USA > Pennsylvania > Columbia County > A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times. > Part 15
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The soils in Columbia county are very various. We have clay, limestone, red shale, white and black slate, and river bottom loam. All these are differently constituted, fitted to produce dif- ferent kinds of grain and root crops, needing for their improve- ment different kinds of manure, and a different rotation of crops ; and yet, in all these years, the Agricultural Society of Columbia county has not informed the farmers, for whose advantage it was supposed to be incorporated, of the nature and character of the soils of the different parts of the county and of the methods and manures, and crops, which scientific experiment and examination have ascertained to be the most profitable.
If the Annual Fair is a mere holiday and pastime, if it is a mere method for getting together a large number of people, then it is an abundant success; but if it is intended year by year to show scientific and practical improvement in farming and raising and fattening stock; to ascertain what soils are adapted to what crops, and what roots and foods are the most nutritious, then it has been a failure. The very large attendance at the annual exhibitions shows the interest the people take in the doings of the Society, and it ought to stimulate the managers to the raising of the Agri- cultural and Horticultural position of Columbia county to the very front rank.
The "Columbia County Horticultural Society" was incorporated
183
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
by an Act of Assembly, passed April 3, 1872, P. L. 826. Its pro- ceedings have not attracted the attention of the public, and indeed if the first above named Society were fully alive to its duties, there would be no occasion for the existence of this latter. As it is, however, a little wholesome competition might be to the ad- vantage of both of the Societies.
184
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXI.
POOR HOUSES.
BLOOM POOR DISTRICT.
B ESIDES the statutory provisions for the care, support and maintenance of the poor, the county of Columbia has had furnished for three several portions of its territory, houses and farms for the more comfortable existence of those needing public care.
It was first proposed and attempted to organize the whole county into a poor district, and a bill was passed for that purpose, in 1866, P. L. 567, in the 17th section of which it was provided that "For the purpose of ascertaining the sense of the citizens of Columbia county, as to the expediency of erecting a poor house," an election was ordered to be held on the first Tuesday in June of that year ; and "if a majority of the votes in any township or borough shall be against a poor house, then the foregoing act to be null and void as to the townships or boroughs voting against such poor house." The election was accordingly held with the following result:
TOWNSHIPS
FOR
AGAINST
Benton
3
137
Beaver
1
73
Bloom
227
4
Berwick
1
80
Briarcreek
4
128
Catawissa.
7
109
Centralia
5
45
Conyngham.
4
64
Centre .
8
131
Fishingcreek
6
119
Franklin
53
185
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
FOR.
AGAINST.
Greenwood
107
72
Hemlock
102
15
Jackson
2
66
Locust
223
Montour
2
52
Madison
23
116
Mt. Pleasant
13
92
Mifflin
6
126
Main,
21
58
Orange.
5
100
Pine
56
9
Roaringcreek
53
Sugarloaf
8
53
Scott.
22
69
No further proceedings were had under that act; but in 1869, P. L. 320, "an act to authorize the erection of a poor house by the township of Bloom, in the county of Columbia "was passed, in which it was also provided, that "at the request of any ten taxable inhabitants of any township in the county of Columbia," an election should be ordered to decide whether said township should become a part of said poor district. Under that provision the townships of Scott, Sugarloaf and Greenwood elected to be- come members of the corporation in 1870.
The poor house farm comprises about 100 acres, and is located on the Fishingcreek, in Mount Pleasant township. The buildings are of a commodious and substantial character, and the manage- ment has been entirely satisfactory.
CONYNGHAM AND CENTRALIA.
In the year 1869, P. L. 1228, the legislature passed "An act to erect a poor house for Conyngham township and the borough of Centralia, in Columbia county." In pursuance thereof they pur- chased a tract of land in Locust township, comprising about 75 acres, and established the poor of the township and borough thereon. By the 18th section of the act, "all the property, real and personal, of said corporation, be and hereby is exempt from all taxation, except state." It was doubtless an act of wisdom as well as economy, to make the location outside of the district to
186
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
be accommodated, and thereby put the management as much as possible, beyond the immediate influences of the neighborhood to be benefited.
MADISON POOR HOUSE.
