USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 79
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Passing the old Northrup property we would at once enter on the once famous Indian path or trail leading to Sheshequin, beginning about as the road is now, in the vicinity of the "turn o' rocks" (whence was sketched the view on our title page), it ran about thirty feet higher, above the high rocks along the present road. Many a story is told of hairbreadth escapes in traversing this path, long the only connection between the settlements. It is to-day quite well-defined, as attested by one who came upon it in climbing the hill (July, 1908). The view therefrom is said to be the most beautiful in the valley. Should we follow it we would visit Mr. Ebenezer Shaw, born in Rhode Island, 5th September, 1771, son of Jeremiah, son of Jeremiah, son of Israel, doubtless the original emigrant. Ebenezer lived to be a centenarian, the gathering to celebrate that event showing the high esteem in which he and his family were held, as they are now.
Another late settler east of the river was Samuel H. MacAfee, b. May 10, 1796, son of Benjamin, of Scotch descent, a Revolutionary soldier, who lived and died in Springfield Township. He was a pioneer of Wyoming, and after the massacre the family suffered the horrors of the flight through the woods, losing one of the boys on the way. No one dared to turn back, but the plucky lad worked his way out at last. The family settled in Sussex County, N. J., the settlement being still known as "MacAfee's Corners." "Samuel was a man of some note in his native state, serving creditably as sheriff, etc." He married Hannah Riggs of Vernon, N. J., and had six children. Came to Athens Township about 1835 or '40, and soon purchased the farm
chased the south half of the Spalding farm, and built the house still occupied by his wife and daughter, the only survivors of his family. He was a judicious and economical business man, as was attested by his fifteen years of satisfactory service as Township Commissioner. He was also a director in the First National Bank of Athens.
583
MILLTOWN NEIGHBORS
on Orange Hill, occupied until very recent years by his son Joel, who purchased his father's farm, "and by industry, economy and good financiering, added largely to his father's possessions and became inde- pendent." He married Sybil Gates, daughter of Isaac Gates of Smith- field (familiarly called General Gates), and they were the parents of the well known active and enterprising business men of the valley, Dana, Judson and Arthur ; and Burton, Jenny (m. Orville Compton), Ida (m. Irvin H. Rogers), Anna (m. Worthy H. Kinney) and Nellie, non-resident. Some other children of Samuel have descendants in this vicinity.
There are, of course, many other settlers of more or less prom- inence whom we have not time to visit, for we must travel far to-day.
While Milltown and Factoryville were closely connected with the village of Athens in early days, their story has been so well told by Mrs. Perkins in "Early Times" that we have really neglected them. The Shepard family are well known, and have already come into our history ; but we must visit another family, that of Samuel Wheelock, who came from Greenboro, Vermont, to the Silver Lake settlement in 1814, and to Athens about 1818. In 1838 he settled in Milltown and soon purchased the Shepard mills on Cayuta Creek, which he and his sons operated for years with great success. He had a large family, mostly sons, several of whom went west. Moses, Sarah and Henry spent the greater part of their lives in Milltown. Moses and Sarah were unmarried, they were greatly respected, being always active and austere members of the Presbyterian Church, to which they made large gifts. Henry was the father of the present family now resident in Sayre, Joseph E. and Mrs. H. D. Angell. The Wheelock family were always influential and helpful citizens, whose memory is perpetuated by the beautiful memorial chapel erected by their descendants near their old home, just above Sayre.
Simon Spalding was an active citizen of Milltown, where his old homestead still stands; he married Eliza, daughter of Abner Murray and Dorothea Harris ; he had no sons, and only one of his daughters was married, Dorothea, to Jarvis Peloubet ; his few descendants are widely scattered. The names of Crocker, Elwell, Perry, Spring, Rice, Morgan," Muzzy, Thomas and others, once influential citizens of this vicinity, have now entirely disappeared. Especially noticeable was the Elwell family, who came from Dutchess County, N. Y.
