Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 82

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

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In 1870 Father Patrick Murphy became the first resident priest, occupying the priest's house, which had already been built. In April, 1875, Father McGuckin became the priest and was

succeeded August 13, 1878, by Father Thomas Rea. Since August 11, 1879, the resident priest has been Father Edward Joseph Lafferty, from St. Mary's Church of Wilkes-Barre. Under his watchful care the church has become strong, there being, in 1886, seventy-five families con- nected with it; and it is purposed to erect a large church edifice in the near future. Auburn is near the centre of a parish which includes, be- sides the Church of St. Bonaventure, the Catho- lic churches at Montrose, Meshoppen and Tunkhannock. At each of these places Cathol- icism is becoming more firmly established each year. Since its settlement a praiseworthy senti- ment in favor of temperance principles and practice, has been created in Auburn, which lias become strongly defined in late years. This is quite in contrast with the opposition which was manifested when some, more courageous than others, took a stand against the use of liquor as a beverage. In 1886 there was but one place in the township where liquor was sold, where formerly, with a smaller population, three licensed taverns were supported.

"1 The first temperance movement at Shannon Hill was attended with some opposition. Wm. Overfield gave notice to those whom he had in- invited to a barn-raising (in 1837) that he should have no liquor; whereupon several pro- fessedly temperance men refused to assist him. One man, in particular, had declined, after hear- ing Mr. O. say he could not have liquor, 'even if the timbers had to remain on the ground till they rotted.' 'Very well,' said Mr. O. 'I should like your help very muchı, but I can't have liquor.' Then Mr .- , with a strong cx- pletive, declared he would come anyhow; and lie did, bringing his two sons with him. Fif- teen persons raised the barn-which was as large as any in Auburn at that time."

CEMETERIES. - A little north of Auburn Four Corners, on Frink's Hill, a grave-yard was opened soon after the settlement of the township, and quite a large number of inter- ments were there made. In later years the ground lost favor, and, though still in exist- ence, the yard is neglected. In the neighbor-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

hood south the Bunnell Cemetery was opened on about three-quarters of an acre of land, secured from the farm of Jonathan Bunnell. The first person interred was Elizabeth, the wife of Jonathan Kellogg, who died when the snow was too deep to make the burial on Frink's Hill. Dyer Bennett was the next per- son buried, the following June. Subsequently many interments were made, and it was found necessary to enlarge the cemetery by the addi- tion of an acre of land, and to plat the same. The cemetery is substantially inclosed with stone and iron fences, and is neatly kept. It is controlled by the " Bunnell Cemetery Society," which was incorporated, under the act of 1874, January 16, 1884, and has the following trus- tees ; G. W. Bunnell, P. C. Bushnell, J. L. Guile, Jonathan Bushnell and B. E. James.

The Protestant Church Cemetery, on Jersey Hill, is one of the largest and best-kept country burial-grounds in the county. It embraces three acres of land, inclosed by a stone wall, and the surroundings are in good condition. For a number of years it was controlled by John B. Hay, Joseph White and William White, Jr. On the death of the latter, in the summer of 1885, he devised the use of two thousand dollars to the church and cemetery for their care and improvement. This generous act has created an interest in this spot which will lead to its further improvement. It said that more than five hundred persons are there interred. At West Auburn is a burial-ground of half an acre, which is under the care of the community, as are also the cemeteries at South Auburn and in the southern part of the township. The cemetery at St. Bonaventure is consecrated ground to a large number of Roman Catholics, whose kindred lie buried at that place. It is more and more used each year.

CHAPTER XXVI.

RUSH TOWNSHIP.

THE township of Rush is on the western bor- der of the county, south of Middletown, Forest Lake and Jessup, and north of Auburn. Its

extreme north line is about five and a half miles long, while its southern line is eight miles long. The area is about thirty-five square miles. When erected, in 1801, as the fifth township, in old Luzerne County, of the territory now in Susquehanna County, its area was more than two hundred and thirty-five square miles, which has been divided into ten townships. A part of this territory was in Bradford County, as will be seen by reference to the petition on which the township was erected, and which was favorably passed on by the viewers in November, 1801, to extend-

"From the fortieth to the twenty-seventh milestone, on the State line-the north west corner of old Lawsville-thence south eighteen miles, thence west eighteen miles to a corner in the line, north of old Wyalusing township, south of Wysox, to a point due east from Standing Stone, thence north five miles to a corner, thence east five miles, thence to the place of beginning.

