USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 54
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The pastors, since 1852 and including that year, have been as follows : 1852-53, C. Irons; 1854-55, S. S. Burton ; 1856, James Gilfillan ; 1857-58, E. A. Anderson; 1859-60, J. C. Scofield; 1861, S. N. Warner; 1862-63, P. Burroughs ; 1864-65, Z. W. Shadduck; 1866, W. Bush; 1867, S. Hollen ; 1868, C. W. Reeves; 1869-70, H. W. Leslie; 1871, J. F. Hill; 1872-73, F. A. Archibald; 1874-75, E. Brown; 1876-77, A. H. Bowers; 1878-79, L. J. Bennett; 1880-81, L. F. Merritt; 1882-83, C. W. Miner; 1884-85, C. C. Hunt; Mr. Hunt is the present pastor.
From the beginning until the summer of 1854, meetings were held in private houses and in the school-house on the east side of Conewango Creek. But at that time the present house of worship was erected at a cost of about two thousand dollars, and was dedicated by J. H. Whalen, S. S. Burton, and others. The church has a membership at the present writing of about forty- eight, and the church property is valued at about $1,700.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
HISTORY OF DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP.1
D EERFIELD township was organized by the Court of Warren county on the 8th day of March, 1821, and first called "Number Eleven." The whole township was then a vast wilderness, very little land having been cleared. A few venturous pioneers had wandered this far into the wilderness and taken up claims along the river years before. The Allegheny River, winding in and out among the hills, divided the township as it was then into about equal parts. The Allegheny has always been noted for its beauty, but it was far more beautiful at that early day, with the great forests still growing in their natural state from the hilltops down to the river's brink, than it is now, with most of the forests cut away, and many refineries scattered along its banks, giving it a continuous coating of filth. The river was narrower and deeper than it is now, and full of fish. It never became so high in the spring and fall, nor did it become so low in the summer, as it does now. The vast forests along the river and its tributaries protected it from sudden rise, and prolonged the flow of the springs in the dry seasons. The river banks were also kept from washing away by the growing timber. The river was the main thorough- fare for travel and the transportation of burdens-in the summer by means of the canoe, and in the winter by means of the ice. Driving on the ice at this
1 The beginning of this chapter, to the asterisk, a few pages further on, was compiled and written by James Kinnear.
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early period was much more common than it is now. Nearly every winter the river afforded a splendid road-bed from Franklin to Deerfield and Warren, and it was utilized by the few travelers of that day; for there was no other road that would compare with it. There was a rough road cut through from Deerfield northward to Brokenstraw, and from Deerfield southward to Franklin, but it was hardly more than a trail. Along this road or trail, which left the river valley at Deerfield and went over the hills, a distance of thirty-three miles, to Franklin, there were only four or five families scattered along the whole dis- tance. The following are about all the families that lived at that time along this road from Deerfield to Franklin : William Neal, Henry McCalmont, and Mr. Renn. Could we look back at Deerfield township as it was then, we would certainly consider it well named; for deer were in abundance here, and all kinds of game peculiar to this climate and region held undisputed sway over about the whole township.
In 1821, when the township was organized, those settled here were a sturdy class of men and women, honest, and, of necessity, hard working. They came in here with their families and came to stay; for it was too difficult a matter to move, to get away easily. But their wants were simple, and, with an inex- haustible fund of contentedness, that stands in contrast to the nervous and restless spirit of the present day, they were happy. Their log cabins were scattered along the river valley, a mile or so apart; they were all on an equal- ity, and so there was a oneness in life's burdens and pleasures. There were living in Deerfield, when the township was organized, Thomas Arters, Sam- uel McGuire, Michael Gorman, sr., Charles Smith, John Thompson, Caleb Richardson, Arthur Magill, sr., Robert Hunter, sr., and some others. Brief sketches of the early history of these old pioneers will be found below. They, and those who came during the next ten years, deserve the honor and credit of first opening and settling this part of the Allegheny valley, which years later was the scene of the greatest activity. They felled the trees, built their log cabins, tilled their little clearings in summer, and in winter put in a few logs, which in early spring were run to Pittsburgh, and with the proceeds thereof they purchased the necessary articles of food and clothing which they could not raise or make. This merchandise was not shipped home by means of the express train which now rolls every few hours from Pittsburgh up the valley, but was placed in a canoe and towed or poled the whole distance, one hundred and fifty miles. The canoe soon gave way to the keel-boat, and years later the steamboat took up the task and conveyed the merchandise part way up the river, and often all the way.