An early settler in this locality who has not been mentioned was Adam Cranse, who came in 1800, and in 1806, in partnership with John Shepard, purchased 500 acres of the Howell tract bordering on the river, later known as the farms of Cranse, Woodworth, Robb, Ford- ham and Wheelock. Adam and Celestia Cranse were the ancestors of a numerous progeny, scattered over the township and elsewhere. Many of the older ones are buried in the Milltown cemetery. Adam Cranse was a prosperous farmer and established a ferry near the State Line. He was also the superintendent of an important shad fishery on an
6 One of the Morgans was an expert potter and made bowls, milk pans, etc., for the housewives from the red clay of the neighborhood, which he decorated always in yellow.
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
island opposite his farm, of which Mrs. Perkins gives a full description in "Early Times," page 157. A later settler, whom we may meet on our rambles, is Luther Stone, of Connecticut descent, who came to the township in 1834 and purchased a tannery property already established at the State Line, at a point long called Factoryville, close to Milltown. He had four children, three of whom have been almost life long res- idents of the valley : William, James and Sarah (Mrs. Emmett Moore). Here let us ramble across the plains (to-day a net work of railroads and trolley lines ) to the old Lovers' Lane, which will take us westward to the possessions of Col. Levi Westbrook, who came here about 1835, purchasing several hundred acres from the old Erwin tract, all wilder- ness. However, he at once engaged a large force of axemen and speed- ily cleared the land for cultivation ; it is one of the finest farms of the region. Later the property was purchased by Levi's brother, known as General Abram Westbrook, whose family occupy the property to- day. He operated the saw and grist mills at Toodleytown, as well as an extensive butter and cheese manufactory. This family, though quiet and unobtrusive, have been active and industrious citizens.
While, as is well known, Waverly is a modern town, dating from the building of the Erie Road, the settlements of Ellistown, Nichols, Chemung and Wellsburg were made in the early days, and were all closely associated with Tioga Point. For the pioneer had ever need of his neighbors, and they often traveled many miles to assist in clear- ing, chopping and raising. Ellistown was rightfully named for Ebenezer Ellis, who raised a family of thirteen children. He settled at Nichols or Wapsena in 1787 and at Ellistown in 1791. Thither came also the Mills, Saunders, Swartwoods and others; and in 1794 "John Hanna, a man of means and merit," who also raised a large family of children, attained great age, and was the source of much historical informa- tion. Nichols, which was also called by the Indian name from the creek, Wappasening or Wapsena (meaning east), is the next settlement. Nichols was originally part of Hooper's patent and Coxe's patent. The first permanent settler was probably Emanuel Coryell, who came as agent for Col. Hooper's lands. These lands, unlike those about Athens, "were held at reasonable prices, and liberal means were adopted to induce immigration from the Eastern States," and the section filled up rapidly. Mr. Coryell, with his family, started from his home on the Delaware for the "Susquehanna country" in 1791, traveling with his family in true emigrant fashion by wagon to Wilkes-Barré. Here they obtained a Durham boat for themselves and their belongings, and were "poled up the river" like all the pioneers. The river being low, the journey occupied two weeks, when they landed at Coryell's Eddy, near a fine Indian clearing, where eventually they built their house. A few years later Mr. Coryell was appointed first judge of the county court, and thereafter was always known as Judge Coryell. He soon took up a large tract of river land and one of wild land, and proceeded to subdue the wilderness. The Cole family from Wyoming were on this land at his arrival, claiming, however, only possessory rights. Next came John
585
NICHOLS AND CHEMUNG NEIGHBORS
Smyth ; and later the Shoemakers, Palmers, Platts, Formans, Canfields, Lounsberrys, Cadys, Barstows, Kirbys and many others.
Judge Coryell filled the numerous offices to which he was called in town and county with credit and ability. He was a true gentleman of the old school, and his wife was said to be one of the most interesting women of her time. They reared five sons and six daughters, who grew to maturity, thus leaving a large circle of descendants, who, like their ancestor, have always held the respect of the community.
