History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 43

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

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The Junction Iron Works were moved from Athens in August, 1856, and this caused Merriam and Harder to resign, and C. T. Hull

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was made foreman, and Noble Ruggles, assistant ; A. H. Spalding, chief, and J. H. Wilson, secretary.

At the annual election, January 3, 1857, the following were chosen: James H. Wilson, foreman ; T. R. Davis, Jr., assistant; C. T. Hull, secretary ; A. H. Spalding, chief engineer, and L. W. Burchard, assist- ant. After the closing of the Junction Iron Works, the Company found quarters at J. H. Wilson's, and their place of practicing was the tall chiinney of Gillett's brewery, which was destroyed by fire.

Dissensions arose in the Company, and interest began to flag. On August 3, 1857, a resolution to disband was passed. At the same time a request was made to C. T. Hull to call a public meeting to organize a new company ; a meeting was held, and an informal emergency company was enrolled, but a general demoralization on the subject prevailed.

To this time the principal fires in Athens were: J. B. Brockway's house in 1847, which stood where is now J. L. Ellsbree's residence ; adjoining and burned was Hiram Merrithew's small shoe-maker's shop, in which Merrithew hustled out in such a hurry that he lost his wooden leg.

In 1851 the row of wooden business houses that stood where is now the old brick block, down town, were burned. In this fire passed away the old " Eagle Hotel" building ; Billy Wilson's store, William Mier's cabinet shop, and Grant Snell's new frame store, not finished; the Methodist church, "Barrack Row"-tenement houses-and the Episcopal church building. This fire swept away all the business houses on Main street, churches, and Barrack Row, clear to the river on Chemung street, a great calamity to the town.

In 1856 the "Exchange Hotel" barns, sheds, and Dr. William Kiff's house were burned. It was one of the hottest days in July. This was only a few days after the great parade of "Protection " Company, and the engine was worked mightily, and soon pumped the cistern dry, so a bucket brigade leading to the river was put in force.

Soon after this Patrick's old brick block was burned. It was rebuilt in its present form. Then the Page store .and John Drake's residence went up in flames. Drake's residence was one of the old Clement Paine buildings, and stood where is now the Salvation Army barracks.

In the order following were the fires that destroyed Dorsey's livery stable: Pike's hotel and the wooden row of buildings on the east side of Main street; Edwin White's tin shop, which stood near where is R. N. Lowe's residence, and with it went the Presby- terian church ; then F. R. Lyon's cabinet shop and the second brick Presbyterian church building.

The Junction Iron Works buildings were burned in 1872, unoccu- pied at the time. In the vicinity where is now the heavy part of the business on Main street were " hot grounds." The Hemlock row was burned, but other buildings took its place, and they too were burned.

In the meantime the continued indifference to having a live fire company finally paved the way to its rehabilitation. Periodical attempts, at all events renewed efforts after every fire, had been made

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to this end, and 1877 witnessed the hour and the men when the Athenians should once more become active fire-fighters. A meeting was held at Mitchell Bros.' store, and at this meeting appeared Joseph M. Ely, who was fresh from an extended experience with the noted Excelsior Hose Company No. 14, of New York, and he and C. T. Hull took the matter in hand. The old hand engine and cart were pur- chased that had fallen into the hands of Blood & Co., a committee was appointed, and six months after the council provided laws and regulations that resulted in the present Fire Department. A lot was purchased on Bridge street at the request of all the leading citizens. A company of eighty members, composed of the best citizens, was soon organized, and Protection Company, No. 1, was revived, and the name changed to Protection Hose and Engine Company No. 1, and at all these preliminary meetings J. M. Ely was secretary and one of the moving spirits. June 7, 1878, an election was held and the following officers chosen : Joseph M. Ely, chief engineer; Charles T. Hull, first assistant chief; David F. Park, second assistant chief.

At the special meeting, June 8, 1878, the following general officers were elected : T. D. Wolcot, president ; M. R. Heath, vice-president, M. W. Nevins, secretary ; George T. Ercanbrack, financial secretary ; F. T. Page, treasurer; George A. Kinney and Joseph Hines, trustees ; E. G. Fitch, member of fire board; Charles Morse, foreman ; John Carroll, assistant foreman ; H. Carpenter and Ard Crous, pipeman. A new and elaborate uniform was prescribed. With their new com- pany and new uniform they were ready for invitations, and went to Waverly in September, accompanied by the Athens Cornet Band. New hose, 200 feet, had been secured by a public subscription, and the next year the borough purchased a leather hose. The first build- ing was provided as follows: Mr. Ely knowing the borough could do nothing, found a man who could furnish the lumber and wait three years for his pay ; it was purchased and the members volunteered to do the work, several put in as much as two month's steady work on it. It was put up in the fall of 1878. The ladies gave a festival, and raised funds to complete and furnish the building.

