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 34
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dent of Dunnstown. The latter died when but thirteen years of age. William Carskaddon died in his eighty-second year. He was known as " Uncle Billy " and his wife as " Aunt Jane." James Carskaddon, Sr., died August 15th, 1830. His remains rest in Great Island cemetery. He was a Presbyterian, and one of the organizers of the Great Island Pres- byterian church. To trace the genealogy of the Carskaddon family up to the present time would require considerable effort and more space than we can allow. Many pioneer members of the family now sleep their last unbroken slumber beneath the sods of Great Island cemetery. They were an honest, upright people, who left a record for character and lofti- ness of principle that is being emulated by their descendants of the present day.
FARWELL FAMILY.
The Farwells were among the early settlers of Chapman township. Lemuel Farwell, the pioneer of the family, located at what was called Baker's Town, about the year 1800. He came from near South Framing- ham, Mass. He married a daughter of Abner McCloskey. He settled on a tract of land and began farming and lumbering. Lemuel Farwell died at the age of fifty-five years and left five children-four sons and one daughter. The sons were Abel, who moved to what is now Stephenson county, Ill., where he died years ago; James, who settled in Clearfield county, Pa., who has also been dead for many years; Lemuel, who died at Hyner in 1889; Nathan, who died on the old homestead at Baker's Town, in 1887. The daughter married a man named Lingle, who moved to Ohio. She died only a few years ago. Abel Farwell never was mar- ried. James had quite a large family, and Lemuel had five children-two sons and three daughters. The sons are Absalom and Kline J. The former is now a resident of Pine Creek township, having moved there from North Bend in April, 1892. The latter is a resident of Hyner. The daughters of Lemuel Farwell are Nancy, who was married to G. W. Val- entine. She is a widow, and a resident of Hyner. Ira D. Fox, principal of the First Ward schools of Lock Haven, is married to her daughter, Mary Ann, who was married to a Condon-she died several years ago-and Sarah E., now the wife of Samuel Mummah, of Hyner. Absalom Far- well has five children-four sons and one daughter. Kline, his brother, is also married and has four children. Lemuel, who resides at Glen Union, is a son of James Farwell, who settled in Clearfield county. He has six children-five sons and one daughter. Nathan, who died at Baker's Town, had six children-three sons and three daughters. They are Al- bert, James and Lincoln. The daughters are Mary, Wildie and Emeline. The daughters were all married. Wildie is dead. Mary is a resident of Reading, and Emeline of Mckean county.
OLD RESIDENTS OF CLINTON COUNTY.
GEORGE ARMSTRONG.
T HIS well-known geologist of Clinton county was born at Newcastle- Upon-Tyne, in 1816. When eighteen years of age he accompanied his parents to Cape Breton Island, where his father and three brothers were sent to erect a self-acting plane for loading and handling coal. The work lasted two years, after which the family came to this country, landing at Boston, Mass., May, 1837. They immediately pro- ceeded to the coal fields of Pennsylvania, locating at Pottsville, Schuyl- kill county. The parents remained there but a short time, after which they located on a farm near Shamokin, George remaining in the employ of Potts & Manning, coal operators of Pottsville. He remained there two years, when he was appointed manager for a company at Shamokin. He left the latter place and went to Ralston in 1844, where he engaged in mining until 1849, when he was smitten with the gold fever, and started with six other young men of Lewisburg, Pa., for the gold fields of Cali- fornia. He stayed in California one year, when he returned to Ralston broken down in health and poor in purse, his trip having proven a failure. On his return he took up his residence at Farrandsville, Clinton county, Pa., where he became the superintendent of the Eagleton coal mines, which were started and operated under his management for a period of eleven years. When the mines closed down he built for himself a com- modious house on Fairview street, Lock Haven, Pa., where he took up his residence. Since the closing of the Eagleton mines, Mr. Armstrong has not been engaged at any special work, except when his valuable services are needed by persons to locate coal or fire clay. Mr. Armstrong was married in 1838 to Miss Marie Moore, a native of Cape Breton, who had accompanied the Armstrong family to America. She died in 1878, and since that time Mr. Armstrong has lived with his widowed daughter, Mrs. Bittner, in Lock Haven. He will soon celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday, and enjoys the very best of health.
MRS. ELIZABETH DUNN.
