USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 60
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"Purchased of J. Pumpelly 40 acres, Wm. Johnson's land. Paid $1830.00"
(Jan. 1) of Father stock, grain and the distillery, Orlando Mack in charge.
(July) Purchased sheep in Vermont: (minute account of farm work.) 66 Completed payments to Jas. Irwin of Painted Post.
(Customers and business accounts noted, with observations.)
Stephen Tuttle, 1801: Andrew Harris, Mrs. Matthewson, from 1806 to 1809. Gilson, Cabinet Maker, Towanda: Noah Comstock, Distiller.
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
Robert Alexander and Orlando Mack were in charge of Welles' dis- tillery from 1800 to 1805. Mrs. Matthewson was friendly enough to trade from 1806 to 1809. These books show residence of settlers known only by tradition. Joel Murray, brother of Noah, and Polly Stowe being noticeable from their large accounts, running to 1828. At this period Stephen Tuttle's letters are a faithful source of informa- tion. In 1803 M. Hollenback built a large store house on the river bank of his property,35 also a wharf. James Irwin built one back of his store and tavern on the Susquehanna bank; the lane leading to this was open for fifty years. David Alexander built one on northeast corner of present Maurice property. These were used to store produce awaiting high water to be shipped to market, also for the goods of emigrants and merchants awaiting transportation to the "lake coun- try." The Academy begun in 1797, unfinished because of unsettled titles, was long used as a store house, and the two public squares were piled with lumber and shingles even as late as 1825. As in Indian times, this was the point for loading and unloading boats, rafts, etc. A little later the manufacture of potash became a profitable business : "carried on amid the native forests of Bradford County, it involved a destruction of lumber that would now be looked upon as deplorable, great numbers of trees being cut, piled and burned, merely to gather the ashes for potash and pearlash." The mills at Cayuta Creek were successfully conducted by John Shepard and others, and later woolen
Dr. Chandler, lumberman, on the East Hill, a clever man.
Charles Mott, a travelling Gentleman.
Vernell, an English travelling Sadler.
Thomas Ellis, the real old one; Ira H. Stephens, merchant.
Porter, the Canadian, here to-day & gone to-morrow; Run away, in full.
Zenos Thomas, hatter; Wm. Wright, an English machinist.
Wm. Parry, the English joiner; Daniel Snell, timber-merchant.
Capt. John Redington, blacksmith; Gleason, a rascally shoemaker.
Erastus Wolcott, the distiller at Isaac Shepard's.
Richard Johnson, a black convict whom I was fool enough to trust; run away to balance, and I was glad to let him go with the sheep he stole from me .- Wm. May the brick-maker. Old Uncle Levi Fox of Litchfield. George Simmons, a scoundrelly traveller.
Radnor, the mean shoemaker; Bush, the grist-mill builder.
Peter Carlisle, 1817. Ogden the joiner, who built the Boardman house.
Noah Murray Jr., Murraysfield, 1818. Jacob Johnson, ferryman.
Capt. Nathaniel Talcott, 1814. Elijah Saltmarsh, Sheshequin.
Solomon Everts, weaver. Johnson Chase, a runaway.
Thomas Wilson, the son of the old man of all.
Nathaniel Ketcham. By profit and loss to balance, 60c; as the good man has gone to one of the bournes whence very few pilgrims return to pay their bills-Ohio.
John Pierce, Dr. $3.00 :- Dead, and so settled.
Corneby, an Englishman, Queen Esther's Flats, 1831.
James Fabun, who lives at the Cove.
Thomas R. Davis, blacksmith; April 1829 purchased land.
John Moore Jr., son of John, and he son of Daniel.
Gaylord, the Sadler, 1831. McCall, wagon-maker.
Creelman, and Mccullough, Irishmen; 1831.
Tom Rinehart, or some other man; a rogue, however.
James Calkin, Merchant, 1821. Robb the schoolmaster.
Silas Cole, a travelling character.
Tyson Roberts, related to John Griffin.
E. & E. W. Pelton, called Cabinet-makers.
Beigle, cabinet-maker. W. S. Murthouse, cabinet-maker.
Alexander Brooks, Chemung; this account not closed in harmony, he is a rascal, and as such I have his name recorded.
Land for the Presbyterian meeting-house, valued at $100.00: cash $45: and two cows sold for $30: (1827).
35 The door-stone is still in place at the foot of the Hunsiker garden, a favorite resort at sunset. From this stone was photographed the view up the Chemung, illustrating Jenkins' sur- vey, Chap. XIV.
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MERCANTILE ENTERPRISES
mills were added, the industries giving the name of Milltown to the surrounding settlement.
