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Venango County Map 1903

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP

This large township in Venango County was originally laid out in 1806 under the name of Fairfield. In 1830 it was reorganized to include part of Frenchcreek Twp. that was east of the Allegheny River and given the name Cranberry. At one time cranberries grew abundantly in this area.


Early Villages

  • Salina / Cranberry - located on an early turnpike road on land originally settled by James H. MILROY, a blacksmith who later laid out the lots for the village and probably gave the place its name abt. 1832. South of the pike was land owned by James BRANDON who laid out lots in 1865. SMULLIN & STEFFEE, Mrs. L.D. BARR and JONES & MOHNEY were among the first merchants. Mrs. L.D. BARR was the first postmistress.

  • Salem City / Seneca - Nicholas LAKE built the first house upon the site of this village and after a few years moved to Clarion Co., PA; then to Ohio and after to Mercer Co. PA where he died. William CRAIG was the first permanent settler and built the second house in the village. CRAIG sold part of his farm to John CROWNOGLE who in turn sold it to Andrew McCURRY, by whom the town was laid out and named. This town is now known as Seneca.

  • Hill City - derives its name from the Hill family and its existence from the excitement caused by the discovery of oil in 1886. The town was laid out by Cyrus S. MARKS & George POWELL for Samuel HILL, upon whose land it was situated.

  • Ten Mile Bottom - aka Tippeary - named from the fact of its location 10 miles from both Franklin and Fryburg on the state road. George MCOOL & Owen REED were early settlers in the vicinity. William THOMPSON kept the first store.

  • Bredinsburg - a lively oil village in 1870 and named in honor of Major James M. BREDIN, a leading oil operator in the area.


    Folks

  • M. L. BENNINGER - farmer & oil producer, b. 31 Jan 1852, s/o Nathaniel & Sarah A. BLANEY Benninger; m. 1872 to Alice MOREHEAD, d/o William & Margaret CRAIG Morehead; children: Sarah A.; William M.; Nathaniel; John; Nora B.; Samuel T.; Alvin J.; Richard E.; Jesse M.

  • William C. BIGLER - farmer and lumberman; b. 27 Dec 1835 in York Co., PA, s/o Philip & Eliza SMITH Bigler who settled in Irwin Twp. in 1838 and later removed to Cranberry Twp.; in 1861 William enlisted in the Fourth PA Cavalry and was wounded and discharged in 1865; m. in 1865 to Harriet A. WILSON, d/o Nathan & Mary COATS Wilson; children: Mary E; Harry N.; Laura N.; John P.; Charles W.; Lon F.; Harriet F.; Waid H., Zella E. The Bigler family was active in the Baptist Church of Salina.

  • Peter BLAUSER - b. 2 Apr 1821 in Dauphin Co., PA, s/o John & Susanna STRAW Blauser of Pinegrove Twp. ; m. Delinda SHERTS; children: John W., b. abt 1849; Charles Wesley, b. 29 Dec 1850, m. Emma Jane LINTZ; Henry, b. 1853, m. Minnie __; Joshua, b. 29 May 1853, m. Elizabeth WEBB; Sarah, b. abt 1856; Leah, b. abt 1859; Enos Sherts, b. 15 Oct 1861, m. Sarah Margaret MOORE; Peter A., b. 27 June 1864; Edwin Emmett, b. 30 Mar 1873, m. Retta Florence MOON.

  • John Owen BOYLE - married Mary BROGAN , both natives of County Donigal, Ire.; resided in Lancaster, Lebanon and Centre Counties; removed to Venango Co. abt 1834 where they settled on a tract of 250 acres in Cranberry Twp.; eight sons and two daughters were born to them; Michael, died in Ireland; Rosanna, m. John BYRNES; John, died in Illinois; Owen; Jacob; Sarah, m. __KING; Michael; Charles, moved to Kansas; Timothy, died in the Mexican War; Francis.

