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OIL CREEK TOWNSHIP


Venango County Map 1903

Oil Creek Township was formed when a petition from citizens of the northern part of Cornplanter Twp. and the western part of Allegheny Twp. was presented for the consideration of the court in 1859. The question was submitted to a vote of the citizens of Allegheny Twp. on 10 Jan 1860 and a majority was against the proposed innovation. In January, 1866 the matter again became a subject of judicial consideration and the township was formed. By the 1870 census the population of this township was 5, 098 and in 1880 the population was five hundred and twenty six.

Pleasantville Boro - Situated about 6 miles from Titusville, Crawford Co.; Abraham Lovell made the first improvement on the site of the town; Aaron Bendict gave name to this town; the discovery of oil resulted in immediate expansion of the town between 1865 and 1870. A disastrous fire occurred in December, 1871 which destroyed buildings and merchandise. The first bank was established in 1868 by D. H. Mitchell and Samuel Q. Brown.

Shamburg - This village was named in honor of George Shamburg, local superintendant for the Philadelphia and Cherry Run Oil Co. Oil operations in the area began in 1865 and the population grew, but by 1880 the population was four hundred eighty four and by the early 1900s, this town was but a mere village.

Drake Well Memorial Park & Museum

Miller Farm - In 1865 this area was the terminus of the world's first oil pipeline that originated in Pithole. The Miller Farm area, of whom James Miller gave name to, was an excellent oil producing territiory, and a site of refineries and storage tanks. Being located on Oil Creek, this area became an important shipping point.

Survey Map

The following names are from the 1865 Survey Map of Venango Co. At that time the area of Oil Creek Twp. was part of Allegheny Twp.
A. Thompson, T. M. Culbertson, W. Tando, H. Magee, W. Broadfoots heirs, S. Bromley, S. Ashton, S. Benedict, A. Huntley, C & E. Redfield, W. Sedorus, D. Henderson, W. Buck, J. Y. Siggins, J. Benedict, A. Fleming, A. Hall, Bates, Loveless, Newkirk, H. Curtis, W. Fleming, J. M. McCasland, A. Lovell, M. C. Beebe, J. Brown, W. Porter, J. Farran, J. Sheldon, J. Shreeves, J. & S. Shreeves, A. Fleming, Jr., A. Davis, A. Fleming, J.C. Shreeves, P. & J. Lewis, J. Farrell, S. Fleming, Jr., Watson, M. Farrell, D. Hotchkiss, A. Dawson, S. Matterson, A. Stout, N. Bosworth, W. Dunning, A. Lilby, G. McBride, A. Buch, R. Williams, J. McIntire, S. Dunham, O. Barres, J. Ricketts, G. Cook, R. Brumagen, J. Snedaker, P. Bromley, J. Lewis, Darrow, H. Cook, W. Henderson, G. Jewell, W. Poor, T. Tarr, A. Brown, D. Gregy, S. H. Taylor.
*Note - Most of the above names are found on the 1857 Map of Venango County which can be purchased from the Venango Co. Historical Society, P.O. Box 101, Franklin, PA 16323. $6.00 + $1.00 postage.