Deerfield township was well timbered. Pine and hemlock in enormous quantities covered nearly every valley and ridge. At first the lumbering con- sisted in felling trees and cutting them into logs, and in splitting lath. The choice pine tree was selected for lath, cut by hand four feet long, and packed
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in bunches of one hundred each. This lumber was placed on the river to await the spring freshet.
In 1826 William Kinnear, sr., built the first saw-mill in Deerfield town- ship. It was run by water power. Later other mills were erected, and soon the class of lumber changed to boards and shingles.
In 1829 all that part of Deerfield township lying on the east side of the Allegheny River was organized into a separate township called Limestone. This took away fully half of Deerfield's fine forests, but still there were remain- ing broad tracts of fine timber, far more than the inhabitants of that day could handle with their upright saws and water-power saw-mills. There is, in fact, at the present day, some pine and a large quantity of hemlock remaining in Deerfield, and lumbering is still an important factor in the business of our township.
In early years piloting rafts down the river to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati became quite a trade, and many of the early settlers of Deerfield became expert pilots.
About the year 1818 the first school in the township was held in a log house belonging to John Thompson, situated about two miles above the mouth of Tidioute Creek. John Elder and a Mr. Smith taught here at different times. In 1824 John Elder kept school in a log house near McGuire Run, and from that time there was school nearly every winter in some place in the township. In 1832 a building, standing in upper Tidioute, used for holding elections, was used for school purposes. In 1849 the first school-house in Deerfield was built. This was a framed building, and was supported by subscriptions. This school was located on the east side of McGuire Run. Another framed school- house was erected in 1851 near Tidioute Creek. In 1867 a two-story build- ing containing four rooms was erected near the central part of the borough, and the school thoroughly graded. In 1877 two large rooms were added to the building, and since that time an addition of five or six rooms has been made, several new lots added to the grounds, and a complete steam heating system placed in the building, making the school building second to none in this part of the State as regards convenience. These additions were made under the direction of H. H. Cumings. A. W. Couse, John Hunter, J. L. Grandin, M. Ross, and W. W. Hague, school directors. When the repairs were finished, and the school buildings in proper shape, there was a bonded debt upon the school of $5,000. This debt was canceled by Mr. Samuel Grandin, who drew his check for the whole amount and gave the same to the borough of Tidioute. An industrial school building and other property have been added to the school possessions through other benefactors residing in the borough of Tidioute.
The first post-office in Deerfield was opened in 1828 and kept by Samuel Parshall at his residence. It was called Deerfield Post-office. G. W. Turner was second postmaster. The first store in the township was opened in 1832
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by Joshua Turner and son. It was a general store, for furnishing provisions and dry goods. The first framed house was erected in Deerfield township in the year 1824, ; it is the same house, with the exception of frequent repairs, that is now the property of L. D. Galligan. The first grist-mill was erected by Michael Gorman, sr.
Religious services were held occasionally at different houses, whenever a wandering itinerant chanced along. There were no regular services held here until years after the township was organized. The framed house of Thomas Arters was used after its erection for nearly all religious meetings.
The following is a list of the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church who have labored along this part of the Allegheny valley since the formation of Deerfield township, and their respective years of labor :
Ira Eddy, Charles Elliot, 1820; Z. Paddock, 1821 ; Josiah Keyes, 1822 ; S. Cary, 1823; Robt. C. Hatton, 1825 ; John W. Hill, 1825 ; I. H. Tackitt, 1826; John Leach, J. H. Tackitt, 1826; Job Wilson, W. R. Babcock, 1828 ; N. Callender, A. Callander, 1829; A. Callander, A. Plimpton, 1830; A. Young, B. Preston, 1831; H. Kingsley, J. E. Lee, 1832 ; D. Richey, S. W. Ingraham, 1833 ; Jacob Jenks, 1834 ; J. Robinson, D. Richey, 1835 ; H. Luce, 1836; J. O. Rich, W. Todd, 1837 ; V. Lake, 1838; J. E. Chapin, D. Rolland, 1839; D. Rolland, 1840; John Scott, C. R. Chapman, 1841 ; E. Bull, 1842 ; A. P. Brown, 1843; D. Pritchard, 1844; J. W. Wilson, 1845 ; J. W. Wilson, M. Himeburgh, 1846; M. Himeburgh, A. Barnes, 1847 ; A. Barnes, J. B. Hammond, 1848.
