USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 58
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that he officiated at the marriage of more than fifty couples. By occupation he was a farmer.
L. C. Baker, who lives here now, came to Columbus in 1837, from Catta- raugus county, N. Y., though originally from Chenango county, with his father, Ira, who settled in the southern portion of the township and there died in 1885. D. C. Blair came with his step-father, John Judson, in 1841, and settled in the village, first on the east and soon after on the west side of the creek. Judson died in 1878. He was for years a prominent merchant of the town, associate judge of the county, and in other respects a well-known public man and a life- long Democrat. Although he came here from Bradford county, Pa., he was originally from Madison county, N. Y. Ira Baker was a farmer of large prop- erty and was also a very active man. Messrs. Baker and Blair have furnished the following information concerning the growth of business interests in the village and townships since their recollection, and from tradition : " As before stated, the first store in town was kept by Porter Webber. Perhaps the first in the village was kept by William Jackman, on the site now occupied by the store of Baker & Co. He moved to Illinois in 1846 and died there. For a year or two, about 1843-44 and 1845, a peculiar industry was carried on here, viz., the manufacture of fanning-mills by John Smith, Charles Anderson, and one or two others; but it never became very flourishing. Anderson was a great inventor, and only a few years previous to this had invented a new steam engine for propelling boats. He built a steamer here and took it down the river to Beaver for the machinery, but his invention there failed. By 1840 the village had become at least as large as it now is. At this time Judson & King were the principal merchants in the village and township, their store standing just west of the grist-mill. Besides dealing in general merchandise they bought and sold lumber and shingles, which were then practically a legal tender. About 1848 they sold out to Enfield Leach and Alfred Willoughby. Leach kept the store five or six years and was succeeded by Willoughby. Morillo Woodworth became then a partner of Willoughby, and this firm kept up the business until about 1861.
About 1850 Davis Jones and Charles Hewitt opened a store on the site of Yates & Smith's present store, and after some three years were succeeded by Dyer Elderkin and William Walker. They wound up the business in two or three years. The present building was erected by D. A. Dewey in 1871. About 1876 he was followed by Cyrus Blakeslee, who in turn sold out to George F. Yates.
D. C. & G. Blair, brothers, opened a store in a building still standing just west of the hotel about 1851, and traded in it for nineteen years. Upon the retirement at that time of George Blair, D. C. Blair took his son-in-law, E. S. Royce, into partnership with him, which continued some three years. Royce then purchased the business and property and engaged in it for four years,
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when he sold out also to Mr. Yates. For about the fifteen years following 1850, the other part of the building occupied, as last stated, was occupied suc- cessively by D. A. Dewey, Richard Dewey, A. J. Atherly, G. V. N. Yates, Muzzy, Horn & Cady, and Muzzy, Howard & Mallett, the last-named firm finally closing out. In 1867 D. A. Dewey and D. H. Cady started a store " on the bridge " on the west side of the creek, and kept it about two years, after which Dewey continued it alone until 1871.
The saw-mill which Luther Mather built in 1825 stood on the east side of the creek until about 1840, when it was rebuilt on the west side, above the grist-mill. The grist-mill has been many times rebuilt. About 1830, or a little later, Mather moved about a mile down the creek, and there erected a saw-mill on the site of the present mill of Russell Clark, and remained there until his death. Meantime William Jackman had succeeded him in the owner- ship and possession of the grist and saw-mill, and kept them in operation until about 1842 or 1843, when he failed, and the property went into the hands of Judson & Hutchins, of Waterford, Pa. Daniel Walton then bought them and operated them until 1864, at the same time doing a general mercantile and lumbering business. Stephen Stewart then had the property, and sold the mills to D. C. & G. Blair, who, after running them a few months, sold them to Henry Stevens, also in 1864. In one year they sold to James Smith and John Eason, who operated them five years; Smith, Eason & Walton, Walton & Eason, A. W. Francis and M. E. Skinner, and finally A. W. Francis alone had charge of the property. Mr. Francis is the present proprietor.
The second mill that Mather erected, he and his son, J. D. Mather, oper- ated until 1842, when the latter continued it until 1857. It was then sold by the sheriff to George Cady, Ethan Skinner, and Asa Walton. After several years they sold to George Vermilya, who transferred the property to the present owner, Russell Clark, about fifteen years ago.
