History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 88

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

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Green Bentley and his family settled on the creek which bears his name, and is said to have been the first settler on that creek. "Old" Samuel Green was an early settler on the hill east of Centreville. He was for some cause called " Durkee," from the name of the hill. The public records show the following facts: Elijah Buck and Margaret, his wifc, of Chemung, N. Y., sell to James Bentley a lot on Bentley creek, four miles above the State line, on the forks of the creek, surveyed to John Adlum the " forepart" of July, 1792, on a warrant dated Oct. 14, 1785, and patented to the grantor January, 1793. The deed to Bentley was dated Dec. 6, 1803.

Peter Evans came in from the eastward in 1842, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son. He bought the possession of Allen Miner. Hc dicd June 10, 1868, aged fifty-five years.

THE IRISH SETTLEMENT.

The above is the name given to the settlement in the southeast part of Ridgeberry, and which extends slightly into the adjacent towns of Athens and Smithfield. Its area was, as late as 1839, an unbroken wilderness. The greater portion of the land originally belonged to Charles Carroll, who acquired his title from the State in 1792. It was sub- sequently divided among his heirs and legatees, and was not offered for sale until about the year before-named,- 1839.

About that time Cornelius O'Driscoll commenced a clear- ing, and soon put up a small log house for himself and family, on the present farm of Corkins. He came to America, remained four years, and then returned and brought out his family, accompanied by several of his neighbors. The North Branch canal was just then being constructed, and the prices offered for work seemed fabu- lous to the new comers. Driscoll bought of Patrick and Williston. He brought his family to his clearing in 1840, and dicd February, 1876, aged ninety-six.

Richard O'Connor was the next settler, with his two sons. They came in 1840. James White was the third settler, and came in 1841. He bought the possession of John Downs, one mile south of the Catholic church, on which he is yet living. James White emigrated from Ireland, and landed in Quebec, in April, 1837. His son, the present owner of the farm, was born the following December, on Victor E. Piollet's farm, in Wysox. From there he moved to Browntown, and thence to Ridgeberry.

George O'Leary was the fourth settler, and had a large family of sons. He came from the mouth of Sugar ercek

DEACON SYLVESTER BARNS.

The subject of this sketch was born in Washington, Litch- field Co., Conn., Oct. 24, 1785. He was the third son of a family of eight children of Elijah and Marcy Farnham Barns, both natives of the New England States, and supposed to be of Scotch descent.

His father was a farmer, and in limited circumstances. Served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war on the side of inde- pendence, and died soon after the close of the war. His mother, after the death of her hushand, married again, and died in the Genesee country, N. Y.

Sylvester, at the age of seventeen years, purchased the balance of his time until he would come of age of his father, and, being somewhat acquainted with the carpenter and joiner trade, engaged in that business in erecting the forges at Salisbury, Conn., and other buildings.

In the year 1809, Oct. 25, he married Miss Sally, daughter of Samuel Darby Goff, of Connecticut. Soon after he re- moved to Sheffield, Mass., and carried on his previous business. It was here that two children were born, Samuel Lewis, Nov. 17, 1810, and Sally Maria, Sept. 9, 1812.

The family in the year 1813 came to the township of Stand- ing Stonc, Bradford Co., Pa. Soon after moved to Myresbury, where he worked some four years in a grist-mill of the late William Myres, Esq.

In April, 1819, he bought the farm and mill property of the Ridgways in the township of Rome. The property is now in the hands of the family, owned and occupied by his son Sylvester, a view of which and its surroundings, and the por- traits of himself and wife, will be found on another page of this work.

The balance of his life was spent in clearing his new farm and carrying on his grist-mill, and during his whole career in- tegrity in all business transac- tions with his fellow-men was his characteristic.

In matters of school and church interests he was never in the background, but liberally supported both, and soon after coming to his new home in Pennsylvania, he and his wife both united with the Baptist church of Orwell and Wyalusing. He was one of the organizers of the Bap- tist church at Rome, and for many years previous to his death was a deacon of that church.

In politics he was active, but not radical. Originally a Jeffersonian Democrat, but afterwards a member of the Whig party, and upon the forma- tion of the Republican party became a stanch supporter of its principles.

Allen, Weston, Barns.

Socially, Deacon Barns was an example still remembered by all who knew him. The early custom of the use of liquor was laid aside from the sideboard for fear of its influence upon his children, the result of which left impressions for life upon the minds of those under his care and parental training.

