History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 65

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

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Other houses were erected at various places throughout the township from time to time, the Foster building in the northeast corner having been among the earliest. The following can be classed among the early teachers, having been employed prior to the year 1840: Messrs. Sheep, Elderkin, Russell, Long, Fly, Wood, Atkins, Cochran, Smith, Singleton, Boughner, and Hill. Among the first school directors in the township were J. A. Gil- liland, William Wright, Robert Neal, and David Taylor.

CEMETERIES.

"It is appointed unto man once to die," and with but few exceptions the pioneers of Canal have answered to the dread summons. As already stated the first place of burial in the township is the Johnston graveyard about one mile from Utica, where repose the ashes of many of the earliest settlers of the community. Among the number are Hugh Johnston, by whom the ground was donated; Alexander Johnston; Mrs. Alexander John- ston; John Ray; Luther Thomas; Sallie Johnston; Anna Johnston; Thomas Logue, and Mrs. Thomas Logue, all of whom departed this life many years ago.

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The cemetery at the Freewill Baptist church near Hannaville was conse- crated to the burial of the dead a number of years ago and the first person laid to rest therein was a child of Nathan Elderkin. This, like the Johnston burying ground, is the last resting place of some of the pioneer settlers, among whom are Michael Sutley, Christopher Sutley, Daniel Hays, and several members of the Johnston family.

The Lupher graveyard was laid out as early as the year 1829 or '30 on the land of Jacob Lupher. Among the first burials in this cemetery was that of Martha Coxson, wife of John Coxson, whose death occurred some time in the thirties. John Coxson was buried a little later, as were also Joseph Adams and other early settlers of whose death no records have been kept.

The Mount Pleasant Cemetery, in the northeast part of the township, was laid out on the land of Chancy Hart, and for years has been the place of burial for a large area of Canal, Sugar Creek, and Jackson townships. Among the first burials were those of a child of Uriah and Eliza Brink, John E. Hart, Mrs. Catherine Hart, and Tobias Wygand.

The Wesleyan graveyard, on the Alexander Johnston farm, a short dis- tance from Canal Center, was set aside for burial purposes about the time the church was erected, 1849, and the first interment took place a little later. It is believed that a child of Samuel Deets was the first person laid to rest in this cemetery.

RELIGIOUS.

The Freewill Baptists organized a society, near Canal Center, as early as the year 1827. This organization was brought about by the labors of Reverend J. H. Lamphier, who established the church with the following members: William Whitman, Elizabeth Whitman, Michael Sutley, Olive Sutley, Henry Hart, Mary Hart, Samuel Anderson, Eliza Anderson, Amos Brown, Mary Brown, Conrad Rice, John Douglass, William Douglass, John Hawthorn, Sarah Hawthorn, Nancy Daily, Phebe Rice, Susan Brown, Lu- cinda Lupher, Horace Clough, Ann Clough, Samuel Burson, Polly Burson, Betsey Burson, Sarah Deets, and Lewis Burson. For several years meet- ings were held in a school house and private residences, but the constant increase in the membership foreshadowing the necessity of a building of enlarged proportions, a movement to erect a house of worship was inaug- urated in the year 1831, and in 1832 a frame edifice was built about one- half mile east of Canal Center, on the Cochranton road. This was a plain but substantial structure, about thirty-six feet square, the ceiling ten feet high, the whole ceiled with plain boards, and supplied with furniture in keeping with the building. It answered well the purposes for which it was intended until 1870, at which time the present neat edifice was erected and formally dedicated to the worship of God. This is a frame building thirty

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by thirty-six feet in size, with a seating capacity of about three hundred, and cost one thousand dollars. As already stated, Reverend J. H. Lamphier officiated at the organization of the church. He was subsequently chosen pastor, served in that relation several years, and did much towards awaken- ing a deep religious feeling in the community. He was succeeded by Rev- erend Rollins, after whom the following ministers served as pastors at different times, in the order named: Reverends Collins, Wilson, Ritten- house, E. S. Bumpus, J. S. Manning, J. C. Nye, William H. Cutler, A. C. Brust, N. H. Farr, H. L. Johnson, J. B. Page, E. H. Higbee, L. F. Sherritt, J. F. Barr, and O. E. Irvin.