" Practically, the township extended east to the line of old Nicholson ; and south, at least, to the line of Susquehanna County, as after- wards run. A portion of Braintrim (now Auburn) may be excepted ; but the taxables of Rush, or Rindaw, for the year 1801, included residents of Springville and Brooklyn or those who, without change of locality, were after- wards included in the latter township." 1

After Bridgewater was erected, in November, 1806, the limits of Rush were placed in more definite shape. They then extended eight miles along the State line by eighteen miles north and south. These proportions. were retained until January, 1814, when the townships of Middletown and Choconut were shorn off from its territory, which was now reduced to an area eight miles from west to east, by six miles from north to south. By the formation of Jessup, in 1846, and the extension of its northwest bounds, eighty rods farther west, in 1854, Rush was reduced to the limits above given. It was named in honor of Judge Jacob Rush, at that time president judge of the Courts of Common Pleas of Luzerne County.

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RUSH.

The township is very hilly, in consequence of being traversed by the Wyalusing and its branches, all flowing through deep valleys. The main stream enters from the east, north of the centre, and has an almost westerly course, after sweeping to the south, a mile below the east line of the township. It is a stream of considerable volume, but it is not well adapted for improvement for manufacturing purposes. The derivation of its name is somewhat obscure, but is undoubtedly an Iroquois Indian term, Machwihilusing signifiying "the beautiful hunting grounds." In its primitive condition the stream and its environments must have de- lighted the dusky hunters, especially since it is well known that the valley was the favorite haunt of all kinds of game, which was attracted by the salt licks along the branches. The principal affluent is the North Branch, rising in Apolacon and flowing south through Middle- town and emptying in the Wyalusing a mile above the point where the latter stream passes out of the township into Bradford County. Several miles above this confluence the creek takes the waters of the Middle Branch, flow- ing southwest from Forest Lake township. It is also the outlet of Bixby's Pond, the only body of water having the characteristics of a lake. It is located on the Middletown line, and partially in that township. Several other brooks flow from the north, and from the south flow Lake Creek, the outlet of Elk Lake in Dimock, having a northwesterly course ; Deer Lick Creek, in the centre, flowing north ; and Wolf Creek, in the western part, flowing north- west. Numerous rivulets drain into these streams, and the township throughout is well watered, springs abounding in every section. Some of these possess mineral properties, and one of them has become noted as an excellent remedial agent. Near by, on the same stream -Deer Lick Creek-are small salt springs or licks, which attracted large numbers of deer in early times, but whose flow has been very feeble in recent years.

On the summits, where these streams rise, the land lies comparatively level, and good farms have been made; and most of the hill-sides also admit of cultivation, although some of them are

too steep to be profitably tilled. The roads over these summits are very hilly and are frequently avoided; but once on their tops, one is amply repaid by the views he obtains. This is par- ticularly true of Mount Zacharias, just west of the Mineral Spring, from which one looks up the valley of the Wyalusing to Cemetery Hill, at Montrose; but the stream itself is hidden by the overlapping hills that border its winding course. Devine Ridge, in the eastern part of the township, was so named from a large family which settled there after 1819 and made some of the notable improvements.1 Along the Wya- lusing, particularly at the forks of the larger streams, are belts of fine, fertile lands, which have been well improved. To these places were attracted

THE FIRST SETTLERS, who had pushed up the Susquehanna to the mouth of the Wyalusing, then followed up that stream, occupying the choice locations. Some of them were of a roving disposition or felt most contented when living in comparative seclusion ; hence sold out and left as soon as the permanent settlers began to arrive. Others, claiming their lands under Connecticut titles, removed when it became apparent that they would not protect them in their rights. Very few of the descendants of the first settlers remain, most of the survivors having passed away within recent years; hence no new account of many families is possible.

From all accounts, Isaac Brownson and wife, with their six children, were the first white settlers of the township. As early as 1794 they lived at the forks of the North Branch, on what was so long known as the Champion Farm. His son Elisha settled in Bradford County, and John a mile west, on the road coming from the north and joining the Wyalusing road at Rushville. Henry J. Champion was a native of Greene County, N. Y., and had settled first in Bridgewater. He died on the old Brownson farm, and is buried in the Presby- terian graveyard at Rushville. This is now the N. Hillis farm. Below lived Daniel Ross, and on his farm the first saw-mill was built, about 1810. He was also the first postmaster in 1824.

