USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Ransom > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 15
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Newton > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 15
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After the decree of Trenton, in 1782, Provi- dence became one of the townships of North- umberland county which had been organized in 1772, and embraced the territory in dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Upon the erection of Luzerne county four years later, it was included within its boundaries; but it was not organized into a township of said coun- ty until 1792, when it was separated from Pitts- ton. As a township Providence has become extinct. In April, 1819, a portion was set off as a part of Blakely; Jan. 4, 1829, the western portion was reannexed to Pittston township; March 14, 1849, Providence borough was erect- ed from its territory ; Hyde Park borough, May 4, 1852; Scranton borough, Feb. 14, 1856; Dunmore borough, April 10, 1862. The city of Scranton was incorporated April 23, 1866, which embraced within its limits all that then
HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY
79
remained of the ancient township of Providence and the boroughs of Providence, Hyde Park and Scranton.
The first whites who settled in Providence, as originally bounded, were Timothy Keyes, Andrew Hickman and Solomon Hocksey. They erected a cabin in 1771, where Taylorville now is, on the bank of the creek which has since been named in honor of Mr. Keyes. Mrs. Hickman was one of the first five women in Wyoming. The same year Isaac Tripp, one of the proprietors of the Susquehanna company, built his log cabin near the vacated wigwams of the Monsey Indians at "Capoose Meadows," and without clearing a foot of land planted and raised a crop of corn the first season, on the
BLAKELY township was first settled by Tim- othy Stevens in 1786, near what is now Dick- son City. This township was formed from parts of Providence and Greenfield townships in 1818, and is now merged into the boroughs of Blakely (1867), Jermyn (1870), Dickson City (1875), Olyphant (1877), Archbald (1877) and Winton (1877).
OLD FORGE. This township was formed from Lackawanna township, May 26, 1871, and con- tained nearly nine square miles. Among the pioneers none were more prominent in business affairs and in the development of the town- ship's resources, than Dr. William Hooker Smith, who came here in 1789, after having
"DOVERE-
SCRANTON
"ROCKTAN"SHOE"
BUPT
SAY
CLARKE
DOS SISTE
CENTRE OF SCRANTON, SHOWING COURT HOUSE, 1908 Courtesy of Wyoming Historical Society, Wilkes-Barre
plantation deserted by the Indians a short time before. There were more than a score of other purchasers of land in the township between 1772 and 1775. In 1775 James Leggett emi- grated from New York and located at the mouth of the creek now bearing his name. He was the first to make an improvement above Provi- dence village. In the Connecticut Susquehan- na Company's original plat of the township this tract had been allotted to Abraham Stan- ton, in 1772. The next year it was transferred by Stanton to John Staples. On account of some dereliction of duty, Staple's claim was de- clared forfeited, and in 1774 it was granted to Davis Thayer. When he sold it to Leggett, in June, 1775, this, with several other tracts of land in the vicinity were covered with unbroken forest.
lived in the Wilkes-Barre clearing from 1772. He was a competent surgeon and physician, and, excepting Dr. Sprague, he was the only physician in 1772 between Cochecton and Sun- bury, a distance of 150 miles. He was a plain, practical man, with all the old-fashioned faith in the virtues of bleeding. In the Spring of 1789 Dr. Smith and James Sutton built a forge just above the mouth of Ascension brook, on the rocky edge of the Lackawanna and just be- low the rapids or falls. This was the only con- cern of the kind in all old Westmoreland, ex- cept one at Newport, built in 1777. From it the township derived its name. Its population was 1,408 in 1880: 4.422 in 1890. Since 1890 the township has become extinct, being merged into Old Forge borough and part of Taylor borough.
80
HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY
VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY
In 1910 there were 1,692 farms in Lacka- wanna county, a decrease of 163 since 1900; but the value of the property has increased more than a million dollars.
The area of the county is 288,640 acres, of which 134,000, or forty-six and one-half per cent., are farm lands.
