Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 62

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1) > Part 62

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The manufacturing plants of the city grew from inventions to supply the needs of the oil business as they were felt at the center of the producing territory. For this reason, these plants are growing today at a more rapid rate than ever before, even faster than the city itself ; for their agents visit the oil fields of the world, study conditions, and for every new

OIL CITY, 1863-CENTER STREET, LOOKING WEST, BOAT LANDINGS ON POINT

There were millions of dollars worth of oil stacked up in barrels on the wharves, and in the boats alongside, at almost anytime, for a number of years.

Cities, as well as men, may "have greatness thrust upon them," as shown by the early life of Oil City. Wealth in floods rolled in upon her, demanding to be taken care of, passed along, and exchanged. It fairly overwhelmed her. As fast as one condition was met, a more difficult one followed, requiring greater efforts. The instruments to control this great flood of prosperity had to be improvised al- most at once and on the spot ; and this was done so successfully that the marvel of it seems greater as time passes. Greatness does not come from the push of circumstances out- side, but from the reaction of the human ele- ment. The blind jostling forces of nature or

obstacle provide the right tool. They will live as long as oil is produced anywhere. Details of Oil City enterprises will be found in Chap- ter XIV, Manufacturing.

CEMETERIES

Oil City has two cemeteries, the Grove Hill cemetery and St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery. Both are located on Cottage hill. Both are cared for with almost faultless solicitude, the grounds being tended scrupulously. The pre- sent officers are :

Grove Hill Association-President. J. M. Daugherty; vice president, H. C. Highgate; secretary, Esther Organ; treasurer, H. H. Stephenson ; directors, D. T. Borland, D. K. Johnson, S. R. Ball, E. A. Siederman, L. E. Keller.

Digitized by Google

310

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

St. Joseph's Association-President and treasurer, Right Rev. Monsignor P. J. Sheri- dan, V. G .; trustees, P. H. Shields, John Wag- ner.

II. FRANKLIN

Few towns have so rich a background of history as Franklin has. Looking back at the "old Indian town of Venango," as Wash- ington called it then, we can still see through the mists of 165 years many moving forms of men. They were empire seekers, builders of empires. Considering the greatness of their purpose, which was to seize the heart of a continent, and how near they came to suc- cess, they must ever appear among the largest figures of time. But among them moved the slender figure of a young surveyor from Vir- ginia, who foresaw their design and was the cause of its frustration. After building up his own country his lofty spirit touched his former opponents across the sea into new life. To-day his monument with the serene face looks out over Paris and seems no stranger there. And some years ago a wise English ambassador said with truth that George Wash- ington was a better Englishman than George III.

The visit of Washington, with all its mo- mentous consequences, including the trip to Fort Le Boeuf where he penetrated the cloak of courtesy assumed by the commander, is one of time's rich gifts to Franklin. In the present day thoughts arise of this young man who found in this vicinity much that strength- ened his faith in that which was to come, and he left material for visions which stir the hearts of a new line of patriots and heroes.

PERIOD OF EARLY POSSESSION

The French completed their fort at Ve- nango in 1754, and for five years they ruled the valley from Fort Machault and the two other fortresses from the mouth of the creek to Lake Erie. In 1759 two thousand French and Indians were assembled at Venango to make a descent upon Fort Pitt. They re- ceived an order to evacuate and destroy the fort, this order applying to all the French forts in western Pennsylvania. They distrib- uted what they could not carry among the Indians. The fort was destroyed by fire and they retired by way of Forts Le Boeuf and Presque Isle, which they also destroyed, then hastened on their way to the defense of Fort Niagara. During the next four years the

valley was in the possession of the English. They built Fort Venango.

During the English occupation there were no settlers. Fort Venango was destroyed by the Indians in 1763, as a part of Pontiac's war. After this the valley remained in the possession of the Indians for twenty-five years. In 1787 the Americans again took possession of the valley, which they have held to the present time.

