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 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
The total loss by the fire amounted to $138,000.
The total insurance amounted to $77,655, and was largely in the Ly- coming Insurance company.
The territory burned over, not including streets and alleys, was just four acres.
The frame dwelling and store of J. B. Lesher has been a barrier to three fires.
J. G. Calvert kept a large store, at the time, where the residence of Dr. Hayes now stands.
The most tireless and successful worker at the fire was Blanchard & Shaw's fire engine. It now stands under a shed in the rear of Kreamer's lumber office, and is quite a curiosity.
-
403
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
The Fallon house was kept by E. W. Bigony, the Clinton house by A. H. Mann, and the Mansion (now Irvin) house by W. W. Barker, father of ex-Mayor Barker.
A very active and energetic worker at the fire was Colonel Phaon Jar- rett, of revered memory, who, with his hydropult, saved the Fallon house stables, now occupied by Smith's livery.
The losers by the great fire of 1862 were as follows: A. Graffius, C. G. Weidhahan, O. Donaldson, Volney Isbell, J. Graffius, Harris & Bro., R. L. Shultz, Robert Irvin, Simpson & Nye, H. B. Amerling, A. Weyl, A. H. Mann, R. J. Moorhead, Jacob Brown, J. F. Sloan, J. F. Sloan & Son, A. Farnsworth, R. R. Bridgens, W. W. Barker, Boggis & Beadle, Louis Haberstroh, Benner & Gast, N. E. Johnson, A. M. Coe, W. H. Sanderson, G. W. Marshall & Co., J. N. Welliver, J. H. Schwallenberg, S. A. Gibson, Lock Haven bank building.
MURDERS IN CLINTON COUNTY.
THE PFOUTZ MURDER.
T HE first murder occurring within the limits of Clinton county was what is known as the Pfoutz murder, in which a man named Jacob Pfoutz was indicted for the mur- der of Alexander Montgomery. A true bill was found against Pfoutz September 9th, 1856, and he was put on trial the next day. The case was tried before Hon. James Burn- side and his associates, Nathaniel Hanna and Anthony Kleckner. The Commonwealth was represented by T. T. Abrams, C. A. Mayer and S. R. Peale, the former being dis- trict attorney. The jurors were Robert Ritchey, Thomas Kleckner, Wilson King, David Snook, Morris Mayers, John H. Auman, John Shoemaker, Valentine Hanna, David Irwin, David Summerson, Anthony Kleckner, Jr. and Jacob Rishel. The verdict of the jury rendered September 12th, 1856, was murder in the second degree. The sentence of the Court, pronounced the same date, was that "you, Jacob Pfoutz, undergo an imprisonment in the Eastern peniten- tiary for a term of five years, pay the sum of $100 fine and costs of prosecution."
THE HARTER MURDER.
This event occurred at Mill Hall, Pa., in the autumn of 1858. Theodore Rice, a young colored man, of herculean build, met his death at the hands of Elias Harter. There had been an ill-feeling existing between the two men for some time previous to the killing of Rice. The parties met at a dance, which was held at the old hotel stand, and be- came engaged in a dispute. Harter, it is claimed, had come to the place prepared for an encounter with Rice, and had brought with him a heavy club. Rice was a powerful man physically, and equal in strength to three men. Harter knowing this, determined to take the advantage of him if a
405
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
quarrel took place. Rice, not knowing his intentions, was not on his guard, and during a quarrel was struck by Harter, and received a fracture of the skull, which resulted in his death a few days later. The case came before Court at the December term of 1858. Hon James Burnside was presi- dent judge at that time, and Nathaniel Hanna and Anthony Kleckner were his associates. C. A. Mayer was district at- torney. He was assisted at the trial by John H. Orvis. A. G. Curtin, Samuel Linn and T. T. Abrams appeared for the defense. The following named persons served as jurors: Thomas Yarnel, Thomas Brooks, Benjamin Deise, John Strawbridge, Samuel Richard, George G. Irwin, James H. . Mckinney, George A. Achenbach, Thomas J. Rote, Daniel Eyre, Thomas Gottshall and Hugh Jordon. The trial lasted three days, and resulted in a verdict of acquittal. Elias Harter is now a resident of Michigan.
THE GAINES MURDRR.
