Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 13

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 13

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The average ascending grade per mile to the first summit is ninety-three feet, the heaviest ninety-five feet and the lightest eighty-six feet. The average descending grade from Lemon Summit to Meshoppen Creek is forty feet per mile, the heaviest seventy-three feet, and the lightest sixteen feet. The average ascending grade from Meshoppen Creek to the Springville Summit is eighty-five feet, the heaviest ninety- five feet and the lightest seventy-six feet. From Springville Summit the grade for one mile is level ; from this level grade to Woodbourne Summit, nineteen and one-half miles from Tunk- hanuock, the average ascending grade is seven- ty-one feet per mile, the heaviest eighty-eight feet and the lightest sixty-nine feet. From Woodbourne Summit to Decker Summit there is no ascending grade exceeding eighty-five feet per mile, and no descending grade exceeding sixty-three feet per mile. From Decker Sum- mit to Montrose there is no ascending grade ex- ceeding eighty feet per mile and no descending grade exceeding sixty-three feet per mile. There are two eighteen-degree curves having a radins of three hundred and twenty feet; with this

exception, the maximum curve is sixteen de- grecs.

The contract for grading the Montrose Rail- way road-bed was taken by Colonel Perry Marcy, of Tunkhannock, to be built ready for the track for $101,000, and to be completed August 1, 1872 ; but during that year the road was only completed from Tunkhannock to Springville and cars run on it, a distance of fourteen miles.

By the middle of May, 1873, passenger and baggage cars commenced running regularly be- tween Tunkhannock and Hunter's, and the road was graded as far as Jessup's or the Brooklyn road. This near approach of the railroad to Montrose reduced the price of coal two dollars per ton, notwithstanding the price of coal at the mines was one dollar per ton higher than when the building of the road was begun. At the meeting of the board of directors, January 11, 1875, President Blakslee reported the road-bed completed, the track laid through to the borough limits of Montrose, and that regular trains had been running over the entire road since June 1, 1874. He also reported that the subscriptions for stock were 6277 shares, amounting to $313,- 850, of which 5689 shares had been paid in full, and $6584 had been paid on the balance, leaving still unpaid $22,816; and that if this balance due on stock was paid in, it would place the road out of debt. Many of the stockholders having failed to pay their subscriptions, a com- mittec was appointed at the meeting of the board in January, 1874, to solicit $20,000 ad- ditional subscriptions to the stock of the com- pany. At the close of the year 1873 the equip- ment of the road consisted of two fifteen-ton lo- comotives, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works; two passenger, one baggage, three box, two flat, and eight gondola cars. T. G. Wal- ters, who had the contract for laying the track of the road, up to this time had acted as con- ductor, freight agent, road-master and superin- tendent, while the engineer, Wm. Luckenbill, had also acted as master mechanic, both of which gentlemen have continued as employes of the road up to this time, 1886.

The receipts for carrying passengers on this road in 1874 were $9560.16 ; for freight, $13,-

ERECTION OF COUNTY.

301.60; total receipts, $24,838.56. Total ex- penses for the same year, $14,657.34.

For the twelve months ending November 30, 1885, the receipts for passenger transportation were $6999.23; for freight, $18,398.88; total receipts, $27,778.53. Total expenses for the same year, $20,832.50. The general balance- sheet at the last-mentioned date shows as fol- lows :

Construction account ..

$332,741.18

Equipment

41,308.13

Lehigh Valley R. R. Co., due on special account.

1,249.43

W. H. Cooper estate.

1,276.10

C. D. Gearhart

29.03

Cash

7,193.25

$383,797.12

Capital stock

$304,900.00

Funded debts.

15,000.00

Capital stock (part paid)

2,527.21

Profit and loss.

61,369.91

$383,797.12

CHAPTER VIII.

ERECTION OF COUNTY.

Erection of Susquehanna County-Erection of Townships and Charter- ing of Boroughs-Census-Civil List.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION .- The provincial government erected the county of Northumber- land March 21, 1772, from Lancaster, Cumber- land, Berks, Northampton and Bedford, taking in an immense stretch of territory. 1 The southern line ran from the Mohontougo, on the western side of the Susquehanna, through Sny- der, Mifflin, Centre, Huntingdon, Blair, Clear- field, Elk, Cameron and Mckean Counties, to the New York line; thence eastward to near the eastern line of Susquehanna County ; thence southward to Lehigh, and thence along or near the present lines of Luzerne, Columbia, Monroc, Carbon, Schuylkill and Dauphin to the begin- ning. The act of September 30, 1779, cur- tailed the limits of Northumberland on the Juniata, and added a much larger area on the

northwest. September 25, 1786, Luzerne County was erected from Northumberland, and so named in honor of Chevalier De la Luzerne, Minister of France to the United States during the Revolutionary struggle. By act of the Legislature, February 21, 1810, Susquehanna County was set off from Luzernc; Ontario (now Bradford) was erected under the same act from Luzerne and Lycoming. The act pro- vided that the line should run " from the forti- eth mile-stone standing on the north line of the State to a point due east of the head of Wya- lusing Falls, in the Susquehanna ; thence due east to the western line of Wayne County ; thence northerly along the said western line of Wayne County to the aforesaid north line of the State (at the sixth mile-stone, counting from the Delaware River westward), and thence along the said State line to the fortieth mile- stone, the place of beginning." The dividing line between Wayne and Susquehanna was sur- veyed by H. L. Stephens, on the part of Wayne, and J. W. Chapman and C. M. Gere, on the part of Susquehanna, in 1870. They found that the line between the counties struck the State line one hundred and twenty perches west of the sixth mile-stone; hence Susquehanna County extends from one hundred and twenty perches west of the sixth on the New York State line to the fortieth mile-stone, and is thirty-three and five-eighths miles in length by about twenty-four and one-half miles average width ; the east line being twenty-four and three-quarters miles precisely, and the west about twenty-four and one-quarter; the true polar course of the east line north two and one- quarter degrees west, and the north line due west, embracing an area of about cight hundred and twenty-four square miles.

"The county derives its name from the fact that the Susquehanna River first enters the State of Penn- sylvania within its limits. The county is fortunate in having the sweet-sounding Indian name retained for constant local use. 'Hanna' signifies a stream of water, and 'Susque' is generally believed to mean crooked, though one writer gives its signification as muddy, for which there is no justification in point of fact; and the Indians gave no arbitrary names. A more winding, crooked stream than the Susquehanna, as to general course, is not to be found in the North-

1 Hon. J. Simpson Africa's Address, page 7.

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ern States; in this county it varies directly three times. In the grand sweep of the river, from Lanes- boro' to Pittston, it completely drains the county, every stream within its borders eventually falling into it. When the north line of the State was deter- mined, iu 1786, it was found to cross twelve streams running south, and nine running north between the sixth and fortieth mile-stones from the Delaware River-the limits of the north line of Susquehanna County. Prominent among these were the 'Appela- cunck,' 'Chucknut,' and ' Snake Creeks.' (See 'Penn- sylvania Archives,' No. 29.)

"Running north into the Susquehanna, but not crossing the State line, there are, besides minor streams, Wylie Creek, the Salt Lick, Mitchell's, Drinker's, the Canawacta, and Starrucca; though the latter and Cascade Creek may rather be said to enter the river from the east."

Tioga township, in old Northumberland, ex- tended from the western line of Bucks (now Wayne) County to Big Meadows, in Tioga County, and was eighteen miles in depth from the State line. In 1790 that portion of Lu- zerne County now constituting the county of Susquehanna, was in two townships, Tioga and Wyalusing. By order of the justices of Lu- zerne, Tioga was bounded on the north by the State line, and east and west by the lines of that county, and on the south by an east and west line which should strike the standing stone. Wyalasing was bounded on the north by Tioga township, on the east and west by lines of the county, and on the south by the east and west line passing through the mouth of the Meshop- pen Creek.

In March, 1791, the court of Luzerne or- dered the erection of the township of Willing- borough from the northeast corner of Tioga, but its boundaries were not defined until April, 1793, when the bounds were defined as follows: "From the twenty-first mile stone on the north line of the State, south six miles ; thence east until it shall intersect the line to be run between Luzerne and Northampton Counties ; thence north to the State line ; thence west to the place of beginning." This made a township six miles north and south by fifteen miles east and west, but the early pioneers had very little knowledge of township boundaries, and Willingborough included the settlers in the northeastern quarter of the county.

August, 1795, Nicholson, so named from

John Nicholson, comptroller of the State, was erected from parts of Tioga and Wyalusing, with the following boundaries :

"Beginning at the place where the north line of the township of Tunkhannock crosses a small creek west of Martin's Creek; running thence due north thirteen miles; thence east to the east line of the county ; thence south on the county line to the place where it shall intersect the north line of Tunkhan- nock township; thence west on said line to place of beginning."

"In January, 1797, the court approved, but not 'finally' until January, 1798, the petition of Ephraim Kirby, and others, for the erection of the township of Lawsville. (See Franklin.)

"In 1799 Braintrim was set off from Wyalus- ing and Tunkhannock ; the portion taken from the former by Susquehanna County retains nearly its original dimensions in the present town of Auburn.

" January, 1801, Ezekiel Hyde, Justus Gay- lord and M. Miner York were appointed com- missioners to set off the township of Rush, and in November of the same year their report was accepted. The township was eighteen miles north and south by thirteen miles east and west, except that on the south line it extended five miles farther, this extension being five miles square. The whole comprised 172,660 acres.

"Though the township mentioned did not ab- sorb the two townships of 1790, the latter are not again mentioned in this section on the Lu- zerne records. Practically, the line of Willing- borough extended to Nicholson on the south, and both, to Rindaw (district) on the west.

"In 1805 the court was petitioned to erect the townships of Clifford, Bridgewater and New Milford. The first-named was approved 'finally' in April, 1806, the second in November fol- lowing, and the last in August, 1807. The northeast corner of Clifford was then twelve miles below the State line, being also what was the northeast corner of old Nicholson, and its area was one hundred and eight square miles. The eastern limit of New Milford, like that of Clifford, was the line of Wayne County. Bridge- water extended north and south about twenty- five miles.

"At August sessions, 1807, a petition from the 'Nine Partners' was promptly considered, and

st.

OUTLINE MAP OF SUSQUEHANNA CO. PA.

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ERECTION OF COUNTY.

Harford was granted January, 1808. For eleven years the inhabitants had desired town- ship organization, but two or three previous petitions had failed to secure the result."

In 1809 Harmony was organized, the last township ordered by the court of Luzerne in the section constituting Susquehanna County. It formed the northeast corner of the latter, as it had of the former, extending from the State line twelve miles south, and from Wayne County nine miles west. The original ten townships when the county was organized were Willing- borough, now Great Bend; Nicholson, since August, 1813, Lenox; Lawsville, embracing Liberty and a greater part of Franklin; Brain- trim, now Auburn; Rush, embracing, besides its present limits, Middletown, Choconut, Apo- lacon and the western parts of Jessup and Forest Lake; Clifford, embracing, besides its present limits, Gibson, Herrick and the south- ern part of Ararat ; Bridgewater, embracing, besides its present territory, all of Brooklyn, Lathrop, Springville, Dimock, Silver Lake, the eastern parts of Jessup, Forest Lake and the south part of Franklin ; New Milford ; Harford, long known as Nine Partners; and Harmony, embracing Oakland, Jackson, Thomson and the northern part of Ararat. After the county was organized, Silver Lake and Gibson were erected in 1813, and Nicholson was named Lenox that year. In 1814 Rush was reduced to its present limits, and Choconut and Middle- town were erected therefrom. Springville was also erected that year, likewise Waterford, called Hopbottom, in 1823, and Brooklyn in 1825. Jackson was erected in 1815; Herrick, 1825; Dimock, 1832; Thomson, 1833; Franklin, 1835; Forest Lake, 1836; Lathrop, Jessup and Apolacon, 1846 ; Ararat, 1852 ; Oakland, 1853 ; Lawsville became Liberty in 1836.

BOROUGHS .- Montrose, incorporated 1824 ; Dundaff, 1828 ; Friendsville, 1848 ; Susquehanna Depot, 1853; New Milford, 1859 ; Great Bend, 1861; Little Meadows, 1862; Thomson, 1876; Hallstead (formerly Great Bend Village Bor- ough), 1874; Hopbottom, 1881 ; Oakland, 1883; Uniondale, 1885.

Early in 1808 a division of Luzerne Connty was contemplated, and a public meeting to favor

the object was held July 13th, at the house of Edward Fuller, in Bridgewater, about four miles below Montrose-Asa Lathrop presiding, and J. W. Raynsford acting as secretary. Owing to a disagreement as to county lines, it was pro- posed that all the townships should send dele- gates to a meeting to be held at the house of Salmon Bosworth, in Rush, September 1st fol- lowing, and then endeavor to decide the matter ; but it was not until a year and a half later that the act of Legislature was passed which erected Susquehanna County, and it was two years more before the county was fully organized with officers and courts of her own.

In 1811 all moneys in the county district of Susquehanna were, by act of Legislature, to be kept separate from those of Luzerne, and within the bounds of that district. February 25, 1812, a meeting was held at the house of Isaac Post, in Bridgewater, to recommend proper persons to the Governor to fill the several offices necessary to the organization of Susquehanna County- Davis Dimock, chairman, and J. W. Raynsford, secretary. The citizens of each township were recommended to nominate officers at their annual town-meeting in March, 1812, and make re- turns the Monday following at the house of I. Post.

Previous to the erection of Susquehanna County, Luzerne was divided into twelve elec- tion districts, of which Willingboro', Lawsville and Nicholson constituted the tenth, and Rush, or Rindaw, the ninth. In 1810 Bridgewater contained 1418 inhabitants, Clifford, 675; Har- ford, 477; Willingboro' and Harmony, 413: New Milford, 174; and Lawsville, 169. In 1812 proclamation for elections were issued from Luzerne to Susquelianna County District ; but the Legislature had decreed that "after the second Tuesday of October, 1812, Susquehanna shall enjoy and exercise in judicial matters, all powers and privileges, etc." The new county was included with Wayne, Tioga and Bradford, in the Eleventh Judicial District. Isaac Post was appointed treasurer, Edward Fuller, sheriff: Dr. Charles Fraser, prothonotary and clerk of the several courts, register and recorder ; Hon. J. B. Gibson, president judge ; Davis Dimock and William Thomson, associate judges. At

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the time of organization Thos. Parke, of Bridge- water, was commissioner of Luzerne, but he resigned ; Bartlett Hinds, Laban Capron and Isaac Brownson were appointed commissioners for the new county. Governor Simon Snyder also commissioned Asahel Avery justice of the peace for Willingboro' in 1812, Isaac Brown- son for Rush, Joshua W. Raynsford, for Bridgewater, Laban Capron for Harford-all appointed March 28, 1812, for life, or during good behavior. In 1813 Asa Dimock was ap- pointed for Clifford ; Charles Dimon, Willing- boro'; Zenas Bliss, Bridgewater ; Jabez Tyler, Willingboro'; Rufus Lines, Lawsville ; Hosea Tiffany, Harford. In 1815, David Post, Bridgewater and Springville ; 1817, Edward Paine, Harford ; Samuel A. Brown, Bridge- water and Springville.

"The county-seat was located at Montrose as early as July, 1811, by three commissioners appointed by the Governor. They were permitted to locate it at a distance not exceeding seven miles from the centre of the county. Stakes were set at several places pro- posed-one in Brooklyn, one in Harford, and one in New Milford. But, in addition to a greater political influence existing, a stronger pecuniary interest was brought to bear for its location in Montrose. Dr. R. H. Rose, whose extensive tracts of land reached this vicinity, made more liberal offers to secure this loca- tion than any that could be made elsewhere. Besides a gift of a public square at this point for the erection of the county buildings, as also of other lots, was made by Bartlett Hinds and Isaac Post."

The land given by Bartlett Hinds had been granted by the commonwealth to Thos. Cad- wallader, who by deed conveyed it to Samuel Meredith, who by deed conveyed it to George Clymer, who by deed, October 19, 1804, con- veyed it to Bartlett Hinds. Another portion was granted by the commonwealth to Jos. Bul- lock and Isaac Franks, who by deed conveyed it to Tench Francis, whose widow, by her attor- ney, conveyed the same to Bartlett Hinds, July 9, 1804. The land given by Isaac Post (con- sideration $1.00) was first granted to the same parties as the portion last-mentioned, who by their deeds conveyed it to Tench Francis, who by his last will and testament, April 4, 1800, devised his estate to his widow, Anne Francis, who by deed, February 18, 1809, granted the land to Robert H. [Rose, which sale was con-

firmed to the said Robert H. Rose, by deed, February 25, 1809, from Richard Penn (her at- torney), and on the 5th of October of the same year was conveyed by him to Isaac Post. July 24, 1812, the aforesaid lands were dceded to Susquehanna County by Isaac and Susannah Post and Bartlett and Agnes Hinds; and, on the 31st of the same month, the conveyance was acknowledged as a free act and deed, before J. W. Raynsford, justice of the peace.

Soon after the organization of the Board of Commissioners, Isaac Post, the treasurer, was charged with the subscription papers of dona- tions made towards building the court-house, etc. It will be seen by the following list of subscribers, with the sums given by each, that the amounts were graduated somewhat by the nearness of their property to the new county- seat, as well as by the length of their purses :

Robert H. Rose, whose lands reached near the vil- lage, gave $200; Stephen Wilson, whose farm was a little south of it, gave $100; Abinoam Hinds, Conrad Hinds and Isaac Peckins gave each $50; David Har- ris, Jonathan Wheaton and James Trane gave each $25; Simeon Tyler, Cyrus Messenger, Samuel Quick, Joseph Hubbard and Samuel Coggswell gave each $20; Joseph Chapman, Edward Fuller, Jos. Butterfield, Henry Post, Levi Leonard, John Bard, Zebulon Deans, Edmond Stone gave each $10; Freeman Fish_ back, Thos. Scott and Samuel Scott gave each $5; Bartlett Hinds, Isaac and David Post, on whose lands the county-seat was located, gave a number of village lots.

The first court was held in Isaac Post's tav- ern, and the basement of Kecler's hotel was the first jail. Commissioners Butler, Sutton and Dorrance, of Wyoming Valley, fixed the loca- tion for the court-house. The corner-stone of the first court-house was laid in 1812, but the building was not erected until June, 1813. It was built by Oliver C. Smith, at a cost of $4500. Besides the court-room, in the second story, the jail and jailor's residence were in the first story, and the corner rooms in front, above and below, were made to accommodate all the county offices. A small stone fire-proof building was erected in 1818 by Daniel Lyon, at a cost of $2562.60 in the rear of the conrt-house, to keep the county. records in. The first telegraph office at Mon- trose was in the attic of this building. In

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY COURT-HOUSE, ERECTED 1854-5.

ERECTION OF COUNTY.

1853 a jail was erected by Boyd & Smith, at a cost of $5768.34. It is now used for an engine- house.

The present court-house was built in 1854-55. The contract cost of the building was $18,500; architect, $320; furniture, including bell, $1425,- 70; total, $20,245.70. The ground dimensions, including stylobate, are fifty-four by eighty-two feet. The county offices are on the first floor, the court-room on the second floor and jury- rooms on the third floor. The contract was made between John Hancock, Amos Williams and Amherst Carpenter, commissioners, and Levi B. Guernsey, Wm. L. Post, I. L. Post, W. H. Boyd and Avery Frink, contractors. In 1870 repairs were made on the new court-house amounting to $3025.09. In 1883 an addition was built on the rear end of the court-house, twenty-six by fifty-five feet, containing rooms for the janitor, chambers for the judge, waiting- rooms and a law library room. There is a cellar under the entire building, which is heated by steam. Boyd, Corwin & Cooley built the an- nex for $6500. The town clock was purchased by the citizens of Montrose and placed in the cupola of the court-liouse,

Where to the North and the South, to the East and West,

It points with its hands to the minutes as they fly ; While, with slow-measured stroke, it wakes a sad unrest,

To hear its midnight toll on the winds as they sigh.

The new jail was crected in 1867-68 by Avery Frink at a cost of $34,707.07. The stones of which it is built were mostly quarried from the immediate vicinity.

The following is the list of collectors, with the amount of their duplicates, in the year 1813 :

Bridgewater,

Jonah Brewster,

$1265 04

Clifford,

Walter Lyon,

442 22

Rush,

Philo Bostwick,

418 37

Harford,

David Aldrich,

273 71

Willingboro' (Gt. Bend),

Silas Buck,

220 61

New Milford,

Benjamin Hayden,

194 99

Lawsville,

Titus Smith,

151 80

llarmony,

Isaac Hale,

71 22

Braintrim (Auburn),

William Cooley,

58 77

Nicholson (Lenox),

Solomon Millard,

57 27

Total,

$3154 00

The following statement from the county commissioners' clerk for the year 1886 will show the increase in the aggregate wealth of the 5

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 13

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