Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 87

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

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

APOLACON TOWNSHIP.

APOLACON was the twenty-fifth township erected, and was formed in pursuance of an or- der of the court, bearing date November 27, 1846, to embrace nine-sixteenths of the area of Choconut. Its eastern line was thus located four and a half miles from the Bradford County line, and extending from north to south six miles, giving the new township the ex- treme northwestern corner of the county. It derived its name from the creek which cuts diagonally through the township, in a north- western course, and which is, also, its principal stream. The Indian term for this was Appela- cunck, signifying " From whence the messenger comes," and it has also been written as Apala- chin, that form of the name being still retained in New York to designate a village at the mouth of the stream, where it empties into the Susquehanna River. The general surface of the township is very hilly, varied only by the small vales along the streams and the marshy plateau in the southwestern part of the town- ship, known in early times as the Big Meadow. The waters here drain into a small lake, cx- tending into Bradford County, which has for its outlet the Wappasening Creck, flowing southwest. On the same plateau, less than two miles directly east, is Carmalt or Wyalusing Lake, a fine sheet of water, whose drainage is southward through Wyalusing Creek. Below this level, still farther castward, is the small divide separating the sources of the North

Branch of the Wyalusing and the Apolacon, which are but a few rods apart, the waters flow- ing in almost opposite directions. One of the sources of the Apolacon is in Bear Swamp, in the same locality, which is a marshy piece of land, covered with a dense growth of timber, which causes it to differ from the lakes of this section, a small part only being wholly covered with water. Before passing out of the town- ship the Apolacon passes through a low piece of land, from which the timber had been cut by beavers in constructing a dam across the creek. These openings in the woods, and the flat nature of the land caused this locality to be called Little Meadows, a term which has been applied to the borough on this tract. It was here that the first improvements were made by the white settlers. Almost environing this place are a number of symmetrical hills, which do not have any of the marked features of Briar Hill, the highest elevation in the town- ship. Along Apolacon Creek are small salt springs ; and on the hillsides evidences of coal and other minerals have been discovered, but have not been prospected enough to determine whether they abound in paying quantities. An attempt to find petroleum at Bear Swamp was abandoned, after drilling several hundred feet, without satisfying those engaged in tlie enter- prise that no oil abounds. These conditions, and the consequent abundance of game in primeval times, caused the township to be a favorite resort of the Indians, and many of their relics have been found.

"Relics of Indians were found near where the beavers built their dam. Arrow-heads, of various sizes, made of flint-stone, were found in considerable quantities ; also, stones of exquisite workmanship, the use of which is not known. One was shown to some Indians a few years ago, but they could not tell certainly its use, but suggested that it might have been used on their war-clubs. The stone itself was peculiar-of a kind not found in this section of country. One end was worked to a very fine edge, and flat ; the other was round, and very nicely polished. These stones were of various sizes, ranging from three to six inches in length, and from two to three inches wide on the edge. A few pieces of pot- tery, made apparently of coarse sand, were also found in the vicinity, generally five or six inches under ground.

" In cutting down maple trees, the early settlers dis-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

covered indications of their having been tapped many times in former years. Evidently the locality had been a resort of the Indians in the spring for making sugar, and in the winter for killing beaver."1

While a part of Luzerne County, this section was included in Tioga township, in that county, and so continued until it became a part of Rush, in 1801. The latter relation was sustained until Choconut was formed, in 1814. In the first assessment roll of Tioga township, in 1796, Francis Johnson was taxed for lands on the Appalacunek Creek, joining the boundary line ; but as only unseated lands were mentioned in 1799, it is probable that no settlement was made prior to that period.

THE SETTLERS .- No settlement appears to have been made until 1800. That year David Barney came from Broome County, N. Y., and located on a tract of land at what is now Little Meadows, purchasing the same of Tench Francis. He was a native of New Hampshire, but had left that State for New York in 1784. For at least four years he was the only white settler in the northwestern part of the county. The Indians had removed from this section, but occasionally returned to hunt along the creek. One of these, named Nicholas, sustained friendly relations towards Mr. Barney, and sometimes accompanied him in his hunting expe- ditions. This dusky warrior subsequently met a tragic death, as related by Harry Barnes,-

" It was the rule or law among the Indians, that it an Indian married a second squaw, the children of the latter inherited all his property. Nicholas moved from the river, about the time my father settled here, to the home of the Oneidas. Not long after, his squaw, finding she must die soon from consumption, poisoned him to death, that her children might in- herit his property. Thus ended the life of the last Indian known to have inhabited this part of the country."

