USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 60
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Samuel Irwin was born August 17, 1765, and married Jane Miller in 1795. His first home in this township, to which he came in May, 1802, was a four hundred acre tract on the Wallaceville road. Afterward he bought the land of James Tuthill, previously mentioned, and resided there until his death, September 10, 1847. He was the first postmaster of the town- ship. The office, known as Cherry Tree, was kept at his house. He was the father of eight children: Richard, Mrs. Fanny McKee, Samuel M., Mrs. Ann Chase, John, William, Mrs. Eliza Lovell, and Mrs. Jane Curry. Richard Irwin, the oldest of this family, was its most prominent repre- sentative. He served as deputy surveyor, county commissioner, associate judge, presidential elector, and member of the board of revenue commis- sioners that convened at Harrisburg in 1851. As a surveyor he stood in
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the front rank of his profession in this part of the state. Born in White Deer township, Union county, May 6, 1798, he died at Franklin November 18, 1882, at the age of eighty-four.
John Irwin was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1768. He came to Venango county in the summer of 1800 as assistant to Samuel Dale, the first county surveyor. He was a bachelor and made his home with his brother Samuel. It is not probable, therefore, that he was a resident of Cherry Tree until after the arrival of the latter. He was one of the first associate judges of the county and the incumbent of that office from 1805 to his death, December 23, 1838. Judge Jesse Moore is said to have regarded him as the most able lay judge on his extensive circuit. He built the first mill in the township and was a large land owner. He was an ac- complished and accurate surveyor.
James Irwin owned four hundred acres on the Wallaceville road, now known as the Prather farm. He was born in West Fallowfield township, Chester county, February 13, 1770, and died in 1827. His son, Richard S., was a captain in the old militia.
Ninian Irwin located in the northwestern part of the township on land owned by the heirs of his son James. Born in Chester county May 24, 1774, his death occurred August 10, 1826. He was elected to the office of county commissioner in 1805, receiving two hundred and ten votes, the lar- gest number polled for any candidate at that election, the first after the organ- ization of the county. He was an accomplished penman. The first school house in the township was built largely through his efforts, and at different times he taught in the local schools. He was justice of the peace a number of years. Ninian, Jr., his son, was a surveyor and merchant, and the founder of Cherry Tree village.
James Hamilton, a native of Ireland, immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1795, and settled in Centre county. In 1801 he came to Venango, accom- panied by his father, Thomas Hamilton, and three brothers-Thomas, Hugh, and Archibald. James located a mile west of Center school house, where Henry Buxton now lives. Here he operated one of the first distilleries in the county. He had four sons: John,' second sheriff of Venango county and judge in Warren many years; Richard; Hugh, and James, a soldier of the war of 1812, and county commissioner at one time.
Thomas Hamilton's residence was in the vicinity of Breedtown. He had six sons: James, Thomas, Walker, John, Hugh, and William; and four daughters: Mrs. Elizabeth Hancox, Mrs. Margaret Hamilton, Mrs. Nancy Irwin, and Mrs. Ann Stewart. Thomas, Jr., was county surveyor.
Hugh Hamilton located on the Oil creek road where Mrs. William M. Lamb now resides. The farm originally secured by his brother Archibald, who removed to Ohio in 1820, was the scene of Drake's initial oil opera- tions.
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Elial Farr, a Yankee and probably from New England, came here with a family in 1801, and made the first improvement on the farm of E. Walker Hamilton. He was an early school teacher and magistrate. Although the only Whig in a community otherwise unanimously Democratic, he enjoyed great personal popularity and gave unusal satisfaction in his administra- tion as justice. In 1819 he removed to Ohio. Some years later he returned, on a visit, as pronounced a Democrat as he had formerly been a Whig.
Henry Prather was the first blacksmith of the township. His lands ad- joined those of Samuel and James Irwin. He reared a family of three sons and several daughters. The names of the former were Thomas, Henry, and Abram. The Prathers arrived in 1801.
There were several German families among the early population. George Tarr was the owner of several hundred acres of land, part of which was inherited by his son, Martin Tarr, deceased. Andrew Coover located near Breedtown at an early date, and gave the name to Coover's run, a small stream flowing into Little Sugar creek. Jacob Casper was a resident of the same vicinity.
Elisha Archer came to the township in 1801, secured a four hundred acre tract, and returned to his former home in one of the eastern counties. Having married Hannah Staples, he once more made the journey across the mountains. His land was northwest of Center school house.
