History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 17

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 17

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).

The issue of May 3, has three pages filled with the speech in Congress of Mr. Findley, " on the loan bill." The next item is a notice that the accounts of Enoch and David Paine, of Athens, have been

163

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

placed in the hands of Edward Herrick, Esq., for collection. "The Silver Lake Bank" has a notice, dated from Wysox, by the bank commis- sioners, that subscription books will be opened in the county for receiving stock subscriptions to the bank, etc. On different days, the notice informs the public, the books will be opened at the house of William Means, Towanda; at the house of Dr. Stephen Watkins, Athens; at William Myers, Wysox ; Jesse Ross, Pike; John Hollen- beck, Wyalusing. The commissioners' names to the notice are Benjamin Lathrop, Daniel Ross, Reuben Hale, George Scott, Samuel Stanton and Abisha Woodward. This is followed by a library notice of Eliphalet Mason and Samuel Cranmer, of Towanda. This was called the "Orient Library." A meeting was called at the house of Elisha Cole, in Towanda. The following item is from the Gazette's exchanges :

Merinoes-The Spanish and Portuguese governments have made the exportation of Merino Sheep a capital crime, and, although great influence has been used, permission can not be obtained to export from Lisbon a flock now there, belonging to a house in this city.

The paper of May 10 opens, as usual, with the first page filled with foreign news, such as a long proclamation by Napoleon to his soldiers. This news is three and four months old. On the next page is a three- column communication from Secretary of State James Monroe to Congress. Then is given, without headlines, an account of Gen. Jack- son's great victory over the Creek Indians at the "bend of the Tala- posa," near Milledgeville. There is another editorial in this issue. It refers to Madison's State' paper, and darkly hints that many of the "federal papers" will not publish it-concluding that, if Paul were living, he might, with propriety, say : " Blindness in part has hap- pened to Israel !" Another editorial item states that many of the raftsmen on the Susquehanna have died of sickness; many more are sick, and many other deaths are expected. Deaths are announced of Simon Spalding, aged twenty-one, brother of Harry Spalding, near Columbia. Near the same place, the death of William Gates, aged twenty-two, is also announced ; and also at Washington City, the death of Samuel A. Otis, for many years Secretary of the Senate. Then follows a notice of the Lycoming mail stage, giving a schedule of weekly trips to Williamsport-fare, seven cents per mile. William Midangh gives notice of the elopement of his wife. Clarissa, of Tioga. Again there are rumors in the air of peace with England. Then follows some desultory election news from parts of New York, in which is claimed Republican gains. This item closes with the word " celum!" This must be a condensed Latin form of editorial exultation. They had not invented then the rural rooster, it seems, now kept on tap in the average country office about election times.

June 7, 1814, notes an important change in the affairs of the Gazette. In display type, in the first column, appears the " proposal " of W. Brindle for publishing a weekly political and literary journal in Towanda. Mr. Thomas Simpson had sold to Mr. Brindle, who says he will take charge of the paper, September following-same name and terms, and to continue Republican (Democratic) in politics. Although the new proprietor was not to take control until the following Sep-

164

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

tember, the paper continued to be issued each week by Thomas Simp- son. In the issue of June 14th, is the notice of William Myers and Asahel Jarvis, of Wysox, of their carding machines " where wool will be carded by careful hands on short notice." June 21st appears a communication addressed to the Gazette, signed "R.," which is a pat- riotic appeal for the people to stand together. The writer asks the people to be united as against the Old World, etc. He says he would risk his life on the proposition that if the " glorious news," now cur- rent in the East, that " Wellington is overthrown, and now Napoleon is on his way to America with a 100,000 men," that then party fac- tions would quickly disappear. He contends further that, while we have two political parties in this country, they "are only temporary." Charles F. Welles, register, gives notice that Abraham Minier and Henry Welles will apply for letters of administration on the estate of John Shippy. Married, June 19th, by Harry Morgan, Esq., Daniel Coolbangh to Miss Sarah Post, of Wysox. Same day, by Burr Ridg- way, David Kenyon to Miss Sarah Post, of Wysox. Maj. John Tay- lor gives notice for all persons having claims against the One-Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment Militia, to meet. at Harry Morgan's, Wysox; there will be a board composed of Capts. John Mints and William Allen. Jacob Bell, of Wysox, gives notice to debtors for immediate payment.

