History: Sheffield Township, Warren Co, PA Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jane Dunkle bjd@westpa.net Also available in html on Jane's site [7/2005] at http://bjd.home.westpa.net/Sheffield/shprog/history.html ************************************************ The following historical information is based on the following book: "Historical Collections of Sheffield Township" Author: Bruce A. Smith 1943 Limited edition of 250 copies. Early history of Sheffield Township. Sheffield Township included the Barnes, Saybrook and Cherry Grove areas. P.127 1833 Sheffield Township was formed in 1833 from Kinzua. The original bounds, in addition to the present limits, contained two tiers of lots on the west, later included in Cherry Grove, as well as a block of four lots in length and two wide, on the northwest corner, and now part of Mead Township. In 1836 all of the present Cherry Grove Township, with the exception two tiers of lots on the west, was annexed to Sheffield. By the subsequent organization of Mead and Cherry Grove Townships, in 1847, Sheffield Township was reduced to its present extremities. P.201 "Until 1872, the present village of Barnes went by the name of "Sheffield," insofar as postal service was concerned. "Sheffield Depot" was officially attached to the settlement at the mouth of Two Mile Run from 1866 to 1872, when both Barnes and Sheffield acquired the names by which they are now known. Saybrook was known as "West Sheffield" 1853 to 1868." Early livelihoods in Sheffield depended upon the abundant supply of lumber. Erastus Barnes and Johns Gilson each possessed a gristmill for processing of grains. After 1867 Lumber was secondary to the tanneries. Tranportation Transportation via sleighs, horses etc and turnpikes. Before the Rail Road rafts on the waterways were used to transport freight. __________ Correspondence of the Barnes family members reflecting significant historical moments 1856 Mention of Rail Road and of Underground railroad for fugitive slaves 1857 Panic Rail Road Finished to Warren 1859 Election Douglas/Lincoln1860 Oil Excitement Lincoln Elected 1860 Civil War Imminent 1860 Civil War 1861 Establishment of Tannery 1864 Lincoln's Funeral Procession 1865 "Tannery Town" 1868 Hiram T. Houghton Diary Excerpts How Civil War Deserters were handled 1863 The Meaning of the term Stool Pigeon 1880 Cherry Grove Oil Excitement 1882 Warren Savings Bank Panic 1884 __________________________ SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP FIRSTS 1st record of deeded land in Sheffield Township P.178 1814 Deed for 225 acres to Daniel Le Fevre of Strasburg, Lancaster Co. PA P.179 1828 Stephen Marsh acquired part of this 225 acres P.179 1829 Timothy Barnes acquired part of this 225 acres by tax sale. 1st permanent establishment in Township P.181 Timothy Barnes 1780-1873 (Buried in Barnes Cemetery) P.181 1828 Built cabin at Mill on South Branch of Tionesta Creek. P.201 1872 The settlement that Timothy Barnes founded in Sheffield Twp was later renamed Barnes in his honor. 1st school in Township (presumably) P.184 1833 Built at Barnes - Ms. Milford taught in 1833 followed the next term Leverett Barnes (son of Timothy) taught. 1st tavern in Township P. 187 1839 John Gilson was second to establish a permanent residence in Barnes and he established the first tavern in the Township Tavern appears on 1842 tax list 1st mentioned Dentist from Barnes family's correspondence P.329 1868 "Harriett Rose, Sheffield, to Timothy, Mulberry Corner, O. August 2, 1868 "we expect a dentist here in the place in a few days - he is from Warren - intends to get a room at Asa's tavern - I think Erastus and his wife will help in making a bargain about the teeth . . ." __________ TURNPIKES P.425 1831 The Warren-Ridgway Turnpike, was incorporated March 30, 1831. Individuals or a group of individuals would put up half the capital for the road and the state put up half. The individuals putting up the investment then charged tolls to use the road. P.151 "Tolls enacted by the legislation authorizing the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike were as follows for every five miles or proportionate distance: For each score of sheep, four cents; for each score of hogs, six cents; for each score of cattle, tweve cents; for a mule, laden or unladen, with his leader or rider, three cents; for each sulkey, chair or chaise, with one horse, six cents, and with two horses, nine cents, for four-wheeled conveyances with two horses, twelve cents, and with four horses, twenty cents; a sleigh or sled, two cents for each horse drawing; ..." __________ THE TANNERIES 1864 P.472 1864 Webb and Walter Horton purchase land in Sheffield, the following year J. F. Schellkopf purchased land. The Hortons and Schellcopf were associated for tannery development. In 1867 HH Crary purchased a large share in this tannery business. Horton, Crary and Co. establish a leather trade that was on national and