USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 27
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The first road in the county which we can credit to the construction of the white man, was that built by the French under the supervision of the French engineer, the Chevalier Le Mercier, in the early summer of
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1753. Whether this one traversed the route west or east of Mill Creek out of Erie, we are not now prepared to say; for it is known that after a time this road became so well nigh impassable that a new one was cut, sometimes said to have been immediately adjoining the first one, but which might well have been over an entirely new route. Be that as it may, it was not long until there was used a road up the east side of Mill Creek, and another up the west side of that stream, extending to LeBoeuf, and thence to other places.
The legislature took a hand in the road problems of the county, by expressing the legislative wish to establish a thoroughfare from Erie to Philadelphia. To this end laws were passed in 1791 to open a road from Presque Isle to French Creek; and in 1795 another for a road from Le- Boeuf to the Juniata River in Mifflin County. In 1796 Andrew Ellicott located the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike from LeBoeuf to Cur- wensville, in Clearfield County, traversing the route through Meadville and Franklin.
The first road opened by the Americans after the peace with Eng- land, was by Judah Colt for the Pennsylvania Population Company. This was in 1797 from Freeport, at the mouth of the Sixteen-mile Creek south to Colt's Station near Greenfield. This was continued from there to the forks of French Creek the following year, ending where Wattsburg now stands.
Another road, east of the preceding one to Wattsburg, was opened about 1800, from North East to Wattsburg through Greenfield.
About 1802, a road from Edinboro to Waterford, and from Water- ford to Cranesville was opened.
In 1804, the road from North East, through Phillipsville, to Water- ford was opened up.
In 1802 or 1803, the State opened up a road from the Delaware River through the northern tier of counties to Ohio.
In 1805, James McMahon surveyed the route for a road from Erie to Buffalo, known as The Buffalo Road. It seems to have been in use in the latter part of that year. But it was not opened as far as Peach Street that year, traffic using it to Wesleyville, where it diverged to the Lake Road, that being then the more direct way to the little settlement at the mouth of Mill Creek. It was not until 1812 that it was continued on to Peach Street over its present route, by the order of court. As it did not quite coincide with Eighteenth Street, and that being thought
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the more desirable route, a very abrupt bend was made to swing the road down to that street. This road forms the principal street in the villages and boroughs along the route to Buffalo.
In 1805, the Ridge Road was opened in practically a direct line from Peach Street at Twenty-sixth Street westward to Cleveland. While it forms a practical continuation of the Buffalo Road, yet its terminus at Peach Street is eight squares further south than that of the Buffalo
HIGHWAY BRIDGE BETWEEN NORTH EAST AND STATE LINE
Road. It also forms the principal thoroughfare of the villages and bor- oughs through which it passes.
In 1806, the Lake Road was opened, its route extending within an eighth of a mile at some points, and at others some mile or more from the shore of the lake. It extends through the entire length of the county, and swings south into the Ridge Road just before it reaches Conneaut.
In 1805, a company was formed to construct a toll road between Erie and Waterford. Colonel Thomas Forster was the moving spirit in
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this enterprise, to provide a better road than the route which was then being used over the French Road site. It became a link in the cross- state highway to Philadelphia. A toll-house was placed near where the city line crossed Peach Street prior to the last extension of the city limits, which was kept by Robert Brown. Another was kept by Martin Strong this side of Waterford on the summit of the route. This toll road commenced at the Ridge Road and Peach Street, and ended in Waterford. The enterprise was a good one for the stockholders for a few years, but by 1845 it returned them no money, and they abandoned it, although for a time the toll keepers continued to demand toll from the travelers who had occasion to use it. This road was known as the Waterford Turn- pike, and passed south as a continuation of Peach Street, over Nicholson Hill, through Kearsarge, and up the hill after crossing Walnut Creek.
In 1850, another road company was incorporated as the Erie & Edinboro Plank Road Company. It adopted the route of the older Water- ford Pike from Twenty-sixth Street and Peach to a point just south of Walnut Creek, where it turned more to the westward, through Mckean, Branchville, and Compton's Corners, to Edinboro. The present North- western Railway now follows its route, and the state is completing its much-needed pavement.
