USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania > Part 14
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170
county,-the aggregate amount of real and per- sonal property taxable for county purposes as returned by the assessors in the year 1886 (real estate valued at about one-fourth its real value), taxable for both county and State purposes, real and personal and money at interest. The light additional assessment in June, when voters are registered, is not included.
MONEY AT INTEREST
FOR 1886.
Taxable for St te
purposes.
Apolacon,
$60,885 00
$6,331 00
Ararat,.
49,600 00
14 878 00
Auburn,
223,521 00
27,586 00
Bridgewater,
233,976 00
43,583 00
Brooklyn,
136,551 00
124,306 00
Choconut,
66,307 00
9,292 00
Clifford,
163,272 00
54,986 00
Dimock,
129,412 00
116,178 00
Dundaff Borough,
17,320 00
2,790 00
Forest Lake,
112,018 00
30,704 00
Franklin,
107,481 00
20,784 00
Friendsville Borough,.
17,361 00
13,415 00
Gibson.
173,134 00
100,504 00
Great Bend Township,
118,159 00
30,845 00
Great Bend Borough,
59,805 00
84,311 00
Hallstead Borough,
43,265 00
14,994 00
Harford,
142,721 00
77,217 00
Ilarmony,
124,094 00
92,718 00
Herrick,
83,311 00
15,036 00
Hopbottom Borough,
20,856 00
26,768 00
Jackson,
128,650 00
28,588 00
Jessup,
81,908 00
27,023 00
Lathrop,
70,528 00
28,128 00
Lenox,
143,106 00
39,108 00
Liberty,
96,100 00
28,547 00
Little Meadows Borough,
18,970 00
6,118 00
Middletown,
81,052 00
22,792 00
Montrose Borough,
212,963 00
335,186 00
New Milford Township,
192,000 00
31,033 00
New Milford Borough,
89,945 00
80,903 00
Oakland Township,
50,224 00
8,533 00
Oakland Borough,
27,117 00
6,947 00
Rush,
118,386 00
31,494 00
Silver Lake,
103,529 00
21,211 00
Springville,
138,328 00
36,721 00
Susquehanna Depot Borough,
180,530 00
61,649 00
Thomson Township,
51,183 00
15,187 00
Thomson Borough,
13,935 00
32,690 00
Uniondale Borough,
26,915 00
15,641 50
$3,908,418 00
$1,76-1,725 00
E. G. BALL, County Commissioners' Clerk.
THE CENSUS .- In 1810 Susquehanna County, although erected by act of Legislature, was still officially connected with Luzernc; and the population of several of the townships included those of both counties, as Nicholson, Clifford, Braintrim, Rush and Bridgewater. The last- named, however, was almost entirely above the line of division, and its population 1418; that of Willingborongh, 351 ; Harmony, 80; Laws- ville, 169; New Milford, 178. The census was taken by Isaae A. Chapman.
REAL AND PERSONAL. Taxable for County purposes for 1886.
66
HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
POPULATION IN 1820. (Taken by BELA JONES.)
Dimock,
1181
1124
1071
Males.
Females.
Total.
Auburn,.
113
93
206
Bridgewater,
1027
956
1983
Choconnt,
257
249
506
Clifford,
349
332
681
Gibson,
455
455
910
Great Bend,
289
236
525
Harford,
321
319
640
Harmony,
80
93
173
Jackson,.
128
137
265
Lawsville,
229
237
466
Lenox,
110
104
214
Middletown,
276
253
531
New Milford,
324
286
610
Rush,
134
108
242
Silver Lake,
258
198
456
Springville,
385
326
711
Waterford,
401
378
779
Total whites,
5145
4760
9908
Total hlacks,
51
Total number inhabitants,
9958
Of the above there were the following classifications : Farmers, 1864 ; mechanics, 261 ; merchants, 23 ; foreigners not naturalized, 309.
There were in the county : Sheep, 12.259 ; horses, 857 ; oxen, 1358 ; cows, 2586; grist-mills, 29; saw-mills, 62 ; fulling-mills, 7; carding machines, 8; tanneries, 5 ; grain distilleries, 12.
There was manufactured in the county during the year ending August 1, 1820: Of woolen cloth, 37,797 yards; of linen cloth, 52,762 yards.