With Thomas Brindle's name at the masthead, and W. Brindle's " proposal " still running in the paper, the distinguishing mark of the change of proprietors is in the fact that now at least once and a while a short editorial would appear. Under date of July 12, 1814, there is a whole column of editorial, giving an account of a Fourth of July celebration, at the house of James Gerould, at Smithfield. The officer of the day was Lieut. Hayes ; prayer, by Elder Ripley ; Declaration of Independence, by Col. Samuel Satterlee; oration, by Charles Wood- worth. A general feast was served, and, "after the cloth was removed," toasts were given and responded to as follows :

" The day we celebrate." " American Soil."

" The late Gen. G. Washington."

" The Delegated Assemblage of the

" James Madison." People of the Earth at Paris."

" Elbridge Gerry."

" Thomas Jefferson."

" Simon Snyder."

" The State of Pennsylvania."

" American Blood."

" Agriculture, Commerce and Manufactures."

" The American Flag."

" The American Fair." (Not the Chicago Fair, but the ladies.)

There were voluntary toasts by Col. Satterlee, Mr. Ripley, S. Wood, Esq., and Col. Tozer. This was one of the first celebrations of the glorious Fourth by the patriots of Bradford county. The editor informs us that it was a great success-many people present, "attended by music and the firing of musketry, and the American flag waved seventy feet above the patriots." Charles Woodworth's oration on the occasion is published in part in this issue. Then follows a brief account of a late election in Vermont, where and when "an overwhelming majority of Republicans [Democrats] were elected."

Silas E. Shepard

Yours Truly

167

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

In the Gazette of July 19 is an account of the proposed change of Thomas Simpson from Towanda to Williamsport, and he advertises his proposal to publish at that place the "Lycoming Advertiser." We learn from it that he was a native of that county.

July 26, announces the marriage of Jesse Woodruff and Mrs. Polly Ballard, of Towanda, by Rev. York. Also appears a notice by Andrew Coburn, concerning the estate of Ebenezer Coburn, deceased ; Elisha Cole advertises Benjamin Coolbangh, "a runaway apprentice ; " Elizabeth and John Knapp give notice concerning the estate of William Cole; another proclamation from Sheriff A. C. Rockwell, con- vening the courts ; John Wilson, of Plainfield, N. J., advertises for "information concerning Jeremiah Gach, son of the late Elizabeth Dunham." He was a lost heir to a considerable legacy. We refer to it, but not in the hope it will yet restore the lost to their just inheritance.

August 9 is a notice to the Democratic-Republicans to meet at the house of William Means, Towanda, "to make arrangements prepara- tory to the general election."

The editor had a cut of a small cagle, with its wings outstretched and claws full of arrows, with the American colors on its breast, the whole nearly an inch, from tip to tip, and has a good deal of the young gosling air in its tout ensemble, and this he puts occasionally over the very latest war news "by 'yefterday's' mail"-that is, the old- fashioned s looked like f so much that modern readers would think the printer was surely tongue tied. In his issue of August 16, he brings out his poultry-the aforesaid eagle- and under it, in very large display type, is the word "VICTORY." Then follows the account of the "battle at Bridgewater, near Niagara Falls," on the 25th of the preceding month. This stirring news is credited to the Buf- falo Gazette-Extra. In the next column is a notice by William Allen that he had purchased the Wysox fulling mill, formerly run by Jacob Bell. In the same number, Walter Wheeler, of Wysox, gives notice to delinquents to pay up; Rhoda Gridley, administratrix of the estate of Chester Gridley, of Orwell, gives notice.

