Crittenden, Willard William Hon b. 6 Sep 1853 Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA d. 11 Dec 1922 Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA: WETZEL Extended Family & More

Crittenden, Willard William Hon

1853 - 1922 (69 years)

Name	Crittenden, Willard William [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
	20240318GHLn- Willard William Crittenden in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 Name Willard William Crittenden Gender Male Race White Age 69y 3m 5d married farmer Birth 6 Sep 1853 Oswayo Death 11 Dec 1922 08:00h Oswayo boro, Potter, PA cause cancer of lungs 49 signed A.W. Cummings MD Oswayo Father Thomas Crittenden b Spring Water, NY Mother Betsy Lockwood b Woodhaul, NY attest A.T. Crittenden Oswayo, PA burial Dec 13? 1922 Oswayo, Pa registrar SB Hawley Cert Nr 117360 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 116001-119000 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission ___________
Suffix	Hon
Birth	6 Sep 1853	Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [3, 5, 6, 7]
Gender	Male
Residence	Between 1860 and 1910	Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
office	Bef 1900	Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA [8]
	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.
	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 Oswayo 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
census 1900	2 Jun 1900	Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [6]
	Age: 46; Occupation: Lumberman; AbleToSpeakEnglish: Yes; CanRead: Yes; CanWrite: Yes; EnumerationDistrict: 0115; HomeMortgaged: F; HomeOwnership: O; MonthsUnEmployedPastYear: 0; OwnsFarm: H; YearsMarried: 25; MaritalStatus: Married; RelationToHead: Head
	20200130HAv- William Crittenden in the 1900 United States Federal Census date: 2nd June 1900 Eugene C. Crittenden Name: William Crittenden Age: 46 Birth: Sep 1853 Pennsylvania Home in 1900: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania Sheet Number: 3 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 45 Family Number: 47 Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Head Marital status: Married Spouse's name: Flora B Crittenden Marriage Year: 1875 Father's Birthplace: New York Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania Occupation: Lumberman Months Not Employed: 0 Can Read: Yes Can Write: Yes Can Speak English: Yes House Owned or Rented: O Home Free or Mortgaged: F Farm or House: H Household Members: Name Age William Crittenden 46 Head PA NY PA Sep1853 M25 lumberman Flora B Crittenden 44 wife PA Eng NY Jun1855 M25 3/2 Arthur T Crittenden 22 son PA PA PA Apr1878 M1 log scaler Bessie M Crittenden 7 dau PA PA PA Dec1890 at school Louise B Crittenden 19 dau-law PA PA PA Aug1880 M1 0/0 Sardinia Stearns 77 m-law NY NY NY Feb1823 Rome Carpenter 43 boarder PA NY NY Jan1857 Wd laborer (chores) (male) Wallace A Clark 39 Fannie M Clark 35 Sybil R Clark 11 Roy J Clark 7 Eunice E Clark 3 Martin Maynard 70 Sarah Maynard 40 Bertha Maynard 13 Newton S Rice 75 Louisa D Rice 65 Fred E Austin 40 Mary Austin 34 Rhoda B Austin 7 Jessie M Austin 1 Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0115; FHL microfilm: 1241482 Name Birth Marriage Arrival Residence John Morse Mar 1837 New York 1862 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Mary D Morse Aug 1839 New York 1862 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Frances E Morse Mar 1874 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Clinton B Morse Jul 1876 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Phoebe A Grant Jun 1847 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Ellen J Grant Feb 1808 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA William Crittenden Sep 1853 Pennsylvania 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Flora B Crittenden Jun 1855 Pennsylvania 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Arthur T Crittenden Apr 1878 Pennsylvania 1899 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Bessie M Crittenden Dec 1890 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Louise B Crittenden Aug 1880 Pennsylvania 1899 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Sardinia Stearns Feb 1823 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Rome Carpenter Jan 1857 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Charlotte Niles Apr 1833 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA George N Head Jul 1856 Pennsylvania 1877 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Fannie C Head Sep 1858 Pennsylvania 1877 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Ella M Head Oct 1882 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Mary C Head Mar 1886 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Musa S Head Jun 1889 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Chas Holly Jun 1860 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Ross