Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 151

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 151

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In 1800 Samuel McIntosh and Benjamin Woodruff made a beginning on the place afterwards owned by Samuel Resseguie. The first permanent settler who made improvements at South Gibson was SAMUEL RESSEGUIE, son of William Resseguie, of Fishkill, who came May 8, 1813, and brought his family with him. He bought a quit-claim for four hundred acres, of Mr. Taylor, for forty dollars, and erected a log cabin, having bark shingles held down with poles, near the northwest line of C. W. Resseguie's farm. This humble habitation, surrounded by briars, was the only cabin on the Tunkhannock, from John Col- lar's to the south line of the township, where Corbett Pickering commenced some years later. -

Mr. Resseguie finding that his quit-claim title was not good, purchased, of Enos and his son, George Walker, agents for William Poyntell, one hundred and twenty acres, at two dollars per acre, which his son Fitch paid for in work for Walker. Samuel Res- seguie subsequently erected a frame house, where he died in 1858, aged eighty-two. His wife was Free- love Disgrow, of Connecticut. Samuel Resseguie had cleared up a good farm on the river flats, which he left to his children,-Fitch, Lewis, Aaron, William, Harrison, Nelson, Betsey, Cynthia and Sally, who all married and settled in the vicinity. Fitch, the old- est son, was eight years of age when his father came here; he is now past eighty, and has witnessed the development of the Tunkhannock Valley from a wil- derness to well-cultivated farms and pleasant homes. He married Mary Tewksbury, of Brooklyn, a noble woman, whose Christian life had a marked influence on her home and was potent for good in the commu- nity. Fitch Resseguie was very hospitable, and opened his house and barn for church services; those coming from a distance were often entertained by him, while his house was a preacher's home for pio- neer Methodist preachers. Of his children, Charles W. married Angeline M. Woodward, and resides on the old Samuel Resseguie farm. He is the largest grower of strawberries in Northeastern Pennsylvania, having sent seven hundred bushels to market in two years. He was eighteen years school director, and was mainly instrumental in securing the erection of the graded school building at South Gibson. George and Gertrude are his children. Of Fitch Resseguie's other children, George resides in Harford, and was a

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member of the Legislature in 1884; Emory resides on his father's place; Mary D. is the wife of Jesse Holmes. George Conrad, son of William Conrad, purchased about one hundred acres on the Tunkhan- nock, above Samuel Resseguie's, in 1818, and built a log house. Elisha Williams bought four hundred acres of land next adjoining, and, assisted by David L. Hine, erected a grist-mill in 1837, which was the first frame house in South Gibson village. They erected a saw-mill about the same time. Lewis Res- seguie had a frame house below the village then. George A. Hogaboom had the first frame dwelling- house in the village; Chancy Davis the first black- smith-shop. Henry H. Harris erected a house, and occupied it for a dwelling and cabinet-shop. Elisha Williams and Asa Howard started the first store. David Mapes, Sabinas Walker, George W. Walker, W. W. Williams, Abner Walker, Horace Tiffany, Manly Walker, D. E. Holmes, B. D. Reynolds, James Fuller, Evan Jenkins, H. D. Bennett and others have been merchants here. The present merchants are D. E. Holmes (since 1861), William E. Maxey (member of the State Legislature in 1887), J. M. Man- ning and T. C. Manzer. The grist-mill is owned by David Tobias. C. Pickering had a saw-mill on the Tunkhannock, and George Woodward had another on Bell Creek. D. T. Lawrence had a cabinet-shop where J. Evans now has a carding-machine. Spencer Coon built the first wagons here, and N. T. Wood- ward had the second shop. Eli Conrad erected a frame building, which was rented by Thomas Hark- ins for a tavern. Alden Pickering has the hotel which Preston Walker built, about 1857. Besides the four stores, the village contains two millinery- shops, a Methodist Church, graded school and about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. The village is protected from the winds by the high hills that rise on either side of the Tunkhannock. A post-office was established in "Kentuck " March 14, 1832, and called Kentuckyville. Stephen P. Chandler was the first postmaster. This office was discontinued May 1, 1849, and re-cstablished March 14, 1850, with the same postmaster. December 27, 1853, the name was changed to South Gibson, and the office was moved into the valley. James C. Edwards was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded, in 1854, by Asa How- ard. The office was discontinued June 5, 1855, and re-established January 10, 1856, with Adon P. Miller postmaster. His successors have been George W. Walker, 1861 ; David E. Holmes, 1862; Asa Howard, 1866; William W. Williams, 1867 ; D. E. Holmes, 1868; John J. Manning, 1885. A daily mail runs from Hopbottom through Lenox, thence up the Tunkhannock through South Gibson, Gelatt and Jackson, thence to Susquehanna. John Snow was the first mail-carrier to the Kentuckyville post-of- fice. He traveled on horseback once a week. He started at Kennedy Hill, on the Newburg road, thence through Kentuckyville (Five Partners' set-

