Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 60

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 60

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THE TELEGRAPH was first brought into Montrose by Ezra Cornell in 1852. He ran a single line from Binghamton to Montrose, thence to Carbondale, thence through Hones- dale to New York by way of Narrowsburg. Charles Brown was the first telegraph operator here, in a stone building near where the engine- house now stands. Daniel Sayre was the next operator, and T. A. Lyon and son have been operators since 1873. This was one of the first telegraph lines in America. The telephone was extended from New Milford to Montrose in May, 1885. The exchange is at the post- office, and is managed by J. R. Raynsford, the postmaster, and his clerks.

PHOTOGRAPHY .- Soon after the renowned Frenchman, M. Daguerre, made his important discovery, by which the human face could be pictured on the silver plate, an artist appeared in Montrose and succeeded in capturing the "exact resemblance" of a number of our prominent citizens.

This was about the year 1842, and it is be- lieved by some that Edwin Foot, from New Milford, was the first, while others are of the

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impression that O. P. Reeves, a traveling man, preceded Foot. As this is not material, both being here in the same or the following year, we will pass on to observe that all who can remember the daguerreotypes of that early day will know that we speak truthfully when we say that they were very imperfect. They could not well be otherwise, for they were taken by a small side-window, which had the effect of over- doing one side of the picture while the other side was left in the deep shadow of indefinite darkness.

These gentlemen were followed by Ambrose Hickox, who was afterwards a quite prominent artist in Binghamton. The work which he produced was a decided improvement upon that of his predecessors.

But Willis Gibbs, a traveling artist, was the first whose pictures gave our people a fair degree of satisfaction. During his stay of a number of weeks, in the basement of Searle's Hotel, he was liberally patronized, and a number of fami- lies were taken in groups. One of these groups was of three noted characters, who, if not dis- tinguished for their useful lives, or classed as our highest and most worthy men, were well known as leaders in everything that was sensa- tional. These were Lee Dudley, Bob Merrill and Zeke Card.

W. B. Deans, a native of this section, received his first instructions in the "art divine" with Mr. Gibbs, and afterwards took additional les- sons with the Livermore Brothers, who occu- pied rooms over Mulford's store, and who left behind them some very pleasing evidences of their skill in the art. Mr. Deans followed the business during the following winter at Dimock and Springville, and the next summer at several points in New York State, after which he re- turned to Montrose and established himself in the Odd Fellows' building, where he remained, the only artist in the county, for four or five years, being familiarly known in his advertise- ments as

"The fellow who paints by the aid of the sun,

And copies men's faces as though it were fun."

Notwithstanding the fact that he held the ground so exclusively during this period, there were soon after this some fifteen traveling artists

within the county borders at one time, who moved their galleries from place to place on wheels.

After the great fire of 1854 the brick block (then called Phoenix Block) was built, and Mr. Deans removed to the first skylight gallery erected here, over the store of Bentley & Read. Soon after this ambrotypes were introduced, and daguerreotypes were, in a great measure, super- seded by the new process.

In 1861, after a successful business of about fourteen years, Mr. Deans sold his business here to John B. Hazleton, and purchased a gallery in Scranton. But he did not choose to remain there, and after one year returned to Montrose and went into partnership with Mr. Hazleton.

Photographs had now come to the front, so that the old styles were but little in demand. The following year was the "year of the draft," when prices were high and money plenty, and it proved to be a very profitable season, for during that year the firm of Hazleton & Deans took a much larger number of pictures than were ever taken in Montrose in the same period of time, either before or since.

Impaired eye-sight made it imperative that Mr. Deans should relinquish the business; con- sequently, in the fall of 1865, he purchased a half-interest, with Alphonso H. Smith, in the book and stationery business. After one year he bought Mr. Smith's interest, and continned the general book and wall-paper trade, on the same spot, near the corner of Church and South Main Streets, until the fire of August 27, 1886, when, like a good many others at that time, he "stood not upon the order of going, but went at once."

A year or so after Mr. Deans retired from the picture business, J. B. Hazleton sold out to George N. Cobb (now a prominent Bingham- ton photographer) ; and a little later on, Cobb removed to a gallery which B. R. Lyons had fitted up over his store on the east side of Pub- lic Avenue.

The business soon changed hands again, and this time it came into the possession of our popular artist of to-day (1887), George W. Doolittle. Here he remained nutil Jannary, 1883, when the Lyons store was burned. Hc

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

then took up his quarters in a gallery in the M. S. Wilson building, where he continued the practice of his chosen profession until the fire of 1886, when he was again burned out, and this time his loss was a severe one, including his complete fixtures and a large number of valuable plates and negatives.

