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IRWIN TOWNSHIP



Venango County Map 1903

Towns / Areas

  • Mechanicsville - now Wesley - This area was part of the land belonging to John Ross; in 1840 Ayers Ross-son of John built a blacksmith shop and a log cabin which were the first buildings erected inside the limits of this village.
  • Barkerville-Barkeyville, Named for Henry Barkey 1810-1889 also once known as "The Corners", McMurdy's Corners and Beatty's Corners. A store that used to be at -The Corners was owned first by the George McMurdy family and then to the Beatty family. Barkeyville became a borough in 1968.
  • Necktarine/Nectarine
  • Yard's Crs
  • Coal Mine

    Schools / Churches

  • Barkeyville School
  • Beech School
  • Bullion School
  • Pike School
  • Amity School
  • Yard's School
  • Eakin's School
  • Jones School
  • Walter's School
  • Mechanicsville/Wesley School
  • Irwin U. P. Church
  • Pleasantview M.E. Church
  • Amity Presb. Church
  • Porter M.E. Church
  • Other towns in Irwin Twsp are: Maple Springs, just south of Barkeyville; and Pearl, located in the northeast corner.
    Venango Path Marker: A ceremony was held Aug. 23, 1987 at Mayes Forks, Wesley to unveil the official Historical Marker provided by the PA Historical & Museum Commission. The marker reads as follows:A major Indian path from the Forks of the Ohio-Pittsburgh to Venango-Franklin was located just west of here. George Washington used it in traveling north to Fort LeBoeuf in 1753. Capt.Jonathan Hart widened the path in 1787 on his way to build Fort Franklin. Here at Mayes Forks, the house on the NW corner was a major hotel-and a mail and stagecoach stop-during the early Nineteenth Century.

    Folks

  • Samuel M. ADAMS - b. 26 May 1844 near Mechanicsville Wesley, son of Samuel Adams that was born abt. 1794 in Muddycreek Twp., Butler Co., PA; Samuel M. married Emily CORBETT of Franklin, daughter of Isaiah Corbett; children: John, a farmer in Oregon; Ollie, m. Baker HOVIS of Oil City; Carl, also a farmer in Oregon; Mary, m. Clarence Glenn COULTER of Irwin Twp.

  • William BAKER - came to Irwin Twp. from Westmoreland Co., PA in 1805 children: John; Peter and William, who were twins; Philip; Eva, m. Jacob HOFFMAN; Polly, m. Robert McCONNELL; Elizabeth, m. Philip SURRENA; Katie, m. Francis VOGUS; Nancy, m. Jacob JACOBS.

  • Henry BARKEY - b. 1810 in Montgomery Co, PA; son of Abraham & Catharine Barkey in 1851 Henry located on the site of Barkeyville and was engaged in mercantile pursuits; married Elizabeth LATCHAW and had one daughter, Catherine, wife of Abraham HUNSBERGER.

  • Israel BEACH - b. 14 March 1819; son of Stephen W. & Sarah SIMPSON Beach; married in Irwin Twp. 25 Dec 1839 to Martha BAKER, daughter of William and Mary WALTERS Baker; children: Juliana; Mary; Maria; Sarah J.; Wheeler W.; John; Keller; Lewis; Samuel B.; Israel; Martha, and Ellen.

  • William BEIGHLEA - b. 11 Jan 1818, d. 13 Feb 1897; moved from Butler Twp. to Irwin Twp. abt. 1853; married Elizabeth SHANER; six children, three of whom were: Mary R., b. 1862, m. Fulton Boyd HOVIS; Elizabeth, m. M.V. SMITH; Susanna, m. Steffy GRIFFIN.

  • Archibald Davidson BONNER - b. 3 Jan 1814, d. 4 July 1881; son of Johnand Nancy Bonner; Archibald's farm was 1 1/2 miles from the PleasantviewM.E. Church; married in 1844 to Susanna HOVIS, daughter of William andSarah BAKER Hovis; Susanna died 3 Oct 1908; children: William Harvey, b.22 April 1846, m. 1. Emma Jane FOSTER, daughter of James Foster and 2.Mary Rose BEIGHLEA; James Alvin, b. 18 Oct 1847, oil driller andsuperintendent with Phillips Brothers, m. 1866, Catherine E.RIDDLE;Clarinda, b. 1849, m. 1867, Richard HENDERSON; Mary Jane, b. 1851, m.Isaac R. GALLOWAY; Julia, b. 26 Dec 1854, m. Cyrus C. MATTHEWS;Catherine, b. 1858, m. John W. KINDER; Sadie, b. 1861, d. 9 Oct 1884. Archibald and Susanna Bonner and many family members are buried inPleasantview Cemetery, Irwin Twp.

