Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 17

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

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These are now the sole remains of the canal of large expenditures and larger hopes. Did the appropriations pay? Yes. They paid as an honor to the men who proved that French creek is navigable when its navigation saved the nation's life. They paid by teaching the State what is practicable and what is not, in building slackwater canals. They erected a cheap monument of instruction in the futility of appropriations for waterways in sections where nature has not made abundant appro- priations of water. A ditch may be dug any- where, but if it is to be used for navigation, water to fill it at all times is the chief desider- atum. In the French creek experiment the only element lacking was water. The works held back the stream for the sun and hot winds and parched earth to take more than the usual toll. It seemed right to make the trial; it was made. It has undoubtedly saved the Commonwealth from making still greater miscalculations of the same nature, and will- continue to do so in time to come. It did not rob the people of their patriotism or of their enthusiasm for progress, or, greatest of all,

for it includes all, it did not deprive them of ability to gain wisdom from the sting of dis- appointment.

One legacy from the crib dams used in French creek was the education of boatmen to the "pond freshet" used in the transporta- tion of oil down the more rapid Oil creek in the sixties, where it resulted in the largest, most tumultuous traffic ever produced, on so small and short a water course, in the history of the world. It is quite probable that this education, which was the result of that for- mer experience, added several times as many millions to the wealth of the State as the canal appropriations took from it.

SCHOOLS

While the county was very young the legis- lature came to its assistance in the higher edu- cation of its children. By act of Jan. 28, 1813, The Venango Academy was established at Franklin. William Moore, Alexander Mc- Dowell, John McDonald, William Connely, George Power and Alexander McCalmont were appointed trustees. At the same time $2,000 was granted for the use of the institu- tion, for the expenditure of which sum the trustees were required to give bonds. Four poor children of Venango county were to be taught gratis. The trustees were required to account annually. In 1823 outlots Nos. 27 and 30 were granted to the institution as an aid in securing teachers. In 1838 the trustees were authorized to sell 511 acres of land in Venango county and two outlots in the borough of Franklin, previously granted to the Academy, and apply the proceeds to the needs of the school. In 1841 the trustees were authorized to expend all funds arising from any source whatsoever for the erection of a new building. In 1852 a patent of lands in Sugarcreek town- ship was granted to the trustees, and by the same act they were authorized to sell the real estate in their possession and to use the pro- ceeds for no other purpose than the building of an academy in the borough of Franklin or for the purchase of a lot for the same.

The Venango Academy thus established in January, 1813, was one of the earliest institu- tions farthest west devoted to the higher edu- cation of young people. It antedated by at least a generation the founding of ninety-five one hundredths of similar schools throughout our land. Its life was one of steady growth and improvement. Who can estimate its in- fluence, especially upon the young people of the county who aspired to more than the rudi-

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VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

mentary instruction of the common schools of ing over its smooth extent. Immediately after that time? As the only school of the kind, in an extensive region, it must have been the means of attracting and awakening the young inquirers of that day, and endowing them with larger powers and wider outlook. Franklin became noted in the second generation of the Academy as "The Nursery of Great Men." The truth of this name may be traced to two sources. The first is the intelligence and fore- sight of many of its early settlers. The second is its Academy, which touched with light the minds and spirits of its students. Its

Echoes roll from soul to soul, And grow forever and forever.

CONTEMPLATED HIGHWAYS

At the present time the county is much inter- ested in a very important improvement, which the Highway Commissioner of the State also favors. This is the establishment of a con- necting link from the Lincoln National High- way to Lake Erie. The National Highway extends from ocean to ocean. The connecting link passing through this county may become known as the highway from the lakes to the oceans. It will leave the Lincoln Highway somewhere near Tyrone, and follow the route of the Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike to Franklin. From Franklin to Oil City the way is by the old toll road along the river, thence up Oil creek again by way of State highway to Waterford. This route sum- marizes the history of the State from the time the Indians, generations before the coming of the white man, trod out the trails of easiest grades and shortest distances, to the present age, when as a macadam or paved street hun- dreds of cars or motor trucks will soon be roll-

the Indians left it, it was used by the pioneers and early settlers as a footpath and horse and cattle track. Then the settlers wore off the stumps and roots with their rude wagons. The State made a highway of it, a turnpike, and improved it some. It was traversed by stages, the passengers walking up hills, and prying the vehicles at intervals out of the "suck holes." The mail went over it from Warren, Franklin, Erie, Mercer, Meadville, to the East at inter- vals varying from three weeks to as many days. Armies marched over it. It is redolent of the past. Much of it on the hillsides used to "go out" every spring like the ice in the creeks. The scenery is beautiful, worthy of the most variegated State east of the Rocky mountains.