L. M. Tyrrell having erected a fine building on the ground formerly occupied by the Lyons store, Mr. Doolittle decided once more to lo- cate there, and now he occupies one of the best- appointed galleries in Northern Pennsylvania ; and his patrons are among the best people of Susquehanna and adjoining counties.

ARTISTS AND COPYISTS .- Stephen Wilson, a former resident of Montrose, but subsequently of Philadelphia, became a portrait-painter of considerable merit. Mrs. Mayo has painted the scenery about her home at Susquehanna in oil colors. Mrs. Theodore Smith, and her sister, Miss L. Avery, excel in water-colors. Mrs. Azur Lathrop also excels in pencilings and in water-colors, particularly in painting leaves and flowers. Her work is very accu- rately done. George H. Frazier has done some very good crayon work and portrait-painting. He is a young man, and his work promises well for the future. Mrs. A. H. Berlin, of Montrose, Mrs. Dr. Ainey, of New Milford, and many others throughout the county, have done some painting, particularly flowers. James Smiley, an artist from New York, has a sum- mer residence at Montrose that is an art study in itself. His residence is near the fair-grounds, and commands an extensive view. The house is surrounded by a broad veranda, and is fin- ished with native hardwoods inlaid in narrow strips of oak, cherry, birch, ash, etc., so as to produce a very pleasing effect. Mr. S. is a steel engraver and oil-painter, besides working at etching.

Dr. Rose was president, and Putnam Catlin cashier.

Northern Bank of Pennsylvania, at Dun- daff .- Established probably early in 1825, and closed January, 1827.

Bank of Susquehanna County, at Montrose .- Established in 1837. James C. Biddle, presi- dent ; Isaac Kellum, cashier.

October 9, 1837, the following board of di- rectors were elected : William Jessup, I. Post, S. S. Mulford, William Ward, D. Post, F. Lusk, Jesse Lane, C. L. Ward, William L. Post, Daniel Searle, M. S. Wilson and Charles Avery. James C. Biddle died March 31, 1841, and W. L. Post was chosen president. Isaac Kellum, the cashier, speculated with the funds of the bank, and it suspended payment. Mr. Post interested Mr. Saint John, of New York, in the bank, and he sent his nephew, T. P. Saint John, to act as cashier. At the directors' meeting, after he was appointed, Mr. Wilson inquired if Mr. St. John had given bonds. Saint John answered: "Do you suppose I will give bonds for an old rotten concern until I find out what there is in it?" Mr. Wilson replied that " he supposed a man gave bonds for himself and not for the bank." Mr. Wil- son was overruled, and Saint John gave no bonds. Wilson sold his stock for half-price, which was more than the stockholders that re- mained realized. Arrangements were made whereby the Morristown Bank was to redeem the Susquehanna County Bank notes and vice versa. Mr. Saint John managed matters, and discounted Western paper that proved to be worthless, and the bank failed in 1849. The stockholders lost heavily.

Isaac L. Post, Henry Drinker and William H. Cooper started a private banking-house at Montrose in November, 1855, with about fifteen thousand dollars capital. This continued BANKS .- The Silver Lake Bank, at Mont- rose .- The books were opened for subscription June 6, 1814. The bank was fully organized with a board of directors January 4, 1817. It began to discount April 10, 1817. Suspended August 7, 1819, but resumed after a very short time, and continued in operation ten years as Post, Cooper & Co. until Post failed, in 1859, when William H. Cooper and Henry Drinker reorganized with about thirty thousand dollars, and did banking under name of Wil- liam H. Cooper & Co. This was the only bank at Montrose for a number of years, and the people had great confidence in its manage- longer, when the bill for its re-charter was lost. ! ment. It was not chartered, but was a private

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bank of deposit. Their deposits averaged eighty thousand dollars, that they carried an- nually. Cooper was shot at Montrose, June 14, 1884, and the bank went into the hands of an assignee, William H. Jessup, who was ap- pointed June 18, 1884. Finding that it was badly insolvent, that there had been no balance- sheet taken for a number of years, he took an inventory, and found that the liabilities were about three hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars, and the assets four hundred thousand dollars, most of which were worthless sceuri- ties. He found also that Cooper had been paying a greater per cent. than he was receiv- ing. Mr. Jessup resigned after about six weeks, and Azur Lathrop was appointed to close up the matter. He disposed of the se- curities and realized about ninety thousand dol- lars for the depositors.