GEORGE POWER

With the military company of the United States army, which built Fort Franklin, came the first settler, George Power. He was connected with the commissary de- partment. Fort Franklin was built on the bank of French creek, near what is now Thirteenth street. During the next three years George Power was absent from Frank- lin but returned, and in 1790 he built a house near the fort, passing the rest of his life in Franklin. With his return modern Franklin began. Previous to this time, from the com- ing of the French and the visit of Washington. the occurrences here concerned the State. the nation and, to a great extent, Europe and Asia. The new activities had reference to Franklin and the county.

THE TOWN ESTABLISHED

It will be remembered that Franklin was one of four towns that were laid out and named by the State, viz., Erie. Waterford. Warren and Franklin. In 1789 the general assembly declared that three thousand acres should be surveyed at the Fort of Venango for the use of the Commonwealth. On April 18. 1795. commissioners were directed to survey one thousand acres of the reservation and lay out therein the town of Franklin. Ganagara- hare is the name first applied to this site by Coffen in 1753. This name was used but once. Then it is Weningo, Wenango, Vinan- go and finally Venango. The engineering work was done by Gen. William Irvin and An- drew Ellicott. They came to Fort Franklin with a corps of surveyors in the summer of 1795, protected by a company of State troops. Work was commenced by running a street one hundred feet wide down the creek, then making an angle down the river. This was Liberty street. Other streets were run parallel to this until the flat was exhausted, when the proper number of cross streets were made and the whole laid out in lots. In the center of

Digitized by Google

311

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the town, where Twelfth street crosses Lib- erty, a large plat of ground was reserved for a public park. The good taste of the engineers was manifest so far. But in naming the streets after beasts and birds and fishes and creep- ing things they failed to please the residents and some of the names were changed.

EARLY RESIDENTS

George Power built his house near the fort, just below the present upper bridge. As he was then a bachelor this served as both home and trading shop. Afterward he built, on the corner of Otter and Elbow streets, a stone house which was taken down in 1872. One of the first to arrive after Power was James G. Heron, sometimes called Captain Heron. He was appointed to the office of associate judge. He had been an officer in the Revolutionary war, and he must have come very soon after the town was laid out, since his name appears on the books of George Power the same year, 1795. In 1797 his name appears frequently on the books of Edward Hale. Judge Heron died Dec. 30, 1809.' His widow lived to an ad- vanced age. One of her daughters, Mrs. Cutts, was living in Philadelphia, Pa., as late as 1880. Another daughter, Mary Ann Heron, was married to David Irvine, the first lawyer settling in Franklin. She long survived her husband, spending her later years at Erie. though she made a number of visits to Frank- lin to brighten old associations. Mrs. Mary Ann Irvine wrote to Dr. Eaton, under date of Jan. 26, 1876, in her ninety-third year, giv- ing her recollections of Franklin at the time of the arrival of her father's family, in 1800. This letter has appeared in former histories, but as it is the most valuable historic docu- ment in the county, describing that period, it is worth inserting again. The portion relating to the village affairs follows :

Dear Sir: I sit down to give you a few items of my recollections of Franklin at an early day. I have a notice of my father's death which I will send you. He was an officer of the Revolution and was called Captain Heron until he was appointed associate judge. Then some people called him Judge. and some Captain. He came to Franklin in 1800, with a large family. The family came by land. The servants, five in number, and the furniture came by water from Pittsburgh, in a keel-boat, and were three weeks on the voyage.

There were five families in Franklin (summer of 1800) when we arrived. Capt. George Fowler was in the fort, but no troops, as the Indians were friendly. The pickets were still standing, and the quarters of both officers and soldiers were in good or der. The fort was at the junction of French creek

and the Allegheny river. Col. Alexander McDowell lived a little farther up the creek, in a log house with- out windows or doors. There was no carpenter in Franklin at that time. The settlers were obliged to put up blankets where the doors and windows should have been.

