Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 97

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

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KIRBY MARSH .- In the year 1802 James Marsh (2d), a prosperous farmer living in Connecticut, bought three hundred acres of land, in Susquehanna County, of Colonel Ephraim Kirby, of Litchfield, Conn. It was part of the large tract known as the "Kirby and Law Survey," which had been bought by them in 1797, and now comprises parts of Liberty and Franklin townships. James Marsh had married Sarah McNeal, a native of Connecticut, in which State both died-James when in his eighty-third year, 1845. Of their eight children, but one, Archi Marsh, born in Litchfield County in 1794, came to Pennsylvania; the others remained East. In the spring of 1816 he located upon a farm of one hundred acres which had been given him by his father out of the tract above mentioned, in consider- ation of faithful work upon the home farm in New England. In 1820 he married Lois Merriman, a native of Cheshire, Conn., whose parents came into the county in 1800. The children of Archi and Lois Marsh were Jerod, born 1821, a farmer of Liberty township ; Almira, 1823, the widow of B. W. South- worth, a farmer and carpenter of the township; Elizabeth, 1825, died in infancy ; Kirby ; Elizabeth (1828-31) ; James (1830-45) ; David (1833-82) was a farmer in this township; and Emily (1839-45). Archi Marsh was a very honest and industrious man, and an earnest Christian of old Lawsville; his prin- cipal aim and effort being for the conversion of souls to Christ. Both himself and wife were charter mem- bers of the Liberty Presbyterian Church, and he was an elder therein until 1848, when they joined the Franklin Church, of which he became elder, and re- mained so until his death, in 1852. Kirby Marsh was born in Liberty township September 1, 1826, and has always retained his affection for the old home farm, upon which he still resides, and which now comprises some two hundred acres of land. He has combined with his agricultural pursuits the sale of farm implements, and through that connection has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. The town- ship has had the benefit of his services as supervisor, and for a number of years as school director, in which latter work he has always been warmly interested. He became a member of the Liberty Presbyterian Church when in his fifteenth year, and acted as ruling elder between twenty-five and thirty years, and until he was transferred by letter to the Franklin Church, in 1885. In Sunday-school work he has been equally zealous, and has been teacher or super- intendent since about 1855. Mrs. Marsh has been a true help-meet, and has borne her share in moral and religious effort. She joined the church in 1847, and has ever been a consistent member. She was born

June 22, 1827. She was Olive Baker, daughter of Samuel (1795-1876) and Clarissa Churchell (1802-85) Baker. Samuel Baker learned the shoemaker's trade in Vermont, and came to Susquehanna County as a young man, settling in what is now Franklin town- ship, on the farm at present occupied by his son, J. M. Baker. Clarissa Churchell was the daughter of Josiah Churchell, a native of Connecticut, and one of the earlier settlers in Lawsville. Samuel had the fol- lowing children : Olive, now the wife of Elder Kirby Marsh ; Sarah E., born 1830, is the widow of Conrad Berg, a farmer of Liberty ; B. Josiah, born 1832, and J. Martin, born 1837, are both farmers in Franklin ; Clarissa, born 1839, is the wife of Isaac McKeeby, a resident at Montrose ; and Phœbe S., born 1845, the wife of W. W. Heywood, a farmer in Bradford County. Samuel Baker, who was a prominent politician in his day, was the son of Benjamin Baker, a farmer near Brattleboro', Vt. Kirby Marsh and Oliver Baker were married September 7, 1848, and their children were James K. (1851-71) ; Mary E., born 1854, is the wife of J. D. Beebe, a farmer of Liberty township, whose children are Edward K. and Stanley J .; Rosa E., born 1858, married H. V. Townsend, a farmer of Franklin, and has one child, Flora A .; and Frank A. Marsh, born 1864, married to Mary H. Lowe, of Franklin, in 1883, now living on the family home- stead.

