USA > Pennsylvania > A pioneer outline history of northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 46
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" A canal-boat was launched at Meadville on the 28th of November, 1828. built of materials that were growing on the banks of French Creek the day before! The boat left for Pittsburg on the 30th, having on board twenty passengers, and three hundred reams of paper manufactured from straw."- Crawford Messenger.
The Rev. Charles William Colson, or Von Colson, who died at Mead- ville December 20, 1816, was the founder and pastor of the Lutheran Church of Meadville.
In 1790 David Meade completed a log saw-mill, and the first raft of lumber that ever descended French Creek and the Allegheny River to Pitts- burg was from this mill, in the spring of 1790. In the fall of 1790 a grist-mill was attached. A distillery was added to the mills in 1805.
The pioneer bank of Crawford County was established in Meadville on October 28, 1814. The bank was located on the east side of Water Street above Walnut. In 1820 it had financial troubles, and in the fall of 1822 closed its doors.
The pioneer Masonic Lodge was instituted September 23, 1817, with the following officers : Robert L. Potter, W. M .; David Logan, S. W .; David Molthrop, J. W .; J. T. Cummings, Treasurer ; John D. Morrison, Secretary. This lodge disbanded about 1833. The new Masonic Lodge was instituted in Meadville as Crawford Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M., organized November 14, 1848.
The pioneer travelling circus was Harrington's, in the fall of 1819. He had a living African lion.
In pioneer days it was not unusual for Crawford County people to go ten, twenty, and more miles to a log grist-mill through the pathless forest, to be benighted and on their road home chased by wolves. A wagon was a wonder in those days, and the man that had one usually did the milling for the whole settlement.
In 1797 three kegs of seneca oil were appraised at fifty cents each.
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The wild animals were the same as in the other parts of the Northwest Purchase, as were the birds, snakes, and reptiles.
A French Memoir written in 1714 said buffaloes are found on the south shore of Lake Erie, but not on the north.
The amount paid out for bounty in Crawford County for wolf and fox scalps from 1803 until 1835 was five thousand nine hundred and seventy-six dollars.
In 1806 the premium for full-grown wolf's ears was eight dollars, and three dollars for a puppy. In 1819 the premium was twelve dollars and five dollars, respectively.
Bee-trees were numerous; also wild turkeys and pheasants, and the small streams abounded in trout. The elk was rarely seen west of the Allegheny River.
In 1811 black squirrels were very numerous, but the gray squirrel did not appear until some years after the county began to be settled. In conse- quence of the devastation of these vermin and the premium offered by the State, regular squirrel-hunts were organized up to as late as 1840. On these days of contest hundreds of squirrels were slain by the contesting parties.
Pigeons clouded the country in the spring and fall. Their roosting- places, however, were the Conneaut and Pymatuning marshes, feeding on the beech-nuts and acorns. Panthers were scarce and not often seen, and seldom heard.
In 1819 the bounty on a panther's scalp was twelve dollars, and five dol- lars for a cub. The beaver inhabited the Conneaut and Pymatuning marshes.
Horse-flies were so numerous that horses exposed to them would die through pain and loss of blood.
Salt was an carly trade, and in 1805 sold at Meadville at eleven dollars per barrel, and at Pittsburg at thirteen dollars per barrel.
In 1815 a salt-well was sunk in Beaver Township by Samuel B. Magaw and William Clark, of Meadville. Salt water was found at a depth of one hundred and eighty-six feet, but little was accomplished.
In the Messenger of November 7, 1818, we find the following: " The salt-works of Messrs. Shryock & Co. are now in operation in the west end of this county. The production at present will average about ten bushels per day. The water appearing sufficient, it is intended to increase the num- ber of boilers, when double the quantity can be made. The salt is of excellent quality." The shaft was finally sunk to the depth of three hundred feet, with the hope of tapping a still richer vein, but instead of pure salt water being found, the fluid came forth mixed with petroleum, and therefore became useless for any purpose. An effort was still made to continue the works, but they did not pay and were abandoned in 1821. This undoubtedly was the pioneer oil-well.
" The hauling of the salt over the portage between Erie and Waterford.