The subject of this sketch was born in Nippenose valley, Lycoming county, Pa., April 18th, 1812. Her maiden name was Barker. Here she remained until she reached her twelfth year, when she was sent to Hoags- town, Cumberland county, Pa., to live with an aunt. She remained at Hoagstown for two years. She then returned to Jersey Shore, where she Is ed with her parents four years, after which she went to the home of her aunt in Cumberland county, Pa., where she remained until she was nineteen years of age, when she came to Liberty, Clinton county, Pa., and lived with her parents, a few rods below the river bank, near what is
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now the Liberty post-office. At this time there was but one dwelling on what is now the site of Lock Haven. After going to Liberty she made the acquaintance of William Dunn, and married him in 1833. After her marriage she moved to the Dunn farm on Great Island, where she is liv- ing to-day. Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn, although in her eighty-third year, is a remarkably well preserved and intelligent old lady. Her store of knowledge concerning the early history of Clinton county, Pa., is un- limited. She was well acquainted with Uncle Jerry Church, and enter- tained him at her home many times. During the great June flood of 1889 the beautiful Dunn residence was almost carried away by the high water, and Mrs. Dunn with other inmates of her household sought refuge in the barn, which stood on higher ground. The barn with its contents was carried from its foundation, and Mrs. Dunn rescued with difficulty. The old lady still resides in her island home, the home she entered as a bride sixty years ago; but he who led her there sleeps his last sleep be- neath the Dunnstown burying ground. Her only child, George Wash- ington Dunn, rests beneath a costly and handsome monument, erected to his memory in Highland cemetery. Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn was a sister of W. W. Barker, and is an aunt of Captain R. S. Barker, now postmaster of Lock Haven.
MRS. SARAH HITCHCOCK.
Mrs. Sarah Hitchcock was born at Sparta, N. Y., March 5th, 1807. Her maiden name was Sarah MeVicar. Her father was a farmer, who removed with his family to Kingston, Pa., when the subject of this sketch was but one year old. Mrs. Hitchcock is the second of a family of ten children, six girls and four boys. The family are all dead, with the ex- ception of one sister, who resides in Ohio. Sarah McVicar was married at Forty Forts, Pa., July 24th, 1825, to Platt Hitchcock. She removed with her husband to Farrandsville, Clinton county, Pa., in 1848, and to Lock Haven, Pa., May 1st, 1860. Her husband filled various offices in Clinton county, Pa., and was at one time county treasurer. He was a most estimable and useful citizen. Mrs. Hitchcock is the mother of ten children-seven daughters and three sons; five daughters are living, viz: Miss Phobe Hitchcock, a former teacher in the schools of Lock Haven, Pa., Mrs. Robert F. Lawrence and Mrs. Sarah Moore, both of Renovo, Pa., Mrs. Charles Stevens, of Scranton, Pa., and Mrs. Frank K. Young, of Easton, Pa. Mrs. Hitchcock has been for years a member of the Methodist church. Although in her eighty-sixth year, her intellect is unimpaired, and her store of knowledge unlimited. She is a great reader, and takes as much interest in the current events of the day as anyone in the city of Lock Haven. She has resided for years at the home of her daughter, Miss Phoebe, on Fairview street.
ROBERT B. JOHNSTON.
Robert B. Johnston came to the present site of Lock Haven in the spring of 1833. Two of his brothers had preceded him, and were em- ployed at that time on the construction of the lock in the West Branch canal. Mr. Johnston was born in Columbia county, July 15th, 1818. At
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the time of his first visit, in 1833, he remained but a short time; but he returned in 1835, and has been a resident of Clinton county ever since. At the time of his coming. in 1833, the brick hotel, now the residence of S. D. Ball, Esq., was just completed, and the Washington house, which stood at one time where the Montour house formerly stood, and where the hotel Meitzler now stands, was opened the second night after his ar- rival by J. P. Huling. Mr. Johnston was well acquainted with Uncle Jerry Church. He hauled the timber used in the construction of "Church's Folly." In the early history of Lock Haven the voting place was at Liberty, and Mr. Johnston made a business of taking voters to and from the polls, even before he had a vote himself. He followed the canal for six years, and during the flood of 1847 his boat was laid up at Linden for nearly two months, until the damage to the canal could be repaired. From 1848 until 1853 he farmed for Jacob Graffius (father of Joseph Graffius, of Lock Haven), the farm buildings being at that time about where the Eagle hotel now stands. The old well from which the family obtained the water for daily use is still inexistence. Mr. Graffius sold this farm in 1853 and purchased the one now owned by Charles Kreamer, of Lock Haven, Pa., which is located in Bald Eagle valley. Mr. Johnston moved to this place in the spring of 1854 and farmed it for nine years. He then gave up farming. On the night of the great fire of 1862 he was appointed watchman of the First National bank of Lock Haven, which position he held for five years. From 1867, until within the past few years, he has followed teaming and working in the woods. Lately he has been living a retired life. Robert Johnston was married in 1842 to Rachel Hallsey. Their children living to day are Mrs. Martin Mc Nerney, Mrs. Patrick McNerney, both residents of Lock Haven, Pa., Mrs. George Tarmon, who, with her husband, resides on the Hanna farm, above Lock Haven, Pa., Mrs. William Fabel and G. H. Johnston, also residents of Lock Haven, Pa. Mr. Johnston now lives with his son-in- law, William Fabel, who resides on Jay street, Lock Haven, Pa.