There was in the county (1820): Of improved lands, 33,780 acres ; of unimproved lands, 171,831 acres; of unseated lands, 224,935 acres. Total acres iu county, 430,546 acres.
The valuation of taxable property, as collected from assessment rolls of 1821, amounted to $1,007,698. Number of taxables, 1821, 2061.
1830.
1840.
1850.
Auburn,
516
1113
1837
Apolacon,
2440
2082
1548
Brooklyn,
1350
1474
1082
Chocouut,
782
952
894
Clifford,
866
1068
1647
Dimock,
998
1056
Dundaff,.
298
304
296
Forest Lake,
606
780
Friendsville,
515
703
Gibson,
1081
1219
1459
Great Bend,
797
859
1150
Harford,
999
1179
1258
Harmony,
341
523
1578
Herrick,
468
629
824
Jackson,
641
754
978
Jessup, ..
840
Lathrop,
878
Lenox,
546
800
1443
Liberty,
683
589
1140
Montrose,
415
632
917
New Milford,
1000
1148
1433
Ruslı,
643
1039
1159
Silver Lake,
516
907
1213
Springville,.
1514
926
1148
Thomson,
509
Totals,
16,782
21,195
29,168
1880.
1870.
1880.
Apolacon,.
910
528
539
Ararat, ..
500
771
639
Auburn,
2164
2006
2089
Bridgewater,
1785
1459
1517
Brooklyn,
1213
1128
1100
Choconut,
1068
939
537
Clifford,
1624
1532
1454
Dundaff,
245
187
171
Forest Lake,
1125
995
990
Franklin,
805
849
815
Friendsville,
202
223
176
Gibson,.
1439
1368
1350
Great Bend Borough,.
855
1136
Great Bend Township,
1976
1431
1301
Hallstead,
Harford,
1441
1595
1505
Harmony,
1072
1212
1924
Herrick,
904
9,50
1104
Jackson,
1121
1175
1095
Jessup,
867
804
762
Lathrop,
876
983
1054
Lenox,
1791
1751
1730
Liberty,
995
1030
1108
Little Meadows,
923
871
833
Montrose,
1268
1463
1722
New Milford Borough,
414
600
803
New Milford Township,
1515
1647
1465
Oakland Township,.
522
1106
1415
Rush
1471
1418
1357
Silver Lake,
1313
1079
1105
Springville,
1346
1424
1410
Susquehanna,
208)
2729
3467
Thomson Borouglı
249
Thomson Township,
558
701
656
Totals,
36,714
37,933
40,354
THE CIVIL LIST .- The following are the chief officers of Susquehanna County, including members of Congress and members of the Legis- lature, who represented Susquehanna County, although not always residents therein. The judges and district attorneys will appear in the Bench and Bar chapter.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.1-1812, Isaac Smith, Jared Irwin, for Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Luzerne and Susquehanna; 1814, David Scott, Wm. Wilson, for Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Luzerne and Susquehanna; 1816, David Scott, Wm. Wilson, for Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Luzerne and Susquehanna; 1817, J. Murray (in place of Scott, resigned), for Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Luzerne and Susquehanna; 1818, J. Murray, Geo. Denison, for Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Lu- zerne and Susquehanna; 1820, W. C. Ellis, Geo. Denison, for Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Lu- zerne and Susquehanna; 1822-24-26, Samuel McKean, George Kremer, Espy Van Horn, for Luzerne, Sus- quehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Northumberland, Colum- bia, Union, Lycoming, Potter, Mckean; 1828, Phil- ander Stephens, Alem Marr, James Ford; 1830, Phil- ander Stephens, Lewis Dewatt, James Ford; 1832-34, John Laporte, for Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter, Mckean ; 1836-38, Sam'l W. Morris, for Sus- quehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter, Mckean ; 1840, Davis Dimock, Jr., died January, 1842; 1842, Almon H. Read, elected in March, for Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter, Mckean ; 1842, Almon H. Read (died),
1 Those in italics are from Susquehanna County.
...
