USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 101
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Kensington furnace, a charcoal furnace similar to the one above mentioned, was built by Church, Car- ruthers and Crawford in 1846, and operated by them for about five years. Four to five tons of iron per day was the product. The lack of a sufficient supply of good ore caused the business to cease.
On Dr. Crawford's land a stave mill is operated by J. W. Field, and is doing a large business.
Some of the best coal in the county is found in the Bear Creek Valley in the southern part of this township. Local mining has been carried on here for many years. There is now a prospect of a rail- road from Parker to Hilliard, which if built, will doubtless cause extensive mining operations to be un dertaken in this valley. There are five coal veins found in this section: three of mining coal, two of which are at least four feet in thickness and the other three feet The other veins are thirty and eighteen inches respectively. The first four foot vein is near the surface and very easily mined: the second is one hundred and twenty-five feet beneath the sur- face. There are also important coal beds in the northern part of the township.
Oil production near Sandy Point and Byrom Con- tre commeneed in 1877, and since that time two small villages bearing these names have sprung up. Sandy Point was built in 1875, on the Adam Brittan farm. But little of the " town " now remains. Byrom Con- tre has a hotel, and several stores and shops of vari- ous kinds. The village was built in 1879, and stands upon the farm of H. Kohlmeyer, Esq.
At Six Points E. S. Parks keeps a hotel. store and post office. M. S. Crawford has recently opened a hotel in the same place.
FARLY SCHOOLS
The typical log schoolhouse, with puncheon floor, huge fire-place, greased paper windows, and wooden benches, was the place in which the pioneers' children received their educational training. On James Als- worth's farm in Parker Township was an early school,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
attended by many scholars from this township. The early teachers were Miss Jane Porter, Robert J. Crawford and others. An early schoolhouse on the Owen Thomas farm in Parker Township was also largely attended. Master Elder, Robert Cunning- ham, David C. Cunningham and John Allen were some of the early teachers of this township.
SCRUB-GRASS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Although this church is situated in the edge of Venango County, its history is of special interest to the people of Butler County, as it was for years the only Presbyterian Church at which the residents of the northern part of the county worshiped.
The organization took place in 1802 or 1803. The first Elders were John Lowrie, John Crawford and The pastors have been: Rev. Robert Jolinston, 1803-11; Rev. Cyrus Riggs, 1814-34; Rev. John R. Agnew, 1838-45; Rev. Ebenezer Henry, IS47 -56; Rev. J. R. Coulter, 1857 --.
From this church a number of well-known minis- ters have gone forth to preach the Gospel. Among them were John Redick, Jolm Coulter, C. C. Riggs, D. D., T. W. Kerr, T. S. Leason, W. B. Stewart, Sam- uel MeAnderson, D. D., Samuel Williams, T. C. An- derson and M. L. Anderson.
The frst meeting-house was of logs; the second, a frame building; the third (now occupied), is of stone.
ALLEGHENY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The organization of this church was effected at the Grant Schoolhouse in this township, in May, 1876, with fifty members. Rev. James Coulter, who was mainly instrumental in forming the church, became its first pastor and preached four years, when he resigned on account of age. The present pastor, Rev. S. A. Hughes, succeeded him. He devotes one-half of his time to the charge. The church now consists of about sixty members. A neat and comfortable building was erected immediately after the congregation was or- ganized. The first elders were S. P. Eakin, John R. Allen, A. R. Carnahan and Charles Cooper. Two El- ders have since been elected-W. T. Beebe and J. P. Milford.
Allegheny Cemetery was incorporated in 1876. The ground consists of six and three-fourths acres, in- cluding the church site. The citizens have shown commendable enterprise in purchasing and fitting up this cemetery. It is a beautiful spot, and improve- ments are constantly being made. The first cost for ground, etc., was $155.37. The dedication exercises of this cemetery took place November 25, 1876, and were conducted by Revs. MeCaslin, James Coulter and J. R. Coulter.