S Blakely May 1880 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Ernest C Stevens Oct 1863 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Robert G Wilkinson Aug 1873 England 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA John Shattuck Aug 1834 Pennsylvania 1895 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Louisa Shattuck Apr 1843 Pennsylvania 1895 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Wallace A Clark Oct 1860 Michigan 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Fannie M Clark May 1865 Michigan 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Sybil R Clark Mar 1889 Michigan 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Roy J Clark Nov 1892 Michigan 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Eunice E Clark Jun 1896 Michigan 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA James A Russell Oct 1876 Pennsylvania 1900 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Elizabeth R Russell Jul 1880 New York 1900 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA John Kelly Nov 1867 New York 1893 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Johanna Kelly Aug 1875 Ireland 1893 1884 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA James Kelly May 1895 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Martin Kelly Nov 1897 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA John T Kelly Feb 1900 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA William J Cone Mar 1864 Pennsylvania 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Dell Cone Oct 1860 New York 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Charles W Cone Dec 1891 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Martin Maynard Jan 1830 New York 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Sarah Maynard Apr 1860 Pennsylvania 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Bertha Maynard Jul 1886 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Newton S Rice Dec 1824 New York 1853 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Louisa D Rice May 1835 New York 1853 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Fred E Austin Sep 1859 New York 1891 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Mary Austin Jul 1865 New York 1891 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Rhoda B Austin Sep 1882 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Jessie M Austin Apr 1899 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Patrick Mitchell Jan 1851 Ireland 1876 1870 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA Source Information Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
business	1902	Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA [8]
	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.
	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 Oswayo 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
census 1910	28 Apr 1910	Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [7]
	Age: 56; Head PA NY NY M1-36
	20180910 HAv- Loren Perry in the 1910 United States Federal Census date: 28 Apr 1910 enumerator: Lena M. Spencer Name: Loren Perry Age in 1910: 81 Birth Year: abt 1829 Birthplace: New York Home in 1910: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House:Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Josephine Perry Father's Birthplace:New York Mother's Birthplace:New York Native Tongue: English Home Owned or Rented:Own Home Free or Mortgaged:Free Farm or House: House Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Years Married: 4 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Albert Payne 64 Head PA VT VT M1-22 postmaster Mary Payne 43 wife PA Ire NY M1-22 1/1 none Harry Payne 20 son PA PA PA single Asst postmaster Charles Carpenter 60 Head PA US US M1-36 manager, saw mill Mary Carpenter 54 wife PA NY NY M1-36 2/1 none Loren Perry 81 Head NY NY NY M2-4y Josephine Perry 60 wife NY NY NY M2-4y 5/4 Emma Bryant 40 stepdau NY England NY Single William Crittenden 56 Head PA NY NY M1-36 none Flora Crittenden 54 wife PA Eng NY M1-36 3/2 none Mary Stearns 88 M-law NY NY NY wd 6/3 none Maud Lockwood 16 cousin Bessie Crittenden 19 dau Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1415; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 1375428 Source Information Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.
gossip	3 Oct 1918	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [9]
	Hon. W.W. Crittenden with Mrs. Crittenden and Will Lewis were over from Oswavo yesterday. While here Mr. Crittenden authorized the Enterprise to announce that he desires to give a fine, sound roan horse, six years old and easily worth $200, to the Red Cross.