His wife lived a consistent Christian woman, devoted to her family and the church. An invalid for some ten years previous to her death, she bore her suffer- ings with true Christian fortitude, and died April 5, 1841. Deacon Barns sur- vived his wife some thirty years, and died at the advanced age of eighty-six years, March 11, 1871.

There were born to Deacor and Mrs. Barns, after coming to Pennsylvania, seven children : Elijah Farnham, July 25, 1815; Harriet M., Oct. 16, 1817 ; Ridgway Sylvester, August 2, 1819; David Buel, March 15, 1821; Martha Ellen, Feb. 19, 1823; Edwin Burr, June 9, 1825; Allen Weston, May 28, 1828. Samuel Lewis married Miss Jane E. Cannan, June 23, 1842; wife deceased ; four children.

Sally Maria married John Woodburn, Esq., of Rome, Nov. 11, 1830; five children;

she is deceased.

Elijah Farnham married Amanda Forbes, March 15, 1848 ; six children.

Harriet M. married Preceptor Forbes, of Rome, June 17, 1851; two children ; husband deceased.

Ridgway S. married Harriet Forbes, May 9, 1847 ; four children.

David Buel married Mrs. Elizabeth Kinney, Oct. 13, 1858 ; resides in Rome. Edwin Burr married Miss Esther Ver- beck, Nov. 24, 1852; resides in Rome; four children liv- ing.

ALLEN WESTON BARNS,

youngest son of Deacon Syl- vester Barns, married Miss Darwina R., daughter of Dan- iel and Maria Miller, of Rome, Bradford Co., Oct. 31, 1861.

She was born in the village of Towanda, May 12, 1831. To Mr. and Mrs. Barns were born three children, M. D. Miller, Cora I., and William S., all living.

SYLVESTER BARNS

Mrs. Barns desires to place his engraved portrait in the history of the township he represented as a soldier in the War of the Rebellion. He was drafted in August, 1864, and, although pronounced unfit for service by the examin- ing board of physicians, his patriotism led him to the front. He died in the army before Petersburg, Dec. 28, 1864.

PHOTOS. BY G. H. WOOD.

Roof Barns

Harriet Barns

(PHOTOS. BY GEO H. WOOD. )

OLD HOMESTEAD OF DEACON S. BARNS, PROPERTY OF R.S. BARNS, ROME, PA.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in 1842, and settled on the farm he now lives on, nearly opposite the church. His house was burned down recently. These four families were the pioneers. After them, the Irishmen came by squads, among them Daniel Desmond, with his sons John and Timothy, Richard Hurley, John Mahoney, Patrick Butler, Daniel Chambers, George Cham- bers, Thomas Chambers, Daniel Cain, and James Crow- ley. There are now about a hundred families in the settle- ment.

Father O'Reilly came on horseback to the settlement in March, 1843, and was the first priest who celebrated mass in the township. There were fifteen or twenty persons present. The service was held in the house of Daniel Cain. After that he came quite regularly. The chapel was built in 1847, by Colonel Seott, for $750. In 1877 it was en- larged and refitted.

Father O'Reilly was bitterly opposed to liquor-drinking and the traffic in that beverage. One of the women of the settlers, while they were working on the canal, sold whisky to the men, and on one occasion, when she had just laid a fresh barrel on tap, the priest eame along, and taking an axe knocked the head of the barrel in, and let the whisky run out on the ground.

Nearly all of the present settlers formerly worked on the publie works, and when work eeased on the North Branch canal, they eame one after another to the settle- ment. They helped one another in their elearings, and were very social in their habits. They were charged a large price for their lands, but by perseverance, industry, and frugality they have paid for them, and their neat homes, well-tilled farms, and numerous, well-kept herds, attest their success and prosperity.

PIONEER ENTERPRISES.

The first framed house was built by Vine Baldwin. The first saw mill was built in the year 1826, by Abial Fuller, on the farm now owned by his son, William J. Fuller. Cal- vin T. Covell built a saw-mill at MeAfee's, which was burned down. He rebuilt it, and added a grist-mill. Vine Baldwin also had a saw- and grist-mill and distillery early in the settlement of the town. David Buck cut the first road through to Smithfield. Previous to that date there was a road made up the Bentley creek. The Berwick turn- pike was laid up that ereek in 1820 or '21, and was the first really good road in the town.

Mr. Webb was the first justice of the peace, and Sturgil Squires the first constable in the town.

CENTREVILLE

is a little post-office village on the Bentley creek, in school distriet No. 1, the post-office being known as Ridgeberry post-office. It contains a post-office, two stores, a Methodist Episcopal church and parsonage, a school-house, mechanic shops, and a few dwellings.

