Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 63

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 63

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at the present day. Those taken in exchange, probably the ones most commonly offered, speak loudly of the progress of the settlers during a quarter century. Until recently, country merchants treated produce at their price as equal to cash. This was good ad- vertising, attracting and holding trade. The business rested upon exchanges of goods.

Other merchants were: William Kinnear, who was born in Ireland, 1773, and came to this country in 1785. He stopped at Pithole about 1800, whence he came to Franklin in 1811. His dwelling house, corner of Elk and Tenth streets, where he lived till his demise in September, 1844, was his first place of busi- ness. Later his store was on the corner of Liberty and Twelfth streets. Mr. Kinnear was a good citizen respected by the community, a leading member of the Methodist Church. He served as commissioner and as justice of the peace. His daughters, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Raymond, Mrs. Smiley and Mrs. Bushnell, all settled in Franklin. His son, Francis D., oc- cupied the parental homestead.

William Raymond came from Connecticut in 1823, and occupied his store on Liberty street from that date to 1861. He lived to be the oldest merchant residing in Franklin. He was county treasurer, 1833-34. His wife, Nancy Kinnear, long survived him, holding the affection and esteem of many friends.

Arnold Plumer, one of the foremost citi- zens, was in the mercantile business for a time. F. G. Crary carried on business largely at the mouth of Oil creek. Hugh McClelland, born in Ireland in 1798, also had a store here. He was a bachelor, and died in 1840. Myron Park, from Sheffield, Mass., came to Franklin in 1824. His store was on Liberty street. His home was erected on the corner of Elk and South Park streets. As a merchant he was distinguished by sound judgment and fine taste. He was a gentleman unassuming, efficient in business, securing the respect and friendship of his associates. His presence was attractive, but so was his life.

Robert Lamberton was a noted merchant. He came to Franklin in 1830, and soon after- ward opened a little store which grew rapidly, becoming a strong rival of the best. He en- tered the iron business, but from 1860 to 1873 he conducted a bank. From 1862 to 1866 he was associate judge of the Venango county courts. His service as one of the ruling elders of the Presbyterian Church extended through many years. He married Margaret Seaton. During his life of fifty-five years in Franklin

he received deservedly the respect and confi- dence of Venango county people. He passed from earth Aug. 7, 1885. There are three generations of his worthy descendants now living.

Samuel Bailey, an Englishman, came to the county in 1817 and soon settled in Franklin as a merchant. He married Mary, oldest daughter of William Kinnear, in November, 1819. He succeeded in business. He died September 14, 1855.

George Brigham was born in Hull, England, in June, 1788, and came to Franklin in 1817. He married Catherine, the oldest daughter of George Power, Dec. 2, 1819, and after a pros- perous mercantile career died Oct. 19, 1846, in his fifty-ninth year.

James Bleakley was also here in business seventy years ago. Having learned the printer's trade, he purchased a paper, acted as merchant and broker, and conducted a bank- ing business. His sons and grandsons are suc- cessful bankers in this year, 1919.

The Indians were brisk traders, even though the peltries, furs, bear-meat and venison which they offered in exchange were still run- ning in the woods or swimming the streams. They enjoyed getting paid first-it seemed to add zest to trapping and hunting. They were children, pleased with gaudy trifles, forgetful that "strong drink is raging" and were easily "deceived thereby," not being wise. They kept their credit good at the stores, and the mer- chants lost comparatively little at their hands. The sale of a fine silver gray fox skin four times in one day by the combined guile of four Indians, to George Power, was a notable ex- ception, which proves that the contrary was the rule. The red skins appeared as usual, one at a time with a pelt. Mr. Power bought as usual, and flung each one into a low loft at the back of the store, accessible from the outside. The one pelt was conclusive proof of the contrariness of the rule.

THE EARLY MECHANICS

The early mechanics came as they were needed, and the absence of machinery made a demand for their work. The first stonemason was Abraham Selders, who built as good walls as could be made with cobble stones and chips broken off the larger blocks to form spalls. with one feathery edge to hold mortar between the cobbles.

The Ridgways, John and Noah, were boat- builders. They came in 1801 and prepared

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several places on the river bank where boats could be "turned in" or launched. Theirs was a necessary industry for the time.