	20251214GHLn- Coming and Going 03 Oktober 1918 p1 The Potter Enterprise Coudersport, Pennsylvania • Thu, Oct 3, 1918 p1 CLIPPED BY wetzupdoc • 14 December 2025 • WILL GIVE HORSE Hon. W. W. Crittenden Has Plan to Make the Red Cross $500 Richer To Donate Fine Animal Hon. W.W. Crittenden with Mrs. Crittenden and Will Lewis were over from Oswavo yesterday. While here Mr. Crittenden authorized the Enterprise to announce that he desires to give a fine, sound roan horse, six years old and easily worth $200, to the Red Cross. The proposition is to issue five hundred tickets and they are to be sold for one dollar each. An opportunity will be given to all people in various sections of the county to buy one or more. On Friday evening October 18 a dance will be given at the hall in Oswayo, at which time the owner of the horse will be announced. The tickets will be numbered from 1 to 500 and on one will be written the word' "horse" and the person drawing this ticket from the sack will be the winner. HE IS COMING Dr. D. E. Jacobs of Oswayo to Locate in Coudersport Very Soon. He Will Be Welocme Many people will be glad to know that Dr. D. E. Jacobs for many years the popular physician at Oswayo and for more than forty miles around, is soon to locate permanently in Coudersport. He was here Saturday and purchased a new desk and rented two rooms of Mrs. Dell Quimby in the old Ellison home at the corner of First and Main streets. • Dr. Jacobs has the reputation of being a very successful physician and much of his practice has been in New York, often being called to Wellsville, Whitesville, Spring Mills and other points. He says he would have stuck to Oswayo in spite of the fact that it has grown smaller since he located there but landlord Wright has concluded to leave and this left him without a home. The doctor is a splendid citizen and good neighbor as well as being an extra good doctor. Roulette people wanted him to locate there as Dr. W. H. Squires, who for so many years has been so poplar there nad decided to go to Port Allegany, where Dr. J. B. Colcord recently died. As two of Coudersport's doctors are in the war, there is plenty of room for Dr. Jacobs here, and he will be very welcome--but the Oswayo people are mighty sorry to have him leave there. IS GOING ACROSS Captain Alvin M. Whitney to be at Head of Balloon Company and to Sail Soon Captain Alvin M. Whitney, Ulysses, is spending his first furloneh in more than eight months home. He has been mighty busy with the Signal Corps in Washington and could have remained at that work, but when given a chance take his choice to stay there or to go get in the fighting chose the latter. Certainly Potter county can boproud of Captain Whitney. He is to be in command of company that will have charge the flying of cbservation balloons over the enemies operations--a very important work. Before going for few weeks Captain Whitney will get training in this particular line of work. He first goes to a field at Azbia, Col. from there to one in California and from there to another in Texas, when he will expect his orders to go across. With his wife and little daughter and John L. Raymond, Mrs. Whitney's father, Captain Whitney visited Couder port Tuesday afternoon. He certainly looks fit and fine and every inch a soldier. WAR SITUATION BRIGHT With the surrender of Bulgar- ia, and Turkey sending peace feelers to London, Foch gaining on the western front and the (Fourth Liberty Loan going with a bang, the war situation has at no time been so bright. The Allied powers are not now saying "we will win the war" but instead "we are winning the war." There is every reason to believe that the beginning of the end is here. of at to 16 he a of a at in.
office	Oswayo, Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [8]
	W. W. Crittenden, local businessman who represented Potter County in the General Assembly
	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 Oswayo 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
Race	White [5, 6, 7]
FSID	L7LB-VK4
Name	W. W. Crittenden
	Bef. 1900 in Oswayo, Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA; 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.
Name	Willard Cruttenden [10]
Name	William Crittenden [6, 7]
Name	William W. Crittenden
Death	11 Dec 1922	Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [3, 5]
	20240318GHLn- Willard William Crittenden in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 Name Willard William Crittenden Gender Male Race White Age 69y 3m 5d married farmer Birth 6 Sep 1853 Oswayo Death 11 Dec 1922 08:00h Oswayo boro, Potter, PA cause cancer of lungs 49 signed A.W. Cummings MD Oswayo Father Thomas Crittenden b Spring Water, NY Mother Betsy Lockwood b Woodhaul, NY attest A.T. Crittenden Oswayo, PA burial Dec 13? 1922 Oswayo, Pa registrar SB Hawley Cert Nr 117360 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 116001-119000 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Age: 69y 3m 5d cancer of lungs 49 signed A.W. Cummings MD Oswayo
Burial	13 Dec 1922	Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [3]
Person ID	I96948	WETZEL-SPRING

