USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania > Part 69
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John Siegwarth's family consisted of himself and wife and nine children ; one son and four daughters when he moved here, and three sons and one daughter born to them afterwards. None of the family occupy the old homestead, they having gone into business, or owned farms of their own dur- ing the life-time of Mr. Siegwarth. There are several of his descendants in the township, and in good circumstances. The first birth in the township was Rosana, daughter of John Siegwarth, in 1817. The first wedding in the community was Henry Imhoof to Sarah, daughter of George Kapp, in 1828. Among the obstacles those settlers had to contend with was the difficulty in raising wheat at first, and in getting wheat or corn ground. They had to go twelve miles to mill, and sometimes could not get anything ground when they would go ; sometimes they would grind some corn in a coffee-mill, and some would hollow out a stump of a tree, and pound the corn with a stone.
In 1824 Christian Henlen got a still started for the manufacture of whisky which was an indispensable commodity with the early settlers. In a few year
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there were four small distilleries started within a radius of two miles. In 1823 Christian Henlen's house burned with all its contents, but in one week he was living in a new house. The pioneers from Clarion township came to the raising.
David Reyner was agent for lands and lived in Kapp's settlement, near Hicks's cabin. He came soon after the Kapps, and subsequently moved to Tylersburg. Two of his children were buried about where the Henlen school- house now stands.
About a year after Henlens, Samuel Zink came from Lancaster county, via Brookville and Clarion ; crossed the Clarion River at Bullock's fording, thence by Berlin's on old turnpike and John Zeller's across the country to State Road, at Kapp's settlement, then called Hicks's Cabin, which was occu- pied by Indians, there being a couple of squaws and some children there at the time. Kapps, Henlens, and Siegwarths were then living there. The In- dians told him the nearest neighbors from the settlement were on the east McNaughtons, and on the west, Franklins. Mr. Zink then went to Franklin's, but stayed only a short time, returned and traded a set of blacksmith tools to David Reyner for fifty acres of land. Mr. Zink then did the blacksmith work for the neighborhood. He had served in the war of 1812, and also held a commission as militia captain under Governor Snyder. He served three years as county commissioner, and died at the age of eighty-nine years ; had three children when he came from Lancaster county, and eight more were born to him here.
Adam Yale came about 1820, and settled near where Clinton furnace after- ward stood. He built chimneys around through the neighborhood. He had seven sons and two daughters. His boys were noted hunters, and they gen- erally kept seven guns and an equal number of dogs. They moved away about the time the furnaces started up. Mr. Henry Zink, son of Samuel, went to Yale's once, and found the old man beating his horse with a large club. The horse had bitten a piece out of his shoulder.
The first school-house was built in 1821. Mr. Steelsmith taught German and English. Rev. Koch first preached in Kapp's barn, and afterwards in the school-house. Later Rev. Kile came and preached once in two months.
Frederick Rickenbrode, his wife, two sons-Jacob and John-and three daughters came from Lancaster county in 1820, and bought a farm adjoining lands of all three of the first settlers, and although his land had been rejected from the first settlers' purchase, it proved to be the most valuable, having an abundance of iron ore and limestone. They soon got to be well-to-do farmers.
Jacob Lilligh started from Lancaster county with Frederick Rickenbrode, but came through Westmoreland county, rented a farm and sojourned there two years, and arrived at Kapp's in 1822 in a covered wagon, afterwards going through some hard times, on one occasion not having much of anything to eat
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except lettuce for four weeks. They stayed two weeks at Kapps, until they built a log house on their farm adjoining Frederick Rickenbrode's. Their farm also turned out to be valuable, abounding in minerals which were util- ized by furnaces which started later on.
