Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Part I: Directory
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ATHENS TOWNSHIP

Was formed in 1831, and contains 17,113 square acres. It is situated near the center of the county. The settlement of the township was made by a pioneer named Smith, between 1790 and 1800. After struggling against the wilderness and Indians for some years, he abandoned his improvements and his latter fate is unknown. His successors were Elisha Root, Dr. Silas Taylor, Jonah Edson, Wm. King, John Shauberger and Abram Wheeler. The soil is of average quality, being adapted to the growth of grass, barley, rye, oats, corn and buckwheat. It is well watered by Muddy Creek and Oil Creek and their tributaries. The industries are lumbering, milling and agriculture. The population of the township in 1870 was 1,317. The township is crossed in the northeast corner by the Union & Titusville Railroad. The first school was held about 1826 at Dr. Taylor's, in a house 12 by 16 feet, built of logs. There were in 1877 ten school buildings, employing 12 or 15 teachers, with an average attendance of 207 pupils. The cost per year of the schools is about $2,000
LITTLE COOLEY is situated in the western part of the township, on the west side of Muddy Creek. It contains one church, United Brethren, Rev. R. Smith, pastor, one school house, one drug store, one grocery, one dry goods and two millinery stores, one harness, one wagon, two blacksmith, and two shoemaker's shops, one painter, a grist mill and a cheese-box factory, one hotel and about 200 inhabitants. The Mutual Protective Association meets weekly.