Father	Crittenden, Thomas T. Pvt, b. 18 Mar 1826, Springwater Twp, Livingston, New York, USA d. 13 May 1903, Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 77 years)
Relationship	natural
Mother	Lockwood, Betsy, b. Abt 1826, Woodhull, Steuben, New York, USA d. 1863, Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 37 years)
Relationship	natural
Family ID	F56628	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Pearce, Flora Bella, b. 9 Jul 1855, Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA d. 2 Jan 1934, Oswayo, Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 78 years)

Marriage 6 Sep 1874 Oswayo, Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [6]

married 36 yrs in 1910 census

Issue, jt 1910

3/2

Children

	1. Crittenden, Bess May, b. 9 Jun 1890, Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA d. 28 Mar 1977, Danville, Montour, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 86 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	2. Crittenden, Arthur Thomas, b. 9 Apr 1878, Pennsylvania, USA d. 12 Apr 1966, Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 88 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]

Family ID F56627 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

	Birth - 6 Sep 1853 - Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Residence - Between 1860 and 1910 - Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	office - 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. - Bef 1900 - Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA
	census 1900 - Age: 46; Occupation: Lumberman; AbleToSpeakEnglish: Yes; CanRead: Yes; CanWrite: Yes; EnumerationDistrict: 0115; HomeMortgaged: F; HomeOwnership: O; MonthsUnEmployedPastYear: 0; OwnsFarm: H; YearsMarried: 25; MaritalStatus: Married; RelationToHead: Head - 2 Jun 1900 - Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	business - 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. - 1902 - Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA
	census 1910 - Age: 56; Head PA NY NY M1-36 - 28 Apr 1910 - Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	gossip - Hon. W.W. Crittenden with Mrs. Crittenden and Will Lewis were over from Oswavo yesterday. While here Mr. Crittenden authorized the Enterprise to announce that he desires to give a fine, sound roan horse, six years old and easily worth $200, to the Red Cross. - 3 Oct 1918 - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Death - 11 Dec 1922 - Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Burial - 13 Dec 1922 - Oswayo Twp, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA

= Link to Google Earth

Photos » Slide Show		Crittenden, Willard Wm anc_JamesCrittenden 20240318GHLn- James Crittenden originally shared this on 6 Mar 2018 W. W. Crittenden Linked to Willard William CRITTENDEN Saved by Barbara Jones Togadore69 Bass71954 IvyNetzel Bonnie Manion Michael Smith dhcook2010 Susan Crittenden altonnh Comments
		census 1910 USA PA Potter Oswayo 123_6B Loren Perry.jpg 20180910 HAv- Loren Perry in the 1910 United States Federal Census date: 28 Apr 1910 enumerator: Lena M. Spencer Name: Loren Perry Age in 1910: 81 Birth Year: abt 1829 Birthplace: New York Home in 1910: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House:Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Josephine…
		1910 United States Federal Census - Maude Lockwood 20180910 HAv- Loren Perry in the 1910 United States Federal Census date: 28 Apr 1910 enumerator: Lena M. Spencer Name: Loren Perry Age in 1910: 81 Birth Year: abt 1829 Birthplace: New York Home in 1910: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House:Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Josephine…
		census 1900 USA PA Potter Oswayo 115_3 Wm Crittenden.jpg 20200130HAv- William Crittenden in the 1900 United States Federal Census date: 2nd June 1900 Eugene C. Crittenden Name: William Crittenden Age: 46 Birth: Sep 1853 Pennsylvania Home in 1900: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania Sheet Number: 3 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 45 Family Number: 47 Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of…
		PA Death Cert 19221211 Willard William Crittenden.jpg 20240318GHLn- Willard William Crittenden in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 Name Willard William Crittenden Gender Male Race White Age 69y 3m 5d married farmer Birth 6 Sep 1853 Oswayo Death 11 Dec 1922 08:00h Oswayo boro, Potter, PA cause cancer of lungs 49 signed A.W. Cummings MD Oswayo Father Thomas Crittenden b Spring…
		PotterEnterprise_19181003_1 Camp Lee 20251214GHLn- The Potter Enterprise Coudersport, Pennsylvania • Thu, Oct 3, 1918 p1 CLIPPED BY dfulton124 • Clipped • Sep 29, 2018 • Died at Camp Lee Camp Lee, Va., Sept. 27, 1918 Mr. Herman Main, Roulette, Pa. I deeply regret to inform you that your son, Floyd Main, private, Co. K, 6th Battalion, Infantry Replacement, in training…

Notes

20250827GHLn-
from endeavornews.com, for FB-
Use of that prime lot at the corner of Main and Second streets for lodging dates back to 1840, when William Caldwell erected what he called the “Coudersport Hotel” at the site. Several other owners are shown on property records. When the tragic fire of 1880 swept through downtown Coudersport, destroying the hotel, the owner of record was Daniel F. Glassmire.