Captain David Curtis built a saw-mill before 1830 in the village, a little down stream from Mather's first mill, and near the mouth of Coffee Creek, which passed through many hands, and was burned in 1863. Soon after D. A. Dewey built a steam mill on the site, which was abandoned in a few years. As early as 1830 Elijah Smith built a saw-mill about half a mile east of the village, and connected with it a small grist-mill. Smith & Hull operated the two mills for several years. It was afterward successively operated by Mr. Pinney, of Pittsburgh, and M. P. Osborne, until the decline of the lumber trade, when it was abandoned.
At one time, about 1840, Pine Valley, in the northeastern part of the township, was quite a settlement. There were three mills, owned and operated respectively by Justin Danforth, Ezra Beals, and Thomas Barker and his father. About 1860 the decline of the lumber business brought this smiling village to dust. The steam mill of D. H. Parker is the only industry there now. About
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COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP.
one and a half miles north from Pine Valley, on what is called the "Sulphur Spring " property, is the steam saw mill of Clemens, Huffman & Jamieson, which was built in 1885, and is now doing a large business. Chauncey Marble also has a saw-mill in the north part of the township, about four miles from Columbus borough, which he built in 1885, and which is doing a good busi- ness. The height of prosperity of this borough, Columbus, was during the greatest period of activity of the lumber traffic and manufacture between 1850 and 1861. The oil business and the junction of railroads then conspired to enlarge Corry at the expense of Columbus, and with the growth of that place has been a corresponding decline of prosperity in Columbus. The borough was chartered in 1853, and on the 29th of March of that year an election was held in the school-house on the west side. Nathaniel Stacy was chosen judge, Charles Hewitt and G. W. Bracken, inspectors, and E. C. Stacy and Jones Smith, clerks. The officers elected at this time were Ozro A. Smith, burgess; W. L. Weed, William Byington, William Walker, Alexander Barris, and D. W. Elderkin, common council; O. A. Smith and D. W. Elderkin, justices; G. W. Bracken, constable; A. Barris, F. R. Burroughs, and D. W. Mason, school di- rectors; John Judson and M. S. White, path-masters; M. S. White, judge; W. C. Howard and Asa Walton, inspectors of elections; Lucius Spencer, assessor ; D. C. Blair, D. A. Dewey, and Hollis King, auditors. There being some irregularity in this election, another was afterward held with the same result, except that G. V. N. Yates was chosen justice.
Present Business Interests .- Of the four stores now open in Columbus borough, the one of longest standing is that of George F. Yates and Albert J. Smith, who deal in general merchandise under the firm name of Yates & Smith. The firm was formed on the 12th of February, 1883, succeeding George F. Yates. The previous history of this store has already been related. Their present stock is valued at about $5,000.
The firm of Rhodes & Rowe Brothers, consisting of W. R. Rhodes, C. E. Rowe, and F. M. Rowe, was formed more than two years ago, and deal in stock containing, among other things, drugs and medicines. They estimate their stock to be worth about $7,000. The firm of A. Baker & Co. was formed about two years ago. F. M. Rowe had a store in this building before it was occupied by this firm. H. L. Zimmerman, dealer in stoves, general hardware, lime, cement, phosphate, coal, etc., began in Columbus township and borough in September, 1885, succeeding F. C. Smith, who had been here for several years.
Hotels .- The first tavern or hotel built and kept in the township was that erected in 1826 by Porter K. Webber, which is in part the same building now owned and occupied by H. L. Gordon, on the east side of the creek. In 1844 George Cady succeeded Webber, and remained until 1860, since when it has passed through many hands. The property came into the hands of Mr. Gor- don in the spring of 1885.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
As early as 1830 Dr. M. F. C. Fitch built the other hotel on the west side of the creek, and after a short time was succeeded by Daniel Walton, who kept it until 1849, and was followed by William L. Weed. From that time for years it kept changing hands, until H. P. Stevens bought it. He was the last one who kept the house open for guests, and he left in 1884. The house is not now used for hotel purposes.