For 1879 Ely, Hull and Park were re-elected. During this year there had been three fires, and this made it plain that a fire alarm was needed. Seventy dollars were subscribed, mostly by the company, a bell purchased, and the present tower-house and belfry put up and the bell swung.

After this thorough re organization, the principal fires, in addition to those given above, were : October 15, 1879, F. R. Lyon's cabinet fac- tory, and John Carroll's residence and the Presbyterian church-losses $12,300 ; May 19, 1880, Novelty Furniture Works, fire room ; May 26, following, frame dwelling foot of Chestnut street ; December 27, 1881, John Merritt's livery stable, Mrs. Stone's dwelling and Dr. Towner's barn ; May 27, 1882, the old toll-house and Chemung bridge; March 10, 1883, Mrs. Murray's new frame dwelling, loss $3,000; May 13, 1883, Seth Ellsbree's three-story building, Main street, loss $5,200; October 26, 1883, Estabrook's three-story double brick, conrer Elm and Main streets, loss $10,500; November 4, 1883, barns in rear of Pad

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Factory ; June, 1884, Novelty Furniture Works, Ralph Tozer's coal office and sheds, Dana McAfee's grain barn and contents, Daily's wagon storage, and the Furniture Works' lumber yard -- loss $120,300, insurance, $45,000 ; December 27, 1884, two and a half story double store building on Main street, belonging to N. C. Harris and occupied by Pike & Lowe ; November 28, 1885, contents cellar under Pad Fac- tory ; July 3, 1886, W. Carner's dwelling, partial loss ; July 18, 1886, kitchen of D. H. Park's dwelling; December 18, 1886, the frame hammer shop of Bridge Works.

February 4, 1891, the old " Exchange Hotel " burned. This was a notable old building, once the very heart and center of the village, but now in lower town, and the business has passed away from its locality. It had stood for sixty years, and was at one time a noted stage stand on the great south west thoroughfare through the county. It sheltered in its day most of the notable men of Pennsylvania or New York -Buchanan, Fremont, VanBuren, Greeley, Wilmot, Graw, "Dick " Johnson (Tecumseh's slayer) and a host of others-a land mark, truly, in northern Pennsylvania. For fifteen years or more it was " too far down town," and when it was built it was thought "it is too far up town." It burned at the dead of night, and to some the greatest loss was the destruction of the old tavern rounded sign that swung so long before the front door.

Ely, Hull and Spalding continued by re-elections in their respective offices without change until 1885, when Hull and Ely changed places. The Fire Department and G. A. R. hall are now the same, and Athens can boast of a most efficient lot of fire-fighters.

Returning a little to the story of the founding and growth of the town, which may now be said to be one hundred and five years old, we refer to the description of the place, the oldest one now known, made in 1795 by Duke de la Rochefoucauld. He describes it as eight or ten rough cabins, one of them a tavern "crowded with travelers going to settle near the lakes"-the year before, so great was this travel, that three of the cabins called themselves taverns. He described the merchants trading with Indians mostly, but dealing in hemp which was obtained from the valleys above. The Duke was not pleased with his accommodations ; had to sleep in the "loft " that was entered by an outside ladder ; his bed or pallet was as rude as possible, and " not clean ;" he slept, therefore, with his boots on, and the food, according to his notes, was not any better than the other accommodations. Choice business locations at the beginning of the century were rated in the market nearly as high as the average lots on Broadway, New York. In 1802 George Welles had become the possessor of Lockhart's purchase, and he employed a surveyor to resurvey the place, which he called "Lockhartsburg," but the people would not so have it, and the old names and streets prevailed.