Ten years would pass before a new hotel would rise from the ruins, owned by Alanson B. Crowell and opened as the Crowell House in 1891.

In 1902, William W. Crittenden of Oswayo, a former representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, purchased the hotel which still bears his name.

Owners and operators came and went – among them, Harry Knight, James Kelley, Frank Bruzzi, Cal Huey and Edgar Brewer before Tom and Beverly Pekarski acquired the hotel in the 1970s.

Sources

[S2654] FamilySearch.org, Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976, "Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z1VF-SZ6Z : Sat Mar 09 13:48:43 UTC 2024), Entry for Bess Mae Crittenden and William Willard Crittenden, 11 Dec 1890.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z1VF-SZZM
[S2619] FamilySearch.org, Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950, "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFW1-NK4 : Sun Mar 10 08:15:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Arthur I. Crittenden and A. Louise Bradford, 23 Nov.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFW1-NKH
[S2608] FamilySearch.org, Find A Grave Index, "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGF-M263 : 3 July 2020), Willard W Crittenden, 1922; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGF-M263
[S2604] FamilySearch.org, New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936, "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVGK-641 : Sat Mar 09 15:34:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Wells A. Carpenter and John H. Carpenter, 2 March 1916.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVGK-6H3

[S1127] Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 116001-119000.
Record for Willard William Crittenden (12) facts
20240318GHLn-
20240318GHLn-
Willard William Crittenden in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970
Name Willard William Crittenden
Gender Male
Race White
Age 69y 3m 5d
married
farmer
Birth 6 Sep 1853 Oswayo
Death 11 Dec 1922 08:00h
Oswayo boro, Potter, PA
cause cancer of lungs
49
signed A.W. Cummings MD
Oswayo
Father Thomas Crittenden
b Spring Water, NY
Mother Betsy Lockwood
b Woodhaul, NY
attest A.T. Crittenden
Oswayo, PA
burial Dec 13? 1922
Oswayo, Pa
registrar SB Hawley
Cert Nr 117360

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 116001-119000
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

PA Death Cert 19221211 Willard William Crittenden.jpg
20240318GHLn-
Willard William Crittenden in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970
Name Willard William Crittenden
Gender Male
Race White
Age 69y 3m 5d married
farmer
Birth 6 Sep 1853 Oswayo
Death 11 Dec 1922 08:00h
Oswayo boro, Potter, PA
cause cancer of lungs
49
signed A.W. Cummings MD
Oswayo
Father Thomas Crittenden
b Spring…

[S609] census 1900 USA PA Potter, Year: 1900; Census Place: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0115; FHL microfilm: 1241482.
Record for Flora B Crittenden (34) facts
Record for Rome Carpenter (7) facts .............. (41)
Record for Louise B Crittenden (8) facts ......... (49)
Record for Fred E Austin (29) facts ................. (78)
Record for Martin Maynard (22) facts ............. (99) .... (88)
Record for Newton S Rice (16) facts .......................... (103)
Record for Wallace A Clark (32) facts ........................ (134)
Record for William J Cone (19) facts .......................... (148)

20200130HAv-
William Crittenden in the 1900 United States Federal Census
date: 2nd June 1900
Eugene C. Crittenden
Name: William Crittenden
Age: 46
Birth: Sep 1853
Pennsylvania
Home in 1900: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania
Sheet Number: 3
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 45
Family Number: 47
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: Flora B Crittenden
Marriage Year: 1875
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Occupation: Lumberman
Months Not Employed: 0
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
House Owned or Rented: O
Home Free or Mortgaged: F
Farm or House: H
Household Members:
Name Age
William Crittenden 46 Head PA NY PA Sep1853 M25 lumberman
Flora B Crittenden 44 wife PA Eng NY Jun1855 M25 3/2
Arthur T Crittenden 22 son PA PA PA Apr1878 M1 log scaler
Bessie M Crittenden 7 dau PA PA PA Dec1890 at school
Louise B Crittenden 19 dau-law PA PA PA Aug1880 M1 0/0
Sardinia Stearns 77 m-law NY NY NY Feb1823
Rome Carpenter 43 boarder PA NY NY Jan1857 Wd laborer (chores) (male)

