USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1) > Part 26
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GEORGE B. JOBSON, JR., M. D., was born in Hawick, Scotland, April 18, 1869. In July, 1869, his parents came to America and settled in Amherst, Va. Five years thereafter they removed to McDonough Institute, Maryland, where the father was instructor in agriculture and stock raising, and where the son's educa- tion was commenced; supplemented by later attending the public schools of Millbrook, N. Y., and of Franklin, Pa. In 1890 he received the degree of D. V. S. from the Ontario Vet- erinary College of Toronto and began his pro- fessorship of veterinary anatomy in the Colum- bia University at Washington, D. C. In 1900 he graduated with the degree of M. D. from
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the Harvey Medical College of Chicago, where has received post-graduate instruction at the he was assistant to the chair of anatomy two Society of the Lying-in-Hospital, New York City, and at the New York Polyclinic, in gen- eral medicine and surgery. He located at Clintonville, Pa., in August, 1904. In June, 1915, he married Julia Cross, of Clintonville, and removed to Cochranton. years. For two years he was assistant to Dr. Hale, clinical professor of the eye, and two years assistant to Dr. Antisdale in diseases of the nose, throat and ear. In the fall of 1902 he located at Franklin, where he has since specialized in diseases of the eye, ear, throat and nose. During 1915 he was president of the Venango County Medical Society ; and in 1916- 1917 served as secretary of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Sections of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. He is a member of the Ve- nango County Medical Society, the Pennsyl- vania State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-laryngology ; also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. On June 21, 1893, he was married to Almira E. Giddings.
GEORGE C. MAGEE, M. D., of Oil City, was born April 15. 1879, and is a brother of Dr. Frank Earle Magee. He attended public school in Mercer county, and the McElwain Institute at New Lebanon, that county, graduating from the latter in 1883; took his medical course at the Western University of Pennsylvania, Pitts- burgh. graduating M. D. in 1901 ; and the same year began practice at Wesley ( Mechanics- ville ), this county, moving to Oil City in 1914. He has taken post-graduate courses at New York and Chicago, and is a member of the Venango County Medical Club.
JAMES D. BLAIR, M. D., of Franklin, was born in 1878 at Girard. Erie Co., Pa., and at- tended the public schools, graduating from the high school at Fairview, Erie county. Then he took the full course at the Edinboro State Normal School, graduating in 1898: was prin- cipal of schools at Philipsville, Erie county, two years ; studied at Grove City College ; grad- uated from Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia. in 1904, with the degree of M. D., and has received the degree of A. M. from Grove City College. For several months after fin- ishing his medical course he was engaged at the Red Bank Sanitarium for Children, and after a brief visit home located at Franklin in September, 1904. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, and of the American Medical Association.
DR. CLARENCE E. IMBRIE, now residing at Cochranton. Pa., was born in Beaver county. this State, Oct. 12, 1874. He was educated at Grove City College, where he received the de- gree of A. B. in 1898. He served as sergeant during the Spanish-American war of 1898. He graduated from Baltimore Medical College in 1904. Since receiving the degree of M. D. he
BURTON ALEXANDER BLACK, M. D., born April 16, 1876, on a farm near Franklin, Pa., was educated in the common schools and Alle- gheny College. He taught school for six years and worked at bookkeeping for one year; en- tered the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1901 and was graduated from the medical department in 1905 with the degree of M. D., having been appointed assistant physician to the College Dispensary and the Reineman Hos- pital during his senior year. Was appointed physician to the State Institution for Feeble Minded of Western Pennsylvania in 1905, and advanced to assistant superintendent in 1907, which position he now holds. In 1914 he mar- ried Clara Freeland, of Kennard, Pa., and they have one child. Martha Elizabeth.
