USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Gazetteer and business directory of Crawford County, Pa., for 1874 > Part 11
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94
ROME-SADSBURY.
confirmed by the courts in 1828. Francis and James Magee, and Patrick Magee, Jr., sons of the pioneer, still reside at Mageetown. The former was born in Northumberland county, in October, 1797, and accompanied his father to this township, and the latter was born here in March, 1807. The elder Magee settled upon a farm of one hundred acres. A man named Howe settled two or three years later on the farm upon which D. T. Gregory now lives. The English settlement was commenced in 1833, by Benjamin Harrison, Sen., who was born in Nor- thumberland county, England, Nov. 28, 1797, and emigrated to Patterson, N. J., in 1827, and removed thence to this township, to the place where he now resides, in company with his mother, his father having been some time dead. There was then a sled road from Titusville to Spartansburg, and he was occupied nine days in cutting a foot path from that to the place of his settle- ment. About the same year (1833) James J. and James A. Vrooman, father and son, removed from Schoharie county, N. Y., to the central part of the township, where they remained twelve years and cleared fifty acres. The son soon after removed to his present location. The elder Vrooman died in November, 1869, at the age of seventy years.
The first religious services were probably held by the Catho- lics, for soon after the settlement of the first Irish families they began to be visited once in eight or ten years by clergymen from Philadelphia and subsequently at less remote periods.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, (Roman Catholic) at Magee- town, in the center of the township, was organized with 25 members, in 1822, by Rev. Simon Peters. It had no settled pastor until the present in- cumbent, Rev. Jos. P. Maurel, our informant, was installed. The house of worship was erected in 1848, on half an acre of ground, the gift of Mr. F. Magee. It cost, originally, $1,200, and will seat 200 persons. It has just been completed by the addition of a belfry, and the congregation have purchased a fine bell. The Church property is valued at $3,000.
SADSBURY was formed in 1811. It is an interior town- ship, lying south-west of the center of the county, and contains 11,996 square acres. The surface is broken in the north-east part by Conneaut Lake, which lies mainly in this township. It is a beautiful sheet of water, four miles long by two wide, abounding in fish, and its outlet is the only considerable stream in the township. The old Beaver and Beaver & Erie canals pass through the township and unite a little north of the north line, in Summit. The Atlantic & Great Western R. R. enters the township upon the south border, but leaves it again in a very short distance.
The population in 1870 was 1,068, of whom 1,036 were native, 32, foreign, and all, except one, white.
95
SADSBURY-SOUTH SHENANGO.
During the year ending, June 3, 1872, it contained seven schools and employed fourteen teachers. The number of schol- ars was 277; the average number attending school, 214; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,205.29.
EVANSBURG, (p. o.) is beautifully situated on Conneaut Lake, seven miles from Meadville. It contains three churches, two hotels, and had, in 1870, 174 inhabitants. It possesses rare attractions to the lovers of piscatorial sports, and one of the finest hotels in the county, on the opposite side of the lake, dis- penses excellent accommodations. This is one of the oldest towns in the county.
SHERMANSVILLE (p. o.) situated in the north-western part, on the Beaver and Erie Canal, was once a thriving town of about 250 inhabitants. It derives its name from the late Anson Sherman, an early settler, who died the present year (1873) at the age of seventy-nine years.
EVANSBURG STATION, (Stony Point p. o.) is situated near the south line, on the A. & G. W. R. R.
We are not advised of the date of first settlement, nor by whom it was made, but settlements were made as early as 1798 or '9 and perhaps earlier. At that time Samuel and Matthew Williamson came in from the southern part of the State. Den- nis Hughes came from New Jersey in 1802, but was preceeded in his settlement by a Mr. Craven, who occupied a log cabin, built under the direction of Gen. Mead, on the site of Sher- mansville. Mr. Hughes was a robust man, well fitted to grap- ple with the trials incident to pioneer life. His son, John Hughes, was then eleven years old and is now in his eightieth year. He served as a volunteer in the war of 1812, and offered his services during the war of the Rebellion, but owing to old age and infirmity he was rejected. At the time of his father's . settlement salt was $20 to $22 per barrel. It was brought from the lake in small quantities, there being no roads by which it could be conveyed in wagons.
SOUTH SHENANGO was formed together with North and West Shenango in 1811. It lies upon the south border, near the south-west corner of the county, and contains 17,102 square acres. West Shenango was taken off April 14, 1863. The surface is drained by small streams flowing south-west into Shenango Creek, which separates this from West Shenango township. The Erie & Pittsburgh R. R. passes through the western part, adjacent to Shenango Creek.