tlement), Rynearson's Corners in Lenox, which was on the Milford and Owego route. Vander Guile next carried the mail. H. P. Miller was a cabinct- maker and undertaker in the village some thirty years. He also worked at the turning lathe. This was before the day of coffin factories, and he often worked all night in connection with the undertaking business. John W. Carpenter and Jacob Steele were among the early shoemakers. John Lynch and Jason Fargo were millers for Elisha Williams many years.

A Good Templars' lodge was organized at South Gibson, by Mr. Roberts, the State lecturer, in 1867, with forty charter members. The first officers were G. C. Brundage, W. C. T .; Mrs. Mary Resseguie, W. V. T .; H. D. Bennett, W. S .; Thomas E. Jenkins, W. T. This lodge was in successful operation for several years, and at its acme contained four hundred members, and was styled the " Banner Lodge of Sus- quehanna County." From this lodge three others were instituted,-Cambrian at Clifford, one at Len- oxville and another at South Harford. This move- ment created a public sentiment against the liquor traffic which still exists.

SOUTH GIBSON FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH-On the 24th of November, 1887, the first Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in South Gibson, at the house of Lewis Resseguie, by Elder John Webster, of Frank- lin, Pa .; Elder Jos. Bryant, of Jackson ; and Elder Alson Hains, of South Gibson. There were ten con- stituent inembers. There was no Methodist Church here at that time. Wm. Robinson, of Greenfield, was the first preacher, followed by Elders Chase, Asa Dodge and his brother. George Woodward and Ar- nold Walker were the first deacons. The people never built a church, but worshipped in school-houses. The first quarterly meeting was held in George Wood- ward's barn in 1838. It was a large gathering and was the first quarterly meeting ever held in South Gibson. Owing to dissensions the organization went down.

SUNDAY SCHOOL .- George Woodward, David Car- penter and Elisha Williams were appointed to or- ganize a Sunday-school, April 3, 1833. From the minutes, Kentuckyville, April 8, 1833: "The members of the Columbian district convened at the Columbian school-house agreeable to notice. Geo. Woodward was called to the chair, S. P. Chandler was appointed secretary. The object of the meeting being stated by the chairman, on motion Geo. Wood- ward, A. W. Tickner and Chester Carpenter were ap- pointed a committee to get the books and conduct the school." There were sixty-one scholars the first year. The Sunday-school was afterwards moved to South Gibson, and was finally discontinued.

SOUTH GIBSON METHODIST CHURCH .- Mrs. James Bennett, who lived on Union Hill, was the first Metho- dist in Gibson township ; and Mrs. Fitch Resseguie was the leading spirit in the Southi Gibson class at tlic

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

time of its organization, and for many years there- after. The first class was organized by Rev. Wm. Reddy about 1838, in the first school-house, built by H. P. Miller, and located near his house, on what is now known as the Wilbur Gardner property. The charge at that time embraced Brooklyn, Jackson, Gibson Hill (now Kennedy Hill), and the new ap- pointment at South Gibson. The first class consisted of Fitch Resseguie and wife, Benjamin Snyder and wife, and son James and wife, Asa Howard and wife, Michael Belcher and wife. Michael Belcher was the first class-leader.

It was customary at that time to send two ministers on one circuit. Rev. Mr. Tenny was preacher in charge, and Rev. Wm. Reddy was his assistant at that time. Gibson Hill, in the era of the turnpikes, was the central point for miles around. Rev. Messrs. Tenny and Reddy held a protracted meeting here, which had a far-reaching effect, and gave to South Gibson class its first accession soon after its organiza- tion. Among those who joined at this time were Charles Edwards and wife, Jas. Chandler and wife, Wesley Carpenter and wife, Hamilton Bonner and wife, and Miss Mindwell Sparks, afterwards widely known as Mrs. Manzer, the evangelist. The ensuing summer the first quarterly meeting was held in Fitch Resseguie's barn ; all points of the charge were rep- resented. Mrs. Manzer, who is now living, speaks of that occasion as follows : "I remember with pleasure the event. The multitude had come on Saturday from Brooklyn and many miles away, to enjoy the Saturday and Sunday morning services, and especially the love feast ; and how to dispose of so many for the night, in a neighborhood so sparsely settled, was a question submitted to 'Sister Resseguie,' who, in her Christian benevolence, characteristic always of herself, replied, 'O, well ! I can keep as many as there are boards in the floor,' and owing to her mathematical genius forty persons were comfortably lodged and fed under her hospitable roof." Owing to dissensions between the Free-Will Baptists and the Methodists, who occupied the school-house alternately, the Methodists resolved to erect a church edifice, and to that end Jas. Chandler, Asa Howard and Charles Edwards were appointed a building committee, in the spring of 1840. They met with the pastor and Urbane Burrows at Fitch Resseguie's. Mr. Burrows started the sub- scription with fifty dollars, and enough was pledged to insure the completion of the building, which was located on Fitch Resseguie's land, on the lot now occupied as a burying-ground. The church was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Snyder in January, 1841. No promiscuous seating was allowed in this church. The females sat upon the right, and the males upon the left. The towering pulpit at the extreme rear was inclosed on the women's side, and was reached by a flight of steps on the men's side. The salary at that time was one hundred dollars for single men, and two hundred dollars for a married man and wife, with