DR. EDGAR VANCE THOMPSON, son of Edgar A. and Emeline (Dwigans) Thompson, was born March 9, 1878, at New Vernon, Pa. In June, 1898, he graduated from McElwain In- stitute. In . 1905 he received the degree of M. D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He was an interne of Western Pennsylvania Hos- pital, Pittsburgh, one year. He located at Franklin in 1906, where he has since been in the continuous practice of medicine and sur- gery ; is a member of County, State and Ameri- can Medical Societies; also a member of the College of Physicians, Pittsburgh. In June, 1917. he volunteered in the Medical Reserve Corps of the American Expeditionary Forces.
DR. CHARLES H. ASHTON, of Franklin. son of William and Frances ( Mckibben) Ashton, was born at New Castle, Pa. He received a general education in the public schools of New Castle and Bullion, Pa. In 1905 he obtained the degree of doctor of medicine from the Uni- versity of Maryland Medical School. and lo- cated in Franklin. Pa .. where he practiced gen- eral medicine five years. With the view of specializing in diseases of the eye. ear, throat and nose he attended the New York Post- Graduate School of Medicine nine months : had charge of the DeMilt and Bartholomew clinics six months ; followed the clinics of Man- hattan Eye and Ear Hospital, and of the New York Eye and Ear and Polyclinic Hospitals : later he completed a nine months' course at the University of Vienna. a shorter special course at the University Hospital of Munich, spent one month at Berlin and one month at Paris.
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finishing with extended study in the Royal Ophthalmic Hospital of London. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Societies.
CLIFFORD COOPER, M. D., was born Jan. 20, 1882, in Jackson township, Venango Co., Pa. His literary education was acquired in the local schools and Cochranton high school, and he took his medical course in the University of Pittsburgh, graduating in June, 1905. The next year he was interne in the Presbyterian Hospital at Pittsburgh, in August, 1906, set- tling down to practice at Cooperstown, where he was established until his recent removal to Titusville, Pa. He has done special post- graduate work in the study of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and of the American Medical Association.
FRANK EARLE MAGEE, M. D., was born in 1882 at New Vernon, Mercer Co., Pa., was educated in the public schools, McElwain In- stitute, at New Lebanon, Mercer county, and the University of Pittsburgh, where he re- ceived the degree of M. D. in 1908. He prac- ticed at Utica. Venango county, for six years ; spent some time in special study of the eye, ear, nose and throat at Chicago and in the Philadelphia Polyclinic, and has since practiced as a specialist at Oil City. Member of Medi- cal Club of Oil City, of County and State Medi- cal Societies, and of American Medical Asso- ciation.
JOHN IRWIN ZERBE, M. D., son of John D. and Elizabeth (Saltzer) Zerbe. was born March 9, 1879, at Sacramento, Pa. He was educated in the public schools of Hubley town- ship, Valley View high school, and Millers- ville State Normal School; graduated from Perkiomen Seminary in 1899, and from the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia in 1907. He taught in the public schools of Schuylkill county seven years, and one year in Montgomery county ; taught natural science one year in Perkiomen Seminary ; was demon- strator in the Pathological Laboratory of the Medico-Chirurgical College for two years, and an interne in the hospital of that same institu- tion one year. He was a special commissioner from the Pennsylvania State Health Depart- ment for the "Mosquito Survey" in the sum- mer of 1906. In August, 1910. he was mar- ried to Florence Wiley Van Naten, and has since been in the practice of medicine at Frank- lin, Pa. He was assistant physician at Polk Institution for the Feeble Minded for three years. He is a member of State, County and American Medical Societies.
DR. ARDUS CLAIRE THOMPSON, Lt. M. R. C.,
son of Dr. James C. and Elzora Thompson, was born June 2, 1885, at Sandy Lake, Pa. He ob- tained his general education from Franklin high school and Bucknell College. In the spring of 1909 he graduated from the Uni- versity of Michigan with the degree of M. D. After a year interneship in the Lake Side Hos- pital of Cleveland, on the surgical staff, he re- turned to Franklin and began practice. On Oct. 2, 1915, he married Louise Mullins, of Franklin, Pa. In June, 1917, he volunteered in the American Expeditionary Forces and sailed for France Sept. 8, 1917. where he was as- signed to service in Base Hospital No. 4 under the supervision of Maj. George W. Crile, M. D., of Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical So- cieties.