  • Thomas BULLION - came from MD to Irwin Twp. abt. 1797; married Nancy KELSO no children; operated a distillery on his farm; the great Bullion oil district, a post office, a school, and a small run and a town perpetuate his name in both Irwin and Clinton Twp.

  • Daniel CASSIDY - farmer; b. 1817; son of William & Sara HOFFMAN Cassidy; in 1839 Daniel was a driver on the stage line between Pittsburgh and Butler and in 1843 located in Mechanicsville Wesley; married in 1847 to Julia A. HAMILTON, daughter of Chauncey Hamilton.

  • Thomas COULTER - b. 12 Feb 1829 in Wolfcreek Twp., Mercer Co., PA and d. 15 Sept 1906 in Irwin Twp.; son of John and Sarah BRANNON Coulter; settled on part of an area farm known as the McCURDY farm: married Elizabeth A. GLENN, daughter of John and Sarah KILGORE Glenn; Elizabeth was b. 21 Dec 1835, d. 4 Feb 1893; children of Thomas and Elizabeth: Morry Kilgore, farmer near Grove City, PA; Sarah, died at age 19; Margaret, died at age 26; Julia, m. Charles A. EAKIN of Grove City, PA; Frances Luella "Lulie", b. 1868 m. Cecil/Cyril B. YARD; Ina, m. William HODIL; Osta, m. Homer PETTIT; Clarence, b. 21 Sept 1875, m. Mary ADAMS, daughter of Samuel M. Adams; Clinton Plummer, a teacher and merchant, b. 27 Nov 1877.

  • Henry CRULL - ca. 1776 he located on farm later owned by Hezekiah MAYS.

  • Adam DINSMORE - native of Ireland and settled ca. 1776 upon land later owned by C.C. HOFFMAN.

  • David D. EAKIN - b. 16 Sept 1840 in Irwin Twp, d. 16 July 1917; son of William A. and Isabella KELLY Eakin; married Elizabeth CHAMBERS of OH; children: Hester Elizabeth, m. 1902, Clarence O. CLEMENS; Clyde William, m. Emma Florence ADAMS; Lottie Blance, m. 1906, John Henry WORLEY; John Norman, m. 1915, Bessie STERRETT; Ernest Edwin, m. 1917, Lela Lottie SMITH; Bessie May, m. 1918, Clyde Moon WORLEY.

  • EAKIN - YARD - PDF family file

  • Thomas GALLOWAY- came to U.S. at age of 17 and was a farmer and merchant at Mechanicsville/Wesley by 1851; served many years as Justice of the Peace; married Sarah GHOST; children: Craft C.; Isaac R., inherited family farm south of Mechanicsville, m. Mary Jane BONNER, daughter of Archibald Bonner; John, obtained farm near that of his brother, Isaac; Ellen, m. Walter EAKINS.

  • John GILMORE- b. 15 Oct 1804 third son of Joseph Gilmore; built the second grist mill in area and engaged in farming; was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1840; married Nancy PETERS of Mercer Co., PA; children: Angeline, m. Daniel HOFFMAN; Lucy Ann, m. Craft WALTER; Esther L., m. James KIMES; Eusebia, b. Aug 1841, m. Walter HOVIS in 1866; Joseph, . m. Mary __ ; Alexander b. 1833, miller, m. Nancy Amos SHONTZ and had 12 children; Jefferson, b. 1835, carpenter and agriculture, m. Nancy YARD, daughter of Benjamin R. Yard; William H., b. 1843, m. 1. Martha L. WALTER, daughter of David Walter and 2. J. Wilson BAKER; William; and Thomas.

  • Steffy GRIFFIN - born in Irwin Twp., son of William & Mary Ann STEFFY Griffin; due to his father's death when Steffy was 10, he went to live an the adjoining farm of Robert STERRETT; settled on own farm at a later date at Mechanicsville Wesley; married Susanna BEIGHLEA, daughter of William & Elizabeth SHANER Beighlea; children four died when very young: Minnie, died in 1893 at age 15; Gertrude, m. Edward JOHNSON; Hosea B, m. Blanch RICHARDS; John William, m. Edith DITZENBERGER .

  • John HENDERSON - native of Ireland; served in War of 1812 in a company from Mercer Co., PA; m. Mary KARL; children: Robert; William, Jonathan; Joseph, m. 1 Jane BAGLEY, 2 Rebecca HAWTHORNE W.; Mary; Margaret, and Leslie.

  • Richard HENDERSON - b. 1847 in Irwin Twp., d. 17 Mar 1906; son of George and Laura WILSON Henderson of Westmoreland Co., PA George was first married to Eliza FREELAND; Richard married in 1867 to Clarinda BONNER, daughter of A.D. Bonner; children: William A.; Laura J.; George A.; Susie B.; Harry R.; Isaac V., and Francis A.

