USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Annual of the Bradford County Historical Society, 1906 > Part 5
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cess. Wilmot plead the Republican cause with his usual earnest, straightforward and forceful style of speaking, giving to the people a clear presentation of the issues. Writers on current political questions of the time speak of that campaign as being the ablest presentation of the questions involved that was ever made in the State. He was defeated by Wm. F. Packer, the Democratic candi- date. In December of that year Governor Pollock ap- pointed him President Judge of his old district, and the next year he was again elected by the people.
But the political animosity engendered by the Guber- natorial contest among his political opponents, led to an
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David Wilmot.
organized effort to depose him as Judge, and a number of his enemies came to Harrisburg with a view to legis- late him out of his office. A bill was introduced in the Senate attaching Bradford county to a Western district and Susquehanna to an Eastern district. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee and he appeared and made his defense before that committee.
A bill had passed the second reading in the Senate creating a new county out of part of Luzerne. Senator Steele representing that county in the Senate was earnest- ly opposed to the division of his county and seemed will- ing to do anything to defeat the bill, and appealed to me, living in a nearby county, to aid him, and said if I would do so he would stand by me in opposing any movement in destroying Wilmot's Judicial District. I replied, " All right, I will help you," and immediately went to my seat and moved the postponement of the further con- sideration of the bill. It was postponed and never called up again. When the bill destroying Wilmot's district came up, to my great surprise, Senator Steele voted for it. Had he redeemed his pledge of honor made to me, the bill would have been defeated by a tie vote. This bill was defeated in the House by a two-thirds vote. This ended the unjust and unholy war on Judge Wilmot.
He was a delegate at large to the Chicago Republican convention in 1860 and was temporary chairman of that . body which nominated Mr. Lincoln for President. In March, 1861, he was elected U. S. Senator to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Cameron. He advocated the most vigorous prosecution of the war with the Southern Confederacy, and voted for the confis- cation of the property of the rebels.
Governor Curtin appointed him a member of the Peace
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David Wibnot.
Convention, (which met in Washington to patch up a peace with the South); he had no hope of success from the beginning, as peace could be made only by surrend- ering vital principles to the South, and on this question he was unyielding. After sitting nearly a month, they adjourned without any favorable results.
At the end of his term in the Senate, he was appointed by President Lincoln a Judge of the Court of Claims, a position he held until his health became greatly impair- ed, he resigned and shortly afterward passed away at his home in Towanda on the 16th of March, 1868.
His remains lie buried on the bank of the beautiful Susquehanna in " Riverside Cemetery," there to rest as age after age shall pass by, while his memory and fame will live in the history of our country as long as the American Union of States shall have a place among the
1 nations of the world.
|JULIA H. KINNEY, daughter of George and Mary (Carner) Kinney, was born November 4, 1809, in Sheshequin. She was mar- ried May 2, 1835, to Dr. David L. Scott of Towanda. They had two children-Marion, who died in infancy, and George D., a young man of brilliant parts, who died of consumption at the age of 26 years. Mrs. Scott's Towanda home, which was surrounded by Nature's most beautiful flowers, was on the corner of Main and State streets, where the residence of Mrs. D. S. Pratt now stands. Mrs. Scott died March 5, 1842, aged 32 years, 4 months and 1 day.]
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JULIA KINNEY SCOTT.
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PAPER BY MISS IDA K. LAYTON.
JULIA KINNEY SCOTT is described as having had a commanding yet modest presence-large, dark and mildly searching eyes-a true and brilliant mind ; her companionship as having been thoughtful yet gladsome. Her intimate and devoted friends who survive her will tell you the story of her environment, her early life and her influence. in their own peculiar and appropriate styles.
Far away from the confused and noisy world, embow- , ered like some sweet picture in the depths of a gigantic emerald isle, lies the charming valley of Sheshequin, hidden among the beautiful Alleghanies. Never did Nature more fully realize the description of Johnson's " Happy Valley" than in this little mountain fastness. Here on the 4th day of November, 1809, Julia H. Kin- ney, the oldest of a family of nine children, was born, and here, amid all lovely and engaging scenes, she grew up. If, as is believed, the beautiful and romantic in na- ture always stamps itself upon and moulds the youthful mind that carefully observes it, in the case of the young Julia, it was in a peculiar and remarkable sense true ; and no spot on the wide earth could have been more aptly chosen for the cradle of the future poet. Even in her nurse's arms she manifested a strange and earnest enthusiasm for all things beautiful that met her senses in the realms of sight and sound.
