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VICTORY TOWNSHIP


Venango County Map 1903

This township was formally erected 6 Sep 1876 from a portion of Sandy Creek Twp.

SPRINGVILLE - In the late 1800s, this village, known as a postoffice under the name of BALLIET, included a hotel, store and a few houses. In the mid 1800s the village consisted of a dwelling built by Reuben DOUTT and was occupied as a hotel. Abraham BALLIET kept the first store in this location.

Early Pioneer Folks

  • John Hawthorne BLAIR - b. 15 May 1823, s/o Robert H. & Nancy EAKIN Blair of Butler Co., PA; m. Amelia 'Emily' GRIFFIN, d/o William Griffin of Irwin Twp.; children: William Marion, m. Eleanor Amanda HENDERSON, b. 16 Jan 1851, d/o Thomas & Catharine BONNER Henderson of Clinton Twp.; George A., m. Mary Ann SUTTON; Elmer E.; James A; Ann, m. John McMILLAN; Ed; Byron; Sarah. Amelia Griffin Blair died at the old homestead 1 1/2 mile south of Springville at age 76.

  • William CATHER - b. 18 Jul 1821 in Mercer Co., s/o John Cather, a native of MD; m. 1873 to Mary SMITH.

  • George DEWOODY - b. Abt 1751, County Antrim, Ulster, Ire., d. 1807; arrived abt 1796 in this valley; m. Martha CUNNINGHAM; children: John, b. 1772, m. Annis McCULLOUGH; William, b. abt 1774, m. Mary LYON; Robert, b. 1782, d. 1824, buried Pioneer Cem., Franklin, PA; Nancy, b. abt 1784, m. William HAYS; Andrew, m. Ellen SUMNER; George, b. 1792, d. 21 May 1849, buried Pioneer Cem., Franklin, PA, m. Hannah LOWRY; Betsy, b. abt 1800.

  • William DEWOODY - b. Abt 1774, County Antrim, Ulster, Ire., d. 15 Apr 1837, s/o George & Martha CUNNINGHAM Dewoody; m. Mary LYON, b. abt 1784 in MD, d. 10 Feb 1861; children: George, b. 1803, m. 1828 to Margaret BLACK; Jane, b. abt 1805, m. William HILL; William, b. 1807, m. in 1833 to Mary FOSTER; Nancy, b. 1809, m. David KINNEAR; Eliza, m. Alexander McGARVEY; Martha, m. John BLACK; Margaret, b. 1819, m. 1. James GRIFFIN & 2. Essington KEPHART; Andrew, b. 28 Jan 1820, m. Rachel BARDUE; Thomas; John, b. 8 Jun 1824, m. Sarah Ann GREEN.

  • John DEWOODY - b. 1772 in County Antrim, Ulster, Ire., d. in 1842, s/o George & Martha CUNNINGHAM Dewoody; settled near the old Pittsburgh Road; served in War of 1812; m. Annis McCULLOUGH, b. abt 1778, d. 25 Dec 1855, buried in Pioneer Cem., Franklin PA; children: George; William; Robert, m. Elizabeth McBRIDE; John, b. Nov 1806, m. Margaret KILGORE; Andrew; Benjamin; Sarah, m. __ FORD; Nancy, m. James KILGORE.

  • John C. DEWOODY - s/o Robert and Elizabeth McBRIDE DeWoody; m. in 1866 to Agnes A. HENDERSON, d/o William & Sarah DeMARS Henderson; children: Mary A., m. Clayton PARK; Sarah E.; Effa J.; Margaret M; Myrtie A.; Orvil G.; Howard; and William E.

  • Jacob HARLAN / HARLAND - b. 23 Nov 1843 in Lawrence Co., PA, s/o Jonathan and Lydia STUDEBAKER Harland; came with parents to Venango Co. in 1856; veteran of the Civil War; m. Mahala J. WHITESELL, b. 1850 d. 1914, d/o Nicholas Whitesell; Jacob & Mahala settled in area of Victory Twp.; children: Ebner; Silas; Lydia Viola, m. Gusta Domer McELPHATRICK; Jacob; Amy, & Edna.

