Townville Borough was incorporated in 1867, and its first officers, who were elected October 8 of that year, were as follows: W. R. King, Burgess; Horace C. Rounds, Thomas Shonts, Salmon Phillips, Byron Smith and John Hawthorn, Council; A. F. Titus, Constable; H. C. Birchard, Clerk and Secretary. Mr. King was re elected Burgess in 1868, and his successors have been: C. Delamater, 1869-70; W. R. King, 1871-72; G. R. Hoyt. 1873; C. Delamater, 1874; Thomas Shonts, 1875; John F. Wykofif, 1876-77; John Fetterman, 1878; Charles Stewart, 1879; S. N. Atkins, 1880, H. A. Drake, 1881; B. S. Childs, 1882; T. Radle, 1883; B. S. Childs, 1884. The borough is irregular in outline, and situated in the southwest part of Steuben Township on the south side of Muddy Creek. Its population in 1870 was 280. By an error it was by the census of 1880 accredited with 610 inhabitants. The population is now between 370 and 380, and it was no greater in 1880. Main Street, the principal thoroughfare, extending northwest and southeast, is lined with dwellinghouses for a distance of almost a mile. It is intersected in the southeast part of the village by Fremont Street, and the business of the place clusters near the intersection. Townville contains three dry goods or general stores, two drug and hardware stores, one furniture, one clothing, one tin and two millinery stores, one water saw-mill, two steam saw-mills, one of which does an extensive planing business, one grist-mill, one bowl factory, one cheese factory, one jelly factory, a broom handle factory, a tannery, three large carriage shops, one harness, one blacksmith, one gun and two shoe shops, one hotel, three physicians, one dentist, four churches, three societies, a newspaper and a handsome school building.

The village was founded by Noah Town, who in 1824 emigrated from Granville, N. Y., to the wilderness, in what is now the eastern part of Randolph Township, whence three years later he moved to Meadville, and in 1831 came to what is now Townville. He was by faith a Congregationalist. He cleared a farm and erected the first saw-mill in this locality on Muddy Creek about 1833, transporting a considerable amount of lumber by water to Pittsburgh by way of Oil Creek, whither he teamed it. Mr. Town also kept the first store in the village. He afterward removed to Erie, where he died. Zephaniah Kingsley had in 1822 or 1823 come with his three sons, Zephaniah, Calvin and Ransom, from Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y., and settled on Tract 1370, in the western part of the present village. This region was then densely forested, and it was years before the first road was laid out. Ransom Kingsley built a saw-mill on Muddy Creek about the same time Noah Town constructed one. Mr. Kingsley was also the first Postmaster; the office was called "Kingsley's." Harvey Hull moved in soon after. John Baker erected a third saw-mill on Muddy Creek. The place settled slowly, and in 1849 contained about eight dwellings. Its settlers then included Noah Town, engaged in mercantile business; Joseph and Lyman Town, his sons, engaged in farming; Ransom Kingsley; Harvey Hull, a farmer; Amby Higby, who had a cabinet shop; James Boyles, a carpenter; William Boyles, a shoe-maker; Thomas Boyles, a painter; and F. W. Post, a blacksmith. Dr. Adams, the first resident physician, came in soon after and remained several years. A. Hamlin started and has ever since operated the only tannery, and Lewis Wood about 1850 erected the steam grist-mill. The country around was then largely covered with timber, and various mills and factories of wooden wares have since been operated.

The schoolhouse was erected about 1860 by the Township Directors, the citizens of the village adding the second floor for a public hall. The necessity for greater school accommodations has converted this upper apartment into a schoolroom. A school is also conducted under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, the building for which was commenced in 1878, and is not yet quite completed.

The Townville Weekly News was started in the spring of 1881 by J. L. Rohr, its present editor and publisher. The paper is a live local sheet, and has received the support of the community. In politics it is Independent.

As nearly as can be ascertained the Methodist Class at Townville was organized in 1845. J. A. Pond, Harvey Hull and Gamaliel Phillips were of the original class. Soon after Mr. Langworthy, Dr. William Nason and Dr. Luther Pearse were prominent members. Meetings were held in the school house until about 1849, when a frame church was erected on the northeast side of Main Street. It was occupied until 1877, when the present handsome and commodious structure, 40x60, was erected on the opposite side of the street at a cost of $5,000. The society now numbers about 100 members. It was formerly attached to Saegertown Circuit, but the circuit of Townville was organized in 1862, and it has since been filled by the following ministers: R. Gray, 1862-63; M. Smith, 1864-65; J. Shields, 1866; A. L. Miller, 1867-68; J. W. Blaisdell, 1869-71; J. Eckels, 1872-74; D. W. Wampler, 1875; J. F. Perry, 1876-77; D. S. Steadman, 1878-80; J. S. Albertson, 1881; M. V. Stone, 1882-83. The circuit includes four appointments, Townville, Guy's Mills, Mount Hope, in Randolph Township, and Troy Center.

