Chapter 7, Venango Co., Organization of County

CHAPTER VII (pp. 71-80.)

ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY

ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES OF COUNTY--QRIGIN OF COUNTY NAME--<:HANGES IN BOUNDARY-AREA
OF COUNTY-EARLY GOVERNMENT-FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-EARLY ASSESSORS i\lIoT})
ASSESSMENT5--TOWNSHIP DIVISION5--00ROUGHS--PUBLIC BUILDINGS--<:OUNTY FARM

The State quieted the Indian title of a large
tract lying to the north and west of the line of
former purchases by a treaty with the "Six
Nations" at Fort Stanwix in 1784. which was
ratified by the Ohio tribes at Fort McIntosh
in January. 1785- Prompt steps were taken for
the civil administration of this vast territory.
On the 8th of April, 1785. that part of the
purchase lying east of the Allegheny river and
Conewango creek was joined to Northumber­
land; the part west of those streams was as­
signed to Westmoreland county. This part was
taken from Westmoreland and joined to Alle­
gheny when that county was organized, in
1788; while the western limits of Lycoming
county, established in 1795, included the corre­
sponding portion east of the Allegheny and the
Conewango. Thus the county boundaries
moved westward like the star of empire. A
new county was formed by an eastern
boundary. from which it extended indefinitely
westward. The northern or southern limits
were those of the State itself, or of the other
county which stretched across the State toward
the sunset. The east and west sides of the
Allegheny and Conewango, from the point
where the Ohio breaks the State line in the
southwest, to the entrance of the Conewango
on the north, had each a separate absentee
judicial control, the one from Pittsburgh, the
other from Williamsport. This arrangement
continued till March 12, 1800, when the legis­
lature passed an act forming in this section
eight counties at once, Beaver, Butler, Mercer,
Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango and Arm­
strong. The section relating to Venango is as
{0110\\'5 :

Beginning at. the northeast. corner Me.rcer
county; thence on the first line or course of
Crawford county until it shall intersect the
north line of the sixth donation district being
the same as the first line of the said county
of Crawford; thence eastwardly upon the said
line of the sixth donation district along the
boundary of the counties of Crawford and
Warren and crossing the river Allegheny to
line dividing Wood's and Hamilton's districts,
in the county of Lycoming; thence southerly
along the said line to Toby's creek; thence
down the said creek to the river Allegheny;
thence across the said river, and upon the line
of Armstrong county, hereinafter described, to
the northeast corner of the county' of Butler;
thence westwardly by the north "line of said
county to the corner of Mercer county; thence
northerly along the line of Mercer county to
the place of beginning, be. and the same is
hereby erected into, a separate county, to be
henceforth called Venango county: and the
place of holding the courts of justice in and
for the said countv shall be at the town of
Franklin, in the said county. And the gov­
ernor shall. and he is hereby empowered to
appoint three commissioners, any two of whjch
shall run and ascertain and plainly mark the
boundary lines of the said county of Venango.
and shall receive as full compensation for their
services therein, the-sum of $2 for every mile
so run and marked, to be paid out of the
moneys that shall be raised for the county
uses. within the county of Venango."

The "line dividing Wood's .and Hamilton's
districts" is the same as that between the
counties of Jefferson and Clarion. Toby's
creek is now known as the Clarion river.
Warren and Crawford. Crawford and Mercer,
Butler and Armstrong. were the adjoining

"SEC. VII ..... That so much of the counties on the north. west and south. respec­
counties of Allegheny and Lycoming as shan tively, as they are now: the line dividing Jef­
be included in the follewing boundaries. viz., ferson and Clarion. extended north to the War-

71

ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES OF COUNTY

72

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ren line, formed the eastern boundary. East
of this line the territory remained a part of
Lycoming till :if~o4, when Jefferson was
erected, and in 1848 Forest was formed from
the northern part of Jefferson. Comparing the
boundaries described in this act with the pres­
ent ones on the south and east, it plainly ap­
pears that Venango has been deprived of at
least one-half of its original area.

ORIGIN OF COUNTY NAME

The county received the name of the "old
Indian town" which for centuries undoubtedly,
as shown by its refuse beds containing bones.
mussel shells, flint chips, arrowpoints, pipe­
bowls; and broken pottery, was situated at the
mouth of French creek. The name was spelled
in a variety of ways by different writers­
Wenango, Weningo, then Vinango. Washing­
ton designated it Venango, in his journal, and
the name he used has persisted. The name is
borne by a town in Crawford county, a town­
ship in Erie county, and was given to one of
the towns that are now parts of Oil City.

CHANGES IN BOUNDARY

"The first line or course of Crawford
county" extended north forty-five degrees east
from the northeast corner of Mercer county
to the north line of the sixth donation district.
This was a source of trouble to the inhabitants
of both counties. In 1827 a petition was pre­
sented to the legislature representing that they
experienced "great inconvenience in their
assessments in consequence of the division line
of said counties running diagonally from south­
west to northeast through the sixth donation
district, thence running east dividing a range
of warranted lands, thereby dividing the dona­
tion and warrant lands so that the number of
acres in said subdivisions cannot be correctly
ascertained without considerable expense."
The petition resulted in an act, Feb. 28, 1828,
ordering a resurvey, showing the outlines of
the individual allotments. No further change
has been necessary since.

