A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 70

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

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temperance enterprise, which seems to have prospered. At this time Mr. Davies was justice of the peace, having been commissioned in 1840; and he built a small office on the opposite corner of the new street, making the way to town well guarded by Temperance and Justice. This hotel was later known as the American House, and is still standing, having been moved to the east end of original lot. As may be easily seen in the picture herewith, the north end was the old family residence.

In 1844 Cornelius Hunsiker came to Athens from Cayuga County, N. Y., and was a resident of the borough until his death in December, 1907. He was a son of Jacob Hunsiker and grandson of Jacob, Sr., the original emigrant. The family are of Swiss origin, the name hav- ing never been changed. Mr. Hunsiker was a practical lumberman and told many interesting stories of the days when most men run the river. As he amassed means, he purchased several lots in lower part of village, among them that now occupied by H. C. Smith, with an unfinished house thereon, commenced by the lawyer, J. C. Stevens, who resided here a few years. Having completed the house, he returned to New York State for his bride, Miss Mary Horton. They were married in March, 1852. Of their children only two grew to maturity, Millard, now resident in London, England, and Miss Mary, of Athens. Some members of the Horton family have also had residence here, and Miss Sarah Horton has long made her home with her sister. The present home of the family is on the site of Secord's and Hollenback's location, the house, built in 1863 by Frederick T. Page. Probably no property in Athens has had so few owners as this, there having been only three transfers in 122 years. Mr. Hunsiker retired from active business some years before his death, at which time he was the oldest citizen of Athens. He filled the position of Burgess acceptably, and was always deeply interested in the town's advancement.

The political campaign of 1844 was a very lively one in the whole country, and Bradford County was not asleep. Previous to the nomi- nation Henry Clay was a popular candidate, and "Clay Clubs" were organized everywhere. Athens was not behind in this movement, as seen by the following notice in the Bradford Argus of February 17, 1844 :

"At a meeting of the citizens of Athens and the adjacent townships, convened at the Exchange, in the Boro of Athens, on the 10th inst., for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of and adopting measures preparatory to the or- ganization of a Clay Club, on the 22d following.

"On motion, CAPT. NATHANIEL FLOWER, was called to the chair, and H. Tyler was made secretary.

"Resolved, That the chair appoint a Committee consisting of five, to prepare a Constitution for the said club, and to present the same at the time appointed for its organization.

"The chair then named the following gentlemen as said committee: Maj. C. B. Stuart, H. Tyler, Jas. H. Welles, Jno. F. Satterlee, J. L. N. Shepard.

"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, for the purpose of select- ing officers for the club, when organized.

"Whereupon, the chairman appointed Gen. H. Williston, E. Wolcott and E. A. Murray a committee for such purpose.

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HOT POLITICS IN 1844

"The meeting was then ably addressed by H. W. Patrick, Esq. and Col. Chas. F. Welles, at the close of which, it was

"Resolved, That this meeting extend a general invitation to the citizens of Bradford Co. to attend at the formation of our Club, on the 22d.

"Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Athens Advocate and Bradford Argus.

"Resolved, That this meeting adjourn to meet at this house on the 22d inst. at one o'clock, P. M.

(Signed by the Officers)

"Notice is hereby given that in conformity with the above, a meeting will be held at the Exchange on Thursday, the 22d inst. (Washington's birthday). It is ex- pected that the Hon. J. C. Clark will address the meeting."

Clay was not nominated, therefore we will not pursue the career of this club, but will give an account of the fall campaign as written for us by one who was there:

"Early in the autumn of 1844 there was a Democratic meeting in Athens, which exceeded in numbers any political gathering I ever saw in the old town. Crowds came from every direction, on foot, on horseback, and in all kinds of ve- hicles. However, the meeting was very enthusiastic, and the enthusiasm continued until election. In those days the state and county elections were held in October ; the national as now, in November. The October election was hotly contested, and the Democrats were victorious. But efforts were made to increase the Demo- cratic majority of Bradford county at the November election. Among other schemes to accomplish that end was a proposition by the democratic ladies of Towanda to present a silken banner to the town making the greatest increase in its majority from one election to the other. This aroused the Democrats in each town to greater efforts to secure the banner for themselves; and consequently the contest was a hot one. Athens Democrats were successful, and Athens became the 'banner town.'

