Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 156

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 156

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).

ELDER JESSE B. WORDEN, son of Deacon John Worden, was born in Washington County, R. I., in 1787. He mastered his alphabet after he was twelve years old, and acquired knowledge enough to teach school. In 1812 he was drafted, and entered the ser- vice as sergeant-major and afterwards became lieu- tenant. He engaged in mercantile business for a time, which only brought disaster. During a revival in 1816 he was converted, and in 1818 was licensed to preach by the Baptists. He labored in Onondaga County for more than sixteen years. He came to Susquehanna County in 1835, and became associated with Elder Dimock at Montrose for three years, and was sole pastor there from 1838 to 1844, when he be-

503

786

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

came pastor of the Jackson Church. In his last year's connection with this church, at his request, Nathan Callender was his co-pastor, and, in 1853, Roswell G. Lamb became sole pastor of the church. Mr. Worden, like Albert Post, was a strong Aboli- tionist, and maintained his views despite all opposi- tion. He rested from his labors Aug. 6, 1855, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.

THE JACKSON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Was organized March 4, 1838, by Rev. Sylvester Cook, with the following constituent members: Ephraim French, Priscilla French, Charles French, Eliza B. French, Merritt Coughlin, Mary Ann Coughlin, Levi Wells,-these all united by letter. David Hazen was admitted without letter. Lucy Hazen, Wm. H. Bart- lett and Catharine Bartlett were admitted by exami- nation. July 21, 1839, Wm. Larrabee, Nelson French, Mary French, Sarah Corse, Gad Corse, Betsey Wells and Mary Ann Wells united with the church. Eph- raim French was the first deacon, He died in 1848. Nelson French and Jacob Stoddard have been deacons since. A Union Church was built where this society worshipped, in connection with the Free-Will Baptists, until the Baptists built their church, in 1872, at Lake View.

It appears that these two societies used the same church alternately without much friction. In the Baptists' record of Sept. 27, 1841, it seems that a meeting was called and " took upon consideration the charge against S. B. Nason for wrongfully accusing Elder Jos. Bryant of preaching the doctrine of the devil." Elder Bryant had preached a sermon, which, by Scripture and reason, had served to answer cer- tain objections then being raised to the use of musical instruments in the church, and this pulpit defence of the innovation was pronounced by some "the doctrine of the devil." At the same meeting Deacon Hall, Horace French and Seba Bryant were appointed a committee "to consult the Congregational Church to lay by their instruments of music in worship." This committee must have been remiss in the performance of duty, as no further mention is made of the sub- ject. A Union Sunday-school was organized, with William Coughlin as superintendent. This Congre- gational Church was received into the Montrose Pres- bytery in 1859, and it withdrew in 1868.

JACKSON FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. - This church was organized, in the year 1820, by Elder Daniel Chase. The constituent members were Martin Hall, Emily Hall, Nathaniel Norris, Betsey Norris, James Hall, Nathan Lewis, Ira Gleason, John Chase, Clarissa Chase, Calvin Corse, Dorcas Cargill, Peletiah Gunnison and Margery Gunnison. Martin Hall and Nathaniel Norris were chosen deacons. The township was then a wilderness, with but few facilities for hold- ing meetings. The church was organized in Martin Hall's barn. After that meetings were held in various places, at Norris', Williams', Savory's, and in the school-house, until the Union Church was built by the

Free-Will Baptists and the Congregationalists where Balch now has a store. The two congregations wor- shipped together until the present church was erected at Lake View. Deacon Norris served the church faithfully while he lived, and was the leading spirit in the social meetings and the Sunday-school. Luther L. Barrett, A. D. Corse, C. C. Perry and Thomas But- terfield have served as deacons. Martin Hall has been sixty-seven years an elder of the church. Joseph and Marietta Bryant were the first to unite with the church after its organization. In 1827 Katharine Chase put herself under the watchful care of the church, and Mary Mason, Emily Cook and Sybil Round were received as members. Among subsequent additions were George T. Perry, Rachel Perry, Milly Corse, Anna Morris, Nathan Knowlton, C. B. Matte- son, John Gunnison, Nathan Round, Amasa Chase, Louisa Larrabee, Lucy Ann Hall, Sally and Lucinda Knowlton, Lucy Larrabee, Charlotte Larrabee, Sally Chase, Hosea Barrett, David Barrett, Lovina Barrett, Polly Barrett, Mary, Caroline and Margery B. Nason, S. B. Nason, William B. Wilder, Thomas Norris, Al- pheus Gates, George Tyler, Jos. Matteson, Solomon Lake, Horace French, Richard Potter, Philander Hall, M. T. Whitney, Warren W. Wheaton, Sheffield Matteson, Sabin Barrett, Veranus Larrabee, L. D. Larrabee, Benjamin H. Larrabee, Orin Matteson, Al- vin Barrett, Amasa Norris, Alonzo Barrett, Joseph Norris, Samuel Bryant, Robert Gelatt, Rev. James Hill, A. D. Corse, Jonas Mann, Hollis Knowlton, So- lon Corse.