P. E. CUNNINGHAM, M. D., of Clintonville, was born near that borough May 2, 1886. He was educated in the public schools of the town, the township schools and high school, Oil City business college, from which he graduated in February, 1904, and in October, 1906, entered the University of Pittsburgh, graduating M. D. in June, 1910. He has practiced since at Clin- tonville, where he has been president of the board of health and member of the school board. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and American Medical Association.
J. B. PERRINE, M. D .. was born June 2. 1889, at Perrine's Corners, Mercer Co .. Pa., and ob- tained his preparatory education in the local schools and Sandy Lake Institute, which he attended three years. He graduated from the Medico-Chirurgical at Philadelphia June 7, 1912. and was resident physician in the Gen- eral Hospital at Mckeesport, Pa., until July I, 1913. subsequently practicing at Sheakleyville. Mercer county. until September, 1914. when he located at Wesley ( Mechanicsville). Venango county .. . He holds membership in the County and State Medical Societies and the Omega Upsilon Phi medical fraternity.
The following is a complete list of physi- cians who are now, or have been, resident prac- titioners within the county, together with their respective locations. The * indicates registra- tion as required by the Act of Assembly, June. 1881, and year registered. Unmarked years denote approximate time of practice :
ROSTER OF VENANGO COUNTY PHYSICIANS-NOV. 1. 1918
Adair. Emlenton
Claude C. Anderson, Venus *1899
J. D. Arters, Oil City *1882
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J. R. Arters, Oil City. . 1870
Charles H. Ashton, Franklin *1906
William A. Baker, Rockland. *1885
A. A. Bancroft, Oil City *1890
Harry D. Barnes, Franklin
*1912
S. Taylor Barton, Oil City
*1904
J. Bascom, Franklin 1831
S. W. Bates, Cooperstown 1830
John Beatty, Emlenton.
Frank W. Beck, Venus ¥1903
R. P. Bell, Franklin
*1913
S. H. Benton, Oil City
*1881
W. E. Bishop, Emlenton 1840
Burton A. Black, Polk.
* 1905
Jesse L. Black, Emlenton. *1896
John E. Blaine, Pleasantville. *1881
J. M. Blaine, Emlenton
James D. Blair, Franklin. *1904
Jonas T. Boal, Wallaceville. *1882
Earl W. Bolton, Oil City. *1905
John R. Borland, Franklin. *1881
Jeremiah K. Bowers, Pleasantville *1889
A. H. Bowser, Salina *1885
A. C. Boyd, Oil City. *1914
Irwin H. Boyd, Oil City *1909
Stephen L. Bredin, Franklin.
1885
Charles S. Bridenbaugh, Emlenton *1907
B. L. Brigham, Bullion. *1881
Alex. McL. Brown, Franklin. *1917
Charles H. Brown, Franklin. *1905
Dean S. Brown, Utica. *1884
Frederick W. Brown, Franklin. *1901
Paul L. Bruner, Franklin. *1911
Ira Burns, Oil City
*1907
M. M. Byles, Utica 1840
J. C. Caldwell, Emlenton. *1895
George E. Carey, East Sandy *1893
George W. Carey, East Sandy *1881
J. W. Carey, Pinegrove Tp. *1881
Nelson Chesney, Franklin. *1891
L. H. Christie, Franklin. 1875
S. S. Christie, Oil City
Robert Colbert, Oil City
1870
G. W. Connelly, Franklin. 1840
William F. Conners, Oil City *1882
Charles H. Cookson, Oil City *1891
A. F. Coope, Oil City
*1881
Clifford Cooper, Cooperstown. *1906 Clarence W. Coulter, Oil City *1881 John Coulter, Scrubgrass.