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

This became the Sherwood place at a later day. Nathan J. Sherwood moved from Sullivan County, N. Y., to Wayne County, Pa., and then to this place, where he died in 1870. He was interred in the cemetery near Vaughn's school- house, on the Middle Branch. His son, W. H. Sherwood, still occupies the homestead.

In 1795 Dan Metcalf was on the farm next below, which has since been known as the old Hancock place. At this time (we are told by Mrs. Ichabod Terry, one of Mr. Metcalf's daughters) the settlers below her father's place were in the following order : Thomas Tillotson (Andrew Canfield with him), Salmon Bosworth, - Preston, Benajah Bostwick, Ephraim Fair- child, Ezekiel Brown, Samuel and Aden Stevens, Rockwell, Elisha Keeler, John Bradshaw, Abraham Taylor, Jonas Ingham and Job Camp. These, though below the present county line, were then considered neighbors of settlers above the forks. The graves of some of these early settlers may be seen in the cemetery near the Stevensville Church, four miles below the Sus- quehanna County line. Benajah Bostwick died in 1864-he was born in 1776; Isaac Hancock in 1820, in his eightieth year; his wife died two years later; Deacon Aden Stevens in 1858, aged eighty-eight; John Bradshaw in 1814; Daniel Ross in 1837, aged sixty-eight. Mr. Met- calf removed, in 1798, to a location about one and a half miles above the forks, on the East Branch.

Andrew Canfield moved from Litchfield County, Conn., about the 20th of January, 1797, with his wife and six children, and reached the forks, or rather a point a little below, on the 5th of February, 1797. There was then no road from Great Bend to the Wyalusing. They crossed the Delaware River near Port Jervis, and struck the Susquehanna at Skinner's Eddy ; thence came up the river and creek to the place mentioned above (outside of Susquehanna County), to the house of Thomas Tillison (or Tillotson), where they lived two years before moving to Middletown. They drove what was then called a spike team-a yoke of cattle with a horse as leader-hitched to a wood-shod sled. His son Amos, then fifteen years old, now (1870) in his eighty-fifth year, says :-

" We drove one cow, which we milked night and morning for the children ; " and adds, respecting the settlement: "A family of the name of Rossell, two brothers and a sister, lived three-fourths of a mile up the East Brauch, on what has since heen called the Captain Howell place ; and all were deaf and dumh. They afterwards removed to the 'Lake Country.' There was no clearing between them and Great Bend. This was just prior to the settlement of Lawsville.

"The next summer after we came, Joah Picket, from Connecticut, cut a fallow on the place now owned hy N. D. Snyder, which was not hurned till the summer of 1799. [Mr. Minor mentions him and family at the latter date.] Trees were marked from the Forks to Great Bend, but the ronte was west of Montrose somo three miles.

" I recollect two brothers uamed Bennett, who came in the next win- ter after we did. They drove an ox-team, and crossed the Susquehanna at the Bend, and made their way to the Forks. The snow was nigh three feet deep. They drove their oxen until their team was tired out, when they left their load and drove them as far as Picket's fallow, where they left them to browse in the yoke, while they made their way to the Forks, with their feet badly frozen. The next day they got my father to go after the cattle and sled. He took me with him. We took a knapsack of corn for the oxen, and victuals for ourselves. The oxen had taken their track and gone back. We followed some three or four miles, and found them feeding on the top of a hill west of Montrose. We then drove on until we found the sled. As it was night, we fed the oxen some eorn, and cut down a hass-wood tree, to which we chained them. We prepared for the night by huilding a fire and getting some hemlock boughs to make a bed of. It snowed all night. The next day we re- turned.

"One of the oxen with which my father moved in died the next spring ; and he made a short yoke, in which he worked the remaining ox by his side of his borse. He drove them the same as he did the oxen, witbout reins. For two years it was the fancy team in that region.

"There was plenty of game in the woods and trout in the creeks. We could kill a deer or catch a mess of fish any day. Bears, wolves and panthers were often killed."

Silas Beardsley also came from Connecticut and lived at the "Forks," a short time before moving to a farm on the North Branch (in Middletown), a short distance above where An- drew Canfield settled.