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MOUNT OLIVE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
This church had its origin in Venango Township, where the Lutherans had an organization and built a church (now no longer standing) several years ago. Mount Olive Church was organized by Rev. A. S. Miller, March 20, 1869, and then consisted of eleven of the former members of Pisgah Church, in Venan go Township. The first officers were W. P. Grant and Samuel Holderman, Elders; and George Kohlneyer and Samuel Merkel, Deacons. The church has much diminished in numbers on account of removals. It now has about twenty members. The church is of brick, and was erected in 1870 al a cost of $3,000. The pastors have been Rev. A. S. Miller, Rev. Isaiah Delo, Rov. Reese, Rev. M. L. Smith and Rev. John Zimmer, the present pastor.
METHODIST CHURCHIES.
Being unable to find any records of the Methodist Churches of this township, the historian is able to say but little about them. Maple Furnace Methodist Epis- copal Church was formed in 1854, through the exer- tions of M. S. Adams and others. It consisted of a small class which met at private houses some years, until it increased in numbers and built a church. ,The building was dedicated by Rov. Ensley, of the Pitts- burgh Conference. It is now a small society, several of its members having withdrawn to join the Grant Church. The Grant Methodist Episcopal Church was organized under the Rev. Peters, about six years ago. A good church building has been erected, and the so- ciety, though small, is flourishing.
CHAPTER LI.
VENANGO.
First Settlement made by a Company of Immigrants from Westinte- land County About 1796 Pioneer Experiences-The Jollys, Slo mis and Other Early Families- Capt. Thomas Jolly-old-Time Man ners and Customs - Pioneer Schools - Farmington Village - Churches.
V ENANGO TOWNSHIP was named for Venango County, which joins it on the north. The township was much reduced in size by the re-organiz- ation of 1554.
The land is well adapted to grazing and a variety of crops. Coal deposits of considerable extent and value are found, but up to this time they have not been worked. except for local use.
The pioneers who came to this part of the county were generally men whose fortunes had to be gained by their own exertions after they arrived here. They generally came here from Westmoreland County, but were mostly natives of Ireland or of Eastern Penn-
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IIISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
sylvania. Probably no permanent settlers located
homestead; Jane (Layton), and Betsey (McDowell); here prior to 1796. It would be an impossible task . James married Jane Sloan. Their children were Eliza (Rosenberry), William, Elizabeth (Jamison), Samuel S. and James, all living except the first.
to portray all of the disadvantages. hardships and privations under which these early settlers labored, but some idea of the same can be gathered from the sketches which follow.
Thomas Jolly, Sr., was in the western part of the State some years before the territory northwest of the Allegheny River was settled. He came out under Capt. Sloan to hunt Indians. In 1796, he and sev- eral others came from Westmoreland County, select- ed farms in Venango and Butler Counties, built shan- ties upon them, and the following spring returned with their families and took possession. A large body of land belonging to a Quaker named John Fields, residing in Philadelphia, was taken up by this company of immigrants. Fields was to give each settler one hundred and fifty acres for making an improvement, and residing seven years upon a tract. He became embarrassed. and never made the deeds. Hon. Walter Lowrie acted as agent for the Fields land, and subsequently, in 1838, Samuel A. Purviance was appointed agent. He, with Dr. A. W. Crawford, settled up the business and the settlers se- cured titles to their lands.
Among those who came with or nearly at the same time with Mr. Jolly were the following persons: Thomas Barron and family located in the edge of Venango County. His house stood in that county, but his weave shop in this. He had five or six daughters, and several of them were married here. The house was so small that the weddings were held in the shop. for the better accommodation of the guests. James Scott settled where Alexander Ander- son now lives. Mrs. Coulter and her son Peter John lived on the Leason farm. John Coulter, afterward a Presbyterian minister, lived on the Layton place (now in Allegheny Township). James Coulter, his brother, was a tanner, and had the first tanyard in the s-ttlement. Charles Pollock, father of Sheriff Pol- lock, settled in Allegheny Township. Robert Cun- ningham settled where J. W. Johnston lives. He was the father of Squire John Cunningham, who lived on the farm till his death. John Weaver, who married a daughter of Thomas Barron, settled on the place now owned by the Widow Statker. Many oth- ers, the neighbors of these settlers, located in Ve- nango County in 1796 97.
