USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 36
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
436
437
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
fall of 1861. The Downer Oil Company built a frame office building, a postoffice with Mr. C. S. Harris in charge came to town, and a small refinery was put in operation, known as the "Frenchman's." The fol- lowing year came the erection of the Downer and Kent Oil Works, the Boston Hotel, the Gilson House, and several factories. Residences of a better class, together with the ever-needful stores, were built.
POSTOFFICE, CORRY, PA.
The oil business brought money and enterprise to the junction, real estate sold freely and at enhancing prices, bringing great profit to the people who had laid out the original lots. Here the Brokenstraw flows west and joins the waters of Hare Creek which empty into the south branch of French Creek, each with its wide valley of fertile soil, which was then covered with a dense growth of forest trees. The great trees were cut away, and for some years their mighty stumps were the monu- ments of the former forest greatness. In fact the growth of the little settlement at the junction became so rapid, that the stumps could not be cleared away as fast as the settlement spread out, and the village
438
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
came to be termed the "City of Stumps" in derision for its ambitious pretensions.
Another railroad was built to Titusville and into the oil country in 1862, forming the gateway from the oil fields to the outside world, and the village grew apace.
Its earlier settlers were Mr. Hiram Corry, Amos Heath, Anson John- son, H. D. Francis, Hollis King, Lorenzo Dow, a Mr. Crandall, and Mr. Durham.
VIEW OF PARK, CORRY, PA.
In 1863 a borough charter was obtained, and the first borough elec- tion was held in August. Three years later, in 1866, a charter as a city was secured for it, and in the spring of that year an election elevated W. H. L. Smith to the chair of first mayor of the city. Some of the other earlier mayors of Corry have been, S. A. Bennett, 1867-1868; R. A. Palmer, 1868-1869; F. S. Barney, 1869-1870; M. Crosby, 1870-1872; F. A. Phillips, 1872-1873; A. F. Kent, 1873-1874; B. Ellsworth, 1874-1875; T. A. Allen, 1875-1879; F. Stanford, 1879-1881; J. D. Bentley, 1881-1882; T. A. Allen, 1882-1883; Isaac Colegrove, 1884-1885; J. L. Hatch, 1886; W.
439
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
C. Shields, 1887; W. E. Marsh, 1888; A. F. Bole, 1889; Eli Barlow, 1890; J. M. Lambing, 1891-1892; A. B. Osborne, 1893-1894; R. N. Seavor, 1895; Byron H. Phelps, 1896.
A new city charter was obtained in 1896, and Nathaniel Stone was elected Mayor in 1897 for three years; Richard P. Dawson, in 1900; Frank L. Bliss, in 1903; Guy D. Heath, in 1906; Cassius L. Alexander, in 1909.
Its growth and enterprise were somewhat checked, when the Jay Cooke panic of 1873 swept over the land; but the indomitable enterprise and energy of its people found means to keep on going, and although an effort was made in 1883 to repudiate the bonded indebtedness of the city,
.
THE AJAX IRON WORKS, CORRY, PA.
at the behest of the Supreme Court methods were discovered for re- financing the old indebtedness, and the honor of the city was saved.
Its population in 1870 was 6,809; in 1880, 5,277; in 1890, 5,677; in 1920 it was 7228.
The accident of its location having been a railroad crossing and junc- tion point where the great shipments of oil and its products might be sent east, north and west into all parts of the country, has made it a shipping point of superior advantages for the location there of manu- facturing and other industrial enterprises.
