USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 49
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About the year 1810, while Henry Kinnear was acting in the capacity of constable in Venango county, he had a warrant for the arrest of a notorious ruffian and desperado named Polen Hunter. Against the threats of the crimi- nal, Kinnear attempted his forcible apprehension, when he received from
A. M Curie
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Hunter a wound in the hip from which he never recovered. It is said that he succeeded in obtaining pecuniary redress for the injury. He died on the 6th of March, 1826. He had a family of nine children, five sons and four daugh- ters, all now dead, but many of whose children are now residents of Broken- straw township or Youngsville borough. Henry P. Kinnear and C. V. Kinnear have been perhaps the most prominent of his sons in Youngsville. The latter was born in Venango county on the 8th of January, 1808, and came to War- ren county with his father in 1815. Upon the death of his father he took up the trade, and continued to be one of the prominent and active merchants of Youngsville for a period of fifty years, besides engaging to some extent in the lumber trade. On the 19th of May, 1836, he was appointed and commissioned a justice of the peace by Governor Joseph Ritner. When the office was made elective in 1842, he was the choice of the voters of Brokenstraw township, and by successive re-elections held the position for twenty-four years. He was county auditor for ten years, represented the county in the State Legisla- ture in the session of 1852 and 1853, and in 1871 was elected and commis- sioned an associate judge of the county, and served in that position for five years. He was a warm friend of the common schools, serving as director for near a quarter of a century. He died September 6, 1884. Henry P. Kinnear was born in Youngsville on the 26th of July, 1816. As soon as he reached years of discretion he began to manifest an interest in public affairs, and, as has been said by another, he became a politician because he could not help it. He served two terms as sheriff of Warren county; the first from 1843 to 1846, and the second from 1861 to 1864. He was a member of the Legislature in the session of 1847 and 1848. It was he who obtained for Youngsville its charter and for the Odd Fellows Cemetery Association theirs. He died June 28, 1886.
Early Business in Brokenstraw .- Mention having already been made of the first mills in the township, it is unnecessary in this place to recur to them. We have also stated something concerning the rude condition of the country in the first decade of years in its settlement. As late as 1809 there were in all this part of the country only such roads as were demanded by the most imperative necessities of the inhabitants. When the route was determined upon, the underbrush was cleared away; such trees as could not be avoided by a gentle curve were cut down, and the stump frequently left to be straddled by the wheels or runners of the vehicles; and such mud holes as interposed very seriously in the path of the traveler were converted into corduroy. There was thus early no bridge at Irvineton, and the stream had to be crossed by fording, or by patronizing the ferry of Elijah Davis and his sons. Indians were plenty. About 1825 or 1830, however, the population had increased very perceptibly, and internal improvements had been considerably developed. The principal business was manufacturing lumber, or rafting timber down the river
27
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
to the various markets between this place and New Orleans. Saw-mills were therefore numerous. John Garner and Charles Whitney owned and operated the mill which stood farthest up the Brokenstraw within the present limits of the township, on a site which now gives forth no sign of former industry of this kind. Next on the way down stream were the saw-mills and the grist- mill of Joseph and Darius Mead. Then appeared the grist and saw-mill of Judge William Siggins, in the central part of the present borough of Youngs- ville, which their owner kept in operation until 1872. They then ceased run- ning. About forty rods farther down stood another saw-mill, owned also by Judge Siggins, which has not been in operation for many years. Still farther down Judge Siggins owned a grist and saw-mill (about three-fourths of a mile east of Youngsville). He afterwards sold them to Charles Whitney, who allowed the grist-mill to go down, but rebuilt the saw-mill. The last owner of this mill was William Freese, who long ago left it to the mercy of the de- composing elements. At Irvineton were the grist and saw-mill of Dr. William A. Irvine, which had been erected very early by his predecessor, under the direction, it is said, of his father. The mills are still in operation under the management of Dr. Irvine's estate. Dr. Irvine also erected and started a woolen-factory about thirty years ago, and a short time later set in operation a foundry which had been erected under his management. Both have been quiet for a number of years.
The first tannery in town was built and operated by John McKee, on the site of the present stave-mill in Youngsville borough, as many as fifty years ago. After successfully operating it for a number of years McKee allowed it to fall into inocuous desuetude. Since that event Bowman & Culbertson built and operated a tannery in the northern part of Youngsville borough, which continued in operation until ten or twelve years ago.
The only distillery in town within the recollection of living men was started by Mark Dalrymple on Still House Run, below the mouth of the Brokenstraw. Andrew Farrely afterward kept it running for a time, but left it early to decay.
