Village of Coryville

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View Coryville from hill toward Farmers Valley

View Coryville from hill toward Larabee

View Interactive Coryville Painting by Ella Mae Peters

See View in 2004
See more on Asa Cory
Read article on Judith Celia Day's Death
Read the Good 'Ol Days from Frank Shick

Farmers Valley & Coryville

Farmers Valley, Coryville and Frisbee may be called synonymous terms.  They all form a part of the old settlement of Farmers Valley, of which so much is written in the general history as well as in this chapter.  In 1812 Francis King surveyed the fifty-acre tracts donated by John Keating Matthias Otto, Robert Gilbert, Jonathan Moore, Zachariah, Thomas and William Ashley.

The old post-office of Farmers Valley dates back to early in the "thirties," when Timothy R. Robbins was master.  Thomas Goodwin, Jackson Otto and F. C. Olds have filled the office.  The post-office of Coryville was established in 1872 with Asa H. Cory, masters, who has been continued in office since.

The Union Church of Farmers Valley was built early in the "fifties" through the exertions of A. J. Otto and Arnold Southwick.  Dan Lennox was the
carpenter and builder.  It has been open to all denominations, but the United Brethren may be said to be the principal worshipers.

The United Brethen Church at Coryville, or Frisbee, was built in 1878-79 on land donated by A. H. Cory.  The building cost over $2,000.

The United Brethen Society of Farmers Valley was founded October 19,  1867, with William S. Moore, T. R. Robbins, the Southwicks and John
Holmes the elder, as organizers.

The E. A. U. lodge of Farmers Valley was organized in February, 1886, with A. R. Tubbs, Mrs. Otto, J. H. McQuade, Mrs. Tubbs, Mrs. Ellen Otto. J. L.
Bean, A. Tyler, F. C. Olds and Dr. R. J. Sharp, officials.

The tide water pump station was established near A. H. Cory's house, but owing to the absence of gas the pumping works were moved to Rixford. On
June 19, 1887, a 25,000-barrel tank was burned, 1,000 teams bringing people to witness the fire.  The remaining tanks were moved to Ohio in 1888.

Lucius Rogers built the first steam saw, shingle and planing mill in Nunundah Creek valley in 1885.  Prior to that time saw-mills run by steam and
water-power were common along the banks of this stream, and a few are found today using up the remnant of pine and hemlock of the valley and hills.

 

Mckean County Interests Defeat Powerful Standard Oil Monopoly- Coryville Makes History

(from Timeless Home book of Smethport)

Standard Oil Company, the tool of oil mogul John D. Rockefeller, had a monopoly for transporting oil over its extensive rail lines. To bypass his monopoly, the Tidewater Pipe Company was formed in 1878.

The Tidewater Pipe Company changed the method in which oil was delivered. Oil previously was pumped in three-inch diameter pipes over relatively short distances and across level terrian. Tidewater, however, was the first to build over mountainous terrain. Working secretly, Tidewater craftily bought right-of-ways to cut a 109 mile pipeline swath to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Six-inch pipe was laid on the ground surface in the dead of winter. As soon as the summer sun hit the exposed black pipe, it buckled and expanded but remarkably, the oil line never broke. Crews later buried the pipe under ground to prevent any further problems due to exposure of the pipe to the elements. The construction of the pipeline ranks as one of the all-time great achievements in the annals of oil exploration.

On May 28 1879, the 80-horsepower pumps located in Coryville sent an oil flow of 250 barrels an hour across the mountains and ultimately into Williamsport on June 4th. A week later the Reading Railroad was formed, and oil deliveries by rail became common to the New York City area markets. The Tidewater Pipe Company sucessfully destroyed the Standard Oil Company's monopoly on oil transportation.

Locally, the oil boom prompted the large tank farm in Coleville, and the Quaker State refinery in Farmers Valley. Probably the single largest industrial employer in the Smethport area, the refinery has since become Honeywell, and specializes in the extraction of wax from petroleum.

The oil fields produced jobs for drillers, roustabouts, teamsters, pumpers, contractors and laborers. Supporting indutries like Bovaird and Seyfang, and Dresssers in Bradford, thrived as well.

Read Another Coryville Pipeline Article

Captain Asa Howe Cory FOUNDER OF CORYVILLE, NEWSPAPER EDITOR & PUBLISHER (from Timeless Home book of Smethport) Like Thomas Kane, in 1861 Asa Cory organized a regiment for the Civil War, Co. H, Fifty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Unfortunately he was forced to return to McKean county during 1862 following a severe case of frostbite. He served as the postmaster of Coryville, Pennsylvania, a small settlement in Mckean County, which still bears his name. Asa Cory was ealier the editor and publisher of the Beacon and McKean County Journal. In 1839 he sold the press to William S. Oviatt. .

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Death of Mrs. Judith Celia Day McKean County Miner January 30, 1908 Died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. B. F. Cory, Coryville, Pa., Mrs. Judith Celia Day, Friday afternoon, January 24th, shortly after three o'clock. Mrs. Day had been failing in health for several months, and for about two weeks before had been confined to her bed. During this illness, she was unconscious a greater part of the time and did not realize all the suffering she passed through. The deceased was the daughter of Hon. Joseph and Mary (Brown) Otto, and was born in Farmers Valley, on what is now known as the Martin farm, February 26, 1820. She was married to Augustus Day in 1845. They moved to Union, Broome Co., N. Y., where they lived for several years and then returned to Farmers Valley, and moved on to a farm on Cole Creek. Afterwards purchased the farm in Farmers Valley, which Mrs. Day still owned at the time of her death, and where she had since made her home. Mr. Day died March 25, 1887. Hon. And Mrs. Joseph Otto were among the first settlers in this part of the country, having come here from Mifflin county, Pa., in 1809. Mr. Otto built the first farm house, taught the first school and held the first office in this county. He was at one time county treasurer and made several trips to Philadelphia on horseback to transact business, also held the office of Associate Judge for sixteen consecutive years. Mrs. Day is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mary Ann Curtis and Miss Ellen Otto, also an only son, Dr. D. B. Day, Ridgway, Pa., and four daughters, Mrs. B. F. Cory, Coryville, Pa., Mrs. Frank L. Souer, Jamestwon, N. Y., Mrs. J. L. Oviatt, East Smethport, Pa., and Mrs. Jane D. Young, Smethport, Pa.. In the death of this estimable lady, the community loses one of the oldest citizens, one who will be mourned by all who knew her. She was of a sweet, lovable disposition, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need and always doing good. The funeral services were held from the United Brethren church at Farmers Valley, of which she was a member, at 2 o'clock Sunday p.m., after a prayer at he residence of B. F. Cory in Coryville. The interment was in the Otto cemetery in Farmers Valley.

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