King, Francis b. 10 Nov 1758 Claverham, Somerset, England d. 10 Sep 1814 Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA: WETZEL Extended Family & More

King, Francis

1758 - 1814 (55 years)

Name	King, Francis [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
	Jane King Bell Birth: 1796 Death: 1873 Father: Francis KING b: 10 NOV 1758 in Claverham, Somerset, England Mother: Katherine KENWAY b: BET 1760 AND 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England Fact: First American born child Married: John BELL Jr b: 02 MAR 1796 in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England(????) Married: 28 DEC 1818 in Ceres Children: Francis King BELL b: 25 NOV 1819 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Ely Welding BELL b: 09 NOV 1820 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Horatio BELL b: 21 APR 1822 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Caroline BELL b: 07 SEP 1823 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Mary S BELL b: 28 SEP 1825 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Jane Ann BELL b: 06 SEP 1826 in Ceres, Allegany Co., NY Peter BELL b: 08 JAN 1828 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Margaretta BELL b: 29 JAN 1829 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Robert Snowden BELL b: 04 APR 1830 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Maria King BELL b: 04 NOV 1831 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY John Francis BELL b: 14 APR 1836 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Hannah Eliza BELL b: 28 FEB 1838 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Rowland Robinson BELL b: 07 APR 1844 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY contributed 2014 by Zoe Tom #47000374 Family links: Parents: Francis King (1758 - 1814) Katherine Kenway King (____ - 1801) Spouse: John Bell (1792 - 1874)* Children: Robert Newton Bell (____ - 1870)* Francis King Bell (1819 - 1819)* Caroline Bell (1823 - 1906)* Maria K Bell (1833 - 1859)* Margretta Bell (1834 - 1850)* Hannah Bell Hackett (1838 - 1918)* Siblings: John King (1784 - 1865)* Mary King Swayne (1787 - 1855)* Martha King Bell (1790 - 1885)* James King (1791 - 1835)* Jane King Bell (1796 - 1873) Rebecca King (1798 - 1798)* *Calculated relationship Note: Compiled by PHGS Members: Dan & Sally Maxson Burial: Evergreen Cemetery McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA Created by: MSue Record added: Dec 30, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 102825620
Birth	10 Nov 1758	Claverham, Somerset, England [1, 2]
	Jane King Bell Birth: 1796 Death: 1873 Father: Francis KING b: 10 NOV 1758 in Claverham, Somerset, England Mother: Katherine KENWAY b: BET 1760 AND 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England Fact: First American born child Married: John BELL Jr b: 02 MAR 1796 in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England(????) Married: 28 DEC 1818 in Ceres Children: Francis King BELL b: 25 NOV 1819 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Ely Welding BELL b: 09 NOV 1820 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Horatio BELL b: 21 APR 1822 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Caroline BELL b: 07 SEP 1823 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Mary S BELL b: 28 SEP 1825 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Jane Ann BELL b: 06 SEP 1826 in Ceres, Allegany Co., NY Peter BELL b: 08 JAN 1828 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Margaretta BELL b: 29 JAN 1829 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Robert Snowden BELL b: 04 APR 1830 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Maria King BELL b: 04 NOV 1831 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY John Francis BELL b: 14 APR 1836 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Hannah Eliza BELL b: 28 FEB 1838 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY Rowland Robinson BELL b: 07 APR 1844 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY contributed 2014 by Zoe Tom #47000374 Family links: Parents: Francis King (1758 - 1814) Katherine Kenway King (____ - 1801) Spouse: John Bell (1792 - 1874)* Children: Robert Newton Bell (____ - 1870)* Francis King Bell (1819 - 1819)* Caroline Bell (1823 - 1906)* Maria K Bell (1833 - 1859)* Margretta Bell (1834 - 1850)* Hannah Bell Hackett (1838 - 1918)* Siblings: John King (1784 - 1865)* Mary King Swayne (1787 - 1855)* Martha King Bell (1790 - 1885)* James King (1791 - 1835)* Jane King Bell (1796 - 1873) Rebecca King (1798 - 1798)* *Calculated relationship Note: Compiled by PHGS Members: Dan & Sally Maxson Burial: Evergreen Cemetery McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA Created by: MSue Record added: Dec 30, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 102825620
Gender	Male
Pioneer	1798	Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA [6]
	The Oswayo Valley had one of the best and most extensive white pine forests in all Pennsylvania. The first sawmill in this vast forest was that of Francis King at Ceres in 1798.
	20240317GHLn- Oswayo, Potter Co., Pa, extracted from Historical Sketches of Potter County https://www.paintedhills.org/POTTER/Oswayo/oswayophotos.html#Oswayo%20Famous%20for%20White%20Pine Oswayo, Potter Co., Pa. Photos Circa Late 1800's Early 1900's, Courtesy of Dan Nyeste and others Submitted By Frankie Stonemetz Oswayo Famous for White Pine Extracted from Historical Sketches of Potter County Transcribed and Submitted by Frankie Stonemetz The Oswayo Valley had one of the best and most extensive white pine forests in all Pennsylvania. The Indians had long known the region as the place of pines. The name Oswayo is the English derivative of the Seneca word “0-sa-ayeh,” meaning pine forest. This forest reached from the Allegheny below Portville to the headwaters of Oswayo Creek, overflowing into the upper valleys of the Allegheny and the Genesee. The trees stood so close together that no underbrush could live, except an occasional clump of laurel, as they towered up to almost unbelievable heights of 100 to 150 feet. They were often four; five or even six feet in diameter at the base and the lowest branches were from 50 to 75 feet above the ground. The first sawmill in this vast forest was that of Francis King at Ceres in 1798. It was not long until other crude mills were busily at work. Often the saw was the only metal in the mill and this merely a long band of steel with teeth cut into one edge. It worked up and down as a hand saw is used. If a log was especially large, 20 or 30 minutes were required to saw off one board. Some logs were rafted to Pittsburgh and others were banked and rolled into the water during the spring floods to be floated down to Weston Brothers’ mill at Portville. By the time of the War of the Rebellion [Civil War] the best of the pine forests in the Oswayo Valley was gone. In 1879, there were not over 1,000 acres of virgin white pine left in the Oswayo Valley. 1889 saw the last run of pine logs down the stream to the big mills. Early in 1829, two settlers moved into the Oswayo Valley. William Shattuck located outside the village, while Thomas Peabody constructed a cabin on the south side of the stream in what was later to become the village. John Wells came in the latter part of 1829 or early in 1830 and started a potash factory or ashery about a half mile above the village. He would haul his finished products to Rochester and exchange it for groceries, which he would sell to his neighbors. Also in 1830, Noah Crittenden came from Springwater Township, NY, and settled within the future borough limits. He built the first sawmill in the village to manufacture pine lumber in 1845. He did not use the stream to transport his lumber; instead he hauled it 75 miles to Dansville, NY., and sold it for $7.00 a thousand. The round trip took four days. Emphasizing the conditions under which the pioneers lived and their dependence upon others for dire necessities occurred early in the history of the village. Soon after building his cabin, Peabody was forced to go six miles to Allen’s house in Clara Township for fire to light his hearthstone. On returning he gave the cinders to his children to build the fire and went to look for his cows. Later securing the cows, he found the fire had gone out and he made the second trip to Allen’s. This time he set fire to pieces of dry wood along his trail. By the year 1834, Sheldon Bradley was maintaining a hotel for travelers. The township assessors’ list for the same year gave the names of 13 resident taxpayers and the census of 1840 showed a population of 101. In 1840, a log schoolhouse was built and seven years later the school had been removed and William McDougall had built a store there. The nucleus of the town had been well established in the days before the Civil War. Early settlers earned their living harvesting the white pine. Since it was of high quality, Pittsburgh and cities along the Ohio specified “Oswayo White Pine.” Several saw mills in the village cut the trees into boards and timbers to be splashed out on the high waters. The village was first called Brindleville. Thomas Gale, one of the early settlers, is said to have had a span of brindle oxen, which was sufficiently unique to warrant the naming of the town in their honor. The name was probably fixed as Oswayo upon the establishment of the first Post Office some time prior to 1850. The village of pre-tannery days comprised C. A. Pinneo’s steam saw mill, G. W. Tyler’s saw and shingle mills, W. Deiter’s shingle mill, the Oswayo Hotel, general stores of S. Beebe, W. Wells and W. McDougall and the grocery store of J. Haskins. There were offices for three doctors and four attorneys: W. B. Graves, W. Colegrove, H. Snath and W. M. Wilber. Smith & Jones operated a wagon and blacksmith shop; there were two boot and shoe shops, a cooper shop, an undertaker and two resident ministers. Construction of the tannery began early in 1877 upon ten acres of land obtained from Thomas Crittenden. Sorenberger & Gray completed the tannery and started its operation but sold it to the P. H. Costello Company in 1879. The Costello Company built homes for the employees, which were later owned by the workers. Lapham & Company purchased the Costello holdings when Costello moved to North Wharton. The last owner was the Penn Tanning Company, which purchased the property in 1893. The tannery was destroyed by fire on June 20, 1903. When the village was organized into a borough in March 1901, there were probably about 1,000 people living in the new municipality. The tannery was running to capacity and employed about 100 men. In 1899, the Pennsylvania Stave Company had built a plant below the tannery for the manufacture of barrel staves. A heading mill, employing between 70-75 men, began in 1901. More men were working in the woods getting out logs and bark for the industries. The streets were, of course, unpaved and during periods of wet weather were nothing but knee-deep mud. However there were good board walks on each side and also two or three cross walks made of planks across Main Street allowing citizens to get from one side to the other without getting completely mired. To the village of Oswayo belongs the credit for having the first graded school in the county. This was opened in 1866 and continued until 1876 when the building burned. Afterward the good citizens decided they preferred to have two one-teacher schools of all grades rather than require the children to walk the extra distance to a graded school. However a school was built in 1893 on the north end of School Street with four classrooms and a spacious hall. Local people were justly proud of this school and its teachers. This interest in schools was a factor in the organization of the borough. As long as the village was part of the township, no more than two or three board members lived within the village with the remainder scattered all over the township. Under the borough all six members of the Board were residents of Oswayo where they had a common interest in the school. They maintained a three-year high school until the mid 1920’s. After a fire the building was renovated and became a two-room school, which operated until 1947. A one-teacher school was kept until 1955 when all grades were bused to Shinglehouse as part of the Oswayo Valley School System. The Seventh Day Baptists were the first to hold regular services in the area. Before 1834, a Mr. Avery preached the Baptist doctrine to the first settlers. The Baptists organized a building committee and had the frame of a church completed in 1877 when, for lack of funds, the building was abandoned. In 1859, the Methodist Church was built on Main Street and for over 40 years was the only church building in Oswayo. The United Brethren finally became strong enough to build a church on School Street in 1903 but the Catholic Church never materialized. Tragedy struck the village on November 18, 1900, when fire destroyed the McGonigal House along with the hotel barns and Opera House. Four persons perished in the flames, which were credited to an over-pressure of gas. The early 1900’s were twenty years away from such entertainment as radio and forty years from television. After supper there was little to do but sit at home and read or listen to talking machines. The Oswayo Cornet Band met every Tuesday night for rehearsals and on Friday evenings gave a concert in the Payne & Estes Hall over the store for which they charged an admission of ten cents (or whatever you were able to pay) until they earned enough for uniforms. On other evenings the young folks paired off and strolled the sidewalks or sat in porch swings until the girl’s mother called her in. Since workdays were ten hours for six days in the week, sparking time was short as workers began their daily strife at seven the next morning. Among the old time residents of Oswayo were: Mr. [A. B.] Payne (postmaster) and A. B. Estes, who ran the largest general store; W. W. Crittenden, local businessman who represented Potter County in the General Assembly; Walter Wells Sr., leading merchant and postmaster; John Lee, landlord of the Lee Hotel; Harry Lord, lawyer, merchant and justice of the peace; Samuel Beebe, pension attorney; Ansel Smith, lay preacher; Ernest Rice musician; Ernest Mills, druggist; and Arthur Wells, one of the later merchants, became the community’s unofficial banker and storekeeper. Fred Blackman began printing a weekly newspaper in 1900, which he named “The Oswayo Valley Record.” The paper folded in March 1902 and the equipment was removed to Port Allegany to be used by the Argus. The New York & Pennsylvania Railroad extended its lines to Oswayo in 1894 where it served the tannery, stave mill, the local businesses and farmers. It gave the residents a connection with the outside world as they ran four passenger trains each day. As business declined and the automobile began to usurp passenger traffic, business for the railroad fell off and the line was abandoned in June of 1936. Oswayo probably reached its peak in population of 1000 or more during the later years of the 1890’s. Since it was then part of the township, the number of residents can only be estimated. It was not counted as a borough until 1910 and the census then showed only 382 residents. By this time the population had begun to decline rapidly as the total population for the borough and township was 700 less than the township population in 1900. The tannery had been destroyed by fire in 1903 and the stave plant, last industry, closed in 1916. By 1920 the census showed only 209 residents. The town, which had once boasted of 20 business places on Main Street, was reduced to a village smaller than the one that existed previous to the Civil War. Some residents commute by automobile to work in other towns while others are still engaged in agriculture or logging. A State Fish Cultural Station, located above the village, now gives employment to a number of area residents. Back to Potter County If you have anything of genealogical or historical interest to add to this site, or if you are interested in becoming a member of the Painted Hills Genealogy Society, please contact us at: Painted Hills This page is maintained by the PHGS Last Update April 16, 2016 © 2002-2023 by The Painted Hills Genealogy Society
Settled	1798	Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA [7]
	Francis King, the agent of John Keating, brought a number of workmen to Ceres in 1798, where King's settlement was founded. Mr. King came from England about that time, and, being a Quaker, his co-religionists in Philadelphia recommended him to John Keatin
	20180120 Chesterfield- Lanny Nunn? Turtlepoint Remember When Yesterday · 19 January 2018 Aug. 4 1949 Like 2 You and 1 other ... in the county. These markers have been prepared by the state Historical Commission and will mark the site of significant events in the history of the county. Among these are the following: - Ceres Settlement, 1798 by Francis King; - Coryville Tidewater Pump Station; - Governor McKean's Mt. Equity Plantation near Turtle Point; - Port Allegany's "Portage"; - "Bucktail" Regiment organization by Gen. T.L. Kane; - Smethport, the County Seat, and two Pennsylvania Markers to be placed on highways leading from New York into Pennsylvania, one at Tuna and the other at Bullis Mills. _____________ 20210716GHLn- from History of McKean County J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1890 Ceres Township Francis King, the agent of John Keating, brought a number of workmen to Ceres in 1798, where King's settlement was founded. Mr. King came from England about that time, and, being a Quaker, his co-religionists in Philadelphia recommended him to John Keating for the position of agent and surveyor. He was a surveyor, and, like the old-time men of that profession, eccentric, and it is alleged, when clearing the hillside at Ceres, he compelled the imported laborers to roll the logs up hill, and satisfied the ignorant fellows that this course was correct, because the Yankees rolled them down hill. In 1801 he began the survey of the Keating lands, and in 1812 surveyed for the settlers in Farmers valley. Five years later, in 1817, he died, when John Keating continued his son in the agency. His original field book is in possession of Byron D. Hamlin, forming a monument to his precision.
Census	1810	Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA [8]
	, age 45+ King, Francis 1/ 0/ 5/ 0/ 1 0/ 2/ 2/ 0/ 0 i.e., 7 males (0-10),5x 16-26),(45+); 4 females (2x 10-16),(2x 16-26)
	20210718GHLn- Pasted from Source Citation Text: King, Francis 1/ 0/ 5/ 0/ 1 0/ 2/ 2/ 0/ 0 i.e., 7 males (0-10),5x 16-26),(45+); 4 females (2x 10-16),(2x 16-26)
Death	10 Sep 1814	Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA [1, 2, 9, 10]
	20190423HAv- http://www.paintedhills.org/MCKEAN/CERES/chronoceres.htm Chronology of Ceres Submitted by Dan Maxson DATE EVENTS 1797 First dwelling built 1798 Kings move to Ceres, sawmillbuilt 1798-99 First birth, death and burial 1802 The Bells, Bees, Smiths, and Listers arrive 1804 First recorded flood,McKean County formed 1805 John Brevoost was first justice of peace 1807 First marriage in Ceres 1817 First Ceres Post Office established at John King's 1823 First school house in Ceres, PA 1833 First Sschool house in Ceres, NY 1842 William King established station for underground railroad 1838 Church built that was in both states 1852 Plank road built to Olean 1888 First natural gas for fuel and light 1881 Trolley from Olean 1926 Trolley shut down 1801 Mrs Francis King dies 1817 William Bell first settler in Ceres, NY 1814 Francis King dies 1879 Narrow guage railroad from Olean to Ceres to Friendship 1875 First iron bridge over the Oswayo River 1901 Last logs sawed at the Walsh mill 1830 Dr Enoch Maxson was first doctor 1873 The Ceres News was the first newspaper This page is maintained by the PHGS Last Update January 27, 2000 Katherine Kenway King Birth: unknown, England Death: Nov. 28, 1801 Pennsylvania, USA Katherine is the daughter of James and Ann Derrick Kenway. She was born between 1760 and 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England. She married Francis King 18 August 1783 in England. She died 28 Nov. 1801 in King's Run, Lycoming Co. (now McKean Co.), PA. There children are: - John KING b: 09 AUG 1784 in Mumford, Somersetshire, England - Ann KING b: 28 DEC 1785 in Bridport, Parish of Canford Magna, Dorsetshire - Mary KING b: 28 FEB 1787 in Bridport, Dorsetshire - Sarah KING b: 23 DEC 1788 in Bridport, Dorsetshire - Martha KING b: 03 MAR 1790 in Bridport, Dorsetshire, England - James KING b: 27 AUG 1791 in Bridport, Dorsetshire - UnknownAIX KING b: JUN 1792 in Born about the time they moved - Elizabeth KING b: MAR 1793 in Southwark, Surrey, England - Unknown KING b: JUL 1794 in Southwark, Surrey, England - Jane KING b: 02 MAR 1796 in Asylum, Frenchtown, Lycoming Co, PA - Annabella KING b: 09 MAY 1797 in Asylum, Frenchtown, Lycoming - Rebecca KING b: 18 SEP 1798 in King's Run, Ceres Township, Lycoming Co (now McKean Co), PA - Robert KING b: 28 NOV 1801 Family links: Spouse: Francis King (1758 - 1814) Children: John King (1784 - 1865)* Mary King Swayne (1787 - 1855)* Martha King Bell (1790 - 1885)* James King (1791 - 1835)* Jane King Bell (1796 - 1873)* Rebecca King (1798 - 1798)* *Calculated relationship Note: No Marker Burial: Evergreen Cemetery McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA Created by: Sandy Skipper Record added: Jun 14, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 71355373 1814 Francis King dies
Burial	Aft 10 Sep 1814	Evergreen (King) Cemetery, Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA [1, 2, 11]
historical marker	4 Aug 1949	McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA
	Ceres Settlement, 1798 by Francis King;
	20180120 Chesterfield- Lanny Nunn? Turtlepoint Remember When Yesterday · 19 January 2018 Aug. 4 1949 Like 2 You and 1 other ... in the county. These markers have been prepared by the state Historical Commission and will mark the site of significant events in the history of the county. Among these are the following: - Ceres Settlement, 1798 by Francis King; - Coryville Tidewater Pump Station; - Governor McKean's Mt. Equity Plantation near Turtle Point; - Port Allegany's "Portage"; - "Bucktail" Regiment organization by Gen. T.L. Kane; - Smethport, the County Seat, and two Pennsylvania Markers to be placed on highways leading from New York into Pennsylvania, one at Tuna and the other at Bullis Mills.
		King, Francis 1798 Ceres placard 19490804 FB180119LN 20180120 Chesterfield- Lanny Nunn? Turtlepoint Remember When Yesterday · 19 January 2018 Aug. 4 1949 Like 2 You and 1 other ... in the county. These markers have been prepared by the state Historical Commission and will mark the site of significant events in the history of the county. Among these are the following: - Ceres Settlement, 1798…
FSID	KG17-MJ1
Person ID	I38626	WETZEL-SPRING

