USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > Gazetteer and business directory of Erie County, Pa., for 1873-4 > Part 12
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"The Methodist Episcopal Church," located at Middleboro. was organized in 1-19 by Rev. Russell Stancliff, with four members, The first pastors were the Revs. Brunson and Green; the present one is Rer. J. (. Osbora. The first Church edifice was erected in Is37, costing about $1,200; and the present one in 1869, costing about $1,800. It will seat 350
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persons. The present number of members is 31. The present valuation of Church property is $1,000 .- [Information by A. M. Vorse.
"The Roman Catholic Church," located two miles north of Middleboro, was organized about 1833. Its pastor is Rev. Anton Oberhofer. The Church edifice was erected about 1833, costing $1,300, and will seat 200 persons. The present number of members is 35.
"The Sterrettania Methodist Episcopal Church," situated in the village of that name, was organized in 1842. Its first pastor was Rev. J. O. Osborn. It has at present 27 members. The Church edifice was erected in 1842 at a cost of 8700. It was built by the Presbyterians and Methodists, as a Union Church, but is now occupied by the Methodists. It will seat 250 people and the Church property is valued at $2,000 .- [Information by Elias Brecht.
There is a Methodist Episcopal Church Society on what is known as "South Hill." They hold their meetings in the school house, have 35 members and the Rev. J. O. Osborn is their pastor.
MILL CREEK is one of the original sixteen town- ships of Erie County and is bounded on the north by Lake Erie, on the east by Harbor Creek, on the south by Greene, Summit and Mckean, and on the west by Fairview. It has an area of 29,650 acres, and one mile square taken from it for the city of Erie. This township was intended to be called " Harbor Creek," i. e. " the Creek of the Harbor," and the next township east "Mill Creek," but accidentally the names were misplaced. The first surveys made were made by and under the direction of Thomas Rees, the first State surveyor ever in the Co. Appointed in 1792, he made all surveys and lines to correspond with the lake shore and at right angles, which are north 63º east, and south 27° east. Three miles by eight, around the city of Erie, was called the "Erie State Reserve," and laid out into farms from 50 to 150 acres each, and the remainder of the township into tracts of 400 acres each. Erie City and Mill Creek have been identical in interests, and many of the first settlers were interested in both as to real estate. The township is finely watered by Mill Creek, Walnut Creek and their tribu- taries, together with several other small streams which flow north, emptying into Lake Erie. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R. runs through the township east and west, about a mile from the lake. The Philadelphia & Erie R. R. runs through the eastern part, north and south, and the Pennsylvania Petroleum R. R. through the center, north and south. The French, in 1753, cut and grubbed a road across the country from Presque Isle to LeBoeuf, which was the first road in the township and county.
The population of the township in 1870 (exclusive of the city of Erie) was 2,744, of whom 2,080 were natives and 664 foreign born, and all, excepting 18, white. The number of schools, as per report for year ending June 30, 18:2, was 14, employing 14 teachers. The number of children attending
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was, males 276, females 222, and the average attendance, 445. The amount expended for school purposes during the year was 87,108.10.
BELLE VALLEY, (p. o.,) a small hamlet situated in the south- east part, contains 1 church, 1 carriage, 1 blacksmith and 1 cabinet shop, a saw mill and a few dwellings. .
KEARSAGE, (p. o.,) a small place in the southern part, con- tains a steam saw mill, a store, school and a few dwellings.
WEST MILL CREEK (p. o.) is a hamlet located in the western part, near the line of the L. S. & M. S. R. R.
The township of Mill Creek has been well supplied with both saw and grist mills since 1802. The first saw and grist mill was built by John Cochran, in 1800-1; the second by Robert McCulloch, in 1802, and all located on Mill Creek, south of Erie city, and now known as " Shattucks" and the "Erie Co. Mills."
The first settler in the township was Col. Seth Reed and family. They came from Worcester, Mass., and were the first white family that ever located in what is now called the "city of Erie." He afterwards bought lands on Walnut Creek, four miles from Erie, and removed there with his family, where he died, in 1798. He had been a colonel in the Revolutionary war and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. The next permanent settlers to the Reeds were David McNair, Benjamin Russell, Thomas P. Miller, John Grubb, George Moore, George and John Nicholson, and Jacob Weis. These men all came in and settled in 1796 and'97. A colored man, named Boe Bladen, came in 1796 and proved a good industrious citizen. George Reed and the McCrearys came from Lancaster Co. and located in West Mill Creek in 1801 and '2, and they and their families bave been permanent residents. The Ebersoles, Riblets, Stoughs and Zucks, came from Lancaster Co. in 1802, '3 and '4.
