History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 106

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 106

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Daniel F. Pomeroy was more than a business man. All enterprises having for their object the advancement of the people, the borough, and the welfare of the county ob- tained his hearty commendation and support. He was, to an eminent degree, a public-spirited and benevolent man. In 1852, when the railroad was proposed through Troy, no one was more ardent, or with more untiring zeal went over the country to awaken co operation for its success. During the war he was a firm supporter of the government, and, though not in the field, many a soldier and many a widow and suffering family can testify to his timely aid. Kind and sympathetic, his heart responded to the appeals of the poor, and his efficient aid to those in sickness and distress was proverbial. An ardent friend of education, he actively co-operated in securing the present beautiful and commodious school building, and counseled for and helped forward its best interests. His habits were temperate and abstemious. Socially, he was genial and courteous, winning and retaining the regard of those with whom he came in contact. In 1841, Mr. Pomeroy was married to Miss Jane, daughter of Francis Tyler, Esq., of Athens. She died, leaving one child, Mrs. Fanny Rich-

J. M. Porment

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ardson. In 1868 he was again married to Miss Brunette, daughter of the Hon. Dummer Lilley, of Sylvania. On the 8th of April, 1872, he was called to a higher existence. He had suffered with an affection of the lungs for twenty years, and it is presumable that his sudden death was oc- casioned by the rupture of a blood-vessel. His funeral was attended by a large concourse of people who came to mourn for a friend lost, and

"Now he hath his full of rest ; Sods lie lightly on his breast With no sorrow laden."

COL. I. N. POMEROY.

The subject of this sketch was born in Coventry, Tolland Co., Conn., March 28, 1791. He was a son of Ebenezer Pomeroy, who was one of the most prominent merchants and citizens in Coventry, and represented his county in the Connecticut legislature. He gave his son an excellent educa- tion, which laid the foundation of his future successful business career. He went to Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y., where he remained till 1818, when he came to Troy, Brad- ford Co., Pa., and at once became engaged in the manufac- ture. of cloth with his brother, Ebenezer, which he followed very successfully for ten years. He then purchased a farm near Troy, upon which he lived ten years, when he bought the Eagle hotel at Troy, which was situated where the store of Pomeroy and Jewell now stands, of which he was pro- prietor nearly twenty years. About this time he built his residence adjoining the bank, in company with his son, Horace. He invested largely in village property, imparting, by means of his excellent business talents and liberality, a stimulus to Troy that will long be gratefully remembered. He was extensively connected for many years with staging and bridge-building, being considered one of the most courteous and genial of employers. He took a very active interest in military affairs, and was appointed colonel of a militia regiment. His affability and fine military bearing made him one of the most popular officers in his regiment.

He married for his first wife Anna O. Kingsbury, who died in the month of December, 1831. The fruits of this union were seven children, viz., Sibyl K., Daniel F., Elea- zer, Horace, Samuel N., Laura A., and Charlotte E., of whom the daughters and Daniel F. are deceased. For his second wife he married Maria Ann Merrick, who died Feb. 27, 1839. For his third and last wife he married Lucinda Merrick, of Springfield. The success of his sons in busi- ness is mainly attributable to the excellent business maxims which he taught them, one of them being that unity was necessary to success, and which his sons practically carried out, Horace, Samuel, and Daniel F. doing business together twenty-eight years without any stipulation in regard to their individual interests. He gave them the example of a spot- less daily life, together with a practical illustration of those principles to be observed which lead to success. He was very sociable and fond of good jokes. The old settlers speak of his stories and anecdotes as being racy, and spiced with a plentiful amount of wit and humor. Few men have left the impress of their lives and characters upon the places in which they resided more indelibly then Col. Pome-

roy, or have been more just in their business transactions. The people of Troy regard him as a public benefactor, and showed their appreciation of his loss by their large con- course at his funeral.

ELI B. PARSONS

was born in the town of Columbia, Bradford County, Pa., Nov. 3, 1824. His grandfather, Eli Parsons, who fought gallantly in the Revolutionary war, settled near Columbia Cross-Roads in the year 1800, and at once began to build a house and prepare the earth for cultivation. In the lapse of time Providence blessed his toil with material prosperity

ELI B. PARSONS.

and surrounded him with a fine family of dutiful children, of whom James, the father of the subject of this sketch, stayed on the old homestead and married Louisa Strait, a daughter of Capt. Burton Strait, a prominent soldier of the War of 1812. Our subject's boyhood days were spent pleasantly in alternately attending school and working on his father's farm.