510
Lawsville,
554
833
Middletown,
185
Franklin,
748
Bridgewater,
159
Middletown,
546
67
ERECTION OF COUNTY.
for Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga ; 1844, G. Fuller, elected to fill vacancy, for Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga ; 1844, D. Wilmot, for Twenty-ninth Congress, for Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga; 1846-48, D. Wilmot, re-elected, for Susquehanna, Bradford and Tioga ; 1850-52-54-56-58-60, Galusha A. Grow, for Susque- hanna, Bradford, Tioga; 1862-64-66, Charles Deni- son, for Susquehanna and Luzerne; 1868, Geo. W. Woodward, for Susquehanna and Luzerne; 1870, L. D. Shoemaker, for Susquehanna and Luzerne; 1872, L. D. Shoemaker, for Susquehanna and Luzerne. In 1874 Joseph Powell represented the Fifteenth Con- gressional District, composed of Bradford, Susque- hanna, Wayne and Wyoming; 1876-78, Edward Overton, Jr .; 1880, C. C. Jadwin; 1882, George A. Post; 1884-86, F. C. Bunnell.
STATE SENATORS .- The following is a list of State Senators representing the district of which Susquehanna County has been a part. New apportioninents are supposed to be made every ten years, after taking the census. These appor- tionments should be made from territory as nearly contiguous as possible, but the political necessities of the party which happens to be in the majority at the time the apportionment is made is usually the controlling principle which governs in arranging the districts. From 1812 until 1822 Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Luzerne and Susquehanna formed a senatorial district. The following are the persons who represented the district during that time :
1812, William Ross; 1814, Thomas Murray, Jr .; 1816, Charles Fraser; 1818, Simon Snyder ; 1819, Robert Willet; 1820, Redmond Conyngham ; 1822, Jonah Brewster represented the district, which was composed of the counties of Susquehanna, Bradford and Wyoming; 1825, John Ryon; 1829, Samuel McKean; 1830, Reuben Wilber; 1833, Almon H. Read; 1837, Elihu Case represented Susquehanna and Bradford, and in 1841 Asa Dimock represented the same; in 1844, William H. Dimmick represented Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming; in 1847, F. B. Streeter represented the same; in 1850, George San- derson represented Susquehanna, Bradford and Wyom- ing; in 1853, Wm. M. Piatt; in 1856, E. Reed Myer; 1859, George Landon; 1862, William J. Turrell; 1865, George Landon ; 1868, P. M. Osterhout; 1871, L. F. Fitch ; 1874, W. W. Watson.
After the new Constitution went into effect Susquehanna and Wayne were placed together, and constitute the Twenty-sixth Senatorial Dis- trict. The term was lengthened from three years to four years. Under the arrangement the even-
numbered districts were to elect their first Sena- tor for two years, and for four years thereafter.
In 1876 Eugene B. Hawley was elected for two years; 1878, William M. Nelson was elected for four years; 1882, William M. Nelson; 1886, Orrin A. Lines.
Of these Senators, Charles Frazer, Jonah Brewster, Almon H. Read, Asa Dimock, F. B. Streeter, William J. Turrell, L. F. Fitch, W. W. Watson, Eugene B. Hawley and Orrin A. Lincs were from Susquehanna County.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES .- Representatives to the State Legislature were elected for one year, and the Legislature met annually, until the new constitution went into effect, in 1874, since which time Representatives have been elected for two years, and the sessions are biennial.
Luzerne and Susquehanna were together from 1812 until 1829, then Susquehanna was alone until 1843, after which Wyoming was added until 1850, after which Sullivan was added until 1857, when Susquehanna was alone again until 1864, then Susquehanna and Wyoming were together until 1874, when Susquehanna alone was entitled to two representatives.
