Woodcock Township History 1885

WOODCOCK TOWNSHIP.

WOODCOCK is one of the interior townships of Crawford County and is situated on the east side of French Creek. It is bounded on the north by Cambridge, on the east by Richmond, on the south by Mead and on the west by Hayfield. Its area is 19,328 acres. It was erected in 1829 from Mead and Rockdale Townships, Woodcock Creek having previously been the boundary between them. The population of Woodcock in 1850 was 2,288; in 1860, 2,093; in 1870, 1,123 and in 1880, 1,499. Blooming Valley is included for 1870, 1860 and 1850; Woodcock Borough for 1860 and 1850; and Saegertown for 1850, so that the large decrease in population is apparent only, and not real. The first place of holding elections in the township was at the cabin of Daniel Grubb.

The surface is diversified by hill and dale and the soil is generally of a fine quality. French Creek forms the western boundary and beyond its narrow valley low hills rise and recede into a rich upland country. Woodcock Run enters from the east and pursues a winding, west direction till it reaches French Creek; Gravel Run flows westward through the northern part and tributaries of these streams pierce the township in every direction. The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad passes along the western border. Three boroughs, Saegertown, Blooming Valley and Woodcock— have been taken from its territory, and beyond these there are no villages in the township.

The western portion of Woodcock Township, lying in the valley of French Creek and not remote from Meadville, was one of the earliest settled regions of the county. Clearings were made and patches of corn and potatoes cultivated before the country was yet free from Indian hostilities. William Jones was one of the foremost pioneers. He came to Meadville in 1794 or earlier, and in that and the following year tilled the soil near Meadville in company with James Dickson (Scotch Jemmy) and others. Savages lurked in the forest, and the daring frontiersmen must work in companies to guard against attacks. They were accustomed to pass from farm to farm, some of the men performing the necessary agricultural labor while the others with rifles in hand were stationed in the surrounding forest, watching for hidden or approaching foes. William Jones in 1795 or 1796 settled in the southwest corner of Woodcock Township, on what is now known as the Cole farm, and remained there through life. He was of German descent.

Isaac Berlin, of German nativity, was a pioneer who settled on the east bank of French Creek. He was a Revolutionary soldier and one of the few who escaped starvation aboard a British prison-ship in 1777. For his services he received a warrant for a tract of land in northwestern Pennsylvania and he came out afoot with gun on shoulder to find it. Returning he brought his family to the western wilds, but the land proved marshy, poor and uninhabitable. Accordingly he removed to the banks of French Creek about two miles below Saegertown, where he purchased a farm from George Peiffer. He was a gunsmith by trade and died in Woodcock Township, June 16, 1830, in his seventy-seventh year.

Arthur and Patrick McGill, brothers, came to the township in 1795. Arthur entered a tract of land on French Creek above Saegertown and both he and his brother settled there. Both died in 1831, leaving a posterity which is still represented in this township.

George Peiffer, about 1797, emigrated from Northumberland County and settled with his family in what is now Bloomfield Township. In 1810 he removed with his son George two miles below Saegertown and there remained till his death, which occurred about 1818. He built a large house soon after his arrival and kept tavern in it during the war of 1812 and for years afterward. A log schoolhouse stood near by and religious services were held therein by various denominations. This locality in early times was dubbed Peiffertown, though it contained no public buildings save what are mentioned above.

Henry Minium came with the Peiffers and remained a short time in Bloomfield. He was a miller by trade and was placed in charge of Alden’s Mills at the site of Saegertown. When Daniel Saeger purchased them Mr. Minium settled where the borough of Woodcock now is, remaining there until his death.

Except several tracts along French Creek, which were located by individuals, and a few in the eastern part which belong to the Donation Districts, the land in this township was the property of the Holland Land Company in early times. Below are given the names of the persons agreeing to settle the various tracts of this large body of land, the date of contract and the amount of land to be conveyed upon full compliance with the conditions:

Tract 140, Edward Ryan, 200 acres, October 17, 1796, deed executed to Rev. John Matthews, assignee; 145, John Hutcheson, 200 acres, November 11, 1797, forfeited; 146 and 149, William Greenlee, 200 acres each, October 17, 1’796; 150, John Wykoff, 272 acres, October 17, 1796, deed executed February 26, 1807; 151, Archibald Humes, 150 acres, November 9,1796, assigned to John Fredebaugh, deed executed December 28, 1804; 152 and 153, William Hammond, 200 acres each, January 9, 1799, deed executed; Nathaniel Clark purchased 100 acres Tract 152, December, 1808, assigned to Thomas Rico; 154. Isaac Farran, 200 acres, October 18, 1797; 155 and 156, John Wykoff, October 17, 1796, deed executed to William Wykoff, asignee, for 312 acres; 157, John Farran, 200 acres, October 17, 1797; 158, Samuel Blair, 200 acres, August 9, 1796, repurchased; 159, Henry Rust, 200 acres, November 12, 1796, deed executed to Mathias Flaugh, assignee, June 10, 1809; 160, John Fredebaugh, 150 acres, July 1, 1797, deed delivered to Roger Alden, July 14, 1812; Griffith Carr purchased 200 acres of Tract 160, September 30, 1805; 161, Frederick Rice, 200 acres, August 26, 1797, deed executed; David Carr purchased this tract subject to the claim of Rice, February 28, 1805; 162, Samuel Blair, 200 acres, August 9, 1796, deed executed August 25, 1813; 163, Henry Bossard, 100 acres, June 27, 1797, deed executed January 26, 1807; 164, Jacob Bossard, 100 acres, November 18, 1796, deed executed September 11, 1813; 165, John Ryan, 183 acres, February 22, 1799, deed executed May 29, 1812; 166, William McGredy, 200 acres, November 19, 1796; 167, William McGredy, 401 acres, same date; 168, John Limber, 200 acres, November 12, 1796, deed executed January 14, 1807; 169, James F. Randolph, 200 acres, August 31, 1797, forfeited; 170, David flannel, 100 acres, July 12, 1798; on same tract Dr. Thomas Murray purchased residue, 320 acres, December 19, 1804; an ejectment suit had been brought by the Holland Company to dispossess Murray and the property was bought by him on compromise at a reduced rate; 171, John Pealman, 100 acres, November 22, 1796, contract canceled; 200 acres of same tract granted to Francis Fargus, December 1, 1800, "to settle dispute before the Board of Property;" 101 acres same tract sold Henry Phillips, April 13, 1805; 172, Charles Dougherty, 100 acres, May 28, 1798, deed executed; William Gill purchased 301 acres same tract, April 15, 1805; 173, Luke Hill, 200 acres, October 31, 1800, repurchased in 1814; 174, William and James Johnston, 200 acres, October 22, 1800, deed executed in 1813; 175, Robert Finney, 75 acres, November 23, 1796, deed executed December 17, 1804; same tract Henry Phillips purchased 264 acres, June 15, 1802; John Osborn, 100 acres, May 6, 1808; 176, Luke Hill, 200 acres, October 31, 1800, repurchased; 177, David Compton, 150 acres, October 23, 1798, deed executed to Compton for 50 acres and to John Douglass for 100 acres.

Settlements were made within a few days of contract, so that a scattering settlement had spread over the entire township during 1796 and 1797. For a residence of five years and the making of stipulated improvements a gratuity of 100 acres was usually to be granted the settler, who at the same time agreed to purchase fifty or one hundred acres additional. Many found themselves unable to comply with these terms at the expiration of the lease, and in consequence were obliged to relinquish their settlements, and from the uncertainty of the early State land laws much confusion ensued in determining the proprietorship of these settlements. The land company usually maintained its claims, though compromises were sometimes effected. In a number of instances the settler abandoned his clearing before the settlement was completed, when the land reverted to the Holland Company. Most of the above named contracting parties became residents of the tracts contracted for, but in several cases were living in other parts of the county and performed the conditions of settlement through a tenant.

Edward Ryan was an old bachelor of Irish birth. He lived much of the time with his brother John Ryan. who occupied Tract 165 until his death, and raised a large family which is still represented here. Rev. John Matthews was a Presbyterian minister who dwelt on Gravel Run for a few years, preaching the Gospel and teaching school. John Hutcheson remained but a few years, and departed for parts unknown. William and John Greenlee came in 1796 from the Susquehanna. The Greenlees are still found in this township. William Wykoff and his son John came from New Jersey and remained life-long residents. Archibald Humes was of Irish extraction. He bad relatives who settled contemporaneously in Cambridge Township. John Fredebaugh was a German who came to this county in 1795 or earlier. William Hammond was an early Justice of the Peace. Nathaniel Clark was a wheelwright by trade, and from the date of his purchase of a farm in Tract 152 remained in the township till death. Thomas Rice was here at an early date. John Farran is not remembered. Samuel Blair, a native of Ireland, came from the Susquehanna and settled on Tract 162. He was buried on an elevated spot on his farm, which afterward became a public burying place. Henry Rust was a German, and came from Westmoreland County. A German also was Mathias Flaugh, his assignee of 200 acres on Tract 159, who came West with his sons Jacob, Mathias, John and George. He was a Lutheran, and at burials, when no minister was present, was accustomed to conduct the services. Roger Alden was a resident of Meadville. Griffith and David Carr were brothers, of Irish birth. Frederick Rice was here, and his family removed to Baltimore.

Henry Bossard first came out alone from his home in Greensburg, and during the summer cleared a patch of ground and planted and raised a crop of potatoes. He returned for his wife and they traveled to their new home afoot, he carrying their babe and a rifle, while she conveyed on her shoulders a few articles of domestic use. When they reached the cabin Mr. Bossard had built they made the sad discovery that the Indians had stolen all the potatoes left there the previous autumn. William McGredy was a jovial Irishman who afterward removed to Meadville, married a widow and kept a boarding-house.