When Guy Maxwell left, in 1795, Hollenback's store knew hard times for a few years. John Hollenback, Jr., afterwards the hus- band of Susan Welles, was in charge, or, as Matthias Hollenback records it, "John Hollenback went there to destroy the shop and let the goods be stolen." Then came John Alexander, Jr., whom we can- not place, perhaps the husband of Hannah Hibbard. At this time there were large receipts of cash, and much business done with Charles Williamson, the English pioneer in Steuben County. In 1798, feeling the necessity of competing with Welles and Caton, Stephen Tuttle was employed ; he was to have half the profits and the support of his family, and to order such goods as he thought fit. His first invoice was £300, the order being for "tea, brimstone, sewing-silk, penknives, nankeens and fustians." Soon he reports he "can do no business with- out a sine," and has ordered one from Newtown. Then he writes, "there is no rum, gin or brandy on the Point but what I have." It is observable that coffee was not in any of these bills of goods until 1808.
Although Maxwell was no longer clerk, he seems to have had some interest in Mr. Hollenback's affairs, as evinced in letters from 1797-1805. In 1798 he reports the store at Newtown as the only place where cash is received, since there is a good supply of such articles as people cannot properly do without. But both he and James Irwin had opened separate stores there, and in 1801 Tuttle reports "trade here is likely to be overdone as at Newtown, there is a storekeeper on his way from the Owegee by the name of Saltmarsh, Rosett and Doil ( ?) in old Sheshequin, Pierce in New Sheshequin, the country is full of goods as can be." Maxwell, who went down the river just then, re- ported a Mr. Ross from Maryland as on his way to Newtown or Painted Post with a large stock of goods, but adds that "as he is with the boat himself and will be tired when he reaches Tioga he will probably be persuaded by Mr. Welles to open in his store; he is a decent gen- tleman, there will not be so much wind puffed from him as from Goldsberry." The latter was a Baltimore man, just opening a store at Newtown. Maxwell says of him later, "Our great Gun from Balti- more is not dashing as heavy as we expected"-assortment far from good-Blankets and lampblack-has given offence to many-declares against giving more than 6.6 for wheat-The other Newtown mer- chants at once combined to run the risk of offering $1 for wheat to defeat this man's calculations." Goldsberry sold the best Bohea tea for 3/3 York money. As he offered to take even potatoes in exchange, Tuttle decided it would be cheaper to purchase of him and save carriage. Trade at Tioga now became as serious as at Newtown. Tuttle had been the only merchant since Welles & Caton closed, but now, with the coming of Mr. Saltmarsh, and his goods, he reports "trade very dull, expect to shut windows and lie at ease." It was a most curious thing that every new store opened in these frontier settlements at once gained all the trade, like a new patent medicine, every one eager to try, forgetting their old friends. Mr. Ross, following upon the heels of
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
Saltmarsh, decided the Point was desirable; one opened in Irwin's, next the Academy, and one in Welles & Caton's building just over the way. Tuttle reports "close times here for trade," and Maxwell also to Hollenback, "you have more to fear at Tioga than here-so many strange things will turn up in the trading business in this coun- try I will Keep you posted." The new merchants at Tioga were de- termined to sell goods very low. Tuttle says : "Mr. Ross is one of your Close Tite fellows and is Determined to Establish his name here for selling cheap, has taken the whole run of trade-John and I-Poor Devils have to stand by and keep Tally-trade is a poor business in this country-tavern trade all we have." The competition stirred the farmers to activity; in the winter of 1802 they refused to pay their debts or buy new goods unless they were given $1 for wheat, this price seeming to be always their desired standard. Maxwell says of them: "Republicanism prevails here to such an extent that they conceive the Storekeepers a greater nuisance than the Stamp Act or the Alien & Sedition Laws-I believe many of them think it is tyranny and op- pression for us to secure it at as low a price as $1." However, it was an open winter, with rain and heavy roads preventing the usual trans- portation by sleighs to Newtown and Tioga Point, where all the wheat crop of the lake country and Genesee Valley was marketed in winter, ready to be run down the river in spring freshets. A new industry was now started at the Point. Christian Schrider, an expert rope maker, had settled there and made of hemp, sugar twine, bed cords, trace ropes, plow lines ; and of hetcheled flax, seine twine. The Snells were expert weavers and hat makers, their fine beaver hats often selling for $5 apiece.
In spite of the competition this year the Paines decided to open a store, purchasing large quantities of goods in Baltimore, to be sold very low. Tuttle's trade was dead, and Saltmarsh selling off his goods at half price. Tuttle reports "trade very bad at Newtown-they are all in the fidgets .- planning to move to other localities-a new tavern to be opened here, want to leave-titles are so precarious on both sides that there is nothing to be done in land, and the dispute in this end of the country will eternally prevent prosperity."
