The signatures shown on this page are from various items in our collection. Local people and prominent other Pennsylvanians are included. The information given about each individual, will be edited on an on-going basis, to allow for additional information found, or to make any corrections. The information about each individual listed, is only intended to show why they were included.
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Joel N. Angier – 1866 deed with attached notary sheet
Mr. Angier was both a Titusville Notary Public and an oil dealer, who had offices at the corner of Main and Drake Streets, Titusville, Pa.
George Armstrong – 1800 Crawford County, Pa. court document
In 1800, George Armstrong was among the first group of people admitted to The Bar, and allowed to practice law in the new Crawford County Court at Meadville, Pa. He was also a member of the Pittsburgh Bar and rode circuit in these early days.
Samuel P. Bates – 1860 Crawford County, Pa. teachers’ county certificate
He was Superintendent of Crawford County Schools from 1857 to 1860. In 1860 he was appointed Deputy State Superintendent of schools, and in 1864 he became Pennsylvania State Historian. He is also a scholar and well-known author of historical books, (many Civil War era). He wrote History of Crawford County, published in 1899. He died 7/14/1902 and is buried in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville, Pa.
James L. Beatty – 1870 oath sheet
Crawford County Comissioner from Oct. 1868 to Oct. 1871.
D.A. Bennett – 1870 oath sheet
Crawford County Comissioner from Oct. 1869 to Oct. 1872.
Moses Bishop 1880 Crawford County deed
Pine township, Crawford County, Pa. Justice of the Peace.
James Bramhall 1879 Crawford County deed
Rome township, Crawford County, Pa, Justice of the Peace.
H.B. Brooks – 1870 oath sheet
Crawford County Prothonatary from Dec. 1869 to Nov. 1872.
John Brooks – 1816 Crawford County, Pa. court document
John Brooks was one of the earliest settlers of Crawford County. Born in Ireland May 12, 1765 and arriving in the territory that would become Crawford County in 1794. He was a wheelwright, a merchant, a Major in the War of 1812, the first Justice of the Peace in the newly formed Crawford County and appointed by Gov. Simon Snyder to Associate Judge of Crawford County in 1817, which he served for 14 years until his death, June 3, 1831.
J.C. Calhoun – 1868 sight draft
He was an auditor for the Atlantic and Great Western Railway Company.
Lewis K. Chapman – 1865 Crawford County deed
Justice of the Peace and Notary Public in Springboro, Pa. for many years. Born October 31, 1814.
James Cochran – 1835 letter
State Representative three times from 1818 to 1823 Crawford County Prothonotary Nov. 1833 to Dec. 1838, Crawford County Clerk, Register and Recorder various times from 1824 to 1838.
John C. Cotton – 1873 stock certificate
President of Enterprise Building and Loan Association of Meadville, Crawford Co., Pa., and prominent Meadville physician.
William H. Crawford – 1911 Allegheny College stationary letter
He was president of Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa. from 1893 to 1920.
Charles E. Decker – 1911 letter on Allegheny College Department of Biology and Geology stationary.
Became Acting Professor of Biology and Geology at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa. in 1910.
John Dick – 1838 letter
He became one of Meadville’s most prominent historical figures. From business to banking, holding public offices, serving in Congress and as a Judge, plus his military contributions, he is a truly special individual.
Hildegarde Dolson – autographed book – copyright 1959
Dolson’s book, The Great Oildorado – The gaudy and turbulent years of the first oil rush: Pennsylvania, 1859-1880 is a story of the colorful aspects of that period of Pennsylvania’s oil history. Non-fiction and full of historical facts, but written in a style to be very entertaining.
Joshua Douglass – 1895 letterhead (with envelope)
Meadville, Pa. attorney-at-law. His office was at 353 Center Street and he resided at 662 Highland Avenue, Meadville, Pa.
A.L. Dunbar – 1870 railway pass
Division Superintendent at Meadville, Pa. for the Atlantic and Great Western Railway.
J.F. Flagg – 1867 letterhead
Paymaster for the Atlantic and Great Western Railway.
Theodore L. Flood – 1890 post card (plus one more)
Rev. Flood was born February 20, 1842. He was editor and publisher of The Chautauquan magazine. Flood and Vincent – The Chautauqua Century Press, Meadville, Pa. printed many books for the Chautauquan movement, including The Chautauquan Literary and Scientific Circle. (See our Local Books, Pamphlets, etc. Page for a listing of these books that we have.) In December 1883, he purchased the Meadville Daily and Weekly Republican, the leading secular and political journals of Crawford County. He died June 26, 1915 and was buried in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville, Pa.