Father	King, John
Relationship	natural
Mother	Williams, Elizabeth
Relationship	natural
Family ID	F31910	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Kenway, Katherine, b. Between 1760 and 1764, Dorset, England d. 28 Nov 1801, King's Run, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 41 years)

Marriage 18 Aug 1783 England

Katherine Kenway King
Birth: unknown, England
Death: Nov. 28, 1801
Pennsylvania, USA

Katherine is the daughter of James and Ann Derrick Kenway.
She was born between 1760 and 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England.
She married Francis King 18 August 1783 in England.
She died 28 Nov. 1801 in King's Run, Lycoming Co. (now McKean Co.), PA.
Their children are:
- John KING b: 09 AUG 1784 in Mumford, Somersetshire, England
- Ann KING b: 28 DEC 1785 in Bridport, Parish of Canford Magna, Dorsetshire
- Mary KING b: 28 FEB 1787 in Bridport, Dorsetshire
- Sarah KING b: 23 DEC 1788 in Bridport, Dorsetshire
- Martha KING b: 03 MAR 1790 in Bridport, Dorsetshire, England
- James KING b: 27 AUG 1791 in Bridport, Dorsetshire
- UnknownAIX KING b: JUN 1792 in Born about the time they moved
- Elizabeth KING b: MAR 1793 in Southwark, Surrey, England
- Unknown KING b: JUL 1794 in Southwark, Surrey, England
- Jane KING b: 02 MAR 1796 in Asylum, Frenchtown, Lycoming Co, PA
- Annabella KING b: 09 MAY 1797 in Asylum, Frenchtown, Lycoming
- Rebecca KING b: 18 SEP 1798 in King's Run, Ceres Township, Lycoming Co (now McKean Co), PA
- Robert KING b: 28 NOV 1801

Family links:
Spouse: Francis King (1758 - 1814)
Children: John King (1784 - 1865)*
Mary King Swayne (1787 - 1855)*
Martha King Bell (1790 - 1885)*
James King (1791 - 1835)*
Jane King Bell (1796 - 1873)*
Rebecca King (1798 - 1798)*
*Calculated relationship

Note: No Marker

Burial: Evergreen Cemetery
McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA

Created by: Sandy Skipper
Record added: Jun 14, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 71355373
photo Added by: Sandy Skipper
6/12/2011
King Family Cemetery established on the farm of Francis King c. 1814.
Probably Somersetshire, where first child, John, was born.

