Crossingville History

Crossingville, situated in the northwestern portion of the township,
was formerly known as Cussewago Crossing, so called from an Indian
trail, which crossed Cussewago Creek at this point. John Hagany was
the first settler. The place contains scarcely more than a dozen
dwellings, but is quite an early settled hamlet. Two churches-Catholic
and United Brethren-a schoolhouse, two stores, one hotel, two black-
smith shops, a shoe shop and a cheese factory may also be found here.

The Carmel Baptist Church of Mosiertown was the first religious organization
of the Baptist persuasion effected in Crawford County. It was formed with
twenty members in 1805, by Rev. Thomas G. Jones, who was the first pastor.
A hewed log meeting-house was built in 1810, two miles northwest from
Mosiertown. It was superseded by a frame structure on the same site in
1839, and in 1856 the present edifice in Mosiertown was erected at a cost
of $1,500. Among the earliest leading members were: John Chamberlin,
Robert Erwin, John Donohue, Samuel Patterson and Lewis Thickstun. The
membership is now about one hundred. The first pastor was Elder Miller; the
present pastor, Elder Charles Harvey, who took charge in 1882.

About a mile southeast from Mosiertown, is a frame church, built in 1855 by
Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. It succeeded a former frame
edifice, which was erected in 1832. Both congregations were organized a few
years previous to this date, from the German element that had settled in this
vicinity, and they worshiped alternately in the same structure until several
years ago, when the German Reformed Congregation became sole owners of
the old building, and the Lutherans erected a now, neat frame meeting-house
in Mosiertown, which they now occupy. Dr. J. Apple, of Saegertown, fills the
German Reformed pulpit, and Rev. Cressman, of Venango, preaches for the
Lutherans.

St. Philips' Catholic Church at Crossingville dates its origin back to the first
settlement of this country. The earliest families of this faith were:  Neal
McBride, Patrick McBride, Bartholomew McBride, Hugh Carlin, Miles Tinny,
John Swaney, Alexander Swaney, John Hagany and Philip McGuire, all of
whom except McGuire moved here from Northumberland County about 1798,
having immigrated from Donegal County, Ireland, in 1792 or 1793. Services
began to be held at private houses a few years after the first settlement, the
people being attended by Father Charles B. McGuire, of Pittsburgh, Rev.
Terence McGirr and Rev. Charles Ferry, and later by Revs. Patrick O'Neill, R.
Brown and Pendergast, of Butler County, and Rev. McCabe and others from
Erie. The first church was erected in 1833 a mile north of Crossingville at the
present burial-ground. It was a hewed-log-house, coiled within and overhead
with planed pine boards and had rough benches for seats. The probable cost
of the building was $500. The first services in it were conducted in 1833 by
Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick, of Philadelphia, to which diocese this mission
then belonged. The church was formally dedicated three years later by Bishop
Kenrick, on the occasion of his second visit-the burying ground being
consecrated at the same time. The present structure was reared in 1843 and
finished in 1848, at a cost of $3,500. The pastoral residence was erected by
Rev. John Quincy Adams in 1868 at a cost of $1,400. Improvements were
made to the church in 1882 to the extent of $1,830, including the erection of
a tower and the purchase of a bell. Rev. T. A. Smith took charge of this
mission in 1850, and with Rev. Joseph F. Deane and Rev. Arthur McConnel
held it until 1854, when Rev. K. O'Branigan took charge and remained until
1865. Fathers William Pugh and William D. Byrne served till the following
year, when Rev. John Quincy Adams took charge, Rev. M. E. Tracy, the
present pastor, succeeding him in 1871. The present membership includes
125 families, averaging six persons each, residing in Cussewago and Spring
Townships, this county, and Elk Creek and Washington Townships, Erie
County. The church is in a flourishing condition, while its growth has been
sure and steady.

The United Brethren Church at Crossingville was organized with seven
members in 1870, by Rev. Cyrus Castiline its first pastor. The edifice was
reared the same year at a cost of $1,700. The class is small. From 1879 to
1880, with union appointment it constituted Crossingville Mission, with Rev.
G. W. Franklin as pastor, but before and since it has formed a part of
Cussewago Circuit.

Cussewago United Brethren Church, located in the southeastern part, in
the western portion of Tract 23, was erected in 1857, at a cost of $660. It
was organized five years previous with about twenty members, by Rev.
William Cadman, the first pastor, and early meetings were hold in dwelling-
houses. J. Kinsley and Henry Fleisher were prominent early members. It is
a part of Cussewago Circuit, which includes five appointments and has a
total membership of 217. In 1877 this circuit was changed from Western
Reserve Conference to Erie Conference. Since then the pastors have been
A. Peckham, 1877-78; J. W. Gage, 1879-80-81; A. K. Root, 1882-83.
In the eastern part of the township and in the northeast corner of Tract 13
stands the Seventh Day Baptist Church, a frame structure reared in 1858.
The congregation was organized the year previous by Elder A. A. F.
Randolph, the first pastor. The organization has become weak through
deaths and removals, and regular meetings are not now held.

In the southeast part, in Tract 17, is a brick German Evangelical Church
built about 1856. The congregation that worshiped here was organized about
1850, and later attained a membership of seventy. Stephen Snyder and Mr.
Helmbrecht were leading members. The society has held no meetings for
about eight years and is now defunct.