
|neighborhood=Central Business District
|origin=Probably {{wp|Dante Alighieri}}, as a modification of the original name ''Denny''
|origin-categories=[[Category:Streets named by modifying an earlier name]][[Category:Streets named for writers]]
|fate=Vacated in 1966
|former-names=
{{former name
|name=Denny Alley
|when=until 1881
|origin=Harmar Denny
}}
{{former name
|name=Dante Alley
|when=1881–1914
|origin=Dante Alighieri, as a modification of ''Denny''
}}
}}
Dante Way formerly ran from [[Sixth Avenue]] to [[Chatham Street]], parallel to and just north of [[Webster Avenue]] (today [[Bigelow Square]]).{{r|hopkins-1910}}

It was originally named '''Denny Alley'''. It was probably laid out in a plan of lots by Harmar Denny in 1834: Denny was the owner of the surrounding land,{{r|barbeau}} and nearby Prospect Street (later part of [[Bedford Avenue]]) was laid out in that plan.{{r|ordinance-1917-169}} Denny Alley is mentioned in a newspaper article from 1851, reporting a resolution brought before Common Council to grade the alley.{{r|home-matters-1851-12-30}} It appears, unlabeled, in R.{{thin}}E. McGowin's 1852 map, running from High Street (later Sixth Avenue) to [[Tunnel Street]].{{r|mcgowin-1852}} It was extended eastward to Chatham Street by 1872.{{r|hopkins-1872}} A plan of the property of the Denny estate, showing Denny Alley, was recorded in 1879.{{r|denny-estate-plan}}

In 1881, a city ordinance renamed many streets and alleys to fix duplicates. In order to avoid confusion with [[Denny Street]] in Lawrenceville, Denny Alley was renamed '''Dante Alley'''.{{r|ordinance-1880-1881-33}} The name probably refers to the Italian poet {{wp|Dante Alighieri}} ({{circa|1265}} – 1321),{{r|kaufmann}} but it was likely chosen as a convenient modification of the name ''Denny''.

Dante Alley became '''Dante Way''' in 1914, when another ordinance changed all alleys in Pittsburgh to ways.{{r|ordinance-1914-402}}

Dante Way was vacated in 1966 to make room for the construction of the U.{{thin}}S. Steel Tower.{{r|ordinance-1966-519}}

==References==
{{references
|barbeau
|denny-estate-plan
|home-matters-1851-12-30
|hopkins-1872@25–26
|hopkins-1910@1
|kaufmann
|mcgowin-1852
|ordinance-1880-1881-33
|ordinance-1914-402
|ordinance-1917-169
|ordinance-1966-519
}}

Notes:Dante Way

2026-03-10T22:41:46Z

Bkell: Source:Home-matters-1851-12-30; also this was in Common Council

{{hatnote|See also [[Notes:Pentland Street]].}}

1830: [[Source:Barbeau]]: Does not appear, but land is labeled "Denny / OHara Estate."

1851-12-30: [[Source:Home-matters-1851-12-30]]: "In the Common Council, Robt. M'Knight, Esq, took the chair. ¶ {{...}} ¶ On motion it was ¶ Resolved, That the sum of fifty dollars be appropriated for the grading of Denny Alley in the Sixth Ward. Read twice."

1852: [[Source:Mcgowin-1852]]: Drawn from High Street to Tunnel Street, not labeled.

1852-01-13: "City affairs," ''Daily Morning Post'', {{page|[2]}} ({{npcom|86644028}}): "'''Proceedings in Common Council.''' ¶ {{sc|Saturday}}, Jan. 10, 1852. ¶ {{...}} ¶ On motion, of Thos. Scott, the following resolution was taken up, viz: ¶ ''Resolved'', That the sum of fifty dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated to grade Denny alley, (in the rear of Grant street,) commencing at 6th street, and charge the same to improvement fund. ¶ Mr. Willock moved to lay on the table, which motion was lost by the following vote, viz: ¶ Yeas—Messrs. Black, Cordell, Drum, Garrison, M'Farland, Riddle, Willock and Wilson—8. ¶ Nays—Messrs. Bissel, Friend, Gribben, Hammond, Harper, Lowry, Mellon, Pollock, And. Scott, Thos. Scott and Young—11. ¶ The resolution was then read a third time and adopted."

