USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 58
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In the year 1842 A. W. Raymond erected a large brick flouring mill with which he did a very successful business for a number of years. It afterward passed into other hands, and is now owned and operated by Nesbit & Company, by whom the building was recently remodeled and supplied with the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of flour by the roller process. The capacity of the mill is fifty barrels of flour per day be- sides meal and feed. For many years the mill received its motive power from the waters of Mill creek, but the machinery is now operated by steam power, natural gas being used as fuel.
In connection with his mercantile and milling interests Mr. Raymond operated a small foundry for several years with which he did a good busi- ness, manufacturing plows, hoes, and many other implements used by the farming community. It stood on Water street at the mouth of Mill creek.
Another early industry of the town was a tannery started a number of years ago by David Goodard, who subsequently sold out to Cornelius Wil- son by whom it was operated with fair success until about the year 1869. Robert Woods started a small furniture factory on Water street in the early days of the village which was well patronized by the citizens of the com- munity, and a little later William Anderson began the manufacture of chairs in a small shop near the mouth of Mill creek. A. W. Raymond built a dis- tillery in the lower end of the borough prior to 1850, which like all of his
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business enterprises proved a very successful venture. It was in operation until some time in the sixties.
During the great oil excitement in Venango county the manufacture of sucker-rods became a very lucrative industry, and one of the first factories was built in Utica by Elias Cozad. Mr. Cozad afterward effected a co-partner- ship in the business with Mr. Shannon and the firm thus formed soon be- came one of leading ones of the kind in the county. The factory did a large business during the oil excitement, supplying most of the rods used in this part of the country, but with the decline of the oil business all work in the factory was suspended.
Bridges. - The first bridge across French creek at Utica was a a wooden structure built in the year 1842. Prior to that date the stream was crossed by means of a ferry, consisting of a flat boat and skiff operated by Michael Kincaid, who obtained legal permission to establish the same as early as 1839. The old wooden bridge answered the purposes for which it was in- tended until 1859, when it was torn down and replaced by another wooden structure of greater strength and superior workmanship. This, in turn, gave place to the present substantial iron bridge which was erected in the year 1886 at a cost of ten thousand dollars.
Physicians .- The following list includes the names of the majority of medical men who have been located in Utica from time to time, viz .: Doc- tors M. M. Byles, James A. Donaldson, Fielding Donaldson, Riddle, Leet, Cooley, McCormick, Brown, Martin, Johnston, F. M. McClelland, and J. J. Looney.
The Postmasters of Utica have been A. W. Raymond, John A. Stewart, John W. Riddle, A. W. Gilmore, J. M. Perrine, Edward Hughes, and J. M. Perrine.
Hotels .- The first hotel in Utica, "The Travelers Home," of which mention has been made in a preceding page, was opened for the accommo- dation of the traveling public by A. W. Raymond prior to the year 1840. The next hotel was kept by Messrs. Bowden and Dunn. It was afterward known as the Singleton house and was the principal stopping place in the village during the oil excitement. A man by the name of Chamberlain kept the house for some time and still later Mr. Singleton purchased the prop- erty and converted it into a private boarding house. The Lee house, the only hotel in the borough at this time, was opened for the accommodation of guests in the year 1881 by William Lee. It is a large frame building situated in the eastern part of the village, and is supplied with all the com- forts and conveniences of the modern hotel.
Incorporation and Borough Officers .- Utica was incorporated as a bor- ough in November, 1863, but owing to the absence of the original records it will be impossible to give a complete list of borough officers from the begin- ning. The first list of which there is any definite record is for the year
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1868 and is as follows: Burgess, S. Shannon; J. H. Likens, clerk; James Adams, street commissioner; council: William Fancher, Philip Duffield, Edward Hughes, Thomas Nesbit, and Louis Hassenfritz.
From 1868 until 1874 there is another break in the records, but from the latter year a list has been kept complete. The officers for 1874 were: burgess, Thomas Singleton; council: J. R. Adams, E. H. Sergent, J. P. Cassedy, H. M. Wilson, and D. A. Cassedy.
1875. - Burgess, Hiram Richmond; council: Thomas Singleton, B. F. Crain, D. K. Ramsey, John A. Stewart, J. N. Ervine, and Edward Hughes.
1876 .- Burgess, Hiram Richmond; council: James Dickey, Joseph Paden, John A. Stewart, and J. H. Ray.