In her early childhood Julia gave promise of a robust
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Julia Kinney Scott.
and vigorous physical organization and was (in the lan- guage of her father) " a plump, rosy cheeked cherub of a girl ;" but as she grew older and the ardent and imagi- native spirit began to wander forth into new and un- known realms, a change gradually passed over her. She grew slender and almost attenuated ; and the large dark eyes looked out from a pale and dreamy face. Strange fancies grew up in her little mind, to be, in her own beautiful, untutored way, reproduced to others. As might be expected, few appreciated her, and the many who did not, called her a strange, odd child. Yet, how- ever much of "strangeness" there might have been in her childish conceits, they were all beautiful, and gener- ally indicative of a purpose.
She would gather the younger fledgelings of the house- hold nest about her, and, leading them to her garden bower, would detain them hour after hour, listening now to her wild and fanciful, and no doubt inartistie tales, and now to some little song, improvised for the occasion. These pleasant cares of the little girl, were, however, varied by another of a painful character. When she had attained an age of four years, her father was struck by sudden and total blindness, and for two long years it was her task to be his guide and conductor. With her little hand nestled lovingly in his, she would lead him about the house and door-yard, " never failing," (to use his own words) " to lead him out of the way to pluck a flower or to satisfy her inquiring mind at every appearance of novelty. It was a great obstacle thrown in her way," her father regretfully remarked. With most children this remark would, undoubtedly, be true ; but it may be questioned whether her active and enquiring mind was not really expanded far more rapidly and healthfully
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Julia Kinney Scott.
under the influence of a companionship so intimate, and an affection so confidential, as that existing between the blind father and his child.
One trait in Julia's character early developed itself, grew with her growth, and strengthened with her strength, increasing in strength and intensity to the end of her life. That was an ardent love for the young and helpless, and a passion for petting. This extended not only to chil- dren, but to all things young, especially those of animals. If there were a frozen brood of chickens, or a sick lamb, or a calf suffering, she never failed to feed, nurse and resuscitate it, for which little attentions she acquired the pet name of " Dr. Jule."
Among the earliest tastes of Julia was a passion for reading, especially the writings of Burns ; which, indeed, with the Bible, composed for some years, her sole library. But in these two books she possessed an inexhaustible supply of food for both her imagination and her heart. Meanwhile, her own poetic powers were not dormant, but were rapidly acquiring form and tangibility, though in a very untutored way. The cradle songs with which she lulled her infant brothers and sisters to sleep, were, like her tales in their waking hours, improvised for the occasion, and were as striking for their simple grace as for their originality. The wild fancies gradually assumed poetic phrase, and were warbled forth in gay or mourn- ful strains, as the mood of the moment prompted.
There were two or three favorite haunts where Julia was wont to linger, and where the Muses seemed ever most fondly to smile upon her. One was a bower on the mountain side, made charming by its mossy seats, caress- ing vines and glorious prospect. This seems to have been her best loved retreat, and is oftenest apostrophised
Julia Kinney Scott.
in her poems. " My Wildwood Bower," is a gushing memory of that cherished spot, and the " Evening Walk in S." one of the finest descriptive pieces that ever glided from her pen, melodiously describes it. A little article called the "Ghost of the Narrows," is an illustration of her humor. Humor however was far more frequently displayed in her conversation than in her writings.
Ever from the period when she may be said to have reflected at all Julia Kinney felt a deep interest in relig- ion. And this was no occasional, spasmodic feeling, awakened by some brief, peculiar period of public excite- ment ; but a deep, abiding, never sleeping love to God and man, and an earnest desire to do all she could for the improvement of the world. In what way this good was to be done was, in these early years, not so clear to her young heart ; but the longing and striving were still there, and as her intellect gradually expanded, and that heartfelt love to God and man grew broader and deeper, these longings and strivings found perpetual voice in her ever sweeter, holier and higher soaring song, whose echo, though she knew it not, penetrated deeply and with most sanctifying power thousands and thousands of hearts, awakening there the same sweet, undying love which in- spired and filled her own. The doctrinal tenets of her childhood, embracing as they did, universal love and faith, found a fitting home in her large and loving heart; and she clung to the denomination, of which she was through life a most loved and honored member, with an attachment a thousand fold increased by the unmerited scorn which, particularly in that portion of the country where lay her home, were lavishly heaped upon it. The time came when she was to take her stand as its eloquent and high-sould champion ; not in public debate, but as
Julia Kinney Scott.
a minstrel on whose lips the love and truths of God were ever blending, and as a noble, spotless, intellectual wom- an, living the doctrines she believed, ready on all suit- able occasions to defend them.