sixteen dollars extra for every child. Methodist min- isters were proverbial for large families as long as this extra inducement lasted. During the subsequent decade several changes were made in the charge. In 1853 South Gibson was severed from Brooklyn and united with Harford, under the pastorate of Rev. Ros- man Ingalls and S. W. Weiss, the former aged and in- firm, and soon after superannuated ; the latter a young man of marked piety and ability, just emerging from his majority and entering upon his first charge. This charge embraced the following preaching-points : Harford, Wade's, South Gibson, Kentuck, Burrows' Hollow, East Hill, Smiley, Heine's, Gibson Hill, Jackson Centre, Cargill's, North Jackson, Savory's, Page's Pond and Sweet's. They required eighteen sermons per month. Rev. R. Ingalls resided in his own house at Burrows' Hollow, and the "Boy Preacher," as they called Rev. S. W. Weiss, boarded with Brewster Guile, at Harford. The latter traveled on horseback from place to place, and being a good singer, he often prefaced his sermons with sacred song. He preached without notes and with great power. Social and genial in his pastoral relations, full of power and pathos in prayer, he exerted a good influence. Wesley Carpenter invited the young preacher to go down to the school-house on the corner, near Wade's tavern, in the latter part of Oc- tober, 1853. A service was held, Mr. Weiss and Mr. Carpenter closed with prayer, being the only profes- sors in the house. Another meeting was requested, and the interest became such that the meetings were continued for six weeks, notwithstanding the oppo- sition of Mr. Wade, who was a member of the School Board, and tried to put them out, but a majority of the board were against him, and he finally gave up his hotel and left the place in disgust. There were one hundred conversions, and "Pentecostal Night," as they called it, will be remembered for generations. Nearly every house in the vicinity became a house of prayer. Michael Belcher was the Peter Cartwright of the South Gibson Church. He frequently stood quartering from the pulpit, with his eye on the min- ister, nodding his approval, accompanying the same with exclamations suited to his feelings. The fol- lowing is a specimen of his prayers for his pastor : "O Lord, bless Brother Weiss, keep him humble. If he ever gets proud, Lord, knock him down." In November, 1870, another revival occurred, in which fourteen heads of families of the best citizens were converted, who since that time have been the main financial support of the church. Rev. A. C. Sperry was preacher in charge at that time. Among others, Rev. J. L. Race, F. A. King and C. M. Surdam have been instrumental in doing great good in this place. The first board of trustees were Fitch Resseguie, Asa Howard and James Chandler. The present church edifice was erected in 1869-70, at a cost of six thou- sand dollars, and was dedicated in June, 1870, by Rev. B. I. Ives. There have been two women connected

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with this church whose lives and services will be long remembered-Mrs. Mary Tewksbury Resseguie and Mrs. Mindwell Manzer. Of the former, Rev. Mr. Weiss writes, " Whose praise was in all the church ; she was a lady of great intelligence, of refined man- ners, of spotless purity and of an extended influence. She was always at her post of duty and ever helpful. No circumstances could change her faith or sour her spirit." Her calm spirits, sympathizing words and gentle ministries won all hearts and led scores of souls to the Saviour. Perhaps more than any one else, not excepting ministers, she was the means of the growth and stability of the church of which she was an hon- ored member. Mrs. Manzer has preached nearly one hundred and fifty funeral sermons since she was licensed to exhort by the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is now a licensed evangelist, and is remarkable in prayer and exhortation, having the confidence and esteem of her neighbors and friends who respect her for her Christian character. The following persons have been class-leaders: Michael Belcher, Asa Howard, Charles Edwards, Hamilton Bonner, James Snyder, Wesley Carpenter, Chas. Bennett, Geo. C. Brundage and Elisha Keech. Geo. C. Brundage has been the regular leader for thirty years. The first Sunday-school superintendent was Charles Edwards. The first Sunday-school concerts were instituted by Miss Alice Snyder and Mrs. A. M. Resseguie. Mrs. E. H. Bennett was superintendent of the school for many years, and continued it throughout the entire year. Prior to her time it had been closed in the winter. B. D. Reynolds has been superintendent for the last seven years. June 4, 1885, a ladies' aid society was first organized, with Lucy A. Brundage, president ; Julia Howell, treasurer ; A. M. Res-eguie, secretary.