Jacob Eisenman, a native of Baden, Germany, arrived in 1820. They took a wagon from home, and when they landed in New York they bought a horse and drove through to Harrisburg, and stopped there a while with a friend. Mrs. Frances Ditz, formerly Eisenman, says that she, in company with a little girl of the party they were stopping with, went to the State cap- itol building, which was then being erected, and picked shavings. They were told that there was good land along the State road, where Washington town- ship now is. They then decided to go out. After being on the way a few days, Mrs. Ditz says her mother, herself, and another sister started ahead of the wagon, thinking to find a house to stop at. Towards evening, not finding any habitation, they went back, but failed to get to the wagon before dark, so they sat on a log during the night. Occasionally they would fall asleep and roll off the log. They yelled repeatedly, and a couple of men encamped on a neighboring hill heard them and started to hunt them up, but thinking it might be a panther, returned to their camp. In the morning the rest of the party arrived, they having encamped at a forks of the road, some distance back, fear- ing they might take the wrong road. After a tedious and wearisome journey, they arrived at George Kapp's, and stayed there two weeks until they erected a house on a piece of land which they bought from Huidekooper. In 1822 they built a barn which still remains, and is the only building erected by the first settlers that is left standing. It is now the James Eisenman barn. The Eisenman family, like the rest of the first settlers, suffered many privations. They had but one pair of shoes among them, which were worn by any of them going from home. Jacob Eisenman died in 1862 at the age of eighty- four years. Frances, now the widow of Ferdinand Ditz, is seventy-nine years of age, being the oldest of the first settlers living.
Henry Mahle, with his family, arrived in 1824 from the eastern part of the State of Pennsylvania, having come from Germany a few years previous. He bought a farm about one half a mile east of where Fryburg now is, which still remains in the Mahle family.
John Ditz and family arrived in 1825 from Fryburg, Germany. They brought a wagon from home, arrived in New York, hired their wagon and goods hauled to Philadelphia, where they bought a horse to haul them, and then went to Ohio with some emigrants who had relatives there, after which they came to Kapp Settlement. The family consisted of John Ditz and wife, four sons and two daughters. One of the girls died in 1826, being the first death among the early settlers and the first corpse buried in the Catholic burying-ground in Fryburg. After arriving and resting from the fatigue of
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the journey hither, the Ditz family packed up to leave, and after starting on the road about seven miles, their wagon broke down, so they returned and located permanently. They bought a farm, went to work, and became pros- perous farmers. Two other sons were born to them in their new home, viz., John and Frank. John Ditz, sr., died in 1865, at the age of seventy-five years. Ferdinand Ditz died in 1883, and John Ditz, jr., died in 1887. Augustus Ditz, grandson of John Ditz, sr., is the successor of his father, Ferdinand Ditz, as proprietor of the Washington Hotel in Fryburg.
The Fasenmyer family was the next to arrive from Germany-Balthasor and wife and four children, two sons and two daughters, in 1828. They after- ward had three children. Balthasor Fasenmyer was a soldier in Napoleon's army until Napoleon was taken prisoner, in 1815, and used to tell of many thrilling adventures and severe hardships endured by the soldiers in their cam- paigns. His children are all in good circumstances. Joseph owns the old homestead and also is proprietor of the Jamestown Hotel; Jacob is a prominent merchant in Fryburg. The Denslinger family came from Germany in 1827 and bought land adjoining Fasenmyer's, which still remains in the possession of their descendants. The Weaver family came in 1827 from Redbank town- ship, having emigrated from Germany a few years previous. The family con- sisted of Anthony Weaver and wife, five boys and three girls. Sebastian, the oldest of the children, married a Miss Greenwalt, of Toby township, Clarion county. They are both living, and in their eighty-fourth year, being sixty years married.
Henry Amsler, a native of Switzerland, wife and three children, moved to this township in 1830, from Big Meadow, having lived there seven years, and previously three years at Powel's, in Venango county, and three in Lancaster city, Pa. Two of the boys, Henry and Rudolph, are still living on adjoining farms.
About the year 1830 other settlements were started. The Walters, Kniselys, Fulmers and Fellows in the northeast of the township, and the Mealys, Strubles, Leeches and Everharts south and east of them. Also the Lymans, Fullers, Lichts, Nicks, Strickenbargers, Groners, Siegels, and Sutters, all of whom, or their descendants, occupy farms in the township, together with many others who came later.
Fryburg, the principal village in Washington township, has a population of about 175. It derived its name from Fryburg in Germany, from whence a number of settlers in the immediate vicinity came. When the name was given it, some were in favor of calling it Kappsheim, and others in favor of Fryburg. It was left to a vote, which resulted in favor of Fryburg. It is situated in the northern part of the township on the State road, and the intersection of the Shippenville road, and is surrounded by hills, one of which is the highest point in Clarion county. The first building in the village was erected by John Mark- ley in the year 1835, where now stands the residence of John Graham.
