USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 34
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A. H. Caughey was a man of very versatile abilities. He was an excellent writer of both prose and verse. Literary pursuits always at- tracted him, and for a while he, with Mr. McCreary, conducted a book ยท store in Erie. He was one of the instructors in Lafayette College, at Easton, for several years. He not only wrote and taught, but he con- tinued his studies and in his later life became a minister of the gospel in the Presbyterian Church, preaching in Erie and the vicinity as a supply, or to fill temporary vacancies. He was universally beloved.
Henry Catlin, editor of the True American, was a gentleman of ex- ceptionally pleasing personality. He fearlessly voiced the sentiments of the Abolitionists in this county when it was very diplomatic to refrain from those expressions. It mattered little to him whether his views would be productive of lucrative profit to himself or his business; but believed in heroically advocating what he conscientiously believed to be the right, willy nilly. He was one of the active partisans of the down- trodden African Race, and often risked his life, as well as his liberty, in assisting the race, as well as fugitive individuals of that race, in their efforts to obtain freedom from the condition of slavery. He was an ac- tive promotor of "The Underground Railroad", which had several impor- tant stations in Erie and throughout the county. It is related of him that once he secured the consent of Mr. Frederick Douglass, an eloquent freedman, to deliver an address in Erie. Upon the announcement through his paper to that effect, a violent storm of protest was raised by the numerous supporters of slavery in this county. They served express
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notice upon him that if he dared to bring "that nigger" into Erie and introduce him on the platform, that his life would be in serious danger. But Henry Catlin was not the man to be swayed by such threats, or indeed by any threats. He was a man of conviction, and wholly fearless in asserting his views and principles. Therefore, when Mr. Douglass alighted from the train at the Union station he found Mr. Catlin await- ing him. The two walked down State Street arm in arm, with Mr. Catlin carrying the traveling bag of the distinguished colored man with as little reluctance or timidity as though his guest were the President of the United States. A great meeting was held at which Henry Catlin intro- duced his colored friend, amidst vociferous applause from the audience, with not the least attempt to intimidate or embarrass him or his guest, so great was the admiration of the populace for the display of courageous conviction on the part of their otherwise popular townsman. When the first shot of the Rebellion was fired, Henry Catlin felt that the mission of his paper had been fully accomplished, and that the task of complet- ing the work was in the hands of the lawfully constituted authorities, in whom he reposed full confidence of ultimate success, and he ceased the publication of the True American, which had never paid its expenses. It is believed that the citizens of Erie achieved a more patriotic sense of their responsibility, and a keener conscience in public matters than they would have had without the life and services of Mr. Henry Catlin.
Sidney Kelsey was another newspaper man of worthwhile character, although modest about his own work. It was he who later acknowledged the authorship of the "E-pistol of John", an article which created a near- riot upon its appearance in the local news columns. But he did not have sufficient courage to own its authorship until many years after its perpe- tration.
James R. Willard came to the old Dispatch with Mr. Eben Brewer, both of whom were most splendid citizens and gentlemen. Mr. Willard soon left the business of publishing the news, and accumulated a large fortune in Chicago.
Mr. Eben Brewer, who came with Mr. Willard to the Dispatch, was really more of the diplomat, than a newspaper man. But his work on the Dispatch was of real worth, and his service to this community was of inestimable value. He was later appointed United States Commissioner at the Paris Exposition, as well as at the one at Vienna. He also filled with much credit, a very responsible position in the Columbian Exposi-
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tion at Chicago, in 1893. Later he was in charge of the mail service in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, laboring constantly and assidu- ously in the performance of the work of his position, and in addition strove to serve his countrymen who were in the military and naval serv- ice in that struggle; seeking out those who were needy and were suffering, and doing all in his power to assist and comfort them. He expended him- self in such service, and being worn with overwork, contracted the yellow fever in Cuba, and died there, a heroic sacrifice to his country's need.
D. S. Crawford, who once "covered" the news field here for the Herald, and later for the Times, was by instinct a military man, and on the side as it were, enthusiastically drilled with the various military or- ganizations, especially the State Militia and "The Governor's Guard", until his opportunity came in the Spanish-American War. He welcomed duty in that war, and stayed in the service of his country at the close of it, by military duty in the Phillipines with the American Army of Occu- pation, charged with the duty of bringing about order and a sense of respect for law amongst the inhabitants of that disturbed group of islands. . He is still serving his government in that far-off place. To his friends he has always been familiarly known as "Dock" Crawford; while in the army he is known as "Major Crawford".
