USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Gazetteer and business directory of Crawford County, Pa., for 1874 > Part 5
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The Church of the United Brethren at Reeds Corners, was organized with ten members in 1850, by Rev. Willis Lamson, the first pastor. Their house of worship was erected in 1861, at a cost of $800, and will seat 350 per- sons. It is free to all orthodox denominations. The present pastor is Rev. J. Denis; and the number of members, thirty-one. The Church property is valued ot $600 .- [Information furnished by Mr. W. W. Lamson.
The Christian Church, at Beaver Center, was organized with twenty members in 1870, by Rev. I. R. Spencer, the first pastor, and the church edifice, which will seat 200 persons, was erected in 1871, at a cost of $2,400. There are at present thirty-two members, who are under the min- istration of Rev. J. J. Summerbell. The Church property is valued at $2,600. An organization of the Christian denomination existed in this place about 1840, continuing eight or ten years, with Elder J. E. Church as its pastor .- [Information furnished by Mr. Luther Gates.
BLOOMFIELD was formed in 1811. It lies upon the north border of the county, east of the center, and contains 39,465 square acres. The surface is broken by the valley of Oil Creek, (which extends diagonally through the central part of the township,) and its numerous tributaries, the principal of which are West Gate Creek and Streve and Mosey runs. The east and west branches of Federal Run irrigate the surface of the western part of the township and contribute their waters to Muddy Creek, a tributary of French Creek. Oil Creek Lake lies about the center of the township.
Dairying is an important industry of this township, and manufacturing is carried on to a limited extent. The staple productions of the manufactories are lumber and cheese. Among the industries which engage the attention of the people, are Wm. Porter & Son's butter and cheese factory, situated at Chapinville, which was completed in May, 1873, gives employ- ment to four persons, receives the milk of 275 cows and pro- duces fifty pounds of butter and eight to ten cheeses per day ; Dawson H. Fisher's cheese factory, located on road 17, which em- ploys two persons and produces eight cheeses per day ; Eugene C. Wood's shingle mill, situated on road 42, which employs two men and is capable of cutting 6,000 shingles per day : W. D. Brunstetter's saw and lath mill, located on road 1, which employs eloven men and is capable of sawing 7,000 feet of lumber and 3,000 lath per day ; Samuel B. Wallace's saw mill, situated on
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BLOOMFIELD.
Mosey run and on road 43, which has facilities for sawing 2,000 feet of lumber per day; Wm. W. Woodward's saw and grist mill, situated on Mosey Run and on road 20, with one run of stones and a capacity for sawing 2,000 feet of lumber per day ; Perry Shreve's saw mill, situated on a branch of West Gate Creek and on road 46; Dobben & Wise's saw mill, situated at the junction of roads 17 and 19, which employs five men and has facilities for sawing 10,000 feet of lumber per day; Henry M. Batchelder's saw mill, situated at Lincolnville, employing five men and pro- ducing 8,000 feet of lumber per day ; and Davenport & Son's saw mill, located at Riceville, which employs four men and is capacitated to saw 2,500 feet of lumber per day.
The Union & Titusville R. R. extends diagonally through the township, following the course of Oil Creek.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,262, of whom 1,238 were native, 24, foreign and all, white.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, the township contained "ten and one-half schools," and employed nineteen teachers. The number of scholars was 377; the average number attend- ing school, 274; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,512.50.
RICEVILLE, (p. v.) situated on the south line, near the south- east corner, and upon Oil Creek, is a station on the U. & T. R. R. In 1870 it had a population of 301. It contains a church school house, hotel, four stores, two saw, one grist, and two shingle mills, one cabinet, two wagon, and two blacksmith shops, a foundry and agricultural implement manufactory, a sash, door and blind factory and about seventy-five dwellings.
LINCOLNVILLE (p. o.) is situated on Oil Creek and on the U. & T. R. R., a little south of the center of the township.
CHAPINVILLE (p. o.) is situated on the line of Rockdale.
BLOOMFIELD (p. o.) is situated north-east of thecenter, at the head waters of West Gate Creek.