The church now has one hundred and thirty-five resident and twenty non-resident members. They organized a Sunday-school in the old school-house in the Savory District. Deacon Norris was the leader. A. D. Corse, A. W. Barrett and C. P. Prescott have been superintendents. A. N. French is the present superintendent. There are one hundred and thirty names on the roll. Elder Chase had the pastoral care of the church from the time of its organization until 1828.

Elder Asa Dodge is mentioned about this time as having ministered here occasionally. April 4, 1829, "Brother Joseph Bryant related the travail of his mind concerning his duty to improve his gift, and re- ceived the approbation of the church, and with it a certificate." This was followed by his recommenda- tion to a conference March 3d, which body gave him "a letter to improve his gift where the Lord may call him." On March 7th "Joseph Bryant improved the forenoon, and Elder William E. Robinson the after- noon, and broke bread." Elders Dodge and Robinson appear to have preached occasionally until June 19, 1831, when "Brother Joseph Bryant was set apart for the work of the ministry by the laying on of hands." Occasional mention is made of his preaching until July 5, 1834, when the church agreed to hire him twice a month for one year to labor with them in word and doctrine. He was re-employed at each annual

787

CLIFFORD.

meeting, usually for one-half of the time, until May 4, 1844. Then it was agreed to hire Elder Joseph Bryant and A. H. Fish for the ensuing year, for as much time as they could have the church. The con- gregation occupied a union church at this time with the Congregationalists. Elder J. W. Hills was pastor from 1850 to 1854. Elders Daniels, Calvin and Asa Dodge labored here after this. Elders Tillinghast, H. C. Tompkins, A. H. Fish, Nelson Young, C. M. Pres- cott, M. W. Spencer, D. D. Brown, G. P. Linderman and A. F. Schermerhorn have been later pastors. The ordination of Elder Bryant took place under a hem- lock tree, near the road between Deacon Hall's and the place since owned by Mr. Barnes. Elder Gurley Dodge was ordained in Pelatiah Gunnison's barn. The first reference to a church building is found un- der date of November 19, 1835, when a meeting was held at the West School-house for that purpose. Pela- tiah Gunnison was appointed to draw a plan and re- port the probable cost of a meeting-house. Ephraim French and his sons, Nelson and Charles, did most of the work of framing and inclosing the building, which was held jointly by the Congregational and Free-Will Baptist Societies. It was roughly seated for tempo- rary use. William Bartlett and Deacon Hall solicited funds for its completion. This building was used from about 1840 till 1872, when the present Free-Will Baptist Church was erected at Lake View.

JACKSON METHODIST CHURCH .- The records of the Jackson Methodist Church are not sufficient to give an exact history of the organization of the class, but it appears that there were two classes in Jackson about 1816. According to the recollection of Nancy Stone, who died in 1878, aged ninety-one, as pre- served by Parley Cargill, the first preaching in Jack- son township was by Elder Lewis, in what is now Ararat. Elder Lewis came from near the Susque- hanna, in Harmony township, and preached more or less all through this section. He formed a class in East Jackson in 1816, consisting of James Cargill, Nancy Stone, John Snow and wife, David Hine and wife. Jesse Stoddard and Whitfield Rockwell joined about 1820. James Cargill was appointed class-leader and held that position as long as he lived. This class was reorganized after it had partly gone down. The next preaching-place was at John Doyle's, the third at James Cargill's and there frequently. The class discontinued for a while at Ararat, and Nancy Stone and James Cargill joined the Jackson class. Simon Slocum and wife joined about 1820. Jerusha and Alvina Slocum, Britannia, Evaline and Eunice Stoue, and Aurelia Stoddard joined prior to 1828. Wilson Stone and Sarah Cargill joined in Ararat in 1831. The class was divided in 1839. The New Hampshire settlers-the Lambs, Bensons, Bryants and others- were Methodists, and when Major Lamb first came herc and lived in the Skyrin House, Methodist meetings were held there, and later in Tarbox house, also at Burrows' Hollow. It was not uncommon for