"A short time after elec- tion a day was set on which to make the presentation; and at the time appointed a large crowd had gathered on the Academy green. A delegation of the leading democrats of Towanda came up, bringing the banner. Hon. David Wilmot made an eloquent presentation- speech, and the banner was ac- cepted by Doctor Thomas Hus- ton, who although a good Dem- ocrat, became covered with much confusion. In the even- ing there was a torch-light pro- cession, followed by a celebra- tion over the Presidential elec- tion. The jollification was kept up a second day, before the visitors and townspeople were satisfied. The reception of the banner was long remem- bered and talked of by the par- ticipants, who have now 'passed the dark river of death.' Only three or four old men who were then young boys, and whose memory extends back to that time, are left. The old banner survives, and I am pleased to know, is in the possession of good parties, who will treasure it as a relic of bygone days."

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The democrats of Athens placed the banner for safe-keeping in the hands of a noted member of their party, Guy Tozer, Sr., by whose family it was guarded for fifty years, and whose son, the late Ralph Tozer, wrote the above ac- count. It now hangs in the Tioga Point Museum, with a portrait of the famous Wilmot attached. We think our readers will vote it a most amazing production. We have been unable to learn the designer, or lady-seamstresses of this work of art.

Athens was visited by Sherman Day, the historian, about this time. His remarks on the town are given from "Historical Collections of Pennsylvania," published in 1843.

"Athens now one of the pleasantest villages in Pennsylvania, extends across. an isthmus between the Tioga and Susquehanna rivers about 2 miles above their confluence. Above and below the town, the land widens out into meadows of sur- passing fertility. The long main street of the village runs lengthwise of the isth- mus and is adorned by delightful residences, and verdant shades and shrubbery. The annexed view exhibits the northern entrance to the street. There is an Academy here, and Presbyterian, Methodist and Episcopal churches. * * * On the completion of the North Branch canal, a great increase of trade may be an- ticipated. Population 435. The whole region around Tioga is highly picturesque. The annexed view24 was taken from the Sheshequin road, immediately overlook- ing the confluence of the rivers. Directly in front are the broad meadows below Athens, with the town in the distance and the valleys of the two rivers stretching away among the hills of New York. Tioga Point from its geographical position has been noted in the annals of Indian warfare, as the site of an ancient Indian town, and the place of rendezvous for parties or armies passing up or down the two great streams. At the lower end of the village are the remains of an old fort erected during the Indian wars."

It was thus described in the Gasetteer of the United States for 1843 :

"Athens, formerly called Tioga Point, contains a Presbyterian Church, an Academy, 11 stores, 60 dwellings and 435 inhabitants. The township has two fulling mills, one woolen factory, two grist mills and fourteen sawmills ; popu- lation 1532."

It seems impossible to note every family in the town at this period. Naturally many mechanics and artisans were attracted, as well as spec- ulators, merchants and plain citizens, on account of the facilities to be obtained by the projected canals and railroads. We have some curios- ity about the harnessmaker whose "name was longer than the ten com- mandments." The pioneers were now passing away, and their chil- dren were become the men and women of the community. One who wrote of Main Street at this time for us mentions many names now unknown, as Arnold, Bottom, Totten, Grover, Brockway, etc. Black Betsey, one of the old Backus or Saltmarsh slaves, is mentioned as a noted character ; she was the village caterer. The younger generation of Satterlees, Mathewsons, McDuffees, Murrays, Spaldings, Morleys, Snells, Welles and others were active participants in the life of the com- munity. Previous to 1850 there were no buildings but one or two small houses between Paine Street and intersection of Main and Elmira ; the land was cleared and cultivated as farm land.

24 The picture of Main Street was copied from a painting then the property of Mr. J. E. Canfield, now of Mrs. C. S. Maurice, by whose kindness the original has been reproduced for this volume. Clovercroft is easily recognizable. Just beyond is the house built by David M. Cook; also Ellsworth's brick block. On the right of the picture is the house now occupied by Mrs. L. M. Park (builder unknown), the old Exchange Hotel being just below, and Jake Hard- er's gun shop standing at end of present Harris Street. The artist of this remarkable painting is unknown.

