Crawford County, Pennsylvania
History
1876 ATLAS 1
"HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS OF CRAWFORD COUNTY."
SUMMERHILL TOWNSHIP.
Summer Hill Township was formed from Beaver and Cussewago in 1830. In area it has fourteen thousand six hundred and three acres, is situated west of the centre of the County, and is well watered by Conneaut Creek and its many tributaries. Along the valley of Conneaut Creek are seen the old basin, the decaying locks, and the old tow-path of the Beaver and Erie Canal. The close of canal navigation staggered the growth of towns along its path; and a sense of age and ruin is felt by one who saw the canal in its prosperity. Portions of the canal are utilized as dams, and mills are run by power thus generated. The first township election was held in the log house of Benjamin Bearfield, now owned by J. A. Davenport. James McDowell, Jr., was the first Justice appointed, and held the office many years. Henry B. Beatty was probably the next. Settlers came in few in the first years and at wide intervals, but increased annually, as the facilities of roads and subsistence were augmented. After a previous survey in 1795, James McDowell, wife, and children, and Daniel Myers moved from the region of the Susquehanna by slow stages, and established a home on the Conneaut Creek, in this township. In their train came John Sterling and family, old neighbors, and settled on a farm adjoining McDowell. About the year 1800, a young man named James Fetterman came into the woods, and went resolutely to work. In time he erected a hewed-log house, the best in the township, and finally became the owner of over one thousand acres of land, and a leading citizen. The arrival of Jacob LeFevre and a recently married wife next occurred, and the bridal tour was a journey to a forest home. Next came John McTier, a stone mason by trade, and many a stone chimney was laid by his hands. during the fall and winter of 1798 and '99, Indians camped near the white settlements, and supplied the settlers with meat. This region was then a favorite hunting land, and every little stream has known their encampments. The warriors, especially the older men, were taciturn and sullen and cherished malevolent feelings, and many a family living alone in the woods and helpless were affrighted by the sudden appearance of Indians.
A frame house was not erected in the township till 1829, when Alexander McDowell built the first and John McDowell the second. The first frame barn had been raised in 1822 by John Douglas for Fetterman. People came to the raising from some distance; they went heartily to their task, and enjoying good liquor and an abundant supper, dispersed homeward. It is remembered that Samuel Steel, an Irishman, taught school in 1814, and boarding around, was accustomed to cobble for the families at evening. Unluckily the school-house caught fire, and his kit of tools was consumed. The first roads were made by voluntary co-operation of the settlers, and were of the rudest type. In the year 1824, two brothers, Michael and John Winger, built the first saw-mill upon Conneaut Creek, on the Winger farm. It has long since gone to decay. The first grist-mill was set in operation near what is now called Dicksonburg, by George Dickson, as late as 1830. The only tannery in the township was carried on by Francis Maguire. The establishment stood on the farm of John May, and the proprietor took half the leather for payment. John McDowell erected the first distillery, and James Fetterman the second. The latter did an extensive business for that day, and his liquors were mainly for home consumption. There were no taverns in the township, but hospitality was the rule. Wherever in journeying night came on the traveler, the first cabin-door was opened to him, and a table spread with such as they had,—generally wheat or corn-bread, mush and milk, vegetables, and a scanty supply of meat. Milk was the daily substitute for tea and coffee. An early marriage was that of John McDowell to Margaret Nelson, in 1798. The birth of Jane McDowell, in July, 1800, was among the first. There was not a settled physician, and the services of Dr. Wood, of Conneautville, were most available. The primal school-house stood on the farm of Washington Sterling. It was built about 1812, of round logs. The teacher was named Triford Rudd. The McDowell burial-ground is the oldest in the township. The first to occupy it was James McDowell. William McDaniels, millwright by trade, performed the offices of the undertaker. Coffins were made of cherry, with raised lid, and were the result of considerable labor. Dicksonburg, formerly called Dickson's Mills, is a village located in the southwest part of the township. Here, on the bank of the canal, John P. Thompson opened the first grocery store. A cheese-factory was established here in 1872 by Hugh and Hiram Hammond. An extensive business is done. Fifteen cheeses, averaging about fifty pounds, are made daily, and on the 18th of September, 1875, nine tons of their July make of cheese were shipped to a New York commission house. There are at present in Crawford County sixty-eight factories, producing 6,310,000 pounds of cheese. The population of Summer Hill is to a considerable extent of New England origin, Republican in politics, and interested in education. The township has 10 schools, 19 teachers, an average attendance of 207, and a percentage of 90. Total expenditures, $2,275,93.
