USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 72
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 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132
(2) Joseph was the youngest son of (1) James and Anna Allen.
(3) Nehemiah was the youngest son of (2) Joseph.
36
282
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
(4) David was the sixth son of (3) Nehemiah.
(5) David, Jr., was the first son of (4) David.
(6) Ezra was the second son of (5) David, Jr.
(7) Dr. Ezra P. is the second son of Ezra.
Dr. Allen received in the common school a good knowl- edge of the primary studies, but afterwards pursued the higher branches of mathematics and the languages in a select school in Smithfield. He attended a course of lectures in the Vermont medical college, at Woodstock, in the spring of 1845, and in 1847 graduated at the Berk- shire medical college, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He
was a private pupil in mieroseopie anatomy of Prof. Ben- jamin Rush Palmer, and in percussion and auscultation of Prof. Alonzo Clark. Some years later, he took a course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, and another at the University of Pennsylva- nia. He first settled in Albany, Bradford County, whence, after a residence of one and a half years, he moved to Cherry township, in Sullivan county. After remaining here two and a half years, the death of his father made it necessary for him to return to Smithfield. Having settled his father's estate, he commenced in that town a practice, which became a large and lucrative one, when, in 1862, he received the appointment of assistant surgeon in the 141st Regiment, P. V., and entered the military service of the United States. He was promoted to full surgeon in the 83d Regiment in December, 1862, but on account of ill health was compelled to resign his commission in the spring of 1863. After leaving the army he removed to Athens, where he still resides.
In the fall of 1862, while lying sick at Poolsville, Mary- land, he received an invitation to deliver the annual course of lectures on anatomy in the Geneva medical college, which, on account of ill health and the requirements of the military service, he was compelled to decline. In the spring of 1864, he received the unanimous vote of the board of trustees of that institution to the professor's ehair of mid- wifery and materia mediea. The first knowledge the doc- tor had that his name had been mentioned for the position was when the invitation was placed in his hands. He filled the place with great acceptableness for eight years, deliver- ing each season about one hundred lectures. Much to the regret of the friends of the college, failing health compelled him to retire from his professorship. The doctor is fond of surgery, and has performed most of the capital opera- tions. Twice in civil practice he amputated at the hip- joint with complete success, and quite a number of times at the trochanters ; and ligated the femoral and many other of the larger arteries.
He is a member of the Bradford County medieal society, the Pennsylvania State medical society, the American medieal association, and an honorary member of the Che- mung County medical society, of New York. He is also a member of the Bradford County historical society, of which he was for four years secretary and one year presi- dent. He has been twice president of the Bradford County medical society, many years its secretary, and vice- president of the Pennsylvania medical society.
He has written quite a number of short essays on medi- cal and literary subjects, among which may be mentioned
one published in the Athens Gleaner of April, 1870, en- titled " Do we Suffer when Dying, or is Death a Painful Process ?" and another, read before the historical society of Bradford County, December, 1872, on the " Mammoth and Mastodon, and the Age in which they Lived," which was also published by order of the society. Quite a number of reports of interesting cases have been published in the " Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of Penn- sylvania," and in the Philadelphia Medical Times.
He was married on the 18th of January, 1844, to Miss Honnor Howard Harris, daughter of Beriah Harris, of Coleraine, Massachusetts. Their family consists of seven children,-two sons and five daughters.
DAVID AND CLEMENT PAINE,
who were among the earlier settlers of Athens, Pa., were natives of Eastham, Cape Cod, and the youngest of the seven sons of Thomas Paine and Phebe Freeman, his wife. At various periods, from 1767 to 1782, Thomas Paine was
David Paine
a representative to the Massachusetts legislature, and in the list of deputies to the Old Colony court the names of his father and grandfather often oecur as far back as 1671, the family having resided at Eastham from almost the first settlement of the Cape. The name of Thomas Paine appears in the history of Eastham upon various committees appointed for carrying out the principles of freedom in resistance to British tyranny during the Revolution. His mother, Alice Mayo, was a descendant of Governor Thomas Prince, and Robert Treate Paine, a signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, was his eousin and occasional correspondent, as was also William Payne, the father of John Howard Payne, author of " Home, Sweet Home."
RESIDENCE OF M. COLEMAN, ATHENS. TR. BRADFORD Co., PA.
MICHAEL COLEMAN.
MRS. MICHAEL COLEMAN.
MICHAEL COLEMAN.
