USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 69
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Patrick and Arthur McGill were two brothers who came to the town- ship in 1795. Arthur took up 800 acres in the French Creek Valley, and Patrick afterward settled upon the south half of this tract. They were hardy, industrious farmers and both lived to a ripe old age, leaving a posterity which is still represented in the township. James Long came from Lancaster County in 1794 and settled in Woodcock, where he lived until his death, at the advanced age of ninety-three. Samuel Blair, an Irishman by birth, removed to this township from Susquehanna County in 1797.
With the exception of the tracts located along French Creek by individ- uals, almost all of the land of Woodcock Township belonged originally to the Holland Land Company. It was by them parcelled out in farms of
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from one to two hundred acres, a very large proportion being transferred to various settlers between the years 1796 and 1805. Some only remained on their purchases for a short time, either because they were unable to carry out the terms of their contracts or that they became tired of pioneer life and returned to the borders of civilization. But many remained on the land thus acquired and became the founders of families still living in the township. and in some cases still cultivating the same land which was deeded to their ancestors by the land company. During 1796 and 1797 a scattering settle- ment had spread over the township. Upon the completion of a residence of five years and the making of some stipulated improvements, a gratuity of one hundred acres was usually granted to the settlers, who often agreed in addition to purchase fifty or one hundred acres more, so that those who re- mained and complied with the conditions found themselves owners of fine large farms. In cases where the settler abandoned his farm before the term of settlement was completed, the land reverted to the company. A great deal of confusion was caused by the uncertainty of the State law in determin- ing the proprietorship of the abandoned settlements, and the land company usttally maintained its title, although compromises were sometimes effected.
Among those who thus took up land was Archibald Humes, who was granted one hundred and fifty acres in 1796. He was of Irish birth and lad relatives who settled at the same time in Cambridge Township. William Hammond, who took up four hundred acres in 1799, was one of the earliest justices of the peace. John and William Greenlee came in 1796 from the eastern part of the State. William took up four hundred acres, and liis descendants still reside in the township. Henry Rust, a German, came from Westmoreland County in 1796 and took up a farm of two hundred acres. Mathias Flaugh, also a German, came West with his four sons and settled upon two hundred acres in Tract No. 159. He was a fervent Lutheran, and it is related that he used to conduct the services at burials when no minister was present.
Rev. John Matthews was a minister of the Presbyterian Church who re- sided for several years near Gravel Run, preaching the Gospel and teacliing school. William McGredy was a jovial Irishman who took itp six hundred acres of land in Woodcock Township in 1796. He probably found that six hundred acres of land was more than he could take care of, for lie afterward removed to Meadville, married a widow and kept a boarding house. Henry Bossard, who came out from Greensburg in 1797. did not attempt so much. He took one hundred acres, and during the summer cleared a patch of ground and planted and raised a fine crop of potatoes. He returned to Greensburg for his wife and child, and they started out on foot for their new home, he carrying the baby and the rifle, while she conveyed on her shoulders a few articles of domestic use. But when they reached the cabin which Bossard had
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built they made the sad discovery that the Indians had broken in and stolen all the store of potatoes which he had left there the previous autumn, and on which they had depended for sustenance while raising other crops. John Limber, from Northumberland County, at first settled near Harmonsburgh, but in 1796 he removed to Woodcock, where he took up a tract of two hundred acres. In 1816 he sold his farm and purchased land near Mansfield, Ohio, with the intention of removing there. But his wife dying he remained in Crawford County, where he was engaged for many years in teaching school. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and as the nearest organization of that body was at Cochranton, he used to go there each Sabbath to attend service. The closing years of his life were spent in Meadville, where he died in 1852.
P'ember Waid came from Connecticut early in the century and settled with his son Ira upon a tract in the southeastern corner. The same land is still held by his descendants, a prominent family of Woodcock Township. James Long was born in Lancaster County and came to Woodcock in 1797. He died in 1830, at the advanced age of ninety-two, leaving a large family, which is still represented in the township by numerous descendants. In fact, a very large proportion of the present inhabitants of Woodcock are descend- ants of the early pioncers. They were for the most part of Irish and German origin, and many of them came from the Susquehanna Valley.