1877. - Burgess, Freeman Kirk; council: Alexander Lee, B. F. Crain, A. W. Mumford, A. P. Kennedy, and W. S. Glenn.
1878 .- Burgess, B. F. Crain; council: Thomas Singleton, Thomas John- ston, James Dickey, Louis Hassenfritz, and James Hasson.
1879. - Burgess, B. F. Crain; council: J. R. Stewart, Charles Dickey, J. J. Looney, James A. Wilson, J. P. Anderson, and J. P. Snyder.
1880 .- Burgess, W. S. Glenn; council: J. H. Ray, Jacob Pulman, B. F. Wilson, W. F. Whitman, William Lee, and J. P. Cassedy.
1881 .- Burgess, J. R. Adams; council: Alexander Lee, J. S. Hasson, D. A. Cassedy, J. H. Ray, and L. N. Wilson.
1882. - Burgess, Samuel Shannon; council: F. D. Gaston, C. H. Yard, Thomas Singleton, J. P. Anderson, and Q. B. Gilmore.
1883 .- Burgess, J. H. Ray; council: Edward Hughes, James Dickey, William Lee, Alexander Lee, S. P. Kennedy, and S. O. Stevenson.
1884. - Burgess, O. First; council: James Dickey, Edward Hughes, C. H. Whitman, J. P. Cassedy, and S. O. Stevenson.
1885. - Burgess, F. D. Gaston; council: William Mawhinney, E. A. Wilson, J. P. Cassedy, S. O. Stevenson, and Edward Hughes.
1886. - Burgess, Thomas Nesbit; council: L. Cousins, H. Seifrit, J. P Cassedy, William Mawhinney, E. A. Wilson, and C. H. Whitman.
1887 .- Burgess, J. M. Perrine; council: John Duffield, J. P. Anderson, William Mawhinney, L. F. Cousins, E. A. Wilson, and H. Seifrit.
1888 .- Burgess, C. H. Yard; council: A. T. Brookhouser, D. K. Ram- sey, H. Seifrit, and L. F. Cousins.
1889 .- Burgess, Edward Hughes; council: D. A. Cassedy, L. C. Cur- tis, C. C. Dickey, D. K. Ramsey, William Lee, and A. T. Brookhouser.
For many years the growth of Utica, owing to the sparsely settled condi- tion of the surrounding country, was of necessity quite slow, but with the great oil excitement in the sixties, and the completion of what is now the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad in 1863, the place became in- fused with new life and vitality, so that its importance as a trading and shipping point began to be appreciated. About that time merchants did a
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thriving business, and the various mills and other industries were kept run- ning at their full capacity in order to meet the demands made upon them. Lots found ready purchasers, real estate commanded exceedingly good prices for a town so small, and for a few years Utica bid fair to become the rival in local trade of some of the more populous towns of the county. While this spirit of enterprise did not long continue the borough has always maintained its position among the successful commercial points in Venango county, and from its location in the midst of a fine agricultural community, will command a fair proportion of the local business for years to come.
Like many other towns of western Pennsylvania, Utica enjoys the mod- ern advantages of natural gas, which was piped to the borough in 1886 by the Columbia Gas Company of Franklin. The main line of the company, extending from the gas region to Meadville, was tapped for the purpose and the franchise in Utica stipulates that free gas shall be furnished for illuminating the streets and heating the school building for the privilege of laying the pipes through the streets. This superior fuel is now in general use in the borough and has added greatly to the comfort and convenience of the people.
BOROUGH OF POLK.
This village, formerly known by the name of Waterloo, is pleasantly situated on the Franklin branch of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad, six miles from the county seat, and is the site of one of the earliest settlements of Sandy creek. As early as the year 1798 or 1799 William Gibson obtained possession of a large tract of land in the vicinity, includ- ing a part of the village plat, and opened a farm, erecting his diminutive log cabin not far from the western limits of the borough. This from the testimony of the oldest living residents of the borough appears to have been the first improvement ever made on the present site of the town. Another early settler whose arrival antedates the year 1800 was John Temple, who located a short distance from the village on Sandy creek. Among other early residents in the immediate neighborhood, were Seth Jewel, Welden Adams, James Cannon, James McClaran, and William Evans, all of whom located their respective claims from 1799 to 1802. The natural advantages of the location as the center of a large settlement in what is now French Creek and Sandy Creek townships induced Oliver McGarvey early in the present century to erect a flouring mill on Big Sandy, and a little later a small stock of general merchandise was brought to the place and exhibited for sale in a small log building which stood not far from the lot now occu- pied by the Cochran residence.
