Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Part I: Directory
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WOODCOCK TOWNSHIP.

Settlement was made in Woodcock as early as 1791 by James Humes, who located upon a tract one mile west of Woodcockboro. Three years later came Henry Rust, John H. Bossard and James Long, the latter of whom died in 1830, in the ninety-third year of his age. Arthur and Patrick McGill moved in during 1795, and settled upon a tract of eight hundred acres. The year 1797 witnessed the arrival of Saml. Blair and George Long. About the same period William Wykoff, accompanied by his son John, emigrated from New Jersey and located upon Gravel Run. Among the other early settlers were John Greenlee, Nathaniel Clark, George Peiffer, a veteran of the Revolution, and Thomas Rice. The first saw mill constructed in the township, was built at the mouth of Gravel Run, by Archibald Humes. Soon afterwards was added a grist mill, now owned by Mr. Apple. The township contains three boroughs, viz: Saegertown, Wookcockboro, and Blooming Valley. The first church built in the township was erected on Gravel Run, by the Presbyterians in 1809. The Methodists organized a society during the following year, and their first church was constructed of logs in 1817. The population of the township in 1870 was 1,943, all of whom except ninety-six being native born. During the year 1878 it contained thirteen schools, and employed twenty-four teachers. The number of pupils enrolled in the several schools was 428, with an average attendance of 292. The amount expended for the maintenance of the schools during the same period was $1,906.05.