H. C. Missimer and Prof. James R. Burns, were the honored origi- nators of the Erie Evening Herald; but both were far better known as Superintendents of Public Instruction in the City of Erie; Mr. Burns serving as such and being succeeded by Prof. Missimer.
John H. Kelly, one of the originators of the Times, left that paper for what he believed to be a more lucrative position in the newspaper field in Chicago, where he still pushes the pen. He was perhaps the best informed man upon local doings and past happenings in this county that . we have ever produced; and his frequent articles published in the Times upon Erie County items of historical interest have contributed not a little to the fund of historical data available to the future searcher.
Mr. John Miller is another name which the Erie County historian delights to honor, as well in the department of history, as in that of newspaper literature. Mr. Miller was a man of versatile abilities. He came here from the Providence Journal, and served upon the Dispatch after working with Mr. Frank A. Crandall on the Gazette in 1875 and afterwards. After a term with the old Dispatch, he went to the newer Times, where he served creditably for a term, during which he was a
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persistent gatherer of historical data from all over the county. He was foremost in the Erie County Historical Society, and became its efficient secretary, serving in that office until his death. Out of his accumulation of historical data he was induced to compile the historical narrative for a History of Erie County, which was published in two volumes in 1909 by The Lewis Publishing Co. of Chicago. It is one of our very valuable and standard histories of this county.
And last, but far from least, was Mr. Frank H. Severance, who served on the Sunday Gazette for a period, with signal ability. In 1882 he went to Buffalo and engaged with the Buffalo Express, and soon after origi- nating and founding the Illustrated Express of that city, from the model of which has been founded many other illustrated journals of nation- wide influence and popularity. He is now the Secretary of the Buffalo Historical Society, and is the author of many works sponsored by that energetic society, in the creation of which he has succeeded in unearth- ing and placing before an appreciative reading public much data con- cerning the region having Buffalo as a geographic center.
CHAPTER XXVIII
BOROUGHS.
ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS-BOROUGHS OF ERIE, ALBION, EAST SPRINGFIELD, EDIN- BORO, CRANESVILLE, ELGIN, FAIRVIEW, GIRARD, LOCKPORT, MIDDLEBORO, MILL VILLAGE, NORTH EAST, NORTH GIRARD, UNION CITY, WATTSBURG, WATERFORD, WESEYVILLE-EARLY SETTLERS IN THEM-THEIR FIRST MILLS, STORES, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS-THEIR CHURCHES, PAPERS, CEMETERIES.
Prior to 1803, this county formed a part of sundry and various larger municipal divisions of the state. In that year this county was organized with full county powers, privileges, and officers.
Upon its first separate organization in 1803, there were 16 townships in the county, viz: Brokenstraw, Beaver Dam, Coniaute, Conniat, Elk Creek, Fairview, Greenfield, Harbor Creek, LeBoeuf, Mill Creek, McKean, North East, Springfield, Union, Venango, Waterford. Of the above the first, third, fourth and fifteenth were Indian names; the second from the works of the Beaver in that section; the fifth from the creek which was named for the herds of Elk which used to resort thereabouts; the sixth from the "Fairview" which Captain Swan and Colonel Forster ob- tained at the mouth of Walnut Creek, which dubbed it this name; the eighth arose from an error which exchanged the names of the creek in Erie at the "harbor" for the one eight miles east known as Mill Creek in the very early times; the ninth a French name coined for the locality because of the herds of "Boeufs" or beeves which they saw in the vicin- ity ; the tenth from the same error aforesaid; the eleventh named for the second governor of the commonwealth; the twelfth, for its "North East" location in the county, as well as in the state; the fourteenth from the Union of Mills at that place; the sixteenth for the ford of the waters
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there, or as some maintain, in honor of the memories of the settlers for Waterford, Ireland, their former residences.
Brokenstraw was changed for Concord in 1821; Amity was formed from a part of Union in 1826; Wayne was carved from Concord in 1826; Girard was formed from Elk Creek, Fairview and Springfield in 1832; "Coniaute" was changed to Washington in 1834, in honor of the Presi- dent; Beaver Dam was changed to Greene in 1840, in honor of General Greene; Franklin was formed out of Washington, McKean and Elkcreek in 1844; Summit came from Greene, Waterford and Mckean in 1854.
There are two cities in the county, Erie and Corry.