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and the floating of it down French Creek, gave employment to many citizens of this part of the State. To some farmers the trade was really a Godsend. as their land barely furnished food for their families, and, there being no markets for the little they had to sell, they were obliged by necessity to spend a part of their time at some other employment to raise money for taxes, groceries, and clothing. This was especially the case just before and imme- diately after the war of 1812-15, when the times were very hard. It is esti- mated that when the trade was at its best, one hundred teams and as many persons were constantly on the road between Erie and Waterford. The time for making each trip was calculated at two days, and the average load for a four-ox team was fourteen barrels. The price paid at first was from one dollar and fifty cents to three dollars per barrel, which was finally reduced to one dollar, and at the close to fifty cents. Prior to the completion of the Erie and Waterford Turnpike, the road was always bad, and it was not un- usual for a wagon-load of freight to get stuck in the mud, and be four days in crossing the portage. On many occasions a part of the burden had to be abandoned on the way, and a second trip made to get it to its destination. A number of warehouses were erected on the bank of Le Bœuf Creek at Waterford for storing the salt until the water was at a suitable stage for floating it down French Creek. The salt was bought at Salina for sixty cents per bushel, and the price at Meadville ranged from five dollars to twelve dollars a barrel. It required from two to three months to convey it from the place of manufacture to Pittsburg. There was a period when salt was one of the circulating mediums in this region of country. Oxen, horses, negro slaves, and land were sold to be paid for in so much salt. As a sample. Hamlin Russell, father of N. W. Russell, of Belle Valley, Erie County, ex- changed a yoke of oxen for eight barrels, and Rufus S. Reed purchased of General Kelso a colored boy, who was to be held to service under the State law until he was twenty-eight years old, for one hundred barrels. The price that season was five dollars per barrel, making the value of the slave five hundred dollars. The discovery of salt-wells on the Kiskiminitas and Ka- nawha, about 1813, cheapened the price of the article at Pittsburg, so that Salina could not compete, and the trade by way of Erie steadily diminished until it ceased altogether in 1819."
Work commenced on the Waterford and Eric Turnpike in 1806, and the road was completed in 1809. This turnpike was a paying property until 1845. when it was abandoned to the township.
The Mercer and Meadville Turnpike Company was incorporated in 1817. In 1821 it was completed and open for travel. This was a through line from Lake Erie to the Ohio River.
In 1810 there were roads to all points south, east, and west. The roads were poor; horseback riding and a foot-back were the usual modes of travelling.
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The pioneer bridge over French Creek, in Crawford County, was built about 1810 or 1811.
"In 1801 a weekly mail route was established between Erie and Pitts- burg, via Waterford, Meadville, and Franklin. By 1803 it had been reduced to once in two weeks, but was soon changed back to the original plan, and in 1806 the route changed to pass through Mercer instead of Franklin. The mode of transportation for some years was on horseback, and it is said that the mail was often so insignificant as to be easily carried in the driver's breeches pockets. During a good part of the time the pouch was carried on the back of a single horse; then the mail increased in size so that two horses were required, one carrying the driver and the other the mail; and later a horse and wagon became necessary. A semi-weekly mail was established through Meadville, from Erie to Pittsburg, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, in 1818: a tri-weekly in February, 1824; and a daily in 1827.
" The first stage-route was established over the Susquehanna and Water- ford, and the Erie and Waterford Turnpikes, from Bellefonte to Erie, by Robert Clark, of Clark's Ferry, in 1820, the first stage-coach arriving at Meadville, on November 7. By 1824 the route was completed through to Philadelphia via Harrisburg. In 1821 the route to Pittsburg, by way of Mercer and Butler, was completed. Gibson's Hotel was the stage depot at Meadville. By 1835 a daily line of steamers connected with the stages at Erie, and the fare from Pittsburg to Buffalo was but six dollars."
The pioneer murder in Meadville was the killing of his squaw by a drunken Indian in 1805. Another early murder was the killing of Hugh Fitzpatrick by George Speth Van Holland, on February 7, 1817. He was tried in May, 1817, convicted and sentenced, and executed July 26, 1817. David Lamphier was hanged at Meadville in the fall of 1822 for the murder of a constable by the name of Smith.