The great Howard Tannery erected here in 1867 has been one of the best equipped works in the country. The Weisser Tannery erected in 1862 by Mr. Auer, has also been a notable one. The Corry Chair Factory incorporated in 1891 for the manufacture of rockers and dining room chairs; the Corry Couch Company incorporated in 1899 for the
440
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
making of patent spring leather and plush upholstered couches; the Corry Upholstery Company incorporated in 1906 for the making of the Leader cotton felt mattresses; the Kurtz Brass Bedstead Company in- corporated in 1905 turns out high grade brass bedsteads; the Tuft Manu- facturing Company was incorporated in 1904 for making mattress tufts; the Ajax Iron Works was established in 1877 and incorporated in 1892, manufactures drilling and pumping machinery; the Climax Machinery Company started in 1868, was bought in 1882 by R. S. Battles, of Girard, who operated it, building geared locomotives for the lumber camps; the Raymond Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1898, for the pro- duction of high grade wire springs; the United States Radiator Company
MUNICIPAL BUILDING, CORRY, PA.
established one of its branches in Corry in 1895 to succeed the Corry Radiator Company which was incorporated in 1893, manufacturing radia- tors and boilers; the McInnes Steel Company originated in Emporium, Pa., in 1895, but was attracted to Corry because of the superior shipping facilities in 1901, and produces tool steel; the Rex Manufacturing Com- pany incorporated in 1902, produces a patent telephone and desk writing tablet, wire springs and metal novelties; the Corry Condensed Milk Com- pany incorporated in 1900, has an output of some thirty brands of this product; and such others as the Oregon Indian Medicine Company, the United States Chair Company, the K. P. L. Furniture Company, the Corry Boiler Works, the Trill Indicator Company, the Corry Chemical Company, the Love Manufacturing Company producing natural gas burners and castings, Corry Pail Company, Losee Wrench Company, H. E. Whittelsey & Sons, Acme Milling Company, Bonnell & Lambing, Rhodes & Carey,
441
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
PLANT OF THE CORRY BRICK . TIEFVU
PLANT OF THE CORRY BRICK & TILE COMPANY, CORRY, PA.
Manufacturers of Clay Products; Organized, July, 1908; Makers of the Famous Rosecraft Rough Face Brick; on the Main Lines of the Pennsylvania and Erie Railroads.
John L. Stone, of Warren, Pa ..
President
Ralph W. Stone, of Warren, Pa. Vice-President
A. J. Hazeltine, of Warren, Pa .. Secretary and Treasurer
D. Warren DeRosay, of Corry, Pa .. General Manager
442
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
and the Corry Brick & Tile Company, are amongst the long list of Corry's industries; some of which are almost world renowned.
Corry's newspapers have been plentiful, and amongst them have been the Petroleum Telegraph in 1863, published by Baldwin & Day; the Corry City News shortly afterwards, published by Stebbins & Larkins; both of these papers became the property of Joseph A. Pain, who re-fitted the plant in a most modern manner, and were the first of Corry's papers. The Itemizer was launched, purchased by Mr. Pain and continued until the panic of 1873 when it ceased to exist, having changed its name to the Corry Blade in the meantime. The Corry Telegraph was printed by Mr. Pain some years, and in 1885 he started the Corry Leader. Wm. C. Plumb launched the Corry Flyer in 1885, which lasted but a short time. The Saturday Democrat began in 1890, and the Corry Journal published by D. M. Colegrove, has been a most influential and successful paper.
Several business organizations have been launched in Corry, amongst them the Corry Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce, organized in 1895; the Business Men's Exchange in 1908, and the Manufacturers' Association of Corry organized in 1908, and have been active and success- ful in advertising the city in the world's places of commerce, and have induced several staunch enterprises to become established at Corry.
Corry has always been prominent in the political activities of this county, and her representative men have been amongst the political lead- ers of the district. Amongst these personages have been Hollis King, one of our Associate Judges; C. O. Bowman, a delegate to the Constitu- tional Convention of 1873; C. O. Bowman, W. W. Brown, Isaac B. Brown, J. D. Bentley, Members of Assembly ; C. L. Baker, District Attorney; T. H. Coggswell, Sheriff; W. T. Brown and W. C. Shields, County Commis- sioners; G. Sid Beavis and S. A. Beavis, Directors of the Poor; D. L. Bracken, H. L. Spiesman and Henry McCray, Jury Commissioners ; M. N. Baker, Factory Inspector.