The company graded the roadbed, and covered it with heavy planks. This constituted a fine roadway while it was kept in good repair; but it did not prove to be a profitable investment and the company made less and less repairs until abandoned in about 1869. The travel had been large, but the repairs required consumed the income, and this road be- came at last perhaps the worst road in the county. It was used during the oil days by freighters carrying great loads of oil to Erie, and as the road became worse and worse, additional teams were hitched to the wagons, until at last it was practically impossible to traverse the road at all.
As a verbal cartoon upon the condition of this road towards the last, it was related that a party of neighbors walking along the side of it to church one morning, beheld a man frantically working in the mud, who, on inquiry, said he was trying to save his team which was entirely hid- den in the mud. Another story had it that the man was endeavoring to save his hat, but on inquiry stated it was the hat of his friend who had sunken in the mire. The friend being at last rescued, it was found that he had been riding a horse which had been under him when he himself
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had been rescued. Thus had this road been derided before it finally became a charge upon the township.
In 1850 the Erie and Waterford Plank Road was commenced, and finished in 1851. This road was laid out over an entirely new route, southward from upper State Street, following the valleys of Millcreek, Walnut Creek and LeBoeuf Creek until it reached Waterford. This road had three toll gates on it, and although the road was well patronized, it never paid its investors, and it was abandoned to the townships after about 18 years of service.
At about the same time that these plank roads were being projected, the plank road was built from Waterford to Drake's Mills in Crawford County. It was built to prevent the Erie and Edinboro Plank Road from absorbing the traffic from the Erie and Waterford Plank Road. But it met the fate of the others.
In 1813 a road was constructed from Wesleyville eastward to Colt's Station, and thence to Mayville, New York. It was known, and still is, as the "Colt's Station Road".
The "Shunpike" was a road extending north from near Waterford to its intersection with the French Road, and was constructed by the Stage Company as an answer to a controversy over tolls by the toll roads. It was built about 1828.
In 1809 was built the Erie and Wattsburg Plank Road through Phillipsville, although not planked until a company known as the Erie & Wattsburg Plank Road Company was organized in 1851. Four toll gates were operated on this road. No toll has been collected since the spring of 1865, when a party of farmers, enraged at the condition of the road, started in and wrecked every toll gate on the road. They were threat- ened with dire consequences, but never tried.
In 1821-22 another road was opened up from Erie to a point near the Martin Hayes farm in Greene Township, known as the Lake Pleasant Road; and in 1826-27 the county continued it on past Lake Pleasant to French Creek, intersecting there the road from Wattsburg to Union.
The "Grubb Road" is a name which has received many erroneous interpretations by writers and speakers. Its name did not arise from the fact that many stumps had to be "grubbed" out of it, as that ap- plied to all of our early roads. Neither did it supposedly arise from some imaginary relation of Captain John Grubb, who lived on Nicholson Hill south of the town. But it did arise from the fact that Thomas Grubb
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had his big farm and his home upon the road which led north from Mckean Corners to its intersection with the road from The Half-way House on the Ridge Road to Sterrettania. This road has always been known as "The Grubb Road" from this fact; although Mr. Grubb long since sold his farm there to the Pfeffer family, and removed to Mercer County.
As travel increased, individuals and companies were organized as transportation agencies, utilizing busses and stage coaches for the pur- pose. Mail was transported in the earlier days on foot, then on horse- back, and finally by stage coach.
In 1826 stages were carrying mail and passengers between Erie and Pittsburg three times a week, until finally increased to a daily service.
In 1806 a mail route was started between Erie and Buffalo, carrying the mail once a week. In December of 1820, a line of stages, making weekly trips, began operating between Erie and Buffalo. The stage left Buffalo every Saturday at noon and reached Erie the next Monday at 6 p. m. The return trip left Erie at 6 a. m. every Tuesday and arrived at Buffalo at noon on Thursday. On Feb. 10, 1825, a daily mail coach commenced its trips between Erie and Buffalo, and shortly another started a daily service between Erie and Cleveland.
In 1827 a four-horse coach line was installed between Erie and Buf- falo by a company headed by Rufus S. Reed. It carried the mail and made the trip in eighteen hours. It caused a great sensation at the time because of its phenomenal speed.