The route now seems to be determined upon by all concerned along the way. The chief in- terest centers in the route through Venango county, which interest will be greatly height- ened by the fact that the way through the county is part of a great splendid roadway connecting the oceans with the Great Lakes. It is proposed to abolish grade crossings be- tween Oil City and Franklin, and to have what has never been before-a wide paved, level street between the two cities. The State will pay half the expense, the county half. The Eclipse refinery, on the way to Franklin, will contribute eight thousand dollars toward the county's share. This result has been reached through the efforts of all associations favoring good roads, the Chambers of Commerce of the two cities, the road supervisors of the town- ships, and all roadsters generally. Surveys have been already made, and it is expected that the way will be paved from the county seat to Reno soon, a consummation devoutly to be wished.

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TAINERY.K

TILDEN FOUNDAT ... 7

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Erected 1868

Court House, Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania

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CHAPTER VII

ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY

ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES OF COUNTY-ORIGIN OF COUNTY NAME-CHANGES IN BOUNDARY-AREA OF COUNTY-EARLY GOVERNMENT-FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-EARLY ASSESSORS AND ASSESSMENTS-TOWNSHIP DIVISIONS-BOROUGHS-PUBLIC BUILDINGS COUNTY FARM

The State quieted the Indian title of a large tract lying to the north and west of the line of former purchases by a treaty with the "Six Nations" at Fort Stanwix in 1784, which was ratified by the Ohio tribes at Fort McIntosh in January, 1785. Prompt steps were taken for the civil administration of this vast territory. On the 8th of April, 1785, that part of the purchase lying east of the Allegheny river and Conewango creek was joined to Northumber- land; the part west of those streams was as- signed to Westmoreland county. This part was taken from Westmoreland and joined to Alle- gheny when that county was organized, in 1788; while the western limits of Lycoming county, established in 1795, included the corre- sponding portion east of the Allegheny and the Conewango. Thus the county boundaries moved westward like the star of empire. A new county was formed by an eastern boundary, from which it extended indefinitely westward. The northern or southern limits were those of the State itself, or of the other county which stretched across the State toward the sunset. The east and west sides of the Allegheny and Conewango, from the point where the Ohio breaks the State line in the southwest, to the entrance of the Conewango on the north, had each a separate absentee judicial control, the one from Pittsburgh, the other from Williamsport. This arrangement continued till March 12, 1800, when the legis- lature passed an act forming in this section eight counties at once, Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango and Arm- strong. The section relating to Venango is as follows :

ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES OF COUNTY

"SEC. VII. That so much of the counties of Allegheny and Lycoming as shall be included in the following boundaries, viz.,

Beginning at the northeast corner Mercer county ; thence on the first line or course of Crawford county until it shall intersect the north line of the sixth donation district being the same as the first line of the said county of Crawford; thence eastwardly upon the said line of the sixth donation district along the boundary of the counties of Crawford and Warren and crossing the river Allegheny to line dividing Wood's and Hamilton's districts, in the county of Lycoming ; thence southerly along the said line to Toby's creek; thence down the said creek to the river Allegheny; thence across the said river, and upon the line of Armstrong county, hereinafter described, to the northeast corner of the county of Butler ; thence westwardly by the north line of said county to the corner of Mercer county ; thence northerly along the line of Mercer county to the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby erected into, a separate county, to be henceforth called Venango county : and the place of holding the courts of justice in and for the said county shall be at the town of Franklin, in the said county. And the gov- ernor shall, and he is hereby empowered to appoint three commissioners, any two of which shall run and ascertain and plainly mark the boundary lines of the said county of Venango, and shall receive as full compensation for their services therein, the sum of $2 for every mile so run and marked, to be paid out of the moneys that shall be raised for the county uses, within the county of Venango."