The Gaines murder took place in Keating township July 13th, 1863. The murder was the result of a quarrel between two brothers, William and Robert Gaines. The former went to the house of his brother, and shot through the window at him, while he was eating dinner. The shot killed Robert Gaines. The murderer was arrested and lodged in jail. He broke jail and escaped, but was recaptured at the mouth of Sinnemahoning creek. William Gaines was in- dicted for the murder of his brother, Robert, December 15th, 1863. The case was tried in Lock Haven before Hon. Samuel Linn, Cephas Batcheler and Joseph Quay. The trial occurred at the same term of court as the Thomas Leach case. G. Omet Deise was the district attorney at the time. He was assisted by C. A. Mayer and S. D. Ball. The defense was represented by Hugh Nelson McCallister, John H. Orvis and S. R. Peale. The jurors who sat on the case were Benjamin H. Baird, Samuel Best, Samuel Sig- mund, Jr., Henry Caldwell, Benjamin Clark, Henry Krape, Samuel Wolf, Hugh Conley, Walter J. Westbrook, James T. Taylor, Jesse Laubauch and Matthew W. Ferguson.
406
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
The trial began February 10th, 1864, and a verdict of mur- der in the first degree was rendered by the jury February 21st, 1864. A petition for a new trial was presented by the defense, which was refused by the Court. William Gaines was brought before Court May 12th, 1864, and sentenced to be hanged. The case was carried to the Supreme Court, and the judgment of the lower Court not sustained. The case was then carried to Centre county, and tried before the Hon. Samuel Linn. The jury at this trial rendered a ver- dict of acquittal. William Gaines resided in the county up to the time of his death, which occurred a few years ago.
THE LEACH MURDER.
This murder occurred at Washington Furnace, October 12th, 1863.
The particulars, as near as we could learn, are as follows : Washington Iron works at that time were being operated by the Fallon Brothers, of Philadelphia; Samuel Watson was then superintendent. A dwelling, owned by the Fal- lons, was occupied by David Hoy. The said dwelling was rented by the superintendent to an Irishman named Thomas Leach; the latter desired to take possession of the same, and Hoy was preparing to vacate the place, but, being de- tained in some manner, was not able to get out of the house as quickly as Leach desired. The latter took his gun and went to the house, and ordered Hoy to get out at once, and threatened him with death if he failed to comply with his arbitrary request. Hoy endeavored to explain his delay. Leach, who was a cold-blooded, heartless wretch, without any provocation whatever, raised his gun to his shoulder and shot Hoy, killing him almost instantly. He was ar- rested by Sheriff John W. Smith, and a true bill found against him by the grand jury at December court of the same year. When the case was brought up the following jury was empaneled: David R. Summerson, George Shaffer, John E. Furst, Charles Russel, James A. Wilson, Robert Kleckner, John Clymer, Bethewel Johnson, Jacob M. Farley, Jacob Hess, Seth J. Nelson and Augustus Jones.
407
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Hon. Samuel Linn was presiding judge at that time, and Cephas Batcheler and Joseph Quay were his associates. G. Omet Deise appeared for the commonwealth, and C. A. Mayer for the defense.
Considerable time was spent in hearing the evidence and discussing the case, and it was not until Sunday morning, December 20th, 1863, that a verdict of "murder in the sec- ond degree" was rendered by the jury. Thomas Leach was brought before Judge Linn, December 23d, 1863, and sentenced to ten years in the Eastern penitentiary.
During the time he was in prison his wife married again, and went with her husband to Nebraska. Leach served out his time in the penitentiary, and then returned to this county. When he learned his wife had married another man he be- came very angry, and swore he would never rest until he had discovered their whereabouts and murdered the hus- band. It is claimed by some that he followed his wife and her new husband to their home in the West, and shot the latter, and that he met his death at the hands of a lynching party. The latter statement is denied by some, who claim Leach changed his mind and settled in the West, where he still resides.
THE HAMMERSLEY MURDER.
