Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 122

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318

USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania > Part 122

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"As a sort of diversion during warm nights, ahout the time green corn was right for boiling, a number of hoys and young men mnet at an ap- pointed rendezvous, and with hounds, axes and guns, went 'cooning.' Raccoons were often driven from the corn-fields, and treed by the dogs ; and sometimes half a dozen great trees were felled in one night to se- cure them. After tramping through the woods until tired and hungry, a great fire was huilt near some cornfield, and an armful of roasting ears secured for a delicious supper. Sometimes, though, they came across a melon-patch, or a pear tree ; and then they were made to suffer more than the corn-fields had from the incursions of the raccoons. They were strong and hearty then, and the next day found them at work in the fallow, as juhilant and happy as usual."

In the summer of 1819 a German gentleman of rare intellectual attaininents arrived in the settlement and took up a fifty-acre tract of wild land, known in later years as the Writer farm. This was Secku Meylert, a man soon destined to perform a very prominent part in the rising community. He had previously been possessed of much wealth, and at one time had carried on a heavy banking business in the city of Cassel, having traveled extensively in Europe, and for a time served as an officer of the staff in the French army under Napoleon. The pamphlet of Dr. Rose, of Silver Lake, which he road in England, determined his destination, and he came to Susquehanna County. Although he had the willingness to work, Mr. Meylert was no backwoodsman. His progress was slow and his returns meagre. His proficiency in mathematics and the ancient and modern languages could do him no good in the woods. He tried to keep a store ; but the people had no money, and the effort was a failure. Other investments proving unfortunate, his means soon wasted away, and he was at length obliged to ex- change pioneer life for some other occupation better suited to his training. He tried teaching school at Leach Corners a short time, but the scholars could not understand him well, and abandoning this, he went to Montrose and taught a class in the French language.

In 1833 he removed to Montrose, where for several years he faithfully performed the duties of commis- sioners' clerk, and deputy register and recorder. A brighter morning again dawned upon him. He re- ceived a good compensation for work congenial to his taste, and now large sums came to him from Germany. The agency of large landed estates was placed in his hands, which he handled with such consummate judg-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ment and ability, that he was ultimately given the charge of nearly all the great land tracts belouging to non-resident land-owners in Northeastern Pennsyl- vaniy. He purchased several tracts of wild land, and returning in 1844 to his New Milford farm, augmented this by the purchase of adjoining farms, including the olden-time property of Hezekiah Leach, until it ag- gregated nearly. oue thousand acres. He married Abigail, eldest daughter of Deacon Nichols. They had five sons and three daughters. "He was an active member of the Baptist Church, a zealous Christian, kind, affectionate and benevolent in every good work ; a man of strict integrity, and of great truthfulness ; positive in character, stern and unyielding in the per- formance of his convictions of duty." He died at his home in New Milford, December 30, 1849, aged six- ty-five. Michael Meylert, son of Secku Meylert, in- herited much of his father's habits and characteristics, and purchasing an immense tract of land in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, founded the county-seat at Laporte, took an active part in building a court-house and railroad, and in short became one of the leading men of that county,

The census of 1820 showed the population of New Milford to be six hundred aud ten -- a gain of four hundred and thirty-six since 1810.

John Williams came here about 1824 (?) from Harford. He had originally come from Schuylkill Haven to what is now Franklin. His children were Samuel, who settled on an adjoining tract; Catha- rine, wife of Ansel Perkins; Semalvia; John; Happy Ann, wife of James O. Wellman; Clark D., who resides on part of the old homestead; Elsie; Wil- liam ; and Caroline, wife of Alexander Hannah. There is a grave-yard on the farm, where quite a number from this vicinity have been buried. He died in 1861, aged sixty-six; his wife in 1858, aged fifty-six. About the time John Williams came, pos- sibly a little earlier, William Belcher came from Gib- son and settled in the valley, between his place and Lincoln Hall's. A man by the name of Wayman built a log house on the opposite side of the road from Belcher's about 1830. He remained but a short time, and Elisha Smith moved in about 1832. Con- temporary with these settlers were Peter Page, David Douglas, Evans Bailey, Alanson Williams and Sabinus Blanding. Peter Page came from Vermont, and settled on the hill now owned by Isaac S. Corwin, in East New Milford. David Douglas came in with him, aud the two families lived for some time in one log house. Evans Bailey also had a log house near theirs. A few years afterwards Douglas moved to the other side of the hill and located on a part of the place subsequently owned by Samuel Williams. Alanson Williams located on the farm now owned by Joseph B. Darrow. Sabinus Blanding settled east of Alanson Williams, on the tract afterwards known as the Solomon Williams farm. Solomou Williams came from Newburg, and bought Blanding's improve-

ment in 1828. He took an active part in religious work, and was for many years one of the strongest pillars of the church. He had a large family, which are now scattered in a number of different States. Stephen D. and Hiram are his sons.

In 1830 the population of the township, which at that time included the village, was one thousand.

Among the principal settlers who came here during the next decade were Herman Bailey ; Frank Adams, who located on the place where his widow now re- sides; William Hopkins, who lived awhile on the place where Frank Cole now resides, and then took up the tract where Albert Waldo now lives; Noah Buchanan, who located near Conklin Hartt's place ; and Russel Tanner, who came from Massachusetts and purchased an improvement made by John Ben- nett. Herman Bailey came from Vermont about 1836, and took up a piece of land near where Moon's mills are. Like Mr. Meylert, he was a man of supe- rior education, and could read the Greek, Latin and French languages; but concerning pioneer life he was totally ignorant. He constructed a rude hut of poles and logs in a little brook a few rods to the east of the Asylum school-house, where he had mud for his floor in summer, and water and ice a foot thick in winter. To build this exceedingly primitive cabin, he carried slabs on his back from Corse's saw-mill, nearly two miles distant through the thick hemlock forest, fol- lowing the course of creek, and climbing over old logs and windfalls, with not even a marked tree to guide him. His bed consisted of a board and blanket, and here, beneath the overhanging canopy of sombre hemlocks, he took his solitary repose, unmindful of the sighing of the wind or the hooting of owls. He stayed here about three years, teaching school two winters, and partly clearing three or four acres where Mr. Moon's orchard now is, when his father and brothers came through here on their way to Ohio, and he went with them.

Seth Martin took up the place where Levi P. Tan- ner now lives, just below East New Milford. He had formerly worked in an axe-factory. He had a black- smith-shop here in 1836, and made axes. William Bradford settled near where Erastus Bradford now lives. His two sons, Erastus and John W. H. Brad- ford, live on adjoining farms, one of which includes the old pioneer home. William Coleman settled where N. G. Bishop lives, Jacob Wayman took up the place now occupied by Benton Morgan and Jed- ediah Read located on the John Washburn place. In 1837 Justin Burlingame came and located on the first improvement made by Enoch Smith. His son, Nelson Burlingame, now resides there. George Chandler located ou thetract afterwards owned by Dea- con Jacob Stoddard. Joseph Lewis took up a place on the old Harmony road, one mile north of Mr. Brad- ford's, which has since borne the name of the "Lewis Corners." Alanson Merit located between Messrs. Lewis and Bradford, about 1839. David Wellman

Um Harding

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NEW MILFORD.

came into the "East Woods " in 1836, and took up the place now owned by Norman Tingley.

On the 5th day of October, 1837, snow fell sixteen inches deep. The leaves were all on the trees at the time, and forests and fruit-trees were badly wrecked and broken.

The population of the township in 1840 had in- creased to one thousand one hundred and forty-eight, showing a gain of one hundred and forty-eight in ten years. George Squires remembers passing over the old Harmony road that year, and on the whole dis- tance from Lanesboro' to New Milford he found but five occupied houses. Mr. Lewis' house at the "Lewis Corners " had been burned at the time, and he was not there. Old Mr. Towncr, father of Wil- liam, Daniel, Horton and Henry, was then on what is now known as the "old Towner farm," near the northeast corner of the township. He had probably been there several years, and had quite a clearing. Mr. Squires settled where he now resides, in 1851, and shortly afterwards he was joined by his brother Silas. Peter Albright and Charles Mckinney settled on the Summersville road, to the west of them. At that time the road had been laid out and worked some, and small clearings had been made in the neighborhood of the present places of Messrs. Deaken, Brush and Walworth. The entire road was for many years sup- posed to be in the township of New Milford ; and taxes were paid and the people voted there; but a careful re-survey some years since showed that the section lying between the Lincoln Hall place and George Squires' was in Great Bend.

Anson Waldo came from Connecticut in 1840, and purchased an improvement of William Hopkins, who then took up the " Van Cott place," one mile east of the borough. Lancaster Jennings took up the place where he has ever since resided, in 1842. His axe, was his only capital to begin with, and he experienced many hardships and privations. He was a carpenter by trade, and built many framed buildings for people in this vicinity during the following years. He put up a sort of framed house in his own clearing, and lived here alone for several years before he was married. Mr. Jennings cleared nearly all of his land alone, often working all night burning log-heaps in the fallow, and proceeding with his labors next day as usual.

David Matthews bought the improvement first made by Richard Hartt, and lived there many years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Selotus Beebe, Daniel Matthews and John Reynolds were among the first settlers on the east road, above the Kecp mill. Most of the wild lands in the township had now been taken up, and here the history of the settlement properly closes. Snow fell four feet deep April 19, 1857.

WILLIAM HARDING, the third child of Lemuel (1788-1861) and Polly (Wheat) (1795-1874) Harding, was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1819, and came to New Milford, Susquehanna County, with his

parents, in 1834, where they settled upon Peck Hill. Lemuel Harding had been a farmer, and under his watchful supervision and the careful instruction of his good wife, their thirteen children acquired valuable ideas and sound moral training. Their children were Ann, born 1815, the wife of L. B. Mitchell, a farmer of North Bridgewater ; J. P. Harding; William, sub- ject of this sketch ; Amos W. ; George S., formerly a commission merchant in New York City, now resides at Nicholson, Pa. ; Jerusha, married Lyman B. Cole, a farmer of Bridgewater, and died in 1883; Arminda, married John Sherman and died in 1871 ; Luther M .; Lemuel, Jr .; Mary E., the wife of William F. Hall- stead, general manager of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad ; Henry L .; Silas W .; and Emily J. Harding. Until his twenty-third year, Wil- liam Harding remained upon the home farm and then bought part of his father's farm, which he con- tinued to carry on some few years before purchasing the present Ely farm, whereon he remained eight years. In 1859 he moved once more, having purchased the present homestead on the Montrose and New Mil- ford road, where now his widow and only son reside. In 1867 he bought a half-interest in the cheese factory which had been built upon his land, the firm becoming Clark & Harding. After two years partnership with Mr. Clark and a like term with Mr. Beebe, he took the entire control and carried on a successful business for several years. He also gave considerable atten- tion to the improvement of cattle and favored the Jersey grades, which are still kept on the farm. Mr. Harding always took a warm interest in local matters and was school director nine years, supervisor two terms and auditor. In 1847 he married Almira S., the daughter of John S. and Dotha (Gibbs) Handrick, of New Milford township, who died a year or more after marriage. In March, 1853, he married Sophia C., daughter of Frederick and Betsey (Trumble) Fos- ter, who was born in Bridgewater in 1827. Frederick Foster was one of the earlier settlers in that town- ship, and located where L. B. Cole now resides. His children were George, emigrated to California in 1849, and died on the ocean on his return, in 1852; Char- lotte, married Hibbard Watrous and died about 1868 ; Sophia C. (Mrs. William Harding) ; Adelia, died in early youth; Almon, now in the insurance business in Missouri ; Martin, a merchant in Indiana; Freder- ick, a merchant and interested in mining in Oregon ; Mary, the wife of John Abrahams, died in 1868; Elizabeth, married John Peirce, a successful farmer in Indiana; William; Martha, the wife of Byron Goulding, a land agent in Nebraska, who formerly published the Kearney (Neb.) Non Pareil; and Farnham, who died in childhood. Of this family, three sons entered the Union army during the late war, and William, a sergeant in New Jersey Infantry, died in camp in Virginia in 1863, while Almon and Martin both commanded companies in the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry Vols., and passed through safely.

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

To William and Sophia C. (Foster) Harding were born two children, viz., Lottie A., born 1855, the wife of N. C. Curtis, merchant at Gibson; and William F. Harding, born 1861. Mrs. Harding is a member of the Montrose Baptist Church, which also her husband attended occasionally until his sudden death, on February 5, 1887.

NORMAN TINGLEY .- This family is one of the old- est and one of the largest in the entire county. Elkanah Tingley (1760-1838), the first of the name in Susquehanna County, removed from Attleborough, Mass., in early manhood, to Nanticook, N. Y .; there married, and in 1795 came to " Nine Partners' " settle- ment. He took up the farm whereon Deacon Free- man Tingley now resides and upon which the family reunion is held each year. After the decease of his first wife he married Keziah Mason (1767-1805), who bore him Daniel, Anne (married Joseph Yeoman), Milton, Charles and Mason Tingley. Charles Ting- ley (1796-1862) remained on his father's farm until his marriage, in 1818, when he bought the farm now occupied by his son Urbane, and remained thereon until his death. He enjoyed the respect and esteem of the people, and his judgment and advice were sought by many. He settled a great many estates, and frequently acted as arbitrator in the settlement of disputes. He gave liberally to churches, and was a warm friend of educational interests. He filled nearly all the township offices, and was county com- missioner for three years from 1835. Governor Shunk appointed him associate judge in 1848, and he occupied the bench with Judges William Jessup and Moses C. Tyler until 1852. He married Sally Wil- marth (1798-1881), the daughter of Thomas (1774- 1841) and Sarah (Perry) (1776-1851) Wilmarth. The last named was a cousin of Commodore Perry, the victor of the battle of Lake Erie, and a descendant of Captain Perry, who landed from the " Mayflower." Their children are Warren M., a surveyor and justice of the peace, Hopbottom; Jackson P., a farmer in Harford ; Norman ; Jane L., died suddenly in early womanhood, in 1850; Urbane, before mentioned ; and Homer, also a farmer in this township.

Norman Tingley was born in Harford, November 7, 1826, and in 1850 married Abigail Sweet, born September 15, 1828, in Ohio, to which State her parents went in 1823.

The Sweets were among the earliest settlers, in Harford, and several members of the family have at- tained prominence, Alfred Sweet (1800-72) and Clarissa Capron (1804-40), his first wife, had Hannah, (1822-70), was the first wife of Rial Conklin, of Summit County, Ohio; Avis (1824-53) married Abra- ham Link, of Summit Co., O .; Maria L. (1826-61), mar- ried George Taylor, of Cincinnati ; Abigail (Mrs. Nor- man Tingley) ; Nancy D., born 1830, the second wife and widow of Abraham Link, now lives at Ogden, Utah Territory ; Hilin C., born 1833, resides in Portage County, O .; Elias, born 1835, was one of the Union

soldiers of the Rebellion, and took part in the battle of Lookout Mountain, now of Garrettsville, Ohio ; and Ama, born 1837, engaged in missionary and edu- cational work at Ogden, Utah Territory. Alfred Sweet was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Louisa Capron, now residing in Summit County. The children of Norman and Abigail (Sweet) Tingley are John C. (1852-71); Mary E., born November 20, 1854, married E. O. Wagner, of Susquehanna, and has Harriet, Leon and Charles Tingley Wagner ; and Orlen Capron Tingley, born December 13, 1862, married, April 2, 1885, to Eliza Wright, of Chenango Forks, N. Y. He has charge of the home farm and resides near his parents. In 1850 Norman Tingley and bride came to New Milford and commenced housekeeping upon the farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres they still occupy. He has been a member of the Republican party since its organiza- tion, and has held office in his township for many years, at present being one of the auditors. He has- settled several important estates, and fills an honora- ble position in the respect and esteem of his fellows. For over twenty-five years he had been a member of the F. and A. M. Freedom Lodge, No. 328, which had been resuscitated at the home of his father, Judge Charles Tingley, who was one of its members and was afterwards accorded Masonic interment.

Mr. Tingley demitted to New Milford Lodge, No. 507, to which body his only son, Orlen C. Tingley, belongs, and of which both are Past Masters. Mr. Tingley is also a member of Great Bend Chapter, No. 210, R. A. M.

"THE O'MARA MURDER .- On the morning of the 27th of September, 1873, the community ahout Montrose Depot were startled hy the dis- covery of the dead bodies of two women lying near the railroad track, which had every appearance of having heen murdered. Deep ugly gashes infiltrated with hlood, upon their faces and heads, rendered their aspect ghastly in the extreme. They were soon identified as the hodies. of Margaret and Mary O'Mara, a mother and daughter, who resided about a mile and a half away, with Daniel O'Mara, a son of Margaret. Mary O'Mara's arm had heen severed at the elbow, and lay some ten or twelve feet ahove the body. The shoulder was also nearly severed, hanging only by the ligaments ; but, as these wounds were not infil- trated with hlood, it was thought they had heen made after death. Dan- iel O' Mara and a hired man by the name of Patrick Irving were at once sent for, and hrought to the depot. Blood was noticed on Irving's pants, and on being questioned as to how it came there, lie said it came from bleeding at the nose ; hut O'Mara, when he came, said it was from kill- ing chickens. They were told they had hetter not say much, and as. they appeared nervous and uneasy, a close watch was kept upon them. Coroner C. C. Halsey was at one summoned, and a thorough investiga- tion made. Passing up the road in the direction of O'Mara's house, blood was soon found in different spots at short distances apart, and traced to O'Mara's wagon, which stood near a hark-pile. Upon the bot- tom boards of the wagon were two large spots of blood, one of which was about two feet in diameter, and the crimson stain had trickled down upon the axle. Some dried leaves had been thrown upon the large. spots in the wagon, and near hy, the place was found where these leaves had been scraped up. Strands of dark brown hair were also found in the hack end of the wagon. A piece of rope, stained with blood, was picked up in the road, and a lock of bair saturated with blood. In one place in the road a spot of hlood was found nearly as large as the head of a barrel. Proceeding to the house, an awful scene was pre- sented. Blood was found spattered upon the door, on the floor and upon the hed-clothes. Tracks of hlood, as though made by a foot, were found upon the stairs. On the door an attempt had been made to erase

Norman Tingley

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NEW MILFORD.

blood stains by planing. The plane was found with the shavings in it, moist and stained. The ashes in the stove were examined, and shreds of cloth and partially burned buttons were found. A pair of pants were found bespattered with blood, and a bark spud still bearing the dark stains upon it. A yoke of oxen were next examined. The yoke and both oxen were more or less besmeared with blood. All the cir- cumstances of the horrible tragedy seemed to point to O'Mara and Irving as the perpetrators ; and they were promptly arrested, and after a preliminary trial lodged in jail.

"The trial took place at the January term of court, 1874-Hon. F. B. Streeter, presiding, assisted by Hon. James W. Chapman and Hon. J. H. Cook, associate judges. The attorneys for the commonwealth were District Attorney James E. Carmalt, Little & Blakeslee, Esq., and Wil- liam A. Crossman, Esq. The attorneys for the prisoners were J. B. & A. H. McCollumu, Esqs., W. H. & H. C. Jessup, Esqs., and Elhanan W. Smith, Esq. The following are the names of the jurors impaneled :

" Henry B. Wood, George G. Woodward, Nathaniel J. West, George B. Smith, Orrin T. Smitb, Ansel B. Hill, Alfred Baldwin, Nelson B. Com- fort, William P. Gardner, Robert Westgate, Henry Griswold, Levi T. Birchard.

The case was one of intense interest, and during the many days of its continuance the court-room was densely packed. The evidence was overwhelming, and a verdict of mnrder in the first degree was ren- dered. The sentence of death was read to the prisoners, and in Novem- ber, 1874, they expiated their terrible crime on the gallows. It was the second execution in Susquehanna County."

MILLS, FACTORIES, STORES, ETC .- The first grist- mill, built by David Summers about 1803 or 1804, has already been described. He also built a saw-mill not far from this time. Several years afterwards John Belknap erected a saw-mill just below Captain Leach's. His pond was very small, and most of the sawing had to be done in the spring, at the time of high-water. He often used to run the mill day and night for several weeks in succession at this time of the year, and managed to do a large amount of work in a short time. John Wellman's saw-mill was built about the same time. The old "Corse Mill," at East New Milford, was also one of the early pioneer mills, and in the amount of business done probably exceeded all others in the township. In 1830 the old dam was removed and a new one built of stone. The great reservoir was increased to two miles in length, and covered an area of one hundred and ten acres in ex- tent. The most extensive lumber business ever carried on in this part of the county was the result. The lum- ber was drawn through North Jackson to Lanesboro'; thence to Hale's Eddy, where it was rafted and floated down the Delaware to Philadelphia. In 1847 the property was purchased by Elihu Page. The mill had been burned previous to this, but Mr. Page soon rebuilt it, and the extensive business was continued by him for many years. A lath and shingle-mill were afterwards added.

Another dam was built just be- low, and a large factory erected, in which Mr. A. A. Hall placed improved wood-working machinery and commenced the manufacture of bedsteads, tables and general furniture. He also made coffins and carried on the undertaking business. The factory is at pres- ent owned by C. S. Page.

In June, 1855, an enormous rain-storm occurred, and the great pond being already hard pressed, the dam suddenly burst asunder. The accumulated waters rushed down the valley with a friglitful roar,

carrying destruction in its train. Pouring into the large pond below, now owned by Rice & Williams, it swept that away with it, piling up acres of logs and drift wood along its path, increasing its force and power by the further addition of the pond where Moore's mills now are, and sweeping away every bridge on its course, descended upon the slumbering village of New Milford. A swift runner had, however, gone before it and warned the inhabitants of the ap- proaching flood in time for them to prepare for the danger, and no lives were lost. The dam was promptly repaired by Mr. Page, and the business was continued again as usual, giving an impulse and activity to the place which was soon augmented to a busy hamlet. For many years the Page Pond was well known for twenty or thirty miles around as the greatest fishing resort in this section of the country. In the summer of 1870 the pond was drained for the purpose of re- pairing the dam, when about three tons of fish were secured. The mill property was purchased a few years since by Archibald Hill; and the great reservoir has been drained with the intent of converting it into farming land. 1

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 122

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848- Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318