The value of the farm property is distributed as follows: Land, $4,517,971; buildings, $2,- 291,295; implements and machinery, $501,- 073; domestic animals, poultry and bees, $994- 343.
The following table shows the number of domestic animals, including poultry and bees, and the value of each :
Number 13,339.
.$403,437
Horses
3,675
470,015
Mules
87.
8,371
Asses
45.
1,562
Swine
4,218.
37,866
Sheep
2,373.
11,279
Goats
10.
104
Poultry
58,010
Bees (colonies)
930 ...
3,699
The following crop production for the census year was shown :
Acres
Bushels
Corn
. 1,250.
.39,014
Oats
4,651.
.101,440
Wheat
19
315
Buckwheat
. 2,152.
37,077
Rye
1,037
14,309
Potatoes
. 2,763. .. 263,917
POPULATION OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS SINCE 1890
1910
1900
1890
Archbald borough.
7,194
5,396
4,032
Benton township.
807
1,024
1,052
Blakely borough.
5,345
3,915
2,452
Carbondale city.
17,040
13,536
10,883
Carbondale township.
1,635
1,440
1,784
Clifton township.
203
200
172
Covington township ..
641
794
884
Dalton borough (a) ..
767
681
Dickson City borough (b) 9,331
4,948
3,110
Dunmore borough ..... 17,615
12,583
8,315
Elmhurst borough (c) . .
379
444
443
Fell township (d) ... . . 4,353
2,404
1,154
Glenburn borough. 319
307
290
Gouldsboro borough .. . 84
93
141
Greenfield township.
590
681
673
Jefferson township.
633
750
696
Jermyn borough.
3,158
2,567
2,650
Lackawanna town'p (e)
2,756
5,623
8,061
LaPlume borough. . .
258
274
253
Lehigh township.
119
129
146
Madison township (h) ..
640
1,242
1,257
Mayfield borough (f) .. 3,662
2,300
1,695
Moosic borough (g) . ... 3,964
650
....
Newton township (i) ...
1,417
1,281
1,059
North Abington twp. (a)
319
362
1,090
Old Forge borough (j) . 11,324
8,505
6,180
4,083
Ransom township (k) . .
849
894
650
Roaring Brook township 235
213
335
Scott township
1,296
1,255
1,213
Scranton city.
129,867
102,026
75,215
South Abington twp ..
1,987
1,612
1,083
Spring Brook township.
439
458
756
Taylor borough (j) . ...
9,060
4,215
Throop borough (b) ...
5,133
2,204
Vandling borough (d) ..
985
765
Waverly borough. .
515
489
292
West Abington twp (a)
216
219
Winton borough
5,280
3,425
1,787
259,570
193,831
142,088
(a) Dalton borough and West Abington town- ship organized from parts of North Abington town- ship since 1890.
(b) Throop borough organized from part of Dickson borough since 1890.
(c) Formerly Dunning.
(d) Vandling borough organized from part of Fell township since 1890.
(e) Parts taken to form Moosic borough and part of Taylor borough since 1890.
(f) Formerly Mayville.
(g) Moosic borough organized from
part of Lackawanna township since 1890.
(h) Moscow borough organized from part of Madison township since 1900.
(i) The inmates of the Hillside Home are in- cluded in the population of Newton township.
(j) Old Forge borough organized from part of Old Forge township since 1890.
(j) Taylor borough organized from part of Lackawanna and Old Forge townships since 1890.
(k) The inmates of the Ransom Home are in- cluded in the population of Ransom township.
Clarks Summit was formed from a part of South Abington township and incorporated into a borough August 30, 1911.
1,227
..
Moscow borough (h) ...
5,630
Olyphant borough
Value
Cattle
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
The history of Newton township dates back of the time when Newton became the name of this township, because until April 4, 1842, when Wyoming county was formed from a part of Luzerne county, this part of the country was known as Falls township, Luzerne county. The easterly line of the new county ran through Falls township, leaving the southeast- ern part of the township without an organiza- tion or a name. This was organized into a town- ship in 1844, and as a large per cent. of the first settlers of this section came from Sussex county, New Jersey, the county seat of which is Newton, they named it Newton, in honor to their home town.
