Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 80

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 80

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The locality called Jersey Hill, north of the Centre, was but slightly improved prior to 1835, when a number of energetie farmers eame from Warren County, N. J., and settled in the neigh- borhood of the Protestant Church. Among these were Thomas R. White, the father of William, George, Joseph and Abraham White ; Andrew S. Low, the father of I. R. and Cor- nelius Low ; Joseph Pierson, the father of Ben- jamin and Charles Pierson. The Rev. Joshua Harris came somewhat later. Prosperity has rewarded the industry of these people, some of

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

whom still reside in this part of the township, upon very superior farms.

TEWKSBURYS .- During one of those terri- ble convulsions of religious persecution and fer- vor which swept over the British Isles from John O'Groat's to the Land's End at frequent intervals during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, one John Tewksbury gave up his life for religion's sake and was burned at the stake in the market-place of his native town, Tewks- bury, England. His ancestors had given their name to that town and his descendants were among the carlier settlers in New England.1

In 1800 Jacob Tewksbury, a native of Brat- tleboro', Vermont, with his second wife, Polly Reed, and four children also born there, re- moved to this county and bought the land whereon Brooklyn Centre is now located. They had seven children born in Brooklyn after their arrival. Some eight years after this he sold that property and took the farm where now the creamery is located. In 1803 his father, Isaae Tewksbury, eame in from Vermont prospecting for a location and returned there the same fall. The following spring he brought his family into the county and located on McIntyre Hill, Brook- lyn township, on a farm with his son Jacob. In 1805 Isaac Tewksbury and his son Jacob built the first saw-mill in the township. The ehil- dren of Isaac and Judith (Sergeant) Tewksbury were Jacob, Isaae, Sergeant (who came to the county in 1802 and settled where John Bolles now lives), Ephraim, Jonathan, Huldah (Mrs. Samuel Yeomans), Hannah (Mrs. Bloomfield Millbourne), Abigail (Mrs. Thomas Saunders) and Judith (Mrs. John Wood). Isaae Tewks- bury was an honest, hard-working man, and en- joyed the respeet of all who knew him. Both he and his wife now sleep in the Methodist Episcopal Churchyard at Brooklyn. Jacob Tewksbury's first wife was Betscy Hoadley, of Vermont, by whom he had one son, who, how- ever, remained in that State after the death of his mother and the removal West of his father. The latter became a prominent citizen in his

adopted home and was a representative neigh- borhood business man. His advice was sought by many and he was a friend to all. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Chureh until his death, in 1842, aged seventy- four years. His second wife lived to attain her eighty-seventh ycar. Their children were Naney, married Alden Seeley, a farmer of Brooklyn township, both deceased ; Betsey married Wm. Sterling, also a Brooklyn town- ship farmer, and both deeeased ; Judith was the wife of Thomas Garland, a tailor of Brooklyn township, both deceased; Lovina was Mrs. Stephen Smith, of Brooklyn, and both subse- quently removed to Franklin township ; Daniel married Prudence Fish, were both prominent members of the ehurch, and settled in Brooklyn township ; Samuel ; Maria was the wife of Ncl- son Williams, a carpenter at Carbondale, both of whom have deceased ; Alpha was married to Beach Earl, a dealer, who went West and died ; she now lives at Dunkirk, N. Y., and is the wife of Joseph Rider ; Jacob, a highly respected farmer of Bridgewater township; Mary, mar- ried Fitch Resseguie, a Gibson township farmer, and died a few years ago ; and John.

