USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Gazetteer and business directory of Crawford County, Pa., for 1874 > Part 10
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generously shared with him their furs and dried meat. With the proceeds of these he purchased wheat, which he sowed and then returned to Lycoming county. The following spring he returned to his new home in company with his mother and her family, arriving June 6, 1796. They with great difficulty came through the woods with an ox team and wagon, driving before them three or four cows, the milk from which was strained and being put into a churn was converted into butter by the motion of the wagon. The journey occupied six weeks, and when they reached their destination they had just twenty-five cents in money, with which they purchased a quart of salt. There were no mills accessible and the family subsisted for some time on frumenty, until Mr. Brawley heard, in the fall, of a mill at the mouth of Oil Creek. He put four bushels of wheat upon an ox and started for the mill through the trackless forest, with naught save his pocket compass for a guide. He was six days in performing the journey. At night he removed the load from his ox and turned it out to browse, while he built a fire beside which he camped, and by which the ox was accustomed to lie when he had appeased his hunger. Mr. Brawley built the first saw mill and the first framed house and barn in the township. In 1800 Mr. Brawley married Mary Glenn, and theirs was prob- ably the first marriage contracted in the township. Wm. R. Brawley, who was born Jan. 29, 1802, was doubtless the first white child born in the township; and Mary A. Brawley, who died in 1805, is believed to be the first person who died in the township. Mr. Brawley was followed in the settlement by Amos Daniels, who located in the south-western part, on the Oil Creek road, Alex. McFadden, who located in the southern part, and both of whom settled soon after him, Archibald Stew- art, who came from Lycoming county and settled on the Oil Creek road, Alex. Johnson, who came from near Harrisburgh and settled in the western part in 1799, Michael Radle, a native of Germany, who came from Philadelphia in 1806 and settled in the northern part, and Dennis Kane, a Revolutionary soldier, who located in the southern part, on land reserved for the sol- diers, and who are believed to have settled in the order named. Jacob Guy settled at Guys Mills in 1815. He came from Whitehall, N. Y., in 1813 or '14, and located first at Meadville, where he lived about two years, when he removed to Randolph. He was a graduate of Yale College and interested himself in surveys for himself and neighbors. The first house built there was erected for him. It was constructed of poles and covered with hemlock brush. The saw mill built by him in 1816 or'17 was the first framed building erected at Guys Mills. He also put up the first framed house there and was the first justice of F
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the peace in the township. It is said that the settlers kept him busy during the winter examining wolves scalps, on which they obtained a bounty. He kept the first store in the township at Guys Mills, and the first hotel was kept at the same place, by James Foreman. Mr. Guy was prominently identified with the interests of the township, and lived on the place in which he settled the remainder of his life. George and Jacob Cutshall came from Cumberland county in 1814, and settled in the northern part on the same farm, where they remained about two years, when George removed to a farm one mile north of his brother's. They came through the woods with a six horse team, crossing the streams that were too deep to ford by using their wagon box as a boat, in which their goods were conveyed a few at a time. On the way one of their horses died and a bull which they drove was driven in the harness in its stead the rest of the way. George had to go to Meadville to work out his road tax, as there were no roads in his vicinity. In 1816 Wm. Waid, from New York State, settled a little north of Guys Mills; John .Oaks, from Massachusetts, settled in the southern part, on the Oil Creek road, where he spent the remainder of his days; and Leonard Hall, from Vermont, located at Hickory Corners, where he was the first settler. He walked all the way, averaging, he says, the almost incredible distance of forty miles per day. He was married in 1820, and his wedding tour con- sisted of a visit to his then far distant Vermont home. The journey was made with an ox sled, for which he was obliged to cut a road some distance, while his father-in-law, who accom- panied him a part of the way, drove the ox and sled bearing his wife. What a contrast this with the expensive luxuries which are frequently indulged on such occasions at the present day ! Moses Gilbert, from Fort Ann, N. Y., settled near a spring in the central part in 1818, and remained there till his death. Isaac Childs, also from Washington county, N. Y., settled in the north-eastern part of the township in 1821, and there died. The first school was taught by Miss Mary H. Guy, in the upper story of a barn. The first school house is believed to have been built in the south-western part. It was constructed of logs and greased paper was substituted in the windows for glass.
