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| Birth: | 18 Jun 1831 in Gerry, Chautauqua, NY |
| Death: | 22 Apr 1904 in Titusville, Crawford, PA |
| Sex: | M |
| Father: | William C Newton b. 19 Jul 1781 in Brattleboro, Windham, Vt |
| Mother: | Rachel Reynolds |
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| Burial: 25 Apr 1904 Titusville, Crawford, PA., Woodlawn Cem. |
| Misc.: A.P.Cooley Lot, Sec. H, Lot 12, Row 1, Line 4 in cem. |
| Occupation: 1870 Oil Producer |
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| Deborah Hull Shaw (Wife) b. 22 Feb 1834 in Hoosic, Rensselaer, NY
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| Children: | |
 Sarah Ann Newton b. 26 Feb 1852 in Gerry, Chautauqua, NY
- Dency A Newton b. 10 Oct 1854 in Newtontown, Crawford, PA
- Hiram Dennis Newton b. 14 May 1855 in Gerry, Chautauqua, NY
- Clara Mahala Newton b. 13 Jun 1863 in Titusville, Crawford, PA
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Individual:
Buried Woodlawn Cem., Titusville PA.
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! Also have information that William was born 19 Jul 1829, Gerry,Chautauqua
Co.,NY., also information he was born in LeRoy, Genesee CO. NY.
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! Also 1900 Crawford Co. PA census, William states he is divorced and is living
alone. His wife states she is married and is living with son-in-law, William is
buried in same cemetery as wife but not with family.
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! Copy of death certificate ,recorded 29 June 1904. Certified 1979.
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! Copy of obit, Titusville PA Herald, dated Sat. 23 Apr. 1904.
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! Copy of funeral notice, Titusville PA Herald, dated Tue.,26 Apr. 1904.
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! Copy of land records, showing family relations.
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! Copies of bible records. States birth as 18 June, 1831.
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! Information on famous Newton gas well, drilled by William F. Newton.
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! Have research done by Alice Morrison showing place of residence in
Titusville, PA.
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! Have article from Titusville PA Herald, listing William F. Newton as a member
of the Titusville PA., Oil Exchange.
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! Letter from Gilman COOLEY (deceased), state s his info shows William F. Newton
being born in Gerry, NY, 19 Jul. 1829.
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! Newton information from Genealogy and Family History of Western NY, VOL. 1, by
Cutter, 1912.
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! Aunt Mary (Newton) Ruttan, states that the family always said that Wm F.
Newton's family was authorized a coat of arms, his fathers family coming from
England.
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! In William's later years he gathered herbs and sold patent medicine in
Titusville PA, even after he died people came to the door looking for his
medicine. This according to oral family history.
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! Copy of bible record states William born,18 June, 1831, Died: Fri. 22 Apr.,
1904.
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! See and Geological Survey of PA, 1876-7. Oil Well Records and Levels. Famous
Newton gas well.
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! See The Oil Well Driller, page 833. Newton Gas Well Near Titusville, PA.
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! See card file Fenton Hist. Soc. 67 Washington St., Jamestown,NY 14701.
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! Have copies of research done by Dale Davidson, Chautauqua CO NY.
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! Copy of page 98 from Titusville PA, 1904 City Directory. Shows NEWTON,
Deborah, Hiram D., and William F.
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! See days of early oil, Titusville PA Herald, 10 Sep., 1983. The Newton gas
well, Titusville, 1872.
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! See pictures and articles from the Titusville PA Herald, 15 Dec., 1988.
Newtontown and Newtontown bridge.
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! Have picture of Deborah Hull (Shaw) Newton, wife of William F.
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! See article about purchase of famous Newton gas well, Titusville PA Herald,
dtd. 19 Jul., 1872.
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! See city map of Titusville, Crawford Co., PA showing residence's of William
F. Newton.
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! See pictures of gas well road, named after the famous Newton gas well.
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! Information taken from a hand written family history. Written 26 Sep., 1878.
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ROSS MILLS SEPT 26 1878
A brief and imperfect biographical sketch of the ancestors of the present Newton family.