SAMUEL TEWKSBURY, the sixth child of the above, was born at Brooklyn Centre August 25, 1803. His early educational advantages were very limited, but a studious habit was developed with the passing years, which, strengthened by a keen observation and an intelligent judgment, caused the remark to be made at a later date, "He would be an honor to the bench of the State." During his early manhood he learned the carpenter's trade and in 1824 came to All- burn township upon such work intent. He fol- lowed that pursuit for ten years and built a good many houses and barns, several of which are yet standing, monuments of his honesty and fidelity to trusts. In 1834, finding his en- tire inclination lay towards farming, he em- barked in that industry, in which, by energy and economy, he accumulated a large landed estate. Elected justiee of the peace in 1840, he served in that office for fifteen years to the ben- efit and satisfaction of the people ; so much so that not one of his numerous decisions was cver appealed to a higher court. For seven years he

1 Charles II. of England granted to Admiral Tewksbury a township of land in the Colony of Massachusetts for individual loyalty and effi- ciency as an officer. Subsequently two sons of Admiral Tewksbury set- tled on this grant of land, and from these two descendants came the family here.

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was interested with his eldest son in the butch- ering business at Scranton, where he owned a large double brick building, in which troops were quartered during the war, who destroyed the interior and failed to pay the rental and damages, claim for which is pending against the United States government.

'Squire Tewksbury has for many years been prominently identified with the township and

and have all three deceased, and second to Joseph- ine Kinney, by whom he had Eva and Warren Tewksbury, both now at home ; Laura died in youth ; Mary is the wife of H. N. Loomis, now a farmer in Clare County, Mich .; and Samuel Tewksbury, now farming in Holt County, Neb. The third child, Smith Tewksbury, married for his third wife Minnie Snower, carries on the home farms and has opened up several quarries

Same Juoksburg

county affairs, and has been known as a strong political worker. He held membership in the Methodist Church for some years, though his wife is a member of the South Auburn Baptist Church. He married, on Dec. 25, 1823, Eliza Miller, who was born Oct. 8, 1804, in Litch- field County, Conn., and has had six children, viz. : Warren, a farmer on the home farm ; Amanda was the wife of Mark Kinney, a Wyoming County farmer, and died in 1861 ; Smith, born in 1832, married first to Phobe Ann Dunlap, who bore him Ella and Amanda, 27₺

upon their Bradford County property, which are of considerable promise. Three of these are leased to other parties, and one is in course of operation by him.

'Squire Samuel Tewksbury is respected as a kind-hearted, upright man, earnest in his convic- tions of right and wrong, and never drawing back when a course has been fully marked.

JOHN TEWKSBURY, the youngest child of Jacob and Polly Reed Tewksbury, was born in Brooklyn township April 14, 1816. After obtaining the ordinary schooling he worked

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

upon the farm for some years and gained such valuable knowledge that, when, having reached liis nineteenth year, hc rented a large cleared farm of Nicholas Overfield, on the Susquehanna River, near Meshoppen, he made a success from the start, and developed a strong, self-reliant and energetic manhood. For three years he had this farm, and each year raised one hundred acres of grain. He then bought a tract of two hundred and thirty-seven acres (which was afterwards increased to nearly four hundred acres) about two miles west from the Centre, in Auburn township, from Thomas P. Cope, and entered upon his highly gratifying career. He cleared two hundred and fifty acres in twelve years, and raised large quantities of grain and gathered round him quite a settlement of persons attracted by his successful farming, which became in time known as " Cartertown," and now bears the name of "Retta." In 1868 he formed a partnership in general merchan- dising at Anburn Centre before leaving the farm, but in 1872 he sold part of that property and built the present home, in addition to buy- ing out Abraham Waltman's store, which, in company with his son Charles L., he carried on during the following seven years, at the expira- tion of which period he sold out his interest and retired from active business. Those years were busy ones, and an extensive shipping trade was built up in wool, potatoes, buck wheat, flour, oats, etc., with Philadelphia and other markets. In political work he has always been a leader, and for five years served the people as justice of the peace, besides filling other township offices. During the Rebellion he was an active Union man, and was authorized by the township au- thorities to fill the quota and put in eighty sol- diers for Auburn township, in doing which he handled thirty-one thousand eight hundred dol- lars for such purposes, and when the final set- tlement was effected, the entire matter was found clear and satisfactory -- not one cent had been misplaced.

