History of the City of Duquesne

Jim Hartman
Mifflin Township Historical Society President
mifflintownship.org

The following is a History of the City of Duquesne, PA from their CENTENNIAL BOOK.

The article that follows was compiled and written by the late Andrew Matthew Blair, Editor of the Times from 1912 until 1924. The reader should take into consideration the fact that the matter was published by Fileer & Blairin March, 1902. The data is authentic Mr. Blair having devoted months in its collection.

Beautiful as is the story of the erection of Fort Duquesne and the brilliant capture of the citadel by the French, and rich in history, has been the rise of the town of Duquesne.From a dense forest, intermingled here and there with swamp and thicket, has ascended a municipality of stability and grandeur — a municipality whose praises are being sounded in the ears of the civilized world and whose prospective importance is assured beyond a peradventure. It's rise has not been characterized by the use of mushroom advertising or the schemes of greedy land speculators. It's has been a steady, undeviating growth, and withal rapid to a phenomenal degree.The history of Duquesne is closely allied with that of Allegheny County and a review of it's rise will necessarily contain much data that had to do with the early development of the community about the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers. Among the aborigines of Duquesne was probably a clan of Indians known as "Talligewi", who were succeeded by the "Lenni Lenape" or Delaware Indians. The latter were in turn suceeded in 1672 by the "Five Nations" the strongest of all the Indian tribes.

PROOF OF ABORIGINES
Among those proofs of the existence of the aborigines in Duquesne were two mounds, evidently built during the early part of the eighteenth century by the mound builders. They were constructed near the corner of River Avenue and Peach Alley (the alley between Superior Street and Linden Avenue) and a little to the south of River Avenue. They were about 12 feet high and about 40 feet in diameter. The outlines of the mounds could be seen until the town was established a few years ago and quite a number of bones have been dug from it a different times. Indian burying grounds were established also near the northern end of the Monongahela railway bridge over Oliver hollow and another back on the McEleny farm.Permanent possession by the white men of Duquesne, in common with the remainder of Allegheny County dates from the grant of a charter on May 23, 1609, by James II, to a company headed by Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Later, however, the ground now occupied by the town of Duquesne was included in a charter granted to William Penn by Charles II, the date of the document being March 4, 1681. Over this double grant, a bitter contest arose, but how the matter was adjusted, if ever it was adjusted, is not known. At any rate, in 1748, the Crown granted to the "Ohio Company," composed mostly of Virginians, a tract of 500,000 acres of land south of the Ohio river, and between the Monongahela and Great Kanawha rivers, which doubtlessly included Duquesne. The French laid claim to the land by right of discovery, and succeeded in winning the confidence of the Indians in this vicinity. In 1754, a few colonists commenced to appear and erect cabins for themselves west of the Alleghenies.

FIRST WHITE SETTLER
Among the very first of these was Lt. John Frazier, who in 1753, was living at the mouth of Turtle Creek and trading with the Indians. On November 21, 1753, Frazier entertained George Washington in his hut and is reputed to have been the first white man to locate in the immediate vicinity of Duquesne.The English, in the meantime, were not insensible to the movements of the French in this neighborhood and on October 30,1753, Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia, dispatched George Washington —then scarcely beyond the years of boyhood —thitherward to learn of the designs of the French. Washington must hand passed through Duquesne. He returned on January 16, 1754, to Williamsburg and laid before many of his fellow Virginians the plans of the French with regard to all the land in this vicinity. Captain William Trent, with a band of soldiers and workmen, was sent to the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers to win the territory from the French and arrived at that point on February 17, 1754, from which time dates the permanent occupation of this vicinity by the whites. Trent and his men immediatley began the erection of a fort near the "point" in Pittsburgh. The French, in the meantime, had built several forts in the upper Allegheny valley. In the spring of 1754, they gathered together a band of 1,000 men consisting of French Canadians and Indians, and descending the river, compelled Trent and his 33 men to surrender on April 16,1754. On the next day, the Virginians retired, going up the Monongahela river (and doubtless) passing through present Duquesne) to Redstone Creek.

ORIGIN OF TOWN'S NAME
The French speedily completed the construction of the fort at the "point" in Pittsburgh and in June 1754, named it Duquesne, in honor of the governor. general of Canada. Hence sprung the name that was afterwards, and is now, applied to the town. George Washington, with another band of men, came on from the east to reinforce Trent and on May 28,1754, defeated the French in a battle of "Great Meadows." On the third day of July next following, the French put Washington's Army to rout. Then followed the celebrated march of General Braddock, a man who, with his regular troops, was confident that he could wipe the French from the face of the Earth. From Connellsville, the general marched to the present site of McKeesport, to a point afterwards denominated "Braddock's Upper Ripple." This ripple is generally believed now to have reached across the Monongahela from the present Riverton in McKeesport to the Duquesne terminus of the McKeesport and Duquesne Bridge. On July 9, 1755, General Braddock and his troops crossed by means of this ripple to Duquesne and followed a trail along the river through the present property of the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp. to Grant Avenue, thence on down through the river and of the First Ward to a point opposite the mouth of Turtle Creek, where they recrossed the river by means of what afterwards called "Braddock's Lower Ripple." The river, at that time, was doubtlessly very low and the army would have no difficulty at all in crossing. Washington accompanied the General on this memorable trip.

DRILL OF BRADDOCK'S ARMY
After reaching the "bottoms" of present Duquesne, the army halted an hour for drill. The spectacle of these 4,000 troops maneuvering over the level is said to have been a most brilliant one and very pleasing to Washington. At the present town of Braddock, the English were met by the French, augmented by the Indians, and defeated with frightful loss. General Braddock himself mortally wounded and dying on July 13 next following. The English were taken by surprise and fled to this side of the river and broke Dunbar's camp on Chestnut Ridge. In their retreat, they again passed through Duquesne.General Forbes, sometime after, formed an expedition against the French and came from the east in this direction. His route is known, but was probably the same one used lay Braddock and Washington. The French learned of their coming and, fearing defeat, on November 24, 1758, blew up old Fort Duquesne and fled. The indomitable Forbes rebuilt the citadel and, completing the task about January 1, 1759 named it Fort Pitt. The Indians were now fearful that they would lose all of their possessions and joined in one great movement against the English. But, Fort Pitt, through the intervention of Colonel Bouquet, withstood the attack. At a council in Rome, NY, on October 24,1768, the claims of the Indians were extinguished.On April 3, 1769, a land-office was opened at Pittsburgh and applications received for property. During the period between 1770 and 1775, the white population increased considerably, especially in the lower part of the valley. On October 23,1784, the Indians formally relinquished their claim to Pennsylvania, including Duquesne, as a whole.

