USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 68
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and Erie Canal passed through this valley and above Hartstown broadened inito a large canal basin with an area of several hundred aeres. The waters thus pent up on the low land engendered malaria, and this for a long time proved a serious obstacle to the development of the adjoining country. After the abandonment of the canal the sickness decreased, and the locality has since proved to be a very healthful one.
Hugh Fletcher, in the latter part of the last century, began the settle- ment of West Fallowfield Township. He was a native of Ireland, and located in the northern part in 1797. Hugh and Henry Blair, also from Ireland, were pioneer settlers. Hugh came in 1802 and settled upon a tract of one hundred acres about one mile north of Hartstown. William Henry, in 1800, came on foot through the woods from Fayette County and took up land just west of Hartstown. His first shelter was a frail hut, supported by sticks for rafters and covered with bark, somewhat after the fashion of an Indian wig- wam. He next built a pole hut, and as his skill as a carpenter did not extend to making a door, he eut a hole in a log near the top. and through this orifice crawled in and out. It is claimed that he was the first tanner in the county west of Meadville. He first operated upon a horse skin and the skin of a calf partly eaten by wolves, tanning them in a dug-out trough. The next season he built vats lined with puncheon. A tannery was built in 1806, but was burned down in 1818. It was rebuilt, however, the following year, and work was con- tinned in it as late as 1872.
Adam Owry, a Revolutionary soldier, came in 1797, or even earlier, accompanied by his brother John. The reason of the latter was unsettled, owing to injuries sustained while running an Indian gauntlet. William Campbell was an early settler and built the first grist mill, about a mile south of Adamsville. Andrew McQuiston, another pioneer, operated a distillery. Within a few years after the beginning of the settlement a large number of tracts had been taken up, as the records of the Pennsylvania Population Com- pany show. Some were settled by the persons who contracted for the land, while others perfected the title by a tenant, or by sending some member of the family to reside upon the traet. A large majority of the settlers here were Irish, or of Irish descent.
There was, at an early period of our settlements, an inferior sort of a land title, denominated a "tomahawk right," which was made by deadening a few trees near the head of a spring and marking the bark of some one or more of them with the initials of the name of the person who made the im- provement. It is doubtful if this tomahawk improvement conferred any right whatsoever. unless followed by an actual settlement, but for a long time many of them bore the names of those who made them. These rights, how- ever, were often bought and sold. Those who had selected favorite tracts of land on which they desired to make improvements bought up the tomahawk
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rights rather than enter into quarrels with those who had made them. Other improvers of the land, with a view to actual settlement, and who happened to be stout. veteran fellows, took a very different course from that of buying out the "tomahawk rights." When annoyed by the claimants under those titles they deliberately cut a few good hickories and gave them what was in those days called a "laced jacket," that is, a sound whipping.
Ezra Buell, an old and very able teacher, taught a school in 1820 on the William Henry farm, within the present limits of Hartstown. Hugh Andrews, Calvin Leonard and Thomas Guthrie were other capable and well- known teachers during the early days. \ school at Adamsville was estab- lished in 1825, and was organized with two grades in 1861. In 1834 there were four schools in the township, the houses all being of logs. This number has of necessity decreased since the establishment of Hartstown as an inde- pendent borough and the separation of the schools. In 1896 there were two schools in West Fallowfield, the school year averaging eight months. Forty- nine pupils were enrolled, and nearly one thousand dollars was devoted to school purposes by the township.
Adamsville is a busy little village, situated in the southern part of the township, in the valley of Crooked Creek. The Owrys were the first settlers, and it was here that Adam Owry followed his trade as a blacksmith. A blacksmith shop is usually looked upon as a center in a rural district, and a little hamlet soon sprang up, while the construction of the Beaver and Erie Canal later on gave it shape and position. The settlement was christened Owrytown and was generally known under that name during the early years, but subsequently it acquired the title of Adamsville, both names being de- rived from that of Adam Owry. the original settler. Adamsville was laid out as a village in 1841, by Henry Owry, the original plan containing sixty- four lots. Main Street. sixty feet in width. runs north and south. and First, Second, Third, Liberty and South, each fifty feet wide, cross the village from east to west. George Owry kept the first tavern, and Frank Owry built a sawmill. The village now contains several stores and shops, a hotel. schools, churches, and thirty or forty families. A post-office is located there, and it is a station on the Pittsburg, Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad, which traverses West Fallowfield Township from north to south.
