USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > Gazetteer and business directory of Erie County, Pa., for 1873-4 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
WHITE CHURCH is a post office in the western part.
LANGDON STATION is a small hamlet on the P. & E. R. R., in the northern part.
JACKSON STATION is located in the southern part, on the P. & E. R. R.
About the earliest settler in the township was Oliver Dunn, an Irishman, who located in what is now Summit, in 1692. remaining but three years, then removing to Mckean. Eli Webster came from Conn. and located in 1801. His son, Z. L. Webster, still occupies the land his father cleared, and has done most of the surveying for the township. John and Samuel Brown, Andrew, John and Jesse Coover, all came in and settled near each other about 1802. The Browns built two saw and one grist mills, the first ones in the township: Jesse Coover now owns one of the mills, and Miles Brown the other. Geo. Bunnell came in with the Browns. James Graham, born in Ireland, came to Summit in 1802, together with two brothers, Ebenezer and William. There was but one road near them. known as the "Old Grub Road," which led from Erie to Waterford, cut through by the French during the " French War." The old forts and block house were standing when they came. George W. Reed, Abijah Hull and Daniel Lee, all came in 1802, locating in different parts. Jonathan B. Rockwell
105
SUMMIT-UNION.
came in 1814; he married Dosha Grant, whose father was one of the earliest settlers of Mckean. Mr. Rockwell and his wife have lived in several of the surrounding townships, but are now located permanently in Summit. Nathan S. Stafford came from Clinton Co., N. Y., in 1818. His son-in-law, John C. Viet. now lives on the farm improved by Stafford. Samuel Gillispie was born in Ireland and came in 1837.
"The Hamlin Methodist Episcopal Church," located near the center. was organized in 1837 by Rev. John W. Hill, its first pastor, with 19 men- bers; the present pastor is Rev. L. J. Bennett. The church was erected in 1852, costing 8950, and will seat 300 people. It has 19 members at present. The Church property is valued at $600 .- [Information by Erastus Law- rence.
"Emanuel Church," located in the north-west corner, was organized in 1838 by Rev. John Sybert, with 25 members. The present pastor is Rev. Henry Rhoads. The Church edifice was erected in 1853, at a cost of $200, and will seat 300 persons. It has at present 22 members. The present value of Church property is $700 .- [Information by Henry Steva.
"The United Presbyterian Church " is located at Five Points. The first pastor was Rev. - Reed. The Church edifice was erected in 1848 and has seating capacity for 300 persons. The Church property is valued at $500.
"The Catholic Church," located on LeBoeuf Creek, near the center, was organized in 1868 by Father Malone, its first pastor, with 16 members. The present pastor is J. A. Olehoffer. The Church edifice was erected in 1867, costing 8500. The society has 16 members. The Church property is valued at $500. - [Information by James Kelly.
UNION. one of the original sixteen townships of the County, is bounded on the north by Amity, (which was set off from Union in 1826,) on the east by Wayne and Concord, on the south by Crawford County, and on the west by LeBoeuf. The Philadelphia & Erie and the Atlantic & Great Western R. R's pass through the center nearly parallel to each other and but a short distance apart, from east to west, and the Union &' Titusville R. R., forming a junction at Union City with the two first named roads, thence running south to Titusville, distant 22 miles. The township is watered in main by the South Branch of French Creek and its tributaries. The sod is generally a heavy clay with an underlying strata of har !! pan, excepting about 1,200 acres which was originally covered with pine timber and is a gravelly loam, underlaid with sand. There is little or no lime in the soil, but it is all more or less impregnated with iron. The timber was principally beach, maple. pine, hemlock, cucumber and whitewood, and a ral. . runs through the south-west corner on which grows chestnut and oak. Union has had and still has some celebrity as a lumber district. Nine saw mills have done their work and gone to decay, and nine are now in active operation. besides three in the borough, which receive their logs from the township. Two or three oil springs were discovered on French
106
UNION.
Creek from which small quantities of oil were gathered 40 or 50 years ago.
The population of the township in 1870 was 2,834, of whom 2.435 were native and 399 foreign born, and all, except 7, white. The number of schools, as per report for year ending June 3d, 1872, was 18, employing 37 teachers. The number of children attending was, males 473, females 426, and the average attend- ance, 453. The amount expended for school purposes during the year was $6,324.12.