DUQUESNE'S FIRST RESIDENTS
Just who was the first resident within the present boundaries of Duquesne is a difficult matter to determine. The first patent for land here was issued to Benjamin Tate, in pursuance of an application filed by him on April .3, 1769. It embraced all that part of the town now included to the First Ward and for the past 61 years known as the Oliver Farm. The tract was known as "Hamilton Hall" and is thus described in the patent issued to Tate."Beginning at a sugar tree on the back side of the Monongahela River, thence up the said river 184 perches to a black oak; thence south 73 degrees west 315 perches to a black oak; thence north 35 degrees, west 150 perches, to a sugar tree; thence north 68 degrees, east 290 perches by land of John Earl to the place of beginning, containing 287 acres, one rod, 26 perches, and allowance." On July 16,1770, Benjamin Tate transferred the property to General William Thompson. By the will of William Thompson, it passed into the possession of his heirs, a wife and seven children, for whom it was sold by the executors: Catherine Thompson, Robert Magaw, George Thompson and Robert Thompson on July 27,1784, to Thomas Duncan for 431 pounds. Duncan sold the farm to Catherine Thompson, widow of William Thompson. Mrs. Thompson, on April 1, 1791, transferred it to Peter Charles DeLuziere, a Frenchman.

A GREAT FRENCH MARQUIS
Whether the Tates, Thompsons or Duncans ever occupied the tract is not definitely known, but it is probable that they did. It is known positively that DeLuziere, who was a French Marquis and a refugee, did live here and that he erected what is known as the "Oliver Homestead." The building is still standing near the Carnegie merchant mills, a short distance northeast of Oliver Avenue. The exact year in which the house was built cannot be determined, but from the date at hand, it seems likely that the structure was reared in 1791. For the property, DeLuziere paid 431 pounds, two shillings and four pence.DeLuziere was an exceptionally interesting character. He was a man of wealth and always kept a retinue of servants about his house. His butler was Anthony Dravo, grandfather of John F. Dravo, the widely known riverman. The Frenchman frequently gave dinners to his friends, and the old homestead was the scene of many a fashionable function. During the stay of the U.S. troops at Braddock, in the Whiskey insurrection times of 1794 DeLuziere, on several occasions, entertained the officers with great eclat. Ele also threw open the grounds to the soldier and they often drilled on the flat near Oliver station

DeLUZIERE'S EMBARRASSMENT
DeLuziere had given a mortgage on the property and had become otherwise indebted to Mrs. Thompson for the amount of 630 pounds, 13 shillings, ant 7.5 pence. He was unable to meet his payments gave the power of attorney to Peter Audrian, Attorney, the paper being filed on November 16,1803. The power of attorney is written in the Spanish language. Attorney Audrian then transferred, deed dated November 3,1793, the property to Cath. Thompson, the original owner. On February 1802, Mrs. Thompson transferred it to Wil Allen Thompson in consideration of five shillings, etc.By deed dated October 3,1803, William A. The son and Sara L. wis ux, transferred the same piece of land to Michael T. Simpson in consideration of $5,000. On February 20,1804, Simpson conveyed it to John Morgan. Morgan and Margaret, his wife, sold the place on November 18, 1806 to Thomas Ferree for $3,451.80. By deed dated October 1810, Ferree and his wife Deborah, sold it to John N. Smith and Mary Moyes, his wife, for $5,5000. The Smiths in turn, on November 22, 1810, sold it to Charles Francis William von Bonnhorst for $5,500.

THE VON BONNHORST FAMILY
Mr. von Bonnhorst was a native of the kingdom of Prussia and was born at Thalsheim, Westphali August 16,1774. He was married in the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia on December 8, 1808, to Rebecca Taylor, who died in Philadelphia on October 25,1816. Mr. van Bonnhorst was a great admirer of sheep and conceived the idea of establishing a sheep farm on his newly acquired tract here. He brought a considerable number of Merino sheep to the farm and engaged in the business about nine years. His efforts were in vain, however and he moved to Pittsburgh, where he became a member of the County Bar and the Board of Businessmen of Pittsburgh. He died in Pittsburgh on February 23, 1844. During the residence of the von Bonnhorsts in the present Oliver Homestead, Sidney Francis von Bonnhorst was born, the date of birth being September 17,1814. This Mr. Von Bonnhorst was afterwards postmaster of Pittsburgh during Lincoln's administration and was later engaged in the banking business up to the time of his death,which occurred in Chartiers Township, this County, July 27,1887. His two surviving sons are George M. von Bonnhorst, recorder of Allegheny County William E. van Bonnhorst, cashier of the Marine National Bank of Pittsburgh.

The elder von Bonnhorst - Charles Francis William became indebted in some manner to William Hill in the amount of $1,851.14, and on November 2,1891, the sheriff of the county (L. Stewart) conveyed the property to Phillip Lowery for $4,700. In this deed, it is stated that there is conveyed a certain tract of land containing 287 acres, be the same more or less situate in Mifflin Township called "Hamilton Hall," bounded by the Monongahela River and by lands of Mary Thompson, John Neel and the heirs of Samuel Cochran

.DOWN TO THE OLIVERS
In consideration of $5,300, Phillip Lowery and Margaret, his wife, transferred the farm to Charles H. Israell on December 1,1819. Israell and his wife, Sara, sold it on December 6,1824, for $6,500 to James Riddle. Mr. Riddle's son, Robert Riddle, who afterwards was mayor of Pittsburgh. On September 25,1827, James Riddle and his wife Jane, in consideration of $6,100, transferred it to John Swartzwedler. On April 23,1840, Swartzwelder and his wife, Mary, sold it to Marshall Swartwelder for $1 and "natural affection." By deed dated March 6, 1841, Marshall Swartzwedler conveyed the farm to Dr. George Oliver for $9,600 or $33.44 per acre. Dr. Oliver was a native of England having been born on April 30,1789, at Middleton in Teesdale, County of Durham. He came to America in the fall of 1840 and resided on the South Side, Pittsburgh, for a time and came to his farm here in 1841. As a physician, he was very successful and became widely known throughout this section of the country, people coming for miles around to consult him. He had two sons, William and Robert Oliver. Dr. George Oliver died in the old homestead home in 1864. His son, Robert, died in July, 1868, and his remaining son, William, in June 1875. The William Oliver noted here was the father of William, George, and Seward Oliver, Mrs. J. S. Erwin, Mrs. F. N. McRae, Mrs. G. D. Kunze, Mrs. Isabelle Matlack, and Miss Mary E. Oliver, all of whom are well-known here and several of whom still reside here. This property, at the time of the death of Mrs. William Oliver on July 2,1897, passed into possession of children named.