MAIN STREET IN 1840, LOOKING SOUTH FROM "BURYING GROUND HILL"

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ANNALS OF EARLY ATHENS

The old Irwin Tavern was kept in 1846 by Alanson Lyon, who had moved to town from Burlington, where he had been engaged in busi- ness for the sons of General Welles. This family is well remembered for the bright and attractive daughters. While they later removed to the West, they never lost their interest in old Athens.

In 1850 Moses Sawyer was still an active citizen and popular tailor ; he was later a resident of Waverly. About this date William Wilson (popularly called Billy), who married Cynthia, daughter of Abraham Snell, was one of the thriving young merchants in the new brick block. William Myers, an industrious citizen, had succeeded A. T. McGeorge as cabinetmaker. Thomas Evans, a Methodist preacher, who had an early residence in Litchfield, settled in Athens in 1848, coming from New York State. He was the father of Isaac Evans, the well known lawyer, and of Mary, who married Benson Carner, and is the mother of Orson, Clinton and Evans Carner, citizens of to-day. 'Squire North- rup, a native of Orange County, settled here at this time, and was well known as a produce merchant, as later was his son George; and he has other descendants in the valley.

The family of Peter Meeker came at this period. While not per- manent residents, they are well remembered, especially Augustus Meeker, who was a brave Captain of an Athens Company in the Civil War.

John Willoughby Nevins, a Scotch-Irishman, grandfather of pres- ent residents Mahlon and Alonzo, was a Methodist preacher in this vicin- ity prior to 1850, and finally located in Athens, where the family have resided ever since. The Nevins first settled in New England, and had a fine Revolutionary record. John M. Pike, who had previously settled at Ulster and married Miami Lockwood, came to Athens in 1850, pur- chased the Irwin tavern and continued landlord until the old hostelry burned in 1875. Mr. Pike was the grandfather of Charles Kellogg, Jr., his only living descendant. Mr. Pike is supposed to have belonged to the Pikes of Revolutionary fame. Josiah Hull, a native of Connecti- cut, father of Charles T. Hull, came in 1847, purchased property corner Main and Ferry Streets, where he lived and died ; he was a skilled me- chanic. One son still occupies part of the original property. About 1846 the Fritcher family came to Athens from Syracuse ; Henry, James, George and Maria. Their parents were John Fritcher and Maria Pal- mer of Palatine Bridge, N. Y. Later James was a resident of Waverly, where he died, leaving some descendants; George, after a brief resi- dence in Athens removed to Owego. Henry was a resident for many years, finally returning to Syracuse. He married Ann Sprague Ryder of Providence, R. I., October 23, 1825, and raised a large family of children, who are well remembered by the older residents of Athens. Henry was an active business man, and he and his wife were highly es- teemed. Maria married Martin Rogers of Athens; later they went to Iowa. Another well remembered family was that of William Hancock, a grandson of Isaac Hancock, b. June 7, 1740; d. March 2, 1823, who came from Lancaster, Pa., to settle in Wyalusing at an early date. This family is supposed to be descended from John Hancock, one of the

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signers of the Declaration of Independence; the name John is found in every generation. William's wife was Lucy Northrup of Wyalusing. She was a lovely woman, held in pleasant remembrance. One son, John Frank Hancock, survives, who went West, as did his father several years ago.

In connection with the building of the canal, Athens received her quota of thrifty Irish settlers, who have proved excellent citizens, and reared families of children who reside in Athens to-day, or are well known here. The Colemans seem to have come at the earliest date, about 1847, William, John, Richard and Catherine. The two latter never married. The descendants of John are widely scattered, but well remembered. The family of William are still here, the daughters being well educated, intelligent young women. About 1849 Jeremiah Collins came. He married Joanna, daughter of Catharine Lyons, who, in 1855, had followed their relatives, the Colemans. They reared a large family, some of whom still make Athens their home. There are many other Irish families who came a little later, prosperous and respectable citizens, whose children, having had educational advantages, are among our foremost teachers and scholars.

In 1851 the community suffered a great loss by the death of David Paine, of whom it was then written :

"Few old associates now remain; yet in the early settlement of the Susque- hanna valley, his home for half a century, his name will be remembered as one of those identified with its history and improvements. His warm heart and social disposition won the esteem and love of all who knew him."

Clement Paine's last days were spent in the home of his son in Troy. Of Athens at that time he said: "I remember well when there were but few in the country that I did not know by name, now I hardly know half whom I meet in the streets of the village."

