USA > Pennsylvania > Clinton County > Historical and biographical work, or past and present of Clinton County, comprising a sketch of every town and township of the county from date of settlement up to the present time > Part 32
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FARRANDSVILLE, PA.
E. H. YOUNG & BRO., CIGAR MANUFACTORY,
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GLEN UNION.
G LEN UNION is a small village in Grugan township. The place received its name because of the close proximity of two glens through which Baker's run and Baker's mill run pass. It was named by J. C. Past, formerly superintendent of the West Branch Canal & Lock company. The village proper is located on the west side of the Susque- hanna, and consists of about fifteen double houses, a church and school house. The railroad station and a few houses are on the east side of the river. A new station has lately been erected a few rods above the old one, and the postmas- ter, J. K. P. Grugan, has the post-office in his residence. The chief industry at Glen Union at the present time is the shipping of prop and mining timber to the anthracite coal fields by the Glen Union Lumber company. This company began operations in 1890. The main office of the company is at No. 110 South Centre street, Pottsville, Pa. The officers of the company are as follows: E. L. Bullock, of Audenried, Schuylkill county, president ; J. W. Beecher, of Pottsville, Pa., secretary and treasurer. C. K. Sober, of Lewisburg, is the general manager, and his nephew, E. J. Sober, foreman. This company has erected a steam saw and planing mill, with a capacity for sawing 40,000 feet of lumber per day. The main part of their business is the shipping of prop timber, an average of five car loads being shipped from Glen Union station every day. The lumber is all carried across the river by means of a cable bridge hung on two wire cables, and worked by a stationary engine on the west side of the river, capable of bearing a weight of eight tons. The lumber is all loaded on trucks, which are run on the bridge and fastened. The engine is then started and the bridge carried to the east side, where the cars are unloaded. The invention was designed and patented by the Trenton Iron company, of Trenton, N. J., and is the only one of the kind in use in the world, so far as known. The power is furnished for the saw mill by an eighty-five horse
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power engine. From fifty to seventy-five men are given steady employment. A dinkey engine is used to carry the logs to the mill and the prop timber to the bridge. A neat and cozy station has been built by the company. It con- tains a handsome waiting room, ticket office, telegraph office, store room and ware room. A very pretty residence has also been built by the company, which is occupied as a dwelling by C. K. Sober, and used as a stopping place for the members of the firm and their friends, who frequently visit the place. The Glen Union company will, in all prob- ability, open up the coal and clay mines in the vicinity in a short time, and if this is done the coming historian will have more to say of the village of Glen Union.
HAMMERSLEY'S FORKS.
H AMMERSLEY'S FORKS post-office, or the village of Trout Run, is located in Leidy township, at the junction of Trout run and Kettle creek. The place con- tains two general stores, kept by Hamilton Fish and Frederick Goodman, a coach and blacksmith shop, run by James Sullivan. Trout Run village contains about fifty inhabitants. It is pleasantly located in sight of "Ox- Bow Bend." There is one church in the village. It was built about twenty-five years ago. It is a frame struc- ture, owned by the Methodist denomination. The present pastor of the church is Rev. Sterns. There is one school in the place, and an excellent hotel, owned and successfully kept by that veteran hotel man, John Gartsee. The house is well arranged and well kept. It contains suitable accom- modations for about thirty guests, and is a great resort for sportsmen, who frequent the Kettle creek region in search of game and fish, both of which have been abundant in days gone by. The post-office is called Hammersley's Forks. It is kept by Hamilton Fish. The village, located as it is
JOHN GARTSEE,
HAMMERSLEY'S FORKS, PA.
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in the heart of a fine farming region, is quite a pleasant place. It is located about fourteen miles from Westport, and per- sons desiring to visit the place must leave the railroad at Westport and go by stage or private conveyance.
BIOGRAPHIES.
JOHN GARTSEE.
