History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 48

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 48

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P.W Nichols

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

here such men as Chapman and James Morgan got all their " book larnin." Moses Taylor died February 12, 1824, and Charles Taylor died December 3, 1837.

Snedekerville .- The principal concern here is Snedeker's mills. Snedeker is a station on the Northern Central Railroad.

Austinville has a sawmill belonging to Warren Smith.

Columbia Cross Roads is a station on the Northern Central Rail- road ; has two stores, one blacksmith-shop, one hotel and a church.

SYLVANIA BOROUGH.

The borough of Sylvania was organized in 1852. Is but a small hamlet, and since the lumbering has declined is not considered of great importance.

CHAPTER XXXII. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

B URR RIDGEWAY was one of the first settlers of Franklin town- ship. His name will remain with us while the civil division of Bradford county lasts. He was the first county commissioner of the county, and the second editor and publisher of the first newspaper, The Bradford Gazette. He was living in Franklin township as late as 1867, a very old man, with his son, David Ridgeway. Other names of the early settlers were William Spalding, Gilbert Gay, William B. French, Allen Rockwell, Nathan Wilcox and Major Dodge.

Mr. A. S. Hooker in his paper, the Northern Tier-Gazette, of July 18, 1867, publishes a most interesting letter from " one of Bradford county's oldest inhabitants " -- Burr Ridgeway-from which we make interesting extracts : "I am now in my eighty-eighth year, and have been a resident within the boundaries of Bradford county since 1803 ; first in Wysox, and when the county was organized removed to Towanda, which then contained three log huts and two small buildings, except what was called ' Mean's Red Tavern,' built the year before. I was elected the first county commissioner, was acquainted with almost everybody in the county, but have neglected to make notes of them. I was three years deputy prothonotary under C. F. Wells, and three years under Governor Hilster, and over thirty years an active justice of the peace, first by appointment and then by election. I published a paper, but not being a printer myself, and political differences springing up between Gen. Mckean and Wells, made the paper unpro- ductive, and I abandoned it. * * * We have a person in our neighborhood, Timothy H. Lewis, widely known as 'Harry Lewis,' who never forgot anything. I will try and see him and get him to refresh my mind of those old times." In a postscript he adds : "I established the first post routes in Bradford county, except that up and down the river carried by Mr. Teetor, the one from Towanda to

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Canton by Job Irish, Jr., son of the celebrated Job Irish, of much law memory ; the one from Towanda through Burlington to Canoe Place, in Tioga county, and then back to Bradford, through Columbia, Springfield, Smithfield to Athens by my sons, on the east side of the river I had many riders." Burr Ridgeway died at his son's, James D. Ridgeway, August 19, 1876, aged ninety-seven years ; his wife had died June 8, 1858, aged seventy-nine years, and side by side they peace- fully sleep in Franklindale Cemetery.

Barclay formed a portion of this township until 1867. Towanda creek passes centrally through it, receiving several small tributaries.

David and Stephen Allen were the first settlers, in 1795, at what is now known as Franklindale. The next season their brother Daniel Allen settled further up the creek at West Franklin. Benja- man Stone came in 1800. . Daniel Wilcox, or as is sometimes said "Nathan " Wilcox came, it is supposed, before the Allens, and settled on the place called "Preacher brook." Elder Thomas Smiley, at a very early date, improved the Dorson Stone farm, afterward owned by Clay Fairchilds.

John Knapp, William Damer and the Spaldings came as early as 1799, and afterward came Samuel Wilcox, Absalom and Ezekiel Carr, Widow Lattimore, William Blaincher, Ahran Cook, Daniel Stone, Truman Holcomb, Gilbert Gay, William B. French, Allen Rockwell, Nathan Wilcox, and Maj. Oliver Williams Dodge. The Spaldings were three brothers: Horace, William D. and Noah. The two latter bought the mill property, at Franklindale. There were three of the Lattimores ; Stephen, Peter, and Elizabeth, latter of whom married David Smiley. Alpheus Holcomb came to the township in 1832, and settled near the Ridgeways. He had formerly lived in LeRoy.

Franklindale is the principal village, situated on the Towanda creek, has a general store, a gristmill, sawmill and hotel. West Frank- lin is in the west part of the township on the Towanda road ; it con- tains two churches, one hotel, one general store, and several smaller shops.

