History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 109

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 109

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" Thomas and Oliver Corbin were sons of Clement. Samuel Griswold was our nearest neighbor.

" Jacob Burbank married a sister of Oliver Corbin. He came from Vermont to Warren as a young man in 1813, and boarded with Oliver Corbin. He bought the farm which joined Mr. Allyn. His first farm joined Mr. Corbin, and he lived there until his wife died, and then bought the other."

A Mr. Billings lived near Mr. Cooper, and was an early comer in that neighborhood. Oliver Cooper married a

* Dr. E. P. Coburn.

In 1815 the number of taxables had increased to forty-five.

430

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Steinberg. He was an Englishman, and came directly to Warren, where he purchased, and became one of the lead- ing men of the township.

Abel and Joseph Prince were brothers, and lived in the southern part of the township. They came after 1810.

George Pendleton was a seaman and a captain, and then followed the business of fitting up sailing vessels. He came to Warren about 1814. He had sons: George, Andrew, William, Nathan, and Charles. George and Wil- liam married sisters, Eliza and Caroline Pitcher ; Andrew married Charlotte, daughter of Luther Buffington; and Nathan married a daughter of Preserved Buffington.

Mrs. Pendleton had married a man by the name of Rogers; and J. P. Rogers, who kept the Valley House, was a son by this marriage. The first husband lived about a year after their marriage.

In 1802, James Bowen* built a grist-mill on the Middle Branch of the Wappusening, near the centre of the town, the materials for which were furnished by the land-holders, Ives and Brown. This mill was the first in Warren town- ship.

In 1803, William Arnold and Mr. Harding went to Sheshequin to procure meat ; they purchased one hundred pounds of pork, divided it equally, and started for home. Snow having fallen to some depth, and there being no track, Mr. Harding gave out when not far from where Potterville now is. Mr. Arnold left him to obtain help, but when help came they found him a stiffened corpse.

The first school was taught by R. Lee, in 1807. The first death of an adult by disease was that of Theda Corbin. Amos Coburn built the first framed house, and had the first " house-warming."

The first church erected in the township was of the Presbyterian denomination, in 1832. Missionaries visited the settlement, hunting the lost sheep in Israel, as early as 1806-7. Among those self-sacrificing men we name Revs. Woodward, Seth Williston, Kingsbury, Hill, Treat, Bas- com, and West. " In the Coburn settlement they estab- lished and kept up a 'reading meeting,' as it was called, for years before there was a man among them who could pray in public."

In 1816, the Congregational church was organized with fourteen members, of whom eight lived in Warren, the rest in Orwell. In 1822 a revival in Warren added forty-three persons to their number.

At a very early date a Baptist society was organized at Warren ; they were called "Old-School Baptists." In 1844 a New-School Baptist church was organized at War- ren Centre. In 1841 a Free-Will Baptist church was organized at the same point.

The Corbins and Coburns came from Pomfret, Vt. Captain Ebenezer Coburn was the father of Parley, Ebe- nezer, Jr., Amos, Andrew C., and Nehemiah. George was a son of Jonathan Coburn.

Alfred Allyn lived on the road to Pike, about two miles from Oliver Corbin's. He came from Providence, R. I., as also did the Bowens.

Among other early settlers who followed close in the

wake of those already mentioned we may name Charles and Robert Sutton, Isaac Van Brunt, Samuel Mason, Lewis Barton, and Samuel Mapes.

Amos Coburn built the first framed house in Warren, at which he had a house-warming, and all the good people in Martell, some on foot and some on ox-sleds; and how they tripped the light fantastie toe ! and, possibly, what was infre- quent, some of them went in store-troughs, drawn by their oxen, in lieu of sleds.

As an illustration of difficulty of another kind to which the settlers were subjected, the following incident may be related :+ "In 1800, Ebenezer Coburn was attacked with fever, and they had no bed, but borrowed Mrs. Bowen's. She, however, was soon taken siek, and the bed must be taken back. They then took the sick man on a horse, and carried him to Mr. Frisbie's, in Orwell, a distance of about eight miles. Parley Coburn then went to Tioga Point for a doctor, and, as the record has it, the doctor came, gave him some physie, and he felt better. He recovered, and the settlers enjoyed a good degree of health till 1814. Then came an epidemic fever which threatened to sweep off the whole colony. It was very difficult to obtain medical assist- ance. At Binghamton was Dr. Lusk, distance twenty-five miles ; it was twelve miles to Owego, for Dr. Waldo; at Wappusening Corners was Dr. Gamaliel Barstow ; at Tioga Point was Dr. Huston ; at the mouth of the Wysox was Dr. Warner ; and Dr. Seth T. Barstow was about four miles up the creek, no road to either place, and there were not well persons enough to take care of the sick. Ebenezer { Coburn, Jonathan Coburn, George Coburn, Jacob Allyn, George Pendleton, John Pendleton, Mr. Spalding and wife, Mrs. Bowen, and Mrs. Tripp died. Then there was no unusual sickness, at least no epidemic, until the winter of 1824-25, when Amos Coburn's family were visited with fever, and Amos Coburn and his wife died. These were the most fearful epidemics, I think, that ever visited these townships."