Madison township poor house was authorized by "An Act of Assembly of 1872, P. L. 1092 ; and under it the corporation pur- chased a tract of land in the township, comprising about 100 acres, and have since then assembled the poor in much more com- fortable quarters than those in which they usually find themselves. In a purely agricultural community, complete destitution is so rare, that a small expenditure will make all who need assistance happy and contented. The assistance that the unfortunates can usually give to a kind hearted steward, will run the whole estab- lishment without outside help, and thus mental and physical health is secured to the inmates. Thus provided for, the old age of a man hard-worked in his youth, may be and should be free from repining on the one hand, and from public complaint on the other. Where such institutions are needed their erection and support redound to the credit and honor of the community.
187
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXII.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
THE BLOOMSBURG REGISTER, a newspaper 10} by 17 inches, pub-
T r lished by James Delevan, was begun about the first of October, 1826, as appears by the oldest copy I have seen, being in the posses- sion of Hon. Leonard B. Rupert and bearing date May 10, 1827, and being Vol. 1. No. 32. So far as my researches have extended, I am unable to find any older, and conclude the Bloomsburg Regis- ter to be the first paper published in this town.
In April, 1828, Thomas Painter purchased the paper from the owners and changed the name to the Columbia County Register as appears by a copy of it, No. 47, Vol. 2, dated February 9, 1830; so that he also began a new volume and number when he took charge of the paper. He continued the publication until 1844, in April, when, I am told, it was discontinued. The Register was devoted to the party opposed to the democracy, and was vigor- ously edited by Mr. Painter, who was a man of more than average ability and force of character. He was born in the town of Nor- thumberland, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1785. He served one term as Sheriff of his native county, and as a member of the General Assembly, for several terms ; first while the capitol of the State was at Lancaster, and afterwards when it had been removed to Harrisburg. He died in Muncy, Pennsylvania, on the 12th day of February, A. D. 1863, in the 78th year of his age.
The COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT was established, and the first number issued April 29, 1837, by John S. Ingram. Then, or shortly after, he was joined by Franklin S. Mills. They conducted the paper for one year, and in 1838, sold it to Capt. Henry Webb. He gave it permanence, and in 1847, in March, sold it to Col. Levi L. Tate, who continued it until 1866, and in February, of that year sold it to Elijah R. Ikeler. He consolidated it with the Star of The
188
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
North, and called the combination the Democrat & Star, and subsequently changed the name to the Bloomsburg Democrat. It was continued under that name until January, 1869, when it was bought by Capt. Charles B. Brockway, and merged into The Columbian.
The paper was, under all its names and varying fortunes, con- sistently democratic in its politics, and was always deservedly in- fluential. Of its editors, Ingram went from here to Pottsville, Mills to New Jersey, Tate to Williamsport.
Capt. Henry Webb was born in Windham in the state of Con- necticut, July 23, 1796, and died in Bloomsburg, September 22, ยท 1848.
THE STAR OF THE NORTH was established by Reuben W. Wea- ver and Benjamin S. Gilmore, February 1, 1849. Gilmore retired August 1, 1850, and the paper was continued by Mr. Weaver until his death, December 2, 1857.
It was subsequently sold by his administrator and bought by Williamson H. Jacoby, in January, 1858. He published it until October 16, 1862, when he went into the army, and the paper was suspended until August, 1863, when he returned and resumed the publication. It was carried on under the old name until February, 1866, when it was consolidated with the Columbia Democrat, then owned by Elijah R. Ikeler, as the Democrat and Star.
At the end of about seven months, Mr. Ikeler sold his interest - in the establishment to Josiah P. Shuman, and Jacoby & Shuman ran the paper until January, 1867, when Mr. Shuman retired, and Jacoby continued the paper as the Bloomsburg Democrat, until January, 1869, when he sold it to Capt. Charles B. Brockway who merged it into The Columbian.
The paper was always democratic in its political faith.
THE COLUMBIA COUNTY REPUBLICAN was established March 1st 1857, by Dr. Palemon John. In 1869 he sold the paper to a stock company, and Dr. William H. Bradley was employed as editor. Dr. Bradley and Lewis Gordon subsequently purchased the paper, and in 1871, sold it to Daniel A. Beckley and John S. Phillips, who became the publisher, the editorial department being manag- ed by Mr. Beckley. In 1873, E. M. Wardin bought the interest of John S. Phillips and not long after, that of Daniel: A. Beckley,
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
189
and became the sole proprietor. On the 1st of August 1875, James C. Brown purchased the paper from E. M. Wardin, and has con- tinued it to the present time with Daniel A. Beckley as associate editor. As its name imports, it has been and is the organ of the Republican party in the county.