There were a great many Indians about, who were very noisy when drunk. They often encamped on the opposite side of the creek, at the Point, and would whoop and yell half the night. I never heard Mrs. McDowell say she was afraid of them.

Colonel McDowell came to Franklin in 1794. I do not know the month. He was deputy surveyor and an agent of the Holland Land Company, under Maj. Roger Alden, of Meadville. Mr. H. J. Huide- koper had not come to this country at that time. Colonel McDowell was also a magistrate. He built a log house on the hill, a short distance from the creek, where he and his family lived after it was weather-boarded. There was no carpenter nearer than the mouth of Oil creek, to which place he sent for Mr. Broadfoot, who came and brought his son, John, then about sixteen years of age. They finished the house in 1802.

Mrs. McDowell spoke of everything being scarce, as is usually the case in new countries. Owing to the scarcity of garden seeds and chickens she was obliged to perform a curious surgical operation. She had been fortunate enough to raise a few melons, and was very careful of the seed. She washed them and put them in the sun to dry. Not long afterward, in looking out, she saw a hen eating them. As she could not afford to lose either the seeds or the hen, she sent a man to catch it, and taking a pair of scissors she cut open the craw and squeezed out the precious contents. She then sewed up the wound with a needle and thread, and set the hen down, who ran away to' join her two companions and began scratching as though nothing had happened. Mrs. McDowell was a lively, energetic woman, a kind neighbor, and one that I liked very much.

My friend George Power was not married when we came to Franklin. His mother, a nice old lady, kept house for him. He was married to Margaret Bowman, December 30, 1800 .* He was a merchant, an excellent, honest man, amiable, kind, and liked by all.

Next were our neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hale, very clever people, and the parents of Mrs. Andrew Bowman and Mrs. James Kinnear.

Marcus Hulings lived on the bank of French creek. He had a large family of children. He ran a keel- boat from Franklin to. Pittsburgh. I do not know what year he came to Franklin.

Abraham Selders also lived in Franklin. He was a son-in-law of Daddy and Mammy Hulings, as they were always called.

I do not think we had any preaching till 1801. Then a clergyman came, who preached in our house. I do not know what denomination he belonged to, but I think he was a Presbyterian. After that there was a small log cabin put up, with a clap-board roof. This building was used for a schoolhouse, and I had the honor of being a scholar. Our first teacher was James Mason from Sugar Creek, who boarded around with the scholars.

Marcus Hulings buried a son, Michael, in the old Franklin cemetery. who died Aug. 9.

* An old family record shows that George Power was married Dec. 30, 1799.

Digitized by

Google

312

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1797. This is the earliest inscription in the cemetery. Massar, wife of Marcus, was buried there, having died Feb. 9, 1813, aged sixty- seven years. The first date indicates that Mar- cus Hulings was among the earliest settlers here.

Of the five families mentioned in the letter, George Power, here to stay in 1790, was for at least three years the only resident not connected with the garrison. Col. Alexander McDowell came in 1794. He was deputy surveyor, and located many of the warrants of the Holland Land Company in this and adjoining counties. In 1796 he was ap- pointed justice of the peace, the first magis- trate in Venango county. Having provided a log house just below the present dam, he brought his family here in 1797. In 1802 he built a more pretentious house. It was on Elk street, below Eleventh. John Broadfoot, the carpenter who constructed the doors and windows and other finishings, came from the mouth of Oil creek, remained, and became a prominent citizen. In this house, wall-paper, the first seen in Franklin, adorned the walls. The sheets of paper were strong and thick, lasting till the house was torn down in 1874. Its light ground was covered with pictures of boys and dogs in blue, and pleased the children and grown people of several gen- erations. Cornplanter was a friend of Colonel McDowell because of his kindness in survey- ing the land granted to the sachem and help- ing him to secure and occupy his home. The Colonel died in January, 1816, at the age of fifty-three. His wife survived him nearly fifty years, dying at the age of one hundred and three. Of all the people who have lived in Franklin, she was the oldest. Thomas Skelly McDowell, son of Colonel McDowell, was born here and lived and died within ten rods of his father's old house. He was sev- enty-three years old at his death, in 1876.

