THE SCOTCH-IRISH OF PENNSYLVANIA
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The names of many of the Scotch-Irish of this region are found in the history of Otzinachison (the name of the west branch valley) and in Meginises Biographical Annals. Among them are the Armstrongs, Antes, Allens, Bradys, Brysons, Bairds, Crawfords, Campbells, Camerons, Davidsons, Dougals, Elliots, Fricks, Flemings, Griers, Gambles, Grenoughs, Irwins, Jourdans, McClays, McCormicks, Stewarts, Taggarts, and others.
Crossing the Alleghany mountains and Laurel Hill, the Scotch-Irish spread over Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette, and Allegheny counties; and when the counties west of the Allegheny river were laid off in 1800, they were found already settled there from Beaver to Erie. Even when west of the mountains and dwelling in the valleys running toward the Monongahela and Alleghany rivers, these brave men were still compelled to face the hardships of the wilderness, and the cruel visitations of the Indians. So late as 1782, the valley of Turtle creek was not safe from their barbarous incursions. In Neville B. Craig's "Olden Time," of 1846, is given the narrative of his captivity by James Lyon, then living, and long an honored citizen of Beaver. Taken with his brother when quite young on his father's farm, lying five or six miles from Turtle creek, where the Pittsburg and Greensburg turnpike afterward crossed, his father and sister having been killed and scalped, they were carried into Ohio to a town on White Womans creek, and there compelled to live until restored by the Indians at Fort McIntosh (now Beaver), and then taken home. A slit in an ear was a memento of his captivity.
In Westmoreland and Allegheny many became eminent, such as Alexander Addison, H. H. Breckenridge, James Ross, John Wood, Colonel Gibson, James O'Hara and others. If any one would see the Scotch-Irish in form and feature let him view them in the portraits of their descendants as seen in the history of Washington county. For example, the portraits of William McLain, Robert Stewart, S. N. Proudfit, Walter Craig, William Smith, Parker Reed, John S. Barr, William Lee, and Samuel Barnard. Personally they were hard vis-aged, angular, square shouldered, stalwart, and generally large men; rough in exterior, strong minded, religious and even severe in disposition.
Warren county, on the New York state line, also furnished a large contingent, who settled on the Conewango and Brokenstraw as early as 1795. Here we discover the names of Miles, Russell, Frew, Marsh, and Jones. Then James Morrison, followed by Barnett, Faulkner, Wilson, Smith, and others. When came the McKenzies, Andrews, Kirks, Kinnear, and Quay.
The event which brought the Scotch-Irish in western Pennsylvania into greatest notoriety was the whisky insurrection of 1794. As a people all had known from experience or tradition the hardships of the excise duty. Among Irishmen of all persuasions, the killing of an exciseman was considered as scarely a crime. Even the assembly of Pennsylvania, by a resolution of June 22, 1791, declared the collection of revenue by excise duty subversive of peace, liberty, and the rights of the citizen, and a violation of the fundamental rights of the government. At that early day whisky was the only article commanding cash. The person who may be said to have been the leader in this so-called "rebellion" was David Bradford, a lawyer of Washington, Pennsylvania. He was finally compelled to flee at the coming of Washington, Hamilton, and the militia, leaving his papers in the hands of James Allison, Esquire; who afterward settled in Beaver, and became its leading and honored lawyer.
At his death his descendants thought no benefit would arise from their publication, and the contents of the unopened box remain unknown. Perhaps much valuable matter has thus failed to see the light; yet, on the other hand, much unnecessary harm has been saved.
Judge H. H. Breckenridge attended the meetings of the insurgents, but for the purpose, as was alleged, of preventing extreme measures. He was however strongly opposed to the excise law, and expressed the opinion that the danger lay in the western men swarming over the Susquehanna instead of being repressed. This is seen in his letter to Tench Cox, Esquire, of August 8, 1794. Secretary Hamilton, however, excused him, on the plea suggested by Mr. Ross, of his properly intended purpose.
Among the memorable events of the insurrection was the burning of the house of General John Nevelle, the United States inspector and collector of the revenue for western Pennsylvania.
This insurrection, not justified, but in some measure extenuated, by the severity of the excise law, is a striking evidence of the indomitable character of the Scotch-Irish, and of their courage when any measure, believed by them to be hostile to liberty and good government, is attempted to be forced upon them. Indeed, it required the militia of three states, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey, under the command of President Washington in person, accompanied by Secretary Hamilton, to subdue their determined opposition. My grandfather, Major Richard Howell, then governor of New Jersey, commanded the contingent of that state, camping at McNairs, near the present town of Wilkinsburg.
