USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 48
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Large portions of Beaver Township were owned by the American Land Company and the Pennsylvania Population Company, the latter having ac- quired the title to large tracts in the eastern and southern parts. Pioneers contracting for land with the Pennsylvania Population Company were to re- ceive one hundred acres of land on condition of settling and making the necessary improvements, and were usually expected to purchase an additional fifty or hundred acres. Several settlements were thus made in Beaver as early as 1797. In some way or another the opinion became general that a settlement entitled the actual resident to the entire tract, and for this reason many of the early settlers either abandoned their clearings and sought better land, or else, remaining where they were, attempted to hold the entire tract against the company. It was a long time before they would relinquish their claims, but several test cases having been brought up in court they were obliged to do so.
The western part of Beaver Township was owned by the American Land Company, while the northern and central portions were patented by individuals. By the land act of 1792 a tract of four hundred acres might be taken up upon condition of paying twenty cents an acre, clearing eight acres and com-
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pleting a five years' residence. This was complied with in many instances by a non-resident entering the land and completing the terms of settlement by means of a temporary tenant, to whom a part of the land was given. Other enterprising settlers with several sons took possession of a number of tracts, built rude cabins and placed a son in each. Many disputes and conflicts arose and the early history of this section is a succession of quarrels, suits and evictions.
Before the year 1800 numerous settlers had come in and a large part of the land had been taken up in claims. Many families came from Cumberland, Susquehanna and Huntington Counties. But in the first years of the century the settlement began to decrease, some of the earliest settlers removing to Spring Township and others scattering to various parts. The land troubles and the wet quality of the soil hastened the movement and in 1806 only three families. the Fosters, the Durhans and the McGuires, are known to have been living in the present limits of the township. In 1812 Philip McGuire re- moved with his family to Summit Township, the Durhams removed about the same time to the French Creek Valley, and the Fosters were left for several years the only inhabitants of Beaver Township. Their residence was at Beaver Center and there were no neighbors within a radius of six miniles. But in 1816 a steady stream of enterprising, industrious people began to flow in from New York and the Eastern States, and the land was soon well filled with Browns, Griswolds, Larkins, Gates, Plymates. Hollenbeaks and many other families, who became permanent settlers. The work of civilization was rap- idly carried on, land was cleared, houses built, roads constructed, and all kinds of improvements carried forward.
Not being situated upon any important highway, the Beaver settlements did not receive the impetus which came to those of the French Creek Valley. They were isolated from the other settlements and no pilgrims ever passed that way. When William Foster, the first settler, left his base of supplies be- hind him, he brought with him upon a hand sled a barrel of flour, and this, with the meat furnished by the then abundant game, constituted his food sup- ply throughout the winter. He did his own cooking, which, it is fair to pre- sume, was of the most primitive character. As late as 1834 there were no roads in the locality in which he settled, and the blazed trees of the period were the only guide to the traveler in traversing the dense forests.
The large lumber business led to the erection of many sawmills, of which the first was operated by William Plymate. Robert Foster built a grist mill and Lester Griswold conducted the first store. These were all located in the center of the township, at the crossing of two roads, and the geographical po- sition of the hamlet gave it the name of Beaver Center, by which it is still known. It is the only postoffice within the township, and there are located the
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churches, schools, stores and various industries, together with twenty or twen- ty-five dwellings.
The advantages of schools were not possessed by the earliest pioneers, and after the removal of most of them to other parts the remaining ones sent their children to Conneautville to be educated. In 1826 a school was established at Beaver Center by subscription and was managed by a board of three trustees. In the school report for 1837 we find Beaver Township credited with three schools, employing three teachers, the number of pupils in attend- ance being 152. School was taught during six months of the year. The amount of money raised for school purposes was less than two hundred dol- lars, almost half being from State appropriation and the remainder from the county. The average pay of teachers per month, both male and female, was $4.66. The character and qualifications of the teachers were described as good, and the progress of the pupils in the branches taught, reading, writing and arithmetic. was favorably commented upon. In 1896 the number of schools had increased to ten, taught by ten teachers, whose average monthly salary was $20.50. The number of pupils was 176 and the amount of money expended for school purposes was $2,350.59.