Major Wm Newton was born in the town of Brattleborough Windham Co,. VT July 19, 1781 of his ancestors little if anything is known. His Fathers name was Samuel his Mothers name was Anna Winchester, he had two brothers Samuel & Winchester and five sisters, Huldy (Hulda)? who married Garner Salisbury, Anna who married John Hines, Lucy who married Nehiamiah, Sophia married John Hines the former husband of Anna and Fanny who married Daniel Joy. Maj. Wm Newton married for his first wife Betsy Cole by whom he had three children, Edmund C. and Amos B. born in VT and Betsy born in Gerry Chautauqua Co. N NY, he married for his second wife Rachel Reynolds by whom he had two children, Wm F. & Mary Ann. He was married the third time to Sallie Evers, there was no children by this last union. He moved from VT in 1817 and settled in Gerry NY on lot No 41, his mode of conveyance from VT to the then far west was by ox teams of which he had two yoke of oxen and drove to cows, his supply of forage for wintering his stock the first winter in Gerry was two bundles of straw which he brought from Arkwright on his way to Gerry. What would the people of the present day think were they to brave the perils and privations of a pioneer life in the wilderness with two bundles of straw to keep six head of cattle on during a long and lonesome winter. It was not then as it is now. Then they had only what nature provided the tallest kind of timothy consisting of the tallest of Elm and Basswood trees which had to be cut with the ax ( not with the mowing machine) from day to day from which the cattle would nip the tender twigs thereby getting their daily food and sustaining life and vigor. But now how different the then wilderness is now mostly cleared and improved and dotted with farms and farm houses and teaming with busy life our Barnes and grainers filed to overflowing, meadows and fields covered with in numerable stocks and evidence of our great abundance and prosperity; a great contrast from what the pioneers found here sixty years ago and over. He lived in Gerry, continuously on the farm of his selection until 1848 when he moved to Troy J.P., Crawford Co. Pa. where he was engaged quite extensively with his sons in lumbering and farming interest. He died in Gerry on the old homestead Jan 27, 1856 surrounded by family and friends, Thus passed away one of the early and hardy pioneers, a man of sterling qualities and character esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends. He was noted for his industry frugality and integrity. He was not aspirant popular notoriety or official position; yet he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his subordinates the position of_____________.
NOTE: here the History ends and have been unable to locate final pages as of April 1999.
This History was found in an old trunk taken from the attic of a home in Hyde town, Crawford, CO. PA., owned before auction by the Maurice E. and Irma Lee (Eddy) Stewart family.
I have tried to reproduce this history as close as possible.
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OBIT
TITUSVILLE PA HERALD
APRIL 1904
PIONEER OIL MAN DEAD
W.F. NEWTON PASSED AWAY THIS AFTERNOON.
William F. Newton, for many years a respected and well known resident of Titusville and one of the pioneer oilmen of this section, died at 2:15 0'clock this afternoon, at the home of his son, Hiram D. Newton , of North Monroe street, where he made his home. Deceased was about 73 years of age and had been failing all winter and his death was due to nerve failure and a general decline incident to old age.
Mr. Newton was the owner of the famous Newton gas well, which was located about five miles northeast of the city and from which Titusville obtained its original supply of natural fuel and illuminating gas. When the well was first struck the gas pressure was an enormous one and its roaring could be heard for a long distance from its site. It was set on fire and burned for a long time before it was concluded to pipe the fluid to this city. A line was finally laid to the city and throughout the principal business and resident portion . Mr. Newton came here in 1859, from Chautauqua county, N.Y., where he was born and immediately became engaged in oil development.
Deceased is survived by his widow and the following children: Hiram Newton, Mrs. T.C.Wilson and Mrs. Anthony P. Cooley of this city and Mrs. M.C.Miller of La Grange, Ill.
No time has yet been fixed for the funeral.
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See land deed, Crawford County, PA. , deed book C-3, page 115.
land to Edmund C. Newton, 1865.
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See black and white photo of the Newton gas well rig at Newton Well, 1872.
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See black and white photo of lumber yard owned by W.F. Newton and Hill, at Church Run, 1867.
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1870 US FEDERAL CENSUS, TITUSVILLE, CRAWFORD, PA
NAME:AGE:OCCUP:BORN:
Newton, William F.40Oil ProducerNY
Deborah36Keeping HouseNY
Sarah A.18@ HomeNY
Dency16@ SchoolNY
Hiram,D.14@ SchoolNY
Clara M. 7@ SchoolPA
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TITUSVILLE PA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MARCH 2005
NEWTON GAS WELL
DOTYVILLE OIL FIELD
By: David Webber
William F. Newton, John B. Wheaton and John S. Tracey, Titusville, PA oil producers and lumbennen, commenced drilling a wildcat well on Captain A. H. Nelson’s Oil Creek Township, Crawford County, PA farm in 1872. Located five miles east of Titusville, the well was drilled with the hope of extending the Church Run oil field.
The Newton - Wheaton - Tracey partnership was the second firm to attempt drilling on Nelson’s farm. An earlier venture ended with a dry hole in October - November, 1871.
Captain A. H. Nelson, owner of the Newton well site, was an early Titusville area lumber manufacturer. He was also one of the officers in a local militia unit raised during the Civil War.
Drilling of the Newton well commenced in early May 1872. The third sand formation, over seven hundred feet down and forty-one feet thick was reached on May 10. Contemporary newspaper accounts stated that the well was “drilled a wet hole and cased with 3 1/4 inch casing. There was only a slight indication of gas, until the water was exhausted only two week ago, when an immense flow of gas issued from the casing, throwing a column of water several hundred feet into the air.”
“It was then divided into seven two - inch jets, one of which sufficed to run the engine, the pressure of the steam gauge indicating seventy - five pounds to the square inch, with all the other air pipes open.”
The Monday, May 20, 1872 Titusville Morning Herald mentioned that the “pressure of gas from the Newton well is so strong that it now runs the engine, and as it issues from the hole makes a roaring noise which can be heard at a great distance.”
