Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 51

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

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L. Hewen, Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Cooley, Mrs. Stanford, Mrs. Thomas, and Mrs. M. C. Stewart. Secretaries, Dr. C. C. Halsey, Thomas Nicholson and G. A. Jessup.

"Miss Sarah M. Walker associate manager for Sus- quehanna County, from her list, called on the different societies to report. Reports were made (some at length, and some briefly and verbally) by the follow- ing, viz. : Montrose, Elk Lake, Springville, Lawsville Centre, West Herrick, Auburn, West Auburn, Jackson, Glenwood, Rush (Eddy), Clifford, Dimock, Bridgewater, West Harford, Liberty, Fairdale and Franklin.

"Hon. C. F. Read reported, as chairman of the county committee to the sanitary fair, that over $3000 had been sent to the Central Fair at Philadelphia from this county, and Miss Walker added the testi- mony of one prominent in the Sanitary Commission, that the direct supplies thereto from this county had not been lessened by this great contribution to the fair, as had been the case in many other counties. Mrs. D. Parish, of Philadelphia, made a brief address. Mrs. Holstein, of the same place, who has for the most of two years labored for the Sanitary Commission, and has recently come from the front, made a very interesting report, and many important suggestions. Said the organization here was more complete than in any other county she knew of. She had seen no rooms equal to those of the Soldiers' Aid Society in this place.

"Dr. Halsey, secretary of the council, at a later date, reported :

" A few societies were unable to report by reason of the loose manner in which their accounts had been kept. Deaths, sickness and removals are the reasons, in some cases, of imperfect reports. A large number sent in complete returns containing lists of all articles forwarded, with estimated cash value, while some sent complete lists, with cash value of only a part, or the cash value of all that had been done, with only a par- tial list of articles. Some have only a list of articles, and others only the cash value.

" Montrose, Harford, Uniondale, Franklin, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Rush, Forest Lake, Friendsville and Forest Lake, West Harford, Laws- ville Centre, Dimock (two societies), Friendsville, West Auburn, Clifford, Springville, Auburn, East Bridge- water and Little Meadows Aid Societies have sent to the Sanitary Commission 1247 shirts, 174 sheets, 588 pairs drawers, 720 pillows, 755 pillow-cases, 212 arm- slings, 291 dressing gowns, 247 pairs slippers, 342 pairs socks, 1913 towels and handkerchiefs, 126 quilts and blankets, 295 bottles of wine, 71 gallons of winc, 1 keg of wine, 1 cask of winc, 28 gallons syrup, 507 cans of fruit, 2709 pounds of dried fruit of all kinds, 13} bushels dried fruit, 273 packages dried fruit, 31} firkins of pickles, 100 pounds of butter, 5 tubs of but- ter, 1 firkin of butter, 50 pounds maple sugar, 1125 cakes maple sugar, 173} dozen eggs, 1 keg eggs, 16

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

coats, 64 hop pillows, 2 pairs shoes, 32 bushels apples, 10 quarts vinegar, 12 cans honey, 14 cans sundries, 11 bushels potatoes, 110 needle-books, etc., 61 pads, 1 sack dried corn, 8 quarts dried corn, 12 pounds horse- radish, 17 pounds corn starch, 32 pounds cheese, 6 pairs mittens, 4 pairs pants, 110 lemons, 300 and more packages of unenumerated articles."

The above from the secretary's reports shows that the ladies of Susquehanna County were deeply inter- ested in providing for the wants of the " boys in blue," and much might be truthfully written of the individual sacrifices of these noble women ; but it is not within the scope of this work to give a detailed account of them; and this brief synopsis will be closed with a biographical sketch of Miss Sarah M. Walker, whose unselfish devotion will never be forgotten.