The Beaver Center Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1839, the Gates, De Wolfs and Hasketts being early members. The meetings of the society were held in the schoolhouse until 1870, when a handsome frame church was completed, at an expense of $1.500. The class was at first at- tached to the Conneautville circuit, but afterwards belonged to Spring. There is a small but flourishing membership.
A Christian congregation was organized at Beaver Center about 1840, with Elder J. E. Church as pastor, but was only continued for about ten years, when it went out of existence. A second one was organized in 1870 by Rev. I. R. Spencer, with twenty members. The meetings were held in the schoolhouse until 1871, when the present handsome building was erected at a cost of $2,400. Some of the substantial farmers of the neigh- borhood are members, and the congregation is prosperous.
A United Brethren meeting house was erected at Reed's Corners, in the southwestern part of the township, in 1861, at a cost of $800. The society was organized in 1850 by the Rev. Willis Lamson, a resident of the township, with an original membership of ten persons, the Reeds and Halsteads being early members. The church is small and has been active at irregular periods only.
CHAPTER III.
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP.
B LOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP lies on the northern border of the county, east of the center, and has an area of 21,383 acres. When the county was divided into townships, in 1800, Oil Creek Township em- braced the whole of the eastern end. In 1811 this was divided, Bloomfield being erected in the northeastern corner and including within its bounds what is now Sparta, the northern part of Rome, the northeastern part of Athens and the eastern part of Bloomfield. The western part of what is now Bloom- field was included in Rockdale until 1829, when the boundaries were read- justed and constituted as they now exist. The township is bounded on the north by Erie County, on the east by Sparta Township, on the south by Athens and on the west by Rockdale. The population within its original boundaries was in 1820 but 214, while every other township boasted of 400 or more, thus showing that the northeastern portion of the county was the slowest in settle- ment.
The valley of Oil Creek extends diagonally through the center of the township in a southeasterly direction, and with its numerous tributaries, the principal of which are West Gate Creek and Streve and Mosey Runs, break the surface considerably. The east and west branches of Federal Run water the surface of the western part of the township and contribute their waters to Muddy Creek, a branch of French Creek. On the low lands and in the east- ern part, beech, elin, maple, hemlock and basswood are found, while in the western end white oak and chestnut cover the long ridges. The soil of the township is of excellent quality. Oil Creek Lake, which, while it has several inlets, may very properly be called the source of Oil Creek, lies near the center of the township. This beautiful sheet of water, which in the early days was called Washington Lake, is several hundred acres in extent, with a probable depth of thirty feet, and is well stocked with fish. It is the highest lake in Crawford County, having an altitude of 816 feet above Lake Erie.
The northern part of the township was State land, and a portion of this was claimed by John Fields, a wealthy citizen of Philadelphia. He sent his agent, James Hamilton, into the section in 1798, who, for the purpose of opening up the territory and attracting settlers, built a saw and grist mill at the foot of Oil Creek Lake. This was the first mill in the northeastern part of the county, and in 1821 was rebuilt. He succeeded in attracting to Bloom- field quite a number of hardy pioneers, but almost all of them went away again
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in a few years on account of land difficulties and other discouragements. In 1808 Hamilton also left and removed to Meadville. The Holland Land Company owned a few traets in the northwestern part of the township, and they succeeded in contracting for their settlement in the years 1798-99. But the contractors, if they occupied the land at all, for they are not remem- bered, did not remain long, betaking themselves to other parts, and the forests preserved for many years their state of primeval solitude. There is a tradition that a man named Cunningham came here in 1795 and lived a hermit's life in the recesses of the forest, before the arrival of permanent settlers, and that upon their approach he left for other parts.
