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Hempfield
was formed from part of Salem and West Salem townships in May, 1856.
Those who deserve mention as the pioneers of this township were men of
more than ordinary enterprise, and the activities of themselves and
their descendants have been a permanent influence in this and the
adjoining townships of northwest Mercer county. Andrew
Christy, Jacob Loutzenhiser, Joseph Keck, Daniel and Peter Klinginsmith
were the leaders of the colony which came here from Westmoreland county
in 1796 and selected lands about the junction of the two branches of the
Shenango. The history of Greenville honors the names of all these men. Andrew
Christy was a colonel in the war of 1812. His home was located
about two miles from Greenville. His brother Samuel has descendants in
Greene township. By marriage to Susan Williamson,
Colonel Christy connected his family with that of another noted
pioneer of this region, whose career furnishes points of history for
Greenville and vicinity.
Of the families
who were settled in this township at the beginning of the last century
were the familiar names of Bean (a numerous
family), Donaldson, Stinson, Bole, Dumars.
Alexander Dumars was an Irishman, and for many years a justice of
the peace of Hempfield and active in affairs. Hempfield has no
towns except Greenville. For many years the Salem Presbyterian church in
the south part of the township held together in spiritual and social
communion many of the leading families of this part of the county. With
the dissolution of the church its adherents were scattered and
affiliated with other congregations. North of
Greenville near the present [St. Paul’s] Orphans Home a part of
the house is still standing which was built by John
Long early in the last century and which, so his descendants
claim, was the first white house (painted) between Erie and Pittsburg. Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909, pages 173-174 |
Places
Hempfield Township
