History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 36

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323

USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 36

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There were also the McClellands, George and Hugh, from Ireland, but making Franklin their subsequent home and entering into business.

Andrew Bowman was born in Northampton county, and with his father's family came to this county in 1795, settling in Sugar Creek township. He commenced the tanning and shoemaking business there, and in 1813 came to Franklin and carried on the same business at the old homestead, corner of Elk and West Park streets. He was a man of great enterprise and in- dustry, and lived comfortably and prosperously until broken by age and in- firmity. He died November 18, 1859. Mr. Bowman was intrusted by his fellow citizens with some of the best offices in their gift. He was success- ively sheriff, a member of the legislature, and prothonotary, discharging his duties to the satisfaction of his constituents. The old homestead on the cor-

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ner of Elk and West Park streets was a grand house in its day. It was a landmark until a few years ago, when it was pulled down and its place left vacant. In that house a large and generous hospitality was dealt to the friends and acquaintances of the family, and to all comers from town and country.

Mrs. Bowman was the eldest daughter of Edward Hale, and lived to an advanced age. Her death occurred in July, 1871. Few women of the early days of Franklin passed through as varied experience, or lived to relate as great changes in the town as she. Her experience with Indians and wild beasts on Bear creek was exciting. In the town itself, she could relate her exploits in washing clothes in the ravine just in front of Mrs. Myers' house, building her fire of the brushwood, and dipping the water from the brook that then ran through that locality. The remembrance of her kindness and quiet grace still lingers in the memories of many yet living among us, and her quiet faith and godly life are a rich legacy to her children who yet sur- vive.

Levi Dodd belongs to a long line of worthy ancestors, dating back more than two hundred and fifty years. They settled in Connecticut, in New Jersey, and in western Pennsylvania. Levi Dodd was the son of Ithiel and Hannah (Lindley) Dodd, and was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1799, and in his early infancy was carried to Mercer county, where his parents had located on a farm. Here he grew up, and as a boy assisted in cultivating the paternal acres until the age of eighteen, when he went to Plaingrove, Lawrence county, to learn the trade of a cabinet maker. After acquiring a knowledge of his trade he was united in marriage to Julia Ann Parker, of Mercer. Soon after this he removed to Cooperstown, Penn- sylvania, and in 1824 came to Franklin to make his home. Mrs. Dodd died September 10, 1857. Mr. Dodd was again united in marriage to Mrs. Isa- bella Brown, of Sunville, Pennsylvania. He was a most efficient elder in the church and a valuable laborer in the Sabbath school, and long stood al- most alone as an active, praying man in the church. He died May 10, 1881.

The population of the town in 1824 was about two hundred and fifty. There were prominent amongst the families, the Parks, Plumers, McClel- lands, McCormicks, Kinnears, McCalmonts, Connelys, Ridgways, Morri- sons, Martins, Clarks, Gildasleeves, Sages, Dewoodys, Hulings, Crarys, Blacks, Smiths, Mays, Seatons, Brighams, Smileys, Baileys, Kings, Gur- neys, Kelloggs, Graces, McDowells, Hays, Dodds, Broadfoots, William Raymond, Doctor Espy, John Galbraith, John J. Pearson, and Stephen Sutton.

After these came the Barclays, Hannas, Mackeys, Alexanders, Irwins, Snowdens, Adamses, Thompsons, Renos, Woods, Andersons, Hoovers, Lam- bertons, Cochrans, Dubbs, and others, until the time would fail to enumer- ate them all. The persons named above have nearly all passed away, but many of their descendants are among the citizens of to-day.

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EARLY SURVEYORS.

The lands must be surveyed. The boundaries must be marked, the stakes set to distinguish between one man's possessions and another's. The surveyor was an important man. It was important to have a competent agent to do the work, if future trouble was to be avoided. It is quite likely that the art of surveying was not as well understood in those primitive days. It is quite certain, too, that surveyors were not as well provided with cor- rect instruments then, as now. The needle pointed to the magnetic pole then, as now, but there was not the nicely adjusted instrument to take ad- vantage of the law of nature in this regard. And the wonder now is, not that mistakes were made at times, but that more and greater errors did not characterize the work of the early surveyors.