devoted church members to go a long distance to church in those days, and these early worshippers sometimes assembled at Bennett's house, on Kennedy Hill, where they could shout and sing to the full ex - tent of their voices. George Williams was the class- leader there, It is probable that the Jackson class was formed about the time the East Jackson class was formed. The Centre School-house was built about 1820, and meetings were held there. Austin Benson thinks that John Griffin was the first Method- ist that preached here in Major Lamb's house, and that Nathaniel Ruggles was the next preacher. Prominent among the members that he remembers were Major Joel Lamb, Hosea Benson, James Cargill, Simon Slocum, Calvin Stone, Nancy Stone, Jairus, Chauncy and David Lamb, and Peggy Bennett, a shouting Methodist. He remembers George Wil- liams and James Cargill as the early class-leaders, which shows that the Jackson people were in the Kennedy Hill class for a time. Hubbell Wells was class-leader and chorister many years. He died at the age of eighty-two. David Lamb succeeded him and was class leader until, he died, in 1863, aged fifty- six. He was succeeded by Chauncy Lamb, who has been succeeded by Joel H. Lamb. Austin Benson remembers that they appointed a prayer-meeting for rain one very dry time. They assembled in the old Centre School-house. There was not a cloud to be seen when they went in, and they prayed for rain. Among others, Major Lamb prayed "that the bottles of heaven might be unstopped," and before they got through with the meeting a good shower came up. The church at Jackson Centre was built in 1850. Prominent among those who built it were David Lamb, Hosea Benson, James Cargill, Enos Bryant, Jotham Pickering, Calvin Dix, Chauncy Lamb. A Union Sunday-school was started at the Centre School-house. Arnold Bolch was one of the first superintendents. The North Jackson class was or- ganized with eight members, about 1834. The mem- bers were Enos Bryant and wife, Horace G. Chase and wife, Mary Wheaton, Sarah Mattison, Joseph Mattison and wife. Horace G. Chase was the first class-leader, and his wife is the only member of the first class now living. The church was built about 1858. The trustees that built the church were Nathan Rounds, D. R. Pope, Truman Perry. Thomas Butter- field was the first Sunday-school superintendent.

CHAPTER L.

CLIFFORD TOWNSHIP.

CLIFFORD .- This township occupies the extreme southeastern part of the county, bordering ou Wayne County, on the east, and on Lackawanna County on

788

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the south. In the order of time it was the sixth town- ship erected within the present bounds of Susque- hanna County, by a decree of the court of old Luzerne county, at its April session, in 1806. It was made to embrace all that part of old Nicholson township, " be- ginning at its northeast corner, on the Wayne County line, and running nine miles due west, thence due south thirteen miles." When Susquehanna County was formed about one mile was shorn off from the southern end, leaving Clifford nine by twelve miles in extent. This area was reduced by the erection of Gibson, in 1813, which took a little more than half its territory, and by the erection of Herrick, in 1825, .when nearly six square miles were taken off from the northeastern part, extending westward to the base of Elk Mountain. Hence the northern bounds are the townships of Herrick and Gibson, and on the west is Lenox township. Nearly the entire surface of Clifford has an altitude varying from eleven hundred to eigh- teen hundred feet, but rising above the highest point is Elk Mountain, in the northern part, and extending into Herrick. It is an elevation of singular beauty, terminating in dual peaks, which are locally known as the north and the south knobs, and which overtop by hundreds of feet everything else for miles around them. North Knob has an elevation of twenty-seven hundred feet and is higher than any other elevation in the State, except in the southwestern districts. South Knob, one mile distant just inside of Clifford, rises to a height of twenty-five hundred and seventy- five feet. Some of the sides of the mountain have well-faced land, much of which has been cleared into good farms, and all the heavily wooded slopes have been thinned out, a sparse growth of timber only re- maining. One of the distinguishing features of the South Knob, is a projecting ledge of rocks, at an ele- vation of twenty-four hundred feet, forming a wide level, which may be approached to within a short dis- tance by means of a carriage-road. From the top of this level, which has appropriately been called "Pros- pect Rock," one of the grandest of nature's panoramas may be seen. The eye takes in at one sweep, a vast and diversified stretch of country, covering a greater variety of landscape, than can be seen in any other part of the state. Hills, valleys, lakes, cultivated fields and forest lands, with curving streams flowing in and among them, are spread before the observer in their most fascinating forms, creating a picture which makes an indelible impression on the mind. The entire county is picturesque, and from this rock a birds' eye- view of the whole is afforded, extending to the billowy crests of the Moosic Mountain Range, which is replete with all the forms of rural scenery, and the glowing evidences of rural and mining life. Said a writer of this spot: " Necessarily, a clear day, good eyes and a spy-glass of some power, are needed to enjoy all that may be seen from any of these sublime altitudes. From all points but the southeast the elevations seem to be covered with the native forest. Approaching it