RICHARD GARDNER, THE PIONEER SETTLER
The first white man to settle in what is now known as Newton township was Richard Gard- ner, who came to this township in 1803; made a clearing and built a log house on the farm now owned by Peter Corselius. This house stood near where the road now runs, only a few feet south of the gate in front of the present house. Later he owned the farm now owned by George A. Beck.
In 1807 he sold out to Jesse Harding and returned to what is now Ransom township.
Then, and for a long time afterwards, elk, panthers, bears, wolves and wild cats held full sway. The woods were also full of deer, and the creeks were lined with many kinds of fish. Gardner's Creek was a trout stream, which swarmed with the speckled beauties.
." .: Richard Gardner was born in Colchester, Conn., February 8, 1767. He was the oldest child of John Gardner, the first settler in Ran- som township. (See Ransom township). Rich- ard was only two years old when his parents came to Ransom township, and settled at the mouth of Gardner's Creek in 1769, and eleven years of age at the time his father was captured by the Indians, when he and his mother, with three smaller children, accompanied by other survivors of the horrible Wyoming Massacre, returned to their old homes and friends in Con- necticut.
At the time of the Indian massacre and when his father was captured, Richard was with his, mother in Fort Jenkins, across the river from where Pittston is now located, at the end of the - river bridge.
who was born in 1767 and died May 23, 1820, aged 61 years. Shortly after his marriage, Richard and his brother John, with their mother, returned to the farm settled by their father in 1769, opposite from where the Lehigh Valley Coal Storage Plant is now located. John was chiefly engaged in farming. He was the father of four children, and died March 30, 1836, aged 63 years, 2 months and 21 days.
Richard Gardner established Gardner's Ferry at Ransom about 1795. He was often subjected to much labor, and exposed to great danger on the river.
Richard Gardner was twice married, and was blessed with thirteen children, two of whom died in childhood, (Richard, Jr. died March 3, 1797, aged 3 years. 1 month and 22 days, being the first person buried in the old bury- ing ground on the bank of the river) while the remaining eleven lived to mature years, name- ly : John, Elisha, Anna, Benjamin, Mumford, Samuel, Malinda, Lydia, Elizabeth, Harriet, and another whose name is unknown. Two of the number were cripples from early youth. Benjamin was permanently paralyzed in the lower limbs at the age of eleven, which made him unable to walk, nevertheless he became an active business man, filling the positions of merchant, tavern keeper and postmaster for inany years, and was known throughout the country as "Uncle Benny Gardner." He died October 24, 1879, at the age of 85 years. Ma- linda walked upon crutches in consequence of having lost the use of one of her limbs by a fever-sore.
Mr. Gardner always enjoyed good health, and when nearly ninety years old he would walk to Wilkes-Barre and back again the same day, a distance of fourteen miles each way or twenty- eight miles both ways. A couple of summers before he died he laid thirty rods of stone wall. Mr. Gardner was a truly religious man, and a member of the Baptist church for many years.
"Soon after Mr. Gardner settled in this sec- tion he was accidentally shot by a companion, in one of his elbows, which was ever afterwards a source of trouble to him, although it did not make him a cripple. In a bear hunt, one of his companions, not perceiving that Mr. Gard- ner was in range between him and a ferocious old dam with two cubs, drew up his rifle and fired just as his friend was in the same act.
In 1788, when twenty-one years of age, Mr. - Unfortunately, the ball struck his elbow. "I've Gardner was married to Miss Lydia Chapman,! hit her," exclaimed the delighted hunter.