Alexander McDowell was the first surveyor. He was most likely a com- petent workman. Still, he was not here in an official capacity as surveyor. He was rather agent for the Holland Land Company.

The first deputy county surveyor was Samuel Dale. He came on the ground from east of the mountains soon after the erection of the county, and immediately set to work. There were men wanting to have their land run off by the surveyors, and so enter intelligently upon the work of clear- ing up their farms. He came in August, 1800, accompanied by John Irwin as a deputy surveyor. Their first work was to survey the land of Peter Dempsey, on which the town of Dempseytown now stands. From that time onward their hands were full of work. And the work was well done. In the books still extant are samples of his work that are models of neat- ness and correctness. He was a friend to Cornplanter and did much toward reconciling the old sagamore to the settlement of the white people.

Mr. Dale represented the county in the legislature from 1808 to 1813. In 1812, when the war with Great Britian occupied the attention of the county, a regiment was raised in Crawford and Venango counties to pro- tect Erie from a threatened attack of the British and Indians, of which he was lieutenant colonel. He was thenceforward known as Colonel Dale. He acquired property here that required his presence often after making his home in Lancaster, and in process of time his son, Samuel F., came here to make his home. The family of the latter are here now, as well as his brother, Charles H. Dale.

In 1812 Colonel Dale was succeeded by Alexander McCalmont, whose versatile work in various directions we have already noticed. Mr. McCal- mont held the office for five years, and was succeeded by his father-in-law, William Connely. This was in 1817, and Mr. Connely discharged the duties but a single year, when John Irwin, who had had ample experience with Colonel Dale, took the compass and Jacob staff. He was a very correct man, and his work shows him to have been careful and painstaking.

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He gave way in 1824 to Richard Irwin, his nephew, who held the office for fifteen years. He was perhaps the most careful, methodical, and correct surveyor the county has ever had. Beyond a doubt he was the most useful man, in cases of land litigation, that the courts have found, as his memory of surveys, locations, lines, and even corners of tracts seemed never to fail him. Richard Irwin was born in Buffalo Valley, Northumberland county, not far from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1798. He came with his parents to Venango county in May, 1802. He had the advantages of some school privileges-none of the best, however. But instead, he was carefully instructed by his uncle, John Irwin, the surveyor. His first practical train- ing was in the laying out of the Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike.

He became deputy surveyor when twenty-six years of age, doing his first work on the Porter farm, below Franklin. His work shows for itself and manifests his patience, skill, and neatness in detail. He always wrote with a quill pen, and was careful in his manuscript, so that it could be read like printed matter. He was in great demand in the courts in land trials, and his judgment was generally accepted as final. He was an associate judge from 1838 to 1843. In 1848 he was a presidential elector, casting his vote for Taylor and Fillmore. On the 5th of March, 1834, he was united in marriage to Hannah White, daughter of Reverend Hezekiah May. After the death of his first wife, he was married again in February, 1855, to Mary A. Lamberton, of Erie, who survived him until July, 1887.

Judge Irwin was a most estimable man. His judgment was sound, his intuitions clear, and his conclusions just. Whilst slow to act, his mind was logical and his conscience active. He was one of the most valuable of our citizens, and his advice and counsel much missed when he was called away. He died at a ripe old age, in November, 1882.

THE OLD MERCHANTS.

One of the first necessities of a civilized town is the general store. It comes with the earliest inhabitants. The first at Franklin was that of George Power. Very soon after him was Edward Hale, as is evident from some of the account books still in existence. Then in 1801 came John Wilkins, prob- ably from Pittsburgh. Archibald Tanner was one of the early dealers. He married a daughter of Alexander McDowell, and afterward moved to Warren, where he was one of the prominent citizens until his death. He was long an elder in the Presbyterian church. James Harriott was also a merchant. William Connely, already noticed as versatile in his tastes and employ- ments, was also for a time a merchant, as were also his sons-in-law, Arthur Robison and Alexander McCalmont. The latter advertises his wares in the Herald in 1822. To afford an idea of the kind of stores then in vogue, some of his articles are summarized: "Groceries, books, stationery, blankets, saddles, bridles, powder, lead, flints, steel, snuff, indigo, madder, copperas, alum, turpentine, shoes, weavers' reeds, almanacs, etc."

