USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania > Part 147
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HARFORD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. - Agreeable to notice, on the 21st day of October, 1858, a number of the public-spirited people of Harford assembled in the school-house in the village of Harford for the pur- pose of considering the propriety of forming an agri-
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cultural society. Arta Sweet was elected chairman and P. Carpenter secretary. After considering the subject, the following committee was appointed by the chairman to draft a constitution and by-laws for the organization : A. Carpenter, Fowler Peck, L. R. Peck, M. Oakley, D. E. Whitney, P. Carpenter, J. Blanding and W. C. Tiffany. The meeting then ad- journed to October 25th, when the constitution and by- laws were reported and adopted, of which a portion is given, viz .: "This society shall be known as the Har- ford Agricultural and Mechanical Association. The object of this society shall be to promote and encour- age the best interests of agricultural and mechanical arts. Any person may become a member by subscrib- ing to this constitution and paying the sum of fifty cents, said sum to be paid annually, the which shall admit to the fair the family of said member. The funds received by the treasurer shall be appropriated to the payment of the contingent expenses and of premiums, but no premiums, except discretionary premiums, shall be awarded to any person not a mem. ber of the said society. The society shall hold an annual fair at such time and place as shall be fixed by the executive committee, and it shall be the duty of the said committee to make all necessary arrange- ments for holding fairs. No money shall be paid out by the treasurer, except on orders drawn by the exec- utive committee."
The charter members of the Harford Agricultural Society were Asa Hammond, S. B. Guile, Fowler Peck, Amasa Chase, Austin Danon, George A. Lind- sey, E. C. Peck, G. M. Carpenter, A. L. Forsyth, J. Clark, P. Carpenter, J. Blanding, A. Carpenter, J. W. Watson, E. T. Tiffany, J. W. Tyler, B. F. Eaton, Wm. C. Tiffany, W. T. Moxley, Stephen Sweet, John Williams, E. N. Carpenter, Orlando Watrous, C. S. Tanner, F. W. Richardson, Hoyt Wilcox, C. Tiffany, A. Reade, Jr., Harvey Kingsbury, Ira Carpenter, L. R. Peck, George Leach, C. H. Miller, A. B. Tucker, Shepherd Carpenter, Geo. I. Tingley, Marshall H. Blanding, Willard W. Wilmarth, P. V. Dnnn, Alan- son Aldrich, Coe Wells, John A. Smyth, Millbourn Oakley, S. E. Carpenter, J. G. Hotchkiss, John Leslie, H. G. Blanding, Merit Seley, H. J. Tyler, D. E. Whit- ney, D. T. Roe, Tingley Tiffany, Theron Palmer, H. Marcy, D. L. Hine, Jos. Powers, Jr., A. J. Adains, N. G. Brainard, Alonzo Abel, A. M. Tiffany, G. J. Babcock, S. C. Halstead, O. Payne, Jr., H. Sibley, C. L. Seley, Dexter Sibley, Dalton Tiffany, William Brundage, A. G. Barnard, Jos. Moore, H. M. Jones, A. W. Greenwood, R. L. Tingley, E. J. Tyler, Walter Graham, J. D. Richardson.
The first fair was held on the grounds of the Con- gregational Church Society on November 9, 1858, at which there was a fine exhibition of stock, vegetables, etc. At this fair there was one class for horses, colts and mules ; there were three classes for cattle. In the first class were offered premiums for the best bull, best milch cow and best heifer; class 2d, best
pair work oxen, best pair three-year-old steers, and best pair two-year-old steers; class 3d, best lot yearlings, not less than four head, the best lot calves, not less than four head. Premiums on sheep were for best buck and best lot of ewes. The first officers of the society were John Blanding, president ; Millbourn Oakley, vice-president; Tingley Tiffany, treasurer ; A. B. Tucker, secretary ; L. R. Peck, Fow- ler Peck, D. E. Whitney, executive committee. The first annual meeting was held January 10, 1859. The treasurer reported fifty cents in the treasury. The officers elected for the ensuing year were A. Carpen- ter, president; A. Hammond, vice-president; E. T. Tiffany, secretary ; P. Carpenter, treasurer; S. E. Carpenter, J. Leslie, H. Marcy, executive committee ; after which were added D. L. Hine and Coe Wells. The second annual fair was held October 13, 1859, with the premium list considerably extended. The annual meeting of 1860 was held January 9th, when the treasurer reported twenty-four dollars and sixty-nine cents on hand. During the year 1860 the society pro- cured and fenced ground of N. W. Waldron, directly back of the present site of the hotel, and the next fair was held on this ground. The necessary buildings for their use were erected with funds procured by sub- scription among our people. In the report of their annual meeting of 1863 is the first we find of any officer receiving pay for services, when it was ordered that the secretary be paid five dollars per year. At this time it was ordered that the society be known as the Harford Agricultural Society.
