USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 35
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The oldest religious society in this county is believed to be the Pres- byterian congregation at North East, founded at the first sacramental occasion of the Lord's Supper in this county, on Sept. 27, 1801, at North East, by Revs. McCurdy, Wick, Boyd and Satterfield, with a congregation of about 300 persons present. Services were held under the trees in the open air, in peoples' homes, and elsewhere until 1804, when a log church was built in what is now Oak Hill Cemetery, at North East, on a five-acre tract given by Henry Hurst. In 1818 this congregation built a large frame church nearly in the center of the present park in the village. In 1832 58 members separated and formed a congregation at Harborcreek. A third, a brick church, was built in 1860, and the one in the park torn down in 1862. This third building was destroyed by the great fire in August, 1884, and a fine brick building was erected in 1885.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
The Methodists were organized in 1812 by Rev. Thomas Branch from Connecticut, and worshipped for ten years without a building, when, in 1822, they erected a brick building on the east side of the park, close to the Presbyterian house of worship. It was taken down in 1852 when a new one was built. The Baptists worshipped without a definite organi- zation until 1832 when they organized a congregation, building two miles east on the Buffalo Road in 1833. This congregation disbanded about
HIGH SCHOOL, NORTH EAST
1850; but another was organized in 1858, a building erected in 1859, and a school room in 1860. Other religious societies here are, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, organized in 1864, its first building put up in 1867, and replaced in 1888. The Episcopal Mission of the Holy Cross, organized about 1872, and its building put up in 1879. St. Gregory's Catholic Church, built in 1866. The German Church of the Evangelical Society organized in 1870, and its church dedicated Jan. 15, 1871. The Catholics have a college in the borough, called St. Mary's College, having acquired the building erected by the Methodists and which had been a one time
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
popular place of instruction. The Methodists had established it and operated it as the Lake Shore Seminary. It was dedicated as a Catholic College by Rev. Tobias Mullen, Bishop of Erie, on Aug. 2, 1881. Its aim is to fit young men for the priesthood in a six years' course of instruction.
One of the finest high school buildings in the county is located in the borough, facing the park. The first school was held in the old log meeting house in the present cemetery from about 1804 to 1817, when a log school house was built not far from the center of the park. In 1824 a lot on the east side of Lake Street was bought, and a small brick build- ing erected for the school in which instruction was given as early as 1826. A large frame building was put up in 1844, which in 1878 was superseded by a large brick structure, all on the site of the small brick building.
Its newspapers have been, the North East Guard, in 1855; the North East Herald, in August, 1867; the Star commenced publication Sept. 26, 1868, by Brainerd & Cushman, the interest of Mr. Brainerd being sold to L. B. Cushman in 1869. Its name was changed to the Sun in March of 1873, and May 2, 1883, it absorbed the Advertiser, which had started in March, 1877. The North East Breeze started May 8, 1893; another North East Advertiser, Dec. 20, 1884. The town has had four destruc- tive fires; one on Dec. 19, 1858, May 23, 1872, summer of 1874, and Aug. 13, 1884, the latter destroying the Presbyterian Church and a large portion of the business section. It was a little North East girl who wrote Abraham Lincoln when he was a candidate for the presidency, that she could get her father and brother to vote for him, if he would only grow a beard; as they vowed they could not vote for such a homely looking man, and she believed that if he let his whiskers grow, he would be a good looking man. His answer to her letter was a promise to do so, and when in 1861 his train stopped at North East, in his address he alluded to it and asked the little girl to come forward, which she did, and he kissed her. She was gratified to see that he had kept his promise.
Union City Borough is 27 miles southeast from Erie on the P. & E. R. R., and on both sides of the South Branch of French Creek. It was founded by the settlement of William Miles, a native of Ireland, who located here in 1796, making a clearing, and building a storehouse at Wattsburg, where he carried on a somewhat extensive business in furs and other merchandise. In 1800 he removed to Union, where he built a combined grist and saw-mill in 1801. It was burned in 1802, rebuilt in
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
1803, and long after burned again, having become known as Church's Mill. William Cook and family came to Union in 1801, following Mr. Miles. The place did not develop until 1855, when H. L. Church, A. L. Summerton and D. M. McLeod came from Warren, rebuilt the mills, sold some lots and started a store. David Wilson, at the instance of James Miles, a son of William Miles, laid out a town site. The influence of James Miles, who had been made a director of the P. & E. R. R., established the route of the railroad through Union City instead of through Wattsburg. The advent of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad brought further development, and the oil industry with some refineries located here, gave added values to the properties. Prior to Drake's discovery of oil at Titus- ville, the inhabitants at Union had been in the habit of gathering the oil from the surface of the water on the creek at Union, and several wells were later sunk here. The town is the seat of a very extensive chair manufacturing business, several manufactories being located here. It has suffered severely from fires, one in the morning of April 24, 1879, on Main Street; one on Monday, July 24, 1882, destroying eight build- ings ; one on Wednesday, May 28, 1884; another on the afternoon of Jan. 9, 1895; and several since that time. A destructive flood visited the town Feb. 4, 1882, another in June, 1892, the latter being the one which swept over a great part of the state.