Wallace A Clark 39
Fannie M Clark 35
Sybil R Clark 11
Roy J Clark 7
Eunice E Clark 3

William J Cone 36 Head PA NY VT Mar1864 M14 laborer, lumbering
Dell Cone 37 wife NY CT NY Oct1860 M14 3/1
Charles W Cone 8 son PA PA NY Dec1891

Martin Maynard 70
Sarah Maynard 40
Bertha Maynard 13

Newton S Rice 75
Louisa D Rice 65

Fred E Austin 40
Mary Austin 34
Rhoda B Austin 7
Jessie M Austin 1

Source Citation
Year: 1900; Census Place: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0115; FHL microfilm: 1241482

Name Birth Marriage Arrival Residence
John Morse Mar 1837 New York 1862 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Mary D Morse Aug 1839 New York 1862 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Frances E Morse Mar 1874 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Clinton B Morse Jul 1876 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Phoebe A Grant Jun 1847 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Ellen J Grant Feb 1808 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
William Crittenden Sep 1853 Pennsylvania 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Flora B Crittenden Jun 1855 Pennsylvania 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Arthur T Crittenden Apr 1878 Pennsylvania 1899 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Bessie M Crittenden Dec 1890 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Louise B Crittenden Aug 1880 Pennsylvania 1899 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Sardinia Stearns Feb 1823 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Rome Carpenter Jan 1857 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Charlotte Niles Apr 1833 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
George N Head Jul 1856 Pennsylvania 1877 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Fannie C Head Sep 1858 Pennsylvania 1877 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Ella M Head Oct 1882 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Mary C Head Mar 1886 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Musa S Head Jun 1889 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Chas Holly Jun 1860 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Ross S Blakely May 1880 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Ernest C Stevens Oct 1863 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Robert G Wilkinson Aug 1873 England 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
John Shattuck Aug 1834 Pennsylvania 1895 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Louisa Shattuck Apr 1843 Pennsylvania 1895 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Wallace A Clark Oct 1860 Michigan 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Fannie M Clark May 1865 Michigan 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Sybil R Clark Mar 1889 Michigan 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Roy J Clark Nov 1892 Michigan 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Eunice E Clark Jun 1896 Michigan 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
James A Russell Oct 1876 Pennsylvania 1900 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Elizabeth R Russell Jul 1880 New York 1900 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
John Kelly Nov 1867 New York 1893 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Johanna Kelly Aug 1875 Ireland 1893 1884 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
James Kelly May 1895 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Martin Kelly Nov 1897 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
John T Kelly Feb 1900 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
William J Cone Mar 1864 Pennsylvania 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Dell Cone Oct 1860 New York 1886 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Charles W Cone Dec 1891 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Martin Maynard Jan 1830 New York 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Sarah Maynard Apr 1860 Pennsylvania 1875 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Bertha Maynard Jul 1886 Pennsylvania 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Newton S Rice Dec 1824 New York 1853 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Louisa D Rice May 1835 New York 1853 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Fred E Austin Sep 1859 New York 1891 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Mary Austin Jul 1865 New York 1891 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Rhoda B Austin Sep 1882 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Jessie M Austin Apr 1899 New York 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
Patrick Mitchell Jan 1851 Ireland 1876 1870 1900 Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA

Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

census 1900 USA PA Potter Oswayo 115_3 Wm Crittenden.jpg
20200130HAv-
William Crittenden in the 1900 United States Federal Census
date: 2nd June 1900
Eugene C. Crittenden
Name: William Crittenden
Age: 46
Birth: Sep 1853
Pennsylvania
Home in 1900: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania
Sheet Number: 3
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 45
Family Number: 47
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of…

[S562] census 1910 USA PA Potter, Year: 1910; Census Place: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1415; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 1375428.
Record for Loren Perry
20180910 HAv-
Loren Perry in the 1910 United States Federal Census
date: 28 Apr 1910
enumerator: Lena M. Spencer
Name: Loren Perry
Age in 1910: 81
Birth Year: abt 1829
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1910: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House:Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Josephine Perry
Father's Birthplace:New York
Mother's Birthplace:New York
Native Tongue: English
Home Owned or Rented:Own
Home Free or Mortgaged:Free
Farm or House: House
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 4
Neighbors:
View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Albert Payne 64 Head PA VT VT M1-22 postmaster
Mary Payne 43 wife PA Ire NY M1-22 1/1 none
Harry Payne 20 son PA PA PA single Asst postmaster

