USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 18
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 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
As stated, on April 14, 1792, John Nicholson, then Comptroller-Gen- eral of the state, took out a very large number of land warrants, which he shortly turned over to a new land company he was instrumental in getting incorporated called the Pennsylvania Population Company of which · he became president, and Messrs. Cazenove, Irvine, Mead, Leet, Hoge, and Stewart, were the managers. Its charter was granted on March 8, 1793, and was dissolved in 1812. It secured 390 warrants from Mr. Nicholson in the Triangle, and paid for them. It later acquired all of the remaining lands in the Triangle excepting the Erie Reserve, the Garrison State Re- serves, and Irvine's Reservation in Harborcreek. The company's capital stock consisted of 2,500 shares which was used in the purchase of 500,000 acres of land, and their first general agent was Ennion Williams, a Quaker, appointed May 26, 1795, and Feb. 1, 1805. Their second was Enoch Mar- vin who was appointed May 2, 1809, who came to Erie and made it his home, becoming a man of influence and substance here. When this com- pany dissolved in 1812, the remainder of their lands passed mainly to William Griffith of New Jersey, and John B. Wallace of Philadelphia, both of whom failed owing to the hard times following the War of 1812, as did many other men of means.
The Holland Land Company was composed of twelve wealthy Hol- landers who had rendered extensive financial assistance to our government during the Revolution through the persuasions of Mr. Robert Morris. Desiring to liquidate the obligation, it was agreeable to all to have great tracts of unsettled country in western New York and northwestern Penn- sylvania conveyed to that company in settlement of the war debt thus incurred. During 1793, 1794 and 1795 they received titles to these tracts, and because of the Indian troubles much title controversy ensued. Their lands lay south of the Erie Triangle, and extended from the western to the eastern limits of the county. The general managers of this com- pany were, first, Major Alden, with headquarters in Meadville; second William Miles, of Union Mills (later Union City), who afterwards removed
229
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
to Elk Creek; and in 1815, Harm Jan Huidekoper who came here from Holland and established his office in Meadville. He settled at Meadville, and in 1833 purchased the unsold lands of that company, out of which he netted the foundation of a snug fortune. .
Another land company of which little has been known, was the Har- risburg & Presque Isle Company. It was organized at Harrisburg on Aug. 13, 1796, by Richard Swan, Thomas Forster, John Kean, Alexander Berryhill, Samuel Laird, John A. Hanna, Robert Harris, Richard Der- mond, William Kelso, and Samuel Ainsworth, the ten gentlemen of its specially limited number, with a capital of $10,000.00; but no member could hold more than five shares of $200 each. The company attended the sale of lands in this county, at Carlisle in August, 1796, and pro- cured 37 Erie In-lots and eight Out-lots; and later some additional lands at Waterford, and some 430 acres at the mouth of Walnut Creek. Messrs. Forster and Swan came on in the spring of 1797 to attend to the busi- ness of the company, and made their settlements at the mouth of Walnut . Creek. They built a saw mill at the mouth of the creek that summer, .and the next summer started work on a grist mill near by which was completed in the fall of 1799. Here they laid out an embryo town which they named Fairview. Through a contention with the Pennsylvania Pop- ulation Company over their titles, the lands at the mouth of Walnut Creek were sold at sheriff sale. Both Forster and Swan took up large tracts at Walnut Creek and made their future homes there.
A special grant was made April 17, 1791, to the "Society of the . United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel Among the Heathen." This . organization had been untiring in its missionary work amongst the Indians of the frontiers, and the state awarded them in recognition of those services 2,500 acres of land, with allowance, on the "River Connought, near the northwestern part of the state, .