Old associations, however, were renewed in the Old Pioneer meet- ings, instituted in the early fifties by the first settlers of this region, not- ably, Judge McDowell of Chemung, and Thomas Maxwell of Elmira. The first "Pioneer Festival" was held at Elmira March 4, 1853, at Haight's Hotel, the object being "to save from oblivion the history of the settlement of the Chemung and Susquehanna Valleys." According to the Owego Gazette it was for the settlers of Tioga, Chemung, Steuben and Bradford Counties. The object not being generally understood, the attendance was small. The chief address was by Thomas Maxwell. Unfortunately there is no known complete record of any of these meet- ings. It was resolved to hold the next on Washington's birthday, 1854, at Tioga Point. The only known record of this meeting is in the preface to "Early Times," and a verbal account given to the writer by Ralph Tozer. Major Zephon Flower presided. Judge John G. McDowell made an address, deploring the change of name from Tioga Point to Athens, saying : "To me there is a religion in old names." Judge Avery's address was in substance the first part of his sketches of the Susque- hanna Valley, later published in the Owego St. Nicholas. The third meeting was held February 22, 1855, at Owego, in Ahwaga Hall, which was crowded with people from Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Broome, Tompkins, Bradford and Susquehanna Counties. G. H. Barstow pre-

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sided. It was decided to elect officers annually, committees were ap- pointed, etc., yet no secretary's book or record seems to have been kept. "Unfortunately those present did not record their names." From this locality are mentioned Job Shepard and J. F. Satterlee. There was a large exhibit of relics, among others, "The Gore spy-glass said to have been taken by Col. John Franklin, was exhibited by a Gore."

The Gazette made special mention of "the highly respectable attend- ance from Bradford County, admirably represented by many of the best men from Towanda and Athens, and the fairest of the ladies, who added life, brilliancy and intellectual enjoyment to the proceedings." A most interesting address was made by C. L. Ward of Towanda, in which he said that he had contemplated writing a history of Wyoming before Miner did; and that he "persuaded Col. Franklin to prepare a plain, unvarnished narrative of the eventful struggle in Wyoming." His partially prepared Ms. was burned, and the Franklin paper mis- laid until completion of Miner's history. Mr. Ward proposed to read this narrative at the Owego meeting, but time did not permit. He, however, read an original poem, which pictured well pioneer life. This has sometimes been printed without the author's name, and appro- priated to a different locality.

The title of his poem was "A Plea for the Pioneer"; it had many stanzas, was fully published in Owego and Towanda papers, and is in the collections of Tioga Point Museum. We here give the last stanza, lack of space preventing a complete reprint :

"God rest them! in their last low homes, With all their brave compeers, Who fought and bled, or toiled and strove, Through many lingering years. That thus their sons in prosperous peace, Could pleasantly review The many changes time has wrought Since this, our land, was new."

One of the after dinner toasts was to Bradford County, as follows :

"The self sacrificing spirit of the devoted Zeisberger consecrated her south- ern limits. The intrepid Pike and his companions made her border warfare mem- orable. Her Fort (Spanish) Hill and Tioga Point on the Northern limit are classic ground. While her Franklin, Satterlee, Maxwell, Flower, Shepard, and a host of others, have rendered her pioneer history instructive and honorable."

Christopher L. Ward responded to this, beginning with an eulogy of William Penn, and showing an original letter from Penn to the Sus- quehanna Indians.

A circular invitation had been sent out to many noted historians for this meeting, and letters were read from Schoolcraft, Brodhead, Cass and others. Schoolcraft wrote:

"The inhabitants of every new district have conquered three great enemies ; 1. the forest, 2. the Indian, 3. want and toil, * ** while the world stands, there shall be no second forest age of the Susquehanna."

Brodhead wrote:

"The more that is known of the history of the locality, the more the people will love it, and stand up for it; not only for what it is, but for what their prede-

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cessors have done and suffered to make it what it is. Collect and preserve the records that can alone tell the real truth, which time is continually burying in oblivion."