Lupher Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, in the northeastern part of the township, is an old organization, its history dating from about the year 1830. Owing to the absence of records but limited satisfaction was derived in tracing the early history of the society, but from the most reliable inform- ation obtainable the following appear to have been among the first mem- bers: Jacob Lupher, Martha Lupher, Eliza Lupher, Chancy Hart, Magda- lene Hart, Erastus Hart, Ruth Hart, Thomas Lupher and wife, David Tay- lor, William Wright, Lucy Wright, Reverend John L. Moore and wife, Andrew Hays, John Coxson, Samantha Coxson, and Phyian Duffield. Meet- ings were held in the Lupher school house until about the year 1835, at which time a substantial frame temple of worship was erected a short distance from Canal Center on land donated for church purposes by Jacob Lupher. It was improved from time to time and served as a meeting place until 1882 when it was torn down and the present handsome frame structure represent- ing a cost of one thousand seven hundred dollars erected on the same lot. The following list includes the names of nearly if not quite all the pastors of the church since its organization: Reverends G. W. Clark, Dow Prosser, Rufus Parker, Elliott, J. K. Hallock, G. F. Reeser, Ira Tackitt, C. Brown, A. Keller, Dobbs, John Abbott, Blinn, Burroughs, Sullivan, Gray, Flower, Hill, Luce, Marsh, Sherwood, Hawkins, Darling, Wright, Hume, Babcock, Fiddler, Adams, Lockwood, and Quick. The first class leader was Jacob Lupher, and Erastus Hart was the first steward. The present class leader is Barnett Lupher, who has held the position for a period of twenty consecu- tive years. The church is one of the active societies of the Cooperstown circuit and has a membership of about fifty.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized on the first day of Feb- ruary, 1849, by Reverend F. Hull, with the following members: Anthony Johnston, Polly Johnston, Daniel Douglas, Joseph Deets, Sallie Deets, An- nie Sweet, William Wright, Lucy Wright, Ruth Douglas, J. D. Elderkin, Sallie Johnston, Elzina Deets, Delice A. Johnston, and E. Hull. The first officers of the congregation were Daniel Douglas and Andrew Johnston, who were chosen class leader and steward respectively. The Brown school house, near Canal Center, was used as a place of worship for several years,

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and later meetings were held in the Baptist church until 1859, at which time a building for the especial use of the congregation was erected on ground donated for the purpose by Alexander Johnston, Jr. By the munificence of Mr. Johnston, who for a number of years looked after the material inter- . ests of the church, a comfortable parsonage was subsequently erected, which with the house of worship represents a capital of about two thou- sand dollars. The following ministers have exercised the pastoral relation from time to time: Reverends R. E. Anderson, Thomas Savage, George Savage, A. H. Kinney, H. S. Childs, Henry West, J. B. Fleming, C. Pal- mer, John E. Carroll, John Gregory, Henry Orvis, Edward Hays, Stinch- comb, and George W. Richardson.

Mount Pleasant United Brethren Church was organized in the year 1857 by Reverend Daniel Bolster, and the following names appear as orig- inal members: George Baker and wife, Tobias Wygand and wife, and David Astlip and wife. The congregation met in a school house for three years, and in 1860 a house of worship was erected near the northeast corner of the township and named Mount Pleasant, by which the church has since been known. On the 10th of March, 1885, this building was destroyed by fire, entailing quite a severe loss upon the society. Subsequently a house was purchased from the Baptists at Deckardsville, and moved to the lot oc- cupied by the former structure. It has been thoroughly remodeled and is a very comfortable and commodious place of worship. The first pastor was Reverend J. Chapens, who in 1857-58 had charge of what was then the Sugar Lake circuit. The society afterward became a point on the Deckardsville Run circuit. The regular pastors of Mount Pleasant have been the following: Reverends Chapens, Hack, Braddock, Ish, Torry, Munsey, Hoyt, Gray, Allen, Bolster, Amadon, Chrispmen, Clark, Smith, Franklin, Lewis, Robbison, Belden, Hill, and Beddow. The names of the presiding elders that have had charge of the circuit are: Reverends Carter, Sloutz, Cadman, Slater, Rittenhouse, Hill, Hager, John Hill, Luce, Smith and E. Smith. The first class leader was Tobias Wygand, and the first steward David Astlip.

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

CORNPLANTER TOWNSHIP. 2

MATERIAL WEALTH AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS-PIONEERS-INDUSTRIES- ORGANIZATION-PLUMER-PITIIOLE CITY-PETROLEUM CENTER- ROUSEVILLE - BOROUGH OF SIVERLY-SMALLER TOWNS-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS.