The store was highly prized by the citizens of the community and for some time did a fairly lucrative business, but the proprietor, having no
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taste for mercantile pursuits, soon disposed of his stock and moved to other parts. The next mercantile venture was made by the firm of Giles & Lyons, who erected a frame building, and for a period of about five years did a very good business. Their successor was John Temple, Jr., who, after carrying on a fairly successful trade for a short time, sold out to Aaron McKissick, the real father and promoter of the town.
Mr. McKissick was a man of great energy, and possessed superior business qualifications. He purchased the land upon which the village stands, and in 1839 had the same surveyed and platted under the name of Waterloo, by which it continued to be known until its incorporation as a borough, August 23, 1886, when the name of the postoffice was adopted. In con- nection with his store Mr. McKissick opened a hotel, the first in the place, which he ran for a number of years, dividing his attention in the meantime among merchandising, stock dealing, and farming, in all of which he was successful.
William Grove sold goods in the village for a few years as did also John G. Duffield, who carried on the mercantile business from 1860 to 1870 or '72. Everhart Lytle and William H. Hurlbert were identified with the commercial interests of the place at different times, and the Grange or cooperative store managed by James Billingsly was in successful operation several years; the successor to the latter was I. H. Davison, who is now pro- prietor of one of the largest and most successful general stores in the county outside of Oil City and Franklin.
The first mechanic to locate in the town was Thomas Ray, blacksmith. Others who came a little later were Cassidy Gould and John Andre, black- smiths, John Ray and Alexander Black, wagon makers, S. Hamlin, cooper.
As already stated, the first mill at this point was built by Oliver McGary. It stood on Sandy creek, was two stories high, and supplied with good machinery operated by water power. It was well patronized by the citizens of French Creek, Sandy Creek, and Mineral townships, and stood until its destruction by fire in the year 1870. The last proprietor, David Herstine, erected another and larger mill on the same spot a little later. It is now owned and operated by Ross Robison.
The history of other industries of the village may be briefly told. A small tannery started by Messrs. Patts and Badger was in operation for a short time, and about the year 1870 William Stevenson engaged in the man- ufacture of staves, which he carried on for a period of four years in connec- tion with a large cooper shop. He did a good business during that time, but material becoming scarce he moved his establishment away from the village.
The Waterloo creamery was established in the year 1877 by J. A. Bil- lingsly, who subsequently disposed of his interest to Messrs. Davison, Davis, and Glenn. The first building was used until 1888, at which time a
John Adams
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new building of larger dimensions was erected, and supplied with the latest and most approved machinery. This is a very successful institution, em- ploys five hands, and manufactures five hundred pounds of butter daily, all of which is shipped to the markets of New York, Pittsburgh, and Frank- lin. The proprietors, I. H. Davison and W. H. Davis, are among the most substantial business men of the county.
Waterloo Lodge, No. 680, I. O. O. F., was instituted April 29, 1886, with twenty-seven charter members. The organization was brought about by the efforts of Reverend W. H. Bunce, A. D. Dean, and J. B. Marshall. The first officers were J. B. Marshall, N. G .; A. D. Dean, V. G .; W. H. Bunce, secretary, and J. A. Billingsly, treasurer. The lodge has made com- mendable progress, the record of 1889 containing the names of fifty-six active members.
The following is nearly a complete list of the postmasters of Polk, viz. : George Giles, -- Allen, Oliver McKissick, D. Temple, John Stone, Will- iam Robison, William Hooten, W. L. Mckinley, and J. J. Hays.
The medical men who have practiced the healing art in the village from time to time have been Doctors Josiah Winnings, Rosenberry, Boyd, Gal- braith, Taylor, Leech, Feather, Mckinley, and McConnell.
CHURCHES.
The following from the history of the Erie Presbytery by Doctor Eaton is a brief account of the organization of what is now the Presbyterian church of Utica:
This congregation is in Venango county and was organized about the same time with Upper Sandy and Fairfield, namely, about the year 1800. Mr. Wylie was the first pastor, ordained and installed April 13, 1802; released from his charge of the united congregations of Upper and Lower Sandy and Fairfield, December 5, 1804. At the first organization of the churches the same session was appointed for both, but on the 11th of March, 1802, it was resolved to have a separate session for each. Mr. Riggs was tbe second pastor, ordained and installed * * * October 21, 1807; relcased from his charge April 8, 1812 About the beginning of his pastorate the name of the congrega- tion was changed to Mill Creek by which it was known until the removal to Utica.