The "line dividing Wood's and Hamilton's districts" is the same as that between the counties of Jefferson and Clarion. Toby's creek is now known as the Clarion river. Warren and Crawford. Crawford and Mercer, Butler and Armstrong, were the adjoining counties on the north, west and south, respec- tively, as they are now ; the line dividing Jef- ferson and Clarion, extended north to the War-

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VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ren line, formed the eastern boundary. East of this line the territory remained a part of Lycoming till 1804, when Jefferson was erected, and in 1848 Forest was formed from the northern part of Jefferson. Comparing the boundaries described in this act with the pres- ent ones on the south and east, it plainly ap- pears that Venango has been deprived of at least one-half of its original area.

ORIGIN OF COUNTY NAME

The county received the name of the "old Indian town" which for centuries undoubtedly, as shown by its refuse beds containing bones, mussel shells, flint chips, arrowpoints, pipe- bowls, and broken pottery, was situated at the mouth of French creek. The name was spelled in a variety of ways by different writers- Wenango, Weningo, then Vinango. Washing- ton designated it Venango, in his journal, and the name he used has persisted. The name is borne by a town in Crawford county, a town- ship in Erie county, and was given to one of the towns that are now parts of Oil City.

CHANGES IN BOUNDARY

"The first line or course of Crawford county" extended north forty-five degrees east from the northeast corner of Mercer county to the north line of the sixth donation district. This was a source of trouble to the inhabitants of both counties. In 1827 a petition was pre- sented to the legislature representing that they experienced "great inconvenience in their assessments in consequence of the division line of said counties running diagonally from south- west to northeast through the sixth donation district, thence running east dividing a range of warranted lands, thereby dividing the dona- tion and warrant lands so that the number of acres in said subdivisions cannot be correctly ascertained without considerable expense." The petition resulted in an act, Feb. 28, 1828, ordering a resurvey, showing the outlines of the individual allotments. No further change has been necessary since.

The line of Jefferson county was revised about the same time. A survey made in May, 1827, is among the archives of the county in the commissioners' office. Richard Irwin in September, 1830, under authority of both counties interested, prepared a draft of the dis- puted boundary. It received legislative ap- proval in February, 1832.

The act of legislature of March 11, 1839, was the first materially changing the boundaries

of this county. This was the erection of Clarion county as follows :

"Beginning at the junction of Red Bank creek with the Allegheny river, thence up said creek to the line dividing Jefferson and Arm- strong counties, thence along said line to the line dividing Toby and Saratoga townships in Venango county, thence along said line to the corner of Farmington township in Venango county, thence a straight line to the mouth of Shull's run on the Allegheny river, thence down said river to the place of beginning."

The part of this act directing a straight line from the corner of Farmington township to the mouth of Shull's run was repealed at the next session of the legislature. The Commis- sioners of Clarion county were directed to have a line surveyed with the mouth of Ritchey's run as the terminus at the Allegheny river, and this line is now the southeastern boundary of the county.

Venango was considerably reduced in area by this act, but was still the largest county in the northwestern part of the State with one exception. It still had an extreme length of forty miles from east to west. It is a matter of surprise that the eastern part of this terri- tory was not joined to the county of Forest upon its erection in 1848. That it was not is probably because it was sparsely settled. As population increased the advantages of being nearer the county seat were apparent, and by an act approved Oct. 31, 1866, the legislature added to Forest the territory east and north of the line described as follows :

"Beginning on the Venango and Warren county line, at the southeast corner of the Southwest township, in the county of Warren; thence by a line southward to a point in Pine- grove township in Venango county, opposite to the middle northwest corner of Washington township, Clarion county; thence in a straight line east to said corner; thence east along the Clarion county line to a point where the said line diverges in a northerly course; thence north along said line to the upper northwest corner of the said county of Clarion; thence east along said line to the Forest county line."

This survey was made under the direction of C. Fulberson, of Venango county, James A. Leach, of Mercer county, and Jacob Zeigler, of Butler county. Four entire townships, Har- mony, Hickory, Kingsley, and Tionesta, and parts of three others, Allegheny, President and Pinegrove, were attached to Forest. The boundaries of Venango have since been un- disturbed.