The First National Bank of Montrose .- The articles of association were adopted January 27, 1875, and the charter was obtained February 13, 1875. There were about seventy stock- holders originally, with $100,000 cash capital. William J. Turrell was the first president ; D. D. Searle, vice-president ; N. S. Lenheim, cashier. The first board of directors consisted of eleven stockholders, as follows : Geo. V. Bentley, Abel Turrell, M. S. Dessauer, A. J. Gerritson, G. B. Eldred, E. A. Pratt, L. S. Lenheim, E. A. Clark, M. B. Wright, William J. Turrell and D. D. Searle.

In January, 1877, N. S. Lenheim, the cashier, was arrested for forgery in New York. This caused the bank officials to make an investiga- tion. The books appeared to be all right. The bank examiner, who had been there a short time previous, complimented the officers on the manner in which they kept their books. A United States expert was employed, and he could discover nothing wrong. M. B. Wright, one of the directors, visited Mr. Lenheim in the Tombs, and he revealed to him what he had done. The principal wrong consisted in putting the bank indorsement on forged paper, and in selling the securities of the bank in New York, and pocketing the proceeds, instead of sending them to New York for collection for the benefit of the bank, as the books showed. The total

loss to the bank, was about $105,000. The bank was re-organized with a capital of $50,000. The other $50,000 of capital stock, together with two assessments-one of twenty-five and another of fifteen per cent .- and about $12,000 realized from L. S. Lenheim's estate, werc suffi- cient to pay all demands against the bank, which has continued to do business until the present time. William J. Turrell acted as president un- til his death, in August, 1881, and was succeeded by George V. Bentley, who resigned in 1885, and, January 13th of that year, Gabriel B. El- dred was elected to that position.

The following persons have been vice-presi- dents : D. D. Searle, 1875-77 ; George V. Bent- ley, 1877-81 ; F. B. Chandler, from August, 1881, to January, 1882; Jefferson Griffis, 1882-84; M. S. Dessauer, 1884-86; W. D. Lusk, 1886.

Cashiers : N. S. Lenheim, February 13, 1875, to January, 1877; Gabriel B.' Eldred, January, 1877, to January 13, 1885; D. R. Lathrop, January 13, 1885.

Directors : George V. Bentley, 1875; Abel Turrell, 1875; M. S. Dessauer, 1875; A. J. Gerritson, 1875; G. B. Eldred, 1875; E. A. Pratt, 1875; L. S. Lenheim, 1875; E. A. Clark, 1875; M. B. Wright, 1875 ; W. J. Tur- rell, 1875 ; D. D. Searle, 1875; W. C. Tilden, 1877. In 1878 the number of directors was re- duced to nine, and in 1879 the number was re- duced to seven. Jefferson Griffis, 1879; D. C. Ainey, 1879 ; F. B. Chandler, 1880; D. Brew- ster, 1880 ; Henry L. Beach, 1882 ; H. C. Ty- ler, 1882; Azur Lathrop, 1883 ; A. H. McCol- lum, 1885 ; E. S. Warner, 1886 ; G. P. Little, 1886; W. D. Lusk, 1886.

The above dates show when the persons named were first chosen directors. George V. Bentley served continuously until 1885. Gabriel B. Eldred is the only director that has served since the organization until the present time. Tuesdays and Fridays are discount days. The bank is now in a healthful condition. In 1886 the first dividends were declared since the Len- heim defalcation.

At the annual meeting in January, 1887, 1Gabriel Eldred's health having become impaired,

1 Since deceased, 1887.

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

so that he could no longer act as president, W. D. Lusk was chosen to fill that position. H. L. Beach was elected vice-president; D. R. La- throp, cashier ; Amos Nicholas, teller. Direc- tors, A. Lathrop, W. D. Lusk, G. P. Little, H. L. Beach, J. Griffis, E. S. Warner, G. B. Eldred.

Resources January 1, 1887.

Loans and Discounts, $165,879.22

United States Bonds and Premiums, 16,100.00

Due from Banks, Treasurer of United States, . 25,719.66

Gold and Silver, . 12,785.65

Legal Tender and National Bank Notes, 5,931.00

Sundry Cash Items,

662.33

Banking-House, 9,500.00

Real Estate,

2,500.00

Liabilities.