1852-03-02: "Home matters," ''Daily Pittsburgh Gazette'', {{page|[3]}} ({{npcom|85636007}}): "'''PROCEEDINGS IN SELECT COUNCIL.''' ¶ [{{all-small|Official.}}] ¶ {{sc|February}}, 27, 1852. ¶ {{...}} ¶ The following resolution in C C, read three times and adopted, was then taken up, and the action of C C concurred in. ¶ Resolved, that the sum of $50 be, and the same is hereby appropriated, under the direction of the Street Committee, for the purpose of grading Denny Alley, in the 3d ward."

1872: [[Source:Hopkins-1872]], {{page|25–26}}: Drawn from High Street to Chatham Street, not labeled.

1879-03-01: [[Source:Denny-estate-plan]]: "Denny Ay. 20′ wide."

1880-06-29: [[Source:Street-names-1880]]: "Denny alley, Fifth ward, to Dante alley."

1881-03-04: [[Source:Ordinance-1880-1881-33]]: "{{sic|Dantealley|Dante alley}}, from Sixth avenue to Chatham street, formerly Denny alley, Fifth ward."

1891-03-15: [[Source:Kaufmann]]: "Being of a literary mind—at times—a turn is given in that field, Hawthorne and Poe of this country and Plutarch, Ossian, Dumas and several other foreigners of lesser note having the call. We have produced some good poets in this country, but none good enough to name streets after. However, England is drawn on heavily, viz.: Spenser, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden, Byron and Hemans, together with Schiller and {{highlight|Dante}} from other countries."

1910-04-05: [[Source:Ordinance-1909-1910-716]]: "Dante ay., from Sixth av. to Chatham, 2d wd."

1966-11-22: [[Source:Ordinance-1966-519]] vacated "Dante Way, between Sixth Avenue and Gazette Square."

Source:Home-matters-1851-12-30/content

2026-03-10T22:40:41Z

Bkell: transcribe article

{{headline|HOME MATTERS.}}

{{sc|Local News.}}—There was no local news yesterday to be picked up, at the police offices, of the slightest importance.

-----

{{sc|Market House Meeting.}}—The subscribers to the New Market House met last evening, and adjourned to meet again at the Rooms of the Board of trade, this evening at 7 o'clock.

-----

{{subhead|COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS.|italic=no}}

{{right|December 29.}}

Before the Hon. Wm. B. McClure President Judge, and T.{{thin}}L. McMillan and Wm. Boggs, Associate Judges.

The case of the Commonwealth vs. James Kirby, indicted for secreting goods, with the intent to defraud a creditor, Mrs. Isabella H. Smith, was taken up.

John Hartwell testified, that he was acquainted with Mr. Kirby, that Kirby had bought some goods in the spring, to the amount of about $1,300; that Mrs. Smith purchased him a great quantity of goods; in September last he went to Philadelphia and purchased $3,100 worth; the amount of goods bought by Kirby during the year was about $4,470; Kirby obtained the horses and wagon belonging to Mrs. Smith, and went peddling the goods. Witness was absent about twelve days in October, and when he returned, found the goods had dwindled down; asked him how business was? he replied, "he was not doing any thing, business was dull;" examined the goods carefully, and marked some of them; returned shortly afterwards and found some of them gone; asked him to pay Mrs. Smith what he owed her; said he was not able, that there was not $700 worth of stock in the store; he paid Mrs. Smith in July last $100 on account; he promised in September last to pay $500 of the debt owed Mrs. Smith, to her creditors in Philadelphia, which he did not do; urged him to pay Mrs. Smith, (who is my sister-in-law,) in November, and he said it was time enough to settle it when it became due; when the bill became due, Mrs. Smith and witness went to him to have a settlement; he was out of humor; she said she would take goods for the amount, he said there was not enough there to pay the bill; asked him to pay a part; he said he could do nothing in the matter; that he would assign the goods over to his brother. He sold the balance of his stock to Mr. Craydon.

