USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 61
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Outside of the borough of Conneaut Lake and Shermansville there are no villages, the township being entirely agricultural. In 1828 Rev. Timothy Alden laid out a town just north of Evansburgh, to which the name of Aldenia was given. It was on part of a two hundred acre tract purchased by him in 1818, and contained ninety-five lots, a public common and a hollow square. Streets were laid out and named and the plan filed for record. Isaiah Alden, brother of the proprietor. settled there and remained for some time, but others were slow to follow his example, and the attempt was finally aban- doned.
Stony Point is a postoffice located near the southern border of the town- ship. It is on the line of the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad, and the cluster of houses which is found there is known as Evansburgh Sta- tion.
Shermansville is a small settlement in the northwestern part of the township. A Mr. Craven was the first settler in this vicinity, and the village was laid out along the canal in 1842 by Anson Sherman. He and Peter Bakely were prominent among the early residents. It is situated on the old canal, and during its prosperous days Shermansville was a lumber shipping point of considerable note, but now consists of but a dozen or twenty dwell- ings. A Methodist Church existed during the early days, Henry Moyer and wife, John Conley and wife, and Mrs. Lasure being among the members. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse until 1867, when a frame church building was erected.
BOROUGH OF CONNEAUT LAKE.
The borough of Conneaut Lake, originally known as Evansburgh, was founded by Abner Evans, one of the earliest settlers in Sadsbury Township. It is one of the oldest villages in the county. Abner Evans patented the two tracts forming the site of the village and settled there as early as 1796, re- siding there until his death. About 1816 Joseph Cummings started a store
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and was succeeded by Willis Benedict, who was for many years the only mer- chant of the village. Among the earliest residents were James Stanford. a cabinet maker, Zerah Blakely, a carpenter, and Richard Van Sickle. A tavern was kept at an early date by Alfred Strong and another by Rosanna Mushrush, whose twin daughters, Desolate and Lonely, were early school teachers in the vicinity of the lake. Jacob Young followed the trade of a tailor here before 1810, and at the same time George Royer was a carpenter in the village. During these days two tanneries flourished. The village prospered, and when the canal was constructed Evansburgh was a thriving town, perhaps larger than at present. It did a large amount of business, having five general stores, besides grocery stores and others. When the dam was built across the outlet of Conneaut Lake, the decomposition of the vegetable matter caused by the flooding of the land filled the air with a deadly malaria. Many of the citizens fled, to escape from its ravages, the time of the greatest sickness being in 1840, but the conditions changing, many of them returned in a few years.
Evansburgh was incorporated as a borough in 1858, upon a petition signed by twenty-five citizens. In 1892 the name of the borough was changed to Conneaut Lake. It is situated at the outlet of Conneaut Lake. and is one of the prettiest and most sightly towns in the county. Since the con- struction of the Meadville and Linesville Railroad it has become well known as a summer resort, and having several good hotels and restaurants, is amply fitted for the entertainment of guests. It has a population of about two hundred, and contains several stores, shops and mills, besides schools and churches. There were three schools in 1896, with a school year of eight months, which were attended by one hundred and fourteen pupils. They were maintained during the year at an expense of $1.400.
The ice houses of the Conneaut Lake Ice Company, Limited, are situated at Conneaut Lake. Their enormous store houses, erected in 1881 and 1882. are filled each winter with ice of a superior quality, which is shipped in large quantities to Pittsburg and other points, and furnishes an important in- dustry.
The United Presbyterian congregation, formerly known as the Seceders. is the oldest religious society in the village. The first church edifice was a log meeting house, erected at Evansburgh before 1815, which was occupied until the building of a frame church a half mile east of the borough. In 1864 a new frame church was built in the village, at the southeast corner of High and Fourth streets. Rev. McLean, of Shenango Township, was the first pastor.
The Evansburgh Presbyterian Church, formerly known as the Conneaut or Outlet of Conneaut Church, was organized some time before 1811. It was dependent upon supplies until 1841, when Rev. Edward S. Blake was
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ordained and installed pastor in connection with the Gravel Run Church. A large church building was erected on the southwest corner of Fifth and Water streets in 1831.