Welles was the fairest minded of men; his name deserves the brightest future in the history of the county. When he purchased Lockhart's title to the point, he came on and located in the place. For fourteen 'years previously the Connecticut people were settled here, and supposed they owned the land by a good Connecticut title ;

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they had bought and sold without let or hindrance. Mr. Welles' first act on arriving was to purchase James Irvine's tavern, and claim that was on Welles' land, paying him $6,000; and he moved into the tavern and continued it as a public. On the lower part of the point were Isaac Cash, Ira Stephens, Nehemiah Northrup, David Paine, Henry Decker, Jonathan Harris, Nathan Bull and Mr. Beebe. These were all in peaceable possession, and had made houses and fences, and were cultivating their fields. Mr. Welles bought these all out, and paid in the aggregate about $3,000. Elisha Mathewson had purchased lots on the Welles or Lockhart tract, and Mr. Welles offered to buy his interests, but Mathewson refused to sell on any terms, and, as his lots were scattered about promiscuously, affairs soon became vexing. Mr. Mathewson died in 1805, and Gen. Henry Welles succeeded to the ownership of his father's interests in the Lockhart lands. He tried in vain to purchase the Mathewson interests, and finally commenced suit in the Federal Court. Mrs. Mathewson had given a deed to Welles, but she claimed it was as a compromise, and she was to have a clear and fee simple deed to her house and lot. Under this deed the sheriff put Welles in possession. In 1809 Gen. Henry Welles was elected to the Legislature, and he secured the passage of what was known as the Bedford and Ulster Act, by which these townships were allowed the benefits of the provisions of the Compromise of 1799. Mrs. Mathewson commenced suit for her entire land and lots. Her claim was against Satterlee, from whom her husband had obtained title. These were deemed the most important cases in connection with the history of the "Seventeen Townships." The cases were twice carried to the supreme court ; finally, before the House of Representatives, at Harrisburg, asking for special legislation. Constant Mathewson, son of Elisha, had, in 1827, been elected to the Legislature, and finally secured the appointment of a commission to examine the question and appraise the land, and in the end Mrs. Mathewson was paid by the State $10,000. Thus happily ended the long land controversy, involving about 127 acres on the point; land questions that had disturbed social and political life throughout this portion of the State for nearly half a century.

In 1842 Athens was described as a very pleasant and promising village, and, as a business place, one of the most important in northern Pennsylvania. "It is on the isthmus which extends across the point of junction between the Tioga and Susquehanna rivers, and about two miles above the junction ;" and, with this brief notice of the place, the visitor proceeds to say : "Above and below the town the land widens out into meadows of surprising fertility. The long main street of the village runs lengthwise of the isthmus, and is adorned by delightful residences and shade trees and shrubbery. There is an academy here, a substantial bridge over each of the rivers ; that over the Susquehanna has been recently built ; that over the Tioga was built in 1820. Pop- ulation, 435." The marked eras in the place were the first mails carried on foot from Wilkes-Barre to this place; then the weekly coach mails, the canal, and, finally, the railroad.

The small stores of Hollenback, David Alexander and Hepburn

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had in a way met the trading wants of the people, but when Mr. Welles came he brought the first real store, for that day a large ven- ture indeed, containing no less than $11,000 worth of goods, and he and his partner, Canton, occupied the building nearly opposite the "Irvine Hotel." After the store was abandoned the building was made a dwelling by Judge Herrick, in 1813.

From the time of its first discovery, thoughtful men regarded Athens as in many respects a favored point, and believed in its destiny. especially as a great future manufacturing and shipping point. It had long been the Indian's "door" between the north and the south, and the white man could also see that it was " the center," and he dreamed of a time when it would reach out its long arms of commerce that would be backed by great factories, supplying a needy world. They built for home supply the first saw and grist mills-the enterprise of such men as Prince Bryant and John Shepard, and Shepard's old stone mill stands to-day on Cayuta creek, near where he first built one of the finest mills in the country, with all the latest improvements, with a magnificent water power; and viewing this mill and ground, on the beautiful stream and the romantic spot, one can almost fancy that the shades of the men who came here one hundred years ago and selected this place might yet be seen flitting about these leafy bowers. As an evidence of the supreme importance to the people the mill of John Shepard was, it may be mentioned that it was burned in 1798, and the people voluntarily met and by volunteer labor mostly rebuilt it in six weeks, and over this there was joy in every cabin for many miles about. Shades of the great departed ! The writer was an eye-wit- ness to the burning of the old " Exchange " tavern, mentioned above. It was one of the never-to-be-forgotten resorts of northern Pennsyl- vania, built in 1830 by William Briggs, who kept it several years, and about 1840 was succeeded by S. & G. Park, who had it enlarged and finished, the third story and veranda being added; then kept by Olm- stead & Burchard, Hon. G. W. Kinney, Jacob Ercanbrack, Sloan Jor- dan, A. J. Noble and J. S. Patterson, and when burned, by Mr. Phelps. In the old stage-coach days this was a famous "stand." Fat barns, stage horses, and those great whips-" Old Sam Wellers" all of them, and the old Concord coaches, were in the royal court yard-the long whips of the drivers and the stage horses' "ra-ra-ra-ta-ta-ta-tat!" were the signals for the jaded horses to prance and pretend to plunge, and the people to rush to the front to see the great arrival-the school children, and many of their grandparents, gave open-mouthed, daily attendance on these events. The g-re-a-t man of the long, slim whip and horse is gone-faded away as though drowned by the roar and scream of the locomotive whistle, and the old "Exchange" was his fitting memorial, with its older sign that swung in front with its highly colored "Coach and Four" rampant. "Mine Host " inside, usually in his shirt sleeves and big, loose carpet slippers, the very impersonation of fat larder and the yet fatter feather beds and snow-white linen in rows in the great one room above the entrance floor. His hearty, cheery, welcome to the newly-arrived guests, and the delicate offer of a little "suthin'" to clear the weary traveler's throat-a sweet activity that was probably

