Forest County PA
Miscellaneous News Paper Articles From the Past
| Morning Herald (Titusville,
Pennsylvania) December 7 1866 Forest County It will be remembered the bill for the extension of the county of Forest passed the Legislature of the State during the last winter session. The bill in brief proposes to take certain portions of Vanango and add to the original county of Forest, and to locate a county seat or shire town, comporting with the business interests of the territory set off, and under its provisions Mssrs. Zigler of Butler county, Fulkerson of Venango and Leach of Mercer, were appointed Commissioners to carry out the letter of the bill; locate the public buildings, establish and determine the lines, &c. In pursuance of their duties they met at the town of Tionesta, on the 17th ult. On the 14th they commenced the survey at a point near Neilsburg on the Warren county line, thence south by line of tracts to the Allegheny river. Another survey commenses at Enterprise and runs south by line of tracts to the Allegheny river, coming out at Eagle Rock on the Allegheny, crossing over into President township on the opposite side of the river, including the village of President, and taking eight tracts out of Pinegrove township. Two cross hues were also run north of the river. Which of these lines will be settled upon is a question for the future to solve, so I will indulge in no speculations on this subject, merely mentioning this subject, as it might be a matter of interest ot some of your readers and convey some idea of the locality. On the 3d of December the Commissioners decided upon Tionesta as the place for the county buildings, after having viewed the county as constituted under the bill. This was eminently proper in the view of those who are familiar with the territory embraced. It is one of the most beautiful towns on the Allegheny, and consists of some fifty houses, an academy and three churchs, beside which, it might be mentioned that it is accessible both by railway and river. Heretofore, the main obstacle to rapid improvement has been that non resident speculators held tracts surrounding the borough, and lots inside, which they held at fabulous prices, so much so That it was a blockade on progress, and the town had the appearance of being finished, or in more ordinary language, "to have come to a dead act." This difficulty has been circumvented and overcome, so tat the mechanic, professional men, artisan can get a foothold on liberal terms. The town lies immediately at the mouth of Tionesta Creek, one of the main tributaries of the Allegheny, and is located upon an original tract known to the Indians as "Sequaling-get," being in ancient times a place of council; it bids fair now, however, under civilization, to be a place of counsel still. The war whoop has been succeeded by the church-going bell, yes, superceded, but this is true of every locality of America; so Tionesta claims no primacy on account of this last statement, but can with regard to beauty of location, as well as being the place that will accommodate the greatest number of people. But this is merely an opinion of the writer; there may be some who think differently, but I do not propose to use your columns to argue the case, but merely say it is centrally located, and when I say so, that requires an explanation, viz: as to population, not geography. The site of the county buildings is located upon the lands of Messrs. Thomas and Lamb, being the southern point of the May Farm, which has been laid off in lots; some 300 or 400 lots. I merely mention this fact for the information of people and trust that it will not be contrued as an advertisement, as the writer claims no interest in said lots. A grand fete was made by Col. Phillip D. Thomas, entertaining the Commissioners on the evening of the 3d, and was followed by a grand fete in honor of the Commissioners, by John A. Dale, Esq., (formerly Sheriff of old Venango), on the evening of the 4th, when speeches were made by Col Thomas, J. A. Dale, Capt. Brett, Samuel D. Erwine, Esq., J. A. Leech, jacob Zeigler, and others. The departure of the Commissioners was celebrated at Tionesta by the firing of cannon. A word with regard to Old Forest as it was constituted, and I shall not trespass upon your own or the reader's patience further. The old county contained about 150 voteres, courts were held with difficulty and sheriffs were often sent out to "catch a jury". The town of Marvine was built by the Bloods, early settlers in that interminable wilderness. The word town, when speaking of Marvine, is a bariesque on the word. It consists of two dwelling houses, one blacksmith shop, and a barn, and a "stump with a ring in it." Yet this is the basis of one of the neatest paper maps in the State representing a town. The town is almost destitute of roads approaching it, yet can be found by blazes on the trees, if the traveler does not get lost when he comes to a "windfall," where, if he is a woodsman he will think he is in no place. The article is written by one who is familiar with the county he describes, and is respectfully submitted to you for publication in your excellent paper, believing, but without vanity, that it will prove interesting on account of the subjects descussed (not from any merit of the writer) in the latter part of the letter, viz: "Old Forest," in the same way that a letter would be interesting written by a missionary from China.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania) The Tionesta Bee says "Two youths, aged eighteen and twenty years respectively 'of poor but honest parents,' recently embarked in the lumber trade near East Hickory. They rafted about 3000 feet of boards belonging to E. I. Johnson contrary to the law in such cases made and provided, floated them down the river to Franklin and sold out. They were captured and in default of bail were committed to jail.
