Crawford County, Pennsylvania
History
1876 ATLAS 1
"HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS OF CRAWFORD COUNTY."
SOUTH SHENANGO TOWNSHIP.
This township dates original formation to 1811. During the survey of this locality in 1795, the camp of William Power was visited by Indians, who captured James Thompson, in charge at the time, and robbed the camp. Thompson escaped. The first settler was Hugh Fletcher, of Ireland. His daughter Sarah, born in 1798, was the first female white child native to the township of Shenango. Robert McComahey and James Davis, from Ireland, and Michael Marshall, from Lancaster, came in 1797. Robert Bennett settled in 1798 on the farm occupied by his son Samuel. James Dickey arrived in 1799, and for a gun, powder-horn, and blanket bought one hundred acres of John Grimes. John Gallagher took up land on Tract 810 in the year 1800. Solomon Dowlhott, John Nevins, and John Mullian were settlers in 1801. The first gris-mill was built on Shenango Creek in 1830 by John Clyde, and the first saw-mill in 1842 by William Lewis; both have long since gone down. The primal school was taught by Edward Hatton, an old man, and very popular as a teacher. The school was in a round-log house which stood on land now owned by William McArthur. The oldest church organization dates to 1801, when the United Presbyterian Church of Shenango was formed by Rev. Daniel McLean, with ten members. The first services were held in a tent, next in a log house built in 1805, and finally, in the church erected in 1818, and located one mile north of the State road. At this church is the oldest grave-yard within some distance. John Marshall, still living, and when visited, engaged in cutting up corn, affirms himself to be the oldest native in the township, giving as his birthday August 3, 1798. William Bennett was second, and Polly Fletcher the third, all during the same month and year. The climate may be deemed salubrious, judging from the advanced age reached by many. The first threshing-machine used in the township was brought in by Mr. Baily, who thrashed for Robert Story. Neighbors gathered to see the novelty, and discarding the flail, gave Bailey all that he could do.