Of the children of David Barney, Darius, the oldest, was born in 1801; Jonathan in 1809; and Harry in 1811. The latter lived for many years on part of the homestead, keep- ing a public-house. In later years David, another son, was born, and there were five daughters. Three of these married Richard

Collins, Jotham Rounds and Levi Jones. David Barney, the elder, was a great hunter, and it was his skill which relieved the suffering of many families in the pinching times of 1816, when he supplied them with game. His neigh- bors frequently worked for him on his farm while he hunted venison and kept them from starvation. He died March 27, 1852, in his seventy-seventh year, his wife, February 20, 1843, in her sixty-second year.

Benaiah Barney, a brother of David, came about 1806. Five years later he erected the first grist-mill in the township, while David Barney had a saw-mill near his house a few year after. Benaiah Barney removed to In- diana with his family, and but few of the de- scendants of David remained until recent years outside of Little Meadows.

In 1805 Joseph Beebe came from Dutchess County, N. Y., and settled on the farm now owned by M. Heffron, below Bear Swamp. The improvements he made were three miles from any other settlement. His first house stood on the hillside, at the forks of the road, and after the completion of the Owego turn- pike served as a place for changing stage-horses. Here travelers were also entertained. Later he built the red house by the creek, which is one of the oldest land-marks in the township. On the 19th of October, 1809, he married Eunice Beardslee, which was the first marriage in the township. Thirteen of their children attained mature years. Of these, Reuben, a son, after- wards occupied the homestead, but moved to New York, where both he and his father died. Another son, Lewis, moved to Middletown.

Reuben Beebe, the father of Joseph, who had been a Revolutionary soldier, settled at Little Meadows in the early part of 1807. The same year Xenia, his wife, died,-the first death in the place. Joel Beebe, a son, came to the vil- lage about the same time.

Belden Read came to Little Meadows about the same year, and engaged in operating a saw- mill until his removal, in 1821. John Ander- son was also here prior to 1813, his place pass- ing to James House.

In 1812 the Barton family came from Dutchess County and settled in the vicinity of

1 Miss Blackman.

465

APOLACON.

Little Meadows. William Barton improved a place about a mile above Barney's, where lie died in 1856, and the homestead is still occu- picd by his son, Lewis W. Barton. A brother of William, Lewis, lived on the farm next be- low, where he died in 1852. His sons were Jacob and Edward Barton, both deceased. David Barton made an improvement on the creek at a later period ; and John Brown lo- cated on the Hickey place above Barton's, about 1813. In the same period came Calvin Drake, Jolın Smith, Charles Nichols and the Buffums,-Benjamin and Robert,-locating along the creek, some removing before many years.

In 1814 Asahel Groves, a blacksmith, came and occupied the place on which had been Cal- vin Drake, who moved to New York; and Caleb Brainerd came the same year, remaining a citizen of the township until his death, in 1849.

In 1815 J. Clifford, David Pulcipher and Winthrop Collins, Sr., were added to the set- tlers. The latter's son, Winthrop Collins, Jr., removed in 1826, but the father remained in the township until his death, in 1828.

In 1816 a number of settlers took up lands in the township, among them David Carrier, John Fessenden, Sr., Noalı and William Hough- ton, Hugh and Abraham Whittaker. The lat- ter two finally lived just across the line, in Bradford County.

James House came the same year and lived at Little Meadows. He had three sons,- Ezekiel, William and Royal E. William House removed to New Jersey, and he was the father of Hon. William A. House, of that State. Royal E., the youngest, was but six months old when his father moved from Vermont, and early displayed the inventive genius which, in later life, gave him so much distinction. " He was accustomed to experiment in childhood. Once having caught a toad, lic skinned it, placed a set of springs in the skin and made it hop." He is best known as the inventor of the " print- ing telegraphı." From Little Meadows lie re- moved to the vicinity of Binghamton, having a residence high up the side of House's Hill.

In 1817 came John Ayer, Abiel Bailey, the 293

Healds, Stephen I. Jewitt, Nathaniel and Silas Balcom and Moses Buffum. The latter re- moved to Bradford County, after a residence here of seven years, and, in 1824, his farm passed into the hands of O. B. Haight, who came that year. While living in Apolacon, Buffum was taxed witlı " one negro slave." Alfred Heald lived on the turnpike, near Friendsville, where he died in December, 1835, aged forty-one years.

Silas Beardslce settled in Middletown, but after his death his widow and her son, Silas, came to Apolacon, about 1822, and located on a farm two and a half miles south of Little Meadows. Silas Beardslee has lived in Little Meadows since 1853, and is the father of E. B. Beardslee, of that village ..