MUSIC,-Silas Torrey was the first teacher of vocal music. He taught in the days of buckwheat notes. Dr. A. B. Woodward and his brother, Cyrus B. Woodward, were early teachers of vocal music. The latter was a fine tenor singer and chorister in the Free-Will Baptist Church. After that disbanded he acted in the same capacity for the Methodist Church. His successors have been Joseph Brundage and Free- man Brundage. Miss Alice Snyder was the first or- ganist. Miss Gertrude Resseguie succeeded her.

GEORGE WOODWARD .- Deacon Israel Woodward (1707-97), a man eminent for his piety, and a Pres- byterian, resided at Lebanon, Windham County, Conn. He united with the church there in 1736, and was officiating as deacon in 1752. His will, written by himself, was made in 1792, November 23d. His son, Israel Woodward, Jr., born in 1739, married, in 1767, Anna Dunham, who was born in 1745, and had children who grew to mature years,-Anna, 1768; Josiah (1772-93); Esther, died in Bradford, Pa. ; Jerome (1777-1852), settled in Harford, this county, where he died; and Artemas Woodward (1780-1858), a native of Columbia, the same county, in Connecti-

cut. Israel Woodward, Jr., served in the Revolution- ary War, and was a resident of Columbia. The youngest son, Artemas, was a hatter by trade, and worked some as a mason. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Columbia, and reared his children under the instruction of its teachings. His first wife (married in 1800), Marcella Merifield (1778- 1810), of the same place, bore him children,-George, born March 14, 1801; Eliza (1804-29) was the wife of James Johnson, both dying in Gibson ; Emeline (1807-20) ; Marcella, 1810, widow of Daniel Gray, of Enfield, Conn., has children James P. and Henry W. His second wife (married in 1811), Betsey Collins (1780-1862), had children,-Artemas Russel (1811-40), died in Clifford leaving children : Edwin, Marcella and Louisa ; Cyrus Bissel (1813-83) resided most of his life in Gibson, and died in Iowa, leaving children : Nathan, Truman and Marinda Angeline (Mrs. C. W. Resseguie, of Gibson) ; Lovisa Collins (1815-70), wife of Henry P. Miller, resided in Gibson, died in Lenox, leaving children, Cyrus B. and Marilla B .; Betsey Lovina, 1818, first the wife of Palmer Card, of Gibson, and second the wife of Alvin Roper, of Bridgewater, has children, Asahel Card and Bird Roper ; and Dr. Albert Bezaleel, 1824, a physician and druggist of Tunkhannock.

Artemas Woodward came from Columbia, Conn., to Gibson in 1819, and removed with his family in 1820, and first located in Kentuck settlement, but after one year he took up ninety acres of woodland one-half mile from South Gibson, built his log house and in 1834 a frame one. Here he spent the remain- der of his days, and with the assistance of his family made a home for himself and children. He united with the Free-Will Baptist Church at South Gibson, where also his second wife belonged. He belonged to the old Whig party. Not having a legal title to his land, his eldest son, George, who came here in 1820, bought the right of soil of the homestead from Thomas Meredith in 1834. He had bought, about 1824, a tract adjoining of one hundred and eighty- four acres, upon which he lived for many years, and built the present residence on it, now owned by Peter Decker. George built a saw-mill thereon in 1831, cleared a large part of the farm and brought it into a good state of cultivation. He sold much of it at different times, and the balance of the homestead in 1883, now making four farms, and removed to South Gibson.

