Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 55

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 55

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).

Simrell, till 1881; G. G. Watrous, since that time till now (1887).

A post-office was established at Montrose, March 1, 1808, with Isaac Post first postmaster. He hield the office twenty years, and was suc- ceeded by his son, William L. Post, March 3, 1828. Their successors have been Charles Fitz Read, July 11, 1838; W. L. Post, July 13, 1841 ; Rasselas Searle, November 3, 1842; Henry J. Webb, 1845; Benjamin Case, 1849; Dudson R. Lathrop, 1852; Amory N. Bullard, 1853; Henry J. Webb, 1858; Dudson R. Lathrop, 1861; Daniel Brewster, 1866; H.J. Webb, 1867; Geo. L. Stone, 1869; Edward C. Fordham, 1873; John R. Raynsford, 1885. The present post- office, telephone exchange and express building occupies the same site that Post's Hotel occupied, where the first post-office was kept.

Montrose is located on hills whose general slope is southward, although the main ridge slopes in all directions. The high point at the fair-ground is some eighteen hundred feet above tide water. The main business houses are located on both sides of the Public Avenue, as they call the short street that extends from the court-house on the north to the old Milford and Owego road or Church Street on the south. This street is about one hundred feet wide and about forty rods long. From the court-house down the road, the first building on the left is the Tarbell House; opposite on the right is the old-fashioned residence of Mrs. Webb. Following down the street we find a number of lawyers' offices on both sides of the avenue; the Democrat office, the post-office, national bank and several stores farther down. At the foot of the avenue is the street extending nearly east and west, which contains the finest brick stores in the place. The vine-clad Episcopal Church and the Pres- byterian Church are on this street going east, while the Baptist Church is on the same street going west, hence the name Church Street, although it is but a portion of the old Milford and Owego turnpike, as the Public Avenue is but a portion of the old Chenango turnpike. The extension of the Public Avenue southward is known as South Main Street, and it contains a number of stores; farther south there are some fine residences with ample grounds and

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shade trces. The Montrose House is on Church Street, and there are two streets parallel to Pub- lic Avenue, extending from Church Street north- ward. The Methodist Church is at the head of the street that extends from the court-house eastward. The public park originally contained ten acres, and extended from the Tarbell House to W. J. Mulford's, and from Jessup's residence to Dr. Vail's, but a row of public buildings has been erected nearly through the centre, following North Main Street. These are the court-house, engine-house, school-house, old court-house, Universalist Church and jail, extending up the hill northward. The narrow park on the east side of these buildings is called Mouunient Park, from the fact that a very fine granite monument has been erected therein to the memory of the soldiers of the late war. Judge Jessup's residence is on the east side of this park, and Judge McCollum's is on the street that extends eastward past the park towards the Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes called Maple Street. The Independent Republican's stone office is on this street also. Proceeding up the hill from the north side of the park on Upper Main Street, there are some fine resi- dences, with large and well-planned grounds and shaded walks. There is almost always a breeze blowing on these hills, and in summer it is very cool, healthful and pleasant. The vil- lage, being located on hills, is seen from quite a distance, and when the foliage is on the trees, it has the appearance of a village in the forest. The town extends a mile or more north and south, and is built upon the original road as it winds among the hills. It is built after the New England style; most of the residences have large yards attached, and the village is nowise crowded in appearance. The negroes live on the western slope, in Pleasant Valley, as they call it. Taken altogether, it is a rambling old town, which derives its principal importance from the fact that it is the county-scat, and an old turnpike road and mail centre, and a trading point for the surrounding farmers for several miles distant. It has a conservative population, mostly composed of the descendants of the pioneer settlers, either of the second or third generation, who have in some instances inherited

