Brick and Old Houses

Just prior to 1840, apparently a company representative traveled through the area selling the idea of brick houses. He would check the soil for suitability and if near enough to the home site another workman came in later and set up equipment for making bricks. Later the actual construction of the house was started.

According to tradition, in many cases, these excavations or "brick yards" are still visible. The Melvin Wadding house were both built at the same time with brick made from the excavation just across from the White house. In 1831 Robert White obtained a warrant on 176 acres in Porter Township. In 1839, he obtained a patent on the land and built a brick house where he lived with his wife, Nancy (Moorhead) White, and they raised six children. His son, Irvin, and [Irvin's] wife, Roxanna, lived there and raised their family.

Later Harry White purchased the part on which the house stands. His son, Richard, now owns the property, making five generations of Whites to live in this house.

In 1871, Robert White and his brother, William, bought some 300 acres in Porter Township from John Faulk. They sold 149 acres to James Goheen. He built a brick house and in 1880 sold it to James White. It was later purchased by his son, Robert White. Apparently it was in the White family until it was sold to Powell Fiscus. It was later bought by Melvin Wadding who resides there.

In 1870, William P. Miller built the house on the farm now owned by Percy Wells. Percy's grandfather Wells was a stepson of Mr. Miller.

The brick house owned by George B. McCall was built around 1863 by Mrs. W. J. Campbell, her son and brother-in-law.

Henry Musser, with his wife, Elizabeth Eshelman Musser, came to Redbank Township, Armstrong County, in 1829 with six Conestoga wagon loads of belongings. In 1846, he purchased 122 acres of land in Porter Township, which had been in the Broadhead Tract. He built a house, which the Mussers occupied until about 1930, when it was replaced by a modern brick home. It is now owned by Robert Musser, son the late Arthur Musser.

In 1848 the brick house at Goheen's Crossroads was built from brick made from clay on the Goheen farm. Joseph Mateer Goheen was born in this house and lived there until his death in 1934. His son, Dale purchased the house in 1959. He and his family now reside there.

The brick house known for many years as the Stover House, was built in 1832 by Uriah Wilson.  He owned 500 acres. Later he divided his land with his two sons. David took the land that is known as the I. L. Brown Farm, and James G. the homestead. James married Annie Core. They had no children, but raised four foster children. Two of them were Edward W. Stover and Maude Potter, who later married. They were parents of twelve children and lived on the homestead the rest of their lives. Their son, Elmer, farmed the farm for many years until his death.

Presently the home is the residence of the Dr. Donald A. Nair family.

James Laughlin, grandfather of the late Charles Laughlin, Sr., purchased the "old home farm" from John, Samuel and Stewart Wilson in 1855. The brick house was built about that time from locally made brick, not far from where the house stands.

James F. Laughlin, son of James and his wife, Annie White Laughlin, lived in the house. After Mr. Laughlin's death, Annie with her sons Charles A., W. Harold and Francis L., continue to live there.

In 1926, Charles Laughlin acquired ownership of the property.

Charles Laughlin, Jr., and his wife, Jeanne, took up residence in early 1951 where they raised their children, Connie, Robert and Barry. Charles, Jr., and his father spent many hours restoring the house and grounds. The Charles Laughlin, Jr., family continue to live there.

Ross Corbett settled along the Leatherwood Creek at Rockville previous to 1835. He built a log cabin just upstream from the present brick house. The logs of this cabin stood on end. Major McNutt built the brick house for Mr. Corbett in 1841. It is now owned by Clyde Walls.

The Alexander Blair family settled around 1825 in what has been known as the Blair