Volume II, Issue 2
Summer Issue
The Ten Mile Historical Review
 The Quarterly Newsletter of the Greene County Historical Society 
Inside this
issue:
Edward Martin:
Scholar, Soldier,
Statesmen
Tribute to My Aunt
Louise
3rd Annual Dinner
Dance
President’s Note
Around the Ol’
Greene
The Crouse
Schoolhouse
Administrator’s
Corner
And much , much
more!
 Edward Martin: Scholar, Soldier, Statesmen 
No one represents the true character, patriotism and diligence
of Greene County other than General Edward Martin. From his
start at Hazel-Greene one room schoolhouse near Ten Mile, to
his education at Monongahela College and Waynesburg
College, Martin was an exemplary student that worked several
jobs to pay for his own education. While at Waynesburg, he
studied under Professor A. J. Waychoff and several other
prominent scholars which helped Martin develop his civic
mindedness and love of American History.
This passion for America extended to his service to the United
States. A veteran of four wars, Martin started out as a private
with the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the
Spanish-American War. After seeing action in the Philippines, he joined the Pennsylvania
National Guard as a Sergeant, earning a commission as First Lieutenant in 1901 and
winning promotion to Captain and then Major Lieutenant General in World War II. He
received two Distinguished Service Crosses for heroism in World War I while in Company
K of the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry. His final military command was with Pennsylvania’s
28th Infantry Division, a post he relinquished only when he was deemed too old for his
grade.
Since his start in politics as Burgess of East Waynesburg in 1906, Martin would go on to
hold many political offices in Greene County, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. without
losing one of his fifteen campaigns. His diligence made him many friends and supporters in both the Republican
and Democratic parties. As governor of Pennsylvania and a U. S. Senator, he led reforms in defense, education,
conservation and the preservation of historic sites in the commonwealth and the nation. In Pennsylvania, these
included greater funding for unemployment compensation and liberalized insurance benefits for occupational
diseases. He also demanded safety inspections of mines and factories and supported new affordable housing and
an end to discrimination. It was also under his term as governor that, General Martin helped to create the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum in 1945. The organization was to care for and be responsible for the
collection, conservation, and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage.
Martin resigned the governorship after winning election to the U.S. Senate, where he served for two terms. A
social activist as well, he was the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards.
The Greene County Historical Society honors General Martin’s extraordinary life with a special exhibit starting
September 20th and ending November 1st. The Special Opening reception will start at 6:30 pm and conclude at
8:30 pm on September 20th. For more information, please contact the museum office at 724-627-3204 or via
email at [email protected].
Page 2
The Ten Mile Historical Review
 A Tribute to My Aunt Louise
By Catherine J. Blystone
I was lucky enough to have a
happy childhood. I began
looking at the family members
who shaped my character first,
I see my grandparents. When it
came to my love for art and the
classics, I turn to my Aunt
Louise. She and my Uncle
Bryan lived in a beautiful brick
house on High Street in
Waynesburg. The house had a
large front porch and flower
boxes filled with red
geraniums. The sides of the
house had shrubs and climbing
trellises. The walk around the
side led to a back porch just off
of the kitchen. I at one time
locked myself out of the house
in the morning, and gone
around back to the screened in
porch banged on the doors and
cried to be let in. Aunt Louise
and Uncle Bryan were still
sleeping. After about ten
minutes she finally came
downstairs and rescued me. I
was so grateful. Uncle Bryan
tried to show me how to unlock
the door and keep it unlocked.
I’m embarrassed to say I never
figured out how to keep the
door unlocked! That was one
of their favorite Cathy stories.
Uncle Bryan was a collector.
Aunt Louise loved classic
decor. I always appreciated the
neat organized home. It may
have been well cared for but it
was creative as well. I loved
the paint colors and the smell.
The house had its own scent,
very deep and welcoming. It
was not stuffy, and
surprisingly, not cluttered.
The colors were pastel and
bright and airy. An older look
from another time came from
art deco to art nouveau. I
appreciated the elements that
made her home unique. It
made quite a contrast in how I
felt about history and
creativity. She always said to
my mom, “Classic never goes
out of style.”