A S affected by the influences that have determined its material develop- ment Oil creek sustains the same relation to Venango county that French creek does to its history at an earlier period. While this applies to the valley of that stream in general, it is particularly true of Cornplanter township. It was here that the production, transportation, and manufacture of petroleum first attained the proportions of a distinct industry; the wealth that has been expended upon its territory and derived therefrom is reckoned by millions, and no less than half a dozen towns with populations ranging from five to fifteen thousand have at various times appeared within its lim- its. And while the last three decades have been prolific in events of extra- ordinary interest, the early historic associations of the township are impor- tant in the annals of the county. The evidences of prehistoric oil mining have engaged the attention of the antiquarian; and the renowned Seneca, whose name is perpetuated in its political designation, will always have a place in the traditions of the Allegheny valley.

PIONEERS.

The first white man to establish a habitation in the valley of Oil creek was James Ricketts, a native of New Jersey, and later a resident of Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania. He was a hunter by avocation and followed the chase in Kentucky and Ohio, acquiring a wide acquaintance with frontier life in all its various phases. It was probably with the idea of remaining temporarily that he came to this county in the summer of 1795, and the con- dition of the country at that time doubtless impressed a man who expected to derive his subsistence by the use of his trap and gun favorably. Game did not disappear with the advent of other settlers so rapidly as in other parts of the county, and, finding his neighbors congenial, Mr. Ricketts remained. In 1810 he bought three hundred acres of land from the Holland Company, situated at the source of Cherry run, and built a mill on that stream, one of

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the first within the original limits of Allegheny township. Born May 18, 1766, he died March 6, 1857, ninety years of age. He was twice married, first to Sarah Prather and after her death to Jane McCalmont, and was the father of twenty children, but one of whom is now a resident of this town- ship. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the old Seceder church at Plumer.

Hamilton McClintock arrived in the spring of 1796. He had removed from Sherman's valley, Cumberland county, in the autumn of the preceding year and passed the winter at Pittsburgh, whence the journey was continued to this locality. He secured a tract of four hundred acres in the valley of Oil creek, above the Cornplanter reservation and embracing the site of Mc- Clintockville. There was an oil spring on this tract, inclosed by an em- bankment cribbed with hewed timbers, and from this twenty or thirty bar- rels of Seneca oil were obtained annually during the summer season. It was sold, principally for medical purposes, at seventy-five cents or one dollar a gallon, and reinforced in a most acceptable manner the slender resources of an Oil creek farm at that date. The maiden name of Mrs. Mc- Clintock was Mary Culbertson; they were the parents of the following chil- dren: Jane, Hugh, James, Ann, John, Isabella, Culbertson, Mary, Rachel, Elizabeth, and Hamilton. Hamilton Mcclintock, Sr., was born May 31, 1771, and died May 9, 1857. He was an elder in the Associate Reformed or Seceder church at Plumer many years. He was the first assessor of Sugar Creek township after the organization of this county.

Francis Mcclintock came in 1797. He was probably a native of Mary- land, and was born April 4, 1775. He located at the site of Petroleum Center, built a cabin, and lived there two years, deriving his support from the cultivation of a small plat of cleared ground and the results of the chase. In 1799 he returned to the eastern part of the state and procured a yoke of oxen, with various other necessities, and in the spring of 1799 again came to his former residence by way of Pittsburgh. He was a shoe- maker by trade, and after the population had increased sufficiently to cre- ate a demand for his services, gave his attention to that during the winter, extending the area of his clearing in the summer months, and operating also a saw mill. He married Rachel Hardy, of Harrisville, Butler county; they were the parents of nine sons and three daughters: Hugh H., James R., John, Hamilton, Francis, Alexander, William P., George W., Andrew J., Rachel, Ann, and Nancy. James R., born at Petroleum Center in 1804, kept hotel at Dempseytown many years, and opened the first store at that place. He served as justice of the peace, and in the state militia rose to the position of brigadier general.

