History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 93

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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THE CHARACTER OF THE PIONEERS

is thus described by Judge Bullock : " There was one trait in the inhabitants worthy of remark and of imitation, which was their avoidance of lawsuits. In attendance at our courts for nearly half a century, I was seldom, if ever, present at a trial of a suit between parties from that locality. ] attribute the cirenmstanee very much to the general influ -. ence of some of the aged members of that community, and have also thought its happy effects could be seen in the continued prosperity of the inhabitants. Instead of wast- ing their time and means at court, and in supporting con- stables, lawyers, sheriffs, and prothonotaries, their energies were devoted to improving their farms, and in making them- selves and their families comfortable at home, in which they were eminently successful."

INCIDENT AND REMINISCENCE.

Gen. Spalding had a peculiar taet in pleasing the red- skins, and rarely failed to provide good cheer for the inner

man, and relaxation and sport for all on their frequent visits at his home, on their way to and from their homes in New York. At one time he combined the two objects by fur- nishing two slim-bodied, long-legged shoats for the supper and breakfast of the Indians, provided two of their num- ber should catch the aforesaid shoats by fair means of run- ning. The proposition was accepted and the runners selected, who proceeded to strip to their leggings and breech- elouts, and with their knives were ready for the run. The shoats were turned loose on the flats, and the chase began, and it is quite safe to say that such eestasy as both red man and pale-face were in at the novel spectacle is seldom witnessed. The hogs were at first too swift for their pur- surers, but once in a while the Indians would eatel their game by the tail, but in attempting to secure it would be thrown down, sometimes tumbling heels over head, and dragged over the ground till they could hold on no longer, the air the while being filled with the roars of laughter of the spectators, and the squealing and grunting of the fright- ened swine. This sport lasted for three-quarters of an hour, when the Indians proved the conquerors. A fire was built, the hogs laid on without dressing, roasted, and eaten with much satisfaction.

The treaty of 1790 with the Six Nations was one of much interest. About three hundred warriors, in full gala dress, passed down the Susquehanna and encamped on the Sheshequin flats. Their whoops and war-danees, though terrifying, still became interesting in the extreme. Gen. Spalding contributed to their frolic and cuisine at the same time by giving them six good running hogs for capturing and cooking. This race was a long and exciting one. They cooked these shoats in a kettle with corn and beans, sans dressing, and called it " ump-a-squanch."

On their return from Philadelphia they stopped at the same place and challenged the whites for a foot-race. The challenge was accepted, and William Witter Spalding se- leeted as the champion of the settlers, and won the race. This gave umbrage to the Indians, and then Spalding chal- lenged them to run a mile, but it was refused, and peace was maintained with mueh difficulty, the Indians drawing their knives for fighting.

THE PUMPKIN FLOOD

oeeurred in the fall of 1786, on the Susquehanna, and was so called from the fact that it swept away all the pumpkins on the flats in this and other townships, lodging them in the lower valleys of the river. Another great inundation occurred in the valley of Sheshequin in July, 1809, doing, at that season of the year, great damage to growing crops.

THE TREATY OF GHENT.

Ghent, as the eastern portion of the township of Sheshe- quin is called, received its cognomen from the following incident : A man named Earl Mastin, and his wife, early settlers there, were rather rare specimens of humanity. In one of their drunken sprees they got into a fight, which, resulting rather as a drawn game, the belligerents agreed to a dissolution of partnership. After some days of sober re- flection, Mastin eame to the conclusion to make overtures for the resumption of amicable relations, but fearing the

COL. FRANKLIN BLACKMAN.

The subject of this sketch, Colonel Franklin Blackman, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co., Pa., Sept. 28, 1787. He is the oldest son of Ichabod Blackman, who was born in Windham, Conn., in the year 1762. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Franklin, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in the year 1760. They were united in marriage at Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., in 1786, and set- tled in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co. When Franklin was three years old they moved to Sheshequin (then Luzerne county), and settled on the farm now occupied by our subject. It was then a wilderness, the only spot cleared being an island of the river, which was considered a valuable piece of property at that time, and in the immediate vicinity of the now choice lands of Mr. Blackman, lying on the eastern bank of the beautiful Susquehanna. Six years from the date of their settlement, Ichabod, father of Col. Black- man, was drowned at the mouth of Sugar creek, nearly opposite their farm.

