Editing Oil City, Pennsylvania (section)

===Cornplanter Tract and Oil Creek Furnace===
In 1796, the state of Pennsylvania gave [[Cornplanter]],{{sfn|Hauptman|2014|page=14}} chief of the Wolf Band of the [[Seneca nation]], {{convert|1500|acre|km2}} of land along the west bank of the Allegheny River in [[Warren County, Pennsylvania]],{{sfn|Hauptman|2014|page=14}} as well as a small tract on both sides of the mouth of Oil Creek,{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=432}} in compensation for his services during the [[American Revolutionary War]].{{sfn|Hauptman|2014|page=14}} The first white settler in what became Oil City was an unknown individual who cleared and farmed about {{convert|400|acre|km2}} on the west side of Oil Creek upstream from Cornplanter's land.{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=433}} Francis Halyday{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=433}} (or Holliday) purchased this land in 1803, and settled there with his family.{{sfn|Eaton|1876|page=40}} The first white child known to be born in what became Oil City was James Halyday, born January 13, 1809.{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=433}} Three or four other families soon settled on the east side of the creek above the "Cornplanter Tract".{{sfn|Eaton|1876|page=41}}

Cornplanter sold the eastern half of his tract to two white settlers, William Connely and William Kinnear, in May 1818. Connely sold his quarter of the original tract back to Cornplanter in October 1818, but the land was seized by the county for nonpayment of taxes and sold at auction in November 1819 to Alexander McCalmont. McCalmont sold his land to Mathias Stockberger in the spring of 1824.{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=433}}

On June 25, 1824, Kinnear, Stockerberger, and settler Richard Noyes formed William Kinnear & Co., a company which swiftly erected an [[iron]] [[bloomery]], [[foundry]], [[gristmill]], and several warehouses.{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=433}} A [[mill race]] provided water power for the furnace.{{sfn|Eaton|1876|page=41}} Homes were built for workers, and a [[steamboat]] landing constructed on the Allegheny River. This settlement was called '''Oil Creek Furnace'''.{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=433}} Settler James Young opened the first [[general store]] in town, and operated it in the 1850s.{{sfn|Bell|1890|page=434}}

The original incorporators were bought out by brothers William and Frederick Crary in January 1825. The company was purchased in February 1835 by William Bell, who changed the corporate name to W. Bell & Son. He and his son, Samuel, operated the furnace until 1849, employing about 40 men. The poor quality of iron ore in the area made their operations unprofitable and the furnace closed in 1849. The settlement was soon deserted, except for two families (the Bannons and the Halydays).{{sfn|Bell|1890|pages=433-434}}