" The first thoroughly educated man who settled in Apolacon was Samuel Milligan. In 1820 he was taxed for three thousand acres. Hc was born in Philadelphia April 18, 1789 ; graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, at the age of seventeen ; studied law in compliance with the wishes of his family, and practiced at the Philadelphia bar, acting for some years as the attorney for the Bingham estate. He was persuaded to buy lands in Susquehanna County, thus relinquishing the law, which was never the pro- fession of his choicc. He bought a large tract in the then township of Choconut, and entered largely into farming.

" He moved to Ellerslie in the summer of 1821, and became heartily devoted to the interests of his new home. Ellerslie was on a ridge dividing the town- ships of Choconut and Apolacon, when the latter was erected. The house was built in the English style, with arched windows, and occupied considerable ground ; it has since been divided, and a part moved away.

" Mr. Milligan was appointed justice of the peace (of Choconut, inclusive of Apolacon) at the earnest solicitation of his neighbors, and afterwards town clerk, which latter office he held again and again, to the great accommodation of the township.

" In 1830, Ellerslie post-office was established,' S. Milligan, postmaster ; and although it paid expenses, his own mail was often all the bag contained.

"He was an ardent Whig, and by his personal in- fluence and writings he contributed much to the cause, particularly in the fall of 1832, when by his writings lie was said to have caused a great change in sentiment throughout the country. Although all his life interested in politics, he never wished to enter into the excitement of political life or to accept office save in the service of the county, for whose benefit he labored.

466

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

"In 1832 he actively advocated the construction of a railroad to connect Owego with the Lackawanna coal-field by the way of Apolacon Creek, etc. [See Roads.]

"In 1842 Mr. Milligan was again urged to accept a nomination as justice of the peace, which he re- peatedly refused, but finally accepted on the grounds, as his friends insisted, that no other Whig could gain the election (the township being Democratic), and he was elected. He was a man of strict integrity, of fine talents and extensive reading. He was one of the first promoters and directors of public schools; and so earnest was he that all should be benefited, that when, by his entreaties, he failed to get the consent of the people to send their children to school, he ap- pealed to their priest to require it of them. His zeal was equally great for good roads throughout the town- ship. At one time, losing all patience on account of a bad piece of road near his house, he requested his friends to make him supervisor, which they did, and thus the roads were put in order.

" He was largely instrumental in building the Presbyterian Church at Friendsville, of which he was an elder and trustee.

"In 1847, at the earnest wish of his family to re- turn to the old homestead, he removed to Phoenix- ville, Chester County. In the latter place he was again active in building a Presbyterian Church, in which he served as elder and trustce until his death, April 24, 1854." 1

In 1825 a man named Hugh Bois settled in the northeastern part of the township, building a shanty and making some other slight im- provements, but did not remain long. From his residence the swamp at that place was named, though often incorrectly written as one word, Hubois.

In 1828 Caleb Carmalt purchased nearly all of Dr. Rose's unseated lands in the present township of Apolacon, and large tracts are still owned by the heirs of that family. On a farm at Wyalusing Lake lived his eldest son, Samuel Fisher Carmalt, who had greatly interested himself in the affairs of the township, and whose early death was felt to be a serious loss to the agriculturists of the county. West from this lake is the Welsh settlement, and Evan Evans and John Jones, of that nationality, were early settlers in that part extending into Apolacon township.

Miss Blackman states that Edward and Patrick O'Shaughnessy were the first Irishinen

to settle in Apolacon, coming about 1831. Since that time large numbers have come in, and the present inhabitants of the township are nearly all Irish or of Irish descent. They own the best improved farms, and have manifested a commendable interest in the affairs of the township. The names of these later settlers (some of whom hewed out their own farms, while many others occupy the lands which had been improved by the settlers above noted, or their descendants) appear in the following list of taxables, after the township was set off from Choconut. It will be seen that the list contains the names of a considerable number of original settlers, but in the list of 1886 only a few of these names can be found.