In 1810 there were nineteen members. There is a chasm in the history of the church that cannot be filled up. It seems to have become disorganized, the members probably worshiping at Fairfield and Sugar Creek. The late Reverend Robert Glenn records that the Mill Creek church was organized in the fall of 1827 by Reverend Ira Condit and Ezekiel Condit at the house of John Gordon, there being at that time no meeting house. By a vote of the congregation the two oldest members were chosen elders, namely, John Gordon and James Adams. In a short time the congregation feeling the necessity of having a house in which to worship, and not being able to hire workmen to build one, resolved to build a house with their own hands, there being several of them acquainted with the use of tools. The work was accomplisbed in due time with little expense save their own labor. Tbis building, a substantial and commodious frame edifice, stands about two miles from Utica and is still in a fair state of preservation.
Under its reorganization Reverend Robert Glenn was the first pastor. He was 32
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
ordained September 12, 1832, in connection with Amity and Sandy Lake, giving one- third of his time to each. He served Mill Creek one-third of his time until September, 1850, and one-half of his time during the remainder of his life. He died September 6, 1857, after a pastorate of twenty-five years.
The next pastor was Reverend John D. Howey, ordained and installed in connection with Sugar Creek September 21, 1859; released from his charge April 26, 1865. His successor was Reverend Mckean, after whom came Reverend M. M. Shirley, who served as supply from 1868 until 1871, and pastor from the latter date until his death in July, 1879. In the mean- time the advisability of moving the organization to the town of Utica had been discussed, and after due consideration the matter was decided by ballot, the majority of the congregation voting in favor of making the change. A building site commanding a beautiful view of the village and surrounding country was donated for church purposes by R. L. Cochran and John Duffield, and in 1871 the present temple of worship, representing a capital of four thousand four hundred dollars, was erected and formally dedicated. The successor of Reverend Shirley was Reverend A. W. Varner, who served the congregation four years, and was succeeded by Reverend W. T. Gar- roway, who has since been pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The origin of the Utica congregation is veiled in obscurity, and but limited satisfaction was derived in tracing its early history. It is known that traveling ministers of the Methodist church visited the French creek settlements at frequent intervals, long before the town was founded, but it was not until some time in the thirties that any attempts were made to effect a permanent church organization. According to the testimony of an old resident of the borough, Reverend J. M. Van Horn, of Meadville, was the minister by whose efforts the first class in Utica was organized. The same authority states that there were about sixteen members enrolled at the first meeting, among whom are remembered the following, viz .: Jacob Whitman and wife, Thomas Johnston, John Martin, William Hays and wife, John Duffield and wife, Philip Duffield and wife, and Samuel Jackson and wife.
When organized the class was attached to the Lebanon circuit, of which it remained an appointment until some time in the fifties, when it became a point on the Cooperstown circuit. Since the year 1853 the following pas- tors have ministered to the congregation: Reverends Thomas Burroughs, A. Keller, J. G. Hawkins, John Abbott, J. D. Darling, J. B. Wright, J. Flower, O. Babcock, J. A. Hume, S. Fiddler, J. K. Adams, A. M. Lockwood, and C. H. Quick.
For several years succeeding the organization the class met for public worship in the old district school house, and later a room in the Utica Academy building was fitted up for church purposes. In the year 1862 a frame building, thirty-four by forty feet in size, situated near the central part
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of the borough, was erected. The church has been a potent factor for good in the community, and although not as strong numerically as in former years, is still in a flourishing condition, with an enrolled membership of about forty five.
The United Presbyterian Church of Utica was organized by a committee appointed by the presbytery, consisting of Reverend H. H. Thompson, James McKnight, and Ebenezer Beatty, on the 18th of April, 1859. The following are the names of constituent members: John M. Adams, Rachel Adams, Elizabeth Barr, Mrs. Callahan, Ellen Stewart, Sarah A. Gilmore, Jane Greer, James Duffield, Jane Duffield, Margaret Greer, Eliza Adams, Francis Dunn, Ann Dunn, Margaret Dunn, Elizabeth Dunn, John David- son, Matilda Davidson, Benjamin Duncan, Margaret Duncan, James Blair, Eliza Blair, Mary Blair, John G. Dunn, and Eliza Dunn.