. on the heads of French Creek." This tract was located by the society in LeBoeuf Township and was named the "Good Luck" tract, consisting of 2,875 acres. The other tract was in Springfield and Conneaut townships, consisted of 2,797 acres and was called "Hospitality." The society leased their tracts until 1850 when they sold them to Mr. N. Blickensderfer and Mr. James Miles. Their first agent was William Miles, of Union Mills. John Wood suc-, ceeded him as to the "Good Luck" tract and James Miles, son of William, as to the "Hospitality" tract.
.
230
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
The Reservations .- When the grant was made by the state to the Pennsylvania Population Company, four reservations were made out of the grant; one in Harborcreek Township of 2,000 acres which the state then donated to General William Irvine as a special appreciation for his invaluable services during the Revolution. A second one was along the south side of the harbor of Erie, three miles wide and eight miles long, called "The Erie State Reserve." A third was at Waterford, consisting of 1,800 acres in Waterford Township and 400 in LeBoeuf, with provi- sions for its sale by lots; anticipating that the rapid growth of Water- ford would enhance the prices and net the state a nice return. By 1804 the most of these tracts had been sold to private owners. A fourth tract was the one described in the Act of 1794, situated at Presque Isle, which the Governor was to reserve "out of the lots of the said town so much as he shall deem necessary for public uses; also, so much land, within or out of the said town, as may, in his opinion, be wanted by the United States for the purpose of erecting forts, magazines, arsenals and dock- yards." The land light-house tower still remains, in a dismantled con- dition, together with the old keeper's dwelling close by, the sole relic of the occupation of that tract by the government, most of which has long since been purchased by land promoters and sold to private families, and is now well covered with modern residences.
The Academy Lands .- Certain reservations out of the two state reservations at Erie and Waterford, were directed by the Act of 1799 for the use, at Waterford, of the Waterford Academy, consisting of 500 acres located in LeBoeuf Township at the mouth of LeBoeuf Creek, and which were sold to private owners about 1840. The one at Erie of 500 acres was situated in Millcreek township along the Waterford Turnpike Road, the north boundary of which was about where Thirty-second Street now is. This tract has now been privately owned for some years.
Judah Colt's Story .- "I was born at Lyme, Conn., July 1, 1761. In August, 1795, in company with Augustus Porter, came to Erie to pur- chase land. At Presque Isle found a number of men encamped, United States troops erecting a fort, and Commissioners for the State, General William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott, laying out the town of Erie. They had about 100 militia troops in their employ. Thomas Rees was acting as agent for the Pennsylvania Population Company in the survey and
231
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
sale of lands. Porter and I took two certificates of 400 acres each at $1 per acres, payable in five annual installments. We made but a brief stay.
"On the 3d of March, 1796, went to Philadelphia for the purpose of getting the lands purchased of Mr. Rees at Erie confirmed. The prin- cipal proprietors of the Population Company resided there. Offered to buy 30,000 acres at $1 per acre, but they declined to sell in so large a body. Colonel Aaron Burr, who was one of the proprietors, informed me that they were in need of a more active agent, and offered me the position. A contract was entered into by which they agreed to pay me $1,500 a year, besides board, traveling expenses, etc. This was raised to $2,500 in 1798. Money was advanced with which to procure supplies and hire laborers, and in the month of April I started to return to my home in the Genesee country, New York. At New York City, I laid in provisions, sundry kinds of goods and farming utensils, such as were needed in a new country. They were shipped under the care of Enoch Marvin, up the river to Albany, across the portage by wagons to the · Mohawk, up the latter by batteaux, then by wagons again to Oswego, and from there by lake and wagon to Presque Isle. Mr. Marvin arrived at the latter place on the 22d of June, 1796, but the boats did not reach Presque Isle till the 1st of July. He found a Captain's command" (Cap- tain John Grubb and company of state troops) "stationed there in a gar- rison laid out and built in 1795. His (Marvin's) tent or marquee was erected near the old French garrison. During the season, he met with considerable opposition from advance settlers, 'a company known as Dun- ning McNair & Co., from the neighborhood of Pittsburgh.' Leaving the agency in charge of Elisha and Enoch Marvin, I set out on the 4th of November for Philadelphia, returning to the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek May 31, 1797.