Hatters there were-Edward Patchell and Andrew Dewoody, his pupil. One of their construction would outlast even the noblest work of God, and might be handed down from generation to generation. No one mere man could wear one to its dissolution. The man would dissolve first. If either of these men had aspired to the handling of the shining silks which came in later, and changed them with the changes, a fortune would have been made.

John Broadfoot, the first carpenter, was in constant demand. His work was done honest- ly, and in pleasing style.

Some years later brick houses appeared, but their increase was slow and the stone work at the foundation was found to be inadequate -the experience usually of growing, isolated towns. John Singleton was the first maker of bricks. In 1848 there were only four brick houses in the town.

John Witherup, the builder of the first jail and courthouse, made as good stone walls as could be expected by the theories of masonry then in vogue. Stone blocks were not used, though they could be found of fine quality and unlimited quantity in the hills; but cobbles were gathered and chinked round with wedge-shaped slivers of sand stone or grit, and scant mortar made a wall inclined to crumble. The mechanics did their work un- der new conditions, meeting difficulties in- creasing with the town's growth. Cobble stones were taken from general circulation, and assembled in piles, which was good. Cobbles are interesting survivals of glaciers working millions of years in French and Sugar Creek valleys, grinding down the rocks into meadows, digging little lake basins to feed the flats and make them fertile before the coming of man; but they make uneasy walls. Their million- year tendency to move clings to them still. They are so hard and smooth that nothing sticks to them. "Knowledge comes, but wis- dom lingers." The oldest college in Oxford throws off a thin, paint-like scale from weather- ing once in about two hundred years. This building is now in its thirteenth century. When all the university buildings have weathered thin, wisdom may come from knowledge, and decide what is the best building stone. Per- haps the present county buildings will endure for two thousand years, barring earthquakes and jail breakers, with additions, above and around.

Mr. Service, the first saddler, was a good

workman. Following the prevailing example, he contributed in saddlery work five dollars to help build the first Presbyterian Church. A fine sentiment hangs over the old church build- ings erected in the town. They were largely built by contributions peculiar to the givers, of labor and materials, to command more work. Is not this the inner meaning of the miracle of the loaves and fishes? Feed the multitude! Break up the little loaves, dis- tribute the few fishes! Obey the command, the result is miraculous.

Ezra McCall was the first worker in iron. Few were the horses in those days to be shod, but he could forge axes, and do whatever work the citizens required. He was a god-send to the children, who while picking up their crumbs of cognition watched his preparation of char- coal on the banks of the creek, and entered his shop later to see the sparks fly. Mr. McCall's reputation as an honest man and faithful helper in the early trials, survives him to this day.

After him came John Lupher, whose shop was on the ground now occupied by the "Ex- change Hotel." He was a Pennsylvania Ger- man and spoke with a strong accent. He was a military man, a Hessian perhaps, who like many others remained and became patriotic citizens. He was made captain of the militia. At the general muster he heard somone say, "I wonder if the Dutchman expects us to mind his orders?" When the company was drawn up he faced the line and announced that the first man disobeying an order would be placed under guard till sundown. He had no trouble. He took up farming later and lived to a ripe old age. He was succeeded by another Ger- man, George Grieshaber, from Austria, who had served as blacksmith and cavalryman in the American army. He was not so popular as his predecessor, because he required the owner to hold the horses' foot, and his code of ethics was thought not adapted to the banks of the Allegheny.

John Paden was the chairmaker in 1826. He also gave of his handiwork to help the building of the new church.

The first cabinetmakers were the Alexan- ders, father and son. It is probable that speci- mens of their work still linger in some of the older houses. Many chairs, a hundred years old, are still better than the modern ones-to sit in ; some of the ancient cherry tables, with "polished-by-use extension leaves," are now invaluable.

Shoes were supplied by Jeremiah Clancy, who varied his work by keeping hotel on Thir-

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teenth street at times and was successful in both callings. He settled here in 1819 and died in 1873.

Families generally had to provide themselves with salted beef and pork for use in summer, as there were no butchers in those days. Hun- ters were relied upon to bring in game during the season. A number essayed to supply this demand, not as a pastime, but as a business.

There was a pottery in these years, near the old forts, where useful wares were fabricated. James Adams and Abraham Kennedy were first and second in supplying this need. Their products were probably as good as that pro- duced by the Indian nomadic tribes, but they were necessarily ages behind specimens made by the old small nations of civilized natives, and by their survivors of the present, which equal those of Greece.

Nathaniel Cary, Jr., was in later days the tailor.