JOHN GOULD, SR.
John Gould, Sr., was born at Jacob's Plains, Luzerne county, Pa., November 3d, 1812. At the age of eleven years he left his home to seek his fortune, with a cash capital of twenty five cents. After walking a dis- tance of 150 miles, he obtained employment at what was called the Nava- Sink, at carrying grog for the workmen employed on the Nava-Sink canal. After working here for seven months, he went to Mauch Chunk, Pa., where he secured employment from the Lehigh Canal & Naviga- tion company. Here he assisted in running logs on the river from Mauch Chunk, Pa., to Easton, Pa., and was employed for a time on the first railroad built in the United States, the said road being built by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation company, and was used for running coal from their mines to the canal at Mauch Chunk, Pa. In 1840, in company with his brothers and several other gentlemen, they purchased 15,000 acres of timber land, near what is now White Haven, Pa. Here Mr. Gould lumbered extensively until he came to the West Branch of the
e
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Susquehanna, in 1862. From that time until 1876 he lumbered in dif- ferent parts of Clinton county, Pa., his principal contracts being on Pine creek and Baker's run. Mr. Gould and his brother were the first per- sons to introduce the log peeling industry on the West Branch. From 1876 to the present time he has been engaged in farming near Lock Haven, Pa. For several years he farmed the land now owned by George S. Good, and later moved to the old Price farm, where he lives at the present time. Mr. Gould was married in 1840 to Mary Ann Traub, of White Haven, Pa. He is the father of eleven children, five of whom are dead. Those living are Mrs. Henry Mckinney, of Susquehanna county, Pa., Mrs. William Wertz and Mrs. Charles Pearson, of Newark, N. J., Mrs. J. E. Mason, James W., George T. and John C. Gould, all of Lock Haven, Pa.
NOTE-The subject of the above sketch died May 28th, 1892, and his remains were interred in Highland cemetery May 30th, 1892.
PHILIP ANTHONY.
Philip Anthony was born in Lohr, France, within sight of the great Straudsburg cathedral, January 14th, 1814. He sailed for this country in March, 1836, and landed at New York May 6th. He remained in the city of New York until 1843, and was married in the meantime to Philipine Bcesharr, of Bavaria. In 1843 he came to Mckean county, this state, and located at what is now called Instanter. Here he resided for two years, and then went to Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, Pa. He left that place for Lock Haven, Pa., in 1857. He started a tailor shop in the Mayer block, on Water street. In 1862 he was located a few doors below the Mayer block, and later did business on Vesper street, where his son, L. H. Anthony, is now located. Philip Anthony is the father of eight children, four daughters and four sons. The daughters are Mrs. R. E. Richie, Mrs. Mary Frank, of Lock Haven, Pa., Mrs. Frederick Slifer, of Irvona, Pa., and Mrs. W. F. Swengle. The sons who are living are L. H. and J. P. Anthony, both residents of Lock Haven, Pa., the latter at present serving as alderman from the First ward of Lock Haven, Pa .; two other sons, Charles F. and E. W. Anthony, are dead, the former being killed in the war, and the latter dying in Lock Haven, Pa., a few years ago.
GEORGE A. EMERY.