The Gazette of August 23 is only a half sheet. The editor, in a stick-full of italics, but under the head of "yefterday's mail," pro- ceeds to explain as follows: "In consequence of the multiplicity of business, settlement, etc., and the foreign papers almost entirely bar- ren, at least, of anything interesting, or concerning our land or naval engagements-the Editor has thought proper to issue a half- sheet, etc." The importance attaching to this half-sheet is that it was the last that appeared in the name of Thomas Simpson, although it is evident W. Brindle had been running the paper for some time. Also with this half-sheet the paper stopped publication. No mention of this fact, however, is made in the half-sheet. William Brindle had sold the office, and it was taken to Newtown (Elmira, N. Y.), and Brad- ford county was without a newspaper.

April 18, 1815, appeared the revived Bradford Gazette, and is indi- cated as Vol. II, No. 1, published by B. Ridgway. The type and make-up are different from the first paper. It has the old engraved head, and is the same size. There is not a line or word of editorial,

168

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

and, except the very few advertisements, is all reprints, and is mostly under the head of "foreign news." No reference to the war except the doings of the navy. The total of the advertisements are a notice by Charles F. Welles, register ; a proclamation by A. C. Rockwell, sheriff ; militia notices by Edward Herrick and Col. Samuel Mckean ; S. T. Barstow, of Wysox, offers for sale whisky from his Wysox distil- lery ; and concludes with a list of letters, Burr Ridgway, P. M., as follows : William Buffington, Churchill Barnes, Absalom Carr, James Campbell, Solomon Cole, Selah Crofut, Elisha Foster, Isaiah Grover, Elijah Horton, George Head, Alvin Humphrey, William Hitchcock, Matthew Russell, Martin Stratton, Isaac Swain, Ezra Spalding and James Smith.

April 25 issue announces [the eagle not appearing] another great naval victory, by the frigate "Constitution." A four-line editorial an- nounces that "returns of votes from 238 towns in Massachusetts, there is a Republican net gain of 2,000; the First Battalion, Fifteenth Regiment, commanded by Maj. Gould Seymour, is ordered to meet at the house of Jacob Meyer, Wysox, and the Second Battalion, commanded by Maj. David Olds, is commanded to meet at the house of John Spald- ing, Ulster township; Martha Benjamin and Jonathan Stevens publish a notice concerning the estate of Richard Benjamin ; William Keeler, of Wysox, offers " for sale 950 ready-made horseshoes, and also a lot of factory cloth for cash or approved credit."

May 2, 1815, contains a sheriff's sale of numerous tracts of land " on the waters of Towanda creek, and the property of the late Walter Stuart." We give the warrantees' names, as indicating who were once property owners in that section: D. H. Cunningham, 438 acres ; James Smith, 410 acres; Thomas Hawthorn, 320 acres; Andrew Beckhart, 420 acres ; Alexander Boyd, 450 acres ; Jacob Bennett, 435 acres ; George Lowman, 418 acres ; Jonas Simons, 406 acres ; William Ray, 435 acres; Robert Hopkins, 434 acres ; David Rose, 466 acres ; Samuel Wallace, 428 acres; George Hoffer, 416 acres ; Peter Bedford, 404 acres; Aaron Levy, 400 acres ; Isaac Milnor, 419 acres; Deborah Stuart, 304 acres ; William Stuart, 280 acres ; Jacob Bemus, 437 acres; Walter Stuart, 100 acres. Then follows a notice by Col. Harry Spalding and Lieut .- Col. William Allen, for the men to meet at the house of David Olds, Wysox.

May 9 publishes as the most " Extraordinary News !" the return of Napoleon to Paris, on the. 20th of March preceding. Russell Fowler gives notice of the estate of Roger Fowler, deceased.