There are now in the township twelve school districts and four post-offices, viz., South Warren in No. 6, Warren Centre in No. 4, Warrenham in No. 1, West Warren in No. 8. Warren Centre, or Bowen Hollow, is the most considerable place; Warrenham and West Warren are business centres.

The following table shows at a glance the comparative growth and prosperity of Warren, by decades, for over a half-century :

Year.

Inhabitants.

Valuation.

1804

1814

$11,148

1824

129

76,156

1834

224

81,979

1844

304

91,594

1854

395

146,550

1868

377

209,464

In 1850 there were 1571 white and 2 colored persons in the township ; in 1860, 1555 white and 8 colored ; in 1870, 1417 white, 4 colored, 1291 native born, 130 foreign born, a total of 1421 souls,-one of the very few townships of the county in which there is a decrease in the population.

The township is bounded on the east by Susquehanna

* Mrs. Oliver Corbin says it was built by Noah Bowen.

+ Dr. Coburn

Opposite Page Damaged in Printing and Binding

Best Image Available

431

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

d ounty, on the north by the State of New York, on the rest by Windham and Orwell, and on the south by Pike ownship. In making inquiry as to the origin of the name, wo answers have been given ; one that it was named from ome place in the east, and the other that it was named in onor of Gen. Joseph Warren, who was slain at the battle f Bunker Hill.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN BEARDSLEE.

To sketch the early history of Mr. John Beardslee, the :Jents of his father's settlement in the locality will be riefly referred to.

Silas Beardslee was born in New Milford, Conn., May 7, 761. He moved to Stevensville, in Bradford Co., Pa., n the year 1794. He subsequently moved up the north branch of the Wyalusing creek, on the farm ever since known as the Salt-well farm. The surroundings of those rave heroes who changed the wilderness into fruitful fields were forbidding.

The only mill for preparing grain for food was a hole burned into the top of a stump, using a bent sapling for a spring-pole, with a heavy stick for a pestle, which answered a very good purpose for the neighbors for about ten years. He raised a family of eight children,-three sons and five daughters. The oldest daughter taught the first school ever taught in Apolacon, Susquehanna Co., Pa., and was the first person married in the township. His death occurred in 1820, his neck being broken by a fall from a load of hay.

John, the subject of this sketch, was born in Middle- town, Susquehanna Co., Pa., June 12, 1812, being only twelve years old at the time of his father's death; at which time his mother moved, with her children, to Apola- con, Susquehanna Co., on a small farm near the Bradford County line, where, by the combined efforts of both mother and children, they were enabled to keep the family scantily clothed and fed. Early learning the lesson of self-reliance, he indentured himself, at the age of eighteen, to the shoe and tanners' trade, with the Hou. Zebulon Frisbie, of Or- well, Bradford Co., Pa. He remained three years, and made the acquaintance of the family of Col. Theron Dar- ling, who came to Orwell in the year 1798, and married Sally Russell in 1802.

He subsequently married their daughter, Adaline, July 7, 1833. His early discipline of mind to habits of indus- try found full scope in his new home, established in the orth part of Warren, Bradford Co., Pa., where he bought piece of land and commenced the manufacture of boots nd shoes, and in a few years established a tannery, to which he gave the most of his attention for about sixteen years.

He then gave up the business to more fully engage in farming, which was always more congenial to his tastes. He raised two children,-one son and one daughter.

His business relations have always been diversified. He has employed more labor to carve out farms and bring them into cultivation than any other citizen of his town. He always took an active part in the civil, political, and educa-

tional interests of his town and county. He was always generous to those in want, and to his public spirit Warren owes much of its material prosperity. He has been fre- quently chosen to positions of trust by his fellow-citizens, and always discharged the duties of those he accepted with honor to himself and fidelity to the public weal. He was chosen county commissioner in 1864. His public policy was to equalize taxation and economize expenditures; as fruits of this policy, during his term the county tax was reduced one-third, and a county debt of $6000 paid. He is, at this time, living on the farm he originally purchased, enjoying the results of his early industry, and the blessings of an honorable reputation well earned : surrounded by the family of his son R. S. Beardslee, who succeeds him in his business.