A later settler who attained much prominence was Gamaliel H. Barstow, who came from Connecticut in 1811 prepared for the practice of medicine, in which he was soon considerably engaged. Dr. Barstow married a daughter of Judge Coryell. He was called to fill so many public offices that he abandoned his profession in a few years. His quaint old home, built in 1835, has now entirely disappeared. The Coryells and the Barstows were always among the foremost people of Nichols, though now widely scattered. Mrs. John Williston and Mrs. Charles Kellogg are descendants of the Coryells and Barstows. George Kirby, the first of the family of that name, was a friend of Gamaliel Barstow in Great Barrington, Mass., and followed him to Nichols in 1814, where he soon became one of its most prosperous inhabitants ; and his descendants have all become sound financiers, well known through- out this region. Dr. Barstow was a man of culture, and accumulated a valuable library of rare old books. Educational facilities were lim- ited, and many of the children were sent to the Athens Academy, walk- ing back and forth through the forest. The nearest stores and mills were at Tioga Point, and later at Owego, so the Nichols pioneers de- pended largely on their own resources, and very often had to go without bread if the journey to the mill could not be made, or the mill unable to run for lack of water. While the first settlers lived on scattered farms, a village was established at the coming of Dr. Barstow, which was called "the Corners," and later Nichols Village.
The pioneers along the Chemung were the McDowells, Bucks, Wyncoops, Bentleys and others. Green Bentley gave the name to Bentley Creek ; Abner Wells to Wellsburg, Jacob Lowman to Low- mansville. Captain Abner Wells was a descendant in the fifth gen- eration from William Wells or Wills of Southold, L. I., a different family from the Welles who settled at Tioga Point. Abner gained his title by Revolutionary service, and was a graduate of Princeton College.
Scattered along the river from Chemung to Newtown were the Kelseys, Mitchells, Middaughs, Millers, Bakers, Tubbs, Hammonds, Parshalls, Boviers, Jenkins, Keeneys, Seelys and many others. These settlements have been pretty well written up for gazetteers and county histories. Lebbeus Hammond was one of the two men who escaped from Queen Esther ; Thomas Keeney was one of Pickering's abductors. Some of these Chemung pioneers have descendants in Athens to-day.
Elmira or Newtown needs a historian; it should be a matter of chagrin that so interesting a history is only told in county histories, newspapers and old directories. We are glad to note, however, as we are going to press, the erection of a substantial granite marker on the
586
OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
real Newtown battlefield by the Newtown Battle Chapter of S. A. R. of Elmira. June 27, 1908.
Our task is more than done. Originally we planned but to portray the early struggles of the pioneers with the wilderness, the savage, the Tory, and worst of all with themselves in the controversy for right of soil. But having broken bounds and endeavored to note the pioneers, we are too well aware that we may seem to have slighted many worthy men and women. Far better to have told only of the deeds, thus por- traying the characters of the doers.
Peace broods over the lovely valley to-day. The warwhoop, the wolf's howl and the click of the old flint locks are heard no more. The wilderness has given way to fertile farms and prosperous towns. The curtain falls, "the lights are out, and gone are all the guests." Reader, let
"Thy thoughts be with the Dead ; with them To live in long-past years ;
Their virtues love, their faults condemn, Partake their hopes and fears, And from their lessons seek and find Instruction with a humble mind."
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, PRINTED SKETCHES AND MANUSCRIPTS CONSULTED IN WRITING THIS HISTORY.
Almon, J. : The Remembrancer, London, 1775-'83.
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Appleton's American Biographical Dictionary, 6 Vols.
Avery, Judge Charles : Sketches in Owego St. Nicholas, published 1856.
Bancroft, George: History of the United States, 9 Vols.
Bartram, John: Observations on a Journey, Etc., 1760.
Beauchamp, Rev. W. M .: History of the Iroquois; Aboriginal Place Names of New York; Metallic Ornaments of the New York Indians.