It has been remarked that a settlement was hardly established before a schoolhouse and a church made their appearance, and Woodcock Town- ship was no exception to this. When George Peiffer built his large new tavern, about two miles south of Saegertown, the old log cabin was taken possession of by Betsy Peiffer, who taught a German school here as early as 1812. In 1816 a school building was erected in the same vicinity and school was held in it for many years, Sarah Dewey, Manda Dewey and Mr. Alden, a brother to Major Roger Alden, being among the first teachers. The earliest school taught within the present limits of the borough of Saegertown was about 1815. John Johnson taught about the same time in an abandoned log cabin upon the farm now owned by William Long. It was deep in the woods, and the small clearing which had been made around it was overgrown with bushes. In 1837, when the first official statistics were compiled, we find Woodcock Township credited with seven schools, presided over by fifteen teachers, and attended by four hundred and thirty-three pupils, the largest attendance of any township in the county. The total amount of money re- ceived for the use of the schools was less than five hundred dollars, a re- markably small sum with which to operate seven schools and pay fifteen teachers during the five and one-half months which constituted the school year. The teachers were reported as being of good character and well quali- fied to teach reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic and geography. The
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progress of the scholars is noted as "encouraging to the directors." and as usual, the complaint as to the defects of the system was the lack of funds with which to build schoolhouses.
There are no churches in the township outside of the boroughs. Sev - eral private burying grounds are used, besides two public ones in the south- ern part of the township. One of these, the Blair cemetery, was set apart for this purpose in pioneer days.
Archibald Humes built the first sawmill in the township, on Gravel Run. He soon afterward added a grist mill, which is still in operation in the same locality. The first grist mill of the township, however, was built by James Dickson on Woodcock Creek. The stones were of ordinary rock and were brought from Pittsburg. William Magaw erected a paper mill at Ma- goffin's Falls, in the southwest part, about 1840, which was operated until 1845. He had formerly constructed a mill on Woodcock Run, near Saeger- town, and it was there that the first straw paper ever manufactured in the United States was made. H. H. Fuller built a paper mill at Magoffin's Falls in 1880, upon the site of the old mill. Like its predecessor it was run by water power from French Creek, but was only continued a few years.
Long's Stand Postoffice is located about two miles east of Saegertown, on the main road to Blooming Valley. Daniel Grubb and Daniel Wise kept public houses near here in the early days of the colony. More recently the Fountain House was built by James McGill in the same vicinity. It was at first used as a storeroom, but was afterward sold and converted into a hotel. It was located on the old pike road, and in the days of stage coaches was one of the stations between Erie and Meadville.
BOROUGH OF SAEGERTOWN.
The borough of Saegertown is located in the western part of Wood- cock Township, where the French Creek Valley broadens out into a level tract of a mile in width and two miles in length. It is pleasantly situated on the east side of the creek, and is one of the handsomest villages in Crawford County. The settlement of Saegertown was commenced as early as 1796. About 1800 Major Alden built a sawmill on the site of the present mills. and for several years the place was known as Alden's Mills. Henry Minium, the miller, resided in a log cabin near by, and John McGill owned and occu- pied land some distance to the south of the mill. In 1824 Daniel Saeger purchased the mill. and it was for many years operated by him or members of his family. He was the founder of the village, and having purchased large tracts of land in the vicinity of the mill, laid out the town under its present name. Mr. Saeger came from Lehigh County, and was possessed of more than ordinary energy and business capacity. Being a native Pennsylvanian, of German descent, he attracted to this vicinity a large number of the hardy,
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honest yeomanry of Lehigh and other eastern counties, and it soon possessed all the characteristics of a Pennsylvania Dutch settlement. About 1829 Daniel Saeger built a store and filled it with general merchandise, and the village store has been kept by the Saegers ever since. Mr. Freeman opened a small store in 1826, and Peter Shaffer kept the first tavern.
