Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 142

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

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In 1883 it was discovered, in the Hugo manuscript in the British Museum, that a Rev. Peter Thacher was vicar of the parish of Queen Camel, Somerset County, England, from 1574 to 1624. There are strong reasons for believing that he was the father of Rev. Peter Thacher, of Salisbury, Wilts County, England, and of Anthony Thacher.

The first-named son was vicar of the parish of Mil- ton Clevedon six years, then rector of the Church of St. Edmunds, Salisbury, eighteen years, dying in 1640. His son Thomas came to America in 1635 with his uncle, Antony. From these two the Thachers in America are descended.

This son became first minister of Old South Church, Boston. Rev. Thomas Thacher was eminent in piety and intellectual attainments. Dicd 1678. His son, Rev. Peter Thacher, Milton (near Boston), was the father of Rev. Peter Thacher, Middleborough, Mass., and grandfather of Rev. Peter Thacher, Attleborough, Mass., "faithful and beloved pastor of the Second Congregational Church." His descendants to the present time are proud to trace their lineage to him. Born 1716, died 1785.

To him were born ten children, viz. : Mercy (Tyler), Peter, Thomas, Obadiah, John, Mary, Moses, Samuel, Bethiah (Blanding) and Nathan. The seventh and eighth were two of the " Nine Partners " who came to Harford in 1790. Obadiah and John followed in 1795.

The children of Moses were Rev. Washington Thacher and Sarah. The children of Samuel were Daniel C., Peter, Enos, Samuel, Eliza, Mary (Guile), Betsy and Harriet (Thacher). Children of Obadiah were Elizabeth (Greenwood), Peter, Stephen, Thomas, Rev. Moses, Hannah (Pride), Rev. Tyler Thacher and Philena (Hotchkin). Children of John were Sally (Tyler), Nathan, John, Myra (Stephens), Daniel,

Freeman Jingley

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Bethiah (Ellsworth), Rebeccah, Onley, Amanda (Greenwood) and Seth Williston Thacher.

Of the children of Moses, Samuel and Obadiah, eighteen in number, all are dead; none of their eliil- dren reside in Harford.

All the sons of John remained in Harford the greater portion of their lives-three of them all their lives. One still survives, Seth W., aged eighty-two.

Only three grandsons bearing the family name are now in Harford, viz .: Russel R., Ebenezer B. and Azor; only three great-grandsons,-Wallace L., Daniel B. and Emerson.

Of all the Thachers coming into, remaining or finally leaving Harford, but twenty-six persons having the blood in their veins are now residents. Four great- great-grandsons and eight great-great-granddaughters are in this total-the eleventh generation from Rev. Peter Thacher, of Queen Camel, England-all the links in this deseent having been established without doubt long years, save the first, and eovering a period of three hundred and forty years,

John Thacher was one of the seven members of the Congregational Church, Harford, at the time of its organization. Born 1759, died 1841.

In addition to the three ministers already named, Hannah Thacher Pride and Philena Thacher Hotch- kin beeame missionaries to the Choctaws. Philena and Eliza were teachers. On the roll of the Congre- gational Church are three Deacon Thachers. Sixty persons bearing the family name stand on its roll, and probably as many more, if we trace the blood into other families. Of the numerous descendants of Rev. Peter Thaeher, Attleborough, comprising five genera- ations, few have failed to comply with the claims of God. The promises of Scripture as to faithful service from generation to generation have been abundantly fulfilled. The seed of the godly have followed in their steps.

Two of the Rev. Peter Thaeliers had the Master's de- gree. Another braneh had a D.D. Thomas Antony Thaeher was an honored and beloved professor at Yale, lately deceased. Several judges, mayors, State and na- tional legislators stand in the list. A number were graduates of Harvard College. Oxenbridge Thacher, an attorney of eminence, was author of " The Sentiments of a British-American," appearing at same time with writings of James Otis, 1764. These two men were co-laborers with Samuel Adams, patriot.