from Dundaff or Clifford, however, it is cultivated to its summit. We left the horses at a point where Mr. Finn1 has erected a three-story house for the enter- tainment of travellers and sight seers. A path through small trees and brush, brings you to a perpendicular ledge of rocks, skirting which on the east you find some stone steps,2 upon which you ascend to Pulpit or Table Rock-quite a level plat of sodded surface, just in the edge of Clifford township. The view from the Rock comprehends a distance of forty miles, but from the North Knob a still greater distance is brought within the vision, including a clear view of the Delaware Water Gap, the Blue and Catskill Moun- tains and, distinctly, the rugged scenery along the Susquehanna. Bold bluffs indent the extreme distance, along the wide and graceful sweep of the river ; on the intervening hillsides, which rise apparently one above another, like an amphitheatre, until the horizon is reached, numerous tracts of cultivated ground appear, as if cleft out of the deeper green of the forests ; while, here and there, gleaming in the sunlight, many a crystal lake is seen, adding life and brilliancy to the picture."

ROUND HILL is properly a spur of Elk Mountain and takes its name from its shape. Both this and Thorn Hill, in the southwestern part of the township, are points of interest to the sight-seer, possessing ele- ments of beauty which make them attractive objects. By far the greater part of their surface is tillable, and on their sides some fine farms have been opened, which run down into the small, but beautiful Clifford Valley. In the eastern part of the township, border- ing the Lackawanna on the west, is Millstone Hill, containing an excellent stone for milling purposes, and southeast are the hills in which valuable deposits of anthracite coal have been found, whose develop- ment is noted in connection with Forest City.

Clifford contains several lakes, the principal ones being Crystal Lake, on the county line, and Long Pond in the northwestern part. Its name indicates its shape, the width being but a little more than an eight of a mile. Both this and Mud Pond are environed by high hills, giving them a sequestered appearance. The outlets are brooks flowing into the East Branch, at Lonsdale. The latter is the principal stream of the township, entering Clifford from Her- rick and flowing southwest through a narrow, deep valley, which widens out within a few miles of the Lenox line, where are fertile and highly cultivated flats. At this point the creek takes the waters of a brook, variously called Dundaff, Betsey's and Alder Marsh Brook, the latter name applying on account of the swamp of alders along its course. It flows through Dundaff, taking the waters of the outlet

1 Clark Finn owns the land including the rock, but the western slope belongs to David Thomas.

2 For these accommodating steps the public are indebted to Charles Wells, of Cliff

789

CLIFFORD.

of Newton Lake, in Lackawanna; passes into that couuty and then re-enters Susquehanna County at Clifford Village.

The Lackawanna River runs parallel with the east line of the township, and after taking the waters of the east and the west branches, from Herrick, forms a long, quiet sheet, appropriately named the "Still- water," then breaks through a spur of the Moosic range, and flows a mountain-stream into Lackawanna County. Along this stream were heavy forests which remained unbroken until the building of the Jeffer- son Branch of the Erie Railroad in 1871. It was the favorite home of noble game, and as late as 1867, William Hartley, of Lenox, killed a deer in these woods. Many other parts of the township were covered with a dense growth of timber, the chief varieties being chestnut, hemlock, beech, birch, maple and other hard woods. The undergrowth was dense, and afforded fine feeding for the elk which seemed partial to this section, probably on account of its altitude; and in early times the country was known as Elkwoods. This name lost much of its currency, soon after 1800, when the abundance of beech nuts, in the woods along the East Branch, attracted im- mense flocks of wild pigeons, which caused the locality to be spoken of as the Beechwood Country, by hunters who came from long distances to capture this game. Only a small portion of Clifford remains in a primeval state, and the woods left standing bear evidence of the demands made upon them by the in- dustrious citizen. The greater part of the area has been well cleared up, the stones gathered into neat fences; fruitful fields abound, which have made possi- ble the erection of many neat farm buildings, Clif- ford standing in this respect second to no other town- ship in the county.