J OHN GARTSEE, proprietor of the Trout Run house, and one of the leading citizens of Leidy township, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1839. His parents emigrated from Ireland, and located in the above named county at a very early date. At the age of twenty- two Mr. Gartsee entered the army, enlisting in Company C, 61st New York Regiment, and after his first term of enlistment expired he re- enlisted in Company C, 157th New York Regiment, and served during the entire war. On receiving his discharge he went to Portland, Maine, where he remained four years. He then came to Clinton county, and located at Hammersley's Forks, where he took charge of the Trout Run house, which he has kept ever since. John Gartsee is a prominent and influential citizen of not only Leidy township, but of Clinton county. He has filled the various offices of the township at different times, and held the position as postmaster of the village for nine years and three months, under a Republican administration. He received his appointment through the late Hon. Simon Cameron, and filled the position to the en- tire satisfaction of both parties. His reputation as a landlord is wide- spread, and as a man he enjoys the confidence and respect of all. He is an uncompromising Democrat, and one of the leaders of his party in the section in which he resides. He is a hotel man of experience, and knows how to make his guests comfortable. No one ever visited his house, as a friend or guest, who was not well pleased with the treatment re- ceived at his hands.
HAMILTON FISH.
Hamilton Fish, one of the leading business men and most prom- inent citizens of Leidy township, was born June 6th, 1830, in the town of Campbell, state of Maine. He came to Leidy township March 12th, 1854. The first seven years after he came to the township he was employed by the firm of Merriman, Corbett & Co., lumbermen. This firm gave up business when the war broke out, and Mr. Fish rented their saw mill and farm, and retained possession of both until 1865, when the mill was destroyed by the flood. Mr. Fish is now engaged in the general mercantile business, and is considered one of the successful business men of Clinton county.
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NICHOLAS WATT.
Nicholas Watt, better known as 'Squire Watt, was born in Schuylkill county, May 20th, 1834. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Kettle creek. He came to that region in September, 1848. 'Squire Watt is a useful citizen. He is a carpenter, a surveyor, and the 1 only undertaker in his township. He was married January 5th, 1857, to Lois Summerson, a daughter of one of the first settlers of Clinton county, the mother of Mrs. Watt being the first white child born on Kettle creek, and also the first white woman married in the Kettle creek region. In 1860 Mr. Watt was elected justice of the peace for Leidy township, a position which he has held ever since. 'Squire Watt's court is quite a prominent feature of Leidy township, and so well satisfied are all with his verdicts that there has never been but two appeals made from his decis- ions during his long term of office, and one of these two was afterwards settled, and his decision sustained in the other case. During his term of office as justice of the peace he has married 154 couples. He was elected one of the jury commissioners of Clinton county in 1887, which position he acceptably filled.
WOOLRICH.
W OOLRICH, a village of 100 inhabitants, is nestled in a valley through which flows Chatham's run, a pure mountain stream of free stone water. The principal indus- try of the place is the woolen mill of John Rich & Brothers. Tobacco growing, farming and a saw mill make up the bal- ance of industry. A school house and a newly repaired church is located here. An Epworth league and a literary society give advantages to the young who manifest an in- terest in both societies.
The woolen business is co-existent with the place, having been established in 1830. It has kept abreast of the times, introducing the latest improved machinery, and to-day is a complete equipped two-set yarn, flannel and blanket mill, with the addition of a knitting department of twelve machines for the knitting of lumbermen's leggings, mittens, socks, etc. Lock Haven, seven miles distant, is connected by telephone.
HAMILTON FISH,
HAMMERSLEY'S FORKS, PA.
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ยท
LOCKPORT.
T HE village of Lockport is located on the opposite side of the river from Lock Haven. It is located on what was at one time the Nathaniel Hanna farm. It was laid out in lots at about the same time Lock Haven was started. In 1800 there was a distillery, located in what is now known as Still Hollow.
In 1834 the old Hanna hotel was built. It was kept for a time by J. P. Huling, afterwards by Coleman Huling, Hoaglander, Alexander Mahon, Benjamin Myers, also by a man named Vosburg, and last by R. M. Hanna. This hotel burned in 1858.
The Woodward house was built in 1847. Benjamin Myers kept hotel in this house until 1852. From that date until 1858 William Quigley had charge of the house. Sheriff Hanna was the next landlord. In 1866 the Wood- ward house was sold to John Ferguson & Co. The build- ing is now used as a store and dwelling by Lewis Hoover.
In 1853 the post-office was established. Thomas Bailey was first postmaster. The office was for a time called Love- land. The western addition to the town was at one time a part of the Joseph Hanna farm, which was purchased in 1855 by William White, and by him laid out into lots.
The first store in the village of Lockport was kept by William Caldwell, next by Hanna & Sons, and also by Henry Schultz. Mrs. Agnes Bigger started a store in the place in 1842. This store was afterwards kept by Thomas Blackburn.
