East Fairfield Township History

On the 10th day of September, 1867, the Court of Quarter Sessions
appointed H. B. Beatty, Charles Drake and W. B. Brown Commissioners
to consider a petition, presented by the citizens of Fairfield Township,
praying for its division into two townships, with French Creek as the line
of separation. The Commissioners reported favorably, and the court
ordered the electors of the township to hold an election March 20, 1868,
to determine the question of division. The vote resulted: yeas, 134, nays,
122; and East Fairfield became one of the civil subdivisions of Crawford
County. It is irregularly triangular in shape, with French Creek as the
hypothenuse. It contains 8,287 acres, valued on the tax duplicate of 1882
at $165,032. The population in 1870 was 741; in 1880, 748. French Creek
flats along the stream are rich and productive, and the ridge that rises back
from the stream is comparatively level and easily tillable. The ridge
descends in the northeastern part of the township to Little Sugar Creek,
which courses in a southeasterly direction. Grain culture is the chief
avocation, though dairying is not neglected. The Franklin Branch of the
N. Y., P. & O. R. R. crosses the township along the valley of French Creek.
The Meadville feeder of the Beaver and Erie Canal entered from the north,
and crossed French Creek into Union Township, near the mouth of
Conneaut Outlet. Slack-water navigation down French Creek from this point
to Franklin was opened in November, 1834, but continued only for a short
time.

Most of the land in the township was patented by individuals. In the eastern
part are a few tracts belonging to the Sixth Donation District. French Creek
was the course by which the pioneers of Crawford County reached their
future homes, and the first settlers made their claims in its beautiful and
fertile valley. Stretching along its waters for many miles, the rich bottom
lands of East Fairfield attracted many of the first comers. The earliest
arrived before Indian peace had yet been enforced by Gen. Wayne, and
while murderous bands of savages yet ranged western Pennsylvania, and
soon after settlements could be made with any assurance of safety from
Indian attacks the entire valley was filled with immigrants from the southern
or eastern portions of the Commonwealth. Actual and continuous occupation
was the only safeguard against other claimants. Several of the earliest
settlers by attempting to hold two tracts, dividing their time between them,
were successfully dispossessed by new comers, arriving during their absence.
The lands fronting on the creek, and some in the interior of the township, were
patented in the names of the first settlers, and usually in tracts of 400 acres
each.

Henry Marley and John Wentworth are accredited the first permanent settlers.
Mr. Marley was Irish born, immigrated to America in 1790, and in June, 1793,
built his rude, diminutive log-cabin near the creek road, on the tract opposite
and below the mouth of Conneaut Creek, where he remained until his death
and where his descendants still abide. John Wentworth also came to Crawford
County several years before peace was established with the Indians, and was
known as an Indian fighter and a skillful hunter. His garb was the Indian hunting-
costume, and he settled on French Creek, in the northwest corner of the
township, where he remained until death. He had served in his youth in the
Revolutionary struggle.

Prior to 1798, several years before, William Dean, Henry Heath, Thomas Powell,
Andrew and Hugh Gibson, John McFadden and Peter Shaw had settled along
the creek. William Dean brought his family from Westmoreland County about
1795, conveying his few household effects on two pack-horses, and took
possession of the land immediately below Marley. He was a Presbyterian, and
remained on this farm till his death in 1846, leaving a numerous posterity,
several of whom yet own and occupy the old farm. Henry Heath, from Allegheny
County, settled on the adjoining farm below. He died in Wayne Township, but
part of the farm is still owned by the Heaths. Below him Thomas Powell, from
the same county, settled and remained through life. Immediately below the
Marley place, Andrew Gibson, from Westmoreland County, built his cabin and
remained till his death February 26, 1828. Still further up the stream John
McFadden located and maintained a claim. He had a large family, and
subsequently removed to near Cooperstown, Venango County. Hugh Gibson
was the owner and possessor of the next farm. He was a brother of Andrew
Gibson, and removed to Butler County. Peter Shaw, a Scotchman, came from
near Pittsburgh, and located the tract above Hugh Gibson's land. He was a
brother-in-law to William Dean, Sr., and a life-long resident of the farm he
settled. Isaac Powell, brother to Thomas Powell, entered a tract on the the
turnpike adjoining the William Dean farm on the northeast. He was an old
bachelor, and he and an unmarried sister dwelt on this farm till death overtook
them in their old age.