At the age of twenty-two, Col. Blackman was married to Sibyl Beardsley, daughter of David and Louisa Beardsley. The result of this union was ten children, viz. : Malinda, Elizabeth, George W., who died Jan. 18, 1819 : Celinda, Hiram L., Wealthy, David J., Joseph F., Mary, and George W., all of whom lived to be men and women except George W., who died when but five years old. Seven of them are still living (Jan. 1, 1878). Malinda died in Sheshequin, June 7, 1850, and Hiram L. in California, Dec. 19, 1850. At the age of seventeen, Col. Blackman conceived the idea of establishing a ferry across the river, and, constructing a rude craft, began operations. This must have been a severe task in those days, especially at high water and with a strong current ; but it is said of the colonel that he was very skillful, and with the aid only of a long pole conducted his passengers over with safety. This proved to be a very

successful undertaking, and to-day, instead of using the pole or paddle, there is a strong wire cable extending from one bank to the other, and, with a rapid current as the pro- pelling power, one cannot but enjoy crossing the river at Black man's ferry.

In politics he was originally a Whig, and upon the for- mation of the Republican party united with it, and has since stood firm to its principles. During Whig days he was the nominee for sheriff of the county, and, although the county at that time had a Democratic majority of over 600, he brought it down to less than 300, and subsequently, when nominated for county commissioner, the majority against him was less than 100. He served fifteen consecu- tive years as justice of the peace, and was succeeded by his son, George W., in 1860. Prior to his nomination for sheriff, he held four commissions in the military service from the governor, first, as cornet (color bearer) of cavalry ; second, as first lieutenant ; third, as captain of the foot ; and fourth, as colonel of militia. He has ever been a peaceful citizen, was never brought before a justice, and never appeared on a court calendar as plaintiff or defendant. Mr. Blackman came from a long-lived ancestry, and in- herited a strong physical organization and vigorous consti- tution, which were the better developed by his life upon the farm and ferry, and now, at the age of fourscore and ten, we can imagine that we hear him say,-

" Now give me rest ; my years demand A holiday, companions dear ; My days are drawing to an end, And I would for that end prepare."

Col. Blackman's brother, Elisha, of Pittston, is in his eighty-seventh year. Mrs. Col. Blackman died Dec. 12, 1864, in the seventy-seveuth year of her age.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

reception of his terms, if presented by himself, would be prejudiced, he eoneluded to employ an ambassador, and therefore applied to Silas Gore, who undertook to negotiate a peace with the woman in the question. Mr. Gore brought the parties to his own house as neutral ground, and, after considerable diplomacy, artieles of peace and amity were agreed upon, and the reunited pair went home rejoicing. Just previous to that time articles of peace had been signed at Ghent, in Belgium, between Great Britain and the United States, and Dr. Zadoc Gillett gave this place the name of Ghent, which designation is likely to be retained a long time, in commemoration of the reconciliation of that pioneer pair.

A melancholy accident occurred in Sheshequin, July 8, 1801, which resulted in the death of a young man named Lock wood Curry. A son of Joseph Smith secreted himself before dark, one evening, to watch a deer-liek. Some time after, Lockwood Curry, a son of Wm. Curry, aged about nineteen years, took his way to the lick for the same pur- pose, covered with a coverlid of a reddish color. As he approached in the dusky light, young Smith, supposing it to be a deer, discharged his rifle full in the face of the ap- proaching object. Smith ran to the spot where the object had fallen to the ground, and, to his horror and anguish, found his friend and companion, bleeding and speechless. He was too terrified to render assistance, but ran to his home and alarmed the parents and neighbors of the young man, who rallied and brought the unfortunate in. He lived until about three o'clock in the afternoon of the next day, re- maining speechless to the last.