ANOTHER HAMILTON HALL
About this time—1837—another part of "Hamilton Hall"—north of what is known as Oliver Hollow —commences to figure in the records for on December 29,1837, John Swartzwelder and Mary M., his wife, sold for $2,500 to George Fritzius, a tract of 87 acres described as follows: "Beginning at a stone on the bank of the Monongahela River, and running toward the sawmill South 52 degrees, W. 101 perches to a stone near the road, thence South about 37 degrees, W. 66 perches to a white oak tree standing near the road; thence S. 40 degrees, W. 28 perches to a stone planted in the race; thence from said stone N. 861/4 degrees, W. 83V2 perches to a walnut tree, thence S. 65 degrees, W. 56 perches, more or less to the boundary line of Neil's land thence with that line N. 36'/2 degrees, W. 42 1/3 perches to a stone; thence N. 65 degrees, E. 292 perches to a walnut tree standing on the bank of the river, thence up said river S. 451/4 degrees, E. 27 perches to the place of beginning."

SOLD TO THE OLIVERS
George Fritz (formerly Fritzius) died intestate leaving a widow and five children. The sheriff appraised the land at $47.50 per acre and it was ordered to William Fritz, the eldest son. By him it was transferred, for $4,500, to George Wilkinson on June 11, 1849. George Wilkinson and his wife, Margaret, then, on March 31,1853, sold the property (87 acres) to William and Robert Oliver, the consideration being $6,000, or $68.95 per acre. On September 21,1867, William Oliver and his wife, Mary, conveyed their interest in the tract of 87 acres and also, an additional 100 acres nearby, to Robert Oliver, for $5 subject to the dower of Isabella Oliver, widow of George Oliver. The Robert Oliver, referred to later, died leaving a widow, Martha A. Oliver, and an only son and heir, Robert A. Oliver. Martha A. Oliver died about January, 1873, leaving her estate to her only son, Robert A. Oliver. The the latter died October 19,1882, leaving neither father, mother, brothers or sisters, his personal estate, ther-fore, descended to his next of kin and his real estate being by. descent from his father descended to the children of'his uncle, William Oliver, deceased, viz: George Oliver, Mrs. Jane S. Erwin, William Oliver, Isabella Oliver (now Mrs. Matlack), Mary E. Oliver, Seward Oliver, Florence N. Oliver (now Mrs. A. K. McRae), and Grace D. Oliver (now Mrs. Kunze.)

START OF "McKEES CHOICE"
All that part of Duquesne bounded by the Monongahela River, East and West Grant Avenues, Auriles Street and Crawford Avenue, was first known as "McKees Choice." On April 13,1769, John Brownfield made application to the Commonwealth for 300 acres of land on the water of the Monongahela river, the application being No.3, 046. The warrant was issued on February 24,1770, and on February 6, 1771, Brownfield conveyed the warrant to John McKee (founder of McKeesport), the real patentee.The deed recites that the warrant grants to McKee "a tract of land on the water of the Monongahela, called "McKees Choice." Beginning at a marked sugar tree on the side of the Monongahela River aforesaid, thence by Alexander Ross' land (now the Crawford Plan), S.83 degrees, W.280 perches to a marked black oak, thence by vacant land N. 30 degrees, W. 132 perches to a marked black oak; thence by Benjamin Tate's land (now the Oliver Plan) N. 73 degrees, E. 315 perches to a marked sugar tree at the side of the aforesaid river; thence up the said river 178 perches to the place of beginning. Containing 268 acres, 104 perches and allowance of six per cent for roads, etc. Yielding and paying to the said proprietaries (the State) at and upon the first day of March in every year, from the first day of March next, one penny Sterling for every acre." By deed dated March 22,1783, John McKee and Sarah, his wife, sold the farm to Daniel Risher (John M. Risher's great grandfather.)By another patent issued on December 29,1785, James McKee (supposedly John McKee's brother), whose application was filed on April 20, 1769, became possessed of 300 acres to the west and south of John McKee's tract and including a portion of what was known as Ross' Commons." Now the Crawford Plan. on April 24, 1787 James McKee and his wife, Jane, transferred 33 3/4 acres of their tract to Daniel Risher for 68 pounds.

THE RISHERS AND COCHRANS
Daniel Risher and his wife, Catherine, on March 30, 1791, sold 274 acres of their farm to Samuel Cochran (C. B. Payne's great grandfather) for 600 pounds. Samuel Cochran died and his will was proven August 28, 1818. The executors named were his sons, Robert and Samuel Cochran, and with certain restrictions he bequeathed to his youngest sons, John S. and William Cochran an equal divide of his estate. William Cochran on August 30, 1859, conveyed his share in the estate to his brother, John S. Cochran.

PATTERSON MAKES A PURCHASE
In consideration of $12,000, John S. Cochran sold 187 acres to Robert Patterson on February 6, 1869. To this deed is attached a $12 U. S. stamp. On the same day, the same John S. Cochran sold 87 acres to Mrs. Priscilla Kennedy. Robert Patterson, at his death, bequeathed his farm of 187 acres to his four daughters, a great portion of which still remains their names. The tract contained in the Kennedy and Patterson sales embraced all that part of town bounded by the rivers East and West Grant Avenues, Auriles Street and a line running from the river to Auriles Street about 75 south of Gate StreetIn 1894, Mrs. Priscilla Kennedy sold a tract of 12 acres bounded by South Duquesne Avenue, West Grant Avenue, the alley in the rear of South Third Street and the Kennedy line, 75 feet south of Gate Street to H. B. Cochran, who, at his death, bequeathed it to Miss Zella Povard, one of it's present owners.All that part of the Second Ward west of Auriles Street was included in a tract sold by John McKee to George Crawford and from him it passed into the possession of Mrs. Edward Allender, who, in turn, on December 4, 1829, sold it to William Mehaffey for.$1,400. Mrs. Mehaffey later divided it and sold parts of it to John Lamp, Peter Lamp, August Fechtor, Frederick Pirl and others who settled in "Dutchtown" and it's vicinity.