Municipal Organization of the Borough of Pleasantville
This borough was incorporated March 22, 1850 in which the act appointed Aaron Benedict, Wilson Dawson and M. C. Beebe commissioners to survey, define and mark the boundaries, which included nearly a square mile of territory.
The following is a list of early borough officers:
  • 1850 - Burgess, William Porter; council: A. Merrick, A Dawson, J. W. Henderson, J. W. Parker
  • 1852 - Burgess, Aaron Benedict; council: D. H. Parker, Austin Merrick
  • 1853 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: William Dodge, E. R. Beebe
  • 1854 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: Austin Merrick, William House
  • 1857 - Burgess, John Brown; council: A. Dawson, Abraham Lovell, Sr.
  • 1858 - Burgess, John W. Henderson; council: C. House, D. W. Henderson
  • 1859 - Burgess, John Kelly; council: D. H. Parker, Geroge Porter
  • 1860 - Burgess, Edward Byles; council: Samuel Hatch, D. Marvin
  • 1861 - Burgess, Marshall Corbin; council: D. H. Parker, George Porter
  • 1866 - Burgess, J. C. Benedict; council: D. W. Henderson, William Newkirk
  • 1867 - Burgess, J. C. Benedict, council: M. C. Benedict, J. A. Dunham
  • 1868 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe, council: J. J. Watkins, G. S. Nettleton
  • 1869 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: D. W. Henderson, William Newkirk, Samuel Q. Brown, E. S. Nettleton
  • 1869 (October) - Burgess, John F. Carll; council: William Newkirk, Roger Sherman, Henry T. Dunham, Marshall Goss, Myron P. Barber
  • 1870 - Burgess, J. F. Carll; council: E. L. Keenan, M. C. Benedict, A. K. McMullen, J. C. Goal, Casper Schott
  • 1872 - (March) - Burgess, H. M. Haskell; council: W. F. House, S. A. Barnes, Charles Gardner, William Newkirk, R. L. Irwin, T. A. Morrison
  • 1873 - Burgess, T. A. Morrison; council: A. Holeman, F. Merrick, G. E. Mapes, R. L. Irwin, S. A. Barnes, C. Schott
  • 1874 - Burgess, Thomas Chattle; council: Samuel Harsh, John Nichols, Henry Wege, W. F. House, A. W. Brown, L. T. Benedict
  • 1875 - Burgess, Thomas Chattle; council: Samuel Harsh, C. Netcher, Henry Wege, W. F. House, A. W. Brown, L. L. Benedict
  • 1876 - Burgess, Thomas Chattle; council: L. L. Benedict, W. F. House, a. W. Brown, Samuel Harsh, E. B. Seymour
  • 1877 - Burgess, L. L. Benedict; council: Thomas Chattle, G. K. thayer, H. H. Noyes, J. C. Goal, John Holeman, John A. Johnson
  • 1878 - Burgess, Thomas Chattle; council: J. L. Connely, U. G. Mease, J. D. Holeman, H. H. Noyes, J. R. Amsdell, J. B. Skinner
  • 1879 - Burgess, Benjamin Corwin; council: A. W. Brown, J. Kuhlmeyer, H. Wege, J. D. Holeman, D. W. Henderson, H. H. Noyes
  • 1880 - Burgess, C. T. C. Gould; council: W. E. Banks, William Newkirk, J. B. Skinner, Frederick Henn, C. Henry Newkirk, H. H. Locke
  • 1881 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: W. E. Banks, J. B. Skinner, C. Henry Newkirk, H. H. Noyes, Samuel Chestnut, Casper Schott
  • 1882 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: H. H. Noyes, R. M. Davidson, H. H. Locke, Henry Wege, Casper Schott, H. J. Hopkins
  • 1883 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: James Rooker, H. H. Locke, H. J. Hopkins, W. W. Pennell, H. Wege, R. M. Davidson
  • 1884 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: H. Wege, Benjamin Corwin, R. M. Davidson, George Howarth, John Holeman, A. Holeman
  • 1885 - Burgess, M. C. Beebe; council: John Holeman, James Rooker
  • 1886 - Burgess, Isaac Doolittle; council: R. M. Davidson, R. J. Hopkins
  • 1887 - Burgess, J. R. Amsdell; council: H. Wege, Benjamin Corwin
  • 1888 - Burgess, W. F. House; council: John Lockwood, Casper Schott
  • 1889 - Burgess, W. F. House; council: H. H. Noyes, R. D. Stoeltzing

Folks

  • A. M. BARNARD - farmer; b. 9 Sept 1842 in NY, s/o Jacob & Olive DODGE Barnard; came to Venango Co. in 1863, were he ventured in oil exploration and purchased a farm; md. in 1867 to Sarah TWINING, d/o Chester Twining of NY.