  • John BYRNES - b. 1802 in Ireland, d. 8 Oct 1887 on his farm on Old Byrnes Hill in Cranberry Township; married Rosanna BOYLE, d/o John Owen & Mary BROGAN Boyle; they are both buried in St. Catherine's Cemetery in Cranberry Township. Mrs. Byrnes inherited a large part of her father's farm on Lakestosea Highway. They raised eight children: Mary, m. __BLACK; David; William; John; Terrence; Eugene, m. Ann Elizabeth CRAWFORD; Timothy; Michael.

  • Matthew GIBBONS - b. 28 Feb 1798 in County Westmeath, Ire., d. 6 Sept 1881; md. Polly Ann HEFFERMAN, b. 1804 in Crawford Co., d/o Hugh & Catherine SINGER Hefferman. Matthew & Polly Ann are buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co., PA. Matthew sailed to Australia in 1821, acting as a clerk for a Mr. Wilde who was taking felons to the land down under. In 1826 Matthew Gibbons was shipwrecked on his voyage to America, landing in Canada. He traveled to Bellefonte, PA, where lived other members of the Gibbons, McCormick & Donahue families. Matthew removed to Cranberry Twp. where he built the first brick home ca. 1840 using clay dug from a field across the road. This home is still standing on the Old State Road between Franklin and Seneca. Children of Matthew & Polly Ann: Ellen, m. Francis 'Frank' DIAMOND; Rose Ann, m. in 1870 to Robert H. CRAIG; John, m. in 1869 to Lucy Ann Delania SWATZLER NEELY, widow of Isaiah NEELY; James, m. Margaret MURPHY.

  • Hiram Miles DALE - b. 3 June 1841 in Clarion Co., PA; s/o David & Catherine HENLEN Dale early settlers to Rockland Twp., Venango Co.; Hiram enlisted in Co. F, 121st Reg. PA Vol.; located for a time in Oil Creek Twp., and moved to Cranberry Twp. in 1873 where he began oil production, later moving to Franklin to reside at 822 Elk St.; m. in 1869 to Linnah McGAHANN; children: Ora, m. Edward G. BIERY; Ira H., b. 1872, m. in 1896 to Anna Mary CONN; Oscar M., b. 1876, m. May Irene ELLIS, d/o George O. Ellis; Todd.In 1899 Hiram married Rilla CHASE, d/o Elhanen W. Chase.

  • Albert Coolidge 'Cook' EATON - b. 15 Oct 1814, d. 27 Mar 1895, s/o James & Hannah MARSHALL Eaton, early pioneers of Cranberry Twp. James owned and operated Van Buren Furnace and later moved to Ohio and died in Indiana. Cook md. Susannah FLEMING, d/o Lawrence Carlysle & Margaret COOPER Fleming; children: Edson, 1844 - 1876, m. Matilda WEAVER; Clara, 1846 - 1928, m. Solomon U. HEASLEY; Mary, b. 1848; Caroline, 1850 - 1921, m. in 1870 to Eber D. COX; Ellen, b. 1853; Laura E. 1854 - 1910, m. in 1880 to H. Essley McELHANEY; George Washington, 1856 - 1942, oil production; Susanne 'Annie', 1858 - 1927, m. William Henry MOUNSEY; Francis May, 1860 - 1935, m. Edward Francis GIFFORD; Celestia Bell, 1863 - 1943, m. George M. EVANS; Emma, 1866 - 1936, m. W.E. GIBSON; William Myles, 1868 - 1932, also in oil production, m. in 1895 to Gertrude CRATTY.