Along these main thoroughfares, and especially along the Ridge and Buffalo Roads, the custom prevailed of taking the cattle, sheep, horses, hogs, and poultry, to market by driving them along the highways. This gave rise to the business of drovers who made a business of this driving. Great herds of cattle and other animals were always to be seen passing along the leading highroads, and when night overtook them, the taverns and droveyards along the way afforded accommodation "for man and beast," as their signs usually read. West of Erie there were taverns every mile or two for a long way, and they all seemed to thrive. On Federal Hill were several. At Weigeltown, Warrentown, the Half-way House, Willis' House, Old Kentucky Home, another just west of Asbury, Swanville had two or more, and on up the road at short intervals. The Half-way House is almost the sole survivor of those drovers' days. On arrival at the stopping place, the herd was usually driven into the drove-
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yard and the drivers put up at the tavern, sometimes three or more in one bed, and usually all the beds in one or two upper rooms. Little of privacy could be had in those days. In the case of a drove of turkeys going along the road (and any such droves were thus taken to the mar- kets), care was taken to reach a tavern before dusk; as just before sun- · set the birds began to look for a place to roost, and when they were ready to roost, they could not be driven another rod; for they would all fly up into some tree and refuse to come down until daylight.
One of the great industries of those pioneer times was the salt trade. The salt was made at Salina, N. Y., hauled by teams to Buffalo, shipped in small boats to Erie, hauled overland to Waterford, and re- shipped in scows and flatboats down the river to Pittsburg. Two days was estimated to make the trip from Erie to Waterford, using an ox- team of four head. Salt was prized as much, or more so, as any article of commerce. Many other commodities were priced at so many pounds or barrels of salt. In those days there were a number of warehouses on the shore at the mouth of Millcreek, where this salt was unloaded and stored until it could be sent across to Waterford. At Waterford other warehouses were located down by the outlet of the lake for a like pur- pose. The trip from Salina to Pittsburg required from four to six months; and out of each 100 barrels sent from Salina, 75 were taken out for various charges along the way, leaving but 25 for final delivery. The charges were: freight, Buffalo to Erie, 871/2c; storage at Erie, 121%c; hauling, Erie to Waterford, $1.50; freight, Waterford to Pitts- burg, $1.00.
The first public house in this county was undoubtedly that of Colonel Seth Reed, when he hung his sign, "Presque Isle Tavern", on the front of the hastily contrived bark shack on the beach of the bay at the mouth of Millcreek in July of 1795, boasting accommodations "for man or beast."
In 1795, also, was opened a public house in Waterford by Lieutenant Martin; in 1796 a two-story log building on the southwest corner of Second and Parade Streets, in Erie, built by Colonel Seth Reed, and operated by his son, Rufus S. Reed, as a tavern and store for many years.
In 1800 a third tavern at the northeast corner of Third and French Streets, in Erie, was built by George Buehler, later known as the "Dun- can House", and still later as the "McConkey House", where the county was organized, and which came to be Perry's headquarters in 1813.
In 1805 at the mouth of Walnut Creek, or as then and later called
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"Manchester", by Captain Richard Swan, a log tavern was built where later the first church services were held by Rev. Johnston Eaton, of the Fairview congregation.
In 1806 at North East, or "Burgettstown" as then called, another by Henry Burgett; in 1808 in the same neighborhood the tavern where later stood the "Haynes House", by Lemuel Brown; in 1809, on the Buf- falo Road between Erie and Wesleyville a road tavern and drove-yard by John Ryan; in 1810 a tavern which was very well known, in Waterford, by George W. Reed; and the same year another at Phillipsville by John and David Phillips.
The tavern keepers of those early days were usually the men who had first settled in the community, and were people of more than usual standing in the county, occupying leading positions amongst their fel- lows. Very many such taverns were opened in the days when the high- ways were being located, to accommodate the great movements of people who were traveling about seeking locations and investments in the new country ; and for those whose business it was to traffic in the things produced in the western country and bartered for the products of the eastern settlements. The numbers of these taverns along the Buffalo Road and Ridge Road in this county would seem to most readers almost incredible. It is said that their numbers really rivalled the numbers of the present-day stopping places along those roads for motor tourists.