Troy Baptist Church was organized in the Kingsley Schoolhouse within the present borough limits of Townville, October 28, 1836. Its earliest membership included Zephaniah Kingsley, Samuel B. Gillet, Abraham Winston, Nelson Winston, Daniel Lamb, William Lamb, Ransom Kingsley (the first Clerk), Elder Otis L. Durfee, William Gillet, Samuel N. Frost, Ezra Frost and a number of female members. Its pastors were: Elders William Lamb, Dude and Otis Durfee. The society disbanded about 1843. Steuben Baptist Church was constituted February 13, 1851, including in its constituent membership about half of those of the old Troy Church. The church edifice was erected in 1851-52, at a cost of $1,000. It is a neat frame structure located in the extreme western corner of the borough. The pastors have been: Elders William Lamb, 1851-52: W. B. Bradford, 1853-54; William Lamb, 1855-56; Hubbard, 1857; C. W. Drake, 1858; William Lamb, 1859-61; Cyrus Shreve, 1862; Charles W. Snyder, 1863-67; Elder Morris, 1868; Johu Owens, 186970; C. W. Drake, 1871-75; D. J. Williams, 1876; C. T. Jack, 1877-79; L. L. Shearer, 1880-81; D. H. Dennison, 1882-84. The name was changed in 1881 to the Townville First Baptist Church. The membership is about 130.

Calvary Church, Protestant Episcopal, was organized by Rev. Henry Fitch April 8, 1867, with nine members: Peter and Eliza A. Rose, Miss Mary A. Rose, W. S. Rose, S. D. and Mary L. Guion, Miss Mary Myers, Miss Emily and Miss Ann B. Rose. The first vestry consisted of: Peter Rose, Warden; G. R. Hoyt; Edwin Kingsley, S. F. Radle; J. F. Stevens, George Brice and C. Phillips. Of these, only Mr. Rose was a communicant member. The church building was commenced in 1867 and was completed and consecrated in 1873. It cost, including lot and bell, $5,000. Rev. S. T. Lord, of Meadville, held the first Episcopal service in the village January 29, 1862. Rev. Henry Fitch was rector in 1867, and the same year was succeeded by Rev. William S. Hayward. Rev. S. B. Moore then officiated at irregular intervals until 1870, when Rev. G. C. Rofter, of Meadville, held services once a month. Rev. W. G. W. Lewis, of Meadville, ministered from 1871 to 1878, then Rev. Byllsby, of the same city, and Dr. Purdon, of Titusville, occasionally, followed by W. G. W. Lewis until 1877. Eev. D. I. Edwards, of Meadville, preached from 1877 to 1880, followed by Rev. Thomas A. Stevenson, of Corry, until 1881. Occasional services were then conducted until September, 1883, when Rev. John P. Taylor, of Corry, the present clergyman, took charge. The membership is twenty-one.

A Congregational Church was a former prominent religious institution of the village. Noah Town and his family, Ebenezer Harris, Harvey Coburn, Esack Coburn, Hezekiah Wadsworth and L. L. Lamb were early members. A church edifice was reared about 1845, but the congregation has since been greatly reduced in membership, and regular meetings were long ago discontinued.

Townville Lodge, No. 929, I. O. O. F., was chartered February 12, 1876, and instituted March 23, following, with ten members. It charter officers were: A. B. Edson, N. G.; Bemus Buckley, V. G.; R. H. Smith, Secretary; A. R. Fross, Assistant Secretary; Thomas Shouts, Treasurer. The membership is now ninety-six, and meetings are held every Friday evening.

Sadie Rebekah Lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F., was chartered December 22, 1881. Its first officers were: Mrs. Sade Stevens, N. G.; Mrs. F. T. Radle, V. G.; Mrs. W. P. Higby, Secretary; Mrs. N. E. Stevens, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. C. Stewart, Treasurer. The membership is now forty-six, and meetings are held each alternate Tuesday evening.

William J. Gleason Post, No. 96, G. A. R., was instituted April 18, 1878, with twenty-three members. Its first officers were: A. B. Edson, C.; James F. Stevens, Sr. V. C.; William H. Blair, Jr. V. C; H. A. Drake, O. of D.; A. E. Rose, Chaplain; Byron Smith, Surg.; A. R. Fross, Q. M.; L. J. Childs, O. G. The membership is now forty-seven, and meetings are held on the second Monday of each month.

Steuben Council, No. 24, R. T. of T., was instituted with fifteen members December 11, 1878. Its first officers were: L. D. Barton, S. C; John Fetterman, V. C.; James Doughty, P. C; A. L. Baker, Chaplain; V. M. Hunter, Rec. Sec.; Miss Hallie Steadman, Fin. Sec.; Charles Stewart, Treas.; H. A. Lamb, Her.; Mrs. M. A. Barton, Dep. Her.; Mrs. V. D. Fetterman, Guard; Lewis Wood, Sent.; Byron Smith, Med. Ex. The membership is twenty-three, and meetings are held each alternate Tuesday.