Mr. Albert Truesdell was perhaps the longest holder of the office of Justice of the Peace the county has ever had, and became a practicing attorney not only in this county, but in the counties of Susquehanna, and some other counties in western Pennsylvania.
The first typewriter that was invented, was in Corry, and became known as the Caligraph. A few of the older operators in the county will remember having used this machine in the good old days. It is affirmed that Mr. Samuel Clemens, the "Mark Twain" of sainted memory, was one of its stockholders, as well as Mr. Yost.
.
443
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Corry instituted public school accommodations as soon as the place was founded, and in 1863 when made a borough, it had the new build- ings on Concord Street which had been put up by the township of Con- cord. John L. Hatch was the first principal. The next one was on an acre of land bought for the purpose at the corner of Washington and Essex streets, and its first principal was Vincent Moses, a young theologi- cal student from Clymer, N. Y. Other schools followed in rapid succession as the growing city required them, and today the school system of Corry compares favorably with any other municipality in the country. In 1902, under the provisions of the new state law, the school district established the Corry Public Library, which was built and outfitted with school funds.
The religious history of Corry really begins with Wayne Township, when in 1845, or so, the first Methodist class was formed there, and a church built in 1860. In 1870, a reorganization took place, becoming known as the North Corry Methodist Episcopal Church, located on Pike Street.
In 1862 an organization occurred which became known as the Corry . M. E. Church, its first house dedicated October 27, 1865, and a new build- ing begun in 1891 of light colored brick, and dedicated September 6, 1903.
The Baptists formed an organization in 1862, its first building put up and dedicated in April, 1865, giving place in 1894 to a new and better one.
On January 18, 1864, the Presbyterians organized a congregation, erected a frame house of worship in the winter of 1865-6, replacing it in 1884 with a handsome structure, and selling the old building to the Hebrew Congregation.
The Emanuel Episcopal congregation was formed in July, 1864, wor- shipping for awhile in a hall; but in September, 1865, they laid the cor- nerstone of their building, completing it the next summer, rebuilding it in 1894.
The United Brethren organized in 1864, building in 1865, removing their location in 1866, losing their building by fire in 1872, and rebuilding at once.
The First Congregational organization was effected in 1864, pur- chased the Christian Church building in 1878, enlarging and remodeling it in 1882.
The German Lutheran Church was dedicated June 3, 1877, and the Danish Lutheran Church, established by A. L. Benze from Erie, in 1890, which worshipped in the building of the German society.
444
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
A Universalist Church was organized March 7, 1877.
The Hebrews formed an organization in 1875, and bought the build- ing of the First Presbyterian congregation in 1883.
The Catholics organized St. Thomas in 1860, dedicating their frame building in September, 1862, laying the cornerstone of a stone building in 1872, and occupying the new building in 1884. They also organized St. Elizabeth's (a German congregation) in 1875, beginning their church building forthwith, completing it in 1876, and consecrating it that Sep- tember.
CHAPTER XXX
-
TOWNSHIPS.
ORIGINAL ORGANIZED TERRITORIES-TOWNSHIPS OF BROKENSTRAW, BEAVER DAM, CONFAUTE, CONNIAT, ELK CREEK, FAIRVIEW, GREENFIELD, HARBOR- CREEK, LE BOEUF, MILL CREEK, MCKEAN, NORTH EAST, SPRINGFIELD, UNION, VENANGO, WATERFORD-CHANGES IN THE TOWNSHIPS-DERIVATION OF THEIR NAMES-THEIR EARLY SETTLERS, MARRIAGES, BIRTHS AND DEATHS-CHURCHES, CEMETERIES, MILLS AND MANUFACTURING-EARLY SCHOOLS.