Continued epidemics of fever swept over the country from She- shequin to Newtown, evidently malarial. Tuttle's only important order in 1803 was for two cases of Dr. Rawson's Bilious Bitters. To eke out profits, Tuttle became interested in building the Cayuga turnpike, but found it so unprofitable that he was violent in denunciation of delin- quent subscribers. In the winter of 1804 he reported Lake country wheat coming by thousands of bushels in sleighs, but not enough goods selling to pay for making a fire in the store. In 1805 John Miller opened a store, and Tuttle writes he thinks Miller and Paine had "bought pretty much all there was to be sold in Philadelphia, and will drive all before them." In 1806 Miller was reported as a "large Battery dashing out his goods, trusting, etc .- keeping the best store in town, the farmers struggling for their $1 for wheat again, it was only 6s., but," said Tuttle, "expect every day that it will be raised to a dollar as
b to W T
-- tl
435
THE EMBARGO-WAR OF 1812
the devil is always in some of our people and not enough righteous to save the city."
In 1808 the whole trade of the country was paralyzed by the threatened war embargo. Stephen Tuttle, never very successful, and hampered by the bad management of his predecessor, decided to leave the Point. Apparently Hollenback's store was not in operation for several years. It was rented to Drake and to Mr. Keene for a short per- iod in 1813, and in 1814 Jeremiah Decker was in charge as agent of Hol- lenback, and may have been earlier. He proved very far from trust- worthy, and gave a great deal of trouble, and Mr. Hollenback aban- doned business at Tioga Point under his own name about 1818. Horace Williston rented the house part, and the store was closed. In later years it was occupied by Ellsworth, Tozer and Clapp, and finally by successive milliners of early days, Matilda Smith, Lovisa Nichols and others. The old buildings disappeared or were demolished ; but the prop- erty continued in the Hollenback name until 1861, when it was purchased by F. N. Page, who erected the fine residence now occupied by family of Cornelius Hunsiker. In connection with trade in early days, imprison- ment for debt was enforced by Matthias Hollenback, two notices being found of 1790 and 1803, to "any constable to levy on the goods and chat- tels, and for want of them to take the body to the gaol." The second was for only $4.55 against Joseph Spalding. We are in ignorance as to the imprisonment, but the account was not paid until three years later, a curious circumstance. The early merchants were much bothered by the "hawkers and tin peddlers," and in 1818 those of this region pe- titioned the Legislature through Henry Welles to enact some law against the competitors. In this connection, Stephen Tuttle wrote, suggesting that nothing short of total prohibition would avail, since "the hawkers themselves are not afraid of all the laws that the legislature can pass, as they are sure no law can be passed but what they can find a hole in it large enough to drive their wagon and horses through and escape-if a license so much the better, as everyone could not find funds, and so less com- petition-if an exception in favor of disabled people, surely for a dollar they can get some fool of a surgeon to certify to their disability &c."
War of 1812.
The war of 1812 agitated the people of this neighborhood con- siderably, although the only information is from stray bits found in letters. The first is written July 4, 1812, by Clement Paine to Col. Samuel Satterlee, intimating that there was to be a meeting the fol- lowing day to attempt to secure volunteers from Col. Satterlee's (Militia) Regiment. Capt. Moss, or Morse, and Lieut. Watrous were the recruiting officers, and to them Mr. Paine made the following generous promise : "I will make a gratuity of a new rifle, 1 canister with bottle powder, six best flints and five dollars, to be disposed of by the officers of such volunteers for their general benefit, in any mode to be agreed on by the company at large." Apparently no company was raised until May, 1814, when it has always been said that Julius Tozer raised a company, of which he was made captain, "most of the
436
OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
men enlisting from Athens." From the Paine papers comes a sub- scription list, dated Smithfield, 17 May, 1814 :
"We the subscribers agree to pay as a gratuity to the men who shall vol- unteer their services to join the militia of New York at this time, agreeably to the request of Genl. Porter and Genl. Swift thro' Capt. Micajah Harding & squire Wells (Judge Wells of Wellsborough) the sum of money annexed to our names respectively-to be equally divided among those who may thus volunteer not however to exceed $5, each man."