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The next building was built by Keyler, long known as the Grable house, now owned by Joseph Siegel, and standing yet. Simon Ullman had the first store in Grable's house. Ditz's Hotel was built in 1849. It burned down in 1879, and was replaced the same year by a large, substantial brick hotel build- ing. There are now three general stores, one furniture and undertaking estab- lishment, two hotels, one drug store, foundry and steam grist-mill, two black- smith shops, wagon maker shop, grocery, and millinery. For business the town will compare favorably with towns similarly situated. The climate is healthy, and the water good and pure.
Lickingville, situated on the road from Fryburg to Tylersburg, at the inter- section of the road to Newmansville and Tionesta, is a quiet village of one hun- dred inhabitants, having one hotel, four stores, two churches, and one school- house. The two first houses were built in 1861 and '62 by Solomon Sieg- warth. The next two and one store were built in 1862 by Shoup and Sieg- warth. The name was derived from Licking Creek.
Lineville (now Venus P. O.). The name Lineville originated from the town being on the county line between Clarion and Venango counties. The first house was built in the year 1845, by Henry Zink, who afterwards disposed of it to Amos Owens, and is now owned by John Zigler. The business part of the town is now in Venango county.
Newmanville is a village at the northeast corner of Washington township. The first building was a store-house built by David Bowman, in 1867, now owned by his son, J. C. Bowman. The name was given it by the post-office department. They refused to call it Bowmanville, and named it Newmanville. It also contains one hotel, one blacksmith shop, one stave mill, and one Free Methodist Church, built four years ago.
Jamestown, a village one mile south of Fryburg on the Shippenville road, was started in the year 1873. Jacob Weaver built a store and commenced business. Joseph Fasenmyer built and started a hotel in 1874. Anthony Markley built and started a planing-mill in 1875. The planing-mill was after- terward moved to the Pittsburg and Western Railroad, near Tylersburg. The villages of Fryburg and Jamestown are connected by plank and board sidewalk. In the year 1843 and '44 three furnaces were started in Washington township. Clinton furnace, started by Moore and Seymour, afterward owned by Samuel Plumer ; Hemlock furnace, also on Hemlock Creek, started by Fetzer and Ma- guire, owned next by John Horner, and afterwards by Faber; and Licking fur- nace, started by Ohler Siegwarth and Company, on Licking Creek. There were about two thousand acres of land owned by the Clinton Furnace Com- panies, on which they burned their charcoal. The other companies got theirs burnt through the country. The ore was taken from lands of Henlen, Sieg- warth, Kapp, Jacob Lilligh, David Dahle, and Jacob Ditz. The furnaces while they ran were a great help to the new settlers ; brought in a great many oth-
A LITTLE.
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ers, and times were livelier than they have been since. Clinton shut down after the frost in 1859, and the others about the same time.
The streams that take their rise in Washington are Hemlock and Sandy, the source of both being near Fryburg. Hemlock flows into the Allegheny River at President, and Sandy, at East Sandy.
The first church building erected in the township was a Catholic log church, near Fryburg, in the year 1836. It was raised on the 4th of July. After some years this was replaced by a large frame structure, and in 1882 a new church was commenced which was five years in building. The dimensions are one hundred and fifteen feet long and sixty feet wide, and briefly described as follows : On a beautiful knoll in Washington township, overlooking the quiet villages of Fryburg and Jamestown, stands a massive stone structure. The building is constructed on the early Gothic plan, of native white sandstone, and the walls built in broken ashler style and irregular courses, backed by brick. The tower is one hundred and sixty feet high. A statue of St. Michael in a niche of the outside wall, is the work of H. Flige, of Munster, Westphalia. It cost $450; eight feet high; is made of one solid stone, and weighs 3,200 pounds. The interior of the building presents a picture of artistic arrange- ment and magnificence seldom seen inside of the walls of the finest city churches. The style is of the basilica order, with three naves, the center nave being twice the height of those on the sides ; height of center nave, fifty-six feet, and the side naves twenty-eight feet. The ceilings, with all their naves, rest on arches usually called arcades, and between each four columns is a com- plete system with groined arches, diagonal ribs, and an ornamental keystone .. Two rows of columns, six in each row, carry the ceiling and support the roof. Pews, wainscoting, doors, etc., are of oak with cherry trimmings. The cost of the church can only be approximated, as the members of the congregation did all the hauling and work they could do themselves without any charge. If everything was counted, it would amount to about seventy thousand dollars ; and, notwithstanding several liberal donations were received from outside the congregation and from members of other denominations, the building is a credit to the united efforts of the congregation and an honor to Clarion county.
