USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania > Part 16
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Eight miles in a southwesterly direction from Meadville is a beautiful lake three or four miles in length and one in breadth, called Conneaut, or as the Senecas pronounce it,
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Kon-ne-yaut, "the snow place." The Indians of the neigh- borhood had observed the snow to remain some time on the frozen lake after its disappearance elsewhere.
Here are church organizations of the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and Old and New School Presbyterian denomin- ations.
The Old School Presbyterians, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Jas. Dickey, erected their building in 1855, at a cost of $2000. It has sittings for five hundred and fifty persons. The Methodist Episcopal church will accommo- date two hundred and fifty persons, and cost $500. The New School Presbyterian church cost $3000, and will accom- modate five hundred. The Baptists are yet without a house of worship.
In 1833 the Conneauttee Library Company was incorpo- rated. Edinboro has the most expensive school buildings in the county, and the citizens have exhibited a commendable spirit of liberality and enterprise in their efforts connected with the establishment of the Normal school of the twelfth district in their midst. About $25,000 has been raised by them in subscriptions and expended in buildings and im- provements, and the success of the school promises to com- pensate for the investment, and add to the population and prosperity of the town. The Normal school has at present four teachers and about eighty pupils. There is also one common school with two teachers and one hundred and thirty-six pupils.
M. Saley was elected burgess in 1861. A plank-road connects Edinboro with Erie and Meadville.
For manufactures there are two cooper shops, two for the manufacture of sashes and blinds, one of shovel-handles, three of cabinetware, a tannery, grist-mill, saw-mill, and tin shop.
The water power of Conneauttee Lake, obtained by the damming of the outlet, is one of unsurpassed excellence, and many factories working wood and lumber are found
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along the stream below. This lake is noted for its double white pond lilies, which are exquisitely beautiful, and pecu- liar, we believe, to the American continent; springing from the bottom of the lake, they expand their flowers when they reach the surface and sunshine.
NORTHEAST was formerly called Gibsonville, and later Burgettstown, and is seventeen miles east of Erie, on the Buffalo and State Line Railroad. This vicinity has been long settled, and is highly cultivated and populous. The inhabitants are mostly Eastern people, while in other parts of the county the Scotch-Irish element predominates .*
Northeast has three churches, one public school, and a flourishing high school, at present under the management of P. H. Stewart, with three assistants. Rev. Mr. Carrier's very interesting history of the Presbyterian church in this place is found under the general head. The Methodist Episcopal church was formed at an early day. The Bap- tists dedicated a neat and commodious house of worship February Ist, 1860. For many years this people had main- tained public worship two miles east of the borough; in July, 1858, a church was organized denominated "The First Baptist Church of Northeast." Officers-E. C. Heath, A. Partridge, Deacons; E. C. Heath, A. Partridge, S. Malick, Trustees; and H. Partridge, Clerk.
An account of Northeast Cemetery is found elsewhere.
For manufactures it has four shoe shops, two tin and two wagon establishments, one plow manufactory, a cabinet shop, ashery, etc. It has also one banking office. At Freeport, two miles distant, the Franklin Paper-Mill, owned by J. S. Johnson, is in excellent order, with every modern improve- ment. In 1860 they manufactured 4000 reams of wrapping
* The first brick building erected in the county was the residence of Mr. Silliman in 1809 or 1810, which is still firm and good. It is said the contractor was to have so much a thousand for all the brick he put in, and in accordance with a law of human nature, he used an enormous quantity, which in the end has proved good economy.
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paper, 2000 of writing paper, and 2000 of printing. In 1838 a paper-mill on the same site, the property of Mr. W. S. Hall, was consumed by fire, at a loss of $15,000.
In 1860 the borough officers were Philetus Glass, Bur- gess; J. M. Conrad, Richard Bran, John Greer, Rufus Loomis, Levi Jones, and Harley Selkregg, Town Council.
WATTSBURG, Venango Township, is seventeen miles east of southeast from Erie, at the Forks of French Creek. Provisions and stores from Pittsburg were landed here for Colt's Station and Northeast from their first settlement. There was also a landing at Bissel's mill, seven miles above Wattsburg, on French Creek, where at first provisions were landed for Colt's Station, being but two miles distant. In 1797 Mr. William Miles built "the upper storehouse," in which was deposited a few dry goods for the convenience of the settlers, and to exchange for furs, besides being a depot for provisions. Mr. David Watts, (of the company known at an early day as Watts, Scott & Co.,) from whom the town was named, owned a tract of 1400 acres in the vicinity.