The second tanner of the township was Elijah Stewart. He was born in Chester county and reared a Presbyterian. In 1802 he came to Venango and within a short time thereafter had a tannery in operation. He married Lydia, daughter of William Reynolds, and they reared a large family. Cherry Tree Presbyterian church was erected largely through his efforts.
Among others who arrived at various dates were Manus McFadden and Edward Griffin, natives of Ireland, and the first Catholics of the township- the former came here from Westmoreland in 1803, the latter from Hunt- ingdon in 1802; John Stiver, who planted the first orchard in the vicinity of Breedtown; William Wilson, from Centre county, who lived a mile north of Breedtown, was twice married, and the father of fifteen children; Arthur Robinson, a native of Ireland, who emigrated in 1798, and came from Cen- tre county to Venango in 1803; Richard and James Ross, proprietors of one of the first distilleries; Charles Ingram, who lived northwest of Breedtown; David Kidd and Robert W. Granger, both of whom went farther west after a brief residence here, Robert Curry, a brother-in-law of Jonathan Titus, founder of Titusville, and a soldier in the war of 1812, and Alexander David- son, a neighbor of Curry, and one of the first settlers on the Oil creek road.
James Alcorn emigrated from the North of Ireland and after spending a winter in eastern Pennsylvania continued his journey to the " English set- tlement " near Titusville. He came to Venango county in 1811. He had five sons: John, Andrew, Robert, William, and Samuel, and one daughter,
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Jane, who married William Alcorn. The family is numerously represented.
Joseph Breed, a soldier of the Revolution, removed from Stonington, Connecticut, in 1818, to the locality known as Breedtown. Three sons: Charles, Nathan and John, and two daughters: Mrs. Mercy Hancox and Abby, accompanied him. They bought land of John Stiver, who then re- moved to Ohio.
One other Revolutionary veteran, Samuel Lovett, resided in the town- ship for a time at an early date, but removed to Crawford county.
The following is a list of taxable inhabitants in 1818: Isaac Archer, James Alcorn, Joseph Armstrong, Benjamin August, Robert Curry, Jacob Casper, Andrew Coover, Michael Coover, Alexander Davidson, Daniel Fleming, Edward Fleming, Elial Farr, Hannah Gregg, Edward Griffin, . Barnard Griffin, John Griffin, Robert Granger, Richard Hamilton, James Hamilton, Jr., Archibald Hamilton, Hugh Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton, James Hamilton, Walker Hamilton, John Irwin, Samuel Irwin, Ninian Irwin, Charles Ingram, Samuel Kerr, David Kidd, Isaac Kellogg, Manus McFadden, William McCray, William McGinnis, William Reynolds, Henry Prather, William Reynolds, Jr., Joshua Reynolds, William Reynolds, Arthur Robison, Richard Ross, John Strawbridge, Elijah Stewart, John Stiver, George Tarr, John Tarr, Jonathan Titus, David Terrett, William Wilson, John Wilson.
Early Industries .- The first tannery was established by John Stiver, and seems to have been discontinued when he left the township. The sec- ond, of which Elijah Stewart was the originator, was situated on Cherry Tree run. At first the process was slow and laborious, the only apparatus being a number of wooden troughs. Later vats and a bark mill were pro- vided. Andrew Stewart was associated with his brother in this business.
The first grist mill was built by John Irwin on Cherry Tree run; the location is a mill site to this day. James Alcorn built the second on Little Sugar creek.
James Hamilton had a small distillery on his farm at an early date. Richard, his son, began the business when his father retired. James and Richard Ross were also engaged in the distilling business.
Ninian Irwin built the first saw mill in 1823, and Samuel Alcorn the second, in 1838.
VILLAGES.
Cherry Tree is situated on the road from Franklin to Titusville, a much traveled thoroughfare formerly known as the Oil creek road, thirteen miles from the former, six from the latter, and nine from Oil City. As previously stated, the first settler on the tract of land embracing its site was William Reynolds. The first house in the village proper was built by John Elder, a blacksmith from Centre county. Isaac Newton erected the second, and opened therein the first store. In this business his successor was Ninian
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
Irwin. That part of the village west of Cherry Tree run was regularly laid out in 1850 by Richard Irwin, and the first house thereon erected by Hugh McClintock. Two churches, a public school building, several stores, the shops of the local mechanics, and a population of about a hundred constitute the town at present.
Breedtown had greater claims to village pretentions when the numerous family of that name first arrived than now. At that date the population was sparse and three or four houses within sight of each other was an unusual occurrence.
Alcorntown is similarly a thickly settled neighborhod rather than a village.
