Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 92

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

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and the general manager of the Wayne Chemical Company, with the works at or near Equinunk, in Wayne County, Pa. In 1884 Chester Wright mar- ried, for his second wife, Ruth S. Birchard.

His political affiliations have been with the Repub- lican party, and he has served his town as school di- rector and justice of the peace. He is a dcacon in the Forest Lake Baptist Church.

WILLIAM S. HARVEY .- In 1830 there might have been seen on the streets of New York City three young men, who had just landed from Staffordshire, Eng- land, after a sea voyage of eight weeks, and had come here to try their fortunes among strangers, in a strange land, with barely enough money to pay their passage, and only known among themselves. They crossed the city, the Hudson, and reached Jersey. There they met one George Walker, now a well-known resident of Dimock township, who kindly offered them a ride to Montrose, whither he was coming. The journey took one week, and the reader may well imagine the thoughts of these brawny young Englishmen as hill succeeded hill, valley followed valley, and as stream after stream was crossed; finally, after a tedious jour- ney to reach Susquehanna County, then largely a wilderness. One was William Archer, now a resi- dent of Ararat. A second was George Brown, who settled in Forest Lake and gained a good competence. The third was William S. Harvey, who was born in Staffordshire, England, July 12, 1812. Upon reach- ing here he hired to Hiram Allen, of Forest Lake, by the month, and for two years worked at farming. In 1832 he married Mary B. Patch, who was born in Rutland, Vt., February 14, 1809, a woman of marked intelligence and Christian character, whose parents, John A. Patch (1784-1840) and Polly (Brown) Patch, had settled in Middletown, now Forest Lake, from Vermont, in 1817, the latter of whom was a devoted member of the Middletown Baptist Church. The same year of his marriage William Harvey bought fifty acres of woodland, a part of his present farm, for five dollars per acre, of Caleb Carmalt, for whom he superintended farm work for three years, and with his earnings paid for his land. This couple occupied the log shanty then on the place until 1840, when they built their present residence. A bill of their dishes and house goods was purchased that year of G. G. Mulford, then a merchant at Montrose, and tlie full amount of the same, as shown by Mrs. Harvey in 1886, is $7.02. Thus they began life. Mr. Harvey cleared off the forest trees from his farm and brought its fields into a good state of cultivation, and has since added contiguous land by purchase, and owns one hundred and seventy-six acres, of which he has cleared one hundred and twenty-five acres, besides clearing con- siderable for others. His friend, George Brown, set- tled on a farm near him, and lived until 1886. Mr. Harvey has been a man of great industry, and has been known all his life as a man of strict integrity in all business matters. He has served as supervisor

FOREST LAKE.

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and postmaster of his township, and was elected on farmer in Bradford County ; Joseph, 1822; Malvina M., resides in Forest Lake ; Judge Benjamin L. read law with Benjamin S. Bentley, at Montrose, practiced in Chicago, but afterwards settled at Mount Carroll, Ill., where he has been judge of Carroll County for twenty years ; Jesse (1831-56). John Patch resided most of the time near Fairdale, in Forest Lake, but died on the farm owned by Abner Griffis, and both himself and wife were buried at Forest Lake. the Democratic ticket. Both himself and wife are members of the Middletown Baptist Church. Before railroads were built himself and wife made a trip to Vermont, with team and lumber wagon, and were absent two months, taking one week each way to make the journey, where they visited her relations and old friends. They relate this as among their happiest experiences. In 1858 Mr. Harvey crossed the ocean and visited his mother, WILLIAM BOOTH .- The Booth homestead in Pen- trich, Derbyshire, England, on the estate of the Duke Anna (Simms) Harvey, then seventy-six years old, who died in 1869. His father, George, died when I of Devonshire, is now occupied by a member of the

WILLIAM S. HARVEY.

William was a small boy. One brother, George, a farmer in Rush, came here in 1853. Upon returning from England he brought back with him his brother's son, William (1845-73), who married Ella Pickett, who bore him two chil- dren,-Cyril W., now residing with his great-uncle, William S. Harvey; and Leland, who lives with her mother, who, after her husband's death, married Al. Stocker, and resides in Jamestown, N. Y.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey have also reared Caroline Horton, now Mrs. Patrick Dailey, residing near them. They have no children of their own. The chil- dren of John A. Patch are, Mary B. (Mrs. Harvey) ; Marsena J., born in 1811, resides in Illinois ; Lorinda, 1812, widow of George W. Roberts, of Auburn town- ship; Isaac C., 1818, of California ; James E., 1820,