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He advertises that all kinds of produce will be taken in payment, from wheat to beeswax and from butter to whiskey. Mr. McCalmont was also sheriff and surveyor, prothonotary and clerk, lawyer and judge.

Other merchants were: William Kinnear, Charles R. Barclay, James Bennett, F. G. Crary, Arnold Plumer, Hugh McClelland, William Ray- mond, Myron Park, Jacob Dubbs, Robert Lamberton, William Henry, and others.

Of these, Mr. Barclay moved to Punxsutawney. Arnold Plumer was one of the most prominent citizens already referred to, born in 1801 and died April 28, 1869. Mr. Crary carried on business largely at the mouth of Oil creek, now Oil City. Hugh McClelland was an Irishman and a bachelor, born in 1798, and died in 1840.

William Kinnear was from the Emerald isle, born in 1773, and came to this country in 1785. He first came to "Pithole Settlement " about 1800, and moved to Franklin in 1811. He had a store on the corner of Liberty and Twelfth streets. His first place of business, however, was in his dwell- ing, corner of Elk and Tenth streets, where he resided from 1812 to his death, September 30, 1844. The lot was afterward occupied by his son, Francis D. Kinnear. Mr. Kinnear was also a justice of the peace and com- missioner, a good citizen, and a prominent member of the Methodist church. His daughters, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Raymond, Mrs. Smiley, and Mrs. Bush- nell, as well as his son, F. D., all settled in Franklin. The two younger daughters still survive.

William Raymond is the oldest of the early merchants yet living. He was born in Wilton, Connecticut, in 1799, and came here in 1823. His store was opened on Liberty street on the site of the building now owned by Mr. Dodd. All the years from 1823 to about 1861 he occupied that point as a store. He was county treasurer in 1833-34. He was married to Nancy Kinnear, daughter of William Kinnear, and still lives to enjoy life and the society of old friends.

Myron Park was another New Englander. He was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, July 8, 1797, and came to Franklin in 1824. His first home here was the house built by himself, on the corner of Elk and South Park streets, recently torn down. His store was on Liberty street. As a merchant he had good taste and sound judgment and conducted his business fairly and judiciously. One who knew him in his New England home said he was one of the handsomest young men who had ever left his native town. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, modest, thoughtful, and kind to all with whom he came in contact. He died suddenly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1863. He served as county treasurer in 1829-30,

Robert Lamberton was one of the most successful merchants of Frank- lin. He was born in the neighborhood of Londonderry, Ireland, March 20, 1809, and came to Franklin in 1830. Soon afterward he commenced a little

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store, that gradually increased until it embraced as many articles as are enum- erated by Alexander McCalmont in his advertisement. After some years he was in the iron business, and from 1860 to 1872 he conducted a bank. He was associate judge of the courts of Venango county from 1862 to 1866; also, long an elder in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Lamberton married Margaret Seaton. His death took place on the 7th of August, 1885.

There were two Englishmen, Samuel Bailey and George Brigham, who came here to settle as young men. Samuel Bailey was born in England, April 10, 1795, came to Venango county in 1817, and soon after settled in Franklin. He married Mary, eldest daughter of William Kinnear, Novem- ber 4, 1819, and died September 14, 1855. George Brigham was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, June 7, 1788, and came to Franklin in 1817. December 2, 1819, he married Catharine, eldest daughter of George Power, and died October 19, 1846, in his fifty-ninth year.

James Bleakley was another merchant who was in business forty years ago. He was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1820. He learned the printing trade, purchased a paper, became a merchant and broker, and carried on a banking business. He was married to Elizabeth Dubbs, and died but a few years ago.

There was often a brisk trade kept up with the Indians. They had no money, but in favorable seasons had peltries and furs and venison and bear meat. These they brought in for exchange. But they did not always bring these articles when they wished to purchase. They asked and obtained credit. It is astonishing to look over the books of George Power and Edward Hale and see the amount of credit that was given these wild men, and the supposition is that they were generally honest and paid their debts. All manner of ridiculous and absurd names are found on these books as the re- cipients of credit. But the purchases were largely whiskey at probably good prices, though they sometimes bought trinkets, blankets, and an unmen- tionable article that all Indians at that day wore. The women asked credit as well as the men. They bought chiefly beads, red blankets, and handker- chiefs.

