Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 79

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 79

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The Susquehanna River comes at one point within two and a half miles of the southern border of Auburn. The surface of the town- ship, consequently, is broken by a series of hills, trending north and south, many of them ele- vated, but nearly all susceptible of cultivation. Some of them bear local names which distinguish them from other localities in the township, the principal oncs being Taylor, Jersey, Craig, Frink and Shannon Hills. A few of them are covered with huge boulders, which give the country a somewhat rough appearance where these outcroppings are found. Others contain strata of excellent flag-stones, varying from half an inch to several inches in thickness. In a quarry in the eastern part of the township the layers have a horizontal position, showing that the deposit was not subject to any upheaval after having been formed in quiet waters. Marine shells and vegetable remains are some- times found imbedded between these layers. In the central part of the township arc slight sur- face indications of coal and other minerals, and in the summer of 1886 a shaft was sunk to the depth of two hundred feet, on the farm of John W. Lott, in quest of this wealth, without ob- taining satisfactory results. Near West Auburn were found surface indications of oil, which were prospected, as is elsewhere related, and a temporary interest in petroleum sprang up, which subsided in the absence of encouraging returns.

All the streams of the township drain south or southwest. The principal one, having the latter course, is Tuscarora Creek, in the north-

western part of the township. One of its branches is the outlet of Kinney's Pond, the only body of water in the township having the appearance of a lake. Its head is in Rush, and the pond is nearly a mile long aud has an average width of more than a quarter of a mile. The creek, having a constant flow, affords more water-power than any other stream iu the town- ship, and has been utilized to better advantage. South of the western border is Pochuck Creek, and farther south is an affluent of that stream. Flowing south, a little west of the centre, and rising in the northern part of the township, is the Little Meshoppen Creek ; and east, beyond Jersey and Shannon Hills, is Riley Creck, with its tributary brooks, draining a larger section than any other stream in the township. In the southeastern part of the township is White Creek, a small stream draining the section be- tween Craig Hill and the Springville line.

Along Riley Creck have been found several mineral springs of reputed medicinal virtues. One, discovered in 1871, attracted much atten- tion on account of its supposed curative prop- erties, and which appear to have been known by the early settlers :

" All trace of the spring for the last twenty years was lost, until very recently. It has just been cleared and a barrel sunk in it, so that the water can be easily obtained. Many people are visiting the spring, and bringing away jugs and bottles of water to test its reported wonderful curative effects."

In later years the spring fell into disuse, though undoubtedly possessing efficacious waters, which would be better appreciated at a more accessible point.

Most of the soil of Auburn is a clayey loanı, which yields generous returns when carefully tilled ; and the township, taken as a body, is the richest agricultural section in the county. It is, also, pre-eminently a section of small or medium-sized farms, which are cultivated mainly by those owning them, hence prove more profitable than under a system of tenantry. The virgin soil was especially fertile, and adapted to growing winter wheat, and in some sections fields of more than fifty acres were cultivated ; and in a large field at Cartertown, the grain grew so tall that the head of a man walking in it

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could hardly be seen. In the same section " John Tewksbury raised a stalk of buckwheat, in 1869, which measured six feet and three- fourths of an ineh in length ; he also had several specimens of oats grown on his farm which had heads two and a half feet long." In more recent years, greater attention has been paid to stoek raising and the dairy business, and several publie creamcries are maintained with benefit to the people of the township. Most of the marketable products of the township are readily shipped from stations on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, within half a dozen miles from the lower part of Auburn, and the roads, though not as good as in some parts of the county, are being steadily improved.

In a primitive condition, heavy forests covered the surface of Auburn, making the work of clearing farms laborious, especially on the lowlands, where the ground was rich, and not so quick to respond to tillage as on the hills, where the soil was warmer, and the timber growth lighter. Hence, some of the first farms were located and opened on the hills, and, in consequence, the roads were also opened over them, instead of around them, or along their sides, as a view of the country would now sug- gest. The courses of some of the early roads have been much modified, and owing to the many changes which have taken place, a descrip- tion of their original location would be of little benefit, except to show that the change had been made, and that in the later locations some of the hills have been actually avoided by following Nature's course along the streams.