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just six days less than a week from the distillery near by-was freely handed out from the dark corner, and every drop seemed to say and sing, "o'er all the ills of life victorious!"" On the early morning- 2 o'clock-of February 4, 1891, this good old land-mark passed away in smoke and flame to the horrid midnight melody of the fire-bells. And the next morning the aged Athenians lingered about the smol- dering ruins, and many an honest regret escaped their lips-more over the loss of the old sign than of the building.

Early in the "fifties," C. F. Welles and Chauncey Shipman built the Iron Works-foundry and iron machinery of all kinds, especially engines. It was situated on the block west of Fitch & King's store. After some time it was changed to the " Agricultural Works," and was operated by Blood & Co. In time it ceased as iron works, and fell into the hands of Charles Clapp who converted it into a shingle factory, and successfully operated it some time, but it was eventually burned as mentioned above.

D. Alexander built the first distillery on lot 34, now the property of Mr. Maurice. But the ideas of a distillery then and one now are so wide apart as to have hardly the shadow of a semblance. They first made whisky of rye and then of corn-but a still in the way of a factory then was not of much more significance than the housewife's spring soap-making, usually in a borrowed kettle-it is said the whisky was mostly made to be polite to the preacher in his weekly visits, a kind of sacramental observance, as well as in lieu of his cash salary. The average man of that day was far more religious than he is now, but he had less prejudices on some subjects.

The first school in the village was in the house of David Alexander, taught by a man named Thompson. The first school-house was built on the old Cross street, near the distillery. It was a general pub- lic house for church services, public meetings and school.

William Miller and Daniel Moore, in the latter part of the other century, started the first ferry at Athens. It is said that the first house built in what is now Athens was in 1783, by Andreas Budd, on lot 34. In 1814, Michael R. Thorp improved his property, and in time sold to Judge Herrick. At the time this was the finest improvement in the county. Among the earliest practicing physicians was Dr. Amos Prentiss who opened shop in 1797, near old Milltown ; he built a room for a drug store and kept it as such several years. He taught the first school in the first school-house built near Milltown burying ground ; the succeeding teachers were Amos Franklin and then Daniel Satterlee.

Francis Sneckenberger, with an Irish wife, camein 1799, and located on lot 28. Thomas Wilcox, in 1800, and located near the State line and sixtieth milestone. The old Simon Spalding place is now the possession of Minier, Morley, Griffin, Lane and Green.

Joshua R. Giddings was born on Queen Esther's field, now George Page's farm. In the year 1800 Stephen Tuttle came and opened a sinall store in Hollenback's block-house. George Welles, in 1799, built on the west side of Main street on lots 8 and 9. Elisha Satterlee owned a twenty-acre tract or lot. The price he paid for it was a French crown piece and a bandanna handkerchief,

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The first fulling mill was built in 1808 by John Shepard and Josiah Crocker. This was a great improvement for the good of the people who came here to mill or to the woolen mill for many miles through the trackless woods, and at first on foot because there were no paths even a horse could follow. One man, toward the southwest corner of the county, went to mill at Athens on foot, was lost three days and nearly perished.

A postoffice was established in 1803 at Athens, and William Pren- tiss was the first postmaster. The present incumbent is E. W. Davis, with J. Henry Price, assistant, and Miss N. A. Doran, money clerk.