As he approached his majority he evinced a strong de- sire for learning, which could not be quenched except by drinking at the sparkling fountain of knowledge. He ac- cordingly bent the energies of his soul towards disciplining his mind, and thus prepared himself to cope with the ablest champions of the bar in the legal arena of Bradford County. He studied law under Stephen Pierce, a celebrated lawyer, and also was graduated from the Cherry Valley law school of New York. In 1850 he passed a successful examination in the supreme court of the State of New York, and was accordingly admitted to practice in all the courts of the State. After establishing himself at Troy, Pennsylvania, he began to manifest that legal acumen which distinguishes him as a lawyer and financier. He did not, however, con- fine himself exclusively to the practice of his profession ;

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

but, having a speculative turn of mind, he made many bold ventures, which proved surprisingly successful. In 1868 he purchased the celebrated Minnequa springs, which, by his tact, he brought to notice, so that it has now become one of the most fashionable summer resorts in Pennsylvania. After selling this property to Peter Herdic, he bought, in 1869, the noted Watkins Glen property, then but little known; and, by his shrewdness, tact, and patience made it such a pleasant and attractive place of resort, that the prop- erty has become immensely valuable. In 1871 he leased it to the present proprietors, and in 1872 sold it to them. In 1875 he purchased the mineral spring in Cawker City, Kansas. The mineral sediment deposited from this spring (called the Wytouga or the Great Spirit spring) has formed

a mound fifty feet high, about six hundred feet at the base, and wide enough at the top for two teams to drive abreast. The spring is in the centre of the mound, and has wonder- ful medicinal properties. In 1875 he also bought the prop- erty, near Olean, New York, called Rock City, from the fact that it so closely resembles a city in its alleys, streets, and blocks. This he intends to make an attractive place of resort.

In all his speculations he has been remarkably successful; and this has not been the result of chance, but of an almost intuitive knowledge of human nature and a rare faculty of knowing just what will " take" with the public. There are few keener business men, or many who have a wider range of experience with the public mind, than Mr. Parsons.

TUSCARORA.

THE geographical situation of the township of Tuscarora is between the townships of Pike on the north, and Wya- lusing and the Susquehanna river on the west, and Susque- hanna county on the east, and Wyoming county on the south.

It has an area of about thirty-five square miles. The surface of the township is hilly generally, but the soil is, notwithstanding, fertile, and produces the cereals and grass of a most excellent quality. The town is well adapted to grazing and dairying.

The Susquehanna washes the southwestern border of the township for the distance of about two miles; the Tusca- rora creek rises in the northeastern part of the town, and runs nearly due south through the eastern portion of the same, passing into Wyoming county. Its principal tributaries are the Little Tuscarora, coming in from the west, but pass- ing from the town before its junction with the main stream, Pond, and Stephens creeks, also coming in from the west. There are also several small ponds or lakelets in the town- ship.

The township was erected from Wyalusing in 1830, and received the name of Spring Hill. In 1856 the name was changed to Tuscarora.

SETTLEMENT .*

The farm now owned by Mr. B. W. Edwards, and lying immediately back of Laceyville, in Lycoming county, is un- doubtedly the first possession occupied by a white settler in the present town of Tuscarora. It is a part of a large tract, surveyed in the warrant name of Jacob Erisman, Aug. 4, 1773, in pursuance of a warrant dated April 3, 1769. Erisman conveyed it by deed poll to Joseph Wharton, April, 1775. Wharton, who owned and occupied the land for the space of thirty-three years, secured the title by patent from the commonwealth in 1777. Wharton built his first log

cabin on the highest ground, about sixty rods southeast of the present location of the Spring Hill road. He made a good road direct from his house to the river, the terminus being near the present residence of P. O. Lacey.

There was no road along the river until as late as 1790, travelers taking the Indian paths or river-beach. This pio- neer improvised his samp-mill by felling a huge white-pine, and hollowing out the stump for his mortar, and used a heavy Indian pestle for grinding the corn. The identical pestle is now in the possession of B. W. Edwards, the present owner of the land. The owner of this mill fre- quently loaned its use to his neighbors,-after he had some, -for there was no water-mill nearer than the Wyoming valley.