The line of Jefferson county was revised
about the same time. A survey made in Mal"
182]. is among the archives of the county m
the commissioners' office. Richard Irwin in
September, 1830, under authoritv of both
counties interested, prepared a draft of the dis­
puted boundary. It received legislative ap­
proval in February, 1832.

The act of legislature of March II, 1839.
was the first materially changing the boundaries

_--~_C>:;...L.-- -

of this county. This was the erection of
Clarion county as follows:

"Beginning at the junction of Red Bank
creek with the Allegheny river, thence up said
creek to the line dividing Jefferson and Arm­
strong counties, thence along said line to the
line dividing Toby and Saratoga townships in
Venango county, thence along said line to the
corner of Farmington township in Venango
county, thence a straight line to the mouth of
Shull's run on the Allegheny river, thence
down said river to the place of beginning."

The part of this act directing a straight line
from the corner of Farmington township to
the mouth of Shull's run was repealed at the
next session of the legislature. The Commis­
sioners of Clarion county were directed to have
a line surveyed with the mouth of Ritchey's
run as the terminus at the Allegheny river,
and this line is now the southeastern boundary
of the county.

Venango was considerably reduced in area
by this act, but was still the largest county in
the northwestern part of the State with one
exception. It still had an extreme length of
forty miles from east to west. It is a matter
of surprise that: the eastern part of this terri­
tory was not joined to the county of Forest
upon its erection in 1848. That it was not is
probably because it was sparsely settled. As
population increased the advantages of being
nearer the county seat were apparent, and by
an act approved Oct. 3 I, 1866. the legislature
added to Forest the territory east and north
of the line described as follows :

"Beginning on the Venango and Warren
county line, at the southeast comer of the
Southwest township, in the county of Warren;
thence by a line southward to a point in Pine­
grove township in Venango county, opposite
to the middle northwest corner of Washington
township, Clarion county; thence in a straight
line east to said corner; thence east along the
Clarion county tine to a point where the said
line diverges in a northerly course; thence
north along said line to the upper northwest
corner of the said county of Oarion; thence
east along said line to the Forest county line."

This survey was made under the direction of
C. Fulberson, of Venango county, James A.
Leach, of Mercer county, and Jacob Zeigler, of
Butler county. Four entire townships, Har­
mony, Hickory, Kingsley. and Tionesta. and
parts of three others, Allegheny, President
and Pinegrove, were attached to Forest. The
boundaries of Venango have since been un­
disturbed.

VENANGO COU:':TY, PENNSYLVANIA

AREA OF COUNTY

The area at present is six hundred and sixty­
one square miles, or four hundred twenty­
three thousand and forty acres.

EARLY GOVERNMENT

The act of March 12, 1800, creating, the
northwestern counties, contained administra­
tive and executive features which seem incom­
patible from the language employed. The
counties were duly "erected" and placed pro­
visionally under the judicial control of other
older county organizations. Armstrong was
attached to Westmoreland; Butler and Beaver
were placed under the jurisdiction of AHe­
gheny ; but the five counties of Crawford, Mer­
cer, Venango, Warren and Erie, born and
named at the same time, were merged into one,
called Crawford. Venango was one of four;
step-counties, or counties covert, all placed
under the tutelage of the more vigorous sister,
till they should grow a little. In the
meantime three trustees were appointed to
manage the public affairs of Venango. These
were George Fowler, Alexander McDowell
and James McOaran, with "full authority for
them or a majority of them to purchase or
take or receive by grant, bargain, or otherwise,
and such assurances for the payment of money
and grants of land or other property that may
be offered to them or the survivors or sur­
vivor of them in trust for the use and benefits
of said county; and to sell or convey such part
thereof, either in town lots or otherwise, as to
them or to a majority of them shall appear
advantageous and proper; and to invest one
moiety of the net proceeds thereof in some
productive property, to be a fund for the sup­
port of an academy or public school at the
county town in the said county, and to apply
the other moiety thereof in aid of the county
rates and levies for the purpose of erecting
the public buildings." This grant of authority
was extensive enough for a large business; but
the only record of their work that was pre­
served is a lease of part of the public square
of Franklin to Edward Hale for one dollar a
year.

The legislature by act passed April I, 1805,
conferred upon Venango county "all and sin­
gular the jurisdictions, powers and privileges"
enjoyed by the people of other counties from
and after the first day of September following.
The county was made a part of the Sixth
Judicial district; the second Tuesday in
October was the date of the first election, in

73

which the voters of \Varren should also par­
ticipate, the latter county having been pro­
visionally annexed, Ninian Irwin, Caleb
Crane and James G. Heron were eJected com-.
missioners; John Witherup. sberifi; William
Moore, prothonotary, and - Marcus Hulings.
coroner. The men chosen to serve the new
county received the oath of office July IS. 1805$
administered by John Irwin and William
Moore, to whom a dedimus potestatem had
been issued.

Thus, simply, was a new civil organization
erected in the heart of a wilderness; but it
was really planted in the heart of a new ideal.
The wilds about it did not matter, the spirit
sufficed. The officials chosen were not sub­
servient to blind authority; they were elected.
by equals to be responsible for the continu­
ance of equality. They were greater than the
lords and knight of any king, for they were
the embodiment of the civil whole, in intention,
intelligence, power.

FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

. The minutes of the county commissioners,
of the first meeting and two adjourned meet­
ings held at the house of Edward Hale. Oct.
23, 1805, are as foilows:

This day the commissioners of Venango county
met and fanned a board,-Irwin, Crane and Heron.
Appointed James Martin clerk, at one dollar thirty
cents; Alexander McDowell, treasurer. Irwin going
home. Wrote three advertisements for wood for
county use. James G. Heron and Caleb Crane ap­
pointed to settle account with Crawford county.
Adjourned until Monday, the fourth day of Novem­
ber [ensuing the date above}.

Met accordinp; to adjournment on Monday. the
fourth day of November, and determined that the
county commissioners' and prothonotary's office
shall be held at the house of Samuel Hays. Made
an agreement to supply the courthouse and ~i.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.

Nov. 5th.-Met according' to adjournment. Re­
ceived of James Hamilton his certificate of the oath
of office as assessor of Sugar Creek township, also'
the bond of the treasurer with his sureties for the
true performance of his duties as treasurer. Ad­
journed until to-morrow at nine.

An order was drawn on the treasurer in
favor of Andrew Allison for eight dollars. It
was the first order drawn, dated Nov. 2. 1805.
Venango county, and was to pay the bounty
prescribed for killing a wolf. This first ex­
penditure is significant.

On the same day Caleb Crane, as collector
of Irwin township, paid sixty dollars and five
cents into the treasury, this being the first
taxes received by the county.

74

VE~ANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The second order issued was in favor of
George Fowler,. for services rendered at the
general election; the amount was one dollar
and fifty cents.

EARLY ASSESSORS AND ASSESSMENTS

The first assessors of the county after .its
formation were: Caleb Crane, Irwin township;
James Hamilton, Sugar Creek; David Kinnear,
Allegheny, and Hugh E. Marsh. Brokenstraw.
Their first precepts were issued Tuesday. Dec.
3. 1805· The duplicates for 1805 upon which
this first county tax was collected, were copied
from the records at Meadville by Samuel Dale,
for which he was paid eight dollars by the
commissioners. It was customary, at this pe­
riod, for the board and assessors to meet to­
gether and arrange a uniform system of taxa­
tion. The earliest records of these proceed­
ings now extant are those of the fourth tri­
ennial assessment of 1817. the fourth in the
county. From these records, the following
assessed valuations are taken: Improved
lands, from twelve and one-half cents to six
dollars; of unseated inlets, town of Franklin,
from five to one hundred and fifty dollars; of
houses and lots, from one hundred and twenty
to five hundred dollars; of improved out-lots,
from fifty to two thousand dollars; of saw­
mills, from one hundred to three thousand dol­
lars; of fulling mills, from one hundred to
twenty-five hundred dollars; of carding ma­
chines. from three hundred to eight hundred
dollars: of gristmills, from one hundred to
fifteen hundred dollars: of distilleries, from
fifty to two hundred dollars; of tanyards, from
fifty to one thousand dollars; of horses, from
five to one hundred dollars; of oxen, from
twenty-five to one hundred dollars. Of. the
various occupations, the assessments were:

Associate judge, seventy-fixe dollars; prothono­
tary and treasurer, three hundred dollars;
commissioners, and clerk, two hundred dol­
Jars: sheriff, seventy-five dollars; attorneys,
two hundred dollars; tavernkeepers and mer­
chants were assessed in two classes, ranging,
respectively. from fifty to one thousand dol­
lars, and from one hundred to fifteen hundred
dollars. Upon this basis the duplicate of Alle­
gheny township, amounting to one hundred
sixty-four dollars and thirty-three cents; of
Cherry tree , one hundred thirty-three dollars
twenty-one cents; of French Creek, three hun­
dred thirty dollars twenty-three cents; of
] rwin, one hundred eleven dollars seventy
cents; of Richland, two hundred twenty-seven

dollars twenty-five cents; of Scrubgrass, one
hundred eighty-four dollars fifty-six cents; of
Sugar Creek, two hundred forty-nine dollars
one cent.

Two very important deductions ma, be
easily made from this first tax dupltcate:

First, that there had been a remarkable indus­
trial development in this isolated community
duri.ng the four years of its independent life,
and secondly, that its government ",'as admin­
istered with careful economy. There were now
sawmills, fulling mills, gristmills, carding ma­
chines, distilleries, tanyards, where a few years
before there was dearth of all these. There
were hotelkeepers assessed at one thousand
and merchants at fifteen hundred dollars.
which is proof of trade and travel in the
county. Land values had increased notice­
ably. - Improved land assessed at six dollars
an acre down to twelve and a half cents, with
improved outlets at from ten to four hundred
dollars an acre, while still there was territory
to be had from the State and land companies,
on easy tenus, proves that the newcomers were
becoming critical, and were moving toward
certain sections or centers of settlement.
Values were increasing in the county, indus­
tries were diversified, the people were alert
and forward-looking. The territory of Ve­
nango at that time was nearly double its pres­
ent area and was divided into seven townships.
To provide for the salaries of officials and the
sums required for necessary improvements and
expenses of the county, the commissioners in
1817. made a levy, requiring from the four
thousand two hundred and fifty inhabitants an
annual contribution of fourteen hundred dol­
lars and twenty-six cents. The act of April
I, 1805, conferring political independence upon
Venango county, authorized the commissioners
"to call on the commissioners of Crawford
county for the purpose of examining, liqui­
dating and reserving such balances as may be
due to Venango county." In the minutes of
the board of March 30. 1806. it is stated that
"James G. Heron and Samuel Hays set off to
Meadville in order to bring about a settlement
with Crawford county. but through back-ward­
ness of the commissioners of Crawford county
could only transcribe from their books the ac­
counts of Venango and Warren counties from
the year 1800 to the end of the year 1805, No
paper to be purchased in Meadville. or would
have taken off the amounts of Crawford. Mer­
cer and Erie. Returned on Saturday, April 5,"

The settlement of the account was difficult.

The Venango commissioners took legal steps

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to secure the amount of their claim; but the
case lingered for many years and was a source
of expense to the county.

Similar difficulties were experienced by Ve­
nango in settling the affairs of Warren in 1819.
when that county secured a separate organiza­
tion, But in this case Venango was the de­
fendant, The account was not settled by the
counties concerned until the legislature inter­
vened, By act of assembly, April II, 1827.
the court of Quarter Sessions was directed to
appoint three commissioners from either Craw­
ford, Butler, Mercer or Armstrong, who should
have full power to investigate all matters and
whose decision should he final. Venango was
required to pay two thousand two hundred
seventy-four dollars and forty-five cents in
three equal annual installments. The last was
paid March !O, I83o--eleven years after sep­
aration. those little cared-for counties seem
to have become able to care for themselves,
quite young.

TOWNSHIP DI\'ISIONS

The county was subdivided into three town­
ships during the period it was attached to
Crawford-Allegheny, Sugar Creek and Irwin,
described as follows:

"Beginning at the mouth of Oil creek, thence
up the Allegheny river, by the different wind­
ings thereof, to where the line dividing the
counties of Venango and Warren strikes said
river, thence west along the line dividing the
counties of Venango and Warren to where the
fIoUand Company's mill stands on Oil creek,
thence down said creek to the place of begin­
ning; to be called Allegheny township.

"Also one other township: Beginning at
the mouth of French creek, thence up the Alle­
gheny river by the windings thereof to the
mouth of Oil creek, thence up said creek by
the branch thereof that leads to the Holland
Company's mill to where the line dividing the
counties of Crawford and Venango to where
the same crosses French creek, thence down
said creek by the different windings thereof
to the mouth, the place of beginning; to be
caned Sugar Creek.

"Also one other township: Beginning at
the mouth of French creek, thence down the
Allegheny river by the different windings
thereof. to where the northeast corner of the
county of Butler comes on said river, thence
west along the tine dividing the counties of
Venango and Butler to the southwest corner
of Venango county. thence north along the line
dividing the counties of Venango and Mercer

75

to where the same strikes French creek. thence
down French creek by the different windings
thereof to the mouth, the place of beginning;
to be called Irwin!'

No provision was made for the extensive
territory south and east of the Allegheny river
in which the Crawford county commissioners
could find no taxable inhabitants, in 1803 ;
probably there were none.

The townships were formed by authority of
the Courts of Quarter Sessions, in the organ­
ized counties. The policy pursued in making
these subdivisions was similar to that of the
legislature in dividing the northwest into
counties. In both cases the respective political
divisions were created in advance of any im­
mediate necessity; and until such time as the
growth of population should make individual
organization necessary. they were united in
groups under one administration. There was
one great advantage to be gained by the early
formation of townships; at that period the
county commissioners appointed assessors and
collectors of taxes, and divided the county into
districts for the appointment of justices of the
peace. On March 7. 1806, the board drew up
a petition "setting forth that great inconven­
iences are at present experienced by the in­
habitants of Venango and Warren counties
from the too great extent of the townships;
not only in attending their respective township
meetings, but also in assessing and collecting
taxes" ; and as it was desirable that the district
and township lines coincide, the latter ought
to be permanently established. Samuel Dale,
John Andrews and Thomas Baird were ap­
pointed by the court to inquire into the pro­
priety of granting this petition. The com­
mittee presented a careful report, providing
for the erection of twenty-six townships, fif­
teen of which were in the present limits of
Venango county,

By the time that the triennial assess­
ment was made in 1817. there were nom­
inally twenty-four townships in the county, but
only seven had been organized. Irwin, Scrub­
grass and Richland occupied the same relative
places as at present. but the latter extended
to the Clarion river, including nearly all of
the part added to Clarion county which. was
taken from Venango in I8J9. French Creek
extended across the county, bounded on the
north bv the creek and the Allegheny river,
and varied in width from seven to fifteen or
eighteen miles. Sugar Creek included Canal
in addition to its present area. and also that
part of Cornplanter west of Oil creek. with
the southern part of Oakland and Jackson.