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VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

AREA OF COUNTY

The area at present is six hundred and sixty- one square miles, or four hundred twenty- three thousand and forty acres.

EARLY GOVERNMENT

The act of March 12, 1800, creating. the northwestern counties, contained administra- tive and executive features which seem incom- patible from the language employed. The counties were duly "erected" and placed pro- visionally under the judicial control of other older county organizations. Armstrong was attached to Westmoreland; Butler and Beaver were placed under the jurisdiction of Alle- gheny ; but the five counties of Crawford, Mer- cer, Venango, Warren and Erie, born and named at the same time, were merged into one, called Crawford. Venango was one of four step-counties, or counties covert, all placed under the tutelage of the more vigorous sister, till they should grow a little. In the meantime three trustees were appointed to manage the public affairs of Venango. These were George Fowler, Alexander McDowell and James McClaran, with "full authority for them or a majority of them to purchase or take or receive by grant, bargain, or otherwise, and such assurances for the payment of money and grants of land or other property that may be offered to them or the survivors or sur- vivor of them in trust for the use and benefits of said county ; and to sell or convey such part thereof, either in town lots or otherwise, as to them or to a majority of them shall appear advantageous and proper; and to invest one moiety of the net proceeds thereof in some productive property, to be a fund for the sup- port of an academy or public school at the county town in the said county, and to apply the other moiety thereof in aid of the county rates and levies for the purpose of erecting the public buildings." This grant of authority was extensive enough for a large business ; but the only record of their work that was pre- served is a lease of part of the public square of Franklin to Edward Hale for one dollar a year.

The legislature by act passed April 1, 1805, conferred upon Venango county "all and sin- gular the jurisdictions, powers and privileges" enjoyed by the people of other counties from and after the first day of September following. The county was made a part of the Sixth Judicial district; the second Tuesday in October was the date of the first election, in

which the voters of Warren should also par- ticipate, the latter county having been pro- visionally annexed. Ninian Irwin, Caleb Crane and James G. Heron were elected com- missioners; John Witherup, sheriff; William Moore, prothonotary, and Marcus Hulings, coroner. The men chosen to serve the new county received the oath of office July 15, 1805, administered by John Irwin and William Moore, to whom a dedimus potestatem had been issued.

Thus, simply, was a new civil organization erected in the heart of a wilderness; but it was really planted in the heart of a new ideal. The wilds about it did not matter, the spirit sufficed. The officials chosen were not sub- servient to blind authority ; they were elected. by equals to be responsible for the continu- ance of equality. They were greater than the lords and knight of any king, for they were the embodiment of the civil whole, in intention, intelligence, power.

FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The minutes of the county commissioners, of the first meeting and two adjourned meet- ings held at the house of Edward Hale, Oct. 23, 1805, are as follows :

This day the commissioners of Venango county met and formed a board,-Irwin, Crane and Heron. Appointed James Martin clerk, at one dollar thirty cents; Alexander McDowell, treasurer. Irwin going home. Wrote three advertisements for wood for county use. James G. Heron and Caleb Crane ap- pointed to settle account with Crawford county. Adjourned until Monday, the fourth day of Novem- ber [ensuing the date above].

Met according to adjournment on Monday, the fourth day of November, and determined that the county commissioners' and prothonotary's office shall be held at the house of Samuel Hays. Made an agreement to supply the courthouse and gaol. Adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.

Nov. 5th .- Met according to adjournment. Re- ceived of James Hamilton his certificate of the oath of office as assessor of Sugar Creek township, also the bond of the treasurer with his sureties for the true performance of his duties as treasurer. Ad- journed until to-morrow at nine.

An order was drawn on the treasurer in favor of Andrew Allison for eight dollars. It was the first order drawn, dated Nov. 2, 1805, Venango county, and was to pay the bounty prescribed for killing a wolf. This first ex- penditure is significant.

On the same day Caleb Crane, as collector of Irwin township, paid sixty dollars and five cents into the treasury, this being the first taxes received by the county.

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VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The second order issued was in favor of George Fowler, for services rendered at the general election; the amount was one dollar and fifty cents.