  • Ernest T. HOVIS - b. 23 March 1794 in Bedford Co., PA, d. 28 Feb. 1867 in Clintonville, PA; son of John Theodore and Nancy BAKER Hovis; Ernest was a stonemason and served at Erie in the War of 1812; in 1838 he purchased 250 acres in Irwin Twp.; married, 2 July 1811 to Margaret HOFFMAN; children: Nancy, b. 12 Aug. 1812, m. Martin FRITZ, 9 Oct 1834; Mary, b. 1814, m. Joseph FRITZ; John E., b. 1 Dec 1816 in Clintonville, m. Amanda SHERRAD, daughter of Henry Sherrard of Rockland Twp.; Catharine, m. Adam VOGUS; Adam W., b. 27 Feb 1821, d. 1866, m. Mary "Polly" SUTLEY IN 1855 IN Jackson Twp.; George William, b. abt 1823, d. 6 Feb 1871 in Irwin Twp.; David, Elizabeth, b. 1825, m. Joseph VOGUS; Julia Ann, m. Henry SUTLEY; Sara Jane, m. William HUNTER; Susanna, b. 11 Nov 1829, d. 6 June 1922 m. James McFadden BEATTY in 1852; Michael, b. 17 June 1834 in Irwin Twp, m. Julia Anne STOOPS in 1858, daughter of John and Margaret HOFFMAN Stoops; Ernest T., b. Dec 1837, d. 28 Jul 1838.

  • Stephen JONES - came from Scrubgrass Twp. to Irwin Twp. and located south of Mechanicsville/Wesley; served in the War of 1812; married Margaret McCOOL of Scrubgrass Twp.; children: Robert,m. 1 - and 2 Mrs. George McCURDY; Eliza; Margaret; Nancy; George; William, and Keller.

  • John J. KILGORE - b. 1776 d. 25 Nov 1883; came to Irwin Twp. in 1815; held offices of Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner and represented the county in the legislatures of 1852-53 and 1853-54; married Dorcas McCLELLAND; children: Margaret, m. John GILMORE; Jane; Elizabeth, m. William McKEE; Sarah, m. John GLENN; Mary, m. James MARTIN; Matilda, m. David KELLY; John; Sam; William; James; Andrew J., m. Susan BAKER, daughter of John Baker.

  • Isaac S. LATSHAW - b. 14 Nov 1853 near Harmony, Butler Co, PA grandparents settled on farm in Barkeyville in 1858; Isaac is son of Jacob and Mary STAUFFER Latchaw; Isaac married Henrietta STEWART on whose family farm they continued to live; Henrietta is the daughter of Francis Marion and Susan SHANNON Stewart; children of Isaac and Henrietta: Elma, m. Harry HOFFMAN; Edith, m. Hart HOFFMAN; Ola, m. Ord EAKIN; Grace, m. Fred McDANIEL; Boyd, m. Sadie McMILLAN; Edward, and Viola. Isaac died in 1923 and Henrietta died in 1924, both are buried in Clintonville Methodist Cemetery, Clinton Twp., Venango Co.

  • Jacob LATSHAW - b. Apr 1821, Berks Co., PA inherited the paternal farm at Barkeyville; married Mary STAUFFER, b. May 1821, Harmony, Butler Co., PA, daughter of Jacob and Mary HOCH Stauffer; children: Sarah, m. Eli CARNER; Lizzie, m. Daniel RAYSOR; Nannie, m. Robert WOODLING; Emma, m. James KELLEY; Sidney, farmer and carpenter in Rockland Twp., Venango Co., m. Sarah Lane SMITH; Isaac S., m. Henrietta STEWART; Austin, teacher and newpaper professions, m. Mary A. FILER; Jacob S., m. Minnie GHOST; Mary Ann, died when young; son Latchaw, died when young, and Levi, died when young.

  • Erastus F. LOUCKS - b. 1 Feb 1857 in Westmoreland Co,PA son of Rev. Peter and Anna FOX Loucks; was the principal of Barkeyville Academy; married in 1887 to Henrietta HUNSBERGER, daughter of Abraham Hunsberger, a merchant at Barkeyville.

  • Joseph S. MARSHALL - farmer near Nectarine, Irwin Twp son of Joseph R. and Julie STROUGHTON Marshall; married Mary Elizabeth DAUGHERTY, daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth EMERY Daugherty; children: Richard, owned a restaurant in Bradford, PA and died at age 26; Harry, an oil driller in Kansas oil fields; Burdell, oil driller in Venango Co., m. Julia MILLER; Mabel, m. William HAYES of Franklin and owner of Hygiene Bakery; Maud, m. James W. BERRINGER; Catherine, m. Bert WALDRON; Emma, moved to Detroit, MI; Grace, m. Fred McGRAW; and Paul.

