USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 52
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Sugar Grove Savings Bank was organized in April, 1877, with a capital of $25,000. The first officers were W. H. Shortt, president; J. H. Nichols, vice-president ; J. B. Hamilton, cashier ; and J. H. Spencer, assistant cashier. Mr. Shortt is still president, and his son, C. M. Shortt, is the present cashier, having succeeded Mr. Hamilton in 1878.
Hotels .- The only hotels of any prominence in the village of Sugar Grove have been that of John I. Willson and his successors, and that of Samuel Hall -the last building having been destroyed by fire about thirteen years ago, though it had not been kept as a hotel for some time previous to that date. As stated in the sketch of Captain Willson, he purchased the hotel (of Robert Miles) about 1821, and retained the property until about the year 1857, when he sold out to James Patterson. In the summer of 1859 Aaron Smith suc- ceeded Patterson, and in one year was followed by James Dennison one year. Henry Sylvester, now of Sinclairville, N. Y., then came here and remained about one year. Since his withdrawal the successive proprietors have been Fred Alvord, William D. Edgerton, H. Harmon, Fred Alvord, George Owen, Porter Pemberton, David Crull, Jacob Wiggins, and the present proprietor, Charles Ricker, who assumed charge on the 4th of July, 1886.
Agricultural Society .- The unquestioned pre-eminence of this township in agricultural matters has occasioned several attempts toward the organization of socicties looking to the advancement of this art, the basis of a country's pros- perity. In the fall of 1857 an agricultural society was formed as a township organization auxiliary to the county society. It was officered as follows : L. H. Pratt, president; F. R. Miller, secretary; Dwight Buell, treasurer. It was decided that fairs should be held in or near the village of Sugar Grove, and one or two such fairs were so held. The society now in operation in this town- ship, however, dates its origin to the year 1874, when it was organized and soon after chartered. The first president was Darwin Wentworth ; the first secretary, David Jagger, and the first treasurer, E. R. Wheelock. Its pur- pose is the advancement of the agricultural, horticultural, and mechanical arts. No premiums are offered at its fairs to fast horses, no gambling is allowed on the grounds, nor is any liquor sold. Grounds of about twenty or twenty- five acres are leased of three parties, and are a pattern of convenience and beauty. According to its charter, any person purchasing a family ticket be- comes ipso facto a member of the organization, the membership varying from 1,000 to 1,500 in numbers. Once in three years the society elect a member
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of the State Board of Agriculture. The present officers are Hon. Emry Davis, president ; David Jagger, secretary, and J. B. Hamilton, treasurer.
G. A. R. Post .- This organization, which was named after James P. Younie, a brave soldier killed during the last war, was mustered in on the 21st of Jan- uary, 1885, by post commander J. W. Brighton, of Bear Lake Post. Follow- ing is a list of its officers : Commander, Samuel Lord ; senior vice-commander, W. G. Peckham ; junior vice-commander, B. F. Darling ; surgeon. J. L. Bur- roughs ; chaplain, N. J. Cooper ; officer of the day, A. D. Frank ; adjutant, William A. Stuart ; quartermaster, D. Fulkerson ; sergeant-major, H. Arters; quartermaster-sergeant, William A. Younie.
The Post office .- It is not known exactly when a regular post-office was established in the village of Sugar Grove, though it seems probable that the first appointee under the general government was Jeremiah Jolls, who, about 1830, had an office a little to the west of Willson's Hotel. It is stated on good authority that John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, was at one time a mail carrier through this township, when he resided in Crawford county. Jere- miah Jolls was followed in his federal office by Joshua Van Duzen, whose office was in the same building. Since the expiration of his term the following have basked in presidential favor for more or less brief periods: W. O. Blodgett, Mark Willson, G. W. Buell, James Patterson, Jacob Horton, C. J. Phillips, James Stuart. The present incumbent, J. M. Martin, was appointed in May, 1885.
Chandler's Valley .- This is a small village in the southeastern part of the township, containing two general stores, one which is kept by H. Wilson, and the other by F. A. Sagerdahl ; besides the drug store of F. N. Chapin. At this place Baker & Anderson operate a successful planing, matching, and shingle-mill ; N. W. Dupree manufactures lumber, lath, and shingles ; C. P. Quilliam carries on a cheese-factory ; C. J. Sagerdahl and Charles Sundell are severally engaged in selling and manufacturing wagons and carriages. There is one hotel, the Ellis House, kept by Benjamin Ellis. H. Wilson is post- master, and until recently the only physician here was F. W. Whitcomb. Dr. Whitcomb was born in Sugar Grove, and remained in his native township until July 1, 1886, when he removed to Warren. He was graduated from the med- ical department of the University of Buffalo on the 21st of February, 1882, and at once began to practice in Chandler's Valley. He was the first resident physician of this village.
