Cambridge Township was formed from a portion of Venango in 1852. It lies on the
north line of the county near the center and has an area of 12,580 acres, valued
on the tax duplicates of 1882 at $250,753. The name was received from the village,
which, doubtless, was so-called by its founder, Mr. Christy, who hailed from
Massachusetts, after the New England city. French Creek enters near the center of
its east line, flows across the township, and bending southward forms the lower
part of its western boundary. The northern part of the western boundary is Conneaut
Creek, entering from Erie County and flowing into French Creek. The French Creek
flats form excellent grain land, and the gently rolling surface beyond is a chestnut
clay, and though producing good wheat is better adapted for grazing. Much of the
land in the northern part is low and marshy. The population in 1860 was 1,012, in
1870, 747, and in 1880, 745. The census of 1860, however, included Cambridge Village,
which was enumerated separately afterwards.
The earliest settlers were mostly from the Susquehanna, and were of German and Irish
extraction. From 1812 to 1820 there was a strong immigration from Massachusetts.
Much later many settlers arrived from New York State, and quite a settlement of Germans,
thirty or forty years ago, took possession of the low lands in the north.
A better record of the earliest settlement could not be obtained than that afforded
by the books of the Holland Land Company, which owned most of the land in this township.
The date of the contracts for settlement given below preceded only a few days the actual
date of settlement, or only several months, when the contract was made in winter. In
all but two or three instances the parties named are remembered as early settlers.
The acreage is the amount of land agreed to be granted: Tract 101, Isaac Braden, 150
acres, August 13, 1799, deed executed to C. and J. Snell; 102, David Carmach, 150 acres,
October 10, 1798; 103, Edward Hicks, 100 acres, August 12, 1801, deed executed in 1814;
125, John St. Clair, 100 acres, June 2, 18O2, deed executed: 126, Clement McGery, 100
acres, August 12, 1801, deed executed to Jonas Clark, assignee; 127, Benjamin Van Court,
100 acres, August 18, 1801, forfeited; Thomas and Bailey Fullerton purchased 100 acres
of same tract in 1808; 128, Leonard Doctor purchased 150 acres May 29, 1805; 129, William
Findley,150 acres, May 28, 1798, contract released; David M. Adams purchased 903 acres of
same tract March 6, 1807; 130 and 131, Henry Baugher, 150 acres each, May 31, 1797, deeds
executed August 25, 1813; Peter Saeger purchased 150 acres of tract 131, June 5, 1805;
132 and 133, Joseph Hutchinson, 150 acres each, November 11, 1797, recovered and released;
134, Samuel Daniel, 2d, 150 acres, October 9, 1799, recovered by ejectment in October,
1812; 136, James Blair, 200 acres, November, 8, 1796, re-purchased; 137, Robert Humes,
100 acres, November 8, 1796; 138, John Shearer, Jr., and Archibald Humes, 191 acres,
November 8, 1796, deed executed to Shearer, December 16, 1812; 139, Archibald Humes,
150 acres, November 9, 1796; Michael Sherritz purchased 100 acres, same tract, September
19, 1808; 141, Robert Humes, 200 acres, November 8, 1796, deed executed in 1813; 142,
no early contract.
Isaac Braden lived near the mouth of Conneaut Creek till old age. Calvin Snell, one
of the assignees of his claim, occupied the George Thomas or "sand bank" farm, so called
from the large knoll of sand on the place, from which immense quantities have been removed
for building purposes. David Carmach relinquished his contract and removed to Hayfield
Township one and a half miles below Venango. Edward Hioks' selection was on the north
bank of French Creek in the present limits of Cambridgeboro. He came from the Susquehanna
and remained in this township till death. John St. Clair settled. in Rockdale Township,
but afterward removed elsewhere. Clement McGery did. not remain long, the farm, upon
which his assignee, Jonas Clark, resided for many years was just east of the borough
now known as the Langley farm. Benjamin Van Court, who contracted to settle Tract 127,
remained only one season. His father, Job Van Court, an eccentric Hollander, succeeded
him and settled in what is now Cambridgeboro, but was ousted as an intruder by the Holland
Company. He was a shoe-maker and remained in the vicinity till his death in old age.