SARAH M. WALKER was born at Moorehall, Ches- ter County, Pa., not far from the ever-memorable Val- ley Forge, October 19, 1799. She was cducated at Westtown Boarding-School, in Chester County. This school was early established by the Friends, and is still maintained by them. In 1820 her father, Enoch Walker, moved with his family into Susquehanna County, and located at Lake Side, near Friendsville, where he could enjoy the society and religious privi- leges of the Friends who lived in that vicinity ; for he was a Friend, and had been sent as a missionary by that society as early as 1796 to the Oneida Indians In 1822 Mr. Walker and family removed to Wood- bourne, in Dimock township, where George Walker, the only remaining member of the family, still resides, aged nearly ninety years. Miss Sarah Walker was a young woman twenty-one years of age when she came to this county. Educated in the schools of the Friends, and imbibing the spirit of her grandmother. she became a typical member of the Orthodox Friends' Society. She was well educated, yet she was not a decidedly literary person. Her domestic nature made her home life a blessing to her father's family, and especially to her brother, after they two alone remained of the family on the old homestead; and he is not unmindful of her many good qualities, but always makes mention of her as his "dear sister." But her kind heart, which contained so much goodness for her friends, was not confined in its operations to the home circle. Her benevolence was far-reaching, and ex- tended to suffering and needy humanity everywhere. These benevolent qualities were brought out in a re- markable degree in connection with the Women's Work for the United States Sanitary Commission in Susquehanna County. In this work she traveled about the county, and was largely instrumental in or- ganizing forty Soldiers' Aid Societies in the county. Inspiring and cheering by her hopeful disposition and calm determination everywhere, she was the leading spirit in the work, in fact as well as in name. As president of the Susquehanna branch of the society, she made visits to Philadelphia and had a large cor- respondence. She discharged the duties of her office

with such energy and executive ability as to make Susquehanna the banner county in the State in the soldiers' aid work. Although opposed to war from religious conviction, she labored for the suffering sol- diers with the same zeal that she would for suffering humanity anywhere. One of her well-known traits was to find good in everybody. This characteristic was so pronounced that it had a restraining effect upon others, who refrained from speaking evil of any one in her presence. Says one of her: "Not a Governor of our State within the past forty years but she has importuned, personally or by letter, to interpose the pardoning power in behalf of some poor, and as she charitably believed, penitent convict in prison, with whose case she (either here or during her annual visits to Philadelphia) had been made acquainted." "At the close of the Rebellion her heart and influence were largely given in aid of the 'Freedmen of the South,' especially in their education and enlightenment." By birth, education and choice Miss Walker was a Friend. A friend and sister she was in heart and deed to all who bore the image of her Master, without re- gard to their creed or mode of worship. In her last sickness she said to her friend, Miss Blackman : "There is not a cloud between me and the face of my Saviour."

Thus she died in full confidence of the One in whom she had trusted, March 22, 1874, aged seventy-four years, and was buried, pursuant to her request, beside her father at Friendsville.

CHAPTER XIX.

GRAND ARMY POSTS, SOLDIERS' MONUMENT AND WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.

BY CAPT. H. F. BEARDSLEY.

THE preservation of the Union was accomplished at a fearful cost of blood and treasure. A million of men confronted each other in deadly conflict, and the land shook with the tread of armed hosts. But after Appomattox what a grand transformation scene was witnessed.

This was the end. The Blue and Gray .

Faded from sight, as melts away The frost, upon an April day.

After the Union Army had disbanded, upon the suspension of hostilities, and had returned to the quiet pursuits of private life, this organization was founded. The purpose of its founders and the broad foundation-stone upon which it was builded was to bind together in a bond of union those who responded to the call of the nation in the dark days of rebellion. The watchwords emblazoned on the escutcheon of the order are FRATERNITY, CHARITY and LOYALTY, and

Awan m Walker.

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THE GRAND ARMY.

these words, which form the basis of its constitution, have so little of a military character that they could have been used equally well by any body of civilians who desired to unite themselves together for the pur- pose of carrying out any philanthropic measure. Any foreign orders of a semi-military character would have certainly had the word glory on their escutcheon, but the founders of this order wisely left the word out.