The coat of arms of the family bore the motto: "Cedant avina toga, concedat laurea lingua"-(Let military authority yield to the eivil power; let the laurel yield to eloquence.)

DEACON FREEMAN TINGLEY .- Elkanah Tingley (1760-1838), son of Thomas and Martha Tingley, came from Attleborough, Mass., with his family in 1795, and located on two hundred aeres of land ad- joining the Nine Partners' settlement. His first wife, a Miss Aldrieh, died in 1790, leaving five children,- Darius (1779-1839), father of Freeman ; Patty (1782- -

1862), wife of Warren Follett ; Dolly, 1784, wife of Daniel Chalker, of Choconut, died in Ohio; Benjamin (1785-1849) died in Dundaff; Chloe (1788-1810) mar- ried Thomas Tiffany, Jr., of Harford. By his second wife, Keziah Mason (1767-1805), he had five chil- dren,-Daniel, 1791, a Baptist deacon, died in Jack- son ; Anna, 1792, wife of Joseph Yeomans, of Brook- lyn ; Milton, 1794, resided in Jackson ; Charles (1796- 1862) resided in Harford ; and Mason, born in 1799, a Baptist deacon of Dimoek. The last two of these children were born in Harford (then Nicholson). El- kanah erected a log house on his woodland traet, and, with the assistance of his sons, cleared a large part of it and brought its original soil into a good state of cultivation. He supplanted his log house with a frame one in 1808, the present residenee of his grandson, Freeman. The property has remained in the family since, a period of ninety-three years. His third wife was a Miss Hall, who died without issue. He was a member of the old Baptist Church of Har- ford, and it is believed that he was among the or- ganizers of that church. His eldest son, Darius, mar- ried Sabra Yeomans, who died in 1858. She was a daughter of Samuel Yeomans, who settled in Brook- lyn about 1804, a woman noted for her knowledge of dairying and cheese-making, and a member of the early Methodist class of Brooklyn.

Darius settled on fifty aeres of the homestead, in time added thereto other real estate, was a large farmer, dairyman and cheese-maker, and marketed the products of his dairy largely outside the county. He was drafted in the War of 1812 and went with the troops as far as Danville, but, peace being declared, he returned home. He was a deacon in the Harford Baptist Church and remained a member here until the disbandment of the church, in 1841, when he united with the Baptist Church in West Lenox.

His children are Calista, born in 1807, the widow of Luke Bennett, of Lenox, resides in South Gibson ; Naaman, 1808, succeeded to a part of the homestead, now resides with his children in Harford; Philena, 1810, was the wife of Hazard Powers, of Gibson ; Freeman, born July 20, 1811 ; Truman, 1813, resides on a farm contiguous to the homestead ; Alman, 1814, a farmer in the same neighborhood; Melia, 1817, was the wife of Rufus Russell, died at Tunk- hannoek ; Sabra C., 1819, wife of Timothy Carpen- ter, of Sonth Gibson ; and Sally Charlotte, 1823, was the wife of Joseph Oakley, of Brooklyn.

Freeman Tingley had the usual opportunities, in common with the other children, for an education from books in his boyhood, and continued at sehool during the winter terms until he reached his major- ity. At that time his father gave him one hundred and thirty-six acres of wild land, about one mile from the homestead, off which he began elearing the forest and making a home for himself. In 1834 he built a small frame house thereon, and the same year married Julina Tingley, who was born March 24, 1816, in Gib-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