In 1868 there was $770.52 in the treasury. During this year the society moved their buildings to the ground which it now occupies. For this purpose there were orders drawn on the treasurer for $1020, the amount of the deficit being borrowed for the pur- pose of paying these orders. The great expense of moving buildings and fitting up the new ground was relieved very much by the liberal action of the farm- ers in giving labor and lumber. This work was done under the supervision of I. H. Parrish, D. L. Hine and P. Carpenter. The eleventh annual fair was held on the new ground, October 7 and 8, 1868. February 1, 1869, the treasurer reported $8.56 on hand. The executive committee was authorized to borrow money to put the ground in proper condition. February 7, 1870, the membership tickets, badges, etc., were done away with, and a single admission of twenty-five cents was charged. February 6, 1871, the treasurer reported $24.29 on hand. The executive committee reported that the income of the society was insufficient to meet expenses and that they had borrowed $150 and given their individual notes for the same. At this meeting it was resolved that the premium on domestic wine be discontinued. In February, 1873, . new constitution and by-laws were adopted, of which Article 5 provides that "it shall be the duty of the executive committee to revise and arrange a premium list, appoint judges, employ police and gate-keepers
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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
and other necessary assistance, advertise for each annual fair, draw all orders on the treasurer, and do any other business not specified in the by-laws. They shall receive as compensation for above service each $6.00 annually." The above article has never been altered or amended. There are two auditors elected each year. All accounts are examined and nothing is accepted by the society until certified by tlie audi- tors as correct. The treasurer is required to give bonds to the executive committee for the faithful performance of his duties. In 1875 the salary of the secretary was made $20, since which time it was fixed at $40 a year. In 1879 we find report of $803.38 on hand. During the summer the floral hall now in use was erected, fence renewed, well dug, etc., and the expense of these improvements was $803.49. Receipts of the fall fair, $897.04; expenses, $569.50, leaving $328 for another year.
In 1884 we find $946.78 in the treasury, and the executive committee leased two acres of ground, which is fenced in with the original ground. They built a large addition to mechanics' hall, added to the dining- room, and erected a secretary's office, with baggage- room connected, for the care of all kinds of parcels, which may be left in his care for a small compensa- tion, after which the society consider themselves responsible for the same until called for by the hold- ers of duplicate checks. In 1885 their receipts were larger than ever before, the total receipts being $1579.30; paid premiums, $678.50; other expenses, $578.61, leaving on hand, February 1, 1886, $1108.77. A portion of this money is being used this year in erecting new stands, painting buildings, fencing two and one-half acres more ground, which has been leased this year, digging another well, etc. The society has been very fortunate in securing the ser- vices of their executive officers. In the twenty-eight years of its existence there has never been a hint of any dishonesty. The society has never been incor- porated, and custom allows all over twenty-one years old to vote in our annual meetings. Of the twenty- eight fairs held there has been but two adjourned on account of bad weather. Only one office vacancy has occurred by death. There were seventy-six charter members, and of these, forty are still living.
The Harford Agricultural Society has been success- ful from the beginning, and the interest has increased from year to year until all the surrounding townships have become interested, making their annual fairs the best in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its success is due to the honesty and fairness with which its business has been conducted, the liberal and democratic spirit that has been shown in distributing the offices, and the intelligence of its managers. And further, it is purely a farmers' fair, without attendant horse-rac- ing, gambling and drinking.