  • Philip HECKARD- 18 Jan 1805 - 28 Oct 1890, s/o John & Catherine Heckard; m. 1829 to Juliana ERB, b. 18 Jun 1812, d. 1895, d/o Peter & Christina KUHNS Erb; children of Philip & Juliana: Matilda, b. 12 Mar 1831, m. Samuel REISS / RICE; Anna Cathrina, b. 28 Aug 1832, m. Samuel SHAEFER / SHAFFER; Maria, b. 25 May 1834; John, b. 14 Dec 1838, d. 26 Jul 1864 in Civil War, buried Arlington Nat'l Cem.; Elizabeth, b. 3 Jul 1841, m. Thomas STEWART; Julia, b. 24 Dec 1843, m. 1. Joseph STEEN & 2. __ WHANN; Henrietta, b. 2 Oct 1846, m. __GRIFFIN; Malinda, b. 24 Feb 1849, m. Robert SHORTS; Alfred Pearce, b. 5 Nov 1850, d. 25 Jun 1928, m. Barbara Jane CLAY, d/o David & Catherine GROVE Clay; Philip, m. Duskey __; Samuel; Lena, m. __SHONTZ.

  • William HENDERSON - lived in Pearl; m. Sarah DeMARS; children: Eleanor, d. 25 Aug 1871, m. 1. to Chester Wells SHINER, s/o Andrew & Nancy BLEAKLEY Shiner of Clinton Twp., & 2. Monroe FURY / FUREY; Agnes Ann, m. John C. DEWOODY.

  • John HILL - b. 16 Dec 1826, d. 19 Jul 1910 in Kansas, s/o William & Jane DEWOODY Hill; m. 13 Dec 1849 to Mary Ann STEPHENSON; children: William, b. 31 Jan 1851, d. 1894, m. Sarah WOXWORTH; Margaret Jane, b. 11 Apr 1853, d. 6 Feb 1933, m. in 1882 to Thomas MONTGOMERY in Kansas; Frederick, b. 1857, d. 1857; Miles S., b. 23 Mar 1859, d. 11 Jul 1949 in Nebraska, m. 1885 in Kansas to Georgia May MITCHELL; Mary Louisa, b. 1861, d. 1867; Lavina, b. 11 Sep 1863, d. 15 Nov 1932, m. George BAUM; Albert Marvin, b. 3 Dec 1866, d. Feb 1947, m. Mary E. JONES; Cora Lena, b. 23 Jul 1869, d. 17 May 1965, m. Steven HENDERSON; Myrtle, b. 1 Jan 1875, d. 10 apr 1955, m. Oliver T. GATES.

  • George McCLELLAND - b. abt 1778 in Ballabay, County Monaghan, Ulster, North Ireland, s/o George & Janet McKNIGHT McClelland; d. 18 Feb 1834 in NY, buried in Franklin, PA; m. 1801 in Westmoreland Co., PA to Agnes SEATON, d. 24 Nov 1842, d/o George & Nancy AMBERSON Seaton of N. Ire.; located in Victory Twp. in 1803 near Springville; moved to Franklin in 1806 and held many county offices; publisher of Venango Democrat, the second newspaper in the county; children of George & Agnes: Jane, m. Dr. Nathaniel D. SNOWDEN; Margaret, m. Arnold PLUMER; John, m. Eleanor PURVIANCE of Butler, PA; Nancy, m. Judge John BREDIN of Butler, PA; Harriet; Eliza, m. Samuel F. DALE, s/o Colonel Samuel & Eliza GUNDAKER Dale of Franklin, PA; George Crogran, m. Ruth S. RHOADS; and Joseph. George McCLELLAND is buried in Franklin Cemetery.