Shaffer Farm, during the time that it was the southern terminus of the Oil Creek railroad, became a place of several thousand inhabitants, with all the features of an oil country town at that period. With the extension of the road farther down the creek it lost prestige and has almost entirely dis- appeared.
Miller Farm also enjoyed an ephemeral existence and is among the many incidents of the oil business that have passed into oblivion.
THE FIRST OIL WELL.
Cherry Tree contributed largely to the interesting and exciting episodes of the early oil discoveries. It was here that Drake's well was drilled in Au- gust, 1859, a short distance south of Titusville, an event which marked the beginning of a new era in the history of western Pennsylvania. In June, 1861, the first flowing well was struck, on the McElhaney farm in this town- ship. Further details on these subjects are given in a previous chapter of this work.
THE BENNINGHOFF ROBBERY.
No event in the criminal annals of the oil regions has created a more widespread excitement than the Benninghoff robbery; and whether the skill- fulness of its execution or the magnitude of the amount involved be con- sidered, it certainly ranks with similar occurrences that occasionally relieve the monotony of metropolitan life.
John Benninghoff was a farmer and lived a mile and a half from Petro- leum Center, in a secluded neighborhood. His farm proved to be valuable oil territory, and yielded an immense revenue. With the shortsightedness characteristic of men unused to the possession of large sums of money, and in consequence of a large loss through the failure of a local bank, he kept several hundred thousand dollars in a safe in his house. The plan of the robbery was formed at Saegertown, Crawford county, by James Saeger, Louis Waelde, Jacob Shoppart, and George Miller, in October, 1867. George Geiger, a hired man in the household of Benninghoff, was also an accessory, and Saeger secured the services of four professional cracksmen of Philadel-
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phia named Donnelly, Gordon, Wright, and Fleming, to whom he was in- troduced by one Thackeray, an ex-policeman. On the evening of January 16, 1868, Waelde and the professionals set out from Meadville in a sled. Arrived at their destination, they abstracted the contents of the safe-two hundred thousand dollars in currency and fifty-five thousand dollars in bonds, and then returned to Meadville, where the booty was divided. Sev- eral of the minor conspirators were apprehended and convicted, but Saeger, by whom the robbery was planned and with whom it originated, escaped to the West, where he still lives.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the township was taught in the winter of 1807 by William Reynolds, in a log dwelling house previously occupied by James Hamilton. The first school house was built in 1809 on the Peebles farm by Ninian Irwin, owner of the land at that time. He taught the first school there in the following winter and another term in the winter of 1812-13. The young men and women of the neighborhood largely composed the school. The second school house was built at Cherry Tree village; John Ward and A. G. Siverly were among the first teachers. The first frame building was erected in 1828 at Breedtown by Ninian and James Irwin. Prominent among the early teachers of the township after those mentioned were Elial Farr, James Hamilton, Richard Irwin, James Spencer, Robert Archer, John Gayetty, Alexander Hays, and Hugh Hamilton.
CHURCHES.
Cherry Tree Baptist Church was constituted July 8, 1835, by a council of representatives from neighboring organizations, at which Oliver Alford presided and John Hicks was clerk. A confession of faith was adopted, to which the following persons affixed their names: Amos B. Hancox, Nathan Breed, James Fleming, John Fleming, Amos S. Hancox, Mrs. Mary Green, Mrs. Ruth Breed, Mrs. Sarah Fleming, Mrs. Mary Fleming, Mrs. Abigail Gleason, Mrs. Jane Jones, and Mrs. Blanch Prichard. July 25, 1835, Ben- jamin Fleming was elected deacon and Amos B. Hancox clerk. Reverends Samuel Miles, John Hicks, R. D. Hayes, William Lamb, Cyrus Shreve, -- Hendricks, C. W. Drake, A. Murdock, G. M. Righter, Joseph M. Ray, and Cyrus Shreve have served as pastors in the order of their names. Amos S. Hancox, George Strawbridge, and George Kees were appointed a build- ing committee for the erection of a church November 26, 1859. The church was dedicated in 1861. A parsonage was erected in 1864.
Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church .- A class, composed of John, Elizabeth, Mary, Samuel, William, Andrew, Eliza M., and Rebecca Alcorn, with Samuel Alcorn as leader, was formed in 1836 by Reverends Reuben Peck and Daniel Richey. The church edifice was built in 1845 during the
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
pastorate of Reverend Joseph Winans. This church has formed part of Sunville circuit since its formation in 1855.