fourth generation of this family. William was suc- ceeded by his son William, and this William suc- ceeded by his son Hugh Booth, whose son Ferdinand is now in possession. Hugh Booth married Ann Wagstaff, a native of the same place, and both died on this homestead after rearing a large family of chil- dren, as follows : Ferdinand, the eldest, succeeded to the homestead; George, died young; William, born September 14, 1811 ; Isaac, deceased; Abraham and Selathael, stockmen in Australia ; Robert, a ser- geant in the British army, served his time, went to Australia, but returned and died at home ; and Gerry Booth, an engineer on a railroad in Australia. Of these, William Booth remained at school until he was fourteen years of age, which was followed by three years at farm work. At the age of seventeen he

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was apprenticed to learn the milling business, and served until he reached his majority. He then worked as a journeyman at his trade for the following ten years, and laid aside a snug little sum of money during this time In 1837 he married Hannah (1812- 78), a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Grundy) Wheat- croft, a native of Crich, Derbyshire. In 1842, with his wife and two children, Thomas and Robert, he crossed the ocean, taking six weeks and two days for the passage, and landed in New York June 2d, of that summer. Of his ten years' earnings since becoming of age, he had then, twenty pounds left. Mr. Bootlı

homes for their children. His life has been one of constant activity and usefulness, and, although sev- enty-five years of age, he possesses a strong physique, quick perception of mind and sound judgment. His sterling integrity and honesty of purpose in life have won the confidence of all who know him, and the practical ideas imparted to his sons, while in their minority, have made them among the active business men of the township. His wife, a woman of great moral worth and Christian excellence, was a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Booth allied himself to the Republican party, and stands firmly intrenched

Loan Boote

at once came to Forest Lake township and settled at the corners, in the old " West " house. The first sea- son he worked for Joel Turrell on a farm, and for fourteen years following as a journeyman miller at Wysox, Sugar Creek, and in Wright's mill at Forest Lake. In 1856 he purchased ninety-nine acres of land, his present homestead, at Forest Lake, to which he subsequently added ninety-two acres more, and he has erected most of the buildings on his place. Mr. Booth belongs to that class of sturdy men who, by self-reliance, industry and judicious management, carve out a competence for themselves and make

in its principles. His eldest son, Thomas, born in 1839, married Almira Harvey, and has a family. He rebuilt the old saw-mill once owned by the late Au- gustus Tilden, a little south of Forest Lake, and, with his brother William, is managing it. Robert, born in 1840, married Matilda McFall. He bought the saw-mill property formerly owned by Jonathan Weston, and manages it and a planing-mill attached thereto. Abraham, born in 1843, resides with his father on the homestead ; William, a twin brother of Abraham, is a partner with Thomas; Elizabeth, born in 1844, wife of Seneca L. Arnold, of Towanda, Pa .;

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FOREST LAKE.

Mary A., 1848, wife of Edwin Baldwin, a farmer in Bridgewater ; Hugh Booth, born in 1850, married Emma Wightman, and resides in Nebraska, near the Dakota line; and Hannah, born in 1853, resides with her father. Thomas and Mary (Grundy) Wheatcroft came to America in 1846, and settled in Forest Lake, where both died.

BUSINESS INTERESTS AND HAMLETS .- The water- power of the Middle Branch was formerly much stronger than at present, and was, in pioneer times, a valuable factor in turning the products of the town- ship into marketable commodities. As early as 1815 Jabez A. Birchard had a small grist-mill and distil- lery on the creek, in the rear of the present Baptist Church, at Birchardville, which was abandoned half a century ago, the water-power becoming too weak. In later years Jesse Burroughs had a saw-mill lower down the stream, which has also passed away. Above Birchardville was a water-power, which was used by Loami Mott to operate carding-machines and a saw- mill, about 1815, and traces of the long raceway may yet be seen, but the machinery has long since been removed. Naturally a few houses and mechanic shops clustered around this place, which became known as Gordonville, from a family by that name living there. It is now sometimes called Fessenden's Corners, for- a similar reason. Higher up the stream was the old Town saw-mill, which is now operated by L. Lincoln. Near here John S. Town has his well-known black- smith-shop, and in this neighborhood was kept the Chase post-office, which took the name of Forest Lake Centre, January 7, 1862, and Phinis N. Deuel was postmistress until it was discontinued, April 24, 1873. It was kept on the site of the W. C. Tilden residence and at the Asa Warner place, having but one mail per week when established with the name of Chase.