Thomas Jolly, Sr., planted an orchard soon after making his settlement, obtaining trees from Mr. Knox, of Armstrong County. Some of the trees are still alive, though they are now over eighty years of age. The children of Thomas and Betsey (Mitchell) Jolly were Johu and David, who settled in Venango County ; James and Thomas, who occupied the old
Capt. Thomas Jolly is one of the oldest resi- dents of Butler County, having lived here since his father settled. He was born in Westmoreland County in 1793, and is still living, in hale and vigorous ohl age. The writer received from him many interesting reminiscences of pioneer days. Capt. Jolly is one of the few surviving soldiers of 1812. He was in the service a little over two months Afterward he was a Captain of militia and held the position about twenty- one years. He is a man whose qualities command the respect of all who know him. He married Rebecca Jolly and is the father of four children-Samuel, Sarah (MeGinnis), Jane (Williams) and Thomas. Capt. Jolly has never been away from the farm for a year since he came with his father. He remembers when there were scarcely any clearings in the town- ship and when only faintly-marked paths served as roads.
Capt. Jolly, when a young man, devoted consider- able attention to hunting, and often killed twenty deer in one season and helped to kill many bears. He estimates that his father, himself and brothers killed over a hundred bears in this vicinity, before wild animals became scarce.
The first mill in this section of country was erected by Turner Campbell, on little Scrub Grass, in the edge of Venango County. Hand mills were much used for grinding corn. Distilleries were numerous. Whisky was abundant and cheap, yet there was very little intemperance.
Samuel Sloan, for many years an Elder of the Old Seceder Church was one of the first settlers and passed his days on the farm which is now Thomas Morrows. He came from Westmoreland County, bringing his wife, with one child in her arms, and his household goods on one horse. For some years he obtained his supply of flour in Westmoreland County. Pack- horses did all the carrying. Groceries were used but sparingly, for in addition to their cost, tedious jour- neys, lasting several days, were necessary in order to procure them. Mr. Sloan's farm was for a long time the muster ground for the militia of this part of the county, and the woods around often rang with the echo of the officers' commands, while the soldiers en- gaged in mimic warfare, with sticks for guns.
The old gentleman killed a great many deer and tanned the hides, which were made into breeches and moccasins for the men and boys. Samnel and Eliza - beth (Brann) Sloan were the parents of a large fam- ily -Samuel, John, William, David, James, Robert, Joseph, Thomas, Andrew, Henry, Nancy (Grant),
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Jane (Jolly) and Elizabeth (Sloan), and their descend. ants are numerous. Of the original family but two survive-Joseph, in Venango Township, and Andrew in Allegheny Township.
Samuel Sloan married Mary Foster. He died in this township in 1872. Of his children. Samuel, William, James, Joseph, David and Elizabeth (Wil- son ) survive.
Joseph Sloan, son of Samuel, Sr. was born in 1806 and is among the oldest residents of the town- ship. He was a pioneer on the farm he now occu- pies, and settled upon it in 1834. He has counted eleven deer in his field without moving from the doorway of his cabin. He was often obliged to chase away bears to prevent them from destroying his hogs. Mr. Sloan's wife, who died in ISS1, was Eleanor Leslie. Their children are George, Uriah, Washing- ton. Mary A. (Parks) and Eliza J. (Seott) living; and Mary and Martha (twins), Samuel E. and Ma- rilda (Crawford), deal. Samuel E. died in the army.