The first successful school was opened about 1820 in a building on High Street; the first tavern was opened by David Jones in 1829; the first store was started in 1834 by Fleming & Brewster, of Erie.
The first newspaper was the Union Mills Bulletin, started by Wil- liam C. Jackson in 1865, later becoming the Star, and finally becoming merged with the Republican at Corry. The Union City Times, estab- lished November, 1870, which was printed in the Dispatch office in Erie for two years. This paper and the Corry Republican were moved to Erie, becoming the Argus May 1, 1875. The Times was re-established by Mr. Persons Aug. 12, 1875. In February, 1875, L. B. Thompson moved the Enterprise from Waterford to Union City, and in November, 1877, it was taken to Corry, and became the Corry Herald. The Advertiser started in the summer of 1874, and suspended when the Enterprise came to town. Early in 1879 the Record was started as a Union City circula- tion of the Corry Herald, and in the fall combined with the Times.
This borough supports Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Catholic and United Brethren societies. The Presbyterians organized
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
with nine members in 1811 through the services of Rev. John Matthews. Built the first church in 1831, the later one was dedicated Feb. 24, 1874, and a chapel given by Mrs. Jane Gray in 1879. The Methodists were organized by Rev. Ira Eddy in 1817, Rev. John P. Bent being the first pastor; built their first house in 1847, and the second in 1862. The Bap- tist congregation was started with 11 members in August, 1859, and in 1862 Rev. A. D. Bush became the pastor, who stimulated the erection of
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HIGH SCHOOL, UNION CITY
a church home for them. The United Brethren were organized about 1872, building the church in 1876. Episcopal services were held here in 1866 in the old town hall, a lot was bought in 1877, and their building consecrated by Bishop Whitehead on St. Matthews' Day, Sept. 21, 1893. The Catholics organized about 1857 from families who had settled here in 1854. Their church was built about 1860, and the organization is known as St. Teresa's Church, to which is attached an academy and con- vent. Evergreen Cemetery was originated by David Wilson who laid it out, and was its first president. It was dedicated in September, 1865, is
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
on the southeast edge of the town, and forms the principal place of burial for the borough and the township. The Soldiers' Monument in it was dedicated on May 30, 1884. The Catholic Cemetery is near by, and was consecrated about 1860.
Waterford Borough had a settlement of Indians when the French came in the spring of 1753. The French arrived from Presque Isle where they had established a fortified post that spring, and a rough trail was cut from there through the woods to LeBoeuf on the head waters of French Creek, called by the Indians "Innungah", by the French "Le- Boeuf River", or the "Riviere aux Boeufs", from the herds of cattle (buffaloes) roaming about. Later the main stream became the Innungah, or Weningo, developing into Venango finally; and the outlet of the lake became LeBoeuf Creek, instead of river, as the French king was led to believe it, and the lake likewise became LeBoeuf Lake. The French speedily established a stockade, within which they constructed a block- house, and other buildings, including a small log chapel. This military .post was visited on Dec. 11, 1753, by George Washington to protest the French "invasion of the English country". A more extended description of this French fort and its history will be found elsewhere in this work. The place was abandoned by the French in 1760, manned by the English in 1860, attacked and destroyed by the Indians June 17, 1763. This old enclosure is said to have embraced the land east of the present main road, and the spring below the Mckay home.