George Arnold Emery was born at Vasselboro, Maine, May 15th, 1810. He was the son of Robert S. and Temperence (nee Matthews) Emery. He was married December 2d, 1832, to Mary Libby, who was born at Gardner, Maine, May 26th, 1816. At an early day he was a lumber job- ber, and, previous to his coming to Pennsylvania, in 1850, had lumbered extensively on both the Kenebec and Penobscot rivers. He came to Ly- coming county, Pa., in 1850, and settled in Lock Haven in 1853. At that time he purchased a tract of land on the hill, now Fairview street, for the purpose, he said, "of living in the country." Although he had his home in Lock Haven, he has spent much of his tine away from the city. He has lived and done business in Tioga and Elk counties, and at
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the mouth of Tangascootac creek. While the family were living in Tioga county Mrs. Emery met with quite a thrilling adventure. Being left alone one night with her three small children, she took a candle and went to the yard for some wood; while there she heard a noise, and looking up beheld a large panther crouched on the limb of a tree. Had her light been extinguished there is no doubt but what she would have met with a horrible fate.
Mr. and Mrs. Emery have seven sons and one daughter. George M., who was mustered into the United States service in Company D, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry, August 11th, 1861; promoted to sergeant Septem- ber 25th, 1862, and mustered out of service September 9th, 1864. John C., who is now engaged in the shoe business at Haverhill, Mass. Benja- min L., who was a corporal in Company D, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was wounded at Cedar Mountain, Va., in 1862, and discharged at Alexandria four months later. Orlando H., who was also a soldier in the same company, was promoted sergeant in 1863, took part in both battles of Bull Run, served through the whole of the Peninsula campaign, and the battle of Gettysburg. He was wounded in the last named battle while serving as a message carrier for General Meade. He was a brave and daring soldier, and was at one time tendered a captaincy, but refused it on account of ill health. He died in 1882. The O. H. Emery camp, Sons of Veterans, was named in his honor. Colonel James M. Emery, an- other son, was also a soldier in Company D, Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Company A, 3d Pennsylvania Artillery. He served on various gun- boats, and was captured at Smithfield, Va., February 1st, 1864, and con- fined in Libby, Andersonville and Belle Isle prisons. He was exchanged March 25th, 1865, and discharged as corporal the following June. Joseph L., another son, is at present a prominent lumberman of Westport, Clinton county, Pa. Silas W., when thirteen years of age, was accidently killed in a saw mill on the Tangascootac creek, and Thankful B., the only daughter of the family, died at the age of one month. Mr. and Mrs. Emery are still living at their home on Fairview street, and both enjoying good health. Although their hair has been silvered by the frosts of three score and ten winters, and their lives busy and eventful ones, they have reared a family to be proud of. When the war cloud of the late Rebel- lion hung low over a divided nation, there went forth from their door- way five brave and loyal sons to fight beneath the stars and stripes,
IMPORTANT EVENTS OCCURRING IN CLIN- TON COUNTY.
FLOODS FROM 1692 TO 1865.
T The first important flood on the West Branch recorded in history occurred February, 1692. Subsequent floods occurred February 12th, 1731, February 17th, 1733, January 28th, 1737, January 7th, 1762, March 15th, 1784, October 5th, 1786. The flood of 1786 was called the "Pumpkin Flood" from the large quantity of pumpkins that was car- ried down the river. The next floods occurred October Ist, 1787, April 6th, 1800, April 23rd, 1804, November 20th, 1810, August 12th, 1814, and the greatest flood up to that time occurred July 20th, 1824. Subsequent floods also occurred March 5th, 1831, July 4th, 1832, May 17th, 1834, February 12th, 1837, October 9th, 1847, February 7th, 1853, September 28th, 1861. This flood occurring at that time was the highest since the flood of the year 1847. The next flood was that of March 17th, 1865. The Susque- hanna on that date reached the highest mark it had ever attained previous to that time. Much damage was done to property along the river. One span of the river bridge was carried away. The bridge at Westport and the one at Far- randsville were also taken away. Parts of Lock Haven were under five feet of water, several hundred yards of railroad was washed out, and thousands of logs carried down the stream. Mason's mill dam at Tangascootac creek gave way and 1,000,000 feet of logs were lost. The logs were the property of William Hill, and Fredericks, Kreamer & Co. One span of the Queen's Run bridge and both Kettle creek bridges were carried away. The brick kilns at Queen's Run were also destroyed. The damage done in Clinton county by the flood of 1865 was estimated at $2,000,000.
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FLOOD OF 1889.
We are indebted to the Evening Express for the following account of the flood of June Ist, 1889. The publishers of the Express took special pains to publish a full and correct history of the events of the week following the flood, and the following points can be relied upon as being as correct as any other account published :
The once beautiful city of Lock Haven is to-day a devastated city. From about nine o'clock last Friday evening until an early hour Sunday morning the West Branch river held full sway in Lock Haven. Nearly every stream above this city appeared to have joined hands to make this a memorable occasion. The West Branch was literally a valley of water. The dwellings of the poor and the rich on every principal street of the city, as well as all the business places and churches, were victims.