The first Methodist society was organized in Deerfield about the year 1826. Joseph Lindsey, Susan Middleton, and Dorcas Hunter, members of that early day, are still members of the church militant, awaiting the time when they shall be relieved from their long service, and called to the church triumphant.
The first church in the township was a Presbyterian Church, built of logs, about the year 1828, and situated near the old Tidioute cemetery, one-half acre having been donated for a church and one-half for a public cemetery, by Alex. McCalmont. The first Presbyterian minister was the Rev. Mr. Chase ; Thomas McGee and Joseph McCauley were deacons. Rev. Chase was fol- lowed by the Rev. Mr. Hamson. The Presbyterians built a new church on the above-mentioned lot about the year 1841, which was afterwards sold and the present church built in 1867.
The following is a list of the Presbyterian ministers who have labored in Tidioute since 1867:
D. M. Rankin, J. J. Marks, D. D., 1867; W. B. Cullis, 1868; A. B. Lomes, 1869; J. H. Edwards, 1871; W. L. Findley, 1873; Theodore Crowl, 1874; L. M. Gilliland, 1877 ; J. C. Olliver, 1885.
The first M. E. Church was built about the year 1836, where the Grandin brick block now stands. This church was sold in 1854 to Samuel Grandin,
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and a new one built in the eastern part of Tidioute. This edifice was sold to the Lutherans in 1872, and a new one built where the present church now stands; this church was burned in the fall of 1872, before its completion. The present brick structure was commenced in the spring of 1873, and dedicated in September, 1874.
The following named M. E. ministers were appointed to labor in Tidioute the years opposite their respective names :
T. G. McCreary, 1849-50; J. T. Boyle, P. Burroughs, 1851 ; J. Wriggles- worth, 1852; S. Hollen, 1853 ; J. Gilfillen, J. B. Hammond, 1854; J. Gilfillen, 1855 ; James Gillmore, Edwin Hall, 1856; M. Colegrove, 1857; G. F. Reeser, W. W. Warner, 1858-59; J. K. Mendenhall, 1860; W. Hayes, J. F. Stocker, 1861; N. W. Jones, J. F. Stocker, 1862; John Crum, Z. W. Shadduck, 1863; A. H. Domer, 1864; D. Smith, 1865-66; W. Sampson, 1867-68; E. A. Squier, 1869-70; W. H. Mossman, 1871-72; Francis Brown, 1873-74 ; A. J. Merchant, 1875-76; J. M. Bray, 1877-79; M. Martin, 1880-82; W. P. Gra- ham, 1883; S. H. Prather, 1884-85 ; D. S. Steadman, 1886.
The Universalist Church was erected in 1868. Rev. S. J. Dickson was the first pastor.
The Episcopal society erected their present structure in 1872, and called Rev. G. W. Dunbar to the pulpit.
The Catholic Church was built in 1866. A school building was erected by and under the charge of the Catholic society in the year 1875.
Biographical .- Arters, Thomas, was born of English parentage in 1787. He came with his father, Richard Arters, from Lewistown, Pa., in the year 1806, and settled at the mouth of Tidioute Creek, on the Allegheny River, on a tract of land containing four hundred acres, surveyed by John Spangler. He afterwards received one hundred acres of said tract for making a settlement thereon, from Alexander McCalmont, who was their agent for eastern parties.
Thomas Arters also had a claim of four hundred acres of land on the south side of the river, on tract number 5278, now in Limestone township. He built the first framed house in Deerfield, in 1824. The house, having been often repaired, is still standing in the central part of the borough, and is the prop- erty of L. D. Galligan.
Of his family of nine children, one, Jackson Arters, was killed while in the army, in the battle before Fredericksburg. All the rest are still living, and four of his children-W. M., Mary, Washington, and Thomas-are still living in Tidioute and vicinity.
To Thomas Arters is given the credit of having made the first permanent settlement in this part of Warren county. He died at his home in Tidioute in 1858, and his wife survived him until 1869.
McGuire, Samuel, of Irish descent, was born in Huntington county, Pa., in 1788. In 1808 he came to Deerfield and settled on the John Keller tract, of
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which he owned two hundred and fifty acres. His land joined Thomas Arters's land on the east. He was married the same year, to Charity Gilson, and made his permanent home on this tract. They had a family of ten children born unto them, all of whom grew to be men and women, and were all married. Father McGuire died in the year 1865, at the age of seventy-seven years, and Mother McGuire survived him until 1869. Of their family five have passed away. Those still living are Elsie, born in 1810, and married to John Parshall; Patience; McCray, born in 1820; William, born in 1822, married Mary Stu- art, and still lives in the borough of Tidioute ; and Charity, born in 1827, mar- ried Henry Lott, and still resides in Tidioute.