Edward Hale arrived from Fayette county in 1798, bringing his household goods and family on horseback, and was the second trader with the Indians and with the citizens of the village and the nearby settlers. His ledger has names under date of 1797, which indicates that he came at least a year before he decided to settle here. He was an enter- prising man, and acquired property that in after years became valuable. Among his papers found after his death was one dated June 10, 1801, signed by James McClaran and Alexander McDowell, trustees, leasing "all that part of the public square which he now has under fence at one dollar a year,"

until the ground shall be needed by the pub- lic. Mr. Hale died at the age of thirty, in 1806, before his enterprises and business ability had time to mature. He was the father of Mrs. Sarah Bowman and Mrs. Jane Kin- near. Mrs. Hale was afterward married to William Parker and took up her residence at Bear Creek, on the river below. The younger daughter, Jane (Hale) Kinnear, lived in Franklin until her death, March 31, 1870.

George Fowler came over as an English soldier during the Revolution. The new coun- try attracted him. He became the fourth set- tler in Franklin, probably in 1796. His serv- ice in the British army was not remembered against him. He was living in the "Old Garri- son" after its use by the military ceased, serv- ing as justice of the peace, in company with his better half. His wife sometimes acted as volunteer justiciary, not reversing his deci- sions, but sometimes nipping actions in the bud. An amusing incident has been pre- served. Gen. Sam. Hays was driving a yoke of oxen through the streets, and following classic example, waded the streams and trod the dust without shoes or stockings. A neigh- bor, meeting him, began to jeer at his short raiment. Sam said nothing, but applied his ox whip vigorously to the unmannerly citizen. The whipped man went straight to Captain Fowler to get a warrant for the offender. While the justice was writing the warrant his wife entered:

"What are you doing now, daddy?"

"Writing a warrant."

"And who is the warrant for?"

"For Sam Hays."

"And who has the impudence to sue Sam Hays?"

"Why, this man here. Mr. Blank."

"And what did Sam Hays do?"

"He says he threshed him with his ox- whip."

"And served him right, I warrant. Get out of my house, Mr. Blank. I'll have nobody here suing Sam Hays."

The complainant departed when Mrs. Fow- ler tore the half-written warrant into bits, which she threw into the flames. The woman's instinct probably grasped the best conclusion of the matter. Sam Hays was at the dawn of his popularity, which grew through his long, sunny day. Mr. Blank considered himself important and was doubtless thought so by others, or he might not have presumed to re- buke the jolly Irishman. An acrimonious ac- tion for assault and battery might have divided the town into two factions and promoted un-

Digitized by Google

313

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

friendliness. The good-natured Hays would regret his action as soon as his quick anger cooled, and he would doubtless make ample apologies to his neighbor. In all General Hays' varied life, public or private, after this episode, he was preeminently the man of unruffled temper.

Marcus Hulings lived just at the foot of Twelfth street. His house might have been seen as late as 1855, fronting the creek. He owned a fine farm near Fort Pitt, which he sold in 1794, or 1795. His family was in Franklin in August, 1797, the year that Colonel McDowell brought his family to the log house prepared for them. Mr. Hulings may have followed the common example of those settling in new parts then, and preceded his family here, one or even two years. In 1800 he was living in his house near the creek and plying his keel boat between Franklin and Pittsburgh, taking down consignments of peltries and other products of the forests and bringing back goods for the traders. The activities of his family in directing and assisting the trans- port of supplies for Perry's fleet in hot Aug- ust days, from Pittsburgh to Erie, are noticed in another part of this volume. His descend- ants are now residents of the county, promi- nent in society, successful in business, patri- otic from generation to generation.