There have not been many hotels outside of the village of Columbus in the township. At Pine Valley Lyman Calkins kept tavern about the year 1840, which was afterward in the hands of Anson Quimby, George Shannon, and others, and was closed before 1860. It was noticeable for its sign, which read, " Call and See," and the House was designated as the " Call-and-see House." A mile east of the village S W. Webber had a hotel between 1850 and 1860, but discontinued it previous to the latter date. The building was destroyed by fire about 1872 or 1873. About three miles east of the village the Kansas House was opened in 1856 by Seth and Delos Wilber. After the lapse of three or four years it was converted into a private house, which it still re- mains.
The Tannery .- As early as 1840 Porter Damon built the first tannery in town, on the site of the present one. It was then but a small " pocket " affair. He was followed by Horace English as early is 1847, who kept it in operation about ten years in connection with the manufacture of boots and shoes, and sold out to Hollis King and Asa Walton. They ran it until about 1864 under the name of King & Walton, and were succeeded by Rose & Hewitt. The senior member of the new firm soon went out, and William Hewitt continued the business for a year or two, and was followed by Nathanicl Pearson. The next proprietor was Byron Pearson, from about 1868 to 1870, when John Williams acquired the property. His son, Frank Williams, is the present owner and proprietor.
The Equitable Aid Union of America, which has carried the name of Columbus to all parts of the United States, describes the purpose of its institu- tion in its title. It was chartered on the 22d of March, 1879, under the laws of Pennsylvania, the headquarters of the company being at Columbus. The incorporators were D. A. Dewcy, R. Nell Seaver, H. S. Ayer, W. H. Muzzy, and W. B. Howard, all of Columbus. D. A. Dewey was president of the asso- ciation until March, 1886, when he was succeeded by R. N. Seaver, who had been vice-president all the time previous. Mr. Seaver has also been supreme medical examiner during the history of the union. Since its organization, also, II. S. Ayer has held the office of accountant, and WV. Il. Muzzy of secretary. In addition to the five incorporators, two representatives from New York and two more from Pennsylvania came in in September, 1884, and since that time there have been added one from each State. The organization was introduced for the benefit of persons everywhere who were not able to enter other more ex-
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pensive or less liberal associations in other respects similar to this one. It is not introduced as a competitor to any similar order heretofore existing, but solely with a view to extend social and financial benefits to a very large and worthy class of our fellow-citizens entirely cut off and, as the incorporators justly think, unrighteously ignored by other organizations of a similar nature. They started with only the one society at Columbus, but at this writing they have 560 different societies in sixteen States and Territories from Dakota to Massachusetts. They have about 18,000 insurable members in all, besides about 2,000 non-beneficiary members. In November, 1886, they had paid 687 death policies, involving $1,269,705.45 in money.
The Post-office .- The first postmaster in this township was Captain David Curtis, who was appointed as early as 1829, and probably earlier. His suc- cessors in the office have been about as follows: Robert Campbell, William Jackman, Mark White, who was appointed about 1845 and served several years, E. C. Stacy, Davis Jones, F. R. Burroughs, Lewis Crosby, W. H. Muzzy, Lewis Crosby, James Hopkins, Lewis Crosby, S. L. Skiff, O. A. Smith, and the present incumbent, Frank O. Howard, who was appointed on the 12th of April, 1886. The office was named Coffee Creek post-office until about 1840, when the present name was adopted.
Schools and Churches .- The first school held in the township was at the house of Kimball Webber, in 1824, and was taught by his daughter Sophronia, for thirteen weeks at one dollar per week. There are now in the borough two school buildings, with three departments, and an attendance of more than one hundred pupils. Outside of the borough are twelve schools.