Coming from God-fearing parents, he embraced Christianity over forty years ago and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cartertown. In the spring of 1886, to meet a long-felt want, Mr. and Mrs. Tewksbury, with others, began to

agitate the question of building a church for that society at Auburn Centre, and such was the ability and energy displayed that within two months work was commenced upon the handsome cdifice now scen upon the hill-top, just above the home of its originators and warm support- ers. 'Squire Tewksbury has been for many years interested in Sunday school work, and for over twenty years was teacher and superintend- ent. His home is the headquarters for visiting ministers and he is liberal in all kindred mat- ters, and a good citizen. His strongly-marked character is the accompaniment of great physi-

cal power. When thirty years old he and his brother Samuel, above mentioned, run rafts down the river, and in one spring succeeded in safely rafting onc and a half million feet of lumber from Rocky Forest to Port Deposit.

When in his twentieth year he married Lucia Whitcomb (1817-77), daughter of Ahira L. and Amelia (Dana) Whitcomb. Mr. W. was a farmer and lumberman living near Meshoppen. The children resulting from this marriage were as follows : George, born 1836, a farmer in Auburn, married Leah Lott and has Elmer and Dana Tewksbury; Anderson D., born 1838, studied medicine with Dr. Dana, of Wilkes- Barre, and was graduated from the University of Michigan. He practiced his profession six years in Auburn before going to Nebraska, where he remained one year and entered the United States army as assistant surgeon, in which he served until the close of the war. He then practiced medicine at the Centre and at Ashley, Pa., for some years, and, determining upon a special practice, studied at New York, Edinburgh, Paris, etc., to such purpose, and returned to the United States fully equipped. He is now engaged in successful and growing practice as an oculist and aurist at Elmira, N. Y. He married Mary Beardsley and had two children-Walter ; Lucy, died young. Amelia (1841-70), married C. L. Low, and had Ella A., now a teacher and living with her grand- parents, and Charles L., who died in infancy ; Emmett, born 1843, served his country during and after the Rebellion (was in the Marine Corps and took part in the capture of Fort Fisher and other battles. He is a farmer of

John Tewksbury

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Anburn and married Margaret Stevens, who has borne him Cora, Eva, Lucia and Arden); Floyd J., born 1846, married Anna West, and has children-Laverne, Olin, John and Mabel (he is also engaged in farming in Auburn township); Charles L., born 1848, is engaged in business at Elmira, N. Y. (his wife was Sarah Raub- they have no issue); Judson, born 1851, died in childhood ; Mary E., born 1852, is the wife of Dr. C. N. Vanness, a successful practitioner at Hallstead, this county ; and John M., born 1854, died in childhood.

On Dec. 11, 1877, 'Squire Tewksbury mar- ried Mrs. Mary Sterling, of Brooklyn town- ship, who was the daughter of Hiram and Eliza (Justin) Hibbard, of New Milford township, and was born in Springville township.

Both the brothers, Samnel and John Tewks- bury, are respected as kind-hearted, upright men, earnest in their convictions of right and wrong, and not liable to withdraw from a course which has been fully decided upon ; hence their influence is strong and always felt.

The apparent richness of the soil in Tewks- bury's locality soon attracted other settlers, among them being Harry, David and Daniel Carter, brothers, who came from the southern part of the township. It was from their residence here that the locality became known as Cartertown. Other pioneers here were Henry L. Whitcomb, Daniel Seeley and J. K. Reed. Seeley afterward cleared up a farm nearer West Auburn, on which he still lives. He came from Brooklyn when he was but cighteen years of age, and has spent the greater part of his life in subduing the wilderness.