  • David MARTIN - weaver; married Nancy RAMSEY in Ireland children: John; James; Polly, m. George McMURDY; Nancy, m. John SHEILDS; Jane, m. William SHEILDS; Betsey, m. Oliver WALDRON; Rosie, m. Joseph OSBORNE; Pattie, m. James MITCHELL.

  • Thomas MARTIN - well-to-do farmer, son of David Martin was born on ocean voyage to America; married in 1824 to Elizabeth BLEAKLEY, daughter of Joseph and Mary BOYLE Bleakley.

  • Joseph MARTIN - son of Thomas Martin b. 17 April 1832 and died 7 May 1917 farmer and Union man during Civil War; married Catherine PHIPPS, daughter of John Phipps; children of Joseph E. and Catherine: Mary Ann, m. Albert SURRENA; Barbara, m. John BEACH; James; John, b. 25 Aug 1859, m. Elizabeth Coast, daughter of Carlile and Gertrude HOFFMAN Coast of Nectarine; Richard; Jackson; Thomas; Elizabeth, m. E.B. EMERY; Willie, died in infancy; Mina, twin of Willie, m. Thomas McCONNELL; David, a doctor in Boston, MA; Maud, m. Frank SHAWGO.

  • Hezekiah MAYS - b. 1812 in Franklin Co., PA; son of William & Ellen WATSON Mays; conducted the tavern at May's Corners for many years and held various township offices; married in 1830 to Mrs. Jane COCHRAN of Irwin Twp.; children: Mary J.; Ellen; John; Robert, and Ezra W.

  • Michael McCLOSKEY - built a 'house of entertainment' in Mechanicsville about 1850.

  • Edward McFADDEN - native of Ireland; came to Luzerne Co.,PA and then to Irwin Twp. prior to 1800; children: William, John, Michael, Charles, Sarah and Mary.

  • Isaac McMURDY - tailor; abt. 1797 he and son George of Huntingdon Co., PA settled on a tract of land on the southwest border of Venango and Butler Counties where he established a production farm; married Ellen ___; chldren: George, m. Polly MARTIN, daughter of David Martin; John, m. 1 Jane GILMORE and 2 Nancy VOGUS, daughter of Francis Vogus; James, m. Elizabeth PORTER; and one daughter who married Jacob IZEL.

  • George McMURDY - came with his father Isaac McMurdy in 1797 to this area; built a hotel in 1812; purchased land that later formed part of Barkeyville;owned a store that used to stand on "The Corners" which is now the intersection of Route 8 and 208; m. Polly MARTIN and had 13 children, six of whom lived to maturity: John; Isaac; Polly, m. Michael McFADDEN; Nancy m. James McFADDEN; Mattie, m. Craft WALTER; and James.

  • James McMURDY - b. 25 Dec 1818 son of Isaac and Ellen McMurdy; m. in 1843 to Elizabeth PORTER; children: Louisa, m. Thomas KIMES; Adeline, b. 1846, m. Israel YARD; Nancy J.; Margaret, m. James ENFIELD; Martin; Ambrose; Calvin; and Curtis.

  • John McMURDY - b. 25 Nov 1809 son of Isaac and Ellen McMurdy; built a distillery in 1832 married 1 Jane GILMORE; children: George; Nancy; Isabella; Sarah, m. Robert SHAW; and Joseph; John married 2 Nancy VOGUS; children: Annie, m. Thomas SHAW; and Martha, m. Daniel JOSEPH.

  • Richard MONJAR - native of MD shoemaker; in 1797 secured tract of 300 acres which was located east of the Nectarine area; m. Elizabeth GHOST; children: Mary, b. 1807, m. Thomas Van DYKE; Frances, m. George CRAWFORD; Christina, m. James HOFFMAN; Sarah, m. Samuel RICHARDS; Barbara, b. 1824, m. Eli HOVIS; George K, b. 1806 in Irwin Twp., m. Eliza PERRY; Samuel B., m. Mary Ann HOVIS, daughter of John C. Hovis; Surrena; and Philip G.

  • Matthew Davidson MONTGOMERY - agriculturist in Irwin Twp. b. 27 Feb 1814 in Cumberland Co., PA; son of Robert and Rebecca Montgomery of Ireland; married 1 in 1835 to Nancy ANDERSON; 2 in 1837 to Elizabeth HANES; 3 in 1857 to Mrs. Mary Ann STEFFY GRIFFIN.

  • Jonathan MORRIS and family settled early in Irwin Twp. children: John; William James; Betsey; Rachel; Pattie, m. Washington EAKIN; Reuben, and Jane, m. Milo WELTON.