Elihu Butler repaired timepieces and pulled teeth.

Franklin was even then a hive of industry, with work for all, symbolic of its future.

EARLY PRICES OF COMMODITIES

Trade was mostly the exchange of com- modities-a very cumbersome way, and un- certain method, of doing business. Produce was low, manufactured articles were so high in price that they were beyond the reach of many. A rough axe forged by the blacksmith was $6; calico, $1 a yard; calico shirts, $2.50; linen ditto, $4.50; salt, 38 cents a pint, or 50 cents a quart ; meal, 50 cents a gallon ; bread, 10 cents a pound. The laborer receiving two dollars a day was fortunate. Brisk customers were the Indians; their credit was seldom im- paired. . They were allowed to take away a gun at $25 to $40, powder at $2 a pound, and as much liquid refreshment as they could carry inside and outside, at 40 to 60 cents a quart. Whiskey was a current article of commerce at the stores, coming or going, but what would the copper-colored devotees of joy, or others, have done had they been confronted by a price for the staple per gallon equal to that prevail- ing now, a sum that would buy two barrels of flour, or a good suit of clothes, or as many woolen socks as a man could carry? There were not many boots in those days.

HOTELS

The hotels at this period were three : George Power kept one on Otter street, in a store:

building that was torn down many years ago. George McClelland was on the site later occu- pied by the "United States," and Col. James Kinnear, in the old brick building on the cor- ner of West Park and Liberty streets, con- ducted a house famous in its day. Travelers considered it homelike and luxurious, seeking its comforts when visiting the town, or plan- ning to halt there while passing through.

Later a hotel on the corner of Otter and Thirteenth streets was conducted by Lewis T. Reno, the father of Gen. Jesse L. Reno. Edward Pearce had a public house just west of the lower French creek bridge, and the inn of that genial host, Jeremiah Clancy, was on the corner of Elk and Thirteenth. Luke Turner was prominent as a hotel man later, as was also Lucius Pike. A noted hotel, too, on Liberty street flourished for a number of years under the management successively of Thomas Hulings, John Evans, and Arthur Robison. Time, the obliterator, has removed almost every trace of these old hostelries.

The "United States" is one of the oldest hotels now serving the public in Franklin. It supplies food and lodging for man and beast, and is largely patronized by those who have been accustomed to put up there for years.

The "Exchange" was a great favorite with the public for more than a generation. It has been closed for the last few years, and its rooms have been used for other than purposes of public entertainment.

The "McLure" was also regarded with favor by the public. It was recently closed and the building is now used for the display and sale of merchandise.

The "Alsace," now known as "The Park," is a beautiful building, finely situated, facing the parks in the center of the town. A goodly number of people make it their home, renting their rooms by the month and taking their meals at its restaurant. As a hotel it is con- ducted upon the European plan, and is in every way satisfactory to the public.

EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE TOWN

The following sketches copied from various sources picture the county town at different periods. First is an extract from a letter written in 1815 to a Pittsburgh paper:

"The village of Franklin is situated on the west bank of the Allegheny and the mouth of French creek and is distant from Pittsburgh 124 miles by water and by land sixty-eight miles. It is in latitude 41°, 24', 43" north and 2º, 50', 10" west longitude. The Allegheny

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is navigable to Pittsburgh about seven months in the year for arks, keel and flat boats, and French creek is navigable to Meadville at high water not more than two months. The houses here are mean in appearance and there seems to be no sign of improvement. The people here are kind, and when not trading, employ themselves with the Indians in hunting and fishing. I have hope for the future, for there seems to be in the vicinity plenty of coal and iron. I doubt if there are more than one hun- dred people here, and they seem to be in doubt whether to stay or remove further west."

Levi Dodd came to Franklin in 1823. In his address, prepared for the fiftieth anniver- sary of the Franklin Presbyterian Sunday School (1874), he places the number of resi- dents of 1823 at "about two hundred and fifty." He was one of the first teachers, or founders of the school, and since he mentions nearly every one of the number by name, his estimate is correct, undoubtedly. There were those present who could have revised his work, had it been necessary. His number shows a rapid growth during the eight years elapsing since the estimate of the pessimistic Pitts- burgher.