NATHAN YOUNG.

The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Warren, June 15, 1820. He is a son of Nathan and Lucy Young, who emigrated from New Hampshire to Bradford County in 1815, locating in Warren township. His father died at the advanced age of eighty-two years, after having been prominently identified with the growth and develop- ment of Warren for many years. Mr. Young received a good common-school education. He taught school winters and worked on his father's farm summers. He was mar- ried, Nov. 8, 1843, to Miss Phoebe Coburn, who died a short time after her marriage. He married for his second wife, Sept. 9, 1846, Miss Nancy Bowen, a daughter of George and Sarah Bowen, who emigrated from Providence, R. I., to Bradford County in an early day. The result of this marriage was the birth of three children, viz., Irvin M., Isabel, and George G., of whom only Irvin M. is now living. Mr. Young owns a beautiful farm. A cut of his residence, barns, etc., can be seen on another page of this work. He has been an active member of the Republican party since its organization ; has held many town offices, the duties of which he has performed with spotless integrity ; has been a member of the Presbyterian church for many years; is in fair health, and will probably enjoy life for many years to come.

ANDREW DEWING.

The subject of this sketch was born in Salisbury, Conn., July 19, 1792. He is a son of Michael and Ruth Dewing. He came with his mother, when he was but nine years of age, to Warren, Bradford Co., Pa. His early educational advantages were quite limited, owing to the absence of schools. At the age of twenty-one he began to earn the means of his own support. He soon after bought a strip of land, upon which he now resides, clearing it himself. He was married April 1, 1820, to Miss Elizabeth Fahn- stock, of Harrisburg. She died in July of the following year. He married for his second wife Miss Nancy Dobson, of Susquehanna county. They had born to them four children, viz. : George F., Ann C., Ervin M., and Andrew, Jr., all of whom are still living, and well settled in life.

432

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Mr. Dewing has been an active member of the Repub- lican party ever since its organization, and has been a prom- inent member of the Presbyterian church of Warren for many years.

By his industry and perseverance he has amassed a band- some property. A cut of his farm, buildings, etc., can be seen by referring to another page of this work. Mr. De- wing is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.

WELLS .*

WELLS (with Springfield and Columbia) was taken from the township of Smithfield, in 1813, and named in honor of Henry Wells, of Wellsborongh, N. Y.

After it had parted with South creek and a part of Ridgeberry, Wells was left hut little more than 7 miles long from north to south and 4} wide from east to west, but it would be difficult to find an acre so uneven, rocky, or marshy as to be untillable. It occupies a rolling and well-watered farming district, situated between the head-waters of Seeley. South, and Mill creeks; being bounded north by New York, east by South creek, south by Columbia, and west by the county of Tioga, and was originally covered with a heavy primeval forest of beech, maple, hemlock, pine, and other timber.

The first permanent white settler was Rev. John Smith, familiarly called " Priest Smith." He came from Dighton, Mass., to the Genesee country, as the owner of lands, in 1790 or 1791, and organized at Canandaigua the first Presbyterian or Congregational church in western New York. About 1792 he came with his family and Connect- icut title, and located on what is now known as the Beck- with farm. He was a man of learning, and the first Chris- tian minister in this part of the county. "The word of the Lord was precious in those days," and new-comers would journey long distances by marked trees to hear lıim preach. He eventually moved to Kentucky ; but when he returned on a visit a crowd assembled to hear him again proclaim the gospel. Many eyes were filled with tears as he read, in his own inimitable manner, that hymn of Watts,-

"Like sheep we went astray, And broke the fold of God, Each wandering in a different way, But all the downward road."

Two other families, one or both by the name of Reeder, followed Smith, and built their cabins where we have the village of Wells; one was opposite the present residence of C. L. Shepard, and the other where John Roy lives. In 1795, Rev. Daniel Thatcher organized a Presbyterian church at Elmira, and constituted the adult members of these three families a branch of the same. This was the first religious organization hereabouts, but did not long con- tinue, for the Reeders soon moved away. They left a little

grave where C. L. Shepard has his garden, which probably indicates the first death in town.

Lemnel Gaylord purchased and located where Mr. Ped- rick is now, near the State line, in 1800. Mrs. Gaylord taught the children of her neighbors gratis, at her own house, which was the first school.