She had grown up in the early
twentieth century and was the
second wife of E. Bryan Jacobs.
Aunt Louise was a beautiful
woman with auburn hair that
turned white when she was
older. She had snapping eyes
and a tilt of her head when told
a joke, or when giving one. She
was patient and understanding.
She listened and adored
children. As a child I
remember her always active
and a fast walker. She was
always busy. She never seemed
to have chaos in the way;
unless you count her husbands
scads of political memorabilia.
Everywhere around the house
something was always popping
up out of place .
The room I slept in was just off
from theirs and had a beautiful
peach color on the walls. It
contained a wash stand and
beautiful antique furniture that
I believe belong to her mother’s
family. The pictures had
delicate pastels and reminded
me of summer. I thought to
myself it was the smartest color,
using a yellow hue. I always felt
coming into the room every
night I was being greeted by
summer. I felt calm in the room
and could see Aunt Louise’s
personality. Through her style
and her refreshing sense of the
classics, basic and
contemporary elegance, I’ve
become attached to simplicity.
What exactly does a house
mean? It always helps to think
of the people you know and
what inspires you. Find that one
person who inspired you and try
to find a way to attribute that to
yourself.
Volume II, Issue 2
 3 r d
Page 3
Annual Dinner Dance 
As Winter turned to Spring and to kick off the
season, the Greene County Historical Society
Museum warmed up the County of Greene with
the3rd Annual Dinner Dance on March 16, 2013.
Our theme this year was “Old Hollywood”
complete with the movie “Casablanca” silently
projected on the wall of the Armory, home to 110th
Infantry of the Pennsylvania National Guard
Readiness Center. Candles and boa’s adorned the
tables and the museum displayed World War II
Era Uniforms and War Time memorabilia to put
our guests “in the mood.”
The event was emceed by local WANB radio talent
“Crazy” Dougie Wilson, host of Greene County
Gold. The delicious dinner was prepared by the
Waynesburg University Food Service and
Thistlethwaite Vineyards was on site selling bottles
to guests. Music was provided by the Beaver Bop
Cats a 20 Piece “Big Band” group from Beaver
County, PA. Other amusements included donated
Chinese Auction items and door prizes such as tickets
to the Kelly Miller Circus the Ice Cream Social, the
Governor Martin Reception and many more of the
events planned for the year.
The Greene County Historical Society depends on
local businesses and individuals in the community to
make our events successful. For this we send a sincere
appreciation to all those local businesses that
sponsored our event through generous monetary
donations and donated items for the Auction. Thanks
to a collaborated effort by the Board, the Marketing
and Events Committee as well as the many volunteers.
Without which many of our events would not make it
Page 4
The Ten Mile Historical Review
President’s Note 
.
Dear Friends of the Historical Society,
I would like to thank all of you for your support of the Historical Society whether as a member or for
attending our Dinner/Dance, Opening Day Pancakes and Membership Meeting, the Circus or our Garden Party.
Your support is helping to keep Greene County History alive.
At our Membership Meeting on April 27, the following were elected to our Board of Directors: Audrey
Duke, Mark Fischer and Marie Frye. Officers were elected at the May 22 meeting of the Board: President
Deborah Wilson; Vice-President Linda Rush; Secretary Candace Tustin and Treasurer Cheryl Clark. Other
members of our Board are: Rick Bartoletti; George "Bly" Blystone; Steve Blystone; Joetta Hoy and Joe Kinney.
Our featured display for this season is the Canning Jar collection of Brice and Bruce Rush. These jars
were collected by their mother, Dorothy Fox Rush Clark, and arranged for display by Ed Kincheloe.
Accompanying this collection are various farming and canning items from the Museum's collection. You will also
find on display various milk bottles from local dairies. Please stop and see this interesting display. You will be
amazed at the large number of canning jars - all different.
We look forward to seeing you at the up-coming events to be held at the Museum which are advertised in
this newsletter.