Mention has already been made of Israel Richard- son, the surveyor, who came from Windsor, Vt., to Great Bend. After teaching school there several years, he married Lucy Adams, then settled in Lib- erty. His connection with the affairs of the town- ship is so well related by Miss Blackman, that we produce her account here complete :

" He kept a diary, from which some extracts are taken, as illustrative of the necessities and customs of the times. He raised his log house, near Snake Creek, on the 23d of March, 1812, and soon after brought to it 'a hack-load of goods.' On the Ist of April he occupied the house, ' on the 13th put up the east gahle end, laid some chamher-floor. and hrought the table home on his hack.' On the 30th he 'leveled the ground in the house.' 'Trainings' were important affairs in those trouhlous times ; on the 20th of May, the second of the kind for that month, he 'went to training out to Post's.' (He does not speak of Montrose until eighteen months later.) On the 1st of June, ' went to mill to Chenango Point- Bevier's-absent three days.' In Novemher of the same year he was engaged in clearing out 'the old Bronson road'-a road of no small con- sequence to the early settlers ; over it the mail was carried to Silver Lake, to Great Bend, thence to Lawsville, and back to Montrose once a week. Late in November ' split sticks for chimney. Made a paper win- dow in north side of the house.' The first season he raised only one acre of green oats, and one hundred and seventy bushels of potatoes. In December he hired out at twelve dollars per month, the usual rate when hoard was given. Early in 1813, while farm-work permitted, he, like most of the pioneers, 'could turn his hand ' to various occupations : 'Made a pair of shoes in the evening.' 'Made swifts, warping-hars. and spool frame ; ' for the wife of the pioneer could always spin and gen- erally weave. 'Made twenty-four hass-wood sap-troughs in a day.' A little later he adds : 'Bass-wood troughs did leak-put ash-wood in their place.' In the spring he was frequently engaged in surveying, in which he was quite often the companion of James De Haert, the brother of Balthasar, so long and favorably known in Susquchanna County. The hrothers were long engaged in the effort to develop the resources of the salt spring on Silver Creek. Balthasar De Haert came to Chenango Point, or vicinity, about 1801. Had received the title of judge in New Jersey. James De Haert had also some knowledge of law. Judge De