  • John Peter MOYER - son of John Peter Moyer located at Barkeyville as a young boy; learned the trade of painter; married Damie Ann RIDDLE- PHIPPS, daughter of William C. Riddle of Irwin Twp., Damie Ann was first married to Harvey C. Phipps and had son William Ord Phipps; children of John Peter and Damie Ann: Frank C., m. Catherine ROCKWELL; Harry Riddle, m. Fleta E. MORGAN.

  • Elias MYERS - son of George & Mary SHANER Myers; m. Julia CASIDAY, daughter of James & Rebecca KINCH Casiday.

  • William Clark RIDDLE - b. 6 Oct 1822 in Clinton Twp. Venango Co.; son of John & Esther CRAWFORD Riddle and grandson of Matthew and Elizabeth GILKEY Riddle; located in Irwin Twp. as a young man and purchased 100 acres of wooded land and developed his farm later owned by Charles KARNS; married Mary H. DAVIDSON, daughter of Archibald and Mary McDOWEL Davidson; children: George W., b. 6 Sept 1846, m. Mary Melissa EAKIN; Allister Davison, b. 25 July 1848, died at age of 5 years; John Alphonse, b. 4 May 1851, m. Mary Melissa STERRETT, daughter of Robert M. and Mary Ann KARNES Sterrett; Joseph C., b. 27 March 1854, shoemaker, m. Margaret STEEN; Damie Ann, b. 19 July 1856, m. John Peter MOYER; Mellvina Jane, b. 10 Nov 1858, died at age of 2 years; Erastus Leyburn, b. 15 Oct 1860, marble and granite trade in Rocky Grove, Venango Co., m. Sarah E. SMITH; and Benonia Grant, b. 23 July 1865, m. Mary Jane POINGLE.

  • Millard F. SMITH - b. 15 May 1856 in Irwin Twp.; purchased property in 1886 that was 3/4 mile northwest of May's Corners; married in 1887 to Mary Annetta -Nettie MATTHEWS, b. 1862, daughter of Joseph Matthews of Irwin Twp.

  • Valentine SMITH - ? - 1867 settled in Irwin Twp. and was the father of the following children: John; William; David; Francis M.; Samuel, born 1820 in York Co.,PA, farmer and butcher, m. Eliza McMULLIN; Sarah, m. Samuel PARK; Susan; Eliza; and Kate, m. Philip WALTER.

  • Alexander STERRETT/STERRITT - b. 24 Jan 1793 , d. 1844; son of John and Mary Elizabeth PATTERSON Sterrett; settled in Venango Co abt. 1834 from Beaver County, PA; married Margaret MONTGOMERY; children: Rebecca, m. William SIMPSON; John, b. 1824, lived with his brother Robert until his death at age sixty-eight; Robert Montgomery, m. Mary Ann KARNES; William, settled in Ohio; Matthew D., settled in Colorado; Thomas, died in childhood.

  • Robert Mongomery STERRETT - b. 22 June 1827 in Beaver Co. PA later Lawrence Co.; son of Alexander and Margaret MONTGOMERY Sterrett; followed farming and oil interests in many areas of western PA; Robert M. made a speciality of breeding Clydesdale horses; active in township affairs and education; married in 1851 to Mary Ann KARNES, daughter of Henry Karnes of Mercer Co., PA; children: Mary Melissa, m. John A. RIDDLE; Fulton B; Zonie Elemine, m. Sherman R. SMITH; Sadie, m. Wilbur YARD, and Ulysses Grant, m. Stella COLEMAN of Wolf Creek Twp., Mercer Co., PA.

  • Robert STOVER - lived in Irwin Twp and married 1 Mary J. __ and had children: Mary, b. ca. 1844; John, b. ca. 1846; Robert, b. ca. 1849; Richard, b. ca. 1852; married 2 Martha MAJOR, d. of Richard S. Major on 12 Oct 1856; children: Alice, b. ca. 1858; Eugene Gallagher, b. 1859; Buena Vista, b. ca. 1861; Irene, b. ca.1863; Carrie Wilhelm, b. 1865; Eddie, b. ca. 1867. Robert and Martha Stover lived first in Clinton Twp. and then in Sandy Creek Twp.

  • Reuben SUTTON - farmer and early settler; married Ann ARMSTRONG; children: Solomon, farmer and oil operator, m. Alma A. KNOWLTON; Reuben Jr., m. Mary SMITH, daughter of Valentine Smith; Elizabeth, m. Reuben SUTTON -no relation; and another daughter married William BIGLER.