Mount Hope M. E. Church, in the southern part of the township, on the Oil Creek road, was organized with about fifty members, in 1858, by Rev. J. Whitely, the first pastor, and the house of worship, which will seat about 300 persons, was erected the same year, at a cost of about $900. The Society consists of seventy members ; is under the pastoral care of Rev. J. Eckels ; and its property is valued at about $2,000 .- [Information furnished by Mr. Smith Byham.
The M. E. Church of Guys Mills was organized with about fifty-five members, in 1871, by Rev. John W. Blasdell, the first pastor, and their
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house of worship, which will seat 350 persons, was erected the same year, at a cost of $3,500, the present value of Church property. There are about seventy-two members, who are ministered to by Rev. John Eckels .- [In- formation furnished by Mr. Horace T. Sikes.
The Baptist Church of Randolph, at Guys Mills, was organized with ten members, in 1820, by a council of ministers from sister churches. The first church edifice was erected in 1826 and was the first built in the town- ship; the present one, which will seat about 250 persons, in 1868, at a cost of $1,800, the present value of Church property. The first pastor was Elder Oliver Alfred. At present the Church is without a pastor. The number of members is twenty-three .- [Information furnished by Mr. Calvin Hatch.
The First Congregational Church of Randolph, at Guys Mills, was organ- ized with twenty members, as a Presbyterian Church, Oct. 31, 1825, and as a Congregational Church in 1839. The first church edifice was erected in 1845 ; the present one, which has a seating capacity for 300 persons, in 1871, at a cost of $5,000, the present value of Church property. The first pastor was Rev. Nathan Harned ; the present one is R. F. Markham, our informant. There are 120 members.
The East Randolph M. E. Church was organized with about eight mem- bers, about 1850, by Rev. Edwin Hull, the first pastor. The church edifice was erected in 1866. It cost $1,275, and will seat about 200 persons. The Church property is valued at $1,300. The number of members is twenty- eight .- [Information furnished by Mr. John Bogardis.
RICHMOND was formed in 1830. It is an interior township, lying a little north-east of the center of the county, and contains 21,744 square acres. The principal streams are Woodcock Creek, which crosses the south-west corner, Muddy Creek, which crosses the north-east corner, and Mackey Creek, which rises in the north-west part and flows in a north-easterly direction to its confluence with Muddy Creek in the north-east corner. The north branch of Woodcock Creek rises in the north-west corner of the township. It is a rich dairy town- ship, and that branch of industry forms the chief pursuit of the inhabitants. The Keystone Creamery, the largest one in the township, gives employment to eight persons, uses the milk of 750 cows, and daily produces 300 pounds of butter and 1000 pounds of cheese. Lumbering is also an important industry, and the steam saw mill owned by Grace & Bachelor, and locat- ed in the eastern part of the township, gives employment to five persons and is capacitated to saw 10,000 feet of lumber per day.
The proposed Pennsylvania Petroleum R. R, crosses the north- east corner of the township.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,399, of whom 1,376 were native, 23, foreign and all, except one, white.
During the year ending June 3, 1872 the township contained twelve schools and employed ten teachers. The number of
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scholars was 436; the average number attending school, 358; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,973.41.
NEW RICHMOND (p. o.) is a hamlet situated near the center.
LINES HOLLOW (p. o.) is a hamlet situated two miles south of New Richmond.