international importance with offices in N.Y.C. and Boston. P.476 "Forty cars of hides were required on the average each sixty days to maintain full productive capacity at the Sheffield factories alone." __________ New name for village P.334 1870 Barnesville and the tannery town 2 miles above Barnesville goes by the name of Sheffield P. 490 1903 In 1903 Central PA. Lumber Co. was formed, Charles S. Horton was the first president of this company. By 1908 this mill was one of the most modern factories in the nation. The capacity at this mill was 130,000 board feet in 8-10 hours. Central PA Lumber Co. was in existence until 7/3/1941. __________ P.498 1880 Natural Gas abundant. The gas utility gave the following notice in the Warren Mail, issue of February 17:"The remarkable feature at Sheffield tannery is the natural gas which, piped a distance of 3 miles, lights up the whole vast tannery, 2 hotels, the houses of the entire town, shops and business places, and the large store of the tanning company, besides furnishing heat for every cook stove and heater in the place, and making all the heat required to generate steam at the tannery, The waste or surplus gas from this wonderful well finds vent in some five burners distributed about town, making a flame from three to five feet, which makes the reading of a newspaper in the streets a pleasant task on the darkest night. " __________ P.281 1856 Mention of Rail Road and of Underground railroad for fugitive slaves. "Asa H. barnes (son) to Timothy, Sheffield. December 1856. In trying to run out some rafts that I rafted in June-I started them a week ago tomorrow 2 went through and 2 stuck on the bars below the 2 lower dams-the hands staid and tried to get them off till they run up a tavern bill of $25.00 besides their extra wages and then come and left them-I went down last friday and paid $41.00 to have them drawed out and piled up on the Bank got home last night about bed time with 25 cents left and that I just now gave to a poor fugitive slave who has worked his way this far towards Canada and we are bound to keep him on the underground track-We are bound to see snug times in this country among lumbermen if Winter closes in now for good as the Allegheny river is lined with rafts from Olean to Pittsburg mostly froze in the edys some on bars ...Elder Dillo has moved here-lives in a new house Erastus buildt for him on the lot this side of T. Taylors-Elder Jones preaches here once in 3 weeks and Dillo goes to Marion evry 3d week so we have preaching every Sunday-no Dancing so far this winter all good... There is said to be 2 or 300 hands to work on the R.R. between Erie and Warren some between Warren and Brokenstraw-the engineers are now at work locating and staking out the road between here and Warren have got up as far as the Cranberry Marsh (south of Clarendon)-Will get here in 2 weeks...he (Erastus) run for commissioner and was Elected by a larger majority that the general ticket run..." Erastus Barnes is Asa's brother. __________ 1857 PANIC P.283 1858 Erastus Barnes (son) to Timothy. Sheffield. January 1858 I Loose the whole of the Whitney and Co Debt $1500 - the Property was sold in Dec for $75 00 to R S Orr of Warren and Kent of Jamestown which amt Does not reach my amt so it is a total Loss to me which would be a great help in such times as these - Prospects are very Poor for Lumber as the market is stocked with the Last Spring Purchases and no sales from the yards in market none consumed - from Present appearance prices will be about half as much as Last Spring - I shall make but Little next Season - I have stoped all business as far as I can - must keep teams going as I cannot sell them - how things turn I hardly no - - Bucanan and the South are having a time of it - Douglass is for the Democracy north are with him - What they will Do is hard to tell - the Democrat Paper in Warren is for Douglass and if he caryes out his views he may be President some day ---" __________ Rail Road Finished to Warren P.289 1859 "Asa H. Barnes (son) to Timothy. Sheffield. December 1859. The R.R. is finished to Warren and will probibly stand there for a year or two and perhaps longer - it is going to make lively times here this winter as all produce will go this way to Ridgway and c - but it is going to be expensive keeping teams on account of scarcity of fodder. - I paid $8.00 for a load of oat straw last week and went 13 miles after it - Hay sells from 20 to 30 dollars - Erastus says he wrote you a day or 2 ago and I suppose he wrote all general news - they had a great celebration in Warren last Thursday on the occasion of the arrival of the first train of cars - there was probible 3 times as many people in Warren as ever was there at one time before from Philadelphia Harrisburg and a great many from Erie - they had to leave on friday or starve as they devoured all the provisions in Warren the first day..." __________ Election Douglas/Lincoln