A Covenanter or Reformed Presbyterian congregation was organized at Adamsville in 1805. There were fifteen original members. Dr. John Black, of Pittsburg, who had been the moving spirit in the organization, visited them every fifth Sabbath. the members in the meantime holding services without a pastor. Their meeting place was at first a rough log cabin, afterward a frame church, located on a hill about a mile southwest from Adamsville. Samuel Hays was the first elder, and in 1813 Samuel Rogers and John Mc- Master were added to the session. It was during the same year that Rev.
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Robert Gibson became pastor, who remained thirteen years. A. W. Black, David Herron and John Nevin were his successors, and when, in 1866, the latter left, the society was broken up, most of the members joining the Adamis- ville United Presbyterian Church.
The United Presbyterian Church of Adamsville was organized about 1851, and two years later a church building was finished at a cost of $2,000, since much improved and repaired. James M. Blair and Thomas McCurdy were the first elders. Upon the disbanding of the Covenanter congregation the membership was largely increased and the church much strengthened. It now has a large and flourishing membership.
The Free Will Baptist Church of Adamsville was another early religious organization, starting with twenty-one members, in 1852, with Rev. J. S. Manning as the first pastor. In 1853 a church building was erected. The membership was much reduced by removals and deaths, and as there were no compensating accessions, the organization disbanded about 1876.
The Adamsville Reformed Presbyterian Church was originally located at Greenville, where it was a branch of the Springfield congregation, and was removed to Adamsville about 1873, during the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Mc- Clurken. He remained but a short time, and after a series of supplies Rev. J. R. Wylie was installed in 1877. When the Baptist Church was disbanded their building was purchased by the Reformed Presbyterians.
BOROUGH OF HARTSTOWN.
The borough of Hartstown is located in the northern part of West Fallowfield Township, upon the line of the Pittsburg, Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad. The village was named from James and William Hart, two broth- ers, who settled in this locality at an early date and owned the land on which the town was built. Dr. Steen built the second cabin erected in the place. and a blacksmith named Thomas Rogers, the third. A tavern was built by Mr. Hart and was for some time kept by a Mr. LeFevre, while John McFaron was the first merchant. The construction of the canal contributed much to the growth of Hartstown, and since that waterway has been abandoned the vil- lage has not increased in population.
Hartstown was incorporated as a borough in 1850, and B. Ewing was elected to serve as the first Burgess. It has a population of thirty or forty families, and contains several stores, shops, schools and churches. Its two schools are maintained during seven months, at a cost to the borough of about six hundred dollars. During the year 1896 sixty-nine pupils were in attendance.
Several church edifices have been erected at Hartstown at various periods. The United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1830 as an Associate Re- formed congregation. Rev. S. F. Smith was the first pastor. The first church
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building was erected in 1830, and was replaced by another in 1856 at a cost of $2,500.
A Covenanters or Reformed Presbyterian congregation was formed in 1852, but soon afterward united with the United Presbyterian Church, and their building was purchased by a congregation of the German Reformed persuasion. This society went out of existence, and the building came into the possession of a Zion society. This in turn also ceased to exist. The Metho- dist Episcopal Church was organized with fifteen members about 1840, and the same year a church building was erected near the village. This has since been replaced by a larger and more elaborate building. The class is connected with the Espyville circuit.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
WEST SHENANGO TOWNSHIP.