We are unable to state definitely the date when settlement was commenced, but Daniel and Lucas Winston and Horace Hulbert from Cortland county, N. Y., and Horatio Winston from Canandaigua, N. Y., were among the first to settle in this township. Dean Swift moved in from New Haven, Conn., with an ox team, in 1816, the journey occupying eight weeks. Gould M. Lord from Conn., and Ebenezer Hunt from Vermont, came in 1818. The nearest mill was then in Woodcock town- ship and the nearest post office was Meadville. In 1830 Mr. Lord built a log hog pen and corn crib, and in the upper part of this rude structure school was taught for three months. Russel Flint, from Chautauqua Co., N. Y., was an early settler. Michael Bresee moved in from Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1819. David Hunt moved in from Whitehall, N. Y., with an ox team in 1820. Wm. Sanburn, from Canada, George Milles from New Haven, and Chester Jones settled here about the same year. Robert Townley emigrated from Ireland in 1795 and settled first in Erie county. He removed thence to this township in 1821. He says he has carried butter to Meadville on foot and sold it for six cents per pound in trade. Hollis Hull, from Washington Co., N. Y., settled here in 1822. He says he has been to Meadville afoot, trained all day and walked home again at night. Ananias Phillips moved in from Washington county, N. Y., in 1824. Jesse Wheelock, who was born in Cheshire county, N. H.,in 1800, moved with his father, in 1806, to Windsor county, Vt., in 1816, to Ontario county, N. Y., in 1822, to Erie county and in 1824, to Richmond, where he has since resided. In 1826, John Brown, whose singular devotion to the interests of negro slaves in this country, and the folly displayed by a rash and suicidal attempt at their liberation, gained him so unenviable a notoriety-for however much we may sympa- thize with his motives, every order loving citizen must depre- cate the means by which he sought to consumate his purpose- settled in this township. John Brown was born of poor but respectable parents at Torrington, Conn., May 9, 1800. At the age of five he removed with his father to Hudson, Ohio, where, at the age of fifteen, without even a common school education, for unhappily his time at school was not profitably employed, he commenced working at the tanner and currier's trade, at which he spent most of his time until the age of twenty,
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keeping bachelor's hall, and officiating as cook, and for most of the time as foreman of the establishment under his father. Having acquired deep religious convictions and, with the aid of a Valuable library to which he was generously allowed access, made commendable progress in acquiring the rudiments of an education, at the age of eighteen he commenced a course of study, with a view to preparation for the ministry in the Con- gregational Church, but inflammation of the eyes compelled him to abandon this project. He, however, with the aid of books managed to become tolerably well acquainted with com- mon arithmetic and surveying, which he practiced more or less after the age of twenty, in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Western Virginia. June 21, 1820, he married Dianthe Lusk, at Hud- son, and in 1826, he removed to Richmond, where he still en- gaged in tanning. He afterward combined his trade with the business of farming and sheep keeping. The remains of his tannery, which was the first erected in Richmond, are still standing near the center of the township. The strictest inte- grity characterized his life, and it averred by one who served with him as an apprentice that he refused to sell his leather until it was perfectly dry, or as nearly so as human ingenuity could make it, lest his customers should be cheated in value or weight. About this time he joined the Presbyterian Church, with which he remained in communion till his death. In 1832 his wife died, and the next year he married Mary A. Day, of Meadville. In 1835 he removed to Franklin Mills, Ohio, and in 1840 he returned to Hudson and engaged in the wool business. He subsequently removed to Akron, Ohio, and formed a partnership with a Mr. Perkins. They opened a large warehouse in Springfield, Mass., and sold wool on commission, chiefly for farmers living in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, and in 1846 he removed to that city. But they came in com- petition with the New England manufacturers, who had been accustomed to purchase wool from the growers at their own terms, and who combined against and refused to deal with them. Being thus deprived of a market, Brown took about 200,000 pounds of wool to England, where he was obliged to sell it for half its value. This loss almost reduced him to poverty. While in England he submitted to prominent abolitionists a plan' which he originated about 1839, for the liberation of slaves in America-a subject which engaged his attention when a mere boy - but he received no encouragement. He returned to America and abandoned the wool business for awhile. Learn- ing that Gerritt Smith, of Peterboro, N. Y., had offered to give to colored settlers portions of lands out of large tracts belong- ing to him in the wild regions of the Adirondacks, he obtained
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an interview with that gentleman in which he detailed the supreme difficulties under which the negroes labored in their efforts to reclaim the lands in that inhospitable wilderness- difficulties which were immeasurable enhanced by their inex- perience-and being thoroughly conversant himself with pio- neer life, he offered to give to those who chose to avail them- selves of the offer the benefit of his experience, and to exercise over them a fatherly supervision. Mr. Smith approved the project and, though he was entirely unacquainted with the applicant, accepted the proposition. In the summer of 1849 Brown removed his family to North Elba, Essex Co., N. Y., where they remained two years, and in 1851, they returned to Akron, where Brown managed Mr. Perkins' farm and again became associated with him in the wool business. In 1855 he removed his family to North Elba and went to Kansas to assist his sons who had settled there. He took a prominent and active part in the stirring scenes which were enacted there about that period, and opposed with all the energy of his nature the efforts of the pro-slavery party to make Kansas a slave State. At Ossawatomie in August, 1856, with a band of sixteen men illy armed he held in check some 500 lawless Missourians, who were splendidly equipped. The place where this brilliant ex- ploit occurred afterwards became a distinguishing suffix to his name, and the phrase "John Brown, of Ossawatomie," is only exceeded in familiarity by the title of the tract in the great wil- derness of Northern New York which bears his name. In May, 1859, he called a secret convention of the friends of freedom, which met at Chatham, Canada, organized an invasion of Vir- ginia and adopted a constitution. The following July he rented a farm house about six miles from Harpers Ferry, and collected there a supply of pikes, guns, &c. On the night of Oct. 16, 1859, aided by about twenty men, he surprised Har- pers Ferry, seized the arsenal and armory and took over forty prisoners. About noon on the 17th Brown's party was attacked by the Virginia militia. After two of his sons and nearly all of his men had been killed, and himself wounded in several places, he was captured. He was tried in November and hung at Charlestown, Va., Dec. 2, 1859.