The first settlement of which we have knowledge, was made by a man named Cunningham, who is believed to have located in 1795, on land subsequently purchased by James and Elkanah Blakeslee. In 1798, James Hamilton came into the township, as the agent of John Fields, of Philadelphia, and with his advent commenced the first substantial improvement. He built the first grist mill in 1800, near Oil Creek Lake. It was rebuilt in 1821. Mr. Hamilton removed to Meadville in in 1808. Between 1798 and 1800 settlements were made by the Bloomfields, -- Negus, - Piper, James Bryan and Joseph Kirk. Richard Shreve, a son of Gen. Wm. Shreve of Borden- town, N. J., who served seven years under Washington, was
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BLOOMFIELD-CAMBRIDGE.
born Sept. 22, 1760, and came to Bloomfield in 1798, from Red Stone, where for eight years previous he was in charge of the Washington Mills, built by George Washington. He had thir- teen children, nine sons and four daughters, of whom Charles and Margaret are the only survivors. Charles is now living on road 16, and has raised a large family. Wm. and Barzillai Shreve brought a carding machine, which they run two seasons. It was the third brought into Allegheny county, of which Crawford county was then a part, the other two being owned by Lot Lewis, of Meadville, and E. Hewes, of Erie. James Blakeslee came to this township from Genesee county, N. Y., in May, 1819, followed in June of the same year by his son El- kanah, who was born August 23, 1796, in Washington county, N. Y., and removed thence with his father to Genesee county, in 1799. The Blakeslees located on the Cunning- ham place, which they purchased of some Swedes, who suc- ceeded Cunningham in the settlement thereon. James died at the age of 87 years. The first house built on the site of Riceville was erected by Samuel Rice. It was constructed of logs. The first saw mill at that village was built in 1830. Seth Lincoln, a native of Massachusetts, came from Fabius, N. Y., in December, 1837, and took up a tract of 400 acres on the site of Lincolnville, where he cut the first tree and erected the first saw and grist mills. The saw mill is still in operation, but the grist mill relapsed into disuse about two years ago. While passing a chute with a raft, on his way to Pittsburgh, in 1847, Mr. Lin- coln received a blow on the head from a scantling, which caused his death. Salmon N. Sturdevant, also from Fabius, joined Mr. Lincoln the year following that of his settlement. He purchased ten acres from a gentleman living in Meadville, and subsequently fifty acres from Mr. Lincoln, on which he is still living at the age of 74 years, and filling the office of town clerk.
The Bloomfield Baptist Church, at Shreve Corners, was organized with eighteen members, Dec. 24, 1850, by Rev. R D. Hays, the first pastor, and and their church edifice, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1854. The Church now has eighty-five members. During its existence 167 per- sons have been added by baptism, letter, experience, and former baptism; 71 have been dismissed by letter; and 22 have been excluded and their names erased from the Church membership. It has had seven different pastors, the present incumbent, Rev. C. Shreve, our informant, now being on the twelfth year of his pastorate. The Church property is valued at $2,500.
CAMBRIDGE was formed from Venango in 1852. It lies abont the center of the north border of the county, and contains 11,162 square acres. It is drained by French Creek and its tributaries, the principal of which are Conneantte and
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CAMBRIDGE.
Little Conneaut Creeks. French Creek enters the township near the center of the east border and flows in a westerly direc- tion to its confluence with Conneautte Creek, on the west border, when it deflects to the south. These two streams form the west boundary of the township, separating it from Venango. The soil throughout the township is a rich loam, well adapted to dairying, which forms the chief pursuit of the inhabitants.
The Atlantic & Great Western R. R. extends through the township, following the course of French Creek, and the Penn- sylvania Petroleum R. R. crosses the central part, from west to east, nearly.
The population of the township in 1870, was 747, all of whom were white, and all, except 47, native born.
During the year ending, June 3, 1872, the township contained six schools and employed eleven teachers. The number of schol- ars was 207; the average number attending school, 150; and the amount expended for school purposes, $792.01.
CAMBRIDGE (p. v.) is centrally located, on French Creek and the A. & G. W. R. R., and is distant fourteen miles north of Meadville, the county seat. It is a thriving village, containing five churches, three hotels, a bank, (organized in 1872,) eleven stores, a saw mill, tannery, shovel-handle factory, two planing mills, three carriage and two shoe shops, three liveries, and had in 1870, 452 inhabitants. It was incorporated as a borough in 1867. The tannery is owned by F. W. Winchester and is capa- ble of tanning 1,200 hides per annum. The handle factory is operated by B. M. Sherwood & Son. In it fifteen men are em- ployed and one hundred dozens of handles made per day. These gentlemen have a saw mill, capable of sawing 10,000 feet of lumber per day, and a shingle mill, capable of cutting 10,000 shingles per day. They are also engaged in the manufacture of cheese boxes. One mile north of Cambridge is H. N. Rock- well's lath mill, containing one drag and five circular saws, em- ploying six men and capable of cutting 15,000 lath per day.