The population in 1870 was 1,042, all of whom were white, 965, native and 77, foreign.
96
SOUTH SHENANGO.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained eight schools and employed fourteen teachers. The number of scholars was 249; the average number attending school, 214; and the amount expended for school purposes $2,154.04.
MCLEANS CORNERS is situated in the south-west part, on the E. & P. R. R.
SOUTH SHENANGO is situated in the north-west part, on the E. & P. R. R.
MARSHALL CORNERS (p. o.) is situated near the center of the township.
JAMESTOWN, (p. v.) situated on the line of Mercer county, is partially in this township.
There is but one saw mill in the township. It is located in the north-east part, on the road leading from Jamestown to Linesville, was built in May, 1872, and is owned by Wm. H. and Robert A. Blair.
In 1795, and, as far as our information extends, previous to the settlement of the township, the camp of William Power, who was engaged in making surveys of tracts now embraced in South Shenango, was robbed by a band of Indians, on the 5th of June, and James Thompson, who had charge of the camp at the time, was taken prisoner, but subsequently effected his escape. The locality where this event occurred was known to the settlers as the " White Thorn Corner."
The first settlement of which we have information was made the following year, (1796) or about that time, by Hugh Fletcher, a native of Ireland. Robert McComahey and James Davis, also from Ireland, and M. Marshall, from Westmoreland county, came in 1797. McComahey came with knapsack and camp kettle upon his back and settled on the farm now owned by his son of the same name. Soon after his arrival he went to West- moreland county and returned with cattle, sheep and horses, but his shirts and dishes were stolen by the Indians during his absence. He bought 200 acres, paying therefor one dollar per acre. He died in his eightieth year. Davis located on the farm now owned by his son William. He died in his fifty-first year. Marshall settled on the farm now owned by Wm. McLean. His son Joseph, who is living on the State road, was the first white child born in South Shenango. Michael Marshall came from Perry county, in 1798, and settled the farm owned by Wallace Marshall, which he worked till his death. Robert Bennett settled on the place owned by his son Samuel, in 1798 or '9, and died here in 1842. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. James Dickey came from Washington county, in 1799, and purchased of John Grimes, for a gun, powder horn and
97
SOUTH SHENANGO-SPARTA.
blanket, 100 acres, where his son, N. Dickey, now resides. He died at the age of eighty. John Gallagher, a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country in 1799. He landed at Baltimore, and after a short stay there he came to this township, on foot from Pittsburgh, and took up land on tract 810, now owned by his children, Sarah and John Gallagher, in 1800. He married his wife in Fayette county and brought her here in 1806. He died in 1832, aged 67 years. Solomon Dowlhott, John Nevins and John Mullian became settlers in 1801. Dowlhott was from Westmoreland county. He located on the farm owned by his son William, and died in his 69th year. Nevins was a native of the Emerald Isle. Mullian came from Washington county, accompanied by his son of the same name, and settled the farm owned by the latter.
The Shenango United Presbyterian Church was organized with about ten members, in 1801, by Rev. Daniel McLean, the first pastor. The Society first worshiped in a tent. In 1805, or about that year, a log house was erected, and in 1818 the present edifice, which is situated one mile north of the State road, and will seat 500 persons, was built at a cost of about $400. At present the Society is without a pastor. The Church property is val- ued at $1,000 .- [Information furnished by Mr. Wm. McLean.
North Bank M. E. Church, situated in the north-west corner, was organ- ized with nine members, in 1824, by Charles Thorn, Charles Elliott and Charles Campbell, the former of whom was the first pastor. The church edifice, which will seat 350 persons, was erected in 1851, at a cost of $700, or twice the present value of Church property. The Society numbers 38. The pastor is Rev. I. D. Darling.
Ebenezer Church, (Ass. Reformed) situated north of the center of the township, was organized with thirty-five members, in 1868, by Rev. James Borrows, the first and present pastor, who is our informant, and the house of worship, which will seat 300 persons, was erected the same year, at a cost of $2,200. The Church consists of fifty members, and its property is valued at $2,500.
SPARTA was formed in 1830. It is the north-east cor- ner township in the county, and contains 23,913 square acres. It is well watered by the east branch of Oil Creek, which passes through the central part, and the north-west branch of Spring Creek and Spaulding and Brittain runs, tributary to it. It has an important lumber manufacturing interest, its seven saw mills and three shingle mills having an aggregate capacity for cutting about 13,000 000 feet of lumber and 10,000,000 shin- gles per annum. The Oil Creek & Allegheny Valley R. R. crosses the township along the valley of Oil Creek, and affords ample facilities for the transportation of the vast quantities of lumber manufactured here.
