Cussewago Township was created with seven others by the Court of Quarter
Sessions July 9,1800. Its original boundaries were thus described:
Beginning at the northeast corner of Sadsbury Township; thence north to
the northern line of Crawford County; thence west until it strikes the
northeast corner of Beaver Township; thence south along the same to the
northwest corner of Sadsbury Township; thence east to the place of beginning.
As thus formed it included the western part of the present Cussewago, the
eastern part of Spring, the northeastern part of Summerhill and the northwestern
part of Hayfield. In 1829 its boundaries were established as they now exist,
the eastern part of the township coming from Venango Township.
The name Cussewago was derived from the creek. An aboriginal tradition says,
that when the wandering Indians first came to the stream they discovered a
large black snake, with a white ring around its neck, on an elevated limb of
a tree. The reptile had a large protuberance, as if it had swallowed an animal
as large as a rabbit, hence the term "Kos-se-waus-ga," which being literally
interpreted, signifies "big-belly," was applied to the creek.
Cussewago Creek flows southward through the western part of the township, and
with its tributaries drain this and the central portions. In the east are several
small streams flowing eastward into Venango. The surface is rolling and the low
land along the streams in early times was somewhat marshy.
The soil in the valley is a productive gravelly loam, interspersed with clay and
sand, while the uplands has usually a clay loam or sandy soil.
It is one of the largest townships in the county, containing 23,776 acres. The
population in 1820, as the township then existed, was 642. In 1850 it was 1,540;
in 1860, 1,805; in 1870, 1,674; and in 1880, 1,697.
This was one of the earliest settled portions of the county. The tracts in the
northern part were located by individuals; the southwestern part was owned by the
Holland Land Company, and the southeastern was a portion of the large body known
as Field's Claim.
The pioneers came afoot or in wagons. They built small cabins in the wilderness,
and for years endured all the hardships incident to a frontier life. Milling was
done at Meadville at first, and then at Alden's, in Woodcock Township. For a few
years very little grain and few vegetables were raised, the settlers subsisting
largely on venison, bear meat and other game. Food was at times very scarce, and
there were instances where settlers were driven to the necessity of digging up
planted potatoes for food to alleviate keen pangs of hunger. Wild animals were
numerous. Wolves prowled through the wilderness and made inroads on the scanty
flocks unless the latter were well protected. Panthers were not uncommon, and
with cat-like step sometimes followed a belated settler or frightened children
home. Mrs. Lewis Thickstun, while threading her way through the forest to the
Collum's, her neighbors, when near her destination, heard a shrill cry like that
of a child in distress. Clasping her babe closer, she hurried on while the dog
skulked along at her heels. Thinking Mr. Collum's child might be in danger, she
told him of the scream she had heard. The child, however, was asleep in the house,
but Mr. Collum, with rifle in hand, hastened to the woods. The report of a gun
followed, and he soon returned with a large panther, from which had issued the
doleful sound.
Among the earliest settlers were John Collum, John Clawson, John Chamberlin, and
Stephen and Reuben Carman, all of whom, as the records show, came in 1797 or
earlier. John Collum claimed to be the first settler in the township. He was
here as early as 1792, according to his account, but left soon after, owing to
Indian hostilities. About 1797 he returned and dwelt for years on Tract 29, a
short distance west from Mosiertown. He afterward removed to the southern part
of the county. John Chamberlin came in 1797 from Sussex County, N. J., and
settled on the Jacob Graff tract, about a mile southwest from Crossingville.
He first erected a rude hut, and a few years later built a hewed-log-cabin.
At this raising men attended from Meadville. Mr. Chamberlin was a Baptist
Deacon, and a life-long citizen of Cussewago. John Clawson was a Quaker, and
hailed likewise from New Jersey, settling on Tract 11, near the center of the
township. He was a farmer, and remained through life on the farm he first
settled. Stephen and Reuben Carman were brothers, and settled in the southern
part of the township.
Robert Erwin is said to have come to the township in 1795. He settled on the
John Mead tract, about two miles south of Crossingville. He came to this country
a single man, and was married in 1802. The furniture of the young couple was
very meager. For a time they bad no bed, but slept on deer skins. Mr. Erwin
was an Irishman, a Baptist and a hunter of considerable skill. He remained a
resident of the township till death.
Other early settlers who secured homes in this locality shortly before or about
the opening of the present century, were the Swaneys, Jacob Hites, the McBrides,
Miles Tinny, John Donohue and Francis Ross. John and Alexander Swaney were brothers.
They were of the Catholic faith and Irish nationality. After a three years'
residence in Northumberland County, they came in the spring of 1797 to the north
part of Cussewago and there remained through life. Jacob Hites, a German, came
in 1798 from Philadelphia County. He settled on Tract No. 17, in the southeast
part of the township, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits through life.
The McBrides in early times were quite numerous. Edward, Patrick and Bartholomew
were of one family, and settled in the north part of the township in 1797 or 1798.