Solomon Judson came from Greenville, N. Y., in 1803, and located on grounds vacated by the Reeders. His chil- dren were Ithamar (then married), Samuel, Isaac, Sarah, Mary, and Jane. The aged parents were buried on the present farm of John Roy ; Ithamar had a house for the entertainment of strangers, and for religious worship, a little above where Shepard's store stands, but finally went to Ohio. Samuel and Isaac, after giving name to Judson Hill, went west. Two of the elder Judson's daughters still reside in the village of Wells.

Deacon Silas Waldron arrived in 1804, and, after assist- ing the Judsons for a time in holding reading and prayer- meetings, returned again to Connecticut.

John Osgood moved into the centre of the town in 1804, from Tully, N. Y. His children were John, Sarah, Wil- liam, Elizabeth, Levi, Mary, Thomas, Caroline, Shubael, Merrill, and Esther.

Samuel Edsall emigrated from Sussex county, N. J., in 1805, and located in the south part of the town. Adam Seeley had come in from the same place, and made a little beginning for him. Mr. Edsall's children were Permelia, Jesse, Richard, Charles, Barton, Lemira, James, Lewis, Seeley, and Jackson. This was the beginning of the re- markable immigration from New Jersey, which continued to such an extent that in 1850 one-half the inhabitants of the town were from that State, or from the adjoining county of Orange.

Shubael Rowlee arrived from New Jersey in 1807. His children were Shubael (who was a justice of the peace for , twenty-two years), James, Peter, George, Jonathan, Ana- nias, Patty, and Elizabeth. About this time Benjamin Seeley and Esquire Hyde located at Aspinwall. Soon after, Zephaniah Knapp settled half a mile north of Hyde; he being from Orange Co., N. Y. The wilderness rapidly filled up with such men as Samuel and William Ingalls, Thomas Warner and his sons Truman, James, and Hiram, James Gordon, Ralph Bovier, David Griswold, and others.

The first death of an adult was that of Peabody Keyes, who, soon after moving to the village of Wells, slipped on

* Contributed by Rev. J. Jewell.

PHOTO BY A J. FISHER.

PHOTO, BY G. N. WOOD.

DR. F. G.MOBROW.

MRS. F. G. MOBROW.

F. G. MORROW, M.D.

Erin, the land of the shamrock, gave birth to the paternal ancestor of the subject of our present sketch. Hamilton Morrow, at the age of fourteen years, emigrated from his native land, Ire- land, to America, and when about twenty-one years of age settled in the township of Herrick, Bradford Co., Pa., on the farm on which he still resides, and which he has brought from a state of wild nature to its present good state of cultivation. In the year 1839, when he was twenty-eight years old, he married Jane Walker, of New Milford, Susquehanna Co., Pa., and with her lived in harmony and domestic peace for thirty-five years, rearing a family of seven children to maturity,-three sons and four daughters, three other children dying in infancy.

The duties devolving upon the father and mother in the nur- ture and support of such a family, added to the struggles and toils consequent upon the reduction of the forest to well tilled fields, were no light task; but the duties were none the less con- scientiously fulfilled. As the children arrived at a suitable age they stepped into the line with father and mother, and assumed their share of the daily burden of the home life. The subject of this sketch being the eldest son, was of course the first to respond to the call.

October 27, 1873, one of the daughters, Mary Jane, died, and on Sept. 29, 1874, the family circle was again broken by the death of the mother, dearly loved by her family and friends.

Dr. Morrow was born in the township of Herrick, August 22, 1845. From a tender age until twenty years old he assisted his

father on the farm, attending the district school a portion of the time. He then pursued his studies at select schools in Herrick and Camptown, and also at the Susquehanna collegiate institute at Towanda, and under private instruction prepared himself for a classical course. After pursuing a collegiate course for a time in Lafayette college in Easton, Pa., he relinquished the same and taught school for a few months, and then began the study of medicine with Dr. T. F. Madill, of Wysox. He remained with this skillful preceptor for the usual time, and attended two full courses of lectures in Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia, graduating therefrom March 9, 1872.

On the 19th of the same month, he commenced life in earnest by marrying Miss Hannah Scott, daughter of John H. Scott, of Monroe township, Bradford County. She was born Feb. 29, 1848. Her father was born near Bethlehem, Pa., in the year 1800, and married Catharine E. Harris, of Berwick, Pa., in 1830, and soon after removed to Monroe. They reared a family of six children, two sons and four daughters; the sons, two of the daughters, and father are still living in Monroe, except Dr. Morrow's wife. Her mother died in 1864.