On Friday, Feb. 17, 1804, David Smith, a tailor in She- shequin, committed suicide, after a prolonged debauch, by plunging into the Susquehanna through an open place in the iee. He first hung his hat, coat, and vest on a pole projecting from the bank over the stream.

POPULATION.

In 1850, Sheshequin had a population of 1453, of whom 2 were colored. In 1860 there were 1599 persons in the township, all white. In 1870 there were 1596, of whom 75 were foreign born and 7 were eolored.

There are at present three stores in the township, all at the centre; three churches,-Universalist, in the upper part of the village, Methodist Episcopal, in Horn Brook,* and

another of the same denomination in Ghent,-and an Odd- Fellows' lodge in the village (Valley lodge), a hotel,- Valley House,-and a planing- and grist-mill, owned by Messrs. Ayres. The village straggles along a single street for nearly a mile.

THE RESTING-PLACES

of many of the old pioneers are as follows :

In the Gore burying-ground: Judge Obadiah Gore, Han- nah, his wife; Capt. Avery Gore, Lucy, his wife; Hannah Park, ; mother of Judge Gore; Hannah Gore, born 1721, died Ang. 14, 1804 ; Samuel K. Gore, died July 9, 1840, aged 53 years, Calista Gore, his wife; Jane Gooding, died Dec. 27, 1867, aged 73 years.

In the old Sheshequin burial-ground: Gen. Simon Spald- ing, Ruth, his wife; Col. John Spalding, Wealthy, his wife ; Joseph Kinney, and Sarah, his wife; Perley, Sarah, Phebe, and George Kinney, children of Joseph Kinney ; Mary Carner, wife of George Kinney; Col. Joseph Kingsbury, and Anna, his wife; Capt. Jabez Fish and wife, Ebenezer Shaw and wife, Capt. Jeremiah Shaw, and Jedediah Shaw ; Maj. William Witter Spalding, died Oct. 16, 1845, aged seventy-seven years; Col. Robert Spalding, son of Maj. W. W. Spalding ; Rev. Moses Park and wife, Samuel Gore and wife, Peter Snyder and wife, and son William, Benjamin Brink and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Myers, died Aug. 22, 1834, aged one hundred and five years.

In the Lower Sheshequin burial-ground : John M. Smith and wife, aged seventy-five and eighty years re- spectively ; Elijah Horton, born 1740, and Jemima, his wife; Richard, Richard C., William, and Isaae Horton, and Sally and Laura, wives of Isaac; Elijah Horton, born 1768, and his two wives; Jesse Smith, and Jane, his wife, both aged seventy-seven years; Mercy Smith, aged seventy-eight years ; James Shores and wife, David S. Blaekman, Francis Joseph Presse, born in Tours, France, 1770, died 1833; John C. Forbes, aged ninety-three years, and Deborah, his wife, aged seventy-five years; Sibyl, wife of Col. F. Blackman, aged seventy-six years; Saloma, wife of George Kilmer, aged cighty-five years; Christina, wife of Jeremiah Kilmer, aged seventy-three years.

In the Ghent burial-ground : John C. Van Sise, died Oct. 30, 1849, aged ninety-three years. " Bunker Hill, Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth, and Yorktown, attested his valor and fidelity."

* Horn Brook takes its name from a tree found growing on its banks, in which the horns of a deer were imbedded, the tree in its growth having eneompassed it.

t Three sons and two sons-in-law were slain at Wyoming.

SMITHFIELD.

THE township of Smithfield is supposed to have been so called from David Smith, who claimed the township under the Connecticut title, but who never lived in the town. It is situated, geographically, between the townships of Ridge- berry and Athens on the north, Ulster on the east, Bur- lington and West Burlington on the south, and Springfield on the west. The township includes an area of about 40 square miles. It is the second in importance of the towns of Bradford County, in several particulars.