.----_. - -----

76

VENANGO COUXTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Cherry tree embraced the remaining territory
west of Oil creek. Allegheny was situated east
of Oil creek and north of the AUe-jiheny river,
and included nearly the whole of that part of
Venango which was annexed to Forest in
1866.

It was more than ten years before further
change was made in the map of the county.
Plum was separately organized in 1817. and
Rockland in the following year. Pine Grove
was taken from French Creek in August, 1824.
Cranberry in 1830, with Six Mile run as its
southern boundary, instead of the line between
the Astley and Brigham lands. Sandy Creek
was separated from French Creek by the Mer­
cer road, which was substituted for Big Sandy
creek as the dividing line, Nov. 29, 1834.
Tionesta was formed from the eastern part of
Allegheny in 1827, and the latter was further
reduced in area by the erection of Cornplanter
Nov. 28, 1833. Plum, Complanter and Sugar
Creek gave up the territory forming Oakland
in 1841. Jackson, formed in 1845, is still
possessed of the same boundaries. President
was formed by act of legislature April 3, 1850,
and Oil Creek was elided from the western
part of Allegheny in 1866. Scrubgrass and
Irwin were separated in April, 1855. by the
new township of Clinton, taking a slice from
each. The organization of Mineral, Oct. 24.
1870, and of Victory. Sept. 6, 1876, completes
the map of Venango county as it is to-day.

BOROUGHS

The boroughs of the county have been
formed at dates as follows: Franklin, April
14. 1828; Pleasantville, March 22, 1850;
Cooperstown. Nov. 25, 1858; Emlenton, Jan.
27, 1859; Oil City. April 29. 1862; Utica,
November, 1863; Pithole City, Nov. 30, 1865;
Venango City, Dec. I, 1865; Rouseville, Sept.
7. J8gB; Siverly, August 27. 1874; Clinton­
ville, Jan. 28, 1878; Sanville, Jan. 27. 1879:

Polk. Aug. 23. 1886. Franklin was incorpo­
rated as a city April 4, 1868. and Oil City
April II, 1871. Siverly borough was joined to
Oil City as the Tenth ward in 1912, and West
End was united to the Fourth ward of Oil
City in 1914. The charter of Pithole City was
annulled in August. 1877.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

The first official business after the county
was organized was transacted at the house of
Edward Hale, which stood on the site of the
Snook block. Permanent offices far the com-

missioners and prothonotary were obtained at
a. quarterly rental of fifteen dollars in a log
building on the lot just above the "U nited
States Hotel" on Liberty street. The courts
were held here for a time. This building was
owned by Samuel Hays and John McDonald.
It was removed in 1863. A duty especially
enjoined upon the commissioners, by the act
organizing the county. was the erection of
county buildings, the public square being desig­
nated as their location. At a meeting of the
board Dec. 4. 1806. various plans for build­
ing a courthouse were taken into consideration,
and an estimate of expense was made. On
Dec. 19th, the contract for digging the cellar
and constructing the walls was awarded to
John Witherup, the first sheriff of the county
and the incumbent at that time. His bid was
considered the most advantageous to the county
of those received. A plan for the building
was matured Jan. 9, 1807, and a site was
staked off July 9th, following. On the IIth
of November, however, the board really
"Agreed upon the permanent seat of the court­
house, which it is agreed by the commissioners
is to stand on the corner of the diamond where
Liberty street and High street cross and on
the west side of High street; to front toward
Liberty street." This hoard of commissioners,
who were to build the first great public build­
ing in the county seat, were subject to many
suggestions, as to its location and construction,
its appearance from different points of the
compass. Under date of Aug. I st the follow­
ing minute appears: "This day George Fowler
appointed on behalf of the commissioners, and
John Phillip Houser, appointed on behalf of
the contractors for building the courthouse, to
ascertain the quality of the brick burned for
the same, made report that the same were unfit
for the public buildings." This would indicate
that the original intention was to erect a brick
building.

The records do not afford many details re­
garding the progress of this building. Pay­
ments were made in annual installments, John
Broadfoot was employed as carpenter, and
Christian and John Sutley were contractors for
certain parts of the work. The amount re­
ceived by Witherup and the Sutleys in 1809
was five hundred dollars. Considerable finan­
cial aid was received from the legislature.
Other county seats in nearby parts or the State
were located on lands owned by individuals,
from whom subsidies, amounting in some cases
to several thousand dollars, were usually re­
ceived for the purpose of erecting the public
buildings. The county capitol had been 10-

VENANGO COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA

cated upon the property of the State, and this
would greatly enhance the value of the large
remainder still owned by the Commonwealth;
it was only reasonable that the county should
get the same advantage as if it had been fixed
on the lands of a citizen. The legislature, in
accordance with this view, appropriated one
thousand five hundred dollars, March 28, 1806,
"to be paid out of the moneys arising from
the sales of town and outlets belonging to the
Commonwealth in and adjoining the town of
Franklin."