The Cambridge Masonic Lodge was organized with eight char- ter members, in July, 1870, with Prof. H. D. Persons as first W. M. The lodge has a good hall, well furnished, and is in a pros- perous condition. The present (June, 1873,) number of mem- bers is over fifty, including many of the best citizens in the com- munity. Regular meetings are held the second and fourth Fridays of each month.
DRAKES MILLS (p. o.) is situated in the north part of the township.
Settlement was commenced the latter part of the last century. Robert Humes, a native of Ireland, came here in 1797 and is
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CAMBRIDGE.
said to have settled the first farm in the township, on lot 141, on which his son David now resides. He helped to raise the first cabin built in Meadville. Archibald Humes and Michael Sherred, from Susquehanna county, came about the same time. The former built the first grist mill in this part of the county. Other early settlers at this or a little later date were John I., Thos. and Archibald (Jr.) Humes, John Sherer and Henry Allen, the latter a native of England. Henry Baugher, from the vicinity of Harrisburg, came in about 1800. Leonard Docter came from Susquehanna county in 1801, and located on lot 128. Isaac Kelly, Thos. Fullerton, Edward Hicks, James Durham, James Weston, John Sinclear and Alex. Anderson settled here in 1811, and John Langley, a native of Ireland, in 1812. James Birchard, from Berkshire county, Mass., and Amos Ames, from the same State, came in 1813; and Charles T. Cummings and Dr. Perkins, who also settled here the latter year, purchased a large tract of land which was settled by emigrants from Massachusetts, and is at present known as " Yankee Hill." Daniel and Sylvester Root, brothers, from Hampshire Co., Mass., settled in the township in 1819. These early settlers were accustomed to go to Erie for salt and other necessaries, which were conveyed on forked poles, drawn by a yoke of oxen. This was a rude conveyance-one which the descendants of these worthy pioneers could scarcely be induced to adopt at the present day-but one which was adapted to the times and the condition of the country through which they passed.
The first religious meetings held in the township, when this was a part of Venango, were held on the bank of French Creek, near the cemetery. The worshipers assembled under heaven's blue canopy, sheltered by the forest trees. A stump cut down the center, one-half left a few feet higher than the other, served as a pulpit, while the congregation sat upon logs and such other conveniences as the location afforded.
The Cambridgeboro Baptist Church, (formerly known as the Rockdale, but originally as the Lebanon Baptist Church,) was organized with twelve men- bers, Oct. 31, 1812, by Revs. Wm. West and Thomas Rigdon. The Society has erected three church edifices. We are not advised of the year in which the first was built, but the second one was constructed in 1835, and the present one, which will seat 380 persons, in 1870, at a cost of $6,000. The first pastor was Rev. George Miller, the present one is Rev. Ross Ward, our informant. The Society numbers ninety-five mem- bers, and its property is valued at $6,800.
From the minutes of the Forty-Ninth Annual Session of the French Creek Baptist Association we learn that the members at its organization were "Geo. Miller, Alex. Anderson, Isaac Kelly, John Langley. Jas. Ander- son, Sally Clark, Barbar Miller, Hannah Kelly, Elizabeth Daniel, Christina Miller and, Lydia Anderson ;" and the following relative to the discipline of the Church :-
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" In the early history of the church every member was required to at- tend every meeting ; if any one but once failed to do so, he was required to give an excuse ; if he failed twice, he was visited by brethren appointed by the church, who reported at the next meeting. Brethren appointed on any committee were required faithfully to perform their duty ; if any one committed a misdemeanor which came to the knowledge of the church, some judicious brother was appointed to admonish him. A yearly meet- ing was held which all were expected and were glad to attend, and which was ever attended by members of sister churches, commencing Saturday P. M. and continuing over the Sabbath. Their greetings on those occasions were hearty. Their evening meetings often extended far into the night. When they voted to hold a special or protracted meeting, they gave themselves to prayer and fasting, arranged their business so that all could attend from the first, and gave word to their friends near and far. Neighboring pastors would attend. These meetings were short, but fre- quently from the first, sinners would ask for the prayers of Christians."