Is there a Union soldier whose heart does not beat a quicker march when his eye meets that splended ensign whose crimson folds now wave in triumph over an undivided country, that stretches from ocean to ocean and from the lakes to the gulf, embracing nearly a continent, and can say to himself, I at least bore an humble part in preventing the erasure of one single star from the azure field that represents the Union as it was, as it now is and as it will be, we trust, as long as human government may last ?

The objects to be accomplished by this organization are as follows : To preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead. To assist such former comrades in arms as need help and protection, and to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen. To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, based upon a paramount respect for, and fidelity to, the National Constitution and laws; to discountenance whatever tends to weaken loyalty, incites to insurrection, treason or rebellion, or in any manner impairs the efficiency and perma- nency of our free institutions; and to encourage the spread of universal liberty, equal rights and justice to all men.

ELIGIBILITY TO MEMBERSHIP .- Soldiers and sail- ors of the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps, who served between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865, in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion, and those having been honorably discharged therefrom after such service, and of such State regiments as were called into active service and subject to the orders of United States General Officers, between the dates mentioned, shall be eligible to membership who has at any time borne arms against the United States.

Thus briefly have we noted the objects, aims and purposes of the Grand Army of the Republic; an army which to-day numbers on its rolls nearly three hundred and fifty thousand men, but whose ranks, alas! are being sadly decimated each year-not by the sword, but by the reaper, Death ! The amount expended in charity since its organization, is nearly or quite a million and a half of dollars-the sum expended the last year (1886) being over two hundred thousand dollars.

In this Grand Army, the veterans from Susquehanna County early enlisted ; and in 1867-68 there were six or seven posts organized. But for various reasons, unnecessary to enumerate, the order did not flourish,

and in a few years, nearly all the posts in the county disbanded. In 1879 the Grand Army of the Republic was re-organized throughout the country, and soon afterwards new posts were organized in the county, and the order continued to flourish, while to-day we have fifteen G. A. R. Posts in the county.

GRAND ARMY POSTS .- The following abbreviations are used : P. C., Post Commander ; S. V. C., Senior Vice Commander ; J. V. C., Junior Vice Commander; Adjt., Adjutant; Q. M., Quartermaster ; C., Chaplain ; S., Surgeon; O. D., Officer Day ; O. G., Officer Guard; S. M., Sergeant Major ; Q. M. S., Quartermaster Ser- geant.

Moody Post, No. 53 .- Moody Post, of Susquehanna, was instituted April 1, 1867, and is the oldest post in the county, and the only one of the earlier posts that did not disband. It has had an honorable, though varied career, having had its hall and most of its property destroyed by fire on two occasions. Owing to the destruction of its records, we are unable to give a list of its charter members or of its first officers, though among the number were R. H. Day, David Mason, J. R. McCauley, W. C. Frith, Wm. Eastwood, Selah Brock, A. Williams and Wm. Dougherty-the four first named being among its first officers. A list of its Past P. C.'s is also lacking, but the post has been commanded by R. H. Day, John C. Foot, H. P. Moody, R. H. Hall, Wm. H. Telford and Clark Evans. Its present officers are: D. T. Sprague, P. C .; W. H. French, S. V. C .; A. G. Brush, J. V. C .; Wm. All- paugh, Adjt .; L. Finckenoir, Q. M .; H. A. Tingley, S .; Wm. H. Telford, C .; A. Westfall, O. D .; H. Persons, O. G .; W. C. Frith, S. M .; J. A. Sutliff, Q. M. S. Its present membership is sixty-five.

We regret that we are unable to give but little of the personal history of Dr. H. P. Moody, after whom the post is named, for he was an honored citizen of Susquehanna, and held in high esteem by his com- rades of the Grand Army. In the summer of 1861, he was instrumental in recruiting company "F" of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers in Luzerne County, and October 12 was commissioned its cap- tain. On the 1st of June, 1862, at the battle of Fair Oaks, he was wounded, from the effects of which he was compelled to resign in September following. After the war he removed to Susquehanna for the practice of his profession, and was afterwards ap- pointed postmaster of that place. He died August 3, 1869, from the effects of the wounds he received at Fair Oaks, at the early age of thirty-four, and is buricd in the cemetery at Susquehanna.