  • Jacob Hoffman WALTER - b. 5 Oct 1846 born and died on same farm ; son of Jacob and Elizabeth HOFFMAN Walter; married 1 Nancy Jane ADAMS of Wesley and had children: Emily Florence, m. Richard MONJAR; and Clara Belle, m. Caleite HOFFMAN; Jacob married 2 Margaret McBRIDE who taught at Barkeyville and had James Phillip who was born 27 June 1891.

  • John WALTER - came to area abt. 1803-04 with his brother Peter; owned land lying in both Irwin and Clinton Twps. with residence in Irwin Twp.; married Magdalene CHRISTMAN; children: John, settled on farm near his uncle, Peter Walter; Jacob, b. 3 May 1800, m. Elizabeth HOFFMAN; Peter, died in Scrubgrass Twp., Venango Co.; Philip, father of Samuel Walter; Elizabeth, b. 28 Aug 1796 m. John C. HOVIS; Polly, m. William MORRIS; Christina, b. 1805, m. Ernest B. HOVIS, brother of John C. Hovis.

  • George WESTON - settled in Irwin Twp. in 1854; developed about 90 acres into a productive farm; married Annie M. HALL; children: David M., served in Civil War and died on the farm at age 33; Lena, m. Samuel SOPHER; Martha, m. John W. DUNLAP; Samuel Reed, b. 19 Oct 1846 in Huntingdon Co., PA, m. Mary YARD; William, a farmer in Cranberry Twp.; Jane, m. Calvin MONTGOMERY; Margaret, m. John McCORMICK; Belle, m. Richard ADAMS; Mary, m. John ADAMS; JULEA, m. Ayers HOFFMAN; Marjorie, m. Edward COCAINE; Adeline, m. Walter ADAMS; and George.

  • Robert WOODS - b. 29 Aug 1852; son of John and Margaret ANDERSON Woods; in 1886 became a merchant and Justice of the Peace in Mechanicsville Wesley; married in 1873 to Margaret J. CLINTON.

  • Benjamin R. YARD - farmer and cabinet maker; b. 19 Dec 1802 in NJ - d. 3 April 1892; son of John and Harriet BENSON Yard who settled in Irwin Twp. abt. 1816; Benjamin married 1 Catharine HOVIS, daughter of John and Susanna COGAN Hovis; children: John, b. 7 Dec 1825, d. 11 may 1915 in Irwin Twp. m. Mary MONTGOMERY; Susannah b, 28 Dec 1826 d. 1889, m. John AYERS; Sarah "Jennie" Yard, b. 9 Oct 1828, d. 23 Jun 1859 m. John Layton McFadden, Jr.; Elijah, b.7 May 1830, d. 1912, merchant and farmer; Nicholas, b. 29 Aug 1832, d. 1910, carpenter and farmer, m. Sarah TINTSMAN; David H. Yard, b. 19 Sep 1834 , d. 1836; Israel S., b. 7 Mar 1844, d. 14 Dec 1926, m. Adeline McMURDY; Mary "Nancy", b. 13 Mar 1836, d. 12 Apr 1904, m. Jefferson GILMORE, son of John and Nancy PETERS Gilmore;---- Benjamin R. married 2 Margaret PORTER, daughter of Alexander Porter; Jacob H. G., born 1839.

  • John YARD - b. 7 Dec. 1825 in Irwin Twp; died in Clintonville, 11 May 1915; son of Benjamin R. and Catharine HOVIS Yard; was a lifelong member of the Pleasant View M.E. Church; married Mary E. MONTGOMERY on 22 June 1845, daughter of Henry and Margaret DUNBAR Montgomery; children: Mary, b. 1851, m. Samuel R. WESTON; Nancy Ellen, b. 1856 m. Amos GILMORE; Wilbur M., located in Casper, WY m. Minerva STOWE ; and C.B., lived near Clintonville on the family farm, m. Frances L. COULTER on 3 Oct. 1888.

  • John YARD - native of New Jersey and Philadelphia, PA ; brought his family to Scrubgrass Twp. in 1812 and then to Irwin Twp. abt 1816; his descendants were from England and New Jersey and were active participants in the Rev. War; married Harriett BENSON; children: Theodosia; Benjamin, b. 1802, m. 1. Catharine HOVIS and 2. Margaret PORTER; Jane; John S.; Stephen; Zachariah; Sarah; Robert; Rufus; and Benson.