Sincerely,
Deborah Wilson
President, GCHS Board
A r o u n d
 S t o r i e s
o f
t h e
t h e
O l ’
T o w n s h i p s
G r e e n e
o f
G r e e n e
C o u n t y

British Crown. They were the early pioneers who’s
hardscrabble life had transformed the land around
them into farms and homesteads. The crops of choice
at these farms were grains like wheat, barley and
especially rye.
Rye was a major money maker because of the ability to
distill it into whiskey. “Monongahela Rye.” was an
integral part of the fabric of Southwestern
Pennsylvania life. What would take nearly three
wagons of rye grain would be little more than two pack
mule loaded with whiskey. Whiskey could be
considered the currency of choice due to the turmoil of
the Revolutionary War and myriads of cash and coin
denominations that plague the fringes of society.
THE NATION’S FIRST TEST:
THE WHISKEY REBELLION
Southwestern Pennsylvania has always been the
frontier of the eastern seaboard. While seeing action in
the various skirmishes between the French and British,
Then it happened.
early Americans of the region care little for both what
would become the United States government or the
Volume II, Issue 2
A r o u n d
 S t o r i e s
o f
Page 5
t h e
t h e
O l ’
G r e e n e
T o w n s h i p s
o f
( c o n t ’ d )
G r e e n e
C o u n t y

On March 3, 1791, Congress passed the federal excise
tax on whiskey. The tax was a pet project of then
Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. The
government was faced with a federal deficit from the
Revolutionary War for which interest payments alone
exceeded total revenues. Hamilton saw this tax on the
distillers of spirits as a solution for some of this debt.
This tax was an odious burden to those in
Southwestern Pennsylvania. Exporting whiskey for
sale in eastern markets was their only source of cash.
Now, suddenly, they were not allowed to produce the
whiskey they needed for cash unless they first paid in
cash, a tax for the right to produce it.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives sent
Congress a resolution requesting repeal of the tax on
June 22, 1791 but it was ignored. On July 27, the first
excise protest meeting was held. A small group of
respected regional leaders, including Reverend John
Corbly, gathered at Black Horse Tavern in Redstone
Old Fort. The building was located on Front Street,
near the Nemacolin Castle, in what we now know as
Brownsville, Pennsylvania. Their grievances were
frustration with the tax on whiskey distilling and the
lack of government protection against Indian raids as
a result of the Northwest Indian War. The people of
Western Appalachia decided that the only way to
insure their safety was to revolt. A little over a month
later, a band of about sixteen men, some of which
were disguised as women , tarred and feathered
Washington County excise collector, Robert Johnson.
Johnson had been appointed to his post by Regional
Inspector for the Excise, General John Neville, was a
affluent and highly respected man who outfitted a
troop of militia at his own expense to fight at
Washington’s side during the war. He was also one of
the state legislators, who had voted to request repeal
of the excise on June 22. But once he accepted the
role of Excise Inspector, a duty to which he held with
strict determination, Neville lost his favor among the
locals as a beloved Revolutionary War Hero.
Over the next few years, resistance meetings and
sporadic violence continued. Tom the Tinker posters
and notices are hung in taverns and trading posts to
incite the people of Westmoreland, Fayette,
Washington and Allegheny counties. For the farmers of
Southwestern Pennsylvania, however, tar and
featherings and the raising of protest Liberty Poles
were not new inventions. There had been a long history
of this type of dissent throughout the region that first
appeared before and during the Revolutionary War. In
fact, violent opposition to excise taxes was
commonplace reactions carried over from Britain by
the English, Scotch-Irish and Scots that settled the
region.
In the fall of 1793, the capital in Philadelphia was
ravaged by a yellow fever epidemic. The disease shut
the government down and people’s view of George
Washington began to wane. When Alexander Hamilton
took ill, even Washington was forced to flee the city
until the plague passed because of both illness and
violence. And during all of this, Spain and Great Britain
watched hungrily at the western borders, waiting for
the chink in the armor that could lead to secession.
And that would occur the following year.