son, a daughter of Benjamin and Betsey Millard (1771-1857) Tingley. Her father was the son of El- kanah Tingley, herein noticed, aud her mother was the daughter of Solomon Millard, a soldier of the Revolution, a settler of Lenox prior to 1797, and one of the most enterprising men of the county. This Benjamin Tingley was twice married, and reared a large family of children. Freeman Tingley had learned at home that industry and economy are neces- sary to success, and for twenty years he continued his residence on this place, cleared off some seventy- five acres of the timber with his own hands, tilled the soil and fenced its fields, and made a comfortable home. In this work he was supported by his devoted wife, who did her part well and was ever ready to extend a hearty welcome to their friends and neigh- bors, and whose hospitality was always commensu- rate with her means. Shortly after their marriage this couple united with the Baptist Church at West Lenox, and they have brought this influence of a Christian life to bear upon the lives of their children. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday- school and an earnest worker among the young. Since 1840 Mr. Tingley has been a deacon of this church, and Deacon Tingley is known by all as a man of the highest honor; in his life-work, of correct habits; a supporter of temperance reform and of every worthy work. He was one of the building committee in 1865 and gave his time and money to erect the West Lenox Baptist Church, and, after it was burned, in 1876, he, at the meeting for rebuild- ing the church, in 1878, accepted the office of treas- urer. He has served his township officially as super- visor and school director. In 1854 Deacon Tingley settled on the old homestead of his grandfather, where he has since remodeled the house, erected good out- buildings, and made the place to show, in its various appointments, the work of a thorough-going farmer. Their children are Frederick, born in 1837, is settled on the first homestead of his father, and married Ella Cox, of Harford ; Louisa Eveline, 1839, wife of Abram Eaton, a farmer and merchant now residing at Dun- nings, Lackawanna County; Cordelia Gertrude (1845-85), was the wife of Oscar R. Pease, of Shultz- ville, above county ; Zelpha Philena, 1848, wife of Josephi Treanor, of La Grace, Dakota ; Emily Jose- phine, 1851, wife of John W. Tallman, of West Lenox ; Mason Freeman, 1857, married Ida A. Hilly- gus, of Vestal Centre, Broome County, N. Y. ; and Heber Darius, 1862, married Anna J. Chalker, of Freedom, Ohio, the granddaughter of Daniel and Dolly (Tingley) Chalker, before mentioned. The last two sons farm the present homestead.

Laban Capron and family came in 1794, He was called Major Capron, and was one of the first Board of County Commissioners for Susquehanna County. His sons were Wheaton, Amos and Laban Capron, Jr. Joab, a deaf and dumb man, is a son of Whea- ton's. One day when he and his mother were alone

in the cottage it took fire. They were in the cham- ber and the stairway was on fire. He escaped from the window but, being a mere boy, was unable to rescue his mother, and being dumb, he was unable to shout for help; thus was he compelled to see her burned to death without being able to render any as- sistance. Joab resides with Emerson Capron, a son of Laban, Jr., who lives near Richardson Mills School-house. Orlen Capron, brother of Laban, moved to Ohio. Wing Capron was a Baptist deacon. Laban Capron, Esq., died 1827, aged fifty-six. Dr. Comfort Capron, the first physician at Harford, died in 1800, aged fifty-six. He was the father of Laban and Orlen Capron, and a surgeon in the Revolution- ary army. He came in 1794 and appears to have been the second physician in the county. He has been followed at Harford by Drs. Luce and Horace Griswold. " Mrs. Mercy Tyler used to ride on horse- back for miles around to visit the sick." One time, when the snow was deep so that she could not ride her horse, four stalwart men bore her on their shoul- ders to the house of her patient. 1 Dr. Streeter, who practiced here from 1812 for half a century, and died at an advanced age; Dr. E. N. Loomis, an eclectic, lived two miles west of the village; Dr. Clark Dick- erman, from 1832 till 1853; Dr. C. C. Edwards ; Alonzo M. Tiffany, son of Hosea Tiffany, Jr., died in South Gibson; G. N. Gamble; Kent; H. Penny- packer; Wm. R. Blakeslee; Galbraith ; and Lowrie.

Obadiah Carpenter and sons, Obadiah and Elias, came in 1795, and purchased two lots, or three hun- dred and twenty acres, of the original Nine Partners' purchase, of Mr. Drinker. They built a log house about ten or fifteen rods from the present residence of Elias Carpenter and cleared up a farm. Obadiah Carpenter, Sr., was one of the first deacons in the Congregational Church. Elias had one hundred and sixty acres where they first built, and Obadiah had the other one hundred and sixty acres adjoining.

