History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 86

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 86

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The Christian Church is three miles south of the borough, on the direct. road from Girard to Mckean Corners. The congregation was organized by Rev. Asal Fish, first pastor. in 1835. The building was erected in 1845, at a cost of $1,000. Among other pastors of the church have been Elders Ziegler, Morse, Sherman, Langdon, Washburn and Kendell.

MANCHESTER AND SWANVILLE.

As before stated, the first settlement at the mouth of Walnut Creek was made by Col. Forster and Mr. Swan, who gave the place the name of Fairview. John M. Kratz started a store in 1802, and a log tavern was kept by Richard Swan, who was followed by James Dunn. The latter was Postmaster in 1822. This was the great point of the township, till 1824, containing, besides the tav- ern and mill, a distillery, a blacksmith shop, etc. The elections and military trainings were held there, and as long as the stages and travel ran down to the mouth of the creek, it was rather a lively little village. The mills fell into the hands of Daniel Lord in 1829, who changed the name of the place to Manchester and erected a paper mill. It burned down while in charge of the Messrs. Reed, and no attempt has been made to rebuild it. A Presbyterian congregation was organized at Manchester in 1806, and a building erected there in 1810. Rev. Johnston Eaton was the pastor. The place of worship was re- moved to Swanville in 1832.

745

FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.

Swanville, on the Ridge road, nine miles west of Erie, and about a third of a mile south of the Lake Shore Railroad, received its name through John J. Swan, who built the first house and established the first tavern on the site. It consists of a blacksmith shop, store, schoolhouse, about, twenty residences, and had a population of about 98 in 1880. Mr. Swan opened his tavern about 1832, and soon after another was started by the Nicholsons. These con- tinued in operation until 1853-54, when the want of business compelled their closure. The Westminster Presbyterian Church in Mill Creek Township was built at Swanville in 1832, and removed to its present site in 1851. This church is interesting from the fact that Rev. Johnston Eaton, the first perma- nent minister of that denomination in the county, began and closed his career as its pastor. He came on in 1805, remained for a short time, went back to his former home and returned in 1806 to stay permanently. The first service held by Mr. Eaton was in Swan's tavern at the mouth of Walnut Creek. He was ordained on the 30th of June, 1808, in the barn of William Sturgeon, which stood within the present limits of Fairview Borough, and was installed as pastor of the congregations at Fairview and Springfield. His relations with the Springfield Church continued till November 8, 1814, and those with the Fairview Church till his death, on the 17th of June, 1847, in the seventy- second year of his age and the forty-second of his ministry. After his release from the Springfield Church, Mr. Eaton occupied his time till 1818, between Erie, Fairview and North East, and between Fairview and Erie till 1823, when the lat- ter church felt strong enough to sustain a separate pastor. Mr. Eaton served as an army Chaplain during the campaign of 1812 and 1818. His venerable and estimable lady died in 1872 in the ninety-third year of her age, leaving a family of eight children, all of whom but one are living. The first church building was erected at Manchester, then known as Fairview. This was aban- doned and a new building put up in 1832, at Swanville, which still retained the name of the Fairview Church. About 1837, the New School element of the congregation seceded and established a church in Fairview Borough, and in 1845 they were followed by a number who belonged to the Old-School side. This left the main body of worshipers in the church at Swanville liv- ing in the western part of Mill Creek. In order to have their place of worship more convenient, they removed the building in 1851 to a point on the Ridge road, several miles east of Swanville, where it is still in use, under the name of the Westminster Church. The building at Swanville stood where the school- house is now.

OTHER MATTERS.

Fairview Depot, or Avonia, is the railroad station of Fairview .Borough, from which it is about half a mile north. The buildings of the place, besides the railroad offices, are George S. Stone's store and warehouse, some half a dozen residences and an eating house.

Lock Haven, at the mouth of Trout Run, is nothing more than a name. It once had a woolen factory and saw mill, but the latter fell into ruin and the former burned down, as stated above.

Two quarries have been opened in Fairview, one at Manchester and the other on Trout Run, just below the depot. From the Manchester quarry, some of the stone were taken for the locks of the canal. The material is not very good, however, and neither of the quarries has proved of much value. Most. of the stone used in the township and borough comes from Howard's quarry in Franklin.

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

BOROUGH OF FAIRVIEW.