THIRD WARD'S FIRST OWNERS
What is now known as the Third Ward of the town was patented by the Government as "Ross' Commons." The exact date of the patent is not known, but the warrant was made out to Alex Ross, a Tory. Later, Ross was convicted of treason, and forfeited the land to the Commonwealth. On December 29 1785, the farm, containing 300 acres, was exposed at public sale and sold to James McKee. The latter, in turn, sold it to John McKee, founder of McKeesport the date of the deed being February 13, 1794. On the same day, McKee transferred 164 acres of the farm to George Crawford, grandfather of the late Major James Crawford, of this place, the consideration being 300 pounds. At the death of George Crawford, the property passed into the possession of John Crawford, his son. John Crawford died intestate and the farm became the property of his two sons Major James Crawford and George Crawford, and at the death of the latter, it passed into the possession of Major Crawford, whose heirs still retain a considerable portion of it.

NEEL'S ESCAPE FROM INDIANS
One of the earliest settlers of the neighborhood, and the one who gained considerable distinction, was John Neel, Sr., father of the late General John Neel. The elder Neel was living in Lancaster County prior to 1770. Some time before 1780, he moved to Westmoreland County. One evening in 1780, during his residence in Westmoreland County, two brothers, William and James Neel, arrived at his home for a visit. They attached belts to their horses and drove them out to pasture. The next morning, in looking for their steeds, they were killed by the Indians and scalped. John Neel Sr. heard the shots and shouldering his musket, went out to learn the cause of the reports. Several of the Indians sent a volley at him, one of the bullets striking the hammer of his gun and exploding it. Neel scampered back to his cabin, gathered together his wife and three children —John (later known as General Neel), Tobitha and Archibald—and hastened to the garrison in Brush Creek. That day, Hannahstown was burned by the Indians.

THE INDIANS FEARED KELLAR
About this time, a man named Kellar, who lived at the mouth of Crooked Run, McKeesport, suffered the loss of several members of his family through the raids of the Indians and vowed that he would kill every red roan he could get a crack at with his musket. In order to make himself more secure, he came to the present site of Duquesne and going up Thompson Run, just below Oliver station, a short distance, prepared a "dug-out" in the side of the hill, where he spent much of his time. Traces of the "dug-out" may yet be seen. After the arrival of Kellar, the "neck" (which included all that land within the Low of the Monongahela River between Homestead and Dravosburg) was little troubled by the Indians. They feared Kellar and kept out of his way.

NEEL COMES TO THIS VICINITY
After their exciting experience in Westmoreland County, Neel, Sr, moved to the hillside back of Dravosburg and then again, in 1781, to Thompson Run, a short distance west of Duquesne. There he built a cabin and cleared a small space for farming purposes. In 1789, he erected one of the first grist mills ever operated in this vicinity. The two chopping stones, each 2l/2inches in diameter, were secured in the mountains and may yet be seen near the site of the old mill. A dam was constructed in the creek and a wheel placed in position. By this means a motive power was obtained. The few settlers of tie neigh. borhood were engaged in raising rye and corn, ant they came for miles around to the Neel mill to hay. their products ground. At times, it was found necessary to operate the mill night and day. No flour was ground at this mill, and about all that was ground was done at a McKeesport mill, which was operated by horsepower. During the same year in which Neel built his grist mill, he erected a distillery near the mill and manufactured popular drinks. About 1790 he built a larger cabin for himself and his family one-third of a mile west of the end of Grant Avenue. In 1800, he built the stone house nearby, which still standing. On March 22, 1801, Mr. Neel died leaving the following children: John, Tobitha Archie, William, Thomas, James and Samuel.

DISTINGUISHED JOHN NEEL
John Neel, the oldest of the children, had been born in November, 1776, in Westmloreland County and became even more distinguished than his Father. When a young man, he became afflicted with a swelling in his arm and went to Lancaster to consult a physician in 1794. The doctor sawed out about four inches of the bone above the elbow and in it's place inserted a piece of sheep's leg. The bones knitted together and the arm became as strong as ever. During his stay in Lancaster, United States troops, headed by George Washington, numbering 4,000 men, arrived in that city, enroute to Braddock, where they expected to participate in the whiskey insurrection which had broken out. He heard Washington warn the men at Carlisle to be cautious, that they might be called upon to struggle with fellow citizens and that they should be careful.

The great general then returned to Washington while the troops marched to Braddock. Neel had mingled with the soldiers at Lancaster and became enamored of army life. He was a genial, sociable young fellow, and the soldiers took kindly to him and invited him to accompany them to Braddock. He accepted the invitation and returned home with the troops. The arm passed along the "bottoms" of Duquesne and crossed over to Braddock at Braddock's lower riffle.

THE OLDEST NATIVE CITIZEN
Until his death on May 5,1901, the distinction of being the oldest native of Duquesne belonged to James Crawford, Sr. Mr. Crawford was born on February 6,1829, in an old log house which stood on the bank of the Crawford Homestead, corner of South Duquesne Avenue and Center Street. His grandfather's name was George Crawford. His own parents' names were John and Jane Crawford. The latter came to Duquesne from Westmoreland County in 1825 and occupied the house in which James Crawford, Sr. was born. The old house occupied a position between the old brick house which still stands on the glass house grounds in 1830, but had scarcely finished the foundations before he died. Mr. Crawford then a mere babe, was taken back to Westmoreland County, where he remained until 1859. During the intervening years, however, he had visited Duquesne every few months, and had practically been in touch with the town all of his life. His only brother, George Crawford, was thrown from a colt near South Duquesne Avenue and Center Street in 1848, and killed. All of Mr. Crawford's children - John W., James S., Edwin R., George, Jordan S., and Misses Tillie and Annie Crawford—were born in the brick house in the old glass house yard.