Elias married Polly Hawley and resided all his life on the homestead. He was assessor and one of the first school directors under the new school law. Payson Kingsbury, Walter Follet and John Blanding were the other directors. The directors at that time examined teachers as to their qualifications and at- tended to hiring also. Elias N. Carpenter resides on tlie old homestead. Ira, the oldest son, lived where his daughter Polly, wife of John Tiffany, lives. Oba- diah lived where Walter Wilmarth now lives. Am- herst Carpenter, one of his sons, was a man of some prominence. He was born and reared upon the farm where he resided all his life. He was public-spirited and filled nearly every office of trust in the township. He was county commissioner in 1853, colonel of mili- tia and brigade inspector. He was one of the orig- inal subscribers in the Agricultural Society, and was general superintendent at the annual fairs. He was

1 See medical chapter.

Eng by AH Ritchie.

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a member of the Congregational Church and sexton for twenty-three years. Penuel Carpenter resided in the village, and was a merchant and cattle-buyer.

Thomas Wilmarth located in the west neighbor- hood. His children were Thomas, Perry, David, Sewel, Peddie and Sally. Walter Wilmarth, brother of Thomas, had a family,-La Fayette, George and Willard.

Ira Stearns came to Harford early and afterward stopped in Mount Pleasant with his father. He came again, however, and purchased of David Lyon. Sam- uel Lyon, his brother, resided on the place adjoining. Ira Stearns' wife was Maria Plum. Their children were Edwin, who died in Wilkes-Barre ; Charles, who went to Oregon; Alvin, who resides on the home- stead ; and Oscar, who died in the army ; George, Ansel, Maria, Amanda, Mary, Alonzo and Henry.

Captain Eliab Farrar came to Gibson in 1804. He married Jemima Tiffany, daughter of Noah Tiffany and resided a number of years in " Kentuck," near Arunah Tiffany, where he cleared up a place. He re- moved to Harford about 1817 and bought the Sturde- vant place. He died in 1858, aged eighty-five ; his wife died in 1874, aged nearly ninety-two. Their children were Lucina, a school-teacher in Susque- hanna and Wayne Counties, who died in 1873, aged sixty-seven ; Lorin occupies the homestead ; his wife was Mary L. Chandler. They have a family of four girl», nearly all of whom have been teachers in the orphan school, and two boys. Emeline, wife of Rev. E. O. Ward, of Bethany ; Henrietta, wife of Lorin Eastman ; Eliab lives in Bradford ; Daniel M., stage proprietor at Harford ; Hannah C., wife of R. M. Grenell, of Honesdale, Pennsylvania ; Mary C., wife of John Godding; Clarissa, wife of D. P. Roe-were the other children of Eliab Farrar.

Francis Richardson came to Harford from Mass- achusetts about 1825. He located on a cross-road going towards the turnpike, from the road to North Harford, about two miles from the village. He was the first in that section, and went into a wilderness and cleared up a farm with the assistance of his boys, two of whom had preceded him and erected a log cabin twelve feet by twelve. Into this he moved with his wife and twelve children. They purchased one hundred acres at first and added another one hundred afterward. The children were Mehitable, Lavinia, Lois, Silence, Laura, Richard (lived and died on the homestead). Francis, Thomas, Melloid, John and Joseph were the other sons. Mehitable was the wife of John Tenant; Lavinia, wife of Zerah Very ; Lois, wife of Peter Dunn; Laura, wife of George Lindsey, who took the second place owned by Francis Richardson, his father-in-law, and is one of the enterprising farmers of the township. Mr. Joslyn was one of Richardson's first neighbors; he soon returned to Massachussetts. George Tingley resides on that place now. Thomas Tingley was his next neighbor. Peter Thacher resided on the farm

now owned by Robert Alexander. Austin Ellsworth lived up by Tingley Lake, where Mr. Savage lives. The first school in the neighborhood was taught by Elenor Farrar in Austin Ellsworth's barn. Noah Fuller also resided near Tingley lake.