  • Jacob HECKATHORN - b. 1773 in Frederick, MD, s/o Jacob & Anna Maria BANZIN Heckathorn; md. Elizabeth __; children: George, b.1797, d. 1863 in Cranberry Twp., m. Mary Ann SHAFFER; David, 1798 - abt 1880, m. Elizabeth FISHER; Michael, b. 1800, m. Mrs. Elizabeth ROXBURY; Elizabeth, m. __ STANLEY; Henry, b. 1805 in Beaver Co., m. Susannah SADLER; Jacob, m. Elizabeth SHAFFER; Charles, b. 1810, m. Mary Ann FISHER; Solomon, b. 1813, d. 1896, m. Jane __; Benjamin, 1816 - 1892, m. Anne THOMPSON.

  • SAMUEL, HUGH, ALEXANDER, AND WILLIAM HILL, emigrated with their parents from Ireland in 1832. They landed at Philadelphia, but located at New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, where they lived for a short time and then removed to Mahoning County, Ohio, from thence to Rockland Township, Venango county, in 1836, and finally to Cranberry township in 1839, where they purchased 400 acres of land, only four acres of which was cleared.Samuel HILL - carpenter and farmer; b. 21 March 1828; m. Sophia HOY, November 15, 1853.Hugh HILL - stone-mason; b. 21 Jan 1820; m. Eliza J. BELL on 9 Oct 1845; known children: Rebekah J., d. 1872, age 16; Simon H. , b. 17 Nov 1854, m. Sarah BLAWSER of Pine Grove Twp.; John P. , b. 11 Nov 1849, m. Jennie McCONNELL in 1874 and resided in President Twp. Alexander HILL - farmer; b. 1829; m. Martha GALBRAITH on 31 Oct 1861.William M. HILL - farmer; b. 21 Nov 1821; m. Mary Jane MAXWELL; known children; Samuel R., b. 4 Jan 1850, m. Lydia Ann STUCK, d/o Joseph & Hattie HAYNES Stuck; W. E., b. 14 Feb 1860, m. in 1885 to Lizzie CORLL, d/o Wm. F. & Mary CORLL; Sarah; Hugh; Penelope; Margaret; James; David; Lizzie; Sophia; Mary; Robert; George; Elmer.

  • Joseph HOGUE - b. 12 Feb 1835 in Lawrence Co., PA, s/o John & Christina MILLER Hogue; came to this area with parents in 1843; m. 1864 to Mary ROBERTS, d/o John & Arminda SNOW Roberts; children: Annie; Charlie; Minnie; John E.; L. Berta.

  • Cornelius HOUSER - in 1833 purchased and improved land on the road leading from East Sandy to Tionesta; grandson of John P. Houser, originally from Lancaster Co., PA who first settled in this county at the mouth of Big Sandy Creek and was a ferryman at Franklin.

  • John B. HORNER - 1845 - 1890, Cranberry Twp., s/o John & Nancy BRANNON Horner; John B. was a farmer, oil producer and involved in numerous township and church positions; m. Mary BOYER, b. 1848, d/o Neri Boyer; later the wife of Charles E. MILLER of Clarion Co.; children of John B. and Mary: William Horace, m. 3 May 1897 to Lillian Leone EATON; Hattie, b. 1871, m. Clarence Milford ZIEGLER; James L., m. Nerva ZIMMERMAN; John Franklin, m. Maud Irene PORTER; Nellie, m. H. M. BARRELL.

  • The John H. HORNER Family, by Donald Leigh HORNER, Sr 1969. It states that John H. Horner was born March 30, 1818 at the family home near Niles, Ohio. Sept 4, 1845, at Franklin, Venango County, Pa., he married Sarah Brandon (born June 8, 1823 in Cranberry Tp. Venango Co., County, PA,died May 28, 1898, Olean, N.Y. a daughter of Elliott and Sarah Brandon, Elliott and 3 brothers, from Big spring, Cumberland Co., were pioneers in Cranberry.).John and Sarah HORNER, in 1850 census were in Washington Tp. Clarion Co,. Pa., where his occupation is given as Iron Master:. He is reported to have helped construct a blast furnace near Franklin. In 1860 they are listed in Franklin borough, but no occupation appears. He was in the oil business and moved to Olean, N.Y., where he died May 27, 1892.