The eastern part of Mill Creek was first settled by citizens of New England ; the west from the old counties of Pennsylvania.
" The Westminster Presbyterian Church," located on West Mill Creek, was organized in 1808 by the Rev. Johnston Eaton, who was its first pastor, the present one being Rev. W. S. Wright. The first house of worship was erected in 1810, and the present one in 1851, costing $1,600, and will seat 200 persons. The number of members is 40. The Church property is valued at $5,000. This is the third location since the Church was organized .- [Information by James L. Reed.
"The Belle Valley Presbyterian Church" was organized in 1841 by the Rev. Nathaniel West, who was also the first pastor, with 38 members. The Church building was erected in 1842, costing $1,200, and will seat 500 persons. The present pastor is Rev. T. G. Wilson. There are about 60 members. The Church property is valued at $3,000 .- [ Information by N. W. Russell.
"The Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church," located at West Mill Creek, was organized in 1848 by the Rev. Mr. Robinson. The first pastor
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was Rev. John Prosser, and the present one is Rev. W. A. Clark. The Church edifice was erected in 1846 .- [Information by T. Randall.
"The St. Peters Lutheran Church," located in the south part, was organized in 1848 by Rev. Michael Cookler, who was also its first pastor, with five members. The Church edifice was erected in 1848 at a cost of $600, and will seat 100 persons. There are 25 members. The present value of the property is $600 .- [Information by John Bernritter.
NORTH EAST is one of the original sixteen town- ships of Erie County, and has an area of 19,200 acres. Its greatest length is seven, and greatest breadth five and a half miles. It is the north-east township of the County. It is bounded on the north by Lake Erie, on the east by the State of New York, on the south by Greenfield and on the west by Harbor Creek. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- road passes through the northern part, about a mile from the lake shore. The surface for some distance back of the lake is level and has a fine gravelly soil, well adapted to grain and fruit raising ; wheat, corn and oats are grown in abundance, and grape culture is carried on extensively. In .the south part the soil is colder, having mostly a subsoil of clay. The township is well watered by Twelve, Sixteen and Twenty Mile Creeks, Averill Run and several other small streams that flow northerly, emptying into Lake Erie.
The population of the township in 1870 was 3,113, of whom 2,621 were native and 492 foreign born, and all, except S, whites. The number of schools in the township, as per report for the vear ending June 3d, 1872, was 20, employing 43 teachers. The number of children attending was, males 324, females 393, and the average attendance, 553. The amount expended during the year for school purposes was, $5,175.47.
NORTH EAST BOROUGH (p. v.) is a beautiful and enterprising place of about 2,000 inhabitants, situated on the L. S. & M. S. R. R., 15 miles east of the city of. Erie and 77 west of Buffalo. It was formerly called " Gibsonville," and later "'Burgettstown." This vicinity has long been settled and is highly cultivated. The people are mostly from the Eastern States, and the borough has rapidly improved for the past three years. It contains a newspaper office, The Sun, 3 banks, 5 churches, a tannery, 3 hotels, 4 public halls, and supplies a large and wealthy country trade. Its mercantile houses, in the various branches of busi- ness, have fine stores and are doing a large business. It also contains a barrel factory, carriage and trimming factory, grape, fruit and tobacco box factory, a paper mill. pump factory, 2 fouring mills, 1 sash and blind and I agricultural implement factory, and 1 foundry. There are in the immediate vicinity hundreds of acres in vineyards, which give employment to over two hundred men.
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"The Lake Seminary." a handsome brick structure, is located here and is an ornament to the place.
" The First National Bank of North East" was organized in 1865 under the National Banking Law.
"The Banking House of Blaine, Gould & Short," located at North East. was organized in 1871.
"The People's Savings Institution of Erie County," located at North East, was incorporated in 1870.
" The Brick Yard of Mr. Loomis " is located just outside of the corpor- ation limits of North East. He manufactures about one million of brick annually.
"J. S. Paden's Chair Factory," located in North East, manufacture patent perforated veneer-seated chairs, of layers of veneering, the grain ; of which cross each other, so as to give strength &c.
" The Barrel Factory of Clark & Bothell," located at North East, manufactures from 40,000 to 50.000 barrels annually. They have a lumber yard attached, where they handle about 500,000 feet of lumber per year, employing 20 hands.