THE TOWN IN 1853
Victor K. McElheny, a son-in-law of Col. John Neel, has a distinct recollection of the vicinity from 1853, at which time, he says, the following houses were embraced in the present limits of Duquesne: The William Mehaffey house near the German Catholic chapel the William Guice home nearby, the William Gallagher house, occupied by a Mr.Knipe, near the end of West Grant Avenue; the John Kunkle home nearby; the Anthony Stinner and Mrs. Shulte homes nearby; also the Alex. McMichaels home near the site of the Corboy row, the Benedict Colling home at Auriles and Kennedy Avenue, the Oliver Homestead, near the Merchant mills; the George Fritz home, where the top of the house now stands; the William Fritz home nearby, a double house on the Oliver farm, one house on the Cochran farm, the Cochran Homestead where the Carnegie Blast Furnace now stands, the Crawford Homestead referred to above; the James Neel home, near the end of the McKeesport and Duquesne Bridge; a house on the Crawford farm, near Center and Wool Streets, and another on the Cochran farm near the present Kennedy Homestead. Most of these houses were built of logs.

JOSEPH KENNEDY'S RECOLLECTIONS
Joseph Kennedy was among the newcomers in this vicinity in the sixties, arriving here on February l, 1866, from Squirrel Hill. At that time, he states, the following houses were within the present limits of Duquesne: The Oliver, Cochran and Crawford Homesteads; a log house near the foot of East Grant Avenue (occupied by John Phillips); a frame house just opposite (occupied by Robert Oliver); a log house on the McElheny farm (occupied by John McClurg), a house near the railroad in Oliver Hollow (occupied by a Mr. Campbell); a log and frame house within a few feet of the present Kennedy home, which was built in 1884, the frame house and store of Frederick Pirl (father of Councilman F. W. Pirl) on Auriles Street; a log house on the Robert Oliver farm, near W. Grant and Auriles Street, and occupied by Joseph Shirley; a log house on the Pirl farm near W. Grant Avenue and Auriles Street and occupied by Mrs. Kunkle, (mother of Mrs. Harry Graw); and west of these, some 20 or 25 houses in Germantown. Among the families represented in Germantown at that time were those of Messrs. Doney, Bost, Goldstrohm, Heilman, Stier, Wool (two families), Hope, Winkelvoss, Bahm, Stinner, Altmeyer, Shulte (4), Zewe (2), Williams, Buchleitner, Hart, Dierstein (who conducted a tavern near the end, of West Grant Avenue), Helfrick, Lazure and Simon.

THE OLD CAMP'S START
In the early part of 1876 a number of leading Methodists of the Monongahela Valley conceived the idea of establishing camp meeting grounds at some points in the valley and conducting a series of services therin during the summer. The movement proved a popular one and the "Monongahela Valley Campmeeting Association" was organized with the following stockholders: John O' Neil, C.M. Westlake, W. K. Hobson, William H. CrumP, Stephen S. Crump, John Adams, Rev. T. N. Boyle, John O' Neil, Jr.-, and J. B. Abrams. A beautiful grove at that time, covered a considerable portion of Robert Patterson's farm in Duquesne, and the association was particularly impressed with it.The grove, it might be stated, had been used for camp meeting purposes off and on for many years prior to this time. As far back as 1850, interesting religious services were conducted in it by the Winebrennerians, of Church of God (founded in 1830), a religious sect that had sympathizers in the valley at that time. Negotiations were opened, by the Monongahela Valley Association, with Mr. Patterson for a lease on the grove, and on July 23,1876, Mr. Patterson made the following written proposition to the organization:

MR. PATTERSON'S PROPOSITION
"Gentlemen: I propose to lease my grove, situate in Mifflin Township, Allegheny County Pa., consisting of about 30 acres of woodland, to the Monongahela Valley Camp Meeting Association of the M. E. Church for the term of five years from the first day of October, 1876, for the sum of $400 per year, to be paid as follows: vis: $400 annually at the close of each succeeding campmeeting until five years rent shall have been paid, after which I agree to extend the same lease five years at a time. The rent after the first five years to be governed by the valuation of the property and the condition of the times. I propose further, that in case the association should hold a camp meeting this year in August or September, to give the grove for $200, to be paid during the term of the lease. It is understood that when the above lease shall terminate the association shall have the right to remove all property, such as cottages, boarding houses, stands, lumber, etc. excepting the fence."

THE GREAT CROWD ATTENDED
The proposition was accepted by the association and the work of preparing the grove for the camp meeting soon commenced. The tract was supposed by the association to embrace all that land bounded, at present, by Whitfield Avenue, Patterson Avenue, Patterson Hollow, Duquesne Avenue, and South Fourth Street, and was immediately surrounded by a high board fence. The main entrance was about where Graff's Hotel now stands, and another was back on Fourth Street. Three wells—one still in use near the corner of South Second Street and Patterson Hollow—were dug. Scores of Methodists from various points along the valley built 100 or more cottages in the grounds at a cost of about $ 100 each and occupied them during the summer. In July, 1876, the association conducted it's first camp meeting here and on July 4 of that year, nearly every Methodist Sunday school in the entire valley was represented on the grounds. The meetings were afterwards held for two weeks in August of each year until 1881. The fame of the beautiful grove spread far and near and, at times, monster crowds were attracted to the place. Great excursions were run over the P. V. and C. railroad, and steamboats on the river brought their full quota from McKeesport and other towns of the valley. Sundays were particularly "big" days on the grounds. On one of those days, fully 10,000 people were in attendance. An admission fee of 10 cents per individual was charged, for carriages, 25 cents.

A STUBBORN CONTROVERSY
Mr. Patterson had not intended that his proposition made to the association July 23, 1876, should be considered a lease, but merely a proposition upon which he would be willing to base a lease. The association looked at the matter in a different light, however, and claimed that the proposition was the equivalent of a perpetual lease. The association also fenced in more than 30 acres and otherwise seemingly overstepped it's rights in the premises. This angered Mr. Patterson and on August 18, 1876 - less than one month after he had submitted the proposition - he brought suit in ejectment against the association. The matter was carried in different forms, from one court to another, and was not settled until November, 1880, when the Supreme Court of the state handed down a decision in favor of Mr. Patterson. The attorneys in this stubbornly-contested case were: For Mr. Patterson, Robert Woods and M. W. Acheson; for the association, D. T. Watson and W. C. Moreland.Some of the interested ones had feared that the verdict would be against the association and removed their cottages and other possessions before the levy was made. About 1881, Francis Murphy, the noted temperance lecturer, conducted a great two-week's temperance rally in the grove, and later, the grounds were used for camp meeting purposes by African Methodists. All of the original camp cottages have disappeared, the last two being razed in the early part of 1901. They had been joined together and occupied as a home by Joseph Haney. They were situated for a number of years, on an alley east of South First Street, a half square south of Camp Avenue.