The village was incorporated by act of Assembly in 1838. The early records are not known to exist, hence much of its history is to a great extent a matter of tradition. A. Saeger was elected Burgess in 1865, and since then J. Saeger, Oliver Saeger and Amos Saeger have at various times held the office. Among the early settlers were Adam Brookhouser, and his two sons, Adam and Jacob, Adam Newhouser, Henry Renner and George Wooding. The postoffice of Saegertown was established in 1833, the mail being carried from Meadville to Girard once a week, and when the postman, David Yarrick, rode into the village on his small black horse, blowing his horn, no little sen- sation was produced.
The first school in the borough was taught by Jonathan G. David in a deserted log cabin situated a little north of the mill. In 1834 a frame school- house was built near the Reformed Church. It was a low building, divided into two rooms, it being designed that English might be taught in one side and German in the other. Jane McCaul taught here early in the century. The present school building contains four schools, conducted by one male and three female teachers. The attendance of pupils for 1897 was one hundred and seventy-four, and the amount of money raised for school purposes, includ- - ing the State appropriation, was more than $1,800.
The early settlers of Saegertown, foreseeing that the place would eventu- ally become of some importance, laid out the town with a great deal of care, fixing the streets at regular intervals, and in consequence it presents a much more attractive appearance than the average country town. The streets are wide and well kept, the residences neat and attractive, while many business blocks have been erected upon the main streets. There are several general stores, besides hardware, furniture, millinery and drug stores, jewelry and shoe stores, a meat market, blacksmiths, barbers and tailors. There are saw- mills, grist mills, a planing mill, printing office and hotels, and these and other industries furnish employment to the citizens. The Saegertown Band, or- ganized in 1876, is well known throughout northwestern Pennsylvania.
The German Reformed Congregation was organized early in the cen- tury. but the history is obscure, as the records have been lost and none of the first members now live. It is known, however, that the society held its early meetings in Peiffer's schoolhouse, that Rev. Zeiser and Daniel Rau- hauser were among the early pastors, and that Philip and Henry Renner, Solomon Graff and Conrad Baughman were among the first members. In 1829 the congregation obtained a part interest in the old church, which stood
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in the same place as the present edifice, and afterward by purchase obtained sole control, and for many years the meetings were held there. In 1872 the present handsome meeting house was erected, at a cost of $4,000, and the church. with a large membership, is in a flourishing condition.
The Lutheran Church of Saegertown was organized by members of the Venango congregation in 1828. Before this, for the convenience of the Lutherans in that vicinity, services were sometimes held in Peiffer's school house. two miles south of Saegertown. . As the number increased a separate organization was formed and a frame church was erected in Saegertown, in 1829, on the lot now occupied by the German Reformed Church. It was built by a united effort of all the settlers, and all the religious bodies of the vicinity worshipped in it. It was used by the Lutherans until 1868, when the present handsome edifice was built on the corner of Erie and Commercial streets, at a cost of $7.000. George Peiffer, Samuel Peiffer, Jacob Flaugh and Daniel Saeger were among the early Lutherans, and Rev. Shultz and his son, Augustus Shultz, were the first ministers. Many of the first settlers were German and did not understand English, so while the father preached in German, his son conducted services in English.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Saegertown was formed about 1839. Like the Lutheran Church, it was organized from members of another con- gregation, most of them coming from the Seavey class, which met upon the other side of the creek. Among the early members were Andrew Ryan and wife, Isaac Blystone, Jolin Flaugh and wife, John McGill and wife, Harvey Sacl.ett and wife, Jacob Brookhouser and wife, and Joseph Housel. For many years the Saegertown Methodists met in the Lutheran Church, but in 1841 they built a church upon the northwestern corner of North and Commercial streets. This was used until, in 1875, the present edifice was erected upon the same lot, at a cost of $6,000. The society is numerous and in a flourishing condition, and forms a part of the Saegertown circuit.