In 1796 Adam Reed and a Mr. Tracy, with their families, settled up the stream, a little above Wattsburg. Messrs. Reed and Tracy built a small grist-mill on the east branch of French Creek at an early day.
In April, 1833, Wattsburg was erected into a borough, with the following boundaries : beginning at French Creek where the old State line crosses the same, being the south boundary of Venango Township; thence east along said line 180 perches; thence north 180 perches; thence west 180 perches (more or less) to French Creek; thence south- wardly by the windings of said creek to the place of begin- ning.
Wattsburg had, in 1840, one hundred and thirty-one in- habitants, and in 1860, three hundred and thirty-seven. It has three churches, a select school, and a common school with two teachers and one hundred and two scholars, which
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has a new building in progress. The Presbyterian church was organized at an early day-the church being of the New School branch dedicated a house of worship in 1854. It is valued at $1500, and will seat three hundred persons. The Baptist and Methodist Episcopal denominations have also churches; the Methodists completed a new one the past year at an expense of $4000, which will seat four hundred. The Baptist will accommodate two hundred, and cost $1200.
For manufactures it has two sash, door and blind facto- ries, two boot and shoe shops, one tannery, one harness, one of cabinetware, one ashery, etc.
This borough and the vicinity has been greatly benefited by the building of the Erie and Wattsburg plank-road. In 1836 a bill for a railroad called the "Erie and Wattsburg Railroad," (a connection being intended with the New York and Erie,) became a law, but for want of means the road was never built.
Wattsburg has a fine water-power, and extensive flat and bottom lands up both branches of the creek, and on the main stream. The forests are of pine, cherry, and other valuable timber. The soil is productive, the water clear and wholesome, and the climate salubrious.
L. S. Chapin was elected Burgess of the borough, in 1861, and Lyman Robinson, Justice of the Peace.
GIRARD was named from Stephen Girard, who, at the time the village was laid out, had a large tract of land in Conneaut Township adjoining.
In 1814 the site of this pleasant borough was a part of the farm of John Taylor, and his residence was the only building .* It is fifteen miles south of west from Erie, and ten miles from the Ohio State line, and overlooks some of the finest scenery in the country. The valley of Elk Creek,
* The names of some of the earliest inhabitants in this vicinity were Miles Taggart, Joseph Wells, James Laughlin, James Silver- thorn, and Willard Badger.
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winding toward the east, has precipitous banks-the stream having worn its bed in some places to the depth of two hun- dred feet. The rocky formation here is a soft, friable slate, in which are many fossil shells, and which appears solid, but on exposure soon crumbles to clay. On the creek there are several mills, and the water power is sufficient for an indefi- nite number. Around is a rich agricultural country, dotted with pleasant farm-houses and well-cultivated fields, and owned by a people who are excelled by none in all the qualities of good citizenship.
The borough was incorporated in 1846. The first officers were Mason Kellogg, Burgess; John McClure, Jr., Lef- feret Hart, H. McConnell, and George H. Cutler, Town Council; L. S. Jones, Clerk. It contains four churches and a fine academy capable of accommodating two hundred pupils -this is particularly described elsewhere. Of the churches, the Methodist was organized at a very early day ; the Presbyterians were organized in 1830, and after the division of the General Assembly in 1837, the New School branch retained the building. Three of the elders, Messrs. Bristol, Porter, and Blair, remained with the Old School, and for some years the possession of the church property was disputed by the two parties. The Old School, for some time, had preaching in the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1852 erected a building. The Universalist church was organized in 1853, and erected soon after their house of worship. A Roman Catholic church (Irish) was conse- crated in 1856. This is outside of the borough limits.
The Erie Canal crosses the principal street on its west end, thus increasing its business without marring its appear- ance. The depot of the Lake Shore Railroad and the Pitts- burg and Erie Railroad is about two miles north of Girard ; from this place to Erie both roads occupy the same track.
For manufactures Girard has two carriage shops, a steam planing-mill, and the requisite stores and shops for the popu- lation of the town and vicinity.
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The buildings and grounds of the citizens are quite taste- ful; the streets and walks are delightfully shaded by elms, maples, and locusts ; the society is cultivated, and altogether Girard is quite a desirable place of residence.
West Girard has about twenty dwellings, Methodist, Epis- copal, and Baptist churches, three machine shops, a mill, etc.