Michael Coleman was born in Ireland, August 4, 1818. His father was twice married. By his first wife he had one son and one daughter ; by the last five sous, and the subject of this sketch was the youngest of the five. He came to America, in company with an elder brother, Wil- liam (now a farmer in Athens), in 1832, and worked on a farm in Westchester and Orange counties, N. Y., until his marriage. He was married March 4, 1844, to Margaret Schultz, daughter of James and Deborah Schultz, of Orange Co., N. Y. The result of this marriage is three children, viz .: John C., born Jan. 9, 1849, died of consumption
Jan. 12, 1877; Mary C., born March 8, 1852; Lizzie, born Aug. 24, 1853, both daughters living at home.
Mr. Coleman moved to Athens Feb. 13, 1858, having previously purchased a farm of one hundred and forty-four acres, which since that time he has managed and where he still lives. He built his present residence, a view of which, with surroundings, appears on another page, in 1862. In politics Mr. Coleman is and always has been a Demoerat.
Mr. Coleman has served as township commissioner since 1868, and has been a director in the First National Bank of Athens since its organization.
O
JOHN SPALDING.
CHESTER STEVENS,
CHARLES M'DUFFEE.
283
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Having lost most of his property by the reverses of the war, and his wife dying, he removed from Cape Cod to Boston, and subsequently to Maine. He was a man of intelligence and piety. In a diary kept during his latter years the following verse frequently appears as its ruling sentiment :
" This day be bread and peace my lot ; All else beneath tho sun THOU know'st if best bestowed or not, And let thy will be done !"
The family being thus broken up, the sons were thrown upon their own resources and widely scattered, though keep- ing up by correspondence the bond of family union. One of the elder brothers was an early volunteer in the Conti- nental army, and another was twice taken prisoner on board a privateer. Clement, the seventh son, born Aug. 11, 1769, went to Portland (then Falmouth), at the age of fourteen, to learn the printing business. A large volume of the Fal- mouth Gazette, on which he then worked, is still preserved; also some letters of considerable length, on agriculture (for which he manifested an early taste) and on the character of the Supreme Being, which evince a degree of thought and reflection unusual for one of his then early years.
He was subsequently engaged in various publishing- offices in Boston and New York, and in 1791 formed the project, in connection with his brother Seth, of establishing a press and journal at "Kaatskill on the Hudson." But the type and other material ordered by them from London was lost at sea in the brig " Betsey," and the enterprise was abandoned, although we find that the publication of the Catskill Packet was commenced a year or two later by Croswell & Co. with good success. In 1791 and 1792 Clement Paine was engaged in the office of Claypoole's Daily Advertiser, at Philadelphia, then the seat of the general government under Washington's administration. It was there he frequently saw the first president, and a strong sentiment of respect and admiration, then formed for the person and character of Washington, remained with him through life.
DAVID PAINE, born March 19, 1768, was in his youth a clerk and school-teacher. He was for some time engaged in the land-office of Captain Blodgett, at Bennington, and in 1791 was partner in a store at Canaan, Conn. In Sep- tember, 1792, the brothers, David and Clement, erected a store and potash-factory at Rensselaerville, N. Y. The business, however, did not prove a success. In March, 1794, David writes from " Owago, on the Susquehanna," to Clement, who remained to wind up the concern, and soon after from " Tioga Point," where the former had be- come connected with William Bingham in the purchase and sale of lands, under the Connecticut title. In August, 1794, he states that " Brockway, of Catskill, has established a post to ride weekly to this place," and refers in October to his own opening of a land-office with very flattering prospects. " I have never been acquainted," he adds, " with a better country for a young man to acquire property." Clement came to Tioga Point in December, 1794, and the brothers were there connected in trade and land operations for ten years. During the winter and spring of 1796, Clement had charge of the business of his brother Seth, at
Charleston, S. C., who was publisher of the City Gazette, the first daily paper ever printed there. His partner was Peter Freneau, secretary of the State, and the brother of Philip Freneau ( well known as a poet and journalist of that period), who was a personal friend and correspondent of Scth Paine.
In 1796, David and Clement Paine crected the house which was in after-years, and for a long period, the family residence of the latter. It was in part built by the father of Judge William Elwell, of Bloomsburg, Pa., and at the time of its destruction by fire, about ten years since, was probably the oldest frame house in Athens. The Avery family (subsequently of Owego) were its earliest occu- pants. It was at about the same time that the old academy building (burned in 1843) was begun by them and other citizens.
