Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

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History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, Part II  by Thomas Cushing Chicago, Ill.:  A. Warner & Co., 1889, pp. 31-33. 

Chapter III

Robinson Township

 

 

The hostile feelings engendered in this struggle* did not at once subside. June 8, 1803, Robert Bell and others appeared before the court, representing that while the proceedings were in progress the supervisors of Fayette had collected from its entire territory a road-tax, which was being expended solely for the benefit of Fayette as it remained after the division. This was a manifest injustice to Robinson, and when friendly entreaty failed to effect a rightful distribution of the money, the matter was then referred to the courts.

The available data for compiling a list of early settlers in Robinson are very meager. The names of some appear in the preceding chapter, in addition to which the following may be mentioned at the respective dates:
1803. William Marks, John Nickel, Isaac McMichael, Adam Logan, William McCoy, Robert Graham, John Young, Robert Baldwin, James Bell, John McCoy, John McMichael, Isaac Walker.
1805. Robert Vance, James Speer, Robert Miller, Patrick Watson, James McClurg, Samuel Neely, Thomas Phillips, Edward Sharp, Jonathan Phillips, William Knox, Benjamin Wall, Benjamin Miller.
1808. Isaac Ferree, John McFadden, William Marks, Jr., Samuel Goswald, Frederick Stover, Robert Morgan, Joseph Wherry, John Young, William Duff, William Ewing, Jeremiah W^right, William Johnson, James Mitchell, William Hall, John Boggs, John Mitchell, James Ewing, J. McMichael, William Henry, Samuel Richey, Robert Bell.

Within the present limits of Robinson township, the first permanent settler was James Bell. He was of Scotch origin. When fourteen years of age he was taken prisoner by the Indians, and after a residence of several years with them returned to his home in Virginia. In the autumn of 1768, with his brother John, he made a journey to Chartiers creek. Tradition asserts that they passed their first night in this vicinity in Chartiers township, near Mansfield valley; that on the next day they crossed Chartiers creek and passed the second night within Robinson township; and after marking the bounds of their respective claims in the customary manner, returned to their homes. The following spring they brought their families, and here James Bell lived to an advanced age, dying in 1833. His brother John lived in Chartiers township.

The Steubenville turnpike and Clinton grade-road cross the township from east to west. The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad crosses its northern border, with stations at Gibson and Moon run. That part of the township adjacent to Chartiers creek is traversed by the Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghiogheny railroad. This is a county enterprise, and is worthy of more than passing notice. The company was incorporated in October, 1881, and organized with J. E. Schwartz, president; George S. Griscom, vice-president and general manager; R. T. Hill, secretary and treasurer; George S. Davison, superintendent. The projected route follows the course of Chartiers creek and Peter’s creek from the Ohio river at Brunot’s island to the Monongahela at West Elizabeth, crosses the Youghiogheny at Douglass, and thence continues to the coke-regions. Construction was begun in 1881, and that portion of the road now in operation, extending from Beechmont to the Ohio river — a distance of fifteen miles — was completed in 1883. A branch through Upper St. Clair township is also in operation. Patterson station, in this township, is situated at the junction of the turnpike and railroad. The Montour railroad passes through the valley of Montour run.

Union United Presbyterian Church was organized prior to 1793, and constituted a pastoral charge in connection with Robinson Run from 1794 to 1816, under the care of Rev. John Riddell. During this period it was known as Lower Robinson Run and Deep Hollow. Rev. Moses Kerr was pastor 1819-28; Andrew S. Fulton, 1833-39; John Ekin, 1839-53; William McMillan, 1855-57; Lafayette Marks, 1860-67; J. D. Turner, 1868-74; J. A. Douthett, since 1876. Montour Presbyterian Church was organized in 1788, when Rev. Joseph Patterson was installed as pastor. Among his successors the following clergymen may be mentioned:
John McLean, Michael Law, Robert Laird, John K. Cunningham, Thomas Gordon, Thomas Stevenson, Isaac N. McKinney, Levi Risher and H. C. Foulke.
Forest Grove Presbyterian Church, in the northern part of the township, is connected with Montour in pastoral charge. A German Lutheran church, on the Steubenville pike, completes the number of religious bodies in the township.

The only village in the township is Palmersville, on the Steubenville pike, known as a postoffice under the name of Bemington. The first postmaster, Samuel B. Marks, was appointed November 25, 1850.

In 1860 the population was 2,100; in 1870, 2,275; in 1880, 1,170.

* The struggle referred to is the opposition to the formation of Robinson township by Fayette Township.

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