  • Roland HUGHES- b. June 7, 1814, Scrubgrass Twp., Venango Co., PA - resided in Cranberry Twp. abt. 1840; d. 1893, buried in Franklin Cemetery, s/o James & Nancy SHORTS Hughes m. Susanna RIDGWAY, 1817 - 1893, d/o Samuel Ridgway; children: Lovina, m. George E. RIDGWAY; James R.; William Harvey, b. 1847, m. Florence MAYS; Charles Miles, b. 1853, m. Lucy Alma STEFFEY, d/o Daniel Steffey; Peter T., b. 1857, m. Maggie IRVINE & Alice SEATON; Phoebe, died in infancy; Warren, died young; George, died in infancy.

  • William HUGHES - 26 Jan 1806 - 20 Apr 1900, s/o James & Nancy SHORTS Hughes, early settlers to this area; m. in 1831 to Sarah COUSINS, b. 18 Feb 1814, d/o William Jr. & Sarah SUTLEY Cousins; children: Nancy, 1831 - 1904, m. James BENNETT; Ellis, 1833 - 1907, m. Elizabeth GORDON & Mary Elizabeth __; James, b. 1834, m. Margaret "Maggie" BURNS; David, 1836 - 1914, m. Mrs. DUTCHESS & Emily McBRIDE; William Aaron, 1838 - 1923, m. in 1861 to Mary LEEPER, d/o James & Margaret GOODMAN Leeper; Miranda, 1839 - 1927, m. Alexander GORDON; John, 1840 - 1892, m. in 1865 to Mary Jane LUSHNER; Joseph Harrison, 1842 - 1883, m. Mary Jane POWELL; Thomas Allen, 1844 - 1855; Roland Raymond, 1846 - 1920; Sarah Belinda, 1848 - 1874, m. Samuel WESTLAKE; Marshall Eaton, 1849 - 1934, m. Harriot RIDE; Harriet 'Hattie" J., 1851 - 1942, m. in 1873 to William STROUD; Phebe Armina, 1854 - 1855; Eva Jane, 1854 - 1942, m. in 1871 to John W. HARRY Calvin Ayers, 1857 - 1934, m. Mary E. __.

  • Thomas LAWLEY - b. 19 Aug 1819 in Staffordshire, Eng., s/o Joseph & Sarah FORD Lawley; came to America in 1841; resided in NJ; and in 1851 in President Twp and later to Cranberry Twp.; m. Martha MOORHEAD, d/o John & Jane CRAWFORD Moorhead; children; John, m. E. M. MUSHRUSH; Samuel, m. Margaret FINEFROCK; Nancy J., m. George PHILLIP; Margaret, m. Turner HAYES; Isabel; Martha; Ida.

  • Samuel LINDSAY - probably the earliest settler at the mouth of East Sandy; later moved to the area of Victory Twp. and then to Meigs Co., OH.

  • William D. McCOY - innkeeper; b. in Ireland in 1801, d. 6 Aug 1870 ; m. Margaret 'Kay' HIGGINS, 1814 - 1886; William and Margaret are buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co., PA; children: John T., m. Sarah Ellen __; Margaret; Nancy J.; Andrew; William S.; Augustus D.; Elizabeth; Catherine Mary, 1851 - 1931, m. in 1873 to Thomas A. MORRISON; Sarah Ellen, m. John LAPSLEY; Anna Jane, m. Capt. John Pryer BARR, 1841 - 1912.

  • Andrew McCURRY - laid out and named the village of Salem City; kept a house of entertainment; taught the first school in the neighborhood and in 1862 opened the first store; was first postmaster when the Seneca postoffice was established;

  • Frank McWILLIAMS - b. 1862 in Franklin, s/o John D. & Martha Jane 'Jennie' CAMPBELL McWilliams; was employed with Atlantic Refining Co. in Franklin; m. Sarah MILLER, d/o William J. Miller of Rockland Twp. and Akron, Ohio; children; Ethel; William, died in childhood; Laura; Irene; Marie; Clarence; Edith Jane; Ralph.