CHAPTER XXXIII. GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

D URING the winter of 1798-99 Jeremiah Taylor, with his family, left his native Berkshire, Mass., home, and with a Connecticut title to a piece of land in what is Bradford county came and first stopped in what is now West Burlington, where he stayed one season, and in a way worked a piece of land, afterward Amasa Greeno's. While here, he put in his odd time in clearing and preparing his future farm home. In March, 1800, he moved to his place with a yoke of

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oxen and a sled, a distance of about four miles to Towanda creek, now Leroy township. Their only neighbor was Lewis Moffit, who came the same year and settled about a mile west, up the main stream on the Harrison Ross farm. . The next arrival, in 1801, was Scovil Bailey, who was down the stream some fifty rods, on the Lume D. Taylor farm. He was a carpenter and a noted hunter. . Then came David Bailey and his father and mother, who settled east on the Robert Bailey farm. Then came Ezra Bailey, who settled between Scovil Bailey and David Bailey, on the Elam A. Bailey farm. Then came Thomas Bailey, who settled north of them on the John Vrooman farm ; then Uriah Baxter, on the Benjamin Baldwin farm.

The first white child born in the settlement was Sylvester Taylor, third son of Jeremiah Taylor, the latter of whom died September 17, 1827. Sylvester lived to be an old man on the old farm at Granville Centre. The first death was that of Mrs. Lewis Moffit, who was buried on the old Crofut farm on Towanda creek. The first wedding was that of Hugh Holcomb (the first settler in Leroy township) with Prudence Bailey, daughter of Oliver Bailey. One of Holcomb's sons was Hon. Judson Holcomb, of Towanda.

The first school was taught in the summer.of 1807 by Miss Delight Spalding. The patrons of this school were Jeremiah Taylor, Benjamin Saxton, Scovil Bailey, Ezra Bailey, David Bailey, Thomas Bailey, Uriah Baxter and Oliver Nelson. The last and Benjamin Saxton came that year. There were fifteen pupils in the school, embracing a terri- tory of about three miles square. Lewis Moffit left, and Benjamin Saxton settled on his place. The latter, who was the first blacksmith, soon built his shop and went to work. Nelson settled on the John Vrooman farm. This was the total for Granville for some years-all were old New England acquaintances.

From 1807 there were but few additions to the settlement, but about this time a change was made in the road from Sugar creek to Towanda creek; commencing from near the present road from West Burlington to Granville and Le Roy, which crossed Sugar creek at Goddard's sawmill (the gristmill was added several years after); the road then ran further up the hill south and further north on the side of the hill, and intersected the present road near George Shattuck's, then continued near the same to Bailey's, and then crossed the North branch and ran south near the present road until it intersected the " Taylor road, " about a mile from Towanda creek.

The first religious wave struck Granville in 1805, when Jeremiah Taylor and wife joined the Baptist Church on Towanda creek. Under Elder Thomas Smiley a church was built on this creek. It was this Elder Smiley that was visited at night, and tarred and feathered by the Connecticut land claimants. They took him away from his house and greatly maltreated him. Of this circumstance a contemporary account says: "The men came from the north country" (this probably means Athens or Tioga Point), " rode fast horses and had fierce counte- nances."

About 1810 the Methodists had preaching appointments in this section, and did organize a society in the settlement, and had two

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revival meetings, and showed some activity until 1856, when it all ceased. The next year, 1811, a road was opened from Towanda creek (now West Franklin) to Irad Wilson's, near Alba borough-eleven miles. On this road the settlers began to build and remove from the first houses along the stream. During this year new comers arrived, among others, Philip Packard, Abraham Parkhurst and Charles Butter- field; Packard settled the farm afterward Joseph Pratt's, Parkhurst at Bailey's old place, and Scovil Bailey where David Bailey had settled.

During the years 1812-15 a draft was ordered in the State, and Ezra Bailey was drafted from his township ; he went to headquarters, but was soon allowed to return home again, discharged.

In the winter of 1814-15 an epidemic prevailed in the settlement, and Abraham Parkhurst and his two sons, Luther and Asa, died. Mr. Parkhurst had believed in his ability to hold converse with departed friends, which was the earliest case of spiritualism in the county, no doubt.

In 1816 there was the severe frost, in August, that in all parts of the county destroyed corn, and a famine among the people was threatened. A small supply was had by going to Lycoming creek- then called Egypt.