In 1798 Colonel Ezekiel Hyde was at this point, and was engaged in surveying and selling lots under the Connecticut title in " Rindaw " and "Usher," the west line of the latter town being between the farms of Metcalf and Hyde. He was styled the Yankee leader, and through his influence many Eastern people bought lands whose title was afterwards pronounced invalid. Before 1803 he removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he was the postmaster in 1804, and the fol- lowing year died. Captain Jabez Hyde, a near relative of the foregoing, began improving the farm east of Isaac Brownson in 1799, although his son, Jabez, Jr., may have been here a little earlier. Stephen Hyde, another son, was acci- dentally and fatally shot while hunting, by Horace Dimock, in the summer of 1811 or 1812. The elections were held at this place in 1804 and for many years, when the property of Jabez Hyde, Jr., commonly called Judge Hyde, it was one of the best known land-marks along the creek.

439

RUSH.

In 1811, Jabez Hyde, Jr., was elected sheriff of Luzerne, under circumstances which showed the strong hold he had on the public confidence. In 1814 he was in the Legislature; and two years later, on the election of Dr. Charles Fraser to the Senate, he was appointed by Governor Snyder to take his place as prothonotary, register, recorder and clerk of Susquehanna County. These offices he held until 1820. The next year he was again elected to the Legisla- ture, and in 1823 was appointed one of the three commissioners for expending fifty thousand dollars in improving the navigation of the Sus- quehanna River. He was a delegate to the State Convention for altering the Constitution. After the revision he was appointed by Gover- nor Porter to the bench of Susquehanna County. Perseverance was strongly characteristic of Judge Hyde. Few men have, in times of political excitement, held so many important trusts, and had so universally the esteem of their fellow-citizens for strict high-minded in- tegrity. He died at his residence, in Rush, October 8, 1841, aged sixty-six years, and was buried on his farm ; all of his descendants have removed from the county. Since that time the farm has had many owners, and not one of the Hyde buildings remain. Here lived for a number of years Chandler Bixby, who removed to Delhi, N. Y. John Bradshaw was a later owner, and the present occupant is Lafayette Palmer.

Joab Pickett first settled in Rush. He built a log cabin containing one room on the Wyalusing flat, just north of the present Wyalusing bridge. He was a man of considerable prominence in the pioneer days of the township. He resisted the Pennsylvania title so stoutly, and stirred up such a feeling against Bartlet Hinds for hav- ing abandoned the Connecticut claimants, that it led to a use of fire-arms and a mob assault upon Hinds, sometimes called Pickett's war, for which opposition he was arrested and tried in 1808. The court fined him thirty dollars and cost of prosecution. The decision in this case and Dr. Rose's judicious conduct quieted the people, but it did not convince them ; and even to this day there are residents here who believe that the Connecticut claimants should have re-

sisted more stoutly than they did. He held several town offices, and resided at the time of his death in what is now Jessup township. His chil- dren by his first wife were Samucl, who lived in Rush, and Shelden, who never came here. His second wife was Mary, daughter of Captain James Turrell, of New Milford, Conn. They both died the same morning, May, 1832, both aged sixty-one, and were buried in the same grave in the cemetery near Bolles' school-house. Their children were Daniel, Charles Miner, Orrin, Anson, Almon and Polly. Daniel mar- ried Hannah Bolles, daughter of Robinson Bolles, the man that shot a rifle ball near the Pennsylvania surveyor's hand. He cleared up the place now owned by William Hart, in Jes- sup. He was justice of the peace many years, and one of the early members of the Rush Baptist Church. He died December 9, 1876, aged seventy-two. His children were Julia, wife of L. C. Day, a farmer in Bridgewater ; Maria, wife of John Kurcuff, of Rush ; Lyman B., millwright, recently moved to Montrose. Charles M. Pickett was the first white child born in Rush. He made his first clearing and built a cabin on the farm now owned by L. B. Pickett, in Jessup. Orrin became blind, but could make as good shingles and baskets as any one that ever lived in the township. Anson was a carpenter and died in Carbondale. Almon was a merchant in Rush for many years; his wife was a sister of H. H. Gray. He afterwards removed to Laceyville and engaged in mercantile business there ; two of his chil- dren are there now. Polly, the only daughter of Captain Pickett, married Alanson Lung, a farmer in Rush. Augustus H. Lung, one of their sons, has a remarkable history. He took his first lessons on a flat rock for a school- house. On this solid foundation he, with five or six others sitting around on the edge of the rock, with their feet hanging off the sides, and the teacher in the centre,-here young Lung learned his A B C's, and had his interest so aroused that he thought he must know more of books. He began to urge his father to send him to school, but his father had no proper ap- preciation of his yearnings and finally became so vexed with his importunities that he took