East of the central part of the township were tracts of land somewhat rough in their nature, which had but few occupants before 1835. After that period Irish settlers were in- duced to locate upon them and in other parts of the township, until nearly one-third of the in- habitants were of Irish nativity or descent. Many of those coming first had been employed on the North Branch Canal, and when work was unexpectedly suspended, they were left in an almost destitute condition. They were obliged to seek a new occupation, or starve, and, though not reared as farmers, they cagerly came to make

the effort to secure homes of their own which would give them a greater sense of independ- ence than they could possibly enjoy while en- gaged on public works. Some brought what few effects they had on wheelbarrows, and others carried goods on their backs, the pack often consisting of nothing more than a little bedding and a few cooking utensils. Naturally, there were privations and some suffering, but the sanguine temperament of the race enabled them to overcome these obstacles, and, by helping one another, they were placed above want in a few years, and thereafter continued to improve their condition until they had become among the most prosperous farmers in the township; and some of their descendants removing from the township have distinguished themselves in the professions.

With few exceptions, these Irish citizens were also Roman Catholics, and a list of them would, therefore, embrace the names of those who con- stituted the early membership of St. Bonaventure Among the leading families were James Logan, Andrew Rooney, Thomas Rafferty, James Fitz- simmons, Thomas Boyan, Bernard McGee, Peter Thane, Patrick Galvin, Patrick Donlin, James Sherridan, Felix, James and Charles Reynolds, Edward Cavanaughı, Patrick McGavin, Edward Flannagan, Joseph Farley, Joseph Matthews, Cornelius Degnan, Michacl Hade, John Bridget, James Dougherty, Patrick Dougherty, Jolin Mc- Gcc, James McGee, Michael Kerrigan, Michael Riley, Philip Farley, Peter Farrell, John Kear- ney, John Moran and O. O'Neal. A few of the above lived in Rush, but were properly a part of the Irish settlement in Auburn.

WILLIAM WHITE, born in Warren County, N. J., June 25, 1833, came to Susquehanna County with his parents and brother, George R., when but two years old. He was the second child of Thomas R. (1806-76) and Margaret Ann (1809-74) White, both natives of Warren County, whose children were George R., born 1831, a farmer living north of Auburn Centre ; Joseph T., born 1835, a farmer on Jersey Hill; Matilda H., married L. C. Swisher, a farmer of Auburn township, and died in 1878 ; and Abra- ham White also engaged in agricultural pursuits in this township. Thomas R. White was a

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

practical and successful farmer. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church at Jersey Hill, and for about twenty-five years was one of the trustees. Both the church and cemetery near by received his hearty assistance. The farm whereon the family located, one mile north of the Centre, is owned by ex-Sheriff William White, and is one of the finest in the township. Mr. White took an active part in the politics of his day. He was one of the seven children of William and Amy White, also of Warren County, all of whom, excepting John, came to Pennsylvania and settled in Au- burn. These, however, with their descendants, are now widely scattered over the country. William White obtained a liberal cducation at the district school, at Harford University and subsequently at the Montrose Academy. In his twenty-third year he entered business as a partner with J. H. McCain at Auburn Centre, and after two years formed a partnership with L. C. Swisher in similar business a couple of years. Engaged in undertaking alone about five years, when, having been elected sheriff as the candidate of the Democratic party, he found it incumbent upon him to reside at Montrose for the succeeding three years from 1876. He has since carried on farming, though lately re- siding at the Centre. He is an energetic and enterprising man and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people of the county. He was made a Mason at Montrose when just past his majority, and also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1860 he married Anna, the daughter of Harry and Lovina Carter, of Auburn, where she was born in 1840. Their children are Euphrasia, born 1862, the wife of E. C. Lake, a merchant at South Montrose ; and Ulysses G., born 1864, now in Morrison, Ill.

Mrs. White died in 1876, and on May 20, 1879, the sheriff married Delilah Smith, who was born in September, 1853, in Warren County, N. J. She is the daughter of James M. and Mary Smith, of that county, farmers, both of whom are deceased.