    Early Churches

  • Amity Presbyterian-1800: Among early members were: Thomas VAUGHN, William HENDERSON, Archibald HENDERSON, Samuel GILDERSLEEVE, Joshua COLEMAN, Robert WHANN, William DAVIDSON, John DAVIDSON, Ezra GILDERSLEEVE, Robert and William PATTERSON, John, William and John McCLARAN, John MOYNE, Samuel RIGGS, Thomas HENDERSON, John BONNER.
  • Irwin Church-Cumberland Presbyterian-ca.1838
    There is an old graveyard across from this church which has burials prior to 1820. The church was organized as The Cumberland Presbyterian Church at a meeting held in a grove near the home of Joseph Kennedy in 1838. A frame structure was built in 1842. The following are among those buried in this graveyard:
    George and Mary Shaner Myers
    William Beighlea b. 11 Jan 1818 d. 13 Feb 1897
    Elizabeth Shaner Beighlea, b. 29 Dec 1817 d. 21 June 1904, w/o Wm.
  • Barkeyville Church of God-at site of present Log Cemetery-1839 - among early members were the families of Thomas MARTIN, Jacob WALTER, Philip BEIGHLER, John AYERS, Thomas YORK and Henry BECK.
  • Barkeyville Church of God-Barkeyville-1867
  • Barkeyville United Methodist-1875 originally built under the name of Evangelical Assn.. of North America
  • Barkeyville Christian Missionary Alliance-1906 -now gone
  • Peters Chapel-Methodist-1st meetings-1845 among early members were: John C. HOVIS, Daniel McFADDEN, James WALTER, Craft McFADDEN, Robert HUTCHISON, John HUTCHISON, Jacob HOFFMAN, Philip WALTER, Mary WALTER, Ann WALTER, Amelia HOVIS, Mary MORRIS, Peggy J. FITZ, Freelove HOFFMAN, Mary A. McFADDEN, Marjorie McFADDEN, Catharine WALTER and Eli HOFFMAN.
  • Pleasantview Methodist Episcopal-1840 - among early members were: Stephen YARD, Solomon SUTTON, John F. HENDERSON, Chauncey HAMILTON, William HOVIS, John McMULLIN, John MORRIS, William ALLEN, Israel BEACH, Reuben SUTTON, Mary SUTTON, John McELPHATRICK, Margaret McELPHATRICK, Mary and Martha McELPHATRICK and Samuel BAKER.
  • Wesley Methodist-1888
  • Church of God of Prophecy-Nectarine
  • Church of God at Nectarine
  • Lighthouse Full Gospel Church

Cemeteries

Available through the Venango County Historical Society, P.O. Box 101, Franklin, PA 16323
Volume 1 Irwin, Mineral, Victory Townships - Listing of burials and dates in Venango County cemeteries, plus history of churches. 8-1/2 x 11. Paper cover. Index. Price each $15.00 Postage $2.00 PA Tax $.90
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.
R70 Amity -aka Mt. Irwin - chartered in 1887. Robert M. Sterrett organized the company and the land was purchased from J.D. McDowell and is located north of the Amity Church.
    • Caleb Russell b. 1792 Butler Co, PA d. 6 Jun 1842
    • Sarah Russell b. 1806 d. 12 Nov 1866 spouse of Caleb Russell
    • Samuel Smith d. 19 Aug 1880 h/o Eliza McMullin & son of Valentine Smith
    • Matthew Davidson Montgomery d. 3 March 1899
    • Mary Ann Steffy Griffin Montgomery d. 4 Dec 1897, w/o M.D. Montgomery
    • Sarah Kilgore Glenn & husband John Glenn
    • William C. Riddle, d. 3 Dec 1887 age 65y 1m 29da
    • Mary Davidson Riddle, d. 1 July 1892, wife of W.C. Riddle
    • Amos L. Gilmore, 1855-1941 son of Alexander & Nancy Gilmore
    • Nancy- Ellen Yard Gilmore, w/o Amos L. Gilmore
    • John Yard, b. 7 Dec 1825, d. 11 May 1915
    • Mary Montgomery Yard, w/o John Yard
    • Mary Yard Weston, 1851 - 1923, w/o Samuel Reed Weston, daughter of J. & M. Yard
    • Samuel Reed Weston
    • Nancy -Ellen- Yard Gilmore, 1856 - 1949, w/o Amos L. Gilmore
    • Amos L. Gilmore
    • C. Benjamin Yard, b. 1 Mar 1866, d. 1 Mar 1952
    • Frances L. Coulter Yard, w/o C.B. Yard

R71 Barkeyville
    • Barkey family members, Beatty family members & Hunsberger family members are buried in the Barkeyville Cemetery. Also:
    • David H. Yard 1834-1836, son of Benj R. & Catherine Yard
    • Nicholas Yard 1832 - 1910
    • Sarah Tintsman Yard, w/o Nicholas Yard
    • Celia C. Yard Smith 1861 -1898 daughter of Nicholas Yard
    • Harry W. Yard 1871 - 1903
    • Nancy E. -Nannie Yard , b. 3 Jan 1879, d. 8 Oct 1881 dau. of N. Yard
    • Israel S. Yard, b. 7 Mar 1844 d. 14 Dec 1926
    • Adeline McMurdy Yard, w/o Israel S. Yard
    • Ida Elizabeth Yard, b. 22 Dec 1875, d. 25 Aug 1877 daughter of I. Yard
    • John Elmer Yard, 1878 -1967