Settled jt 1798 Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA

historical marker- Settlement of Ceres by Francis King

Children

	1. King, Martha, b. 3 Mar 1790, Bridport, Dorset, England d. 1885, Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 94 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	2. King, James, b. 27 Aug 1791, Bridport, Dorset, England d. 1 Mar 1835 (Age 43 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	3. King, John, b. 9 Aug 1784, Mudford, Somerset, England d. 10 Jan 1865, Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 80 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	4. King, Mary, b. 28 Feb 1787, Bridport, Dorset, England d. 7 Feb 1855, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 67 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	5. King, Ann, b. 28 Dec 1785, Bridport, Dorset, England d. 27 Jan 1867 (Age 81 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	6. King, Sarah, b. 23 Dec 1788, Bridport, Dorset, England d. 4 Jan 1789 (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	7. King, Elizabeth, b. Mar 1793, Southwark, Surrey, England d. 23 Mar 1793 (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	8. King, Annabella, b. 9 May 1797, Asylum, Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA d. 1849 (Age 51 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	9. King, Rebecca, b. 18 Sep 1798, Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA d. 1798, Ceres, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	10. King, Jane, b. 3 Mar 1796, Asylum, Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA d. 2 Jun 1873, Ceres, Allegany, New York, USA (Age 77 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	11. King, Catherine, b. Abt 18 Apr 1783, Berkshire, England [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	12. King, Robert, b. 28 Nov 1799, Ceres Twp, McKean, Pennsylvania, USA d. 27 Mar 1867 (Age 67 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]

Family ID F11625 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

	Birth - 10 Nov 1758 - Claverham, Somerset, England
	Marriage - 18 Aug 1783 - England
	historical marker - Ceres Settlement, 1798 by Francis King; - 4 Aug 1949 - McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA

= Link to Google Earth

Photos » Slide Show		King, Francis 1798 Ceres placard 19490804 FB180119LN 20180120 Chesterfield- Lanny Nunn? Turtlepoint Remember When Yesterday · 19 January 2018 Aug. 4 1949 Like 2 You and 1 other ... in the county. These markers have been prepared by the state Historical Commission and will mark the site of significant events in the history of the county. Among these are the following: - Ceres Settlement, 1798…
		Screenshot (425) 20210716GHLn-- http://www.pagenweb.org/~mckean/BeersHistory/1890-Hist-ceres.htm# History of McKean County J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1890 Ceres Township ... cont'd A busy time at the corners. Myrtle, Pa. Circa 1905-1910 The Myrtle Cheese Factory was established, thirteen or fourteen years ago, by George Chamberlain, his heirs being the present owners.…
		Screenshot (424) 20210716GHLn-- http://www.pagenweb.org/~mckean/BeersHistory/1890-Hist-ceres.htm# History of McKean County J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1890 Ceres Township ? Home Page ? Beer's History Menu ? Previous Page Ceres Biographical Sketches CERES TOWNSHIP occupies the northeast corner of the county. King's run of the Oswayo runs in a general northern course…

Notes

20171024 RVA-
http://www.paintedhills.org/MCKEAN/CERES/EarlyHistoryCeres.html

Early History of Ceres, NY- PA
First Permanent1White Settlement in the Area
by Dan Maxson

When Francis King came to this area2, he came as an agent of John Keating and others to explore a vast area of northern Lycoming County. Keating’s group was considering the purchase of an extensive purchase from William Bingham, Esq., if the lands were found to be suitable. His report was evidently suitable as Keating’s group purchased a large tract of land.
In the spring of 1797, Francis King engaged a few men and hired a boat. They set out for a previously selected area, which they named Ceres. They traveled down the east branch of the Susquehanna to Northumberland; then up the west branch to the mouth of the Sinnamahoning, which was the last white settlement (present-day area of Sinnamahoning). They then proceeded to Driftwood and then overland to Canoe Place (Port Allegany). Canoes were made and they traveled down the Allegheny to the mouth of the Oswayo (now Portville, NY), then up the Oswayo to Ceres. The original site for Ceres is approximately one mile south of its current location.

At the Ceres site, land was cleared, planted and a cabin erected. Further exploration revealed three families at Dykes Settlement (now Andover, NY) and two more families on Pine Creek in Tioga County, PA. These people were the Kings’ nearest neighbors.

In the Spring of 1798 Francis King brought his family to Ceres. In September of that year, Mrs. King (formerly Kathrine Kenway3) gave birth to a baby girl, who lived but a few months. This would be the first birth, death, and burial4 in what is now McKean County, PA.

The first sawmill was built in 1798 nearby. Remains of the old mill race to carry water to the mill may be seen upstream from the Barbertown Road. A grist mill was added a few years later. In the same year, the Society of Friends sent Joel Swayne, Halliday Jackson, and Henry Simmons as missionaries to the Indians on the reservation. This was some 60 miles downstream from Ceres. In those early days, trips were made downriver to Pittsburgh for provisions. Mrs. King died shortly after one such trip in 1801.

Some of the earliest settlers who stayed in the area are as follows:

1802 - John Bell, his wife, his son, and his step children Thomas, John, and May Bee. Bell Run, Bell Brook, and Bee Hollow are area names that go back to these hardy pioneers. The William Bell, who was the first settler in Ceres, NY (1817), was John’s son.

1802 - Thomas Smith, his wife Elizabeth and 4 sons Thomas, John, William, and Henry.
This family settled in the area of the current location of Ceres, PA.

1802 - William Lister. He settled in present day Myrtle, near John Bell, Sr.

Another early arrival to Ceres was William Ayers, his wife Mary, and three children. Little is known of the Ayres family in Ceres, except that William purchased the only slave ever in Ceres. This family probably removed to the Coudersport area about 1908. His family were the first white settlers in what is now Potter County.
In early October, 1803, snow fell and protected the crops such that the early settlers had fresh vegetables at Christmas. Later, the snow accumulated to five foot depths and resulted in a great flood in 1804.

Most of the early settlers of the area were English tradesmen. Francis King was a surveyor and copper engraver. His surveying equipment is now in the possession of the Oswayo Valley Historical Society. Thomas Smith was a miller, John Bell was a cabinet maker, and his son John was a saddle and harness maker. James King was a tanner and currier. He built a tannery on Mill Creek (Kings Run), but hides were scarce and the tannery failed to be profitable. Many of the settlers to come were from England.

The previous history takes us into a new era for Ceres. The government changes, Angelica was settled in 1801, Olean was settled in 1804, and Shinglehouse5 in 1806. The population of Ceres Township in 1910 included 26 households and 147 individuals6. Surprisingly absent from this census is M. Generet, who built the Shingled House. The address for early settlers was Cerestown, Lycoming County, until 1804 when McKean County was formed and Ceres was the only township in the county.

In 1805 John C. Brevoost was appointed Justice of the Peace. The Governor of Pennsylvania appointed Thomas Smith, John Bell, Sr., Samson Crawford, and John C. Brevoost as Trustees in November of the same year. The first election was held in March, 1906, at which time Francis King and Samson Crawford were elected Supervisors of Ceres Township. During the next 55 years Ceres Township became smaller as other townships were formed in McKean County.

The first recorded marriage in Ceres occurred in 1807 when John C. Brevoost united Nathan Horton and Sally Atherton. This wedding was witnessed by area persons. Earlier marriages occurred, but the parties returned to the Philadelphia or Williamsport area and were married in accordance with the Society of Friends.

Ceres continued to grow with the lumbering industry. The early lumber was floated downriver to Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River. As the local white pine was removed, the hemlock was cut into more lumber and the bark was utilized in the tanning industry. Much of the bark was hauled downriver through Ceres to downstream tanneries.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s gas and oil industries became another area industry. The abundance of gas for fuel and suitable sources of sand (stone) gave rise to a glass industry in both Ceres and Shinglehouse. The railroads and the trolley passed through Ceres, adding to the growth. However, as the lumber was harvested and the wells drilled, there became less and less need for the railroads. The loss of the railroads, the demise of the timber, and several large fires all lead to the reduction of the size of Ceres.

Currently, Ceres is a small rural community with a minimum of activity and industry. One large sawmill and a gravel pit with a cement plant make up the area industry. The businesses consist of a lawn and garden center, a general store, a garage with car sales, a restaurant, and a produce market.

Chronology of Ceres
Submitted by Dan Maxson-

DATE EVENTS
1797 First dwelling built
1798 Kings move to Ceres, sawmill built
1798-99 First birth, death and burial
1802 The Bells, Bees, Smiths, and Listers arrive
1804 First recorded flood,McKean County formed
1805 John Brevoost was first justice of peace
1807 First marriage in Ceres
1817 First Ceres Post Office established at John King's
1823 First school house in Ceres, PA
1833 First school house in Ceres, NY
1842 William King established station for underground railroad
1838 Church built that was in both states
1852 Plank road built to Olean
1888 First natural gas for fuel and light
1881 Trolley from Olean
1926 Trolley shut down
1801 Mrs Francis King dies
1817 William Bell first settler in Ceres, NY
1814 Francis King dies
1879 Narrow guage railroad from Olean to Ceres to Friendship
1875 First iron bridge over the Oswayo River
1901 Last logs sawed at the Walsh mill
1830 Dr Enoch Maxson was first doctor
1873 The Ceres News was the first newspaper
20210716GHLn--
http://www.pagenweb.org/~mckean/BeersHistory/1890-Hist-ceres.htm#

History of McKean County
J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1890
Ceres Township
? Home Page ? Beer's History Menu ? Previous Page Ceres Biographical Sketches

CERES TOWNSHIP occupies the northeast corner of the county. King's run of the Oswayo runs in a general northern course through the center; Bell's run parallels it in the center of the east half; Oswayo creek enters in the northeast corner, flows northwestwardly to Ceres for two and a quarter miles, then crosses the State line, and eventually loses itself in the Allegheny river. The head-waters of Newell creek are found in the southwest, and of Barden creek in the west center. Taylor's run and several smaller streams feed the creeks named. The highest measured elevation is 2,245 feet, one mile southwest of Glenn, at the head of Rock run, and the lowest point, 1,443, near State Line depot. The divide between King's and Bell's run shows a general elevation of 2,200 feet, declining to 1,450 south of Ceres. East of Bell's run it ranges from 2,200 feet in north and south extremes to 1,500 in the Oswayo valley, while the divide at the head of Barden and Newell creeks presented summits of 2,219 and 2,200. The township is minus coal measures and conglomerate; but the summit caps of Pocono are from 250 to 300 feet thick. Near Russell's house on the Ceres road, at an elevation of 2,075 feet, there was discovered, in 1878, a red limy shale band. In King's run gulch, at Lynch's house, red soil was found at an elevation of 1,657 feet; along Barden run at an elevation of 1,645 feet, as at the old Biggins' place; and toward Ceres, of 1,720 feet, or only thirty feet below the top of the Chemung in that neighborhood. At Bly's house, on Ceres and Turtle Point road, a slightly red soil was seen at different elevations; but from Bly's to Ceres, with the exception of one place (Chevalier's farm), the soil as well as sandstone was of the gray variety.

View from the hill, Myrtle, Pa.
circa 1900
About twelve years ago the first oil well was drilled up Bell's brook, N.Y., by Howard & Magee, which was made dry. About four years ago a well was drilled up Carr's brook by Henry Carter, which is a half-barrel well. This is now owned by V. Perry Carter. Two wells have since been drilled for gas by V.P. Carter, representing the Ceres Gas Company, which wells supply the village and neighborhood. The King's run well was bored five or six years ago by a local company.

The population of Ceres in 1880, including the 108 inhabitants of Ceres village, was 975. In 1883 there were 123 Republicans, 58 Democratic, 27 Prohibition and 47 Labor Unionist votes cast, or a total of 255, which multiplied by five, gives a population of 1,275.

The officers chosen in February, 1890, are as follows: Supervisors, Winfield Lanphere, G.W. Hackett; collector, G.W. Hackett; auditor, James Biggins, justice of the peace, W.W. Holley; judge of election, E.W. Kitchsire; inspectors of election, F.H. Raymond, Barton Holley; town clerk, J.J. Robarts.

Francis King, the agent of John Keating, brought a number of workmen to Ceres in 1798, where King's settlement was founded. Mr. King came from England about that time, and, being a Quaker, his co-religionists in Philadelphia recommended him to John Keating for the position of agent and surveyor. He was a surveyor, and, like the old-time men of that profession, eccentric, and it is alleged, when clearing the hillside at Ceres, he compelled the imported laborers to roll the logs up hill, and satisfied the ignorant fellows that this course was correct, because the Yankees rolled them down hill. In 1801 he began the survey of the Keating lands, and in 1812 surveyed for the settlers in Farmers valley. Five years later, in 1817, he died, when John Keating continued his son in the agency. His original field book is in possession of Byron D. Hamlin, forming a monument to his precision.

The commission of justice of the peace of Ceres was issued by Gov. Thomas McKean October 4, 1806, to John Claudius Brevost. What the feelings of the old governor must have been when he authorized this pioneer justice "to have and execute all and singular the powers, jurisdictions and authorities and to receive, and enjoy all and singular the lawful emoluments of a justice of the peace," may be imagined. Except John Keating's agent and his employees there were no settlers in the township to lead the new justice to hope for emolument. In November following Squire Brevost did actually qualify before the Coram, J.G.Lowrey, of Centre county.

