The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-02-06
HUGH McCREA.
A VenangO County Pioneer Peacefully
Passes Away.

The death Of Hugh McCrea, of Eagle
Rock, station on the Penna. r. r..
eight miles south of Tionesta, removes
perhaps the oldest settler of this region
of country. His demise occurred shortly
after mi1night of Saturday, Feb. Sd, 1901.
He was born Juue 24th, 1913, on the
McCrea farm, where he continued to re-
side till the day Of his death, with the
exception OF two years spent at William
sport, Pa, from '6I to '66. Some ten years
ago the editor of the Oil City Blizzard,
while enjoying little recreation at Eagle
Rock, met Mr.. McCrea, and finding him
in reminiscent mood drew from him a
very entertaining story of his long life
on the banks OF the Allegheny river.
Patrick McCrea, father of the subject OF
this sketch, immig ated to America way
back in the 18th century, not so very long
after the close Of the Revolutionary war.
my father came Eere in 1797," said
Mr.. McCrea. "Then there was not
another white man on the river between
Franklin and Warren At that time the
age of my father was forty years, so you
see he was born in 1857. He had served
in the British army as Lieutenant for i've
years, was born in ireland and studied
medicine there for some time. After
serving in the army the length of ii ne
mentioned, he deserted and located at
Richmond, Va, where he taught school
and kept store. He became aware of
the presence OF several British officers in
Richmond, and, becoming suspicious
that they were after him, he left and set
tied in the wilderness here at Eagle Rock
and was here five years before he mar
ried.
81 was born here in 1913, and have al
ways lived here, with the exception of
two years that resided in Williamsport.
Pa. made my living partly by hunt
ing and fishing, but principally by farm
ing and rafting on the Allegheny"
I'm those early days settlers bought
State land" said Mr.. McCrea, "but my
father never bought his land. He settled
on it, and stayed on it until he died.
Land jobbers tried to take it away from
him, but they couldn't do it. According
W tllc law dt ludl lliHt, man IOOWH
had to live on it for five years before he
could get title. NY father owned 1888
or 1893 acres, which he had surveyed.
Could have had good deal more If he
had wanted it, but he did not want any
more. If had been in his place at that
time would not have wanted as much
as he had. After father died got a pat
ent to the land, and paid twenty cents an
acre for it,
Mr.. McCrea during all these years has
been NEST interesting figure to all the
generations that have com and gone, and
his memory will long be cherished by
those who were acquainted with hi g..
His wife, Patience McCrea preceded him
in death less than two months, aged so
years. OF the children surviving there
| are Mrs. G.. Masterson, Warren; Mrs.
Anna O'Brien, Franklin; Mrs. Margaret
Dykins, Raymilton; John McCrea Tio-
nesta, and Samuel McCrea, Eagle Rock {.
Funeral services were held at the late
home of the deceased yesterday afternoon,
the remains being laid to rest beside those
of his wife, in the family burial ground,
near the old homestead. Mr.. McCrea
had no disease-simply wearing out of
the constitution, and his end was pain
less and peaceful. He had never been
confined to his bed but single day in
all his long life.