Captain Lyons Post, No. 85 .- Captain Lyons Post, of Glenwood, was instituted on the 29th day of September, 1877, and the post was mustered and the officers installed by Comrade James Smith, assisted by a delegation from Moody Post, No. 53. The fol- lowing were mustered as charter members: A. A. Clearwater, C. W. Conrad, Leander Lott, George Simpson, B. E. Miles, Martin Conrad, Israel Rynear-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

son, John Cameron, Moses Brewer, Noah Phillips, Wm. J. Bell, Henry P. Titus, D. N. Hardy, W. W. Hardy, P. J. Bonner, Jas. M. Conrad, Geo. W. Mapes, W. C. Kirk, Cornelius Rynearson, C. M. Hunter. The officers at that time installed were: A. A. Clear- water, P. C .; C. W. Conrad, S. V. C .; Leander Lott, J. V. C .; B. E. Miles, Adjt .; George Simpson, Q. M .; James M. Conrad, C .; D. N. Hardy, S .; W. W. Hardy, O. D .; N. C. Kirk, O. G .; C. M. Hunter, S. M .; John Cameron, Q. M. S.

Soon after its organization the post decided to re- build and fit up the hall over the tannery store, at Glenwood, which they converted into a very fine and commodious meeting-room. They afterwards added a kitchen and dining-room, thus making it one of the first post halls in the county. The post has expended, in fitting up and furnishing its rooms, between seven and eight hundred dollars. But it has not used all its funds in a nice hall and fine surroundings. It has nobly responded to the calls of charity, and during the ten years of its existence has expended nearly three hundred dollars for the relief of deserving and needy comrades. The whole number borne upon the rolls of the post is one hundred and twenty-one, of which number six have died, twenty-one have been dropped or suspended, and fifty-three have been transferred to other posts, leaving a membership in good standing of forty-one. Past Post Commanders are: A. A. Clearwater, C. W. Conrad, Byron Mc- Donald and W. W. Hardy. The present officers of the post are: D. N. Hardy, P.C .; H. P. Titus, S. V. C .; Elias Hinkley, J. V. C .; W. O. Miller, Adjt .; C. D. Millard, Q. M .; Theron Hinkley, C .; Dr. F. B. Davi- son, S .; Byron McDonald, O. D .; Noah Phillips, O. G .; W. W. Hardy, S. M .; J. G. Wescott, Q. M. S.

In May, previous to the organization of the post, Captain J. R. Lyons, of Montrose, a representative soldier and worthy citizen, died, and the post unani- mously decided to perpetuate and keep green his memory by giving his name to the post.

JEROME RICHARDS LYONS, son of Nathan H. and Elizabeth L. Lyons, was born in 1828, at Milford, Pike County, Pa. In early youth he came to Mon- trose, where he grew to manhood, and for the greater part of his life resided in his native State. An archi- tect by profession, few surpassed him in skill in his chosen calling. He was living in St. Louis, Mo., when the life of the nation was imperiled by the in- auguration of civil war. He resigned his position and returned to his former home to enlist in his native State, and go with brothers and friends to fight for the preservation of the Union. In September, 1861, he had a recruiting station on the Fair Ground during the county fair, at which time a number rallied around the "Old Flag," and enlisted for the war. November 1, with a squad of men from Susquehanna County, he went to Tunkhannock and joined a squad from Wyoming County. A company was organized, electing Peter Sides, of Philadelphia,

captain; Jerome R. Lyons, of Montrose, first-lieuten- ant; Edson J. Rice, of Factoryville, second-lieuten- ant. Going immediately into active service Lieu- tenant Lyons remained with his company until late in the winter of that year, when he came home on recruiting service, and in the spring returned with recruits enough to bring his company to the maxi- mum. (For service of Company see Military Chap- ter Company A Fifty-seventh Regiment).