Chandler's Valley received its name before 1820 from John Chandler, who came hither from Connecticut about the year 1815, and settled on the flats in the valley, his house standing on a little rise of ground immediately west of the flats. The country was then noted for its maple sugar, great numbers of maple trees covering the surface of this part of the town. Josiah Chandler, the father of John, came with him, an old man, but died in a few years. John
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Chandler had twelve children, four of whom were sons, and of the latter only one now lives, while but four of the daughters are living. John Chandler was a hard-working man, was conscientious in the performance of his duty, and just toward others. He died in the early part of July, 1867. The other early settlers, most of them, have been mentioned in former pages. About 1859 this portion of the town received a considerable influx of Swedish immigrants, who now form an important and law-abiding element of its society.
Schools .- The first school kept in Sugar Grove was in 1815, in what was then known as the Utica school district, embracing the present village of Sugar Grove. The first schools were supported by individual subscription, the tuition being valued at from two to five dollars per pupil. The first school was taught by Betsy Wetmore, who was succeeded by James Brown. Other early teachers were J. Q. Wilson and Corbin Kidder. As before stated, John Barr donated an acre of ground to the district for school purposes, which is still used as a site for the union school. About 1869 Frederick Miles be- queathed $3,000 to his wife in trust, to be used as a school fund. The present union school building was erected about this time at a cost of nearly $7,000, F. R. Miller, James Catlin, and James Younie being the commissioners who worked in conjunction with the school directors.
Besides this union school and the district schools of the township, there is an educational institution in the village of Sugar Grove which reflects honor upon the place, and will, undoubtedly, redound to the elevation of public morals and opinions. The Sugar Grove Seminary was erected through the efforts of the Erie Conference of the United Brethren of Christ. The confer- ence resolved to establish the school (the only one in the conference) at that point from which the best inducement was offered. The citizens of Sugar Grove with characteristic liberality subscribed the sum of $8,000 for the pur- pose, which, being the largest offer, was accepted, and the building erected in 1883. The first board of trustees was elected two years previously, and was composed of Rev. J. Hill, who was foremost in his zealous efforts to secure the establishment of the school, Rev. A. Holeman, Rev. N. R. Luce, Rev. R. J. White, H. Frick, C. H. Partridge, and Joel Carr. The cost of the building, an elegant and modern structure, was $20,000, and of the furniture $3,000
more. The school was opened in September, 1884, with an attendance of about 130. The institution, though under the management of the United Brethren, is entirely non-sectarian, and makes a specialty of music, having a corps of excellent teachers. The other branches are not, however, neglected. The first and present principal is Rev. R. J. White. The attendance in the 1885 was 215.
The religious organization of the United Brethren connected with the school was effected in 1884, the membership of which now numbers about seventy. The pastor from the beginning has been and now is Rev. J. Hill. The Sab-
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bath-school superintendent is Professor E. H. Hill ; class leader, P. Smith ; steward, J. P. Atkins. The average attendance at the Sabbath-school is about sixty. The congregations at the church meetings are much larger than is in- dicated by the statement of membership, there being usually in attendance upon divine service at the chapel no fewer than 125 persons. The present board of trustees of the institution is composed as follows : Rev. J. Hill, Rev. R. J. White, Rev. I. Bennehoff, Rev. N. R. Luce, Rev. A. Holeman, H. Frick, J. D. Christ. The members of the prudential committee are Rev. J. Hill, J. P. Miller, T. Fulkerson. Rev. J. Hill is the general agent.
Ecclesiastical. - The first regularly organized church in Sugar Grove town- ship was the Presbyterian, which was formed in the parlor of David Brown's dwelling house in 1821 by Rev. Amos Chase. Previous to that, however, meetings were irregularly held three or four times a year, without regard to denomination, in the school-house usually. The original members of this church were David Fox, I. Fitch, Nathan Abbott, W. C. White, Samuel White, David Stilson, Hannah Tuttle, Matilda Fox, Anna Abbott, Aurelia Wetmore, Cynthia Fitch, Betsey White, Catharine Stuart, William Stuart, Betsey Stuart, Robert Stuart, Polly Stuart, James Lowther, Barbara Lowther, Jennet Brown, Joseph Langdon, Frederick Miles, Catherine Miles, Sally Smith, and Francis Smith. The first meetings were held in the dwellings of members and in school-houses. During the year 1834, however, a house of worship was com- pleted at a cost of about $1,000. This building was of wood and stood out- side of the village proper. Some time between 1865 and 1870 it was moved within the village limits and repaired at an additional cost of $1,200.