Cherry Tree Presbyterian Church was organized agreeably to an appoint- ment of Erie Presbytery February 1, 1837, by Reverends G. W. Hampson and N. West. The constituent members were: John and Nancy Rynd, Samuel Irwin, Mrs. Jane Irwin, Mrs. Lydia Stewart, Mrs. Nancy Irwin, Mrs. Margaret Irwin, Mrs. Eliza T. Irwin, Mrs. Sally Hamilton, Mrs. Eliza Irwin, Lydia C. Stewart, John Irwin, Mrs. Ann Irwin, Isaac Archer, and Mary Prather. The first communion was administered June 25, 1837, by Reverend G. W. Hampson. John Rynd and John Irwin were ordained as elders March 15, 1837; Ninian Irwin, M. P. Barker, and John Rynd, Jr., October 14, 1854; Lyman Stewart, William S. Reynolds, and John Chees- man, December 30, 1866; George W. Stevenson and William G. Irwin, January 7, 1871. Reverends G. W. Hampson, William Otlinger, John Montgomery, J. McMasters, W. C. Burchard, William Elliott, James F. Reed, I. W. McVitty, and Robert Murray have successively filled the pulpit as pastor or stated supply. The present frame church building was erected about the time of the organization, largely through the efforts of Elijah Stewart.
Cherry Tree United Brethren Church .- Peter Bennehoof built a church edifice for a small society formed in Oakland in 1858, and the first sermon was preached by a clergyman named Cadman. In 1880-81 the place of worship was changed to Cherry Tree village. Reverends Gates, Belton, Dille, McIntire, Webster, Meeker, and Gage are among the pastors in re- cent years.
CEMETERIES.
The graveyard in the rear of Cherry Tree Presbyterian church contains the graves of many of the pioneers and older citizens of the surrounding neighborhood. The following are among those buried here:
Ninian Irwin, who died August 10, 1826, aged fifty-two years, two months and thirteen days.
James Hamilton, who died February 15, 1837, aged eighty-three years.
. John Irwin, who died December 23. 1838, aged seventy-one years.
Richard Hamilton, born March 10, 1784, died December 18, 1844.
Elijah Stewart, who died August 14, 1847, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
Louis Masson, a native of Rigny la Salle, Department de la Meuse, France, who died February 15, 1852, aged seventy-three years, eight months, and twenty-five days.
William Richey, who died July 30, 1855, aged seventy-four years.
Isaac Walls, who died March 3, 1856, aged eighty-three years, six months, and fourteen days.
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Richard Irwin, who died September 25, 1857, aged seventy-one years, eleven months, and thirteen days.
Isaac Archer, who died March 11, 1861, aged seventy years, ten months, and twenty-seven days.
Hugh Mcclintock, who died November 4, 1862, aged sixty years, three months, and five days.
Richard Gregg, who died February 10, 1864, aged seventy-one years.
The Breedtown graveyard originally comprised half an acre of ground, which was set apart for that purpose by Charles Breed. Many of the older graves are unmarked or marked only by common stones. The oldest citizens buried here are Joseph Breed, John Strawbridge, Asahel Root, and David Warner. Joseph Breed died January 23, 1839, aged eighty-two years. John Strawbridge died August 29, 1850, aged eighty years. Asahel Root died September 4, 1854, aged eighty-five years and six months. David Warner died June 15, 1855, aged seventy-four years and four months.
CHAPTER XXXII.
PLUM TOWNSHIP.
EXTENT AND POPULATION - PIONEERS - BOROUGH OF SUNVILLE - CHAP- MANVILLE-WALLACEVILLE-DIAMOND-BRADLEY- TOWN -CHURCHES-SCHOOLS.
P LUM is the extreme northwestern township of the county. It adjoins Cherry Tree on the east, Oakland on the southeast, Jackson on the southwest, and Crawford county on the north and west. The surface is rolling. The township is essentially agricultural, and in this respect ranks with the best farming regions of the county. The different branches of Sugar creek drain the whole of its territory.
The separate organization of Plum occurred in 1817. It was originally included in Sugar Creek, and was one of the townships erected in 1806, from which date until 1817 it was attached to Cherry Tree for municipal purposes. A large part of Oakland and Jackson have been taken from its former area.
The census of 1850 shows a population of eight hundred and thirty-five; 1870, one thousand one hundred and forty; and 1880, one thousand one hundred and sixteen.
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
PIONEERS.