UNION MILLS, or MILES'S MILLS, the third town in popula- tion, having 807 inhabitants, is situated twenty miles sonth- east of Erie on the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. Mr. William Miles, from whom the place derived its name, was a soldier in the revolutionary army, and at the capture of Fort Freeland, on the West Branch, was taken prisoner and carried to Canada, where he remained until the peace. He then returned to Northumberland County, and in 1785, with Mr. David Watts, was appointed (by Governor Mifflin, we believe,) to survey the tenth Donation Tract .* In June, 1795, he returned and settled on the flats of French Creek, in what is now Concord Township, Erie County. Ac- companying him were his wife and children, and Mr. Wm. Cook with his family. The manner in which Mr. Miles's children were conveyed from Franklin, Venango County, is worthy of especial notice. A sack was provided, partly open at the side, but closed at the end. The sack was thrown across the horse and a child placed in each side. Mrs. Miles carried her youngest child before her on the
* Their provisions, being procured in Harrisburg, were packed on horses and conveyed to a point near Wattsburg. An incident is re- lated of the Indian steward: "The duties of Messrs. Miles and Watts being very severe, they hired an Indian, who was to act in the capacity of general cook, furnish meat, etc. 'Mr. Indian,' as is natural to the race, in time became remarkably lazy in his endeavors to procure meat, giving, as his excuse, the scarcity of it in the wilder- ness; but the trick was carried too far, and Messrs. Miles and Watts becoming cognizant that he was deceiving them, cut short his allow- ance of food, which brought ' the native of the forest' to a strict sense of his duty, which he never neglected afterward."
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horse. Mrs. M. and Mrs. Cook, her sister, were, next to Mrs. Reed, the first white women in the county.
Mr. Miles resided in Concord about five years, removing in 1800 to Union, where he erected the same year a saw and grist mill, and a frame dwelling-house, which, from its being an unusual improvement, Mr. Judah Colt recorded its di- mensions, being twenty by seventy feet, and a story and a half in height. The nearest station was in distance eight miles. All provisions, in 1795, were transported by means of pack-horses, from Pittsburg to Concord ; shortly after they were brought up the Allegheny, and thence by its tributaries to Union Mills.
In 1796 Mr. Miles commenced clearing land where Watts- burg now stands, and built, in addition to his dwelling- house, a store for provisions, and where also a few dry goods were kept to exchange for furs. Wattsburg was laid out by him some thirty years after. Mr. M. died in Girard Township, in March, 1846, aged eighty-seven years. "As a pioneer he was hardy, intelligent, and sagacious. Endowed by nature with a mind of uncommon vigor, his talents were early called into action by the settlers, who, for a series of years, gathered around him as the guardian of their interests."
In the year 1796 families named Hurd, McCrea, Wilson, and Findley settled in the neighborhood of Union Mills. Three years ago Union Mills had but 293 inhabitants; its real and personal property was then valued at $98,217; it is now estimated at $267,380, which is a greater propor- tional increase than any other town in the county, and may be attributed to the facilities afforded by the railroad, and the transhipment of oil.
For religious privileges it has a Presbyterian church, (New School,) one Methodist Episcopal church, and one Roman Catholic church. It has two schools.
The Penn Rock Oil Refining Company, Mr. Parsons, manager, procured ground and erected a building, in which
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it is estimated fifty barrels will be refined daily. Clark, Andrews & Co. have established recently a factory for the manufacture of oil and flour barrels, firkins, etc. In this establishment they expect to manufacture eighty to one hun- dred oil barrels per day, and twice that number of flour bar- rels. The whole cost of machinery and buildings will be $4000. The town has three oil refineries, one steam shingle factory, one for fork and shovel handles, one for wagons and sleighs, one sash, door, and planing mill, one of tin and sheet iron ware, one boot and shoe shop, and one cabinet shop.
Union Township abounds in oak, white wood, cherry, second growth of ash, pine, and hemlock timber.
ALBION, Conneaut Township, became a borough in 1860, and elected officers in March. In 1861 Perry Kidder was elected burgess. It is an active, thriving town, and num- bered, in 1860, 443 inhabitants; has a Methodist Epis- copal church, and an academy with two teachers, and about seventy-five pupils in attendance.