P.293 1860 "Timothy (father) to Erastus Barnes. Ohio. June 1860 I was at the Great convention Chicago Republicans flatter themselves We shall have a change of administration - Franklin and I was so near the Great tornado we felt the affect Civerly . . . Douglass and Lincoln stump speached in oposition all last season and Lincoln is called the smartest man in Ill . . . " __________ Oil Excitement Lincoln Elected P.294 1860 "Erastus Barnes (son) to Timothy. Sheffield. November 1860 I have been to N. York and Bot goods and now getting them Warren and have a very mudy time as it rains most all the time - Election is over and Lincoln is Elected no Dout - this Tp had 6 Democrat votes only - the balance Republicans - this County 12 or 1300 Rep Majority - there was the warmest Political times in N.Y.C. I ever saw there . . . Oil Excitement is high in Tidioute - they are now drilling all around The Island by building floats or rafts to begin on in the river (?) Each man takes Possession of any Place unoccupied - Squater Rights it is called and have all they can get as no one owning Land can Claim or Disturb them but those owning the Island and shores are opposing the Squaters by Cuting their rafts Loos at night and they have a fight in words and threaten shooting - No harm yet - Asa well is Dry yet but they think they are safe to find oil in quantities as they have found some and prospects are good - Asa has gone there now to see about it - I do not no whether I can go and see you or not - you come and spend the Winter with us if you feel as thou (gh) (you) could be contented - Write . . . Asa has got Back from his oil well - he says they have found oil sufficient to Pump and thinks it good for oil Warren Co 1200 Rep Maj for Lincoln The rafts around the Island most all gone with high water in the river - some had got oil, some just begun." __________ Civil War Imminent P.295 1860 "Erastus Barnes (son) to Timothy. Sheffield. December 1860 . . . We are Doing well as to oil the man has found oil he thinks sufficient to Pump - we have writen to Partners in York State and if he will come on and furnish means to go on we shall go a head but Do not think best to as it will cost much more than in the Summer but not sertain we Expect to hear soon - Oil is worth at the wells 25 cts per galon - there is men there from all Parts of the Country to buy it - I think the Price will be from 20 to 30 cts as the Demand is far more than they can furnish at Present They continue to fine Wells of oil Dayly almost but there is many who will not find oil and Loose all (it is a Lotery) - Pleas write soon - Politicks runs high - they will not let Democrat Prinicple rule so they say south - I say better to come now than some future time - the North or South must Rule - Which shall it be Slavery or Freedom . . ." __________ Civil War P.305 1861 "Eliza Ross (daughter) to Timothy. Illinois. October 1861 . . . I do not know how to write about Edwin I have not heard from him since last April 5 he was then a strong Union man he said then if we both lived he should be home to see me this summer - I have written three times but get no letter why it is so I cannot tel sometimes it seems to me that I shal be crazy when I am alone I think of my children all the time . . . when I see parents mourn for there infants I feel that it is hard yet it is harder to have the children where we do not know what they have to suffer in this time of rebelion - George Ross with his Family were driven from Mo. in July with nothing but there clothes . . . there has a company of Freemonts Rifle man gone from here 300 strong from this county 100, 25 (125) from this school district . . . there is another Company about forming here called the indapendant Co. - they find there own equipments horses and all - they will go to Mo. in squads of 50 for the relief of Union men that have had to leave all there but there Familys - it is distressing to see the familys pass here some can pay there way others beg for something to eat others sick there has been over 20 births on the road between here and Quincy that we have heard of - some (s)top here (when they can get a house and stay until they are able to go on - when I see so much suffering and think the first soul cause is slavery it is no wonder that we are punished as a Nation for letting slavory go as far as it has and never until Fremonts Proclimation or one from our President that will set all the slaves at liberty - will there ever be peace in the land this is the feelings of the people here - there has nothing happened since the war began that has put such a death blow to the feelings of the people here as Lincolns changeing Fremonts Proclimation - may God speed the day when we shal have peace in our land . . . " __________ Establishment of Tannery P.317 1864 "Erastus Barnes, Sheffield to Timothy November 3, 1864 I have Rec'd yours stating your intimation of staying Ohio until after Election which