Passing up the Middle Branch, no trace of the Warner mill remains, but near the head of the stream, on the lower part of the Turrell farm, a saw- mill is still kept in operation by Randolph Turrell, to which planing machinery has been added in recent years. On this farm is also a "sugar camp," whose equal is not found in this part of the county.

On the stream flowing parallel with Stone Street, William Gaylord Handrick established a tannery in 1819, which he carried on a number of years. He was succeeded by his son, William B., who enlarged the tannery and also put up shops to make boots and shoes. Later a store was opened and much business was here done, the locality being called "Eagle Fac- tory." C. C. Wright succeeded as the owner of the property and introduced steam-power. The tannery is still carried on, the present owner being Edward Gilfoy, but the other interests have been abandoned.

On the outlet of Forest Lake, near that body of water, Robert W. Huddlestone built a small grist- mill about 1830, which he sold some six years later to Brown & Knapp. These disposed of their interest in 1841 to Chauncey Wright, who used some of the

power the following year to operate woolen machin- ery. In 1845 he rebuilt the grist-mill, and owned it until 1868, when his sons, C. and S. B., became the proprietors and so continued until 1878, when M. B. and C. F. Wright became the owners. In 1881 it passed into the hands of W. A. Southwell. In 1861 Wright Brothers & Southwell erected a three-story factory building, thirty-two by eighty feet, which was supplied with machinery for making all kinds of com- mon cloths. Six men were employed and it was suc. cessfully carried on until its destruction by fire, De- cember 20, 1884. Since that time carding only has been carried on, in a small way, by W. A. Southwell. Lower down the stream Isaac West had a saw-mill, which is now operated, in connection with a planer, by Robert Booth; and several miles down Forest Lake Creek Luther Kallum had a saw-mill, which passed into the hands of Jefferson Green and which is now carried on by E. L. Green. In later years a feed- mill was operated in connection, and the power was increased, in 1886, by the addition of a steam-engine. Other small mills on this stream have been aban- doned.

The dairy interests transcend all others in the town- ship. Nearly every farm is devoted to the production of butter or milk, and there are a number of private dairies whose products are eagerly sought in the best markets of the country. One of these, that of Abner Griffis, had at one time one hundred cows. The dairy of C. P. & E. G. Ball, at their "Mountain Home" farm, is noted for its gilt-edge Jersey butter. Nearly all their cows, usually twenty-five in number, are blooded strains of the best milk-producers. The barns on this farm are especially fine. Good dairies are also kept by L. T. Birchard, Lester Turrell, Jefferson Green and H. F. Handrick .. The former has also paid attention to raising sheep of superior breeds and Angora goats.

At the time of the "morus multicaulis" fever, in 1839, Horace Birchard, a resident of Forest Lake, manufactured a superior quality of silk ; he had sev- eral species of the mulberry.

Forest Lake Creamery, on the lake above the ham- let with the same name, was erected in the winter of 1880-81 by the American Dairy Company, B. de Schweinitz, general manager. The building is three stories high, and its dimensions are fifty by eighty feet. The motive-power is steam, and among the machinery are three centrifugal milk separators, whose capacity is fifteen thousand pounds of milk per day. Pure water is supplied from a well seventy- seven feet deep. The value of the plant is seven thousand dollars. The creamery has been liberally patronized, and its products bear a good reputation in the markets in which the company sells its goods.

BIRCHARDVILLE is the largest hamlet in the town- ship. It has a pretty location on the Middle Branch, and contains several stores, a church, public hall and about a score of houses in the immediate locality.

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

It takes its name from the Birchard family, which first settled here, and some of whose members have ever been a part of the population of the place. The Birchardville post-office was established in 1826, and was kept many years at the house of Jabez A. Birch- ard. In 1847 the present post-office was established, with John S. Birchard, postmaster. In 1859 Calvin D. Cobb succeeded him, and, since 1861, Marshall L. Ball has held the office at his store, and the place of business of his successor. This office, like the one at Forest Lake, is supplied with a daily mail from Mont- rose.

Dr. Plant sold the first goods in the hamlet, also practised medicine. A later practitioner was Dr. C. Decker. In 1859 M. L. Ball engaged in trade, and continued until February 10, 1886, when J. D. Kin- ney & Co. succeeded him. The present business- house was erected in 1882. The second good store was opened in the Grange building, in 1876, by P. K. Lyons & Bro. There have been numerous successors, Geo. Buffum being the present occupant of the room. Near by was a public-house, which was destroyed by fire, August 10, 1883, while occupied by A. McLeod. Previous landlords were Albert Perigo and Ezra Rheinvault. The house was first opened some time after the war. In pioneer times Jehiel Warner en- tertained the public, but did not keep a licensed house, his place being several miles above the village.