The pioneer session of the court in Crawford County, which was in 1800, was held by Associate Judges Meade and Kelso in the upper story of William Dick's residence, corner of Water Street and Cherry Alley. In April, 1801, Alexander Addison, Presiding Judge, William Bell, and Judge Kelso held the regular term of court in that house, as well as all others up until 1804, when the log court-house was erected. The jurisdiction of this court extended then over the counties of Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango, and Warren, all of which were organized for judicial purposes under the name of Crawford County.
In 1843 there were several small villages in Crawford County,-to wit, Centreville, Titusville, Cambridge, Rockville, Saegerstown, Evansburg, Hartz- town, Adamsville, Espyville, Harmonsburg, and Conniotville.
Lawyers then usually rode the circuit, and when stopping at the taverns, if expected, were fed on chickens, dried apples, maple sugar, corn dodgers, and old whiskey.
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
In this history I have to contract. It is only intended to be outlined, and many things that I would like to mention I have to entirely abnegate. I can say little of the war of 1812.
" The following is a partial list of army officers of the Northwest who participated in the war, most of whom made Erie their head-quarters: Quartermaster-General, Wilson Smith, 1812-14. Commissary-General, Col- lendar Irvine. Major-Generals, Sixteenth Division, David Meade, 1812-14; John Philips, 1814; Roger Alden, 1814-15. Brigadier-Generals, First Bri- gade, Sixteenth Division, John Kelso, 1812-14; Henry Hurst, 1814. Second Brigade, Thomas Graham, 1812. Brigade Inspector, First Brigade, Sixteenth Division, William Clark; Second Brigade, Samuel Powers. Paymaster, John Philips, 1812-13. Colonel David Nelson, Major and Lieutenant- Colonel Dr. John C. Wallace, Majors Ralph Marling, James Herriott. Patrick Farrelly, John Brooks, and William Moore. Commissaries, Rufus S. Reed, Stephen Wolverton. Captains, Isaac Mason, James Cochran, John Collom, Thomas Havlin, and James McKnight.
" Though a treaty of peace between the two nations was signed at Ghent. Belgium, December 24, 1814, the news did not reach the United States in time to prevent the battle of New Orleans, fought January 8, 1815, and which yet shines as one of the most brilliant victories in the history of the nation. Peace was publicly proclaimed February 18, 1815, and on that date the glad tidings reached Crawford County by an express which had left Washington, D. C., the previous Tuesday for Erie, Pennsylvania, passing through Mead- ville in its route."
TITUSVILLE
The village was planned by Jonathan Titus, although Mr. Titus had settled there in 1796. In lumbering days, 1820, Jonathan Titus's cabin was a regular stopping-place.
Titusville was incorporated by act of Assembly, approved March 6. 1847. The pioneer Burgess was Joseph L. Chase, in 1848.
The pioneer school structure was log, erected in 1817.
The Presbyterian church was erected in 1815, was log, and was used for several years for school purposes.
BOROUGH OF CONNEAUTVILLE
Incorporated by act of Legislature in 1843-44. The pioneer Burgess was John E. Patton. Alexander Power was the founder of the village.
Rockville was incorporated by act of Assembly in 1844, and named Woodcock. Henry Minium laid it out and christened it Rockville in the spring of 1819. He did not live in Rockville until 1824.
BOROUGH OF SAEGERSTOWN
The village was incorporated by act of Assembly in 1838. The pioneer post-office was established in 1833. Daniel Saeger settled here in 1824.
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CHAPTER XXVII
CLARION COUNTY-FORMATION OF COUNTY -- LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT-ROADS -COURTS-TURNPIKES-EDUCATION -CHURCHES-SETTLERS-PIONEER CONDITIONS-JUDGE CLOVER-TRAILS-CAPTAIN SAM BRADY-LUMBERING -FURNACES-RIVER-STOREKEEPER
"CLARION COUNTY was established by an act passed March 1I, 1839, which defines the boundaries as follows: 'That all those parts of Armstrong and Venango Counties, lying and being within the following boundaries,-to wit, beginning at the junction of the Red Bank Creek with the Allegheny River, thence up said creek to the line dividing Toby and Saratoga Town- ships in Venango County, thence along said line to the corner of Farmington Township, in Venango County, thence a straight line to the mouth of Shull's Run, on the Allegheny River, thence down said river to the place of begin- ning, be and the same is hereby declared to be erected into a county, hence- forth to be called Clarion.'