In 1842 a large frame church was built one mile east of Fryburg, calcu- lated to accommodate the different Protestant denominations of the township, the location being central, and the site being in every way desirable, but in five years after the Walters settlement for some cause withdrew and built a church of their own. Then the members of the western part of the township also built a church in Fryburg, and left the large church vacant. It was taken down in 1872, the grave-yard only remaining.
There are now nine churches in the township of the different Protestant denominations : At Lineville, one Methodist and one Allbright; one half mile south of Lineville, on the Fryburg road, one Old Lutheran ; in Fryburg, one
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
New Lutheran; at Lickingville, one Allbright and one United Brethren ; at McMichaels, between Lickingville and Newmanville, one Methodist; at New- manville, one New Lutheran and one Free Methodist.
There are nine public schools in the township, all having patent furniture ; besides there is a large parochial school, of two rooms, in which are taught vocal and instrumental music in addition to the usual branches taught in com- mon schools.
There were fourteen oil wells drilled in the township at different times. One well on Hemlock Creek, drilled by Richard Hunt on lands of Kendig and Hunt, pumped eighty barrels of oil, which was hauled to the Gas City pipe line; but being a small producer, and not warranting the laying of a pipe line, it was abandoned. Among the others, one was a strong gas well drilled by Kahl Brothers in 1878 on lands of J. W. Kahl. As gas at that time was not used much for fuel, there was no use made of it. The gas was struck at a depth of one thousand feet.
ERRATA.
The State road, connecting Bald Eagle's Nest, near Bellefonte, with Erie, was surveyed and partially opened in 1797 by General Andrew Ellicot. In 1799 the assembly authorized its completion and granted five thousand dollars for that purpose. The road was then finished in 1801 or '2. It was this road, and not the Bellefonte and Waterford turnpike, that was subsidized by the Holland Company.
No stage line was established between Kittanning and Strattanville about 1828, as stated on page 98. It was not till 1845 that one was started between Clarion and Freeport.
On page 516 it is implied that Alexander McNaughton had settled in High- land township about 1812 ; it should be 1806.
For "T. S. Calmont," on page 191, read " J. S. McCalmont ;" for " Joseph W. Coulter," on same page, read " James W. Coulter."
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HON. JAMES CAMPBELL.
CHAPTER LXXV.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
AMPBELL, HON. JAMES.1 In the year 1774 Robert Campbell, a Scotch-Irish- C man, together with his wife and family, emigrated from the State of Delaware and settled in what at that time was the " Backwoods," Kishacoquillas Valley, Cumberland (now Mifflin) county, Pa. The valley at that time was covered with a dense growth of tall timber, consisting of oak, chestnut, walnut, and hickory. Here he made himself a home, put up buildings, began farming, and raised his family. On the roth day of July, 1824, he died, at the age of almost ninety-four years, leaving four sons and two daughters sur- viving him.
Of these, the eldest son, John Campbell, inherited the mansion farm. He was seven years of age when his father came to the valley. At the age of forty years he married Rachel, the eldest daughter of John Oliver, one of the early settlers on the Juniata River, near McVeytown. She was fully seventeen years younger than her husband.
They commenced house-keeping in a double log story-and-a-half house, located near the mansion house. In this they lived until the decease of their father, and in it their three sons and two daughters were born.
James Campbell, the youngest of the sons, and the youngest but one of the family, was born on the 25th day of July, 1813, and named after an uncle James Campbell, who was drowned in the Chemung River, while traveling in New York State many years before.