THE FIRST BOARDING HOUSE
One of the very first, and probably the first man who was attracted to Duquesne by the report that a great steel mill was to be erected there, was George A. Cole. Mr. Cole had been living at Braddock and moved to this place on May 24, 1885, for the purpose of opening a boarding house and caring for some of the workmen who would come to the place to assist in the construction of the mill. He occupied the double house on the Oliver farm, near the foot of East Grant Avenue, and entertained quite a number of strangers. The construction work on the steel plant was started on May 28, 1885, four days after Mr. Cole's arrival in the town. At that time, the only houses in the lower part of town were these: Oliver Homestead, Patterson or Cochran Homestead, Crawford Homestead, Joseph Kennedy's home, the Cochran house, George Oliver's home, and two houses at the foot of Grant Avenue (referred to before), a small house on the Oliver farm where the pop house now stands, and another near the bridge, with Germantown to the west. The old camp was still in woods.

IT'S APPEARANCE IN 1886
George M. Ferry, then yardmaster at Thompson Run, came to Duquesne in the spring of 1886 and occupied one of the two houses which the Olivers had erected on North Duquesne Avenue, near Oliver station. At that time, Mr. Ferry says the place could scarcely have been called a village, except as it referred to that part of the present town called "Dutchtown." The only houses in the lower part of the town were these: The Oliver Homestead, the two houses at the foot of Grant Avenue, Patterson Homestead (formerly known as the Cochran Homestead), the Crawford homestead, George Oliver's home (still standing on Superior Street), the Kennedy Homestead, and a tenement house in Oliver Hollow where the pop house now stands, and the H. B. Cochran home, now occupied by C. B. Payne. There were a number of houses in "Dutchtown " but how many he does not remember. Three stations along the P. V. and C. railroad in the town were then in use, viz: Oliver Station (merely a platform), Germantown Station (also only a platform) at the corner of South Duquesne Avenue and W. Grant Avenue and Cochran Station (a platform with small buildings.

THE STEEL WORKS' BEGINNING
The giant steel works, which have made Duquesne famous, have arisen from a very small beginning. In the early part of 1885, a corporation known as "The Duquesne Steel Company," purchased a tract of land along the riverfront, in the present Second Ward, from Robert Patterson and Mrs. Priscilla Kennedy, and on May 28,1885, excavations were commenced for the office of a proposed steel works. Among the prominent members of the Duquesne Steel Company were: J. W. Doubleday, Robert Brown, George Troutman, and other Pittsburghers.The office was built by William Wake of the South side, Pittsburgh, and a part of the structure is still standing, being a part of the present Carnegie office building. To erect the office required only a few weeks, at the conclusion of which time, the construction of a steel plant was started. George Hogg of Braddock had the contract for the stone and brick work, and a Mr. Amsler was superintendent of construction. By the spring of 1886, a small converting and blooming mill had been erected. For some reason or another, operations were not begun immediately and the mill lay dormant for two years. In 1888, the plant was purchased by the Allegheny Bessemer Steel Company, whose officers were: President John Slagle, Vice President, George Boulton; Secretary, J. W. Doubleday; and Treasurer, W. G. Park. This company immediately transformed the old blooming mill into a blacksmith shop, built a new blooming mill, and erected a rail mill. Operations were commenced in the blooming mill on February 9,1889.

IT'S FIRST SUPERINTENDENT
John R. Davis was superintendent of the rolling department, and Thomas Edwards was superintendent of the converting mill. The first product of the works was billets, 5 1/2 inches square. In March of the same year, the manufacture of rails was commenced. The works were operated steadily from that time until the latter part of April, 1889, when the employees went out on strike for higher wages. For a month, the plant was shut down. The company built a temporary boarding house in the mill yard, with a new force of men, attempted to resume operations. It succeeded to a certain extent, and, in the fall of 1889, disposed of the plant to the Carnegie Steel Company, which had since added the great mills and departments now embraced in the works.

STARTING A TUBE WORKS
In 1886, several employees of the National Tube Works Company of McKeesport conceived the project of organizing a company and erecting and oerating another tube mill in which they themselves would be directly interested. Thomas Best was particularly anxious to join in such a scheme and made several attempts to get different capitalists of McKeesport in sympathy with the venture. With the assistance of H. C. Bradeen, a fellow worker, he finally accepted an interested Dr. C. R. Stuckslager (at present, president of the People's Bank of McKeesport.) A company was organized the stockholders in which were: Dr. C. R. Stuckslager, H. C. Bradeen Thomas Best, W. L. Herd, and Samuel Briggs. During the first week of April, 1887, the Company purchased 20 acres of land from the Oliver Estate, a short distance below Oliver Station, the consideration being about $850 an acre. During the latter part of the same month, the Company was chartered the "Duquesne Tube Works Company," with a capital stock of $ 100,000, and elected the following officers: President, H. C. Bradeen, Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. C. R. Stuckslager; General Manager, W. L. Herd; and Superintendent, Thomas Best. Ground for the plant was broken in June, 1887, and, in November of the same year, the mill was ready for operation. The new plant was a one-furnace tube works and, at the outset, gave employment to 100 men and boys. At first, only boiler tubes were turned out, and only 30 tons a day of these. But, the tubes were of the finest kind, and were in great demand. So successful was the operation of the works that in 1889, two more furnaces were constructed, and the number of employees increased to 425, with a payroll of $17,000 to $18,000 per month. With the two new furnaces in operation, the company commenced re manufacture of tubes and pipe, and ran it's production up to 150 tons per day.After remaining in the Company three years, Dr. Stuckslager sold is stock to James L. DeLong and Issac Long acted as President, with Mr. Bradeen being made Secretary and treasurer. In 1890, W. A. Dunshee bought a block of stock in the Company and was made President.

CAUGHT IN A PANIC
The panic of 1893 caught the Company with a stock worth $270,000 on hand. Prices depreciated and the Company was soon in financial straits. The plant was kept in operation, however, until July 26,1896, when it was shut down, never to open again. In September, 1897, E. N. Ohl was appointed receiver for the corporation and on August 1,1898, he sold the ground to the Carnegie Steel Company and the machinery and stock to the National Tube Company and others. The plant has since been razed, but on the site has reared the great 10 and 13-inch double storage merchant mills of the Carnegie Company, operations being commenced therein on October 3,1901. The Tube Works, including the land on which it was erected, cost the Duquesne Tube Works Company $200,000 and, while the Corporation lost money in the long run, it made considerable profit in several years. During one year — 1891 — it realized $75,000 on it's improvement.