Pastors and stated supplies, in the order of their coming by years, have been as follows : Amos Chase, 1821; Nathan Harnod, 1825; W. F. Huston, 1831 ; John McNair, 1832; A. McCready, 1836; Daniel Washburn, 1838; M. T. Merwin, 1846; N. M. Crane, 1849 to 1854; J. H. Gray, 1862 ; Samuel Graham, 1865 ; William Elliott, 1875 to 1884. The number of present mem- bers is twenty-six, and the present value of church property is $1,500.
In 1838, through the influence, it is said, of a division of the Presbyterian Church of Jamestown into two organizations, one retaining the Presbyterian form of government and the other assuming that of the Congregational Church, a like division was effected in the Presbyterian Church of Sugar Grove. Dea- con Joseph Langdon had originally united with this church with the express understanding that whenever the vicinity should have Congregationalists suf- ficient for the formation of a separate organization, he should be at liberty to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church, and organize a separate body. In the above-mentioned year, Deacon Langdon, deeming the time ripe for the performance of his condition, moved in the church that the organization with- draw from the Presbyterian and assume the Congregational form of govern- ment. Among the Congregationalists were, besides Deacon Langdon, Henry
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Catlin, Amos Wright, L. H. Pratt, Clark Dalrymple, Stephen Jagger, Mrs. Stephen Jagger, Miss Julia A. Catlin (now Mrs. L. H. Pratt), David and Mrs. Stilson, David and Mrs. Fox, Betsey Stilson, Polly Stilson (afterward Mrs. Hardin Hazeltine), James Gray, Lydia King (afterward Mrs. Amos Wright), and Europa Fay. Miss Catherine Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine Spencer, and James Jagger were left almost alone in the Presbyterian Church for a time. This division subsequently led to a protracted litigation for the possession and own- ership of the church property, which resulted in favor of the Presbyterians. After the division the Congregationalists held meetings usually in the ball- room of Samuel Hall's tavern, and also in the ball-room of a small tavern built by Samuel Foster, but then owned by Samuel Brown. No church edifice was erected until January, 1849, when the present one was reared. The pastor of the Congregational Church at the time of the division was Rev. Emery, who was soon followed by Rev. Hiram Kellogg. The pastors since his departure have been many, among the last few being D. L. Gcar, O. A. Thomas, J. B. Davison, and W. W. Pringle, the last pastor. The church has at present no pastor.
The present officers of the Congregational Church are as follows: Edwin Hazeltine, S. O. Smith, Noah H. Dalrymple, deacons; Miss Sarah Stoolfire, treasurer; Noah H. Dalrymple clerk; De Forrest Temple, Sabbath-school superintendent. A Sabbath-school was organized before the separation from the Presbyterian Church, under Rev. Harnod, and has since been continued in both organizations. The property of the Congregational Church is now valued at about $2,000, including the parsonage.
The first knowledge we have of Methodism in Sugar Grove places the date of its origin here at about the period between 1825 and 1830. Previous to that time Sugar Grove had had the misfortune to be counted, as one of the leading members of that church has said, merely one of the picket posts of some circuit, and, indeed, practically continued to be so counted until 1855. Until the last-mentioned date the members were few and scattering, and held at irregular periods such services as they could in the log house of some set- tler. Occasionally also prayer meetings and class meetings were called to keep up the interest of those who adhered to that faith. Among these pioncers of Methodism in Sugar Grove are found the names of Gregg, Warner, Carter, Thorp, Crouch, Andrews, Mahan, Pero, and others. Among the preachers who conducted meetings previous to 1855, are found the following : Revs. Todd, Flowers, Demming, Norton, Forrest, Chapman, Graham, Edwards, Lloyd, Forrest, Blin, Peate, More, Hineball, Holland, and Jones.