The First Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, at Cambridge borough, was organized with twenty-three members, April 22, 1852, by Revs. R. Craig- head, E. W. Beebe and Elder - Kerr. Their house of worship was erected the same year, at a cost of $1,500. It will seat 350 persons. Rev. G. W. Hampson was the first pastor, and Rev. W. A. McCarrell, our im- formant, is the present one. ' There are one hundred members. The Church property is valued at $2,500.
CONNEAUT was formed in 1811, and derives its name from the lake of the same name. It lies upon the west border of the county, north of the center, bordering upon the State of Ohio, and contains 23,896 square acres. The surface is quite level or gently rolling, and is watered in the western part by Paden Creek and other small streams and in the eastern part by Mill Creek. The soil, which is a gravelly loam, produces good grass and grain, and dairying and stock raising form the chief vocations of the people. The Erie & Pittsburgh R. R. passes through the eastern part of the township.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1729, all of whom were white, 1667, native and 62, foreign.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, the township contained sixteen schools and employed thirty-two teachers. The num- ber of scholars was 560; the average number attending school, 505; and the amount expended for school purposes purposes, $2,212.23.
PENN LINE, (p. v.) situated in the western part of the town- ship, and distant abont half a mile from the Ohio line, is sur- rounded by a tolerably good farming and dairy country, and contains two stores, one hotel, one tannery, two blacksmith and two shoe shops and about sixteen dwellings.
STEAMBURG, (p. o.) situated on Paden Creek, in the north part of the township, contains a church, steam saw mill, cheese factory, blacksmith shop and about ten dwellings.
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CONNEAUT.
SUMMIT STATION, located in the eastern part, on the E. & P. R. R., derives its name from the fact that the summit of the road is a short distance north of this locality.
Settlement of the township was commenced near the close of the last century, but of the precise year we are not advised. Wm. Shotwell, one of the first settlers, if not the first, located near the center, but remained only a short time. Several settle- ments were made in 1798, or about that year. Among those who settled at that time were Wm. and Thos. Rankin, Obed Garwood, Isaac Paden, Samuel Patterson, Robert Martin, Jas. Martin and Wm. Latta. The Rankin's were natives of Ireland. Wm. located at Penn Line, where he cleared a large farm on which he resided till his death ; and Thomas, about one and one-half miles south-east of that place, where he cleared some land and built a saw mill, and eventually removed to Indiana where he died. Garwood came from Red Stone, Pa., and settled in the southern part and cleared a large farm, on which he remained till his death, and on which some of his children now reside. Paden, who came from the same place as Gar- wood, located in the south-west part, where he probably built the first grist and saw mills, and where he remained until his death. Patterson was from N. J. and settled on the site of Steamburg, where he cleared a large farm and spent the re- mainder of his days. The Martin's and Latta were natives of the Emerald Isle. Robert Martin located at Steamburg, and resided there till his earthly labors were ended by death ; while James Martin and Latta settled at Penn Line. Latta built the first framed building-a barn-erected in the township. Many others settled in the township about this time, but soon left in consequence of the alleged breach of faith of the Hol- land Land Co., who offered to settlers 400 acres of land in con- sideration of eight years settlement and the projection of cer- tain improvements. Samuel Potter settled in the northern part in 1799. He came from Elizabethtown, N. J., with an ox team, part of his journey lying through the woods, in which his only guide was blazed trees. He took up land, put in some crops and built a log house, and at the end of a year he returned to N. J., where he remained another year, when he retraced his steps to his new home, where he died at the age of 93 years. He was drafted during the war of 1812 and served three months at Erie. Henry Frey came from York county in 1800, and settled in the southern part of the township, on the farm upon which his youngest son now lives, where he died. Samuel Brooks, from Red Stone, Pa., came about the same year and settled in the eastern part. He brought his goods up French Creek on a flat boat to Meadville, and thence by land to within
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CONNEAUT-CUSSEWAGO.
a mile of where he finally settled, after a year's residence. He took up and cleared 266 acres. When he came game, consisting of deer, bears and wild turkies, was abundant. Meadville was their nearest trading place, and thither Mrs. Brooks was accustomed to go with two tubs of butter carried upon a horse, starting early in the morning and returning the same day, and selling the product of her labor at about six cents per pound. A Mr. Gilliland settled at an early day in the south-west part of the township; and Wm. Hill settled in the western part in 1807, on 150 acres of "donation lands," on which he remained till his death. This country was heavily timbered, and with the rude implements for tilling the soil then at their command -such as are suggested by the wooden plow-the early settlers experienced much difficulty and arduous labor in clearing their lands and putting in their crops. Frequently before this could be accomplished much suffering was undergone, and the prob- lem of obtaining the necessaries of life became so difficult of solu- tion that they were often reduced to the verge of starvation. The first school is believed to have been taught by Samuel Garwood, in a log house in the western part of the township, near the settlement of Mr. Paden, and some of the scholars who at- tended it were obliged to travel several miles through the woods to do so.