.. The Handle Factory of Miniger & Stetson," at North East. uses about 200,000 feet of lumber annually, and employs 21 bands. They manufacture for the wholesale trade.
"J. N. Valley's Factory," at North East, manufactures reversa !!! o clothes bars, hat racks. step ladders, and all kinds of wooden ware. They do a business of over $60,000 per year.
"The North East Lodge, No. 390, of A. Y. M.," was organized in 186; and has 70 members in good standing.
"The South Shore Wine Co." was established in 1869 and is located about half a mile north of the borough of North East. They have about 100 acres in grape vines on the shore of the lake, which yield on an average 200 gallons per acre.
The first mill built in the township was on Sixteen Mile Creek, and was erected by Mr. Tuttle at an early day. The first church in the township was built near the borough of North East in 1800, and was of the Presbyterian denomination. The land, five acres, was given to the Society by Henry Hurst.
NORTHVILLE, (p. o.,) a small hamlet on the L. S. & M. S. R. R., near the State line, in the north-east part, has a few dwellings &c.
About the first settler in the township of North East was Joseph Shadduck, who came from Brattleboro, Vt., in 1794, and located near the center. At that time there was not a holl" west of Black Rock. He used to go to Pittsburg to court and to mill, a distance of 110 miles. Stephen Munger, George Ba -- and Deacon Histed came into the township about 1794 an l settled where their descendants now live. George and Heury Hunt came from New Jersey in 1707 and settled in the ton :.- ship. George was the first justice of the peace and Henry the first sheriff in Erie County. They used to go to Pittsburg :o mill. Francis Brawley settled in 1997. He was the world justice of the peace. James and Bailey Donaldson came from Lancaster County at an early day. They mostly occupied their time in hunting for the few settlers in the township. Loomis came from Connecticut in 1196 and setded war the borough of North East, where his son now resides. Thomas
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Crawford came from Susquehanna County and settled in 1798. Joseph McCord came from Perry County and settled in 1798. He had to go to Fort Erie, Canada, a distance of 80 miles, to mill. In the war of 1812 there was a company of 50 men stationed on McCord's farm, to guard the shores of the lake from the Indians, who were accustomed to prowl along the Jake in canoes, committing depredations on the settlers. Joel Lomis and his brother came from Washington Co., N. Y., and settled in 1800. They came on the ice from Buffalo. James Silliman came from Susquehanna County and settled in 1802, where his sons now reside. He built the first brick house in the County of Erie, a little east of the borough of North East, in 1804. It is still in good repair, and John Silliman, his son, now lives in it. John Yost came from Lancaster County and settled in 1802. Samuel Graham settled in 1800. Justin Nash came from Madison Co., N. Y., and settled in 1814.
The first township meeting of which there is record, was held in 1818 at the house of Samuel Browns, in Gibsonville, now "North East borough."
"The First Presbyterian Church," located at North East, was organized in 1801 by Rev. Elisha McCurdy, with 25 members. Rev. Robert Patter- son was the first pastor, and Rev. John T. Oxtoby is the present one. The first Church edifice was erected in 1804 and the present one in 1800. at a cost of $10,000, and will seat 500 persons. There are 232 members. The present value of the Church property is $15,000. This Church, when first organized, was called the "Church of Lower Greenfield."-[Information by Joseph M. McCord.
"The Methodist Episcopal Church," located in North East, was organized in 1812 by the Rev. James Watts, the first pastor, with 25 mem- bers. The first place of worship was erected in 1822, and the present one in 1852, costing 83,500 and having a seating capacity for 450 persons. There are 240 members. The present valuation of Church property is $9,000. The present pastor is Rev. W. F. Wilson .- [Information by Rev. John Tribby.
"The First Baptist Church," situated at North East, was organized in 185S by the Rev. Z. Smith, its first paster, with 19 members. The Rev. W. Dunbar is the present pastor. The Church edifice was erected in 1859 and rebuilt in 1870, at a cost of $2,500. It has a seating capacity for 350 persons. The Church property is valued at 88,000 .- [Information by her. W. Dunbar.