Parshall, Samuel, of English descent, came to Deerfield in the year 1824 and settled on a claim of three hundred acres, at the mouth of Gordon Run. Mr. Parshall was born in 1781, and came originally from Massachusetts to Trum- bull county, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Goutcher in 1806, and lived there for some years before he removed to Deerfield. He kept the first post- office in the township, and the first elections were held at his place. They had a family of eight children. All grew to maturity, and married. Many of them are still living in this vicinity, while their children and grandchildren are many. Samuel Parshall died in the year 1839; his wife, born in 1783, died in 1865. Six of their children still survive. John Parshall, born in 1809, married Elsie McGuire, and raised a family of nine children. He now lives in Crawford county, Pa. Eliza Parshall, born in 1812, married Robert Henry. She still lives in Tidioute, Pa. Nancy Parshall, born in 1817, married Joseph Richard- son. She now resides in Mckean county, this State, with her daughter. Samuel Parshall, born in 1814, married Lucy Henderson They now live in Venango county, Pa. Jennette Parshall, born in 1822, married James Kin- near, and they still reside in Tidioute. James Parshall, born in 1827, married Henrietta Shugert, and now lives in Titusville.
Gorman, sr., Michael, of Irish descent, was born in 1761, and came from Center county, Pa., to Deerfield, in the year 1818. He settled three miles west of Tidioute, where he claimed four hundred acres of land and made a permanent settlement. He built the first grist-mill in Deerfield township and in this part of Warren county. He married Sarah Gilson, and they had thir- teen children. He died in the year 1859, and left three sons living : Michael Gorman, jr., lives in. Ohio; J. Benjamin Gorman lives in Tidioute ; and Peter Gorman lives on the old homestead.
Smith, sr., Charles, of Irish descent, came to Deerfield in 1807 and settled five miles northeast of Tidioute, on the Allegheny River, where he made his home. He had five children : James Smith, Peter Smith, Charles Smith, Nancy (Smith) Magec, and Luke Smith, all now deceased.
Smith, James, eldest son of Charles Smith, sr., was born in 1800, and came to Deerfield with his father in 1807. He married Margaret Magee, and passed
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most of his life in Deerfield as a farmer. During the first oil excitement he sold his possessions here and went West, where he died in 1884. His children still live in Deerfield and vicinity.
Smith, Peter, second son of Charles Smith, sr., was born in 1802. His whole life was passed in Deerfield and vicinity. He became a man of consid- erable importance, and had good business ability ; was in early days a suc- cessful lumberman. He married Matilda McGuire, and they had three chil- dren-Hugh, John, and Nancy-who are all still living.
Thompson, John, moved to Deerfield about the year 1817 and settled two miles east of Tidioute, on the Allegheny River, where he cleared his farm and made his permanent home. He kept the first tavern in Deerfield, and became quite well off for those days. He had three children. His death took place about the year 1830.
Courson, Anthony, wasborn in Centercounty, Pa., in 1788, and came to Deer- field with his family of seven children in 1825. He settled upon four hundred acres of land fronting upon the Allegheny River. Here he kept a tavern for many years, affording the weary raftman returning on foot from Pittsburgh a shelter. He was a lumberman and farmer. He married Elizabeth Gates and they had a family of nine children, some of them still living in Tidioute and vicinity. His children are: Nancy Courson married John Hazeltine and is now deceased ; Margaret married D. N. Richardson and now lives in the West ; Sarah married Charles Magill and is now living in the West; Jane married Arthur Magill and is still living in Tidioute; Hannah married William Church and resides in the West; Benjamin Courson married Elizabeth Morrison, now deceased ; his widow and children still live in Tidioute; Samuel Courson married Rachael Thompson and lives in Wisconsin; John Courson married Martha Brown and is still living in Tidioute. In 1842 Father Courson lost his wife, and after disposing of his farm he moved west, where he died in 1883. His remains were brought east and interred in the cemetery in Tidioute. A portion of the borough of Tidioute is now located on part of Anthony Cour- son's farm.
