A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 67

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 67

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"Wit was as natural with him as breathing, though it is as impossible to describe wit as to define the taste of old wine or the odor of flowers. If a good hearty laugh is better than medicine, then William Parry did his full share in a sanitary way for Athens. There was but one street in the town, and a joke by Parry, when started at his end of it, would be caught up and carried along to the other, until the entire street resounded with convulsive laughter."-W. F. W.

Thomas Davies and his brother Eustace, who followed him to America and Athens, purchased land of Henry Welles, on west side of Main Street, from north line of old Athens plot, one lot north of "the burying ground hill" to opening of Elmira Street. Industrious mechanics themselves, they sought to benefit others. The land was plotted and sold in small lots, corresponding to those below, and later the street was opened now known as Elm Street. In 1815 Zephon Flower made a plot of the school lands east of Main Street, called "Upper Town of Athens." At a later date Thomas Davies purchased from Mr. Rote lots Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this plot, now occupied by Page Block, Stimson

House and J. L. Elsbree residence (the latter built by H. C. Phelps, a son-in-law of Mr. Davies). He was long a Justice of the Peace, and was often an arbiter in law cases, as he advocated the peaceful settlement of all just claims, greatly assisting in the advancement and progress of the town.

In 1823 a young man came from Ithaca to establish himself in business at Athens, where he spent practically the remainder of his life. George A. Perkins, a young man of good birth and education, had made a specialty of chemistry and pharmacy ; and learning that there was no one of his profession in or near Athens, he was readily in- duced to locate there, being about to marry Julia Anna, daughter of

Julia A. Pahius

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

John Shepard. The house built or remodeled by Judge Herrick on Welles-Caton store lot being then vacant, the young couple took up their abode there, and the first drug store of Athens was opened in the north wing of the house.6 The young man brought with him, as clerk, his younger brother, Edward H. Per- kins, and as they began life together in Athens, we thus present them to our readers. Their portraits were painted about 1830 by the same artist, S. A. Mount, N. A.

George A. Perkins7 was one of the leading mer- chants of Athens for fifty Got Werking years. In 1827 he built the house near Tioga Street, where he and his wife lived together for more than fifty years. Originally, as was the custom of the time, the north part of the house was occupied as a store. George A. Perkins was an earnest Christian, a rare char- acter, such as is seldom known. Very soon after his arrival he was made an Elder of the Congregational Church, later Presbyterian, of which his wife was one of the first communicants; and such he re- mained for sixty-one years.

Edward H. Perkins, after a short residence with his brother, re- turned to Ithaca, completed his education, and was appointed a mid- shipman in the navy in 1828, in which he continued for several years,

6 The Bradford Settler at this time has an advertisement of James Calkin and Charles J. Lockwood, mentioning "Drugs, Medicines, etc." In the next Settler Mr. Perkins' first ad ap- pears, dated October 20th, "Drugs, Medicines Paints and Dye Stuffs, as reasonably it is pre- * sumed as they can be found at Ithaca. * * Also for sale most kinds of such goods as are usually found in country stores."

7 George A. and Edward H. Perkins were descended in the seventh generation from John Perkins, original emigrant; b. 1590, in Newent, Gloucestershire, England. He was a passenger on the ship "Lyon," which anchored at Boston February 5, 1631. After a short res- idence in Boston, John removed to Ipswich, Mass., d. 1654. The father of George and Edward was Augustus, son of John, 3rd, b. at Franklin, Conn., 1773, d. at Ithaca 1831. George A., b. at Norwich, Conn., 1798, d. at Athens 1884, m. Julia Anna, dau. of John Shepard. To them were born eight children, all of whom grew to maturity, and are well known in the valley. A fuller account of this family may be found in "Early Times," written by Mrs. Perkins.

8 Edward H. Perkins, b. at Norwich, Conn., April 4, 1810, d. at Athens October 23, 1902, m. 1832, Susan P. Welles. Their children were Henry W., Edward H., Augustus S., Sarah W., George W., Lucy H. and Susan F., all deceased. Mrs. Perkins d. September, 1847, and he was married again, to Mary Eglin. Their children are Mary R., Ellen G., William H., Elizabeth B., and John I., all of whom are living at present. There are also descendants of Edward, Jr., Sarah (who m. Edward James), George W. and Susan (who m. Delos McCurdy).