Capital,

. $50,000.00

Circulation,

11,250.00

Surplus and Profits,

9,065.54

Deposits,

168,762.82

Total,

239,077.86

GABIEL ELDRED was born in Orange County, N. Y., April 15, 1818. His father, Ephraim Eldred, moved to Bethany when he was two years old, and died two years after. Gabriel lived with his grandfather in Sussex County, N. J., until he died, when he went to Bethany, where his mother lived. He was now a lad of thirteen years and worked at the hatter's trade with E. W. Hamlim, attending school winters. When he was eighteen he came to Montrose and worked at his trade with Case & Hancock two years; thence to Towanda, where he worked at the same trade three years; returning to Montrose in 1841, he worked at the same trade for C. W. Tuttle, and finally for Wm. M. Post, who was running a hatter's shop with employes. He purchased this business and continued it until he was elected sheriff of Susquehanna County, in 1851. This was the last hatter's shop at Montrose. This industry now, like many others, is concentrated in large manufac- turing houses. Mr. Eldred served his full term as sheriff, 1851-54, and was deputy sheriff under John Young and Elias V. Green six years, from 1863 to 1869 ; he was prothonotary and immediately after he was elected justice of the peace, but served only one year, as W. F. Simrell, his successor in the prothonotary's office, died, and he was again elected to that office in 1870, and served three years more. He became so familiar with the records in this office, that he knew from memory where nearly every thing

was; and the members of the bar and people generally began to think that he was almost indispensable. After his third term as prothon- otary he was appointed commissioners' clerk, but served only one year, when he was elected cashier of the First National Bank. When he took that position the affairs of the bank were in a deplorable condition. His predecessor had robbed the bank of $105,000 or $5000 more than the capital stock. Mr. Eldred acted as cashier eight years and has been president two years. Although the capital stock is reduced to $50,000, the bank has redeemed all its pledges and is paying a dividend again. Mr. Eldred's life has been an active one, and he has dis- charged all of his trusts with honesty and fidel- ity. He married Jane Tuttle in October, 1844, and had two daughters that arrived at the age of maturity.

DUDSON R. LATHROP, a son of Benjamin and Clarissa (Avery) Lathrop, born in 1828, attended the Montrose Academy in boyhood, and at the age of fifteen entered the store of his brother Azur in Springville, where he remained five years, fol- lowed by one year with Lathrop & Salisbury, at Montrose. He has since been a member of the mercantile firms of A. Lathrop & Co., D. R. Lathrop & Co., J. Griffis & Co. and A. & D. R. Lathrop, besides spending several years as a clerk in other houses. He served as postmaster at Montrose for a short time, receiv- ing his appointment under President Fillmore, and again served during the administration of President Lincoln. In 1853 he was elected coun- ty treasurer and served two years; was clerk in the bank of W. H. Cooper & Co. for seven years following 1858; cashier of the post-office at Scranton for a little over one year, and teller of the First National Bank at Towanda for two and one-half years, ending in 1874. For seven years following he conducted a mining store at Bernice, Sullivan County, Pa. In the fall of 1883 he was elected teller of the First National Bank of Montrose, and after serving one year he was chosen cashier, which position he has acceptably filled since. In 1854 he married Sarah E , a daughter of Hon. Davis D. Dimock, son of Elder Davis Dimock, an early Baptist clergyman. Her mother was Maria, a daughter

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of William Ward. They have two children- one, Benjamin, in the Post-Office Department at Washington, and Walter Lathrop, in the Medi- cal Department of Pennsylvania University.

AMOS NICHOLS was born August 9, 1833, in Bridgewater township. His parents, Zenas Nichols and Mary A. (Howe) Nichols, came from Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1808, and located first in Silver Lake. Shortly afterwards, in Bridgewater, one mile south of Montrose, he bought a property of the Clymer estate, and made improvements on the place, which is now owned by Charles F. Meeker. His children were Abel H., who died in Beverly, N. J., in 1884; Amos; Lucy, wife of John H. Lake, of Haverstraw, N. Y., died in 1873. Amos helped his father on the farin and attended the com- mon schools in boyhood. In 1859 he bought out Orlando Eldridge, a merchant in Brook- lyn, and engaged in the mercantile business three years in that place. In 1861 he was elected county treasurer and returned to Mon- trose until the expiration of his term, after which he had a position in the Treasury De- partment at Washington. Returning to Mon- trose, he was in partnership with A. B. Burns in the drug business nine years ; with Charles H. Smith two years, firm Nichols & Smith; with H. P. Read three years, firm Read & Nichols. He then went into the crockery, grocery, boot and shoe business with his son (firm Amos Nichols & Son) from 1881 to Janu- ary 1, 1886. He has been teller of the First National Bank since February, 1885. His wife is Harriet A., daughter of Horace Wade, of New Milford. They have one son, Harry A., of the firm of Nichols & Waltrous.