On cross-examination—Mr. Kirby got his first stock of goods in May; Mrs. Smith purchased the goods for Kirby in Philadelphia, to the amount of $975; the bill is made out in the name of Mrs. Smith; the goods were placed in a store in the Fifth Ward. Mr. Kirby and witness managed the store; the amount of goods with which the store was opened was $1,600; $300 of the stock belonged to Kirby. Between May and October the amount of goods that went into the store was about $1,990; it was in October witness returned and found the goods diminished.

The case went to the jury in the afternoon, but no verdict was returned.

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{{subhead|SELECT COUNCIL.|italic=no}}

In the Select Council, Mr. Murray, in the chair.

The principal part of the {{sic|procedings|proceedings}} will be found amongst those of the Common Council reported below.

On motion of D.{{thin}}D. Bruce, Esq., it was unanimously resolved, that the thanks of the members of the Select Council be, and they are hereby sincerely tendered to our worthy President, James B. Murray, Esq., for the efficient, kind and gentlemanly manner in which he has discharged the duties of his office during the past year.

Resolved, That the Clerk enrol these resolutions with the proceedings of Councils.

Mr. Murray returned his sincere thanks for the kindness conferred upon him.

In the Common Council, Robt. M'Knight, Esq, took the chair.

The resignation of Richard Savory, as one of the Trustees of the Pittsburgh Gas Works was accepted.

Mr. Robt. Hanlep was unanimously elected to supply the vacancy.

A number of bills against the City were read and most of them referred to the Committee on Claims and Accounts. The remainder were passed.

The unexpended balance of the funds, raised for the sufferers by the great fire of April, 1845, amounting to $291 43, was transferred to the Councils by Thos Bakewell, Esq.

On motion it was

Resolved That the amount above named, be transferred to the funds of the proposed house of Refuge.

The police committee reported against paying the administrators of James D. Alexander, for meals furnished to prisoners, confined temporarily in the watch house, in their opinion the county being liable.

Mr. Mellon offered an ordinance prohibiting the purchase or sale of flour, grain or produce on the Monongahela wharf, or any flat or steamboat, under a penalty of twenty dollars for each offence, the merchants complaining that such course of conduct injured their business, as well as the business of the city. Referred to the committee on ordinances.

On motion it was

Resolved, That Robert McKnight, Esq., be appointed to vote the stock of the Ohio & Pennsylvania railroad, with instructions to vote for three citizens of Pittsburgh, as Directors.

On motion it was

Resolved, That the sum of fifty dollars be appropriated for the grading of Denny Alley in the Sixth Ward. Read twice.

A resolution passed in the Select Council, providing that no market wagon or other vehicle shall remain in Market street longer than is absolutely necessary, and that the omnibusses shall hereafter be drawn up in close order, above the hay scales, under a penalty of five dollars, was concurred in.

An ordinance passed in the Select Council, allowing the Beaver packets a wharf boat, was concurred in.

The Common Council concurred in an ordinance, prohibiting the placing of any thing that will not float, on the Monongahela wharf.

After acting on a number of bills, and transacting some business of no general importance the Councils adjourned.

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We are glad to learn, by an advertisement in our columns, that H. Rohbock, Esq., the distinguished pianist, and teacher in Music, is about to return to this city, and make it the place of his permanent residence. He will {{sic|doubtess|doubtless}} secure a large class immediately.

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{{sc|Whig Nominations.}}—On Saturday, the Whigs of the Fifth Ward nominated R. Hazlet for Select, and Joseph Kay, John G. Martin, R.{{thin}}W. M'Clellan and W.{{thin}}B. Hunter for Common Council,—and the following ward tickeet:

School Directors—B.{{thin}}C. Reeves, D. Corman, Jeremiah Frew.

