The New York herald., 1864-10-07

time ~ the French and Indian wars. It contained
popu,aon In 1860 OF four thousand; but IL has moro
than double the number suce then BY influx OF the en-
poyes Of the railroad company, who are constructing
machine and work shops and other buildings Of most
substantial and extensive kind and those Interested In
the oil businessa business that bound 10 be largely
Increased the oil country lying French creek on
which situated already producing we'll, s developed
1ne facilities for transportation wharfage, &c are bot
ter than those at Oh City. Il has ten churches-two
Presby ytsrap, Baptist, Methodist Unitarian. Epscopa
German Lutheran, two Roman Catholic and oue African
mo Allegheny College, under the patronage OF three Con-
fsrences OF the Methodist church-vz: the Pttsburg,
Erie and West virginiard the Unitarian Theological
school, founded and endowed by old Holauder, Harm
Jam Hudekoper, whose descendants are now the most
wealthy. well among the most respected, Of the c
xens OF Crawford county TDere ls female seminary,
museum. two banks, several brokers' Offices three or
four newspapers--a apparently we'll conducted and
eight or nine ho,cls-the McHenry, National, Sherwood
Rupp's the Eagle, Crawford, American and Colps new
construction by Mr. Cullum aided by young millionaire
named Steele whose income not less than two thousand
dollars per day. We may have more to say OF
this young oil prince presently. Il n stated
that more Post Olce matter passes through the
Office in Meadvie than In any other interior town 10 the
State There is scarcely any portion OF tho county not
reachabe by railroad the health or the place good
II is mentioned 10 this connection that when the
rabe Father Taylor OF Boston, was addressing the col
ege students certain OCCASION he remarked that he
had never before many healthy faces In public
assembage; and the students from all parts OF the
country, many Soulhsrners being among them The war
has had many college representative from Meadville-
fourth OF whom, however have ever returned.
In the early days II the California excitement IL
that many the ID seekers saw the eephano
on their way 10 the dggngs Pilgrims In this direction,
10 search on oil fortunes II they do not happen to see
the elephant can examine some curious specimens OF
bigger animal, the N istodou, which were exhumed
while workmen were digging for tho railroad uear this
place. and now In the possession Of l. Richmond, ESQ.,,
an obliging citizen.
AILLIoNAIkES AND OTHER RICH MEN OF CRAWFORD
AND vENANao ooUsriTs ETC.
The Huidekoper family Is the We ithest and perhaps
the oldest family in the county. Its fortune estimated
1t between two and three millions OF dollars, mostly
ande estate The founder Of the family this country,
darn Jam. came rom Holland aud the ageut Of the
ce ebraed Holland Land Company OF tncse days. When
that company one Of the ancient European bubbles
poded Hudekoper fell into possession OF very large
tract u country all Of which IN the lapse time, became
extremely valuable, aud now from the discoveries iu ho
oil regi n of which constitutes part is of almost
calcuiable value il ID MT to OIL or oil Ianns however,
that the Huiiekopers Indebted Tor their wealth up
value Of their landed estates proper and whfn their oil
tracts developed the magnitude OF their wealth may
be imagined The property of the Holland Company was
oil has been found. Harm Jam had bee s66s (Freds
named Elizabeth. Edgar died two years ago, leaving
widow with i've or six Ghid'e The widow is widely
iSS @ smy % A ss
Of tho second generation are grown up. are as we'll
Sshaudsa @ S wss'd sss ass sss
improvement. large grove has been don ted by them
for the benefit Of the school children OF Ne dve. The
children Of the first generation, who had been reared in
humble manner. salisned with the usual every day
Of railroad to run through ,Ser domiuoUs na,
gradually fell into the more modern views Of their ch
dren nd now approve Of the srsat enterprises Q! the
road has already doubled the value OF their town pro-
perty The Huidekopers have SOLD oil property
live In handsome style at home, respected by their
neighbos travel little for pleasure but prepared to
legitimate aristocracy OF the county and their descend
ants as they Increase and multiply. will perhaps
ancestor. plain old Harm jam HudeHoper. u 'ne'
The sBIPrKN FAxIY.-Conneoted by marriage with the
Huidekopers Not very wealthy, but composed Of the
Judge Edward Shippen. deceased The widow resides
the old homestead In this borough The Shippers
Tns D. OK FAnIiy.-John, David and James An old ana
much respected family John was the first white child
born this section Of the country, and formerly
general in the State service. The family among the
wea,hiest In Meadve. James and John have families
9o C9ss opa apu
engaged In the land interest," William Reynolds, OF the
sons abored zeaousy for the Atlantic and Great Western
Railroad and visited Europe several times In connect
Herewith. singular circumstance, In connection with
this family, Is mentioned In Abercronbie's "nteectua
stages OF consciousness. she was subject 10 trance
Intervals When recovering from trance she would
IT, even the names Of intimate relations Her dispos
ton would also be entirely different; In one state she
would be reserved aud sedate, n the other lively and
laxative On returning again TO trance and re-
covering therefrom she would forget all that occurred n
her previous state OF consciousness and knowledge Of
what she know in her original or natural state would re-
vve The Rev. 1T Reynolds, an esteemed Presbyterian
clergyman is q Of John Reynolds The family is
numbered among the most wealthy.
THE suRYo X FAMILY Daniel Shryock came here at an
cary day. and acquired considerable wealth. Has two
sons among the principal business men In the place and
three daughters iiving-al with families. They are o
much respected family.
Tps De LA MATER fAMLY-vulgarly spelled "Delemat-
ter-came originally from the eastward. II then
sisted OF two brothers, with limited One (George)
studied law and was admitted TO the bar But he never
had much s @ ana hsr
were among the arst 70 engage In developing the riches
Of the oil region. After boring patiently and indus.
riousy with but moderate success for between aud
two years they suddenly struck vein which produced
from hundred 70 thousand barrels OF oil per day
This was the turning period In their fortunes. From
comparatively poor they became mmc ely wealthy,
and sets their fortunes down at less than from
two 10 three million dollars each. Mr.. Noble resdes 10
splendid sty In Erie Pa Mr. De Ia Mater lives here in
handsome hQuse 10 fashionable manner. and spends his
wealth ir6ely but prudently His wife the daughter OF
Noah OF Towneve. formerly from the
ward, and s q most excellent lady. They hayS several
children, MI young who being educated m manner
eomportiug With their parents wealth, which although
suddenly acquired has uot fortunately In their case en-
tailed the curses OF extravagance and PRIDE
1he Do la Matters are among the nrst they amopg
the worthiest, OF the petroleum arstocracy" or this
region.
fns MEAD Fnuty.-Thc original proprietor OF tho
land on which this borough built General
David Mead. some OF bis descendants are still living
daughter, In town, wife Of William GIN, very old aud
", rtby family.
Tag HIRAM l. RICHMOND FAMrLy.-Father, an old set.
tier, lawyer came here IN 1884; family or eight chill.
dren, all growing up well brother, A. n. Richm nd
great mechanical genius and the sons Of I.
takes great 10 mineral geoo gy, conchoogy &c
and thus accumulated valuable cabinet OF specmeps
Mr. Richmond has much perience in drawing up leases
examining titles &ca business OF great Importance In
the OIL region.