The conflicting land titles of Connecticut and Pennsyl- vania began to interfere much with both public and private prosperity throughout the region, and in 1797 Clement Paine writes : " Many people are of opinion that violent measures will be resorted to before the dispute is finally settled ; but I can hardly persuade myself that this State will attempt a thing so amazingly absurd, as it would be under the present circumstances, to send on troops to dis- possess the settlers here, who, by estimation, now amount to from 12,000 to 15,000 people. We shall continue reg- ularly to prosecute our business notwithstanding the hostile attitude of our enemies, and such is the general intention of the people."
Later in the same year he writes : " A great stagnation of mercantile and speculative business is the universal com- plaint throughout this northern country. The sale of new land in any situation seems entirely suspended, and it is difficult to obtain money for any kind of property." The brothers were associated with Colonel Franklin and others in vindicating the rights of the settlers, and, in behalf of the common cause, David made repeated journeys to Phila- delphia and New England.
During the uncertainty and depression of the times, Clement began the study of law, and again spent a winter or two in Philadelphia. In March, 1801, on a passage from that city to New England, his vessel was wrecked on the south coast of Long Island, and he, with other pas- sengers, barely escaped with their lives. In October, 1801, his esteemed brother, Scth Paine, whose publishing house had grown into an extensive business, died of yellow fever at Charleston, and at that city, for a part of several subse- quent years, Clement Paine was engaged in the collection of claims and the settlement of the estate, in which he suc- cceded beyond expectation. The reminiscences of his win- ters spent in Charleston afforded him pleasure to his latest years.
For quite a long period after its first settlement, Athens was the centre of trade for a considerable part of the coun- try. During the earlier years of his business there, Clem- ent Paine purchased his stocks of goods principally from Orrin Day and Dr. Croswell at Catskill, from whence (as for more twenty years afterwards from New York and Phil- adelphia) he had them transported in wagons to Athens. Sometimes, however, they came up the river on " Durham
284
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
boats," which were propelled with poles. Among the various clerks employed by him were Constant Mathew- son, of Athens, and O. P. Ballard, subsequently a wealthy and well-known merchant of Troy, Pa.
In July, 1806, he was married to Anne Woodbridge, a native of Glastenbury, Conn., the daughter of Major Theo- dore Woodbridge, an officer of the Revolutionary army, whose commission from the Continental congress, as also a portion of his journal kept during the war, are still pre- served. Mrs. Paine was one of the few original members of the Presbyterian church at Athens, and remained through life steadfast and active in the cause of religion and humanity. Both in her correspondence and published productions of prose and verse she cultivated a strong na- tive literary taste, and the recollections of her benevolence and Christian virtues still shed a lustre upon her memory. She died in October, 1834, at the age of fifty years.
In 1812, Clement Paine was a presidential elector, cast- ing the vote of his distriet for James Madison and Elbridge Gerry. During the War of 1812 he was aetive in proeuring volunteers for the army, together with arms and supplies for their use. For many years he drew pensions for a large but rapidly-decreasing number of Revolutionary soldiers from all parts of the county, who with their wives met regularly cach year at his house. In exchanging personal recollections of the times that tried men's souls,
" "T'was there they fought their battles o'er, And show'd how fields were won."
Major Zephon Flower, of Athens, was the last survivor upon his list of pensioners.
The cultivation of the soil was always with him a favorite occupation ; the fields which, for a long series of years, he owned and tilled lay on the cross-street connecting the Elmira and Owego roads, and along the west side of the latter to the " mile hill," including the present site of the Lehigh Valley railroad station. Few of the original land- marks remain, however, except the large Lombardy poplar on the carriage-road near the depot. He was the owner at different periods of a considerable amount of real estate through the county. In 1818 he sold to Francis Tyler the Stephens farm, on which the latter lived until his death. He bought in 1827 the mill property on Shepard's creek, near the State line, afterwards occupied by M. W. Wheelock as a woolen-factory. He also owned some mills, with a considerable amount of land, near Troy, and a large tract of wild land in Franklin township, on which, in 1844, his son James began a settlement. In 1835 he erected a number of dwellings on what was then known as Paine street (now Lombard street), in the borough of Towanda.