  • Tobias F. MILLER - b. March 1796; came to Venango county in 1835; married Catherine SCHNURE b. July 1798. Children: Elizabeth; Catherine, m. Solomon WOLFE; Fannie, m. Jacob ZIEGLER; George, m. Christina SHOUP; Joseph, m. Susan ZIEGLER; William H.; Simon, m. Emily SAYERS & Mary WALTERS; Sarah, m. Jonathan David ZIEGLER; Margaret, m. Jacob WILT; Henry, m. Mary DEWOODY & Mrs. HAYES; Mary, m. David PRYER; Susan, m. Paul or Powell STOVER; Emily, m. John SEAGER; Lucy, m. William FOLWELL; and Hannah, died young.

  • WILLIAM H. MILLER - b. 25 March 1825 in Union Co., PA; son of T. F. and Catherine SCHNURE Miller; came to Venango county in 1835 with his parents; married Sarah M. HOUSER on August 11, 1853.; one child, Howard W. After Sarah died, William married Lucinda ALLISON; they had two children, Eveline and Allison, both who died in early childhood. William was educated in local schools in Cranberry.

  • John MILTON - b. 16 Mar 1804 in Scotland, d. 9 Oct 1887, buried in Franklin Cemetery; settled in the area of Pittsburgh and in 1840 removed to Cranberry Twp.; owned a number of the best producing oil wells in the area; removed to Franklin in 1880; married in Pittsburgh in 1831 to Agnes BROWN of Scotland; children: John H., moved to VA; Thomas S., moved to Clarion Co.; Agnes, m. Simon J. NICKLIN; Victoria; Ossian, m. Annie BEVAN; James O.m. Sarah A. BLAKSLEE; Annie Jean, m. William ERNEST; Leander, b. 13 Dec 1844, remained in Cranberry Twp., m. Loretta ARDERY; Marion, m. John CUMMIN; Margaret, m. John STEWART; Flora H.M.; Seneca G.; Cecelia O., m. Samuel St. CLAIR.

  • Robert C. MORRISON - oil pumper; b. 27 Apr 1851 at Franklin, PA, s/o John H. & Eliza ERSKINE Morrison, natives of Scotland; m. 1879 to Eleanor C. SHINER, d/o James & Mary KANE Shiner, natives of Ireland; seven children born to them, three of whom were: Maud, m. __ ROSS; George C., Bernice L.

  • George D. NICKLIN - farmer, merchant & oil producer; b. 15 June 1820 in Staffordshire, Eng., s/o William & Frances MOORE Nicklin; m. in 1841 to Mary E. EBLE; children; Lambert F., killed at the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864; Eliza J, m. Adam SNYDER; Eusebius R.; Frances E.; Clarissa B., m. H.C. BAIRD; John H.; Julia, m. A.D. COLE; Amanda, m. J.C. O'CONNER; Charles W.; Hattie B.

  • Samuel REESE - oil production; b. 21 Oct 1851 in Cranberry Twp., s/o Peter & Susan WEAVER Reese; m. in 1873 to Ella DREIFELDUS, d/o Moses & Mary ENGEL Dreifeldus; children; Minnie; Harry; Hattie; Eddie.

  • Charles RIDGWAY - oil producer & real estate; b. 1 Aug 1831 in Sandy Creek Twp., s/o Samuel and Margaret Ridgway; md. 21 Sept. 1862 to Elizabeth ROBERTS of Rockland Twp.; they removed to a farm in Cranberry Twp.; children; J. H.; Mrs. Mary A.O'NEIL; Mrs. Francis FARREN; Mrs. Bertha O'NEIL; John A.