June 1, rode out to where Elisha Marvin was stationed ,who had charge of the men employed by the agency, nine miles south of Lake Erie, known afterward as Colt's Station. Made this my headquarters until the 10th of November. The season was one of much business. The opposition of advance settlers caused me much trouble. I had to keep from 40 to 100 men in service to defend settlers and property. More than once mobs of 20 to 30 assembled for the purpose of doing mischief. Went to Pittsburgh with witnesses and had a number indicted by the grand jury of Allegheny County. On my return, loaded a boat with
232
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
stores to take to the Sixteen Mile Creek, and put it in charge of four men. On their way up the lake a storm upset the boat and three of the men were drowned. During the season, the building of a vessel of about thirty-five tons was commenced at the mouth of Four Mile Creek. The Lowrys and others were the indicted parties. Their disturbances took place in the months of June and July.
"Went East in the fall, and set out to return to Erie in April, 1798. At New York purchased supplies, which were sent forward in charge of B. Saxton and Eliphalet Beebe. Arrived at Presque Isle the 31st of May, and at Greenfield on the 3d of June. Brought my wife along for the first time. Resided at Colt's Station with my family until the 7th of Novem- ber. The vessel, begun the year before at the mouth of Four Mile Creek, was completed in time to make a trip to Fort Erie. It was named the Sloop Washington. On the 10th of October, I accompanied about 65 of the settlers to Erie to attend an election, all of whom voted in favor of a Federal Representative. On the 7th of November, with Mrs. Colt, set out for Pittsburgh on horseback. Our baggage was taken down French Creek in boats. Arrived at Pittsburgh the 9th of January, 1799. Shortly after our arrival, the weather became very warm, the frost came out of the ground and the farmers began their plowing. Did not return to Erie County until May, 1801. During a part of 1800 and 1801, the peace of the county was much disturbed by the adversaries of the company. In the summer and fall of 1800, the settlement was visited by a number of clergymen who were sent out by the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, who preached in a number of places and took much pains to establish churches. Among them was Rev. Mr. McCurdy.
"During the year 1801, some progress was made in organizing the militia of Greenfield. Elisha Marvin was chosen captain. He had about 80 men in his company. During 1802, considerable progress was made in the county, military, civil and religious. In the month of June, 1803, aided by a Deputy Marshal of the United States Court, removed sundry intruders against whom ejectment had been brought, some of whom were obstinate and gave much trouble. During the same month, Mary Marvin arrived in company with her brother Elisha. September 24, purchased of James Wilson four lots, on which was a small house, in the town of Erie, for the sum of $490. On the 26th set out for Pittsburgh by way of new State Road. Returned to Greenfield Feb. 24, 1804. Dur- ing the month of April, 1804, was again in Philadelphia as a witness in
233
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
the United States Court relating to the lands of the Population Company, and in which the company was successful. On the 6th of August, 1804, began to improve my Erie property, to which I removed my family on the 21st of November.
"The country in 1805 was still far from tranquil. People continued to take unlawful possession of lands claimed under warrants, and were encouraged by others for political purposes. The company brought sun- dry ejectments. During the summer we were called upon by a number of clergymen. In the month of December, James and Ezekiel Graham, who had unlawfully settled on the tract of the Population Company, pur- chased 100 acres each at $3 per acre, payable in instalments. Novem- ber 20, 1806, news came of a decision in the land case in the United States Court at Philadelphia. Robert Penn, plaintiff; Adam Arbuckle, defendant. July 1, 1807. The obstinacy of adverse settlers renders my employment in some respects unpleasant. The Erie & Waterford Turnpike is in process of building."
Mr. Colt died in 1832, leaving a considerable estate. He was suc- · ceeded by Mr. Judah Colt Spencer as representative for most of the mem- bers of the company, and very recently many of the books and papers of the late Judah Colt, kept by him during his management of the land matters, have been brought to light in clearing out a basement where many of his records have long been stored.