In 1831 (Miss Kinney was then twenty-two) circum- stances occurred to bring her to the personal acquaint- ance of the able editor of one of her denominational papers. This acquaintance resulted in a request from him to furnish articles for his paper. An engagement was entered into which was followed in a few days by two poems. These poems at once attracted attention, and it was felt that they were written by a poet. It is scarcely a figure, to say that Julia was regarded as an " angel helper " indeed, in many respects to hundreds perhaps thousands of true but trembling hearts. She lived to see a healthier state of religious things in her beloved valley, and to enjoy the stated promulgation of that doctrine so dear to her heart. A thousand little touching expressions, involuntarily penned, even in her shortest letters to her friends affectingly expressed a deep, warm, true, ever living, ever increasing principle of her nature. The poet and the woman were scarcely differ- ent phases of the same pure, gentle, lofty and fervent soul.
" In every act, in every thought, She lived the precepts that she taught."
Alas ! the gay sunshine soon passed away forever But amid all sadness and suffering, the bright wings of that sweet angel of light, Religion, ever hovered smilingly, soothingly over her. Her love for literature still re- mained, and some of her finest, most elevated productions were composed during her last winter and brief period
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Julia Kinney Scott.
of perpetual illness intervening between it and her death. She had formed plans for other works, also, which were, alas, never to be carried into execution. Her interest in her friends and their successes seemed to grow warmer and more earnest as life ebbed slowly away. The record of that life, so lovely in its morning, its noonday, and its evening, are now closed these sixty-three years. She lies buried in our " Riverside Cemetery " by her "river of the hills " with murmuring water, and singing birds, and the shifting shadows of springtime, and summer and gor- geous autumn over and around her grave. Favorite and favored fir trees watch by her head, while silently pointing upwards and the Susquehanna flows by in its . quiet beauty, a symbol of that spiritual influence of hers which shall flow on forever.
THE QUESTION BOX.
1. Where have battles been fought between the whites and Indians in Bradford county ?
A. In the Hartley expedition, 1778, near Canton, and at Indian Hill on the lower edge of the county ; in 1782, on Vaughan Hill, Wyalusing township, between the In- dians and the Franklin rescuing party.
2. Where in Bradford county did the Indians rendez- vous before their advance upon Wyoming in 1778 ?
A. At Tioga Point, now Athens.
3. What two noted military expeditions were made into Bradford county during the Revolutionary War ?
A. The Hartley expedition, 1778, and Sullivan ex- pedition, 1779.
4. Who were the Moravians and where did they have missions in Bradford county ?
A. The Moravians, or Moravian Brethren, originated in Bohemia, where they formed an evangelical church, which existed before the Reformation, was stamped out about 1627 and revived during the first half of the 18th century. They first settled in Georgia in 1735, but soon moved to Pennsylvania. They instituted a commission of labor, the lands were owned by the church, and the members worked them, receiving in return the necessi- ties of life. The plan existed till 1762, and greatly aided the church in sending out its itinerant ministers and missionaries. They did a great work among the Indians, having missions in Bradford county at Wyalusing and Ulster.
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The Question Box.
5. What noted Indian Queen lived in Bradford coun- ty ? Where was her village and what may be related of her?
A. Queen Esther, who had a village a little above Milan in Athens township. She was present at the mas- sacre of Wyoming, 1778, and led the Indians into the fort after it was surrendered. Prisoners, captured in the battle, were taken to the " Bloody Rock," where fourteen of them are said to have received their death blow from a tomahawk in the hands of this Seneca squaw.
6. When during the Revolution was one-third of the whole American army encamped in Bradford county ?
A. At Tioga Point, 1779, being the combined forces of Generals Sullivan and Clinton, amounting to about 5,000 men.
7. During what war and for what purpose was a fort erected in Bradford county ?
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A. The Revolutionary war as a base of supplies, defense of the boats, protection of the women, children, invalid soldiers and unnecessary baggage which had been left behind.