The Evansburgh Methodist Church existed at a very early period. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse and in the old log Seceder Church until about 1840, when a frame building was erected in Evansburgh, on Line Street, opposite Third. Prominent among the early members were Michael Miller, James Birch and John Vickers. J. Prosser and R. Parker were among the early pastors.
CHAPTER XXI.
SOUTH SHENANGO TOWNSHIP.
A T THE first session of the courts at Meadville, in 1800, after the or- ganization of the county, Crawford was divided into townships, and Shenango, then about eight miles square, occupied the southwestern corner. In 1830 a division into North and South Shenango took place. South Shenango still occupying the southwestern corner. In 1863 its terri- tory was still further reduced by the erection of West Shenango, the line of division being the Shenango Creek. South Shenango now contains 17,258 acres. The land is low and level, and in the early days was so wet and marshy that it was thought unfit for cultivation, but it is now covered by productive farms. Numerous small streams flow southwest into Shenango Creek, the land rising gently toward the north. The valleys have a soil con- sisting of a sandy loam, but on the higher lands the soil is clay. White oak, poplar, chestnut and pine are the principal timbers.
The larger part of the land of South Shenango Township belonged to the Pennsylvania Population Company, and was by them transferred to set- tlers at an early date. Michael Marshall, one of the surveyors for the com- pany, was the first settler, having received a tract of land in payment for his services. He was originally from Lancaster County, and came out alone in 1796 and erected a rude cabin on his land. He then returned to the East and in the autumn of the same year brought his wife and child to his new home. For some time he was the only settler in the township, and he and his family lived a secluded life in their wilderness home, far from any neigh- bors or friends. But in 1798 others came and settled on neighboring tracts. and for the next ten years there was a large and steady growth. Marshall remained a citizen of the township until his death, and the numerous Mar- shalls now living in the Shenangos are his descendants.
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The first settlers to arrive after Marshall were Patrick and William Davis, who came in 1798. Soon afterward David Atchison came from Lan- caster County, and he was elected the first justice of the peace. William Campbell built and operated a grist mill on Shenango Creek. A sawmill was erected by William Snodgrass, and building was thus much facilitated. Char- acteristic of the early days is the fact that William Douthitt, Alexander Mc- Elhaney, John Snodgrass and Jesse Snodgrass all owned distilleries, so that the infant settlement was well supplied with whisky. Before Campbell's mill was erected the milling was done at Greenville, and later on John Clyde erected a small mill. Carding mills were operated in the southern part of the township by Robert Mckinley and James McMaster. There were several asheries where the settlers could dispose of the ashes obtained after burning a clearing, and in the early days that was one of the most important of the farm products. Some of the farmers learned the secret themselves of making the black salts from lye, and many times the year's taxes were paid from the proceeds of this industry.
The Shenango Valley had always been a favorite camping place for the Indians, and they remained for many years after the arrival of the whites. The hunting was good and they also engaged in sugar making. Their in- tercourse with the settlers was always peaceable and they exchanged their game and fish for whisky, powder and shot. There was one character by the name of Jake Kashandy, who seems to have been a general favorite with the settlers. He would come to a cabin and, knocking at the door, com- plain of sickness. When asked what they could do to relieve him, he would quickly answer "cup tea," and it was usually given him. The settler always received a reward for his kindness in the shape of a haunch of venison, or other wild game. Kashandy was killed in an Indian brawl in 1804, while en- camped on Shenango Creek.
The Erie and Pittsburg Railroad runs north and south through the township. Westford is the only station and is also the only postoffice in the township. It was established in 1881, and now contains a store, blacksmith shop, a grist mill and several dwellings. It is the only approach to a village in the township and bids fair to some day become a thriving little town. Jamestown, on the southern boundary, is a part of Mercer County, but has some territory taken from South Shenango. There are several industries scattered through the township, such as a stave factory, cheese factory and others. Marshall's Corners was for many years a postoffice, but was aban- doned. At McLean's Corners another was started, but it has also been abolished.