SPRINGFIELD was one of the original townships in the County, and the first election for town officers was held in 1811. It lies on the shore of Lake Erie, by which it is bounded on the north, and on the east by Girard and Conneaut. on the south by Conneaut, and on the west by the State of Ohio. Girard was in part set off from Springfield in 1832. Springfield has an area of 24,320 acres. Its greatest length is eight, and greatest breadth six miles. The Lake Shore &! Michigan Southern R. R. passes through the northern part. It is well watered by Crooked and Racoon Creeks and their
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tributaries, which rise in the southern part, running north and emptying into Lake Erie. The Conneaut Creek runs the entire length of the southern border. The surface is rough and hilly. The soil along the lake shore is a deep, sandy loam. The chief products are grain, fruit and potatoes, and in the southern part dairying is carried on to some extent. There are three old mounds or forts in the township, evidently of the same series that extend all the way through the County from Erie city in a south-westerly direction ; they are built near springs, but by whom has as yet never been ascertained, nor how long ago. When the township, was first settled these mounds or embank- ments had the largest of trees growing on them. There is also an old Indian fort between Girard and Springfield. Near a Mr. Gould's farm, in Springfield, some years since, quite a 'collection of arrows, axes &c., were found just below the surface, in the public road.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,742, of whom 1,665 were native and 17 foreign born, and all white, excepting 2. The number of schools, as per report for year ending June 3d, 1872, was 14, employing 22 teachers. The number of children attending was, males 200, females 188, and the average attendance, 213. The amount expended for school purposes was 82,459.63.
The first white male child born in the township was Joseph Brindle ; and the first death was that of Henry Adams, who was killed by the falling of a tree in the fall of 1803.
NORTH SPRINGFIELD (p. o.) is a station on the L. S. & M. S. R. R., in the north-eastern part. There are 2 dry good stores and 1 grocery, depot &c.
EAST SPRINGFIELD, (p. o.,) a small hamlet in the eastern part, contains 1 hotel, 2 dry goods stores, 1 grocery, 1 hardware and 1 furniture and undertaker's store, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 milliner, 1 harness and 1 tailor . shop, 1 shoe store and 3 churches. There is also a large wagon shop, but it is unoc- cupied at present, and about a half a mile from the village there is a tannery. The Cemetery is located on the mound of an old fort ; by whom the fort was erected is unknown.
WEST SPRINGFIELD, (p. o.,) located in the western part, contams 3 churches, 2 stores, 1 tile yard and 2 blacksmith shops.
There are several saw and grist mills located on the different streams, which supply the inhabitants with pretty much all their needs. There is also at West Springfield the file vard of 4. & R. R. Thomas, which was started in 1869, manufacturing all sizes of tiles for draining purposes &c.
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SPRINGFIELD.
One of the first school houses in the township was situated on the old Eagley estate. It was a log building with a floor made of split logs, hewed as smooth as possible. The chimney was built of stone and sticks, plastered with mud. The win- dows were cut from the sides, and greased paper pasted over the holes. The seats were of slabs, flat side up ; for writing desks, holes were bored in the sides of the building, wooden pins driven in and rough boards placed across them. These were the only boards used in the building, excepting in the door. which was hung on wooden hinges ; and, with the exception of the door, there was not a nail used in the building. One of the first school teachers in the township was John Fry.
Among the first settlers was Samuel Rea, who came from Ohio in 1804. He says that the first Presbyterian minister in Springfield was Rev. Johnson Eaton, and the first church was a small log structure, about half a mile north of East Springfield. where the cemetery now stands; and the first Methodist church was situated about one mile south of West Springfield, back in the woods. These two churches were both built about the same time. About the first settler was Jobb Mershon. He came from New Jersey in 1796 and located where he now resides. He married Miss Brush in 1799, who at that time was a member of the M. E. Church. Through his influence the Rev. Joseph Bowen, of Franklin, was induced to come into the township and form a " circuit," calling it the " Erie Circuit," forming the first " Class" in West Springfield, consisting of five members. Mr. Mershon underwent all the toils and hardships incident to pioneer life. The first white child born in Springfield was Mary Mershon, his daughter. Robert McIntyre was born in Ireland and came in 1796, where he lived till his death, in 1867, at the mature age of 95. He brought the first potatoes that were planted in Springfield, from Pittsburg, on his back, a distance of 110 miles. There was not a house nearer than Erie the first summer of his coming. Samuel Holliday came from Franklin Co. in 1996, locating at the mouth of Crooked Creek. He claims to have built the first mill in the township. at that point. Thomas Dunn and his brother were born in Ireland and came in 1997, buying 40 acres of land, on which they lived about two years and then moved into Mckean. Robert McKee came from Cumberland Co. and located in 1801. In the fall of 1802 Seth Roed agreed to get him a barrel of salt if he could get a yoke of oxen to draw it. Col. McNair, of Waterford, loaned them to him on condition that he would bring him a barrel also. Reed went to Buffalo, N. Y., and got them, bringing them as far as Eriecity. and Mr. McKee had to go there and bring the salt home ou pack
