USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Gazetteer and business directory of Crawford County, Pa., for 1874 > Part 12
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DICKSONBURG (p. o. ) (formerly known as McDowell,) is sit- nated on Conneaut Creek, in the south-west part of the town- ship.
NORRISVILLE (p. o.) is situated a little north of the center of the township.
Settlement was commenced as early as 1803, by Valentine P. Gwin, of French descent, who is still living in the township at the age of seventy-seven years. His father accompanied Lafay- ette to this country and served under him in the Federal army till the close of the Revolutionary war. He then settled in Berks county and worked at his trade-that of a blacksmith- until 1803. He died in 1821.
The Evangelical Church of Summerhill was organized with twenty-five members, in 1863, by Rev. James Crossman, the first pastor, and their church edifice, which will seat 300 persons, was erected in 1871, at a cost of $1,800, the present value of Church property. There are thirty-four members. The pastor is Rev. --- Myers .- [Information furnished by Mr. Minor Walton.
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SUMMERHILL-SUMMIT.
The M. E. Church, at Dicksonburg, erected their first house of wor- ship in 1835, and the present one, which will seat 300 persons, in 1851, at a cost of $975. The Society numbers eighty and its property is valued at $4,000. The pastor is Rev. A. R. Rich .- [Information furnished by Mr. John F. McDowell.
SUMMIT was formed in 1841. It is an interior township, lying west of the center of the county, and contains 14,012 square acres. It is drained in the eastern part by Pine Run, which flows south into Conneaut Lake, the northern part of which lies in this township, and in the north by the head waters of Conneaut Creek. The old Beaver & Erie Canal extends north through the central part, and unites with the Beaver Canal near the center of the south line.
Upon the farm of Mr. Almon Whiting in the south-east part of the township is a fine bed of marl, which is used as a fertilizer.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,034, all of whom were white, 991, native and 43, foreign.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained nine schools and employed ten teachers. The number of scholars was 272; the average number attending school, 227; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,240.97.
HARMONSBURG (p. o.) is situated on Pine Run, at the head of Conneaut Lake, a little east of the center of the township.
Settlement was commenced by Joseph and Jacob Gehr, brothers, with their families, including Samuel, Adam, David and Baltzar Gehr, but in what year we have not determined, though it was probably near the beginning of the present cen- tury. Baltzar, being the youngest and not over fond of work, was furnished with a gun and ammunition and was expected to supply the two families with game. Adam Foust and Henry Bright settled here in 1797. Foust came from Berks county and purchased 1,200 acres of land on the east bank of Conneaut Lake. Michael Foust, his son, came with him at the age of six years. He says this section of country was then a wilderness. There was but one house between them and Meadville, and that was unoccupied. Bright came from Bedford county, at the age of twenty-five years, and settled upon a tract of 200 acres on the site of Harmonsburg. His parents were captured by the Indians during the Revolution and were literally starved to death. James McClure came in from Mifflin county, in 1798, and bought of one named Field a tract of 400 acres, one- half of which he subsequently gave to his cousin, John McClure, as an inducement to settle upon it. In 1814 James returned to Mifflin county to care for his father in his old age, and in 1827, six years after the latter's death, he again removed
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SUMMIT-TROY.
to his new home in Summit, and died there in 1852. His son, John, still lives upon the old homestead. He has a tannery upon the farm and works a little at the business. William McFaden, from Philadelphia, settled here in 1801. Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, his daughter, of Venango township, was born here in 1803. Daniel Close, came from Union county in 1823, and settled upon a tract of 400 acres, which he bought at an advance of $50 of Judge Smith, of Waterford, who purchased it at auction sale the same day for $1,200. There were then no improvements from this tract to the Cussewago, though many had settled and made improvements on the Meadville road.
The following, entitled " A CURIOUS CUT IN A TREE," is an extract from The Conneautville Courier and Record, and as we have not had opportunity to examine and determine its signifi- cance we give it, with the credit, without comment :
" Mr. Eli Brown, of Summit township, in felling a large oak tree on his farm, noticed in one of the large splinters torn out of the center of the stump the marks of a sharp instrument, the cut seeming to have been made with an ax or something similar. Mr. Brown had the curiosity to count the layers marking each year's growth from the cut to the outside, and was surprised to find them to number upwards of three hundred, showing that the cutting must have been done as early as 1573. The block of wood was brought to our office, where it may be seen."