THE PIONEER SETTLERS of Auburn pur- chased their lands under the Connecticut title, and many paid their money in good faith to the agents of the Connecticut elaims. After the final legal decision, made in favor of the Pennsylvania title, some who had paid their money and toiled hard to seeure a home, gave up in despair and left the country.1 Most of those who remained had but limited means, and were heavily in debt to Cope and Drinker (who became the principal land-holders in Auburn) for the lands they had to bny again or for the improvements they made. The

township, consequently, did not settle up very rapidly, nor did the early improvements keep apace with those in other seetions of the county. For nearly half a century after the first settler came some tracts of land were still in the hands of the original land-holders.

"The present wealth of Auburn is largely due to men who, though they came to the township within the last thirty-five years, might well be termed pio- neers, since they cleared the farms they occupy, and reared log cabins too remote from others for neigh- borly comfort. Some of the late settlers are from New Jersey ; but a larger number are of foreign birth. The names of Logan and Rooney are mentioned among the first Irish settlers here, in 1838. There are five hundred taxables in Auburn, about two hun- dred of whom are Irish. From being one of the poorest townships in the county, and one of the least in inhabitants, Auburn has become one of the richest and most populous."2

Lyman Kinney, from Litchfield, Conn., made the first elearing in 1797, in the north- western part of the township, on a farm which was afterwards owned by Hamlet Hill. His land was a part of the three hundred acre tract which his father, Daniel Kinney, had bought under a Connecticut title. The Pennsylvania title for the same lands was held by Henry Drinker, of Philadelphia, who transferred it to Thomas P. Cope, also of that city. After the validity of the latter title was established, Lyman Kinney sold out his improvements to Thomas and Ambrose Morley, and left the county prior to 1814. Ambrose Morley was the oldest son of Thomas, who was not a taxa- ble in 1816. Other sons were John, Thomas and Eben P.

In the eastern part of the township Lloyd Goodsell made the first clearing, in 1799. He lived on a farm which became the property of Curtis T. Russell in 1818, and where Frederick T. Russell now lives. Goodsell was married to a danghter of Isaae Brownson, of Rush, and afterwards moved to that township. Of the improvements he made, a few apple-trees re- main in an orehard of trees he planted, after carrying them all the way on his baek from the mouth of the Wyalusing. A frame barn he built also remains on the Russell place.

1 Miss Blackman.

2Miss Blackman, in 1872.

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Eleazer Russell settled in the same neighbor- hood, and both he and Curtis T. were permanent settlers. They were natives of Con- necticut.

On the farm north, Myron Kasson began a clearing, perhaps a few months later, in 1799, than Goodsell, and both left for Litchfield, Conn., in the fall of that year. The following season they returned, and Kasson had his home with Goodsell. In 1802 he exchanged prop- erty with Chester Adams, the latter having bought a tract of land in Springville, to which he had never brought his family ; and the fol- lowing year Kasson may have taken up his abode in that township, on that tract of land.

Early in 1800 Ezekiel Avery and Benajah Frink, a single man, came from Connecticut, and were the first to spend a part of the winter in Eastern Auburn. The next spring the wife of Avery brought in the family. "On the journey one of the horses was lost, and they had to diminish their means of support by the purchase of another." Avery built a frame house near the forks of the road, northwest of Auburn Four Corners, which still stands, thoughi unoccupied. He had two sons-David and George-and a daughter who married Jonathan Vaughn. The family adhered to the Baptist Church, and the oldest son, David, and the daughter used to go to the " Middle School-house," a mile below the south line of Montrose, twelve miles from their home, to hear Elder Dimock preach. She rode on horseback and he walked beside her. Later, meetings were held at Ezekiel Lathrop's, in Dimock, a mile south of the lakes. The Lathrops, in that part of Dimock, and Cyril Peck, in Rush, were looked upon as neighbors. The surviving members of the Avery family moved to the West.

Benajah Frink began his clearing on the hill near Auburn Four Corners, and, it is said, built the first frame house in the township, which stood on the site of the residence after- wards built by Jacob Titman. The clap-boards were made of pine logs, split and shaved by hand into boards. He is also credited with having built the first cider-mill. In Febru- ary, 1805, he married the youngest daughter

of Isaac Hancock, of Rush, and it is said that their son Orrin was the first male child born in Auburn. Other sons were Tracy, Isaac and William. Benajah Frink died in August, 1851, but his widow survived him a number of years, having spent sixty-one years of her life in Auburn. In the latter part of 1800 William Frink, the father of Benajah, began clearing up a farm on the hill between his son and Ezekiel Avery, and afterwards brought on his family, his son William being at that time a lad. He died in 1829 and was buried in the Frink graveyard, on the hill which bears the same name. But few of the descendants remain in Auburn.