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The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
December 11 1869 Tionesta, December 1st, 1868 Mr. Editor: Being a reader of your valuable paper and thinking your readers would not be uninterested with a few items from Forest county. I take the privilege of communicating through the medium of your Press. Forest county was enlarged over a year ago, by adding a portion of the south eastern Part of Venango county, and changing the county seat from Marion, the old, to Tionesta the present county seat. Tionesta is a thriving town, pleasantly situated on the right bank of the Allegheny river, thirty miles north east of Oil City, in the midst, or rather to one side, of the Oil regions. It is a growing town, and by way of public improvements the Forest county public buildings are being built, court house, jail, &c. The Sheriff's house and jail are already completed and ready for boarders, the jail is considered by prison Inspectors one of the best and safest jails in Pennsylvania. The Court house will not be completed before next fall, but will be a good and efficient building, considering the wealth and necessities of the citizens of Forest county. Forest county is as fine if not the finest lumbering district in Pennsylvania, ther is, on Tionesta creek, ten or twelve large saw mills, each having a corps of fifty to sixty men, and turning out from three to four millions feet of lumber yearly, and having over one million dollars worth of lumber to run to market next Spring, and in a year or two, when properly developed, will prove as good an oil field as can be found in western Pennsylvania, there being a considerable quanitity produced within its limits at the present time, at Hickory, Tidioute, and other places. One other redeeming quality of Forest county is that, at the last general election, the Republicans had a gain of 48 votes, giving a Republican, instead of a Democratic majority, and electing all but Auditor in the county, L. L. Hackett being elected by Republican votes, the State ticket was elected in the county. We have good comminications with all the world and the rest of mankind, both by water and rail. By the Allegheny river we can visit Pittsburg and the western cities, by rail the Oil City and Allegheny RR. Connects with the Allegheny Valley, Atlantic and Great Western R.R. and The P.&E.R.R., giving direct communications both east and west. As to local matters, the deer hunting is the thing of most general interest, as there is good tracking snow at present. There is a large amount of wild game this season; deer in abundance, bear are, also, plenty, making depredations on the farmers pig sty's and sheep pens but are rather wild and are seldom taken, except in traps, and then are taken by paw; wild car are plenty and several large one have been caught this fall. There is little of the smaller game here, as is the case in all pine districts. One of our most estimable citizens and Associate Judge, S. S. Hulings, died suddenly of heart disease, on the 27th ult. Also, ten days before the County Surveyor elect of the same disease. Not wishing to intrude too much or weary your readers, I will close.
Your respectfully,
Titusville Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania)
The large new Court House at Tionesta will be ready for occupancy for the May term of Court. The structure is of brick 85x95, two stories high. The second story contains the audience room, and the basement the offices. It is a very substantial building, the walls of the lower story being seventeen inches thick, and the upper fifteen inches in thickness. It has iron stairs, fine belfry &c. The cost is $23,000. The Sheriff's house and jail cost $8,000.
Titusville Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania)
West Hickory Oil Territory I have just returned to this lively town from a tramp through the great oil region of East and West Hickory, where the excitement not only keeps up but is possible is in increasing and red hot. Crowds of people are still rushing in, and everything in the shape of horseflesh, carriages, buggies and wagons, are pressed into service. I saw more horses hitched in the woods to trees, saplings, and such than I imagined the country could furnish. Many anxious speculators are taking up territory and at most fabulous prices. Leases are being taken for one half royalty. Many rigs are in process of erection, and wells going down. Houses are being stuck up as if by magic. I heard the expression several times - "Where do all the people come from?" Men from the New England States, from the West, from New York, and from all corners are here and if I can judge are wild with excitement. The citizens appear crazy with excitement. This is pronounced The Great Oil Field of the Keystone State, and from what I have seen I am compelled to say so to. The big well on top of the mountain is said to be pumping 312 barrels per day (24 hours) and if I am capable of judging I would say at least that mount if not more. One well on the Scott farm is doing 70 barrels per day. Many other new wells are pumping and paying nicely.