Charles Carpenter 60 Head PA US US M1-36 manager, saw mill
Mary Carpenter 54 wife PA NY NY M1-36 2/1 none

Loren Perry 81 Head NY NY NY M2-4y
Josephine Perry 60 wife NY NY NY M2-4y 5/4
Emma Bryant 40 stepdau NY England NY Single

William Crittenden 56 Head PA NY NY M1-36 none
Flora Crittenden 54 wife PA Eng NY M1-36 3/2 none
Mary Stearns 88 M-law NY NY NY wd 6/3 none
7A
Maud Lockwood 16 cous PA PA NY single none
Bessie Crittenden 19 dau PA PA NY single none

Orlando Greeman 51 Head PA NY PA M1-19 laborer, odd jobs
Myrtle Greeman 37 wife NY NY PA M1-17 3/3
Nina Bella Greeman 16 dau NY PA NY single
Carlo Greeman 10 son PA PA NY
Hollis Greeman 3 son PA PA NY

Source Citation
Year: 1910; Census Place: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1415; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 1375428

Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.

	census 1910 USA PA Potter Oswayo 123_6B Loren Perry.jpg 20180910 HAv- Loren Perry in the 1910 United States Federal Census date: 28 Apr 1910 enumerator: Lena M. Spencer Name: Loren Perry Age in 1910: 81 Birth Year: abt 1829 Birthplace: New York Home in 1910: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House:Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Josephine…
	1910 United States Federal Census - Maude Lockwood 20180910 HAv- Loren Perry in the 1910 United States Federal Census date: 28 Apr 1910 enumerator: Lena M. Spencer Name: Loren Perry Age in 1910: 81 Birth Year: abt 1829 Birthplace: New York Home in 1910: Oswayo, Potter, Pennsylvania Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House:Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Josephine…

[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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[S1993] Newspapers.com: Potter Journal Leader Enterprise-.
Alvin McClue Whitney, Capt (1) fact
20251214GHLn-
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The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Oct 3, 1918 p1
CLIPPED BY
dfulton124 • Clipped • Sep 29, 2018

• Died at Camp Lee
Camp Lee, Va., Sept. 27, 1918 Mr. Herman Main, Roulette, Pa.
I deeply regret to inform you that your son, Floyd Main, private, Co. K, 6th Battalion, Infantry Replacement, in training camp, died at this hospital at 7:30 p.m. September 27th, of pneumonia.
(Signed) DEAR, Commander.
The above is a copy of the telegram received by Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Main, of Roulette, informing them that the supreme sacrifice had been made. The body of the soldier boy arrived in Roulette on Tuesday and the funeral and burial occurred this morning at 9:30 from the Methodist church in Roulette, with all military honors.
Floyd was known to many people in Coudersport. At one time he was employed by the ENTERPRISE. He was 21 years old last February.
Besides the parents two brothers, Ralph and Varley and two sisters, Lula and Gladys, survive him.
Many friends were present at the funeral service to do honor to the heroic lad..

20251214GHLn-
Coming and Going 03 Oktober 1918 p1
The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Oct 3, 1918 p1
CLIPPED BY
wetzupdoc • 14 December 2025

• WILL GIVE HORSE
Hon. W. W. Crittenden Has Plan to Make the Red Cross $500 Richer To Donate Fine Animal
Hon. W.W. Crittenden with Mrs. Crittenden and Will Lewis were over from Oswavo yesterday. While here Mr. Crittenden authorized the Enterprise to announce that he desires to give a fine, sound roan horse, six years old and easily worth $200, to the Red Cross.
The proposition is to issue five hundred tickets and they are to be sold for. one dollar each. An opportunity will be given to all people in various sections of the county to buy one or more. On Friday evening October 18 & dance will be given at the hall in Oswayo, at which time the owner of the horse will be announced. The tickets will be numbered from 1 to 500 and on one will be written the word' "horse" and the person drawing this ticket from the sack will be the winner.