S HENANGO was one of the townships into which Crawford County was divided in 1800, and its boundaries were described as follows: "Be- ginning at the southwest corner of Crawford County: thence north- wardly the breadth of a certain fraction of a tract, distance unknown, together with the breadth of eleven full tracts: thence eastwardly the breadth of one tract adjoining the State line, together with the length of eight tracts; thence southwardly to the southern boundary of Crawford County; thence by the same to the place of beginning." As thus constituted it occupied the whole of the southwestern corner of the county, a tract eight by nine miles in size. In 1830 the boundaries were changed and Shenango was divided into North and South Shenango, the latter including what is now West Shenango.
But in the course of time it was found that the divisions had not been made so as to best suit the convenience of the citizens. The boundaries were mere geographical lines, and natural boundaries were ignored. But Shenango Creek, which runs from the northwest corner toward the southeast, becomes in rainy weather a very turbulent stream, and there was frequently great difficulty in maintaining communication between the two sides. Sometimes the children were thus prevented from attending school, and the citizens could not always reach the polling place on days of election. It was therefore thought best by all concerned that a still further division should take place, using as a line of division the turbulent stream which seemed to form a natural boundary. Upon the petition of the citizens of South Shenango Township to the Court of Quarter Sessions to divide the township. James Espy was
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appointed surveyor, and Eliphalet Allen and R. S. McKay, viewers. On April 2, 1863, they reported favorably, with a slight alteration of the boundaries, and the report was approved and confirmed by the court August 14, 1863. It was decided that the new township should be called West Shenango, and an election was ordered to be held in the Turnersville schoolhouse, where John Custard and Francis Royal were appointed inspectors, and Samuel Kel- log, judge of the first election. The township is the smallest in the county, containing but 4,947 acres. The surface is level and the soil well adapted to the cultivation of fruit and grain. The township is traversed from northwest to southeast by the Franklin division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad.
But although West Shenango has been organized as a political division since 1863 only, it was settled, as were the neighboring townships, during the latter part of the eighteenth century. Samuel Scott and John White, from Perry County, were early settlers, and Andrew and John Betts made settle- inents about the same time. They came from Fayette County, and Andrew followed hunting as an occupation for several years. It is related that he killed deer to the number of one hundred and seventy-five in a single season. John Betts afterward became a Methodist preacher. Jeremiah Yoke, an old bachelor, was one of the township's earliest pioneers, and came from Fayette County. In the early days he was a large land holder, but he lost his possessions later in life and died in reduced circumstances. His brother George was also a pioneer, and his descendants still reside in the township. Many others came about 1800, and the land was rapidly taken up.
Far removed, as they were, from any center of civilization, they were forced to depend upon themselves for almost everything, and every native inechanical genius was called into action. There was in almost every neigh- borhood some one whose natural ingenuity enabled hir to do many things for himself and his neighbors far above what would ave been expected. Many families included in their n nber their own tailers and shoemakers. Many who could not make shoes co ild make shoe packs, a contrivance much like a moccasin. With the few tools that they brought with them into the country they certainly performed vonders. Their ploughs, harrows with wooden teeth, and sleds were in n iny instances well made. Their cooper ware, which included all sorts of . essels for holding milk and water, was generally well executed. The ceda ware, in particular, by having alternately a white and red stave, was thought beautiful. Many of the puncheon floors were very neat, the joints close, and the top smooth and even. Their looms, though heavy, did very well. Those who could not exercise these mechanic arts were under the necessity of giving labor or barter to their neighbors in exchange for the use of them, so far as their necessities required.
A machine, still more simple than the mortar and pestle, was used for
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making meal when the corn was too soft to be pounded. It Was called a grater, and consisted of a halt circular piece of tin perforated with @ punch from the concave side, and nailed by its edges to a block of wood. The ears of corn were rubbed on the rough edges of the holes. while the m cal fell through them upon the board or block to which the grater was nailed, which. being in a slanting position, discharged the meal into a cloth or bowl placed there to receive it. This, to be sure, was a slow way of making meal. but, as was remarked by the person who thus described it, necessity knows no law.