Dr. Morrow began the practice of his profession April 19, 1872, at Le Raysville, but soon after sought a more promising field at Warren Centre, where a good measure of success has attended him, he having at the present time an extensive prac- tice. Two bright and promising children, Lizzie and Charley, gladden the doctor's household, born at Warren.

J. V. BALLARD.

MRS.J. V. BALLARD.

RES.OF J. V. BALLARD, TROY TP, BRADFORD CO., PA. (MT PISGAH IN THE BACKGROUND, HIGHEST POINT IN THE STATE)

S. B. EILENBERGER'S COLD SPRING TROUT FISHERY, CONTAINS A SPRING FLOWING FROM 800 TO 1000 GALLONS PER MINUTE, SITUATED IN ALBANY TP, ON STATE LINE & SULLIVAN R. R.,BRADFORD CO., PA. ( FAVORITE RESORT FOR PIC-NIC PARTIES & SPORTSMEN)

RESIDENCE OF SHEP. H. BALLARD, WEST BURLINGTON, BRADFORD CO., PA.

433

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the icc, and dislocated his neck, Dec. 25, 1813. A boy in the same neighborhood had died previously ; and Solomon Soper's daughter had been scalded to death, on the occasion of a logging-bee at Samuel Edsall's, July 4, 1810.

Peter P. French came from Washington Co., N. Y., in 1824, and built the first lumber-mill in town the same year. His children were James, Seubury G., George W. Mary Ann, William H., Charlotte, and Lyman. In 1826 he had a weekly mail established between Elmira and Mans- field, his saw-mill giving name to the first post-office. Pre- vious to this, the inhabitants were dependent on Elmira for news from the outside world.

Schools were established as soon as settlements were formed, the first being near where Albert Seeley lives, the next where Albert Judson resides, then at Aspinwall, Judson Hill, Rowlee's, and other localities.

Religious meetings were held from the first in the north- west part of the town, as we have seen Rev. Benjamin Oviatt came into the vicinity of the line between Wells and Columbia in 1819, and labored with great success. The first converts, consisting of twelve males and twelve females, were added to the Baptist church, which had been organized at Sylvania in 1812 or '13. In 1821, however, the Baptist church of Columbia and Wells was constituted, at the house of James Seeley, with forty-seven members. The entire additions during Elder Oviatt's service of three years was ninety. This flourishing society was ground to powder between the Old-School Anti-Mission division and the Disciples. The present regular Baptist church of Columbia and Wells had its origin at the Haven school- house, April 3, 1846, and their house of worship was erected in 1853.

The Methodists held meetings at the house of Samuel Ingalls, where David Fries resides, and afterwards formed a class at Judson Hill, where they built a church in 1865. They have classes also at other points.

A Presbyterian church was organized at Wells by Rev. M. M. York and Rev. Simeon R. Jones, March 3, 1821, which became extinct in a few years. The North church of Wells was constituted at the State line, Nov. 22, 1836,

and their house of worship has been moved to the village, so as to accommodate all societies. The present Presby- terian church of Wells and Columbia was organized at the school-house in Aspinwall, Feb. 22, 1832, and their meet- ing-house was built in 1839.

Rev. Joel Jewell has labored in the ministry of the gospel in the towns of Wells and Columbia for a period of twenty-five years, which is longer than any other minister has served in this portion of the county.

There is no mining in Wells; no manufacturing save that of butter. In 1877 the number of milch cows was 1487. John Brown sold that year, as the product from three cows, 903 pounds of butter, besides the milk and butter used in his family.

Wells is noted for its patriotism.

REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS.

Shubael Rowlee, died July 1, 1829.

Solomon Judson, died Dee. 12, 1836, aged 86. Thomas Warner, died Mareh, 1840, aged 84.

VETERANS OF 1812 AND '14.

Nathan Shepard, Sr., Wm. S. Ingalls, Shubael Rowlee, Jr., John Fitzsimmons, Strong Seeley, Amos Baker, William Osgood, Theophilus Moore, Israel Moore, Partial Mapes, SarlIs Barrett, Jesse Edsall, Richard Edsall, Joseph Capron, and Thomas Ferguson.

IN THE MEXICAN WAR.

William R. Wilson. This man was in the regular and volunteer military service over fourteen years.

Besides the above, there was one special family. Ger- shom S. Davis went into the 7th N. Y. for three months to guard rebels at Elmira, and his eight sons went into four different regiments. Lewis, Edson, Charles, and Thomas returned ; but John, George, William, and Samuel never came back.

The muster of soldiers from this town, which will be found in another place, numbers 113, of whom 20 died or were killed in battle.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 109

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