Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Part I: Directory
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VERNON TOWNSHIP.

Vernon lies on the west bank of French Creek and is bounded on the west by Summit and Sadsbury townships. It was formed from Fairfield in 1830, and possesses an area of 16,194 acres. The soil is very fertile and in an excellent state of cultivation. The first settlers locating in this vicinity were David Mead and Cornelius VanHorn. The former took up a tract of land about a mile north-west of the present site of Meadville, in the month of May, 1788; and the latter, finding a deserted Indian cabin farther south, moved into it. Among other early settlers were John Mead, John Fredebaugh, Thomas Hay and William Gregg. The latter was captured by the Indians while working in a cornfield, in the summer of 1791, and was afterwards killed and scalped. About 1797 came James Davis, James Birchfield and Theo.dore Scowden; and soon afterwards Gabriel Davis and one Affentranger, who built the first tavern in the township. About 1817 H. J. Huidekoper built a saw and grist mill on the west bank of French Creek, near the mouth of the Cussewago. William Kerr, at an early day built a tavern and store across the creek from Meadville, and gave his name to the village which sprang up in that vicinity. The population in 1870 was 1,615, of whom 1,353 were native and 262 foreign born. The township contains twelve schools, and gives employment to sixteen teachers. The average number of scholars for the year of 1878 was 266; and the amount expended for the support of the schools during the same period was $2,241.54.