The territory forming this county was on April 4, 1798, erected into "Erie Township", a part of the County of Allegheny, which had been created Sept. 24, 1788. In this style it remained until March 12, 1800, when it was separately constituted as Erie County, but with Meadville as the seat of justice for some time. On April 2, 1803, this county was fully organized for all purposes, in the house of George Buehler, on the northeast corner of Third and French Streets, in the City of Erie, and since then has been a fully organized municipality.
The county had originally 16 townships, as follows: Brokenstraw, Beaver Dam, "Coniaute", "Conniat", Elk Creek, Fairview, Greenfield, Harbor Creek, "Le Boeuf", Mill Creek, Mckean, North East, Springfield, Union, Venango, and Waterford.
Conneaut Township was one of the original 16, located in the ex- treme southwestern corner of the county, and contains 27,582 acres. Its population in 1810 was 631. The township received its name from the creek, and is an Indian word signifying "snow place", from the fact that snow used to lie longer on the ice of Conneaut Lake than anywhere else in the county. The first settler was Jonathan Spaulding, from New York in 1795. In 1797 the Pennsylvania Population Company sent their
445
446
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
agent, Col. Dunning McNair with a corps of assistants, who established their headquarters at "Lexington" and proceeded to lay out the country into tracts, roads, etc. In 1798 came Abiathar Crane with his brother, Elihu, from Connecticut, who located near Col. McNair, both soon re- moving, the former to Mill Creek in 1809, the latter to Elk Creek in the spring of 1800. In 1800 came Matthew Harrington from Vermont, George Griffey and Andrew Cole from New York, and Stephen Randall and his son Sheffield from New York; in 1801, came Robert McKee from Cum- berland County, Pa., in 1802, Henry Ball from Virginia, Patrick Kennedy and his son Royal from Connecticut, William Payne from the same place, and in 1803, Marsena Keep and son of the same name from New York; in 1804, Joel Bradish and his brothers from New York; in 1806, Lyman Jackson from New York, and in 1810, his son Michael Jackson.
The first male child born was Henry Wood about 1798. The first female children were Ruth and Eliza Crane, daughters, respectively, of Elihu and Abiathar Crane who were born in the same house on the same day, April 20, 1799. The first death seems to have been that of Mrs. Thomas Alexander, in 1801. This township was traversed by the old canal, its longest level having been across it. An old graveyard at Sauls- bury's Bridge contains the remains of a number of the township's early settlers, while at Keepville others were buried. Within the township are the villages of Keepville, named from Marsena Keep who settled here in 1803; Pennside, was started by John Avery Tracy about 1885; Cherry Hill, and Tracy. At the villages are to be found churches of the various denominations, and thriving schools.
Amity Township was taken bodily from Union Township in 1825 and erected into a separate municipality. It is about six and three-quarters miles in length, and four and a quarter miles in breadth. It has two hamlets known as Hatch Hollow and Lake Pleasant (formerly Milltown). The first saw-mill in the township is said to have been established above Milltown on the stream which empties into the outlet of Lake Pleasant, and in 1822 a combined saw and grist-mill erected by Captain James Donaldson on the outlet of the lake. The first settlers were John Fagan, who cleared up a piece of land near Hatch Hollow in 1796. Mr. McGahan came about the same time. Hazen Sheppard and wife came in 1812; it is said that John Carron was the very first permanent settler, but the date of his settlement has been lost. In 1818, Benjamin Hinkston came in from Greene Township, and in 1819 came Charles Capron from New
447
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Hampshire, with Seth Shepardson and Timothy Reed. Capron brought with him his father and mother. In 1820 James McCullough and Captain James Donaldson settled, the latter near Lake Pleasant.
There are a number of family graveyards in use about the town- ship, while a three-acre burial ground is maintained at Hatch Hollow. A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Hatch Hollow prior to 1835 having a frame church dedicated in 1859. Amity was named by William Miles.