This murder occurred in 1884. Uriah Hammersley, an old resident of Leidy township, was murdered by his son- in-law, John Kehoe. The facts of the case were as follows: Uriah Hammersley was an old resident of Kettle Creek. He had reared a family of children. One of his daughters was married to John, and another to William Kehoe. John Kehoe and his wife did not live peaceably together, and this was a scource of strife between Kehoe and Hammersley. On several occasions the men had openly quarreled, and on one occasion Uriah Hammersley had received a severe beating at the hands of the Kehoe brothers. William Kehoe moved to the West, but John remained, and was prominently engaged in the lumber business. On the day of the murder Kehoe's wife, after a quarrel with her hus-
408
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
band, left her home and went to her father's house, a short distance away. Kehoe went to the place and demanded his wife's return. Hot and angry words ensued between father and son-in-law. Hammersley finally seized a piece of board and rushed at Kehoe, striking him several times. The stick was wrenched from his grasp, and an effort made to pacify him, but in vain; seizing another club he rushed at Kehoe, who drew his revolver and fired four shots, all of which took effect in the old man's body. He staggered a few feet, and fell dead. He was an old man in his sixtieth year. Kehoe was arrested, and after a hearing released on bail. During the September term of court of 1884 he was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree. He was sentenced to the Western penitentiary for three years and six months. After his term expired, he returned to Kettle Creek, and is a resident of the section at present writing. His wife died during the time he was in prison. At this trial he was ably defended by T. C. Hipple and John Metz- gar, Esq. The Commonwealth was represented by District Attorney George A. Brown, assisted by W. C. Kress, Esq.
THE COLBY MURDER.
The Colby murder occurred in that part of Clinton county known as the Sugar Valley Narrows, on the road leading from Washington Furnace to Tylersville. Here, on the banks of a little stream called Cherry run, lived Isaiah Colby and Norah Colby, his wife. Their home was a rude dwelling, built of hemlock boards, containing two rooms, one of which was used as a kitchen and the other as a bed- room. The house was built on a tract of forty acres of land, owned by John Colby; only one-half of this tract was cleared, and even that was in such a neglected condition as to be almost worthless. The Colbys were a simple, harm- less set, and eked out a miserable existence in this cheerless spot. Isaiah Colby was a son of Mrs. Anna Colby, born previous to her marriage with John Colby. Mrs. Colby's maiden name was Fritz, and Isaiah, when a boy, went by the name of Malachai Fritz. Nora Colby's maiden name
409
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
was Nora Jordon, a daughter of Flavious Jordon, of Flem- ington, Pa. Young Fritz and Nora Jordon were both adopted by John Colby, and when they grew up they were married, and located on the farm before mentioned. Here they met their death at the hand of the assassin Saturday evening, August 6th, 1887. The particulars of the crime are as follows:
On Monday, August 8th, 1887, Mrs. Anna Colby, wife of John Colby, and a nephew named Charles, who lived on a farm, about two miles from Isaiah Colby's, went to the latter's house, having previously promised to assist on that day in harvesting the oats crop. Arriving there Mrs. Colby was horrified to find the dead bodies of her adopted children lying near each other, about 120 feet from the house, where, from appearances, Isaiah had gone to cut grass. He was lying with the side of his face to the ground, a bullet hole in his right eye in the corner nearest the nose, and a basket, which had been filled with grass, near by. His wife was only about an arm's length distant. Entering the house Mrs. Colby and her nephew found the child of Isaiah and Nora, a bright, black-eyed little one, almost starved, and crying as though its heart would break.
A coroner's inquest was duly held, Justice of the Peace C. W. Conser summoning the following jury : Samuel Caris, foreman ; Emanuel Bressler, F. K. Miller, A. J. Grieb, W. H. Rishel and Jacob Ocker. J. D. Hubler acted as clerk for the jury, and Dr. J. H. Huston was the examining phy- sician. A verdict was rendered in substance that Isaiah and Nora Colby were shot to death by a person or persons unknown to the jury.
Owing to the fact that decomposition had set in, the remains of Mr. and Mrs. Colby were lowered in the graves prepared for them in the cem- etery at Tylersville, at 10 o'clock Monday night, August 8th, but were not covered until Tuesday afternoon. A guard was placed over the graves, so that the bodies could not be disturbed. The funeral services were held at 2 p. m. Tuesday, and hundreds of people assembled from all parts of Sugar Valley to witness the last sad rites over the murdered couple. Rev. Dotterer, of the German Reformed church, conducted the services. During the day crowds of people viewed the remains as they reposed in the open graves.
Isaiah Colby was thirty-six years of age. Nora was nearly twenty-one years old; they had two children, one fifteen months old, and the other about four years old-the oldest living with its grandparents.
' On Saturday morning, August 6th, 1887, William Ruhl, Ellis Frantz and Herman Bressler, farmers who attended the Lock Haven market, re- ported that they had been stopped on the highway in the Narrows above Washington Furnace, by a man who pointed a pistol at them, and com- pelled them to hand over whatever valuables they had. The victims of this villain agreed that but one man was seen, and their descriptions of
27
410
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
the man were alike, all declaring that the mnan wore light side-whiskers, a moustache, had on a slouch hat and a dark cut-away coat-and as soon as they had "delivered," he ordered them to move on, saying: "You will meet four other men down the road, but tell them that you met me and they will let you pass."