FRANKLIN IN 1837

Franklin in 1837 is thus described by Isaac Harris in his Pittsburgh Business Directory : "The borough of Franklin is beautifully situ- ated at the confluence of French creek and the Allegheny. .... It has a population of 800; has nine stores; five taverns; two printing offices ; three churches; an academy, court- house and a jail. There are in the vicinity of the town one furnace, a forge, a gristmill and a sawmill. The French creek division of the Pennsylvania canal commences at this town, and is finished a distance of forty miles, and when completed to Erie will open navigation from the latter place to the Allegheny river, at Franklin. . .. . In making the improve- ments on French creek, the State constructed two dams within a mile of Franklin; one is nine feet high, the other is sixteen and one half feet. These afford excellent water power, which could be applied to all kinds of manu- facturing, and are worthy the attention of capitalists. Several other dams on French creek afford the same advantages. A daily line of stages runs from Pittsburgh, via Franklin to Erie; and a tri-weekly line from Philadel- phia to Erie through the same place. The Waterford and Susquehanna turnpike passes through the town. A turnpike is also being made from Warren to Franklin, and will be

finished at an early period. This turnpike will intersect the one from Buffalo, N. Y., through Jamestown, to Warren; and will con- siderably diminish the distance from Buffalo to Pittsburgh. A bridge over French creek at Franklin was erected many years ago, and a company is now incorporated and organized and the amount of stock procured for build- ing one over the Allegheny river. This bridge will be constructed in the coming year."

FRANKLIN IN 1850

In 1850, by the census, the population of the borough was 933. There were two churches, the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal, Rev. S. J. M. Eaton being pastor of the former and Rev. Moses Hill of the lat- ter. A. P. Whitaker was editor of The Ve- mango Spectator, and E. S. Durban was editor of The Advocate and Journal. The physicians were N. D. Snowden and B. Gillett. The at- torneys were Alexander McCalmont, James K. Kerr, R. S. McCormick, John W. Howe, James L. Myers, Edmond Snowden, Alfred B. McCalmont, N. R. Bushnell, Samuel Riddle, W. H. Lamberton and Edwin L. Wilson.

James Bleakley, S. L. Ulman, Robert Lam- berton, C. H. Dale, William Raymond, James Bennett, Myron Park, George C. McClelland, Hunter and Butler, James Bryden, J. B. Nick- lin, J. G. Lamberton, Josiah Adams and Sam- uel Bailey were the merchants.

Blanchard & Mills made fanning mills. Thomas Moore was in the saddle and harness business. Elliott and Epley were proprietors of the Franklin Foundry. N. Cary, M. Van- dorn and Joseph S. Hooton were the tailors. J. P. Hoover was in the forwarding and commission business. Adam Webber was postmaster. A. B. Walker and George Gris- habber were the blacksmiths. Andrew Bow- man was the tanner and shoemaker. Andrew Dewoody was a hatter. J. B. Rowe was the house builder. B. Alexander and Levi Dodd were cabinetmakers. S. Turner, M. Henry and C. G. Evans were the tavern-keepers.

The borough was assessed $59,487 for real estate; $1,428, for horses and cattle; $7,545, for trades and occupations ; $3,345, for offices and professions ; $21,675, for money at in- terest ; and $610, for pleasure carriages, a total of $94,090.

RATE OF GROWTH IN POPULATION

The list of property assessed in 1850, consid- ering the low rate of valuation then in vogue, indicates an intelligent industry inspired by faith in the town's future. If a property list

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Franklin, Pennsylvania, October, 1918 Thirteenth Street, Looking North

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Franklin, Pennsylvania, October, 1918 Liberty Street, Looking West From Court House

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of 1800 could be found and compared, it would be interesting. An opinion prevails that Franklin grew very slowly during this period. Examine this notion briefly: Mrs. Irvine writes that she found five families here when she came in 1800, though she mentions six. Perhaps she included Abraham Selders in the Hulings family, since he had recently married Mr. Hulings' daughter. Five sons of Marcus Hulings, Sr., were pushing flatboats up the creek toward Perry's fleet in 1813, of whom the oldest was Marcus, Jr., then about forty- six years of age. The son, buried in 1797, aged twenty-seven years, was not the oldest, since for eight generations the first-born son had been named for his father. Those five brothers were all well grown boys in 1800. The families mentioned by Mrs. Irvine would number: Captain Fowler and wife, two; Colonel McDowell, wife, two; Edward Hale, wife, two daughters, four; Marcus Hulings, wife, seven children, including Selders and wife, nine; George Powers, wife, two; Judge Heron, wife, two daughters (one of whom was Mrs. Irvine), four; total, twenty-three, which is to be compared with a population of 9.33 in 1850.