Its surface is a high table-land, broken somewhat by the several streams which find their sources in the hills, and flow southward into the Sugar creek in Burlington. The principal stream is the Tom-Jack creek, which takes its rise in the northwest part of the town, Brown creek and its branches in the eastern portion of the township, Buck creck in the northeast, and a branch of the Tom-Jack in the southwest.

The soil is fertile, and was once covered with a dense growth of hemlock, pine, and hard wood, but which has entirely disappeared, well-tilled fields now occupying the place of it. It is essentially an agricultural town, dairying and stock-raising being the principal business of the in- habitants.

Smithfield was surveyed and allotted by Zachariah Olmsted, who drew lots 13, 14, 24, 25, and 36, and in- tended to make himself a home there; the drawing took place Sept. 23, 1795. Other proprietors were David Smith, Samuel Balls, Col. J. Jenkins, Caleb Tyler, Joseph Witter, a Mr. Coleman, Oliver Crary, Chester Bingham, and others.

CIVIL HISTORY.

The township of Smithfield was set off from Ulster, of which township it had previously been a part, in 1809. It extended from its present eastern line west to the west line of the county, being nineteen miles in length by eight miles in width. In 1814 the township was divided into three equal parts, forming the townships of Smithfield, Spring- field, and Columbia. About the same territory had for- merly been surveyed under the Connecticut title into the townships of Smithfield, Murraysfield, and Cabot.

In 1850, Smithfield had a population of 1938; in 1860, 2051; in 1870, 1790; and, at the present time, contains about 2000 inhabitants. In 1870, there were 106 foreign born residents in the township, and 10 colored.

It is divided into seventeen school districts, each of which contains a school-house, in which a school was taught during the last school year an average of over six months. There are five churches in the township,-two Methodist Episcopal, one Presbyterian, one Baptist, one Christian,-and one acad- emy, wherein the higher branches of education are taught. There are several saw- and flouring-mills in the town, ope- rated by steam and water. Three post-offices accommodate

the people with postal facilities : Smithfield Summit, in the northwestern corner of the town, in district No. 7; North Smithfield, in district No. 6; and East Smithfield, at the village in the centre. The village of East Smithfield con- tains three or more stores, an agricultural implement manu- factory, a hotel, mechanic shops, and a number of good dwellings. At the junction of the roads on the Tom-Jack, in district No. 2, there are located the Tom-Jack flouring- mill and a shingle-mill."

SETTLEMENT.

The first settler,* in the territory included in the present township of Smithfield, was a man named Grover, who made a small clearing and built a " shanty," ncar the site of the present residence of Daniel Carpenter, in 1792, which, however, he soon abandoned.

The first permanent settler was Reuben Mitchell, ; from Rhode Island, who, with his family, came to Smithfield in 1794, and who, for about four years, were the only inhabi- tants of the township. One of his children dicd during this time, and he was compelled to go to Ulster for assist- ance to bury it. His farm was just east of the village. He came in under the ever-present Connecticut title, and with all others suffered loss thereby. He bought it of David Smith, from whom the town is supposed to have taken its name. He subsequently had a protracted lawsuit with Smith for the recovery of the purchase-money, which was finally decided in his favor in the supreme court of Penn- sylvania. The case has since stood as a leading case upon the leading questions involved, and is given at length in the fourth volume of Dallas' " Reports." Mr. Mitchell went west in 1840 or thereabouts, where he died at the age of seventy-five years. He had eight children, some of whose descendants are yet residents of the township.

# Dr. Bullock's "Early Settlement of Northern Pennsylvania," in Athens Gleaner, 1870.

+ David Smith sells to Reuben Mitchell, of Glouster, Providence, R. I., five lots in Smithfield, Mitchell to have the choice of lots owned by Smith. Deed dated March 11, 1796.

Isaiah Grover, of Smithfield, to Reuben Mitchell, of the same place, No. 32 of Smithfield ; deed dated Dec. 2, 1796. This is all that is known of Grover, or of his settlement in Smithfield.