Robert McComahey was a native of Ireland who had settled in West- moreland County. In 1798 he arrived in South Shenango with knapsack and camp kettle on his back, and settled upon a farm which he afterward
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occupied. He built a rough cabin and, leaving some of his possessions within it, returned to Westmoreland County for horses, sheep and cattle, which he drove before him over the mountains. Upon his arrival he found that the Indians had broken in and stolen his clothes and dishes during his absence. He bought 200 acres of land at the rate of one dollar per acre. His de- scendants still live in the township. This corner of the county was for a long time known to the settlers as the "White Thorne Corner." William Powers and his party were engaged in making surveys in this district as early as 1795. On one occasion their camp was robbed by a band of Indians, and James Thompson, who had been left in charge of the camp, was taken prisoner, but soon afterward made his escape. James Dickey came from Washington County in 1799 and purchased a farm of 100 acres from John Grimes, for which the consideration was a gun, a powder horn and a blanket.
The first school was taught by Peter Smith in 1802, in a cabin that had been used as a barn. The next term was held in a log schoolhouse built for the purpose, Edward Hatton being the teacher. He was the schoolmaster for several years. Miss Datie Buell was also an early pedagogue. In 1837 there were three schools and sixty-one pupils. The schools were in session five months in the year, and were maintained at an expense of less than six hundred and fifty dollars. Spelling, reading and writing were the branches taught. The character of the teachers and the progress of the scholars were reported as "good," but complaint was made of the lack of money with which to build schoolhouses. This was no longer the case in 1896, when almost three thousand dollars was expended for school purposes, and the eight schools, presided over by nine teachers, were attended by one hundred and eighty-five pupils. Nothing so well illustrates the sober common sense of the settlers than their early establishment of schools, and these have increased and flourishied in a way highly creditable to the people of the township.
A congregation of the United Presbyterian Church was organized in Shenango Township in 1801, and was the first organization of that denom- ination in Crawford County. It was effected under the direction of Rev. Dan- iel McLean, who, in 1802, was installed as pastor of the church, in connection with the Sandy and Salem churches of Mercer County. He was possessed of strong and unquestioned devotion to the ministry and great mental and physical powers, and his pastorate continued fifty-two years, until his deatlı in 1854 at the age of 84. His was an admirable character, and he is still re- membered by some of the oldest inhabitants of South Shenango. At first the services of this congregation were held in a tent near the burying ground, and about 1805 a log building was erected as a place of worship. In 1818 a second house was built, the first frame building in the township. It con- tinued to be used until 1879, when the present commodious edifice was erected at a cost of $5,000. The first elders were Joseph Work, Hugh Fletcher,
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Thomas Ewing and David Nelson. The congregation is large and comprises some of the substantial farmers of the township.
The North Bank Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1824 by Rev. Charles Thorn. There were nine original members, and among the earliest to join them were William Fonner and wife, Charles Campbell and wife, Aaron Herriott and wife, and Mark Royal. The early meetings were irregular, and at first the preaching was on weekdays, when it was attached to the Williamsport, Ohio, circuit. Until 1845 the meetings were held in the schoolhouse and in private houses, when Charles Campbell donated a lot, and on it the present church was built. The congregation is in good condition, and is attached to the Espyville circuit.
The Ebenezer Associate Reformed Church was organized in 1864. by members who had, for political reasons, withdrawn from the United Pres- byterian Church and connected themselves with the Associate Reformed Church of the South. The first pastor was Rev. James Burrows and the con- gregation had an original membership of thirty-five. A church was erected in 1868, James Martin and Free Patton being the first elders. In 1881 the congregation, upon application, was again received into the United Presby- terian Church.
CHAPTER XXII.
SPARTA TOWNSHIP.