Judge—E. Faber.

Inspector—R.{{thin}}B. Laughlin.

Assessor—John Y.{{thin}}C. Bell.

Assistants—R. Whitesides, John Taylor.

Constable—Chauncy Bostwick.

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{{sc|Coal Boat Sunk.}}—A coal boat belonging to Mr. Michael Dravo of McKeesport, was sunk yesterday afternoon, above the dam, by a cake of floating ice, which came in contact with it.

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{{sc|Operations Suspended.}}—The masons have ceased their labors on the {{sic|Episcopalean Ohurch|Episcopalian Church}} and Catholic Cathedral, near the Court House, until, we presume, the approach of spring.

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{{sc|Blooms}}—Quite a number of blooms, dropped into the canal during the summer, have been recovered since the water was let off.

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{{sc|Gambling House.}}—Thomas Higgins, a colored man, convicted of keeping a gambling house, was, on Saturday, sentenced to pay a fine of fifty dollars, and the costs, and to stand committed until the sentence should be complied with.

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{{sc|Larceny}}—Jno Madden was on Saturday committed to prison by Mayor Guthrie, charged on oath of Jas Wilson with larceny.

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{{sc|Assault and Battery}}—Wm. Kaine was committed to prison on Saturday, charged with assault and battery.

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{{sc|Charge of Attempted Robbery}}—Washington Frees was on Saturday committed to prison, charged, on oath of Samuel Johnson, with an assault and battery with intent to rob.

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{{sc|Assault and Battery}}—John Lutz was on Saturday committed to prison, charged, on oath of Jas Richardson, with assault and battery.

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{{sc|Sentenced}}—Elizabeth Jackson, convicted of larceny, committed in stealing some articles belonging to Alexander Crookshanks, was on Saturday sentenced by Judge McClure to an imprisonment of one year and three months in the Western Penitentiary.

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{{sc|Burglary Larceny.}}—Thomas Bogue, quite a young man, was on Saturday sentenced by his honor, Judge McClure, to an imprisonment of ten years and six months in the Western Penitentiary, on two charges of burglary, and two of grand larceny.

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{{sc|Discharged.}}—John Griffin, the omnibus driver committed by Mayor Guthrie on a charge of murder, was on Saturday discharged on bail by Judge McClure, Colonel Leopold Sahl and John Naser becoming his sureties. District Attorney Flannegin admitted that the case was one in which bail should be taken. The decision of the Mayor, who refused to accept bail, is thus overruled.

Source:Home-matters-1851-12-30

2026-03-10T12:21:56Z

Bkell: "Home matters," 1851-12-30

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Notes:Dante Way

2026-03-10T11:57:05Z

Bkell: more about grading resolution

{{hatnote|See also [[Notes:Pentland Street]].}}

1830: [[Source:Barbeau]]: Does not appear, but land is labeled "Denny / OHara Estate."

1851-12-30: "Home matters," ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', {{page|[3]}} ({{npcom|85635784}}): "'''SELECT COUNCIL.''' ¶ {{...}} ¶ On motion it was ¶ Resolved, That the sum of fifty dollars be appropriated for the grading of Denny Alley in the Sixth Ward. Read twice."

1852: [[Source:Mcgowin-1852]]: Drawn from High Street to Tunnel Street, not labeled.

1852-01-13: "City affairs," ''Daily Morning Post'', {{page|[2]}} ({{npcom|86644028}}): "'''Proceedings in Common Council.''' ¶ {{sc|Saturday}}, Jan. 10, 1852. ¶ {{...}} ¶ On motion, of Thos. Scott, the following resolution was taken up, viz: ¶ ''Resolved'', That the sum of fifty dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated to grade Denny alley, (in the rear of Grant street,) commencing at 6th street, and charge the same to improvement fund. ¶ Mr. Willock moved to lay on the table, which motion was lost by the following vote, viz: ¶ Yeas—Messrs. Black, Cordell, Drum, Garrison, M'Farland, Riddle, Willock and Wilson—8. ¶ Nays—Messrs. Bissel, Friend, Gribben, Hammond, Harper, Lowry, Mellon, Pollock, And. Scott, Thos. Scott and Young—11. ¶ The resolution was then read a third time and adopted."