TAXABLES OF 1847 .- Isaac Ayer, Walter B. Arnold, David Buffum, Charles Buffum, Avery Beehe, Lewis Beebe, Joseph Beebe, David Bar- ney, Jonathan Barney, Harry Barney, Lewis Bartou, William Barton, Edward Barton, HI. Barton, John Bruff, Rowland Baxton, Caleh Brainerd, Erastus Brainerd, Silas Beardslee, Henry Cox, John Cum- mins, Richard Collins, M. Collins, Jeremiah Cornelia, Timothy Croning, Plant Clifford, John Clifford, Richard Clifford, Peter Clifford, Denuis Conklin, Michael Conklin, Jeremiah Conklin, John Cain, David Carrier, Thomas Clavy, Edward Cransie, John Cnrley, Jobn H. Curley, Cornelius Curley, Bridget Cary, Michael Cunningham, Patrick Cunningham, Canfield Dayton, Timothy Daley, Thomas Daude, James Dounelly, Ezekiel Daniel, John Dugan, Geo. W. Dickerson, Israel Evans, Ansel Fox, Terrence Fehan, Johnson Foster, John Foster, Orlando Foster, Wm. W. Fooks, John Fessenden, Chester Fessenden, Thomas Fallohe, Thomas Greehan, Thomas Greehan, Jr., John Gardner, Timothy Griffin, Patrick Green, James Goff, Patrick Garvey, Asahel Graves, Edward Heald, John Hardin, John Hickey, James Hickey, John Halpin, Daniel Heal, John Hand, Wm. Hand, Wm. Haughton, Wm. Honse, Ezekiel House, James House, O. B. Haiglit, John Joues, Edward Kimball, Howard Kimball, Martin Lahan, James Laban, John Lahan, John Matthews, Samuel Milligan, James McMann, Patrick Moran, Stephen B. Mead, Barney McSherrer, John McGrath, Abraham Northrop, Pat- rick Neville, Michael Nolan, Patrick O'Shanghnessy, Perry Pierce, Susan Peironnet, David Robbe, Wm. Robhe, Peter Rearden, Thomas Rearden, Cornelius Ragan, Willianı Ragan, John Ragan, Levi Ring, Jesse Ring, Daniel Ring, Ricbard Ring, Patrick Ryau, Jeremiah Ryan, Thomas Rooney, Michael Rooney, Garrard Shanghussy, Michael Shaug- hnssy, Patrick Sbaughussy, Win. Steamburgh, Patrick Skelley, Timothy Sullivan, Joseph Siddels, Charles Tooker, James Tucker, Simeon Wil- liams, Natlian West, Alfred T. Wilson, Henry Whittaker, Patrick Welsh.

LITTLE MEADOWS BOROUGH .- This borough has a pleasant location on both sides of the Apolacon Creek, in the extreme northwest of Apolacon township. It is seven miles distant from Friendsville and about the same distance from Campville, the nearest shipping point on the Erie Railroad, in the State of New York. It has two churches, a school-house, two taverns, three stores, half a dozen manufacturing estab- lishments and several dozen residences. Many of the latter are new and have attractive archi- tecture. The village is a good business point,

1 Miss Blackman's " History."

467

APOLACON.

and the thrift and enterprise of its inhabitants is apparent in the well-kept appearance of the place. At this point were some of the earliest settlements in this part of the county, as is related in the annals of Apolacon township, and the locality was early called Little Meadows from the small openings along the creek. Though a village for more than half a century, its principal growth has taken place within the past ten years, being stimulated by the promise of a railroad which has not yet been built.

General Interests .- The ordinary agri- cultural pursuits engage the attention of the people of Apolacon almost exclusively. What- ever business interests in the way of trade and manufacturing have been created have been con- centrated in the borough of Friendsville and Little Meadows, where they are separately detailed. For a short time only was a store kept about two miles above the latter village by William Buffum, Cornelius Donnelly and others, and in 1857 the Little Meadows post-office was kept there a few months. On the Owego turnpike, where it crosses Bear Swamp, George Dickerson had a public-house, whichi was a noted landmark in those days. In 1850 it became the property of Hiram Cook and after having had many owners was burned down. On the hill towards Friendsville was the stage- house kept by Widow Lucy Hale. Here horses were changed both going and coming from Owego, a stable of eight horses being usually kept.

Some parts of the township appear to be especially well adapted for fruit culture, and fine orchards may be found. In 1869 Patrick Harding raised an apple of the ox-heart species which measured fourteen and seven-eighth inches in circumference, and weighed one pound and seven ounces.

Jolin Ragan, an Irishman of the township, retained his vigor until he was more than one hundred and four years old.

The Incorporation .- As early as 1856 an effort was made to secure corporate privileges for the village, and in November of that year the County Court was petitioned to erect the borough of Little Meadows, one and three- quarters miles square. Its decision in favor of

the petitioners was reversed by the Supreme Court the following year, on account of the extensive area. In August, 1859, a decree of incorporation was again allowed by the lower court, which was passed on adversely by the Supreme Court. It was not until the Legis- lature passed a special act, March 27, 1862, that Little Meadows was privileged to become a borough. Its bounds as fixed by the act have been unchanged and are as follows: Eastward, along the State line, five hundred and sixty rods, thence south four hundred rods, thence west to a point on the Bradford County line, four hundred and thirty rods south of the place of beginning.