a little property and a family name of which they are proud. Lawyers seem to abound liere. The newspapers are unusually well-conducted for so small a town and have a large circulation ; while the churches and schools are well main- tained. The old pioneer names appear to the third generation among her merchants, as Mul- ford, Lyons, Sayre, Fordham, Turrell; while the old family names of Post, Jessup, Lathrop, McCollum, Searle, Baldwin, Bullard, Brewster, Deans, Tyler, Foster, Raynsford, Read and many others of old settlers still have represent- atives here in business or in the professions. A more complete Yankee town could not be found in New England than this. The town lacks railroad facilities to keep it abreast of modern stir and progress, and many men that would be otherwise engaged, if business demanded it, are often found congregated together, joking and telling stories and otherwise passing the time. This is political headquarters also; here the plans for the fall campaign are laid, and here the ambitious men of the county congregate for the purpose of selecting candidates for office. Although somewhat staid and slow, Montrose business-men have Yankee shrewdness and look- out for the main chance in making bargains. Her politicians are ambitious and aspiring, and her lawyers are ever on the alert, not only at home but abroad. Some of the brightest minds in Lackawanna County bar are from Montrose. The happiest people here are the negroes. A number of them can be seen on the streets, ready to dance on the side-walk or sing, almost any time. John Stout is the most jovial old character there is remaining of the former slaves. The younger class are not as industrious as their fathers were, and if they have enough to eat for one day, good-by care and sorrow- let us be happy to-day, with no thought of to-morrow. Montrose has staying qualities inherited from its Puritan ancestors that will doubtless maintain the dignity of the village, and continue to make it a good, healthful home of men of brawn, muscle and intelligence, suffi- cient to manage her own affairs; besides sending out young men and women into more enter- prising towns to take leading places there.

Isaac Post was born Ang. 12, 1784, in Suf-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

folk County, L. I.1 His father's and grand- father's names were Isaac. There was one other son, David. The father died when Isaac was less than four years old. The young wife settled the business of her husband as best she could and found that she liad but little left. In 1793-94 Mrs. Post married Capt. Bartlet Hinds. Prior to her marriage she had carried on farming with the assistance of some slaves that belonged to the estate. In 1799 Judge Haven, of Shelter Island, offered large induce- ments to Captain Hinds if he would remove to Pennsylvania and take charge of the settlement on his lands, amounting to twelve thousand acres included in the Susquehanna Purchase under Connecticut title. In February, 1800, Bartlet Hinds, Isaac Post, Daniel Brewster, Eldad Brewster, Daniel Foster, John Reynolds, Robert Day, Ichabod Halsey and Frederick Loper, with horses and two sleighs, left Long Island for Pennsylvania. They found a log hut at the Delaware (probably Carpenter's Point), where they stopped overnight. The next day they found Blooming Grove, which consisted of one half-buried log hut. They proceeded thence by way of Shohola, where one of the party horsewhipped the landlord for stealing from the horses the bog hay which had been fed to them. They stopped at all the log

houses along the road, coming by way of Deacon Purdy's, Schenck's at Cherry Ridge, Asa Stan- ton's at Canaan and Hosea Tiffany's at Nine Partners. At the latter place both settlers and new-comers had a social drink of cider all around. That night they got as far as 'Squire Tracy's at Hopbottom. He had lately arrived from Norwich, Conn. The next day they came down to Joseph Chapman's. From there it was six miles through the woods to Stephen Wilson's cabin, which they reached at four P.M. March 11, 1800. Leaving young Isaac, who was then sixteen years old, at Mr. Wilson's, the rest of the company proceeded three miles farther to the log cabin previously built by John Rey- nolds and Daniel Foster, who were now with the company. There they intended to build a

saw-mill. The cabin which had been built the fall before was built like a shed, with bark covering, being open in front, where they kept a log fire. Captain Hinds and Mr. Foster went down the Wyalusing for provisions. They were gone nearly two weeks. There came a freshet, and the ice went out of the river before they started back. They made some trades and got some flour, a barrel of pork and a keg of whiskey. They took their things to the forks of the creek, and that was the end of any road ; as the snow was mostly gone, they had to get a yoke of oxen and make a drag, which was a crotched tree something in the shape of a cart tongue, the only kind of vehicle that could be got through the woods, over logs and through the creeks. Captain Hinds, who had traded one of the horses away, managed one load, and Daniel Foster and Ichabod Halsey managed the oxen and dray. They had to cross the creek about a dozen times, and carry the flour across by hand, walking on a tree which they felled across the stream when they could find no log crossing. Where the water was not too deep, it was taken across on the back of the horse. The oxen came near getting drowned in the deep water, but that was not the worst that befell our heroes. The most unfortunate circumstance happened as they were ascending a steep hill ; here, somehow, that keg of whiskey got loose and rolled off. Foster saw the prize going and tried to catch it. The hill was steep. The keg rolled on, Foster still in pursuit, but pursuit was vain. The keg "stove," and the disconsolate trio gathered around the wreck and took a parting drink, which was all they could save of the liquid treasure. The disappoint- ment felt at the cabin for this loss was in part made good by the merriment which they had at Foster's pursuit. The persons who had pre- ceded them, and were living along the creek, were Metcalf, Joab Pickett, Abner Griffis, Ebenezer Whipple, Samuel Lewis and Ozem Cook. The last named lived about one mile above the cabin. Mr. Hinds looked about the country and decided to make his home near Stephen Wilson's, at the headwaters of the Wyalusing Creek. Bartlet Hinds, Robert Day, Samuel Coggswell and Isaac Post secured lodg-

1 This narrative is authentic as preserved in the manuscript of one of the pioneers, and is given very nearly in the language of the writer, as illustrative of pioneer hardships and customs.