After the Indian uprising under Pontiac, and the destruction of the fort at that time, the place rapidly declined to utter desolation. No white folks visited this county, and until the troops came in May, 1794, the place was a mere wilderness. The troops being unequal to meeting the Indian opposition here, remained at LeBoeuf until the spring of 1795; Andrew Ellicott, who was with them, laid out a town, giving it the name of Waterford. Lots were advertised for a sale to be held in Phila- delphia, and on Aug. 3 and 4, 1796, the Harrisburg and Presque Isle Company bought lot 11 for $15; lot 13 for $16; lot 16 for $45; lot 17 for $59; lot 168 for $20.
The first settlers under American dominion were Lieutenant Martin, the commander of the troops at the fort, who concluded to stay; James Naylor, one of the Land Commissioners, who were here in 1794, remain- ing the winter and determining to stay the following spring. Lieutenant Martin opened the first tavern, and Naylor started the first store in the
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place. Captain Martin Strong came from Connecticut in 1795, and Amos Judson from New England the same year. Mr. Judson accompanied Col. Seth Reed in a sail boat from Buffalo. In 1796, John Lytle, Robert Brotherton, John Lennox and Thomas Skinner; in 1797, John Vincent and Wilson Smith; in 1798, Aaron Himrod and the Lattimores; in 1801-2, Captain John Tracy, William Boyd, Sr., his son David, John and James Boyd and their three sisters, and James Anderson; in 1804, or 1805, came James and William Benson; in 1809, Eliachim Cook came over from Mckean Township; in 1799, perhaps earlier, George W. Reed; in 1812, John Henry and Levi Strong; in 1813, the Mckay family; perhaps also others and later the immigration became greater. The salt trade was a large factor in the early business here, and John Vincent became wealthy in it. The first death was in 1795, of John Rutledge, a boy who was wounded at Erie where his father had been killed. He was buried just outside the fort. The first birth was John R. Black, son of William, Aug. 8, 1795, in the fort. The second was Katharine Himrod, daughter of Aaron, in 1799. Robert Brotherton built the first saw-mill in 1797, and in 1802, the first grist-mill, both near the station. Mr. Brotherton also kept a tavern from 1815 to 1817, the lot later being occupied by his son's residence. The second saw-mill was built by James Boyd on Boyd's Run west of the borough, at a very early date. George W. Reed started a tavern on Union Street, back of the Judson Block, but it burned down. The stone hotel was built by Thomas King in 1826, opened in 1827. On the occasion of the visit in 1825 of General Lafayette to this county, he was attended by his son, a companion and a servant. They were enter- tained in the hotel of George W. Reed, which then stood just east of the Judson Block on First Street. They arrived on June 2d, and staid in the hotel that night, proceeding to Erie the following morning. A barn stood until recently, and is believed to be still standing, on the west side of the Meadville Road south of the borough, which bore an inscrip- tion to the effect that it was built the year of this visit.
Captain John Lytle, one of the pioneer settlers, became a man of considerable influence and worth in the county. He had been the com- mandant at Fort Freeland on the west branch of the Susquehanna in 1779, and when that place capitulated to the British June 30, 1779, he and William Miles, and four of the Vincent men were made prisoners, marched through the wilderness to Niagara, and detained until peace was declared. Mrs. Lytle with her children operated their farm with the
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
help of a hired man, who obtained credence that Mr. Lytle had died, by circulating letters to that effect, and Mrs. Lytle finally becoming con- vinced of the fact, was prevailed upon to marry the imposter. She and her husband became reconciled on his return, and the family were the most highly esteemed of any of the early settlers. Their son John be- came the originator of the Erie and Waterford Turnpike Company, and a most prominent man in the county.
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WATERFORD ACADEMY CENTENNIAL, AUG. 22-23, 1922
This town for many years was the principal port of entry for goods and supplies, it being at the head of water traffic from the Ohio River, hence from Pittsburg. The iron, flour, bacon, glass and cloth came from Pittsburg on roughly built flat boats similar to the old French Batteaux, which were poled up and down the streams. These boats were about 15 feet in width by some 75 feet in length. Many of these boats were built at Waterford, floated down the river and sold at Pittsburg where they were loaded with coal and sent down the Ohio to southern cities where most of them were broken up for firewood. The trip from Waterford to
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Pittsburg and return consumed about three weeks. Keel-boats were in- troduced of much better construction, which were pushed by poles in the hands of the crews, and were floated both up and down the streams. A very considerable terminal dock, with spacious warehouses, was for years situated at the out-let of the lake, where the boats took and dis- charged their freight. Their trip down was usually with loads of salt which was brought to Erie from Onondaga, N. Y., hauled with teams to Waterford, and shipped down the streams to Pittsburg. As the depth of water determined the times for sending or receiving boats, the trade was somewhat erratic; and many boats would be prepared, loaded, and await the rise of the streams, when a whole flotilla would proceed upon the tide. The salt trade began about 1812, and continued until 1819. Those great warehouses were used for years for holding religious serv- ices in, until churches were built in the village. In the War of 1812 most of the supplies for the army and navy were freighted to Waterford over this route, and then hauled across to Erie, where they were again shipped to the west. For this war a brigade of Pennsylvania troops was col- lected and organized in 1812 on a plot of land near the present station.