Presidents, John Blanding, Amherst Carpenter, Amasa Chase, Edwin Tingley, H. M. Jones, Watson Jeffers, E. T. Tiffany, W. B. Guile, H. S. Sweet; Vice-
Presidents, Dexter Sibley, E. T. Tiffany, D. L. Hine, Edwin Tingley, L. T. Farrar, H. M. Jones, Ira Car- penter, W. B. Guile, W. Jeffers, A. T. Sweet, A. J. Adams, A. J. Stearns; Secretaries, A. G. Blanding, W. B. Guile, John Blanding, A. B. Tucker, Ira Car- penter, J. C. Tanner, S. E. Carpenter, Lee Tiffany ; Treasurers, P. Carpenter, E. T. Tiffany, W. B. Guile, G. J. Babcock, C. S. Johnston, J. A. Williams, W. B. Guile, J. L. Williams. A number of these officers served several terms. The present secretary, Lee Tiffany, to whom we are indebted for the above his- tory, has served since 1876.
BURIAL-PLACES .- Harford Cemetery. - All the record or data which can be found in regard to the title and first occupancy of the old or original grave- yard are found in a manuscript history of the town- ship written by Deacon Caleb Richardson in 1837 as follows :
"In the year 1803, December 6th, Mr. Drinker, by his deed of that date, gave one acre of ground for the use of the families residing within three miles of that ground. Hosea Tiffany and Amos Tiffany, by their deed dated September 24, 1824, annexed seventy-five perches on the northeast side of the lot." The first burial in the yard was Polly Follet, an in- fant daughter of Robert Follet, born December 8th, died December 25, 1796. The first adult buried there was Dr. Comfort Capron, in 1800, aged fifty-six.
In the fall of 1868 a movement was made by the citizens of Harford to enlarge the grounds, as nearly every lot of the old yard was occupied by or more graves. In October, at a meeting of those interested, measures were taken to procure a charter of incor- poration for the society, to be called " The Cemetery Society of Harford." Amherst Carpenter, E. T. Tif- fany, W. B. Guile, J. C. Edwards, H. M. Jones and John Blanding were elected trustees. Application for a charter was made in November and granted in February, 1869. The charter provides for the an- nual election of two trustees to serve for three years, making a board of six trustees, who have power to elect a president, secretary and treasurer from among their number, to purchase additional ground when necessary, sell lots, make repairs and generally to con- trol the affairs of the association. S. B. Guile, who owns the land adjoining agreed to sell all the land they wanted for two hundred dollars per acre. Under this agreement two acres had been purchased and sur- veyed into two hundred lots. Colonel A. Carpenter, who was sexton for twenty-three years, and knew where every one was buried, went over the yard with E. T. Tiffany and they numbered the lots and made a map of the grounds. Roads have been laid out, and in some cases the lots are inclosed by ever- green hedges. The first head-markers were native stone, which are more durable than marble; later marble and granite. The "City of the Dead " is already three times as populous as the little hamlet in which it is located. Here "the rude forefathers
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of the hamlet sleep "-Hosea Tiffany, Robert Follet, Caleb Richardson, Samuel Thacher, John Carpenter, of the Nine Partners, are buried here. Daniel and Josiah Carpenter died in Massachusetts, and Moses Thacher in Ohio, at the residence of John Seymour. Ezekiel Titus, the last of the Nine Partners, died in 1846, in the eighty-second year of his age, and was buried in this cemetery.
Others of the early settlers died as follows; Oba- diah Carpenter in 1810, aged sixty-eight years ; Asa Very in 1829, aged fifty-three; Nathanicl Jeffers in 1833, aged seventy-one; Thomas Tiffany in 1835, aged seventy-eight : Abel Rice in 1837, aged seventy- seven ; William Coonrod in 1837, aged eighty-four ; Obadiah Thacher in 1838, aged eighty ; Elkanah Tingley in 1838, aged seventy-eight ; Aaron Green- wood in 1845, aged sixty-four; Rufus Kingsley in 1846, aged eighty-four; and his wife, aged seventy- nine; Samuel Guile in 1847, aged sixty-five; Abel Read in 1857, aged eighty-nine; Amos Tiffany in 1857, aged seventy-two; Eliab Farrar in 1858, aged eighty-five; Jemima, his wife, in 1874, aged ninety- one; Austin Jones in 1861, aged seventy-three ; Asaph Fuller in 1868, aged ninety-two.
Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury and Rev. Adam Miller sleep with the people they labored among so faithfully. Rev. Lyman Richardson also sleeps with his fathers, with the appropriate epitaph, "He lived for others." Among other later ones are James Wilson, aged eighty-three; John Graham, aged eighty-four ; Isa- bella Graham, aged ninety-one; Joseph Peck, aged eighty-six ; Daniel Parish, aged seventy ; John Kingsbury, aged seventy-six ; Samuel Seymour, aged seventy-six ; Polly, his wife, aged eighty-four; Jotham Oakley, aged seventy; John Gilbert, in 1869, aged eighty-one; Leonard Titus, died 1870, aged eighty-three ; Ira Stearns, aged seventy-nine. 1871 .- Mrs. Samuel Guile, aged eighty-seven; Captain Asahel Sweet, aged ninety-four ; John Stewart, aged eighty- nine. 1872 .- Mrs. Peter Thatcher, aged eighty- eight. 1873 .- Augusta Sophia, aged seventy-three ; Alanson Aldrich, aged sixty-six ; Orime Seley, aged eighty-two; Jacob Clark, aged seventy-six. 1874. - Amos J. Rice, aged eighty-two; Henry Cross, aged eighty-eight; Daniel Oakley, aged seventy-six. 1875 .- A. Carpenter, aged seventy- three ; Robert Alexander, aged eighty-two. 1876 .- Joshua K. Adams, aged eighty-five. 1877 .- Rev. E. Allen, aged eighty-five; Amherst Carpenter, aged seventy-eight; Mrs. Ousterhout, aged seventy-six ; Ira Carpenter, aged seventy-seven. 1878 .- Joseph Shannon, aged eighty-five; Thomas Frear, aged eighty-eight. 1879 .- Mrs. M. Tingley, aged nine- ty-nine; Mrs. Dixon, aged ninety-four. 1880 .- Richard Richardson, aged eighty-one; Mrs. Henry Cross, aged eighty-seven. 1881 .- C. C. Richardson, aged eighty-six ; Mrs. Susan Taylor, aged one hundred and two; Mrs. Abram Taft, aged eighty- four ; Warton Williams, aged seventy-eight; Mrs.
Emeline Thatcher, aged ninety ; Rev. A. Miller, aged seventy-five. 1882 .- Mrs. Whitney, aged eighty-five ; Mrs. Fanny Loomis, aged ninety-one; Onley Thacher, aged eighty-three; Saxa Seymour, aged eighty-nine; John Blanding, aged seventy-four ; Peter Williams, aged eighty-two; Mrs. Onley Thacher, aged seventy-nine; Tyler Carpenter, aged eighty. 1883 .- Dr. J. B. Streeter, aged ninety-six; Rebecca Thacher, aged eighty-seven ; Mrs. Christian Younger, aged seventy-five; Mrs. Sarah Richardson, aged eighty-two ; Mrs. Lucy B. Tingley, aged eighty-three ; Millbourn Oakley, aged eighty-one; John Kingsley, aged eighty-eight. 1884 .- Walter Follet, aged eighty- eight; Andrew Van Buskirk, aged seventy ; John Gow, aged eighty-six. 1885 .- William Gow, aged sixty-five; Tyler Brewster, aged sixty-nine; Ira H. Parrish, aged seventy. 1886 .- Mrs. Ira Stearns, aged ninety ; J. C. Edwards, aged sixty-two; Mrs. C. S. Tanner, aged eighty-three; Mrs. Louisa T. Allen, aged seventy-eight; Harvey Sibley, aged eighty-nine ; Elkanah T. Follett, aged eighty; Mrs. Jeremiah Rogers, aged seventy-seven; Zerah Very, aged eighty- one. Since 1869 there has been about sixteen burials on an average, varying from eight burials in 1885 to thirty-two in 1881. The advanced ages of so many that were buried during that time will not escape the notice of the careful reader.