The company secured the services of Dunning McNair in 1797, who conducted the business of contracting with settlers for company lands in the western part of the county, having his agency on Conneaut Creek.
Early Sales .- Some of those who contracted for lands in this county during the years of 1795 to 1798, were William Miles and David Watts, early surveyors, who took up 1,200 acres at Lake Pleasant and 1,400 acres at Wattsburg in 1796. Martin Strong, also an early surveyor who came into the county in 1795, later took up a large acreage in Waterford and Summit townships. He was a surveyor for the Holland Land Company. David McNair chose 800 acres of choice lands where Kearsarge now stands. He later had other large tracts as well. Much of South Erie was once embraced in his ownership. William Wallace, who was Erie County's first lawyer, took up acreage in several of the townships. Other well known names which are identified with the early titles to county lands were James Baird, Russell Bissell, Negro "Boe" Bladen, Thomas
234
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Forster, John Grubb, Samuel Holliday, Francis Brawley, Thomas Rees, Jr., Abraham Custard, Miles Crane, Elihu Crane, Abiathar Crane, Pat- rick Kennedy, Morrow B. Lowry, Judah Colt, Charles John Reed, Benja- min Russell, David Hays, Anthony Saltsman, Francis Scott, Joseph McCord, Arnold Custard, William Paul, William Barker, Samuel Barker, George Nicholson, George Lowry, Thomas Dunn, James Dunn, William Dunn, William Parcell, Martin Strong, Richard Swan, Elihu Talmadge, Alexander Vance, John McKee, Hugh Mclaughlin, John Oliver, Rufus S. Reed, Mary Reed, Alexander McKee, David Long, Stephen Forster, James Greer, John Hay, Freeman Tuttle, Daniel Dobbins, Thomas Hughes, John Daggett, Samuel Holliday, John Morris, Patrick McKee, William Stur- geon, Jeremiah Sturgeon, Hugh Trimble, James Leland, Robert Brown, Peter Prime, George W. Reed, George Reed, James Love, Thomas Grubb, James Blair, Oliver Dunn, John Cochran, Samuel Barker, William Weed, Thomas Greer and Timothy Tuttle.
Some of the Pioneers .- It is believed that the first white settlers in this county, to come here and remain citizens of the county, were the Deputy Surveyor of the state, Thomas Rees; and the other a Captain of Militia, John Grubb from Lancaster County, who was in service at Fort Pitt during the "Whiskey Insurrection" and volunteered for service as a captain of a company of militia who were mustered into service from the disbanded forces there, to march to Presque Isle and there act as a military guard to the engineers employed by the state in laying out the future City of Erie. Both of these pioneers arrived in June of 1795 and both elected to make this county their future home. Following them shortly came William Miles and William Cook, who, with their wives, settled in Concord township close to the south line of the county. In July Colonel Seth Reed with his wife Hannah and two sons, Manning Reed and Charles John Reed, arrived via Buffalo and took up lands in the new town of Erie. So far as known, Mrs. Seth Reed, Mrs. William Miles and Mrs. William Cook were the three first women to come to this county as permanent settlers. Colonel Reed and family came here from Buffalo in a sail boat which was captained by James Talmadge. Mr. Tal- madge later took up lands in Mckean Township, where some of his descendants reside yet.
Also during 1795, came Rufus S. Reed, James Baird and children, George W. Reed, Mrs. Thomas Rees to join her husband, and Mrs. J.
235
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Fairbanks, who settled at Erie. At Waterford we find new settlers in Martin Strong, Amos Judson, Lieutenant Martin, and James Naylor. In Conneaut Township, Jonathan Spaulding. Michael Hare in Wayne Town- ship; David McNair, George Moore, and John W. Russel in Millcreek; in LeBoeuf were Thomas Ford and wife, Thomas and William Black, and Captain Robert King and family; in North East Township were James and Bailey Donaldson; and in Girard Township by a spring close west of the "Devil's Backbone" on Little Elk Creek was James Blair and his wife Mary (Wallace) Blair.