Among the well-known early settlers who played an important part in developing the resources of the township, was Hugh Murrin and his family, who came from Huntingdon County, and settled on land which their descendants still occupy. The children of Hugh Murrin are now all dead. Their names were-Joseph, William, John, James, Philip. George. Hugh. Peter and Mary. James went West, the others all lived in this county. James served as Captain in the war of 1812. George was also in that war. Four of the brothers. Joseph, John, George and William, married sisters, daughters of Hugh Kaeting of Huntingdon County. Judge Kaeting, late of Clarion County, was a brother of these sisters and often visited them. The brothers took up several tracts of land, and were generally prosperous and successful in business. Murrinsville in Marion Town- ship is named for this family. George Murrin died in 1866, at the age of seventy-four. He and his wife Sarah had eleven children, nine of whom are living. Hugh and Peter never married. Peter, when a young man was very popular in society, and very fond of dancing. He was also something of a wag. He once stated to a company, speaking of the family, that there were eight brothers. and each brother had a sister. Comment was excited and the joke explained.
The first mill in the neighborhood was a small af. fair, run by horse-power and owned by the Murrins. Soon after 1800 a man named Adams erected a log grist-mill on the Murrin place. Jacob and John Murrin had a mill on the same creek later. Squire Murrin had the first saw mill in the township.
Charles MeWright (a bachelor and a general favorite with the boys, often joining in their games,
was a tailor who lived on the farm which is now William Martin's), Charles Bradley. Alexander Dunlap and Joseph & twards were early settlers.
James Simpson made a small improvement, and Michael Kelly bought his right to it. Kelly was a native of Ireland, but came here from Eastern Penn sylvania. He was the father of eight sons and two daughters, all born in this county, except one. Names of his children: John (dead), Joseph (dead), Margaret (MeFadden, dead), Daniel, now seventy-six years of age. Peter. Michael. David (died on the old homestead in 1852), William (deceased), Susannalı (deceased). and James Kelly's father-in-law, Peter Traxler, came out with him and resided some years. While helping to build the old log church which the C'atholies erected on the Murrin farm, he had his leg broken. The Kellys and the Murrins were very in - timate. Each family contained eight boys, and the entire sixteen could often be found working to- gether in one field.
Previons to 1800, Thomas Barron and a numerous family settled north of this township in Venango County. The Barrons owned, among them, over 1.000 acres of land lying partly in this county. But in 1812 the Barrons. " like a flock of sheep," says Mr. R. C. Campbell, left these parts for the vicinity of Zanesville, Ohio. Some of the daughters who had married here remained, among whom was Sarah, the wife of Thomas Campbell.
Mr. Campbell was a native of Ireland, who came here a single man from Eastern Pennsylvania, in company with Robert Cochran. He settled south of Farmington, but afterward exchanged his tract for one in the northern part of the township, on which his son William now lives. Campbell and Cochran each got married about the same time, and lived to- gether in a small double log house about the size of a pig pen. Bears gave them much annoyance. At one time the family heard a hog squealing, and run- ning to it. found a bear eating it alive. Salt cost $10 per barrel, and it was poor salt, too. An old Irish- man named James Boyd made a business of packing salt, groceries and iron from the eastern part of the State for the settlers. Coffee was then 75 cents a pound. and was used sparingly. John Camp- bell died in 1853, in his eighty-sixth year. His children were Jane ( Blair). Margaret (Sloan), John S .. Thomas, Mary (McClanaban). William, James S .. Robert C. and Thomas. Mrs. Blair, William, R. C. and Thomas are living. "Aunt Jenny Blair." as she is familiarly called, was born in 1502. Robert Blair, her husband. was killed in 1964. by being thrown from a buggy.
After nearly all of the tracts of land in this neigh- borhood which were considered desirable for settle-
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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
ment had been occupied, a number who came here to look for homes settled at Shippensville, east of Em- lenton, where a new colony was starting.
The low ground of this township was generally covered with a heavy growth of timber. On the hills, forest fires raged nearly every year, destroying the trees. In after years. these hills became covered with a thiek growth of saplings, and these. along with the tallen timber upon the ground, rendered such spots almost impenetrable.
Chimneys were constructed of sticks and mnd. Floors were made of split timber. Chairs and tables were of the simplest pattern, rude and inconvenient. Troughs were made for holding soap, meat, etc., as well as for baby-eradles.
All garments worn by the early settlers were of home mannfacture. Nearly every farmer raised flax, which was converted into cloth for sumner wear, or, united with wool, was made into winter garments. At the " frolies " for flax-breaking and "sentching" (i. e., dressing the flax to prepare it for spinning), the young people from far and near often gathered and passed the time in pleasantry and hard work. Frolics were also made for raisings, for clearing, entting and hanling logs, and in fact for almost every species of work. A man who needed his neighbors' help upon any job was nover refused aid.
Thomas Stalker, a native of Chester County, set- tled in Venango County in IS10. He came over the mountains with a cart and two horses. In 1812, he moved to the farm in this county on which his son James now lives. At that date the farms in this township were few and the improvements small. Mr. Stalker was the first blacksmith in this township, and worked at his trade until about 1524. His son Sam- nel, who is now among the oldest residents, was three years of age when he came to this county. Thomas and Rachel (Patten) Stalker had a famity of cleven children, ten of whom reached years of maturity. Their names were as follows: Mary, John, Samnel (living), Rebecca (Eakin), Rachel (MeAllister. liv- ing). James (living), William, Sarah, Margaret ( Ray. living), Thomas and Cyrns.
The Indians and squaws of old Complanters set- tlements often visited the pioneers, carrying trinkets, baskets, ete .. to sell. They could speak little English, but their behavior was civil.
but he did not interfere. John Williams, who sold to Campbell, was the next occupant of the farm.
Robert Leason, from Westmoreland County, was an early settler in the northeastern part of the town- ship. Some of his children still reside here. His son Samuel (deceased) was a former County Commis- sioner.
In 1812, Levi Williams, from Northumberland County, moved to the adjacent neighborhood in Ve. nango County. He was an 1812 soldier. He died in 1865. His children, John, Tamar (Scott), David, Rev. Samuel Williams (of Muddy Creek Church), Simeon, Eli and Mary A. (Jack), are living; Benja- min, Lovi and Catherine (Christy), deceased. John Williams resides in this township, within two miles of his birthplace. He settled here in 1844, and be- gan in the woods in a log cabin.
John Jamison was a soldier of 1812. He came from Huntingdon County, and in 1818 settled on the farm now occupied by his son William. He brought ont his goods with a four-horse wagon. Mr. Jamison died in 1869, aged eighty-three. John and Mary Jamison had nine children, who reached mature years, viz. : John, Susannah (Milford), Henry, George, Rob- ert, Elizabeth (Hilliard). Franklin, William and Alexander. John died in the late war. The others are all living but Alexander. The Jamison farm was first settled by William Parker, and afterward oecu- pied by Samuel and William Stewart, from whom Mr. Jamison purchased it.
Robert Blair settled in 1528. His brother James came a little later. W. N. Stalker, son of Sammel. settled on the James Blair farm in 186S. Ho carries on farming and blacksmithing.
Robert Martin emigrated from Ireland, and set- tled in this township in 1844. 'He died in 1874. Of his family, only William and Christopher are fiv- ing. The family consisted of six sons and one daugh- tor. James, Robert. Elizabeth, Hugh and John are all buried in the United Presbyterian Cometery. William, John and Robert were in the army. Rob ert's death resulted from disease contraeted in the service.
Joseph Eakin, born and reared in the adjoining township, in Venango County, settled on his present farm in 1557. Thomas A. Eakin, from Vonango County, settled, in 1862, on the farm he now occupies. This farm was settled by Guy Hilliard. who planted an orchard and made some improvements at an party his father and his family.
Samuel Thompson lived a year on the farm now owned by Joseph Sloan. Ho then indneed JJohn Sul- inger to occupy it and keep possession. Robert Wil- . day. Mr. Eakin came from Ireland, in 1837, with son settled upon this farm. John Jamison was brought up in his family from boyhood. A man Joseph Korr came from Eastern Pennsylvania, about 1800, and resided in this county until his death in 1813. The whole family were Presbyterians. His named Courtney located on the farm now belonging to William Campbell. John Jolly first made a shanty there, and the settlers wished him to onst Courtney, , son, Thomas B .. born in Allegheny Township in 1804,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
settled near Farmington in 1530. Ho married Tamar Williams, a daughter of Lovi and Mary Williams, and a sister of Rev. Samuel Williams, of Brady Township. T. B. Kerr bought fifty acres of land at $3 per acre. After his death, it came into the pos- session of his only child, Levi T. Kerr, its present owner. Levi has added fifty acres to the farm, pay- ing for his purchase about $24 per acre. The whole farm is now worth at least $50 per acre. The wife of L. T. Kerr is the daughter of Thomas and Mary Will- iams. Her father settled in this county in 1827. Her mother was born here. Mr. Kerr has been pro- prietor of the Kerr House, Farmington. since 1578.
J. W. Johnston settled on his present farm in 1866. He is a son of John Johnston, who was an early settler near Harrisville.
The farmers of this township are generally men of thrift and industry. Buildings, farms and orchards everywhere bear evidence that agriculture is a good business here, managed by men who understand it thoroughly.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1840, John Allen; 1840, John D. Cuningham; 1845, John Allen; 1850, John D. Cunningham; 1850, John Allen; 1854, John Murrin; 1855, Robert Bovard; 1859, John Murrin; 1860, Robert Bovard; 1864, John Murrin; 1865, Robert Bovard; 1866, James Stalker; 1870, Robert Bovard; IS71, James Stalker; 1875, Robert Bovard; 1876, James Stalker; ISSO, A. C. Wilson; 1881, W. H. H. Camp- bell. Justices prior to IS40 are given in the general history.
SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse remembered by old residents of this township, stood near the spot where the Sece- der and U. P. Churches now are. The first teacher in that house was Robert Cunningham, who taught about 1802. He was an Irishman, as were the early teachers generally, a fine scholar, and very strict in discipline. When " barred out," in accordance with the usual practice on the morning after Christmas, he would fortify himself with whisky, go to the schoolhouse and climb upon the roof, then threaten to come down the chimney. The boys generally built a great fire, and so prevented entrance by this means. Cunningham taught several terms. The next teacher was Robert Donaldson-generally called " Erie Bob Donaldson " -- who put on a great many airs, and was consequently unpopular. He was very strict, and feruled his pupils, whether their ago was ten or twen- ty-one, if they made blots in their copy-books. The old schoolhouse was for some years the only one in the neighborhood, and parents procured their chil- dren's board near by, when their homes were too far away, that they might receive the benefit of the
school. The house was a small building, and had a puncheon floor, and greased paper for windows. It was generally crowded with pupils. About 1810. school was taught in a small log building which stood on the Tannehill farm. Mr. Joseph Sloan attended that school, with a leaf containing the alphabet past- ed on a shingle for his book. John Coebran was the teacher. Master Stewart and an Irishman named Welsh, who talked with so much brogue that he conld scarcely be understood, were also among the early teachers.
The pioneer schoolhouses are a thing of the past, and nobody regrets the fact, however pleasant may | appear the reminiscence of them. Venango Town- ship now contains seven good brick schoolhouses, and generally has profitable schools. A seventh district, - at Farmington, has recently been formed.
FARMINGTON.
This village was laid out on the farm of John Rosenberry, in the fall of 1848, by John Black, sur- veyor. The same fall, there was a sale of lots, at which thirteen were disposed of. In the summer of 1849, Thomas Chambers built the first house, William H. Tebay being the carpenter. In 1850, Mr. Tebay erected a house for himself, and the following year the Methodist Church was built. These were the first buildings in the place.