T HE WHOLE of the eastern end of Crawford County was laid out as Oil Creek Township when the county was organized in 1800, ex- tending fifteen miles north and south and ten miles east and west. In 18II Bloomfield was erected from the northern part; including at that time what is now Sparta. In 1829 Sparta Township was laid out as it now exists, forming an almost perfect parallelogram. It occupies the northeastern cor- ner of Crawford County, being bounded on the north by Erie County, on the east by Warren County, on the south by Rome Township and on the west by Bloomfield Township. Its area of 24,883 acres is well watered in every part, the eastern branch of Oil Creek passing through the central portion, while the waters of the northwest branch of Spring Creek and its tributaries, Spauld- ing's and Britton's Runs, irrigate the western and southeastern portions. The surface is rolling and hilly, al __ when cleared is well adapted to agricul- ture, although much of the land is still uncleared, and lumbering is an im- portant industry. Hemlock, beech and maple are the principal varieties of
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trees, although some pine, ash and elm are found. The highest land in Craw- ford County is found in this township, some of the summits having an alti- tude of 1,225 feet above Lake Erie.
The southern part of Sparta Township was included within the Eighth Donation District, while the northern part formed a portion of the domains of the Holland and North American Land companies. The first sparse set- tlements were made in the northern part, where, before 1810, Patrick and Hugh Fitz Patrick, Andrew Britton and the Prices had established them- selves. Andrew Britton came with his father from near Philadelphia and settled in the extreme western part of the township. He made a large clear- ing and remained for some time, raising a large family, then removed from the county. The Prices settled in the northwestern corner of the township, near the county line. Patrick Fitz Patrick located in the northern part, and died and was buried on the farm he cleared.
Hugh Fitz Patrick was one of the earliest pioneers, having settled before 1810 on a tract of land a mile northeast of Spartansburgh. His brutal mur- der at the hands of a ruffian stranger attaches a tragic interest to this locality. He had married the daughter of Daniel Carlin, of Rome Township, and their infant daughter was only a few weeks old when the terrible deed was com- mitted. George Van Holland, an English soldier, while wandering through the vicinity, heard that Fitz Patrick had a sum of money in his cabin, and going there just before sundown, requested permission to stay all night. They welcomed him with characteristic Irish hospitality, although they deemed him rather a suspicious character. The cabin contained but one room, but a bed was made for him on the floor, and all retired to rest. In the dead of night Van Holland arose, found an axe, and split the head of his sleeping host. Mrs. Fitz Patrick fainted upon waking and seeing the terrible sight, but upon hier recovery the murderer demanded that she should get the money and ac- company him to the British border. Pretending to accede to his demands, she went to the loft for the money, but in passing a tub of maple syrup dropped into it a large quantity of silver, bringing him about $40 in bills, telling him that it was all she had. The inhuman monster then wished to kill her babe, stating as a reason that it would encumber them in their flight to Canada, but the entreaties of the mother finally saved its life. He ordered her to go and saddle the horses for the journey, and she therefore went to the barn, but instead of preparing them for the journey she turned them loose and returned to the house with the statement that she could not catch them. Van Holland went to the stable, and no sooner had he gone than she seized her child and started through the woods for the nearest neighbor, two miles away. It was bitterly cold, and two feet of snow covered the ground. He soon returned to the house, and discovering her flight, started in pursuit, swearing that he would serve hier as he had served her husband.
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He had almost overtaken her when the wind put out the lantern and he gave up the pursuit. Mrs. Fitz Patrick kept on through the snow to the cabin of James Winders, in Erie County, the keen winter wind almost benumbing her, and when within calling distance of the house she cried for help and they came to her assistance. They carried her into the house, and after hear- ing her story spread the alarm throughout the country. The neighborhood was all excitement and the nearest settlers turned out to capture the murderer. The next day he was found by four of the settlers encamped in the woods three or four miles from the scene of his fiendish deed, and was captured and conveyed to Meadville. In May. 1817. he was tried, found guilty and sen- tenced to be hanged. The extenuating claim was set up that he was men- tally deranged, caused by a sunstroke alleged to have been received while in the English army in the West Indies, but that did not avail to save him. He was endowed with great muscular strength, and at one time nearly escaped from the old jail by bending the iron bars with his hands. On the day of his execution he pushed the sheriff's assistant from the scaffold, from the effects of which injury the man died, and tried to jump upon him, but was frustrated in his devilish design by the rope. He was executed July 26, 1817. It was found afterward that he was the son of a renegade American who had removed from New Hampshire to the British dominions upon the triumph of the colonies in 1783; and that he was supposed to have committed another murder in another part of the country.