Uncle Harry, who came with his father, Thomas Smith, to Ceres in 1803 or 1804, died August 27, 1877. Lester Hargrave was also one of the early employees here. Asahel Wright, a soldier of 1812, resided at Glenn up to 1880, but for twenty-seven years prior to 1872 was never as far as Olean, and never saw a railroad train, although then eighty-three years old. His daughter, L. Ellen Wright, was for years corresponding secretary of Grand Lodge of I.O.G.T. in Pennsylvania. Reuben S. Taylor, who settled at Bell's run in 1836, served in the war of 1812. He died September, 1877, at Roulette.

The resident tax-payers of Ceres township in 1836-37 were David Axtell (moved to Wisconsin), G.C. Burnham, H. Bowen, A. Brown, William Bardsley, John C. Brevost, John O. Bradsby, Daniel Bliven, John Bee and Tom Bee* (who operated a saw-mill), Potter Benson (who owned a second saw-mill), Dan Benson, S.A. Barber*, William Bell*, Valentine Brown, Cyrus and Ira Cooper* (saw-mill owners on site of Van Wormer's present mill), A.C. Conklin*, William and J.O. Cutter (moved away years ago), Hosea Cappell, william Cobbett (grist-mill owner), H. Chevalier (Frenchman), Peter and Orrin Cook, Asa Canfield, Oscar* and Timothy Carpenter*, Harvey Carr*, Cynthia Campbell, Philip Corwin, John Chase*, Levi Davis (tradesman), Jonathan, John and Thomas Drake (Oswayo), Nathan Dennis*, Rev. J.P. Evans (Annin Creek Baptist), Warren Edson, John Fobes* (saw-mill owner), T.J. Fowler, Mary Gilbert*, Lester Hargraves*, W. Hawley*, C.J. Hurlburt, A., Phil. And William Hooker*, Absalom Hutchison, Sol. Jordan, Friend S. Kinney*, Niles Kinney*, John King*, Robert King*, Abijah, Luke and Jacob Knapp*, William Lester*, George and William Lanphere*, Reverious and Rod. Loop*, Ebenezer Larrabee*, John Lee, Orsamus Meeray, John and Delos Morris, Michael McEvilly, L. Nelson*, Sam Nicholes, I. Phelps*, Harrison Ruby, Thomas Robbins*, Leonard, Almond (justice), Anson and William Rice*, W. Ray*, Linas P. Stoddart, George A. Smith, William, Henry and John Smith*, W.P. Stillman* (tan-yard owner; left before the war), Perry and Spencer Sweet, Clark Stillman*, Dan. Spencer, Joseph, Abram and John Stull*, William Tupper*, Willard and Norman Taylor (said to reside at Port Allegany), John Thompkins, Ben.* and Uriah Vandamark, John Wolcott, Asel*, W.P. and Alf. Wright, Samuel and John Whipple, N. and I.N. Winans, Marvel Wheelock, Rev. William Weber (Methodist), R.* and Micajah Wright* and Jacob Young* (owner of saw-mill). William Hooker was assessor. [*=deceased]

In 1877 the re-survey of the northern State line was made, varying but little from the line of 1786. Ceres village was transferred to Pennsylvania, and in 1878 the boundary stones were placed.

Myrtle, formerly Mapleton Postoffice, was established in 1877, with Silas Cooper as postmaster, who held the office until F.E. Tull was appointed. In 1887 Mr. Tull sold his store to J.C. Burt, who carried on the office of deputy until regularly appointed in August, 1887.

A busy time at the corners. Myrtle, Pa.
Circa 1905-1910
The Myrtle Cheese Factory was established, thirteen or fourteen years ago, by George Chamberlain, his heirs being the present owners. The Hickox Mill, in existence many years, is still in use, east of the village; and at the head of Bell's run is Miller's saw-mill, operated by the Dibble Brothers. Lester Hargrave is said to have been the first resident of this settlement. Like others of the pioneers of Ceres, he was connected with Keating's agency here.

A birdseye view of Myrtle, Pa.
circa 1900
The Oswayo flood of May 31, and June 1, 1889, filled the valley, being about three feet higher than the flood of 1865. Large saw logs were carried over the main street of Ceres, and boats were used for travel; several trestles on the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad were carried away, and the track torn up. The only dams on the stream which escaped destruction were F.M. Van Wormer's and Pratt & Bixby's. Among the heavier losers by this disaster were G.C. Hickox, F.M. Van Wormer and the Oswayo Tannery Company; many others along the flood-swept valley met with smaller losses. Ceres Village.

Late in 1837 Samuel Estes came to Ceres village, where he found a one-half log and one-half plank house standing opposite the present Central Hotel. Within a few years (in 1841) he moved south of the creek and erected part of the present Oswayo House, which he conducted until the Western New York & Erie Railroad was built, when he moved to Olean and built a hotel near the depot. In later years, he moved to Minnesota, where he died.

In 1838 Nelson Peabody came to the village. He found John Smith's general store and the Estes tavern. John King kept the post-office where William K. King now resides; Cooper's old saw-mill, where Franklin Van Wormer's large mills are now situated, and the Youngs' mill, where is now the Minor mill, were in operation; the Methodists had a class here, which has been continued to the present time. Mr. Peabody was clerk in John Smith's store until February, 1840, when V. Perry Carter bought the concern and Mr. Peabody joined Russell Cooper in business and continued four or five years. V. Perry Carter opened his store after the death of John Smith, whose daughter he married in 1842.

In 1841 the residents of the village grew tired of having to walk one and one-half miles to John King'' house for their letters, and had V. Perry Carter petition the department for an office in the village. This petition was granted, but Mr. King interested John Keating and others in his cause and had the office returned to him. A little later Mr. Carter had a chart of the locality made and a new petition signed. The demand was manifestly so just that the department ordered the removal of the office to the village, where it has been continued to this day. Mr. King kept the post-office on the table in the family sitting-room, and into this each one who expected a letter had to go to seek it.

Josiah Priest, who, in 1850, wrote sketches of the Oswayo valley, was justice of the peace at Ceres. His papers were never published is the statement of Mrs. Keyser, while Mr. Carter is positive that parts or all of the papers appeared in print.

Robert Hinds was the only merchant here in 1852. John Robarts was a trader here for a number of years; also Simpson & Barber, C.H. Smith, John B. Gleason, F.H. Raymond and G. Perry. Joseph Morse was postmaster here before the war, succeeding John King, and had the office in his house, which occupied the site of the Central Hotel, afterward the residence of V. Perry Carter until destroyed by the first fire, in 1869. In 1855 or 1856 Mr. Carter returned from Richburg, bought the Hinds store and was appointed postmaster, holding the office until his removal to Duke Centre, in 1879, when he was succeeded by Robarts, who in turn was succeeded by Call. Louis Carrier was appointed in 1885, but Miss Augusta Call conducted the office for eight years, or until the appointment of John B. Gleason in June, 1889.

When Nelson Peabody arrived there were two school buildings - one south, where is the present school building on the Pennsylvania side, while the building on the New York side occupied the site of Wellington White's present home. These buildings continued in use until the present house was erected. In Ceres township in 1846 general stores were kept by P.B. Dedrick and Ralph Adams, and the tavern by Samuel Estes. In 1847 Dedrick & Pardy, Samuel Estes and C. Peabody were merchants; J.H. Wright and D. Dunham the new tavern-keepers.

In 1847 the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ceres was incorporated. The oldest record in possession of the pastor shows the names of W.T. Lane, Honeoye; Joel Whitney, Lane school-house; Stephen Chapel, South Bolivar; R.D. Garrison, Pikeville (members joined the Nazarites), and B.C. Call of Ceres; Edward Nicholas and Calvin Blood of Shinglehouse were the class leaders. Later H.B. Robarts is named as leader of the Bell's run class, with Elisha B. West local preacher; A Mallory was recording steward in 1867, while Mrs. F.G. Fuller is now recorder. The pastoral record goes back only to 1879, when A.B. Kelly was appointed. In 1882 Rev. W. Post and Rev. A.I. Blanchard came, and in 1886 Rev. W.H. Farnham. There are now seventy-nine members.

In 1840 Nelson Peabody was commissioned justice of the peace and held the office until elected associate judge in 1861. He was again commissioned and served until six or seven years ago. During the war he was deputy provost marshal for Ceres township. Among the soldiers of the district, many of whom belong to Portville Post, No. 85, G.A.R., are the following named:
Frank A. Chapman, Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry; F.P. Chapman, Eighty-fifth New York;
Nat. Hendrix, Company A, Eighty-fifth New York;
Henry B. Robarts, Eighty-fifth New York;
John Frugan, New York Infantry;
William Hyde, William Worden, Eighty-fifth New York;
Frank Fuller, Eighty-fifth New York;
John B. Gleason, Clark Wells and Edgar Wells, Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Bucktails;
Byron Lanphere and Robert Lanphere, Bucktails;
Jacob Brock, Eighty-fifth New York;
Adam Burdick, Eighty-fifth New York; Daniel and Matthew Burdick, Eighty-fifth New York;
Lafayette Maxson, Eighty-fifth New York;
James Gobles, Eighty-fifth New York;
Martin Stephens, Pennsylvania Infantry;
F. Maxson, Eighty-fifth New York;
Robert Clark, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania;
Frank Van Wormer, Pennsylvania;
A. De North, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania;
Moses Ford, Hiram Grow, Daniel Peabody, James Biggins and Amos Safford, Eighty-fifth New York (Amos drowned in the Oswayo some years ago);
Bill North, Bucktails; William North, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania; George North, Fifth-eighth Pennsylvania;
George Lanphere, Eighty-fifth New York;
James Hobbs, New York Infantry;
__________ Carpenter (wounded at Gettysburg), Pennsylvania Infantry;
Volney Mix, Pennsylvania Infantry;
Albert Lanphere, Bucktails;
Freeman Fuller, Bucktails;
Philip Haines and Bennie Haines, Pennsylvania Infantry;
F. Hawley, Eighty-fifth New York; Lewis Hawley, Eighty-fifth New York; John Hawley, Eighty-fifth New York; Floyd Hawley, Forty-second Pennsylvania;
C. Melven, Forty-second Infantry;
C. Bridge and West Bridge, Forty-second Pennsylvania Regiment;
also Nate Foote, Thomas, John, and Alonzo Cushman, and Nathan Hand.

Charles B. Bailey, who resided in Ceres township before the war, now of Young Hickory, N.Y., was, in June, 1889, granted a back pension of $5,000, and $72 monthly. This large pension was granted on account of his total blindness.

A.B. Luce was the first agent at Ceres of the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad in October, 1881. W.D. Chase took charge in February, 1882; E.D. Cummings in May, 1882; L.J. White in February, 1883, and in November, 1883, C.H. Gleason, the present agent, took charge. (Between 6,000 and 8,000 cords of bark will be shipped from Ceres this summer.)

In 1877 the White & Van Wormer Mill at Ceres was erected. This is one of the immense lumber industries of the county.