The paper of May 16 contains some important items in the history of the borough of Towanda. The notice is headed "Naming the Town," and then says that, at a meeting of the Court of Quarter Ses- sions in the township of Towanda, on May 8, 1815, Hon. John B. Gibson presiding, upon the petition of the inhabitants of the town- plot, laid out for the seat of justice, to wit : Simon Kinney, Charles F. Welles, Harry Spalding, Obadiah Spalding, Ebenezer B. Gregory, Jesse Woodruff, A. C. Stuart, Adam Conly, John E. Kent, Andrew Irwin, Burr Ridgway and O. H. Holden, being all the said inhabitants-and John Franklin, Julius Tozer, Joseph Kinney, John Saltmarsh, Joseph

169

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Kingsbury, David Paine, Michael R. Thorp, Ezra Spalding, Nathaniel Allen, Salmon Bosworth, Edward Herrick, Ethan Baldwin and others, citizens of Bradford county, setting forth that the inhabitants of the town-plot have unanimously selected MONMOUTH for the designation of said town, and all agreed to use that name for the county town. Per- mission was asked of the court, and given, to spread this proceeding on the court's record.

Then for the next year the paper is dated "Monmouth ( Towanda township)." The final naming of Towanda is of itself quite a history. Col. Means was one of those positive men, and a political leader in the county; a Democrat (then called Republican), and he had been the chief influence in locating the town where it stands. The issue of the Gazette, March 4, 1816, is dated " Williamston," and Burr Ridgway explains :

" The name of this village having become the source of considerable impetuosity and unreasonable strife, the editor, willing to accommodate all, announces a new name this day-may it give satisfaction and become permanent." This prefix of " William " was as much intended for William Means as had the name of " Meansville." The place now had advocates who called it all the various names of Williamston, Monmonth, Towanda and Meansville, Pine Grove, etc. For so small a place it was already much named, and each name had its advocates as well as its opponents. To all these were added "Vauxhall " and "Claverack," the original name of the Connecticut purchase. In 1822 the name was still a subject of contention. The Gazette was now dated Meansville. This finally became, when the subject had fully entered into the county's politics, the Democratic favorite, and Towanda was the favorite of the opposition. This went on unabated until 1828 ; at that time Judge Ryan was senator from this district. It is said that, through the influence of James P. Bull and William Patton, Democrats, he opposed the incorporation of the village for some time on the ground that the incorporators had selected the name " Towanda." But after some time he consented, and it was finally settled officially and permanently in the incorporation act. It had enjoyed enough baptis- mal names to have been a Prince Regent of some royal house. The tradition yet remains that there was a private meeting of the citizens, and those of the meeting petitioned the Legislature for the incorpora- tion under the name of Towanda, and that before they were detected by the other side the bill had passed and become a law. The conten- tion had become quite earnest as it had grown and spread with the years.

The incident, as insignificant as it now appears, is full of historical meaning. Man is a contentious animal. If he can not find one thing to disagree with his neighbor about, then he will hunt up another thing ; if there is nothing of any importance, then he will seize something unimportant. He naturally feeds upon contention-controversy. Thus, it is to be seen, he rubs off his rough points, polishes the rough diamond, -advances himself in the scale of being. An over-contentious man in a neighborhood is apt not to be much loved, and is often positively dis-

170

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

liked, but after all he is the fish that keeps the waters stirred-and motion is existence throughout the universe, it is life, and all there is.

In the paper of May 23, following, is an offer of Ebenezer B. Gregory to sell at public auction "at Monmouth," on a credit of three months, the contents of his store, and two cows, one chaise and two horses ; Sterling Holcomb, of Canton, warns the public against "a note of hand given to Michael Griffin ;" William Myer, Burr Ridgway and Samuel Mckean, commissioners, give notice that in future their regular meetings will be on the first Tuesday of each month.