TROY was formed in 1830. It lies upon the south border of the county, east of the center, and contains 17,581 square acres. It is watered in the western and central parts by the north and east branches of Sugar Creek, which unite near the south-west corner. Oil Creek crosses the north-east corner. The Oil Creek & Allegheny Valley, Union & Titusville and Pennsylvania Petroleum railroads cross the north-east corner of the township in close proximity. Among the manufacturing establishments are S. B. Hayes' saw mill, which is located on the east branch of Sugar Creek, employs two men and is capa- ble of sawing 4,000 feet of lumber and 10,000 shingles per day ; A. T. & J. C. Burns' saw and shingle mills, which are located on the west branch of Sugar Creek, and are capable of sawing 1,500 feet of lumber and 5,000 to 8,000 shingles per day ; Albert F. Newton's steam saw mill, which is situated on Oil Creek and the line of the P. P. R. R., and saws 8,000 feet of lumber per day ; and the saw and stave mills of Johnson & Boush of Mead- ville, which are located in the western part of the township, give employment to twenty-seven men, and are capable of saw- ing 10,000 feet of lumber and 10,000 staves and heading per day. The timber is brought from the woods to the mill upon a tram-way one and one-half miles in length.
The population of the township in 1870 was 983, all of whom were white, 954, native and 29, foreign.
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TROY-UNION.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained ten schools and employed ten teachers. The number of scholars was 277; the average number attending school, 214; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,165.87.
TROY CENTER, (p. o.) situated on the east branch of Sugar Creek, near the geographical center of the township, contains a school, grocery, cooper shop, wagon shop and ten houses. Peter Keyes was the first white man to build here, though when he came a negro known as " Black Francis " was living there in a log hut.
NEWTONTOWN, situated in the eastern part, on the line of the ยท P. P. R. R., contains a school, hotel, grocery and saw mill. It derives its name from Edmond C. Newton, who located here Jan. 6, 1847, and purchased of Samuel Sinclair, who is thought to have preceded him by thirty years, his property, consisting of 200 acres of land, only four of which were cleared, a log hut and a saw mill. Newton came from the town of Gerry, Chau- tauqua county, N. Y., at the age of thirty-three years, and died at Newtontown, Dec. 5, 1872. Wm. McGinnis and John Rey- nolds were early settlers in this locality.
Settlement was commenced by James Luse, who came from Essex county, N. J., about 1795, and located on the place now occupied by his grandson, Robert A. Luse. His wagon is said to have been the third one which left Pittsburgh for Meadville. When he came no one was living within nine miles of him. Jacob Rishel came with his father from Cooperstown, N. Y., about 1833, with a yoke of oxen, having at that late day to cut their own road a distance of nine miles. They settled upon the place now occupied by the former, on road 12 (see map.) Pea- body Faunce came in March, 1838, and located at " Faunce- town," in the western part, upon a tract of land purchased of John McKenzie, who left the place a few years before and went to Cooperstown, and is supposed to have settled it five years be- fore Faunce bought.
UNION was formed from Vernon, Fairfield and Green- wood in October, 1867. It is an interior township, lying a lit- tle south-west of the center, and contains 8,322 square acres. It is bounded on the east by French Creek, and on the south and west by Conneaut Outlet, which is a marshy waste one-half to three-fourths of a mile wide, with but little fall from the north-west corner of this township to its intersection with French Creek. Partial arrangements have been made to dredge it and thus reclaim large tracts of exceedingly fertile land over- flowed by it. The surface of the township is rolling, especially in the southern part, the central portion being the most ele-
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UNION.
vated. The people are chiefly engaged in agriculture, grain be- ing the staple production.
The Atlantic & Great Western R. R. crosses the northern part of the township, and the old Beaver Canal runs in proximity to Conneaut Outlet.
The population in 1870 was 622, all of whom were white, 508, native and 114, foreign.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, the township contained seven schools and employed nine teachers. The number of scholars was 292; the average number attending school, 185 ; and the amount expended for school purposes, $2,146.11.
DUTCH HILL (p. o.) is situated a little north of the center of the township.