Thomas Bloomfield, from whom the township received its name, was one of the earliest permanent settlers. He was a native of New Jersey, and at the age of twenty-three married Elizabeth Morris, a niece of Robert Morris. the celebrated financier of the Revolution. He was a man of considerable means and had engaged extensively in trading along the coast, but in 1797 came from Fayette County to the French Creek Valley. In the following year he removed to Bloomfield, bringing with him his family of nine children. one of whom was married. He took up two tracts, one for himself and one for his son Lewis, then under age, while his son Isaac and his son-in-law. James Bryan, each settled a traet. Thomas Bloomfield remained a resident of the township until his death. His eldest daughter, Catherine, who married James Bryan, was the first white woman in the township, and after a residence there of thirty-five years removed West with her husband. They had come to Bloomfield shortly before the arrival of her parents. Isaac Bloomfield re- mained in the township several years, after which he removed to the vicinity of Toledo, Ohio. Thomas Bloomfield, Jr., was a justice of the peace, and remained a resident of the county until his death in 1866.
Richard Shreve was a son of Gen. William Shreve, of Bordentown, N. J .. who served under Washington throughout the war of the Revolution. He was born in 1760, and in 1798 came to Bloomfield from Red Stone, where for eight years he had been in charge of the Washington mills, built by George Wash- ington. He remained a citizen of Bloomfield until his death, clearing a farm and serving as justice of the peace and as captain in the militia. He had a family of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, five of whom were born in their western home. Eight farms were cleared by the Shreves, and many descendants of the family still reside in the township. William, the eldest son, settled on land adjoining his father's and raised a family of eleven children. William and Barzilla brought a earding machine with them from the East and operated it during two seasons. It was the third one brought into Allegheny County, of which Crawford County was then a part, the other two being owned by Lot Lewis, of Meadville, and E. Hewes, of Erie.
Between 1798 and 1800 several other settlers moved in. and during the
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first years of the present century many more arrived, although all did not re- main. When, in 1839, John Chapin came to the western part of the town- ship from Smyrna, N. Y., the country about here was still thinly settled. The roads were few and in bad condition. John Willy, who was one of the earliest settlers in the western part, afterwards removed to Erie County. Linas Cummings, a son of Nathan Cummings. of Cambridge Township, took possession of a claim near the central part in 1829. James Blakeslee, who came in 1819 from Genesee County, New York, settled upon the farm which Cunningham, the first inhabitant, is said to have lived upon before the arrival of the foremost pioneers. His sons, Hosea and Elkanah Blakeslee, were well known early settlers. William Hubbel is known to have been a resident of Bloomfield before 1820.
The Donation Lands, to which the southern part of Bloomfield as well as large portions of the other townships belonged, were lands located and laid off by an act of the Legislature of March 12, 1783. They were appropriated expressly to fulfill a previous promise of the Commonwealth "to the officers and privates belonging to this State in the Federal army, of certain donations and quantities of land according to their several ranks, to be surveyed and divided off to them severally at the end of the war." The lands were surveyed in lots of from two hundred to five hundred acres each, enough of each kind to supply the different ranks. A major general was entitled to draw four tickets. by lottery, of five hundred acres each ; a brigadier general three of the same size, and so on down to the corporals, drummers, fifers and private sol- diers, who drew one ticket of two hundred acres each. The Donation Dis- tricts were distinguished by numbers. The eastern part of the Second Dona- tion District, having been reported to Gen. William Irvine, the agent. as being generally unfit for cultivation, the numbers of lots therein were taken out of the wheel and provision was made elsewhere for such of the officers and soldiers as were thus cut off. The district thus rejected was called the Struck District. Various regulations and restrictions were made by law re- garding the mode of survey, entry, transfer of title and limit of time for per- fecting the soldiers' titles to their lands, and the limit of time was subsequently extended by successive laws.
In a log cabin which stood near Tillotson's Corners. Isaac Bloomfield is said to have taught the first school, about 1820. The first building erected for educational purposes was the block schoolhouse near Bloomfield's Corners. Before the year 1834 there were but three schools in the township. In that year the first school board was elected under the new law, with Stephen Bloom- field as president and Joshua Negus secretary. They adopted a plan calling for the establishment of ten schools, and it is said that five of them were or- ganized at that time. although but two are reported in the reports for 1837. These schools were in session three months of the year and were attended by
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forty-five pupils. The teachers, who received a salary of $12 a month, were reported as "professing to teach reading, writing, arithmetic and geography, and one of them grammar," and these were accordingly the branches in which instruction was given.