As early as 18ro, however, Andrew Betts operated a grist mill upon his farm, and it was no longer necessary to grate the corn. His mill was fed by a strong spring and did the grinding for that neighborhood for a number of years. He also owned a distillery in 1810, and later on built a sawmill.
Schools were rare in the early times and the children were often forced to cross Shenango Creek to the schools in what is now South Shenango. Edward Hatton was one of the earliest school teachers. Polly Moss. fromn Ohio, taught school about 1820 in the southwest part of the township. After the division of the township a system of schools was established and put in successful operation. The number of schools in 1896 was four, with a session of six-months duration. They were attended by seventy-four pupils. and were maintained at a cost of about eleven hundred dollars for the year. The average cost of instruction per month for each scholar was one dollar and sixty-nine cents.
Turnersville is a small village of about twenty families, situated in the eastern part of the township. It was laid out by David Turner, and he entertained high hopes of soon making it a place of great importance. He set a day of public sale on which to sel the town lots at auction, and in order to conciliate tho" in attendance and stimulate the bidding he procured a barrel of sugar ai 1 a keg of whisky and placed them at the disposal of the attending crowd. The whisky was readily consumed, but the lots were not sold, and in & year or two the di appointed proprietor disposed of his interests to Peter Doty and Israel K der and removed from the vicinity. Charles Davis started the first store here. and the first tavern was kept by Jesse Webb. An ashery was owned by Anthony Hollister. while James White and Peter Doty were among he early settlers. The village now contains a hotel, a store, one or two shops, a church, a school and the town- ship postoffice.
The Methodist Protestant Class was organized in 1877 by Rev. Still- wagon. There were about thirteen or inal members. and the first meetings were held in the schoolhouse. In 18;8 a fine church edifice was erected, at a cost of about $4.000, and was dedicated by Rev. Alexander Clark, t Pitts- burg. It was at first connected with the Trumbull circuit. but since 1880 has been a station.
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The State Line Methodist Episcopal Society was organized in 1819, with fourteen members, by Rev. E. Morse, who became the first pastor. The meetings were for many years held in the schoolhouse, but in 1851 the church edifice was erected in the southwestern corner of the township and of the county, at a cost of $1,100. Peter Royal. William Yoke, Henry Royal, John Betts and Mr. Edwards and wife were among the first members. The congregation, which is a large one and forms part of the Jamestown circuit, includes many members in Mercer County and across the Ohio line.
CHAPTER XXXIV
WOODCOCK TOWNSHIP.
T O ONE who has spent his life amidst the picturesque scenery of Craw- ford County, the famous landscapes of the Old World seem to have been given an exaggerated importance, and he wonders why they are so besieged by tourists, while the marvelous beauties of our western continent are so little known and appreciated. And it is not because they excel, in any degree, the scenery of many parts of the United States. The fertile meadows of England, the romantic sights of the Rhine, and the green hills of Nor- mandy have for us a double attraction, for they possess, in addition to their intrinsic beauty, the value of a well known history. On this field was decided the fate of an empire : behind that hill was fought a battle which changed the history of the world. Here the Franks drove back the Saracens to the fast - nesses of the Pyrenees : and there Cæsar won the battle which added Gaul to the Roman Empire. And so these spots become hallowed to us through the events of the past, and we look with a doubled interest upon the places made famous in the world's history. But we shall fail to find, in any country, scenery which can excel in picturesque beauty the hills and valleys of north- western Pennsylvania. As we follow the valley of French Creek in its windings through Crawford County, we are struck by the beauty of the landscapes and the diversity of the scenes, the placid blue of the waters, the green valley through which it takes its course, and the long vision of low hilis on either side, rising and receding into a rich upland country. It is a valley of unusual beauty, one of the garden spots of the world, with every element necessary to render it attractive.