The first frame barn was built in Granville in 1815, by Jeremiah Taylor ; the first frame dwelling, in 1819, by Jeremiah Taylor, Jr., and the next year the latter built a small gristmill, which could grind only a little corn. In this some time afterward a turning-lathe was erected, and a chair-wheel factory was carried on for some time by Nathaniel Phelps. Afterward Jeremiah Taylor, Jr., built a saw and grist mill which did a good business until the early "sixties."

There was quite an influx of settlers in 1817, among others being John Putnam, Alvord Churchill, John Pratt, Josiah Vrooman and David Ross.

About this time a new settlement commenced about three miles from "Centre " on what was called the " Windfall," where the timber had been blown down by a hurricane and then burned over, it is sup- posed by hunters. The first here were Abijah Ayers, Zoroaster Porter, Mr. Avery, Packard, Clark, Chesley, Shoemaker and Ferguson. These people soon erected a log school and church house in one, and Elders Pentacost, Sweet and Asa Dodge preached therein, and in a few years these people erected the "Union Meeting House," where five or six denominations held meetings.

In 1828, through the exertions of Gen. Samuel Mckean, then a member of Congress from this district, a mail route was established through this settlement from East Burlington to Alba, pony mail, once a week, and in 1829 a postoffice was established in the settlement, called " North Branch."

At the February court, 1831, Granville was set off from parts of Canton, Troy, Burlington and Franklin. This was hotly opposed by many good people; however, it prevailed, and the name of the post- office was at once changed to Granville. The township is eight miles long, east and west, four and three-quarter miles in width on the west, and three and a half miles on the east,

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A Disciple Church was organized in 1832, called "Disciples of Christ," through the efforts of Dr. Silas E. Shepherd, of Troy. This church grew in a few years to a congregation of 120; when through dissensions it ceased. It was revived, however, in 1862, and regained its former vigor.

The first public house was opened in 1849 by Levi Taylor, and about the same time B. F. and L. D. Taylor opened the first store in the township. In 1852 public-houses for the sale of liquor were all closed by the vigorous action of the " Sons of Temperance," then first organized.

In 1852, on the building of the Elmira & Williamsport Railroad, " Summit depot" and postoffice were established-called "Summit," because it is the highest place on the road. At this time Albert and Wilson Nichols came from New York and bought large tracts of land, and erected a large steam sawmill. In 1856 a large and commodious church was built at Granville Centre, dedicated as a "Christian Church," and had a bell on it to ring out to the good people " Come, let us worship God!" In a few years two other churches were erected in the western part of the township-a Disciple Church and a Free Will Baptist Church.

A large tannery was built at Centre ; the builder failed, and it was purchased by C. G. E. Martin, who successfully operated it until his death, November 14, 1862. In 1865 it was purchased by Adam Innes. In 1865 a postoffice with a daily mail was established at Granville Centre, daily, except Sunday. The Innes tanneries at this place, Can- ton and Grover, were among the inost important and flourishing in the county.

Granville Centre is near the center of the township, and once had considerable trade.

Granville Summit is a station on the railroad in the northwest corner of the township.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

HERRICK TOWNSHIP.

THIS township was organized in December, 1837, and was named

T in honor of Judge Edward Herrick. In it are the little hamlets of Herrick, Ballibay, Birney and Herrickville.

Zopher Platt and his son, Nathaniel, settled in East Herrick about 1813. . The next settler was Fredus Reed, who came with his wife, who was a daughter of Asa Mattson. He was a dish-turner by trade, and came to Herrick and put up his lathe in the year 1811. . Asa Mattson, with his family, came in 1813. His wife was a tailoress, and cut and made garments for the people around. A man named Townsend built the third house in the township, in 1816, east of Herrickville. The same year a blacksmith, named Haywood, set-

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tled near Townsend. . Elihu Buttles, a Methodist preacher and dish-turner, came in 1818. He wrote back to his old home and induced Isaac Park to come. The latter was a tanner and learned his trade with the Bolleses, a numerous family in Herrick township.

The first clearing in the forest between Park's place and Camp- town, was made on the Hiram Camp farm, by Mr. Park and Robert De Pue in 1821. . James Hines came in 1818 and settled on the Widow Platt farm. . Calvin Stone came in 1820 and settled on the W. W. Haywood farm. . In 1825 Reuben Atwood set- tled in East Herrick. . In 1822 Charles Squires settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Penbroke S. . The same year Isaac Camp built a sawmill and house, whither he moved his family in 1825. . Albert Camp settled near his father, and Lacy Camp made a small improvement where is now the Crawford farm.