THE HOWARD GLASS HOUSE
The Howard Plate Glass Company was the third great corporation to recognize Duquesne as a promising manufacturing center; and, in it's endeavors to escape the rapidly-rising taxation of the cities decided to erect it's proposed plant at this place providing satisfactory terms could be made for the purchase of the necessary ground. In the early part of 1888, representatives of the Company conferred with the Crawford heirs and about April 1st of the same year, consummated a deal by which it (the Company) came into possession of about 20 acres of choice river bottom which formed a part of the Crawford farm.

OPERATIONS COMMENCED
The property was bought at the rate of $1,250 per acre. Later on, the Company purchased seven additional acres from the Crawfords, for which they paid about $5,000 an acre. The property had been used as a corn field prior to it's sale to the Howard Company. On April 17, 1888, James Hunter struck the first pick preparatory to the erection of the plant and on May 8, the work of excavating commenced in earnest. By September, 1889, a monster glass house had been constructed. Operations had been begun, however, in a part of the plant on April 22, 1889 with a force of about 300 hands. The pays aggregated from $12,000 to $15,000 per month. The Company manufactured a superior quality of plate glass and soon gained an enviable name for itself in the glass world. It's products were in great demand and found a ready market throughout the entire country.The plant was kept in operation until April, 1895 when it was shut down by it's owners, never to be used again for the manufacture of glass. The company was composed of the following men, almost all of whom were Pittsburghers: President, A. V. Howard, Secretary and Treasurer, H. Howard; Superintendent, J. M. Howard, and W. J. Howard, J. Z. Wainwright, J. J. Vandergrift, and W. H. Nimick. In 1898, the Company disposed of it's property to the Carnegie Steel Company, and it's machinery went to different plants of the glass combination to which the Company had sold it's interests.

SOME GREAT ORCHARDS
Prior to the incorporation of the town as a borough, the land now occupied by Duquesne was used chiefly for farming purposes. On the Oliver farm were three fine apple and one pear orchards covering some 35 acres. During one year, 600 barrels of apples were picked in the orchards. In 1890, the orchards yielded 400 barrels of apples and pears, and the farm produced 40 tons of hay together with much garden truck. As far down as January, 1891, there were only eight dwellings and two small houses on this farm. Another orchard, which yielded large crops of apples, was situated on the Crawford farm.

FIRST BUILDING BOOM
With the beginning of operations in the manufacturing plants, which afterwards proved so great a boom to the settlement, many working men were attracted to the community. Houses sprung up in numbers in the lower part of town, particularly below Second Street, and the population rapidly increased. What was probably the first purchase of a building lot in the lower part of town was made by John Neish, who bought a small piece of ground on East Duquesne Avenue in the summer of 1886 and erected thereon a two-story frame structure. The building still stands on the original site and is occupied by William Keenan, the barber. Charles Downey followed with the purchase of his present corner at East Duquesne and East Grant Avenues in August, 1886. Many of the newcomers were of a rough class and much disorder followed. Robberies were numerous and not a few fires (believed to have been of an incendiary origin) occurred.

EARLY SCENES OF DISORDER
Everybody seemed to have money and everybody seemed willing to spend it. Gambling was very common and it was not unusual to see a crowd of men and boys playing poker over a beer keg along the present East Duquesne Avenue, near Grant Avenue, at any hour of the day. The shooting of craps was another form of amusement that had many admirers, and the latter were not at all backward in playing the game in daylight along a public thoroughfare and wagering various sums of money on the result. The use of intoxicants was very common and it was a dangerous thing for anyone— particularly a foreigner—to appear about the present First National Bank corner with a keg of beer on his shoulder. He was almost certain to be toppled over and relieved of his liquor. Fights were just as common, and it was a cold night when a crap was not participated at the corner of East Grant and East Duquesne Avenues, in which some person was roughly handled. Law and order were cast to the winds and a state bordering on anarchy prevailed.

VIGILANCE COMMITTEES ACT
As a matter of protection, some of the older and law-abiding citizens organized a vigilance committee, and for a time, the more thickly settled sections of the village were patrolled at night by well-known citizens, among whom were: Dr. J. T. Black, R. Robson, John Thompson, J. G. Neverline, William Linn Max Rudert John Lutz, Max Raible, Josiah Gwinn, E. F. Moss, William Thompson, Jacob Gimmell, J. S. Younghlood, John McClain, Harry Jordan, Hershel Houston, Samuel Livingston, Tim Oldham and others.With the continued growth of the village, however, the vigilance committee tired of it's labor and sought other means of protection for the community. For a time, William Linn and Charles Helfrick served as special officers.

INCORPORATION IDEA CONCEIVED
In 1888, the idea of endeavoring to have the place incorporated as a borough was conceived and before the close of the year, a movement with that end in view was well under way. Finally, a committee of citizens, consisting of the late Joseph G. Neverline, Dr. J. T. Black, George M. Ferry, R. Robson, and John Lutz (the last three named still being residents of the town), consulted several attorneys relative to the matter. The fees demanded by the lawyers were considered too great, however, and for a time the project was temporarily abandoned. Still believing that an incorporation of the town into a borough would be the means of suppressing the increasing disorder and bring about needed improvements the committee mentioned, supported by a number of other citizens, retained R. C. Rankin of McKeesport and W. B. Rodgers of Pittsburgh, as attorneys to represent them in court in the matter.