82
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
"You've hit me," answered Gardner, while the blood was streaming from his arm, and the bear escaped unhurt. They were in the woods some miles east of the settlement. One of Mr. Gardner's companions accompanied him home, while the other took a straight course through the woods to Lackawanna to procure the services of Dr. Hooker-Smith. It was two days after the wound was inflicted before Dr. Smith could be on hand. When he came the arm was much inflamed and swollen, and the probing, cutting and picking out splinters of bone was a most terrible operation, but it had to be endured. The wound was some time in healing, and the injury of the joint was such that the conse-
farm, near the Hillside Home. He erected his log-house about thirty rods south from the pre- sent residence, on the west side of the road leading from Schultzville to Kern's Corners, near the ledge. The farm is now owned by Thomas MeDonald of Scranton, and occupied by Mrs. Catherine MeNay and son.
SUBSEQUENT SETTLERS.
Among the settlers who came soon after Mr. Gardner, we find a Mr. Lutz, Zebulon Com- stock, John McMillan, Charles McClusky, Par- ley Von Cleveland, Henry Walters, Jacob Bic- secker, and many others followed.
RICHARD GARDNER AND HIS SON, SAMUEL
Richard Gardner was the first settler in Newton township. This picture was copied from an old Daguerreotype, taken only a few years before his death, which is his only likeness in existence.
quences were permanently troublesome. When eighty-eight years of age he received an injury to his spine by a fall in the barn, which much increased his stooping position."-Peck's His- tory of Wyoming.
Mr. Gardner lived to a ripe old age, and died on Independence Day, July 4, 1859, aged 92 years.
BARRONET RODNEY
The second settlement in the township was made by Barronet Rodney. He was born in New Jersey, and married Miss Elizabeth Drake, June 13, 1801. She was a daughter of Benja- min Drake. (See Benjamin Drake, also Eli- zabeth Drake). Rodney came to Newton town- ship in 1803 (a short time after Gardner), set- tling on what is known as the Theodore Stone
HENRY BEEMER was of German descent and was born in what is now called Beemerville, Sussex county, New Jersey, January 2, 1781. He was married to Mary Spangenburg (b. July 4, 1783), to whom ten children were born : Elias, the oldest ; Mattie, Jane, Alexander, Jesse, Adam, Lusetta, Sidney, Lydia and Amzi. The last four mentioned were born in Newton town- ship. They all lived to the age of maturity, and married and raised large families. Lydia is the only one now living, who married Allen Fitch for her first husband (died in 1858), and Benjamin Place for her second husband, and is living near Mill City. Elias, the oldest, was born in 1806, and married Phoebe Albright, a native of New York. Adam built a log house on the farm where Amzi Rosenkrans now lives.
Henry Beemer came to Newton in the sum-
83
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
mer of 1818, when about thirty-seven years of age, and cleared about ten acres, which he sowed to wheat, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Katherine Vanderburg, one mile north of Newton Centre, where he built a double log house. The remains of the old fire-place may yet be seen on the east side of the road leading from Newton Centre to Clark's Summit. He returned to Sussex county in the fall, where he spent the winter with his family.
March 1st, 1819, he returned to Newton, bringing his family. The trip was made through the woods by marked trees, arriving at their new home safely, excepting Adam, the baby, who was nearly killed during the trip by being kicked by a sharp shod horse, but provi- dentially escaped death,
The country was new, and they endured many hardships. They lived in the old log house until about 1838, when Mr. Beemer built a frame house, across the road from the log house. Only the fire-place and stone chimney remain to mark the spot where this pioneer home stood.
Mr. Beemer was a blacksmith, wagon maker, carpenter and shoemaker; making and repair- ing all his farm implements, etc. He had a machine for making rope. The nearest mill was at Slocum Hollow (now Scranton), where the early settlers took their grain to be ground, not in an automobile over macadamized roads, but horseback through the woods.
His home was headquarters in Newton and surrounding country for the Whig party. Here they would have their ox roasts, which usually lasted for two or three days. He and his sons and sons-in-law belonged to this party.