It cannot be definitely stated who was first to settle in Plum, but from a comparison of the best evidence it would appear that Benjamin August is probably entitled to that honor. He was born of German parentage in one of the Baltic provinces of Russia, and immigrated to America immediately after attaining his majority. His descendants have preserved no traditions as to his residence or occupation before he settled in this township, but it would seem that he lived in the eastern part of the state and pursued the trade of tailor, acquired according to the custom of his native country. He secured four hundred acres of land, embracing the farm of F. M. August, his son, and was living thereon in bachelor style prior to 1800. His first clearing and cabin were but a short distance from the Meadville and Titus- ville road, and here newly arrived settlers were frequently entertained. He married Mary Miller, daughter of Frederick Miller, and reared a family of fourteen children, three of whom are now living in this township. After the population increased sufficiently to require his services he resumed his former occupation of tailor. For many years he was constable of Plum township, and performed the duties of that office with care and fidelity. Mr. August retained the "sweet German accent " throughout his life. He died March 9, 1850, at the age of seventy-nine, doubtless the only man of Russian nationality among the early population of the county.
Jacob Jennings, a native of New Jersey, and a blacksmith by occupation, located on a tract of land that embraces the part of Bradleytown west of the Cooperstown road about the year 1800. He was the first blacksmith of the township, and frequently repaired guns for the Indians, of whom there were quite a number in this section at that date. He reared a large family. Mr. Jennings was a Baptist in faith, and Democratic in politics. He had lived in Juniata county immediately prior to his immigration to Venango.
The only Revolutionary veteran who is known to have lived in Plum was Samuel Proper, progenitor of the numerous family of that name in the vicinity of Diamond. He was from Schoharie county, New York, and of unmixed German descent. Although he spoke English when necessary in the transaction of business, German was used exclusively in domestic inter- course at his home. The date of his arrival was 1801. The journey was made by wagon, via Erie and Meadville, and the first night after entering the limits of this county was passed at the cabin of Benjamin August. Mr. Proper's settlement was made on the Meadville and Titusville road, at the crossing of Sugar creek. A burial ground on this farm is probably his last resting place, but no legible inscription has been found to locate the spot. His immediate descendants were nine in number. There were six sons: Joseph, Samuel, Andrew, Barnett, Daniel, and Jacob; and three daughters: Mrs. Samuel Beers, of Sugar Lake, Crawford county; Mrs. John Gates, of
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Indiana; and Mrs. Joseph Dipps, of Erie county, of whom Samuel, Daniel, and Jacob were life-long residents of this county.
John Fetterman became a settler in Plum township prior to 1808. He was a native of Juniata county, German by birth, Lutheran in his church connection, and Democratic in, his political affiliations. He was a captain in the war of 1812. Mr. Fetterman reared ten children.
Among others who deserve mention in this connection were John Lam- berton, a native of Ireland, who came to the township from Juniata county, and located a mile northwest of Sunville; Jacob Grove, from Bellefonte, Centre county, who became a resident of Plum in 1815; and John Davison, the first of the numerous family of that name to locate here. He came in 1829 from Butler county.
Industries. - The first mill in Plum township was built at Bradleytown, by John G. Bradley; the second was built at Wallaceville, by - Rodgers, and the third, in 1843, by Jacob Grove.
The only distillery in operation at a very early date was owned by John Lamberton. Jacob Grove had a similar establishment in connection with his mill after the latter was built.
BOROUGH OF SUNVILLE.
Ten miles from Franklin, on the old Le Bœuf road, is the borough of Sunville, the oldest town in the northwestern part of the county. Founded in 1837, the place has already passed its semi-centenary, and by the census of 1880, the first after its incorporation as a borough, had a population of one hundred and eight.
W. W. Davison, by whom the town was laid out, removed from Center- ville, Butler county, in 1835, locating on a farm that embraced the site of the village, with his residence a short distance to the south. He was a man of business enterprise and public spirit. Having platted the town he offered the lots at public sale, and, although the location was then covered with woods, succeeded in making the venture a profitable one. He was the first postmaster in this part of the county and the first store in the village was opened by him. At his death, in 1862, he was serving as associate judge of Venango county and had been justice of the peace many years. He was one of the first elders of Sunville Presbyterian church, and throughout his life an active supporter of that organization.
Samuel Hays was another of the patriarchs of the village. Born in Donegal, Ireland, March 17, 1776, he came to America in 1793 with his father's family. Two of his sisters died of yellow fever on the voyage over. They settled in Mifflin county, and in Berrie township, Huntingdon county. It was from the latter place that he emigrated to Venango county, making the journey in primitive style with the household goods stored in a covered wagon. The destination was reached October 25, 1835. Mr. Hays had.
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