Within the past ten years Saegertown has become widely and favorably known as a health resort, owing to the discovery of rare medicinal qualities in the mineral springs of the place. Large hotels have been built and im- provements made, and now it is the resort of hundreds each year who seek a quiet place for rest and recuperation. The large summer hotels are fitted up with all the newest conveniences and supplied with various means of amusement, while the river furnishes fine facilities for boating. and the country roads in all directions are drives of exceptional beauty. The amuse- ments in the winter are no less varied and bring crowds of visitors during the cold months. Thus it is seen that the mineral springs have done much for Saegertown. Enormous quantities of carbonated water and ginger ale are manufactured each year and shipped in carload quantities to various points
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of distribution, where the carefulness of its preparation and its natural ex- cellence command for it a wide sale.
BOROUGH OF WOODCOCK.
Woodcock borough is located in the northern part of Woodcock Town- ship, in the valley of Gravel Run. In the year 1818 the Meadville and Erie Turnpike was constructed, and as it passed through the land owned by Henry Minium in the valley of Gravel Run, he conceived the idea of founding a village there. In 1819 he laid out the town and christened it Rockville, thus making it one of the oldest villages of Crawford County. Minium was not living on his land at this time, being employed in the milling business at Alden's Mills. He had, in 1818, sold a lot to Jacob Keplar, and he was the only inhabitant of the new village when it was laid out in 1819. Minium was determined to boom the town, so he employed a Dutch auctioneer, Derk Jan Newhausen, familiarly known in the neighborhood as "Dutch John," and under his persuasive accents most of the lots were disposed of at a good figure, as land sold at that time. There was then a great amount of travel on the turnpike, as it was the direct route from Erie to Meadville, and was the thoroughfare pursued by hundreds of incoming settlers seeking homes in the West. Jacob Keplar, the original settler, was a cobbler by trade, and made shoes for the pioneers of that vicinity. . After Rockville was established he erected the first hotel, and kept the postoffice. and on account of his local prominence the place was widely known as Keplartown. John Scott and Mr. Whitely opened small stores, and Daniel Shaffer established a blacksmith shop. The village prospered until the plank road was constructed on the other side of French Creek. when the travel left the turnpike and it received a severe check to its growth. It was expected that the construction of the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad within a mile of the village would aid its development, but it has proved of little assistance.
In 1844 Rockville was incorporated as a borough and the name changed to Woodcock. George Pond was elected the first Burgess. The village now contains several stores, a sawmill, hotel, three churches and a public school, attended by twenty scholars. Several agricultural fairs have been held here with good success.
The Rockville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1810 by Rev. Joshua Monroe. It was at first known as the Gravel Run Church, and the early meetings were held in the dwelling house of John Shearer, in the southwest corner of Cambridge Township. The first meeting house was built in 1817. immediately north of the Woodcock borough limits. This continued in use until 1839, when a brick edifice was erected within the bor- ough. A parsonage was built in the early days of the church, but was not used after 1870, and in 1879 a new one was erected, at a cost of $700. The
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society numbers more than one hundred and forms part of the Rockville cir- cuit.
The Gravel Run Presbyterian Church was organized about 1809 by Rev. John Matthews, who became the first pastor, continuing his labors until 1814. In 1838 the division of the Presbyterian Church caused a disruption of the Gravel Run congregation, and it was divided into the old school and new school branches. Each branch erected a house of worship, the new school a frame structure, the old school a substantial brick building. In 1879 the differences were adjusted and the two divisions reunited into one congre- gation, using as a place of meeting the brick structure erected by the old school. The building of the new school is now used by the Protestant Epis- copal congregation.
The St. James Mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1881 by Rev. E. G. Carstensen, of Meadville, who supplied the pulpit until 1882. After him the services were conducted by the rectors of the Mead- ville church until 1893, when the mission was closed. In July, 1897. the services were again taken up, being conducted by Rev. G. S. Richards, of Meadville. The membership is about twenty.
BOROUGH OF BLOOMING VALLEY.