The parents of Mr. and Mrs. Beemer were born in Germany. Mrs. Beemer was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, July 4, 1783. She was a very neat housekeeper, and always was noted for being spry and the easy manner in which she did her work. Mr. and Mrs. Beemer lived on the old farm until death, Mrs. Beemer dying August 1, 1862, aged 79 years, 1 month, 7 days. Mr. Beemer died about a year later, September 24, 1862.
Jesse and Adam Beemer owned the farm where Amzi Rosenkrans now lives, and in 1848 moved to Illinois, making the trip with two teams.
WILLIAM BRINK took up a large tract on the mountain. He died in 1858 at an advanced age
HORACE COLLUM was born December 31, 1809, and died in Newton, September 2, 1867. He was a son of Richard Collum and a grand- son of William. His wife, Sarah Schelenger, was born August 21, 1813, and died March 10,
1897. They raised a large family. Horace Collum came from Sussex county, New Jersey, in November, 1832 and settled on the farm now owned by Dennis Michaels. He has two chil- dren living at this writing: Martha, living in Honesdale, and married Peter Collum for her second husband. George Collum is living near Elmira, New York.
ZEBULON COMSTOCK, one of the early settlers of Newton, was a bold and experienced hunter, and spent a good part of his time in hunting and trapping. On his return one evening from what is now Hyde Park, a hugh panther sprang out of the thicket just behind him. He quickly turned around, faced the savage beast. and thus walked backward about half a mile, keeping his eye steadily fixed upon the panther. when the animal finally turned and left him the vieto .. Early the next morning Comstock shouldered his rifle and, accompanied by his faithful log, returned to the spot where the panther sprang from the thicket. Here he found the remains of a deer the panther had killed and carefully covered with leaves. The dog followed the track of the panther about three miles, and treed him, where he was shot by Mr. Comstock. He came from near Forty Fort about 1812. and settled upon and cleared the farm now owned by Mrs. Daniel W. LaRne. He has two grandsons living in the township. Judson and Giles. (See Judson C. Comstock.)
JOSEPH COONS came from Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1816 and located on the fine farm now owned by his grandson, George L. Coon, about one mile north of Newton Center. Mr. Coons, like other pioneers, endured many hardships. He carried a grist of rye on his back to Slocum Hollow (Scranton). On his return he dared not take the flour from his shoulders, for fear he would not have strength to shoulder it again, and he rested by leaning against a tree whenever his strength began to fail him.
LEWIS COSNER (formerly spelled Casner) came from Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1816, and took out a patent on 248 acres of land, being the farm now owned by his grandson, Seldon S. Cosner. He was born January 4, 1791, and died in Newton township, November 18, 1818, when about twenty-eight years of age. He was a carpenter by trade. He married Rachel Knapp, who was born July 20, 1794, and died March 24, 1867, aged 72 years. After Mr. Cosner's death she married Abram Wil- liams, who died December 4, 1854, aged 55 years, 9 months and 24 days. Lewis Cosner was the father of three sons, John, born April 28, 1816 and died August 4, 1822; Lewis, born
84
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
March 14, 1818 and died July 31st the same year. David, born September 11, 1813 and died May 4. 1899.
TIMOTHY DRAKE came from Sussex county, New Jersey, about 1832 and settled on the farni now owned by Christopher Richards. Here be built three log-houses and the house where Mr. Richards is living. The first log-house was built about thirty rods east from the present house, near the creek. Here the first road was built. A few years later the road was changed to its present location, and as the first log cabin, which was sinall, containing only one room be- low and an attie above, would not accommodate the increasing family, a larger building, was erected on the new road, about fifty yards south from the present residence. Later the third log-house was built on the east side of the road about opposite the present site of Mr. Richard's tenant house, now occupied by John Snover. This was built for the hired help. He built the present framed house about 1846. In April, 1865, Mr. Drake and his family moved to Gil- man, Ill. (81 miles from Chicago), where he died in 1876. He was born in May, 1804. He married Miss Anna, daughter of Thomas and Christian (Bedell) Hough, by whom he had nine children: Ruth (Mrs. Larnce VanBus- kirk, Shay, Francis, Stephen, Mary (Mrs. Clin- ton Brink), Esther (Mrs. Fred Beemer), Su- san (died, aged 3 years), Phebe (died. aged 14 years) and John. Only Ruth and John are living. Ruth is living in Kingston, with her daughter, Mrs. Etta Switzer. John never, mar- ried., He is now living in West Nanticoke ..