The borough of Fairview was incorporated in 1868, covering an area of one mile square, and including a population at that time of some 400. It stands on the first rise of the lake shore plain, twelve miles west of Erie, a mile and a half south of the lake, and a half a mile from the railroad station. The Ridge road forms its main street, and Trout Run winds through its limits. The churches of Fairview are Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran and German Evangelical, the first being of brick and the two others of frame, Its schools are all held in one large two-story building erected in 1866. It has three apartments, and the schools are graded. Two teachers are employed. The first schoolhouse in the village was erected by the people some time prior to 1838. The manufacturing concerns of the place are Henry Kreider's steam planing and saw mill, James H. Glazier's steam cider mill, J. Galyard's steam cider, sorghum and jelly mill, S. J. Fargo & Gardner's wagon shop, and three or four blacksmith shops. The mercantile interests embrace one dry goods store, one grocery, one clothing store, two hardware stores, one millinery store and one drug store. The hotel is known as the Monitor House. The borough once boasted of two military companies-the Fairview Guards, organized in 1858, with J. Beckman as Captain, and another with O. H. P. Ferguson as Captain. By the United States census, Fairview Borough had a population of 480 in 1870 and 425 in 1880. The assessment of the latter year gave the following results: Real estate, $165,081; horses, 64; cows, 35; personal property, $4,- 011; trades and occupations, $9,155; money at interest, $35,435.

EARLY INCIDENTS.

The first settlers upon the site were the Messrs. Sturgeon, in honor of whom the place was long known at Sturgeonville. The first tavern, a small log building on the bank of Trout Run, along the Ridge road, was built and kept by William Sturgeon. This was closed some years, when Mr. Sturgeon erected another tavern near by, of which W. W. Warner was long the landlord. The present Monitor House was erected by S. C. Sturgeon, and has been kept at periods by John Clemens, of Erie, S. N. McCreary, and others. Following the tavern came a store, a blacksmith shop, etc. On the death of William Sturgeon in 1837, he directed that after the demise of his wife some fifty acres of land and twenty town lots should go to the Presbyterian Church of Fairview. A church was to be organized and a building erected within one year from the time specified in the will, otherwise the property was to be donated to the Presbyterian Board of Publication. In the year of Mr. Stur- geon's death, the general assembly of the church separated into New School and Old School, and both branches found ardent friends and advocates in the Fairview congregation. Each side made haste to get up edifices in time to avail itself of Mr. Sturgeon's legacy, and as a matter of course the question as to which it belonged had to be settled by the courts. After a short legal tussle, the court below decided in favor of the Old School branch, and, on appeal to the Supreme Court, that body affirmed the decision. The union of the de- nomination in November, 1869, did away with the need of two buildings, and both of the contending branches now worship together in harmony. The building at present occupied was built in 1874, and cost $11,000. It occupies the same lot on which both the Old and New School edifices stood during the days of contention. Rev. Mr. De Witt, installed in 1879, is present incum - bent. The first Old School church in Fairview was replaced by another,

D.B. m Creary

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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.

which burned down. The New School building was removed and is now occupied by another denomination.

OTHER CHURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal Church is the outgrowth of a class formed in the house of Justice Osborne by Rev. John P. Kent in 1817. It consisted of Justice Osborne (leader), wife and daughter, Giles Badger and wife, Alexander Nicholas and wife, and Mrs. Odell. As early as 1841, the appointment was on Mckean Circuit, to which it belonged until 1860, when Fairview Circuit was formed. A. Bashline was pastor in 1881, 1882 and 1883. The first church edifice was built in 1836 and stood outside of the village. The second building was erected in 1854, costing $600.

Mt. Nabo Church of the Evangelical Association owes its orgin to the early missionary labors of Rev. J. Siebert, who began preaching in Erie County in 1833. Following him in this field were Revs. Stoevers, D. Brickley and J. Noecker. Preaching was held at private residences and later in school- houses. The congregation was on Erie Circuit until 1877, since which time it has been on Fairview Circuit. The church building of the society was formerly occupied by the Presbyterians, of whom it was purchased in April, 1872.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the village was organized in 1856, with less than a dozen members. This congregation and the one at St. Jacob's on the Ridge road were originally one and the same church society, but at the date given above became separate bodies, owing to some difficulties which arose between the membership and pastor. The Rev. Michael Kuchler became the first pastor of this society. The first house of worship was built in 1857, on the outskirts of the borough, and used until the present one was erected in 1878. At present the congregation is without a pastor.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Fairview Cemetery, on the northwest edge of the borough, covers a tract of fifteen acres, and has been in use about sixteen years. The first body interred was that of Mrs. Milton Sturgeon, and the second that of a five-year old daughter of George Waidler.