1812, Chas. Miner, Benj. Dorrance, for Luzerne and Susquehanna; 1813, Jabez Hyde, Jr.,1 Joseph Pruner; 1814, Putnam Catlin, Benj. Dorrance; 1815, Redmond Conyngham, Benj. Dorrance; 1816, Jonah Brewster, Geo. Denison; 1817, Jonah Brewster, James Reeder ; 1818, Jonah Brewster, James Reeder; 1819, Jonah Brewster, Benj. Dorrance; 1820, Cornelius Cartright, Benj. Dorrance; 1821, Jabez Hyde, Jr., Andrew Beau- mont; 1822, Jabez Hyde, Jr., Andrew Beaumont, Jacob Drumheller; 1823, Jabez Hyde, Jr., Elijah Shoe- maker, Jacob Drumheller; 1824, Philander Stephens, G. M. Hollenback, Jacob Drumheller; 1825, Philander Stephens, G. M. Hollenbeck, Samuel H. Thomas; 1826, Philander Stephens, Garrick Mallery, Samuel H. Thomas; 1827, Almon H. Read, Garrick Mallery, George Denison ; 1828, Isaac Post, Garrick Mallery, George Denison ; 1829, Almon H. Read, Susquehanna alone; 1833, Bela Jones; 1834, Joseph. Williams; 1835, Bela Jones; 1836-37, Asa Dimock; 1838-39, Charles Chandler, Jr .; 1840, Franklin Lusk; 1841, Dr. Calvin Leet; 1842, Franklin N. Avery; 1843-44, Lewis Brush, Thomas Morley, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1845-46, David Thomas, Schuyler Fasset ; 1847-48, Samuel Taggart, R. R. Little; 1849, Sidney B. Wells, E. Mowry, Jr .; 1850, Isaac Reckhow, E. Mowry, Jr., for Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan ; 1851, Isaac Reckhow, Michael Meylert, for Susque- hanna, Wyoming and Sullivan ; 1852, Ezra B. Chase,
1 Those in italics were residents of Susquehanna.
68
HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
John W. Denison, for Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan; 1853, Ezra B. Chase, James Deegan, for Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan ; 1854, Charles J. Lathrop, John Sturdevant, for Susquehanna, Wyom- ing and Sullivan; 1855, Thomas Ingham, John V. Smith, for Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan ; 1856, Simeon B. Chase, Alfred Hine, for Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan; 1857-58, Simeon B. Chase, for Susquehanna alone; 1859-60, George 1. Frazier, for Susquehanna alone; 1861-62, D. D. Warner, for Susquehanna alone; 1863, George H. Wells, for Sus- quehanna alone; 1864, George H. Wells and P. M. Osterhout, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1865, J. T. Cameron, P. M. Osterhout, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1866, J. T. Cameron, Jacob Kennedy, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1867, Loren Burritt, Ziba Lott, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1868, Loren Burritt, A. P. Stephens, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1869, A. P. Stephens, Harvey Tyler, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1870, E. B. Beardslee, A. B. Walker, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1871, E. B. Beardslee, M. Brunges, for Susquehanna and Wyoming; 1872, H. M. Jones, M. Brunges, for Sus- quehanna and Wyoming; 1873, H. M. Jones, Robert R. Little, for Susquehanna and Wyoming.
In 1874 Susquehanna County alone became entitled to two representatives. The following is the list to the present, 1886 :
1874, Samuel Falkenburg, W. W. Williams; 1876, Monroe J. Larrabee, Eben P. Hines; 1878, John W. Cargill, John C. Morris; 1880, Chas. H. Ellis, Chas. A. Hungerford ; 1882, Stanley N. Mitchell, Watson T. Barns; 1884, Eugene H. True, George R. Resseguie; 1886, Eugene H. True, William Maxey.
SHERIFFS AND CORONERS .- Prior to 1839 two persons were elected sheriff, of whom the Governor appointed one. Sheriffs and coroners are elected for three years. A sheriff cannot be his own immediate successor. The following- named persons have been elected in Susquehanna since its organization :
Sheriffs.
1812. Edward Fuller.
1815. Austin Howell.
1818. Samuel Gregory.
1821. Philander Stephens.
1824. Samuel Gregory.
1827. Charles Chandler, Jr.
1830. Joseph Williams.
1833. Charles Avery.
1836. William Hartley.
1839. Walter Follett.
1842. Thomas Johnson.
1845. Nelson C. Warner.
1848. Christopher M. Gere.
Coroners. Stephen Wilson. Philander Stephens.
Chapman Carr.
Daniel Trowbridge. Charles Chandler, Jr. Benjamin J. Dimock. Davis D. Warner. Hiram Finch. Walter Follett. Thomas Johnson. Jonas Carter. Wm. B. Handrick. John Baker.
Sheriffs.
1851. Gabriel B. Eldred.
1854. Fred. P. Hollister.
1857. John Young.
Dr. J. Blackman.
1860. Elias V. Green.
Dr. C. C. Halsey.