HON. HENRY WARREN WILLIAMS, son of Peter Williams, was born in Harford July 30, 1830. He received his education at the common schools and at Harford Academy and commenced to read law with Little & Chase at Montrose. In May, 1852, he re- moved to Wellsboro' Tioga County, Pennsylvaina and completed his studies under the direction of Hon. John W. Guernsey, and was admitted to the Tioga County bar January term, 1854. He practiced law at Wellsboro' until 1865, when he was appointed ad- ditional law judge of the Fourth Judicial District, at the age of thirty-four. He resigned this position and was elected president judge in 1871, and unan- imously re-elected, having the united support of all parties, in 1881. He was one of the seven lawyers appointed by the Governor to draft laws to carry in- to effect the provisions of the Constitution of 1883. He was also a lay delegate to the Pan Presbyterian Council at Edinburgh. He has been on the bench twenty-two years and has the reputation of being one of the ablest and fairest judges in the State. For the last two years there has not been a writ of error tak- en to the Supreme Court from his district. He is the Republican nominee for justice of the Supreme Court to succeed Judge Mercur, who died in June, 1887.

HARFORD VILLAGE .- Harford village is located in a hollow amid the green hills, once forest-crowned, but now generally cultivated and planted with orch- ards or made into meadows and pastures. The vil- lage contains about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, two churches, four stores, a school, tannery, steam saw-mill, two wagon-shops, a blacksmith-shop, har- ness-shop, millinery-store, a post-office, with two daily mails and annually has the best Agricultural Fair in Susquehanna County.

Stores .- John Seymour brought the first goods into Harford, in 1809; he sold out to Joab Tyler and Rev. Whiting Griswold, his brother-in-law, whose ill health obliged him to leave the ministry. The store was near the Streeter place. Tyler succeeded this firm, and was alone for a while, followed by Tyler & Seymour. Professor Tyler, son of Joab Tyler, says: "From my earliest recollections, Tyler & Gris- wold, Tyler, Carpenter & Co., or Tyler, Seymour & Co., used to keep a variety-store in the house on the other side of the brook, next to Dr. Streeter's. And among other good things of every sort which they used to sell there, they kept, of course, a variety of good or bad liquors, wine, brandy, rum, whiskey and I know not what besides." It was John Seymour that was in partnership with Deacon Tyler. Saxa Seymour followed them in business, and was the leading merchant in Harford for many years. B. F

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

& Abram Eaton, Moxley, Harding & Blanding, are remembered as having been engaged in the mercan- tile business a short time. Aaron Greenwood built what is now known as the Granger Hall, about 1840, and commenced store-keeping. George G. Pride suc- ceeded him about 1846. Zcrah Very and C. S. John- ston purchased Pride's stock of goods and commenced business in 1849. They occupied that building two years, when Mr. Very purchased the property, where he lived the remainder of his life, and fitted up a room, which had been used as a kitchen of the hotel, for a store. Very & Johnston removed their goods there, and did business in partnership until 1855, when Johnston built the store now occupied by his son, C. H. Johnston. In 1865 Johnston sold his goods to Tiffany and his store to Jones, Babcock & Tanner. Jones, Babcock & Tanner did business to- gether until 1870, when Babcock retired; and in 1872 Jones bought out and continued until he died, in 1879. C. H. Johnston has carried on the business since at this stand.