Deacon Charles Stevens, Micajah Slocum, Ezekiel Mintz, Daniel Durran, Adam Overpeck came in 1824. Nathan B. Whitman came in 1828, and settled on the Ephraim Platt farm.

Ballibay Settlement was begun in 1826, and the early settlers were William Nesbit, Nathaniel Nesbit, Alexander Dougherty, James Lee, James Wood, William Hillis and Richard Hillis. They were all natives of Ballybay, Ireland.

The first white child born here is supposed to have been one of Charles Squires'. The first death, was that of Daniel Durran, and the first wedding was that of Mathew Wilding and Lydia M. Camp, in 1829. . The first school was taught in the first school- house, built in 1829. . The Baptists had the first religious services, at the house of Mr. Durran.

Herrickville .- The first merchant here was L. H. Bronson, in 1847. The place has two stores, a planing mill, built in the "fifties." and a Union church building.

Hon. George Landon is among the early settlers of Herrick. He came, a Methodist preacher from Boston, where from much pulpit and rostrum talking his throat had given out, and he was compelled to flee from the city and go west, coming to Herrick for a short visit to a relative; this resulted in his purchasing the farm, where he has since lived.

This man started in life a poor boy, and by his own efforts forged his way through college and, until his voice failed him, was rapidly extending his fame as a lecturer and orator. He settled on his farm and labored afield, regained his health, and in the exciting times of war he was called upon often to address the people on the current topics of the day. He was twice elected to the State Senate, and for some years his reputation as a popular orator brought him to the front rank of the most eminent men of the Commonwealth. It is little or no disparagement to the living eminent men of the county when the writer asserts that he regards Mr. Landon as one of the strongest and brightest men, intellectually, he has met in this part of the State.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXV.

LEROY TOWNSHIP.

C G. OAKLEY is reported to have settled in LeRoy about the year 1800, on Towanda creek, at what is called LeRoy corners. He is regarded as the first settler, though this is not very positive. The brothers Hugh and Sterling Holcomb it is known came about the same time, and some say they were before Oakley ; they came from old Sheshequin, as Ulster was then called, and also settled near the corners on what has always been known as the " Holcomb farms."

In 1850, the following is authentically given as the settlements in LeRoy : At the east end of the township, William Cole, Isaac and David Wooster, Isaac Chaapel and Seeley Crofut, George Head, Jesse Morse, Hugh Holcomb, Sterling Holcomb, Stephen Wilcox, Mr. Granger, Joseph Wallis, Daniel Ingram, William Hinman, William Hays, Mr. Cobb, Mr. Knight, Mr. Segar and David Andrus. This constitutes a full list of the first settlers, and the particular locations of the original arrivals can be generally fixed by the residences of their descendants.

It is said the first school was taught in the house of Sterling Holcomb, but just who the first teacher was is not known.

Elder Thomas Smiley was chiefly instrumental in organizing the first church. He lived near where is now the Baptist Church. Elder Smiley soon after left the county; he was a vigorous Baptist preacher. Among other names associated with this church are those of Elder N. H. Ripley and Levi Baldwin.

LeRoy was set off from Canton and Franklin townships, and first elections were at LeRoy Corners, embracing about eight miles in length; the division line ran near Davis VanDyke's.

In 1812 Hugh Holcomb built the first sawmill on the small stream at LeRoy Corners. About 1840 the same man built a grist and saw mill on the main stream.

In 1840 the Disciple Church was organized at the Corners by members of the church from Granville Centre, and in 1851 they erected their house of worship, naming it " Christian Church," and in the course of time put a bell on it. In 1855 the Baptists built their church at LeRoy Corners,and shortly after this the Methodists built theirchurch in the western part of the township. . Soon after this a public- house for the sale of liquor was opened at LeRoy Corners by P. Morse. . The first store was by Samuel Bailey, and thus the Corners became the leading and most active village or hamlet, rather, in the township.

1867 " Gazeteer " writing to the Northern Tier-Gazette, of Troy, says : "It has become a matter of notoriety that mountainous western Bradford has become noted for its quantity and quality of butter, as well as the productions of its soil, and our hills and valleys are being prospected by men having ample means." It is needless to say, at

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this day, that this industry is still prosperous, and Bradford county butter has wide and merited reputation.

In 1818 a settlement was commenced on the south side of Towanda creek, and among the settlers were Alpheus Holcomb, Buckley Chaapel, Eli Holcomb, Isaac Parkhurst, Ansel Tillotson, Samuel Hoagland, Benjamin Stone, Orison Royce, Thomas Harris, Isaac Wil- cox, Amos Bennett and Esau Bagley.