A history of the religious movements in this township would be incom- plete without somewhat extended mention of the most prominent clergyman and theologian in the town. Rev. Nathaniel Stacy was born on the 2d of December, 1778, in New Salem, Mass. His father, Rufus Stacy, was a fisher- man, during the seasons, on the banks of Newfoundland, and, like his mother, was a native of Gloucester, Mass. They were probably of Scotch or Irish de- scent. The subject of this notice studied theology under the tuition of Rev. Hosea Ballou, of Massachusetts, and did his first preaching near New Salem. He was always of diminutive stature, being five feet and one inch in height, and weighing for years but ninety-nine pounds. His heaviest weight was 105 pounds. He was active in movement and rapid and nervous in speech, but at the same time was of a very calm and even-tempered disposition. He lived his religion. In the fall of 1798 he went to Bridgewater, Vt., where, for his health, he tried blacksmithing and several other manual occupations. He soon returned to Massachusetts. Then he went to Hamilton, Madison county, N. Y., in April, 1808, after itinerating through Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York, and remained there during a period of twenty-two years. On the 30th of January, 1806, he married Susan, daughter of Perez Clark. In 1830 he
32
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
came to Columbus, Pa. In his Memoirs (page 359) he says of this country then : " Although the country was mostly in a state of nature, and the roads intolerable, still I was pleased with it. It evidently possessed great strength of soil, with the heaviest growth and the greatest variety of timber I had ever seen, or have since seen, thrown together in any one place." At that time there were here the houses of Luther Mather and Captain Curtis, a build- ing erected for a public house, another for a store, shops for blacksmithing, shoemaking, wagon-making, and other mechanical employments. After five years he removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he remained about five years, and then came back to Columbus, where he spent the remainder of his life, preaching, as he says, until spiritualism " broke out," about 1851 or 1852, and his meetings were interrupted. From that time he engaged in only occasional preaching. He died April 7, 1868, and was followed by his widow exactly one year and six months afterward. They had eight children, of whom only three, Judge Edwin C. Stacy, now of Albert Lee, Minn., Clara, wife of John D. Anderson, of Washington, Iowa, and Charlotte, wife of O. A. Smith, of this township, survive. The house now occupied by O. A. Smith in Columbus borough was built by Rev. Stacy in 1832. He was the first Universalist preacher, and the organizer of the Universalist Church, in Columbus. He came at the solicitation of Peter C. Howard, Ezra Dutton, Solomon Dutton, Captain Curtis, Isaac Crosby, and others of that denomination. The house of worship was erected under Mr. Stacy's direction in 1847, and is now a union church. While Mr. Stacy was in Ann Arbor, the spiritual needs of the church were placed in the care of Rev. L. Payne. Since the death of Mr. Stacy the Universalist society has not flourished. Indeed, it is said that all the churches have felt the inroads of spiritualism severely.
In 1830 the majority of the settlers were inclined to Methodism in religion, among the early members of that persuasion being James Sears and wife, Sam- uel H. Ayer, Joseph Sheffield and wife, A. Soggs, David York and wife, Mrs. Eli Crosby, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, Lloyd Smith, Mr. Brightman, William Jackman and wife, and Watson Miller and wife. Joseph O. Rich, the first preacher, was here about 1830 or 1832. The most pros- perous period in the history of the church was about 1840. The house of worship was erected in 1839. The present pastor is Rev. George Hummason. The membership now is about twenty.
The only church in the township outside the borough is that of the United Brethren, who have had a church organization in Pine Valley about twenty- five years, and built their church edifice as many as twenty years ago.
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LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XLI.
HISTORY OF LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP.1
L IMESTONE was formed from the provisional townships of Tionesta and Limestone (sec chapter on township organization) in August, 1829. At this time the land was covered with large quantities of pine, hemlock and hard wood. Millions of feet of lumber have been manufactured in this town- ship and run to market, and at the present day quantities of hemlock and some pine cover a large portion of its territory. The land is well watered, and abounding in never-failing springs in addition to the numerous tributaries of the Allegheny River which flow through this township.
Years before the township was organized many settlers took up claims along the river, making settlers' claims, as it was supposed that this land was owned or controlled by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; but some time later, after many had spent years of hard work in clearing their lands and es- tablishing homesteads, it was ascertained that a large portion of this land had been purchased by and belonged to an English landlord by the name of Ma- ben, and although many of them strongly protested against buying their farms. after spending so many years of work thereon, all those whose farms chancedi to be located on Maben's land were compelled to purchase them. This was done through Alexander McCalmont, agent. Other capitalists became own- ers of large tracts in this township and held the same for years. This retarded the settlement of Limestone, and the effect is still seen at the present day.
A few coal mines have been opened and worked upon the more elevated tracts of this township, but with no great degree of success.