  • Col. William SHORTS - b. 8 Jul 1805 in Butler Co., PA, d. 13 Dec 1885 in Jacksonville, FL, s/o Robert & Mary PORTER Shorts; m. 1826 to Martha Jane WITHERUP, d/o John & Mary BROCKINGHAM**or TON? Witherup; children: Robert C., m. Catharine BUNNELL; John; William; Henrietta, m. 1853 to John McKISSICK; Elizabeth; Mary; Ann H., m. in 1863 to A.C. BALLIETT; and Abraham.

  • Robert Crispin SHORTS - b. 7 Sep 1826, s/o Col. Wm. & Martha J. WITHERUP Shorts; m. Catharine BUNNELL, b. 1834, d/o Alfred & Rachel CANNON Bunnell; children: Elwilda Viola, d. at age 1; William Lawrence, m. Elizabeth GALLOWAY; Florence Floretta, m. Leo HEASLEY; Martha Maud, m. Robert Hawthorne BLAIR, b. 1861, s/o James W. & Margaret BYERS Blair; Buena Vista Kate, m. 1. William BEAVER, 2. Franklin DAVIS; Mary Ellen.

  • John WAREHAM - b. 3 Sep 1831, d. 1890, s/o John & Elizabeth STEVENS Wareham of Irwin Twp.; served in PA Cavalry; settled in area of Victory Twp. in 1865; m. 1853 to Nancy McKinley PHIPPS, 1837 - 1911, d/o Major John & Barbara Kelse HOFFMAN Phipps; children: Silas, 1855-1930, m. 1874 Esther HARLAN; Sullivan, 1857-1929, m. 1889 to Annie SUTTER; Martin Van Buren, 1859-1924, m. Margaret Ann RAINEY; Barbara Elizabeth, 1861-1921, m. 1885 Jackson J. KILGORE; George B. McClellan, 1863-1906; Philip, b. 1865, m. Sarah KULOUS; Ella May, 1867-1939, m. 1892 William Andrew FORD; John A., 1869-1942, m. 1899 Sarah Elizabeth HENDERSON; Jacob Domer, 1871-1911; Mary Esther, 1874-1956, m. Francis James EAKIN.
    The following names are from the 1865 Map of Venango County compiled from Official Survey. The area which is shown as Victory Twp. on the 1903 map (above) was part of Sandy Creek Twp. in 1865.
    B. DEWOODY, J. KILGORE, J. DEWOODY, A.C. MORRISON, WHANN, J. CATHER, David GREEVSHEW, R.C. SHORTS; CLARK Oil & Mining Co., CANNELL Oil Co., D. WITHERUP, W. SHORTS, J. BLAIR, D. McMILLIN, S. SMITH, Farm Pet Co., J. PETTIT, J. McELPHATRICK, J. MORRISON, J. SCOTT, P. BAKER, IRWIN & BLEAKLEY; W. WILLIAMS & heirs.

    Early Schools

  • The community erected a log building near the summit of Sandy Hill on land of Samuel IRVINE. Colonel William SHORTS secured the first teacher, Stewart GALLOWAY. William Brutus GORMAN, David MOORE & Ethan STOUT were also among the early teachers in this school.
  • A second school was on the McMILLIN farm and Tamar WILLIAMS was the first teacher there.

    Early Churches

  • Hebron Church of the Evangelical Association - First services were held at the school house near Springville in1868 and a class of 14 members was formed. Clark FERRY was the first leader, John C. DEWOODY was exhorter and among other members were: Mr. & Mrs. J.R. DODDS; Thomas DEWOODY; Mrs. Elizabeth DEWOODY. The frame building on the Pittsburgh Road was erected in 1870-71. The ground occupied was under lease from Richard MONJAR and Andrew SHINER, trustees of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Reverends CROSSMAN, WOODHULL, MYERS, & SCOBERT were the first preachers, followed by J.W. ARKLESS, J.W. PLOTTS, J.J. CARMANY, John GARNER, John DOMER, G.W. DUNLAP, M.L. WEAVER; G.W. FINECY, A.C. MILLER, F.J. STRAYER, D.M. BAUMGARDNER & Charles CRAMER. M.L. WELTON was the first Sunday School Superintendent.
  • Hickory Grove Church, Church of God - The organization was effected at the Lyons' school house with Samuel HOVIS & John WAREHAM being the first elders. R.C. SHORTS & Coulter HOFFMAN were later elders. Samuel HOVIS was the first Sunday School Superintendent. The church ediface was built in 1882. Rev. J.W. DAVIS was a later pastor.