At the first election, in May, 1862, the follow- ing were elected :

Burgess, Wm. A. House ; Councilmen, E. B. Beardslee, Darius Barney, H. P. Kimball, Jolın Kimball; Street Commissioner, Avery Beebe ; Clerk, H. P. Kimball.

Since that period the following have been the burgesses and the clerks :

1863, D. R. Garfield, Harry Barney ; 1864, Wm. A. House, Harry Barney ; 1865-67, Harry Barney, E. B. Beardslee ; 1868, Harry Barney, James H. Fox ; 1869, Silas Beardslee, D. R. Garfield; 1870-71, Harry Barney, J. T. Woolhiser ; 1872, Martin Newman, J. M. Newman ; 1873- 75, Oliver James, Martin Newman ; 1875, Oliver James, S. A. Pitcher ; 1876, P. Hinds, L. W. Borton ; 1877, J. Barney, L. W. Borton ; 1878, S. A. Pitcher, I. R. Beardslee ; 1879, Bela Fairchild, I. R. Beardslee ; 1880-82, T. W. Tinker, I. R. Beardslee ; 1883, Oliver James, O. E. May- hew ; 1884, John Beardslee, O. E. Mayhew ; 1885, Oliver James, I. R Beardslee ; 1886, T. W. Tinker, I. R. Beardslee.

The borough polls about fifty votes and has been materially benefited by exercising its privileges, its streets being much improved and the standard of the school elevated.

Business Interests .- Wm. Dobson had one of the first, if uot the first, stores in the village, near where E. B. Beardslee built the first regu- lar store, in 1857, and where he has since traded. Ten years later D. R. Garfield opened a shoe- store, and other branchies of the trade were ad- ded, the store being kept at present by C. M. Garfield. A third good store was opened in 1882 by T. W. Tinker. Before 1860, Harry Barney sold goods in a small way at his temper- ance hotel, which has been opened for the enter- tainment of the public the past twenty-five years, the present proprietor being J. A. Bangs. In 1870 a second public-house was built by Mar- tin Newman, where P. F. Boland lias served as a landlord since November, 1886.

468

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Little Meadows post-office was established Feb- ruary 22, 1834, William Dobson first post master. He was succeeded, May 17, 1834, by Darius Barney, followed by Harry Barney, 1840 ; Jonathan Barney, 1843; Mary Barney, 1848 ; Isaac Ayer, 1849 ; Harry Barney, 1853; William Buffum, 1856; Patrick Smullan, 1857; Edward B. Beardslee, 1861 ; Irwin R. Beardslee, 1870; Patrick R. Brennan, 1885.

Dr. P. R. Brennan is the only resident phy- sician, having been in practice since August, 1882. Other practitioners in the village have been Doctors Ezekiel Daniels, W. L. Claggett, Jonathan Barney, A. H. Bolles, J. M. Harding, Geo. W. Beach, Jr., M. Newman and Geo. Hast- ings.

In 1811 Benaiah Barney crected a grist-mill at Little Meadows, the first improvement of the kind in these parts. Its capacity was quite small, but the mill was used many years, having as later owners Edward Hazzard and William House. While owned by the latter, Royal House used some of the water-power to operate wood- working machinery, to make wash-tubs and pails. Later he had a small shop farther up the village. George Palmer became the owner of the mill, but sold out, in 1877, to Frank O. Pal- mer, the present proprietor. He supplied new machinery and, in 1880, added steam-power to operate both saw and grist-mills. In 1884 he put in planing machinery, and has since oper- ated on an extensive scale, employing twelve men.

In the lower part of the village David Bar- ney and Belden Read got a saw-mill in opera- tion in 1816, but five years later the latter re- moved to Indiana and Barney alone carried on the mill. After 1845 Nathaniel Deuel was the owner of the property, which has been aban- doned. Near by was a carding-mill, which has been removed, and a part of the site was used, in 1883, by Ward Dcuel for a large creamery. It is a three-story structure, forty by forty-eight feet, and is supplied with power from a large engine, located between that building and a saw- mill, twenty-four by sixty feet, which has a cut- ting capacity of ten thousand feet per day. Both the mill and the creamcry are the proper- ty of Ward Deuel, and are supplied with fine machinery, the creamery using the milk of nine !

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 87

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