The population in 1870 was 1,131, of whom 1,088 were native, 43, foreign and all, except three, white.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, the township contained
98
SPARTA-SPRING.
eight schools and employed thirteen teachers. The number of scholars was 249; the average number attending school, 212 ; and the amount expended for school purposes, $2,688.54.
SPARTANSBURG, (p. v.) situated on the east-branch of Oil Creek and the Oil Creek & Allegheny Valley R. R., a little north-east of the center of the township, is a thriving village of about 600 inhabitants. It is rapidly improving, both in the number of buildings and inhabitants. It contains two churches, two hotels, fourteen stores of various kinds, two carriage shops, a woolen mill, steam tannery, saw and planing mill and a cabinet shop. The first store, (which is now occupied by Blackmer & Farley as a boot and shoe store,) was built in 1837, by Andrew and Aaron Akin, from whom the place was known as Akinsville, which name it retained until the establishment of the post office, when the present one was substituted. It was incorporated as a borough in 1856. Its population in 1870 was 457.
Spartan Lodge No. 372 A. Y. M. was organized Jan. 2, 1867, and is in a prosperous condition. John G. Burlingham is W. M.
BRITTAIN is a hamlet in the south-west part on Brittain Run.
GLYNDON STATION is situated on the south line and on the O. C. & V. E. R. R.
The settlement of this township was commenced at a com- paratively recent date, by Reuben and Abraham Blakeslee, father and son, who came from Washington county, N. Y., to Meadville in 1817, and to Sparta, April 11th, 1818. They located on the place now occupied by Abraham, who was sixty- two years old Jan. 4, 1872. Reuben died July 20, 1848, aged sixty-two years, and his wife Prudence, died Feb. 8, 1851, at the same age. Near the door of their residence stands an apple tree which is forty-five years old and measures seven and one- half feet in circumference. David Blakeslee, who was born at New Haven, Conn., May 12, 1740, came in from Granville, N. Y., the same year, and settled upon a tract of 175 acres which he cleared and on which his son, Jesse A., who was then sixteen years old, is still living.
SPRING was formed from Beaver in 1830. It lies upon the north border of the county, west of the center, and con- tains 26,102 square acres. Itis drained in the west by Conneaut Creek and in the east by the headwaters of Little Cussewago Creek. The soil is of good quality and is well and profitably cultivated. The Erie & Pittsburgh R. R. crosses the township
99
SPRING.
in close proximity to the west border, and the old Beaver & Erie Canal extends along the valley of Conneaut Creek. It is a fine dairy township, and possesses valuable manufacturing in- terests. At one time it contained no less than seven distilleries, all of which did a good business.
The population in 1870 was 1,522, of whom 1,457 were na- tive, 65, foreign and all, except one, white.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained twenty-one schools. The number of scholars was 837; the average number attending school, 670 ; and the amount expended for school purposes, $4,939.11.
CONNEAUTVILLE, (p. v.) located on the south line, west of the center, and on Conneaut Creek and the old Beaver & Erie Ca- nal, is surrounded by a rich and populous agricultural district, for the products of which, especially those of the dairy, it is the principal shipping point, and this is true not only of the coun- try in the immediate vicinity, but also of the whole western portion of the county. Most of the lumber and the articles manufactured therefrom in this section seek a market through this channel. It is distant one and one-half miles east of the E. & P. R. R., and contains five churches, a fine public school, a newspaper office, (The Courier and Record,) a bank, ( The First National Bank of Conneautville, which was organized Jan. 1, 1864,) two hotels, two drug stores and several dry goods stores and groceries, two iron foundries, (one of which, F. M. Robin- son's, manufactures portable and stationary engines, saw and grist mill machinery, sash, doors, blinds, window and door frames, and comprises a turning shop,) a tannery, (which gives employment to six persons and tans about 200 sides of leather per week,) John Spellacy's shook factory, (which gives employ- ment to nine persons and manufactures about 200,000 shooks per annum-about one-third the number made previous to the insurrection in Cuba, to which place most of them were shipped,) three harness shops, four blacksmith shops, and had, in 1870, 1,000 inhabitants. It lies partially in Summerhill, and was in- corporated as a borough in 1845. Its streets are mostly shaded with maples, and it presents an appearance of neatness and thrift.
The Crawford County Agricultural Society, the pioneer organ- ization of the county, and the only one now in existence, holds a fair here on the first Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of October in each year.