Mr. Power had the following experience with his Indian customers. One bright morning several of the "red-browed forest rangers," as the poet calls them, came in, one of them with a remarkably fine fox skin. It was of the silver-gray variety and valuable. It was thrown upon the loft where he kept his peltry. The said loft was but half a story in height, with a window on the gable overlooking the creek. In the course of two hours another Indian came in with a silver gray that was likewise bought and thrown up on the loft, in the haste of trade. Twice more in the course of the afternoon the same variety of fox was brought and purchased. Mr. Power began to think it was a very good day for silver foxes and congratu-

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lated himself on the success of the day's business, and concluded to look at his fox skins. An examination showed that there was but a single skin of that persuasion on the loft. But the open window and the log cabin induced him to think that the red brother had outwitted him, and that he had bought the same skin three times too often. So the trade was set down to profit and loss.

EARLY MECHANICS.

Mechanics came as they were needed and were more valued then than now, as there was little or no machinery. Abraham Selders was the first stone mason, and builded as good walls in his day as could be expected with cobble stones and spawls. With the grand stones on which the hills rest, begging to be quarried, it was only in later days that they were used for building purposes. The early walls were all built of stones that could be gathered up withont quarrying.

Boat building became an important branch of industry, as the trade up and down the river and creek must be attended to. The Ridgways, Noah and John, who came in 1801, gave attention to this and had places along the river where they turned their boats, as they termed the process of get- ting them into the water. Noah Ridgway's name occurs quite early among the patrons of George Power's store.

The first hatter was Edward Patchel, who came here from Pittsburgh. His name is handed down to all time by having been given to the run that meandered through his possessions-Patchel's run. He made good substantial hats. He was never ashamed to meet a man wearing his hats, unless from the superfluity of fur that adorned it. He made one famous hat whose history has come down to us. He had a poor, uncared for colt that had never experienced the tender mercies of the curry comb in its life. As a result, the hair had grown long and thickly matted during the winter. Nature had cared for its unprotected condition by giving it a very thick mat of hair. When the spring came, this mat of hair came off in a body, and the hatter was seized by an idea. Such material should not be wasted. Accordingly the fleece of hair was gathered up and felted into a hat, the first of its kind ever manufactured. The subsequent history of that hat is not known. If Mr. Patchel had descendants, it may be in use to this day.

Andrew Dewoody was a pupil of Mr. Patchel, and learned the trade well and truly, for his hats were durable as those of his master. They were really wonderful hats. They had stiff, heavy bodies, and were most luxuriantly covered with fur. They were not the bald, barren looking affairs of the present day, rounded off on the crown like a cone that had failed to reach its proper terminus, and without fur to protect it, but good, honest, generous hats that would last a lifetime.

Some of the old citizens well remember Mr. Dewoody's sign, first on Liberty street and then on Elk, near the old homestead. It was painted by

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one of the early artists of the town, and had the picture of a beaver on it, with the name of the hatter underneath. Mr. Dewoody kept up his shop to the last, but the world moved too fast for his fur hats, and he did not aspire to silk. The smooth, flabby hat was adopted, and he furnished his cus- tomers with the most substantial variety. But one of those old fur hats would be a curiosity in these days not to be undervalued. Mr. Dewoody lived to be an old man, and was respected by the neighbors as a good citizen. He died March 11, 1862, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, leaving numer- ous descendants.

John Broadfoot was the first carpenter, and did his work in good, ortho- dox style, not building for all time, but yet substantially and well.

After the lapse of years John Singleton began to make brick, and ere long some of the people aspired to brick houses, albeit in 1848 there were but four brick houses in the town, and very little stone work under them.

John Witherup was the contractor for the building of the first jail and court house, and did the work as well as could be expected in those days. He was not an explorer in the hills, seeking large blocks of stone, but was content to gather up the loose stones of the valley and work them into his walls.

Mr. Service was the first saddler, and made good, honest work. His place was fronting West park, between Elk and Liberty streets. For the building of the first Presbyterian church he subscribed five dollars in sad- dlery, and thereby showed his good will to the work and assisted in keeping the current of trade moving.