Eldad Bronson, and his son Amos came to the township in 1801, but removed after 1814 and before 1816. They were also natives of Connecticut.

" According to the recollection of Mr. Paul Over- field, of Braintrim, Solomon Kinney came, in 1800, to the farm now occupied by J. Benscoter, two and a- half miles northwest of Auburn Centre. He was the first in that vicinity. It is said that, after harvesting a fine crop of wheat, he lost the whole by fire com- municated to it from a fallow which he was burning, and from that to his house. He saved a few effects, and with his wife left the country, never to return.1

In 1801 John Passmore, at that time a minor, came from Rhode Island, and took np lands near the Corners, under a Connecticut title, but did not locate permanently until 1806, when he returned and built the first house at what is now Auburn Four Corners. The following year he married Elizabeth Overfield, of Braintrim. They reared four sons, named Norman, John, Nicholas, and Joseph, and had also seven danghters. In 1816 he was commissioned the first justice of the peace for Auburn, Rush and Middletown. He sold his place to Tread- way Kellogg, and died March 12, 1835, aged fifty-three years. In April, 1841, David Bush - nell, who came from Bridgewater, became the owner of the Passmore farm, and resided on it until his death, April 5, 1872, aged eighty-six years. Tirzah Bushnell, his wife, survived lim, and in December, 1886, was in her ninety- second year. Joseph Passmore also came to Auburn before 1815.

1 Miss Blackman.

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In 1805 the first settlers came to South Anburn, Thomas Wheeler locating on the Dunlop farm, south of the hamlet, and Hiram Carter settling on the farm just below the main part of the hamlet. Both came in June, that year, from Black Walnut, in Wyoming County. The latter made some sub- stantial improvements and lived on his place until his death. Hc had sons named John, Jonas, Theron B., Samuel, David, Daniel and Harry. The three last-named were pioneers in the locality called Cartertown or Retta, and their descendants still live in that locality.

Soon after the settlement of Wheeler and Carter, William Cooley, a son-in-law of Joshua Keeney, a pioneer at Black Walnut, came and settled on the Little Meshoppen, near where Carlin's mills were afterwards built. Some of his brothers-Robert, Stephen and Daniel-came to the township at a later day. The Carlin improvements were made by Joseph Carlin, who bought his land from the Cooley tract. In 1819 Edward Dawson, an Englishman, located near the hamlet, living on the farm where now resides G. F. Dawson. Francis Pepper came later from Rush, and cleared up a farm nearer the creek.

About 1805, or possibly a little later, Chester Adams, a native of Connecticut, came from Wyoming County, to occupy the place he had received from Myron Kasson in exchange for land he had purchased in Springville. In 1829 he had a farm-house built on this farm, on which Asa Packer worked as a journeyman car- penter. This building is still standing, and is now the property of E. L. Adams. The chil- dren of Chester Adams were five daughters and fonr sons, viz .: Cyrus, who moved to Iowa ; Chester, Jr., who lived and died at Pittston ; Thomas, who died at Binghamton ; and Elijah, born in 1824, living on part of the homestead.

In 1807 John Riley located on the creek which bears his name, southwest of the Corners, and that year a road was laid out from his place to Cooley's farm, on the Little Meshoppenl. The following year it was extended to Elk Lake. Riley was a native of Connecticut, and came from that State on foot. The last years of his life were spent on part of the land he

cleared up, the farm of John M. Bushnell, who was married to one of the daughters. A son, Minot Riley, is a well-known citizen of Spring- ville.

John Riley died March 10, 1880, aged ninety-two ycars.