The M. E. Church, at New Richmond, was organized with eleven mem- bers, about forty years ago, by Rev. Walter B. Lord, the first pastor. The church edifice, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1864, at a cost of $1,200. The Society, which numbers about 75, is under the pastoral care of Rev. John Eckles, and its property is valued at $1,500 .- [Informa- tion furnished by MI. P. W. Webster.
North Richmond M. E. Church was organized about 1840, and the church edifice, which will seat 400 persons, was erected in 1854, at a cost of $1,500. The Society numbers about sixty. The present pastor is Rev. Reuben
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Smith. The Church property is valued at about $2,000 .- [Information fur- nished by Mr. Emerson Chamberlin.
Richmond Church, (Baptist) at "Lyons Hollow," was organized with fifteen members, Dec. 25, 1841, by Rev. E. H. Stewart, the first pastor, and others. The first house of worship was erected in 1841 ; the present one, which will seat 375 persons, in 1866, at a cost of $3,500. There are seventy-eight member's, who are under the spiritual tutelage of Rev. C. W. Drake. The church property is valued at $4,000 .-- [Information furnished by Mr. Ebenezer Hunt.
ROCKDALE was formed in 1811. It lies upon the north border of the county, east of the center, and contains 21,702 square acres. It is well watered by French Creek, (which enters the township near the center of the north line, flows south to near the center and deflects to the west, leaving it near the center of the west line,) and streams tribu- tary to it, the principal of which are Muddy Creek and Thomas and Mohawk runs. The surface is hilly, except in the valleys of French and Muddy Creeks, which are low and level. The soil in the valleys is a rich alluvium of great fertility ; elsewhere it is a mixture of clay and sand. Agriculture is the chief per- suit of the inhabitants, and dairying the principal branch of agriculture. Until within a few years a large portion of the township was devoted almost entirely to lumbering, which, at present, forms an important industry. There is now more lum- ber shipped at Millers Station than any other along this route. Lumber is the principal article of manufacture. There are not less than five important saw mills which manufacture daily over 60,000 feet of lumber, besides a large quantity of lath and shingles ; a grist mill, capable of grinding 45 bushels of grain per hour ; and a cheese factory, built the present year, (1873) capacitated to use the milk of 400 cows.
The Atlantic & Great Western R. R. traverses the north-west part of the township, following the course of French Creek, which it crosses within the limits of the township.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,664, of whom 1,591 were native, 134, foreign and all, white.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained twelve schools and employed twenty-four teachers. The number of scholars was 516; the average number attending school, 396; and the amount expended for school purposes, $2,110.99.
MILLERS STATION (p. o.) is a hamlet situated on the A. & G. W. R. R., a little north-west of the center, and contains one hotel, three stores, one blacksmith shop and one shoe shop.
Settlement was commenced contemporaneously with that of the county, in 1786, by John Hayes 2d, a native of Delaware, who accompanied Gen. Mead in his journey to the county.