Settlement was commenced near the beginning of the present century. One of the first settlers was James Smith, who came from the valley of the Tuscarora, in Juniata county, in 1805. Leonard Smock, a native of New Jersey, moved in from West- moreland county near this time, and settled one-half mile north of Conneaut Outlet. His son, Cornelius, who was born in Union, in November, 1806, says that Indians were numerous ind wild beasts abundant, especially in the Conneaut marsh. The nearest mill was at Peterson's, in Green wood, and although the distance was not great the roads were so bad that they would defer a journey thither until the meal box was thoroughly scraped out. It was the custom of the miller at times to keep bread in the mill for his customers to lunch upon. John Thatcher came in from Greenwood, his native township, in 1810. Daniel Holton removed from Rhode Island to Meadville in 1796, and to Union in 1815. His son, Baanah, says he (Daniel) drove the first team into Meadville. Peter Kebert, from Germany, settled here in 1830. Francis Stein, from Ba- varia, came in 1832. He came by canal from Albany to Buffalo, by lake to Erie, and thence on foot to his destination-his present place of residence. Daniel Hammon, from Germany, settled here in 1833, and a Mr. Huber, from New Jersey, in 1834. The first school, a framed building, was built in 1838, on the Aqueduct road; and the first church was erected in 1837, on the State road. It was a log structure and was con- 'erted to a framed building in 1854, by Wm. Stitt.
Mount Pleasant Church (M. E ) was organized with twelve members, in 326, by John Leech and H. Kinsley, who officiated as first pastors. The Sciety worshiped at first in school houses. Their house of worship was eected in 1858, at a cost of $1,000. It will seat 300 persons. There are fety-five members, who are under the pastoral care of Rev. F. Fair. The Curch property is valued at $1,200.
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VENANGO.
VENANGO was formed in 1811. It lies near the center of the north border of the county, and contains 9,871 square acres. The surface is generally rolling, being somewhat uneven in the central and north-western parts. The north-east part is more level and contains some very fine farms. Along Conne- autteCreek is some marshy land, which is generally well timbered. It is abundantly watered by French and Conneautte creeks, which form the east boundary, and the streams flowing into them, the principal of which is Stokes Run. The soil, which is easily cultivated and very productive, is a sandy and gravelly loam, except in the north-west, which is more elevated, where a clay loam predominates. The township is mostly improved, there being but little more timbered land left than is required to sup- ply the farmers' wants, though it contains two steam saw mills. The farmers are chiefly engaged in stock raising and dairying, cheese being the principal product of the dairy. Whea; and corn are some of the crops raised.
The population in 1870 was 623, all of whom were white, 571, native and 52, foreign.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, it contained sever schools and employed twelve teachers. The number of schol- ars was 264; the average number attending school, 234; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,198.92.
VENANGO, (p. v.) is beautifully situated on the west bank of French Creek, in the south-east corner of the township, eleven miles above Meadville, and contains three churches, one large brick school, one hotel, three dry goods, one hardware and one drug stores, a woolen. factory, saw mill, flouring mill, tannery, three blacksmith shops, a wagon and carriage shop, two harness shops, one shoe shop, two cooper shops, a livery stable, and had, in 1870, a population of 318. It was incorporated as a borough in 1853.
Settlement was commenced in 1794, by Thomas Campbell and Christopher Siverling, from Westmoreland county. They moved their families here in 1796, on horseback, that of the latter including, Christopher, John and Daniel Siverling. At that time there was no wagon road in this country. Campbell located on French Creek, on the farm upon which Jacob Kep- ler now lives ; and Siverling, one mile higher up the creek, upon what is known as the Tarr farm. Christopher Siverling, son of John, says that two bushels of corn, a small quantity of beef and a few turnips, which had been sown by members of the family who visited the place in the summer, constituted the entire stock of provisions on which his grand-father's family had to subsist during the first winter, except such as was afforded by the streams and forest. Pittsburgh was the nearest plac
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VENANGO.
