USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 65
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The Beaver and Erie Canal passed north and south through the western part of the township. Its construction through the township was attended
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with serious difficulty on account of the great beds of quicksand which for more than two miles underlaid its course. The Meadville branch, or feeder. of the canal entered the main canal in Summit Township, and the point of junction was the highest point along the whole route. An extensive peat and marl bed existed about half a mile northwest of Harmonsburgh. The marl is eight or ten feet in thickness, and is covered with peat to a depth of two or three feet. The marl is mntich used as a fertilizer and is also burned into lime, several grades of which are produced. The peat, which is still in process of formation, is impure, owing to a muddy sediment deposited during high waters by a small stream which oozes through it.
The first school in the township was taught by Mrs. Knox, in her cabin, at an early date. Carson Sloan was the first male teacher. There were in 1896 ten schools in the township, in which instruction was given seven months of the year. Two hundred and twenty-two scholars were in attendance, at an average monthly cost to the township for each scholar of one dollar and sixty-three cents. During the year almost four thousand dollars was ex- pended by the township authorities for educational purposes.
The only village in the township is Harmonsburgh, which is located about a half a mile east of the center. Henry Bright, a German Dunkard, in 1802 purchased and settled the farm upon which he afterward laid out the village. He was by trade a blacksmith, and followed that avocation in con- nection with farming during his earlier years. He remained a resident of this farm until his death in 1838, and his descendants still reside in the locality. He laid out the village in 1818, and for many years it was known as Brights- town. Joseph McMurtry built the first house and used it as a tavern. Whately Barrett, George Cook and Mr. Morgan were merchants, while Nathaniel Jones and John Rice were the village smiths of the early days. Two tanneries were at one time operated here, but both have now gone out of existence. The village contains thirty or forty houses, together with churches, stores, shops and a schoolhouse.
A German Reformed Church was organized in the township at a very early date, and a log house was erected near the eastern bank of the lake. Mr. Foust was a prominent and active member, and a large congregation was formed, including the Browns, Traces and other families. Many of the mem- bers afterward united with other churches, the congregation was disbanded and the house of worship went to decay. Contemporaneous with its existence was that of a Methodist meeting house which stood across the corners from the present Catholic Church. The settlers for many miles around attended here, but religious services were held in it for but a short period. . \ fire in the woods was communicated to the building, which was burned to the ground and never rebuilt.
An Albright or Evangelical Association Church was organized at an
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early date, probably about 1825, but as the records are lost, its history is not known with certainty. The Gehrs were the leading members. Services were held in private dwellings and in the schoolhouse until a frame church was erected in the southwestern part of the township about 1855. John Sibert. Joseph Long and John Bernhart were the first pastors.
The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception had its origin in services conducted in this locality about 1840, and continued for many years in the house and barn of Philip McGuire. The construction of the Erie and Beaver Canal brought quite a number of Catholic families to this neighbor- hood, among the first of whom were Philip McGuire, Robert Robinson, Tim- othy Clark, Michael Mccarthy, Felix Duffy and John and Daniel Boyle. The congregation was at first attended by the priest from Crossingville and afterward from Conneautville. A house of worship was erected in the north- western part of the township in 1852.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Harmonsburgh was organized early in the history of the township, but the exact date cannot be given. A Union Church was erected in the village in 1821 which was free to all Christian denominations, and this was used by the Methodists until 1840, when they built a frame building, with a basement, in the northeastern part of the village. John Smith, Watson Smith and Thomas McCray were among the earliest members of the church.
The Harmonsburgh Presbyterian Church was organized in 1829 by Rev. David Mckinney. Services had been held there by various ministers for some time previous to this, and for a short time Rev. Timothy Alden had been stated supply, by whom John McClure and John Neal were ordained elders. In 1829 the church was formally organized with forty-one members, David Breckenridge, Thomas Chidester, Robert Stockton, John McClure and John Neal being installed as elders. Many of the members had formerly been connected with the Meadville Presbyterian Church. For many years they were dependent upon supplies. Their early meetings were held in the Union Church, but in 1844 a frame edifice, situated just north of the village, was erected, at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. Revs. Peter Hassinger and J. W. Dickey were among the early pastors.