The building was two stories in height. It
was a square stone building, substantial in
appearance rather than imposing, but was a
credit to the enterprise of the county at that
early period. A cupola and bell were after­
ward added, effecting an improvement in ap­
pearance and utility. It was situated in 'Vest
Park aligned with Liberty street near High,
and was the dominant feature of the place, as
one approached the business center up Liberty
street. It is the conspicuous building seen in
a picture of "Franklin in 1840." The first
floor was entered from Liberty street and was
used as the courtroom; the usual inclosed space
opposite the entrance was reserved for the
court attorneys and jurors. The second floor
contained four rooms, occupied as offices by
the prothonotary and commissioners, and as
jury rooms. The building was extensively re­
paired in 1831. The chimneys were rebuilt.
the walls were plastered. and the stairway and
entrance were separated from the courtroom
by a partition, ground around the building
was improved and inclosed by a fence, adding
to the appearance of the place.

The materials used in the building were
the loose stones found in the surrounding hills.
and were not capable of resisting the ravages
of time. In 1845, the crumbling walls became
unsafe and appeared ready to collapse, so that
it was decided to brace them with props. This
made the building of a new courthouse an im­
mediate need.

On the 29th of May the commissioners­
Nathan Cary, Patrick Culbertson, and David
Adams-determined "to adopt immediate
measures" to erect a courthouse in the ensu­
ing year. They went to Meadville to inspect
the courthouse there. They employed a Mr.
Tucker to furnish specifications of the build­
im!. which, as prepared bv him, were adopted.
This was on June 23d. On the following day
the board decided "that the new courthouse
shall be located on the public square or dia­
mond, and that the site shan be southwest of

the jail, so as to front against the east side of
Liberty street as it comes into the diamond
from the west." Proposals were received for
erecting the building from fonrteen different
firms, and were considered on JulY27tfl. Wil­
liam Ben and I. B. Rowe were engaged. at
their bid of seven thousand and fifty dollars.
A formal contract was entered into, in which
Messrs. Bell and Rowe agreed to complete the
building by Nov. I, 1847. A depression of the
surface in the site selected caused the founda­
tion to be laid deeper, and two and one-half
feet had to be added to the height of the wall
above the ground. Some other changes bad
to be made, before the work was completed,
without increasing, strange to say. the cost of
the structure. This was a brick building, oblong
in shape. fronting on Liberty street, in front
of and near the site of the present courthouse.
The offices of the prothonotary and board
were conveniently located on the first floor,
with a short hall between them, leading to the
courtroom. The second floor was divided into
several office rooms, needed by the county's
business. On Sept. I rth and r zth, [847, the
records of the county were removed to the
new building. The roof was surmounted by a
cupola containing a bell-an ornamental as
well as a cheerful and useful climax of the cap­
itol's skyline. This bell may have been the
one used in the first courthouse, added to the
old building some years after its erection.
Some citizen may have had associations with
its tones, sounding at times the beginnings of
mirth or of alarm, or marking the noon of the
common day. It may have announced the
sittings of the court; or have called the citizens
to a meeting at the time appointed. These
voices of the bell had civic power. They went
through every street and aUey, giving a com­
mon message to all, like unseen threads pass­
in~ among the citizens and drawing them into
fellowship. Without such means of sounding
out signals a pioneer settlement lacks the power
of combining for quick insight and outlook.
Ringin~ into the ears of the whole town at
once, the notice is more trustworthy than is
passing hearsay changing as it passes.

There is something noteworthy in the record
of the building of this second courthouse:

May 29, 18.46. Board decides to erect a nurt­
house "by the coming year 1847."

June 5 and 6, 1846. Board visits Meadville t<> in­
snect courthouse; employs Mr. Tucker to "raw
plans.

June 23, 1846. Plan is adeoted,
June 24, 1846. Location is fixed.

78

V E~ANGO CODXTY, PEXNSYLVAXL~

. July 27. 1846. Fourteen proposals examined. One
is accepted.

~ul~ 29. 1846. Formal contract entered into.

Building to be completed by Nov. I, 1847.

Aug. 28, 1846. Building operations begin.

Sept. r rth and 12th, 1847. The courthouse is com­
pleted, and .the records are moved in, fifty-two days
ahead of nme.

!h~ moveme?ts ?f t~e men controlling this
building operatmn Inspire anew faith in men.
An efficiency program was carried out to the
minute. This building fulfilled the purpose for
which it ~as erected, for twenty-two years.

The third courthouse, which is also the pres­
ent ~me, is more spacious, and has greater
architectural values .~han either of its prede­
cessors. The large increase of business, the
greater density of population. the size of the
values to be adjudicated and recorded at the
county court, because of the discovery and de­
velopment of petroleum, d.emanded a larger
and safer building, According to one high au­
thority, values in V enan~o county by reason
of the oil business had Increased probably a
thousandfold in the sixties. The rush of new
business to the Venango courthouse was so
great as to overwhelm the facilities for taking
care of .it. ~he .building was not fireproof;
and an mvesnganon revealed the fact that it
could. not be c~an.ged. in this respect without
practically rebuilding It. It was decided that
the part of wisdom was to incur a large neces­
sary expense at present rather than risk an
immense loss in the future, along with the un­
speakable trouble and confusion that would
come upon the county if the records should be
destroye~. On the 18th of July, 1867, the
commissioners decided, in compliance with the
recommendation of the grand jury, to build a
new courthouse. Sloan & Hutton were em­
ployed as architects, I. "V. Brady acted as
superintendent, Aug. 14. 18670 The corner
stone was laid by the Venango Lodge, Inde­
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, July IS.i868.
The orators of the occasion were John S.
Myers and John S. McCalmont. The building
was completed, at a cost slightly exceeding
forty thousand dollars. in the summer of r86q
This building was repaired, its conyenience~
extended, and its whole interior improved by
artistic decorations in 1913.' The courtroom
is one of the finest public auditoriums in this
part of the State. It has a seating capacity of
nearly eight hundred. The building is worthy
of its situation, in a park ten acres in extent,
traversed by walks. adorned by fountains.
stately trees and a monument wbrthy to bear
aloft the names of the patriotic dead. Franklin,