Contributed by Maureen M. (Buckley) Lee

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Sources

[S1115] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Jane King Bell.
Record for Jane King Bell
Jane King Bell
Birth: 1796
Death: 1873

Father: Francis KING
b: 10 NOV 1758 in Claverham, Somerset, England
Mother: Katherine KENWAY
b: BET 1760 AND 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England

Fact: First American born child

Married: John BELL Jr
b: 02 MAR 1796 in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England
Married: 28 DEC 1818 in Ceres

Children: Francis King BELL b: 25 NOV 1819 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Ely Welding BELL b: 09 NOV 1820 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Horatio BELL b: 21 APR 1822 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Caroline BELL b: 07 SEP 1823 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Mary S BELL b: 28 SEP 1825 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Jane Ann BELL b: 06 SEP 1826 in Ceres, Allegany Co., NY
Peter BELL b: 08 JAN 1828 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Margaretta BELL b: 29 JAN 1829 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Robert Snowden BELL b: 04 APR 1830 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Maria King BELL b: 04 NOV 1831 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
John Francis BELL b: 14 APR 1836 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Hannah Eliza BELL b: 28 FEB 1838 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY
Rowland Robinson BELL b: 07 APR 1844 in Ceres, Allegany Co, NY

contributed 2014 by Zoe Tom #47000374

Family links:
Parents: Francis King (1758 - 1814)
Katherine Kenway King (____ - 1801)
Spouse: John Bell (1792 - 1874)*
Children: Robert Newton Bell (____ - 1870)*
Francis King Bell (1819 - 1819)*
Caroline Bell (1823 - 1906)*
Maria K Bell (1833 - 1859)*
Margretta Bell (1834 - 1850)*
Hannah Bell Hackett (1838 - 1918)*
Siblings: John King (1784 - 1865)*
Mary King Swayne (1787 - 1855)*
Martha King Bell (1790 - 1885)*
James King (1791 - 1835)*
Jane King Bell (1796 - 1873)
Rebecca King (1798 - 1798)*
*Calculated relationship

Note: Compiled by PHGS Members: Dan & Sally Maxson

Burial: Evergreen Cemetery
McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA

Created by: MSue
Record added: Dec 30, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 102825620

headstone- Jane King Bell
Jane King Bell
Birth: 1796
Death: 1873

Father: Francis KING
b: 10 NOV 1758 in Claverham, Somerset, England
Mother: Katherine KENWAY
b: BET 1760 AND 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England

Fact: First American born child

Married: John BELL Jr
b: 02 MAR 1796 in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England
Married: 28 DEC 1818 in…

[S1115] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Katherine Kenway King.
Record for Katherine King
Katherine Kenway King
Birth: unknown, England
Death: Nov. 28, 1801
Pennsylvania, USA

Katherine is the daughter of James and Ann Derrick Kenway.
She was born between 1760 and 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England.
She married Francis King 18 August 1783 in England.
She died 28 Nov. 1801 in King's Run, Lycoming Co. (now McKean Co.), PA.
There children are:
- John KING b: 09 AUG 1784 in Mumford, Somersetshire, England
- Ann KING b: 28 DEC 1785 in Bridport, Parish of Canford Magna, Dorsetshire
- Mary KING b: 28 FEB 1787 in Bridport, Dorsetshire
- Sarah KING b: 23 DEC 1788 in Bridport, Dorsetshire
- Martha KING b: 03 MAR 1790 in Bridport, Dorsetshire, England
- James KING b: 27 AUG 1791 in Bridport, Dorsetshire
- UnknownAIX KING b: JUN 1792 in Born about the time they moved
- Elizabeth KING b: MAR 1793 in Southwark, Surrey, England
- Unknown KING b: JUL 1794 in Southwark, Surrey, England
- Jane KING b: 02 MAR 1796 in Asylum, Frenchtown, Lycoming Co, PA
- Annabella KING b: 09 MAY 1797 in Asylum, Frenchtown, Lycoming
- Rebecca KING b: 18 SEP 1798 in King's Run, Ceres Township, Lycoming Co (now McKean Co), PA
- Robert KING b: 28 NOV 1801

Family links:
Spouse: Francis King (1758 - 1814)
Children: John King (1784 - 1865)*
Mary King Swayne (1787 - 1855)*
Martha King Bell (1790 - 1885)*
James King (1791 - 1835)*
Jane King Bell (1796 - 1873)*
Rebecca King (1798 - 1798)*
*Calculated relationship

Note: No Marker

Burial: Evergreen Cemetery
McKean County, Pennsylvania, USA

Created by: Sandy Skipper
Record added: Jun 14, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 71355373
photo Added by: Sandy Skipper
6/12/2011
King Family Cemetery established on the farm of Francis King c. 1814.

Evergreen Cemetery, King Family Cemetery established on the farm of Francis King c. 1814.
Katherine Kenway King
Birth: unknown, England
Death: Nov. 28, 1801
Pennsylvania, USA

Katherine is the daughter of James and Ann Derrick Kenway.
She was born between 1760 and 1764 in Dorset or Somerset, England.
She married Francis King 18 August 1783 in England.
She died 28 Nov. 1801 in King's Run, Lycoming Co. (now McKean Co.), PA.
There…

[S1223] Ancestry.com, U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;), Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1799-1819; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: R3.17.2.
Birth Record for Jane & Anna Bella King
U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935
Pennsylvania ? Lycoming ?
Pennsdale and Muncy Monthly Meetings ? Minutes, 1799-1819

Anna Bella King in the U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935
Name: Anna Bella King
Age: 1
Birth Date: 9 May 1797
Birth Date on Image:09 Fifth 1797
Birth Place: Asylum
Residence Date: 10 Jul 1798
Residence Date on Image:10 Seventh 1798
Residence Place: America
Father: Francis King
Mother: Catharine King
Event Type: Birth
Monthly Meeting: Pennsdale and Muncy Monthly Meetings
Historical Meeting Data:Search for this monthly meeting in the 'Quaker Monthly Meetings Index'
Type (Orthodox or Hicksite):Pre-Separation
Yearly Meeting: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Meeting State: Pennsylvania
Meeting County: Lycoming

"A certificate dated Bridport and Sherborne monthly meeting in the County of Dorset, England, held at Bridport the 12th of the sixth month 1798 for Catharine King and five minor children viz. John, Ann, Mary, Martha, and James, was produced addressed "to friends of the Monthly Meeting of Muncy in Luzerne county Pennsylvania America or elsewhere," which was read and agreed to be received; Catharine residing (according to the best information received) with her husband and children in a newly opened settlement, near the northern boundary of this state, west of the head of the Gennesee River, within the present estimated limits of this Meeting through very remote.___ Henry Widdifield and William Ellis are appointed to write to her on the occasion and also towrite to friends of Bridport giving the necessary information agreeably"

"to their request expressed in a letter inclosing(sic) the above certificate from William Stephens to Henry Drinker_ dated Bridport Dorsetshire 10th of the 7th mo 1798 a copy of which we hae received_ and desired to report to a future meeting of their care herein; and the said certificate is indorsed with a note by Francis King, the husband of Catharine, informing they have had two children born since arriving in America, viz. Jane King born in Philadelphia the 3rd of the 3rd mo 1796 and AnnaBella King born at Asyum the 9th of the 5th mo 1797__"

Source Citation
Haverford College;
Haverford, Pennsylvania;
Minutes, 1799-1819;
Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes;
Call Number: R3.17.2

Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data:
•Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
•North Carolina Yearly Meeting Minutes. Hege Friends Historical Library, Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina.
•Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Earlham College Friends Collection & College Archives, Richmond, Indiana.
•Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania.

	US, Quaker Meeting Records 1797_98 - Anna Bella King U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 Pennsylvania ? Lycoming ? Pennsdale and Muncy Monthly Meetings ? Minutes, 1799-1819 Anna Bella King in the U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 Name: Anna Bella King Age: 1 Birth Date: 9 May 1797 Birth Date on Image:09 Fifth 1797 Birth Place: Asylum Residence Date: 10 Jul 1798 Residence Date on…
	Quaker Meeting Minutes 1798 U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 Pennsylvania ? Lycoming ? Pennsdale and Muncy Monthly Meetings ? Minutes, 1799-1819 Anna Bella King in the U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 Name: Anna Bella King Age: 1 Birth Date: 9 May 1797 Birth Date on Image:09 Fifth 1797 Birth Place: Asylum Residence Date: 10 Jul 1798 Residence Date on…

[S64] Cemetery, Evergreen: Ceres, PA/NY- PaintedHills; (King) .html.
... BELL, Jane King John Jr.1796 1873 d/o Francis & Cathrine Kenway King A3-4 BELL, John Jr. Jane K 5-5-1792 5-3-1874 s/o John & Mary Bee Bell Sr. A3-5 BELL, Kent A. 1934 1935 s/o William & Twila Bell A1-28 BELL, Leonard J. 2-21-1852 2-22-1853 s/o Horatio & Ann M. Leonard Bell A1-37 BELL, Margretta 1834 11-27-1850 17 d/o John & Jane King Bell Jr. A3-8 BELL, Maria K. 1830 12-13-1850 s/o John & Jane King Bell Jr. A3-9 BELL, Martha King William 1790 1885
[S1558] M.W. Mann & Maria King, History of Ceres and its near vicinity, from its early settlement in 1798 to the present, (Name: Olean, NY: Gillett & Weston, 1896;), 143.
Note: There are many references to Francis King in this book. "As early as 1811 Francis King had opened a road from Ceres to Nile. This was probably done so that the Genesee flats might be reached, where they frequently went to obtain flour."
[S2350] paintedhills.org: Shinglehouse/Oswayo Valley, Oswayo Valley, Potter County, Penna.
Francis King (1) fact ........ (41)
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20240317GHLn- Oswayo, Potter Co., Pa, extracted from Historical Sketches of Potter County
https://www.paintedhills.org/POTTER/Oswayo/oswayophotos.html#Oswayo%20Famous%20for%20White%20Pine

Oswayo, Potter Co., Pa.
Photos Circa Late 1800's Early 1900's, Courtesy of Dan Nyeste and others
Submitted By Frankie Stonemetz

Oswayo Famous for White Pine
Extracted from Historical Sketches of Potter County
Transcribed and Submitted by Frankie Stonemetz

The Oswayo Valley had one of the best and most extensive white pine forests in all Pennsylvania. The Indians had long known the region as the place of pines. The name Oswayo is the English derivative of the Seneca word “0-sa-ayeh,” meaning pine forest. This forest reached from the Allegheny below Portville to the headwaters of Oswayo Creek, overflowing into the upper valleys of the Allegheny and the Genesee.

The trees stood so close together that no underbrush could live, except an occasional clump of laurel, as they towered up to almost unbelievable heights of 100 to 150 feet. They were often four; five or even six feet in diameter at the base and the lowest branches were from 50 to 75 feet above the ground.

The first sawmill in this vast forest was that of Francis King at Ceres in 1798.
It was not long until other crude mills were busily at work. Often the saw was the only metal in the mill and this merely a long band of steel with teeth cut into one edge. It worked up and down as a hand saw is used. If a log was especially large, 20 or 30 minutes were required to saw off one board.

Some logs were rafted to Pittsburgh and others were banked and rolled into the water during the spring floods to be floated down to Weston Brothers’ mill at Portville. By the time of the War of the Rebellion [Civil War] the best of the pine forests in the Oswayo Valley was gone. In 1879, there were not over 1,000 acres of virgin white pine left in the Oswayo Valley. 1889 saw the last run of pine logs down the stream to the big mills.

Early in 1829, two settlers moved into the Oswayo Valley.
William Shattuck located outside the village, while
Thomas Peabody constructed a cabin on the south side of the stream in what was later to become the village.
John Wells came in the latter part of 1829 or early in 1830 and started a potash factory or ashery about a half mile above the village. He would haul his finished products to Rochester and exchange it for groceries, which he would sell to his neighbors.

Also in 1830, Noah Crittenden came from Springwater Township, NY, and settled within the future borough limits. He built the first sawmill in the village to manufacture pine lumber in 1845. He did not use the stream to transport his lumber; instead he hauled it 75 miles to Dansville, NY., and sold it for $7.00 a thousand. The round trip took four days.

Emphasizing the conditions under which the pioneers lived and their dependence upon others for dire necessities occurred early in the history of the village. Soon after building his cabin, Peabody was forced to go six miles to Allen’s house in Clara Township for fire to light his hearthstone. On returning he gave the cinders to his children to build the fire and went to look for his cows. Later securing the cows, he found the fire had gone out and he made the second trip to Allen’s. This time he set fire to pieces of dry wood along his trail.

By the year 1834, Sheldon Bradley was maintaining a hotel for travelers. The township assessors’ list for the same year gave the names of 13 resident taxpayers and the census of 1840 showed a population of 101. In 1840, a log schoolhouse was built and seven years later the school had been removed and William McDougall had built a store there.

The nucleus of the town had been well established in the days before the Civil War. Early settlers earned their living harvesting the white pine. Since it was of high quality, Pittsburgh and cities along the Ohio specified “Oswayo White Pine.” Several saw mills in the village cut the trees into boards and timbers to be splashed out on the high waters.