Wharton cleared and fenced about sixty acres of land, and set out an orchard. He also built a second log house in the central part of his clearing. This house stood some thirty rods from the present location of the road, and directly back of Edwards' farm-house. In 1808, Joseph Wharton con- veyed this farm to Elihu Hall and Elihu Hall, Jr. The Halls were carpenters, and made but little improvement on the land. Finding the Wharton house too small for both families, they demolished. it, and built a long log house, with a chimney at each end, which they laid up with rough stones as high as the mantel, which was of wood ; and above the mantel oak staves took the place of stones, which were laid up "cob-house fashion," the interstices being filled with clay mortar. Both outside and inside were covered with a thick coating of the mortar, which was put on with the hands of the builders, in lieu of trowels, the latter article being absent in that neighborhood. The roofing was shingles .about three and a half feet long (called, in western parlance, " shakes"'), shaved thinner on one side than on the other, for overlapping the edges, and laid about fourteen inches to the weather. They were fastened on with wrought nails, of the nearest blacksmith's make.

# Contributed by Rev. D. D. Gray.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

While the Halls were in possession the Spring Hill road was opened in part. They built a plank house on this road, and sold out to Jacob Gray in the spring of 1815. Rev. D. D. Gray was then a boy of seven years old, and he asserts that he traveled every sled-path, and visited every habitable part of the township, the first year of his resi- dence. He thus names the families resident in the town- ship in that year, 1815 : Thomas Morley, Stephen Beeman, Edward Cogswell, and Elisha Cogswell, on Tuscarora creek ; James Black, Harry Ackley, Jacob Huff, Reuben Shum- way, and Stephen Bowen, on Spring Hill; William Clink and Daniel Johnson, on South Spring Hill. These settlers had at that time from two to twelve acres of cleared land cach, the whole of the improved land in the township, aside from the Wharton farm, probably not exceeding eighty acres.

About this time Jeremiah Lewis, Chester Wells, and several others made a beginning, and in the course of a few years all the land suitable for farming purposes was taken up.

The first settler* on the Tuscarora creek, within the pres- ent bounds of the township, was Oliver Sisson, who came thereto in 1805, and located four miles from the river, on the farm known on the Bradford County map as the " Cogs- well Homestead," and the hill known as Sisson hill re- ceived its name from him. He died in 1809, leaving all of his property to his wife, his will being recorded in Wilkes-Barre, as this was then a part of Luzerne county. The possession, or quitclaim right, was conveyed by the widow to Julius and Elisha Cogswell about 1809. Julius soon after conveyed his interest to Elisha, and the farm has ever since remained in the family, and is now owned by the Rev. Bela Cogswell.

Edward, Joel, and Daniel Cogswell, three brothers, came from Connecticut and settled in Bradford County. Daniel soon moved away and was lost sight of. Joel settled near Le Raysville, where he lived and died. He reared a large family of children, and was the father of the elder Dr. Cogswell. Edward was a miller by trade, and worked in the mills all along the Susquehanna, down as far as the mouth of the Lackawanna. While he was at work in the mill now known as Lewis' mill, one day his boys, Elisha and Julius, were down the creek fishing, when a bear came on the scene, and began to demonstrate on the young fisher- men, who, deeming discretion at that particular juncture the better part of valor, sought refuge in the mill, the bear following them closely, almost to the door.

Edward settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Dr. Cogswell, a son of Elisha Cogswell. Elisha Cogswell was a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife was a daughter of Bela Ford, who came from Seho- harie Co., N. Y., to Pike township, as early as 1807. The Cogswell genealogy is as follows : Edward Cogswell married a sister of Stephen Beeman. Their children were-Elisha, married Hannah Ford, died at East Spring Hill, 1873, at the age of eighty-seven years ; Julius, still living at Auburn Corners, Susquehanna county ; Amos, died in youth ; Sally, died unmarried; Orilla, married John Morley ; Eunice,

married Levi Merrill, and lives in New Era (Terry), Brad- ford County. Rev. Bela Cogswell, the oldest of Elisha Cogswell's children, was born Jan. 10, 1817. In early life he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, and when but sixteen years of age received a license as a local preacher in that connection, which he held for several years. Owing to a change of views on certain doctrinal questions he severed his connection with the Methodist Episcopal church and united with the Free-Will Baptists, and was chiefly instrumental in organizing the church of that de- nomination at East Spring Hill, and in the erection of the house of worship at that place. He has been its only pastor. During that time he has also had the oversight of the Liberty Free-Will Baptist church in Susquehanna county.