Mr. Very continued alone after Johnston left him in 1855, until 1865, when his sons-in-law, T. J. Carr and H. N. Avery, succeeded him. After two years Mr. Very purchased Avery's interest, which he sold, in 1870, to H. S. Sweet and C. S. Hallstead. Carr finally purchased their interests, and closed out the business in 1877. There was a store as early as 1840 where Dr. Blakeslee resides. The house was built by Russell Tuttle, who was succeeded in the mercantile business by Dexter Sibley and Peter Car- penter. The latter became sole owner, and sold the goods to Edwin T. Tiffany, in 1860. Mr. Tiffany bought Johnston's goods in 1865, and in 1867 built the store which has been occupied by his sons, H. J. and Lee, since 1883. Russell R. Thacher & Son, Daniel B., commenced harness business in 1867. In 1877 they established a grocery business. E. M. Os- borne also established a grocery business about the same time.

ZERAH VERY .- His parents, Asa Very (1776-1829) and Chloe Rexford Very (1774-1842), came from Dan- ville, Vt., in 1814, and settled on a farm two miles north of Harford village, on the turnpike leading to New Milford, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They had children as follows: Betsey, wife of Aaron Mogg, of Waverly, Pa .; Russell resided near Fairdale, this county, and there died; Orrin died in Michigan; Olney H. resides at Montrose Depot, aged eighty-three years ; Zerah, born August 10, 1805, at Danville, Vt., died at Harford, December 9, 1886; Cyrena, widow of Judson Mulneaux, who was killed in the late Rebellion, resides at Washington, D. C. Lorinda was the wife of Samuel Cornell, of New Mil- ford ; Emily died a young woman; and Dr. Loren Very, who practiced medicine in Centreville, Louisi- ana, where he died. Zerah Very, a merchant at Harford from 1849 until about 1870, was nine years old when his parents came to this county. He at-

tended the home district school in boyhood, and for two winters was a pupil at the Harford district school, where he diligently applied himself and ob- tained a fair English education, to which he added his practical ideas obtained at home. With such a start, upon reaching his majority he set about making a competence for himself and a home for his family. In 1828 he married Levina Richardson (1807-71), who was born at Rehoboth, Mass., and came here with her parents, Francis (1768-1850) and Mehetabel Puf- fer (1778-1854) Richardson. From this time until 1849 he engaged in farming on the homestead, and by industry and judicious management he was enabled to begin mercantile business in Harford free of debt. For two years he hired a store opposite the Congrega- tional Church, and in the meantime remodeled and built additions to the property he had bought of Saxa Seymour, across from the present post-office. His store was kept in the front part, and he resided in the rear part of the building. Here he carried on general mercantile business for upwards of twenty years, and was succeeded by his sons-in-law. During the latter years of his life he did very little, except to attend to his own private business and to the farm which he still owned.

Mr. Very was known in the community as a man of strict integrity in all his business relations, pos- sessed of a high sense of honor, a man of honest mo- tives and unostentatious ways. He never sought the emoluments of office nor positions of public trust, yet in every way worthy and qualified, he discharged whatever duty was placed upon him by his fellow- citizens with fidelity. Both himself and wife im- pressed their children with the value of home, and made it attractive by their presence and familiarity with them.

Their children are Eleanor, born in 1829; Leonora (1832-65), the wife of Thomas J. Carr, died in Har- ford, leaving children,-Susan L. (wife of Charles S. Edwards, of Scranton), Ida May, Anne E. and Clar- ence E., who died at six years of age; Eudora, born in 1835, the widow of Hezekiah Avery, of New Mil- ford, who died at Union, N. Y., in 1869, leaving one daughter, Elfrida, the wife of C. D. Brown, of New Milford; and Emmerancy Very (1839), who died at the age of four years.

Mr. Very married Mrs. Cyrena Green, in 1872, for his second wife, who died in 1881. She was a sister of Major Asa Hammond, of New Milford. His third wife, who survives him, was Mrs. Floranda Hartt, a daughter of Richard Richardson, who resides in Har- ford. The only surviving daughters of Mr. Very suc- ceed to the farm property and the store property in the village.

HENRY M. JONES was born in the township of Har- ford May 24, 1830, and was the only son who grew to man's estate of Austin (1788-1861) and Polly T. Car- penter (1798-1870) Jones, who were married in 1824, and resided on East Hill. He was educated at Har-

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 142

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