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He purchased of Wm. Hutchinson a piece of land on which he had commenced, but not completed a settlement, paying there- for $1,100. His daughter Sarah, now Mrs. Joseph King, who was born in this township, May 24, 1798, and married to her husband (who served as a captain under Gen. Hull in the war of 1812,) in September, 1814, is still living with her daughter, Mrs. Ezra A. Tubbs. The principal settlements were made about 1795, under the auspices of the Holland Land Company, . who are believed to have built the first house in the township, near what is now known as Jarvis' Mill. Isaac Kelly, from Delaware county, and George Miller, a Baptist clergyman, from Lehigh county, settled here about 1800. Kelly located on the east side of French Creek, near the center of the township, at the place now known as Wing's saw mill. Other settlers about the same year were Hugh and Patrick McCulloph, and a man named Priest. The McCullophs, it is believed, were natives of Ireland. Nathan Mitchell, a native of Mass., moved into the the township from Canada, where he had resided four years, in 1802. He settled on the line between Erie and Crawford counties, and died in 1834. Jesse Brown, who was born in Mass., Feb. 5, 1777, removed with his father to Vermont, where they remained till after the war of 1812. In 1815, they re- moved to the township of LeBoeuf, Erie county, and in 1818, to this township, where they purchased a tract of land, on which his father died, April 22, 1871. " When we came to this place," says Mr. Brown, "we underwent great inconveniences. We had to go fourteen miles through the woods to mill. But game was plenty, and we got half our living out of the woods. The wolves used to trouble our sheep. The bears and panthers, though numerous, did not trouble us much." The farm of H. R. Colwell was donated by the State to Col. Benjamin Flower, as a Revolutionary grant, in 1785, but the present owner was the first to settle it, in 1838.
The only church ever erected in the township was built by a Baptist Society, in 1825. It was situated on the farm now occupied by Daniel Miller, but was long since torn down. Elder George Miller, was the officiating clergyman. Isaac Miller was an active member of this church. He was drowned in French Creek one Sabbath morning in 1832, while crossing upon the ice on his way to attend church.
ROME was formed in 1830. It lies upon the center of the east border of the county and contains 22,554 square acres. It is abundantly watered by Oil Creek and its numerous tribu- taries, the principal of which are Mclaughlin Creek and Thompsons Brook. The soil is productive. Its manufacturing
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interests, especially in lumber, are quite important. It contains nine saw mills, which give employment to some forty persons and have an aggregate capacity of about 50,000 feet of lumber per day, besides a considerable quantity of shingles, and an ex- tensive shook factory, which furnishes employment for twenty- six persons, ten of whom are engaged in the shop, and the re- maining sixteen, in the woods, preparing the red oak timber used in the manufacture. Sixty shooks are made, fitted and packed per day. They are shipped to New York and thence to the West Indies.
The Oil Creek & Allegheny Valley and Union & Titusville railroads pass through the north-western part of the township.
The population in 1870 was 1,274, all of whom were white, 1,140, native and 134, foreign.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained eleven schools and employed seventeen teachers. The number of scholars was 356; the average number attending school, 291; and the amount expended for school purposes, $2,002.48.
CENTREVILLE, (p. v.) situated near the west line, at the con- fluence of Big and Little Oil creeks, and on the O. C. & A. V. and U. & T. railroads, is a thriving town of 387 inhabitants, containing a church and school house, the latter of which was built in 1872, at a cost of $3,500. There are several stores and mechanic shops. The soil is a mixture of sand, gravel and black muck, and is very fertile. The water is clear and whole- some. It was incorporated as a borough April 14, 1865.
Arethusan Lodge No. 323 I. O. of G. T. at Centreville, was chartered May 11, 1867. The charter members were T. L. Noble, C. F. Chamberlain, I. A. Wright, Gaylord and L. Mat- terson, G. W. Rockwell, W. P. Klingensmith, J. M. Lewis, Bruce Southworth, Gates Sexton, Mrs. E. S. Southworth, Mrs. Viola Tubbs, Mrs. Sarah Fields, Mrs. E. Klingensmith, Mrs. N. Birch and Mrs. S. S. Chamberlain. There are now eighty members in good standing.
MORRIS CORNERS is situated a little south-east of the center. The first settlement of which we have any account was made in 1800, by the families of Patrick Magee, Patrick Brannon, James Lafferty, Roger Coyle, Daniel McBride and Daniel Car- lin, who emigrated from Donegal county, Ireland, in 1795, and after a residence of three years on the banks of the Susque- hanna in Northumberland county, and a year or two in Pitts- burgh, took the northward course of Allegheny River and ar- rived in this township at what is known as Mageetown in April of that year. Prompted by their religious faith they named the township after the "Eternal City "-a name which was fully
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