THE COLUMBIAN
THE COLUMBIAN BUILDING, ERECTED 1881.
THE COLUMBIAN was established May 5th, 1866, as the organ of the Johnson Republicans, under the management of George H.
190
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Moore, who published thirty five numbers. The good will, sub- scription list and material was then purchased by a number of Democrats of the county, and placed under the charge of John G. Freeze, January 4th, 1867, as a Democratic newspaper, beginning Vol. 1. No. 1. He continued until February 15th, 1867, when Capt. Charles B. Brockway became associated with him, and eventually bought up the stock and took entire charge and owner- ship of the paper. It was enlarged .July 12th, 1867, and began to be printed on a steam power press. On the first of January, 1869, by the purchase of the Bloomsburg Democrat, from Mr. Jacoby, The Columbian became the sole Democratic paper in the county. On the 1st of January 1871, Henry L. Dieffenbach bought the paper and published it one year, when Capt. Brock- way resumed the control. In July 1873, Mr. Dieffenbach again took the paper and continued until October 1st 1875, when Charles B. Brockway and George E. Elwell purchased it. They continued it to October 1st 1879, when Capt. Brockway retired, and on that day Mr. John K. Bittenbender, a practical printer, purchased an interest in the paper, and the publishing firm became Elwell & Bitten bender.
Since January 1867, the Columbian has been democratic in politics, and devoted to the general policy of that party. In Oc- tober 1881 the office was moved into a three story brick building erected specially for it, on Main street, and now occupies the first floor and basement of the building. The presses are run by water power, and in all its appointments the office is one of the finest newspaper establishments in the state.
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER was started by Edward E. Orvis, at Benton, in January, 1870. It was a monthly of 24 pages. In 1872 the title was changed to the Messenger & Laborer, and D. Oliphant of London, Canada, was admitted as co-editor, with E. E. Orvis as the publisher, and the publication was enlarged to 32 pages. In January 1875, the Messenger & Laborer was changed from a 32 page monthly to a four page 24 column weekly. The publication office was moved to Orangeville, October 1, 1875. Oli- phant retired from it in December, 1875, and it was suspended December 26th of that year, for want of support.
191
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY was started by William H. Smith and Edward E. Orvis, in Benton, April 1, 1874, as a democratic newspaper. It was continued by them until October 1, 1875, when it removed to Orangeville with the Messenger & Laborer, when and where Smith & Orvis dissolved, the Independent be- ing continued by Smith. On the first of April, 1876, The Inde- pendent Weekly returned to Benton, where it was published until September, 1877, when it was removed and established in Milton, Northumberland county, by the name of The Argus, and where, with varying fortunes, it is still published.
THE DEMOCRATIC SENTINEL was established in Bloomsburg, in 1871, by Mr. Charles M. Vanderslice, and has continued under his management as editor and publisher. It is democratic in poli- tics, and has, as it deserves, a fair share of patronage.
THE BLOOMSBURG JOURNAL was begun in 1876, by G. A. Potter, as a temperance and family newspaper. It was a five column four page paper. In October 1881 the form was changed to a quarto of twelve pages, aud then of 16 pages. In September 1882, Dr. Jacob Schuyler purchased a half interest in the paper, and the new firm changed the form to the old folio style. The paper is Republican in politics so far as it allows politics to have a place in its columns.
THE SUN, a daily paper, was put in issue in April 1881, by Alem B. Tate and H. W. Kahler, and about eighty numbers were issued. Dissensions in the management and difficulties growing out of a want of support, put an eclipse upon the Sun, at the end of about three months.
THE HERALD OF FREEDOM was published by a gentleman named Case, between the years 1850 and 1860. It was, I believe, a sort of workingman's free soil advocate. After an unsuccessful struggle the establishment was transported from Bloomsburg to McEwensville ; and it is my impression that it ceased to be pub- lished there after a few months. Except the general fact of its short existence, nothing seems to be certainly remembered by any body-either of the paper or of its editor.
192
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CATAWISSA.
THE NEWS ITEM was established in Catawissa by Gideon E. Myers, in 1878, the first number being issued the 16th of May. It is independent in politics, but of Republican proclivities, and has established a successful business.
BERWICK NEWSPAPERS.
BY COL. JOHN M. SNYDER.