487

PERKINS AND OVERTON FAMILIES

seeing service in the Paci- fic. Having married Susan, the daughter of Gen. Hen- ry Welles, the family so- licited his abandonment of the sea; he resigned and became associated in busi- ness with his brother, and made Athens his home for the remainder of his long life, attaining the great age of ninety-two years. During this period he was called by his fellow citizens to fill many positions of trust in the town. Under Lincoln's administration, although unsolicited, he re- ceived an appointment at the hands of the Hon. David Wilmot, and other interested friends, as Uni- ted States Consul to Santa Cruz, the capital of the Et. Porkind. Danish Islands. This po- sition he filled for nine years, during which he had many interesting ex- periences, and proved himself worthy of the responsibility vested in him.

'Thomas Overton, already mentioned as coming to Athens in 1807, purchased lots Nos. 28 and 29 in original plot ; and as near as can be learned built the house on the river bank on No. 29, afterwards long the habitation of Dr. Huston. About 1820 he settled in Ulster, keeping a public house there for some years.

His son William9 lived in Athens and Milltown the early part of his life. William Overton was engaged with his brother-in-law D'Alanson Saltmarsh in heavy mail contracts in the Southern states, suffering ruinous losses at the time of the Rebellion by the forfeiture of con- tracts. After this he was in the custom house in New York, and finally lived at Towanda with his son D'Alanson Overton, the late well-

9 William H. Overton m. Eliza, dau. of John Saltmarsh, Sr., and had eight children, b. at Athens and Milltown, to wit, Mary A. (one of the most beautiful girls of early Athens), Orlando, James and Eliza, who died in youth; D'Alanson, Celestia, Emily and William. Mary m. William Shipman and had three sons: D'Alanson, who lived and died at Towanda, m. Eliza Montanye and had two daughters; Celestia m. William B. Darlington and had three daughters; Emily m. Rialdo Dorman and had one son and three daughters. Many descendants of William and Eliza Overton are still living, though there are none at Athens. There are also numerous descendants of Thomas Overton, Sr.'s, family in Towanda and elsewhere. This family were highly respected and beloved throughout this region. Edward Overton, Sr., brother of Thomas, lived in Athens from 1824 to 1832, then removed to Towanda, where he died in 1873.

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

known lawyer. In 1824 William Briggs9* came to Athens, whence, after several years' residence, he removed to Towanda. His daughter Emily married Elisha Satterlee, Jr., and was the mother of C. H. Satterlee, a present resident. In 1825 he built the once well-known hostelry, in

THE OLD EXCHANGE HOTEL

later days called "the Exchange," but originally known as "Briggs' Tavern." The picture here presented was taken after the building was remodelled by the Park brothers in 1840, and shows it in all its glory. It was always the stopping place for the stage, and conse- quently was the most important tavern of the town. When the rattle of the heavy coach was heard, and the crack of the driver's whip, the population, young and old, always rushed out to see the coming of the stage, the event of the day. That this was the stage stand was manifest in the huge sign, on which was portrayed in all too bril- liant colors the coach and four, renewed as often as defaced by wind and weather. When this famous old tavern burned there were many who wished they had remembered to save the sign and the old bell, of which only the clapper remains. At the time of its erection it was thought to be "too far up town," and then it became the very heart and center of the village, sheltering in its day many notable men; Buchanan, Fremont, Van Buren, Greeley, Giddings, Wilmot and others. It knew its greatest prosperity in the days of the stage coach, and after the coming of the railroad was "too far down town." The greater part of the third story was a spacious and famous ball room, called "the Saloon," opening on the balcony. It knew as hosts, in turn, Briggs, George and "Sterry" Park, Olmstead and Birchard, Kinney, Ercanbrack, Welles, Sloan, Jordan, Noble and Patterson. It was the last of the famous old taverns of Tioga Point, as Matthewson's "Red Tavern" was the first; and its destruction was greatly mourned.

9* William Briggs was a direct descendant of John Briggs, "a man of means and ability and a warm personal friend of Gov. Winthrop." John was born in England in 1610 and came over in 1635. He was admitted a freeman in Newport, R. I., in 1638. His descendants later lived near Schenectady, and William came thence to Athens. He was a well-informed man, an old-time gentleman, he lost his private papers in a fire which destroyed his home in Towanda.

489

THE ELLSWORTH FAMILY

L. S. Ellewar DO

Its site is now occupied by the residence and grounds of O. L. Haverly. Just north of it was built, soon after its erec- tion, the house of Dr. William Kiff, in style like Dr. Hopkins', with two wings, although not so pretentious. This house was burned long before the Ex- change perished.