Mrs. Sarah Green, who was living at Fairview in February, 1883, was claimed to be one hundred and two years old, and able to go about and do all kinds of housework. The wife of Casper Doll died in February, 1883, aged ninety-seven years and ten days.

750

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

CHAPTER IX.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

CYPRINGFIELD is the northwestern township of the county, and has S an area of 21,788 acres. It was one of the original sixteen. The township is bounded on the north by Lake Erie, on the east by Girard and Conneaut, on the south by Conneaut, and on the west by Ash- tabula County, Ohio. Up to the year 1835, the south line was a mile or so further north than now, but by an arrangement with Conneaut the latter ceded that portion of her territory lying beyond the creek, on condition that Springfield should pay one- half the expense of maintaining bridges along the boundary. The east line of Springfield extended to Miles Grove. parallel with that of Conneaut and Elk Creek, until 1832, when the township was re- duced by the formation of Girard. The first officers of the township were elected in 1811. Springfield contained 896 inhabitants in 1820, 1,520 in 1830, 2,344 in 1840, 1,916 in 1850, 1,742 in 1870, and 1,792 in 1880. Its greatest length is about seven and a half and its greatest width about six and a quarter miles. The villages are East Springfield, West Springfield and North Spring- field, all of which have post offices of the same name. The old State line of Pennsylvania, before the purchase of the Triangle, terminated on the farm of Joseph Hewitt, in Springfield, between four and five miles east of the Ohio boundary.

LANDS, ETC.

The lake shore plain is about three miles wide in Springfield, and while there is a good deal of high broken land in the south part, the township is less marred by gullies than is the case further east in the county. The best portion of the township is conceded to lie along the Ridge road, in the vicinity of East Springfield. A mile or lese west of that place, on the same line, the quality of the land deteriorates, though some excellent farms are found at and around the village of West Springfield. In the eastern part of the township, the lake shore lands are generally good, but in the neighborhood of Raccoon Creek they become sour, and from there on to Ohio are below the average of the county. Numerous stretches of sand are met with that hardly pay for cultivation, and other parts are cold, swampy and difficult of drainage. Back of the Ridge road, and from there to Conneaut Creek, the soil is usually clay, with here and there a sand hill, which forms a curious feature of the topography. As there are exceptions to all rules, so there is to this statement. A valley com- mences just south of West Springfield and extends clear into Ohio, with a' width ranging from a half a mile to a mile, which is one of the best portions of the township. Wheat and other grains are raised everywhere, but the back country is best adapted for grazing. Great quantities of potatoes are pro- duced, and many carloads are shipped annually from Cross's Station and North Springfield. The lake shore farms are valued at $30 to $100 per acre, the Ridge road at $40 to $100, and the back country from $30 to $70.

The bank of the lake is bold and abrupt along the front of Springfield Township, ranging in height from 'fifty to sixty feet. The Moravian grant embraced 2,797 acres in Springfield and Conneaut, extending from the lake to

751

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

a short distance south of Conneant Creek, and taking in a strip about a mile wide, except at the Ridge road, where it narrowed to fifty or sisty rods. The reason for this diversion was that the surveyors encountered a formidable beaver swamp at that point, which has since been mostly reclaimed by drain- age. William and James Miles were long the agents of the Moravians. The tract was bought in a body by N. Blickensderfer and James Miles in 1849, who sold it out in pieces from 1850 on. The Ridge road is closely settled be. tween East and West Springfield, and many of the farmhouses are large, neat and pleasant, giving an impression of wealth and comfort. Several of the buildings are brick, and nearly all are surrounded by pretty grounds. Some delightful homes are also to be seen on the road from the lake to East Spring- field.

