Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 126

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 126

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The principal stores in active operation in 1887, commencing at the southern extremity of the bor- ough, are Leroy & Braman, groceries and provisions; Samuel Moss, dry-goods ; A. C. Risley & Co., hard- ware; W. G. Smith, groceries and provisions; New Milford Trading Company, groceries and provisions; F. G. Inderlied, dry-goods, groceries and provisions ; E. S. Garratt, groceries and provisions; William Smith, confectionery and news depot ; John Hayden, hardware and furniture; J. C. McConnell, drugs and medicines ; Dean Brothers, groceries and provisions ; and William Hayden, dry-goods.

J. S. Tingley, was succeeded in the foundry busi- ness by William S. Mead, who continued to manufac- ture plows, etc., until 1886, when the property was purchased by Mr. Chapman, who carries on the work at present. The Corwin foundry, which was not a permanent institution, was at one time occupied as a file factory, and later as a blacksmith-shop. Alvah Quick opened a blacksmith-shop in an adjoining building in time of the war, where he did an exten- sive business for some time. Since then black- smith-shops have been opened at different times by Mr. Tabor, Mr. Doolittle, J. S. Tingley and several others. The last two are still engaged in the busi- ness.

The Union Mill was erected by Reuben Vail. It is a large and convenient building, well adapted for a factory It was used for a time as a steam saw and grist-mill. Later it was used for a skating-rink. A steam grist-mill was lately built near the depot by Carpenter & Montgomery. It is now owned by Wil- liam T. Moxley. Near the depot, also, is Moxley & Everett's large livery barn. A general undertaking business is carried on by N. F. Kimber a few doors

from the Eagle Hotel. A planing-mill was conducted for some time by A. B. Smith, near the Johnston saw-mill. It was at one time carried on by a Mr. Fischer ; but lately it was purchased by Jacob Fritsch, who continued the business a short time there, and then removed to the railroad crossing on the Montrose road, where he now conducts a general wood-work and furniture establishment.

William L. Weston came here from Brooklyn in 1864, and in the following year commenced business as a dentist. In June, 1865, Dr. E. Snyder, homœo- pathic physician and surgeon, arrived here from Can- dor, Tioga County, N. Y. He removed to Bingham- ton in February, 1880. Dr. S. A. Brooks came from the same place in October, 1879. He is also a homœo- pathic physician. The latest arrival in this profes- sion is Dr. Kimball from Gibson, who is now located in a part of William T. Moxley's house. He mar- ried a daughter of Dr. Bingham.

In 1871 a savings bank was established here by S. B. Chase & Co., and a considerable business was done for some time, but it was not a permanent insti- tution. In October, 1878, the banking-house of Summers & Hayden was established.

In 1874 J. H. Safford purchased the Moss tannery and erected a currying-shop thirty-four by ninety- five feet, five stories high, and a tannery with two hundred vats. The tannery cousumes about two thou- sand five hundred tons of bark annually, and about one hundred thousand sides of leather are tanned. About seventy men are employed to carry on the business. N. W. Prince and Charles Tucker have been foremen, and Jas. F. Nelson is clerk of the con- cern.

The Advertiser's Block was built in 1885. In 1886 a creamery was built near the Johnston mills by A. F. Kinney. It is conducted on the cream-gathering plan, and is generally well patronized by the sur- rounding farmers. All the fixtures are new and of the most approved kind, and the churning is done by steam-power. The first newspaper enterprise in New Milford was the Northern Pennsylvanian, edited and published by J. R. Gailor, in 1870. It had previously been published at Great Bend, and originally at Sus- quehanna. Mr. Gailor was soon obliged to relinquish its publication on account of failing health, when it was published for a time by H. F. Beardsley, and finally removed to Susquehanna, to continue under the name of the Susquehanna Gazette. The New Mil- ford Advertiser was started in 1880 by Chester S. Vail. The enterprising spirit and ability of its managers, C. S. Vail and G. C. Howell, have been faithfully given to making a good local newspaper.

O. N. Worden, a ready writer and prominent news- paper man, whose articles, over the nom de plume of "Gleaner," were read with interest in the early num- bers of the Advertiser, died in New Milford township, April 21, 1881. He was not only a literary man, but he was a practical printer also, and often came into

642

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the Advertiser office and put his articles in type him- self. During his life-time he edited several different publications, including the Montrose Spectator, in 1837, and the Wyoming County Record at Tunkhan- nock, in 1844. He was the first to commence the publication of the Lewisburg Chronicle, and in 1841 he started the Athens Scribe, of Bradford County. At the time of his death he was at work on the Pittston Gazette. He was born in Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y., in 1817. During the year 1872 a company was chartered and funds raised for the erection of a Town Hall. A site was purchased and the building put up at a cost of about five thousand dollars. In 1873 the building was sold under a mechanic's lien. H. Gar- ratt bid it in with the understanding that a certain number of shares were to be taken by other parties, and the institution was controlled by the new company 'until the fall of 1886. E. A. Pratt finally bought out all of the stock-holders and presented the building to the borough. It is a liberal gift from a worthy man for a worthy purpose.

RECENT NOTABLE EVENTS AND INCIDENTS .- One night in June, 1855, the inhabitants were suddenly aroused from their beds by the startling news that Page's Pond had burst loose, and was coming down upon them in an angry, turbulent flood that nothing could withstand. Hurrying to places of safety, the excited people awaited the oncoming torrent with anxiety and consternation. Soon an ominous roaring was heard approaching, and then the creek, already swollen by a heavy rain, began to rise, spread out and overflow its diminutive banks. In a few minutes the creek assumed the appearance of a great river, bear- ing along snags, logs and trees upon its foaming bosom. The streets became swift-rolling rivers, cov- ered with floating sticks, barrels, boxes, rails and dèbris, and the picture presented was that of a town half submerged in an agitated lake. The railroad track was badly damaged, and near the depot, where the broad current was strongest, an old floating tree burst in the door of a building and passed completely through by means of another door on the opposite side. Cellars were filled and much damage was done on the lower floors of dwellings, as well as in gardens, yards, streets and sidewalks. For a time it seemed as though the entire town would be swept away. No lives were lost, but had it not been for timely warning by a man who had preceded the flood from its starting- point, there is no telling what might have been the result. It left its mark on the surface in the shape of deep gullies and unsightly heaps of stones and gravel-seams and scars along its course that required months of labor and years of time to obliterate.

A number of fires have occurred here, some of which has been quite extensive and disastrous. The burning of the tanneries have already been mentioned. In May, 1867, a fire occurred on Main Street, near the bridge, in which several buildings including a wagon- shop and foundry, were consumed. They were rebuilt

however, but met with the same fate again on the night of March 30, 1887. The New Milford Cornet Band used an upper room of one of these buildings for a practicing room, and much of their property was destroyed. At another time a fire destroyed Leroy's store and George Weed's house. But by far the largest fire that ever occurred in this place was on the 2d of May, 1883, when Jay's Hotel was burned. It was very dry at the time, and the fire soon spread to Garrett's store, McConnell's store, the hotel barn and Butterfield's building, and the very heart of the town was wrapped in a grand mass of flame. Explo- sions of oil and liquors in the drug-store sent great sheets of dazzling flame hundreds of feet into the air, seeming to threaten the entire town with destruction. A dispatch had been telegraphed to Binghamton for help, and in a little over twenty minutes they arrived upon the ground, and shortly thereafter a stream of water was playing upon the fire. The conflagration was soon under control, and the place was saved from further destruction. The whole space along the park from Main to Back Streets was burned over. Twenty thousand dollars' worth of property had changed to smoke and ashes; but, luckily for the town the loss was about covered with insurance, and an army of busy workmen were soon upon the spot, engaged in the work of rebuilding on a far more extensive scale than before. It is now the finest part of the borough.

JAMES VAN COTT, one of the successful farmers of New Milford township, was born near Bloomburg, Sullivan County, N. Y., November 9, 1811. His parents were Nicholas and Mary (Jackson) Van Cott, who emigrated from Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to Sullivan County late in the eighteenth century, and followed agricultural pursuits. Their children were John, a retired business man, living at Unadilla, N. Y .; James ; Harrison, a farmer and business man, residing at Bainbridge, N. Y .; Maria died in her youth ; Esther married Henry Bradley, of Oxford, N. Y., and died about twenty years ago; and Margaret Ann, who was the wife of Dorwin Davis, living near Norwich, N. Y., died also some twenty years since.

James Van Cott obtained an academical education at Bloomburg, and learned the trade of wagon- making, serving four years as an apprentice. Owing to the delicate state of his health, he left that work after two years and became a farmer. In 1837 he came to Susquehanna County, and bought a farm just south of New Milford borough, which he carried on until 1872, when he bought property just south of the borough limits and moved there, retiring from ac- tive farm-life. He served the people as an official of the township for some years, but the state of his health would not permit him giving much time to such duties. He was an industrious and pains-taking man, best pleased when doing something, and always worked his way up, single-handed, to a position of maintained character for honesty. The fact that he

James Van Cott.

643

NEW MILFORD.

had comparative prominence and affluence rendered his influence valuable and his counsel much sought after. His death, on November 28, 1885, was sudden, and his relatives and friends experienced a severe shock when the fact was recognized. In 1835 he married Samantha Harding, and during their fifty years of wedded life slie proved a hielpmeet indeed, her care and affectionate sympathy ever giving the home circle a happy tone. She was the daughter of Abrahamn (1779-1856) and Deborah (Newman) (1779-1846) Harding. Her father was the son of Abraham Harding, of near Otisville, N. Y., a farmer who came from Nova Scotia. The children of Abraham and Deborah Harding were Lydia (1801-40) was the wife of Robert Comfort, of Sullivan County, N. Y .; Daniel W. and James E. both died in infancy ; Henry O. (1807-66) was a Sullivan County farmer (he came to Susquehanna County at an early day, but re- turned to his native county and died there) ; Abigail M., born 1809, is the widow of Thomas Wilson, a farmer of this township; Temperance A. (1811-81) mar- ried Hiram Decker, formerly of Middletown, N. Y., and now of Buffalo; Samantha, born 1813, married James Van Cott; and Harrison (1819-56), a farmer of Sullivan County.

The two children of James and Samantha Van Cott are Harrison H., born 1842, a progressive farmer and stock dealer of New Milford, who married, in 1863, Amanda, the daughter of Robert Moore, of Bridgewater, and has two children, Wm. H. and Lewis; and William M., born 1846, an intelligent farmer also of the township, who married, in 1871, Ada, the daughter of W. Youngs and Rebecca J. Wilson.

SCHOOLS .- One of the first schools in this section of the county was taught by Gurdon Darrow, in a little building near the cemetery, in 1812. A primi- tive school-house was also built near the " Sand Bank," which accommodated the pupils of both the New Milford and Summersville settlements. The pioneer teachers were usually very thorough, and a number in this section taught excellent schools. Among those especially worthy of mention were L. W. Bingham, John Phinney, Miles Dikeman. After awhile the school-house near the "Sand Bauk " was moved away, and a little red school-house with a square roof was erected near Doctor Bingham's, where a school was maintained many years. Years afterwards, another house was built near the Methodist Church, at the southern extremity of Back Street. It has lately been moved a short distance and fitted up for a private dwelling. After the school law went into effect more attention was given to the public schools, and better facilities were demanded. The graded school build- ing was accordingly erected, near the Congregational Church, on the east side of the Park. It is one of the most beautiful locations in the place. The building was originally forty feet square, and two stories high, conveniently arranged for primary and intermediate

schools on the lower floor, and a graded school on the upper one. It has lately been increased in length and an addition erected at the side, and, with its pres- ent neat arrangement and thorough management, affords facilities unsurpassed by any similar institution in the county. Three schools are taught in the lower rooms. Among the different principals who have conducted this school we notice the names of Pro- fessor M. L. Hawley, late superintendent of public schools in Binghamton, New York ; Hon. Eugene B. Hawley, afterwards editor of the Montrose Democrat, and State senator from this district; Professor E. K. Richardson, at one time station agent at this place, and later principal of the graded school at Great Bend ; Professor W. W. Watson, afterwards county superintendent, and for many years a very able attorney at Montrose ; Professor H. L. Griffis, who left here in 1880, after serving two years, to accept the appointment of professor of natural sciences in the Binghamton High School, and Professor U. B. Gillett; who has recently been elected county super- intendent. In most cases the assistant teachers have been especially proficient in their vocation, and have had a long and satisfactory experience. Among these we notice the names of Eliza Foot, Carrie Doolittle (now Mrs. Frederick Jay) and Mrs. U. B. Gillett.

CHURCHES .- Several of the early settlers of this place were church members before coming here, and in their new homes, in the heart of the great wilder- ness, they were lonesome and almost lost without some place to meet together for public worship. At a meeting of the Episcopalians holden on the 1st day of July, A.D. 1816, a permanent organization was ef- fected, and preliminary steps taken towards the building of a church edifice. David Badger, Esq., was chosen moderator, and Chauncy B. Foot, clerk of said society. It was voted that David Badger, Esq., be appointed senior warden, and John Foot, senior warden (2d). Arad Wakelee and Benjamin Doolittle were appointed vestrymen, and John Foot and Ress- linc Smith, choristers. A petition for a charter was signed by David Badger, John Foot, Arad Wakelee, Benjamin Doolittle, Samuel T. Beardslee, Belus H. Foot, Gaius Moss, Daniel White, John Phinney, Jos. Doolittle, Isaac Edson, L. W. Bingham and Samuel Ward. The charter of St. Mark's Church was given September 2, 1817. Rev. Samuel Marks was widely known as one of the most influential clergymen of those times. David Badger and John Foot, who had taken such an active part in the organization of the church, were constituent wardens, and Arad Wakelee, Benjamin Doolittle, Julius Jones, Stephen Barnum, Samuel T. Beardslee, Belus H. Foot, William Ward and Freeman Badger, vestrymen. As soon as the proper arrangements could be made the church was erected, and its neat white belfry rose above the set- tlement in a very pleasing manner, to gladden the hearts of its many faithful adherents, and bid Chris- tianity and civilization hearty welcome. For many

644

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

years it was the only church edifice in the place; and its bell, which was the first to send its silvery tones rolling through the far-extending forest, to reverber- ate and echo among the far-off hills on a silent Sab- bath morning, was sometimes answered by the doleful howl of a distant wolf or the dismal hooting of owls, which at that day were often seen perched on some high dead limb around the borders of clearings, in the daytime. But it was also responded to in a dif- ferent manner. A large congregation nearly always assembled ; and, most of them being willing workers, much interest was manifested, and, although it had many inconveniences to meet, as all pioneer churches did, it struggled bravely through and success crowned its efforts. Fifty acres of land were contributed to the church by the heirs of Isaac Wharton, which was sold June 30, 1830, to Freeman Badger, for one hun- dred dollars, and the proceeds applied as directed. Henry Burritt, William Ward, Albert Moss and John Badger were prominent in the early history of the church, and old Major Hammond, Richard Moss, Josiah Moss, Philander Phinney, Horatio Garratt, Albert Moss, Jr., Samuel Moss and many more of the sober and enterprising citizens of both the borough and township have been active in its recent history.

Presbyterian Church .- Among the few settlers who gathered here about the beginning of the present century was Ichabod Ward, the father of William Ward, and the grandfather of the late William C. Ward. In him we may discover the first germs of the Presbyterian Church in this place. To him is due the honor of maintaining public religious wor- ship in his own large kitchen or the bar-room of the Ward house every other Sabbath, and in the house of Deacon Titus Smith, in Franklin, every alternate Sabbath. Sometimes the two congregations wor- shipped together, at the house of Benjamin Doolittle, now the residence of Mr. Bisbee, on the hill a mile west of Phinney's Hotel. Mr. Ward also conducted services at funerals, in the absence of a minister. Occasionally an itinerant evangelist appeared among the frontier settlements of the West, even as early as 1801 and 1802. The rude log dwellings in different sections were often crowded with earnest worshippers, and it was no uncommon thing in those days for peo- ple to go through the woods and new clearings from this place to Harford, Great Bend and Franklin to be present at preaching. It was largely due to the efforts and prayers of Ichabod Ward that, in 1813, a little band of twelve were gathered into the fold of the "Union Congregational Church " of Lawsville and New Milford (now the Presbyterian Church, of Frank- lin), from which have sprung the Congregational (now Presbyterian) Churches of Liberty and New Milford. At the head of the list of the original members of this mother-church stand the names of Ichabod Ward and Mary, his wife. He died in 1824, and his widow four years later. Side by side their ashes sleep in the village grave-yard.

Another not less prominent actor in these early scenes was John Hawley, one of the first deacons of the church in this place. The missionary found a welcome home under his roof, and his house was al- ways open to the public for religious worship. For many years he conducted a distillery, an occupation which at that time was not deemed inconsistent with a Christian profession. Not only the cup of cold water was given in the name of a disciple, but too often, in accordance with the practice of the times, the inebriating bowl was offered and accepted. But, little by little, the light began to dawn upon the minds of intelligent Christians, and the demoralizing and destructive influence of intemperance began to be more widely seen and felt. It was related by Rev. Burr Baldwin, of Montrose, that, on his return from Synod, in 1828, where his mind had been powerfully awakened by the discussion of the question of tem- perance, he met Deacon Hawley, and spoke to him of the alarming increase of drunkenness in the county, and of the responsibility of the church in regard to it, and asked him to give up his distillery. "Can't do it, Brother Baldwin," he replied, "it's the support of my family." Months passed on, and the parties again met. "How about the distillery, Brother Haw- ley?" "Brother Baldwin, I can't give it up; it's the support of my family." Other months went by, and the deacon again met his reprover. "How about that distillery ?" "It's given up," was the reply. "Ah, indeed! but how about the family ?" "Oh, they're living yet," he answered, with a significant smile. The victory was achieved ; and from that day he became an earnest advocate of temperance. He served the church faithfully as deacon for fifteen years ; but in 1841, in the midst of the anti-slavery agitation, in which he took high ground as an Aboli- tionist, he lost sympathy and patience with the church, and on account of words spoken in heated debate, which he afterwards refused to recall, he was disfellowshipped. He continued, however, to enjoy the confidence of all, and regarded the household of faith with a father's interest until his death, in 1856.

The history, proper, of this church begins with its organization, in 1826, though a few of its members had been identified with the mother-church, while New Milford was an out-station. During the ministry of Rev. Lyman Richardson, then in the height of his pulpit power, a great revival broke out in Franklin, in the spring of 1826, extending its quickening influence to New Milford. Encouraged by this token of the di- vine favor, a church of nineteen members was organ- ized at the house of Deacon Hawley, in the following July, by Rev. Lyman Richardson and Rev. Burr Baldwin. The following is a list of the original mem- bers : John Hawley and Moab Hawley, his wife ; John S. Handrick and Dotha Handrick, his wife; Joel Hotchkiss and Estella Hotchkiss, his wife; Hi- ram C. Baker ; Phoebe Hawley, a widow ; Hannah Doolittle, a widow ; Mary Ward, widow of Deacon

645

NEW MILFORD.

Ichabod Ward; Dorathy Phinney ; Eliza G. Hand- rick, now Mrs. Van Fleet ; Mary H. Handrick, after- wards Mrs. Henry Bradley ; Sally Hawley and Mary Aun Hawley, daughters of Deacon Hawley ; Mary Foster ; Rebecca Beardslee; Andrew Hawley, son of Deacon Hawley ; and Lucretia Hotchkiss.

Jolin Handrick, father of William C. Handrick, succeeded Jolin Hawley as deacon in 1841. He is described as a man of strict and regular habits, main- taining with great fidelity the family altar, the prayer- meeting, the Sabbath-school and the public worship of the sanctuary. He served the church for ten years as its first clerk, frequently moderated its meetings, taught in its Sunday-schools and diligently exercised his office of deacon from his election to the close of his life, in 1868. In all his sacrifices and services his wife, Dotha, bore a cheerful part, as an help-meet for him. She died in the fall of 1873.

Stephen K. Crane, the father of Rev. Henry J. Crane, was elected deacon with John S. Handrick, in 1841. His name frequently occurs as moderator of the monthly meetings, and for several years he superin- tended the Sabbath-school. Prominent among the other deacons we notice the names of Seth Clark and Silas Corwin, elected in 1835 ; Kenneth A. Johnston and P. H. Corwin, elected in 1852. Shortly after the church was organized the school-house on Miller's Hill, near the C. M. Shelp farm, a little over a mile west of the borough, was fitted up for a place of wor- ship and occupied alternately for many years, by the Methodist and Congregational Churches of this place. From 1826 to 1836 twenty members were added, from 1836 to 1846 thirty-three, from 1846 to 1856, fifty-two, 1856 to 1866 fifty-three, and from 1866 to 1876 forty- eight were received, making in all two hundred and twenty-five members during the first fifty years of its existence.

For many years the name of a Gospel minister rarely occurs in the records ; but from incidental references it is evident that occasional crumbs did fall from the tables of surrounding churches, particularly those of Harford, Franklin and Great Bend, and once, at least, in June, 1834, a protracted meeting was held which continued five days. In June, 1835, a subscription was circulated for the partial services of Rev. Moses Jewell, then laboring at Great Bend. Similar ar- rangements were made the following year with Rev. Joseph Barlow, of Franklin. In July, 1838, Rev. E. Luce was engaged to preach here once in four weeks. Rev. Messrs. Pine, Loe and French are remembered in 1842, and Rev. Joseph Davison was here, more or less, from 1843 to 1846. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Hicks, who was in turn succeeded, in 1849, by Rev. William M. Wooley, then the young pastor of the church in Franklin. In 1850 the services of Rev. J. McCreary, of Great Bend, were secured. Meantime, from 1848 to 1850, Rev. Burr Baldwin, then Presby- terial missionary to the feeble churches, supplied the lack of other service, preaching in the neighborhoods.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 126

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