CHAPTER XXVII.
TROY TOWNSHIP.
T ROY TOWNSHIP lies upon the southern border of the county, east of the center, and contains 18,407 acres of land. It is watered in the western and central parts by the north and east branches of Sugar Creek, which rise in the northern part, flow south across the township and unite near the southwestern corner. Oil Creek traverses the northeastern part. Numerous small streams water the township, from which the land rises gradually on either side, only to fall again toward other streams. The land in most parts is a clayey loam, and was in the early days covered with dense forests of beech, maple and hemlock, with a considerable sprinkling of chestnut, ash and oak. Most of the timber has now been removed, but lun- bering is still an important industry.
The township was organized in 1829 and originally included what is now the southern part of Steuben. Before 1829 the eastern part had be- longed to Oil Creek Township, the northwestern to Randolph, and the south- ern prolongation was attached to Wayne. It is irregular in outline, being bounded on the north by Steuben, on the east by Oil Creek, on the south by Venango County, and on the west by Randolph. The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad crosses the northeastern corner. Most of Troy Township belongs within the Seventh Donation District, the irregularly shaped southern part lying in the eighth. A strip along the eastern border and some tracts in the southern part of the township belonged to the Holland Land Company. Mistakes were made in running the lines of the Seventh Dona- tion District, and the Holland Company's tracts to the south of them were surveyed upon the supposition that the Donation lines had been correctly lo- cated. It resulted that several years afterward the southeastern corner of one of the Donation tracts was found in the Holland Company's land, more than half a mile from its supposed location, and this discovery was the be- ginning of litigation which involved the title to much of the land in the southern part of the township. In most cases the differences were at last amicably adjusted.
There were various causes of dispute between the settlers on account of conflicting claims. It sometimes happened that two pioneers settled upon the same tract, building their cabins remote from one another, each at first ignorant of the presence of the other. When the double settlement was dis-
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covered a contest for possession would begin. Several settled on Holland tracts and attempted to hold them directly from the State. Charles Ridgway settled on a Holland tract in the northeastern corner of Troy, in 1800, and determined to locate there. He built a sawmill on Oil Creek at Newton- town, and then returned to Fayette County to secure the necessary iron work for the mill, leaving William Kerr in charge, with directions to build a cabin. During the absence of Ridgway, John Reynolds, a settler of Scotch-Irish descent, commenced the erection of a cabin on the same tract. Kerr, soon learning of this, zealous to protect the interests of his employer by disposing of the conflicting claim at a single blow, felled a tree across the half finished cabin of Reynolds one evening and crushed it. Reynolds made no com- plaint. but when Kerr had finished the cabin which he was building for Ridgway, he waited until Kerr was absent and then took possession of the place. Kerr, in his turn, again recovered possession of the cabin, and placed a lock on the door, and thus things went on for some time. The matter was, however, finally settled in a friendly manner. Ridgway remained on the tract three years, operating his mill, and afterward removed to Hydetown.
The permanent settlement of the township was commenced by James Luce, who came from Essex County, New Jersey, about 1795 and located on a tract in the southern part. His wagon is said to have been the third one which left Pittsburg for Meadville, and when he erected his cabin there was no one living within nine miles of him. In his native State he had been in the employ of William Shotwell, who was acting as agent for Field's claim, and it was on account of the suggestion of his former employer that he came to Crawford County. His tract, which was a portion of Field's claim, was located near the eastern branch of Sugar Creek. It was on the old road made and used by the French between Fort Le Boeuf and Fort Franklin, and Mr. Luce removed to the wilderness with the intention of keeping a tavern on this road. But he was disappointed, for the road was not improved as had been expected, and there were but few travelers on it. Instead, the pike was built through Meadville, entirely supplanting the old military road. But he remained here with his family, in the deep recesses of the forest, remote from any neighbors, surrounded only by the savage natives. He was a stone mason by trade, but he now turned his attention to agriculture, and remained on his farm during his life.