UNION CITY, (p. o.,) formerly called Union Mills, was erected into a borough in 1863, and the name was changed to its present designation in 1871. It is situated at the junction of the Union & Titusville R. R. with the Philadelphia & Erie and Atlantic & Great Western Roads, and lies about the center of the township. The South Branch of French Creek, which flows through from east to west, affords one of the finest water privileges in the County. Union City is noted for being a manufacturing town, the population is increasing very fast, and in size and importance it ranks the third town in the County. There are two iron bridges, each 80 feet span, one on High and the other on Main Streets, costing together $6,000. Up to 1863 the place was of very slow growth ; after that period it increased very rapidly, as it was the nearest railroad station to the oil regions. Most of the oil from Titusville was carted to this point for shipment east and west, making the borough a very important point, as it were by magic. The citizens of Union, like the rest of the world, could not resist the temptation of increasing their worldly substance, and not to be outdone, put down a well in the east part of the borough, on land owned by P. G. Stranahan. The well was drilled by Mr. Frisbee in 1862. It produced some oil, but not in paying quantities, so it was abandoned. It is, however, a famous gas well, and from this sufficient escapes to light the borough, if only utilized. Union City contains 4 churches, 1 a Catholic to which a school is attached, 3 hotels, 2 hardware stores. 13 stores where dry goods, groceries &c., are sold, 1 variety store, 2 boot and shoe stores, 4 boot and shoe shops, 3 barber shops, 2 grist mills, 3 livery stables, 2 jewelry stores, 2 drug stores, 2 cigar manu- factories, 1 tobacco and cigar store, 4 meat markets, 1 paint manufactory, 2 machine shops and iron works. 2 paint shops. opera house, Novelty Iron Works, 3 banks, 4 saw mills. + planing mills, 4 carriage and 4 blacksmith shops, insurance office, 2 artists, 2 photograph galleries, 1 establishment where pictures are enlarged and copied, 8 physicians. 1 newspaper office, ( Union City Times.) marble shop, 4 milliner shops, 2 pump factories, 1 bakery, 2 places where lime, cement and plaster are sold, 1 silver
107
UNION.
cornet band, 1 furniture manufactory and 1 furniture store, 1 leather furnishing establishment, 1 tannery, 1 fish market, 1 sash. blind and door manufactory, 1 hide and leather store, 3 billiard rooms, 4 harness shops. 1 ready-made clothing store, 4 tailor shops, 1 oil refinery, 1 stave and heading factory, 1 laundry, 1 barrel factory, 1 carpenter shop and many other kinds of business of minor importance. Prior to the Local Option Laws coming into effect, there were several saloons, but the sale of intoxicating liquors is now prohibited in the borough.
"Evergreen Cemetery," now within the limits of the corporation, is noted for its beauty and the taste with which it is laid out. It is not only the burying place for the township and borough. but many come from adjoining townships to bury their dead. It was planned and laid out by David Wilson, an old county surveyor, who was the first president of the Company.
" Hunter's Cucumber Wood Pump Factory," located on High Street, established by Walker Rial in 1867, has a planing mill attached and em- ploys 20 hands.
"Hunter & Wade's Lumber Manufacturing Establishment," started this year (1873), has a capacity of making 15,000 feet per day.
" Woods & Johnson's Barrel Factory" manufactures 25.000 oil barrels per mouth, employs 200 hands, and the works occupy three shops; they also manufacture heading for packing barrels.
"L. P. Dean & Co's Cabinet Furniture Works" started in 1862, on Lincoln Street. They employ 21 hands and expect to enlarge soon.
" Union City Iron Works," organized in 1872, employ 20 hands.
" Abbey. Graser & Co's Cucumber Wood Pumps and Chair Works," on Crooked Street, employ 30 hands; capacity 15,000 pumps per year and 50,000 chairs.
" Frisbee's Opera House" was built in 1871, costing $10,000.
" H. Clark's Mills," situated on Bridge Street, manufacture lumber, lath. shingles, staves, headings and shovel handles, employ 20 hand-, manufacture 10,000 feet of lumber per day, and about 450,000 staves and headings, one million of lath and about the same number of shingles per year.
"Union City Stave Works," established in 1872 by C. B. Maurer, has a capacity for making 100,000 staves per week, also large quantities of headings.
"First National Bank of Union Mills," organized in 1862, began opera- tions in 1803 with a capital of $50,000 and privilege of increasing to $100.000. "Casement Savings Bank" was organized in 1871 with a capital of $25,000 and privilege of increasing to any amount.
Ezra Cooper has a private bank located in Union City.
" Eureka Lodge, No. 366, F. & A. M.," have rooms in Landsroth Block and hold regular meetings on the first and third Fridays in each month.