The assessment for 1883 gave the following results: Value of real estate, $941,410; cows, 558; value, $13,947; oxen, 6; value, $340; horses and mules, 448; value, $28,660; value of trades and occupations, $9,750; money at interest, $34,860.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first settler in the township was Capt. Samuel Holliday, of Franklin County, who came on in 1796, located 700 acres at the mouth of Crooked Creek, built a cabin, and returned to his former home in the fall of the year. Soon after his arrival, he was joined by John Devore, of Bedford County, John Mershon, of New Jersey, and William McIntyre and Patrick Ager, natives of Ireland, but residents for a time in Eastern Pennsylvania, all of whom became permanent settlers. Capt. Holliday married in Franklin County in Apri!, 1797, and the young couple started immediately on a wedding tour to their new home, Mrs. H. riding on horseback and her husband walking by her side with his gun over his shoulder. Their route was by a trail through the woods from Pittsburgh to Erie, and from there along the beach of the lake to the mouth of Crooked Creek. Their goods came some time after, in boats up the Allegheny and French Creek to Waterford. During the year 1797, the little colony was increased by the arrival of Oliver Cross, from Vermont, and of Thomas and Oliver Dunn, from Ireland. The Dunns remained but a few months, when they changed to McKean, where they settled permanently. Other pioneers reached the township as follows: In 1798, Nicholas Lebarger, of Bed- ford County; in 1800, Matthias Brindle, of Franklin County, and a Mr. Bruce; in 1801, Robert McKee, of Cumberland County, and Oliver Smith, from Massa- chusetts; in 1802, Isaac, Jesse, John D. and Thomas R. Miller, John Eaton and John Law, all of Franklin County, Henry Adams, of Massachusetts, John Hewitt, of Connecticut, and John Rudd, Jr .; in 1803, Andrew Cochran and Abraham Eagley, of Dauphin County, George Ferguson, of Cumberland County, and William Ferguson, of Ohio; in 1804, Samuel Rea, of Franklin County, and John Rudd, Sr., and family; in 1806, John Hall, of Mifflin County; in 1808, Erastus De Wolf, of New York; in 1810, Joseph Ware, of Vermont; in 1813, Zachariah Thomas, of Vermont; in 1815, William Gould, of Chautauqua County, N. Y., Anderson Hubbard, of Ohio, and Luke Thayer, of Massachusetts; in 1816, Benjamin Carr, of Essex County, N. Y. ; in 1817, John Albert, of Cattaraugus County, N. Y .; in 1818, David Ellis, of Massa- chusetts, and Derby Walter and Ezekiel Currier, both of Lyme, N. H .; in 1819, Andrew and Henry Mallory and Thomas Ivory, all of New York; in 1820, James. Benjamin and Lucius Bond, of Massachusetts, John S. Sherman, of New York, and James Anderson, of Virginia; in 1824, A. Whiton, of Ashta- bula County, Ohio; in 1826, John Monell, of Otsego County, N. Y., and Peter Simmons; in 1829, Geo. Simmons, of Saratoga County, N. Y .; in 1830, Lo-

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

renzo Harvey, of New York, William H. Townsend, of Washington County, N. Y., and Selah Walbridge, of Vermont; in 1831, I. Pond, of New York, and Seymour Devereaux, of North East; in 1832, Scott Keith, of Girard, Penn., Stephen Warner, of Genesee County, N Y., and Matthew Gray, of Lockport, N. Y. ; in 1833, R. R. Robinson, of Sparta, N. Y .; in 1834, William Marsh and E Smith, both of Wyoming County, N. Y .; in 1835, Clark Bald- win, of Vermont, Thomas Potter, of New York, and E. R. Hedden and Will. iam Church, both of New Jersey; in 1836, Thomas Webster, of Washington County, N. Y .; in 1839, T. S. Cowles, of Connecticut; in 1840, C. Lindsey, of New York; in 1841, Joseph Strong, of Massachusetts; in 1842, Gilbert Hurd, from Rock Stream, N. Y .; in 1846, L. W. Savage, of Genesee County, N. Y .; in 1854, Joel Day, of Wyoming County, N. Y .; in 1863, Humphrey A. Hills, of Conneaut Township. Mr. Brindle, like Capt. Holliday, first came on in 1800, located lands, went back and brought his family the next spring. He was a soldier of 1812, and the father of thirteen children. Jesse Miller removed to Mercer County in a few years, and remained there the balance of his life. Mr. Smith reached the county by an open boat from Canada, where it was his original purpose to locate.

INCIDENTS OF THE PIONEERS.