HE IS COMING
Dr. D. E. Jacobs of Oswayo to Locate in Coudersport Very Soon. He Will Be Welocme
Many people will be glad to know that Dr. D. E. Jacobs for many years the popular physician at Oswayo and for more than forty miles around, is soon to locate permanently in Coudersport. He was here Saturday and purchased a new desk and rented two rooms of Mrs. Dell Quimby in the old Ellison home at the corner of First and Main streets.
• Dr. Jacobs has the reputation of being a very successful physician and much of his practice has been in New York, often being called tG Wellsville, Whitesville, Spring Mill% and other points. He. says he would have stuck to Oswayo in spite of the fact that it has grown smaller since he located there but landlord Wright has concluded to leave and this left him without a home. The doctor is a splendid citizen and good neighbor as well as being an extra good doctor. Roulette people wanted him to locate there as Dr. W. H. Squires, who for so many years has been so poplar there nad decided to go to Port Allegany, where Dr. J. B. Colcord recently died. As two of Coudersport's doctors are in the war, there is plenty of room for Dr. Jacobs here, and he will be very welcome--but the Oswayo people are mighty sorry to have him leave there.

IS GOING ACROSS
Captain Alvin M. Whitney to be at Head of Balloon Company and to Sail Soon Captain Alvin M. Whitney, Ulysses, is spending his first furloneh in more than eight months home. He has been mighty busy with the Signal Corps in Washington and could have remained at that work, but when given a chance take his choice to stay there or to go get in the fighting chose the latter. Certainly Potter county can boproud of Captain Whitney. He is to be in command of company that will have charge the flying of cbservation balloons over the enemies operations--a very important work. Before going for few weeks Captain Whitney will get training in this particular line of work. He first goes to a field at Azbia, Col. from there to one in California and from there to another in Texas, when he will expect his orders to go across.
With his wife and little daughter and John L. Raymond, Mrs. Whitney's father, Captain Whitney visited Couder port Tuesday afternoon. He certainly looks fit and fine and every inch a soldier.

WAR SITUATION BRIGHT
With the surrender of Bulgar- ia, and Turkey sending peace feelers to London, Foch gaining on the western front and the (Fourth Liberty Loan going with a bang, the war situation has at no time been so bright. The Allied powers are not now saying "we will win the war" but instead "we are winning the war." There is every reason to believe that the beginning of the end is here. of at to 16 he a of a at in.

PotterEnterprise_19181003_1 Camp Lee
20251214GHLn-
The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Oct 3, 1918 p1
CLIPPED BY
dfulton124 • Clipped • Sep 29, 2018

• Died at Camp Lee
Camp Lee, Va., Sept. 27, 1918 Mr. Herman Main, Roulette, Pa.
I deeply regret to inform you that your son, Floyd Main, private, Co. K, 6th Battalion, Infantry Replacement, in training…

[S1127] Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 006501-009500.
Record for Flora Belle Cruttenden (13) facts
20240318GHLn-
20240318GHLn-
Flora Belle Crittenden in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970
Name Flora Belle Cruttenden
Flora Belle Pierce
Gender Female
Race White
Age 78y 6m 21d
widowed
res Oswayo 78 years
Birth 9 Jun 1855
Oswayo, Pennsylvania
Death 2 Jan 1934
Oswayo boro, Potter, Penna
cause No autopsy held, found dead - but perhaps cerebral hemato?
contrib age
82a/162
signed A.W. Cummings MD
Oswayo, PA
Father Isaac Pierce
b England
Mother S Wells
b Oswayo
Spouse Willard Cruttenden
attest Arthur Crittenden
Coudersport
burial 1-4-1934
Oswayo, PA
registrar S.B. Hawley
Certificate Number 8761

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 006501-009500
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

PA Death Cert 19340102 Flora B Crittenden.jpg
20240318GHLn-
Flora Belle Crittenden in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970
Name Flora Belle Cruttenden
Flora Belle Pierce
Gender Female
Race White
Age 78y 6m 21d
widowed
res Oswayo 78 years
Birth 9 Jun 1855
Oswayo, Pennsylvania
Death 2 Jan 1934
Oswayo boro, Potter, Penna
cause No autopsy held, found dead - but perhaps cerebral…

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