  • Aaron BENEDICT - b. 17 Feb 1779 at West Stockbridge, Massachusetts; became wealthy as a proprietor of flouring mills in Cortland Co., NY; was contractor for part of the work on the Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike that was constructed in 1818-1819; in 1821 he located in the area of Pleasantville and became an agent for the survey and sale of the Holland lands; he also served as Justice of the Peace and other local offices. Aaron was the father of nineteen children. E. R. BEEBE who came to the area in 1831 was a nephew of Aaron Benedict and operated a tannery in the area.

  • Samuel Queen BROWN - b. 19 Sept 1835 at Pleasantville, Venango Co., s/o John & Mary Ann QUEEN Brown; entered Allegheny College at Meadville when 13 years of age; after working with his father in mercantile business, Samuel and partner, John L. MITCHELL, entered into the oil business on the Buchanan Farms at the mouth of Cherry Run and numerous other oil ventures; md. in 1865 to Nancy E. LAMB, d/o John and Mary SMITH Lamb of Allegheny Twp.; after the death of Samuel in 1909 in NYC, Mrs. Brown continued to live there with the four children.

  • B. CORWIN - merchant in Pleasantville, b. 6 March 1838 in NY, s/o William and Lydia A. SMITH Corwin; md. in 1868 to Martha A. BEEBE.

  • R. M. DAVIDSON - merchant in Pleasantville; b. 28 Sept 1852 in Buffalo, NY, s/o Charles and Jane MILNE Davidson; md. Clara H. WILLOUGHBY, d/o C. A. Willoughby of Pleasantville; one known daughter, Clara.

  • G. H. DUNHAM - oil producer; b. 27 Oct 1854 in Warren Co., PA; s/o M. B. and Mary M. PEARSON Dunham; engaged in oil production in 1888 in area of Pleasantville; md. in 1885 to Fannie E. CROSBY who died in 1889.

  • Samuel FLEMING - farmer; s/o John Fleming who died abt. 1780 leaving a widow, Sarah, who removed to Oil Creek Twp. with her six children. Samuel md. Jane McCLINTOCK, d/o Hamilton McClintock, Sr.; eleven children, five of whom were: Sarah, md. Samuel LYTLE; Louisa, md. Edward SEELEY; G. W., b. 20 Oct 1821, md. Hannah STEWART; Samuel Lawrence, b. 25 May 1829, md. Hannah STAHL; John S., b. 5 Oct 1830, md. Hanna R. JAMISON.

  • John GREGG - farmer; b. 2 March 1836, s/o Richard and Mary WARD Gregg, natives of Ireland; md. in 1857 to Sarah REDFIELD, d/o Frederick Redfield of Oil Creek Twp.; children: William; Caroline, md. John McLAUGHLIN.

  • William F. HOUSE - wagon maker; b. 20 Aug 1839 in Cortland Co., NY, s/o Chester and Elizabeth WEBSTER House; in 1861 enlisted in Co. A, 83rd PA Vol.; md. in 1865 to Mary A. BENEDICT, d/o Aaron Benedict, Jr.; children: Frank, Ella, Jessie and Ed.

  • D. M. LOCKWOOD - merchant in Pleasantville and oil producer; b. 24 Jan 1862 in Oil Creek Twp., s/o Henry & Rachel SHELMADINE Lockwood; md. in 1887 to Kittie CONNELY, d/o Isaac Connely.

  • Archibald LYTLE - resident of Pleasantville; b. 12 Oct 1841 in Ireland; s/o William Lytle of Moneysharvin, Maghera, County Derry, North of Ireland; Archibald removed to Venango Co. and by 1888 resided in Pleasantville; served as elder in the Pleasantville Presbyterian Church; md. to Sarah A. KENNEDY, who was born in 1859 in Ireland, d/o John & Elizabeth BROWN Kennedy; children: William T. md. Clara STUCKLEY and John Archibald, md. Clair DUNHAM.

  • Judge Thomas Anderson MORRISON - b. 4 May 1840 in Pleasantville, s/o William & Elizabeth McMASTER Morrison; Company A, 121 Reg. PA Vol.; md. in 1870 to Helen S. GARDNER; children: Mary Elizabeth, b. 1874, md. 1894 to Samuel BELL; Thomas H., b. 1877, md. 1904 to Maud DAVIS.