THE INDEPENDENT AMERICAN commenced to be published in Berwick, in the spring of 1812 or 1813, by William Carothers, by whom it was continued until 1818, when David Owen, son of Evan Owen the founder of Berwick, took charge. He was suc- ceeded in a short time by Orlando Porter, who managed the pa- per for about five years, and up to 1827. During this time it was devoted mainly to local and foreign news. Daniel Bowen assum- ed control in 1827, and continued it in the same general line un- til 1832. In this last year, 1832, George Mack became the editor and proprietor, and changed the name of the paper to Berwick Gazette, and gave it a democratic political direction. Judge Mack continued the paper for several years, and until it passed into
THE ARGUS, a well edited Democratic journal, managed and published and edited by Evan O. Jackson, who about the year 1839 disposed of it, and it next appeared as
THE DEMOCRATIC SENTINEL published and edited by Col. Levi L. Tate. In 1840, Col. Tate associated with himself in the business Mr. A. M. Gangewere. The partnership was disolved in 1843, Gangewere retiring. Col. Tate then established
THE ENQUIRER, and in 1845 Mr. B. S. Gilmore purchased a half interest in the paper, and took general charge of it; Col. Tate going to Wilkes Barre and starting the Luzerne Democrat. In 1847, Mr. Gilmore bought the whole of the Enquirer from Col. Tate, who at about the same same time purchased the Columbia Democrat from Capt. Henry Webb, and removed to Bloomsburg. Gilmore continued the Enquirer until the spring of 1849, when
193
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
he removed the material to Bloomsburg, and with additional new material, in company with Reuben W. Weaver, commenced the publication of the Star of the North.
THE SENTINEL, a whig paper, was issued in 1834 by John T. Davis who continued it until about the year 1838, when it passed out of his hands, and became
THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER, an eight page literary journal, by Messrs. Wilber & Joslin, and was carried on by them as such, about one year, when it was bought up by several gentlemen, and
THE CONSERVATOR was issued by them, with John T. Davis as editor. It continued during the "Hard Cider" campaign of 1840, and its ultimate fate I have not learned; but am of opinion that it was discontinued shortly after the election.
THE STAR OF THE NORTH was projected by A. M. Gangewere in 1843, after he and Col. Tate dissolved; and it was published by him about one year. He disposed of the good will and mater- ial, and the paper appeared by U. J. Jones & John H. Winter, who continued it until sometime about the year 1848, when it ap- peared as
THE STANDARD, published and edited by Dewitt C. Kitchen, who modified the politics of the paper, and supported the opposi- tion to the Democracy. From 1848 till the spring of 1850, the paper was issued, when it again changed hands, and appeared as
THE TELEGRAPH by Col. John M. Snyder, the paper returning to the support of the Democracy. From April 1850, until the spring of 1851, it was so published, when, once more the name and ownership changed and it became
THE BERWICK CITIZEN, by James McClintock Laird. He pub- lished it until the spring of 1853, with considerable new type and material; at the end of which time the office and outfit were sold.
THE INVESTIGATOR was established in 1853, by Stewart Pearce and John M. Snyder. Mr. Pearce retired at the end of a month, but Colonel Snyder continued the publication until the spring of
194
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
1855, when the paper was purchased by Col. Levi L. Tate and the name changed once more to the
BERWICK GAZETTE, and published and edited by Tate and Irwin. They continued the paper until 1856, when Walter H. Hibbs succeeded them. He was succeeded in 1857 by Alem B. Tate who published it until about the year 1860 when it was purchased by Jeremiah S. Sanders. It was continued by Mr. Sanders until 1869, when he removed press, type and materials to Hazleton.
Thus for the first time in about fifty years, Berwick was with- out a newspaper. For about the last twenty years, all the papers had been Democratic in politics, and their circulation and influ- ence in Columbia and Luzerne counties had been considerable. They were usually well printed, and edited with good taste and judgment; nor, except on very rare occasions, did their columns become vehicles of personal abuse or objectionable political dis- cussion.
THE INDEPENDENT was issued by Charles B. Snyder on the first of June 1871, the outfit and material entirely new. Frank L. Snyder was assistant editor and Col. John M. Snyder had charge of the local department. The Messrs. Snyder conducted the pa- per with success for about nine years, when they sold out to Rob- ert H. Bowman who changed the title to The Berwick Independ- ent. The paper, though neutral in politics, is in the hands of a gentleman who is in politics a Republican. On his retirement from The Independent Mr. Charles B. Snyder succeeded Mr. J. S. Sanders in the proprietorship and editorial management of the Hazleton daily and weekly Sentinel, in Luzerne county.