Abraham Selders, a son-in-law of Marcus Hulings, was appointed justice of the peace in 1801, and was elected commissioner in 1816. He was familiar with the river as an associate of his father-in-law. Like the men of his time generally, he was fond of hunt- ing. He was a good citizen and was evidently so regarded by his fellow men.

The carpenter who came to finish Colonel McDowell's house, John Broadfoot, from Oil creek, found more demands for his work than he could easily answer. He remained in Franklin. He had one son, John, and four daughters. Of them, one was married to Samuel Hays, one to Alexander and one to Robert McCalmont. Mr. Broadfoot was chosen as one of first elders of the Presby- terian Church.

. A blacksmith, Ezra McCall, came early. He burned his own charcoal on the banks of the creek, and procured his iron from Pittsburgh by boat. He was sufficient in his line for the period.

William Connely came in 1806. He had a number of professions-surveyor, politician. preacher, merchant ; and was able to command respect in all of them. He was county sur- veyor in 1817 and again in 1840-45. He was

in the legislature from 1819 to 1821, and was appointed associate judge in 1862. He died aged ninety-three, in Franklin, May 23, 1871. He was a prominent man in county affairs.

The brothers, William and James Kinnear, were well known citizens seventy-five years ago. Descendants of William are in the county yet, honorable people and respected citizens. James kept a hotel, a famous house in that time, for the Colonel knew how to make his guests comfortable. His helper, George, had marked individuality. He was the proprietor's good Boswell, and thought the hotel one of the finest in the world-a thought expressed by dignified deportment. James Kinnear was county treasurer in 1819, and associate judge in 1845 and the years following.

Among the early comers were the Moores, the McCalmonts and the Plumers. William Moore, the grandfather of Dr. E. W. Moore, was appointed the first prothonotary in 1805, serving till 1818. Arnold Plumer was elected sheriff in 1823 and appointed prothonotary in 1830. He was member of Congress four years and canal commissioner, an office which by his incumbency acquired peculiar significance, de- ciding the choice of the next president of the country. Alexander McCalmont, sheriff in 1811, surveyor in 1812, prothonotary from 1818 to 1824, was appointed president judge in 1839. Many from these families have been promoters of the higher life of the county, and their influence continues.

During this period the Smiths, Isaac and John, noted river pilots, were conducting rafts and boats down the river. James Brown, the drummer, was also wise in water ways. These three were in demand at every rafting stage and June freshet. Their calling was useful, even essential, to the growth of the young town.

Before the century entered its "teens," George and Hugh McClelland came from Ire- land to live in Franklin. Even in the first generation the name was honored; but George C., a son of George and a graduate of West Point, won unfading laurels in both the Mexi- can and the Civil wars. As a leader, he was daring but successful. At the siege of Veru Cruz, while scouting with six companions, he was surrounded by 150 enemy soldiers. In- stead of yielding he stayed till relieved by a regiment. At the beginning of the Civil war he raised a company in Franklin. In 1863 he was stationed with his company on guard duty near Williamsburg. His own regiment, about eight hundred, early one morning, passed him pell mell in retreat led by their comman-

Digitized by Google

314

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

der. He was told to withdraw before a com- ing overwhelming force. He disobeyed the order. When the 'pursuing horsemen, num- bering six hundred, began to emerge from the woods they were met by rapid volleys of re- volver shots, and then by the shock of the charge made by unexpected forces, whose num- bers they could not know, the front ranks recoiled, the rear were confused. Soon the Southern horsemen were in full retreat. The trained quick-witted officer had calculated the effect of "surprise" upon the fleeing regiment and upon the pursuing one. Others with kin- dred spirits have gone to war from this county, even in the latest years. Traditions are trans- muted into living forces, in the army.