The village was incorporated as a borough April 8, 1833, covers about 500 acres, and in 1840 had a population of 403. It is 14 miles south of Erie by the State Highway, and 191/2 by railroad. For years the present business street was nothing more than a common road leading through the woods, the principal business being along the creek, and later ex- panding to First Street. The earliest school building was the customary log structure between Sixth and Seventh Streets on Walnut, and the second one stood very nearly at the center of the Diamond.
The Waterford Academy was incorporated in 1811, the old stone building having been completed in 1822, the same year as the Erie Academy. The first school was opened in it in 1826, and a brick addition erected about 1859. It was perhaps the most famous and prosperous of all the schools in the county. It is still a cherished institution of learn- ing in the borough. The First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1809, its house of worship erected in 1834. The United Presbyterian congregation organized in October, 1812, their church started in 1835, completed in 1838, enlarged in 1859, and in 1868, and later a chapel added. St. Peter's Episcopal congregation was started in February, 1827, the corner stone of their building laid in the fall of 1831, the building consecrated by Bishop Onderdonk in November, 1832, and reconstructed
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
in the fall and winter of 1871-72. The M. E. congregation was organized in 1835, although meetings had been occasionally held ever since 1814; their church was built in 1854.
Its newspapers have been the Waterford Dispatch, founded by Joseph S. M. Young in 1851 or 52. It supported the "Rippers" at Erie during the railroad war, and thus obtained a great circulation. It was removed to Erie in 1856, and became the Dispatch which later merged with the Gazette, and still later with the Herald. B. F. H. Lynn worked on it at Waterford, and went with it to Erie, becoming a newspaper man of dis- tinction. Mr. Lewis brought his Edinboro Museum over from Edinboro and disposed of it to Amos Judson who changed it to the Enquirer. On May 7, 1874, L. B. Thompson started the Enterprise, which in 1875 was moved to Union City. On Jan. 26, 1878, Dr. D. P. Robbins established the Waterford Astonisher, it becoming the Leader on Dec. 16th of that year under Mr. A. F. Moses, which is still one of the leading county papers.
The town has had more than a fair share of disastrous fires. They ยท have been the fires of March 5, 1865, destroying the whole of the west side of High Street from Second alley to Judson's store; Dec. 31, 1873, Feb. 4, 1881, and Feb. 22, 1883. A recent first was that of Sunday morn- ing, March 3, 1895, consuming the buildings between First and Second Streets on the west side of High Street. By August the owners had re- constructed the section with a much better class of buildings, being of brick, than they had been before.
Waterford celebrated the centennial of its founding by appropriate exercises on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1895. Another celebration of historic significance was the great gathering which dedicated the monument to General George Washington, erected upon the site of the old French fort which he visited as the ambassador of Governor Dinwiddie of Vir- ginia in 1753. This dedication took place on Aug. 30, 1922. It was erected by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, the people of Water- ford, and friends. It stands in the center of the old stockade, and in line with the old trail from Erie.
Wattsburg Borough was first settled by William Miles in 1796, build- ing a storehouse for the purchase of furs. It is 20 miles east of Erie on a fine concrete road. The first permanent bridge erected in this county is said to have been built by the county over the West Branch of French Creek at this place at the persuasions of William Miles. That same year (28)
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
of 1822 William Miles built a saw-mill and a grist-mill here, and also prevailed upon Lyman Robinson at North East to move over and put up a tavern. The town was named by Mr. Miles in honor of his father-in- law, Mr. David Watts, of Carlisle. For many years the weekly mail was carried from Erie to Wattsburg by a man on foot, walking the whole distance. It was incorporated as a borough in 1833, having then a popu- lation of but little over 100.