1863. David Summers.
Dr. Braton Richardson. Dr. L. A. Smith.
1866. S. F. Lane.
1869. Wm. T. Moxley. Dr. C. C. Halsey.
1872. M. B. Helme.
Dr. C. C. Halsey.
1875. William White. Dr. Calvin C. Halsey. 1878. Benjamin F. McKune. Dr. Calvin C. Halsey.
1881. E. P. Pope. H. D. Baldwin (1 year). 1884. Zachariah D. Jenkins. Samuel Birdsall.
1886. W. W. Strange.
PROTHONOTARIES .- Under the Constitution of 1790 the Governor appointed all the county officers, and in new counties one person fre- quently held the offices of prothonotary, clerk of the courts, and register and recorder ; such was the case in Susquehanna County until 1821.
1812-16, Dr. Charles Fraser, by appointment of Governor Snyder; 1816-20, Jabez Hyde, by appoint- ment of Governors Snyder and Findley; 1816-20, Judge De Haert, as deputy, did all the writing during Mr. Hyde's term ; from January, 1821-36, Asa Dimock, Jr., by appointment of Governors Heister, Shulze and Wolf; 1836-39, George Walker, by appointment of Governor Ritner ; 1839, George Fuller, by appoint- ment of Governor Porter.
In 1839 the office became elective, and George Fuller was elected.
1842-45-48, John Blanding; 1848, Frederick M. Williams; 1851, Frederick A. Ward; 1854, Sidney B. Wells; 1857, George B. R. Wade; 1860, Edwin M. Turner; 1863-66, Gabriel B. Eldred; 1869. W. F. Simrell, who died in 1870; 1870, J. F. Shoemaker, appointed; 1870, G. B. Eldred; 1873, David Summers ; 1876, William W. Simrell; 1879-82, Myron Kasson ; 1885, Dewitt A. Titsworth.
REGISTERS AND RECORDERS. - In Susque- hanna County the register and recorder is also clerk of the Orphans' Court. This office became separated from the prothonotary's office in 1821.
In 1821, David Post was appointed by Governor Heister; in 1824, William Jessup, and held it nine years under Governors Shulze and Wolf; 1833, Chris- topher L. Ward held three years under Governor Wolf; 1836, Simon Stevens held one year under Governor Ritner ; 1837, Charles Avery held two years under Governor Ritner; 1839, Hiram Finch was ap- pointed by Governor Porter, and he was elected the fall following for three years.
The following persons have been elected since. Hiram Finch held by re-elections until 1848 :
Coroners. William H. Boyd. Benjamin Dix.
69
ERECTION OF COUNTY.
1848, Charles L. Brown ; 1851, J. T. Langdon ; 1854, Jas. W. Chapman ; 1857, Charles Neale; 1860, Harmon K. Newell; 1863, Joseph McCain ; 1866, J. F. Shoe- maker; 1869, Jerome R. Lyons ; 1872, H. N. Tiffany ; 1875-78, Henry F. Beardsley; 1881, L. H. Lincoln ; 1884, Charles S. Page.
TREASURERS .- 1812, Isaac Post; 1815, David Post; 1818, Justin Clark ; 1821, Charles Avery ; 1824, Mason S. Wilson; 1825, J. W. Raynsford; 1826, Hiram Finch; 1828, Davis Dimock, Jr .; 1831, C. L. Ward; 1832, William Foster; 1834, Davis Dimock, Jr .; 1835, George Fuller ; 1837, Henry J. Webb ; 1839, Moses C. Tyler ; 1841, Moses C. Tyler (elected) ; 1843, Davis D. Warner ; 1845, Walter Follett ; 1847, Harvey Tyler ; 1849, O. G. Hempstead ; 1851, William K. Hatch ; 1853, D. R. Lathrop; 1855, S. A. Woodruff; 1857, C. W. Mott; 1859, D. W. Titus; 1861, Amos Nichols ; 1863, Nicholas Shoemaker; 1865, Charles B. Dodge; 1867, Richard V. Kennedy ; 1869, Benjamin Glidden ; 1871, Tracy Hayden; 1873, Edwin G. Taylor; 1875, Henry C. Tyler ; 1878, A. B. Burns; 1881, H. L. French ; 1884, William A. Southwell.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS .- County commis- sioners are elected for three years, and it was arranged so that one commissioner should be elected each year. To inaugurate this plan, it became necessary to elect the first Board of Commissioners for terms of one, two and three years. This arrangement continued from 1812 until 1875, when the new Constitution went into effect. This Constitution provides for the election of all three of the commissioners at one time for the term of three years, and each qualified elector is only permitted to vote for two persons for that office, thereby securing one commissioner to the party which is in the minority. The county auditors are also elected in the same manner since 1875.
