The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-04-11
PENNSYLVANIA OIL TOWNS.
The Curious Names They Bore and Theil
Fall from Greatness.


Fall from Greatness.
Let-Her-Go-Gallagh suggests some
odd names under which oil towns have
fourished in this country. Among the
first curiously christened towns was
Cash Up, few miles from Pithole. 1t
was one of the first places to attract
attention after Pithole. DIR. Shamburg,
of Titusville, who bought some land
around Cash Up, has told the writer
how it came to be named. When the
first well was struck there DIR. Sham
burg, who had recently come to the oil
country to make some investments, was
early on the grounds. The well in ques-
tion was owned by three young men
who had spent all their money to get it
drilled. 1t was flowing oil in fine
spray at the rate of 110 barrels day.
The young men were satisfied with the
result of their labor, and when the doc
torsasked them to put price on it they
held consultation, lasting about two
minutes and informed him he could
take the we'll for $4,000. He asked
what Kind of payments they would re-
quire, and they as promptly decided
that it would have to be ''cash up"
They could not be moved from this
decision and the doctor finally paid
them $4,000 cash In hand and took
their well. The well was located on a
five-acre lease, and DR.. Shamburg at
once set out to buy this. The price on
the lease was $32, 900, and when he be-
gan to talk about payments he was In
e.. kl,aN lNN Oh ,,.ND
nothing. So leash up it was, and the
doctor took the lease. A farmer owned a
strip of land alongside of him which he
wanted, and the best terms be could
make on this was $4,000 "cash up"
He took it, paying the money in hand,
as he had done in the other purchases,
and these conditions, which seemed 20
obtain with everybody in that vicinity
who had anything to sell, so impressed
him that when town began to develop
around his well he named it Cash Up.
This well proved to be a bonanza.
The doctor drilled it deeper into the
rock and it's production increased to 800
barrels day. 1t paid back the pur-
chase money of $92,000 in the first
month, and ultimately netted him over
$3.50, ,OOO Hundreds of wells were
drilled in that neighborhood and the
town of Cash Up fourished for several
years.
A little town that grew up in the
same section, in contradistinction to
Cash Up, was called Stan Off. Both of
these towns were in Venango county.
Not far away were the towns of Red
Hot and Gas City, and on the other side
of Pithole was Ball Town. This latter
place continues to exist, while all the
others, like Pithole, have passed away.
The Ball Town Oil Company is still
operating in the vicinity and has large
number of small wells, from which the
members of the company have made a
great deal of money.
Petroleum Center is familiar name
in oil annals. Ben Hogan, the eX-
prize fighter and present evangelist, who
kept gambling house there, says it
was the wicledest town in the world.
At the zenith of its prosperity it had u
population of about $1,000 About fifty
people live there at present. The town
is about seven miles above Oil City, ON
the bank of Oil Creek. "Coal Oil
Johnny" fourished in this neighbor-
hood, his old home being at McClintocls.
vile, three miles further down the
creek. Venango county also developed
Big Injun, called after big we'll of
that name. The town was soon re-
christened Bullion, and under this title
1t soon became place of Importance
with population of about 1000. There
is not now single board left of the
! town. Pittsburgh Dispatch.