where necessaries could be obtained. Siverling built the first framed barn. Thomas Colter, who was born in Philadelphia, in 1865, settled here in 1796, and his uncle, Robert Logue, came the same year. They located the farm on which Frank Colter now lives, and each built a log cabin. Robert Colter, who was born in March, 1797, says he was the first white child born in the township. He relates that one evening, three or four years after his fathers settlement, a bear raised the logs of their pig pen and took therefrom the pig, with which he beat a retreat. Mr. Colter followed in hot pursuit with an ax, and as it was dark, Mrs. Colter followed with a torch light. Bruin was over- taken near a brush fence, which retarded his progress, and Mrs. Colter immediately applied, the torch to his shaggy hair, which was soon ablaze and caused him to beat a hasty retreat without
his porcine burden, the fire in the meantime spreading over his entire body. The pig however was handled so roughly that it died. Wolves were also very troublesome and necessitated the yarding of the sheep every night. The last wolf hunt took place about 1821. Twenty men and twenty dogs engaged in it and drove the enemy of their flocks across the Cusse wago, whence they never returned to molest them. Samuel Quay came from Susquehanna county in 1797 and settled upon the farm upon which his son John now resides. Henry Bole came from Ireland to this county in 1793, and to this township in 1798. He located on the farm on which improvements had been con- menced by Charles Stewart. Before coming here he was in the employ of Gen. Meade, at Meadville. Wm. Bole, his brother, came at the same time. John Bole, son of Henry, says his father built the first barn and the second framed house, the first one having been built by Christopher Blyston. Jacob Hogelber- ger, a native of Greensburgh, Westmoreland county, settled here in 1799. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was called to the defence of Erie. Isaac and Christian Blystone came from Lebanon county in 1800. In this year settlement was com- menced on the site of Venango borough, by Philip Straw, from Westmoreland county. James Skelton came here from Phila- delphia in 1801, and constructed a shelter of brush. He next built a house of such poles as one or two men could lay up, and in this he lived a number of years. Owen Skelton, his son, says this shanty afforded no shelter in a rain storm, and he recollects very distinctly of standing up when it rained while the water trickled down his body to his feet. His mother's supboard con- sisted of the base of a hollow birch. He says that during the first summer of their residence his father went to work fourteen miles down French Creek. He bought of one Van Horn a bushel of corn, which he got ground at Meadville on his way
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VENANGO.
back. When within five mile of his home darkness overtook him and as he was very tired he staid there all night. In the morning he made his way to his famishing family. At times when they were much reduced for food his mother was accus- tomed to gather esculent vegetables which grew wild in the woods and mix the liquor in which they were boiled with milk. Families named Gross and Torry settled in this township in 1802. Gross located on the farm now owned by Henry Gross; and Torry on that upon which his son William now lives. Wm. Gross, son of the former, who is now eighty-three years old, had the misfortune to lose all his property on Lake Erie. Jacob Peters, a Revolutionary hero, settled here in 1804. His son, Henry, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, was then fourteen years old. He (Henry) married Miss Catharine McIntosh and died Oct. 25, 1872, aged eighty-three years. His wife survives him, though she is quite infirm. John Stokes, who was born near Reading, Pa., came to this county in 1804, and to this township Feb. 5, 1805. He settled on the farm where his son Samuel now lives, on which some slight improvements had been made. He served in the army in the war of 1812. His widow, who is still living at the age of ninety-four years, is the last of the first settlers left in the township. Joseph L. Perkins, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1807, came with his parents to Venango, in 1817. After a useful and active life, during which he was the first postmaster of Venango borough, and held for upwards of a quarter of a century the office of justice of the peace, he died at his residence Sept. 6, 1873, aged sixty-six years. In the latter year (1817) John Lasher and Solmon Walters purchased the improvements of Philip Straw, on the site of the borough. Anticipating the location of the turnpike through this place they laid out a village plot; but failing to realize their expectations in this particular, the thriving town they pictured still remained in embryo. In 1820, Walters sold his interest comprising the principal part of the present bor- ough, to Michael Peiffer, who, in company with Jacob Sherrets, soon after built a saw mill. This, together with the mill pri- vilege and eighteen acres of land was bought, in 1829, by Asa Freeman ; and in 1832, John Kleckner, who moved in from Ly- coming county the previous year, purchased the Pieffer tract, together with the mill property and the farm owned by Christo- pher Siverling, now known as the Tarr farm. That year he built a new saw mill near the old one, which he repaired. In 1838 he had the town lot surveyed and gave it the name of Klecknerville, which was changed to Venango when the bor- ough was incorporated, and in 1841, he built a grist mill, the second one in the township. From this date the changes indi-
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VENANGO-VERNON.
cating the growth of the borough, become too numerous and intricate for the scope of this work.