On the following Monday evening, as Chief of Police Westbrook, of Lock Haven, was sitting in his office, endeavoring to study up some plan whereby the perpetrators of the robberies of the Saturday previous might be discovered, Constable Blakeslee came to him and told him of the mur- der of Isaiah and Nora Colby, which occurred in the same locality as the robberies. The next morning two parties left Lock Haven in search of clues that might lead to the detection of the robbers and the murderers. The greatest excitement prevailed everywhere in Clinton county. One of the men robbed on Saturday morning, being positive that he recog- nized James Kline, a weak-minded individual, as the highwayman, Kline was taken in charge by Constable Blakeslee, and lodged in the county jail. John W. Johnson, who lived on the Colby place with his family prior to the removal thereon by Isaiah and Nora Colby, and who was known to have made deadly threats against the Colbys, was the man on whom the greatest suspicion rested, and Sheriff May and Constable Ellis Myers, of Lock Haven, found him at work in one of his fields, near Hublersburg, and took him into custody. The sheriff, learning that Essic Kline, a brother of James, was in Lock Haven at that time, sent word by a swift messenger to Deputy Sheriff James Wensel to arrest him. When the message was received, it was found that Essic had left the city, and at that moment was on his way back to his home in the Narrows. The deputy, accompanied by County Detective Keller, started after him, and captured him as he was traveling along the highway. He was brought back to Lock Haven, and arrived there at the same time that Johnson was brought in by the sheriff.
Chiefs of Police Westbrook, of Lock Haven, and Vernes, of Renovo, constituted another party of searchers. It was known that at least one of the gang, who committed these robberies and the murder, was yet at large, as the man with the revolver and side-whiskers had not yet been apprehended. Westbrook and Vernes had gone on the track of a sus- picious character who had been seen in the neighborhood, and were led into Union county. They run this clue out on Sunday, and found he was not the man they were looking for. When the sheriff was after Johnson he met ex-Sheriff Shaffer, of Centre county, who is a cousin to Luther's father, and who lives near Hublersburg, who told him that a man had passed through there on Thursday prior to the murder, and that he looked like Lute Shaffer.
On returning to Lock Haven a conference of all the officers was held, and it was decided that the man believed to be Shaffer was the man they were after, but inquiry among his relatives failed to show that he was in
41I
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
this part of the country, they believing that he had gone to Kansas, as Al. Shaffer, a brother of Luther, a Missouri farmer, had told them he had intended doing.
The officers were all at sea, and did not know where to turn next. But when matters looked the darkest Mrs. Swope, a sister of Shaffer, sent word to the sheriff that she wanted to see him. Then it was that the sheriff learned that Luther Shaffer had been there that afternoon, and after a stormy interview with Mrs. Swope, had left. The sheriff then in- formed his colleagues of what he had learned, and the first thing they did was to search the house of one Mary Baney, who was known to have been a friend of Luther's when he was at home before; but they discovered no trace of him there. The officers were now satisfied they were on the right trail, as Shaffer answered every description they had received of the high- wayman, and as having been seen in the vicinity of the Colby house on the Saturday before the murder.
On Friday morning, August 18th, as Sheriff May was standing at the passenger station waiting for Erie mail, his son handed him a telegram from Associate Judge Crawford, dated at North Bend, which read as follows:
"Come on first train; Shaffer up creek."
The sheriff then looked about for somebody to go with him, and spied Westbrook, who had just got off the train. Officer Vernes was also on the train, and when they arrived at North Bend Westbrook got off the train and ordered a team to be in readiness in half an hour. The sheriff and Vernes went on to Renovo, the former to transact his business, and the latter to change his garb to that of a woodsman, after which they re- joined Westbrook at North Bend.