  • William POOR - shoemaker & carpenter; native of Mass.; located in this area abt. 1818; md. Ritta Ann DART, b. in CT; children: Alonzo, b. 1 Jan 1818 in Crawford Co., md. 1844 to Elizabeth H. HENDERSON; Pomeroy, moved to Ohio; Nancy, md. Richard WATSON; Louisa, m. Henry GILLON; Levi, moved to Ohio & Illinois; Lydia, md. J. P. HENDERSON; Joseph B., moved to Pgh.; three other daughters.

  • Emmitt E. SMITH - b. 11 July 1860 in Warren Co., PA, s/o James Andrew & Elizabeth HORRIGE Smith; md. in 1902 to Eva ARNOLD, step-daughter of Edward G. TWITCHELL of Pithole; known children: Leland Carl and Miles Kermit.

  • James VANDERLIN - farmer; lived in Pleasantville, b. 14 Apr 1829 in Butler Co., PA, s/o Stephen & Eliza SEATON Vanderlin; settled in Cornplanter Twp. in 1857; md. 1852 to Nancy KERR, d/o John Kerr of Butler Co.; children: Matilda, md. Robert GRAHAM; Stephen; William; J. M., Effie. James remarried in 1892 to Eva SINGLETON of Utica, Venango Co.

  • Hiram VOORUS - livestock farmer and oil producer; b. Dec. 1856 near Syracuse, NY, s/o Andrew and Hannah TIBBITS Voorus; md. Melvina L. WATSON, d/o Robert and Delilah SPANGLER Watson; children: Grover Archie; Lena B., a teacher; Robert A.; Bessie B., a teacher; Blanche; Dorothy; Elizabeth; Marion Milton; Philip.

  • John WILSON, M.D. - Pleasantville; b. in the 1820s in Jackson Twp., then part of Sugar Creek Twp., d. 1893, s/o Major John & Catherine SUTLEY Wilson who resided in the valley of Sugar Creek; graduated from Cleveland Medical College in 1843; md. Elizabeth BROWN, d/o John and Mary Ann QUEEN Brown; children: Samuel Queen, md. Jessie HOUSE; John F., of NYC, an oil producer and heavy stockholder in the Tidewater Oil Company; two daughters died young.

Early Schools

  • Aaron Benedict built the first school house at Pleasantville in 1823. Austin Merrick was an early teacher in this school.

  • The first school house in Oil Creek Township was built in the woods at the head of a ravine called Plumdungeon, midway between the farms of William Poor and Samuel Fleming. The first male teacher was Hamilton Campbell, from Erie county, who taught several terms. George Granis and John Sanney were later teachers in this school.

  • An early school house was on the plank road a mile and a half from Pleasantville.

  • After the adoption of the public school system, two schools were established in Oil Creek Township - Prospect Hill, which took the place of the one at Plumdungeon, and the other at the plank road location.

  • Redfield school, located two and one-half miles from Titusville was added at a later date.

  • The area had ten schools during the time of the oil excitement.

  • Pleasantville area - The first union school was erected in 1853 and conducted by M. C. Bebee as principal and two assistants. A large brick building was erected in 1873 and the following were early principals: P. H. Stewart, J. T. Morton, George B. Lord, John L. Matox and J. W. Lackey.

Early Churches

  • Methodist Episcopal - A class was organized at the house of Samuel Gregg on Oil Creek in 1804 by Rev. Andrew Hemphill, of which John Gregg, Hannah Gregg and Sally Stevenson were members. Records give evidence of an organization at Pleasantville in 1821 with the preacher being Zachariah Paddock and the presiding elder being Gleason Fillmore. A church was built in 1846, mainly through the efforts of David Henderson and William Dawson. A later church edifice, erected by a building committee composed of William Newkirk, James L. Connely, George Zevier, J. N. Tyrell and S. A. Squires, was dedicated June 19, 1870.