  • Joel SAGE - early pioneer to this area in 1807 and settled on the stream that became known as Sage Run.

  • JAMES SHAFFER - b. 7 August 1835 in Lawrence Co., PA; son of John and Hannah JOHNSTON Shaffer; came to Venango county in about 1853; married J. Anna STINE, d/o Jacob Stine; children: Elias Wilbert, m Annetta ZIEGLER, d/o Jonathan & Sarah MILLER Ziegler.; W.E.; Frank E.; Stella M.; J.M.; John E., m. Minnie __; Jennie B.; and Josephine.

  • J. L. TUCKER - b. 8 Dec 1852 in Cranberry Twp., s/o Allen & Ellen ROSE Tucker; m. 1876 to Louisa OAKS, d/o David & Mary HECKATHORN Oaks; children: Floyd; John; Ella; Lamont.

  • SOLOMON WOLFE - b. 16 December 1810 in Dauphin Co., PA; ; came to Venango county in about 1839 and spent the remainder of his life until his death in 1887; married Catherine MILLER in 1864; daughter of Tobias and Catherine Miller. Children: E.M..; Catherine A;, John D.; Tobias F.; George; Lucy A.;Simon L.; and D. Elmer.

  • Jacob ZIEGLER - b. 5 Dec 1791, d. 4 May 1868; m. in 1815 to Catharine LUSHER, 1798 - 1875, d/o John George & Catharine MUENCH Lusher; children: Henry, 1816 - 1898, m. Eliza APP; Mary, 1819 - 1899, m. John H. PARKER; Susanna, 1821 - 1907, m. Joseph MILLER; John Jacob, 1823 - 1894, m. Fannie MILLER; Jonathan David, 1826 - 1895, m. Sarah MILLER; Catharine, 1833, - 1858, m. David PRYER; Abraham Martin, 1836 - 1920, m. Martha SMITH.


    EARLY SETTLERS


    Anyone else notice they are all men?
    Must be a village of men settlers, hummmmmmmm
    Samuel LINDSAYSEIDELS Family
    Patrick HARRISONAndrew DOWNING
    Isaac SMITHJohn HASTINGS
    John HAYSSamuel HOWE
    Joel SAGE John & William BRANDON
    James & Elliott BRANDONSamuel & Edward HALL
    James CRAWFORDJoseph KENNEDY
    John McCOOLWilliam DICKSON
    Alexander STRAINZelotus JEWEL
    Ephraim TURK Samuel CULBERTSON
    William PARKER John GRAY
    James EATONMatthew GIBBON
    Joseph GILLMANJacob ZIEGLER
    David McWILLIAMSJohn McCRACKEN
    William THOMAS John HEASLEY
    Alexander McQUISTON David AYERS

  • $$$TAX LIST FOR 1831 $$$
    • $ Samuel ALEXANDER
    • $ Thomas ASTLEY
    • $ William BINGHAM
    • $ William, Robert
    • $ James & Elliott BRANDON
    • $ David C. CUNNINGHAM
    • $ William CRAIG
    • $ Samuel CULBERTSON
    • $ John CASEMAN
    • $ William DICKSON
    • $ James EATON
    • $ Thomas CURRY
    • $ Jacob FOREMAN
    • $ Charles, John & Joseph GAYETTY
    • $ James GRAY
    • $ Samuel HOWE
    • $ Cornelius HOUSER
    • $ Jacob G. HOUSER
    • $ John HAYS
    • $ James HAGGERTY
    • $ Patrick HARRISON
    • $ Samuel & Edward HALL
    • $ Zelotus JEWEL
    • $ James & Joseph KENNEDY
    • $ Jacob & Isaac KARNS
    • $ Samuel LINDSAY
    • $ Stephen, John & James LINDSAY
    • $ James LAMB
    • $ David McWILLIAMS
    • $ John McBRIDE
    • $ John & James McQUISTON
    • $ John McCOOL
    • $ John & Seth McCURRY
    • $ Gates MANROSS
    • $ John & James MOORHEAD
    • $ Alexander McWILLIAMS
    • $ Henry & John MYERS
    • $ William NELLIS
    • $ John NICHOLSON
    • $ William PARKER
    • $ William PRIOR
    • $ John PEOPLES
    • $ Thomas PORTER
    • $ Henry SHIPPEN
    • $ William STEWART
    • $ David STOVER
    • $ Peter SMITH
    • $ Isaac SMITH
    • $ Israel SIMPSON
    • $ Ephraim TURK
    • $ James & William THOMPSON
    • $ Allen WILLIAMS
    • $ S. WRIGHT
    • $ Jacob ZIEGLER