Woodcock Township, lying upon the eastern bank of French Creek, a little to the north of the center of the county, contains some of the finest
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of this picturesque scenery. The surface is pleasantly diversified by upland and valley, and is well watered by streams flowing into French Creek. The principal one of these is Woodcock Creek, which enters the township in the southeast corner and flows in a northwesterly direction to the southern limits of Saegertown. Its northern branch, rising in the northeast corner, extends through the eastern part of the township. Bussard Run is a smaller tribu- tary to Woodcock Creek in the central part. The northern and north- western parts of the township are drained by Gravel Run and its tributaries, its southern branch uniting with its recipient near the confluence of the latter
with French Creek, in the northwestern corner of the township.
The
southern part of the township has a slight declination toward Woodcock Creek, which receives the waters of several small streams from the south. The surface has a gentle ascent as it recedes from French Creek, varied by chains of hills and stretches of high tableland. Between Gravel Run and Woodcock Creek a beautiful valley of great fertility extends in a southerly and westerly direction, through the central part, to French Creek. The soil of this valley consists of a rich alluvial loam, the most elevated portions containing the most loam. It is marked by many fine farms, especially in the vicinity of Saeger- town and along Woodcock Creek. The soil of the township is generally of a fine quality, and produces good crops of corn, wheat, oats and grass. Dairying is an important branch of agriculture, large quantities of the celebrated "Craw- ford County cheese" being produced.
Woodcock Township, with an area of 19,328 acres, was erected in 1829 from Mead and Rockdale townships, which had formerly adjoined, Wood- cock Creek forming the boundary. It is bounded on the north by Cam- bridge, on the east by Richmond, on the south by Mead, and on the west by Hayfield. French Creek forms the western boundary, and the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad passes through its valley. Three boroughs, Saegertown, Blooming Valley and Woodcock, have been taken from its ter- ritory, but beyond these there are no villages in the township.
Some of the earliest settlements of the county were made in Woodcock Township, in the valley of French Creek and not far north of Meadville. This fertile region attracted settlers even before the end of the Indian hos- tilities. Savages lurked in the forest and passed from farm to farm, and the frontiersmen were forced to band together to guard against attacks. So, while some cleared the land, or cultivated a few patches of corn or potatoes, their neighbors were stationed near by, rifle in hand, to protect them from sudden attacks, or else patrolled the neighboring forests in search of hidden or approaching foes. The first settlement of which we have any informa- tion was made in 1791, by James Humes, who occupied a tract of land one mile west of the present location of Woodcock borough. William Jones was another early pioneer. He came to Meadville in 1793 or 1794, and for some
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time tilled the soil in company with James Dickson and others. Two years later he settled in the southwestern corner of Woodcock Township, on what was afterward known as the Cole farm, and remained there throughout his life.
Isaac Berlin had been a soldier during the Revolution, and was one of the few who escaped starvation on board a British prison ship in 1777. He received a warrant for a tract of land in northwestern Pennsylvania as a reward for his services, and with his gun over his shoulder he came out on foot through the wilderness to locate it. He returned to the East. and the next year brought his wife and family out to live on his property in the wilds of the West. But his land proved to be wet and uninhabitable, so he removed to the banks of French Creek, about two miles below Saegertown, where he purchased a farm. He was a gunsmith by trade, and lived in Woodcock Township until his death, in 1830. His services were often brought into requisition to repair the arms of the settlers, for after the Indians had been driven off there were still other foes to be exterininated. The animals which infested the forests, although they furnished the settlers with an ample supply of meat, were very troublesome to their flocks. Wolves and bears were especi -- ally destructive. For a long time it was necessary to keep the sheep well guarded at night, and they were frequently attacked in the daytime. The bears tore down the pig pens and carried away the pigs, and not unfrequently the cows were set upon by wolves.
George Peiffer, who had settled in Bloomfield Township among the earliest, removed in 1810 to Woodcock, and located with his son George about two miles south of Saegertown, where he remained until his death, in 1818. He built a large frame house soon after his arrival, and used it as a . tavern. This locality was called Peiffertown, in honor of him, although it was never an extensive settlement. A log schoolhouse stood near the tavern, and was used by several different denominations for religious services. Henry Minium came with the Peiffers, and later on was engaged in the milling business at Saegertown.
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