COLONEL CHRISTOPHER M. GERE, son of Ebenczer Gere, was born in New London, Conn., May 7, 1814, and came with his parents to Brooklyn township when he was seven years of age. He worked on the farm until he was sixteen, when he entered his father's shop and worked at plane-making, meanwhile attending the common schools winters. He went to Con- necticut and completed his trade and returned to Brooklyn, where he continued to work at his trade until he was elected sheriff, in the fall of 1848, when he removed to Montrose, where I

he still resides. He took up surveying, having learned it from surveyors as he carried the chain. He was one of the surveyors that es- tablishcd the county line between Wayne and Susquehanna Counties ; also one of the commis- sioners on the part of this State, who had charge of the survey establishing the line be- tween Pennsylvania and New York. He ob- tained his title as colonel in the militia service. He married Emily A. Smith, and has one son, Christopher M., an employee of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company.

SCHOOLS .- Prior to the enactment of the law providing a system of education by taxa- tion that should be free to all, the State of Pennsylvania made appropriations for academies in different parts of the commonwealth. The people of Susquehanna County have ever been alert and active in the matter of education, and early took advantage of the liberality of the State and obtained an appropriation of two thousand dollars on condition that the citizens of Susquehanna County should raise one thou- sand five hundred dollars. The 19th of March, 1816, Governor Synder approved an act incorporating 1 The Susquehanna County Academy with William Thompson, Davis Di mock, Isaac Post, Jabez Hyde, Jr., Daniel Ross, Wright Chamberlain, Hosca Tiffany, Jr., Robert H. Rose, Jonalı Brewster, David Post, Austin Howell, Charles Fraser, Isaac Brown- son and Putnam Catlin, trustees.

These trustees comprised the principal officers of the county, with the president and cashier of the Silver Lake Bank. A meeting was ap- pointed for the 3d of September following. The care of the erection of a building was given to Isaac Post, and it was completed in 1818. The offices of judges and commissioners in the board of trustees were then filled by J. W. Raynsford, Benjamin Sayre, S. S. Mulford, I. P. Foster, Samuel Warner, Justin Clark, Bela Jones and B. T. Case, the last-named being then secretary, and for several years afterwards. There was no church edifice in the place, and the second floor of the building was used as a place of religious worship every Sabbath. The academy

1 Blackman's " History."

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

at that time occupied the brow of the hill above the new jail, the hill then being much steeper than at present, and containing a valuable quarry but little excavated. The grandparents of our time relate with glee their fcats in coasting down this hill with an upturned bench for a sled, which many a merry boy and girl could enjoy together. About 1828 the building was moved down close to the sidewalk, between the present locations of the new academy and the old court-house, where it remained for twenty- two years.

Among the teachers engaged in this institu- tion the following are remembered : 1818, Wil- liam Jessup (advertised by the trustees as teach- er of mathematics and " the learned languages") and Bela Jones ; J. W. Raynsford, part of the year; 1819, Samuel Barnard and daughter, Catharine (since Mrs. Morgan) ; 1820, Ralph H. Read, Walker Woodhouse ; 1821-24, Al- bert Bingham, David Benedict, P. Wright ; 1825-28, Eli Meeker, Sloane Hamilton, Frank- lin Lusk, Benjamin and D. Dimock, Jr. ; 1829 -31, Seth T. Rogers, P. Richardson, S. S. Stebbins, Rufus B. Gregory ; 1833-36, B. S. Bentley ; 1837-42, L. H. Woodruff (?), H. S. Fairchild, - Payne, Rev. S. Manning ; 1843-44, Z. L. Beebe and Lafayette G. Dim- ock ; 1845-47, C. C. Halsey ; 1848-49, A. J. Buel. Most of the above were collegiate grad- uates.

Among the lady teachers after Miss Barnard, and prior to 1830, were Misses Ann Harris (afterwards Mrs. S. Hodgdon), Maria Jones, Abigail Sayre (Mrs. James Catlin), Mary Ann Raynsford (Mrs. D. D. Warner). Of other schools, Miss Harriet Connor taught early over Raynor's store. A French and English select school was taught in 1828 by Mrs. B. Streeter. Courses of lessons in English grammar, and also lessons on the German flute had been given by different gentlemen; in the mean time, Wentworth Roberts taught in the Bowman House.

In 1832 the academy was thoroughly re- paired, and an orrery and other apparatus pro- cured. The same season an infant school was taught by Mrs. Amanda B. Catlin. She had the first piano in the place (in 1819), and taught

music in 1832. Subsequently and prior to 1837 Misses Jane A. Brand (Mrs. Dr. Justin A. Smith, of Chicago, recently deceased), Lu- cretia Loomis, A. L. Fraser, Nancy and Caro- line Bowman, Caroline C. Woodhouse and possibly ·others were teachers in the lower rooms of the academy, while the classical department occupied the one long room on the second floor.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 60

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