Concord Township was originally a part of Brokenstraw, but in 1821 the name was changed from the old Indian title to Concord, which was suggested by William Miles, as was also Union and Amity. In 1826 the township was divided, the northern portion becoming Wayne, the south- ern Concord. It is the extreme southeastern township in the county, and originally contained 25,590 acres. It has been reduced by the separa- tion of Corry Borough in 1863, in 1866 by an addition to Corry, and in 1876 by the incorporation of Elgin Borough.
Its early settlers were William Miles and William Cook, his brother- in-law, who came in June, 1795. In 1800 James and Robert McCray from Ireland, and Joseph Hall from Virginia, moved over from Beaver Dam to the site of the present Elgin. This township is peculiarly adapted to dairying, which is the chief business of the farmers.
Lovell's Station, on the Erie Railroad, consists of a few houses, besides the railroad station. Here a water mill was put up at a very early date by James Crowell. A later saw and planing mill, together with a machine shop were built, and destroyed by fire. D. J. Crowell built a saw-mill here about 1879.
Rev. John Broadhead organized a Wesleyan class here and several years later, about 1840, they built a church on the McCray farm a mile south of Lovell's Station. The Methodists dedicated their frame church building in July, 1879, soon after their society was formed. It is con- nected with the Spartansburg Circuit. Most of the interments of the township take place at Corry, although there is a graveyard attached to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and on the farm formerly of A. Bowers is the old Stewart Cemetery.
Elk Creek Township is one of the original 16 townships, and re- ceived its name from the creek along which the herds of elk once roamed. Its original area was 35,840 acres which has been reduced to 20,696 acres.
448
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Its population in 1820 was 288. Its lands are generally very rolling. A mile east of Wellsburg was a fine deposit of bog iron ore, from which the old furnace of Vincent, Himrod & Co. once obtained a large share of their supply, and was subsequently utilized in making paints.
Its earliest settlers were Eli Colton, from Granby, Conn., in 1797. He was the father of George W. Colton, later of Erie. In the spring of 1798 or 1799, he was followed by George Haybarger and John Deitz, his brother-in-law, from Maryland. The families of these latter came out that fall, under the guidance of Arnestes Deitz, John's father. Mr. Haybarger removed to Millcreek in 1810, where his descendants still live. In 1800 the tract where Cranesville now stands, was taken up by Elihu Crane. Subsequent arrivals were David Randall, Daniel Akers, Mr. Odell and Mr. Harrington in 1800; David Sherrod in 1802; James McCammon and his sons James and Robert came from Ireland at a very early day, and about the same time a man named Wallace. Following these came Jabez Clark, Charles Scott, Maxon Randall, the Spragues and the Shields, and in 1815, Daniel Winchester, Samuel Wells with his sons Otis, Obed, Franklin, Samuel and Julius; and then followed many others whose names are still perpetuated in the county. The Mormons were once quite numerous in one section of the township, and observing one of their baptisms in a stream has given it the name of Mormon Run to this day. The Free-will Baptists, Methodists, and Universalists and other sects have organizations at Wellsburg, the Methodists at Cranesville, Free-will Baptists and Methodists at Pageville, United Brethren between Cranesville and Lockport.
The earliest school is said to have been taught by Maxon Randall in his log cabin about a mile north of Cranesville about 1815. In 1817 Miss Becky Reese is said to have conducted another school in a little log house a mile and a half south of Wellsburg, she afterwards marrying William Monroe.
Wellsburg is a village, and was first settled by Samuel Wells with his five sons in 1815, where his son Franklin built a grist mill and several saw-mills at a very early day. That neighborhood was early supplied with salt by Samuel Wells, who drilled a salt well about a mile south of Wellsburg, and made a limited amount of that article.
Pageville was settled by E. Page who early established here a fac- tory for the manufacture of oars from the extensive white ash and oak forests which then existed in that locality.