North & Denis manufacture at this place shovels, forks, hoes, hammers, etc., on quite an extensive scale. The power is steam; the articles are made of steel, manufactured at a branch of the firm in Central New York, whence they are forwarded to this point, where handles are affixed to them for the Western trade, while for the Eastern trade handles are forwarded to that branch of the concern. The articles are all finished in the best style and defy competition. The number annually manufactured is counted by the hundred thousand.
This enterprise has been long enough prosecuted to ac- quire stability and permanence, and the management evinces a skill and discretion that augurs well both for the propri- etors and the communities in which they are operating. A horse-rake factory in the same vicinity is on quite an exten- sive scale. It has also a machine shop and oar factory. The Erie Canal and Pittsburg and Erie Railroad pass through the place.
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CHERRY HILL, in the same township, has about 100 in- habitants, a church, one store and several shops. It has but lately come into existence, but has good prospects, and am- bition in abundance.
WELLSBURG is a pleasant little place on the east branch of Conneaut Creek, in Elk Creek Township. It has 310 inhabitants, one Free Baptist church, one Methodist Epis- copal church, and a Universalist church, erected in 1855. It has the largest tannery in the county, twelve shops of dif- ferent kinds, and, perhaps, a dozen sawmills in the village and vicinity. The inhabitants are peaceful, temperate, and industrious.
Quite an unusual excitement prevailed within a few months, on the cleaning of a salt well which had been opened forty years since. An oil well 300 feet deep, three times violently ejected gas, etc., giving indications of oil. The occurrence brought to the locality many strangers and speculators.
CRANESVILLE is a village very pleasantly located in Elk Creek Township. The first settlement was made here, in 1796 or '97, by Elihu Crane, Senior, a veteran of the revolu- tion. It has about thirty dwellings, a tavern and a few stores and shops, one school, and a Methodist Episcopal church, midway between the village and Wellsburg. It is twenty- four miles from Erie and on the canal.
LOCKPORT, in Girard Township, is twenty-one miles from Erie, on the canal, and so named from having twelve locks in the vicinity. It was settled and laid out at the time the Extension Canal was being built. It has a Methodist Epis- copal church, a Baptist church, and two public schools, averaging sixty scholars each. An extensive oar factory was built here by Messrs. Page, being 180 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and four stories high; but it is closed at present. It has several stores and shops, a printing-office, windmill, small furnace, warehouse, etc., with a population of about 200.
PAGEVILLE is seven miles from Lockport, and has about
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100 inhabitants, mostly employed manufacturing oars. Its post-office is Platea. This village was built up principally by the enterprise of Mr. E. Page, near the edge of a large, dense forest of heavy ash and oak timber, which he has manufactured largely into oars and sent to all parts of Europe as well as the United States.
At LEXINGTON, (a few miles south of Girard, ) the Penn- sylvania Population Company had a station, about 1797, Col. Dunning McNair being the acting agent.
FAIRVIEW, or STURGEONVILLE, is about twelve miles from Erie, being near the Lake Shore Railroad and Pennsylvania Canal; it has three churches, five stores, one carriage fac- tory, one woolen factory, one brewery, and several other shops. The inhabitants are mostly German, and are honest, diligent, and happy. It has 423 inhabitants. In 1814 there was but one dwelling where this village stands, which was owned and occupied by Mr. Wm. Sturgeon.
A contest between the Old and New School Presbyterian churches arose in Fairview shortly after the division of the General Assembly. Mr. Wm. Sturgeon died previous to 1837, and bequeathed to the Presbyterian church of Fair- view, after the decease of his widow, about fifty acres of land and twenty town lots for church purposes. A bury- ing-ground and school-house upon the premises were to re- main undisturbed. Six months after the decease of the widow, the church was to be organized, and a house of worship erected in one year. If these conditions were not complied with, the property was to be a donation to the Presbyterian Board of Publication.
Both branches of the church erected buildings within the stated time. The Court of Common Pleas decided in favor of the Old School, and the Supreme Court confirmed the decision. In 1860 the New School removed their building.
MANCHESTER, at the mouth of Walnut Creek, has some fine scenery and a few pleasant residences. There are two paper-mills here. The Keystone Mills, R. L. Perkins, pro-
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prietor, manufactures printing, colored and Manilla papers, and employs six men and four girls. Adelphic Mills, J. C. Perkins, proprietor, manufactures Manilla and wrapping paper, and employs four men and one girl.
MCKEAN CORNERS is on the old State line. It has a Methodist church and parsonage, twenty or thirty dwell- ings, etc.