Andrew L. Coyle, Oil City *1909
John K. Crawford, Cooperstown *1881
Robert Crawford, Cooperstown. *1881
Walter T. Cribbs, Franklin *19II
Elliott P. Crooks, Plumer. 1883
P. E. Cunningham, Clintonville. 1910
Edward J. Currin, Oil City *1890
M. T. Cyphers, Oil City *1896
Fannie Davis, Oil City . * 1906
Francis Davis, Oil City *1881
John F. Davis, Oil City *1891
William T. Davis, Oil City. *1912
C. Y. Detar, Oil City *1894
E. L. Dickey, Oil City *1894
George W. Dille, Cooperstown. *1881 James M. Dille, Cooperstown *1881
A. H. Diven, Salem City
*1881
J. A. Donaldson, Utica .. 1850
J. W. Dorworth, Oil City *19II
J. M. Douds, Franklin ¥1889
J. Dowling, Franklin.
C. Y. Dunkle, Oil City *1894
Rose M. Dunn, Franklin. *1898
James E. Dwyer, Oil City *1909
A. G. Egbert, Franklin. 1875
Thaddeus W. Egbert, Oil City *1881
Leo F. Elstein, Oil City *1903
George R. Espey, Franklin 1820
William C. Evans, Franklin 1852
Peter Faulkner, Franklin. 1820
William M. Fee, Sugar Creek Follett
William Forster, Oil City 1883
James Foster, Clintonville. 1865
Samuel G. Foster, Franklin. *1892
John Fowler, Emlenton.
D. P. Fredericks, Oil City
*1897
David C. Galbraith, Franklin. *1882
H. B. Gaynor, Polk. *1911
Gilfillan, Franklin.
J. E. Gillespie, Clintonville. 1865
Buckland Gillett, Franklin. 1834
William G. Gilmore, Emlenton. *1894
Earl C. Glenn, Franklin
*1908
John B. Glenn, Franklin *1881
C. P. Godfrey, Clintonville 1875
A. W. Goodwin, Oil City *1893
Samuel F. Goudy, Rouseville ¥1888
James Gowe, Emlenton.
*1835
Robert J. Greer, Farmington. *1894
A. D. L. Griffith, Oil City *1889
A. R. Griffith, Oil City. *1888
John L. Hadley. Oil City *1897
J. E. Hall, Emlenton.
Benjamin F. Hamilton, Emlenton *1881
Henry P. Hammond, Franklin. *1901
Joseph M. Harding. Oil City *1882
C. J. Harris, Oil City. *1891
Harry Hatch. Pleasantville. *1901
John H. Hazen, Dempseytown *1882
Charles H. Henninger, Polk. *1901
E. G. Henry, Oil City.
*1911
Kelse M. Hoffman. Clintonville. *1881
J. H. Hood, Oil City 1896
R. A. Hudson, Franklin. *1886
M. M. Hulings, Oil City.
Clarence E. Imbrie, Clintonville. 1904 Davies
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Thomas A. Irwin, Franklin. *1888
Frank B. Jackson, Oil City. *1902
Homer Jackson, Clintonville. 1875
J. O. Jackson, Franklin. . *1890
W. H. H. Jackson, Oil City
*1882
George B. Jobson, Franklin. ¥1903
William R. Jobson, Oil City *1915
Samuel Johnson, Oil City
*1912
Frank H. Johnston, Utica. *1882
Ross H. Jones, Franklin *1908
William T. Jones, Franklin. *1886
H. H. Kahle, Oil City
C. S. Kerr, Emlenton. ¥1885
H. E. Kirschner, Oil City
*1902
E. A. Kuhns, Emlenton. #1886
J. T. Lafferty, Utica.
$1915
Harry H. Lamb, Rouseville.