The Evening Star Lodge, No. 206, F. A. and M., was chartered September 5, 1825, with Wm. C. Turrell, W. M .; Seth Taylor, S. W .; and Jonathan C. Sher- man, J. W. Its meetings were held at the house of Philo Bostwick, on Stone Street, and were continued about two years, when the lodge surrendered its char- ter. A prosperous lodge of Good Templars held its meetings a number of years at Azor Warner's, but could not successfully maintain its organization on account of removal of members.

FOREST LAKE hamlet is on the south and west sides of the lake, whose name it bears, and has a mill, store, church aud about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. Some of the early permanent settlers here were several families bearing the name of West. Knapp and Brown did the first merchandising, before 1840, in a small building near the mill, which after- wards became the Baptist meeting-house. After its discontinuance David L. Mecker sold goods on a small scale. Since 1876 B. T. Glidden has been the mer- chant of the place. Here is kept the Forest Lake post-office, which was established June 11, 1831, with the name of West Bridgewater, Zura L. Doty, post- master. He was succeeded, April 21, 1836, by Eben- ezer Cole, and September 1st, that year, the name was changed to the present title. The successive postmasters have been: 1837, Joseph G. Tibbetts ; 1840, Elisha Griffis; 1841, Preserved Hinds; 1843, Abner Griffis ; 1850, Elisha Griffis; 1861, Seth R. Wright ; 1876, B. T. Glidden ; 1885, Geo. J. Hand- rick, with Glidden as deputy.

Southeast of this place Stephen Bentley has a pub- lic-house, after 1815, aud at a later day, Elisha Griffis entertained travelers on the Owego turnpike. Sub- sequently, Benjamin Clark had an inn where now lives W. Booth, which was kept after his death by his widow. Before the late war Judson Stone opened a public-house a mile north of Forest Lake, which has since been kept by him. He also followed black- smithing and wagon-making, and these trades are still carried on in his shops. In 1880 Charles L. Stone and Charles C. Wells began merchandising in part of the hotel building, but, since 1883, have occu- pied a fine business building on the opposite corner of the roads, which here diverge, having the largest store in the township. This locality is sometimes called Stone's Corners.

EDUCATIONAL .- Some account of the early schools of this township is given in the general chapter on education. Miss Blackman says : "Joseph Backus, of Bridgewater, now over eighty years of age, taught a common school thirty winters in different localities, closing his services thirty years ago in what is known as the Griffis District in Forest Lake." At different periods select schools were taught by W. C. Tilden, Charles Wright, Lottie Stone, Edith Tyler and others. .No permanent academy was ever established.

Forest Luke Library Company .- Realizing the im- portance of providing good reading-matter for the youth of the township, a meeting was held February 7, 1831, at the house of Jehiel Warner, to consider the propriety of establishing a public library. David Bald- win was appointed moderator and John S. Birchard clerk. It was decided to form the Library Company of Middletown by offering membership rights at two dollars and annual dues of twenty-five cents. It was also voted that the library be kept at the house of Jehiel Warner, on account of its central location for those who were expected to patronize it. Some of these lived seven miles distant, but were regular in their demands upon the library for books until the era of newspapers provided other reading-matter. Among the early members of the library company were :

David Baldwin, Jehiel Warner, James E. Kice, Seth Taylor, John S. Birchard, Ira Deuel, Daniel F. Lincoln, Elisha H. Warner, Jesse T. Birohard, William Small, Joel Turrell, Stanley Turrell, Leman M. Tur- rell, Judson Stone, Garrad Stone, Philo Bostwick, Joshua B. Baker, John N. White, Jirah Bryan, Rufus Robbins, John S. Town, Amos Bixby, Edmund T. Locke, Jabez A. Birchard, Samuel West, Asahel W. Birch- ard, Ezra Rice, Ebenezer Cole, Alfred Heald, Jesse A. Birchard, Stephen Smith and Orange Mott.

The society purchased fifty dollars' worth of books, most of them being of a historical nature, and ap- pointed Jehiel Warner librarian. He filled this po- sition until his death, January 14, 1847, when his son, Azor M., became the librarian, also serving until his death, May 26, 1868. Since that time Asa War- ner, the latter's son, has been the custodian of the library, which has been continuously kept in this house since its formation. On the 26th of April,

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FOREST LAKE.