James Thompson, hailing from Mifflin County, was one of Capt. William Power's
party engaged in surveying land in northwestern Pennsylvania. One day in June,
1795, they had encamped southwest of Conneaut Lake, and Thompson was left
in camp to watch the equipage and prepare supper, while the balance of the
party were making stealthy and hasty surveys, through fear of hostile savages.
A band of Indians suddenly appeared at the camp and made Mr. Thompson a
prisoner. After destroying the camp and scattering the provisions they proceeded
northward. At the first evening's halt the Indians exhibited two scalps, which they
said they had taken that day near the mouth of Conneaut Outlet, and were
probably those of the ill-fated young men, Findlay and McCormick. Mr. Thompson
was compelled to make forced marches and assist in carrying plunder until they
reached Detroit. Here he was liberated after Wayne's treaty was declared, and
made his way back to Mifflin County. Several years later he emigrated with his
brother-in-law, Mr. Power, and settled about two miles north of Cochranton, where
he remained till death, leaving a large family.

The early schoolmaster in East Fairfield who would not apply the birch to his
pupilsfreely and frequently was regarded as a worthless teacher. The first, and
for many years the only schoolhouse in the township, was built in 1802 on the
Andrew Gibson farm. Thomas Havelin, an Irishman and a good scholar for those
times, was one of the first teachers. Charles Caldwell taught about 1809,
continuing for several terms. He was a cripple, and resided in what is now
Greenwood Township. Solomon Jennings held sway a little later for several years.
He was quite an old bachelor, and resided in Venango County. Joshua
McCracken, of near Evan's Ferry, Mercer County, followed. The school books
were the Bible, American Preceptor, Daboll's and Dilworth's Arithmetics and
Webster's Spelling Book. In 1834 there were three schools; at present, five.

Shaw's Landing is a station on the Franklin Branch Railroad, in the northwest
part of the township. A Postoffice of the same name is located here. This was
a shipping point on the canal, and a place of some importance. A store, cheese
factory and oil refinery have been in operation, but all are now removed. Shaw's
Landing Grange, No. 164, P. of H., was organized with about thirty members in
March, 1875. J. M. Beatty was the first Master. The present membership is
fifty-five, and meetings are held on alternate Saturday evenings.
Pettis Postoffice is located in the northeastern part.

Stitzerville is a hamlet of several houses and Wolf's grist and saw-mill, on Little
Sugar Creek. On Mud Run, about a mile and a half northwest, near the north
line of the township, is Jeanot's saw and grist-mill.

St. Mark's Reformed, formerly German Reformed, Congregation, was organized
some time prior to 1858 by Rev. J. Kretzing. Henry Stitzer, Mathias Flaugh,
James Marley, George Wier, Samuel Doutt and Philip Hart were the leading
early members. The church building is a commodious frame structure, located
on the turnpike, in the northern part of the township. The corner stone was laid
in September, 1867, and it was dedicated July 12, 1868. Rev. Kretzing was
succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Josiah May, and he in 1877 by Rev. J. W.
Pontius, the present pastor. Revs. Leberman and Ernst had conducted services
in this vicinity prior to the formation of the society. The membership is now
about eighty.

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, located on the extreme northern line
of East Fairfield, is a handsome frame structure, erected about 1844. The
members had previously belonged to St. Hippolytus Congregation at Frenchtown,
and among the earliest and most prominent who assisted in the erection of Sts.
Peter and Paul were: Dennis Verrin, John B. Champigne, John C. Vernier and
John Le Favrier. Father Mark De La Roque was the first and only pastor until
Father Eugene Cogneville, the present priest, took charge. The congregation
has been reduced in membership by the formation of St. Stephen' Church at
Cochranton, and now includes about thirty families.

Kingsley Chapel, a Methodist Episcopal structure, 32x45 in size, erected at
a cost of $2,000, was dedicated in August, 1872, at which time the leading
members were: L. O. Byham and wife, E. W. Smith and wife, J. B. Morris
and wife, Mrs. Johnson, Henry Marley, George Marley and wife and Hannah
McFarland. The class had worshiped in schoolhouses in this vicinity for thirty
years previous to the erection of the church, its earliest members consisting
of: D. Morris, Sarah Wentworth, E. K. Gaston, John Wentworth and Hannah
McFarland. The membership is now twenty-five, and the society is adjoined
to Cochranton Circuit.