COMMISSIONERS .- 1812, Bartlett Hinds, 1 year ; 1812, Laban Capron, 2 years; 1812, Isaac Brownson, 3 years; 1813, Jonah Brewster, 3 years; 1814, Hosea Tiffany ; 1815, Stephen Wilson ; 1816, Sylvanus Hatch ; 1817, Daniel Ross ; 1818, Philander Stephens ; 1819, Samuel Warner; 1820, Joseph Washburn; 1821, Philo Bost- wick; 1822, Hosea Tiffany, Jr .; 1823, Simon Stevens; 1824, Edward Packer; 1825, Charles Avery; 1826, Walter Lyon; 1827, Anscl Hill; 1828, Joseph Wil- liams; 1829, William Hartley; 1830, Joseph Wash- burn; 1831, Calvin Summers; 1832, Arad Wakclee; 1833, Jonathan C. Sherman ; 1834, Cyrus H. Avery ; 1835, Charles Tingley; 1836, Robert Griffis; 1837, John Comfort; 1838, Edward Heald; 1839, Thomas Burdick ; 1840, Nathaniel Norris; 1841, William G. Handrick; 1842, Abel Hewitt; 1843, Alonzo Wil- liams ; 1844, Isaac Reckhow; 1845, Jonas Carter ;
1846, Nathaniel West; 1847, Elisha P. Farnam ; 1848, David O. Turrell ; 1849, John Murphy; 1850, Shubael Dimock; 1851, John Hancock; 1852, Amos Williams ; 1853, Amherst Carpenter ; 1854, Joseph Smith ; 1855, William T. Case; 1856, Perrin Wells ; 1857, Orange Mott, Jr .; 1858, Levi S. Page; 1859, C. M. Stewart; 1860, J. B. Cogswell; 1861, James Leighton ; 1862, Nelson French; 1863, John B. Wil- son ; 1864, David Wakelee; 1865, J. T. Ellis; 1866, B. M. Gage; 1867, Samuel Sherer ; 1868, J. T. Ellis; 1869, Preserved Hinds; 1870, Edward L. Beebe ; 1871, Oscar Washburn; 1872, Lyman Blakeslee; 1873, Edwin G. Ball; 1874, Eli Barns.
In 1875 David O. Minklin, Edward G. Ball and Matthew E. Ryan, were elected for three years each, being the first Board of Commissioners under the new Constitution ; 1878, William H. Sherwood, Merrick T. Whitney and Chas. Delhanty ; 1881, M. T. Whitney, Esick P. Bailey, L. Griffis; 1884, Frederick M. Wood- house, James E. Curtis, Dennis Casey.
COMMISSIONERS' CLERKS .- Jonah Brewster was the first commissioners' clerk, and served for one year, 1813. Dr. Asa Park was the second clerk, and Almon H. Read served for five years, from January 1815, to January 1820. He was succeeded by William Jessup, who served from January 1820, to January 1826, a period of six years. George Fuller was then appointed, and served three years and two months, and was succeeded in March, 1829, by E. Kingsbury, Jr., who served one year and ten months. B. Streeter served eight months, and Jas. W. Chapman four months of the year 1831. Davis Dimock, Jr., served for the year 1832, and Charles Avery for the year 1833; then Secker Meylert was appointed and served for seven years, from January 1834, to January, 1841. Asa Dimock served for the year 1841, when Robert J. Niven was appointed, and served eleven years and four months, from January 1842, until May, 1853, when William A. Crossmon was appointed, and served twenty-three years and eight months, and was succeeded, January 1, 1876, by G. B. Eldred, who served one year and three months, when he resigned to take a position in the Montrose Bank, and was succeeded by D. W. Gidden, who served one year and nine months, when he was suc- cecded by E. G. Ball, the present incumbent.