By motion at this meeting the counties of Broome, Tompkins, Sus- quehanna, Wyoming and Luzerne were added to the "Pioneer Associa- tion." The fourth meeting was held February 22, 1856, at Binghamton. G. H. Barstow presided and gave a brief summary of previous meet- ings. He said that at Athens no regular orators were appointed, the visitors did not dine together, and that there was no organization, stand- ing officers or registered proceedings previous to the third meeting ; but that every inhabitant of this region was a member if they wished to be so considered. In closing, Mr. Barstow suggested that steps be taken to preserve what had been collected. The secretary, William Stuart, was instructed to procure subscriptions and prepare proceedings for publication in a pamphlet. But no such pamphlet is known to the writer. A poem was read, written by Theodore Munger of Owego, in which were the following lines :

"Ta-he-ho-gah, when the waters meeting clasp each others hands And go singing on together carrying joy to many lands."

Among the tributes to deceased members was a fine one to Judge Williston, closing thus: "As a high-minded Jurist, he did honor to his profession." Tompkins and Schuyler Counties were now added to the association. The fifth Festival was held at Ithaca in 1857, the sixth at Montrose June 2, 1858, and the seventh and last at Wilkes-Barré in June, 1859, George W. Hollenback being the last president. "All per- sons feeling an interest in the history of the early settlement of the Susquehanna country were desired to attend." Charles Miner ridiculed the early "Pioneer Festivals," commiserated Cass, Brodhead and other historians because they were invited, and claimed that in his history he had covered all the ground between Wysox and Wyoming ; wherefore he was assailed by Judge Avery and others, both for omitting "the early settlement and pioneer struggles of the French exiles in Bradford," and for calling some of the staunch patriot pioneers "Tories." In these controversies Miner seems to have been somewhat at fault.

Between 1850 and 1860 Athens evidently had another period of decadence. In 1855, when "Brick Pomeroy" came here to edit the Gazette, he called it "a dead, dried-up and gone-to-seed little village." "Brick," however, kept a live interest in local affairs for two years with his spicy pen. And yet it was in this decade that Welles and Shipman built a large foundry near Bridge and Elmira Street, which was long an active industry in the town ; the building burned in 1872. A large steam mill was also built on Elmira Street, near the foundry. These industries attracted to the town many mechanics, who had but a tem- porary residence, the Freeborns, Wells, and other families. In 1856 the town was greatly excited over a visit from Horace Greeley, who spoke to a large audience at the Exchange Hotel. And perhaps there was still more excitement October 5, 1858, at the sight of a comet re- ported as

"A wonderful sight in the heavens, equal to a star of the first magnitude; its tail 20 to 30 degrees in length situated 2 degrees south of the planet Mars, moving southward at the rate of 3 or 4 degrees in 24 hours."

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ANNALS OF EARLY ATHENS

In 1854, C. F. Welles, who had purchased the Cook property some years before, removed the house, and built one of brick, here

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES F. WELLES, JR., ERECTED 1854

shown, which was the family home until his death in 1872. In this decade came James A. Bristol, an active business man for many years, and who resided here until his death ; erecting soon after his arrival a substantial residence on the edge of the town, where he and his wife spent their lives.

In 1858 Joseph M. Ely came to Athens as a preceptor in the Acad- emy, a work shared by his wife, who was a granddaughter of a Wyo- ming hero, Capt. Asaph Whittelsey. The Ely family have been resi- dents of Athens ever since, the present survivors being Joseph Ely and Mrs. Julia Kinney. Mr. and Mrs. Ely were among the foremost edu- cators of this region, and many pupils hold them in loving remembrance.

In 1859 Samuel Sawyer removed from the township and purchased the lot where his daughter still resides, at the lower end of original vil- lage plot. Former occupants had been William Fritcher and William Norton. Some of Mr. Sawyer's sons are still active men of the town, worthy and respected.

About 1850 came the family of Lathrop May Allen from Fayette- ville, N. Y. He was the son of Hezekiah Allen, a well known lawyer of Pittsfield, Mass., and was descended from the same ancestors as Gen- eral Ethan Allen, and had an interesting Revolutionary record from his mother's family. Lathrop was a soldier in the war of 1812. His son, Fayette A. Allen, spent his life in Athens, where his descendants still reside, Mrs. Joseph Thurston and Eugene Allen. This family long had a home at the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets. In 1856 Sam- uel B. Hoyt settled in the borough. He was the son of a Sheshequin pioneer, Samuel Hoyt, native of Guilford, Ct., who married Mary, daughter of Samuel Bartlett, a friend of Ethan Allen, coming from the same town, Sunderland, Vermont. Samuel Hoyt, Sr., was a skilled

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A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 70

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