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horses. That barrel of salt cost him 50 Spanish dollars. Thos. R. Miller came from Franklin Co. in 1802, and located about three-fourths of a mile north of East Springfield. He was quite a prominent man in the township, being one of the mem- bers of the first Board of Poor Directors for the Co. of Erie, also the first member of the Legislature after Erie Co. was allowed two members. The first office he held was Co. Com- missioner. John Miller was among the early settlers, coming from Washington Co. about 1800. John Law, born in Ireland, came in 1802. Mathias Brindle came from Franklin Co. in 1800, locating in the township, where he lived till his death. He had a family of 13 children. When he first settled here the nearest post office was Erie and the nearest grist mill at the mouth of Walnut Creek. The only road was on the beach of Lake Erie or a bridal path through the woods. The Indians were more numerous than the whites, and bears, wolves and
deer were exceedingly troublesome. William Ferguson was born in Ohio and moved into the township in 1803, where he resided till 1847 and then removed to Conneaut. George Ferguson came from Cumberland Co. and located in Springfield about 1803. Abram Eagley came from Franklin Co. and settled in the township in 1803. William Gould came from Chautauqua Co., N. Y., settling in Springfield in 1S15. He conceived the idea that salt abounded in his neighborhood, and in 1823 he commenced drilling for it. At a depth of 230 feet he found salt, but not in sufficient quantities to pay for working. Benjamin Carr moved in from Essex Co., N. Y., in 1816, where he resided till 1834 and then removed to Conneaut.
" The First Presbyterian Church of Springfield." located in East Spring- field, was organized in 1804 by Rev. Robert Patterson. Its first pastor was Rev. J. Eaton, and the present one is Rev. E. B. Chamberlain. The first Church edifice was erected in 1804 and the present one in 1844, costing 84,000 and seating 400 persons. It has a membership of 110. The value of the Church property is $7,000 .- [Information by E. B. Chamberlain.
" The Baptist Church," located at West Springfield, was organized in 1821 by delegates from Jefferson and Kingsville Churches, Ohio, with 14 members. The first pastor was Rev. Asa Jacobs, and the present one is Rev. A. L. Gleason. The first Church building was erected in 1833, and the present one in 1858, at a cost of $1,600 and seating 300 persons. It has 81 members. The present value of the Church property is $3,200 .- [Informa- tion by Rev. A. L. Gleason.
"The Christian Church." located in East Springfield, was organized in 1826 by the Rev. Asa C. Morrison, with 12 members. The first pa-tor was Rev. Joseph Marsh, and the present one is Rev. Philip Zigler. The house of worship was erected in 1.39, costing $100. It has 115 members. The building will seat comfortably 150 persons, and the Church property is valued at 83,000 .- [Information by Lyman Smith.
SUMMIT was formed from Greene and Mckean in 1854, and is bounded on the north by Mill Creek, ou the east by Greene, on the south by Waterford and MeKean, on the west by
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McKean. Its greatest length is five, and greatest breadth four and a half miles. It is watered in the northern part by Walnut Creek and its tributaries, which flow towards Lake Erie, and in the southern part by a branch of LeBoeuf Creek and its tribu- taries, flowing south towards the Alleghany. The surface is moderately rolling, and the soil mostly clay loam, sand, and in some portions, gravel, and is generally free from stones and rocks, there being scarcely enough for cellar walls. The land is easily cultivated and quite productive. Wheat is not grown to any extent, but other grains are raised in sufficient quantities to supply the demands of the inhabitants. There is some dairying carried on by a few farmers. There are 4 churches in the township, 1 grocery store, a brewery, 1 post office, and a company is being formed to build a cheese factory. The Phila- delphia & Erie R. R. passes through the eastern part, and the Petroleum R. R. through the north-west corner.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,047, of whom 802 were native and 245 foreign born. The number of schools, as per report for year ending June 3d, 1872, were 9, employing 9 teachers. The number of children attending was. males 174. females 138, and the average attendance, 249. The amount expended for school purposes was 83,333.01.
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