He was remarkable among the many who knew him per- sonally for the sound and practical character of his views, the promptness and punctuality of his dealings, and the plainness of his speech and manners. Seldom sacrificing his own ideas of utility, eomfort, or independence to mere conventionalism, he thereby gained some reputation for eceentricity. Although naturally of a strong will and im- petuous disposition, he was ever thankful in the sunshine and resigned in the storm. By an unvarying system of diet and exercise, principally on horseback (as were his journeys), his business faculties and personal health were
sustained to advanced years in a somewhat slender consti- tution.
In December, 1844, he left Athens (his home for a period of just fifty years) for the residence of his son at Troy, where he died, March, 1849, in the eighty-first year of his age.
His sons were Rev. Thomas E. Paine, who died at Wood- ville, Miss., in 1843; James A. Paine, who died at Ma- rengo, Iowa, 1867 ; Seth W. Paine, and Charles C. Paine, who still reside at Troy, Pa.
DAVID PAINE, in 1799, received the appointment of magistrate from Governor Mifflin. He was postmaster of Athens from 1808 to 1824. In 1803 he was married to Phehe Lindley, the sister of Mrs. Ebenezer Backus and Mrs. Dr. Hopkins. After her death he married, in 1823, Anne W. Harding, of Portland, Me., an amiable and accomplished lady, who still survives. He had no children by either marriage. About 1825 he was associated with his nephew, Seth Paine, in the publication of the Gazette of Maine, at Portland. Returning to Athens, his home for the re- mainder of his days was a tasteful cottage, with beautiful grounds attached, on a portion of which the Episcopal rectory now stands. Few homes presented in those days more of refined social enjoyment. He was the first burgess of Athens borough, and with him originated the planting of the beautiful shade-trees which adorn its streets. At an early day he laid out the village of Burlington, and gave it the name of " Nonesuch."
" Died on the 7th Sept., 1851, at Athens, Pa., David Paine, E-q., aged eighty-three. He was a native of East- ham (Cape Cod), Mass., and settled at Athens early in the year 1794. Few, indeed, of his old associates in the settle- ment of the country now remain ; yet in the annals of the beautiful valley, which for more than half a century he made his home, his name will be remembered as one of those identified with its history and improvement. His warm heart and social disposition ever won the esteem and love of those who knew him, and although traits like these naturally strengthen man's attachment to life, yet, as the increasing infirmities of age warned him of approaching dissolution, he was accustomed to look forward to it as a happy release, evincing at the same time a spirit of meck resignation to the will of his heavenly Father."
Enoch Paine, a brother of David and Clement Paine, eame to Athens in 1803. At about the age of eighteen he was twice taken prisoner on board a privateer by the British during the Revolution. He subsequently made voyages to South America, Europe, and the East Indies, and resided for a time at Cape Francois, in the West Indies, then under the government of Toussaint L'Ouverture. His friends were often for years without tidings from bim. He died at Athens, unmarried, in 1815, aged fifty-one. His monumental inscription reads,-
" This modest stone (what few vain marbles ean) May truly say, Here lies an honest man."
HYMAN VAN DUZER
was born in Manmakating, Sullivan Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1826, the seventh child of Obed and Esther Van Duzer. He had six brothers and three sisters. The father was a
HYMAN VAN DUZER.
MRS. HYMAN VAN DUZER. .
H. VANDUZER LIVER
00000000000
"GOTHIC HOTEL," H. VAN DUZER, PROPRIETOR. ATHENS, BRADFORD Co., PA.
285
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
farmer and hotel-keeper. The subject of this sketch lived at home till he was twenty-three years of age, at which time, in company with his brother Benjamin, he went to work at the carpenter trade, following it for two years in Sullivan county, at the end of which time, in 1852, they came to Litchfield, Bradford Co., continuing at his trade for two years in this place. March 1, 1854, Mr. Van Duzer bought a farm of one hundred acres in the township of Sheshequin.
Sept. 7, of the same year, he married Clara White, daughter of Josiah and Lutheda White, who was born in Litchfield, Oet. 8, 1836. Her father, Josiah White, was among the early settlers of that township, and died, at the advanced age of eighty-three, at Athens, Feb. 2, 1878.
They have had but one child, Josiah B., born Jau. 22, 1856, who was married May 25, 1876, to Ella M. Parks, daughter of Enos P. and Eliza Parks, of Sheshequin.
At the time Mr. Van Duzer purchased his farm in Litch- field, there were but fifteen acres cleared. He stumped and cleared the balance of the hundred acres, also the greater part of a forty and fifty-two acre lot which he afterwards purchased.
