To Kathy Cook cook_kb@compuserve.com and other Blystone researchers in Crawford County. Here is the info I found on this surname in the "History of Crawford County, PA, 1885." On page 677, in the history of Venango Township: "Isaac, Henry and Christian BLYSTONE were brothers. They came about 1800 from Lebanon County, and settled on French Creek, about two miles north of Venango Borough. Henry returned to the East, but his brothers remained life-long residents of the township. "Henry Bole in early times operated a distillery, which he obtained through an exchange of real estate from Christian BLYSTONE. A still was then regarded as a valuable property, and Mr. Bole paid a good round price for it." On page 678 in the same section: "Skelton M.E. Church, located in the central part of the township, was built in 1843, at a cost of $600. The same year a class of twenty- five members was organized by Revs. Scofield and Bear. William Scott, Jacob Wood and Jacob and Christian BLYSTONE were early leading members. Services were held for about fifteen years, and in consequence of the removal of many members and the transfer of the membership of others to surrounding classes, the building was sold to a cemetery association with the reservation that any religious denomination may hold services in it. Recently during the pastorate of Rev. J.H. Vance, of Cambridge Circuit, the class was reorganized, and it has since been maintained. The membership is small." On pages 678 and 679 of the same section: "Venango was incorporated in the spring of 1852. Its first officers were Isaac Peiffer, Burgess; Jacob Kepler, John Kleckner, Anthony W. Mumford and Charles P. Penoyer, Council; John Peiffer, Treasurer; John W. Coulter, Collector; George Lasher, High Constable. Isaac Peiffer was re-elected Burgess in 1853, and his successors have been: Joseph BLYSTONE, 1854; George Kleckner, 1855-56; S.W. Kepler, 1857; John Bender, 1858; H.J. Logan, 1859; William L. Apple, 1860; William P. Floyd, 1861; A.W. Mumford, 1862; Isaac F. Clark, 1863; William P. Floyd, 1864; W.D. Dibble, 1865-66; J.C. Giddings, 1867; Adam L. Braden, 1868; J.C. Giddings, 1869; A.L. Braden, 1870; Joseph BLYSTONE, 1871; George C. Straw, 1872; C. Bender, 1873; Samuel Clark, 1874; J.J. Whipple, 1875; J.C. Harris, 1876; George C. Straw, 1877; H.J. Brookhouser, 1878; Joseph BLYSTONE, 1879; Robert Clark, 1880; W.I. BLYSTONE, 1881-82; Jonathan Sherred, 1883" On page 702, in the history of Woodcock Township: "The Methodist Episcopal class was organized in 1839 or shortly before. Its earliest members included: John McGill and wife, Andrew Ryan and wife, Harvey Sackett and wife, Jacob Brookhouser and wife, Joseph Housel, John Flaugh and wife, and Isaac BLYSTONE. Many of these members had formerly belong to Seavy Class, which met on the opposite side of French Creek. For several years Saegertown society met in the Lutheran Church. In 1841 a church was built on the northwest corner of Commercial and North Streets, and occupied until 1875, when the present edifice, 40x60, was erected on the same lot at a cost of about $6,000." More to follow on BLYSTONE! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net