GEN. ANDREW ELLICOTT
CAPT. DANIEL DOBBINS
The year 1796 found many more sturdy pioneers, mostly of the Scotch-Irish class, coming in and finding permanent homes in the county. Amongst them were Captain Dobbins in Erie; Benjamin Russell, Thomas P. Miller, David Dewey, Anthony Saltsman and John McFarland in Mill Creek Township; Judah Colt, Enoch Marvin and Elihu Marvin, Cyrus Robinson, Joseph Berry, Charles Allen, James Moore, Philo Barker, Tim- othy Tuttle, John Wilson, Silas Smith and William Smith, Joseph Shat- tuck, John Daggett, John Andrews, Leverett Bissell, and Joseph Webster in Greenfield ; Oliver Dunn and Thomas Dunn in Mckean Township, in the section which later became known as "Dunn's Valley;" Francis Scott in
236
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Fairview; George W. Reed in Summit Township; Henry Loomis, Dyer Loomis, William Wilson, George Hurst and Henry Hurst in North East Township; Samuel Holliday, John Devore, Patrick Ager, William McIntyre and John Mershon, in Springfield Township; Zalmon Tracy, Burrill Tracy, James Reed and Adam Reed in Venango Township; and in Waterford Township, Thomas Skinner, John Lytle, Robert Brotherton, and John Lennox.
The year 1797 added the following to the pioneer settlers: In Waterford, Wilson Smith and John Vincent; in Elk Creek, Eli Colton; in Venango, David Phillips, John Phillips, and Thomas Phillips; in Union
SETH REED
JUDAH COLT
Township, Hugh Wilson, Andrew l'hompson, Matthew Gray, Robert Smith and Francis B. Smith; in Springfield Township, Oliver Cross; in Fairview Township, Jacob Weiss, Thomas Forster, John Kelso, George Nicholson, Richard Swan, Patrick Vance, John McKee, Patrick McKee, Jeremiah Sturgeon, William Sturgeon, and William Haggerty; in Conneaut Town- ship, Colonel Dunning McNair; in Mill Creek Township, John Nicholson, Boe Bladen, Alexander McKee; in LeBoeuf, James Pollock, Adam Pollock, Robert Pollock, and Francis Isherwood; in Washington Township, Job Reeder, Simeon Dunn, John Campbell, James Campbell, Samuel Galloway, Phineas McClenathan, Matthew Hamilton, Mattias Sipps, John McWil- liams, James Culbertson, John Culbertson, Andrew Culbertson, Samuel Culbertson, and Mrs. Jane Campbell, a widow; in Harborcreek were Wil-
237
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
liam Saltsman, Andrew Elliott, Amasa Prindle; in North East Township, Thomas Robinson, Joseph McCord, Margaret Lowry, James Duncan, James McMahon, Francis Brawley, Arnold Custard and Abram Custard.
In 1798 came to Erie, William Wallace; to Wayne Township, William Smith and David Findley ; to Elk Creek Township, John Dietz and George Haybarger; to Union Township, John Wilson, John Fagan, John Welsh, and Jacob Shepard; to Springfield Township, Nicholas LeBarger; to Ven- ango Township, William Allison and his wife; to Conneaut Township, Abiathar Crane and Elihu Crane; to Fairview Township, John Dempsey ; to Washington Township, Peter Kline; to Girard Township, William Sil- verton and Abraham Silverton; to Waterford, Aaron Himrod; and to North East Township, Lemuel Brown, Thomas Crawford, William Allison, Henry Burgett, John Greer, James Greer, Matthew Greer and Matthew Taylor.