1825 seems to have marked an era of renewed prosperity. The canal boom was begun, and great things were once more hoped for in the town. A brisk young man of means, who had come to town about this time, was Lemuel S. Ellsworth,10 an- other enterprising merchant. He married Caroline Backus, and built a small store on the corner of the Backus property. In 1825 he was a teacher in the

Academy, and about 1840 he built a fine house on lower Main Street (now occupied by Mrs. Noble). This was said to be the first frame house built in Athens that did not include a store, or was not intended for a pub- lic house; and al- though changed by the addition of a modern piazza, it is still an excellent example of careful hand workman- ship. It is very similar to the body of the old house built the same year

FIRST PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN ATHENS

10 Lemuel S. Ellsworth (son of John Ellsworth and Ruth Stoughton of Windsor, Conn.) was sixth in descent from the original emigrant, Josias Ellsworth, who came from England and settled at Windsor, Conn., in 1646; m. Elizabeth Holcomb. John Ellsworth lived for a short

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

by Horace Williston, Sr., although the latter has the usual wings, which were in this case intended for offices. At a later date Lemuel Ellsworth removed to the David Cook house. He was a progressive and en- terprising man, and it is regrettable that there is no earlier portrait in existence. He removed to Chicago about 1850, having been school teacher, postmaster and merchant. His sisters, Emily and Harriet, never married, and lived and died in the old home, loved and honored by all who knew them. There is no trace of this family now in this vicinity, and yet Lemuel Ellsworth seems to have been one of the Makers of Athens; having erected, besides his house, the first brick building in the town, a pretentious edifice for stores and offices, three stories high, to be seen in a later illustration, facing page 512.

In 1825 two English ladies, Sarah and Susan Robb, opened a private school in the house built by Thomas Overton, another distinct advance for the town. About this time Athens lost an active citizen in David Paine, who removed to Portland, Maine. But the lure of the valley was upon him, and within a few years he returned, bringing with him as his second wife the gentle lady who was long a resident of Athens, Anne W. Harding. Having no children by either marriage, he and his cultured wife gathered around them the young people of the community, Mrs. Paine instructing in both music and general branches. It has been said that few homes in old Athens presented more of refined social enjoyment.

At this time David Paine owned all the Island, which was culti- vated as a farm from 1790. This was included in the original grant of Athens, assigned to the second division, in five portions, although lots with corresponding numbers were found on main land. Having orig- inally, therefore, five owners, it later became the property, in turn, of Noah Murray Sr., Samuel Hepburn, David Alexander, David Paine and Horace Williston Jr., and was given the name of its various owners.

In 1826 the town and the owner were agitated over the destruc- tion of the smaller of the Hollenback houses, perhaps it was the Secord house. There seems to have been some quarrel about the land, but only allusions to the contested title are now found. The house was evidently entirely dismantled in the night, even the cranes and chimney bars. Mr. Hollenback was of the opinion that a large number were concerned in "throwing down the house," as he expressed it, though only a few were actual participants, the chief being said to be a stage driver. Mr. Williston was about to vacate the big house in which he had lived several years, during which time the store was apparently not open. Mr. Hollenback, therefore, wrote to Henry Welles asking him to find a new tenant, saying: "I would like the house to be oc- cupied as a tavern and store, and I will give it my custom." He men- tions that Judge Williston gave $60 a year rent for house without store part, the store-house rented for $30, and the little house for $24, giving time in Wilkes-Barré and died there. Lemuel and Lyman, his sons, removed to Athens, and in 1830 the mother and three daughters, Abigail, Harriet and Emily followed them, and long made their home in the house built by Lemuel. Abigail m., 1833, Job Shepard (son of John Shepard), "a just, upright and unassuming man, a quiet Christian gentleman." They had three children; Anna, Cornelia and Henry; the latter born in "Elm Cottage," and later a well known and distinguished citizen of Chicago, was an ardent lover of "the Valley." The children of Lemuel and Caroline Ellsworth were Charlotte, Belle, Frederick, William, Caroline and Julia.

491

ANNALS OF EARLY ATHENS

an idea of values on the Point at this time. This letter was addressed to "Eathens at Tioga Point." In 1819 Abner Murray purchased of Richard Caton the lot now occupied by F. T. Page. Mr. Murray built a house on this lot, but evidently for rent, as indicated in the letter of Mr. Hollenback just quoted. At a little earlier date his brother, Noah Murray, Jr., purchased the lot just above and erected a house and office, close to the river, where he lived until removal to the West in 1831. Noah Jr., was Justice of the Peace from 1816 to 1831, and married more couples than any other known Justice. He had a large family of interesting children; his oldest son, Charles, was one of the most prominent men of his day in his adopted State, Indiana, having a long residence in Elkhart County.