" By the same act James Thompson, John Gilmore, and Samuel L. Car- penter were appointed commissioners, to fix upon a proper and convenient site for a seat of justice. Mr. Thompson resigned, and by the act of June 25, John P. Davis, of Crawford County, was appointed to supply the vacancy.
" Clarion is bounded on the north by Venango County, on the east by Jefferson, on the south by Armstrong, and by the Allegheny River on the west, separating it from Armstrong, Butler, and Venango. By the return of the census of 1840, its population and general statistics are included in that of Armstrong and Venango Counties. The number of inhabitants within the new county exceed fifteen thousand. Average length, twenty-five miles ; breadth, twenty-four miles; area, five hundred and ninety-five square miles.
" Education receives considerable attention. Nearly all the districts had, a few years ago, adopted the general system of common schools. Besides ninety common schools, there is an academy of advanced standing in the county town.
" The prevailing religious denominations are Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and Catholics, all of whom have houses for public worship. The inhabitants are generally characterized for industry, sobriety, and morality. Few idlers are to be found in this county. They are literally · worked out.' The people do not stand lounging.
" Clarion, the county seat, situated on the east side of the Clarion River.
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
on the Bellefonte and Meadville turnpike road, was laid out by the com- missioners in 1840. The land had been owned by General Levi G. Clover, James P. Hoover, Peter Clover, Jr., heirs of Philip Clover, of Strattonville, and the Hon. Christian Myers. 'These persons made a donation of the town site to the county, on condition of receiving half the proceeds from the sales of lots. Space for the county buildings and a public square, were reserved from sale.'
" The public buildings are a neat court-house of brick, surmounted with a cupola, a county prison, built of sandstone, and a spacious academy, built of brick. The borough is well laid out, neatness and much taste are displayed
Clarion, 1843
in both public and private buildings, and a brisk air of enterprise is presented everywhere in this town. There are several churches here.
" Besides the county town, there are several thriving towns and villages in this county. The principal ones are Strattonville, Shippensville, Curles- ville, Greenville, Callensburg, Edinburg, Reimersburg, etc.
" Strattonville was laid out by Mr. John Stratton, from New Jersey, in 1830. It is on the turnpike road, about three miles east of the county town. It had seen, until lately, better days. It was the principal place of business for an extensive circle of thrifty and industrious farmers. Business has been principally diverted from this village to Clarion. There are several churches in, and near this village.
" Shippensville, called after its proprietor, the Hon. Judge Shippen, of Meadville, who laid out this town in 1826, is on the turnpike road, seven miles west of Clarion. It is a place of considerable business, and will undoubtedly increase rapidly. A few years ago the Lutherans erected a church in this town.
" Curlesville is a small village on the right bank of Licking Creek, near the township line, between Red Bank and Toby Townships. Greenville is
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
situated near the head of Piney Creek, on the right bank, about one mile northwest of the Olean road. Callensburg is on the right bank of Licking Creek, at its mouth."-History of Western Pennsylvania.
The court-house was built by Edward Derby and Levi G. Clover, cost ten thousand six hundred and thirty-six dollars, and was completed in 1842.
Clarion was made a borough April 6, 1841. The pioneer burgess was James Sloan. The pioneer storekeeper was John Potter. The pioneer post- master was David Wilson, in 1840. In 1841 Clarion contained seven hundred and fourteen people. The Presbyterian church was organized May 15, 1841, in the jail, and the pioneer church-building was completed in 1844.
Clarion County is bounded on the north by Forest County, on the west by Venango County, on the south by Red Bank Creek and the Allegheny River, and on the east by Jefferson County.
It was stipulated in the act of March 11, 1839, that the county organi- zation for judicial purposes should go into effect on September 1, 1840, and the county was attached to the Sixth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Erie, Crawford, and Venango. Hon. Alexander McCalmont, of Franklin, was the pioneer judge; Christian Myers and Charles Evans were the pioneer associate judges. The pioneer court was held the first Monday in November, 1840, in a private house. At this court twenty-three lawyers were present.