A fine farm-house, surrounded with productive fields subdued from the wilderness, will always bear witness to years of persevering hard work.
Oct. 15, 1862, Mr. Van Duzer volunteered as private in Co. D, 17th Regiment Penna. Mounted Volunteers, and served to the end of the war, being mustered out June 21, 1865. If for no other reason, this fact alone would entitle Mr. Van Duzer to grateful mention in a history of the county of his adoption.
Having, perhaps, the example of his father in view, in 1876 he parted with his farm and purchased the property now known as the Gothic hotel in the village of Athens, and for the last two years has been proprietor of the same. In politics, first a Whig, later a Republican, but never a seeker of office.
CHARLES McDUFFEE
was born in Athens, Bradford Co., June 29, 1799, the youngest of twelve children born to Daniel and Dorotha McDuffee. He was married April 26, 1840, to Emily French, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth French. They have had seven children, four of whom-two sons and two daughters-are living.
Mr. McDuffee has been a life-long farmer, and has always lived on the same farm where he was born. In politics he is a Democrat.
JOSEPH MCKINNEY,
fifth son of Henry Mckinney, was born in Sheshequin, Sept. 17, 1802. His father emigrated from Ireland to Cecil Co., Md .; was married there to Rebecca Hynman. He was a weaver by trade, and followed that vocation until his death. In the spring of 1792 he moved up the Susque- hanna, his wife riding on horseback, carrying her young babe, stopping first to make a location at the Daniel Moore ferry, now the S. W. Park farm, in Athens township (then
Tioga). Lived in Sheshequin for a time, then settled in Athens on the river bank, now the John Thompson farm, where he lived until 1806, when he was drowned in the Susquehanna. Seven children were born to them,-Samuel, born in Maryland, January, 1792 ; died in Litchfield, Penn- sylvania, 1853. John, born 1794; returned to Maryland in 1813; died there in May, 1870. Margaret, born in 1796; died in Litchfield, 1820. Henry, born Oct. 10, 1797 ; settled in Litchfield, and still lives there. David, born Aug. 1, 1800 ; settled in Litchfield township, and lives there now. Joseph, born Sept. 17, 1802 ; still living; has always lived in Athens township. Cynthia, born Oct. 11, 1804 ; was married to Amos Franklin, moved to Michigan, and died there the 6th of March, 1871. The last six chil- dren were born in Bradford County. Joseph lived with his mother for several years after his father's death, or until 1816, when he went to live with Colonel John Franklin ; re- mained there working at farm work until after his mar- riage; was married to Mary Bidlack on the 18th day of December, 1828; moved to his present home the 7th of January, 1830, which he has converted from a wilderness into the present green pastures and waving fields of grain, well stocked with cattle, sheep, etc. His first residence was a log house, which he occupied until 1844, when he built and moved into his present one. He followed the river as pilot with rafts and arks from the age of twenty- one until the year 1859, and many incidents and hair- breadth escapes he has passed through. He is a good farmer, and what he has is owing to his strict adherence to habits of industry and economy. Commencing with his hands only, he has accumulated what he has, which, of this world's goods, is more than enough for the enjoyment of every comfort in his old age. Socially he is respected by all his friends (who are many), and by all with whom he has had business transactions, and his zeal for honesty is unsurpassed. He is a stockholder, and was for several years a director, of the First National bank of Athens. Politi- cally he is a Republican unswervingly ; was formerly an old-line Whig; but he has little to do with politics. He has always been a great reader, acquiring most of his edu- cation sinee arriving at manhood; belongs to no church, but contributes mostly to the Methodist. The result of his marriage was six children : Eliza, born March 21, 1830; married C. S. Wheaton, and lives in Athens. Horace, born Feb. 5, 1832; lived on the farm with his father until his death, Jan. 19, 1877. Clarissa, born Sept. 14, 1834; married T. W. Brink, and lives in Litchfield. Joseph, Jr., born Feb. 11, 1838; was married to Emily Vangorder, and lives on part of his father's farm. Alfred, born June 14, 1842; died Dec. 3, 1843. Anna, born June 9, 1845 ; lived with her parents until her death, June 15, 1875. The de- ceased children are buried in the family cemetery on the farm, including Rebecca, his mother, who lived with him from 1834 (when she broke up housekeeping), until her death, March 23, 1855. Good monuments mark their last resting-place.
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.