Kirby, marsh

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Haert was considered by Dr. Fraser, for whom he wrote many years while Dr. Fraser hield county offices, as one of the most honorable and upright of men. Occasionally Mr. R. visited the fish-ground, Susque- hanna River, and in May he mentions bringing home forty shad. Hc also found a 'bee-tree,' which was then a fortunate occurrence, both on account of its ready store for honey, and because, with proper care, the bees could be hived for future service. In November of this year 'gathered thorn-apples at Samuel Symmond's.' Early in December the entry ruus, 'I and wife finished the chimney.' From various narrators we learn that it was no uncommon thing to pass months without any chimney-a hole in the roof serving as vent for the sinoke of a fire built within a circle of large stones placed against the wall, or in the centre of the cabin. It appears the culture of tobacco was attempted here as early as 1814, as Mr. R. mentions his tobacco plants in July ; under date of October 16th, writes : ' 1 stript tobacco.' The war then in progress between England and the United States made demands on the new settle. ments as well as the old, and, November 4th, Mr. R. was 'notifyed to march a soldiering.' A substitute was engaged for fifty dollars, but his own services were soon rendered, the famous Danville expedition start- ing and returning within the same month. During the year 1815 refer- ence is made to the meeting held at Joseph Bishop's and in other private houses hy "Priest Hill," aud by the Baptist missionary, Elder Peter P. Roots. 'Logging hees' occasioned not only opportunities for mutual service among neighbors in clearing up their farms, but were merry- makings besides. All heavy work was done by 'bees.' There was, of course, little market for wood ; consequently, to free the land of it, it was rolled up in heaps, after being felled, and chopped into convenient lengths and then burned. In January, 1816, Mr. R. 'followed otters' tracks down as far as Simmons'.' (Samuel Simmons settled where Charles Adams now resides.) The terrible cold summer of 1816 finds a comment in 'The chestnut-trees are full in the blow the 10th day of August !' One Sabbath, in 1817, ' All go to hear Pricst Gilbert at the old Bennett house.' Every horse was then considered able to 'carry donhle,' and the 'pilion' was the appendage of every saddle, wheu wheeled carriages were not to be thought of for family church-going. In July he ' laid out the road from Vance's to Southworth's' (then near Jones' Lake). Not far from this time the streams were suddenly swollen by heavy rains, and the bridge over the Snake Creek (ucar Bailey Brook ?) was carried off, a serious calamity to the then straitened re- sources of the township, and which was repaired only by help from the county. Very little cash found its way to the pockets of a people so far from markets for their produce ; ouce in a wbile 'a paper dollar' is seen, but spoken of as a curiosity. 'S. B. Welton agrecs to make eighty rods of good rail fence for a shilling a rod, of posts and rails five feet high, hog tite.' At this rate the workmen made about a dollar a day ; but it was common for a man to accept fifty cents for chopping or log- ging, 'and found.' Venison was from two to three cents per lb., pork ten cents, and milk one cent per qt. A note is made of the purchase of a partridge 'for ten cents in money down,' but twelve and a half cents were demanded for an orange. March 20tlı, 1818, ' Town meeting held at Esq. Line's.') The months of July and August found Mr. R. chiefly engaged in surveying, and from his notes one must conclude uo one was more familiar than he with the lands in Lawsville and on the ' Wharton track ' beyond (?) and with all the roads in the vicinity. 'September 24th I go to the Bend and see the elephant. Later, 'Carry some clotli to Summers' fulling-mill to he dressed for me a coat and pantaloons.' (Broad-cloth coats were not often seen in farm-houses in 1818.) Thanks- giving-day was observed the 19th day of November. A great wolf hunt is mentioned about this time. In June, 1819, the arrival of ' English- meu just from England ' is noted-probably the founders of ' Britannia,' in Silver Lake. 'Shot a deer just below the bridge, ' ' shot a fox, ' 'shot a doe,' and similar expressions occur occasionally in the memoranda. The following item is truly worthy of preservation : 'I let the post have two dollars to pay the printer for a year's paper. An exchange of home productions accommodated the people ; thus a bushel of apples was some- times procured hy a quantity of sage."

January 1, 1820, Mr. Richardson began teaching a school near Alfred Ross' for six weeks, at the rate of ten dollars per month. But, at that time, board for a man (without liquors) could be obtained for about twenty-five dollars per year.

The early settlers of Liberty and other townships in the northern part of the county were much an- noyed by wild animals, especially wolves, which were

numerous, in spite of the bounty for their destruc- tion. They were often very bold, going into even well-protected sheep folds and killing many sheep in a single night.

After 1830 numerous new settlers were added to the population of the northern part of Lawsville, and when the first assessment roll was made up, in 1836, the following were the taxables :