EARLY ASSESSORS AND ASSESSMENTS

The first assessors of the county after its formation were : Caleb Crane, Irwin township ; James Hamilton, Sugar Creek ; David Kinnear, Allegheny, and Hugh E. Marsh, Brokenstraw. Their first precepts were issued Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1805. The duplicates for 1805 upon which this first county tax was collected, were copied from the records at Meadville by Samuel Dale, for which he was paid eight dollars by the commissioners. It was customary, at this pe- riod, for the board and assessors to meet to- gether and arrange a uniform system of taxa- tion. The earliest records of these proceed- ings now extant are those of the fourth tri- ennial assessment of 1817, the fourth in the county. From these records, the following assessed valuations are taken: Improved lands, from twelve and one-half cents to six dollars; of unseated inlots, town of Franklin, from five to one hundred and fifty dollars; of houses and lots, from one hundred and twenty to five hundred dollars ; of improved out-lots, from fifty to two thousand dollars; of saw- mills, from one hundred to three thousand dol- lars; of fulling mills, from one hundred to twenty-five hundred dollars; of carding ma- chines, from three hundred to eight hundred dollars; of gristmills, from one hundred to fifteen hundred dollars; of distilleries, from fifty to two hundred dollars ; of tanyards, from fifty to one thousand dollars; of horses, from five to one hundred dollars; of oxen, from twenty-five to one hundred dollars. Of the various occupations, the assessments were : Associate judge, seventy-fixe dollars ; prothono- tary and treasurer, three hundred dollars ; commissioners, and clerk, two hundred dol- lars ; sheriff, seventy-five dollars ; attorneys, two hundred dollars; tavernkeepers and mer- chants were assessed in two classes, ranging, respectively, from fifty to one thousand dol- lars, and from one hundred to fifteen hundred dollars. Upon this basis the duplicate of Alle- gheny township, amounting to one hundred sixty-four dollars and thirty-three cents; of Cherrytree, one hundred thirty-three dollars twenty-one cents ; of French Creek, three hun- dred thirty dollars twenty-three cents; of Irwin, one hundred eleven dollars seventy cents ; of Richland, two hundred twenty-seven

dollars twenty-five cents; of Scrubgrass, one hundred eighty-four dollars fifty-six cents; of Sugar Creek, two hundred forty-nine dollars one cent.

Two very important deductions may be easily made from this first tax duplicate : First, that there had been a remarkable indus- trial development in this isolated community during the four years of its independent life, and secondly, that its government was admin- istered with careful economy. There were now sawmills, fulling mills, gristmills, carding ma- chines, distilleries, tanyards, where a few years before there was dearth of all these. There were hotelkeepers assessed at one thousand and merchants at fifteen hundred dollars, which is proof of trade and travel in the county. Land values had increased notice- ably. Improved land assessed at six dollars an acre down to twelve and a half cents, with improved outlots at from ten to four hundred dollars an acre, while still there was territory to be had from the State and land companies, on easy terms, proves that the newcomers were becoming critical, and were moving toward certain sections or centers of settlement. Values were increasing in the county, indus- tries were diversified, the people were alert and forward-looking. The territory of Ve- nango at that time was nearly double its pres- ent area and was divided into seven townships. To provide for the salaries of officials and the sums required for necessary improvements and expenses of the county, the commissioners in 1817, made a levy, requiring from the four thousand two hundred and fifty inhabitants an annual contribution of fourteen hundred dol- lars and twenty-six cents. The act of April I, 1805, conferring political independence upon Venango county, authorized the commissioners "to call on the commissioners of Crawford county for the purpose of examining, liqui- dating and reserving such balances as may be due to Venango county." In the minutes of the board of March 30, 1806. it is stated that "James G. Heron and Samuel Hays set off to Meadville in order to bring about a settlement with Crawford county, but through backward- ness of the commissioners of Crawford county could only transcribe from their books the ac- counts of Venango and Warren counties from the year 1800 to the end of the year 1805. No paper to be purchased in Meadville. or would have taken off the amounts of Crawford, Mer- cer and Erie. Returned on Saturday, April 5."

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Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 17

Author: Babcock, Charles A. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: