Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 139

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 139

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).

A cane recently (1887) came to Montrose, for Mr. Grow, with the following inscription :

"GALUSHA A. GROW, Speaker of Congress, 1860-3. Grown on the first homestead in the U. S.

Presented by the first Homesteader. DANIEL FREEMAN, Beatrice, Neb."

GRISWOLD ORSMON LOOMIS, of Lenox, Pa., is a lineal descendant in the eighth generation from the progenitor of the family in New England, Joseph Loomis (1590-1658), who was a woolen-draper in Braintree, Essex County, England, sailed from Lon- don in 1638, in the ship "Susan and Ellen," and ar- rived in Boston July 17th of the same year. He had with him his wife, five sons and three daughters. He settled in Windsor, Conn., in 1639, and his house was situated near the mouth of Farmington River, on the "Island." One son, John (1622-88), resided at Farm- ington, and later at Windsor; was ,deacon of the church there, and deputy of the general court in 1666- 67, also from 1675 to '87. Deacon John's second son, Thomas (1653-88), resided at Hatfield, Mass., and Thomas' eldest son, Ensign John (1681-1755), resided at Windsor and Lebanon. Timothy (1718-85), third son of Ensign John, resided at Lebanon, and Elisha (1748-20), second son of Timothy, first resided in Lebanon, but subsequently settled in Coventry. His wife was Rebecca Terry, by whom he had children,- Joseph (1771-1841) died in Bridgewater, N. Y .; Me- dad (1778-1857); Eldad (1785-1829); and Luther (1792-1857) Loomis, who settled in Lenox, from Cov- entry, about 1826, near the lake that bears his name, the outlet of which is Millard's Brook. Eldad, the

LENOX.

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third son of Elisha and Rebecca (Terry) Loomis, mar- ried, in 1807, Fanny (1790-1882), a daughter of Na- thaniel and Eunice (Fowler) Jeffers, who came from Coventry and settled in Harford in 1822. He was drafted, near the close of the War of 1812, and went as far as New London. He resided in Coventry and managed his farm, tannery and shoe-shop until 1824, when, with his family, he came to this county and settled on a tract of woodland about one mile west of Harford village, and at once began clearing off the forest and completing a comfortable home for his

in his profession and in social life. Griswold Orsmon, born in Coventry, October 14, 1812 ; Emily E. (1815- 72) was the wife of Alanson Aldrich, of Harford ; and Lucy E., born in 1818, first wife of Alfred Judson Tiffany, of Brooklyn, and after his death, in 1876, married Gilbert N. Smith, and resides on the Tiffany homestead, near Kingsley Station, in Brooklyn.

Griswold O. Loomis, during his boyhood, resided with his uncle Luther, in Coventry, and had the usual opportunities for obtaining an education, which he well improved. He did not accompany the family to

G. U, Dormir

family. He died five years afterwards, and his eldest son, Dr. Elisha N., succeeded him in the ownership of the property, which is, in 1887, owned by the lat- ter's heirs. The widowed mother continued her resi- dence there the remainder of her life, and received from the government a pension for her husband's ser- vice in the war. She survived her husband fifty-three years, and lived to see many of her great-grandchil- dren. Eldad Loomis and his wife were people up- holding high moral sentiment, and reared their chil- dren to principles of integrity and honesty of purpose in life's work. Dr. Elisha N. (1809-74) practiced as an eclectic physician in Harford and vicinity during his active life, and was a man highly respected, both

this county in 1824, but two years later, then a boy of fourteen, came with his father, who had visited the old home in Connecticut that year. Upon reaching their new home in Harford he at once applied him- self to the farm-work, and did his part in paying off the indebtedness of the family. The premature death of his father, when Griswold was only seventeen years old, left him to depend entirely upon himself for a start in life, for his elder brother, Dr. Elisha, had chosen to remain on the homestead and take care of the family. About 1830 he took up a woodland tract of land in Lenox, on the line between that township and Harford ; built a shanty, and, as he had leisure from other work, cleared many acres, walking to and

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

from the home in Harford, a distance of four miles. After work in this way for some two years, he re- solved to build him a house, and during a part of the years 1832, '33 and '34, in order to save money for this purpose, he worked for Elkanah Tingley, of Har- ford, for eight montlis, at ten dollars per month ; for one Weston in a saw-mill, at Dundaff, for a time, and earned thirty dollars ; took a job of David Compton, below Honesdale, sawing lumber at fifty cents per thousand feet, earning one hundred dollars ; worked for Captain Asahel Sweet one summer, and for Comp- ton again in the winter of 1834, carning two hundred dollars. In the spring and summer of the latter year he returned to his farm, now ninety-one acres, and built his present residence, a fine structure, for the time it was erected, which he some thirty years ago remodeled. In that same year (1834) he married Alzina Titus (1814-52), a daughter of Leonard Titus, of Harford. This Leonard Titus was the son of Eze- kiel Titus, one of the nine partners who first came to Harford in the spring of 1790.

Leonard Titus' wife was the daughter of Nathan Maxon, who settled in Harford in 1800 from Rhode Island. She lived to a great age, and was a woman of remarkable ambition. The other children of Leonard Titus were Sylvenus (died in Lenox), Charles, Huldah, Sarah and Anna, all reside on the Titus homestead in Harford. By this marriage Mr. Loomis had children,-Sidney E., born 1835, married Maria West, and after her death Emma Oakley, and resides in Lenox ; Polly E., 1838, wife of Otis J. Bailey, of Harford; Ellen Louisa, 1842, married first Orange P. Whitney, who served in the late Rebellion, and died in Salisbury prison, N. C .; and second Jeremiah B. Avery, of Springville; Sarah Catharine, died young; Isabell E. (1850-64); and Edith A., 1852, wife of John Howell, of Harford. About 1848 a new and perplexing question arose with Mr. Loomis in common with a large number of the set- tlers of Lenox. Dr. Rose claimed the ownership of their lands. Wm. Jessup, acting as his agent, came on to survey them ; but his right to do this was disputed by the settlers, and while the matter was under con- sideration Dr. Rose died. A new claimant, in the person of one Collins, represented by Agent Moss, opened the subject with the settlers, but died before the matter was adjusted. Finally the lands were ad- vertised to be sold in Philadelphia, and by arrange- ment with the settlers, being surveyed by Hon. G. A. Grow, they were bid off by a Mr. Ward, and Mr. Loomis obtained his title in February, 1851, paying therefor fifty cents per acre. He had cleared a large part of his farm, fenced it well, and at different times erected good out-buildings. Everything about his placc shows the work of an industrious and thrifty farmer. He recites that deer and wolves were plenti- ful in the vicinity when he first settled on his place, and that he saw at one time as many as seven deer. Mr. Loomis has never sought official place, yet has

served his township for thirty-three years as super- visor and poormaster, and for one term as scliool director and auditor. He is possessed of a strong physique, and has enjoyed a robust constitution. His life-work has been to make a home for himself and family, and his aim has been to live honestly with his neighbors, and be just with all with whom he deals. His integrity, stability and good judgment are impressive characteristics of his nature. His life-work is a striking example of the result of toil and economy, and in great contrast with the oppor- tunities now offered the young man without means.

In 1853 he married for his second wife Mary L. West, who was born at North Madison, Conn., March 8, 1824. Their children by this union are Edward Grow, died young; Nelson Griswold (1861-79); and Laura Eveline, born in 1864, the wife of Elmer E. Tower, on the homestead, the son of Warner Tower, who was the son of Elder Rial Tower, a native of Vermont, who settled in Lenox in 1825. The late Elder Wm. N. Tower, a Baptist minister, and Rev. P. R. Tower, a Methodist clergyman of Osborn Holland, N. Y., and Elder Charles Tower, a Baptist minister at North Hector, N. Y., are sons of Elder Rial Tower.

The parents of Mary L. West were Samuel B. C. and Harriet (Bailey) West, who settled in Lenox in 1839. Their children are Amy, wife of Silas Ellis, of Carbondale; Levi, of Factoryville; Mary L .; Sus- annah, deceased ; Thomas, of Brooklyn; Maria, wife of Sidney E. Loomis, of Lenox; Samuel, of Travis City, Mich .; William F., of Middletown, Conn. ; Elvira, wife of William F. Coney, of Ware, Mass .; Harriet, wife of H. H. Burns, of Travis City, Mich .; Ella, first the wife of Ward York, and second the wife of Stephen York, of Lenox; Marco Basarius, of Travis City, Mich. Of these sons, William F., served in the late Rebellion for nine months, and Samuel was in Sherman's army in its March to the Sea. The parents lived and died in Lenox. The grandfather was Elder Samuel West, a Baptist minis- ter in Connecticut.

LENOX TAXABLES, 1845 .- Calvin Ball, Ira Bell, Rollin Bell, Stephen Bell, Truman Bell, Nathan W. Bell, Elisha Bell, Worthy Bell, Luke Bennett, Benjamin Bennett, John Buck, Jr., Hamilton Bonner, Michael Belcher, Richard W. Benjamin, Jonathan W. Baker, Joshua Baker, Reuben Baker, Orrin Baker, Samuel Benjamin, James S. Benjamin, Jesse Benjamin, Jacob Blake, John Brown, Charles Chandler (estate), Riley Case, Orson Case, Elias Cannon, Benedict R. Carr, Amos Carpen- ter, Othnelio Carpenter, Hiram Carpenter, Washington Carpenter, John Conrad, William Conrad, Levi Chamberlain, Rufus D. Clark, John Caden, Isaac M. Doud, John Doud, John Doud, Jr., Daniel Doud, Levi Davis, John Decker, Benjamin Decker, Shubael Dimock, Asaph Fuller, Elisha P. Farnham, Gideon Foot, Nathan B. Foot, Simeon Foot, Jacob Felton, George Felton, Jason Fargo, Grow Brothers, Galusha A. Grow, Orlando Griggs, Willian Gorman, Edward Gardner, William Gardner, William Grant, Levi Gleason, Orlando Glover, Eliab Gilbert, Ezekiel Glover, Peleg C. Hopkins, James Halstead, William Halstead, Jr., Elisha Halstead, Hannah Halstead, Samuel Halstead, Samuel L. Halstead, Abijah Hiukley, Benjamin Hinkley, John Hoppe, Chapman Harding, Harvey Hale, George Howell, Thomas Harkins, William Hartley, Mark Hartley, Samuel Hartley, William Hartley (2d), James Hartley, John Howard, James Howard, Lucius Hartshorn, James Ireland, Bunnell Johnson, Obediah Johnson, Alfred Jeffres, Daniel Kentner, William

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Knapp (estate), Isaac R. Kuapp, Herhert Leach, William C. Lake, Griswold O. Loomis, Luther Loomis, Solomon Lott, Peter Lott, E. McNamara, Lewis McNamara, Stephen Masters, John T. Millard, An- drew Millard, Stephen S. Millard, Abiathar Millard, John Millard, Sterling B. Maxon, Henry Mauzer, Ashbel Munson, Adam Miller, Henry S. Millard, Jolin Marcy, George Nixon, Martin Newman, George Newbury, William Odle, William Payne, Daniel Payne, William Price, Warren Price, William Price, Jr., George Price, Charles C. Potter, John D. Pickering, Nathaniel Pickering, Phineas Pease, Harry Pease, Amasa Pease, Hazard Powers, James Robinson, James S. Robinson, Daniel Robinson, Aaron Rynearson, Isaac Rynearson, Cornelius Rynearson, Okey Rynearson, Sarah Roherts, Clinton Roberts, William Reese, John Reese, Jonathan A. Rose, Orville Ranson, Elijah Scott, Alva Scott, Otis C. Severance, Asa Sinead, Nelson Smead, Francis Sherdon, George Sweet, George Snyder, James Snyder, William Stevens, Hiram Stevens, Jenks Sprague, Elihu Sprague, Leonard Searle, Zerah Scott, Joseph S. Scott, Chauncey Scott, Nathaniel Smith, Naaman Tingley, John Truesdell, Samuel Truesdell, Milton Tiffany, Rial Tower, Seneca F. Tanner, Isaac Truesdell, William Thomas, Silvenus Titus, Noah Titus, Charles B. Titus, Baker Titus, Asa' Titus, Benjamin C. Tourgee, Alfred Tourgee, W. B. Tourgee, John A. Tourgee, Lewis Tourgee, Lucius Utley, Joseph Wilson, Jason S. Wilson, Frederick Wilson, Charles Wilson, John B. Wescott, Asahel Wescott, Daniel H. Wade, S. O. Williams, Samuel Wright, Loren Wright, David Whitney, Reuben Whitney, Samuel West, Levi West, Jonathan H. Weyner, Matthew Wilsey, Isaac Woodruff, Samuel Wood- ruff, Ira Wilbur, Gilbert Wickwire, Russell Wickwire, Jehiel Wickwire, Josiah Whiting, Alfred Whiting, John T. Whiting, George Wood, John Yarns, Nathan Yarns.

HAMLETS AND BUSINESS INTERESTS .- The oldest business point in the present township of Lenox was at Rynearson's, or what is now known as Cameron's Corners, in the northeastern part of the township, where the Owego and Great Bend turnpikes cross each other. These circumstances, and its location in the oldest settlement, gave tbe place an importance, fifty years ago, which has not been continued to the pres- ent. The post-office is the only remaining evidence of its former business. This was established Septem- ber 29, 1826, with the name of Lenox, and Peter Ry- nearson was appointed postmaster. The following year he was succeeded by William Jackson, who opened a store in a building Rynearson had put up, on the northeast corner, and which also served as a tavern. This store was continued several years, but upon the removal of Jackson, in 1830, Okey Rynear- son became the postmaster, and kept it in his tavern, where it was continued a number of years. In 1836 Freeman P. Clinton became the postmaster ; iu 1838, Daniel Payne; and on the 7th of March, 1844, Charles Smith. He kept it but a short time, being succeeded, April 29, 1844, by Orville Tiffany, who kept the office at his house, where is now Centreville, but was suc- ceeded, June 24, 1844, by Charles W. Conrad, who again kept the office at the Coruers. Since that time the changes have been as follows: 1845, Daniel H. Wade; 1854, Daniel Payne; 1863, Isaac Halstead; 1864, John Camerou; 1866, Hiram White. Discon- tinued April 24, 1867, and re-established May 19, 1874, John Halstead postmaster; 1875, George W. Mapes. Discontinued Juue 23, 1875, and re-estab- lished September 14th, the same year, with George W. Mapes postmaster. Since 1881 the office has been kept by Thomas Cameron. At present a daily mail is supplied.

After Okey Rynearsou there came, as tavern-kcep-

ers, Charles and William Smith, and in the best days of staging, Daniel H. Wade. At this time, from 1845 on, until the building of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western Railroad, this house had a large patronage, and the little hamlet bore a busy appear- ance. When the decline came, Wade sought to dis- pose of his property, but, not being able to make a profitable sale, put it up in a lottery, selling, it is said, four thousand dollars' worth of tickets. The property passed into the hands of relatives, named Williams, and the tavern was kept some time by a man named Stephens, but was finally purchased by John Cameron, an Irishman, who last kept the pub- lic-house at this place. The original building was burned down, as was also the one which was put up on its site ; and this once famous landmark has alto- gether disappeared, except the foundation walls, which have been left standing. Other fires have re- moved the buildings of the hamlet until but a few houses and shops remain, and no business of note is done. For many years Dan Payne had a shoe- maker's shop, and Alonzo Payne was the blacksmith. That trade was also carried on by C. W. Conrad and Benjamiu Bennett.