BENTLEY CREEK POST-OFFICE

is a similar village on the same creek, above Centreville, in school district No. 2, and contains, besides the post-office, two or more stores, a school-house, a Baptist church, a hotel, mechanic shops, and several dwellings. The Berwick turnpike is the principal street in the village.

MIDDLETOWN

is another little hamlet, still farther up the ereek, and con- tains a store, grist- and saw-mill, and a carding-machine. It is situated in district No. 3.

ROME.

THE geographical situation of the township of Rome- so called because lying on the same parallel of latitude as the " Eternal City"-is between the townships of Litch- field and Windham on the north, Orwell on the east, Wysox on the south, and Sheshequin on the west. It has an area of about thirty square miles.

The township is well watered by the Wysox ereek (its principal stream) and its numerous tributaries, chief among which are Bullard,* Johnson, Park's, Hick's, and Bar creeks.

The surface of the township is diversified by hill, table- land, and valley. Along the Wysox a broad and fertile vale extends on either side, ascending into high, rolling table- lands and hills. The valleys are adapted to the cereals, and the hills to grazing.

It was once covered with a heavy growth of timber of the various species common to the county, all of which

nearly has now disappeared before the advance of settlement, well-cultivated and productive farms now occupying the place of the primeval forest.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in the territory now included in the township of Rome was Nathaniel Peasly Moody,+ who came thereto in the year 1795. He was born in Haverhill, Mass., in 1760. When sixteen years of age he left the academy which he was then attending, and enlisted in the Continental army, and served therein during the Revolu- tionary struggle, and shortly after his discharge went to Great Barrington, Berkshire Co., Mass., where he married Miss Susan Griffin. Here he resided until March, 1795, when, with his oxen and sled, his wife, and their children, Enos, Moses, and Mezentius, he started for the then " far west." They crossed the Hudson on the ice at the city of Hudson, and arrived, after many weary days of travel, at Tioga

# So named from Josiah Bullard, who located on its banks.

t Communicated to the Bradford Reporter by John A. Moody.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Point, where they heard of a place a few miles below called Sheshequin, whither they went, and, weary and worn with their long journey, resolved to go no farther. Levi Thayer at that time claimed, under the Connecticut title, not only all of the lands now included in Rome, but a large tract of the surrounding country. His surveyor ran out the lands into tracts, and also a township which Thayer called " Water- town." Moody helped Thayer to cut a road from the val- ley of Sheshequin to the Wysox creek, which road inter- sects the creek near the centre of the present incorporation of the borough of Rome. Moody purchased a piece of land of Thayer about half a mile lower down, ncar the confluence of the Bullard creek with the Wysox.

In the autumn of 1796 he erected a log cabin, and in May, 1797, he came with his family to his forest home. Another son had been added to his family in the mean time, Simon Spalding Moody, who was ten months old when the log-cabin home in the wilds of Rome was first inhabited.

On this trip night came on before they reached their cabin, and though but half a mile distant, they were con- pelled to encamp at the junction of Bear and Wysox creeks. Mr. Moody with flint and steel soon kindled a fire in a dry pine-tree, in the light of which they slept on the ground, their lullaby being the howling of the wolves in the dis- tance. In the morning Mrs. Moody was frightened at what she supposed were Indians, but who proved to be sonie set- tlers from below,-Henry Tallady, Peter Florence, Matthias Fencler (the hermit), and Mr. Hathaway. They had been hunting, and had a wolf hung by his heels on a pole, which they bore on their shoulders, past the encampment. It was small wonder that a Massachusetts woman should mistake such costumed men for natives of the forest. It was a glad surprise to her, however, to learn she had white neighbors so near,-four miles distant.

The next year (1798) Godfrey Vought, Henry Lent, and Frederick Eiklor came from Catskill, N. Y., with their families. Vought and Lent located near the present north- ern boundary of Rome borough, and Eiklor built a house about half-way between Vought and Moody, on the place now owned by Hon. John Passmore.

About 1800, Moody and Eikior exchanged farms, and as Moody had the most cleared land, Eiklor paid him one hun- dred pounds of maple-sugar for the estimated difference in value of the farms. Although not a legal tender, yet maple-sugar was a circulating medium of that day. It was exchanged for corn-meal at Sheshequin or Wysox, whenever the pioneers desired a feast of " hog and hominy."

Soon after Mr. Moody settled on his farm he disposed of his oxen, and thenceforward contended with the heavy forest without a team. Two or three acres annually was the extent of the clearing made, the logs being rolled together by hand, and the wheat then sown and hoed in.