George W. Gardner – 1899 invoice
President and General Manager of Saegertown Mineral Springs Company – Hotel and Sanitarium.
W.H. Gaskill – 1889 Crawford County election ledger
Crawford County, Pa. court clerk
James Graham – 1883 Crawford County election ledger
Crawford County, Pa. court clerk.
N.B. Hoffard 1879 Crawford County deed
Crawford County Register and Recorder.
John W. Howe 1855 letter
Born 1801 in District of Main, Mass. – died 1873 in Rochester, New York and buried in Glendale Cemetery, Meadville, Pa. He lived in various places, including Meadville, where he practiced law. In April 1861, at the start of the Civil War, he was part of a committee in Meadville, to raise money to equip soldiers and aid their families. He was elected twice to represent Crawford, Mercer and Venango Counties in the U.S. House of Representatives. The first time, in the 31st Congress, he belonged to the Free Soil Party, his second term in the 32nd Congress, he was a Whig party member.
Frederick Huidekoper – 1876 Letterhead.
He lived from 1817-1892, and was known as Reverend and Professor Huidekoper. In 1844, he aided in the starting of the Meadville Theological School, and he taught there for many years. He also has three published works. The top left of the letterhead reads “DICTATED TO AN AMENUENSIS” (which is an assistant who takes dictation). That is why the body of the letter, and the signature, are so different.
Henry C. Johnson – 1864 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Pay and Mileage voucher, signed by the Speaker of the House, Henry C. Johnson
Born: March 29, 1826, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa. In 1844 he became editor and publisher of The Crawford County Democratic Republican newspaper (for one year). He married the former Mary Magill on January 14, 1845. He passed the bar, practiced law in Crawford County and was elected District Attorney of Crawford County, Pa. from October 1856 to October 1859. Following the firing on Fort Sumpter, President Lincoln asked for volunteers. By the end of April 1861, Captain Henry C. Johnson briefly led a Meadville Volunteers Company of 95 men. $3,000 was raised to outfit the company and assist their families. This command left Meadville for Pittsburgh, May 7, 1861. He was elected State Representative in 1863 and again in 1864 (2 terms). He was elected the 84th Speaker of the House in 1864. Johnson was re-elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1870 session. On April 7, 1874, President Grant appointed Johnson Commissioner of Customs. He received 2 subsequent reappointments from President Rutherford B. Hayes and President Chester A. Arthur, keeping the position from 1874-1885. Died: June 3, 1892, Meadville, Crawford County, Pa.: Buried in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville, Pa.
C.C. Johnston – 1932 letterhead
Vice President of the Crawford County Trust Company, Meadville, Pa.
David S. Keep – 1868 Meadville, Pa. city ordnance
Crawford County recorder from Dec. 1866 to Nov. 1869.
William MacArthur – 1815 Crawford County court document
Was Crawford County Prothonotary 1809-1821 and held other county offices, such as clerk, register, and recorder. He was also county treasurer from Oct. 1800 to July 1802.
Leon C. Magaw – 1885 company letterhead
Successful Meadville businessman. This example shows a very distinct style, something missing from today’s texts.
Ernest D. Mallinee – 1920 U.S. Post Office check
Prominent Townville, Pa. resident, who was also Townville’s Postmaster.
C.R. Marsh 1864 letter
C.R. Marsh was a Meadville Attorney At Law, with his office at 7 Public Square and his home at 1 Baldwin Street. He was Crawford County District Attorney from October 1862 to October 1865.
John H. Mattocks 1862 Borough of Meadville, Pa. scrip note
John H. Mattocks was Sherriff of Crawford County from Oct. 1842 to Oct. 1845. He was Burgess of Meadville, Pa. 1857-58 and 1862. In 1861 he was appointed president of the group of local people who raised money to equip the company of Crawford County Civil War volunteers.
John O. McClintock – 1870s letterhead
We have a letterhead, circa. 1870s, signed by Mr McClintock (shown above) from McClintock & Co., manufacturer of The Randell Improved Grain Separator and Grader. He practiced law in Meadville, Pa. In 1880, he became law partners with J.B. Brawley (Brawley & McClintock). Later, he became a Notary and law partner with George W. Haskins.
Henry McCoy – 1869 Meadville, City Ordnance document
Clerk of Meadville city council.
Leon McNierney – autographed book – copyright 1958
Mr. McNierney’s book, Titusville 1859 – A Novel About the Birth of the Oil Industry, is a book of fiction, using the 1859 Titusville, Pa. area, as historical background.