Boroughs: Albion, East Springfield, Edinboro, Cranesville, Elgin, Fairview, Girard, Lockport, Middleboro, Mill Village, North East, North Girard, Union City, Wattsburg, Waterford and Wesleyville.
Erie was incorporated as a borough in 1805, having been a part of Millcreek Township up to that time; it was divided into two wards in 1840; granted a city charter in 1851; divided into four wards in 1858; South Erie separated from Millcreek as a borough in 1866, and consoli- dated with the City of Erie in 1870, forming the fifth and sixth wards of the same. Additions have been made from time to time from the territory in Millcreek. The various boroughs have been incorporated as follows: Waterford, 1833; Wattsburg, 1834; North East, 1834; Edin- boro, 1840; Girard, 1846; Albion, 1861; Middelboro, 1861; Union Mills, 1863; Fairview, 1868; Mill Village, 1870; Lockport, 1870; Elgin, 1876; East Springfield, 1887; Cranesville, March 30, 1912; Wesleyville, May 31, 1912; North Girard, 1925; Corry, 1863, and granted a city charter in 1866, and has four wards. The name of Union Mills was changed to Union City July 4, 1871.
Albion Borough .- This borough is 25 miles southwest from Erie, at the junction of the East Branch of Conneaut Creek with Jackson's Run. It was first settled by Thomas Alexander, Patrick Kennedy, William Paine, Lyman Jackson and Ichabod Baker. Lyman Baker's son, Michael, built the first saw-mill, but did not settle until 1815. William Sherman came in 1827, Thomas Thornton from England settled about 1857. Others com- ing later were E. W. Stuntz in 1815; Dr. J. S. Skeels, 1848; Dr. P. D. Flower, 1855; Dr. L. D. Davenport, 1850; and Jeduthan Wells, 1857.
Amos King in 1828 built the first grist-mill, which was burned July 15, 1889; and Lyman Jackson taught the first school.
The place was known for a long time as Jackson's Cross Roads, and
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its post office has been called variously Jacksonville, Joliet, and Albion. It was a station on the Erie Extension Canal, which was an inducing cause for its existence and growth. The Denio fork and handle factory was located here and operated until burned, when it was removed to Miles Grove.
The religious needs of the place were early cared for by the Metho- dist Episcopal, Congregational, Disciple, and Catholic organizations. The M. E. Church stood about three-fourths of a mile west of the borough, was built about 1835, and was occupied until about 1855. Another class was formed and held services in the academy until 1855, when a church was built in the town, dedicated by the honored Calvin Kingsley, and was enlarged in 1894. The Disciple organization was effected in the spring of 1880, by Rev. Clarence J. Cushman, and erected a small frame church. The Congregational society was formed Jan. 23, 1893. Catholic services have been conducted here from Crossingville, usually, from a very early day.
A woolen mill was built in 1840, by W. H. Gray. It burned in 1876. Thomas Thornton rebuilt it in 1880 and operated it. An oar factory was built here by Henry Salisbury and Reuben McLallen in 1859, was burned March 1, 1868, rebuilt the same year by Frank Wells, and later burned again. In 1895 a lumber mill, a saw-mill, hoop-mill, and a creamery were established. The town has two banks, a good hotel, and two newspapers, the Albion Blizzard and the News. The Erie County Enterprise was established here by J. W. Britton and F. J. Dumars on June 15, 1877, and failed in 1880. The Blizzard was established May 25, 1882, by E. C. Palmer and E. F. Davenport.
Albion was formed from a part of Conneaut Township and incorpo- rated in 1861 with a population of 443 inhabitants, and is exactly a mile square. Its first Burgess was Perry Kidder, elected March, 1861.
East Springfield was organized as a borough Sept. 5, 1887, with a population of about 400. It is on the Ridge Road, 21 miles west from Erie. It was taken from Springfield Township. An academy was built here in 1856, and was a noted school in its day. The cemetery was originally the burial ground of the Presbyterian Church, which was established in a log building here in 1804, a congregation organized in 1806, and a larger frame building erected in 1844. In the northeast cor- ner of this cemetery used to be well seen the remains of a Mound Build- ers' Circle enclosing about a half-acre, one of the series of four similar
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ones from western Girard Township to Springfield, those in Springfield being in the cemetery, on the Oney farm a mile southwest of East Spring- field, and on the McKee place a half-mile further west; all in a direct southwest and northeast line, with earthen banks about three feet in height and six feet thick. A Methodist Episcopal church built its present building about 1866.