About the year 1800, it was decided that the land claimed under the Connecticut title belonged to Pennsylvania. A large number of the settlers had paid Thayer more or less for their lands, and on the decision being made that his title was worthless, so enraged were the victims that Thayer found it expedient to seek a less heated locality .*

In 1801, John Parks settled upon the place now owned by D. C. Wattles.

The first settlement on Towner hill was made by Elijah Towner, in the year 1806.

+ He was born in Danbury, Conn. His father, Abraham Towner, died on Lake Champlain, in the time of the old French war, about 1755. Elijah married Mary Knapp, of Danbury, in 1776 or '77. He served in the Revolutionary army, was taken prisoner on Lake Champlain, under Ar- nold, was paroled, and returned home. He, however, served as a teamster during the war, and for his services received a pension from the government. He moved from Danbury to New Lebanon, on the Hudson, in Columbia Co., N. Y., where he lived for a number of years and reared a numerous family. His children were Ezra, Enoch, Abraham, John, Gershom, Elijah, Anna, Joseph, Olive, Elizabeth, and Ben- jamin.

In 1793, in company with Enoch, his second son, then thirteen years of age, he came to Sheshequin, and stopped at Gen. Spalding's, where he left Enoch, and returned for his family, and the year after-1794-brought them to the Susquehanna. He came over the Catskills, reaching the river at Wattles' ferry, where he built a boat, on which he loaded his family and household goods, and floated them down with the current. In the journey the boat was nearly capsized on a snag, and many of his goods lost, but the family arrived safely. Enoch had sowed thirteen acres of grain for Gen. Spalding, his share of which was sufficient to support the family the first year of their settlement. Mr. Towner then purchased 400 acres of Thayer, paying 400 Spanish niilled dollars for the land, and located it in the centre of the Connecticut town of Thayer's, called " Water- town," which was a little east of Towner hill, on what was afterwards known as the Upham farm. His title proving worthless he abandoned it, and commenced clearing up a farm on the Oak hill, three miles from the river, where he cleared up 100 acres, put up a distillery and operated it for a number of years. The land coming into the hands of Le Ray, Mr. Towner traded his improvements for 300 acres, on what is now known as Towner hill, in 1806, and lived there until his death, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife survived him six months, and was nearly the same age.

Ezra, the oldest son of Elijah Towner, married Jane Westbrook, a daughter of Leonard Westbrook, who, with George Murphy, were also early settlers. John Hicks also settled early in the hollow west of Towner's. Ezra died in 1804, in the month of February. The snow was three feet deep at the time, and no help could get to him. Doctor Grant tried to get through, but there being no roads he failed. The people of Sheshequin were two days in shov- eling a road to his house. He was carried to the river to

* The Susquehanna company's townships were Watertown, which was five miles square, aud granted to Daniel Brown, Sept. 5, 1794;

and Graham, granted to Sheldon Graham, of Albany Co., N. Y., March 4, 1795. Lots were sold in Graham to Captain Samuel Wells, of Hartford, Conn., Theron Darling, Francis Mesusan, and Josiah Grant; io Watertown to Dan Russel, Thomas Overton, Ezekiel Spalding, Josiah Bullard, Elijah and Enoch Towner, of Tioga town- ship (June 22, 1795), Hezekiah and Gamuel Parker, brothers, of Tioga towaship (June 27, 1795), and Zenas Cook, of West Britain, Conn. (Sept. 21, 1796).

t Contributed by Philander Towner.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

be buried. He left three children,-two sons and one daughter,-whose posterity are scattered throughout the west. The widow remarried, and went west, where she died.

Enoch Towner, the second son, was born in Danbury, Conn., Oct. 1, 1781, and married Elizabeth Moore in 1807, and moved out on the hill west of the meeting-house, where-in 1809-his oldest son, Philander, now a resident of Rome township, and who contributes this account of the Towner family, was born. He sold to J. M. Hicks, and removed to the river, where he lived four or five years, when he returned and bought the farm of Elijah Towner, Jr., and lived thereon until his death, May 19, 1874, at the age of ninety-three years. He reared a large family of children, six sons and seven daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, and were married, with the exception of three or four ; all settled around him. Two of the children are now dead,-Dr. Enoch and Evelina Robinson. The doctor was a very ambitious man, of good intellect, and killed himself by exposure and over-exhaustion. A son, Joseph Towner, married Theresa Gerould, one of that family long and favorably known in Bradford County. She was the daughter of Theodore Gerould. They now reside in Sheshequin .*