A state or community which doubles its numbers in twenty-five years has a rapid growth. During the half century the nation as a whole multiplied its population by 4-36, doubling twice and over; the State increased 3.83 times; the county increased its popula- tion 16.2 times, doubling over four times, while Franklin multiplied its population by 40.56, doubling five times and adding an extra 199 to that. Taking the census of 1910, the county increased 3.08 times in the sixty years, while Franklin increased 10.46 times, accelerat- ing its rate relative to that of the county. This is not a slow growth either actually or com- paratively. Its population in 1890 was 6,231 ; 1900, 7,317; 1910, 9,767; July 1, 1918, 12,250. Modern Franklin is a model town, fitted with the conveniences of the twentieth century.

BOROUGH ORGANIZATION

Franklin at first was a part of Irwin town- ship, that vast tract west and north of the Allegheny river. In 1806 the portion includ- ing the county seat, extending from the present northern boundaries of Irwin and Clinton to French creek and westward from the Alle- gheny to the county line, was organized as French Creek township. This arrangement continued till 1828, when Franklin became a borough. Even then it was only a small village

of 350 inhabitants, with the wilderness about it, almost entering its borders. The county con- tained good people, scattered over a space much larger then than now. Over this area of poor roads the court at Franklin applied the law to problems not solvable by physical prowess or by the justices of the peace.

It was thought that the borough organiza- tion would be more effective in making needed improvements, in clearing the streets and parks of brush and surplus forest growths, than the township had been. The minutes of the bor- ough fathers have been lost. One item is preserved by the Spectator of June 13, 1849. In May of that year. the twenty-first year of the borough, an ordinance was passed prohibit- ing the loading or discharge of freight from boats on Sunday ; also prohibiting horses and hogs from running at large on the diamond, their former pasture. At nightfall in early June nine porkers were discovered "pursuing the ordinary avocations of pigs upon the dia- mond." The officers of the law, aided by a number of boys and dogs, made a descent upon the swine, and a line of march was formed toward the pound. Three were placed in pound, six escaped ; of their subsequent his- tory nothing further is known; all may have found their way to the proper barrels. The borough authorities were empowered to en- close the parks, which was finally accomplished in 1865. It was hoped that private enterprise would complete the work, but improvement under this plan was very little.

BOROUGH OFFICIALS

In the absence of records no complete list of the borough officers can be compiled; the following fragmentary data have been obtained from various sources :

1828-Burgess, John Broadfoot ; constable, Robert Kinnear ; council: John Singleton, J. R. Sage, Alexander McCalmont, John Gal- braith, Myron Park, William Bennett.

1829-Burgess, George McClelland; second burgess, Myron Park ; constable, Robert Kin- near; council: John Galbraith, Alexander Mc- Calmont, J. W. Wood, William Raymond, John Singleton, J. R. Sage, Arnold Plumer.

1849-Burgess, F. W. Hunter ; clerk, James K. Kerr.

1852-Burgess, A. P. Whitaker; council : Luke Turner, Miles W. Sage, Thomas H. Martin, George W. Brigham, Leonard Bunce.

1853-Burgess, A. P. Whitaker; council: Luke Turner, Miles W. Sage, Thomas H. Mar- tin, George W. Brigham, Leonard Bunce.

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1855-Burgess, A. Plumer ; council: S. H. Marshall, J. Bleakley, J. Mayes, J. Bryden, T. H. Martin.

1856-Burgess, Samuel Hays; council: J. Bleakley, R. A. Brashear, Thomas Moore, Simeon H. Marshall, Myron Park.

1857-Burgess, W. P. Walker ; council : W. C. Evans, C. M. Hoover, T. H. Martin, David Smith.

1860-Burgess, James Bleakley; council : T. Hoge, M. W. Sage, D. C. Plumer, W. P. Walker, F. D. Kinnear.

1861-Burgess, S. T. Kennedy; council : Hugh Hunter, Harvey Evans, C. M. Hoover, S. F. Bailey, C. H. Raymond.

1862-Burgess, G. E. Ridgway ; council : R. S. McCormick, William Campbell, Charles Bowman, D. G. Dewoody, G. W. Brigham.

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Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 63

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

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