This place organized a Presbyterian congregation in 1826, which is the logical successor of the old Middlebrook congregation, a sketch of which will be found elsewhere. Its first building was put up about 1828, its second in 1855. This congregation was recognized by the Erie Pres- bytery in November, 1833, as a separate organization.
The Baptists organized their congregation here April 6, 1850. Its house of worship was built in 1851. The Methodists were organized by Elder Knapp, a missionary here in 1820. Its first house was built in 1831, and the second in 1861.
Wattsburg has successfully maintained an active and aggressive agri- cultural society for many years. Its first fair having been in the fall of 1883. The town is in the midst of a great dairying section, producing excellent cattle, milk, butter and cheese. This has largely determined the character of its industries. The first Temperance Society in the county was organized in Wattsburg in 1828. As a sample of the ambi- tions of the locality, and of the calibre of its people, it may be mentioned that in 1832 a movement was projected for the formation of a new county with Wattsburg as the county seat, and to be called Miles.
Wattsburg has had several newspapers, amongst them being the Chronicle, started in 1878 by W. A. Moore, published for about one year; the Occasional, started in 1881 by R. P. Holliday, succeeded by the Senti- nel, established by Dr. S. F. Chapin in 1884.
Cranesville Borough was founded by Fowler Crane, a son of Elihu Crane, who settled on a tract in 1800, which has become the site of this borough. He laid out a village, built a tavern, and established a store and "Ashery" here at a crossroads where the Girard and Meadville Road crosses the Crane Road. It is 28 miles southwest from Erie, on the line of the old canal. The Bessemer Railroad runs through the town. A school house stood where the later post office site was, in very early days. The Methodist Church was erected in 1874, when the old church
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
on the hill south of town was removed to Springfield. This place was incorporated as a borough March 30, 1912.
Wesleyville Borough is on the Buffalo Road four miles east of the business section of Erie; but now the limits of the two corporations adjoin each other. It was laid out in 1828 by John Shadduck, who owned the farm thus plotted out. He built a grist-mill here in 1823, and two years later a saw-mill, both being on the west bank of the Four-mile Creek. Its name is in honor of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. It has a very fine hotel, an excellent school, and paved streets. Its north- ern limits adjoin the General Electric Company's great manufacturing site, and this has given the place a decided impetus. Its stores are amongst the most up-to-date in the county. Its Methodist Church was built in 1828 by John Shadduck, and rebuilt by the congregation in 1866. The Baptists were organized in February, 1891, as a mission of the First Baptist Church of Erie; their church was built in 1891, and dedicated in May, 1892. In 1893 it was recognized as a regular church organiza- tion. The land for it was donated by Dr. Applebee. The first school here was in operation as early as 1811, standing just opposite where Kelly's store used to be. The place became incorporated as a borough on May 31, 1912.
CHAPTER XXIX
CITY OF CORRY.
LOCATION-NAMED FOR HIRAM CORRY-RAILROADS-BOROUGH AND CITY CHAR- TERS-EARLY INDUSTRIES-NEWSPAPERS-BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS-PO- LITICAL ACTIVITIES-FIRST TYPEWRITER-EARLY SCHOOLS-CHURCHES.
Corry is the second city, that is, one of the two cities, in Erie County. It is in the extreme southeastern part of the county, and was taken from the territory originally within the limits of Brokenstraw Township, one of the original townships of the county, and which was later separated into the two townships of Wayne and Concord.
In 1861 the two railroads then known as the Sunbury and Erie, and the Atlantic and Great Western, crossed each other's rights of way in a swamp in this corner of the county, and had established a little frame ticket office at the junction point, of a triangular form, and was known as the "Atlantic and Erie Junction." Little by little other shanties were constructed in the vicinity, until a small huddle of them was formed at the crossing. In October, 1861, the Atlantic and Great Western Rail- road Company purchased a small piece of land from Hiram Corry, the owner of the tract about the junction, and General Manager Hill was pleased to name the station for Mr. Corry. The little buildings increased in number, spreading out along Main Street, and better ones came to be built, until Samuel Downer, a wealthy Boston oil operator and refiner, desired a location for a refinery near the oil fields and which had the advantages of good transportation, believing he would thus have a big advantage in the business. His agent, Mr. W. H. L. Smith looked over the field, and selected this junction for the site, purchasing fifty acres of Mr. Corry's lands for a mere trifle, and secured Mr. Eugene Wright, of Boston, to lay out the tract in lots. This occurred in the summer and
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