Daniel Adams, Isaac Ackerman, Benjamin Andrews, Asahel Adams, Eli Adams, Amzi Allen, Zebulon Blakeslee, Daniel Bailey, Benjamin W. Bailey, Richard Bailey, A. A. Beman, George Banker, Nathaniel Banker, Ichabod Buck, Peleg Butts, Isaac Butts, Perry P. Butts, Samuel Chalker, Joseph W. Chalker, Isaac Comstock, Thomas Cobbitt, Amos Crandall, Michael Callahan, Abram Davis, Josiah Davis, Stephen Daw- ley, Asa A. Fish, Benjamin Gage, Peter Gunsalus, Seth Hall, Sylvester Hall, Harry Hall, Warren Hall, N. Hathaway,1 Isaac Hance, W. Hance, Phoebe Harris, Benajah Howard, Moses Howard, Otis L. How- ard, Jonathan Howard, Chillon Howard, Salem Howard, Jothiam C. Howard, Newton Hawley,1 Benjamin Hatch, Caswell Ives, Reuben Ives, Harry Ives, William H. Ives, Mary Jones, Roger Kenyon, James Ken- yon, Samuel A. Law, Garry Law, Nathaniel Lockwood, Elkanal Lock- wood, Daniel Landon, Nathan Marvin, Archi Marsh, Nathan N. Martin, James Owens, Luther Platt, Samuel Platt, Isaac Robins, Uzza Robins, Isracl Richardson, John Ryan, Edmund Ryan, Timothy Ross, Ansel Roe, David Roe, Jason Roe, Charles Stanford, Daniel D. Stanford, Wil- liam Salmon, Gideon South worth, Russell Southworth, Arthur South- worth, James Travis, Thomas E. Travis, David O Turrell, James Trues- dell, Samuel W. Truesdell, Samuel Truesdell, Thomas C. Vance, James Vance, Robert P. Vance, Elias Van Houton, Jamcs Watrous, A. Wool- sey, Albert Woodcock, John Watson, James K. Webster, Alexander Webster, Joseph Webster, Harry Wilbur, Larry Wilbur, Jeremiah Wil- bur, Joseph. Whipple, Benjamin Young.

The villages of the township are small and all are located on the turnpike, along Snake Creek, where they serve as convenient business centres.

LAWSVILLE CENTRE, so called before the division of the township, is about half a mile north of the Franklin township line, and contains two churches, a school-house, store, mills and eight or ten residences in the immediate neighborhood. The Ives family were among the earliest settlers at this place. The first improvement of the water-power was made by Milo Saxton, who put up a saw-mill. This be- came the property of Newton Hawley, who caused a grist-mill to be operated by the same power. Later he built a better mill, which was burned down, while owned by Lewis A. Tomkins. A new and better mill was then built by Fernando Tomkins, who now oper- ates both grist and saw-mills, having the only grist- mill in the township.

Newton Hawley did the first merchandising at his mill, but A. A. Beman afterwards engaged in trade in the Reuben Ives house, where he continued about ten years, also entertaining the public. After this the building became a farm-house. The next store was opened at the preseut stand by Roger Kenyon, and his successors have been numerous, the present mer- chants being Tiffany & Co. Here is kept the post- office, which was established April 23, 1830, with the name of Snake Creek, and Reuben Ives postmaster. June 30, 1830, the name was changed to Lawsville Centre, which is still retained. The successive post-

1 Owned saw-mills.

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

masters have been,-1846, Lambert Smith . 1850, Bela Jones ; 1852, L. Smith ; 1855, R. B. Sherman ; 1857, Roger Kenyon, Jr .; 1860, D. O. Turrell; 1861, R. Southworth, A. Truesdell ; 1862, Amos Crandall, Sr. ; 1864, James R. Webster ; 1865, A. Southworth ; 1871, R. B. Sherman ; 1873, O. M. Crane ; 1875, R. T. Handrick; 1878, E. C. Potter; 1882, Wm. A. Cran- dall.

STANFORDVILLE is a straggling village of a dozen houses, one mile below Lawsville Centre. Here are a public-house, shops and a Free-Will Baptist Church. The Methodist Church formerly at this place was de- stroyed by a cyclone July 2, 1883. At the same time half a dozen other buildings were more or less dam- aged. The place was settled by the Stanford family, and most of the inhabitants yet bear that name. On the creek was formerly a saw-mill, by Daniel Stan- ford and Casswell Ives, which has long since becn abandoned. In the past year a steam cider-mill was erected by George Fisk, which is now the only ma- chinery operated. Calvin Stanford had a shoemaker- shop at this place forty years, in which is now a small store by F. & A. Stanford. From 1870, for ten years, D. D. Stanford had a small store opposite his resi- dence, but the first goods were sold by A. A. Beman in part of the building now known as the " Pleasant Valley House," where he also kept tavern. Later Ira Comstock traded there. Bela Jones succeeded Beman as the owner of the property and kept this well-known house a number of years. On the death of himself and family numerous changes occurred, but since the spring of 1886 the proprietor has been W. G. Small. It is the only licensed hotel between the State line and Montrose, and has been a great con- venience to the traveling public.