He was very superstitious, and was buried near the State road just South of the borough
on a spot which the children for many years afterward feared to pass at night.
Thomas Fullerton and his sons Bailey, William and James, in 1802 came from near Muncie,
and settled a mile northeast of Cambridge. He at first built his cabin so close to the
north banks of French Creek that during freshots it was invariably partially submerged.
He kept a tavern, and is described as a very credulous old gentleman. Among other anecdotes
it is related that a Yankee once sold him his own ax for a new one, first scraping the
handle to change its appearance. Bailey Fullerton lived south of the creek, was a farmer
and distiller, and died at his home in Cambridge village. Leonard Doctor, of
German descent, coming from Lycoming County, settled where his grandson, Jackson Doctor,
now lives. He died of consumption June 24, 1811. William Findley is not remembered,
and could not have remained long. David M. Adams, by birth an Irishman, emigrating
here from the Susquehanna, remained till death.
Henry Baugher was probably the first settler. He patented the tract in the southwest
corner of the township, and afterward settled on Tracts 130 and 131. He managed to
hold a settlement on both tracts by building his double log cabin just on the line,
where the Marcy farm now is. Mr. Baugher was a very eccentric character. He was a
carpenter by trade, and removed to Mercer County, where he died.
Peter Saeger was a blacksmith, and died on his farm, which now forms the Sherred and
Minium places. Joseph Hutchinson is not remembered. Samuel Daniel, after the courts
decided against him, settled near by. James Blair, an Irishman, making one of the
first selections of land in the township or county, chose a farm on the clay summit,
where the chestnut timber grew heaviest, the farm in Tract 136 now owned by the Allens,
under the impression that the largest trees indicated the best land. He afterward
removed to " New Island Flats," Erie County, and there died.
Robert Humes was one of the foremost pioneers. He was a native of the Emerald Isle,
and came to Meadville in 1796, but probably not to Cambridge Township until the spring
of 1797. He remained till death on the farm now owned by D. W. Humes in Tract 141.
Archibald Humes, brother of Robert, settled on the Hemstreet farm, Tract 137, and died
there in 1806. John Shearer, a Virginian of Irish descent, settled on Tract 138.
Michael Sherritz, a German, was a life-long settler near the site of the Venango
depot.
Other early settlers were: Samuel Jones, at the east end of Tract 136; Mr. Zarns, a
German, on the banks of French Creek, opposite Venango; Frederick Doctor, a bachelor
brother of Leonard, afterward removing to Clarion County; John Hays, Jacob Saeger,
brother to Peter, on Tract 130; John Weatherby and William Bailey.
Simpson and Reuben Bishop made the first improvement in the northwest part of the
township. They erected the first saw-mill and also operated a carding-mill, constructing
a dam on Conneaut Creek, at what is now Drake's Mills. John Marvin kept the first
store here, and built a grist-mill, which he afterward sold to Mr. Drake.
Drake's Mills Postoffice is a hamlet of several dwelling-houses, a grocery, saw,
grist and planing-mill and a blacksmith-shop. The German Lutheran Church here was
erected in 1851, a congregation having been formed a short time previous. Among its
earliest members were: Henry Racob, Frederick Arnaman, Ernst Hornaman and Henry
Steinhoff. Rev. Nonamacher was pastor when the edifice was reared. Revs. A.
Beardaman, P. Doerr, Goumer and E. Cressman have succeeded him. The membership is
about 100.
The first bridge at Cambridge was built by John St.Clair in 1815 by means raised
through private subscriptions. Doctor & Sherred now own a cheese factory opposite
the village of Venango, and Y. Rhodes operates a saw-mill on Little Conneaut.
Early schools were rare. Occasionally a subscription paper would be circulated,
and if a sufficient number of names were obtained a term would be held in some
deserted cabin. Cornelius Campbell is said to have taught the first school in
1808 on the bank of French Creek. The second was taught by Owen David, who was
succeeded by David Terrell.
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