Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29
4 GERMAN PIONEER.
Alexander Negley's Pilgrimage TO
the East Liberty Valley.
BUYING LAND AT 75c An ACRE.
A SPLIT IN TIE OLD CONGREGATION
rwnrrrrr ron rHr prsrArcH.,

WRITTEN FOE THE DrsrkrcH.I
It is q mooted question whether the
Scotch-Irish or the Pennsylvania Dutch
were the first settlers around Fort Pitt
Prior to the Revolution the Indians occupied
this & ED. and though there were settlements
on the Yough, and along the CHARTERS VAL
ley before that memorable event, which in
troduced the United States to the Congress
of nations, the territory which is now called
Pittsburg, was, to all intents and purposes
in the hands of the aborigines up to the
time Of the Revolution.
When the American colonies severed
their connection with the mother country,
W estern Pennsylvania was claimed BY
Virginia. and was part Of the outlying
wilderness OF Augusta county Of that colony.
A ttention had been attracted to this region
afew years before the Revolution, and one
George Washington had been mainly in
strnmental in showing that the Mononea-
heis Valley was rich in resources,
both mineral and agricultural. The
trouble with the mother country served
as a check to emigration to this
frontier Of civilization, and the set
Element Of the country around Fort
Pitt was, no doubt, delayed score Of years
by the unpleasantness between George III.
and his American colonies from 1776 TO
1873. During that memorable period
in the worlds history, there were
Irish troubles which led up to the
rebellion of 1898 aud many rebels who failed
in their enterprise were attracted to the new
Republic as haven OF retreat from the
storms. Hence this region was largely SET
tied in its beginning by refugees from the
North of Ireland, who preferred lodge in
the wilderness to q prison in Derry, An
trim or Down. At the same time that Irish
rebels were attracted to the Monongahela
Valley as a suitable place to plant them
selves, the Dutch element Of Lancaster,
Berks and Bucks counties had an eve to
this region as place that had q great fut-
ure before 1t.
THE PIONEER NEeLEY.
When the War of Independence opened
there was living in Bucks county German
ldmllI Oy bnc ud4lc VI ~ cklcIs u mtli UcL Ol'
which was not altogether satisfied with his
situation, and concluded he would 20 West
and grow up with the country. The name
of this young man was Alexander Negley.
In company with some colonial soldiers
Alexander Negley came to this region In the
summer following the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence, 1777. Accompanying him on this
journey to the frontiers was his young wife
II H~1s - L
who were born in Bucks county. The pill
grims rested for few weeks at Fort Lig-
onier, and there q third son, John, was
horn. The final resting place OF Alexander
Negley was in the valley little way above
Negley's run.
On soldiers warrants at the rate Of 70
cents per acre Alexander Negley secured
tract Of land comprising nearly 800 acres,
which comprised the principal portion Of
East Liberty and extended TO the Allegheny
river. In the valley, short distance above
Brilliant station, he built q grist mill,
which was run by water power, and there
or score OF years or more
zround the wheat and corn of the
.arly settlers, who brought their
products Tor distance Of 20 to 30 miles.
When the Negley mill was doing the work
or the early settlers it was sometimes |
necessary to have guard to protect it from
aids OF Indians who at that day were in |
ull possession of all the territory on the
lorth side OF the Allegheny, and whose
JhIei had his headquarters on Girty's run,
md was monarch OF all he surveyed.
In the process of years Alexander Neg
ey's Oldest son, Jacob, moved the old water
nill up to the pike and introduced steam
,ower, which in those days astonished the /
natives as much as telegrsphs and tele-
,hones have astonished their descendants. |
/ is only few years since the original |
abin OF Alexander Negley, which stood
lose to the Inland avenue reservoirs has |
een torn down. The little old red house,
weather boarded log. to the west of Hiland
nd fronting the reservoirs, which, until a
ew years ago was one oil the land marks of |
be East End, was the first dwelling built
D the East Liberty Valley, and dated back
D the birth Of the American Republic.
THE FIRST GERMAN CHURCH.
About the close OF the Revolution the
iously inclined settlers OF German origin
nited together, agreeing to bury their dit
srences and have union service lor the
'orship OF God. Some were followers OF
wingle, some OF Luther and others Of CAL
in. Being few in number and widely scat
.red, they pooled their issues, and, under
ne leadership of Alexander Negley, built
log church under the shelter o. Fort Pit.
he site OF this first church OF
ittsburg was on Third avenue, between
larket and Ferry street, and the time
was built was prior to the surrender of
ornwallis After two or three years wor-
zip in the log church, grant was secured
ON the Penn heirs, on the corner of Smith
eld street and Sixth avenue, and q larger
ructure was there reared, which proved
Efficient for the Protestant German eIe-
ent OF Pittsburg and vicinity tor half
,ntury or more. 1t did not prove the easi-
Il thing in the world to harmonize the
winglians and Lutherans who made up the
ernian Reformed Church but they managed
hold bgether until sometime
the thirties, when the original hive had
own strong enough to swarm. A youne
merica element OF the church had sprung
D, who wanted their gospel in the English
ngus. The pioneers preferred the lau-
lage of the Fatherland, but time was In
vor Of the rising generation.
Alexander Negiey, the pioneer settler of
e East Liberty Valley, and the prime
over in the organization of the First Ger /
an Church, passed away before the time .
the first swarming from the SmithfeId | i,
rect Church. of which he was q leading
icial. His body was laid away to It's
al resting place on the home farm, near
e site OF the HiIand reservoirs, about mid !
~ of the thirties.