*1904
Joseph W. Leadenham, Franklin
*1883
J. Lippencott, Chapmanville. * 1881
John J. Looney, Utica. *1882
J. M. Lupher, Pleasantville 1881
Frank E. Magee, Oil City
*1909
George C. Magee, Wesley *1903
George W. Magee, Oil City *1889
James E. Magee, Seneca *1892
John H. Martin, Utica.
*1882
S. M. Martsolf, Oil City. *1905
Manuel Matthews, Barkeyville.
1860
Harry B. Meade, Cooperstown. *1902
Roy C. Meals, Oil City * 1905
John F. Miller, Oil City *1906
W. W. Mc. Mills, Polk
*1905
L. C. Millspaugh, Oil City
*1887
Chauncy A. Mintz, Oil City *1905
John W. Monjar, Seneca ¥1908
S. B. Moon, Franklin. *1890
Edwin W. Moore, Franklin.
*1881
James E. Moore, Emlenton. *1881
J. Harvey Moore, Pittsville .* 1898
B. E. Mossman, Polk.
*1902
Winnie K. Mount, Oil City
*1907
J. Moorhead Murdoch. Polk. *1899
J. M. MacFarland, Oil City Lewis E. McBride, Franklin 1895
Harriet O. McCalmont, Franklin
1893
S. Plumer McCalmont, Franklin
* 1888
Frank P. McCarthy, Oil City *1903
Alfred S. McCaskey, Oil City *1881
Isadore A. McClellan, Oil City *1909
F. M. McClelland, Utica. *1887
Edwin M. McConnell, Polk *1889 William P. McCollough, Oil City *1891
T. C. Mccullough, Oil City. *1881
Harry F. McDowell, Franklin. *1900
Samuel W. McDowell. Rockland. *1890
William P. McIlroy, Cochranton *1893
M. Ada McKee. Oil City *1897
Walter L. Mckinley, Polk
*1882
Alex. McK. McLain, Oil City *1892
Paul McLain, Oil City
Joseph McMichael, Emlenton.
Andrew J. McMillan, Clintonville 1850
John B. McMillan, Clintonville.
*1881
William A. Nason, Pleasantville
*1888
Charles H. M. Neall, Oil City *1912
Earnest F. Nelson, Dempseytown *1899
William A. Nicholson, Franklin.
*1881
John Nevins, Oil City ..
1850
John C. O'Day, Oil City *1903
Oliver Ormsby, Emlenton.
George W. Parr, Clintonville *1882
S. M. Patton, Cochranton.
J. B. Perrine, Wesley.
1913
John Pettit, Pearl P. O.
*1881
Robert W. Playford, Petroleum Center. *1881
S. S. Porter.
M. L. Porterfield, Oil City W. S. Powell.
Walter J. Proper, Pleasantville. *1884
Thomas S. Pyle, Franklin.
*1882
William H. Quay, Chapmanville *1894 George S. Ray, Cooperstown. 1896
Lyman W. Ranney, Cooperstown 1881
. Reed, Polk
1917
George B. McReese, Cranberry
*1897
Griffen Reno, Oil City ..
*1881
W. B. Reynolds, Oil City. Edwin W. Rhea, Oil City *1901
Audley W. Ricketts, Dempseytown. *1904
S. B. Rigg, Oil City ..
John A. Ritchey, Oil City *1881
Harry L. Rockwood, Oil City
*1911
Samuel J. Rose, Oil City *1913
W. R. Roth, Oil City
T. W. Sampson, Emlenton
1875
S. W. Sellew, Oil City. *1884
William W. Serrill, Siverly *1906
H. H. Seys, Oil City. William S. Shaffer, Emlenton
William W. Shaffer, Utica. *1906
Daniel Shannon, Oil City *1906
James R. Sharp, Siverly. *1910
W. Forest Sharpnock. Oil City
*1909
Philip J. Sheridan, Franklin. *1909
Nelson W. Shugart, Oil City. *1890
Thomas B. Shugert, Pleasantville 1850
George Siggins, Franklin.