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ing in the log hovel which Stephen Wilson had erected for his brother's oxen, and obtained bread of Mrs. Wilson. Having their bodily wants thus supplied, these four hardy pioneers commenced chopping down the forests and making a clearing. This was the rough begin- ning whence sprang the village of Montrose. They erected a log cabin just back of Wm. M. Post's residence in 1800, which was the first house within the borough limits of Montrose. Isaac Post built, in 1806, a frame house where the post-office now stands, which became the first tavern, store and post-office in the place. About 1810 David Post built the house which constitutes a large part of the present residence of Wm. M. Post. That same year Jabez Frink had a log house opposite the present Baptist Church, and carried on blacksmithing for Isaac Post.

The place was known as Hinds' settlement for a number of years, until Captain Hinds and Dr. Rose agreed to name each other's place of residence. The former named Silver Lake, and the latter Montrose, after a town in Scotland.

Bartlet Hinds and his step-sons were the founders of the village. Together with Dr. Rose, they extended such hospitality and good cheer to the commissioners appointed to locate the county-seat, that they won the prize away from Brooklyn and other aspiring towns. Bartlet Hinds was born April 4, 1755, at Middleborough, Mass., and became a baptized member of his father's church in that place. He was the first Baptist in the county. He served in the Revolutionary army as private, first lieutenant and was breveted captain. He was shot through the left lung at the taking of Burgoyne, and was one of the leaders of the forlorn hope at the taking of Stony Point. He belonged to the order of " Cincinnati," and was the first justice of the peace at Montrose. Hc was one of the first of those who had settled under Connecticut authority to yield to Penn- sylvania and obtain his title from her authority. He married the widow, Agnes Post, for his second wife, by whom he had one son, Bartlet Hinds, Jr., who died young. Conrad Hinds, his son by his first wife, lived in Bridgewater nearly sixty years. He was a deacon of the

Bridgewater Baptist Church in 1829. He was an earnest Bible Christian and lived a quiet, contemplative life on his farm, but was always active and ready to advance the cause he loved so well.

ISAAC POST made considerable of a clearing before his family knew what he was doing; possibly his love for his step-sister, Susanna Hinds, may have increased his activity in pre- paring a home for himself, for after he had a home prepared he married her, and became, in many respects, the most prominent man in the vicinity. He assisted in the first chopping and clearing where Montrose now stands, and the frame-house that he erected on the site of the present post-office building was the first store and tavern in the place. He was the first post- master, and was connected with carrying the

ISAAC POST.

early mails. He was treasurer of the first sub- scribers to the Milford and Owego turnpike, and let the contracts for building that road. He was the first treasurer of the county, major of militia and brigade inspector. He was a prominent Republican, as the Democrats were then called, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1828-29, and associate judge from 1837 to 1843. He was a prominent Bap- tist and built the Baptist Church in 1829 ; also, the academy in 1818. His children were William L., for many years a merchant at Montrose, but finally an employe of the Treas- ury Department at Washington, where he died ;

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rev. Albert L., born March 25, 1809, died January 7, 1887 ; Isaac L., many years in busi- ness at Montrose, now a resident of and alder- man in Scrantou; Janc Post; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. G. Z. Dimock ; and George L., deceased. Isaac Post died March 23, 1855.

DAVID POST, brother of Isaac, also came here with his step-father, Bartlet Hinds, shortly after the first log-house had been erected, just back of where he built a frame house in 1814, which constitutes part of the residence of his son, W. M. Post. This was one of the largest and most

David Post

comfortable residences in town, and was the home of the court judges, during court sessions, for many years. Mr. Post was kind, generous and social ; a Republican of the early and later times, a supporter of free missions and of the anti-slavery movement. He was among the number baptized into the Bridgewater Baptist Church, by Elder Dimock, in 1810, and took an active interest in the affairs of that denomina- tion. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1815, and served twenty-five years ; he settled a great many difficulties during that time, pre- ferring peaceable adjustment to litigation. He married Minerva, daughter of Samuel Scott, in January, 1809. Of their eleven children, the following six reached the age of manhood and womanhood : Norman I. Post, who was ad- mitted to the bar, but preferred business, and becanie a merchaut at Montrose ; Fannie, wife

of Dr. Thomas Jackson, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Mary, wife of Sidney T. Robinson, also of Binghamton ; Phila A., wife of Ralph B. Little, Esq., of Montrose ; David went to Cali- fornia, where he now resides ; and William M. Post, Esq., who resides on the old homestead, being the last of his father's family remaining at Montrose.