R72 Irwin -Kilgore
R73 Log
    • Nancy Hovis Fritz born Aug 12 1812 died Jun 18, 1910 w/o Martin Fritz
    • Martin Fritz
    • John Earnest Hovis d. 30 Oct. 1898
    • Amanda Jane Sherrad Hovis w/o John E. Hovis
    • Nicholas Hovis, b. 9 Nov 1840 d. 27 Jan 1892 son of J. E. & A. Hovis
    • Rosanna Naylor Hovis second w/o Nicholas Hovis
    • John Theodor Hovis b. 10 Apr 1848, d. 11 Apr 1906 son of J.E. and A. Hovis
    • Mary Ehler Hovis, w/o John Theodor Hovis
    • Michael Hovis d. 4 July 1870, son of E.T. & M. Hovis
    • Thornbury, Catherine d. June 1940, 81y

R74 Old Amity at Boiling Springs
R75 Peters Chapel
R76 Pleasantview
    • Benjamin R. Yard d. 3 April 1892
    • Catherine Hovis Yard b. 15 July 1803, d. 1856 w/o Benj R. Yard
    • Thomas Galloway & wife, Sarah Ghost Galloway
    • Reuben Sutton, Jr. & wife, Mary Smith Sutton
    • Francis M. Stewart d. 1877
    • Susan Shannon Stewart d. 1903, w/o F. M. Stewart
    • Mary -Nancy Yard Gilmore w/o Jefferson Gilmore d/o of Benj & C. Yard
    • Benjamin Homer Gilmore 1859 - 1930, h/o S.Marilla Baker Gilmore, s/o Jefferson Gilmore
    • Walter Hovis s/o Ernest & Christina Hovis
    • Laurence B. Hovis b. Feb 1870 , d. 1946
    • Anna C. Yard Hovis w/o Laurence B. Hovis
    • Elijah Yard 1830 - 1912
    • Ellen Yard w/o Elijah Yard
    • Adella S.4 Yard b. 1869 d. 15 Nov 1871, daughter of Elijah & Ellen Yard

R 77 Sutton
R81 Walter
R78 Wareham

Early Schools

From -Irwin Township, Older Than Venango County
Landowners who sold land to Irwin Twsp School District as recorded on deeds with dates and possible schools are:
    • William Mulholland- Beach-1843
    • J. L. & R. M. Henderson- Beach-1877
    • Thomas Boylore Bullion?- Bullion- 1855
    • Elijah & Ellen Yard along with Mary & Susanna Ghost- Eakin-1870, 1875
    • P. & Nancy Thornberry-?-1873 in Dog Hollow area
    • Conrad & Deborah Bollinger- Barkeyville-1876
    • James McMurdy- Barkeyville-1894
    • O. S. Davidson for William Davidson- Amity-1879
    • William & Mary Ann Hoffman- Yard-1879
    • Rebecca Miller- Walter-1880
    • William & H. N. Hovis- Pike-1881
    • Albert M. & Sarah E. Jones--1882
    • J. M. & Julia Eakin-Wesley-1893 perhaps additional ground to an already existing school of 1870
    • Verne Vincent- Irwin Township High School-1909

The high school held its first graduation class in 1910 with one student.
By 1954 all country schools in the township were closed. students attended the new school of the Victory Joint School District, grades 1-12, located in Irwin Twp. The district was comprised of Clintonville Borough, Clinton Twp., Irwin Twp., and Victory Twp.

Sources>

  • History of Venango County Pennsylvania, Its Past and Present, Chicago, IL; Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers 1890 pp. 525-535; 953-966.
  • Venango County Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol II, Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co.,1919
  • Irwin Township, Older Than Venango County, compiled by SylviaRussell Coast & Faye J. Smith for the bicentennial of Irwin Township in 1996. The book is available for $11.32 plus $2 for postage, .68 cents tax for PA residents at R. D. 1, Box 138 K, Harrisville, Pa 16038 . 143 pages, no index, interviews with 60 current or former residents of the area, some maps, history, advertisements of the times, etc.
Contributors
Sylvia M. Coast

Jean Morrison - Stover

Susan Cowles - John W. Riddle and Cross

Pam Shields - William Clark Riddle

John Stephen Kostick - Bonner, Gilmore, Hovis, Walter, Yard

Karen S. Golden Rodgers - Cemeteries in Irwin Twp

Darleen Ann Ritchey Berens - Russell

Peggy Grant - Latshaw

Emma Jean Smith - Eakin

Penny Haylett Minnick

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

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