Below the Corners, on the Tunkhannock, William Hartly had an early saw-mill, which was swept away by a freshet, when owned by Solomon Taylor. It was rebuilt by George Belcher, and long operated by him ; but has ceased to be useful. On the same stream, above the Corners, and near the township line, Corbett Pickering had a lumber-mill, which is still operated as the property of Erastus Holmes. In the northeastern part of the township, on Harford Brook, was the mill of the McNamara family, which has gone down. East from this, ou the Bonner farm, were found surface indications of coal, which led to prospecting for that mineral, with unsuccessful results. A drift was worked by Almon Clinton, Ira Carpenter and Levi Peck; but, after digging about eighty feet, the project was abandoned.

LENOXVILLE is a pleasantly-located hamlet on the East Branch, in the southeastern part of the township. It has several dozen buildings, a church, three stores, mills and shops. The first improvement of a business nature was made here as early as 1806, when Isaac Doud built a small grist-mill, the first in these parts, and which proved a great convenience to Lenox and Clifford. After 1820 John Doud was the owner. The completion of the Brooklyn and Lonsdale turnpike through this place, in 1849, first directed attention to the locality as a business centre and, in 1851, Skid- more D. and Adney C. Tompkins built the frame- work of the present large mill, to accommodate this increasing business. Before it was completed a fresh- et swept away the dam and demolished oue corner of the mill. From these owners the property passed to Decker Brothers, Decker & Lee, Decker & Halstead (who supplied the mill with uew machinery and made extensive repairs, building also the present saw-mill)

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Morse & Richmond, and, since 1884, Silas B. Hartley has been the owner. The grist-mill has three runs of stones, and the saw-mill has a cutting capacity of ten thousand feet of lumber per day.

Before 1850 Daniel Baker had in operation a turn- ing-shop, on the site of the present saw-mill, where he manufactured hoe and shovel-handles. It was kept up but a few years. Above the mill Hiram White started a foundry, at an earlier day, which was oper- ated on repairs and common castings until his death in 1885, since which time it has been idle. Near by O. C. Severance put up large mechanic shops, in which many wagons were made. These are now carried on in a more limited manner by Nathan C. Halstead. Lower down the stream Martin Doud and others have operated small saw-mills, which are still in existence, though run but a few months each year.

The first merchandising in Lenoxville was done by Abraham Churchill in 1850. He used one room of his present dwelling, and continued in trade three years, having Daniel Baker as a partner the last year. In 1853 Decker Brothers opened a store near their mill, in which they merchandised some time, being followed by Miller & Bolton. In this building Silas B. Hartley has been continously in trade since 1870. Lower down the turnpike Alfred Marcy opened the second extensive business stand, after the war, and J. C. Decker is now there in trade. At a later period. Adam Miller built another store-house, but died be- fore he could occupy it. In this place William Miller and O. C. Severance have traded, the latter being still in business.

Lenoxville post-office was established January 28, 1851, with Skidmore D. Tompkins as first postmaster. His successors have been : 1853, A. C.Tompkins; 1854, Abraham Churchill; 1866, Hiram White; 1869, Abraham Churchill; 1872, M. J. Hartley ; 1873, Silas B. Hartley ; 1885, Mary E. Johnson. The office has a daily mail.

At Lenoxville, Dr. J. Harding has been the first resident physician, locating in 1884. Many of the buildings in the hamlet, have been erected within re- cent years, the old residence of William Johnson Ashbel Munson being regarded as land-marks of the time when they were the only buildings on the west side of the creek. Munson was a pioneer miller.