In the number, May 30, is an account of what we would now call a party county convention. It is worded so as to best show the mode of conducting affairs political at that time, and commences by reciting that at the May term of the court of Bradford county a number of Republicans were convened at the tavern of William Means, "with a view of exerting all their energies to support the institutions of their government," etc. The meeting appointed what was called "a com- mittee of vigilance," as follows: Athens, Col. Julius Tozer and Edward Herrick ; Ulster, Capt. Joseph Powell, Elijah Saltmarsh; Smithfield, Col. Samuel Satterlee, Capt. Ebenezer B. Gerould; Wells, Capt. George Hyde, John Cummings ; Springfield, Reuben Wilber, Noah Murray ; Columbia, Isaac Wheeler, David R. Haswell ; Burlington, Col. Samuel Mckean, Samuel Conant; Canton, Isaac Chappel, John Knapp; Towanda, Eliphalet Mason, Capt. John Mints ; Asylum, Bar- tholomew Laporte, Maj. John Horton ; Windham, Edward Russell, Jonathan Pease; Warren, James Bowen, Benjamin T. Case ; Orwell, Maj. David Olds, Joel Barnes; Pike, Jesse Ross, Rathel Stone ; Wyalusing, John Hollenbeck, Joseph Elliott; Wysox, Jonathan Stevens, George Scott. Each township committee was instructed to call a township meeting and send delegates to a county meeting. Then Samuel Satterlee and Samuel McKean were appointed to confer with the Republicans of Tioga county, and endeavor to "promote a reci- procity of action."

In the paper of June 6 is a notice of David Ridgway, Wysox, of " fancy Windsor chairs, common chairs, great spinning wheels, bureaus and tables," manufactured at his shops, for sale. J. M. Piollett, of Wysox, advertises a "platform of boards " as going adrift from the mouth of Wysox creek; David Paine, secretary of the Cayuga & Susquehanna Turnpike Company, notifies the stockholders of a meeting; William Myer and Asahel Jarvis give notice that their carding machine is about ready to commence operations ; Nehemiah Tracy, administrator, gives notice concerning the estate of Joshua Eames, of Smithfield township. In the next paper, A. C. Rockwell, Towanda, gives notice that he has a number of grass scythes for sale. The militia of Bradford county, commanded by Captains Brookins, Powell, Kinney, Gerould and Stuart, are notified to meet for the purpose of electing a major, to supply the vacancy caused by the resignation of David Olds. Harry Spalding says he has found a stray ferry boat, Jacob Strickland says he has found a "ticket in the New Baltimore Lottery."

In turning over the leaves of this volume of the Gazette-this

171

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

faithful mirror of its times-what would strike any one at this day is, first, the absence of editorials, general or local; second, the promi- nence given to " European news," especially the movements of Napoleon and the armies of Europe; third, the little attention apparently to the home news of the war that our country was engaged in with the mother country. The compiler had traveled along in this old file carefully, page by page and column by column, but he found no announcement of the end of the war and the happy return of peace to America. This great fact, however, does finally appear in type, but only as an inference in this way : "July 4th, 1815, the national day celebrated at Haslet's Tavern." An oration was delivered by E. Baldwin, and the paper published it in full; there was feasting, parades, music and regular toasts, and one of these patriotic ebullitions reads as follows: "The late war-the best diplomatic remonstrance of an injured people, made from the mouths of cannon." Mr. Baldwin in his oration refers to the late war and its end by simply saying that " but lately at New Orleans did we cease, at the mouth of the cannon, to give lessons of instruction, lasting lessons to all Europe, the moral of which was, cultivate our friendship in peace, but dread our power in war." This is all very curious now to news- paper readers. It was as though the Bradford county papers had passed over in silence the surrender of Lee and the end of the War of the Rebellion. As a chapter in the history of our local newspapers, if nothing more, it is real history. The editors of those times were feeling for and supplying the public demands much as the editors of to-day are doing. It is really very remarkable.