S. What was the most important Indian town in Bradford county ?
A. After being known to white men, Diahoga where Athens village now is.
9. Who was the first white man to explore this sec- tion and make visits among the Indians ?
A. Conrad Weiser in 1737.
10. To what extent had Bradford county been occu- pied by the Indians, either by settlements or as hunting grounds ?
A. Every township in the county.
11. What important Indian treaty was held in Brad-
The Question Bo.r.
ford county ? What noted personages were associated with it ?
A. The treaty of 1790, at Tioga Point. The nations present, either collectively or by representation, were the Senecas, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Chippewas and the Stockbridge Indians. The chiefs who took the most active part in the council were Red Jacket, Farmer's Brother, Little Billy, Captain Hendrick, Aupaumut, Fish Carrier, Good Peter and Big Tree. The United States Government was represented by Col. Timothy Pickering as commissioner. Thomas Morris, son of Rob- ert Morris of Philadelphia, was present on the occasion and adopted into the Seneca nation as Sachem Otetiani (" always ready.").
12. What was known as the Great Indian Path ? Describe it.
A. See Captain Wilt's article, Indian Paths, page 25.
13. Who were the " Yankees " and " Pennamites ?"
A. The " Yankees" were New Englanders who held and defended their interests under Connecticut title ; the " Pennamites" those who derived their land titles through the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania.
14. What man distinguished in the Yankee and Pen- namite war as a Revolutionary soldier is buried in Brad- ford county ?
A. Col. John Franklin, who is buried on the east bank of the Susquehanna in Athens township.
15. What girl was the heroine of pioneer times in Bradford county ?
A. Elizabeth Fox, afterwards the wife of William Means of Towanda.
16. What thrilling incident in the life of Maj. Moses Van Campen is associated with the history of Wysox ?
The Question Box.
.1. His escape from captivity, when on the night of April 3, 1780, he severed the cords binding him, fell upon his ten Indian captors and with the aid of his com- rade, Peter Pence, slew nine of the savages and wounded the tenth, who escaped.
17. What is the oldest historic landmark in Bradford county ?
A. The great "Standing Stone " on the Asylum side of the river, known by the Indians for centuries.
18. By whom and when was the first permanent set- tlement made in Bradford county ?
A. By Rudolph Fox in 1770, near the mouth of To- wanda creek in Towanda township.
19. What township was settled by Revolutionary soldiers ?
A. Sheshequin, 1783.
20. What township was settled distinctively by the Germans?
A. Overton, 1810.
21. Who were the first permanent settlers in the county-Germans, Dutch or Yankees ?
A. 1st, Germans, 1770; 2nd, Dutch (or Holland),
1773; 3rd, Yankees, or New Englanders, 1774.
22. When, and from what counties was Bradford county formed ?
A. Luzerne and Lycoming, 1812.
23. For whom is Bradford county named ?
A. William Bradford of Pennsylvania, second Attor- ney-General of the United States under President Wash- ington.
24. What townships were formed before the organi- zation of Bradford county ?
A. Wyalusing, Wysox, Athens, Ulster, Burlington, Orwell, Canton, Towanda and Smithfield-9.
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The Question Box.
25. Where were courts first held in Bradford county ?
A. At the "Red Tavern " of Wm. Means, Towanda, 1813.
26. What Bradford county Judge was an Irishman and wore a wig ?
A. Thomas Burnside, second judge of the county.
27. Was slavery ever tolerated in Bradford county ?
A. It was. Several families had slaves ?
28. What unusual occurence in 1806 greatly fright- ened the settlers ?
A. The total eclipse of the sun, or memorable " Dark Day."
29. In what tragic manner did the first permanent settler of Bradford county meet his death ?
A. While fishing on the river near the mouth of Towanda creek, March 4, 1806, the ice gave way, and being unable to get out, Rudolph Fox was drowned.
30. What man for 30 years was eminent in the po- litical history of the county, State and nation ?
A. Gen. Samuel Mckean.
31. What Quaker was eminent in the early political history of the county ?
A. Burr Ridgway.
32. Where was the first church organized in Bradford county ?
A. The first church in the county, Congregational in nature, was the " Church of Christ at Wysox on the Sus- quehanna river in the State of Pennsylvania." It was organized October 3, 1791, at the house of Jehial Frank- lin in Wysox. The original members were Isaac Foster, Jonas Smith, Wm. Coolbaugh, Daniel Guthrey, Huldah Hickok and Rufus Foster, all of whom "entered into a solemn covenant with God and with one another, by
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The Question Bor.
signing their names to a solemn covenant, as in the pres- ence and fear of God." Rev. Jabez Culver was present and officiated. At the same meeting the following were " received by vote into full communion with the church": Jehial Franklin, E. M. Franklin, John Newell, Jonathan Arnold Franklin, Abigail Franklin, Nathan Smith and James Lewis.