The scenes that have been witnessed in this city during the period of time that has passed since Friday evening, May 31st, to Monday evening, June 3rd, are almost indescribable. Friday afternoon, May 31st, tele- phone messages from Clearfield gave warning of a terrible flood at that place, and preparations were commenced by everybody for high water, although no one anticipated that it would equal in height that of 1865, which had always in the past served as high water mark in Lock Haven. All of that Friday, May 31st, rain descended heavily, and when, at 8 o'clock in the evening, the water commenced rising here the rain was falling in torrents. The river rose rapidly, and before midnight was over the top of the banks. Its rapid rising was the signal for hasty preparation for higher water than ever before witnessed in the city. As the water continued rising, (both the river and Bald Eagle creek,) the vast scope of land from mountain to mountain was soon a sea of foaming water. The boom gave away about 2 o'clock Saturday morning, and millions of feet of logs were taken away. Along Water street logs, trees and every con- ceivable kind of driftwood went rushing by the houses at a fearful rate of swiftness. The night was one to fill the stoutest heart with dread, and the dawn of day on Saturday morning was anxiously waited for by thou- sands of people. In the meantime men in boats were busy during the night taking people from their houses in the lower portions of the city and conveying them to places of imagined security. When day dawned on June 1st the water was still rising at a rapid rate. The city was then completely inundated, or at least all that portion lying east of the high- lands in the Third and Fourth wards. It was nearly 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon before the water reached the highest mark, and it then was about three feet above the high water mark of 1865. At 4 o'clock Satur- day afternoon the flood began to subside, slowly at first, and it was nearly night on Sunday before the river was again within its banks.
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Many people left their homes and went to the houses of others on higher ground than their own. Hundreds went to the First ward school build - ing and to the court house. Horses and cows were taken to the hills, and in many instances valuable horses and cows were taken to the second story of houses and kept there until the flood subsided. When the waters began to recede from the streets (Sunday morning) people began at once to move about and see how others had fared. Sidewalks had been torn up, and driftwood, saw logs, board piles, out-buildings, and everything that would float littered the streets, which but a short time before had been teeming with a happy, joyous and prosperous people. Stables, out-buildings, fences, coal sheds and wood houses had been swept away. Beautiful lawns and yards surrounding happy and prosperous homes were ploughed and torn by the raging waters. Desolation was everywhere. But the pluck and enterprise of the people remained, and everywhere the work of cleaning houses and places of business was begun at once. Stores were opened and provisions sold to stay the hunger of the people. Everybody seemed dis- posed to think they were fortunate in escaping with their lives, and could see on all sides persons who had suffered greater in a financial point of view than themselves. All day Sunday the work of removing mud from houses and stores went on busily, and Sunday night fell upon a tired and worn-out people, wearie'd in mind and body, to whom sleep came as a sweet restorer of mental and physical forces.
The Evening Express of Tuesday, June 4th, says:
It is too early yet to give anything like correct figures of the losses. All have lost heavily, and those best able to form an estimate place the aggre- gate in the city alone at $1,000,000. Among the heavy losers are the Pennsylvania Pulp and Paper Co., the principal feature of the loss being eight car loads of paper and a large quantity of wood and chemicals. The damage will not be less than $20,000. The mill is running on full time again. Other heavy losses sustained are Shafer, Kintzing & Co., $60,000; Hipple & Wilson, $12,000; Kintzing & Bickford, $20,000; T. B. Love- land, $2,500. All these figures are but mere estimates, given without an inventory or calculation.
A meeting of citizens was held last night at the office of Alderman J. W. Harris, to take measures for extending relief to the suffering and des- titute. Hon. C. A. Mayer was chosen president, and J. W. Harris, secretary.
Relief committees were appointed for the different wards of the city as follows:
First ward-Hiram Myers, C. F. Mann, John T. Beardsley.
Second ward-J. W. Smith, W. H. Brown.
Third ward-Rev. H. R. Bender, E. O. Aldrich, Robert I. Fleming. Fourth ward-John H. Agar, E. L. Moore, W. F. Elliott.
Mayor Mason was appointed chairman of the relief committees, with J. H. Laverty, assistant,
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