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STATE HISTORICAL MARKERS
~ VENANGO COUNTY ~


GEORGE BISSELL - This marker was dedicated October 18, 2002 and is located on South Park Street near Liberty Street in Franklin.

An attorney & oil industry pioneer, in 1854 with J. G. Eveleth, he purchased the Hibbard Farm, future site of Drake Well. Later that year, they organized Pennsylvania Rock Oil Co., America’s first oil corporation. Bissell, with partners, also developed Petroleum Centre and Untied Petroleum Farms at Oil City.

In the 1860s, George Bissell was a resident of Franklin and owned the Rural House, located on South Park and Liberty Street. The lot now occupied by the Galena Building.

Mr. Bissell was a native of Hanover, New Hampshire and a graduate of Dartmouth College. His interest in obtaining crude oil as an illuminant was piqued when he saw a sample of petroleum obtained from Oil Creek near Titusville.

In 1858 Mr. Bissell strongly advocated the boring for oil which led to Colonel Edwin L. Drake’s successful well in 1859 in Cherrytree Township, Venango County.

He also saw the need for other businesses spawned by oil and built a barrel works and oil company in Franklin’s Third Ward area. He was also a leader in constructing the ‘turnpike’ between Franklin and the newly-developing community of Oil City.

In the late 1860s, Mr. Bissell left this area to make his home in New York City.

Donated by Penny Haylett Minnick
pictures Penny Haylett Minnick