GLENWOOD has a delightful location in the south- western part of the township, above the forks of the East Branch and the Tunkhannock. It is not inap- propriately named. The surrounding hills are high, and in most places still wood-covered, making a inarked contrast with the flat lands along the stream, forming here a glen nearly a mile long and about one- fourth as wide. The early settlers at this point were the Millard and Hartley families, descendants of the latter still owning the lower part of the glen. At the upper end of the glen was the homestead of the Millards, which became the property of the Grow family in 1834, whose energy and business enterprise

has caused the hamlet to spring up. In 1887 Glen- wood contained mills, a store and post-office, hotel, shops, chapel and about fifteen residences. Near the centre of the present hamlet Solomon Millard put up his grist-mill prior to 1817, having his saw-mill and distillery on Millard Brook, above his residence. In 1825 Benajah Millard became the owner of the mills, which, three years later, were reported as the prop- erty of James Coil. In 1833 Woodbury S. Wilbur owned the mill property, and later it passed into the hands of the Grow Brothers, and was owned in con- nection with their farms in the upper part of the glen. In 1846 they rebuilt the mills, erecting a large three-story frame, in which were placed three runs of stones. These mills were used until their destruction by fire, February 14, 1885. The work of rebuilding was immediately commenced, and within four weeks the saw-mill, on an enlarged and im- proved plan, was in operation. The grist-mill was completed the following summer, and is also a fine structure. Both mills are operated as the property of the Grow family, and do a large business.

In a few years after her removal to the Millard farm, in 1834, Mrs. Grow began merchandising on a small scale, occupying a room in her house. The business increasing, a store building was put up opposite the homestead, in which two of her sons, Edwin R. and F. P., engaged in a mercantile business, which has been continued to the present time. In 1875 this building was removed to a lot below the mills and opposite the F. P. Grow mansion, where it was en- larged and well fitted up for its purpose. Since 1881 it has been occupied by F. F. Grow as the successor of Grow Bros. Here is kept the Glenwood post-office, established January 3, 1835, with the name of Mil- lardsville, and Woodbury S. Wilbur as the postmas- ter. He was succeeded by F. P. Grow in January, 1838, and he, in turn, in 1844, by Edwin R. Grow, who has been postmaster continuously since that period. December 30, 1851, the name of the office was changed to Glenwood, a name which had been applied to the hamlet at an earlier period,

A short distance below the mills the Grow Bros. built the Glenwood Hotel, in 1850. It was a large building with accommodations for one hundred guests, and had a fine patronage of summer boarders, who were attracted to the place by the comfort and rest the hostelry afforded, as well as by the bracing air and natural scenery of the locality. At that time fine trout abounded in the brooks, and the flora of the hills was large and varied. The Grow Bros. sold the hotel to A. F. Snover, who kept it successfully many years, when he was succeeded by V. Cafferty. This fine structure was completely destroyed by fire March 18, 1870, and no hotel was rebuilt on its site. Near by a farm-house now stands. The present public-house was originally a residence, which was enlarged and improved for hotel purposes by A. F. Snover after the destruction of the above house, and

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was kept by him until 1883. He was succeeded by G. W. Hinckley, and within a year by the present, James Doran. It is a large frame building. The first public-house in this place was kept by Benajah Millard, a short time only, after 1825. In 1831 and the following few years Charles H. Miller kept a tav- ern which had a very unique sign, on which was the admonition "Live and let live." A part of this building was used in the construction of the F. P. Grow mansion.

In 1842 Charles W. Conrad began blacksmithing in the building which had been used by Miller as a barn, while he kept the tavern, having first only an ordinary shop, and often taking his pay in produce. But his business increased to such an extent that, in the course of years, he had the most extensive establish- ment of the kind in the county. A large portion of the work done was making mule-shoes for use on western mail-routes, on contracts secured him by Geo. H. Giddings, a native of the county, who was inter- ested in the staging business. Steam-power was em- ployed, and improved machinery was used in carrying on the shops, the business requiring an investment of no less than six thousand dollars, when the entire plant was destroyed by fire on the night of June 28, 1869. In the fall of the same year the shops were re- built on a larger scale than before the fire, and a por- tion of the steam-power was used to operate a shingle- mill. This establishment was also destroyed by fire, burning down in the winter of 1875. A smaller shop was erected upon the ruins of the building, in which Mr. Conrad worked until 1879. The present occupant is Richard Wescott. Another mechanic at Glenwood, whose occupation has been carried on for a long term of years, is L. M. Hardy, who has had a shoemaker's shop for more than three decades.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 139

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