Edinboro, 20 miles south of Erie, at the outlet of Lake Conneauttee, was formed from Washington Township, incorporated by the act of the legislature in 1840, enclosing some 500 acres of fine land. It is two miles from the line between Erie and Crawford Counties, and is the site of the State Normal School for the Twelfth District, which was recognized as a normal school on Jan. 26, 1861. Professor J. A. Cooper was its first prin- cipal, who served it well and faithfully. A Presbyterian society was or- ganized here prior to 1810, and its building erected in 1836, the first in the place. In 1837 or 1838, this congregation split into New and Old Schools; the New School erecting a building in 1854, and in 1855 the Old School also built. The Baptist people bought the Old School building at the Union of the New and Old Schools. The Methodists organized about 1829, and built in 1838. Its building was later sold for a Town House and in 1863 their new one was built. The Baptists organized a society about 1838, the Adventists about 1863, putting up a church build- ing in 1864.
The original cemetery plot was given for the purpose by William Culbertson and has been in use for many years. A new one has been acquired larger than the first.
The town has had several newspapers; the Native American, the Gem, the Museum, in 1855; the Express, in 1859; the Edinboro Independ- ent, February. 1880; the Conneauttee Wave, June, 1893. A Fair Asso- ciation used to hold fairs at Edinboro.
Elgin Borough was formed out of the western part of Concord Town- ship, in the winter of 1876, comprising about a mile square. A saw- mill and a grist-mill were established on the creek at a very early day by Joseph Hall, and the place became first known as Halltown; on the advent of the railroad it became Concord Station, and when incorporated became Elgin. A very attractive cemetery is maintained. The Meth- odists organized a class near by in 1854 in a school house; in 1858 re- moved to Elgin School House, later to the Disciple Church. They later
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bought the Presbyterian meeting house at Beaver Dam and moved it to the borough.
Fairview Borough was incorporated in 1868, with an area of a mile square and a population of about 400. It is on the Ridge Road, 12 miles west of Erie, and its first settlers were the Sturgeons who built a small log tavern on the bank of Trout Run by the Ridge Road, kept by William Sturgeon, who later built a better one near by. S. C. Sturgeon built the Monitor House. A store, blacksmith shop and other village structures soon followed. William Sturgeon bequeathed about 50 acres of land and 20 town lots to the Presbyterian Congregation, on condition that a house of worship be built within one year, otherwise it went to other parties. The union of the two bodies on Jan. 6, 1870, silenced the contention over the claims to the legacy, and the united congregation worshipped as one from that day on. The Methodist Church here is the result of a class formed in the home of Justice Osborne in 1817, its first building erected in 1836 just outside the village, the second in 1854. Mt. Nabo church, of the Evangelical Association, originated from the visit of Rev. J. Sie- bert in 1833. The Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized in 1856. This borough has one of the most attractive cemeteries in the county. The first burial was that of Mrs. Milton Sturgeon.
The original Fairview was at the mouth of Walnut Creek, so named by Captain Richard Swan and Colonel Thomas Forster, afterwards be- coming known as Manchester, which name that locality still retains. The village was first called Sturgeonville, and later incorporated as Fairview.
Girard Borough began in the settlements there of Messrs. Wells, Clark, Laughlin and Wolverton at a very early day. It was largely in- cluded in the farm of John Taylor who had the only building there in a small log dwelling which was superseded when Joseph Taylor bought the place from Daniel Sayre, who had formerly bought it of John Taylor. Mr. Joseph Taylor erected the first frame house in the present borough. The settlement known as Girard was formerly west of the creek, and is now called West Girard. The present attractive borough did not com- mence its settlement until the Erie Extension Canal was built, when a few people commenced to build by the canal, a tavern was erected there, and soon a town site was laid out. It was incorporated in 1846, and in 1850 it was credited with 400 people. It is the home town of the veteran, pioneer, showman and clown, Dan Rice, who made this place his home, and also the place where his shows wintered for many years. Here a number of the pioneer shows were organized, and from here they started
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out on the road, amongst them were Thayer & Noyes', Rice & Fore- paugh's, Anderson & Co.'s, Abe Henderson's, and G. R. Spalding & Co.'s circuses. It was many years widely known as a show town. The first school house in the township was in the former Girard village, was opened in 1809, and taught by John J. Swan, a boy of 16 years. In 1850 the Girard Academy was organized on the stock company plan, and was a very popular school for many years, being turned over in 1862 to the local school board. It has a soldier's monument in the square built by
THE HIGH SCHOOL-
BATTLES MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Dan Rice, the first one erected in the state of Pennsylvania, and perhaps in the whole country. It was dedicated Nov. 1, 1865. In 1893 the Wilcox Library was built, the gift of Robert Wilcox to the public. It is self supporting. Girard is 18 miles from Erie on the Ridge Road. It has a Methodist congregation, organized in 1815, its first church building erected in 1828, and a later one in 1868. The Presbyterian society was organized May 16, 1835, and worships in a handsome edifice built by remodeling the older one, in 1893. St. John's Catholic congregation was organized about 1853. The Universalists organized prior to 1852, and built in 1852. St. Johannis Evangelical Lutheran congregation organized in 1866, and bought the former M. E. building in 1869. The town has the
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Cosmopolite, established in 1867, and still being published; its first news- paper having been the Free Press, started about 1845, succeeded by the Express, which was transformed Nov. 7, 1854, into the Republican, with the slogan, "Independent on all subjects, rabid on none". The present publication is entitled the Cosmopolite-Herald.