Lieutenant Lyons was promoted to captain Com- pany A September 15, 1862. He was wounded three times, and was discharged for physical disability for wounds received in action, October 6, 1864. In 1869 he was elected to the office of register and recorder, and clerk of the Orphans' Court, of this county. After the expiration of his term of office he turned his attention to farming, but broken in health and suffering from wounds and sickness he died at the early age of forty-nine years, May 5, 1877. His last work was designing and superintending the erection of the Soldiers' Monument, at Montrose, in the inscription and building of which he took a lead- ing and prominent part; and that monument will not only perpetuate the memory of the soldiers who fell in defence of their country from Susquehanna County, but will be a monument as well of his indomitable perseverance and skill.

Lieutenant Titman Post, No. 93. Lieutenant Tit- man Post, of Auburn Four Corners, was instituted November 23, 1878. On the night of its organization the following charter members were mustered : Calvin S. Gay, D. C. Titman, C. L. Lowe, O. M. Parks, J. C. Rifenbury, James P. Gay, E. L. Adams, Davis D. Layton, Frank Angel, Levi Warner, John B. Over- field, Leander Lott, M. H. Van Scoten. We are unable to give the names of its first officers, its past post commanders or its present officers, with the ex- ception of its post commander, who is D. C. Titman. The total number borne on its rolls is sixty-seven, and its present membership is forty-five. The Post was named in honor of Lieutenant H. C. Titman, a gallant young officer of Company G Fifty-sixth Reg- iment Pennsylvania Volunteers. (See history of regiment in military chapter).

Lieutenant H. C. Titman was born in 1835, at Blairstown, N. J. He was the eldest son of S. Matil- da Van Scoten, late of Auburn, Pa. After casting his maiden vote for John C. Fremont, he migrated with his parents to Auburn, this county. His business was that of a contractor, and when the Rebellion " broke out it found him in Kent County, Delaware. He returned to his adopted State, where he helped recruit and organize Company G, Fifty-sixth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Upon the organiza- tion of the regiment he was detailed upon recruiting service at Philadelphia, and did not rejoin his com- pany until after the battle of Antietam. He re- mained with his company sharing the hardships of the campaigns of Fredericksburg and Chancellors-

THE GRAND ARMY.

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ville, when he was promoted to quartermaster-ser- geant. This position he filled acceptably until the eve of the battle of Gettysburg, when he asked to be relieved and returned to his company for duty. He participated in that never to be forgotten battle with his company and regiment. By orders of Colonel Hofman he was promoted to second and first lieuten- ant of his company for conspicuous bravery in battle. In the fall of 1863 he again was detailed upon re- cruiting service, but rejoined his company before the campaign had opened. The comrades of his company, in March, 1864, presented him with a sword and belt, thus showing their respects for his comradeship ; but he had scarcely drawn it from its sheath in the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, when he was killed while trying to rally his men, his body and sword falling into the enemy's hands.

Lieutenant Rogers Post, No. 143 .- Lieutenant Rog- ers Post, of Brooklyn, was instituted June 28, 1879, with the following charter members: T. E. Shad- duck, Moses Caldwell, G. T. Price, O. M. Doloway, J. D. Richards, C. C. Nichols, M. Smith, John H. Tiffany, Perry Sweet, J. S. Sterling, Wm. Chase, L. B. Squires, J. W. Adams.