Kinnear, William, was born in the northern part of Ireland in 1783. He came with his father and mother, Alexander Kinnear and Jane (Ganley) Kinnear, to America in 1790. They were descendants of Huguenots. William Kinnear married Rebecca McElvain in the year 1806, and moved from Cen- ter county, where his father had settled, to Venango county, in 1819. 1Ie bought a tract of two hundred acres of land at the mouth of Oil Creek, of Cornplanter, chief of the Seneca Indians. Here he cleared about thirty-five acres of land, where the business part of Oil City is located, and ten acres on Cottage Hill, as it is now called. He also erected a furnace at this place. In 1826 he sold his property in Venango county and moved to Warren county, settling in Deerfield township at the mouth of Tidioute Creek. Here he pur- chased two hundred acres of the John Spangler tract of Alex. McCalmont,
30
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agent. This purchase included the Tidioute Creek for about one mile from its mouth. On this creek he erected a saw-mill in 1827, the first one in Deer- field township. He had a family of seven children. Father Kinnear died in the year 1851, and Mother Kinnear survived him two years.
Roup, Christian, was born in 1809 and came to Deerfield with his father in 1829. In 1833 he married Rebecca Richardson, and they have had a family of six children born to them ; some of them now live in the Far West. He held the position of justice of the peace for many years, and he and his wife still re- side in Tidioute.
James Magill, the eldest son of Arthur Magill, was born in 1804 and came to Deerfield with his father in 1812. He was the first constable in Deerfield township, and held the position of justice of the peace for many years. He married Rhoda Parshall and had a family of eight children. The mother and four of the children are now deceased. James Magill resides with his daugh- ter in Tidioute. Of his family now living are Elizabeth (Magill) Walker, Irvin Magill, James Magill, and William Magill.
William Magill, third son of Arthur Magill, was born in 1810, and was married to Margaret Hartnes in 1835. They have no children. He was a farmer and a lumberman, and still lives in Tidioute, but has long since retired from business.
Magill, Arthur, was born in Deerfield in 1816; he married Jane Courson and had a family of nine children. He settled on a part of the Anthony Cour- son tract. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church; was constable of Deerfield for some years, and was commissioner of Warren county for 1857 and 1860. He was a farmer and a man of the strictest integrity. He died in 1862. His widow and four of his children reside in Tidioute.
Magee, Samuel, the oldest son of James Magee, sr., settled four miles up the river from Tidioutc, at the mouth of Magee Run, about the year 1821. He married Anna Allender, and they had a family of eight children born unto them. He was the first justice of the peace in Deerfield township. Two of his sons, Joseph Magee and Perry Magee, were prominent men in their day, but have passed away.
Morrison, R. H., esq., a son of Thomas Morrison, was born in 1821. was elected justice of the peace in 1858, and has been continued in that position ever since. He has resided in the borough of Tidioute since its organization, and has been one of its prominent and influential citizens. He has a family of four children and still resides in Tidioute.
The Oil Development .- In the year 1860 Deerfield township and the whole western part of Warren county underwent a great change. The little village of Tidioute, nestling quietly among the hills, was transformed suddenly to a booming oil town of thousands of inhabitants. Years before oil had been no- ticed in different springs in this locality, and had been gathered by the use of
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blankets. It was used for many purposes and was considered a good remedy for many diseases. The success of Mr. Drake on Oil Creek encouraged Henry Dennis and J. L. Grandin to commence a well in 1859, on the Gordon Run, near a spring where oil had been gathered. This, for some reason, proved a failure. The next year King & Ferris started a well below the mouth of Gor- don Run, on the bank of the river. This was a success, and oil in abundance was found. How to save it was then a great question to be solved; barrels were in demand, but a sufficient number could not be had. Coopers were brought in and set to work; but for immediate use a tank was proposed and built in the form of a rectangle, 16 by 24 feet, and eight feet high. The suc- cess of this and other wells brought people and prospectors by the score to our township. There was no available railroad for shipping the oil at that time, as neither the Sunbury and Erie nor the Oil Creek and Allegheny Valley Railroads were then completed, and the only outlet was the river. Boats of all kinds were immediately pressed into service, and many barges of all descriptions built for the purpose. They were towed up stream by horses, and after being loaded with oil were floated to Pittsburgh. The river was alive with these craft. About this time Captain Amasa Dingley built a steamboat to run on the river between Oil City and Warren, and applied to the Legislature of Pennsylvania for the exclusive right to navigate the Allegheny River between these two points. This was defeated, much to the relief of the inhabitants of this section of the country.
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