THE BERWICK GAZETTE, being the second of that name, was be- gun March 25, 1882, by Mr. J. H. Dieterick. It is neutral in politics but of democratic proclivities, and full of local and neigh- borhood news.
195
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIII.
MADAME MONTOUR.
A SKETCH of this celebrated woman and her family will be properly introduced by a short description of the magnificent mountain ridge which bears her name.
Montour's Ridge rises somewhat abruptly on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, near the mouth of Chillisquaque creek in North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, and starting out in a northeast course become the boundary between the townships of Point and Chilli-quaque in Northumberland county, and between Point and the townships of Liberty and Mahoning in Montour county, near Danville, where Mahoning creek breaks through to the North Branch of the Snsquehanna-thence becoming the boundary be- tween Valley and Mahoning, and West Hemlock and Cooper in Montour county, and between Hemlock and Montour townships in Columbia county ; breaking down again where Hemlock creek flows through into Fishingcreek, and again at short distance, where Fishingcreek rolls between its precipitous sides north of Blooms- burg, off south-westwardly into the North Branch; then rising again and throwing towards the surface its rich iron deposits north and east of Bloomsburg, and sinking forever, after devel- oping millions of tons of limestone, north and east of the town of Espy.
A geological axis of elevation passes nearly along the middle of the ridge, composed of hard gray and reddish sandstone, which are covered along both sides, sometimes nearly and some- times quite to the top, by slates and shales of overlying series, the lower part of which consists of yellowish or greenish slates, containing thin strata of limestone, in which are impressions of shells and other fossils ; and near these is a very valuable layer of brownish red iron ore, from six inches to over two feet in thickness, also containing fossil impressions. This ore is found
196
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
on both sides of the ridge as far east as the vicinity of Blooms- burg, where the strata converge over its top as it sinks away on the east, and finally disappears under the overlying red shale in the neighborhood of Espytown. In the slates above the iron ore are some thin layers of dark colored limestone, succeeded by a thick bed of red shale, which forms the upper portion of the series. Overlying this red shale is a limestone formation, which encircles the ridge outside of the red shale, and which may be seen not far from the river above Northumberland, and along the railroad from Danville to Bloomsburg; dipping under the Fish- ingcreek half a mile above its mouth, and passing under Blooms- burg, it rises again near Espytown, and extends nearly to Ber- wick, where it sinks away beneath the overlying slate. A fine deposit of mantle and roofing slate of the very best quality, develops itself on Little Fishingcreek, about a mile above Blooms- burg. It has been wrought and approved of by competent judges and workmen, and needs only capital and enterprise to become a recognized industry of the county.
Thus it will be seen that Montour's ridge is useful as well as ornamental, rich as well as rugged ; yielding right at our doors iron ore, limestone, slate and building stone in almost unlimited quantities.
There are three celebrated Indian women who have played im_ portant parts in the history of Pennsylvania, and especially in that of the Forks of the Susquehanna; but their names, their exploits and their persons have become so interwoven with each other, that it has become a difficult, if not an impossible, task to distinguish them. From the mass of obscure and contradictory matter relating to them, I shall however, endeavor to assign her proper position and actions to each one, dissipating some of the romance and correcting some of the statements which have here- tofore been received as veritable history; or at any rate, as history applicable to certain persons.
Those three women are Madame Montour, Catharine Montour and Queen Esther.
In his "Historical Collections of Pennsylvania" Mr. Sherman Day speaks of "the celebrated Catharine Montour, sometimes call-
197
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
ed Queen Esther, whose more permanent residence was at Cath_ arinestown, at the head of Seneca lake, as being a half-breed who had been well educated in Canada. Her reputed father was one of the French Governors of that province, and she herself was a lady of comparative refinement. She was much caressed in Phil- adelphia, and mingled in the best society. She exercised a con- trolling influence among the Indians, and resided in this quarter, [Tioga point, Bradford county] while they were making their in. cursions upon the Wyoming settlements. It has been even sus- pected that she presided at the bloody sacrifice of the Wyoming prisoners after the battle; but Col. Stone who is good authority upon the history of the Six Nations, utterly discredits the story.', Here we have the three women utterly confounded. Let us see if we can separate them and assign to each one her own history and individuality.
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