The list, in the subscribers handwriting, includes Clement Paine, Julius Tozer, Wanton Rice, John Spalding 2nd, Vine Baldwin, Samuel Mckean, Thos. T. Huston, John and Abraham Minier, Erastus and Theodorus Loomis, John Harkness, John Watkins, Henry Welles, Charles Woodworth, Francis Tyler. While some of the funds thus raised were sent to Judge Wells, to be used however for Bradford County volunteers, some were paid to Col. Tozer, showing as well as his signature on list that Tozer's company was raised about this time. This has been verified by application to War Department, whence comes the information that Julius Tozer (Sr.) enlisted May 1, 1814, serving as "captain of company which bore his name in Swift's and Dobbin's Regiment New York Volunteers." No wonder it bore the Tozer name, for the old Revolutionary hero had the proud distinction of commanding sons, nephews and relatives. It is against the rules of the War Department to furnish complete roll of names. But it is known that Julius Tozer, Jr., Guy Tozer, Samuel Tozer, Elishama Tozer and their cousin, Jonathan F. Conkling, were enrolled. Also William Van Gordon, Solomon Westbrook, John Brown, William Drown, Daniel Satterlee, Samuel Baldwin, and several Ellises. Captain Micajah Harding commanded another company in the same regi- ment. May 21, 1814, the volunteers received from Clement Paine cash, flints, powder, etc., as promised, all being made to sign receipts, in which it was stipulated that if they failed to give six months' service, unless they could show a regular discharge, they were "accountable to said Paine for the same," an amusing showing of Clement's business methods. Apparently they all saw active service, except Julius Tozer, Jr., who was detained at home by illness, which is not now to be re- gretted, because thereby he received a letter which has been preserved to this day :
Headquarters fort Erie August 10th 1814
Dear Brother, I must tell you that Brother Guy and cousin Elisha (Eli- shama) arrived here one day since, who fetches good news from home, they tell me that Polly Holbrook is married to Mr. Willson; you must wish them much joy for me, you must tell Moses Vangordon that his cousin William is here and is well, and you must tell Elias Wesbrook that Solomon is here and is well I have nothing more of to write excepting giving you an account of the battle that was fought here yesterday morning, the enemy attackted our fort on both wings, they attackted our fort without flints in their guns to take us by the point of the bayonet the enemy entered one bastion of the fort with about three hundred men, which was instantly blew up and they were Killed and made prisoners, our loss was small when compared with the enemy, our loss was about twenty men Killed and wound (ed) while the enemy lost about eight hundred or a thousand men in Killed wounded and prisoners, this is all I have to write at present excepting that we are all well Captain Harding sends his re-
437
A LETTER FROM FORT ERIE, 1814
spects to you all and says I must tell you he has not lost but two men out of his company. I am with great respect your brother
Julius Tozer
SAMUEL TOZER
NOTE .- This letter is addressed to Mr. Julius Tozer, Athens, Bradford County, Penn- sylvania. Julius Tozer was the father of Mrs. Mary Tozer Corbin, who loaned the original to the Tioga Point Museum, where it was long on exhibition.
Capt. Tozer was wounded in the service, and later in life received a pension. Their service was supposed to be for six months only, and Capt. Tozer's is recorded at Washington as closing November 1. Some extracts from a letter of 1813, written by David Paine, show that feeling ran very high in this war, although David, the sprightly letter writer, must have his fun. After telling of the reported evacuation of Fort George and subsequent destruction in December, 1813, and that the exasperated British and Indians had surprised and destroyed Lewiston, also the fort at Niagara, killing about 200 invalids who were left in charge there, he adds :
"I hope it is not true-I fear very much fear-our army encamped on the northern frontier will be cut off before the winter end-Thus you see I am perhaps conjuring up Ghosts and Goblins to fret my Gizzard so mote it be-But reflections on the dreadful situation of thousands of our fellow mortals, hungry, naked, sick and wounded exposed to all the wintry blasts of the North-makes my heart sick and sad."
Militia.
For many years after the close of the War for Independence the militia was kept properly organized. Brigade Inspectors were ap- pointed, whose duty it was to see that "every able bodied white male citizen between ages of eighteen and forty-five years" was enrolled. The only exemptions were for all public officers, from Members of Congress to school teachers ; a curious list, found in an Inspector's letter of 1793. Members of the militia were expected to equip themselves, and were heavily fined for non-attendance at the drills, which at first were held once a week and later at longer intervals.
