Steven Marsh

Crosby PA....Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Marsh, well known and long time residents of Crosby, celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary at a surprise picnic Sunday afternoon in Galco Park. The celebration also marked the 83rd anniversary of Mr. Marsh's birth.

close to 100 of the aged couple's freinds and neighbors attended the celebration. All of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are living and were present at the picnic.

Among the octogenerians who were present at the picnic were: Stephen March 83, Fred B. Grantier, 82, and Frank Grinolds, 81. The youest guest present was Ruth Stadelman of Olean, great-granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh.

Games were played and entertainment was furnished by Mrs. Ira Jarrett and Winifred Jarrett of Bradford and the Raszman brothers of crosby.

Those present included Mr. and Mrs. Milton Marsh, son Kenneth and daughters Evelyn, Mavis and Eleanore of Olean; Mr. and Mrs. Norman L. Marsh and son Ver, of Crosby; William Marsh of Bolivar, Mr and Mrs. Milford Marsh of Straights.

Mr. and Mrs. Anna Grinnolds and sons, Herbert, Melvin, Marvin and Donald of Crosby; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Smith of Olean, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Grinnolds and children, Lawrence and Arlene of Friendship; Cecil Grinnolds and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Grinnold of Crosby, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Grinnold of Port Allegany,

Mr. and Mrs. William Culver of Port Allegany, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Britton and children, Daisybelle and Ronnie of Wrights, Ira Kay and Russell Hayner of Wrights, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Stranbert of colegrove, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Jarret and daughter Winifred of bradford, Miss Dorothy Bish of Bradford, Mr. and Mrs. L. Stadleman adn daughter Ruth of Olean. Mr and Mrs. Herman Krueger of Crosby, Mr. and Mrs. M. Erhart of Smethport, Junior Metzgar of Smethport, Mr. and Mrs. J L. Raszman, sons Frederick Herbert, Kenneth, Arthur and Paul and daughter, Margaret of Crosby, Fred B. Grantier of Crosby, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Baker, James Baker and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reese of Farmers Valley, Mr and Mrs. Ervil Wilcox and Mr and Mrs. Pete Peterson and daughter June of Mt. Jewell, Also Mr. and Mrs. William Rasey and Mr. and Mrs. William Rasey, Jr., of Port Allegany, Mr. and Mrs. William Dodge of Colegrove, Miss Lucy Campbell of Betula and Mrs. Fred Howard of Straights and Elmer Wilcox and son, Clarice of Crosby.

Colegrove to Crosby Area.

There were passenger trains on the Penn. R.R. as well as freight,. so the people could ride from Colegrove and Crosby to Smethport and Olean in the morning and return in the late afternoon. It was the most used means of transportation in the first 25 or 30 years of the century before the advent of paved roads.

The oil pump station at Colegrove employed over 30 men and the countryside was dotted with huge oil tanks. In spite of earth embankments to protect from spillage, sometimes these tanks caught fire and the smoke and flames could be seen for miles around.

The Penna. R.R. had stations at both ends Crosby and Colegrove, they operated until World War II, soon after that the stations were torn down and the rails removed.

About 1906 or 1907, telephones were in operation throughout the Township but the lines were locally owned. It was not until 1938 that they were all connected with the Bell Telephone Co. of Pennsylvania.

Bert Chandler was an early resident, Charles Benson was an employee of the Heinemann Estate.

The Crosby Chemical Co., the principal stockholder being N.W. Heinemann, provided employment for male residents of Crosby. Many were immigrants from Sweden, - Bensons, Hendricksons, Andersons. Also many came from Central Europe, the Faes Family, Pettaneti and Cappilletti families.

Christian Hollow: This was a good farming area.

Fred Smith farmed the last place at the foot of the hill on the road leading to Comes Creek. His father was John Smith, his only child married Fred Larson, the Larson family still lives on the farm.

Next to the west was the John Kelly farm, the family name died out, the farm now owned by R.R. King.

Next was the Timothy Dunbar Family who sold to Jack Mulvihill in 1912. The place is still occupied by Mulvihills but has not been operated as a farm since about 1930.

Next was the Allen family, all members now dead, buildings torn down and the land owned by the Mulvihills.

Next was the Fred Granteer farm. His only cuild married John Razman who worked for the Penn R.R. for many years. They had a large family and kept the farm prosperous until about 19060. John Razman still lives on the farm and keeps the buildings in good repair leases the land for pasture. Two of his sons live nearby in houses they built when they were married.

Next is the Elmer Wilcox farm which was a prosperous dairy and sheep farm until about 1940. It is stilll owned by the family but occupied only for vacations, many members of the family deceased.

Next is what was the Stephan Marsh homestead. He was the brother of William Marsh who lived in the stone house on the main road just north of Crosby. Stephen and William were the two sons of Robert Marsh and Louisa Heinemann, the sister of Christopher Heinemann. The Stephen Marsh home is now owned by Joseph Rossi, the stoune house is owned and occupied by William's granddaughter, Connie Alcox Corbett, deceased 1980.

Next is the Gallup residence built in the early part of the century by N.W. Heinemann for his daughter Theresa after her marriage to Will Henry Gallup.

The large white house now occupied by Herbert Pettenati was built for N.W. Heinemann by his nephew John Swort as a home for the latter's mother and sisters. They never lived in it, however, as Mrs. Swort died, Esther Swort married Alfred Stratton and Theresa Swort made her home with her cousin Theresa Gallup and John married Edna Anderson of Colegrove. This house was first occupied by Wm. Cleveland where their son was born after which they moved to Smethport, about 1916.