Rufus Frink first commenced in Bridge- water in 1806, and subsequently built a frame house on the lot now owned and occupied by W. J. Mulford. Mr. Frink was a mason by trade. His son, Avery Frink, has been a con- tractor and house-builder for more than half a century. Mr. Frink's six daughters all mar- ried in the vicinity,-Mrs. Fritz, the eldest, lives at Springville, aged eighty; and Mrs. Ward lives at New Milford. Jabez Frink was the first blacksmith at Montrose ; he finally re- moved to Rush, where he died. George Frink, a grandson of his, lives at Montrose now.

Isaac P. Foster came to Montrose and started his little tannery in 1811 ; he sold to Luther Catlin, and removed to Honesdale in 1829, where he became one of the prominent pioneers of that village.

Austin Howell, Mr. Foster's brother-in-law, came from Long Island to Montrose in 1812, and erected a tavern just south of the tannery, which was destroyed by fire in 1854. Mr. Howell was the second sheriff of the county. His wife was a sister of Hon. William Jessup. He removed to Jessup, where he died in 1866, aged seventy-eight years.

William Foster came in the spring of 1812, and worked in I. P. Foster's tannery ; he subse- quently carried on tanning and shoemaking. He was an ardent Abolitionist, being promi- nently associated with the Posts, Deacon Mea- cham and others in providing subsistence and employment for fugitive slaves. He was county treasurer from 1832 to 1834 ; he died 1874, aged seventy-six years. His wife, Mrs. Anna Sayre Foster, died in 1885, aged seventy-nine. Of his family, Charles S. Foster remained at Montrose, and carried on a tannery for a number of years. His children are Selden M., clerk for Boyd Carrie R., wife of W. J. Post ; Mary F. and Julia.

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Francis Fordham came from Long Island in 1812, and established the hatter's business. He returned and brought his bride, July 9, 1813. Mrs. Sarah Howell Fordham, like a true wife, assisted her husband, and many a farmer's boy wore evidence of her skill in the trimmings of his hat. Their children were Nancy, wife of George H. Williston; William, a cabinet-maker, who died at Corning, N. Y .; Harriet, wife of George Jones, of Pittston ; Phebe, wife of Ed- mund Baldwin; Edward C. Fordham, a cabi- net-maker, for twelve years postmaster of Montrose. He is a merchant now, and chair- man of the Republican County Committee. Emma and G. F. Fordham, upholsterer, are the remaining children.

Rufus Bowman, a baker, came in 1813, and occupied the log house vacated by Dr. Fraser, who had come in 1812 from Great Bend, having been elected prothonotary, clerk of the courts, register and recorder. Mr. Bowman subse- quently built on the site of W. S. Mulford's store ; two of his daughters were teachers many years. George Claggett, a tailor, and Stephen Hinds came in 1813.

Benjamin Sayre established the mercantile business at Montrose in 1816; he first built where Searle's office now is, then across the road where Blakeslee has his residence. His wife was Priscilla Chapman, and their children were Anna M., wife of J. T. Richards; Catharine, wife of G. V. Bentley; Samuel H., Benjamin C. and Daniel. His sons have all been active business men at Montrosc. Lydia is the wife of G. W. Comstock, of New York ; Samuel H. married Frances M. Reed. Their children are Samuel H. and Mary Elizabeth.

Silvanus S. Mulford came to Moutrose from Long Island in 1816, and first built where Judge Jessup formerly resided, next where Jerre Lyons lived, and finally where B. H. Mulford now lives. He was one of the early and suc- cessive merchants of the place ; he married Fannie Jessup and their children were William J., a merchant, who married Mary H. Cook, and has two children,-William S., his successor in business, and Mary B. The other children, of the original family, werc Samuel B., a lawyer; Sylvester H., a merchant; Silvanus S., a physi-

cian in New York; Elisha, an Episcopal clergy- man ; Benjamin H., a merchant ; Fannie A., wife of C. J. Conell, of Chicago.