Nothing better illustrates the progress made in this township during the past sixty years than a comparison of the school reports of then and now. The number of schools has increased from two to twelve, and the average length of the school year from three to seven months. In 1896 fourteen teachers were employed at liberal salaries, and 257 pupils were in attendance at an average cost per month to the township of $2.45, and from the insig- nificant sum expended in 1837 the amount of money raised for the use of schools had in 1896 increased to more than $3,600.
Lincolnville is a small village situated south of the center of the town- ship. It was first settled by Seth C. Lincoln who came from Massachusetts in J837 and located in the midst of what was then a trackless forest. Soon after his arrival he constructed a water, saw and grist mill on Oil Creek, which he operated until his death in 1847. after which his son and several others suc- cessively became its proprietors. Solomon S. Sturdevant emigrated from New York State in 1837 and for some time assisted Mr. Lincoln in operating the mill. after which he opened a blacksmith shop. Erastus Carter, a carpenter by trade, built a tannery several years later. In 1861 the settlement contained about eight families and the village plat was laid out by E. F. Lincoln. It has been much favored by its location on Oil Creek, in the center of a lumber- ing district. The village contains several stores, shops, mills, a schoolhouse and church. In 1881 P. B. Edson commenced the publication in Lincolnville of a little monthly newspaper called the Breese. In 1883. J. L. Rohr, of Town- ville, began issuing the Star, which was printed in Townville and published in Lincolnville. Its name was afterwards developed into the Shooting Star, and under that name attained a circulation of two or three hundred, but after a year of adverse fortune its publication was suspended.
Sturgis Postoffice is situated in the northern part, on the western line of the township. Bloomfield Postoffice is located on the railroad, a short distance north of the lake. Tillotson's Postoffice is located in the northern part, a mile and a half east of Bloomfield, and contains a store, shop and several dwellings.
The Lincolnville Baptist Church was organized in 1870 by Rev. Cyrus Shreve, who became the first pastor. There were nine original members- Edward F. Lincoln, Charlotte F. Wellmon. Cornelia Nurse, Olive Lilly, Elizabeth Orcutt, William Lewis, Charles H. Sturdevant, Amanda Sturdevant and Catherine C. Thomas. Meetings were held in a schoolhouse a short dis- tance east of the village until 1876, when the edifice in which the congrega- tion now worships was erected at a cost of about $3.000.
The Bloomfield Baptist Church was organized in 1850 by Rev. R. D. Hays,
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who was the first pastor. There were eighteen original members. The church forms a part of the Oil Creek Association.
A surprisingly large number of churches have been established in Bloomfield Township at various times, many of which have gone out of ex- istence and others have scarcely maintained services. The Chapinville Baptist Church was established in the western part of the township, Elder V. Thomas being the first pastor. A Free Will Baptist Church was organized in the eastern part, going out of existence in 1880. A Christian Church was es- tablished in the eastern part of the township and held services for some time.
A Methodist Society was organized in 1840 near the western boundary, John Chapin, Hiram Drake, Lewis Larkin, Abraham Bennett and Asahel Hamilton being among the first members. The early meetings were held in a log schoolhouse on the Rockdale side of the line, then in John Chapin's house in this township until 1858, when meetings were commenced in a schoolhouse and continued there ten years. Jn1 1868 a frame church was built in the northwestern part of the township at a cost of $1.500. The society ceased holding services in 1876. Another Methodist Society was organized in 1856 at the Mickle Hollow schoolhouse, in the southwestern corner of the town- ship. It had a large original membership, but ceased to exist after four years.
Wilkin's United Brethren Society held its first meeting in a schoolhouse near Chapinville. C. C. Marslı, J. S. Wilson. O. A. Chapin and Henry Wilkins were prominent among the early members. The services were after- wards held in the Methodist Church in that vicinity.
The Maple Grove United Brethren Society was organized in 1858, Seth Pound, George Loomis, Henry King and William Mays being among the members at this period. For many years the services were conducted in a schoolhouse in the southern part of the township, but in 1872 a substantial and well-furnished meeting house was erected at a cost of about $1.500.