For many years Liice was the only resident of the township, and in 1810 not more than a dozen settlers had arrived. Joseph Armstrong came from one of the central counties of the State, and in 1805 settled in the south- ern part of Troy Township. During the first five years the family had 110 meat except bear meat and venison, but later pork was introduced. Mr. Arm- strong remained in the township throughout life. raising a family of fifteen children, ten of whom survived him, and his descendants still reside in the same
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locality. Daniel Ogden and Amos Messer both settled in the township early in the century. but remained for a short time only. Anson Mckinsey, a Scotchman, settled at what is now Fauncetown, but after a stay of two or three years removed to Venango County.
From 1810 to 1820 but few additional settlers came to Troy. William Sheffield, a retired sea captain, came from New Haven, Connecticut, in 1813. and settled at Newtontown, where he erected a sawmill. and for several years carried on an extensive business. He was afterward associated in the first store established at Titusville, and after a few years' residence there he went back to the sea, the attractions of a seafaring life proving too strong to be resisted. Jonathan Benn had in 1805 emigrated from Westmoreland County and settled in what is now the southeastern part of Mead on land be- longing to his brother-in-law, Job Colbert. Desiring to acquire a home of his own he came to Troy Township in 1811 and settled on a tract in the southern part. which he purchased from the Holland Land Company. He was a local preacher of the Methodist faith. Andrew Proper, of Dutchi descent, came from New York State and settled in Venango County, and in ISIS removed to the southern part of Troy. He was a member of the Bap- tist Church, and died in his eighty-ninth year. Edward Francis, a colored settler, better known as "Black Francis," settled in 1819 near Troy Center. but afterward removed to Mercer County.
The settlers during the next decade were not more numerous. William Williams came from Erie County in 1822 and settled on Sugar Creek. He was a Freewill Baptist, married a daughter of James Luce, and remained in the township until his death. Joseph Crecroft settled in the northern part of the township in 1826. Stephen Atwater came from Connecticut, and in 1823 contracted for five hundred acres of land in the Seventh Donation Dis- trict, on which he settled and remained until his death. He was a carpenter. and was well advanced in years when he came to the township. His son-in- law, Oliver Cowles, came about the same time, but afterward removed to the West. Several had made temporary settlements in Troy before 1830 and afterward removed from the township, and up to that date those who have been mentioned, with their descendants, constituted the entire population. By 1840 the emigration became more steady, and a large portion of the land was soon taken up.
The whole valley of Sugar Creek once contained a dense Indian popu- lation, and many graves and other remains are scattered throughout its extent. Tradition says that the French, while in possession, worked a silver mine in this vicinity, and an excavation made some years since brought to light a quantity of charcoal, a furnace and a smelting vessel, at a depth of six feet below the surface. Several specimens of ore were obtained and the traces of a very deep excavation could be seen. It aroused considerable excite-
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inent for a while, but as no one proceeded with the work of producing the metal, it soon died away. It is the opinion of many that valuable deposits of lead, and perhaps of the precious metals, will yet be discovered here. It is cer- tain that the Indians procured their lead somewhere in this vicinity, but as they have always been jealous of their mines accident alone has revealed them to the white men. The French were equally anxious to conceal them, as they ex- pected some day to regain possession of the empire which they had lost in America. In proof of this may be cited the various and valuable articles found in the fort at Presque Isle, and the curious iron chest and its contents concealed in the vicinity of Fort Le Boeuf. The French were undoubtedly aware of the existence of the inines, but did not reveal the secret. No nation ever enjoyed the confidence of the Indians so thoroughly as the French, and none used that power so kindly. The traditions of the lead procured by the Indians here, the silver ore known to have been taken from this vicinity by them to Canada and traded to British merchants, and the specimens of ore which have been found, furnish grounds for the belief, more prevalent many years ago than now, that valuable mines lie hidden in the county.