On the opposite side of the river a little south from here, is a seven barrel
well, which has been pumping for some months - the oil as Holmes and in his
letter to Forest Press, is of a
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superior grade and worth more than any other brought to market. There are two new (..?..) being put up in this quarter and wells will be sunk in a short time. I met four teams drawing heavy engines up the run road to this oil land yesterday. It looked lively and gave them the appearance of biz. I do not hesitate to say that this East Hickory territory when properly developed, will rank high on the list of paying territory. Experienced oil men say that the oil basin reaches from Tionesta Creek on either side the river at least to Tidioute, and that it needs but testing to prove the assertion correct. This boast we must concur in as is notorious (..?..) that not a well has been put down in the valley of the Allegheny but with contoured oil to source event between these points. The wells have all been shallow heretofore in this region and if they could have been sunk 700 and 800 feet instead of but 500 and 400 feet it would have been found it paying quantities. I hope we may see a verification of this and I have no doubt we will. There is now direct communication between the East and West Hickory oil fields as I saw the immortal George S. Hunter of Tionesta here ec?ot?ng?a?tery across the river and this afternoon already he was transporting horse teams wagons &c over. His ferry is capable of carrying two loaded wagons in a trip. The people ought to be grateful and feel themselves under lasting obligations to Hunter for his enterprising spirit and for the advantages the community will derive from it. I came across the ferry and landed her just in time to hear a bargain made for a price of territory, but as I could not find out exactly where it lay I will say nothing about it, but will say that $1000 per acres for the land is considered cheap. There appears to be no particular direction in which speculators are dit?g from the oil well but territory in the neighborhood is purchased and now it is almost impossible for a person to get territory within an reasonable bounds of the well. One man from the West said that he had frequently read of $100,000 being paid for a small piece of oil territory, but set it down as a canard. Now he says "I begin to believe it." Accommodations are springing up to meet the demands of the crowds and I fancy that the most extensive lager beer saloons in the country are here as they are out in open space on a board about so far this way that way thus way high way - I saw many and good saloon. As yet I could see no gambling on sides the legitimate oil lottery. All appear to be too much engaged otherwise to spend time at trifles. Pipes have been laid from these wells to this town onto railroad and oil is conveyed directly from the wells to tankage on the cars. Yet there is much teaming done here and the roads appear crowded with teams and wagons going and coming in all directions. The great war over a small slice of territory (not so small in ague) near the big wells has terminated, referees having been appointed to settle up the matters in dispute. West Hickory is growing like mushroom and if it continues to measure in population for a few weeks as it has for the last week or ten days twill be a place of considerable notoriety. Accommodations are pretty far at West Hickory yet there's room for improvement.
There are hundreds of people here. Look in what direction you please you
see people either at work or traveling about. I apprehend a large town will
be built here somewhere, but I cannot tell whether it will be up in the
neighborhood of the wells or at this station but will be one or the other
place - perhaps both.
Titusville Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania)
Last Thursday P. Martin, a brake man on the O.C. and A. R.R. R., had a limb broken at Tionesta station. He stood beside his train, and another man threw a jack-screw from off a car, which struck him, breaking his leg. Dr. Hunter was called, and adjusted the broken limb.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania) Wesley Zents, who farms the old Holman farm, three miles down the river from Tionesta, will have about 18,000 bushels of corn this year. These river bottoms are not so slow for crops.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania) Mr. G. C. Butterfield, the popular clerk in E. O. Coleman's store of this place, has removed to Tionesta, Forest county to act as County Treasurer's clerk. Our bet wishes go with him.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania) Peter O. Conover, well known to most of our readers, died at his home in Tionesta last Tuesday. He had been at different times engaged on several papers in this section, and of laterly editor and proprietor of the Forest Press.
The Indiana Democrat (Indiana, Pennsylvania Hon. Charles R. Early has been elected president of a temporary organization for the construction of a railroad to run through western Pennsylvania, to be known as the New York, Ridgway and Pittsburgh railroad. Lucious Rogers has been elected secretary and the following named gentleman directors: Ex-Governor A. G. Cutin, William M. Steward (of B.K. Jamison & Co.), Eugene Quakenbush and Wendsor Gordon. The new road is to be built from a point near Tionesta, in Forest county, to Ridgway, in Elk county.
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