Harmonsburg, the only village of the township, is located about a half
mile east of the township center. It was laid out in 1816 by Henry Broadt,
or Bright, as recent orthography has made it. Mr. Broadt was a Dunkard,
of German ancestry, and about 1802 purchased and settled on the farm
whereon he laid out the village. He was a blacksmith by trade and pursued
that avocation in connection with farming during his earlier years. He
continued a resident on his farm until his death in 1838. His descendants
are still residents of this locality. For many years the village was known as
Brightstown. The first house was built by Joseph McMurtry and occupied
by him as a tavern. Whately Barrett, George Cook and Mr. Morgan were
early merchants. Nathaniel Jones and John Rice were early village smiths.
The village has attained no great size, and now comprises 160 inhabitants.
It contains one dry goods, one grocery, one drug, one tin and one variety
store; one harness, one shoe, one wagon and two blacksmith shops; one
hotel, two physicians, a dentist, a schoolhouse and two churches. Two
tanneries were formerly operated here, but both are now gone.
Mrs. Knox attempted the first school in her cabin. Carson Sloan was the
first male teacher. The present school is graded and consists of two
departments. The building now in use was erected for an academy about
1854, and occupied as such for several years.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Harmonsburg was built about 1840. It
is a frame building, with basement, and occupies Lots 77 and 78 in the
northeast part of the village. The class was organized many years previous,
though none of its original members remain to give the date. A Union Church,
the first in the village, was erected on the lot immediately north of the present
schoolhouse in 1821 or 1822, the deed for the lot being granted by Henry
Broadt to eight trustees September 14, 1821. The church was free to all
Christian denominations, and the Methodists worshiped in it until the erection
of their building. Among the earliest members of the church were John Smith,
Watson Smith and Thomas McCray. Harmonsburg Circuit was formed in
1834, and the following have been its pastors: G. Hills and P. S. Ruter, 1834;
G. Hills and C. D. Rockwell, 1835; B. Preston and W. Griffith, 1836; D.
Richey and C. R. Chapman, 1837; L. D. Prosser and J. Deming, 1838; J.
Deming and I. Scofield, 1839; J. Leslie and S. Heard, 1840; L. Rodgers, T. D.
Blinn and A. Norton, 1841. The circuit was in 1842 divided into Conneautville
and Evansburg Circuits, and by a division of the Conneautville in 1861,
Harmonsburg was again created and has since had the following ministers:
J. Bain, 1861-62; N. C. Brown, 1863-64; S. Hollen, 1865; J. Akers, 1866;
T. P. Warner, 1867-68; W. Rice and E. Chace, 1869-70; A. R. Rich, 1871-72;
J. Flower, 1873; G. H. Brown, 1874; W. H. Hoover, 1875-76; M. V. Stone,
1877-78-79; Sylvester Fidler, 1880-81; T. W. Douglas, 1882; Samson
Dimmick, 1883. Harmonsburg Circuit now includes four appointments-
Harmonsburg, Dicksonburg, Smiths and Littles Corners. The membership
of Harmonsburg congregation is eighty-three.
Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. David McKinney
June 13, 1829. Previous to January 1, 1829, there had been occasional
preaching by different ministers, and for a short time Rev. Timothy Alden
had been stated supply, by whom John McClure and John Neal were
ordained Elders. Rev. David McKinney was engaged January 1, 1829, for a
year to preach one-half his time. David Breckenridge was ordained an Elder
May 24, 1829, and June 13 of that year Thomas Chidester was ordained and
installed an Elder, and Robert Stockton, who had formerly been Elder of
another church was installed, and the church of Harmonsburg was regularly
organized with forty-one members, the five aforenamed Elders, Joseph Neal,
James Beatty, John Breckenridge, John McClure, Jr., William H. Kyle, Robert
Neal and thirty females. Most of these had formerly been connected with
Meadville Presbyterian Church. The congregation was dependent on supplies
for many years. Rev. Peter Hassinger supplied it in 1832. Rev. J. W. Dickey
was ordained and installed pastor October 4, 1843. From 1848 to 1850 Rev.
Lemuel P. Bates supplied Harmonsburg and Conneautville. Rev. James Coulter
was installed pastor September 14, 1852, and was released live or six years
later. His successor, Rev. George Scott, was installed June 27, 1860, released
June 10, 1862. Rev. N. S. Lowrie assumed the pastora1 relation October 22,
1862, and delivered his farewell sermon June 21, 1868. Rev. R. L. Stewart
served as pastor from July 7, 1869, to December 29, 1872. Rev. J. W. McVitty
then filled the pulpit for five years, two as pastor and afterward three as regular
supply. Rev. W. E. McCrea was supply from December, 1879, to June, 1880.
Rev. T. C. Anderson was called in November, 1880, began his labors in
February, 1881, and served as pastor-elect, having never been installed, until
May, 1883. Rev. John F. Boyd, the present pastor, took charge in June, 1883.
He also preaches at Evansburg. The early meetings were held in the Union
Church, and during the summer of 1844 the present frame edifice, 35x45,
situated just northeast of the village, was erected at an expense of $800.
The membership is now about seventy. Silas Chidester, James C. Stockton
and J. B. Close constitute the present session.
Enterprise Lodge, No. 72, A. O. U. W., was chartered March 25, 1874, with
fifteen members. Its first officers were: J. C. Weston, P. M. W.; Dr. J. J.
McMillen, M. W.; W. A. Keen, G. F.; G. L. Kelly, O.; J. A. McMurtry,
Recorder; D. G. Harper, Fin.; B. A. Gehr, Receiver; A. W. Smith, G.;
B. C. Coolidge, I. W.; Aaron Lynce, O. W. The membership is now twenty-
six, and meetings are held every Saturday night. Excelsior Council, No.
10, R. T. of T., was instituted July 10, 1878. Its charter officers were Dr.
J. J. McMillen, S. C.; J. Arbuckle, V. C.; W. A. Keen, P. C.; D. V. Smith,
Chap.; Julia M. Gehr, Rec. Sec.; Mrs. W. A. Keen, Treas.; A. R. Smith,
Her.; Mrs. F. M. Whiting, Guard; L. D. Brown, Sent. The membership is
about forty, and regular meetings are held each alternate Wednesday.
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