*1906
James B. Siggins. Oil City *1896
A. J. Slater. Oil City.
Edgar R. Sloane, Wesley.
Angeline D. Smith. Oil City. *1895
David H. Smith, Sandy Creek *1894
Louis W. Smith, Franklin. 1893
M. C. Smith, Pleasantville *1888
Thomas Smith. Franklin. 1810
Edward W. Smitheman, Oil City *1900
Nathaniel D. Snowden. Franklin
1830
S. Gustine Snowden, Franklin.
¥1882
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Charles P. Snyder, Polk. *1902
Elwood P. Spencer, Cooperstown *1905
Joseph C. Stahlman, Franklin. *1899
Rose E. Stanley, Oil City *1913
Isaac St. Clair, Franklin. .
George B. Stillman, Franklin 1885
Harry S. Stone, Franklin .. ¥1900
R. M. Strauss, Chapmanville *1899
Jacob P. Strayer, Oil City.
1891
Ford M. Summerville, Emlenton
*1909
T. G. Symonds, Franklin. 1800
Eugene W. Taylor, Polk. 1881
John E. Taylor, Rockland. 1890
Norman A. Thomas, Oil City 1903
Charles B. Ashton Lieutenant
Richard Bell. Lieutenant
Paul Bruner Lieutenant
E. Llewellyn Dickey .Major
James E. Dwyer Captain
William Gramley Captain
Edward G. Henry Lieutenant
(died in Liverpool Hospital Nov. 7, 1918)
Clarence E. Imbrie . Captain
Norman S. Reed.
Lieutenant
Vance W. Sayers.
Lieutenant
Philip J. Sheridan.
Captain
Harry S. Stone. Captain
F. M. Summerville Captain
James M. Ward, Oil City *1899
Howard Weber, Dempseytown *1899
Walter S. Welsh, Franklin. 1875
Walter Lowrie Whann, Franklin *1881
Jonathan Whiteley, Oil City *1887
John C. Wilkins, Oil City. *1902
Edward P. Wilmot, Franklin. *1882
Calvin M. Wilson, Franklin. *1881
John Wilson, Pleasantville. 1850
John Wood, Scrubgrass 1830
John D. Wood, Scrubgrass 1825
Wynne
John Irwin Zerbe, Franklin ¥1907
VENANGO COUNTY PHYSICIANS IN MILITARY SERVICE DURING THE WORLD WAR
Ardus C. Thompson, Franklin. *1909
Charles D. Thompson, Oil City *1881
Edgar V. Thompson, Franklin
*1906
James C. Thompson, Franklin
*1898
Cornelius Thorn, Rouseville.
