USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 35
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A partial transcript of the original sales of lots at the places named in this advertisement shows that the prices of inlots ranged from five dollars upward, while outlots sold "for a song." Nevertheless purchasers were very scarce even at the extremely low figures paid for the most desirable lots in the embryo borough of Franklin. The manner in which payments were receipted is shown by the following ancient document:
PHILADELPHIA, December 6, 1796.
Received of Anthony Beelen the sum of thirty-four 2% dollars, being the first pay- ment of one-half the purchase money for lot Number 561 in the town of Franklin, pur- chascd by him at public auction at Pittsburgh on the 17th of August last.
CLEMENT BIDDLE, Receiver for the Commonwealth.
Many persons who purchased these lots soon lost interest in them, failed to pay taxes, and thus left them to be sold for taxes. This accounts for the great number of treasurers' deeds that are connected with the history of Franklin. This state of affairs inured greatly to the advantage of the early settlers of the town.
SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH.
George Power naturally commenced his house near Fort Franklin and
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CITY OF FRANKLIN.
just below the present upper bridge. It answered for house and trading shop, as he was then a bachelor. In 1803 he built on the corner of Otter and Elbow streets, a stone building for a house. It was pulled down in 1872. A more extended account of Mr. Power is given in Chapter IX.
James G. Heron was probably one of the first to arrive after Power. He was sometimes called Captain Heron. He was not a lawyer by educa- tion or profession, but filled the office of associate judge. He seems to have come to Franklin at a very early day in its history. His name is not connected with the military here, although he was an officer in the Revolu- tionary army, and he must have arrived very soon after the town was laid out, as his name appears on the books of George Power the same year, 1795. In 1797 his name appears frequently on the books of Edward Hale, where various goods are charged to him. This indicates that he was in some kind of business, as his family had not yet arrived.
It is not known where Captain Heron came from, but most probably from the eastern part of Pennsylvania. In 1800 he brought his family and made his home here. The history of that migration of the Heron family was a very romantic one, though it probably did not differ much from that of other early families. All their effects in the way of housekeeping came up the river, in a keel-boat, and were three weeks on the passage. The family came by land, of course on horseback, and through an unbroken for- est, and by a blind trail, and most probably camping out by night.
One of Judge Heron's daughters married David Irvine, the first lawyer who settled in the town. Mrs. Irvine was well known here in modern days, as she was a frequent visitor as late as twelve or fifteen years ago. Her last years were spent in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she died but a few years ago. During her visits here it was her delight to talk of the town as she knew it in the ancient times.
A curious fact is revealed by the inventory and appraisement of his per- sonal estate on file in the register's office. This contains the following among other items, showing that Judge Heron brought slaves with him to Franklin: "One negro girl named Nancy, to serve five years; one negro girl, about three years to serve, named Patt, said to be in bad health."
Judge Heron's death occurred at Franklin on the 30th of Decem- ber, 1809. We have the date and fact from the fragment, yet in existence, of a newspaper called the Mirror, published at Erie, Pennsylvania, in the following words:
Thursday, January 4th.
Died: In the town of Franklin, Venango county, of a severe attack of the palsy, on Saturday last, Captain James G. Heron, an associate judge of that county. Pa- triotism, benevolence, and charity were the ruling passions of his soul. The former he invariably evinced by a warm attachment to, and disinterested service of his coun - try during the contest which achieved our independence. His social virtues were such as highly endeared him to a numerous circle of relations and friends.
.
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
The date of the year is torn off, yet circumstances combine to show that the paper was published on Thursday, January 4, 1810, which would fix the death of Judge Heron on the 30th of December, 1809.
Judge Heron is represented as a man of sterling worth, a useful mem- ber of society, and a judicious counselor. It is probable that his judicial duties were not burdensome, nor his responsibilities great, yet he aided in molding public opinion, when in a formative state. His widow lived to an advanced age, and has a daughter, Mrs. Cutts, living now in Philadelphia.
In a letter written by Mrs. Mary Ann Irvine to Doctor Eaton, we have these facts in regard to the early settlement of the town. The letter was dated January 26, 1876, when the writer was in her ninety-third year. She has since been called to her rest.
Dear Sir: I sit down to give you a few items of my recollections of Franklin at an early day. I have a notice of my father's death which I will send you. He was an officer of the Revolution and was called Captain Heron until he was appointed asso- ciate judgc. Then some people called him judge, and some captain. He came to Franklin in 1800, with a large family. The family came by land. The servants, five in number, and the furniture came by water from Pittsburgh, in a keel-boat, and were three weeks on the voyage.
There were five families in Franklin (summer of 1800) when we arrived. Captain George Fowler was in the fort, but no troops, as the Indians were friendly. The pick- ets were still standing, and the quarters of both officers and soldiers were in good order. The fort was at the junction of French creek and the Allegheny river. Colonel Alexander McDowell lived a little farther up the creek, in a log house without win- dows or doors. There was no carpenter in Franklin at that time. The settlers were obliged to put up blankets where the doors and windows should have been.
There werc a great many Indians about, who were very noisy when drunk. They often cncamped on the opposite side of the creek, at the Point, and would whoop and yell half the night. I never heard Mrs. McDowell say she was afraid of them.
Colonel McDowell came to Franklin in 1794. I do not know the month. He was dep- uty surveyor and an agent of the Holland Land Company, under Major Roger Alden, of Meadville. Mr. H. J. Huidekoper had not come to this country at that time. Col- onel McDowell was also a magistratc. He built a log house on the hill, a short dis- tance from the creek, where he and his family lived after it was weather-boarded. Therc was no carpenter ncarer than the mouth of Oil creek, to which place he sent for Mr. Broadfoot, who came and brought his son, John, then about sixteen years of agc. They finished the house in 1802.
Mrs. McDowell spoke of everything being scarce, as is usually the case in new countries. Owing to the scarcity of garden seeds and chickens she was obliged to per- form a curious surgical operation. She had been fortunate cnough to raise a few mel- ons, and was very careful of the sccd. She washed them and put them in the sun to dry. Not long afterward, in looking out, she saw a hen eating them. As she could not afford to loose either the seeds or the hen, she sent a man to catch it, and taking a pair of scissors she cut open the craw and squcczed out the precious contents. She then sewed up the wound with a needle and thread, and set the hen down, who ran away to join her two companions and began scratching as though nothing had happened. Mrs. McDowell was a lively, cnergetic woman, a kind neighbor, and one that I liked very much.
My friend Georgc Power was not married when we came to Franklin. His mother, a nice old lady, kept house for him. He was married to Margaret Bowman, Dccem-
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ber 30, 1800 .* He was a merchant, an excellent, honest man, amiable, kind, and liked; by all.
Next werc our neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hale, very clever people, and the. parents of Mrs. Andrew Bowman and Mrs. James Kinnear.
Marcus Hulings lived on the bank of French creek. He had a large family of children. He ran a keel boat from Franklin to Pittsburgh. I do not know what year he came to Franklin.
Abraham Selders also lived in Franklin. He was a son-in-law of daddy and mammy Hulings, as they were always called.
I do not think we had any preaching till 1801. Then a clergyman came, who preached in our house. I do not know what denomination he belonged to, but I think he was a Presbyterian. After that there was a small log cabin put up, with a clap- board roof. This building was used for a school house, and I had the honor of being a scholar. Our first teacher was James Mason from Sugar Creek, who boarded around with the scholars.
The Heron family came in 1800. There were then but five families in the place: George Power, Edward Hale, Marcus Hulings, Abraham Sel- ders, and George Fowler. Mr. Power lived on Elbow street, near Otter; Mr. Hale, on what is now West Park street, at the corner of Liberty; Mr. Hulings, at the foot of Twelfth street on the bank of Frenck creek, and Mr. Fowler, in the "Old Garrison."
Mrs. Fowler ruled her household with discretion and was a kind of supreme court to her husband's justice's court. An incident in the life of Samuel Hays illustrates this. He was driving a yoke of oxen quietly along: the street, like Horace's friend, musing on unimportant things, when a. neighbor began to chaff him for going barefoot through the streets. Mr. Hays made no reply, but with his great ox whip proceeded to chastise the- impertinent fellow then and there.
The man went at once to Captain Fowler's office to get a warrant for Mr. Hays' arrest. The squire, as they called him, was writing the war- rant, when Mother Fowler appeared on the scene and inquired:
" And what are you doing now, daddy ?"
" Why, I am writing a warrant."
" And who is the warrant for ?"
"For Sam Hays."
"And who has the impudence to sue Sam Hays?"
"Why, this man here, Mr. Thompson."
"And what has Sam Hays done?" .
"He says he threshed him with his ox whip."
" And served him right, too, I warrant. Get out of my house with you, Thompson. I'll have nobody here suing Sam Hays."
Having cleared the house of the presuming neighbor, she took the half- prepared warrant, tore it to pieces, and threw the fragments into the fire. This original way of entering a nolle prosegui was no doubt judicious and the best thing that could have been done in the case.
* According to the record in the old family bible, George Power married Margaret Bowman Decem- ber 30, 1799, and was not, as stated by Mrs. Irvine, unmarried when the Heron family came to Franklin in. 1800. The year of his marriage is also incorrectly given by Doctor Eaton as 1800 on page 84. See biography. on page 744.
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
Mrs. McDowell used to relate some of her adventures with the Indians. They were in the habit of encamping on the point across the mouth of French creek. Sometimes they were quiet; at others, when the "fire water" got amongst them, they were noisy and prolonged their orgies far into the night, sometimes to the alarm of the quiet citizens. On one occasion an Indian came to Mrs. McDowell's house to trade. He had nothing to trade, but said "Me catch fish, very much fish. Me give white woman fish, get moneys, Indian like moneys." "Well," said the lady, "bring me a nice fish, and I will give you a silver shilling." "Well, Indian bring fish, but maybe white woman lie." On the assurance that there would be honest dealing, the fish was brought, and the contract completed to the satisfaction of all parties.
Colonel Alexander McDowell, like most of the others, came alone at first, to break the way and make preparation for his family. The McDowell family are Pennsylvanians throughout. They are found in Philadelphia and in Franklin and in other counties east of the mountains, and are numer- ous to this day and occupy prominent positions in society.
Colonel McDowell first came here in 1794 as deputy surveyor and agent of the Holland Land Company. After the exigencies of the time required it, he was commissioned as a justice of the peace, and attended to adjusting difficulties between man and man. In the year 1797 he brought his family, having provided a log house, just below the present dam. After- ward, in 1802, he built a new house of greater pretensions for their accom- modation. It stood on what was then called the edge of the bluff, over- looking the creek. As we speak of localities now it was on Elk street be- low Eleventh, and just above Mrs. Bryden's house. In this new building there were neither windows nor door at first, but it was a house and had goodly promise of being a luxurious abode some time in the future. Blankets and sheets served to fill the places of doors and windows. The latter came in due time. The carpenter who put the finishing touches to the house was John Broadfoot, who, after this work, became a prominent citizen. The house was weather-boarded, and stood until within a few years as one of the ancient landmarks of the town. In this same house wall paper was made to adorn the walls. It was the first wall paper ever seen in Franklin. It was in sheets, thick and strong, and lasted until the house was demolished in 1874. The paper was made with a light ground, and pictures of boys and dogs in blue made it very attractive to the early citizens.
Colonel McDowell was well acquainted with Cornplanter and made him his friend by his kindness and consideration in surveying his land and in assisting him in settling on a home of his own. He did not live to be old, dying January 4, 1816, when but fifty-three years of age. Mrs. Sarah McDowell survived her husband nearly half a century, dying in September, 1865, and being, according to the inscription on her tomb, one hundred and
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CITY OF FRANKLIN.
three years of age. She was undoubtedly the oldest person who ever lived in Franklin.
There are portraits of these old pioneers still extant, that are quite worth a journey to see. Judging from these, Colonel McDowell was a gentleman of the old school, sedate, dignified, well accustomed to the amenities of life, and well trained to the usages of society. Mrs. McDowell was a small woman, graceful in form, beautiful in feature and countenance, and in her early days must have possessed unusual attractions. These por- traits are nearly one hundred years old, and show the skill of the artist in drawing and coloring, as well as the dress and style of that ancient day.
Thomas Skelley McDowell was born April 26, 1803, son of Colonel Mc- Dowell. He lived here all his life and died within ten rods of the ancient house just described, February 8, 1876. A large family followed, sons and daughters, but they have all passed away from the scenes of time. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren are amongst us at the present day, so that the name is not lost and it will be long ere the memories of these pioneers are forgotten.
Edward Hale was the father-in-law of Andrew Bowman. Both were among the early settlers. Edward Hale came from Fayette county, bring- ing his family with him on horseback, in 1798, and was a trader with the Indians, and dealt in merchandise with the citizens. He was a man of much enterprise, and bid fair to be one of the most prosperous citizens of the town. He owned a large amount of property that in after years proved to be valuable. In 1801 he leased a portion of the present park for agri- cultural purposes.
We find the following curious document among the papers left by Mr. Hale:
We, the trustees for the county of Venango, agree to lease to Edward Hale all that part of the public square in the town of Franklin, which the said Edward Hale has now under fence, at the rate of one dollar a year, until the ground which the said Hale has now in cultivation is wanted for public use for the use of said county.
JAMES MCCLARAN, ALEXANDER McDOWELL,
June 10, 1801. Trustees.
Attest: JOHN JOHNSTON.
Mr. Hale was the father of Mrs. Sarah Bowman and Mrs. Jane Kinnear. He was one of the first merchants of Franklin. Mr. Hale died young, when he had just begun to develop his enterprise and capacity for business. His death occurred in 1806, in the thirtieth year of his age. Mrs. Hale afterwards married William Parker, father of the late George W. Parker, of Sugar Creek, and took up her residence at Bear creek, on the river below. The younger daughter, Jane H., married Colonel James Kinnear, and lived among us until her death, March 31, 1870.
Later on appeared Samuel Hays, an Irishman, who was destined to
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
make his mark in the history of the county, in its business and in its polit- ical affairs. He had largely the elements of popularity, and easily won his way to distinction among his neighbors. Mr. Hays was a man of ability, but owed his advancement more to a regular balance of judgment and cau- tion, and kindness and forbearance, and the ability to watch and wait, all combined, than to any one quality or characteristic. And with this charac- ter of mind his life was a fortunate and prosperous one, from the popular standpoint. He was a man who always had friends who would stand by him in any emergency, and were always ready to assist in carrying out his enterprises. He was a business man, and also a politician. He would give attention to business and also keep in view his desires and prospects relat- ing to the political world.
Samuel Hays was born in Ireland, and came early to America to make his home. Having his full share of enterprise, he soon sought out this new town as his home and came to seek his fortune in 1803.
The probabilities are that he had very little in the way of capital to begin with. But he had that Irish trait of looking to the main chance and with industry, economy, and perseverance he was soon looked upon as one of the rising men of Franklin, and not only of the town, but of the county of Venango. And during the course of a rather long life he was called to occupy nearly every office in the gift of the people. He was a Democrat of the Democrats, yet he owed his political popularity rather to personal traits already alluded to, than to mere political party.
Mr. Hays probably held a greater number of offices than any other man in the history of Venango county. He was four times elected sheriff, viz. : in 1808, 1820, 1829, and 1835. He was elected to the state assembly four times, in 1813, 1816, 1823, and 1825; to the state senate twice, in 1822 and 1839; to the congress of the United States once, 1842. He was also mar- shal of the western district, and associate judge of the county in 1856. In all these offices he acquitted himself well, and gave entire satisfaction to his constituents. These offices also brought him into a general acquaintance with public men at large, so that his influence was largely sought by his neighbors and friends in political life.
In business Mr. Hays was largely engaged in the manufacture of iron. Blast furnaces were at one time common in the county, and in these he was engaged. Pig iron was almost the currency of the country, and in this bus- iness he was generally as successful as his neighbors. He also built a forge on French creek about a mile above town, that manufactured iron until the site was wanted for a pool in the slackwater of the creek.
The title of general was popularly given to Mr. Hays, but no one remembers to have seen his commission. He was married first to Agnes, a daughter of John Broadfoot, who died in 1839, and second to Mrs. McCon- nell, who yet survives. General Hays died in this city on the 1st of July,
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CITY OF FRANKLIN.
1868, in the eighty sixth year of his age, having lived here sixty-five years, and noticed the growth of the place from a few cabins in the woods to a flourishing city.
The first settlers came slowly, but they gradually gave consistence to the town. The trees were cut down in the public square, as they called it. The bushes began to disappear along the creek, and paths were worn up and down the river. Better houses began to appear. Old John Broad- foot's hands were full of work, and other hands than those of regular car- penters were extemporized that places of shelter might be provided for new comers.
George Fowler has been mentioned. He had come over as an English soldier at the time of the Revolution, and was won by the promise of the new country to remain. He lived with good dame Fowler in the " Old Gar- rison," afterward on Elk street near Ninth, and as justice of the peace used his pen when called upon for help by the new burghers, in preparing papers of legal import.
Marcus Hulings lived just down at the foot of Twelfth street. His log house might have been seen a quarter of a century ago, looking out on the creek. Mr. Hulings was a boatman, and ran a keel-boat between here and Pittsburgh. The navigation was rather slow, yet tolerably safe. Sometimes it required a voyage of three weeks to come from Pittsburgh to Franklin, but the voyage down the stream was rapid. Besides, things did not move so rapidly in those days as at the present, and dispatch was not expected.
John Broadfoot came from Oil creek. He was a Scotchman, one of the genuine, honest, God fearing men that are produced in the land of oat meal, amid the mountains and lakes of old Scotia. He came first to build Colonel McDowell's house, then settled down himself as a citizen, and never lacked employment as a carpenter. He became one of the first elders in the Pres- byterian church. His family consisted of one son, John, and four daugh- ters. Of these, one was married to General Hays, one to Robert and one to Alexander McCalmont. The fourth, Betsey, remained unmarried, and died May 11, 1857. The remains of the Broadfoot property yet linger on Buf- falo street.
Abraham Selders was the son-in-law of Mr. Hulings. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1801, and elected commissioner in 1816. He was much on the river, and was fond of hunting and proved himself a good citi- zen. Some of his descendants are still in the country.
Ezra McCall came early. He was a blacksmith and did the work in his line for the town, bringing his iron in the keel-boat from Pittsburgh, and burning his own charcoal as he needed it, on the bank of the creek.
Nathaniel Cary was one of the enterprising men of the early day. He had a farm up on Oil creek, with oil springs on it. Here he collected the oil by the blanket process and sold it in small quantities as medicine. He
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
is said to have carried the first cargo of Seneca oil, as it was then called, to market. But it was not in large measure. The cargo was contained in two kegs put in a bag and carried across the saddle of the horse on which he rode. Whether the market was overstocked or not we are not informed.
William Connely came here in 1806. He was surveyor, politician, mer- chant, preacher, and in all used diligence and was an important man in his day. He was county surveyor in 1817 and again in 1840-45. He repre- sented the county in the legislature from 1819 to 1821, and was appointed associate judge in 1862. Mr. Connely died in this city May 23, 1871, in the ninety-fourth year of his age.
The Kinnears, William and James, were brothers and were well known citizens half a century ago. Some of William Kinnear's family are liv- ing here at the present time, in the fulness of age and honor. James Kinnear kept a hotel on the corner of Liberty street and West Park. It was a famous hostelry in its day. With all his peculiarities the colonel was a genial, kind-hearted man, and always made his guests comfortable. He was county treasurer in 1819, and associate judge in 1845 and onward. His man George was quite as much of a character as his patron, and had a very high opinion of the character and dignity of the hotel.
The McCalmonts and Plumers and Moores came early to the town, and many of the families have occupied places of prominence in society. Alex- ander McCalmont was sheriff in 1811, surveyor in 1812, prothonotary from 1818 to 1824, and appointed president judge in 1839. Arnold Plumer was elected sheriff in 1823 and appointed prothonotary in 1830. He was also member of congress four years and canal commissioner. William Moore, grandfather of Doctor E. W. Moore, was the first prothonotary, being ap- pointed in 1805, and served until 1818. Then there were the Smiths, John and Isaac, river men, whose delight was in piloting boats and rafts down the river; and James Brown, whose wonderful exploits in drumming he was fond of relating. He, too, was a famous pilot in his day, and was in demand at every "rafting flood " and "June fresh," as they were then called.
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