The village was first called Brindleville. Thomas Gale, one of the early settlers, is said to have had a span of brindle oxen, which was sufficiently unique to warrant the naming of the town in their honor. The name was probably fixed as Oswayo upon the establishment of the first Post Office some time prior to 1850.

The village of pre-tannery days comprised
C. A. Pinneo’s steam saw mill,
G. W. Tyler’s saw and shingle mills,
W. Deiter’s shingle mill,
the Oswayo Hotel,
general stores of S. Beebe, W. Wells and W. McDougall and
the grocery store of J. Haskins.
There were offices for three doctors and four attorneys:
W. B. Graves, W. Colegrove, H. Snath and W. M. Wilber.
Smith & Jones operated a wagon and blacksmith shop;
there were two boot and shoe shops, a cooper shop, an undertaker and two resident ministers.

Construction of the tannery began early in 1877 upon ten acres of land obtained from Thomas Crittenden. Sorenberger & Gray completed the tannery and started its operation but sold it to the P. H. Costello Company in 1879. The Costello Company built homes for the employees, which were later owned by the workers. Lapham & Company purchased the Costello holdings when Costello moved to North Wharton. The last owner was the Penn Tanning Company, which purchased the property in 1893. The tannery was destroyed by fire on June 20, 1903.

When the village was organized into a borough in March 1901, there were probably about 1,000 people living in the new municipality. The tannery was running to capacity and employed about 100 men. In 1899, the Pennsylvania Stave Company had built a plant below the tannery for the manufacture of barrel staves. A heading mill, employing between 70-75 men, began in 1901. More men were working in the woods getting out logs and bark for the industries.

The streets were, of course, unpaved and during periods of wet weather were nothing but knee-deep mud. However there were good board walks on each side and also two or three cross walks made of planks across Main Street allowing citizens to get from one side to the other without getting completely mired.

To the village of Oswayo belongs the credit for having the first graded school in the county. This was opened in 1866 and continued until 1876 when the building burned. Afterward the good citizens decided they preferred to have two one-teacher schools of all grades rather than require the children to walk the extra distance to a graded school. However a school was built in 1893 on the north end of School Street with four classrooms and a spacious hall. Local people were justly proud of this school and its teachers.

This interest in schools was a factor in the organization of the borough. As long as the village was part of the township, no more than two or three board members lived within the village with the remainder scattered all over the township. Under the borough all six members of the Board were residents of Oswayo where they had a common interest in the school.

They maintained a three-year high school until the mid 1920’s. After a fire the building was renovated and became a two-room school, which operated until 1947. A one-teacher school was kept until 1955 when all grades were bused to Shinglehouse as part of the Oswayo Valley School System.

The Seventh Day Baptists were the first to hold regular services in the area. Before 1834, a Mr. Avery preached the Baptist doctrine to the first settlers. The Baptists organized a building committee and had the frame of a church completed in 1877 when, for lack of funds, the building was abandoned. In 1859, the Methodist Church was built on Main Street and for over 40 years was the only church building in Oswayo. The United Brethren finally became strong enough to build a church on School Street in 1903 but the Catholic Church never materialized.

Tragedy struck the village on November 18, 1900, when fire destroyed the McGonigal House along with the hotel barns and Opera House. Four persons perished in the flames, which were credited to an over-pressure of gas.

The early 1900’s were twenty years away from such entertainment as radio and forty years from television. After supper there was little to do but sit at home and read or listen to talking machines.
The Oswayo Cornet Band met every Tuesday night for rehearsals and on Friday evenings gave a concert in the Payne & Estes Hall over the store for which they charged an admission of ten cents (or whatever you were able to pay) until they earned enough for uniforms.

On other evenings the young folks paired off and strolled the sidewalks or sat in porch swings until the girl’s mother called her in. Since workdays were ten hours for six days in the week, sparking time was short as workers began their daily strife at seven the next morning.

Among the old time residents of Oswayo were:
Mr. [A. B.] Payne (postmaster) and
A. B. Estes, who ran the largest general store;
W. W. Crittenden, local businessman who represented Potter County in the General Assembly;
Walter Wells Sr., leading merchant and postmaster;
John Lee, landlord of the Lee Hotel;
Harry Lord, lawyer, merchant and justice of the peace;
Samuel Beebe, pension attorney;
Ansel Smith, lay preacher;
Ernest Rice musician;
Ernest Mills, druggist; and
Arthur Wells, one of the later merchants, became the community’s unofficial banker and storekeeper.

Fred Blackman began printing a weekly newspaper in 1900, which he named “The Oswayo Valley Record.” The paper folded in March 1902 and the equipment was removed to Port Allegany to be used by the Argus.

The New York & Pennsylvania Railroad extended its lines to Oswayo in 1894 where it served the tannery, stave mill, the local businesses and farmers. It gave the residents a connection with the outside world as they ran four passenger trains each day. As business declined and the automobile began to usurp passenger traffic, business for the railroad fell off and the line was abandoned in June of 1936.

Oswayo probably reached its peak in population of 1000 or more during the later years of the 1890’s. Since it was then part of the township, the number of residents can only be estimated. It was not counted as a borough until 1910 and the census then showed only 382 residents. By this time the population had begun to decline rapidly as the total population for the borough and township was 700 less than the township population in 1900. The tannery had been destroyed by fire in 1903 and the stave plant, last industry, closed in 1916. By 1920 the census showed only 209 residents.

The town, which had once boasted of 20 business places on Main Street, was reduced to a village smaller than the one that existed previous to the Civil War. Some residents commute by automobile to work in other towns while others are still engaged in agriculture or logging. A State Fish Cultural Station, located above the village, now gives employment to a number of area residents.

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[S2556] J. H. Beers, History of McKean County, (Name: PAGenWeb.org; Location: Chicago; Date: 1890;), Ceres Township.
William K. King (1) fact ........ (30)
20210716GHLn-
20210716GHLn--
http://www.pagenweb.org/~mckean/BeersHistory/1890-Hist-ceres.htm#

History of McKean County
J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1890
Ceres Township
? Home Page ? Beer's History Menu ? Previous Page Ceres Biographical Sketches

CERES TOWNSHIP occupies the northeast corner of the county. King's run of the Oswayo runs in a general northern course through the center; Bell's run parallels it in the center of the east half; Oswayo creek enters in the northeast corner, flows northwestwardly to Ceres for two and a quarter miles, then crosses the State line, and eventually loses itself in the Allegheny river. The head-waters of Newell creek are found in the southwest, and of Barden creek in the west center. Taylor's run and several smaller streams feed the creeks named. The highest measured elevation is 2,245 feet, one mile southwest of Glenn, at the head of Rock run, and the lowest point, 1,443, near State Line depot. The divide between King's and Bell's run shows a general elevation of 2,200 feet, declining to 1,450 south of Ceres. East of Bell's run it ranges from 2,200 feet in north and south extremes to 1,500 in the Oswayo valley, while the divide at the head of Barden and Newell creeks presented summits of 2,219 and 2,200. The township is minus coal measures and conglomerate; but the summit caps of Pocono are from 250 to 300 feet thick. Near Russell's house on the Ceres road, at an elevation of 2,075 feet, there was discovered, in 1878, a red limy shale band. In King's run gulch, at Lynch's house, red soil was found at an elevation of 1,657 feet; along Barden run at an elevation of 1,645 feet, as at the old Biggins' place; and toward Ceres, of 1,720 feet, or only thirty feet below the top of the Chemung in that neighborhood. At Bly's house, on Ceres and Turtle Point road, a slightly red soil was seen at different elevations; but from Bly's to Ceres, with the exception of one place (Chevalier's farm), the soil as well as sandstone was of the gray variety.

View from the hill, Myrtle, Pa.
circa 1900
About twelve years ago the first oil well was drilled up Bell's brook, N.Y., by Howard & Magee, which was made dry. About four years ago a well was drilled up Carr's brook by Henry Carter, which is a half-barrel well. This is now owned by V. Perry Carter. Two wells have since been drilled for gas by V.P. Carter, representing the Ceres Gas Company, which wells supply the village and neighborhood. The King's run well was bored five or six years ago by a local company.

The population of Ceres in 1880, including the 108 inhabitants of Ceres village, was 975. In 1883 there were 123 Republicans, 58 Democratic, 27 Prohibition and 47 Labor Unionist votes cast, or a total of 255, which multiplied by five, gives a population of 1,275.

The officers chosen in February, 1890, are as follows: Supervisors, Winfield Lanphere, G.W. Hackett; collector, G.W. Hackett; auditor, James Biggins, justice of the peace, W.W. Holley; judge of election, E.W. Kitchsire; inspectors of election, F.H. Raymond, Barton Holley; town clerk, J.J. Robarts.

Francis King, the agent of John Keating, brought a number of workmen to Ceres in 1798, where King's settlement was founded. Mr. King came from England about that time, and, being a Quaker, his co-religionists in Philadelphia recommended him to John Keating for the position of agent and surveyor. He was a surveyor, and, like the old-time men of that profession, eccentric, and it is alleged, when clearing the hillside at Ceres, he compelled the imported laborers to roll the logs up hill, and satisfied the ignorant fellows that this course was correct, because the Yankees rolled them down hill. In 1801 he began the survey of the Keating lands, and in 1812 surveyed for the settlers in Farmers valley. Five years later, in 1817, he died, when John Keating continued his son in the agency. His original field book is in possession of Byron D. Hamlin, forming a monument to his precision.

The commission of justice of the peace of Ceres was issued by Gov. Thomas McKean October 4, 1806, to John Claudius Brevost. What the feelings of the old governor must have been when he authorized this pioneer justice "to have and execute all and singular the powers, jurisdictions and authorities and to receive, and enjoy all and singular the lawful emoluments of a justice of the peace," may be imagined. Except John Keating's agent and his employees there were no settlers in the township to lead the new justice to hope for emolument. In November following Squire Brevost did actually qualify before the Coram, J.G.Lowrey, of Centre county.

Uncle Harry, who came with his father, Thomas Smith, to Ceres in 1803 or 1804, died August 27, 1877. Lester Hargrave was also one of the early employees here. Asahel Wright, a soldier of 1812, resided at Glenn up to 1880, but for twenty-seven years prior to 1872 was never as far as Olean, and never saw a railroad train, although then eighty-three years old. His daughter, L. Ellen Wright, was for years corresponding secretary of Grand Lodge of I.O.G.T. in Pennsylvania. Reuben S. Taylor, who settled at Bell's run in 1836, served in the war of 1812. He died September, 1877, at Roulette.

The resident tax-payers of Ceres township in 1836-37 were David Axtell (moved to Wisconsin), G.C. Burnham, H. Bowen, A. Brown, William Bardsley, John C. Brevost, John O. Bradsby, Daniel Bliven, John Bee and Tom Bee* (who operated a saw-mill), Potter Benson (who owned a second saw-mill), Dan Benson, S.A. Barber*, William Bell*, Valentine Brown, Cyrus and Ira Cooper* (saw-mill owners on site of Van Wormer's present mill), A.C. Conklin*, William and J.O. Cutter (moved away years ago), Hosea Cappell, william Cobbett (grist-mill owner), H. Chevalier (Frenchman), Peter and Orrin Cook, Asa Canfield, Oscar* and Timothy Carpenter*, Harvey Carr*, Cynthia Campbell, Philip Corwin, John Chase*, Levi Davis (tradesman), Jonathan, John and Thomas Drake (Oswayo), Nathan Dennis*, Rev. J.P. Evans (Annin Creek Baptist), Warren Edson, John Fobes* (saw-mill owner), T.J. Fowler, Mary Gilbert*, Lester Hargraves*, W. Hawley*, C.J. Hurlburt, A., Phil. And William Hooker*, Absalom Hutchison, Sol. Jordan, Friend S. Kinney*, Niles Kinney*, John King*, Robert King*, Abijah, Luke and Jacob Knapp*, William Lester*, George and William Lanphere*, Reverious and Rod. Loop*, Ebenezer Larrabee*, John Lee, Orsamus Meeray, John and Delos Morris, Michael McEvilly, L. Nelson*, Sam Nicholes, I. Phelps*, Harrison Ruby, Thomas Robbins*, Leonard, Almond (justice), Anson and William Rice*, W. Ray*, Linas P. Stoddart, George A. Smith, William, Henry and John Smith*, W.P. Stillman* (tan-yard owner; left before the war), Perry and Spencer Sweet, Clark Stillman*, Dan. Spencer, Joseph, Abram and John Stull*, William Tupper*, Willard and Norman Taylor (said to reside at Port Allegany), John Thompkins, Ben.* and Uriah Vandamark, John Wolcott, Asel*, W.P. and Alf. Wright, Samuel and John Whipple, N. and I.N. Winans, Marvel Wheelock, Rev. William Weber (Methodist), R.* and Micajah Wright* and Jacob Young* (owner of saw-mill). William Hooker was assessor. [*=deceased]

In 1877 the re-survey of the northern State line was made, varying but little from the line of 1786. Ceres village was transferred to Pennsylvania, and in 1878 the boundary stones were placed.