BOROUGH OF RICEVILLE.
The borough of Riceville is situated near the southeastern corner of Bloomfield Township, on Oil Creek. As late as 1831 this vicinity was still an unbroken forest, Samuel Rice, who came in that year and erected a cabin upon the present site of Riceville, being the first settler. He built a saw mill on Oil Creek soon after his arrival, of which he continued the proprietor for many years. In 1834 he started the first store, but soon afterwards sold it to Adonijah Fuller. Simon Smith, a carpenter and joiner, settled there in the early days, but years afterwards removed to Indiana. Russell Bidwell came in 1832 and settled on a farm on which the northern part of Riceville is now situated. After a residence of more than twenty years he removed to Athens Township. The first blacksmith shop was started by Newton Graves. In 1847 Benjamin Westgate was operating a sash factory, Barnett B. Cummings
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was running a hotel, and Moses .Adams had a shoemaking shop. while ten or twelve families completed the settlement.
At the August term of the Court of Quarter Sessions. 1859, Riceville was incorporated as a borough, and a special election for the first officers was hield in the same year. Joseph Knight was chosen burgess, Stephen Bloomfield and R. B. Westgate, justices of the peace : John Himebangh, constable ; George Metler, judge of election, and Clark Rice and F. G. King, inspectors.
The village increased with a steady growth and at present numbers be- tween three and four hundred inhabitants. It boasts of several stores, mills. markets, shops and churches, with a hotel. physicians and manufacturing in- dustries. A postoffice was established here in 1847, when Barnett B. Cum- mings held the position of postmaster, the mail coming from Meadville once a week.
Dorcas Taylor, a daughter of Dr. Silas Taylor. of Athens Township. taught the first school within the borough about 1835. A deserted cabin which stood about a fourth of a mile west of the station. and which had been built and occupied by Mr. Gunsley, was used as the first school building. Har- riet Humphry and Austin Mosier were early teachers in a plank house which had been erected for the accommodation of the laborers at the mill. Sidney Tracy taught in an abandoned cabin east of the creek, and the first school- house, a frame building, was in 1847 built near the same location. It was known as the red schoolhouse, and continued in use until about 1872.
In 1896 two schools were in operation in the borough, with a school year of seven months. Sixty-three scholars were in attendance, the average cost of instruction for each child per month amounting to $1.45. About $640 was expended during the year for the support of the schools.
Elder Fish, of the Christian denomination, preached in the village as early as 1838, these being the earliest religious services conducted in the vil- lage. Early services were also conducted by the Presbyterians, but neither denomination succeeded in organizing a church.
The Riceville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1849, by Rev. Forest; J. W. Grey and wife. Myron S. Staring and Mrs. Lorina Austin being the four original members. Meetings were held for about five years in the old red schoolhouse. afterwards in a public hall, and then in the Con- gregational Church. In 1874 a handsome church edifice was erected at a cost of about $4.500.
The First Congregational Church of Riceville was organized in 1858 by Rev. U. T. Chamberlain, who became the first pastor. A church building was erected in 1859 and extensively remodeled and repaired in 1875. R. B. West- gate, Lorin Marsh, H. C. Conner, Thomas Ferry, V. F. Hale, William Mal- lory, D. D. Walker, C. N. Smith and G. M. Anderson were the original mem- bers.
CHAPTER IV.
CAMBRIDGE TOWNSHIP.
W HEN Crawford County was divided into townships, in 1800, French Creek was assigned as the boundary between Venango and Rockdale, the former lying to the west. the latter to the east. As the settle- ments became more numerous the number of townships was increased. and in 1829 Rockdale was reduced to its present limits, having assigned to it the land to the west of French Creek which had before formed part of Venango. To Venango, on the other hand, was given the portion of the western part of Rockdale which now forms the southern part of Cambridge Township. the line of division being changed from the windings of the creek to a straight line running north and south. In 1852 the township was divided, the territory west of Conneautee and French Creeks keeping the name of Venango, while the eastern portion was organized as Cambridge Township.
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