Reuben Shumway came into Tuscarora in 1805. He came from Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1801, to the Wyalusing, near the present residence of the Widow Buck, and lived there four years. He also lived a short time on Lime hill. He settled in Tuscarora, on the farm now owned by Stephen Lyon. At this time there was nothing but a foot-path over the hill. His wife was Miriam Town, a sister of Joseph C. Town. She died in 1819, and was the first person who died on the hill, and the first person buried in the burying- ground near Mr. Lyon's. She is spoken of as a very ex- cellent woman.

His family consisted of Esther, Silvenus, Darius, Cyrus, Alva, Luther, Reuben, and Sally. Esther was married before the family came to Tuscarora, and never followed them here. Silvenus married Esther, daughter of Benja- min Hurlbut, and moved to Ohio. Darius married Cath- erine, also a daughter of Mr. Hurlbut, and lived where Hiram Shumway now lives. He was killed by the running away of his team down Break-neek hill, about 1845. Lu- ther died when a child, of smallpox. Cyrus married Bridget Clink. Alva married Rhoda Quick, and moved to Illinois. Reuben married Mary Ann Foster. Sally died young.

The two brothers, John and William Clink, came from Steventown, N. Y., to the present location of Laceyville in 1810, moved to Skinner's eddy 1811, and from thence in 1814 to Spring Hill. They removed from thence to Au- burn, Susquehanna county.

Benjamin Hurlbut moved from Elizabeth City, N. J., to the Wyalusing ereek in 1803. He was a miller, and was employed in Gordon's, and afterwards in Town's mill. He came to the hill in 1805 or 1806. His brother Amos came with him. Benjamin bought the Connecticut title of Gordon. He married a lady whose family name was Smith, in New Jersey. Their children were-Esther, who married Sylvenus Shumway ; Catharine, who married Cyrus Shum- way ; Eliza, who married a Brace ; Charles; John; Rebecea, who married William Clink ; and Joanna, who married a Cook. Mr. Hurlbut died about 1817, on the farm he first purchased.

John Maxfield came into the township about the time that Mr. Hurlbut died, put up a house, but removed after a year or two.

Stephen Beeman came soon after 1809, and began a clearing a mile below the Sisson place, where Oliver Warner

# Contributed by Rev. Bela Cogswell.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

now lives. He made his residence on this farm during the remainder of his life, but died suddenly while on a visit to his daughters in Susquehanna county. Mr. Beeman had no children by his first marriage, but married a second time, and reared a large family. He was a brother to Ed- ward Cogswell's wife. His mother came to the township with him, but died fifty years ago.

Dr. Ebenezer Beeman, a brother of Stephen, was a skill- ful physician, and noted for eradicating or rendering innoc- uous the venom of poisonous reptiles. Dr. Nathan Scoville was associated with him in the practice of their profession. Aaron Beeman, of Le Raysville, was also a brother of Stephen. They were Connecticut men. Alpheus and Daniel Lewis Crawford, brothers, came from Connecticut and settled at East Spring Hill about 1829. David Lacey came about the same time. The father of the Crawfords came to Wyom- ing at an early day. After getting a house begun, he sent for his family. His wife started alone on horseback, with two little children in a bed-tick slung across the horse's back. She drove in a cow, which, with a stock of bread taken from home, furnished the party food for the journey. Alpheus Crawford went west to Lee Co., Ill. D. L. Craw- ford lives near Stevensville.

Emanuel Silvara came from Portugal. When a lad he secreted himself on a vessel bound for the United States, and was discovered when a short distance from port. On landing in America the captain sold him for three years to pay for his passage. He served his time, after which he married and came to East Spring Hill about 1839 or 1840. He bought the Crawfords' farm, and though to a great ex- tent ignorant of our language and destitute of all advan- tages of education, he accumulated a fine property. The little village which has sprung up about the place where the old mansion was built is called Silvaraville in his honor. He reared a large and respectable family.

Burrows Dowdney was from New Jersey, and lived at the mills. Some time after Abial Keeney bought Dowd- ney's farm, and the latter removed from the town. David Dare was a relative of Dowdney's, and Dare's sister was the wife of George Smith.