JURY COMMISSIONERS. - 1870, Charles Sprout, James O. Bullard ; 1873, William A. Crossmon, Daniel Brewster; 1876, Henry P. Robbins, Stephen E. Car- penter ; 1879, David Marsh, James Lonagan ; 1882,
ch 1.
re-
of
Json
70
HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Leander Lott, George Harvey ; 1885, Alonzo W. Miles, Charles E. Lowe.
AUDITORS .- The following persons have been elected auditors since 1840:
1840, John Young; 1841, Daniel B. Sneden ; 1842, Joel Turrell ; 1843, Benj. Thomas; 1844, Loren T. Farrar; 1845, Ira N. Hawley ; 1846, Francis Quin ; 1847, John Smiley; 1848, George Baldwin; 1849, Almon Spoor, C. D. Cobb, 2 years ; 1850, M. J. Mum- ford; 1851, James E. Howe; 1852, Norman Foot ; 1853, J. M. Cargill; 1854, O. S. Beebe; 1855, D. D. Brown ; 1856, D. P. Tiffany ; 1857, G. T. Frazier ; 1858, John F. Dean ; 1859, Chauncey Wright ; 1860, Stephen W. Budd ; 1861, R. S. Ashby ; 1862, W. M. Singly ; 1863, Mahlon C. Stewart ; 1864, John F. Deans; 1865, L. M. Turrell; 1866, Eli Barnes ; 1867, F. B. Chandler ; 1868, Tracy Hayden ; 1869, Henry M. Jones; 1870, Amos Nichols; 1871, M. S. Catlin ; 1872, J. T. Ellis; 1873, John B. Johnson; 1874, M. Prichard; 1875, William Wheelock, Martin L. Catlin, Lewis B. O'Doud ; 1878, Joseph Jameson, J. H. Munger, Abner Griffis; 1881, A. W. Kent, E. C. Inderlied, Abner Griffis ; 1884, Jeremiah H. Munger, Harry H. Craver, Ernest D. Sutton.
COUNTY SURVEYORS .- Prior to 1827 Sus- quehanna and Bradford Counties constituted a deputy-surveyors' district. From this time until 1850, when the office became elective, the fol- lowing persons were appointed deputy-surveyors for Susquehanna County :
1827, Adolphus D. Olmstead ; 1830, Jas. W. Chap- man; 1833, John Boyle; 1836, Issachar Mann; 1839-47, John Boyle; 1847-50, O. S. Beebe; 1850, O. S. Beebe; 1853, Timothy Boyle; 1856, Joel Turrell; 1859, Wilson J. Turrell; 1862-65-68, Jas. W. Chap- man ; 1871, O. S. Beebe; 1874-77, Jas. W. Chapman; 1886, Lorenzo D. Benson.
CHAPTER IX.
THE BENCH AND BAR.
IN 1682 William Penn divided the province of Pennsylvania into the three counties, Phila- delphia, Chester and Bucks. Bucks embraced the northeastern portion of the province. In 1752 Northampton County was organized. In order to govern the Yankees more effectually, Northumberland County was formed March 21, 1772. It was found that the Connecticut claimants did not recognize the authority of the
proprietaries any better from Sunbury, the county-seat of Northumberland, than they did from Easton, the county-seat of Northampton ; consequently the northern part of Northumber- land was elected into the county of Luzerne, by act 25th of September, 1786; and by act Febru- ary 21, 1810, Susquehanna County was set off from Luzerne. The pioneer settlers attended court at Wilkes-Barre until 1812. This court was organized under the first Constitution of this State, May 27, 1787, at the house of Colonel Zebulon Butler, in Wilkes-Barre, by Timothy Pickering, James Nesbitt, Obadiah Gore, Nathan Kingsley, Benjamin Carpenter, Mathias Hollenback and Wm. H. Smith, who had been commissioned justices of the Court of Common Pleas.
After proclamation made by Lord Butler, high sheriff, for all persons to keep silence, the commissions of the county officers were read and the oaths administered by Timothy Pick- ering and Colonel Dennison. Timothy Picker- ing, who was a lawyer of fine abilities and who had great tact in managing the Connecticut claim- ants, was chosen prothonotary, register and re- corder and clerk of the court. The second court was held September, 1787, Obadiah Gore, president.
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.