Up to 1819 there were no schools in the township. In that year, it having been decided that a school was necessary, the men of the neighborhood collected, chose a central location, and by their combined efforts completed a primitive little log cabin after two or three days of work. The chimney was built of mind and sticks and was on the outside at one end of the building. The Benn, Armstrong, Luce and Proper children attended it, as well as some from Wayne Township and Venango County. Peggy Johnson, of Randolph Township, was the first teacher in this building, being in charge two terms. The wages of female teachers at that time were from one dollar to one dollar and twenty-five cents per week and board.
There were nine schools in the township in 1836, with a term of six inonthis' duration. Four hundred and five pupils were in attendance. The teachers were reported as of good character, but their qualifications were con- sidered in need of improvement. Reading, writing, arithmetic and geography were the branches in which instruction was given. In 1896 thirteen schools were in operation, the school year having a length of six months. Four hun- dred and three scholars were in attendance, at an average cost per month to the township of one dollar and eighty-three cents for each pupil. The total amount of money expended during the year for educational purposes ex- ceeded $4,000.
Troy Center, situated near the center of the township, is a postoffice, and contains six or eight houses, a store, shop, schoolhouse and church. It was made a postoffice in 1860. John Stratton being the first postmaster. Almon Heath started the first store about 1858.
Fauncetown is a postoffice in the western part of the township, on Sugar
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Creek. Newtontown, situated on Oil Creek, is a small settlement which re- ceived its name from Edmund C. Newton, who settled there in 1847.
A class of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the cabin of Henry Kinneer, in Venango County, in 1812, and about four years later the place of worship was removed to the cabin of Jonathan Benn, in Troy Township. Here they maintained worship for twenty years, then holding services for some time in the Armstrong schoolhouse, in the southern part of Troy, after which it was removed to Chapmanville, Venango County, thus going outside the bounds of the township. About 1850 a class was organized by Rev. T. Benn, in the Bromley schoolhouse, in the eastern part of the town- ship. In 1874, during the pastorate of Rev. J. K. Adams, a church building was erected.
The Troy Center Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1870. and counted among its original members Austin Mills, Hamilton Bunce, William Hays, Joseph Free, Abram Banta, Edgar Melvin, Henry Melvin and George Wright. During the first years of its existence the meet- ings were held in a schoolhouse, and in 1876 a neat frame structure was erected, at a cost of $1.500.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
U NION is one of the youngest of the townships of Crawford County, having been laid out from portions of Vernon, Greenwood and Fair- field in 1867. Residents of this district applied to the Court of Quarter Sessions for the formation of a new township, and in accordance with this request a board of viewers was appointed, who, after an examina- tion of the circumstances, recommended the formation of a new township, with the following boundaries: "Beginning on the bank of French Creek. on what is known as the southerly of the Kennedy tract ; thence by said tract line to the southwest corner thereof, and the northwest corner of D. Hamen ; thence south by the division line of land one hundred and ninety-five perches to the southwest corner of Amborger, also the corner of Smith, Kebort and others ; thence west by the north line of said Smith to the center of a public road ; thence south by said road and the west line of Smith to the northeast corner of James Johnson's heirs ; thence west by the division line of land to a point opposite the dividing line between tracts 405 and 406; thence south by said dividing line to the center of the channel of Conneaut Outlet ; thence
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down said channel by its several meanderings to its junction with French Creek ; thence up said creek by its several courses and distances to the place of beginning." The question of whether the township should be established was submitted to the voters of Vernon, from which much of the territory was taken, and also to the electors of Greenwood and Fairfield who resided within the boundaries of the proposed new township. The election was decided in the affirmative by a majority of almost two to one, and to the town- ship thus formed by uniting the corners of three former townships, the name of Union was given.
Union is an interior township, lying directly south of the center of the county. It is an irregular triangle in shape, lying on the southern bank of French Creek, which separates it from Mead and East Fairfield. Con- neaut Outlet forms its southern boundary, separating it from Fairfield and Greenwood, while on the northwest it is separated from Vernon by a very irregular line. The New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio and the Meadville branch of the Pittsburg, Bessemer and Lake Erie railroads pass through the northern part, but neither has a station within the township. The old Beaver canal also passed through it, following the valley of Conneaut Outlet through the southern part. Union contains 7.939 acres of valuable land.