In 1840 the first Methodist class was formed in Sugar Grove by Rev. T. J. McClellan and Rev. E. J. S. Baker, preacher in charge. J. Andrews was class leader. The circuit at that time was called Harmony circuit. During these years revivals were not uncommon, and were undoubtedly productive of much
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good. On the 5th of October, 1846, a meeting was held at the house of An- drew Gregg to consider the desirability and feasibility of building a house of worship. Rev. E. J. S. Baker was in the chair and Dr. J. Andrews acted as secretary. Resolutions were adopted to the effect that the demands of the denomination in this vicinity required the erection of a church edifice, and Dr. J. Andrews, A. D. Jackson, and Stephen Crouch were appointed a committee, which in accordance of their duty reported at the next meeting, December 28, 1846, in favor of the immediate erection of a house of worship. At this meeting trustees and also a building committee were elected. The people, however, were very poor, and considering their circumstances and small number the undertaking was serious, and reflects credit upon their zeal. Farms were not cleared, and many were not paid for; money was scarce and the prices of products were ex- tremely low. Notwithstanding these untoward conditions the contract was let on the 28th of March, 1848, to Stephen Crouch. After slow and toilsome prog- ress the edifice was completed, and on the 3 Ist of August, 1852, was dedicated to the worship of the Most High by Rev. H. Whallon, assisted by Revs. T. D. Blin, J. Chesbrough, and others. It is truthfully related that when the people met to cut down and prepare the timber for the building, two women of the society, Mrs. Dunbar and Mrs. Abigail Fox, sawed off the first log amidst great shouting and applause. They both died long ago. It is also due to the memory of Stephen Crouch, who was soundly converted at one of the log cab- in meetings, as he said from a very sinful life, that he rendered indispensable aid in the building of this church. Until this edifice was completed services were held in the school-house on the village green. A Sunday-school was at this time also organized, and has continued in active and successful operation to the present day.
In 1855 the conference set Sugar Grove off from what was called the Ash- ville Circuit, and the new circuit was called Sugar Grove. Rev. E. M. Nowland was pastor. The following official members were found on the bounds of the new circuit at the time of its erection : Local preachers, Comfort Hamline, Chris- topher McManus; exhorters, David Blodgett, Artemas Woodard, Griffin Sweet ; stewards, John Mahan, Sylvester Howd, Peter Fretts; class leaders, H. Cooper, S. Howd, J. Andrews, A. Gregg, J. Whitely, A. Woodard, and J. Walker.
Since the year 1855 the influence of the church upon the people has not been without its good effect. Many of the ministers have been men of force and usefulness. Revivals of religion have been of frequent occurrence, and the community have thus been benefited by the elevating influences shed upon them. Few of the official members of 1855 remain at the present day, most of them having gone to the other world. In conclusion it may be truthfully said that the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sugar Grove has been aggressive in its warfare against sin, and its altar fires have never been permitted to be
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for a moment extinguished. Through the years of the Rebellion it occupied no doubtful position, but was loyal to the Union, and patriotic to the cause. It has ever been found on the side of right and sobriety. Its ministers have ever been ready and present to administer the consolations of the gospel to all classes and conditions of men, to visit and comfort the sorrowing, and dispense the last rites to the dying and the dead.
The pastors since 1855 have been as follows: 1855-56, E. M. Nowland ; 1856-57, M. Colgrove; 1857-58, A. Barras ; 1858-59, S. S. Burton ; 1859-61, E. A. Anderson ; 1861-63, J. Marsh ; 1863-65, D. Mizner; 1865-67, Stocker and Bush ; 1867-69, L. J. Merrill ; 1869-72, A. A. Horton; 1872-73, J. P. Storey ; 1873-74, J. P. Hicks; 1874-75, D. H. Snowden ; 1875-77, E. K. Creed ; 1877-78, S. S. Bennett ; 1878-81, W. O. Allen ; 1881-83, C. O. Mead ; 1883-85, D. R. Palmer; 1885-86, V. Corneule ; 1886-87, Rev. Lindsey.
The value of the church property is at present estimated at $3,700. The Sabbath-school superintendent is G. Horton. The other officers are as follows : stewards, W. W. Jones, S. Jones, Mrs. F. Bixford, Mrs. G. Horton ; trustees, Thomas Stuart, A. Shaw, C. Dole, G. Horton, B. H. Wiggins ; number of Sabbath-school teachers and officers, 15 ; number of scholars of all ages, III.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Hessel Valley Church of Chandler's Valley. - This church was organized in 1856 by Rev. Jonas Swenson. The first meetings were held in private houses in different parts of the town, and were conducted by missionary ministers. Among the original members were prominent Magnus Hultberg, Lars Samuelson, S. F. Anderson, A. J. Hult- berg, J. P. Swanson, A. P. Morris, and others. The first house of worship was built even before the permanent organization of the society was effected, namely, in 1854. It was a framed building, erected at an expenditure of about $2,000, and stood one mile north from Chandler's Valley village. It was superseded in 1884 by the present edifice, of brick, which is situated in the village of Chandler's Valley, and which cost about $6,000. The pastors of this church in order are as follows: Rev. Jonas Swenson, 1856-58; John Person, 1859-62; C. O. Hultgruen, 1864-70; Henry O. Lindeblad, 1871-79 ; C. A. Johnson, 1880-85 ; and the present pastor, A. P. Lindstrom, who came in 1886. At present there are 250 communicants of this church, and a total membership of 433. The church property is valued at $10,000. A division of the old church took place upon the erection of the new church edifice at the Valley, which resulted in a total separation of a part of the congregation and the formation of a new independent church, which built a new edifice near the site of the old church.
