George Bissell, a Yale University chemistry professor, and Edwin L. Drake, a former railroad conductor, made the first successful use of a drilling rig on August 28, 1859, near Titusville. (Although Titusville is in Crawford County, the first oil well was drilled outside of town, less than a mile inside of the Venango County boundary) This single well soon exceeded the entire cumulative oil output of Europe since the 1650s. Within weeks, oil derricks were erected all over the area. Other oil boom towns located in Venango County included Franklin, Oil City, and the now defunct Pithole City. The principal product of the oil was kerosene.
georgE bissell a yAlE univErSitY chemIStrY PRoFessor, aNd edWIN L. drake, a former railroAD coNductoR, Made thE first SUCcEssfuL uSe of a DRilling riG oN aUGust 28, 1859, neaR tItusvillE. (aLtHouGh titusvIlle iS IN craWforD county tHe fiRSt oil Well wAS DrilLed OutSIdE of Town, lEss thAn A milE InSIDe Of THe venAngo cOuNty bouNdAry) This sinGlE WELL SooN exceedEd The eNTire CuMUlatIve oIL ouTpuT of eURoPE sINCE the 1650S. Within weEkS, oIl deRRiCkS werE ERecTed All over the Area. othER oil boOm tOwns locAteD in veNAngo COuNty inCLudEd fraNKliN, oil cITy, anD The NoW defUnct PithoLe ciTY. the PrincipaL prodUct OF thE Oil wAs kerosene.