Zion Church (Lutheran) was organized with fourteen members, in 1816, by Rev. Robert Colston. The first church edifice, a log structure, was built the same year ; the present one, which will seat 400 persons, was erected in 1838 and '9, at a cost of $1,000. The first pastor was Rev. Elihu Rathbun ; the present one is Rev. J. H. Smith, who has accepted a call ex- tended him. The Society numbers sixty-five. Its property is valued at $5,000 .- [Information furnished by Mr. George Kleckner, who says this was the first Church organized and the first church building erected in Venango borough.
The M. E. Church of Venango Borough was organized with ten members> in 1843, by Rev. Ahab Keller, the first pastor, and their house of worship, which will seat 300 persons, was erected in 1846, at a cost of $1,200. The Society numbers thirty-two. It is under the pastoral care of Rev. R. E. Smith, and its property is valued at $1,800 .- [Information furnished by Mr. Isaac Peiffer.
" Stuarts Run Cemetery Methodist Church" was organized with twenty-five members, in 1843, by Revs. Messrs. Scofield and Bear, who were the first pastors, and the church edifice, which will seat 200 persons, was erected the same year, at a cost of $600. The Church property is valued at $500. -[Information furnished by Mr. I. H. Skelton.
VERNON was formed in 1830: It is an interior town- ship, lying upon the west bank of French Creek, a little south- west of the center of the county, and contains 16,194 square acres. Its streams, in addition to French Creek, are Cussewago Creek in the north-east part, Conneaut Outlet on the south border, both of which are tributary to the former creek ; and VanHorns and Watson runs in the central and western parts, the former flowing into French Creek and the latter into Conne- aut Outlet. The old Beaver Canal crosses the south-west corner, and the Atlantic & Great Western R. R. just enters the town- ship upon the south border.
The population in 1870 was 1,615, all of whom were white, 1,353, native and 262, foreign.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, the township con- tained twelve schools and employed sixteen teachers. The num- ber of scholars was 554; the average number attending school, 452 ; and the amount expended for school purposes, $2,353.87.
VALLONIA, (p. v.) situated on French Creek, opposite Mead- ville, was organized as a borough in 1869. It contains a store, two lager beer breweries, a malt house, tannery, stave factory, two blacksmith shops, a carriage shop, paint shop, three brick yards, and about 250 inhabitants.
The first settlement of this township was contemporary with that of the county, as the first nine settlers, including the three Meads, after one or two days' explorations on the east side of
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VERNON.
French Creek, in the vicinity of Meadville, crossed that stream above the mouth of the Cussewago, and erected a temporary place of residence, about the middle of May, 1788. " They then commenced plowing one of the old Indian fields, with four horses to the plow, and after breaking up some eight or ten acres, they planted them with corn. A freshet in the stream soon after destroyed their crop, and it was replanted in the month of June." Those who settled on the west side of the creek, in Vernon, were John and David Mead, the former about one mile north of the site of Meadville, and the latter upon a tract immediately south of him, but which he soon abandoned to occupy the location first selected by Thomas Grant-the site of Meadville-where he erected a cabin in the north part of the village which bears his name, and Cornelius VanHorne, who moved into an old Indian cabin which stood upon the track he selected. In October VanHorne was visited by Archibald Davidson, Sr. and Jr. and Jacob VanHorne, who remained about a week, when the four returned to New Jersey, whence VanHorne came. In the fall of 1789 VanHorn again visited this locality and remained until Christmas, when he again returned to New Jersey. In October, 1790, he, in com- pany with Thomas Lacey and Peter and Matthew Colsher, left New Jersey for his new home with a wagon drawn by two horses. They came via Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. At the latter place they sold their horses and conveyance and proceeded thence to the Cussewago in a canoe.
The first few years of settlement were fraught with danger as well as privation, for the frequent threatened and actual attacks of bands of hostile Indian's rendered life upon these frontiers perilous, and several times impelled the settlers to abandon their lands and seek safety at Franklin, the nearest fortified place of any pretensions. The house of David Mead was fortified and in it the settlers were accustomed to congre- gate when suddenly and unexpectedly attacked. We extract from Incidents in the Early History of Crawford County, Pa., by Alfred Huidekoper, the following episode which forms an in- teresting chapter in the early history of this county, and is an event which occurred in 1791 and in which one of the first settlers in this township took a prominent part :-
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