33. Who was the merchant prince of pioneer times of this section ?
A. Matthias Hollenback, who early established stores at Tioga Point and Wysox.
34. Why did the French come to Asylum ?
A. During the French Revolution (" Reign of Ter- ror ") many citizens of France in fear of their lives, fled for safety to other parts of Europe and America. A number of these refugees formed a colony and established a settlement at Asylum in 1793.
35. Before the day of roads how did the first settlers find their way into the county ?
A. By the streams in boats and following the Indian trails.
36. What township is named for a tribe of Indians ?
A. Tuscarora.
37. What Bradford county village is named for a noted Frenchman ?
A. LeRaysville, in honor of Vincent LeRay de Chau- mont, who owned many sections of land, embracing the greater part of Eastern Bradford.
38. What township is named for a President of the United States ?
A. Monroe, for President James Monroe.
39. When and for what purpose was a herd of 800 cattle driven through the wilderness of Bradford county ?
The Question Box.
A. In 1779 to supply Sullivan's army with food.
40. How many citizens of Bradford county have actually voted for a President of the United States ?
A. Those who have been Presidential Electors, viz : 1812, Clement Paine, who voted for James Madison ; 1832, Samuel Mckean, who voted for Andrew Jackson ; 1848, Francis Tyler, who voted for Zachary Taylor ; 1856, Reuben Wibur, who voted for James Buchanan ; 1860, Ulysses Mercur chosen, but being ill at the time of the meeting of the electoral college, E. Reed Myer was substituted, who voted for Abraham Lincoln ; 1664, Elias W. Hale, who voted for Abraham Lincoln ; 1880, Nathan C. Elsbree, who voted for James A. Garfield ; 1888, John H. Grant, who voted for Benjamin Harrison; 1904, John H. Brown, who voted for Theodore Roose- velt.
41. What was the pioneer's first grist-mill ?
A. The Indian's invention-the stone mortar and pestle, or the Yankee's device of the hollowed stump with spring-pole and pounder.
42. Why was the ox more generally used than the horse in pioneer times ?
A. The ox was cheaper, not as liable to injury in working over new ground, could be kept more easily than the horse and in case of accident the animal could be killed and flesh used for food.
43. Why was Bradford county's first jail kept at Monroeton ?
A. No public buildings had yet been erected, and the first sheriff, Abner C. Rockwell, who resided at Monroe (then a part of Towanda township), fixed up a log house for a jail and in this kept the prisoners.
44. Where were the first two postoffices established in Bradford county ? How often was the mail received ?
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The Question Bo.r.
A. At Athens and Wyalusing in 1800. The mail was brought in by carriers on foot from Wilkes-Barre, once in two weeks.
45. What fruit, if any, did the first settlers find in coming into the wilderness ?
A. Wild plums, crab apples, grapes and the different wild berries.
46. What town derives its name from the fact that it is in exactly the same latitude as an important European city ?
A. Rome, being in exactly the same latitude as Rome, Italy.
17. What townships are named after distinguished generals ?
A. Warren for Gen. Joseph Warren ; Pike for Gen. Zebulon M. Pike.
48. What townships have names of Indian origin ?
A. Sheshequin, Towanda, Tuscarora, Wyalusing and Wysox.
49. What was the big game of pioneer times, and who were some of our noted hunters ?
A. The elk, deer, wolf, panther and bear ; the North- rups, Wilcoxes and Reuben Bumpus were among the most noted hunters.
50. What was used as a substitute for money by the pioneers ?
A. A century ago, trade was carried on almost ex- clusively by barter. The farmer exchanged his corn, wheat, rye, pork, skins, shingles, butter or whatever other surplus articles he had for merchandise. The laborer took his pay in grain, meat or merchandise. At an earlier date skins had a fixed value and were used for money in some localities.
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The Question Bor.
51. When for a period of two years did the pioneers barely escape starving to death ?
1. 1816 and 1817 ; in the former year there was a heavy frost every month and nearly every crop was des- troyed, this left nothing to subsist on until crops grew the next year.
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