the county town, is an important city in its
grasp and extensive reach of business enter­
prises. Notwithstanding its intensive activity
as one drives along its broad, smooth streets'
noting the shade trees, the lawns, the t~
gardens, the flowers, the feeling prevails that
the town is itself a park. So indeed it is' and
is t~e center of a still larger park of strong
scenic values, known as Venango county with
a history vivid in the light of patriotism: tem­
pered by the gloom of the Valley of the
Shadow '. It is believed that the present court­
house WIn suffice, or at least by additions it
m~y be made ample to satisfy the county re­
quirements for many years.

Jails follow closely in the path of court­
houses. These gloomy structures are not so
numerous or so large now as in former ages
,,:hen civilized countries were governed by
kings, queens and jack-o-lanterns, and when
m~ny might be seized and incarcerated for any
slight peculiarity displeasing to the ruling
power. Still it is probable that in any com­
munity of fifty to sixty thousand inhabitants,
t~ere are fifty or sixty which need exarnina­
uon .• and sometimes seclusion, for the public
good. About one in a thousand of the inhab­
itants usually cause all the trouble and expense
of the criminal courts and jails. The "Old
Garrison" was used even before the county
court was in existence, for commitments found
necessary by the local justices. When it
J>a:ss~d under the control of the county com­
rmssroners, .they employed John Broadfoot.
Samuel Atkinson and J acob Whitman to make
the building secure for the retention of those
confined therein. It was found not to be well
adapted tOoth.is purpose. On March 19, 1818,
the cornmissioners-c-john Wilson, Abraham
Selders and 'William Kinnear-ufixed the site
for a public prison." Eight bids were sub­
mitted for its erection, viz., George McClel­
land, John Lupher, Charles Ridgeway. Abra­
ham Clark. Thomas Hulings, Samuel Hays,
McCalmont & l\IcOeIland, and Mathias
Stockbarger.. The contract was given to Mr.
Stock barger, at his bid of two thousand nine
hundred and ninety-five dollars. Contracts
were made with Joel Sage for lumber and with
Thomas Hulings for stone. John Lupher
agreed to furnish five tons of bar iron. The
work was pushed with energy, so that the walls
were practically completed in May. 1820.
Stockbarger bought the lumber remaining un­
used. Andrew Dewoody was employed in
March, 1822, "to collect the loose stones lying
about the walls' and to fill uo the sand holes
in the diamond with them. Some of the build-

VENANGO COUNTY~ PENNSYLVANIA

79

ing material must have been within easy reach.
Dr. Eaton makes this pen-picture of the first
prison built by the county:

"The jail was something of a curiosity. It
~as designed to be both a prison and house
for the sheriff. although rather diminutive to
serve both purposes. It was two stories high,
although the upper story was quite low. The
windows of the portion assigned to prisoners
were strongly barred. The architect seems to
have had some misgivings of the strength of
the wall, for those of the prison rooms were
lined with heavy oak plank six inches thick,
and so secured that they could not well be
wrenched from their position; they were
fastened to great beams with long spikes and
were supported to form a strong barrier
against liberty on the part of the prisoners. So
far as known no attempt was ever made to
storm this strong fortress but one. On this
occasion, a plan was matured to break through
the wall. The idea formed was to burn a way
through these planks by heating the poker in
the stove and piercing the planks in detail.
But in a few minutes the smoke filled the jail,
penetrating the sheriff's apartment, and creat­
Ing such an alarm that the family and neigh­
bors alike came to the rescue. The plan failed
and was never attempted again.

"The building could not have been more than
thirty or thirty-five feet square, but it had an
annex that at the time was supposed to be an
admirable invention. - It was a yard communi­
cating with the prison apartments. The design
was merciful and human, affording the prison­
ers an opportunity of going out in a limited.
way, to breathe the pure air of heaven, and
when in a contemplative mood to look up at
the stars. This yard was some twenty feet
square, surrounded by a stone wall some twelve
or fifteen in height. Sometimes the prisoners
might be seen lying prone on the top of the
wall enjoying the wann sunshine. Often the
circus tents were pitched within twenty rods
of the jail, and from the top of the wall,
curious prisoners might obtain glimpses of
what was going on in the sawdust in the tent.
There was a well in the yard, and often the
Iadv of the castle utilized convict labor in
having water drawn and carried in for house­
hold purposes. A bearing peach tree was also
growing in the same yard, during the last
years of its occupation.

"Occasionally there were jail deliveries with­
out the authority of the court. It was not hard
to get over the wail; nor was it very difficult
at times to evade the vigilance of the sheriff's

wife, who often had sole charge, and get out
by the front door."