The first election resulted in the choice of the fol- lowing officers, who were duly installed on the night of organization : P. C., Moses Caldwell; S. V. C., T. E. Shadduck; J. V. C., O. M. Doloway ; Chaplain, Rev. Getchel ; Surgeon, John H. Tiffany ; O. D., Jo- siah Smith; O. G., Perry Sweet ; Q. M., G. T. Price ; Adjutant, Wm. Chase ; S. Major, J. Richards ; Q. M. S., L. Squire. The post meets in Odd Fellows' Hall, and has a present membership of thirty-five. The present officers of the post are : P. C., J. W. Adams ; S. V. C., J. H. Tiffany ; J. V. C., R. P. Lindley ; Adjutant, T. E. Shadduck ; Q. M., O. M. Doloway ; C., M. Caldwell; O. D., J. M. Whitman; O. G., Benj. T. Case ; S. M., Perry Sweet; Q. M. S., George Mack.

The post was named in honor of Lieutenant Edwin Rogers, son of Lebbeus Rogers, of Brooklyn, where he was born on the 20th of July, 1835. When war was inaugurated by the firing upon Sumter, he was one of the first from the township of Brooklyn to volunteer for the war. In June, 1861, he became a member of Company H, Fourth Pennsylvania Re- serves, and upon its organization he was made first lieutenant. But his health broke down from the ex- posure and hardships of the field, and he was obliged to reign in October of that year. He never recov- ered his health, and died before the close of the war, in January, 1865.

CAPTAIN ABEL T. SWEET was born on the farm where he now resides, in Harford, July 21, 1835. He learned in boyhood to do manual labor, and un- derstood all the departments of farmn-work. To this practical knowledge he added the usual home district- school education, and one term at the Harford Acad- emy. After attaining his majority he had taken a

trip West, and spent some time in the lumber-woods of Pennsylvania, when, in the spring of 1861, just as he was preparing to raft lumber down the West Branch of the Susquehanna, he read an account of the bombardment of Fort Sumter by the rebels, and at once resolved to go to the defence of his country's flag. After one day at home, he enlisted at Mon- trose, in Company H, Captain E. B. Gates, Fourth Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, under General McCall, and was the first boy from Harford to enlist for the war. He was elected fourth sergeant of the com- pany and accompanied it to Camp Washington, thence to Camp Curtin, where the men were sworn in, thence to Baltimore and the camp at Tenallytown. On November 6th he was promoted to first lieuten- ant, at Camp Pierpont, and the company became a part of the Army of the Potomac. The line of march was to Manassas, thence to Alexandria and to Fredericksburg, and thence to the Peninsula before Richmond, where the memorable Seven Days' Fight took place, General George B. McClellan command- ing. Lieutenant Sweet's company lost heavily, and Captain Gates lost a leg at the battle of Charles City Cross-Roads, one of the Seven Days' Fights. After the battle the company went into camp at Harrison's Landing. Lieutenant Sweet commanded the com- pany from this time. He was taken sick and was off duty for four weeks, during which time his com- pany fought at the battle of Second Bull Run. On October 8, 1862, he was promoted to the captaincy of the company, and commanded it at the battles of Fredericksburg, Cloyd Mountain, Staunton, and five companies at Lynchburg and at the skirmish of Lexington. Captain Sweet continued in the service until July, 1864, when he was honorably discharged and returned home. For some time afterward he took charge of a gang of men for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, super- intending a coal-breaker. In 1867 he purchased the homestead of his father and has since resided on it, engaged in general farming. He is a member of Rogers Post, G. A. R., Brooklyn, a Republican, and takes an active part in township, county and national politics. Captain Sweet was a brave soldier, is an honorable citizen and possesses a genial, social na- ture. His patriotism kindles afresh when speaking of the incidents of the war, and his nerve is still strung to answer the call for troops to defend the Union. In February, 1863, Captain Sweet visited his home on furlough, and on March 1st following married Julia A. Carpenter, of Harford, a daughter of Tyler (1802-82) and Mary Graham (1803-73) Car- penter, and granddaughter of Cyril and Mary (Tyler) Carpenter, both belonging to the earliest families, who settled in Harford. This Mary Tyler was a daughter of Job Tyler, a sister of Deacon Joab Tyler and granddaughter of John Tyler, who was born in Attleborough Mass., in 1746, and settled in Harford in 1794, after some of his children died. Mary Gra-

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 51

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