During his earlier years in Connecticut he worked on the Connecticut River and at Warehouse Point in a distillery, and for six years after coming here he worked at the same business in Gibson and Harford, and conducted the business for one year in the latter place for himself. He is, in 1887, one of the oldest men in the township, and has been a man of persevering industry and strict integrity in all his business rela- tions. He was for over seventeen years an official of the township, and served as one of the first school di-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

rectors, as assessor, supervisor and poormaster. He has been until a few years ago a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church at South Gibson since 1824, and served the church as deacon for many years. He formerly belonged to the Whig party, and was a Re- publican upon the organization of the party in 1856. In 1824 he assisted in raising an independent com- pany of infantry, served as musician, in 1828 was commissioned first lieutenant, and in 1829 captain by Governor Shulze. The company was attached to the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Militia. George Woodward belongs to that

Mary Ann Woodward are George G., 1833, farmer in Gibson, and Abigail M., 1836, wife of A. J. Wickwire, of South Gibson.

LAWRENCE MANZER bought about two hundred acres on the Tunkhannock, about one mile above South Gibson, which included the John Collar im- provement. He had built a good log house and a barn, that is now standing. He had planted a large orchard, which was destroyed by a whirlwind after Manzer came there. Mr. Manzer made extensive im- provements ; he cleared land, built comfortable houses and erected a saw-mill in 1843. He died in

George Woodward

class of sturdy pioneers who came to this new country in its early history, cleared off its forests, started schools, organized churches, improved farms and roads, and hewed out a competence and home for their children, and the engravings of such men will be handed down on the pages of this history, adding increasing value as time goes on. He married, in 1828, Mary Ann Galloway (1803-84), a daughter of George and Abigail Galloway, who came from Orange County, N. Y., and were among the earliest settlers of Gibson, said to have been here as early as 1791. Her nephew, Gilbert G. Walker, was at one time Governor of Virginia. The children of George and

1869, aged eighty-three; nine of his family were then living. T. J. Manzer kept the homestead, which he has improved and augmented by purchase, until he owns some three hundred acres of land, and is able to keep nearly one hundred head of cattle. His barns are well arranged and his farm is well watered, mak- ing him one of the first farmers in the county. Henry Manzer resides in Lenox. His wife, who was Mindwell Sparks, is a preacher of some local fame, and is often called upon to preach funeral sermons. Polly was the wife of Alonzo Kinne. John Williams and Arnold Walker were old settlers on the Tunkhannock above Manzer's. Richard Denny bought Walker's improve-

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ment in 1817, and he removed to East Mountain. Denuy made improvements and was one of the best farmers in the place. He married Sarah Steenback. They had ten children,-Maria J., Betsey Aun, Joel, Asenath, Thomas, Louisa, Lorinda, Jeremiah, John, Sally Ann. All settled in the vicinity. Maria is the wife of Loren Bennett; Joel was the owner of several houses in South Gibson. Amos Taylor was an early settler on the Tunkhannock, and was succeeded in the possession of the homestead by his son William. David and Mercy Taylor, his parents, came later, about 1800, and settled uear Smiley, where he built a hotel on the Newburg turnpike, now standing east of the creek. He had other sons, William and Thomas. About 1814 he removed to Great Bend township, and became the founder of Taylortown. 1

BURIAL-PLACES .- Burrows' Hollow Burying-ground. -Elias Van Winkle's child, aged about fifteen, was the first person buried in the yard. Mr. Skyrin agreed to give ground for a burial-place. He gave eight rods on the road and as far back as it was suitable to bury, which is about fifteen rods. In 1842, when it was fenced, Mr. Roper, who then owned adjoining, gave three rods more; after that Urbane Burrows set off more land for the same purpose. There are many buried in the yard-four Revolutionary soldiers- Robert Chandler, Nathaniel Claflin, Consider Fuller and Elias Van Winkle; War of 1812-Jason Fargo, Johu Guard and Moses Chamberlain.

Union Hill Burying-ground is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in the township. Here many of the old pioneers and their descendants sleep.

Resseguie Burying-ground .- William Resseguie, son of Samuel Resseguie, was the first person buried in the Resseguie burying-ground; that was about 1840. Since then a great many have been buried there, and the acre of ground from Fitch Resseguie's farm that was originally set apart for that 'purpose is nearly all occupied. The old Methodist Church stood on this ground. Among the old settlers buried there we notice the following: Samuel Resseguie, died 1858, aged eighty-two; Corbett Pickering, died 1878, aged eighty; Solona Pickering, died 1881, aged seventy- three; Esther, wife of John Denny, died 1853, aged seventy-six ; Cyrus B. Woodward, died 1883, aged sixty-nine; Artemas Woodward, died 1878, aged seventy-eight ; Benj. Snyder, died 1863, aged eighty- two; Elizabeth, his wife, died 1870, aged eighty-one; Nathan S. Tiffany, died 1828, aged forty-three; Nancy Carpenter, died 1856, aged sixty-eight. The grounds are well fenced and in charge of Emory Resseguie.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 151

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