Cæsar Barnes took No. 29 and part of No. 8 on a half-right. Isaiah Grover sells to David Couch No. 32, April 17, 1797. Samuel Satterlce took up numbers 10, 12, 13, 15, on a whole right. Beebe D. Avery, of Rutland, Vt., sells to Michael Bird, of the same place, May I, 1801, No. 15 Smithfield.

" HARTFORD, Nov. 21, 1754.

"Received of Duty Gerauld five milled dollars, to entitle him to a whole share in the Susquehanna purchase, I say received by me by the advice and permission of the committee appointed for that pur- posc.

(Signed), "SAMUEL GRAY,

" Clerk of the Susquehanna Company."

368

369

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The Bingham estate was settled by Connecticut people, against whom Bingham brought no suits of ejectment. Dr. Rose was his agent for a number of years. When the settlers were apprised of the flaw in their titles they engaged an agent to defend their rights, who unexpectedly informed them that their title was worthless. " It was always sup- posed that some more powerful arguments than the suavity of Dr. Rose were used to win this man over to the Penn- sylvania side of the controversy."

About 1798, several men commeneed improvements, among whom the names of Foster, Baldwin, Waterman, Wheeler, and a colored man called " Caesar," are recollected. They soon abandoned their improvements or sold them, and left for other parts. In 1799, Couch, Needham, and others began clearings in the southeast part of the township, none of whom became permanent residents, removing after sev- eral years' struggle for a livelihood.

In 1799, also, came James Satterlee, from Otsego Co., N. Y., and located at or near the village of East Smithfield. He and his family and effects were in the first wagon that passed from Athens to Springfield, and were two days in making the journey, having to camp out one night, the distanee being about ten miles. Two of their children, a boy and girl, were in the woods some months after their arrival in the town, pieking berries, accompanied by a pet shoat, of about 150 pounds weight, which was also engaged in the same pleasant business of berry-pieking. Hearing an outcry from the pig, the children looked around and saw their pet in the arms of a bear, who was leisurely walking off on his hind legs with the squealing shoat. Bruin secured his prize and dined off of fresh pork, the remainder of the feast being found the next day about two miles from the place of capture. Mr. Satterlee was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was a pensioner.

Mr. Satterlee was once arrested on suspicion of shooting one of the surveyors of the Pennsylvania title, but, proving an alibi, was discharged by the jury without leaving the box, but his defense cost him all of his property. The ar- rangement had been secretly made by the settlers, who chose their best marksman to watch the house where the surveyors were staying over the Sabbath, and shoot at the first man who came out, firing just as closely as possible without hit- ting him; but the aim was a trifle too accurate, and the surveyor was wounded. Mr. Satterlee was originally from Stonington, Conn. His family consisted of his wife, and one son, and two daughters. William, the son, died in 1811, unmarried. One of the daughters married Abram Pierce, and the other Judge Bulloek. The girl who lost her pet pig was afterwards Mrs. Bullock. A bear once slid down a tree close by which Mrs. B. was just then passing, with the probable intention of giving the young lady a hug, but which attentions were not reciprocated, as she lost -no time in getting to a safe distance from her too ardent admirer.

Col. Samuel Satterlee came from Connecticut to Smith- field in the same year also, 1799, and settled three miles northwest of the centre, on the farm now occupied by Mr. Crittenden. He had no children. He was at Fort Erie when it was besieged by the British in the War of 1812. He was a member of the legislature, from Lycoming county,

in 1810 and 1811, which county then included that portion of Bradford County.

Oliver Hays came to Smithfield in 1799, and located on the farm now occupied by Lyman Mattison. He removed to the west with his family in 1820.