The Whiskey Rebellion exploded on July 17, 1794, when
a band of over five hundred men burned General
Neville’s mansion at Bower Hill. Militia men also attack
a farm house seeking, David Lenox, a federal marshal
who was enforcing the Whiskey Tax. The militia and
the opposition fired upon each other resulting in the
death of the militia’s leader, Major James McFarlane.
Leadership of the rebellion fell upon Washington
County Lawyer, David Bradford, who urged violent
Page 6
The Ten Mile Historical Review
 P ro j e c t U p d a t e 
THE CROUSE SCHOOLHOUSE
Starting with the 10% allocation of our Annual
fund, the Crouse Schoolhouse Reservation
Project has been gaining ground with generous
community support both financially and
through volunteerism. An anonymous donor has
contributed $1,000, a couple from Texas
donated $100.00, $21.00 was donated during
the Cornerstone Genealogical Society Picnic and
members, George and Jan Phillips, have
donated $50. As well, Chuck Anderson whose
mother attended the Crouse Schoolhouse has
volunteered time, money and skill to reconstruct
the front porch of the schoolhouse. By doing
this, Mr. Anderson has set the ball rolling for
this project.
People in the community are curious to see
what is going on out there and with the help of
local media, information on the project is
spreading. Also, by repairing the porch, we at
the museum can contact a contractor to help examine what is needed to repair the roof and belfry without the
worry of someone being injured. In addition to the porch and roof, we are looking for donations of gravel to help
create a parking area behind the Crouse Schoolhouse and to create a walkway to the front from the parking area.
It is our hope that once this project is complete that it will serve as the West Greene Satellite of the Greene County
Historical Society. As a satellite, the Crouse Schoolhouse will be a volunteer-run, micro-museum and meeting
house dedicated to the people of West Greene and their heritage.
Interested in Supporting the Preservation of this Greene County Treasure ?
Name:_______________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________
Telephone:____________________________________________________
E-Mail:_______________________________________________________
Donation Amount:___________
Return this form to: The Greene County Historical Society
918 Rolling Meadows Road
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Volume II, Issue 2
A r o u n d
 S t o r i e s
o f
Page 7
t h e
t h e
O l ’
G r e e n e
T o w n s h i p s
o f
( c o n t ’ d )
G r e e n e
C o u n t y

resistance and terrorism against the government like
robbing the United States mail.
On August 1, about 7,000 people gathered at Braddock's
Field, the largest gathering of protesters. The crowd
consisted mostly of poor people who owned no land. At
the meeting there was talk of declaring independence
from the United States, and of joining with Spain or
Great Britain. Radicals flew a specially designed flag that
proclaimed their independence. The flag had six stripes,
one for each county represented at the gathering: five
Pennsylvania counties (Allegheny, Bedford, Fayette,
Washington, and Westmoreland) and one Western
Virginia county (Ohio County).
The next day, August 2, 1794, over five thousand rebels
marched on Pittsburgh in the largest armed opposition
on American soil from the American Revolution to the
Civil War. The twelve hundred people of Pittsburgh
fearing that their town of would be destroyed,
cooperated and negotiated with the protesters. After
greeting the resistance militia with food and alcohol, the
Pittsburghers managed to ferry them out of the city
without incident.
On September 11 and 12, in the last chance of stemming
the impending military tide, all males over the age of 18
and living in the territory were asked to sign an Oath of
Submission to federal law. While many did, the response
was not convincing enough. Fearing succession,
President Washington orders troops under Henry Lee,
governor of Virginia to western Pennsylvania on
October 20th. One week later, federal troops left
Philadelphia for the war. The columns of the Virginia
Militia and Federal Army met in Bedford and the
12,950 troops marched into Southwestern
Pennsylvania . They were virtually unopposed.
Uniontown was the first to surrender and by October 24,
the army had already entered Pittsburgh
The Federal militia met little resistance. Most rebels fled
and with the threat of oppressive defeat, a more
moderate faction now took control of the resistance.
Under the leadership of future Secretary of the Treasury,
Albert Gallatin, and the quixotic Pittsburgh attorney,
Hugh Henry Brackenridge, the people of Southwestern
Pennsylvania petitioned the Federal government in
Philadelphia for leniency.