" Clement Lodge of I. O. O F.," reorganized in Union City in 1-71. Room opposite the Opera House. Regular meetings Tuesday evening of each week.
" Union City Lodge, I. O. G. T.," organized in 1872, regular meetings Wednesday evening of each week.
"The Lodge of Tight Barrel Coopers, of Union City," was organized as 4 local Coopers' Union in 170. After considerable opposition and suffering many reverses, it has at length overcome all obstacles and is now I . flourishing condition.
"West Union Cheese Factory," located west of Union borough, and owned by G. W. Carroll. began operations in 1822 and has a capacity for using the milk of 400 cows.
" T. Pratt & Son's Steam Saw Mill," located on the Waterford Road, two miles west of Union City, has a capacity of 8,000 feet per day.
+
UNION.
108
" A. T. Rockwood's Circular Saw Mill," situated in the eastern part of the township, was built in 1867, has a five foot saw and cuts 10,000 feet per day of 10 hours.
RILEY'S SIDING is a flag station on the P. & E. R. R., three miles east of Union City.
Among the earliest settlers of Union was Hugh Wilson, who came from Ireland and located in 1797, and died there in 1851. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years. His father, John Wilson, came in the following year, died in 1699, and was buried on a natural mound in the woods, where the tombstone is still standing. on which is inscribed his name and the date of his death. He was the first man buried in the township. Jacob Shepherd settled in Union in 1798, and after establishing his claim to a tract of land, went back near the Susquehanna River, where he lived till 1820, when he returned to' Union, where he died in 1867. William Miles and William Cook were the first white settlers in the County, and their wives, who were sisters, were the first white women. They first settled in Concord, but in 1801 came to Union, where Mr. Miles erected a saw and grist mill, and the place was called after him, then changed to " Union Mills," afterwards to " Union City." Mr. Miles was quite a prominent man in the County, and his descendants are now occupying places of trust and importance. Abel Thompson came to Union in 1801 and started a blacksmith shop. He brought three sons, Joel, Joband Caleb, who lived and died in the place. Ferdinand Carroll came from Ireland in 1801, and settled on the farm now owned by G. W. Carroll. Mathew Gray settled in Union about the year 1800, and died on his farm in 1812 or '14. James Smiley came in 1816. Levi Barnes came from Oneida, N. Y., in 1821. and settled on the farm now owned by him. Richard Shreve came from Crawford Co. about 1820, and settled on the farm now owned by Milton and heirs of Rufus Shreve. He died in 18:2.
" The Presbyterian Church of Union Mills," located in the borough of Union, was organized in 1811 by Rev. John Mathew, who was its first pastor, with eight members. The present pastor is Rev J. M. Gillette. The first Church edifice was erected in 1831, and the present one in 1873. at a cost of $10.500, and will seat 400 persons. It has at present 93 mem- bers. The Church property is valued at $11.000 .- [ Information by David Wilson.
" The Methodist Episcopal Church, " located in Union City, was organized in 1817 by Rev. Iva Eddy. Rev. John P. Bout was the first pastor, and Rev. A. Van Camp is the present one. The first Church editice way erected in 1817, and the present one, which will seat 450 persons, in 1862. at a cost of $10.000, It has 275 members. The present value of the Church property is $11,00-[Information by Ker. A. VanCamp.
" The Asbury Methodist Chapel," located three miles south-west of Union City, was organized in 1810 by the Rev. John Scott, with 19 members. The first pastors were Revs. John Scott and D. Rowland, and the present
109
UNION-VENANGO.
one is Rev. N. W. Jones. The Church edifice was erected in 1862 at a cost of 8850, and will seat 200 persons. It has 64 members. The present valua- tion of the Church property is $1,200 .- [Information by G. W. Carroll.
"The First Baptist Church of Union Mills," located in Union City, was organized in 1850 by the Rev. L. Rathbone, with 13 members. The first pastor was Rev. A. D. Bush, and the present one is Rev. W. L. Anthony, The Church edifice, which will seat 350 people, was erected in 1862, costing 83,750. It has 130 members. The present value of the Church property is $8,000 .- [Information by John M. Tuttle.
"The St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church," located on West Street, Union City, was organized in 1859 by Rev. Mr. Ermand, with 20 families as members. The first pastor was Rev. T. Lonnergan, and the present one is Rev. Joseph M. Dunn. The Church edifice, which will seat 500 persons, was erected in 1860 and enlarged in 1864, costing about $2,000. It has about 1,000 members. Attached to the Church is a school with an average attendance of 85 pupils. There is also a temperance society of 125 mem- bers belonging to the Church. The present valuation of the Church property is about $8,000.
TENANGO was one of the original 16 townships of the County. From it Greenfield was set off, according to the town records of Venango, in 1818. It is bounded on the north by Greenfield, on the east by. New York State, on the south by Amity and on the west by Greene, and lies about 20 miles south-east of Erie city. It has an area of 21,120 acres. its greatest length being six, and greatest breadth five and a half miles. It is well watered by the North Branch of Elk Creek, which runs through from north to sonth ; the East Branch of the same creek running in a south-westerly direction, connect- ing with the North Branch below Wattsburg; Middle Brook, emptying into the North Branch about three miles north of Wattsburg; and Spafford Run, in the eastern part, running south and emptying into the East Branch. Lake Pleasant is a small body of water beautifully situated in the south-western part. The surface of the township is quite broken and hilly, the soil being a clay loam and well adapted to grazing. Its chief products are butter and cheese; corn, winter wheat and oats are raised abundantly, and the township will compete with any in the County for agricultural purposes.
The population of the township in 1870 was 1,656, of whom 1.584 were native and 72 foreign born, and all, except 2. whites. The number of schools, as per report for year ending June 3d, 1812, was 13, employing 18 teachers. The number of children attending was, males 213, and females 168; and the average attendance, 291. The amount expended for school purposes during the year was $2,375.06.
WATTSBURG BOROUGH, (p. v.,) located on the south line, at the junction of the North and East Branches of French Creek, was erected into a borough in 1833. It has a fine water power, which has been improved by its inhabitants, and before the era of railroads, was a place of considerable importance.
.
110
VENANGO.
The borough has a population of about 300, and contains 3 churches, 2 dry goods stores, 1 grocery, 1 hardware and 1 drug store, 1 harness, 2 shoe, 3 blacksmith, 1 wagon and 1 carriage shop. 2 sash, blind and door manufactories, 2 shovel handle factories, 2 millinery stores, 2 cabinet and undertakers' ware- rooms, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, 1 tannery, hotel &c.
LOWVILLE, (p. v.,) situated on the North Branch of French Creek, about two miles north of Wattsburg, is quite an enter- prising village. It contains a grist and saw mill, and a handle factory, all belonging to Mr. G. D. Price. There is also 1 dry goods, 1 hardware, 1 grocery, 1 boot and shoe store. 1 wagon, 1 blacksmith and 1 milliner shop, a daguerrean gallery &c., and a drug store is about starting. The citizens of the village have taken steps to establish a bank with a capital of $50.000, to be called " The Dairyman's Savings Bank," and are only waiting for the charter to commence operations. They have also a cheese factory in the village, with capacity for using the milk of 300 cows.
PHILLIPSVILLE (p. o.) is a small hamlet in the western part. The post office called "East Greene," or " Corbins Corners," has been changed, by order of the Post. Office Department, to this place quite lately.
Among the manufacturing interests of the township are
"The Sash, Blind and Door Manufactory of John S. Terry," located at Wattsburg. The machinery is run by steam, and connected with it is a planing mill, for his own as well as custom work. He also makes fancy brackets and scroll sawings of all descriptions.
"The Sash, Blind and Door Manufactory of John L. Lang," located at Wattsburg, together with a planing mill, is run by water power and does a nice business.
"The Shovel Handle Factory of Johnson, Hume & Gray," located at Wattsburg, is doing an extensive business manufacturing the "D" handle, and turns out about ten thousand dozen handles annually.
" The Shovel Handle Factory of Deamer & Baldwin" is located in Wattsburg. The "D" handle is also made here and the number turned out per year is about 15,000 dozen, which find a market principally in Philadelphia, although great numbers of them are shipped all over the country.
" L. S. Chapin's Grist Mill," located in Wattsburg, is one of the first that was built in the township, and has a capacity for grinding 200 bushels of grain per day. There is a saw mill connected with the same power, which cuts about 2.000 feet per day.
" The Phillipsville Cheese Factory," located at Phillipsville, is at present manufacturing some 19 cheeses, of 53 pounds each. per day, using the milk of 500 cows. The factory is fast gaining a reputation at home and abroad.
The first settler in Venango was Adam Reed. He came in 1797 and located on the East Branch of French Creek. His son. James Reed, came with him. He took up 400 acres of land and built the first grist mill in the township, which was run by horse power. His son, James, taught the first singing school
111
VENANGO-WASHINGTON.
in the township. Adam Reed's was the first death that occurred in the township. he dying in 1805. Burrill Tracy was born in Mass. and came to Venango, where he located, in 1797. He was a man of sterling worth and respected by all who knew him. William Allison and wife came from Northumberland Co. in 1798, and located near Pleasant Lake; his son, James, was then about three years old. After being in the township a short time, another child was born to them, which they named " Robert," and he was the first male child born in the township. The only means they had for obtaining the necessaries of life was by boiling black salts and packing them to market. John Phillip was an early settler, coming as early as 1198. He took up 1,100 acres of land in the western part, at what is known as " Phillip Corners." He was a Captain in the State militia, took an active part in the war of 1812 and was promoted to Colonel. After " Perry's victory " he was again promoted to Brigadier General. He has been in the Legislature four or five times, and was one of the most prominent men of the period. Timothy Butler came with his father from Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1826. They settled upon land still in his possession, about three miles west of Wattsburg. He brought the first load of dye stuff from Erie for Low & Co., who owned a clothes factory and carding machine at Lowville. David Bailey came from Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1828, and located on Spaffords Run, about three miles east of Wattsburg. The country was then a howling wilder- ness. D. T. Bennett came from Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1829, and settled on the farm where he now resides. He has followed the practice of medicine for the past 30 years.
"The Middle Brook Church" was built about four miles north of the borough of Wattsburg, in 1801, and the Church was organized as early as 1802, by the Rev. Elisha McCurdy, with 18 members. The building was of logs and quite nncomfortable. In 1805 a new meeting house was built of hewn and split logs, and about 20 years after, the building was improved and made quite comfortable. It has since been abandoned and is fast going to decay. This was the first Church organized and built in Erie County.
"The Wattsburg Methodist Episcopal Church," located at Wattsburg. was organized in 1:27 by Elder Knapp, with seven members. He wasalso its first pastor, and the present one is Rev. F. R. Waters. The first Church edifice was erected in 1831, and the present one, which will seat 3. 0 persons, in 1861, at a cost of 83,400. It has 100 members. The present Valuation of the Church property is $5,000 .- [Information by E. R. Waters.
"The Methodist Episcopal Church," located at Phillipsville, was organized in 1-18 by Wm. Thompson, with seven members. He was the first pastor, and the Rev. John Akers is the present one. The Church edifice, which will seat 800 persons, was erected in 1-62, costing $1,225. It has 55 members. The Church property is valued at $3,000 .- [Information by Norman Chapin.
WASHINGTON was changed from "Conneauttee" in 1834. and in 1872 a portion was annexed to Waterford. It is bounded
112
WASHINGTON.
on the north by Mckean, on the east by Waterford and LeBoeuf, on the south by Crawford County, and on the west by Elk Creek and Franklin. The Pennsylvania Petroleum R. R. runs through it north and south, at about the center. It is well watered by Conneauttee Creek and its tributaries, and the beautiful little lake of Conneauttee lies within its borders. The surface of the township is rolling and in some parts hilly. The soil along the streams is well adapted to grain raising, and the hill portion to grazing.
The population of the township in 1870 was 2,744, of whom 2,581 were native and 163 foreign born. The number of schools in the township, as per report for year ending June 3d, 1872, was 20, employing 40 teachers. The number of children attending was, males 350 and females 302 ; the average attend- ance was 530, and the amount expended for school purposes, 85,077.18.
EDINBORO, (p. v.,) situated in the southern part, about two miles from the County line, is finely located on the borders of the Conneauttee Lake, which is about one mile long and half a mile wide. At this point the North-western State .Normal School is located and is in a flourishing condition. It has a roll of from 250 to 300 students per term. There was an appropriation of $10,000 by the State to this school, which has been expended during the summer in making improvements upon the buildings, and the school now presents better induce- ments than ever. Prof. Cooper has been connected with the institution for the past 12 years and still continues as its Principal. The borough was organized and incorporated in 1840, and has a population of about 800. It contains 4 churches, 3 dry goods, 2 hardware and 3 grocery stores, 2 hotels, 2 drug stores, 1 clothing store, 2 photograph galleries, 2 wagon and several blacksmith shops, 1 pump factory, 1 tannery and a cheese factory.
"William A. Lewis' Sash, Blind, Door, Cheese Box and Lumber Dress- ing Establishment," located one mile south of Edinboro, turns out large number of cheese boxes and large quantities of sash, blinds and doors. It employs about six hands.
"Taylor & Co's Pump Factory," located in Edinboro, turns out from 6,000 to 8,000 pumps per year, and employs six hands.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.