449
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Fairview Township was also one of the original townships in this county, and its first settlement seems to be, so far as can be ascertained, that of Francis Scott in 1797. But the real activity towards the settle- ment of this section arose from the organization and activities of the Harrisburg and Presque Isle Company, organized at Harrisburg July 25, 1796, by ten men putting up 200 pounds each (about $1,000) to form capital to be used in exploiting lands at and near Erie. Three of these men were Thomas Forster, Captain Richard Swan, and William Kelso, who were natives of Paxtang, and may have been some of those famous "Paxtang Boys" who so mistakenly attacked a peaceful community of Indians. This company bought a considerable amount of lots and tracts at the Carlisle sale Aug. 3 and 4, 1796, including a large section in Fair- view Township. Colonel Forster, for the company, built the first grist mill in the county in 1798, and the second saw-mill in 1797, at the mouth of Walnut Creek, later called Manchester. Captain Swan brought his family here in 1802 and settled near the lake at Walnut Creek, where he rented and operated the company's mills, and a log tavern built by the company also near the mills, of peeled hemlock logs. Colonel Forster and Captain Swan, when approaching the lake, came out on the high bluff and first beheld a clear view of the expanse of blue water, when the former is said to have exclaimed, "This is the fairest view I have seen yet", and the place was named forthwith. Here in the old log tavern was held the first church services in the western part of the county, resulting in the erection about 1810 of the first church building west of Erie in this entire section.
Amongst those coming in later were, John and George Nicholson, John Kelso, Patrick Vance, Alexander, Patrick and John McKee, William Sturgeon, Jeremiah Sturgeon, and William Haggerty, in 1797; John Dempsey, in 1798; Thomas Kennedy, James Moorhead, and Thomas Mc- Creary, in 1800; S. F. Gudtner, William and James Arbuckle, of Mary- land, and Joseph M. Kratz, a Frenchman, in 1802; Jacob Ebersole, in 1801; James Ryan, in 1805; Rev. Johnston Eaton, in 1806, all followed by John Caughey, Samuel McCreary, Moses Barnett, Arthur Oney, John Silver- thorn, son of James who located in Girard about 1801, David Russell, Sam- uel P. Allen, Daniel Bear and Andrew Sturgeon.
This original township has been largely reduced by the formation of a part of Girard Township out of it in 1832. Its population in 1820 was 536.
(29)
450
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
In the early days each locality had its own small mills for grinding, sawing, and other purposes; and at the mouth of Walnut Creek and else- where in this township were in full operation in those early days the usual numbers of those factories. The grist-mills, saw-mills, paper mill, and woollen mills along the lower valley of Walnut Creek were amongst the first in the county. "Fuller Sam" McCreary had his fulling mill there, and Captain Swan operated the grist and saw-mills, and probably the paper mill, too. A quite extensive paper mill, in operation at the junction of the Lake Road with the depot road below Avonia was owned and oper- ated by Samuel McCreary, who built it in 1815. The flouring mills on the Ridge Road at the foot of Walnut Creek hill, later known as the Weigel Mills, were established by S. F. Gudtner in a very early day, and were rebuilt by Alexander Nicholson in 1856. Other woollen mills were oper- ated at Lock Haven on the bank of the lake by the Messrs. Caughey in 1842, and who had built a saw-mill there the year before. The first school house was erected in 1804 of logs about a mile south of the mouth of Walnut Creek. The next school was taught in a building on the lands of Jeremiah Sturgeon within the present limits of the borough. Another school house was built by William Sturgeon about 1811 or 1812, and an- other one stood about a mile west of the home of Thomas Sturgeon, and was built about 1816 or 1817. It is said there was another school house in the southeastern part of the township at a very early day. In this township, crossing the Walnut Creek gorge, was the great wooden trestle, called the aqueduct, for the old canal. It was a great engineering feat in those days. The first bridge on the Ridge Road crossing of Walnut Creek was built by Arthur Oney, who also dug the roadway into the side of the hill there for the sum of $100.
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.