The Rouse Hospital .- Full details of the manner in which the munificent intentions of Henry R. Rouse were effectuated in part by the erection of this building in war times are given in an earlier chapter of this work.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Youngsville .- This borough, named from its first permanent settler, who laid out many of its streets, and seemed to have a prophetic vision of the relative importance in the county which the offspring of his somewhat fanciful energy would attain, had grown to be quite a village when it was incorporated, on the 4th day of September, 1849, and organized on the 15th of February following, by the election of Archibald Alexander, burgess; William Siggins and John
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Hull, councilmen ; Philip Mead, treasurer ; Henry P. Kinnear, clerk ; John Sig- gins, collector, etc. James Davis is authority for the statement that as early as 1800 Mathew Young carved the quaint word " Yungval " on a large flat stone which stood for many years on ground now covered by the brick hardware store, and was used as a doorstep. The name Youngsville was naturally given to the place as soon as it became a settlement, in the first decade of the present cent- ury. We have seen that the first store in the village or township was that of Henry Kinnear, opened in 1816, which was practically continued until the death of his son, Carter V. Kinnear, in 1884. It is worthy of remark that W. D. Kinnear, a grandson of Henry and a son of Carter V. Kinnear, is now a merchant here. The next merchant was probably Henry McCullough, who started a store across from Kinnear previous to 1830, on land which he had purchased from William Siggins. He removed to Pittsburgh as early as 1832 or 1833, where he engaged in the wholesale iron trade and became very wealthy. John Gillespie started a store in Youngsville soon after the business of Henry Kinnear was established ; but he soon failed, and his name has not become prominent in the annals of the town.
The first tavern in town was probably that unpretentious hostelry of John Mckinney, below the Rouse farm. Mathew Young next built a hotel on the site of the present Wade House and sold it to John Mead and John Garner. The first landlord was Amasa Ransom, who leased it of Mead. In a short time after it was opened Mead and Garner sold the property, with ten acres of land adjoining the site, to John McKinney, who rented it to Cephas Hurlburt about a year. William Siggins followed, and was there in 1822, when William F. Siggins was born. The proprietors or lessees since the retirement of Judge Siggins, about 1823, have been, as well as may be remembered, as follows: John Layler, William Arthur, Morrell Lowrey, Robert McKinney, son of John, sr., Mathew McKinney, brother of Robert. At this period the house was torn down, and John McKinney immediately rebuilt, on the same ground, the pres- ent Wade House. Since then some of the landlords have been Peter S. Wade, son-in-law of John McKinney, who remained a number of years, besides others who remained but a short time, among them John Siggins, about 1846 or 1847, William Gray and his successor, A. P. Garfield, the present proprie- tor, who came here about three years ago. The house is well kept, and looks carefully to the comfort of its guests.
About 1822 Alfred Van Armon started a tavern on the site of the new brick store on East Main street, and was succeeded by Elijah Davis the younger, Robert Kinnear, and several others. It did not last long. The site of the American House was first used for hotel purposes about 1827 by Charles Whitney. Among his successors were Abraham Wilson, Thomas Turner, Dorwin Green and others. A short time previous to 1850 it burned and the present structure was erected by William Mead.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The Fairmont House first saw the light about 1851, when John Siggins built it. Siggins had erected one there about three years before, but it had burned in the fall of 1849, and he rebuilt it in 1851, about as it is at present. After keeping the house for a number of years he rented it to J. S. Trask, of Irvineton. Dorwin Green bought the property afterwards of the estate of John Siggins, and entertained the traveling public hospitably for a period, when he was succeeded, in November, 1879, by the present proprietor, C. H. Gregory, who besides keeping a first-class house deals extensively in horses and other live stock, carriages, wagons, etc. The house will comfortably accommodate thirty guests.
Mills .- The early mills having been already mentioned at length, it will be necessary only to say a word concerning the mills now in operation in and about Youngsville. Some ten or twelve years ago R. A. Kinnear built a plan- ing mill near the railroad station, of which he still retains the ownership and active management. J. W. Agrelius, another of Youngsville's most promi- nent business men, in company with Carter V. Kinnear, who had a one-third interest in the concern, built a stave-mill, of which he is now the sole owner. It stands near the site of one of the old mills before mentioned. At the pres- ent writing we have not learned the new owner of the new saw-mill, built about six years ago by Jed. Bartlett, and afterward owned by Henry Woodin. The planing-mill now owned and operated by George Pierson was built about five years ago by himself and W. Filer. Mr. Pierson has been sole proprietor since the spring of 1886.