Andrew Bowman came into the county with his father's family in 1795, settling in Sugar Creek township. After working at the tanning and shoemaking business till 1813, he removed to Franklin, where he continued the same lines of industry. He was an active, prosperous citizen until broken down by the infirmities of age. He died in 1859. He was elected to some of the best offices in the gift of his fellow citizens, serving as sheriff, mem- ber of the legislature and prothonotary, dis- charging the duties of these trusts satisfac- torily. His home was the center of cheerful hospitality. Mrs. Bowman, wife of Andrew, was the oldest daughter of Edward Hale. As a young girl she lived in early Franklin. Later she resided at Bear Creek, a wilderness com- pared wth her former home. From the forest well supplied with beasts and Indians, even for those days, she returned bearing the charm of gracious young womanhood to become the wife of a prosperous resident of the county seat. Her experiences were various, some dangerous, others humorous as nature had appeared to threaten or to joke with the girl; but as she related them, all, even the most thrilling, were pleasing. In her memory they were treasures, whether rough or polished. How could it be? Was it because the lively spirit within her always seized the true effect? Mrs. Bowman survived her husband nearly twelve years before joining "the choir in- visible."

The population in 1824 was probably 250. Among the families were the Parks, McCal- monts, McClellands, Plumers, Kinnears, Mc- Cormicks, Connelys, Martins. Morrisons. Ridgeways, Sayes, Clarks, Gildersleeves, Hul- ings, Blacks, Dewoodys, Smiths, Crarys, Smi- leys, Brighams, Seatons. Mays, Baileys, Kings, Gurneys, Kelloggs. Graces, McDowells, Broad- foots, Dodds, Hays, William Raymond. Dr.

Espy, Stephen Sutton, John Galbraith, John J. Pearson. Later came the Mackeys, Barclays, Hannas, Irwins, Snowdens, Adamses, Thomp- sons, Renos, Woods, Andersons, Hoovers. Lambertons, Cochrans, Dubbs, and a number of others. Of the persons named probably none are living. They have many descendants who are among the present citizens.

PIONEER MERCHANTS

Among the early needs of a civilized town is the general store. Settlers farthest away from business feel this need most keenly. The store follows the settlers closely; sometimes the order is reversed, the trader leading, the pioneers coming later, and pitching their log cabins within easy reach of some center of exchange, as exemplified in a number of small villages in the county. The first at Franklin was George Power, followed soon by Edward Hale, as shown by his account books still ex- tant. Among the early dealers was John Wil- kins, from Pittsburgh, and Archibald Tanner, who married a daughter of Alexander Mc- Dowell and afterward removed to Warren. where he became an influential citizen. James Harriott was also a merchant. William Con- nely, successful in other fields. was for some- time a storekeeper, as were his sons-in-law. Arthur Robison and Alexander McCalmont. later sheriff and surveyor, prothonotary and clerk, lawyer and judge. A. McCalmont & Co.'s advertisement in the Herald is supposed to be the earliest appearing in a Franklin newspaper. The date is Nov. 21, 1822. "The subscribers have just received and are now opening at their store, on the public square nearly opposite the court house, in the town of Franklin, a fresh supply of seasonable goods ; which, with their stock on hand, com- prises a general assortment of dry goods. groceries, queensware, schoolbooks, station- ery, 10-4, 9-4, 8-4, 7-4 rose blankets, Indian blankets, men's and women's saddles. plated and common curb bridles, best rifle powder, bar lead and flints. English and American blistered steel, best Crowley steel, Rappee snuff. indigo, madder, copperas, alum, sweet oil, spirits of turpentine, men's coarse shoes. ladies' morocco shoes, weaver's needs, maga- zines and common almanacs for 1823. which they will sell low for cash or the following articles of country produce : beeswax. tallow. flax, country linen, butter, pork, lard, flour, whiskey, furs, deer skins, rags, bags, feathers. dry apples and peaches, oats, wheat and woolen socks." The list of goods is attractive even

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 62

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

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