The borough of Blooming Valley is situated in the southeastern corner of Woodcock Township, on a branch of Woodcock Creek. In the early days this fertile valley was bedecked with a rich and luxuriant growth of wild flowers, and the variegated appearance which it presented caused the early pioneers to give it the name of the Blooming Valley, which it has always re- tained. The borough contains about twelve hundred acres of land, and the village extends for a half mile along the State Road. The postoffice of Blooming Valley was established several years before the borough was in- corporated. The village was founded by Jeremiah Smith, a farmer owning land here, who in 1845 laid out twenty-eight lots on the south side of the State Road. While the lots did not sell as rapidly as had been anticipated, there were nevertheless several accessions to the settlement, and as it is in the center of a rich farming country, there were soon several stores estab- lished. George Roudebush and James Williams were already residing in this locality when the village was laid out. George Roudebush was a carpenter and the proprietor of a sash factory, and he and James Wygant opened small stores and were the first merchants. Others soon afterward moved in, George Fleck, a blacksmith, and Henry Marker, a carpenter, being among the earliest. It now contains several stores, two hotels, blacksmiths' shops, and other in- dustries.
The borough of Blooming Valley was incorporated in 1867, by order of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and at the first election S. L. Thompson
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was elected Burgess. In 1869 a fine large school building was erected, at a cost of $3.700. and is used by the three schools now maintained. Three teachers are employed, and in 1897 one hundred and one children were in attendance. The amount raised for school purposes in 1896 was $279.09, in addition to the State appropriation of $280.61. School is taught during seven months of the year, and a high degree of excellence is maintained.
An Advent society, with a large membership, was formed by Rev. Wen- dell in 1849. The early services were held in the Cowen schoolhouse, some distance north of the village. In 1854 the people of the vicinity decided to unite to build a place of worship, which should be entirely undenominational and free to all religious bodies. A lot was donated by Mrs. Knapp and the subscriptions of the neighboring farmers enabled them to erect a large and commodious frame building, at a cost of $2,000. This was used by the Advent society for many years, but the class declined in number and the services were finally discontinued.
The Methodist society was also organized in a schoolhouse north of the village, and it was there that the meetings were held for many years. It was formed soon after the village was laid out, and among its early members were James Wygant and wife. Andrew Floyd and wife, Miss Sarah Armstrong, Mrs. John Roudebush and Mrs. John Robbins. Services were held in the Union Church until the present edifice was erected in 1874. It cost $4,500, and is surmounted by a bell which cost an additional $300. The society has a flourishing membership and is attached to the Saegertown circuit.
Part TO.
14.11
Biographical Sketches.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Harm Jan Huidckoper was a native of Holland, born in Hoogeveen, in the district of Drenthe, April 3, 1776. His father was Anne Huidekoper, and the maiden name of his mother was Gesiena Frederica Wolters. His mother's family was one of considerable standing in Drenthe. It had long resided tliere, and one branch of it had attained distinction in the military service of the country. Our subject's mother was a woman of amiable disposition and sound judgment-and to her influence should be attributed much of the success which he afterward attained.
Mr. Huidekoper acquired his early education in his native village. When he was ten years of age he was sent to a boarding school at Hasselt, in the province of Overyssel, where, excepting one year,-which was spent for the most part at home,-he remained until he was seventeen. The two years fol- lowing were spent in the Institute at Crefeld, Germany. Now, for the first time, he had the advantages not only of good instruction, but also of a large and well chosen library. He made good use of his opportunities. In a little time, his diligence and abilities enabled him to take highi rank in the Institute as a scholar; and his exemplary conduct gave him the esteem and friendship of both his instructors and fellow students. This period of his life was indeed a most happy one, and he always looked back upon it with the greatest pleasure.
On his return to Holland he was offered, by his older brother John, a situation in a commercial house he was then about to establish, or, if he pre- ferred, the means to go to America. At this time no very inviting induce- ments were offered in Holland to young men of decided ability to enter upon a commercial career. A year before, the country had been conquered by a French army, under Pichegru ; and the Thermidonians, who now ruled France, were drawing upon the wealth of the country to relieve the financial distresses of the French Republic. At this very time, too, Holland was engaged in a war with England. On the other hand, in America, ability, character and in- dustry counted for more than money and family connections ; and in this land, too, there was ample scope for individual exertion. Consequently the young Hollander, fresh from his books and wanting none of the prerequisites of suc- cess, sailed for New York. The voyage was begun August 12, 1796, and occupied sixty-three days. He spent this time in the study of the English lan-
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