There were few settlers in the township when it was organized, and these all lived along the river.
The following are the names of parties living in Limestone at the time : Richard Arters, Robert Hunter, Arthur Magill, sr., James Middleton, Joshua Richardson, Alexander Magee, and Joseph Huff. Brief sketches of the lives of most of these old settlers will be found below.
The first public road in Limestone township was laid out by order of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Warren county on the 24th day of March A. D. 1824. This road extended from the county line northward along the river to a point opposite the mouth of Tidioute Creek.
Early Settlers .- One of the oldest, and perhaps the first permanent settler in Limestone township, was Richard Arters, who with his wife settled in Limestone in 1806. Here he cleared a small farm, which was located nearly opposite the lower part of Tidioute borough. His family was large.
1 By James Kinnear.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Hunter, Robert, another of the first settlers, was born in Ireland in 1758, and his wife, Elizabeth (Park) Hunter, was born in the same country in 1762. They settled in Limestone, then Deerfield township, four miles below the mouth of Tidioute Creek in 1808. Here they made their permanent home, and by industry and frugality succeeded in clearing a large farm. They had a family of ten children born unto them, consisting of six daughters and four sons, all of whom grew to maturity and married, most of them settling in Limestone and vicinity. Robert Hunter died in 1836, and his wife in 1843.
Hunter, Mathew, the youngest son of Robert Hunter, was born in 1802, and after his father's death continued upon the old homestead. Here he farmed and lumbered as his father had done before him. His wife, Sarah (Magill) Hunter, was born in 1809 and died in 1846. Mathew Hunter died in 1872. He had a family of ten children.
In 1812 James Magee and wife moved from the eastern part of Pennsyl- vania to Warren county, and settled four miles below the mouth of Tidioute Creek in Limestone, then Deerfield township. His family, consisting of eight sons and two daughters, were mostly grown at the time they settled here, and they all afterwards settled in Limestone and vicinity.
Magee, Henry, the seventh son of James Magee, settled three miles below Tidioute Creek, in Limestone township, as it is now called, He was one of the prominent men of that early day, and was instrumental in securing the or- ganization of Limestone township. He was justice of the peace for many years, and held at different times all the official positions of the township. He married Kate Grandin and raised a large family. About the time of the oil excitement he sold his farm and moved west, where he died about the year 1884.
Magee, Alexander, the youngest son of James Magee, was born in 1808. He settled four miles above Tidioute Creek in Limestone township. Ile was a farmer and a lumberman, and a prominent man in his day. His wife, Nancy (Smith) Magee, was born in 1809. /He had a family of five daughters, four of whom are still living and reside in Tidioute. Rebecca Magec married John Hunter, and Nancy Magee is the wife of W. C. Mabie.
In the year 1854 the Harmony Society purchased about six thousand acres of land in Limestone township, from various parties, paying for the same a large amount of money, but nothing in comparison with what the land has since proved to be worth. Most of this land was well covered with timber, and a large part of it was found to be good oil territory, yielding immense quantities of oil, and affording the owners large profits. This territory was operated in the name of the Economy Oil Company, which company is identi- cal with the Harmony Society, and only given another name in order to keep this part of its business separate and distinct.
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SKETCH OF HARMONY SOCIETY.
The Harmony Society, a body of peculiar organization and interest, was founded by George Rapp and a colony of immigrants from Wurtemberg, who sought in the United States an asylum from hostility to their religious views, and a place where they might enjoy freedom in the exercise of their own re- ligious convictions, by the worship of God according to their understanding of his word. The basis of their association in its inception was a deep and earnest conviction of the necessity of a purer life, and the exercise of practical and personal piety, by a walk and conversation personally and socially in accord- ance with their understanding of the Scriptures. Entertaining similar views and convictions of religious duty and social economy (but views differing in some things materially from those of the recognized. religious denominations and organizations of that day), it was natural the different individuals of the colony should be attracted toward each other, and unite for their mutual ben- efit and advantage ; and the causes and influences which thus first brought them together in an associated capacity have ever since operated as a bond that has held them united and firm in their adherence to the principles of the organization.
One of the cardinal principles of the association was that of entire com- munity of property, community of interests and labor, and mutual assistance of and dependence upon each other.
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