    Cemeteries


    Listing of burials and dates in Venango County cemeteries, plus history of churches..
    8-1/2 x 11. Paper cover. Index. Volume 1 Irwin, Mineral, Victory Townships
    Price each $15.00, Postage $2.00, PA Tax $.90
    Venango County Historical Society, P.O. Box 101,Franklin, PA 16323, 814-437-2275

    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.
    Y71 Dewoody - Henderson/Ford
      • John C. Dewoody, 1840 - 1904
      • Agnes Henderson Dewoody, 1847 - 1915, w/o John C.
      • William Henderson, 1818 - 1888
      • Sarah DeMars Henderson, d. 22 Sep 1861, w/o Wm.
    Y72 Hebron
      • J. H. Blair, 15 May 1823 - 4 July 1896
      • Amelia Griffin Blair, 5 Oct 1827 - 12 July 1903
      • Chester Wells Shiner, 1836 - 25 Dec 1863
    Y73 Hickory Grove
      • George McSparren, 19 Oct 1845 - 1926
      • Rachel Sutton McSparren, 23 June 1846 - 2 Dec 1929
      • Ann Manson Blair, 1830 - 1925
      • Anna May Blair, 1885 - 1885, dau of Aaron & Delilah
      • John F. Blair, 1872 - 1953
      • Mary A. Blair, 1878 - 1944, w/o John F.
      • Samuel Hovis, d. 22 Jul 1890
      • Eliza C. Hovis, 1826 - 1918, w/o Samuel
      • Robert C. Shorts, 1826 - 1901
      • Catherine B. Shorts, 1834 - 1904, w/o Robert C.
      • William Lawrence Shorts, 1856 - 1944
      • Lizzie Shorts, 1869 - 1943, w/o W.L.
    Y74 McMillin
    Y75 Shorts
      • Col. William Shorts, 8 July 1805 - 13 Dec 1885
      • Martha J. Witherup Shorts, d. 1 Jan 1881, w/o Wm.
      • Elizabeth Shorts, d. 17 Apr 1865, dau of Wm & MJ
      • John Shorts, d. 16 Mar 1857, s/o Wm & MJ
      • William W. Shorts, 1891 - 1969
      • Adelia K. Shorts, 1897 - 1986, w/o Wm. W.
    Sources:
    * History of Venango County Pennsylvania, Its Past and Present , Chicago, IL; Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers; 1890; pp. 740 - 744; 1037 - 1040
    *Venango County Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol II, Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co.,1919
    *Dewoody Records - Chronicles of Three Families of the Name, compiled by Newton E. Brightwell II, Baltimore; Gateway Press, Inc., 1989, p 523.
    * Venango County Pennsylvania Death Book Summary & Index 1893-1905, compiled by Joan Search Hanson, C.G. and Kenneth L. Hanson, Ph. D. This book may be purchased from the Venango Co. Historical Society, P.O. Box 101, Franklin, PA 16323 or from Closson Press, 1935 Sampson Drive, Apollo, PA 15613 - 9208. Price: $35.95 + $4.00 postage/handling. PA residents add 6% sales tax.

    Contributors:

    Nancy Romig - Phipps, Wareham

    Barbara Wenzelburger - Heckard

    Nancy Whipple Erbland - Shiner, Henderson

    Christopher D. Rumbaugh & "Grandmother" - Dewoody, Hill

    Janita Mason Ponze - McClelland

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

    Karen S. Golden Rodgers

    Penny Haylett Minnick

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

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