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

him by the coat collar one day, led him to the door and kicked him out of the house, and told him never to darken his doors again. Angus- tus was thirteen years old at that time and had just thirteen cents in his pocket. He followed up the Wyalusing Creek until he came to Dea- con Meacham's. The deacon was a close man, but had a heart that beat in sympathy for any human being in distress, and as the boy looked up into the deacon's face and asked him to lend him twenty dollars, he won his confidence so that he lent liim the money and took his note. He went to Harford school and chopped wood, studying with the book on one end of the log and keeping well up with his classes. At the end of the term lie had twenty dollars in his pocket. The next year he bought the wood there was on an acre of ground near the school and hired other boys to assist him in chopping wood. They all made something, but young Lung saved one hundred dollars. He had been converted when eleven years old, and baptized by Elder Dimock. He taught school two years, entered Lewisburg College, and was graduated in 1853, Deacon Meacham still con- tinuing his patron, supplying him with money, which he afterwards repaid. He entered the Theological Seminary at Rochester and was graduated in 1855. In 1857 he became pastor of the Canandaigua Baptist Church, and was ordained in August. He was chaplain of the Thirty-third Regiment New York Volunteers from 1862 until the regiment was mustered out. He subsequently preached at Germantown, Pa., and Camden, N. J., with success, having bap- tized seven hundred and twelve persons. He was a trustee of Lewisburg University and the South Jersey Institute, also a member of the board of managers of the New Jersey Baptist Education Society and the American Baptist Historical Society. While he was prospering his father failed, and his property was sold by the sheriff. He went to Towanda and saw C. L. Ward, Esq., who had charge of the matter, and redcemed the property, saving the home from which he had been expelled, to his parents as long as they lived. Rev. Mr. Lung mar- ried an estimable lady and left a family. He died recently.

Captain Joab Pickett built the first saw-mill in the township, at his place on the Wyalusing, and varied his work on the mill and farm by hunting, being very skillful in the use of the rifle. Charles Miner styled him the famous " painter " hunter. In 1818 his Rush farm passed into the hands of William Ross, and later became widely known as the Snyder place. On the next " flat " above, where is now Rush village, Nathan Tupper and William Lathrop1 settled in 1799. They came with Ebenezer Whipple and other settlers in Jessup from Unadilla, N. Y., and, being the first in this part of the township, had to cut their roads quite a distance. Lathrop located at the mouth of Lake Creek, where he built a cabin which had for some time no other door than a blanket hung across the opening, and at night he had to pile up wood to keep the wolves out. He subsequently made a good farm at that point, and lived here until his death, in 1865, almost ninety years old. He was one of the first dea- cons of the Rush Baptist Church, and his son William, who was the first clerk, afterwards became a minister in that denomination. Wil- liam's son Daniel D. was the first court stenog- rapher at Montrose, and held the position four years. He is also a surveyor. Another son of the original family, Nelson, remained in the county, but eight of the ten children removed. A daughter married Ebenezer Pickett, Jr., a brother of Joab, and settled in Jessup. He came to the county in 1806 with his father, Ebenezer, and died on the farm next below the Bolles School-house in 1867, in his eighty-first year.

1 Rev. John Lathrop was the first of the Lathrop family in this coun- try from whom the Lathrops in Susquehanna County are descended. He was graduated at Oxford, and hecame a clergyman in the Episcopal Church, aud was located at Egerton, Kent County, England. It was at a time in the history of the English Church when Bishop Laud and others were preaching the divine right of kings, and persecuting all who did not accept of their views. Mr. Lathrop was too independent to submit to such teachings, and he renounced his Episcopal orders in 1624 and succeeded Henry Jacoh as pastor of the First Independent Church at Southwark, London, established in 1616. This church was discovered April 29, 1632, and, with the exception of eighteen who escaped, all were imprisoned for non-conformity. After two years' imprisoninent, they were all released on hail, excepting their pastor. Bishop Laud refused all liherty to him, except to pray at the hedside of his dying wife. He finally petitioned Charles I. for liherty to leave the kingdom, which was granted him on condition " that he would hetake himself to the ends of the earth, never more to lift his voice for his master within the realms of England." He came to America in 1634 with his family, two brothers or cousins, and about thirty of his congregation.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 82

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