The location of this building was in South
Park, in the rear of the present courthouse.
It was sold by the commissioners to Josiah
Adams, Aug. 27, 1853. for one hundred and
fifty-two dollars. It was used as a jail for
thirty years.

The second jail was situated on Elk street
near Twelfth. It was erected by John Byrnes
in 1852-53, under contract for nine thousand,
five hundred dollars. The commissioners
had purchased the stone in the lock opposite
Franklin for two hundred and eighty-six
dollars, a year before the contract for the
building was made. The warden's residence
was a stone building of three stories; the jail

. proper was in the rear and attached to the
warden's house. Rebuilt in 1868, the jail con­
tained two tiers of cells arranged around an
bpen court. The first judicial execution in
Venango county occurred within these walls,
that of Thomas McCartney, for the murder
of Barry in French Creek township. This
took place at 12:30 P; M. Oct. 28, 1868. The
second public execution in the county, that
of Michael Holka for the murder of police­
man Edward Meehan, also took place in this
building, the sentence being executed Aug. 18,
1908. At same term of court Strait was tried
and convicted of murder, for killing his wife.
His sentence was commuted by the Board of
Pardons to life imprisonment. This build­
ing was also found insufficient for the county's
needs, and in 1912 a third one was completed,
at a cost of forty thousand dollars. It is sit­
uated on Elk street. I t has better arrange­
ments for the sanitary and secure care of the
inmates than either of the former ones. The
cells are arranged in two tiers, one above the
other. The lower is for the male department,
the upper for the women. The two departments
are securely separated, so that no communica­
tion or assistance can be transferred from one
of these floors to the other. The corridors
extend around the arrangement of cells on the
outside, next to the walls of the building, being
thus directly under the care of guardians at
all times. The building is three stories in
height, and contains the residences of the
sheriff and of the warden. in the part fronting
upon the street: in the rear is the jail. The
structure is built of stone throughout, and is
supposed to embody all the modern results of
the best thought along this line. The only
defects of construction discovered thus far, are
some soft iron bars. through which one

80

VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

prisoner crawled twice, and two others once
each. But as usual Uncle Toby said to the
wounded fly, "Go, poor creature, the world
is large enough." These people will be appre­
hended, or they will return on a kindred charge,
as is usual. In the meantime they have taught
the caretakers that iron bars do not make a
cage, and tempered steel has been substituted.
May it be long before another jail is required 1

COUNTY FARM

The poor of the county were cared for by
the different townships until a recent date.
The legislature by an act passed April 13.
1870. conferred upon the county commissioners
the duties of overseeing the poor, with
authority to erect and support a county house
for their care. Roland Hughes, Francis Mer­
rick, John P. Crawford, M. C. Beebe, Charles
H. Sheppard, R. S. McCormick and Samuel'
Plumer were named as commissioners to
choose a suitable location. They chose and
purchased for twenty thousand dollars the
Roberts and Hays farms; in Sugar Creek
township, comprising two hundred and sev­
enty-five acres. Plans for an appropriate
building were drawn by]. M. Blackburn, archi­
tect, and the contract was awarded to Dewees
& Simmons, of Tionesta, at their bid of sixty­
seven thousand and eight hundred fifty dol­
lars. They also purchased the old courthouse
for two thousand dollars. On Nov. 14, 1871,
the contractors abandoned their contract, and
the county commissioners continued the work
by placing J. M. Shoemaker in charge, as
superintendent of building. The building was
completed Nov. 9, 1872, and was opened for
the reception of inmates Dec. 26th.

The building is of brick, three stones high,
with sandstone basement partly above ground.
Its length is two hundred ninety feet; central
projection, one hundred ninety feet in depth;

with tower in front. The three stories, in
order, are eleven feet, fourteen feet, and
twelve feet high; corridors are sixteen feet
wide; transverse corridors, ten feet wide, so
that crowding may be avoided in case of fire
alarm, panic, etc.-a most important provision.
The building is provided with convenient
offices, for the stewards' apartment, directors'
rooms, physicians' office, dining and sitting
rooms. The kitchen, bake-room and laundry
~re isolated at the west end of the central
projection. Fire escapes are provided. A
system of water works, ample for aU require­
ments, belongs to the establishment.

The land of this poor farm is as fine as
any in the county. It is very fertile and easy
of cultivation. While true to its original inten­
tion of caring for the unfortunates of the
county, the farm is run on the most approved
theories, to produce the most, at the least
possible outlay. Improved machinery of aU
kinds, to make labor the most effective, has
been introduced. Without losing sight of its
real aim, this farm may be made a model of
great value to the farming interests of the
county, even while dispensing a wise and gen­
erous charity. Both of these desirable ends
may be attained by one and the same course.
Scientific farming, proved by practical results,
is the hope of coming time. In answering the
call of charity in the most effective way, by
testing and proving the best methods of agri­
culture, our county stewards may help the
world by opening the door to hope.

The poor farm is managed by a steward.
'originally elected triennially by the county
commissioners. At present, and this has been
the custom for a good number of years past,
the stewards are appointed by the commission­
ers from month to month. and the changes
have not been any more frequent than for­
merly, under other methods.