*1911
Charles L. Townley, Oil City *1884
Grover G. Turner, Franklin *1914
William C. Tyler, Rouseville .. 1881
Bert K. VanNaten, Cooperstown *1900
Robert E. VanNaten, Cooperstown 1881
Charles N. VanSickle, Wallaceville. *1882
David E. Vogan, Emlenton. *1913
John M. Wallace, Franklin. *1894
Clyde Tibbens. Captain
Ardus Clair Thompson. . Captain
Edgar Vance Thompson Lieutenant
J. Irwin Zerbe Captain
CHAPTER XIII
OIL-GAS-COAL
HISTORIC OIL CREEK-PENNSYLVANIA'S MOST PROFITABLE WELL-OTHER MAMMOTHS ON THE LIST -THIRD SAND AND FIRST GUSHERS-KEEPING UP WITH THE PROCESSION-PETROLEUM CENTER HAS ITS INNING-A PATCH THAT YIELDED MILLIONS-BIG BONANZAS SET THE PACE- DOWN TO THE ALLEGHENY RIVER-A FRUITFUL VALLEY BY THE WAYSIDE-LUBRICATING OIL MANIFESTS ITSELF-DOWN THE WINDING ALLEGHENY - PITHOLE AND PLEASANTVILLE APPEAR-OIL EXCHANGES ENTER AND EXIT-THE OIL CITY OIL EXCHANGE-OTHER OIL EX- CHANGES-NATURAL GAS-GASOLINE-VALUE OF NATURAL GAS AND OIL IN THE UNITED STATES-COAL
It is an old saying that it is always darkest just before day. Whether this be true or not in the physical world, many people believe in its truth as applied to human experience. When fortunes are at the lowest ebb, and the future looks dark, hope kindly suggests this comforting doctrine. Whether the earth swings into a zone of darkness just before daylight
or not may be well doubted. It has been ex- pressed by some able writers of fiction in de- scribing events passing through the night, especially in equatorial regions, as that pro- found mysterious blackness that covers the earth and announces the coming of the dawn. It is fortunate for humanity that this old adage prevails and is believed in. An astronomer
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would perhaps be puzzled if he were required to explain why it should be darkest just before dawn rather than just after twilight. Irre- spective of the truth of the doctrine. undoubt- edly the darkest time in the history of Venango county was the summer of 1859. The iron business upon which so many had depended for a living had completely failed and been abandoned. The lumber business had almost vanished. On June 5th a frost killed practic- cally all the growing crops. One morning they were beautiful and promising, well advanced beyond the average of former years, the next day they were white and stiff with frost. On June 12th another frost killed any struggling vegetation that was left. The question of food became of vital importance. Work was so scarce that a man considered himself fortunate to get twenty-five cents a day for his disheart- ening labor. Unexpected want knocked at the door and the people were powerless. After two months of anxiety, dismay, a change came as sudden and complete as was the disaster. The heavens opened and a new light shone upon the earth for them. It was as startling as the sudden peace of 1918 which came, as one of its heroes expressed it, "two minutes after we were going like hell."
For this change the residents of Venango county were no more responsible than they were for the frost. A young graduate of Dartmouth College, George H. Bissell, a school teacher and superintendent of schools, visiting New York City saw in a window a bottle of Seneca oil. As a student he had been much interested in chemistry. The natural oils had especially engaged his attention. Examining it as well as he was able, he decided that it bore a close resemblance to the oil called coal oil, or rock oil, which he had seen distilled from soft coal and bituminous shales. He sent the oil to his former instructor in Dartmouth, Pro- fessor Crosby, requesting his opinion. His own opinion being confirmed by Crosby's anal- ysis, he decided to organize a company to ob- tain this oil, and interested J. S. Eveleth in the enterprise. The following account is the latest pronouncement on oil in this region. It is taken from the supplement of the Oil City Derrick, dated Dec. 15, 1917. and consequently it is authoritative. It embodies a great deal of original investigation. Our profound thanks are due The Derrick Publishing Company for permitting the editor of this history to quote largely from the Industrial Number of the Oil City Derrick of Saturday, Dec. 15. 1917. In no other way could so much valuable history be
presented to our readers. The experts work- ing for the Derrick have compiled through the years of the oil development the leading facts in regard to it. Mr. P. C. Boyle, the originator of the idea of gathering into one organ all that relates to the industry, has this to say :
A unique feature of the Derrick's departments, and one not found in any other industry, is the monthly oil report. This gives each month the totals of the wells completed in each important division, with their initial producton, whether productive, dry or gas wells, the name of the farm on which lo- cated, and the names of the owners, together with the work under way at the close of each month. This report has been published monthly for over forty years, and constitutes a remarkable personnel of the oil operators during that time and the de- velopment of the field. Any of the descendants of the oil men of the past can find in its details the date, location and results of the wells drilled by their ancestors at any time in former years. Such a reg- ister of a business can be found in no other indus- try, and it has been left to the Derrick alone to carry on this work.
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