William H. Tebay was the first resident of the town. He moved into the house built for Chambers. in November, 1849. In 1851, James Miller and Thomas Cochran opened a small store. The mercan- tile changes have been numerous. Hamilton & Mc- Connell. A. Q. Reynolds, R. Wilson, and Bovard & Sloan have carried on the mercantile business previ- ous to this time. The present merchants are Kerr & Cochran and D. J. Sloan.
The post office was first established at Bovard's Corners, a mile west of Farmington, in 1845. Rob- ert Bovard was postmaster and kept store. On pe- tition of the citizens, the office was afterward moved to the village and its name changed to Eau Claire.
Samuel Meals was the first blacksmith, and Dr. Rhodes, the first physician. The first hotel was kept by Nelson McAllister. It is now the Kerr House and Mr. L. T. Kerr has been landlord since 1878.
The various industries of Farmington are as fol- lows: One hotel, two stores, one blacksmith shop, one wagon shop, one harness shop, one buggy-maker, one milliner, one shoe-maker. two physicians and one stock-dealer.
FARMINGTON M. E. CHURCH.
There had been an organization of Methodists in this neighborhood some years prior to building a church. The class was formed by Rov. Coxswain. and
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
met at the Blair Schoolhouse. Lewis Chambers was the first class leader, and he was largely instrumental in getting a church built. The first house of worship was erected in 1851, during the pastorate of Rev. Edwin Hull. It was of poor material. and in 1872 it was taken down and the present building erected. The church is 35x50 feet, with a good basement. Its cost is estimated at $4,000. Rey. James Groves was pastor at the time it was built. The society is small but earnest, numbering some thirty members.
EAST UNITY U. P. CHURCH.
The United Presbyterian Congregation of East Unity was organized in 1800, with James Polloek and Reuben Irwin as Ruling Elders. Among the first members were Robert Leason, Samuel Sloan, James Scott, Robert Crawford. Mathew Riddle and others, whose descendants still live in the neighbor hood.
The first house of worship was ereeted in 1800. It was of unhewn logs, without floor, with logs for seats, and without fire-place. Some of the good people in those primitive days thought it would be wrong to have fire in the church. A second building, also of logs, but somewhat more pretentious, was erected in 1820. During many years, both before and after this time, the congregation worshiped under a large tent in fair weather, using the building only when the weather was cold and stormy. About the year 1837, a sub- stantial brick house was erected. which again in 1868, was superseded by another of the same material. but larger and more commodious. This building was destroyed by fire in May. 1875, and during the same summer, replaced by the present structure, also of brick.
The first pastor of the congregation was the Rev.
Thomas MeClintock, who was installed May S. A. D. 1803. and remained in charge until the time of his death. March 10. 1832. After him Rev. William C. Pollock took charge of the congregation, May, 1835. aud was released May. 1852 Rev. W. A. Black was pastor from August. 1854, until May. IS5S. Rev. David Forsythe was ordained and installed November, 1560, and released in October, 1867. Rev J. C. Me- Elree was ordained and placed in charge of the con- gregation May 5, 1869, and has been pastor up to the present time. The present pastor is a grandson of Rov. MeClintock. the first pastor of the congre- gation.
In 1553. a United Presbyterian congregation was organized at Clintonville, Venango County, composed largely of members from this congregation. Al. though the congregation has seen troublous times, yet for years past, it has enjoyed peace and prosper- ity. It has a present membership of 150 and a Sab- bath school enrollment of about 200 scholars .*
THE SECEDER CHURCH.
The Scrub Grass Church, now the East Unity Union Presbyterian Church, was at first united with the Harmony Church near Harrisville, under one pas- tor. Rev. Thomas Mcclintock, the first pastor, was an Associate Presbyterian.
When the union of the Associate and tlre Associate Reformed Churches took place in 1S5S. a portion of the East Unity congregation refused to enter the new organization. and since that time has been a dis- trict body. They now number about seventy-five, and occupy a new church building. Their pastors have been Revs. Black, Snodgrass, Ramsey and Me- Neal. the present pastor.
'Contributed by Lev. J. C. McElrec.
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