The year 1800 witnessed the arrival of Ambrose Rynd in the valley of Oil creek. Born in Ireland in 1738, he pursued the occupation of wool factor and by assiduous industry accumulated the sum of one thousand two

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

hundred dollars; with this capital he immigrated to America in 1799, locat- ing first in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he supported him- self by daily labor, carefully reserving his money for investment when a favorable opportunity should offer. In the following year he purchased five hundred acres of land on both sides of Oil creek from the Holland Land Company, built a cabin thereon, and passed the remainder of his days in the quiet pursuits of a pioneer farmer. He died at the advanced age of ninety-nine, bequeathing to his descendants a patrimony still in their pos- session and a reputation for virtue and honesty that posterity has not failed to honor. His son John, born in 1777, was the companion of his father when they immigrated to this country and during his declining years, his mother having died in Ireland. He married Nancy McCasland of Allegheny township and reared a family of eight children, of whom two sons are living: James, in his eighty-sixth year at Tarentum, and John, in his seventy- fourth year, at Perryville, Allegheny county. He kept a house of enter- tainment for the convenience of travelers over the Warren and Franklin road and established Rynd postoffice, one of the first in the county. He was an elder of Cherry Tree Presbyterian church at the time of its organization. He died in 1849, leaving a valuable estate.

The descent of the Prather family of Cornplanter is traced to an Epis- copal clergyman who settled at Williamsport, Washington county, Mary- land; Henry Prather, probably his son, born September 14 (Old Style), 1732, came to Pennsylvania as an officer in the English service and after the close of the Indian wars settled in Franklin county. He married Elizabeth Hicks, and their son, Thomas Hicks Prather, born April 2, 1755, was the immi- grant ancestor of Venango county. He married Elizabeth Crounkleton, of Dutch descent. The family were well-to-do, but having lost the bulk of his property, Thomas H. Prather decided to seek to recuperate his fortunes in the western country and in 1801, accompanied by his two sons, Abram and Robert, aged respectively fifteen and thirteen years, made the journey to this county. He arranged for the purchase of a four hundred acre tract, and having built a cabin and left sufficient provisions, returned to the east leaving the two boys in charge. It is related that the Indians stole all they had except the supply of cornmeal, and they subsisted upon the charity of the neighbors with such food as their own efforts could procure until the return of their father with his family three months later. Then, having formed the intention of living near the river, he removed to East Hickory, Forest county, where he resided until his death, February 15, 1818. The son, Abram C., returned to Franklin county and learned the trade of tanner. He was drafted for service in the war of 1812 and after the close of the term for which he was enlisted visited his father at East Hickory. Finding the land he had lived upon during the winter of 1801-2 still unoccupied he decided to complete the purchase. He afterward volunteered for the defense

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of Erie, but with the exception of this and other temporary absences passed the remainder of his life in this township. He built a log house and after- ward a frame building on the Warren road east of Plumer and engaged in the tanning business. He married Sarah McCalmont, daughter of Henry McCalmont, and they reared a family of ten children: Henry M., of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Mary Hatch, of Plumer; John S., of Cleve- land; Mrs. Sarah E. Bemus, of Jamestown, New York; Abraham S., of Jamestown, New York; Mrs. Ruhana R. McClure, of Cleveland, Ohio; Julia A., Jane W., George C., and Robert T. A., deceased. He was a trustee of the Associate Reformed church of Plumer many years. He was born September 19, 1786, and died July 7, 1850. His wife survived him until December 26, 1874.

On the 2nd of September, 1802, Samuel Dale, deputy surveyor, sur- veyed two tracts of land aggregating eight hundred and thirty-seven acres adjoining Cornplanter reservation on the river, and including the site of Siverly for Noah and Jesse Sage on a warrant issued by virtue of settlement and improvement. They did not remain to complete title, however, although it appears that one or both remained in the county.

Allender run, a branch of Pithole creek, derives its name from Joseph Allender, the earliest settler in that part of the township. He built a cabin on the line of two tracts of the Holland Land Company, both of which he seems to have intended to acquire in addition to the one hundred acres allowed by the company as a gratuity. He cleared about sixty acres and seems to have been a man of industry, but in a season of protracted drought, failing to meet his obligations, left the results of his labor and nothing further is known of his career. The cleared land reverted to its original condition, and the house was burned by a forest fire prior to 1837. In 1850 the land was purchased by Lucien Hatch, and when cultivated for the first time grains and vegetables of various kinds appeared spontane- ously, evidently from seed-germs that had remained dormant through the intervening years.