After Luzerne County was established, its militia was divided into several battalions for convenience. In this region the men were included in what was called "the Upper Battalion." In August, 1788, John Jenkins was Lieut. Colonel ; John Swift, Major. Evidently by common consent, Franklin was to be Colonel, but at this time he was in prison. There were eight companies of this battalion, Tioga and Sheshequin including the men of these settlements. Little seems to be known about the number of men or appointment of officers. Com- pany drills were held once a month, and later quarterly, and battalion drills at longer intervals. A little information is gleaned from Frank- lin's diaries, according to which there was neither a monthly nor quar- terly meeting. In 1798, fearing war with France, Governor Mifflin issued a circular to all militia officers to see that their men were put into condition for active service, and when the call was made for volunteers, a company was raised of 75 men, with several recruits from Tioga Point, and attached to the Eleventh Regiment U. S .; disbanded after Jefferson was elected. In 1807 the militia of Bradford County was included in the Fifty-seventh Regiment. John Spalding became
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
Colonel of this regiment, which met at Asylum for drill in April and September, 1808. In 1820, according to a Militia roll yet in existence,
"The men of Athens composed the 6th Company, 15 Regt 2nd Brigade, 9th Div. Penn'a Militia; Capt. Elias S. Matthewson; Lieuts. Charles L. Hopkins and Isaac Tompkins; Ensign Julius Tozer, Jr .; Sergeants, John Snell, Guy Tozer, Wm. Briggs, Harris Murray, Harry R. Backus; Corporals Obad'h Spalding and George R. Stephens; Drummer Orrin Ballard; Fifer Lockwood Smith."
There is also mention of a Roll of the Athens and Sheshequin Rifle Co., 1825, Jabez Fish, Capt., and Julius Tozer, 2d Lieut.
Very little is known nowadays of the ways of the militia. "Gen- eral training day" was looked forward to as a great event, when "exercise in the manual of arms and manouvres" was indulged in, or enforced. It is said in later years the exercise was more of a farce than a drill. The Athens and Sheshequin Company evidently issued
THIS IS TO OFFICEY Julius Jogar Jura
has equipt, joined and serred, the full length of time required by the act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a member of the Athens & Sheshequin RIFLE Company, attached to the 15th Reg., in the 2d Brigade, of the 9th Division of Penn. Malitia IN TESTIMONY WIEREST I have herevuto set my hand and seal, this //Aday of May its 1829
July Fish; Caft
Sheshequin May 11th, 1829.
certificates to their men, but whether as a discharge or exonera- tion from further service is not known. The accompanying cut is made from the only one ever seen by author. This company was uni- formed, and their last general parade was held in Litchfield Center about 1836. There was, however, a later company or battalion in this locality, of which Horace Williston, Jr., was General, and Charles F. Welles, Jr., Colonel. In 1841, through the medium of the Athens Scribe, "Horace Williston offers himself to Volunteers and Militia of 2nd Brigade 9th Div. Penna. Militia as candidate for Brigade General." This looks as though the officers were chosen by vote of the men, although Col. Welles also had an appointment from the Governor, as had General Henry Welles after the reorganization of the militia according to an Act of 1811 to 1812. This battalion was equipped, according to accompanying cut, with a continental uniform of dark blue with scarlet facings. The portrait of General Williston (Chap. XIV) is taken in his uniform. The last meeting of this bat- talion was at Athens about 1850. The rendezvous was at Mr. Le Dioyts, who occupied the old Hollenback house. The drills and ma- noeuvres were partly on the green and partly up and down the village street on horseback, where the gay uniforms, flashing swords and waving plumes made a brave sight, still enthusiastically described by
439
THE LAST "TRAINING DAY"
those who saw it with appreciative childish eyes. Mrs. Perkins tells of a "light horse company uniformed in blue and red with flowing sashes and nodding plumes making a fine appearance on their noble steeds." Z. F. Walker, who was present at the last general training, tells of a false officer "generalissimo," who led the van mounted on horseback, with gay regimentals and gorgeous tin spurs.
COAT AND HAT OF COL. C. F. WELLES
CHAPTER XVIII
1810-1827.
SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS
Caton's Interest and Its Adjustment-Many Propositions for the Indian Arrow-Erection of Bradford County-Politics and Parties in New Bradford-The Washingtonian and Its Career-Renewal of Welles-Matthewson Controversy as a Party Issue-Seven Years Before the Legislature-The Final Settlement in 1827-Disposition of Caton's Lands
Having settled the claims of the Connecticut settlers for the pres- ent, let us return to the Pennsylvania claimants. While Richard Caton's letters of this period have not been preserved, there are a num- ber of copies of answers to his from different persons. From these we glean that he had been on the alert for the possibility of compensation, according to the various new Acts of the State. Lockhart had never been paid the full price of the land, nor had he fulfilled his promise to make good the Welles and Caton title. Lockhart might have pushed his claim, but it could have been easily met by citing the fact that the State had recognized the Connecticut title instead of his. All this is suggested by Henry Welles' letter of 21st August, 1810, as well as the fact that Caton evidently proposed to sue Lockhart's estate for his losses, Lockhart having died in 1808:
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