Joseph Buonaparte came down the river, and it is said was a guest at Hepburn's first log taven kept in the place. Stephen C. Foster, who will live in memory while the sweet and simple songs of "Old Dog Tray," "Suwanee River," " Nelly Bly" and others of his carols will ever continue to be sung by lovers of simple melody, was a school- boy in Athens, attending the old academy. He, when a lad, would play his flute and compose music, and while here he wrote the "Tioga March." His brother was one of the superintendents in the construc- tion of the canal.

First National Bank .- This was organized and opened its doors to the public for the transaction of business in 1865. Capital $100,000. First officers were : H. W. Patrick, president, and E. A. Spalding, cashier. Mr. Spalding continued in the office until his death in 1867, when the present officers, N. C. Harris, president, and C. T. Hull, cashier, took charge. Mr. Hull was elected treasurer of Bradford county in 1890, and in assuming his official duties he was succeeded in the bank by his assistant cashier, F. K. Harris. The men in control have, from the first, given unlimited public confidence in the institu- tion, and its business and credit, at home and abroad, are A 1. Its recent statement shows : Capital $100,000 ; surplus $50,000 ; deposits $175,000; discounts $240,000; undivided profits $5,000.

Union Bridge Company .- In the way of a small beginning these important works, among the most important now in northern Penn- sylvania, came into existence in 1869, under the direction of Charles Kellogg. Was a small affair at first, and three men could easily do all the work, but it was a growing plant. Mr. Kellogg continued his operations until 1872, when C. S. Maurice became a partner, and a strong company (unlimited) was formed, including these two gentle- men, L. C. Clark and the members of the present company, who are as follows : C. S. Maurice, C. McDonald, George S. Field and Edmund Haynes. The increased company was formed March 4, 1884, continued three years, and expired March 4, 1887, when Kellogg and Clark sold to the present company. All the realty of the works belong to Maurice and Macdonald, as well as all the old machinery ; but the Union Bridge Company own all that has been added as new machinery, etc. A portion of the plant is on leased ground. While among the largest works of the kind, it is always prosperous-occupying about fourteen acres, and employing about five hundred hands, averaging the year round 475 employes. The monthly pay-role is over $17,000 in the Athens shops alone, and not including their great works in build-

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ing or constructing at distant points, the material for which is the out- put of the Athens shops, which averages yearly about 15,000 tons. Their construction of great iron works extends nearly all over the civil- ized world. Among others of their building we note the Kentucky and Indiana bridge at Louisville, the great Eads bridge, St. Louis, the Hawkesbury river bridge, New South Wales, the Poughkeepsie bridge, the Illinois Central Railroad bridge, Cairo, Ill., the Merchants' bridge, St. Louis, the Winona bridge, across the Mississippi at Winona, and are now constructing a bridge across the Mississippi at Memphis, Tenn .; this last work alone requiring over 7,000 tons of steel and iron.

Schools in Athens are in a most prosperous condition. A new high school building is now occupied, and under the care of Prof. Lin- coln E. Rowley ; the public schools of the place are widely known and considered among the best in the State. The corps of instructors is as follows : Lincoln E. Rowley, principal ; William H. Kindt, vice- principal ; Marietta Gregg, preceptress. Grammar Department .- Sarah F. Clark, eighth grade ; Honor A. Sheridan, seventh grade. Intermediate Department .- Cora L. Finch, sixth grade; Augusta M. Park, fifth grade. Primary Department .- Sarah M. Tabor, fourth grade ; Carrie B. Lynch, third grade ; Ida B. Fuller, second grade ; Hattie G. Shepard, first grade.

Willow Street Building .- Aronette B. Spear, supervisor, third and fourth grades ; Kalista S. Bitting, first and second grades.

The Athens Academical Society was the first important educational movement in the county of Bradford. February 11, 1797, a public meeting was called and articles signed looking to the erection of a house of learning, and subscribers to the stock thereof were secured, as follows: Noah Murray, Chester Bingham, Joseph Spalding, Levi Thayer, David Alexander, John Shepard, David Paine, Joseph Hitch- cock, Elisha Mathewson, Ira Stephens, Elisha Satterlee, Samuel Camp- bell, John Spalding, of Ulster; Nathan Bull, Clement Paine, Julius Tozer, Jonathan Harris, Joseph Furlane, Daniel Satterlee, Simon Spalding, of Ulster; Thomas Overton, John Jenkins, of Exeter ; George Welles, John Franklin, Wanton Rice and Stephen Hopkins.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 43

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