There are three other burial-places in the town- ship.
The Peck or Universalist Burial-ground is a mile or more south of the village, located on the land of Free- man Peck, on a sharp rolling ridge. It consists of about one-half of an acre walled in with beautiful balsams along the wall in front and up the slope that faces the road. Some of the Pecks, Walter Wilmarth, Asahel Carpenter and a few others are buried there.
The Harding or Powers Burial-ground is located in South Harford. The first adult buried there was Thomas Harding, about 1809. The Hardings, Brun- dages and many others are buried there. Some of the graves are unmarked save by a head and foot- stone, and unknown. Joseph Powers has recently surveyed one hundred and four rods of land and in- closed for burial purposes. This includes the old yard with additional ground, which is under the con- trol of Joseph Bowers.
The Wilmarth Burial-ground is located on lands given by Sewell and Perry Wilmarth in West Har- ford. The Wilmarths and others have buried here.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
GIBSON TOWNSHIP.
GIBSON TOWNSHIP, which was named in honor of Justice John B. Gibson, was erected in November, 1813. In January 1813, Asa Dimock and others
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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
petitioned the Court of Quarter Sessions of Susque- hanna County, "praying that a township be laid off from the township of Clifford, beginning at the north- east corner of said township, thence south on the line between Wayne County and said township six miles and one hundred and sixty perches, thence west to the line of Harford, thence north to the northwest corner of said township, thence east to the place of beginning." Whereupon the court appointed Walter Lyon, John Carpenter and Hosea Tiffany to inquire into the propriety of granting the prayer of the peti- tioners." These three persons were discharged at the request of Walter Lyon, and Nicholas McCarty, Job Tyler and Joseph Washburn were appointed in their stead. This committee reported to the court that they found it necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants, that said town should be divided ac- cording to the prayer of the petition, and as the line of said town had never been ascertained, and there was some dispute already, they found it necessary to accurately survey and definitely mark the boundaries, which they reported as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of the town of Clifford in the Wayne County line, then south on said line six and one-half miles to a stake and heap of stones for a corner, thence west nine miles to a stake and heap of stones for a corner, thence north six and one-half miles to the line of Harmony and New Milford to a stake and stones, thence on the line of Harmony nine miles to the first-mentioned bound," which re- port was confirmed finally at November session, 1813. In 1825 Herrick was formed and in 1852 Ararat was formed, each taking territory from Gibson, leaving it in its present shape, bounded on the north by New Milford and Jackson, on the east by Ararat and Her- rick, on the south by Clifford, on the southwest by Lenox, and on the west by Harford-containing about thirty-six square miles.
The Tunkhannock River runs diagonally through the township from the northeast to the southwest corner and completely drains the township, receiving the waters of the Willis and several other small lakes. The flats along the Tunkhannock are good farming lands. The East Mountains or Hills rise eastward of the creek and high hills rise to the westward from the Tunkhannock. These long, rolling hills were once covered with maple and beech and the valley was timbered with hemlock. Gibson is a good dairy- farming and stock-raising township. It has a good meadow and pasture land and apple orchards. The farm-houses are generally good and the people are thrifty and intelligent. William Poyntell was one of the first men who laid warrants under Pennsylvania title in Susquehanna County. He commenced at the mouth of the Tunkhannock and continued up the stream as far as Jackson Centre. His surveyors left the creek only once, and that was to secure the lands afterwards known as " Kentuck."