Jacob Huff was a native of Germany, and emigrated therefrom to this country about the time hostilities com- menced between the mother-country and the colonies. He enlisted in the service of the latter, and was engaged in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Brandywine, and others not remembered. He lived where Milton Lewis now lives. He died at the age of eighty-one years.

Other early settlers, not heretofore named, were Daniel Merritt, on the place now occupied by Martin Lyon ; Moses Rowley, where the Gartlands now live; Richards, and Starks.

FIRST THINGS.

The first framed barn was raised in the township June 24, 1822, by Elisha Cogswell, on the Cogswell homestead.

The first saw-mill was built about 1820, by Ludd Gay- lord, near the mouth of the creek where the present foun- dry is located. A grist-mill was afterwards built there. Previously the nearest mill was at Wilkes-Barre.

The first white child born in the township was Marinda, a daughter, to Julius Cogswell, in 1811.

The first death in the town among the settlers was that of Oliver Sisson, in 1809.

The first marriage in the township was that of John Morley and Orilla Cogswell, in 1816. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John Hazzard, the first Methodist cir- cuit preacher on the creek.

The first regular religious services were held by this minister in 1813, in the house built by Oliver Sisson.

The first carriages were carts. The wheels were blocks sawed off of large logs, the blocks beings from six to eight inches in thickness. These were facetiously called " Toad- smashers." The grain was cut with a sickle, threshed with flails, and winnowed by the wind. The hand-fan was sim- ilar in shape to the ordinary dust-pan of domestic use, but much larger, and made of wood. Corn was pounded in mortars, and made into samp or hominy ; the forest and stream furnished the meat in due season, and brides were wooed and won in homespun.

The settlers were generally poor in worldly wealth, but they were temperate, industrious, hardy, patient, and jolly. They spoke sportively of their inconveniences and hard- ships, feeling that better things were in store for them. Strong arms dealt sturdy blows upon the forest, and year by year the openings grew broader and the sunlight more cheerful. As the years passed the stumps were removed, and Tuscarora began to assume the air and appearance of an old settlement. To-day the farms are well fenced, smooth, well stocked, and well tilled. New buildings are taking the place of the old ones, the children are occupy- ing and enlarging the bounds of the forefathers, and the ancient landmarks, the forest, and the tangled bridle-path are removed forever. Competency, thrift, and contentment reign apparently throughout the township.

The township is divided into seven districts, wholly within the town, and one joint district (No. 2) with Wya- lusing, each of which has a school-house, in which good schools are taught for at least six months each year. There are also four houses of worship in the township, two post- offices,-Spring Hill in the west, and East Spring Hill in the east part of the town,-mills, stores, and mechanics' shops, a physician and surgeon, and a resident clergyman. The population in 1850 was 855; in 1860, 941; 1870, 1224.

FORMER INHABITANTS

once occupied this territory, and for a long time resisted the encroachment of the fathers of the present dwellers. They were the wild beasts and the Indians. The latter surrendered their places more quickly than the former, and more bloodily, too, so far as the invaders were concerned. At the mouth of the Tuscarora creek an encampment or village of the Tuscarora tribe of the Six Nations used to exist, which gave the name to the creek; hence the name of the township.

The forests were the home of numerous bears, wolves, panthers, and lynxes, whose depredations upon the folds and flocks of the early settlers were frequent and destructive. Bears climbed into pens and took out hogs, fattening for the table of the good wife, without so much as a " by your leave." Wolves made havoc in the sheep-pens unless pro- tected by high board fences. A rail pen was an assistance

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

rather than a hindrance to their work. They were trapped and hunted with a will, but it was twenty years before they were exterminated. Bruin surrendered more easily and quickly. He was not so sharp as his gaunt brother, the wolf, and fell into pitfalls and snares with little provocation, . and was soon driven from the township. He never could resist the seductive influence of a piece of fresh pork. Herds of deer frequently cropped the green wheat in the fall, or gorged themselves with the ripened buckwheat, de- stroying as much as they ate, and they soon passed away. Wild turkeys in large flocks found delicious feeding too on the buckwheat, beginning to take their full share of the crop as soon as the grain began to ripen, and continuing to harvest the same until the crop was gathered in. Small boys were frequently sent to frighten the persistent thieves away.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 106

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 812

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812