Mercantile Business .- The merchant of longest standing now in Youngs- ville, we believe, is J. G. McKee, who established himself in business here about twenty years ago. Excepting about three years he has occupied the building which is now his store, all this period. He carries a stock of groceries valued at about $2,000.
Mad. Alger came to Youngsville and opened a store on West Main street in the fall of 1867. In June, 1885, he removed to the building which he now occupies. He carries stock worth about $3,000.
W. J. Mead and B. J. Jackson, who keep on hand a good line of hardware stock, and trade under the firm style of Mead & Jackson, formed their part- nership about cighteen years ago. Their goods are estimated to be worth about $7,000.
J. W. Agrelius, who deals in a stock of drugs and medicines valued at some $8,000, began his career as merchant in Youngsville about ten years ago. After dealing in partnership with Carter V. Kinnear one year and with W. A. Mains two years he continued the trade alone, and is now sole proprietor of the business.
The dry goods and general mercantile business now conducted by H. L. Mead & Co. was established by J. D. Mead in November, 1877. In Decem-
A.C. Blodget
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ber, 1883, he took into partnership with him his son H. L. Mead, the relation continuing until July, 1886, when the present firm, consisting of H. L. and C. S. Mead, was formed. Their stock varies in value from about $7,000 to $8,000.
The firm of McDowell & Kinnear, composed of L. McDowell and W. D. Kinnear, was formed about four years ago. The business was established about six months previously by William Spinner. The present firm are ex- tensive dealers in hardware of all kinds, carrying stock worth some $5,000. The junior member of this firm is, as has before been stated, a grandson of the first merchant in the town, and a son of the merchant who was longest in bus- iness in Youngsville.
The general store of A. F. Swanson was started by the present proprietor three years ago. George K. Murray has dealt in jewels in Youngsville about three years. W. B. Phillips has had a harness shop here about two years.
W. D. Belnap began dealing in general merchandise here in November, 1886. Excepting three years which he passed in the army during the last war, and nine years in California, he has passed his mature life in Warren county, his father, Guernsey Belnap, having emigrated to Pittsfield from his native (Erie) county in 1826, when W. D. was six years of age.
The Youngsville Savings Bank was established in 1875. The first presi- ident was John McKinney; vice-president, Henry P. Kinnear, and cashier, John A. Jackson. Mr. Kinnear succeeded Mr. Mckinney as president and remained in that office until his death. B. J. Jackson is at the present writing vice-president, and John A. Jackson is cashier.
Physicians, Past and Present .- The first resident physician in the township of Brokenstraw was Dr. John W. Irvine, who settled in the vicinity of Irvine- ton in about 1822, and after abiding there some eight or ten years returned to Philadelphia. He was, it is stated, an uncle of Dr. William A. Irvine. About 1826 Dr. James A. Alexander settled in Youngsville and remained here in active practice until not far from 1853, when he removed to Kentucky, the place of his death. Dr. Benjamin F. Parmiter came to Youngsville about the same time as Dr. Alexander, but remained only two or three years. In 1847 Dr. A. C. Blodgett, the veteran physician of Youngsville, made this place his home. A more extended sketch of his life appears in the biographical de- partment of this work.
Dr. A. C. Axtell was born at Sheakleyville, Mercer county, Pa., on the 14th of July, 1828 ; attended lectures and dissections in 1853-54 in Starling Medical College, at Columbus, O., and began to practice in 1854 at New Leb- anon, Mercer county. In April, 1865, he removed thence to Youngsville and has since then been continuously and busily engaged in practice here - a pe- riod at this writing of nearly twenty-two years.
Dr. C. H. Jacobs was born in Mercer county, Pa., in 1856; was graduated
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
from the medical department of Western Reserve University at Cleveland, O., in February, 1883 ; and after a brief period of practice at Evansburg, Craw- ford county, came to Youngsville.
Dr. S. C. Diefendorf, born in Jefferson county, N. Y., on the 21st day of May, 1847, was graduated from the Geneva Medical College in the class of 1868-69. He practiced for a time with a preceptor at Syracuse, N. Y., and removed to Youngsville two years ago.
Hugh Addison Davenny, M. D., is also a native of Mercer county, Pa., where he was born in 1849. He has been engaged in practice about twenty- one years. In 1869-70 he took a course in the Buffalo Medical and Surgical College. He first practiced seven years in Youngsville, then four years in Oil City, seven years in Fredonia, Mercer county, Pa., three years in Mercer, the county seat of that county, and on the 28th of July, 1886, came back to his old home in Youngsville.
Lawyers .- The only regular legal practitioner acknowledged by all the courts of the State who practiced in Youngsville was J. B. Delamater, who made Youngsville his home for a short time about thirty-five years ago. He afterward became prominent as an oil dealer and politician, and is now wealthy.