Several miles below this place was a water-power which was improved to operate a saw-mill for Lorenzo Vance. In 1856 it became the property of Jacob B. Chalker, and was carried on by him until 1878, when it was abandoned.

BROOKDALE is the next village below, and the last one in the township. The upper part was formerly called Butts' Corners, from the fact that J. P. Butts had a farmn at that place, which had as a previous owner Moses Howard. Near here Cooper Corbett, who owned large tracts of land along the creek, put up a saw-mill, which did a large business until the timber supply was exhausted. The power is now used to work machinery in a feed and cider-mill, owned by Joseph Lindsey.

Below this, Brookdale Tannery was erected, about 1851, by Tompkins, Campbell & Co., but was much enlarged in subsequent periods. It was afterwards owned by J. W. Brackney, and Jehiel Snow was the manager, doing a large business. Later owners were Knight & Burt, the Munsons, H. C. Knight and Daniel Munson, the latter firm operating it last in 1885, when it was discontinued. When in operation twenty-five men were employed, and this

occupation gave the place a busy appearance. Many of the workmen have removed, and the machinery has been taken to other localities. In later years the water-power had been supplemented by steam, but the former is also now unemployed.

Another industry at this place are the acid works, established a number of years ago by Emmons, Man- deville & Saxon. The buildings were put up under the direction of John Emmons, and for some years the business was managed by him. Originally there were but four retorts, but this number was increased by the addition of four more, and large quantities of acetate of lime were made, as well as sugar of lead, for a short period. The material consumed is hard wood only-several thousand cords annually. Some soft wood is also converted into charcoal, though not for the purpose of distillation. In 1878 the "Scotch Works," as they were first called, were sold to Mun- son & Knight, the tannery owners, who carried on both establishments. The present owner is Julius Corbett, of New York, and the "works " are success- fully carried on, giving employment to seven men, and affording a ready market for the surplus timber of this part of Liberty.

The first merchandising at Brookdale was done at the tannery, where a small store was kept. Zebulon Blakeslee was a later merchant, and also kept the Brookdale post-office. From 1870 on, A. A. Beman was in trade and served as postmaster. Since 1881 J. J. Tingley has traded at Brookdale, and has the post-office, which is supplied with a daily mail.

Brookdale post-office was established April 7, 1854, with William Montford first postmaster. He was succeeded by Zebulon Blakeslee in 1855. This office was discontinued December 17, 1863, and re- established January 29, 1864, with Henry C. Knight postmaster. His successors have been Anson A. Beeman, Mary J. Beeman, Edith A. Knight, Judson J. Tingley.

Near the State line Isaac Hance and others had a saw-mill, which did good service, and is now the property of W. W. Gunsalus. The Hathaway mill, lower down the stream, has been abandoned. On Ranney Creek a number of saw-mills had been built, and were operated by the Howards, Roes, Knapps and others but nearly all have gone down, as well as other small mills in other localities.

Among those who practiced medicine in the town- ship, were Dr. Daniel Adams, near the State line, be- low Brookdale ; Dr. Rufus Fish, on Ranney Creek, about 1819, and near the central part of the township later ; Dr. Daniel Stanford, on his farm, at Stanford- ville, from 1814 till his death, in 1829; Dr. Edwin Brundage, farther up the valley ; Dr. Sanford at the same place, followed by Dr. Brewster, in that locality, and Dr. Francis Newton at Brookdale. Below this village Dr. D. D. Harris has been a practitioner sev- eral years, and has lately erected a building for put- ting up proprietary medicines. Other physicians have

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been in the township for short periods, but no authen- tic account can here be given of them.