I think is all right - As to R R from Erie they start from Erie at 6.40 in the morning and get to Sheffield at 10.25 in the for noon - the other train runs to Warren only - starts from Erie at 3.30, arrives at Warren about 7 in the Evening - If you Prefer stoping in Warren over night and come here the next morning or you can stay in Erie over night and come through without stoping - the Pasenger trains starts from Lake Shore Depo and not from tavern near the Depo and save the trouble going Down to Erie - If you can, write and Let us no when you are coming so we can meet you at our Depo - Election looks very favorable here - Pa. will give Lincoln 40,000 - I hope Ohio, Yorke State Do - We have Got the saw mill so it Runs to saw some timber to finish up with - you can see if it is all right when you come - I have just got 1 car of oats, 1 of wheat, and one of corn which cost all the money I had which was near $2,000 - We can make good flour and I think I have to furnish about as much feed as Last Winter as there is considerable Business starting in Lumber and tanneries going on near Bowers who has sold out at $10,000 to Diferat (different) Co. one of them are Building a sawmill and a large tanery near the Depo. . ." __________ Lincoln's Funeral Procession P.320-1 1865 "Asa H. Barnes, at Ireland Station on A.V.R.R. Eight miles above Pittsburgh, to Erastus Barnes, Sheffield. April 17, 1865 I still remain here with a fair prospect of staying some time to come - there has been no Wheeling men up yet - Smith of Wellsville has been up and McKinney of Steubenville have both gone back without buying. There is a stop of all business Since the death of the President and no Prices established before. All business stoped and Doors closed Saturday and will be again to-day as the remains of the President is to come through the City to day. Leonard Bot 2 rafts the day I got in at $ 29 and 29 1/2 - I am holding ours at 30 for pine and 20 for Hemlock - Short. Miner from little Toby has 2 million of Boards here and are buying some small lots - I offered them our raft Saturday for $25 the whole thing as it lays at mill measure they may take it - buyers are trying hard to get pine down to 25 pr m. Sellers generaly think the market will open up in a week or so at $30. but it is a gloomy time just now. Write as soon as you get this and let me know how things are going at home and what you think about holding on for the highest price - our pine is good could sell it for 30 but Buyers that wants the pine dont want the Hemlock - I wish you was here a day or 2 to consult on what to do. I did think of going to Wheeling but I conclude to wait for them to come here as there is not 1/2 the lumber here that is needed - I take the 7 O clock train this morning for the City. Come back on 5 oclock train evening - Direct to Pittsburgh in care of Scott House - train coming. City 9 Oclock morning (Monday) every placed dressed in mourning Crape over evry door gloomy place - I am anxious to hear from home whether there is any prospect of selling out. Whether the Oil excitement is all over . . . 2 men from Boston (his acquaintance) was here and verry anxious to buy on the Tionesta - they have gone to Wheeling . . . I suppose you have another ris(e) - the River rose here 5 feet last Thursday it has fell to the same point as when we landed - Hamilton King is laying just below me - he thinks we had better leave the rafts in charge of the Boys and go home and stay a week untill the excitement is over. I may but think I will stay a day or 2 longer and see. " __________ "Tannery Town" P.330 1868 "Timothy, Sheffield, to Orrin Barnes. December 29, 1868 ". . . The frait cars are doing good business this winter with Oil, Cole and Lumber, but passinger Cars are not doing much - the Tannereys are doing well - they have built a respectable Meeting hous near the depo and are building a number of dwelling houses and stores and grocerys - there was a man run over by the Cars last week near are depo and killed . . . hay is worth $25.. a ton, Corn $1.25, potatoes $1.. Apples $1.. Erastus is doing well with his Grismill - he has sold his boards at $20 M delivered at the depo - he has 2 hands and a pair of oxen in the woods skiding logs . . . Asa sells all the hemlock lumber he can make by filling bills for the villages of Erie, Cory, and Warren. . . " __________ Hiram T. Houghton Diary Excerpts How Civil War Deserters were handled P.379- 1863 August 26th "The 5th Army Corps under marching orders. There is 5 men sentenced to be shot today between 12 and 4 P.M. They belong to the 118th Reg't., 3rd Brigade, 1st Div., 5th Corps. It is to take place in the presence of the whole corps. Our Div. (the 3rd) to march at 1 P.M. Order came about noon that the shooting was postponed, consequently we did not go." August 28th "I am on Guard today. The Great Sword Presentation. The P.R.V.C. present Gen. Mead a new sword, said to cost $2500. Gov. Curtin