In this issue appears a wedding notice : Samuel Landrus to Miss Mercy Smith, by Burr Ridgway; followed by the announcement of the death of Anna Taylor, consort of Aziel Taylor, of Canton, June 24. The funeral sermon was preached by Elder N. H. Ripley. S. T. Barstow " offers for sale at his residence at Fenceler Castle (Wysox) a very handsome assortment of goods." We learn that Samuel Griffin had been to the Fourth of July celebration, and that he lost or was robbed of his pocket-book, " containing $5 in cash, an order on Isaac Chapel, supervisor of Canton township, a note against Ezra Bradley, a receipt

from Garrick Mallery, * * two certificates for wolf scalps, a county order in the name of Daniel Stone, another in the name of Daniel In- gram, one in favor of Hugh Holcomb and one to Julius Tozer." Then Harry Morgan, J. P., publishes a legal notice of an attachment in favor of Theron Darling and Robert Sutton. The next is a publication, by Polly Tuttle against Henry Tuttle, of a proceeding for divorce.

The Republicans of Burlington township held a meeting at the house of Maj. Ebenezer Kendall, Capt. Ballard, chairman, and John Dobbins secretary, and unanimously resolved to support Col. Samuel Mckean for the Legislature. Married in Wysox, by Harry Morgan, Esq., William Hart and Mary Strope. Amasa Withey gives notice of divorce pro- ceedings against Lucy Withey. Same notice, Lydia P. Smith against Samuel Smith. John Norris, clerk Orphans' Court of Tioga county, gives notice of land sale, to settle estate. Sheriff Rockwell gives notice to the children and representatives of Stephen Latimer, late of

172

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Canton, of a petition for partition of real estate. Columbia township Republicans held a meeting at the house of Capt. David Watson; Sam- uel Strait, chairman, and David R. Haswell, secretary, and rec- ommended Samuel Mckean for the Legislature, and pledge each to stand by the nominees of their party. Burr Ridgway, A. P. M., pub- lishes another letter-list : Sarah Alger, Jonathan Beebe, Churchill Barnes, David Carter, Moses Carter, David Campbell, William Gough, Richard Gough, William Means, Levi Preston, Jonathan Scott, Elias Vaughan, Abel Wheeler, Amasa Withey.

August 8th, the "Free Republican Electors " are called to meet in Towanda, Saturday 19th, at Haslet's Inn, to choose delegates to the county meeting. The editor has an editorial announcement somewhat as follows : " A number of subscribers to this paper, who have a great affection for Englishmen, request the publication of extracts from well-known English writers." "He says he will devote a coluinn to that purpose occasionally. In the same connection he informs his readers that the oration delivered at Smithfield last Fourth of July had been received, and would appear next week.

A Federal-Republican meeting of Wysox and Towanda was held at the house of Col. Harry Spalding, August 10, 1815; Ebenezer B. Gregory, chairman, and Hiram Mix, secretary. A committee was appointed to call a delegate meeting of the townships, at the house of Col. Harry Spalding, to select candidates, etc. Following constituted the committee : Wysox, Col. William Allen, Ralph Martin ; Wyalus- ing, Justus Gaylord, Justus Lewis ; Pike, Salmon Bosworth, Allen Stevens ; Warren, Andrew Coburn, Amos Coburn ; Windham, Levi Brainard, Daniel Hill ; Orwell, Col. Theron Darling, Asahel Johnson ; Ulster, Ebenezer Shaw, Jared Holcomb; Athens, John F. Satterlee, Dr. Thomas Huston ; Wells, Capt. Vine Baldwin ; Springfield, Samuel Campbell, John Harkness; Smithfield, Capt. Solomon Morse, Samuel Kellogg ; Burlington, Nathaniel Allen, Capt. Ezra Long; Can- ton, Daniel Ingram, Horace Spalding ; Towanda, Abner C. Rockwell, Jesse Woodruff. About the same time a meeting was held at the house of John M. Hicks, Wysox, George Hicks, chairman, and John M. Hicks, secretary, and it was unanimously resolved to recommend Col. William Allen as a suitable candidate for sheriff.

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.

History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 17

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340