RELIGIOUS .- The early religious interests of the township were closely connected with those of Frank- lin, but as the northern part of old Lawsville became more thickly settled, the question of having places of worship in that section, instead of going many miles, was soon decided by organizing separate societies. The oldest of these now in existence is

The Liberty Strict Baptist Church, which was or- ganized by a council called for this purpose, at Laws- ville Centre, December 24, 1837. Elder J. B. Worden moderated, and Isaac Post served as clerk.

Twenty-one persons united in church fellowship, fourteen of whom had formerly been connected with the old Lawsville Free-Will Baptist Church, and seven joined by letter from the Baptist Church of Bridgewater. Prior to 1843 the following persons were members : James Kenyon, Gideon Southworth, Daniel Dawley, Nathan Fish, Edward L. Bailey, Henry W. Howard, Jonathan Ross, Mary Bailey, Deborah Green, Phoebe Sherman, Mercy Bailey, Joseph Webster (2d), Othneal Kenyon, Joseph Bailey, Rogers Kenyon, Oliver Clark, Benjamin W. Bailey, Sybil Howard, Ann Stanford, Hannah Marsh, Free- love Kenyon, Susan Allard, Freelove Bailey, Eunice Van Houton, Ann Bailey.

The aggregate membership of the church has been nearly one hundred and fifty, the additions being the results of revivals at different periods, notable ones being those of 1841 and 1862. The first took place soon after the meeting-house had been occupied. It had been erected the previous year, at a cost of about seven hundred dollars. This building is still stand- ing, on a new site, as the school-house of Lawsville Centre. It was used as a place of worship until the suminer of 1868, when the present fine edifice, at Lawsville Centre, became the spiritual home of the church. It is an attractive structure, erected at a cost of five thousand five hundred dollars, about one- half of which was contributed by Joseph Bailey, Watson Bailey, Stephen Dawley and Roger Kenyon, sons of some of the first members of the church. It was formally dedicated August 13, 1868, by Elder W. C. Tilden, at that time the pastor. In the fall of 1869 a number of sheds were built, and, in the spring of 1886, the external appearance of the church was beautified by paiut, so that it is now surpassed by but few churches in the county. From the organization of the church until 1852 the ministers were Elders William Brand, C. G. Swan, A. Virgil, John Bald- win, James D. Webster, J. K. Webster, O. L. Hall and E. L. Bailey. In the spring of 1852 Elder J. W. Park became the pastor, and served until 1858, when Elder W. C. Tilden became his successor, and minis- tered to the church until 1870. Elder Jacob Smith next preached a year, and since that time there have been many supplies, among them being Elders A. H. Fish, Gates, Bliss, Tilden, Burroughs, Spencer, Davis

and Simpkins. In 1877 Elder P. S. Brewster was the pastor ; in 1880, A. O. Stearns; and in 1881, Elder William Clapham, the latter serving until March 28, 1886. Since that time the pulpit has been supplied by Elders Fish, O. W. Cook and others. There were fifty members in good standing, and H. W. Howard was the church clerk.

The Liberty Free- Will Baptist Church was organized on Ranney Creek, by Elders John Webster and C. L. Vail, July 25, 1847. There were thirteen consti- tuent members, and Stillman Fuller was chosen dea- con, and Henry Roe clerk. The latter was soon afterwards succeeded by Simeon Knapp. On the 10th of May, 1856, Joseph Chalker became deacon, in place of S. Fuller. Iu 1866 Elias Northrop and Simeon Knapp became deacons; but, the following spring, the former resigned, and D. C. Marvin was elected in his stead. At the same time S. E. Warner was elected church clerk, and has since served in that capacity. In 1876 he was elected deacon, and has since also performned the duties of that office, his as- sociate being Deacon L. W. Howard.

Until 1866 the meetings were held in the Chalker School-house, on Ranney Creek; but, in November that year, the place of holding them was changed to the school-house in Stanfordville. Here worship was held twelve years, when it was deemed best to erect, at this place, an edifice which the church might call its own.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 97

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