In 1827 Thos. I. Brooks came from Montrose and established a hat factory in the house now occupied by P. J. Stone on village lot No. 25. Mr. Brooks was born in Danbury, Conn., and his wife, Eliza Champin, was born in Norwich, Conn. Some of Mr. Brooks' descend- ants are still residents of the valley. The only one in Athens is Mrs. Robert Finch, a granddaughter. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks lived and died in Athens, active and intelligent Christian people.

Guy Tozer Sr., and Constant Mathewson were merchants from 1820 to 1830.

Nathaniel Clapp Jr.,11 at this period was an ambitious merchant, lumberman and cattle drover; a highly respected citizen, as evinced by his election to the Legislature, and appointment as member of the State Constitutional Amendment Convention in 1837. Possessing the confidence of all, he was banker for the savings of the community. His store was on the lot now occupied by Walter Page; his house the present Canfield house, which was rebuilt by Mr. Clapp, having orig- inally been part of the ill-fated buildings of Guy Tozer on "the Green." Here are some prices from one of his old bills : Butter .10 to Is. per lb, coffee, .75, tea $1. He brought the first cast-iron cooking stoves to Athens about 1840, ponderous affairs, named "the Hathaway." Al- though overtaken by financial disaster, his being the first mercantile failure in Athens, he honorably relinquished all to his customers. Later he became a contractor, living in New York City and Scranton. He was succeeded in his store by Charles Comstock,12 son-in-law of

11 Nathaniel Clapp, b. April 19, 1795, at Livingstone Manor, N. Y., was the son of Nathan- iel Clapp Sr. (of Holland Dutch descent, whose ancestors came over with William Penn), and Germon, a French woman. The Clapps were Quakers, and Nathaniel Sr., always wore the dress. The family settled near Spanish Hill, probably about 1810. The other son, Allen Clapp, m. Ann Quick, and was a lifelong citizen of Athens, greatly beloved in his old age by all the small fry, to whom he was always "Uncle Al." The daughters of Nathaniel Sr., mar- ried and settled here. Nathaniel Jr., m. Cynthia, dau. of Ira Stephens; their children were Julia (m. -- Barnes), H. Clay, who became a prominent contractor, whose family still live in the valley; Stephen G., who lived here until maturity; Amelia (m. William E. Allen), the only survivor of the family. Allen Clapp had several children; his son, Charles W., was a well known and active business man of Athens all his life.

12 Charles Comstock, son of Enos Comstock and Deborah Kellogg, was fifth in descent from the original emigrant, Christopher, who came from England, settled at Fairfield, Conn., and m. Hannah, dau. of Richard Platt. Charles, b. September 25, 1795, at Norwalk, Conn., m. Almira Kingsbery; children, Stanley H., removed to California; Henrietta, m. Stephen, grandson of Dr. Hopkins, descendants settled in New York State; Malcolm, long a resident of this locality, later of the West; and Walter I., a resident of Athens to maturity, now living in New York City, m. Louise, dau. of Orlando and Sarah (Goodrich) Saltmarsh. (The Comstock, Hopkins and Kingsbery genealogies have been carefully traced by a descendant, Charles Hop- kins, of Rome, N. Y.)

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

Col. Kingsbery, who also purchased lot 41, built house still standing, and had his home there many years. Mr. Comstock was a surveyor, and was for a number of years engaged with his father-in-law in sur- veying the Leray lands. Having been in trade at Towanda before his marriage, Col. Kingsbery, who was one of the assignees of Nathaniel Clapp, probably suggested the Athens venture. After the fashion of the day, Mr. Comstock not only had the grocery and provision store, but for several years was an active lumberman. He continued as a merchant until his death, although the old Irwin store was abandoned in 1860 for one in the brick block. His son Stanley was also a mer- chant of Athens on his own responsibility prior to his removal to Cali- fornia. Charles Comstock was one of the first active Episcopalians in Athens, assisted in organizing Trinity Church, and was a member of its first vestry. He was a man of considerable culture, and very public spirited, as shown in the Scribe.

Athens was incorporated as a borough in 1831. It is a strange coincidence that the name first given by the Connecticut claimants was permanently bestowed upon Old Tioga the same year that the former great leader passed away.