" Eli Billings settled about 1805, on the Tus- carora Creek, at what is called New Laceyville. He had a son Eli, who made the first clearing where Elisha Cogswell now lives, and who died in 1815. Eli Billings, Sr., in 1839, sold to David Lacey. When lie came to the place there was a man named Sesson on the farm now owned by Rev. Bela Cogswell (over the line in Bradford County) and one George Gamble where Oliver Warner now lives; and these were the only families between him and Abiel Keeney's saw-mill on the Tuscarora, two miles above Skinner's Eddy. The site of this saw-mill, some time between 1790 and 1800, was occupied by a saw and grist-mill, built by Elihu Hall. Nathaniel, second son of Eli Billings, made the first clearing and put up a log house on what is known as 'the James farm.' Hosea, the third son, had two sons, Eli and Nathaniel. Joseph and Henry Billings were sous of Eli, Sr. Most of the family moved to the West, and none are now in Auburn."

When Eli Billings settled at what is now West Auburn there were no roads in that sec- tion whatever. Black's mill, on the Wyalusing, was the nearest place where grinding could be done, and a path was the only way which led to the mill, the traveler being guided by marked trees. Said Hosea Billings: " Well do I remember, when a lad, my father sent me to mill, and as it was late when I got my grist and started for home, night overtook me on my way. When about one mile from home my horse stopped, and then I saw before me what looked like balls of fire-probably the eyes of a wolf. It would not give the path, so I had to turn out and go around through the woods. I lost my hat getting through the brush and went home bareheadcd."

The clearing made by Nathaniel Billings became the property of Thomas W. James after 1816. He was a native of New Jersey, and had immigrated to this country with his wife,

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Hannah Smith, a few years earlier. He was a man of positive convictions and exerted a strong local influence. He donated the land for the first school-house in that locality, and at his house the early Methodist meetings were often held. When he first lived here he sometimes walked to Wilkes-Barre to mail and get his letters, again returning on foot the next day. In the privations and hardships of their pioneer life Mrs. James was a worthy helpmate. They reared ten children, among them being David M., who became a physician at Laceyville, in Wyoming County ; Thomas Smith, who moved to East Rush, where he reared a large family ; Abijah Smith, of Huron, Dak., who was a teacher for more than thirty years, and is the father of B. E. James, of Auburn Four Corners; and Thomas C., another son, who lives on the homestead. The elder James died in the fall of 1860, aged seventy-one years.

Before 1813 Abraham Lott settled on the road below the Centre, near where some of his descendants still live; and in the same locality lived Philip Haverly and his son George, all of whom remained in the township for a period of years. Near the same time John Oakley, Com- fort Penney and John Ross came to Auburn, but remained only a few years.

In 1814, James Hines appears to have had the farm of John Ross, and Daniel Sterling that of Comfort Penny, who had removed. Robert Dunlap, Simeon Green, Larry Dun- more, Jesse and Josiah Wakefield were among the new-comers, as also, in 1815, were Elias and Amos Bennett, Lawrence Meacham, Pal- mer Guile and James B. Turrell. The last- named bought of Lloyd Goodsell. The assess .. ment roll of 1816 contained the names of the following taxables in Auburn :

Chester Adams. Ezekiel Avery. David Avery. George Haverly. George Avery. Philip llaverly. Eli Billings. James Hines. Elias Bennett. Abram Lott. Amos Bennett. Ambrose Morley. Nancy Billings. John Passmore. Joseph Passmore. Hiram Carter. Stephen Cooly. Jolın Riley. Daniel Sterling. William Cooly. Daniel Cooly. James B. Turrell.

Larry Dunmore. Robert Dunlap. Benajah Frink.

Palmer Guiles. Simeon Green.

Josialı Wakefield.

Thomas Wheeler.

Later, in 1816, Philonius Beardsley came from Litchfield County, Conn., and bought a tract of land of John Passmore, south of the Corners. The following year he brought in his family and resided here until his death, in 1833. The homestead is still owned by one of his sons, John B. Beardsley. A. Beardsley, the eldest son, remained in Auburn until 1827, when he moved to Springville village, where he still resides, at an advanced age. Charles, the second son, removed to Montrose, and later to New York City, where he established an extensive carriage manufactory. A daughter married Andrew Bolles, of Lathrop.

In the latter part of 1816, or the early part of 1817, came Charles Ashley, Julins Coggswell, Thomas W. James, Hiram Whipple, Solomon Dimock and Jabez Sumner ; and within the next few years Curtis T. Russell, Edward Daw- son, John Love and Waltrin Love.