SPRING (p. v.) is situated on Conneaut Creek, a little west of the center of the township, and contains three churches, one
100
SPRING.
hotel, a drug store and a tin shop. It was incorporated as a borough in 1867, and in 1870 had a population of 323.
RUNDEL is a hamlet in the south-east corner, and contains a store, steam saw mill and cheese box factory, carriage shop, blacksmith shop, hand rake factory, cheese factory and millin- ery shop. The country in the vicinity is adapted and chiefly devoted to dairying.
Settlement was commenced as early as 1795, in which year Alex. Power, from Cumberland county, who, if not the first, was one of the first to settle in the township, located on the site of Conneautville. He was engaged the previous year in the first surveys made in Spring, and took up 800 acres, a part of which he gave to settlers, the remainder being still owned by the Power family. He built the first grist mill in the township, and the first saw mill west of French Creek. He also erected the first house in Spring, though the first framed house was built by Wm. Crosier. Other early settlers, though in what year we are not advised, were Justus Ross, from Monroe county, N. Y., Robert Temple, from Seneca county in the same State, Henry Hadsell, from Connecticut, Isaac Thayer, from Sadsbury, James Patterson, Wm. McGuire, who settled first in Beaver, and subsequently in Spring, Stephen Eighmy, from Saratoga county, N. Y., and Samuel W. Sheldon, from Steuben county, in the same State. John Foster, Robert Nelson, from Philadelphia, Samuel Thompson and James Fetterman, settled here in 1796. These early settlers were accustomed to procure their provisions from Pittsburgh. They conveyed them in boats up French Creek as far as Meadville, and thence upon their backs, a distance of sixteen miles, through the woods, being guided by blazed trees. Foot paths were the best roads which the wilderness then afforded. The animals indigenous to the climate were abundant and frequent- ly troublesome. Game was an important item in the bill of fare of those days. Robert McCoy settled here about 1797. His son, Wm. R. McCoy, was born here in 1803. Thomas Foster located here about 1800; Thomas Bowman, from Utica, N. Y., in 1815; Barker Wells, from Conn., in 1816; Samuel Wetmore, from Oneida county, N. Y., a soldier of the war of 1812, in 1817, on the farm upon which he now lives ; Platt Rogers, from Dutches county, N. Y., and Isaac Hurd, from Bennington county, Vt., in 1818 ; Oliver Hall, from Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1819 ; and Elijah Thompson, from Vermout, in 1822. Black salts was the chief article of commerce with these pioneers and about the only thing which commanded ready money. They made their own sugar, and traded the sur-
101
SPRING-STEUBEN.
plus for other necessaries, sometimes exchanging for fresh fish, pound for pound. So scarce an article was money that many went barefoot to Meadville to attend general training rather than subject themselves to a fine of only fifty cents. The first school house in the township was constructed of logs and was located about one and one-half miles north of Spring borough.
Spring Christian Church, at Spring borough, was organized about 1823. The first pastor was Rev. - Morrison ; the present one is Rev. J. J. Summerbell, our informant. The Society consists of about 130 members, and its property, consisting of two church buildings and a parsonage, is valued at $5,500.
The First Presbyterian Church, at Conneautville, was organized with nine members, Oct. 31, 1835, by Rev. P. Hassinger. The first church edi- fice was erected in 1838. The present one, which will seat 400 persons, was dedicated June 14, 1871. It is a fine brick structure, with stone win- dow caps and corners, and a spire 140 feet high. The audience room is finely frescoed and is furnished with modern improvements. Its cost was $17,000. The first pastor was Rev. J. W. Dickey ; the present one is Rev. Moses D. A. Steen. There are ninety-six members. The Church property is valued at $25,000 .- [Information furnished by Mr. A. P. Foster.
The M. E. Church was organized with seven members, in 1836, by Rev. Daniel Richey, the first pastor, and the house of worship, which will seat 300 persons, and is located on Center St., was erected in 1863, at a cost of $1,500. The Church is composed of fifty members, who are under the pastoral care of Rev. J. B. Wright, and the property is valued at $2,500 .- [Information furnished by Mr. G. R. Cook.
The First Baptist Church of Conneautville was organized in the fall of 1847, by Rev. - Whipple, and the church edifice, which will seat 150 persons, was erected in 1848, at a cost of $800, twice the present value of Church property. The Church contains sixteen members, but is without a pastor.