The first brewery was built in 1860 by Baucher & Garger. It was burned in 1863. Baucher rebuilt it, and in 1865 he sold to Widman & Pepper. It was again burned in Feb- ruary, 1876, and was rebuilt by Rudolph Widman the same year.
The Mackey property, containing fifty acres of land, and located on the hill, was purchased by Hon. L. A. Mackey
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in 1854 from Nathaniel Hanna. Mr. Mackey expended a great deal of money in improving and fitting up the place. It was beautifully laid out, and tastefully decorated with or- namental trees and shrubs. The place is now owned by Dr. F. P. Ball, of Lock Haven.
Lockport was at one time the head market for the lumber floated down the West Branch. Two thousand eight hun- dred rafts were floated down the river in one season. The hotel, kept at one time by R. M. Hanna, entertained 20,000 men during one rafting season. One thousand four hun- dred persons were fed at this hotel in one day. The Wood- ward house also entertained as high as 25,000 men in one
season. These were the good old times of which our fathers speak. Those days were prosperous ones for Lock- port and Lock Haven, but they have gone to return no more. In a short time rafting will be a thing of the past. The children of the next generation will look in vain for a raft of square timber on the West Branch.
At present there are about sixty-five dwellings in the village of Lockport, and the place contains about 300 in- habitants. There is one store in the village, kept by Lewis Hoover ; one blacksmith shop, kept by Daniel Mulachai; one brewery, run by Rudolph Widman, and one school house. The June flood of 1889 did considerable damage to Lock- port.
LAMAR.
L AMAR is situated in the southwestern part of Clinton county, on the Nittany and Brush valley turnpike, about twelve miles from Lock Haven. Its location is such as cannot fail to attract the attention of those who are at- tracted by beauty. Fishing creek, as it goes rushing through and past it; the beautiful woods, the fine roads and
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the romantic surroundings all contribute to make Lamar one of the most beautiful and healthy situated villages in the county.
The early history of Lamar is much contradicted, but, by careful investigation, we have obtained what we believe to be a correct history of the place.
The original name of Lamar was Belles Springs, and was given it by its first settlers. Subsequently it was known as Yankeetown. Lamar was the name of the post-office from the time of its establishment. The name Yankeetown grad- ually faded away, and Lamar, (the village name of the post- office,) took its place, and by that name is known to-day.
The first post-office was established about 1832, with Nathan Hipple as postmaster. The office was located in a stone house, which is still standing, at the bridge across Fishing creek, at the northern entrance to the village. The building was used as a store and post-office.
Among the earliest settlers of the place were David Wat- son and his two brothers, William and John, who settled there about 1795. Other early settlers were: John Dorn- blaser, Philip Walker, Valentine Myers, Charles Beck and Andrew Shields. These men, who have long since passed away, left honest, industrious and intelligent descendants, who form the main part of the population of the place.
In 1841 James Hays and his nephew, Nelson, built what is now known as the R. Loveland Axe works. Hays sold to Loveland & Eddy, from whose hands it went to Reuben Loveland, Sr. At his death his son, H. D. Loveland, took charge of the works, and in a short time took in, as a partner, E. E. Hyatt, who soon dropped the business, leav- ing it in Mr. Loveland's hands. A company was then formed, with H. D. Loveland as president, and Ira C. Eddy as secretary and treasurer, who do business under the firm name of The R. Loveland Axe Co., limited.
Lamar has a church, school house, town hall, one black- smith shop, axe factory, meat market and store. The post .
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office is in the store room, in charge of W. F. Loveland as postmaster. The second floor of the store building com- poses the town hall, which is a credit to the place.
The place boasts of two secret societies-the Knights of the Golden Eagle and Clinton grange, P. of H.
The place is beautifully located, and surrounded by fine scenery. Its citizens are honest, quiet and law-abiding. A railroad is all that is needed to make the village of Lamar a booming and enterprising town.
FLEMINGTON.
T HIS village is located one mile and a half west of Lock Haven. It is located partly on the Allison survey, and partly on the tract of 282 acres patented to Lieutenant Daniel Hunsicker, as per survey made for him in March, 1769. The village was first laid out by Mr. Houston, and called Flemington, in honor of Hon. John Fleming, whose father purchased the Allison tract. Afterwards General E. W. Sturdivant and Hon. George Bressler, sons-in-law of Mr. Houston, laid out additional lots. The last addition to the village was made by W. S. Woods at its eastern end.