John Sloan plotted the town of Clarion in 1839, and but one house then stood on the present site. The pioneer sale of lots was in October, 1839. The court-house and jail were put under contract in the fall of 1839. The court- house was not finished until 1843, and the upper story in the jail was used for court and church purposes until that time. The pioneer election for officers was held October 13, 1840. The following were chosen: James Hasson, for sheriff; James Goe, for prothonotary, etc .; John Reed, for coroner ; George L. Benn, Jacob Miller, and Gideon Richardson, for com- missioners ; John Elliot, Joseph C. King, and George Means, for auditors. Joseph K. Boyd was the first resident lawyer.
The Clarion River divides the county in about the centre.
In 1844 the waters of what is now called the Clarion were as clear as crystal, pure as life, and gurgled into the river from mountain springs. No tannery or other refuse was to be found in it. In 1749 the French named the stream Gall River. It was declared a public highway, as Toby's Creek, by an act of the Legislature, March 21, 1798, up to the second great fork.
In early times this river was known as Stump Creek, and sometimes as Toby's Creek. It was called Toby's Creek as early as 1758. In 1819 we have the first official notice by an act of the Legislature designating the river Clarion.
In an act to authorize the erection of a dam, passed in 1822, this stream is designated as "Toby's Creek, otherwise called Clarion River."
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Of the pioneer settlers who came over Mead's trail and settled in what is now Jefferson and Clarion Counties, Judge Peter Clover, of Clarion County, in 1877, wrote as follows :
" As stated in the outset, I will give a brief account of the pioneer settle- ment of Jefferson County. In 1800, Joseph Barnett and Samuel Scott settled forty miles west of Curwensville, Clearfield County. They were men of great energy and industry, and soon made valuable improvements. They built a saw-mill, which was a great help to the people, providing them with boards, etc. They settled among the Indians of the Seneca tribe, who were, however. civil. Joseph Barnett was a very eccentric, high-minded man, and took a leading part in all the business transactions of the day; a man long to be
Hon. Peter Clover
remembered by those who knew him. Shortly after their mill was made. perhaps as early as 1802, Henry Fir, a German, and a number of other families settled on the west of Mill Creek,-Jacob Mason, L. Long, John Dickson, Freedom Stiles, and a very large negro by the name of Fudge Vancamp, whose wool was as white as the wool of a sheep and whose face was as black as charcoal, and yet he was married to a white woman ( ?).
" In about 1802 John Scott came to Jefferson County and settled on the farm where Corsica now stands, and about 1805 Peter Jones, John Roll, Sr .. the Vastbinder families, and Elijah Graham, and, in 1806, John Matson and some others settled near where Brookville now stands. In the southern part of Jefferson county, near Mahoning, John Bell settled at an early day. He
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
was a man of iron will and great perseverance, afraid of neither man nor beast, and was a mighty hunter. Moses Knapp was also an early settler. ' Port Barnett,' as the settlement of Barnett and Scott was called, was the only stopping-place from Curwensville for all those who came in 1801-02 through or for the wilderness over the 'trail.' We imagine that these buildings would have a very welcome look to those footsore and weary travellers,-an oasis in the desert, as it were.
"In the year 1801, with a courage nothing could daunt, ten men left their old homes and all the comforts of the more thickly settled and older portions of the eastern part of the State for the unsettled wilderness of the more western part, leaving behind them the many associations which render the old home so dear, and going forth, strong in might and firm in the faith of the God of their fathers, to plant homes and erect new altars, around which to rear their young families. Brave hearts beat in the bosoms of those men and women who made so many and great sacrifices in order to develop the resources of a portion of country almost unknown at that time. When we look abroad to-day and see what rapid strides have been made in the march of civilization, we say all honor to our forefathers who did so great a part of the work. It would be difficult for those of the present day to imagine how families could move upon horseback through an almost unbroken wilder- ness, with no road save an 'Indian trail,' the women and children mounted upon horses, the cooking utensils, farming implements, such as hoes, axes, ploughs, and shovels, together with bedding and provision, placed on what were called pack-saddles, while following upon foot were the men with guns upon their shoulders, ready to take down any small game that might cross their path, which would go toward making up their next meal. After a long and toilsome journey these pioneers halted on their course in what was then called Armstrong County (now Clarion County), and they immediately began the clearing of their lands, which they had purchased from General James Potter, of the far-famed 'Potter Fort,' in Penn's Valley, in Centre County, familiar to every one who has ever read of the terrible depredations committed by the Indians in that part of the country at an early period of its history.
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