The Post-office. - Until about the year 1819 the inhabitants of all this vicinity used to obtain their mail matter from the earlier office at Pittsfield. At that time Henry Kinnear was appointed postmaster, and opened an office in Youngsville, which was named Brokenstraw. Alfred Van Orman succeeded Kinnear in two or three years, and during his brief term the present name of the office was adopted, an office having been given to Dr. William Irvine at Irvineton, with the name of Brokenstraw. Other postmasters at Youngsville, nearly in their order, have been F. W. Brigham, W. F. Siggins, Andrew Alex- ander, Henry P. Kinnear, Frank Kinnear, Erasmus Foreman, A. M. Belknap, about twenty one years, J. W. 'Agrelius, and the present incumbent, W. J. Davis (2d), who received his appointment from President Cleveland on the 9th of November, 1885.1
Irvincton .- Twenty-five years ago the site of Irvineton village presented to the traveler no signs of life beyond the quiet industries of the farmer, or the occasional shouts of lumbermen rafting their timbers down the river. Soon after that period, however, the intense oil excitement that agitated the entire region embraced within the limits of the several northwestern counties of Penn- sylvania served to develop the resources which were given to this place by its natural position, and a lively village grew up. The name of Irvineton had been given to the vicinity previous to this time, and it now centered at this village. The post-office had been kept during all the previous years across the river, by Dr. Irvine and Edward Biddle. The first settler, strictly speak-
1 W. J. Davis is a grandson of Abraham and a son of Elijah L. Davis, the latter of whom is now a resident of Cincinnati, whither he removed in 1838.
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ROBERT THOMPSON.
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ing, on the site of the present village, was John Cooney, who is now a mer- chant of thrift, and the postmaster at this place. Mr. Cooney came here in in 1866 and "pitched his tent in a field;" the nearest neighbors being the Irvine family across the creek. Mr. Cooney built a house a few rods west of his present residence, opened a store in the front, and slept in the rear. At this time the oil excitement was very high, and there was also considerable lum- bering. Besides his business as a merchant, Mr. Cooney boarded a number of men for several years, and thus deserves the credit of opening the first tav- ern in Irvineton. During his second year here he built another house, and during the third year still another. Three years ago he removed one of these old buildings to the site of his present store, and removed to it. He lumbered extensively when he first came, and acted also as a contractor for the building of railroads. There were then no mills in this part of the township except the mills of Dr. Irvine, at the mouth of the creek. The first regular hotel at Irvine- ton was built by Michael Swing in the latter part of the year 1866, and opened in the spring of 1867. It stood just north of the present railroad station. It burned about eleven years ago, while kept by R. Donovan. Donovan rebuilt it and kept it until another fire consumed it, in the spring of 1886. The only hotel now in the village was built by R. A. Kinnear in the fall of 1886, and is kept by T. C. Nuttall.
The first mill built in the village was erected by Perry Patch and Henry Walters about eight years ago. It is now operated by Patch & Arnold. H. and F. Walters are also now engaged in the manufacture of staves, etc., at Irvineton.
After Mr. Cooney, the next merchant in Irvineton was William Singleton, who opened trade in 1867. There are now three stores in the village besides that of Mr. Cooney, viz., the drug and general store of George W. Shannon, which has been open for fifteen or sixteen years; the general store of William H. Metzgar, who has traded here also about fifteen years; and the general and feed store of George W. Kolfrat, which has been open a shorter time.
The Post-office. - In 1867 the post-office was removed from "across the creek " for the convenience of the greatest number. Frank Metzgar was ap- pointed postmaster, and since then he and his two brothers, William H. and G. W., have held the office for eighteen years. John Cooney was appointed to the position in November, 1885, and is the present incumbent.
Schools of Brokenstraw Township. - The first school taught in this town- ship was under the management and instruction of Mathew Young. The next teacher was probably Edward Jones. One of the earliest school-houses stood on the brink of the hill in Irvineton, near the site of the present union school at that place. Another early teacher was John Lee Williams. After the organ- ization of Youngsville borough in 1850, two school-houses were built in the borough, and for eight or ten years these seemed to answer every purpose,
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though one of them was enlarged in 1854, at an expense of $281. The next year a new building was erected on the east side of the creek, at a cost of $476. The schools were first graded in 1858, and W. F. Siggins took charge of the higher department, at one dollar a day and his dinner. Elizabeth Siggins took charge of the primary department, at four dollars a week, and boarded herself. The union school building was erected in 1871 at a cost of something more than $8,000. Its rooms are all spacious and well lighted and ventilated, besides being well furnished with modern furniture and all the equipments necessary to a school of the present day. It has four departments. The first principal was J. M. Ilantz. The present one is W. W. Fell. At Irvineton the stone school-house built by the Irvine family was used until about fourteen years ago, when the present union school was built. It has three departments and is well prepared for the purposes of its erection. The principal is H. H. Weber. Besides these schools there are four others in the township.