P.P. Moyer – 1894 Crawford County election ledger
Crawford County, Pa. court clerk
J.F. Odell – 1875 railroad pass
Superintendent of Atlantic and Great Western Railroad – first division at Meadville, Pa.
B.B. Pickett – 1911 letter on law office stationary
Meadville Attorney-At-Law with office in the Reynolds Block.
Samuel Post
Born 1821. Prominent local merchant and Justice of the Peace in Centreville, Pa. Elected Burgess of Centreville in 1872.
D.S. Richmond – 1896 Republican County Committee letterhead
Chairman of the Republican County Committee, headquarters at the Commercial Hotel, Meadville, Pa. Educated at Allegheny College; prominent businessman in the ice business (manager of the Conneaut Lake Ice Company) and in the lumber business (Richmond & Delamater); was Meadville City Auditor and a member of the City Council.
Thomas Roddy – 1903 letterhead
Meadville, Pa. attorney at law.
William S. Rose – 1884 Crawford County, Pa. (immigration) citizenship paper
Crawford County Prothonotary Jan. 1879 to Dec. 1884 and Meadville Fire Department Chief 1884.
Jonathan Saeger – 1841 letter
He was born in 1811. In 1824, he moved to what is the present site of Saegertown. His father, Daniel Saeger, purchased the Alden Mill property and several hundred acres. He then laid out the borough which was named after him. At age 16, Jonathan entered employment at his father’s grist-mill and learned the business. After his father’s death, he became partners with his brother Edward in the milling and dry goods business. After his retirement, he purchased the Tarr farm in Venango Township, Crawford County. He was involved for many years with the Lutheran Church.
M.J. Sayre – 1886 summon slip
Constable of Richmond Township, Crawford County, Pa.
Joseph N. Scott – 1886 summon slip
Justice of the Peace of Richmond Township, Crawford County, Pa.
Henry Shafer – 1870 oath sheet
Crawford County Comissioner from Oct. 1870 to Oct. 1873. He was also a hotel keeper – Crawford House circa. 1870-80 (located near the entrance to the fair grounds).
James Sheakley – autograph card 1895
Born in Mercer County, Pa. in 1829. Appointed a United States Commissioner for District of Alaska, a position equivalent to U. S. Circuit judge, on June 23, 1887. 1888 admitted to the Alaskan Bar. Governor of the District of Alaska 1893-1897. Served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1875-1877 for the Pennsylvania’s 26th District. He came back to Greenville, Pa., became very active in the oil boom and was elected president of the infamous Pithole’s Forty Thieves.
Lloyd Smith – 1945 stock certificate
President of Meadville Co-Operative Association.
Gambetta F. Staff – 1919 stock certificate
President of The Crawford Oil and Gas Company, and an osteopathic physician at Meadville, Pa.
Reuben E. Stainbrook – autographed book – copyright 1940
Mr. Stainbrook’s book, Flaming River, is a work of fiction, that has an historical background using the Titusville, Pa. oil fire of 1880, and the fire and flood of 1893.
Samuel Stern – 1899 business invoice
Prominent Meadville, Pa. Whiskies, Wines, & Cigars dealer, which included Sam Stern’s Pure Canadian Malt Rye Whiskey, Stern’s California Wines, and Meadville, Pa. Distilling Co. Pure Rye Whiskey.
H. A. Trexler – 1911 letter
In 1910 he became Acting Professor of History and Economics at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa.
Col. Lewis Walker – 1902 letterhead with its envelope
Founder of Talon. Born 1855, died 1938 age 82. In 1877, he graduated Allegheny College and married Adelaide Delamater. Prominant Meadville attorney who was admitted to the Crawfoord County bar in 1884. He earned the rank of Colonel through his long-time membership in the National Guard.
Thomas Warnock – 1879 sight draft
He was an auditor of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad.
Curtis L. Webb – 1908 picture post card
Prominent Meadville attorney who used this real picture post card to ask for help to be elected the next District Attorney.
C.W. Winslow – 1872 sight draft
He was an auditor of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad Company.
John H. Work – 1844 draft endorsement (for the school year 1845)
Treasurer of Vernon Common School District, Crawford County, Pa. He was also a Crawford County Judge from 1831 to March 1848.
Group picture of signatures on scrip and banknotes.
This picture shows a group of scrip and banknotes from an era, where they were individually hand signed. Scrip notes would typically be signed by the owner, president, secretary, or treasurer. The banknotes would be signed by the bank’s Cashier and President. On earlier notes sometimes the dates and serial numbers, would also be filled in by hand. These notes and many other related items can be seen on our Banknotes, Checks, Scrip, and more Page.
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