John Limber came from Northumberland County a single man, and at first took possession of a tract near Harmonsburg. Mr. Sterling, an old neighbor with a large family came out, and Mr. Limber relinquished the tract to him, and came to Tract 168, in what is now Woodcock, in 1796. He sold his farm in 1816, and with the intention of settling in Ohio purchased a farm near Mansfield, but his wife dying soon after he remained in Crawford County and engaged for years in teaching school. He died at Meadville in 1852. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and attended services at Cochranton, the nearest point. James F. Randolph was a resident of Mead. David Hunnel did not remain many years, inasmuch as he was unable to pay for his farm. Dr. Thomas Murray, John Pealman, Francis Fargus and Henry Phillips were all here in early times. Charles Dougherty was an Irishman and an old bachelor. He died on Tract 172, and was buried on the adjoining farm of Thomas Frew. William Gill resided in Hayfield Township. David Compton and Robert Finney were of Mead Township. Luke Hill, James and William Johnston, and John Douglass were early residents of southern Woodcock.

Other pioneers of the township who came during the first decade of this century or earlier were: John Faulkenburg, James Fluhart, a gunsmith; Christian Ferst, who came about 1797, and afterward removed to Mercer County; William Kennedy; James Long, who was born in Lancaster County, immigrated to Woodcock about 1797, and died at the residence of his son George in 1830, at the age of ninety-two years; George, John, James and Cookson Long, his sons; Anthony Matson, Patrick and Hugh McCullough, William McKnight and David Ridenour. The early settlers were largely of German origin, with a fair proportion of Irish. The earliest came mostly from the Susquehanna. About 1825 quite a number emigrated from Lehigh. Many of the present residents of Woodcock are descendants of its first pioneers. Pember Waid and his son, Ira C., from Connecticut, early settled on land now owned by Francis C. Waid.

Schools in early times were rare, and accomplished little more than imparting the merest rudiments of an education. To learn to read, write and cipher was to attain the greatest possible results. Betsy Peiffer taught a German school in the old log-cabin of George Peiffer about 1812, soon after he moved into the new hewed-log building, which he occupied as a tavern. About 1816 a schoolhouse was erected near the cemetery, about two miles south of Saegertown, and school was held in it for many years. Miss Manda Dewey, Sarah Dewey, her sister, and Mr. Alden, brother to Maj. Roger Alden, were among the first teachers. School was taught within the present limits of Saegertown Borough as early as 1815. A Mr. Daniels taught about 1816 in a deserted cabin on Tract 170, and about the same time John Johnston held a school in the southwest corner of Tract 166, now owned by William Long. This school was also held in an abandoned log-cabin, situated in the wilderness, and surrounded by a small clearing, which was overgrown with bushes.

The tavern of George Peiffer was probably the earliest kept in the township. Daniel Grubb was proprietor of a country inn on Tract 158, about two miles east of Saegertown, and later Daniel Wise was host at a public house on the same road, the Meadville and Woodcock pike, but farther south, on Tract 169. More recently the Fountain House was built by James McGill on the southeast corner of Tract 161, also on the pike. He used it as a store room f or awhile, when it was sold and converted into a hotel.

Besides several private burying grounds, there are two grave-yards in this township, one two miles south, the other about two miles southeast from Saegertown. The first burial in the former was that of Miss Magdalena Minium, who died at the age of sixteen years in early times. The other is known as the Blair Cemetery. It was set apart for this purpose in pioneer days, and is still used as a place of burial. Beyond the limits of the boroughs; there are no churches in the township.

The first saw-mill was built by Archibald flumes on Gravel Run. Soon after he added a grist-mill in the same locality; it is still in operation and owned by W.S. McGranahan & Son. James Dickson (no relative of the James Dickson who erected an early mill in Hayfield Township) built the first grist-mill in Woodcock. The stones were common rock and were obtained from Laurel Hill near Pittsburgh. It stood on Woodcock Creek and a gristmill is still operated at the same site by Mr. Carringer. The Alden Mill at Saegertown was also built quite early, about 1801. The township is still welt supplied with mills. Edwin Perry has a saw-mill on Gravel Run and George Dewey and William flumes own others on Woodcock Creek. Hugh Bean, also, has a grist-mill on this stream. Quite a number of steam-mills are in operation in the township. Near Woodcock Borough is flumes & Williams’ cheese factory, and in the northeast part is Gibson’s.

At Magoffin’s Falls, in the southwest part, William Magaw about 1840 erected a paper-mill which he operated until his death in 1845. He had formerly constructed a mill on Woodcock Run near Saegertown, where the first straw paper in the United States was made. At Magoffin’s Falls, H.H. Fuller in 1880 built a paper-mill at the site of the old mill. Like the old mill, it was run by water-power from French Creek. It was closed by Mr. Fuller in June, 1883.

Long’s Stand Post office is located on the main road, about midway between Saegertown and Blooming Valley.

History of Crawford County 1885