The Halyday, Culbertson, Buchanan, Story, Morrison, Lamb, Davidson and McFate families were also among the pioneers. Francis Halyday lived at the mouth of. Oil creek on the site of the Third ward of Oil City, where he located in 1803. Francis Culbertson lived at the mouth of Cherry run, but removed to President township at an early date, and is mentioned in connection with the settlement at Henry's bend. Francis Buchanan owned what is known as the Blood farm from John Blood, his adopted son and heir. James Story's land was situated on both sides of Oil creek; that on the east is known as the Tarr farm, and on the west the present ownership is vested in the Columbia Oil Company. He had two sons: Robert, who removed to some point on the Ohio river, and William, who remained on the farm until the oil excitement; and two daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. He was drowned in

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

the Allegheny river. Hugh Morrison lived on Cherry run adjoining James Ricketts. He had a large family and they were highly respected people. Several of his sons were ardent Abolitionists. Joseph Lamb settled prior to 1805, west of Humboldt, on the Oil City road. Moses Davidson was an early settler at the site of Rouseville. In 1805 Robert McFate was assessed at one hundred and sixteen dollars on the duplicate of Allegheny township.

Abram G. Siverly, of whom an extended account appears in connection with the borough that bears his name, settled at the mouth of Siverly run in 1820.

William Shaw was the first settler and for many years the only resident in the southeastern part of the township. An Indian path led from the river at Henry's bend to the mouth of Oil creek, following a course almost identical with that of the road from Plumer to President, and on the line of this path he secured several hundred acres of land. He was a native of Centre county, the son of William Shaw, an early settler on Sugar creek. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John McCalmont, Sr., and sister to Judge Alexander McCalmont, and reared a family of ten children. It was in May, 1821, that he settled in Cornplanter.

Henry McCalmont was for many years a prominent citizen of the town- ship. He was a native of Mifflin county, but had removed to Centre prior to the year of 1819, when he settled in Sugar Creek township near his father and brothers who had come to that locality some years previously. In 1821 he located near Plumer on the old Warren road and kept a house of entertainment. On one occasion a stranger who had been given a lodg- ing was found in his bed in the morning unconscious and within a brief time died. He was buried on the farm, and this suggested to Mr. McCalmont the idea of setting apart a plat of ground for burial purposes. The ground so appropriated constitutes the site of the United Presbyterian church at Plumer and the graveyard adjoining. He was justice of the peace many years. His children were John, Thomas W., Henry, Robert, Alexander, Mrs. Sarah Prather, and Elizabeth.

The following is a list of taxables by the assessment of 1834, the first after the organization of the township:

Thomas Anderson, Joseph Anderson, William Alcorn, Robert Alcorn, John Atkinson, Robert Adams, Francis Buchanan, John Blood, James Ban- non, James Crary, W. & F. G. Crary, Seary Cary, Francis Culbertson, James Culbertson, Patrick Culbertson, Robert Culbertson, Moses Davidson, James Downey, William Fletcher, James Gordon, Charles Gordon, Nancy Griffin, Samuel Hazen, Benjamin Hazen, Samuel Hays, Sarah Halyday, James Halyday, Andrew Howe, John Hewey, William Hewey, Samuel Lamb, John Lamb, William Little, Hugh Morrison, Thomas Morrison, Matthew Morrison, John Morrison, John McFate, Joseph McFate, Samuel McFate, William Mc-

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CORNPLANTER TOWNSHIP.

Crea, John McKissick, James McClintock, Hamilton McClintock, Culbertson McClintock, Francis McClintock, Hamilton Mcclintock, Jr., William Master- son, William Martin, Henry McCalmont, John McCalmont, Patrick McCrea, Michael McCrea, Edward McCrea, John Neill, John Noacre, Christopher Potter, Abraham Prather, Samuel Pearson, John Rynd, Ambrose Rynd, Brooks Rynd, James Rynd, James Ricketts, Thomas Ricketts, Henry Rick- etts, Abraham Ricketts, Elijah Stewart, Richard Stewart, Joseph Shulze, William Story, Jane Story, A. G. Siverly, Elnathan Siverly, William Shaw, Benjamin Snodgrass, William Steen, Daniel Tuttle, Jacob Teets, Richard Willings.

INDUSTRIES.

The first mill was built by James Ricketts on Cherry run. It was a primitive affair, but a great public convenience at the time when the Hol- land Company's mill on Oil creek in Crawford county was the nearest estab- lishment of a similar nature, and the intervening country was an almost impassable wilderness. At the mouth of Cherry run General Samuel Hays had a mill as early as 1810, and Francis Mcclintock built one of the first saw mills on Oil creek, at Petroleum Center. The furnace at the site of Oil City was one of the most important in the county. Abram C. Prather established a tannery near Plumer, about the year 1815, continuing the business until some time in the thirties. It was one of the best equipped tanneries in the county. The location of the vats is still distin- guishable. There was a small distillery at Rynd Farm at an early date.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 65

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