Reuben Blakeslee came to Meadville from Granville, Washington County, New York, in 1817, and in the following spring settled in Sparta Township. · about one mile north of Spartansburgh. His father and six brothers soon followed him, and located in the vicinity, many of their descendants still re- maining in the township. The father, David Blakeslee, had been a captain in the War of 1812, and settled a mile and a half southwest of Spartans- burgh. Hugh Coil was an Irishman who settled about 1815 in the southern part of the township, where he remained until death. He combined the oc- cupations of farmer. Baptist minister and hunter. Walter Crouch settled in the southern part of the township, building a rough cabin whose only door was a blanket. This was sufficient to keep out the cold air, but did not prove adequate against the wild animals of the forest, as the wolves came in one day during his absence and devoured a young pig which he was rearing in his cabin. Other settlers came in a considerable number arriving between 1820 and 1830. A large number of them, however, did not remain in Sparta, but removed to other parts.
The first saw mill in the township was erected in 1829, by William B. Sterling, upon the banks of Oil Creek, and was operated by him fifteen years. A second was erected at Spartansburgh, and a third at Glynden Station, in the southern part of the township. Andrew Britton erected the first grist
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mill near the western line of the township, on Britton's Run. It was sit- itated at the very head waters of the run, and was much appreciated by the neighbors, as it enabled them to add corn feed to their bill of fare, which had previously consisted of wild wheat and potatoes. Moses Higgins operated another corn cracker on Cold Brook, in the northern part of the township. William B. Sterling erected a carding and fulling mill upon the site of his abandoned saw mill. He was the first justice of the peace in the township. One of the first duties of his office was to settle the differences between a young married couple who could not agree to live together in peace and liar- mony. The justice, after hearing the evidence, prepared a legal opinion, in which he directed that the wife should remain in possession of the cabin, and that the husband, under penalty of the law, should not approach within a radius of two miles, but that the children, although remaining under the cus- tody of the mother, be allowed to pass the two mile limit and visit their father.
Glyndon is a postoffice in the southern part and is a station on the West- ern New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, which passes in a north and south direction through the center of the township. East Bloomfield Postoffice, long since discontinued, was established at the cabin of George White and was the first in the township. During the years 1826-27, before either church or schoolhouse had been erected, religious services were conducted in the cabin of Marcus Turner by Rev. Amos Chase. The first houses of public en- tertainment were conducted by George White and Mr. Blakeslee.
In a deserted cabin about a mile south of Spartansburgh, Patty Blakeslee taught the first school. A schoolhouse was soon afterward built in the south- ern part of the township, where Phoebe Patton, Phoebe Dickey and Stephen . Post taught in turn. In 1833 Ruth Gleason taught in a schoolhouse built a half mile west of the village. In 1836 five schools had been organized, being in operation seven and one-half months of the year. They were attended by two hundred and ten pupils. The character of the teachers was reported to be unexceptionable, with qualifications sufficient to give instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar and geography.
In 1896 the township. exclusive of the Borough of Spartansburgh, con- tained nine schools, in operation seven months of the year, and attended by two hundred and three pupils. The average cost per month to the township for each pupil was $2.30. The total amount raised and expended during the year for school purposes exceeded $2.400.
BOROUGH OF SPARTANSBURGH.
The borough of Spartansburgh was incorporated in 1856. It is situated near the center of Sparta Township, on the eastern branch of Oil Creek. The first clearing made there was that of Abraham Blakeslee, on land west of the creek. The village originated with a grist and saw mill erected in the
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