Abraham, the third son of Elijah Towner, married Lo- vina Hemenway, and commenced a farm on the south of the old homestead ; lived there a number of years, and re- moved to the river, whence, in 1816, he moved to Ohio, settling a short distance above Cincinnati, at New Rich- mond. He reared a large family by his first and second wives,-some fourteen in all. He died in 1857, aged seventy-six years. The first wife's children are all dead but one daughter, who lives at Montrose; those of the second wife are in the west, if living. John, the fourth son of Elijah Towner, returned to New Lebanon for a wife, whom he brought back to the old homestead, settled near it, and remained for a few years. He then returned east for a period of sixteen years, during which time his wife met with a misfortune, heing crippled for life. He finally re- turned to Towner hill, and cleared up a farm east of the homestead, where he and his wife died, she preceding him. They reared a family of four sons and two daughters. His third son died a number of years ago, leaving a widow and one son ; and the other children live in the township, and are among its worthiest citizens.

Gershom, the fifth son, was of a roving disposition. He married Sarah Hemenway; was a blacksmith by trade ; was in the army seven years, serving during the last war with Great Britain. He finally settled down at Centre valley, on Bullard creek, and carried on his trade for thirty- six years. He and his wife were both blind in their later years. She died July 3, 1874, and he was living October 1, 1874, the last of the old stock. He is now deceased. He had seven children. Elijah, Jr., the sixth son, was the largest of the family, a " splendid singer, jovial, and good- natured." He married Phebe Hicks, and settled on the east side of Towner hill, and finally moved to Vigo county,

Indiana, where he died. He left a family of four sons and four daughters, who grew to maturity and were married. The youngest son is a Methodist preacher, and somewhat prominent in his calling.

Anna, the eldest daughter of Elijah Towner, lived un- married to a good old age, past eighty years.

Joseph, the seventh son, "grew upon the homestead, and was a wild, mischievous boy until he was converted," when he began exhorting, and became very enthusiastic in the cause of religion. He married Amelia Pratt, and set- tled east of Towner hill, and cleared up a farm, but sold it and moved to Candor, Tioga Co., N. Y., and preached on different circuits for a number of years. He then returned to the old homestead, and cared for and supported his now aged parents, who lived about fifteen years after his return. He occupied his time in farming and preaching, and being a great favorite, was called from far and near to solemnize marriages and perform funeral rites. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters. The eldest son, Rev. I. P. Towner, is a Methodist preacher, and two sons were pro- fessors of vocal music, one of whom, J. G. Towner, traveled for a number of years, holding concerts and conventions in the western States, gaining a considerable celebrity. He died in 1869, and a son of his follows the same profession.

8.8? Beiss

The late P. P. Bliss, a picture of whom is here given, and a biographical sketch found in connection with the Presbyterian church of Rome, was for some time associated with him, they traveling together holding conventions and giving concerts.

L. W. Towner is also a good musician and instructor, and is employed in teaching music a portion of the time. The father, Rev. Joseph Towner, was a public-spirited man, and contributed to the advancement of all public and private enter- prises within his power. He died in 1854, his widow sur- viving him several years. The old homestead was sold to

* See history of Sheshequin for portraits of Enoch Towner and Theodore Gerould.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Win. MeCabe, who in turn sold it to Washington Towner, son of Enoch Towner, who is the present owner (1874).

Olive, the second daughter of Elijah Towner, married Russell Pratt, of Susquehanna Co., Pa. She reared four sons and four daughters also. The four sons are all physi- cians. The two older live in Illinois; one, Dr. Leonard Pratt, was professor in the Homoeopathic college of Chicago, and his son is now professor of anatomy and clinics in the same college. They reside in Wheaton, Du Page Co., Ill., one of the numerous suburban villages of the Garden city, where they enjoy an extended and remunerative practice. Dr. D. S. Pratt is also a skillful and successful homœo- pathic physician in Towanda, and his son is in practice with him. Russell Pratt died several years ago in Towanda, his wife surviving him some years.

Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Elijah Towner, mar- ried George Billings, and reared five sons and three daughters. She died in 1837. Benjamin, the youngest son and child, " was a mischievous boy." He married De- boralı Rose. He was a preacher, and a fine singer, and prided himself on his talents, and " could sing for twenty- four hours without repeating a song." He reared a family of three sons and four daughters, the most of whom still reside in Tioga Co., Pa. He died in Mansfield, Tioga Co., in 1866, but his widow still survives.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 88

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