Among the first settlers of the village were: C. S. Porter, Harmon Starn, Abraham Slenker, James Moore, John Mc- Gregor, John Larkins, John Stover, William Laverty and James Chatham. The first house erected in the village stood near the site now occupied by the residence of Joseph Furst.
Abraham Slenker, a carpenter and boat builder by trade, moved to this place from Northumberland county, and built a commodious house and raised his family, most of whom still reside in the town. Jacob Slenker, his son, is one of the oldest inhabitants now remaining. One of the celebrities of the place was an educated English gentleman, C. S. Berkley, a school teacher. He was the teacher of many of
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the men who have since become prominent in the history of our country; among whom, perhaps, Thaddeus Stevens was most famous. James D. Council moved here from Beech Creek in 1848, and engaged in shoemaking, and fol- lowed the business for thirty-five years. The town has always been well supplied with stores. The first one, owned by Henry Essig, was erected where the post-office now is. Mr. Essig was the first postmaster in Flemington. In 1854 a firm, consisting of W. S. Woods, J. B. McWil- liams, Hugh Conley, and J. D. Sterrett, built a very large grist mill, and carried on the flour and feed business on a large scale until 1861, when the mill was burned. In 1864 W. S. Woods and S. G. Wright, under the firm name of Woods & Wright, built a new mill, and continued in the flour and feed business until 1867, when they sold out to Packer & Packer, who carried on that business in connec- tion with the mercantile business for several years. They were succeeded by Hays & Co., and they in turn by the Foresman & Kelsey Milling Co. In the year 1860 William Parsons and his son, H. C. Parsons, built a saw mill, and carried on the lumber business on a large scale for many years; the business finally passed into the hands of Kreamer, Mann & Co., who continued it until the fall of 1884, when the mill was burned. The town now contains the general stores of G. W. Fredericks, who carries a very large stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, queensware, flour, feed, etc .; Joseph H. Long, who also has a general store; Frank Waitz, drugs and groceries; P. M. Leitzel, tinware and stoves; Frank Berry, groceries, etc .; W. W. Brown & Son, groceries; A. J. Moore, groceries; Lewis Hamberger, bakery; B. F. Hursh carries on wagon making and black- smithing; W. I. Harvey conducts the Flemington foundry and deals in all kinds of agricultural implements. The well-known firm of builders and contractors, J. P. Bressler and W. D. Tidlow, reside here; they are the builders of the present Central State Normal school buildings at Lock Haven. There are two churches in the place, the Christian
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and Methodist. The town has one hotel, successfully kept by Dr. Frank Waitz, in the building where the first hotel in the town was kept. The structure has been greatly remod- eled and improved by its present owner and proprietor.
James Carskaddon, Jr., at one time had a ware house on the canal, and dealt extensively in grain of all kinds, which he shipped to the Eastern markets by canal. He also con- ducted a store, and was for a time postmaster of the village. His brick dwelling at the east end of the town was the third house erected in Flemington.
L. G. Brown came to the town in 1858, and began the wagon making business, which he has conducted successfully ever since.
Joseph Long began business in 1858. For a time he dealt extensively in grain, and on one occasion shipped 2,000 bushels of clover seed to Philadelphia, loose, in a canal boat. A. J. Moore began business in 1881, and was postmaster for seven years.
The first resident physician of Flemington was Dr. A. W. Heilman. The present resident physician is Dr. B. S. Hall.
The village was incorporated as a borough in 1864, and remained as such until March 28th, 1868, when the borough was annexed to Lock Haven. It thus lost its charter as an independent borough, and July 15th, 1878, Allison town- ship re-created and Flemington became a part of it, and so it remains at present.
BIOGRAPHY.
B. S. HALL, M. D.
D R. B. S. HALL, present resident physician of Flemington, was born in Beech Creek township May 20th, 1857. He attended the public schools until eighteen years of age, after which he spent one year at Dickinson seminary, and later spent two years at Millersville Normal school. He then read medicine with Dr. Burrell, of Salona, and gradu- ated from the University of Pennsylvania March, 1881. After his gradu- ation he located at Flemington, where he has since remained. Dr. Hall was married St. Patrick's Day, 1887, to Sadie Stuart, of Flemington. His office and residence is located at the corner of Bellefonte avenue and Huston street, Flemington, Pa.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
DUNNSTOWN.