  • Allegheny Baptist - Aaron Benedict took measures for the organization of a society at the village of Pleasantville. First members were: Mr. and Mrs. John Tennant, Mrs. David Copeland, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Benedict and Mrs. Ira B. West. The church edifice, a frame structure, was dedicated January 6, 1849. The site was given by Aaron Benedict two years previously. A school house east of the village was the place of worship prior to that date.

  • Pleasantville Presbyterian - In 1843-44, the first church building erected at Pleasantville was situated upon the ground owned by the Presbyterian Church. Reverend Hogg was the first to preach here, and Reverend John R. Slentz filled the pulpit for many years.

  • Mount Vernon Presbyterian - This church was organized on June 5, 1860, several miles east of Pleasantville. A church edifice was dedicated January 8, 1870, Reverend Cyrus Dickson, D. D., and J. Jones Smyth, officiating. The following elders were installed during the years 1860 to 1882: Charles Davidson, Francis Ashton, Benjamin Corwin, E. O. Emerson, G. W. Underwood, Samuel Harsh, Samuel Q. Brown, Thomas Chattle, Joshua Noyes, Alfred Lamb and R. M. Davidson.

  • Jerusalem United Brethren - This church was located a mile from Pleasantville at a school house. Jonathan Selden was the first class leader. A church building was built on land given by G. W. Spangler.

  • Pleasantville United Brethren Church - Reverend P. Butterfield formed the organization at this place. The church edifice was erected and dedicated December 6, 1885, by Bishop J. Weaver. Reverends L. L. Hager, D. C. Starkey, N. R. Luse, Anselm Brazee, J. W. Lewis, and O. J. Gage were among the pastors in charge of Pleasantville circuit in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Cemeteries

The numbers on this list correspond with the map in the Heritage Room of the Oil City Library which is staffed by the Venango County Genealogy Club.
  • ____ Caswell -private and not located
  • _____ Fairview
  • R100 Grandin
  • Y1 Jerusalem Corners
  • Y2 Miller Farm
  • R8 Connell
  • R5 Old Pleasantville, "Memory Acres"
    Page 733 of the History of Venango County, 1890 edition, gives the following partial listing of pioneers and older citizens of the community who were buried in the Pleasantville Cemetery:
    • John Grandin, d. 22 Dec 1833, aged 76 y
    • John Tennent, d. 2 March 1840, aged 72 y
    • Rev. Walter Holmden, d. 15 May 1840, aged 60y 11m 6da
    • James Dustin, 26 Aug 1767 - 2 June 1852
    • Ebenezer Byles, d. 13 Aug 1852, aged 72y 1m 9da
    • Benjamin Tyrrel, d. 12 Sept 1852, aged 66y 10m 1d
    • William Porter, d. 15 Oct 1853, aged 71y 5m 13da
    • Lyman Watkins, d. 15 June 1854, aged 71y 6m 13da
    • Stephen Loveless, d. 25 January 1855, 61y
    • John Culbertson, d. 5 Sept 1856, aged 63y 2m 10da
    • Aaron Benedict, d. 20 Mar 1860, aged 81y 1m 3da
    • Henry Lockwood, d. 11 Aug 1861, aged 70y 5m 19da
    • Amos Hall, d. 9 March 1863, aged 73y 4da
    • Abraham Lovell, d. 13 Jan 1865, aged 79y, 7m 22da
    • Nathaniel Blaisdell, d. 16 Sept 1871, aged 73y 1m 16da
    • William Zuver, d. 2 April 1872, aged 79y
    • James Howe, d. 12 Sept 18875, aged 72y
    • Austin Merrick, d. 6 Aug 1876, aged 75y

Sources

  • History of Venango County Pennsylvania, Its Past and Present , Chicago, IL; Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers; 1890; pp. 723 - 734; 1104 - 1111.
  • Venango County Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol II, Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co.,1919

    Contributors:
    Joyce Grill(i) Neidich - Ancestral & Historical Research Venango County

    Karen S. Golden Rodgers - FAMILY TREE RESEARCHER

    Penny Haylett Minnick
    Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription ofinformation from both early and late (current contributors) work.

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