The surface of the township is rolling, especially in the southern part, the central portion being the most elevated. A strip of marshy land about one-half mile wide formerly existed along the border of Conneaut Outlet, and for years was considered worthless. By means of dredging most of it has been reclaimed, and the land thus drained has been found to possess a highly pro- ductive soil. The whole of Union is a purely agricultural region, no village or hamlet existing within its boundaries. A postoffice called Dutch Hill was once established a little north of the center of the township, but was after- ward abolished, the inhabitants relying for mail service upon the villages of the surrounding townships, Shaws' Landing in East Fairfield, Calvins' Cor- ners in Fairfield, and Geneva and Custards in Greenwood.
Although Union Township was one of the last to be established, its terri- tory was among the first to be settled. The settlement of Crawford County, commenced in 1789 at Meadville by David Mead and his party, received a severe setback when the Indian war broke out, and for several years the work of colonization was interrupted. And when quiet was again restored to the frontier, by Wayne's treaty with the Indians in 1795, pioneers and speculators flocked from all directions into the territory beyond the Allegheny, and such fertile tracts as the French Creek Valley were soon dotted with settlements.
But even before the suspension of Indian hostilities settlements had been made in Union. One of the first, if not the first, of the stalwart pioneers who pushed into the new country south of Meadville was John Hulings, who boldly erected a cabin on the bank of French Creek, before 1795, in the south-
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eastern corner of what is now Union Township. Others settled near him. and a temporary log fort was built on his farm, in which the scattering settlers took refuge at night. In June of 1795 a sad tragedy took place here. Two young men of the neighborhood, James Findlay and Barney McCormick, were engaged in the woods, about a mile from the mouth of Conneaut Out- let. in splitting rails for Mr. Hulings. A band of Indians suddenly appeared from the forest and fired upon them, killing one, who fell where he had been at work. The other was only wounded, and made his escape to an adjoining thicket. but was pursued, overtaken and killed. The Indians scalped their victims and disappeared. When the first shot was heard at Hulings' cabin it was supposed that the report issued from the rifle of Aaron Wright, a well known hunter of Fairfield, but when the second was heard the presence of Indians was suspected. Upon hearing the shots Wright, who was in the neighborhood, knew they came from strange rifles, so keen was his sense of hearing, and upon proceeding to the spot where the young men had been left at work, their mutilated bodies were found. Mr. Hulings lived upon his farm the remainder of his life. and when he died, in 1810. left three sons, Marcus, James and Ceal Hulings.
David Mumford, a native of New Jersey, arrived some time before 1797. He had first settled in Washington County, and from there removed to the land which he took up in Union, near the center of the township. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and in religion was of the Methodist persuasion. He was one of the most prominent and intelligent of the pioneer settlers, and continued the work of clearing the land and tilling the soil until his death, in 1816. His descendants still reside in the township. Robert Wilson, who came about the same time, settled in the northern part. at the mouth of Wilson's Run.
In 1799 a series of settlements was made upon the land belonging to the Holland Land Company. located along the bank of French Creek. Among them were those made by Tunis, Peter and Henry Elson, who were of Ger- man birth, and remained upon their farms throughout life. Four brothers by the name of Wensell also settled here temporarily, but later removed to Ohio.
About the beginning of the present century a steady stream of immigra- tion began to flow in, and continued for several years. James Birchfield came in 1800 from the valley of the Susquehanna and settled in the western part of the township. He was a prominent citizen and held the position of associate judge of the county, and was an elder in the old Fairfield Town- ship Seceder Church. He is still represented in the township by a numerous posterity. Mrs. Nelly Beatty settled in the southern part with her sons John, James and Matthew. James Davis cleared a farm in the western part of Union, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. His brother Samuel
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