Blackman, Emily C .: History of Susquehanna County.
Bolles, Albert S .: Pennsylvania, Province and State.
Bradsby, H. C .: History of Bradford County.
Brodhead, John R .: History of New York.
Butterfield, C. W .: Brulé's Discoveries and Explorations.
Campanius, Thomas : A Description of the Province of New Sweden, now called Pennsylvania, 1702.
Campbell, Douglas : The Puritan in Holland, England and America.
Campbell, W. W .: Annals of Tryon County.
Cartier, Jacques : Discours du Voyage de 1735.
Catlin, George : Manners, Customs and Conditions of the North American Indians.
Champlain, Samuel de : Voyages de la Nouvelle France, Laval Ed., 1870.
Chapman, Isaac A .: A Sketch of the History of Wyoming.
Charlevoix : Histoire de la Nouvelle France.
Clark, Gen. John S .: Manuscript, History of Montour Family ; Manuscript, Dis- coverers of Great Rivers.
Clinton, DeWitt : Discourse Before Historical Society.
Cobb, S. H .: The Story of the Palatines.
Cooper, J. F. : The Pioneers.
Cooper, Arthur Erwin : Manuscript, History of Colonel Erwin.
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Colden, Cadwalader : History of the Five Nations of Canada, 1755.
Connecticut Claims in Pennsylvania, two Manuscript Volumes, Historical So- ciety of Pennsylvania.
Craft, Rev. David : History of Bradford County ; Pamphlet History of Wyalus- ing ; Innumerable Notes and Manuscript Copies.
Cusick, David : Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations.
Dablon : Jesuit Relations, 1692.
Day, Sherman : Historical Collections of Pennsylvania; Historical Collections of New York.
De Laet : Novum Orbis, 1630.
De Schweinitz, Rt. Rev .: Life and Times of David Zeisberger.
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Drake, Francis S .: History of the North American Indian.
Egle, William H .: History of Pennsylvania, 1876; Notes and Queries.
Events in Indian History, published in Lancaster, 1841.
Fisher, George S .: The Making of Pennsylvania.
Fiske, John : Critical Period of American History. Gallatian : History of the Chemung Valley.
Gay, W. B .: Gazetteer of Tioga County, 1785-1888.
587
588
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Geikie, Archibald : The Great Ice Age.
Gernerd, J. M. M. : The Now and Then, Muncy, 1868.
Grant, J. L .: Early Modes of Travel and Transportation.
Griffis, Wm. E .: Romance of Discovery.
Guss. Prof. A. L .: Notes in Historical Register.
Haines, Elijah M .: North American Indians.
Halsey, F. W .: The Old New York Frontier.
Hawley, Rev. John : Sketches, published by Cayuga County Historical Society.
Hazard, Samuel: Annals of Pennsylvania.
Heckewelder, Rev. John: A History of the Indians; Narrative of Missions Among the Indians.
Heverly, C. F .: Sheshequin.
Hough, F. B .: Gazetteer of the State of New York.
Hoyt, Henry M .: Brief of a Title in the Seventeen Townships, or
Syllabus of the Controversy Between Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Hubbard, William : Sagoyewatha or Red Jacket.
Jenkins, Howard M .: Pennsylvania, Colonial and Federal.
Johnson, F. C .: Historical Record, 4 Vols.
Johnson, Wesley : Wyoming Memorial.
Jones, George (Count Johannes) : History of Ancient America.
Journals of Soldiers of Sullivan's Expedition.
Kulp, G. B .: Families of the Wyoming Valley.
Lafitau : Moeurs des Sauvages.
Lalemant : Jesuit Relations des Hurons.
La Potherie : Histoire de l'Amerique Septentrionale.
Larned, J. W. : History for Ready Reference.
Larned, Miss Ellen G .: History of Windham County, Connecticut.
Linn, John Blair: Annals of Buffalo Valley, 1877.