ยท
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PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
HISTORY OF PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP.
P INE GROVE township is a tract of land nearly six miles square, lying somewhat in the northeasterly part of Warren county, and is bounded north by Cattaraugus county in the State of New York, east by Elk township, Warren county, south by Glade and Conewango, and west by Farmington. Its surface is diversified by hill and valley, though this feature is not so prom- inent a characteristic of Pine Grove as of those towns lying farther south. Neither does it contain so much wild land as most of the other towns in the county, the soil of which it is composed being admirably adapted for agricult- ural uses. Natural irrigation is afforded by the Conewango Creek and its trib- utaries. This stream takes its rise in Chautauqua county, N. Y., flows south- erly through Pine Grove township - a little west of the center -forms the boundary line between Conewango and Glade townships, and unites with Alle- gheny River just east of Warren borough. The Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh Railroad intersects the town along the east bank of this creek, making access easy to the bounteous resources of nature here provided. The township was formed on the 8th of March, 1821, and its area diminished by the formation of Farmington, 7th of October, 1853. It was first called " Num- ber Six."
Early Settlements. - As has been written by one of Pine Grove's best informed local historians, "The history of Pine Grove township from its first settlement would necessarily include a recital of the sufferings, hardships, and privations of the early settlers, of which the present generation can form no adequate idea. A densely wooded country, inhabited by wild beasts, and wild men who had recently surrendered the title to their lands under compulsion," were the conditions which confronted the unfaltering and fearless pioneers of this neighborhood, which they accepted with a readiness born of intrepidity. It was in circumstances thus inauspicious that, as early as 1795, and while the reports of savage atrocity were yet distinct and vivid, John Frew, John Rus- sell, Robert Miles, and soon after Isaiah Jones, starting from Philadelphia, ascending the Susquehanna and Sinnemahoning, and penetrating the wilder- ness in what is now Mckean county, found the Allegheny at "Canoe Place," where they provided themselves with means of transportation, floated down the river to the mouth of the Conewango, and made the first permanent settle- ment of Warren county in the beech woods of Pine Grove and Farmington. It has been claimed that this event occurred previous to Wayne's treaty of 1795, but we have been unable to discover any evidence sufficiently strong to confute the presumption, which " will not down," that it was impossible for 29
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white men to make a settlement in the heart of the hostile Indian's battle- ground, so far away from the protection of the government. They would not have lived to see the last faint glimmer of their first camp-fire, or to have cleared a space sufficient for their final resting-place. As soon, however, as Wayne's treaty had laid open these rich lands to the settler, came the settler.
The smoothest and most available lands for agricultural purposes are found upon the wide flats and low, broad hills of the central and northwestern por- tion of the township. In the eastern and southern parts high elevations and a surface roughly corrugated by fierce water courses have rendered large areas unfit for cultivation. Originally these hills were covered with pine of a supe- rior quality, as well as other valuable timber. It was this more than anything else that invited the early settlers to make this region their home. "We find," says our author, "that as early as 1801 there was at least one saw-mill ; and in 1803 Mulford Marsh built a mill near the Irvine mill site, Daniel McGinty and Ethan Jackson built another at Russellburg, near where now is the bridge. Water power was eagerly sought after, to drive the machinery for sawing lum- ber. But little attention was given to improving the land for agricultural pur- poses. There were a few attempts made here and there at actual settlement. Z. H. Eddy commenced in 1801 on what is now the Phillips farm, but soon after moved to Warren, where he lived until his death, at an advanced age. One Charles Biles settled on the farm now owned by S. P. Allen. A man by the name of Davis settled on the Sloan farm, but transferred his claim to Gar- field, Garfield to S. W. Green, and he to Sloan, who retained it for many years. John McClain settled on the Jolin Daley farm, and Neal McClain es- tablished himself on the Cook or Wittsie farm. Samuel Anderson was the first settler on the John Arnold farm. These attempts were made under the settlement act of 1792, which required five years to give title. But few of the first arrivals perfected the title in their own names, as a subsequent assessment mentioned only Samuel Anderson and Isaiah Jones as owning land, of those before named.
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