John, Jacob and Neal McBride, brothers of another family, were early settlers on
Tracts Nos. 27 and 28 in the south-central part. All the McBrides were of Irish
extraction, and Catholic in religion. John went to Canada, and Jacob and Neal
died in this township. Damon McBride is also remembered as a pioneer. Miles
Tinney was born in Ireland, settled in Northumberland County and there married
Miss Martha, daughter of Bartholomew McBride. He like many other early settlers
has descendants still in the township. John Donohue was a Baptist and hailed from
Delaware. He settled about a mile south of Crossingville, and there remained till
death. Francis Ross was an Irishman of peculiar manners. He was in his early life
an inveterate swearer, and seemed unable to enunciate a sentence without appending
to it several strong oaths. In due course of time he experienced religion and
united with the Baptist Church. It was with extreme difficulty that he overcame
his besetting sin. He was often seen and heard, when plowing, to utter the most
shocking profanity, and at the next moment fall upon his knees in the furrow and
in fervent prayer implore forgiveness.
Lewis Thickstun came with his family from New Brunswick, N. J., in 1802. He
brought with him a cow and two wagons, the one drawn by horses, the other by
oxen. He purchased a farm from the Carmans, in the west part of Tract No. 8,
just north of Mosiertown, and remained its occupant until his death in 1819.
He was a Baptist, and left a large family which is yet well represented in the
township.
The following settlers also came to Cussewago during the first decade of this
century: Enos Cole, who settled in the eastern part; Michael Greenlee, who
took possession of Tract No. 7, and settled about a mile southeast from Mosiertown,
where he remained till death; Allen Greenlee, who served in the war of 1812; George
Hurd, who came from New Jersey, and pitched his tent near the center of the township;
Davis Harned, a tanner by trade, who settled in the eastern part; Alexander Anderson,
an Irishman, who soon after his settlement in the western part removed to Rockdale
Township, and died about 1813; John and William Burney, likewise Irishmen and now
not represented here by descendants; John Hageny, a Catholic fresh from the Emerald
Isle, and a resident at the site of Crossingville; Henry J. Long, a settler in the
southern part, and Samuel Lefevre, who first came in 1810 and, moved his family here
the following year. Grove, George and Eber Lewis were among the earliest pioneers.
Grove Lewis, a native of Bucks County, came in 1798 to Meadville, and in 1799 to
Cussewago. The settlers in the northern part of the township were largely Irish,
while in the southern portion were many Germans from Lehigh County, with an admixture
from New Jersey and from various other parts.
Thomas Potter in 1818 erected a saw-mill and three years later a gristmill in the
southwest part on Cussewago Creek. Robert Erwin operated an early water saw-mill
near Crossingville. He also owned a distillery and a little corn-cracker at the
same place. Martin Clawson was proprietor of another early saw-mill. The industrial
works of the township are now not extensive. About a mile west from Mosiertown is
Potter's bending works. Peter L. Potter owns a steam saw-mill on Tract No. 17, in
the southwest part, and Bennett Bros., have another on Tract No. 11 in the western
part. S. R. Whipple owns and operates a steam saw and shingle-mill. A planing-mill
and corn-crusher, and a water grist and saw-mill is operated north of Crossingville.
The township contains three cheese factories, one at Crossingville, one near Mosiertown,
and Cole's in the eastern part of the township.
The first school was taught in 1804, by Owen David, in a log-house of Michael Greenlee's,
a mile southeast from Mosiertown. Fifteen pupils attended. Mr. David taught several
terms in the township. In 1805 a school was taught in the Tinny settlement. Joshua
Pennel, in 1810, hold a term. He tried to inculcate the habit among his pupils of
thinking twice before speaking, and particularly with Zeph Clawson, who often spoke
rashly and unthinkingly. The master was standing one day with his back to the fire,
when Zeph accosted him with "Well, master, I think—" "That's right, Zeph, now think
again before you speak," interrupted Mr. Pennel. The lad kept silence till the teacher
said, "Well Zeph, now speak." "Your coat is on fire," was the meek response. Zeph was.
allowed his natural way of speaking thereafter. Schools were taught in the Potter,
Chamberlin, Freeman, Hotchkiss, Daniels and Thickstun neighborhoods every winter
from 1820 to 1835, when the public school system was adopted. Among the early prominent
teachers were: Mary Gill, Aurelia Pitts, Rachel Freeman, William, Jane and Nancy
Thickstun, Minot Boyd, Charles Dawley, Lewis Hurd, Jacob Hites and Joseph Potter.
Daboll's Arithmetic, the Western Calculator, Cobb's Spelling Book, English Reader and
New Testament were the text books used. In 1836 Kirkham's Grammar was cautiously
introduced.
Cussewago contains two small villages: Mosiertown and Crossingville. The former is
located in the southern part of the township, and contains two churches Baptist and
Lutheran—a school, two stores, one hotel, a blacksmith, shoe, and a carriage-shop,
three physicians and twenty dwellings. A tannery was in operation for many years,
but is now suspended. A steam grist and saw-mill was also built and operated by
Lemuel Stebbins. It was destroyed by fire, and was not rebuilt. A Mr. Phelps
erected the first tavern about 1830, but a few years later removed from this
locality. Ephraim Smith, a blacksmith, moved in soon after the arrival of Phelps,
and for many years his anvil rang industriously. The first store was started by John
McFarland, of Meadville, who placed Archibald Stewart in charge. The title Cussewago
was formerly given the little village, but it is now generally called Mosiertown,
which is the name of the postoffice located here.
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 blacksmith
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.
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