East Mead Township is one of the two last remnants of the great Mead Township which was formed prior to the organization of Crawford County. At the time when all of northwestern Pennsylvania was embraced in Allegheny County, Mead Township then included all of what is now Crawford and Erie Counties. In the years 1800, 1828, and 1829, new townships were carved out of Mead Township, significantly reducing its size. In 1898, the last division occurred and East Mead Township and West Mead Township were established. When the U.S. Census was taken in 1900, the population of East Mead Township was 831.

The early settlement of the Township was fostered by several events, one of which was the push by Pennsylvania to have the land settled and the other was the end of hostilities with the Native Americans. Pennsylvania passed an Act in 1785 to provide land to soldiers for service in the Revolutionary War (Donation Lands). Specific tracts were awarded by lottery. Tracts not claimed were sold by the State. In 1792, the Pennsylvania legislature enacted a law opening all State owned land northwest of the Allegheny River for sale "to persons who will cultivate, improve and settle the same". The intent of the law was for the State to sell the land to individual settlers. Instead, much of the land, including that in the present boundaries of East Mead Township ended up in the hands of land speculators like the Holland Land Company who then sold the land at profit to the settlers. However, the Native American Indians still considered the lands as theirs since they had never signed their rights away. Raids by Native Americans kept settlers out of the area until General Anthony Wayne's defeat of the tribes at the battle of Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1794 and the subsequent signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. In his description of the hazards of Indian raids, David Mead, founder of Meadville, testified that beyond the fort at Meadville, none made any attempt to remain permanently in the region until the fall of 1795.

The settlers began arriving in the years following the peace with the Indians. Early records with dates of arrival are limited. Often an actual date does not appear until a land purchase is finalized and/or taxes paid, years after the settler has arrived, chosen his land, cleared it for farming, and built a log house. This being recognized, it appears that the early settlers began arriving about 1800. Most arrived with little in the way of material possessions or money. The land was a virgin wilderness, and the early settlers had a hard life.

Wayland and South to Bousson:
William Ewing when he was about 20 years old, arrived on horseback on the wilderness trail from his parent's farm on Yellow Breeches Creek near Carlisle Pennsylvania. His brother Andrew, two years younger, arrived shortly after. Each of the bothers settled on separate parcels of land south of Meads Corners (present day Wayland Corners) along the track now called South Wayland Road. William married Joanna Thurston, daughter of David Thurston, at Mead's Corners (Mead Corners) on April 14, 1802. David Thurston had come to Mead Township from Northumberland County Pennsylvania and is listed on the Crawford County tax list for the year 1801. Many of the settlers had specialized occupations that supplemented income from farming. William and Andrew Ewing were coopers (their father's occupation). Barrels and related wooden staved containers were in demand in the early commerce. David Thurston was a weaver.

Indians were still in the area, and there was an Indian camp on William Ewing's farm. For the most part relations were good, but there was friction when the Indians returned from trips to Meadville in a drunken state and caused disturbances. Eventually, the Indians moved on.

The population increased rapidly from incoming new settlers and the families of those that arrived earlier. William and Joanna Thurston Ewing had 14 children that they raised on the farm. The children attended school at Mead Corners. These children later married with other local families: Stocton, McNamara, Hunter, Burns, McDonald, Byham, Hungerford, Lantz, Boyle, and Seaton. Andrew Ewing, William's brother, married Mary Battles. Andrew donated the land for the Ewing Cemetery from his farm. Alexander and Mary's daughter who died in infancy is believed to have been the first burial in the Cemetery (about 1811-1812). Although small in size, the Ewing Cemetery has much historical significance. Those of war service buried here are: David Thurston - Revolutionary War; James Hamilton, Jonathan Weller, John McFadden, William Ewing, and John Johnson - War of 1812; David T. Ewing, George McFadden, William H. Inay, James T. Ewing, John McMullen, and Josiah Ewing - Civil War. Several ghost stories are recorded concerning the cemetery, one involving Nate's white steer during a dark night.

In 1816, Jonathon and Lovina Weller and 7 children came from Chester, Massachusetts and settled one mile south of Meads Corners (Wayland). They brought with them a slave named Pomp, who was given his freedom a year later. 18 months after arrival, Jonathon was killed by a falling tree when timbering. The rest of the family remained, the children attending the Schoolhouse at the Corners.