STEUBEN was formed from Athens in 1861. It is an interior township, lying east of the center of the county, and contains 13,772 square acres. It is drained in the east by Oil Creek and small streams tributary to it, and in the west by the head waters of Muddy Creek and the north branch of Sugar Creek. It possesses abundant railroad facilities, being traversed in the eastern part by the Oil Creek & Allegheny Valley and Union & Titusville railroads, which run parallel with and adjacent to Oil Creek, and in the central part by the Pennsyl- vania Petroleum R. R.
The manufacture of lumber is carried on quite extensively. There are four saw mills with an aggregate capacity for cutting six and one-half millions feet of lumber per annum; two shingle and two stave mills, and one shingle and stave mill combined, capable of making in the aggregate about six mil- lions of shingles and five millions of staves; the whole giving employment to about thirty persons. Geo. A. Brice & Co.,
102
STEUBEN.
employ eleven men in the manufacture of wagons and carriages, to the value of about $12,000 per annum.
The population in 1870 was 1,020, of whom 968 were native, 52, foreign and all, white.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained eight schools and employed sixteen teachers. The number of scholars was 281; the average number attending school, 182; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,762.38.
TOWNVILLE, (p. v.) situated on Muddy Creek, near the south- west corner of the township, contains three churches, one school, two hotels, five stores, four blacksmith shops, two car- riage shops, one grist mill, two wooden bowl manufactories, two milliner shops, a photograph gallery, three doctors' offices, and had, in 1870, 280 inhabitants. It was incorporated as a borough in 1869. Messrs. Kingsley and Post were the first two to build here, the former in 1833, and the latter in 1837.
TRYONVILLE, (p. o.) situated in the north-east part on Oil Creek and on the Union & Titusville and Oil Creek & Alle- gheney Valley railroads, contains one church, (M. E.) one school, one hotel, two stores, a cooper shop and forty-seven dwellings. The first buildings were erected here by James and David Tryon, who came from Connecticut about forty years ago, purchased a tract of 700 acres, and built a grist and saw mill upon the creek.
CLAPPVILLE is situated one and one-half miles south of Tryonville and contains a school, store, saw mill, blacksmith shop and seventeen houses. The Pennsylvania Petroleum R. R., when completed, will have a station here, which is to be named Waidville, by which name the place is now frequently designated. It was first settled about forty years ago, by a Mr. Clapp, from whom it derives its name.
The First Baptist Church of Steuben, at Townville, was organized with fifty members, in 1851, by a council of delegates from other Baptist Churches. The church edifice, which will seat 270 persons, was erected in 1854, at a cost of $1000, and about $400 are now being expended in its repair. The first pastor was Rev. Warren D. Bradford ; the present one is Rev. Charles W. Drake. The Society numbers eighty-five, and its property is valued at $3,000.
Calvary Church, (Episcopal,) at Townville, was organized with nine members, by Rev. Henry Fitch, in 1867, in which year was commenced the building of the house of worship, which was completed in 1873, and will seat 175 persons. The first services were conducted by Rev. S. T. Lord, a missionery. There is no regular pastor, services being held by clergymen from Meadville and Titusville. There are sixteen members. The Church property is valued at $5,000 .- [Information furnished by Mr. P. Rose.
103
SUMMERHILL.
SUMMERHILL was formed in 1830. It is an interior township, lying west of the center of the county and contains 14,603 square acres. It is watered in the western part by Con- neaut Creek, and numerous small streams tributary to it, and in the eastern part by a small stream which empties into Little Cussewago Creek, in the western part of Cussewago township, and by the head waters of Pine Run, which discharges into Conneaut Lake. The old Beaver & Erie Canal extends through the township, along the valley of Conneaut Creek.
Among the more important manufacturing establishments are McMullin's and J. Close's steam saw mills, the former situ- ated about three miles south of Conneautville, and the latter in the south-eastern part of the township, each giving employment to three persons and being capable of sawing 4,000 feet of lum- ber per day ; McDowell & Hammond's cheese factory, situated at Dicksonburg, which was erected in 1873, gives employment to two persons, and manufactures the first quality of Cheddar cheese, in quantity about ten cheeses per day, each weighing fifty-seven pounds; and J. & R. Wormald's woolen factory, lo- cated in the eastern part of Conneautville, (which is partially in this township,) which occupies a large three-story building, erected in 1843 for a carding and fulling mill, and which was adapted to its present uses in 1849. It is operated by water, and has recently been repaired and furnished throughout with new and improved machinery. Six to eight persons are em- ployed and 15,000 to 18,000 pounds of wool annually consumed in the manufacture of cloths, cassimeres, flannels, blankets, yarn, &c.
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