field, Massachusetts, settled in Gibson January 21, 1792. He commenced on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Joshua M. Potter. Captain Potter, as he afterwards became, by commission from Governor Mifflin, dated July 18, 1798, wherein he is commission- ed captain of the Second Company, Fourth Regi- ment of the Luzerne County Brigade of Militia, came from Ballston Spa to Pennsylvania, by way of the Bend, and erected a cabin without a door, into which he moved his family. His wife did not see a woman's face for the first six months. He afterwards moved two miles farther east, to the farm now occupied by his grandson, Oliver Potter, then he moved to the place now owned by his grandson, Stephen Potter, where he had a tavern on the Newburg road and where he died, February 9, 1835, his wife Lois having died, November 5, 1824. They had a family of nine children,-Noah, who died in Illinois ; Parley, who resided in the township, was accidentally killed up the Susquehanna (his son Oliver resides on that farm now); John, who married Polly Washburn, lived and died where his son J. M. Potter now lives. John's children were Electa, Joseph, Parley, Stephen, William, Elsie, Polly, Francis, Elmina and Joshua M. The six daughters of the original family were Edie, wife of Daniel Tingley ; Elsie, wife of Newton Hawley ; Lucretia, wife of Dalton Tiffany ; Lois, wife of Otis Stearns; Amanda, wife of Wheeler Lyon ; and Cynthia, wife of Franklin Finn. Joshua M. Potter owns four hundred acres of land and has good farm buildings. He has one of the best cellars in the county.
KENNEDY HILL .- Deacon William Holmes was a ship-carpenter. He bought the property now owned by Joshua M. Potter. His wife was Hannah Fuller. His sons David, William, Thomas and Daniel settled in the vicinity. Daniel settled on East Mountain and is there noticed.
Before the close of 1809, David Carpenter came from Massachusetts and settled on the "Kentuck " road, where "Freel " Brendage now resides. He was a cousin of two of the nine partners of the same fam- ily name, and his wife was Abi Follett, sister of Rob- ert Follett. They had four children-Chester, whose son Calvin is a judge in Golden City, Col. ; Lucy, wife of John Brundage ; Timothy, for fifteen years justice of the peace of Gibson ; Delancy, wife of Sabinus Walker, a merchant in Salem, Pa.
In 1822 Joab Tyler, John Seymour & Co. had a tin and sheet iron factory on Gibson Hill. A year or two later William A. Boyd came to the place, and af- ter the removal of Seymour, was of the firm of Tyler, Boyd & Co. About 1827 they sold their store to P. K. Williams. In 1835 N. E. Kennedy bought of P. K. Williams and continued the mercantile business for nearly one-half a century. He is now past eighty. The hill has been known as Kennedy Hill for many years. The Newburg road passes through here and at
Joseph Potter, a Revolutionary soldier, from Pitts- | one time it was a central point for business.
Oscar- Washburn
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Francis Burrows, brother of Urbane Burrows, was a partner with Kennedy for a time. Stephen Potter lives where Capt. Potter died. He had a hotel there many years. Horace Thayer started a hotel on Ken- nedy Hill and William Purdy Embler, Peter Foster and Asa Post followed him. Tyler, Seymour & Co. had a grist-mill, distillery and ashery. One of the first school-houses in the township was started on Kennedy Hill. The Methodists had a church here, and at one time it was the central point for miles around ; now nothing but farming is carried on at this point. David Sparks was an early settler in Gibson. His son Lee Sparks is living at Chipmuck Hollow at an advanced age.
OSCAR WASHBURN .- His great-grandfather Wash- burn came from Massachusetts and took up land where Bellevue is now situated, in Lackawanna Coun- ty, and when coal was first brought into use as fuel large beds of it were found on his property. Not thinking it of value, Washburn sold his coal interest to one Dr. Roberts for a hat. The doctor afterwards found that the title of the land was in the hands of Pennsylvania claimants, and was obliged to surrender it under his Connecticut claim. This Washburn's sons-Joseph, Waller, Ebenezer, Samuel and daugh- ters-Polly (wife of John Potter, of Gibson), Betsey (wife of Elisha Harding, of Herrick) , and Mrs. Howe, afterwards of the lake country-came to the central part of Gibson township in 1802. The sons, with the exception of Samuel, who died in Ohio, and one daughter, Mrs. Potter, spent the remainder of their lives in the township. Waller left children-Dexter, Julius, Franklin, Lyman, Samuel, Mrs. Tarbox (of Susquehanna), Ruth, Elmira and Lucretia. Eben- ezer left at his death children,-John (of New Mil- ford), Joseph, Erastus, Philander, Elsie, Achsah and Roxanna.
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