From a puny, sickly child, he gradually developed into a healthy, stirring boy. As he increased in years he grew strong, and like other farmers' boys in those days he was put to work, and educated to steady, every-day labor ; learned the shorter catechism ; attired in home-made clothes and home-spun linen he attended school in the winter and the Presbyterian Church on Sundays.
From his father, who was a well informed man, he acquired a taste for reading, especially historical works. Being dissatisfied with farming, he resolved that he would earn a livelihood in some other manner; the result of which was, that at the age of eighteen years, he started to school at Germantown, Pa., with the intention of acquiring a classical education. The academy was under the care of George Junkin, D. D. In the spring of 1832 Dr. Junkin was made president of La Fayette College at Easton, Pa., and nearly all the pupils went with him to Easton and started the new college with about one hundred students.
While here the subject of this sketch read Latin, and began the study of Greek. In the fall of 1832 the bilious fever broke out in the college; he, with others, had an at- tack of the disease, and as soon as able he returned to his home. In the latter part of the year 1832 he went to Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., where he graduated in the class of 1837 ; then returned to Mifflin county and began the study of law at Lewis- town, Pa., under E. L. Benedict, and was there admitted to the bar in the spring of 1840. In the same year he came to the new town of Clarion, which had just been made the county seat.
1 By F. J. Maffett.
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
On the first Monday of November, 1840, he, with twenty-five others, was admitted to the bar at the first court held in the county.
At first the prospect was not flattering to a young lawyer, as the principal business was controlled by the older lawyers of Kittanning, Butler, and Franklin. Nevertheless, Mr. Campbell was counsel for one of the parties to the first suit tried in the courts of the county, and by patience and perseverance established a reasonably paying practice, which continued to grow to such an extent that a partner was necessary to assist in the business.
He was a member of the committee who built the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion-we would infer a working member, as we have heard that he rolled stone, shoveled sand, and as a lawyer, kept off creditors until money could be raised to pay for the church. In 1847 he married Nancy J. Hallack, daughter of Rev. J. K. Hallack, and raised a family of five children, all of whom, except the youngest, are married and have families.
In the fall of 1861, without solicitation on his part, he was made an independent candidate for president judge of the Eighteenth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Mercer, Venango, Clarion, Jefferson, and Forest, and was elected by a handsome majority. This was a large and laborious district, Venango county at that time being the center of oil development, that occasioned a vast increase of population and much litigation. Judge Campbell held as high as thirty-two weeks' court in a year, traveling hundreds of miles by stage-coach, between the various county seats in his district.
In 1866 the counties of Mercer and Venango were created into a separate judicial district, Judge Campbell remaining in the original district. At the close of his term, in 1871, he returned to the practice of law, and continued therein until the spring of 1886, when he retired from the practice to give his whole attention to his private business. Including the ten years on the bench, he was at bar forty-six years. As a lawyer he stood at the head of his profession. As a judge he acquired a wide-spread reputation. By those who knew him, he is esteemed for his ability as a lawyer, his honesty as a judge, and for his sterling integrity of character. He has prospered with the growth of the town and county. He has ever identified himself with the best interests of the com- munity in which he lives. At the age of seventy-three years, he is an active business man, retains all his early love for reading, enjoys the society of business men, and is hale and hearty, with a constitution but little impaired by a long and arduous business life. He is one of not more than five who remain of the first settlers of the town in 1840.
At the organization of the Clarion State Normal School, Judge Campbell was elected president of the Board of Trustees, and has ever been one of the most active and labo- rious members of the board. His contributions to, and labors in behalf of this institu- tion of learning are a fitting climax to a life of usefulness and beneficence in a com- munity where he cast his lot so many years ago.
ARNOLD, GEORGE WASHINGTON, cashier of the First National Bank of /\ Clarion, was born on a farm in York county, Pa., November 5, 1820. At the age of seven years he was entrusted with the marketing at the neighboring stores of the lighter products of the farm. About the same time he began his school life, attending such schools as were at that time maintained in the county by individual subscription, before the establishment of the common school system of the State. As there were but three
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GEORGE WASHINGTON ARNOLD. - CHARLES KAUFMAN.
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