As we find Tubal Cain soon appearing in the antediluvian society, to work in metals and help his fellow men in the great struggle for life, so we find a follower of his in the early Franklin community. He was the first of those who wrought in iron. In other words, Ezra McCall was the first blacksmith. There were not many horses to shoe, but there was plenty of work of other kinds. He could forge axes in his humble smithy, and do all other work that was called for, and make himself useful.

After him came John Lupher. He had his shop near where the Ex- change hotel now stands. He was a military man, too, in his time, being captain of the militia. He was a Pennsylvania German, and still retained a little of the accent that pertains to that people. On the first day of the muster he overheard a neighbor say, "I wonder if the Dutchman will ex- pect us to mind him when he gives orders." This little speech gave him the courage of Napoleon, and when the company was drawn up the captain elevated himself to the full extent of his inches, and with stentorian voice cried out, "The first man that refuses to obey orders will be placed under guard and kept until sundown." The old captain said "the Dutchman" had no further trouble after that. Mr. Lupher moved to a farm after a while and lived to an advanced age.

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Later was George Grieshaber, a noted man in his day here. He was a German, and had served as blacksmith and cavalryman in the Austrian army. He was a good workman, but had a queer way of doing his work. He never took the horse's foot in his hands while shoeing. Some one must hold the foot during the operation. If Ferdinand, his helper, was not there, and this was of frequent occurrence, then the owner of the horse must hold the foot whilst George hammered and rasped. He was a talka- tive little man, very funny and fussy, and quite dramatic in his way of talk- ing. He would gesticulate and go through all the motions in the act he was describing. His code of ethics had not been learned in this country, but had been picked up in the region of the Danube, and would not pass as or- thodox in these days. Still, he tried to be an American, but although he never succeeded he showed his good will by trying.

On one occasion two neighbors had a lawsuit before a justice. The suit did not amount to much, and the witnesses kindly agreed to forego their claim for costs. Meeting one of these witnesses the blacksmith accosted him: "I say, Cheem, did you forgive your costs, too?" "Yes." " Well, you're a fool!" "Why do you think so?" "'Cause, I say any man is a fool as will schwear his soul away for twenty-five cents and then forgive the debt."

John Paden made chairs here in 1826. He, too, subscribed of his wares to the building of the new church, and at the same time exhibited specimens of his work.

The Alexanders, father and son, worked at the cabinet making business, and specimens of their work still linger in the old houses of the town.

Jeremiah Clancy made shoes, and at times kept hotel on Thirteenth street. He came in 1819 and died in 1873. He was a native of Ireland and a Catholic-one of the first in Franklin.

In those early days they had no butchers. Families provided for them- selves in the autumn by salting down both beef and pork and depending on these supplies for subsistence. It is only within the memory of persons now keeping house that meat could be purchased as needed through the summer. There were some hunters, however, who provided game in season and who gave themselves wholly to the chase, not for sport, but as a means of liveli- hood. Doubtless the taste for woods life had very much to do with the em- ployment, and so business and pleasure were combined.

James Adams had a pottery down in the neighborhood of the old forts. The ware was probably more useful than ornamental, but it answered a good purpose. He was followed in this line by Abraham Kennedy. Nathaniel Cary, Jr., was in later days the tailor. Elihu Butler repaired the watches, and at times practiced dentistry. J. R. Sage was the house builder. John Ridgway was the boat builder. And so every man found his mission, and there was plenty of work for all who wished to be employed.

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HOTELS.

In 1824 there were three hotels in the town. George Power, the old pioneer, had a hotel on Otter street, in the old stone building that was torn down several years ago. George McClelland had one on the site now occu- pied by the United States, and Colonel James Kinnear was occupying the old brick that stood on the corner of Liberty and West Park. The Kin- near house was a famous hotel in its day. Travelers throughout the country considered it a luxury to stop there. The colonel was so genial and kind, his table so home-like and quiet, that it seemed more like visiting at the house than receiving public entertainment. But withal, the house was somewhat exclusive. There was a majesty and a precision, with all its neatness and kindness, that showed there was a choice in the guests. Old George, the hostler, perhaps illustrated the idea in a conversation with one of the traveling guests: "If a man comes along with a buggy and sleek horse, with a silk hat and gloves, he can stop, sir. But, if he comes with a wagon, or on foot, with a straw hat and coat off, he can't stop, sir; he must go on farther, sir."

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 36

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co. Number of Pages: 1323

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323