Loskiel, George H .: History of the United Brethren Among the Indians.
Lossing, B. J. : Field Book of the American Revolution.
Marsh: Some Accounts of Conduct of Friends Toward Indian Tribes.
Marshe, Witham : Account of Lancaster Treaty, Massachusetts Historical Society Collections.
McFarlane, James : Coal Regions of America.
McMaster : History of Steuben County, New York. .
McMaster, J. B. : History of the People of the United States.
Meginness, J. F. : Otzinachson, 1857.
Miner, Charles : History of Wyoming.
Miner, Sidney : Who Was Queen Esther ?
Morgan, Lewis H .: The League of the Iroquois.
Myers, P. H. : Ensenore.
New York: State Archives; Documentary History, 3 Vols., 1849; Colonial Docu- ments, 15 Vols. Ogilby, John: America.
Ottman : History of Elmira.
Parkman, Francis: The Jesuits in North America; Pioneers of France in the New World; Conspiracy of Pontiac; A Half Century of Conflict.
Pearce, Stewart : Annals of Luzerne County.
Peck, G. D .: Wyoming.
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Pennsylvania Archives.
Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography.
Pennsylvania Society of New York, Year Books of
Perkins, Mrs. G. A .: Early Times on the Susquehanna.
Plowden, Sir Edmund : New Albion.
Plumb, H. B .: History of Hanover Township.
Pouchot, M .: Memoir Upon the Late War in North America of 1755-1760.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Priest, Josiah : American Antiquities; Narrative of the Captivity of Freegift Patchin.
Proud, Robert : History of Pennsylvania, 1797-8.
Ragueneau : Jesuit Relations des Hurons.
Reichel, W. C .: The Crown Inn; Memorials of the Moravian Church.
Rowland, Kate M .: Charles Carroll of Carrollton.
Rochefoucauld, Duc de : Travels in America, 1795.
Rupp, I. Daniel : History of the Counties of Berks and Lebanon.
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Sears, Clinton B .: Ransom Genealogy.
Schoolcraft, H. R .: Archives of Aborigines, 1845.
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Smithsonian Institute, Publications of
Spafford: Gazetteer of New York, 1813.
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Stone, W. L .: Life of Joseph Brant, 1838 ; Life and Times of Red Jacket.
Tarr, Prof. Ralph S .: Elements of Geology; Physical Geography of New York.
Thatcher, Benjamin B .: Indian Biographies, 1832.
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Turner, O. O .: History of the Holland Purchase.
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Manuscripts in Collections of Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Archives at Harrisburg; American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia; Wisconsin Histor- ical Society ; Wyoming Historical and Geological Society ; Tioga Point Historical Society ; Records of the First Presbyterian Church of Athens.
NOTE OF THANKS
A note of thanks to some of those who have rendered us valuable assistance by interview, suggestion or written reminiscences. Many of these have passed away, whose names we give in appreciation of their helpful or inspiring aid :
George T. Ercanbrack, Hon. E. H. Perkins, Charles H. Shepard, Mrs. Charles H. Shepard, Mrs. Julia Ann Thurston, Mrs. Abraham Morley, Jesse Spalding, Mrs. Lydia M. Park, Cornelius Hunsiker, Ralph Tozer, Mrs. Matilda Watkins, Rev. C. C. Corss, Miss Huldah Morley, Isaac Snell, James Wilson, dec'd.
Of the living : Rev. David Craft, Hulon C. Smith, Hosmer H. Billings, Isaac P. Shepard, Charles L. Albertson, Mrs. Sarah P. Elmer, Mrs. Harriet A. Thurs- ton, Mrs. Emily Mathewson Tozer, Mrs. Elizabeth Parry Clapp, Mrs. Celestia Morley Ovenshire, Miss Alice Ransom, Mrs. Ruth Hayden, Mrs. Delphine Sat- terlee Angier, Miss Charlotte Paine, Mrs. Celestia Overton Darlington, Miss Polly Lowe, Miss Helen C. Herrick, Edmond P. Herrick, Mrs. Almira Greene Hoyt, Mrs. E. H. Perkins, Mrs. Cornelia S. Perry, Mrs. Dana J. MacAfee, Miss Nancy Davies, Nathaniel F. Walker, Percy L. Lang. John C. Welles, Charles E. Fritcher, Leroy W. Kingman, Prof. George E. Rogers, Charles T. Hull, Charles Hopkins, Mrs. Louise Saltmarsh Comstock, Chas. W. Bixby.