Asahel Avery came to Dimock from Salem, Conn., and located on what is now called the Cope farm in 1801. His family slept on branches of trees all winter. Owing to difficul- ties about the title to the property he removed to Great Bend, where he became the first justice of the peace after the organization of the county. He died soon after his appointment, and his widow built the house now occupied by some of her descendants in Montrose, in 1817, and removed there. The family consisted of one daughter-Clarissa, wife of Benjamin La- throp - and four boys -- Asahel, Charles, Chauncy and Hubbard, all carpenters, cabinet- makers or carriage-makers. Charles Avery moved into the house erected by his mother in 1820, and became a man of some prominence in the town. He was county treasurer in 1821, county commissioner in 1825, commissioners' clerk in the year 1833 ; that fall he was elected sheriff of the county for three years. He was appointed register and recorder January 6, 1839, and served that year. In 1840 he was elected justice of the peace, and by re-elections held the office continuously until his death, which occurred in 1876, when he was nearly eighty one years of age. His wife was Harriet Lord, and their children were Fayette, pattern-maker, who resides on the homestead ; Mary, wife of Robert Simpson ; Helen, wife of Theodore Smith ; Gertrude, wife of Edwin Mckenzie, of Montrose ; Louisa and Clara.

Jerre Lyons came to Montrose in 1819 and built a store and residence where the bank now stands. He resided there until he purchased the Mulford place, where George H. Lyons now lives. Jerre Lyons' wife was Melinda Bennett. Of his children, J. Lorenzo lives in Florida, Theodore A. succeeded his father in business, George H. resides on the homestead. Of Theodore's children, Gilbert is telegraph operator, Harry is in the store, and Emma is at home.

Henry Drinker, son of Henry S. Drinker and grandson of Henry Drinker, resided here in the house now owned by B. de Schweinitz.

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

He owned two farms in the vicinity of the village, and took considerable interest in the Agricultural Society. He died February 5, 1868, and was buried here. Joseph Drinker, Sr., a cousin of the foregoing, lived in the house adjoining, now oeeupied by D. R. La- throp. Annie Drinker, his daughter, was " Edith May," mentioned among the authors. James C. Biddle married Sallie Drinker, grand- daughter of the founder of the estate, and came here as his agent, and was president of the Bank of Susquehanna County, of the Mutual Insurance Company, and was in other respeets a prominent man. He died in the prime of life while at Philadelphia.

Moses C. Tyler, son of Moses Tyler, of Bridgewater, bought the place in Montrose and built the house now occupied by his widow, at the corner of Maple Street and Monument Park, when a young man. He was a merchant in the place about forty years, treasurer of the county from 1839 to 1843, and associate judge nearly five years from 1847. He had three wives-first, May French ; second, a daughter of A. H. Read ; third, Harriet Harris. Of his seven children, Henry C. Tyler, of Montrose, alone is living. He married Frances E. Wileox, and resides on Upper Main Street. He is a general insurance agent and was county treasurer in 1875. Owen B., a lawyer, died in California ; Clark died in St. Louis. Moses Tyler's widow is living on the homestead with her sister, Mrs. Cooper, both of whom are four-seore years of age. Judge Tyler died in 1885, aged nearly eighty- three. William H. Cooper read law with Wil- liam Jessup and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He went into the banking business with Post Brothers, and after their failure continued the business as W. H. Cooper & Co., until he was shot by Joe Drinker (an insane man) in 1884. He built a fine residenee, now owned by Mr. C. R. Woodin. His father, Captain Huntting Cooper, came later and pur- chased the Isaae C. Post mansion. He had been an old sea eaptain and had taken long whaling voyages. He died here July 2, 1885, aged nearly ninety-three.

Seth and Nathan Mitehell eame from Roeks-

bury to New Milford. Seth Mitchell eleared up two farms in New Milford township, and about thirty years previous to his death re- moved to Montrose. He was a member of the Baptist Church and died at the advanced age of ninety-three. He had eight children. Of these, Ellen is a medieal missionary in India ; Norman I. was a druggist and jeweler at Montrose (he was a deacon in the Baptist Church ; he and his brother Henry, who was also a merehant here, are both dead) ; Lemuel is a farmer on Snake Creek; Almira is the wife of B. Grover; Ophelia is the wife of George R. Lathrop, of Montrose.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 55

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