In 1817, Levi and Mary Dewey came from Westfield, Massachusetts with 9 children. They bought a farm at Meads Corners. In 1843, a post office was established at Meads Corners and Stillman, son of Levi and Mary, served as the first postmaster. Walter Dewey (1847 to 1922), son of Justin Dewey, was a farmer, East Mead Justice of the Peace, East Mead Township Road Supervisor, and served on the Election Board.

The Mead Baptist Church met at the Corners from 1828 to 1840 in the Dewey Schoolhouse. In 1840, the Church was erected on land donated by Justin Dewey. The constituent members were Andrew Braymer, Sarah Ellis, and Amanda Sizer, and many of the Hatch family: Philip, Ira, Horatio, Electra, Fanny, and Mary. In 1881, the name of the Church was changed to Wayland Baptist Church and Meads Corners was changed to Wayland in honor of Rev. Dr. Heman Lincoln Wayland, a famous Baptist minister, who was editor of the "National Baptist" in Philadelphia, the "Baptist Quarterly", and books for the French Creek Baptist Association. The Church had a good library used by the area residents. Oakwood Cemetery, now Wayland Cemetery, was named after the four large oak trees that stood in front of the cemetery. Among its first burials was Levi Dewey in 1827. David Scott, a Revolutionary War soldier is buried in the cemetery.

In 1836, John and Betty Ann Hogue came to Meads Corners and settled at the foot of and each side of the big hill, known as Hogue Hill (The current intersection of PA Route 27 and Wayland Road). They owned and operated the Hogue Inn, later known as the Wayland Hotel.

Pine Grove Methodist Church is located on the old "Oil Creek Road", at the foot of Kiser Hill, midway between Kiser Hill and the Bousson Farm, now owned by Allegheny College. A cheese factory was on the farm nearby in 1874, and the post office was also located there. A formal church class was organized by David Thurston and friends, including Joseph Baird, John Daniels, John McFadden, and Job Calvert, as early as 1825, meeting in the homes of members. James T. and Kingsley Ewing took part in the early work of the church. Herman G. Ewing and his wife, Minnie, were active members, singing in the choir and taking an active part in the church programs. The parishioners erected the church by themselves in 1885 in a grove of pine trees. The members supplied many of the materials, with the balance costing $900. The minister received $97 the first year.

Many stories are available concerning the Bousson sisters, Otillie and Marie, who purchased about 300 acres along Oil Creek Road and the now Wayland Road in 1882. Originally from Paris, they had owned a successful dressmaking business in New York City prior to coming to Mead Township. With the assistance of a French landscape artist, they set about to create a traditional French country estate. They built a magnificent brick house with rare woodwork and beautiful stairways. The grounds had ponds stocked with fish and imported water lilies. There were gardens with fruit trees and berries. The sisters entertained all in the community with elaborate parties with music, dancing and polite merrymaking. The home is now gone. The land has reverted to nature, and is now owned by Allegheny College and used by students for biological and environmental studies.

Frenchtown:
Tradition has it that the land which settlers were later to call Frenchtown was once the property of a revolutionary soldier named Moultrip. The land was his "donation lands" tract given as repayment for his war services, and sometime before 1800, he is believed to have visited the place and built a log cabin a few rods from the site of the present Catholic church, St. Hippolyte. He apparently left soon after, and his land ended up in the hands of the Holland Land Company which then sold it to others. The name of Moultrip turns up again in the history. About 1830, William Moultrip built a water-mill on a branch of Sugar Creek and ran it a number of years. In 1800, Beriah Battles purchased land near the site of the present St. Hippolyte church from the Holland Land Company and built a log cabin. It is reported that he was the first carpenter in Crawford County, that he built many log cabins and houses, and that he departed Frenchtown to go to Ohio. He and his wife, Mary Jones Battles had 9 children, one of which was Mary Battles who married Andrew Ewing mentioned previously in the section of this history "Wayland and South to Bousson".