    Early Churches

  • Cranberry Cumberland Presbyterian Church - organized 2 Oct 1837 with the following members: John PARKER; Joseph McBRIDE; George MILNER; John McKINNEY; William DIXON; John McBRIDE; Alexander SHANNON; Peter SMITH; William BRANDON; Thomas WILSON; John SHANNON; John SMITH; Samuel MORRISON; Rachel McKINNEY; Frances LONG; Elizabeth SHANNON; Elizabeth McBRIDE; M.A. McCUTCHEON; Maria ALLISON; B.A. SHANNON; Mary ZEIGLER; Elizabeth SMITH; Mary SMITH; Rebecca ROSE; M.J. McKINNEY; Mary WILSON; Sarah SHANNON; Elizabeth BRANDON; M.A. SMITH; Susannah ZEIGLER; Agnes McBRIDE; Catharine McBRIDE; James BRANDON; Catharine PARKER; Elizabeth WILSON; Hannah McCAMAN. Ground was given by Hutchinson BORLAND, and a log church building erected thereon by the joint efforts of Presbyterians and Methodists.

  • St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church - Mass was celebrated at the home of Owen BOYLE abt. 1834. In 1860, a parcel of land on which had been erected a two-story stone dwelling house, was purchased by Miss Ann GIBBONS, sister of Matthew GIBBONS, and was presented to the diocese by her. The church was known as St. Rose. The first floor was prepared for a chapel, while the second served as a residence. In 1888 this church was renamed St. Catherine's.The congregation was transferred to St. Stephen's in Oil City and the church property was sold in 1943. The church was served by priests from Oil City and Franklin over the years. Early families in the church were those of Owen REID, Patrick GORMLEY, Matthew GIBBONS, John McCORMICK, Owen BOYLE, DAUGHTERY Family and John BYRNS.

  • Salem Methodist Episcopal Church - organized between 1845 and 1850 by Rev. Richard CAROTHERS at Lee's school house near the pike a mile from Oil City. Among the first class were: Mrs. James LEE; Mrs. Harriet LAKE; Jane & Mary LONG; and James SHAFFER, leader.

  • Heckathorn Church of the Evangelical Association - organized in 1846 with Henry HECKATHORN as first class leader. Among first members were: George HECKATHORN; Mr. & Mrs. Jacob HECKATHORN; Mrs. Sarah COLDRON & Mrs. Sarah HANEY. The burial ground adjoining was set apart for that purpose by Henry HECKATHORN in 1846. Interments had been made previous to that date, but the earliest inscription upon a tombstone bears the year 1848. See the Heckathorn Church page for more information.

  • Mt. Zion Church - built in 1848 by a Lutheran congregation. The ZEIGLER, WILHELM, SLEPPEY and ROTE families were among early members. Lutheran services continued 17 years and the Methodist class was organized in 1858 with David ZEIGLER as first class leader.