Ecclesiastical. - The first church organized in Brokenstraw township was the Methodist Episcopal, though there were services held here for years before the permanent organization was effected. Rev. William McConnelly, the first preacher on the Brokenstraw, preached near the site of Youngsville in the year 1809. At this time (from 1800 to 1816) the salary of an itinerant preacher was eighty dollars a year and traveling expenses; an additional eighty dollars being allowed for the care of the wife, unless she was otherwise provided for, and sixteen dollars for each child. In 1812 Jacob Young and Bishop McKen- dree passed through the valley of the Brokenstraw, stayed over night at the house of Darius Mead, and on the following day the bishop preached, after which Jacob Young formed a class consisting of the following members : John Gregg and wife, Jacob Goodwin and wife, William Arthur and wife, Anna Mead and her son Philip, Betsey Ford, Polly Arthur and Polly Campbell - eleven in all. That was previous to the formation of a circuit. In 1813 the Chautauqua Circuit was formed, and was in the bounds of the Ohio Conference and the Ohio District. Youngsville was then one of the appointments. The circuit then had a membership of 150, and the entire conference, 1,690. John McMahon was preacher of the circuit, and Jacob Young was presiding elder of the district. From that time to the present there has been regular preach- ing at Youngsville. The list of preachers is as follows, it being borne in mind that they were not resident preachers before about 1851 : 1814, Burrows West- lake; 1815, Lemuel Lane; 1816, Daniel Davidson; 1817, Curtis Goddard ; 1818, John Summerville ; 1819, John Summerville ; 1820 (this year the Chau- tauqua Circuit was taken into the Genesee Conference and Genesee District, Gidcon R. Draper presiding elder), Philetus Parker and David Smith; 1821, Parker Buell and Sylvester Cary; 1822, Parker Buell and Benjamin Hill; 1823, Asa Abell and John W. Hill; 1824, Nathaniel Reader and Jolin Scott ; 1825 (Chautauqua Circuit and Erie District taken into Pittsburgh Conference),
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Peter D. Horton and Joseph S. Barris; 1826, Joseph S. Barris and Dow Pros- ser; 1827, John Chandler and John Johnson; 1828 (Youngsville Circuit taken from Chautauqua Circuit), Hiram Kinsley and John Johnson ; 1829, John P. Kent and L. L. Hamlin ; 1830, James Gilmore and John J. Swazy ; 1831, John C. Ayers, Samuel E. Babcock, and G. D. Kinnear; 1832, A. Young and Thomas Jennings; 1833, Hiram Luce and D. Pritchard ; 1834 (Jamestown District), David Preston and H. N. Sterns; 1835, William Todd and James E. Chapin ; 1836, J. H. Tocket and Theodore Stone; 1837, Josiah Flower and John Deming; 1838, C. C. Best and John Scott; 1839, B. S. Hill and Luther Kendall; 1840 (for this year only, this was named Youngsville, Warren, and Smethport District), B. S. Hill, A. Barris, and S. Henderson ; 1841, Alexan- der Barris ; 1842, John F. Hill; 1843, Martin Hineback; 1844, Horace Hitch- cock; 1845-46, O. P. Brown; 1847, D. Vorce and D. King; 1848, D. Vorce and R. L. Blackner ; 1849, S. Henderson and O. D. Parker; 1850, Samuel Sullivan (this year the circuit was divided by cutting off Wrightsville and Lotts- ville) ; 1851, Albert Norton ; 1852, J. N. Henry and M. Hineback; 1853, James B. Hammond; 1854, Samuel S. Warren ; 1855-56, A. R. Hammond ; 1857, Samuel Holland : 1858, Samuel Holland ; 1859, H. M. Bettis; 1860, George F. Reese; 1861-62, David Mizenn; 1863, A. H. Dome; 1864-65, C. M. Heard; 1866-67-68, James C. Sullivan ; 1869-70, B. F. Delo; 1871, A. H. Bowen; 1872-73, Joseph F. Hill; 1874, S. S. Burton (Garland added to the charge and the parsonage built) ; 1875-77, L. W. Riley ; 1878, W. B. Holt; 1879-81, A. S. Goodrich ; 1882, I. N. Clover ; 1883-86, H. G. Hall; 1886 and at present, T. W. Douglas.
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