Meadville History 1871

Meadville City.

Crawford County received its name in honor of Wm. Crawford, one of the participants and heroes of the Western frontier, who was burned by the Indians at Sandusky. It was taken from Allegheny County by an Act of March the 12th, 1800. The County is 41 miles in length, breadth 24 miles, containing an area of 974 square miles, or 633,360 acres.

So far as history will enlighten us, the first white men whose feet pressed the soil of Crawford County, were undoubtedly the French. In 1748 and ‘58, they attempted to extend their chain of Posts from Presque-Isle and Leboeuf, one of the sources of the Venango River, to the Allegheny, and thus control the waters of the Ohio. As regards this County, they were only birds of passage, they having no motive to form any permanent establishment here.

Venango River, (or commonly called French Creek), enters from Erie County, meandering centrally through the County, passes through a corner of Mercer into Venango County, emptying into the Allegheny at Franklin.

Several other small streams water the County, viz: Cussewago, Big and Little Sugar Creeks, Oil Creek, Woodcock Creek, Muddy Creek and Conneaut Creek.

There are three handsome Lakes in the County. Conneaut is a beautiful sheet of water, about 4 1/2 miles by 2 1/2 miles, abounding with fine fish, and is now a. favorite resort for the angler and sportsman. This Lake is noted for its double white pond lilies, peculiar, we believe, to the American Continent, springing from the bottom of the Lake; they expand their flowers when they reach the surface and sunshine. The other two are of smaller size, but equally picturesque and beautiful.
In 1789, David Mead and a few adventurous spirits with him, visited the valley of French Creek with the design of settlement.

Mr. Mend located three tracts, called in the Patent “Meadville, “ “Mill Tract” and “Cussewago Island.” His first residence was on the site of James E. McFarland’s present dwelling. It was then picketed for protection from hostile Indians. He afterwards built at the head of ‘Water St., where he died in 1810. Mr. Mead was the first Commissioned Justice north of Pittsburgh; he was one of the first Associate Judges, and held other offices, civil and military.

A Block-house, for the protection of the first settlers, was built on the corner of ‘Water St. and Steers’s Alley. It was removed in 1828, having served for the uses of the earliest school, a carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, and the residence of families in varied succession.

The triangular lot, on which it stood, was given by Mr. Mead to the citizens of Meadville for a common school, and by deed vested in Trustees, it was afterwards, by Legislative enactment, transferred to the Meadville Female Seminary with power to sell, and was by the Trustees sold to Thomas
Wilson.

Water St, occupies the site of the ancient Indian path from Fort Venango to Fort Le Boeuf, in the clays of the French occupancy.
Washington, in Dec. 1753, carried dispatches from Gov. Dinwiddie, of Virginia, to the French Commandant at Fort Leboeuf, remonstrating against encroachment on the territorial rights of Britain. He speaks in his journal of the extensive flats of meadow land in our valley, but of a future Meadville he had no prophetic vision. The 10 years which closed the 18th century witnessed the advent of many settlers into this region; the valleys and the navigable streams were the first choice, as no roads existed, and by water was the only means of transportation.

The original plan of Meadville was conceived in 1790, but was matured and much enlarged by Maj. Alden and Doctor Kennedy in 1795. The first Church, Presbyterian, was organized about the year 1800, and Rev. Jos. Stockton settled as the pastor.
The first paper published in Northwestern Pennsylvania was the Crawford Messenger, issued at Meadville by T. Atkinson, Esq.
Meadville was incorporated as a Borough March 29, 1823, on the 16th of June following by the election of Thomas Atkinson, Burgess, Eiiphalet Betts, James Hamilton, Jos. Patterson, Daniel Perkins and George Seldon, Council. In 1835 the Borough Charter was so amended that two Councilmen were elected annually to serve for three years In 1838 the Charter was again amended by creating the office of Ass’t Burgess, and Jno. Dick was elected to that position.

In 1853 the Legislature was petitioned for the privilege of extending the Boro. boundaries, which being granted, the limits were fixed and remained so until the City Charter was obtained.
The 15th of February, 1866, a new Charter was granted by the Legislature and Meadville became an incorporated City with Wm. Reynolds, Esq., as Mayor.

In 1816 the population was estimated at about 400. The census returns from time to time show a gratifying increase. The population in 1840 was 1,319; 1850, 2,578; 1860, 3,702; 1870, .......

The City is pleasantly located in a beautiful valley on the east side of Venango River, (French Creek) surrounded by hills, which rise in gentle undulations on the east side, and afford desirable sites for residences, and fine grounds, and in every direction the landscape is unsurpassed for natural beauty and varied scenery. The City is unsurpassed in healthfulness by any in the Union, and, except in winter, very few pleasanter places can be found.

The public buildings and many private residences are of the first-class of Architecture, and few interior towns can boast of so many costly and tasteful dwellings.

Fine brick blocks have risen where, only a few years ago, the trade of the place was carried on in cheap, old-fashioned, wooden structures. Since 1860, Meadville has almost trebled in wealth and population, and the coming season bids fair to rival any of the past in good, substantial, business Blocks, of the most creditable character.

Directory of Crawford County, PA for 1871-72