Fayette County Genealogy Project

Salt Lick Township

EARLY PIONEERS

Many pioneers settled in Salt Lick from eastern Pennsylvania (Somerset County and other counties) and from Maryland. They came as early as the Revolutionary war - some earlier.

  • Christian Perkey, lived on Indian Creek near the north line of the township and partly into Westmoreland county. Perkey had sons named Daniel and Christian.
  • Peter and George Bucher, lived on Back Run. George Bucher was the owner of a slave, called Black Ben, who had a preference for strong drink. Peter Bucher died at his home near the Berg Mills about 1807.
  • John Martin lived on a tract of land east of the Buchers, where he died about 1810.
  • Benjamin Davis was the pioneer of the present Joseph W. Gallentine place, where he kept a tavern as early as 1795.
  • Andrew Trapp, a Pennsylvania Dutchman by birth, was a well known citizen of the township. He had sons named Phillip, Andrew, David and John and six daughters. He died in 1824 and is buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery.
  • George Poe, was one of the first settlers in the township. He was a native of Maryland and was the brother to Andrew (the celebrated frontiersman from near the Ohio River) and Adam Poe. George Poe had daughters who married Henry Adams, Levi Adams and Christopher White, all of Salt Lick. In 1810 the Poes moved to Ohio.

Source: Excerpted and paraphrased from "Early History of Salt Lick and Springfield Townships" as copied from Ellis' History. Complimentary copy provided by First National Bank, Indian Head, PA. Published in 1931. Donated by Jennifer Riberkof.

EARLY HISTORY

Salt Lick is the northeastern township of Fayette county, and it's inhabitants are principally engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, although there are areas of valuable mineral wealth embraced within it's boundaries. Westmoreland bounds it on the north, Somerset on the east, Chestnut Ridge is on the west, and on the south lies the township of Springfield. The political existences of the township dates from December, 1797, at which time, in accordance with the petition "of sundry inhabitants of the Salt Lick Settlement in the township of Bullskin, praying for a division of said township and that the top of Chestnut Ridge may be the line of separation," the prayer of the petitioners was granted by the court, and the new township became a distinct political unit. Though now officially designated as Salt Lick it retained for years it's popular title "Yough", a name unauthorized but illustrating the tenacity of familiar usage. The name "Salt Lick" was suggested by the licks of salt that mark the principal water course in the township--that is, Indian Creek.

The surface is mountainous, high hills attaining an altitude above the ordinary level, and in the west forming a plateau. Limestone exists in large quantities and coal appears along the line of the water courses. The projected railroad up Indian Creek would develop the coal and other mineral resources of the township by rendering it accessible to market. The township consists of three small villages and one hamlet.

Source: From Nelson's Biographical Dictionary of Fayette County