In 1823 a road was opened, commencing near Nathan Tabor's in Canton township; and running on the south side of Towanda creek to W. B. Spalding's, in Franklin township. It was surveyed by Howard Spalding, of Troy. On this road, nearly opposite LeRoy Corners, Eli Holcomb built a log gristmill, in 1823, on a small stream having its head in a large swamp of about forty acres on Towanda mountain. He built a dam at the outlet of this lake, about sixteen feet high. This log building was torn away, and he built a frame in its place with two run of stone.

In the year 1848 the Millerites had preached the sure coming of the end of the world ; some believed, some shrugged their shoulders, while others laughed outright at the nonsense. But one dark and dis- mal night, after it had rained and rained for days, and the sun had quit shining, and at the hour of night when graveyards are wont to yawn, the inhabitants in the vicinity of the mill were startled from their slumbers by an awful rumbling, roaring and quaking-the brav- est said "hurricane !" some said " earthquake !" and others said, " put on your ascension robes." Some got up and hurriedly dressed, others fled to their storm cellars, and others thought just as well to die in bed. But after matters had quieted a little, the boldest ventured to see what was up, and they found the dam had given way, and the waters were pouring down the mountain side, carrying all before them; great rocks and trees were carried headlong in the awful rush of waters. The foundations of the mill were washed out, the building swung around, and was whelmed in the stream, some cattle and prop- erty were lost, but no human lives. The mill and dam were rebuilt .. . In 1856 Mr. Mott built his tannery near the mill.

LeRoy is the principal village in the township, and has two large country stores, two small concerns, and a church. It is on the Towanda and Canton road.

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CHAPTER XXXVI LITCHFIELD TOWNSHIP.

T HIS was made a township in 1821; taken from Athens, adjoining it on the east, and its northern line is the State line ; its western line is Windham, and on the south is Rome and Sheshequin. Surface broken and high table land mostly, and its largest valley is along the Susquehanna river, which touches its northwestern border.

Thomas Park, who was the first settler, built his house on the river bank, in 1800, near the State line. This man, faithful to the best pioneer precepts, had a jolly household of children : Daniel, Samuel, James, Amos, Joseph, Elijah, Benjamin, Sally, Mary, Elizabeth and Susanna, by the first wife; and by his second wife he had three chil- dren. His son, James, was the first white child born in the township.

Two years after Park's arrival, 1803, came Eleazer Merrill and his son, Hiram ; first stopping at the Shoonover place, and next February he built and moved into his log cabin, where he permanently remained. Mr. Merrill reported that, in addition to Parks, he found here, on his arrival, a man named William Drown, who, soon after his arrival, perished in a snow storm. Hiram Merrill made his farm in the south- east portion of the township. So wild was the country, for a long time, that one of the Merrill children, about three years old, was lost and was not found, though hundreds were hunting, for forty-eight hours.

Solomon Merrill, brother of Eleazer, came in 1806 and settled the Shoonover place, but only lived on it about three years, then went to New York, but in time returned and bought the Thomas McAfee place.

In 1805 Silas Wolcott came from Ithaca, and settled on the Satterlee creek, and for two years operated the Satterlee mill, when he purchased of Park and improved the Wolcott farm.

Thomas Munn married Molly Wolcott, who bore him twelve sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Munn settled the Herman Morse farm. Josiah White was the next, coming in 1808, when eighteen years old. He served in the War of 1812-15. He cleared a large farm and became a prominent citizen.

Two brothers, Ruloff and Samuel Campbell, had preceded this . White, coming in 1807. Samuel settled on the Rowen Munn farm, where he built a sawmill, the first in the township.

Daniel Bush, an early settler, built the first gristmill in Cotton Hol- low, near David Mckinney's. . There were four of the Mckinney boys who came soon after White - Harry, Joseph, David and Samuel. . About the same time came George Headlock.

It is supposed Alsop Baldwin came about 1807, and improved the farm where he died an old man, and the farm passed to his daughter, Mrs. Evans, in 1873. . Samuel Ball came near the same time as

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White. . Christopher and Doane Shoonover settled near Mr. Park's. . Henry Mckinney settled in the township in 1824; pur- chased Mrs. Hewlett's farm. His sons, John, Ira, Lewis, Samuel and Benoni, came with him.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 48

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