Dr. John W. Jordan, Librarian of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; Albert C. Bates, Librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society ; Dr. Edwin A. drago, Barber, Curator of Museum in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia; Reuben G. Thwaites, Librarian of the Wisconsin Historical Society; Dr. T. R. Hays, Li- brarian American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia; Thomas L. Montgomery, Librarian of the State of Pennsylvania; Oscar J. Harvey, Historian of Wilkes- 2.40 Barré, Pa .; Rev. Horace E. Hayden, Librarian Wyoming Historical and Geo- logical Society, Wilkes-Barré, Pa .; Luther R. Kelker, State Archivist; Rev. Wil- liam Elliott Griffis; Prof. Ralph S. Tarr, Cornell University; Rev. William M. Beauchamp, Historian; Miss Ellen G. Larned, Historian of Windham, Conn.
There are many others who have responded courteously to questions, loaned scrap-books, etc., to whom we are indebted.
Those who rendered aid by copying maps, making drawings, etc., should also be remembered: Miss Jessie W. Murray, Charles Dana Park, Nathaniel F. Walker, Gilbert S. McClintock.
The portrait of Timothy Pickering, copied from an engraving of Gilbert Stuart's painting, is reproduced on page 175 by the courtesy of Oscar J. Harvey ; note of acknowledgment having been inadvertently omitted in proper place.
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APPENDIX A
REMONSTRANCE OF HENRY WELLES.
The publication at this late date of so bulky a paper, originally intended only for the eyes and ears of a Legislative Committee, may seem to require some explanation or apology.
It has been thought justifiable, in connection with the History of Tioga Point, from several points of view, illustrating as it does-albeit from an ex-parte stand- point-a most important era and incident in that history.
In the first place, this paper presents in concise form probably the only extant statement of the claims and rights of the unpopular side in a great popular controversy, of a time now long past. Secondly, it sets forth in vigorous lan- guage and argument Henry Welles' grounds for "Remonstrance" against the reporting by that Committee of a bill which he held to be both unjust and uncon- stitutional. Thirdly, it constituted, at the time, his best and only "Defence" of his own title, and of his conduct in asserting it, during the long season of war and turmoil which was then at the height of its activity, but which was then also- had he known it-drawing happily to a close.
For an account of the preparation of this "Remonstrance" in the year 1826, by its author, Charles F. Welles, Esq., of Wyalusing, see page 465, also note 9, page 468, ante.
PREFATORY NOTE.
"This printed copy of the plea read in defence by Henry Welles December "1826 before the Committee of the House, is designed for preservation among the "families interested, and those only. Aiming, at the time, to disprove every asser- "tion in the previous adverse report of a former Committee, adopted by the House, "it is far more particular and laborious than otherwise need have been; but to "those who can conceive of the force which Party can apply to its persecutions, as "in this case through seven years of unremitting exertion, the thoroughness of "this defence need be no surprise. The reading of this paper before the Com- "mittec convinced the prosecutor's attorney of the certainty of failure in the "courts; and the suggestion of Townsend Haines Esq. to substitute for the bill "reported a compensation to the Mathewsons was adopted; under which Mrs. "Mathewson received of the treasury nine thousand five hundred dollars. Al- "though this was made a party matter by the influence of the late General Samuel "McKean, every able and respectable member of the Democratic side advocated "the defence of General Welles from first to last, seven years, the most exciting "subject that agitated the House." [C. F. WELLES.]
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