The Taxables in 1839 were the following :

Chester Adams, Chester Adams, Jr, Ezekiel Avery, George Avery, Gershom Bunnell, Joseph Baker, David W. Bennett, Charles Butterfield, Wm. N. Bennett, Thomas Bayley, Franklin Babcock, Hiram Blakeslee,

Elias Bennett, Amos Bennett, John Benscoter, John B. Beardsley, James Bert, Bildad Bennett, Daniel F. Bennett, Henry Brown, Jonas Carter, David Carter, Harry Carter, Samuel Carter, Hiram Carter, Theron B. Carter, Daniel Carter, Joseph Curling, Samuel Curling, Jr., David Curling, Elisha Coggswell, Philip Conrad, Theron Clink, Stephen Clink, William Clink, James Clink, John Clink, Jr., Adam Clink, Dan- iel Cooley, William Cooley, Julius Cogswell, David Crawford, William Craig, Edward Dawson, Ellis Dunlap, Samuel Devine, Patrick Donlin, Mary Davis, Hiram Dennison, Daniel Dornblazer, Ralph Fowler, Ben- ajah Frink, Tracy Frink, Isaac Frink, Michael Fryer, Wm. S. Green, Nathan Green, Jos. T. Gregory, Phineas Gage, Ansil Gay, William Green, James Green, Hnldah Gregory, Palmer Guyle, Horace Guyle, Henry Gould, Elias Gilson, George Havens, George Haverly, Philip Haverly, Milton Harris, John Harris, Andrew Hibbord, Ephraim Hol- lenback, Jesse Hines, Thos. W. James, William Johnson, Jacob B. Jackson, Anone Johnson, Jonathan Kellogg, Treadway Kellogg, Wil- liam Kellogg, Abiel Keeney, Henry Kinne, Lyman Kinne, Jacob Low, Cornelius E. Low, Andrew S. Low, James Logan, William Lafronce, Watrin Love, Andrew Love, Jasper Loomis, Abraham Lott, James Lott, John Lawrence, Lathrop Lyon, David Lyon, Harmon Lyon, Rich- ard Miner, William Major, Thomas Marshall, John McLean, Robert Manning, John Morley, Thomas Morley, Caldwell MeMicken, Lawrence Meacham, Benjamin Meacham, C. N. Miner, John Meacham, Gillian Marshman, Ebenezer Millard, William McCarty, Samuel Neal, Matthew Newton, Paul Overfield, Ezekiel Oaks, Natban Osborn, Elisha Osborn, Samuel Pickett, Junibeth Peters, Theron Parmer, Francis Pepper, Wil- liam Pepper, Gilbert Palmer, Nathan Philips, Isaac Russell, Curtis Rus- sell, Eleazer Russell, John Riley, Philemon Robinson, Oliver C. Rob- erts, James Rifenburg, Richard Robbins, Daniel Ross, Levi Redfield, William Rogers, Phalex Reynolds, Nelson Ratbburn, Benjamin Sbel- don, Jeremiah Smith, Jolın Smith, Luther Seeley, John Sterling, Curtis Sheffield, Elnathan Spaulding, Richard Stone, John Skinner, Jefferson Sherwood, Albert Sterling, Daniel Sterling, James Sherridan, David Sharp, Orrin W. Taylor, John Tewksbury, Samuel Tewksbury, Edward Wilson, Collins Wood, Josiah Wakefield, Hiram Whipple, George Wil- son, Philemon Way, Thompson S. Warner, Thomas Wyley, Thomas White, Jesse Wells, Palmer Way, Bradley Williams, Matthew Winans, Cyrus Whippler, John Vangorder, Stephen Vosburg.

JOHN M. FRANCE .- This family is probably of French descent. The first of the name in this country of whom we have any trace was a soldier of the Revolution, who died in the service of the colonies, leaving two children, Jacob and a sister. Jacob France was a young lad when the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, and long retained a vivid recollection of the booming of the cannon and terrible noises of battle which he heard upon that eventful day, and which he delighted to speak about to his interested auditors even to his latest days. In carly manhood he located near Blairstown, N. J., and made a fine farm of nearly three hun- dred acres. He married Elizabeth Vaughn, a lady of English descent, born ncar Newton, N. J., and by her had Isaac, a farmer and busi- ness man, dicd about 1852; John, a farmer, died about 1850 ; Abraham, a shocmaker, died when nearly eighty years old ; Jacob, a farmer, lived and died adjoining the homestead ; Rich- ard David, a stonemason, enlisted for the Union in 1862 and lost his life about the time of the battle of Antietam ; Dinah married