Some of those whose names have survived to our times are: The "Doty House" and "Keith House" at East Springfield; the "Martin House" at Girard; the "Fairview House" at Fairview; "Swan's Hotel" (still standing) at Swanville; the "Half-way House" (still standing) west of the old Alms House; the "Old Kentucky Home" at Westminster; the "Weigelville House" at Weigelville; the "Ryan" or "Taggart House" east of Erie; "Fuller's Tavern" at Wesleyville; the "Brawley House" at North East; "Martin Strong's" at the high point on the Waterford Turnpike; the "Eagle Hotel" (still standing) in Waterford; the "Robinson House" at Edinboro; the "Sherman House" at Albion; the "Wattsburg House" at Wattsburg; the "Lockport House" at Lockport, or Platea.
In Erie were the "Bell House" built in 1805 at Sixth and French Streets on the site of Becker's store; the "American Hotel" at the south- west corner of State and South Park Row, west; "Dickson's Hotel", built just before the war of 1812 by John Dickson, on the southeast corner of
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Second and French, now owned by the city; the "Dobbins House", where Lafayette was entertained at Third and State; the "Farmers' Hotel" at Fifth and French in 1820, by James Duncan; the "Laird House" in 1829 by Thomas Laird at the southwest corner of Eighth and State Streets; the "Park House" in 1829 by John Morris, where the present City Hall stands.
CHAPTER XVIII
GENERAL ("MAD") ANTHONY WAYNE.
BIRTH-EDUCATION-SURVEYOR-MEMBER ASSEMBLY -- MEMBER COMMITEE OF SAFETY - COLONEL - BRIGADIER-GENERAL - WITH WASHINGTON - COURT- MARTIALED-CAPTURED STONY POINT-DEFEATED INDIANS AT THE MAU- MEE IN AUGUST, 1794-ARRIVES AT ERIE-SICKNESS-DIES IN BLOCKHOUSE -BURIED-GRAVE DISCOVERED-BONES REMOVED-SITE OF GRAVE MONU- MENTED.
Erie County is very rich in historical sites, personages, and passages of early experiences. And none of them perhaps more notable than the pathetic ending of the life of General Anthony Wayne in the lonely log block-house within the stockade on the hill at the Garrison Grounds.
He was born in Eastown Township, Chester County, Pa., Jan. 1, 1745. He obtained a good education, became a surveyor, a member of the Assembly in 1774, of the Provincial Assembly the same year, and one of the Committee of Safety in 1775. He resigned his civil office, studied and practiced military science, and raised a regiment of which he was commissioned colonel. In 1776, with General Sullivan, he par- ticipated in the Battle of Three Rivers, Canada, and afterwards was given command of Ticonderoga and Mt. Independence. In February, 1777, he , was commissioned a brigadier-general, and served with Washington in the New Jersey and Delaware Valley campaigns. While in command of a detachment of 1,500 men at Paoli, some tories betrayed his position, his force was surprised, and a great slaughter occurred. He insisted on a court martial, which Washington granted, and was held entirely blame- Jess; it deciding that he had done everything that an active, brave and gallant officer could have done under the orders he then had. He led the
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right wing of the Germantown attack, and received high commendation from Washington for his ability at Monmouth. His foresight and ability surprised the post, and secured the capture of Stony Point, the strong British position on the Hudson. He had charge of the campaign in Georgia which cleared the south of the British. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Convention in 1789, and strenuously urged the adop- tion of the United States Constitution.
In 1792 President Washington commissioned him a major-general, and he was sent to the northwestern frontiers against the Indians. In August, 1794, he gained such a signal and complete victory over them
GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE
on the Maumee, that they were forced to lay down their arms, and thus brought to the frontiers, Erie County included, peace and quiet to the settlers, and to those who desired to make settlements. Up to that time even the troops under Bissell had been deterred from approaching the lake shore regions, under apprehension of Indian hostilities.
General Wayne was noted for his skill, his promptness, and his dash, in battle; and these qualities had much to do with the subsequent attitude of the Indians, who achieved a great respect and fear for the man who had fought them at the Maumee. These qualities also obtained for him his sobriquet of "Mad Anthony Wayne," which has been attached to his name, and to his memory, ever since. After the battle on the Maumee, he was commissioned to effect a treaty of peace with the In- dians, which he did at Greenville, Ohio, in 1795.