JACOB JACOBY was born October 14, 1815. in New Jersey and died in Newton January 14, 1892. He was married April 29, 1844 to Miss Celinda Walter (b. March 19, 1824-d. Febru- ary 10, 1902). daughter of Henry and Cath- crine Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby had seven children : Catherine, born February 19, 1845, and married Noah Smith: Reuben, born Sep- tember 6, 1848 and died November 11, 1862; Ellen, born September 29, 1850 and died Au- gust 18, 1852; Mahala, born May 3, 1855 and died November 24, 1872; Arthur, born May 19, 1857; Benjamin, born May 31, 1863 and Har- lan, born December 26, 1866. These last three are living in Newton. Jacob came to Newton about 1836 and settled on a lot containing about five aeres that he purchased of Henry Walter. and built a frame house. He was a stone, ma- son by trade.
ANTHONY LACOE was born in France, March 11th, 1780. He came to Philadelphia in 1792. and to Wilkes-Barre in 1810, and was married in 1812 to Miss Amelia DuPuy, who
died in 1844. He came to Newton in 1850 with his son's family, where he died March 9, 1883, aged 103 years.
JACOB C. LESH came from Shawnee township, Monroe county, about 1835 and located near where Heury Summerhill is now living, where he conducted a wagon shop for about fifteen years. This was the first wagon shop in the township. In 1850 he moved to Newton Cen- tre where he conducted a shop until about 1855, when he located in Milwaukie. He was born in 1812 and died Nov. 18, 1892 in Seran- ton where he had lived since 1864. His pa- rents came from Germany. About 1831 le married Miss Christina Berry. Her parents came from Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Lesh were the parents of thirteen children, only three of whom are living, namely : Mrs. Jesse Hunt and J. B. Lesh of Falls township, and Mrs. Cather- ine Bullard of New York city.
HENRY LITTS moved from Montague, Sussex county, N. J., in February, 1821, to Newton. settling on the farm now owned by Charles Bie- secker. "He came to Newton the previous sum- mer'; purchased a tract of land, built a log- house, containing only one room, about two rods north of the present residence of Charles Biesecker, cut a road to it through the wilder- ness from the Adam Thompson place (now George Bieseeker), and returned to New Jersey for his family, in the fall. He hired William Havens, a brother of Zephaniah Havens, to bring his wife and children with a horse team and sleigh. Mr. Litts followed with an ox team and sled, loaded with their rude furniture and farm implements. and drove two cows and five sheep. He had only ten cents in money when he arrived in Newton. His family consisted of five sons and two daughters. In 1842 he built a' framed house, now owned by Charles Bie- secker, which was moved just above where Adam Thompson lives when the new house was built by Mr. Bieseeker. Mr. Litts was ap- pointed postmaster in 1844, and kept the post- office for several years at his home. He mar- ried Miss Catherine Hoyt, a relative of ex-gov- ernor Henry M. Hoyt. Mrs. Litts was one of the first members of the Newton Baptist church. She was loved for her acts of kindness. and Christian benevolence. Mrs. Jane Thomp- son, mother of Adam Thompson. who is living in Newton Centre, was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Litts. Mr. Litts died May 23, 1864, aged 77 years, 2 months and 18 days. His wife died July 10, 1861, aged 69 years, 1 month and 4 days.
MR. LUTZ located on the Henry Jacobs farm, which is now owned by William E. LaRue.
85
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
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