present. There was a large turnout of officers, at night almost every one was drunk. The presentation took place at Gen. Crawford's Headquarters." August 29th "I came off guard this morning. Those 5 deserters that were to be shot last Wednesday were shot today at 3:30 P.M. in the presence of the 5th Army Corps. It was rather a solom sight if it was Military. They marched to the place of their execution in the rear of their coffins through the center of the whole Corps to the place where their graves were dug. The head of the coffins were placed at the foot of the grave and the men sat on the foot of the coffin. There were fifty men with ten loaded guns stood within 30 feet of them, that shot them." __________ The Meaning of the term "Stool Pigeon" P.402 1880 April 3 1880 "I set my net and watched for pigeons until near noon, but few flying, none in hailing distance. Uncle John Gilson put 10 doz. Pigeons in a barrel. Ama Gilson put in 9 1/2 doz and I put in 1 1/2 doz and sent it by today's express, some 35 bbls expressed today. {4th} Asa started for Coon Run with Curt Gilson and team. Report says pigeons are taking salt there good. Sarah Houghton here to dinner. Luther Whitcomb came and got two sprouts off my Quince tree. {5th} I sent my net, 3 blankets, some bread and potatoes by S. O. Dixson to Spring Creek. I went to Station and got some provisions for Asa and I, got 2 lb sugar for 21c, got a pair of nippers at N. C. Taylor's to pinch pgeons with. Asa caught 12 dozen. {6th} I shouldered my knapsack and started for Spring Creek about 6:45 A. M., met L. E. Dixson with team coming down the big hill with 6 bbls., had some that Asa sent out. {7th} We slept in the old shanty, our new shanty too damp. In A. M., I went to Ed Barnes' old bed on the Dr. Anderson road, found it worked pretty well, came back to where Asa was netting about 11 A. M., he had caught 14 birds. I watched while he went to camp and got his dinner. I made two strikes, the first I got 6 1/2 doz and the next one 4 and 9/12 doz. Then I went and got my dinner. Asa caught 1 and 5/12 doz after I left him. {8th} Starlight when we went to bed last night and starlight when we got up this morning, about 1 inch of snow fell through the night. I caught 13 birds, Asa caught 3 and 5/12 doz, we have but one stool bird between us. L. E. Dixson came in with team brought us some provisions; Dan Allen came with him and brought us each a pair of nippers. {9th} L. E. Dixson started off with 5 bbls of birds, we had 16 1/2 doz packed with them. A hawk got after our stool bird but did not kill it. Asa caught 7 doz. {10th} I caught 4 doz birds and Asa 16 doz. L. E. Dixson sold his load of birds at Sheffield, got 75c per dozen. our 16 1/2 doz came to $12.37, lass drayage, $1.25. {11th} I took a newly caught bird and put it on my stool, caught 11 doz at one hall, when a hawk dove on my stool bird, nearly killed it and drove the flock off. Asa took another bird and put on my stool, watched it a little while then a hawk struck it and hurt it so we had to kill it, then we quit for the day. {12th} Asa went home this morning with Elial, they took 7 bbls, 2 for us, we bought 11 doz of Dan Allen, made us 47 and 3/12 doz, paid him $5. {13th} Asa got returns from the 11 1/2 doz pigeons sent to N. Durham for $11.91. {14th} Together we caught 1 1/2 dozen to ship. {15th} I got 15 birds and Asa 7 doz when a hawk struck his stool bird." __________ Cherry Grove Oil Excitement P.404 1882 "April 1882. [2nd] Awful excitement in Cherry Grove about oil on the Dunham place. P.406 1883 "November 1883 [1st] Commenced using the gas in the grocery at Cherry Grove Center from United Pipe Lines for $3 per month." __________ Warren Savings Bank Panic P.407 1884 May 1884 [17th] Great panic about the Warren Savings Bank. Everybody and their neighbors and their neighbors children all went to Warren pelmel to see if they had any money there, them that had money there found it alright, them that hadn't any felt sorry." ___________________ Tables of established residents or landowners during the first three decades. Location abbreviations in following charts: Ba-Barnes Bh-Bull Hill Cg-Cherry Grove Hm-Henrys Mills Sa-Saybrook Sh-Sheffield Ti-Tiona Asterisk-Buried in Barnes Cemetery Eight charts are in alphabetical order and may be viewed at the listed URL: Ab - Br http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-a-bow.jpg Br - Do http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-br-do.jpg Du - Her http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-du-her.jpg Hew - Ki http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-hew-ki.jpg Kn - Ob http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-kn-ob.jpg Os - Sm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-os-sm.jpg Sm - Wa http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-sm-wa.jpg Wa - Ze http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/warren/1picts/taxroll-wa-ze.jpg