How while

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Joseph Ogden, of Tioga County, Pa .; and after he died she became the wife of Dr. Kel- sey, of Wellsborough, and died in 1879, in her ninetieth year ; Rachel married William Bowl- by, a tanner, and died in 1859; all not other- wise stated were born, lived and died near Blairstown, N. J. The sister of Jacob France married a Mr. Kimball, and removed to the lake country of New York State at an early day. Thither Jacob France made several jour- neys, sometimes riding horseback the entire distance, and frequently passing through what is now the beautiful county-seat, Montrose. Richard France (1806-66) learned the trade of plasterer and bricklayer, which he followed until a severe accident closed the active busi- ness part of his life. During the spring of 1858 he moved to Susquehanna County and bought a farm in Auburn township, where he died. His wife was Isabella Miller, of Wash- ington, N. J., and they had John M .; Wil- liam, educated for the Methodist Episcopal Church ministry, was forced by ill health to resign the charge, and entered upon the prac- tice of dentistry, which he still continues, at Milford, Del .; Daniel V., a farmer and mill- owner, in Auburn township ; Wesley L., for ten years past a butcher at Meshoppen; Isa- bella and Catharine both died in early woman- hood, during an epidemic of diphtheria, in 1864. Mrs. France still resides in the town- ship, aged seventy-eight years.

John M. France, born near Blairstown, N. J., October 16, 1828, obtained a good common- school education, and, when fifteen years old, began, under his father's supervision, the trade of a mason. He became connected with Hon. John I. Blair, and for three years had charge of that gentleman's extensive building opera- tions in the borough of Blairstown. Determin- ing upon an agricultural career, in 1851 he came to Susquehanna County and bought one hundred and eighty acres of land located in Auburn and Rush townships, to which he has since added, and now has a solid tract of three hundred and sixty acres, the home farm. In 1865, just prior to the death of his father, he purchased his farm of over one hundred and nine acres ; and this large farm, comprising

about four hundred and seventy acres, he car- ried on for nearly twenty years, often winter- ing between seventy and eighty cattle, forty sheep and ten or twelve horses. In 1856 Mr. France began to give attention to bee culture. Making a careful study of varieties, their care and production, he has become au authority upon the subject, and yearly produces about two tons of honey from his large apiary of one hundred and fifty-seven hives. He is a pro- gressive, upright and warm-hearted man, and may be classed among the successful farmers of Northern Pennsylvania. Reared in habits of industry and economy, he has acquired a fair competence ; and his influence has naturally been strong for the best interests of an agricul- tural community. He is a liberal giver to educational, religious and kindred associations, and helps the needy. In 1883 he sold the homestead of his father to Henry E. Young, his son-in-law, and moved to Montrose, where he had bought a home. In 1886 he returned thence to the farm, and still remains thereon. He married, in 1850, Margaret, daughter of Joel Crane, of Sussex County, N. J., who bore children as follows : Mary Isabella married John Kirkhuff, a native of Auburn, then liv- ing near Binghamton, and died February 2, 1884, aged thirty-two years; Harriet ; Thomas R., a farmer; Macrina, the wife of H. E. Young, a farmer, before mentioned ; and Mag- gie, died in infancy. Mrs. France died March 19, 1860; and in 1861, for his second wife, Mr. France married Mary Overfield, who bore Lillie M. now Mrs. Henry Decker, of South Montrose. On May 24, 1883, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Cyrenius and Norah Emma (Folk) Bomboy, of Montour County, Pa. Mr. Bomboy, a native of Bucks County, left there a young man, and for some time lived in Northumberland County, where he kept the hotel at Turbottsville. He was mar- ried in Columbia County, and has nine living children. Shortly after the war they removed to their present fine farm, near Dansville, Pa.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 80

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