THE PIONEERS .- Settlement was not made as early in Clifford as in some other localities of the county, the first clearing being made in 1799. That year Amos Morse and his son, William A., located on the East Branch a mile below Elkdale, and began im- proving a farm. Some years later Sally Morse, of this family, taught the first school in this part of the county. In 1816 they sold the farm to Ezra Lewis, and soon after left the county. Ezra Lewis was a son of Elder Gideon Lewis who came to Clifford, it is claimed, in February, 1800, and rolled up a log house on the Tunkhannock, on the farm afterwards occu- pied by P. R. Stewart. Having no nails, the shingles were held on by poles withed together. He cleared up a large place and paid for it several times, but finally lost it through defective titles. As a Baptist preacher he preached about the country and was widely known among the early pioneers. His family consisted of children named Polly, who marricd Elder William Robinson ; Betsey, Sally, Abner, Ezra, Levi and Lyman. Levi had a family of ten children, among them being Orvis, living in Thomson, and Ezra S., living on the old Morse farm, noted above.

The family of Adam Miller was the first to retain a permanent residence in the township. In the spring of 1800 he came with his wife and four children and settled on the flat a short distance west from Clifford village. He was one of the first settlers in Brooklyn township, but had immigrated to Ohio, with his family, in 1799. " All were on horseback-four horses transporting the family and baggage-the two younger children, Charles and Anna, being carried in baskets placed over one of the horses. The baskets were made in the shape of cradles, so the children could sit or lie down, as suited them. A journey of six weeks through a wilderness, such as the country ex- hibited in 1799, was far from agreeable to any of the party. Before they reached their destination, Mrs. M. fell and broke her collar-bone, and they were de- tained three weeks at the wigwam of a hospitable Indian family. When they gained the promised land, Mr. M. could not suit himself in regard to location, and after a few days he broached the subject of a re- turn to Pennsylania. His wife, who had secretly longed for this, was soon ready to resume journeying, and the same season found them in the vicinity of Tunkhannock, and in the following spring they fol- lowed up the east branch of the creek to the flat at Clifford Corners. Here they lived ten years, when they removed to Thorn Hill, where Elder William A. Miller, their grandson, now resides. While clearing at the latter place, Mr. M. had the use of the flat two years."1 The house on Thorn Hill was at that time the largest in Clifford, being a two-story frame. Ebenezer Baker, who had married the oldest daughter, Polly, several years before, was the carpenter. After some time Baker removed to the Lake region in New York. Of the other three children of the family- William, the oldest son, after living a number of years on the homestead, on Thorn Hill, moved to Lenox, where he died. His children were George Miller, of that township; William, of Carbondale; and Mrs. Lyman Bell. The youngest son, Elder Charles Miller, died on Thorn Hill, in 1865, aged seventy-two years. He was the father of the Revs. William A., S. Eliakim and of Joseph S. Miller, Esq., all living on Thorn Hill. The youngest daugh- ter, Anna, became the wife of John W. Wells, of Elkdale. The wife of Adam Miller died in 1816, but he survived until 1831, when he departed this life nearly sixty-six years old. Both belonged to the Frec-Com- munion Baptists, to whom Elder Epaphras Thompson preached as early as 1802, and left that sect, two. years later, to join the Abington Church of Regular Baptists. Their son, Charles, was for many years the pastor of the present Clifford Baptist Church.

In the summer of 1800 Amos Harding also settled on the flat at Clifford, buying some of the land taken up by Adam Miller, and purchasing the remainder of the farm in 1810, when he owned all the land in the

1 Miss Blackman.

790

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

flats. In his family occurred the first death, a child Huldah, drowning by falling into a spring which is near the house of William Lott, the blacksmith at Clifford. Two of his daughters married James Stearns and Joseph Baker .. He had sons named Salmon E. and Luke T. The entire family moved to Ohio about 1820, and the farm was divided among several purchasers. The upper part of the flat was improved by John Robinson, who died in 1814, when the farm was owned by Elder William E. Robinson, who re- moved after 1834, and the place passed into the hands of William W. Wells, the father of the Wells of this part of the township. Another portion of the farm became the property of Nathan Callender, and is now owned by J. M. Callender.

In the same year, 1800, David Burns came from Otsego County, N. Y., and settled northeast from Dundaff, west of the small stream which is now known as Tinker's Brook .. Near this place he lost his only son, about six years old, the rest of his family being composed of four daughters. The youngest of these married Thomas Burdick, and in August, 1869, fur- nished an account of the lost boy to the Montrose Republican.

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.

Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 156

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