Michael Bird was by profession a barber, in Boston, then an honored and lucrative business. He had often dressed the heads of John Adams and other prominent men of that day. His business failing on account of the changing of the fashions, he went to Rutland, Vt., where he bought a Connecticut claim, and eame to Smithfield in 1801, and located his farm about one and a half miles from the centre, which is still occupied by some of his descendants. His experience was most trying, being wholly unacquainted with farming, and unused to pioneer life. His family used to make wooden brooms, which he sold at the river, bringing on his back the meal he earned by his work during the week, and a pound of butter bought with a broom; and thus were the family supplies procured from week to week. A change has happily come over the scene, and the family which bought a pound of butter with a splint broom now sell the popular article by the ton. He learned the busi- ness of farming, in which he became as skillful in the art of handling the axe and plow as he had been in the use of the razor and. shears. He hewed out of the forest a fine farm, cleared up by himself and sons, on which he peace- fully died.

In 1800, Timothy Stratton, Dr. Dart,* and some others came and settled, but after a few years of discouragement abandoned this possession, and removed elsewhere out of the country.

In 1800, Jabez Gerould came from Connecticut. His was one of the old families, and his descendants are numer- ous and respectable. Mr. Gerould eame to the Susque- hanna near its head-waters, from which point he, with his family, floated down the river upon a slab-raft to Queen Esther's flats, so ealled, where they resided a short time, and in 1800 came to Smithfield and prepared a log house for the reception of his family, to which they came in 1801. About one year afterwards, Mr. Gerould was taken suddenly ill, and died before medical aid could reach him. He left eight children, one only of whom was a daughter, the oldest being but sixteen years of age. They remained with their mother until 1806, when the daughter was married and went to her own home. The mother for a time supported the family largely by her own efforts by spinning flax, and receiving pay therefor in meal. They occupied the log house until the fall of 1812, when they removed to a new framed house, which is yet standing near the present resi- dence of Gorham Traey. Mrs. Gerould lived to a good old age, and all of her children were living and in attendance at her funeral.

At a reunion of the Gerould family, held in Smithfield Sept. 15, 1874, members of the family gathered to eele- brate the seventy-third anniversary of the advent of their ancestors into Smithfield, from the States of Kansas, Illi- nois, Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania, some

* No. 28 taken up by Samuel Dart, his suffering right withdrawn from the town of Muncy.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

two hundred relatives being present. Col. W. E. Barton officiated as chairman, Rev. J. H. Nason as chaplain, and Dr. H. Geronld, of Cleveland, Ohio, as orator. The doctor gave a brief outline of the Gerould family, from which we extraet the following facts : First generation, Dr. James Jerauld, a Hugnenot, emigrated from France about 1680, married Martha Dutee, of Boston, and settled in Medfield, Mass., where he practiced medicine for many years, retain- ing largely the habits and customs of a French gentleman. He died Oct. 25, 1760, and his wife March 25, 1763. Their children were James, Martha, Gamaliel, Stephen, Dutee, Mary, Joanna, and Susannah. James was a phy- sician in Medfield ; Gamaliel was a farmer, and settled in Wrentham, Mass., his grandson, H. T. Gerould, now own- ing the farm, which has ever remained in the family. Ga- maliel had three wives : the first, Rebecca Lawson, bearing him Gamaliel, Rebecca, Kate, Rebecca second, and Jabez, the immediate ancestor of the family. Jabez gave the present orthography of the family name, Gerould. Jabez was born in 1749, and died June 12, 1802. He married Demaris Bennett, in Newton, Conn., who died March 20, 1829. To them were born ten children. The first died young ; the second, Jerusha, born March 16, 1783; James, born May 5, 1784, died Oet. 30, 1859 ; Susannah, born Jan. 1, 1786 ; Ephraim Bennett, born June, 1788, died April 22, 1845; George, born Nov. 25, 1789, died May 6, 1853 ; Ziba, born Jan. 11, 1792, died Feb. 7, 1871 ; Jabez Lawrence, born Dec. 13, 1795, died June 6, 1852; Abel Judson, born April 8, 1799; Theodore, born May 11, 1801, died Feb. 18, 1874.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 93

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