The first elders were Francis Dunn and John Davidson, and at the first meeting John M. Adams was elected clerk of session. Reverend A. W. Caldwell was the first regular pastor. After serving two years he was suc- ceeded by Reverend L. I. Crawford, whose pastorate extended over a period of three years. Reverend Nathan Winegart sustained the pastoral relation eight years, and was followed by the present incumbent, Reverend Henry Westlake, who took charge of the congregation in 1886. Previous to 1878 the congregation met for worship in a room of the Utica Academy, but in that year a substantial frame house of worship, representing a capital of three thousand three hundred dollars, was erected in the borough, upon a lot donated by James Adams, Sr. The present membership is about seventy-five.
Nicklin Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church, three miles from Polk, dates its history from about the year 1833. A year or two prior to that date sev- eral Methodist preachers, among whom was Reverend James Lock, held public worship from time to time in private residences, and as a result of their labors a small class was organized in what was known as the Lyons school house, and attached to the Hendersonville circuit. The following were among the early members of this class: Samuel Lyons and wife, Mrs. Ellison, Jane Lyons, William Lyons, George Cummings and wife, Abiel Crane and wife, Jacob Runninger, and Essington Kephart and wife, all of whom had previously belonged to the old Sandy Creek congregation in Sandy Creek township. Reverends Briggs, Sterns, and Hill ministered to the class at intervals for several years, and later the pulpit was regularly supplied by pastors of the church in Franklin. It subsequently became a point on the Polk circuit and until about the year 1870 its history is a record of slow growth and indifferent success. The Lyons school house was used as a meeting place until the above year, when the present house of worship, a substantial frame structure, was erected on land donated for the purpose by D. T. Nicklin. The church enrolls at this time an active membership of about seventy persons.
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
Reynolds Methodist Episcopal Church is the outgrowth of the labors of John Stone, Mr. Cory, and John Reynolds, active lay members of the Methodist church, who formerly resided in the western part of the township near the Mercer county line. Reverend Bair visited the neighborhood at intervals in an early day, and held public worship in the dwelling of Hiram Reynolds, but it was not until about the year 1842 or '43 that the efforts of the piously inclined in the community crystallized into an organization. According to the most reliable information the first class was formed some time between the years 1840 and 1845, and among those who became members at that time and a little later were Elijah Williams and wife, Reuben Ward and wife, Miss Ward, Mrs. Van Meter, John Stone, Jonah Reynolds, Mr. Williard and wife, and Mrs. Cannon. Shortly after the organization was effected, a log building on the Hiram Reynolds farm was fitted up for church purposes. Here the congregation met for worship until a building for its especial use was erected a few years later. This building was a comfortable hewed log structure, eighteen by twenty-five feet in dimensions, and stood on land donated by Hiram Reynolds. It was used until 1865, at which time the present frame building, in size forty by forty-five feet and costing the sum of two thousand dollars, was erected and formally dedicated. When organized, the class was attached to the Hendersonville circuit, but about the year 1855 it became a point on the Polk circuit. The present member- ship is about seventy.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Polk was organized many years ago about two miles east of the present site of the village, and among the early members were the following: James Cannon and family, Alexander McElhaney and family, S. Vincent and family, John Foster and family, Aaron McKissick and family, and Welden Adams and family. Reverend Ira Eddy was an early preacher, and the first house of worship was a small frame building on the land of James Cannon about two miles east of Polk. It was built as early perhaps as 1829, but prior to its erection meetings were held for some time in a neighboring school house and private resi- dences. The society grew and flourished until some time in the fifties, when owing to the remote distances at which many of the members lived from the place of worship it was thought best to abandon the original so- ciety, the effect of which was the organization of three new classes, viz., Polk, East Grove, and Pleasant Grove. The old building was sold and re- moved in 1859. After its organization the Polk class met in the school house and town hall until 1874, at which time the present house of wor- ship, representing a cost of one thousand dollars, was erected. The follow- ing pastors have ministered to the class since its reorganization in the village, viz., Reverends Winger, Martin, Brandfield, Clyde, Bunce, Wick, Knapp, and Hover. The present membership is fifty.
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