It was too little too late as on the cold and sleeting
night of November 13 , remembered as the
“Dreadful Night, ” approximately 150 suspected
Rebels and Witnesses were awakened from their
sleep and taken off to frigid prison quarters. Two
weeks later, around 20 of these began their march to
Philadelphia to stand trial for treason. When it was
all over, only two Rebels were convicted, and both
were pardoned by President Washington. In fact,
with the notable exception of David Bradford who
fled south ahead of the advancing army, everyone
associated with the Whiskey Rebellion was granted
amnesty or pardoned by the President.
At the end of the conflict, both sides won. On the
one hand, the Rebellion was put down and the tax
remained in place for nearly another ten years. On
the other hand, there were never enough taxes
collected to cover the cost of collection, and the
Rebellion paved the way for what some scholars call
America’s Second Revolution – the assumption of
power by the Anti-Federalist Jeffersonian
Republicans in 1801.
President Thomas Jefferson finally repealed all
federal excise taxes during the first term in office.
Don’t Miss a chance to see the GCHS Table at
this year’s Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Saturday, July 13, 2013
in Washington, PA
Page 8
The Ten Mile Historical Review
 A d m i n is t r a t o r ’s C o r n e r 
In my role as administrator I get to meet all different kinds of people and hear their stories. During my first Harvest
Festival, I got to meet a woman who was born in the Greene Hills Poor Farm. I listened closely as she told me
stories about the conditions and how her mother served many roles in the care of the patients there. Though she
was upset that we had converted the building into a wide-ranging Greene County History museum, she did enjoy
our Poor Farm Room. The same conversation would happen at the following year’s Harvest Festival.
Earlier this year, her son and daughter stopped by the museum. To my amazement, they were returning an old toy
gun and bandage role tin that their mother felt that they were hers from childhood. Their mother had taken them in
2004 when they were visiting the museum. The son’s wife discovered them when they returned to Charleston, WV
due their mother being sick. The old woman passed away on 04/29, and her children drove up and returned them
to the museum.
I like to think that our security has improved a bit since 2004, but nonetheless this was a story that was endearing
and one that makes me love preserving the stories and artifacts that make Greene County great.
The returned items are on display in the Poor Farm Room.
Eben Williams
 U p co m in g Ev e n t s 
Ice Cream Social & Family Fun Day ~ July 7th
2pm-5pm
Join the Greene County Historical Society for a day
filled with old fashion games and delicious Ice Cream.
Ice Cream will be $2 a scoop and a $1 extra for each
additional scoop.
Opening Reception of the Governor Martin
Special Exhibit ~ September 20th 6:30pm-8:30pm
Celebrate the opening of the Governor Edward Martin
exhibit that honors the 70th anniversary of his
inauguration and life story with light refreshments and
members of the GCHS Board!
42nd Harvest Festival ~ October 12th & 13th 10am5pm both days
Christmas Open House ~ November 23, 24 & 30
and December 1 3pm-7pm
OTHER LOCAL HISTORY EVENTS
Whiskey Rebellion Festival~ July 11-13, 2013
Main St, Washington
3rd annual event sponsored by The David Bradford
House. Street theater, reenactments & demonstrations,
music, food, parade & fireworks bring the Whiskey
Rebellion to life! Free admission. 10am-11pm.
Independence Day Celebration ~ July 4, 2013
Celebrate the spirit of America with historical
demonstrations & period games at Meadowcroft's 19th
Century rural village & new 18th century frontier
area trading post. Adults $12; seniors $11; children 6-17
$6; under 6 free. Noon-5pm.
American Indian
Heritage Weekend ~ September 28-29, 2013
5th annual event. Discover what traditional life was like
For more information or to inquire about using for native people of the upper Ohio Valley; watch native
the museum for your club or group please
artisans demonstrate everyday survival skills & explore
contact the GCHS Museum at :
Meadowcroft's Rockshelter. Adults $12; seniors $11;
Phone: 724-627- 3204
children 6-17 $6; under 6 free. 10am-5pm.
Fax: 724-627-3718
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit: www.greenecountyhistory.com for more on upcoming events!