Myrtle, formerly Mapleton Postoffice, was established in 1877, with Silas Cooper as postmaster, who held the office until F.E. Tull was appointed. In 1887 Mr. Tull sold his store to J.C. Burt, who carried on the office of deputy until regularly appointed in August, 1887.

A busy time at the corners. Myrtle, Pa.
Circa 1905-1910
The Myrtle Cheese Factory was established, thirteen or fourteen years ago, by George Chamberlain, his heirs being the present owners. The Hickox Mill, in existence many years, is still in use, east of the village; and at the head of Bell's run is Miller's saw-mill, operated by the Dibble Brothers. Lester Hargrave is said to have been the first resident of this settlement. Like others of the pioneers of Ceres, he was connected with Keating's agency here.

A birdseye view of Myrtle, Pa.
circa 1900
The Oswayo flood of May 31, and June 1, 1889, filled the valley, being about three feet higher than the flood of 1865. Large saw logs were carried over the main street of Ceres, and boats were used for travel; several trestles on the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad were carried away, and the track torn up. The only dams on the stream which escaped destruction were F.M. Van Wormer's and Pratt & Bixby's. Among the heavier losers by this disaster were G.C. Hickox, F.M. Van Wormer and the Oswayo Tannery Company; many others along the flood-swept valley met with smaller losses. Ceres Village.

Late in 1837 Samuel Estes came to Ceres village, where he found a one-half log and one-half plank house standing opposite the present Central Hotel. Within a few years (in 1841) he moved south of the creek and erected part of the present Oswayo House, which he conducted until the Western New York & Erie Railroad was built, when he moved to Olean and built a hotel near the depot. In later years, he moved to Minnesota, where he died.

In 1838 Nelson Peabody came to the village. He found John Smith's general store and the Estes tavern. John King kept the post-office where William K. King now resides; Cooper's old saw-mill, where Franklin Van Wormer's large mills are now situated, and the Youngs' mill, where is now the Minor mill, were in operation; the Methodists had a class here, which has been continued to the present time. Mr. Peabody was clerk in John Smith's store until February, 1840, when V. Perry Carter bought the concern and Mr. Peabody joined Russell Cooper in business and continued four or five years. V. Perry Carter opened his store after the death of John Smith, whose daughter he married in 1842.

In 1841 the residents of the village grew tired of having to walk one and one-half miles to John King'' house for their letters, and had V. Perry Carter petition the department for an office in the village. This petition was granted, but Mr. King interested John Keating and others in his cause and had the office returned to him. A little later Mr. Carter had a chart of the locality made and a new petition signed. The demand was manifestly so just that the department ordered the removal of the office to the village, where it has been continued to this day. Mr. King kept the post-office on the table in the family sitting-room, and into this each one who expected a letter had to go to seek it.

Josiah Priest, who, in 1850, wrote sketches of the Oswayo valley, was justice of the peace at Ceres. His papers were never published is the statement of Mrs. Keyser, while Mr. Carter is positive that parts or all of the papers appeared in print.

Robert Hinds was the only merchant here in 1852. John Robarts was a trader here for a number of years; also Simpson & Barber, C.H. Smith, John B. Gleason, F.H. Raymond and G. Perry. Joseph Morse was postmaster here before the war, succeeding John King, and had the office in his house, which occupied the site of the Central Hotel, afterward the residence of V. Perry Carter until destroyed by the first fire, in 1869. In 1855 or 1856 Mr. Carter returned from Richburg, bought the Hinds store and was appointed postmaster, holding the office until his removal to Duke Centre, in 1879, when he was succeeded by Robarts, who in turn was succeeded by Call. Louis Carrier was appointed in 1885, but Miss Augusta Call conducted the office for eight years, or until the appointment of John B. Gleason in June, 1889.

When Nelson Peabody arrived there were two school buildings - one south, where is the present school building on the Pennsylvania side, while the building on the New York side occupied the site of Wellington White's present home. These buildings continued in use until the present house was erected. In Ceres township in 1846 general stores were kept by P.B. Dedrick and Ralph Adams, and the tavern by Samuel Estes. In 1847 Dedrick & Pardy, Samuel Estes and C. Peabody were merchants; J.H. Wright and D. Dunham the new tavern-keepers.

In 1847 the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ceres was incorporated. The oldest record in possession of the pastor shows the names of W.T. Lane, Honeoye; Joel Whitney, Lane school-house; Stephen Chapel, South Bolivar; R.D. Garrison, Pikeville (members joined the Nazarites), and B.C. Call of Ceres; Edward Nicholas and Calvin Blood of Shinglehouse were the class leaders. Later H.B. Robarts is named as leader of the Bell's run class, with Elisha B. West local preacher; A Mallory was recording steward in 1867, while Mrs. F.G. Fuller is now recorder. The pastoral record goes back only to 1879, when A.B. Kelly was appointed. In 1882 Rev. W. Post and Rev. A.I. Blanchard came, and in 1886 Rev. W.H. Farnham. There are now seventy-nine members.

In 1840 Nelson Peabody was commissioned justice of the peace and held the office until elected associate judge in 1861. He was again commissioned and served until six or seven years ago. During the war he was deputy provost marshal for Ceres township. Among the soldiers of the district, many of whom belong to Portville Post, No. 85, G.A.R., are the following named:
Frank A. Chapman, Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry; F.P. Chapman, Eighty-fifth New York;
Nat. Hendrix, Company A, Eighty-fifth New York;
Henry B. Robarts, Eighty-fifth New York;
John Frugan, New York Infantry;
William Hyde, William Worden, Eighty-fifth New York;
Frank Fuller, Eighty-fifth New York;
John B. Gleason, Clark Wells and Edgar Wells, Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Bucktails;
Byron Lanphere and Robert Lanphere, Bucktails;
Jacob Brock, Eighty-fifth New York;
Adam Burdick, Eighty-fifth New York; Daniel and Matthew Burdick, Eighty-fifth New York;
Lafayette Maxson, Eighty-fifth New York;
James Gobles, Eighty-fifth New York;
Martin Stephens, Pennsylvania Infantry;
F. Maxson, Eighty-fifth New York;
Robert Clark, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania;
Frank Van Wormer, Pennsylvania;
A. De North, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania;
Moses Ford, Hiram Grow, Daniel Peabody, James Biggins and Amos Safford, Eighty-fifth New York (Amos drowned in the Oswayo some years ago);
Bill North, Bucktails; William North, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania; George North, Fifth-eighth Pennsylvania;
George Lanphere, Eighty-fifth New York;
James Hobbs, New York Infantry;
__________ Carpenter (wounded at Gettysburg), Pennsylvania Infantry;
Volney Mix, Pennsylvania Infantry;
Albert Lanphere, Bucktails;
Freeman Fuller, Bucktails;
Philip Haines and Bennie Haines, Pennsylvania Infantry;
F. Hawley, Eighty-fifth New York; Lewis Hawley, Eighty-fifth New York; John Hawley, Eighty-fifth New York; Floyd Hawley, Forty-second Pennsylvania;
C. Melven, Forty-second Infantry;
C. Bridge and West Bridge, Forty-second Pennsylvania Regiment;
also Nate Foote, Thomas, John, and Alonzo Cushman, and Nathan Hand.

Charles B. Bailey, who resided in Ceres township before the war, now of Young Hickory, N.Y., was, in June, 1889, granted a back pension of $5,000, and $72 monthly. This large pension was granted on account of his total blindness.

A.B. Luce was the first agent at Ceres of the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad in October, 1881. W.D. Chase took charge in February, 1882; E.D. Cummings in May, 1882; L.J. White in February, 1883, and in November, 1883, C.H. Gleason, the present agent, took charge. (Between 6,000 and 8,000 cords of bark will be shipped from Ceres this summer.)

In 1877 the White & Van Wormer Mill at Ceres was erected. This is one of the immense lumber industries of the county.

Contributed by Maureen M. (Buckley) Lee

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This page last modified: 12/14/2019

	Screenshot (424) 20210716GHLn-- http://www.pagenweb.org/~mckean/BeersHistory/1890-Hist-ceres.htm# History of McKean County J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1890 Ceres Township ? Home Page ? Beer's History Menu ? Previous Page Ceres Biographical Sketches CERES TOWNSHIP occupies the northeast corner of the county. King's run of the Oswayo runs in a general northern course…
	Screenshot (425) 20210716GHLn-- http://www.pagenweb.org/~mckean/BeersHistory/1890-Hist-ceres.htm# History of McKean County J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1890 Ceres Township ... cont'd A busy time at the corners. Myrtle, Pa. Circa 1905-1910 The Myrtle Cheese Factory was established, thirteen or fourteen years ago, by George Chamberlain, his heirs being the present owners.…

[S1401] Census 1810 USA PA, note: Francis King took this census.
King Francis 1/ 0/ 5/ 0/ 1 0/ 2/ 2/ 0/ 0 i.e., 7 males (0-10),5x 16-26),(45+); 4 females (2x 10-16),(2x 16-26)
20210718GHLn- Pasted from Source Citation Text:

King Francis 1/ 0/ 5/ 0/ 1 0/ 2/ 2/ 0/ 0
i.e., 7 males (0-10),5x 16-26),(45+);
4 females (2x 10-16),(2x 16-26)
[S2193] paintedhills.org Ceres Hometown Feature, (Name: Painted Hills Genealogy Society (PHGS);), Enoch Maxson, 1st doctor in town, 1830.
20190423HAv- http://www.paintedhills.org/MCKEAN/CERES/chronoceres.htm

Chronology of Ceres
Submitted by Dan Maxson
DATE EVENTS
1797 First dwelling built
1798 Kings move to Ceres, sawmillbuilt
1798-99 First birth, death and burial
1802 The Bells, Bees, Smiths, and Listers arrive
1804 First recorded flood,McKean County formed
1805 John Brevoost was first justice of peace
1807 First marriage in Ceres
1817 First Ceres Post Office established at John King's
1823 First school house in Ceres, PA
1833 First Sschool house in Ceres, NY
1842 William King established station for underground railroad
1838 Church built that was in both states
1852 Plank road built to Olean
1888 First natural gas for fuel and light
1881 Trolley from Olean
1926 Trolley shut down
1801 Mrs Francis King dies
1817 William Bell first settler in Ceres, NY
1814 Francis King dies
1879 Narrow guage railroad from Olean to Ceres to Friendship
1875 First iron bridge over the Oswayo River
1901 Last logs sawed at the Walsh mill
1830 Dr Enoch Maxson was first doctor
1873 The Ceres News was the first newspaper
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20190423HAv- http://www.paintedhills.org/MCKEAN/CERES/chronoceres.htm