July 7, 1872, the gas from the Newton well caught fire. No damage was done to the operating machinery, although the flame was thirty feet high and ten feet wide! Gas pressure was said to have been 380 pounds per square inch, with a flow in excess of 500,000 cubic feet per day.
Captain Newton and his partners sold the gas well to investors headed by Titusville oil refiner Henry Hinckley. The new owner’s began constructing a pipeline to carry the output of “the most powerful and voluminous gas well on record” to Titusville, for lighting and heating purposes. Cost of the pipeline construction project was said to have been $35,000 in 1872 terms.
A second gas well was completed in the Dotyville field on the Thompson and Gilmore lease in September 1872. Thompson and Gilmore’s well was adjacent to the Newton! Hickley pipeline.
Although the hole was deepened with the prospect of finding oil, its owners recognized the possibilities of providing natural gas to Titusville.
Gas from the Newton well was furnished to Titusville through two pipes, “one a three and a quarter inch casing and the other a two inch pipe,” proclaimed the Titusville Morning Herald September 18, 1872. “Gas is now supplied to many of the refineries in the city, also to some of the wells on Church run, and to a few private residences in the city, and all appear to be abundantly supplied with the convenience and simplicity of its application.”
Joseph A. Scott, a Titusville oil dealer, was said to have been the first residential customer to use gas from the Newton well. A newspaper account mentioned there was “another pleased customer of gas on North Perry Street.”
Several regulators were installed throughout town to relieve pressure from the lines. One was said to have been located on South Perry Street, near the present site of Schwab’s Ford dealership.
Industrial customers of the Keystone Gas and Water company, operators of the Newton system, included five oil refineries, the Titusville Manufacturing Company (Titusville Iron Works Company) and the Gibbs, Russell and Sterrett Novelty Iron Works. Other customers included Ballentine’s Industrial Works (a machine shop - brass foundry located on East Spring Street), Brace Brothers Steam Laundry (North Franklin Street) and Granger and Company Wholesale Grocery (present site of Titusville Bargain Store / Big and Tall Shop, North Franidin Street).
Oil producers near the Northern city limits of Titusville used gas from the Newton well for firing their boilers. Six oil wells were said to have been pumped with Newton gas.
Numerous private residence along North Perry Street, in the neighborhood between Monroe and Washington Streets, were heated and lit by Newton gas. George K Anderson had outdoor gas lights at his “elegant grounds” on North Washington Street. The Titusville Commercial Club (their location is unknown today), also lighted their rooms with this fuel.
Temple B’Nai Zion Reform Jewish Synagogue, located on North Franklin Street, was one of Titusville’s first houses of religious worship to be lit and heated by gas from the Dotyville field.
William Newton and John Wheaton, part owners of the Newton well, were also likely users of natural gas for lighting Newton’s residence was located at Monroe and Spruce Streets (present Andrako Hair Styling Salon), while the Wheaton family lived on North Franklin.
Gas lines were located along Perry, Franklin and Pine (East Central Avenue) Streets. It is said that 250 industries, cornmercial and residential customers were served by the Keystone Gas and Water systern, 1873 -874.
Questions have been raised as to the exact amount of gas produced from the Newton well. Some accounts state that gas flow was 500,000 cubic feet per day. Other sources claimed 5,000,000 cubic feet per day production.
Large scale gas production from the Newton well had largely ceased by March 1877. The well remained in production a
few years longer, but was abandoned by the 1880’s.
Customers of the Keystone Gas and Water system switched to manufactured gas for lighting and coal for heating after 1877. The gas transmission line was abandoned, but traces of the route remained visible into the 20th century.
Large volume use of natural gas returned to Titusville in 1885 - 1886 with the discovery of the Speechley field in Pinegrove Township, Venango County. The pipeline built to connect Titusville with this gas pool was one of the predecessors of the present National Fuel Gas, originally part of Standard Oil system.
The Dotyville gas field was later redrilled For Third sand oil production. One well produced salt water for six years, before it cornienced producing eight barrels of crude oil per day.
Oil leases with casing head (natural) gasoline plants were operated by Carnahan and Stewart, later Summerton and Sutton
and Bayless, Bloss and Wege during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Over 2,000 gallons of gasoline was produced daily on these leases during the 1920’s, which was trucked to the Cities Service Oil Refinery at Titusville.
Oil produced at Dotyville was transported to the Cities Service facilities by pipeline. James B. Berry’s Sons once operated a natural gasoline loading terminal along the New York Central Railroad, a short distance from Dotyville. It is likely that these leases sold gasoline to Oil City refineries via this tank car terminal during and shortly after World War I, prior to the introduction of tank trucks.
The “Great Newton Gas Well” deserves a special place in Oil Region history Although not as productive or as well known as other early gas fields, it was one of the earliest to supply large numbers of industrial and commercial users.
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Individuals from other files that are believed to be the same person:
Click the  icon to see a SmartMatch in side-by-side windows.
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