In the early 1800's, French Catholics emigrated to the United States. They followed the Hudson River up to Albany, pushed westward to Buffalo, and then by stage, covered wagon, or bobsled, moved into western Pennsylvania. As early as 1827, several families arrived and purchased land from the Holland Land Company. Soon other families followed. They formed two settlements, one at Moultrip, which then was becoming known as "French Colony", and another to the southwest, known as Mondon (the current Pettis Corners). Among these pioneers were the DuCrays, LeComtes, Verains, Verniers, Fevres, and Gandelots. Letters to France telling of the life in the wilderness induced others to join the first group, and the colony grew steadily, if not quickly. Before the coming of the first missionary priests, the Bideaux, Monnins, Bron (Brown), Girard, and Doubet families had arrived. When Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia came to Meadville on June 2, 1834, he set down in his diary that six miles east of the City was a French settlement of 23 families who, upon hearing of his presence, came to Meadville to attend Mass and have their children baptized. With the entire state as his diocese at the time, it tells of the favorable impression these devoted Catholics made upon him. St. Hippolyte was erected in 1837 and enlarged and remodeled in 1866.

By 1885, Frenchtown had a post office, a public school, a store, a blacksmith shop, six residences and the St. Hippolyte Church. It served the farm community and its hinterland.

Kiser Hill:
The settlement in the vicinity of Kiser Hill began in the mid 1800's. The area received its name from Issac Kiser who was born in Westmoreland County and came to Crawford County in 1816. William Warner arrived from Massachusetts in 1841 and purchased 125 acres on Oil Creek Road at the foot of Kiser Hill. He kept a hotel/public house in this location. In 1874, a cheese factory was built on his land. Public school and Grange Hall uses were established at Kiser Hill, the latter around the turn of the century.

At the top of the hill is Kiser Hill Cemetery. Records indicate that six dollars was paid for the court costs to obtain the charter, the attorney was paid seven dollars. Recorder Wm Dickson was paid two dollars and twenty-five cents. In 1878, articles of agreement were made with Jacob Kightlinger and his wife, Mary Ann, for the purchase of one acre and twenty perches of land in order to increase the size of the cemetery. Additional deeds for acreage followed from Jacob and Emiline Kiser, and from Frank and Mary Yoset. Kiser Hill Cemetery was incorporated in 1878. For a period of time, the association met in the Kiser School House, located across from the Cemetery. The current Cemetery is serene in a beautiful manicured setting on about 3.5 acres, that includes the additional 0.89 acre donated by William Lee and Alice Brawley in 2008. At least 1100 or more have been laid to rest there as of 1999.

Wayland Corners - Northward:
At the corner of current North Wayland Road and State Route 77, stood a building in the early years first known as Brown's Chapel originally organized in 1812. The State Road Methodist Church was erected on the site in 1848 and was active for many years. The earliest ministers received a salary ranging from $50 to $100 per year. Membership dwindled and the church closed about 1990. Subsequently, it was bought by some individual owners and then resold. In 2004, it became the Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Meadville which continues to hold regular services.

Smith Cemetery, located on Smith Cemetery Road was established in 1900 when the Smith families purchased 1 1/2 acres from G. P. Waid for the purpose of a burial ground. It was incorporated in 2009 and is now known as Smith Cemetery Association, and has 150 burials.

Schools:
Education was very important to the settlers, and schools were formed early on wherever there was a group of families. As the population increased and education became more formalized, schools were consolidated and buildings closed. School closings in the twentieth century included Frenchtown, Hatch Hill, and Moore in 1929, Bousson in 1932, Davis in 1934, Kiser Hill in 1939, and Wayland in 1956.

The Wayland Schools were a prominent place in the Township for many years. There are three buildings on the property, all in a row. A one-story frame schoolhouse was built before the Civil War, a two-story brick schoolhouse in 1894, and a one-story structure with basement in 1935. A two-year high school course was in operation in the years 1894 to 1914. Beginning in the school year of 1913-1914, scholars wishing to take high school work could attend any high school and the township paid the tuition. In the 1940's, the teachers extended recesses during the winter to allow sled riding on the back hill, in exchange for more homework assignments. In 1950, the white frame north building was used for the Township elections and public meetings. A long wide sidewalk was installed in the early 1950's from the south building to the north building. This was great for the roller skates to travel during recess. The white school building was just the right height for the treat of playing "Annie, Annie, Over". In 1953, students above fourth grade were transported by bus to Guys Mills when the Randolph and East Mead Consolidated School was formed. The buildings are now used for residential purposes.