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Although in Ceres at the first, after Eldred was cut off from this large township, nearly all of then Loop’s names are found in Eldred township, and a number of them still live in Eldred Village. When John and Eliza came from Chautauqua county about 1840, he found his brothers and the Hookers settled there but by 1860 Loops are well in evidence. In his prime at 48 traveled, experienced, and the eldest of this group with many sons John must have been the leader of all. As his large family began to marry and settle about him, his standing influence would naturally grow. Betsy, his sister, was surely a great second and later attracted the attention and regard of the whole group as the sole survivor of Henry’s children. She settled at Indian Creek. The creek itself crossed the northern end of the township seeking its junction with the Alleghany.
Around about John as heads in 1860 were Lewis, William, Fernando, Riverius "age 64", Riverius age 20, Arthur, Fernando, Alfred, Miles, and Ansley. As we have seen, Butler Loop was 23 but still single while Lewis had a son Franklin at home at the age of 17.
Across the state line in Cattauraugus county we find several Loop centers in process of formation. John’s brother Daniel is there in 1850 and 1860. David, a descendant of Capt. Peter has set up a mill there. David and Mary have at least three sons coming on, by 1870 he has only a son David at home. His son Moses lives near, in Conewango, of the same county. It will be noted again in connection with the other stories that all the Loop connection in the east has tended to draw together near the boundary line between New York and Pennsylvania, some on one side of New York, many also on the south side of the line in PA.
The Eldred Loops settled indeed on the land as did the majority of their relatives, not doubt. But the land here carried within its bosom an important added interest, for this is the mountain county and when the PA mountain districts became noted for coal and oil the Loops of Eldred were in the oil region and the history of the county in this connection lists many if not most of the descendants of Vermont Henry living there at the period of great activity.
With only 14 taxables as late as 1814, McKean county was an open field. The Loops and the Hookers being first on the land, the founding of the districts or the developing, at the northern end became from one point of view, a family affair of the Loops. It is admitted by its histories that the county was created before it had pioneers enough to fill the necessary offices; this haste was in order to get well seated there before the advancing Susquehanna Company of Connecticut should enter and claim possession.
Peter Loop being recorded as one of the commissioners of this large and heady company, while Henry Loop and the Hookers were the advance guard of the opposing settlers, events were set for lively happenings-when Loop meets Loop, as it were, because of the paucity of settlers, McKean was lumped officially with Pattin county at the first, and the Governor appointed some of the county officers "muy pronto". Knowing the advantages of being on the ground first when Conn. Yankees were on the way, with 11,000 members including the Gov. of Conn. and others very prominent, this company spelled power, and its claims were astounding.
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