WESLEYVILLE has 164 inhabitants, a Methodist church, several shops and stores, and one grist-mill.
WEST SPRINGFIELD has a Methodist Episcopal church and a Universalist church, an academy and boarding hall, described elsewhere. The Lake Shore Railroad passes near.
SPRINGFIELD also has an academy and a Presbyterian church.
BEAVERDAM, in Wayne Township, has a Methodist Epis- copal church, a Presbyterian church, and several shops and stores.
At CONCORD STATION, on the Philadelphia and Erie Rail- road, the grist-mill known as Hall's lately passed into the hands of Norton & Miller, and has been repaired and re- modeled to equal any in the county. Mr. Bedient erected a large turning and planing mill, and the carding machine of Mr. Reynold's has given place to a large woolen factory. Mr. Barry, late of Chataqua County, recently erected a large hotel; and an oil refinery, with a capital of $2500, is in pro- gress, being directed by Mr. Ensign Baker, an experienced chemist from Fredonia, New York.
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CHAPTER XIV.
Biographies of Col. Seth Reed-Rufus S. Reed-Judah Colt-Dr. U. Par- sons-Dr. J. C. Wallace-Rev. Robert Reid-Thos. Wilson-P. S. V. Hamot-Captain D. Dobbins-T. H. Sill-G. Sanford-Judge J. Gal- braith.
COLONEL SETH REED was a native of Rhode Island, but at an early day removed to Uxbridge, Mass. By profession he was a physician, and served in the revolutionary army at Bunker Hill with the rank of colonel. About 1790 he removed to Ontario County, New York, where he came in possession, probably by purchase from the Indians, of a very valuable tract of land eighteen miles in extent, known as the "Reed and Ryckman location." This he disposed of, and in 1795 removed with his family to Erie.
In Historical Collections of Pennsylvania we find : "Mr. William Connelly, now of Franklin, came out to Erie in the spring of 1795 with his cousin, Thomas Rees. They saw Colonel Reed land-the first white settler *- who came in a bark boat with a quantity of groceries, liquors, and Indian goods. He erected a log cabin, soon after made it a double one, and called it Presqu'ile Hotel, where he entertained traders and travelers on the lake shore." In the "Holland Purchase" we find an extract from Deacon Hinds Chamber- lain's journal, being an account of a journey to Waterford in 1795. "On our return from Le Bœuf to Presqu'ile we found there Colonel Seth Reed and his family. They had just arrived. James Baggs and Giles Sisson came on with Colonel Reed. I remained for a considerable time in his employ."
* Mr. William Miles settled on the flats of French Creek, at a point where two or more roads cross, a little northwest of the place where the Stranahans now live, in Concord Township, in the month of June, 1795.
Engraved - 1 Buttre, I C
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Colonel Reed's wife and sons, Manning and John Charles, came with him; Rufus Seth a few months after, and George with the daughters, Mrs. T. Rees and Mrs. J. Fairbanks, the following year.
Colonel Reed died March 19th, 1797, aged fifty-three years. Mrs. Reed died December 8, 1821, at the age of seventy-three, having lived to see great changes, and to tell those who came after of the trials and hardships of life in the wilderness.
RUFUS SETH REED was the third son of Colonel Seth Reed, and born at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, October 11th, 1775. In 1798 he was married to Dolly Oaks, daughter of Jonathan Oaks, Esq., of Palmyra, and who died the same year. In 1801 he was married to Agnes Irwin.
Rufus S. Reed was long regarded the father of the town, his residence here being coeval with its settlement. From the first efforts to dispel the gloom of the surrounding forest to the hour of his death he was a master-spirit, conspicuous for his enterprise, perseverance, excellent judgment and penetration, remarkable business talent and success.
As a man, Mr. Reed was kind hearted, entirely free from ostentation, easy of approach, and took delight in a generous action. "Early seeing the advantageous position of the lake country as a theater of enterprise, he was one of the first to lead off and plant the germs of a commerce that under his eye attained a growth which equaled that of one- third of the Union. Possessed of a vigorous constitution, with an active mind and body, he earnestly engaged in ex- tensive business undertakings which spread over a wide dis- trict of country, and amply repaid him for his enterprise and labor, as evinced by the immense estate he was in pos- session of at his death." To his various commercial, bank- ing, and mercantile employments he added that of farmer, and applied himself with a zest and with his usual success to agriculture.
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