Lockport Borough started about 1840 when the canal was being built, and grew around a series of 28 locks in that waterway, in a distance of but two miles, each having a rise of about 61/2 feet to lift the boats from the Lake Shore plain to the levels of Conneaut Creek. The village is 22 miles from Erie on the Bessemer Railroad. Here Ezekiel Page, who had invented a way to turn the handle and the blade of an oar in a single operation, built a factory for the purpose, four stories high and 80 by 180 feet in dimensions, which, after his failure and death, was removed to Erie. The town was incorporated as a borough in 1870, with 1,700 acres and a population then of about 500, and was formed out of Elk Creek Township. From the head lock at this town, the old canal had an 11-mile level south to Spring Corners in Crawford County.
Middleboro was formed out of Mckean Township in 1861, about two- thirds of a mile square, on the Edinboro Plank Road, ten miles south of Erie, and had a population in 1870 of 126. The first house in it was built by Benjamin Cullom in 1810. There is a Methodist society here which was organized about 1819 a half mile south of the present borough, holding meetings in school houses until 1857 when their present fine building was put up in the town, and enlarged in 1869. St. Francis Catholic Church was built in 1876, the successor of an earlier place of worship two miles northwest which was dedicated in 1833.
Mill Village Borough is 25 miles south and east of Erie, nearly the center of LeBoeuf Township from which it was taken, and incorporated in 1870. Its name was derived from Mill Run which flows through it and empties into French Creek just below the town, and which in turn derived its name from three saw-mills which had been put in along the stream. It is on the A. & G. W. R. R., now the Erie Railroad, and is in the center of a rich grazing country producing milk, butter and cheese. The town was projected by William Kingen, and Judge Benson surveyed it. It has a Methodist congregation organized about 1810 at the Ford settlement on French Creek, and its first building put up in 1850, which being burned a larger one was built in 1878. The Presbyterians were
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organized by Rev. J. M. Gillett from Union Mills in 1870, and their build- ing put ap in 1872. The Free Methodists built their church in 1894. The Catholics hold services by priests from Union City. C. C. Wright started the Mill Village Herald in January, 1876, and sold it to J. S. Ross in October, 1882.
North East Borough is 16 miles east of Erie, on the Buffalo Road, and a mile and a half south of the shore of Lake Erie. The land occu- pied by it was purchased by a settler named Brown who sold the claim in 1804 to Mr. Gibson from "down east". The first dwelling within its limits was a log house built by William Dundass, on the north side of Main Street, and a little east of a streamlet crossing the street, in which was obsermed the first Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, according to Protestant forms, in this county, on Sept. 27, 1801. The property was sold to Henry Burgett in 1806, who opened a tavern at the place, and in 1808 a more commodious tavern was constructed and operated by Lem- uel Brown where the Haynes House later stood. Another tavern had been previously operated by George Lowry, near the park. The first store is said to have been opened on Main Street at the foot of Vine in 1816, by Alexander McCloskey, and shortly, a cluster of buildings having been located about the taverns, it came to be called Burgettstown, after the principal settler. But Mr. Gibson coming to the place, and being a man of considerable push, in 1819 the name was changed to Gibson- ville, until the village was incorporated into a borough Feb. 27, 1834, under the title of North East. In 1852 its borough limits were extended, and later were extended again. Its population in 1840 was 399.
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