It was about an hour before noon when the party started up Young- woman's creek after their man, having secured the services of John Quig- gle, of North Bend, as driver and guide. They arrived at Dick Francis' camp Friday afternoon, and learned that Shaffer had stayed there the night before and had left that morning. Pushing forward they reached Oleona in time for supper, and found that Shaffer was only a few hours ahead of them. Darkness overtook them when within a mile of Germania, and at a point where a road crossed the one they were on, at right angles. Here they lost the trail. They went on to Germania, however, and after making a search of the town, changed teams, and started for Pike Mills, where they arrived about 3 o'clock Saturday morning. It was here decided that Vernes and Westbrook should go to Gaines, on the narrow gauge railroad, while the sheriff and Quiggle drove to Lyman's Mills. At 11 o'clock they again met at Pike Mills to compare notes. They had dis- covered where Shaffer had spent the previous night-at a farm house about two and one-half miles off the public road, but at that point the trail was lost, and they knew not in which direction to go. It was then decided that the party should divide, one-half to go on the back track, and the other to visit Smith's lumber camp, and if Shaffer was not found
412
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
there this party was to go on to Coudersport. Without losing a moment's time, it was decided that the sheriff and Quiggle should take the back track and Westbrook and Vernes the other route.
The latter party then went on toward Smith's lumber camp, located in what is known as Wood Hollow, on the west branch of Pine creek. Observing a man coming down the hollow that led to the camp, the officers hailed him, and learned that a stranger answering the description of the man they were seeking had arrived at the camp just before dinner, and complained of being very tired. By an arrangement with the gen- tleman whom they had met it was the intention to make the capture quickly, and not give the man any chance to fight. This was success- fully accomplished, the officers getting within ten feet of their man before. they were seen by him. Shaffer was sitting on a little rise of ground watching other men who were engaged cutting fire wood. He was in his shirt sleeves, having left his coat hanging inside the tent. He offered no resistance when Mr. Westbrook stepped up to him and told him he was a prisoner. The irons were soon placed on his wrists, and he was taken down to where the wagon was standing, put aboard and driven to Ansonia, a station on the Pine Creek railroad, and that same night he was lodged in the Lock Haven jail.
On Friday afternoon, September 9th, 1887, the four men under arrest were arraigned before Alderman John P. Harris, of Lock Haven, and the testimony of the witnesses called being deemed sufficiently strong to hold them all on the charges of robbery and murder, they were committed to jail for court. Shaffer, however, by the advice of his counsel, waived a hearing, and stood committed, but he was allowed to remain in the room while the examination of witnesses against the others was proceeded with. The only evidence adduced that connected the four men jointly with the crimes was the testimony of Kate Bartley, who swore that she prepared a supper for the four men at Kline's house at 12 o'clock of the Friday night preceding the robberies, and that they left together shortly afterward. This testimony, however, has since been shown to be false, and the girl herself has admitted that it was untrue.
At the September term of the Clinton county Court true bills were found against Luther J. Shaffer, John W. Johnson, and James and Essic Kline, around whom a strong net-work of circumstances had been woven, leading to a suspicion that all four might be implicated in the murder of the Colbys, although all might not have been active participants in the commission of the crime. The trial was set down for a special term to begin December 5th, and at 2 p. m. of that day court convened. The railroad trains on the morning of December 5th were freighted with jurors, witnesses, and others, who poured into Lock Haven to become spectators at the trial. It was the Mecca to which the curious journeyed. Hotels were crowded, and in the thronged offices and reading rooms of the different hostelries no other subject seemed to be discussed but the Colby tragedy.
413
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
At 2 p. m. Court convened, a panel of sixty jurors having been drawn. Hon. Charles A. Mayer, president judge, and associates W. Kipp Ches- nutt and James W. Crawford occupied the bench. A great legal contest was anticipated-District Attorney George A. Brown and T. C. Hipple, Esqs., for the Commonwealth, and T. T. Abrams and W. C. Hollahan, Esqs., for the defendant Shaffer. Just as the work was to be commenced, W. H. Clough, Esq., counsel for Johnson and the Klines, presented a petition, asking that the men be tried separately. The petition was granted, and Shaffer was selected by the prosecution. The indictment was then read, charging him with the murder of Nora Colby. The pur- pose in omitting the name of Isaiah Colby was, that if Shaffer should by any technicality be acquitted on the charge of killing Nora, he could then be arraigned for the murder of Isaiah.
Shaffer was ordered to stand up while the indictment was read. He rose to his feet; there was not a single indication of nervousness; his form was erect, while his eyes, to those who carefully watched him, bore that peculiar keen, searching and vengeful appearance so characteristic of them. The question was asked: "What say you, Luther Shaffer, to the indictment, guilty or not guilty?" Fixing his gaze on Clerk Brown, with a smile that seemed defiant, and in a voice as firm as that of a military commander, he answered, "I am not guilty!"
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.