Surnames: Cunningham, Ramsey, Porter, Kitts, McKibben, Deem, Smith, Adams, Nelan
A deed dated November 10, 1777, recites the transfer from John Craig to Charles Porter of three hundred acres, consideration 600 pounds, adjoining lands of John McKibben, Robert Smith, Lewis Deem and others. February 7, 1798, a tract called "Newery" adjoining Jonas Kitts was patented by Robert Adams, and sold by Adams to Alexander Nelan, July 8, 1799.Before the outbreak of the Revolution, James Cunningham of Chester County, Penna, came out to Washington County and tomahawked a claim near the present site of Washington borough whre there was at that time but one house and that a log cabin. Mr Cunningham put up a hut, did a little
chopping, and returned to Chester County to make ready for a return trip to his proposed new settlement, looking to a permanent location thereon. He did come back that fall, but found that his cabin was already occupied and although he hated to be beaten away from what he considered his own by right, he concluded not only to leave the interloper in peaceful possession, but to abandon utterly the project of settling in the Western wilds, being urged to that conclusion no doubt by the conviction that the country looked a trifly wilder and more desolate than he at first thought it did. So back he went to Chester County, bought a farm and pursued a quiet and uneventful existence until the tocsin of war sounded and then went with four of his brothers, living also in Chester County, he entered the service in the Continental army.His brother, John Cunningham and a William Ramsey, were captured by the enemy and confined in one of the abominable prison ships in which the English thrust many of their captives. The ship in which Cunningham and Ramsey were confined was dispatched to a far off port and en route the
unhappy prisoners in the dark and reeking hold died each day in great numbers, of actual suffocation.Ramsey and Cunningham were lucky enough to sustain life at a small aperture through which refreshing air came to them, but it was at that only by dint of sticking closely and constantly to the opening that they did manage to keep breath in their bodies. During their subsequent confinement on shore, they had a terrible and painful experience. As a portion of their daily food, it is said, they received bread mixed with lime, and as part of their daily exercise they found employment in
separating the lime from the bread so that eating the latter seemed possible. They passed safely, if not happily, through their captivity to be restored at last to hme and friends.The experiences and sufferings they had endured in the common made them fast friends, and at the close of the war they resolved to seek together a new home in the West. Both were bachelors and a location and settlement in the wilderness was a matter of speedy accomplishment. They bought
lands in Luzerne township, Fayette County, and erected a distillery upon the place now occupied by Armstrong Porter. The log house they built for a dwelling they used in part as a malt kiln and in a little while they were doing quite a business in the manufacture of whiskey. Ramsey generally carried the product by flatboat to New Orleans and in making the return trip would sometimes come back on foot, but most frequently proceeded by sea to Philadelphia and thence by horseback over the
mountains, taking occasion also to bring a lot of salt with him, and such necessaries as the backwoods failed to afford.Some time before the year 1800 Mr Ramsey concluded to leave Luzerne for Cincinnati where he judged there was a wider and more profitable field for the exercise of his energies. The Luzerne distillery had brough much profit to himself and his partner, but Cincinnati promised more, and so
he dissolved his business partnership with is old friend Cunningham and moved to the future Queen City. Not relishing being left alone, John Cunningham wrote to his brother James Cunningham, still living in Chester County, that if he would come out to Luzerne and build a good stone house he might have in exchange one half of the distillery business as well as one half of the land connected therewith.James Cunningham responded promptly by selling his Chester County farm and moving to Luzerne with his family. The house that he built upon his arrival according to contract is the one now occupied by Armstrong Porter. Set in the stonework is a wooden tablet bearing the inscription, "James and Mary Cunningham, 1800."
Of William Ramsey it will suffice to say that he engaged in business in Cincinnati, grew up with the town, and became in time one of its wealthiest merchants.
John Cunningham and James Cunningham carried on the distilling business in Luzerne township until 1820 and grew rich. The distillery was operated by others until 1833, William Porter being the last proprietor.