FIRST ATTEMPT FAILED
A petition was circulated and filed in the Allegheny Courts in the summer of 1890, and in June of the same year was referred to the Grand Jury. It was immediately attacked by citizens who were unfavorable to incorporation, and was shown to not contain a majority of the resident freeholders within the proposed limits of the borough. This defeated the attempt of incorporation and the petition was refused. The spirit of incorporation would not down, however, and on September 13, 1890, a second petition for incorporation was filed in the county courts. It was signed by the following citizens: Charles Downey, M. G. Conlin, F. W. Haberman, Peter Penman, Sr., W. J. Rehbeck, S. M. Livingston, Charles Kerr, E. L. Cuthbert, Peter Zewe, Sr., A. E. Jones, P. Reynolds, Martin Petrie, Charles McQuaide, W. R. Dorty, Clayton M. Leader, J. T. Black, and C. W. Allebrand. The petition set forth that the village of Duquesne contained a collection of houses collocated after a regular plan in regard to streets and alleys, that the petitioners resided within the limits of the same, that they constituted a majority of the freeholders residing within the limits and were desirous that said village be incorporated into a borough under the name of "The Borough of Duquesne," according to certain boundaries which were set forth by courses and distances in words at length, excepting certain courses and distances along the easterly side (the river side), and prayed that the petition be laid before the grand jury and that a majority of the grand jury would find in favor of incorporation, and that the court confirm said finding and incorporate the village

WHAT WAS INCLUDED
The plan of the proposed borough included all the property in the present borough, together with 80 acres of the Hays farm, north of town, and 40 acres of the McElhenny heirs' farm, southwest of town. This petition, like the first, did not meet with favor in the eyes of all the property owners and on September 26, 1890, a remonstrance was filed by the Allegheny Bessemer Steel Company, Robert Patterson, the Howard Plate Glass Company, V. K. McElhenny, W. C. McElhenny, V. K. McElhenny, Jr, Mary S. McElhenny, H. J. McElhenny, and Mary Oliver. The remonstrance, together with the petition, was referred to the Grand Jury, and the latter body, in due time, reported or found in favor of incorporation as prayed for. After the report of the Jury was filed, and while the proceeding was still pending in the County Court, the Allegheny Bessemer Steel Company and the Howard Plate Glass Company filed exceptions to the report, and Mary Oliver, H. C. Bugham (trustee for the Hays estate), Robert Patterson, and V. K. EcElhenny Sr., W. C. McElhenny, V. K. McElhenny, Jr., Mary S. McEl Lenny, and H. J. McElhenny filed petitions praying that their lands be excluded by the Court from the limits of the proposed borough.

SOME OBJECTIONS FILED
The principal claim of the two companies filing exceptions was that the Court had no jurisdiction to incorporate the kind of property owned by them (for manufacturing purposes), and their property was in no respect a part of the village intended to be incorporated. Mary Oliver contended that her property was employed exclusively for farming purposes and did not belong to the village. The line of argument used by H. C. Bughman, trustee, Robert Patterson, and the McElhenny heirs was the same as that employed by Mr. Oliver.The exceptants and petitioners filed a motion on January 10, 1891, asking for the appointment of a commissioner, and on the same day, the Court appointed James H. Beal, esq., of Pittsburgh as commissioner in the case. Mr. Beal held hearings in Pittsburgh on January 29, February 20, and in July, 1891, at which the exceptants and petitioners were represented by the following attorneys: For petitioners for incorporation, W. B. Rodgers and R. C. Rankin; for Allegheny Bessemer Steel Company, Robert Patterson and the McElhenny heirs, Charles M. Thorp and George R. Packer; for Howard Plate Glass Co., and Mrs. Mary Oliver, Charles B. Payne; for H. C. Bugham, trustee, Messrs. Lazar and Orr. The witnesses and in whose behalf they were called were: For those who opposed incorporation, James H. McRoberts, H. C. Bugham, L. G. Wood, William. Oliver, George Oliver, E. A. U. Howard, J. W. Doubleday, John M. Slagle, W. C. McElhenny and John M. Risher. For applicants for incorporation, J. G. Neverline, Dr. J. T. Black, Charles Downey, William Dorsey, Mahlon E. Davis and Thomas P. Roberts.One of the very amusing parts of evidence introduced at the hearings was given by W. J. Dorsey. One of the attorneys asked: "How do you people get about up there? Do you have any sidewalks or paved streets?" Mr. Dorsey's answer, in substance, was this: "We get around as best we can. The mud is something awful. Everybody wears gum boots. The men wear them, the women wear them, and the children wear them. I can tell a Duquesne man, woman or child anywhere if I get a look at their feet.

THE TOWN INCORPORATED
The Court, on September 12, 1891, dismissed the exceptions of the Allegheny Bessemer Steel and the Howard Plate Glass Companies, granted the prayer of the petitions of H. C. Bughman, trustee, and the McElhenny heirs, and refused the prayer of the petitions of Mary Oliver and Robert Patterson, and made a decree incorporating all the land described in the petition excepting only the two tracts of the said J. C. Bughman, trustee, and the McElhenny heirs.Dissatisfied with the decree, Mary Oliver, Robert Patterson, the Allegheny Bessemer Steel Co. and the Howard Plate Glass Co. appealed from the decision of the lower court and carried the case to the Supreme Court of the state. At the October term, 1891, of that court, the appeal was dismissed and the decision of the lower court sustained.

THE FIRST ELECTION
The Court, in handing down it's decree of incorporation, ordered that the first election be held on the third Tuesday of February of the following year, and designated James Crawford, Sr., (father of Senator J. W. Crawford) to act as judge, and Frank Dyer and John Carey, Jr., as inspectors. Political factions organized almost immediately and the campaign preceding this first election was one of the most stubbornly-contested in the history of the town. Joseph G. Neverline, who had been one of the prime movers in the incorporation project, announced himself as a candidate for burgess of the new town and soon after, John W. Crawford was drawn into the race. The candidates for council were: Thomas Best, G. E. F. Gray, Thomas Carr, M. Wolf, William Oliver, John Lutz, M. Bedell, S. H. Young, George Estep, and R. Robson. C. B. Payne, who took an active part in Mr. Crawford's canvass contended that five councilmen were to be elected while Mr. Neverline claimed that six was the number.Each side had different tickets, the Crawford ticket containing three nominees for a two-year term and two for a one-year term, and that of Mr. Neverline containing three names for a three-year term, two for two years, and one for one year. The election was conducted in Oliver Schoolhouse, the only polling place in town, and resulted in the election of Mr. Crawford for burgess and Messrs. Best, Gray, Oliver, and Bedell. Judge James Crawford issued certificates of election to those persons, but the election of Mr. Gray was contested in the County Court in the interests of Messrs. Young and Estep. C. B. Payne represented Mr. Gray, and J. R. McQuaide and Major W. C. Moreland the contestants. The Court sustained the action of the election officers. The case was carried to the Supreme Court by which the decision of the lower court was affirmed.