Colonel John Franklin, from the time of his last sitting in the Legislature, in 1805, seems to have dropped entirely out of active life. It has been said that "old age was creeping on," but that is hardly ac- curate, for he had not attained his sixtieth year when he stepped aside. Possibly chagrin at the defeat of the Connecticut claim as a whole had some influence over him. He showed his persistency only in neglecting or avoiding application for a Pennsylvania title to his home east of the Susquehanna, where he and his wife led a quiet and retired life. It is at least a small tribute that, as long as he lived, his title was never called in question. He was long revered as a wise counsellor, and he delighted always to tell the story of the struggle of the Connecticut pioneers. It became the custom on the death of any of the early set- tlers to have him make some remarks at the grave, when he always created a lasting impression. Would that these remarks could have been recorded! It is not strange that toward the close of his life his active brain gave way, and the gleam of fire in his eye faded, and the face became shrouded in gloom. Then he was ever in fear of seeming pursuers, and often became violently excited in his imaginary en- counters with his enemies. At this time, for a number of years, he was tenderly cared for by his old comrade, Daniel Moore. March 1, 1831, the fire burned itself out, and the old soldier and patriot was laid to rest, his wife surviving him but three years. Colonel John Franklin died a poor man, a pitiful fact, perhaps however, unknown to him; for the old accounts, still in existence, show that for ten years previous to his death the necessities of life were furnished to him by the merchants of the vicinity entirely on credit. April 15, 1834, was advertised "Pub- lic auction of property of John and Abigail Franklin." The home prop- erty was bought by the executors, Samuel Ovenshire and Amos Frank- lin. Colonel Franklin's only living descendants are from his son Billa, who settled at Palmyra, N. Y., and later at St. Albans. Billa had

493

ZEPHON FLOWER WALKER

nine children, one of whom, Amos, came to live with his grandfather when a lad of seventeen. Some time after Col. Franklin's death, Amos married Cynthia Mckinney ; and while he relinquished the old home, removing to Michigan, it is a curious fact that his daughter Rebecca became the wife of Zephon F. Walker,12* who had inherited the Col. Franklin home from its purchaser, his uncle, Nathaniel F. Flower, a son of the old surveyor, Zephon Flower.

2.F. Hacker

12* Zephon Flower Walker, the well known surveyor and civil engineer, b. in Factory- ville, July 1, 1824, was the son of George Walker, whose father, George, of German descent, settled early at Berwick, Pa., and later in Owego Township, now Nichols. George, Jr., m. Zulimma M., dau. of Maj. Zephon Flower. Z. F. Walker m. Rebecca, dau. of Amos Franklin and Cynthia McKinney. Always associated with his grandfather, he became an expert surveyor at an early age, and held many responsible positions, both in that capacity and as a public officer. He was long assistant engineer of Northern Division of Lehigh Valley Railroad. Mr. Walker d. 1898, highly respected and much regretted. His children were Franklin Z., Nathaniel F., Alfred I., Clara A. (m. George D. Bonfoey), Ada M. and Helena L., all well known in the valley.

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

In 1836 Isaac Lowe, a famous old time blacksmith, came into town from Sheshequin; he married a daughter of a Sheshequin resident, John Christian Forbes, who had a remarkable history, having been with- out doubt the son of a wealthy and possibly noble German family. He has many descendants in the locality, none better known than "Aunt" Polly Lowe, daughter of Isaac, now ninety-four years old, who has been for most of her life an old-fashioned nurse of great repute in the best families of the early pioneers. With faculties unimpaired, she is replete with stories of the olden time, and has been of invaluable as- sistance to the writer, who has known her loving service for a lifetime.

The development of mail and stage routes in the Southern States opened up a very lucrative business at this period, or, at least, fine prospects; and it was engaged in by many Athenians with varying success from 1825 to 1860. The Saltmarsh brothers, Orlando and D'Alanson, were pioneers in this enterprise, and their associates were the Overtons, McDuffees, Tylers, Forbes and, possibly, others.

The first Burgess of Athens was David Paine. The original bor- ough included only the territory between the Welles farm and Ferry Street. Clement Paine had opened Paine Street, and laid out lots west of Main and below the railroad, called "Painesville." (The last of the few houses erected by him, a very quaint building, has just been demolished-1907.) Between Paine Street and the junction of Main and Elmira, or, as it was originally called, "the Newtown Road," the land was only partially cleared, and the only dwelling at date of incorpora- tion seems to have been that of William Parry (now owned by Mrs. Michael Brown). Even as late as 1840 the town children were afraid to go alone as far as Satterlee's Ferry.13

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A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 67

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.] Number of Pages: 726

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 726