D UNNSTOWN, the oldest village within the limits of Clinton county, was laid out by William Dunn in 1794. At that time Lycoming county was about being formed, and Dunn expected to have his town made the county seat. His expectations were never realized. The pioneer residents of the village were the Myers, Whites, Curns, Fargus, Reeds and Hannas. The village was laid out on the site of an old Indian town. The first post-office established within the limits of what is now Clinton county was established at Dunnstown aboutthe year 1800. Francis Fargus was the first postmaster. It is not known how long the office was continued.
The first saw mill in the place was built in 1850 by Crowel & Burton, two Maine Yankees. It afterwards came into the possession of Hopkins & Weymouth, and con- tinued in operation until 1883. The frame work and the stack of this mill are still standing.
Another mill was erected by S. L. M. Conser in 1853. It was not a success, and was torn away. Another mill was erected on the same site. This mill was owned in 1862 by Crowel & Bickford, and later by S. M. Bickford & Co. It burned down in 1879 and was not rebuilt.
The first store in Dunnstown was kept by Francis Fargus.
Religious services were first held at the place by Rev. Jones, a Baptist minister.
The M. E. church was erected in 1850. Prior to this services were held in an old log school house. A pro- tracted meeting was held at one time in the barn of Major McCloskey. It was conducted by Rev. I. H. Torrence.
The school house mentioned above stood on the site now occupied by the house of William Clymer. An Irishman committed suicide at this school house, and his body was buried in a field near by.
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The first hotel in the village stood at the east end of the town. It was first kept by John White. In 1828 George King was its proprietor. Afterwards it was kept by J. Hul- ing, William White, David McCloskey, and last by Jacob Myers. A ferry was kept here for many years. It was known as Myers' ferry. The north end of this house was at one time a part of the old distillery, which was erected shortly after the town was laid out. A tannery was built on the west side of Reed's run. This industry was known for a long time as "Reed's Tannery." It ceased operations many years ago.
In 1855 the post-office at Lockport was removed to Dunnstown, and was then called the Dunnstown post-office. Jacob Myers was the postmaster. The office was after- wards removed to Liberty, then back to Dunnstown, and finally returned to Liberty, and the name changed to " Island Post-Office."
In 1846 Dunnstown contained about thirty houses, in- cluding hotels, stores, etc. At present the place contains forty five houses and about 240 inhabitants. It also con- tains a Methodist church and a good school house. The oldest houses in the village at the present time is the old hotel building now owned by Theodore Myers, and a house now owned and occupied by John Ritchie. The latter structure was erected by Ezra Riley in 1826.
A. C. Kissel, at present one of the county commissioners of Clinton county, lives in Dunnstown, and now owns and occupies the brick mansion erected by S. L. M. Couser in 1852. Mr. Kissel also owns the tract of land belonging to the old mill property of S. L. M. Couser & Co., and has, by careful management, brought the said land to a high and productive state of cultivation.
The town is beautifully located, and blessed with an abund- ance of pure, fresh water.
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CHARLTON.
T HE village of Charlton is located on the bank of the
Susquehanna, in Pine Creek township. The village is built upon a tract of land warranted to Andrew Kinkaid, of Philadelphia, in 1781. The land was purchased in 1785 by Thomas Proctor, Sr. In 1792 he deeded the part of said tract, upon which the village of Charlton now stands, to his sister, Jane Charlton, and from her the place received its name.
The first house in the village was erected in 1839. There was a house built on the Cook tract, north of Charlton, in 1785, by Robert Crawford. In 1786 Mr. Crawford erected a tannery, which was operated as late as 1875, and probably later by 'Squire A. C. Kissel.
In the year 1843 there were but six houses in the village. The dwelling erected in 1785 was torn down in 1860.
In May, 1844, John F. Ramm, of Philadelphia, opened a store in the village, and succeeded, by the help of others, in establishing a post-office. The office was named West Branch, and Henry Myer was appointed first postmaster. In 1850 the office was moved to Quiggle & Co.'s store, at the mouth of the run, and called thereafter Chatham's Run post-office, a name it still retains.
The village of Charlton contains at present about seven- teen dwellings, one church, (Methodist,) one school house, one blacksmith shop, run by Frederick Swope, one under- taking establishment, conducted by John Strausser, one boot and shoe store, kept by Peter Marks, and one grocery store kept by Elias Cramer. The village has one physician in the person of Dr. Stokes.
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