1848, the company became an incorporate body with the present name on the petition of eight members, all of whom gave the library active support at this period. In 1886 the library contained about four hundred volumes of standard books, which are yet read to a limited extent, but nearly all the member- ship rights have been forfeited. The library has, however, been a most valuable agent in promoting the intelligence of the community, which, notwith- standing its isolated condition, ranks with those in more central points.

The First Congregational Church of Christ in Rush, later Middletown and now Forest Lake, was the first organized religious body in the township, notwith- standing the Baptists held regular meetings at an ear- lier period. It was constituted at the house of Jehiel Warner December 12, 1811, of the following persons : Jesse Birchard, Israel Birchard, Jonathan West, Ze- nas Bliss, Harriet Birchard, Lydia Birchard, Polly Bliss, Maria Fishback, Phinis Warner, Anna Stone, Laura Stone and Minerva Taylor. Jesse Birchard was appointed clerk and Jonathan West was selected as a delegate to the Luzerne Association, of which the church became a member June 13, 1812. Meet- ings were held at the house of Jehiel Warner until 1822, when they were held at the house of Jesse Birchard, and five years later at the school-house by Jabez A. Birchard's. In 1817 Charles Lincoln, Eliza Bentley and Elizabeth Pardy joined the church, and those joining the next few years were: 1819, Ruth Baldwin ; 1821, William Pardy, Betsy Handrick and William G. Handrick ; 1822, Asahel Birchard, Mary Ann Griswold, Jacob Eaton, Lucy Hyde, Lyman Birchard and Sally Bradshaw ; 1823, Fanny Hand- rick ; 1824, Sally Birchard and Polly West; 1829, Norman Rowe and Esther Stone. Five more were added at a later period, making the aggregate mem- bership of the church thirty-five. In 1837 the con- gregation ceased to meet on account of the weakened membership, caused by removals and the distance which separated those remaining from the place of worship, many having connected themselves with neighboring churches. Among others who ministered to the church were the Revs. Joseph Wood, Oliver Hill, Ebenezer Kingsbury and Solomon King, who also preached for the congregations in Silver Lake and Franklin, at that time called Lawsville.

The Middletown Baptist Church, of Birchardsville, became an organized body through the efforts of El- der Davis Dimock February 29, 1812. At that time six males and four females assumed the relations of members, the last survivor of the number being Mrs. Naomi Birchard, who deceased in 1870. But prior to this, Elder Dimock had preached in the Washington School house,1 and in the one near Jesse Birchard's, where the meetings were attended by people coming from far and near, and in 1810 "some in each place

believed and were baptized." "In 1811 those who lived in Rush, at that time eighteen miles from north to south and eight miles from east to west, agreed to meet on the Lord's Day for prayer and reading of the word of God." These meetings were sometimes at- tended by Elder Dimock, who preached, and the fol- lowing year he organized the church. His labors, though interrupted, were continued thirteen years, preaching for this people when his work elsewhere would permit. In this period, closing in 1825, sev- enty-one persons were added to the church member- ship. Since Elder Dimock's time, those serving the church in a ministerial relation have been Elders Jesse B. Worden, William W. Powers and James Clark. From 1828 to 1833 Elder Joseph W. Parker was the pastor, and in this period eighty persons be- came members. For the next seven years the church had, as its pastor, Elder William Brand, and in. this period the meeting-house was built. In 1840, and for four years, Elder J. W. Parker was again the pastor, being succeeded in 1844 by Elder Prentiss Frink, who remained till 1851. February, 1853, Elder Har- vey H. Gray became the pastor, serving four years. The same year Elder W. C. Tilden began an eventful pastorate, which continued until April 12, 1879, an unbroken ministry of twenty-two years. For a time the pulpit was supplied, but, March 12, 1880, the Rev. H. J. Millard became the pastor for one- half his time, and so continued several years. Since August 11, 1883, the pastor has been the Rev. T. Prosser Morgan. From the membership of the church have gone as ministers Elder Solomon Dim- ock, in 1816, and Elders William K. Mott and Smith Bixby, in 1832.

Upon the organization of the church, Philo More- house became the first clerk and deacon. Since that time the successive deacons have been :

Loami Mott, Orange Mott, Jr., Asa Bixby, Ebenezer Potter, William Lathrop, Dennis Granger, Charles B. Perigo, L. M. Turrell, J. P. Ham- lin, T. J. Baker, Byron Griffis and J. J. Ely. In the same period the church clerks have been Perry Ball, Merritt Mott, Orange Mott, Jr., Horace Birchard, L. M. Turrell, I. L. Camp, J. J. Ely and C. P. Ball since September 30, 1880.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 92

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