  • Victory Methodist Episcopal Church - organized in 1858 with the following members: Mr. & Mrs. Simon NICKLIN; Mr. & Mrs. Jacob WILT; Mr. & Mrs. J.K. DALE; Mr. & Mrs. Samuel HUGHES; Mr. & Mrs. James McCUTCHEON; Mr. & Mrs. J.P. MORRISON; Mr. & Mrs. Charles RIDGWAY and Mary HUGHES.

  • Meadows Methodist Episcopal Church - organized in 1866 with about 40 members, of whom John C. McKENZIE was first class leader.

  • The First Baptist Church of Salina - organized in 1874, Rev. R.H. AUSTIN, officiating. Mrs. L.D. BARR, James AIKEN & James WIGTON were elected trustees.

  • Bredinsburg Methodist Episcopal Church - organized about 1887, the result of revival meetings conducted by Rev. S.P. DOUGLASS.


    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.


    R50 Brandon/Salina - probably the oldest public burial ground in the twp.

    • Martha J. "Polly" Ritchey, 1826 - 1914
    • Alexander Platt, 1820 - 1899, s/o John & Margaret
    • Isaac Nolf, 1817, 1898, Co. C, 78 PA Vol.
    • Christina P. Nolf, 1818 - 1901
    • Daniel Steffee, 1825 - 1898
    • Jane Pearce Steffee, 1827 - 1894
    • John Kennedy, 1832 - 1898
    • Amanda Kennedy, 1841 - 1903
    • J. R. Downing, 1840 - 1914
    • Priscilla Downing, 1846 - 1926
    • Eber S. Lewis, 1843 - 1912
    • Lucinda Lewis, 1843 - 1920, w/o E.S.


    R51 Bredinsburg

    • Albert Coolidge 'Cook' Eaton, 15 Oct 1814 - 27 Mar 1895
    • Susannah Fleming Eaton, 22 Sept 1823 - 12 Feb 1903, w/o Cook
    • Harry George Ream , 1896 - 1954
    • Evelyn R. Yarnell Ream, 1902 - 1977, w/o H.G.
    • Solomon U. Heasley, 1847 - 1932
    • Clara Eaton Heasley, 1846 - 1928, w/o S. U.
    • Jacob Swatsler, d. 12 Dec 1853, aged 60 y
    • Catherine Swatsler, d. 12 Jan 1855, aged 59 y, w/o Jacob

    R52 Farren
    R53 Heckathorn
    R54 Jewish Cemetery - Sage Run
    R55 Long-Hartley
    ----- McMurry
    R61 McWilliams
    ----- Mosier
    R59 Mt. Pleasant - Lee, Pinoak
    R60 Mt. Zion
    • Catharine Lusher Ziegler, 1798 - 1875

    R58 Munsinger - River Ridge
    Y85 Phillips property
    Y84 Royer
    R62 St. Catherine's
    • Ellen Gibbons Diamond, 18 Sep 1836 - 1 Nov 1924

    R63 Sunset Hills
    ___ Ten Mile Bottom

    Sources


    History of Venango County Pennsylvania, Its Past and Present , Chicago, IL; Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers; 1890; pp. 620 - 634, 1136 - 1154
    Venango County Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol II, Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co.,1919
    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.


Note: Extractions & transcriptions may have errors and are missing portions of the original source material. You will want to refer to the source whenever possible.


    Contributors

    Ken Gibbons - Gibbons, Eaton & Fleming Families

    Darlene Ritchey Berens - Ritchey and Platt Families

    Mary Scott - Miller, Shaffer, Wolfe & Ziegler Families
    Scott Family and Ancestors Home Page

    Marge Weigel - Hughes Family

    Elizabeth Gurr - Horner Family

    Richard Wood - Information on Hill family from History of Venango Co., 1879 edition.

    Sheila Barr Helser - McCoy Family
    Sheila's Corner

    Maureen Humphrey - Boyle & Byrnes Families

    Dick Headrick - Blauser Family

    Jim Heckathorne - Heckathorn Family


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


    Karen S. Golden Rodgers


    Penny Haylett Minnick

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