The year 1799 brought to the county, amongst many others, the Lat- timores, the Simpsons, John Boyd, James Boyd, David Boyd, M. Hime- baugh, John Clemens, and Captain John Tracy to Waterford; John Teel to Erie, Lemuel and Russell Stancliff to McKean Township, and Eliakim Cook into Summit Township.
It will be seen by the foregoing settlements, that nearly every sec- tion of the county received its quota of the new settlers. They came, many of them, from the older settlements east of the mountains-in southeast- ern Pennsylvania, eastern New York, New England and other places. They were largely of the class which had shortly before become dubbed the "Scotch-Irish" in dirision; the Irish, and the English from New England, and were the most thrifty and enterprising immigrants which a new country could desire. It was not long until the wilderness in the vicinity of their new settlements gave place to new dwellings, which were sur- rounded by clearings in which crops of rye, corn, potatoes and garden vegetables produced wondrous returns for the seed sown and the small amount of care bestowed upon them.
CHAPTER XIII
PIONEER ANECDOTES.
BEAR AND DEER HUNTING-INDIAN TRICKERY-MR. HENRY'S EXPERIENCE- "THE SURVEYS SHALL CEASE"-THE PRICE OF A DEAD INDIAN-D. RAN- SOME'S DEPOSITION-"THE BODILY EXERCISE"-SINGING "BACHELLOR'S HALL"-JOHNNY PHERRIN-SINGING SCHOOLS-TRAPPING BEARS-"JERKED VENISON"-JOHNNY-CAKE MAKING-LOGGING, HUSKING AND OTHER "BEES" -THE BUILDING OF MIDDLEBROOK CHURCH-CHURCH MEMBERS' QUALIFI- CATIONS-BEAR STEALS THE MINISTER'S PIG-HON. JOHN GRUBB HELD UP BY BEAR-"SINKING THE FLEET"-HEATING THE CHURCH-BANS OF MATRI- MONY-SCARED INDIANS-MR. K.'S PLIGHT-OXEN FOR SALT-A SUM IN ARITHMETIC-"HURRAH FOR DEMOCRACY-NAVY PRIZE MONEY-GORDON'S POINT.
Instances of exciting, tragic and amusing experiences incident to the planning, plotting, locating and settlement of this county, have come down to us through the mists of the past. No doubt those which have been preserved form but a small list of those which actually took place; and perhaps those of the most interesting and exciting nature have been those which have not survived historically. Some of them have come to our attention, and we believe that they are of sufficient interest to have a place in a history of our own county.
1. Mr. William Miles relates an amusing incident of his experiences when traveling to this region for the purpose of surveying it. He says "When (he) set off with a corps of surveyors for laying out the Donation Lands, the baggage, instruments, etc., were placed in two canoes. Fif- teen miles above Pittsburg, at the last white man's cabin on the river, the party stopped to refresh themselves, leaving the canoes in the care of the Indians. On returning to the river, all was gone-canoes and Indians
238
239
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
had all disappeared. Mr. Miles asked if anyone had a map of the river. One was fortunately found, and by it they discovered a great bend in the river just where they were. Their compass was gone, but, by means of Indian signs, mosses on trees, etc., they found their way out above the bend, secreted themselves in the bushes, and waited for the canoes to come up, which happened very soon. When the old chief found he had been detected he cooly feigned ignorance and innocence and, stepping out of the canoe with a smile, greeted the surveyors with 'How do? How do ?'."
2. When a Mr. Henry, an Englishman, was traveling through New France and the Indian Country about 1760, he found that the Indians were very loyal in their friendship to the French; and that the English were regarded as the enemies of the Indians. At one time he found him- self surrounded by the Indians, and their chief very cooly addressed him in some such words as these: "The English are brave men, and not afraid of death, since they dare to come thus fearlessly among their enemies. You know that the French King is our father. You are his enemy; and · how, then, can you have the boldness to venture among us, his children? You know that his friends are our friends."
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.