Mr. McIntyre died in 1867, at the ripe age of ninety-five. He brought the first potatoes planted in the township, carrying them in a sack thrown over his back the entire distance from Pittsburgh. In 1802, a barrel of salt cost Robert McKee fifty Spanish dollars; it had to be brought from Buffalo to Erie in a small boat, and from the latter place to Springfield on pack horses. In 1800, the only route to Erie was along the beach of the lake or by a bridle path through the woods. At that period, there was a wide beach along the whole lake front of the county. Andrew Cochran was Captain of a company of soldiers during the last war with Great Britain, who volunteered for the pro. tection of our coast, and remained in service till the declaration of peace. It was attached to the command of Col. Wallace, at Erie; was frequently called out, but was never actually in an engagement. Some time during the campaign, a rumor reached the township that the enemy had landed at the mouth of Con- neaut Creek, which created the utmost consternation in the infant settlement. Several families fled, and others had preparations made for a hasty departure. Luckily, the report proved to be false. The first female white child was Eliz- abeth Holliday, born May 14, 1798; the first male white child was Joseph Brindle, born March 1, 1800; and the first funeral is said to have been that of the wife of Isaac Miller, whose grave, some assert, was the first in the old Presbyterian Graveyard. This is disputed, however, by one of the old resi- dents, who is positive the interment of a Mr. Davis took place earlier. Mr. Simmons is the oldest man who has ever resided in the township, and one of the oldest in the county. He was still living in 1881 in his ninety-eighth year.

STREAMS, MILLS AND FACTORIES.

The chief stream of Springfield is Conneaut Creek, which forms its entire southern boundary. The stream does not receive a single tributary in the township; on the contrary the high but tillable hills which border its channel, are the head-waters of two or three creeks which flow north ward to the lake. Next in importance to Conneaut Creek is Crooked Creek, which rises within the borough limits of Lockport, runs in a general northwesterly course, through the southern portion of Girard and the northeastern of Springfield, and falls into the lake about a half a mile beyond North Spring-

753

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

field, having a length of some ten miles. Raccoon Creek heads on the farm of J. Cross, near Conneaut Creek, and flowing north, after a course of about ten miles, reaches the lake at Eagley's Grove. Turkey Run takes its rise on the Gleason farm, a little south of West Springfield, and flows about four and a half miles within the township and a mile or more in Ohio. It falls into the lake east of Conneaut harbor. Two or three small streams run into the lake, which are not of sufficient importance to have a name. The channel of Crooked Creek, from the Girard line to the lake, is wide and deep, but the banks are less precipitous through the lake shore plain than those of Elk and Walnut Creeks. Five substantial covered bridges span Conneaut Creek, built, owned and maintained by the two townships. The Lake Shore Railroad culvert and embankment over Crooked Creek at North Springfield is one of the most solid and costly pieces of work in the county. The embankment is ninety feet above the water, and from 700 to 800 feet long. It was through this culvert that a house was washed in the fall of 1878, during the greatest flood ever known on the stream. The manufacturing concerns of Springfield Township are Porter's grist and saw mill, on Conneaut Creek, half a mile north of Cherry Hill; H. V. Lines' grist and saw mill, on the Ridge road, a mile east of East Spring- field; J. M. Strong's grist and saw mill, a mile north of East Springfield; Reed's saw mill, on the Ridge road, half a mile west of West Springfield; a cheese factory at the latter place and an extensive tile works. Lines' and Strong's mills are both in the valley of Crooked Creek, and propelled by the water of that stream, in connection with steam. The Porter Mill was built by Comfort Hay about 1823, and the West Springfield Tile Works were started in 1869. The cheese factory at the latter place was established in 1874, has run successfully from the first, and is still well patronized. The Strong Mills were built by Andrew Cochran about 1820, and rebuilt by Thomas Webster, about 1841 or 1842, who ran them till his death, in 1860, when they fell into the hands of Joseph M. Strong. He has recently overhauled them, and they are in as good condition as any similar property in the county. The first saw mill where Lines' mills are was built by Amos Remington and Oliver Cross about 1814, and rebuilt by Nathan Cass about 1824 or 1825, who managed it jointly with Willard Pope. The firm sold the property to Mr. Case, who built the grist mill about 1832. After Case, the mills changed owners fre- quently, being sold in succession to Tucker & Woodruff, Justin Nash, Will- iam Cross, Scott Keith and Walter and Henry Keith, who rebuilt them in 1857 or 1858. Two or three years after they were put up at Sheriff's sale, and bid in by Judge Cross, who gave the title to Jonathan Keith; from him they passed into the hands of Oliver & Brecht, of Mr. Finkinger, and finally, about 1870, of Mr. Line. They were burned in 1871 and rebuilt in 1872. The very first mill owner in the township was Capt. Holliday, who built a saw mill about 1801 or 1802, and a grist mill in 1803, near the mouth of Crooked Creek, both of which have gone down. This grist mill was erected a little later than the Silverthorn Mill in Girard, contrary to the usual belief.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 86

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280