To this race the state owes much of its progress in the West to wealth, civilization, and republican institutions. It was only in the spring of 1796, after General Wayne's treaty with the Indians at Fort Greenville, in August, 1795, and its ratification by the Senate, December 22, 1795, it became safe to cross the Allegheny river for settlement. In the spring of 1796 the settlers, most of them Scotch-Irish, rushed into these western counties in great numbers, and began the work of building, clearing, planting, and cultivating. The mode of doing so was governed by the circumstances, and is to be remembered by their descendants. Armed with a trusty rifle, and carrying on a single horse, his provisions, his ax, an augur, and sometimes a drawing knife and a saw, but without nails, or latches or locks, he felled the trees, built the cabin, and girdled trees for fields. These done he returned to the older settlements for his wife and children, and his means for working the ground and planting his crops. When one considers the wild and tangled woods, the heavy timber, the lair of the bear, wolf, and wild cat, and even of the child-crying panther, and neighbors miles away; the courage, fortitude and privations of these men can scarcely be conceived by their descendants, now living in the comfort and luxuries of the end of the nineteenth century.
In those early days the whisky still was planted beside the spring of pure fountain water, and its product was almost the only means of paying taxes, and purchasing those things that money alone could buy; yet the descendants of these distillers have lived to see a marvelous change, the effect of education and enlightenment. The fact is noticed because it is another evidence of the inflexible principles of this race, when convinced of an evil affecting the public welfare. They voted to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors. It also marks a difference between the two early populations of the state, those coming from Scotland and the north of Ireland, and those from the Palatinates on the Rhine. This difference is well illustrated by the Philadelphia Press (not intentionally) in a map whose white divisions mark the Scotch-Irish counties in western Pennsylvania, and the counties along the New York line, settled largely by them and the Puritans of New England. On the hand the dark surfaces in the map denoted the counties settled by the German Palatines, indicating their customs and traditions. All the western counties and those along the New York line voted for prohibition, except Armstrong, whose opposition majority was but one hundred and seventy-five, in a poll of nearly seven thousand. The large cities were exceptions, of course, for reasons which are obvious.
Another marked feature of this race is seen in its influence on the higher interests of the state. The common school system owes its initiation and progress largely to them, while Palatinate counties stood in the rear. Berks county rejected the system for nearly twenty years. One of the first moves in favor of this system came from N. P. Fetterman, Esquire, who, leaving the office of Baldwin and Fetterman in 1825, went to Bedford to practice law. Soon he was elected to the General Assembly, and in the session of 1830, as chairman made a report on the common school system, which was the incipient step toward the result. Thaddeus Stevens, from the Scotch-Irish county of Adams, carried it onward with his accustomed power.
Having noticed the German emigrants from the Rhine, I would distinguish a different emigration from Germany. Any one who passes out Penn street, Pittsburg, up Ohio street, Allegheny, or along the main street of South Pittsburg, to Birmingham, will notice the signs which denote this numerous immigration. Many are found also in Beaver, Butler, and adjoining counties. This population came in at a late period, beginning in 1830, and continuing several years. In 1820 the population of Pittsburg was under eight thousand, and the foreign was altogether Irish, excepting a few Germans, such as Charles Von Bonnhorst, Charles L. Volz, Anthony Beelen, the Negleys and others. Since 1830, the German element has become influential and important.
The following description of the Scotch-Irish, in the last century, is given by a well-known writer.
"The Scotch-Irish, as they were called, were emigrants from the northern part of the sister kingdom, descendants of the Scotch colonies planted there by Cromwell. They were a hardy, brave, hot headed race, excitable in temper, unrestrainable in passion, invincible in prejudice. Their hand open as impetuously to a friend, as it clenched against an enemy. They loathed the pope, as sincerely as they venerated Calvin and Knox. If often rude and, lawless it was the fault of their position. They hated the Indian while they despised him, and it does not seem, in their dealings with this race, as though there were any sentiments of honor or magnanimity in their bosoms, that could hold sway against the furious tide of passionate, blind resentment. Impatient of restraint, rebellious of any thing that in their eyes bore the resemblance of injustice, we find these men readiest among the ready on the battle fields of the Revolution. If they had faults, a lack of patriotism or of courage was not among them."
Though this description is evidently not by an impartial hand, allowing for abatement, it touches upon the stronger features of the race.
Welcome the day when a master hand shall collect the remains of this people, place them in proper form, and redeem from the ravages of time a memorial to stand a monument to their virtues, high character, independence, and influence.