Frey Chapel, (of the M. E. denomination,) located in the southern part of the township, was organized with eight members about 1818. The edifice was erected in 1850. It cost $1,500, the present value of Church property, and will seat about 200 persons. Rev. - Drigs was probably the first pastor; Rev. Charles W. Foulke is the present one. The Society numbers about 62 .- [Information furnished by Mr. Simeon N. Frey.
The First Congregational Church of Conneaut, at Conneaut Center, was organized with seven members, May 2, 1833, by Rev. Peter Hassinger. The first house of worship was erected in 1841, and the present one, which will seat 300 persons, in 1873, at a cost of $2,500. The first pastor was Rev. -- Hart; the present one is Rev. H. D. Lorring. The Society consists of twenty-one members and its property is valued at $3,000 .- [Information furnished by Mr. S. P. Warriner, Church Clerk.
The Steamburg M. E. Church was organized with about twenty members, in 1867, by Rev. R. C. Smith, the first pastor, and the church edifice, which will seat 300 persons, was erected in 1870, at a cost of $1,500, the present value of Church property. There are about thirty members, who are under the spiritual tutelage of Rev. C. W. Foulke -[Information fur- nished by Mr. John Maxwell.
CUSSEWAGO was formed in 1811. It lies upon the north border of the county, a little west of the center, and con- tains 23,496 square acres. The surface is a rolling upland, the highest point being about 200 feet above the surrounding coun- try. In the eastern part of the township, north of the center,
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CUSSEWAGO.
is a fine plateau, and a more extensive one in the south-western part. The valley of Cussewago Creek, south of the center of the township, is somewhat swampy and is consequently more heavily timbered and less improved. The western, central and south-eastern portions are drained by Cussewago Creek, (which flows in a southerly direction through the west part,) and its
numerous branches, and the north-eastern portion by small streams which are tributary to French and Conneaut creeks. The soil in the valley of the Cussewago is a highly pro- ductive gravelly loam, interspersed occasionally with a mixture of clay and sand, the first range of farms upon either side being free from stones ; that upon the uplands consists generally of a good quality of clay loam and sand, and occasionally of gravelly loam. Agriculture is a prominent industry, the attention of the farmers being directed principally to dairying and stock raising, though grain in sufficient quantity for home consump- tion is raised. Manufacturing is carried on to a limited extent. Among the establishments devoted to the latter branch of in- dustry are two steam saw mills, one located one and one-half miles west of Mosiertown and owned by Bennett Bros., and the other in the south part, owned by P. L. Potter; a planing mill, located in the east part; a fork handle and stave factory, located a Mosiertown, and owned by Clark & Benjamin ; and two cheese factories now in successful operation, one at Crossingville, owned by Wm. Nash & Bro., and the other located in the east part and owned by John Cole, while the building of a third one at Mosiertown is being agitated by the farmers in that vicinity.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,674, of whom 1,578 were native, 96 foreign, 1662, white and twelve, colored.
During the year ending June 3, 1872, the township contained thirteen schools and employed twenty-five teachers. The num- ber of scholars was 438; the average number attending school, 328; and the amount expended for school purposes, $1,806.39.
CROSSINGVILLE, (p. o.) is a flourishing village, pleasantly located on Cussewago Creek, in the north-west part of the town- ship. It contains two churches, two stores, one hotel, two blacksmith shops and a cheese factory. It is surrounded by a good farming country, and derives its name from the fact that the Indians were accustomed to cross the Cussewago here.
CUSSEWAGO (Mosiertown p. o.) is situated south-east of the center, on a branch of Cussewago Creek, and is equi-distant from Crossingville, Saegertown and Venango, being within five miles of either place. It contains two churches, two stores, one hotel, blacksmith, shoe, carriage and harness shops, one of each, a tannery, which is temporarily inoperative, and eighteen or twenty dwellings.
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