Chronology of Ceres
Submitted by Dan Maxson
DATE EVENTS
1797 First dwelling built
1798 Kings move to Ceres, sawmillbuilt
1798-99 First birth, death and burial
1802 The Bells, Bees, Smiths, and Listers arrive
1804 First recorded flood,McKean County formed
1805 John Brevoost was first justice of peace
1807 First marriage in Ceres
1817 First Ceres Post Office established at John King's
1823 First school house in Ceres, PA
1833 First Sschool house in Ceres, NY
1842 William King established station for underground railroad
1838 Church built that was in both states
1852 Plank road built to Olean
1888 First natural gas for fuel and light
1881 Trolley from Olean
1926 Trolley shut down
1801 Mrs Francis King dies
1817 William Bell first settler in Ceres, NY
1814 Francis King dies
1879 Narrow guage railroad from Olean to Ceres to Friendship
1875 First iron bridge over the Oswayo River
1901 Last logs sawed at the Walsh mill
1830 Dr Enoch Maxson was first doctor
1873 The Ceres News was the first newspaper
Back To Ceres Page Index

Back to McKean County

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Last Update January 27, 2000
[S2193] paintedhills.org Ceres Hometown Feature, (Name: Painted Hills Genealogy Society (PHGS);), Early History of Ceres, NY- PA, First Permanent1White Settlement in the Area- by Dan Maxson.
20190423HAv- http://www.paintedhills.org/MCKEAN/CERES/EarlyHistoryCeres.html

Early History of Ceres, NY- PA
First Permanent1White Settlement in the Area
by Dan Maxson

When Francis King came to this area2, he came as an agent of John Keating and others to explore a vast area of northern Lycoming County. Keating’s group was considering the purchase of an extensive purchase from William Bingham, Esq., if the lands were found to be suitable. His report was evidently suitable as Keating’s group purchased a large tract of land.
In the spring of 1797, Francis King engaged a few men and hired a boat. They set out for a previously selected area, which they named Ceres. They traveled down the east branch of the Susquehanna to Northumberland; then up the west branch to the mouth of the Sinnamahoning, which was the last white settlement (present-day area of Sinnamahoning). They then proceeded to Driftwood and then overland to Canoe Place (Port Allegany). Canoes were made and they traveled down the Allegheny to the mouth of the Oswayo (now Portville, NY), then up the Oswayo to Ceres. The original site for Ceres is approximately one mile south of its current location.

At the Ceres site, land was cleared, planted and a cabin erected. Further exploration revealed three families at Dykes Settlement (now Andover, NY) and two more families on Pine Creek in Tioga County, PA. These people were the Kings’ nearest neighbors.

In the Spring of 1798 Francis King brought his family to Ceres. In September of that year, Mrs. King (formerly Kathrine Kenway3) gave birth to a baby girl, who lived but a few months. This would be the first birth, death, and burial4 in what is now McKean County, PA.

The first sawmill was built in 1798 nearby. Remains of the old mill race to carry water to the mill may be seen upstream from the Barbertown Road. A grist mill was added a few years later. In the same year, the Society of Friends sent
- Joel Swayne,
- Halliday Jackson, and
- Henry Simmons
as missionaries to the Indians on the reservation. This was some 60 miles downstream from Ceres. In those early days, trips were made downriver to Pittsburgh for provisions. Mrs. King died shortly after one such trip in 1801.

Some of the earliest settlers who stayed in the area are as follows:

1802 - John Bell, his wife, his son, and his step children Thomas, John, and May Bee. Bell Run, Bell Brook, and Bee Hollow are area names that go back to these hardy pioneers. The William Bell, who was the first settler in Ceres, NY (1817), was John’s son.

1802 - Thomas Smith, his wife Elizabeth and 4 sons Thomas, John, William, and Henry.
This family settled in the area of the current location of Ceres, PA.

1802 - William Lister. He settled in present day Myrtle, near John Bell, Sr.

Another early arrival to Ceres was William Ayers, his wife Mary, and three children.
Little is known of the Ayres family in Ceres, except that William purchased the only slave ever in Ceres.
This family probably removed to the Coudersport area about 1908. His family were the first white settlers in what is now Potter County.

In early October, 1803, snow fell and protected the crops such that the early settlers had fresh vegetables at Christmas. Later, the snow accumulated to five foot depths and resulted in a great flood in 1804.

Most of the early settlers of the area were English tradesmen.
Francis King was a surveyor and copper engraver. His surveying equipment is now in the possession of the Oswayo Valley Historical Society.
Thomas Smith was a miller,
John Bell was a cabinet maker, and
his son John was a saddle and harness maker.
James King was a tanner and currier. He built a tannery on Mill Creek (Kings Run), but hides were scarce and the tannery failed to be profitable. Many of the settlers to come were from England.

The previous history takes us into a new era for Ceres. The government changes,
Angelica was settled in 1801,
Olean was settled in 1804, and
Shinglehouse5 in 1806.
The population of Ceres Township in 1910 included 26 households and 147 individuals6.
Surprisingly absent from this census is M. Generet, who built the Shingled House. The address for early settlers was Cerestown, Lycoming County, until 1804 when McKean County was formed and Ceres was the only township in the county.

In 1805 John C. Brevoost was appointed Justice of the Peace. The Governor of Pennsylvania appointed as Trustees in November of the same year:
- Thomas Smith,
- John Bell, Sr.,
- Samson Crawford, and
- John C. Brevoost.

The first election was held in March, 1906, at which time
- Francis King and
- Samson Crawford were elected Supervisors of Ceres Township.
During the next 55 years Ceres Township became smaller as other townships were formed in McKean County.

The first recorded marriage in Ceres occurred in 1807 when John C. Brevoost united Nathan Horton and Sally Atherton. This wedding was witnessed by area persons. Earlier marriages occurred, but the parties returned to the Philadelphia or Williamsport area and were married in accordance with the Society of Friends.

Ceres continued to grow with the lumbering industry. The early lumber was floated downriver to Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River. As the local white pine was removed, the hemlock was cut into more lumber and the bark was utilized in the tanning industry. Much of the bark was hauled downriver through Ceres to downstream tanneries.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s gas and oil industries became another area industry. The abundance of gas for fuel and suitable sources of sand (stone) gave rise to a glass industry in both Ceres and Shinglehouse. The railroads and the trolley passed through Ceres, adding to the growth. However, as the lumber was harvested and the wells drilled, there became less and less need for the railroads. The loss of the railroads, the demise of the timber, and several large fires all lead to the reduction of the size of Ceres.

Currently, Ceres is a small rural community with a minimum of activity and industry. One large sawmill and a gravel pit with a cement plant make up the area industry. The businesses consist of a lawn and garden center, a general store, a garage with car sales, a restaurant, and a produce market.

Painted Hills
This page is maintained by the PHGS
Last Update January 27, 2000
20190423HAv- http://www.paintedhills.org/MCKEAN/CERES/EarlyHistoryCeres.html

Early History of Ceres, NY- PA
First Permanent1White Settlement in the Area
by Dan Maxson

When Francis King came to this area2, he came as an agent of John Keating and others to explore a vast area of northern Lycoming County. Keating’s group was considering the purchase of an extensive purchase from William Bingham, Esq., if the lands were found to be suitable. His report was evidently suitable as Keating’s group purchased a large tract of land.
In the spring of 1797, Francis King engaged a few men and hired a boat. They set out for a previously selected area, which they named Ceres. They traveled down the east branch of the Susquehanna to Northumberland; then up the west branch to the mouth of the Sinnamahoning, which was the last white settlement (present-day area of Sinnamahoning). They then proceeded to Driftwood and then overland to Canoe Place (Port Allegany). Canoes were made and they traveled down the Allegheny to the mouth of the Oswayo (now Portville, NY), then up the Oswayo to Ceres. The original site for Ceres is approximately one mile south of its current location.

At the Ceres site, land was cleared, planted and a cabin erected. Further exploration revealed three families at Dykes Settlement (now Andover, NY) and two more families on Pine Creek in Tioga County, PA. These people were the Kings’ nearest neighbors.

In the Spring of 1798 Francis King brought his family to Ceres. In September of that year, Mrs. King (formerly Kathrine Kenway3) gave birth to a baby girl, who lived but a few months. This would be the first birth, death, and burial4 in what is now McKean County, PA.

The first sawmill was built in 1798 nearby. Remains of the old mill race to carry water to the mill may be seen upstream from the Barbertown Road.
A grist mill was added a few years later.
In the same year, the Society of Friends sent
- Joel Swayne,
- Halliday Jackson, and
- Henry Simmons
as missionaries to the Indians on the reservation. This was some 60 miles downstream from Ceres. In those early days, trips were made downriver to Pittsburgh for provisions. Mrs. King died shortly after one such trip in 1801.

Some of the earliest settlers who stayed in the area are as follows:

1802 - John Bell, his wife, his son, and his step children Thomas, John, and May Bee. Bell Run, Bell Brook, and Bee Hollow are area names that go back to these hardy pioneers.
The William Bell, who was the first settler in Ceres, NY (1817), was John’s son.

1802 - Thomas Smith, his wife Elizabeth and 4 sons Thomas, John, William, and Henry.
This family settled in the area of the current location of Ceres, PA.

1802 - William Lister. He settled in present day Myrtle, near John Bell, Sr.

Another early arrival to Ceres was William Ayers, his wife Mary, and three children.
Little is known of the Ayres family in Ceres, except that William purchased the only slave ever in Ceres.
This family probably removed to the Coudersport area about 1908. His family were the first white settlers in what is now Potter County.

In early October, 1803, snow fell and protected the crops such that the early settlers had fresh vegetables at Christmas. Later, the snow accumulated to five foot depths and resulted in a great flood in 1804.

Most of the early settlers of the area were English tradesmen.
Francis King was a surveyor and copper engraver. His surveying equipment is now in the possession of the Oswayo Valley Historical Society.
Thomas Smith was a miller,
John Bell was a cabinet maker, and
his son John was a saddle and harness maker.
James King was a tanner and currier. He built a tannery on Mill Creek (Kings Run), but hides were scarce and the tannery failed to be profitable. Many of the settlers to come were from England.

The previous history takes us into a new era for Ceres. The government changes,
Angelica was settled in 1801,
Olean was settled in 1804, and
Shinglehouse5 in 1806.
The population of Ceres Township in 1910 included 26 households and 147 individuals6.
Surprisingly absent from this census is M. Generet, who built the Shingled House. The address for early settlers was Cerestown, Lycoming County, until 1804 when McKean County was formed and Ceres was the only township in the county.

In 1805 John C. Brevoost was appointed Justice of the Peace. The Governor of Pennsylvania appointed as Trustees in November of the same year:
- Thomas Smith,
- John Bell, Sr.,
- Samson Crawford, and
- John C. Brevoost.

The first election was held in March, 1906, at which time
- Francis King and
- Samson Crawford were elected Supervisors of Ceres Township.
During the next 55 years Ceres Township became smaller as other townships were formed in McKean County.

The first recorded marriage in Ceres occurred in 1807 when John C. Brevoost united Nathan Horton and Sally Atherton.
This wedding was witnessed by area persons. Earlier marriages occurred, but the parties returned to the Philadelphia or Williamsport area and were married in accordance with the Society of Friends.

Ceres continued to grow with the lumbering industry. The early lumber was floated downriver to Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River. As the local white pine was removed, the hemlock was cut into more lumber and the bark was utilized in the tanning industry. Much of the bark was hauled downriver through Ceres to downstream tanneries.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s gas and oil industries became another area industry. The abundance of gas for fuel and suitable sources of sand (stone) gave rise to a glass industry in both Ceres and Shinglehouse. The railroads and the trolley passed through Ceres, adding to the growth. However, as the lumber was harvested and the wells drilled, there became less and less need for the railroads. The loss of the railroads, the demise of the timber, and several large fires all lead to the reduction of the size of Ceres.

Currently, Ceres is a small rural community with a minimum of activity and industry. One large sawmill and a gravel pit with a cement plant make up the area industry. The businesses consist of a lawn and garden center, a general store, a garage with car sales, a restaurant, and a produce market.

Painted Hills
This page is maintained by the PHGS
Last Update January 27, 2000
[S64] Cemetery, Evergreen: Ceres, PA/NY- PaintedHills; (King) .html.
KING, Francis Kathrine K 11-19-1758 9-22-1814 s/o John & Elizabeth Williams King See History of Ceres, PA
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