1852-03-02: "Home matters," ''Daily Pittsburgh Gazette'', {{page|[3]}} ({{npcom|85636007}}): "'''PROCEEDINGS IN SELECT COUNCIL.''' ¶ [{{all-small|Official.}}] ¶ {{sc|February}}, 27, 1852. ¶ {{...}} ¶ The following resolution in C C, read three times and adopted, was then taken up, and the action of C C concurred in. ¶ Resolved, that the sum of $50 be, and the same is hereby appropriated, under the direction of the Street Committee, for the purpose of grading Denny Alley, in the 3d ward."

1872: [[Source:Hopkins-1872]], {{page|25–26}}: Drawn from High Street to Chatham Street, not labeled.

1879-03-01: [[Source:Denny-estate-plan]]: "Denny Ay. 20′ wide."

1880-06-29: [[Source:Street-names-1880]]: "Denny alley, Fifth ward, to Dante alley."

1881-03-04: [[Source:Ordinance-1880-1881-33]]: "{{sic|Dantealley|Dante alley}}, from Sixth avenue to Chatham street, formerly Denny alley, Fifth ward."

1891-03-15: [[Source:Kaufmann]]: "Being of a literary mind—at times—a turn is given in that field, Hawthorne and Poe of this country and Plutarch, Ossian, Dumas and several other foreigners of lesser note having the call. We have produced some good poets in this country, but none good enough to name streets after. However, England is drawn on heavily, viz.: Spenser, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden, Byron and Hemans, together with Schiller and {{highlight|Dante}} from other countries."

1910-04-05: [[Source:Ordinance-1909-1910-716]]: "Dante ay., from Sixth av. to Chatham, 2d wd."

1966-11-22: [[Source:Ordinance-1966-519]] vacated "Dante Way, between Sixth Avenue and Gazette Square."

Notes:Dante Way

2026-03-10T11:30:02Z

Bkell: mentioned in 1851

{{hatnote|See also [[Notes:Pentland Street]].}}

1830: [[Source:Barbeau]]: Does not appear, but land is labeled "Denny / OHara Estate."

1851-12-30: "Home matters", ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', {{page|3}} ({{npcom|85635784}}): "'''SELECT COUNCIL.''' ¶ {{...}} ¶ On motion it was ¶ Resolved, That the sum of fifty dollars be appropriated for the grading of Denny Alley in the Sixth Ward. Read twice."

1852: [[Source:Mcgowin-1852]]: Drawn from High Street to Tunnel Street, not labeled.

1872: [[Source:Hopkins-1872]], {{page|25–26}}: Drawn from High Street to Chatham Street, not labeled.

1879-03-01: [[Source:Denny-estate-plan]]: "Denny Ay. 20′ wide."

1880-06-29: [[Source:Street-names-1880]]: "Denny alley, Fifth ward, to Dante alley."

1881-03-04: [[Source:Ordinance-1880-1881-33]]: "{{sic|Dantealley|Dante alley}}, from Sixth avenue to Chatham street, formerly Denny alley, Fifth ward."

1891-03-15: [[Source:Kaufmann]]: "Being of a literary mind—at times—a turn is given in that field, Hawthorne and Poe of this country and Plutarch, Ossian, Dumas and several other foreigners of lesser note having the call. We have produced some good poets in this country, but none good enough to name streets after. However, England is drawn on heavily, viz.: Spenser, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden, Byron and Hemans, together with Schiller and {{highlight|Dante}} from other countries."

1910-04-05: [[Source:Ordinance-1909-1910-716]]: "Dante ay., from Sixth av. to Chatham, 2d wd."

1966-11-22: [[Source:Ordinance-1966-519]] vacated "Dante Way, between Sixth Avenue and Gazette Square."