(22)
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In the fall of 1796, he left the western country in a small vessell at Detroit, intending to make his way as soon as possible to his home in Chester County. But during his passage down the lake he was attacked with a severe case of the gout, to which he was somewhat addicted, and arriving at Presque Isle was unable to proceed farther. No remedies being available, either on the ship, or at the fort, he grew rapidly worse. Dr. J. C. Wallace, who had served with him as a surgeon in the Indian campaign, was immediately sent for, he being at Fort Fayette, near Pittsburg, and the most convenient medical man obtainable. Although the doctor set forward post haste, he learned at Franklin of the death of his distinguished friend, on Dec. 15, 1796. General Wayne had been given quarters in the second story of the blockhouse, which had been fitted up as sleeping quarters, and was given every care which was obtainable. He had directed how and where he was to be buried in case of his death, and his wishes were faithfully carried out. Two days after his death his remains were placed in a plain board casket, with his uni- form and boots on, and buried at the foot of the flagstaff of that same blockhouse, with the stars and stripes which he had served and loved so well, flying overhead. Upon the top of the coffin was inscribed, "A. W., O. B., December 15, 1796," with round-headed brass tacks driven into its wood. He was the ranking officer of the United States Army at the time of his death.
His body rested in this frontier grave until the spring of 1809, when the son of the general, Colonel Isaac Wayne, came to Erie on horseback, to have the remains taken home and re-buried in the old family lot in Chester County. On arrival he engaged Dr. J. C. Wallace, who had served with the general in the west, to manage the entire matter of dis- interment, preparation of the remains for transportation, and other mat- ters which were incident to it, stating that he did not wish to be present, or to witness the work, preferring to remember his father as he had seen him when in life.
Upon opening the grave, Dr. Wallace and those helping him, were astonished to find the body in a most remarkable state of preservation, excepting one foot and leg which had suffered the usual process. Most of the clothing and the one boot had almost disappeared. Dr. Wallace then, casting about for means to meet the unexpected situation, endeavored to secure the bones-which were all that had been expected to be found and removed-but found it very hard to secure them alone;
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and as to the remains as found were altogether too bulky for the means of transportation then available, the doctor cast about for a method to make the errand of the son possible, without taking him into consulta- tion. He, surgeon like, then separated the body into convenient sections, and heating the flesh in a large iron kettle, was able to separate the flesh from the bones, and place them in a casket of a size which enabled the son to convey them to the home burial place; the flesh was placed again in the grave.
Colonel Wayne said afterwards, "I always regretted it; had I known the state the remains were in before separated, I think I should certainly have had them again deposited there and let them rest, and had a monu- ment erected to his memory."
The old blockhouse later went into disuse, and not being looked after sank more and more into dilapidation, until one night some boys from Kingtown set it on fire and it was consumed. Even its location was soon almost obliterated. But the story of General Wayne was well known to none better than to Dr. Edward W. Germer, who was Erie's Health Officer, and had charge of the old building at the foot of Ash Street which was used to segregate contagious cases; and its caretaker was a Mr. Katzmeier and his son. Dr. Germer at length set the Katzmeiers to the task of finding the general's grave. Their search was at length rewarded, and digging down they uncovered a piece of board studded with tacks and covered with leather. The brass-headed tack inscription on the piece of old board verified their undertaking. They had found the grave of the hero of Stony Point and the Maumee, and established the site of the ancient block-house. At the bottom the grave was also found the old crossed timbers which had anchored the foot of the flag-staff. But there were found no bones, only some knives and other small implements which testified to the truth of the old story that when the doctor had com- pleted his work, the flesh was replaced in the coffin, which had not been displaced, and the knives and other implements used in the task, were placed in the coffin also, and the grave covered up.
The doctor agitated a movement to properly monument the spot, which resulted in the construction of a replica, perhaps on a reduced scale, of the old block-house where the general had died, upon the very spot of his burial. It stands today as the marker of one of the sacred and revered spots in this county. This new blockhouse is cared for by the veterans at the Soldiers' Home, and contains many relics and memen- toes of General Wayne. The old grave was preserved by being bricked up.
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