" In 1820 there were thirty voters in the town- ship. During the next five years Francis Pepper (from Rush), David Taylor, Daniel Gregory, George and Simeon Evans, Samuel Tewksbury and Milton Harris had arrived. The last-named and S. Evans had saw-mills. In 1826, and for five or six years following, Jonathan Kellogg, a cabinet-maker, Joseph Car- lin (where he and his sons now live), Robert Manning, Thomas Risley, Caldwell McMicken, Richard Stone, William Sherwood, Elisha Coggswell, Jacob Low, Alden H. Seeley and Oliver C. Roberts, besides the sons of several early settlers and many temporary residents, ap- pear among the taxables. William Overfield made the first clearing on Shannon Hill, in 1831." He was twice married, and reared a large family, some of whom still own the improvements lie made. In the same locality Benjamin C. Craw- ford began clearing a farm in April, 1832, and it is claimed that he had the first cabin in this part of Auburn. His nearest neighbors were George Mowry on the south and Abraham Lott on the north. The first night he slept on his land his bed was made of hemlock boughs, and his slumbers were very much disturbed hy the hooting of owls and the yelping of wolves. The latter ventured so near him that his life was endangered. He prepared the logs for his

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cabin in one day, and with the assistance of a few neighbors, rolled up the walls of his pio- ncer home. The following day, with the help of a neighbor, he made the shingles for the roof, and boards becoming scarce, he took the boards belonging to his sled to make a door. Benjamin C. Crawford died on his homestead, March 18, 1885, in the ninety-second year of his age. For nearly seventy-six years of his life he was a professed Christian, and helped to advance the religious interests of the township by his consistent life and praiseworthy con- duct.

A dozen years later, Lawrence Mcachanı settled in the southeastern part of Auburn, com- ing from New Hampshire. His daughter in- formed Mrs Blackman that "The first night he stayed on his place was in January, and the snow was two or three feet decp. He slept on heniloek bonghs beside a fire, which kept him- self and a colored man from freezing. In the morning they began chopping, but the timber was so frozen that it broke their axes. They left, and father did not return till the next spring. In two or three years he moved his family to the little elcaring remote from the roads and neighbors, and into a log cabin with a blanket for the door. Thiek woods, howling wolves, deer, wildeats and wild turkeys were at that time in abundance. I have heard my mother say, ' I was so lonesome I was glad to see even a hunter's dog come along.'

" My father had often to be out late at night, when on his journeys for provisions, and mother was alone in the cabin with only a little boy ; while from an hour before sunset until sunrise the next morning the wolves kept up a constant howling up and down the ereek, which passes within half a mile of the door, and many a time was this so distinct as to seem within the clearing. Twice father had his little floek of sheep killed by them."

Julius Coggswell settled in the eastern part of the township, where he lived until his death, when his family removed. South of him lived Cyrus Avery, who was one of the early jus- tices of the peace, and near by Dyer Bennett improved a farm, living on it until his death.

In 1833 Gershom Bunnell settled on a traet

of land which had been contracted for by Win. Kellogg, and upon which some slight improve- ments had been made. Here he lived until his death, in 1855. His only son was Jonathan Bunnell, still living on the homestead.

" Elisha Coggswell first settled on Tuscarora Creek, two and a half miles below New Laceyville, in 1815, was married in 1816, remained there until the spring of 1833, when he removed to Auburn, where he and his wife still reside.

"He caught in one season seven bears and five wolves. Another time, while on a hill near by, two cubs were discovered; one was shot. With the first cry of pain the dam sprang from some bushes to its side. Hastily smelling the wound and divining the cause, she rushed with headlong fury on the aggressor, who, meanwhile, was hastily reloading his gun, an i when she had nearly reached him, a bullet stopped her. Mr. C. completed his eightieth year April 18, 1872. He has been class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church nearly half a century, and still walks to church nearly, a mile, almost always atten- ding evening meetings."

In South Auburn Samuel Tewksbury settled before 1830, and made good improvements on the farm, where he still lives, in his eighty. fifth year. Below him lived Daniel Gregory, who was killed many years ago by the kiek of a horse on his temple. Nathan Osborn improved the last farm in the county, on that road. Na- than Green has been a resident of this part of the township sinee 1832, improving the farm on which he lives, and William Green cleared up the one next west. Ausel Gay began clearing up the farm where his son William now lives, about 1830, all the tract being dense woods ; and Caldwell Miekens began work on what afterwards became one of the finest farms in the township, in 1831.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 79

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